Easing Their Pains – Chap 6b
Chloe marveled at the helicopter dropping them both right in front of the plane. She smiled at Lex as they ducked to the airplane, the second ride in a matter of days. "Saves on the traffic this way."
"Yeah, and all those tollbooths."
Lex smiled and motioned her to get on the plane first. Once on, she strapped herself into the same seat as the time before. She watched as Lex organized his working materials and discussed with the crew the flight plan and amenities. When she woke up this morning and sat with her father at breakfast, she never imagined she would be on his plane again.
He sat down across from her and smiled before looking over a folder that a man handed him on the way to the plane. Clutching both handrests, she smiled to herself, fidgeted a little in the seat and held on. She was nervous and happy, not sure which was more.
"Something to drink Ms. Sullivan?"
"Chloe," she corrected.
"What a beautiful name…"
"Carol," Lex corrected as he picked up the phone.
"Sorry Mr. Luthor, can I get you something?"
"Pelligrino for both ," Lex answered matter of factly and went back to his conversation on the phone. "Mac, anything from Granger or anyone else at the SEC. Tell them I'll call them back as soon as I can." Lex hung up the phone and stared at Chloe. He smiled and went back to sifting the papers like the last time on the plane.
"Don't you ever even look out the window?" Chloe blurted out the question while sinking further in the seat. She shook her head and knew the déjà vu moment of asking almost an identical question the last time they flew.
Lex looked up briefly and smiled, "When I have time."
"But what happened to all that time you saved by taking the helicopter?" Lex stopped and put the papers down. Nodding his head and laughing, he went back to his work.
Moments later, he answered her, "I'm storing it up."
"No you're not," Chloe sadly said. She knew Lex would never change. He was the workaholic like his father and more.
Anxious to try and salvage the conversation before having to ignore her completely, Lex asked her, "So, what is your name from? The first I've ever heard of it."
Chloe stared at Lex with intent. Lex of all people should know of the poetry and arts. He was surrounded by it throughout his house and as a child. She could easily remember Lionel teaching both sons even now about small stories and tidbits that made them more well rounded.
In fact, Chloe was somewhat embarrassed by the meaning. She knew her mother had meant well and perhaps was actually reading those at the time of her conception, but it was nothing that Lex needed to know. She felt her face become flushed even thinking about it.
"It's from a Horace poem."
"Ahh, an Ode. Enough said." Lex looked down at his work again, but slipped "Chloe wild and shy. I remember reading it now."
Chloe covered her mouth. "I didn't pick it out," she said trying to laugh off the moment.
Lex laughed with her and smiled before silently returning to work. Chloe took a deep breath and glued her eyes to the window, hoping to avoid any more embarrassment for the remainder of the trip.
When Lex and Chloe landed the sky was overcast, and Chloe wondered if it would clear up for the pictures. Honestly, she was pretty sure that the trip and her photography was just a ruse to get her away from Lucas. Chloe didn't mind. Her heart was confused as much as her mind. She went back and forth on Lucas and Lex. Neither seemed attainable. Returning to Europe to search out James seemed more plausible than anything that had occurred since she returned home.
"Here we are," Lex smotthly stated as he opened the door to reveal the understated cottage on the water. Chloe had really expected more considering the grounds of the actual mansion but was pleasantly surprised.
"The food is a nice touch even if we don't eat it. Make the space lived in and comfortable." She dropped her bag in the corner of the entry way and started shooting pictures of the kitchen, the living and dining areas. The place was immaculate.
"Thanks, I called ahead and asked them to set up to shoot."
"But is it always like this?" Chloe couldn't help but marvel at the fresh flowers in the bedrooms and chilling champagne on the dining room table. This is a set up she told herself, trying to contain her anxious enthusiasm.
"I don't know – I haven't used it in years," Lex responded as he watched her take pictures from every angle. The beautiful breeze from the garage finally warmed the old timers summer home. He remembered weeks his father would spend in the summer sitting on the porch in a daze after his mother died. It was his parents' place. Lionel had since cut the ties and left the house in Lucas's care. He cared only as much as which girl got to go which weekend.
The view from the master bedroom was perfect. Chloe took shot after shot of the small harbor with boats moving about the water. The sun had come out and made the perfect home open up to a perfect day. The sun glistened off the water and brightened up the whole place. Glancing back in the doorway, she eyed Lex leaning up against the doorframe. He was at ease for one of the few times that she had seen him in her life.
"You should relax more often." She smiled and continued taking pictures. Lex stared at her and nodded in confusion at the statement.
"I'm relaxed." Chloe stopped and shook her head at the comeback.
"No, you're not. Anyway, how can you have a place like this and never come here?"
Lex stopped and formulated the words in his head before speaking. The story of his father, although true, was over the top and plain sappy. Even he had seen Beaches. "I don't know – I guess I never had anyone to share it with." Looking at Chloe, he saw a hitch in her breath as she raised the camera up to her eye again.
"You could always hire somebody," Chloe jokingly remarked in return. Lex, stunned, caught his breath and looked up at her with half smile just as the camera clicked.
"No, not me. The house please."
"You're in the house – it humanizes it…a little." Lex smirked at the direct attack on his personality.
"I don't like having my picture taken. We should have brought dad if you wanted people in the picture. I always seem to come out looking depressed." Lex turned and looked out over the harbor window. Chloe watched as the sun hit half his face at an angle that caused his eyes to shine a brighter blue than ever before. She clicked another picture carefully before she spoke.
"Why? Are you depressed?"
Lex turned and waved off the last comment, "Maybe that's not exactly the right word. I don't know – maybe lonely maybe." He continued to stare out the window and ignore the smile that crept across Chloe's face. Lex had never once been one to show open emotion around anyone with his staff. She knew she was a pawn. She could play along.
"You think that's funny?"
"No, I just expected for you to say something else."
"No, I suppose it is kind of funny. Lex Luthor is lonely." Lex stared on the water a few moments and realized no sound was coming from the room. Turning he saw Chloe looking at the ground and then examining the camera. "I'm sorry I made you uncomfortable. Let's get the rest of the place."
"No, wait. Come on, a couple more here …just like that with your arm on the glass." Lex turned and faced the camera and leaned up against the window with his arm and tried to smile as she took his picture. In actuality, he was trying more desperately to smile less; he was happy with Chloe with him. The actual words he had said were his feelings from the past; now he was in a place unfamiliar and yet inviting.
After shooting the last two pictures, Lex walked Chloe out on the porch that wrapped around the back and faced the water. Seeing the extensive harbor line and piers, she asked, "Do you want a view from the house?"
"Sure."
"Which one," Chloe asked while looking at each perspective from the porch. Looking out on the harbor, Lex shrugged and pointed at the piers in front of him.
"All of them."
"More isn't always better Lex. Some times it's just more. Come here." Chloe took the camera from her neck and handed it to Lex. "Now, look through the view finder and find the view you want."
Lex took the camera and watched as Chloe explained the autofocus and the controls. He tingled when she put her arms on both of his shoulders and turned him several times just slightly to change the angles over the water. "Ocean, ocean, ocean, fishing village, lighthouse." Lex put the camera down and stared at the lighthouse. "Now there's a job for you – what kind if guy takes a job keeping a lighthouse?" Lex took the picture.
Still turning, he felt Chloe back up while he snapped one more. Turning toward her, he smiled behind the camera and snapped another picture of the porch, with her in it. Chloe was caught off guard, staring at the lighthouse in question earlier. "I'm the photographer."
"You were the one that said that people in the pictures humanizes the place." Chloe smiled as he handed the camera back to her.
"You know every time I look through a camera, I'm amazed at what I see." She pulled up the picture he took and showed him. "They're good." Lex leaned over and hit the forward button once more. Turning his head, he could see her bite her lip.
"Yes, she is." Chloe pulled the camera back into her and readjust the settings to take more shots. Lex leaned against the railing of the porch and crossed his arms, wondering if he had stepped over the bounds. Regardless, he was pretty sure that one picture would never see photo paper, but she was radiant. At least it was now committed to his memory.
"Anyway, the camera is like finding yourself in the middle of story, like you just did. What kind of guy takes a job keeping a lighthouse? I think I've been taking pictures all my life even before having a camera." Lex stared at her as she shot several more shots from the porch, all facing where she wouldn't see his expression.
The phone ringing broke his concentration. Something needed to; he was not supposed to be the one involved. It was simply a ruse, a ploy that he had played before in his younger years. He wooed the women for deals before, but she was different. The sound didn't catch her off guard though. Lex cursed the phone under his breath and immediately decided the person on the other end was not worth living. "Excuse me," he softly spoke, walking back into the house.
"Dad, call him back and raise the offer half a point. Here, lousy. So Far, I admit, I'm more affected than she is. Damn near cried twice during this damn farce. I'm running out of time here and I don't know what to try."
Lex sounded desperate. "Son, she's practical – not the women from other high spirited deals. Do something understated." Lex sighed and hung up the phone, looking out at the porch.
"Ok, I'm finished here," Chloe quietly interrupted as Lex hung up the phone.
"Good, then we should get some lunch and maybe show you around the island, take some pictures." Chloe agreed and lead the way out to the front of the house. Chloe looked at Lex and smiled.
Chloe and Lex walked to the nearby fishing village and talked about Paris. Chloe lit up like a child at a carnival, happy and excited talking about her last temporary home. She wondered if Lex even cared that she talked his ear off. He had asked her about what she thought of business, the Vineyards, and London. To her, she was just happy to share it with someone other than dad finally. In part, it was what she missed from being with James in Europe.
"Oh, look at that building." Chloe stopped across the street at the old red brick building that stood since after the war. "Nobody builds with brick anymore, it's all siding now."
"It's late 1700's." Lex watched as she pulled him back up on the curb and pulled out her camera to snap pictures. He hoped he had suddenly been blessed with something that would hit her in a nerve.
"In London that would be brand new. Man, I hope they don't tear it down."
Lex saw his in, "They won't. I own, the whole block." Glancing over at Chloe, she just smirked and continued taking pictures. That didn't work, he thought to himself. Then he watched a man walking down the street and digging in garbage cans and reacted, "I donated it to the village as a halfway house."
Chloe stopped and nearly dropped the camera. Lex had no heart, everyone knew that. At one time, doctored photos circulated that had a man's heart missing from his chest cavity with his name on it. Stunned, she could only stare at him.
"You know jails are full of people that have never had a break. Like this guy picking up cans. They get in trouble again. They're stuck they're outsiders for the rest of their lives. It's not fair; the only chance they'll ever have is a halfway house to help them get their feet under them." Lex smiled at her but more at himself. He had made something he thought brilliant out of a bad situation. Hopefully that would sell her.
Chloe couldn't find the words. She had known partially that the trip had to be a ruse, but the halfway house could actually be true. The sign in front of it said another property of Luthorcorp. She watched the man digging for cans walk up, and Lex stopped him.
"Sir, can you take our picture?" Lex removed the camera from Chloe's hand and handed it to the man. Lex took Chloe around the arm and smiled. Glancing up at him, Chloe smiled at the camera and suddenly felt Lex pull her in front of him for one more shot.
The man handed her the camera back and picked up his bag. Lex stopped the man once more and handed him a stack of bills as he continued up the street.
The day rolled into night as Lex settled Chloe onto the blanket at the end of the beach. They had walked for miles she thought. She had learned more about one person in one day than ever before. And she was torn. She wanted to fall into the whole romantic story of the girl who should fall in love but knew it would end soon. Still, her heart beat faster every time Lex slightly touched her, even if not on purpose. Dinner was immaculate, with candlelight and the salty breeze from the shore.
"You done?"
"I can't eat anymore, but thank you." Chloe curled up tighter in the blanket that Lex had run back to the house for.
"You know it's too late to give them their freedom," he joked looking at the steamed mussels.
Chloe laughed and rolled back into a rock to lean on, "You know you are not exactly what people say you are."
Lex walked over and sat next to her, handing her glass of wine to her. "Oh yeah, what do they say I am?" He picked up his glass and took a sip, never taking his eyes off of her.
Chloe took a drink and tried not to giggle, afraid of dripping. "Oh you know, well, that you're the world's only living heart donor." Chloe slinked back into the rock and cringed at the statement, waiting for Lex's reaction. Maybe he wouldn't take it as badly as he had rumored to take other statements about him.
"Oh, that. Well," Lex sat back against the dune and looked over at her.
Chloe saw her opening; she had never thought of taking jabs at someone, but since she was being taken, she wanted to get her fill while she could. "Or how does this one go," she said looking at him and smiling. "He thinks that morals are painting on walls and scruples of money in Russia."
Lex seemed uncomfortable and nodded his head, "That's droll." Turning away, he watched the moon beat down on the waves as they slowly inched closer up the shore.
"And then there's my favorite…"
"No, no, no, I think I get the picture." Chloe smiled and closed her mouth. She watched the waves for a few moments in silence. She felt Lex's fingers inch into hers. She left her hand limp to his touch, careful to not be eager.
"You remember the rainy afternoon we spent with each other?" Chloe waited and got no response. "My father had driven your father and Lucas into town for a music lesson."
"How old was he?"
"I don't know, fourteen or fifteen."
Lex glanced over in Chloe's direction and smiled, "That would have been the oboe. He misunderstood and he thought he was taking hobo lessons." Chloe laughed and unconsciously gripped Lex's hand.
A tingle shot up Lex's spine and his heart jumped a beat. Chloe continued, "Stormy afternoon actually. I was afraid, and so I came into the house and turned on a lamp and got a shock. I thought I had been struck by lightening. And you stayed with me all afternoon until my father got home."
Lex turned on his side and let got of her hand. Running his hand down her arm, he smiled and nodded, "But you didn't cry one bit – you were a brave kid."
"No, I was more afraid of you than being electrocuted. Everybody is." Chloe felt Lex pull away and grabbed his hand. "I'm sorry. Is that why you don't believe in marriage?"
Chloe unwrapped the blanket she was in and curled herself off the rock. Lex laid and thought about her question as he moved to the side. Putting his arm out gently, he caught Chloe on the way down as they both balanced on their sides to see each other. "Yes, I do. That's why I never got married. Lucas on the other hand believes in the toothfairy."
"That's why I like him."
"Well, I like him too; as a matter of fact, I love him. But we don't know what to do with him. When he was younger, he used to always come into dad's office and sit behind the desk and pretend he was in charge. One day he just stopped and I can't figure….are those the only things that people say about me?"
Lex leaned over as Chloe laid back down against the grassy dune. The moon was bright enough now to see her without the candles that had just about burned themselves out. Chloe laughed and slapped him playfully on the shoulder. Looking up at him, Chloe smiled and shook his shoulder trying to get out of her mind that other mean joke she had heard from the staff over the years.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. His warmth leaning over her was comforting with the cold air now dropping close to freezing in the dark. She opened her eyes and caught him staring. "We should get going; it's late."
Lex nodded in agreement but didn't let up. Leaning in, he hoped he wouldn't get slapped this time. Chloe closed her eyes and felt his lips brush hers. She opened her mouth just slightly enough to wet her lips and felt his lips touch her tongue. The warmth shot a spark through her body as her hand wrapped around his neck.
"Lex," she gasped from under him as he kissed her neck slightly. "Lex, my feet are wet." Lex stopped instantly and looked at the remains of their dinner floating gently among the waves. They both laughed and started back up the dunes to the house.