Thanks for informing me that it wasn't uploaded here, Serenity. I don't
know what happened. And here I thought nobody was giving me any reviews.
Part 9 Postmodern Mumbo Jumbo
"I think this might look good. I want a sample of this design in midnight blue; and also provide me samples of the next three shades lighter."
Lex Luthor stopped on his way to his bedroom when he heard the familiar voice coming from his brother's room. With a frown, he made his way to the source. He had not seen her since he left her sleeping on her couch the day before. When he broke off their meeting, he just knew that she was pissed with him and therefore would stay away. What was she doing in his house? Reluctantly, he peaked into the room and saw Chloe standing amidst a sea of workers, stripping Lucas' bedroom bare and installing. things. here and there.
The bandages still covered her arms, but he could tell from the clean white cloths that they were there more to protect the wounds from irritation than to keep open cuts closed. Chloe looked delightful in casual jeans and t- shirt. She ever had a bandanna covering her hair, keeping the blonde strands away from her eyes as she oversaw the construction. "I'm having some nice patterns spray painted over there so just push that cabinet to that wall instead." She bit her lip as she analyzed the area of the room. "Better yet, take it away. It's too antique for my taste."
He watched in awe and stunned surprise as Chloe started pulling the sheets off Lucas' bed and handing them to a waiting maid. She then inspected several fresh sheets and ran fingered the material. Smiling at a particular one that she liked, she held it up to her cheeks and moaned with pleasure deep in her throat.
"I can lie forever on sheets like this," she pronounced.
Lex made a mental note to have similar ones taken to his room. He tamped down the urge to pull her out of Lucas' room, and into his where she really belonged. He hurt his women and he was incapable of keeping his promises. Helen was right in that regard. He did think he was in love with Helen when he proposed. How the relationship crumbled right in front of his eyes still puzzled him.
When Chloe returned to her chore, and drew out an interior design magazine from her own bag, Lex stepped back and tried to stop the pounding of his heart. He sought out his father from the various rooms of the house. He started to get frustrated when Lionel was not in any of the offices. Lex was about to storm out of the house and head to the plant when his father's voice from the living room called to him, "Lex! What is with all the noise?"
"Dad," Lex greeted. He strode into the room where he rarely saw his father. Now the older man sat in one of the armchairs with a broadsheet in his hands. "I was looking for you."
Lionel motioned to the room in general. "I have not been here for a long time," he told him. "I only now rediscover how relaxing it is."
Lex's eyes briefly scanned the room, but found nothing different. It looked the same as it did all the other times he stayed there to read. "Dad, I need to know what Chloe is doing here."
"She's your brother's girlfriend, Lex. She has every right to. 'hang around' the castle." Lionel shook his head. "Your question brings to mind certain double standards."
"What are you talking about?" Lex demanded.
Lionel folded up his newspaper and tossed it on the coffeetable. "Well the last time I checked, this was still the Luthor castle. Yet you allowed this doctor to roam around the house without a by-your-leave from either me or your brother. Do I even need to mention the fact that you had had Victoria Hardwick and Desiree Atkins live here too?"
Lex's thin eyebrows shot up to what would have been his hairline. "Lucas was effectively nonexistent at those times," he defended himself. "And father, do not kid me about Victoria. I'd say you had her pay for her rent enough with the pictures I saw of your transaction."
The briefest of smiles graced Lionel's lips. "Not the point, son. My point if that since we do not question your visitors, you must not question Lucas'."
"I was not against the idea of Chloe in the house, dad," Lex explained. "I was wondering why Lucas' room is undergoing an overhaul. She's up there picking wallpaper!"
Lionel sighed and picked up his newspaper again, keeping his eyes closely trained on the fine print that Lex just knew that he was keeping something.
"Dad," Lex prodded. "Are you considering answering my question this decade, or should I come back when you're old and gray and ask you again?"
Lionel turned the page and sighed once more. "She probably wants to be comfortable there," he stated casually, "so she's moving things around."
A dark cloud passed over Lex's face at the indirect answer. "Are you telling me that Chloe might probably maybe could by some chance at one instance." Deep calming breath that did not work. At all. "Consider stay long enough in Lucas' room that it has to be designed to her tastes? And be close enough to Lucas' bed to have the sheets changed with one that feels smooth against her skin?" He swallowed uncomfortably. "Don't you think it's a little odd that there are carpenters working in one of the rooms, dad?"
"No," Lionel said. "Not really."
"It doesn't bother you that Chloe has had your priceless antiques hauled out and is doing funky postmodern mumbo-jumbo with the room?"
"They're teenagers, Lex. Let Chloe and Lucas do whatever makes them happy."
"Now I know something is up," Lex stated.
"All right," Lionel capitulated. "I'll tell you what the big surprise is." Lex stared intently at his father, watching his face for a twitch, a cringe, or the hint of a grin-anything that would give away any lying on the old man's part. "Can you come to a party on Saturday? It's going to be held right here."
Lex could not imagine what it had to do with the sudden renovation of Lucas' room, but he decided to catch the fish through its mouth. "Will Chloe be there?"
Lionel chuckled. "Of course she will be there. The party would be nothing without her!"
What that meant he doubted Lionel would tell him. "Dad, Gabe called me very concerned about how that relationship is going." He wanted to tell his father that Chloe was not in love with Lucas as much as she was with him, but he really had no proof other than that the medicated girl kissed him in a drowsy haze. And he didn't even have evidence of that happening. Lex stuck with his strongest argument. "We know Lucas is not the most responsible person on earth. We should be worried about where he wants to take this, especially if he has her redesigning his room. Like you said yourself, dad: They're teenagers."
Lucas strode into the room bearing an open black velvet box. Lex could swear he saw something remarkable glint. "Dad, do you think this is good enough for Chloe?" The diamond shone briefly to match Lucas' bright smile. He saw Lex standing in front of their father and he easily clapped the box shut. "Lex! I didn't know you'd be here."
Lex's eyes narrowed at the grin on Lucas' face. He couldn't trust the sincerity in the younger man's face because he knew first hand how amazing an actor his brother was. "I could sense that," he replied.
"So." Lucas trailed off. He met his father's eyes before looking at Lex again.
"So," Lex answered confidently. He settled into a chair and dared Lucas to say what he came bounding into the living room to say. "You were telling dad something."
Lucas slipped the box discreetly into his pocket. Lex's eyes followed his movements. "Dad," Lucas said, "may I see you in your office please? If you don't mind, Lex."
"Not at all," Lex gritted out. "I was leaving anyway." Lex stiffly walked away from the living room.
He could hear the soft murmur of voices and simmered. He made his way to his bedroom to ponder on his next move. It was a game of chess and he was playing against two Luthor brains. Lex knew he would never willingly admit defeat to either of the two.
He passed the bedroom that Chloe was redesigning to bring a homier feel to it. He swore that she would never have the chance to feel at home in there. If he had his way, Chloe would never step foot in that room again. He cursed the stupid guilt complex that Helen Bryce hammered into him.
Lex dropped down at the center of his bed and closed his eyes. His sheets were not that bed. He wagered that if Chloe ever laid down on it, she would find herself getting used to the texture eventually. Hell, if he got her to lie on his bed, she would not be analyzing little things like the texture of the sheet. She would be too engrossed with other more important things to think of the sheets.
To hell with Helen and her speech about never loving a woman without hurting her. He was done with protecting Chloe if it was going to send her straight into his brother's arms. It was time that he took Lucas' advice about reforming his cool attitude. This time, Lex Luthor was getting out the big guns.
Part 9 Postmodern Mumbo Jumbo
"I think this might look good. I want a sample of this design in midnight blue; and also provide me samples of the next three shades lighter."
Lex Luthor stopped on his way to his bedroom when he heard the familiar voice coming from his brother's room. With a frown, he made his way to the source. He had not seen her since he left her sleeping on her couch the day before. When he broke off their meeting, he just knew that she was pissed with him and therefore would stay away. What was she doing in his house? Reluctantly, he peaked into the room and saw Chloe standing amidst a sea of workers, stripping Lucas' bedroom bare and installing. things. here and there.
The bandages still covered her arms, but he could tell from the clean white cloths that they were there more to protect the wounds from irritation than to keep open cuts closed. Chloe looked delightful in casual jeans and t- shirt. She ever had a bandanna covering her hair, keeping the blonde strands away from her eyes as she oversaw the construction. "I'm having some nice patterns spray painted over there so just push that cabinet to that wall instead." She bit her lip as she analyzed the area of the room. "Better yet, take it away. It's too antique for my taste."
He watched in awe and stunned surprise as Chloe started pulling the sheets off Lucas' bed and handing them to a waiting maid. She then inspected several fresh sheets and ran fingered the material. Smiling at a particular one that she liked, she held it up to her cheeks and moaned with pleasure deep in her throat.
"I can lie forever on sheets like this," she pronounced.
Lex made a mental note to have similar ones taken to his room. He tamped down the urge to pull her out of Lucas' room, and into his where she really belonged. He hurt his women and he was incapable of keeping his promises. Helen was right in that regard. He did think he was in love with Helen when he proposed. How the relationship crumbled right in front of his eyes still puzzled him.
When Chloe returned to her chore, and drew out an interior design magazine from her own bag, Lex stepped back and tried to stop the pounding of his heart. He sought out his father from the various rooms of the house. He started to get frustrated when Lionel was not in any of the offices. Lex was about to storm out of the house and head to the plant when his father's voice from the living room called to him, "Lex! What is with all the noise?"
"Dad," Lex greeted. He strode into the room where he rarely saw his father. Now the older man sat in one of the armchairs with a broadsheet in his hands. "I was looking for you."
Lionel motioned to the room in general. "I have not been here for a long time," he told him. "I only now rediscover how relaxing it is."
Lex's eyes briefly scanned the room, but found nothing different. It looked the same as it did all the other times he stayed there to read. "Dad, I need to know what Chloe is doing here."
"She's your brother's girlfriend, Lex. She has every right to. 'hang around' the castle." Lionel shook his head. "Your question brings to mind certain double standards."
"What are you talking about?" Lex demanded.
Lionel folded up his newspaper and tossed it on the coffeetable. "Well the last time I checked, this was still the Luthor castle. Yet you allowed this doctor to roam around the house without a by-your-leave from either me or your brother. Do I even need to mention the fact that you had had Victoria Hardwick and Desiree Atkins live here too?"
Lex's thin eyebrows shot up to what would have been his hairline. "Lucas was effectively nonexistent at those times," he defended himself. "And father, do not kid me about Victoria. I'd say you had her pay for her rent enough with the pictures I saw of your transaction."
The briefest of smiles graced Lionel's lips. "Not the point, son. My point if that since we do not question your visitors, you must not question Lucas'."
"I was not against the idea of Chloe in the house, dad," Lex explained. "I was wondering why Lucas' room is undergoing an overhaul. She's up there picking wallpaper!"
Lionel sighed and picked up his newspaper again, keeping his eyes closely trained on the fine print that Lex just knew that he was keeping something.
"Dad," Lex prodded. "Are you considering answering my question this decade, or should I come back when you're old and gray and ask you again?"
Lionel turned the page and sighed once more. "She probably wants to be comfortable there," he stated casually, "so she's moving things around."
A dark cloud passed over Lex's face at the indirect answer. "Are you telling me that Chloe might probably maybe could by some chance at one instance." Deep calming breath that did not work. At all. "Consider stay long enough in Lucas' room that it has to be designed to her tastes? And be close enough to Lucas' bed to have the sheets changed with one that feels smooth against her skin?" He swallowed uncomfortably. "Don't you think it's a little odd that there are carpenters working in one of the rooms, dad?"
"No," Lionel said. "Not really."
"It doesn't bother you that Chloe has had your priceless antiques hauled out and is doing funky postmodern mumbo-jumbo with the room?"
"They're teenagers, Lex. Let Chloe and Lucas do whatever makes them happy."
"Now I know something is up," Lex stated.
"All right," Lionel capitulated. "I'll tell you what the big surprise is." Lex stared intently at his father, watching his face for a twitch, a cringe, or the hint of a grin-anything that would give away any lying on the old man's part. "Can you come to a party on Saturday? It's going to be held right here."
Lex could not imagine what it had to do with the sudden renovation of Lucas' room, but he decided to catch the fish through its mouth. "Will Chloe be there?"
Lionel chuckled. "Of course she will be there. The party would be nothing without her!"
What that meant he doubted Lionel would tell him. "Dad, Gabe called me very concerned about how that relationship is going." He wanted to tell his father that Chloe was not in love with Lucas as much as she was with him, but he really had no proof other than that the medicated girl kissed him in a drowsy haze. And he didn't even have evidence of that happening. Lex stuck with his strongest argument. "We know Lucas is not the most responsible person on earth. We should be worried about where he wants to take this, especially if he has her redesigning his room. Like you said yourself, dad: They're teenagers."
Lucas strode into the room bearing an open black velvet box. Lex could swear he saw something remarkable glint. "Dad, do you think this is good enough for Chloe?" The diamond shone briefly to match Lucas' bright smile. He saw Lex standing in front of their father and he easily clapped the box shut. "Lex! I didn't know you'd be here."
Lex's eyes narrowed at the grin on Lucas' face. He couldn't trust the sincerity in the younger man's face because he knew first hand how amazing an actor his brother was. "I could sense that," he replied.
"So." Lucas trailed off. He met his father's eyes before looking at Lex again.
"So," Lex answered confidently. He settled into a chair and dared Lucas to say what he came bounding into the living room to say. "You were telling dad something."
Lucas slipped the box discreetly into his pocket. Lex's eyes followed his movements. "Dad," Lucas said, "may I see you in your office please? If you don't mind, Lex."
"Not at all," Lex gritted out. "I was leaving anyway." Lex stiffly walked away from the living room.
He could hear the soft murmur of voices and simmered. He made his way to his bedroom to ponder on his next move. It was a game of chess and he was playing against two Luthor brains. Lex knew he would never willingly admit defeat to either of the two.
He passed the bedroom that Chloe was redesigning to bring a homier feel to it. He swore that she would never have the chance to feel at home in there. If he had his way, Chloe would never step foot in that room again. He cursed the stupid guilt complex that Helen Bryce hammered into him.
Lex dropped down at the center of his bed and closed his eyes. His sheets were not that bed. He wagered that if Chloe ever laid down on it, she would find herself getting used to the texture eventually. Hell, if he got her to lie on his bed, she would not be analyzing little things like the texture of the sheet. She would be too engrossed with other more important things to think of the sheets.
To hell with Helen and her speech about never loving a woman without hurting her. He was done with protecting Chloe if it was going to send her straight into his brother's arms. It was time that he took Lucas' advice about reforming his cool attitude. This time, Lex Luthor was getting out the big guns.
