Disclaimer: *puts hands up in mock surrender* I disclaim, I disclaim.
A/N: Well as you can see, this is chapter 6. And quite long at that. For awhile Twilight and I will be focusing on Lex and Brina's relationship, digging a little deeper. Hope y'all don't mind. : ) Enjoy!
Brina peered out of the windshield of her car. The road ahead all but obscured by the downpour. As far as she could tell, there wasn't another soul on the highway. She stifled a yawn, and then smiled at the memory of the nightclub she'd left not too long ago. Just because she'd been stuck in the middle of nowhere-also referred to as Smallville-didn't mean she was going to stay there all the time.
Smallville! Curse the Luthors for ever deciding to relocate her father there. Her mother had refused to leave Aunt Pam's side, and wasn't feeling up to looking after Brina's younger twin siblings. Ava and Ashton were both nine years old, and with their father working shifts at the plant from 4 p.m. to midnight, someone needed to be there with them. At least tonight she'd been able to find a sitter. It'd only been a week, but Brina missed life in Metropolis already.
There was a light up ahead, off to the right side of the road. Brina thought back to earlier that evening, when she'd driven this same way. What was it? A diner, that was it. A good place to at least get a coffee to keep her awake. She was starting to feel sleepy, and that was dangerous, especially in torrential rain.
Unfortunately the engine of the BMW chose that moment to die.
"Shit!" Brina yelled angrily and pounded the steering wheel when the car didn't respond to her efforts to get it to start. "Well I have two options. Either I stay here in this hunk of junk, or go to the diner." She stared out at the inviting light distorted by raindrops. "Diner." She pulled the hood of her favorite gray sweatshirt over her head and stepped out the car, walking in the direction of the light. She glanced back at the car and mumbled, "Stupid imports."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"You can go home now, Miss Evans," Lex said before taking a huge gulp of coffee. "It was a hell of a lot of paperwork, but most of it's organized by now."
Kyla gave a huge yawn and left off sorting papers to rub a fist into her eyes. "All right, Mr. Luthor," she said, placing six manilla folder, all neatly labeled an bursting with various documents, on her small desk an getting up to leave.
"What, no attitude?" Lex teased.
She smiled. "It's not my nature," she replied. "It was just too inviting, though-how nervous you were about Miss What's-Her-Name. Even go so far as to ask me for advice. I promise it won't happen again."
Lex grinned. "All right," he said. "I wasn't offended, just surprised." Kyla yawned again. "Go home Miss Evans," he told her sternly.
"Good night Mr. Luthor," she said.
"It's LEX," he called, but she was already gone.
He finished the coffee she'd brought him and flipped through a few more documents. He now sorely wished he hadn't been so insistent about the proposal. It was monstrous; certainly there was an entire forest's worth of paper piled around his office.
Lex rummaged through a small side drawer until her found what he was looking for. Keys. One for the Aston Martin, one for the new Jag.he stopped at the key for the blue Ferrari. "I have the weirdest craving for french fries," he muttered to himself striding out to the garage.
Even in a storm, Lex Luthor was a reckless driver. It hadn't taken him long to reach the diner. He quickly ran inside to avoid getting the expensive, dry-clean only designer silk shirt water stained. He was greeted father generally by the owner of the diner, Don, and half-dozen truckers, the usual late-night crowd. He ordered a plate of fries, decided on a root beer, and had just seated himself at a table when a thoroughly soaked and bedraggled young woman walked through the doors. Don rushed over to help her, but she gently pushed him away. "I'll just have coffee.." she said. Don helped her to another empty table where she put her head on her folded arms and was asleep with minutes.
Lex recognized that voice. "Brina?"
Don had reappeared with a steaming mug of coffee. "You know her?" he asked.
"Sort of.." Lex replied, in his 'none-of-your-business' tone. "But I have no idea what she's doing here.." he started to get up from the table, but Don's hand on his arm stopped him.
"Don't wake her just yet, Mr. Luthor." He set the coffee cup on her table a safe distance form her and disappeared into the kitchen again.
Lex absently munched his midnight snack, watching Brina. Poor girl, what was she doing here? She was a long way form Metropolis. Pamela..no, she didn't give a rat's ass about Lex Luthor, so she wouldn't have come to tell him, even if..he didn't want to finish that thought.
When he'd finished the french fries, he checked his watch. Almost 3 a.m. "Closing time!" Don's voice called. The truckers groaned, staring out the windows at the rain. Don walked over to Lex. "What about the young lady?" he asked.
"I'll take her home, with her permission," Lex said. He approached Brina's table and shook her gently. "Excuse me..Miss, wake up," he whispered awkwardly. "Brina.."
Brian opened her eyes. "Lex," she mumbled sleepily, but still sounding as though he was the last person on earth she wanted to see.
Lex chose to ignore her reaction. "What happened?"
"Car trouble.."
"Let me take you home," he offered, managing to keep his voice even. "I know it's a long way back to Metropolis, but.."
"Not Metropolis. My dad was transferred to your Smallville plant. We live in Smallville." A curious look passed over his face. Wait a minute..Clark had mentioned previously that her father had been transferred here. His mind did a quick mental scan of the new employee roster.David Anderson. Of course, that must be her father.
"All right," Lex said. "Is that a yes?"
Brina sighed. "Yeah..ugh..my dad will have gotten home from his shift. He'll be so mad.."
Mad? Why? That didn't make sense. Maybe she was still half-asleep. "Well," Lex suggested. "My place isn't too far form here.."
THAT made her sit up. She glared at him, and he calmly returned her gaze. Finally she looked down at the table.
"That's fine," she said, coolly. She didn't mention it was only because she didn't want to upset her dad. Eighteen or not, living in his house meant you obeyed the rules, something Brina didn't do too often.
"Whatever you say," Lex told her smoothly. He took a $100 bill form his pocket (only Lex would carry $100s like $5s) and dropped it on her table. "Thanks," he called to Don, taking Brina's hand and leading her out to the Ferrari.
"Nice," she commented, leaning back in the leather seat as Lex sped down the highway. It wasn't far, especially the way he drove, but Brina was already asleep by the time her reached his castle.
He didn't want to wake her a second time. "Brina..I'm sorry," he whispered when she opened her eyes. "But we're here.."
"A castle?" She exclaimed in surprise as he unlocked the door and led her in. "Well, this is extravagant."
"And cold, and drafty, and much too old," Lex added. "But the guest room's in the wing. I just finished redoing it. Right this way." He started to climb a flight of stairs.
Brina followed, but by now she was so cold and tired she was tripping on her own feet. "Walk much?" came to Lex's mind, but instead her just picked her up and carried her to the guestroom. She didn't protest, nor did she complain when he laid her on the bed, removed her shoes then tucked her gently into the covers.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Brina stirred and woke, feeling amazingly comfortable. For a moment, she couldn't remember where she was. Everything looked so unfamiliar; She lay in an enormous four-poster bed with huge soft pillows, pure white. A huge window in the east wall of the room let late-morning sunlight peek in between woven muslin curtains. She sighed contentedly, and then came fully awake as she remembered-Lex's castle.
She sat up, looking around. A dark cherry wood nightstand beside the bed had an antique clock, which read 10:24. It also held an envelope with gilded edges, which had her name on the front in a straight, bold script. Curious, she picked it up and turned it over. Sealed tight. 'He just oozes money,' she thought, rolling her eyes and tearing the delicate envelope open. A single piece of stationary, gilded like the envelope-with a simple gold border-lay inside, covered wit writing in the same hand. She read..
My Dearest Brina, (she imagined his smirk, and one of her own crossed her face)
It was an honor to have you as a guest, not least because you provided me with valuable experience on the staircases when carrying things-or people- who should not be dropped. I look forward to another lesson.
I regret to say that I have some pressing business and could no longer wait for you. Breakfast will be ready, and should you require anything else, you should be able to find someone who will get it for you. The adjoining room to this is a bath-feel free to indulge. My limo driver, Charles, will be happy to drive you home.
I hope you have enjoyed your stay.
Sincerely, Lex Luthor
Brina dropped the letter, angry to find herself blushing. "He.." she began out loud and then stopped. Here she was in his house, having soaked and dirtied what were likely the world's most expensive sheets and instead of being angry like a stuck up rich kid he'd given her free rein of the house.
"My shoes will be filthy.." she said, bending down. She found an identical pair, brand new and the same size, instead. A small note read, 'I wasn't sure how to clean the others. Sorry.'
A sudden mental image of Lex, on his knees, tearfully apologizing for the murder of her beloved shoes came to mind, and she laughed.
She held out a stringy strand of her hair and sighed. "He said I could.." she thought. "And better her than at my little house." She left the sheets as they were, and walked across the floor-she was amazed to find it was carpeted-and opened the wooden door to the bathroom.
"Wow..!" an exclamation escaped her as she stopped in the doorway. Lex had installed a gigantic hot tub, designed to fit with the stone that made up the rest of the décor. Again he had accomplished the impossible by tiling the floor. Grayish tiles with the black imprints of different ferns. A slightly narrow full-length mirror hung on the west wall. There were no windows, but the tiny chandelier had be left on-it was crystal.
Huge fluffy towels hung on the wall close to the tub. Brina smiled. It couldn't have been nicer, ever at the most expensive of hotels.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Lex was a living nightmare-more so than usual. It had been six in the morning and he'd just showered and gotten dressed, and was hoping his exceptionally beautiful houseguest would wake soon. The ringing telephone outside his office pushed those thoughts from his mind.
"Mr. Luthor?" Kyla's voice sounded over the intercom. A day at Luthorcorp began at the crack of dawn. Lex ran a hand over his face in frustration and laced his fingers together, slamming them on the desk.
"Yes?" he kept his tone even.
"Your father is on line 1," she answered back dutifully. Lex didn't respond, but picked up the receiver and punched in a number.
"You have exactly 3 minutes," Lex commanded.
"Lex, not please to speak with me?" Lionel's gritty voice asked.
"2 minutes and 37 seconds," Lex counted down on his wristwatch.
"I am not amused.." he paused. "Come down to my office Lex. Immediately!"
"Ordering me around Dad? I'm not one of your little factory minions. What makes you remotely believe that I'm going to do what you say?"
"What if I informed you that it dealt with girl sleeping in your guestroom?" Lionel laughed, cynically.
"I'd say your 3 minutes are up," Lex slammed down the phone.
A few seconds later it rang again. "Damn machine!" Lex snarled, grabbing the receiver. "HELLO?"
"Lex," came his father's voice, none of its menace or ridicule diminished even though he spoke over the phone. "You and I aren't playing a game here. And if we were, I assure you Lex, I'd be winning."
"What do you WANT?" Lex shouted.
"All in good time son," was the reply. Leave it to Lionel Luthor to be cryptic.
"I'll be there as soon as I can," he conceded.
Lex rubbed his temples, a look of unwilling defeated stamped on his usually calm features. Any conversation with his father was always apt to give him the makings of a major headache. He paged Kyla, an ironic smile on his face at her perky reply.
"Yes..Mr. Luthor?"
"My father commands my presence at Luthorcorp headquarters immediately," he said, sounding tired.
Kyla coughed politely. "Ah..I see. Before you leave, what will you do about you.guest, Mr. Luthor?"
"Lex," he corrected wearily. "Yes..I'll see to her. Anything else Miss Evans?"
"Only your ten-o'clock meeting with a potential chemical supplier for Luthorcorp. Considering they practically fell over themselves when I arranged the original, I'm sure they'll be happy to reschedule at your convenience.
Lex had to smile, picturing starched suited businessmen spilling coffee left and right as they fought to sign the papers. A minor deal, as Luthorcorp negotiations went. And one that would eventually place 80% of EcoChemicals Inc. in his hands-if he played his cards right. "Say..Friday of next week? Do I have time?"
"Yes," she said. "Good luck. With your father I mean," she switched off the intercom to find the number for EcoChemicals' Sales Rep.
Lex pulled some fancy stationery out of a drawer and hastily scrawled a note to Brina. He read it over twice after he had finished, absently running a finger over the gold-leaf border. Satisfied with his penmanship, he folded it neatly and shoved it into a matching envelope, labeling it with her name. He then made his way to the guestroom, and softly opened the door.
Faint light-the sun was about to rise-filtered through the curtains. Brian lay cuddled in the soft sheets of the four-poster a contented smile on her face, sleeping soundly. All thoughts of his father and Luthorcorp business fled his mind, and for a few minutes he simply stood and watched her. Then remembering the envelope, he tiptoed quietly to the nightstand beside the bed and dropped it there, careful not to trip over the surprise he'd left her the night before because..because she'd needed a new pair, the old ones were so muddy. And he'd been feeling generous that was it. Not because he liked her in the least. Perhaps because he wanted her. There was room in Lex's life for passion, but not for love.
He fought an unexplainable urge to reach out and brush a strand of hair from her cheek, and left to face whatever definition of torment his father had devised for him.
A/N: Well as you can see, this is chapter 6. And quite long at that. For awhile Twilight and I will be focusing on Lex and Brina's relationship, digging a little deeper. Hope y'all don't mind. : ) Enjoy!
Brina peered out of the windshield of her car. The road ahead all but obscured by the downpour. As far as she could tell, there wasn't another soul on the highway. She stifled a yawn, and then smiled at the memory of the nightclub she'd left not too long ago. Just because she'd been stuck in the middle of nowhere-also referred to as Smallville-didn't mean she was going to stay there all the time.
Smallville! Curse the Luthors for ever deciding to relocate her father there. Her mother had refused to leave Aunt Pam's side, and wasn't feeling up to looking after Brina's younger twin siblings. Ava and Ashton were both nine years old, and with their father working shifts at the plant from 4 p.m. to midnight, someone needed to be there with them. At least tonight she'd been able to find a sitter. It'd only been a week, but Brina missed life in Metropolis already.
There was a light up ahead, off to the right side of the road. Brina thought back to earlier that evening, when she'd driven this same way. What was it? A diner, that was it. A good place to at least get a coffee to keep her awake. She was starting to feel sleepy, and that was dangerous, especially in torrential rain.
Unfortunately the engine of the BMW chose that moment to die.
"Shit!" Brina yelled angrily and pounded the steering wheel when the car didn't respond to her efforts to get it to start. "Well I have two options. Either I stay here in this hunk of junk, or go to the diner." She stared out at the inviting light distorted by raindrops. "Diner." She pulled the hood of her favorite gray sweatshirt over her head and stepped out the car, walking in the direction of the light. She glanced back at the car and mumbled, "Stupid imports."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"You can go home now, Miss Evans," Lex said before taking a huge gulp of coffee. "It was a hell of a lot of paperwork, but most of it's organized by now."
Kyla gave a huge yawn and left off sorting papers to rub a fist into her eyes. "All right, Mr. Luthor," she said, placing six manilla folder, all neatly labeled an bursting with various documents, on her small desk an getting up to leave.
"What, no attitude?" Lex teased.
She smiled. "It's not my nature," she replied. "It was just too inviting, though-how nervous you were about Miss What's-Her-Name. Even go so far as to ask me for advice. I promise it won't happen again."
Lex grinned. "All right," he said. "I wasn't offended, just surprised." Kyla yawned again. "Go home Miss Evans," he told her sternly.
"Good night Mr. Luthor," she said.
"It's LEX," he called, but she was already gone.
He finished the coffee she'd brought him and flipped through a few more documents. He now sorely wished he hadn't been so insistent about the proposal. It was monstrous; certainly there was an entire forest's worth of paper piled around his office.
Lex rummaged through a small side drawer until her found what he was looking for. Keys. One for the Aston Martin, one for the new Jag.he stopped at the key for the blue Ferrari. "I have the weirdest craving for french fries," he muttered to himself striding out to the garage.
Even in a storm, Lex Luthor was a reckless driver. It hadn't taken him long to reach the diner. He quickly ran inside to avoid getting the expensive, dry-clean only designer silk shirt water stained. He was greeted father generally by the owner of the diner, Don, and half-dozen truckers, the usual late-night crowd. He ordered a plate of fries, decided on a root beer, and had just seated himself at a table when a thoroughly soaked and bedraggled young woman walked through the doors. Don rushed over to help her, but she gently pushed him away. "I'll just have coffee.." she said. Don helped her to another empty table where she put her head on her folded arms and was asleep with minutes.
Lex recognized that voice. "Brina?"
Don had reappeared with a steaming mug of coffee. "You know her?" he asked.
"Sort of.." Lex replied, in his 'none-of-your-business' tone. "But I have no idea what she's doing here.." he started to get up from the table, but Don's hand on his arm stopped him.
"Don't wake her just yet, Mr. Luthor." He set the coffee cup on her table a safe distance form her and disappeared into the kitchen again.
Lex absently munched his midnight snack, watching Brina. Poor girl, what was she doing here? She was a long way form Metropolis. Pamela..no, she didn't give a rat's ass about Lex Luthor, so she wouldn't have come to tell him, even if..he didn't want to finish that thought.
When he'd finished the french fries, he checked his watch. Almost 3 a.m. "Closing time!" Don's voice called. The truckers groaned, staring out the windows at the rain. Don walked over to Lex. "What about the young lady?" he asked.
"I'll take her home, with her permission," Lex said. He approached Brina's table and shook her gently. "Excuse me..Miss, wake up," he whispered awkwardly. "Brina.."
Brian opened her eyes. "Lex," she mumbled sleepily, but still sounding as though he was the last person on earth she wanted to see.
Lex chose to ignore her reaction. "What happened?"
"Car trouble.."
"Let me take you home," he offered, managing to keep his voice even. "I know it's a long way back to Metropolis, but.."
"Not Metropolis. My dad was transferred to your Smallville plant. We live in Smallville." A curious look passed over his face. Wait a minute..Clark had mentioned previously that her father had been transferred here. His mind did a quick mental scan of the new employee roster.David Anderson. Of course, that must be her father.
"All right," Lex said. "Is that a yes?"
Brina sighed. "Yeah..ugh..my dad will have gotten home from his shift. He'll be so mad.."
Mad? Why? That didn't make sense. Maybe she was still half-asleep. "Well," Lex suggested. "My place isn't too far form here.."
THAT made her sit up. She glared at him, and he calmly returned her gaze. Finally she looked down at the table.
"That's fine," she said, coolly. She didn't mention it was only because she didn't want to upset her dad. Eighteen or not, living in his house meant you obeyed the rules, something Brina didn't do too often.
"Whatever you say," Lex told her smoothly. He took a $100 bill form his pocket (only Lex would carry $100s like $5s) and dropped it on her table. "Thanks," he called to Don, taking Brina's hand and leading her out to the Ferrari.
"Nice," she commented, leaning back in the leather seat as Lex sped down the highway. It wasn't far, especially the way he drove, but Brina was already asleep by the time her reached his castle.
He didn't want to wake her a second time. "Brina..I'm sorry," he whispered when she opened her eyes. "But we're here.."
"A castle?" She exclaimed in surprise as he unlocked the door and led her in. "Well, this is extravagant."
"And cold, and drafty, and much too old," Lex added. "But the guest room's in the wing. I just finished redoing it. Right this way." He started to climb a flight of stairs.
Brina followed, but by now she was so cold and tired she was tripping on her own feet. "Walk much?" came to Lex's mind, but instead her just picked her up and carried her to the guestroom. She didn't protest, nor did she complain when he laid her on the bed, removed her shoes then tucked her gently into the covers.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Brina stirred and woke, feeling amazingly comfortable. For a moment, she couldn't remember where she was. Everything looked so unfamiliar; She lay in an enormous four-poster bed with huge soft pillows, pure white. A huge window in the east wall of the room let late-morning sunlight peek in between woven muslin curtains. She sighed contentedly, and then came fully awake as she remembered-Lex's castle.
She sat up, looking around. A dark cherry wood nightstand beside the bed had an antique clock, which read 10:24. It also held an envelope with gilded edges, which had her name on the front in a straight, bold script. Curious, she picked it up and turned it over. Sealed tight. 'He just oozes money,' she thought, rolling her eyes and tearing the delicate envelope open. A single piece of stationary, gilded like the envelope-with a simple gold border-lay inside, covered wit writing in the same hand. She read..
My Dearest Brina, (she imagined his smirk, and one of her own crossed her face)
It was an honor to have you as a guest, not least because you provided me with valuable experience on the staircases when carrying things-or people- who should not be dropped. I look forward to another lesson.
I regret to say that I have some pressing business and could no longer wait for you. Breakfast will be ready, and should you require anything else, you should be able to find someone who will get it for you. The adjoining room to this is a bath-feel free to indulge. My limo driver, Charles, will be happy to drive you home.
I hope you have enjoyed your stay.
Sincerely, Lex Luthor
Brina dropped the letter, angry to find herself blushing. "He.." she began out loud and then stopped. Here she was in his house, having soaked and dirtied what were likely the world's most expensive sheets and instead of being angry like a stuck up rich kid he'd given her free rein of the house.
"My shoes will be filthy.." she said, bending down. She found an identical pair, brand new and the same size, instead. A small note read, 'I wasn't sure how to clean the others. Sorry.'
A sudden mental image of Lex, on his knees, tearfully apologizing for the murder of her beloved shoes came to mind, and she laughed.
She held out a stringy strand of her hair and sighed. "He said I could.." she thought. "And better her than at my little house." She left the sheets as they were, and walked across the floor-she was amazed to find it was carpeted-and opened the wooden door to the bathroom.
"Wow..!" an exclamation escaped her as she stopped in the doorway. Lex had installed a gigantic hot tub, designed to fit with the stone that made up the rest of the décor. Again he had accomplished the impossible by tiling the floor. Grayish tiles with the black imprints of different ferns. A slightly narrow full-length mirror hung on the west wall. There were no windows, but the tiny chandelier had be left on-it was crystal.
Huge fluffy towels hung on the wall close to the tub. Brina smiled. It couldn't have been nicer, ever at the most expensive of hotels.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Lex was a living nightmare-more so than usual. It had been six in the morning and he'd just showered and gotten dressed, and was hoping his exceptionally beautiful houseguest would wake soon. The ringing telephone outside his office pushed those thoughts from his mind.
"Mr. Luthor?" Kyla's voice sounded over the intercom. A day at Luthorcorp began at the crack of dawn. Lex ran a hand over his face in frustration and laced his fingers together, slamming them on the desk.
"Yes?" he kept his tone even.
"Your father is on line 1," she answered back dutifully. Lex didn't respond, but picked up the receiver and punched in a number.
"You have exactly 3 minutes," Lex commanded.
"Lex, not please to speak with me?" Lionel's gritty voice asked.
"2 minutes and 37 seconds," Lex counted down on his wristwatch.
"I am not amused.." he paused. "Come down to my office Lex. Immediately!"
"Ordering me around Dad? I'm not one of your little factory minions. What makes you remotely believe that I'm going to do what you say?"
"What if I informed you that it dealt with girl sleeping in your guestroom?" Lionel laughed, cynically.
"I'd say your 3 minutes are up," Lex slammed down the phone.
A few seconds later it rang again. "Damn machine!" Lex snarled, grabbing the receiver. "HELLO?"
"Lex," came his father's voice, none of its menace or ridicule diminished even though he spoke over the phone. "You and I aren't playing a game here. And if we were, I assure you Lex, I'd be winning."
"What do you WANT?" Lex shouted.
"All in good time son," was the reply. Leave it to Lionel Luthor to be cryptic.
"I'll be there as soon as I can," he conceded.
Lex rubbed his temples, a look of unwilling defeated stamped on his usually calm features. Any conversation with his father was always apt to give him the makings of a major headache. He paged Kyla, an ironic smile on his face at her perky reply.
"Yes..Mr. Luthor?"
"My father commands my presence at Luthorcorp headquarters immediately," he said, sounding tired.
Kyla coughed politely. "Ah..I see. Before you leave, what will you do about you.guest, Mr. Luthor?"
"Lex," he corrected wearily. "Yes..I'll see to her. Anything else Miss Evans?"
"Only your ten-o'clock meeting with a potential chemical supplier for Luthorcorp. Considering they practically fell over themselves when I arranged the original, I'm sure they'll be happy to reschedule at your convenience.
Lex had to smile, picturing starched suited businessmen spilling coffee left and right as they fought to sign the papers. A minor deal, as Luthorcorp negotiations went. And one that would eventually place 80% of EcoChemicals Inc. in his hands-if he played his cards right. "Say..Friday of next week? Do I have time?"
"Yes," she said. "Good luck. With your father I mean," she switched off the intercom to find the number for EcoChemicals' Sales Rep.
Lex pulled some fancy stationery out of a drawer and hastily scrawled a note to Brina. He read it over twice after he had finished, absently running a finger over the gold-leaf border. Satisfied with his penmanship, he folded it neatly and shoved it into a matching envelope, labeling it with her name. He then made his way to the guestroom, and softly opened the door.
Faint light-the sun was about to rise-filtered through the curtains. Brian lay cuddled in the soft sheets of the four-poster a contented smile on her face, sleeping soundly. All thoughts of his father and Luthorcorp business fled his mind, and for a few minutes he simply stood and watched her. Then remembering the envelope, he tiptoed quietly to the nightstand beside the bed and dropped it there, careful not to trip over the surprise he'd left her the night before because..because she'd needed a new pair, the old ones were so muddy. And he'd been feeling generous that was it. Not because he liked her in the least. Perhaps because he wanted her. There was room in Lex's life for passion, but not for love.
He fought an unexplainable urge to reach out and brush a strand of hair from her cheek, and left to face whatever definition of torment his father had devised for him.