Chloe felt small inside the grand surroundings of Lex's mansion. Sitting in a large leather armchair, she watched as Lex phoned a member of his security team to bring him a first-aid kit, and then as he poured himself a large brandy. He had barely said a word to her since agreeing to bring her back to his home, to help her avoid the awkward questions from her father and Lana. Now she was just waiting for said questions from a man she barely knew. And they came.
"Chloe, I know that you don't want to speak about what happened, and I'm no psychiatrist, but you need to speak about what happened. Don't shut yourself down."
She sat quiet for a moment, knew that she was hunched in a defensive pose in the oversized seat, her arms wrapped round her legs. The russet leather was cool against her skin, and she fought the urge to bury herself deep in its recesses, block out the world and Lex's questioning eyes.
"Lex… Thank you for helping me, for bringing me back, but…"
He cut her off, his voice when he spoke full of concern, but with the steely determination that came as part and parcel of the Luthor name.
"I found you in the middle of nowhere, a mess, bleeding. I can't just pretend that that never happened, that it never happened to you."
She knew that he wouldn't give up, that she would have to tell him eventually. Chloe figured it would be easier all round to tell him now. Maybe then she could put the night in her past, forget it.
"I was out with a guy, um, someone I met at the Daily Planet. I thought we were friends, thought he liked me. He took me for a picnic, he kissed me but… it felt wrong. I told him to stop, but he… he didn't…"
Chloe realised that she was shaking, that tears were rolling down her cheeks. Lex was looking at her in horror and she felt the shame and embarrassment rise up within her. She had been so stupid, and now she was paying for it.
"Chloe, did he…?" Lex couldn't even form the words. He had guessed that Chloe's ordeal was along those lines, but hearing it aloud… it was awful.
She shook her head in response to his question.
"I had pepper spray, but I just…" Breaking down in tears again, Chloe closed her eyes and put her hand to her mouth to stifle the loud sobs that she couldn't control. She felt the air move as Lex knelt down beside her, and felt shock and fear for a moment as he put his hand on her arm, then eased into his embrace as his arms wound around her comforting and warm after the horrors of the night. She cried out all the pain and fear, and for the first time since Dan she felt truly safe as she heard Lex whisper in her ear, his voice full of emotion.
"It's ok. Chloe, its ok…"
