Disclaimer: If I owned these characters, I would be rich.

Rating: M-ish. One overt sexual act in this chapter, but it's taaame.

Comments: Lex takes a break from Smallville and returns to Metropolis for a week.

Manipulation

The police didn't believe my story when I told them that I thought Victor was a burglar. Luckily, they were Metropolis P.D., and the rumor that my father had them in his pocket wasn't just a rumor. Not to say that I didn't get lectured for it. After Dad removed me from the penthouse so the staff could get to work on cleaning up the blood staining the carpet and tile, he was silent the entire ten minutes it took to drive to his penthouse.

My mother left the other penthouse specifically to me in her will as part of my inheritance. It was a blessed occurrence to have somewhere that Dad wouldn't bother me most days during my college years. Now, it was rarely used. The castle in Smallville was my home. Life in the city seemed less desirable, though I wasn't sure when the hell that happened. True, Metropolis was away from meteor-enhanced mutants and prejudiced farmers alike, but it was also away from Clark Kent.

I was kidding myself if I thought that my attraction to him didn't go past friendship. Despite that difficult admission, he was still a teenager, and he would find a new crush soon enough. I just had a crush. It would fade, and I would go back to dating careless jerks like Victor Hardwick. I was sure that Dad would be happy when I did. He was still trying to pair me off with the most available, most successful bachelors of Metropolis's high society.

It was only when I was sitting on the smooth leather of his black couch in the living room before he finally looked at me. Deep brown, almost black eyes searched mine with a darker purpose in mind compared to the blank stare I returned. He seemed to fidget for a moment, which was a rare thing with him, before taking a seat next to me and taking my hand in his. My eyes went wide with surprise at the physical contact, a bigger gesture than what I was prepared for.

"Lex," he said before pausing, his lips pursed in thought for that moment of hesitation. "I'm worried about you." His tone was soft, fatherly, and it was enough to mess with my equilibrium. He hadn't sounded like this since before my mother died, and even then, genuine affection was a precious thing to behold. It was on the tip of my tongue to ask him why, to be defensive, but as soon as my lips parted, he silenced me with a stern look. "First, the business with that young boy who could turn invisible. Now, nearly killing Victor Hardwick out of anger."

"You're being unreasonable. Jeff Palmer was trying to kill me. It was self defense. I shot Victor in the knee, not in the head." In all the fuss, I didn't realize that I had gotten up. Instinct sent me to the hidden mini-bar, but to my dismay, all I found was Ty Nant. With a grimace, I grabbed the blue bottle and opened the water before taking a large gulp of the cool liquid.

"That doesn't change the fact that you purposely shot Victor. As much as I don't like the Hardwick family, your intentions were malicious." His eyes glittered with disapproval. "I will not have my daughter in prison for homicide."

I thought carefully on the way back to my seat. It was entirely too late or early, depending on which way one looked at it, to be having a meaningful conversation. Fatigue was tugging at my eyelids, and I was trying my hardest not to yawn. "It hasn't exactly been easy for me lately. I seem to be a target for meteor freaks."

"I know that your temper is short, but you can't let it get out of hand. A Luthor always uses the situation to their advantage, no matter how difficult." He ran his fingernails through one side of his goatee, which was as close to a nervous tic as he could get. "You mustn't show weakness. You should also try and keep a clear mind at all times," he emphasized, and I fought the urge to wrinkle my nose at him.

"I drink a reasonable amount of alcohol for my age," I retorted.

"You should cut back." He reached for a manila envelope on the glass coffee table in front of us. "I see I need to reiterate my policy on the Kent boy," he chided as he removed full-color photos from it and gave them to me.

My cheeks flared pink as I saw high-quality images of me and Clark in action. I was still trying to trace the origin of just where his erratic behavior came from, but for the most part, it had been far from my mind. I was almost tempted to ask for copies. It would have been heat instead of embarrassment flooding me were it not for my father presenting me with these pictures and displaying the very real fact that I had slept with a minor.

Finally, the question eked out of me. "Where did you get these?" My voice was surprisingly even, but I couldn't look at him. I knew that he was glaring at me and trying to achieve eye contact, but my humility prevented it.

"I have my sources. I don't want this to happen again. No heir of mine will be labeled a pedophile," he spat before standing up and throwing the pictures in the fireplace. With the flick of a switch, the gas flame came to life and burned away the evidence of my grave error.

It was then when I finally looked up in one of my weaker moments, and I had no choice but to allow the emotions to shine through my eyes. With a deep reluctance, I whispered my apology. "I'm sorry, Daddy."

The fury in his eyes went soft, and he strode over to me to gently stroke the skin of my cheek. I suspected that had I been born a son instead of a daughter, this particular tactic wouldn't work with him. But a repentant female was a weakness of his, and it was one of the only ways that I knew he still loved me. Down in that dark, somewhat twisted heart of his was actual love. It was an optimistic thought, something I was usually wary about allowing myself, but there were signs that it was there.

"Does he remember anything?" he asked softly before removing his hand from my cheek and putting his hands in his pockets.

"I don't think so." It was true that he remembered waking up in bed with me, but I wouldn't endanger Clark in that way.

"Good. Let's keep it that way." He appeared pensive for a moment, and I saw a sudden gleam in his eyes. That was not a good sign. "Did he use protection?"

He always could tell when I was lying. A moment's hesitation gave him the answer he needed.

"Goddamnit, Lex," he swore while clenching his fists tightly. He was rarely physical with his anger, never forthcoming with it either, but family honor was everything to him. His legacy would not have a bastard child in it. "I thought you were more intelligent than this. I want you on birth control immediately so this kind of disgrace won't happen."

"A child is a disgrace?" The words slipped unbidden from my mouth. I had no intention of having children in the near future and ruining my professional life. Why was I protesting this?

"If born under the wrong conditions, yes. How long has it been?" As if he didn't know. Those pictures had to be dated.

"Three days." It wasn't nearly long enough to do anything about it, and the possibility was gnawing at my stomach already. I didn't think it would happen, but Dad's concern over it made it nerve-wracking.

He scoffed. "It's far too early to test for anything. I'll discreetly hire a private doctor who will examine you after six weeks. Call me if you have any symptoms." He grabbed at his beard and gave a small sigh.

"And if I do?" I was exhausted and anxious at the same time, but the pang of guilt in me forced the questions from me. "If I am pregnant?" The thought sent shockwaves through my mind and provoked violently negative reactions from my subconscious. I was supposed to rule Luthorcorp when Dad was gone. Destiny placed me as the first female president of the United States. Nothing would get in the way of my ambition. Yet the sliver of a conscience in me wouldn't allow me to throw away a life if it was indeed there.

"There's no point in discussing something that may not even happen. You're tired from all the excitement." His hand drifted to my shoulder and squeezed lightly.

"What happened to preparing for every eventuality?" It was juvenile to toss my father's words back in his face, but the youth in me couldn't help it.

"I am prepared for either possibility, darling. You are not." He gave me one last glance before heading down the hall and retreating to the master bedroom. All the doors in the house were closed, but I found my room easily. This was where I lived for most of my teen years when I came home from different boarding schools around the country.

It was decorated in black and purple, just how I left it. However, there was a lack of the posters I had pinned up on the walls during the angry part of my youth. Most of them were bands from the hard rock era that were outdated now. The CD player that used to play music especially loud just to annoy Dad was long gone, but that didn't surprise me. Everything that made the room mine wasn't there anymore, and the irony made me smile humorlessly.

I undressed and slipped under silk sheets of the finest quality. Finally, I was able to relax and allow myself to sleep. The tension seeped away through the king sized mattress and the pillow filled with the softest down. If I had dreams, they were tame enough that I didn't remember them.

In the morning, I woke up to fresh clothes and the smell of coffee. After putting on the emerald blouse and black pants, I ventured out of my old room and into the kitchen to be greeted by the sight of the cook, Adele. She smiled at me and wrapped me up in a large hug. She was the cook when I was younger too, and she had often fixed me a snack or took care of me when I stumbled home drunk or drugged.

Adele came here from France to work and get money for her daughter's education. She always said that I reminded her of her offspring, but inside I doubted that she was as messed up as I was. She poured me a cup of coffee, and I swallowed the hot liquid like it was the last drop of water on Earth.

"Your father said that you will stay here to rest for the next week." Before I could protest, she held up her hand to stop me. "Your laptop is in the office. Your video games from the castle are in the entertainment room, but I was only supposed to use that as a last resort to convince you to stay."

When I spent the next four hours kicking ass in Grand Theft Auto 3, I found myself wondering if Clark was any good at video games. God, I was behaving like an obsessive ex. I abandoned my video games in favor of work after that. I delegated most of my responsibilities to Gabe Sullivan via cell phone. He was a bright man, and I made a note to myself to promote him when an opportunity opened up.

I crunched numbers for what seemed like minutes. To say that I had a passion for math and science was an understatement. I had studied at Metropolis University to be a biochemist, but I got kicked out for my extracurricular activities. Even so, I was one of the best. The professor of Molecular Science actually cried when I told him I was being expelled. The truth was, I had been helping him in more than one way, whether it was helping him with his research or giving him a blow job after-hours.

I used my looks to my advantage all the time in college and even earlier than that. Whether it was snagging a man for a night of pleasure or pleasing one temporarily to boost my grades, the Luthor charm was in my blood. There was no doubt that I held myself on a tighter leash now that I was starting to take my career as a business tycoon seriously, but I slipped twice. Clark and Victor. I needed to improve my track record.

I was sitting on the office floor with papers spread around me when Dad got home. He didn't make an effort to sneak in. Instead, he simply announced his presence with the sound of Italian shoes on the wooden floor. At his arrival, I looked at the clock for the first time since I began working and realized that it had been hours instead of what I thought was minutes. I gave a wry smile when I looked up at him, and he leaned down to kiss me on the forehead.

This much physical affection with my father was unusual, but I soaked it all up like the proverbial sponge. I gathered the papers together and closed my laptop after locking the screen.

"You aren't worried that I'll read through the plant's information and see how you're doing?" His tone was curious, because my paranoia was usually constant.

"No. If you wanted to read them, you would have done it already. Either it's not important or you've already seen them all anyway." He was the one who lifted them from my castle, after all. I gave myself a mental reminder that I needed to increase security.

"Touché." I noticed that he was still wearing his overcoat, which was made of black leather and swept around him. "How long have you been working?" A touch of concern seeped into his voice.

"A few hours. Don't worry, I played video games earlier like the lazy heiress I am," I joked, and I was sure I glowed when he smiled. After all these years of stilted conversations and minimal affection, my mind was starved for attention. It was almost pathetic.

"I'm having dinner with a few business associates. Would you like to come along?" He wasn't being dishonest with me. I had no idea whether his intentions were honorable. His facial expression was plain, open, and a touch impatient.

"None of them are going to drug me, are they?" The sarcasm coated the air between us, and my mouth twitched downward into a frown as I thought of the month's events.

"Of course not," Dad scoffed before smoothing his hair with his hands. His fingernails were perfectly trimmed. In my adolescence, I caught him getting a manicure, and it remained a jubilant memory when I was angry with him. He still wouldn't admit that he got one every two weeks. "It's just a deal I need to open with Wayne Enterprises."

Half an hour later, I was in a grey silk dress that was classy while still leaving little to the imagination. It was Dad's gift to me for all the stress I've been going through. At least, that was what he told me. The halter-style top wrapped around my neck and framed my breasts. The dress was backless and went to daring lows before it ended. It was tight around the hips, but it flared out and flowed around my heeled sandals.

The rich auburn strands of my wig were pulled into patterns of small circles while curled tendrils were left to dangle on my neck. It was dotted with crystalline gems. Dad demanded that I go all out, even though this was supposedly just a business meeting. The smoky grey eye shadow brought out the blue in my eyes, and Dad claimed that he was just using me as a distraction.

We arrived at Metropolis's most exclusive restaurant after ten minutes in the limousine. Circe was home to anyone who had an exorbitant amount of money, and the red carpet leading to the entrance was littered with photographers and reporters. My upper lip curled into a snarl at the reminder of just why I was so strongly opposed to paparazzi.

"Smile, dear," Dad reminded me as he stepped out of the limo and then turned to help me out. I put on my phony smile that looked so real even the most skeptical reporters bought it, and why shouldn't they? I'm Lex Luthor. The world should believe exactly what I tell them. I stepped out with the grace that came with being a Luthor and pretended to be modest for the cameras as male reporters wolf whistled.

As soon as we were inside and away from the press, my smile turned into gritted teeth, and I tried to hide a dangerous flash in my eyes as my lips pursed. Obviously, I hadn't been doing a very good job of it, because the host braced himself for hostility. Instead, he received a pleasant and easy smile from Lionel as he requested to be seated with the Wayne party. The man gave a relieved smile and slid two thin menus into one hand while guiding our way with the other.

"This way, please." We were led through secluded dining rooms with little more than two separate parties a section, all dimly lit and very private. Circe prided itself on its atmosphere, and there was no doubt why. The rooms were all decorated in warm colors ranging from dark burgundy to bright crimson. It had a seductive allure to it. The maître d' led us to the section in the very back, where there was only one party waiting.

There were two men sitting at the table, both easily recognized in my business-driven mind. One was nervously looking at his watch to check and see that yes, we were ten minutes late. Luthors were never kept waiting; we were waited on, whether we chose to be five minutes or five hours late. This man had an annoying quirk of smirking and frowning in the same gesture, which formed at least four ripples in his cheek that were the effects of a single dimple.

He was finicky, and his eyes went in ten different directions before they finally landed on my father and me. He gave a false smile and extended a hand to my father. "William Earle," he said by way of introduction. His dull blonde hair was set in an all-business manner, and his wire-rimmed glasses made his head look rather large. His black eyes twinkled at my father. "It's a pleasure, Mr. Luthor." He made the cardinal error of not standing when he shook my father's hand, and I could see Lionel's frown from the corner of my eye.

The other man was quite attractive. Bruce Wayne had been the Metro's Bachelor of the Year for five years running, and this was my first chance in person to see why. Stunning blue eyes locked on me immediately, and I couldn't look away if I wanted to. His black hair was slicked back. His chiseled features were emphasized, and before I could digest his appearance, he brought my hand to his lips and laid a soft kiss on my knuckles. His eyes were still on mine, still as intense as the first moment. He kept my hand in his when he introduced himself.

"Bruce Wayne. It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Luthor." He lightly squeezed my hand before letting it go.

"Please, call me Lex," I responded automatically, though my voice was a little breathier than I remembered it ever being.

He gave a slight bow through an inclination of his head before turning to my father. "Mr. Luthor. It's nice to finally meet the man behind the company."

Within a few seconds, everyone was seated, and I pretended that I wasn't watching Wayne from under my eyelashes. I barely heard the business ramblings of my father and Mr. Earle. I'd learned long ago to tune out my father, and Earle's voice was monotonous. I knew that I should be paying attention to refine my negotiation skills, but I couldn't keep my eyes off of tall, dark, and handsome. He seemed to resonate a certain arrogance, but beyond that was something deeper.

I finally gave the items on the menu some consideration in both practicality and strategy. Plainly ignoring him would incite that arrogance of his, and the male in him would come after me. At least, that was how it was supposed to work.

The Dom Pérignon came a few minutes later. Lionel and Earle were now in heated discussion over the contract's terms. Earle was only Wayne's guide. Bruce was the real CEO of the company, but it was a well-known fact that he put a lot of faith into his right-hand man. I took a cautious sip of the sparkling wine and surveyed the situation, which seemed to have reached its boiling point. Earle threw down his napkin and cursed before leaving the table in a huff and claiming that Lionel was stubborn and impossible to work with.

Dad seemed the slightest bit flustered, but he hid it well even as he swallowed an entire glass of wine in one gulp. Wayne seemed to pick up the undercurrent of anger in the air and straightened his tie on his all-black suit. My father was wearing the standard tuxedo, though it had been tailored to fit every curve on his body. Wayne's dark silk shirt seemed to do wonders for him and only added to the mystery of the suave billionaire.

"I apologize for Mr. Earle," he said in a smooth voice while casually eyeing the menu. "He's had a rough week."

My instinct told me that Wayne had been the cause of that dissention. The server, a woman dressed in all red, came to our table and politely inquired about our orders. Dad ordered foie gras. Bruce had a filet mignon with asparagus. I ordered a simple risotto. Despite my father's grandiose taste, I rarely ate large meals and mostly picked at food like a bird. Occasionally, I forgot to eat, and the staff had to remind me.

Wayne and Lionel had been talking about different businesses and their reputations for five minutes before Bruce's glittering eyes shifted to me.

"Are you bored by business conversations, Lex?" The way he said my name, his silky voice emphasizing each letter, let me know that he was living up to his playboy reputation. Then again, the paparazzi considered me to be in the same class because of how many relationships I've gone through and how quickly they've ended.

"Hardly." I traced a finger innocently around the rim of my glass full of the most expensive wine on the planet. "I just don't like bringing business to the dinner table."

Lionel shot me a disapproving glance, while Bruce simply folded his hands together and gave a small nod of approbation.

"An admirable virtue. Yes, I agree, why don't we leave business where it belongs?" he suggested in that smooth voice. I understood why he was so good at negotiation. Dad looked startled, but he quickly recovered his ground.

"Absolutely. After all, that kind of thing can be resolved in a meeting." It was a Luthor trait to slip in opportunity in the guise of reluctant acceptance.

Bruce never broke eye contact with me, and he easily brushed off my father's words. "Where are you living? Metropolis?"

I tried to calm the teenage girl in me and slow the rushing beat of my heart. He had to be interested, but wasn't there enough drama in my life without adding another boyfriend into the mix? "For the week, I'm staying at my father's penthouse in Metropolis. After that, I'm going back to Smallville to run one of Luthorcorp's plants."

A sly smirk crossed Bruce's features as his eyes shone in amusement. "Smallville? I was under the impression that you were strictly an urbanite."

"Lex is the head of my plant based there. It's been sucking funds from the corporation, so it's Lex's job to turn it into a profit." My inner self cringed at Lionel's interruption, but Bruce didn't seem to pay him any attention.

"It's my test before Dad lets me into corporate. Maybe after I prove myself, he'll step down and let me take over as CEO." I gave Bruce a small wink. There was no doubt that Lionel would get riled up at my admission of truth. Bruce got the message and gave me a small smile in return as he shifted his eyes to take in Lionel's reaction.

"You act as if it's impossible, Lex," Lionel scoffed. "I'm only ensuring that you're competent enough to handle being the only female CEO of a major company. Other leaders will see you and laugh, because they'll think that you're weak."

"I don't know, Mr. Luthor." There was another hint of something deeper in Bruce's eyes. "Even at a glance, Lex promotes a strong presence. She seems very self-assured to me."

Before Dad could sputter out a response, our server returned with our dinner. Each plate was given to its respective owner, our glasses were refilled, and Lionel's jaw was squared. I hid a small smile at his flustered state and began to eat.

Despite the interruption, Lionel attempted to regain his composure. "I'm not saying that she isn't a strong, independent woman. I'm just saying that some people may not see her that way."

"You mean, people won't take me seriously." The mere thought made my blood boil. I would be ruthless if I had to, but I would gain respect from everyone.

"Exactly. Some men can't see beyond gender." Lionel seemed satisfied, but I saw Bruce's lips twist in consideration.

"I'm sure Lex will be persuasive enough to convince them. As a matter of fact, why don't you let her handle this negotiation?"

I was two seconds from letting my jaw drop, but I kept my mouth closed despite the shock. I heard an audible click from my father's teeth as his mouth shut. His teeth were still bared, and his facial expression worried me for a moment.

His proposal was unexpected, and there was no way Dad could take that blow to his pride. I saw him straighten his tie as he cleared his throat. The answer was clear.

"Despite her numerous skills, Lex isn't ready for this level of negotiation." My father's perfect elocution seemed halted and insincere. My heart fell at the thought that perhaps my father wasn't going to let me advance after all, but I refused to let that kind of insecurity show on my face.

Bruce caught it. As he read the emotions that I'd worked so hard to hide, I felt my own frustration towards the seemingly perfect man rise. Who was he to demand my company when I was supposed to be resting from my hectic life? I was lucky that I wasn't insane at this rate. The man seemed harmless enough, but I was tired of wolves dressed in wool.

"You misunderstand me, Mr. Luthor." His tone grew serious instead of teasing. "Unless Lex takes over negotiations, there will be no deal. Wayne Enterprises will withdraw its offer, and we won't do business with Luthorcorp at all."

"This is ridiculous. You're refusing his offer because you want a date?" I switched from calm, cool, and collected to outraged within a few seconds.

"Lex, calm down." Surprisingly, it was my father who laid a hand on my shoulder to attempt to calm me. "Mr. Wayne, I assure you that if you attempt to harm my daughter in any way, your death will be swift and precise."

"I don't plan on harming her, Mr. Luthor." Wayne gently patted a cloth napkin across his lips and dropped it to his plate. "My intentions are to teach your daughter a thing or two about contract negotiation. She can back out at any time."

Contract negotiation, my ass. I huffed quietly. He didn't seem the type who would outright attack me if I didn't submit to his charms, but the fact that he was striking this deal in the first place showed that he had a darker side. I threw a speculative glance at my father, and I immediately knew that he would accept the offer.

"I don't have a choice in this?" To his credit, he had Lionel Luthor backed into a corner. Few ever got to experience winning against a Luthor.

"You do. You can easily walk away, and I'll just drop the contract." Damnit. Even rarer, he had both Luthors trapped. I'd be damned if I was going to play the pleasant escort for him. I would do what the Luthor instinct in me told me to do. I would torture him so much that he would no longer be able to stand my company. If he wanted a pissed-off Luthor, he would certainly get one.

"Fine. I'll do it." It was a challenge, and challenges were something I didn't take lightly. The competition was easily underway. The entire dinner had been a game of subtle manipulation and a chance for Wayne to see if Lionel Luthor was worthy of this contract. Somewhere in-between, his focus had shifted from Dad to me.

Lionel cleared his throat and gave a smile that was too smooth to be natural. He was nervous. He obviously thought that I would lose this contract for him, that I would ruin it. He was halfway right. "It's settled, then. Lex will continue negotiations in my place."

"Our business is concluded. I'll contact you with the details." The suave businessman reached for his wallet as he stood, but I wasn't about to let him end this with the advantage.

"Please, Mr. Wayne. Allow me." Even though my tone was casual, I knew exactly what I was doing when I stood and lifted the long hem of my dress. In the process, almost all of my bare leg was exposed before my fingers slipped money from my lace garter. I watched my father sneak a smile behind the palm of his hand as Wayne's eyes followed my every movement. The intense blues returned to my face after I put a suitable amount on the table.

I simply raised an eyebrow at him before turning away and letting my dress sweep back to my ankles. I set a hand on my father's shoulder as a signal that it was time to go, and he complied.

"It's a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Wayne," my father added. Wayne wasn't shocked enough to miss that he was supposed to shake my father's hand, at least. Dad was always good at rubbing salt in the wounds. We exited the restaurant and left Wayne behind.

I let out a sigh of relief when we got in the limo. After he ordered the chauffeur to take us home, Lionel threw a serious glance at me. I returned it with a level gaze.

"I hope you know what you're getting into, Lex. If you lose that contract, I will be extremely disappointed in you." Lionel was using his best lecturing voice, but I was too out-of-it to care.

"I do." I allowed myself a small smile. "He doesn't." When Lionel opened his mouth to protest, I silenced him. "I won't lose the contract. If there's anything I know how to do, it's this."

To his credit, Dad only nodded and gazed out the window.