Sorry for the delay everyone! Memorial Weekend at the lake isn't exactly laptop friendly. Still being blown away by your positive response! I couldn't possibly thank everyone by name but please know you are appreciated! I have always been an avid FF reader, but was really bad about leaving reviews. I have committed to do better now that I know how fun it is to read reviews of my own! Keep them coming! BTW, Felicity's dress for the University fundraiser is the cover image for this story…

I threw in an old school FRIENDS Easter egg…who can find it?

Had Felicity not been the tiniest bit scared for his life in that moment she would have found the level of Jonathon's incredulity sweet. Instead she found herself saying a silent prayer of thanks that Oliver's bow and quiver were nowhere in sight.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Chapter 3

Despite the potential for violence on Oliver's part, lunch concluded rather uneventfully with Felicity and Jonathon returning to teach their afternoon classes. Feeling positive about sticking to her guns thus far, Felicity promised Oliver that they would work out a time to talk soon.

What the hell does soon even mean, Oliver thought to himself? He was less than pleased with the way their trip was playing out. He didn't understand what there was to even talk about. He couldn't believe they were getting ready to crash the MIT fitness center to blow off some steam rather than preparing to hop back on the QC jet for the long flight home. He needed Felicity as far away from Mr. Jonathon googily eyes as possible.

Refusing to consider the reasons behind his irritable thoughts, he remembered something he wanted Diggle to handle, "Hey Dig, before you hit the gym can you call and have a full…"

"Done." Diggle cut him off, "I called in a favor and we should have the results within the hour. I'm more than a little doubtful that Jonathon is the psychopath you have him pegged for, but I'm not taking any chances either." With that Diggle hopped on the nearest treadmill and started his 10 mile run.

Oliver looked over the modern equipment with distaste. While the gym was state of the art, it had been a long time since he had worked out on anything considered traditional. There wasn't a tractor tire, sledge-hammer, or a salmon ladder in sight. There was a large open area covered by thick mats, but he was fairly certain one of the college students would call the police if he and Diggle or Roy entered into one of their intense sparring matches. Your average training didn't usually include trying to take your partner's head off, and today Oliver was fairly certain his level of frustration would have allowed him to easily best Diggle and Roy at the same time. Sighing he opted for free weights and attempted to lose himself in the workout.

90 minutes later, Oliver was growing more bored than worn out as his mind began to wander. He had zero idea how they were going to fill the rest of their day while they waited on Felicity to make time for them after her fundraiser. He had never been one to sit around waiting on other people, and he wasn't excited at the prospect of starting tonight. Pausing briefly, he quirked his lips as an idea flitted through his mind, quickly solidifying. "Roy, Diggle!" a wildly arrogant smile appeared on his face as he bellowed, "Wrap it up! WE have some business to attend to."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Felicity was more than a little nervous as she smoothed the front of her red dress for the millionth time. It was just a bit more risqué than her usual choices and while the front of the beaded floor length gown was almost matronly, the back made up for the modesty in spades. It was the boldest dress she had ever owned and no sooner had she swiped her AM EX that she admitted to herself that it would probably never actually make it out of her closet. Truth be told, it was a last-minute substitution because her original choice had been a deep forest green and she had no intention of allowing Oliver the satisfaction of believing that she had chosen the dress for him. Chiding herself she grudging admitted, it may have been because of him, but there was no chance in hell she would risk him actually seeing her in it and she wasn't naïve enough to believe anything short of another Undertaking would keep Oliver from staking out her apartment tonight after the event. She was done wearing her heart on her sleeve when it came to Oliver Queen.

Looking over to the bar, she smiled as Jonathon headed her direction with two glasses of red wine. It wasn't the top shelf variety Oliver frequently bribed her with, but it still had a nice enough flavor that she enjoyed a couple of glasses at each of their fundraising events. This would be her second glass of the night and she was having so much fun that she had already decided to throw caution into the wind and raise her drink maximum to three for the evening. Jonathon was a really nice guy.

Eyes looking over her appreciatively Jonathon smiled, "Have I told you how stunning you are?" shaking his head he continued, "And that dress is…nothing short of phenomenal."

Blushing she dipped her head shyly, "Stop it. You're making me blush and I'm going to clash with my gown."

Enjoying her genuine response to his attention Jonathon softly rubbed her arm, "We need to find Dr. Jenson. He told me he wanted to introduce us to a new donor." Eyes wide with anticipation he continued, "It seems the program additions we've dreamed of are in the bag. Our school will apparently have a new name, but otherwise the generous donation has literally tripled our operating budget for the next five years!"

Lighting up, Felicity's mind immediately began to race with excitement. They could fund the program for additional students, update the technology, and increase the number of visiting professors each semester, the possibilities were endless!

Sliding his hand along her bare back, Jonathon guided Felicity across the room to find the head of their program. As they grew closer, Felicity's excitement began to transform into a sense of foreboding. She wasn't sure why, but when her gut told her to be wary, it was rarely wrong. If she had learned nothing spending her nights with Oliver it was when things seemed too good to be true they usually were.

Each step closer to their destination increased her anxiety until they made it through the crowd and her suspicions were confirmed.

Dr. Jenson stood surrounded by her three "team" members laughing jovially at something Diggle had said. Oliver was a bit more reserved however, eyes targeting in on Jonathon's hand around Felicity's waist.

"Oliver. Jonas. Queen." Blue eyes full of fire, Felicity's tone could have easily frozen the Caspian Sea. "Please tell me I don't once again work in a building that has your name on the side of it."

Eyes wide, Dr. Jenson appeared to suffer a mild embolism at her attack on his latest university benefactor, "I'm not sure how they do things in Starling City Ms. Smoak, but around here we try to be a great deal more respectful when an individual is willing to help support our school in such a GENEROUS MANNER!" His voice rising an octave as he attempted to convey his intense displeasure.

Smiling, Oliver shook his head, "Please, Dr. Jenson. Ms. Smoak and I are very good friends. She likes to keep me on my toes." Winking at her he continued, "Besides, my name isn't on the building yet, and we still need to work out the details of where you work these days, right Felicity?" While his triumphant grin seemed to calm the department head immensely, it had the opposite effect on Jonathon. Felicity's face flushed in discomfort as she felt his eyes shifting between them attempting to read what was actually behind the intense emotions.

Doing his best to hold back a smile, Diggle was fairly confident that concern for her job was the only thing keeping Felicity from punching Oliver in the face. Roy however found no shame in expressing his glee in the turn of events, "Felicity" he grinned, "you sure know how to improve a stuffy party!"

Unable to speak, Felicity practically drug Jonathon away from the group to the dance floor. Since she was going to kill Oliver Queen before the end of the evening, she really needed to make sure she didn't get herself fired in a fit of rage. How dare he try to finagle his way into HER new start! It was his fault she even needed to create one. His stupid, 'The wrong women, I love YOU charade' had about ended her. Chest heaving, she refused to allow the dam around her emotion to suffer even a crack.

Please with himself, his shit eating grin promptly fell as Felicity stalked away from the group. What in God's name was she wearing? Where in the hell was the rest of her dress? Can she not feel that half of it was gone? Mind reeling, he watched her lay her head on Jonathon's shoulder. Fairly certain the dress would surrender to gravity at any moment, he found himself looking to identify any possible way he could just throw her over his shoulder and get them both out of there before he started putting arrows in the next man to look at her inappropriately. Not sure what deep dark part of his psyche the predatory instinct was coming from, he refused to acknowledge his lack of right to any such thoughts.

Wrapping his arms around Felicity, Jonathon led her around the dance floor in a soft waltz. Sensing her need to steam privately, he communicated his support by gently rubbing his hand up and down her back in a soothing gesture. While he had grown to care a great deal for the beautiful women in his arms, it was beyond apparent that there was more going on between Felicity and her former employer than she was willing to discuss.

"Man", Diggle chastised Oliver with a shake of his head "You have it bad. Why stop now? You might as well pull her pony tail while you're at it…" Glancing over when he got no response, he realized his friend was zoned in on the pair dancing. "Oliver! You need to stop playing around with that girl, do you even know what your end game is here?"

As if he hadn't heard a word he said Oliver glared across the dance floor, "This guy has to go. I don't trust him…have you noticed how handsie he is?" Disgusted he muttered, "Her hip, her back, her shoulder, her face…all this gratuitous touching is ridiculous."

Brows furrowed, Roy looked at Oliver in astonishment, "Hello kettle? This is Oliver. You're black."

Refusing to back down as Oliver's furious gaze landed on him, he taunted, "What? Seriously Oliver, if I treated your sister with as little regard as you handle her…" his eyes regarded Felicity with contemplation, "You would have killed me a long time ago."

Beleaguered by his team's collective reprimand and his own confused emotions, Oliver excused himself, "I am going to get some air." Eyes dark he commanded, "I expect you two to stick close to Felicity and make sure she gets back to her apartment safely."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Felicity was still steaming when she let herself into her apartment several hours later. The evening was officially a major bust. She had seriously managed to get dumped, albeit gently, before she was actually in a relationship. That had to be a first. How do you even break up if you're not a couple? Not sure why the surprised, she thought, it wasn't as if the last person she'd been interested in who might have reciprocated her feelings she corrected herself, hadn't gotten struck by lighting and been in a coma for five months. Talk about once in a lifetime…a mixture of a sob and a laugh escaped her lips as she headed to the kitchen to end her night with an additional glass of wine…glass, bottle, who's counting?

Pulling the pins out of hair as she walked, Felicity came to an abrupt halt trying to make sense of the scene before her. Soft music greeted her as she took in a bottle of 1982 Lafite Rothschild open on the bar next to a plate of cheese and crackers. The distinct smell of grilling steaks wafted in from the small balcony off the living room. There was only one person in the universe with this kind of audacity. Eyes narrowing, she took the last steps into the kitchen to see her suspicions confirmed for the second time that night.

Looking completely unapologetic for breaking into her apartment, Oliver held a glass out to her with a grin, "You know, that dress isn't so bad when there aren't a couple dozen sickos drooling all over you."

TBC