Disclaimer: I don't own anything here.
We last left Chloe in Gotham…
"So, I see a familiar face. The question is will she be friendly?" A voice broke Chloe's concentration. She looked up to find Lex Luthor standing in front of her.
"Lex?" She was surprise to see him in Gotham. It was no secret that Wayne Enterprises used all their corporate might to keep Luthor Corp out of Gotham.
"What in the world are you doing here? Some official to corrupt?" She asked, still in shock at finding him there. He smirked at her and walked to her desk.
"I'm looking at some business opportunities." He said vaguely.
"Still dodging all the important questions aren't you?" Chloe asked. Her reporter instinct coming out, not that it every really went away. He smiled his answer and moved onto a new topic.
"Let me take you dinner." He said, didn't ask, said.
"Why?" Chloe asked. There was always this thing between her and Lex; an undeniable chemistry that she avoided because he was such a bastard. But, considering her state of mind at the moment, she was actually considering his proposition. She was tired of always being broken hearted and lonely.
"We're old friends. We need to catch up." He said shooting her a new grin, this one however, was different; it was sexy and Chloe found herself being drawn in.
She managed to resist though, at least for the moment.
"I'm busy tonight, Lex." She told him.
"I'm sure. What with working your way out of the basement and all, but even you need a break." He persisted.
"Well, if it isn't Lex Luthor." A baritone voice broke their conversation, causing both her and Lex to look over at the speaker. It was Bruce Wayne, who was, technically, her boss. Only, she'd never met him until now. He was as gorgeous as in his pictures. His dark brown hair styled perfectly. He smiled at them, but it didn't reach his eyes. His eyes were brown and cold. Chloe idly wondered what they'd look like if he really smiled. Would they warm up?
"What brings you to Gotham, Lex?" He stood on the other side of Chloe's desk and looked at Lex.
"Old friends." He said then looked over at Chloe, who now felt like she was being studied because both men turned their attention to her.
She stood up and cocked her head to the side a little to look at Lex. She was about to set the record straight when Bruce beat her to it.
"I hadn't realized that one of my reporter's was dating a business rival. Isn't that a conflict of interest, Miss Sullivan?" He asked and Chloe now directed her attention to Bruce. How did he know my name? She thought.
"Oh. We're not dating. I grew up in Smallville and Lex lived there too. He was around for most of my high school years." She explained.
"Not dating? Then, I suppose you would accept an invitation to dine with me tonight?" Bruce asked. Chloe just smiled a little bemused. She was in the middle of a pissing contest. That much was obvious to Chloe. She didn't like it either. She was tired of men using her. She wanted to be the one using other people for a change.
"You know what...I'm actually good. I was just going to go home, cook dinner, and take a nice hot bath. So, really, I'm all booked up for the night." She smiled at Bruce apologetically.
"A raincheck, then?" He asked, ever the bachelor.
"Of course. Goodnight, Mr. Wayne" She said with a grin. Then she turned to Lex. "Good night, Lex." She brushed past him and walked to the elevator, aware that both men were watching her intently.
The next day, Chloe wasn't entirely shocked to find flowers sitting on her desk. She was shocked when she read the card though. They were from Bruce and there was a phone number for her to contact him. Deciding to dispel any thought of romance, she called him immediately.
"Bruce Wayne." He answered, and Chloe momentarily wondered if all billionaires answered their phones that way - with just their name and no hello. Her experience led her to think they must.
"It's Chloe Sullivan." She told him.
"I remember. So, you received the flowers?" He asked. God, he had a sexy voice. Chloe thought to herself.
"They're beautiful, but I have to wonder why you sent them." Chloe said bluntly.
"Beautiful flowers for a beautiful woman." He said seductively. Chloe fought a smile, but lost the battle; she was grinning widely.
"Thank you. For the flowers and the compliment. I'm still not going to have dinner with you though." She told him.
"You wound me, Chloe." He said with a small smile. Bruce was discovering that he liked talking to Chloe Sullivan. "I have no ulterior motive in sending those flowers, except to simply brighten your day."
Chloe outright laughed at that. "Right. Where have I heard that before? A man always has a reason to send flowers."
"I'm no ordinary man, Chloe." He said and Chloe's breath caught a little. He was definitely a seductive man. Why was it suddenly directed to her? She thought, and was glad they were just on the phone. Bruce Wayne in the flesh would definitely be hard to resist.
"I can see that." Chloe said. She was at a slight loss for words. Her editor was waving at her to get her attention. "I'm being summoned. Thanks again for the flowers." Chloe told him.
"It was my pleasure." Bruce said then hung up.
---
When Chloe went to the editor and got her assignment, she didn't leave his office happy. In fact, she was half tempted to quit outright because of this. She was being sent to interview Oliver Queen, the man that broke her heart only a few months earlier. She mulled it over and finally decided that she would do the interview. She could act cold and detached, after all it's not like she'd never been heartbroken before. Apparently, Queen Industries and Wayne Enterprises were doing some sort of joint venture. Resolving herself to be the straight, cold, hard reporter she set out preparing for her interview.
The next day, Chloe sat an empty meeting room at an expensive hotel waiting for Oliver to join her. She nervously tapped her pen on the desk, but abruptly stopped when she realized she was doing it. She didn't want Oliver to see her emotions in any way and he noticed everything.
Finally, the door opened and in he walked. Chloe stood up and shook his hand. Then sat and opened her notebook.
"Mr. Queen." She acknowledged.
"Miss Sullivan." He was mocking her with his tone. That set Chloe's teeth on edge, but she managed a bland smile instead of smacking him up side the head.
"Let's get started shall we?" She said. "So, what brought about the decision to work with Wayne Enterprises?" Chloe asked moving her head to the side slightly to look at him.
He didn't answer her question and instead just looked at her. He too was studying her. He went from her blonde hair down her face to her body. She looked thinner and tired.
"Are you going to answer the question? That is generally the way an interview works. I ask a question and you give an answer." Chloe said impatiently.
"Oh. Wayne Enterprises has a great vision for the future. This project particularly will help not just local citizens, but everyone worldwide. It's a vaccine to protect against the flu. Unlike normal vaccinations, this one has no side effects and will protect against any strain of the virus." Oliver said. He sounded excited about the project; and, Chloe had to admit, it was an amazing prospect.
"That's an amazing claim." Chloe jotted some stuff on her paper. "Have you actually tested this vaccine?"
"You're in Gotham, Chloe." Oliver told her, causing her to look up from her notes. She was surprised by the sudden change in topic.
"Yes. Good observation. So are you." Chloe said.
He pursed his lips together, thinking for a moment. "I distinctly remember telling you to stay in Metropolis." He sounded like he was angry about the fact that she'd come here, which completely annoyed her and pissed her off.
"Funny. I also remember you telling me you'd call, but that never happened." Chloe told him. "Not to mention the fact that we have already established that you aren't the boss of me. I'm an independent woman. You really should be bossing around someone that you may have better luck with. Someone like your fiancé, maybe? You're going to be married, I'd hope you could at least control her right?" Chloe said and got up to leave the room.
"Chloe!" She heard Oliver call her name although he'd more like growled it. She knew she'd made him angry but he had no right to say anything to her. She turned around with her hand on the door.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Queen. Have I said something to offend?" Chloe said sweetly.
"Dammit, Chloe." He got up and stalked toward her. He stopped a few feet from her. "This isn't how it's supposed to go. You need this interview. I promise to answer the questions, just come back here."
Chloe looked at him. He was right, she did need this interview. She nodded silently, wondering why he cared, and went to her chair.
"Yes, we have actually tested the vaccine." Oliver stayed standing and looked out a window facing the Gotham skyline.
"And the results?" She prompted.
"Good so far. As I said, there have been no side effects." Chloe looked up at his back and noticed how tense he looked. His shoulders were hunched slightly, as if he were burdened by a great weight. Chloe felt herself starting to feel sorry for him, but she quickly squelched it when she saw the next question on her list. It was one she didn't want to ask, but knew she had to. This was the real reason for the interview. She knew that because her editor had specifically told her she had to ask these questions.
"So, when is the baby due?" Chloe asked slowly, not really wanting to know anything about this part of his life. His back stiffened and he turned around to face her.
"In a few months." He said simply.
"Do you feel ready to be a father?" She asked. She was dying inside, but refused to show it.
"I don't know. I guess you can never prepare yourself for something like this." He said quietly. Chloe knew she shouldn't, but she couldn't resist digging at him a little.
"You could carry protection with you. Unprotected sex is what brings about a baby." Chloe told him snidely. She was thinking back to her own experience with him.
He grinned at her for a moment. This was the Chloe from old. The snarky, quick comeback Chloe. God, he missed her. He thought to himself.
"There was only one woman that I failed to protect." Oliver told her.
Chloe just looked at him for a moment, then narrowed her eyes at his implication.
"Right. Yeah. I believe that. Your current situation would suggest otherwise." Chloe said.
"Things happen that are beyond our control." Oliver told her smoothly. "I meant it. There has only been one." He looked at her pointedly.
Chloe shook her head and shot him a look of disbelief. "Ok. Let's just move on then."
"I see that you aren't pregnant." He said, shocking Chloe. She sputtered at little and her hand went down to her stomach. Oliver walked over to her and kneeled next to her chair and placed his hand over hers on her tummy. His was much larger than hers, covering her hand completely.
"And again, you have always been brilliant with the observations." She finally managed.
"You look like you've lost weight." He continued talking, ignoring her last comment. Then he shifted his hand around and caressed her much smaller waist. "Maybe a little too much. I liked your curves, Chloe. A man needs something to hold on to. I remember us fitting each other perfectly." He looked at her intensely. "It doesn't really matter though; we'll always fit that way, regardless of your size. I just would be a little scared of hurting you now. You look frail, Chloe." Oliver told her and squeezed her waist with his hand. Chloe just shook her head to clear it; his touching her was confusing her and making it hard to think.
"What?" Chloe stood up and was now the one looking down at him. She finally found her anger. "You can't talk to me like that. You are engaged to a woman that is having your baby, Oliver." Chloe told him angrily. Oliver heard her, but was so glad she'd finally used his first name; he had to fight a smirk. He stood up and shoved his hands in his pockets to keep from reaching out to touch her.
"Am I?" Oliver remarked seriously and sounding like a total jerk. Chloe wanted to reach out and smack him for real this time. Only knowing she was here as part of her job stopped her hand from hitting his head.
"This is ridiculous. I'm going." She picked up her notebook and looked at him one last time, giving him that you're crazy and scum look, before exiting the room.
a/n: Here it is; a long update!! And about the whole unprotected sex. I did that because I wasn't sure where this story was going at the time and I was contemplating having Chloe be pregnant because I think pregnant is cute and makes a good plot device. Sorry to have offended anyone:( Anyway. Thanks for the reviews and all. Thanks again, guys! More Bruce action next time...