Chapter Text
Oliver Queen pulled his suspenders up over his shoulders and then tucked the escaped ends of his dress shirt back into his pants. He looked out his window down onto the grounds of Queen manor and the twinkle-light illuminated tent as the sun had all but set behind it. Turning around to grab his tuxedo jacket, Oliver saw Kendall-no Kendra-zip her dress up. Oliver looked over to his bed and was impressed it hardly showed any evidence of their previous activity, just a couple of lumps on the duvet.
He knew he should feel guilty, but Oliver found it difficult. He, nor Kendra, did anything wrong. They hadn’t completely abandoned the reception, only escaped it for a few minutes. That had to be allowed. The tent overflowed with so many people, several spilled out into the grounds surrounding the tent. Oliver reasoned no one could be expected to be present 100 percent of the time.
A thought occurred to him, which he knew he should have considered before bringing Kendra up here. As he slipped his arms in his tuxedo jacket, Oliver asked, attempting for delicacy, “Kendra, you’re not related to Digg nor Lyla? Are you?”
Kendra stopped on her way to the door and turned around, her yellow dress swung around her ankles. She let out a humorless laugh. “No, Oliver. You didn’t screw one of your best friend’s relatives. Just a friend of one said relative.”
She turned back around and huffed out of the room.
Oliver thought she was a little too high and mighty for someone who had agreed to fuck him without knowing him more than twenty minutes.
At his mirror, he fixed his bow-tie and ran his fingers through his hair. He stared at his reflection and blew out a breath. Oliver quickly left his room, navigated through the manor and ran outside, past the fragrant rose garden, to rejoin everyone at the reception.
Digg, Oliver’s recently-ex bodyguard, was the reason Oliver forced himself to go back into an overheated and overcrowded tent in a tuxedo. Earlier in the evening Oliver managed to stand still as Digg’s best man as Digg remarried Lyla in the very tent they stood in. Once guests had been escorted out of the tent, staff had quickly set up tables for the guests and the catering staff brought out the food. Oliver had met Kendra while outside the tent, and as soon as he had eaten dinner he went looking for her.
“Hey, man,” Diggle came up behind Oliver and clapped him on the back.
“Hi, Digg,” Oliver responded as he turned around. Oliver forced a smile as he faced Digg and Lyla. “Lyla. Congratulations, again. It’s about time.”
“Yeah, yeah. Sometimes marriages take two weddings to stick,” Diggle said. Both he and Lyla were unable to take the smiles off their faces, and Oliver could tell they were anything but fake. The heat inside the tent couldn’t take anything away from them on this day.
“I’m really happy for you two.”
“Thank you, Oliver,” Lyla said.
“Did Sara make it?” Oliver asked as he looked around the tent at the faces on the people who milled around in it. “I know you were excited to see her again.”
Diggle’s face fell and Lyla’s followed.
“She wasn’t able to make it,” Lyla said. She looped her arms inside of Diggle’s crossed one. She placed a light kiss on his arm. Sara had been an army buddy of Digg and Lyla. The three of them had gone through some intense times together. Sara had helped the couple hide their relationship from their superiors until Digg and Lyla got married the first time. She was their witness for their first wedding. Oliver worked hard to not be jealous of Sara’s close relationship with Digg. “Apparently, her sister had a panic attack this morning and needed Sara.”
“I thought Sara was going to leave yesterday?”
“She changed her mind,” Lyla answered.
“Oh,” Oliver said. Off the gloomy look on Digg, added, “Well, if she had come today it would have been the three of you off in a corner telling army stories. Neither of your families would have liked that. Or you would have said hi and bye to her. She’ll just have to come another time when you’ll have more time to actually hang out.”
“That’s true,” Digg said. He contemplated Oliver’s words and found some truth in them. A smile started to form again on Digg’s face and Lyla’s smile returned in response.
Oliver smiled at the thought he was the best best man there had ever been. If he needed a part-time job, he would do excellent as a professional best man. It was a shame very few get this kind of treatment and service. The only person to experience it was Digg, and Lyla by extension.
But being someone’s best man required a close friendship before the wedding. Oliver was only close to a very select few. Diggle, Felicity, his mother to an extent, and his sister to a lesser extent. Thea had moved away from home with her husband to National City. Oliver had made an effort to include Lyla in that list for Digg’s sake. Oliver hadn’t been largely successful, but they were closer than they had been when Digg and Lyla had gotten engaged again.
There had been jokes made at Oliver’s expense leading up to the wedding. The jokes consisted of Oliver losing his best and only friend when Digg became a married man. Oliver had laughed along with everyone; he knew Digg would never abandon him. Even if Oliver lost Digg as his bodyguard.
“Where’d you head off to before?” Digg asked in his way in which appeared as if he was concerned. Oliver knew, from experience, it was Digg’s way of getting Oliver to confess to crimes Oliver wasn’t aware were crimes.
“Just needed some time alone.”
“You seemed nervous during dinner,” Lyla said. Oliver did not like being ganged up on. “Your leg wouldn’t stop bouncing.”
Oliver shrugged. “Just a lot of caffeine I guess.”
“Hmm,” Digg nodded a little too much. “And my cousin Stacy’s friend’s absence happening at the nearly the same time interval was coincidence?”
“Must be.” Oliver learned to never admit to anything, especially if damning evidence was in Digg’s hands. Deny, deny, deny.
“You were gone for a long time,” Digg said in a softer voice.
“No, I wasn’t.” Oliver had tried not to be. He had best man duties he had to do, even if he didn’t want to do them.
“You missed the toasts,” Lyla said with a slight tone of judgment and her eyes narrowed somewhat toward Oliver. Oliver didn’t like being judged by her. Lyla didn’t understand the friendship he and Digg shared.
“I’m sorry, Digg,” Oliver turned to Digg, ignoring Lyla. “Really. I wrote a spectacular speech. It was going to make your relatives cry. I could do it now. Do you want me to do it now?”
“No, it’s all right,” Digg smiled. “How about you email it to me.”
“I can do that. I am sorry.”
“Don’t worry. Lyla’s sister was a little too drunk to be coherent and she was rushed off stage.” Digg said. Off an offended look from Lyla, Digg added, “That is an accurate account and it’s not my fault. Your absence just made it look like we skipped toasts and her sister got a little loud for a couple seconds. The extra time allowed us to actually have a piece of cake.”
“I still don’t understand how you are opening your own bakery, Digg, but you didn’t make your own wedding cake. What does that say about your skills as a baker?” Oliver asked.
“Lyla and your mother wouldn’t let me,” Diggle said with a laugh. “I wanted to, but was told I would be too busy to do it.”
“You were,” Lyla insisted.
“I could have done it.”
Lyla shook her head at her husband. She understood Digg’s stubbornness almost as much as Oliver did.
“Oliver, we have a favor to ask you,” Digg said after he looked down at his wife and had a silent conversation with her. Digg’s face went into serious mode and Oliver wondered how hard this favor would be or how much it would cost him. Oliver would happily open up his wallet. In fact, he preferred it.
“What?”
“We’d like a few minutes at our place before we have to head to the airport. Would you mind covering for us?”
Oliver didn’t know how he was expected to cover for a bride and groom escaping their own reception. He was good, but he wasn’t sure he was that good. Looking at the newly re-married couple and the hope and love in their eyes, Oliver knew he couldn’t say no. And he couldn’t disappoint them, though he thought they were naïve.
“Umm,” Oliver said as he swiveled his head around and looked for anything that could help. He looked over and around the guests and the band. Finally, his eyes landed on exactly what he needed, which would be the key to the endeavor. “Yes. I will cover for you.”
“Thank you, Oliver, for hosting the wedding and reception here. The grounds are beautiful,” Lyla said. “The pictures are going to look amazing.”
“Of course. Text me when you get back from your honeymoon.”
“Ok,” Digg pulled him into a hug. Oliver decided someone’s wedding was one of those moments you hug your best friend. Therefore, he didn’t fight Digg and put his arms around Digg’s wide torso. After twenty long seconds, Oliver was released from Digg’s grizzly of a hug. Oliver carefully put one arm around the middle of Lyla’s back and hugged her for two seconds. Digg whispered to Oliver, “Thank you. We’ll see you later.”
“Shh,” Oliver whispered back. “Go when you see the signal.”
“What’s the signal?” Lyla asked.
“You’ll know it when you see it,” Oliver answered. He then walked away and maneuvered his way around all of Digg’s and Lyla’s relatives. Most were from Digg’s side of the family. Oliver didn’t understand how one person could be related to so many people who were still alive.
Once just outside of the tent, Oliver crouched down to look at the power generator. Fortunately there was a big power button. Oliver pressed and released it. The whole tent went dark and quiet. The guests gasped and a couple people yelled out. Oliver felt the confusion spread through the crowd.
Oliver envied Digg and Lyla as they got to escape their families, while he was stuck there.
He gave Digg and Lyla three and a half minutes and turned the generator back on. It took a bit for the generator to kick back in. When the power had been fully restored Oliver stepped around guest after rattled guest, and looked for his mother.
Jax and, looking down at his watch, Oliver realized Mike might also be with her. It was later than he realized. Moira should have gone to bed over an hour ago, but he doubted if it occurred. His mother was incredibly stubborn and refused to give up her independence. Despite the help she needed and the more she would need as time went by.
On the opposite end of the tent, Oliver saw Moira with both Jax and Mike. She was clearly arguing with both of them. Oliver was surprised the rules of decorum weren’t prohibiting her from making a scene. But then again, Oliver needed to remember she wasn’t who she used to be.
“Mom,” Oliver greeted as he walked up to them.
“Oliver,” Moira turned toward him and her shoulders visibly relaxed. “Will you please tell these two bullies that me staying a little longer at the reception isn’t going to hurt me.”
It was in times of her most argumentative, Oliver reminded himself he paid her CNAs very well.
“Actually, Mom, I was surprised to see it was this late. I was just looking for you to take you back up to the house.”
“Oliver,” Moira’s tone was one of warning. “I am the parent. Not you. Besides I feel fine. I was just talking to Mr. Diggle and Ms. Michaels.”
Jax cleared his throat. Both Moira and Oliver turned toward him, one of them more open to hear what he had to say than the other. “Actually, ma’am, it has been almost an hour since you talked with the couple.”
“Has it?” Moira asked, confused. “I was sure it was just before the blackout. Are you sure?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I think,” Oliver said as he placed his hands on his mother’s upper arms, “that it is time to call it night.”
“I suppose so. But how will the staff know how to clean everything properly?”
“I’m sure they know by now,” Oliver replied, amused. “Do you want me to walk up with you?”
“No,” Moira shooed him off. “Enjoy the reception. I’m sure you have a few more duties as best man to complete.”
With Digg and Lyla’s escape he didn’t, but Oliver’s mother was in capable and well-trained hands. “Ok. Sleep well.”
“Thank you, sweetheart.” Oliver leaned down and kissed her cheek. He ensured Jax and Mike had a hold on Moira before he took a step back into the tent.
The band started up again and the guests seemed unconcerned about the power outage as most seemed to squish their way on the wooden collapsible dance floor.
Oliver made his way to the bar. Once the bartender set down his shot of vodka, he turned and found Felicity staring at him from a table on the other side of the tent. He held his drink in salute and smiled. She returned the salute and the smile, then turned back to the group she was talking to.
Melancholy swept over him. Oliver wasn’t sure he wanted to examine it, but it had been there all day and ignoring it hadn’t made it disappear.
He knew Digg would be his friend. Always. They were very much like brothers. But Oliver knew Digg’s marriage to Lyla would change things. Digg wouldn’t always be around to give Oliver advice or get Oliver out of trouble. Oliver relied on Diggle to talk with; to think problems or issues through. Things were going to change. For the better for Digg. Oliver wasn’t sure how it’d be for himself.
Digg’s marriage wasn’t the only change. With Lyla’s income to rely on, Digg could finally try to live his dream of owning a bakery. The bakery his grandmother, who had raised Digg, had always wanted to own. Losing his grandmother early led to some tough financial decisions. One of those was joining the army. The other was becoming a bodyguard when Digg came back after two tours in Afghanistan.
The new bakery meant Digg had quit as Oliver’s bodyguard.
Oliver didn’t need a bodyguard. Not anymore. It gave Moira some relief to know her son was protected, but there were no longer any threats. There may have been a brawl or two at Verdant, but nothing serious. So, there was no need to replace his bodyguard.
He did wonder if he needed to replace his best friend.
Or if he had been the one replaced.
“This is a wedding, not a wake,” a soft voice said behind him. Oliver smiled without turning around. If anyone could make him feel better, it was Felicity.
“Some would say there isn’t much difference. Maybe I’m mourning my friend’s lost freedom.”
Felicity cupped his lower shoulder while she placed her arm on the rest of his shoulder. Her chin settled on her arm as she looked at him. “How are you?”
“I’m fine, Felicity,” Oliver answered. Off of Felicity’s scrutiny, he added, “Really. I promise I’m doing better than I thought I’d be doing.”
She held eye contact with Oliver until Felicity was certain of the truth of his words. “I’m glad you’re okay. But if you need to talk to somebody, I’m here.”
“I don’t, but if I change my mind I know where to find you,” Oliver replied, mostly to appease Felicity. Oliver hated combining talking and feelings.
“Good,” Felicity said. “Unless you want me to stay, I’m heading out.”
“Felicity, go. It looks as if you don’t the Diggles will be adopting you.” Oliver indicated to a cluster of the Diggle family at Felicity’s former table. They were smiling and pointing at Felicity with the look of being dazzled by her. Oliver knew the feeling.
“Yeah. Their friendliness is a bit overwhelming. I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Yep.” The two leaned over and kissed each other’s cheek. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight. Call me if you need to.” With that Felicity walked away and out of the tent.
Though her company soothed Oliver some, he didn’t want to bring Felicity down. She was completely happy for Digg, whereas he was 75 or 80 percent happy for their friend.
He tipped the rest of his drink into his mouth and savored the burn down his throat. Oliver knew he needed to find a way to get over himself and let Digg lead his new life.
Kendra walked over to the bar and it took a moment for Oliver to remember her. Once he did, he smiled and slid closer to her. The Queen charm was almost impossible to resist, and there was hardly anyone who wanted to. Kendra rolled her eyes but smiled back and leaned closer to him. Oliver thanked god for the willing distraction. An hour with her was the perfect thing for Oliver to feel like himself again.
The following evening, Oliver sat across from Moira in their dining room. Felicity occupied her usual spot in the middle of the table, facing the French doors leading out to the grounds. As Oliver cut into his pork, the pitch of his mother’s voice filled his head. The words, however, weren’t sticking. Her voice was just a dull tone that accompanied the thoughts, which hadn’t left his head since the wedding.
He looked up and found Felicity staring at him. Her brows scrunched together and Oliver could tell she knew he wasn’t listening. He straightened up in his chair and focused on Moira.
“And I know it was the cleaning staff who left marks on the kitchen floor. They tried to blame the bakery staff, but I know Aveline, and what’s the girl’s name who helps her out, would never do such a thing. Aveline is much too careful. Otherwise, I would say the wedding was a success.”
“Yes,” Oliver answered. “Digg and Lyla seemed very happy.”
“They really did. And the wedding was gorgeous.” Felicity turned toward Oliver and asked, “I was meaning to ask you, did you have anything to do with the blackout?”
“I had many duties as best man. Some of them are confidential.”
“Oliver!” Moira admonished. “That was frightening.”
His hands went up in surrender. “The couple asked me to do it.”
“John and Lyla,” Felicity asked slowly, each word deliberate and over-pronounced, “asked you to cut the power during their reception and terrify their guests?”
“Yes, they did,” Oliver replied, his tone cheerfully defiant. Then in a quieter voice, added, “In a manner of speaking.”
“What exactly did they ask you to do?” Felicity pressed, skepticism ran across her face.
A slight sigh escaped Oliver’s grinning lips. He liked misleading Felicity, unfortunately it never lasted very long. ”They wanted a little time at their house before they had to go the airport. So they asked me to create a distraction.”
Felicity scoffed.
“What?” Oliver asked.
“That was the only distraction you could think of?”
“In the limited amount of time I had to hide a groom and bride, who was in her wedding dress,” Oliver emphasized wedding dress with jabbing his fork in the general direction of Felicity, “yes.”
“You know,” Felicity responded, “I’m actually impressed.”
“Thank you,” Oliver puffed out his chest a bit.
“How you haven’t been arrested more times than you have already, is astonishing.”
Oliver looked at Felicity who smiled innocently at him. “I walked right into that one, didn’t I?”
“Hmm, just a bit,” she generously admitted as she brought her pointer finger and thumb up and less than a half inch apart.
“Will you two ever get tired of teasing each other?” Moira asked.
“Probably not,” Oliver responded and gave Felicity a wink. Felicity threw a mock glare at Oliver, which only served to widen his smile.
A responding smile and a particular gleam, that Oliver had the unfortunate experience of seeing many times before, appeared in Felicity’s eyes. That gleam could only mean trouble for him.
“So, Oliver,” Felicity called over. Oliver tensed. “Who was the woman I saw you with at the bar at the reception?”
With a glance to Moira, Oliver answered, “Just a guest.”
“Hmm. I couldn’t decide if she was a Diggle or not.”
“Oliver, really!” Moira exclaimed. “She is a relative of Mr. Diggle. It’s highly inappropriate. You couldn’t have found a non-relative to have a dalliance with?”
“I…she,” Oliver sputtered. He threw a quick glare at Felicity. She usually didn’t discuss his hookups with him, let alone around his mother. Oliver deflated, “Her name was Kendra. She was a friend of a Diggle cousin. I’m not that insensitive.”
“That is good to hear. Mr. Diggle is one of your best friends next to Felicity. I wouldn’t want to see you ruin your relationship with him.”
“I wouldn’t either,” Oliver said in a sincere tone.
After a moment of studying Oliver, Moira stated, “I think I will go to bed early tonight. I just started a new book. Did I tell you about it?”
Moira had in fact told both Oliver and Felicity several times. She had also started the book several times. Oliver inwardly cursed her vascular dementia and the stroke, which caused it, for the ten thousandth time. He had suggested it was maybe time to give up reading, but Moira had not taken it well and became more determined to keep reading.
Oliver schooled his features and answered, “Yes, you did. It sounds interesting.”
“It does, doesn’t it?” She placed her napkin on the table and stood up. Oliver called out to Jax to have him escort her out and up to her room. Moira grazed her hand over Felicity’s shoulders as Moira made her way to Oliver. She leaned down and placed a kiss on his head. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Moira,” Felicity said as Moira walked out of the room.
“Goodnight, Mom.”
The two stared down at their plates and moved their food around without eating. Their sadness crowded the room. It took a moment for both Oliver and Felicity to regain their composure.
Oliver turned toward Felicity, intent on things being normal and telling her what he really thought of her line of questioning in front of Moira. Though when he looked at her face he saw her concern written on her face.
“What?” Oliver asked.
“Are you okay?”
“Why?” He really didn’t want to talk about Moira or her condition. He had done that enough.
“Because John got married. Which will eventually change your dynamic with him. Not that it has to. But when he starts talking about married life or, maybe someday, babies, you aren’t going to be able to relate and it might cause some distance between you two. And not to mention he’s not your bodyguard anymore, so you won’t see him nearly every day. Though I’m really happy he’s finally able to try to live his and his grandmother’s dream. And I know you are too. But it’ll be different and require more effort. You’ll have to go to the bakery-I still love he named it Kick Ass Bakery, it’s just so perfect-anyway you’ll have to go out of your way to see him now,” Felicity took a breath when she saw Oliver tried not to smile and failed. “I’m just worried you might feel a little abandoned.”
“Felicity, I’m fine.”
“Really?” Felicity asked.
“I am happy for Digg. And I do know it’ll be an adjustment. But it’ll be fine.”
Felicity paused as she assessed Oliver. She squinted her eyes, as if it would help her see inside Oliver, into his soul.
“I think you’re saying fine when you’re not fine. You just think you should be fine and telling me what you think I want to hear.”
“Felicity,” Oliver said as he stood up and ran his hand over his face.
“No, listen,” Felicity said. She stood up to and took Oliver’s hand. “It’s okay to not be okay right now. It’s a big change and it’s going to take time to get used to it. But I promise it’ll work out and your friendship with John will stay intact.”
Oliver looked down at Felicity. He never knew how she could see him so clearly, when no one else could. Sometimes not even himself. But she had been right about him having concerns regarding the permanence of Oliver’s friendship with Digg. And not only did Felicity refuse to drop the subject, she had somehow reassured Oliver he’d be all right.
Oliver applauded his luck when all those years ago, Felicity had taken pity on a stranger and rescued his naked self from a Bellagio’s security officer.
“Thank you, Felicity,” Oliver said. He knew he had, in essence, admitted she was right. But they both knew she usually was. He pulled Felicity into a hug and squeezed tight. Felicity squeezed back and then released her hug.
“I better get going,” Felicity said. “I’m meeting with a potential new client tomorrow and I have some final preparations to do.”
“So responsible,” Oliver said with a slight mocking tone.
“Something you wouldn’t understand.”
“I am the CEO of a successful Fortune 500 company.”
“But if it were up to you, you’d run Verdant until you became an old creepy guy who owns a club.”
“Being a billionaire takes the creep factor away.”
“Only for those looking for a sugar daddy.”
“I’m not sure I’ll mind then,” Oliver said and laughed at Felicity’s grimace. “I’ll text you later about meeting up for lunch this week.”
“Sounds good,” Felicity said as she clasped his upper arm as she made her way out. “Goodnight, Oliver.”
“Goodnight, Felicity,” Oliver responded with a smile.
Oliver took his phone out of his pocket. He pulled up Diggle’s second cousin’s daughter contact and deleted it. He then sent a quick text to Sin, letting her know he was coming into Verdant. After grabbing his keys, he walked out the door and drove out of the gate.
Pulling up to the red painted curb with a hard break, Oliver exited his Porsche with his most charming smile. The sun reflected off his sunglasses, which hid the dark circles underneath his eyes. He buttoned the suit of his jacket and waved to the crowd of journalist, board members, and investors who had gathered around a staging area.
He laughed at the professional attire everyone wore to stand around on a dirt lot under the hot sun.
Oliver walked around them and joined the CFO, Walter Steel, his mother, and the director of the board. He wanted to say his last name started with a S, but Oliver wasn’t sure. Oliver was fairly proud he remembered the guy’s title. He nodded at a reporter he had hooked up with a few years ago, she looked down at her hands in her lap. Oliver smiled.
A construction type guy handed Oliver a blue hard hat. He looked at it quizzically, and looked around to see all the people “on stage” had one on as well. Oliver put it on, even though he knew it was ridiculous. What did they think he was going to do? Fall into a well?
“You’re late,” the director person said.
“And?” Oliver asked. Didn’t this guy know Oliver’s reputation? Oliver knew he had never been on time for anything. By now no one expected it of him. And really, if anyone here had the kind of night he had at Verdant the night before, they would be late too. Getting out of bed had been damn near impossible.
“Oliver,” Moira whispered as she turned her head to the side. “This is important. As CEO you’re going to have to learn to be on time for things.”
“Ah, come on, Mom. I’m not that late.”
“Walter told me it has been 45 minutes.” Moira used her strict voice. Her CEO boss voice. Basically, her scary voice. As there had always been at least one nanny around, Oliver doubted she had a mom voice. But she had a boss voice. Dementia hadn’t taken that away. “We scheduled this at 11 to give you plenty of time to be here. You need to make more of an effort.”
“Okay. I’m sorry.” Oliver looked around and saw James standing to the side, ready to help Moira if she needed anything. Another reason they had scheduled this at 11 so Moira could keep her bi-weekly appointment with her RN, Kara. Kara came to the house once a week to check on Moira’s medication compliance, new symptoms, and anything else that came up. Moira hated them.
“Oliver,” Walter said in his crisp accent. “You just need to say a few words, do the ceremonial shovel dig, stay for a few pictures, and then it will be over.”
“Thanks, Walter.” Walter was the only one at Queen Consolidated who was nice to Oliver. Considering Walter taught him what he needed to do and how to do it, that was an extremely good thing.
Oliver stepped up to the microphone and cleared his throat. He hated business press conferences. Pulling his shoulders back and putting on a practiced smile, Oliver said, “I want to thank you all for coming today. Queen Consolidated was a dream of my father’s. But not even in his wildest dreams did he ever think it would be as successful as it is today. He was always proud of how Queen Consolidated positively affected the lives of people around the world. In that token, we dedicate this new building, which will soon be built right where we are standing, and everything that comes from it to him. Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to announce Queen Consolidated’s latest, and most innovative, division, the Robert Queen Memorial Applied Sciences.”
Clicks of cameras went off and a smattering of polite applause followed.
The same construction guy handed him a shovel. Oliver had never shoveled dirt before, but he had seen it done. It couldn’t be that hard, right? Thoughts of how he should have practiced beforehand swarmed his head and Oliver really hoped he didn’t embarrass himself. After working the shovel in the dirt, he stepped on the shovel to put weight on it and pushed it into the dirt about an inch and a half more. Not wanting to focus on it, Oliver scooped up a measly amount of dirt and threw it next to the little dent he created.
More applause and clicks occurred.
Another person at the edges of the event waved to him, her dark long hair shaded her face. Oliver smiled. A good PR person he could tolerate had been damn near impossible to find. She motioned for him to take his sunglasses off. Being as cool as he could with a blue hard hat standing to a little dent of dirt he made, he smiled and casually took off his sunglasses. Moira stepped up to him and Oliver put his arm around her.
Moira whispered, “What are we doing here?”
Oliver kept a straight face despite wanting to scream and whispered back, “Just a little QC business. Don’t worry. James will take you back home soon.”
Pictures were taken. They would have continued if Oliver hadn’t insisted Moira needed her rest. James helped her to the car.
As the journalist and others packed up and left, Walter and the board’s director, whose name Oliver sussed out to be Mr. Dennis. Whatever his name, Oliver didn’t like him.
“Will you be heading into the office after this, Mr. Queen?” Mr. Dennis asked in a condescending tone.
“The bulk of my agenda today has been taken care of with this event,” Oliver replied. The guy was such an asshole.
Mr. Dennis shifted his weight between his two feet as he studied Oliver. Finally he said, “I was under the impression you weren’t a teenager anymore.”
“I don’t think my voice broke once in my speech.” Oliver responded as he put as much sarcasm into his tone as possible. He turned to Walter and asked, “What do you think? Did you hear any unexpected high pitches?”
“I was assured,” Mr. Dennis interrupted, his voice raised, “your juvenile behavior was no longer a problem and you would be able to handle the demands that come with the position of CEO after your mother’s stroke.”
“Okay?” Oliver had no idea where the ass was going with his line of questioning. He also didn’t know who had given assurances on his behalf. The thought didn’t sit well with Oliver. He cared about QC and wanted it to be successful. His father had built the company up from nothing and was Robert’s legacy. Oliver never wanted to sully that legacy but he knew with him being CEO there would be a good chance Oliver did just that. He decided if he just did what Walter, and Felicity to a degree, told him to do QC would be fine.
“Oliver hasn’t been given the chance,” Walter argued, and Oliver internally thanked the fact Walter was always unflappable, “to do anything as of yet. There is a lot to learn about the company and the many duties of CEO. I have no doubt Oliver will succeed.”
As long as Walter was doing all the work, Oliver was certain he’d succeed too. “And what are you going to do, fire me? My family owns the company and, I don’t know if you noticed, my name is on the building.”
Mr. Dennis laughed without humor, and then said, “Please believe me when I say the board and I can, and will, fire you if your incompetency threatens the company in any way.” Oliver tried not to look shocked. How could this little piss-ant fire him? The piss-ant continued, “But, I’m willing to give you a chance.” He pointed around him. “This is your test. You will succeed or you will fail with Applied Sciences. And before you think Mr. Steele will be doing your job for you, the company does actually need its CFO.”
“I wasn’t aware my job had been suffering?” Walter asked, cooler than he usually was.
“It’s not. But you are needed in our Sydney office. I’m sure you’re aware of the financial situation that is happening there?”
“Yes,” Walter answered unhappily.
“We need you on a plane tomorrow. Mr. Queen, you’ll be on your own. Try not to bankrupt the company.”
The ass walked away and Oliver gathered all of his willpower to not punch him.
“Oliver,” Walter called him out of his violent daydream. “You can do this. You’ve been studying with me for months on how to run QC.”
“And getting Applied Sciences off the ground?”
“Hire an experienced and well-educated, multi-disciplined scientist for a director. They should be able to guide you well enough and lead Applied Sciences on their own.”
“Okay, hire a director.”
“And Oliver? Go back to work today. You really need to use every available minute to get Applied Sciences off the ground.”
“Yeah. Of course, I was going to go back. I was just messing with that ass.” Oliver had not planned on going to the office today. He hated the office. All he saw there were his father and his formerly healthy mother. But he had to. If only to show that stuck up idiot he was wrong.