Executive Orders

CH 02 | Wine and Roses and Conversations

Olivia looked up at the knock on her door, welcoming the distraction.

"I come bearing gifts." Harrison announced. He stood in the doorway holding a narrow glossy white box. It was tied with a gilt bow and a spray of dark red, fragrant roses.

Olivia gestured for him enter, getting up from her desk to to take the package from him. They both moved to the area of her office that served as the casual seating, Olivia taking the small sofa that defined the space while Harrison took the closest chair.

"Grateful client?" Harrison asked.

She smiled. "Probably, considering we just accepted another case from one of our favorite clients -"

"-our favorite repeat clients -" Harrison interrupted with an unrepentant grin.

" - which is why the Caldwells remain one of our favorite clients -" Olivia replied without skipping a beat. She untied the bow that held the roses. They were a deep luxurious red and she took a moment to bring them up to her face, close enough to inhale their rich scent before laying them aside. She opened the box and they saw a bottle of wine laid against a bed of silk.

"Apparently Congressman Caldwell is trying to make an impression." Harrison said.

"I think he succeeded. The last time a wine from this vineyard came up, it was on auction at Christie's." Olivia studied the label. "A Chambertin-Clos de Bèze grand cru, no less."

She laughed at Harrison and the face he made, showing that he had no idea what she meant.

"Something like this is - special." Olivia explained. "Very special."

Harrison shook his head. "I know, one of these days, we'll have to attend some wine tasting classes and you can re-acquaint me with the subtle mysteries of good wine. But there's something I do know - that is not a typical, 'I brought some wine to the card party.' So put it away for some really special occasion, while I find us something a little more plebeian in taste."

Harrison put action to words, walking to the small wine cabinet that was tucked away on the far side of her office. He opened the doors and studied the choices.

"There's a nice burgundy that's already open." Olivia informed him as she turned her attention back to her gift. As she lifted the bottle from its box, a wineglass-charm looped around the neck chimed softly at the same time that it caught her eye. A silvery delicate chain held a small star sapphire gemstone set in a cabochon setting at one end.

Her birthstone, she realized with a smile. The Caldwells had done their due diligence very well.

Harrison had turned at the sound of the charm hitting the bottle. "Is that silver?"

Olivia looked closer. "Platinum, I think."

"Now I'm even more sure it's meant to be something special." Harrison said. "Which Caldwell do you think sent it, the married one or the soon to be married one?"

"Doesn't matter." Olivia shook her head and spoke without thinking. "I'm a one-woman man."

Her face warmed as Harrison made a sound of approval. "Glad to hear it."

Olivia watched him as he came back to his seat with a bottle and two glasses. He uncorked the wine, then poured them both a glass.

Harrison smiled at her with a warm gaze that showed that he was genuinely happy for her. "So it's really happening?"

Olivia hesitated for just a moment, then let the smile that came to her face answer for her. She lifted her glass towards Harrison; he leaned forward and touched his glass to hers. They both smiled at one another as the sound of crystal shimmered into the air between them.