A/N: OMG GUYS! I woke up to awesome reviews as always honestly makes my morning but I have over 10,000 views! That is genuinely insane to me... So I got up early to post this next chapter before work because well you deserve it! And if all works I should have also added a cover to this story which I attempted to create... But anyway hope you enjoy this chapter as always let me know what you think, I love you all! Hopefully be back soon!

For the next week Thea ignored Oliver, giving him only dirty looks. His parents seemed to be around a lot more and Walter too. Oliver never said another word about all the truth coming out; he carried on as usual around all his family and Tommy. Instead he threw himself into the Hood work. Friday morning seemed to change things

"Morning" Thea said as she was watching TV and Oliver came downstairs

"Oh wow you're finally talking to me?" he said eyebrows raised

"You should be thankful I don't hold grudges"

"And you should be thankful that nothing happened that night... I'm not gonna apologise for telling mum and dad you know"

"I wouldn't expect you to. I was angry that you made them start being parents at first but now... I was an idiot and I am sorry Ollie" he walked over to Thea on the sofa, dropped beside her and pulled her into a giant hug

"Speedy I know things haven't been easy but you do know I am always here to talk to... Even all of the things like what you blurted out"

"I'm sorry about that, you shouldn't have found out like that..." Her eyes full of sorrow and remorse

"Don't apologise Thea. I needed to know and I want you to know in the future you can come to me and tell me anything"

"I will, I promise Ollie and I won't drink again until I'm 18 because that hangover was dreadful especially being dragged to see Roy in such a state"

"Good to hear! I think the hangover was the best option on what could have happened and they took you to see Roy?"

"I know I am sorry! Yes mum and dad gave me a very stern talk and dragged me to his home, you should see it Ollie... Dad offered him a job working in the mail room at QC"

"I know you are... Well no offence you needed it and that bad? Really he gave him a job?"

"Yes its tiny and barely standing... And yes said it was what he deserved for saving his daughter"

"Well maybe dad did a good thing then... Did he take the job?"

"Said he'd think about it, but he has been texting me"

"He has? Do I need to remind the kid you're 14?"

"I'm nearly 15 Ollie you can't wrap me in cotton wool forever"

"No but I can scare the crap out of him" he said half joking but with a hint of seriousness

"Ollie..." She said tapping his chest

"Thea you could do a lot worse but I think maybe you should wait. Though I can't say anything just you know be careful and talk to me..."

"Oliver that coming from you and how you were is quite surprising but I will on all accounts" she smiled at him "plus we're just talking. He's a nice guy, a possible friend" Oliver smiled at her nodding "have you spoke to anyone about what I said?"

"Not really, mum and dad know I know but I just couldn't be bothered with it… yet" just then the front door opened and in stepped Diggle

"Mr Queen, Miss Queen sorry to interrupt but you have an appointment to get to sir... And Miss Queen the cars waiting for you, for school"

"Thanks Mr Diggle" Thea smiled walking to the door "see you later bro"

"What's up Dig?"

"We'll talk at the Foundry, Felicity's meeting us there" he nodded and both men left together.

As soon as they stepped in the Foundry Felicity was there sat in her usual position in front of the monitors

"What's up Diggle?" Oliver repeated now safely inside

"I've found my… Lyla... Her boss contacted me wants me to go fetch her... Discreetly..."

"So?"

"She's in Russia and I need time off"

"Well looks like I should go see my dad with my proposal for a business partner in Russia"

"I can't ask you to do that man..."

"You didn't plus it kills 2 birds with one stone" he smiled at Dig whose grin spread across his face

"How do I fit into all this?" Felicity said softly breaking the silence

"You are my secret weapon the business partner is IT based making you an expert" he smiled softly

"You do realise that the only way your dad will accept this is if you come back to work for the company..."

"If that's the only way to help QC and save Diggles ex wife then I'll have to grin and bear it" she saw the pain in his eyes but then genuine determination in helping his friend

"Is there any way I can help you with, with the proposal?" She smiled tenderly

"Thanks Felicity but I think I have to do this on my own and probably now, I'm glad we decided to leave spare suits down here" he smiled back but she recognised it instantly as his fake one

"Oliver I can help you know..."

"I know but I have had this proposal ready for a week, it's on the system if you want to look at it and you should probably go now or you'll be late for work" he got up and went to get changed as Felicity left.

When Oliver arrived at QC with briefcase in hand he instantly started regretting it

"You don't have to do this for me man"

"No I don't and I'm not doing it just for you" he smiled at him as they made their way to the top floor as he stepped out he was greeted by the stunning angry brunette

"Mr Queen a surprise to see you here" Isabel said staring straight into his eyes with a bitter tone

"Oliver please. Well nice to finally meet you Miss Rochev" he extended a hand

"I like to keep business formal Mr Queen, though you aren't a part of this business..." She made a point to say it so bitterly then stepped past him avoiding his hand and going into the elevator

"Well isn't she a ray of sunshine" Diggle whispered as the elevator doors shut

"Would you tell Mr Queen his sons here to see him... With a business proposition" he smiled at the ageing secretary who dashed inside. 5 minutes later she returned

"You can see him now" Oliver turned to Diggle giving him a nod. He stayed where he was as Oliver walked into his father's office to find him and Walter sat there. He closed the doors and sat down in the chair opposite his father and next to Walter

"What do you want Oliver? You made it clear you didn't want to work here..." Robert said without hesitation

"Firstly you didn't want me here and secondly I want to prove I can do this..."

"But you have a night club"

"I own a nightclub which is mainly managed by my business partner, still gives me time to do things here... If you let me" Robert looked at Walter who in turn looked at Oliver then he nodded gently

"Okay what's the big proposal then? I presume you were smart enough to do one"

Felicity opened the file on her computer at QC not expecting much from Oliver Queen just the basics. Feeling slightly anxious at the possibility that Robert would reject him and he couldn't help get Diggle's wife, ex-wife, back from Russia. But she was pleasantly surprised. he had in fact done all of his homework. The IT business he wanted to bring in with QC was a small part of a very large business empire ran by a wealthy Russian Anatoli Knyazev. Who everyone wanted, but he never allowed anyone to be a part of his business, and he would only work directly through Oliver and no one else. Meaning if the company did fail than Anatoli's business stayed the same and would not be affected, it also gave the Queens control not Isabel. There were projections and spreadsheets of the money both companies could make interlinking there companies; it also had information on the Business Empire and possible talks of a merger with other parts of Anatoli's empire. Felicity sat smiling to herself Oliver was clearly a lot smarter and business minded than he gave himself credit for. She had no doubt his father would invest in this proposal, especially as the IT department worked worldwide and after a quick search found it was one of the top 5 in the world. Every possible bit of information anyone could need was in this file. Even stats analyses which with Felicitys trained eye were quite impressive. Oliver Queen really was a mystery she thought to herself as she closed the file smiling.

"You did all of this" Walter said smiling looking through the paperwork

"Yes I did"

"Without any help?" Robert said also sifting through papers

"Yes apart from Mr Knyazev himself of course, I needed his approval and information first"

"I can't believe you did something like this Oliver, clearly the apple doesn't fall far from the tree" Walter smiled at both men, Oliver did not like this statement he was not his father's son and he could see the same thought all over Roberts face

"What's the catch?" Robert said looking Oliver in the eyes

"The deal has to be done this weekend or there is no deal..."

"Why?" Robert frowned

"I don't know that's all Anatoli said"

"It says here you, Miss Smoak and Mr Diggle would fly out to Russia tomorrow morning secure the contract and return"

"Yes..."

"Why no other associates? Why Miss Smoak?" He gave him a knowing look and even Walter looked uncomfortable in his seat

"Because he clearly states all transactions are to be done with myself and Mr Diggle is my body guard we both know why I have one and Miss Smoak..." He sat up straight for this "is the best damn IT personnel we have in this place. She might be young but she has more talent and skill than the department head, and you both know that's true" Walter looked at Robert who had his fists clenched

"This company is not going to pay so you can swan off to Russia for a weekend away with your latest lover!" He stood up punching the desk as he did "this company is not a joke, that you can utilise for your own gain and I already warned you to stay away from Miss Smoak Oliver!" He stood up straight now anger written all over his body. Oliver took a deep breath he wasn't giving his father the satisfaction. he stood up grabbing his briefcase leaving the paperwork behind

"Thank you for your time" he said to his father then smiled at Walter who returned it and nodded. Oliver made his way to the door "I know you won't believe me but I'm actually not sleeping with Felicity. She is exceptional in every way and I am in no way good enough for her. So don't worry about that father... I actually came here with a proposal for your business, a serious one and it is your fault you turned it down. I get why because I'm not the serious type but that's what I'm trying to show you I have changed" he opened the door and walked out, Diggle could see the look on his face and said nothing as the two got into the elevator.

"Don't you think Robert, maybe you should give him a chance..."

"Why Walter? He opened a night club for Christ sakes..."

"Yes one that's doing well by all accounts. I get you don't want to take risks with Miss Rochev but surely if you're going take one it might as well be now, before she takes it all. I mean he's done his research" he held the papers up "but it's your choice, I'll see you later Robert..." Walter got up leaving him to his own thoughts.

"So how'd it go?" Felicity smiled as both men walked through her office door

"Bad... Real bad..." Oliver said dropping into a chair; Diggle looked at her shrugging

"What? How could it go bad?" Anger in her voice he'd only heard a few times. He looked up at her with apologetic eyes "it's not your fault if that's what you're thinking Oliver; I read the files all of it everything you did and I am so impressed! If that was any other person your dad would be biting their arms off. I mean Anatoli is a big fish no one can catch yet you have! And this proposal has it all; I mean seriously you did spreadsheets! Spreadsheets Oliver! I just can't..." His chuckle stopped her dead and she looked over to see both men smiling

"Thank you Felicity. I did what I knew he'd want but he couldn't see past as he so eloquently put it 'this company is not paying for you to spend a weekend with your lover...'"

"What? There's only Dig and me... Me! He thinks we're sleeping together!" Her eyes grew wide

"Hey it's okay I told him we weren't but I don't think he believes me..."

"Oh of course, how else can Felicity Smoak lowly IT girl be hanging round with playboy billionaire Oliver Queen unless sex is involved for god sake! I mean it's flattering that I'd ever be considered in the same league as you but..."

"You aren't a lowly IT girl you're remarkable! And hey I am out of your league Felicity don't ever sell yourself short!" She saw the sincerity and pain as he spoke those words, how could he ever think she was out of his league, she frowned

"Maybe you shouldn't sell yourself short too..." The two looked at each other staring into their blue eyes with small smiles trying to figure out what the other was thinking

"Sooo" Diggle interjected trying to bring the focus back "you actually did a proper proposal that anyone would have approved?" Felicity nodded "and your father rejected it cause he thought you two were using it as a lovers get away?"

"Yep" Oliver said sighing

"Your father's as short sighted as you are sometimes" Diggle said looking between the two, Oliver raised an eyebrow, and what was that supposed to mean

"I am so mad!" Felicity said loudly bringing him back "this is the best proposal I've read in months and he didn't even give you a chance!

"It's okay I'm used to disappointing my father now and not feeling good enough" Both Diggle and Felicity looked at Oliver they could see the pain on his face, even if he tried to hide it "Let's go back to the Foundry, leave Felicity to get on with her day" he smiled softly at her before exiting

"We'll figure it out Dig I promise but make sure he's okay" she said looking in his eyes

"I know we will" he smiled at her "I will do, don't worry about him Felicity" he said walking out her office.

It was the middle of the afternoon; Felicity had been doing tedious work all morning for Isabel thus her anger from Olivers conversation had grown and grown. Before she could talk herself out of it she found herself in the elevator and marching into Roberts office, completely ignoring the secretary who said he was having lunch with Mr Steele

"I told her you were busy sir"

"It's alright Mary, close the doors behind yourself" Robert said staring at the ladies from behind his desk "what can I help you with Miss Smoak?"

"I…" she stuttered come on Felicity she told herself "Mr Queen, Mr Steele I'm sorry for disturbing your lunch but I felt I needed to talk to you"

"About?" he said

"Oliver"

"Why am I not surprised?" he rolled his eyes

"You know what I was going to ask to do this privately but no. Your son has done nothing but try to get your approval for god knows how long because he is so damaged he can't even talk about it… He went away and I don't know what he was like before personally but this man is hard working, determined, kind, decent, and a great friend. Yet for some bizarre reason he still is trying to fight for your approval even when it should be you fighting for him" she took a deep breath "I mean that man is so much more than you give him credit for and god only knows the things he's been through yet he came back here. He started his own business, which is doing bloody good by the way, and I am not just saying that he is literally making profit every night and he chose to come to you to help your business, one that I have to point out you might not have if Miss Rochev gets her way! Yes I know I've spoke out of turn and you'll probably fire me but you know something Mr Queen this is something worth being fired for" she had to stop herself before she carried on. She could see the smile on Walters face but a blank expression on Roberts "that proposal Oliver did surprised even me I won't lie but he did that, all of it to help you, to prove himself. And what do you do? Insinuate that I and he have a thing going. I'm sorry to disappoint but I'm not exactly Olivers type plus we're friends something he's needed since being back if you ever took the time to actually look at him. He doesn't need a fling with me, he needs a person to listen and I am that. If I brought this proposal to you and didn't mention his name you would have accepted it hands down, because all of us know that this is your best shot. So what is this Mr Queen? The fact you can't stand to look at your son in fear you might be able to see the damage that's been done. Because there isn't a day I don't look at that face and see suffering but you know what else, I see a man who fights every day for everything he cares about and it is worth seeing that pain just to see his true smile…" she took yet another breath "if you read that proposal then you know how hard it is to get Anatoli onside, yet Oliver managed it and you so happily reject the idea…"

"Enough" he said firmly, she had clearly hit a nerve. She blushed colour taking over her cheeks but then she remember how much Oliver did for this city

"No Mr Queen, do you know why I joined this company?"

"Because you felt obliged to…" he was clearly referencing to the bridge event that was not to be mentioned

"No because I thought this company would respect me more than the others. That I wouldn't just be another cog I could shine, Mr Steele and yourself made me believe I was worth something more than the life I had. And your son made me believe even more in myself too. But today you did the exact opposite with your own son, and disrespected me in the process… Oh and Oliver doesn't even know I'm here so if you're going to fire me just do it because I'm not sure I want to work here anymore"

"That it Miss Smoak?"

"Yes sir unless you need me for anything"

"No thank you" Felicity left feeling her heart hammer in her chest crap she had just lost her job was all she could think

"I think they are good for each other Robert… not in the way you think or maybe they will be but look at that. Your son didn't sleep with that girl for help. He actually has a grown up relationship with a woman, look how they talk about each other. How they've made each other grow because the girl we hired nearly a year ago, would never say that and Oliver would never had made a business proposal"

"I know Walter, she is something else that girl. I don't know what she does in his life but he's better for it… I think I might have over reacted earlier"

"Maybe just a bit Robert, but we both know that proposal is one of the better we've had…"

"But do I risk pulling him into this mess…"

"I think the better question is can you keep this company without doing so?" Robert frowned.

As soon as Felicity got to her office she messaged Oliver telling him she needed to talk. She was expecting a phone call but 30 minutes later still nothing. Just then she looked up to see Diggle and Oliver burst into her office concern on their faces

"What's wrong?" she wasn't expecting to do this face to face and her heart was hammering in her chest even more

"Oliver I was… wasn't expecting you to come in I'm fine I just I did something, I don't want you to be mad but I was so angry and Isabel had me doing stupid stuff again, so I couldn't calm down and I…"

"Felicity breathe" he had his hand on her shoulder again, he could feel her shaking and her pulse quickening he frowned "what happened?"

"I confronted your dad in his office… I might have lost my job" he pulled his hand away crouching down to her level

"You did what?"

"I told your dad exactly what I thought, no brain to mouth filter so I told him everything… some of which involved him not being a good father, or boss and I may have told him I didn't care if he fired me because this was worth being fired for"

"Felicity, you stuck up for me? You fought for me?"

"Of course I did Oliver, this is one of the many great things you have done since being back"

"Thank you but you shouldn't have sacrificed your job for me" they smiled at each other, Diggle stood there smiling at the pair, when Olivers phone rang

"Hello… yes… okay I'll be right there" as Oliver was talking on the phone Felicity's also rang

"Yes of course… okay I'll be right up" both hung up at the same time. Diggle watched them as they both got up

"My father wants me..."

"Your dad wants me too"

"Well we might as well turn it into a party..." Diggle smiled. They all made their way upstairs and into Roberts office, finding him as usual sat behind his desk with Walter stood up by the window

"I wasn't expecting you this quickly Oliver"

"I was in the neighbourhood"

"Fine. Well I might as well say it with all 3 of you here, you're going to Russia in the morning" Felicity's mouth fell open whereas Oliver just stood there, she looked at him she could see how defensive he was around his father

"What's the catch dad?"

"If you seriously want to do this, you need to be here at least 3 times a week, attend the most important meetings as well as running the club"

"I can do that..."

"You have an office on the floor below me near Walter. However it was agreed by Walter and the board if you are in this role you need someone to keep you in check thus Miss Smoak you will be Olivers Secre..." He saw the frown spread on her face "executive assistant, for whilst he's here those days, the rest of your time is to your normal duties"

"So I'm not fired"

"No"

"But instead I have to be Oliver's assistant? No offence Oliver but I didn't spend my time at Cambridge studying hint not the secretarial arts to serve people coffee and tea"

"Felicity" Oliver said slowly she saw the pleading in his eyes, the sorrow

"Miss Smoak, you'll get a raise and it won't be forever, you just seem to click with Mr Queen here" Walter said calmly, smiling in their direction "you can help organise him, prep him, you told us about respecting you and so we agreed the best way to do that further would be to trust you with Oliver. To help him help this company" the sincerity in his tone touched her "plus the computers at your desk with Oliver are the latest models. You still are the best IT personnel we have and those skills will still be utilised, won't they Robert?" He looked over in his direction

"Yes" he said calmly "we need all the help we can get to keep this company with us. I am prepared to give you the benefit of the doubt here Oliver don't let me down"

"I won't, not this time"

"Well then I'll see you all Monday morning" he smiled and the three walked out calmly.