Chapter 3

Elevator

Simon followed his classmates into the building. The inner court was massive. The floors were a dull brown marble accentuated by thick blue marble pillars that reached about twenty feet to the ceiling, which was decorated with tin ceiling tiles similar to those of the 1930's.

There were lots of people coming into and walking out of LexCorp, most of which were wearing suites. Simon felt more than a little disconnected with the people in the building, and the building itself.

Well, I'll never fit into a place like this…

Simon walked behind a pillar and stood there glancing around at all of the people. He could see the entrance from where he was. He could also see the group he was with. Jenna was ushering everyone upstairs to the second floor, but Simon stepped back and hid behind the pillar.

After waiting a few minutes he peered around the pillars' curve and saw that they were gone.

Whew, finally, I don't have to be around them for a while…guess I'll go to the elevator and see how tall this building is.

Simon started walking over to the elevators where some people were waiting for one to come down. He turned his head to watch the entrance and that's when he saw someone who looked familiar. Simon stared at the man who was walking in.

It's the guy from this morning!

The man changed his course to that of where Simon was heading, the elevators.

Just as Simon was turning his head back he smashed into a black suit and fell back slightly. The man whom Simon had hit turned around to see what was going on.

Simon looked up at the guy, "Uh, sorry, I wasn't watching…"

The man before him was arching a brow. He was tall with short blond hair and a solid, chiseled face of someone who was athletic.

"Ok, it's ok, are you ok?" The man's face went from one of irritation to one of more curious.

"Yeah, yeah, no I'm.." Simon glanced around but he didn't see the man in the brown suite.

"You're what?" The man asked taking a step closer; he also took a quick look around the room.

"Uhm, nothing, yeah, I'm fine." Simon smiled.

"So you have some business here?" He asked looking Simon over.

"Me? Nah, I am on a field trip, I'm from Metropolis middle school." Simon looked around once more.

"Ah, well then welcome to LexCorp, I'm sure you will find it rather, boring, actually. It's not really a fun place to be for teenagers, lots of paperwork and writing, oh and meetings, lots of meetings, with lots of chatting about nothing, and nothing really getting accomplished." He was smiling at Simon.

Simon laughed, "Sounds like a great place to be, can't wait until I get old enough to take part in that."

"Oh it'll come soon enough, before too long you'll have stocks and bonds, and capital investments."

"When do you have time to have fun?" Simon asked, he liking this guy already.

The blond man looked quizzical for a second, "Fun? What's that? I'm too busy slaving over paperwork to have fun."

They both laughed.

"Your cool, man, I like you." Simon said, which he normally wouldn't say to someone he just ran into, but this guy had a way about himself that Simon was connecting to.

"You seem like a good kid, what's your name?" He asked.

"Simon, Simon Camden."

"Well Simon, nice to meet you, I'm Oliver Queen." Oliver held out his hand. Simon took it and they both shook hands.

The elevator bell rang out and he turned around then he turned back to Simon.

"Looks like my ride is here, you going up?" Oliver asked thumbing in the direction of the elevator.

"Yeah," Simon answered.

"Great! Let's get on board before we miss it, no telling when another will be coming down." Oliver said motioning Simon to go ahead of him.

"What floor?" Oliver asked Simon.

Simon reached over and randomly pressed a button. Oliver made a look like he was impressed.

"Going to see the big man, huh?" Oliver asked

"Yup," Simon answered with a giggle.

As the elevator doors were closing an arm reached in causing the doors to open. A few frustrated moans were heard from the crowd inside. A man wearing a brown suite stepped in and made his way to the back of the elevator where Simon and Oliver were. Simon moved closer to Oliver, and Oliver didn't seem to notice as he took out his iPhone to read his email.

The man stared at Simon and his mind went wild. Without realizing he reached into the man's mind to see what was in there.

A building. Shadows speaking in hushed tones.

The man shook his head staring at Simon.

There was a dim room with stained green tiles. A baby was being brought in. A man in white was looking the baby over.

The man standing near Simon with the brown suite began to perspire. He wiped at his forehead. The elevator stopped and some people got off, but Simon didn't take his gaze off of the man. He too was sweating, his breathing becoming heavier.

Oliver seemed oblivious to what was happening as he read through his emails, only occasionally looking up when the elevator stopped.

In the man's mind People were standing in the green room talking, "We started this operation some years ago. It is our intent to watch as these children grow."

The elevator stopped again. A few more people got off. As the elevator doors closed Oliver looked over at Simon. The boy was staring intensely at the man across from him. Oliver glanced at the man who was now reaching into his jacket and then he looked back down at Simon.

"Simon, you alright man?" Oliver asked placing his hand on Simon's shoulder. The boy felt like he had been in a sauna.

Simon jumped looking up at Oliver.

"What!" Simon yelled with a look of confusion on his face.

"Are you ok?" Oliver asked again moving in front of the boy, "Your sweating like crazy, are you sick?"

Simon glanced back at the brown suite.

The elevator dinged and stopped. The man in the brown suite got off quickly, his hand still in his jacket.

"Simon?" Oliver asked.

"Nothing, I'm ok…" Simon answered looking at Oliver.

Oliver couldn't put his finger on it but something had just happened between Simon and the man who just got off of the elevator. Oliver would try and question Simon about it later, but since there were other people in the elevator with them this wasn't a good time.

Once they reached the top floor Oliver ushered Simon out.

"Alright Simon, something's going on. I'm no dummy, I know when something is up, so what is it?" Oliver said putting his cell phone into his pocket.

"I-" Simon began.

"Ah, Oliver Queen." A deep voice resounded.

Oliver turned to meet the man.

"Lex Luthor, good afternoon." Oliver shook Lex's hand.

Lex looked down at Simon curiously.

"Who's this young man, a new intern perhaps?" Lex jested.

"No, he's Simon; I actually just met him this morning. He's on a school field trip." Oliver stated.

"Hello, sir." Simon said turning on his well behaved mode.

"You look as though you've been running laps around my building." Lex said stepping closer.

"No, I'm good, just hot is all." Simon said with a quick smile.

"Yeah, it was a bit stuffy in the elevator." Oliver quickly added.

Lex arched a brow, "Indeed, I'll have to have that repaired, well is Simon coming to the meeting to?" Lex smirked.

"No, of course not," Oliver answered.

"Then we should get started," Lex said motioning to the nearby conference room.

"Lex, could you give us just a moment." Oliver asked.

Lex glanced between the two of them, "Certainly."

"Thanks."

Oliver turned to Simon as Lex walked away.

"Simon, I want to know what is going, here's my card. Give me a call this evening." Oliver pulled out his card and handed it to Simon.

"Uh, sure," Simon took the card and read it. The card had Oliver's full name and two phone numbers. One was labeled Office and the other Cell.

"Alright, talk with you later." Oliver said patting Simon on his shoulder once.

"Cool," was all Simon said as he watched Oliver walk away.