Part 11 - Restructuring the Present.
"Good Morning Mr. Luthor, we weren't expecting you this morning…" His secretary said, trying not to
sound too flustered at the fact that he was not supposed to be there but had just turned up. Lex smiled.
He liked to keep his staff on their toes and after such a long time away from the office it was good to
see that his presence still caused a stir.
"I heard some rumours about the board meeting without me so I decided to come in." Lex said,
watching as his usually well prepared and organised secretary blanched.
Lex had of course known about the meeting, and had even planned to be there via a video link but none
of them were expecting him in person and that obviously showed as her face proved that they were
already in the board room, no doubt talking about him behind his back. It would be good to test his
employees loyalty, especially when he was building up to some more radical plans.
"…and all I'm saying is that he ought to spend more time in the office…" Joe Davies said heatedly,
obviously deep in some debate about him.
"I agree." Lex said, allowing a smirk to spread across his face as the now ashen faced man that had
been talking turned and began to stutter, although if it was disbelief or an apology Lex was unsure.
"Mr. Davies is indeed correct that I am neglecting my duties as your chairman by not being here, a few
of you will know that I was taking interest in one of our newest R&D acquisitions, however I have
been monitoring progress the whole time I was away and have come up with a few proposals as to
where I think we are going wrong…"
With that Lex began a board meeting which listed a few changes that he wanted to make, expansion in
some areas and a few job losses in others, but a rather radical overhaul of the entire corporation, at least
changes that affected many different areas. In reality Lex had been planning this for a few months,
even before Lana's fateful visit to his office and before Clark had come back into his life, but now he
wanted to be sure that there was an efficient as well as consumer friendly LexCorp out there and he
didn't want to do anything that would make Clark think again about being with him.
"Mr. Luthor?" The executive asked him, he looked back and realised that he had been lost in thought
for a moment, he continued his talk but was also aware that even when he was trying to distract himself
with business Clark was always on his mind. He knew that he was in Europe somewhere, or at least he
had been the last time he had checked but he wished he knew more than that, it was driving him crazy
not knowing where Clark was.
"…build a better future for us all." Lex said, finishing off his speech. "Now, if you'll excuse me
gentlemen I have some other business to deal with. I'll let you discuss this amongst yourselves."
And with that he walked out of his board room and headed for his office.
"Mr. Luthor?" Iris asked as he headed for his office. "This came for you this morning, I was about to
send it through but if you are staying…"
"Thank you Iris, that will be all." Lex said as he took the pile of papers, a fax, some letters and another
invite to some social function or other. He certainly did not want to party at the moment, not without
Clark in his life.
He hated that the young man had the power to reduce him into this wreck, this shell of the man he had
been, and yet he knew that Love did that to you. He only prayed that the love would never turn
because the last thing he wanted was Clark as his enemy, they would both lose if that were to happen.
Lex shuddered at the thought that there was a universe somewhere where the two were bitter enemies,
he would certainly not want to live that. He supposed that it was a good reason to clean up the rest of
his company, he had not done very much underhanded dealing but now he vowed to do none of it. Lex
Luthor had turned over a new leaf and it was not one from a seed that had fallen close to the tree but
rather one that had bathed in the light and felt the taste of a Kent son.
Lex smiled as he reached for his post. If he had not known before he would have known it was love,
nothing else would make him come up with such flowery prose. When he looked down at the top of
the pile he was surprised to see a photocopy of an article in Time about growing up and leaving high
school and what it was like going back, it was only as he looked at the by-line that he smiled.
"Life With Honours." By Clark Kent.
So, the boy that had lived half of his life in the journalistic shadow of the big city girl had finally made
a dent in the world of print. Lex had never questioned Clark's level of written ability but he knew that
deep down there was some part of the boy that was doing this for Chloe. Clark whose own ambitions
had been cruelly taken from him by an accident of birth that meant he was the one that had the powers
to save the world. Knowing from a young age that he would always be different he was sure that Clark
would not have built up any aspirations of his own, Lex knew how that felt. He didn't need to wait long
for the proof that this was all part of Clark's plan to deal with the past and somehow make things up to
Chloe.
In the next morning's edition of the Daily Planet there was a two page spread on an exclusive story on
the murder of Chloe Sullivan. It told of the talented journalist who had been killed by rebels while out
on a story in Eastern Europe, it alleged that she had been too close to exposing a ring that smuggled
women out of Eastern Europe and forced them into prostitution in the West. She had died for what she
saw as a good cause, upholding the truth and the belief of a better world.
The story depicted her as a latter day saint, someone that wanted to free the women who were kept as
virtual slaves. It also went on to chronicle how using evidence gathered by Sullivan the writer of the
story had broken the ring and brought the men behind it to justice.
As he sat at his dining table eating breakfast Lex knew immediately that Chloe had no such evidence
and that Clark, who was credited with a by-line (along with Chloe Sullivan - for her research), had
done it for the respect it would gain Chloe as well as her ambition to be published in the Planet. Clark
had no doubt used his powers and his intelligence to break the ring himself and uphold the ideals that
he believed in, perhaps in doing so seeing some parallel between himself and the girls he was freeing,
knowing that Chloe had given her life to save him and now he was going to dedicate his life to the
journalistic ideals that she had upheld.
Lex had set aside his paper and smiled. If Clark was working for the Planet then he was back in the
city, at least Lex again knew he was safe. Maybe he could even manipulate events so that Clark would
come back to him, but he would have to bide his time. He did not want to send Clark off again.
---------------------
Perry White had been dubious about this almost unheard of writer when he had walked into his office
with a large story that he wanted to put on the front page. Kent was more than a rookie, he was still
wet behind the ears, not even college educated the kid said that he had been 'experiencing life' for a few
years before deciding to take up where his friend left off and writing up the story that had gotten her
killed for her trouble. He'd had a few stories published in high school, juvenile stuff that didn't really
count for much and then one story in Time, which while prestigious as a publication was hardly a
decent CV for a kid of this boy's age, most of the unsuccessful applicants that Perry saw had portfolios
six or seven times that size.
Perry barely believed it when Clark told him he was only 21, there was a maturity to his writing that
portrayed someone older, more bitter. But when the story checked out he knew that passing it up or
merely offering the kid a freelance deal was not going to be enough. He was sure that the kid had real
talent, it just needed moulding in the right way. So he had taken a chance and signed the young Kent
boy on a six month contract. He had just the person to show Kent the ropes around the office and take
some of the talent and shape it into excellent journalism.
Clark sat nervously in his second meeting, he had never really expected to get this far, if the Planet had
turned down the story his next stop was the Post, hoping that as Chloe's former employer they would
have taken one the expose. Instead he was sitting in the Editor's office in the most prestigious paper in
Metropolis and waiting to meet his partner. When he saw who it was he was glad of the minor
disguise.
Clark had not done much, only cut his hair a little so that it was as short as it had been in high school
and put on a pair of glasses with clear lenses, he had hoped that they made him look a little older but
really they made him look geeky. Nerdy was good he supposed, at least he would blend in more.
When Lois Lane, the reporter he had met at the symposium came through the door he was worried that
he had been spotted, after all she was known as a great investigative reporter. However when she did
not even bat an eyelid he knew that he was home free.
"No way Perry, he looks like some high school computer geek that forgot his braces and pocket
protector. There is no way I am babysitting this kid, no matter what he's done for us." Lois said,
having heard something about boosted ratings and higher sales due to the story. People were suckers
for a good scandal or human story and this one had allegedly had it all. Still, as her old mentor had
said, one good story does not make you a good reporter.
"Look, Lois…" Clark had began, but Perry had held up a hand and done his protesting for him.
"Lane, he's your partner, whether you like it or not." Perry White said sternly. "Now he needs someone
to show him the ropes, and you need someone to rope you in. If you harass Lex Luthor one more time
for an interview I swear that he will be down here with a team of the city's most expensive lawyers to
take this paper apart a piece at a time."
"Perry, I work alone." Lois said, trying in vain one last time to protest against the decision that had
obviously been made a long time before she was introduced to this rookie. "And we both know that I
would not have to harass Lex Luthor if he would give me an interview. He's in the public eye, he
should be more open to the possibility of spending time in public."
"The decision is final Lois." Perry said. "So I suggest you show Clark here to the empty desk next to
your one and go over the story you're working on."
Clark thanked Perry White and flashed his smile at Lois who grimaced and stared back at him,
reminding him of Chloe in a few ways. He wondered what she would make of all this, he could almost
hear her laughing at his having gotten talked into journalism despite not really knowing if it was what
he wanted to do.
After Lois had shown him her story, made clear that it was her story, and that he would have to find his
own story, she left him to it. Feeling a little guilty that he was alone that night, perhaps his first in the
city she turned back.
"Hey Kent, where do you live?"
"Smallville." Clark replied, without really thinking of his response. Lois snorted with laughter and the
continued.
"No, I meant where are you staying in the city." She should have known that on top of being stuck
with a partner that she would get stuck with the one from Hicksville.
"Oh. A hotel I guess. I hadn't really thought that far ahead." He said, not really having thought it out,
having been in Europe for nearly two weeks investigating his story and Chloe's death, returning her
body to Smallville for a decent burial as soon as he had found it.
"I have a sofa if you need it." Jimmy, the trainee photographer that Lois had introduced him to offered.
The younger guy seemed friendly, although he was also a little inexperienced.
Clark looked down at the picture he had just placed on his desk, of he, Pete and Chloe on a friendlier
day. He decided that he would take up the Rosses on their invitation to visit again. Despite what had
happened last time he was sure that he should share with Pete first hand what he knew of Chloe's
disappearance and maybe even offer his condolences for the loss. Perhaps even take Pete out for a
drink in honour of their friend.
"Thanks but I've got it covered." Clark said, Lois shrugged but was a little upset that he had turned her
down. He was cute in an offhand kind of way, maybe without the glasses and with a bit less baggy
clothes, but then she preferred her men already made, she didn't want one that she had to mould.
She sighed. Oh, well, another night alone with a good book. She would check in with some of her
Luthor sources too, it couldn't hurt to check.
--------------------
Lex was worried, he knew for sure that Clark was back in the city and yet his lover had not come back
to his apartment. He knew that Clark was not his to own but he would have thought that the younger
man would at least have come to him for a place to stay, or let him know that he was still alive and
okay. Lex was pretty sure that Clark did not know that he had been tracking him, the sub dermal
implant was something added while Clark was unconscious and even if Clark knew about it he must
have known that it was only because Lex cared. He had been over every small detail of their time
together since he had pulled the plug on the government's secret base and could not think of a single
reason for Clark to be angry at him. Why then was the younger man not here, why didn't Clark want to
be with him?
Lex wondered if this was why his father had always told him that emotions made him weak. Since
Clark had come back into his life it had certainly gotten a whole lot more complicated. Before he had
been able to work without any distraction but now as he sat at his desk he felt guilty, as if he ought to
be out looking for Clark, or being with Clark and yet knowing full well that the other man did not want
him with him. Lex spent hours when he would once have been working just thinking about the way the
light reflected off Clark's hair or the colour of those deep soulful eyes.
Lex supposed that this confusing mix of torment and wonderment was what love was. No wonder his
father had told him that he was not to trust his emotions they were complicating everything and if he
did not pull it together soon his business would suffer, that was the other thing that worried Lex, as
long as Clark was in his life he no longer cared about LexCorp. Maybe that was the real problem, he
didn't want to stay at the office because he now had somewhere else he would rather be. What made it
even more frustrating though was the fact that he couldn't really be there at all, because the place he
was daydreaming about was just about anywhere as long as Clark was there too and Lex knew that
Clark did not want to be with him. This always brought him back to the beginning as to why it was
Clark did not want to be with him.
"Mr. Luthor?"
Lex wasn't expecting anyone so he was surprised when Iris called his name, he had specifically asked
not to be disturbed unless it was important.
"What is it Iris?" He asked, making sure to use his irritated tone so that she would know that this was
not a good time but that he would overlook it on this occasion.
"Mr. Smyth was just on the phone, Lois Lane has been asking questions again sir. He said that she was
talking with a few people that told her they had information that you were retiring. I thought that you
would want to know."
"Who exactly did she talk to?" Lex asked, his interest piqued by this news and desperate for something
more interesting to do than rhapsodise to himself about the beauty that he had loved and lost. "And
what if anything did she find out."
"Well, there was Mr. Davies on the board, but he told her she would have to come through this office
for any personal or professional information regarding your work and she spoke to Mr. Daniels, one of
the men that works in the Smallville Community Farm who told her that there was activity there last
week. He also added that he thought you were planning on moving back to the mansion."
"Thank you Iris." Lex said. "I'll take it from here."
Hanging up but not replacing the handset Lex dialled the familiar number for the Smallville Farm
Project that he had set up and spoke to the manager there, he asked that Mr. Daniels find himself out of
work, perhaps due to the minor embezzlement that he had been committing for a few months, taking
more in his pay check than he was entitled to. Then he rang Joe Davies and thanked him for his
support, making sure to reassure the man that he was now back at work full time, at least until the new
structure was in place and he had someone else to do the leg work for him.
Lex decided that it was time that he gave Lois Lane a taste of her own medicine. Picking up the phone
Lex decided that he needed to make one last call before returning to his work, or at least the pretence of
work.
"Dominic, It's Lex." He said as he heard the connection made, not even allowing the other man a
chance to say hello.
"What do you want?" The belligerent man asked, wondering why Lex was calling him after all these
years of his being stuck in the payroll office after his demotion. Lionel had used him as a go-between
and Lex had held him responsible for his actions when his father had been dethroned.
"How would you like a chance of promotion, at least a temporary one. I have a job that requires your
unique talents." Lex said, picking his words carefully.
"Finally need someone that can outwit your opponents?" The man asked arrogantly.
"No, I need someone that understands the devious mind to do some surveillance and I want there to be
no connection to me. If you get caught you will tell people that you were working under orders from
my father." Lex said, knowing that no matter what Dominic would take any opportunity to get back
into the hierarchy at LuthorCorp.
"What's in it for me?" Dominic asked, ever the mercenary he did not even question what it was that
Lex was about to ask him to do. He was the type that would sell his mother for the right price.
"I'll pay you $1000 a day plus expenses to watch Lois Lane, I want to know her every move and every
tiny detail about her personal life. I want to be able to know what she likes for breakfast, how she takes
her coffee and why she is suddenly so interested in the life of Lex Luthor." Lex said.
"Do I get to know why you need this information?" Dominic asked, Lex paused a moment, wondering
if he should tell the other man then decided that he was mellowing too much, there was no way that
Dominic needed to know.
"Just do the job and if I'm happy we'll see about getting you back on the ladder." Lex said as he hung
up, as he did so he knew three things. One, Dominic would do the job like an eager puppy excited to
please its new master; two, Lois Lane would get a taste of her own medicine and three, he had no
intention of letting Dominic anywhere near the career ladder.
With that taken care of Lex turned back to his work and picked out a new report on the restructuring of
the company. Lex was pleased to find that he could actually concentrate on it, but he was troubled to
see the suggestion that they shut down one or more of the fertilizer plants that he owned, Smallville
being top of the recommended list. Lex had a certain fondness for the plant that had been his first
acquisition on his path to greatness, he made a note to close two of the other factories and increase the
size of the one in Smallville, there had been a downturn in the farming and they needed an injection
into the local economy. Lex was not being sentimental, it was better to have one plant dealing with all
of the output, it was good business sense. At least that was what he told himself.
----------
To Be Continued…
"Good Morning Mr. Luthor, we weren't expecting you this morning…" His secretary said, trying not to
sound too flustered at the fact that he was not supposed to be there but had just turned up. Lex smiled.
He liked to keep his staff on their toes and after such a long time away from the office it was good to
see that his presence still caused a stir.
"I heard some rumours about the board meeting without me so I decided to come in." Lex said,
watching as his usually well prepared and organised secretary blanched.
Lex had of course known about the meeting, and had even planned to be there via a video link but none
of them were expecting him in person and that obviously showed as her face proved that they were
already in the board room, no doubt talking about him behind his back. It would be good to test his
employees loyalty, especially when he was building up to some more radical plans.
"…and all I'm saying is that he ought to spend more time in the office…" Joe Davies said heatedly,
obviously deep in some debate about him.
"I agree." Lex said, allowing a smirk to spread across his face as the now ashen faced man that had
been talking turned and began to stutter, although if it was disbelief or an apology Lex was unsure.
"Mr. Davies is indeed correct that I am neglecting my duties as your chairman by not being here, a few
of you will know that I was taking interest in one of our newest R&D acquisitions, however I have
been monitoring progress the whole time I was away and have come up with a few proposals as to
where I think we are going wrong…"
With that Lex began a board meeting which listed a few changes that he wanted to make, expansion in
some areas and a few job losses in others, but a rather radical overhaul of the entire corporation, at least
changes that affected many different areas. In reality Lex had been planning this for a few months,
even before Lana's fateful visit to his office and before Clark had come back into his life, but now he
wanted to be sure that there was an efficient as well as consumer friendly LexCorp out there and he
didn't want to do anything that would make Clark think again about being with him.
"Mr. Luthor?" The executive asked him, he looked back and realised that he had been lost in thought
for a moment, he continued his talk but was also aware that even when he was trying to distract himself
with business Clark was always on his mind. He knew that he was in Europe somewhere, or at least he
had been the last time he had checked but he wished he knew more than that, it was driving him crazy
not knowing where Clark was.
"…build a better future for us all." Lex said, finishing off his speech. "Now, if you'll excuse me
gentlemen I have some other business to deal with. I'll let you discuss this amongst yourselves."
And with that he walked out of his board room and headed for his office.
"Mr. Luthor?" Iris asked as he headed for his office. "This came for you this morning, I was about to
send it through but if you are staying…"
"Thank you Iris, that will be all." Lex said as he took the pile of papers, a fax, some letters and another
invite to some social function or other. He certainly did not want to party at the moment, not without
Clark in his life.
He hated that the young man had the power to reduce him into this wreck, this shell of the man he had
been, and yet he knew that Love did that to you. He only prayed that the love would never turn
because the last thing he wanted was Clark as his enemy, they would both lose if that were to happen.
Lex shuddered at the thought that there was a universe somewhere where the two were bitter enemies,
he would certainly not want to live that. He supposed that it was a good reason to clean up the rest of
his company, he had not done very much underhanded dealing but now he vowed to do none of it. Lex
Luthor had turned over a new leaf and it was not one from a seed that had fallen close to the tree but
rather one that had bathed in the light and felt the taste of a Kent son.
Lex smiled as he reached for his post. If he had not known before he would have known it was love,
nothing else would make him come up with such flowery prose. When he looked down at the top of
the pile he was surprised to see a photocopy of an article in Time about growing up and leaving high
school and what it was like going back, it was only as he looked at the by-line that he smiled.
"Life With Honours." By Clark Kent.
So, the boy that had lived half of his life in the journalistic shadow of the big city girl had finally made
a dent in the world of print. Lex had never questioned Clark's level of written ability but he knew that
deep down there was some part of the boy that was doing this for Chloe. Clark whose own ambitions
had been cruelly taken from him by an accident of birth that meant he was the one that had the powers
to save the world. Knowing from a young age that he would always be different he was sure that Clark
would not have built up any aspirations of his own, Lex knew how that felt. He didn't need to wait long
for the proof that this was all part of Clark's plan to deal with the past and somehow make things up to
Chloe.
In the next morning's edition of the Daily Planet there was a two page spread on an exclusive story on
the murder of Chloe Sullivan. It told of the talented journalist who had been killed by rebels while out
on a story in Eastern Europe, it alleged that she had been too close to exposing a ring that smuggled
women out of Eastern Europe and forced them into prostitution in the West. She had died for what she
saw as a good cause, upholding the truth and the belief of a better world.
The story depicted her as a latter day saint, someone that wanted to free the women who were kept as
virtual slaves. It also went on to chronicle how using evidence gathered by Sullivan the writer of the
story had broken the ring and brought the men behind it to justice.
As he sat at his dining table eating breakfast Lex knew immediately that Chloe had no such evidence
and that Clark, who was credited with a by-line (along with Chloe Sullivan - for her research), had
done it for the respect it would gain Chloe as well as her ambition to be published in the Planet. Clark
had no doubt used his powers and his intelligence to break the ring himself and uphold the ideals that
he believed in, perhaps in doing so seeing some parallel between himself and the girls he was freeing,
knowing that Chloe had given her life to save him and now he was going to dedicate his life to the
journalistic ideals that she had upheld.
Lex had set aside his paper and smiled. If Clark was working for the Planet then he was back in the
city, at least Lex again knew he was safe. Maybe he could even manipulate events so that Clark would
come back to him, but he would have to bide his time. He did not want to send Clark off again.
---------------------
Perry White had been dubious about this almost unheard of writer when he had walked into his office
with a large story that he wanted to put on the front page. Kent was more than a rookie, he was still
wet behind the ears, not even college educated the kid said that he had been 'experiencing life' for a few
years before deciding to take up where his friend left off and writing up the story that had gotten her
killed for her trouble. He'd had a few stories published in high school, juvenile stuff that didn't really
count for much and then one story in Time, which while prestigious as a publication was hardly a
decent CV for a kid of this boy's age, most of the unsuccessful applicants that Perry saw had portfolios
six or seven times that size.
Perry barely believed it when Clark told him he was only 21, there was a maturity to his writing that
portrayed someone older, more bitter. But when the story checked out he knew that passing it up or
merely offering the kid a freelance deal was not going to be enough. He was sure that the kid had real
talent, it just needed moulding in the right way. So he had taken a chance and signed the young Kent
boy on a six month contract. He had just the person to show Kent the ropes around the office and take
some of the talent and shape it into excellent journalism.
Clark sat nervously in his second meeting, he had never really expected to get this far, if the Planet had
turned down the story his next stop was the Post, hoping that as Chloe's former employer they would
have taken one the expose. Instead he was sitting in the Editor's office in the most prestigious paper in
Metropolis and waiting to meet his partner. When he saw who it was he was glad of the minor
disguise.
Clark had not done much, only cut his hair a little so that it was as short as it had been in high school
and put on a pair of glasses with clear lenses, he had hoped that they made him look a little older but
really they made him look geeky. Nerdy was good he supposed, at least he would blend in more.
When Lois Lane, the reporter he had met at the symposium came through the door he was worried that
he had been spotted, after all she was known as a great investigative reporter. However when she did
not even bat an eyelid he knew that he was home free.
"No way Perry, he looks like some high school computer geek that forgot his braces and pocket
protector. There is no way I am babysitting this kid, no matter what he's done for us." Lois said,
having heard something about boosted ratings and higher sales due to the story. People were suckers
for a good scandal or human story and this one had allegedly had it all. Still, as her old mentor had
said, one good story does not make you a good reporter.
"Look, Lois…" Clark had began, but Perry had held up a hand and done his protesting for him.
"Lane, he's your partner, whether you like it or not." Perry White said sternly. "Now he needs someone
to show him the ropes, and you need someone to rope you in. If you harass Lex Luthor one more time
for an interview I swear that he will be down here with a team of the city's most expensive lawyers to
take this paper apart a piece at a time."
"Perry, I work alone." Lois said, trying in vain one last time to protest against the decision that had
obviously been made a long time before she was introduced to this rookie. "And we both know that I
would not have to harass Lex Luthor if he would give me an interview. He's in the public eye, he
should be more open to the possibility of spending time in public."
"The decision is final Lois." Perry said. "So I suggest you show Clark here to the empty desk next to
your one and go over the story you're working on."
Clark thanked Perry White and flashed his smile at Lois who grimaced and stared back at him,
reminding him of Chloe in a few ways. He wondered what she would make of all this, he could almost
hear her laughing at his having gotten talked into journalism despite not really knowing if it was what
he wanted to do.
After Lois had shown him her story, made clear that it was her story, and that he would have to find his
own story, she left him to it. Feeling a little guilty that he was alone that night, perhaps his first in the
city she turned back.
"Hey Kent, where do you live?"
"Smallville." Clark replied, without really thinking of his response. Lois snorted with laughter and the
continued.
"No, I meant where are you staying in the city." She should have known that on top of being stuck
with a partner that she would get stuck with the one from Hicksville.
"Oh. A hotel I guess. I hadn't really thought that far ahead." He said, not really having thought it out,
having been in Europe for nearly two weeks investigating his story and Chloe's death, returning her
body to Smallville for a decent burial as soon as he had found it.
"I have a sofa if you need it." Jimmy, the trainee photographer that Lois had introduced him to offered.
The younger guy seemed friendly, although he was also a little inexperienced.
Clark looked down at the picture he had just placed on his desk, of he, Pete and Chloe on a friendlier
day. He decided that he would take up the Rosses on their invitation to visit again. Despite what had
happened last time he was sure that he should share with Pete first hand what he knew of Chloe's
disappearance and maybe even offer his condolences for the loss. Perhaps even take Pete out for a
drink in honour of their friend.
"Thanks but I've got it covered." Clark said, Lois shrugged but was a little upset that he had turned her
down. He was cute in an offhand kind of way, maybe without the glasses and with a bit less baggy
clothes, but then she preferred her men already made, she didn't want one that she had to mould.
She sighed. Oh, well, another night alone with a good book. She would check in with some of her
Luthor sources too, it couldn't hurt to check.
--------------------
Lex was worried, he knew for sure that Clark was back in the city and yet his lover had not come back
to his apartment. He knew that Clark was not his to own but he would have thought that the younger
man would at least have come to him for a place to stay, or let him know that he was still alive and
okay. Lex was pretty sure that Clark did not know that he had been tracking him, the sub dermal
implant was something added while Clark was unconscious and even if Clark knew about it he must
have known that it was only because Lex cared. He had been over every small detail of their time
together since he had pulled the plug on the government's secret base and could not think of a single
reason for Clark to be angry at him. Why then was the younger man not here, why didn't Clark want to
be with him?
Lex wondered if this was why his father had always told him that emotions made him weak. Since
Clark had come back into his life it had certainly gotten a whole lot more complicated. Before he had
been able to work without any distraction but now as he sat at his desk he felt guilty, as if he ought to
be out looking for Clark, or being with Clark and yet knowing full well that the other man did not want
him with him. Lex spent hours when he would once have been working just thinking about the way the
light reflected off Clark's hair or the colour of those deep soulful eyes.
Lex supposed that this confusing mix of torment and wonderment was what love was. No wonder his
father had told him that he was not to trust his emotions they were complicating everything and if he
did not pull it together soon his business would suffer, that was the other thing that worried Lex, as
long as Clark was in his life he no longer cared about LexCorp. Maybe that was the real problem, he
didn't want to stay at the office because he now had somewhere else he would rather be. What made it
even more frustrating though was the fact that he couldn't really be there at all, because the place he
was daydreaming about was just about anywhere as long as Clark was there too and Lex knew that
Clark did not want to be with him. This always brought him back to the beginning as to why it was
Clark did not want to be with him.
"Mr. Luthor?"
Lex wasn't expecting anyone so he was surprised when Iris called his name, he had specifically asked
not to be disturbed unless it was important.
"What is it Iris?" He asked, making sure to use his irritated tone so that she would know that this was
not a good time but that he would overlook it on this occasion.
"Mr. Smyth was just on the phone, Lois Lane has been asking questions again sir. He said that she was
talking with a few people that told her they had information that you were retiring. I thought that you
would want to know."
"Who exactly did she talk to?" Lex asked, his interest piqued by this news and desperate for something
more interesting to do than rhapsodise to himself about the beauty that he had loved and lost. "And
what if anything did she find out."
"Well, there was Mr. Davies on the board, but he told her she would have to come through this office
for any personal or professional information regarding your work and she spoke to Mr. Daniels, one of
the men that works in the Smallville Community Farm who told her that there was activity there last
week. He also added that he thought you were planning on moving back to the mansion."
"Thank you Iris." Lex said. "I'll take it from here."
Hanging up but not replacing the handset Lex dialled the familiar number for the Smallville Farm
Project that he had set up and spoke to the manager there, he asked that Mr. Daniels find himself out of
work, perhaps due to the minor embezzlement that he had been committing for a few months, taking
more in his pay check than he was entitled to. Then he rang Joe Davies and thanked him for his
support, making sure to reassure the man that he was now back at work full time, at least until the new
structure was in place and he had someone else to do the leg work for him.
Lex decided that it was time that he gave Lois Lane a taste of her own medicine. Picking up the phone
Lex decided that he needed to make one last call before returning to his work, or at least the pretence of
work.
"Dominic, It's Lex." He said as he heard the connection made, not even allowing the other man a
chance to say hello.
"What do you want?" The belligerent man asked, wondering why Lex was calling him after all these
years of his being stuck in the payroll office after his demotion. Lionel had used him as a go-between
and Lex had held him responsible for his actions when his father had been dethroned.
"How would you like a chance of promotion, at least a temporary one. I have a job that requires your
unique talents." Lex said, picking his words carefully.
"Finally need someone that can outwit your opponents?" The man asked arrogantly.
"No, I need someone that understands the devious mind to do some surveillance and I want there to be
no connection to me. If you get caught you will tell people that you were working under orders from
my father." Lex said, knowing that no matter what Dominic would take any opportunity to get back
into the hierarchy at LuthorCorp.
"What's in it for me?" Dominic asked, ever the mercenary he did not even question what it was that
Lex was about to ask him to do. He was the type that would sell his mother for the right price.
"I'll pay you $1000 a day plus expenses to watch Lois Lane, I want to know her every move and every
tiny detail about her personal life. I want to be able to know what she likes for breakfast, how she takes
her coffee and why she is suddenly so interested in the life of Lex Luthor." Lex said.
"Do I get to know why you need this information?" Dominic asked, Lex paused a moment, wondering
if he should tell the other man then decided that he was mellowing too much, there was no way that
Dominic needed to know.
"Just do the job and if I'm happy we'll see about getting you back on the ladder." Lex said as he hung
up, as he did so he knew three things. One, Dominic would do the job like an eager puppy excited to
please its new master; two, Lois Lane would get a taste of her own medicine and three, he had no
intention of letting Dominic anywhere near the career ladder.
With that taken care of Lex turned back to his work and picked out a new report on the restructuring of
the company. Lex was pleased to find that he could actually concentrate on it, but he was troubled to
see the suggestion that they shut down one or more of the fertilizer plants that he owned, Smallville
being top of the recommended list. Lex had a certain fondness for the plant that had been his first
acquisition on his path to greatness, he made a note to close two of the other factories and increase the
size of the one in Smallville, there had been a downturn in the farming and they needed an injection
into the local economy. Lex was not being sentimental, it was better to have one plant dealing with all
of the output, it was good business sense. At least that was what he told himself.
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To Be Continued…