Thanks everyone for reviewing and following! This is a longer chapter than the previous one. I hope you will enjoy it!
They didn't talk about it, about what happened in Russia again. And from the day he caught her moaning, she made sure never to be in that situation again. But she couldn't help the stares, the babble or the drooling when he was too close to her, or training shirtless around her. She just acted as if everything was back to normal.
It wasn't true. Nothing was back to normal. She couldn't help thinking that it had to be her! There are so many women in Russia, and it had to be her! He knew that Isabel Rochev was the only woman she couldn't bear and yet he chose her. She couldn't have him, be with him: they were friends, she had a (big) crush on him but couldn't act on it. But it still felt like a betrayal because her crush slept with Isabel and her friend betrayed their friendship by sleeping with the only woman on earth she disliked.
She was at her desk, on her computers, doing some research for the Arrow. Oliver was training with Diggle, still shirtless. Diggle sensed a change in their behavior but never questioned them. He knew too well but to get involved in Oliver's relationships. Of course, that would not prevent him from protecting Felicity if it was needed.
Oliver's phone suddenly rang and he stopped training to answer it. It was Isabel Rochev reminding him of tomorrow night's videoconference. During the phone call, Diggle joined Felicity and they started talking, small talks only. When they heard Isabel's name, Felicity couldn't help herself but make a comment about it.
"That woman makes me want to puke!" she whispered.
Diggle raised an eyebrow, surprised at her sudden angst. Felicity ignored his questioning look and went back to their small talk, making him understand that they wouldn't talk about it. Then Oliver ended the call. They stopped talking and watched him approach.
"Well, it seems like the Arrow won't show up tomorrow night. I have to attend a business meeting. And I was told that even death wouldn't be a good enough reason for me to not attend it!" Oliver said, grimacing.
"So it means I can take a night off?" Felicity asked.
"Yes. Why? Do you have any plans?" Oliver asked suddenly intrigued.
"Maybe", she simply answered, not wanting to say anything else. It was really un-Felicity not to babble and just to give short sentences. But she knew that if she started, she would say things that she wasn't ready to say.
They resumed their activities: Felicity on her computers and Diggle and Oliver back to training. Then it was time for the Arrow to make an appearance. When Oliver was back from the mission, Felicity started sending messages at her friends that answered her rather quickly for this late hour. Yes, she definitely had plans for tomorrow night!
Felicity decided to dress a little sexy: a green dress (no, that color has nothing to do with a certain vigilante) rather short, with gold metallic heels. The doorbell rang and she understood that her friends were here, right on time (for once). A girl's night was all she needed at the moment!
At first, her friends suggested going to Verdant but Felicity strongly rejected the idea. They ended up in another club where Oliver was banished because he slept with the bride-to-be of the club's owner. They drank a lot, danced either together or with men, and suddenly Felicity felt her phone's vibrating. When she saw the caller's ID, she didn't want to answer it at first. But then she thought that there might be a problem and that her help was much needed. She excused herself to her friends and went out to take the call.
"Yes?" she asked when answering, her voice a little acute due to alcohol.
"Could you please come to the office? I'm so sorry to ask you that on your night off Felicity but…"
"Oliver, you're right! You can be sorry about it! Now why do you want me to come? Is it that urgent? I'm having a very good time right now and …"
"Please Felicity" he just said.
She couldn't resist when he was using that tone. "Okay, fine, I'm coming!"
She went inside the club to find her friends and explain the situation. When she arrived at Oliver's office, she stopped to take a deep breath and try to look as sober as she could. Sadly, she couldn't walk straight. Isabel Rochev was here, watching her coming in with a sufficient look. Oliver had an apologizing expression.
"You're finally here Faith. What took you so long?" Isabel didn't let her time to answer, obviously not caring about it. "So we need you to do your secretary's job and fax those papers now. And no, it couldn't have waited tomorrow morning.", Isabel said, throwing the sheets into Felicity's hands.
Oliver cleared his voice and first spoke to Isabel. "Her name's Felicity not Faith." And then he turned to Felicity and finally spoke to her. "Again, I'm really sorry. If this matter could have waited, I wouldn't have disturbed you during your night off…" he stopped, noticing her current, very-drunken, state.
And that's when Felicity went back to her usual self and started babbling.
"You already said you were sorry. And these papers better be of a vital importance! Because, you see, I was enjoying this night with my friends, at a club were you can't set a foot by the way because you slept with the club owner's bride-to-be. I was dancing with men that I know nothing about and that are actually interested in me for something else than my ability to fix computers. Not that I don't like being recognized for that because I like being recognized for my gifts with computers. After all, it proves that I'm very capable with my hands... Wait, I didn't mean it like that. I meatn it like … Oh my God!"
And then Felicity stopped talking to throw up ... on Isabel Rochev! Oliver just stared at the scene, not knowing how to act. Isabel at first stunned started yelling at Felicity and threatening to fire her, telling her what an incapable she was. She also used the same argument that she gave Oliver in Russia for him promoting her: she would never have been his secretary if it wasn't for her rather short skirts! Felicity didn't move, tears visible in her eyes, as she has just been called a whore!
Oliver immediately intervened and asked Isabel to not insult Felicity ever again (ask is not a strong enough term for it!).
"Put the cleaner bill on me" he said coldly before exiting, keeping a hold on Felicity.
He took Felicity to the floor's restroom. She finished emptying her stomach while he was holding her hair. Then he cleaned her face and decided to bring her home. They didn't exchange a word. On the drive home, Felicity looked out the window. He accompanied her inside her apartment, letting her go to the bathroom. He heard the water running. A few minutes later, it stopped.
"Oliver" Felicity said, almost a whisper and yet, he heard her.
He entered the bathroom, making sure to look everywhere except in her direction.
"Could you please help me, Oliver? I can't reach the towel" Felicity simply said, a little disoriented. She had to hold tight on the shower door to stand.
He nodded, still not looking at her. He spotted the towel near the washstand. He took it and held it out for her, closing his eyes. When she started putting herself in the towel, her skin brushed his hand for a second.
"Don't go down that road Oliver", he thought.
Then he turned, keeping his eyes closed, not trusting himself to not take a quick glance behind. He didn't know why he was acting like that. He shouldn't react like that!
Felicity changed into her pajamas slowly, too drunk to do it any faster. She was aware of Oliver's presence but her mind was too clouded by the alcohol to say anything or even be embarrassed about it. She was just glad he was there for her. When she was done, she approached him and he helped her getting into bed. She felt fast asleep. Oliver stayed all night in her bedroom, sitting in a chair by her window. He couldn't leave her alone in that state. He watched her all night. When it was morning, he had to leave to go to work. He left her a note on her night table, giving her a day (and night) off, and some meds for when she will wake up. He knew too well, from his pre-island days, how painful a hangover could be.
When she opened her eyes, she was glad he had left and that she didn't have to face him that day. She was also glad for the meds. She had a hell of a hangover!
"Felicity Megan Smoak, what have you done!" she asked herself, ashamed of herself, slowly recalling everything that happened that night. She didn't remember every second of last night but she remembered enough!
When she went to work the next morning, he didn't mention it. And she mentally thanked him for that. They never talked about that night… ever!
Please review thanks! I don't know when will be the next chapter, maybe at the end of the week. I have a lot of work to do and exams this week. So have a good week everyone :)