Chapter 3: Bearer of bad news.

Later that night after a long chat with Pete she stared at the powerless television screen. She had heard at work today that LexCorp had bought out LuthorCorp with the help from Wayne Industries. She knew Lex had been waiting for the day when he could overpower his father. Lana seemed to hold him back whenever he had gotten close to doing so before. She hadn't wanted to cause another rift in the family. Chloe closed her eyes and found solitude. Pete had Keith, Lex had his business, and she had this. This, New Haven, would be her solitude.

Finally, she turned on the television. She hadn't earlier for fear of seeing his face plastered everywhere. And there he was staring at her, as if reading her mind. She shook her head. And listened carefully to the fast talking reporter.

"Mr Lex Luthor and Mr Bruce Wayne will hold an open announcement meeting to discuss what it is that will become of LuthorCorp. The meeting is scheduled for Gotham Central Park at 8 am sharp..."

Chloe raised her head to argue amongst herself. After what seemed like hours of an internal struggle she walked to her bedroom and began to pack. 'I need to see him.' she said to herself. 'He needs to see me.' She had decided she wouldn't approach him, she'd just let him know she was there.

*~*

The next morning she woke at 5 am and hopped into the shower. Quickly she got dressed and walked Marco around the block once. Returning home she took her lap top and her suitcase and loaded them into the car. her cell phone blinked savagely. "Hello." she said. And then she heard the other end hang up. "Hmmmph," she shrugged and latched it onto her visor. "Marco, I'll see you tonight, okay sweetie, I promise I'll be home in time for the special on Africa. I love you." She kissed the dog's head and clicked on the tv. She left Animal Planet on all day for him, every day. He seemed to really enjoy the mock K9 cop show. She drove towards the highway, the tension leveling off in her stomach.

When she arrived in Gotham it was 7 am. She parked across from Central Park and ducked into a coffeeshop. She ordered a blueberry bagel and a large milk. Picking at her bagel she stared out the window. Right as she were about to pop a peice into her mouth her phone rang.

"Hello?" she said unsteadily.

"Hey, babe, it's a little early to be at work isn't it?"

"Hey, Pete. No, I'm not at work. I'm ummm, I'm kinda in Gotham."

A silence graced the other line. "Pete?"

"Ivy, I can't believe you..."

"Uhh, Pete," she interupted, "Lex just walked into the coffeeshop."

Her face flushed and she kept her glass of milk raised in front of her sipping genuinely at the straw.

"Abort! Abort!"

She tried to stifle a laugh but instead ended up coughing on the last sip of her milk, thankful to all hell that it hadn't shot out her nose.

"Hey, are you okay?" she heard Pete chuckling through the other end.

"Hey, no I'm not." she covered her face in her free hand. "God, what if he saw me?"

"Umm, sweetie, it's likely the whole place saw you. Just act natural."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean? Natural?"

Pete smiled to himself. "Hey, it's a quarter till in Gotham, maybe you should head on out."

"Hey, I love you." she said whole heartedly.

"Hey, me too. Now get going and be careful. I don't want to see your face plastered on the news when this thing airs."

"Shit, it's a live broadcast isn't it?"

"Mmmm, hmmm, now go knock em dead. I mean...well, you know."

They said their good byes and she headed off to the park, her bagel still in her hand. She perched upon a picnic table, sitting indian style on top of it. She threw some of her bagel on the ground for the squirrels. The microphone buzzed loudly and she saw the two men, dressed in nice crisp suits, stand before a podium. Each had their own. A blone woman accompanied Mr Wayne but no one stood at Lex's side. Chloe frowned. 'He should have someone with his always. He's too good to be up there alone.' Mr Wayne took his seat next to the blonde. Lex stood in front of the audience and they hushed almost immediately. The reporters took their seat in the fold out chairs that had been set up. He made the same announcement, word for word almost as he had on tv last night. She stared at him intently from the picnic table.

"LuthorCorp has been bought out by LexCorp and Wayne Industries. It's quota was not being filled and for it to survive further in the economy of today, we will have to make some changes. It will no longer go by the name LuthorCorp. It will now go by Luthor-Wayne Industries. It will be where LexCorp and Wayne Industries merge. Lionel Luthor, due to his failing health, could not be here today, but he accepted the merger as well. There are no hard feelings between LexCorp, LuthorCorp and Wayne Industries. The two of us will work together to keep all jobs currently being held in Metropolis in tact along with opening a new plant here in Gotham. I, personally, am looking forward to interacting with the city and hopefully, you will accept my offer to bring you a brighter tomorrow, and welcome me, along with Luthor-Wayne Industries to Gotham. Thank you."

He retreated to his seat and Mr Wayne stood to talk. He pretty much repeated what Lex had said, only in his own terms and then the shit hit the fan. The first reporter to stand up, I'll let you guess. Ding, Ding, Ding. Ms. Lois Lane herself. Lex didn't rise for her question, he let Bruce handle it. His face looked at her as stoic as ever. He looked over into the crowd, past her, and right at me. I stared intently at him. He shifted in his seat uncomfortably and I stood up to leave. I think I've seen all I need to see. As I turn to leave a I run into a man's torso. I look up into the eyes of a dark haired fair skinned man. He grabbed my arm by the elbow and said quietly "Mr Luthor would like to meet with you."

"Sorry, not interested." I say smoothly and pull my arm from his grasp. I turn to look at Lex up on the stage and he nods in my direction. His face trying to hide the little emotion he seems to want to show. I personally don't think he's recognized me, I probably just look interesting to him in the crowd of reporters, I seem to be the only outsider paying attention to the media circus.

The man moves aside and I walk away, dropping my bagel into the trashcan. My phone rings and just as I reach the edge of the park I flip it open. "Hello."

"Chloe..."

"Pete, I told you..."

"Oh, yea, right, ummm, Lionel's dead."

I stop in my tracks and turn back to see Lex's eyes still on me. A tear runs down my face and I turn back into the park. "How." I manage to say loud enough for him to hear. "He was shot point blank in the head in front of Lex's penthouse. His security is claiming they thought him for a trespasser."

"I've gotta go." she said into the phone and broke into a full sprint to the side of the stage. Lex had seen her running to the stage and wondered what had made the young woman change her mind. He stood up to excuse himself and sauntered off the stage. He saw her leaning against a pole holding up the makeshift tent.

"Are you okay, ma'am?" he asked her. Her face shot up at him.

"You're...father...shot...security..."

Lex just looked at her. "I'm sorry, what was that?"

Chloe took a deep breath and all the information seemed to pour out of her. "Your father was shot by your security in front of your penthouse for trespassing, it happened a few minutes ago."

He looked at her and rage filled his eyes. "Who the hell do you think you are just coming in here and telling me..."

"Mr. Luthor, I think there is some information you need to be briefed about." The head of his security walked over to him. Lex looked back at the red head. She had already turned and was just making her way out of the tent.

"Hold that thought." He told the man as he bolted out of the tent. He looked frantically for her, but she was nowhere in sight. His eyes narrowed at the image of her face dancing before him. "Chloe?" he muttered under his breath and then turned back into the tent to hear the information he figured he'd already been told.