A/N sorry to anyone who has been waiting for an update. I've had some technical issues which has resulted in a new laptop and no copies of anything I've written except on here. Its a little short and not too good but hopefully chp 13 will be better. Cheers!
Chloe.
Her head tilted to look upwards at Oliver struck for a moment at the look on his face. The smile as he looked at Rachel was genuine, his eyes sparkled and of course he looked gorgeous. There was almost a frown on her face as she turned away, but she managed to stop it berating herself silent. Why on earth would Oliver looked at her as anything other than a friend, as Watchtower, a source of information and a conduit to Clark? That was the point a puzzled look appeared on her face, what was she thinking! This was Oliver Queen, her cousins ex, honestly Sullivan get a hold of yourself she uttered silently.
Blonde hair moved slightly as she looked around waiting for the auction to finally start, her arm slipping loose of Oliver's as she did so. Her attention moved from face to face curious about who they were, what they did and which one of them was the masked crusader. That kept coming back to her, that moment in the alley when she first saw him, a man behind a mask what reporter could resist.
A noise distracted her and she noticed Bruce up on the balcony looking down over them, a look on his face that seemed to be a cross between fear, amusement and an appearance of not caring. That didn't seem to be the Bruce she had seen the night before but then she didn't know him well enough to judge.
"Ah here goes," a voice mumbled in her ear, Oliver had leant down to speak in her ear, "I hope this is over with quickly." Chloe smirked, "I hope Victoria wins you." Teeth appeared just a little as she nibbled her lower lip trying not to laugh out loud.
"Ladies and gentleman, welcome to our annual event. I hope you have eaten and had plenty to drink but now is the time to part with your hard earned dollars." There was a sarcastic edge to Bruce's voice and Chloe wondered if those around her had picked up on it, Ollie clearly had as they chuckle alongside her told. Turning her head slightly she looked at Rachel and was amused to see the smile on her face, at least the people who she had decided who mattered did.
"Obviously I can't do the auction myself," she watched as his hand moved against his chest before extending outwards again gesturing someone else towards the mic. "So instead I present..." Chloe just rolled her eyes as he introduced some b list celebrity who had nothing else to do and needed a decent payment. Not that she blamed Bruce for it, after all it was for a good cause and how could she turn her nose up at that.
The hum as the gentleman in question began to speak was a low one, people obviously casting opinions on Bruce's choice of guest auctioneer coming into question, perhaps they were just muttering because it was a B list and not an A list celeb like Brad Pitt. Although it struck her she wouldn't be surprised to find he had that number in his black book someplace.
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Oliver
He wasn't quite certain if he was dreading this moment or secretly looking forward to it. Being auctioned off wasn't usually on his to do list in fact he made a mental note to get Chloe to swear this never took place just in case it got back to the rest of the team. He could hear the laughter now. Almost without realising it his eyes scanned around the room to make sure Bart hadn't turned up. That kid could show up in the damnedest places.
Chloe and Rachel had both disentangled themselves from his arms but he was glad that they had at least rescued him from the people he suspected Bruce had run, well walked extremely fast away from. Man he hoped that the guy didn't win the auction for him. Maybe there was a way to not be won by them? Sadly for Ollie he couldn't think what that was right at that moment in time.
His hand fished around in his pocket before he pulled out the card he'd been looking for, "if any of you ladies want to bid for anything, or anyone," he added with a look he hoped they'd understand, "please feel free." He waved it at them. Although to him it was nothing, just a card that gave him access to money he realised that it wasn't the same for everyone else. He appreciated that money wasn't always easy to come by for everyone and honestly he was more than happy to share what he had, especially if it meant he didn't have to spend an evening with Victoria whatsherface.
He noticed Rachel looked faintly embarrassed, he leant down and whispered in her ear, "hey it's ok, it all goes to his charity so spend away." A hand gripped hers and gave it a quick squeeze, "really Rachel I'd like you too." He turned to Chloe asking for her to confirm what he was saying knowing she hated it probably as much as Rachel, a half smile appeared when she nodded to Rachel, "it's not as if we're keeping it, right?"
Letting Chloe finish persuading Rachel seemed to be the best course of action and he left her to it as Bruce rejoined them, "the games begin then." Bruce smiled at Ollie, "All for a good cause, all for a good cause."
They stood together and watched as the auction finally got underway, at first it was trinkets, VIP trips to premieres things that weren't people, which just made the wait worse. All he could hope for that he wasn't sweating, although he did feel somewhat like a lion caught in cage being watched from outside. Did Bruce feel like that? Possibly but he had been playing up to the whole playboy thing far too well.
Then it was time, time to be auctioned off. They were starting with the less well known people, people who weren't millionaires or in fact billionaires which meant that he and Bruce would be left till last. A couple of people went first, no one he knew or was even vaguely aware of but the bidding went well and he didn't feel like he had to step in. Rachel was vehement, she would not be going up herself although she did assure Bruce that she would put a bid in for him, which just made Oliver laugh. "Leave him to the wolves," he said in a mock whisper so as his old friend could hear him.
"Just you wait Queen," Bruce answered in a semi joking voice before they all stopped, Chloe's name had been called.
