Summary: Pete's assignment. Will Pete just do a fluff piece or will he finally get into the assignment? Plus, what's up with the beautiful receptionist?

A/N: Well, I'm slightly disappointed that no one else has written in a review. Is it that terrible? Maybe I need to change my story summary.

Disclaimer: I no have anything to do with Smallville… other than fan fic. I own nothing.


The next morning, Pete woke up early so he could talk to someone in Town Hall about the project before his interview with Lex. Mr. Sullivan was a great guy but for some reason, he was totally loyal to his employer. Was it that he wouldn't see that his boss might be doing something wrong or that he couldn't? Pete knew there was more to this story. It sounded too good to be true. What was Lex hiding?

As soon as the doors opened at Town Hall, Pete was inside asking to see the Commissioner of Public Works. He was taken to the doorway of Ms. Larsson and announced. He was rather lucky that his mother was a judge in this town and everyone knew who he was. She had offered to get him the information, but surprisingly he'd turned her down. "Pete Ross," Ms. Larsson said, a wide smile on her face. "What are you doing here so early?"

Pete looked at the older woman and smiled. She really is very pretty, he thought quickly. If I was only 10 years older… "Oh, I've been assigned a story for our school paper and I was wondering if I could get your opinion on something."

Ms. Larsson's eyes narrowed. "Oh, right. The paper that a Chloe Sullivan edits."

Pete cocked his eyebrow at her in an inquiring way. "Um, yeah. That's the one. Only high school paper in town." I wonder what Chloe's done to this lady…

A thin smile crossed her face. "Well, I have nothing to hide." She sat behind her desk and crossed her arms. Pete could tell that she was feeling really defensive. He just wished he knew why. "What's your question?"

Pete decided he should try charming. The more flies analogy never seemed more appropriate. He smiled brightly. "I was wondering if you had any information on the new plant Luthor Corp is opening in the next couple of months."

She gaped at him for a moment. "Why are you asking me? I would have thought you would have asked the growth and development manager. The only thing I've been working on with Luthor Corp is their successful bid on the garbage service in Smallville."

Pete looked at her blankly. "Garbage service? Lex has obtained the garbage service contract? Why would he do that?" Her eyes narrowed again. "I apologize. I was just thinking aloud for a moment. It surprised me that a fertilizer plant would be interested in also working in the garbage industry. Could you tell me why they got the contract?"

Ms. Larsson smiled. "Well, I'll tell you that our landfill seems to be getting slightly out of hand. Mr. Luthor had some rather ingenious ideas on how to organize it. He even guaranteed that the price of the service wouldn't rise, even with inflation. The Council was very impressed with his ideas and initiative, so he was granted the contract. It is a lucrative investment."

Pete shook his head. There was something he was missing. He just needed to think about it. He stood and offered her his hand. "Thank you, Ms. Larsson, for your time. Well, I should probably get going so I won't be late for class."

"You're very welcome, Mr. Ross. I hope that your article goes well." It didn't take long before he was ushered out of her office and the door shut firmly behind him.

I'm missing something, I know it.

The question bothered Pete all day. During his free period, he took off for the Torch and looked at the documentation that Mr. Sullivan had handed him. He knew he was missing something. Why would Lex have obtained the garbage contract? The city was pretty small, so it didn't need the large start-up capital that other cities would. He poured over the papers and then it hit him. The new energy creating technology that was being studied at the plant used garbage to obtain the power. In fact, it also produced byproducts like petroleum, base metals, and a common component in fertilizer. If this technology was a success, Luthor Corp would be able to charge twice for the same base product: once for taking the garbage and once for selling back the energy and other products. Pete sat back. It really was quite ingenious.

As he headed for the plant, he shook his head. Here he was, twice in as many days, when all he wanted was to forget this place even existed. Of course, that's not even to mention the overly attractive receptionist that made him feel as if his I.Q. had dropped 100 points. He shrugged. It was an assignment and he wasn't going to chicken out now. He'd faced more dangerous things. Plus, he really wanted to confront Lex with the information he'd been able to gather. Ten to one, he would have a glib excuse for everything, but Pete was going to see if he could get him to slip up.

He walked through the doors confidently. "Pete Ross for Lex Luthor," he informed the receptionist. He knew that she already knew that, but he wanted to place himself fully on professional footing. It helped that he never directly looked at her.

"Certainly, Mr. Ross." The receptionist fairly cooed his name. "If you will just follow me?" She got up and sashayed down the hallway. Pete followed obediently, if a little slowly so he could admire the view, thinking that she walked very well. It really was a good thing she couldn't see his face.

She stopped at some very ornate double-doors after what felt like 20 minutes of walking. She knocked deferentially. "Come," came the clipped greeting. Now that's the Luthor charm I know so well, Pete thought snidely.

She opened the door and announced, "Mr. Ross to see you sir."

Pete was just far enough behind to hear Lex's reaction. "Who are you?" He didn't sound very happy.

"Lynette, sir. I'm the new receptionist."

"What happened to Gladice?"

"What do you mean, sir?"

Pete could almost feel the glare from where he was standing. He so didn't want to get in the middle of this so he stood to the side of the door, out of sight. "Gladice… My secretary? She usually brings up my guests…"

"I wasn't sure she was here so late, sir, so I took the liberty of escorting Mr. Ross."

"Did you try and call? And you left the front desk unattended." Lex's voice was flat. "Lynette, I realize you're new, but there are some certain basic protocols our support staff follows. You have just left the front desk unattended, which is a cardinal sin. Who hired you?"

"I was transferred here from Metropolis. I made a special request, sir."

"And who approved the transfer?"

"Your father, sir."

Lex gave an audible sigh. "I see. I don't know why you wanted to transfer Lynette, but you are now terminated. Clean out your desk and be out by 6pm."

"Sir?"

"Did I stutter?"

"No, sir. But…"

"There are no buts here." Pete had to stifle a giggle. "I don't know why my father sent you down here, but you are now officially released from service. If you can get your old job back with my father, that's fine, but you no longer work for me. Now leave and send Mr. Ross in."

Pete slid in as the offended woman stalked out of the office, barely even acknowledging his existence. "Weren't you a little hard on her?"

Lex looked at him consideringly. "Not really. I was fairly certain that she was trying to maneuver into my good graces and when I realized that my father sent her, I knew that she was actually here to spy on me. It serves her right that I send her packing. She wasn't even a particularly good spy."

Pete sat down. Man, this guy is as hard as nails! Remind me to never really get on his bad side. Oh, crap! That's what I'm here to do. Pete thought about toning down his questions, but realized that Lex wouldn't do anything too horrible to one of Clark's best friends. "I'm guessing that you know why I'm here…"

Lex smiled. "Of course, Pete. Chloe set up the appointment a week ago with my secretary. I'm actually surprised that she doesn't come and interview me on her own."

Pete was surprised. "It's my understanding that she was told she couldn't interview you. Maybe your secretary heard the rumors about Chloe and decided that it was safer not to have her interview you directly."

Lex laughed. "Gladice is quite the guard of me. It's one of the reasons why I keep her on. She has her foibles, but she's very useful in her own way."

"I guess." Pete shrugged. He wasn't here to get into Lex's regular personality. He was looking for his business secrets… If not secrets, then some answers. "Well, let's get to it. I'm sure you're pretty busy."

Lex shrugged. The motion looked very elegant in his fabulous suit. No teacher would take him to task for that gesture. "Actually, Pete, this is my last appointment of the day. I wasn't sure how much time you were going to need and thought that I'd give you as much as you need."

Pete was surprised. It was a degree of courtesy that he definitely hadn't expected. Suddenly, he yawned and blushed. "Oh, I'm sorry. I don't know where that came from." His face was feeling rather funny… kinda' numb.

Lex nodded in acceptance of his apology. "It's totally okay, Pete. It's probably been a long…" He was interrupted by a jaw cracking yawn of his own. His eyes narrowed. "That's odd."

Pete nodded. "Maybe we should get out of here... Get some fresh air..."

"I agree." They both got to their feet and Pete noticed that Lex was weaving from side to side. Lex bent over and steadied himself on his desk, but Pete could swear that he was still moving.

"Lex, why can't you stand still?"

"It's not me, Pete. You're the one that's tilting crazily."

"That's it. We have to leave." Pete turned to head toward the door when the world seemed to narrow in his field of vision. He staggered forward a couple of steps before he felt himself falling to his knees. If I could just open the door… and then the world went black.

A/N: I don't seem to be able to make up my mind. So here's my explanation. I have created my own little universe where Lex & Chloe haven't become friendly, Pete is still around, Martha is working at the Talon and Lionel is not in jail. Just take these as facts and we'll just move on.