Something Old, Something New
Chapter 6: No Escape
Lex put Kate's bags down by the door and turned to face her slowly.
"I'll see you again soon," she promised, though she had little intention of keeping it. Dancing with him at the party had taken her far enough – she had to leave the temptation behind.
"Where are you going to go?" Lex asked, not ready to let her leave.
"Metropolis," she replied. "My dad built his first hotel there, and it's been a while since I checked on it. I'll be fine," she added, seeing the dubious expression that crossed his face.
They were silent, and Kate felt the awkwardness growing. Time to go. She stepped forwards and risked hugging him goodbye. She breathed in his scent and felt the familiar nervousness growing in her stomach as he held her.
Lex caught himself just in time, releasing Kate before he either begged her to stay or kissed her passionately. He knew which option he preferred, but was unsure about which would be better received. He opened the front door for her, and watched her climb into the black town car that she had arrived in.
"See you soon," she said again as she closed the car door.
Kate placed her foot on the accelerator and left the Luthor mansion behind. It was several hours' drive to Metropolis, and she hoped that they would help to clear her head. Any more time spent with Lex Luthor and she would surely lose her mind and accept his invitation to stay 'as long as she liked'.
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Lex entered the house with a strange sense of loss. He knew that it would be another long spell before he saw Kate again. He was almost certain that she had felt the connection between them, and she was running from it. History repeats, except that the last time he was the one to run.
He sighed deeply and returned to his study to lose himself in work.
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"Yes?" Lex answered the phone wearily, almost six hours later.
"Lex? It's your father."
"Dad," Lex greeted. "How's France?"
"Useless," Lionel replied angrily. "The deal fell through, Lex. The goddamn French company aren't going for it."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Lex lied with a smirk. Perhaps he still had a chance to get his companies back before his father found another buyer. "Does that mean you're on your way home?"
"I'm taking the first plane tomorrow morning," Lionel said. "We should have a meeting – what are your movements?"
Lex thought fast, "I'm actually heading out tonight – big meetings planned in Metropolis. I don't know how long I'll be gone."
Lex could hear the tiredness in his father's voice when he spoke. "Alright. I'll be in the office trying to resurrect this deal, whenever you get home."
"Okay, I'll call when I get back."
Lex heard the phone disconnect, and hung up his receiver. There was no way he wanted to be there when his father returned home after a deal had fallen through. All he needed was a place to hide out while he organised his plans to take his companies back.
He picked up the phone again and dialled information.
"Will you connect me to the Zenith Hotel in Metropolis, please?"
"One moment."
Lex waited impatiently while the phone rang in his ear.
"Good afternoon, Zenith Hotel. How may I be of service?" a man's voice answered professionally.
"Good afternoon, I'm looking for Miss Katherine Finn, please. She owns the hotel and will probably be staying in the penthouse. Has she checked in yet?" Lex used his most polite tone, hoping to get through to Kate without any trouble. He knew how difficult it could be to get a hold of important people.
"I can check for you, sir. Who may I say is calling?"
"This is Lex Luthor."
"One moment, please."
Lex listened to several beautifully played bars of Debussy's 'Claire de Lune' while he waited, but it did nothing to calm his mood. He took a sip of scotch and tapped absently along with the music.
"Hello?" Kate answered the phone wearily; she had obviously arrived very recently.
"Kate, it's Lex." He caught himself smiling at the sound of her voice and consciously shifted to his business tone. "I've just had a call from my father…"
She sighed sympathetically, "Bad news?"
Lex sipped his scotch again, savouring the taste. "His deal fell through – he'll be home tomorrow evening and I'd rather not be here. Is there room in your hotel for one more?"
Kate thought fast; she wasn't sure that she could handle more time alone with Lex. She had been surprised enough to get a call so soon after she had left. She racked her brain to find an escape, and managed to find one just in time.
"Actually," she smiled down the phone. "There's enough room for five. How about bringing your friends on a trip to the city?"
Lex sighed inwardly – bringing Clark and the others along to chaperone wasn't such a bad idea. "Sounds great," he replied. "I'll call them all and we'll be on our way in the morning."
"Okay," Kate yawned softly, feeling the long drive catching up with her. "See you soon?"
"Bye, Katie."
"Bye, Lex." Kate hung up the phone, blushing slightly at the sound of her nickname.
She sighed at her own foolishness, dropping heavily into a plush chair in the penthouse living room. She could have refused the call, but Kate knew that she could never resist Lex, no matter how bad he may be for her. There was truly no escape from a Luthor. Kate wondered if he had also felt the chemistry growing between them; and if so, why wasn't he running like the last time?