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Chloe walked over to the group and stood next to where Lex was sitting.
"You ready to go, Chloe?" Lois asked, standing up.
"Yes," Chloe said. She looked at Lex, "Are you ready?"
Lex wasn't sure he understood her correctly. He looked at her for a moment, but before he could respond Chloe began to talk again.
"I don't think I need to go to the hospital. It's not like I haven't been unconscious before. Usually it's being knocked unconscious or something like that, so this seems a little more normal. Just fainting," Chloe said jokingly. He recognized it as her tendency to babble when she was nervous.
"Right, well then, let's go," Lois said a little louder and came to stand next to Chloe.
"I really appreciate the offer, but Lex is going to take me home," Chloe explained, not daring to look at Lex. Perversely, now that she had the courage to tell everyone about their relationship she wasn't sure he was.
Lois made a disbelieving noise, "Right. And maybe dad will get me a Porsche for my birthday. I think maybe you are still a little confused there, Chloe."
"No, I'm not. I'm going with Lex. He brought me to work and he'll take me home," Chloe explained.
Lois looked at Lex and made a rude face, "Are you guys, like, dating or something? Chloe, I've had enough drama for one day so stop with the kidding."
"We are actually," Chloe affirmed.
"Oh, my gosh," Lois said with a laugh. "You and Lex? Lex Luthor? The Lex that has repeatedly endangered Clark's life? The one that fired you? The one that went all crazy and delusional for a while there. A psychotic break or episode or whatever it was called."
"Seriously, Chloe. This doesn't make sense. It's not like you to be so foolish." Clark added, then looked at Lex, "No offense, Lex. I like you, but Chloe's a friend."
"None taken, Clark." Lex said with a mocking smile.
Chloe took a breath and looked at the ceiling. This was what she'd expected, but had somehow hoped wouldn't happen.
"I knew that you would say this, all of it. I knew what was coming. Sometimes I wonder if you ever see beyond your little world and realize that there are lives going on besides your own. Everyone in this room calls Lex a friend, but none of you are showing that here," Chloe shook her head.
"That's because he wasn't dating you, Chloe. We are just worried about you. You and Lex are different. He's much more experienced in the whole dating area," Lana said in her Lana-ish way.
"Ok, Lana, because you have always treated Clark perfectly," Chloe said sarcastically. "Besides, you guys are talking about Lex like he isn't even in the room," Chloe said with a little laugh.
"Yeah, actually I find it odd that he hasn't really said how he feels about this whole thing." Lois looked at Lex challengingly.
Lex sat forward in the chair and looked at Lois unflinching.
"First, I didn't fire Chloe, she quit. Second, I don't feel a need to justify our relationship to you. However, since I know that it's important to Chloe that you feel some sort of understanding, I will. Yes. Chloe and I are dating, quite exclusively in fact. Before you begin to question us anymore about the validity of our relationship, you should remember that Chloe is an adult. She's not a quasi-little sister or a county-cousin," he said looking from Clark to Lois, "She is a highly intelligent, beautiful woman that I happen to care very much about. She is fully capable of making decisions about her own life," Lex said.
It wasn't exactly the most romantic speech ever given, but from Lex it meant a lot. Chloe closed her eyes and smiled softly to herself.
Lois began to say something, but Chloe cut her off.
"Lois, we're going. Stop talking and just let it be. At least give me a day to have peace and then you can call me and bug me all about it," Chloe said with a smile. She grabbed Lex's hand and pulled him to standing.
"Let's go." Chloe said and headed to the door.
"I'll give you 6 hours, Chloe Sullivan!" Lois shouted at her as she was leaving.
"You're telling me that it hasn't worked?" Lionel Luthor was a very intimidating man when angry, and right now, he was livid. Unfortunately for Lionel, the man standing in front of him was not at all impressed by his anger.
"It would appear so," Jack Dunning confirmed. "I visited the store where she works and spoke with her. Everything was fine initially, but suddenly she looked at me and for a moment I think she began to remember."
"This is very dangerous for both of us, Jack." Lionel said gravely.
"You said he could do it. That it wouldn't be a problem," Jack said with a bit of annoyance. "Obviously, your man was incorrect."
"He assures me it hasn't failed before. His processes for changing memories are complex and require a great amount of skill. He swears they have never failed. I can't understand why this would be happening with Chloe." Lionel said pensively.
"Maybe her love for your son is too strong," Jack said bitterly.
"Jealous, Jack?" Lionel asked causing Jack to send him a warning look. "Don't be. It will all work out. You'll get the girl, while I'll get my son back."
"I fail to see how. If the memory implantation is failing and she is remembering me, then it seems like the plan has already failed." Jack said.
"It can't fail. Lex is already tampering with my business dealings. He always was a meddling sort, but now I have no control over him. He's my son and I will not lose him. He's all I have," Lionel said with emotion.
"I know what you mean," Jack said enigmatically.
"How do you know, Jack? You have no children or family, nothing to lose," Lionel said. Secretly he envied his conspirators freedom. Worrying about another person would always lead to ruin.
"You wouldn't believe me even if I told you." Jack said with a secret smile.
"Try me." Lionel challenged.
"Do you know how old I am, Lionel?" He looked at Lionel. "Of course you don't. No one does. You couldn't even guess. I have lived a long life and have met many people. Rarely, do I meet a woman that I feel any sort of emotional attachment for. Throughout time they have all been the same: shallow, materialistic, scheming, unintelligent and selfish." He paused remembering how he'd felt after seeing Chloe and smiled. "Chloe is different. I can sense it in her."
"Chloe Sullivan? I don't understand what it is about the girl that men seem to fall in love with. She's nosy and bossy as hell, been a thorn in my side for years. I'm beginning to questions your judgment, Jack, if you are willing to give up freedom for some tart of a reporter that my son is shacked up with," Lionel commented carelessly, but the effect on Jack was immediate. His face tightened with fury.
"Lionel, I will only ask you one time to refrain from speaking about Miss Sullivan in this manner," A muscle in Jack's jaw twitched, but he quickly controlled it. "Repeat the offense and you will not like the outcome."
Lionel was a little alarmed at such a strong reaction.
"You realize that in your conquest of my son's girlfriend, Lex is not to be hurt," Lionel reminded him.
"I remember your wishes. However, I do recall that you said you'd rather him be dead than using his power against you," Jack reminded him.
"That is true," Lionel agreed with a grim nod. "So, you are doing all of this over a woman?" Lionel asked. "You've agreed to work with me and pay a substantial amount of money all for the sake of a woman?" Lionel asked curiously.
"Yes and no. This is for Chloe and because I harbor a long standing hatred for the Savonrola family." Jack said with an evil smile. "Just like you do."
a/n: So here is the next chapter. Fast as promised. I hope this makes it a little less confusing. One review said that they didn't get it and hopefully this chapter adds a little understanding. Obviously not everything is revealed here because that would take away any sort of suspense or plot. So, thank you for reviews and for reading! Until next time. And Please Review!
