Lex had the same look on his face that he had had through most of the movie. Rhone had dubbed it Lex's aloof version of "what the hell?" However, she had seen him smile quite a few times when she stole glances at him in the dim light – the screen casting an ethereal blue glow over him… He even chuckled a couple times, and for Lex, that was a lot. The credits ended and she turned to him, "Well?"
He looked at the screen for a few more moments, "It was like being in a theater with a group of rowdy thirteen-year-olds." He turned to her, "But it was – entertaining."
"I guess that's all I can ask for," she smirked. So many times during the movie her mind wandered to how soft his skin would be, if he would panic if she put a hand on his thigh. So that was all she could ask for – out loud anyway.
He silently urged her to ask for more, but unfortunately she didn't continue.
She inhaled deeply and looked at the blue screen again, "You never mentioned… Did your date get away from the museum unscathed?" Did she just say that? Where in the hell did that come from?
Lex quickly looked up at her profile. Date? He didn't have a date that night – hadn't had one for a while… He quickly thought about that night. He shook his head, "Victoria was not my date." The idea was laughable – and yet, vaguely nauseating.
Was he just saying that? Did they not date and just have rich people sex? What the hell was rich people sex anyway? It probably involved piles of crisp currency and immigrant children using dyed ostrich feathers for fans. What would she know anyway? "Oh, well, whatever. Was she okay?" she couldn't believe she had just brought this up. It was way better to sound concerned than to sound – what? – pathetic and sad?
…Was she – jealous? No, she wasn't the type – was she? Even if she was, he didn't think that he could even take some kind of primitive male pride in it. He realized something, "In all honesty, I have no idea." He didn't even bother to ask or look. As soon as she was out of sight, Victoria Hardwick was out of his mind – completely unlike the woman that sat beside him.
Rhone nodded, still looking into the bright blue rectangle in front of her. She was relieved at his answer and when she realized her relief, felt embarrassed for herself. She was so lame.
Lex abruptly stood and headed for the television. "I was waiting for this one girl to call – I invited her a while ago. She said that she was probably busy – out of town." His voice was quiet, almost like he was talking to himself. He didn't turn to look at her, just kneeled in front of the cart to eject the DVD.
Stupid, stupid, stupid, Rhone mentally slapped herself. "Maybe she knew that she wouldn't fit in at a place like that," she offered. Either that or she knew she couldn't guarantee the lives of bimbos in red dresses that clung to hairless splendor. But she did have valid reasons for not going. She would not have worked had she gone. Lex would have distracted her from the recon – not that she really would have cared.
Lex's eyes fluttered closed and he shook his head at the blank screen on the television; he didn't want someone that "fit in." He straightened both posture and face before he turned to her. He didn't know how to articulate – anything. He sighed and shook his head briskly again, "You sell yourself short…"
"I would make it a point not to fit in," she interrupted quickly.
Lex paused with his mouth open slightly. How can you reply to something like that? A toothy grin spread across her face and she started to laugh softly. He couldn't help but join her. He resumed his position on the couch, but facing her with his arm on the back of it.
"Were you working late tonight?" he had been wondering why she showed up so late in the evening. In an odd way, he was in the mood for a story – one like Awol told, but with a much better looking, witty protagonist. A long story would also insure her company for a time, despite the fact that her occupation was the cause of a great deal of concern for him.
"No. I was going to show up earlier, but the Kents invited me to stay for dinner…" she started.
"You were at the Kents?" for some reason he thought that she made the trek to Smallville for, well, him. …And she had dinner with the Kents again? Did they feed everyone in Smallville but him?
"Yeah," she realized what he was going to ask, "Then Clark convinced me to play some football – then some soccer – and baseball…" That kid sure enjoyed having someone to clobber. But she could understand; she enjoyed it too, not having to hold anything back – full powers. Although that field would probably never be the same. She had to admit though, it was fun – they did an equal amount of clobbering.
"I never realized Clark was so into sports," Lex commented. The farm boy had been to the mansion many times, and had never expressed such an interest, nor was he on any of Smallville High's teams.
"Some people just bring out different qualities in you," she looked at him thoughtfully. It's kind of like how when I'm with you, I want to be more – well, just more.
"I know a few people like that," he rested his head on the hand supported by the back of the couch.
She narrowed her eyes and after a moment said, "How in the hell did you manage to get Awol to tell you his story, anyway?" Despite Lex's obvious charm, she knew that most men would be immune to that specific kind of charm. However, he did have negotiating skills from his business experience. But Awol should have been able to see a rouse if he was paying attention. …Awol paying attention? Right.
"His story?" he quirked his eyebrows at the last word.
"Where he came from – how I found him," she clarified.
"What difference does it make?" Lex asked.
"We don't just go around telling people things like that. Not the truth anyway," she added quickly, "And he had quite a distaste for you."
"Is it so hard to believe that we had an adult conversation and just came to an understanding?" he said innocently.
She looked at him, "You tricked him. …But you won him over in any case. I haven't decided whether or not to feel sorry for you."
He was about to ask her to elaborate, when she turned her head to the side and closed her eyes slightly. She was listening for something.
"Your phone is ringing," she informed him when she turned to face him again.
Lex stood, he didn't hear his phone ringing. He looked at her in a way that conveyed his disagreement. If Mark or another servant wasn't there, no calls were forwarded to his office phone. It would have to be to his direct extension or…
"Your cell phone is ringing," she corrected as she stood as well. She had heard it ring before and knew what it sounded like. It didn't sound anything like his office phone.
He quirked an eyebrow and started out of the room. After a brief retracing of his steps, he remembered his cell phone was in the pocket of his blazer – in his office down the hall.