"And you're right. I would be lucky to have you."

Until the moment those words left the mouth of Governor Fitzgerald Thomas Grant, III, Olivia Carolyn Pope was incensed. How dare he fire her for telling the truth? Was he so insecure that he couldn't handle honesty in the face of his presidential campaign? Olivia's indignation quickly left her, however, when she looked into Governor Grant's eyes and felt IT—a connection.

Olivia couldn't do anything except stare into Governor Grant's eyes. After regaining her bearings, she asked, "This is why you fired me?"

Fitz just stared at her and she continued to stare at him, so confused at this turn of events. Confused, but excited and flattered at the same time. How could she not? Fitz was a handsome man with a fit body and such a gorgeous smile. He had a smile that could melt the ice in Antarctica. Despite the fact that Olivia was admittedly attracted to him, she wasted no time going back into the war room at Fitz's suggestion. Letting the moment go further and possibly grow was not in Olivia's plans. This was a man that she was going to try her hardest to get elected to become the next President of the United States of America. She couldn't possibly allow her attraction to get the better of her. She had to remain a professional. And, above all, Olivia Pope was a professional.

Fitz replayed his introduction to one Olivia Pope over and over in his head. He couldn't believe the audacity of her to call him out on his marriage. He couldn't believe it and yet he loved it at the same time. This was a woman who wasn't scared of saying the truth, no matter how much it may hurt. He was immediately intrigued by her. Despite that, however, warning signs went off in his head after Olivia finished her mini monologue. Fitz knew, without a doubt, that having Olivia around would be bad business. Not because she wasn't capable-she seemed more than capable. But because Fitz knew that she was "the one"...and that scared him. Olivia couldn't be the one-he was married, had children, and was running for President. Though Fitz never believed in something as hooky as love at first sight, he did now. And right now was not the time to have his beliefs tested.

Out of fear, he ordered Cyrus Beene, his campaign manager, to fire her, not realizing that Olivia heard him and quickly told both he and Cyrus that she would simply charge her hotel to the campaign. Even though she was newly fired, she still wished him luck with his campaign. After being called "sausage" by Cyrus, Fitz found Olivia and asked her to come back to the campaign. He told her he would be lucky to have her in a way that normal colleagues or even friends would say to each other. At that point Fitz knew that it was only a matter of time.

When Olivia told her friend Abby Whelan that Fitz had something she could work with, she wasn't lying. Despite being apolitical, Olivia knew that Fitz was the real deal. Running for President wasn't about power for him, no. He truly wanted to make a difference. After working and hobnobbing with the D.C. political elite for years, Olivia could easily discern the power hungry from those who truly wanted to use their position to make a positive change in their county, their city, their state, the world. Fitzgerald Grant was the real deal.

Fitz being the real deal, however, did not cause Olivia's attraction for him to wane. Indeed, it only grew. Her uncooperative feelings led Olivia to keep up a wall of strict formality between the two of them. While others who worked closely with him freely referred to the Republican candidate as Fitz, Olivia was firm in always calling him Governor Grant. She tried to keep her distance as much as she could.

Finally meeting Fitz's wife didn't make staying away from Fitz any easier. Mellie Grant was a beautiful woman. She was striking and had brains and wit. Mellie was also a cold and calculating woman. Olivia sometimes felt she could see the cogs in Mellie's brain turning, trying to think of a way to get to the most optimal result for her, not her family. The idea of Fitz married to someone like that didn't sit well with Olivia. When Olivia explain to Mellie and Fitz that they had to be a believable, loving, dedicated couple, otherwise they may as well throw in the towel immediately, Mellie watched her shrewdly. Though she and Cyrus stepped outside to give the couple privacy, Olivia heard every accusation that came out of Mellie's mouth, including that Mellie had kids for Fitz. What kind of mother says something like that? Did Mellie really prize becoming First Lady over her kids, her husband, her marriage?

From that moment on, Olivia let her guard down a bit. What could it hurt to give Fitz some encouragement, some support? Especially at a time as critical as this. Nothing was going to happen.