AN: Okay so this story kind of follows the events from 'Accidental Meeting' so I guess this could be viewed as a sequel to it. If you hadn't read it there are minor things that you won't get but you could get by. To that end this takes place between 1x6-1x9. Thanks FF for the quick response to my email about adding Max to the character list. Never had to do it before and you made it so easy!
Thanks to all the guest reviewers that have left comments on my previous two stories for Max/Alex, I can't give you a personal thank you so I'll give you a giant thank you right now: THANKS XOX
Disclaimer: I own nothing that is recognizable.
The limo pulled up to Lord Technologies. Max needed to attend to some business at his company before he met with Cat Grant. Most likely she was going to try to persuade him to see her side of things about Supergirl.
His driver opened the door for him and Max climbed out, cinching the button of his suit blazer as he walked to the glass doors. The gentle breeze blew, ruffling his hair a bit and he nodded with a smile at his doorman who grabbed the handle and opened the door for him.
"Good morning, Mr. Lord," the man greeted politely.
"Good morning Henry, how's the wife and kids?"
The man who was in tip-top shape smiled happily. "They're doing good, thanks for asking, sir," Henry said with a heavy southern drawl, and Max nodded as he continued in without another word. He tried to maintain a friendly attitude with his employees. If they were happy then they performed their jobs for him better.
Max strode unhurriedly towards the elevator to head to the second floor where his office was located, mind focused on his mile long to-do list as he had his charity auction tonight. When the elevator doors opened on his office's floor and he exited his personal assistant, Susan, was standing there as if waiting for him. Her long hair was out of the bun that she typically tied it up into, a tablet clutched in her hand that had his itinerary on it, and she looked frazzled.
"Good morning, Mr. Lord, and not to start your day off on a sour note but there is a woman in your office refusing to leave. I have sent security in there approximately five minutes ago to remove her from the premises but they have not come back out yet,"Susan said urgently as she walked beside him, flustered.
"Who is this woman?" Max asked, even though he had a vague idea as to who it was. There was only one woman who came to mind who had the audacity to just charge into his office uninvited and fend off his military trained security guards.
"It was one of those agents that came here before. She had short brunette hair. I think she said her name was Agent Danvers."
He smiled as he approached the closed door to his office. "I see, don't worry, Susan, I'll take care of it."
"Are you sure Mr. Lord? I could call the police."
He turned to look at his assistant. "No, it's quite alright, I can handle it. But I would appreciate if you would go to Smoothie King and order two Almond Mocha High Protein Smoothies," he said and she nodded before turning and hurrying to the elevator to go do as asked.
Max proceeded to enter his office and smiled as he saw Agent Alex Danvers sitting in his chair behind his desk looking like she owned the damn place; with her legs crossed at the ankles and feet resting on his desk. She was angled towards the door clearly waiting for him.
"Agent Danvers, so nice to see you have not stopped just bursting your way into my life," he commented dryly with a pointed look at two downed and unconscious security guards that were going to get their walking papers, before lifting his gaze up and giving her a charming smile.
She tilted her head, before folding her arms across her chest. "Maxwell Lord, so nice to see you have not stopped being an ass," she replied cheekily.
He chuckled. "What have I done this time?" he wondered.
"Nothing," she said gently, her big doe eyes were watching him sharply as he moved slowly towards her, rounded his large desk and sat on the edge of it beside her boots. "Call this a courtesy visit. There might be a credible threat against you, Mr. Lord, so I suggest you take some precautions."
"Haven't I asked you to call me Max?"
"You have but I'm here in a professional capacity," she answered. "If your assistant listened instead of immediately calling security I could have told her that and I wouldn't have had to knock out your security guards. Who, by the way, will be up in a few minutes," she said with a quick glance at the men.
"A professional capacity, hmmm…." he murmured with a glance at her boots, black leggings, and tight black shirt she wore. "You don't say. I kind of miss the jeans," he said resting a palm on her shin.
She immediately slid her legs off his desk and leaned forward, eyes staring up at him. Alex felt the heat of his touch through her pants, could still feel the imprint lingering. Suddenly she became aware of the fact that they were sitting close to each other, in his office, and alone.
"What kind of credible threat could you have come across against me?—Supergirl gone rogue?" he quipped.
"Supergirl is a hero," she said immediately as if by reflex.
"You're the hero, not some blond alien that flies around in spandex and a cape. Real heroes put their lives on the line for others, for no other reason than because it is right."
"That is Supergirl. You're just against her because she's an alien and I can't quite figure out why," Alex argued. She felt like she was missing a puzzle piece that made up Maxwell Lord. If she could only have it then she could understand him better, maybe she could help him understand that Kara wasn't a threat to him or anyone else.
Max smiled as he cocked his head to the side. "We will never quite see eye to eye on that subject I suspect."
"Well I'm right and you're wrong and the sooner you realize that the better off you'd be," Alex assured Max who laughed gently. He liked her fiery spirit. No one tended to be quite so combative and argumentative with him. They all just mindlessly agreed with what he said because of how rich and powerful he was. It didn't seem to faze Alex Danvers in the least. It was refreshing.
"I want to see your viewpoint. I do. I'm always open to interpretation as you seem to know Supergirl better than I do. How about you explain it to me in further detail tonight as my guest at my charity auction I'm holding? There will be dinner, dancing, and it is a black tie affair, so an evening gown is required."
Alex cocked one fine eyebrow up. "Are you asking me out on a date?" she demanded. He made it sound like it was a done deal that she was just going to do as he said and it was ruffling her feathers a bit.
"If I was, why would that be such a surprise?—you're beautiful and intelligent. I like beautiful and intelligent women," he responded with a slow perusal of her.
"I also think you're a slimy billionaire with a god complex who thinks he can buy his way out of anything," she countered.
"And you're not shy of stating your opinion, even if it's only half true, but another point in your favor," he said and she rolled her eyes. That's what he took out of what she just said. "But you pointed out that there may be a credible threat against my life but won't elaborate on what it is, so it's only fitting that you be the one to join me," he reasoned.
Alex made a face as she walked right into that one. This was what she got for worrying about him. When Hank said that an unidentified alien was seen at several of Max's properties but eluded capture, she grew concerned for the obnoxious billionaire. Kara didn't like or trust him, really no one did. Alex was annoyed,she couldn't seem to feel the same way as the others did because she kind of, maybe, sort of liked Maxwell Lord, but she wasn't about to admit it to anyone especially him.
"Fine, I'll go with you since there might be a threat against you. But it's not a date," she said with disdain. "I wouldn't date you if you were the last man or alien on earth."
Max chuckled. "Sounds to me like you're protesting too much, perhaps you like me more than you wish to admit to, Agent Danvers." He so loved the push and pull between them, he never knew what she was going to say or do.
"Just wishful thinking on your part," she countered.
He smiled but let it go. "Give me your address I'll have a driver pick you up," he suggested.
She shook her head as she got to her feet, walking past him, and ignored the tingle induced as their hands brushed. "I don't need a driver to pick me up. I can drive myself."
"You will if you drink," he argued.
"I'll take a taxi," she argued right back. Besides this was a work thing for her, she wasn't there to drink, she was there to make sure this man didn't get torn to shreds by some alien.
"How about a compromise?—you come here by six and my driver will take us both to the banquet hall it's being held at," he said reasonably. Alex relented a little. Maybe if was for the best if she let him take her to this charity thing he was throwing, that way she could keep eyes on him.
The door to the office opened and his assistant was there with two smoothies in a tray. "I'm sorry for not knocking Mr. Lord but I didn't know if you were alright," she said with a gentle gnawing on her lip as she flicked Alex a worried glance.
"It's quite alright, Susan,"he reassured her, not about to reprimand his assistant in front of Alex. Max walked over and smiled as the security guards that had been lying there unconscious seemed to come to with soft groans. "Good timing, I need to fire them," he murmured.
"Don't fire them. They're good security guards," Alex said.
Max looked at her in surprise. "There were two of them against one of you."
"And I have been trained by the government to take on aliens," she whispered for his ears only. "You should keep them."
Max stared into her eyes, unsure of why her opinion mattered at all to him, before motioning at Susan to give him the smoothies. He tried to hand the other to Alex. "I got you Almond Mocha High Protein again, figured it was your favorite," he murmured.
Alex eyed the smoothie cup before taking it slowly. "Thanks, it is,"she agreed before turning to Susan. "Here, have a smoothie," Alex said shoving the smoothie into the young woman's hand. "I'll be here at six sharp, Mr. Lord," Alex said as she began backpedaling towards his door.
"I look forward to seeing you," Max replied.
Alex smirked as she turned and grabbed the door handle and exited, feeling Max Lord's eyes on her the entire time.
He smiled as he watched the feisty Agent leave his office. And for long minutes he contemplated her and how her constant refusal was intriguing him. He enjoyed a good chase and he always got what he wanted.
Max shifted his gaze off the closed door to the security guards sitting up looking up at him. "You two: get up off my floor and get out of here before I change my mind and fire you!" he demanded. The security guards slowly got to their feet and stumbled out of the door, holding their foreheads.
Max glanced at Susan who appeared perplexed. "What should I do with the smoothie, Mr. Lord?" she asked, unsure.
He stalked to his desk but paused to turn and look at his assistant. "Alex gave it to you so drink it, please leave me be, Susan, I would like to be alone with my thoughts before I must leave for my meeting with Ms. Grant."
"Yes, sir," Susan said immediately taking a small sip of the smoothie and had a tiny smile on her face as she walked to the door and exited.
Max set his smoothie down and went to lean back in his chair but paused when something under his planner caught his eye. He immediately reached out to move the leather bound planner to find a post-it with distinct feminine handwriting that was not his assistant's. The post-it was stuck to a five dollar bill and simply read:
We're even now
Max picked it up, brushing the post-it against his chin as he turned to look out the large window, and smiled.
AN: Okay I might be projecting my own intense love of their push and pull between them into this so I apologize. This ficlet is 3 chapters in length and my friend (thank you Elaine) who proofs my stuff has gotten me back all the chapters so I can update relatively quickly.
I might try to do a fix it fic (got an idea for it) that is set after Bizzaro but this is in my comfort zone with learning the character voices(still not sure if I'm hitting the right notes) before I gone full blown angsty and smutty with these two.
As always I thank you for reading!