Chapter 4

The meeting

"Interesting choice of art." a voice suddenly said from her left and Felicity jumped. Damn her self-awareness! Roy already made fun of her because of that.

She turned around to see a man with greyish hair, he was handsome with a strong body and a dominating presence. He made her think of Oliver. The only thing that diverged from a perfect image of a business man was the eye patch. It creeped her out a bit.

"Mr. Williamson?" Felicity asked and he nodded with a small smile.

"Miss Smoak." he said and when her name fell from his lips his smile grew, like he was remembering an inside joke. "Interesting choice of artwork." he repeated and Felicity looked at him curiously. What was the man talking about?

"Your father was a fan of Japanese art." the man replied and Felicity didn't miss the past tense used.

"Maybe we should talk in the garden." she said softly, if a bit sadly, and without waiting, Felicity turned around and walked out, deep in thoughts.

So her father was dead, she thought, at least according to the man's words. It made sense somehow, if he was alive Williamson would send her her father's contact and not only his pictures. And besides, there was the fact that the most recent picture dated from seven years ago. She wasn't sure what her feelings about that could be described as… he was her father, but he left her with a negligent mother, that only talked to her to whine about having to put up with her idiosyncrasies and faults of character. Felicity breathed deeply, trying to forget the painful memories; they would do her no good.

The man joined her before she had time to put up her calm mask once again and he squeezed her hand in a fatherly manner that made her ache.

He guided her towards a bench, her hand still inside his, and for those seconds she pretended everything was alright. She couldn't remember why she was so scared of this man.

"So, you knew my father..." Felicity said when the both of them sat beside a blueberry bush.

The man nodded, releasing her hand and arranging his suit.

"He was a scientist. He worked in the genetic field. And I'm sure you noticed my use of the past." he said and the woman nodded. "That's why you look so sad… I met your father a few years ago. We had some common friends and we developed a friendship. He told me about this daughter he had. A girl he loved dearly, but that he couldn't be with because her mother didn't let him. I know that he tried to take you with him."

"He tried to take me, but not my mother..." Felicity said slowly and Williamson nodded.

"She was obsessed with him and wouldn't give up. And one day he was the one that gave up." Arthur said and Felicity took some time playing with her jacket.

"Here..." he said, extending a photo towards Felicity. "He died clutching it."

"What?" she whispered. "You saw him die?" she asked, suddenly afraid.

"He was sick for a long time." Arthur said and Felicity took the photo. It was of her and her father. They were in their front yard. She couldn't remember taking it.

"How and when did it happen?" Felicity asked.

And the man started his story. She tried to imprint into her brain the most part of the information so she could check it. She might believe this man, until now he had all the answers, and he made her feel calm during the little walk, but she wasn't working with the Arrow for nothing. It was already ingrained in her the necessity of verification. And she would do it as soon as she reached Verdant.

Her father was working with a Japanese university, studying human genetics and their influence in some diseases. Williamson met him through his lawyer company when some ethical issues arose. They were fast friends, a friendship that prolonged through the years, until Anthony Smoak found out he had cancer.

"Call it irony if you want." Arthur said and Felicity sighed.

"Mr. Williamson, this is a lot to take in. I think it's better if I head home." she said, already rising and the man rose as well.

"If you have any doubts, if you want more information, or if you just want someone to talk about your work day, you can call me. I promised your father I would help you if I could find you. Hopefully I still can. But, if you are anything like your father, I know you can take care of yourself. You don't need a knight to save you." the man said and grabbing her hand he kissed her knuckles.

Felicity nodded and walked away.

As soon as she was far away he reached for his phone. It was lightly vibrating inside his pocket.

"It was a success." he said. "She doesn't have a clue."

He could still see her blonde ponytail in the distance and he smiled cruelly.

That's Slade for you, the king of mind games. In my point of view he spent all these years planning his revenge and during that time he learned how to control himself, how to act like a snake instead of a bull (I kind of like this comparison). And he knows he has to win Felicity's trust so she will believe him.