Title: Curious Interludes

Chapter Completed: January 9, 2003

Lex sat at his desk, various folders lie open in front of him and an investigator waiting on hold on the phone. He sighed. For being the best in Metropolis they hadn't been able to find anything more then a certain high school reporter and were costing him thousands.

"Yes," he answered the other line while running a hand over his head.

"Mr. Luthor," the investigator sounded pleased with himself.

"You'd better have something new," he almost growled into the phone.

The other voice began quivering, "I…I'm going to fax it right over sir."

The call disconnected with a push of the millionaire's button. He was frustrated with the incompetence and a little with himself for his curiosity. He should be working. He had reports, files, mail and un-returned phone calls all waiting for him, but instead he was dwindling away time and money on Anna. He smiled. There was just something intriguing him, more than an attraction or desire to solve the puzzle. And yes there was an attraction. He felt it and wondered whether or not she did too.

The drifting of his thoughts was interrupted by the noisy beeping of the fax machine, announcing the incoming delivery. He rose from the desk chair and strided over to the beckoning machine. A medical report. Research papers. A LuthorCorp financial statement. A death certificate. Interesting grouping of information all linked to why Anna Clarkson was there. He gathered up the pages, giving them a quick once over and picking up on a few words. Heart failure. Misappropriated funds. Millions. Genetic alterations. Human testing. Again he thought of it as interesting, intriguing.

Lex folded the information and slipped them into his pocket as he entered the kitchen.

"Morning," he made his presence known to Anna who still stood at the back counter.

She exchanged pleasantries with him, feeling nervous after their encounter the night before, as he leaned to the side of her. Appearing to be more interested in the food crate.

"How's your hand?" he tossed an apple up for himself to catch, inspecting the red orb.

The young woman looked over the slashes in her palm, "Fine, thank you. But I'm sure you're handkerchief is ruined," she half smiled.

Lex just shrugged as he switched sides to lean back on the counter to see what she was busying herself with, "Secret admirer?" he raised an eyebrow to the flowers. Only the slightest inclinings of jealousy in him.

She shook her head, "They're just from Clark. Sweet boy," she turned to face him, in time to watch him bite into the fruit's flesh. Her mind flashed back to his soft lips pressed to hers. A soft blush tinted her cheeks.

"Best apples in Smallville," he seemed to be addressing the very fruit, then held it out to her. The expression on his face told her to trust him.

Anna couldn't help but feel a little like Eve having the Serpent temp her and God was it ever temping. And even a bit erotic. She covered his hand with hers, to steady it as she took a small bite from the offered apple.

Lex let out the breath he didn't know he was holding. Oh, there was an attraction all right.

They looked at each other and laughed. An amused laughter like they knew that what the other was thinking was the same as what they were. Almost like getting caught making out at school.

"I've never heard you laugh," he observed of the month she had been there, "I like it," he quietly confessed.

"Me too," she echoed him. Neither one noticing the intensity of the stare between them. Or that they were still holding hands…and their apple.

Before Lex could make another move his cellular telephone whined its ring, demanding his attention.

"I need to…" he stammered.

And she sputtered, "I should…"

"…go," they both finished, separating them selves.

He walked back to his study, and she turned back to the waiting flowers and crate.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

"Hey Clark," Chloe smiled as he entered the Torch office, "To what do I owe this pleasure on a Saturday no less?"

He smiled politely, "I need some help." He dropped himself into a nearby, backward chair.

Her smile broadened, leaning back on her chair and stretching her fingers out in front of herself, "What can I do for you?"

"I need…I want…I'm curious," he finally settled on.

"Okay," she could almost laugh at him if he didn't look so cute with his brow knotted in confusion, "About what?"

"Who actually," he rested his chin on the back of the chair.

The reporter narrowed her eyes, sitting up, "Who?" she almost didn't dare ask.

"Anna," he replied, not really paying attention to Chloe's reaction, as usual.

She was fighting the urge to smack her forehead with her hand or band her head against the desk. "Of course," she said under her breath, then to Clark, "Well, what do you wanna know?"

Clark opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He thought again, "I don't really know," he scratched his head.

This time she did laugh, "Well, if you want me to help you're going to have to figure out what you wanna know, you know."

He slumped lower, "I wanna know who she is. Why she's here. Just what's going on. But it's really none of my business. And I already know too much. I wish I knew what to do with what I know. I wish I just didn't know it. I'm just confused," he rambled on, sighing loudly.

Chloe perked up, "Just what do you know Clark?" She might not exactly like Anna Clarkson, but damn if she wasn't curious. She was Smallville's most interesting mystery lately. No resent meteor freaks-of-the-week to occupy the reporter's curiosity or time. So she was settling on the human enigma.

"Huh?" he was pulled out of his little daze, "Nothing."

She raised a questioning eyebrow to him.

Shaking his head he told her, "I can't say anything, it's a secret. I promised."

She groaned. Clark and his precious secrets. Not that she personally had a huge problem with it. She did keep her killer crush on Clark hush-hush for years. But she had spent every night, since Lana moved in, listening to her piss and moan about it. For two girls who swore off the plaid clad farm boy they sure spent a lot of time talking about him.

He pouted at her.

She sighed, breaking into a smile. Chloe Sullivan's greatest weakness: The Clark Kent puppy dog face.

"You know Chlo, if I could, and I wish I could, tell anyone you'd be the first," he smiled, seriously wishing he could tell her, just to tell someone.

She smiled brighter. Her second greatest weakness was Clark's smile. "Deal," she nodded, "But you can make all this secrecy up to me…" she flipped the switch on the monitor, turning it off, "You can treat me to coffee." She rose to her feet, tossing her book bag over her shoulder.

He smiled up at her, "You got it." He felt better just being with Chloe.

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A/N: I just that these scenes were cute! There's note much to the plot here...but come on! It's cute!!

And thank you my loyal readers!! (both of you that I know of!)