Chapter Text
Felicity’s desk was normally very clean and organized. No extra papers cluttered the space, no extraneous binders sat on the edge of her desk, and all her pens and notepads were hidden away in a small built-in drawer below. She took pride in it, especially since every single speck of dust and fingerprint showed on the ultra-modern slab of glass with legs. She had a whole box of cleaning supplies for her desk and computers, even though she hated cleaning. It didn’t stop her from ensuring she presented the best possible image as an Executive Assistant. Even if sometimes it felt like the worst job she could have.
The view was worth it though; seeing Oliver in a suit with his slightly ruffled hair and furrowed brow while he concentrated on reading a quarterly revenue report was a joy. The evening sunlight coming through the windows behind him gave his hair a luminous look. He was focused, his jaw clenched, making his features more pronounced. He was gorgeous, almost drool worthy.
Little moments like these were hers and hers alone. They were special, because they let her see the real him. He wasn’t CEO Oliver Queen or Playboy Ollie Queen. Right now he was just Oliver; her Oliver.
Somedays were easier than others to have feelings for the overwhelmingly attractive billionaire CEO by day and leather-clad hooded vigilante/hero by night. But some days, when the world intruded on them, were much harder. Like yesterday when Isabel had spent the entire day with Oliver, standing as close to him as possible so Felicity would see them. God, that woman was such a bitch. Sometimes she wished she could meet Isabel on the street at night and hit her with a car. Or a van, like the one Digg drove for their night job. That would be so satisfying. Not that she wanted Isabel to die; she just wanted her to suffer. In every way imaginable.
Today was one of the worst days. If she had known what was about to happen she would never have come into Oliver’s office when he asked. She would have stayed at her nice, clean, well-organized desk and far far away from the storm that started swirling when Moira Queen appeared.
Felicity stood next to Oliver on his side of the desk discussing the drug traffickers in the Glades they were currently tracking. She felt Moira Queen enter the room before she heard the door swing open. The woman had an aura about her, she demanded the attention of everyone in a room like she was a…well like a Queen. No matter how overused the pun was, it was still true. Moira oozed class and regality, dressed simply in a well cut dark blue dress and nude heels. Her hair had grown longer since her release from Iron Heights, though she still wore it in her usual coif. Felicity had to fight to suppress a babble about prison and shampoo and long hair.
“Oliver darling,” Moira said, “how are you?”
“Mom,” Oliver said, his voice colored with surprise. Felicity immediately moved a step away from Oliver, hoping that Moira hadn’t noticed how close they had been. Then again, she herself hadn’t noticed how close they had been until the door opened. Her arm had practically been rubbing up against his shoulder and her hair was almost in his face. If she had turned her head, she would have been close enough to see the different shades of blue in his eyes and nuzzle her nose against his cheek. Not that she wanted to nuzzle his cheek. Okay, maybe she did, and she also wanted to nuzzle his chest. Yes, his chest was just right for nuzzling.
She shook her head slightly, clearing away the wonderful images in her head. She looked up and made eye contact with Mrs. Queen and almost flinched. The woman’s eyes bored into her, blue like Oliver’s but so full of ice and fire at the same time. How could someone’s eyes try to freeze you and burn you at the same time?
“Ms. Smoak, I wish to speak to my son about a personal matter. Would you please excuse us?”
“Anything you have to say to me can be said in front of Felicity,” Oliver said, glaring at his mother. She turned her gaze to Felicity. She tried to melt into the floor to get away, but since people can’t change their state of matter at will, she was forced to stand there and get skewered by Moira’s gaze for a moment longer. The Queen matriarch arched her eyebrow slightly, a look of disdain she probably perfected long before Finishing School, and turned back to Oliver.
“As you know, your cousin Elton is getting married on the 14th. It is only appropriate that we attend to show support for the Dearden side of the family. I am here because your sister insists I confirm your RSVP-“
“Mom, I already said that I’m not going,” Oliver said, shaking his head in exasperation. He ran his fingers through his hair, and Felicity suddenly realized just how long it had gotten. She felt an incredibly powerful urge to run her own fingers through it. It would be soft, warm, and a little fluffy. It was just the perfect length to tug on as she kissed her way down his neck and pulled at his tie…
Get a grip Felicity.
She sighed and mentally face palmed herself. Even her internal pep talks weren’t helping her. Her proximity to Oliver was shorting out her brain. Like when he was on the salmon ladder, or walking around the lair in his tight leather Arrow suit, or without a shirt on; basically anything Oliver did was distracting in some way. Like when he looks at her with concern and amusement all at the same time with those amazingly blue eyes that she could get lost in.
“Are you ok,” he asked. His voice was coming from above her. When did he stand up?
“Yes, I’m fine. Why?”
“You told yourself to get a grip,” he said, tilting his head to the side a little, which just made him look like a freakin puppy. How could he be sexy and adorable at the same time? That was so not fair.
“Yes,” she said, trying to shift back into work mode, “the wedding coincides with an International Business and Technology Conference event in Boston that you are booked to attend-“
“See,” he said, looking at Moira now, “I knew there was a reason, and since it's business related, I can’t neglect it. Sorry Mom, I won’t be able to go.”
Oliver’s words came out in a rush, and she could tell just how relieved he was to have an excuse to skip the wedding. Whoever Elton was, or more broadly, whoever the Deardens were, he did not want to be a part of the festivities. And considering what Moira was like, Felicity completely understood his desire to avoid it. She imagined men and women with the same grace and cool sense of detachment that Moira had and shivered. No wonder he didn’t want to go.
Oliver and Moira squared off, each one putting on their best passive aggressive face. An uncomfortable silence fell over the room. Felicity watched them both, moving from one face to the other. Neither one blinked. It was like watching an invisible tennis match, one she was sure Oliver would lose.
To Felicity’s surprise, Moira backed off first. She sighed and ducked her head for a moment to collect herself. When she looked at Oliver again, her eyes were glassy.
“Oliver. Please come to the wedding.”
Moira’s voice was soft, pleading. It was the most vulnerable Felicity had ever seen her. His mother was begging for his help, in her own way. It gave Felicity an idea of just how much Moira needed her family for this event. It was something she felt she couldn't handle alone. That was more than enough for Felicity. She turned to Oliver.
“Oliver, the wedding is in Chatham. It is two hours from Boston. The conference runs from the 9th to the 12th, but you only have to be present for the keynote on the last day. The rehearsal dinner and wedding are on the 13th and 14th. You can attend the pre wedding gala being held on the 9th, and make the drive to Boston on the morning of the 13th. All of your tuxes have been cleaned and pressed, because we go to so many of these things that you need all of them. Especially the Armani one, that one’s the best. Not that you don’t look good in all of them, because you do look good. Like really, really good, whether you have your jacket on or not though not having the jacket on is better because suspenders are great and why haven’t you stopped me oh my-”
“Felicity,” he said, in that soft voice that he used with her. It was his Felicity voice. Her name sounded so nice with that voice, like it was something precious to him, like she was precious to him. Though that would mean he cared about her as way more than a friend and that obviously wasn’t true. But then he would say her name with that look in his eyes, the one that told her that she was the only thing he was thinking of or seeing. His eyes were alight with happiness just because looking at her, like he lo-
Nope. Don’t do that. Don’t even go there.
“Hey,” he said, with her look and her voice, and God her insides were melting, “just breathe.”
She took a deep breath, focusing on his hand on her shoulder, the one he always favored. Wait, when did his hand get there? She shook her head, fighting off the butterflies she always got when he touched her, focusing instead on the warmth of his hand. It grounded her, kept her here in the now and out of her head.
“I’m good,” she said, taking a deep breath, “yup I’m good.”
He smiled at her, a real smile just for her.
“How did you know about all the events for the wedding,” he asked. There wasn’t any judgement there, just curiosity.
“The wedding planner has been sending emails to you for a while. You had them diverted to me after you got the fifth invitation, remember?”
“I remember.”
“So, I’ve essentially been running interference for the past three months. I’ve seen all the itineraries, all the changes they’ve made to them, all the caterers they’ve hired and fired, flower arrangements, the venues, even the names of the favored guests. And you’re one of them.”
“Me?”
“Oliver, you’re the CEO of one of the biggest energy and technology companies in the country. You have connections to politicians, journalists, celebrities, other CEO’s like yourself and people with money. You are the perfect redemption story. Having you there will bring even more attention the wedding.”
“And the Deardens can start to mend the fences torn down due to my involvement in the Undertaking.”
Felicity turned to look at Moira, and blinked. The woman wasn’t shooting daggers at her anymore. She was staring at her like she was seeing her for the first time, which made her even more frightening. Being reevaluated by Moira Queen meant she had been underestimated, which was insulting and gratifying at the same time. But knowing that the smart and perceptive Moira Queen was taking a second look at her? That was scary.
“Your mom is right. It helps them regain some of their political clout, but there is more to it. This is a chance for you to help your family. If you’re there with your mother, she’ll get back some of the sway she had and if you speak out in support of her-“
“Felicity-“
“Don’t ‘Felicity’ me, you know I’m right.”
She took a single step forward, getting right into his personal space. His eyes went wide for a second but she held his gaze. He needed to understand that this wasn’t just about him.
“Oliver, she’s your mother. No matter how much she lied to you, she is still your mother. I completely understand your side, but you two are more alike than you think.” She lowered her voice. “You both keep secrets from the people closest to you in the name of protection, whether it is worth it or not.” She took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment. She was falling back into her own memories; a small apartment in Vegas, a woman in a cocktail dress wearing a bright smile as a mask to hide her pain, a man who looked at her with sad, tired eyes before walking out of her life forever. Her parents were still her parents and she still loved them. Well, one of them. “I know what it’s been like for you with and without your mother. You need her, just as much as she needs you.” She gave him a small smile. “We do what we have to for the people we love.”
Oliver closed his eyes and sighed, taking in what she said. She could almost see the wheels turning in his head. He was close, but he needed a little bit more prodding. So, she moved a little bit closer to him and placed her hand on his chest. His eyes snapped open and he just stared at her. Well, maybe stared wasn’t the right word. He was looking at her like she was the entire world at the moment. But she wasn’t going to think about that. Nope not thinking about the fact that she was touching his chest over his heart or that his heartbeat sped up when she touched him or that his eyes were saying something so profound. Nope, she wasn’t thinking about any of that.
“You and Thea have already lost your father. Don’t lose your mother too.”
Using Thea was a bit cheap, but it took all the fight out of him. His shoulders slumped in defeat and he sighed one more time. His head dipped a little and it brought him close enough her to feel his breath on her face. She could smell his aftershave and a slightly lighter scent, something woodsy that reminded her of him. She saw the different shades of blue in his eyes, lighter blue like clear water and the slightly darker blues highlighting them. His eyes conveyed so much more than he could ever say with words. She felt like they had entire conversations just by looking at each other. Like right now, he was saying I don’t like this, Thank you, We need to be careful and something else.
A throat being cleared beside them broke her bubble.
Moira. She was still standing there.
She heard everything. She saw everything.
Crap.
She was suddenly very aware of just how close she was to Oliver, that if he dipped his head little more their noses would touch, that her hand was still over his heart and his hand was still on her shoulder but it was slightly higher up and almost on her neck and, wow that was too much. She jumped away from him, trying to regain her composure. If he looked a little annoyed that she moved, well she would chalk that up the massive amount of adrenaline flooding her system right now.
“Mrs. Queen, I am so sorry I forgot you were there. I would not have been that close to your son otherwise. Not that I am always that close to your son, because I’m not since my desk is out there and his is in here. I mean, I wouldn’t not want to be that close to him, because he is incredibly attractive and built and kind and tall and cares about his family. I’m not hitting on him! I wouldn’t do that since I’m his Executive Assistant and workplace relationships are frowned upon and that wasn’t how I got my promotion. And I’m not one of those kinds of girls! I haven’t done anything with Oliver other than shake his hand. I mean, his hands are great. They’re really big and warm make mine look really small but I feel safe when he holds my hand, which he doesn’t do unless he is shaking it and Oliver why aren’t you stopping me…”
Moira was staring at her with her mouth open. The Queen family matriarch was speechless. But now her eyes were curious and she looked like she was smiling slightly. Why was Moira smiling at her? Moira was scary, Moira was almost evil, and hell, she thought Moira hated her. So why was she smiling at her like that?
She turned to Oliver, seeking an answer. What she found was him smiling at her. Not just any smile, but her smile, the small but genuine one. The one that made her stomach flip and her fingers itch. He looked at her again like she was still the only thing in the world that mattered, and that was not allowed because he had already shut that door with the “I just don’t think I can ever be with someone I could really care about” speech. But her heart still beat a little faster, her stomach still did the flip, her insides still felt gooey and she still hoped that the smile meant more than just platonic things.
“Felicity, you’re fine,” Oliver said, the smile never leaving his face. He turned and faced Moira. The smile was gone, but he seemed calm and collected, ready to face this head on. “I’ll go to the wedding. But I will also be attending the ITBC as well. I need to keep my position as CEO in mind here.”
“Of course dear,” Moira said. Her voice was soft and kind, something Felicity had never heard. This must have been the loving mother voice, the one she used when her children made her proud. It made Felicity smile. Moira may be a mastermind, but there was no one in the world who could say that she didn’t love her children. “I’m glad you want to keep your responsibilities in mind.”
She turned to leave and Felicity followed on instinct, walking her to the elevator through the open door. The executive floor was thankfully empty, so no one had seen her babbling. They hadn’t been that bad in a long time. She blamed Oliver in his stupid nice suit with his stupid soft smile and his stupid blue eyes. She sighed to herself. Nothing about him was stupid. The stupid one was her. Oliver had shut her down already. She needed to stop hoping for something that didn’t exist.
They reached the elevator in a few more steps and Moira turned to face her. Her eyes were bright and she had a small smile on her face. It made Felicity gulp.
“It seems I may have underestimated you, Miss Smoak.”
“Please call me Felicity, Mrs. Queen. And thank you, for that. I guess.”
“You have quite a bit of sway with my son,” she said, tilting her head slightly.
“Yes ma’am. I mean no ma’am, no sway. No swaying of any kind.” She sighed again and looked back at her boss/friend/unrequited crush object. “I know he doesn’t want to go, but I think he needs to. Family is important and he can’t keep isolating himself from the people he loves. If he doesn’t go, I think he would regret not being able to spend that time with Thea.” She lowered her voice, speaking mostly to herself. “I just want him to be happy.”
She looked back to find Moira smiling at her again. “So do I.”
Moira stepped into the elevator and spoke over her shoulder. “I’m looking forward to see you at the festivities, dear. Please be sure to keep my son in line.”
“I won’t be at the wedding Mrs. Queen,” she said, slightly confused.
Moira chuckled as the doors closed.
“Of course you will Felicity. You’re his plus one.”