Felicity headed for the elevator as quickly as possible before the doors closed on her and took her up to the top floor where the board meeting would take place. The meeting wasn't until 9. It's only 8:40.
Once she got to the top floor, Felicity stepped out of the elevator but not without tripping on her heels and nearly fell forward. Luckily, she was saved as a pair of hands grabbed waist and straightening her up.
"Careful, Miss Smoak, you wouldn't want to get hurt." And it had to be Slade. That was when she came to realize she almost fell in front of everyone present for the board meeting. Kill me now. This is the last time I am wearing heels for work. Felicity watched Slade looking up and down at her, probably admiring her dress.
"You look lovely," he smiled softly which kind of surprised her.
"Thanks," she bit her lip again. This was embarrassing. I'll plan out my funeral later.
"You forgot to bring the coffee, Miss Smoak," Isabel sneered at Felicity.
Oh, right, I knew I forgot something. Felicity wasn't going to risk falling again going up and down the elevator to get coffee. If Isabel wanted coffee she could get it herself.
"Oh, sorry, the coffee maker broke," she lied apologetic.
"Then, why don't you go down stairs to fetch some at the coffee shop across the street?" Isabel asked. Bitch.
"Miss Rochev," Slade raised his voice slightly, which kind of startle Isabel a bit, "Let's not be rude today. We are all tired today but there is no reason to be rude to our IT girl."
"Exactly. IT girl," she gritted her teeth at Felicity.
Yeah, that's right, I'm the IT girl. Also, itgirl.
"Miss Smoak will be joining us today in the board meeting," Slade said before paying attention to his investors. Bruce Wayne. Ray Palmer. Lex Luthor. Arthur Light. A young boy was sitting on a seat, wearing a professional suit just like the others and reading one of Charles Dickens' books. Felicity found it creepy that a kid is wearing an expensive suit and reading a Dickens books. She thought of Hannibal Lecter from the prequel movie. He must be Mr. Wayne's ward, as Slade had said. If only Mr. Wayne knew that this is a company, not a daycare center. "I hope you don't mind. She is my assistant. Miss Smoak, I'd like you to meet Bruce Wayne, Ray Palmer ―."
"And I know their names," Felicity said before he could finish. She wasn't stupid not knowing the names of Queens Consolidates' competitors. Of course, she didn't know the name of Mr. Wayne's ward.
"Um, Mr. Wilson, Miss Felicity Smoak is my assistant," Oliver corrected. Actually, Ollie, I only work for you when you're the Arrow, here, I don't really work for you.
"Mr. Queen, since this is no longer your company, she no longer works for you," Slade tells him, "She works for me. And so do you."
But I still work for the Arrow, Deathstroke. Don't you forget that? Felicity thought. But of course, Oliver shut up after he said that.
"Now, let us begin our meeting," he said as they all entered the office. The ward stayed behind.
"Damian, are you staying put or are you coming?" Mr. Wayne said to the young boy reading. The boy didn't look up from his book. So, his name is Damian. Weird.
"I tend to find your meetings quite unamusing," the boy said.
"So you'll wait here?" he asked.
"No, I am simply expressing my thoughts," he clamped the book shut and got up. He walked passed Bruce Wayne and then Felicity Smoak who was holding the glass door for them. The boy named Damian looked up and down at Felicity. "Good morning."
"Would you like something to drink?" she asked him. The boy looked a lot like Bruce aside from having green eyes and slightly darker skin.
"No thank you. Didn't you say the coffee maker was broken?" he smirked before walking into the meeting room, leaving Felicity wide-eyed.
Okay, that was a bit disturbing, Felicity thought as she shut the door once Bruce Wayne finally entered. I was just going to offer him some water but…he knew that I was lying?
Oliver was standing right next to Felicity and he didn't seem pleased at the attire she was wearing. He kept looking up and down at her with a frown on his face as if he never saw her wearing these kinds of dresses before. Felicity worn those dresses before every time she became bait for another of his missions as the Arrow which was sort of fun but it was not cool, like at all. So, he shouldn't be surprised if he saw her wearing another dress right now.
"What are you wearing?" he whispered to her.
"It's a dress, Ollie," Felicity whispered back.
"No, I mean why you are wearing it now?" he asks.
"Sorry. Mr. Wilson's orders."
"For what?"
"Beat's me," she lied.
The board meeting was kind of boring. Now Felicity knew why Slade wanted her to read out the terms out loud. He had already been standing half-an-hour explaining the current situation of the Queens Consolidated, how the aftermaths of the earthquake left disastrous economical results for both the company and the entire Starling City. Of course, many people had taken advantage of stealing money from banks after the earthquakes. They even stole a large portion of money from the QC which was now threatening the very existence of the company. Without investments, it was clear that QC would be bankrupted and threatened to be shut down permanently. It would make perfect sense. Of course, most of the explanation was making Felicity dizzy all the while and for a second she thought she saw Mr. Arthur Light nodding off and struggling to stay awake during the board meeting. Felicity pressed her lips together to avoid laughing. This guy is just as bored of this meeting as I was. She could also see Bruce Wayne's ward, Damian, trying to avoid laughing.
Felicity knew a lot about Arthur Light. He owned Light Industries back in New York. He was a scrawny-looking guy in a black and white suit, and had a very creepy pale face with ice blue eyes and beak-like nose. He somehow reminded Felicity of an old ally of hers while she was still studying at the MIT. What was his name again? Oswald? Oswald Cobblepot. Yeah, that's him.
Felicity wouldn't consider Oswald a friend. He was more of an acquaintance. He wasn't the kind of person you'd want to be friends with. He is a little bit ill-tempered and always liked being right in everything even if he's not right in everything. Also, he's sort of a conman and I do not make friendship with conmen like Cobblepot. We're still in touch though. He's, unfortunately, on my contact list on my phone. I only call him when I need him to do me a favour. One thing for sure is that Oswald is a man of negotiation and not a man of charity. If you want Oswald to do something for you, you have to do something for him. The very reason I try to avoid asking help from him as much as possible. One time, I asked him if he could tutor me on my Math homework, he asked me if I could model for him in a bikini in return and I was all like "Oh hell no!" and asked someone else instead. Oswald knows me to well, you can ask for any favours you want as long as it does not involve sex or me modeling in a bikini. He respects me.
But Arthur Light was another story. He was no Oswald Cobblepot. He was no friend of mine or an acquaintance. He was a bad man. And Oliver knew that too. He was arrested more than 40 times for aggression and rape and/or attempts of rape on young girls. One involved a girl named Carrie Kelly. Poor girl. Oliver was keeping a strict eye on Arthur Light for any signs of attempts towards her or Isabel. She just didn't see why Slade wanted that bastard as an ally for the Queens Consolidated.
Only 30 minutes later passed when Slade sat back down on his chair and eyed at her. I think that's my cue to take his turn. Okay, Felicity, let's see what you can do. Don't go flirty in front of the investors. Just try to act like your natural self. Charts appeared on the screen that was pulled down early before the meeting began.
When Felicity stood in front of everyone, she froze. Not again. It was that stupid stage fright she had since she was little, every time she had a spelling bee contest, a school play or a ballet recital. It was embarrassing for her. Felicity didn't even know what to say and everyone just kept staring at her, including Bruce Wayne's ward with the creepy green eyes. That was when Mr. Wilson gave her a clipboard with the papers she probably needed to read out loud. Felicity slightly turned to the chart but not turning her back on the others either. One thing my mother taught me is to nerve turn my back to the audience.
"According to the charts, the ratings on our investments to Queens Consolidated is down by 59% which is ten times lower than the ratings that we had before which was 70%. The percentage of investments dropped drastically over the last two weeks," Felicity explained, glancing both at the papers and at the investors.
"And by what percentage was QC before the 59%?" Felicity heard Lex Luthor ask. She gulped nervously and tried very hard to keep her hands from shaking. She saw the boy whisper something to Bruce Wayne, only to be hushed.
"Um, two weeks ago, the investments on Queens Consolidated were down by 64% percent. The investments began to drop when the earthquake passed. It seems that the former investors of the company no longer wished to work Moira Queen after learning her involvement of the earthquake," Felicity read and immediately shut her mouth after the reading that last part. What the fuck? Who the heck wrote this?
"Of course, my mother had already apologized for the incident of the earthquake and wanted to prove that she can still do good for the city by becoming mayor of Starling City," Oliver said sternly. He seemed offended that people were still blaming Moira for the earthquake. Damn. "The least the people can do is giving her a bit of sympathy now that she's dead."
"They give you and Thea sympathy," Isabel retorted, "They don't really care about Moira. They simply feel pity over you two since both of you is still children."
"Sympathy is not really saving the company, is it?" the boy Damian snickered.
"Damian!" Bruce snapped, "Stop that."
He stayed quiet but Felicity could tell that he was not happy about being shut up.
"If the investments continue to drop, then Queens Consolidated will shut down indefinitely," Oliver said.
"And what do you think we should do about it?" Bruce Wayne asked, "It's your company now, Mr. Wilson, and you should know what to do with the situation. Why don't you ask Mr. Queen since he was the heir to the company?"
She noticed Slade glaring at Bruce Wayne. It was not the first time. Bruce Wayne was a bit difficult to work with. Oliver told her so. He could be quite arrogant and broody. And he had a very bad attitude. Felicity could tell by the way he spoke to the boy. Slade did not seem to like working with Bruce Wayne. Felicity, on the other hand, had a very fearful respect for Mr. Wayne. He was kind of scary even though handsome, if you thought about it.
"I am practically pleading, Mr. Wayne," Slade told him before turning to Felicity. He wanted her to continue.
"I think what Mr. Wilson is trying to say is that he wishes to form an alliance with each of your companies. Wayne Enterprises. Lex Corp. Light Industries. Palmer Technologies. You are all known for your great companies. If you help us invest in our company to reach its 70% or more, you'll be rewarded with 40% of what the company earns…"
WTF? Is Slade really asking for this? Is he really going to sell out Oliver's company to these people without Oliver's consent? This is complete bullshit. Oliver is certainly not going to agree with this.
"You're kidding me, right?" Felicity heard Oliver say. She could see the hurt in his eyes. Oh God. "Slade, you're selling my father's company!?"
"He's not selling it, Oliver," Isabel stood up with her hands behind her back, "We're simply trying to invest this company back on float, with the help of other companies. Mr. Wilson will still be CEO of Queens Consolidated. The only difference is that 30% of what the companies owns will be transferred to the others companies, if they agree of course."
Hey, Miss Bitch-a-lot, it's almost the same thing. Slade would still be selling out the company by giving them 30% of the profits and to be honest, that didn't seem like a very fair negotiation for Oliver. Unfortunately, he had no say in this. He's no longer the owner, unfortunately. Shit. Why did Slade involve me in this mess?
"I don't think this is a good idea," Oliver said.
"You don't have a say in this, Mr. Queen," Isabel said, "You are no longer the owner of this company. Slade Wilson is now."
Suddenly, Oliver stood up and calmly left the board meeting, leaving Felicity alone with the others. Oh, thanks a lot, Ollie. Felicity knew what it meant. He was going back to the Arrowcave and lash out his rage on punching bags, the sticks, the salmon ladder and a few drinks before calling Diggle for his next mission. She would give him an update. I just can't believe he left me here alone with these people.
"Please, forgive Mr. Queen, he is still mourning over his mother's death and is trying to cope with the fact that Mr. Wilson is now in charge of the company." Isabel said with the same smug look on her face. You have already mentioned that, you stupid cunt. I ought to rip your hair out for this. And as for you Slade…she really had no idea what to do with Felicity since she already had the ability to rip her limbs with one tug.
"It's no problem," Ray Palmer suddenly spoke up, "but we're still not sure if we can trust uniting our companies with yours after your previous situation. We'd had to put a lot of thought into all of this, don't you agree, Mr. Wayne?"
"I believe so," he said. Finally, someone of voice of reason. "This does not change the fact that Moira Queen was infamous for her outrageous alliance with Malcolm Merlyn before the quake."
"Why can't we just raise the taxes from the habitants of the city?" Mr. Light asked. Wow, for the CEO of medical implements department, he was really stupid. Caitlin once told her that Mr. Light once worked for S.T.A.R. Labs once but was fired for being a psycho. Felicity thought he was fired for being dangerously stupid.
"We're the CEO, not the government," Felicity suddenly said out loud, "We're not in charge of changing the law or rising taxes. And if you forget, the previous mayor was assassinated and Sebastian Blood is still running as candidate even after Moira Queen died."
"We could always ask Sebastian Blood to do us the favour?"
That is if he ends up being the mayor of Starling City, idiot.
"Would you rather save the company from bankruptcy or be chased by an angry mob of citizens with pitchforks and flamed torches?" Felicity said. Shit. Why can't I shut up? I want to die right now.
"Miss Smoak, I don't think you have the right to speak to our clients this way," Isabel almost snarled at me. Damian seemed to find it funny since he almost burst out laughing.
"Unfortunately, Miss Smoak is correct," Slade said, "We must find a way to insure the company without driving the city into poverty more than it is right now. And allying ourselves is the best solution for us. You will have time to think if you wish to work with us or not. 23 hours and that's all I will give. Do you agree?"
"I do not agree with the fact this company was first owned by Moira Queen before being handed over to Oliver Queen but this place does have its appeals," Lex Luthor eyed at Felicity. Well, it meant that Slade's scheme was working but she still did not agree with him selling the company to separate industries. This can't be happening.
"Well, now that we've got this discussion settled, I believe it's time for lunch," Slade stood up and adjusted his dark red tie before looking at Isabel, "Have you made reservations for lunch?"
"I thought that was the IT girl's job," Isabel mocked her. There's something called the Internet which is something you have access to.
"I was unaware I had to make a reservation," Felicity said. Slade gave her a strange look. He wasn't really angry with me. He seemed puzzled that she didn't know she was forced to make a reservation for lunch with the other CEOs.
"We will solve this on the way," he said. The others followed Isabel out of the conference room.
Felicity could hear the boy complain to Bruce Wayne about how the meeting was still boring but was still amused because of the argument. Felicity didn't see how a fight for the company was funny. "The executive assistant is cute," he had said, "not your type though."
"And what would you know what my type is?" Bruce asked.
"I know very well of your taste in women," Damian said.
"And what makes you think you can talk to me like that?" Bruce said sternly. The boy only smirked.
"Well, I am just a ward, now am I? I'm not officially part of the family."
"I should have left you back home with Alfred."
"Maybe you should have. I find Pennyworth more entertaining than your meetings and yet he stills bores me to sleep."
Felicity cleaned up a few things. Papers scattered on the table and the screen still pulled down. She also worked to do. She couldn't believe Slade made her do that bullshit. She was really mad at him right now.
"Would you care to join us for lunch, Miss Smoak?" he asked. Felicity forgot he was still here. Fuck.
"I have a lot of work to do, Mr. Wilson," she told him, "Besides, I'll order lunch in some place less expensive, if you don't mind. There's this new meal at Big Belly Burgers across the street I wanted to try. Also...who the hell brings a kid to a board meeting?"
"Mr. Wayne apologized early for that predicament," he said, "But since the boy is his ward, he thought of showing him around before adopting him."
"I think he should reconsider," she pointed out, "Has he seen the movie Orphan or Joshua? Or The Omen? He better pray that that kid doesn't end becoming the next Hannibal Lecter."
The papers suddenly slid from her fingers and fell scattered to the floor.
"Crap," she grumbled before kneeling to pick them up one by one. To her surprise, Slade was also kneeling on the floor and was helping her pick up the papers. "I got 'em."
"I thought you'd needed help," he said.
"Thanks but I can handle this myself," Felicity snatched the papers he had in his hand and gathered them all in hers before standing up. He stood up as well and gave her a frown. She didn't want him helping her. She didn't want him anywhere near her.
"Have I done something to offend you, Miss Smoak?" he asked.
"Oh, jeez, what do you think?" she asked sarcastically, "I was used as a pawn to persuade men into working for you only to find out I was helping you selling out the company to the Queen's competitors."
"I am not selling the company, Miss Smoak," he frowned at her.
"Sure looks like it," Felicity retorted, "Now I feel like I just betrayed my friends."
"Mr. Queen no longer owns the company, Miss Smoak, which means you no longer work for him."
"Even if Oliver no longer owns this place, I still work for him in other ways, if you know what I mean…and not in a sexual way before you say anything," Why the hell did I say that last part?
"I take it not much else." Damn it. I hate this guy. Good thing I'm a calmed person and don't lash out like Oliver does.
"Look, I understand that you and Oliver have some kind of feud for what happened at Lian Yu but I have limits to how much I can get involved. I help Oliver take down villains. I don't help villains take down Oliver. And I will not allow you to use me as a pawn against my friend. The next time this happens again, I am quitting Queens Consolidated, do you understand?"
"So, I'm guessing you won't be aiding me in the next board meeting," he chuckled. He really thinks this is funny. He's enjoying this. He did this on purpose, I know it. How dare him! Felicity found Bruce Wayne's ward more tolerable than this man.
"Yeah, that won't be happening again," I rant before leaving the conference room, "Ever!"
Stupid, stupid, stupid. Felicity should have known it was all a trick, making her an accomplice of selling the Queen's company. If she ever had to go through that again, she was bailing the city, not caring what Oliver would say. Felicity would not be toyed with anymore. Slade was going to know that Felicity was not that blonde innocent and naïve IT girl he thought she was. Felicity hated him for that. He's going to pay for this…right after I have my lunch at Big Belly's Burger.
Felicity heard they had this new special. Cheese n' Steak Burger. The good thing about Big Belly's Burger was that it was nearby. She simply had to cross the street and walk two blocks. She ordered her burger along with a bottle of water and a chocolate milkshake. She liked chocolate. Betty always gave Felicity her usual order which was bacon cheese, so, she was surprised when Felicity told her she wanted to try the new special today. At least she knew she liked chocolate milkshake. Felicity wondered if Rachel would like Big Belly Burgers. She promised her she would take her here on Friday with the permission of the caretaker. Felicity always asked permission before taking Rachel out. Maybe she would like Big Belly Burgers.
"So, how's your mom?" Betty asked.
"Um, Donna's fine. She says she might come down here to Starling City to visit."
"She better not wear that dress she wore here like last time," Betty hissed, "I almost got sued for public nudity."
"She wasn't even naked," Felicity chuckled.
"Yeah, but did you see the damn dress she was wearing?" She then disappeared into the kitchen.
Felicity remembered. Donna came here in a blue veil dress that was showing her bra and panties, and the manager almost called the police and nearly got Betty fired. Felicity even told Donna to never enter dressed like that again. But Donna was a cocktail waitress working at a strip club. Can you blame her?
"I'll tell her to wear something appropriate when she comes here."
"Felly?"
Felicity froze at the mention of her nickname. A lot of people called her Felly but it had been a while since anyone had called her by that name. The only people she knew that ever called her that was her mother, Donna, Michael and…Oh no.
Felicity turned around and there he was, giving her the smile. The smile that tormented her in her nightmares for more than 20 years.
"Aren't you going to give the old man a hug?"
Colton Smoak. Her father.
"Colton. You're here?"
"Colton? Wow, I'm a bit disappointed you called me that. I expected for you to at least call me Dad."
"Well, that is your name…What are you doing here?" Felicity asked, making sure her voice wasn't squeaking. She felt the knot in my stomach tightening. Why can't he just go away?
"I came to see you after all these years. I heard you were living here in Starling City and I thought that you and I could catch up."
"I'm actually working," she lied. She had an hour of lunch break. "I only have a five minute lunch break."
"I thought we might talk for a few minutes."
"Yeah, but as you can see. I'm very busy, so, we'll talk later," she told him, quickly grabbing her take-out bag and my milkshake. She needed to get away from him as soon as possible. She didn't want him anywhere near her. She didn't want anything to do with him.
"Felly, wait…Felly."
Felicity ignored him and walked out of Big Belly Burgers as quickly as possible, trying to get a good distance from him. She tried very hard not to cry as she crossed the street (looking both ways first, of course) and returned to Queens Consolidated. She wasn't planning on eating at her workplace. But now that her father was back, she didn't have much of a choice. She don't want him here. He had already ruined her life. He was the reason her mother's dead. Felicity never wanted to see him again as long as she lived.
