Title: Strength, Reserve, Control
Part: 2/?
Author: Cam
Author's Email: camerada2006@yahoo.com
Pairing: Chloe/Lionel, Clark/Lois, Chloe/Lex
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I'm not making anything off of these great characters. Honestly!
A/N: Thank you all for the reviews . . . here's part two!
*~*~*~*
TWO
In the sanctuary of her bedroom, Chloe was able to calm herself down. She didn't want to have a child. Well, not with Lionel. How did she manage this one? It dawned on Chloe that she was Married To Lionel.
"And it only took me three years," she laughed humorlessly. "He's never going to give me a divorce." He was old, but not so old that he would die anytime soon. Then she kicked herself at the callous thought. Despite being a Luthor for three years, some part of Chloe - the old Chloe - struggled to come forth.
She stood before the mirror, looking at the woman that Lionel had created. He told her to grow her hair out, so she did it. Honey-blonde curls framed her face now. He told her to wear more mature makeup, so she did it. Burgundy lipstick was her trademark, and she never went anywhere without eyeliner and mascara. He told her that she needed to start dressing like an adult, so she did. She wore a black wool suit that kept her warm in the cold Metropolis winter, with a splash of color by way of a crisp gold shirt.
Of course, she liked to rebel when it came to underwear. Lace, silk, and lots of gauzy stuff flooded her drawers. Not, she thought bitterly, that anyone would ever see it.
Unless she took Lionel's suggestion . . .
Chloe shook her head at her reflection. Her reflection did the same. "What have you become, Chloe Sullivan?"
She wasn't even Chloe Sullivan anymore. Especially not after that spectacle she made of herself before Clark.
Clark. God, what happened to them? Chloe chose not to think about him, and began to get undressed.
In the shower, she lathered quickly and rinsed. She stepped out, dried off, spritzed herself quickly with some expensive perfume that Lionel had purchased, and walked into her closet. It was a room larger than her dad's bedroom in Smallville, and Chloe still had trouble believing she had so much stuff. She went to the not-yet-worn section, and decided on pair of black slacks, a soft blue sweater and some black flats.
Hair blow-dried and pony-tailed, Chloe was ready to make her way downstairs. She paused at the banister to look down as Lex and his date arrived. Her heart nearly broke at the cold greeting Lionel gave. Even after three years, she didn't understand why he was so indifferent, if not downright malicious, toward his only child.
Lex glanced up to where she was standing. "Chloe."
"Good evening, Lex." She hurried down the stairs. "April," she kissed the young woman's cheek. "How are you?"
"Fine, thank you Chloe," April smiled at her, then back at Lex. The girl was nice, Chloe couldn't deny, and Lex seemed to enjoy her company, but something was nagging at her.
"Denim, Lex?" Lionel raised his eyebrow.
"Clark's birthday present to me," he said, by way of explanation. "I decided to wear them all day. And you know, by the standards of most Americans, it's acceptable to wear jeans to nearly any function."
"Of course," Chloe said. "I would have worn mine, but Lionel had them all thrown out." She smiled, sweetly poisonous at her husband, and made a mental note to take a little shopping trip for jeans - and a combination safe.
"Oh, that's terrible!" April smiled playfully. She took Lionel's arm, and they started walking toward the dining room. "Lionel, how could you?"
"She's quite brave, Lex," Chloe said, looking at him.
"Not as brave as you are," Lex said.
Chloe didn't think this was a compliment. "Lex, I know you don't like this arrangement, but you've had three years to deal. I think it's about time you moved on. Besides, don't you want my help in convincing Lionel to sign over the Luthor Tower to you?"
Lex looked away, muttering, "The damn building has been closed for ten years; he doesn't use it for anything."
Lex wanted the building to house the new marketing research branch of the rapidly growing LexCorp, and Lionel refused to let Luthor Tower go. Lex was desperate to have it, partly because it was in the historic (and therefore tourist-ridden) district of town. Unfortunately, the new mayor refused to take any "incentive" from businessmen who wanted permits passed. It would take at least five years to have a new building erected in Metropolis, and Chloe knew Lex didn't have that kind of time.
"Lex, forget I offered," Chloe said angrily, turning to go to the dining room.
Dinner was uneventful. That is, until Lex brought up the Luthor Tower. Lionel flatly refused to sell the building.
"That structure has been in the Luthor family for more than 60 years, Lex," Lionel said. "I'm not about to give it away."
"Dad, you're getting old. Who are you planning on giving it to? Chloe?" Lex said angrily.
"My son."
Chloe closed her eyes and sighed softly. She had to think of some way out of this. She just had to.
"I am-" Lex looked at Chloe sharply. "You're not pregnant, are you?"
"Not yet," Lionel answered for her. "We're working on it."
"I can't believe this," Lex said.
"I think it's wonderful," April interjected.
"Then you're a fool," Lex said. "I suggest you ask the butler to call a cab, because I'm not leaving here until I get the papers signed."
"Shall I have the housekeeper set up a room, Lex?" Chloe said, smiling sweetly. If there was any pleasure she could take from this, it was seeing Lex a little flustered.
"Bitch," Lex muttered, just loud enough for Chloe to hear.
"Well," April said, a little belatedly. "I guess I'm off, then. Have a nice evening, everyone."
Chloe smiled weakly, as Lex and his father squared off.
"I, for one, am going to bed," Lionel said suddenly. "It's been a long and tiring day. I suggest the two of you do the same." He stood and left without another word.
Tension remained in the room, palpable as the dinner they had eaten. Lex glared into his glass of wine before tossing it back. Chloe left the table, and went to the kitchen to give the staff directions for the next day.
After a half hour of discussing menus and schedules, Chloe went looking for Lex. He was in the library living room, downing a glass of scotch.
"Lex," she said. He turned to face her. "The Red Room is ready . . . you can sleep there."
"You know what the worst thing is? Not that the bastard hates me, but that he finds me amusing!" Lex didn't slur - on the contrary, his diction was clearer than ever. But that was an indication of his intoxication. When Lex knew he was drunk, he worked hard at being coherent.
"You're drunk, Lex," Chloe said, reaching for his tumbler. "Let me take that."
"You're not my goddamn mother," Lex spoke quietly, but his voice was venomous. "Despite your efforts, you will never be Lillian Luthor."
"Lex!" The loudness of her own voice startled Chloe. "I could never be her - I don't want to! Grow the hell up already. You have everything in the world at your fingertips, but you still act like an angry little child. Jesus, I may not be your mother, but I think it's safe to say she isn't too proud of you right now."
"You don't know what you're talking about," he advanced on her. Lex looked wild, eyes dark blue and vivid in a pale white face
Chloe resisted the urge to back away. "Don't I? You hate your father, but you feel guilt because your mother loved him."
"Chloe . . ." Lex growled, and she decided it might be a good time to leave the room.
"Goodnight, Lex." She turned to leave.
Before she reached the door, he had her arm and was spinning her around. "What are you doing? Get off of me!"
"Are you going to his bed, Chloe?" Lex stared into her eyes, inches away. "Are you?"
"What is it to you?" Chloe knew defiance wouldn't help, but she could hardly see past white-hot anger.
Lex lowered his mouth to hers. At first she was shocked by how gently his lips touched hers. His grasp loosened on her arm, and after a moment, she shoved him backward. He landed on the floor.
"Alexander," Chloe drew herself up, and spoke with the imperious tone she'd heard Lionel use hundreds of times. "I don't know what is going on in your head right now, and frankly, I don't care. I'm going to bed, and I'm going to forget what happened. If you know what's good for you, you'll do the same."
He looked deflated. Lex opened his mouth to say something, then shut it and stared down at the carpet.
"Goodnight, Lex."
He mumbled something.
On her way up the stairs, Chloe touched her lips, running over where his had been. She could still taste the scotch.
Part: 2/?
Author: Cam
Author's Email: camerada2006@yahoo.com
Pairing: Chloe/Lionel, Clark/Lois, Chloe/Lex
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I'm not making anything off of these great characters. Honestly!
A/N: Thank you all for the reviews . . . here's part two!
*~*~*~*
TWO
In the sanctuary of her bedroom, Chloe was able to calm herself down. She didn't want to have a child. Well, not with Lionel. How did she manage this one? It dawned on Chloe that she was Married To Lionel.
"And it only took me three years," she laughed humorlessly. "He's never going to give me a divorce." He was old, but not so old that he would die anytime soon. Then she kicked herself at the callous thought. Despite being a Luthor for three years, some part of Chloe - the old Chloe - struggled to come forth.
She stood before the mirror, looking at the woman that Lionel had created. He told her to grow her hair out, so she did it. Honey-blonde curls framed her face now. He told her to wear more mature makeup, so she did it. Burgundy lipstick was her trademark, and she never went anywhere without eyeliner and mascara. He told her that she needed to start dressing like an adult, so she did. She wore a black wool suit that kept her warm in the cold Metropolis winter, with a splash of color by way of a crisp gold shirt.
Of course, she liked to rebel when it came to underwear. Lace, silk, and lots of gauzy stuff flooded her drawers. Not, she thought bitterly, that anyone would ever see it.
Unless she took Lionel's suggestion . . .
Chloe shook her head at her reflection. Her reflection did the same. "What have you become, Chloe Sullivan?"
She wasn't even Chloe Sullivan anymore. Especially not after that spectacle she made of herself before Clark.
Clark. God, what happened to them? Chloe chose not to think about him, and began to get undressed.
In the shower, she lathered quickly and rinsed. She stepped out, dried off, spritzed herself quickly with some expensive perfume that Lionel had purchased, and walked into her closet. It was a room larger than her dad's bedroom in Smallville, and Chloe still had trouble believing she had so much stuff. She went to the not-yet-worn section, and decided on pair of black slacks, a soft blue sweater and some black flats.
Hair blow-dried and pony-tailed, Chloe was ready to make her way downstairs. She paused at the banister to look down as Lex and his date arrived. Her heart nearly broke at the cold greeting Lionel gave. Even after three years, she didn't understand why he was so indifferent, if not downright malicious, toward his only child.
Lex glanced up to where she was standing. "Chloe."
"Good evening, Lex." She hurried down the stairs. "April," she kissed the young woman's cheek. "How are you?"
"Fine, thank you Chloe," April smiled at her, then back at Lex. The girl was nice, Chloe couldn't deny, and Lex seemed to enjoy her company, but something was nagging at her.
"Denim, Lex?" Lionel raised his eyebrow.
"Clark's birthday present to me," he said, by way of explanation. "I decided to wear them all day. And you know, by the standards of most Americans, it's acceptable to wear jeans to nearly any function."
"Of course," Chloe said. "I would have worn mine, but Lionel had them all thrown out." She smiled, sweetly poisonous at her husband, and made a mental note to take a little shopping trip for jeans - and a combination safe.
"Oh, that's terrible!" April smiled playfully. She took Lionel's arm, and they started walking toward the dining room. "Lionel, how could you?"
"She's quite brave, Lex," Chloe said, looking at him.
"Not as brave as you are," Lex said.
Chloe didn't think this was a compliment. "Lex, I know you don't like this arrangement, but you've had three years to deal. I think it's about time you moved on. Besides, don't you want my help in convincing Lionel to sign over the Luthor Tower to you?"
Lex looked away, muttering, "The damn building has been closed for ten years; he doesn't use it for anything."
Lex wanted the building to house the new marketing research branch of the rapidly growing LexCorp, and Lionel refused to let Luthor Tower go. Lex was desperate to have it, partly because it was in the historic (and therefore tourist-ridden) district of town. Unfortunately, the new mayor refused to take any "incentive" from businessmen who wanted permits passed. It would take at least five years to have a new building erected in Metropolis, and Chloe knew Lex didn't have that kind of time.
"Lex, forget I offered," Chloe said angrily, turning to go to the dining room.
Dinner was uneventful. That is, until Lex brought up the Luthor Tower. Lionel flatly refused to sell the building.
"That structure has been in the Luthor family for more than 60 years, Lex," Lionel said. "I'm not about to give it away."
"Dad, you're getting old. Who are you planning on giving it to? Chloe?" Lex said angrily.
"My son."
Chloe closed her eyes and sighed softly. She had to think of some way out of this. She just had to.
"I am-" Lex looked at Chloe sharply. "You're not pregnant, are you?"
"Not yet," Lionel answered for her. "We're working on it."
"I can't believe this," Lex said.
"I think it's wonderful," April interjected.
"Then you're a fool," Lex said. "I suggest you ask the butler to call a cab, because I'm not leaving here until I get the papers signed."
"Shall I have the housekeeper set up a room, Lex?" Chloe said, smiling sweetly. If there was any pleasure she could take from this, it was seeing Lex a little flustered.
"Bitch," Lex muttered, just loud enough for Chloe to hear.
"Well," April said, a little belatedly. "I guess I'm off, then. Have a nice evening, everyone."
Chloe smiled weakly, as Lex and his father squared off.
"I, for one, am going to bed," Lionel said suddenly. "It's been a long and tiring day. I suggest the two of you do the same." He stood and left without another word.
Tension remained in the room, palpable as the dinner they had eaten. Lex glared into his glass of wine before tossing it back. Chloe left the table, and went to the kitchen to give the staff directions for the next day.
After a half hour of discussing menus and schedules, Chloe went looking for Lex. He was in the library living room, downing a glass of scotch.
"Lex," she said. He turned to face her. "The Red Room is ready . . . you can sleep there."
"You know what the worst thing is? Not that the bastard hates me, but that he finds me amusing!" Lex didn't slur - on the contrary, his diction was clearer than ever. But that was an indication of his intoxication. When Lex knew he was drunk, he worked hard at being coherent.
"You're drunk, Lex," Chloe said, reaching for his tumbler. "Let me take that."
"You're not my goddamn mother," Lex spoke quietly, but his voice was venomous. "Despite your efforts, you will never be Lillian Luthor."
"Lex!" The loudness of her own voice startled Chloe. "I could never be her - I don't want to! Grow the hell up already. You have everything in the world at your fingertips, but you still act like an angry little child. Jesus, I may not be your mother, but I think it's safe to say she isn't too proud of you right now."
"You don't know what you're talking about," he advanced on her. Lex looked wild, eyes dark blue and vivid in a pale white face
Chloe resisted the urge to back away. "Don't I? You hate your father, but you feel guilt because your mother loved him."
"Chloe . . ." Lex growled, and she decided it might be a good time to leave the room.
"Goodnight, Lex." She turned to leave.
Before she reached the door, he had her arm and was spinning her around. "What are you doing? Get off of me!"
"Are you going to his bed, Chloe?" Lex stared into her eyes, inches away. "Are you?"
"What is it to you?" Chloe knew defiance wouldn't help, but she could hardly see past white-hot anger.
Lex lowered his mouth to hers. At first she was shocked by how gently his lips touched hers. His grasp loosened on her arm, and after a moment, she shoved him backward. He landed on the floor.
"Alexander," Chloe drew herself up, and spoke with the imperious tone she'd heard Lionel use hundreds of times. "I don't know what is going on in your head right now, and frankly, I don't care. I'm going to bed, and I'm going to forget what happened. If you know what's good for you, you'll do the same."
He looked deflated. Lex opened his mouth to say something, then shut it and stared down at the carpet.
"Goodnight, Lex."
He mumbled something.
On her way up the stairs, Chloe touched her lips, running over where his had been. She could still taste the scotch.