Tess chimed her glass against Chloe's half full glass before she took a sip of her dry martini.

"I'm glad you listened to me about the dress. You're glowing, Chlo."

"Thank you. You look beautiful, too."

The off-the-shoulder deep purple dress fit the statuesque redhead like a glove. With her copper curls swept aside so they tumbled on her bare shoulder and her silver jewelry, she looked like a modern Rita Hayworth.

"I do. But I am not Oliver Queen's girlfriend."

Chloe wet her lips. "You caught up on that…"

"Honey, the whole room got the memo before you even reached the dance floor," Tess teased. She munched on one olive. "That kiss was a big giveaway, too. I will expect details later, but for now, I only want you to promise me that you'll be careful."

The pretty blonde looked up at the serious tone of her friend. The baby blue eyes staring at her were soft. Chloe nodded, giving Tess' hand a quick squeeze. "I promise we'll be fine."

"Good. Now tell me about that article of yours. Hal refused to discuss it with me. I swear, I could strangle him sometimes. If you can handle Oliver's very public persona, I can handle a few shady deals with mobsters."

Chloe choked on her drink. Really, if Lois and Tess were ever to join forces, they would take over the world. "I'm still trying to connect the dots. Hal managed to secure a sample of the drug, but the analysis is going to take time, especially if it's a new substance."

She took a mental note to ask Oliver if he'd sent the drug to Emil. In the chaos, she'd all but forgotten about it.

"How did you hear about that anyway?" Tess asked. "Drug rings are not really part of the high-profile interviews Dorothy Gales does."

Dang… She'd forgotten about Tess' genius mind too. Chloe tried to remember what they had told the brilliant redhead to secure her help with Harper. "Do you remember those articles I wrote for the Gazette, about the Green Arrow?"

"Star City's new bandit?"

"Vigilante, not bandit."

Tess smirked, and motioned for Chloe to go on. "I stumbled upon some information about the new rage in town when I was researching for the articles."

Rage was not a bad name for the stuff, Chloe mused. She took another sip of water, hoping Tess would drop the subject.

"Too bad you can't send your findings that vigilante's way."

"And miss my scoop?!" Chloe glanced toward Hal and Oliver, hoping one of them would hear her squeal over the music and the chatter flying around. "Robin Hood will read about it in the paper like everybody else in Star City."

Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Oliver check his phone, then walk away apparently to take a phone call. So much for rescue. Fortunately, Hal spotted her eyes narrowed in his direction and took the hint.

"Hello there. Which one of you lovely ladies will grace me with a dance? Red?"

"If I must…"

"Oh you must, darling. You absolutely must. Let's show these people how it's done."

Tess laughed and slipped one hand in his offered one, saw a shadow eating the space next to her and stood. "Lead the way, Mister Jordan."

Chloe chuckled as she winked at her. "You're as subtle as a Mack truck. Oliver!"

Her almost shriek found her seating on his lap as he plucked her easily from her chair onto his lap. Chloe circled his shoulders both arms as he secured one hand behind her to keep her from falling. She repressed a sigh when he nuzzled the sensitive spot between her neck and jaw.

"Emil called. He completed the analyses."

That answered her earlier musing. Chloe tried not to squirm when his fingertips found the small gaps in the lacing of her corsage again.

"And?"

"You were right. It's the same substance that the old mixture, but in a different form."

"I like… being right."

"I bet you do."

The back and forth of his thumb on her bare skin fractured her concentration. "We should… huh…"

"Go?" Oliver supplied with a smirk. "I'm ready when you are. Emil suggested we pay him a visit to discuss the results."

He was baiting her on purpose, the cad. The innocent caress in her back and the not so innocent brush of his lips on her neck told her that. Chloe dug her fingers in his arm to stop his movement. Oliver crooked one eyebrow. The effect was ruined by the heat in his eyes, melt dark chocolate. Her favorite. "I have to say goodbye to Tess and Hal first."

She hopped off his lap before he could protest. Oliver grumbled, "I'll call for the car" or something to that effect as she danced out of reach.

Their escape was fairly easy, considering. They had to stop a handful of times as Oliver saluted the few board members who hadn't yet retired for the night. Chloe had the surprise of her life when a guy she'd seen once in the elevator literally tore her off Oliver and slurred "I'm totally jealous you snagged that hottie before me, but I'll forgive you if you tell me all about it on Monday. Coffee and muffins on me" as he hugged her. She couldn't tell who was more embarrassed, her or Oliver.

Barbara and Carter were also leaving when they reached the coatroom.

Carter helped her with her coat as Oliver pulled Barbara a foot away.

"Please put the photographs of the evening under wraps."

His face was so serious, his hushed tone so forlorn Chloe missed the opening of her sleeve in surprise and sent Carter an apologetic smile as she tried again.

"As usual. I'll see you on Monday, Oliver. Chloe, I am glad you could make it after all. I hope your family is well."

The older woman gave her a quick hug before she exchanged a meaningful glance with Oliver and allowed her husband to stir her away.

Chloe turned toward the taller man. "Oliver?"

He didn't answer her unvoiced question, gently guiding her toward the underground parking, his gaze firmly planted in front of him. "I think we should go to Emil tonight."

"It's past eleven."

Which meant they would probably not reach Star Lab until Midnight. "I know."

He opened the door of his black SUV for her, waiting until she had arranged her long skirt around her legs before he closed it and circled the car to climb on the driver's seat. The clip of his seatbelt echoed in the silent car. He didn't look at her once. Dread pooled in her stomach like acid. She felt queasy again.

"Oliver? What is it? Is it because of the photographs? We talked about this, I'm okay with the publicity."

They zipped out of the parking into the busy street near the hotel. It seemed that half Star City had decided to host their end-of-the-year party the same night.

"It's not that."

She reached out to touch his right hand that gripped the gearstick. He snatched her fingers into his in a bruising grip. "Then what's the matter?"

"Are you— Are you sick?"

The street lights cast half his face in shadows. The half she could see was troubled. "Sick?"

"Emil asked if your symptoms had lessened and told me that now that your blood results are positive. He wants to see you as soon as possible."

"Oh."

The riot in her stomach increased tenfold. The hand curled around her crushed her fingers, as if he sensed her struggle. "Chloe?"

"I'm not sick, Oliver. I promise."

His head and shoulders cut a perfect profile across from her. She closed her eyes.

"I'm pregnant."