CHAPTER TEN
Disclaimers in Prologue I"I'm more interested in confirming if I heard what you said correctly." Lex had said firmly. "About loving me."
While Chloe Sullivan felt no remorse about saying those words, as they were true, she suddenly wanted to take them back. Saying them had opened a can of worms, a can she wasn't completely ready to deal with. After all, she and Lex had only truly known each other for a short period of time.
But this love was not born out of haste. She was initially determined to make him love her as a desperation from her illness, but as she tried to convince herself that Lex's affections were what she wanted, she saw something in him to truly love: himself. Their growing friendship in the last weeks had only confirmed what she already knew in her heart. Lex Luthor was the one person whom she could truly love.
But admitting that to Lex without knowing where he stood was rather risky. While she could never bring herself to judge his past love-life endeavors, she knew of his reputation. Getting physical with Lex was one thing, but right now, she knew she was too delicate to fall emotional victim to the bad side of his love-life persona..even if it were just a myth.
Turning back to Lex, who was still anticipating a response, she shook her head. "Well, maybe I exaggerated a little," she feigned to say it sheepishly.
Lex raised an eyebrow at her response, and she began to chant an internal prayer asking deities to make him believe this lie.
Whatever suspicion Lex had in the first place quickly disappeared as he smiled and conceded the point. "You're right in saying it, though. Quickly drove him away."
Chloe tried her best to smile back, despite the weight of heart growing exponentially at the implications of Lex's response. Maybe I was right in assuming that he could never see me as more than a friend, she thought.
She eventually found the emotional strength to nod her agreement, and was rather surprised when Lex suggested, "Look, this was a rather stressful moment for both of us. What do you say if I ask for a raincheck and bring you here another day?"
Relieved that Lex, unknowingly or not, had given her an out, she grabbed the opportunity by saying yes to it.
They went back into the car and had a quiet ride back to Lex's condo. On the way, Chloe's brain was working overtime. One part of her was angry that she didn't come clean to Lex, despite the kindheartedness he had shown to her and her father over the past couple of weeks.
Another part of her was relieved that it wasn't the time to fess up to her feelings just yet. She wasn't sure about being ready, even more so about the certainty of her feelings. Especially since the last part of her was feeling rather hurt at the notion that Lex Luthor might not have the same feelings for her as she did for him.
Yes, even despite that kiss they shared earlier in the car. And boy, was that some kiss, she thought to herself, remembering how she had to curl her toes in excitement. Every inch of her was ready to burst from one small contact, and she couldn't help but realize that the searing wasn't from the act of kissing, but was from the fact that she was kissing Lex.
She smiled in remembrance of their little make-out session, which unbeknownst to her, did not go unnoticed.
Lex wondered what the reason would be behind that smile of hers, almost wishing that the very reason would be him. Unfortunately, given her fast backtrack about her claim to loving him, he couldn't be 100% sure.
Of course, he was smart enough to realize that a huge part of her retraction was a lie, but he had to be sure. For all he knew, she could have been nervous in having to lie to him that she almost seemed like she was lying about it.
Lex shook his head, almost chuckling. He barely made sense then, and it was all because of the young lady sitting next to him. She unnerved him to no end, and that was a good thing.
A very good thing.
Putting his focus back on his initial task at hand, he began his brainstorm of what he could possibly do to win her heart. Not before long, the chauffeur was pulling them into the valet area of the condominium building.
Forever the gentleman, Lex held his arm out to her, which she used to intertwine with hers. They marched through the lobby, earning a nod and a grin from the doorman, who thought that Mr. Luthor finally found the jackpot.
When they got into the elevator, Lex snuck a peek at Chloe only to find her staring back at him. "Chloe?" he asked in a soft tone.
Chloe wet her drying lips by licking them, which drew Lex's gaze. A flash of his smoldering look almost took her breath away, but she steeled herself. This just wasn't the right time.
How quickly she re-thought that when Lex whispered her name once more. As he drew himself nearer, Chloe began drooping her eyes and inching her face closer.
And just when their lips were about to cover each other, a "ding!" barged into their moment, announcing that they had arrived. Their surprise grew even more at the sight of the person who was there to meet them.
"Pete?"