A/N: I'm happy to finally be posting my first Arrow story! It's been a while in the making so finally having it out there for others to read is a big relief. Thanks to user Felicity Danvers for being my beta for this chapter, I appreciate the help! Ok here it is hope you enjoy!
Smoak Technologies
"Wake up! Wake up, wake up wake up wake up!" Thea called as she pounded on Oliver's bedroom door. She paused and listened for the sounds of her brother rolling out of bed but none came, she continued her assault. "Oliver Queen get your sorry butt out of that bed right now and get dressed, You're gonna be late!" She paused again, put her ear to the door and was greeted with the sounds of rustling sheets and feet frantically hitting the floor, she placed a hand on the door frame and began tapping her finger on the wood. "Come on Ollie, you can't afford to be late, you know this," several moments passed with no response. Thea was getting frustrated, "Oliver are you gonna answer me?" Still, no reply came, "Oliver Jonas Qu-" she was cut off by the door swinging open and her brother pushing his way past her.
"Be a little louder could you?" Oliver asked sarcastically as he hurried down the hall to the bathroom.
Thea rolled her eyes and followed him, "You never sleep in, is everything ok?"
"I'm fine," Oliver replied as he prepared his toothbrush and shoved it into his mouth.
Thea leaned against the door frame and quirked an eyebrow, "Are you sure? You don't seem like you're in a very good mood. You didn't sleep well, did you? Did you have a bad dream or something?"
Now it was Oliver's turn to roll his eyes."I don't really have time to talk right now," he mumbled with a mouthful of toothpaste.
Thea waved a hand through the air, "Fine just hurry up," she ordered as she walked down the hall to the kitchen. A few minutes later Oliver emerged and quickly gathered his phone, keys and work badge. Thea opened the fridge and pulled out a green lunchbox, "Here ya go big brother," she smiled as she handed it to him, "I made your favorite."
Oliver grinned, "Thanks, Speedy, you're the best," he hugged her before rushing out the door.
Oliver pulled up to the plant's entrance and scanned his badge to open the automated gate, it took him several minutes to find a parking space. Once he did he ran for the door, weaved through a few hallways and finally threw open the double doors to the factory floor. He tried to look inconspicuous as he walked to his workstation. Smoak Technologies was more of an empire than a company, they'd dipped their toes into everything from construction to agriculture. They operated all over the country with factories in several states, the one that Oliver worked at was located in the Glades of Starling city and was home to the Medical Science Division. They manufactured and assembled several different pieces of medical equipment and components for hospitals, primary care offices and clinics.
"Well well well, look who decided to show his face," a familiar voice rang out.
"Nice to see you too Curtis," Oliver chuckled.
Curtis Holt was a long time friend to Oliver, the two had met back in college. Oliver had studied electrical engineering and Curtis had been working toward a career in computer science and later biomedical engineering. A mutual friend introduced them and over the course of their college careers, they formed a strong friendship. They stayed in touch after graduation and a few years later when Oliver got laid off from his job at the electric company Curtis encouraged him to apply for a job at Smoak Tech's Medical Science Division, where Curtis was a specialist at the time. While Oliver had initially doubted that he was qualified to work on such intricate equipment he needed the money to support himself and his sister, so he accepted. He had worked side by side with Curtis (now head of the department) ever since, adding to his knowledge of wiring, machinery and even some areas of basic medicine. In the process, he had become well know and respected amongst his fellow employees.
"It's not like you to come in late," Curtis observed.
"I know, sorry I just couldn't get to sleep last night, won't happen again."
"Hey don't sweat it, man, you know I'm not only your boss I'm also your friend. I like to think that makes me the cool boss, ya know?" Curtis began to talk faster, "The kind of boss that doesn't get so wound up over everything and can laugh and chill with their employees. Do you think I'm that kinda boss?
"I think you're a gr-"
"I hope I'm that kinda boss. I wonder what everyone else thinks of me. I'm not as close with everyone as I am with you."
"Curtis," Oliver interjected
Curtis snapped his fingers, "You know what I should do? I should hand out surveys! Then everyone can tell me exactly what they think of me. I'll know who thinks I'm great and who thinks I still have things to work on. I should go print those up right n-"
"Curtis!" Oliver interrupted, "Calm down, everyone thinks you're a great boss ok?" He laughed.
"You really mean that?"
Oliver placed a hand on Curtis's shoulder and grinned, "I really do."
"Well, then you, along with everyone else are gonna love me, even more, when I show you all the surprise I've got for you!"
"Surprise? What're you talking about?" Oliver inquired.
"I can't tell you just yet, it's a surprise duh, here follow me." Oliver did as he was told, as they walked Curtis tapped a button on his headset to access the intercom, "Hello can I have everyone's attention, please? Can I have everyone come to the front of the building? I have an announcement I need to make. All the other employees stopped what they were doing and slowly gathered at the open area in front of the offices.
"I see you've set TVs up all around, are they making us watch more of those boring safety videos?" Oliver asked hoping that wasn't the case.
"Nope just follow me, you'll see."
Oliver sighed in relief and followed Curtis up to the catwalk that overlooked the entire floor, they waited patiently for everyone else to find their way. Once they had Curtis placed his hands behind his back and smiled from ear to ear.
"Ok people, today I received word that corporate has dropped some very exciting information. This is big stuff guys," he paused and looked around, "Like really big…"
"Well, what is it, Curt?" Someone called out from the crowd.
"Oh you won't be hearing it from me," Curtis replied, "We've got a very special guest with us today, so if you'll all turn your attention to the monitors, I give you, Ms. Felicity Smoak."
Oliver quirked an eyebrow as he turned to face the nearest screen.
"Hello everyone, my name is Felicity Smoak, acting CEO of Smoak Technologies. I wanted to speak to you all today because I have some very exciting news that's going to affect all of us as a company."
A small smile crept across Oliver's face, he had of course seen the CEO of the company he worked for in the past. With her face plastered all over the media, it was nearly impossible not to recognize Felicity Smoak, but there was just something about having her right next to him that made this feel different. Even if it was only a pre-recorded video. He leaned over and nudged Curtis's shoulder, "She's pretty," he chuckled.
"Don't interrupt Oliver!" Curtis whispered firmly,"But yes, she is," he smirked.
Oliver turned his eyes back to the screen.
"As I'm sure most of you are already aware, there have been some rumors going around that we've had a breakthrough, something huge. I wanted to let you know that those rumors, are indeed true."
Oliver thought a moment, he had overheard some talk amongst other employees about something along those lines. He hadn't paid it too much attention though, Felicity's voice interrupted his thought.
"Smoak technologies has created something truly special, and it's thanks to each and every one of you that we were able to do that. So I wanted to thank you, and since I am a Smoak and everything we do has to be big and flashy, I wanted to do that personally. In a couple weeks, I'm going to be hosting an event at the Starling City Grand Hotel. It'll be more of a party really, a chance for me to spend some time with you and show my appreciation for all your hard work. Our main event will be the unveiling of our brand new product, trust me you really, really don't wanna miss that," she grinned revealing a set of pearly whites.
Before he knew it Oliver found himself smiling along with her. "Hmm, Felicity Smoak," he whispered to himself.
"So, consider this message your invitation," the video continued. "Bring a plus one if you'd like, all are welcome and all expenses will be paid, let's have some fun!" Her smile widened. Oliver chuckled, he found her charming and quirky.
The video ended and Curtis stepped back up to address everyone, "So, everybody, what'd we think?" The crowd applauded. "I know right? This is gonna be so much fun! Ok like Ms. Smoak said, we've still got a couple of weeks until the big day so let's keep up the great work! Dismissed, thank you." As the crowd dispersed Curtis turned to Oliver, "Dude this party is gonna be awesome! Are you as excited as I am?"
"I don't think I'm going Curtis," Oliver chuckled as he turned to walk away.
"Excuse me?" Curtis exclaimed as he followed, " This is only gonna be the biggest event of the year, and you don't want to go?"
"You know I'm not the party type Curtis, it's just not my scene."
"Oliver, I'm not trying to drag you into a nightclub with obscenely loud music and inappropriate dancing, this'll be a business party, it's gonna be classy. Besides you need to loosen up for a change, come on man do it for me. If nothing else we'll be each others wingman, I'll help you chat up a couple girls, you help me talk to a guy or two, it'll be fun! Then we can listen to Felicity's big announcement and be done with it, Sound like a plan?
"I don't know Curtis," Oliver replied hesitantly
"Alright, you've done it now." Curtis reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, "I'm calling in the big guns."
"Ollie you are going to that party!"
From the second Oliver turned his key in the lock Thea had been in his face.
"Ah so it was you Curtis called, goodie," Oliver replied sarcastically. Thea Queen was a stubborn person in general, but even more so when it came to getting involved in her brother's life. Once she sunk her teeth into something she wouldn't let up until she got her way.
"Yes it was me, he told me that your company is throwing a huge party for everyone, but you don't want to go."
"Yeah and?" Oliver questioned
"What the hell?" Thea exclaimed as she followed her brother down the hallway to his bedroom. Oliver attempted to close the door behind him but Thea stopped it and forced her way in. "Ollie you never go out and have fun anymore, if you're not at work you're here locked up in this apartment, alone."
"I'm not alone," Oliver challenged as he sat down on the bed and removed his watch, "I have you."
Thea sat beside him and sighed, "and you always will big brother, but what I meant is that you're so isolated from the rest of the world. You don't really interact with people, you don't have a girlfriend, and the only real friends you do have are your sister and your boss.
"Hey, Curtis and I were friends before I worked for him," Oliver chuckled
"This isn't funny!" Thea was getting irritated, "You're missing the point."
"I don't think I'm missing anything," Oliver argued as he stood up and walked to his dresser to put away his tie and empty his pockets.
"But you are Ollie, you're sitting back and letting all this time just fly by, you're missing out on the world, on having a life!
"Hey!" Oliver retorted, he turned and gave Thea a stern look, "I do have a life, putting a roof over our heads and food on our table, making sure you have an education and working as hard as I can every day to keep all of it from crumbling down around us, that is my life!"
"Oh, so I'm the reason then? I'm the reason you've become such a hermit?"
Oliver sighed and looked down at the floor, "No Thea, that's not what I meant."
"What did you mean then? What? You know what, fine!" Thea stood and threw her hands in the air, "I give up, if you want to be alone for the rest your life then have it your way!" She stood up to leave, "I don't so I'm going out."
"Speedy wait!"
"Forget it."
"Speedy!" Oliver caught her by the arm, "I'm sorry, I'm just tired is all."
Thea scoffed "You always say that," she turned to leave again."
"Wait please!" Her brother pleaded, "I didn't mean to raise my voice, just come sit back down with me." Thea looked him in the eye, frustration still strewed across her face. "Please?" he asked once more.
Thea sighed and followed her brother back to the bed, they sat down and Oliver took a deep breath. "Ever since mom and dad died it's just been you and me. They left us everything they could in the will, but that was just enough to keep us afloat and put me through school. Once that money was gone we had no safety net, I had to grow up, I had to make sure we were gonna be ok.
Thea took a deep breath of her own, "I know that Ollie, and you've done an amazing job." She smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder, "you have no idea how proud and lucky I feel to have you as my big brother. You've always done everything you could to bring happiness and stability to my life, working yourself to death, helping me get into college, even taking me shopping and I know you hate shopping." The two chuckled together. "The point is you've done your job, you've given me a great life," she reached down and took his hand in her's, "Now I want to see you get a little more happiness out of yours."
Oliver smiled and gently squeezed her hand, "Thank you Speedy, believe it or not I understand where you're coming from." Thea responded with an inquisitive look. "I think about those kinds of things all the time, meeting new people, trying new things, having fun. It's just, when I had my job at the electric company I thought I had everything figured out. I thought we had reached a place where we were secure and could build a future."
Thea's expression went from curious to doleful, she knew what was coming next.
"When I lost that job it terrified me. Sure the skills I had weren't exactly lacking in demand, but I didn't know if I'd be able to find anything with the hours and pay that would allow me to work and still be able to take care of you.
"You didn't lose that job Ollie it was taken from you," Thea interrupted.
"I was scared regardless, that's why I was so grateful when Curtis offered me this job at Smoak tech. With the set schedule and great pay, it was exactly what we needed, but the work itself was way over my head. I was used to working on power lines and electrical towers, not machines that could breathe for someone or keep a heart beating."
"But you got through it didn't you?"
"Yes, I did," Oliver replied, "But it took a lot of hard work. If I was going to stay valuable I had to learn a lot in a short amount of time. I was never entirely sure if I was really up to the task and that put me under a lot of stress."
"Oh, Ollie," Thea whispered.
Oliver turned his eyes down, "I guess I've just never been able to get rid of those feelings, that I might not be good enough and that I might let you down. So I work and work and work some more, because I don't know what I'd do if that ever happened."
Thea wrapped her arms around her brother and squeezed as tight as she could. "Oliver Jonas Queen, you couldn't let me down even if you tried," a Tear welled up in her eye. "You put way too much pressure on yourself."
"I know, it's one of my specialties." Oliver chuckled. They sat in silence and held each other for a few minutes before Oliver spoke up. "Will it make you happy if I go to that party?"
Thea sat up and smiled, "Yes, I'm glad you didn't think we were done talking about that."
"Then I'll go, only for you though," her brother replied jokingly.
"Oh of course." Thea laughed as she wiped the tears from her cheeks, "Now I'm guessing that this is going to be a formal affair so go get your tux out and put it on. I want to help you get your look right for the big night.
"Oh no, you're gonna give me a makeover?" Oliver protested.
"If you don't want me to cry again then yes, I am."
"Fine fine, you don't have to guilt trip me." Oliver chuckled as he stood up and walked towards the closet.
Thea adjusted herself and sat cross-legged, she pulled her phone out and began dialing a number, "While you change I'll call Curtis and let him know he's got his wingman."
Oliver laughed, "I knew I should never have let you two become friends."
Thea shushed him and waved him to the bathroom as she lifted the phone to her ear.