My world

About 4 months ago

Pete woke up early that day feeling better than he had in a long time. He had just bought a new house the other day, he was the manager of the most successful KIA dealership in the country (at least that's what the headquarters kept telling him), he had a beautiful wife who loved him a lot and 4 wonderful kids who were the world to him.

He entered his office and was greeted by his partner, Norman Eastwood. "Hey Pete..."

"Morning Norman"

"Take a look at this Pete..." said Norman as he handed him a fax.

Pete started reading it with growing foreboding. It informed them that the KIA dealerships in the USA were now a part of the greater "family" of Luthercorp, who was just starting to take a central role in the automobile industry.

Pete looked at his partner worried.

"What the hell? When did we get this?"

"It was just in this morning. Shit Pete! ...I mean... do you think they'll start making cutbacks and stuff?"

"How the hell should i know Norman?" asked Pete who was starting to get increasingly worried about that very same thing.

"I thought that you might know more... you know... since you knew the guy back in the days..."

"I knew the guy in high school man... haven't talked to him since then..."

"Pete i'm freaking out here... i mean i just bought a boat man... a friggin' boat! I can't possibly suffer a cutback now!"

Pete looked at his partner annoyed. "A boat? I bought a house for my family! Have a little perspective before you go crying about and moaning about a boat!" shouted Pete as he left the office and slammed the door behind him.

Two days Later

Pete still hadn't heard a word about what the new status quo of the company would be. His wife, Anne, approached him and sat next to him on the couch.

"Honey... don't worry... even if the worst case scenario happens..."

Pete exploded. "Anne, the worst case scenario is me without a job!"

Anne put her hand around him. "Even if that happens... you have the best reputation in the city... other dealerships would kill in order to have you. And besides... worst comes to worst... i'll take that job they offered me in that college in NY."

"No! I will not have my family separated or living on the road constantly."

The phone interrupted their conversation.

"Hello?"

"Pete... Hello ... this is Lex Luthor..."

The next day

Pete walked in to the large building of Luthorcorp which was the largest one in Washington. Lex had invited him there to talk, which made Pete even more nervous than he already was. Meeting Lex had become almost synonymous as meeting the president.

As the receptionist checked his name to find the arranged appointment, Pete looked around him and took in his surroundings. The whole place was a symbol of power, showing to the whole world quite blatantly who Lex Luthor was and what he stood for.

Pete took a deep breath as he stood outside Lex's door. He smiled at the irony. When he was younger in Smallville, he always hated it how people around him used to suck up and bend before Lionel and Lex. His young and free spirit, couldn't accommodate such notions. In fact back then it made him feel very proud that he was one of the few people to stand up against Lex and Lionel and not show them the slightest bit of respect.

And now he found himself in a position he felt very uncomfortable in. His future was very much in Lex's hands and the worst part was that now it wasn't just about him. If it were, he considered himself proud enough to walk into that room, spit Lex in the face and storm out of there feeling better than ever.

But now the lives of his wife and his children, also depended on how this would go. No, this was not a time for rash and rebellious behaviors. Now was the time for a cynical survivalist mentality.

He looked downcast. He took one more deep breath and entered the office of Lex Luthor.

To be continued...