Thank you for all your lovely reviews. The next chapter will be Insurgence, which I'm looking forward to tackling.

Lionel watched, a smile playing about his lips as he watched Martha make her way easily around the room, putting items away whilst her eyes stayed rivetted on the file he had given her to read. She used her hip to close a filing cabinet and he couldn't help but chuckle at how well she knew her surroundings. At that she looked up, "Something amusing?" she asked.

"I find it entertaining to watch you work, you become emersed." He held his hands out as he added, "It certainly isn't a complaint."

"I should hope not."

Lionel nodded towards the file in her hands. "I'm intrigued to hear your thoughts."

Martha shrugged. "It was what I expected." There was no chair in front of Lionel's desk and so she balanced herself on the edge of his desk instead, crossing one leg over the other.

"But you're disapointed," he remarked calmly.

"Of course," she admitted. "I wanted Smallville to benefit from this proposal, moving the project to Granville removes any possibility of that."

"The only piece of suitable land in Smallville is too small for the project."

"I know." She glanced down at file once more and her forehead furrowed.

"What are you thinking?"

"Granville has a much smaller population and less land potential for residential developments than Smallville."

"That is true," he acknowledged, "But for a project of this magnitude it's now the only option. Granville is commutable from here so there may still be some benefits for the residents of Smallville."

"We do have another option, we could divide the project," she suggested.

Lionel shook his head. "The portion of land left over if we exclude the areas that are now under preservation is too small to support even half of this build."

"I wasn't going to to suggest halving it." She flicked open the folder to the figures and projections. "The land in Smallville can support a third of the project, by cutting the Granville project by that amount you remove the concerns of their local planning authority in regards to the town beinig able to support a workforce of that size."

He smiled, he enjoyed watching her when she was passionate about something, her cheeks would flush and her eyes glow, whilst her foot was currently tapping agitatedly against his desk. However, this was his business and although he might want to indulge her where possible he knew she wouldn't appreciate an indulgence in this. "You're right, but I'm confident that planning will eventually rule in our favour and it's not enough to justify two builds, it would increase our costs."

"Not necessarily. The Smallville offices won't take long to build, you can split the teams for the beginning of the project or alternatively use a smaller team once the Granville offices are into the final stages. You can also save costs by removing the helipad which would be excessive in a smaller build."

"The helipad is for my ease."

Martha looked up and rolled her eyes. "Honestly Lionel, how often are you going to visit those offices?"

He shuffled in his seat, loathe to admit that she may have a point. "If I have multiple visits to make in a day then I don't always have time to drive between them."

"I would have thought that saving a couple of million on something that will hardly ever be used would provide a greater saving." She met his stare. "And there is a helipad at the Smallville plant, I'm sure if you spoke to Lex-"

"If Lex thought I needed it he would most definitely turn me down," Lionel assured her quickly. "However, I am willing to concede that you may have locked onto a valid, workable solution to our current problems. What it needs is costing to back it up and a more in depth proposal."

"I can look into that," Martha assured him quickly.

He chuckled, "Of that I have no doubt, what I had in mind was that we discuss this over dinner tonight. Lex is going out, so we wouldn't be interupted. Unless of course you need to get home for Clark."

"No, what with it being a Friday Clark has decidedly better places to be than sitting at home with his Mother." She raised an eyebrow at him as she added, "Although why do I get the feeling that you don't simply want this evening to focus on business?"

Lionel smiled as he got to his feet, rounding his desk to stand in front of her. "Because you know me far too well," he laughed. His hands slid into her hair, tilted her face upwards. "It's been far too long since we had time together, proper time."

"It's been two weeks."

"Exactly."

"And this would most definately be mixing business with pleasure," she reminded him.

"Undoubtably," Lionel admitted. "But we're grown adults, we can surely seperate the two in our heads."

He lowered his mouth to kiss the curve of her neck and Martha let out a soft sigh. "That's not fair, you know I can't concentrate when you do that."

"Always make use of anything that can press your advantage," he murmured against her skin.

Her eyes fluttered shut as she felt his hand sneak underneath the hem of her blouse, caressing her waist. She had missed this, had missed him, of course she saw him most days but often they were in the company of others or their attention was focussed on matters of work and it simply wasn't the same as being with him in this way. Pressing her hand against the back of his head, she encouraged him even as she vaguely realised how dangerous her last thought had been. Lionel Luthor wasn't a man that many would consider letting their guard down around and she knew it was madness for her to do so and yet here she was. Pressing her hand against his chest, she applied just enough pressure to get his attention. "I can stay for a while," she told him. "But business first."

His smile was triumphant. "You drive a hard bargain but I believe that we have a deal."

Martha curled her feet underneath her, cradling her wine glass in one hand as she relaxed back against the sofa and glanced across at Lionel. "So, how does it look now?"

"Workable," he admitted. "If we have the numbers right then it could be the right solution. I'll have them checked for Monday and we can take it from there." He leaned forward and clinked his wine glass against hers. "Very impressive work."

"Well I had the right motivation, I want Smallville to have a future. That and I'm starving and now that that's done can we please eat?" She asked laughingly.

"Absolutely." He reached for the phone. "Any requests?"

"Uh no." She shifted slightly uncomfortably in her seat, as Lionel issued his commands to the kitchen staff, still unused to the trappings of wealth that surrounded him, the army of staff that was ready to jump at his every whim.

When he hung up he looked over at her. "It shouldn't be long, which is just as well because I have yet to allow hot dog vendors on the property."

"More fool you," Martha teased.

Lionel shifted towards her, ready to place his hand on her leg, to lean into her and draw her close when the door to the office opened suddenly. He drew back just as Lex strolled into the room and he felt Martha straighten beside him.

Lex glanced between his Father and Martha Kent as he remarked, "I hope your overtime rate is generous, Mrs Kent, you're certainly kept long enough to have earned an increased rate." He looked at Lionel, adding, "Dad, I'm aware that you don't have a social life, but that doesn't mean you should deprive your staff of one. No wonder you've driven her to drink."

Martha saw Lionel bristle and intervened smoothly. "Your Father was indulging me by listening to a business idea that I had, we were looking at the figures, and Lex I've told you before to call me Martha."

Lex managed a smile that actually reached his eyes. "You know by making him sound reasonable he'll never see the error of his ways."

"Very amusing Lex, now is there anything we can help you with?" Lionel asked. "I had thought you were going out tonight."

"I am, I'm just getting a book for Helen, she mentioned wanting to read it and I remember seeing a copy in here."

Lionel tsked. "I hope it's not one of the first editions, I'm loathe to lose such a valuable asset to one of your...diversions."

"Helen isn't a diversion," Lex barked irrately.

Looking between Father and Son, Martha intervened again. "Clark told me about her, a doctor, very impressive." She ignored Lionel's eye roll as he sat back against the sofa.

"Not impressive enough for some it would seem." Lex gave an annoyed sigh as he decided, "I'll get it another time, I'm not keen to stand here whilst you berate my life choices...again."

"Make better choices and I won't have the need to pass comment," Lionel replied calmly.

"I seem to recall being held hostage by one of your 'choices' only two months ago."

"Yes, well, we always want better for our children."

"I'm sure it's more about your legacy than any genuine concern for me." Lex managed to smile in Martha's direction. "I hope you get out of here at some point, I unfortunately won't be back tonight so I can't provide a rescue."

"I'm sure I'll manage. Have a good night, Lex."

He flashed a smile. "I wish I could say the same, try not to let him ride you too hard."

Martha felt her smile freeze on her face and she could see Lionel press his hand to his mouth, his eyes glinting with barely supressed amusement. She didn't trust herself to speak, thankfully Lionel's calm voice cut through the silence with a firm, "We need to get back to work, good night Lex."

Lex left without another word and once the door had closed with a resounding thud, Lionel couldn't stop himself from laughing and he turned to Martha as he remarked, "My son certainly seems to have a way with words."

Martha felt her cheeks burn. "I think the less said about that the better."

Still chuckling, he assured her, "He doesn't know anything." He waved his hand dismissively. "He would have reacted more if he had any suspicions, he'll forget all about it on this date of his." He drew out the word date as though it were distasteful to him.

"You don't like her then," Martha stated.

"I assume she is a step up from his last serious relationship, Desiree." Lionel made a scoffing noise at the back of his throat. "The name alone should have been warning enough."

"I don't think that Lex can be held entirely accountable for that, she had an...unusual effect on the male population."

"But it was Lex who was fool enough to marry her. She was a gold-digger and there's nothing to say that his tastes have improved."

"I've only heard good things about her." She laughed at Lionel's look of surprise. "It's a small town, people talk." Giving a shrug, she added, "And it doesn't matter if you don't approve."

"Of course it does," he protested. "There is the Luthor name to think about."

Martha ignored that statement. "You cannot dictate who Lex cares for and if you persist in trying then you'll push him away."

"Lex might have the odd rebellion, but he knows where his loyalties lie, with family."

"If he loves her then he'll make her his family."

"You think I should step back," he stated.

"If you stand in opposition you could very well just push them closer together."

"I can manage this," Lionel assured her confidently.

Martha took a sip of her wine. "I'm sure that's what my Father thought."

Lionel looked at her with interest. "He didn't approve of Jonathan Kent? Salt of the Earth, pillar of the local community."

"He couldn't see that, all he could see was a small town farmer and that wasn't what he wanted for me. He wanted better." Martha meet his gaze. "He thought Jonathan was a phase, that I would get bored and realise that he was just a bit of rough. When Jonathan asked for permission to marry me he acted as though it was just a joke, Jonathan lost his temper and there was a fight."

Lionel raised an eyebrow, he wasn't surprised that Jonathan Kent had lost his temper, he had been a moral man but he had been hotheaded and often acted without thinking through the consequences. "So your Father gave you an ultimatum?" He guessed.

"He did, and Jonathan left, he said that he didn't want to come between me and my family. I went after him and I didn't look back."

It had been a clever move on Jonathan's part, he mused, to be the bigger man and wait to reap the rewards. Of course there was the possibility that he hadn't considered that aspect. "Do you regret it?"

A small, sad smile played across Martha's face. "That I chose Jonathan, no, but I wish the circumstances could have been different." She ran one finger around the rim of her glass. "Just be careful Lionel, you're not as invulnerable as you might like to think."

"You very nearly sound like you care," Lionel teased her, moving closer to her on the sofa.

Martha tilted her head to look up at him, unable to help herself from smiling. She did care, she believed that Lionel did love his son even if she didn't agree with his parenting style. Although she didn't want to admit she cared when she was so unsure just how far the feeling ran, it wasn't love but she couldn't say in all honesty that it was simply lust anymore either. "Of course I care," she replied. "You sign my paychecks."

"So mercenary," he chuckled, moving her hair off her shoulder so he could press a kiss to just below her ear. "I suppose I'll just have to accept it." She turned into his embrace just as his phone rang. With a sigh, he answered it and after a moment hung up and told her, "It appears dinner is ready." He got to his feet and offered her his hand. "Shall we?" As she took it, Lionel couldn't help but pull her into him again. "A rain check, for now."

"I hope you're not going to keep me too long."

Caution thrown to the wind, Martha let Lionel lead her down the long hallway to his bedroom, gasping when he kissed her and pressed her onto the bed, covering her with his own body seconds later, his mouth lowering to hers again. He rolled them to the side so that he could unzip the back of her dress, as her hands drifted across the warm skin of his back, round to his chest and down to his stomach, fingers swirling through the hair there, fingers nimbly undoing his belt and shoving his trouser and boxers to the floor with a thud. Her hand skimmed his length and she let out a small sigh of satisfaction.

She shifted slightly to facilitate the removal of her dress, he drew it down her thighs running the palms of his hands back up, over her stomach and then cupping her breasts. Her head tilted back, a whimper eking out from her lips as he drew his mouth over the swell of her breasts, his hands slipping underneath her back to undo the clasp of her bra. He let out a small mumble of approval as he lowered his mouth to one breast, drawing the nipple into his mouth as fingers traced the outside of her other breast, swirling inwards until he reached the nipple, mimicking the movements of his mouth until he heard her moan, her head falling back against the pillows as she shifted restlessly on his sheets.

Her hands wrapped around the back of his head, urging him on. His hand slid down her stomach, knuckles brushing against her skin, starting what felt like a trail of sparks everywhere he touched. He tugged down her panties, fingers slipping easily between her legs, mouth lowering to her navel, his tongue circling round her belly button, trailing his mouth up her sternum and then to one nipple, adding to the tension coiling in her stomach as his fingers teased her relentlessly, his fingers curving inside her the movement drawing a deep, strangled moan from her.

Pulling his mouth away for a moment, he propped himself up on one elbow, watching the way her skin flushed pink, her eyes closed, head tilted back against the pillows as he kept his fingers moving.

Dazed blue eyes snapped open, her fingers curling into his shoulders, pulling him closer to her again, she asked breathlessly, "What are you doing?"

"Watching you," he admitted, kissing her deeply before she could make any reply. His hand moved away and she made a vague murmur of protest, causing him to smile against her mouth. His hand slid under her thigh again, pulling it up, tilting her hips slightly as he pushed inside, slowly at first as she gasped his name, thighs wrapping around his waist urging him on.

He stilled at first, breathing heavily, giving her a moment to adjust although her muscles were already clenching around him greedily, her hips rising up against his. Letting out a low groan, he began to move with slow rocks, gradually moving deeper and harder with each thrust, their bodies fitting and moving perfectly together.

Their movements picked up pace, becoming frantic as they moved together, mouths and hands covering every inch of the other's skin. Mouths meeting, swallowing gasps and groans. Her hand tangled through his hair again, her mouth falling open against to his shoulder.

Lionel gritted his teeth, trying desperately to cling onto his self control just long enough to ensure that Martha went over the edge. She was close, he knew she was, her skin was flushed, glistening with sweat, she was struggling to keep her eyes open and her movements, much like his were becoming more frantic with every passing second.

She moaned again, he loved the noises she made, loved watching her lose control, her pale perfection unravelling in front of him.

He let out a choked groan when she squeezed her muscles around him, her name falling from his lips, provoking a smug smile from her.

His fingers curled into her hair and he pulled her lips to his, he kissed her deeply as he kept up his pace, feeling as though he was thrusting deeper and harder each time.

Her back arched one last time, a harsh cry almost torn from her throat as she came and he toppled over that edge with her, his mind blurring, all conscious thought disappearing until they only thing left in his mind was her. As he slowly regained control over himself again, he could feel her fingers stroking the back of his neck, her mouth trailing over the side of his jaw

Fingers trailing gently across her jaw, Lionel coaxed her lips back to his even as he continued to move slowly unable to bring himself to stop quite yet. She was still wrapped around him and yet he didn't feel the normal urge to distance himself like he usually would after sex, rather he was revelling in her warmth, in her scent. He lowered his mouth to the hollow of her throat, lips nuzzling gently against the dampness there, tasting her. His forehead pressing against the silken skin of her shoulder, fingers tracing up her spine in abstract patterns as their breathing began to slowly even out again.

"I should go soon," Martha told him after a few moments had passed.

"There's no rush, Lex isn't expected back tonight. Your truck is already back at the farm so no-one will know you were here."

"I'm not sure if it's a good idea," she muttered hesitantly.

His fingers interlinked with hers. "Stay?" he asked. He didn't want her to leave, wanted her here with him for longer.

"Ok," she finally answered, relaxing into him once again.

"What is it this week?" Lionel asked as his Private Investigator entered the office. Every week he had him gather information on potential upcoming stories in the press, thereby eliminating the majority of unexpected, unwanted stories reaching the public.

"Not much," he admitted, handing over the folder. "All but one story relates to the company, share prices, etc."

"And the one that isn't?"

"Just a piece that one of the gossip rags is planning to run later in the week, it's at the back."

Opening the folder, Lionel flicked to the back and felt his blood run cold when he saw the unedited piece and accompanying pictures. His eyes scanned the piece, it was mainly speculation about his relationship with Martha but the photos were damming. One was professional, when they had been leaving a meeting, but the rest spoke volumes. They had them in Metropolis, his arm around her, they had one of them standing closer than would be considered innocent, his hand against her lower back, leaning into her to whisper into her ear, and then worst of all was the picture of her getting into his limo, leaving the mansion in the early hours of the morning. He slammed the folder shut, if this came out she would be devestated. It made no difference to him, it never did, but he knew that it would end what was between them. "Kill it," he instructed.

His P.I. frowned. "The gossip piece?"

"Yes, I want it gone!" He snapped.

"But you've never concerned yourself with this type of tattle before."

Lionel shot him a dark look, getting to his feet, he leaned on his desk, his voice deathly quiet as he told him, "And now I am. I want to be clear that I don't expect to see anything about Martha Kent and myself in the press. Should this be published I will personally tear down the careers of all those responsible and those who failed to stop it."

His threat hung in the air before the stuttered reply, "Of course, Mr Luthor, I'm here to do whatever you need me to do."

"Good." The man was just at the door when he stopped him, asking suddenly, "Is there anything on Clark Kent?"

"Nothing of note, a couple of mentions in police reports as a witness but that's it so far."

Lionel nodded. "Compile a report for me, but after that I think we can let it rest." He would put it with the rest of them in the vault, someone to be aware of, but for now he would let it rest. He watched as his investigator finally left, uttering assurances as he went. He tapped his fingers off his desk, she was under his skin, he cared about her far more than he should. He knew that she was still uncertain and potentially not ready to move on, but he could be a patient man when required, he could play the long game.

Perhaps he should show her that this was more to him than just physical now, he should get her something, something meaningful and then let things play out from there.