Being irresponsible and carefree were two attributes most would hesitate to share with others, but these two particular traits had morphed together with lust which ultimately had managed to save her life.
She was grateful.
She was also heartbroken, but she was thankful.
Had it not been for her and Maggie's insatiable sex drive and their adventurous attitude while roughly indulging themselves in every corner of her penthouse from the kitchen, the balcony, the walk in closet, the shower and every other nook and cranny that left the air saturated with the sent of sex, Lena would have been dead.
She was grateful. To her luck, to her timing and most importantly to Maggie.
But a part of her remained apprehensive. A part of her that screamed loudly in the depths of her soul told her it had begun.
She knew threats would be coming. She had expected as much, but she wasn't entirely sure about much else. The specifics and scenarios eluded her, but the second she signed her name at the end of the contract gaining possession of Luthor Corp, Lena was sure the target on her back had grown ten times in size.
She knew the proof of her suspicions would come.
In this case, the still unconfirmed proof was being broadcasted live on every major news outlet.
The words echoed deep within her mind bringing her to the verge of tears.
"As we've been reporting throughout the morning, Venture Airlines Flight 628 departing from Metropolis to National City has crashed just a few short minutes after take off from Metropolis International Airport. We've also received news from our source at the airlines that it is feared all 205 travelers on board have been killed in this tragic accident. An investigation into this horrific tragedy is currently under way to determine the cause, but we have unconfirmed eyewitness accounts and amateur video deemed too graphic to show on air that indicates an explosion near what many are speculating to be the first class section of the aircraft. The FAA and federal law enforcements are on the scene and have denied to comment on the authenticity of the video stating it's too early into the investigation to give any definitive answers as to what exactly could have happened to cause the aircraft to crash. For those of you at home just tuning in, Venture Flight 628 departing from Metr..."
The noise of the news report was drowned out by the sounds of knocking at her apartment door. She was grateful for the knock. Her mind was whirling with what ifs and the person at the door had offer her a moment's break from the thoughts currently assaulting her.
Muting the news and making her way to the door, she blinked back the tears that never fell before she answered.
Standing before her was a burly man who appeared to be in his late thirties or early forties. He hid his eyes behind a heavily tinted pair of aviator shade that did nothing to mask the aggressively prominent scar that ran from the corner of his left eye down his cheek finally ending at the corner of his lip.
Surely he did something to earn that buck fifty.
Lena squared her shoulders and raised her eyebrow waiting for the man's next move. His demeanor warned of a threat and she would be foolish to not prepare herself for a possible attack.
She hadn't seen the next move coming. Too focused on the man's face and scar committing them to memory, she didn't see the small white box he held in his hand until he extended his hands towards her offering her the gift.
"For you, Ms. Luthor," the unknown man spoke; his Russian accent heavy on his tongue.
Lena looked between the man and the box before balling her fist hidden behind the door in preparation for a strike while the other took possession of the small box.
When the man let go of the box, he nodded and turned back down the hallway towards the elevators.
Seeing the man waiting for the elevator, she stared at the box that was lightly decorated with silver etchings. Staring closer, the design came into focus making her drop the box as her heart froze.
Plumerias.
Lex.
Looking back at the man as he entered the elevator, she noticed a smirk on his face as he pointed his fingers at her to mimic a gun; his lips mouthing the word 'bang'!
Lena took off for the elevator; her bare feet slapping loudly against the marble floor of the hallway landing as she pushed herself forward. She reached the elevator just in time for the door to close in her face. Attempting to press the button to keep the elevator stalled on the floor, she cursed when the numbers changed indicating the elevator was in movement.
The stairs.
She bolted for the staircase taking them two at a time. In her haste she managed to slip only once. When she reached the fifth floor, she encountered a group of older women with shopping bags casually chatting on the landing and blocking her way. They gave her a look of shock when she jumped over the hand rail, grabbing the concrete slab of the step below the railing. Taking a deep breath, she let go dropping down to the second floor where she grabbed the railing and pulled herself over; her shoulders aching from the pressure of catching her entire body weight during free fall. Within seconds she was in the main lobby just to witness the elevator doors closing again.
Looking around she saw no sign of the man with the suspicious delivery. Running over to the desk, the concierge was startled seeing Ms. Luthor in such a frantic state. "There was a man on my floor. Dressed in black with a scar on his face. Where did he go?"
"Is everything alright, Ms..." started to ask before he was violently yanked forward onto the front counter by his tie; his eyes widening as he gazed into those of a clearly unhinged Lena.
"WHERE DID HE GO?!"
The clerk couldn't formulate the words to respond and quickly decided on pointing toward the main entrance. Lena roughly pushed him away before taking off again like a mad woman out the front doors of the complex, but as she made it to the front landing, she was bombarded with the flashes of dozens of cameras.
"There she is!"
"Ms. Luthor! What made you change your flight last minute?"
"Have you seen the video of the plane explosion?"
"Ms. Luthor?"
"Ms. Luthor?"
"Over here!"
"Look this way, Ms. Luthor!"
The tears that stung her eyes blurring her vision were accompanied by a loud buzzing in her ears. She felt light-headed and disoriented as the cameras were thrust in her face by eager reporters. When she turned to re-enter the building, more cameras appeared behind her. She was surrounded. Left to drown in a sea of flashing lights and questions.
"EVERYONE STEP BACK! METROPOLIS PD! MOVE BACK!" she heard a familiar voice full of authority pushing her way through the crowd of reporters. Strong arms wrapped themselves around Lena and pulled her up from the ground where she hadn't realized she had collapsed on to. A protective hand stayed wrapped around Lena's shoulders as the other tossed a jacket over her head to shield her from the vultures that were the media. "Lee, it's me. I got you." Maggie's voice whispered in her ear.
After what felt like an eternity, she was back inside; the lobby doors muffling the sounds of camera flashes and questions that followed her.
xxxxx
It had begun.
Five days had passed since their first debriefing on Lena Luthor and although Kara had been the unofficial mouthpiece for the young CEO, she couldn't help but feel sick to her stomach when news broke of a plane crash in Metropolis. A crash the media soon informed the public the young Luthor was supposed to be on.
There was speculations of an explosion, but because they were a secret government agency with no legal reach in Metropolis and since the investigation was still in it's infancy, there was no way to legally determine whether or not those claims were true. Legally.
"Find me something, Mr. Schott." The command from J'onn made Winn salute and in a matter of minutes, he hacked half a dozen media servers as well as the airlines of the ill-fated flight.
Able to download several files of the crash, he authenticated the amateur video of the plane explosion using a system he had created as well as illegally acquiring the seating chart and plane layouts from the airlines.
The conclusion after hours of combing through news footage and illegally obtained data made tensions flair in the D.E.O. especially between the heroic Danvers sisters. After the rough exchange of words, Alex had been sent home by J'onn who could still smell the stench of the previous night's drinking on her and Kara was also sent home to cool down after she once again defended Lena.
Taking the night off from patrolling, the anxiousness in the pit of her stomach didn't cease. Kara stared at the frozen clip on her T.V of a sobbing and floored Lena. It was enough to break her heart for the woman she had yet to know. So young yet she had the weight of the world on her shoulders and so much was expected from her. They had a lot in common and Kara empathized with her.
The hero hadn't realized she had nodded off until a text message from Winn coaxed her from her slumber.
Winn: You were right.
Kara: About?
Winn: Lena...
Kara: What about her?
A few moments passed without a reply from Winn and Kara became impatient.
Kara: WINN!
Winn: The cause of the crash was an explosion that came from the first class section of the plane. After checking the flight list and the plane layout, it was right where she was expected to be seated at. Kara, Lena was the target.
Lena was the target.
xxxxx
Federal agents had been in and out of her penthouse all day. Maggie had stayed with her for the majority of the day, but was called away to the station. She didn't mention why she had to leave and Lena didn't care to ask. She was worried and had every right to be.
Lex was after her.
Lex had intended for her to die that morning.
Lex, the brother she loved despite his crimes, had attempted to assassinate her and in the process had killed 204 innocent civilians.
For a while after the plane crash, a part of her held onto the notion that she had escaped a tragic death. Her heart ached for the souls lost on the flight, but she was selfishly relieved that she was still breathing. That relief dissipated when she received the gift this morning; the realization that as long as she was alive, more attempts on her life would be made.
The box Lex sent her had a small note inside that she handed over to agents along with her complete cooperation as well as the description of the man who made the delivery. Although the note was probably in a crime lab being analyzed, the words were still present every time she closed her eyes even to blink.
You have escaped fate for far too long, little sister. Enjoy the company while you can. Your end is coming.
"Lee?" Maggie called from the front door of penthouse causing Lena to jump. She had been so caught up in her mind, she hadn't noticed Maggie had swiped her keys and let herself in. "I have someone I want to introduce you to."
Lena didn't reply. She just stared at Maggie from over the back of the couch without making any inclination of movement. She was drained. Emotionally, mentally and physically.
Maggie walked through the threshold with a leather strap firmly in hand. "Come on," she cooed to the visitor that accompanied her. When some time passed and the visitor didn't comply with Maggie's command to follow her into the penthouse, the detective grew tired. "Come!"
In a blur, a massive dog with black and gray fur lunged at Maggie pinning her to the ground much to Lena's surprise. Lena jumped to her feet as she looked down at the detective in panic. "Mags!"
The ferocious animal growled just inches away from the detective's face, but even then she threw Lena her signature smile from the floor exposing those gorgeous dimples before introducing the canine. "Lena meet Loba. She's my going away present for you."
Lena had never owned a pet let alone one that was clearly hostile. Aside from the few lab rats she reluctantly ran tests on for cancer research, a cruel yet necessary evil, she had never had the desire nor need for a furry companion.
Maggie saw how Lena stared at Loba cautiously and knew she'd have to sell Lena on the idea of keeping the dog. Still pinned beneath the heavy paws of the animal and with a sigh, she began her sales pitch.
"Loba is a special dog. She's three years old and although she's well trained, she doesn't like following orders and was kicked out of the academy. She may seem a little aggressive now, but I'm sure you'll grow to find her company a welcomed break from the life of solitude you've sworn to. She needs some rearing and love which I'm sure you won't have any problem with. She even has a green eye. Kinda reminds me of a certain someone I know."
Lena didn't like the fact that Maggie compared her to a dog, but she wanted to see how well Loba didn't follow orders. She was prepared to stay with the dog not wanting to make Maggie feel bad for a generous and thoughtful gift, but she still wanted to test how uncooperative the husky was. Straighten herself and lifting her head, she snapped her finger which captured the dog's attention. "Loba. Come."
Loba looked at Lena, then back at Maggie before running over to her new owner and sitting protectively in front of her. The massive dog flinched slightly when Lena petted her head, but kept her eyes trained on Maggie while her tail wagged contently.
Maggie leaned forward onto her elbows and stared at the sight before her in awe. It was as if they were meant for each other. The beautiful CEO stood tall with authority as Loba stood guard at her feet.
Lena rested her hand on Loba's head earning her a glance from the pooch. She took in the beautiful color of her eyes. Both different yet equally lovely. One the palest blue and the other a vibrant green. Loba blinked her eyes and nuzzled into Lena's touch. Maggie did say no woman was capable of not swooning over Lena. She guessed that rule applied to females across all species. "Thank you, Mags. I think Loba and I will get along just great."