So, Chloe got an invite to a charity ball full of billionaires. I sense boredom and the possibility for lots of fun.

Chapter Thirteen; Snook-ums

It seemed like no time at all had gone by since she was first trying on the dress to when she was stepping out of Ollie's limo, slipping her hand into his and being blinded by camera's. Oliver looked as fantastic as ever, being so accustomed to the high and fancy la-di-dah life of suits and lime light. Like the natural he was, the elegant black tie only invited her closer, like some internal drive just kicked in wanting him to touch her. Was it wrong she wanted to pull him down by the lapels and kiss the life out of him? Probably, but it was his own fault; nobody should look that good.

He grinned at her hazed features, keeping her close. With her looking so striking he'd rather not let her leave his sight for too long. People may get the wrong impression about her availability tonight.

Chloe let her eyes adjust to the bright lights and checked over her dress yet again. Today she was a golden angel, a change from the green she had predicted. Instead it was a soft cream, maybe could be called gold, maybe magnolia if you were feeling posh. But it was beautiful, and that was all that mattered, it flowed elegantly, with a teasing criss-cross back from the halter neck straps. Oliver's hand placement naturally fell at the bare section of her back sending electrifying reminders of the fiery kiss they had shared. She could have sworn he tickled her at one point as they smiled for the wall of photographers. Then came the introductions and meeting of people, the many, many people. She could only be thankful she had something to hold onto.

Chloe just kept smiling till they found booze. She'd met enough barons and baronesses along with other rich people to start to feel a little green. There's only so much a girl can take of meeting new people and constantly cringing at the 'girlfriend' title she was dubbed, to which Oliver always jumped to defend, at the same time giving her another trail of lust up and down her back, almost daring her to step forward and lay claim on him. Then came the business talk, the money talk, the 'I bought a new car this week, then I got bored and had it set alight for the fun of it because I can because I'm rich' talk. It was worse when they turned to her and asked her where she worked and she stumbled over qualifying freelance writing to billionaires. Not easy at all. The silent judgemental expressions conveyed more than two hours trapped with a pissed off Lois would.

Finally she needed a break and excused herself for the ladies. Collecting a champagne flute as she passed go she had every intention of hiding in the ladies getting drunk. Of course, that was until she got in there and saw someone who had exactly the same idea.

"Tess?" There in a shiny deep purple dress, hiked up around her thighs, sat a bored looking Tess Mercer on a counter.

"Chloe. I didn't expect you to be here." Tess wasn't wearing her happy face.

"Oliver" she explained in one word and settled next to Tess, copying her idea of hiking up the dress. Floor length and bathroom counters didn't mix.

"That explains it. I hear you almost got killed. Twice" Chloe handed her the champagne flute when she caught her staring longingly. "That sucks." she finished and took a swig.

"Yep. How's the daily planet?"

"In desperate need of control." she admitted and handed back the drink. It seemed like this party had taken a sour turn for Tess too. Though she couldn't figure out why.

Chloe didn't particularly like Tess, but out of everyone in the Justice league, she knew the extent of how Tess could be trusted. She had personally looked behind every closed door Miss Mercer had, especially when Tess had found out about their double identities, but it seemed the Luthor mansion was the only part of Lex she had kept alive. Chloe might not yet trust her with her life, but everyone deserved a chance. "Why are you hiding out in here?" Tess asked after a few quite minutes.

"Rich people seem to look down on a squatter in Ollie's life." she summarised.

"Ah. I see you there and I raise you a 'I'm not a real rich person because I wasn't born into this life'"

"That sucks." Chloe repeated. "I don't suppose you could get them to deliver alcohol in here could you?" she pondered, turning the empty flute in her hands. The bathroom was exactly what she expected; clean, huge, organised and polished enough so you could perform surgery on the marbled floors without thinking twice. Flowers were in one corner, decorating the soft creams and whites lining the walls.

"Already tried." she laughed. "I was contemplating leaving to find more before you turned up. Possibly the only disadvantage of hiding out here."

"Hmm. Ollie will probably be looking for me soon anyway." Chloe justified.

"And I should probably go back and take some more abuse with a smiley face." Tess groaned and slid off the counter re-applying lipstick and her well hardened happy face. She checked down her dress. "I suppose I'll see you by the bar some time later." Chloe nodded, having followed her lead with the lipstick and dress. Finally presentable they left together to find Ollie walking past.

"There you are, I thoug-" he cut off as he saw Tess. "Mercy." he greeted.

"Oliver." She nodded back and set off to find more people who would no doubt be rude to her. Chloe couldn't help but feel a little sorry for her.

"You alright?" Chloe nodded smiling. "Sure? Because you've just been bonding with Tess Mercer in a bathroom…with champagne. That doesn't scream happiness to me."

"It's not that. Just I don't seem to fit in here. I mean no offense, but rich people are really boring and, not so surprisingly snobby."

"You just haven't met the right ones. The evil ones come early, I say hello, make with the friendlies and then watch in glee as their backs are turned and the old farts leave as soon as their hour is up." Chloe rose her eyebrows. "True. Watch. You met the Duncan's. Old man, big glasses, looks like he dunks donuts all day. Looks down on everyone."

"Ah yes. He called me 'an interesting little girl'" she replied with hatred.

"And for that I apologised. He told me my business was reaching its peak."

"Isn't that a nice thing?" she asked

"Not from him. Peak's mean you're going to be seeing a big fall anytime soon. So basically he told me I was going to become worthless soon. But in a nice way."

"Oh."

"Yeah, anyway. He came in a little after us. Maybe an hour or two ago. Now watch; any time now, he'll put his hand on his wife's shoulder and she'll start to feel a little warm." True enough, as Oliver guided her around, both their eyes trained on the couple they saw the hand to shoulder and a sly nod, then the wife started to fan herself. Chloe looked up amazed at Oliver. He smiled knowingly. "Now he'll take her outside. For a little fresh air." Ollie's lips were at her ear again sending electric buzzes across her skin. She watched, transfixed, as the couple excused themselves to go outside. "And you won't see them for the rest of the evening" he concluded. Chloe stared back at him, awestruck. "like clockwork." He met her eyes. "I get bored" he explained. She laughed.

"Any chance we can pull a stunt like that?" Her eyes lit up in hope. Her mind suddenly finding a solid placement stuck repeating that kiss over and over. She wanted it again. Lustful was only one word she could use to describe her current thoughts. Needy, desperate, craving, consumed were others that fed on the blooming of her desires.

"Sorry Chlo. Mr Duncan's an old married man who won't make the papers for leaving early with his woman on his arm. Where as we'd make less of a scene if we stole all the liquor, burning this place down and ran away stark naked." She laughed, despite her mood. No more kissing and a lot more tiresome chit chat. "So since we're staying I'll teaching you a few of my techniques till all the boring offensive people leave for a good early night's rest."

Olli guided her around the floor meeting and greeting other rich people. Once she knew the signs to look for it was easy to read Ollie, to know just what offended him, what pleased him and when he was bored.

Games seemed to develop with ease.

Who could make the other couple most offended without outright insults? Oliver of course, knowing the secret business language, won that round.

Who could distract the other the most? Olli took the trophy for that again, drawing, and tapping against Chloe's bare skin, occasionally leaning down and whispering dirty things to her while she tried to hold a conversation.

Who could lead the couple on the most absurd tangent to the conversation? Chloe won that one, talking to some man about the cleanliness of breeding pigs. While Ollie only managed to get a woman talking about mixing drinks.

A few drinks later and they made Chloe a secret identity, saying she was a runway model from Italy. They even spotted Tess later, who seemed to have found her entertainment for the rest of the night in the form of a very delicious dark haired bartender.

Overall, she could honestly say she had fun. Purposefully setting up other couples to offend her and making fun of them as they left with Ollie, so it surprised her when she came back from another visit to the ladies to see him laughing wildly with a black haired woman, clinging to him. You would need a spatula to remove her she was fixed so tightly. Yet there was Ollie, not warding her off, not telling her to piss off because he was taken. Chloe huffed and sauntered back, with every intention of ignoring him, except with the way his eyes lit up as she grew near she couldn't avoid him.

"Oh, yes. Tina. I don't believe you've met my wife." Ollie spoke and pried himself away from the black haired beauty. Chloe's eyes bugged out of her head. Wife? Did she come back into an alternate dimension? She resisted the urge to spin around and look over her shoulder for her newest victim. "Did you find the ladies alright my dear?" No, he was definitely talking to her. Mini Chloe bounced around inside her head with laughter as everything clicked. She could tear him apart simply in a few words and leave him stuck with the women in punishment. But truly, he did look pained. Thankfully she chose the higher ground and wrapped her arms around him.

"Of course Snook-ums. Though I do wish you wouldn't leave me alone with the baby for so long. I feel awful nervous he's going to know daddy's not there." Chloe rubbed a hand over her flat belly.

"You're pregnant?" The other woman asked.

"Only a few months, we're hoping for a beautiful baby boy. We'd be so happy." She wrapped her arms tighter around Ollie as he pulled up a fake smile, his head whizzing. Just because she was being merciful to him, it didn't mean she wasn't going to have fun with his emotions. "Daddy just bought an entire new house and we painted a room blue with angelic clouds and little bird flying overhead on this mobile. Tell her about the room Snook-ums." She patted Ollie on the arm, handing him a basket of ticking bombs. Well at least from his expression you would think so. He was ready to jump from the window.

"Umm yeah. It's blue. For a boy." The black haired woman just nodded. Jaw dropped. And now for the final blow Chloe thought. This woman wouldn't be coming anywhere near her again.

"You wouldn't believe some of the changes your body experiences during pregnancy. I mean sure your breast grow, but they don't tell you about all the other stuff like how you start to stretch, and your body looses all control over it's functions. You can't even-"

"I should go now. I think I hear my date calling" she interrupted. "So lovely meeting you." she sneered and turned back before Chloe could get out another word. Chloe smiled successfully. Nothing like pregnancy talk to keep the gold-diggers running.

"I think I did well. Don't you? Snook-ums?" she teased and laughed as Oliver came back to earth. "Relax she won't be bothering you again. Not with your wife expecting."

"You almost gave me a heart attack." he breathed.

"You almost gave me a heart attack." she truthfully answered.

"Did you see her face though?" he asked in a whisper and the laughs started again.

Groups started to move, dancing occurred. The usual stuff. Chloe found the bar again and Tess.

"Hey. You look happier." Tess admitted.

"I feel happier." Chloe agreed. "You don't look so miserable yourself."

"Ah, who's to look miserable with a foreign bartender flirting with you and a free selection of alcohol? Want anything?"

"I best not. The world already spinning a bit. And Olli's determined to make me twirl around the floor with him." Chloe stifled a yawn, it was already past midnight and she wanted the comfort of bare feet and pyjamas rather than heels and a dress with barely enough room for a deep breath.

"If it helps, I'm sure he won't let you fall. And besides, my worlds been spinning for the last 12 shots and I feel better than ever." Tess, despite all reason reached over for another shot glass then filled up for herself, then Chloe. "Drink up Sullivan." Chloe eyed her sceptically but reached for the glass anyway. "To the eternal spinning of the world." Tess toasted and Chloe joined drinking down the fiery liquid.

"Oh, you're going to be hung-over tomorrow you know." Chloe warned Tess. Tess just nodded.

"I…" she leaned closer to Chloe, like she had a secret. "-am calling in sick, and spending the day with the nice bartender here named…" She flickered her eyes back up to the name tag. "-named Alex." Chloe smiled.

"I think you're a little bit past drunk Tess." Tess giggled like a school girl and turned back to Alex.

"I'm going to need a lift home soon darling."

Alex smiled and put a bowl of chips under Tess.

"Eat. Please. Then I'll take you home." he insisted. An Italian accent coming through in a purr. Chloe could see what Tess saw in him. That man could melt butter with a single syllable.

"He's so demanding." Tess admired dreamily and chewed on a chip. Chloe laughed freely and turned back to find Ollie. He was talking with another man. She couldn't take much more of this talking business. Instead she weaved gracefully through the crowds to spy on Ollie from a closer distance. She watched his expression, figuring out if it was a good conversation or a bad one. His fingers were wiggling. Impatience. His smile was forced and he kept shifting his weight from each foot trying for casual. Anger? Faked laughter? He definitely needed saving. Chloe played hero and swept in, linking arms with Ollie.

"I'm sorry, but do you mind if I borrow Mr. Queen for a few seconds."

"Not at all Miss. I'm sure I'll find him later." The man winked and let Chloe drag a tense Ollie from his presence.

"I cannot thank you enough." he breathed once out of hearing distance. "I actually though he was going to trap me in conversation all night. I was ready to knife him and get arrested just for the relief from his voice."

"I didn't think there was anything wrong with him. He seemed nice enough."

"He is. In small doses." he qualified.

"Unfortunately, we might have a problem." Oliver paused his step. "Tess is drunk." Oliver just laughed.

"Yeah. I assume by now she is." he admitted checking the clock. "Tyler will make sure she gets home, as he usually does."

"Tyler?"

"Tall man, standing in the corner against the wall. You met him before. His eyes are on Tess now." Chloe followed Oliver's finger to a tall blonde in the corner looking a little sad and alone. "He's always taken care of Tess. Since his wife died. They married young just out of high school, and Tess reminds him of her. They're good friends when it comes to business, and better friends when it comes to drunken conversations."

"Alex will be disappointed." Chloe commented.

"Alex?"

"Bartender." she simply explained.

"I thought we finished this deal with learning the bartender's name." he jested "But I'm sure Alex will find some other babe he can have a roll in the sack with and be forgotten about a day later."

"An elegant way of putting it." Chloe replied, sarcasm dripping.

"The truth." he admitted. "Now. You owe me a few thousand dances."

"Ollie" She rolled her eyes. "I'm tired."

"Even better." He grinned and pulled her to melt to his chest, feeling the perfect shape they always had. Again, her thoughts could think of nothing but his lips. The way he held her, the hormones raging inside her bloodstream. He was making her head spin and yet she knew simply by the way he held her; it was comfort, not a potent spell of lust. He spun onto the floor, taking her with him. "We'll go home in a while." he whispered as he took pace of a slow song. Her head resting against him, feeling sleepy from his rocking movements, like waves along the shore. When she blocked out the more carnal of desires she found she could easily relax with him. He was warm, cuddly and surprisingly sweet. It was easier with the huge gap in energy she had, especially since she hadn't been fuelled with caffeine for a good long part of the day, she could feel her eyes drooping. Her arms looped around his neck and she rested her head in the cradle they made. Ollie chuckled and wrapped his arms tighter around her, as he felt her dropping off into sleep. "Chloe, you can sleep in the limo." he justified. She moaned against his chest in protest. A few steps later and Oliver could feel her start to fade. "Com'on sleeping beauty, we better get you home." He kissed the top of her head and stroked down her cheek with his thumb as she came back to a state of being awake in his arms.

"Now?" she whispered. One, because she was dead comfy, and two, because she didn't know if going home meant they had to go around everybody with a goodbyes or anything.

"Now" he confirmed and smoothed down her hair, smiling at her sleepy face. He kept hold of her, an arm snaked around her waist to keep her vertical and hers wrapped over his, like a double thickness belt. By the time they were stepping out into the cool midnight air the limo was already there and waiting. Ollie guided her in, then followed, slamming the door shut and bringing her back to rest against him. The next thing she knew she was being nudged by Ollie sliding his arms under her and lifting her from the car. She groaned again and he laughed. "Relax Chlo, almost in bed." She nuzzled against his neck and wrapped her arms tighter around him, slipping under the jacket of his tux. The warmth of his apartment washed lovingly over her and she only settled more into sleep. Ollie was comfy, as much of a fit as that favourite pair of jeans and as special as that first kiss. She couldn't help but want to be near him. She woke as she felt gravity pull at her, and being vertical became an issue. Olli kept him hands on her, keeping her steady. "Com'on Chloe. Pyjamas then bed." She nudged him, prying her eyes open and grunted. Annoyed at having to move at all. He chuckled, watching her carefully as she found her night clothes and wandered into the bathroom to change. She didn't even notice him half dressed as she face planted onto the bed and scrambled into the covers, sticking her bum in the air as she did. Ollie held back a chuckle and wandered into the bathroom himself. They slept much the same as usual. Flat out and tangled as close together as they could.

Sweet sleepy darlings…

Now the next chapter might be quite long and you'll hate me for the beginning and want to kill me for leaving it where I did. But please don't and keep in mind that if you DO kill me you'll never know. Just a slight warning.

Reviews have been so nice and encouraging so far. They really lift me out of my grumpy moods and I feel so many ideas start to buzz around about how I can please you next. I cannot thank you enough for such sweet and kind words, even if some are just 'Update soon. Need more.' Sometimes, just knowing that people are actually reading this and I'm not just writing for myself really helps keep me happy. So thank you ever so much. I tip my hat to you that review and I smile sweetly if you are amongst the numbers that read silent, afraid to speak up and give your opinion. I still love you. xx