Chapter Four

A pale hand rested on the armrest of the small private plane drumming against the cool wood. The man sitting in the chair looked at the dog at his feet. The animal looked up at its new master. The man chuckled slightly looking at the raggedy animal, he was fairly sure he didn't look much better himself.

He got out of the seat and headed to the cockpit. "How much longer pilot?"

"Four hours until Metropolis sir."

"I want to change course, we are going to Switzerland instead."

"Switzerland sir? I can't do that, I have to alert the flight controllers I am going into international airspace and flying over the proper countries it can't-

The pilot stopped talking when he saw the look on his new bosses face, "Uh…that will be twenty hours sir."

"Good, I am going for a nap."

After getting out of the cab Cassie looked down at her self to make sure she looked okay. She was wearing one of her all time favourite dresses. It was white with a tee shirt style top, a thick black band around her waist and a voluminous skirt that ended at her knee. She had on a black shrug and had a black clutch bag. Her hair was out and brushed all to one side.

She walked across the sidewalk and into the Daily Planet Buildings lobby. She looked around her at the amazing art deco style. The architecture was beautiful. It was obvious the building had survived the twenties only to be refurbished by a very talented architect and interior designer. Cassie had always had an eye for architecture and was hoping to get a job at one of the major firms in the city.

She looked around the many people filling the lobby and saw no sign of Clark, but she did recognize one face. "Jimmy!" She ran over to her cousin.

He turned around, with the parcel he had just signed for in his hands. He looked at her and then turned, heading to the elevators.

"Oh come on Jimmy, I have said I was sorry, I just sorta forgot you were on the line. I mean it isn't my fault you didn't give up after the first half hour." Jimmy looked at her as she walked beside him to the elevators.

"I am sorry if I had a little more faith in my cousin." He pushed the button and tried to ignore her.

"Oh come on, I will make you my famous brownies…"

Jimmy looked at Cassie, "With walnuts instead of almonds."

"Anything you want Jimmy."

He smiled, "Consider yourself forgiven." The doors of the elevator opened and Jimmy got in.

"Have you seen Clark?" Cassie asked quickly.

"Oh yeah he told me to tell you if I saw you that he is going to be a few minutes and that you are to come up to our floor." The doors of the elevator closed.

"Jimmy!" Cassie yelled hitting the doors that started to open again. Jimmy was standing on the inside of the elevator with his hand on a button on the panel. Cassie got in and glared at him. "Thanks Jimmy."

"Yes I know it is hard to get an appointment, that is why I am talking to you…. Monday? Really? Great see his majesty then." Lois hung up the phone feeling very pleased with herself. She looked over her desk at the bustling office.

Jimmy came over and stood beside her desk, "Did you get that meeting with the Prince, Miss Lane?"

"'Course I did Jimmy, did you get those pictures of him on the Rivera for me?"

"Of course Miss Lane." Jimmy handed over a pale folder, Lois flicked through the pictures.

"Brilliant, you never cease to amaze me these will go brilliantly with my piece." Something caught Lois attention from the corner of her eye.

It was a girl, she was blonde, wearing a white dress, she was tall, slim and simply put beautiful. She was standing beside Clark Kent's desk; She was leaning over his shoulder reading something he was showing her.

"Who's that with Clark?"

Jimmy looked over his shoulder, they were laughing at something now. "Oh her, that is my cousin, Cassandra Kenton, she and Clark have been out once or twice, don't know for sure, they are about to go to dinner I think."

Lois nodded watching the two of them. She couldn't help but notice the differences between herself and this Cassandra. She was blonde, tall… it kind of surprised Lois. 'And here I was thinking he had a crush on me. Guess I didn't know his type as well as I had thought.'

It made Lois feel strange watching Clark with another woman. He never brought a girl to any of the office parties or spoke of any. She stood up suddenly.

"I am going to go introduce my self." She said, Jimmy just stared at her.

"Oh… uh okay." Jimmy watched Lois walk across the office wondering about the sudden interest.

"Hi, I am Lois Lane," She said brightly offering her hand.

It looked like she had caught the girl slightly off guard especially because Clark had been in mid sentence when Lois had spoken.

"Oh hi, I am Cassandra Kenton… but everyone calls me Cassie." Cassie shook Lois's hand.

Clark stood up at Lois's sudden appearance. "Lois…hi!" Cassie and Lois both looked at Clark who looked from Lois to Cassie before sitting down again. Cassie gave him a strange looked before distracted by Lois.

"So Cassie, have you always been in the city or are you new?"

"I just moved here a few weeks ago."

"Oh? And how do you like it?"

"I really like the city." She said nodding.

"That is good, how long have you known Clark?" Cassie got the impression she was under interrogation and from the look on Clark's face this wasn't the normal Lois Lane.

"Uh we just meet a few days ago."

Lois started nodding in an alarming way, "Oh hope he is treating you well."

Cassie and Clark just stared at her, Lois seemed to have lost all control of her mouth, but luckily Richard who walked up to the three of them saved her.

"Hi hun," He said kissing Lois on the cheek.

"Oh hi," She said not taking her eyes off Cassie.

"Who is this young lady?"

"Oh uh Richard, this is Cassandra Kenton, a friend of Clark's." Lois said with a slightly scary look on her face.

"Ah, nice to meet you Cassandra."

"Call me Cassie," She shook his hand as well.

"Well can't talk now just though I would come over and say hello to my beloved, we should have you two over for dinner one night." Richard said brightly, "Get to know you Cassie." Clark, Cassie and Lois all looked at him. "What?" He asked.

"Uh we better be going or we are going to miss our reservations." Cassie said smiling at Clark.

He furrowed his brow. "We don't have reservations." She gave him a pleading look, "Oh right those reservations." He stood up and grabbed his coat.

"Lois, Richard," He said nodding at both of them.

"Nice to meet you both," Cassie said brightly to the both of them.

"Right back at cha." Lois said brightly, Cassie gave her a strange look before she and Clark walked off to the elevators. Lois turned on Richard.

"Dinner? Dinner? We can't have them over for dinner!" Lois said in a hard whisper.

He looked at Lois, "Oh why not?"

"Because…"

"Because why?"

"We don't even know Clark, let alone this Cassie. She could be a serial murderer and you want to invite her into our home with our son!" Richard looked over Lois's shoulder at Cassie who was standing talking to Clark, they were laughing and she teasingly hit shoulder him in the shoulder, he did the same accidentally knocking her over. Richard looked back at Lois as Clark helped Cassie up.

"I don't think she is much of a threat and I think we should make an effort to become friends with Clark, he doesn't seem to have many."

Lois looked at the elevator to see Clark dusting Cassie off, she was laughing hysterically and Clark looked like he wanted the Earth to open up and swallow him. Something about the scene made Lois feel strange.

"I suppose,"

"Good then we are decided, I will talk to Clark about it tomorrow."