Executive Orders

CH 31 | It's How The Game Is Played

A little while later, Fitz was more than ready to be done with this whole affair. Speaker Tillman had had the good sense to keep his distance after their initial meet and greet and Fitz had managed to keep his irritation at Elizabeth and her not exactly subtle comments to a minimum.

At least Colleen had proved herself to be as interesting company as he could have hoped for - the phone calls they had exchanged had promised as much. Fitz found her easy to talk to - but that was a habit with him; he was at ease with powerful, confident women - Olivia had taught him that.

Together they circulated among both the political and donor attendees, chatting easily with them all. Whenever it appeared that someone wanted to bring up their own agendas, there was the dance floor to disappear onto.

On one such occasion, Fitz complimented her on how well she seemed to be able to get along with everyone so far, and she countered that perhaps it was his presence that had had everyone on their best behavior.

"Maybe just a little." Fitz admitted with a laugh. "But every one we spoke with was interested in what you had to say."

He paused. "I was very interested in what you had to say."

She thanked him. "Is that why you invited me?" The look in her eyes told him clearly that she already knew the answer.

"Partially." Fitz told her honestly. "One reason was to protect myself - you've met Elizabeth -"

"I'm your beard?" Colleen laughed out loud, careless of the heads turning in their direction in response.

"That's not exactly true." Fitz shook his head and laughed. "I do think we have a few interests in common and I'd like to discuss them further - not here, of course - but in a nutshell, what if I were to offer you an opportunity to extend your influence a little bit further than you've already done - and serve your country at the same time?"

"The country - or your administration?"

"Both - or at least I'd like to think so. It concerns your STEM initiatives."

She looked up at him. "Color me interested."

"I'll have my people -"

"Call my people." Colleen finished his sentence for him, one slender auburn brow arching upwards. "And now you can color me intrigued."

"Intrigued?"

"Yes. Mr. President, you have a reputation of surrounding yourself with powerful women - your ex-wife, your vice-president, your Communication Director among them - color me both intrigued and impressed that you seem to want to include me in that illustrious group."

The song playing came to an end. As they turned to join in the applause, Fitz noticed Garner making his way towards them.

"I won't argue with you on that, Ms. Cassidy. Unfortunately, it's time for me to go do political things, but I promise we will discuss this at a later date."

And it was a promise Fitz intended to keep.

A brief word from Garner and a few minutes after that found Fitz heading to a private meeting away from the ballroom.

His agents having cleared the hallway in both directions, Fitz paused to reach for his phone, feeling a sudden need to touch base with Olivia. No matter who'd he been talking to, she'd never been far from his thoughts. When she didn't answer his text, it worried him for a minute, but then he managed to think it through. Fitz had sent her to Camp David to relax - and maybe she was doing exactly that.

She could be taking a shower or soaking in a hot bath - even better, Fitz told himself - she was asleep in his bed. That thought gave him the most relief.

He still couldn't erase the sight of how Olivia had looked when she'd shown up unannounced on his doorstep; her eyes haunted, tracks of tears already on her face, her voice, uncharacteristically broken. Fitz knew that tonight was a necessary evil, but no matter how important all of this was, all he wanted was to be done with it all.

All he wanted was to be there for the love of his life.

As Cyrus came around the corner, he noticed Fitz replacing his phone in his jacket's inner pocket. There was only one person he'd be calling, but why?

One look at Fitz's face gave him warning that he needed to be careful with his words, but in Cyrus' mind, as Fitz's chief of staff, for the president's own protection, the question had to be asked. "Has anything happened that I need to know about?"

"No, Cyrus." Fitz's answer was short and sharp. He jerked himself around and continued to walk down the hall.

Cyrus fell into step with him; Fitz's detail had already cleared the hall, now they took up a box formation around him, leaving them in a temporary secure and private space. Cyrus knew better than to push Fitz. Whatever was happening, it had obviously been personal and not political - and that meant that he needed to back all the way off, so he very wisely changed the subject.

"Mr. President, may I remind you that tonight is nothing more than a political and practical meeting of the minds. With the official campaign season right around the corner, all that's called for is to go along with how the game is played - as much as I know you hate that. They talk, you listen, we all smile - you give your speech and that's all that needs to be done."

Fitz knew that Cyrus was right, but that didn't make him feel any better. "Easier said than done, Cyrus but right now, I'm not in the mood to lie or be lied to. Do you really think I can sell that without going nuclear? I'm not sure that I can."

"I have faith that you can, sir. And if Olivia were here, she'd say the same. Remember - we have a plan - the one that they know nothing about. Wouldn't it be a shame if we tipped our hand too soon?"

Fitz had to admit that the other man was right - but he didn't need reminding and told Cyrus so.

"I know you normally don't, Mr. President." Cyrus said. "But tonight, the last thing you're having to deal with is normal. There's too many people here tonight with too many different agendas - I saw Elizabeth and Sally chit-chatting just now -"

"- and the last thing that Sally does -" Fitz said.

They finished the sentence together. "- is idle chit-chat."

"What do you think of that?" Fitz asked.

"It's too soon to tell."

"I agree - as if I didn't have enough to deal with, I don't need to be looking over my shoulder for the knife in my back from my VP."

They were almost at the doors to the meeting. Fitz paused, allowing himself a frown. "I apologize if I was just a little sharp with you just now. I've got other things on my mind at the moment and I'm just not in the mood for games at the moment."

"I'm fine, sir. Unfortunately, it's all a game, Mr. President - if it comes down to it, do try to remain polite - but if it becomes necessary - well, it wouldn't be so bad to remind them that it's your court that they're playing on - and this game will be played by your rules."

Somehow Cyrus had said exactly the right thing. Fitz's expression changed to a wolfish one. "Sounds like you're on my side, Cy."

Cyrus' expression shifted to match Fitz's. "Always, Mr. President. I know your concerns are - elsewhere. Don't worry about it. Your dragon-slayer is on point - and more than ready to rock and roll."