Hi guys sorry for the delay it felt like real life snuck up behind me, put a bag over my head, knocked me out and then drove me to the desert to leave me there. At least it was like that metaphorically. So here is the next update. Watchtower is mentioned in this but it has nothing to do with Chloe in this version.
Chapter 10Clark walked down the sidewalk his mind full of thoughts of Lois. He glanced around to make sure no one was watching and he ducked into the alley and he let himself into the side door. He walked up to a second door and entered a code into the keypad beside it. It slid open and he walked up the stairs. He entered what was known to him and a few chosen as Watchtower. The central hub of superheroes. He looked up and saw two men looking over some paper work. He smirked to the outside world Clark Luthor, Bruce Wayne and Oliver Queen were all mortal enemies. They preferred the world to think that, it took away an suspicion from the fact that they worked together in their 'hero' business. Clark knew if Lionel ever found out this place or who Clark was friends with he would have a full out heart attack. Maybe that wasn't such a bad idea just off the old man that way, he chuckled to himself.
"What are giggling at?" Oliver said noticing Clark walk in.
"Nothing of importance Green Bean." Clark smirked. "Bats" he said nodding at Bruce.
"You're in an awfully good mood." Bruce said noticing the normally brooding Luthor to almost be perky.
"I met the future Mrs. Clark Luthor." Clark said sitting in the chair and propping his feet up onto the table.
"Found yourself a mail order bride did you?" Oliver asked with a smirk.
"Cute, nope she's right here and unlike your types she isn't plastic nor does she need an air pump." Clark said. He grinned when he heard Bruce snort.
"So what's her name and how long have you known her?" Bruce said, usually not one to partake in gossip but he was intrigued by Luthor's lighter attitude.
"Lois Lane and I met her yesterday." Clark said and both men looked at him shocked.
"Hey man um that's great uh but you've only known her one day?" Oliver asked.
"Yup she showed up on my doorstep selling paper subscriptions looking like a hot mess. I proposed about five minutes after meeting her." he noticed the two guys staring at him like he grew two heads. "Don't worry guys she's not a gold digger in fact she's bound and determined to turn me down at every corner. At this moment I'm sure she's coming up with some crazy scheme to get rid of me." Clark said with a proud grin. He'd be disappointed if Lois just rolled over and gave up.
"So what brought this all on?" Bruce asked.
"Lionel is going to cut me out if I don't produce an heir. I told him I would pick the woman, told him I'd marry the next woman to ring the door and would you know Lois Lane showed up at that exact second. She was having the day from hell, I originally proposed a business arrangement to her, but now having spent time with her I know there is no way in hell I'm ever letting her go. And yes she knows about the heir thing. Even I'm not that much of a bastard to make a woman think I want her just to get a baby. I was open and honest, it was strange actually." he said.
"When you say open and honest did you tell her everything?" Oliver asked holding his hand out making a flying motion.
"No I haven't gotten to that yet. She's stubborn so I have to get her to love me first then when I know she won't care because she can't live without me then I'll tell her. But not before that I don't want to scare her off."
"And proposing to her and smothering her into loving you won't" Bruce asked with a raised eyebrow. "Sounds like this woman has a strong spirit you push too hard she'll either make a run for it or you'll break her." Bruce said. Oliver looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Wow Bruce that was really beautiful." he said pretending to wipe a tear out of his eye.
Clark was quiet for a moment. Maybe he was coming on to strong with Lois, maybe giving her a little space would be good. He didn't regret last night though, she had been shaken up after her incident with the two men and needed someone. "I'll take that into consideration, so what's on the schedule today?" he asked and the men began to discuss issues popping up.
Lois sighed as she looked around the spacious apartment, no not apartment it was a penthouse. She had tried to stop Chloe from calling the realtor that Clark had recommended but Chloe had said what would hurt in looking. Mary Alice was an older woman and was a very nice. Lois had been expecting some gorgeous blonde or something but was surprised by Clark's choice. She hated to admit it but this place was amazing. It was simple for being a penthouse but it had a beautiful balcony that had just enough foliage around it that you could sit out there and not be seen by neighbors.
"This place is amazing." Chloe said looking around.
"Well it's one of our smaller locations but yes it's very nice." Mary Alice said and Lois swallowed, This is small?" "Oh excuse me." Mary Alice said as her phone rang. She stepped away to answer.
"Lois this place is fantastic." Chloe said. "Not to mention it has three bedrooms so you know when I'm tired of Jimmy I can come visit." she smirked.
"Chloe, I can't afford this so don't get attached." Lois said feeling disappointed she really did like it. "Maybe one day when I become an ace reporter." she whispered sadly.
"Lois, Clark said.." Lois held her hand up stopping her cousin.
"It doesn't matter what Clark wants. He wants me to marry him and give him an heir to make his father happy. I know men aren't exactly beating down the door to be with me but even I deserve to be with someone who loves me." she said with a sigh.
"And you don't think Clark could love you?" Chloe asked incredulous. "Lois, I'm going to be brutal here I know I only met the guy this morning but the way he looks at you, you can't fake that. Lois, you might think he only wants you for one thing but you have him wrapped around your little finger. I think his behavior is his reaction to not knowing how to deal with that. Something tells me he hasn't exactly had that before."
"You got all of that over scrambled eggs?" Lois asked incredulously. "Chloe, he wants a whore."
"If he wanted a whore all he would have to do is snap his fingers and he's be surrounded by bimbos and ditzes who would probably pop out a dozen kids for him. No Lois, you are different. He looks at you the way Jimmy looks at me." she said with a sly smile. "I don't think your seduction plan would get you too far I don't think he would just go home."
"Maybe" Lois said though she felt the doubt of everything she felt and everything Chloe said run through her. Could Clark really like her, really be able to have feelings for her? She was still feeling the burn from Brent's betrayal and to take the leap to give her limited trust to a man like Clark Luthor, well that just seemed insane. She couldn't deny the pull he had though, she only met him yesterday but it felt like she had known him for ages. He made her crazy but he also made her laugh, and last night she had felt safe with him. And the kisses good Lord those kisses were borderline obscene.
"Ms. Lane, Mr. Luthor is on the phone for you." Mary Alice said interrupting Lois's thoughts. Lois looked warily at the phone it was like he knew she was thinking about him.
"Hello?" she said taking the phone and going out onto the balcony.
"How's the apartment search going?" his smooth voice carried over the phone.
"Very nice, very informative on all the places I wish I could live but can't afford." Lois said admiring the view with a sigh.
"Mary Alice said you seem quite taken with the location that you are at right now." he said.
"mmm" Lois hummed not answering fully.
He was quiet on his end for a moment and then he spoke. "Lois I need to apologize."
Lois opened her mouth and then shut it again confused. Finally she spoke. "Um ok."
"It has been brought to my attention that perhaps I've been coming on too strong. And that by doing that I'm taking the chance that I will run you off. And they were right. I won't lie, I want you and I would want you no matter the situation and for me to put marriage and kids on you the way I did was unfair." Clark said and Lois thought he sounded sincere.
"So you are giving up?" she asked not sure why she felt a twinge of disappointment.
"No, not at all." he said amused. "I'm just backing off the marriage and kids talk, for now anyway."
"Ok" Lois said.
"Which brings me to why I called. I want to make you a deal. Mary Alice says you really like this apartment that you are at. So here is the proposal. I buy the apartment and you rent it from me. You pay whatever you can until you finish journalism classes and get a reporting job at the Planet. Then you can pay the difference and it's yours. I'm not giving it to you because I realize that you would never take it, you're too stubborn. Also, not too many people know this but LuthorCorp has a yearly scholarship fund. I want you to apply for it. Not too many people look to us as a charitable organization so not many people apply so you would have a really good chance to get it. And the winner is approved by the board not me so it would all be on the up and up. If you receive it, it would be on your own merit." Clark said.
Lois was speechless and she felt tears well in her eyes. "No matter what happens between you and me it would have no bearing on the apartment or the scholarship." he wanted to reassure her.
"No strings attached?" Lois asked feeling like she had a frog in her throat.
"No strings attached, you will have a written lease and everything. I'm really not trying to pressure you I'm just making this offer because Mary Alice said this property won't stay on the market long."
"I, I don't know what to say." she said.
"Say yes, so you can get a roof over your head." he teased.
"Are you still coming over for dinner?" she asked suddenly.
"Do you want me to?" he asked.
"I don't want you to think I do because you are doing all of these things for me." she said softly.
"Lois Lane are you saying you might actually like me?" he teased.
"Clark!" she exclaimed rolling her eyes.
"Relax Lois, I would never think that, you are too much of a lady to do that. And besides I'm charging you rent and the scholarship has to be earned. I'm not really doing anything for you. I just gave you a couple options."
Lois sighed and looked out over the Metropolis skyline, she really loved the apartment it had felt like home the minute she had walked in. She would also be paying her own way.
"Ok" she said.
"Great, hand me back to Mary Alice and I will have her draw up the papers if you want I will have her work out the lease papers too. She's honest and won't take advantage."
"I know she won't." Lois said with a smile and for the first time in a long time she felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. "So um I'll see you fo dinner tonight?"
"I wouldn't miss it." he said.
Ok guys let me know what you think.