Fighting for the Heart

Untitled Part 6

Felicity tried to relax in her seat as the plane reached cruising altitude. However, every time she got comfortable she shifted. Oliver had his ear phones on, his eyes closed, and if nothing else, she was grateful she was not having to make small talk. She shifted again and sighed, and Oliver's eye popped open. He lifted his head and looked at her curiously.

"Is everything ok?" he asked.

"Ummmm, sure. Why?" she said.

"Because that is about the tenth time you have shifted in your seat in the last five minutes." he said, his eyebrow lifting.

"I'm sorry. I just don't like flying. I never have. The seats are too small, we are too high in the air, and have you ever wondered how this big, heavy machine stays in the air without falling? And let's say the plane did fall, what is the point of the oxygen mask if you are just going to die anyway?" Felicity felt herself starting to babble again and for the life of her she could not stop it.

Oliver watched her completely amazed. The savvy, tough business woman who had no problem putting him in his place was afraid of heights and flying and was babbling. It was kind of cute.

"And what about the electronics on this bird? I mean if you have one malfunction this whole plane could just go boom and again, what good would the oxygen do?"

"Felicity?" Oliver said. "Take a deep breath."

Felicity stopped talking and looked at him with a worried expression before she took a deep breath and blew it out.

"Now. Why don't you tell me about the fight tomorrow? What time do we need to be at the arena?" he said trying to distract her.

Felicity looked at him and realized what he was doing. "Um, well, the fight is at 1:00, so we need to be there around noon. Also, we need to work on your name for the ring. I was thinking we would just keep your old name. I was talking with John and we both think that Arrow still describes your fighting style."

Oliver thought about that for a moment. He could go with that. "Ok that is fine."

"Also, you have an interview with MMA Uncaged tomorrow before your fight."

Oliver stiffened. Shit! Laurel worked for MMA Uncaged.

"Who is the reporter?" he asked cautiously.

"Some lady by the name of Laurel Lance." Felicity said. "Why?"

"I am not going to do it." he said swiftly with a finality.

"What? Why?" she asked suspiciously.

"I'm just not going to do it. At least not with her. Either find another reporter or I don't give the interview." he said as if it was the final word.

"Um, excuse me. Do you not recall our agreement? I set up the publicity, you show up." she said getting annoyed.

"No." he said.

"Why not?" She was getting frustrated. He needed to tell her why he did not want to do an interview with this Laurel Lance.

He looked at her growing frustrated as well. Maybe he should tell her? Laurel was Sara's sister and she had moved to Vegas when she got the job with Uncaged just last year. Laurel blamed him for Sara's death and she never missed an opportunity to call him a murderer or worse. He was not going within ten feet of her.

"She and I have a, shall we say, past. Either you find another reporter, or the interview is off." he said, about to put back on his earphones. Felicity grabbed them.

"First of all, Mr. Queen. I am the manager, not you. I tell you what to do not the other way around. Second, either you tell me what is going on or we can just call this contract null and void." She gave him her sternest look. He didn't even flinch.