Author's Note: Here it is, chapter 2. If you like it hope you drop me a line or send me kudos. Or you can get in touch we me via the following:
Twitter - lollipopsays
Tumblr - lollipopdiaries
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
The AMAZING RACE
Chapter 2: The Race Begins!
Felicity Smoak looked around her bedroom and bit her lip as she finally took stock of how it looked like. Clothes thrown over furniture, her bed unrecognizable underneath the mountains of dresses scattered on top. Her closet had exploded, well not so much. She just took sometime and a whole lot of effort to locate that one dress, a gown really, that she had purchased more than a year ago on a whim but never wore.
She knew it was somewhere at the back of her closet, since she never really had any occasion to wear it before. She had bought it while on one of her very rare shopping binges, this one brought about by her celebrating what she considered as her very first milestone within QC when she was tasked to be part of a special project, personally handpicked by the CEO himself Robert Queen.
The dress had never seen the light of day, she really just fell in love with it the moment she saw it at the window of a dress shop never mind it costs almost as much as her whole take home pay for a month. It was love at first sight.
As she finally took out the dress, unzipped it from its bag, she smiled. Whatever awaited her tonight, she at least felt beautiful.
"Both of you look so pretty!" Laurel squealed.
Nyssa just rolled her eyes as Sara giggled knowing that Laurel's remark was more directed at Nyssa than herself. Nyssa almost never dressed up and by dressed up that meant the works, gown with 3-inch heels, hair that was fashioned as if a professional had styled it with full evening make-up.
"I know right!" Sara answered her sister, "and as usual you look stunning Laurel. Wow, someone is going to fall head over heels in love with you tonight," Sara winked at her sister, "I hear Mayor Blood is single…."
This time it was Laurel's turn to roll her eyes before turning to Nyssa, "just because you found your true love already sister, it doesn't give you free reign to play match maker at every occasion."
"Well, I can't help it. You deserve to be loved too. Maybe, Mr. Right will be there tonight. It's some kind of event anyway, I'm sure to who's who of Starling City will be dressed to the nines," Sara said as a last word before they all trooped out of the apartment for Starling Grand Hotel.
"Ollie!" Thea called at the top of her voice from the foot of the stairs before turning to Tommy, "he takes twice as long as I to get ready, he's such a girl!" Thea finished as if it explained everything.
"Now children, your father and I will go ahead. John Diggle will be driving you, that includes you to Thomas. You should be leaving in the next few minutes of you don't want to be late," Moira reminded Thea and Tommy before giving each a peck on the cheek.
Robert Queen followed Moira outside the door but not before winking at his daughter playfully, "see you later sport."
Thea turned her head back to the stairs and tapped her foot impatiently, "Tommy go fetch Ollie, I don't want to be late!"
Tommy looked at Ollie's little sister, for what it was worth, he considered her like his little sister too giving her a salute before he took to the stairs two steps at a time, "I'll get Ollie, you get John ready to go."
As they neared the entrance of the hotel, Thea finally commented on what she noticed earlier, "John, I couldn't help but notice that you look nice tonight, as in dressed up nice."
John glanced at his three passengers from the rear view mirror, "funny thing actually, Lyla, my girlfriend told me that she got an invite for tonight as a guest, we got the invite actually since it was sent to her but address to both of us. I did want to ask you about that Oliver, what's the event about tonight?"
Oliver frowned at what John shared, "I don't really know any details. Mom and Dad just were both insistent we be there. I didn't know you got an invite too. We could have had one of the other security detail to drive us tonight. Give you a chance to enjoy tonight."
"Well I don't know exactly what I'm supposed to enjoy since the invite didn't really say much. Lyla is taking a cab so we're meeting up at the lobby. It's all good." John told Oliver.
"Well, now I'm intrigued," Tommy inserted.
"Here we go," Thea said as they stopped in front of the hotel entrance, the car surrounded by paparazzi.
"Fancy seeing you here," Tommy inserted himself between the Lance sisters, Sara and Laurel then giving the third woman with them a not so subtle appraisal.
"Thomas Merlyn," Sara gave a small smirk, "since you are here, that means Ollie isn't far behind. Whoever organized this really went all out."
Tommy gave Sara the classic Merlyn grin that could drop panties, "and who might you be?"
Sara turned to Nyssa then back to Tommy, "oh right, you don't know each other. We haven't exactly been in the same circles for years. Nyssa, this is Tommy Merlyn, Starling City's resident bad boy billionaire, or least one half of the tandem. Tommy, this is Nyssa Raatko, my girlfriend," slowing down the last part to get a full on view of Tommy's reaction.
Tommy sputtered then coughed feigning that his drink went down the wrong pipe but the Lance sisters knew better, Sara had caught Tommy by surprise with her introduction with Laurel rolling her eyes.
"Hello Tommy Merlyn," Nyssa gave Tommy a very firm handshake, maybe squeezing a little bit too hard in the process.
"Wow, Nyssa a pleasure to meet you. Little Lance," turning to Sara, "you been planning that for a long time haven't you," pointing an accusing finger at her.
Sara just rolled her eyes and grabbed Nyssa's hand before she said, "my girlfriend and I need some alone time. I'm sure you can keep my sister company. Don't let Mayor Blood near her, I think he has the hots for her," winking before strutting away.
Tommy finally turned to Laurel Lance. Since they grew up together and Laurel had been an ex-girlfriend of his best friend Oliver, he had seen Laurel in a lot of occasions in Starling. They moved in the same circles after all, he as the heir and now senior officer in Merlyn Global and she as ADA. Although they had been friends, they hadn't had the opportunity to remain close friends since high school.
Tommy gave Laurel a subtle once over while her attention was elsewhere, she definitely looked beautiful tonight. He frowned remembering what Sara said earlier about Mayor Sebastian Blood, was Laurel seeing the young mayor?
He didn't get the chance to ask as Laurel suddenly told him there was someone she needed to talk to and left him standing alone in the middle of the room.
John Diggle was escorting his ex-wife/girlfriend toward the cocktail table where the Queen siblings had planted themselves.
People had been circling around the table of the siblings for the last half hour, mostly young women trying to get the attention of the older Queen but Oliver had stuck to the side of his sister. It was still a surprising sight to the elite of the City how much Oliver Queen had matured and changed for the better.
Gone was the time when Oliver and even Tommy would be creating headlines with their antics whether these be drunken ones or just scandalous sexy times.
Now a days, Oliver had stuck to the very image of a well behave young businessman. Maybe a little too well behaved for the paparazzi. They hadn't had a scandal to sell for a few years now that the notorious billionaire heirs had cleaned up their act.
But maybe all was to change tonight.
"Lyla," Oliver greeted her with a quick peck on the cheek. The siblings knew Lyla because she and John have been doing this merry-go-round for a very long time.
"Oliver, Thea," Lyla greeted the siblings then looked around the ballroom, "well, this is something."
"Yup, exactly what I was telling Ollie, there's mystery in the air, exciting," Thea finished by rubbing her hands together in anticipation.
"Did you notice they've been playing up the logo of that popular show, Amazing Race for the last half hour," John asked Oliver.
"Yeah, Thea couldn't stop talking about it. Thinks tonight is related to that. That somehow, they're planning that kind of show right here in Starling," Oliver said shaking his head.
"I was thinking the same thing, fancy getting a shot at being on the show. Maybe you and I Ollie could enter although, I think I'm better off picking John," Tommy interrupted them.
"Ahem, and let me do all the work? I don't think we will make it pass the first elimination if I was partnered with you Merlyn," John told him honestly.
"Oh, you wound me. I've been known to put up my share of the work," Tommy defended himself.
"Yeah, I'm not referring to your bedroom work," John told him right back.
Whatever was being said back and forth between John and Tommy was cut when Tommy noticed a long figure stride in, as did some others as heads turned toward the entrance, "I think I just died and went to heaven," was Tommy's dramatic statement.
Oliver had noticed the same woman too, who wouldn't. Somehow, she looked familiar but for the life of his he couldn't place her.
He was a little piqued to notice that other men had also stopped and stared at her. Who wouldn't, the dress she had just…there were not words to describe it. It was as if the dress was made with her in mind and only she could really give it justice. And that was just the front part of the gown, she turned slightly giving Oliver a view of her back. And fuck, it was bare for him and all to see. A man approached her giving her a grin which immediately made Oliver's insides twist, who the hell was the man. The man dared to lean forward and give her a soft peck on the cheek. The peck shocked to woman giving Oliver some relief knowing he was not a boyfriend and anyone remotely who could be defined as such if she was reacting that way to the touch.
A moment later they were joined by a woman who wrapped her arm around the man who gave the woman a peck. They were joined by Malcolm Merlyn, and his parents. His parents? How the hell did they know this beautiful creature.
Unmindful that he was leaving his friends in mid-conversation, he strode toward the other group.
"Felicity, of course I know her. She's one of our bright you people at Queen Consolidated. Moira, remember me telling you about the standout new recruit we hired straight out of MIT, this is Felicity Smoak," Robert said introducing her to his wife Moira.
"Ah, yes I remember the name being mention. You my dear made the right choice in choosing us over Wayne Industries and dare I say Merlyn Global?" turning to Malcolm as she said the last part in jest.
"Ah I see we lost another one to QC, well if Robert's praises are anything to go by, anytime you chose to leave QC, you have a job waiting for you at Merlyn Global," Malcolm said as way of introduction before shaking her hand.
"Did you just attempt to steal her right in front of me Malcolm?" Robert said jokingly.
"I'm your friend, I'd never do something like that behind your back," Malcolm responded.
Felicity for her part was overwhelmed at all the attention she was getting, these were owners of the most powerful and successful business to come out of Starling City after all.
Robert waved his hand at Malcolm before turning back to Felicity and gave both Slade Wilson and Isabel Rochev a confused glance that was read by Isabel as she told Robert and the rest, "Felicity was sent by your office to provide consultation for us in case we needed it for our production, she said she was the best."
Robert nodded, "she is, without a doubt."
Felicity blushed at the compliment but was confused by the next statement that left Isabel's mouth.
"We thank QC of course for even thinking about providing us with the assistance but we have everything under control. But, both Slade and I have something else planned with regard to Ms. Smoak's services, her services are still available for us right?" Isabel turned to Moira and Robert.
"Since QC is financing this together with MG then yes, anything you need," Robert answered for Moira and him.
"Then everything we need has just fallen into place," Isabel said with much glee echoed by Slade Wilson's smile.
"Hey Dad, Mom," Oliver moved forward to join the group.
"Oliver dear, join us. This is Slade Wilson and Isabel Rochev, they are producers of the Amazing Race, I'm sure you have heard of the show," Moira introduced Oliver to them as they shook hands before Oliver also shook the hand of Malcolm.
Isabel signaled Slade with a squeeze in the arm, a signal that was acknowledged by Slade as he said apologetically, "unfortunately I will have to leave you company as we have to get the program launch underway."
Last handshakes were made before Slade and Isabel walked away as Oliver finally turned to Felicity, "hello."
Felicity looked at Oliver blushing at the intensity of his gaze before Robert interrupted them, "Oliver, have you meet Felicity, Felicity Smoak. She works at our IT Department at QC."
"Oh, can't say I have. I would have made it a point to visit IT more if I knew Ms. Smoak was working there."
Moira gave her son a pointed look while Robert just gave Felicity an apologetic look before chastising his son, "Oliver, Felicity is a valuable asset of our company. She is part of a lot of our special projects."
Oliver raised a brow at his father's statement, he knew well enough to know that to be a part of the special project team of QC, an inter-department team formed precisely for the purpose of special applied sciences projects, one had to be very, very good.
Any further thoughts Oliver had were interrupted as the lights deemed as the opening jingle of the Amazing Race started to play in the background as full volume.
After almost thirty minutes of a brief video about the Amazing Race and speeches from the major of Starling city and its local sponsors represented by Moira Queen and Malcolm Merlyn for QC and MG respectively, the executive producer Slade Wilson and his associate producer took to the stage to introduce the host for the special edition of the race that apparently Starling City was having right at the City. Walter Steele was introduced as the host and he promptly introduced the five teams for the mini-race that was to be for six weeks.
Already called as teams for the race and already on stage where –
Nyssa Raatko and Sara Lance, the first team to be introduced.
Thea Queen and Roy Harper was next called, making Thea jumped in excitement and trash talk the team of Sara and Nyssa which the women's team accepted gamely.
Next called was John Diggle and Lyla Michaels much to the surprise of both John and Lyla as well as Oliver as he loudly cheered for his bodyguard..
The next name called was Laurel Lance who slowly walked on up the stage and looked at her sister with a small smile before she looked at Walter Steele, nervously wondering who would be called up to team up with her. As Tommy Merlyn's name was called, Tommy gave a loud whistle as Laurel rolled her eyes, looking at her sister as if to say, okay I concede. Tommy stupidly attempted to high-five Laurel before he himself started to trash talk the four other couples.
Then finally Oliver Queen's name was called. Although he should have anticipated it given the other names called on stage, he was still a little shocked to hear his name called and as he approached the stage he wondered who would be paired with him, all the usual suspects where all on the stage already so his teammate was going to be a surprise even to him.
Oliver searched the crowd for familiar faces so he could anticipate who would be partnered with him but found no one remotely plausible unless it was his Dad or Mom, which if he watched the show was completely possible although he prayed that was not it.
His eyes finally rested on the person beside his mother, Felicity Smoak praying to the gods that it would be her. He ran through what he remembered of what the Race was all about, traveling around the world, going through obstacles and challenges together while being with his teammate 24/7. Yes, he prayed even harder to the gods that it would be Felicity Smoak.
When the announcement came, Oliver didn't even register the name. All he saw, because his eyes remained glued to her the whole time was Felicity's surprise and shocked reaction, then his mother gently pushing her toward the stage area.
Oliver didn't register Felicity's approach on stage until she was almost beside him because he had to tilt his head to the side as he continued to follow her movements, a little confused at first why she stopped beside him before it all finally registered.
Felicity was going to be his partner for the race. He felt Tommy's heavy arm tap him in the back before he turned to Felicity who was looking at him with a scared expression on her face.
"Hello partner," Oliver told her giving her a rare sincere smile.
Oliver's smile faltered a little as Felicity's expression morphed into one that clearly said, "I've been partnered with an idiot! I've lost before the race even began."
"We have this, we are going to win this," Oliver told her with full confidence.
Felicity however continued to look at him as if he was crazy.
Well his partner definitely was much less enthusiastic about this development. He looked beyond her to assess the competition for the first time, Nyssa/Sara, the ladies where going to be seriously challenging them, so where John and Lyla with their military background and the added advantage of knowing each other very well, Thea and Roy, well he didn't really know to boy well enough except to know he was good-for-nothing, Laurel and Tommy where a surprise pairing but knowing Tommy, he knew if he focused his mind, he, they could beat them.
But for that to happen he needed his partner to be 100% with him. He had the disadvantage of not knowing anything about his teammate compared to the others.
Again, he has given no time to ponder as the announcer Walter Steele said that the race was beginning right now.
Did he say, now, as in right this moment.
All the other teams started to move forward except for him and Felicity. She continued to look at him funny.
"Weren't you listening," she rolled her eyes at him, "we are suppose to go outside, at the hotel entrance and get our pre-packed knapsacks since the race already started.
Oliver looked at her blankly for another five seconds before he gave her a large grin, "then what are we waiting for, let's go!" he grabbed her hands as he all but pulled her outside the hotel.