Chapter One
A/N: Sorry for the slow updates lately. School's started and I can't bring my computer to my new place until next weekend, so I have to wait until I go home to my parents house to update. So don't expect a new chapter until at next weekend at the earliest. Sorry :0(
Just a couple of things to cover my own ass; I'm not a lawyer, so some of the legal stuff mentioned in this chapter may not be phrased correctly...whatever. Pretend that it's right, because I'm not going to contact a lawyer to get proper phrasing for my fanfics. That's reasonable isn't it? Also, there's a comment about a medication thing in Florida, and about some business stuff: I'm not a business person, nor am I really current on the medication issue down there (I don't live in Florida). It's just some info that I know was an issue at one point, not sure if it still is, that I put in for an explanatory plot device...most of you probably won't even notice it. But for those of you who do, just be aware that I do in fact know that it's not terribly accurate. :0)
Again, thanks to all who reviewed. You guys rock. For the record, I would be harassing me too to get my updates up sooner...I'm ridiculously slow at it. Sorry again! I won't be reposting my fics at , because I had such a ridiculous time doing it the first time, and the stupid flood control annoys me (I just cut and paste). I am thinking about making a page to host my fics though, because this site does have some downfalls....
Happy September everyone, and I hope to post again next weekend!
:0)
Students once again swarmed the halls of Smallville High School. Jocks and cheerleaders, normal kids, geeks, and even the meteor rock freaks. Chloe and Clark stood out blatantly though, because everywhere they went, a large, terrifying security guard accompanied them. The other students gave them wide berth when they walked, too afraid of the guards to get within three feet of their charges. They seemed to unanimously decide that if Lex Luthor wanted his highly paid security team around them constantly, it was unsafe to even go near them.
"This is ridiculous," Chloe muttered in exasperation. Her and Clark were walking down the stairs, towards the cafeteria. "Look!" A pair of freshmen came around the corner, looked up at the massive guards, and took off running in the other direction. "Oh come on!" she yelled after them. "They aren't going to shoot you!"
"I think you're wasting your breath Chloe," Clark grinned at her. A group of five football players threw themselves against the wall to let them pass. Clark started to chuckle.
"Laugh it up Kent," she grumbled and shot a glare at a trip of cowering junior girls. "But Lex has a guy on you too now; no one's going to talk to you either."
"I think you're overreacting," he tried to reason with her. "It's just the first week of school. I'm sure that in a few days no one will even notice them anymore."
"Maybe," Chloe nodded hopefully. They passed the Torch office and both automatically slowed down. Clark frowned now while he read over the sign taped to the door.
"I can't believe you really did it," he shook his head sadly.
Chloe snorted bitterly. "You can't? I should have done this a long time ago Clark," she too read the sign. Editor Wanted.
"But Chloe, the Torch was your life," he insisted. "You're the best reporter that I've ever seen. I can't believe that you're quitting."
"The search for the truth just doesn't hold the same appeal that it once did," she said quietly, willing the lump in her throat to go away.
"Chloe"
"No Clark," she shook her head adamantly and he snapped his mouth shut. "The Torch was all that I cared about for too long. I'm not going to loose what little I have left because of my desire of one more good story."
"It's not like you to quit something that you love," he insisted again. "Your dad wouldn't want—"
"My dad is dead Clark!" she told shortly, drawing stares from some of the other students.
"Chloe—"
"No Clark! I'm done talking about this," she now noticed their audience and lowered her voice. "I couldn't learn to mind my own business before, and look at where it got me! I'm not going to let anyone else that I care about get hurt because of me. Not anymore."
He opened his mouth a couple of times, probably for a rebuttal, but didn't say anything. He seemed to realize that it was pointless arguing; she always won anyways. "Okay," he put his hands up in defeat. "I'll let it go for now. But Chloe you know that what happened to your dad wasn't your fault. Don't you?" She didn't answer. "Chloe? Tell me that you know that."
"I know that," she echoed. Clark didn't believe her.
Lex wasn't a fan of the telephone; he saw it as an occasionally useful device to overcome the dilemma of distance, but mostly considered it a safety net for people who wished to avoid face-to-face confrontations. So when Lex Luthor took over rival companies, he liked to do it face-to-face. No telephones.
Which was why he was now sitting in the boardroom at Luther Corp Plaza, staring as imposingly as he could down the table at his latest business conquest, and trying desperately not to look too excited. Alden Fryor Junior was the President and CEO of Fryor Pharmaceuticals. And Lex was in the middle of taking control of his company.
Fryor was a thin, ageing man, ready to retire from the business world. Currently, the older man was reading intently through the contract in front of him. "So do we have a deal Mr. Fryor?" Lex asked him, aiming for nonchalant. Fryor jumped slightly at the sound of his voice, tearing his eyes away from the contract that he was mulling over.
"The financial terms are fine," Fryor said rather reservedly. "But I'm a little unclear about your plans for my existing employees."
"What exactly are you unclear about?" Lex asked him, a strange feeling of dread filling him.
"Once you have control of my company are you going to lay off all of my employees?" Fryor asked bluntly, with much greater confidence than Lex had expected from the kindly looking old man. "Fryor Pharmaceuticals employs over 5000 people. I will let myself go bankrupt before I give Luthor Corp the ability to turn that many of my people to the streets."
Lex blinked at him briefly, the feeling of dread vanishing now. He reached for the intercom button. "Miss King? Send Jensen in please."
"Yes Mr. Luthor," she answered through the speaker. A minute later they were joined by a third man, this one a middle aged lawyer in a navy suit.
"This is Warren Jensen," Lex told Fryor. "He is Luthor Corp's primary acquisition attorney. Mr. Jensen, I would like you to please write a notwithstanding clause into the Fryor Pharmaceuticals acquisition contract. All employees of the previous Fryor Pharmaceuticals may not be dismissed without just cause, in accordance with previous Fryor Pharmaceuticals and current Luthor Corp employment policies."
"Yes sir," Jensen nodded, just as eager as Lex was, but not nearly as good at hiding it, and slipped back out of the boardroom. Lex turned his attention back to Fryor, looking at him expectantly.
"Okay," Fryor nodded, his once relaxed demeanor returning. "That sounds good. Thank-you."
"Mr. Fryor," Lex began seriously and leaned forward onto his elbows, staring across the table at the older man. "Despite the dysfunctional nature of my own family, Luthor Corp is a family friendly corporation. My father may have been willing to sacrifice the livelihood of his employees for profit, but I am not."
Fryor nodded again.
"I'm afraid that I have a two o'clock appointment Mr. Fryor," Lex gathered up his copies of the contract and put them into his brief case. "I'll have the contracts delivered to your offices before the end of the day."
"Very well," Fryor's pleasant old face contorted slightly when he stood, his knees shaking slightly.
"Provided the terms are still satisfactory to you," he walked over to stand beside Fryor. "I was hoping to make an official confirmation at tomorrow's Metropolis Philanthropist Charity Dinner."
"I'll be there," Fryor nodded.
"Excellent," Lex smiled professionally and shook is hand. "Tomorrow then." He nodded at Fryor once more and then left the boardroom for his office, a proud smirk on his face. It was a good day.
Chloe was bored. After school she'd gone straight home to the mansion, since she didn't have to go to the Torch office, and set to work immediately on her homework. It took her all of twenty minutes. "Damn public school," she'd muttered, throwing her pen down on her completed work and checking her watch with a sigh.
Now she was pacing aimlessly through the hallways, trying to find something to do. "Maybe I should go for a swim," she mused quietly. "Or I could play pool...where am I?" She looked around the unfamiliar hallway skeptically. She'd been wandering without really paying attention. 'How have I never seen this before?' she wondered.
A door at the end of the hall caught her eye. It was average looking, as far as doors go, but her reporter instinct made her look twice. She walked over and tentatively twisted the doorknob. Locked.
She frowned and tried again, jiggling it a little for good measure. "What the" Lex didn't keep anything locked, except for his cars, his safes, and more recently, his liquor cabinets. So why this door? "What's back there?" she muttered.
Out of habit, she crouched down and examined the keyhole, wondering if she could pick the lock. She probably could, she'd opened locks like that one before
"What am I doing?" she muttered to herself, appalled at the very thought. In the past she would have been determined to find her way into that room. But now, she was trying to make a few changes. "Mind your own business," she reminded herself, her new mantra. "If Lex wants it locked then there must be a good reason." The statement was enough to force her away from the door, but not quite enough to quell the curiosity.
By the time she found her way to the game room she'd already vowed to stay away from the locked door. It was a strange move for her, and very unsatisfying.
She racked up the balls on the pool table and began to organize them by alternate patterns. After sinking every single ball three times she was once again bored. Just as she was seriously beginning to contemplate finding Lex's Warrior Angel room, the phone rang.
Usually Walden would answer the phone, but she lunged for it quickly. "I've got it!" she hollered into the hallway and then clicked the talk button. "Hello?"
"Chloe?" Lex asked over the line.
"Yeah, hi," she sighed in relief at having someone to talk to.
"Hello," he drawled in return.
"What's up?" she asked eagerly, almost hoping that he'd ask her to vacuum or wash his cars, or something.
"Are you okay?" he asked her. "You sound a little...jumpy."
"Just bored," she admitted. "Clark's at home herding cows, or whatever it is farmers do, and I just realized that he's really the only person that I hang out with."
"If Clark Kent is your only source of entertainment then I think maybe you need a hobby," he laughed. Chloe rolled her eyes.
"Maybe I could start a comic book collection," she jibed.
"You're hilarious," he deadpanned, causing a grin to spread its way over her features.
"Or a stand up routine?" she suggested.
"I'm sure you'd be great at that," he snarked.
"Yeah...so, what's up Lex?" she repeated. "You didn't just call to chat did you? Because I never took you for much of a phone person."
"Actually I was wondering if you wanted to meet me for dinner?" he asked her. She perked up.
"Okay, I'd kill to get out of here for a while," she tossed a glance towards the doorway where two security guards lingered, keeping keen eagle eyes on her. She made a mental note to talk about that to him later. "Where should I meet you?"
"I'll send the helicopter for you," he informed her. "It'll pick you up at six."
"Okay," she agreed. "See you later."
"I'll see you later," he repeated, a little more grammatically correct. She hung up the phone with a grin and put away her pool cue. When she left the game room the two guards fell into step behind her. She led them down towards the kitchens, where she informed Michel that her and Lex would be out for the rest of the evening.
"Take the night off," she told him with a beaming smile, excited to be getting out of Smallville for the evening. Michel nodded and returned the smile, though a little less exuberantly.
"Yes Miss," he winked at her quickly and she gave him a little wave before heading off to her room.
Lex waited on the roof while the helicopter landed. There was no wind that day, but the twirling blades caused his jacked to flap out behind him. This was one of those times when he was glad that he had no hair.
The propellers came to a halt and Chloe climbed out, her two bodyguards hot on her heels. She smiled when she spotted him and walked over to meet her. "You look nice," he greeted and led her to the elevators. She did look nice actually, in a black skirt and an off white sweater. The skirt was knee length, still classy, and the sweater had a wide cut neckline that showed off her collarbones, still sexy.
"Thanks," she looked up at him appraisingly. "You look...happy—"she stopped walking abruptly and he looked back at her in confusion. "You didn't get married again did you?"
Lex smirked. "No, not today," he assured her.
"Oh good," she sighed dramatically and then returned his smirk with a mega-watt grin. He pressed the button to summon the elevator. "So then what's going on?"
"Does something have to be going on?" he asked her smoothly. "Isn't it possible that I just wanted to have a nice dinner with you?" She shot him an "oh come on" look and he found himself rolling his eyes. They climbed onto the elevator and he hit the button for the lobby. "Luthor Corp acquired a rival company today," he told her.
"Oh, so we're celebrating?" she asked him.
"We're celebrating," he confirmed.
"Nice."
They went to a restaurant on the Corporate Strip, which was the main street through the business district, called Alesco. When they arrived Chloe had been surprised to find that the majority of Luthor Corp's executives and major shareholders were there. And many of them had brought guests.
Chloe sat beside Lex and spent most of the dinner listening to Kandee Coolridge talk about various hair care products. Kandee was the girlfriend to Luthor Corp's Chief Acquisition Attorney, Warren Jensen. Jensen's wife was currently missing the festivities. The girl was so annoying that Chloe kept fighting a constant inward battle, deciding who she'd rather stab with her salad fork; Kandee for talking so damn much, or Lex for bringing her there in the first place.
The Luthor Corp table was definitely the loudest in the restaurant, and Chloe had to wonder why a bunch of stuffy suits were acting like frat boys on free-keg-night. As usual, Lex was the only one at the table who had, so far, managed to keep himself in line, even after the countless drinks that he'd consumed. She was honestly wondering why he'd invited her to join them; she had no connection to the company, and she wasn't his girlfriend. And why were they so...
Chloe decided that she had to know. She leaned towards him slightly and nudged his knee with her own. "Why are they so excited?" she asked once he'd turned her way.
"I told you, we acquired a rival company today," he reminded her, shooting her an uncharacteristic grin over the rim of his glass, just before he took a large swig of the wine inside it.
"What company was it?" she wondered.
"Fryor Pharmaceuticals," he informed her, his voice dripping with a thick, husky quality that she associated with too much alcohol. She frowned.
"What? But that's only a midsize company. It's not even the largest pharmaceutical company in Metropolis," she sipped her wine, pointedly showing him that he shouldn't gulp his back like that.
"You're right," he nodded and grabbed a nearby wine bottle, topping off his glass. "But Fryor Pharmaceuticals specializes in cardiac and blood pressure medications."
"So?" she laughed. "Is there a sudden rush of heart attack patients lately?"
"No," he almost giggled in return. Maybe he had had a few too many drinks. "But the company is up for a major contract with drug distributors in Florida, now that the government is restricting the import of drugs from Canada."
"So the company is poised to make a big deal in the next couple of months," she finished. He nodded. "But it's an election year, what if the government officials change?"
"We'll still get the contract," he actually did let out a gigglish sort of laugh now. "Because we're going to reduce the wholesale cost of the drugs by a third."
"Won't you loose money?" she raised her eyebrows now. He shook his head and polished off his latest glass of wine.
"Nope," he poured another and this time she took the bottle away once he was done. "We cut the production costs in half by using Cadmus Labs instead of outside sources to produce the drugs. It's really all very complicated...but in the end we come out on top."
"Okay" she wasn't terribly convinced.
"That's why they're excited Chloe," he grinned hugely. "We made a lot of money today."
"Oh," she nodded in amusement...and then frowned. "But why are you so happy?"
"I just told you, we made a lot of money today," he repeated, sounding a little annoyed.
"Well yeah, but they could probably use the extra money," she shook her head. "But you"
"A little, well actually a lot, of extra money never hurt anyone Chloe," he told her shortly.
"It's not like you to get so excited over money Lex," she insisted. "It's not like you don't have a ton of it already."
"Chloe just drop it," he practically growled. It just spurred her on, knowing that he was hiding something.
"But I know that there's something else—"
"Chloe!" he snapped loudly, shocking her. She noticed the awkward stares and averted eyes from the people sitting nearest to them. He noticed too and his face softened immediately. "Chloe I—"
She dropped her napkin onto the table and pushed her chair backwards. "Would you please excuse me," she told the others politely, ignoring Lex completely and cutting off whatever half-assed explanation he was probably in the process of thinking of. A couple of the men tried drunkenly to stand but she shook her head. "No, please don't get up."
She walked quickly away from the table and headed towards the restrooms. The women's room was lavishly decorated and had a wide selection of scented soaps, but Chloe was too busy fuming at Lex to really notice. She paced back and forth a few time and took several deep breaths to calm herself. She'd tell him off when they got home, but she wasn't about to go out there and make a scene in front of Luthor Corp's top men and women. She had far too much pride for that.
Taking one last deep lungful of air, she pushed the door open again and walked back out into the hallway. Lex was leaning against the wall waiting. "Chloe," he said immediately, before she could speak first. "I'm sorry I yelled at you like that."
"Good," she scowled childishly. "Luckily it wasn't at all embarrassing being yelled at in a room full of people!"
"It was wrong of me," he repeated evenly, looking very sincere. "I'm sorry." She sighed, knowing that she should just take the high road and let it go. He was drunk after all.
"Well...I probably shouldn't have kept questioning you," she returned, feeling like a petulant child now. "So I'm sorry too. I swear I'm tying to work on my nosiness."
He grinned. "That wasn't nosiness, it was concern," he assured her. "It was needless concern, but it was concern."
She still didn't believe him, but she was a smart girl and knew that she should just let it go for the night. Arguing with someone who'd had that much to drink was just pointless. "So, didn't we come here to celebrate your big corporate success today?" she forced a smile, finding that it was getting easier every day to plaster on those phony grins.
"Yes we did," he offered his arm and they rejoined the table. Chloe let him keep drinking, because something about Fryor Pharmaceuticals had made him that happy, and she wanted him to enjoy it. She knew that there was more to the situation though, something that he wasn't telling her.
TBC
