Chapter 3: The Florist
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"Nice timing Lucas," Lex commented as his half brother made an entrance into Lex's office, just before the reading of the will.
"Sorry I couldn't make it to the funeral, something came up," Lucas responded insincerely. Lex didn't blame him at all; it was human nature to retain animosity towards someone who had abandoned you then tried to kill you.
The intimate gathering of people in the office included a few members of the extended Luthor dynasty, several major share holders of LuthorCorp and the Planet's leading reporter. Lionel's lawyer began the proceedings and gradually chipped off smaller portions of the Luthor kingdom till it was down to only Lucas and Lex. The group waited in breathless anticipation, but Lex wore a look of weary as he waited for Lionels last game.
"... to Lucas, the son I never knew, I hope that in my death you will receive what I could not give you in life," The lawyer read, then handed Lucas an envelope.
"It contains the deeds to various properties across Europe, a generous number of shares in LutherCorp and of course a handsome fortune," The older man stated, adjusting his glasses.
Lucas grinned appreciatively, "Thanks dad..." he murmured to himself, then turned to Lex before heading out the door, "I'll see you around. I trust the old man left you just a big of a prize, I won't be hanging around to find out what it is." he said, disappearing through the door.
"Actually this is a concealed matter, for Lex's ears only." The lawyer stated. The group let out the breath they had been holding and shuffled their way out the door, each much wealthier that when they'd come in.
"Lex..." the lawyer said with a frown. "Your father has left you, his first born, absolutely everything. Property, the majority of the shares of LuthorCorp and his assets in Asia."
With half a smile, Lex nodded and waited for the catch, recalling his last conversation with his father...
*Flashback*
"I really did want you to be as strong as I was before I died Lex... but you still have so much to learn..."
"I can lie and tell the truth while keeping the exact same facial expression, what else do I need to learn?"
"Desire, son. You have never desired anything in life that you weren't already addicted to. I see that now, and before you can touch any of my fortune, you will have to learn this lesson..."
*End Flashback*
"Lex? Are you listening to me?"
"Huh? Oh, yes, please continue," Lex stated, leaning forward in his chair and rubbing the back of his neck.
"...Alexander, your father left you everything, but there are terms that must be met before you receive this wealth."
Lex braced himself.
"You must find a non-family member to be your partner, someone you trust with your money..." the lawyer began.
-No problem... I happen to know the most honest down to earth farmboy to be partners with- Lex thought.
"You must then marry this person."
-Okay, scratch that idea-
"Then you two must live together, sharing all you have with each other for at least a year to prove that the relationship was genuine."
There was a pause and Lex didn't say anything so the lawyer continued.
"You must find this woman within the next week or all your assets will be forfeited and LuthorCorp will be broken off and sold piece by piece to whoever can afford it."
Lex swore, and got up from his seat. If LuthorCorp fell into someone else's hands, the fluctuation in the business world would cause LexCorp to fall too. Thousands of people would loose their jobs because of him.
"Lex? Do you understand these terms?" the lawyer asked, placing the documents in a neat pile on Lex's desk.
"I do, and I trust you will keep this confidential?" Lex asked. He knew there was no way get out of this contract, his father had made it air tight.
"It's between you, me, Lionel and the government," The man answered before heading out the door.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Flower delivery for the Luthor's!" Chloe yelled, banging on the front door. She held the giant vase that held a few more surprises other than flowers.
A security guard let her in, "Let me take those."
"No, it's fine, I'll just go put them in Mr. Luthor's office..." Chloe said, but her path was blocked by the man.
The guard looked at her warily, "I don't think so, Mr Luthor isn't in the mood for visitors."
"Well, I need the man's signature for this delivery, so do you think you could get it for me?" Chloe pleaded with her eyes.
The security guard gave her a swift grin and took the clipboard from her. "I'll be right back."
Perfect. Once the coast was clear Chloe set the flowers on the floor and pulled out several cans from the heavy vase and shook them violently. She yanked off the pins that kept them closed and hurled them down different wings of the mansion. Billows of smoke erupted from the cans, clouding the entire are.
"FIRE!" she yelled, just before the alarms went off. She retrieved a gas mask from her white overalls and put it over her face.
Chloe smiled to herself, satisfied with the outcome. The staff members were running around like maniacs, trying to save their lives. She ducked as she saw Lex and his security guard head out of the building.
"Do you need to salvage any valuables?" the guard asked Lex.
"I've learned never to keep anything of great importance in there, and the documents can be replaced," Lex coughed as they made it outside.
"Do you see anyone who's missing?" Lex asked, his eyes scanning across his workers that were on his lawn, watching the smoke emanate through the mansion. Of all the crappy thing that could happen..
"Not that I can tell, what about your lawyer?" the guard asked.
"He left twenty minutes ago, beside nobody ever went to hell for leaving a lawyer in a burning building," Lex stated, "Anyone else?"
"I don't think so... wait! The florist!" The guard said anxiously.
"I have a florist?" Lex asked.
"No, she was here delivering flowers, I don't see her, she must still be inside," the man continued.
"Well was she a particularly evil florist that deserves to die," Lex asked bluntly.
"I. I don't know. She seemed nice enough-"
"Never mind... Look, you stay here, make sure the fire department gets here and see if anyone's injured." Lex said heading back into the building.
"Wait sir! I'll go in and get her," The guard said quickly.
"No, I will. I don't think I pay you enough to run into burning buildings for me," Lex said, disappearing into the smoking building.
He was risking his life to save a florist. He was officially insane. What were the chances of having two Luthor funerals in one weekend?
"Hey? Are you in here?" He asked, coughing and stumbling down the hallway, his eyes stinging because of the smoke.
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Please review? I'm glad you guys find this fic amusing : )
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"Nice timing Lucas," Lex commented as his half brother made an entrance into Lex's office, just before the reading of the will.
"Sorry I couldn't make it to the funeral, something came up," Lucas responded insincerely. Lex didn't blame him at all; it was human nature to retain animosity towards someone who had abandoned you then tried to kill you.
The intimate gathering of people in the office included a few members of the extended Luthor dynasty, several major share holders of LuthorCorp and the Planet's leading reporter. Lionel's lawyer began the proceedings and gradually chipped off smaller portions of the Luthor kingdom till it was down to only Lucas and Lex. The group waited in breathless anticipation, but Lex wore a look of weary as he waited for Lionels last game.
"... to Lucas, the son I never knew, I hope that in my death you will receive what I could not give you in life," The lawyer read, then handed Lucas an envelope.
"It contains the deeds to various properties across Europe, a generous number of shares in LutherCorp and of course a handsome fortune," The older man stated, adjusting his glasses.
Lucas grinned appreciatively, "Thanks dad..." he murmured to himself, then turned to Lex before heading out the door, "I'll see you around. I trust the old man left you just a big of a prize, I won't be hanging around to find out what it is." he said, disappearing through the door.
"Actually this is a concealed matter, for Lex's ears only." The lawyer stated. The group let out the breath they had been holding and shuffled their way out the door, each much wealthier that when they'd come in.
"Lex..." the lawyer said with a frown. "Your father has left you, his first born, absolutely everything. Property, the majority of the shares of LuthorCorp and his assets in Asia."
With half a smile, Lex nodded and waited for the catch, recalling his last conversation with his father...
*Flashback*
"I really did want you to be as strong as I was before I died Lex... but you still have so much to learn..."
"I can lie and tell the truth while keeping the exact same facial expression, what else do I need to learn?"
"Desire, son. You have never desired anything in life that you weren't already addicted to. I see that now, and before you can touch any of my fortune, you will have to learn this lesson..."
*End Flashback*
"Lex? Are you listening to me?"
"Huh? Oh, yes, please continue," Lex stated, leaning forward in his chair and rubbing the back of his neck.
"...Alexander, your father left you everything, but there are terms that must be met before you receive this wealth."
Lex braced himself.
"You must find a non-family member to be your partner, someone you trust with your money..." the lawyer began.
-No problem... I happen to know the most honest down to earth farmboy to be partners with- Lex thought.
"You must then marry this person."
-Okay, scratch that idea-
"Then you two must live together, sharing all you have with each other for at least a year to prove that the relationship was genuine."
There was a pause and Lex didn't say anything so the lawyer continued.
"You must find this woman within the next week or all your assets will be forfeited and LuthorCorp will be broken off and sold piece by piece to whoever can afford it."
Lex swore, and got up from his seat. If LuthorCorp fell into someone else's hands, the fluctuation in the business world would cause LexCorp to fall too. Thousands of people would loose their jobs because of him.
"Lex? Do you understand these terms?" the lawyer asked, placing the documents in a neat pile on Lex's desk.
"I do, and I trust you will keep this confidential?" Lex asked. He knew there was no way get out of this contract, his father had made it air tight.
"It's between you, me, Lionel and the government," The man answered before heading out the door.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Flower delivery for the Luthor's!" Chloe yelled, banging on the front door. She held the giant vase that held a few more surprises other than flowers.
A security guard let her in, "Let me take those."
"No, it's fine, I'll just go put them in Mr. Luthor's office..." Chloe said, but her path was blocked by the man.
The guard looked at her warily, "I don't think so, Mr Luthor isn't in the mood for visitors."
"Well, I need the man's signature for this delivery, so do you think you could get it for me?" Chloe pleaded with her eyes.
The security guard gave her a swift grin and took the clipboard from her. "I'll be right back."
Perfect. Once the coast was clear Chloe set the flowers on the floor and pulled out several cans from the heavy vase and shook them violently. She yanked off the pins that kept them closed and hurled them down different wings of the mansion. Billows of smoke erupted from the cans, clouding the entire are.
"FIRE!" she yelled, just before the alarms went off. She retrieved a gas mask from her white overalls and put it over her face.
Chloe smiled to herself, satisfied with the outcome. The staff members were running around like maniacs, trying to save their lives. She ducked as she saw Lex and his security guard head out of the building.
"Do you need to salvage any valuables?" the guard asked Lex.
"I've learned never to keep anything of great importance in there, and the documents can be replaced," Lex coughed as they made it outside.
"Do you see anyone who's missing?" Lex asked, his eyes scanning across his workers that were on his lawn, watching the smoke emanate through the mansion. Of all the crappy thing that could happen..
"Not that I can tell, what about your lawyer?" the guard asked.
"He left twenty minutes ago, beside nobody ever went to hell for leaving a lawyer in a burning building," Lex stated, "Anyone else?"
"I don't think so... wait! The florist!" The guard said anxiously.
"I have a florist?" Lex asked.
"No, she was here delivering flowers, I don't see her, she must still be inside," the man continued.
"Well was she a particularly evil florist that deserves to die," Lex asked bluntly.
"I. I don't know. She seemed nice enough-"
"Never mind... Look, you stay here, make sure the fire department gets here and see if anyone's injured." Lex said heading back into the building.
"Wait sir! I'll go in and get her," The guard said quickly.
"No, I will. I don't think I pay you enough to run into burning buildings for me," Lex said, disappearing into the smoking building.
He was risking his life to save a florist. He was officially insane. What were the chances of having two Luthor funerals in one weekend?
"Hey? Are you in here?" He asked, coughing and stumbling down the hallway, his eyes stinging because of the smoke.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Please review? I'm glad you guys find this fic amusing : )