The Wager Chapter 21/23

[brittany2922]

Banner by miss_morrygan 


Title: The Wager
Author: brittany2922
Summary:   Oliver Queen meets a beautiful reporter named Chloe Sullivan and ends up making a bet with Bruce Wayne that he can seduce the young woman. But what happens when he falls for her?
Characters: Chloe, Olive, Lois, Clark, and Bruce Wayne
Rating: T

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

 

Chloe fled from the apartment as fast as she could. How could she be so stupid? Was she really just about to let Oliver kiss her? Yes she was, and not only was she going to let him do it, she wanted him to.

Before she even went to see him she'd decided that her visit was for no other reason then to get some answers from him. But being there with him, listening to him open up to her, and being able to tell him about herself too had lowered her resolve. It was so unusual for her to be able to talk to someone and feel as comfortable as she had with him.

While she was there with him the memories of everything that had happened, him telling her about that stupid bet, and even hearing the recording of him and Bruce seemed to fade away. It was just the two of them, and that other stuff didn't matter.

The moment she saw Bruce Wayne standing in front of them, that knowing smirk on his face, everything came flooding back. There was no doubt in her mind that if he had not shown up when he had she would still be up there with Oliver.

She quickened her pace. She needed to get as much distance between herself and Oliver Queen as possible.

By the time she reached her apartment she realized the best way to handle the whole situation was to simply distance herself from him again, and throw herself into her work. That was who she was, Chloe Sullivan, intrepid reporter for the Daily Planet. She had always been ever the professional and it was time she got back to that.

It was time to get over this silly attempt at romance, she just prayed she could.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Four Days Later

Oliver sat on his couch a glass of scotch was sitting in front of him as he tried to focus on the papers in front of him. He had to find some clue in them as to where Lex had taken off to. It wasn't easy though considering his mind kept drifting back to that day at his apartment when he had almost kissed Chloe.

The day she had fled from him like he had the plague.

The day that he was certain if Bruce hadn't walked in when he did she would have not only let him kiss her but also kissed him back.

That had been a four days ago and he hadn't talked to her since. The only communication he had with her was a text message he received the next day telling him that she had a lot going on at work and she would call him when things were less hectic so they could talk some more.

He chuckled to himself bitterly when he read it. Chloe Sullivan had done it again. She'd given him another new experience. She was the first woman to give him a not so subtle brush off.

Oliver placed the papers on the coffee table in front of him and picked up the glass. He took a long slow gulp and slammed the glass back down.

"All right enough is enough," Bruce said walking across the room and standing in front of him.

Oliver looked up at him shocked for a moment, he hadn't even heard the elevator, "still not bothering to call before you show up, huh?" he asked trying to keep the biting tone from his voice but not succeeding.

Bruce shook his head at his friend. This whole thing was getting out of control and it was time he stepped in and put an end to all the nonsense, "You're a fool. You know that?"

Oliver glared up at him, "what the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Well, based on the fact that you're drinking in the middle of the day," he looked down at the glass in front of him, "and the fact that you are so lost in thought that I managed to walk right into your apartment without you even noticing, I'm guessing that I'd be accurate in thinking that you still haven't heard from Chloe."

"You mean since the day you showed up at my apartment unannounced and scared her away?"

"Yes."

"No I haven't heard from her." he answered quietly picking up the glass again and finishing the contents in one gulp.

"And it never occurred to you to pick up the phone and give her a call?"

He slammed the glass back down and let out an exasperated sigh, "She sent me a message that she would call me when things were less 'hectic' for her at work."

"So in other words she blew you off."

"No she did not blow me off she just…" He tred to control his temper as Bruce smirked at him knowingly, "Okay fine, she blew me off."

"Man I was just trying to get under your skin when I said you were acting like a fool, but now it's obvious you really are one."

Oliver shot a glare at the other man then stood from the couch. He walked to the window overlooking the Metropolis skyline, "I'm respecting what she wants. When she's ready she'll call."

"Oliver, just pick up the phone and call her." Bruce leaned down, picked up Oliver's cell phone from the coffee table and walked it over to him, "you need to just do it already."

He took the phone from him and watched as Bruce left, not saying another word. He looked down at the phone and dialed her number. His thumb grazed over the send button before moving over end pressing end, to clear out her number.

Oliver turned and walked back over to the couch. He sat down, tossed his cell phone down beside him and got back to work. He'd call her; he would... just not yet.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Lois watched her cousin as she pulled the tray of cookies from the oven. "So let me get this straight," she said shaking her head, "you went and saw him four days ago, and didn't bother to tell me?"

"I just figured Clark would have told you I went to see him." Chloe answered placing the tray on the counter and picking up another one and sliding it in then slamming the oven door shut. She wondered what would happen if she told Lois that the reason she hadn't told her was because she knew how her cousin would respond. She wouldn't stop until she knew every last detail and Chloe was not in the mood to give her a play by play.

"Hold on, Smallville knew!" She shrieked, "I can't believe you told him and not me."

"Well I'm telling you now, Lo."

"You're only telling me now because I straight out asked you if you planned on seeing him again."

"Okay look, I didn't even tell Clark, he overheard me talking to Oliver about coming to see him. I mean, do you really think that if I was in the mood for some good old fashioned boy talk I would go to Clark rather then you?"

"I guess not." Lois admitted.

"Good, so can we move on now?"

"Yeah, but Clark is in so much trouble, how could he not tell me?"

Chloe rolled her eyes and sighed deeply. She turned her attention back to the oven, "maybe he was trying to respect my privacy." she mumbled. She really loved her cousin but sometimes she wished she would just let stuff go.

"I heard that." Lois said in a sing song voice.

"Heard what?" Chloe asked turning around and smiling sweetly at her cousin.

She pursed her lips and glared at her cousin, "so will you at least going to tell me what happened?"

She groaned in response.

"Come on Chlo, you know me well enough to know there's no way I'm gonna give in until I find out something."

"Lois nothing happened. We talked for a little bit and then I left, end of story." She looked away hoping her cousin would believe her and let it go. Of course she had no such luck.

"There's something you're not telling me." Lois said studying her cousin through narrowed eyes, trying to figure out what she was missing.

"Lois please, just drop it?"

"What I just want to know what happened to turn you into Martha Stewart?" she asked gesturing toward the half dozen plates of cookies she had already finished.

"What, I can't do a little baking?" she asked.

"Chlo, this is me you're talking to. I know you better then anyone, and I know for a fact the only time you do anything in a kitchen, other then make a pot of coffee, is when you're upset about something."

"What?"

"Think about it. I've only seen you bake three times before." she lifted her hand and started counting the incidences on her fingers. "When Clark got back together with Lana at the prom. When Uncle Gabe moved to France because he got that promotion, and when you were passed over for a Pulitzer nomination for your piece you wrote on the influence the mob had on our 'fine' mayor." she kept her eyes locked on Chloe's, "so do you really expect me to believe that you're not upset about something?"

Chloe took a deep breath and leaned back against the counter. She raised her arms and crossed them over herself. But just as she opened her mouth to speak there was a knock at the front door.

"Hold that thought." Lois said holding up one finger. She headed to the door and flung it open, "what are you doing here?" She asked glaring at Bruce Wayne.

"You must be Chloe's cousin Lois," he held out his hand to her, "Bruce Wayne."

Lois narrowed her eyes at him, "Trust me I know full well who you are. What do you want?" she asked aggravated.

"I came to speak to your cousin, is she here?" he asked trying to look around her.

She took a step to the right trying to block his view, "now is really not a good time."

"Lois let him in." Chloe called from behind her.

She stepped aside and pointed him to the kitchen. Once he was inside she slammed the door and followed behind him.

Chloe watched as they entered the kitchen then looked to Lois, "do you mind if I talk to Bruce alone?" she asked.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

"All right," she answered slowly, "I need to go have a conversation with Clark Kent anyway." she smiled at her cousin then turned back to Bruce, "You better not upset her." she said jabbing him in the chest with her finger.

She then turned on her heal and headed out the door. Chloe watched her cousin leave laughing to herself at the thought of the tongue lashing Clark Kent was going to get when Lois got to him. She then looked at Bruce and waited for him to speak.

"So you like to bake." he noted pointing to the cookies.

"Really, you're trying to make small talk?" she let out a harsh breath, "why don't you tell me what you're doing here."

"No pleasantries then?" when the only response he got was another glare he continued, "Okay fine, I'm here about Oliver."

"Shocker," she said sarcastically.

"Look, I've been friends with Oliver for most of my life. We've always had a lot in common. Both of our parents died when we were very young, we grew up in the same kind of privileged environment.,and as I know you recently discovered we both enjoy the same type of nightly activities." He took a moment then continued, "So you have to believe me when I say that you can trust him not to screw up again."

"Bruce, what happens between Oliver and I really isn't any of your business."

"I know that, but I wouldn't be his friend if I didn't try." he reached in his pocket and pulled a small flash drive. He walked over to her and placed it on the counter beside her. "You might want to check that out before you make a final decision about anything."

"What is it?"

"Just something I think you should hear." he turned to leave, but looked back at her for a moment, "and for what it's worth I'm sorry for my part in the whole thing as well." He said nothing else and left her staring after him.

Once he was gone she looked down at the item he left behind. She really shouldn't bother but the overly curious side of her couldn't resist. She snatched up the flash drive and made her way into the living room where her laptop sat on the coffee table she moved to the couch and sat down.

She quickly attached it to the USB port, and clicked the icon that popped up.

 

Read Chapter 22 HERE!

Comments

[ihearttvsnark.livejournal.com]

Do you see Ollie's expression in this icon? That is how I am looking at you right now through my computer.

That being said, you know I love you and this story. Poor Ollie. He would be too stubborn to call her after she blew him off. The Chloe/Lois scenes were spot on as always and I love how Lois reacted to Bruce showing up. I also like how Chloe was curt with him.

WHAT IS ON THE FLASH DRIVE???

Grr..

Kidding.

Mostly.

[brittany2922.livejournal.com]

I might keep giving you cliffhangers if it means I get to look at that sexy icon! lol! I love pissed of Ollie!

Next chapter up! I hope you like it!

And thanks again for the feedback!