Oliver wanted to make his wrong a right. He got into the car and started the engine faster than intended and speeded on to where Felicity was. He saw the clock on his dashboard. It was already 9:15. The inauguration would have started.
"We're late Oliver." Tommy called out as a reminder.
"I know." Came out a lot more louder than usual.
"Felicity! Fe-li-ci-ty! FELICITY!" Oliver called out. He had caught up by then. She didn't even respond. Oliver felt horrible.
"Why isn't she turning back?" Oliver asked Tommy. "I've called her three times."
Tommy looked over at his best friend to see he genuinely felt bad. This was improvement like major improvement.
"Say sorry!" Tommy prompted him.
"I'm so sorry Felicity! I truly am. Get in the car." Oliver hollered to her. Everyone started looking at both of them as Oliver drove the car inch by inch with Felicity walking forward. Finally she stopped and Oliver halted the car.
"I'm not getting in because you said sorry but I'm getting in because everyone is looking at us and the last thing I need is a cop to think you're assaulting me or something." Felicity said and got into the car.
Oliver tried to make small talk with her but Felicity was really angry at his behavior. She knew who Oliver was at least superficially that she was ok to get into his car but he was like all the snobs in the city.
They drove to the building in silence after small talk became futile. Thankfully the event hadn't started. Moira seemed very perplexed and with an expression of why-is-my-son-so-late expression.
"You're lucky Oliver. Dad isn't here too. Get out fast." Tommy hurried Oliver out.
"I'll be with Felicity. Laurel said she would be here too." Tommy turned to tell Felicity but she had opened the door and gone out. "She left Oliver! Ok, I'm going to meet Laurel. Let's go out for lunch after this." Tommy dictated an itenary of joblessness as usual to Oliver. "Find Felicity." Tommy poked a finger at Oliver and left.
"Oh god." Oliver moaned. He didn't care he was late. He was angry that he had treated her like this. Many women he'd met never really cared about his stupid behavior but Felicity was surely different in his eyes. She'd said no to him. No one said no to him. Women died to be with Oliver. Felicity wasn't like other women. He liked that about her and never seen anyone like her.
"Felicity wait!" Oliver hollered into the crowd but she had disappeared into it. Oliver moved into the front and near to his mother who was waiting near the stage. Everyone was waiting for Robert Queen.
"Where were you? I told you to be here at 9. It's 9:30. What happened?" Moira demanded from her son who looked very tensed. She'd not seen him like this before.
"I had to pick up a friend on the way. Anyway dad is late so why are you yelling at me?" Oliver spat out to Moira. "Manners Oliver." Moira rolled her eyes at her son. He had a long way to go from being this playboy to a real man who owned up to himself.
"You asked for him he's here." Moira pointed out Robert Queen. He looked good for his age. Silver hair lined his head. He was oddly clean shaven for the event. His trademark was his beard which was also silver. He wore a grey suit and looked very chic in it. No wonder women threw themselves at Robert. He looked handsome and pretty fit.
He shook some hands on the way and made his way to Moira Oliver and Thea who made her way from the crowd to them.
"Thea! Hi darling." Rob greeted Thea and then shook hands with Oliver kissed Moira and got up on the stage to make his inauguration. Oliver mounted the stage with his parents and Thea. Rob started the speech for the inauguration. Oliver didn't even paid heed to what he was saying. He scanned the crowd to find Felicity. She wasn't difficult to spot with her bright blonde hair. It was the first time he noticed her properly after the commotion in the morning.
She was not way too thin but looked the right size. Felicity still stood with her left heel still broken. Oliver made a mental note to buy Felicity a pair. She had bright blonde hair with a pair of rectangular glasses that looked oddly nice on her. She wasn't too tall Oliver guessed. She wore a bright colored lipstick that suited the tone of her face. She looked cute according to Oliver. He saw her looking at him and smiled but she looked away.
After the inauguration speech was over about the new facilities and the jobs that had been given to the people in their new office Robert opened up the building and let everyone get on with their jobs.
Oliver tried finding Felicity but she was nowhere to be found in the crowd.
At QC after the event
Her department head had shown her around the place and explained what she had to do. It wasn't a taxing job but it was a good job to learn from and gain experience. She quickly ran to her desk so she wouldn't have to be seen limping about in office. The office was bustling with activity.
The first thing she did was call Anna. "Hey, are you free for lunch?"
"It's going to be tight. Do you need shoes?" Anna asked concerned for her friend.
"I do. Let's go buy them. I'll pick up something to eat on the way. No one can find out if I eat here."
"Done. 12:30 I'll come to your office?"
"Yeah 15th floor. With the I.T. department sign on the door." Felicity looked at her door and told her friend.
"Ok babe. Tell me all about your day when we meet. Did you meet Oliver?" Anna asked enthusiastically.
"Meet me for lunch Anna." Felicity replied curtly.
"Wait what happened? Is everything alright?"
"Yeah, just came soon ok?" Felicity's voice came out more irritated then usual.
"Take care." Anna said and cut the call. It was the last time she was going to see Oliver, so it wasn't a big deal. She had to get on with her work.
Well that's what she thought. Boy she was wrong!
