7.
Chloe stopped at the stop sign, an internal battle warring inside of her, trying to decide whether she should stop by the mansion. She was sure Lex wouldn't have left her a message unless it was important. Then again, he hadn't called back. Maybe she would be safer just calling him. She thought for a moment, then took a right at the stop sign.
It was almost past midnight, if Lex was still awake and his phone rang, he may just ignore it.
After driving down a desolate road for a few more miles, she turned onto the lane that would take her to the mansion's gates. After being buzzed through them she continued down the drive until she came to a stop at the front doors. She got out of her car, locking it after herself, and looked up at the light coming through the colored panes of the window of Lex's study. She made her way to the front door, then softly rapped the side of her fist against the aged oak.
The butler opened it and motioned her in.
"He's in the study."
Chloe nodded and thanked him and climbed the stairs to the second level. She stopped in front of the double doors leading to Lex's inner sanctum. She knocked once, very lightly, and went in as Lex called out for his visitor to enter.
Lex looked up from his paperwork and did a double take. Chloe stood on the threshold and smiled softly. Her face made even more pale by the dark rings encircling her eyes. "Chloe."
Chloe walked toward him and sat down in the chair across from him as he motioned to it. "Hey."
Lex nodded at her casual greeting and arched a brow playfully. "To what do I owe this late night visit?"
Chloe frowned and looked around the study. "Uh, actually I was going to ask you the same thing."
Lex leaned back in his leather chair and placed his hands on the arms, resting them there. Chloe took a moment to study his face, the lines that had formed shallow grooves, making him look much older than his 23 years. His grey eyes stared back at her curiously. She met his gaze evenly and smiled just a little. "You called me."
Lex looked thoughtful before shaking his head slowly. "No, I don't believe I did."
Chloe stared at him for a moment before rooting through her bag, her hair falling over her face, concealing the worried look in her eyes. She pulled out her cell phone and handed it across the desk to him. "You did."
Lex scrolled through the incoming messages and saw the digits of his study line sitting in plain view. He looked at the time and noted the call was placed nearly 15 minutes prior to her arrival. "I don't know who left you this number, but I didn't place the call."
Chloe smiled shakily and stood up. Her smile wavered for a second before she plastered on the fakest one she could find. "All right." She took the offered phone back and put it in her bag. "Well, since you didn't call, and I didn't call, I'll just get home now and get some rest."
Lex stood and walked her to the door of his study. His hand fell easily onto her shoulder. "Chloe, if you need anything."
Chloe shook her head, willing the tears of frustration to stay away. "No, I'm fine."
Lex nodded once and held the door open for her.
Chloe walked out and didn't look back. As soon as she was down the stairs and at the front door she stopped and turned around. "Son of a bitch." She grumbled under her breath. Instead of heading out to her car she headed toward the wing Lionel had led her through earlier. She found her way down the halls and out to the guesthouse.
She had rapped softly on the mansion's doors, but now she banged the side of her fist against the door to the guesthouse.
Lionel opened the door, his silk pajama bottoms riding low on his hips, his hair a messy aray, he looked as if he'd just woken up. "Chloe."
Chloe squared her shoulders and pushed past him. She turned in the middle of the room and placed her hands on her hips, ignoring the thunk her bag made when it hit the ground. "I don't know what kind of games you're playing, but you're making me look completely stupid in front of Lex."
Lionel closed the door and sat down on the couch, forcing her to turn around to face him. When she did he motioned with his hand for her to continue and wasn't all that surprised to see her start to pace back and forth in front of the coffee table. "I got a page this evening, while I was working on the Torch. Instead of calling him back, I just decided to stop by, and what does he tell me?" She paused and looked at Lionel, when he shrugged she continued, "he placed no such call. So how does that make me look? Anyone could have called me and left me a numerical page with his number." She shook her head and laughed and then pointed at Lionel. "But who would have any reason to do such a thing but you?"
Lionel drew his brows together in silence and steepled his fingers in front of him. After a few uncomfortable moments, Lionel cleared his throat and looked up at Chloe. "All right." He stood with her and led her outside onto a small patio. "I'm going to tell you the truth."
Chloe interupted him with a snort and crossed her arms over her chest. "Oh, good. Now you're going to tell me the truth."
Lionel rolled his eyes and paced in front of her. "Stop acting immature."
Chloe gaped and waved her arms around. "Me? You're the one sending me pages from your son and then making me look like a fool, showing up past midnight and visiting him out of nowhere."
Lionel grunted and placed a hand on Chloe's shoulder, then pushed her down gently until she sat on a wicker chair with a big comfortable cushion. "He saw us this afternoon, when we were saying goodbye."
Chloe just stared at him. "So?"
Lionel rubbed his hand over his jaw and stopped in front of Chloe. "How do you feel about my son?"
Chloe frowned and jerked her head back. "What?"
Lionel squatted down in front of her. "Lex. How do you feel about Lex?"
Chloe felt the blush rise and was grateful the only light they had out here was from the moon. "He's okay, I guess."
Lionel shook his head and grumbled. "No, no. Do you love him? Could you love him?"
Chloe bit her bottom lip and stared, wide-eyed at the man in front of her. "Um."
Lionel snapped his fingers in her face and brought her back down to earth. "Chloe, how do you feel about him?"
Chloe shrugged and felt her insides start to churn. "He's attractive."
Lionel nodded and motioned for her to go on. "What else do you like about him."
He could tell the moment Chloe's eyes glazed over and she started listing Lex's attributes that he was right on target with trying to get them together. "...and attentive. He's very attentive. When he talks to you, it makes you feel like you're the only person that matters, the only person that exists."
He stood up and clapped his hands together. "Excellent."
Chloe was brought out of her reverie by Lionel's applauding. "What? What's excellent?"
"You and Lex."
Chloe laughed nervously and then stopped abruptly when Lionel shot her a withering glare. She cleared her throat and got to her feet. "Me and Lex?"
Lionel smiled slowly and nodded. "You'll be perfect."
Chloe stared at Lionel as if he'd grown a second head. "What do you mean perfect? Just because Lex is easy on the eyes..."
"He's interested in you."
Chloe pressed her lips together.
"After he saw us together this afternoon, he took on a jealous front. He's definitely interested in you, Chloe"
Chloe looked around her surroundings. "He was probably just worried, you know? I mean, contrary to what you say, he thinks you tried to blow me up."
Lionel looked thoughtful before he took Chloe by the arm and led her back through the guesthouse and to the front door. "Come by tomorrow and visit me. He'll be at the plant all day."
Chloe nodded and looked back toward the mansion. She sighed heavily and ran her hands through her hair. "Why are you playing matchmaker?"
Lionel shook his head and cupped Chloe's face in his hands. "I don't want Lex to follow in my foot steps. I don't want him to end up like me." He leaned his forhead against hers and she could feel the tension draining out of him at his admission. "Does that make sense to you?"
Chloe nodded and hugged him briefly before turning around heading toward the mansion and to her car. This day had just gotten weirder and weirder and she was glad it was almost over.