Well, what do you know? Chapter 4!
Chapter 4
Lionel strode around the room, his eyes narrowing, looking at Lex with contempt.
"What was that?" Lionel finally asked, pointing to the door. "Wasn't that Gabe Sullivan's daughter? Cleo?"
"Chloe," Lex shot back, his breath coming out in angry gasps.
"Whatever. I recognized her from some of the various Luthor Corp., functions." Lionel didn't beat around the bush very long. "She's fifteen, Alexander. Forget about her."
Lex sucked in a deep breath. He wasn't going to let his father get away with this. No way. Not when it came to Chloe. Not when he could still feel her lips on his, her tongue exploring the depths of his mouth. The taste of her lip gloss....strawberry. God, it was heaven. Just hearing the name Chloe made his heart soar. He'd never felt this way about someone before. But then, there was nobody he'd ever known like Chloe. Nobody with her spark. He was in love with the fiery high school freshman and nothing was going to get in his way. Not even his father, but Lionel would most certainly prove to be a difficult hurdle. His father was a man who could stand nothing but his own way.
"I won't," Lex finally choked out. "And don't you ever call me Alexander." That was a name only his mother was.....had been, allowed to use.
"You will, Alexander," Lionel replied, stressing the end of the name. "You will. I have hid things from the press before about you. Club Zero. The drunk driving that left Tiffany Powers, age 17, dead on her birthday...."
"Shut up," Lex hissed. He had not expected this. Not even from his father, the most malicious man he's ever known. He'd never expected his father to bring up all his past mistakes when he was just a fucked up little rich kid who only wanted to defy everything that his father had taught him growing up. God, he was sorry for Tiffany. He was sorry every day of his damn life. Her ghost haunted him. Now Lionel was making it even worse.
Lionel went right along. "The late nights at those strip clubs you used to fancy." Now he was really getting into it, waving his hands around wildly. "The drunken bar fights, the hookers, the parties until five in the morning....I pulled every string possible to bury those under the rug. But this I will not bury." Lionel shook his head. "If you choose to maintain your relationship with Ms. Sullivan, then I will sell the story to every newspaper in the country faster than you can say 'jailbait.'" Lionel smirked. He could see this was having an effect on his son.
Lex sneered at his father. He knew his father would never sell him out. It'd be bad PR for Luthor Corp., and his own self. One thing about Lionel Luthor, he never but his own fat in the fire. Still Lex had to be careful. Lionel could easily twist things on him and carry out his threats. His father was as unexpected and spontaneous as he himself was, only maybe even a little more. Everything Lex knew about manipulation has come from his father, but Lionel certainly hadn't taught him everything he knew. Lex would just have to play it safe.
The silence stretched on before Lionel added, "I will not stop you from jail. Do you know what the penalty is for statutory rape? I very much doubt Gabe would protect you from them." Lionel shook his head, grinning like a Cheshire cat. "I know all about how Gabe feels about his "baby girl." God knows I've had to see every damn picture he carries around in his wallet of her."
Lex swallowed. "I do not plan on taking my relationship with Chloe any farther than it is right now. We're both adults. We can wait. And you," Lex paused, looking at his own flesh and blood disgustedly. "You can do nothing about it."
Lionel smirked, as if he were the All-Powerful, All-Knowing, God of Everything. "I know you Alexander," he responded coolly. "I know you can never keep your snake in the cage for that long." He looked Lex up and down. His pants sure had been bulging for a guy who supposedly had his hormones in check, but Lionel didn't mention this. "Do what you want," he boomed instead. "But I will no longer protect you."
"Get out," Lex hissed.
Lionel left without another word, leaving Lex to his thoughts.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chloe burst through the front door, gasping for breath. She's sprinted home from the Luthor mansion, not stopping for breath once. God, how utterly humiliating! She couldn't bear to look behind her for fear that she'd see Lionel charging at her with a spear.
Gabe stood right in front of her, looking majorly ticked off. He was beyond rational reasoning. Which meant Chloe could do only one thing: Lie.
"Where have you been?" Gabe demanded, taking Chloe into his arms. Being a parent meant sometimes wanting to hug and slug your kid at the same time. This was one of those times. "Are you okay? You're out of breath."
"I'm...fine," Chloe managed. She hoped her hair and make-up weren't too messed up. Gabe might put two and two together and then...BOOM!
"Where were you?" Gabe led her to the couch. Angry Dad was performing now. He held up the napkin Chloe had written on. "What is this? 'Dad...I've gotta go. Lex will drive me home. Don't wait up. Love you, Chloe. What is that?"
"I wasn't feeling well," Chloe lied, putting on her best fake sick act. This was the act that had helped her stay home from school on numerous occasions. "Lex was taking me to see his private doctor." Chloe winced. Any one of the guys in her Sex Ed class would have a laugh over her choice of words. "I was um, throwing up and stuff."
"No wonder," Gabe mumbled. "Your hair's all messed up, and you look so pale." Gabe kissed her gently on the cheek. "How are you feeling now? Do you want me to make you some soup?" Chloe nodded. "Okay. You go change into some sweats and come right back down. We'll watch a movie or two, okay sweetie?" Chloe nodded again. "I can take care of you, just like when you were little. You used to love it when I'd stay home from work with you." A nostalgic smile crept over Gabe's lips.
Chloe smiled a little bit though part of her wanted to remind him that she was not a little girl any more, while another part felt guilty for lying to him. Chloe had never been a terrific liar or anything, but her lies always got past her father. Not because he was gullible, but really, because he trusted her. He trusted her not to lie to him. Chloe shook her head and went up stairs to change. She couldn't have a conscious now.
Fully changed into gray sweatpants and an over-sized NYPD sweatshirt that her uncle on the force had given to her. Chloe's heart almost broke when she settled down on the couch. Her father had gone all out. Chicken noodle soup, her favorite. And he'd even brought down the old quilt her grandmother had made for her when she was in the second grade. She felt even guiltier about lying to him.
Gabe had pulled out Chloe's favorite movies, just for her. "The Pelican Brief," "Conspiracy Theory," and "Sleepless in Seattle," though nobody but Gabe knew about the last one. Chloe would just *die* if anybody she knew found out she enjoyed Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan sap. And she'd simply spontaneously combust if her father told anyone that she always cried at the end. But her father, while a prankster, was never that bad.
Gabe sat down on the couch and Chloe buried her head in his chest, going back to the days when she'd been six years old and this had been the highlight of her day. Cuddling with Daddy and watching old movies. It hadn't lost it's spark yet. Gabe covered them both with the quilt and flicked on the first movie. He kissed the top of Chloe's head gently, his arm around her securly.
"How you doing, sweetheart?" Gabe asked halfway through the first preview.
"Just fine," Chloe replied. For the second time that night she was cuddling on the couch with a man that she loved. She just didn't want to choose between being Daddy's Girl and Lex's girlfriend.
Chloe just hoped it never came to that.
TBC
Chapter 4
Lionel strode around the room, his eyes narrowing, looking at Lex with contempt.
"What was that?" Lionel finally asked, pointing to the door. "Wasn't that Gabe Sullivan's daughter? Cleo?"
"Chloe," Lex shot back, his breath coming out in angry gasps.
"Whatever. I recognized her from some of the various Luthor Corp., functions." Lionel didn't beat around the bush very long. "She's fifteen, Alexander. Forget about her."
Lex sucked in a deep breath. He wasn't going to let his father get away with this. No way. Not when it came to Chloe. Not when he could still feel her lips on his, her tongue exploring the depths of his mouth. The taste of her lip gloss....strawberry. God, it was heaven. Just hearing the name Chloe made his heart soar. He'd never felt this way about someone before. But then, there was nobody he'd ever known like Chloe. Nobody with her spark. He was in love with the fiery high school freshman and nothing was going to get in his way. Not even his father, but Lionel would most certainly prove to be a difficult hurdle. His father was a man who could stand nothing but his own way.
"I won't," Lex finally choked out. "And don't you ever call me Alexander." That was a name only his mother was.....had been, allowed to use.
"You will, Alexander," Lionel replied, stressing the end of the name. "You will. I have hid things from the press before about you. Club Zero. The drunk driving that left Tiffany Powers, age 17, dead on her birthday...."
"Shut up," Lex hissed. He had not expected this. Not even from his father, the most malicious man he's ever known. He'd never expected his father to bring up all his past mistakes when he was just a fucked up little rich kid who only wanted to defy everything that his father had taught him growing up. God, he was sorry for Tiffany. He was sorry every day of his damn life. Her ghost haunted him. Now Lionel was making it even worse.
Lionel went right along. "The late nights at those strip clubs you used to fancy." Now he was really getting into it, waving his hands around wildly. "The drunken bar fights, the hookers, the parties until five in the morning....I pulled every string possible to bury those under the rug. But this I will not bury." Lionel shook his head. "If you choose to maintain your relationship with Ms. Sullivan, then I will sell the story to every newspaper in the country faster than you can say 'jailbait.'" Lionel smirked. He could see this was having an effect on his son.
Lex sneered at his father. He knew his father would never sell him out. It'd be bad PR for Luthor Corp., and his own self. One thing about Lionel Luthor, he never but his own fat in the fire. Still Lex had to be careful. Lionel could easily twist things on him and carry out his threats. His father was as unexpected and spontaneous as he himself was, only maybe even a little more. Everything Lex knew about manipulation has come from his father, but Lionel certainly hadn't taught him everything he knew. Lex would just have to play it safe.
The silence stretched on before Lionel added, "I will not stop you from jail. Do you know what the penalty is for statutory rape? I very much doubt Gabe would protect you from them." Lionel shook his head, grinning like a Cheshire cat. "I know all about how Gabe feels about his "baby girl." God knows I've had to see every damn picture he carries around in his wallet of her."
Lex swallowed. "I do not plan on taking my relationship with Chloe any farther than it is right now. We're both adults. We can wait. And you," Lex paused, looking at his own flesh and blood disgustedly. "You can do nothing about it."
Lionel smirked, as if he were the All-Powerful, All-Knowing, God of Everything. "I know you Alexander," he responded coolly. "I know you can never keep your snake in the cage for that long." He looked Lex up and down. His pants sure had been bulging for a guy who supposedly had his hormones in check, but Lionel didn't mention this. "Do what you want," he boomed instead. "But I will no longer protect you."
"Get out," Lex hissed.
Lionel left without another word, leaving Lex to his thoughts.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chloe burst through the front door, gasping for breath. She's sprinted home from the Luthor mansion, not stopping for breath once. God, how utterly humiliating! She couldn't bear to look behind her for fear that she'd see Lionel charging at her with a spear.
Gabe stood right in front of her, looking majorly ticked off. He was beyond rational reasoning. Which meant Chloe could do only one thing: Lie.
"Where have you been?" Gabe demanded, taking Chloe into his arms. Being a parent meant sometimes wanting to hug and slug your kid at the same time. This was one of those times. "Are you okay? You're out of breath."
"I'm...fine," Chloe managed. She hoped her hair and make-up weren't too messed up. Gabe might put two and two together and then...BOOM!
"Where were you?" Gabe led her to the couch. Angry Dad was performing now. He held up the napkin Chloe had written on. "What is this? 'Dad...I've gotta go. Lex will drive me home. Don't wait up. Love you, Chloe. What is that?"
"I wasn't feeling well," Chloe lied, putting on her best fake sick act. This was the act that had helped her stay home from school on numerous occasions. "Lex was taking me to see his private doctor." Chloe winced. Any one of the guys in her Sex Ed class would have a laugh over her choice of words. "I was um, throwing up and stuff."
"No wonder," Gabe mumbled. "Your hair's all messed up, and you look so pale." Gabe kissed her gently on the cheek. "How are you feeling now? Do you want me to make you some soup?" Chloe nodded. "Okay. You go change into some sweats and come right back down. We'll watch a movie or two, okay sweetie?" Chloe nodded again. "I can take care of you, just like when you were little. You used to love it when I'd stay home from work with you." A nostalgic smile crept over Gabe's lips.
Chloe smiled a little bit though part of her wanted to remind him that she was not a little girl any more, while another part felt guilty for lying to him. Chloe had never been a terrific liar or anything, but her lies always got past her father. Not because he was gullible, but really, because he trusted her. He trusted her not to lie to him. Chloe shook her head and went up stairs to change. She couldn't have a conscious now.
Fully changed into gray sweatpants and an over-sized NYPD sweatshirt that her uncle on the force had given to her. Chloe's heart almost broke when she settled down on the couch. Her father had gone all out. Chicken noodle soup, her favorite. And he'd even brought down the old quilt her grandmother had made for her when she was in the second grade. She felt even guiltier about lying to him.
Gabe had pulled out Chloe's favorite movies, just for her. "The Pelican Brief," "Conspiracy Theory," and "Sleepless in Seattle," though nobody but Gabe knew about the last one. Chloe would just *die* if anybody she knew found out she enjoyed Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan sap. And she'd simply spontaneously combust if her father told anyone that she always cried at the end. But her father, while a prankster, was never that bad.
Gabe sat down on the couch and Chloe buried her head in his chest, going back to the days when she'd been six years old and this had been the highlight of her day. Cuddling with Daddy and watching old movies. It hadn't lost it's spark yet. Gabe covered them both with the quilt and flicked on the first movie. He kissed the top of Chloe's head gently, his arm around her securly.
"How you doing, sweetheart?" Gabe asked halfway through the first preview.
"Just fine," Chloe replied. For the second time that night she was cuddling on the couch with a man that she loved. She just didn't want to choose between being Daddy's Girl and Lex's girlfriend.
Chloe just hoped it never came to that.
TBC