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p style="max-height: 999999px;"Monday seems to arrive quicker than usual, and before she knows it she's lugging her things to the address the candidate has emailed her, pulling her car up in front of a large building panelled with mirrored glass. She hesitates a moment as she steps out of the car, staring at herself in the reflection. She's wrapped in a large white coat that finishes at her knees revealing her sleek grey pants that leave only the last 3 inches of her black heels in view. Adjusting her black purse on her arm, she gazes for a moment longer, tossing her hair behind her shoulder with a flick of her head and a deep sigh, she wonders again why she's here. She knows it's unwise, she knows this is risky and stupid and reckless. She knows she is snowed under at work and is having problems with Jake and is buried in problems, in fact, there is no earthly reason why-/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Vanity is a sin, you know." Says a husky voice and she turns to see him standing, hands in his trench coat pockets and hair swept slightly to the side by the wind. She's secretly thankful he's interrupted her train of thought, but she lets no sign of it show, raking her eyes over him as if sizing up an opponent. She stands her ground, "And what kind of boss calls his newest employee vain on her first day?" She raises an eyebrow and crosses her arms, firmly on the defence./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"He nods bashfully and laughs slightly, "A rude one, my apologies." He extends his hand for her and she eyes it suspiciously before gladly enfolding her fingers in his palm and feeling their skin caress, both of them knowing that they haven't felt this before. They are trapped in the moment for a a brief second but then she feels the heavy weight of the dark gold ring on her finger and she pulls away, quickly crossing her arms and smiling tightly./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Don't you have somewhere you need to be? A meeting or a press conference or something?" She quickly trys to shake him off, determined for the day to be over already as she feels the pressure of the world on her shoulders./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Trying to blow me off Ms. Pope?" He teases but relents as he sees her tight smile, "I haven't got anything scheduled yet." He leans closer towards her and whispers in her ear, "I believe that's your job."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"She steps back again, eyes wide and wandering before marching past him into the office as he groans and drags a hand through his hair, he knows she is a war long worth fighting for and he's certain it won't be easy./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"XxX/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"She finally straightens out her desk, having unpacked the two boxes she had brought from her original office in order to feel somewhat at home. She sighs in content as she falls into the comfort of her leather chair and swivels to face the window, looking out at the street a few floors below and watching as the people of the world live their lives, wondering if they're any less complex than her own. But would she have it any other way? She chose this life, she sits here by her own devising and it would be wrong to lay blame on Fitz or anyone else./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"She hears a knock at the door at turns in the chair to face the intruder, groaning inwardly at the handsomeness of the man in front of her. Despite this, she pretends to stare at her computer screen, "Is their something I can do for you Mr. Grant?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"He clears his throat briefly and she glances up at him, "I just wanted to know what my next week looked like, do I have any gaps?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"She scrolled through her calendar that she'd prepared earlier that day, "Tuesday we'll be announcing your candidacy, I've called Mellie and your Father to ensure they'll be beside you for the press conference. From then on, we hit the ground running."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"He sighs, "Got it, so no time then?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"She shakes her head and he looks resigned for a moment, his eyes then wander to her desk and he finds his feet trailing towards a small statue sitting just behind her laptop, he picks it up./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Atlas?" He observes and she looks surprised for a moment, meeting his gaze./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Yes, how did you-"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""I'm a man of many interests. So who gave you this?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""What makes you think I didn't buy it myself?" She's stunned again, he reads her so perfectly, it's frightening./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""It's a gimmick gift, right? Olivia Pope, weight of the world on her shoulders. It makes perfect sense." He takes a seat in the chair across from her, leaning back while still examining the statue./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Except it doesn't, because that's not the real story." She leans over and pries it from his grasp, returning it to it's rightful place on her desk. "Atlas's punishment was never to hold the earth on his shoulders, but to separate earth from heaven, forever holding them apart."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""So heaven and earth can never touch?" He says, leaning forward and sliding his hand slowly along her desk, stopping just before reaching her fingers. She stares at their hands, so close and yet it seems as if Atlas himself was wedging them apart with his grip and yet he must have faltered because she impulsively moves her hand over his and they sigh as her thumb strokes over his knuckles. She meets his eyes and they are filled with all the longing he has to give and every feeling that she's ever held, waiting and heavy between them as they remain still together, basking in this feeling./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Then the door opens again and they jump apart as an older looking man with grey hair and a royal red tie enters the room. "I'm sorry to interrupt Mr. Grant, you asked I stop by?" He says, folding his hands behind his back and staring at Olivia in alarm, "Olivia Pope, is that you? After all this time, my God! How have you been Liv? It's so good to see you!" He reaches over and extends his hand and she shakes it, welcoming his firm grip as a worthy ally. "Cyrus Beene, in the flesh. I always though our paths would cross again some day, never thought it would be here though, what are you doing so far from home?" She teases and he chuckles as Fitz stares, baffled./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Am I late to the party here? You two have already met?" He chimes in and the two friends embrace after Liv walks round the desk to properly greet him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""I taught Liv everything she knows, she was my star pupil at Harvard." He beams broadly before Olivia slyly prods him with her elbow, "I'm thinking I did a fair amount of teaching the teacher, wouldn't you say Cy?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"He glares jokingly and then shakes his head, "I can't believe it, working with you to get this man elected!" He placed his hands on Fitz's shoulders, "You're like a son to me Fitz, you know that, don't you?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"He nods, "You may have mentioned that once or twenty times Cy."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Good, because Liv is like my daughter." He smiles affectionately at his favourite student and is greeted with a grin in return, "So when you two fight, don't expect me to pick sides. From this moment on, I'm Switzerland!" He announces before kissing Olivia on the cheek and departing from the office./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Both Fitz and Olivia laugh at their outlandish friend, blushing slightly at his outrageousness./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""I wonder why he thinks we'll fight…" He considers as he stares out the window, the laughter suddenly faded./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Because he knows us." She replies./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""That he does. Well, I must be winning at this point if I've already got you working for me."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"She throws him a look and sits herself on the desk in front of his chair, leaning forward slightly and giving him a small view of her cleavage hidden mostly beneath her silky top, "And how do you know that wasn't my plan all along?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""You don't fight fair Livvie." He groans, drunk on her presence./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""That makes two of us then." She revels in the control for a second and then leans away, clearing her throat, "If it's alright, I'd like to leave by 8 tonight."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"He crosses his arms and raises an eyebrow, "Date?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"She laughs tightly, she feels her husband between them more than ever now, "Girls night with some friends."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Oh," He exhales, relieved, "I'm sure that's fine, just clear it with Cy."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Great thanks, was there anything else you needed?" She says, returning to her chair./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"He shakes his head, just about to leave when she stops him, "By the way, what did you want that free time for?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""I wondered if you wanted to go to lunch, we could call it a work thing if that's easier?" He smiles suggestively./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Don't you think that would be crossing a line?" And in the back of her mind the words they exchanged on the phone repeat like a drum beating, professionalism, professionalism./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""As I said, it's a work thing."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"She looks unconvinced, but he continues, "So Thursday?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"She nods and he celebrates silently, "I'll leave you to your work Livvie."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Much appreciated Mr. Grant." And as the door closes she sinks further into her chair, her mind running a hundred miles a minute and her stomach doing backflips. So much for Professionalism./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"emspan style="font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial;"span style="font-size: 11px;"So I went on a little bit of a break after last week's Scandal because, to be honest, my heart was hurting after Liv basically shut all the Olitzness down BUT having watched the latest Scandal my muse was totally found and I'm in love again. Thus this was born through much late night writing. I hope it's enough for now… next up, girls night, lunch time and maybe even a campaign announcement Thanks so much for all the amazing response, you guys are the BEST! #GladiatorLove/span/span/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"emLove and many many hugs,/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"emSam /em/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11px;"em /em/p
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p style="max-height: 999999px;"Monday seems to arrive quicker than usual, and before she knows it she's lugging her things to the address the candidate has emailed her, pulling her car up in front of a large building panelled with mirrored glass. She hesitates a moment as she steps out of the car, staring at herself in the reflection. She's wrapped in a large white coat that finishes at her knees revealing her sleek grey pants that leave only the last 3 inches of her black heels in view. Adjusting her black purse on her arm, she gazes for a moment longer, tossing her hair behind her shoulder with a flick of her head and a deep sigh, she wonders again why she's here. She knows it's unwise, she knows this is risky and stupid and reckless. She knows she is snowed under at work and is having problems with Jake and is buried in problems, in fact, there is no earthly reason why-/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Vanity is a sin, you know." Says a husky voice and she turns to see him standing, hands in his trench coat pockets and hair swept slightly to the side by the wind. She's secretly thankful he's interrupted her train of thought, but she lets no sign of it show, raking her eyes over him as if sizing up an opponent. She stands her ground, "And what kind of boss calls his newest employee vain on her first day?" She raises an eyebrow and crosses her arms, firmly on the defence./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"He nods bashfully and laughs slightly, "A rude one, my apologies." He extends his hand for her and she eyes it suspiciously before gladly enfolding her fingers in his palm and feeling their skin caress, both of them knowing that they haven't felt this before. They are trapped in the moment for a a brief second but then she feels the heavy weight of the dark gold ring on her finger and she pulls away, quickly crossing her arms and smiling tightly./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Don't you have somewhere you need to be? A meeting or a press conference or something?" She quickly trys to shake him off, determined for the day to be over already as she feels the pressure of the world on her shoulders./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Trying to blow me off Ms. Pope?" He teases but relents as he sees her tight smile, "I haven't got anything scheduled yet." He leans closer towards her and whispers in her ear, "I believe that's your job."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"She steps back again, eyes wide and wandering before marching past him into the office as he groans and drags a hand through his hair, he knows she is a war long worth fighting for and he's certain it won't be easy./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"XxX/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"She finally straightens out her desk, having unpacked the two boxes she had brought from her original office in order to feel somewhat at home. She sighs in content as she falls into the comfort of her leather chair and swivels to face the window, looking out at the street a few floors below and watching as the people of the world live their lives, wondering if they're any less complex than her own. But would she have it any other way? She chose this life, she sits here by her own devising and it would be wrong to lay blame on Fitz or anyone else./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"She hears a knock at the door at turns in the chair to face the intruder, groaning inwardly at the handsomeness of the man in front of her. Despite this, she pretends to stare at her computer screen, "Is their something I can do for you Mr. Grant?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"He clears his throat briefly and she glances up at him, "I just wanted to know what my next week looked like, do I have any gaps?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"She scrolled through her calendar that she'd prepared earlier that day, "Tuesday we'll be announcing your candidacy, I've called Mellie and your Father to ensure they'll be beside you for the press conference. From then on, we hit the ground running."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"He sighs, "Got it, so no time then?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"She shakes her head and he looks resigned for a moment, his eyes then wander to her desk and he finds his feet trailing towards a small statue sitting just behind her laptop, he picks it up./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Atlas?" He observes and she looks surprised for a moment, meeting his gaze./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Yes, how did you-"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""I'm a man of many interests. So who gave you this?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""What makes you think I didn't buy it myself?" She's stunned again, he reads her so perfectly, it's frightening./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""It's a gimmick gift, right? Olivia Pope, weight of the world on her shoulders. It makes perfect sense." He takes a seat in the chair across from her, leaning back while still examining the statue./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Except it doesn't, because that's not the real story." She leans over and pries it from his grasp, returning it to it's rightful place on her desk. "Atlas's punishment was never to hold the earth on his shoulders, but to separate earth from heaven, forever holding them apart."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""So heaven and earth can never touch?" He says, leaning forward and sliding his hand slowly along her desk, stopping just before reaching her fingers. She stares at their hands, so close and yet it seems as if Atlas himself was wedging them apart with his grip and yet he must have faltered because she impulsively moves her hand over his and they sigh as her thumb strokes over his knuckles. She meets his eyes and they are filled with all the longing he has to give and every feeling that she's ever held, waiting and heavy between them as they remain still together, basking in this feeling./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Then the door opens again and they jump apart as an older looking man with grey hair and a royal red tie enters the room. "I'm sorry to interrupt Mr. Grant, you asked I stop by?" He says, folding his hands behind his back and staring at Olivia in alarm, "Olivia Pope, is that you? After all this time, my God! How have you been Liv? It's so good to see you!" He reaches over and extends his hand and she shakes it, welcoming his firm grip as a worthy ally. "Cyrus Beene, in the flesh. I always though our paths would cross again some day, never thought it would be here though, what are you doing so far from home?" She teases and he chuckles as Fitz stares, baffled./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Am I late to the party here? You two have already met?" He chimes in and the two friends embrace after Liv walks round the desk to properly greet him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""I taught Liv everything she knows, she was my star pupil at Harvard." He beams broadly before Olivia slyly prods him with her elbow, "I'm thinking I did a fair amount of teaching the teacher, wouldn't you say Cy?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"He glares jokingly and then shakes his head, "I can't believe it, working with you to get this man elected!" He placed his hands on Fitz's shoulders, "You're like a son to me Fitz, you know that, don't you?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"He nods, "You may have mentioned that once or twenty times Cy."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Good, because Liv is like my daughter." He smiles affectionately at his favourite student and is greeted with a grin in return, "So when you two fight, don't expect me to pick sides. From this moment on, I'm Switzerland!" He announces before kissing Olivia on the cheek and departing from the office./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Both Fitz and Olivia laugh at their outlandish friend, blushing slightly at his outrageousness./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""I wonder why he thinks we'll fight…" He considers as he stares out the window, the laughter suddenly faded./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Because he knows us." She replies./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""That he does. Well, I must be winning at this point if I've already got you working for me."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"She throws him a look and sits herself on the desk in front of his chair, leaning forward slightly and giving him a small view of her cleavage hidden mostly beneath her silky top, "And how do you know that wasn't my plan all along?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""You don't fight fair Livvie." He groans, drunk on her presence./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""That makes two of us then." She revels in the control for a second and then leans away, clearing her throat, "If it's alright, I'd like to leave by 8 tonight."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"He crosses his arms and raises an eyebrow, "Date?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"She laughs tightly, she feels her husband between them more than ever now, "Girls night with some friends."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Oh," He exhales, relieved, "I'm sure that's fine, just clear it with Cy."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Great thanks, was there anything else you needed?" She says, returning to her chair./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"He shakes his head, just about to leave when she stops him, "By the way, what did you want that free time for?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""I wondered if you wanted to go to lunch, we could call it a work thing if that's easier?" He smiles suggestively./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Don't you think that would be crossing a line?" And in the back of her mind the words they exchanged on the phone repeat like a drum beating, professionalism, professionalism./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""As I said, it's a work thing."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"She looks unconvinced, but he continues, "So Thursday?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"She nods and he celebrates silently, "I'll leave you to your work Livvie."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Much appreciated Mr. Grant." And as the door closes she sinks further into her chair, her mind running a hundred miles a minute and her stomach doing backflips. So much for Professionalism./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"emspan style="font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial;"span style="font-size: 11px;"So I went on a little bit of a break after last week's Scandal because, to be honest, my heart was hurting after Liv basically shut all the Olitzness down BUT having watched the latest Scandal my muse was totally found and I'm in love again. Thus this was born through much late night writing. I hope it's enough for now… next up, girls night, lunch time and maybe even a campaign announcement Thanks so much for all the amazing response, you guys are the BEST! #GladiatorLove/span/span/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"emLove and many many hugs,/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"emSam /em/p
p style="font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11px;"em /em/p
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