Title: Perceptions: Oliver Queen and Chloe Sullivan

Author: mystic_blue17

Summary: [TRIO] How did Tess find out about Oliver's feeling for Chloe? (set before Checkmate)

Disclaimer: I don't own these characters or plots nor do I plan on receiving any profits from writing about them. Well other than the constant stimulus from them and the plot bunnies that they inspire.

A/N: Okay the countdown continues with the conclusion of this mini arc. I hope you enjoyed it and will be pleased with the finishing one. I brought a lil more flavor to this one .

Tess should have seen it coming. She had been the recipient to his attention and affection not so long ago.

Through the intercom she could hear his direction to his assistant. "Send her in okay?"

"Yes Mr. Queen."

She breezed by. "Ms. Mercer!"the assistant called her name. But she was already in. She naturally assumed she was in the only her in his life. "I heard what he said."

His assistant called her name again. Too bad the doors were already closing in her face.

Oliver looked up from his laptop to greet her with a warm smile. "It's about time Chlo-" his welcome melted. In it's place was a more reserved look. "Tess. I wasn't expecting you." He stated a bit unnecessarily.

She decided that whoever Oliver had called in for some afternoon delight would just have to wait. They had to clear up business. "You should have been. We need to talk about the numbers for the last quarter."

She circled the room. The decorations were lovely. The food was exquisite. But that hardly mattered to her. It was important to work the room especially at an event that the company itself was hosting. She had learned that the hard way. Business was all about being seen and heard. It seemed like the rich and famous were enjoying the night. Oliver may have been the most sporadic boss she had ever had but there was no denying that he gave the company life. It was particularly pleasing to the board.

But tonight was different than other events. Oliver had made an entrance with his date nearly thirty minutes ago. She was a busty brunette, an annoying repetition of Oliver's arm candy. She quickly fluttered off. Oliver had a knack for dismissing dates after the pictures were taken. Though he never forgot to charm a few business associates on his way in. But as time passed, he was noticeably more agitated. His leg jiggled up and down as he was talking. He no longer drank any of his champagne. He almost constantly checked his watch. His knuckles were white as he gripped his phone in his hand. She watched him for ten tension filled minutes. She kept waiting for the proverbial (or not) explosion. It was so important that he couldn't even leave his charm face up. Oliver did not rattle easily. That meant tonight was something big.

He glanced towards the doors again. The sight must have changed the situation. She could literally see the tension leave his body. She looked up to discover the solution to his problem. She expected to see a potential business client or even his date. She was surprised to see Chloe Sullivan as the focus of Oliver's attention.

The widow/late reporter had come out to the QI/LC event. And it seemed to be a very big deal. Oliver's body language changed completely. He was visibly more at ease. The phone had disappeared along with his nervous leg movement. He made his way to her quickly despite the fact that there were literally dozens of people waiting to talk to him.

She was able to catch snips of their conversation from her perch above them.

"You're late."

"You were early. You usually don't come to these till an hour after the time specified."

"I was compensating. You are freakishly on time usually."

"Well I came with Lois tonight." It was true the most troublesome Daily Planet reporter was a few paces behind the blonde. She seemed to be putting her foot in her mouth quickly. Tess knew that she would be putting out that particular fire in the morning.

"We had a deal. I had to spend twenty whole minutes with her until I could shoo her away."

"Ohh poor baby." She said faking sympathy "You had to spend time with a really hot super model that couldn't wait for the night to start so she was actually on time."

She didn't hear Oliver's response. Tess' least favourite board member had approached her to talk about the strategies to gain more profit. The next five minutes were used to explain what the company's plans were. Tess could not hear but it appeared that Chloe's answer to his plight pleased him. For the first time in the whole night Oliver's smile actually reached his eyes. And it was all due to the blonde within arms length of him.

She found it very interesting that they were acting as they were. Oliver brought a date. That meant that they were still in denial or that they were in a relationship and didn't want the world to know about it yet. This was further proven when Clark and Lois joined the two, they didn't leap apart but instead they shifted to a more respectable distance. They were practiced in this little dance. The night proved to be rather insightful. And as far as Tess was concerned there was no weapon quite as powerful as knowledge.

She saw them again within the next week. She was on her way to the Daily Planet. An accident had backed up traffic for miles preventing her from a timely arrival to the office. She decided to walk the last few blocks to the office as the edition needed her final approval. Time was money. And she wasn't willing to waste any in her crusade to save the earth. Her unusual route took her past a coffee shop. She was taken back for a moment to see Oliver taking a break out on the patio. He was stretched out at a table for two. A few moments later, his order was placed in front of him a certain petite blonde.

The way he looked up at her was simply confident. Oliver knew that he was going to get his drink because he was important to the deliverer. Chloe beamed down at him as if to say "Aren't you glad that you are here with me right now?"

For once, Tess didn't need to hear the words for confirmation. It was all in the way they looked at each other.

A/N: That's #6 and the end of Perceptions. This one had a more personal feel. It was the closest to breaking the third person bubble. Stay tuned for #7.