CHAPTER 5: Careless
Luthor Mansion- Lex´s study-2007
The moment Lex had left Chloe´s private room he had got in his silver Porsche and sped back to the mansion driving like a mad man. He hadn´t driven off the bridge again out of sheer luck or thanks to his good reflexes and had got to the castle all shaky and distraught.
Now he was half-drunk and lying sprawled on the sofa of his study with Chloe´s medical records scattered on the coffee table in front of the fireplace.
¨Lex, haven´t you received my messages?¨stormed Lionel into the library. ¨I was going to suggest firing your assistant for her incompetence, but now I see why you haven´t answered my calls. ¨
¨Dad, I haven´t got time for this now, ¨he hissed, cursing his sloppiness when it came to taking the necessary precautions in case his dad made one of his impromptu visits.
¨I can see you´re really busy getting drunk. While you were here intoxicating yourself in the arms of Bacchus, we almost lost Faber Genetics. If it hadn´t been for my foresight we would have kissed the acquisition goodbye.¨
¨You didn´t need me for this deal, dad. I knew I could leave everything in your more than capable hands. Now, if you´ll excuse me, I´ve got more important things to think about. ¨
¨And what would that be? ¨asked Lionel, observing Lex´s paper-shuffling.
¨Personal stuff, dad. I´ve got something called life beyond my business persona. ¨
¨Lex, don´t you remember one of my first lessons? You cannot let your emotions interfere with... ¨
¨Spare me, dad!¨he spat, springing from the sofa with the empty tumbler in one hand and Chloe´s file in another.
¨What´s wrong with you, son? ¨asked Lionel with a frown. ¨Getting drunk in broad daylight is just not your style. ¨
¨I didn´t know there was a special time to indulge in vice. I remember only too well you´ve never had qualms about seeing to your appetites in broad daylight, ¨he responded wryly.
¨Don´t try to make this about me, Lex. You´re making me question the wisdom of leaving you my chair at the Board of Directors. You´re unstable, son. ¨
¨Are you going to play that card again? I can assure you I´ve never seen things clearer in my life. So... why don´t you say what you´ve come here to say, dad, and be done? ¨said Lex through clenched teeth.
¨This is... ¨started Lionel suddenly distracted by a loose sheet which had fallen under the coffee table, ¨really... interesting,¨ he murmured, leaning down to pick it up and missing Lex´s quick intake of breath. ¨I didn´t know Miss Sullivan was your new obsession now. I was under the impression there was no love lost between you two, ¨he added, cocking an eyebrow as he perused the document.
¨Wasn´t you who said, dad, ´Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer´? ¨asked Lex, slipping on his cool mask.
¨And how close would this be, Lex? Keeping tabs on her levels of oestrogen and her monthly cycles? Isn´t that a bit excessive? ¨
¨One never knows what information will come in handy. You´ve taught me that,¨ he responded, taking a gulp of brandy.
¨Is there something I should know? ¨
¨When and if there´s anything of relevance to you or LuthorCorp you´ll be duly informed. ¨
¨What is it with you and your obsession with everything and everyone that has to do with Mr Kent? ¨
¨I don´t see how my being thorough when it comes to keeping records of people who might pose a threat to me and my endeavours has anything to do with Clark. ¨
¨Come on, Lex. Don´t forget who you´re talking to. We both know about your fascination with the caves and young Mr Kent. ¨
¨As I remember only too well, I´m not the only one wanting to unravel the mystery of our favourite farm boy. ¨
¨I admit to being intrigued by the writings and paintings on the walls, who wouldn´t? But... Miss Sullivan..., ¨he bit his lower lip, looking again at the paper in his hand, ¨she´s always been the most fascinating riddle and a most worthy adversary. ¨
¨You should know it better than anyone, dad, ¨said Lex calmly, but smouldering on the inside.
¨Oh, yes. How could I ever forget? What did it feel like to be her hero, Lex? Trying to save her from the big bad wolf and stabbing your own flesh and blood in the back? ¨
¨I don´t feel like going down memory lane right now, dad, ¨he snapped, setting down the empty tumbler on the wet bar.
¨I had the impression it was exactly what you were doing before I barged in to find you half-drunk. ¨
¨Don´t you dare presume you know me that well, dad. ¨
¨Oh, but you´re so predictable, son. Miss Lang was nothing but a flitting fancy or was it a decoy? ¨he smiled wolfishly. ¨I´ve always wondered... ¨ murmured Lionel with a pensive look. ¨After all those months plotting to bring me down and send me to the chair, what made Miss Sullivan finally betray you? ¨
¨She didn´t betray me, but even if she had, do you actually think I´d be so unprofessional as to show my enemies my vulnerabilities? ¨
¨Your enemies? Do you count me among them, Lex? ¨
¨To say we´re a loving son and a caring parent would be stretching the truth too much, don´t you think? ¨
¨Well, then, I´ll remind my physician to send you a copy of my chest X-rays and the results of my latest blood tests. I wouldn´t like my records to be outdated, ¨snarked Lionel, throwing the loose sheet carelessly on Lex´s desk. ¨I´ll leave you to your ´personal´ stuff, son, ¨he finished with a smirk, showing himself out.
Lex poured himself another bourbon, lifted the tumbler to take a gulp and, swallowing the vintage beverage, let the rage he had been restraining break loose. The splinters flew in all directions as both the tumbler and the decanter were smashed against the hardwood. He had been unforgivably reckless and had jeopardised every carefully constructed lie surrounding his relationship with Chloe. With just a puff of breath his father could make the shaky house of cards tumble down. Lex had imagined hundreds of scenarios around the possibility of Chloe ever finding out what had really happened the summer before Lionel´s trial, but this was one he hadn´t dared to imagine. And the uncertainty of what Lionel might do with that information made a cold shiver run down his spine.