It was a silent fall morning on Smallville's Main Street. The only sound to
be heard was the scrape of a brown leaf hitting the cool asphalt. Until
suddenly, as so often happens in Smallville, the silence was broken. But
this time it wasn't because of some meteor freak wreaking havoc across town
- it came with a loud vroom, the engine of a swerving Porsche coupe, its
license plate reading "LEXX." Lex Luthor, brilliant son of billionaire
Lionel Luthor, was late for yet another meeting at Smallville Savings and
Loan. He jumped out of the driver's seat quickly, clad in black from head
to toe, and, with the beep of his engaging car alarm, ran into the bank as
fast as his Armani boots could carry him. In fact, his mind and feet were
so focused on the executives of the Smallville Geological Association (SGA)
that he nearly suffered a head-on collision with an exiting woman. Every
paper she was holding feel onto the cold, tile floor and scattered in every
direction imaginable. Lex snapped out of his trance and, without looking
up, bent down to gather the paperwork.
"Oh, excuse me...I apologize," he politely offered.
"Don't worry, Mr. Luthor...I forgive you," the woman told him wryly.
At the mention of his infamous family name, Lex finally glanced up at her. Still squatted down towards the floor, his mouth held wide open, Lex was speechless. Her glimmering, long, light brown hair, deep brown eyes, curving lips and full body stunned him. Then his open mouth broke into a grin. "Thank you, Miss...?"
"Grant," she answered him, "Katharine Grant."
"Well, Ms. Grant," he stood up and offered her a handshake, "please, call me Lex." She shook his hand, grinning, and replied, "Okay, Lex, you can call me Katie...just to be fair." Lex chuckled. "I admire your wit," he told her, "Now, Katie, if you will excuse me again, I'm late for an important meeting." He began to walk away from her, backwards. Then, with a bright smile, he turned around and was off. And with a slow, deep breath and both eyebrows raised in a state of ecstatic shock, so was Katie Grant.
Lex strolled into Conference Room #2, looking more chipper than firm and determined, to meet with Mr. Harvey Weiss, a highly-regarded banker, and Dr. Miller Sinclair, a senior geologist with the SGA. Of course, Lex was fashionably late, but no one dared to reprimand the richest man in Smallville. Instead, they stood and welcomed him. Mr. Weiss shook his hand, "Good morning, Mr. Luthor." Lex smiled. Weiss continued, "I'm glad to see you so enthused about this project." Lex thanked him. "I'm glad you feel that way, Mr. Weiss. And, please, I hope that you and Dr. Sinclair will excuse my tardiness."
"Of course, Mr. Luthor," Dr. Sinclair added with a grin as he shook Lex's hand. The three men sat down in the chrome office chairs and gathered around the circular, glass-topped meeting table. Lex looked at Dr. Sinclair, his eyes still bright with enthusiasm. But now it wasn't simply the enthusiasm of his running into Katie Grant – it was the thrilling whiles of sexual attraction mixed with the joy of toying with a mysterious obsession, like cliff-diving at a beach half-way around the world or gazing at the planets through a telescope. For Lex Luthor had come to Smallville Savings and Loan to talk about the one thing he had obsessed over for nearly 15 years: the meteor shower.
"So, Mr. Weiss, I called this meeting to discuss with you the research funding that I began providing about 3 years ago. I've hired several scientists to research certain sites and objects connected to the meteor shower. This past year has been quite difficult for me, but I've managed to gain enough strength to hire Dr. Sinclair to continue this research. Of course, as a dignified banker, I expect you to keep the information about this research and its funding completely confidential," Lex said with a stern nod.
"Mr. Luthor, I assure you that I can be trusted with these matters," Mr. Weiss instituted.
"Good," added Lex, sliding a piece of paper from his jacket pocket across the table, "then I'm sure you won't mind signing this contract of confidentiality." Mr. Weiss picked up his ball-point pen and smiled, somewhat hesitantly, as if he were unsure of Lex's motives.
"Of course not," he said as he signed his name on the bold, black 'X'. Dr. Sinclair's eyes had been glued to every thought that had fluttered across the table into the minds of both Lex and Mr. Weiss since the start of the meeting.
"Mr. Luthor," Dr. Sinclair interrupted the period of silence, "speaking of the scientists who have worked previously on this project, I understand that most of them have either been killed or have disappeared. Is this incorrect?"
"It is true that many of my former employees have been unfortunate while previously working on this project, but I'm sure, Dr. Sinclair, that you are a much more careful worker than any of these men were," Lex replied, looking down at the glass table and rolling his pen up and down. He looked up, "Stupidity kills the cat."
"And, if you don't mind my asking," Dr. Sinclair continued, "why are you so eager to continue your research of the meteor shower?" A wave of nervous tension swept through the air. To Lex, it smelled like smoke. To Mr. Weiss and Dr. Sinclair, it smelled like money. Mr. Weiss froze suddenly, his eyes fixed on Lex. Lex moved his tongue across his lower gum, his fingers resting on the pen that he had been rolling against the table. He stared down at the floor.
"Well, Dr. Sinclair," he began, still looking down, "as you can see, the shower has made a drastic impact on my life." His eyes moved up, onto Dr. Sinclair, "And, as of now, I have failed to figure out exactly why."
It seemed like all of the gaiety and enthusiasm that had once filled the room had now vanished, and now the air was full of fear. Everyone in Smallville had at least heard rumors of Lex Luthor's "psychotic break," and talk of the meteor shower seemed the most obvious subject to spark a sudden relapse. Both Mr. Weiss and Dr. Sinclair were secretly reluctant to sign on to Lex Luthor's clandestine deal, but money has a certain grasp on people that is most always unshakeable. Lex reached over to the contract in front of Dr. Weiss and slid it over towards Dr. Sinclair. He pointed to the last 'X' on the sheet. "Sign here," he told him. Dr. Sinclair complied. Lex quickly grabbed the paper, pulled it in front of himself and signed his own name, then slipped it back into his jacket and stood to leave. "Thank you for your cooperation, gentlemen," he said with a forced grin, "You won't regret it." Then he turned around and walked out the door without another word.
Five minutes later he parked his Porsche in front of "The Talon." He sat down at the bar and ordered his regular, a cappuccino with extra foam. Just as it was brought out to him, Lana emerged from the back room in her apron. "Hello, Lex," she said, stopping to chat with him, "How has your day been so far?"
He sipped his coffee and licked the excess foam from his upper lip. As he lowered his coffee cup, he answered in a sarcastic tone, "Eventful."
Lana flashed a perky smile, "Sounds interesting," she said. Someone called for a refill. "Oh!" she said, "Sorry, Lex, I can't fall down on the job. Talk to you later..." She waved, and Lex nodded mid-sip. The door bell jingled and Clark walked in.
"Lex!" he called. Lex turned and looked at him.
"Hi, Clark!" he answered.
"What are you doing here?" Clark asked as he took a seat beside him.
"I just came from a meeting at the bank, and I thought I'd stop by for a little buzz."
"That bad, huh?"
"After Katie left, it pretty much sprinted downhill."
"Katie?" inquired Clark.
"A girl I bumped into on my way inside the bank."
Clark seemed intrigued. He grinned at Lex, "I assume she was very attractive..."
Lex took another sip of his coffee and laughed. "Yeah," he said, lifting his eyebrows, "she was."
"What's her name again?" Clark asked.
"Katharine Grant. You know her?"
"Yeah, I think I do, actually. She came by 'The Talon' a couple of days ago to interview Chloe about her theories on the effects of the meteor shower."
"Really?" Lex inquired with interest.
"Yeah, she works for The Ledger."
Lex took his final sip of cappuccino and stood to leave. "Thanks, Clark," he said with a grin. He pointed at him, his fingers shaped like the barrel of a gun, and winked, "You're a life-saver." Clark smiled and shrugged, and Lex walked out the door.
As he made his way to the Porsche, he pulled out his cell-phone and dialed The Smallville Ledger. "This is Lex Luthor," he told the secretary, "I need to speak with Katharine Grant." He held for a few seconds while Katie was contacted. She finally picked up the phone. "Katie? This is Lex Luthor. How would you like to have dinner with me at the mansion tonight?"
"Oh, excuse me...I apologize," he politely offered.
"Don't worry, Mr. Luthor...I forgive you," the woman told him wryly.
At the mention of his infamous family name, Lex finally glanced up at her. Still squatted down towards the floor, his mouth held wide open, Lex was speechless. Her glimmering, long, light brown hair, deep brown eyes, curving lips and full body stunned him. Then his open mouth broke into a grin. "Thank you, Miss...?"
"Grant," she answered him, "Katharine Grant."
"Well, Ms. Grant," he stood up and offered her a handshake, "please, call me Lex." She shook his hand, grinning, and replied, "Okay, Lex, you can call me Katie...just to be fair." Lex chuckled. "I admire your wit," he told her, "Now, Katie, if you will excuse me again, I'm late for an important meeting." He began to walk away from her, backwards. Then, with a bright smile, he turned around and was off. And with a slow, deep breath and both eyebrows raised in a state of ecstatic shock, so was Katie Grant.
Lex strolled into Conference Room #2, looking more chipper than firm and determined, to meet with Mr. Harvey Weiss, a highly-regarded banker, and Dr. Miller Sinclair, a senior geologist with the SGA. Of course, Lex was fashionably late, but no one dared to reprimand the richest man in Smallville. Instead, they stood and welcomed him. Mr. Weiss shook his hand, "Good morning, Mr. Luthor." Lex smiled. Weiss continued, "I'm glad to see you so enthused about this project." Lex thanked him. "I'm glad you feel that way, Mr. Weiss. And, please, I hope that you and Dr. Sinclair will excuse my tardiness."
"Of course, Mr. Luthor," Dr. Sinclair added with a grin as he shook Lex's hand. The three men sat down in the chrome office chairs and gathered around the circular, glass-topped meeting table. Lex looked at Dr. Sinclair, his eyes still bright with enthusiasm. But now it wasn't simply the enthusiasm of his running into Katie Grant – it was the thrilling whiles of sexual attraction mixed with the joy of toying with a mysterious obsession, like cliff-diving at a beach half-way around the world or gazing at the planets through a telescope. For Lex Luthor had come to Smallville Savings and Loan to talk about the one thing he had obsessed over for nearly 15 years: the meteor shower.
"So, Mr. Weiss, I called this meeting to discuss with you the research funding that I began providing about 3 years ago. I've hired several scientists to research certain sites and objects connected to the meteor shower. This past year has been quite difficult for me, but I've managed to gain enough strength to hire Dr. Sinclair to continue this research. Of course, as a dignified banker, I expect you to keep the information about this research and its funding completely confidential," Lex said with a stern nod.
"Mr. Luthor, I assure you that I can be trusted with these matters," Mr. Weiss instituted.
"Good," added Lex, sliding a piece of paper from his jacket pocket across the table, "then I'm sure you won't mind signing this contract of confidentiality." Mr. Weiss picked up his ball-point pen and smiled, somewhat hesitantly, as if he were unsure of Lex's motives.
"Of course not," he said as he signed his name on the bold, black 'X'. Dr. Sinclair's eyes had been glued to every thought that had fluttered across the table into the minds of both Lex and Mr. Weiss since the start of the meeting.
"Mr. Luthor," Dr. Sinclair interrupted the period of silence, "speaking of the scientists who have worked previously on this project, I understand that most of them have either been killed or have disappeared. Is this incorrect?"
"It is true that many of my former employees have been unfortunate while previously working on this project, but I'm sure, Dr. Sinclair, that you are a much more careful worker than any of these men were," Lex replied, looking down at the glass table and rolling his pen up and down. He looked up, "Stupidity kills the cat."
"And, if you don't mind my asking," Dr. Sinclair continued, "why are you so eager to continue your research of the meteor shower?" A wave of nervous tension swept through the air. To Lex, it smelled like smoke. To Mr. Weiss and Dr. Sinclair, it smelled like money. Mr. Weiss froze suddenly, his eyes fixed on Lex. Lex moved his tongue across his lower gum, his fingers resting on the pen that he had been rolling against the table. He stared down at the floor.
"Well, Dr. Sinclair," he began, still looking down, "as you can see, the shower has made a drastic impact on my life." His eyes moved up, onto Dr. Sinclair, "And, as of now, I have failed to figure out exactly why."
It seemed like all of the gaiety and enthusiasm that had once filled the room had now vanished, and now the air was full of fear. Everyone in Smallville had at least heard rumors of Lex Luthor's "psychotic break," and talk of the meteor shower seemed the most obvious subject to spark a sudden relapse. Both Mr. Weiss and Dr. Sinclair were secretly reluctant to sign on to Lex Luthor's clandestine deal, but money has a certain grasp on people that is most always unshakeable. Lex reached over to the contract in front of Dr. Weiss and slid it over towards Dr. Sinclair. He pointed to the last 'X' on the sheet. "Sign here," he told him. Dr. Sinclair complied. Lex quickly grabbed the paper, pulled it in front of himself and signed his own name, then slipped it back into his jacket and stood to leave. "Thank you for your cooperation, gentlemen," he said with a forced grin, "You won't regret it." Then he turned around and walked out the door without another word.
Five minutes later he parked his Porsche in front of "The Talon." He sat down at the bar and ordered his regular, a cappuccino with extra foam. Just as it was brought out to him, Lana emerged from the back room in her apron. "Hello, Lex," she said, stopping to chat with him, "How has your day been so far?"
He sipped his coffee and licked the excess foam from his upper lip. As he lowered his coffee cup, he answered in a sarcastic tone, "Eventful."
Lana flashed a perky smile, "Sounds interesting," she said. Someone called for a refill. "Oh!" she said, "Sorry, Lex, I can't fall down on the job. Talk to you later..." She waved, and Lex nodded mid-sip. The door bell jingled and Clark walked in.
"Lex!" he called. Lex turned and looked at him.
"Hi, Clark!" he answered.
"What are you doing here?" Clark asked as he took a seat beside him.
"I just came from a meeting at the bank, and I thought I'd stop by for a little buzz."
"That bad, huh?"
"After Katie left, it pretty much sprinted downhill."
"Katie?" inquired Clark.
"A girl I bumped into on my way inside the bank."
Clark seemed intrigued. He grinned at Lex, "I assume she was very attractive..."
Lex took another sip of his coffee and laughed. "Yeah," he said, lifting his eyebrows, "she was."
"What's her name again?" Clark asked.
"Katharine Grant. You know her?"
"Yeah, I think I do, actually. She came by 'The Talon' a couple of days ago to interview Chloe about her theories on the effects of the meteor shower."
"Really?" Lex inquired with interest.
"Yeah, she works for The Ledger."
Lex took his final sip of cappuccino and stood to leave. "Thanks, Clark," he said with a grin. He pointed at him, his fingers shaped like the barrel of a gun, and winked, "You're a life-saver." Clark smiled and shrugged, and Lex walked out the door.
As he made his way to the Porsche, he pulled out his cell-phone and dialed The Smallville Ledger. "This is Lex Luthor," he told the secretary, "I need to speak with Katharine Grant." He held for a few seconds while Katie was contacted. She finally picked up the phone. "Katie? This is Lex Luthor. How would you like to have dinner with me at the mansion tonight?"