Back to Home – Chapter 4
"Are you sure that you got everything you need?" James picked up the last bag that Chloe sat next to the door. He ached for her to stay, even had begged the editor to give her a real position writing for the fashion pages that the editor had grudgingly agreed to. But Chloe had other plans in mind.
She admitted she was sad leaving England. Things seemed so peaceful in so many ways. There was not one meteor freak, one alien lifeform, and not one mention of Lucas Luthor. Oh sure, Lex Luthor's name was plastered all over the front pages of the papers in recent days. A newly acquired linen factory was the newest venture for the Luthors in overseas markets. It was hard not to see the faces of Lionel and Lex on the news every night. But as normal, Lucas was quietly forgotten, both on television and in Chloe's mind.
"I've got everything."
James looked around the apartment one more time as Chloe started down the stairs. "How about the nice man in the Gap photo?"
Chloe stopped on the stairs and looked back at James. Smiling, she nodded, "No, leave him. Come on – I'm going to miss my plane." James shut the door and followed her out to the waiting taxi.
Getting in the taxi, she remembered the conversation that she had had with James the night before. They had become closer the last few weeks, but she had never been able to let him move to the point he wanted. She was no longer in love with the illusion of Lucas Luthor, but she couldn't string along James. He was too wonderful to hurt. Resigning herself to only being friends, he agreed. Looking back, he waved for one last time.
Getting out of the taxi with her stuff, she stood on the curb and watched the Skycaps as they quickly pulled bags out of another car, a limo. Annoyed, she hoped she was at least being overshadowed by someone who truly deserved a limo and not someone that didn't deserve the extra help.
Chloe sat down on her bag and waited impatiently, hoping the skycaps would care that she looked irritated. "Ms. Sullivan, ironic is the only word I can come up with."
Chloe looked up from her small seat and gasped. "Mr. Luthor. I had no idea you were in town."
"I hardly doubt that, seeing the papers. I have been given me temporary license over the covering of the queen's activities." Lex smirked and held a hand out to Chloe. "Sir, would you be kind enough to get her bags after you are finished with mine."
Chloe stood in absolute awe of what was going on. "Mr. Luthor, I have time before my flight."
"Nonsense. Your ticket?" Chloe handed Lex her ticket and wondered what in the world he was up to. He walked up to the skycap and said a few words, returning with a new ticket jacket. She watched as the men came and retrieved her bags immediately after his.
"Come on. We have a couple of hours before we are readied for takeoff." Lex led her gently from the back into the airport and quickly into a private lounge.
Pointing at the seat in the corner of the quiet lounge, he tapped a waiter on the shoulder and then sat down. "Mr. Luthor, my flight is actually on the other concourse. I really appreciate this but …"
"Nonsense," Lex stated completely emotionless. Sitting up, he took a swig of the scotch that was prepared for him as he pointed out that he had ordered for Chloe as well. "I expect sherry is to your liking. I will appreciate if you could replace the bottle you swiped from the kitchen."
Chloe's eyes grew in shock and embarrassment, remembering the night before she left. "Oh, I'm sorry of course."
"No worries. It wasn't the best. As for your flight, I have changed it to mine. I would feel so guilty if you had a wonderful time here and then I didn't see you home properly." Lex sat back in the chair and pulled the business section out of his briefcase, disappearing behind the paper.
Chloe just looked at the man as he one-handed the newspaper while slowly sipping the scotch in his other hand. She remembered the night before she left and the embarrassing speech she gave to who she thought was Lucas. She remembered even in her embarrassment that she had indeed done as Mr. Luthor asked, everyone always did. Reaching in her dufflebag, she pulled out the small white box and cleared her throat.
Lex looked up from his paper and sat his drink down. "Are you ok?"
"I got you this; you had mentioned something about keys in that little moment I had that I wish I could forget about."
Lex dropped the paper in his lap and reached over for the box. Opening it, Lex gazed on the intricate detail of the crossed swords in the center of the dish. "It's very nice, but you didn't have to."
"I wanted to. To tell you the truth, it was a good idea for a gift for everyone." Lex looked at her and nodded in appreciation. Popping the briefcase, she watched him carefully strap the box in place, as if to really take care of the useless trinket.
"I'm sure everyone will appreciate your generosity." Lex went back to his paper and drink almost without fail. Chloe stared at the man and wondered how Lucas could have turned out so much more normal or what exactly Lionel had done to Lex to make him such an ogre. He was considerate enough, but never quite in tune with another person's feelings.
She knew things had been said about Lex. People thought he was cold, self-serving. But he was a damn good business man, sitting across from her. She was plain, simple but suddenly not feeling as different as she did when she arrived at the airport.
From behind the paper, she heard, "By the way Chloe, you are looking very grown up. The new haircut and clothes suit you nicely." As if on target without even seeing her face, Lex smoothly and without cause complimented her at the exact time that she needed it.
Almost in a whisper she answered, "Thank you."
Lex lowered the paper and put his drink down. Interlacing his fingers, he leaned forward at her. "Chloe, you are beautiful young woman who from what I have heard made quite an impression on the staff at the Times. You don't need to be timid. It's not in your nature if you want to succeed."
Chloe watched as he stood up and pulled her coat down. Holding the jacket open for her, she slipped her arms carefully through the holes, trying intently not to touch the man. He was untouchable – he wasn't evil or frightening, but she knew people like her didn't end up with people like them. She finally understood that all Luthors were untouchable by commoners.
"Shall we be going?" He let her lead out of the lounge and guided her to a small runway at the end of the concourse.
"I'm flying with you?" Chloe questioned as soon as she looked out the window at the Luthorcorp jet.
Lex somewhat smirked and giggled in amazement, "You didn't actually think I was going commercial did you?"
"Mr. Luthor, we are ready to board." The attendant took Lex's and Chloe's bags ahead of them and guided them onto the plane. As Chloe entered the plane, she felt a cold wind hit her.
"Robert, I think our guest may be in need of a blanket. She has not quite acclimated to the temperature on the plane or has not learned that you are to wear wool in London in winter." Lex sat down in the rich leather seat and took the folder of flight plans from Robert while he watched Chloe get comfortable across from him the aisle.
"Thank you." Lex nodded at the more authoritative sound from Chloe and continued reading through the flight plan.
"We will be arriving back in Metropolis around breakfast tomorrow."
Chloe looked up at him concerned. "All night in the air? Do you sleep?"
Lex looked over at her as the engines of the plane started up. "Chloe, I don't sleep. This is the perfect time to work. The markets in Asia are just now closing and I have work to do. Sit back and relax; if you need anything Robert will be happy to get it for you. If you truly have a time sleeping, there is compartment in the back that has a small bed in it. You are welcome to use it."
Chloe looked over at Lex as he sipped from another poured scotch. He truly was planning on working the entire night and offered her to use all the amenities on the plane. The plane had a bedroom. She was flying home to see her father, his chauffer in the Luthor's plane. Chloe gulped silently and laid the cushioned chair back as she felt the plane level off in the dark sky.
Chloe shook her head and yawned as she looked around at the cabin of the plane. Robert had since disappeared into the front of the plane and pulled the curtain closed. Looking outside, she noticed that all that could be seen was a slight sparkle of stars and a few errant clouds as they continued over the ocean. Then it caught her eye.
Looking across from her, she giggled. Lex had since let the hum of the engines and the scotch finally lull him into sleep. She marveled at the change in the man's demeanor when he was asleep. He looked younger and less dangerous, strangely handsome in such a state. Chloe shook her head to get her back to reality and undid her lapbelt.
Picking up the folder on his lap and stacking the papers that had slipped out back in it, she laid the folder on the table in front of him. She looked around the cabin and walked into the back compartment. The bedroom was immaculate. The king sized bed spanned the entire width of the room with little room to move. Apparently, having the bed available was all that is needed with the Luthors.
Searching the closet, she pulled on what she was looking for and headed back into the main cabin. Lex had since turned to face the window, obviously still asleep. Chloe unfolded the blanket in her arms and covered him, careful not to touch and wake him.
Heading back to the bedroom, she placed her shoes in the closet and loosened her blouse. She crawled under the ultra silky covers and sighed. The Luthors really had it all. Grabbing a second pillow, she quickly fell back to sleep.
Waking for what it seemed a few minutes later, Chloe felt an obvious change in the mattress. She was rolling toward the center of the strange bed that she was now in. She covered her mouth in shock feeling her back brush against another hard, well defined object. Turning over, her face met the back of a dark blue silk shirt. Scooting further against the wall, she tried to contain her breathing.
Rolling over on his back, she could see again how his young features betrayed him. His skin was incredibly soft looking, his chest rising and lowering calmly. Chloe stared almost guilty taking in the older of the brothers, memorizing every feature. Lex wasn't the playboy, but he had always been photogenic like the rest of the family. Chloe continued to take in the man's form, almost guilty for thinking how incredible this man looked and what a sad life he led.
"What?"
Gazing back up to his face, she saw his eyes were now open. She had no explanation, no way out.
"I'm sorry sir. I just… You said you didn't sleep." Chloe readjusted her pillow and turned to face Lex, hopefully not giving away her rising desire to wrap his arms around her. She really needed to get a grip.
"The markets closed without too much change. The deal that my attorneys were left behind to handle in London worked itself out. It's my plane. And I was tired. The fact that this is king sized bed, I was believing I was pretty safe." Lex turned on his side and faced her.
"I'll let you sleep. I'm sure I can do some writing or something." Chloe began to sit and felt Lex grab her hand.
"Nonsense, we have a few hours before we have to return to the cabin. Stay and tell me about your experience. Was it everything you dreamt it would be?" Chloe laid back down and stared at Lex. Did he just ask her opinion? "By the way, thank you for the blanket."
Chloe smiled almost embarrassingly. "The job was hard at first. People ordering you around like you're an idiot and not knowing what they are talking about. Eventually, though, I got a little credit."
"I saw your piece on the Paris show. You must have appreciated the trip to France."
Chloe smiled, realizing that Lex actually had read her piece. "Mr. Luthor, I didn't realize you read the fashion papers. Paris was nice but I still have no interest in learning French."
Chloe smiled even bigger when Lex halfway laughed at her. "Chloe, call me Lex. You've grown up in my house; we're practically family. And to be as good as I am at business, you read everything in the papers. You never know when you will find an unexpected opportunity."
Lex continued to keep a straight face while in the back of his mind he remembered the deal that was just inked. Chloe's small but better written piece than most of the fashion section in the Times lent itself to the beginnings of the merger of the linen company that sponsored part of the show she attended. Smirking to himself, he knew it was a good move however odd for the Luthors.
Chloe watched his eyes fade from her face to somewhere over her shoulder. "Lex, really, I can go in the other room" Lex looked at her wondering what led her down that path of questioning again. "You seemed to be fading away."
Lex's eyes met hers and realized he had been thinking about business. He so infrequently spent one on one time with a woman so amazing as Chloe. He had never realized her depth before, perhaps her development while away made her grow up in ways he had not ever thought possible. Or perhaps the tired fit his body was having for traveling to London, Hong Kong, and Moscow in 6 days was overtaking him.
The more he stared, the more he felt the need to look away, make an excuse. Chloe was just a girl, he was a mogul and the older brother of her fixation. Lucas. Lex suddenly noticed the smile on Chloe's face as she talked to him about her six months in London. Lucas was now engaged and Chloe was returning. The possibility of her meddling, distracting Lucas from his personal merger to make the business merger work was a serious possibility.
"I was thinking about business but I apologize. So, did you meet anyone while in London?" There, that was a good lead in to see where her intentions were.
"I met someone and he was nice, but I learned mostly that I can make my own choices."
Lex laughed in agreement. The two continued to talk for the remainder of the trip until Robert knocked on the door. "Sir, we're approaching."
Lex looked over at Chloe and got off the bed. Handing his hand out for her, he helped her up and motioned for her to go first. "My…" Turning around, she saw Lex pull her shoes out of the closet and hand them to her.
"Nice. You certainly have grown up Chloe. If you are in need of a position, come see me, and I'll make a recommendation."
Chloe sat down in the chair and waited for Lex to have a seat. "Thank you, but I want to do things on my own." Chloe smiled and Lex returned the smile. Turning back to the window, she watched as the Metropolis airport came into view. It had been a nice and quiet trip. Lex was the perfect gentleman, so much more personable than anyone ever made him out to be.
As the plane touched down, she glanced over and saw Lex once again buried in his paperwork, putting the papers that had fallen earlier back in the correct order. He didn't look up, didn't even notice her. The moment had passed. He had simply been stuck in the air in the middle of the night and had nothing else to do but talk to her Chloe.
Chloe watched the plane pull up to the limo on the runway and looked over at Lex. Taking a deep breath, she got excited and then saw the second Lincoln pull up behind it. Looking up, she noticed Lex offering his hand to her as she stood up and picked up her bag. "I'm sorry Ms. Sullivan, but I have to go into town for business but I got you another car for your return to the house. Perhaps we'll see each other later this week." Lex squeezed her hand and led her down the plane's stairs.
"Dad!" Chloe ran down the stairs and grabbed her father. Dressed in his normal black suit, he wrapped his arms Chloe almost timidly and hugged her as he eyed lex coming up from behind her.
"Chloe, how was your trip?" He pulled out of her grip and looked at her happily. "She had grown up so. "Chloe, you need to let go honey."
"Gabe, it's fine. She's been gone." Lex walked past the luggage waiting to be loaded and got into the limo. Rolling down the window, he glanced slightly at the two. "I have a meeting in three hours though," he halfway joked. Looking over to his side after rolling up the window, he smiled. "Dad."
"I see London was a success all around. Did you get any insight?"
Lex shuffled some papers and looked over at his father. "Hasn't mentioned a word. Still, you think it's safe for her to be around Lucas?"
"Son, Lucas is a grown up, at least I think he is." The two looked at each other as the limo pulled off.
Chloe watched the limo pull away with her father driving. The other driver opened the door to her smaller car and let her get in. Chloe looked out the window and watched as the sun began to shine through the clouds burning off. She thought back to the night before realizing that Lex was a human being. But then she knew she would run into Lucas, the engaged man.
Pulling into the driveway, the man she had desperately tried to get out of her mind was right there and on his way into the garden.
The car stopped and Chloe got out, looking around the grounds. The winter always brought out the best in the Luthors. Since the boys had lost their mother, the holidays were a time that Lionel tried to pull the family together by bringing out the decorating company and the party company. This year's theme seemed to be a salute of the military. The red, white, and blue lights and decorations were everywhere. She eyed the gardens and noticed the immense amount of equipment. "Another day, another party," she said to herself.
"Yes, but I think you're a little early."
Chloe looked behind her and saw him; Lucas was still as fabulous looking as before. He had moved closer and she could now smell his cologne. "Sorry?" Chloe honestly had missed his statement.
"Oh, the party. This one is a combination Christmas and Salute the Troops party. Are you on the guest list because I would swear I would know all the people that dad and Lex invite to these things." Lucas led the woman whom he still didn't know through the hedge and pointed out the decorations for this one.
Chloe giggled at his ignorance. Lucas was never the observant one. Following him around and listening to him go on about the guest list and his father's need to smooze. "Chloe, how was your trip?" Maria came from out behind a table and grabbed her from behind. Lucas looked at her surprisingly.
"Good. I got everyone something." She smiled and then looked over at Lucas sheepishly.
Lucas's stare changed from questioning to interest. Watching as she held hands and talked to kitchen help who's name he still didn't know, he couldn't believe that the same girl jumped out of the tree at him six months ago. She was grown up. Her amazing blond hair was cut so delicately. The pant suit and coat showed off her curves even under the heavy layers. She was Chloe, someone so close to him for so long and yet he had never noticed it before.
"Ok, I'll be up in a minute." Chloe let go of Maria's hand and looked back at Lucas. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation to see everyone and just see her home again. She noticed Lucas' look had changed.
"Chloe? Wow, you look incredible. Hey, any interest in attending the party tonight? I hear that the band is pretty good even though its not the same as usual. I would love you to come as my guest."
"Lucas, your finacee," Chloe remarked plainly. Her head was spinning in anticipation of being finally asked to a Luthor party, but he was a month from getting married. She knew better.
"Chloe, you're part of the family. Come; you'll enjoy yourself." Lucas took her hand and smiled at her.
Chloe looked down at his hand around hers and realized the touch she never imagined coming from him had occurred, and she could barely contain herself. Smiling back at him, she could only think of one answer. "Sure."