Chloe looked up at the high ceilings of the manor. The butler had ushered

her towards the stairs and given her directions to Lionel's study. Before

she could even acknowledge, the silent man had slipped away subtly, leaving

Chloe to figure out the rest on her own.

She climbed the stairs and opened the first door that she saw. Like any

other part of the house, the room was a bit too cool for her liking. There

were equipment arranged every which way, and once she considered what they

seemed to be for, she realized she was in the wrong room.

It looked like a gym, and from the towel hanging by the door, it was not an

empty gym. She searched the room for its occupant, so that she could ask

further directions to her interviewee. Her heart stopped when her eyes

landed on Lucas Luthor doing pull ups right at the end of the room.

His biceps strained at the effort. Sweat rolled from his neck down his

chest. Chloe's eyes followed the trail until it was absorbed by his shorts.

"Disgusting," she said aloud, ignoring the thrill that ran down her spine.

Lucas noticed her presence and smirked. "Miss me so soon?"

"I'm looking for your dad," she replied defensively.

"Yet here you are."

"How do I get to your father's study?" Chloe asked in exasperation.

Lucas dropped on the floor and ambled towards her. He held out his hand and

Chloe grabbed the towel and threw it in his direction. Lucas caught it and

patted his neck dry. "Someone whispered to me that you probably liked me.

I'm inclined to believe him."

Chloe gasped. "You wish!" She turned her back on him and left the room.

"But I haven't told you where to find my father!" he called out from behind

her.

Chloe ignored him and fled from that corridor, turning and entering random

doors, not caring if she got lost for a decade in the dark shadowed hallways

as long as she escaped from the burning humiliation of that incident.

An errie orange light captivated her from afar. She walked towards it and

stopped at the closed door from under which the light could be seen. Chloe

pushed the door open and wandered in.

There were various rock samples preserved under glass cases, photographs of

the mysterious and clippings of unexplained incidents. Chloe found herself

immersed in a world of suspicion and intrigue as she pored through each of

the articles from different parts of the country and the world.

When she had finished reading about a strange animal in Mexico that killed

cattle by eating its insides while leaving the skin untouched, Chloe

shivered and turned around, only to stumble back with a yelp of surprise.

Lex Luthor was standing not five inches from her, regarding her with an

intense gaze. "Like you, I too am attracted to the strange and mysterious,"

be began. "Chloe Sullivan, I presume."

Chloe's open mouthed amazement at meeting Lex Luthor hindered her from

making a snappy response. At once her childhood crush on the young rebel

rushed forth, almost choking her in terrible excitement. "Yyyeah."

"A woman of few words," he said with a friendly smile. Chloe instinctively

glanced down at his hand and saw that he was holding an issue of the Torch.

He noticed the direction of her gaze and nodded. "I find it interesting how

teenagers view matters of science."

Chloe frowned. "Mr Luthor, are you insulting me?"

"Do you find yourself insulted, Chloe? If you do, I apologize. I am simply

commenting on the editorial this week. I've been a fan since I arrived. This

disappoints."

Chloe shook her head. "I have to go interview your father. Can you tell me

where to find him?"

Lex took her arm and led her out of the room. "You have so much potential,"

he said while they were walking. You're more than this excuse for an

editorial. You seemed like you were trying to pacify the school

administration."

"You don't know anything about me."

"Turn here." Lex led her back to the hallway she had come from, and stopped

them before the large doors of Lionel's study. "I should be pulling you away

from him, not leading you straight to the man."

"Thanks for showing me the way, Mr Luthor. This is what I came for."

Lex nodded and left her to her devices, hoping that she could stand her

ground against Lionel. Somehow, he could not doubt her ability to hold her

own. He proceeded to his brother's room, where he saw Lucas freshly showered

and picking out clothes.

"She's a lovely spirited young woman," Lex started.

Lucas glared at Lex. "She's a little girl."

"Yes," Lex admitted. "Too young for me. Maybe in a year or two it won't

sound so bad. I have ethics on this," he assured his brother. "But what

about dad?"

Lucas drew out a pair of jeans and a black shirt. "What do you want?"

"I know what's going on in your school even if you treat it like it's your

own private kingdom. Why do you feel the need to be nasty to her?"

Without looking at his brother, Lucas took a paperweight from his bedside

table and threw it in Lex's direction. Lex easily dodged, and the rock

exploded upon impact on the stone wall.

"You need to work on your temper," Lex drawled.

"Get out of my room."

~~

That evening, after Chloe Sullivan left a suitably harassed and impressed

Lionel Luthor, the old man called his sons to his study. Within five

minutes, Lex appeared in the study and stood in front of Lionel's table

wearing one of his best Armanis. Lionel nodded in acknowledgment of Lex's

prompt arrival.

Almost ten minutes later, Lucas strutted in wearing jogging pants and a

t-shirt. He paused when he saw Lex's appearance, then smirked. "The

overachieving son shames me again," came his offhand comment. "You'll have

to forgive my tardiness. I had to finish my rounds."

Lex shook his head and ignored Lucas. Lionel smirked at his sons. "Well you

must be wondering why I've called you both here."

"Actually I wasn't," Lucas replied. "Lex probably is. I'm just waiting for

you to dismiss us."

Lex looked at his brother. "You shouldn't have bothered to come if that's

how you feel, Lucas."

Lucas scoffed. "Like you're really interested in what the old man has to

say."

"The old man sent for his attorneys. He's drafting his will," Lex informed

Lucas.

"Well by all means, speak up, dad!" Lucas exclaimed.

Lionel stood to be at eye level with his sons. "I'm glad you are both so

concerned with what happens to our considerable wealth." Lionel picked up a

sheaf of papers. "So far, Lex has been the one to show more interest in the

company. He has also shown his capability in-"

"A master's degree and some merit awards," Lucas finished, injecting a good

amount of boredom in his voice.

"As opposed to your trophies in bowling and cycling, Lucas?" Lex inquired.

"Boys, boys," Lionel drawled. "It's appalling to be hissing at each other

like that. You're Luthors. Have some dignity, why don't you." After a

dramatic pause, he continued, "I was visited earlier by a high school girl,

interviewed me. Chloe I think her name was. Very sharp girl. Spunky."

Lucas' eyes narrowed. He should have known. Lex warned him too. Their father

did not have an ounce of decency. He steered the conversation in another

direction. "The will, dad."

"Anyway, I have decided that the one who will show me how well he runs the

Smallville plant will get the majority of the Luthor assets."

"And how will we decide this, father? Each of us will run it for a quarter?"

Lionel frowned. "That will throw off the entire management, no! You will get

the chance to run the plant if you win in a little race I have devised for

you."

"A race?" Lex asked blandly. Lucas grinned. Lex stayed in his office too

much. He was by far fitter than his Armani brother.

"Going back to the reporter then. The one who snags her will get plant

control."

"Are you insane, dad?" Lex asked mildly.

Lucas' hands fisted. "You'll treat an innocent girl as a prop? Why should I

be surprised? That's what you did to my mother."

Lex and Lucas' eyes met. Lucas tried his best to read his brother's

expression, but Lex was as always inscrutable.

"Have fun, sons."