Chapter 17
Chloe was typing furiously on her computer the next day when her office phone ring. She flipped a switch on the cord of her headset, "Chloe Kent."
"Kent, made a decision yet?" a warm familiar voice asked from the other end of the line.
Chloe's fingers froze and every muscle in her body tensed.
"Well?" Perry asked.
Chloe pressed three fingers to her temple and squeezed her eyes shut. "I- Well," Chloe said, fishing for the words.
"You haven't talked to Clark yet, have you?" Perry asked knowingly. Perry and Chloe had forged a strong friendship from her internships at the Planet. They knew each other fairly well.
"Perry," Chloe said sadly, squeezing the bridge of her nose.
"Look, Kent. Today's Thursday. I need you in two weeks. That means you have to turn in your letter of resignation no later than Monday. That gives you tonight, tomorrow, Saturday, and Sunday to decide. If you can't decide I'll give to pick the next person in line," Perry said gently, understanding Chloe's hesitation.
Chloe nodded, then realized Perry couldn't see her. "Alright. I'll let you know first thing Monday."
"Good," Perry said, a smile in his voice. "Talk to you then."
"Right," Chloe said, flicking the same switch to turn the headset off. She snapped her laptop shut, folded her arms on top of it, and laid her head down. "What am I going to do?"
Chloe sat that way for a few minutes before raising her head, a knowing gleam in her eye. "I know," she exclaimed, grabbing her purse and keys from her bottom desk drawer. As she raced past the editor's office she called, "Onta, taking a break!"
"As long as my article's on time, Kent!" a young woman called back from in the office.
"It always is," Chloe replied, dashing out of the large glass doors and into the sunshine. She climbed into her Ford Falcon and maneuvered it along the well-known roads. After about fifteen minutes of driving she pulled her car into the gargantuan parking lot of LexCorp Plant #3. She slung her bag over her shoulder and strode through the metal and glass doors. When she passed a golden plaque she shot it a dirty look.
The plaque read: This plaque was placed in loving memory of Lionel Luthor.
Lionel had died when his helicopter crashed a few years after Lex and Lana had been married. It was ironic, because he swore he would go down in a blaze of glory. Lana, Clark, and Chloe had accompanied Lex to the reading of Lionel's will, per Lex's request. They were all equally shocked to find that Lionel had stated in his will that a plaque was to be placed in every plant in his memory. Shortly after Lionel's death LuthorCorp had become LexCorp, but Lex never took down the plaques.
Chloe walked to Lex's office and knocked on the door.
"Yes?" Lex called out from inside.
Chloe stuck her head inside the door and frowned when she saw a group of men, her father included, sitting in front of Lex's desk. She turned to leave. "Sorry."
"Chloe, please stay," Lex asked, smiling at his friend. "We're almost through here."
Chloe nodded once and slipped in the door, taking a seat in a chair on the opposite side of the room.
"Thank you, Lex. This is an honor," Gabe Sullivan said, reaching forward to shake Lex's hand.
Lex smiled in a business-like manner. "You deserve it, Gabe. We'll discuss the details later."
Gabe broke into a grin. "Of course. Thank you."
Lex nodded at Gabe. "Now, if you'll excuse me gentleman, I have a beautiful young woman waiting to talk to me."
The men stood and walked to the door, but Gabe held back. He walked to Chloe and pulled her into an embrace. "I did it, Chlo," he whispered happily. "Lex made me a partner."
"I'm so proud of you, Dad," Chloe whispered, pulling back to smile at her father.
"See you tonight for dinner?" Gabe asked expectantly.
"I wouldn't miss it," Chloe replied.
Gabe grinned, nodded at Lex, and left the room.
"You know, he's going to try and get you to change LexCorp to SulLex, right?" Chloe asked, sauntering to the chairs in front of Lex's desk.
"SulLex?" Lex asked, raising an eyebrow.
Chloe laughed. "The first three letters of Sullivan, and then *your* name," she clarified before shaking her head in amusement when Lex didn't reply. "Well, *I* thought it was funny."
"It was," Lex said, moving around his glass desk to hug Chloe. "And since you're just like him, he probably won't stop until I change it will he?"
"Better believe it," Chloe said, smirking.
Lex sat in a plush leather chair, and gestured for Chloe to sit in the adjacent chair. "Now what can I help you with?"
Chloe sighed and began to tell Lex about the job offer in Metropolis. She told him about how this was the job she had dreamed about as a child, and that she would be working directly under the head editor. She also talked of her life in Smallville and her hesitations about taking the job.
"Take the job, Chlo," Lex said calmly, his breathing measured.
Chloe narrowed her eyes in confusion. "But how can I leave you, and Lana, and the Kents, and my dad, and everyone I love?"
"Chloe, we're only a three hour car ride away. Less than that if I send my jet for you," Lex reasoned, steepling his fingers together.
Chloe sighed and threw herself against the back of the chair. "But we have the farm, and Lauren to think about. All Clark's ever wanted to do is to own his own farm."
"And all you've ever wanted to do is live in Metropolis and work at the Planet," Lex threw back, looking into her eyes.
"I don't know if I can do this," Chloe said, her eyes misting. "I can't even bring it up with Clark."
"Why, Chloe? Why can't you tell Clark?" Lex asked, leaning forward.
Chloe closed her eyes. "This is what I've always dreamed of, right? This is what Clark's known I've been working for, right?"
"Right," Lex agreed, sitting back against the chair.
Chloe opened her eyes at the sadness in his voice. "Should I do it, Lex?"
"Yes," Lex answered again, not trusting his voice for more than one word.
"You want me to leave?" Chloe asked, biting her lower lip nervously.
"No. I want you to stay here, close to us, where we are never more than twenty minutes away from each other. I want us to stay this way for the rest of our lives until our grandchildren's grandchildren have grandchildren," Lex said seriously. "But that would be selfish. I want you to have what you want. I know what's it's like to be in reach of your dreams, then be jerked away just as you feel it with your fingertips. I don't want that for you."
"Ugh!" Chloe complained, frowning deeply. "Why didn't I just go to Lana? She would have told me to stay and that would be that."
Lex laughed. "Because you wanted the truth, and you didn't want it sugar coated."
"Did I tell you I have to know by Monday?" Chloe asked, wincing in preparation for Lex's response.
Lex looked rifled, but didn't respond for a few seconds. "Then you better get home."
Chloe frowned again and stood. "Alright. Thanks, Lex. Will you tell Lana?"
Lex stood and hugged Chloe again. "Of course. You'll work it out."
Chloe smiled weakly and walked to the door, Lex at her heels. "Call me later?"
Lex grinned. "Top of my speed dial," he said in a perfect imitation of Chloe.
Chloe laughed. "Thanks again, Lex. Love you," she said, opening the wide door.
"Love you, too," Lex replied, smiling as he watched Chloe's retreating form.
* * *
"Stop yelling and talk to me," Chloe demanded, feeling two feet tall next to her husband.
"I *am* talking, Chloe," Clark insisted, pacing in front of Chloe's chair.
Chloe sighed. "Clark, you've been pacing and yelling for almost an hour."
"Have not," Clark retorted, continuing to pace.
"Have to," Chloe replied, throwing her legs over one arm of the chair and leaning against the other arm.
"Have *not*," Clark replied.
His voice was so hostile that Chloe flinched as if he had hit her. "Clark, you're scaring me."
Clark didn't stop pacing. "I have to think," he said, talking to himself.
"Clark," Chloe said, standing and reaching for him. "Why are you so angry? This is what I've always wanted. You know that."
Clark stopped for a split-second. "I'm upset because I don't know what to do. We can go to Metropolis and fulfill your dream, but what about mine, Chloe?"
Chloe took Clark's arm to stop him. "Clark, stop."
"What about my dream, Chloe? Huh?" Clark asked, his eyes like fire.
"We've been living your dream for the last seven years," Chloe hissed, her anger rising.
Clark's eyes flared. "I can't talk about this when I'm so angry, Chlo. I have to think."
Before Chloe could register what he said Clark was out of the house, speeding into the distance. Chloe sighed heavily and sunk into the couch.
* * * "Where's Lauren?" Clark asked, coming in after hours of running around to clear his head.
"Lex and Lana came to get her," Chloe said coolly. She was curled on the corner of the couch reading Crime and Punishment.
Clark sat next to Chloe and reached over to smooth her hair out of her eyes. "Chloe, I'm sorry I got so angry."
"Clark, look," Chloe said, turning to face him. "This is what I've always wanted. You know that. You also know that you are what I have always wanted. I love you with everything I have, and I don't want to do anything to jeopardize that. If you don't want me to take this job, then I won't."
Clark felt horrible. He could see how much it hurt Chloe to say that, but he knew she loved him enough to give up her dreams if he said no. "Can you give me a few days to think about it?" he asked.
Chloe nodded. "I have to turn in my letter of resignation on Monday."
Clark pulled Chloe into his arms and kissed her hair. "I'm sorry, sweetheart."
"Me too," Chloe said, snuggling into Clark's chest. "I shouldn't have said what I did."
"You speak your mind, that's what I love about you," Clark told her, tightening his grip on her petite form.
"You love me?" Chloe asked in mock surprise, tilting her head up to look at Clark.
"With all my heart," Clark replied with a soft smile.
"I love you bigger," Chloe said, her eyes daring Clark to play her game.
Clark only rolled his eyes and silenced her with a kiss.
* * *
"We're spending tomorrow night at the penthouse in Metropolis," Lana announced when Chloe and Clark came to pick up Lauren.
"Excuse me?" Chloe asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Saturday is our anniversary, right? So, we're all going to spend a night or two in Metropolis," Lana said confidently. "Nell is baby-sitting Meredith and she said if Martha couldn't take Lauren that she would me more than happy to."
"And you decided to ask us when?" Chloe asked, trying her hardest not to smile.
Lana looked at Lex, a mischievous gleam in her eye. "You thought I was asking? I wasn't asking. It's not a request, it's a requirement."
Clark grinned. "If you don't want to go, Chlo, I'll go by myself."
"No, no, no, no, no!" Chloe said, grinning.
"Alright then. We leave tomorrow night at six," Lex told them, his eyes shining.
"Yay!" Lana exclaimed, almost jumping out of her chair.
When Lana laughed Meredith clapped her hands together and grinned.
"Lex, she smiled," Lana said, crawling onto the floor where Meredith and Lauren were playing.
Lex scooped Meredith off of the blanket, kissed her cheek, and tossed her into the air. "That's my girl," he said proudly.
Chloe was typing furiously on her computer the next day when her office phone ring. She flipped a switch on the cord of her headset, "Chloe Kent."
"Kent, made a decision yet?" a warm familiar voice asked from the other end of the line.
Chloe's fingers froze and every muscle in her body tensed.
"Well?" Perry asked.
Chloe pressed three fingers to her temple and squeezed her eyes shut. "I- Well," Chloe said, fishing for the words.
"You haven't talked to Clark yet, have you?" Perry asked knowingly. Perry and Chloe had forged a strong friendship from her internships at the Planet. They knew each other fairly well.
"Perry," Chloe said sadly, squeezing the bridge of her nose.
"Look, Kent. Today's Thursday. I need you in two weeks. That means you have to turn in your letter of resignation no later than Monday. That gives you tonight, tomorrow, Saturday, and Sunday to decide. If you can't decide I'll give to pick the next person in line," Perry said gently, understanding Chloe's hesitation.
Chloe nodded, then realized Perry couldn't see her. "Alright. I'll let you know first thing Monday."
"Good," Perry said, a smile in his voice. "Talk to you then."
"Right," Chloe said, flicking the same switch to turn the headset off. She snapped her laptop shut, folded her arms on top of it, and laid her head down. "What am I going to do?"
Chloe sat that way for a few minutes before raising her head, a knowing gleam in her eye. "I know," she exclaimed, grabbing her purse and keys from her bottom desk drawer. As she raced past the editor's office she called, "Onta, taking a break!"
"As long as my article's on time, Kent!" a young woman called back from in the office.
"It always is," Chloe replied, dashing out of the large glass doors and into the sunshine. She climbed into her Ford Falcon and maneuvered it along the well-known roads. After about fifteen minutes of driving she pulled her car into the gargantuan parking lot of LexCorp Plant #3. She slung her bag over her shoulder and strode through the metal and glass doors. When she passed a golden plaque she shot it a dirty look.
The plaque read: This plaque was placed in loving memory of Lionel Luthor.
Lionel had died when his helicopter crashed a few years after Lex and Lana had been married. It was ironic, because he swore he would go down in a blaze of glory. Lana, Clark, and Chloe had accompanied Lex to the reading of Lionel's will, per Lex's request. They were all equally shocked to find that Lionel had stated in his will that a plaque was to be placed in every plant in his memory. Shortly after Lionel's death LuthorCorp had become LexCorp, but Lex never took down the plaques.
Chloe walked to Lex's office and knocked on the door.
"Yes?" Lex called out from inside.
Chloe stuck her head inside the door and frowned when she saw a group of men, her father included, sitting in front of Lex's desk. She turned to leave. "Sorry."
"Chloe, please stay," Lex asked, smiling at his friend. "We're almost through here."
Chloe nodded once and slipped in the door, taking a seat in a chair on the opposite side of the room.
"Thank you, Lex. This is an honor," Gabe Sullivan said, reaching forward to shake Lex's hand.
Lex smiled in a business-like manner. "You deserve it, Gabe. We'll discuss the details later."
Gabe broke into a grin. "Of course. Thank you."
Lex nodded at Gabe. "Now, if you'll excuse me gentleman, I have a beautiful young woman waiting to talk to me."
The men stood and walked to the door, but Gabe held back. He walked to Chloe and pulled her into an embrace. "I did it, Chlo," he whispered happily. "Lex made me a partner."
"I'm so proud of you, Dad," Chloe whispered, pulling back to smile at her father.
"See you tonight for dinner?" Gabe asked expectantly.
"I wouldn't miss it," Chloe replied.
Gabe grinned, nodded at Lex, and left the room.
"You know, he's going to try and get you to change LexCorp to SulLex, right?" Chloe asked, sauntering to the chairs in front of Lex's desk.
"SulLex?" Lex asked, raising an eyebrow.
Chloe laughed. "The first three letters of Sullivan, and then *your* name," she clarified before shaking her head in amusement when Lex didn't reply. "Well, *I* thought it was funny."
"It was," Lex said, moving around his glass desk to hug Chloe. "And since you're just like him, he probably won't stop until I change it will he?"
"Better believe it," Chloe said, smirking.
Lex sat in a plush leather chair, and gestured for Chloe to sit in the adjacent chair. "Now what can I help you with?"
Chloe sighed and began to tell Lex about the job offer in Metropolis. She told him about how this was the job she had dreamed about as a child, and that she would be working directly under the head editor. She also talked of her life in Smallville and her hesitations about taking the job.
"Take the job, Chlo," Lex said calmly, his breathing measured.
Chloe narrowed her eyes in confusion. "But how can I leave you, and Lana, and the Kents, and my dad, and everyone I love?"
"Chloe, we're only a three hour car ride away. Less than that if I send my jet for you," Lex reasoned, steepling his fingers together.
Chloe sighed and threw herself against the back of the chair. "But we have the farm, and Lauren to think about. All Clark's ever wanted to do is to own his own farm."
"And all you've ever wanted to do is live in Metropolis and work at the Planet," Lex threw back, looking into her eyes.
"I don't know if I can do this," Chloe said, her eyes misting. "I can't even bring it up with Clark."
"Why, Chloe? Why can't you tell Clark?" Lex asked, leaning forward.
Chloe closed her eyes. "This is what I've always dreamed of, right? This is what Clark's known I've been working for, right?"
"Right," Lex agreed, sitting back against the chair.
Chloe opened her eyes at the sadness in his voice. "Should I do it, Lex?"
"Yes," Lex answered again, not trusting his voice for more than one word.
"You want me to leave?" Chloe asked, biting her lower lip nervously.
"No. I want you to stay here, close to us, where we are never more than twenty minutes away from each other. I want us to stay this way for the rest of our lives until our grandchildren's grandchildren have grandchildren," Lex said seriously. "But that would be selfish. I want you to have what you want. I know what's it's like to be in reach of your dreams, then be jerked away just as you feel it with your fingertips. I don't want that for you."
"Ugh!" Chloe complained, frowning deeply. "Why didn't I just go to Lana? She would have told me to stay and that would be that."
Lex laughed. "Because you wanted the truth, and you didn't want it sugar coated."
"Did I tell you I have to know by Monday?" Chloe asked, wincing in preparation for Lex's response.
Lex looked rifled, but didn't respond for a few seconds. "Then you better get home."
Chloe frowned again and stood. "Alright. Thanks, Lex. Will you tell Lana?"
Lex stood and hugged Chloe again. "Of course. You'll work it out."
Chloe smiled weakly and walked to the door, Lex at her heels. "Call me later?"
Lex grinned. "Top of my speed dial," he said in a perfect imitation of Chloe.
Chloe laughed. "Thanks again, Lex. Love you," she said, opening the wide door.
"Love you, too," Lex replied, smiling as he watched Chloe's retreating form.
* * *
"Stop yelling and talk to me," Chloe demanded, feeling two feet tall next to her husband.
"I *am* talking, Chloe," Clark insisted, pacing in front of Chloe's chair.
Chloe sighed. "Clark, you've been pacing and yelling for almost an hour."
"Have not," Clark retorted, continuing to pace.
"Have to," Chloe replied, throwing her legs over one arm of the chair and leaning against the other arm.
"Have *not*," Clark replied.
His voice was so hostile that Chloe flinched as if he had hit her. "Clark, you're scaring me."
Clark didn't stop pacing. "I have to think," he said, talking to himself.
"Clark," Chloe said, standing and reaching for him. "Why are you so angry? This is what I've always wanted. You know that."
Clark stopped for a split-second. "I'm upset because I don't know what to do. We can go to Metropolis and fulfill your dream, but what about mine, Chloe?"
Chloe took Clark's arm to stop him. "Clark, stop."
"What about my dream, Chloe? Huh?" Clark asked, his eyes like fire.
"We've been living your dream for the last seven years," Chloe hissed, her anger rising.
Clark's eyes flared. "I can't talk about this when I'm so angry, Chlo. I have to think."
Before Chloe could register what he said Clark was out of the house, speeding into the distance. Chloe sighed heavily and sunk into the couch.
* * * "Where's Lauren?" Clark asked, coming in after hours of running around to clear his head.
"Lex and Lana came to get her," Chloe said coolly. She was curled on the corner of the couch reading Crime and Punishment.
Clark sat next to Chloe and reached over to smooth her hair out of her eyes. "Chloe, I'm sorry I got so angry."
"Clark, look," Chloe said, turning to face him. "This is what I've always wanted. You know that. You also know that you are what I have always wanted. I love you with everything I have, and I don't want to do anything to jeopardize that. If you don't want me to take this job, then I won't."
Clark felt horrible. He could see how much it hurt Chloe to say that, but he knew she loved him enough to give up her dreams if he said no. "Can you give me a few days to think about it?" he asked.
Chloe nodded. "I have to turn in my letter of resignation on Monday."
Clark pulled Chloe into his arms and kissed her hair. "I'm sorry, sweetheart."
"Me too," Chloe said, snuggling into Clark's chest. "I shouldn't have said what I did."
"You speak your mind, that's what I love about you," Clark told her, tightening his grip on her petite form.
"You love me?" Chloe asked in mock surprise, tilting her head up to look at Clark.
"With all my heart," Clark replied with a soft smile.
"I love you bigger," Chloe said, her eyes daring Clark to play her game.
Clark only rolled his eyes and silenced her with a kiss.
* * *
"We're spending tomorrow night at the penthouse in Metropolis," Lana announced when Chloe and Clark came to pick up Lauren.
"Excuse me?" Chloe asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Saturday is our anniversary, right? So, we're all going to spend a night or two in Metropolis," Lana said confidently. "Nell is baby-sitting Meredith and she said if Martha couldn't take Lauren that she would me more than happy to."
"And you decided to ask us when?" Chloe asked, trying her hardest not to smile.
Lana looked at Lex, a mischievous gleam in her eye. "You thought I was asking? I wasn't asking. It's not a request, it's a requirement."
Clark grinned. "If you don't want to go, Chlo, I'll go by myself."
"No, no, no, no, no!" Chloe said, grinning.
"Alright then. We leave tomorrow night at six," Lex told them, his eyes shining.
"Yay!" Lana exclaimed, almost jumping out of her chair.
When Lana laughed Meredith clapped her hands together and grinned.
"Lex, she smiled," Lana said, crawling onto the floor where Meredith and Lauren were playing.
Lex scooped Meredith off of the blanket, kissed her cheek, and tossed her into the air. "That's my girl," he said proudly.