8.
The day before still baffled her. What in the world was she getting herself into? How was she going to get herself back out of it. Even worse, she wasn't sure she wanted to get out of it. She wanted to know about the stone. She wanted to know everyone's involvement. And she wanted to dig a little bit deeper, find out what exactly Lionel was talking about when he spoke of Lex wanting her. Sure, he could be a little protective. Afterall, he had kept her safe last summer. Between her safe house getting blown up, to actually putting Lionel behind bars. Although she did believe that Lionel was telling her the truth. What if he didn't plant the bomb?
Who would want her dead?
Or maybe she was looking at it all wrong. Maybe someone didn't want her dead. Maybe someone wanted her hidden even further away. Well, both of those excuses pointed back to Lionel.
Chloe huffed out a breath and looked up at the clock on the wall above the teacher's desk. She'd take her lunch period to go visit Lionel. Then she'd come back here, finish her day and get some studying done at the Talon later on.
At the sharp ring of the bell she packed her books back into her backpack and smiled over at Pete as he stuck his head into the door way of her classroom.
"Hey, need an escort?"
Chloe pursed her lips before she smiled, "I'm not staying for lunch. I have a few errands I need to run. But thanks." She smiled at him again as she walked past him and stopped at her locker long enough to drop off her bag.
Clark came up behind Pete as he watched her leave through the doors heading out into the parking lot. "What's up?"
Pete motioned with his hand to where Chloe had just disappeared. "I have a feeling she's not taking this whole Lionel out of jail thing very good."
Clark slapped Pete on the back and gave him a little shove in the direction of the cafeteria. "Can you blame her?"
Pete shrugged and made his way over to their table where Lana was already sitting.
"Hey guys."
Pete and Clark both took a seat on either side of her, their conversation about Chloe forgotten.
Chloe parked and walked up to the doors of the manor. Before she could raise her hand and knock the door was opened and Lex stood there staring down at her. Remembering her conversation with Lionel yesterday she had to fight the blush down that was rampantly trying to spread. "Hi."
Lex stared down at her for a moment before clearing his throat. "Chloe, what can I do for you?"
Chloe forced a laugh out and waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, nothing, I mean, I'm here. But not for." She stopped and drew in a deep breath. "I'm here to see your father."
Lex's brows rose comically even as his lips tightened in a grim line. "He's not here." Then he thought better of it and narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. "Actually, I'm glad you stopped by. It was rather late last night and you took me off guard when you dropped by. There is something I'd like to talk to you about."
Chloe, with Lionel's words running through her mind, laughed nervously. "Oh, ok. Yeah. I mean...sure."
Lex's lips curved in amusement as he leaned in the doorway. "I'm on my way to work at the moment, though. Perhaps you could drop by later tonight?"
Chloe gave up and heat rushed through her body. "Yeah, sure."
Lex closed the door behind him as he moved forward, crowding Chloe on the top step. "Say around six?"
Chloe nodded and cleared her throat again. "Sure, great."
Lex smiled and took her arm, stifling a chuckle as her body jumped from the unexpected contact. "That would be great." He walked her to her car and waited until she was settled inside. "See you tonight, Chloe."
Chloe gave him a shaky smile and started her car before making her way off the Luthor property. Halfway back to school she sucked in air through her open car window and exhaled slowly. Good god, that man unsettled her.
She clamped her teeth together until her molars grinded. And Lionel. That bastard. What the hell was he doing? Was it his plan to make her look stupid in front of Lex? Well, from now on, she was going to be prepared. That was the last time she'd be caught off guard. Her phone rang beside her on the passenger seat and she picked it up and squeezed it in her fist, knowing by the ring tone who was calling her. She flipped it open and pressed talk.
"Chloe."
"You are such an #$."
A soft chuckle could be heard through the line. "Did I catch you at a bad moment, dear?"
Chloe growled and lowered her voice, not trusting herself to keep her words at a contained level. "One more time, Lionel. Set me up like that again and you will be on the receiving end of one excruciatingly BAD moment."
The other line got quiet, she was sure he was grinning like the cat that got the canary. "Did you just issue me a threat?"
She came to a stop in the parking lot of school. She slammed her hand on the steering wheel and pulled the phone away from her ear, only speaking into the mouth peice. "You bet your ass I did." She flipped her phone shut and threw it down on the seat. Not feeling all that relieved she picked it back up and slammed it down again. Lord, two days and that man was driving her insane.
Lionel smiled as he leaned back in the leather chair in Lex's penthouse in Metropolis. He figured if he gave her some space, she'd have to run into Lex a few times. He'd know their relationship was spotty at best. If the word 'relationship' could even be applied to them. It was a very interesting...kinship, he'd say. They were so very much alike. So much so that he was somewhat surprised that they didn't notice they were two halves of a whole.
Alone, Lex could rule an empire. Together, they could rule the world.
He stood up from his chair as his doctor walked into the penthouse suite and towards him. Lionel held out his hand for a handshake, not expecting what came next.
Not expecting the news that was dropped on his shoulders like a lead weight.
Not expecting the tears that started anew.
A few hours later, Lex stopped by the Talon to check on Martha. When he'd called earlier to schedule a meeting with her she'd sounded harried. While she hadn't been his first pick to run a business, she was working out much better than Lana ever had. Jesus, Lex thought as he pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forfinger, the crap he got himself into just so he could belong.
Since seeing Chloe earlier at the mansion he'd been plotting out the conversation he'd have with her later. His main goal for now, until he could find out more about her and his father, was to figure out what was going on with the stones. And since Chloe seemed to be in everyone's business, he was sure she knew something. Maybe a lot of somethings. They'd been partner's before...kind of. He was sure he could talk her into becoming partners again.
The last thing he thought he'd run into at the Talon was Chloe, Lana, and Jason all sitting at a table together, chatting and laughing. Her laughter carried to him, seemed to cling to his senses as he sought out Martha. He'd have to remedy himself of the notion of he and Chloe ever being anything more than partners. He'd denied himself of her this long. It shouldn't be too hard. He called himself a fool even as he thought it. Chloe was it for him. If he'd let her be. Which he wouldn't.
Not yet.