Clark Kent was a young man of just twenty-eight years old. He had a good job as a top reporter for the Daily Planet in Metropolis. But he had a secret, a secret only his parents knew. He was the man of steel. As he had gotten older he had learned something of his heritage but he still had many questions about how and why he had ended up in a small town by the name of Smallville here on Earth.

Everyday he dedicated his life to helping others. He had long ago made the decision not to let anyone know who he was and what he could do. He wasn't even sure of the latter, but today a special messenger had come into the Daily Planet and had left him al large manila envelope.

He opened the envelope not thinking much of it. As a reporter it was not a rare occasion that he would get that sort of delivery, but today the delivery was different. Inside the envelope was a picture of him coming into an alley way and then just moments later coming back out as the man the people knew as Superman. There was no threat no words just the picture.

Clark's hands shook as he looked at the photo and did not see Lois until it was almost too late. Lois was his partner at work and very curious. One thing he could say about Lois Lane, once she set her mind set up about something she would stick to the subject like a dog to a bone. He could not let her see what he had received.

Lois had been getting off of the elevator when she had seen the man delivering a package to her partner. She knew Clark and although he was good at investigative reporting she was better. She noticed that he had put the envelope away quickly when he had seen her walking into the room.

Lois went over to her desk that was right across from Clark's desk and looked at him. "So what is in the envelope?" she asked him.

Lois was not going to stop asking about the envelope, so Clark knew that he had to tell her something. One thing he had decided many years ago was to never lie, so now what does he do. He looked up at her with a smile and said "It is just a silly picture of me. I think it should go in the rubbish."

Lois laughed "a picture of you? Why did someone take a picture of you? Never mind people are always taking pictures of me and wanting me to autograph them. You had better do that or this person will hound you until you do." she warned. Lois was happy with the answer and went back to her desk to work.

Lois and Clark had been busy working on a story investigating the department of public works for the city. There had been some questions about the bridge repair that was being done on one of the major bridges. The cot had gone way out of proportion and they were both sure that someone in the department was putting their hands in the till. The amount of money that was in question was over two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

Perry White was the editor and chief of the Daily Planet and he had one saying "Old news is history. We want the news as it happens not afterward." He was well aware that his two star employees were working on a story that could make the banner. He also knew that if things got rough they would get rougher. They had both been in danger before and met danger like a bull. He was a strong minded man and appreciated the work that Lois Lane and Clark Kent did for the newspaper.

As the two reporters worked side by side going after paper after paper they looked up to find Cat Grant giving Clark the eye. She thought that he was the best thing that had walked into the Daily Planet in a long time. She was the society woman and was known for her scant clothing. Cat had her eyes on Clark and offered to take him to a party that was being thrown by the mayor of the city that night.

At first Clark was very hesitant to say yes. Cat could be a handful, but what a way to get to know some of the members of the Department of Public Works. The head of the department was supposed to be there that night. Clark looked over at Lois who was totally disgusted with the thought of Clark and Cat. He then smiled and said "I would be glad to go with you. Perhaps you can introduce me to Jerry Camry, the head of the Department of Public Works."

'Business that is all Clark ever thinks of.' but she smiled and said she would be ready for eight. She would make her move towards him when Lois wasn't around and on her own turf. She knew that she could be hard to turn down when she was dressed to kill. This would be a great night and yes she would look and act her best.

Lois just glared at her and went back to work. She was not interested in Clark as a boyfriend, but, she thought that he should have better taste than dating Cat Grant. 'Oh why didn't she have someone that she could go with to that party? To be a fly on the wall. As she and Clark walked home she wished him luck and went up to her apartment. Once inside she made herself a large hot fudge sundae.

Lois's sister Lucy came into the kitchen and found her sister busy eating the sundae and asked her 'Bad day with Clark?"

Lois just rolled her eyes and told her "He's going out with Cat Grant tonight to a party for the city. I sure wish that I could go."

"Well not meaning to meddle, but you are going to have to make up your mind Clark or Superman. They both aren't going to hang around waiting for you forever, you know."

Lois took a large bite of her sundae and groaned Lucy was right.