Disclaimer: Umm…I disclaim.
A/N: Thanks so much for the great reviews, keeps me and my bud Twilight going. Also, very much appreciated.
The monitor's constant beeping rang through the small room. A young lady entered, closing the door behind her with a barely audible click. She was eighteen, of average height, though the black 4-inch heeled shoes she wore made her appear slightly taller. Black flare-legged dress pants and a fitted, sky blue ¾ inch sleeved silk shirt accented her shapely figure. Her eyes were brown, but certain lights brought out hints of gold or green that made them seem to change color alluringly. Fine chestnut-brown hair fell smoothly to her shoulders, held back from her face by two tiny metal clips in the shape of butterflies. She brushed a stray lockout of her eyes and took a seat in a stiff chair. Running her fingertips along the starched white linen, she watched the sleeping woman before her. A thin tube taped to the back of her hand lead to an IV. Her breathing was shallow as indicated by the only slight rise and fall of her chest. Her eyelids twitched and flickered open.
"Sabrina," Pamela spoke softly. Pamela was a middle-aged woman with cropped brown hair that held a crimson tint. Her olive eyes contained years of wisdom and advice that she often dispensed when needed.
"Hey," she responded gently. "How you holding up Aunt Pam?"
Pamela turned on her side, being careful not to disturb the many machines that stemmed form a sensor attached to her forefinger. "Better," she nodded. "I have my days Brina babe."
"I bet," Brina said in a distant voice, masked fear showing through. A moment of uncomfortable silence passed, neither woman knowing what to say. Brina glanced around the sparse room; an amazing floral arrangement splashed color against the stark white wall. "Where'd you get those?" Brina reached out and caressed the cool petals of a lily.
"From me," somebody answered from behind.
Brina turned at the sound of the smooth voice. He stood in the doorway, leaning casually against the frame; hands shoved deep in the pockets of his designer suit. Everything about him screamed money. He advanced forward his Armani shoes clicking as he walked. Brina's eyes wandered over him. She had seen his face many times gracing the covers of magazines and newspapers. It never held much joy; his smoky blue eyes always overcast with sadness. He bent down and dropped a light kiss on Pamela's forehead.
"Mr. Luthor," Brina addressed him solemnly. He paused and smirked at the fact that she knew his name. He placed a finger upon his lips, in thought.
"Lex," came his usual response. She wondered if his PR people had programmed him to say that. "Now," he continued, "who might you be?"
Pamela smiled at the idea that Brina intrigued Lex. "Alexander," she began, "this is my niece, Sabrina." Brina's eyebrows raised at the mention of his full name.
"Pleasure to meet you," was the even reply, somehow sincere without being friendly. However when he turned to Pamela, there was a teasing tone to his voice as he gently accused, "In all those years you looked after me, you never mentioned any family."
Pamela grinned faintly. "Just one sister," she said in her weakened voice. "My parents died when we were still in high school—car accident." She paused a moment. "Brina, aren't you—oh I've forgotten what I wanted to say."
Brina gave her aunt an encouraging look, but Pamela could not recall it. Lex glanced at his watch, an expression of surprise crossed his face.
"The board meeting," he said quietly. "It completely slipped my mind!" He bent to kiss Pamela's cheek. "I'm sorry to run out on you like this. I'll be back as soon as I can." He turned to Brina, "And I hope to see you again soon as well," he told her. She only nodded, and he slipped out the door, shutting it silently behind him. The sound of his footsteps receded in the corridor.
"How soon is soon?" Brina asked her aunt, sounding unimpressed.
"It depends," Pamela answered slowly. "Sometimes twice a day, sometimes twice a week. He sends flowers every day, but he doesn't always come with them. Alexander Luthor is a very busy man."
"Sure," Brina drawled sarcastically. "Sitting on your ass all day while other people make your fortune must be so stressful."
Pamela sighed. "Is that what you thought of him?" she asked. For some odd reason, Brina thought she sounded disappointed.
"He seemed…almost…overwhelming," she answered.
"Is that good or bad?"
A thoughtful, puzzled look came into Brina's eyes. "I…don't know," she said softly.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"I want that proposal on my desk by Monday!" Lex shouted as he entered his office, startling his secretary. She looked up and began to exit the room. "Miss Evans, I didn't dismiss you."
"Of course not Mr. Luthor," she opened her notepad, pen poised to write.
He chuckled, "Kyla, sit down. You know how I am after a meeting with my father." She smiled sympathetically and sat down, relaxing a little.
She was his age with a slender build and auburn hair, usually pinned up in a professional manner. Her amber eyes were hidden behind wire rimmed glasses that rested atop a freckled nose. Working for the Luthor's demanded style, something that was in her favor. Today she wore a simple black skirt, expertly paired with a button down green top that complimented, not clashed with her red hair. She was the daughter of one of his mother's friends and as a favor to her and her mother—after she'd been sworn and legally bound to total secrecy—he had allowed the girl to work for him to pay her way through university. She'd proven quite efficient at filing the masses of Luthorcorp documents that tended to pile up in his office and she kept his secrets well. Despite her shy, servile manner around him, Lex was happy to hire her permanently after she'd graduated the previous year. And, naturally, she was happy to accept. Nothing paid better than being 'attaché' to a Luthor.
"Now," he said, managing to keep his voice casual, "I need your advice Kyla." He took a seat in his oversized leather recliner.
Kyla nearly fell out of her chair in surprise. "My…advice Mr. Luthor?" she stammered.
"What will it take for you to call me Lex?" he remarked offhandedly. "And yes, your advice." He paused, and in that brief silence Kyla noticed he actually looked uncomfortable. "Does the navy suit look better than the gray one?" he asked at last.
"Mr.…Luthor?"
"I'm…going back to visit Pamela tomorrow." Now Lex definitely seemed a little touchy.
Kyla smiled wryly. "Since when does going to the hospital become a black- tie affair Mr.—ah, Lex?"
Lex chuckled again. "Why I do believe you're teasing me Miss Evans," he said, amused. "Now just answer the question."
"I'm actually all for the black one sir, but I guess it depends on what she likes."
"How did you…?"
"I just do," Kyla smiled. "And may I suggest you wear your hair up?" She giggled openly.
"Miss Evans, unless you want to be spit-shining my floors—get out," Lex commanded, slightly amused.
"But Mr.—"
"Toothbrushes in the upstairs cabinet, Miss Evans."
"Going!" she called, grinning and waving before shutting the door.
Lex stood gazing at the door, running a hand over his bald head. "Up, huh?" he said with a snicker. "That's why I keep her."
A/N: Thanks so much for the great reviews, keeps me and my bud Twilight going. Also, very much appreciated.
The monitor's constant beeping rang through the small room. A young lady entered, closing the door behind her with a barely audible click. She was eighteen, of average height, though the black 4-inch heeled shoes she wore made her appear slightly taller. Black flare-legged dress pants and a fitted, sky blue ¾ inch sleeved silk shirt accented her shapely figure. Her eyes were brown, but certain lights brought out hints of gold or green that made them seem to change color alluringly. Fine chestnut-brown hair fell smoothly to her shoulders, held back from her face by two tiny metal clips in the shape of butterflies. She brushed a stray lockout of her eyes and took a seat in a stiff chair. Running her fingertips along the starched white linen, she watched the sleeping woman before her. A thin tube taped to the back of her hand lead to an IV. Her breathing was shallow as indicated by the only slight rise and fall of her chest. Her eyelids twitched and flickered open.
"Sabrina," Pamela spoke softly. Pamela was a middle-aged woman with cropped brown hair that held a crimson tint. Her olive eyes contained years of wisdom and advice that she often dispensed when needed.
"Hey," she responded gently. "How you holding up Aunt Pam?"
Pamela turned on her side, being careful not to disturb the many machines that stemmed form a sensor attached to her forefinger. "Better," she nodded. "I have my days Brina babe."
"I bet," Brina said in a distant voice, masked fear showing through. A moment of uncomfortable silence passed, neither woman knowing what to say. Brina glanced around the sparse room; an amazing floral arrangement splashed color against the stark white wall. "Where'd you get those?" Brina reached out and caressed the cool petals of a lily.
"From me," somebody answered from behind.
Brina turned at the sound of the smooth voice. He stood in the doorway, leaning casually against the frame; hands shoved deep in the pockets of his designer suit. Everything about him screamed money. He advanced forward his Armani shoes clicking as he walked. Brina's eyes wandered over him. She had seen his face many times gracing the covers of magazines and newspapers. It never held much joy; his smoky blue eyes always overcast with sadness. He bent down and dropped a light kiss on Pamela's forehead.
"Mr. Luthor," Brina addressed him solemnly. He paused and smirked at the fact that she knew his name. He placed a finger upon his lips, in thought.
"Lex," came his usual response. She wondered if his PR people had programmed him to say that. "Now," he continued, "who might you be?"
Pamela smiled at the idea that Brina intrigued Lex. "Alexander," she began, "this is my niece, Sabrina." Brina's eyebrows raised at the mention of his full name.
"Pleasure to meet you," was the even reply, somehow sincere without being friendly. However when he turned to Pamela, there was a teasing tone to his voice as he gently accused, "In all those years you looked after me, you never mentioned any family."
Pamela grinned faintly. "Just one sister," she said in her weakened voice. "My parents died when we were still in high school—car accident." She paused a moment. "Brina, aren't you—oh I've forgotten what I wanted to say."
Brina gave her aunt an encouraging look, but Pamela could not recall it. Lex glanced at his watch, an expression of surprise crossed his face.
"The board meeting," he said quietly. "It completely slipped my mind!" He bent to kiss Pamela's cheek. "I'm sorry to run out on you like this. I'll be back as soon as I can." He turned to Brina, "And I hope to see you again soon as well," he told her. She only nodded, and he slipped out the door, shutting it silently behind him. The sound of his footsteps receded in the corridor.
"How soon is soon?" Brina asked her aunt, sounding unimpressed.
"It depends," Pamela answered slowly. "Sometimes twice a day, sometimes twice a week. He sends flowers every day, but he doesn't always come with them. Alexander Luthor is a very busy man."
"Sure," Brina drawled sarcastically. "Sitting on your ass all day while other people make your fortune must be so stressful."
Pamela sighed. "Is that what you thought of him?" she asked. For some odd reason, Brina thought she sounded disappointed.
"He seemed…almost…overwhelming," she answered.
"Is that good or bad?"
A thoughtful, puzzled look came into Brina's eyes. "I…don't know," she said softly.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"I want that proposal on my desk by Monday!" Lex shouted as he entered his office, startling his secretary. She looked up and began to exit the room. "Miss Evans, I didn't dismiss you."
"Of course not Mr. Luthor," she opened her notepad, pen poised to write.
He chuckled, "Kyla, sit down. You know how I am after a meeting with my father." She smiled sympathetically and sat down, relaxing a little.
She was his age with a slender build and auburn hair, usually pinned up in a professional manner. Her amber eyes were hidden behind wire rimmed glasses that rested atop a freckled nose. Working for the Luthor's demanded style, something that was in her favor. Today she wore a simple black skirt, expertly paired with a button down green top that complimented, not clashed with her red hair. She was the daughter of one of his mother's friends and as a favor to her and her mother—after she'd been sworn and legally bound to total secrecy—he had allowed the girl to work for him to pay her way through university. She'd proven quite efficient at filing the masses of Luthorcorp documents that tended to pile up in his office and she kept his secrets well. Despite her shy, servile manner around him, Lex was happy to hire her permanently after she'd graduated the previous year. And, naturally, she was happy to accept. Nothing paid better than being 'attaché' to a Luthor.
"Now," he said, managing to keep his voice casual, "I need your advice Kyla." He took a seat in his oversized leather recliner.
Kyla nearly fell out of her chair in surprise. "My…advice Mr. Luthor?" she stammered.
"What will it take for you to call me Lex?" he remarked offhandedly. "And yes, your advice." He paused, and in that brief silence Kyla noticed he actually looked uncomfortable. "Does the navy suit look better than the gray one?" he asked at last.
"Mr.…Luthor?"
"I'm…going back to visit Pamela tomorrow." Now Lex definitely seemed a little touchy.
Kyla smiled wryly. "Since when does going to the hospital become a black- tie affair Mr.—ah, Lex?"
Lex chuckled again. "Why I do believe you're teasing me Miss Evans," he said, amused. "Now just answer the question."
"I'm actually all for the black one sir, but I guess it depends on what she likes."
"How did you…?"
"I just do," Kyla smiled. "And may I suggest you wear your hair up?" She giggled openly.
"Miss Evans, unless you want to be spit-shining my floors—get out," Lex commanded, slightly amused.
"But Mr.—"
"Toothbrushes in the upstairs cabinet, Miss Evans."
"Going!" she called, grinning and waving before shutting the door.
Lex stood gazing at the door, running a hand over his bald head. "Up, huh?" he said with a snicker. "That's why I keep her."