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She tangled her fingers through his hair, trying to take some of his calm. A sharp rap on his window made her jump.
Oliver looked up, pulling his shirt on and shielding Chloe as he rolled down the window. "Yes?" His whole demeanour changed. He became smooth and arrogant, as if it were shocking that anyone dared interrupt him. As if they were the ones that were intruding in on something they shouldn't somewhere where they weren't supposed to be. "Can I help you?" His words were harsh, clipped. He was the CEO of a huge company and these men were like insects to be crushed and discarded.
They rattled something off in Chinese then at his blank look they switched to a clipped English. "What are you doing here? This is a restricted area." The gun came up.
Oliver quickly changed tactics. Dumb and an asshole wouldn't work, well, then dumb and apologetic would have to do. He smiled apologetically and replied, "I'm so sorry. We were just looking for somewhere quiet for a chat…" He winked at the guard.
They looked past him at Chloe who was adjusting her halter top. She stopped, feeling their eyes and peered up at them through a curtain of red hair. She tried to make herself look as bimbo as possible...
One guard grinned and said something in Chinese. The others laughed.
The lead snapped something sharp then turned to Oliver and Chloe. "Step out of the vehicle. Both of you."
"Of course. Just give my fiancée a second to make herself decent." Oliver looked at Chloe then at the front seat, gauging to see if he would be able to get them out of there.
She shook her head. "Of course we'll get out. We have nothing to hide."
The guard stepped back and they got out.
"You have no cameras?" the man asked, as the others started to pat Oliver down.
"No, but I wish I did…" She tried not to giggle.
Oliver was standing barefoot, shirt unbuttoned, bored look across his face. He was playing the irate billionaire so well Chloe wondered whether he'd ever actually been in this position before. She made a note to question him later.
His expression changed though as one of the guards raised Chloe's arms and started patting his hands clumsily over her body.
She stiffened and tried to keep herself from pushing the man off and running.
"Look-" He started towards them but was pushed back by another guard. He glanced down at the man's hand on his gun. "Okay, okay." But he locked eyes with Chloe, jaw clenched.
She kept his gaze with a blank face as the man passed over her chest. They finished and Chloe stepped away, towards Oliver.
The guard let her by and he wrapped an arm around her. "Are we done here? We haven't done anything wrong and now that you've sexually harassed my fiancée, I think we should leave."
The guard stared at him for a few seconds as if making up his mind then nodded shortly. "Don't come back."
They got back in the Xterra and Oliver shifted into gear and they took off. There was silence between them and the only sound was Dave Matthews ' 'Some Devil'.
"Good song," she said finally.
"Yeah." He looked over to her and watched her eyes well up with tears. His hand took hers and squeezed. "Hey, it's okay. We made it."
Her eyes darted up to his and away. "Yeah…"
"Everything's fine. We got the footage, the plans, everything. And we're fine."
"Pull over." Her eyes were closed and she was taking deep breaths.
"Are you going to throw up?"
"Pull over Oliver!"
He did and she yanked her seat belt off and heaved herself out of the car. When he got to the other side, she was bent over, hands on her knees, hyperventilating. "Are you okay? Did you…"
She shook her head.
He rubbed his hand up and down her back. "Hey, hey, you're okay. We're okay… Everything is fine."
"Is it?" she asked in a small voice. "Lex used to be… different. Not that he was ever a saint but he… I don't know. And Lana… Lana has to see something in him right? She can't just be brainwashed… or maybe she is because who knows what else Lex is doing…"
"Chloe, relax. It's okay. I'll take care of you."
Her breathing slowly returned to normal as he rocked her and she stood up accepting his hug. "I just don't get it. I mean, it's not like I've never done this before…" She trailed off then said quietly, "I don't know."
He looked down at her. "Well, it's over. We'll figure it out. Don't worry." He kissed her firmly on the temple. "You good?"
She nodded into his chest. "I'll be okay."
"Hungry? I'll take you to dinner…"
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"And would you like caviar or beluga with that Madam?"
Chloe's eyes widened. "Um…"
"Start with the beluga. Caviar is a bit harder to get used to." Oliver smiled gently over at her scared look. She looked good, he decided. She'd cleaned up before they headed out and lost the red wig and she looked every inch the socialite. Although he preferred not to force her into that station. Social pressure of being at the top did some funny things to people and he'd rather she didn't change.
"Sure."
His phone buzzed and he smiled apologetically at the waiter. "Sorry, I have to go take this." He stood.
Chloe started to rise too. "I'll go with you."
"No, no, stay. I'll take care of this. Hector, bring some appetizers. I'll be right back." He left and Chloe sank back down into her chair, smiling weakly up at Hector. "Thank you."
He left and Chloe debated calling Clark. Oliver never warned her about traces but she kept her phone off anyway. She brought it out now and toyed with the idea.
A waiter came, breaking into her thoughts and slipped a tray onto the table. "Appetizers, madam."
"Thanks." She examined the tray. Some looked slightly familiar and some were completely out of left field. She popped a few into her mouth.
Feeling him sit down across from her, she raised her eyes. "That was qu-" The rest of the words froze in her throat.
"Hello Chloe."
"Lex."
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Oliver moved off towards the entrance. "Go ahead."
A.C.'s voice cut through the line, a bit worried, "Lex left Metropolis this morning. No one knows where he is. He took his private jet so there's no way of knowing his flight plan."
"There's no reason to worry, though, A.C. He could be anywhere doing anything."
"Yeah, but Clark said that he was asking around after Chloe. Pretty interested in where she was and what she was doing..."
"We shouldn't worry just yet. It could be coincidence."
Suddenly, from the entrance, he heard, "Evening, Mr. Luthor. Nice to see you again..." He ducked into the cloak room. The attendant looked at him strangely but he waved her off. Sinking back into the coats, he caught a glimpse of Lex walking by. Making sure he was gone, Oliver dashed out of the cloak room and up the stairs to the upper balcony.
"Ollie? You okay?"
Oliver drew a sharp breath as he peered over the balcony where Chloe sat. The bald billionaire was moving through the crowd towards her. He had no way of warning her. He couldn't confront Lex without putting Chloe in danger for the rest of her life. Lex wouldn't stop until he destroyed them all. If Oliver could keep her out of that, he would. "I know where he is. Meet me at Apollo."
"Apollo, Oliver? Pulled out all the-"
"Just do it. Quick." Oliver hung up before A.C. could finish.
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