A/N: Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! And my gift for you... A new chapter!
The sun is out on a great Wednesday morning-afternoon, muffles of cars and sirens, the tiny earthquake of each plane roaring down on us, the howling of the wind.
Tick, tick, tick, tick.
Bright lights shining the room, giving a glare in my eyes, pushing heat into Adrian's back- we wait for the big meeting to start.
Slouching in the uncomfortable chair, not caring if my father is glaring. Hands becoming warmer in the pockets of leather, feet fighting each other, I lazily reach for the water filled with only -only- three cucumbers, ice falling, drinking the last bit of water and ice. Without thinking of my matters I dig into the ice, making a face of small frostbite and frustration, reaching my destination I grab an ice cucumber and slowly eat it.
Tick, tick, tick, tick.
Taking the last bite I sigh for the shuffles of paper flying and shuffles. Looking across, Felicity is breaking her fingers on the iPad, nails clicking along she focus is all on the device; Ray is the same but he was on a computer, mumbling every time and more clicking is heard; Adrian eyes show he doesn't want to wait any longer, same with me determination is taking over me.
Tick, tick, tick, tick.
I was about to close my eyes from hearing the ticking of the clock in the quietness, then Ray clapped his hands together rubbing them like he brought Frankenstein alive. I blinked my eyes and stood up properly and hands back in place in the leather.
"Now! Let me first say, it's a real great honor that you agreed to the proposal I have sent you and came here to Starling City. Second, let's being the meeting," he talked as he pushed a button in the center of the table, lights becoming dark, shades clouding the sun, day became night.
Another bright light developed on the shades into a dark blue then became the meeting, with really big words.
"Second! I brought you here for a reason, and that reason is to bring both of our companies together to build higher level technology and make this world a better place. Where people won't have to worry about crimes, serial killers, bankruptcy, hostage holding- what I'm trying to say is, I want to combine our companies and make peace with no crime." He said energetic.
He's still pacing back and forth, moving his hands trying to imitate it. I peak at Felicity, who's smiling at Ray. It's official, they are totally dating.
"So think of it as the world in every country, every city, every town, even neighborhood with no crimes being committed," Ray continues.
I scrunched my eyebrows together, I looked at Adrian who's doing the same. He notices my staring and looks at me, he shrugs his shoulder lightly then motions his eye to the presentation. Following his trail I look at the big words again, thinking should I be here?
"And how, may I ask, will you make better technology than there is? And a world can live with no crime?" Adrian asks politely.
Ray stops walking, turning to look directly at him, giving me a small glance turning his eyes upon his, "With the technology I'm making has a camera that can identify any person's face, even behind a mask, but would need a ninety degree angle to detect the identity of a face, but it's still a work in progress. Also you have the technology we need and the illegal products that could make the device better and faster." Ray finish and still smiles, when he proudly clicks a button his hand and switched the slide show.
My eyes widen.
The video being taken at a realistic bank setting with a terror of people on the ground and one criminal holding the gun, at a freezing point the screen moves to the face at an angle. Soon the animated dummy with lines on the face being diagram into a slowly developed face being a ski mask in the center next to the dummy. Looking at everyone, I see smiles and surprised eyes, looking back at the screen it develops a face looking almost of my father but younger.
Can this man really make a tech so highly strong to read another's face and identify who's behind the mask? It would mean that Ray really thought of this, but with this kind of technology anyone can live in peace. Ray brought us here and asked of us to make a treaty and he really inspired me but what are the costs? He must sold his soul to the devil to ever make this.
Looking around again, Adrian puts his hand on his stubble, closing his eye. He's thinking too hard again.
"What makes you think we have a high quality of technology Mr. Palmer?" Adrian asks, giving a small hint of anger.
"I know from what I hear and read in the news, that someone in your research lab has let out a hint of you making anti-booms, making unknown chemicals and illegal projects and that person was never found but I do hope none of that was wrong… partially," Ray said.
"How is that you have heard of this when you weren't employed in any kind of high tech after you created Palmer Technologies?" Adrian's temper rising higher and higher.
Having no clue what I was hearing, I can't object and accuse him for saying these things to Adrian, having a slight idea of what to do I stayed quiet. I will and never will be part of the company. I look at Felicity who is looking at me with pleading eyes saying I should agree but no one knows I'm not part of the company, so nothing to say or help, I'm at my weakest moment.
"Like I said, it's something I heard and read and hope, but all I'm saying that this was what inspired me to create this technology, so we can find those and lock them, not kill or anything." Ray replied fast with confidence.
"Mr. Palmer I hope you know that what you just told me was classified information and from what you "heard" and "read" was also classified."
"I understand. But how else would I bring you here without a reason?"
The room is silent.
I look back at Ray who has his patient face on, twitching his feet on one foot then the another, thumbs twiddling in circle.
"We've all been through hell." I stated.
No movement is heard, only the clocking ticking, the sirens heard from below. I still stare at Ray with my eyes scrunched together, trying to look into his eyes. He gulps loudly, he was about to open his mouth, his mouth moved but his voice didn't raise any volume, giving off a sad look at the end. I look at Felicity who has wide eyes and staring at the table, she moved her lips but no words came out. She lifts her head to look at me, pushing her square glasses up, "So we have," she sighs.
"I can't say I agree to this idea because this is my father's decision but a world without crime… That sounds a whole lot fucking better than people dying every second," Felicity has wide eyes along with Ray, I take a deep breathe to continue.
"I'm not going to say this again so listen well. We've all had our hearts broken, our minds get corrupted we can't think straight, we… We all lost someone we loved, " I breathe out and take steady breaths, "But it doesn't mean we can change it for the right or wrong. If, if what you're saying is true how will we deal with the media? What exactly are we supposed to tell them? I know we all had our ups and downs since whatever year, but maybe- maybe we can do this," I finish with a small smile looking at Ray and Felicity shocking them a little, soon became a small giggle.
I turn my head toward Adrian whose position changed, looking skeptical for hearing his daughter talk not about the weather or how the horse races were, instead hearing what my true feelings.
We all keep our secrets, secrets that soon hurt ourselves.
So many secrets with pain.
Ray takes a deep breath, walks next to Felicity and heavily sits down. He looks at Felicity who's shaking her head rapidly and he turns his attention back to me, ignoring her plea's.
He crosses his arms on top of the table and finally speaks, " I know what you are talking about, I feel as though I have this weight on my shoulder everyday. It's true, I may not of been here as long of course Queen Consolidated were here longer, but I know what my standards are and I plan to achieve them. I only brought you here so we can have a treaty, a connection. Both America and Russia will make better technology and a better world for everyone's sake. We can make bombs for your country, we can help make whatever you want, but we ask not to have war." He sarcastically laughed at the last part but his facial showed us different.
Laughing a little showing an emotion I haven't felt in so long, I feel free with everything. Being here in America doesn't feel bad at all, hearing what Ray meant brought me back to happy memories of my mother and father, everyone happy no worries of anything, no tragic memories can be remembered. After watching the news of Starling City being in a tragic incident killing thousands many people have helped those in need, even we have helped. But sadly I'm not part of the meetings, listening to small gossip is very easy in a big castle.
Memories of him are even harder to progress but is becoming a mist. Slowly fading, slowly moving on. Grimacing at the discomfort I'll feel once were home, knowing a idiotic bastard is waiting. I pray that we will spend more time here and for my birthday, I've always wanting to celebrate away from home and get away from people I know and meet new strangers. Also to get away from the bastard.
"Do you swear on your life that you are telling the truth on your behalf," Adrian declared. Ray and I stop laughing, looking at my father's serious face making us lose air. Felicity has a shocked face with wide eyes.
He always scares me when he says those words. Words that linger death.
"I do. I swear on my life and my dead fiancé's life," he answered. I look at him with sad eyes before reverting my eyes back to normal. I give him a small smile, "I'll tell you my answer by the next few weeks." Adrian breathed out, leaning back in his car smiling big. Taking deep breathes, I hug myself closer in my jacket.
"I do have one condition," he went on.
Ray smiles, "What's your condition?"
"If you are lying or planning on stealing our data or any high quality information that we haven't permitted, you will be charged with crime and the treaty will be disregarded," he warned Ray showing no signs of sparing him.
"Ok, anything else?" Ray breathed out.
"If you have any conditions you are free to say," I calmly said, interrupting my father before he can threaten anymore.
"I brought you here, I think you can say I trust you enough that you won't make a felony," Ray smiled.
I nod my head, looking down and relaxed more, slowly peaking at Adrian, his face is stern but has regression, finally realizes what Ray said. His eyes dropping down, soon the silence is broken by Ray and Felicity.
Hollers of laughter play in my ears. Felicity and Ray hug each other, I kept hearing "We did it!" and "Were going to make it through!" I couldn't see them but I knew how happy they were, I turned the chair around so I wouldn't have to look at them.
I felt affection of happiness come over me. It hurts my heart that he sweared on his fiancé, it made me freeze. Thinking of how much it hurt him to say those words to him, in front of everyone, made me think of how foolish and idiotic Adrian was to do that. I turn back around looking at Felicity and Ray hug each other, jumping in each other's arms. I couldn't smile anymore, but I was smiling inside.
I would never have that courage to say his name. I'll never have the courage.
But a feeling that my mother would be happy that I was moving on, becoming something special that the kingdom will need. I'll always love my mother and him. Always.
But everyone says you can't be in love with someone that is dead.
'But you can feel special from those that have changed your life'
Both companies will create the best technology to bring a peaceful world with no crimes and war.
Adrian will help, Ray will help, Felicity will help, I will help.
Ray is the hero to a new happy ending.
