19.

"What else can you do?" Chloe asked the other blonde. They were in Chloe's kitchen. Lana was still working, and her dad was out having a meeting with his boss. Chloe smiled to herself. 'It's amazing what you can do when you're sleeping with Lex Luthor.'

Alex was now rolling her eyes at her. "This one always freaks people out." Chloe gave her a blank expression.

"You're talking to the Queen of Weirdville. Hell, I'd enjoy seeing some odd, it's been so long since I've had my fix." she said before taking a sip of her water.

"Right. I forgot. I'm used to Paradise Valley. Everybody's so paranoid there."

"Well, we've got paranoid people here too. Most of which are locals, who either hate the Luthors, or have a thing with cows."

"Cows?" Alex asked in disbelief.

"Cows." She dead panned.

"Really?"

"Seriously, haven't you seen Mr. Kent and his cows?"

"I've heard rumours of them." Alex chuckled. Chloe looked at her. "I heard from Clark." Alex clarified with a blush.

"Oh. My. God." Chloe said jumping off of her perch on the desk. "You like him don't you?" She rounded the seated Alex.

"Who?"

Chloe smiled. "Could it be true that the mysterious out-of town stranger has fallen for our beloved farm boy?"

Alex smiled softy, "Take my hand."

"Are you changing the subject on me?" Chloe said in mock-disbelief.

"Is it working?" Alex responded with a wide smile.

"Why am I taking your hand?" Chloe asked suspiciously.

"Don't ask. Just do it." She said more firmly.

"Fine." the shorter of the two conceded by placing her hand into Alex's.

"This might be a little odd." Alex said looking into the hazel eyes of her new friend.

"I told you, I know weird. I need a little bit of odd every once in a while to even it out."

Chloe took a deep breath and took Alex's hand.

------------

Lex was sitting in the library. Waiting for Chloe to call him. Not that he was waiting, Luthors are known to be impatient, but he knew that she was supposed to be here, with him, momentarily. And as Luthors do, so do Sullivans, they are always punctual.

He dialled Chloe's cell and was greeted with her voice.

"Hey."

"Where are you?"

"I'm at home. Remember, my dad's out of town." her sly voice spoke through the ear piece.

"I thought you were going to come to the mansion."

"Something came up, Hon', I'm sorry. This is important."

"More important than modelling your new underwear for me?"

"Yes, more important." She said. There was a noise in the back ground.

"Who's there with you?"

"Alex."

"Alex?"

"Oh come on, you know Alex. George Mack's daughter."

"Oh, Alex." Lex quickly searched for the Mack file on his computer. He knew what she was going to do next.

"You still have no idea who that is do you."

"Alexandra Mack born -"

"Stop reading off of files! That's cheating!" Chloe's voice came impatiently from the other end. "You know I can't just drop everything because you're horny."

"Chloe, does Alex know who you're talking to?" He asked softly. If she was going to lose her temper she could very well let the world know about them. As much as he'd like to shout off of the rooftops his feelings for the intrepid reporter, she had a future without him. He would only prevent her from doing the job that she loves. The job that runs through her blood. Journalism.

"No, should I tell her? Would that make everything better, dear?" Her voice escalated to a level that only she could reach in anger.

"Chloe calm down, please."

"You didn't answer my question." A slightly calmer voice came over the line. "Wouldn't that make everything better?"

"I wish it was that easy Chloe, really I do-"

"This discussion is over. And until you can feel comfortable yelling off the top of the tallest building in Metropolis how you feel about me, don't bother calling. I won't answer." Her voice was strong. It must have taken a lot for her to say that. But Lex didn't want an ultimatum, he didn't want to yell off the top of any building, let alone the tallest building in Metropolis, which his father just so happened to own. Lex wanted her.

He was going to figure out how he could get her back.

-------------

"So you see Mr. Luthor, I could be a - valuable asset to you." Lana said taking a deep breath. She put on and straightened her rumpled pink shirt, before retrieving her pants from their discarded place by the door.

"It will be nice doing business with you Miss Lang." Lionel said with a smirk before tossing the young girl her underwear. "I'm sure you can let yourself out without a fuss." He said reclining against his head board watching his new - associate dress.

Lana fled Lionel's penthouse and headed towards Smallville. She had her work cut out for her now. She had to find all of Clark's secrets, before anybody knew that she was dealing with the devil.