CHAPTER EIGHT
Disclaimer in Chapter One
"Lex," she whispered again. Lex Luthor was standing at the door of his father's office. His former office. Smirking at her like nothing significant had happened the past five months.
It took everything she could muster in stopping herself from running to him and hugging the life out of him. Calming herself, she turned to the Luthor patriarch, producing a questioning look.
"Would you care to explain?" she said coolly.
Lionel's grin grew as he stood up and strolled over between his son and his right-hand woman. "Chloe, our work..your work..has finally paid off," he started.
"This," he nodded toward Lex. "Is the fruit of your labor, my dear. My scion has returned, thanks to the wonders of science and technology."
Chloe frowned in confusion. "I don't understand.."
Both Luthors smiled triumphantly. "A feat not commonly achieved. Let me un-stump you, Miss Sullivan."
Chloe shuddered at the innuendo Lionel's statement implied. "I would like to meet my son Lex," Lionel continued. "Formerly known as Ian Randall."
"Excuse me?" Chloe interjected. The Lex clone walked over to her and attempted to mirror one of Lex's trademark smirks. He failed miserably.
"Hello, Chloe," he greeted as he held his hand out.
"Don't touch me," she gritted, backing away from him.
Lionel shook his head. "You'll have to forgive Ian, Miss Sullivan. He's under the deluded notion that looking like my son erases his past faults," he smiled at her before he turned to glare at the clone.
"Apology accepted," she muttered. "So would you care to elaborate on how this came about?"
"Gladly," Lionel flirted. "You see, Miss Sullivan, while your research have been significantly valuable to our goals, we cannot seem to infiltrate the walls that Clark Kent has built around himself to keep his secrets."
He walked back to his office chair and seated himself as he motioned for the other parties to do likewise.
"I understand that concern, Lionel," Chloe said as she waited until Ian found his spot before she found the most distant seat possible and situated herself there. "But how can you expect this 'Lex' to be more successful than you or me?"
Lionel snickered at her seating strategy. "Well, Chloe, everyone has always thought that Lex is dead. Your reports themselves have indicated that even Kent has come to terms with that, though he does blame himself for not being there to save his dear friend. Whatever that means."
Then it dawned on Chloe. "You want him," she sneered at her reference to the clone. "To guilt Kent into confessing his secrets."
"Absolutely."
'You despicable man' Chloe thought as she forced herself to grin. "A brilliant plan, Lionel. Then I would suggest that you have him thoroughly briefed on Lex's history."
"Done and done," Lionel smugly claimed. "I knew that you would see my way."
"Is there any other way?" she grinned. 'Especially a way out.'
That generated a laugh from the elder Luthor. "Miss Sullivan, will you put together a briefing packet about Mr. Kent for Mr. Randall?"
"Right away," she responded as she stood to leave. Not before glaring at Ian one more time, which caused the clone to wink at her.
This did not sit well with Lionel. "Mr. Randall," he stated. "If you even dare to touch a hair on Miss Sullivan, let me remind you that clones are expendable."
The smug look was immediately replaced with a frown, causing Chloe to internally laugh. "Thank you, Lionel," she practically choked out, disgusted that she had to resort to being grateful to the bastard. "I'll have your briefing this afternoon, and by the way," she turned back to both men. "I'd ask your press people to come up with an explanation for who is buried in that grave. As you've said before, Lionel, cover your grounds." Knowing that she had earned another notch of the man's trust, she then sashayed her way out.
When she was finally out of the surveillance distance from LuthorCorp, she grabbed her cell and dialed Derek's number. She got his voicemail. "Derek," she began. "I need to talk to you. I'll be there as soon as I can." Hanging up, she sped her way down the road to Metropolis.