A/N: Thanks, as always, to xixie. And to everyone who reviewed. Hope you like! :o)

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The Non-Date: Chapter 3

Lex stepped into the café, pulling off his overcoat. He had to admit, Chloe's choice of hangout was surprising. He was accustomed to the Talon, which was usually semi-dark and populated by kids half his age, brooding along with the angst-filled rock music Lana insisted on playing. Le Petit Déjeuner, on the other hand, was bright and cheerful. There were few people; mostly professional-looking 20-somethings, and everyone seemed to be either reading or talking animatedly in pairs. He found Chloe rather quickly. She had chosen a booth near the back of the restaurant, next to a window. Her head was bent down, reading, and she didn't seem to notice when he stopped at the table.

"Good book?"

Chloe looked up. Blinked, smiled. "Hey."

"Hey yourself. What are you reading?"

Chloe flashed the book cover.

"The Collected Poems of John Keats?" Lex smirked. "I never would've taken you for a Romantic, Chloe."

She lifted her chin a little. "That just shows how little you know about me, Lex."

"So, what's your favorite?" he slid into the booth across from her.

"'Isabella; or, The Pot of Basil,'" she responded immediately.

He raised his eyebrows.

"Oh, come on! It's only, like, the most romantic story ever!"

"Refresh my memory."

"There's this woman, Isabella, and her lover dies, and so her friends go and cut off his head and give it to her wrapped up in this scarf and she plants it in a pot with some basil so that she can keep him by her side forever."

Lex smirked at her enthusiasm. "Wow. You're right, that is true love."

"I get the feeling you're mocking me."

He continued smirking but didn't respond.

"So, I take it the Romantics didn't make much of an impression on young Lex's boarding school education?"

"Something like that."

They were interrupted by the waitress taking their order. Lex realized he hadn't had a chance to look over the menu.

"What's good here?"

"Everything."

"OK." He turned to the waitress. "We'll take one of everything."

"No, we won't." Chloe threw an exasperated look at Lex, then turned to the waitress. "He's just kidding. I'll have a water and the chicken club sandwich."

Lex glanced at the menu. "Sounds good. Make that two, please."

The waitress wrote down their order and walked to the kitchen. As silence settled on the table, Chloe wondered (not for the first time that day) what exactly she was getting herself into. She wished she knew what he was thinking. Lex stared at her coolly from the other side of the table. She wished he would say something. His constant gaze was starting to make her nervous. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat and mentally racked her brain. There were so many things she wanted to ask, but most were of a decidedly personal or inappropriately professional nature. Lex had stopped granting personal interviews a while ago; apparently he was only ever interviewed by women who twisted around his words and depicted him in the worst possible light. Still, she was curious about his upcoming move back to Metropolis. And weren't friends allowed to ask questions?

She was still arguing with herself when he cleared his throat and asked, "So, aren't you going to ask me about Luthor Corp.?"

She was taken aback, but only for a second. "Actually, I was just debating the best way to segue into that."

He smiled. "The Chloe I remember wouldn't have bothered thinking before letting the questions fly."

"Humph. Thanks a lot."

He raised an eyebrow, waiting.

"Well, there was one thing I was curious about, but it doesn't really pertain to the company as such…"

"Go on."

"Why did you ask me to go to the dinner with you last night? I mean, you could've gone with almost anyone. Wouldn't you have preferred one of your silicone-filled walking Barbies?"

Lex sighed. "There comes a time in every man's life when he realizes he has to grow up. For me, it was when my father was injured during the tornado. I won't say our relationship improved dramatically, but after that incident I was able to take on a more active role throughout Luthor Corp. and at the Smallville plant in particular."

Chloe nodded. "OK, but what does that have to do with last night?"

"If I'm going to take over fully, I need to demonstrate to my investors and business partners that I'm not a walking example of nepotism. Showing up with a 'silicone-filled walking Barbie' would have sent the wrong message. You, on the other hand, are a poised, intelligent" – he gestured to the book on the table in front of her – "well-read, and altogether charming young woman. You broke the monotony of an otherwise boring business dinner and helped me show that I can be more than just a 'billionaire playboy.'" His lips curved slightly as he noticed the blush on Chloe's cheeks.

"So, in other words, I make you look good?"

"In a manner of speaking, yes."

Chloe smiled, satisfied. "Good answer."

Their food came, causing a pause in the conversation. Chloe watched as Lex examined his sandwich with a critical eye, finally picking it up and taking a bite. He seemed to enjoy it, so she began eating as well.

"So, when are you finalizing the move?" she asked, taking a sip of water.

Lex swallowed. "Sometime next week. I actually had a favor to ask of you."

"Does it involve an interview?"

"Not really, but it might make for an interesting story."

"I'm intrigued. Do tell."

"A friend of mine is giving a benefit in Gotham City in two weeks, and I promised I'd attend. Luthor Corp. is donating a substantial sum of money and he wants me to present the check in person. You seemed to enjoy yourself last night, and I was wondering if you'd come along as well."

"Another night of wearing high heels and trying to impress famous rich people? What am I, your perma-escort?"

"Actually…" he watched her carefully. "I was thinking we could consider it a date."

That threw her for a loop. She thought for a minute, then smiled faintly. "You, Lex Luthor, want to date me, Chloe Sullivan?"

"If you'd rather just come as my escort, that's fine. I just thought…"

"No, no! That's OK. Great! Wait – oh, um, what I mean is…" - She took a breath. Lex smirked. He had rarely seen Chloe this flustered. – "I would love to go on a date with you." She smiled at him, her face burning with embarrassment.

Lex smiled back and continued eating.

"But."

He paused, the sandwich halfway to his mouth. "Yes?"

"If I'm going to do the whole getting-dressed-up-oh-look-at-the-cute-trophy-girlfriend-thing, you have to agree to do something that I want."

"Fair enough." The smirk returned. "Your bedroom or mine?"

"That's not what I meant and you know it!"

He lowered the sandwich, interested. "What did you have in mind, then?"

"It'll be a surprise. I want to take you out to places I normally go with my friends."

"Let me get this straight. In return for flying you to Gotham City for a night of glamour and excitement, I get to slum it with you here in Metropolis, relieving the glory days of my youth?"

"If you want to look at it that way…" she grinned, "yes."

The slight twinkle in his eye belied his otherwise impassive expression. "Sounds like fun."