Disclaimer - I do not own Arrow.
He hoped his father would be proud.
He stood by the floor to ceiling windows in his sleek office, overlooking Starling City and its inhabitants, and thought of the new project that was about to be launched. Months had been put into this expansion, with it being the first major move of his career as CEO of the company, and he couldn't help but hope that the man that had raised him, the man that had instilled honor and pride into him, would now be looking down at him in approval.
Turning back to his mahogany desk, his eyes roaming over the documents that were scattered haphazardly across it, he couldn't help but think that this week would have been a hell of a lot easier if he hadn't gone out clubbing with Tommy a week ago. He never would have met her and his mind would be on the right track to solely concentrate on where it needed to be, Queen Consolidated.
Clearly fate had other plans.
Felicity Smoak.
The one woman he had not stopped thinking about since he had first laid eyes on her that night. Something about her had caught him in her web and he wasn't sure whether he wanted to be set free or not. She was like a mystery that needed solving and the more he thought about her the more the questions piled up. Who was she? What was her son like? Why did she live with her brother? Where was Emmett's father? Millions of questions had run through his head all week but one seemed to dominate them all. One that he should have been able to answer with ease but couldn't. Why did he even care?
It had started off as a one-night stand, and as history had proven he never got involved with his one night stands past the physical sense.
So what was so special about this girl? What made her so different from all the others?
As he opened his eyes that morning he realized two very important things, one being that it was still very early. The first rays of sunlight where only just beginning to peak into his bedroom around the heavy drapes of his bedroom and a cursory glance towards his alarm clock on the bedside table only confirmed his suspicions.
The second thing he noticed was the thing that had originally woke him up in the first place, the pale arm that was casually thrown over his midsection as its owner slept on her stomach facing away from him.
Thoughts of last night flooded back into his mind as he looked down at the woman currently dead to the world in his bed. The sheet that was covering her only reached her waist leaving the creamy unflawed skin of her back and shoulders free for his eyes to peruse. Her hair was strewn across his pillow in a beautiful tangled mess and he had to fight down the urge to touch the locks and see whether they were truly as soft as he remembered them to be last night or whether it was just his mind playing alcohol induced tricks on him.
Carefully, so as not to jostle and wake her, he lifted her arm and moved off the bed in the hopes that the distance would allow him to clear his head and get his thoughts together.
He looked over at the view below, seeing the first stirrings of life as the city woke up before him. A girl had never had this amount of pull on him, and the worst part about the whole thing was she seemed absolutely clueless to it all. She had gotten under his skin in the best possible way.
He turned back to face her, feeling the wave of possessiveness overtake him as he watched her sleep on his bed, her toned legs tangled in his sheets and blonde ringlets thrown across his pillow. This was ridiculous, he had to get away from her, had to escape the flame that he was drawn to like a helpless moth. He was sure that this would be another case of 'out of sight, out of mind'. In a week she would be nothing but a distant memory.
He ignored the voice in the back of his mind that sounded oddly like his sister that said he was already past the point of no return.
This wasn't working for her, and more than anything she hated technology not working for her. At this point she wasn't even sure whether it was her mind or the codes in front of her that were just not cooperating.
She sat in her brightly lit office using her fingers to massage her temples as she stared at the screen realizing that this is exactly what she had been trying to avoid; distractions. Because every single time she had been given a spare minute to think this past week her traitorous mind had drifted to Oliver. And his hands, his warmth, his weight on top of her, and all the other minute details that she remembered from that night.
She turned away from the screen, taking in her office and the colorful knick knacks that she had lying around on the shelves that stood against the main wall of her office. It was her own personal organized chaos and she loved it. She loved the bright picture frame on the top shelf that displayed Roy holding Emmett upside down by one leg with Emmett's face split into one of his widest grins that stood next to her Information Technology Encyclopedias. She loved the brightly painted sunshine statue that Jen had gotten her from Australia next to the fancy NASA-like stapler that Lyla had gotten her for last year's April Fools.
Her thirty second level office was perfect and she loved it, all splashes of color coming from her own personal items with light streaming in from the huge windows behind her desk. It really was the biggest shame that she hardly ever spent any time in it. While she loved writing codes and creating new programmes, her position incorporated a lot of travel between the branches of the firm both domestic and international to either set up new systems or upgrade their old ones. She loved the hands on approach to her job and the demand for her skills but she did miss being in one spot for a while every now and then.
When she had first come out of college she had applied for jobs in all the major companies that had a rapidly growing Applied Science division. Once receiving the acceptance letters for her apprenticeship she narrowed it down to the one based in Starling City, she had always loved the city when she had visited and the fact that it was on the other side of the country from her hometown certainly did have its advantages.
Here she was, seven years later, in a position that was unheard of at her age. She had been extremely lucky in the fact that her skills where noticed early on and she had a chance to prove herself, not long after which her apprenticeship was prematurely terminated and she had received a shiny new employment contract on her desk.
And now here she was, sitting in her office completely unable to focus on anything other than the man that was entirely too lickable for her liking. No one should be that attractive, it just wasn't fair to all the other males around him. Her professional mind set and demeanor had clearly decided to fly out the window this week because of it.
She wondered if she'll ever see him again but quickly brushed that thought aside. Between work and Emmett she didn't have time for a love life. After Barry died she wasn't sure how she would even juggle the two but one day Roy had shown up on her doorstep to stay the night and had never really left.
He had been in Central City for a couple of years and to this day she didn't know why he had shown up when he had, whether it was because he knew she needed him or whether he was the one that needed her after a particularly difficult time in his life she didn't know. But she was ever so grateful that he had shown up and now she couldn't imagine a life without him as a permanent fixture in it.
They had always been close, and even though he was younger than her he would always look out for her, it seemed like throughout her childhood he was the only one that understood the geeky girl that would rather be engrossed in the belly of a computer rather than being out with her peers.
And the way he had helped out with Emmett over the last couple of years was amazing. She had more often than not taken Emmett with her on all her business trips, especially the domestic ones, but sometimes it was out of the realms of possibility and she honestly thought that without Roy she would be out of a job. Or at the very least in a completely different position than she was in now, a mundane desk job that wouldn't be half as fulfilling as what she was doing now.
So back to the matter at hand, it wasn't that she didn't want to date per se, it was more that she just didn't have the time, Oliver being the one exception in all the years after her husband's death.
Oliver had been one hell of an exception.
When she had gone out with the girls tonight she hadn't expected this, to meet someone, and she certainly didn't expect to meet anyone like him.
And she hadn't expected him to step out from behind her as they watched the last of their friends leave on taxi's, only to clasp one of her cold hands in his large one, pulling her gently away from the taxi's lined up and waiting for the exiting party goers.
Catching her look of confusion his grin broadened, "Fancy a walk, its not too far from my apartment?"
Her nod was the only answer he received, as she was pretty much at a loss for words at the man before her. With the way she had been acting like a love struck teenager these past couple of hours she could probably use the walk to cool off. She stepped closer to him and he took the opportunity to settle an arm around her, using the excuse of body heat and needing to get her warmer in the cool night's air to get closer to her.
"So, where is your place exactly?" she hated to break the silence but amidst all her genius qualities, shutting up at the appropriate time was not one of them. The chuckle she felt rather than heard from him made her know that he didn't really mind the question.
"Park Street".
Her eyebrows rose and she was thankful that he couldn't see her reaction. Park Street was one of the most expensive streets in Starling and while she clearly saw by his suit that he wasn't a pauper, she hadn't expected this. Not that it made much difference to her all the same but knowing that he wasn't taking her home to steal her mobile and money was always a good thing.
They walked in comfortable silence for a bit until they reached the entrance to Starling City Park, at which he pulled her inside the archway towards the lane lined with street lamps and oaks inside.
Again he pulled out his smirk with a, "It's quicker through the park".
She should have been worrying that he was a serial killer leading her to her death. Or that he was a criminal waiting for the right opportunity to steal everything she had on her, which admittedly wasn't all that much. But in that moment she seemed to trust him, the look in his eyes made her want to believe in the hero inside for some reason.
And so against her better judgment she followed him, her hand firmly clasped in his as his thumb grazed her knuckles and she couldn't decide whether the simple movement was relaxing her or lighting a fire that could not be extinguished.
When they reached the middle of the park she physically faltered, almost tripping if it wasn't for his strong arm that curled around her waist with perfect timing. All because she thought she has stepped into a fairytale. Sure she had been in the park before during the day, she had eaten there and watched Emmett and the other children laugh, play and cry. She had watched lovers as they sat hand in hand as the trickle of water played a sweet melody for them in the background. But not once had she seen the park's Centre Fountain at night.
And it was beautiful.
It seemed to glow in the light of the street lamps almost a luminescent yellow, all angelic and regal looking before her.
And she couldn't tell whether it was the alcohol that was still in her system, her seemingly fairytale surroundings, or the man that stood in front of her now but the whole world seemed a little bit brighter, more colorful to her eyes.
And she drank it all in, not wanting to relinquish the feeling of freedom that was surrounding her, consuming her. That is until all she could feel around her was him, one of his arms around her waist and the other with its hand at her neck, bringing her ever closer into him, into his warmth. His fingers wove into her long tresses and she had to let out a moan of pleasure at the light tug that she felt at the nape of her neck. She in turn heard the answering groan from him as her nails, unknowingly and without her permission, started scraping at the back of his neck and shoulders.
She felt consumed by him
Heat. That was all he felt. Starting from their joined lips, it traveled down to his very toes, heating him from the inside out until he was sure his blood would boil.
The car alarm in the distance startled them both out of their kiss but he never surrendered his hold of her as both hands moved to frame her face and his forehead lent on hers. Their breaths mingled in the cool spring air and he felt a surge of pride at the way her breathing was labored, matching his, the way her pulse hammered under his pinky fingers on her neck, the way her lips looked swollen and perfect from his kiss.
And with that he plunged back in again, commanding and dominating, trying to take as much as she would give him. Because he was quickly coming to realize that he wanted a lot more from her than he had ever wanted before.
Yes, Oliver was certainly not what she had expected when going out with the girls tonight.
So yes, she hadn't been able to get him out of her head. Realistically she knew that any girl would have problems trying to get a man like that out of her head. There were only so much epic romantic fountains, washboard abs and heart shattering kisses that a girl could take. The man was the full package.
But she had to stop it and focus on her work, focus on things that had a chance of being possible, because she doubted she would ever actually see him again. Yes he knows where she lives, and yes that was possibly the best sex she had had in her entire life, and yes she knew where he lived but she never had been the type to chase down a guy. She refused to be a stalker on principle after a certain episode in college with a lacrosse player that she rather not think about. No matter how much she wanted to see him again, talk to him, kiss him, feel him.
But no, she had to stop with that train of thought.
So she got up and walked out of her office, picking up her friend Kelsey on the way to grab a cup of much needed coffee.
Kelsey was a bright young girl in her early twenties and amidst all the older colleagues that Felicity worked with Kelsey stood out like a bright light. She had over the years grown a weak spot for the girl and her idle chatter, and their coffee breaks that always led to the latest water cooler gossip from the bouncing brunette always helped Felicity wind down after a particularly stressful morning. Which is exactly what she needed this morning.
Kelsey gave her the usual unofficial rundown of office goings on that Felicity might have missed while she was away for the couple of days she had been out of the office, and they stepped inside the break room, both failing to see the man that was already inside and who had stilled at the sound of their laughter.
He couldn't tell whether it was his imagination or not but the sound of her laughter made his body respond to her proximity before his mind even had a chance to catch up to his actions. He turned and drank in the sight of her, grateful for a change that she was yet to notice him, giving him the perfect opportunity to observe her.
The biggest change he saw was the glasses that sat on the bridge of her nose, framing her eyes perfectly. She had obviously foregone them when she went out with her friends but now he could tell that this was more natural for her, more suited to her. He liked it more than he cared to admit.
His eyes travelled down, catching the sight of her exposed collarbone and the spot in her neck that he remembered to be extra sensitive. He let his eyes move down to the perfectly fitted yet still somehow professional navy dress that she had on, the patterns of yellow lace covering only her sides making his hands itch to graze up and follow said patterns.
His eyes were next drawn to her shoes and he had to repress a groan at the sight. This woman and her shoes were surely going to be the death of him. There was just no way for him to properly describe those bright yellow heels that made him weak at the knees from the sight of them on her shapely legs without doing them justice. He forced himself to look away moving back up her body until her reached her face again.
And it was as if she felt his eyes on her as she cocked her head to the side and her gaze locked on his. He watched as emotions played on her face from confusion, embarrassment, desire, shock and intrigue. She was frozen on the spot and clearly just as shocked to see him as he was her, if her stance was anything to go by.
What in the hell was he doing here? She couldn't believe he was actually standing in front of her, the man that had been on her mind constantly since first laying eyes on him. Kelsey's voice was melting into the white noise in the background as she continued to talk, failing to notice Felicity's preoccupation.
Getting herself together she ripped her gaze away from his blue depths, attempting to piece together what felt like pieces of a puzzle until everything clicked into place for her.
She threw a quick; "Got to go, forgot to do something", Kelsey's way and almost ran out of the room into the hallway and in the direction of her office as quick as her heels allowed her to go.
She usually loved the glass that surrounded her in her office. Not today. Not when she felt like she was about to either explode or have a nervous breakdown. Because of course he was here in her office now after following her all the way from the break room. How had she not put two and two together? She felt him rather than saw him behind her as she stood facing her desk, trying to even out her breathing to avoid the panic attack that was setting in.
She turned to face him, steeling herself for the truth that she wasn't ready to face yet even though everything was so glaringly obvious now. How had she missed it?
He could see her mind working at a rapid pace putting everything she had known about him together from when she had first met him. Honestly he was a bit surprised that she hadn't caught on sooner.
"Oliver…" her whispering his name made his mind flash back to her in an entirely different setting only a week ago.
Her back was flush against the back wall of the lift and she was grateful for the little amount of purchase that it provided, if it wasn't for it and Oliver's hard body pressing her into the wall she would have been a puddle at his feet by now. When her hands rose to his biceps he let out an involuntary moan, digging his hips further into hers in an attempt to ease the tension that was rapidly building in both their bodies even by a fraction.
He looked down at her, taking in her flushed face and swollen lips, loving the look that he saw in her eyes, the hunger and need that shone in those beautiful azure depths.
He both cursed and thanked the fact that his apartment was on the top floor of the building. On one hand he got to enjoy her being cornered into the back of the lift pressed tightly up against him just a little bit longer. However it also served to be a barrier, prolonging the time at which he would have her in his bed and under him while he studied all the spots on her body that made her scream.
So there he stood. Denying them both the contact that they both so desperately craved, knowing that if he kissed her now he would lose all his will power and take her right there and then. And while in the past that would never have been an issue for him, cameras and people that may be watching be damned, he wanted this to be special for some particular reason.
Something about this girl was special
"Oliver. As in Oliver Queen. Fuck, Of 'course. As in you literally own the building I'm standing in! And it never once occurred to you to tell me that you were my boss's boss!"
Her voice rose hysterically with each word she spoke but he couldn't help the smirk that was making its way across his face. Yes, he didn't just imagine the fire that he had seen that night, here she was before him, all light and fire personified and it was becoming increasing difficult for him not to reach out and touch her.
"No, I didn't tell you, but to be fair at the time I didn't know that you worked for me".
She felt her face heat up even more, anger giving way to the embarrassment she felt overtaking her. Of course he didn't know who she was. Hell she didn't know who he was at the time. This is not how one night stands work! Not that she had a plethora of experience in that department but that wasn't the point. The point was that he wasn't supposed to be as good as he was. He was supposed to be forgettable. And he was definitely not supposed to be her boss.
Her lack of response spoke volumes in itself and he decided to take pity on her, wanting to continue taking to her rather than have her disappear in a flowery scented cloud again. The same scent that had plagued him in his sleep every night as it clung to his sheets and pillow.
"How is your boy, Emmett?"
She looked surprised that he remembered her child's name, he himself was surprised with himself, but she thankfully choose to answer him rather than question.
"Good, he's good. He's got a martial arts competition coming up next week that he's so excited about," he watched as her eyes lit up as she spoke about her son, only to turn a little mischievous with her next sentence, "How's Tommy? He was a bit of a success with the girls last week".
His answer was accompanied with a grin as he thought about all Tommy had told him about her friend, "He's good, him and your friend Bianca got along just fine from what I heard".
She smiled too, Bianca had dished to her on Sunday with an excessive amount of detail that Felicity didn't ever need to know regarding exactly how friendly they had gotten. In the taxi. In the hallway of Bianca's apartment building. In her apartment. On her balcony. Felicity didn't think she would ever feel the same again in Bianca's apartment.
But thoughts of Bianca and Tommy led to thoughts to her and Oliver and that was just dangerous territory.
The bing of the elevator reaching his floor was like a calling beacon for him as he dragged himself away from her, his hand gliding down her arm to reach her hand and clasp it in his larger one, guiding her out of the lift and into the direction of the living room. He thanked the heavens the elevator went straight into his apartment and there were no doors or locks to hinder their progress any further. As soon as the doors closed they were a mess of clashing teeth, wandering hands and dueling tongues, both too consumed in the other to pay much attention to anything else.
That was until somewhere between the lounge room and his bedroom she took her heels off. His mouth was literally ripped from hers in his shock at the sudden height difference and a whole other surge of male dominance swept through him at this petite blonde in front of him. His hands made their way down her sides until they reached her thighs, gripping them to lift her up into his arms, making her dress ride up in the process as her legs wrapped around his hips.
However the scrape of lace that his fingers encountered at the top of her right thigh came as a surprise to him and he pulled away from her so that he could get a better look. The fabric looked stark white in the dim lighting and the contrast it made with her glowing skin only served to turn him on more.
She almost fainted when he placed her onto his bed and proceeded to make his way down her body trailing butterfly kisses as he went until he reached said garter. Which he then took off.
With his teeth.
He could pinpoint the exact moment her mind had gone to that night. Her eyes taken on a distinctive glassy look and he could tell that she was reliving the moments that they had shared together, much like he had done a countless number of times throughout the week and he was glad that she was just as affected by him and he was by her.
Because no matter how much he tried to convince himself otherwise this past week, this girl was different. She had gotten under his skin without even trying, without even knowing who he was, and while he wasn't sure where this was going he didn't want to let go of her just yet.
Yes they hadn't met under ideal circumstances, even if it had lead to phenomenal results, but there was no way he was letting her go a second time. Not when life was basically pushing them together. So he took a leap of faith.
"Can I see you again? Take you out to dinner maybe?"
He felt like a nervous teenager asking a girl out for the first time, but her own nervous chuckle and answering nod that was accompanied by a blush made it all worth it.
Maybe he really was over his own head with this girl.
- Stay safe everybody! Love to all - Stace