Oliver was pleasantly surprised to see Felicity and Diggle on the training mats. Neither of them broke their concentration, so Oliver walked over to Roy with an inquisitive look.
"I have no clue," Roy winced when Felicity was thrown to the ground. Pain showing on her face, Felicity got up and rested her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath. Diggle shot her a look but she shook her head. He looked at her warily, but began the set again. Felicity lasted a few minutes longer than the previous time before Diggle took her to the ground again. Felicity groaned and tapped the mat 3 times.
"I think you've put me on my back with your body enough for today." The guys waited for her to start her usual ramble but she didn't, just walked to her computers wiping the sweat off of her forehead. The guys made eye contact shrugged and looked back at Felicity, who typed away at her babies. Diggle walked to the towel rack to wipe his body down and Oliver began his nightly routine on the Salmon Ladder, but Roy didn't take his eyes off of her. While Diggle and Oliver were clueless about Felicity's breakdown a week ago, Roy was concerned. Felicity had yet to tell him what prompted her to text him that night and had instead buried herself in training and at the gym. He was happy that she was taking Dig up on his offer so she would be safer if she needed to go into the field, but he was worried about her avoiding the situation. Roy walked over to her station and leaned against her desk.
"So are we not going to talk about whatever it is that's bothering you?" Roy whispered, careful to make sure Oliver didn't hear him.
"Nope." She emphasized the pop on the "p" and continued typing at blazing speeds; it was a wonder she didn't have carpal tunnel by now.
"Does this have anything to do with your boss?" Felicity's typing cadence was thrown off by just a millisecond, which was enough for Roy to know that he'd hit the nail on the head.
"I don't want to talk about it, Roy." She looked at him for a brief moment then turned back to the glowing screen. Felicity didn't want to talk about it because every time her mind derailed itself thinking about Ray, which seemed like every few seconds given that she worked exactly 13 steps away from him, she felt like crying. Memories of her time with him came clearer than when she was actually experiencing the action. She could acutely remember the seconds between each thrust of his hips, the exact tightness with which he held her in his arms while they slept, the volume of his laugh as they walked through Starling Park on their first and only real date. She remembered the natural reddish gold highlights in his hair when the morning sun filtered in through his office windows, the sound of his laugh through the thin glass walls, the excitement in his voice when he'd told her about the QC prototype that was ready for the gala. Every thought made her want to cry, because she wanted those things for herself. She wanted to have a real relationship with someone who was interested in her and didn't feel intimidated by her intelligence. She wanted to feel that delicious swirl in her belly when a man looked at her with hunger. She wanted a husband and a family.
Roy noticed the quivering in her voice and decided to let the subject drop. He told her if she needed anything or just wanted to do another one of their "cuddle sessions" as she called it, much to his dismay at the least manly term she could have come up with, that he was there for him. She thanked him, eyes glistening beautifully with tears, then went back to whatever was on her screen. A beep and hard vibration sounded from her phone. Felicity paled and sniffed when she saw who the text message was from.
'I have a meeting and an event in Gotham. The Queen Consolidated private jet will be leaving at 11pm tonight; you are going with me. Also book a hotel suite with two beds or two rooms, which ever you'll feel more comfortable in. Pack for a business meeting and a charity gala. We'll be gone for 4 days.
-Palmer'
As if she needed to spend 4 days 3 thousand miles away with her boss/ex-lover. Over the week since he had sent her home early, Ray was nothing but professional. He barely laughed or smiled at her and continued his infuriating practice of calling her 'Ms. Smoak'. When she had tried to return his debit card, he told her to keep it in case something popped up where his money was needed; Felicity was guessing this classified as one of those moments.
She began to surf the travel websites for a good package to Gotham City on such short notice and found one that did not make her feel like going into cardiac arrest at the outrageous pricing. She booked the hotel and flight, emailed the information and confirmation to Ray, and asked if she needed to prepare any notes or memos. He told her he was at the office now getting information and that he would meet her at the private airfield at 10pm sharp. Felicity looked at the clock and realized she had 2 hours to get home, pack, and get to the airfield. She began running programs and scheduling updates so the guys wouldn't have to worry about them while she was gone. She grabbed her things and hastily explained the situation while flying up the metal stairs and out of the Foundry, leaving the men confused.
Felicity drove home with her foot on the petal, hoping she wouldn't be pulled over for traffic violations. She whizzed around her townhouse throwing things into her suitcase. Luckily she always kept a travel bag of toiletries packed in case she needed to freshen up at QC or at the Foundry. She packed her business clothes without a second thought but stopped short at what to get wear for the gala. She looked at the two boxes sitting in the back of her closet and made her decision. She grabbed one of the boxes and threw in coordinating accessories. She looked around her room making sure she had forgotten any necessities. Her eyes stopped on her intimates drawer. Peeking out of the black wooden drawer was the only piece of true lingerie she owned. She debated with herself, what was the point in packing it, but then when else would she get to wear it? She opened the drawer a little farther and picked up the lacy and mesh article that definitely did not fit the definition of clothing, or underwear for that matter. She looked at the clock and realized she only had 45 minutes to drive to the airfield. She through the racy lingerie into her suitcase then stumbled out of her apartment, almost forgetting to lock the door. She checked to make sure everything was secure then hustled out to her car and across town to the QC private airstrip. Ray was patiently waiting for her at the foot of the stairs and she checked her watch to see she'd made it with 10 minutes to share. He gave her a nod then handed her luggage to a member of the crew and ushered her up the stairs. Once they were settled in to the plush cream leather seats the pilot and crew finished the final safety checks then pulled down the runway.
"So what are we going to Gotham for?" Felicity tried to sit still and not fidget at being alone with Ray without a real distraction for the first time since their argument.
"Wayne Enterprises wants to buy half of the rights to the QC field x-ray 200."
"And you're going to sell them?" Felicity was a little surprised. Many companies had expressed interest in the rights since the technology was patent protected; the field x-ray was a success and hospitals and private health sectors were buying them without hesitation. Selling half of the rights would create another competitor and would hurt some of Queen Consolidated's profits. Felicity was sure the finance department was not consulted on this business venture.
"I am if I believe Wayne wants the rights with good intentions." He flipped through a report with little enthusiasm.
"What do you mean?" He set the report aside and looked at her with an expression that read purely business.
"Though being a businessman has made me a lot of money, an insane amount of money, I do want to help people. If I feel that Wayne and Wayne Enterprises wants to use the field x-ray to make a much needed difference in Gotham than I will be happy to sell to them. However, if I feel like they are only looking to make a buck then I'll keep the rights to myself. I've never done business with Bruce Wayne before and I can't tell the type of man he is by phone calls or news articles. I want to meet the man behind the money." Felicity nodded and felt herself admire Ray a little more; she was glad Queen Consolidated and the business side of Starling City was in the hands of someone who truly wanted to help people; it would help relieve some pressure off of Oliver's shoulders. She grabbed a blanket from the back of the seat and cuddled into the plush couch. Before she knew it she was knocked out.
Ray took her exhaustion as an opportunity to admire her comely form. He sighed and let go of the weight that had been bearing down on his shoulders for the past week. He'd been constantly restricting of himself, vigilant in his quest to return their relationship back to business. He'd seen her fighting the sadden look of her face when he called her 'Ms. Smoak' and the uncomfortable fidgeting at his cold demeanor. He'd been stiff and short with her because his entire body was fighting this approach with her. His instincts told him to steal her away to his home and make her see that he was the only man who could possibly be enough for her. He understood her and could challenge her intellectually. He could give her anything she desire, whether it was time or affection or money or a true relationship filled with emotional depth. His body urged him to take her until she could no longer remember her own name. He'd never known how primal his instincts were until now. He was hungry for her in a way that he'd never been before, which scared him to his core because he did not know how to make her see that he was the right man for her and that she was the only woman for him. His room was filled with little reminders of her. He remembered the echoing of her moans as he pushed her down into his mattress. He remembered the light playing off her delicate skin while she slept curled into him. He remembered the way her knuckles whitened when she held onto the bar in his shower as he pounded into her. He remembered her twinkling laugh as he wiped cream cheese from her nose while they ate bagels and coffee the next morning. His sheets faintly smelled of her. He found himself wondering if she would leave her trinkets over the bathroom counter, or if she was as meticulous with cleaning up the counter as she was with her desk in the office. Everything about Felicity intrigued and fascinated him. Eyes growing tired, he set the report on the table and grabbed the second blanket, settling himself in for the remainder of the flight.
Stepping off of the plane and onto the tarmac, Felicity and Ray felt slightly disoriented by the time difference. Thankfully the meeting wasn't until later that day because they felt exhausted. A taxi drove them to their hotel and they checked in to their rooms. Ray didn't even have the energy to be disappointed that she'd booked him a suit and her a regular connecting room next door. He told her what time to set her alarm for and walked into his room. He stripped off article after article, leaving a trail to the wide bed in the second part of his room. He crashed and was asleep by the time he hit the pillows.
Felicity wanted to fling her phone into the wall to stop the insistent beeping of her alarm. She hit the button to silence the infuriating device then pulled herself out of bed and traversed to the bathroom to shower and get dressed for the meeting. She picked out a new teal blouse and peach pencil skirt whose hem she would have to fight with a little when she sat down but looked absolutely amazing on her. Thankfully she'd remembered her shower cap so she wouldn't have to wrestle with her Medusa curls to get them to cooperate with her. She decided to leave her hair down and curling in light wisps at the bottom. She put on a light amount of eyeliner and mascara before accentuating her lips with a deep berry color that was quickly becoming her favorite among her collection. She slipped on a pair of nude pumps, grabbed her purse, double checking that she had her key card, and headed to the door. She opened the door to find Ray standing there with his fist poised to knock; a quick flashback to herself in another hotel in Russia invaded her mind but she shook it aside. She smiled kindly and stepped out into the hallway. Ray gave her a look of approval before nodding and motioning for her to continue in front of him.
The chauffeured ride to Wayne Enterprises was filled with a silence. Ray went over Wayne Enterprises' proposal for purchase while Felicity peaked out of the window cataloging the various shops she'd have to explore while she was here. She'd never been to Gotham before and she couldn't miss the chance to go shopping in one of America's fashion capitols of the world. The sleek black vehicle pulled to a stop at the curb and Felicity almost had to break her neck to see the top of the building. Wayne Enterprises dwarfed all of the other buildings in Gotham, and was probably several stories higher that Queen Consolidated's 31 stories. The chauffeur opened Ray's door and let him out since he was on the street side then walked around briskly to open her door. He held his hand out to assist her and Felicity shuffled out careful not to give the man an eyeful. She smiled then walked through the door that Ray held open for her. Wayne Enterprises had a crisp but stylish interior which bespoke of a masterful architect and interior designer. Black, grey, white, and navy blue seemed to be the color scheme as every piece incorporated a few of those colors. A genuinely friendly elder secretary smiled at them and ushered them to have a seat in the plush chairs while she alerted Mr. Wayne to their presence. She said that he was currently in another meeting that should be wrapping up soon. A few minutes later the sound of expensive heels reverberated off of the shiny navy blue tile. Felicity and Ray stood up and watched a gorgeous man and woman strode down the corridor. Felicity instantly recognized the brunette woman with killer violet eyes and an exclusive Michael Kors bag to match her expensive Prada suit. She'd have to be on Lian Yu not to recognize the hound dog, earth shattering, Pulitzer Prize winning beauty that was Lois Lane. Lois stopped immediately in front of them, eyeing Felicity with a critical eye that bespoke years of cutting through bullshit to find the golden truth.
"Ms. Smoak, we finally meet in person." She narrowed her eyes and gave Felicity a strange look. It wasn't the condescending look she usually received from business women like Isabel, but it was a look that oozed both skepticism and respect.
"Ms. Lane. I'm guessing it's not a coincidence that you're here when we're here." Felicity had to prevent herself from groaning. If anyone had irritated her more than Oliver Queen and Ray Palmer combined, it was Lois Lane.
"Of course not. It's never a coincidence when I'm here. Bruce owed me a favor." She tossed a look over her shoulder to the incredibly handsome man standing behind her. Was it a requirement of billionaires to be drop dead gorgeous, or was it only the ones Felicity was destined to meet? If she had to guess, Bruce Wayne was at least 6'2, but she couldn't accurately tell since he leaned on the receptionist desk without a care in the world. An easy smirk revealed teeth reserved for Colgate commercials. His hair was the perfect blend of messy and business, serious with a delirious dose of morning after sex. His soul searching blue eyes met hers before she turned back to hear whatever Lois was saying.
"While I am interested in the QC field x ray 200's field performance and success vs. failure rates, I admit to being more intrigued by you, Ms. Smoak. An EA position seems…beneath someone with your credentials." Lois gave her an appraising look then shot a quick glare over to Ray who miraculously did not flinch under the heat of her inquisition.
"Care to give me an exposé?"
"Put your claws away Lois, and play nice." Bruce replied good humoredly. He stood up straight and came to stand beside the reporter.
"I was me playing nice Bruce." She rolled her eyes.
"Your definition of playing nice is an early Monday morning root canal." He smirked wider as she gave a huff and slightly shifted her weight.
"Just remember you promised to give me all of the details of this transaction. And you wouldn't want to get on my bad side, Brucie boy."
"Something tells me I was born on your bad side Lois."
"And don't you forget it when you even contemplate spilling to another half-baked reporter still wet behind the ears, which is cheating may I remind you." Bruce scoffed and faked an offended look at her.
"You of all people should know I am a very faithful man, Lois. I take 'til death do we part' very seriously." Lois gave him a skeptical glare and crossed her arms under her chest, accentuating the swell of her breasts under her crisp green blouse. She gave an unladylike grunt and rolled her eyes, shifting her weight onto her other hip.
"You're so sickeningly sweet, Bruce, you could cause cavities." Lois didn't wait for his response, instead walking confidently to the glass doors.
"Have a good day, Lois." Bruce called out amused. Lois tossed a flippant wave over her shoulder and continued out the building. Felicity turned back to Bruce and saw him shift instantly from playful to dead serious. He straightened his jacket with one tug and held out his hand to Ray.
"You'll have to excuse Lois; she rarely takes 'not now' for an answer and I find it easier to indulge her then have her harass my secretaries all day. Bruce Wayne." He shook hands with Ray firmly then turned to Felicity. "And you must be Ms. Felicity Smoak." He shook her hand. "I've heard a lot about you."
"That's a little terrifying." Felicity didn't mean to say that out loud and inwardly berated herself as she shook Bruce's hand. Bruce chuckled then released his grip.
"Lucius Fox has told me a lot about you; apparently he's been keeping tabs on your many accomplishments. He's the head of my Applied Sciences department. He's very excited to meet you." Bruce ushered them down the hall.
"Seems like intends to make a move if he'd been keeping tabs on me and is informing his CEO about me. Should I be expecting a letter of intent in the mail?" Felicity was joking but she saw the quick curve of Bruce's lips.
"Brilliant and beautiful… you'd better keep an eye on her, Palmer. Such a combination is deadly…and highly desirable." Felicity didn't hear Ray's comment as Bruce opened the door to a conference room. In the room sat Wayne Enterprises' Board of Directors, Lucius Fox, and the head of finances. Ray and Felicity sat down in the leather chairs and a cup of coffee was placed in front of each of them by a middle aged assistant. She placed the cream and sugar in between them and melted back into a leather chair with a legal pad and blue ink pen at the ready. Bruce thanked everyone for coming before he began his speech.
"Wayne Enterprises began from a dream of a doctor and a caring woman who dedicated their lives to charity and service to those less fortunate. Martha and Thomas Wayne spent their lives helping others, and inspiring others to give selflessly of themselves for the better meant of all; they especially instilled this value into their son. It is my desire to carry on their legacy of helping Gotham city, and others, and I firmly believe with the QC field x-ray, Wayne Enterprises can do even more to help Gotham. While Gotham's violent crime rating has been decreasing thanks to an outside force cooperating with the police department, there is still more work to be done. The QC field x-ray would help significantly increase survival rates of violent crime victims by giving medical professionals the information they need to prepare treatment for victims while they are in route, instead of losing precious seconds transporting victims to radiology departments. I'm sure, Mr. Palmer, that you are wondering why Wayne Enterprises wants to acquire half of the rights instead of buying units. Well that is simple. Acquiring half the rights will allow Wayne Enterprises to greater benefit Gotham City. By acquiring half of the rights, Wayne Enterprises will donate 7.5% of the profit to the Martha Wayne Foundation, which supports and helps run a number of orphanages and free schools, and provides teachers for those who have learning difficulties. The Foundation also sets aside grants and scholarships for teens hoping to better themselves through education. 7.5% of the profits will allocate to the Thomas Wayne Foundation which is responsible for funding the Thomas Wayne Memorial Clinic in Park Row, Gotham's infamous Crime Alley. The foundation also funds and runs dozens of clinics in Gotham. 35% of the profits will go to various other charities to help victims of violent crimes, orphans, war veterans, Gotham's homeless population, and institutions aimed to help teenagers coping with depression, thoughts of suicide, and teen pregnancy. Wayne Enterprises is fully committed to helping Gotham, but more importantly, I am fully committed to helping Gotham. As one who has lost so much to violent crime, I know what it feels like to need someone to care."
Bruce ended his speech and there was silence. Felicity felt her eyes water at his appeal. She'd done her research on Bruce Wayne once she knew they were coming to Gotham, and she could not imagine what he'd gone through to become the man he was today. She had felt a soul crushing weight when her father had abandoned her, but she always knew he was alive somewhere, that if she wanted to find Howard Smoak, she could. She would never wish on her worst enemy such a horror of seeing both parents brutally murdered in front of them, let alone witnessing such an atrocity at 8 years old.
Felicity was the first one to clap after Bruce's speech. He looked at her with a grateful smile and Felicity bore witness to a hardness and vulnerability she had not seen earlier. His eyes were glassy with tears as he accepted the applause with humility. Once the room was silent again, Ray stood and addressed Bruce.
"I admire the strength it must have taken to deliver that speech. I know it isn't much, but you have my sincerest condolences. If you'll give Felicity and I a moment," He made eye contact with Felicity and motioned to the door. She stood, resisted the urge to readjust her skirt and walked out of the door with the proposed contract in her hand. Once they were outside she turned on her heel to face Ray.
"You're going to sell him the rights." She smiled softly with teary eyes. Ray nodded and forced himself not to wipe the tears from her eyes.
"Yes, I am. But, I have to make him sweat a little." Ray smirked and Felicity couldn't hold in her shaky burst of laughter. She wiped the tears spilling down her eye and hoped she didn't smear her make up. Ray handed her his suit pocket handkerchief to which she thanked him and gently dabbed her eyes. A minute later Ray and Felicity walked back into the room and sat in their vacated seats. She couldn't read Bruce's steely expression, but she could tell that he knew their intentions. Ray took a deep breath, looked up and smiled.
"When we produced the QC field x-ray 200, we did so with the hope and expectation that it would be used to better citizen's lives. I believe Wayne Enterprises will do just that. I'd be happy to sell half of the rights to a company devoted to making its home soil a safer and better place for its residence. You have yourself a deal Mr. Wayne." The Wayne employees looked relieved and applauded as Ray and Bruce shook hands. They signed the preliminary deal and each group's lawyers would look over the deal and process it. The secretary who had been taking notes brought in a bottle of champagne and began serving it to the various people in the room. Once the preliminary celebration was over, Bruce cordially invited them to the annual Wayne Foundation Charity Ball, where he would be making the announcement of procuring half of the rights and the Wayne Enterprises' name for the field x-ray. Ray agreed though they were already going. Bruce walked them out to the front and shook hands with Ray. When Felicity reached out her hand to him, he bent over and kissed her knuckles, giving her a heated glance when he straightened. Felicity was quite shocked at his action, though a flame lit in her belly, it was nothing like the heat Ray, or even Oliver, was capable of producing. Felicity smiled and pulled her hand back before walking through the glass door.
She could feel Ray's steady gaze on her as they rode back to their hotel for a celebratory early dinner. She didn't exactly want to have dinner with Ray, since they were still finding their rhythm, but she was starving. They spoke of inconsequential things and enjoyed a good bottle of wine paired with juicy steaks. At the conclusion of their required time together, Ray waited for Felicity to go in her room before he went into his. Ray stood in the middle of his room, glaring at the connecting door between their rooms. All he had to do was knock, but his pride was damaged. She had pushed him away, so why should he go crawling back to her? Why does he feel like the guilty one for returning their relationship back to the strictly business interactions she had demanded of him. Grumbling, Ray walked into his bathroom to take a shower and relax. If anyone asked him, he had not whispered Felicity's name as he used his hand to satisfy the constant dull ache present since their spat. If anyone asked him, he had not whispered Felicity's name as he touched himself again later on that night. And if anyone asked him, he had not fallen asleep, toes tingling, with her name a whisper on his lips.