The piano music changed to something more romantic as Lena and Maxwell finished their bottle of Chateau, the slow melody drawing their attention briefly as the couple who requested it shared a tender moment nearby. Nobody in the restaurant raised a fuss about the song choice. Some even welcomed the change prompting them to turn a quiet evening even more intimate. Lena was moved by the poetic notes too, warm feelings filling her heart bringing a soft smile to her lips.
"So why is this project so important to you?" she asked Maxwell, her elbows resting on the table relaxed and at ease.
"I told you" he said. "It's an opportunity to change the world. It would put TITAN Industries on the world stage, and L-Corp if you allow it."
"Yes, but why is it so important to you?" she asked, fixing her gaze on the man opposite her. "You care a lot about this idea. I did my research; this is your design, your ambition. You've been working on this ever since you became CEO, like an obsession. So what does it matter so much that it comes true?"
She'd wanted to ask him this ever since she accepted his invitation. His pitch got her intrigued, particularly his passion and drive. She was curious, wanted all the facts, hence why she took this dinner so she could ask in a less professional environment.
Maxwell cleared his throat and dragged his chair around the table so he was closer to her, his expression losing some of its confidence replaced with humility. "Do you remember the invasion three years ago? The Daxamites I believe they were called?"
"I remember" she nodded. "My mother and I helped create the device that made the atmosphere uninhabitable for them."
"I was here, in National City when it happened" he explained, his gaze drifting out the window as if reliving the terrifying ordeal. "I wasn't in charge of TITAN then, still just an executive. I was helping negotiating a business deal to set up the satellite office we have now. Just as we'd signed the papers alien ships came raining from the skies. Beings as powerful as Superman were attacking everyone. We tried to escape the city but the car was overturned so we hide in one of the subway tunnels. But before we got underground, I remember faltering somewhere on the street and seeing this family across from me. They were scared, frozen under a bridge looking up at the sky. I saw the bridge they were under about to collapse, and I remember thinking "if I could just get to them, I could warn them and get them to safety." But I wasn't fast enough. I stood and watched as the bridge collapsed."
Lena stared at the man in shock, the pain in his voice heart-breaking as he wiped a tear from his eye. "I'm so sorry" she whispered, putting a hand on his arm.
"Don't be" he told her. "They were okay. One of the vigilantes got to them in time. They were saved. But ever since then, I couldn't shake that feeling of powerlessness. The thought that next time these superheroes wouldn't be able to save them. The thought that I would have to watch another family in peril and do nothing to help." He composed himself and looked back at Lena, who was looking at him with more comforting eyes. "That's why this matters to me. It's not about making money or upping my company's profile for me. It's about ensuring families like that don't have to always rely on Supergirl, or vigilantes. It's about lifting the police forces to be able to protect this city from another invasion. Humanity can defend themselves with our help. And I don't want to be powerless again" he added on a more personal note.
"So this isn't some crusade to try and become a hero?" she asked, sensing the familiar patterns in his story, however moving it was. It certainly illuminated much about the man in front of her, shining him in a different light.
"Would I use my own suit to help others? Of course. But wouldn't you if you had the opportunity to protect someone from harm?"
Lena listened and finally understood what was driving the man and why he was trying so hard to get her help. Adapting Lex's suits into his designs would indeed make him just as capable as Supergirl. And she could see the potential of having a police force able to fight alien threat like the Daxamites in the future. It was inspiring. But more noteworthy it showed her Maxwell wasn't just another Max Lord, claiming to save the world while only seeking personal glory. She could tell her truly meant what he said, that he wanted to help people. Lifting humanity was his only goal.
And what he said rang true to her too. She had much of the same drives he does. Only instead of making suits of armour to give her powers she used her technology in other ways, including mind controlling the world. "It's a noble cause you have" she told him, looking at him with concern, "but sometimes noble deeds can blind us to the consequences. I know what it's like to do the wrong thing for the right reasons."
"You think I should abandon the idea?" he said.
"I think your heart is in the right place" she said comfortingly. "But there are better ways to help people that don't bring so much risk. Imagine if these suits fell into the wrong hands, the damage they could bring on the people you're trying to protect. I know what it's like to have that kind of mistake on your conscience, believe me. I don't want to see that happen to you."
Maxwell listened, sitting up in his seat nodding solemnly. "I guess there's no chance about changing your mind to partner with us then" he deduced. She shook her head in acknowledgement. He sighed, disappointment in his expression. "Very well. Consider the matter dropped. I can't promise I won't keep advocating for my project."
"Of course" she said with a sad smile. "But could you maybe consider what I said, as a favour?"
"For you" he smiled, nodding to her patting her arm. "I will consider it."
Lena thanked him. It was all she could offer the man.
The waiter came back to their table with an ice bucket, a fresh bottle of their most expensive wine chilled and ready as he placed two wine glasses down in front of them. Maxwell looked up at the bottle and groaned. "Forgive me" he apologised as the waiter poured them the expensive drink. "I had hoped this would be a celebratory toast. I guess it'll have to settle for a commiserations."
Lena laughed, taking her glass of wine as the waiter stood beside them still holding the bottle waiting for their judgement. She took a sip of the drink, the liquid flowing down her throat with a sigh of indulgence. "I suppose we shouldn't let something this heavenly go to waste" she said, nodding to the waiter with approval.
Maxwell did the same as the bucket was left on their table for them to enjoy. "The finest wine this place has to offer" he told her. "A personal favourite of mine. A toast to my first failed negotiation?" he suggested.
She held up her glass. "A toast to noble dreams" she countered. They clinked glasses, their faces smiling as they drank together.
"At least the evening wasn't a total wasted effort" he said after a moment, still gazing at his companion. She raised an eyebrow curiously. "This has probably been the most stimulating dinner I've had since I came to this city. You are exquisite company, Miss Luthor."
"Thank you" she replied, leaning back in her chair gazing back at her companion. "You are quite the conversationalist yourself" she complimented. "I've missed intellectual conversation, and you did not disappoint."
"Oh Miss Luthor, I never aim to disappoint" he told her.
Their eyes met across the table as a silent beat went by between them, their dinner having brought fresh understanding to the two of them igniting something magnetic. After a moment the waiter, who was still standing nearby, cleared his throat and asked "would madam care for any dessert?" Maxwell said nothing as Lena took a moment to think about it. She decided she would love some dessert.
An hour later the door to her apartment was flung open as the businesswoman pulled her companion inside by the shirt. They didn't have time to switch the lights on before their lips met in a steamy passionate kiss. Maxwell followed the hungry young woman as she swiftly disabled her alarm and dragged him to her bedroom where he took hold of her and shoved her against the door. She panted in approval before ripping his suit off his back, grabbing his silver white hair pulling him back to her lips sucking the air out of him.
They made out ravenously for many minutes, sweat forming on their skin making their clothes sticky. Maxwell didn't want his shirt to get drenched so he unbuttoned it and tore it away. Lena barely glanced at his smooth chest or slim physical attributes before she was unhooking his belt. He let her undo him while he kissed her again, pinning her to the door reaching behind her perfect waistline to find the zip of her dress pulling it down. Moments later the black sequined fabric was peeled off her gorgeous body and fell around her ankles.
Before they were finished stripping, the half-naked man took hold of Lena's thighs and lifted her up into his arms, carrying her into the bedroom towards the queen size bed waiting for them. Lena clung to him pressing her chest to his body, her heart racing as she was dropped onto the mattress pulling him on top of her. The two of them met in a deep and powerful kiss until Maxwell successfully negotiated his way between her long legs, after which Lena was rewarded with a night of unadulterated bliss.