An hour or so after Lana stormed off, Clark heard the familiar sound of Lois's car pull up at the farmhouse. He went out to meet her.

Lois got out and headed towards Clark who was waiting for her with a beaming smile. He walked over and hugged her.

"I missed you." he smiled, kissing her gently.

"It's only been a few hours." she laughed. "But for the record – ditto. By the way, you must have really pissed Lana off, she has just spent the last hour ranting about you breaking up with her. She thinks sending me will punish you."

They sat down on the porch swing. "Okay. Having you here is such torture. I am sure I will be brave and cope." he replied sarcastically.

"So how do you feel finally breaking it off with Lana?" she asked curiously.

"Relieved actually. Are you going to tell Grant about us? I would hate for him to find out by watching the show."

"The show...I forgot about that. We have to stop it airing. I do not want everyone knowing our secrets."

"Grant may be able to pull it." Clark suggested.

"I had a better idea. Why don't you zoom up the studio and pull the tapes."

"Are you kidding? In a building with so many cameras. Not a good plan. I guess if it airs, it airs. It's not like we are having an affair."

"Well strictly speaking I am cheating on Grant because I have not broke up with him." Lois put on a guilty look. "So we'd better not sleep together until I speak to him tomorrow."

He gave her a knowing look. "I wasn't planning on getting much sleep, were you?"

Lois seemed preoccupied, as they swung on a porch swing. "Clark, how sturdy is this swing?"

"It is fine to sit on." Clark replied with a perplexed look on his face. "Why do you ask?"

She pushed him down.

The following day, Lois woke up with a start. "Clark, wake up. It's 7.45am. I need to be in work in 15 mins."

"Hurry up and have a quick shower and I will run you in." he smiled.

She finally made it into the office at 8.05am. "You're five minutes late, Ms Lane. This will be going on your record." Grant said smugly in an authoritative tone. "Can I see you in my office in ten minutes."

Lois sighed as she opened the office door, knowing she needed to break the news to him.

She left the door open. "Close the door." Grant mouthed to her as he got up from his desk. She had hoped to leave the door open.

"Grant, can we talk?" Lois suggested as he approached her with that look in his eye.

"I have a better idea. Let's forget the talking. I missed you. By the way I didn't congratulate you on your TV debut. It was very convincing but how did you know?"

"Know what? Have you seen it?" Lois became flustered.

"Stop playing games. You guessed the game show was fixed otherwise you and Clark would not have come up with those ridiculous answers. You hit it out of the ballpark with your acting skills. Maybe Clark should become a reporter too."

"Is it fixed?"

"Of course it is. How else did you think you would beat the lie detector with your lies? Apparently the producers operate the machine depending on which answer will cause the most controversy."

"Did you know this before you sent me up there?" she asked.

"No, of course not. I only found out last night when I got the copy of the tape. There was also footage from the producers room showing them manipulating the machine..." Grant paused suddenly. "You mean you believed it was true."

"That is what I need to talk to you about." Lois said. "Clark and I are together."

"But how? Why? You fell for those lies."

"He meant every word, Grant, regardless of the machine being fixed or not. I am in love with him and I think I have been for years. I am so sorry to hurt you, but I am not going to lie to you." Lois kissed him on the cheek. "I'm sorry. You are a good man."

"You're making a big mistake." Grant reacted angrily. "You will never be a reporter in this town again. I only gave you the job so I could get you into bed."

That last comment hurt Lois. She knew she was a great journalist and she did not want people to think she got the job because she was dating the boss.

"Whatever Grant, but if people find that out, how do you think it will look for your reputation." Lois fired back and left.

Lois reflected over what her boss had said and was still reeling from the fact the game-show was fixed. When she arrived back at her desk, she found a note from HR to say her employment was terminated without notice. She was not going to let Grant take her career away from her and she needed to stop the show being aired. Who said life would be easy, she said to herself...