A/N: Thank you, The Die Hard & autumngold, for your kind reviews. Let's see if this is evil and cruel enough for ya'!

Disclaimer: I still own nothing, but ya' gotta' love Smallville! You go, WB!

Chloe looked at the guys. What to do… What to do… She wasn't ready yet for her next jaunt with Pete, so she needed something for all of them to do. Unfortunately, there hadn't been a meteor related incident in weeks… probably months. So she needed something interesting to fill the pages. She smiled to herself and gave a mental evil laugh. She just wasn't in the mood to give them all assignments that would make their day. Hmmm… Suddenly inspiration hit.

"Pete…" she started, getting everyone's attention after Lana had left.

"What's up, Chlo? Girls' basketball? Cheerleading tryouts?" His hopeful grin tried to make her feel guilty, but failed miserably.

"Well, I was talking to my dad and, apparently, they're researching starting another major department in the plant."

"And that's news?" Pete's face looked as if he'd just smelled his football shoe.

"Well, it's news if it's going to bring more jobs to town. More jobs means more people may be moving here… Which means there will be more demand for real estate… Which means more families may be moving to the area…"

"Which means it is news for our local high schoolnewspaper." Pete sighed. "So you want me to interview your dad about the reality of it all?"

This time Chloe actually laughed out loud. Luckily for her, it wasn't too evil sounding. "Why would you interview my dad, Pete? Everything he knows, I can get during dinner."

Pete looked at her in confusion and she almost couldn't wait for the horror to dawn in his eyes. "So what am I supposed to do to get the story?"

"Interview Lex, of course."

"Lex? Lex Luthor?!?"

"Do you know any other Lex Luthors in town, Pete?" She smiled and sat back to watch the fun.

Pete didn't disappoint. He gaped at her like a drowning fish, eyes darting from side to side, looking for any way out. "But why me?" he demanded. "Surely Clark…"

"Clark has had way too many articles regarding Lex assigned to his byline." Chloe replied firmly. "If we don't have someone else report on Mr. Luthor occasionally, people will start to think there's something fishy going on."

"Chloe!" Clark gasped in outrage.

"What do you want me to say, Clark?"

"How could you think…? I mean, what would make you think that Lex and I were having that type of relationship?!?" Clark blushed even at the thought.

Chloe rolled her eyes. "Clark, you're one of my best friends. Why would I even assume you were gay? You don't have the fashion sense."

Clark looked down at his trademark flannel shirt and jeans. "What's wrong with what I wear?"

Chloe stopped herself from rolling her eyes again. She definitely wasn't in the mood for the "face freezing that way" myth her aunt used to spout at her. She needed a new look. Maybe she'd practice one later… "Clark, you're a farm boy and there's nothing wrong with that. I just don't know many gay men that have that much plaid in their closet. Let me put it this way, sweetie. If we lived in New York, the Fab 5…"

"Fab 5?" Clark looked at her in confusion.

"Oh, my gosh! Don't you have cable? The Fab 5! 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy'? OK, I'll come over and initiate you one day. Anyways, this isn't about you." She turned to Pete who'd been following the conversation as if it was his lifeline. She knew that he'd been hoping that she'd get so distracted that she'd forget his assignment. Fat chance! she thought, evil laughter in her mental soundtrack. Not today, buddy! "I'll throw you a bone, Pete." He breathed a sigh of relief. It was too bad she couldn't tell him that it was too soon to think he was off the hook. "I'll let you get the basic info from my dad before you interview Lex." She squinted her eyes in thought. "I'm looking for something hard hitting. Something with a new angle. We all know that on the outside it looks like it'll be good for the community, but sometimes what the Luthors think will be good for the community and what is actually good for the community is something entirely different." She smiled at him. "I think you're up for it…"

Pete looked at her through narrowed eyes. "Did I do something to you recently that you're bound and determined to make me pay for? Did I spill coffee on you and forget about it? Did I blow you off for a date?"

Chloe laughed. "Do you really think I'm that petty?"

"I wouldn't have thought so before, but…"

"Pete, listen. I need a fresh outlook on LuthorCorp. Like I said, Clark's had to do those articles to death and Lex won't even talk to me. Thinks I'm going to blow some scandal wide open…" Chloe smirked. "It's kinda' flattering, actually. But you, my friend, aren't going to be seen as a threat. That and he would be expecting Clark, so might be thrown off by your presence and let something slip."

"You're not going to let me get out of this one, are you?"

"Nope. Are you up for the challenge?"

"Normally, I would say no, but I'd never hear the end of it."

Chloe nodded decisively. "That is totally true. And I would take pleasure in telling it to every girl you even think about introducing to me. You appointment is at 5:30 tomorrow afternoon. My dad's expecting you in his office for the background interview. But if I hear that you didn't make that meeting after I went to all the trouble of making it…" She looked at him in her most severe manner and Pete blanched at the implied threat.

He held up his hands in surrender. "You've got me. I'll do it. I won't be happy, but I'll be there. Anything specific you want me to ask him?"

Chloe thought about it for a moment. "I don't make it a habit of force-feeding questions to my reporters, Mr. Ross. But if you're desperate for a question, just ask boxers or briefs. I'm sure our female audience is dying to know."

Pete's eyes widened in horror. "Are you kidding?"

"Do I look like I'm kidding? Now why don't you get to work before I think of any more questions that you could ask." Pete shook his head and quickly gathered up his books. He knew when he was beaten.

Chloe's evil laugh threatened again. It was a beautiful day and could only get better. Clark looked at her with those wide baby blues and she almost felt guilty… Well, almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, doesn't it?

A/N: So tell me… Did I maintain Chloe's character? I threw in the Clark/Lex jab for all you slashers out there. Please submit some reviews. I would really appreciate it!