Executive Orders

CH 29 | Troubled Waters

"Stop fidgeting, sir."

"I am the president of the United States, Cy." Fitz said even while he pulled at his collar, then readjusted his bow-tie. "Fidgeting implies nervousness. I am not nervous - I'm irritated. There's a difference."

They were in a small anteroom in the hotel where the fund-raiser was taking place. Fitz was annoyed at having to be there at all, especially when he'd much rather be up at Camp David with Olivia. The sound of the military jazz ensemble drifted in and it irritated him even further

"If you say so, Mr. President." Cyrus' voice was so carefully neutral that Fitz raised an eyebrow at him.

"Remind me why we're here again?" Fitz asked.

"Preemptively, we're pouring oil onto troubled waters - before they become troubled waters." Cyrus reminded him.

"I know what the word preemptive means." Fitz also knew that Cyrus had a point. That didn't mean he had to like it. "How long do I have to endure this gathering?"

Cyrus looked down at his watch. "It's almost seven now, so including your remarks to the room, I'd say we should be seen until at least midnight?" His voice was hopeful as he raised his eyes to meet Fitz's answering glare. "Don't kill the messenger. This is all Elizabeth's doing, not mine - she put this thing together."

"So she's the reason why there's no press coverage?" Fitz asked.

"She's the reason why there's no press coverage." Cyrus nodded in agreement. "She did have a very carefully pre-screened pre-event "information session" - and at least you were spared that particular gauntlet. I wasn't as lucky. James is furious at me - as if I had anything to do with it."

Fitz couldn't help the smile that twitched at his lips.

Cyrus gave him a look that made it clear that he saw Fitz's reaction. "I'm surprised that Olivia didn't make more of a big deal of it."

"In the grand scheme of things, Olivia said that this is nothing and she'd save her fights for when they really matter."

"Elizabeth doesn't matter?" It was Cyrus' turn to lift a brow.

"Not as much as she thinks she matters tonight." Fitz couldn't help the grin that came to his face. As if on cue, his private phone he kept in his inner jacket pocket chimed, announcing a text message. "Excuse me, Cyrus."

Fitz started to turn away, but he heard Cyrus' sigh behind his back.

"Elizabeth is waiting, sir - and since you did agree to this, can't we be nice about it?" the other man said.

"I'm here and this is about as nice as it's going to get. You had to know that I was less than pleased that Olivia wasn't on the guest list."

"As accomplished as our Liv is - technically she's considered a part of the press."

"She's the Senior Communication and Media Director of my re-election campaign and as such, will be a part of my senior staff -"

"- none of which has been announced yet." Cyrus reminded him. "We all agreed to let the news of your separation and the beginning to your moving on with this new chapter of your life to take place in an orderly fashion as a part of 'the plan.'"

That might be true, but Fitz didn't want to hear it at the moment. "Whatever. The bottom line is that Elizabeth had better be glad that I'm here, so that means she can wait a little longer." Fitz said. He took a few steps away and keyed open his text messages.

*Play nice tonight.*

*I'd rather be playing with you.* Fitz tried to make a joke of it but the truth was, he was still worried about her. If Olivia hadn't insisted that he come, he would have blown this whole thing off to be with her. *How are you?*