Chapter 19 — Cold Little Heart
For the first time in a while, Zoey was looking forward to starting school. And while her first semester at Metropolis University got underway in a pretty normal fashion, it didn't take long for the Smallville weirdness to set in. Especially after the sorority that Lana had been accepted to turned out to be vampires. Senator Jennings had resigned from his position, Lex had started his own campaign for state senator, and Jonathan starting his own campaign for state senator. Though throughout everything that was going on, Zoey had somehow managed to stay out of it. Until one cold Christmas Eve morning.
Zoey had developed a habit of getting a coffee and bagel from the to-go counter in the Rosewood before being driven across town to Met U's campus. So, when Lex shows up that morning Zoey is unsurprised. "No," she immediately tells him.
"You don't even know what I'm going to ask," Lex counters.
"Here you go, Mrs. Queen," Jeff, the cashier, says, setting her coffee and bagel on the counter. "I've already charged it to your room."
Zoey smiles. She had gotten to know Jeff quite well over the past few months. "Thank you, Jeff." She pulls out a few hundred-dollar bills and shoves them into the tip. "Merry Christmas." Zoey turns and heads for the hotel entrance. "One look at the polls answers the question you were going to ask, Lex. In fact, I'm staying out of this whole thing."
"I'm surprised Jonathan hasn't asked for your endorsement," Lex tells her. Zoey stares at him, wondering where he was leading. She wasn't going to admit that it had hurt that Jonathan hadn't asked for her endorsement or would accept a campaign donation from her. Lex moves closer to her. "We both know that you have the potential to bring a lot of business to the state. You're a powerful woman, Zoey."
Zoey lets out a frustrated breath. "Look, Lex, my endorsement won't do shit for you in the polls. All people will see is one rich kid supporting another rich kid. And Uncle Jonathan is the salt of the earth farmer that understands what people need. You need to show people that you care." She digs through her purse and pulls out a small notebook. She writes something down on a piece of paper and rips it out before handing it to Lex. "Meet me here tomorrow morning, 9 a.m." Zoey shoots him a smile, then climbs into the waiting SUV.
"You weren't actually expecting Lex to show up to the soup kitchen were you, Zo," Oliver questions. They were sitting on the Queen Industries private jet, heading to Fiji to celebrate their one-year anniversary, before heading to Auckland to join Max to celebrate the new year and the opening of Rosewood Auckland. they had spent Christmas morning volunteering at the Metropolis Soup Kitchen, then heading to the Kent farm to celebrate the holiday before finally leaving on their vacation.
"He accosted me while I getting my coffee," Zoey counters. She drops a copy of the Dailey Planet in front of him. "However, I don't think Lex paid someone to mug and shoot him."
Oliver shrugs. "I wouldn't put it past Lex to have planned that to garner sympathy in the election." He observes his wife. She had been tense throughout the day. "Everything okay, Zo?"
"I just don't understand why Uncle Jonathan won't ask for my endorsement," Zoey softly says.
"What exactly did Lex say to you?"
"He said I was powerful."
Oliver rolls his eyes. "Zo, just because he kissed your ass—"
"I've been participating in board meetings for a year and no one acknowledges me inside the room. Outside of it, sure, everyone will say hi or ask how I'm doing. But inside? I don't exist. Even if I have a question or a comment, I'm not acknowledged. And yeah, Lex may have been kissing my ass to manipulate me. But it was nice to acknowledge."
"Zo, you just have to give it time. Don't let Lex use you to make himself look better."
Zoey lets out a sigh and turns her gaze out of the window. She knew that he wouldn't understand. She had spent the better part of six months trying to change the perception of her. She didn't want to be seen as a party girl. She wanted to be seen as serious. When she wasn't studying, Zoey spent her free time volunteering. The Metropolis Soup Kitchen, Metropolis Women's Shelter, and the Metropolis Humane Society were all places that Zoey regularly volunteered at. She had also worked with the general manager of the Rosewood Metropolis on getting raises for all the employees along with creating an on-site daycare for employees.
Oliver spins the chair Zoey's sitting in. She blinks. She had been so lost in her thoughts that she had heard him getting up. She leans up and softly kisses him. He pulls her against his chest. "You need to give it time, Zo. You can't force people to take you seriously."
Zoey wrinkles her nose. He laughs and presses his lips against hers. "Mr. Queen, Mrs. Queen," a voice says over the PA system. "We're going to be experiencing some turbulence. If you're not buckled up, you might want to."
Zoey makes her way through a crowded Talon. Jonathan was holding his election night party there. TVs were set up, ready to display the results as they came in. She lets out a frustrated breath, not seeing her godparents. Her phone buzzes and she pulls it out of her coat pocket to find Max's name on the screen. "Any news on the results yet," he greets.
"No. I can't find anyone," Zoey replies.
"Well, I got some good news for you," Max tells her. Growing tired of the crowd, Zoey makes her way onto the street. "The changes you worked on in Metropolis are going to be implemented company-wide. Revenue skyrocketed since your ideas took effect."
Zoey smiles as she leans against the window. "That's amazing."
"Everyone is very impressed with you. I want you to present everything at the board meeting in a couple of weeks. Zoey, I'm very proud."
Zoey smiles. "Thank you. I'm going to head to the farm. Hopefully, everyone just headed there."
"Well, tell Jonathan I said congratulations or better luck next time. Depending on the results."
"I will." Zoey hangs up and quickly finds Oliver's name before dialing his number. She looks up at the dark sky and stares at the stars. She listens to Oliver's voicemail. She hadn't expected him to pick up. She knew that he would be out patrolling the streets of Star City. "Hey, it's me. Call me the first chance you have. I…I have some amazing news."
Zoey shoves her phone into her coat pocket and makes her way down the street to where she had parked. Her phone buzzes as she starts the sports car. She pulls it out and answers without looking at the screen. "Hey," she excitedly greets.
"I was wrong."
"Bruce?"
"I need to see you."
"I'm married."
"You're not in love with him."
"Bruce, I—"
"I'm in Metropolis. Room 1412."
Bruce hangs up and Zoey stares at her phone. The only time he visited her was for the annual Fourth of July party. Usually, she was the one who went to him. She bites her lip, then starts her car and takes off.
Zoey takes a deep breath before knocking on the door. She couldn't believe she was standing here. The door opens and she stares at Bruce, then pushes past him into the room. "What are you doing here," she asks. "And by here, I mean Metropolis."
"I needed to see you," Bruce answers.
Zoey shakes her head. "No. We ended things. For good. I'm—" She's cut off when he presses his lips against hers. Her coat falls to the floor revealing the short black sweater dress she was wearing. They stumble onto the bed. His lips trail down on her neck. "Bruce, we can't do this."
"Then why did you come?"
"I…I don't know." Her hand is on his chest. "Why did you come to Metropolis?"
Bruce shifts. His erection pressed against her. "I met someone."
Zoey frowns. "Why did you come here, Bruce?"
He doesn't say anything. A silence falls over them. She moves, trying to get more comfortable underneath him. Her leg is pressed against his hips. She knows that she should leave and head up to her suite. Instead, she leans up and softly kisses him. It doesn't take long for the kiss to become filled with desire. And they lose themselves in each other.
Oliver opens the door to the suite and makes his way in. He was worried. Max was worried. No one had been able to get in touch with Zoey since the night before. He sees her coat thrown over the back of the couch. He looks through the pockets and finds her Blackberry. The missed calls from himself and Max were listed on the screen. Along with calls from Lois and Martha. He hears the shower and walks through the bedroom to find the bathroom door closed. He doesn't miss that the bed hasn't been touched.
He walks into the bathroom and finds Zoey in the shower. "Zoey," he loudly greets. She turns and shoots him a smile, but it quickly falls seeing the unhappy look on his face. Zoey turns off the shower and steps out. "Where the hell have you been?"
"I've been here," Zoey answers, pulling on her bathrobe.
"Then why haven't you answered your phone?"
"I must've left it on silent. Ollie, I'm sorry."
"Everyone's been worried about you."
Zoey frowns. "Why? Are they not going to implement my ideas company-wide anymore?"
Oliver shakes his head. "Zoey, what are you talking about?"
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about last night. Uncle Max said the ideas that I came up with and are working out here have been so successful that they're going to implement them company-wide."
"No one's told you."
"Told me what?"
Oliver sighs. "Jonathan had a heart attack last night. He didn't make it."
Zoey feels as if the world has crashed around her. She had been nervous that Oliver had found out about Bruce. She had managed to make it up to the suite an hour before he showed up. "Wh…" She sits down on the bed. "He…he had another heart attack? And now…Uncle Jonathan is dead?"
Oliver pulls her against his chest. "Zo, I'm so sorry."
"I - I - I need to go see Aunt Martha."
Oliver pulls her against his side as they stand outside of the Kent house. Jonathan's funeral had been a small affair. He didn't know the majority of the people that had attended. Zoey had been quiet. She had been the same way after her parents died. He feels her tears on his chest. "Ollie, I'm so sorry," Zoey sobs.
"Zo, you have nothing to be sorry for," Oliver softly tells her. "There's nothing you could've done."
Zoey shakes her head. She steps out of his embrace. He sees the guilt on her face. "Bruce…He-he showed up in Metropolis and I…I went to talk to him. And-and-and…Ollie, I'm so sorry."
Oliver stares at her. He could see that she was racked with guilt. He shakes his head. "God damnit, Zoey," he angrily mutters. This was not an argument he wanted to have at the moment. He runs a hand through his hair. "Fuck."
"If you…if you want a divorce, I understand," Zoey whispers. She looks down at her hands. "I understand if you hate me."
"I don't hate you, Zo," Oliver says after a few minutes. "But right now, I'm fucking pissed at you."
Oliver wasn't going to tell her that he had been looking into the trust that held her shares of Queen Industries. He had been looking into it for quite a while. The stipulations Shannon had put in place were ironclad. Zoey was not allowed to sell them without risking being cut out of the rest of her inheritance. She couldn't give them away in a divorce without the same risk. Zoey's shares could only be passed in the event of her death. And that was something he didn't want. He wasn't going to punish her for doing what she felt was right. Max had constantly told her she had acted too rashly. While he was angry with her at the moment, Oliver knew that he could never hate Zoey. But he sure as hell hated Bruce Wayne.
And I know in my heart
In this cold heart
I can live or I can die
I believe if I just try
You believe in you and I
In you and I
In you and I
In you and I