Author's Note: Felicity meets the Queen family. Since all my Olicity fics usually feature Thea/Tommy or even Moira as the people pushing for Oliver and Felicity, I thought this time it's going to be Robert Queen and Walter Steele playing the fairy-godfathers to these two.
And in case you missed it, John Diggle is also in this fic but I had to rewrite his role from the driver/bodyguard to QC employee since his original backstory will not work in this story, again no Arrow featured in this one. This is purely AU.
For those following this story it's going to be a 10 chapter story maximum, so that means we are more than halfway there already. I still have some ongoing stories that I have to get back to, SPOTLIGHT and EXPOSED are both screaming for my attention not to mention my other three stories on hiatus.
But wait, Oliver hasn't come clean yet regarding he being the Secret Admirer of Felicity. That will come to play down the road.
Once again, I do not own anything related to the Arrow or the characters, but a girl can dream….fluffy dreams.
A big THANK YOU to those following this and all my other stories.
Follow me on twitter – lollipopsays
Follow me on tumblr – everythinglollipop
Soon I'll be posting my stories in Archive Our Own
SECRET ADMIRER
Chapter 7
"What are you doing here?" Felicity had just locked her townhouse door and was in the process of pulling her luggage down her driveway prepared to see a yellow taxi cab waiting for her at the curb but instead found Oliver Queen leaning lazily on the side of his car waiting for her.
"Picking you up," Oliver said plainly.
Felicity looked up and down her street.
"If you are looking for the cab then you won't find it." Felicity shifted her gaze back at Oliver after his statement. "I told the driver to leave, so" moving to open the car door, "really, I'm your only ride to the airport."
Felicity crossed her arms, "you can't keep doing this."
Oliver shrugged then moved forward to get her luggage from her and hand it to his driver before taking her laptop case from her gesturing for her to get into the car before him.
Oliver sat down beside her closing his door firmly before he looked back at her, "actually I can, and I will. As head of our delegation, it's my duty to ensure each member of my team makes it to the airport on time."
Felicity huffed in frustration. "I don't see the other members of your team in this car."
Oliver eyed her with a cocky grin, "the company van picked up the others. You were the only one whose home was on my route to the airport."
"I happen to know you live across town Oliver. I told you never to play me again for a fool."
Oliver exhaled now deflated, "fine, I wanted to fetch you. I would have thought you would appreciate these little gestures I am making. I'm trying to make an effort here."
Felicity just looked out the window saying nothing. It was true, during the last few days leading to this trip, Oliver had been making little gestures here and there, some subtle, others not so much, but still if Felicity was in the mood to give him some brownie points then he definitely earned a few.
Oliver rubbed his face in frustration, "Felicity…"
"I don't want special treatment. The others, in the team, they are starting to notice. I don't want them gossiping about us."
Oliver grinned at her, "so there is an us?"
"No. No us. None. There is you and there is me. Apart. No us."
"You just said," Oliver protested.
"No. Us." Looking at Oliver, "No us. Working with you, being in this team is already raising so many eyebrows."
"Felicity, everyone on the team knows why you are on the team. You are brilliant, you bring something to the team that only you can. No one but you questions your place in the team. Besides, it was Dad and Walter who chose the team. I had nothing whatsoever to do with it. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't have chosen you on my team if I had been given the chance to pick my team."
Felicity conceded that maybe she was overreacting but was still not above letting Oliver had the last word as she repeated one last time, "No us."
That faithful day Robert Queen had 'caught' them in Oliver's office, both Oliver and Felicity had gone to Robert's office at precisely the time they were requested to.
Robert was however not alone inside his office. Walter Steele was already seated on the armchair in front of Robert's desk. Also present and seated at the long couch were John Diggle, Assistant Division head for Applied Sciences, Brian Keys and Albert Anders both Technical engineers as well as a mousey looking accountant Trent Booth. They were already in the middle of a discussion when Oliver and Felicity walked in.
"Oh good, everyone is here. You okay son?" Robert turned to Oliver who just nodded at his father.
Oliver pointed to a two-seater couch as his father nodded, gesturing for Felicity to take a seat before him.
Robert then clapped his hands before asking Walter to resume.
"Oliver, Felicity," Walter greeted both of the new comers before continuing, "as I was saying. Queen Consolidated is seriously considering to buy-out or at least buy-in a major share in Moore Industries. It's a fifty year old company originally based off San Diego before it transferred in operations out to Hawaii about ten years ago. Robert and I have been meeting with the owners themselves during the last six months confidentially. Apparently, David Moore wanted to retire at 75 so that he could spend the rest of his years with his wife and family. Both children have not expressed any interest in taking over the company since the older one opted to pursue a career in medicine and the younger wanted to try his hand in operating hotels, hence, the opportunity for takers."
"We aren't the only interested party to buy-in or buy-out, but David Moore has offered us first refusal rights within the next thirty days after due diligence has been done." Robert continued where Walter has left off.
"Currently Moore Industries is one of the top companies focused in breakthrough wearable technology R&D, it also supplies a large volume of chips and parts for computers, laptops, phones and other related gadgets. Whoever owns Moore automatically owns the rights to all ongoing and future R&D and projects of the company. QC is very interested in seeing this happen and we will do everything we can to make this a reality," Walter finished.
Robert stood from his executive chair behind the table to go around it and half sit in front facing each person present, "This is a big investment for QC, if this pushes through majority of our cash will be locked in with this, but Walter and I agreed, as did the board that it was worth the risk. We agreed that a special projects team would be responsible for the required due diligence in Moore Industries. We are looking at a timeline of one month for this after which we expect an extensive report which will direct us to make our final decision to purchase. My son, Oliver, who is already currently heading the Special Projects Division will be heading the team for this." Robert looked around seeing everyone but Felicity nodding their heads in consent.
"My son is also hearing this for the first time since I have not had the opportunity to talk to him yet about this. Prior to this very meeting, only Walter and I were aware of this opportunity."
Robert finally turned to his son, "Son, Walter and I have taken the liberty of handpicking the personnel we feel would best fit the requirements for an extensive due diligence. Their combined expertise in their fields would be able to give you a better insight when you prepare the final recommendation. John, Brian, Albert had all been with QC for at least 10 years. Trent will help you with inputs for the financial side. Of course, since most of the technology is breakthrough and for the future, we thought to inject the team with young blood who both Walter and I feel is also perfect for the team, Ms. Smoak that is where you come in. This is right up your alley."
Felicity physically gulped and swallowed as Robert was justifying her inclusion, she knew she had turned slightly pink when all seven pairs of eyes were suddenly on her.
Robert paused for a few seconds as if sizing her up before he looked back at his son, "of course, you are free to make a few changes, maybe a few additions if you see it fit Oliver."
Oliver absorbed the information for a minute before he answered, this was after all also a big step for him and a lot of responsibility on his shoulders not only because he was Robert Queen's son, but because this would impact QC majorly.
"I don't see the need to make any changes at the moment. I have worked with John, Brian and Albert before. I am sure Trent is more than capable. And everyone has heard of how extraordinarily brilliant Felicity is. So yes, I think the team is perfect as it is," Oliver told his father and Walter.
"Fine then, everyone please talk to your immediate supervisors today and ask them to reassign all jobs that are assigned to you personally as you will all be working with this team exclusively. You have a day to endorse them. All of you are expected to join Walter and I to meet David Moore and his team, who will be your counterpart on Friday. We will be flying to Hawaii and the team will be based there for at least a month. That includes you too Oliver. Walter and I will be joining you for about 3 to 4 days before we have to fly back to resume our duties and responsibilities here in QC. I apologize for any disruption this may cause in your personal life, but it is necessary for this to happen, so if any of you feel you would like to step down from the team now would be the time to do so," Robert glanced around at the team one last time for final affirmations.
Turning one last time to Oliver, "I will have Miriam send over all the necessary documents to your office within the hour for your review. I suggest you sit down with your team to plan how to go about this a couple of times before we leave this Friday."
"Where are the others?" Felicity turned to Oliver frowning as she looked around the private plane and noticed they were the only ones there aside from the pilots and a couple of air stewards.
"John, Brian, Albert and Trent took the commercial flight to Hawaii. They left about an hour ago. This," gesturing to the plane, "is actually my family's private plane. Walter and my family will be joining us shortly. They were probably caught up in traffic. And before your mind goes on overtime, you being here rather than the commercial flight was my Dad's idea, not mine. I just didn't object to it," Oliver defended himself.
Felicity huffed, definitely flying in a private fully equipped jet was the better alternative but she still didn't want special treatment. This was exactly what she was fighting against.
Noting her expression Oliver said, "if you have any problems with the flight arrangements why don't you take it up with my Dad."
"I'm taking it up with you," Felicity grumbled.
"Well, I don't see anything wrong with the arrangements."
Felicity took a seat determined to ignore Oliver for the rest of the trip but she remembered something Oliver said earlier, "wait, did you say Mr. Steele and your Dad wouldn't be the only ones joining us?"
Oliver took the seat in front of her so they were now facing each other, "that's right. My mother and sister would also be joining us."
Felicity narrowed her eyes at Oliver.
"Again, don't blame me. Dad made the arrangements. Apparently, the Moore's were family oriented folks. They wanted to meet the entire family."
"And you are just telling me now that I will be riding in this plane with your entire family."
"Well, Walter will be joining us too. But yeah, it's no biggie Felicity."
"No biggie! Easy for you to say! I've never met your sister or your Mom and I'm sure they'll be wondering who on earth I am and what I am doing here."
"Felicity," Oliver said transferring to the seat beside her and reaching out to hold her hand, "relax, they don't bite, I promise."
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Thea's voice reverberated inside the plane as Felicity tried to pull her hand from under Oliver's.
"Speedy…" Oliver turned to his sister, just as he was about to introduce Felicity to his sister, his Dad interrupted him.
"Oh great, everyone's here. Moira honey, this is Felicity Smoak, Walter and I have told you about her", giving his wife a look.
Moira gave Felicity a once over noting the still joined hands of her son and the woman's not so subtle attempts to remove her hand from his. This somehow was something funny to Moira because historically, her son would be the one trying to get out of that hold-embrace or joint hands with a woman, not exactly her son's style-not the other way around.
"Felicity, such a nice name, I am pleased to finally meet you. My husband and Walter have told me about you," holding out her hand only to be interrupted by Thea once again.
"Well nobody told me about her, it is Felicity right?" Thea inserted.
Felicity nodded facing Thea after Moira let go of her hand forcing Oliver to let go of her hand too.
"Walter is here, please take your seats everyone," Robert told his family before he grabbed his wife's hand to escort her to their seats.
"I want to seat beside Felicity," Thea told her brother with arms crossed.
"Speedy, there are lots of other empty seats." Oliver told her not willing to give up his seat and more importantly, he was not going to subject Felicity to Thea, especially with the current mood his sister was in.
Thea walked toward Felicity and gave her a look that dared her to say no, "why don't we ask Felicity who she wants to sit beside her Ollie."
Felicity inhaled and closed her eyes briefly as if saying to herself 'why is this happening to me' before she turned back to Oliver, "it would be nice to sit beside another girl. I'm sure we have lots in common that we can talk about."
Oliver looked at Felicity like she grew another head but his attention was once again drawn to his sister as she deliberately poked him, "get up and out Ollie. Felicity and I have lots to talk about, you heard her."
Oliver stood up unsure of what to do next, "you don't even know each other, you have nothing to talk about and nothing in common, speedy."
Thea pushed her brother out of the way and plopped on the chair beside Felicity, "on the contrary, we apparently have you in common, so we have more than enough to talk about," shooing her brother away as if he were a dog.
Oh No! Thea is doing her little sister thing. At this point, Felicity has met the whole family.
Poor Oliver, his plan to get Felicity all to himself was once again thwarted. Maybe Hawaii would prove to be the better atmosphere for the alone time Oliver had been craving for with Felicity.