Prodigal Son

Chapter 35

Felicity checked her emails while she patiently waited in a private booth at Moira Queen's favorite 6th Street Bistro. She'd made the reservations herself that morning and then at eleven, called Priya to extend the invitation to Moira. Not surprisingly she had been informed the CEO of Queen Consolidated already had an appointment for lunch.

"Tell Moira she will have to reschedule. You can let her know this is a one-time offer. If she isn't there at noon, I will assume she has no further interest in being an active part of her son's life." Then Felicity hung up. Less than a minute later, her phone rang. She let it go to voicemail. She also ignored the slew of texts that followed close on the call's heels.

At a quarter to twelve, Felicity arrived at the Bistro and allowed the maître d' to lead her to the table she'd reserved. Promptly at noon, Moira arrived. She ordered an herbal tea before she sat, waited until the hostess left, and then launched the opening volley.

"You're ultimatum certainly had Priya worked up. I'd expect this little piece of theater from my son or daughter, not you."

It was meant to be a set down, but it made Felicity smile. "Seeing as I am about to become a Queen myself, perhaps it's fitting."

Moira took in her news without blinking. "Are you saying you've changed your mind about my help with Oliver?"

Felicity shook her head. "No. I'm letting you know Oliver proposed and I said yes."

Moira's eyebrows swept up. "So soon? Are you pregnant? In this day and age a child need not dictate—"

She cut her off. "I'm not pregnant, but check back in a couple years."

Moira fell silent. A member of the wait staff arrived with Mora's tea. They set a pot of hot water and a tea cup, along with an array of different teas to choose from, on the table and departed. Felicity waited for her future mother-in-law to pour the water and select her tea bag. Moira focused all her attention on her task, slowly moving through each step. Once the bag was steeping in the water, she still remained focused on the cup before her, leaving it to Felicity to break the silence.

"You have nothing to say?"

"I've said my peace on the matter," Moira answered with a negligible shrug of her shoulders and a slight air of martyrdom.

"If I believed that, we wouldn't be having this conversation."

"What is it that you hope to accomplish today?" Now she sounded bored.

Maybe a miracle, Felicity thought but outwardly kept her cool, folding her hands and smiling. Not her normal smile, but one that conveyed her absolute conviction over who was in charge of this meeting, an expression she'd learned from the empress herself.

"I'm here because we need to establish a few things going forward."

"Such as?" Moira asked as she idly removed the teabag, setting it on a spoon and wrapping the string around it to squeeze excess water and flavor back into her cup before resting it on the saucer. She picked up her cup and took a sip.

Felicity skipped the rest of the small talk and got the the crux of the matter. "You need to stop punishing Oliver."

Moira scowled and set her cup down hard, the amber liquid sloshing over the edge. "That's absurd. I am doing no such thing."

"I don't think you even realize what you are doing."

"Perhaps then, you would be so good as to enlighten me what exactly it is you accusing me of?"

"You are making Oliver pay for his father's crimes."

Moira drew back. Two spots of color appeared on her otherwise even complexion. Fury flashed in her eyes. "You don't know what you are talking about."