Disclaimer: See chapter 1.

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"I don't think I have ever been so bored in my entire life." Chloe complained as she rubbed the throbbing migraine that had taken up residence in her temple. " You should have told me it was nothing but you making a speech for fifteen minutes then an hour of questions. Why didn't you tell me it would be so dull?"

She glared daggers at Lex, and watched in fury as the corners of his lips twitched upward ever so slightly. He kept his eyes intently focused on the road in front ahead. They were about twenty minutes outside of Smallville, and he had barely spoken an entire sentence throughout the three hour drive.

"Would you have believed me?" he asked, amusement evident in his voice.

"Probably not." she confessed.

"That's why. Things like that, they have to be experienced firsthand before you understand how insipidly dull they are Besides, you want to be a reporter. You need to get used to them. They never get very interesting."

"Hmm. You didn't seem too bored when that reporter from Channel 4 was fawning all over you. But that could just be because she was trying desperately not to fall out of her top." Chloe muttered.

"Why Miss Sullivan, do I detect a hint of jealousy in your voice?" Lex teased.

Chloe had to bite down on her tongue in order so as not to give into the childish urge to stick it out at him. Instead she crossed her arms over her chest and retorted "You wish. Who could possibly be jealous of such an obviously surgically enhanced airhead."

"Airhead? How very mature of you." Lex replied. "Besides, I noticed you doing your own bit of flirting with that columnist from the Planet."

Chloe smiled slightly at the memory. "Your point?"

"Well, I just think it's a little hypocritical of you to get upset at me when I was doing exactly what you were?" he asked.

"And that would be…?"she inquired.

"Using others to further your own agenda. Very Luthor of you Chloe." he answered calmly.

Chloe's mouth dropped open. She attempted to speak but nothing came out. She was simultaneously infuriated and oddly pleased by his comment. She knew he could see how desperately she wanted to retort, but instead proceeded to ignore him for the duration of the drive.

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"Did you get enough for your article?" Clark asked her that night at the Talon. After Lex had dropped her at home, she proceed there to get a caffeine fix to chase away her migraine…caused no doubt by too much time around Lex.

"Enough for a decent page two article." she replied.

"Page two? I would have thought you'd make this the headline after you broke the story." Clark said confused.

Before she could answer, Clark interrupted her.

"Or did you and Lex get into another fight." It was a statement, not a question.

"It was not a fight." she declared stubbornly.

"Argument?" Clark tried.

"Not really. More like a…disagreement."

"Big difference." Clark muttered.

Chloe glared at him before going back to her cappuccino.

Clark sighed inwardly. Chloe and Lex's repartee had always been, interesting to say the least. Lately, it seemed all their interactions turned to arguments. When Lois had visited she had remarked that it was supreme sexual tension. As much as Clark didn't like to think of Chloe and Lex together like that, he had to admit it almost made sense it a very, very strange way. And he pondered whether or not he should clue them in, for after Lois's declaration she had stated that the two of them seemed completely oblivious to the whole thing.

He wanted his friends to be happy, but he didn't know if it would be a good idea or not.

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'So that's Clark Kent. Taller than I expected.' She figured after tailing Chloe and Lex for two days she would see him sooner or later. He was good looking, but she really didn't understand what the big deal was. He seemed kind of…sappy to her. Like a sad puppy.

How could this overgrown boy scout be the cause of everything? He just didn't seem capable. Not from the outside anyway. But from what her dad had told her, Clark Kent was capable of anything.

She hitched her paper up over her face as Lana Lang walked by her with drink orders. At least she assumed it was Lana. She had never actually met her, but had heard enough. Again, she didn't see what all the fuss was about. Sure she was pretty, but not in any extraordinary way. You could see girls like her in every teen magazine in the world. Pretty in that completely boring way.

She watched as Lana wandered over to Chloe and Clark. Judging by the body language alone, it was obvious that these three had some major issues. Clark looked happy, Chloe annoyed, and Lana…anxious. How had they lived like this for so long?

She got up and returned her paper to the magazine holder on the way. Pretending to be engrossed in choosing another periodical, she listened in on their conversation. Mostly boring stuff about school, and then Lana brought the press conference up. Chloe automatically tensed up.

As if deigned by fate, Chloe's phone began to ring.

"Hello."

A sour look came over her face. "I really have to remember to change my number."

"Fine. I'm at the Talon." With that she hung up.

"Something wrong?" Clark asked.

'Gee, he's perceptive.'

"It was Lex. Says he needs to talk to me about the conference." Chloe sighed into her cup before taking a sip.

"You didn't go snooping did you?" Lana asked worriedly.

"Lana, it was outside in front of LuthorCorp. Where would I go?" Chloe asked defensively.

"Lionel's office?" Clark suggested.

"No thank you. The last time was enough." Chloe said.

"Why did Lex hold the conference there? LexCorp is in Smallville." Lana wondered aloud as she took a seat at the table.

"Easier access. Imagine holding an international press conference in Smallville. It's not exactly first stop on most people's travel agenda." Chloe explained.

"Maybe he just wanted to rub it in his father's face." she added after a few minutes. "I mean, it's no secret that Lionel wanted that contract. I'm just amazed he hasn't tried to steal it from Lex yet."

"You and me both." a voice said from behind them.

Both girls started. Clark remained unmoved.

'Interesting.'

"Would you stop doing that! I swear I'll be lucky to graduate without a heart condition." Chloe snapped.

"I apologize. Perhaps it would be best if Clark loaned me a cow bell for next time." Lex shot back.

She had been so thoroughly engrossed in listening to them, it never occurred to her that she was still in plain view. That was fine around Chloe, Lana, and Clark. But not Lex. It was way too risky. Quickly, she let her long strawberry-blonde hair out of it's haphazard bun so that it would hang loose over her face. That should help hide her. She opened a magazine at random and pretended to be enthralled in it, but inched closer to the table.

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"What did you need to tell me so badly?" Chloe demanded, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I just got off the phone with Warren Steele. It seems you made quite an impression on him at the conference. I didn't even notice you talking to him. Probably just a coincidence right?" He raised an eyebrow, but Chloe remained silent. "Anyway, he wanted me to invite you to a dinner party he's holding on Saturday." Lex replied evenly, never breaking eye-contact.

"Are you serious? Of course I'll go." Chloe practically squealed.

"Are you sure? It promises to be even less eventful than today."

Chloe hesitated. There was some reason Lex didn't want her to go to this party. Which only meant one thing.

"I wouldn't miss it for anything."

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It took all of her self restraint to keep from groaning out loud.

'Great. Now what am I going to do?'