Chapter 3

"Sorry about that. Roy wouldn't let me leave the office and-" Thea stopped talking in mid-sentence and placed a hand on Kadienne's shoulder, jolting the woman out of her deep thoughts. "Kadi, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, I'm fine." Kadienne managed a phony smile while cleaning up the bar counter, not looking up at Thea for fear of breaking down.

No she wasn't. She was far from it and Thea wouldn't be a good friend if she didn't at least try to find out what was bothering Kadienne. "Stop." She commanded softly, placing her hand on top of Kadienne's and took the towel away. "Kadi, you need to talk about what's troubling you. Please. Let's go upstairs to my office and talk. The others can finish up since we're getting ready to close anyway."

Thea didn't know about what kind of family she came from and Kadienne never wanted her to find out. "It's nothing, really. I promise. I was just reminded of something that happened years ago and it still stings. Don't worry about me, I'm good. Just need some sleep." They hadn't been friends nearly long enough for Kadienne to fully open herself up to the youngest Queen heir.

"Are you sure? Contrary to popular belief I am a good listener." Thea tried one last coax, not wanting to push Kadienne to do or talk about what was upsetting her if she didn't want to. "We could always go back to your place with ice cream and talk until we both pass out from exhaustion. Roy can live without me for a day…"

Kadienne shook her head, smiling more genuinely now. "I appreciate the offer, but I'm okay, really."

Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to mention to Thea about the Vertigo. Oliver didn't want his sister knowing until the time was right, but when would it be? What if someone got a hold of that lethal drug and died under Thea's watch? She didn't know what kind of person Oliver Queen was, only that Thea spoke highly of him and Kadienne didn't want to start trouble between the Queen siblings. No, she would keep her mouth shut and let Oliver handle it since this was technically his club and problem.

"Okay, if you say so. I'm always here for you though, don't forget that." Thea squeezed her hand before walking away to clear the rest of the tables and make sure everyone had left.

Kadienne went back to cleaning up and left an hour later, making her way down the sidewalk heading to her apartment. Currently, she didn't have a vehicle because hers had broken down a few months ago and being paid minimum wage at her old job didn't allow her to replace it. There was no salvaging the junk car she had and she only had liability insurance on it, so they weren't obligated to replace it for her either. Walking didn't bother her, though it was in the Glades. Kadienne had mace on her at all times just in case someone tried attacking her.

"Hello Kadienne."

She froze upon hearing that voice and shut her eyes, squeezing the bottle of mace in her hand. She always brought it out on her walk home, knowing there would be no time to drag it out of her purse if she was attacked. Somehow, she knew The Hood wouldn't hurt her since he stood for justice within the city. Didn't make him any less terrifying, however.

"What do you want now?" She asked tiredly, keeping her back to him and wrapped her arms around herself. "I told you I don't know anything about the pills…"

"You're lying." Oliver mulled over how best to approach Kadienne about her family and decided to try The Hood first. "I know about your mother…"

"Excuse me?!" Kadienne whipped around to face the Vigilante, emerald eyes nothing more than two acid pools. "You don't know anything about me or my family! How dare you!" She was pissed at his audacity and wanted to slap the hell out of him.

Oliver could tell he struck a nerve the moment he uttered the word 'mother' through his voice modulator. "Vertigo is dangerous and deadly. Your mother died from it. Do you want others to die as well? Tell me what you know."

Gritting her teeth, Kadienne shook her head and took a step back as he took one forward, tears forming. "No." How did he know about her mother or where she came from? "I'm not talking about it with anyone, especially you. Do you enjoy getting your rocks off on stalking women or am I a special exception? Why don't you go find someone else to bother and leave me alone? Oh and go to hell while you're at it!"

Done playing nice, Oliver grabbed her upper arm none too gently and slammed her against the nearest building, towering over her with the hood hiding his identity along with the green grease paint over his eyes. "There is no one else. You are the one who had Vertigo planted on you, or they were yours to begin with. And your mother died from it. You are going to tell me what you know and what happened to her or else…"

"Or else what?" Despite trembling from head to toe in fear, Kadienne's anger kept her talking and fighting, a few tears slipping down her cheeks. "You'll kill me? Is that what you do to people you interrogate?" The moment he released her arm, Kadienne saw her small window of opportunity and brought the bottle of mace up, spraying the Vigilante directly in the eyes.

Oliver roared out in pain, dropping to his knees holding his eyes and could only hear the rapid footsteps growing faint with each passing second. She sprayed him with mace! Why hadn't he checked to make sure she didn't have some kind of weapon? That was his fault and Diggle would say the same thing if he found out about this. Growling, Oliver snapped his blurred vision down the sidewalk where Kadienne had stood only moments ago and slowly rose to his feet. She wasn't a fan of the Hood and wouldn't open up to him, but maybe Oliver Queen could be more persuasive. Granted, he wasn't the nicest whenever gaining information from others as The Hood either. Deciding to leave her alone, Oliver went back to Verdant to the Foundry to clean his eyes out and brainstorm what to do about Kadienne Young next.

Slowly opening her eyes in the early afternoon the next day, Kadienne slowly sat up in bed scrubbing a hand down her face. It was only hours prior she had another run-in with The Hood and it hadn't gone well. She had no idea how he knew about her family, assuming he'd had to do extensive research to not only find out her last name, but what happened to her mother. That was part of her past Kadienne wouldn't talk about that night or what happened. Talking about it wouldn't help any or bring her mother back to life. Sighing, Kadienne stood up from bed and stretched her arms in the air, yawning loudly. It was time for a shower, food and possibly another nap before work that night. No sooner did Kadienne step out of the shower, a knock sounded at her door and she had to wrap herself in a tight towel along with a robe before answering it. She was shocked at who stood in front of her and tightened the robe around her a little more, emerald eyes wide.

"Oliver…"

It was 3 in the afternoon and she just now took a shower? Oliver had to remember she worked until 3 or 4 AM at Verdant on a nightly basis. "Sorry, bad timing?" He wore a simple long sleeved dark blue top with a white t-shirt beneath and perfectly pressed dark grey pants.

Kadienne sucked her bottom lip between her teeth, averting her gaze from his and felt awkward leaving him standing in the hallway. "A little, but it's fine. Come in." She shut the door once he stepped inside and turned to face him, keeping her hand tight on her robe. "What can I do for you, Oliver?" More importantly, how did he know where she lived?

"Thea mentioned you were upset last night after our talk and…I just wanted to make sure you were alright. I never meant to upset you." Oliver figured an apology would hopefully break the ice between them a little more along with her walls. "I shouldn't have shown up here unannounced or uninvited…"

A soft smile spread across her face at his sweet way of apologizing. "You didn't. I mean – you did, but I know you didn't mean to. No apology necessary." Kadienne didn't know why she felt a connection to this man, not remembering the last time she was interested in anyone intimately. "You could've waited to tell me this at the club tonight and something tells me you're here for another reason."

Perceptive indeed, Oliver thought, stepping forward to close the distance between them a little more. The only way to get her to open up to him was pretending to show interest. Oliver always had a way with women and charmed almost all of them into his bed. Nothing could ever happen between them intimately, but Oliver would have to use his charm on Kadienne until he received all the intel from her regarding her family. His love for Felicity would never die and Oliver didn't want to be with anyone, not while he was The Hood. It would only tarnish her memory, which he refused to do and if that meant using Kadienne by keeping her at arm's length, he would.

If only Kadienne knew what was currently going through his mind at that moment, she would've ordered him to leave her alone. However, she didn't. "Take a seat and let me get dressed, then we can continue this discussion." She walked past him down the hall to her bedroom and closed the door, leaning back against it taking a deep breath.

Ever since her mother's death, Kadienne had kept any man who showed interest in her away from her past. She could never open up and be honest about who she was. Oliver would be no different, no matter how ruggedly handsome and charming he was. They could have sex if it came to that, but Kadienne wouldn't be able to give him anything more than that. No man would ever be able to handle her burden, her suffering and the name she was linked to. If Kadienne could, she would change her last name to her mother's maiden, but it cost far too much money to do it. Pushing the thoughts out of her mind, Kadienne quickly pulled on a pair of jeans and a short sleeved burnt orange top that had laced hems.

Oliver felt his stomach tighten the moment Kadienne rejoined him in the living room. She truly was a beautiful woman, the burnt orange top bringing out her eyes and hair. He didn't realize how long her hair was because it'd been up in a neat bun, but currently it flowed over her shoulders and down her back in soft wet waves, resting just above the waist. Kadienne could feel him checking her out as she walked into the kitchen to grab them something to drink and smirked, keeping her back facing him purposely. Those jeans she had on Oliver had to admit, only in thought, fit her legs and backside like a second skin.

"Here, this is all I have right now." She tossed him a bottled water and plopped on the couch, drawing her knees up to sit on them. "So Oliver, what are you really doing here?"

The truth wasn't an option. Luckily, Oliver had mulled over this conversation for the better part of the morning before showing up at her front door. "The drug you found in your purse – Vertigo. I think I might know who did it, but I need your help." He reached out to take her hand, ocean blue and emerald once again swirling together. "Will you help me?"

"Of course, what do you need me to do?" Kadienne really thought for a second he'd been here for pleasure instead of business, feeling the heat rush up her arm from his hand holding hers.

Oliver reached for another lie, though it was somewhat validated. "The bartender, Diana. I know she's been stealing wine out of the cellar. She's a suspect and I want you to keep a close eye on her and report back to me if she does anything…out of the ordinary. Stealing included." He had video footage of the woman stealing and hadn't fired her yet because he wanted to make sure she wasn't the one bringing Vertigo into the club.

"Okay, I can do that. Don't tell Thea, right?" Kadienne watched him nod and slowly pulled her hand away from him, cracking a small smile. "You know it's not easy lying to one of my closest friends."

"I know and I'm sorry for asking you to do this, but I can't keep an eye on Diana the way you can." Not with his nightly activities saving Starling City from criminals, especially.

Kadienne couldn't stop the next question from escaping her, curiosity once again burning brightly. "Why do you trust me to do this? You don't know me and yet you're putting your trust in me to help you…"

"I'm a pretty good judge of character – for the most part. You're a good person, I can see that." Oliver reached out to place a hand on her shoulder and immediately snatched it away as a memory of him doing that to Felicity coursed through his head. "Anyway, let me know what you find out." He stood up abruptly and headed toward the door, needing to leave.

What the hell was that about? Oliver acted like he'd been singed from a simple touch of her shoulder. Kadienne was extremely confused and stood up from the couch to stop him from leaving, grabbing his arm. She opened her mouth to speak and no words came out as his eyes locked with hers again, an uncomfortable silence looming between them. Oliver furrowed his brows while staring down at her, wondering why she felt the need to stop from leaving.

"Oliver…"

"I have to go." He shrugged her hand off and opened the door, his voice low and gruff.

All Kadienne could do was watch him leave, the door closing behind him and felt like the biggest idiot in the world. Of course Oliver Queen wouldn't be interested in her! She wasn't rich or beautiful, not like the line of women he'd had in his bed. Why would she think a rich billionaire would want anything to do with her? It was always better being alone; nobody could hurt her that way. Though she wouldn't have minded having Oliver Queen in her bed for a few nights. From how he acted, all Oliver wanted from her was help to catch whoever brought Vertigo into Verdant and nothing more.

Kadienne continued on with her day and tried forgetting about her surprise visit from Oliver Queen.