Make Damn Sure-Chapter 7
Disclaimer: Not mine and never will be. I resign myself to this sad fate.
Lex had left the office with every intention of leaving and never coming back. But, one thing stood out in his mind with White.
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.
There was his lead. Chloe's desk. Back in Smallville, if you wanted to find out anything about Chloe Sullivan then you start in the Torch office. It was her life, her passion. Her sanctuary from the world. In fact, if she wasn't avoiding him, he had no doubt that she would be at her small desk by the window right now.
'What makes you think she would be avoiding you Lex? Why you couldn't have possibly done anything to deserve that.'
It also wasn't a good sign that his mind's voice had turned against him recently. That sarcasm was grating on his nerves.
'Oh bite me.'
And sounded like the very same pesky blonde he was searching for.
'See Lex. Just call off your whole reporter act you got going on right now and accept the Chloe in your head. What could she know?'
No, he shouldn't underestimate the real Chloe. It was bad enough that she seemed to have disappeared off the face of the earth. His contacts couldn't find her number or address.
There were no apartments registered to a Chloe Sullivan in Metropolis. No Nellie Bly's either. Or any other variations of the two names other than one Nellie Sullivan; 40 year old science teacher with a penchant for musicals. No, Lex needed to narrow the search and as he stood in behind the chair that Chloe must have sat in a million times, he wasn't quite sure where to begin.
The desk was completely organized. And it shocked him. The Chloe he knew-
'Used to know.'- was a mess; papers and post-its all around with words, phone numbers, or ideas written on them. And Chloe right in the middle of all of it. But this….this was clean. Folders were color coordinated. She had a neat pile of memos and an inbox/outbox for other such papers. He noticed that she had one picture on her desk. It was all of them in the coffee shop sitting in various places; Clark, himself, Chloe, Lana, Pete. They weren't aware of the camera and so all of them had been caught defenses down. Clark was staring adoringly in Lana's direction who was spilling her tray while her head was turned to Clark as well. Pete was looking exasperatedly at Clark as he realized he was being ignored. And Chloe, Chloe was smiling widely at him. And he was smiling back. He couldn't remember this picture. But, he remembered the feeling. He had felt accepted. Trusted. Content.
'And then it all turned to crap.'
Lex put the picture back on her desk and grunted softly when the frame fell over. And revealed a white piece of paper taped to the back.
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY: ALEXANDRA KING 555-2671
'I am an idiot. Of course!'
"What are you doing?"
Lex turned the picture around and then turned himself around slowly.
"I wasn't aware that it was a crime to visit an old friend, Clark."
He spoke this very evenly and with a cool façade of calm and indifference but, inside Lex really wanted to throw something at this man. This "Superman" who felt that it was his right to interfere in human lives. Who hid in the weakest human shell that he could create. A bumbling, socially inept moron. He was making fun of humans. Playing God with them even as pretended to walk amongst them. Lies. Liar.
"Chloe isn't your friend anymore, Lex. I would step away from her desk if I were you."
"I would shudder to think of how my companies would be run if you were me, Clark. As it stands, this is none of your business."
"Listen Luthor…."
"Hey Smallville, what's going on?"
Lex looked and recognized the speaker as none other than Lois Lane.The lesser talented female in the Sullivan clan. Her hand was lying lightly on Clark's forearm-comforting and restraining at the same time. He saw them exchange looks that spoke volumes about their relationship.
'Ah, that's interesting.'
Clark and Lois had begun a relationship. Probably in complete disregard for Chloe's feelings. Much in the same way that they had pushed their way into her dream job. Lex couldn't help but understand some of the bitterness that had been evident in Chloe's rant the night before.
"Lex was just leaving."
"Oh really? Did you find what you were looking for?"
"Thank you for your concern, Ms.Lane. But I am disappointed to announce that for the first time, Clark is actually correct in his assumption about me. I was just about to leave. If you will excuse me."
And with that, Lex Luthor walked out of the Daily Planet. Flipping open his cell phone, Lex smirked.
"Mercy, get me the address of a Ms. Alexandra King and call me back."
'Got ya', Chloe."
And so, off to see Chloe. Please bear with me! and review!