Chapter 18
"Perhaps your style of management is a little too lackadaisical?" No matter what else was happening, or who else was present, Lionel and Lex seemed incapable of having a conversation that didn't eventually turn into an argument about work. Lex sighed at his father's sharp comment. He had no interest in showing either of them up in front of their guests, neither of whom he trusted enough to let them discover too much. Lucas was fine at a distance, although now he was regretting ever being so open with him about recent events, and Chloe.... Chloe he didn't trust an inch.
"I'm sorry, sir, but I disagree. Mr Luthor has done his best to contribute, not just as the town's major employer, but as a member of the Smallville community." Chloe saw Lex quirk an eyebrow in surprise at her outburst. Lionel's steely gaze unnerved her for a moment; after all, she was sure that he was not used to being contradicted, but she pressed on regardless. "As a result the workplace is happier, people feel that they can discuss problems openly and that the management is listening to them. Therefore the workforce and the plant are more productive." Lex looked at his father, waiting for his reaction to such unexpected and warm defence. The color had risen in her cheeks and she looked wonderful, feisty and sure of her self, a fact that didn't go unnoticed by any of the men at the table. Lionel held her eye for a moment, before reacting.
"Your loyalty is commendable. Its such a shame that you are no longer working for my son." Chloe's head shot round from Lionel to Lex, hazel eyes widening in surprise. Lex returned her gaze cooly, fingers resting on his lips. He wanted to see which way she would jump, wasn't going to give her any clue, or his father any ammunition. If she answered truthfully, he would pass it off to his dear dad later as some sexual peccadillo. Lionel would think that he had gained a powerful bargaining chip over his son, and Lex would be able to downplay the situation. Either way, he had had enough of losing.
"Well, Lionel, I guess we just didn't mesh well as a team." Chloe shot Lex a significant glance, that managed to sum up very well the statements 'what the hell?' 'we'll talk later' and 'you owe me big time' in two seconds of eye contact. The girl had the most amazingly expressive face, Lex thought with admiration.
"Ms Sullivan is too kind. I was an inconsiderate boss and demanded far more of her time than anyone would be reasonably expected to give." Lex suppressed a small smirk at his accurate summation of Lionel's character as an employer. He knew that his father would be secretly pleased that he was apparently following in the family footsteps. Lucas was looking confusedly at Chloe, trying to catch her eye, while she was pointedly concentrating on her entree. Lionel smirked openly, and Lex could tell that his ploy had struck home.
"Come, come Lex. I thought I had taught you a little better than that!" Lionel swirled his wine appreciatively in the light before talking a long sip. "Your employees are your most important commodity. You must use it judiciously."
Chloe coughed a little at his blatantly patronising tone, but quickly covered it with a sip of her own wine. She was feeling warm and fuzzy inside now, and knew that it would be a really good idea to slow down on the alcohol consumption some time soon, but she was so nervous that she just kept on drinking. Looking around with a slight panic, she noticed that nobody else had even touched their food. The Luthors were weird, no doubt about that. Invite people round, make low-paid workers cook them a stunning dinner, then don't even taste it. She wondered if she had committed a terrible social faux-pas by actually eating anything. Suppressing a giggle, she carefully put down the heavy silver cutlery on the stupidly expensive wafer-thin bone china plate, thinking that she'd never be asked to dinner in this town again. Looking up, she caught Lucas' eye, and found it even harder not to laugh at his bewildered expression. She rested her foot against his, and rubbed the toe of her shoe on his ankle with an 'I'll explain later' shake of the head. Lucas relaxed and sipped his wine.
Lex saw Chloe shift and stretch, heard her skirt rustle and saw Lucas relax. A bitter feeling rose in his belly and he considered walking out. He'd gotten half-carried away by her spirited defence of him and forgotten what she was really like. That parasite had shown her true colors - all she wanted was money. She was digging her claws in, working his brother like the idiot he was. Making a snap decision, he reached across the table to her and refreshed her wine glass, leaning in close and giving her a warm smile at the same time. Her eyes met his gratefully, for all the world as if she was genuinely pleased by his attention, as if she were really interested in him. He could see how it would be. Lucas was all fine and well when there was nothing better in the picture, but as soon as someone richer came along.... He could take this girl away from his brother with a snap of his fingers, and a cruel demon inside him prodded him to do just that. After all, Lex knew Chloe's game, knew what she was up to. He was really only protecting his brother.
Chloe sipped her wine and covertly studied Lex. She had been a little embarrassed after her speech to his father, and more than a little confused by Lionel's belief that she had been working for Lex. Still, when he smiled at her... She felt like they had made a connection. And he was so attractive, in a way that was familiar yet entirely new to her perception of him. She caught his eye again and flushed, remembering their all too brief contact in the library. There was definitely something between them. Dropping her napkin across her place, she rose as gracefully as she could manage and excused herself to go to the bathroom. If she could find one in this maze that Lex called home. A few moments later Lex also left the room, his mind forming schemes of his own.
"Well, my boy." Lionel leant back in his chair and studied his younger son speculatively. "Finally we have a chance to talk."
"Perhaps your style of management is a little too lackadaisical?" No matter what else was happening, or who else was present, Lionel and Lex seemed incapable of having a conversation that didn't eventually turn into an argument about work. Lex sighed at his father's sharp comment. He had no interest in showing either of them up in front of their guests, neither of whom he trusted enough to let them discover too much. Lucas was fine at a distance, although now he was regretting ever being so open with him about recent events, and Chloe.... Chloe he didn't trust an inch.
"I'm sorry, sir, but I disagree. Mr Luthor has done his best to contribute, not just as the town's major employer, but as a member of the Smallville community." Chloe saw Lex quirk an eyebrow in surprise at her outburst. Lionel's steely gaze unnerved her for a moment; after all, she was sure that he was not used to being contradicted, but she pressed on regardless. "As a result the workplace is happier, people feel that they can discuss problems openly and that the management is listening to them. Therefore the workforce and the plant are more productive." Lex looked at his father, waiting for his reaction to such unexpected and warm defence. The color had risen in her cheeks and she looked wonderful, feisty and sure of her self, a fact that didn't go unnoticed by any of the men at the table. Lionel held her eye for a moment, before reacting.
"Your loyalty is commendable. Its such a shame that you are no longer working for my son." Chloe's head shot round from Lionel to Lex, hazel eyes widening in surprise. Lex returned her gaze cooly, fingers resting on his lips. He wanted to see which way she would jump, wasn't going to give her any clue, or his father any ammunition. If she answered truthfully, he would pass it off to his dear dad later as some sexual peccadillo. Lionel would think that he had gained a powerful bargaining chip over his son, and Lex would be able to downplay the situation. Either way, he had had enough of losing.
"Well, Lionel, I guess we just didn't mesh well as a team." Chloe shot Lex a significant glance, that managed to sum up very well the statements 'what the hell?' 'we'll talk later' and 'you owe me big time' in two seconds of eye contact. The girl had the most amazingly expressive face, Lex thought with admiration.
"Ms Sullivan is too kind. I was an inconsiderate boss and demanded far more of her time than anyone would be reasonably expected to give." Lex suppressed a small smirk at his accurate summation of Lionel's character as an employer. He knew that his father would be secretly pleased that he was apparently following in the family footsteps. Lucas was looking confusedly at Chloe, trying to catch her eye, while she was pointedly concentrating on her entree. Lionel smirked openly, and Lex could tell that his ploy had struck home.
"Come, come Lex. I thought I had taught you a little better than that!" Lionel swirled his wine appreciatively in the light before talking a long sip. "Your employees are your most important commodity. You must use it judiciously."
Chloe coughed a little at his blatantly patronising tone, but quickly covered it with a sip of her own wine. She was feeling warm and fuzzy inside now, and knew that it would be a really good idea to slow down on the alcohol consumption some time soon, but she was so nervous that she just kept on drinking. Looking around with a slight panic, she noticed that nobody else had even touched their food. The Luthors were weird, no doubt about that. Invite people round, make low-paid workers cook them a stunning dinner, then don't even taste it. She wondered if she had committed a terrible social faux-pas by actually eating anything. Suppressing a giggle, she carefully put down the heavy silver cutlery on the stupidly expensive wafer-thin bone china plate, thinking that she'd never be asked to dinner in this town again. Looking up, she caught Lucas' eye, and found it even harder not to laugh at his bewildered expression. She rested her foot against his, and rubbed the toe of her shoe on his ankle with an 'I'll explain later' shake of the head. Lucas relaxed and sipped his wine.
Lex saw Chloe shift and stretch, heard her skirt rustle and saw Lucas relax. A bitter feeling rose in his belly and he considered walking out. He'd gotten half-carried away by her spirited defence of him and forgotten what she was really like. That parasite had shown her true colors - all she wanted was money. She was digging her claws in, working his brother like the idiot he was. Making a snap decision, he reached across the table to her and refreshed her wine glass, leaning in close and giving her a warm smile at the same time. Her eyes met his gratefully, for all the world as if she was genuinely pleased by his attention, as if she were really interested in him. He could see how it would be. Lucas was all fine and well when there was nothing better in the picture, but as soon as someone richer came along.... He could take this girl away from his brother with a snap of his fingers, and a cruel demon inside him prodded him to do just that. After all, Lex knew Chloe's game, knew what she was up to. He was really only protecting his brother.
Chloe sipped her wine and covertly studied Lex. She had been a little embarrassed after her speech to his father, and more than a little confused by Lionel's belief that she had been working for Lex. Still, when he smiled at her... She felt like they had made a connection. And he was so attractive, in a way that was familiar yet entirely new to her perception of him. She caught his eye again and flushed, remembering their all too brief contact in the library. There was definitely something between them. Dropping her napkin across her place, she rose as gracefully as she could manage and excused herself to go to the bathroom. If she could find one in this maze that Lex called home. A few moments later Lex also left the room, his mind forming schemes of his own.
"Well, my boy." Lionel leant back in his chair and studied his younger son speculatively. "Finally we have a chance to talk."