Chapter 4
"Wow" Oliver whispers, his mouth hangs open, blinking a couple of times, making sure she is not a mirage that will disappear.
Felicity walks to him in a short golden dress, with a little slip on the thigh teasing him, her hair out of her typical ponytail, loose curls perfectly framing her face.
He was a tad disappointed when she called, asking him to meet her at the party. He wanted, knock on her door, help her down the steps, open the car’s door, drive them here. But, she got stuck at work and decided to get ready at the office. However, looking at her now it was all forgotten, including all the words "Wow" he lets out again.
She stops in front of him "Does that mean I look ok?"
"More than ok, you look great. You look perfect" He breathes out.
Felicity blushes, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear "Thanks, you look great too. Suspenders were definitely the right choice"
Oliver feels his cheek getting warm and makes a mental note to thank Will for the suggestion, letting the boy choose his outfit were the bargain to make up for the fact he couldn’t come "Ready?" He lifts his arms.
Locking her arm on his she looks at the imposing building "I don't think so" She says apprehensively.
He gently tugs her arm, making her look at him "You got this"
"Well, Miss Smoak, I am impressed." Lucious Fox says, shaking his empty glass, a tiny piece of ice making a clicking noise.
Oliver rubs the back of Felicity's back, feeling her breaths out. This is what he has been doing the whole night, when he feels she is getting too nervous he places his hand there, at the contact she centers herself and starts to amaze everyone around her. Sometimes he just touches her hand or her arm, little reminders that he is on her corner. But she does not need him though, she charmed everyone she talked to, presenting evidence of her successes, proving her intelligence, she even calls out their misogyny. He is just honored to watch.
"Do you have a card? I will have my assistant set up a meeting" Fox continues.
Felicity pulls her phone out of her small bag, types quickly and smiles at the older man "She just received an email with all the information she needs"
Lucius chuckles "I look forward to working with you Miss Smoak. Can you two excuse me? I see an old friend, I must say hello"
As soon as he walks away, Felicity steps in front of Oliver smiling brightly "Thank you!"
Oliver shakes his head "I did absolutely nothing. You were amazing"
She sighs happily "I was this close to babble about how hot Bruce Wayne is" she lifts her hand showing, in Oliver’s opinion more than it should, a little space between her index finger and thumb.
"He is not hot" Oliver grumbles.
Felicity laughs "Stay here, I'm going to get us drinks to celebrate. I did so much networking today that I don't even care that Thomas Kord ignored me the whole night. When I get back, we can talk more about other billionaires I find hot. '' She winks at him, at least she tries but ends up blinking with both of her eyes.
Oliver puts his hands in his pockets, smiling while she walks away, hoping his name is top of that list, maybe he can tell her about a tech company CEO he finds hot too.
"tsking, tsking"
The disapproving sound makes Oliver turn to look at the person stepping beside him.
"The prodigal son returns." Thomas Kord says, his chin proudly.
Oliver chooses not to take the bait "Great party Sir" He knows the man since he was a child, despite their family's companies being competitors the one percent of Starling tend to run on the same circles.
"I saw that you are here with young Miss Smoak"
Oliver fights the urge to punch him that came with the way the older man said her name.
"It's this how she is getting her company name out there? Collecting billionaires? First Palmer, now you? She was talking to Fox, a little older for her? Maybe she will go for Wayne next"
Oliver bites down, the muscle of his jaw pops, his knuckles turning white, closed in a fist. He takes a step closer to Kord, towering over the man and smirks when the imbecile takes an almost imperceptible step back "You are a dinosaur Thomas" Oliver sips out the name "It is no secret your government contracts are the only thing keeping the lights on. They may be slower but even the government knows evolving is the key to survival, something you refuse to do '' He looks Thomas over, watching his nostrils open in anger "Everyone that knows Felicity Smoak's work sees she will mod the future. And we all want to be a part of it…She single handedly put a stop to the Brother eye group, stopped the attack, identified the individuals and gave the feds their location before I could finish a piece of cheesecake with my son. Of course, you know all that, it was all over the news. You Thomas are too attached to the good old days, when you could say and do whatever you please but the world has changed"
"You came back with quite the attitude kid, for someone who had everything given to him by your parents"
Oliver shakes his head "I won't deny that, but even you know it is not nepotism that put Queen Consolidation on the top 5 most lucrative companies in the country this quarter....All these people, that you think are here to bow to you, they are piranhas smelling the blood in the water. Soon they all will be fighting to be the one who pays the least for the pieces of your company" He takes a step back and looks around nodding "You know, we are expanding Queen Consolidation Applied Sciences Division, this is such a nice building. I will be the first to bet on it"
Thomas Kord opens his mouth but Oliver has had enough of him.
"I will see you soon Sir"
He walks away buttoning his jacket, trying to find Felicity, guilt settling in, how he will tell her he has ruined any chances she has in getting the deal she wanted.
Felicity shivers, when a cold wind blows, Oliver quickly takes out his jacket and drops over her shoulders, bringing her closer, while they wait for the car.
"Felicity" he can't pull this off anymore he needs to tell her, he pissed off Kord and he knows the old man enough to know she will be on the receiving end of retaliation.
"Thank you Oliver….Not just for the jacket"
"I didn't do anything Felicity, in fact I"
"You did" She interrupts him "I heard your talk with Kord"
"Felicity" He needs her to know he was not trying to ruin this for her.
"Oliver" She interrupts again, raising her chin proudly "I have no interest in working with people that don't respect me or my work... I will get Smoak Tech to the next level and I don't need a man like him to do it"
"I have no doubt in my mind you can do it. I meant what I said you are going to change the future Felicity Smoak" He will never stop being amazed by her.
She blushes, reaching up to fix his tie "It helps having a handsome arm candy"
Oliver laughs, breathing in her perfume, enjoying how close she is to him.
Felicity looks to the plate they stand in front of, with Kord’s name on it, her hand slides down to his chest, over his heart "Let the meteor come" she says nodding "You are right about the building, it is nice" She taps his chest lightly "Maybe Queen Consolidation will have to fight Smoak Tech for it"
The sound of the car parking makes her take a step back, crossing her arms in front of herself.
"I can't wait." Oliver says while opening the passenger door for her.