Waking Up in Vegas Chapter (6/15)

Banner By: Andrea

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Chapter 6


Chloe stood at the gate anxiously watching as passengers started piling off the plane. She wore a deep green silk shirt, black dress pants, and a pair of three and a half inch heels. Mia glanced at the nervous woman next to her and sighed.

“Calm down Chloe. It’s just your Dad.”

Chloe let out an anxious laugh as she glanced at her phone checking her email.

“Yeah my Dad who I haven’t seen in close to four years. Did you remember the egg noodles?”

Mia rolled her eyes.

“Yes Chloe.”

“And the heavy cream for the--”

“—Homemade whip cream? Yes. I didn’t forget anything. Everything is back at the penthouse I promise.”

“Okay good.”

She frowned as she glanced around the airport at the people sitting around them who were staring. She tilted her head toward Mia and spoke in a low voice.

“Is it just me or are people staring?”

“People are definitely staring.”

She sighed and mumbled under her breath.

“Great.”

Chloe felt a light tap on her shoulder and she turned around to see Joseph standing there in his suit, tie and hat. Her brows furrowed as she spoke.

“Joe, hey…what are you doing here?”

“Good afternoon Mrs. Queen, Mr. Queen sent me to help escort you and your father home from the airport.”

Mia grinned and Chloe groaned.

“No…I took a cab on purpose. I’m so sorry you wasted your time.”

He didn’t move and she frowned.

“Honest Joe, I don’t need help, but thank you.”

“I can’t just leave. Mr. Queen gave me strict orders.”

She glared and pushed Oliver’s speed dial on her phone. Three rings later he picked up.

“Hey there Sidekick, what’s up?”

“I don’t need Joe here.”

There was a pause before Oliver spoke.

“I thought he could help with luggage and give you guys a ride home.”

“Oliver, my Dad is already freaking out that I married Oliver Queen. You’re going to have a limo take us back to your penthouse? Really? I’ll never hear the end of it. Can you please just let me handle this my own way and tell Joe to go home?”

She could hear a heavy sigh on the other end of the phone before he spoke.

“Let me speak with him.”

She smiled and handed the phone to Oliver’s driver. There were a few nods, some grunts, and a ‘yes sir’ before Joseph gave her back the phone.

“Alright Mrs. Queen I’ll head out, but if you need anything please call me.”

She nodded.

“I will and thanks again Joe. I’m sorry you had to come all the way out here.”

He smiled and waved her off.

“No problem Mrs. Queen.”

She watched him head towards the exit and right as she turned around she caught sight of her father. He glanced around and when their eyes met he paused. Chloe grinned and he smiled as he dropped his bag and opened his arms.

She moved forward quickly and he chuckled when she threw herself in his arms. He hugged her tight before placing her back on the ground. She pulled back and smiled. His eyes glanced over her taking in her professional appearance.

She had grown up a lot over the past three years. He shook his head as she spoke.

“Hey Dad.”

“Hey Ace. You look…well you’re just so grown up.”

She laughed as he put an arm around her and lifted his suitcase. Chloe led him toward Mia as several pictures were taken. She ignored the photographers as best she could. She motioned her hand in Mia’s direction before speaking.

“Dad, this is Mia. Mia this is my Dad.”

The teenager gave him a warm smile and held out her hand. He shook it while she spoke.

“It’s nice to meet you Mr. Sullivan.”

“Call me Gabe sweetheart. So where’s this husband of yours?”

The three of them walked through and out of the airport as they continued talking.

“He was called into a meeting, but he’ll be home for dinner.”

“Ah, of course.”

“Dad…”

He could hear the warning in his daughters tone so he held up his hand in mock defeat.

“Relax pumpkin, I’m kidding. I’m sure he’s a great guy.”

“He is.”

“I bet it doesn’t hurt that he’s loaded.”

Mia let out a loud laugh and Chloe looked aghast as she faced her father. The smirk on his face had her frowning.

“Dad that’s not even close to a funny joke. Cut it out. Besides that really isn’t something you should be saying out loud outside right now. With the luck we’ve been having lately someone will hear you and write a story about it.”

Gabe chuckled as they crossed the road toward the cab line.

“Right, the papers really haven’t been good to you have they? Must be payback for all those years digging into people’s personal lives and driving me crazy trying to keep people from suing us. Speaking of the paper how’s my grandchild doing? I read there’s a bun in the oven.”

Chloe groaned and Mia grinned as she spoke.

“I like him.”

Chloe shook her head. Mia would like him. The attendant smiled, haled them a cab, and helped them load the car with Gabe’s carryon luggage. Once they were all inside Chloe gave her Dad a small grin that he returned as the car headed in the direction of the penthouse. She watched the scenery pass by and took a deep breath. She just hoped dinner went well tonight.



______

Chloe could hear the sound of Mia’s laughter floating in from the other room and she smiled as she put the finishing touches on dinner. Her Dad had looked slightly overwhelmed when they got to the penthouse and so Mia had taken it upon herself to drag him around and give him the grand tour before settling him down in the living room.

She glanced over at the clock on the stove and let out a small puff of air. Oliver was supposed to be home thirty minutes ago. As far as first impressions go her Father was not impressed. She heard the ding of the elevator sound and she sighed in relief as she turned off the stove. He had perfect timing.

Mia’s ears perked up at the sound of the elevator and she tilted her head to the side before smiling at Gabe and speaking.

“Oliver’s home.”

He watched the genuine affection on the teenagers face when she spoke of Oliver and he cleared his throat and spoke.

“So…the story written about you earlier this week…was it true?”

The smile left her face as she studied the man in front of her. She shrugged not making eye contact with him when she answered.

“Not all of it, but enough.”

Gabe nodded.

“How’d you wind up on Oliver’s doorstep?”

She hesitated before speaking.

“He sort of…saved me from myself if that makes any sense.”

The vague answer had Gabe raising an eyebrow in amusement. This kid was harder to crack than Fort Knox, but then again he should have figured as much after all she’d been spending her time with his little girl. And Chloe was nothing if not a champion secret keeper.

When Oliver stepped into the apartment he paused, the smell of something delectable making his nose tingle and stomach growl. He could hear a distinctly male voice coming from the living room so he bypassed it and headed straight for the kitchen.

Chloe was pouring the noodles into a serving bowl and he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist before leaning forward placing a brief kiss against her neck.

“Wow, whatever that is it smells amazing.”

She smiled and he moved back as he loosened his tie.

“Chicken Paprika, my Dad’s favorite.”

“Sounds good. Sorry I’m late the meeting ran long and then Cynthia stopped by my office with some ideas for the annual Queen Industries Fundraiser. I told her I would show them to you tonight.”

Chloe glanced at the folder Oliver held up and gave him a questioning look as she spoke.

“The annual fundraiser? And why me?”

He paused and waited for her to finish what she was doing before he spoke. She wiped her hands and turned toward him.

“Well normally the wife of the CEO takes care of charity dinners, business dinners, fundraisers, and any other work related dinner type things, but if you’d prefer not to I can just hire a planner it’s not a big deal.”

Chloe bit her lip and then leaned up and placed a kiss on his cheek before grabbing the serving platter.

“No, it’s fine. We’ll talk more about it when my Dad leaves okay?”

He grinned.

“Sounds like a plan Professor. I’m gonna change out of these clothes real quick. I’ll meet you guys in the dining room.”

“Okay.”

She turned and he slapped her ass. Chloe chuckled as she sent a leer over her shoulder in his direction. He smirked and headed into their bedroom to change as she moved into the dining room.

“Hey guy’s dinner’s ready.”

Gabe and Mia made their way into the dining room taking their seats at the side of the rectangular table. Gabe shifted making himself comfortable as he glanced at Chloe and spoke.

“So…we thought we heard the elevator.”

Chloe nodded.

“Yeah Ollie just went to change real quick.”

“Ah,”

Chloe eyed her father as Oliver made his way into the room. He was wearing jeans and a long sleeved thermal shirt. Gabe stood up and Oliver smiled as he held his hand out to the older man.

“Hello Mr. Sullivan, it’s nice to meet you.”

Gabe took his hand while sizing him up.

“Oliver Queen…it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“The pleasure’s all mine sir.”

He moved around to the head of the table and they sat down at the same time. Chloe passed around the food and Gabe grinned when he caught sight of what it was.

“Aww pumpkin, you made my favorite.”

“Sure did.”

“Mrs. Kent’s recipe?”

She scoffed. Who did her father think he was dealing with.

“Of course.”

He nodded and glanced up at his daughter as he spoke.

“How is Clark?”

Chloe nodded.

“He’s good.”

“And what does he think of your latest stunt?”

Chloe stopped eating and frowned at her Dad.

“It’s not a stunt Dad and Clark is…very happy for Oliver and me.”

Amusement filled Gabe’s face as he glanced between Chloe and a nervous looking Oliver.

“Is that so?”

“Yes Dad.”

The tone of her voice told him to drop the subject and before he could question her further Oliver spoke.

“How was your flight here Mr. Sullivan?”

“Can’t complain. So Oliver tell me a little bit about yourself. How long have you been seeing my daughter?”

Chloe swallowed hard. And so the interrogation began. Forty-five minutes later Chloe and Mia were clearing off the table leaving Oliver to entertain his new father-in-law. They headed into the living room as he spoke.

“Would you like a drink Mr. Sullivan?”

“Please call me Gabe, and sure.”

Oliver smiled and motioned to the liquor cart.

“What can I get you Gabe?”

“Scotch neat.”

Oliver poured Gabe his drink and then some bourbon for himself. He walked over, handed the older man his drink and took a seat across from him.

“So, how long are you planning to stay in Star City?”

Gabe studied Oliver and he could see the tension in the young man’s shoulders though he came across calm and collected. And he wasn’t exactly sure how to take that. He glanced behind him towards the kitchen and heard his daughter and Mia laughing.

He cleared his throat and put his drink down on the table in front of him as he spoke.

“Listen, why don’t we stop beating around the bush? You’re obviously trying to feel me out and figure out why I came here. Truth is I don’t know you and while I haven’t been around lately I love my daughter and the last thing she needs in her life is another Lex.”

Oliver’s jaw clenched and he took a deep breath to calm the anger building inside of him. He needed to remind himself that Gabe was only looking out for his daughters well being.

“Will all due respect I am nothing like Lex. If there was a polar opposite to him it would be me.”

Gabe nodded.

“Point taken…so whose idea was it to get married?”

Oliver relaxed slightly as he sat up and winced.

“I gather you saw the YouTube video.”

“I did, over 100,000 hits…now that’s popularity.”

Oliver’s lips twitched as he attempted to keep his smile at bay while he addressed Gabe.

“No idea whose idea it was. Neither of us can remember much about that night. But I’d be lying if I said I never thought about marrying your daughter. I bought a ring a couple of weeks before we went to Vegas.”

Gabe nodded and sighed.

“Listen, I’m not trying to give you a hard time Oliver, but Chloe’s been through a lot and with the life you live, where your personal life is always splashed all over the papers in the limelight how can I trust you to protect my daughter? How can you offer her happiness?”

Oliver swallowed hard. He’d been asking himself the same thing for days. He pursed his lips and chose his words carefully as he spoke.

“I know my life isn’t exactly made for privacy, but I’ve managed to last close to thirty years and come out on the other end only slightly scathed. Chloe is a strong woman and I will do everything in my power to keep her out of the limelight.”

Gabe opened his mouth, but Oliver held up a finger making the older man pause.

“I realize with all the press lately that doesn’t seem like I’ve done much, but trust me the stories that were printed were a lot better than the one’s they attempted to push through press. I love your daughter Gabe…really love her. I’ve never loved someone more in my life. She’s…I don’t even think I can explain what she means to me.”

He took a deep breath and leaned forward eyes meeting the man in front of him.

“I know we don’t know each other well, but I’m asking you to trust me and my intentions. I want to spend the rest of my life making Chloe happy and I know your approval means a lot to her.”

Oliver waited with baited breath as Gabe inspected him, trying to gauge if this was all part of the act he put on for people or if it was being genuine. A good minute or two went by before Gabe held out his hand to Oliver and spoke quietly.

“Welcome to the family Oliver.”

He grinned and took Chloe’s father’s hand in his shaking it. Chloe and Mia took that moment to walk in with dessert. Mia passed out plates as Chloe put the pie down on the coffee table and cut a piece for everyone. Oliver watched as she doled out the pie and his face softened.

In all the time they’d been together he didn’t think he’d ever seen this side of Chloe…the domestic side. And he liked it. As he watched everyone settling in, talking and laughing an easy smile fell onto his face. Things finally looked like they were settling down and Oliver couldn’t be happier about it.

Chapter 7