Chapter 18 [A Week Later—Luthor Mansion]
Lex typed away on an email to the board of directors. Recruitment brought in new minds and perspectives. Synergy increased work flow. Stocks and Investments soared. He looked forward to the quarterly meeting. Dad wouldn't like it but I don't care. It works!
Knock came from the door.
"Hi, Lex. I just wanted to bring the monthly numbers by." Lana walked into the library. As always, she took a quick look around his sanctum. "Sorry I haven't been very talkative at the Talon."
He shrugged. "Miranda and you have been busy. Great to be productive. Why don't you take a seat? I just need to finish this email. Then you'll have my complete attention." He went back to typing on his keyboard. "And…done!" He hit the send button. "Okay. By the way, did you hear from Sam?"
Professionalism kept her face straight. "Is it about the concert? I know she's been practicing for it." Her eyes looked away from him.
He leaned back in his chair. He knew when she was antagonized over something. "No although I'm really looking forward to it. I thought you were too."
"I would like to go. Somebody's got to open the Talon on the fifth. The show's got to go on. Right?" She skimmed the reports in front of her once again. I thought I was at peace with this. "Maybe they'll stream it? Chloe and I have been looking for links."
He raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps. Perhaps not. Our numbers for the Talon are down on a holiday weekend. Last year we lost money by being open on the third and fifth." He dialed his cell phone.
"Alex?" Jasmine answered. "Is there something wrong?"
"We have a situation. Can you come to the library please? Thanks!" He disconnected the call. "Might "as well have everyone here."
"Lex, sorry…" Lana started to apologize.
"Lana, it's okay. You didn't do anything to apologize for. Dedication and work ethic are commendable things. You also care about your friends. Those are great qualities. I'm glad you're as dedicated as you are. I'm just solving your dilemma." He watched Jasmine hustle into the library. "Glad you're here." He closed the door behind her. "Jasmine, you've been reviewing the numbers for the Talon?"
"Miranda and I both have. What do you want to know?" Jasmine looked to Lana. "What is wrong?"
"I'd like to know too." Lana shrugged. "I just told him I can't go to the concert in Albany on the fourth. Someone has to open the Talon on the next day. Miri and you deserve time with her family. Right?"
"Indeed. Miri has also told me that it is…how do you Americans put it?...ah yes! You are dead on those days. She thinks we should be closed on the fifth. I agree." Jasmine rubbed her chin.
"I'm with them, Lana." He nodded. "We close on the fifth as well. A few people might be mad. Still, if we give them enough notice, they should be all right. We get fifteen or twenty people all day? Look, I'll be flying back here at noon on the fifth. I was planning on Clark and you being on the plane with me. We'll be back by afternoon chores. No problem. I'll let Mr. and Mrs. Kent know what's going on." He held his hand out. "Let's take a look at those numbers."
"All right." Lana handed the report over to him. She mulled over the decision. I hope Mr. and Mrs. Kent understand that I didn't ask Lex or force him to do it. I want to support Sam but I want to be responsible too! "We picked up some last month."
He skimmed the documents. "We're down thirty-five percent on Memorial Day." He shut the report and set it on his desk. "Just makes my point."
"It will be all right, Lana. You will see." Jasmine picked the report up. She read over the figures. "We will close for both days."
"How's Clark's flying going? Jasmine told me he landed all right in Chandler's Field last week. He really flew to New York from here?" He leaned against his desk.
"He took off of his loft. Professor Dubois and I caught up with him about a hundred miles from here. With only small drop in altitude over the Great Lakes, he made it all the way. We landed outside the city and ran the rest of the way to Peter and Gwen's house," Lana reported. "He did the same thing except he landed at Chandler's Field on the way back."
"Indeed he did. He needs to pay more attention to his surroundings." Jasmine sighed. "Forgive me. I do not want him to fly into an ambush. I say what I do because I care."
"Clark and I know that. It's great that we have people watching out for us." Lana bit her lip. "Mr. and Mrs. Kent wanted us home early. Maybe you can call them?"
"Absolutely! In fact, I was going to ask Mrs. Kent if she wanted to come with us." He pulled out his cell phone. He dialed and listened.
"Good afternoon, Kent Farm," Martha answered.
"Mrs. Kent! Hi! It's Lex! How are you?" he asked.
Lana grimaced. Nerves banged around in her stomach. Lex, be careful! I don't want to be grounded or worse.
"Everyone's fine, Lex. How are you? Have you heard anymore from Peter, Gwen and his aunt?" Martha set the knife down on the cutting board.
"They're helping his aunt get packed up. Guess they have a lot of things to go through. Dave and Angie are doing the same thing up in Wabash. They just have to move a few things since they're holding on to the farm. By the way, Jasmine and I decided to close the Talon on July 5th. Lana was outvoted on that. I'll be flying back on the fifth. I'll bring Clark and her with me on the jet." He could almost feel Resistance coming through the phone lines.
Martha sighed. She knew Jonathan wouldn't like Clark and Lana flying on Lex's jet back to Smallville. "This is awfully sudden, Lex. Why would you close the Talon two days?"
"I have a few reasons. Okay, Mrs. Kent, I'll tell you. First of all, the café's traffic falls off by forty percent during a holiday weekend. We underperformed by thirty-five percent on Memorial Day Weekend. I hate to think what it's going to be like after the fireworks. So we voted. Lana was respecting your wishes. I thought you should know that." He glanced at Lana. Then he waited for Martha's reply.
"Thank you, Lex. I'll let Mr. Kent know. We can get ahead on chores and projects before they leave. Thank you for flying them back and for being honest. I'm just glad that it'll work out for everyone. Let me know if they need me to cook anything." She weighed his argument. Convenience seemed to be served. Figures and Trends however spoke volumes. She understood that the Talon's traffic lagged during such holidays. Besides Lex had taken care of the transportation issue as well.
"Actually the invitation's open for Mr. Kent and you as well. I could send someone over to milk your cows and tend the animals if you'd like," Lex offered.
"That's very nice of you, Lex." Martha grimaced. She could very well hear the loud "NO!" in her mind from a certain farmer. "Mr. Kent and I need to stay back here and keep things going. Maybe you all can take pictures?"
"Definitely. Maybe Angie and you can talk? She'd know more about that part of it. With the packing, I'm sure she'd appreciate the help. I spoke to the county officials up there. I'm chipping in toward their fireworks display on the third. We'll have details and everything set. We'll talk about it when Mr. Kent and you are ready." He nodded at the two girls with him.
"I'll do that. She has enough with this move. I'll see if there's anything I can do. Thanks, Lex. We'll get back to you. Have a great day." Martha hung up. I just hope Jonathan's all right with this!
He terminated the call. "You're good, Lana. Mrs. Kent understands it was a business decision. I explained the situation and how we came to that decision. She knows you respect Mr. Kent's and her thinking. It's not an end around. Frankly we'd lose money by opening on the fifth. As soon as everything's counted, Professor Dubois will bring you right up there."
"That would be great. Maybe I can get Sarah with me to help out? She and I can get the Talon cleaned up really fast," Lana proposed. Maybe I can pack my suitcase and have it with me? That would get us up there faster!
"Make it happen. Thanks, Lana. We're really going to have fun with this celebration. Everything's set with the fireworks suppler in New York. I'll check in at 3. We'll see where we are at that point." He smiled. "Just keep your chin up and keep practicing." He held up the report. "You're doing great."
"And don't forget maybe we could get the Jinn to bring Miri to help," Jasmine interjected.
"Jinn?" Confusion wrinkled Lana's brow.
He coughed. "She means the Child. Somehow I think you can get everything done fairly fast." The Smirk spread across his face.
"Thanks, Lex." Lana nodded to them. Then she sped out the door and out of the mansion toward town. Customers and Café awaited her presence after all.
He shook his head. "Now she's doing it. Unreal."
"That is what she and Clark are. I have some more files to upload before our meeting tomorrow. Are you all right?" Jasmine asked him.
"I'm set. I'll be glad when that's done."
"I will be as well." Jasmine hustled out of the library. Detail awaited her as well.
He shook his head. Worries occupied his friends. Prejudices occupied neighbors. Moves dominated the thinking of certain soon-to-be Kansans. And yet, he could make ease them all with Ingenuity's and Phone's assistance.
Wonders never ceased….