Surprises. With need2speed.

[dl_greenarrow]

Oliver had taken the afternoon off from Queen Industries in order to spend some time at the Metropolis Community Center. The place was filled with activity: kids doing homework at some of the tables, some playing a game of pool, and others just sitting around talking and listening to music

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[dl_greenarrow]

His expression softened. "No, Mia. I don't," he said quietly, his chest tightening. She looked so young, vulnerable. He couldn't really imagine how bad things must have been for her to turn to the life she had, but the question she'd asked, and the look on her face told him more than enough.

[need2speed]

Tamping down the shy smile that threatened to curve her lips, Mia adopted a casual pose. No sense letting him think she was too keen. "Well, if I stay, it'll cost you."

[dl_greenarrow]

He did less well suppressing a smile of his own. "All right. What are your terms?"

[need2speed]

"I'll need a place to bed down. A real bed, none of this futon/sofa crap. And a new wardrobe so I don't scare the kids away." She gestured to her current leather mini-skirt ensemble. It was definitely more of the stripper category than would be considered appropriate for any other job.

[dl_greenarrow]

Oliver studied her for a moment. "I live in the clocktower," he told her. "I have a guest room with a real bed. And a good security dog." A smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he looked out the kitchen door to the puppy that was barking excitedly at one of the other kids. "And the wardrobe won't be a problem either."

[need2speed]

She squirmed uncomfortably, having heard this kind of offer before. "Look, you're nice and everything, but I'm...I don't do the whole live-in concubine thing, even for a set of nice clothes."

[dl_greenarrow]

At that Oliver blinked. And then stared. "W-what? Look, Kid, I already told you you're not my type." He shook his head. "I'm engaged. My fiancee lives with me," he told her, holding his hands up.

[need2speed]

She snorted and rolled her eyes. "Like that's ever stopped any of them before. What makes you so special? What makes you better than any other guy who told me they'd 'take care' of me?"

[dl_greenarrow]

He gazed at her for a moment. "You think I would've cared about what was happening at that party if I wasn't different?" Oliver made no move to get down from the counter. "I don't like people who hurt kids. Or women. It pisses me off. A lot."

[need2speed]

"Maybe you were just covering your butt. I mean, some of the people at that party were your employees. It only takes one dead whore to bring down a good business," she said nonchalantly.

[dl_greenarrow]

"Were my employees," he agreed, nodding. "I'd heard rumors, Mia. About what some of them were involved in. I needed to see for myself if it was true. I fired them all Monday morning," he said honestly. "You're free to look into that if you'd like."

[need2speed]

"Smart move, but that doesn't exactly prove that you're pure of heart or anything." She sighed and hopped up on the counter next to him, swinging her legs. "Tell you what, if you set up a bed at the community center I'll stay here for a week and work for you. And then when the week is up, I'll decide whether or not to take you up on your offer."

[dl_greenarrow]

Oliver glanced at her sideways, watching her for a moment. "All right. Deal," he agreed quietly. "I have accounts at most of the stores downtown. So pick out whatever you'd like and tell them to charge it. If you have an idea of where you want to shop, I'll contact them ahead of time to let them know you'll be by."

[need2speed]

She peeked at him from beneath a fringe of hair, eyes gleaming with barely concealed excitement. "What if I charge something like, amazingly expensive?"

[dl_greenarrow]

He couldn't stop a soft chuckle from escaping. "I can afford it," he promised. "Go crazy."

[need2speed]

"I'm gonna hold you to that," Mia teased back, already imagining the things she's seen in magazines and shop windows in her closet.