Chloe was reminded of the movie 'Ever After' where the character tells herself breath. The place was beautiful. It was obviously Valentine's Day, but so tastefully done. Chloe was enamoured. Instead of tacky reds and pinks, the place was done up in gold and white.

Lex watched Chloe take everything in. He realized that if she hadn't been there, he probably wouldn't have even stopped to look, but simply waded into the throng of people, greeting and smiling as he had all his life.

He gently touched Chloe on the arm, to encourage her to move forward. She glanced up at him sheepishly, but pulled herself together. They made their way over to the coat check, where they left Chloe's cape, before making their way down onto the main floor, where uncountable people were mingling.

"Lex Luthor!" A hearty voice said from behind them. Lex turned, tucking Chloe's arm in his as he did, placing his hand over hers.

"Martin. Good to see you again." Lex said politly.

"And I see you've found another beautiful woman for the night!" His voice was booming, and he winked at Chloe. "You've got to share the wealth!"

Lex smirked. "Well, I imagine should a woman spend more then five minutes in your company, her ears would begin to bleed." His voice was dry, and his voice deadpan.

Chloe managed not laugh. Martin didn't make the effort. His guffaw was painful, and Lex, seeing Chloe shock, politly extricated them, and moved on.

"Why was *he* invited?" Chloe managed, as she glanced over her shoulder. The man was greeting someone else. He voice audible over the rumble of the crowd.

"He's worth billions, and he often contributes to getting this benefit off the ground, at his own expense." Lex explained.

"Oh." Chloe managed. "Though you're probably right. Anymore time with him, and I think my ears would bleed!"

"Talking with Martin?" A smooth feminine voice interrupted.

Lex and Chloe turned to see a fabulously stunning woman descend on them. She gave Lex and air kiss before turning her attention to Chloe.

"Yes. We've had our run in for the evening." Lex said. "Chloe, this Monica Meier. Monica, this is Chloe Sullivan."

Monica extended her hands, which Chloe took. "Nice to meet Lex's latest fling." Monica said, a tinge of bitterness seeping in. Chloe immediately realized this was an ex, as if she hadn't caught that before.

"Mon, be nice." Lex chided. "Who'd you come with?" Using the question to point out that she wasn't hurting from their breakup.

"Your father." She smirked.

Lex smirked back. "Well, best of luck with that." He said, before turning and walking away.

"Ooh!" Chloe said with a smile. "I can feel her eyes on my back. She doesn't have a knife, does she?"

Lex shook his head. "I doubt it." Then he changed directions, intercepting a waiter with a tray of champagne. He grabbed two, and handed one to Chloe. She took it, not sure she really wanted to drink.

Lex caught the hesitation and smiled. "You don't have to drink it if you don't want. She hang on to it. It'll make you blend in." He took her elbow, and they moved out to the edges of the crowd, where Lex could better observe who all was there.

Chloe tentatively took a sip of the champagne. She wasn't sure whether she cared for it, but the bubbles were fun.

"Son." A voice interrupted. Lex turned to face the voice, and Chloe glanced around Lex before subtly hiding behind him.

Lionel shook hands with Lex. "Aren't you going to introduce me to your date son?" He asked.

"I was trying to spare her." Lex remarked, before turning. "Father, this is Chloe Sullivan. Chloe, my father. Lionel Luthor."

Lionel's eyes widened imperceptibly. "Sullivan?" He pondered that for a moment. "Your plant manager?" he asked as soon as he made the connection.

"Gabe Sullivan is my father." Chloe said simply, taking another sip of the champagne and trying to ignore the lurch in her stomach.

"Well now." Lionel said. "You the editor of the Torch."

He hadn't actually asked a question, so Chloe didn't say anything.

Lionel turned to Lex. "Inviting a reporter to the event. Seems like a risking move."

"She's a friend of mine, father. And if she does find something worth reporting on in this mass of rich insecurity, she's more then welcome to." Then he smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Monica is waving. Better get back to your date." Then he turned to Chloe, and they moved away, back into the crowd.

"What was that all about?" Chloe asked.

"My father tends to fine-tune deals of a less then savory nature at events like this. He assumes I would do the same." He caught Chloe glance and smiled. "Nothing less then savory, I assure you. But if I were, then inviting a reporter would make things interesting, wouldn't it?"

Chloe nodded. "I see."

Then Lex leaned down so he could speak into her ear. "Mr. and Mrs. Peterson are the ancient couple making their way towards us. When they reach us, try not to say anything, or you'll be officially adopted, and I won't see anymore of you until we leave." Then he stood straight, as the couple reached them.

"Mr. Luthor." The older gentleman said formally.

"Mr. Peterson, Mrs. Peterson." He nodded. "May I introduce Miss Sullivan, my escort for the evening." He indicated Chloe. She nodded a little, and kept her mouth shut.

"Aren't you a gem!" Mrs. Peterson exclaimed. She had a wonderfully rich voice. She took Chloe's hand. "Come dear, let us leave these men to talk, and get better aquatinted."

Chloe could feel Lex's grip tighten on her momentarily, before he allowed Mrs. Peterson to walk away with Chloe in tow.

Mrs. Peterson found an elegant bench by a fountain, and sat down. Chloe perched beside her.

"So, tell me dear. Where did you meet Mr. Luthor?"

"Who? Oh Lex."

Mrs. Peterson nodded. "It's nice to see someone so comfortable with him. So many women we see him with, are so stuffy. Won't do at all. So, how did you two meet?"

Chloe smiled, thinking about one of the first times she'd actually talked to him, before being pushed out a window. "Well, one of my best friends is his best friend, and my other best friend, co-owns a coffee shop with him."

"Coffee, how delightful. I don't know how anything would ever get done in this world without it, although my husband would disagree."

Chloe smiled widely. "I completely agree with you!"

Chloe wasn't sure how long she sat, chatting with Mrs. Peterson about the weather, the city, reporting, coffee, Lex and a myriad of other topics; before Lex appeared in front of her.

"They're seating for dinner now." He offered his arm, and Chloe stood.

"So good to meet you Mrs. Peterson." Chloe said.

"I told you before, call me Margaret." She rose also and planted a kiss on Chloe's cheek. Before turning, and pulling Lex's head down, to kiss him as well.

While she had his head down, she whispered, "Don't let this one go."

Lex spared a glance to make sure Chloe wasn't paying too much attention. "I don't intend to." he said simply before standing, and patting her hand. "And where is Mr. Peterson?" He asked, louder.

Mrs. Peterson smiled. "I'm sure he'll be along. I'll just sit and wait." She sat again, beaming as she watching Lex and Chloe walk away

"She's wonderful Lex." Chloe said, when they were out of earshot. "Why'd you warn me away from her?"

"I didn't warn you away, I just said, if you started talking, I wouldn't see any more of you." He smiled, and then they were in the dining room.

Chloe managed to stifle a gasp. Maybe for most of the guests, the extravagance was the norm, but the beauty and expense of the decorations again overwhelmed Chloe.

There was an enormous fountain in the middle of the room made of glass, so that a person could look through it to the other side, where the colors, were warped and changed into sparkles. The room was still done up in white and gold, but with the emphasis on white. There were drapes and decorations, and Chloe was surprised to see different shades of pure white.

They were seated, and Lex smiled as Chloe continued to surreptitiously look around the room.

"Be careful or people will think you've never been to a ball before." Lex said quietly in her ear. Chloe turned to look at him and took in the smile.

"You knew it was going to be this extravagant, didn't you." She accused. "You could have warned me, so I didn't look like a stupid hick from Smallville!"

Lex shook his head. "I much rather enjoy watching you enjoy it." He took another sip of champagne.

The meal was as expensive and extravagant and the rest of the evening, and Chloe was beginning to wonder if she would be able to describe the evening in detail to Lana. Everything was just to amazing to be described in words. Then the music began, and Chloe realized that it added yet another indescribable facet to the evening.

She realized Lex had said something to her, and turned to find he was standing behind her. She looked at his quizzically.

"Would you like to dance Chloe?" He asked. "After all, this *is* a ball." He smiled.

She took his hand, and walked with him onto the polished wood of the dance floor.

TBC...