Blank Space

~Chapter 1~

*Three Years Later*

Felicity already hated her job. It wasn't what she wanted, at least it wasn't what she had dreamed her future would be like. She missed the IT life, being down in the basement, and being under Queen Consolidated. And being with Oliver, especially... having him visit her weekly, and make her laugh, and everything that he was able to do, because he was him...

Unfortunately, after Robert died, Moira closed herself off to everyone, including the company. And, that didn't take well with anyone. It sank the company, and Walter Steele, a former QC leader, tried to save the company, but it ended up being bought out regardless of his attempts.

By a one Ray Palmer.

Ray Palmer seemed like some sort of hero to Starling City, saving a main company in the city, and making promise to save the city...

Ray Palmer came in and saved the day, at least according to everyone except Felicity. She thought he was an arrogant, rich guy that thought he was the smartest person in the room everywhere he went. However, when he was in a room with Felicity, he was sadly mistaken.

Felicity had wanted to quit her job, and so she did, and she ended up working at a local tech store that made her want to pull out her hairs, one by one. But, it was better than working for Palmer Industries, which was now the new name and face of QC. It just sounded wrong to her. And, it made her miss Oliver beyond reason.

She heard the phones ringing in the back, and she willed herself to tell a customer to hold on or talk to another consultant, as she had to go to the back of the store to answer Tech Support's hotline.

"I need a new job." Felicity muttered to herself, as she walked to the back again to help someone with technical support issues.

She graduated MIT at 19 for this? It was utterly ridiculous that this is where she ended up.

"Tech Support, this is Felicity Smoak." She answered generically, like she did every phone call.

"Hi, Felicity. This is your new boss." A smirky voice spoke into the receiver.

"Um, excuse me?" She asked, knowing that voice anywhere.

Ray Palmer.

He had been trying to get her to come back to work for him every since she quit. However, she hated the fact of even being in the same room as him, let alone work with him.

"Yeah, I kind of bought out every Tech Support, including the one you're working at currently. So, you could come work for me in the corporate office, or you could continue working down there... in that uniform. Your choice."

Felicity looked down at her attire: blue polo, khakis. She automatically cringed and wanted to backfire at him, but she knew that she needed a job. And, if she quit this one, it would be dumb on her part, but if she just sucked it up and worked for him, she would have a higher salary, and would be able to wear her normal clothes once again. She hated that she would be in the same building as him every day, but he'd still be her employer regardless, so why not take the higher pay?

"Fine." She growled into the phone, knowing that Ray Palmer wouldn't give up on wanting her to work for him.

"Great! You start tomorrow. Ditch the uniform." She could just hear his smile and gloating self on the other end, as she hung up the phone, and held in a scream.

She smiled at her customers, who were just looking at her, almost laughing at her behavior on the phone. She couldn't blame them. Ray made me her look like a fool. And, she couldn't stand him for it.

Felicity swiftly left her position and fled to her car, knowing that Ray Palmer wouldn't mind if she took the rest of the day off. She needed to let out steam, tell someone about her day, and she knew exactly where to go. It was where she went almost every day if she had the time. She couldn't stand not seeing him, or not being able to tell him about her day, so his grave would have to suffice.