Lex's penthouse suited him, Chloe decided. Sleek, elegant, and clearly belonging to a man with both the means and the interest to indulge his hobbies. She smiled when she saw the framed 'Warrior Angel' comic cover, hanging next to some painting she couldn't identify. "Ah, I see you've discovered my guilty pleasure," Lex said, following her gaze. "If you promise not to tell I'll show you the collection-I have them all."
She laughed. "Maybe later. If it makes you feel better, I used to collect front pages of the New York Times. I still have a box of yellowed newspapers in the back of my closet."
"Always the journalist, Chloe?" Lex took her jacket and hung it up; his hands brushed over her arms as he took it off. She didn't think it was an accident. "Do you live on the record?"
His voice sounded too close to her ear; she turned and found herself practically in his arms. "Even ambitious reporters get a night off now and then-which this isn't," she said briskly, stepping away from him. "You did tell me this was a business dinner."
Lex smiled. "So I did. Please, follow me-as it's just the two of us I thought we could eat in the living room. It's less formal than the dining room."
He didn't miss a trick, did he? Less formal-she stepped into the living room and nearly turned and fled. A small table in front of a fireplace, complete with candles on the table and a single yellow rose across her plate-if she remembered correctly, yellow meant friendship. "Business dinner my ass," she muttered under her breath. If all Lex had on his mind tonight was work, she'd eat her bag.
"Have a seat, please." Lex held her chair and made sure she was settled before sitting opposite her. "Would you care for some wine?"
"No, thank you-I don't drink while I'm working." Chloe picked up the rose and breathed in its scent before setting it aside.
"Not even a glass?" Lex raised an eyebrow. "I hate to think how you survive cocktail parties."
"Those are different-alcohol's required in order to make it through those without dying of boredom." She smiled. "Unlike here, where the company requires my full concentration."
"I'm not sure whether to be pleased or dismayed that you think having dinner with me is such an-invigorating experience."
"I've always enjoyed a challenge," Chloe said sweetly. Let him make of that what he would.
He smiled, conceding the point. "So-I'm willing to wager the gossip in the Planet's newsroom is all about how one Chloe Sullivan, up-and-coming reporter, managed to finagle not only an interview, but a four-part exclusive series on the infamously reclusive LexCorp and its CEO." Lex raised an eyebrow. "Am I right?"
"I don't know, really-I haven't been around the newsroom today. But I don't think you're wrong. Let's see if I can figure out the theories-either I'm blackmailing you, or it's a puff piece, or I'm just so talented in bed that I've got you wrapped around my little finger."
"I like that last one," Lex commented.
"I'm sure you do." Chloe sipped her water to cover the flush that rose in her cheeks at the thought of being in bed. With Lex. What it would be like to feel his skin against-stop. She had work to do.
Over dinner, which was delicious even if she wasn't paying attention to the food, they hammered out a preliminary contract. His terms were reasonable-surprisingly so, in fact. "I have to say, Lex, I'm impressed. I really don't see anything problematic here." Chloe smiled and put down the papers.
He shrugged. "I figure that if I can keep you happy, you'll be more favorable in your article." The voice was deadpan; the eyes were not.
"I'm not bought that easily," she warned. "As I recall, you offered me the article because you admired my sense of fairness."
"Hoist by my own petard," he murmured. "Fair enough." He looked down at his wineglass for a moment, twirling the stem idly. "So, are we off the record now?"
"That depends. What's on your mind?"
Lex's eyes darkened and he smiled slightly. "Many things, Chloe." He rose and walked around behind her, resting his hands lightly on her shoulders. "Right now I'm wondering what it'll take to get you to mix business and pleasure."
"I told you already, Lex-I won't see you personally while I'm working on a story about you." She refused to move, even when he brushed a kiss over the back of her neck and she shivered.
"I can be patient." He moved away; she turned and saw him standing by the fireplace. "You won't be writing this series forever."
"So sure of yourself, aren't you?"
"I kissed you, Chloe," he said softly. "I felt your mouth under mine, your body against mine. Even with a knock on the head I remember how you felt. If you're going to tell me you felt nothing, you're a damned poor liar."
Chloe bit her lip, dropping her eyes. "I won't compromise my ethics, Lex."
"I'm not asking you to. You'll have the information you need in a few weeks-and then we'll see." He sat down again, smiling a little. "But if you're expecting me to stop flirting with you within that time, you're sadly mistaken."
"You're determined to test my resolve, aren't you?" she asked wryly.
Lex smiled. "Should be interesting, don't you think?"
"I'm not going to cave."
"And I'm not going to act as though I'm not interested in you."
"Well," Chloe said lightly. "This will be an-interesting-experience."
"I look forward to it." Lex nodded in a brief salute. "Would you care for dessert?"
She ended up staying longer at Lex's than she'd intended; once the business part of the conversation was over they'd moved on to discussing everything from art to books to politics-and everything inbetween. She'd finally dragged herself away shortly before midnight.
"I'll see you tomorrow," Lex said, stopping the car outside her apartment building. "You shouldn't have any problems with security."
"Thank you." She had one hand on the door handle but didn't open it just yet. "I-I had a good time tonight, Lex," Chloe admitted.
"As did I." He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek, lightly. "Join me for lunch tomorrow?"
"Let's deal with that tomorrow." She smiled and got out of the car, not looking back as she unlocked her door and went inside.
She didn't see Lex the next morning; she arrived at the building at 8 and he was already there. The receptionist said that he usually arrived at work around seven and didn't leave much before six most nights. Chloe nodded, impressed but not really surprised.
"Miss Sullivan," a pretty young woman greeted her when she got off the second elevator. "Mr. Luthor sends his apologies-he was unavoidably called into a conference call and couldn't meet you himself. But if you'll follow me, I'll show you to your office."
Chloe nodded and followed her to a small room that had clearly been used for storage before becoming a temporary office. There were no windows, and the room was relatively bare. Just a desk with a phone on it and a chair-although the chair looked much nicer than her rattletrap back at the Planet. "Do you have your own computer or will you be needing one?" the woman asked.
"I have my laptop," Chloe told her.
The woman nodded. "The ethernet hookup is under the desk there, and you have your own line-just dial 9 to get an outside line. If you need anything else, like office supplies and such, the closet's down the hall on your left. Mr. Luthor said he would stop by when he could, but if you need anything before then, please call me-I'm extension 2083."
"Thanks, and I do have one question." Chloe settled her bag on the desk and smiled, looking at her. "What's your name?"
"Oh!" The woman laughed. "I'm sorry. I'm Marie Chambers-Mr. Luthor's assistant. Please, call me Marie."
"Only if you call me Chloe." She grinned. "How long have you been working for Lex?"
"I got my MBA from Harvard two years ago and have been here ever since, but I was just promoted to Mr. Luthor's assistant six months ago. His previous assistant transferred over to the equipment department as a VP."
"So I take it you're more than a glorified secretary?" Chloe half-expected Marie to take offense, but she didn't-she laughed heartily instead.
"Some days yes, some days no. It all depends." Marie smiled. "Would you like some coffee? I don't know about you, but I can't get started without it."
"I would *love* some coffee," Chloe said fervently. "Point me toward the caffeine and you've got a friend for life."
"With an offer like that, how could I refuse?" Marie smiled again. "Follow me."
The coffee was excellent-'It's Mr. Luthor's personal blend,' Marie had explained-and fifteen minutes later Chloe was setting up her laptop and settling in. Time to check in at the office.
"White," her editor answered gruffly.
"Hey, it's Sullivan. I'm here, everything's fine. I wanted to give you my number here-" she read it off the phone. "I met with Le-Luthor last night and we worked out details. I have to say, he's being incredibly generous with this."
"You sure you don't have some info on him I should know about? Never mind, I don't want to know. Just be careful, Sullivan. He didn't get to be where he is by being a pushover."
"Believe me, chief, I know that." She held the phone away from her ear, waiting for his usual bellow of 'Don't call me chief!'
"You do realize, by the way, that the newsroom hasn't decided if you're the next thing since Woodward and Bernstein or if you're just sleeping with him?" he said once he'd yelled at her. "Watch your back around here, too."
Chloe sighed. "Yeah, I know. Hey, can you transfer me to Clark? I want to talk to him for a second."
"Yeah." She heard the click of the hold button; a moment later, the phone was picked up again.
"Clark Kent," he said politely.
"Don't get to used to my beat," she said wryly. "I'll want it back sometime."
He laughed. "Chloe, hi! What can I do for you?"
"At the moment, not much. Just letting you know where you can reach me."
"So-um-how'd last night go?" Clark asked.
Chloe glanced up, making sure no one was around. "It went well. Relax, I didn't compromise my virtue-or my ethics."
"I didn't think you would. Just-wondering, that's all."
She could almost *feel* the awkward flush across the phone lines and had to laugh. "Catch you for dinner tonight?" she offered.
"Yeah, I'd like that. Um-"
"I'll meet you at the Planet at seven, okay?" She was not leaving LexCorp before its CEO did.
"Sounds good. I'll see you then."
She hung up the phone and opened her email, wincing at the sheer influx of messages. "The worst part is it's not even spam," she muttered.
"Settling in all right?" a smooth voice inquired from the doorway. She looked up and saw Lex leaning against the doorframe, hands in his pockets. How he managed to make a slate-gray shirt, black pants, and tie look seductive, she had no idea.
"Just fine, thanks," she said, ruthlessly clamping down on her hormones. "Your assistant was more than helpful."
"Ah, yes, the frighteningly efficient Marie." Lex smiled. "She'll be here to help you in setting up interviews and making sure you have access to the information you need."
Chloe smiled. "Thank you. I appreciate that."
"Not a problem." Lex pushed away from the door casually. "So, about lunch?"
"Do you like Greek?" she said impulsively.
Oh. Hell.
She laughed. "Maybe later. If it makes you feel better, I used to collect front pages of the New York Times. I still have a box of yellowed newspapers in the back of my closet."
"Always the journalist, Chloe?" Lex took her jacket and hung it up; his hands brushed over her arms as he took it off. She didn't think it was an accident. "Do you live on the record?"
His voice sounded too close to her ear; she turned and found herself practically in his arms. "Even ambitious reporters get a night off now and then-which this isn't," she said briskly, stepping away from him. "You did tell me this was a business dinner."
Lex smiled. "So I did. Please, follow me-as it's just the two of us I thought we could eat in the living room. It's less formal than the dining room."
He didn't miss a trick, did he? Less formal-she stepped into the living room and nearly turned and fled. A small table in front of a fireplace, complete with candles on the table and a single yellow rose across her plate-if she remembered correctly, yellow meant friendship. "Business dinner my ass," she muttered under her breath. If all Lex had on his mind tonight was work, she'd eat her bag.
"Have a seat, please." Lex held her chair and made sure she was settled before sitting opposite her. "Would you care for some wine?"
"No, thank you-I don't drink while I'm working." Chloe picked up the rose and breathed in its scent before setting it aside.
"Not even a glass?" Lex raised an eyebrow. "I hate to think how you survive cocktail parties."
"Those are different-alcohol's required in order to make it through those without dying of boredom." She smiled. "Unlike here, where the company requires my full concentration."
"I'm not sure whether to be pleased or dismayed that you think having dinner with me is such an-invigorating experience."
"I've always enjoyed a challenge," Chloe said sweetly. Let him make of that what he would.
He smiled, conceding the point. "So-I'm willing to wager the gossip in the Planet's newsroom is all about how one Chloe Sullivan, up-and-coming reporter, managed to finagle not only an interview, but a four-part exclusive series on the infamously reclusive LexCorp and its CEO." Lex raised an eyebrow. "Am I right?"
"I don't know, really-I haven't been around the newsroom today. But I don't think you're wrong. Let's see if I can figure out the theories-either I'm blackmailing you, or it's a puff piece, or I'm just so talented in bed that I've got you wrapped around my little finger."
"I like that last one," Lex commented.
"I'm sure you do." Chloe sipped her water to cover the flush that rose in her cheeks at the thought of being in bed. With Lex. What it would be like to feel his skin against-stop. She had work to do.
Over dinner, which was delicious even if she wasn't paying attention to the food, they hammered out a preliminary contract. His terms were reasonable-surprisingly so, in fact. "I have to say, Lex, I'm impressed. I really don't see anything problematic here." Chloe smiled and put down the papers.
He shrugged. "I figure that if I can keep you happy, you'll be more favorable in your article." The voice was deadpan; the eyes were not.
"I'm not bought that easily," she warned. "As I recall, you offered me the article because you admired my sense of fairness."
"Hoist by my own petard," he murmured. "Fair enough." He looked down at his wineglass for a moment, twirling the stem idly. "So, are we off the record now?"
"That depends. What's on your mind?"
Lex's eyes darkened and he smiled slightly. "Many things, Chloe." He rose and walked around behind her, resting his hands lightly on her shoulders. "Right now I'm wondering what it'll take to get you to mix business and pleasure."
"I told you already, Lex-I won't see you personally while I'm working on a story about you." She refused to move, even when he brushed a kiss over the back of her neck and she shivered.
"I can be patient." He moved away; she turned and saw him standing by the fireplace. "You won't be writing this series forever."
"So sure of yourself, aren't you?"
"I kissed you, Chloe," he said softly. "I felt your mouth under mine, your body against mine. Even with a knock on the head I remember how you felt. If you're going to tell me you felt nothing, you're a damned poor liar."
Chloe bit her lip, dropping her eyes. "I won't compromise my ethics, Lex."
"I'm not asking you to. You'll have the information you need in a few weeks-and then we'll see." He sat down again, smiling a little. "But if you're expecting me to stop flirting with you within that time, you're sadly mistaken."
"You're determined to test my resolve, aren't you?" she asked wryly.
Lex smiled. "Should be interesting, don't you think?"
"I'm not going to cave."
"And I'm not going to act as though I'm not interested in you."
"Well," Chloe said lightly. "This will be an-interesting-experience."
"I look forward to it." Lex nodded in a brief salute. "Would you care for dessert?"
She ended up staying longer at Lex's than she'd intended; once the business part of the conversation was over they'd moved on to discussing everything from art to books to politics-and everything inbetween. She'd finally dragged herself away shortly before midnight.
"I'll see you tomorrow," Lex said, stopping the car outside her apartment building. "You shouldn't have any problems with security."
"Thank you." She had one hand on the door handle but didn't open it just yet. "I-I had a good time tonight, Lex," Chloe admitted.
"As did I." He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek, lightly. "Join me for lunch tomorrow?"
"Let's deal with that tomorrow." She smiled and got out of the car, not looking back as she unlocked her door and went inside.
She didn't see Lex the next morning; she arrived at the building at 8 and he was already there. The receptionist said that he usually arrived at work around seven and didn't leave much before six most nights. Chloe nodded, impressed but not really surprised.
"Miss Sullivan," a pretty young woman greeted her when she got off the second elevator. "Mr. Luthor sends his apologies-he was unavoidably called into a conference call and couldn't meet you himself. But if you'll follow me, I'll show you to your office."
Chloe nodded and followed her to a small room that had clearly been used for storage before becoming a temporary office. There were no windows, and the room was relatively bare. Just a desk with a phone on it and a chair-although the chair looked much nicer than her rattletrap back at the Planet. "Do you have your own computer or will you be needing one?" the woman asked.
"I have my laptop," Chloe told her.
The woman nodded. "The ethernet hookup is under the desk there, and you have your own line-just dial 9 to get an outside line. If you need anything else, like office supplies and such, the closet's down the hall on your left. Mr. Luthor said he would stop by when he could, but if you need anything before then, please call me-I'm extension 2083."
"Thanks, and I do have one question." Chloe settled her bag on the desk and smiled, looking at her. "What's your name?"
"Oh!" The woman laughed. "I'm sorry. I'm Marie Chambers-Mr. Luthor's assistant. Please, call me Marie."
"Only if you call me Chloe." She grinned. "How long have you been working for Lex?"
"I got my MBA from Harvard two years ago and have been here ever since, but I was just promoted to Mr. Luthor's assistant six months ago. His previous assistant transferred over to the equipment department as a VP."
"So I take it you're more than a glorified secretary?" Chloe half-expected Marie to take offense, but she didn't-she laughed heartily instead.
"Some days yes, some days no. It all depends." Marie smiled. "Would you like some coffee? I don't know about you, but I can't get started without it."
"I would *love* some coffee," Chloe said fervently. "Point me toward the caffeine and you've got a friend for life."
"With an offer like that, how could I refuse?" Marie smiled again. "Follow me."
The coffee was excellent-'It's Mr. Luthor's personal blend,' Marie had explained-and fifteen minutes later Chloe was setting up her laptop and settling in. Time to check in at the office.
"White," her editor answered gruffly.
"Hey, it's Sullivan. I'm here, everything's fine. I wanted to give you my number here-" she read it off the phone. "I met with Le-Luthor last night and we worked out details. I have to say, he's being incredibly generous with this."
"You sure you don't have some info on him I should know about? Never mind, I don't want to know. Just be careful, Sullivan. He didn't get to be where he is by being a pushover."
"Believe me, chief, I know that." She held the phone away from her ear, waiting for his usual bellow of 'Don't call me chief!'
"You do realize, by the way, that the newsroom hasn't decided if you're the next thing since Woodward and Bernstein or if you're just sleeping with him?" he said once he'd yelled at her. "Watch your back around here, too."
Chloe sighed. "Yeah, I know. Hey, can you transfer me to Clark? I want to talk to him for a second."
"Yeah." She heard the click of the hold button; a moment later, the phone was picked up again.
"Clark Kent," he said politely.
"Don't get to used to my beat," she said wryly. "I'll want it back sometime."
He laughed. "Chloe, hi! What can I do for you?"
"At the moment, not much. Just letting you know where you can reach me."
"So-um-how'd last night go?" Clark asked.
Chloe glanced up, making sure no one was around. "It went well. Relax, I didn't compromise my virtue-or my ethics."
"I didn't think you would. Just-wondering, that's all."
She could almost *feel* the awkward flush across the phone lines and had to laugh. "Catch you for dinner tonight?" she offered.
"Yeah, I'd like that. Um-"
"I'll meet you at the Planet at seven, okay?" She was not leaving LexCorp before its CEO did.
"Sounds good. I'll see you then."
She hung up the phone and opened her email, wincing at the sheer influx of messages. "The worst part is it's not even spam," she muttered.
"Settling in all right?" a smooth voice inquired from the doorway. She looked up and saw Lex leaning against the doorframe, hands in his pockets. How he managed to make a slate-gray shirt, black pants, and tie look seductive, she had no idea.
"Just fine, thanks," she said, ruthlessly clamping down on her hormones. "Your assistant was more than helpful."
"Ah, yes, the frighteningly efficient Marie." Lex smiled. "She'll be here to help you in setting up interviews and making sure you have access to the information you need."
Chloe smiled. "Thank you. I appreciate that."
"Not a problem." Lex pushed away from the door casually. "So, about lunch?"
"Do you like Greek?" she said impulsively.
Oh. Hell.