Reviews make this writer very happy indeed. Since I'm entering a zero internet zone tomorrow/today (Wish me luck), I figured I'd post now. But, hopefully, next monday posting should resume as usual. If not, I'm having internet issues, so please be patient. However painful no internet is, it means I can crank up my iTunes and crack out more chapters without being distracted.
Yes, I did hear Lee Thompson Young (Actor that played Cyborg) took his own life. It makes me so sad. I still see adverts for Rizzoli and Isles which he's in and I just get this wave of 'why?'. But, Cyborg in this story shall live on! And he will forever on DVD and in our memories.
The birthday cake thing, that was just Chloe messing with his mind. No real reason why, just thought... heh, would be wierd if you got a strange birthday cake one random day... and well, it got into my writing. (Be thankful I have a censor on my fingers otherwise you would have been getting all sorts of strange things, haha). But yeah, her way of keeping Ollie busy :)
Previously; Chloe got her dress. Ollie got a mystery cake. Chloe and Oliver had a cute texting session and now, all he can think about is her underwear. Jesus Ollie, mind out of the gutter! (No, I don't care if Chloe put it there!)
Now; Remember that second date you were all looking forwards to. Well, hey presto, ask and you shall recieve. Plus, are you ready to see some emotions? ;)
Chapter Twenty-Three; Hiding
"It's obviously true what they say; behind every great man is a great woman." – Lionel Luthor (Season Five, Episode Fanatic)
Oliver stood in his usual business attire outside the entrance to Gold Tower. The BMW against his back. His meeting had not only run over time, but given his temper a good run for its money too. He was a man with a schedule, and this had thrown a spanner in the delicate works, threatening to blow up in his face and destroy his evening with Chloe. But he could make this work.
His eyes locked on the elevator as soon as the doors parted for her. His impatience and anger vanished.
Beautiful.
He'd had a vision of the complete outfit, but she wore it better than his head could ever make her. She held an air of sophistication about her, a way with power he couldn't put his finger on. But she'd changed from the girl days ago, she had softened. There was no thunder in her heeled steps, just… emotion. Real emotion.
Chloe stepped from the elevator, fishing for her phone in the damn gold clutch she carried, unaware of the male eyes on her; the heated gaze of Oliver as he ran his eyes up her form.
The gold heels were something Dinah had inspired, thought he hated to admit. She'd walked in on his half of the research and told him she'd once seen the golden gladiator heels on a catwalk and she'd been jealous ever since. Chloe was a thousand times more real than a supermodel but she wore the heels like she'd been born for the camera. The gold snaked from her ankles to wrap up her legs, he could just see the top of it on her left leg as the dress moved with her walk, the slit teasing him with the slightest vision of her creamy thigh. And then, with a second it was swallow in the dress again, the white pleats covering the dream like the veil of clouds. Gold hemmed the dress, accentuating the wrap she'd draped over her shoulders and bled into the design with small details of artistic flowers. She was an angelic vision in the white. Her hair styled into light curls that bounced on her chest as she dug into the bag again.
The gold bangles clattered audibly as he crept closer, drawn to his goddess and queen. He heard the muttered curses, then praise as she finally fished out a phone that was vibrating, without spilling the bags contents. She declined the call though and turned back only to come face to face with him. Her grin then faltered, taking him in.
"Cancelled?" Was her first question.
"You look stunning." Her eyes were made to draw him into submission, black eyeliner highlighting the gold eye shadow and green in her eyes. She looked sublime, so much of a Queen.
"I wished I could say the same, what happened?" He knew what she was concerned about, the healing lip and cut just under his hairline. Chloe felt bad for asking, but her cover demanded it.
"It's nothing. Just an unhappy poker player looking for his money back." he lied smoothly. She let it drop easily, the other concern taking over.
"If this is meant to be your pair to this costume. We may have a problem." But she had the tips of her smile pushing at her cheeks, she couldn't hide the feel good rush she'd been harbouring all morning that had suddenly burst free at the sight of him.
"Work." he sighed.
"And that is not the sexy car I was promised a drive in." This time, she scowled. They had a deal. "Talk or I'm going back to my bubble bath." she threatened, the phone waving in her hand as she jabbed a gold painted finger nails towards him.
"There was a crisis. It's been averted." he started. "I just need to go home, shower and dress and then we can start our night." he pleaded.
"Alright." He blinked at the ease of her agreement, stunned.
"Alright?"
"I guess we'll try again once prince charming finds his tights then." She laughed and made to go back to her apartment. His arm stopped her.
"Sorry Goldilocks, we're on a timer. You're going to have to be stashed with the tv and coffee." She laughed, but accepted the steer of his hand and guidance to the car. Goldilocks? No, she was just going insane. Like she had stated before, Oliver was not the Green Arrow. "Did I tell you how beautiful you look?" he asked, reaching the passenger door first and opening it for her. However, she didn't step in. Instead, she grinned and rounded to the driver's side. "You're not driving." he stated.
"I can drive faster than you, and as you said, we're on a timer." Her smile grew. Even dressed in white, looking like she'd stepped from heaven, she could still play a demon for him.
"No offence to the female gender, but I don't believe you. So that's a no." he smirked. "Get in the car."
"We had a deal." she recalled.
"Not for this car." he reminded her.
With an over the top sigh, she turned and leant against the car, looking at her nails.
"Got all the time in the world." she teased.
"You're lucky I like you." he joked and as she turned back with a victorious smile he chucked the keys, taking the passenger seat regretfully.
He watched almost pained as she adjusted the seat and mirror for her height and with nothing more than the purr of the engine as his signal, she floored the gas, tearing out of the parking spot into a parting of traffic he wouldn't have dreamed of sliding into.
His heart was battering the cage of his ribs, hoping it could gain freedom from this inevitable death.
"Faster. Is not necessarily safer." he huffed out, his hand tight on the door handle.
"You see. This is why rich people don't drive their cars like they're meant to be driven." she stated calmly, tugging the wheel tight to make the corner at her speed. She made it, while talking. Damn woman. "They're too concerned with preserving them. Keeping the colour coating new, saving them in their garage so they won't get touched by rain." She flashed him a smile, her eyes taken from the road. "And this is why I know I can pull out in front of certain shiny cars, because they will stop, and this is why I'm a faster driver than you."
"You're not driving tonight." he stated.
"You promised." And she had the damn audacity to pout.
"We may not even live that long." he muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose to calm the protective urge over both his car and his life. Hers too, since she didn't seem to give a damn.
"We'll live." she promised. The undeserving always lived; she being the most undeserving of peace through death. While she was next to him, he'd be as healthy as he could be. "But you're not breaking a promise." Oliver kept quiet. "Besides, I can drive like a 'normal' citizen. But considering the rush, and the fact you're not even dressed yet, I think this is more appropriate." she continued.
Oliver had to admit, she'd definitely driven faster than he ever had. His heart was pumping a mile a minute and he was amazed they hadn't hit any police, speed cameras… or pedestrians. But boy, was he glad to get out of the car.
Chloe smiled, her dress billowing around her legs in the light wind. She took her steps towards his side, placing the keys in his hand with a whisper of thanks.
He followed her to the elevator and kept his eyes on her the entire ride, but as she stepped into his apartment, he acted.
"How about a deal?" He'd clearly been thinking it over the ride up.
"I already have all I want from you… for now." she purred. He caught her hand, spinning her back to him. He held her close.
"Name anything you want, but you're not driving."
"Anything I want?" And her smile grew. Had she played him?
Many things rolled through her head, but nothing seemed to stick. She could ask for something to scratch the sexual itch, but… she didn't want just that from him anymore. She could ask him to promise to buy the company this work was all for. She could ask to watch him shower. She stifled a giggle.
"Within limits." he added at her laugh.
She could crack this love thing he had going. She really didn't understand that, what was going on in that man's mind?! And with that she found her promise.
"Unfettered access to your mind, all night. I ask a question about you, no matter how personal, and you give me an honest answer." Oliver was surprised. He'd expected something sexual from her, but here she was wanting answers to questions. He had nothing to hide, the media ensured his life was open to the public.
Except Green Arrow, he had no problem with any aspect of questioning she could throw at him. Yes, there were parts of his life he wasn't too proud of, but the tabloids had taught him to address his shame head on and embrace the good and the bad.
"That's it?" he asked, still unbelieving of her words.
"That's it." And her eyes looked up to him like he was her saviour from days of darkness.
"As much as I'd love to say yes and carry on… I'd answer anything you want to know regardless of a promise Chloe."
"Well you better shake my hand and make a deal with me before I insist upon driving then." And she clasped his hand in a handshake.
"Alright, deal." he answered, feeling sceptical. But yet also strangely proud.
"Timers ticking." She reminded him with a smile, reaching to kiss his lips quickly and head to the kitchen.
"Right. You know where the coffee is, and tv… and... yeah." he breathed as she waved him off without a care and started the coffee maker. He grinned. She was perfect.
Chloe stood by the coffee maker, listening to the footsteps head away. Her hand went to the bag, unfastening the clasp and waiting by the doorway for the sound of water to the shower. She took the picklocking tools from the bag, one of the main reasons it was so cramped today and sped to his office at the first sound of water.
No cameras in Queen's apartment, unless he had one in his bedroom for his conquests. She grinned at the thought, kneeling by the office door. But Queen had staff in and out all day, his office would be the one place they were restricted from, the one place he kept his dirty secrets.
It wasn't quite a new record, but she broke in quickly. The office was nicely sized, the desk covered with papers he was currently working on. She scurried over, her ears still trained on the water. If only he was female he'd have more time, but no, the damn man would only need minutes to shower. And as soon as that sound went off she'd have to be out and relocking the damn door before he caught her.
Planning permission.
Those were the first words she read from the papers.
Was Queen planning a build?
No, they weren't addressed to him.
They were Lex's!
He had Lex's plans.
But… she'd never seen these.
Chloe pulled out her phone, snapping a photo of every file on the desk, trying not to read them yet. What the hell was Queen doing?!
Her head clicked up, no water.
Damn man!
She finished her photos within the next 15 seconds, and left everything as she found it, her heels un-needingly loud across the wood of his office as she hurried out and knelt back by the closed door, resetting the lock. She hated locking doors with picklocks. It wasn't half as easy as opening them, but usually twice as important to get right. She huffed, running her hair through with her fingers then re-focussing.
Com'on Chlo, her brain chanted, aware of the invisible timer hovering over her.
Finally it locked, her hand testing the handle to make sure and she took herself back to the kitchen, her heart thumping from her mission and ready for coffee.
Chloe poured herself coffee as she usually liked it and paced back to the living room, ready for Queen at any moment to come out. But the second kept ticking. She decided to channel surf, draining the cup as she did. Coffee never lasted very long around her when she was nervous. The longer he took, the more nervous she got.
Finally, she heard a door open and steps across the hall. She lounged back, forcing herself into a relaxed posture, as calm looking as she could muster.
"My Queen." He greeted her with a bow and her grin grew enough to hurt her cheeks. He looked better than she could have predicted.
"That is…" Her cheeks felt like they'd rip apart with the sheer happiness of the grin. "Oh, just wow. That's… just wow." she laughed.
"What?" he shot back at her, playing along. "Does it make my bum look big?" he turned and Chloe just couldn't help but laugh.
"You look fantastic." she praised, crossing the room to inspect him closer.
The stubble previous aging him was gone, the scent of aftershave dizzying her with the need to touch him. She caved, taking his face in her gentle hands, running a thumb across the soft cleanly shaven jawline. "I like." she complimented. He smelled amazing. Musky, rich and yet… he smelled like freedom, like running naked through the woods or speeding along a country lane with the top down. "My warrior." she praised and stepped back to take in the view again.
A deep red cloak, hemmed with gold hung from his right shoulder, draped across his naked chest and then flowed into the cape hanging from his back. She traced her finger over the gold broach pinning the material, a lion's head with intricate detail shaped under her finger. She took her hands down his chest, a solid and beautiful chest, roped with thick cords of muscles. Muscles she had not imagined to be touching yet. The tips of her fingers grazed the left nipple in her journey, she locked her eyes with his as it did, seeing them darkened.
He liked her hands on him.
He was stirring, the sleeping beast once again woke before her command. With a smile, she dropped her hands further, running along the dark brown leather of the 'skirt' he wore.
Golden leaves were woven into the band, a sheath hung over his right side, by his hip. She rolled her fingers over the handle, unsheathing the blade. It was a good replica, looked sharp, looked deadly, but the lack of weight was a dead give-away for it not being real. She fit the blade back its position and lifted the shield and left arm for further inspection. There the tiger was again, face in the middle of the shield, shining in gold, teeth bared and vicious. Studs of gold spun around the image and pinned to the outsides of the shield.
If it wasn't for the fact he was wearing a skirt and carrying a fake dagger she'd call him deadly.
He definitely looked like a fighter though, healing bruises from his 'poker match' were shining out from hip, thigh and leg, all his left side. Chloe would put money that the cloak was covering his left shoulder to hide another nastier bruise. She'd seen nothing more than him being thrown around in that back room, his left side slammed into walls and floors. The man must ache something terrible.
She rose her gaze to his once again, his smirk present from knowing she approved.
"I feel we should be a twisted love affair." she commented, drawing his laugher. "The soldier who fell for his queen."
"Or the bodyguard who was used for the Queen's sexual pleasure." His grin reached his eyes, and she felt her own smile reply.
"He never did say no." she commented. "Kept coming back each night."
"He didn't have a choice, she was his Queen."
"I suppose it's a good job the King doesn't know."
"Who knows? Maybe he hired the guard to satisfy the sexual appetite of his wife." he suggested, sliding the shield onto his back, slipping the strap of leather over his right shoulder so he could bring Chloe closer into his arms.
"A good husband should never marry if he cannot keep up with his wife." she advised, allowing his arms around her.
"Then maybe he was using her to test the reliability of his guards."
"That would put you in very hot water with the King then." She lifted her chin, knowing the feel for the kiss was mutual.
"It was entirely worth it to bed such a beauty." He dipped his head lower, high on the power of her emotions finally being free. Chloe rose on her tiptoes, the small heels not big enough for the man she was with, her lips to his ear.
"Then hurry up and bed me." she whispered and pulled away, leaving the un-tasted kiss linger between them. Oliver smirked, watching as her heels clicked across the wood floors and she recollected her coffee. She lowered herself back to the sofa in possibly the world's sexiest way. Her leg stretched out, crossed over the other, both shining a pale tan, exposed by the slit in the dress. The coffee rose to her lips as she laid back against the sofa.
"As much as I would love to keep you here all night." he started, crossing the room to her position, crossing his arms over his chest. "We have places to be, people to see." But she didn't move. "Am I going to have to throw you over my shoulder your majesty?" She laughed and tipped the coffee cup almost vertical, draining it quickly.
"First question," she began, reminding him of his promise. "Do you still see Lois?"
The question had Oliver stunned for two reasons. One; how did Lois come into this conversation? Two; why did Lois come into this conversation. He had a third 'how did she know it was Lois' but the papers had a field day about this. It wasn't unlikely she didn't do her research.
Chloe watched him reposition his stance and stroke his fingers down the stubble that no longer existed, probably out of habit. But he spoke.
"From time to time. I'm friends with the man she loves and we sometimes have dinner together."
Chloe was satisfied with every part of his answered but one.
"The man she loves?"
"An old friend. Clark." Chloe felt her blood cells chill over. Clark Kent? Surely not. But, she couldn't ask, if he even got a whiff she knew him, he might start asking even more questions. Clark friends with Oliver. No. But…
Lois in love with Clark…
What?
What had happened to the world while she left it?
Oliver's gaze turned worrying to her silence and she passed him the best smile she could create and stood, the dress falling back around her legs as she took his arm.
"Anything else?" he asked, guiding her to the elevator again and taking the keys from the bowl by the door.
"Not yet." And she flashed the smile again.
"Do I get to ask the motives behind the questioning?" he inquired stepping into the elevator and feeling her grip tighten slightly.
"Nope. You just get the pleasure of answering blindly and truthfully."
He held her closer through the ride, wondering just what reason she had for her questioning, and what other kinds of inquisition he would get tonight. His touch only left her as he drove. She was easy company, she was fun, alive and fascinating in all the right and wrong ways.
As she re-joined his arm outside the steps to the Grand Manor Hall, he saw trouble in her eyes and she was loving it. Maybe he wasn't so wrong when he called her a demon, she certainly seemed to tick more than a few boxes.
"So what exactly does this event include?" she asked him as they walked the steps passing a Marie-Antoinette on her cellphone.
"Chitter chatter. A speech. Drinking. Snacking. Some fundraiser activities. And… dancing." He smirked at the last word.
"Dancing." she repeated. "There are other activities that allow you to get close to me you know."
"Oh, I know."
"Okay, here's an important question; why did you want to bring me here?" She followed him inside easily, nobody giving her a second glance.
"You're good company, you're beautiful. Y-"
"Full honesty." she reminded him, feeling the excessive compliments to be hiding the truth.
"I haven't lied yet." he chuckled and greeted the man to his left with a handshake, still refusing to let go of her next to him.
"How about the truth you're trying not to say then?" She smiled as he met another man with a grin and firm handshake. As he slipped them through the crowd of pirates and Vikings, he turned to her.
"Truthfully?" She nodded. "It's a good cause. I wanted to show my support, but I'm not a big fan of these events, as much as the papers may disagree. You're more than good enough company to keep my mind from the business I'll be forced to talk about all night and ensure I'm not murderous by the time I finally get back home." Chloe smiled.
"Happy to be your safety raft." she laughed. "But I hear alcohol also does the job very well." And she neatly lifted two champagne flutes from the passing waitress dressed in full black with a masquerade mask covering her features and great big feathers coming from it. She handed one to Queen. "To making it safely through the evening with sanity intact." she toasted. Oliver chuckled and accepted the glass, tipping it against hers with a happy clink.
"Oliver!" A booming cheerful voice came to the couple's ears and Oliver cut his sip short, calling his greeting back to the man who was quickly approaching dressed as Abraham Lincoln. Chloe covered her laugher and smiled to the large man that in no way fit the role.
"Philip. It's great to see you."
"Ah yes, and what a cause. I've been saying times are changing."
"Always." Oliver agreed, the smile on his lips genuine. "Chloe, this is Philip Jones, he's running for Mayor this year." And Chloe noted the first subtle difference between Oliver and Lex's style of business. Lex only ever introduced Chloe if she was required in the conversation. Oliver introduced without a need or reason. "Philip, this is the beautiful Chloe Maine who has kindly agreed to be on my arm tonight, and hopefully many other nights." Chloe felt the rush of warmth skid right back to her.
"Oh Darling. Charmed to meet you. If he gets too busy with business. Feel free to come and find my arm instead." With an elaborate sweep, Philip bowed before her, laying a kiss to the back of her hand.
Subtle difference number two; Oliver's associates were… 'nicer'. "Pleasure to meet you." Philip repeated. "But the wife calls. I'll find you later Oliver." And the big man bustled his way back through the crowd before either could get off a goodbye.
"He seemed… nice." Chloe spoke in the following seconds, watching the top hat fade from view.
"He's… friendly." Oliver offered in reply. "Eccentric. But friendly." With a chuckle, he turned to Chloe, urging her closer and into his one arm hold. "But he has a point." he accepted. "These events tend to get very 'shop talk' very easily."
"I'll poke you if I get bored. But I've been on Lex's arm enough to know how these work, so don't worry." she comforted him.
"Oliver!" Another call of his name interrupted his reply. A female with bouncing red curls crossed the room with a hatred in her eyes. The woman wore a red dress, egded with royal blue, dressed like a renaissance princess, a flowing royal blue cloak lifted behind her as she stormed over.
"I'm sorry." Oliver whispered to Chloe pre-emptively.
"Are you insane? Giving in to him like that?! Why not just crash the entire market while you're at it?!"
But Oliver smiled through the annoyance he felt.
"Mercy, it's nice to see you too." he replied. He leant in, dropping a kiss to her cheek.
"Could you have made more of mess of this?!" she snapped, but still accepted the friendly greeting as she hissed at him. Chloe pushed down the jealousy at the contact. They were clearly old friends.
"Chloe, meet Tess Mercer. Business partner and pain in my ass. Te-"
"You're Tess Mercer?" Chloe interrupted, shocking the redhead from her tirade. "You developed the solar tower structure." The admiration shone brightly. Lex had been pissed about that building, it had led to a rise in stocks of Queen industries that he was not pleased with.
"This one has brains." Tess complimented, turning from Oliver to face Chloe. "Pleasure to meet a fan."
"You work with Oliver?" Chloe actually found she was enjoying this new meeting.
"Amongst some other idiotic big headed men who think they know what's best to sink a company." she sneered.
"Male egos are damaging. You have to keep them under control." Chloe offered with a laugh and drew a smile from Tess.
"Yes. Finally someone who understands." Oliver could not understand what was happening. He was almost sure these two women would clash violently, but Tess actually smiled. She smiled. "Where do you work?"
"I'm under Luthor employment actually." But instead of the expected back off and sneer, Tess put an arm around Chloe.
"Then we should talk."
"Mercy, this is hardl-" But Tess was walking away, leading a more than happy Chloe for a business chat. "Mercy!" he called, but Tess did nothing more than wave a hand over her shoulder at him. This was definitely something he hadn't factored into his night.
"Ah, Oliver. Philip said you'd arrived." Oliver could have groaned. Tess had stolen his life raft and was walking her away to her lair probably. Slowly, Oliver pulled on his happy face and turned to greet the next business man who called for his attention.
Chloe actually found she had enjoyed spending time with Tess. She was a business woman by all accounts, she liked control and she had a fight in her Chloe didn't expect. She had tried to pry into Luthor secrets, even to the point of getting annoyed at Chloe's ability to dodge answering. But above all, Tess could compliment what of herself she saw in Chloe. Chloe didn't mind Mercer either, she was nothing for the girl talk column, nothing on Lois, but she had filled a space of female company she didn't know had grown so big.
Chloe stepped away whole as Tess was drawn into an argument with another board member and sauntered to the bar, picking up another champagne flute. Charlie Chaplin stood against the wall to her right, flirting with a Victorian lady, two Vikings were laughing in a manly fashion past them and to her immediate left sitting glum at a bar stool was a crusader knight. Chloe slipped herself onto the bar stool, scouting for the other half to her Grecian tryst.
"You came in with Queen." The crusader spoke, lifting his head to look at her.
"True." she offered, feeling happier than she had in a long while. The happiness filled her with a more positive outlook towards people and she turned in her seat to talk to the crusader who looked rather down. "You know Oliver?"
"I'd say. I worked with him for almost 10 years."
"A board member?" she guessed.
"No, no. Nothing like that. I was his head of security."
"Tough job." she decided to reply, rather than address the 'was'.
The man chuckled.
"So, you're Queens tonight?" he asked instead.
"So it seems." she agreed. "Did you come with a crusader to keep yourself company?"
"Not tonight." he answered with a smug grin. "The wife had headache." he explained, but looked happier about it than he should. Ah, and she was in familiar territory after all. The cheating lying men of metropolis ladies and gents.
"My apologies." she sympathised. "I should find my warrior again I suppose." And she stood, feeling his eyes on her until she lost herself between the two Edwardian woman chatting about make-up purchases.
Chloe had no idea where to look for her warrior king. He was no longer shining out like a star in a suit, neither was he taller than average men (plus hat height) or easily able to locate by finding a shiny bald spot. Not to mention her height was working against her, especially with so many other tall women in much larger heels surrounding her.
Chloe found herself a wall to put to her back and rose onto her tiptoes, she heard a feminine giggle to her left and turned. Anne Boleyn smiled to her.
"Lost someone pet?" She was an old lady and came across friendly.
"Oliver Queen. Any chance you know which business man stole him?" The old woman laughed sweetly.
"The last time I saw him, he was being hounded by the south wall. About 10 minutes ago." She lifted her finger to show the way.
"Thank you." And Chloe took off, following the direction. It took her almost 10 minutes to cross the hall. And when she finally paused, she was no closer to locating him.
With a sigh, she stopped again and rose to her tiptoes, and there he was, only a few metres away to her right, three men surrounding him deep in conversation.
Chloe smiled and nudged her way closer, taking rest at the wall a metre away while he finished up with Henry VIII, King Tutankhamun and Caesar. Business men liked to play dress up with big names it seemed. Chloe let Oliver bathe in the business, as tortured as he looked. Finally, they broke away to the sound of tapping glass from the platform taking the centre of the hall. A woman dressed as Maid Marian was centre stage in a flowing pink gown.
"Welcome all, and thank you for coming to support this worthy cause." she began and Chloe parted through the nearby couple to offer herself as the answer to Oliver's scanning eyes. "Miss Lang apologises that she could not be here this evening, she sends her best regards to you all. As you know, Isis foundation was founded to support th-" Chloe tuned her out, already hearing all the spiel and not caring for it twice.
"Miss me?" she whispered to Queen. His smile grew as he saw her, taking her hand and spinning her into his hold.
"You have no idea." His hug brought her closer and he pressed his lips to hers quickly. Nothing more than a quick 2 second peck, but she felt her heart pound from it. He kept her close. "How corrupt are you?"
Chloe laughed softly.
"Not at all. Tess is nice."
"You must be ill." he concluded. She'd been saying that since she'd met him, but at this present point in his arms, she'd never felt better in her life.
"I'm fine. She's a tad controlling, and she knows what she likes. But that's nothing to be disliked."
"I'm serious. Have you been feeling feverish for long?" and he laid a hand across her forehead lovingly. She laughed and knocked it free, ignoring the feeling of a rush she had from him.
"I have another question." she started. He didn't like the sound of this one though. "Which notch in your bedpost was she?"
"You want a number?" That was not a sum he wanted to work out. Chloe giggled at his expression and wrapped her arms tighter around him.
"A quick; how you met and what went wrong will suffice." she offered.
"How I met Mercy?" he repeated, buying himself thinking time. "I met her when she was in a rough patch with some bad men. I helped her out and things blossomed."
"And the blossom died." she prompted.
"When we realised that we didn't work. We clashed a little too much on everything. If we agreed it was only ever on business. So, we decided friends were best." he summarised.
"Hmmm. She does enjoy crashing horns with you." Chloe commented, recalling her conversation with Tess. She was more than happy to insult Oliver's business style and recent agreement with an overseas business man who had asked for what she believed was too much.
"So, what did you two talk about for the last half hour?" His worry wasn't as controlled as he believed.
"You. All about you. Your darkest secrets and fears." she lied. "I could write an entire novel on you."
"Is that so?" But he pulled her tighter in his arms, not believing the words she teased him with.
"M'hmm." she agreed.
The speaker's words filled their silence and Chloe turned in Oliver arms, resting against his chest while watching the speaker with him.
"1 in every 10 people in the metropolis area are infected with meteor gifts. That's at least 25 meteor infected in this room alone. And that's all that makes them different to us." The speaker paused, walking the podium. "I know you hear cases of the meteor infected using powers to harm and destroy, and this can cause fear. But think of the other crimes in the world, those without infection are just as easy to slip into a life of crime. We should not penalise those who are infected for crimes that we are just as likely to commit ourselves." The woman had enthusiasm. No wonder Lana chose her to represent herself tonight. "If we are to condemn all the meteor infected, we may as well locked up every human on the planet also! I understand you fear their powers, but humans are not without power ourselves. Put a gun in the hand of our neighbour and he is no different to a meteor infection individual. Instead of shunning them, the world should embrace them. Hate leads to more hate. Love leads to unity. Education leads to peace and that's the goal here. Peace between those who have previously felt targeted." Targeted by men like Lex, Chloe thought. She tuned out the woman, getting her point and not needing the guilt drill that working for Lex injected her with.
"Another question; why are you here?" she asked, not turning to face him. He heard, resting his chin gently on her shoulder.
"Here in the general sense of alive? Or here in this room?"
"Here at this event, supporting this."
"I think it has good reason to be supported."
"Why?" she probed. She felt his chin roll on her shoulder, his eyes on her. "Unfettered access." she reminded him, not needing to meet his gaze.
"I'm a good friend with some 'meteor infected' people and they don't deserve the bad reputation because of some small few. If I can make a difference to better their lives, I'd like to do that." Chloe smiled.
"Ever dated a woman with meteor powers?" she followed up, then added "When I say dated I'm just being more polite than saying 'fucked the brains out of'." She felt Oliver's chest vibrate as he chuckled.
"Yes." he answered simply.
"And?"
"And what?" he chuckled again.
"How was it?"
"Prying into my sex life now?"
"Considering I'm going to be added to a long list, I think I should know my competition." she voiced. Oliver's arms came tighter around her.
"Believe me when I tell you that there is no competition." His words wrapped tighter than his arms, possessively claiming her sex drive. "And the list stopped growing a while ago. I don't intend to be adding many more names." he swore. "In fact. I just have one in mind." The claim froze her bones. One… more… just one. "Relax." he breathed, trying to hide the laughter at her reaction. Slowly, she softened in his arms.
"Rather a bold claim." her choice of words were, but they were quiet and shook.
"I intend to see it through." He felt her tense again and turned her in his arms. "Any more questions?"
"Yeah. Why this whole romantic charade?"
"It's not a charade." He brushed a curl from her vision, sending shivers of electric through her where his fingers touched. "I do intend to show you the full extent of a romantic love." And there he was throwing around the L-word. She tensed yet again and this time he did laugh. "My apologies. But you asked for full honesty." he reminded her, enjoying this much more than she was. In fact, this entire thing was backfiring. "People who have had a lot of 'relationships'." She could tell he was choosing his words carefully. "Develop a barrier to stop people getting close. Sex becomes pointless, it can be a weapon if needed. They can turn on and off a switch of emotion. They don't love because one day they might wake up and that person will be gone; they don't want to feel that pain again so they block them out."
"You're dodging around words." she spoke, feeling drawn in despite it. Oliver smiled, moving another curl from her face.
"I need you to know I'm not going to leave as soon as we sleep together. Y-"
"You could just say the words." Something had flared her temper.
"But you need to feel it, you need to believe it. You need to know what I say is true." He watched her eyes, she had fallen already. Behind those eyes there was a war between angry tears at being pinpointed for emotions and feelings, and the want to curl into him and cry out the hardened girl that had been screwed over so many times by men. "You're worth more than one night Chloe. You're a woman who wants the romance, as much as you might deny it. After, we sleep together, I'll still want you, I'll still insist upon buying you flowers and taking you out." He had her locked down and figured out. Chloe felt the sting of tears tug at her.
"I'm going to get some champagne." she whispered. Oliver let her go, he watched her move through the crowds easily, head down and into the ladies powder room.
-XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX -
Review if you have the time. Let me know what you think :D
Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed.
Part two comes as soon as I get the internet back. (Fingers crossed it won't take long).
Xx