Hi...Here is the next installment...Hope you like...Let me know what you think...
Heaven Sent - Part 4
"A what?" Gabe Sullivan found his voice had risen a few notches with the news his daughter and his boss had given him. A sudden twitching behind his left eye began and Gabe found the fact that he could still feel shock amazing considering that his one and only beloved daughter seemed to be a magnet for trouble.
"Dad, remember your blood pressure?" Chloe said smoothly as she gave him one of her mega-watt grins. Gabe's dark eyes narrowed and he took a series of deep breaths.
"You'd be dressed as a what? Staying where? Working for whom?" Even though he had been told the story, he still had trouble processing the information.
"I'd be disguised as Lex's new chauffeur and pass myself off as a boy. It would be perfect." Chloe went on reasonably. She thought it immaterial to mention to her Dad that it took Lex a good hour to convince her.
"Sweetheart, why can't we just go to the police?" Gabe asked this logical question as he looked upon his daughter's intent face with a worried frown.
When Lex called him and asked him to come up to the mansion for a meeting and bring the quarterly reports with him, he had to admit, he was a bit bothered. Hell, he was furious with Lex for summoning him at nine in the evening. Now, he was glad Lex had been there to keep his incorrigible daughter safe.
God, Chloe, will there ever be a time when you're not hurrying off for that damn story...Gabe thought as he rubbed his hands over his tired face.
"Dad, we are talking about Smallville. All they seem to have is a sheriff and few deputies. Do you really think they are going to solve the break-in and possible threat to my life?" Chloe asked a bit bewildered.
"Gabe, I promise you, I will protect your daughter. I already have men over at the Torch office dusting for any kind of prints." Lex intervened.
"Why Lex, how very CSI of you." Chloe teased though in reality she was very impressed by Lex's rational thinking.
"I promise to share any information they receive with you." Lex's eyes narrowed but he decided to ignore her taunt for the moment. In his eyes, there will be plenty of time for retribution. Gabe's brown gaze went from his boss to his daughter and his worry intensified. He loved his daughter very much but even he had to admit that she was a handful.
"Lex, I appreciate what you're doing but –"
"Gabe, your daughter will be safe here. I swear to you that nothing will happen. Do you really want to rely on the Sheriff? Can the Sheriff guarantee Chloe's safety?"
"Dad, as much as I hate to admit this, Lex is right." Chloe muttered. Lex's eyebrows arched and he barely managed to keep the smug smirk off his face.
"All right. Even if I agree, how long would this arrangement last?" Gabe questioned.
"Until we can find out who is after Chloe. I have men working on this and I will keep them working around the clock." Lex promised adamantly.
"Dad, I will be fine. While Lex has his men working on my office, I can surf around the net and ----"
"No! I don't want you involved in this." Gabe said vehemently with a severe frown.
"That's ridiculous. They are after me, how can I not investigate?" Chloe argued.
"Ah—Ah – Promise me you'll let Lex handle this. I've enough to worry about with you being in danger." Gabe scowled into his daughter's mutinous face.
"That is not fair!" Chloe growled.
"Chloe Sullivan, promise me you will let Lex handle this situation." Gabe's voice hardened when he saw his daughter's face redden.
Lex's admiration for Gabe grew tenfold in that single moment. Ordering Chloe around was not the easiest thing in the world and he was very hard pressed to keep a grin off his face.
"Fine! Fine! I promise. I'll let Lex handle the situation." Chloe growled throwing a heated glare at Lex's smug smile.
"Good! Sweetheart, please, it's bad enough that I can't seem to protect you. I just need to know that you are safe." Gabe's voice softened a bit. Chloe sighed.
"I promise. I will be fine." Chloe threw herself into her father's arms and gave him a tight hug. Now that decisions had been made, Lex decided to give father and daughter some time to be alone.
"I'll see to the arrangements. I'll be back in a few minutes." Lex said though he got the distinct impression that his announcement went unheard. Chloe pulled back as soon as the door opened and closed. She smiled at her father.
"He's not that bad once you get past his 'I'm a Luthor therefore I'm a God' complex." Chloe chuckled. Gabe couldn't help but laugh knowing his daughter well.
"Chloe..." Gabe began but her grin stopped him short. He groaned slightly.
"Dad, I promise I'll take it easy on him."
"Can you at least remember I have to work for him?" He asked knowing it was futile.
"I will. Trust me, Dad. Lex won't even know I'm here half the time." She said solemnly.
"Somehow, I doubt that."
After another half an hour, Gabe left for home with Chloe promising to call him. Lex was already in the study examining some documents when Chloe entered. She still couldn't believe she was here. In the Luthor mansion. Alone with Lex. She found she had to stifle an un-Chloelike squeal.
A fluttering in her stomach began as she took a few minutes to study Lex. Handsome as ever. Her eyes wandered from the top of his bald shiny head to his beautiful face, down to his powerful chest that she remembered so well, to his long legs encased in black slacks.
Wow! He certainly did know how to catch one's eye...
"So what's the plan?" Chloe forced herself to concentrate on the issue at hand. This was not the time for childish fantasies, although the fantasies running through her mind were most definitely not childish.
"Well," Lex began, leaning back and crossing his arms causing Chloe's mouth to water, "I informed Harold that you'd be starting tomorrow as my chauffeur. I told him the situation and made it clear that no one else is to know. We need to keep the pretense of your being a boy and a chauffeur as real as possible."
Chloe nodded her head slowly while an image of Lex suddenly standing and pulling her into his arms ran rampant through her foggy brain.
"Chloe? Chloe?" Lex repeated her name as he noticed that her eyes had glazed over. She shook her head quickly, forcing herself to focus.
"Sorry. I was thinking about – er – y-your men at the Torch. I wonder if they found anything." Chloe said as she gazed around the room.
Look away... Do not look at him... I'll be fine if I don't LOOK at him...
"As for the plan, your day will start at seven o'clock. I have several meetings in Metropolis. Then we head back where Harold will inform you on your duties and the maintenance of the cars." Lex outlined.
Her gaze quickly shot back to him. Duties. Maintenance. SEVEN O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
"W-What? I don't know anything about cars. How in the world am I supposed to take care of them? And what's this about duties? What duties? As for seven o'clock, are you crazy?" Chloe's tirade had her pacing in front of him. Lex struggled to hide the smile.
"Harold will go over your duties with you. As for the cars...I believe what's involved would be simple oil changes, brake checks, transmission checks etc. The cars have to be in excellent condition at all times." Lex responded thoroughly enjoying her flushed face. He knew that Chloe would take any opportunity to explore and investigate, if not the situation with the Torch, then the next best thing: Him. And that, he could not allow to happen.
"What? B-But – B-But – " Chloe was shocked that she found herself sputtering.
"You'll be fine. Harold will explain everything. Now, let me show you to your room. You've had a long day and tomorrow we have an early start." Lex picked up the documents before him and stood.
"Now listen Lex, I'm not so sure about this." She began only to realize that Lex was not listening. He had walked straight to the door and was out of the room in an instant. Her eyes widened as she realized he was not coming back for her. He actually expected her to follow him like some trained dog.
"Oooh! Of all the nerve!" Chloe growled hating the fact that she had to run to catch up with him.
All of a sudden, she wasn't as certain of this plan as the urge to strangle him grew within her. She followed him down a series of halls where he finally stopped before a door. He opened the door and motioned for her to precede him. Glaring at him, she entered the room with her head held high and frowned at the sight before her. It was a small room with a single bed that looked strangely uncomfortable. There was a nightstand before it and a 5-drawer dresser at the far end. She almost cried out when she noticed there was no sign of a TV.
At least it had its own private bathroom though can one really consider a shower stall, a small sink and a toilet a bathroom...
"Mmm... T-This is f-fine." Chloe forced her voice to remain neutral as she looked around.
This room looks just like a prison cell...without the charming roommate...
"Do you have any questions for me Chloe?" Lex's soft voice washed over her causing her to tremble slightly.
Lex became conscious of just how small the room really was and found that his body heat had risen several degrees. It was sheer torture to be so close to her yet have to restrain from reaching out and touching her soft cheek or feeling her soft lips... An immediate tightening in his pants had him shifting from one foot to another.
She turned to face him and realized how close she really was to him. His glittering silver-blue gaze resting on intently her had her at a loss for words.
As soon as their gazes locked, Lex was lost to all rational thought. He wanted to touch her again. He wanted to hold her. But most of all he wanted to taste her. And of its own accord, his hand softly traced the outline of her cheek. A smirk formed on his lips as he noticed her shiver.
His eyes immediately focused on her slightly parted lips and he discovered himself drifting closer. Just a taste. A simple taste.
"Lex..." Chloe breathed softly. He was going to kiss her. Did she want that? Unconsciously she took a step back, uncertain of her emotions. Lex caught her movement and went still. What was he doing?
"Ms. Sullivan, I hope you have a good evening. I'll see you in the morning." Lex forced his face to remain impassive as he nodded to her and quickly left the room.
Outside, Lex halted in his tracks as he tried to calm the raging desire that coursed through his body. Am I insane? This is Chloe Sullivan. Gabe's daughter. She is under my protection.
Damn! This cannot happen again. This will not happen again! Never ever again!
Right! And I'm a damn saint...
TBC...