The Wager Chapter 15/23

[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, Oliver, Lois, Clark, and Bruce Wayne (Appearances by the JL boys in later chapters)
Rating: T

DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING!

Oliver entered his apartment, the photo of Chloe clenched in his hand. He made his way to the secret room where he hid all his Green Arrow equipment away from the world.

He dressed quickly, and stared back down at the picture of her. He couldn't believe what had happened, he spent his nights watching over her and still someone had managed to get a hold of her, and there was no doubt in his mind who it was. It had to be Lex, but if that was the case that meant that Lex Luthor knew not only his identity, but Bruce's as well.

He knew Bruce had a right to know what was going on but he was worried, he knew that a man like Lex would have no problem following through on his threat of killing Chloe if he thought that Oliver had gone against his orders and brought Batman in for back up.

"A little early in the day for the Green Arrow, don't you think?" someone asked from behind him.

He turned quickly, "Bruce," he said simply not making eye contact with the other man.

"What's going on?"

"I have to take care of something." he answered hoping he could keep things as vague as possible with the other man. At least until he got Chloe back.

Bruce made his way past him and saw the photo lying upside down on a nearby table. He walked over to the table and picked it up and studied the address on the back before turning it over and staring at the picture in shock. He looked back at Oliver his eyes wide.

"When did you get this?" He asked waving it back and forth.

Oliver turned his attention to the clock on the wall, "about half an hour ago."

"And you didn't think to ask for my help?"

"Bruce, the guy said he'd kill Chloe."

"You're letting the way you feel about her cloud your judgment."

"I'm not," he protested weakly, knowing even as the words came out of his mouth that they were a lie.

"Yes you are. Look this guy obviously knows everything about you," he said holding up the picture to prove his point, "and besides you're not going to be able to do her any good with your head not fully in this."

"I know."

"So are you going to let me help you or not?"

"Yes. But Bruce, There's something I need to tell you first." he paused not quite sure how to tell the other man that the person holding Chloe captive knew his identity as well.

"This guy just doesn't know the truth about me," he started slowly, "he knows about you too."

"You're sure."

"Definitely." he said remembering the comment the man on the phone said about bats.

"Okay, well that's not really important right now," he replied calmly, "The important thing right now is getting Chloe back."

"I agree."

"Good. So do you have any idea who's behind this?"

"Lex Luthor."

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


Lex stared at the woman in front of him. She was still unconscious and bound and gagged.

He couldn't help but smile at the sight of her like this.

She was helpless, and completely at his mercy.

He moved toward her slowly and ripped the duct tape from her mouth forcing her awake.

He reveled at the fear in her eyes as she tried to focus on him

"Lex?" her voice was weak barely above a whisper.

"Chloe... Chloe... Chloe," He taunted pacing the floor in front of her, "you know I expected more from you. I mean what were you thinking going into an abandoned warehouse without any back up?" he asked her smugly as he shook his head slowly. "In fact I'd be willing to bet you didn't even bother to tell anybody where you were going."

He watched as her jaw hardened and her eyes narrowed, "Of course I did." she told him.

"Really?" he asked. "And who did you tell Chloe, the Green Arrow?"

"How would I do that I've never had the pleasure of meeting the man."

"Is that how you're going to play this Chloe? Because I think you and I both know that's not the truth."

"I have no idea what you're talking about, but hey if you have the inside track on the man how about some info on where I could find him, I would love an interview." She said with a small smirk.

"Well I must say you've managed to disappoint me again." he said moving closer toward her and stopping only when he stood right in front of her. He leaned down and placed his hands on the arms of the chair, "How is it someone like Chloe Sullivan could spend so much time with a man and not even realize he lives a double life."

He watched as she flinched slightly. "Do you really expect me to believe that you haven't managed to figure out that Oliver Queen is in fact the Green Arrow?"

She laughed at that, "Hold on, are you actually trying to tell me that you believe that some womanizing billionaire masquerades nightly as a justice seeking vigilante?"

"That's exactly what I'm telling you. But I don't think that that's anything you don't already know."

"Okay Lex, lets get one thing straight I went on a couple of dates with the man that's it. So there is no way in hell I would know anything about him having some kind of double life. But if there's one thing I know for sure it's that the Oliver Queen that I know would never risk his life to protect someone else."

He knew she was lying. While Chloe Sullivan was excellent at keeping secrets for those she cared about, she was a horrible liar. He had always known that she knew more about Clark but she had never caved to him and given him the information on the younger man.

"Well for your sake I hope your wrong Chloe." he lifted his hand to her cheek and brushed away a stray pieces of hair that had fallen in her face

"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked indignantly as she jerked away from his touch.

"That means that your boyfriend has exactly ten more minutes to get here before my man just outside the door comes in here and puts a bullet in that pretty little head of yours." he told her poking he roughly in the side of the head.

A moment later Lex heard a struggle just outside the door, "Well look at that... he's early."

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



"What are you doing?" Chloe asked trying to keep her voice as even as possible as she watched Lex move behind her.

The only response she got was the sound of a gun cocking and the feel of the barrel bring pushed to her temple.

Suddenly the door in front of her flung open revealing the Green Arrow.

"Drop it Luthor, "he said pointing a crossbow over her shoulder in Lex's direction.

"Now we both know that's not going to happen." Lex told the man. She swore she could hear the smile she knew he was wearing, "Now why don't you drop the hood and glasses, I want to see the look in your eyes when I take her life."

She watched as Oliver reached for his hood, "Don't do anything he says," she told him.

"You know what always amazed me about Chloe was her blind faith in the heroes in her life, first Clark and now you."

She flinched at the mention of Clark. She knew the man that stood in front of her was really Oliver but there was no way that he knew the truth about her best friend.

"Just let her go Lex."

Lex ignored him and continued, "And after everything you did to her. Making that little bet with Bruce Wayne and treating her as nothing more then a conquest. It's a shame her loyalty to you is going to get her killed."

She felt the cold metal of the gun as Lex ran the barrel up and down her cheek.

"Take off the hood and glasses." Lex told him pushing the gun so hard into the side of her head so hard  that the pain of it made her wince.

Oliver reached for his hood and pulled it down then removed his glasses. His eyes met hers and she tried to tell him silently that it was fine, that she already knew the truth about him.

"That's better." Lex said, "Now she can look in your eyes when she hears exactly what you think about her."

A moment later she heard Oliver and Bruce's voices above her…

"Well, she really is quite a woman." Bruce said.

"Yeah she really is."

"Oh no."

"What?"

"I know that look."

"What look?"

"A look that says you're really starting to like her."

"No. I'm not," Oliver said.

"Yes you are." Bruce replied with a small chuckle, "look at you practically mooning like a school boy over a woman you've known for a week. I can honestly say I'm disappointed in you Oliver."

"You don't know what you're talking about." he told Bruce.

"Really, then what's this about?"

"I'm just looking for an in. I have a bet to win, and as you mentioned before it's already been one week. I only have three left."

"So this is still all about the bet."

"Absolutely,"

"Are you sure about that."

" Bruce, she's a challenge. Truth be told this little game is the most fun I've had in a long time, but that's all she is to me. A game."

Chloe felt her stomach clench, she knew about the bet between Oliver and Bruce, but to actually hear Oliver refer to her so callously hurt.

She looked up at him for just a moment before the tears began to fall down her cheeks. She lowered her head determined to not let him see her cry.

"Chloe…" He started.

A moment later she heard a loud grunt and when she looked up she saw Oliver slumped on the floor his hand gripping the back of his head.

A man stood over Oliver a gun pointed at him.

"You know Oliver you really shouldn't let yourself get distracted."

She felt the gun move from her head and watched as Lex moved from behind her and stood above Oliver he delivered a swift kick to his stomach then bent down and grabbed Oliver by his hair forcing him to look in his eyes, "I've waited years to see you like this." he ground out before releasing Oliver and standing back up.

He kicked Oliver again then turned to the man beside him, "Tie him up."

The man bent down and dragged Oliver farther into the room than quickly bound his arms and legs, before walking back over to the door.

"Lets give the love birds time to say goodbye." Lex said before leaving the room and slamming the door behind him.

---

A/N Sorry it took so long for the update. Thanks for reading!

 

Read Chapter 16 HERE!

Comments

[kitmerlot1213.livejournal.com]

Okay, I am very worried about the Chlollie but I have faith that Oliver and Bruce concocted a plan--and your Lex is wonderfully evil--great work :)

[brittany2922.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Glad you liked the update!
Gotta love Lex! LOL

[simply-steffv.livejournal.com]

Why did Lex have to use that part of Ollie and Bruce's conversation. Lex is devious, love him too!

Where's Bats? Hmmm, very intrigued to see where this is leading to. Great chapter.

[brittany2922.livejournal.com]

I love Lex too! He soooo needs to come back in season 10!

Glad you liked the chapter!

Thanks for responding!