Chapter 10
"We're almost there. You think Palmer is going to be easy to convince?" Oliver asked as he watched Felicity scrolled through the screen on her tablet.
Felicity looked up at him and took a deep breath. "From what I've read on his company he's really looking to invest in anything that has to do with applied sciences. He's very big into renewed energy and giving something back to people. That being said we have a very good chance since our applied science division is working on alternative energy sources that benefit the city. Rumor has it he's been trying to snoop out information on QC's progress."
"Really?" Oliver raised his eyebrow. "How did you find this out? Do you have a connection inside Palmer Tech?"
Felicity bit her bottom lip. "You could say that."
"Felicity?" Oliver gave her a questioning look.
"What?!" She looked at him with a guilty expression. "Ok ok. I might have pinged his computer and phone history so I could see what he had been searching for the past couple months."
She sucked her lips in as he shook his head with a smile. "You are remarkable."
"Well, maybe if he invests in QC I can help him set up his firewall so it's not as easy to hack into." She shrugged her shoulders and grabbed her purse as the car came to a stop. "Ready?" She breathed.
"Lets go." The driver opened the door and Oliver got out of the car. He took Felicity's hand and helped her out of the car. He let go and instinctively rest his hand on the small of her back leading her into the building and to the front desk.
Oliver was about to speak to the woman behind the desk when a voice interrupted him. "Oliver Queen." Oliver turned around to see a tall dark haired man came walking toward him.
"Ray Palmer." Oliver said reaching his hand out and shaking Ray's. "Nice to meet you." He turned to where Felicity stood next to him. "This is my –" He was again interrupted.
"Felicity Smoak. I know all about you Ms. Smoak. As a matter of fact I was looking forward to meeting the woman that Queen Consolidated stole from me." Oliver looked on quizzically as he watched Ray take Felicity's hand.
"Nice to meet you too Mr. Palmer." She smiled as she shook his hand. She noticed Oliver's confused expression. "Palmer Tech had offered me a job at the same time as Queen Consolidated, but when I read about your intensions in the applied science division I couldn't pass it up." She released the hand shake and clenched her tablet.
"Right well, it's definitely our loss." Ray sighed with a tight lipped smile. "Why don't you both follow me upstairs to the conference room. There's a great view of the city up there. After the meeting we should go to lunch. I can show you the city."
After four days of meetings Oliver's head was spinning. Being around Ray and Felicity was exhausting. The back and forth conversations they had would make his head spin. It was as if there was no specific topic of conversation and it made it difficult to keep track of what they were talking about. Oliver couldn't help wondering if by any chance the two were related.
In some strange way it really bothered Oliver seeing them together. It was as if he was jealous of how well they got along, but really why would he be jealous. He's engaged and getting to another woman. Felicity was his friend, she dated his best friend and she should be allowed to see who ever she wanted. There was no reason for him to feel this way. He should his head to help clear his thoughts.
"Here you go." Ray said handing a packet of papers to Oliver. "Look these over and let me know if there are any changes that need to be made and we can wrap this up ahead of schedule."
"Thank you Palmer." Oliver said taking the packet and putting it under his arm. "I'll look these over tonight and get back you as soon as I'm finished."
"That's great!" Ray smiled and turned to Felicity who was gathering her tablet and purse together. "Felicity, I was wondering if you would be interested in joining me for dinner. Not that you have to be interested in it, but if you were hungry and well you wanted company-"
"Felicity" Oliver interrupted. "I hate to intrude on any possible plans, but I am going to need you to go over these with me tonight. Sorry Palmer, but you understand."
"Of course." Ray nodded. "You have to do what you have to do."
"Excuse me." Felicity interrupted. "I appreciate you both planning my evening for me, but I think you both forgot that I'm standing right here and I can speak for myself." She turned to Ray, "Ray, Thank you for inviting me to dinner, but I really do need to help Oliver today. If we finish early enough then we can maybe do dinner and then breakfast, not that we would be together until breakfast, I meant we can do either or neither. What I meant was-"
"We have to get going now." Oliver said with a smile. "I'll let you know when this is all set." He said shaking Ray's hand one last time. He walked to the door and held it open for Felicity.
"Nice meeting you Felicity." Ray smiled and shook her hand. "I hope to hear from you."
Felicity shook his hand and then turned to where Oliver was holding the door. She walked past him and whispered. "Thank you."
She walked to the elevator and pushed the button. Oliver walked up next to her. "Are you hungry or would you rather go back to the hotel right now and go over paperwork." Oliver said as the doors opened and they stepped in.
Felicity sighed. "You can go back to the hotel if you want. I think I'm going to take a walk, see the city a little. We've been here four days and all I've seen is the hotel and different meeting rooms. This is my first time here and I want to see some of the sights before we go."
The elevator door opened and they stepped out heading towards the exit. "Felicity, I really don't think it's a good idea for you to go around the city on your own. It's a big city and-"
"I appreciate your concern, but you are forgetting that I grew up in Vegas, sin city. You know what happens in Vegas stays in you would Vegas. Not exactly the safest place on the planet." Felicity stated as they stood outside the building. She looked down and then back up to him. "You know you'd feel a lot better about the whole situation? If you just came with me."
Oliver looked at her. She was standing there looking at him with her head tilted biting her bottom lip. She scraped her shoe on the pavement.
"Come on Oliver. It's just a little fun. Please." She said looking at him with pleading eyes.
Oliver pursed his lips and took a deep breath taking his time to exhale. He looked away and then back at her. "Alright. I'll go with you."
"Yay!" Felicity clapped her hands and smiled.
Oliver put his paperwork in the car. He instructed the driver to take the paperwork to the front desk and to be on standby in case they needed him. He straightened his tie and walked up to Felicity.
"Are you ready Ms. Smoak?" He smiled and held his arm out for her to take.
"Yes Mr. Queen. I'm ready!" She walked up and put her hand in the curve of his arm and took a deep breath.
Three hours of walking and making to the top floor of the Empire State building they had finally reached Central Park. Oliver got them each a hot dog from the vendor. Handing the hot dog to Felicity he sat down. "Careful. It's hot."
She took it in her hands and took a bite. "Mmmmm, this is so good." She looked up and licked her lips before taking another bite. "This is so good." She mumbled mouth full.
Oliver laughed. "All these years I took women to expensive restaurants to impress them, but you, I give you a $5.00 hot dog and you have bedroom eyes."
"It's for the hot dog not you." She said covering her mouth as she chewed and spoke at the same time. "Oh look horse drawn carriage rides. Let's go on one!" Felicity grabbed Oliver's hand and dragged him to where the carriage was parked.
When they approached the carriage an older couple made it there at the same time. "Oh… I'm so sorry I didn't see that you had already been standing here waiting. You go ahead. We'll get another one." Felicity took 2 steps back to where Oliver had stopped.
"Oh honey. We're old we have nothing, but time now." The older woman laughed. "If you want you can always ride with us. It's a big carriage and Mary doesn't mind do you Marty?" The woman motioned for them to come aboard.
"Really we wouldn't want to intrude." She raised her hand in a stop motion as she continued to step back.
"Nonsense!" The older woman said waving her to come in. "Come on and join us. It would be nice to talk to a beautiful young couple like you. I won't take no for an answer."
Felicity turned to Oliver and shrugged her shoulders. "I don't think we have a choice." She smiled.
"I think you're right." He looked at her, shrugged his shoulders and they headed back towards the carriage. He hopped in and then took Felicity's hand to help her in and to her seat. "Thank you uh-"
"Edith." The woman put her hand out to shake. "I'm Edith and this is Marty. It's nice to meet you…."
"Oliver." He adjusted his jacket and sat back. "This is Felicity."
Felicity smiled with a wave and a nod. "Nice to meet you and thank you for letting us share the carriage ride with you."
Oliver hopped up in the carriage and helped Marty in and then Edith. He reached his hand out to Felicity and pulled her up and to her seat. When they were all set the driver clicked his tongue and tapped the horse gently with the reigns.
Central park was beautiful and though they were chilly Felicity sat smiling as they made their tour around
"Where are you two from?" Edith asked as she nested next to Marty.
"Oh uh Starling City." Felicity shivered out.
"There's a blanket under the seat if you want to use it for your beautiful lady." Marty pointed to where a flannel blanket sat in an open bag under the seat.
"Thank you." Oliver pulled it out and lay it across Felicity and his lap. She looked up at him and smiled and he couldn't help but smile back at her. "Are you ok? Enjoying the ride?"
She smiled and nodded yes as she snuggled under the blanket.
"You know." Edith began. "I can remember when Marty and I took our first carriage ride. It was fifty two years ago on our first date. He was so handsome. He looked at me and said Edith Schmitt you are the most beautiful woman I've ever met and someday you'll marry me….. Of course I thought he was crazy, but exactly one year later I was saying yes when he slipped a ring on my finger. That was exactly fifty two years ago and we still come here every year for a ride through the park." She leaned into the older man and gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek and squeezed his hand lovingly.
"Best thing that ever happened to me was this woman. She's just as beautiful today as she was all those years ago." Marty kissed her hand and pulled Edith in closer to him. They sat back in their seat and nestled together.
"That was beautiful." Felicity smiled and sat back in the seat to enjoy the rest of the ride.
When the ride was over Oliver hopped out of the carriage and then helped Marty out. He went to help Edith and Felicity who were still sitting and talking when Marty pulled him aside.
Marty took his arm. "They're talking don't rush them, let them finish." Marty gestured at the women who were leaning into each other laughing. "You know, you shouldn't wait too long before you ask her. I could have lost Edith to Ira Mendel if I took too long. He had his eyes on her for a long time, but I wasn't going to let Edith get away. She's my everything and once you realize that then there's nothing that will stop you from taking the chance."
Oliver looked at Marty confused. "Oh, but we're not-"
Marty cut him off. "I see the way you look at her. I know the look. It's the way I see Edith. Now take my advice, don't take too long or what you truly want will be gone before you ever had it."
"Marty!" Edith called waving him over. "Let's go. We have dinner with our children and I want to freshen up before they get to the house."
Oliver walked over and grabbed Edith's hand and Oliver took the other helping her from the carriage. "Such a sweetheart." Edith kissed Oliver's cheek and then looped her arm through Marty's.
Felicity watched as she hopped out of the carriage. She licked her lips and gave a big smile to the couple. "Thank you for sharing the ride and have a lovely dinner."
"Remember what I said Oliver." Marty winked as he turned to walk away with his wife.
"What was that all about?" Felicity asked confused as she looked at Oliver watching them walk off.
Oliver inhaled deeply and turned to look at her. "Nothing. It was about business." He lied. "Shall we grab some dinner?"
He led Felicity forward and hailed a cab. In his mind the entire cab ride he couldn't help but hear the words Marty said to him. Did he really look at her that way? They were friends and he was engaged to someone else. Was he really being fair to his own feelings or was he just confused. Maybe the dreams he was having about Felicity were trying to tell him something. He needed to clear his head. They would have dinner tonight and go back to Starling tomorrow. A good nights sleep in his own bed was probably all he needed.