AN from teb85 Hey guys and girls, here is the next instalment for you. I just want to echo Pipersmum and thank you all for your kind words and encouragement. It's not until you start writing and posting that you realise how much you actually rely on feed back to keep you morale up especially when RL sucks. Anyway enough rambling from me and enjoy the next chapter.

CHAPTER 6

He reached his hand out to cup her chin and placed a sweet and tender kiss on her lips. He was looking in to her eyes his hand reaching up to remove his glasses.

Chloe was desperate to see the man behind the glasses and if he hadn't of been reaching for them to take them off, she would have done so.

Suddenly there was a sound of an engine and they both heard the rusty door being opened.

"Time to go Tink." Green arrow broke the moment. "I will make a diversion you run for it," and with that he had disappeared before Chloe had the chance to respond.

She had waited around the dock for over an hour in the hope he would re-appear and she would get some answers but he didn't and Chloe had started the long walk home, her mind running with mixed emotions as the reality of what she had just done came back to her.

Chloe was disgusted with herself. She had promised herself, she was better than that, stronger than that and she was not going to be taken advantage of until she got what she wanted from the Green Arrow and tonight that had not happened. Chloe did not know what was wrong with her! It was like she had been in a dream. A dream she had no control over. Her body had filled with emotions and started doing things she couldn't control but the whole time she had wanted it to stop, she knew it had been wrong but she just could not stop herself.

Chloe was startled from the day dream by the ringing of the phone.

"Chloe Sullivan," she answered seeing the call had come from the reception desk.

"Lex Luthor is on his way up to see you Chloe, just thought I'd give you a heads up."

Chloe looked up to see Lex standing in front of her

"Er…thanks for that." She mumbled putting the phone down.

"Lex this is a surprise, "she smiled. Sitting back at her desk and closing down the file she had been working on. "Take a seat." She gestured.

"I was hoping you could answer a few questions for me Chloe. " He pulled a brown envelope from inside his jacket pocket and placed it on the desk in front of him.

"This arrived in my possession this morning and I was rather surprised when I saw its contents. Please go ahead." He gestured seeing Chloe's raised eyebrows.

"But then I realized what a wonderful opportunity this would be for the both of us."

Chloe opened the envelope and removed a single picture print from inside. She could not believe what she was seeing.

It was a picture of her and the green arrow, embraced in a kiss. It was taken at close range and Chloe could not tell there location, all that was clearly visible was her. There was no way she would be able to deny it.

"Where did you get this?" She demanded trying to remain cool and collected, when deep down she was freaking out.

"That is not the issue here miss Sullivan." Lex smirked and sat forward in his chair.

"Just imagine what this would do for your future if this accidentally fell in the wrong hands. Say, maybe your cousin would be interested. I hear she is running a rather interesting piece on your Green Arrow friend does she know that your running all over town with this guy?"

"What do you want from me Lex?" Chloe sighed.

"Just a name, that's all."

"And this picture will disappear? "

"Oh I can do better than that; it will be like it never existed." He almost whispered.

Chloe handed him the picture back. "I can't Lex."

"I don't think you quiet understand what impact this will have on an up and coming reporter Miss Sullivan let alone your relationship with Lois."

"I can't tell you because I don't know Lex." She said calmly.

Lex let out a small chuckle. "Your kissing this guy and you don't know his identity, I find that very hard to believe! "

"It's the truth Lex, I'm sorry I can't help you." She stared him straight in the eye and held his gaze for a brief moment.

"Well it's your decision" he stood from his chair. "You know where to find me if you change your mind, I will be posting a copy to miss Lane first thing in the morning. But for now good day Miss Sullivan." He smirked and headed towards the exit. "Oh and Miss Sullivan," he stopped briefly. "Stay away from my warehouse; I will only warn you once." Then he disappeared from view.

Chloe's head fell forward into her hands. How had she gotten into this mess?

"Ollie, This is not working is it?" Lois said bluntly as they sat down in the small café.

He had met her for lunch and was desperately working on a way to tell her it was over.

He was a coward he knew that, he should have done this week's ago but he had let things go way too far.

Never once had Ollie cheated on a girlfriend and the memory of what he had done the night before had made him physically sick. He was mad with himself for his inability to stop and do the right thing but it had been as if he was stuck in some nightmare. He had lost control and become that media stereotype of a billionaire he had promised himself he would never be. He never wanted to take advantage of Chloe but last night, he could not control it. He had become filled with raw emotions and his body had taken over when deep down he was pleading with himself to stop.

"I'm sorry Lois." was all he could think of to say.

"Nah it's fine. If we're both honest we knew it was over ages ago. We have lost that spark Ollie. Your so busy with work and I'm just not that stay at home type."

"I never deserved you Lois." He kissed her hand.

"Oh Ollie behave. It was good while it lasted we had fun." She sipped her coffee.

Ollie felt bad! This was not the way this was supposed to have gone. It was meant to be him being punished for what he had done, standing up to face his mistakes and responsibilities. Not Lois giving him an easy way out, he did not want that.

"Oliver stop beating yourself up. We have got a great friendship out of this and I have no regrets, It is nobodies fault, Just life unfortunately." She took a bite from her bagel.

"Well, this is the weirdest break up I have ever experienced." He smiled.

"We're both adults Ollie, I could always do the OTT dramatic how could you scene if you'd prefer? But I think I'd much rather enjoy my lunch and the company of a friend, don't you??"

"You amaze me Lois Lane."

"Sometimes I amaze even myself. Now enough with the flattery or I won't get time for dessert."

Clark had not seen Chloe since the double date with Lois and Ollie. The same double date Chloe had insisted was NOT a date, which had bothered him. Clark really couldn't see the issue with it being a date. Maybe Chloe would not have disappeared on him if it had been.

He knew that Chloe would be at the planet right now and he wanted to go and see her. More and more lately he had been restless if he had not seen her for a few days.

Clark decided the perfect excuse to go and say hi would be to take her a treat. Her favourite caffeine fix and one of his mum's delicious muffins from the talon.

Chloe was deep in thought, she was supposed to be working on an article but after Lex's visit she had found it difficult to concentrate.

So when she looked up to see Clark walking towards her, he was a welcomed distraction. "Hey Clark," Chloe smiled. "What can I do for you?"

Clark gave her his big goofy grin. "Actually it's more like what can I do for you. I thought with you working hard I would bring you your favourite." He said pulling his arms out from behind his back to reveal a cup of coffee and a bag from the talon.

Chloe smiled delightfully, reaching out her hands to take the goodies from him. Clark loved the way she was beaming at him. When Chloe smiled it could light up a room and what made it more special she was smiling at him. He couldn't help but wonder why it had taken him so long to wake up and notice her in the first place.

Opening the bag Chloe inhaled the scrumptious smell. "Cinnamon," she sighed. She missed Mrs Kent's baking so much and was touched Clark had made the effort.

"Like I said you're favourite." He smiled.

"Not that I don't appreciate it because trust me I really do, but why are you being so nice?" Chloe took a big bite of the muffin devouring it greedily.

Typical she thinks I want something Clark thought to himself. "Can't I just be nice and surprise the most beautiful person in my life?" He asked innocently.

Chloe choked on her mouthful. Had Clark Kent just called her 'beautiful'?

Clark started patting her on her back as Chloe reached for her coffee to help wash the muffin down.

"I am fine now. You can stop patting me."

"Are you sure?" He asked.

"Yeah, I just bit off more than I could chew." She smiled sweetly to him "so what can I help you with then. Is it more trouble with the zoners?"

Clark sat down on the edge of her desk. "No, why have you heard something i haven't?"

"No of course not," she stated. "I would have called you already. So you really just came to bring me a treat and nothing else?" She asked unconvinced.

"Chlo, you really think I only come to see you when I want something?" He raised one eyebrow at her.

"Well…" She was not sure what to say now.

Clark placed his hand over the top of hers and looked into her eyes... "I just missed you that's all, I know how hard you work and that you missed my moms baking, so I thought I would bring you a treat. I killed two birds with one stone I got to see you, and you got a much needed caffeine fix." He stated softly.

Chloe was transfixed staring into his eyes and was enjoying the way he was rubbing her hand with his thumb. Typical though she thought, I finally find myself attracted to someone else and Clark seems to have finally taken his Lana blinders off. She gave a small laugh.

"What is so funny?" Clark asked seriously.

"Nothing" She replied. "nothing at all." She took her hand out of his and got up and walked around her desk so she was standing in front of him. Pulling him into a hug she murmured "Thanks for being such a good friend Clark." Chloe pulled away and looked at him before giving him a quick kiss on the lips.

Chloe had turned away so she missed the blush slowly rising up Clark's face followed by one of his biggest grins ever. He should definitely bring her coffee and muffins more often if this was going to be the response he got.

"Right Clark as much as I love you as a distraction. I actually do have an article to finish and I won't get it done with you perched on the end of my desk." She was flicking through a pile of papers and once again missed the expression on his face. This time it was one of disappointment.

"Oh ok" Clark stood up. "But you have to call me later and we'll organize to do something together this week." He gave her his best puppy dog look.

"How can anyone ever say no when you look at them like that." She laughed. "I will call you when I'm done."

"You promise?" He demanded.

"Ok… ok, I promise now leave me to get this story finished."

Before she had even sat down he was already gone.

Chloe had sat in her office for over an hour trying to decide on the right thing to do after Clark and the yummy cinnamon muffin had disappeared.

She had only one option.

She was going to have to tell Lois the truth about her relationship with the green arrow before Lex did. God she was going to be pissed!! Chloe could hear her shrieks of, "are you crazy? How could you? You don't even know the guy." But it was better she got it over and done with straight away.

Before she had known it she had packed up her office for the day and was driving to meet Lois.

She had tried Lois' office, called home and Lois' cell but she was not answering either. Chloe had driven around until she had decided to check and see if Lois was at Ollie's. She didn't have his number and even if she was not there he might know where she had gotten too.

Parking the car, she made her way to the expensive clock tower apartment.

"Hi Ollie sorry to disturb you but have you seen Lois?" Chloe asked as he stood surprised to see her in the door way. He looked tired and stressed. He was still in his office clothes, with his shirt sleeves rolled up and his tie swinging unfastened around his neck.

"Sorry Chloe, not since lunch." He stepped aside from the door and ushered her in. "Is everything ok?"

Chloe looked around at the expensive tasteful décor; it was a typical bachelor pad but had something exciting about it. No wonder Lois' had felt at home here.

"I just need to talk to her about a story and she was not at work and she didn't answer her cell. It was just a stab in the dark really to see if she was with you but there's no emergency."

"If your sure? "

"Honest its fine. I shouldn't't of disturbed you, your busy I can see that." Her eyes fell on the stacks of paperwork and the laptop screen on the coffee table. "I should go."

"No stay let me get you a drink! I needed a break anyway Tink. "Ollie froze and closed his eyes, How could he be so stupid!

Chloe couldn't believe her ears, she had misheard him surely.

"What did you just call me? " She asked as he turned to face her with a worried look on his face.

"I can explain! "