A/N: I know the story's been moving along kinda slowly but I promise it's going to start picking up soon. I'm going to try to be more creative in my writing. Please keep reviewing, I really want to know how I'm doing! Thanks!

Chapter Four

"You seemed pretty alarmed by my father the other day," Lex said as he walked into Lois' office two weeks later. "I'd been wanting to bring it up. Rather, I'd wanted to apologize for him. It was rude of him to just barge in. I could tell he was making you uncomfortable."

Lois looked up from the reports she was studying. The apology came as a surprise to her; it had been a few weeks since it happened, they'd talked plenty of times, and there hadn't been anymore Lionel encounters.

"I'm all right," she assured. "I will admit, he did make me uncomfortable, but I think I was just nervous about my first day and that made it worse. Trust me, I can handle your father." She paused, hoping her confidence in the declaration made it true. "Was there a reason you brought it up? I mean, it has been a couple weeks--you hadn't mentioned it before."

There was a reason that Lex brought it up, a reason that Lex did not want to tell Lois. It wasn't that he didn't think Lois could handle it, other than the incident with Lionel, she had shown her strength in her work and also in all the time she and Lex spent together on the job. But the reason Lex brought it up was that his father had approached him that morning to 'mend his ways' about Lois. According to him, Lois was 'revolutionizing the place.' Lionel had inquired about meeting with her. He didn't offer anymore details and Lex was hesitant to bring it up to his able PR director given her previous sensitivity towards his father.

"Actually there was a reason I brought it up," Lex began slowly. "My father asked if he could meet with you. He didn't tell me what it was about and I wasn't even going to tell you. But I figured if I didn't, he would approach you himself and I would rather be the middle man."

Lois could barely hold back a grin. He was looking out for her. She was sure no other employee got treatment like this--the two were actually friends.

"Thanks Lex," she said, using his name easily. That had been established on her third day, another privilege others did not have. "I do appreciate that. I wonder what your father would want to meet with me about."

"I have no idea and I would suggest you turn him down if I didn't know him better. He's a persistent man."

Lois looked away, trying to hide the anxiety she felt at the thought of seeing Lionel Luthor again.

"I'll tell you what," said Lex, sensing her distress. "You might as well meet with him, get it over with. And I'll go with you."

Lois looked at him. "Oh, would you?"

He nodded with a smile.

She smiled back. "I don't know what my problem is. He just--" She stopped, not wanting to offend Lex. However much he detested Lionel, he was still his father.

"I understand," Lex said. "All right then. I'll set up an appointment with my father's secretary, hopefully within a week. Whatever he has to say, if he can't say it in front of me, than it's probably not anything you'll want to know."

Lois sighed in relief. "Thank you so much. I don't really understand why you're doing all this for me."

Lex looked at her thoughtfully. "It doesn't happen very often, but I have become friends with one of my employees--one of my very important employees I might add. Anything to make life easier."

Lois opened her mouth to thank him, but Lex continued. "So how are things going?" he asked, taking a seat for the first time. "We've talked a lot but I haven't asked you that yet. You're feeling good about how things are going? 'Revolutionary' as my father would put it."

She noticed the look in Lex's eyes the whole time they discussed his father. He was inquiring about how she was, but she found herself desperately wanting to know if he was ok.

"I'd say things are going quite smoothly, wouldn't you? It helps that I'm working with my uncle a lot. And of course you. Everyone else has been easy to work with as well," she explained. Tucking her hair behind her ear tentatively, she divulged into the next subject. "How are you doing?"

Lex looked up at the question. "What do you mean?"

"Well, you asked me how I was, so I wanted to know how you are."

He stared at her as if it was the craziest thing she could ever ask. "I'm fine," he said tightly.

Lois took a deep breath. Getting to the core of Lex Luthor was not going to be easy. "I didn't mean to upset you," she said softly. "You just get this look when you talk about your father and I--I just wanted to be sure you're ok. I know we don't know each other so well and I really don't mean to pry, Lex, honest."

Lex felt terrible as soon as she spoke. "Its all right. I shouldn't have been so defensive. My father isn't my favorite subject, its as simple as that." He couldn't believe he'd said that much.

Lois bit her lip, wishing she hadn't asked at all. "Ok, then," she forced out.

He nodded stiffly, just wanting to get out of there. "I'm going to go call my father's secretary now. I'll let you know what we schedule, all right?"

Lois nodded, averting her eyes from his face and Lex left her office.

About ten minutes later, he called down saying that his father had an opening the next day at noon. His voice seemed to have loosened and she took a deep breath herself, telling him that Thursday at noon was fine.

Despite the awkwardness, she had become quite fond of the young Luthor.

~*~

"Mr. Luthor."

Lionel pressed the intercom button on his desk. "Yes Linda?"

"Your son and Ms. Lane are here for your twelve o'clock lunch in the executive dining room."

Lionel rubbed his hand over his forehead. He couldn't believe he'd nearly forgotten. Although the reason his son was along for the trip was somewhat of a mystery--he could take a wild guess, though.

"Thank you Linda, I'll be right down."

Lionel arrived in the luxurious dining hall to find Lex and Lois already seated. They arose when he walked into the room.

"Ms. Lane," he acknowledged, shaking her hand. "And Lex, what brings you along?"

"Oh come on dad, are you saying you don't want your own son over for lunch?" Lex said with mock-persecution.

Lionel glanced at Lois, and laughed. "Of course not, son. I was under the impression that it would just be Ms. Lane and I, that's all."

Lois drew in a deep breath. She did not want to be responsible for further conflict between father and son. She opened her mouth to suggest that they sit down, but Lex spoke first.

"She is my employee, dad, why shouldn't I accompany her?"

His voice was lined with possessiveness. Lois wasn't sure if she liked it or not.

Lionel cleared his throat. "Well, no matter, let's sit down."

Lois complied as did Lex, his eyes on his father suspiciously. As they were sitting, their lunch arrived. Lionel waited for the server to leave before he got down to business.

"How are you enjoying your job so far?" Lionel directed his question toward Lois.

Lois cleared her throat discreetly. "Very well. I find everyone easy to work with and the reports easy to read. Lex and I agree that everything is running quite smoothly."

Lionel looked up, slightly surprised at Lois' use of his son's name. It was quite clear to him what was going on here. "Glad to hear it," he said between bites. "I must admit I was skeptical at first. If we're being honest, it was a rash decision to hire you. Not that I would say that I didn't think you were capable, but it's understandable that I'd be hesitant since you're just out of college and everything."

Lois nodded shortly and stole a glance at Lex. His eyes were firmly fixed on his salad, an unreadable expression in them. Lois strangely felt herself wanting to reach for his hand, but held back.

"But," Lionel continued. "You seem to be very effective. Excellent job so far as I can see."

"Thank you," Lois said, inwardly boiling at his use of the word 'effective,' as if she were some kind of machine. She would have told him so, but there was something about this man. It was almost as if she couldn't even will herself to speak too much around him. It was very, very unlike her.

"Which brings me to the reason I've asked you here," he went on. "I would like to offer you a job at the Metropolis plant."

Lex head snapped up at his father's request, his eyes wide. Lionel couldn't help but smirk at it.

"You wouldn't be director as you are now, but it is a bigger opportunity-- more papers, more publicity. Higher pay," he added with a laugh. "Also, LuthorCorp could arrange for you to continue school as you work."

Lex turned away from his father. He should have known that his was what the meeting was all about. And why shouldn't Lois accept? More papers, more publicity, higher pay--plus the chance to go back to Metropolis and continue school at the expense of LuthorCorp.

"It is a very generous offer, Mr. Luthor," Lois began. "I'm not sure why you're offering all of this to me, but I'm going to have to respectfully decline. I came to Smallville to get away from school and the city."

Both of the Luthors stared at her in disbelief. She felt herself tensing under Lionel scrutiny.

"This is a one-time offer, Ms. Lane, take it or leave it."

"I believe she is leaving it." It was Lex's voice.

Lionel turned his glare to his son. Goosebumps rose on Lois' arms at it. "Is that so, Ms. Lane?" he asked.

"Yes." Her voice was barely more than a squeak.

Thankfully the server chose that time to walk in and clear off their plates.

"If there's nothing else you needed, we'll be going," Lex said, as the three arose from their chairs.

Lex and Lois moved to leave, but Lionel took his son by the arm. Lois waited by the door.

"Don't think I can't see what is going on here," Lionel hissed. "I had no idea you could be so foolish, Lex, letting a woman get the best of you--on the job, no less."

Lex shook free of his father's grip. "Don't pretend to know me, dad."

"You've got her under your little finger and it's impairing your judgement. Don't you see it?"

It was then that Lois found her voice. "I would appreciate it if you didn't talk about me like I am not standing right here," she spoke, her tone sharp. "And I resent your implying that I cannot think for myself. I assure you, Mr. Luthor, I can. And I do. I enjoy working for your son; he is a very intelligent and capable businessman. If you took your head out of the sand for a second you might see that."

Shock crossed Lionel's face momentarily, but he was quickly over it. Lex didn't even bother hiding his surprise.

"Well, Ms. Lane, I see you have chosen to show your fearless side," Lionel remarked.

Lois stepped closer. "I work for Lex, Mr. Luthor. I have nothing to prove to you."

With that, she turned and exited the dining room, not knowing at all where she was going, but needing to get out of there. Luckily Lex was at her side a few seconds. She didn't make eye contact with him, but she could feel his stare as they made their way to the parking lot.

The got into Lex's sports car and just sat there for a few seconds in silence. Lois was the first to speak.

"What the hell did I just do?"

Lex let out a deep laugh that he obviously had been holding in for a little while. "I'm not sure," he chuckled. "But it was incredible."

Lois found herself laughing easily with him, as he put the key into the ignition and started the car. "Yeah, it was something. I don't have any clue where it came from. One second I can barely speak to the man and the next I'm lashing into him like he's--well, not Lionel Luthor, at any rate."

Lex smiled at the woman beside him, thankful to have a distraction from the train wreck that was his relationship with his father.