Chapter 7

Lilly woke to rain pounding on the window. Thunder made itself heard through the air as lightning ransacked the sky. There was a slight knock on the door and Lilly lifted her head up.

"Yes?" she asked tiredly.

The door opened a bit and Jeffrey's head popped in.

"Miss Kent? I'm sorry to bother you this early, but I'm afraid your parents had to cancel their breakfast plans this morning due to the weather." said Jeffrey.

"Oh." said Lilly. "That's okay."

"Would you be needing any help with anything? Mr. Luthor had to step out for some business matters, but he should be back shortly." said Jeffrey.

"No thank you." she said, but instantly took it back. "Uh, actually Jeffrey, would you happen to have some paper and a pen?"

"I'm sure we can come up with something." smiled Jeffrey.

"Thank you." she smiled.

Jeffrey nodded his head and closed the door behind him. Lilly sighed and sat up, looking around the room. Lightning shined through the room, giving a chill through the air. Lilly grabbed her crutches and very cautiously stepped out of bed. She went over to the dresser and grabbed some clothes and threw them over her shoulder. She stepped into the bathroom and closed the door, making sure to lock it this time.

She stepped into the shower after she had turned on the water, and let the hot water wake her up. She had her leg with the cast hanging out of the shower, so it made it a little hard for balance. She held herself up by the wall and quickly washed her hair and her body, making sure not to get her leg wet.

She turned off the water and grabbed a towel, drying herself off. She got dressed into a pair of long gray gaucho pants, and a white t-shirt, with a black sweater over it. She dried her hair and pulled it into a ponytail at the back of her head. She opened the door and went back into the bedroom to find a legal pad of paper and a pen sitting on the window seat. She grabbed a pair of socks from the dresser and went over to the window seat.

She put on her socks as to not freeze her feet off and slid back onto the window seat, making herself comfortable. She piled a few pillows behind her so she could lean back. She lifted her broken leg onto the seat and then her other. She grabbed the paper and pen and looked out the window. The lightning and the thunder had died down considerably since she had been in the shower. All that remained was the rain that filtered its way down the window pane, leaving a curvaceous trail as it went.

Lilly lifted her leg and placed the paper on her leg, thinking of what to write. She had been in the mood to write for awhile, but just never had the time. She had so many things she wanted to write, but her thoughts wouldn't form. She leaned back against the pillows and sighed. She tapped the pen on the paper out of frustration, and looked out the window.

You could see for miles out the window, and the skies grew darker the farther you looked away. She had a pretty good view of the driveway and the fountain off to the side. She felt like a caged animal, but she knew she was far from it. There was a knock on the door and Jeffrey popped in.

"Miss Kent? I took the liberty in bringing you some breakfast. I wasn't quiet sure what you liked so I had the cook make everything he could." said Jeffrey, wheeling in a cart. "We have some pancakes with every type of syrup you can think of. We have hashbrowns, eggs, bacon, sausage, and toast. I have some fresh fruit also. And I took the liberty of making you some tea. I heard from a little bird you liked hot tea."

"Wow, thank you so much Jeffrey. You really shouldn't have done this." said Lilly.

"Nonsense, Miss Kent. It is my duty to make the guests of this house comfortable and if I must say so myself, I do a very fine job of it." he said smugly.

"Well, yes you do." smiled Lilly.

"If you won't be needing anything else, I will leave you to your meal. Please feel free to call down for anything else you might need." said Jeffrey.

"I will. Thank you." she said.

Jeffrey bowed and left the room, closing the door behind him. Lilly sat down the paper and pen and grabbed a plate. She took a bit of everything from each group and settled back onto the window seat. She poured some strawberry syrup onto her pancakes and took a huge bite.

"Oh man this is good." she moaned.

She finished off her food in a matter of minutes. It was like nothing she had ever tasted before. The taste didn't seem real to her. She licked her fingers and placed the plate back onto the cart. She got herself situated back against the pillows and grabbed her tea, sipping the hot liquid. She set it down and picked up the paper, inspiration suddenly taking control.

Three hours had passed and Lilly had used the entire legal pad. Every inch was filled with thoughts and ideas, small stories and little twists and turns for her future works of art. The rain had not stopped so it continued to pour down the window sill, causing Lilly's eyes to droop. She laid back against the pillows and rested her head against the cool glass. The pitter patter of raindrops slowly lulled her to sleep and off to a world only a writers mind could think of.

The sound of glass breaking broke Lilly from her state of sleep. She heard someone yelling from downstairs and another shattering sound. She sat up and grabbed her crutches and went to the door. She opened it slowly and heard the voices growing stronger. She made her way to the top of the stairs and looked over the balcony to see her father and Lionel arguing.

"I am not going to go through with it. I won't." yelled Jonathon.

"Jonathon we had a deal remember? You just can't back out." said Lionel.

"Watch me." said Jonathon.

"I'm afraid you're not hearing what I am saying. I saved your farm from going under. I helped you adopt Clark without going through all the necessary precautions. And I helped you and Martha conceive a baby. If that doesn't award a payback than I just don't know what does." said Lionel.

"You leave Lilly out of this." demanded Jonathon.

"I'm afraid I can't Jonathon, since she is part of the deal." said Lionel.

"There is no deal." spat Jonathon.

"I'm afraid she is Jonathon. With her and Lex together we can combine our efforts and build a bigger and stronger company than this world as ever seen." said Lionel.

"No! I am not going to use my daughter for your benefit." said Jonathon.

"It won't be just for my benefit. It will be for hers and Lex's." said Lionel.

"No. I am not using her for your games." said Jonathon.

"It was part of the deal we made Jonathon. There's no backing out." said Lionel.

"We'll see." said Jonathon.

"What deal dad?" asked Lilly, making herself known at the top of the stairs.

Jonathon stopped and whipped around, looking at Lilly as if he had seen a ghost. He looked like he was trying to find something to say but couldn't think of anything.

"What deal?" she demanded.

"Lilly, I didn't know that it would turn out like this." said Jonathon, pleading from the bottom of the stairs.

"Didn't know what would turn out?" she asked, leaning onto the railing to help hold herself up.

"I don't think here is the best place to talk about this." offered up Lionel.

"Very well, we'll talk in the study." she said.

She hobbled down the stairs, refusing help from anyone and made her way towards the study. She flew open the doors and came in, seating herself on one of the couches. She waited as her father tried to make himself more comfortable, but failing miserably.

"What deal?" she started, anger beginning to show more and more.

Jonathon sighed and sat down, his head hanging low. He wiped his hands over his face, trying to work up the nerve.

"I just want you to know that what we did was out of pure love." he said.

"Just spill it." she said.

"Me and your mother tried for years to have a baby. We just couldn't get pregnant. We just gave up hope, until one day, Lionel approached us and told me about a place where we were guaranteed that we would have a baby. So we went, figuring we had nothing to lose. When your mother became pregnant with you, we were the happiest we could have ever been. A few years after you were born, Lionel needed a favor, but in that favor, cost me you." he said.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Lionel needed the farm for a business deal, and we needed the money. So, we made a deal. We arranged for you to be married to Lex when you turned twenty two, so that the two families would be combined, and so that money could be profited for both families." said Jonathon, lowering his head to the ground after delivering the news.

Lilly sat shell shocked at what her father had told her. She had been set up her entire life to marry none other than Lex Luthor. She had been made into a business deal by her own father. She couldn't believe it. Never in all her life would she ever think of her father stooping that low.

"Did Lex know about this?" she asked.

"Yes, he did." said Lionel.

Lilly looked up towards Lionel with hate filled eyes. Tears started to form as she looked away towards the fireplace. The fire seemed to only make her rage more. She stood up and grabbed her crutches, walking towards the door. Jonathon and Lionel stood up to stop her but she kept walking.

"Lilly." said Jonathon.

"Save it, dad. You know, I would have expected you to tell me from the beginning. What's funny, is that Mr. Luthor here was more willing to tell me than my own father." she spat.

She turned around and left the study, making her way towards the stairs. She took one stair at a time, finally making it to the top. When she walked around the corner she fell to the floor in a heap of sobs. Her life was crumbling more and more as the days went by. This was all too much for her. Knowing that she had been made into a business deal didn't make her stomach feel any better. She felt herself being lifted off the floor and being pulled towards her room.

"Clark?" she asked as he shut the door behind him. "What are you doing here?"

"I overheard what dad told you. Lilly I am so sorry." he said.

"What for? You weren't the one that made the deal, dad did." she said.

"Yes, but I still as if I should have known." he said.

"Clark, there was no way you could have. Dad didn't tell me I highly doubt he would tell you." she said.

"Yea." he said. "Have you talked to Lex?"

"No. He hasn't been home all day. Plus I don't think I can talk to him after finding out he knew about this all along." said Lilly.

"Well, I doubt he was happy with it. I'm surprised he didn't tell you himself." said Clark.

"Tell you what?" asked Lex, standing in the doorway.

Clark and Lilly spun around to see Lex, leaning against the doorway in a suit and tie. His jacket was wet from the rain and he looked incredibly tired.

Clark went to walk towards Lex, but Lilly stopped him, shaking her head saying to leave it alone.

"To tell you what?" asked Lex again.

"To tell me that you hired a tutor for me, so I could finish college." said Lilly, not really believing her own lie.

Lex didn't either but he accepted it, planning to push her tomorrow. He nodded his head and stood straighter.

"Yes, I was going to inform you, but time got away from me. He is coming tomorrow to begin his teachings." said Lex.

"Tomorrow? But school doesn't start for another week." said Clark.

"Well, Lilly isn't going to regular school anymore. Since she's being home schooled she will be able to learn any time she wants, at her own pace." said Lex.

"Do you really think that's fair?" asked Lilly, a little edge on the tip of her voice.

"No it's not, but seeing as how you're hurt and not able to attend classes, why not take things slow." said Lex, a bitter sound coming from his voice. "He'll be here tomorrow at ten. Don't be late."

And with that, Lex walked out, closing the door behind him. Lilly knew he was pissed, but she really didn't care. She fumed and walked over to the window seat, sitting down and looking out at the stars.

"You gonna be alright?" asked Clark.

"I will be." she said.

"When are you going to talk to Lex?" asked Clark.

"I might talk with Lionel first. He was the only one who wanted to be honest with me from the start." said Lilly.

"Well, if you need anything, please call me." said Clark.

"I will." she said.

She stood up and gave Clark a hug. He left her room, closing the door behind him and set off towards the front door. He walked down the stairs and came face to face with Lex.

"How's your sister?" asked Lex.

"She's dealing with some difficult things at the moment. I'm sure she'll be fine tomorrow." said Clark, not really wanting to get into depth. He stepped around Lex and towards the door.

"About the marriage, no doubt?" asked Lex.

Clark turned around to face Lex's back. Lex turned around slowly and looked into Clark's face. He knew he hit some sore spot.

"Why didn't you tell her?" asked Clark, walking closer to Lex.

"It wasn't my place." said Lex. "Her father was the maker of the deal, I thought she deserved to hear it from him."

"Don't forget that your father was also in on the deal." said Clark.

"Yes, but my father was willing to tell her." said Lex.

"Whatever Lex. I don't care who should have told her, the point is, she should have been told sooner, and not been kept underneath a rock!" yelled Clark.

"Clark?" asked Lilly, stepping up to the balcony railing. "What's going on?"

"Nothing. I was just leaving." said Clark.

Clark gave a last look up towards Lilly and left, slamming the door behind him. Lilly jumped at the intensity of the slam, and watched Lex's shoulders slump. Lex seemed to stand there for a few minutes, seeming as if he was deciding something in his head. He turned around to walk back to his study when he noticed Lilly standing by the railing. He had forgotten that she was up there and noticed how red and puffy her face was.

She shook her head and turned around, making her way back towards her room. Lex heard her door slam and lock into place. He slouched back down and walked towards his study, closing the doors behind him, and drowning himself in his scotch.


Pleeeeeeeease review!!!