Only the strong survive

Chapter 1

Felicity was working late again at her father's company. Kuttler inc was one of the top three major companies in Starling City, at the moment. She should feel extremely grateful for the opportunity to help run her families company. If only she didn't feel so trapped by her father and her own biology. At age sixteen she presented as an omega much to her father's dismay. He insisted that it was going to ruin her life and she must stay on suppressants to protect herself. She wasn't really sure what could be so horrible about being an omega but she trusted her father at the time. Her mother Donna was a beta so she couldn't give her any incite on what to expect. Both her parents were betas so she assumed she would be too. Life could not be that easy.

Even when she went off to MIT her father kept her on a short leash. Insisting that she keep in contact constantly and concentrate on her studies only. She was still under age when she went off to college and her father insisted she stay away from all the boys. Despite her father's controlling nature, she was able to meet someone and date for a couple months. When she met Cooper she really had no intention of having sex. Cooper wanted more than she was willing to give so they eventually broke up.

She was now Vice President of Kuttler Inc. She had her own office and everything. Her assistant Gerry was amazing. He was always making sure she ate and he even helped her avoid her dad at most times. Her work load wasn't too bad today but she stayed late to catch up on some emails and sign some paperwork. She knew her father was still in the building. She could feel it.

She started to gather up her things to leave. She did not like being in the building alone with her father. Recently he had been drinking a lot and angry about everything. Her life has gotten a lot more complicated and she couldn't see any way out of it.

Flashback

Gerry poked his head into her office to let her know that her father requested her to come up to his office.

Felicity looked up from her work and glared at him

Sensing her annoyance, he put his hands up "Sorry Ms. Smoak. He refuses to take no for an answer."

"Okay. Give me one sec and I'll go see what he wants"

She immediately regretting taking her irritation out on Gerry. She was so tired of dealing with her dad while at work. He was drunk all the time. She was taking on more of his duties while he stayed in his office and drank all his problems away.

Felicity made her way to the elevator and hit the button for her father's floor. The elevator doors opened a few minutes later. Her father's floor was pretty much deserted except for her father's assistant Carrie.

"I'm here to see my father" Carrie glared at her as usual.

"Go on in"

Without sparing her a second glance Felicity pulls open the door to the office. When Felicity walks in she is surprised to find a couple other gentlemen sitting in front of her father. They stand as she enters. The younger man looks her up and down as she walks toward them making her feel instantly uncomfortable.

"Felicity" her father calls to her. "I want you to meet a couple people."

She smiles politely at them.

"This is Ray Palmer and his lawyer Mr. Anthony Phelps."

She knew Ray. Of course, she did. Everyone in Starling knew him. He was CEO of Palmer Tech. He was attractive but something was off about him. He was smirking about something and it was annoying her.

Felicity holds out her hand to shake their hands. Rays hand lingers longer than necessary.

"Nice to meet you both" she says then quickly takes a seat in the only other chair available next to Palmer.

She notices her father lean over his desk. "Felicity I need to speak to you about something very important." He pauses to gain her reaction.

"Dad what is it? I have a lot of work to do so get on with it"

"Felicity…. I need you to stop taking your supplements right away."

She stares at him for a moment before replying. "Are you serious?" Glancing over at the other two men for a second before glaring at her father again "Maybe we should discuss this alone." Suddenly becoming very angry that her father would bring this up in front of strangers.

Ray speaks up as her anger soars. "Felicity this involves all of us and I want to be a part of the decision making when it comes to you."

"I'm sorry. Why are you here again?" Felicity is ready to bolt when her father speaks up again.

"Felicity calm down. Ray being here is important too." Not giving her time to reply he continues. "You will marry Ray and bond with him so our companies can become one."

"I must have heard you wrong. It sounded like you just said you want me to marry this stranger to save your ass." Felicity has had enough. She suddenly couldn't breathe. She must get out of this office. Run. She needs some air. As she bolts out her chair and makes a beeline for the elevator, someone grabs her arm. Ready to claw her way out of its grasp. She is twirled around to the face of a very angry Ray who is grabbing her so hard she knows she will bruise.

"Your father has promised you to me and I will have you." He holds tighter as she shoves at him. She hears the elevator doors open behind him. She pushes him one last time and practically falls into the elevator. Hitting the lobby button, the last thing she sees is Rays angry face as the door closes.

The elevator doors open and she runs towards the exit. As soon as she makes it outside she feels immensely better. She must get farther away. She continues to walk hurriedly around the building.

She is not paying attention when she crosses the street. Staring at her phone she tries to text her mom. A horn honks and before she can look up she is grabbed and pulled back on the sidewalk just as a cab comes barreling by.

"Are you ok?" she barely registers the man's voice. The man that is still holding her on the sidewalk. There is a crowd starting to form around them. Suddenly annoyed. Has no one ever seen anyone almost face plant in front of a taxi cab. She feels the man behind her chuckle. She winces. "I said that out loud didn't I."

"Yeah you did."

She finally turns to see her savior in Armani. He has the bluest eyes she has ever seen.

"Here. Let me help you up." He pulls her to her feet. Looking her over. She has some scratches and a bruise on her upper arm. "I am so sorry"

She looks up instantly. Confused she asks "why? You saved me."

"I must have grabbed you too hard. You have a major bruise on your arm."

Her hand goes to her arm. "That wasn't you. Um… I already had it." Keeping her head down she didn't see his eyes widen as he gently pulled her from the side of the busy street. When she finally looked up, she was surprised to see anger in his eyes.

"Who?"

"What?"

"Who did that?"

"Oh." Her eyes casting down again. "It doesn't matter. Ill handle it."

"Let me help you." He sighed. "Please look at me"

She finally looks up to his blue eyes and his sad smile.

"No one can help me now." Tears welling up in her eyes. "I've just been sold to the devil."

End of Flashback