When the Queen's Gambit capsized in the North China Sea, the world mourned with the Queen family over the loss of CEO and Philanthropist Robert Queen and his son, Oliver - Starling City's own beloved playboy, but weeks later when Oliver emerged from a remote Hawaiian love nest alive, oblivious, and with his girlfriend's SISTER, sympathy turned to suspicion. The ugliest of accusations flew and Oliver left behind the rich and privileged life he'd known. Eight years after he vowed never to return home, Felicity Smoak arrives on his doorstep determined to change his mind. Clever, stubborn, cheerful and working for his mother, she is not his type though lord knows he's tempted. She sweeps in and suddenly everything he knew about his past is shaken. When she offers to become his ally in uncovering the truth about his father's legacy, he can't walk away even though she comes with her own set of loyalties that put her in the heart of his estranged family. For eight years he's had no trouble keeping people at a distance, so why do all his instincts now cry out to keep her close? This is an AU that has no island and no Green Arrow but does follow much of the canon as laid out in the show except without Oliver having come home to save his city. Also, while Laurel gets mentioned, she is not in this story.