Executive Orders

CH 35 | A Caldwell Intervention

"Hello, Olivia." Peter said before taking a step back to take a long look at her. "You're looking as lovely as usual, but is it me, or you do look a little tired?"

"Hello, Peter." Olivia said. "Charming as ever, I see - but thanks for asking. I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" He surprised Fitz by turning his way and looking directly into his eyes as he continued to question Olivia. "Are you sure somebody isn't overworking you?"

"I'm sure." Olivia laid one hand on his arm to draw his attention back to her. "If anyone is overworking me, it's me."

Caldwell's words were a challenge that Fitz had to force himself from taking too personally. It was bad enough that his concern was genuine; but Fitz - even though his head might accept it, his heart was reacting differently -and he couldn't help his body from tensing up in response, even to the point that he felt his eyes narrowing slightly, unable to stop the jealous suspicion in him rising as he studied the other man.

He forced his eyes away from Caldwell and to Olivia, the protective side of him looking for any sign that Olivia was having any issues with Caldwell's antics. The senator didn't know how close he was to trouble; if it looked like for a single second that he was disturbing Olivia in any way, shape or form, Fitz would make sure that the other man would regret it.

Both his heart and head found themselves relieved to see that this didn't appear to be the case. If anything, Olivia was regarding Caldwell with a mix of familiar exasperation and affection, as if she'd dealt with this side of him before.

Considering how helpful Caldwell had been to him earlier, Fitz decided to let his behavior slide for the moment. He'd been drinking then and Fitz wondered how much how more he'd had since then. It was the only reason why Fitz hadn't have him removed. Any other man being so familiar with Olivia might not have gotten the same mercy. He did allow himself the brief fantasy of yanking the man away from Olivia and Fitz knew that he'd be lying if he didn't admit that the thought did manage to make him feel a little better.

"Is anyone going to tell me?" Caldwell asked again. "Or am I going to have to guess?"

Colleen was the one who answered him. "Hello, Peter. You just missed the announcement that that Ms. Pope has just received a promotion from the president."

Peter's grin grew bigger. He lifted his glass to Olivia in a toast before he took a deep swallow. "I can't say that I'm surprised. What's the new gig?"

"It hasn't been announced officially yet." Knowing Peter's penchant towards coloring outside the lines, Olivia thought it was best to warn him that his silence was required.

"Then my lips are sealed until you tell me otherwise. But am I allowed to say that I'm not surprised at all?" Caldwell lifted his glass and toasted her again. "Not one bit."

"Is that right?" Fitz continued to study Caldwell a little closer; he might appear as though he'd had one drink too many, but Fitz suddenly sensed that this might not be the case - that was a thought made him suspicious all over again as Fitz wondered why Caldwell would pretend to be something that he wasn't.

"Absolutely." Peter nodded. "Olivia has worked on so many legal matters - campaigns included - for the Caldwell clan, she's almost like family. And she's brilliant - but no doubt you already know that."

"I do." Fitz said.

"Of course you do." Peter shook his head. "You don't know how many times we tried to hire her on exclusive retainer - that was before she went to work at the White House full time, of course."

"But during my campaign...?"

"As far as I was concerned, you were just another campaign, which meant that she was still fair game - no offense."