Chapter 5 Where life brings you..
Disclaimer: I do not have anything to do with Smallville in terms of owning sad I know. But hey if one of you does, I am willing to trade my fat beagle Newman for Michael Rosenbaum. Someone who is not me owns all these characters but Anastasia is mine.
A/N: I have had this on my computer for over a week so I finally edited it. I hope that y'all like it, I do not know if anyone even reads this but if you do let me know! I hope I did the characters justice. P.S REVIEW it makes me happy!
Chapter 5 Where life brings you..
Lex sat in his leather chair, his feet kicked up onto the coffee table. He was completely absorbed in one of his many memo's from that afternoon, he was startled when he heard heavy footsteps in the hallway and then Clark Kent's laugh. A few moments later, the door opened, Lex looked up from his memo, surprised to see that he had been correct it was Clark's voice.
"Clark, a nice surprise I thought you had to help your mom out today?"
"Yeah I am, I just delivered the food you ordered, and I thought I would stop in and say hi. Lana said she saw you this afternoon and you seemed a little preoccupied."
"Food? I thought you deliver it on Wednesdays?" Lex was disoriented today was Saturday, unless he missed something.
"I do Lex..Are you feeling aright? You ordered food yesterday for a dinner party, and you asked for it to be delivered around 5:00, no later. I was running a little early so I decided to drop it off now."
"I did." Lex just looked at Clark, he did not remember anything dealing with food, but then again he could not remember what he ate this morning or even if he ate.
Ana was standing outside talking to the guard, waiting for her clothes to arrive when she saw Clark pull up with the food. She was pleased that someone could follow directions she told Stacie before 4:00 and it was already 4:45. Just as she was cursing Stacie's incompetents, a small green Camry pulled up, and a petite mousy looking girl jumped out.
"I AM so like so sorry! I got like so lost."
Ana just rolled her eyes, no wonder the girl is late her brain is the size of pea. "It's fine. You are lucky that I still have enough time to get dressed. Being punctual is extremely important in life, if you are not on time it comes across that you do not care, and you do care correct. Just tell Stacie to call me because I am going to need some more clothes. Next time I won't handle your incompetents."
The girl handed the clothes over to Ana her eyes were glistened with premature tears, Ana felt bad but it was a way of life. The girl needed to learn being timely is important and now she would never forget, the girl will probably get in her car and set her watch a head 10 minutes so she will never be late again, Ana thought.
When she walked into the house, she could hear people's voices echoing. She figured they were in the study. Ana guessed that it would be Clark and Lex talking, she debated sticking her head in and saying hello. She could bet her life that Lex was trying to figure out why there was food being delivered at his house without his knowledge Lex could be, as naïve as anyone else and she loved it.
"So Clark how is Ms. Lang?"
"I don't know Lex. I mean with Whitney gone it just seems like poor timing, plus I don't know." Clark just shakes his head.
"Well, Clark way don't you ask the cheerleader over to my house for dinner tonight. If what you say is true it appears that I'm having some sort of dinner party and the more the merrier."
"I would but Chloe and I have study group tonight."
"So ask Chloe over too and you might as well ask Mr. Ross so he doesn't feel left out, although I don't think he will come."
"No Pete might come, Lex it's not that he doesn't like you he just, doesn't know you."
"Clark it's alright I know. I can't change people's opinions of my father I just hope that someday they will look past my last name."
Ana was walking by when she heard Lex's voice, she paused at the door contemplating if she should just give in and see the boys, she decided against it and continued upstairs.
Lex's attention was drawn to the noise outside the study, he was thrown back at Clark's voice, "Alright Lex, I'll come what time?"
"How about 7:00." Lex answered one eye still on the door.
"Alright I'll see you then."
Ana was upstairs finishing her make up when she heard the shower go on. She knew from experience that Lex would be in there at least for a half-n hour. Therefore, she decided to do some snoop work. She took off her heels and quietly sneaked down the stairs and into his office. She clicked on the computer screen, because like her, Lex hated having to wait for the whole computer to load. As she moved, the mouse a little box popped up, she would have been surprised if it had not.
{User Name: Alexander J Luthor} {Password: ******}
Access denied.
"Damn it! All right User name... Hmm. If I were Lex, what would my Alias be.? Bald Man! No." Ana taps her fingers on the table.
"Alexes if you could be anyone in the world who would you be?" "I would be." "Don't say Alexander the Great, because you are going to be him" a girl says cutting him off. "I wasn't going to say him I would be Napoleon." "Napoleon? Why?" "He was a great little man, he achieved a lot, and he was extremely smart plus he left behind a legacy, his name will be remembered for ever."
{User name: Napoleon} {Password: *****}
Access Denied
"What the hell!"
{User name: Alexes} {Password: ********}
Access Granted
Ana just stared at the screen with amazement, "Wow, who would have thought."
It took her so long to figure out the password she knew she only had a few minutes to flick through information. As she looked at the desktop, she saw a file labeled Rent, Lack she knew automatically it was anagram for Clark Kent, but why would Lex have a file on his best friend? As she moved the mouse to click the folder, she heard a door slam her heart skipped a beat. She clicked and hit a few keys and the screen went back to a purple with a gray box asking for the user name and password. She turned the computer screen off and high tailed it upstairs. When she got upstairs, she collapsed on the bed trying to regain her regular breathing rhythm.
Lionel had let himself in like usual, he was standing in the hallway staring at a deserted corridor. He had just seen Ana bolt by, obviously, she was up to something, and he could not wait to here what had brought her back to Smallville.
Lex was standing in front of his closet with a towel wrapped around his waist, water droplets were shimmering on his back. He hated being left out of the loop and now he stood in his own house with not a clue on what was going on. He grabbed a pair of black pants and donned his regular plum shirt. He glanced at the clock it was 6:45 and the house seemed quiet, it made him nervous. Ana was not a quiet kind of person she usually was always making some kind of noise whither it was music playing, her laughter, or her heels click and clacking as she walked. Something was going on and he did not think it was anything good.
"MOM!" Clark stood at the top of his stairs calling to Martha. "MOM"
Jonathan was sitting on the couch flipping threw a newspaper and Martha stood in the kitchen making some peach jam. "What is it son? Your mother is in the kitchen," Jonathan yelled up to Clark.
Clark ran down the stairs wearing an oversized white shirt and a pair of boxers. His hair was wet, evidence of recently taken shower. He walked into the kitchen and plopped down into one of the stools. "Mom what do you wear to a dinner party?"
"Whose dinner party are you going to?" Martha asked while cutting up some more peaches. Jonathan got up from his place on the couch and came in to join his family.
"Lex is having a dinner party and he invited Lana, Chloe, Pete, and me. I'm supposed to be there at 7:00 and it's almost 7:00, but I have no clue what to wear."
"Why is a Luthor hosting a party for 4 teenagers, is the question we should be asking."
"Dad, Lex is my friend, and I don't think he knew that he was having one when I dropped off the food he seemed really confused."
"Jonathan, Lex is just being friendly. Clark why don't you wear those black pants I bought for you to wear to Whitney's dad's funeral, and a blue button down shirt and you will be fine."
"Thanks Mom" Clark got up from his seat kissed his mom on the check and bolted up the stairs.
Martha and Jonathan just looked at each other with a smile on their face and love in their eyes.
Chloe stood in front of her closet, she never put this much effort into picking an outfit out, but she wanted to look nice. She picked out a pair of green kakis, a white tank top, and a red over shirt. Chloe looked at the selection on her bed, "too casual." She then took out the shirt she bought a couple weeks ago; it was a low cut black shirt. She liked the way the material felt and she had not had the chance to wear it yet. She put it on with her green kakis and a pair of high-heeled black shoes. She twirled in the mirror, "You look nice Chloe." Lana said walking into the room. Chloe was so jealous of Lana at that very moment. Her hair was loosely curled and she was wearing a blue V-neck cut shirt with pale blue and pink sequences around the neck and sleeves. "So do you Lana." Chloe looked at the clock hanging on the wall; Clark would be there any minute. "Clark will be here soon," Lana said almost reading Chloe's mind. "Yah we should get going."
Ana stood in front of the bed, she had laid out all the clothes Stacie had given her and was trying to decide what to put on. She decided on a black dress that fit just rite; the bottom half of the front fell right above her knee while the back hung down to her ankles. The dress fit perfectly, and Ana could not help but smile. The neck fell down low enough to be sexy but high enough not to be provocative. Ana ran her hands throw her hair, the brown had covered the blue making her hair look like more raven colored then before. She sat on the bed and slipped on the shoes that Stacie had instructed to go with the dress. She bulked the last strap and looked up.
"Ana, you look beautiful."
"Do you really think so, I feel so fake." Ana looks in the mirror and frowns. A young man in a tuxedo wraps his arms around her waist and kisses her neck, he whispers something in her ear, and she blushes.
"I got you a present, but you have to close your eyes." Ana closes her eyes, and the young man walks over to his coat and pulls out a thin black box.
"Alexes you know I hate gifts." Alexes opens the box and takes out a thin white chain at the end is a little fairy holding a small red heart. He reaches around her neck and lets it rest against her skin, Ana shivers as the chain hits. He then clasps it, "Alright open your eyes." Ana's hand automatically shoots up to wear the charm is and looks in the mirror, her eyes get large and a huge smile forms on her face. "Alexes it's gorgeous, oh my god where did you get it. I have never seen anything like this before. It's so detailed," she steps closer to the mirror to see it more closely. Alexes just stands there and watches her. "It even has eye lashes, and its eyes are blue. Lex it's beautiful."
Lex smiles and waits, he sees her squint and take a step closer to the mirror. He smiles as she turns around and looks at him. "??????, thank you."
Ana sat on the bed with her hand on her neck in the same place where the necklace would have been. She looked over at the clock 7:01, she could hear faint footsteps as dress shoes hit the hardwood floors, the slight mumble of voices echoed through the once too quiet halls, people were starting to arrive. Ana stood up, took a last look in the mirror, fixed her eyeliner that had started to smudge from a stray tear, took a deep breath, and walked out of her room.
Ana walked down the hardwood spiral stair case into the dinning room, she paused halfway down the stairs and saw Lex standing next to Helena with his arm around her waist. She cringed, jealousy was not becoming to her, and she knew she was going to have to ignore the sharp pain in her chest if this dinner was going to work. Ana pasted a fake smile on her face and continued the journey down the stairs, as she reached the last step she looked up and saw Lex staring at her.
Lex smelt her before he saw her, when he looked up he was stunned. Ana was standing on the stairs in the most beautiful dress he had ever seen for a moment he was transported back to a different time, but Helena brought him plummeting back.
Ana smiled and walked over to the couple, warmly greeting Helena, the three continued in to the dinning room, where Clark, Lana, and Chloe had already situated themselves at the table. It was a nice surprise to see the three teenagers but where was Lionel, she wondered. At that moment her cell phone rang, she politely excused her self from the room and as she walked out of the room, she heard Clark's now familiar voice say, "She looks different."
Chloe was surprised at how well Ana had put herself together; the Ana from the talon was completely different from the Ana that had just walked out of the room. She was curious to find out who was calling Ana, and why it was so important. Chloe's reporter instinct kicked in and she rose from the chair and followed Ana into the hallway.
"Yes, I thought I said 7:00?" Ana was standing a ways down the hallway talking to Lionel.
"I thought that we should talk first. I have a business proposition for you."
"Oh and what would this one be about Lionel? I thought we had decided no more, I left; I went to Russia for you. What else do you want?" Ana was getting pretty annoyed with Lionel her voice gave away all her emotion.
"Anastasia," Lionel stepped closer to her extending his arm to touch her face, but Ana stepped back, "You went to Russia for him. I need one more favor, I need."
"That's the problem with you Luthor's," she spat out the word Luthor as if it was venomous. "It's always what you need, Lionel I'm sick of your games. He is your son not some chess opponent."
"Ana, don't pretend that you are here for the good of him, we both know you aren't. I know you have a secret agenda, and I know what that agenda is. Let me help you, and in return you will help me."
"No, what you're saying is I have blackmail on you. In return of me not telling Lex what your doing, you will help me."
"Anastasia, you are like family. I would."
"Lionel," Ana said cutting him off, "I see how you treat Lex. If that's family I want no part of it."
Chloe stayed hidden listening, Lionel was whispering but it was just audible. Lionel lowered his head and she saw Ana shake hers, but the voices had become to low.
"Fine, this is the last deal Lionel. If it does not work out do not look at me for any more help. I'm done." Ana extended her hand and Lionel shook it. The two then walked down the hallway to go into the dinning room. Chloe was stuck there with nowhere for her to run they were going to know she was eavesdropping. Right as they were going to find Chloe, Ana turned around to Lionel, "It may be better if we don't walk in together he will suspect something."
"Yes, you go in first and I will follow in a few minutes." As the two were talking Chloe snuck back into the dinning room, she plopped down in the chair out of breath. Clark shot her a glance, and Lex looked at the door while Helena spoke to Lana.
Ana saw Chloe slip by and thought it was amusing that the spunky blonde did not think Ana had noticed her follow her out. Ana had always been very observant, since she was a small child; she noticed things no one ever took the time to notice. In addition, if Chloe wanted to be a detective she was going to have to get a new pair of shoes. Ana could hear those babies tapping from a mile away.
Ana loved details, she loved noticing things people over looked, such as the way Lex's eye brows arched as she walked in the room and took her seat. She also noticed the look he gave her when his father walked in the room. However, she thought everyone in the room noticed that, Lionel had a way of changing the atmosphere with his presence everyone in the room shivered when he took his seat at the head of the table.
Sally and a few helpers came in and set soup out in front of the seven guests, she laughed with amusement as Clark tried to figure out which piece of silverware to use.
The guests were all happily chattering save for Lex who was just staring at Ana.
"So Clark, Lex's savior, how did you save his life? I mean a young chap like yourself diving into a rushing river, to save someone you don't even know?" Ana noticed the way Clark swallowed hard and took a sip of water before he started to speak, she also noticed the way he kept folding his napkin repeatedly.
"Well...." Clark started to speak but Lana jumped in "Clark is our town's hero." She looked at Clark with those teenage puppy eyes, and Clark just nodded.
"Yah, so I've heard but I mean Clark, I've already heard Lex's side of the story I enjoy hearing other people's point of views." She knew she was pushing this kid, but hey, she was curious.
"Well, I was standing on the bridge thinking and Lex was driving his car too fast he hit a log and lost control. He went through the barrier and into the water. So I dove in after him." He looked up at Ana with pleading eyes, Ana knew this kid was hiding something and she was going to figure it out. There had to be more to the story why would Lex have a folder on some kid that "just" saved his life.
"Well, I've been on that bridge that's a pretty large dive, and you walked away with just cold and wet clothes. Pretty lucky huh?"
Lionel sat at the head of the table, watching Ana she amazed him she knew what buttons to push and when too. She had no problem saying what was on her mind. He was also interested in what Mr. Kent had to say for himself.
"Well lucky for two of us, Clark saved my life and I am in debt to him for that." Lex shot a look at Ana telling her to back off but she was only beginning.
"A regular old guardian angel, too bad he was not there at Club Zero all those times. Maybe other people could have been saved too." The teens' ears all perked up at the mention of the club, they all knew about Lex's crazy and wild adolescent past but known of them had heard first hand stories.
Lex knew what was going to happen next. "Club Zero was years ago Ana."
"So Helena how is it you meet Alexander?" Lionel tried to conceal a laugh and everyone at the table shot him a look. "Father you are being quiet." Lex asked annoyed.
"No, Son I just find this very amusing."
"Well I'm glad that you are amused father."
"Boys," Ana's voice rose up above the now bickering father and son; she brought their attention back to Helena. "So, how is it you met Alexander, again?"
"Well I met him at the hospital."
"Smallville General, the regular old dating connection." Ana said while taking a sip of her wine.
"Well, how did you meet Lex?"
"Lex and I grew up together, right Alexes."
Lex cringed at his old pet name; some things should be left in the past. "Lillian and my mother grew up together. A hospital is an unusual place to meet."
"Well I didn't really meet him until anger class." Helena blushed as she said it and Lex gently squeezed her hand that he held openly on the table.
"Anger management class? Oh that is right you had an incident at the hospital. They made you do 15 hours of anger management class." Ana smiled as Helena gulped at her class of wine, the rest of the table sat in amazement that someone who had just met Helena a day ago would know more information about her then they did. "Helena Brice, now your father isn't a plastic surgeon in Metropolis is he?" Lex smirked as Helena's eyes widened.
"Yes, he is. You've used him?" Helena smiled obviously proud of herself. Lex just sat back because Helena had no clue how to fight with the big girls, though in a fistfight Helena would triumph but in the battle of the wits, Ana had years of practice.
"No," Ana laughed, "I have been lucky that my looks are completely natural. However, the reason I was asking you is that your father's medical facility is actually a franchise of Luthor Corp is in it Lionel? I believe I have met your father a numerous times at business functions. Lionel, you must have been surprised your only son dating one of your business partners daughters?"
Now it was Lionel's time to be in the spot light "Well, LuthorCorp has a lot of franchises and workers, I can't keep track of them all. Ms. Sullivan father is a worker of mine; I employ the majority of Smallville."
"Now Helena your father also went to the same grad school as Lionel? What a small world," Ana started to eat the salad that had replaced her soup sometime during their conversation.
Helena and Lionel exchanged a quick glance. Ana knew something had to be going on between the two of them, how could Lex be so blind.
"Well, Ana you seemed to have interrogated everyone at the table it seems unfair for you to walk away clean."
"Lex, I would hardly say I have interrogated anyone. I'm just making dinner chat, and making observations on what a small world it really is."
Lex started to say something but Ana once again cut him off "So, Lana I heard you're very into horse back riding is that true?"
"Yes, I've actually competed up in Metropolis; it's how I first met Lex. Lionel offered for my aunt and I to spend the night in their house in Metropolis, although Lex is first impression was not a good one, it has changed dramatically. Lex and I co-own the Talon together."
Ana took a sip of wine as Lana finished talking.
"Lana accidentally walked in on us in the swimming pool Ana." Lex had to bite his lip from bursting out laughing as Ana tried not to spit out the wine she had in her mouth. Do not let any one ever tell you Ana was not refined, he thought.
Ana blushed, "The Talon, the coffee shop right I was wondering why Lex would have an investment like that. Now I see a pretty girl can always cloud his eyes." Ana would have been more mortified, that this sweet girl had seen her in all of her glory, but the look on Helena's face as Lex said it was priceless.
"Ana what brings you to Smallville?" Helena asked bluntly.
"Some old business you could say," Ana looked at Lionel then at Lex.
"Well you were in Russia weren't you, left without a trace to appear a year later in Smallville, that's an unusual way of doing business." Helena shot Ana deadly look.
"You got to go where life takes you. My life took me to Russia; yours took you to Lionel's bedroom."
Everyone at the table gasped, Helena turned a dark shade of red, and Chloe thought that Helena was going to attack Ana.
"ANA, HALLWAY. NOW!" Lex was furious, Chloe, Lana, and Clark had never seen him that angry, and they were quite scared.
Ana put down her fork, which she had been twirling her salad with, stood up flattened her dress and walked calmly out into the hallway. Lex furiously followed behind her.
"Anastasia I don't know what the hell you are trying to accomplish but that is my girlfriend in there and I will not take you saying things like that towards her."
"Alexander, who are you kidding? You know the reason she is your girlfriend, you know her being at you anger class was set up. If you did not your just, dumb. I saw the pictures Lex. Lionel is up to something believe me, I don't know what he is doing this time or what he thinks he can accomplish, but I'm warning you Lex, you need to open your eyes and see her for what she really is."
"NO, maybe I need to open my eyes and see you for what you really are. A miserable lonely woman who gains pleasure in seeing other people fall. Now I understand why you and my father get along so well, you are one in another. I want you out by morning."
Lex and Ana both turned their backs on each other and stormed off down the hallway, Ana to her bedroom and Lex to his private laboratory.
The guests sat in the dinning room in awe; they had heard everything and sat in shock, Helena broke the eerie silence "So, Lana I heard you would like to become a candy stripper."
Disclaimer: I do not have anything to do with Smallville in terms of owning sad I know. But hey if one of you does, I am willing to trade my fat beagle Newman for Michael Rosenbaum. Someone who is not me owns all these characters but Anastasia is mine.
A/N: I have had this on my computer for over a week so I finally edited it. I hope that y'all like it, I do not know if anyone even reads this but if you do let me know! I hope I did the characters justice. P.S REVIEW it makes me happy!
Chapter 5 Where life brings you..
Lex sat in his leather chair, his feet kicked up onto the coffee table. He was completely absorbed in one of his many memo's from that afternoon, he was startled when he heard heavy footsteps in the hallway and then Clark Kent's laugh. A few moments later, the door opened, Lex looked up from his memo, surprised to see that he had been correct it was Clark's voice.
"Clark, a nice surprise I thought you had to help your mom out today?"
"Yeah I am, I just delivered the food you ordered, and I thought I would stop in and say hi. Lana said she saw you this afternoon and you seemed a little preoccupied."
"Food? I thought you deliver it on Wednesdays?" Lex was disoriented today was Saturday, unless he missed something.
"I do Lex..Are you feeling aright? You ordered food yesterday for a dinner party, and you asked for it to be delivered around 5:00, no later. I was running a little early so I decided to drop it off now."
"I did." Lex just looked at Clark, he did not remember anything dealing with food, but then again he could not remember what he ate this morning or even if he ate.
Ana was standing outside talking to the guard, waiting for her clothes to arrive when she saw Clark pull up with the food. She was pleased that someone could follow directions she told Stacie before 4:00 and it was already 4:45. Just as she was cursing Stacie's incompetents, a small green Camry pulled up, and a petite mousy looking girl jumped out.
"I AM so like so sorry! I got like so lost."
Ana just rolled her eyes, no wonder the girl is late her brain is the size of pea. "It's fine. You are lucky that I still have enough time to get dressed. Being punctual is extremely important in life, if you are not on time it comes across that you do not care, and you do care correct. Just tell Stacie to call me because I am going to need some more clothes. Next time I won't handle your incompetents."
The girl handed the clothes over to Ana her eyes were glistened with premature tears, Ana felt bad but it was a way of life. The girl needed to learn being timely is important and now she would never forget, the girl will probably get in her car and set her watch a head 10 minutes so she will never be late again, Ana thought.
When she walked into the house, she could hear people's voices echoing. She figured they were in the study. Ana guessed that it would be Clark and Lex talking, she debated sticking her head in and saying hello. She could bet her life that Lex was trying to figure out why there was food being delivered at his house without his knowledge Lex could be, as naïve as anyone else and she loved it.
"So Clark how is Ms. Lang?"
"I don't know Lex. I mean with Whitney gone it just seems like poor timing, plus I don't know." Clark just shakes his head.
"Well, Clark way don't you ask the cheerleader over to my house for dinner tonight. If what you say is true it appears that I'm having some sort of dinner party and the more the merrier."
"I would but Chloe and I have study group tonight."
"So ask Chloe over too and you might as well ask Mr. Ross so he doesn't feel left out, although I don't think he will come."
"No Pete might come, Lex it's not that he doesn't like you he just, doesn't know you."
"Clark it's alright I know. I can't change people's opinions of my father I just hope that someday they will look past my last name."
Ana was walking by when she heard Lex's voice, she paused at the door contemplating if she should just give in and see the boys, she decided against it and continued upstairs.
Lex's attention was drawn to the noise outside the study, he was thrown back at Clark's voice, "Alright Lex, I'll come what time?"
"How about 7:00." Lex answered one eye still on the door.
"Alright I'll see you then."
Ana was upstairs finishing her make up when she heard the shower go on. She knew from experience that Lex would be in there at least for a half-n hour. Therefore, she decided to do some snoop work. She took off her heels and quietly sneaked down the stairs and into his office. She clicked on the computer screen, because like her, Lex hated having to wait for the whole computer to load. As she moved, the mouse a little box popped up, she would have been surprised if it had not.
{User Name: Alexander J Luthor} {Password: ******}
Access denied.
"Damn it! All right User name... Hmm. If I were Lex, what would my Alias be.? Bald Man! No." Ana taps her fingers on the table.
"Alexes if you could be anyone in the world who would you be?" "I would be." "Don't say Alexander the Great, because you are going to be him" a girl says cutting him off. "I wasn't going to say him I would be Napoleon." "Napoleon? Why?" "He was a great little man, he achieved a lot, and he was extremely smart plus he left behind a legacy, his name will be remembered for ever."
{User name: Napoleon} {Password: *****}
Access Denied
"What the hell!"
{User name: Alexes} {Password: ********}
Access Granted
Ana just stared at the screen with amazement, "Wow, who would have thought."
It took her so long to figure out the password she knew she only had a few minutes to flick through information. As she looked at the desktop, she saw a file labeled Rent, Lack she knew automatically it was anagram for Clark Kent, but why would Lex have a file on his best friend? As she moved the mouse to click the folder, she heard a door slam her heart skipped a beat. She clicked and hit a few keys and the screen went back to a purple with a gray box asking for the user name and password. She turned the computer screen off and high tailed it upstairs. When she got upstairs, she collapsed on the bed trying to regain her regular breathing rhythm.
Lionel had let himself in like usual, he was standing in the hallway staring at a deserted corridor. He had just seen Ana bolt by, obviously, she was up to something, and he could not wait to here what had brought her back to Smallville.
Lex was standing in front of his closet with a towel wrapped around his waist, water droplets were shimmering on his back. He hated being left out of the loop and now he stood in his own house with not a clue on what was going on. He grabbed a pair of black pants and donned his regular plum shirt. He glanced at the clock it was 6:45 and the house seemed quiet, it made him nervous. Ana was not a quiet kind of person she usually was always making some kind of noise whither it was music playing, her laughter, or her heels click and clacking as she walked. Something was going on and he did not think it was anything good.
"MOM!" Clark stood at the top of his stairs calling to Martha. "MOM"
Jonathan was sitting on the couch flipping threw a newspaper and Martha stood in the kitchen making some peach jam. "What is it son? Your mother is in the kitchen," Jonathan yelled up to Clark.
Clark ran down the stairs wearing an oversized white shirt and a pair of boxers. His hair was wet, evidence of recently taken shower. He walked into the kitchen and plopped down into one of the stools. "Mom what do you wear to a dinner party?"
"Whose dinner party are you going to?" Martha asked while cutting up some more peaches. Jonathan got up from his place on the couch and came in to join his family.
"Lex is having a dinner party and he invited Lana, Chloe, Pete, and me. I'm supposed to be there at 7:00 and it's almost 7:00, but I have no clue what to wear."
"Why is a Luthor hosting a party for 4 teenagers, is the question we should be asking."
"Dad, Lex is my friend, and I don't think he knew that he was having one when I dropped off the food he seemed really confused."
"Jonathan, Lex is just being friendly. Clark why don't you wear those black pants I bought for you to wear to Whitney's dad's funeral, and a blue button down shirt and you will be fine."
"Thanks Mom" Clark got up from his seat kissed his mom on the check and bolted up the stairs.
Martha and Jonathan just looked at each other with a smile on their face and love in their eyes.
Chloe stood in front of her closet, she never put this much effort into picking an outfit out, but she wanted to look nice. She picked out a pair of green kakis, a white tank top, and a red over shirt. Chloe looked at the selection on her bed, "too casual." She then took out the shirt she bought a couple weeks ago; it was a low cut black shirt. She liked the way the material felt and she had not had the chance to wear it yet. She put it on with her green kakis and a pair of high-heeled black shoes. She twirled in the mirror, "You look nice Chloe." Lana said walking into the room. Chloe was so jealous of Lana at that very moment. Her hair was loosely curled and she was wearing a blue V-neck cut shirt with pale blue and pink sequences around the neck and sleeves. "So do you Lana." Chloe looked at the clock hanging on the wall; Clark would be there any minute. "Clark will be here soon," Lana said almost reading Chloe's mind. "Yah we should get going."
Ana stood in front of the bed, she had laid out all the clothes Stacie had given her and was trying to decide what to put on. She decided on a black dress that fit just rite; the bottom half of the front fell right above her knee while the back hung down to her ankles. The dress fit perfectly, and Ana could not help but smile. The neck fell down low enough to be sexy but high enough not to be provocative. Ana ran her hands throw her hair, the brown had covered the blue making her hair look like more raven colored then before. She sat on the bed and slipped on the shoes that Stacie had instructed to go with the dress. She bulked the last strap and looked up.
"Ana, you look beautiful."
"Do you really think so, I feel so fake." Ana looks in the mirror and frowns. A young man in a tuxedo wraps his arms around her waist and kisses her neck, he whispers something in her ear, and she blushes.
"I got you a present, but you have to close your eyes." Ana closes her eyes, and the young man walks over to his coat and pulls out a thin black box.
"Alexes you know I hate gifts." Alexes opens the box and takes out a thin white chain at the end is a little fairy holding a small red heart. He reaches around her neck and lets it rest against her skin, Ana shivers as the chain hits. He then clasps it, "Alright open your eyes." Ana's hand automatically shoots up to wear the charm is and looks in the mirror, her eyes get large and a huge smile forms on her face. "Alexes it's gorgeous, oh my god where did you get it. I have never seen anything like this before. It's so detailed," she steps closer to the mirror to see it more closely. Alexes just stands there and watches her. "It even has eye lashes, and its eyes are blue. Lex it's beautiful."
Lex smiles and waits, he sees her squint and take a step closer to the mirror. He smiles as she turns around and looks at him. "??????, thank you."
Ana sat on the bed with her hand on her neck in the same place where the necklace would have been. She looked over at the clock 7:01, she could hear faint footsteps as dress shoes hit the hardwood floors, the slight mumble of voices echoed through the once too quiet halls, people were starting to arrive. Ana stood up, took a last look in the mirror, fixed her eyeliner that had started to smudge from a stray tear, took a deep breath, and walked out of her room.
Ana walked down the hardwood spiral stair case into the dinning room, she paused halfway down the stairs and saw Lex standing next to Helena with his arm around her waist. She cringed, jealousy was not becoming to her, and she knew she was going to have to ignore the sharp pain in her chest if this dinner was going to work. Ana pasted a fake smile on her face and continued the journey down the stairs, as she reached the last step she looked up and saw Lex staring at her.
Lex smelt her before he saw her, when he looked up he was stunned. Ana was standing on the stairs in the most beautiful dress he had ever seen for a moment he was transported back to a different time, but Helena brought him plummeting back.
Ana smiled and walked over to the couple, warmly greeting Helena, the three continued in to the dinning room, where Clark, Lana, and Chloe had already situated themselves at the table. It was a nice surprise to see the three teenagers but where was Lionel, she wondered. At that moment her cell phone rang, she politely excused her self from the room and as she walked out of the room, she heard Clark's now familiar voice say, "She looks different."
Chloe was surprised at how well Ana had put herself together; the Ana from the talon was completely different from the Ana that had just walked out of the room. She was curious to find out who was calling Ana, and why it was so important. Chloe's reporter instinct kicked in and she rose from the chair and followed Ana into the hallway.
"Yes, I thought I said 7:00?" Ana was standing a ways down the hallway talking to Lionel.
"I thought that we should talk first. I have a business proposition for you."
"Oh and what would this one be about Lionel? I thought we had decided no more, I left; I went to Russia for you. What else do you want?" Ana was getting pretty annoyed with Lionel her voice gave away all her emotion.
"Anastasia," Lionel stepped closer to her extending his arm to touch her face, but Ana stepped back, "You went to Russia for him. I need one more favor, I need."
"That's the problem with you Luthor's," she spat out the word Luthor as if it was venomous. "It's always what you need, Lionel I'm sick of your games. He is your son not some chess opponent."
"Ana, don't pretend that you are here for the good of him, we both know you aren't. I know you have a secret agenda, and I know what that agenda is. Let me help you, and in return you will help me."
"No, what you're saying is I have blackmail on you. In return of me not telling Lex what your doing, you will help me."
"Anastasia, you are like family. I would."
"Lionel," Ana said cutting him off, "I see how you treat Lex. If that's family I want no part of it."
Chloe stayed hidden listening, Lionel was whispering but it was just audible. Lionel lowered his head and she saw Ana shake hers, but the voices had become to low.
"Fine, this is the last deal Lionel. If it does not work out do not look at me for any more help. I'm done." Ana extended her hand and Lionel shook it. The two then walked down the hallway to go into the dinning room. Chloe was stuck there with nowhere for her to run they were going to know she was eavesdropping. Right as they were going to find Chloe, Ana turned around to Lionel, "It may be better if we don't walk in together he will suspect something."
"Yes, you go in first and I will follow in a few minutes." As the two were talking Chloe snuck back into the dinning room, she plopped down in the chair out of breath. Clark shot her a glance, and Lex looked at the door while Helena spoke to Lana.
Ana saw Chloe slip by and thought it was amusing that the spunky blonde did not think Ana had noticed her follow her out. Ana had always been very observant, since she was a small child; she noticed things no one ever took the time to notice. In addition, if Chloe wanted to be a detective she was going to have to get a new pair of shoes. Ana could hear those babies tapping from a mile away.
Ana loved details, she loved noticing things people over looked, such as the way Lex's eye brows arched as she walked in the room and took her seat. She also noticed the look he gave her when his father walked in the room. However, she thought everyone in the room noticed that, Lionel had a way of changing the atmosphere with his presence everyone in the room shivered when he took his seat at the head of the table.
Sally and a few helpers came in and set soup out in front of the seven guests, she laughed with amusement as Clark tried to figure out which piece of silverware to use.
The guests were all happily chattering save for Lex who was just staring at Ana.
"So Clark, Lex's savior, how did you save his life? I mean a young chap like yourself diving into a rushing river, to save someone you don't even know?" Ana noticed the way Clark swallowed hard and took a sip of water before he started to speak, she also noticed the way he kept folding his napkin repeatedly.
"Well...." Clark started to speak but Lana jumped in "Clark is our town's hero." She looked at Clark with those teenage puppy eyes, and Clark just nodded.
"Yah, so I've heard but I mean Clark, I've already heard Lex's side of the story I enjoy hearing other people's point of views." She knew she was pushing this kid, but hey, she was curious.
"Well, I was standing on the bridge thinking and Lex was driving his car too fast he hit a log and lost control. He went through the barrier and into the water. So I dove in after him." He looked up at Ana with pleading eyes, Ana knew this kid was hiding something and she was going to figure it out. There had to be more to the story why would Lex have a folder on some kid that "just" saved his life.
"Well, I've been on that bridge that's a pretty large dive, and you walked away with just cold and wet clothes. Pretty lucky huh?"
Lionel sat at the head of the table, watching Ana she amazed him she knew what buttons to push and when too. She had no problem saying what was on her mind. He was also interested in what Mr. Kent had to say for himself.
"Well lucky for two of us, Clark saved my life and I am in debt to him for that." Lex shot a look at Ana telling her to back off but she was only beginning.
"A regular old guardian angel, too bad he was not there at Club Zero all those times. Maybe other people could have been saved too." The teens' ears all perked up at the mention of the club, they all knew about Lex's crazy and wild adolescent past but known of them had heard first hand stories.
Lex knew what was going to happen next. "Club Zero was years ago Ana."
"So Helena how is it you meet Alexander?" Lionel tried to conceal a laugh and everyone at the table shot him a look. "Father you are being quiet." Lex asked annoyed.
"No, Son I just find this very amusing."
"Well I'm glad that you are amused father."
"Boys," Ana's voice rose up above the now bickering father and son; she brought their attention back to Helena. "So, how is it you met Alexander, again?"
"Well I met him at the hospital."
"Smallville General, the regular old dating connection." Ana said while taking a sip of her wine.
"Well, how did you meet Lex?"
"Lex and I grew up together, right Alexes."
Lex cringed at his old pet name; some things should be left in the past. "Lillian and my mother grew up together. A hospital is an unusual place to meet."
"Well I didn't really meet him until anger class." Helena blushed as she said it and Lex gently squeezed her hand that he held openly on the table.
"Anger management class? Oh that is right you had an incident at the hospital. They made you do 15 hours of anger management class." Ana smiled as Helena gulped at her class of wine, the rest of the table sat in amazement that someone who had just met Helena a day ago would know more information about her then they did. "Helena Brice, now your father isn't a plastic surgeon in Metropolis is he?" Lex smirked as Helena's eyes widened.
"Yes, he is. You've used him?" Helena smiled obviously proud of herself. Lex just sat back because Helena had no clue how to fight with the big girls, though in a fistfight Helena would triumph but in the battle of the wits, Ana had years of practice.
"No," Ana laughed, "I have been lucky that my looks are completely natural. However, the reason I was asking you is that your father's medical facility is actually a franchise of Luthor Corp is in it Lionel? I believe I have met your father a numerous times at business functions. Lionel, you must have been surprised your only son dating one of your business partners daughters?"
Now it was Lionel's time to be in the spot light "Well, LuthorCorp has a lot of franchises and workers, I can't keep track of them all. Ms. Sullivan father is a worker of mine; I employ the majority of Smallville."
"Now Helena your father also went to the same grad school as Lionel? What a small world," Ana started to eat the salad that had replaced her soup sometime during their conversation.
Helena and Lionel exchanged a quick glance. Ana knew something had to be going on between the two of them, how could Lex be so blind.
"Well, Ana you seemed to have interrogated everyone at the table it seems unfair for you to walk away clean."
"Lex, I would hardly say I have interrogated anyone. I'm just making dinner chat, and making observations on what a small world it really is."
Lex started to say something but Ana once again cut him off "So, Lana I heard you're very into horse back riding is that true?"
"Yes, I've actually competed up in Metropolis; it's how I first met Lex. Lionel offered for my aunt and I to spend the night in their house in Metropolis, although Lex is first impression was not a good one, it has changed dramatically. Lex and I co-own the Talon together."
Ana took a sip of wine as Lana finished talking.
"Lana accidentally walked in on us in the swimming pool Ana." Lex had to bite his lip from bursting out laughing as Ana tried not to spit out the wine she had in her mouth. Do not let any one ever tell you Ana was not refined, he thought.
Ana blushed, "The Talon, the coffee shop right I was wondering why Lex would have an investment like that. Now I see a pretty girl can always cloud his eyes." Ana would have been more mortified, that this sweet girl had seen her in all of her glory, but the look on Helena's face as Lex said it was priceless.
"Ana what brings you to Smallville?" Helena asked bluntly.
"Some old business you could say," Ana looked at Lionel then at Lex.
"Well you were in Russia weren't you, left without a trace to appear a year later in Smallville, that's an unusual way of doing business." Helena shot Ana deadly look.
"You got to go where life takes you. My life took me to Russia; yours took you to Lionel's bedroom."
Everyone at the table gasped, Helena turned a dark shade of red, and Chloe thought that Helena was going to attack Ana.
"ANA, HALLWAY. NOW!" Lex was furious, Chloe, Lana, and Clark had never seen him that angry, and they were quite scared.
Ana put down her fork, which she had been twirling her salad with, stood up flattened her dress and walked calmly out into the hallway. Lex furiously followed behind her.
"Anastasia I don't know what the hell you are trying to accomplish but that is my girlfriend in there and I will not take you saying things like that towards her."
"Alexander, who are you kidding? You know the reason she is your girlfriend, you know her being at you anger class was set up. If you did not your just, dumb. I saw the pictures Lex. Lionel is up to something believe me, I don't know what he is doing this time or what he thinks he can accomplish, but I'm warning you Lex, you need to open your eyes and see her for what she really is."
"NO, maybe I need to open my eyes and see you for what you really are. A miserable lonely woman who gains pleasure in seeing other people fall. Now I understand why you and my father get along so well, you are one in another. I want you out by morning."
Lex and Ana both turned their backs on each other and stormed off down the hallway, Ana to her bedroom and Lex to his private laboratory.
The guests sat in the dinning room in awe; they had heard everything and sat in shock, Helena broke the eerie silence "So, Lana I heard you would like to become a candy stripper."