This chapter is a lot low on kicking ass (except maybe in the verbal sense) but it's my way of describing why Felicity is in Starling City, and how she meets our dynamic duo, Dig and Oliver.
Next chapter will feature more interactions, both with and without masks. I hope you'll all forgive me for this filler one 😉
I'm going to try for weekly Sunday updates, for a total of 12 chapters (prologue, 10 story chapters and an epilogue)
Enjoy!
Chapter One: Working Girl
Queen Tower was an amazing piece of structural engineering. Though not as tall as most of the surrounding skyscrapers, the design and architecture of the building made up for that in spades. Instead of one giant pillar pointing upwards to the sky, there were two, slightly curved towers that gradually drew closer to each other and connected at the 80th floor, giving the buildings about 10 floors of mutual space. It really wasn't hard to imagine it being a giant, 90 stories tall 'O' sticking partway into the ground.
The main lobby for the building was located on the third floor of the right tower, with an impressive staircase that led you there from the sidewalk. This feature created the illusion of the 'O' actually being a 'Q', which was obviously intentional. Not to mention it totally eliminated the need for outside signage.
Once you got over the impressiveness of the exterior of the building, you entered it and where wowed once again. The lobby, 5 stories high and entirely made out of glass, drew your attention to the six state of the art glass elevators that where placed right in the center of the building. Each one big enough to hold at least a dozen people, they were placed in a circle formation around each other, with a concrete and glass staircase winding upwards around it.
The rest of the activities was centered around the elevator banks. Straight ahead from the main entrance, there were the standard security checks. Five freestanding metal detectors and twice as many security guards did an intensive sweep of everyone walking into the building. Scattered around the rest of the open space were a coffee shop, the reception area and a sandwich-shop.
It was impressive and awe inspiring, and on any other occasion Felicity would have gladly admired the glass and chrome construction in detail. As it was, she barely had the time to toss the cabdriver a few wadded up bills before rushing up the stairs and towards the entrance. A glance at her watch told her she was beyond late and even a portal-gun wouldn't help her get to her meeting on time.
"Frak! Frak, frak, FRAK!"
The odd look she gets from one of the security guards by the door tells her she'd said that out loud, so she shrugs apologetically at him and pushes through the massive glass doors, into Queen Consolidated headquarters.
The tangled mess of people scurrying around in the entrance lobby should be reason for Felicity to despair, but the security guards are thorough and expeditious, so the line moves relatively fast. Before she's even had the chance to start tapping her foot – a horrible habit she's had her entire life, but she just can't seem to stop – she's through the magnetic field and on her way towards the reception area.
Arriving there, she's surprised not to see the standard, fresh-faced and young receptionist, but a man sitting behind the reception desk. Not that she'd discriminate against him because of his gender, but he's built like a line-backer - or so the saying goes, not like she's ever watched a football game to know for sure… or is it basketball?! – with biceps easily the size of her head and shoulders you could build another Q-tower on.
He's impeccably dressed, in a charcoal pinstriped suit, a black shirt and a burgundy tie, obviously tailored, because no standard suit could fit those arms. He's leaning over the narrow desk working one some papers seemingly unaware of her presence.
"Uhm, excuse me, sir, I'm sorry if I'm bothering you, you seem in the middle of something." She points to the various papers that are spread out across the surface. "It's just… my name is Felicity Smoak, I have a meeting with Mr. Steele in," she glances down at her watch again, "well, 5 minutes ago. Also, I feel like I should point out that it really isn't my fault that I'm late. It's just that I'm new in the City and your subways, let me tell you, they're confusing. And then the L-train wasn't running, so I had to take the P-train first before I could get on the G-train. What's up with all those alphabettrains anyway, there must be a better way to refer to trains. Anyways, when I finally got to the correct station, the bus was having engine trouble and I'd have to wait another 30 minutes before another one showed up. Luckily, I had some cash on me or I would have had to walk here. In these shoes."
She bends her knee to bring her foot up to show him, before she realizes he probably isn't interested in her shoes. Even though they are beautiful and shiny with the gold and black, and they are surprisingly comfortable for a 5-inch stiletto.
When she looks back up, the man is staring at her, his mouth slightly ajar and his eyebrow quirked questioningly.
A slight dusting of red spreads out across her cheeks and she's about to apologize for her rambling, when he barks out a soft laugh and stands up to look over the desk at her shoes. When he straightens back up, there's laughter in his eyes, even if the rest of his face stays neutral.
"They are certainly shiny, but I can't say they look terribly comfortable."
He's so tall she has to crane her neck upwards to look him in the eyes, even with her fabulous 5 inch heels. When their eyes meet; after hers roam over his broad chest first - obviously; her face must reveal her surprise, because his coffee-colored eyes sparkle even brighter with mirth.
His voice is much softer than Felicity thought it would be. There's an underlying gentleness in it, that is completely at odds with the rest of his appearance. He's got that military vibe over him, the shortcropped hair, the ramrod straight back, the steely way his mouth is set. But the laughter in his eyes makes him look far less like a threat and more like a protector. More, BFG than Jack and the beanstalk.
Standing so close to her, she can smell his aftershave, spicy and woodsy and for some reason, she thinks it fits him perfectly. Also, it adds tremendously to his scrumptiousness. He's like dark, chiliinfused chocolate, in a suit, absolutely delicious.
"Well, I'll tell my wife you think she's got good taste," he replies cheekily, his mouth now mirroring the enjoyment in his eyes.
Felicity's eyes go wide and the pink coloring on her cheeks turns bright red as his words register. "I didn't say that out loud, did I? Please tell me I did not say that out loud."
The security guard just winks at her and moves around the desk with a visitor's badge in his hands.
"I'm sorry miss, but my mother taught me not to lie to pretty ladies. What I can do is help you get upstairs, if you still want to make your appointment…?" He leaves his statement hanging in the air, and Felicity is reminded about the time crunch she is in. No time to flirt with hot, married security guards. At least not today.
"Thank you so much, mister…"
"Diggle. John Diggle." He introduces himself and holds out his hand to her.
"John Diggle… as in Queen Consolidated Head of Security, John Diggle? As in, the John Diggle I'll be working with? That John Diggle?"
"The one and only, but please, miss Smoak, call me Dig. Everybody else does."
"Oh god. Please let the floor open up and swallow me whole. I'm so embarrassed. It's just, sometimes my brain and my mouth have a miscommunication, where my mouth says stuff before my brain gets the chance to filter it. And really, I can't help it, I think it's because my mind works so fast and thinks up so many things at the same time it's like overload for my mouth, and it just lets the words out. Usually the most embarrassing ones first." She takes a breath and looks at Dig again.
"But I didn't come here to babble about my lack of brain-to-mouth filter. So that will end in 3 – 2 – 1." She sighs, wipes the perspiration from her hand on her pants and holds it out towards Dig, "Let's just… start over okay? You can call me Felicity, all this 'miss' stuff makes me want to check if I'm wearing a ribbon or something."
Dig takes her hand and gives it a firm shake. "Consider it forgotten, Mi – Felicity. Now, if you'll follow me..."
The ride in the elevator doesn't take long, and Mr. Steele's assistant is waiting for them when they step out of the elevator.
"Right this way, miss Smoak. Mr. Diggle warned us about your delay, Mr. Steele and Mr. Queen are already waiting in the conference room."
Felicity hurries down the hall after the assistant, Dig right on her heels. When she walks into the conference room where the meeting will take place, she can't help but gasp at the beauty of the view from the floor-to-ceiling windows. All of Starling City is at her feet.
"Yes, the view is quite stunning, isn't it?" An older gentleman, with an impeccably tailored suit addresses her from one of the chairs surrounding the giant stainless steel and glass table. "Please sit, miss Smoak, we're eager to get started."
Felicity drops down in the chair closest to her, and is relieved to find Dig sitting down beside her. Even though she's excited to be here at Queen Consolidated, sitting across the CEO and the VP is slightly unnerving. And, while she only met Dig ten minutes ago, he's got a calming presence on her.
"Welcome, miss Smoak, I'm sorry to hear your first acquaintance with Starling City wasn't without it's difficulties. I hope that will not impact your decision of joining our team here at Queen
Consolidated?" The words are spoken in a slightly aristocratic British accent, yet they immediately calm Felicity down. As does the man that spoke them.
"Thank you, Mr. Steele. And I did extensive research before I took your offer, I won't let all of that go to waste just because the subway is confusing. If I'd let that factor into my decision, I'd be working in Nowhere Ville."
"Good, I'm glad to hear that. Now, before we go over the finer points of the contract, is there anything you would like to add? I assume you've had the opportunity to read it over with your legal counselor?"
"I've looked it over and everything seems in order. Thank you for including a manageable exit-plan and 5-yearly contract-renegotiations, there were very few companies who allowed me those favors."
"I like to think that we at QC applaud the innovators we hire, instead of punishing them.
Furthermore, the groundwork for your ideas had already been laid, so really it's us who should thank you for giving us the opportunity of benefitting from them as well."
The blush that spreads over Felicity's cheeks this time has nothing to do with her wayward mouth, rather than the praise bestowed upon her by one of the most successful businessmen in the world at the moment.
Walter Steele had taken over the mantle of CEO after the disappearance of Robert and Oliver Queen, whose ship had presumably been lost at sea after a storm back in 2007. He'd steered the company successfully away from its dependence on and prospecting of fossil fuels and into the twenty-first century. QC was now a blooming tech-company who had its fingers in a whole lot of pies, such as green energy, bio-engineering, cyber and physical security and domestic defense.
It had a good reputation when it came to personnel-management and its motto of family and future resonated with Felicity on a deeper level.
"I heard Lucius Fox over at Wayne Enterprises offered you a similar position with similar benefits. Why did you choose us over them, considering you interned for them during college?"
Felicity is a little taken aback by the hostility in the voice posing the question. The young man who asked it, the famous – or rather, infamous – Oliver Queen, looks at her with ice in his eyes and apparent displeasure written all over his features. His arms, big but not as big as Dig's, are crossed in front of his chest, and his whole demeanor screams 'hostile'.
"I... I uhm…" She struggles to get any words out properly, his stare making her very uncomfortable.
"Oliver! My apologies for my associate's behavior, miss Smoak. He's been tense ever since the Rochev incident. I'm sure he doesn't mean to be this disrespectful towards you." The look of reproach he shoots towards the young man is clear.
"Yes, I'm sorry miss Smoak, I didn't mean to come off so strong," he at least has the decency to look somewhat remorseful, though he doesn't really sound all that sorry and there's still a steely edge to his words. "I just mean, you went to MIT, and decided to get your . there as well, it just seemed like Wayne Enterprises would have been your perfect fit."
A sad feeling overtakes Felicity for a second at his words. It's true that, for a brief period in her life, she thought she would end up at Wayne Enterprises, move to Gotham and live a happy and fulfilling life. And had the circumstances been different, she probably would have never even considered moving back to the West Coast. Unfortunately, things rarely play out the way anybody plans them, and that was that. But that story is entirely her own.
"I can assure you, mister Queen," she says, her own voice equally cold, "that my intentions in coming here are pure. Yes, I interned at Wayne and yes, they made me a very generous offer. My reasons for turning them down and choosing QC are my own, but that doesn't mean I will do any less than my utmost to ensure this partnership is successful."
She gets up and leans over the table, pressing down her index-finger with every word, punctuating them.
"I understand the difficulties this company has been in because of the Rochev debacle, and I sympathize with you, but just because I happen to be an intelligent female, doesn't mean I've got nefarious plans to steal this company. In fact, it's QC that is investing in Smoak Technologies, and in doing so, acquiring 45% of my stock. If anything, I should be concerned about you. It's not only your name on these projects, and I worked too hard on these projects to intentionally screw them up!"
She sits back down with a huff, crossing her arms in front of her chest and feeling slightly proud of herself for standing up to such a… a… bully, like Oliver Queen. Then she realizes who she just went off on, and her eyes go wide with horror. She probably just blew the biggest chance of her professional life, yelling at the VP of Queen Consolidated. No matter his boorish, caveman behavior and his obvious hostility towards her, she should have kept her cool. Thank Google she didn't use her loud voice.
A soft chuckle, coming from her left, startles her from her doomsday-musings. When she looks up, she sees Dig, barely containing his hilarity, shoulders shaking with contained laughter. When she looks around the table, she spots an indulgent smile on Walter Steele's face, and even Oliver Queen's eyes have seemed to thaw a fraction.
She smacks Dig on the arm, "Was it my speech, or something I said that should have stayed in my head?" Dig shakes his head, clearly not in the right state to answer her properly, because he keeps looking at her and then at Mr. Queen and his shoulders start to shake again.
"You're right Miss Smoak." The VP's voice is softer now, hiding a hint of a smile. "I truly am sorry about my behavior, it was uncalled for. You have the right to your own reasons, and knowing you're as invested in this collaboration as we are, is enough." He cocks his head a little to the side, his eyes studying her, although not in the same way as before.
There's no trace of hostility anymore, his eyes now showing interest and curiosity, rather than distaste and opposition. Although it's a big step up from 30 minutes ago, Felicity is a rather … complicated woman and she keeps a grudge.
"I'll try to keep the caveman contained from now on. But, just one more question. How does one go about worshipping Google?"
Inspiration for this chapter can be found on my flickr account, username also ExcellentlyEllen, album title: chapter one working girl.