CHAPTER FOUR
Disclaimer in Chapter One
Chloe jerked up from her bed. She was having a nightmare about Lex again. It was about their argument that almost led to his death as well as Clark's.
She kept telling herself that it was okay: Lex and Clark survived the accident. And she and Lex made up when she rushed to the hospital that night.
It was then when he promised her that he will change. He will take anger management classes. He will be more controlled. And most importantly, he will conquer his father and take LuthorCorp down in the way she wanted: using his brain.
In turn, she pledged that she would help him, no matter when, where or how.
"So much for my promises," Chloe mumbled as she dropped back into her pillows.
Four more days until her birthday, and her family and friends were more persistent than ever. Last night, she was double-teamed by her father and Lana to have a party. She agreed, only because she was too weak to protest.
Putting the pending torture of mind, she pondered whether or not to get up. It was only 5 in the morning after all.
She laughed to herself. If someone close to her only knew that she was up and awake this early in the morning.
'They'd think hell had frozen over," a voice in her head whispered. She closed her eyes and was immediately brought back to the land of sleep.
"They'd think hell had frozen over," the voice whispered again. Chloe belted out a laugh, practically catching the attention of everyone in the Talon.
"Oh, please," she replied, barely caring about anyone else. "Then people in Smallville need to grow up. They can't possibly think that Lana Lang could be THAT perfect."
Lex flashed her his trademark smirk. "I don't know," he said. "She has probably had them all brainwashed with her meteor rock-induced powers."
Chloe snickered. "Yes, because that's just the kind of power Lana needs. More influence over the people in this little town."
"Who has influence over Smallville?" Clark interrupted.
"No one, Clark," Lex immediately responded. "At least, not yet." He winked at Chloe.
Chloe rolled her eyes. "Clark, Mr. Luthor and I were just discussing mind control."
"Oh, Miss Sullivan," Lex tsked jokingly. "Mind control? There is no such thing."
Clark just looked at the two of them blankly. He had learned from experience that their plane of thought completely exists on a different level than his.
"Okay" was all he could muster.
On the other hand, the two had moved on without him. "No such thing, Luthor. I can hardly believe that you, of all people, would not believe in the possibility that someone could be overly intoxicated by another to lend them the sole control of their fate."
"Ha!" he snorted. "Please, Miss Sullivan. I, *of all people*, am fairly aware of the mutating capabilities of the meteor rocks, but placing freaks of nature aside, mind control is a figment of one's imagination. An excuse, if you will, for mindless fools who would claim that they did it for love."
"Somehow, I am inclined to believe that either you have had experience in being the said mindless fool or that you just described a harbinger of your destiny," Chloe jabbed.
"Touché." Lex grinned, taking a moment to state at his watch. Realizing what time it is, he continued, "As much as I am enjoying this conversation, I better get going."
"Me, too," Chloe agreed, standing from her seat.
"Do you need a ride?"
"If I'm not imposing."
Lex smiled. "Never."
"Bye, Clark," they said as they made their way to the door, leaving a rather lost farmboy in their wake.
"I'll never understand those two."
The ride was fairly quiet until they were well in the outskirts of what was considered as downtown Smallville. "This isn't the way to my house, Mr. Luthor," Chloe teased.
"I am aware of that, Chloe."
"Tell me, Lex, is senility the first sign that you are becoming a mindless fool who will claim that they lost their minds for love?" Immediately after the words left her mouth, Lex pulled over, walked out and over to her side of the car and pulled her out. Trapping her between himself and the Porsche, he breathed out, "Chloe, I am already a mindless fool who has lost it for love."
Chloe looked up into his eyes, a smirk growing on her face, as she pulled on his collar, pulling him closer to her and slamming her lips into his. Lips and tongues danced, teasing and urging, until both of them emerged for air. "Good to know," she panted as she drew him to her once more.
Later that night, they sat comfortably on Lex's couch, Chloe leaning against him as he read the papers she gave him.
"This is amazing," he complimented. "How did you.."
"A friend," she interjected. "He found out about your father's transactions during a routine hacking into the bank's mainframe. Apparently, your father has been paying someone a hefty amount to do something."
"Did you ever find out who or what?"
"I'm trying," she admitted. "Derek has traced the money to Smallville, so my guess is that someone in town is on your father's payroll."
"That could be anyone," Lex pointed out.
"Anyone that could be close to you," she added with concern written all over her face. Lex nodded.
"Please, Lex, tell me that you will be careful," she urged, squeezing his hand.
"I know, Chloe," he assured her as he planted a kiss on her forehead. "I would advise you to do likewise."
"I know," she sighed. She closed her eyes for what seemed like eternity when Lex started shaking her softly. "Chloe, wake up.."
Chloe groggily opened her eyes and mumbled, "Yeah?"
Lana shook her gently again. "Chloe, wake up."
"Lana?"
"Yeah, I'm sorry to wake you up, but Mr.Luthor called. Said that it was an emergency."
"Lex?"
Lana furrowed her eyebrows. "No, Chloe, Lionel Luthor."
Chloe's eyes flew open, realizing her slip. "Oh. I guess I'm not that awake," she half-laughed.
"Okay," Lana accepted, answering with a sympathetic grin. "Get dressed and I'll get you some coffee."
Chloe managed to return with a smile. "Thanks."
Before Lana could leave the room, she was stopped. "Did he mention what it was about?"
"Something about Lex," she shrugged right before she proceeded to make her exit.
That was incentive enough to get Chloe rushing out of bed.