Part 8 Counter Offer

Lex tore open the packet of coffee easily. Picking up the box, he read the label and nodded in approval. He poured the power into the cup and poured the water he had boiled over the stove. He had never had instant coffee before, and he had to admit that despite the lack of richness, he might try it again if only for convenience.

Taking the cup with him to the living room where Chloe was sprawled after sleepily informing him that she was still on painkillers, Lex set it down on the coffee table and gingerly sat on the edge of the couch. He reached for the bandage covering her arms and tugged part of it off. The cuts were healing cleanly. Lex took the blue jar sitting beside his coffee and read the label.

Lex unscrewed the cap and dipped his fingers into the filmy substance before inspecting the bare parts of her skin for bruises. He rubbed the balm on each one exposed to him. Satisfied with his work, he took a card from his wallet and scrawled a quick note, leaving it on the table and kissing her goodbye on the forehead.

He had never felt as light as he did on the ride to the manor. As he got nearer to the house, the lightness in his heart started to fade as he thought of facing his brother. The guilt sank in at the thought of Lucas. Lucas obviously liked Chloe a lot. He would not have introduced her to their father if he was playing her. Chloe admitted herself that she and Lucas only just broke up. It was probably because of that threat to Lucas' life that was almost carried out successfully. Would he feel right taking Chloe from Lucas who may not yet be over her? And was Chloe really not interested in Lucas anymore or did she break it off with him because of the incident? If she were, Lex realized it would take a lot of hard work keeping her with the animus against him.

Maybe it would be better to cut the relationship off before it even truly started. The exact moment the thought occurred to him he rejected it. Lex wanted to be with this girl Lucas was a big boy and he had to learn to accept the often harsh blows the real world can deal. A niggling voice at the back of his mind protested that if Lucas had to go through those, it should not be because his brother took his girlfriend away.

As for Chloe, well Lex resolved that he would just assure her that he could take better care of her than Lucas could, and keep her eyes glued to her every movement. All in all, it would not be such a bad deal.

By the time he parked outside the castle, Lex was forced to watch his step so that neither Lucas nor his father would suspect that something happened. When he turned the corridor leading to his study, he heard voices coming from the open door of Lionel's temporary office. Lex pushed the door discreetly and listened in to the conversation of the other two Luthors.

"So you actually believe that if the head cocks to the side, there'd be a crack?"

"The column of the spine will shatter," Lionel confirmed. "Just look at how stiff the neck is held. The organism will die."

Lex frowned. What possible topic would call for those observations? He pushed the door open wider, causing the two occupants of the room to turn towards him.

"Hey Lex! Lucas greeted enthusiastically.

Lex swallowed and kept his attention on his father. Not two seconds later, he knew he made the wrong choice when Lionel arched an eyebrow at him. His father could read the expression on an ant's face. Lex tightened his jaw at the scrutinizing manner with which his father regarded him. "What were you talking about?"

"Oh nothing really."

Lex could see the small screen behind his father, the one that the two had been watching earlier, even though Lucas stood in front of it.

"Helen Bryce is waiting in your office."

His eyes darted back to the screen and discerned the familiar furnishings of his office. Lex narrowed his eyes at the two. "I would appreciate it if you could turn off the surveillance, dad."

"Of course, Lex. We were only trying to relax."

Lex shook his head and left the room to face another horror, that of a former fiance's wrath. He had to be strong for this confrontation or else there would not be much else he could do, especially since he would need to at least tough up in order to speak with Lucas about certain developments in his relationship with the young woman that Lionel had already accepted as the newest Luthor.

Vaguely he wondered if Lucas already informed his father that he and Chloe were broken up. It did seem to him the day before that his father so easily accepted that Lucas had become responsible enough to be a Luthor son when he was certain that the young man was under the influence of a reliable woman.

Helen must have sensed his presence because she waved him in. He watched her warily as she smiled in welcome. She had been pretty pissed when he reneged on the engagement.

"Did you need anything, Helen?"

The doctor nodded. "I was reading some charts earlier, and while I was trying to outline a patient's medical history-"

"Helen."

She looked back at Lex with suspiciously bright eyes. "Yes. Well I thought of something we never got around to answering. We were, after all, focused on other aspects of the night." He waited for her to continue. "Why exactly couldn't you go through with it, Lex? We didn't have a problem before. Our entire relationship was satisfactory, wasn't it?"

"Yes, Helen. It was satisfactory."

"Then what was the problem, Lex?"

"That it was satisfactory," he answered simply. "I'd thought I would be satisfied with satisfactory."

"You don't understand then. Lex, don't tell me you're now waiting for a grand passion. You are not naïve. Sometimes people marry when it's the right time, with a good person." Helen sighed. "What changed your mind?"

"When Lucas and Chloe were in the hospital, and I had no idea about their condition, I panicked."

"Your brother and his girlfriend, Lex. I'd say you were allowed."

Lex picked up Helen's hand and squeezed it. "Now you don't understand, Helen. I was paralyzed. Do you know how many hours I've spent with Lucas since I found out about him?" She shook her head. "Twelve hours. There was the ten we were together the first time, and the two that night before he took Chloe home. Twelve hours, Helen. Half a day. I may care about my brother, Helen, but not enough to be paralyzed by fear when he gets hurt. Not yet."

She pulled her hand away carefully.

Lex continued, "I can't marry you when I feel this way about someone else."

"It's not a big deal," she said urgently. "She's with Lucas. We can forget about it."

A smile flitted over his lips. "Chloe is with me now."

"Ah!" Helen stepped back. "Are you crazy, Lex?

"She and Lucas broke up after the accident."

"And you're with her already? How much of a slut are you?"

"I know you must be surprised, Helen."

"Your brother will despise you. They should still have at least two months to resolve whatever issues they have, and resolve it they would have because this was in no way Lucas' fault. How can you be with her already?"

"Leave it, Helen."

"What kind of relationship will you have?"

"We've been friends for a year. Acquaintances. All I know is that I am more than comfortable with Chloe."

"You'll hurt her."

"I care about the girl."

"Precisely. Do you want me to tell you exactly how many times you've told me you cared about me?"

~~

Chloe tapped on the table a steady rhythm with fingers. She had been waiting for Lex for an hour. He had never been the type to be late for appointment before. She knew this from being Clark's confidante for a few years. She took the card he had left and read the note scrawled at the back to make sure. 'Couldn't wake you, gorgeous. Meet me at the Talon nine pm.' Since Lana usually closed at ten, and because she was fairly certain that Lex would not want to have the conversation there, she had supposed that he would merely swing by to pick her up.

"Hey Chloe. What do you have there?"

"Clark!" She slipped the card back into her pocket. "Why are you here so late?"

He had that charming grin which balanced nicely with the blush that spread over his face. "I'm here to help Lana close up. But I believe I asked you first. Aren't you supposed to be resting?"

"I just rested," she informed him. "Thought I'd get some coffee before heading home. I would have gone to the Torch but the school's closed."

Clark shook his head. "You never rest, do you?"

"We rest when we die. With all the freaks in Smallville, that's not going to be too long."

"Hey!" he exclaimed, only then remembering. "You were in a car accident with Lucas."

"Is that how news is disseminated when I'm out of duty?" she asked. "Looks like a lot of people have perfected tabloid journalism. And they accuse me of sensationalism. No, Clark. We saw a speeding car crash. We're fine. Minor cuts and bruises." She raised her arm to show him the small bandages.

"I'm glad you're okay," he said sincerely. Clark took a seat in front of her. "Is it also hype or are you and Lucas Luthor dating?"

"We're not dating, Clark."

"I knew Pete was exaggerating. You didn't even kiss right here in the coffeeshop, did you?"

"Well, Clark, we did."

"What?!"

"You look a little red, Clark. Is that Lana calling you?" When he turned to look at the counter, where the brunette was definitely waving him over, Chloe slipped away silently. She reached the street and whipped out her cellphone. "Come on, Lex. Answer. Lex! Where are you? What do you mean?" Her jaw fell open in surprise. Chloe's eyes narrowed when she heard the click of his end hanging up.

Again, she dialed a few numbers. "Luthor."

"You've perfected the family curt hello in a couple of days. I'm proud of you!"

"Well thanks, ex. What can I do for you?"

"Do you have a new car or not?"

"I don't. I was given a second hard car in the meantime though. Lex's one week old Porsche. Need a ride?"

"I need a ride and I have a proposition for you."

There was a pause at the other end of the line. "I would not need to kill anyone, do I? I kinda like the cushy life here now. I don't want to do time yet."

"No killing will be done by you. If there's an opening to kill your brother, I want the satisfaction," she replied.

"Ah, it's about Lex. Where are you?"

"Outside the Talon," she told him, almost pitifully.

"I'll be in five." And Chloe knew that he was not kidding.

"Make it four and I'll give you a kiss."

"You got it, kid. I'll be the one in the red Porsche. I'm already halfway there."

"Lucas, you'll be the only one in a Porsche."

"Not unless Lex takes his."

Chloe cringed and informed him, "The Talon is the last place your brother will be going near to tonight."

He heard the bitterness in her voice. "What makes you think that?"

"Because he asked to see me here an hour ago."

Lucas did not answer. Chloe heard the phone gets tossed down on the seat and looked up to see the savvy red Porsche slowing down in front of her. "Ouch," he commented, referring to her revelation. "Three minutes. Hop in. You owe me two kisses."

She opened the door and slid into the seat. She leaned towards him and gave him a chaste kiss on each cheek. From the corner of her eye, she saw Lana and Clark step out of the coffeehouse. Clark appeared upset seeing her with Lucas after she denied being the guy's girlfriend. Lana had the same expression on her face that she did when she first saw the two kiss.

Chloe shook her head as Lucas turned the bend leading to Main. Sometimes, she thought that Lana Lang had only four expressions that alternated for different events-dreamy, scared, happy, and that furrowing of brow that she passed off as either sad or angry.

"Care to tell me what prompted the late night call for a knight in designer armor?" Lucas asked.

"The proposition."

"I'm all for indecent proposals. What ya got for me?"

"Lucas, I need you to help me make Lex jealous."

Hearing the words tumble from her mouth, Lucas swerved. Chloe shrieked. She wanted to hit him but he was already driving haphazardly. Lucas started chuckling, his shoulders shaking with hilarity. "I thought you told him we were never going out."

"Actually," she corrected, "I told him we were no longer going out."

He arched a superior thick eyebrow. "What happened to the honesty thing you had going?"

"Well he was going on about how he thought you and his dad were up to something. He's paranoid. I didn't want to have to increase the paranoia by informing him that we've been playing him."

"So you decided to lie to him instead. That would do wonders to his confidence on people," he noted, his eyes still on the road.

"Wow, Mr. Clean, I didn't realize you were in Smallville!" Chloe quipped.

"So what do I get in return?" he asked. "I should get paid for services rendered."

"I played your girlfriend to save your ass!"

"My father was technically paying you by funding the rehabilitation of your newspaper office," Lucas reminded her.

"Right when I was thinking you weren't too much of a jerk."

"Hey hey. Judge hastily; judge hashly. I only want your services for a day, maybe until the night if you're not too tired."

Chloe's head whipped to face him. "You're pulling my leg. No! Scratch the image. What are you talking about?"

"I've noticed your rather eclectic taste. I like it. I want you to decorate my room at the castle, free reign. And you can do it tomorrow. You're still out of school, right?"

"Right." When she looked up again, they were almost at her house. "You remembered the way. Very nice. Luthor brains."

Lucas grimaced as he pulled up her driveway. "I don't know if I should be insulted."

When he took off his seatbelt, Chloe asked, "Where do you think you're going?"

"To see you in."

"Why?"

"Chloe, it's ten minutes past ten. Don't you think you need to tell your dad where you've been? And don't you think your date should step in to apologize for having you out so late."

She huffed. "Ten is barely curfew, Lucas."

"All right. If you're sure." Chloe waved before heading up the few steps. "Pleasure seeing you again, Chloe." Lucas waited before she entered the house before driving away.

Gabe, who had been watching from the window, called out when she stepped in. "Hey. I thought I would find you sitting here waiting for you cuts to close. But you went out with your boyfriend. You kids never tire, do you?"

"We're young and energetic, dad," she replied, too tired to worry about a suitable explanation. "If you'll excuse me-"

Gabe waited until she vanished up the stairs before picking up the phone. "Yes, Mr Luthor. We need to talk. It's Gabe Sullivan. No, nothing that concerns the plant. It's a more personal concern. Hope you don't mind. I think my daughter and your brother are getting too involved. I don't know where you received that information, Mr. Luthor, but they most certainly are not. Lucas just dropped my daughter home, and he didn't even come in to face me this time. Yes. That's just it. They're moving too fast."