Chapter 61 [Daily Bugle—9:45 AM]

Jameson leaned over his desk. His teeth abused their stogie. Puffs of smoke escaped out the door into the bullpen. Not that he cared mind you. Impatience burned within him over the lack of response from Peter or Chloe. He stormed out into the open. "MRS. LEEDS!"

"Mr. Jameson?" Betty exchanged looks with Gloria Grant. Then she turned toward him.

"I'm standing RIGHT HERE not OVER THERE!" Jameson snapped. "Try that kid's phone again! She's going to give me something!"

"Jonah." Robbie hustled over to him. "You've already received a cease and desist letter. They're threatening a lawsuit. We don't need…."

"Look! I'm doing that girl a favor! Even Parker will tell her that! Remember what a pantywaist he was? Now look at him!" Jameson rolled his eyes. "On second thought, scratch that. Even he's having a damn crisis of conscience! And…." He watched the glass door open. "Well look who's here!"

Betty put the receiver down. Surprise forced hesitation. "Peter? Gwen? What are you doing here?"

"Hi, Betty. We had some errands to run before the internships officially start next week," Peter told her.

"After we're done here, we have to pick up our marriage license." Gwen hugged Peter's shoulders. "Mr. Luthor offered to let us do it out there! Can you believe this? Getting married at a real mansion!" Dreaminess escaped her lips.

"We'll get back to you on the details, Betty." Peter turned to Gloria who sat at the desk directly across from them. "You're getting an invite too."

"Wow." Admiration and Disbelief stunned Gloria to be honest. She still remembered being next door neighbors with Peter in the rundown apartment building on Bleecker Street. "Getting there's out of my budget range. Nice thought."

"That's not a problem," Lex assured her. "I'm willing to fly folks out no strings attached. You aren't responsible for certain attitudes."

Jameson glowered. He took the stogie out of his mouth. "You don't get to march in here and make pronouncements, Luthor! You and your group there! Parker, my office! NOW!"

"After how you've been pushing us out in Smallville, Jonah, I think he can." Peter ran his hand across the back of his neck. "And we are in the presence of royalty, you might want to think about that." He motioned toward Jasmine.

"And I don't agree with how you treated my friend, Mr. Jameson!" Jasmine marched across the room. "I could insist that you acknowledge me. Perhaps you know of my father?"

"Really? Who's she, Luthor? Your latest girlfriend?" Jameson smirked. "I don't have time for gossip. If you've got news, spill it! Otherwise you know where the door is! Parker…" He swiped toward his office through the air.

"Uh, Jonah." Robbie shook his head. Embarrassment reddened his face. "She's Princess Jasmine-A 'isha of Javalastan. Her father's Sultan Mustafa. You may not agree with Lex Luthor but don't take it out on her." He offered her a slight bow.

"I appreciate the sentiments. Please don't bow, Mr….?" Jasmine nodded. Appreciation lit her face over his sentiments.

"Joe Robertson, City Editor. Whether we agree on opinions or not, you deserve respect, Princess." Robbie cleared his throat.

"We should all share such a view, Mr. Robertson. Thank you. I do not wish to push my title in your face. I just wish that my friends are accorded due respect. That includes Mr. Parker, Miss Sullivan, David and Angela Dubois. Alexander and I, for the record, are old friends. His mother was a true pleasure to know. While I live here in your country, Alex has graciously offered hospitality. He accords me all of the due privilege of a visiting dignitary. Perhaps, Mr. Jameson, you might do the same?" Jasmine narrowed her eyes.

Jameson squirmed. "Now look you!"

"Mr. Jameson, enough!" Lex shook his head. "This may be your newspaper. But you have A LOT to learn about treating people fairly. Chloe's not one of your normal reporters. She's of that quality now. But she's still a student and a minor. The Duboises have been through more garbage than most go through in three lifetimes. And then there's Spider-Man." He frowned and shook his head.

"You don't know…" Jameson started.

"Know what? That he dropped everything here and came halfway across the country with a friend to help us in Smallville? He asked for nothing in return except a cup of coffee. You know that? Well it happened again last Saturday. My mother's killer showed up at the mansion. He helped Dave to drive her away! Ask Peter, Gwen and Jasmine. They were there. Jasmine even arranged for him to fly back here."

"Your mother's killer huh?" Jameson snorted. "You're going to tell a ghost story, Luthor?"

"We saw her." Peter frowned. "She nearly killed Gwen the same way. Look, Chloe and I have some ideas and…."

Chloe had stood by the door. She silently fumed while the others argued. She shook her father off and stalked toward the publisher. "That's right. We have ideas. Thanks for bringing that up, Mr. Parker."

"You two have your assignment. I want that exclusive with Dubois and his wife! No excuses!" Daggers glared out of Jameson's eyes.

"And we told you that their privacy is to be respected!" Chloe growled. Indignation and Outrage numbed Inhibition. She pressed nose to nose. "What is wrong with you? We gave you an exclusive! We have some great potential human interest leads! You keep harassing us? I have a good mind to do a one on one interview with Spider-Man just to prove you wrong! All right? So he wears a mask? It's probably because of you!" She shook her head.

"Miss Sullivan, you had your chance. You don't have it in you!" Jameson snapped.

"I don't?" Chloe arched an eyebrow. Inspiration dawned in her eyes. "All right. Fine! Have it your way. I'll be out in the hall." She turned and marched out of the bullpen. As she left, she took out her phone and started dialing.

"My lawyer will be in touch, Mr. Jameson. You didn't need to talk to my daughter like that. Lex, I'm sorry." Gabe sighed. Anger reddened his face.

"Don't be. You're not the one who needs to apologize, Gabe. Why don't you check on Chloe? We'll be done in a minute." Lex motioned toward the hall. After the other had left, he sucked in a deep breath. "You're as bad as Norman Osborn. I think you two deserve each other."

"If you don't want to be here, then DON'T BE, LUTHOR! I run a newspaper not a weeping widows club! There's the door! Parker, you have any pictures for me?" Jameson stood his ground.

"I have these for that Talon story, Jonah. Maybe I might hang onto them. I want to write that feature. Still Gwen and I have that science internship. I have workshops I'm being asked to do. We're planning a wedding. It's going to be a busy few months. I'll be in touch when I get something. Come on, Gwen. Mr. Luthor? Princess? We'll be with Chloe and her Dad. Robbie, I'm sorry." Peter led his fiancée out the door.

Lex raised an eyebrow. "Wow. You even turned Peter off. Way to go, Jameson. Way to go. Come on, Jasmine." He stalked toward the exit.

"Why not? I am quite done with this buffoon." Jasmine accompanied him to the door. She shook her head. "Papa wanted me to take on another investment. I have a good mind to invest in this newspaper."

The Smirk spread across Lex's face. "Let's head to my new office across town. Then we'll talk." He turned the corner to find Chloe talking away on the phone. Gwen talked to Peter in the corner. Gabe watched his daughter. "Now what?"

Gabe hustled over to Lex and Jasmine. "Chloe's on the phone to Metropolis. Someone named Winnie Tarvers?"

Lex coughed. Approval glimmered in his eyes. "She's one of the editors for the Daily Planet." He glanced back toward the newsroom. "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."

Chloe clicked her phone shut. "There! Ms. Tarvers said it's enough. Look for a surprise come Sunday's edition." She glowered toward the door. "He thinks I can't stand up to him, does he? Just watch. Come on, Dad. I need a triple shot mocha with espresso." She marched off toward the elevator.

Jasmine nodded. "I believe Chloe has spoken."

"I think she has too. Peter, Gwen, can you lead us to the Coffee Bean?" Lex requested.

"That, Mr. Luthor, would be our pleasure. Then we can get our certificate taken care of downtown," Gwen agreed.

"Well are you coming? I need coffee like now." Chloe put a hand on her hip. Expectation raised the eyebrow.

Nobody would keep her waiting on that account. Nobody…..