by Alexa Davis
"Don't count our chickens before they're hatched, Moore," I replied as I squeezed her hand.
"What could possibly go wrong?" she grinned.
"Shut your mouth, please," I smiled back.
"If you two are done with your morning love chatter, we could use a little round table here," Brant said. Olivia blushed as Mo elbowed him and he looked at her and smiled before he turned back to us. "We've got almost enough votes thanks to Ms. Warren and her very persuasive phone calls last night."
"Mo? What did you tell these people?" I asked.
"I just told them that I have more money than God, and that they should stay on my good side," she grinned.
"You did not!" Olivia whispered in mock horror.
"No, I did not," Mo nodded. "But I did explain the importance of them being on the right side of history when this vote came down."
"That's all it took?" I asked.
"Well, that at threatening to take them off the list for next year's Gala," she shrugged. "I can't help it if I added a little bit of incentive."
I burst out laughing as Russo shot us another dirty look from across the hall. I was only slightly worried about him since there were so many people around, but I knew that he was a man who held a grudge and that he wasn't likely to forget what I'd done to him in the coffee shop any time soon.
After a few minutes, Russo stood up and walked over to where I was standing. "I don't know where you got your information from, Redding, but you and your little girlfriend are going to pay for this."
"I'm not sure it's a wise idea to be threatening me in front of witnesses," I said calmly. "I would have thought you'd have learned your lesson by now, Russo."
"You won't win this round," he hissed. "I've got the votes needed to sink this bill and when it is voted down, I'll stand and watch you and your lousy business go down in flames."
"I'm not sure I'd bet on that, Russo." I smiled as I tried to hide the fact that I was anxious about the fact that I had no idea how the vote would actually turn out. Mo's incentives were only that, and the senators had not promised anything concrete. We were still hanging in the balance and I knew that Russo wasn't lying when he said he'd enjoy watching me be destroyed.
It took an hour to complete the vote on HR 8212, and by the time the page came out to let us know the results, we were all on the edge of our seats. When the announcement came, I dropped my head in my hands and tried to breathe.
Brant, Mo, and Olivia noisily discussed the results in the hallway until the senate officer stepped outside and asked them to quiet down. I couldn't believe it. After all the work and worry, this is where we ended up.
"What are you going to do now, Redding?" Olivia asked as she looked up at me.
As I looked down at her, I realized that everything I'd worked for was about to change, and I couldn't imagine not including her in the new direction my life was about to take.
"I don't know. I have no idea where this will take us," I said holding her gaze as I smiled back at her. "But I couldn't have done it without you."
And with that, I reached down and wrapped my arms around Olivia's waist and lifted her off the floor before I kissed her. She hesitated for a moment and then kissed me back as I raised a fist in a show of victory. Brant and Mo laughed loudly and the senate officer, again, asked us to quiet down.
"You probably could have," Olivia said once I'd set her down. Then she stood on her tiptoes and kissed me. "But I was a tremendous asset."
"Indeed you are, Olivia Moore," I said as I reached out and wrapped my arms around her so I could pull her closer to me. She relaxed into my embrace as she rested her palms on my chest and tipped her face up so I could kiss her again.
#
After we'd celebrated the passage of the bill, Olivia took her leave and headed back to the newsroom to report the good news while Brant, Mo, and I headed to the nearest bar for a celebratory drink. There was something strange going on between the two of them, but since they hadn't said anything or done anything to clue me in, I'd ignored it.
Once we were seated at a table and drinks had been ordered, Brant looked nervously at Mo and then back at me. "Linc, there's something I want to tell you," he began.
"You're in love with Mo and she's finally agreed to leave the gigolo behind and marry you?" I deadpanned. Brant's face lost all color and he looked helplessly at Mo.
"That's close," she said as she raised an eyebrow. "But not exactly factual. First, he wasn't a gigolo, he was a fine young man from Georgetown, and second, I don't believe Brant as asked for my hand in marriage. Have you, darling?"
"Uh, no," he shook his head and blushed a deep shade of red. "Not yet, anyway."
"There, now that's all sorted out, shall we drink to celebrate the vote?" she asked as she looked back and forth between the two of us.
"I want to ask about a thousand questions, but I'm going to fall back on good manners and just say congratulations to the both of you," I smiled. "I'm glad Pace finally got his act together. It's about time."
"You're next, buddy." Brant grinned as the server placed our drinks on the table. He raised his glass and toasted, "To the future and all of its possibilities."
"To the future," Mo and I chimed in. I raised my glass and hoped that where I was headed next would be the right direction.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Olivia
I returned to the newsroom to celebrate the victory with Frank and Carl. They both cheered as I told them about the outcome of the Senate vote and then filled me in on the response from the article.
When it had appeared on the front page above the fold that morning, calls started pouring in to the paper from people who'd had run-ins with Davis Russo and the BAR during the ’70s. There were tales of intimidation and threats to peoples' lives, homes, and families, and each one of them recalled the trio of Russo, Bangor, and Danford as being the instigators. The information we received was forwarded to the police, and Frank told me that although most of the claims were outside of the statute of limitations, there were a few that provided evidence against the AWN.
"My buddy at the station told me that if they can link the shooter to Russo in any way, they'll move forward with accessory to murder charges," Frank said as he sipped the shot of whiskey he'd poured to celebrate the victory.
"But we know Russo did it!" I protested as I sipped from the plastic cup he'd handed me.
"We might be pretty sure, but what did I tell you about facts, Moore?" Frank scolded.
"She's a little loose on those, boss," Carl laughed. "But I think she's got some excellent gut instincts that point her in the right direction."
"As long as we've got Lillian double checking those instincts," Frank said giving me the side eye.
"Aw, give me a break, guys," I laughed. "I broke a major story and got us some much needed attention!"
"About that..." Frank said as he looked over the rim of his cup. My stomach lurched as he eyed me without saying anything further. All of the memories of Africa and the mess that had been swept under the carpet by simply dismissing me from my job came flooding back. Was this going to be the same thing? Was another man in power going to dismiss me after the information I'd brought to the table had been used to promote his interests? I didn't want to believe that Frank was capable of being as cold and calculating as the brutal editor in Nigeria, but I also knew that the news business was cutthroat and that I had very little power.
"Uh huh?" I mumbled as I turned toward my desk and pretended to search for something.
"Kid, you've done a great job, and I like your tenacity," he said as he leaned over and patted my shoulder. I could feel the “but” coming not far behind. "But I think your talents are being wasted in the Features department, so I want to promote you to the Political section and have you work with Carl on some of the tougher stories. He's sick of being out in the field and you, well, you seem to have a knack for being in the right place at the right time."
The grin on Carl's face tol
d me that he'd known this was coming, and I wanted to slug him for keeping it from me. I turned and looked at Frank. He wore a lopsided grin that told me he was enjoying this. I wanted to slug him, too, but since he was my boss, I held back. I'd make them both pay for this later.
"Frank, I'd love to sign on for this," I said as I took a deep breath. "But I'm not sure that I'm going to be staying."
"Wait, what?" he replied. The surprised look on his face made me cringe a little knowing that he'd been certain I'd accept.
"I'm exploring my options, and I'm not sure I'm going to be staying in D.C.," I repeated.
"But you're..." Carl began and then trailed off.
"Just give me a day or two to think about it, okay?" I asked.
Frank nodded, clearly disappointed that I hadn't jumped at the offer. Carl sat staring at me with a look of complete surprise, and I smiled at them both, "Look, I'm not saying no, I'm just saying I need a few days to really consider what I want before I say yes. Is that so bad?"
"No, that's fine, Olivia," Frank said as he stood up and began walking toward his office. Halfway there, he turned around to look at me and added, "Just let me know when you've made up your mind."
"You'll be the first to know," I nodded.
"I'd better be the one before the first one," Carl muttered as he turned and began pounding on his keyboard. My phone buzzed and I looked down to find a text message from Linc asking me to meet him by the reflecting pool in twenty minutes.
"Chill out, Jackson," I said quietly. "I just need time to think. And I need to run an errand."
I grabbed my bag off of my desk and pulled on my coat and headed out of the newsroom. I could feel Carl's eyes on me the whole way to the door. I didn't turn around to check if it was true, though.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Linc
As I stood at the edge of the empty reflecting pool waiting for Olivia to show up, I thought about what I was about to do. The past few weeks had been a whirlwind of anxiety and uncertainty, but in a way, it had helped me clarify everything. I had teetered on the brink of financial ruin and had realized that none of it really mattered. I had every advantage in the world, but I hadn't really enjoyed it – until now.
I looked up and saw Olivia walking toward me. Her flaming red hair was tucked under a wool cap, but pieces escaped and were blowing around her face like thin wisps of smoke. She walked toward me with a furrowed brow and her hands shoved deep in the pockets of her army coat. She was stubborn and defensive, but there was something about her I simply couldn't resist. When she saw me, her face brightened and a smile spread across her lips.
"Redding, what were you thinking ordering me out here on a cold day like this?" she called as she quickly walked over to meet me.
"I needed to see you," I smiled.
"And you couldn't have picked some place with heat?" she teased.
"Well, I can always fill the gap," I said as I reached out and pulled her to me. She wrapped her arms around my waist as she looked up at me. Her emerald eyes were bright and I couldn't help but lean down and kiss her.
"What is going on?"
"I needed to see you," I repeated.
I lifted my hand and pushed the hair away from her face as I bent forward and spoke softly into her ear.
"You've changed me, Olivia Moore," I said. "You've gotten under my skin."
"Yeah, I do that to a lot of people," she chuckled softly.
"I'm not kidding," I said as I pulled back so I could look at her face. She was looking up at me with concern. "I don't know where we're headed, and I can't promise anything for sure, but I can tell you right now that there's something about you that has gotten to me. It's as if you're inside of me and I can't shed you."
Surprise replaced the concern on her face. She opened her mouth to speak, but then closed it again without saying anything. I bent down and kissed her cheek as I continued speaking.
"I knew it from the moment I first saw you – there was something about you that was different, special," I said. "True, you are stubborn and willful, but I like that about you. It's part of your charm, and it's a powerful aphrodisiac, honestly."
"You're insane," she said, shaking her head. "You can't know this about me, you don't know me. It's too soon. You don't know anything about me!"
"Oh, I know you better than you think, Olivia," I chucked softly.
"Now you're claiming that you know me better than I think you do?" she said as she pulled back and I felt the walls going up. "You can't know me that well. Don't forget, we just met, Redding."
"Ah, there it is!" I said as I let go. She didn't move away, though. "The strong, independent woman who doesn't need anyone, but who is crying out to be needed."
"What the hell is wrong with you?" she said as I watched the struggle flash across her face. I wanted to reach out and pull her to me, but I knew that if I did, I'd be giving her the reason she needed to back away. I knew this decision had to be hers and hers alone. I could only make the offer and be honest about what I was feeling. Olivia would have to walk the rest of the way on her own. The question was whether she would.
"Olivia, there's nothing wrong with me. I want you, and I'm not ashamed to admit it," I said as I looked into her eyes. She inhaled sharply and I could feel her fighting the urge to shove me away. "I want you. I know you want me, too, but are you willing to give in and let it happen?"
"I...how...I..." she stammered as I waited patiently, then looking down at the ground, she whispered softly, "I don't know what to do."
I raised my hand and lifted her chin up to brush the hair away from her face, all the while smiling warmly before I leaned down and kissed her softly, whispering into her lips, "You don't have to know, just let it happen."
She rested her palms on my chest as she looked up at me, and said, "I need some time to think about this."
I felt the air leaving my lungs as she spoke. I hadn't planned for this response. I'd imagined that she'd be looking up at me with a smile and telling me that while she was wary or defensive, she was willing to try. I had expected her to melt into my arms and that we'd have a happily ever after – or at least happy for now – ending to this wild ride. I had not anticipated that perhaps she wasn't on board with the developments or that she didn't feel the same way I did. It stung.
"I see," I nodded.
"Are you mad?" she asked hesitantly.
"No, I'm just...surprised," I said forcing a smile. "But I understand."
"Do you really?"
"No, not really, but I'm trying," I admitted.
"Well, at least you’re honest about it," she said as she looked up at me and offered a small smile. "I'm not saying no, Linc; I'm just saying that a lot has happened over the past few weeks and I need some time to think about what I want."
"I get it," I nodded. I wanted to try and convince her of all the reasons why she should believe me and choose me, but I also knew that if I pushed her, I'd run the risk of pushing her away rather than drawing her closer. "When do you think you'll know what it is you want?"
"I don't know, a couple of days, maybe?"
"Okay, then I'll give you the space you need to make the best decision," I nodded. I stepped back and put some distance between us. My chest ached as I bent down and softly kissed her cheek before I turned and walked down the Mall.
I wanted to turn back and look at her, but I couldn't bear the thought that it might be the last time I saw her.
CHAPTER FORTY
Olivia
After Linc had walked away and I was sure he wasn't coming back, I sunk to my knees and tried to breathe deeply in order to calm the panic I felt. Once I had subdued it enough to talk, I called Bix and told her I needed her help. She immediately knew something was up and told me to take a cab to the house.
Twenty minutes later, I was walking up to her house when the door swung open. Bix stood in the doorway looking at me sympathetically, which loosened everything I had held inside, and before she could close the door beh
ind me, I let the tears flow. She grabbed me and held me tightly as I cried. It was as if a floodgate had been opened and everything that had happened to me in the past year was being released. I cried on her shoulder as she patted my head and whispered, "It's okay, just let it all out."
Once the worst of it had passed, Bix took me into the kitchen and sat me down at the table. She'd made tea and had a plate of fresh gingerbread men sitting next to the teapot.
"Eat a cookie, you'll feel better," she urged. "Diana swears they have magic healing powers."
"Well, if it's your baking, she might be right," I chuckled as I bit into one.
"What's going on, Liv?" she asked. "I mean, aside from the obvious release of emotion left over from Africa."
"If I tell you, you'll think I'm crazy."
"I think that anyway, so tell me," she grinned. I laughed out loud. Only Bix could make crazy feel normal.
"Frank offered me a permanent position on the Political beat," I said.
"That's great!"
"I don't know, is it?"
"What's wrong with a permanent position?"
"It feels so...permanent," I said as I took another bite of the cookie while Bix poured us both a steaming hot cup of tea, adding milk and sugar in mine.
"Um, that's the point, is it not?" she asked.
"I'm not sure I want to stay here, Bix," I admitted. A pained look briefly crossed her face, and I knew I'd unintentionally hit a nerve. Bix looked out the window as she sipped her tea. It was a long time before she spoke again, and knowing her as well as I did, I just waited.
"Why are you so hell bent on running, Liv?" she asked quietly. I'd known the question was coming, but hearing it out loud startled me.
"I'm not running, Bix," I said.
"The hell you aren't," she snapped, and I heard the pain in her voice. "You've been running for years. And every time you run, you are forced to start over in a whole new place with a whole new group of people who..."