Disclaimer: See chapter 1
Please see my A/N below for further information.
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Chapter 5 – Swinging Destruction
"Hasn't anything been started to help people after the Undertaking?" Oliver looked out of the window of the town car as they drove through the devastated Glades. The scenes that he saw reminded him of news shows regarding war-torn third countries and then he caught the graffiti referring to Blood. "And who is this Blood person?"
"Alderman from the Glades, trying to save the city and fill your shoes," Diggle replied glancing back over his shoulder for a moment. "...Except our Felicity there thinks that there is something just a little fishy about it and his timing."
"Everything is fishy at the moment, the Glades is in more danger now that it was before and during the Undertaking." Felicity replied simply as she pulled a folder out of her briefcase. "Oliver, this is the dossier we have on Stellmoor International."
"The company trying to take over Queen Consolidated," He asked as he opened it and started flicking through the pages. "Why are there so many pictures of this angry woman?"
"That would be Isabel Rochev, vice-president of acquisitions." Felicity replied as she tapped the screen of her tablet. "She's the one responsible for picking up and then basically destroying about ten companies in the past year alone. She came from out of nowhere and seems to have a particular hate on for QC... oh and her name is on the list."
Oliver turned slightly to look at her. "She's on my father's list."
"Mmm..." Felicity replied absently, unknowingly rubbing her temples as she did so. "There's something else about her that on the edge of my memory but I have a deep-search going on at the moment and I've left a message for my sister as well."
"Then we'll leave it there." Oliver had not missed the pained look in her eyes nor the rubbing of her temples. It was too much like the look she had worn back on the island when she had been telling them about the person who was potentially responsible for her original kidnapping six years ago. He reached out and took her hand, rubbing his thumb along her knuckles to soothe her but kept his eyes on the mirror. "Now I would like to see Thea."
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"I really, really do not like that woman." Felicity muttered to herself as she moved towards the elevator to intercept Oliver and Diggle. It was also bugging her that the brunette had looked slightly surprised to see Felicity herself, almost as if she knew her.
As Oliver and Diggle stepped out of the lift, Felicity stepped forward and straightened Oliver's tie before brushing a hand over his shoulder and then punching Diggle in the side. "You're late, they already in the conference room." Feeling the tension in Oliver's shoulder, she continued. "And F.Y.I. no-one is eating the bagels!" She could actually feel Oliver relax slightly at that as Diggle swallowed a laugh before following both men into the board room.
The brunette rose to her feet on his entrance and held out her hand. "Isabel Rochev."
"Oliver Queen, I'm sorry I'm late." Oliver quickly shook her hand and then released it, noting subconsciously that she tried to hold on to him before she replied snippily, "For this meeting or for a career in business."
Oliver gave one of his playboy half-grins as he sat down, Felicity moving to take her seat at his side at the table. "I hadn't realised that hostile take-overs were really this hostile."
"Actually, I'm in quite a good mood." Isabel responded as she returned to her seat. "Taking over companies does that. Let me make things clear to you as you majored in dropping out of college Mr Queen. You own 45% and we own 45% and in two days, the board will release the final 10% which I will buy and I will have the controlling interest in your company."
The unspoken 'Finally' could clearly be heard Oliver, Felicity and Diggle.
Before Oliver could reply though, Felicity's tablet pinged and she looked down at it. Quickly writing a note, she pushed it over to him. 'Seller just pulled out, IR's % now only 40%, W just bought 5% on your behalf. Don't ask just accept.'
Oliver sat back in his seat, crossing his legs, composing his thoughts before he spoke. 'Why do I get the feeling, princess, you supplied the funding for this'.
Once he was sure that he could control his thoughts completely, he spoke. "You seem to be behind the times, Ms Rochev. I would advise you to check your information before making such a claim. I currently own 50% of my own company, Stellmoor International only has 40% and I can promise you, I intend to ensure that it remains that way."
However before she could respond, the doors of the conference room were pushed open and all hell let loose.
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Just as Oliver threw a worried glance at Felicity, the central man of the three hooded men in black spoke, his gun focused on Oliver. "Oliver Queen you've failed this city. You're going to pay."
As the guns started to fire, both Oliver and Isabel ducked to the floor as Diggle darted towards Felicity knocking her down under the conference table as he started to fire back. He immediately took command of the situation, "Oliver fall back, go, go, go!"
Oliver immediately pulled Isabel to her feet and pushed her ahead of himself out of the doors he had originally entered through when a shout went up from the shooting hoods. "Get Queen!"
Just as he was about to go through the doors himself, he found his arm caught and turned round to find a gun in his face. Seconds later, the hood disappeared as Felicity whacked him around the head with a piece of wood before Oliver found himself diving to the floor with his blonde as another of the hoods fired at them destroying the glass wall and doors.
Within seconds, he was back on his feet, arm around Felicity's waist, mind working with the speed necessary to save their lives the way he and she had done time again back on the island. Even as he did so, he could vaguely hear Diggle ordering to get her out of the situation just as his eyes fastened on the blinds of the office.
"Queen's getting away, after him."
Half carrying Felicity, he ran at full speed towards the blinds, grabbed the chain and jumped through the window, as she tightened her own hold around him. He was aware enough to hear her moan, "Oh god not again!" even as they swung back feet first through the window of the floor below.
Crashing through the glass, over the desk to the floor, he immediately reached out for her. Pushing her hair back from her face, he cupped her cheek, "Princess?"
His tone conveyed his need to know she was alright and she immediately covered his hand in silent reassurance. She then shocked him by hitting in the shoulder, "Why do we always have to do the Tarzan thing through the air, Oliver!?"
It did what it always did, earned her that half-smile he reserved for her alone as he rose to his feet and pulled her up with him, making sure none of the broken glass got near her. He then pulled her into his arms; resting his head on hers as Queen Consolidated security finally got to them.
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Not altogether happy with this chapter, it's darn hard to re-write an action that was brilliant in the first place just so I can put my own spin on it.
Please notes, updates will be sporadic, sometimes it will be one chapter in a week, sometimes it will be more than one chapter as I do have a full RL to deal with as well as write.
If you really are still confused by the earlier chapters, PM me for an explanation - although if you wait long enough it should be cleared up the further along the story gets.
As always, please review, I sometimes found it helps me look at what I am writing and change direction to make it better! ;op