Easing Their Pains – Chapter 6a

Chloe felt her face become flush as Lex drew her nearer still into him. The kiss was not tongue but luscious, and he tasted good. The drips of champagne from them enticed her to continue. But Lucas; she agreed to meet with Lucas. She had become somewhat of an acquaintance to Lex, but nothing that would garner her continuing the action.

Chloe's mind suddenly began to spin with scenes of people like herself watching through windows, and she panicked. Thrusting herself out of his arms, she stared at him.

Lex was at the same time so taken, he didn't want to let go. He wondered why the night on the plane, he hadn't made the same move. He watched her sleep, staring and memorizing every crease on the young woman's face. He wondered how she had gone unnoticed for so long, and how he could have possibly become such an ogre in business not to notice anyone anymore.

Lex stood still as Chloe seemed to pull from his arms and stare back at him. He hadn't realized how much of a grip and how deep the kiss had become.

"The rest of the message from Lucas of course."

SLAP

Lex shook his head slightly and rubbed his face, looking at Chloe who seemed to be panting in frustration.

"Oh God, I'm so sorry." Chloe stood embarrassed by the whole ordeal. That was Lucas' kiss. She was invited by Lucas, and yet she shook her head to keep her thoughts straight.

"Thanks, I needed that," Lex clumsily stated as he still rubbed the side of his cheek. Chloe had connected with her flat palm.

"What am I doing; I should have never even come."

Lex put his hand back in his pocket but could still feel the throbbing heat rising in his cheek. "No, you didn't do anything."

Chloe bit her lip and touched his cheek gently, "I am so…you have my hand print on your face."

Lex somewhat laughed as she removed her hand from his face. Her touch still stung whether from the pain or the fact that he would never be able to correct that mistake again. "Maybe you should pick up your messages in person from now on. You can see Lucas tomorrow. Goodnight."

Lex shoved both hands in his pockets and glanced once more at the beautiful young woman still by the light of the moon. She was incredible and feistier than he gave her credit for. Her months away had caused her to grow up in more ways than he could still comprehend. Nodding, he walked out of the solarium.

Chloe sat down on the bench and rehashed the evening's events in her mind. She couldn't get past the kiss. She could still smell his scent in the air as she quivered in her seat. She was at a loss. Lucas had been her rock, her need for years, since she was just a kid. Lex was older, mature and wise beyond his years and yet suddenly made her rethink her feelings.

She whimpered out a cry and lowered her head in the shame that she now carried. Two men in the house that she shared and neither were available. Gathering up her dress, she swigged back another several swallows of the champagne and headed to her apartment.

On the other side of the party grounds Lex quickly recovered and forged a plan that would hopefully work. He had always been able to buy off the last girlfriends that got in Lucas' way, but Chloe had already stated in no uncertain terms she was not that girl. Lex applauded her for that. She was strong; the play in return would have to be strong.

"Mac, cancel all my appointments in town and reschedule for the next three days. Have the plane standing by at the landing at nine AM tomorrow morning. And set up the Vineyard Cottage." Lex rolled his eyes wondering if Chloe would actually fall for the stunt. "No, not over the top. Flowers, candles, food. I don't know – call Lucas' secretary – it's the only thing she ever gets to do."

"Lex?" Lex looked around to see the person calling his name.

"Why can't you call? I'm up – you're up. Oh, you weren't; well, you are now. Call her anyway." Lex hung up the phone and turned to greet the last few guests leaving the party.

Walking back into the house, Lex strolled quickly into his office to set up the remainder of the arrangements. Chloe needed to be the last person at Lucas's bedside; she need to be away. He didn't know if it was really his devious planning or the simple unconscious need to want to spend time with her, but his plan wouldn't fail. Walking past the doorway, he tripped.

"Dog," he growled as the ugly mutt ran down the hallway and out the door. In a small way, he wished to keep Chloe in the house and get rid of the dog. Picking up the house phone, one more phone call had to be made. "David? Yes, is there an epidemic of sleeping sickness. Get up. Listen – Lucas can't stand pain so I want you to give a combination of morphine and … ok, not morphine, but something strong and mixed with a sleeping tablet of some kind. We have no idea, but dad thinks someone left them on the chair by some guest." Lex waited and listened to the doctor finish his discussion. "Lucas is not going to sue his own father…well, he's not me." Lex slammed the phone down and rolled his eyes at the doctor's accusation that he would ever harm his father.

The next morning, Lex rose early and met his father in the gym. Lionel glanced over Lex's wardrobe, a pair of black slacks and a light blue turtleneck. Grinning, he once-overed his child again. "You're not going to work like that today? We don't have causal days unless you didn't send me the memo."

Lex smirked and rolled his eyes as he handed his father a towel. "Did Lucas say anything last night after I left?"

"He had wondered where everyone had gone. Maybe I should talk to Chloe."

"And say what dad," Lex chided turning around, "you know with all that charm."

"Ha! Chloe, you're very lovely but Lucas has short attention span and he's just jerking your chain. Can I say that to a woman?" Lex smirked.

"When is Helen do back?"

"Thrursday, should we try to get her back sooner?" Lionel leaned back on the sofa in gym and looked at Lex. "What are you up to?"

"No, I don't want Lucas to do something stupid and break off the engagement. This whole mess took less than 24 hours. I can make it unhappen in 48. Dad, I like Chloe, but I'm not about to kiss off a ten billion dollar deal because of what she did to her hair." Lex stormed out of the gym as Lionel sighed.

Taking a swig of water and rolling his neck, Lionel watched Lex leave and stated to himself, "But, son you really do." Taking another swig of water, he returned to the treadmill.

Walking out the door into the gardens where the party had been the night before, he bumped into Chloe. Both took deep breaths of somewhat fright and surprise. "Good morning Chloe."

Nervously, Chloe looked at the ground and then dead in Lex's eyes. She was confused but not intimidated. "Morning."

"Take you up to see Lucas," Lex drawled as he held the door open for her. He watched as she silently made her way into the house. Her beige pant suit was just as flattering to her as the dress from the night before. Lex swallowed his thoughts and followed her up the stairs.

If no one had known of Lucas's fate from the night before, they would have swore he was severely hung over. Asleep in his room, he was fully clothed and laying on his stomach. The padding from the bandages on his rear bulged from underneath the sheets while a large wet spot of what could be only drool accompanied his face on the pillows.

Chloe quietly entered the room and looked at the large lump in the middle of the small guest room bed. The guest room bed was the choice since Lucas's actual bed was too high for him to climb in and out of at the time. She hesitated, looking at all the drugs on the dresser and his appearance in bed, but approached at Lex's coaxing. "Lucas?"

Circling the bed, Chloe kneeled next to Lucas and took his hand in hers. "Lucas?" She looked up at Lex who was silently amused at the fine work the doctor had done, for more than one reason. "Can he hear me? Lucas?"

Lex wanted to snicker through the situation, but knew best not. Leaning over on the bed, he made sure to be right over Lucas's ear. "Lucas! You have a visitor."

Lucas opened his eyes and looked straight at Chloe. She sighed a relief to see his face as he smiled at her and tried to turn his body slightly to face her. "Chloe…Hi…"

"Hi," Chloe quietly reposnded. Lex observed the happiness on Lucas's face and hoped it was just the drugs talking.

"Did the dry cleaners have your car?" Chloe looked at Lucas and tried to smile encouragingly but felt sick. He remembered nothing. Chloe glanced at Lex and silently asked him what was happening. Lex shrugged and leaned in to hear anymore from his brilliantly loopy brother.

"How do you feel?" Lex asked.

"Can't feel…did I ?"

"Lucas, are you in a lot of pain?" Chloe gripped his hand as he slid it back under the pillow.

"Am I in a lot of pain?" Lucas glanced at Lex and Chloe as if they were nuts. He gripped Chloe's hand tighter and kissed it, "look at your hand." Closing his eyes, he slightly bit the top of it playfully. "Guess what happened to me?"

"I know, I know. I feel awful," Chloe remorsefully said knowing that if she hadn't wanted the solarium so bad they could be on drive instead of him in bed.

"Me too, but" Lucas stopped and turned to look at Lex. "How do you feel Lex?"

Lex looked confused at the question and shrugged, "You're falling a little behind here Lucas." Lex smiled at the two of them.

"Do you want me to stay with you," Chloe asked softly as she ran her hand down Lucas's cheek.

Before finding out the answer, Lex intervened. "Listen, we got you a terrific nurse and a two day supply of red jello." Turning his attention back to Chloe, he remarked, "He really should rest."

Chloe was despondent, but agreed. She was no help to Lucas in his condition. He couldn't walk, move, barely breathe with the amount of pain killers he needed for the accident. She sadly shrugged and let go of Lucas's hand.

Downstairs, Lionel got in the car and stared up at the room that Lucas was in. He knew vaguely what Lex was planning but would not get in the way. Lex was preserving the family business, and that was the way it had to be.

"Sir, is Lex going in today?" the chauffer asked.

Without letting on of any plans to her father, Lionel calmly and without acknowledging her father's presence answered, "He has other work to do today."

Lex stopped Chloe on the stairs and apologized, "I'm sorry, I'm sure he will be more responsive next time. See you."

Chloe smiled gently at the eldest son and nodded. "Thank you for the visit." Chloe turned and started up the long hallway toward the door. She couldn't decide whether she wanted to sneak back upstairs to Lucas's bedside or just talk to Lex. Things had been so good on the plane but had changed dramatically in the last few hours.

"You know," Lex said as he turned to face Chloe. "I was wondering. We have this summer cottage in Martha's Vineyard that we never use anymore. I was thinking about putting it up for sale. I was going to have some pictures taken, you know the kind that make it look bigger than it really is. And I understand that you have interest in photography. I thought you might like to take them. I will pay of course."

Chloe stood in shock. She was beside herself having been just offered her own trip to the Vineyards with Lex. The plane ride had been done before; her silent wish of spending time together had just come true. Playing it cool, she just nodded through his ramblings.

"Trip would be no trouble. The helicopter would pick us up here, plane to the Vineyard." Lex stopped and watched as Chloe's eyes went from his face to his head. She had never seen the man wear a hat, baseball cap. The whole feeling of casual was not an heir that Lex carried off well. Lex watched the smile and then the laughter burst from her face before removing the hat. "Why? Is that a lot to ask?"