Laila
The next morning Laila walked to her office, heels muffled by the carpet. As soon as she rounded the corner a wall of employees was were waiting to greet her. "Ms. Lyons, the templates for the fall spread are here and we need your decision on background colors." or "Ms. Lyons I have some paperwork here for you to sign, please we need this as soon as possible", ", Ms. Lyons". Laila took a deep breath and spoke in a loud clear voice "Okay people make a line, I will deal with these issues one at a time." She walked up through the crowds, and they followed like obedient puppies. Finally she reached her office. As she struggled to open the door to her office, trying to juggle a stack of papers, a coffee mug, and a pad of memo's one of her co-workers, Dan Donner, walked up to her like a predator stalking prey. "Well hello Laila, would you like some help?" Laila looked up to see Dan's face uncomfortably close to hers. "Oh, hey Dan, no I'll be alright, thanks though.'' Laila turned that handle and kicked it open with her foot. She strode inside and dumped the papers on her desk setting the mug down next to them. Dan waited at the threshold, hands in his pockets, glancing at her. "So how's the week been? Busy? You seemed busy..." Dan said, trying to make conversation. "Oh yeah I've been swamped. Thank goodness today is Friday." Laila replied, filing papers. Dan tried to seem suave "Yeah about this weekend I happened to come across two tickets to the Metropolis opera-" Laila interjected "Dan, is this important? I'm sorry but I've got aton of work to do and alot of people to deal with, as you can see." She replied, gesturing to the line of people waiting at her door. "Oh, yes of course." Dan walked away, casting her glances over his shoulder. Laila barely noticed and turned her attention to the monstrous pile of work she faced today. All she really wanted to do was curl up on the couch with Clark and watch black and white movies. She sighed, better get started.
Laila sank into her office chair, exhausted after a day filled with paperwork and making decisions for the magazine. She used one hand to rub her neck, and twirled her pen in the other hand as she looked over one last memo for the day. While she read she crossed her legs and bounced a heel on the tip of her toes trying to respond to the memo. She had just decided to put it away and save it for tomorrow when she heard a knock on the door. She looked up to see Clark smiling at her from the door. "Clark! What are you doing here? Pease, come in." Clark entered the office and set a brown paper bag in front of her. "I brought you some dinner. Mariano's." Clark added with a smile. "I wanted to..see you again." Laila smiled "wow that was a great idea! Here pull up a chair, tell me about your day" Clark pulled a chair to the edge of her desk and pulled out the two slices of pizza. A veggie slice for Laila and meat lovers slice for Clark. "Well I'm working on this story about solar flares, and how the sun will affect things on earth such as electricity or even running water." Clark explained as they ate, "I've always found the sun fascinating. The way it rises and sets, its patterns and its light. When I was a kid I remember waking up early just to watch the sunrise from the barn. I've already done aton of research on these flares. Some scientists think someday the flares will be the cause of the earth's destruction, but that's ridiculous, I wouldn't let that happen-". "Oh" Laila raised an eyebrow in suspicion. "Well I mean I ah I wouldn't let these scientists slack off, you know from their research." Laila laughed and replied "Hmm I can already see the headlines: Clark Kent saves the world from solar flares". She picked up their plates to toss in the trash. As she approached the wastebasket by her door Dan popped his head in and said "Hey Laila could I talk to you for a-" Then he noticed Clark was sitting by her desk. "Oh I didn't realize you had company. Laila could I speak with you alone for-" Laila replied "Well anything you need to talk to me about you can say in front of Clark." Dan looked over at Clark with a look that could kill. "No its fine" Dan looked at Laila "I'll see you tomorrow Laila." As Dan stormed out Laila went back to her desk she noticed the look on Clark's face. "Hey, whets wrong?" Laila asked. "I don't like that guy. At all" Clark said so seriously it was almost frightening. "Who, Dan? He's just a coworker, he's harmless." Clark looked at her, suspicion etched out on his face. Laila met his eyes, "I swear" she reiterated. Clark got up and grabbed her coat off the back of her chair. "Here", he said offering the coat for her to slip on, "I'll walk you home."
Clark
As Clark walked into one of his apartments he had recently secured, this one being a crappy two room living space that barely left any room to breathe, he fumed over that coworker of Laila's, Dan. Clark had bad feelings about Dan, and the way that Dan looked at Laila, like he wanted to devour her whole, own her completely leaving nothing left. Laila was beautiful, talented; she was everything that Clark needed. Clark felt more comfortable around her that he had around anyone in a very long time. He'd already lost so much, since Lois he'd changed. He only saw Jason when Lois brought him into the Daily Planet. And while he loved his son so much, more than anything, the woman who bore that son was slipping away from him. Clark felt like he should be loyal to Lois, she was the mother of his child and he had loved her for so long. But it was a totally different feeling when the person likes you back. Laila liked Clark when he was Clark Kent, not only when he was Superman. Clark found himself thinking about Laila more and more. Tonight had been great, him surprising her at work. However Dan concerned him and Laila was completely unaware of Dan's possessive glances. Clark would never forgive himself if anything happened to her. She meant too much to him. Because slowly but surely Laila was carving herself a place in his heart.
