Chapter Text
"You want me to what?" Doris stared at Olivia Spencer, not sure whether to be incensed or just incredulous. Olivia's notoriety as someone who would do anything to get what she wanted was well documented, but the nature of her current arm-twisting was a bit unexpected.
"I know you're only the mayor, but I am sure you can work some of your connections, right?" Olivia raised an eyebrow, in a look meant to challenge Doris' political ego and aspirations. "It's not like it's some capital offense..."
"You can't help yourself, can you? It's not enough to just blackmail me; you have to get in a few digs as well."
The edge of Olivia's lip curled in a barely perceptible half-grin. "And here I thought I was only appealing to your sense of fairness." Her grin widened slowly. "Or at the very least, your love of political chess maneuvering."
A small chuckle escaped Doris' throat as she raised her glass to her lips and took a thoughtful sip. She swallowed, letting the whiskey take its slow-burn journey down as she contemplated Olivia's request. "Why do I get the feeling you could care less about my role in this, as long as it means you can get Rafe out of prison?"
Acknowledging the point with a nod, Olivia looked her squarely in the eye. "Oh now, don't think I won't enjoy a little payback for that press conference," she replied, sipping her martini with a pause. She sat her glass down and her eyes followed. She sighed heavily. "But you are right. My main concern is getting Natalia's son back to her."
Doris measured Olivia with silent regard. "Ah, so now we get to the crux of this, don't we? Natalia's son."
Green eyes rose sharply with a frown. "She deserves to have her son back."
"Oh, I am sure she does. But that's not the only reason for this little game, is it? Face it, selflessness has never been one of your more abundant attributes, Olivia."
"She deserves a family." Olivia's voice dropped to almost a whisper. "She deserves her family."
Something clicked in Doris' mind. With a burst of newfound clarity, she tilted her head to catch Olivia's eyes. "Her family? I thought this was aboutyour family?" And there it was, plain as day. Another puzzle piece dropped into place as Doris slowly lowered her drink to the bar. "You really...you're not..."
Olivia clenched her jaw, setting her drink down and making her move to leave. Doris grabbed her forearm gently, something softening in her steely eyes.
"She doesn't know, does she?"
The response was immediate. Jaw unclenching, Olivia's eyes brimmed with unshed tears. Once again, Doris had her question answered in the moment of silence.
As Olivia turned back toward the bar, resting her face in her hands, the mayor considered her own reaction. She could be every bit as ruthless as Olivia, but she of all people also knew the conflict raging within the woman standing across from her. She had been there once too; that place of fear and insecurity as everything she knew of herself had been turned inside out. Memories drifted back in a gauzy haze as she considered her next words carefully.
"When did you realize?"
Olivia looked at her cautiously, her defenses weakened, but still possessing enough of her self to be suspicious. "This isn't Dr. Phil, and you are notmy friend."
Removing her hand from Olivia's arm, Doris reacted as if she had been slapped. She gathered herself, motioning to the bartender for another drink for each of them. Olivia started to shake her head, but the mayor stopped her with a raise of her hand.
"No, Olivia, I am not. But right now you look like you could use a friend and a drink." The bartender slid their glasses in front of them as Doris turned to fully face Olivia. "And right now, I bet I am the only person you know in this town who has any idea how you are feeling." She drew herself up, inhaling as she did. "Look, you don't want to trust me, fine. But I can't think of a better arrangement, can you?" Her cynical chuckle was followed by a kinder smile. "We are both successful women with secrets to keep. You know mine, and now, I know yours. Seems to me we have a stalemate here. We don't have to be friends. Call it what you will. Right now I need something from you, and you need something from me. But more than that, you need someone to understand."
Olivia shuffled her feet distractedly, reflecting on Doris' words. The mayor raised her glass as if to toast. "Call us captive confidantes, if you will."
For a moment, they stood there, sizing each other up; neither one giving ground.
It was Olivia who finally broke the deadlock, pulling up a barstool and sitting down. This was going to be a long night.