—9—

"I still can't believe it."

"It's true."

"I knew it the whole time."

Mia rolled her eyes. She was filing papers on the far wall and listening to Louise and Vivian chatter away with Edward about Miss Sullivan's new engagement. Louise was in shock. She couldn't believe there had been gossip this big sitting right under her nose, and somehow she'd failed to realize it. Vivian was staunchly maintaining that she'd known about it the whole time—though Mia sincerely doubted that. She'd only been working there for a short time, but so far she hadn't seen anything to indicate that Miss Sullivan would ever confide anything in Louise Foster. Edward, on the other hand, was very simply surprised. Mia suspected he had something to hide, but she couldn't imagine what.

"Hey, Mia, how are you, by the way?" Edward asked casually at that moment, pausing to greet her before he headed to another level.

"I'm good, thanks Edward," she smiled. Edward was the only person besides Miss Sullivan who ever took much notice of her. Louise and Vivian only bothered with her to give her more work or to make snide comments about her clothes and hair. She was convinced that they were trying to make her quit for some reason. Her first week, they had given her a list of tasks that would have been impossible to complete if she weren't well-versed in the streets of Metropolis and how to get from one place to another as fast as possible. Since then they had given her only a few errands that required leaving the building, but they still had her going in circles.

"These two harpies aren't working you too hard, are they?" he asked quietly, leaning closer to her.

"You kidding?" she grinned. "I can handle whatever they throw at me, easy." It was a half-truth. They were running her ragged, but they didn't know her. So she had to work hard. There was nothing they could do to her here that would be worse than her old life. Even if that weren't enough motivation to stick it out and get everything done no matter what, she felt a certain obligation, first to Oliver, for everything he had done for her. She wanted nothing more than to make him proud of her, and to show him how grateful she was for his help. Second, she owed it to Miss Sullivan. The woman had taken an unnecessary chance in hiring Mia. And Mia knew she was lucky to even be there. She wanted to prove herself to Miss Sullivan, and to show her that she'd made the right decision bringing Mia on board.

Just after Edward left, he returned in the wake of Miss Sullivan herself, who was coming in much later that day than was usual for her. Even in her rush, she spared Mia a quick smile, and Mia said good morning to her and watched the pair vanish into Chloe's office, where the window-walls were tinted so no one could see inside.

"You liar."

Chloe blushed.

"I can't believe I didn't realize you were seeing him! When did it start? Why didn't you tell anyone?" Edward asked.

Chloe released a breath of relief. For a moment, she'd thought Edward was about to call her out on her phony engagement. She was blushing crimson. "Yeah…"

"I just can't get over what an actress you are. Who'd have thought?" He leaned against a wall, crossing his arms and grinning at her expectantly.

She managed to smile back. "That's me. Academy Award winning."

"Well go on. Tell me the whole story."

Okay. I rehearsed this. I can do this. "Well I really wasn't lying in the beginning. I didn't want anything to do with him. But we kept running into each other, and things sort of developed. But I wanted to keep it out of the media. I mean…you saw what they did with just a couple of hunches. What would they blow up a real relationship into?"

Edward made a face. "Fair point. But what about the engagement? Where's the ring?" he added, noticing her bare hand.

Chloe chuckled lightly. "Yeah, that. Well, they got it a bit wrong on that point. Qu–Oliver didn't propose in Gotham. Especially not with us both having dates there. How tacky would that have been? But I guess our poker faces weren't as good as we thought. He actually proposed to me later that night."

"Oh my God, this is just unbelievable. And I suppose going out with Dent was just to throw people off the trail?"

She smiled sheepishly. "Guilty as charged."

"God I swear, Darren and I had a pool going about you two, but neither of us saw this coming. It's so sudden!"

"Well, we're going to make it a long engagement," she 'admitted.' "We talked it over and we've been together such a short time, we feel it's wisest to take our time from here. Besides that, the way our calendars are, we couldn't plan a proper wedding if we tried."

"Oh my God, I have so many Frank Sinatra songs playing in my head right now."

"You are so gay."

"Guilty," he grinned. "So," he stood up and straightened his cuffs. "What do we need to do?"

"Right. Down to business. I've got an engagement announcement—a proper one—for you to send out to these papers—" she handed him a piece of paper with a short paragraph and a second one with a list of newspapers, "—and of course it will go in my editorial column for this month's edition of Whistle."

"Naturally," Edward grinned. "And in the meantime, you've got a 6 page spread to approve, a meeting with designer Lena Marx, and two of your writers want to see you at some point today. Oh, and—"

"Yeah…all that's going to have to wait."

"I'm sorry?"

"It's all going to have to wait."

"For what?"

"I have…" she swallowed tightly, "lunch plans." She was looking over his shoulder. Edward turned around and there, just stepping off the elevator, was Oliver Queen in the flesh.

"Oh shit. He's even more attractive in person."

Chloe smirked. "He is, isn't he?"

The pair watched as Louise and Vivian eventually noticed Oliver's presence. Louise spilled her coffee and Vivian tripped on her computer system unit, and sent her keyboard and modem crashing to floor.

Edward smacked his palm to his forehead. "Oh God, you'd better get out their before the harpies set the building on fire by accident."

"I'm on it," Chloe said, already halfway out of the office. Edward followed, too curious to stay put.

Oliver was talking to Mia.

"Brought you lunch," he grinned, holding up a bag.

Mia looked as though she were trying not to laugh at something. "Sweet," she said, taking the bag from him. "You're the best." She gave him a hug. Vivian dropped her keyboard again. "So what're you doing here?" she asked.

"Just picking up my better half," Oliver said easily, trying to think of something to say that sounded like he was engaged. None of his real relationships had ever been this awkward.

"And she's ready," Chloe offered up, drawing everyone's attention to her. Oh, God, I'm so not comfortable with any of this.

Oliver turned to look at Chloe and subtly winked at her, grinning. "Great," he said. "Well…" he shifted slightly, "let's go then?"

Chloe nodded and joined him across the room, painfully aware of each pair of eyes following her as she did.

Moments later, Oliver and Chloe burst into the sunlight, which, unsurprisingly, was mingled with camera flashes.

"Miss Sullivan! Miss Sullivan! Over here!"

"Oliver! Give us a smile!"

"Kiss her!"

At the last particular statement, Chloe couldn't resist shooting Oliver a look that said quite plainly, "I told you so."

Oliver grinned his defeat and helped her into his car, protecting her from the more aggressive photographers as he did so before walking around to the other side of the car. They'd both agreed that the press didn't deserve to be rewarded with any comment considering their obvious idiocy.

He sat down in the driver's seat and looked over at Chloe. She still had the look on her face.

"And so it begins," he said, putting the car in gear and driving off, successfully scattering the people still trying to photograph them through the car windows.

"This is insane. Why did we do this? No one's going to believe it."

"Actually I think we did it because everyone believed it, oddly enough."

"Right. I'm seriously questioning the intelligence of our friends and family."

"Yeah, so speaking of family. You ready for this?"

Chloe scoffed. "What? Like, am I nervous?"

Oliver glanced at her.

She laughed a little. "Somehow the fact that this is all a big show makes me a lot less nervous about meeting the Queen Mother," she joked. But her bravado was partly for show, she admitted to herself. Even she had to admit there was something slightly intimidating about meeting Laura Queen, and the fact that the circumstances Chloe was meeting her under were that Chloe was lying to the entire world didn't exactly help that fact. What if Mrs. Queen realized the truth? What would she think of Chloe? What would she do?

Oliver sensed Chloe's half truthfulness but didn't comment. "Listen, just, be polite to her, okay? She's my only mother. And also, I'd appreciate it if you kept some of your snark to yourself."

Chloe raised an eyebrow at him. "Excuse me?" she said, a note of warning in her voice.

"I'm just saying I'd appreciate it if you pretended to think well of me in front of my mother. After all, I'd like her to think that I treat my 'fiance' nicely."

"Well why don't you just treat me nicely?" Chloe sassed. "Then you wouldn't have to worry about it."

"Oh God," Oliver sighed. "You're going to make this as difficult as possible, aren't you?"

Chloe's eyes twinkled in response. "Have you got all your stories straight?" she asked him, changing the subject.

"Yeah," he said resentfully. "I'm pretty sure I've got it covered."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm just making sure. Jeez. Relax a bit, will you?"

Oliver's jaw ticked. "I can't believe people believe we're engaged," he grumbled.

"Preaching to the choir, pal."

They bickered for the rest of the car ride until reaching the restaurant, where a doorman opened the car door for Chloe and helped her out while Oliver tossed the keys to the valet. He walked over to her and put a hand on her lower back. Chloe paused for the briefest fraction of a second at the intimate touch, her eyes flickering to him as her stomach tightened.

You're going to have to get used to that, she told herself, allowing him to lead her through the front door to the restaurant.

The restaurant was one Chloe had been to before to meet with clients, and it spoke volumes of Mrs. Queen's taste and personality that she had chosen it as the place she would meet her supposed future daughter-in-law.

Chloe vaguely recalled that Whistle had reviewed the restaurant upon its first opening. "Posh," the writer had said. It was "posh," "elegant." The walls were white, the floor a gleaming hardwood. Fine china and impressionist paintings decorated the walls in a few places. Crystal chandeliers hung from the damask-textured ceilings. Ivory lace curtains trimmed the many large windows and heavy taffeta draped in the various doorways. Antique chairs and tables were dressed with white table cloths, and the food was served on willow china, the blue and white patterns the brightest colors in the room.

And the food was excellent. Sandwiches, soups, quiches, salads, and cakes graced the menu. "Mouth-watering," the reviewer had written, describing a crusty french dip. "Sumptuous," referring to the chocolate soufflé.

Chloe suddenly felt like a little girl dressed in her Easter Sunday clothes, like she knew she was supposed to behave prim and proper to match her pink frills, but inside she was bursting to jump up on the tables and start smashing plates. She bit the fingernail on her thumb nervously.

Laura Queen was waiting for them. She had long, light blonde hair, a softer blonde than her son's golden yellow, and it was pinned up loosely in a twist. She wore skinny, dark wash jeans and a large, pistachio-green cashmere sweater, and large diamond studs sparkled in each ear. The way she carried herself reminded Chloe instantly of Audrey Hepburn, and she suddenly had an urge to have a profile piece done on Laura Queen for Whistle. She was fascinating at first glance. And when she saw Chloe enter with her son, the smile that spread across her enchanted face was so endearing and inviting that Chloe had to resist an impulse to run up to her and hug her, as if it were almost worth marrying Oliver just for his mother.

She shook herself. No need to get carried away.

Laura greeted her son first. "Oliver, darling." She placed her hands on his shoulders and kissed his cheek. Then she turned to Chloe and took her hands, squeezing them affectionately, her eyes speaking volumes of delight. "I'm so happy to meet you. I want us to be friends immediately," she said.

Chloe melted instantly, squeezing Mrs. Queen's hands back. "Me too," she smiled genuinely.

Oliver cleared his throat, pulling out his mother's chair for her and then Chloe's, taking his own chair once the women were seated. "So, I want to hear everything," Laura said, sitting down. "I'll skip the usual questions, since I know what you do for a living, Chloe. When did you two meet?" she asked.

"At Arthur Curry's wedding," Oliver answered.

"That's right. And how long have you been dating? I can't believe he's been keeping it a secret from his own mother," she added conspiratorially to Chloe.

Chloe couldn't resist smiling. "Well, that was mostly my fault. Since I work in the media, I wanted to avoid a scandal. So much for that brilliant plan," she joked, as planned, meeting Oliver's eyes. Oliver winked surreptitiously.

Laura watched the interaction with approval. "But how long?" she persisted.

"A few months. Which is why we're planning on a long engagement," Oliver added. "We know we've been rushing things up 'til now, so we want to take it slow from here on out. Enjoy the ride."

Laura sighed wistfully. "Oh, to be young and in love," she half-joked. "I remember when your father and I first met, Oliver. Swept me off my feet instantly. Not that I told him that," she added. "As a matter of fact, you're both forbidden to tell him I said that. I did nothing but tease him for the first three months I knew him." She took a sip of ice water and winked at Chloe from behind the glass.

Chloe laughed. "Well, if he's anything like Oliver, I can imagine why."

"They're such easy targets, aren't they?" Laura agreed, wrinkling her nose in humor.

"Exactly!" Chloe exclaimed, leaning in closer. "You just want to bring down his ego a little bit!"

Oliver kicked her under the table, and she nearly exclaimed aloud, but Laura didn't noticed. "Exactly," she agreed. "Robert was the same way. So sure of himself. It completely threw him off when I didn't just throw myself at him." She rolled her eyes humorously. "I'm not sure that had ever happened to him before. Oliver's cut from the same cloth."

Chloe snickered, biting her lip as she chanced a look at Oliver, who looked annoyed. "Thank you so much, Mother," he said sarcastically. "You're so sweet."

Laura waved him off, sending Chloe a long-suffering look. "You're so sensitive, Oliver."

Chloe smirked at him. "Yeah, Oliver. You're so sensitive."

Oliver just gave her a childishly-sarcastic look.

A waiter arrived and took their order, and then Laura asked a more intense question. "So how did he propose?" she looked from Chloe to Oliver. "I'm dying to know."

Chloe panicked slightly and looked to Oliver for rescue. Picking up on her unease, he leapt in to help. "Well, we haven't been out much publicly, you know. So we were just having dinner at my apartment, and I brought her out onto the roof—it was a completely gorgeous night, by the way—and, well—" he looked at Chloe with such convincing affection that Chloe caught her breath slightly, her lips parting as she pictured it, "that's when I asked her."

Chloe swallowed slightly. It was a lovely scene to imagine. Quiet, personal, intimate. A proposal under the stars.

Laura sighed, dabbing her eye with her napkin delicately, and Chloe chanced a proper look at Oliver. "Wow," she mouthed to him, impressed.

"So…I daresay you haven't set a date yet?" she asked.

"No, not yet," Chloe said, regaining herself.

"Of course not. Well…" she looked at Chloe pleadingly. "Well," she repeated. "Now, I don't want to be that awful, over-bearing mother-in-law, but…well, I'd really just love to be involved with the wedding plans. I promise you get the final say in everything, but I do want to help," she said, taking Chloe's hand across the table. "Would you mind terribly?"

"I—" Chloe hesitated, not sure what to say. She was going to have to plan a fake wedding with this kind, wonderful woman? She wasn't sure she could be that cruel, but Oliver kicked her under the table again, and she had no choice. "Of course. I wouldn't want it any other way."

"Oh thank you," Laura smiled so warmly that Chloe again had an impulse to just hug her as tightly as she could. "I promise I won't be overbearing, but I do love weddings, and he's my only son, and oh, God, I'm so emotional," she mocked herself, reaching for her napkin again, her eyes glistening threateningly. "I'm just so thrilled he's finally settling down."

"Mother," Oliver rolled his eyes.

"Well, I can't help it," she said. "I worry about you so. He does nothing but give me gray hairs, this one," she gave Chloe a commiserating look. "You know, I'm sure."

"I'm hardly that bad," Oliver protested.

"Are you kidding? You give me heart palpitations," she clutched her chest dramatically. "And by the way, did you discuss the ring at all?" she asked.

Chloe shot Oliver a sharp look. Ring? What was she talking about.

Oliver shifted uncomfortably. "We haven't picked one out, yet."

Laura Queen was already fishing in her purse. "Good. Chloe," she said, pulling a velvet box out of her purse. "If it's not your taste I'll understand, but…" she offered up the box, "I would be honored…Oliver would be honored, if you would wear my mother's ring."

Chloe tried not to show her internal horror. "I…I…" she stuttered. "I couldn't possibly—I mean to say—well," she looked to Oliver for help, but he looked equally panicked. "I feel like I don't have a right to something so special."

"Nonsense," Laura brushed her off, placing the box in Chloe's hands. "I don't have any daughters, so of course you should have it."

Chloe didn't know what to do. This was a whole new level of low, accepting a family heirloom. "I don't know what to say." She paused, swallowing tightly. "Thank you. I really don't deserve it," she finished humbly, hating herself as she finally accepted the box.

Laura smiled and looked as if she'd never been so happy.

"I'm a horrible person," Chloe groaned two hours later at Oliver's penthouse. "I'm a horrible, horrible person."

Oliver grimaced ruefully. "There was nothing we could have done."

"I'm really sorry," she told him sincerely.

"Hey," he held up his hand to stop her apology. "We were in a bind. You could hardly have refused. It's okay."

"I just…it's a family heirloom. I feel awful taking it."

Oliver sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "There's nothing for it. It's okay."

"You're sure?"

Oliver, who was trying not to show how bitter he was feeling, looked at Chloe's openly distressed expression and softened. "Yeah," he said truthfully. "It's okay."

She looked just slightly placated and relaxed her shoulders. "Well," she said, "at least you won't have to meet my parents for a bit."

"That's for sure."

"Are you ready for Vic and Katherine's?" Chloe asked, changing the subject, referring to the impending wedding.

"I think we'll manage. If we could handle my mother, we can handle anything.

Author's Note: Sorry this took so long, everyone. I have taken a third job and I'm often too exhausted when I would like to be writing. I hope it was worth the wait, though!

Meanwhile, I'm off to write a Mad Swan fic, for anyone who's watching/obsessing over Once Upon a Time like me. So check for that sometime tomorrow! :)