#2: If He Only Knew
Chapter Completed: October 2, 2003
He stood in front of the massive office window. From the thirtieth floor of the tallest building, the view overlooked most of Metropolis. Lex Luthor was admiring his empire. But if he built and owned half this city why did he feel as if something were missing? Something important was missing from his life now. Something he couldn't, or didn't, want to put his finger on. It was as if his daily appraisals were to find that one thing in the concrete sea beyond his window.
"Lex?" the voice and presence of Mercy, his extremely loyal personal assistant, interrupted his unhappy musings.
"Yes?" he turned to face the woman. She was beautiful, but untouchable. Her own rule. She preferred to be seen as asexual then sexual at all. Lex hadn't bothered to ask questions, he just respected the resolve.
"Miss Sullivan is here," her face was expressionless –giving her the air of a cold bitch. A useful characteristic in this ruthless Luthor-run world.
But a smiled tugged at the corners of Lex's mouth, "Send her in."
Mercy nodded and stepped back through the doors.
A moment later Chloe Sullivan walked into the office.
"Mr. Luthor," she greeted with her usual bright smile. Her hair may have tamed, to fit into the busy journalism world of Metropolis, but she was skill unmistakable. She had matured and in some ways hardened over the space of time. It had all helped her shed the Smallville girl she once was.
Lex let the smile spread along his lips as he nodded to the addressment. She was the only woman he allowed call him Mr. Luthor. To every other woman he was Lex. Mostly this was because she was the only woman to really know him, and habit can be comforting.
They took their usual seats for their ritual; Chloe on the wingback chair and Lex perched on the corner of his desk.
"Miss Sullivan," he exchanged her greeting. They had kept rather close over the last nine years. In all honesty she was the only person from the small Kansas town he still had personal contact with. And he was fine with that.
Chloe broke into girlish giggles and an even wider smile; she was unable to hold back on her excitement. "Not for long," she burst out, getting an odd look from the multi-millionaire, "Soon to be Mrs." She announced holding out her left hand. Wrapped around her ring finger was a gold band and solitaire diamond chip.
He rested her hand in his to examine the ring. It was rather meagre to him, sweet in a naïve way. But it still reminded him of a small velvet box locked in a desk drawer, and place in his memory. He remembered to be happy for her. Sure they had attempted a relationship years ago, but they both agreed that they were better off as friends. Lex remembered it as more fumbling then fornication. They were just grasping desperately for something so they wouldn't fall. That something just happened to be each other. But neither of their hearts were in it, they were both with someone else and they both knew it.
"So tell me, what man has stolen you away from me," he let her hand drop, "And the rest of Metropolis' bachelors?"
Chloe rolled her eyes at his twisted idea of flirting and teasing. "Dick Grayson," she replied with a happy sigh. Her eyes glazing over in bliss and contentment. Out of all the pain she had suffered in her love life she had finally found happiness.
"Ah," Lex acknowledged it. He was happy to hear it wasn't Clark. That was always a fear; that she would throw her career away on the former farm boy. "Calls for champagne," he smiled, quickly dialling for his assistant and ignoring the girl's silent protest.
Before long Mercy had granted her employer's request and the pair had glasses of the bubbly liquid to celebrate.
"Grayson?" he then repeated, raising a glass to her, "Where do I know that name?"
The young journalist smirked, holding her glass to her lips, "Think Wayne, Bruce Wayne."
Lex's eyebrows shot up as his surprise slipped, "ah, yes." In his mind he congratulated her on the status linked to her fiancée.
In all their meetings, over all these years they had never discussed relationships. It was a rule they had both decided on, too much of the past was linked to such topics. And they had both agreed never to look back, but the past always had a way of coming back.
Chloe carefully placed her glass down. "The wedding is just over a month away." She had been setting up this part of the conversation, "I really hope you'll be there."
He smiled at her from behind the flute's rim as an agreement.
She bit her lip; the next part was the hard one, "Because Anna will be there."
Lex's eyes became clouded with the memory of the girl. He hadn't heard her name in years, and certainly never spoke it. He swallowed hard.
Anna Clarkson. He hadn't seen her since that December night when he last kissed her. And she walked out of his life, seemingly forever.
"She is my only female friend," Chloe was careful to defend her motives. Not wanting to suggest it had any alternative motive, even if it partially did.
The millionaire just nodded sternly – his brooding becoming foremost.
"You might not even see her, it is a Wayne wedding," She tried to relax what she had sprung on him. She knew Anna had hurt him just as much as loved him.
Lex had abandoned the Champaign and conversation to return to his window. On cue an ominous grey sky covered the sunny day. A bitter snort left his nose – he knew what he was missing. He was missing the family his father's selfish actions had stolen from him. The twisted fates had screwed him over again, and now they taunted him by bringing her back. For a wedding no less.
"Lex?" with a nervous hand she reached for his shoulder – oddly feeling sixteen again.
"Hey big brother!" Lucas' obnoxious tone filled the office as he pushed open the double doors – gaining the full attention of both Lex and Chloe, "I've got news."
"I can hardly wait," the older, and now senior, Luthor replied in a dead monotone.
Letting the rude reply slide, Lucas continued, "I've met someone," he sat behind the large desk, propping his feet up on it and supporting his head with folded arms behind his neck. Making himself quite at home.
"Actress or Supermodel?" Chloe glared at the younger brother. She never really liked him, especially not since her friendship with Lex had grown.
Choosing to ignore their snippiness Lucas kept on speaking, he was generally pleased with himself, "Actually I think she's a lawyer."
"oh god," she groaned, rolling her eyes.
"Don't be upset because you missed your chance," he locked eyes with her and winked. He certainly had Lionel's smugness.
She was very close to lunging across the wooden desk to strangle him, but Lex stopped her, like he knew what she was thinking.
"Miss Sullivan," he took on a business tone – cold and impersonal, "The answer is of course yes. I'll just need you to send over the appropriate documentation."
It took her a moment to realise that he was talking about her wedding. She nodded, collecting her things and left the office.
"Important business huh?" Lucas motioned with his hands – his index finger thrusting into the curved fist of his other hand.
Lex pushed his brother's feet off of his desk, knocking him off balance, "Why have you come here to tell me about your latest conquest?"
"That's just it," Lucas stood, carrying himself with recovered dignity, "I need you to give her a job, to finalise the deal."
Lex actually laughed, "You expect me to hire some bar exam slacker so you can get laid?" He busied himself with much needed paperwork.
"She's fully qualified…I'm sure," he stood his ground.
Letting out an exasperated sigh Lex asked, "Fine, what's her name?"
"Ah…I'm not sure," the younger brother admitted with a shrug, sitting on the corner of the desk, "But she's a cute blonde, little older then me, nice legs…"
"Get out Lucas," Lex turned his attention back to his papers.
"But…"
"Get out," he didn't bother looking up.
Actually listening, the Edge City native left the brooding millionaire to himself. It wasn't until he left that Lucas had a revelation.
"Sullivan."
That's where he had seen that torch symbol before. But why had that other woman have it?
A/N: Sorry this fic has been idle for so long…but the lack of Smallville reruns kind of put a damper on my muse. But the show is back so, so is my fic. teehee.
