13.

He observed the woman in front of him. She had evolved since the day that he had met her. Gone was the heartbroken sidekick. Gone were the spunky clothes and blindingly bright colours. Gone were the uncertainties brought on from years of belittling and being ignored.

In the place of the girl that she had once been was now a well polished young woman. Somehow she had found herself in the world. He just hoped that her place was with him.

Lex knew that she was becoming agitated with their current situation. Always worrying about what would happen, what could happen.

He had feelings for this young woman. This blond young woman. That alone sparked interest among his hired help. She was blonde. An anomaly in the love life of one Lex Luthor.

He wanted her. He needed her. And he would lose her if he let the outside world in on their little secret. If anybody knew what she meant to him - she would be in danger. Danger from his father. Danger from public perception of their relationship. Did they even have a relationship?

He knew that they were together in all meanings of the word, but when people were involved, he just pushed her away. Kept her farther than an arm's length away.

Pete suspected something, this much he knew. The glowering stares between the two of them were growing more constant and predatory lately. But, from what he gathered from Chloe, Pete would never put two and two together. And if he did, boy, was Lex in trouble. An angry Pete Ross was a force that Lex wasn't willing to reason with. If he could be reasoned with at all.

"Lex, I really need your help with this." Chloe said staring at him intently. Her eyes were boring into him as if she could see into his mind.

"I just don't see how me convincing Clark to go out with this 'Alex' girl will help me." He said leaning back into his chair. The expensive leather squeaked as Chloe stood up from her comfortable position on the other side of his glass desk.

A mysterious smirk played itself upon her glorious lips as she rounded his desk. "I can see that you are big on innuendoes, and ulterior motives Mr. Luthor." She was putting on a show for whomever may be lurking around the building. His father. He was staying in the mansion for the weekend. And that left Lex and Chloe without privacy for two whole days. "Lets just say it will take care of Clark for a while." She smiled seductively before moving behind him and running her hands along his shoulder blades.

"Your plan has a fault Miss Sullivan." He said motioning for her to take her seat. She shot him a taste of his trademark smirk, before again taking the seat across from him.

"And what might that be?"

"One, Miss Lang perhaps?"

"Lana is no problem. She's been reduced to a pile of blubbering pinkness." She looked at him in his eye.

"I'm not sure I understand." He was sincerely confused. Lana was always a pile of pinkness. What was new about that?

"Let me explain this for you in simple terms." She said leaning towards him. He got a lovely shot of cleavage through her purple and black button-down shirt. "Clark." She subtly licked her lips. "Dumped. Her." She leaned back into the chair.

"And you're assuming that he dumped her for 'Alex'?"

"I know that he dumped her for Alex." She smirked.

"And how would you know this Miss Sullivan?"

"He told me as such. Then there was Pinkness' account that he dumped her for some whore in Metropolis." Chloe rolled her eyes. "Personally, I value Clarks opinion over her's."

"This does make things interesting, doesn't it." He smirked. "Alright, I'll help you with this little issue," he cautiously lowered his voice, "if it keeps them occupied."

She smirked. "Oh, it will." She stood up. "Thank you for your time Mr. Luthor." She said before leaving him to his own devices.

"This should be interesting." He smirked before taking a drink of his scotch.