Make Damn Sure-Chapter 6
Disclaimer: Not mine and never will be. I resign myself to this sad fate.
Note: Sorry about the long wait guys! My life has taken a very hectic turn lately or so it would seem. To redeem myself, here are two chapters! I should let you know that this story is taking quite a bit longer to reach the Chlexy goodness that I had planned but, ah, the best laid plans of mice and men. The next two chapters see a lot of Lex but don't worry, the reunion happens quite soon and takes a passionate turn. Oh! I have said too much...
Find her. He had to find her. He didn't know why and, true to form, he didn't really care to analyze the feeling too closely. If Lex had been a more compassionate man, he would have thought that he wanted to find her to apologize. Maybe even apologize, finally, for the all of the harsh words that he had said, past and present. He would have thought this even while pushing his rising attraction to the blonde to the background knowing that such feelings could never be returned. However, Lex was not a compassionate man anymore. He knew in his gut that feelings for Chloe were a weakness that he could not afford. She was a distraction.
'So why are you on your way to the Daily Planet on a Saturday morning?'
Damn.
'Because I have to make sure that those were just idle threats she was making last night. I have to make sure that…'
'That what, Lex? That you didn't feel something when you saw her? That you still feel something? Something real?'
'No. No, she knows something. Anything else doesn't matter.'
Nothing from the peanut gallery. Lex continued speeding through the streets of Metropolis in his sleek silver car. Untouchable. Undeniable. In control. This was who Lex Luthor was now. This was the way he liked it.
"Oh, I know a lot more than you think I do Luthor. I know better than anyone what you're capable of now…."
'That's all I need right now. With everything going so well. She would be the one to find my mistakes.'
As he pulled in front of the Daily Planet, Lex smirked.
"From the pot to the fire."
And walked in.
The news room was buzzing with activity. People coming and going. Talking, laughing, a shout of exuberance or discovery every now and then. This was Chloe Sullivan's territory. Her true home. Lex knew he was out of place here. But a Luthor never shows anything but control and power. Everything was his territory now.
Lex strode purposefully to Perry White's office. And as expected, the hustle and bustle hushed and stilled around him.
The relatively new Editor In Chief opened his door as soon as Lex reached it. Already on the offense. Ready to fight. (From here we get a peak inside Perry's head and not just Chloe and Lex...
"Whaddya want Luthor? Comin' in here like this. You don't own this place or these people so you can just stride right outta here."
"Hmm, you're right. I don't own the Daily Planet….yet."
And with that, Lex brushed past a reeling Perry into his office and sat down in one of the chairs. Content and satisfied with himself.
Perry still stood in the doorway, facing his staff who all stood still looking at him.
"GET BACK TO WORK! WE DON'T GET PAID TO STAND AROUND! GO DO SOMETHING AND HAVE IT ON MY DESK WITHIN THE HOUR!"
He banged the door shut and, still muttering to himself about the nosiness of reporters, sat in his desk chair and faced Lex. However, before he could restore some balance to the situation, Lex asked the one question he had just been asking himself moments before.
"Why isn't Chloe Sullivan here?"
Why indeed. She was always here. Usually with a smile, a cup of coffee and a killer story. Truth was, she was his best and brightest. But, all anyone wanted to hear about these days was Superman. Chloe was above that schlock. But Kent and Lane weren't so they got the glory. It wasn't fair. And it certainly wasn't how he would have had it but…..
"I don't like repeating myself, Mr.White. And I don't like waiting."
"What? Oh yeah. Tell you the truth I don't know. I also don't know why you would be interested in Sullivan's whereabouts. Or why you would think that I would divulge them to you."
"It is a personal matter that you don't need to know the specifics of. Where does she live?"
"A personal matter, huh? As far as I know, Sullivan wants nothing to do with you Luthors anymore. And since she is one of my personnel, all personal matters have to do with me too. So, unless you would be willing to share a little bit more information, I think you'll have to find out on your own time."
Perry could tell Luthor was getting impatient with him. His jaw had shifted just slightly as if he was grinding his teeth. But that was just as well because Perry really didn't know the answer to his question. Chloe was very private. He knew that she had been having some problems with Kent and Lane for awhile but, she was always professional. So 'personal matters' were never discussed. He honestly didn't know where Sullivan lived.
"I wouldn't want to take up any of your time that you weren't willing to give me, Mr.White. But, I'm afraid that it is imperative that I find Ms.Sullivan. I have some questions for her."
Hmmm, well that certainly changed things. Luthor actually looked a little tired around the edges there. A little stressed, too. Just what was going on here?
"Look, bub. I don't know why she isn't here. She just isn't. And I don't know where she is either. She ain't at her desk or researching a story, the sky is about to fall. Actually, come to think of it, she would probably be here even then. So, I got nothing for you."
Luthor stood up slowly. His face had remained pretty impassive the whole time with just slight tells. And now, his stony mask of indifference had slipped just enough to show slight disappointment. He kinda' felt sorry for the guy…..until Luthor exited without a second glance and made him feel like some kind of prostitute that he was done with. Hmm, that could be a story. Luthor and prostitutes.
"LANE GET IN HERE! I GOT SOMETHING FOR YOU TO LOOK INTO!"
Still, where was Sullivan? And why was Lex Luthor in such a fuss to find her?
and on our story goes...