22.

"The effects of small amounts of GC-161 on the meteor rocks are inconclusive. Without proper and further investigation and scrutiny under a microscope, one can not be certain that it will achieve the desired results. Although the effects of meteor radiation on the chemical creates a highly different effect. A highly dangerous chemical imbalance, causing complete normalization of the chemical make up, therefore causing GC-161 to neutralize, and become blue in colour. This is odd, mainly because the foundation chemical in GC-161 is a deep mustard colour."

George Mack took a deep breath. Never again will he present to a board of directors hungry. Let alone the LuthorCorp board, and most importantly Lex Luthor. The very intimidating Lex Luthor. Casually sitting there, an intrigued look on his face, waiting for him to finish.

"What would be discovered after this investigation?" Mr. Luthor asked, his words sharp and concise.

"Well, Mr. Luthor, I would personally oversee the experiment of whether or not the chemical reacts to said rocks."

"Very well, continue on with the investigation, George." Mr. Luthor stood, before offering his hand in congratulations. "You have my funding, and unwavering support of this project."

George smiled. "Thank you Mr. Luthor."

"I've told you before George, call me Lex, Mr. Luthor is my father."

"Yes, Mr. Luthor." Lex shot him a smile, before leading the board out of George's way.

George took a deep breath. How was he going to explain to Alex that he was working on the GC-161 project again, and that now, there was a mutation in the chemical string of the antidote because of some random meteor rocks.

George rubbed his eyes warily.

If the GC-161 became active again in the test he was about to perform, Alex's life as a normal teenaged girl may be over once again.

When did everything get so difficult?

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

'When did everything get so difficult?' Lex thought taking a sip of his scotch.

He knew what he was getting himself into with Chloe, and she had reacted just as planned with the tickets, it was just - were they really ready to go public? He knew that Chloe thought that she was, but she didn't understand the lengths and the risks involved with the media. Well, maybe she did, but he knew for a fact that she didn't know what it was like on the other side of the microphone, tape-recorder, and newspaper page. She would have more than a by-line on the cover of the Daily Planet, she would be the news in the society pages.

Was she really ready for this kind of celebrity?

"I am, you know." She said softly from the door.

"You are what?" Lex asked sitting upright in his chair.

"Ready for this." She crossed the room, her flats padding softly on the expensive carpet. "Ready for scrutiny, anger, and mistreatment. I'm in for the long haul. It's part of the Lex Luthor package." She smiled broadly at him. "Besides, I have and excellent teacher, and great company."

"Should I be jealous of these people?" He asked when she sat on the desk, her legs straddling his body.

She smiled again, broad and bright. "Definitely jealous." She said before leaning down to kiss him.

"At least your day seems to be going well." She sighed, before running her fingers through her hair.

"What do you mean?"

"Lana's up to something. She isn't moping around the house anymore, and all of my files have been opened and unlocked." Lex's eyebrow rose.

"You think that Lana's been snooping." He stated.

"Exactly, but it doesn't bother me that she was snooping, as much as I think that she's saved all of my information files and word processing pages onto disk."

"Have you found the disk yet?"

"No, but, I was wondering-"

"I'm not breaking and entering into your house Chloe."

She laughed. "That wasn't what I meant. I can't get into her room, without her hovering over my shoulder. If there was some kind of terrible thing that you needed her for at the Talon, on the other hand."

"You want me to stall her."

"Exactly. I might make an evil genius out of you yet Luthor." Chloe said softly before leaning back down to give him another kiss.

"Lex! I need to talk to you about - Chloe? What are you doing!?"

"Clark, it' s not what you-" Chloe stopped defending herself when Lex's hand rested on her leg. She looked down at him, understanding clearly written on her face.

"You need to talk about Chloe?" Clark shot Lex a look that yelled 'Don't mess with me Luthor.' "Who do you need to talk about then?" Lex asked offering Clark a seat.

"Chloe, do you mind, this is kind of - you know - personal." Chloe shot Clark a look that screamed 'Don't mess with me Kent' as Clark graciously accepted Lex's offered seat.

"Anything you can say to Lex, you can say to me." She said firmly.

"Its really - awkward - for me." Lex watched Chloe roll her eyes at his best friend's comment.

"No offence, Clark, but everything is awkward for you. They practically had to rewrite the definition when you hit puberty." Chloe shot at the defenceless farm-boy, Lex chuckled.

"Now, that's not fair Chloe." Clark said, starting to stand. Lex waved his hand at the farm-boy, and he sat back down. Lex didn't want a Chloe versus Clark fight with him as the judge, and the reason they were bickering like children.

"Why are you here Clark?" Lex asked calmly, hoping to steer the discussion clear of the angry pair's conversation.

"I need to talk to you about -" Clark gave Chloe a look, before returning his gaze to Lex, and whispering, "-our discussion yesterday." Chloe, again, rolled her eyes. Lex had filled her in on his advisory conversation with Clark already. 'Not that Clark knows that.' A little voice piped up in his head.

"So talk." Lex held his hand out towards him. "You have the floor Clark." Farm-boy carefully eyed Chloe, who was now standing behind Lex; before turning back to the person he was directing his words to.

"I don't know how to approach this whole thing, Lex. I mean, with what we talked about and everything."

"With Alex, you mean." Lex said as if Chloe wasn't in the same room with them. Clark's eyes bulged before his eyes darted between the two of them.

"Lex." he hissed.

"It's okay Clark." Chloe said casually. "Everything that we talk about in this room, doesn't leave this room. I understand that." She could tell that Clark was still not convinced, so she continued. "Besides, Alex told me all the kinky details." She shot him a broad smile, and a wink.

Clark looked mortified, then his expression changed to that of complete embarrassment.

"It's okay, Clark, you and I have already been down that road, remember." She said before giving him another wink. She and Lex chuckled

"Well, I have to find the right time to ask her to the dance."

Chloe shot him a large smile. "I can tell her you're looking for her."

"Thanks Chlo', but -"

"Clark, Chloe and I are seeing each other. If she can get Alex alone with you, do you promise to keep this a secret until the dance?"

Clark gulped. Obviously this was a lot of responsibility for the farm-boy.

"You seem to be excellent at secret keeping." Chloe said, her eyes pleading with him. "Please, Clark?"

"Fine. You have yourselves a deal."