"… So thanks again for an incredible year, and enjoy!"
A cheer answered Oliver's toast, allowing him to step down from the podium. The orchestra started to play an instrumental version of "Christmas time is here". People stood to mingle. Some went to pile food onto their plates from the gourmet buffet, while others went directly one of the bars. A few elected to invade the dance floor to enjoy ballroom dancing while they still have the space to twirl properly.
Oliver made his way back to his own table with his trademark smile firmly in place, greeting people as he went.
"Barbara, you've outdone yourself. This is great."
He pecked the older woman cheek lightly.
"Yes, it is." She surveyed the room with an eagle eye, no doubt taking in the glittery lights and the ballet of waiters offering finger food for those not in the mood for diner yet. "Your date is refreshing. Your taste in women is definitely improving."
"Tess was supposed to be Chloe's plus one. I just stepped in replacement." Oliver selected an appetizer from a passing tray. "She's a friend. Who happens to be seeing Hal."
Both would probably deny it to the moon and back if he dared implying there was more between them than casual outings. "Hal has good taste then. I like her. Even though she'd been hogging my husband for nearly an hour talking about his work on the Salinas tribes."
His boon apparently failed to appease Barbara, who decided that a less subtle approach was in order. "And Chloe is not attending because…"
"She had a family emergency."
"Hum…"
He was too used to Barbara's wordplay to read more in her tone than her usual sarcasm. So he almost yelped when she clamped one hand behind his skull to twist his head hard enough to give him whiplash. The protest died on his tongue.
Chloe held onto Hal's arm as if a bit overwhelmed by the festivities around her. Her golden hair curled around her neck in subtle waves. The gentle lighting covered the pale skin of her shoulders with a sumptuous glow. He let his stare followed a beaded strap down to her sweetheart décolletage, her petite silhouette perfect for the A-line of the chiffon dress. Hal leaned to murmur something in her ear. Their height difference gave off an intimate vibe that had Oliver bite back a snarl.
Then Chloe turned her smile in his direction and he forgot to breathe. The vaporous material of her floor length skirts danced as they started across the room. Each step she made, discreet sequins sewed in the fabric caught the light in a maddening game of hide and seek. She glowed.
Barbara patted his arm in mirth. "I leave you to it, then…"
Oliver took two steps forward. Walter Steel appeared in his way. "Great speech, Oliver. I am glad you addressed those concerns about our business with Metron Pharmaceuticals beforehand. Very well done."
He chose not to take the opening to talk about his trip to Metropolis. "Thank Walter."
Another member of the board impeded his progress, then another. By the time Oliver faced his EA and his girlfriend—soon to be fiancée, since he vaguely recalled Mark planned to propose on Christmas Eve— he wanted to scream. He barely managed to get rid of the happy couple when a hand slammed on his shoulder.
Oliver spun on his heels ready to strike. Hal grinned.
"Since you stole her date, I stole yours."
"Get lost, Hal…"
A feminine laugh echoed at the same time a small hand brushed against his, a feather-like touch that made his whole body tightened. Oliver carefully wrapped his fingers around hers, unsure she wanted the public display. When she returned the light squeeze, he released the breath he hadn't realized he was holding and brought her free hand to deposit a kiss on the back of her knuckles. She'd done something to her eyes. The green velvet roped him in, deep, mysterious. Her luminous smile shrouded the rest of the room in shadows while he saw only her.
"I thought you weren't coming…"
"I threatened Clark to tell Lois how he discovered about his heat vision if he didn't bring me back in time."
Oliver decided he'd asked about that one later. "I'm glad you did. You look beautiful."
Her cheeks took a delicate peach hue. "Thank you."
Oliver used both her hands to bring her in the circle of his arms, guiding her gently toward the dance floor, the only way he could have her close without betraying anything. Her perfume invaded his senses, not her usual scent but something exotic even more alluring. His hand found a criss-cross pattern in her back and followed it, until he found the satin skin in between. Oliver retained a groan. He'd been thinking about kissing her all day. Chloe seemed to read his thoughts, and stepped closer, one hand over his heart, the other nestled in his as he guided her through the steps. Her mouth was painted a plum lustrous color, so close that if she turned her face up another short inch… Her lips curved in invitation.
Oliver made her twirl into the dance to put some distance between them. "You're not playing fair, Sidekick."
"If I have to suffer, so do you. Oh!"
The giggle escaped when he bent her slightly over the arm he had around her waist before he brought her back up, this time at a more respectable distance. "Hal was right… You're good at this…"
"I did take lessons at Excelsior. My parents loved to dance." The last part was merely more than a whisper, but she must have heard it. Her eyes softened. Oliver scanned the room over her shoulder to avoid her gaze. The temptation of getting lost in her and to just be unsettled him. How could he tell her he wondered if that feeling was why his father gathered his mother in his arms for a twirl so often? He wished he could whisk her out of here, dance with her in the safety of his penthouse, hold her closer than he was now, her head on his shoulder. Just Oliver and Chloe, not the flirty billionaire trying to seduce a consultant in the middle of the company's Christmas Party.
Oliver changed the subject. "How come Lois agreed to let you out of her sight that easily?"
Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw her nibble at the corner of her lower lip. He willed his body not to react, only half succeeded. She either was trying to embarrass him or to torture him. Probably both.
"I might have promised to spend Christmas at the farm?"
He eased his grip on her hand. Their song was coming to an end. "That's a good idea."
"Really?"
Her voice ensconced so much happiness he didn't have the heart to remind her she would have to stay out of sight at the farm the whole time. Oliver wasn't exactly sure his heart was still beating anyway, thinking of it. Chloe searched his face. Smiling hurt and he resented the pain. Why did it matter? He didn't even do Christmas. Hadn't partaken in it for a long time. He'd forgotten to tell Mark to book something for him. He would rectify that on Monday. It would be Last minute and overpriced, but it wasn't as if he couldn't afford it. Maybe in The Seychelles. He hadn't gone snorkeling in a while—
"We'll see if you say the same after spending two days snowed in with Lois Maddog Lane on a Christmas rampage."
"What?"
Her eyes were wide and beguiling. "Last night was nothing when it comes to my cousin. And they announced three feet of snow early next week in the area."
Oliver stared, speechless. Chloe stopped swaying. "Unless you don't want to come? Sorry, I just assumed… I have you and Lois, and I… If you're busy, it's fine, really, I can ask Clark to pick me up in the morning and bring me back at night. I don't—"
She stopped talking abruptly, eyes darting over his shoulder to survey the crowd around them. Her face pinked while she licked her lips. "People are staring."
All ideas of kissing her fled, his body tensed for an entire other reason than the fetching woman in his arms. Oliver manoeuvred her away from the dance floor, hoping to get her from the center of attention. Not that that had any chance to happen.
"Sorry. It comes with the territory…"
Right here, right now, he wished he wasn't Oliver Queen, CEO billionaire, and she wasn't Chloe Sullivan, the girl who'd forfeit her life to put Lionel Luthor behind bars. Her petite hand rested against his heart. He took it in his own, readying for the pain of putting some distance between them.
"I don't mind." Oliver stilled again, suddenly scared he might read more in her whisper than was really there. "I would prefer it if half of them weren't plotting my death, though. Been there, done that, got the coffee mug."
Air made a welcome come-back in his lungs, even as Oliver hooted out a laugh. "Only half? Give me some credit here, Sidek—"
She didn't give him time to finish. Standing on tiptoes with her hands clutching his arms for support, Chloe pressed one too brief, too chaste kiss to the corner of his mouth. Oliver grinned. "Who's cheating their way out of a discussion this time?"
