Authors' note: This may not be a great chapter but I needed to bring in some aspects so that I could introduce new situations and people. Bear with me

When Emma returned to the venue, everything had changed. People were up and about, mingling and having drinks.

Emma scanned the room and found Oliver talking and having a drink with his friend Slade. She looked around again and found John and Felicity talking to Thea.

She turned her head back and forth, trying to decide which way she should go. She finally opted to meet up with Oliver, to get more information on Slade. If Oliver had mentioned him, it must have been before she had joined the team, because she couldn't recall he ever had in her presence, and yet both seemed to know each other quite well. She was sure there was a story behind that.

As she neared them, Oliver saw her and smiled at her. As she smiled back, a man placed himself on her path.

"I don't think I've had the pleasure to officially meet you Miss Grey. I'm Malcom Merlyn".

He put his hand out. Emma quickly looked over his shoulder, almost begging Oliver to come and rescue her. She didn't know much about Malcom Merlyn, except from the fact that he was just as rich as the Queens were, that they were family friends for as long as Oliver remembered and he obviously was one of the most influential people in Starling City. Yet unlike the Queens, he was very keen on showing his power and wealth.. something that Emma hated. But there was no use in hoping Oliver would come to her rescue. His focus and attention had shifted to a few debutants who had arrived by their side and were obviously hanging on every word they said. Emma had no choice.

She took his hand and shook it. "It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Merlyn".

"Moira tells me you work, on occasion with Oliver. I was rather surprised as I have rarely if ever heard about you".

"It's very recent".

A slow song came on and he smiled. "Let's get better acquainted, shall we", he said as he moved his hand showing the dance floor. She shot one last look at Oliver, who was too busy flirting with a girl who had her arm wrapped around his neck and was whispering something in his ear.

Emma simply nodded and tried to remain calm as Malcom lead her towards the dance floor. He took her in his arms, a bit too close for her own personal comfort, but his hold was firm, leaving no possibility for Emma to leave any space between them.

"So, Miss Grey, what is it that you do for Queen Consolidated exactly"?

"I would love to tell you Mr. Merlyn, unfortunately you will understand that I can't share that kind of information with you. I assure my clients and partners total discretion and confidentiality".

He smiled. "As a business man, I respect that. Nevertheless, I'm sure that without explaining in detail what it is you do, you can let me know what is your field of expertise".

"I translate things".

She wasn't lying. Aside from translating legal foreign documents in the past, she did translate everyone's hidden behavior to understand them better.

"So, you are a language expert".

She nodded all the while analyzing him. He was a man who was very sure of himself, that was to say the least, but then again, he was someone very dominating, she could tell by the way he led her on the dance floor and his tight and firm grip on her. But there was something else, something that made her very uneasy, he was a man that couldn't be trusted. It must have been the almost undetected sneering before he smiled which indicated he was cunning and untrustworthy.

Then his hand trailed down her back to eventually rest at the birth of her derriere. Her breathing accelerated. Was he really trying to make a move on her? If even to make it worse, in a place with plenty of people eyeing him? She was desperately hoping the song would come to an end and she could get his hands of her.

Oliver was still talking to some girls when Felicity came up to him.

"I think an intervention might come in handy".

He didn't have the faintest idea what she was talking about.

"I could do it, but I really don't want to take her place… dance floor, three o'clock", she said seeing that he was clueless.

He orientated his look towards where Felicity had mentioned and saw a very uncomfortable Emma dancing with Malcom Merlyn, helplessly looking for a way out. He discreetly clenched one of his fists. Leave it to Malcom to take advantage of Oliver not being around to make a move on Emma, regardless of the move and the motive behind it. He excused himself from Slade and the girls and headed towards the dance floor, preparing an intrusion and rescuing Emma from Malcom. As he neared them the song finished.

"Thank you, Mr. Merlyn. Now if you'll excuse me, there's somewhere I need to be".

"Of course, the pleasure has been all mine, Miss Grey. I hope we have the opportunity to meet again. Maybe dinner some time".

Emma simply smiled out of politeness as she walked away from him and got closer to Oliver.

Oliver smiled at her. "Would you like to dance"?

She kept walking as she answered him sharply. "Too late, the song's over".

He turned around. Ouch, now that was direct and cold. He followed her as she headed to her table and grabbed her things. She headed out the venue with Oliver jogging after her.

"Emma wait".

But she couldn't wait. She had to get out of there. This had been a terrible idea. She should have stayed at home.

"Emma, would you please wait"? He grabbed her arm and turned her around.

"What"!?

He took a step back and let her arm go. He had never seen her like this. Hurt? Angry? Whatever emotion it was, it was new to him, when it came to her.

"What is wrong"?

"You know I didn't even want to come tonight".

"Then why did you"?

"For you"!

He blinked a couple of times unable to speak.

"I came tonight, not for the meal or to be seen with Starling City's richest and greatest community. I came for you. For the past months, you've been nothing but a jerk and at first I thought it was because of work, that here things would be different. I was beginning to think I was right, you complimented me, you smiled at me, heck you were even following me when I went to the bathroom. And then, wham, this Slade guys walks in, girls are throwing themselves at your feet, you're flirting, doing your classic Oliver Queen charm and me… well me, I'm at the mercy of Malcom Merlyn, who I think you know can't be trusted. So, please, do me one simple favor, stop sending mixed signals. I'm not a switch that you can turn on and off as you please. I'm a human being, I have feelings and emotions and among those emotions are some that are extremely strong when it comes to you, at least have some respect. Now all I'm asking is that you either tell me to forget about you or on the contrary to keep trying because you too feel something for me"!

He inhaled heavily. There was nothing inaccurate in what she had just said. But then again this was not the time or the place to talk about it.

"It's complicated".

She shook her head in disbelief as she heard him pronounce the words.

"Everything in life is complicated Oliver, but if there is one thing I've learned over the years is that feelings and emotions are not. We are the ones that complicate things. But hey, that's alright, I get the picture. I'm taking a few days off, I need a change of air and clear my head".

He couldn't say anything, he simply nodded.

"Now you'd better go back in there and resume your little flirting activity. I wouldn't want you to go home and spend the night alone on my account"!

She walked away and exited the building.

He turned around and found himself nose to nose with John and Felicity, who obviously had witnessed the whole scene.

Felicity glared at him. "Way to go.. You've sure outdone yourself this time. Do you ever just stop thinking about yourself and take other people into consideration"?

She turned to John, I'm going to get my coat. I'd like to head back and make sure she's OK".

"Of course, I'll wait for you here".

She hurriedly walked away.

"She's right you know".

"Who"?

"Emma. When she says that emotions and feelings are simple and that we simply complicate things on our own. Before you miss out on something incredible and lose your chance to be with her, you might want to ask yourself this one question… If you remove Oliver Queen, if you remove the Arrow from the equation, what are your feelings for her? If I were you, I'd very seriously ask myself that question before it's too late"!

He started to walk away to join Felicity who was waiting for him near the entrance.

"John"?

He turned around to look at Oliver. "Yeah"?

"Can you please just make sure she's OK"?

John frowned. It wasn't like it was up to him to do that, but he knew that if Oliver tried now, it would be useless and since Felicity and Emma were so close, he knew that it was also impossible for Oliver to ask her for her.

"Please"?

John nodded and left.

When they arrived at the apartment it was a mess. It was as if Emma had literally dropped everything she had been wearing to the gala as she walked in to the apartment. Her purse was on the floor in the main hallway, her coat thrown on the floor between the kitchen and the dining room, her shoes were scattered further down the hall and her dress was hanging on the corner of her bedroom door.

"Emma"? cried out Felicity. "Emma? It's me, are you alright"?

She pushed slightly the bedroom door open but it was empty.

"Where is she"? asked John

"Where she probably thinks, she should have stayed. In her haven".

She removed her high heels and looked at John. "It's Ok. You can go".

"I'll just go with you for a few minutes and make sure she's alright".

As Felicity suspected, Emma was swaying back and forth on the canopy swing. She wasn't reading, she was just staring out in the darkness, in the void.

"I've got this.. you can go". She leaned in and gave John a kiss. "I'll call you either later or tomorrow morning".

He kissed her back and nodded.

"Goodnight Emma", he called out not really expecting an answer.

"Goodnight John", Emma said out of nowhere still looking out. That was what he liked about her… no matter what, she remained courteous, polite and friendly.

John left and Felicity walked towards Emma. Emma stopped the swing and Felicity sat down next to her.

"You sure got out of those clothes pretty fast".

"I guess, I thought if I got out of them fast enough, I could almost pretend like I hadn't gone". She gave Felicity a sorry look. "You didn't have to come back because of me".

"Are you kidding? You are my best friend, after what happened between you and Oliver I couldn't not come home and make sure you're fine. Besides, I'm mad at him too, so I guess it was better off for me to leave too".

Emma hugged her knees in closer to her body.

"I'm sorry".

Emma looked at her. "Don't be. At least I know where I stand. I guess it's better now than later, where I'd end up getting more hurt. I know now that I need to focus on me and not wait around for him to uncomplicate things".

"Are you coming to work tomorrow"?

"Nope. I think I'll stay here a day or two".

"Ok sweetie, whatever you need". Felicity leaned over and hugged her best friend. "I'm going to call it a night are you coming"?

"I'll be down in a little while".

Felicity nodded, stood and walked away.

Emma laid down on the swing and looked at the starlit sky above her, she could get lost in it, just like she could get lost in Oliver's eyes. No! She had to stop thinking about Oliver! She closed her eyes for what seemed like a brief instant but ended up being much longer.