Yes, sadly ladies/gents, Justin Hartley is married, with a child (in real life). As for the age thing, I have a rough rule that if you're less than half his age, then it's wrong. I did have to look up his age, but, I am pleased to say I am within my own parameters for the man (yummy). Mr Hartley is 36 this year (Born 1977). If only he wasn't married...

Wait... woah... Wikipedia tells me they've filed for divorce... I can't help but wonder why?!

Okay, so yes, I know the odds of an english girl suddenly enveloping in a whirlwind romance with this hottie american are very low (especially since she hates leaving the country- who trusts airplanes?! Humans were not meant to fly!)... but a girl can dream! And that can NEVER be taken away.

Besides... in all honesty, I think I'd rather have the fictional Oliver Queen... the Green Arrow side of him does something for me which I can't explain.

It does something for Chloe too ;)

I'm glad to see you're really getting your teeth into this, but I fear this chapter will be upsetting at least one reviewer (oh dear Guest, I do apologise, but Chloe's got a long road before she finds out who he really is. Don't worry, she'll start finding a few problems with his story though).

Previously; Oliver stalked dear Chloe to win a date in three days time, until then, they agreed to play fighting together. Chloe told Arrow her plans for Queen's business and why she was dating him :(
I left off where dear Chloe was torturing Oliver with her chosen clothing and he'd turned the car around to take her home.

Chapter Twenty; Denial and War

'Love is rarely, if ever, logical' - Chloe Sullivan (Season Two, Episode Heat)

The car took a 10 minute trip, Chloe already knew where she'd end up from her snooping online of his finance records. As predicted, she stepped out of the car in front of Oliver's apartment.

Oliver was quick to take her hand while she scouted the area.

Quick to bustle her into an old clunky elevator she swore was going to kill her.

Quick to jab the button, grinning the entire ride at her worry.

But then everything slowed. As she stepped from the elevator his arms wrapped around her, slipping inside the coat to rest on bare skin. He pulled her flush to him, his lips crashing to hers with a passion that surprised her. Time seemed to stroll past, everything hanging in this moment with them, he was everything she could think of.

His lips weren't harsh, weren't demanding of her, just that kind of flowing serenity she'd never found appealing before. But now, every end in her body was sparking. There was this image in her head of never letting him go, of being wrapped up in his arms under a blanket, of watching waves slam onto the beach as they strolled along hand in hand. And she wanted it; she wanted to do those things with him. It broke all of her rules, destroyed everything she thought she knew about herself.

His tongue danced across hers and she forgot all reason to be mad with him. In that moment there was no deal with Lionel, no deal with Lex, no agreement for Queen's business. No… no Green Arrow. She couldn't even think of Arrow's last kiss with her. All she knew was that Arrow was quick, he was needy, he was lustful. Nothing like this kiss; Oliver… he kissed like he loved.

It scared her to death.

And god damn it, she knew why she had avoided feeling this with other men, she knew why the rules were in place and she knew exactly what had happened.

Oliver pulled away, returning his hands into his own bodily space. She lifted her eyes only the slightest, catching the smile on his face while her unruly stray strands of hair covered her own features.

"I've been wanting to do that since I saw you." he admitted, lifting her hand into his and taking her further into his living space. Chloe couldn't even lift her eyes to locate his files or exits.

She knew this feeling he'd stirred and she wanted nothing to do with it. A simple kiss had shut off every logical thought in her brain, knocked her off her feet and placed her completely in unknown territory. She wanted this feeling gone.

Besides, it was just chemicals in her body, nothing but stupid chemicals he'd stirred. Because she knew for sure, she could not fall in love with Oliver, it wasn't possible. Wasn't plausible. It was wrong. She'd probably just got head over heels with lust and some had over-spilled into a dusty bucket labelled love.

Either way, something had stirred in Chloe. She finally looked up with anger in her eyes. She stared at Oliver's back as he led her further through his home. It was his fault.

When she was in control, she never felt this.

When she was in control, this didn't happen.

He'd taken control the second he'd declined her. She couldn't take it back until he'd take her to bed. But she could a) speed up the process to the bedroom, and b) make him pay.

With a smile gracing her pink lips, she set foot inside his work out space, or whatever he'd named this padded floor area and slipped off her kitten heels. Her eyes inspected the place while she shrugged off the coat and threw it over her shoes.

It was average size. Smaller than Lex's arena, but then again, this apartment was nothing on the mansion. It wasn't too small that she couldn't work with it. She could easily throw him across the room twice without having to change direction.

With approval, she turned to face Queen.

…who was stripping off his shirt for the wall.

Chloe watched the muscles dance across his back as he moved to take it off. She couldn't help but stare.

God, she wished he was wearing another shirt just to watch the entire procedure again, there was something so erotic about watching a man lose clothes, and all she could think was when this action would eventually happen before he finally got around to fucking her.

Oliver flashed a look over his shoulder, catching her locked gaze.

"Rude to stare." he pointed out, clearly happy with her decision.

"It's also rude to kidnap a woman and force her to date you." she snapped back, but kept her smile to her lips.

"Well it's a good job we're not concerned about being rude." he answered with a chuckle.

Chloe watched him walk barefoot into the centre of the mats and wave her forward.

"Should you be wearing jeans?" she asked, but walked to meet him.

"We won't be doing anything too complex today." he scoffed. Oh and how much she was looking forward to wiping that grin off his face. But, for now, she would follow his wishes. "It's alright, I'm not going to hurt you. You can come closer." he teased with a grin.

Chloe reminded herself to at least give him a few moments before she slammed him to the floor.

Minutes, she spoke to herself. Mere minutes for him to talk down to her. Then, well, then things would change. "Am I going to have to teach you to make a fist too?" he chuckled, clearly enjoying himself.

Seconds, she corrected herself. Mere seconds before she decked the bastard.

"No. I-" She was going to say she had a cousin in the army. But Chloe Maine didn't, that was Chloe Sullivan. "-know that much." she finished.

"Alright. We'll take it slow shall we?"

"What happened to being hard on me? 100% effort?" she asked, but put up her fists ready to 'learn'.

"Alright, I was going to start off slow, but we can hit this hard if you like."

"Oh I would." Oliver couldn't help but hear sex lacing her voice. He sighed.

"Alright. I'm going to grab you." he warned. "Protect yourself."

He took a step to close the distance, his arms coming out to ensnare her. She threw out her punch straight to his chest. Her smile didn't have a chance to form, neither did her follow up as he caught her fist and pulled her into a grab anyway, somehow predicting her move.

How?

"So, you already know how to fight?" He didn't seem to ask a question, more confirm an earlier thought.

How? "Why did you agree to this, if you already knew?"

Chloe did grin now, her back pressed to his bare chested front, and oh Lord it felt fantastic to be there.

"Maybe I just wanted to beat you up, or rub up against you?" she teased, and snaked one hand up his shoulder, the other to rest atop his hand over her stomach.

"And the other martial arts centres you were looking into?"

Chloe smiled and with no more than a jab to his stomach and twist of her hips she spun him over and onto the floor, her hands following to put him in an arm lock and prevent any further movement.

"Stress relief." she answered to his pained form as he groaned.

"So you know ju jitsu." he summed from the arm lock she still held on him.

"Amongst others." she admitted.

Oliver broke free, countering the armlock, and rolling to pin her below him on the mats.

"Well, at least the playing field is fair." he breathed.

"Far from." she countered, locking her legs around him, and grinding her hips against his groin.

"Ah." He stopped her, freeing one of her hands to still her hips and push them to the floor. "Enough of that."

"Oh com'on, you said you wouldn't on dates before the third. Technically, this isn't a date. So… this is the loop hole in your agreement." She trailed her free hand down his chest and to the top of the jeans, running her finger along the top band. "Give me what I need now, and you can have your second and third date however you want. I'll even play along and be a good girl."

His hand left her hips again, this time taking her hand back to the mat.

"You couldn't be a good girl if you tried." he chuckled. "Besides, once would not be enough for you."

"That skilled huh?"

"Wouldn't you like to know."

"I would." she answered truthfully, kicking both her free legs to his left side and flipping him over with a push of her hips. She straddled his groin, her hands manacles over his wrists.

He smiled.

"I do like my women on top." he breathed. "But, I prefer having control." Like she weighed nothing at all, he escaped her hands and took hold on her waist instead, lifting her from her position and tumbling on top of her again.

As he lay between her legs -his hands beside her head keeping most of his weight off her- all she could think of was sex.

She rose the distance and crashed her lips to his, curling her hands into his back and tugging him down to his forearms for support.

Her legs locked behind him, her lips moulded to his, her hand clawing at his back. There may be nail marks later, but for now, neither cared.

He returned her kiss with a fire she hadn't known before. No, not true. This was the fire she'd felt in the seconds after leaving his half dead elevator. This was the spell of chemicals swirling in her blood. But there was another pull tugging at the back of her brain that shocked her more. She'd been kissed like this before.

Oliver felt Chloe pull back from him, but he opened his eyes to a mere millisecond glance before she'd knocking him on his back again and stood up.

"If you won't relent. I suppose we should fight then." she spoke with a wavering control over her voice.

"I suppose." he agreed, leaning up on his forearms. "Guess I should change from the jeans if we're going to be playing dirty then." he chuckled and stood, walking from the room.

Chloe breathed heavily as he walked from sight. How had this happened? She could no longer kiss him without her stomach swirling with butterflies and her heart leaping from her damn chest. Stupid stupid man. This was all his fault.

That kiss, that damn kiss. Oliver may have been able to drug her brain chemistry and make her believe she loved him with his kisses, but that last one, that wasn't an Oliver kiss, that was an Arrow kiss. A kiss that consumed, a kiss that started a fire in your belly. It wasn't just like an Arrow kiss. It was Arrow's kisses. The way he tasted, the way he held her like he was utterly consumed by her. The need, the motions, the possessive lust claimed her wholly.

But Oliver couldn't be Arrow. Arrow was harsh, he was demanding, he certainly didn't have any romantic notions about her. She was just confused. Right?

There was a perfectly logical explanation. She was mixing what she wanted with what she had. She had Oliver giving her all she needed emotionally, but not sexually… and Arrow was the flip side of that coin, her mind was mixing them to create a perfect man.

Oliver was not Arrow, of that she was almost sure. Her insanity shouldn't even be encouraged by thinking it.

Besides, it was not impossible that two men kissed similarly, or perhaps had the same jawline. Maybe jawline shape correlated to kissing ability. It was plausible that every man with that jawline could thrill her with kisses like Oliver and Arrow did.

She just needed to separate them… If she was compromising for a lack of sex by seeing Arrow in him, a good fuck would cure her problem. And she'd finally be able to finish her work, she swore, promising herself to not think of it again.

She only prayed a fuck would cure the other problem he had caused to.

She couldn't fall for the job.

She never had before, and she wouldn't now.

Oliver was just handsome, that was the only thing rushing the chemicals around her body. He was rich, he knew how to wine and dine a woman. He could battle her word for word and was intelligent conversation. All it was, was little things building into something she'd tricked herself into thinking was bigger. Nothing more than a chemical rush. Nothing at all.

The world would keep spinning without him, the sun would still rise, and she would finish her job. Both of them. Arrow would give her her thrills, and Oliver would be gone from her mind as soon as she slept with him. By Christmas she'd be living it up somewhere nice and warm, she'd find new friends, she'd take a long term lover an-

Her mood saddened at the thought. Clearly something in her wanted Queen to take that spot. And hopefully, she'd be rid of that damn demon quickly. It was making her mind more clouded. What she thought she had planned was easily slipping out of her grasp. Her control was almost non-existent. Even her stupid brain chemistry had turned against her.

And it was all his fault.

His fault.

She eyes clicked up to Queen's return. Loose joggers sat around his hips, the band of his boxers poking through as he crossed the room to her. He saw determination in her eyes, he saw a fight inside her, and he felt her anger shake the room. She needed to release some tension, whatever it was. He was willing to play ball.

"No holding back." he spoke and with a quick nod she sprinted the distance, her fist flying at him with a speed he hadn't predicted. He had no choice but to dodge, and swipe her off her feet. But she jumped his leg like an old game of skipping and her fists came at him again, her kick heading to finish the combo he was forced to block.

He pulled a lock from her punch, she countered it and took him to the floor.

But she didn't pin him, she kept upright, standing the steps away breathing heavily as she waited for him to stand.

Oliver pushed himself to his feet and not a second later she was back again, forcing him up and down the length of the room. She was quick, easy on her feet, not afraid of a fist flying at her. She had passion, anger and hate in her, and she was showing her colours in bright red. He actually found her a challenge, not a challenge that he'd lose, but something better than his usual competition.

He watched her shove a hand through her hair again, as unruly as it was it refused to stay out of her vision, but as it fell back down with gravity she didn't give it a care, instead charging towards him. Her emotions were ruling her, something had her mad.

He pulled her into a grab from the punch and locked her arms behind her to stop another flip onto his back. But instead of conversation she jumped lithely, landing her feet on his thighs and pushing him backwards off balance. He released her quick, saving himself from the damage of gravity. Again, she crossed the room, pacing on her feet. She reminded him of a boxer, filled with determination and adrenaline.

She wanted a fight, she needed to burn this off. Nothing easy, nothing handicapped for her gender, just a good fight. He understood.

He had been a little soft he supposed and sprang back upright, planning for her speed and slipped on the inside of her punch, bracing her and sweeping his leg to take the back of hers. She went down, but with a twist of her leg between his two strong ones she rolled and dragged him down to his knees too.
Her now free leg came swinging through the air aimed straight for his head. He ducked and pounced, caging her on the floor as they had been only minutes ago.

"You're a wild one." he complimented. "Where did you learn?" Her breathing was hard and shallow, panting beneath him.

"Here and there." she spoke dismissively, her anger clearly yet to fade.

"That's not an answer."

"You won't get a better one." she replied.

"Fair enough." He rolled off her and they both resumed standing positions.

They squared off, her anger fading as they fought, he could tell simply by her posture.

But she wasn't done yet.

They worked across the room, blocking and dodging, attacking and striking. They each went to the floor several times, but she refused to pin him, she kept forcing him back to stand. He couldn't understand why, until he had her in his grip again. She was pressed to his front, chest to chest, her wrists solidly in his grasp behind her back, her face tilted to his. Closer than they'd been in a while, the type of close she'd have to be to pin him or fight him on the floor. He knew the escape from the position was to head-butt the assailant, but here she was just staring up at him. Fear in her eyes.

Not fear from the move though, surely she knew the counter. How could she not with her skill. But… fear of him. His grip loosened, but she didn't take the opportunity, she seemed locked, looking up at him. Her heart was pounding, he could feel it against his own. She was truly scared. He let her hands free, but she didn't move an inch.

"Chloe, you okay?" His hands settled on her arms, finding them cold rather than the clammy heat of exercise he expected. Had he done something? Was she hurt?

Chloe blinked herself back from her thoughts, a stray tear trying to find its release from her eyes. She stepped back from Oliver like his touch had burned, turning and scrubbing her eyes while he couldn't see. "Maybe that's enough for today." he spoke. She fought to protest, but she wanted to clear her head too. Back home away from him was a good decision.

"Yeah" she agreed quietly.

"Maybe, we shouldn't do this again."

"No." She was quick to answer, turning back to him. It was the best practice she'd had, she'd never felt so… alive, than fighting with him. He was a challenge, he was something new she hadn't tried and memorised. He wasn't Lex; using his fighting to punish or teach, and he wasn't the opposite; taking pity on her gender and pulling his punches. He was a good fight, a good fight she needed to clear her head.

But as soon as she answered her racing mind came thundering back to her. She didn't need proximity to Queen. It was just making this whole thing worse. For God's sake she'd frozen mid-fight because of these damn feelings he'd stirred in her.

"Sure." he conceded. "Another time." And with a smile he crossed the mat to her. "You sure you're alright?" She nodded.

"Just got caught up in thought."

"Coffee?" he offered and she could have melted and died happy. But why did he have to be so perfect like that?

Still, she persuaded herself that the warm melting sensation in her heart was her love for coffee, not the man delivering it.

"Yes. I would love coffee right now." And he grinned, taking her hand and leading her from the mats and towards the kitchen.

Oliver was confused, to put things lightly. She'd been scared to death of him, but had no problem in accepting his hand and following him into his kitchen. Or his coffee. Surely if she was scared she'd rather flee.

Still, as confused as he was, the woman still looked amazing. He guided her to one of his bar stools at the island and set the coffee maker ahead. She sat quiet, taking the tie from her hair and re-sorting the mess.

She looked adorable, her clothes stuck to her, she had sweat patches, her deodorant had taken over her personal space with a vengeance, and all he could think of was kissing her.

The coffee maker started its usual noises and he took a seat opposite her. She finished re-tying her hair in an ordered way and smiled to him.

"You're good." he complimented, taking an apple from the bowl and offering her something. She pulled a face and declined, her eyes tracking the progress of the coffee instead. "And clearly a coffee addict."

"All my life." she swore with a smile. "You're pretty damn good yourself. Where did you learn?"

"Here and there." he repeated with a cheeky smile.

His lack of answer had her brain moving in a different direction. She wanted to say it wasn't a test to encourage her insanity, but her heart seemed to hang in the words. What would she do if for some reason her insanity proved true? Her eyes lifted to him.

"Ever heard of the Green Arrow Bandit?" Oliver didn't expect the question, he had to re-write his brain for a few second before answering.

"I live in Metropolis and read the paper, so that's a big yes."

"What do you think of him?"

And Oliver had a decision. He could lie, tell her he hated him and hope she'd share her theories with him regarding Arrow. Or, he could tell her that he supported Green Arrow and hope to change her mind out of this hunt. He took the easy way out.

"There's good and bad."

"And what about those people who want to unmask him?"

He couldn't help but be honest in this reply.

"I think they should leave him alone. He's not hurting anyone."

"He's blown up several of Luthor's facilities." she argued.

"He's never hurt a person though." he continued, still calm in his voice, despite what he wanted to yell at her.

"True." She was honest, he could hear the truth. She wasn't buying anything Lex was feeding her. He felt proud, not for any reason he could label, but there was still pride. She trusted Arrow. Did she trust Oliver too?

"Why? Are you telling me Lex has you working to unmask Arrow?"

"If I was, what would you think?" She looked so vulnerable as she lifted her eyes to his. But underlying, he saw darkness, lies and a test. Had she finally started to connect dots?

"I'd think that you'd be very brave. I doubt Arrow is happy with this." He took two mugs from the cupboard, the cream and sugar slid onto the island with them. For some reason Chloe felt sold at this point. There was no way Oliver was Arrow. It was too… 'unlikely'. It was… she couldn't put her finger on it, but she believed his words. The Arrow she knew would have picked up in anger, he would have been harsh with his answers. They were two very different people.

"And if I told you I wasn't enjoying the job Lex has given me?" she continued with a sigh, her test gone, but she didn't feel happy about her result. Had she wanted Oliver to be Arrow? She had no idea. Her brain was clearly fried. She filed away the entire thought. Oliver was just Oliver. He was the sweet romantic man that had drugged her into feelings for him and insisted upon three dates before stripping off clothes. Nothing like Arrow, she scoffed.

Oliver froze, his hand on the coffee pot as it finished its dripping.

"I'd wonder why you were doing it." Chloe zoned back in on the present, shutting out Arrow from her mind.

"I wonder sometimes too." she answered softly. "But work is work." she admitted and accepted the coffee from him, breathing in the sweet aroma. It was so rich, so heavenly. She mixed herself the cream but no sugar and rose the cup to her lips. "This is good." she spoke after the first whiff. "This is amazing." she corrected after the first sip.

"It's grown in some mountain somewhere." He couldn't remember what it was called though. "My assistant speaks coffee and she told me it was the best."

"I can believe her, but it's second best."

"Second huh?" he enquired, leaning forward onto the tabletop.

"At Christmas, there's this cinnamon and nutmeg blend that hits shelves. It's more than a few miles drive to the store that sells it, so I usually can't be bothered. Sometimes, they sell throughout the year, but it's always stocked up at Christmas, and it's the best I've ever had."

"Cinnamon and nutmeg huh? I'll be sure to make a note."

"You are looking to get in my good graces." she confirmed.

"I'd like to think I'm already there." He smirked and rose from his chair. "Com'on." And she took his extended hand again. He walked her and her hugged coffee mug into his living space. "You can tell me your life story."

She settled into the sofa next to him, her legs curled up under her.

"It's not much." she admitted.

"I'd still like to hear it." She shrugged.

"I grew up in a small house, I went to school. I did well, I was hired by Lex. I travelled and now I'm back with Lex."

"That's an awfully summarised summary." he noted.

Chloe sighed, and it wasn't forced. She set the coffee on the table and laid her fingers on the bottom of the tank top.

"There's a reason I don't talk about my past." She lifted up the top, her back to him. "The old man was a mean drunk." she simply added, closing her eyes to prevent the tears that wanted to escape. She whispered her apology to her father.

"Do you mind?" She opened her eyes, seeing his hand a ghost from her.

"Go ahead." And a warm touch came to her back, smoothly tracing the lines Lionel had left.

"I'll kill him." And she felt an anger from him, something she hadn't expected. She got pity, she got sorrow from the rare few who saw them, but never anger.

"He beat you to the punch. Died in prison. Suicide." she spoke, lowering the top as his fingers left.

"Your mother?"

"Don't know. She just stopped coming home while I was still a child."

"She left you with this man?" Chloe saw the grip on his coffee tighten. How could he react so angry when the pain was all hers? Did he feel obliged to protect her?

"She's probably dead in all honesty. Either way, it's not her fault." No, her mother was spending some quality time with other people that had the crazies. Chloe Maine's mother had left her father for another man, and probably was dead by now. She did every drug under the sun.

"Sorry." he spoke.

"Sorry you didn't have parent's either." she replied. His past had been a big pool of hurt, until the women came flocking for his money. He'd slept his way through boarding school, waltz through life, but carried the burden of being alone all the time. It wasn't easy. Chloe knew that. At least her past wasn't plastered over papers as headline news.

"Well, we turned out alright." he answered, pulling a fake smile. But she saw the lack of spark in his eyes as he did, and in that moment she didn't care about the crazy feeling she got from him. She just wanted to soothe the pain she knew so well and saw in him.

Chloe lifted her coffee back to her hands and shuffled across the sofa. Oliver's smile turned true and he lifted an arm, allowing her to cuddle into him.

He could feel her relax, feel her warmth. All he could think was that it was for him, that she didn't do this for Lex. He could hardly picture a man like Lex being there for her in any way that involved personal contact. His arm wrapped her further into him, entirely unconsciously, but her eyes lifted and he realised the possessive gesture.

But her eyes shone with that glow of warmth she'd been amiss before. She moved and he thought she'd be tugging against him for more space, but she re-arranged herself closer to him. She leant into his side, her face rubbing against his shoulder before she found a comfy spot and closed her eyes. Much like a content cat, nuzzling its master before choosing the place to sleep. He breathed her in, took the moment in all its glory.

He was alive again, powerful. She had resisted him the entire way, but somewhere along the last few days she'd tripped and fallen for him. He could feel it.

"I'll drive you home." Oliver offered as she picked back up her coat.

"A taxi works just as well, but if you insist." she purred, following him out. But then she was faced with the elevator again. "Have I told you before how much I hate your elevator?"

"You'll get used to it."

"That insinuates I'll be taking more rides in it." She glanced over at him with sharp eyes, but still stepping into the death trap. "I'd really rather not."

"Some people like elevators." he claimed, watching her tense as the door shut and the motions jolted her. "A lot of steamy things can happen with two people alone in an enclosed space."

"Oh, I have no objection to elevators in general." she snapped. "Just yours." And her smile flashed at him for a second.

"Noted."

"Any chance you'll let me drive the Lamborghini now?"

"We had a deal." he simply answered.

"But you could always use this as a kind of 'test' as to whether you deem me capable of driving her."

"You'll wait." he laughed as the elevator doors opened again and they both stepped out.

"Oh, com'on. Please!" she laughed as well, dancing around him.

But they both froze as the air parted on either side of them, an arrow slicing past the lovers and slamming into the wall. Chloe's heart beat faster for all the wrong reasons as her vision locked on the arrow.

Oliver tugged her from where she stood shocked still staring at the fletching.

Arrow… it was Arrow. Her heart thumped, sunk, froze and raced all at the same time. She flicked her sight to Queen on the left, Arrow on the right.

What kind of fucked up world had she slammed the two of them together in?! Oliver was clearly not Arrow!

"Queen!" The booming voice came from the voice distorter that had become so familiar to her. Chloe let Oliver tug her from the archer's line of fire and behind the car.

"You're friend doesn't seem to like me." Oliver hissed to her. Chloe didn't know if words were actually in her brain or were just blocked. What was he doing here? She looked up through the car windows to the roof top. Broad daylight showed the clarity she had hoped to avoid. It was definitely Arrow. His height, his

costume, his voice. His arrows slamming into the car and drawing another shock of action from Oliver to tug her back down. "What the hell?" he asked her.

"Queen." The archer called again. "The goblet."

Chloe's eyes snapped over to Oliver.

"What goblet?" she hissed.

Oliver sighed.

"I bought an artefact. A 12th century chalice from a French cathedral."

"Where from?" she asked, already feeling what the answer would be.

"An old friend's business is crashing, he needs the money to stay afloat but wouldn't accept a donation." he explained. "So, I bought this from him instead."

"Your friend got the chalice from the black market. And now you have it."

"The black market? No, he had it for years."

"Everything Arrow's stolen has been bought off the black market. You're hoarding something he wants to return to its owner."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously. Where is the goblet now?"

"I sold it on to someone a few hours ago; wasn't exactly my style."

Another arrow slammed into the car where her head attempted to peek up.

Oliver tugged her back down again. "Any idea how we turn him off?" he asked Chloe. "Before he shoots a hole in your head." She slitted her eyes to him, but called out to the archer.

"He sold it on!" Her voice carried across the space easily. She couldn't help but feel sorry for Oliver. He tried to help out a friend and just got trouble instead.

"Name." The voice distorted shouted back.

Chloe jabbed an elbow to Oliver's ribs when he didn't immediately answer. A name came from Oliver's lips quickly and flew across the distance.

"Let's hope we never meet again." The archer called and Chloe watched the view as the green form ran the rooftops out of sight. As she lost her visual she dropped back to the ground, her head resting heavily against the car. To think she even thought for a second it could be Oliver that was the Green Arrow. Laughable really…

Maybe she had been confused, maybe she'd had too many men that they all seemed to blur into one. Next she'd be thinking Lex was the Green Arrow. Now that was laughable.

"I guess I owe you one big apology." Oliver spoke, his hand over hers. She smiled.

"Actually, I think I should thank you."

"Thank me?"

"There are several arrows lodged into your car with possible finger prints on them." She dropped a kiss to Oliver's cheek and pushed herself up and around the car, inspecting the arrow, it was feather-headed. She wouldn't be able to pull that out herself. "Any chance you can pull that out?" she asked. Oliver came behind her and chuckled.

"Anyone else would be terrified at being shot at, you know."

"We already decided I was special though." She laughed and turned in his arms. "But, like you said. You owe me for almost getting me killed." Oliver grinned.

"How about I get someone to deliver you the arrows when I get them out?"

"I would like that." She wrapped her arms around him.

"My driver's on his way here to drop you off." He pressed his lips to hers. "Stay safe."

"I'm not the one helping out friends and condemning myself." she wittily replied. "And, for future broke friends. Just force a hand-out upon them and don't buy their junk." Oliver laughed, pulled her into his embrace while the driver arrived.

Chloe had barely got home before her phone started another fuss. Unknown number. And it was to her client phone. She needed to yell at Arrow… but she supposed it could wait a few minutes. Deeming the number important, she answered the call, but let the caller speak first.

"Chloe. It's happening tonight." The voice brought her a smile. Mr Chan. His accent was the biggest give-away and it always made her happy to hear him.

"What time and where?"

"Thorns Row. 11pm start. Need you by midnight."

"I'll be there." she replied, scribbling the street name on the back of a receipt. "Anything new?"

"New players. Need an upgrade to finish. But, same as usual." he spoke out.

"I'll bring what's necessary." she finished.

The instant Chloe hung up to Mr Chan, she dialled Arrow.

He answered quickly.

"Figured you'd be calling."

"You did shoot at me."

"You know I would have hit you if I had aimed for you." The voice was witty, clever. Arrogant. How had she ever thought this had been Oliver?!

"I get you don't like me hanging around Queen, but that's hardly the reason to start laying arrows into his car."

"He has others." The reply was simple… but truthful.

She didn't really have much of the argument she thought she would have.

"Did you find the damn goblet?" she hissed instead.

"I did, thank you for asking." he chuckled.

"You could have asked you know, rather than firing projectiles."

"I have a flair for the dramatic. Plus, Queen should know to fear me."

"Haha." she laughed, heavy with sarcasm. "You need to get over yourself."

"I'll consider it." She shook her head in humour at him. But her phone beeped, another call was trying to get through. Lex, she presumed.

"Play nice, and no more shooting at my job, alright?"

"I get it. Luthor calls, you answer." he spoke, his egotistical attitude smothering in the tone.

She ended the call, not bothering to reply. But, she declined Lex's as well, proving herself to be more than what Arrow thought and instead heading to the shower. Besides, after her tumble with Oliver, she didn't smell quite so fresh.

As she patted her hair with the towel she read two missed calls from Lex on her phone.

No time like the present.

She hit dial and put it on loudspeakers, intending to tackle her hair while speaking to him.

"Progress?"

"Second date for Thursday." she quickly answered, grabbing the comb off the dresser and standing before the mirror as she stroked it through her hair.

"I presume that will be the Isis fundraiser?" he guessed.

"Sadly."

"And Arrow?"

"A third left of martial arts centres, then I'll start archery centres. It may take a week or so, to get through general clientele pool."

"That's fine." he answered. "You were out all day." he noted. Chloe got that sinking feeling that being further away from him had increased his surveillance…

"Arrow took the first half of my morning, 'interviewing' instructors, and the second half, Queen had me." she answered, deciding to edit out the latter part including her visit from Arrow.

"What happened?" Lex didn't seem as happy with her update as she thought he would.

"He learnt about my scars." she simply answered. The words took no emotion with them as they left her lips.

"You seem off. What aren't you telling me?"

She sighed.

"Nothing Lex. I'm just tired."

There was a moment of silence, but it passed quickly. Lex was always in control.

"You'll send me what files you have from his apartment." Chloe saw her reflection wince.

"I could hardly take anything the first day Lex." she spoke quickly, hoping he didn't know she was making it up as she went along. Truth be told, she just entirely forgot the mission the second she flew a punch to him. "Besides, I'll be going back multiple times."

This time the silence didn't end quite as quickly. She heard the shuffle of papers on the desk, the clicking of his mouse to his computer. He was purposefully putting her on edge, she could feel it.

Eventually, he spoke again, seeing she wasn't going to grovel.

"I need more Chloe. Prove to me this chance wasn't for nothing." His tone was clipped.

"It wasn't." she answered and the connection died. Chloe looked at the phone and sighed. She felt like she was trapped in a web of lies. Lying to Lex, lying to Arrow, lying to Queen.

Oh well, time for some good honest work with the underworld of criminals running Metropolis.

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Poor Chloe :(

Review for pleasure chemicals released in your brain ;)

In other news; I hate to do this to you, and I'll do my best to keep posting at least weekly, however... I've been having a lot of migranes recently (almost daily), which makes even looking at a laptop screen impossible. This could end in a doctors trip, or could just be that I need a week of zero screens to fix my brain.
Either way, the next two chapters are already proofed and ready to go up, so I have them as back up incase anything happens and I can't do any work.

I'll try and get better as fast as I can.