Whispers in the lincoln bedroom
The soft glow of Olivia’s desk lamp illuminated her workspace, scattering shadows across the chaos of papers and beauty products that seemed to define her world. Just as she perfected her mascara, her heart seized at the sight of Fitz's familiar face onscreen. That warm, boyish smile could still take her breath away, even through the grainy pixels of the video chat.
There is a whole world of internet users,” Olivia exclaimed, feeling more playful than she intended. “Yet every time I log in, it’s you again! Have you hacked the system?”
Fitz chuckled, his surprise evident but his eyes twinkling with delight. “You know how hopeless I am with technology. And if I had asked Cyrus for help, we wouldn’t have met like this. It’s just coincidence.”
Of course,” she replied, though his presence felt far too intentional for mere chance. “So what’s the occasion? Don’t tell me you’ve broken into the Oval Office to catch up with me.”
No, I'm just reading some files.” His gaze softened, lingering on her made-up face. “Are you going out tonight?”
Dinner,” she said casually, though her heart raced. “Why?”
Just curious if my words had accidentally smudged your make-up,” he teased.
She rolled her eyes playfully. “You’re saying I look nice tonight… as opposed to other nights?”
I didn’t mean that!” He flustered, trying to recover. “You look nice all the time, tonight is just… different. Wait, is that your office in the background?”
Olivia nodded, crossing her arms defensively. “And why are we video chatting when we could talk face-to-face?”
Why indeed?” he mused, a smile flickering on his lips, but Olivia was already losing her patience, annoyed that he hadn’t kept complimenting her. With an exasperated sigh, she abruptly shut down the computer, her thoughts swirling. Was this infatuation only one-sided? Was she really chatting with the President of the United States?
Later that night, something unexpected happened. The sound of a knock reverberated through Fitz’s Lincoln bedroom. When he opened the door, he was stunned to find Olivia standing there, looking vulnerable yet radiant.
I got stood up,” she admitted, embarrassment coloring her cheeks. “I couldn’t bear the thought of an empty apartment. Did I interrupt anything important?”
Come in,” he offered, motioning her inside. “I was just reading through some files.”
Olivia frowned, her voice rising slightly. “Fitz! The world can wait until tomorrow. Take a break!”
Break? What will I do, numb my mind with TV?”
See? You’ve got so much to learn.” She took a step closer, feeling the familiar magnetic pull between them. “Television is not the devil, it’s an escape.”
How long have you been doing these… dates?” He was genuinely curious and had to know the truth.
For a few months. It started off small, with setups, and then progressed into speed dating—Can you believe? It’s ridiculous!”
Didn’t think you were the type to hunt for dating opportunities," he commented, his face betraying a hint of jealousy.
Are you saying I should become a cougar?” she mused, raising an eyebrow. “Might be fun.”
I’m not a younger man,” he rebuffed teasingly.
We’re not on a date,” she shot back.
Technicality,” he whispered, inches from her face. In a bold moment, she leaned forward, pressing her lips softly against his. The kiss ignited a wire of tension that neither had acknowledged before, lasting just long enough to leave both breathless. But suddenly overwhelmed with shame, Olivia broke the contact and fled the room, leaving behind shattered assumptions—hers and his.
As she stumbled out into the night, confusion wrapped around her like a cloak. She leaned against a brick wall two blocks away from the White House, desperately trying to calm her racing heart. What had compelled her to kiss him? It felt reckless, but thrilling.
Instead of returning home, Olivia found herself reaching for her phone. “Cyrus, want to grab a drink?” she texted, craving companionship. A swift reply came back—he was busy. Great, she thought, trudging back to her lonely apartment where sleep evaded her as dread gnawed at her mind about what had transpired with Fitz.
The next day began as a stilted minuet. Olivia procrastinated entering her office, avoiding Fitz’s calls as anxiety twisted in her stomach. The atmosphere in the White House felt heavier without their usual banter, the familiar warmth replaced by an icy distance that had her questioning everything.
Meanwhile, Fitz sat in the Oval Office, his mind foggy with lack of sleep. He longed for their light-hearted conversations but felt an inexplicable shift in their dynamic—a palpable loss. Hours dragged on, each second stretching painfully as he recalled the brief warmth of her lips on his, locking her image in his memory like a sweet, forbidden secret.
Finally, he could take it no longer. As work wound down, he found her in Cyrus’s office, surrounded by chaos but still stunning. “Olivia, can we talk?” he asked softly, watching the rush of emotions flicker across her face.
About last night…” She faltered, guilt creeping into her tone. “I don’t know what came over me. I completely understand if you don’t want to talk to me anymore.”
What gave you that impression?” he asked, genuinely confused.
You hardly spoke to me today,” she protested, her voice trembling with vulnerability. “You haven’t looked at me the same way.”
I thought that’s what you wanted. To have space and figure out your feelings,” Fitz clarified, his heart sinking.
I thought you’d want me gone after that.” Her tone was defeated, staring down at her hands.
I never want rid of you. But you need to promise me something: no more drinking nights with Cyrus. I can’t have you becoming notorious for those.”
Olivia laughed, the tension slowly ebbing away. “So, you don’t hate me?”
Never,” he said firmly. “You shouldn’t have run away last night.”
I was embarrassed. With you, it felt different; you make me act like this!” she breathed out, leaning on the desk for support.
I’m glad I bring out that side of you,” he replied, the corner of his mouth curling upward.
Steeling herself, Olivia looked him in the eye, searching for confirmation. “You really mean that?”
He stepped closer, inching into her personal space. “I’ve wanted more than friendship since that first video chat, but I didn’t know how to say it.”
Without warning, Fitz kissed her again. This time it was confident, unrestrained, as if both were breaking free from invisible chains. Olivia melted into him, surrendering to the moment, realizing that perhaps everything had aligned perfectly after all.
Their kiss spoke volumes, weaving promises and fears into the fabric of their new reality. They might not yet know where this path would lead, but together, they were willing to navigate the uncertainty. With laughter and awkwardness, desire and hope, they were ready to embrace whatever the future held.
