Disclaimer: read Chapter 1.
A/N: Last week I promised you an update for today, so here it is. I was planning on posting two chapters, but I´ve been busy working on my first Chlex fan vid, which I´ve already finished, and didn´t have time to edit a second chapter.
If this week doesn´t turn out to be too hectic, I´ll try to update on Friday.
A/N: since fan vids aren´t allowed on this site, and I´m eager to know what you think of my first attempt ever at making one, you´re welcome to ask for the link via PM.
CHAPTER 5: Just Business
BON VIVANT RESTAURANT- GOTHAM CITY
Lex got to the restaurant fifteen minutes ahead of time. Chloe had insisted on coming on her own, despite his offer to pick her up at her apartment, and he hadn´t pressed the point. She wanted to make clear it wasn´t a date, and he preferred it that way. Tonight was about business, although it shouldn´t. For God´s sake what they were to discuss after the dinner should have been anything but business! He hoped he wouldn´t come out like a cold bastard but, after evaluating the alternatives, he had made up his mind. He needed ´Speranza´ to purge Lionel´s ghost once and for all, and Chloe was the key.
A quarter of an hour later, the young reporter was ushered to the table where Lex was already sitting. As she approached the enigmatic young man in an Italian suit, the knot in the pit of her stomach grew tighter and the legs that were propelling her grew weaker. He smiled at her and she hurried to the table lest her knees gave way. Always the gentleman, Lex drew the chair back for her and grazed her cheek with a kiss.
"I´m glad you´ve come, Chloe," said Lex warmly.
"I have to thank you for the invitation, Lex. I haven´t eaten out in a long time, ¨ she answered sincerely.
"What´s wrong with the men in Gotham? Are they blind? "
¨Lex..." warned Chloe.
"What? " he asked, raising his eyebrows.
"You´re doing it again. You don´t need to flatter me. I´m here, aren´t I? "
"Why do you insist on denying who you are? You´ve always done that. You´re no longer in Smallville, Chloe. I´ve never understood that feeling of inferiority. "
"You should have been born a girl and spend your high school years around perfect Lana Lang to understand what it feels like. "
"You´re worth a hundred Lanas. "
"Careful, Lex. You´re talking of your former partner. "
"Don´t get me wrong. She´s a nice girl and a very good business partner, but you´ve always been ten times more woman than her. "
"What is it that you´ve got up your sleeve, Lex? "
"We´ll have dinner first. Then, we´ll go to Gotham´s best coffee house to drink that java I promised you last night, and we´ll talk about what´s on my mind. But, believe me, Chloe, what I´ve just said isn´t a pick-up line or something to warm your heart. It´s the truth. "
"Whatever you say, Lex, " responded Chloe, browsing the menu.
"Look at me, Chloe, " he said, tilting up her chin. " I meant every word I said, " he stated, fastening his eyes on her.
´You wouldn´t think so highly of me if I told you here and now what I´ve been hiding from you for three years.´
Despite the tangle of emotions inside her brain, Chloe couldn´t deny the meal had been the best she had had in years, and the company... Well... She couldn´t think of a better escort or conversationalist. She had let him lead the conversation and provided him with answers to his questions- a lot of which turned out to be about her. On several occasions, she had tried to turn the tables, but she must have been too distracted to cross swords with him because he always managed to take control of the conversation again. By the time they finished dessert and were ready to leave the restaurant, Chloe was even more confused than before. ´What in hell´s name does he want to talk to me about? ´
GOTHAM´S JAVA
"Well, Lex, are you going to keep me waiting? As much as I´ve enjoyed the meal and the company, you said this night was business. So far you´ve managed to sidestep most questions about you and succeeded in making it all about me. I´m flattered you seem to be interested in a common mortal like Chloe Sullivan but, knowing you, there has to be a reason behind so many questions. "
"You´re right. But you´re a much more interesting subject than me, Chloe. You wouldn´t be interested in what I´ve been doing with my life these past ten years. "
"Why not? Why do you think I wouldn´t be interested? "
"I didn´t want to spoil our first dinner together, Chloe. "
"Don´t you ever feel the need to unburden yourself to someone, Lex? "
"Why would I want to submit another human being to the filth I´m immersed in every day, Chloe? "
"It´s unhealthy, Lex. "
"I appreciate your concern, Chloe, but I´ve never been good at opening up, " he said gravely.
´You opened up to me once, despite the fact that you didn´t know who I was, and cried on my shoulder. I´ve always wondered if you really ignored who I was the moment you made me feel alive for the first time in my life.´
"Have you ever heard of ´Speranza´, Chloe? " he blurted.
´Well, Sullivan, this is what you´ve been waiting for, isn´t it?Business. How good he is at avoiding the hot seat! ´
"Yes, the department stores. "
"Right. Rocco Ferrucci, the founder, is thinking of selling the chain. "
"And you´re considering buying it, aren´t you? "
"It´s what Lexcorp needs to dispel for ever the idea that a Luthor can only be involved in morally questionable ventures, Chloe. Did you know that ´Speranza´ means ´hope´ in English? I can´t pass up this opportunity. "
´Hope. If you only knew how ironic all this is, Lex. ´" I understand the necessity of showing the general public you aren´t Lionel, but I don´t see what it is you expect from this conversation. "
"I´m coming to it, Chloe. Ferrucci is a seventy-five-year-old pater familias, who built his emporium from the ground. His dream was to leave his corporation to his grandchildren when the time came for him to retire, but his only son died in a car accident twenty-five years ago and left no children. The department stores are Rocco´s only legacy. You must be aware of the importance Italian-Americans give to family. "
"I´ve seen all three ´Godfathers´, Lex, and a few ´Sopranos´ episodes, " she said ironically.
"Well... I had a meeting with Ferrucci last week, and I made him an offer he would find hard to resist. I thought the old man was ready to cave in but, then, he popped up a question out of thin air... a question I should have foreseen. He took me by surprise- dad must be laughing at me wherever he is for my unforgivable lack of vision. Ferrucci twisted my arm, Chloe, and I had to tell him a blantant lie. "
"Did you paint the Luthors as ´The Brady Bunch´?" she joked.
"I could have tried, but we´ve had way too much exposure in the press for him to ignore what we Luthors are really like, " he responded with a smirk.
"You mean what Lionel was really like, Lex. "
"You give me too much credit, Chloe. "
"They don´t know you as well as I do," she answered, toying with her spoon.
"I don´t think this is such a great idea, " he mumbled.
"What are you talking about, Lex? "
"I invited you tonight because I wanted to reacquaint myself with you. I´ve always felt comfortable around you. You were one of the few people I actually enjoyed talking to when I was in Smallville. When I saw you at Bruce´s mansion yesterday, you reminded me of how much I miss having someone like you in my life. Last night I was desperate, grabbing at straws, and then an idea took shape in my mind. But, now, it doesn´t seem such a great idea. I respect you too much for that, and I would be a cold-blooded bastard if I asked you what I meant to ask you when I crossed the restaurant door tonight. You deserve better than that. "
"Why don´t you let me judge for myself, Lex? "
"No, Chloe. I´ll find the way. I always do. "
"Let me help you. I owe it to you, " she said, placing one hand on top of his.
"If there´s anyone here who owes anything that would be me, Chloe. You risked your life to help me once. I´m eternally indebted to you. "
"Please, Lex. Indulge my curiosity. What was the question Ferrucci posed?"
What do you think of this short instalment? Looking forward to an update?