Chapter Four
When Chloe woke up she found Lex sleeping on the edge of the bed. To her it looked as though he was almost going to fall off the bed, and she knew that he couldn't have had a comfortable night's sleep. She got out from under the covers and placed her feet on the floor. She stood up and walked over to her dresser. She picked out a simple baby blue dress to wear for the day, and then she silently crept over to the bathroom being careful not to wake Lex up. She then closed the bathroom door, and for the first time since she had arrived in her new home she got to look at herself in the mirror. The makeup that had been put on her yesterday had now turned a funny color, and her hair was sticking up everywhere, it was also unnaturally curly from being braided.
Chloe removed the pajamas from her body and then she turned on the shower, making sure it was as warm as possible. She always had to bathe in the small pond that was in her part of town and the water was always freezing, not to mention that it was filled with the bacteria that all of the townspeople carried. So it was nice to have clean hot water stream down over her body. Her eyes stayed closed for a long time just taking in the warmth of the water, and then she started to wash her face. Then she washed the rest of her body, and then she scrubbed her hair. Once she was done she stood under the warm water for awhile longer before she shut it off. She wrapped herself in a towel and then she started to dry her body. She then put on her clothes, and stood in front of the mirror to brush her hair. It was then that she finally saw just how much of her hair was gone.
Once she was done in the bathroom she opened the door and saw Lex with his back turned towards her. He was pulling on a pair of black pants, and his shirt was off. Chloe backed into the bathroom and shut the door quietly she didn't want to watch him dress. So she waited a few more minutes before she went back out into the room. This time Lex had finished dressing and he was standing in front of a stand up mirror in order to make sure that he was tying his tie straight. He then saw Chloe in the mirror and so he turned to look at her. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yes did you?" She moved closer to him.
"Yes." Lex lied to her.
Chloe shook her head. "You're not telling the truth Lex. I saw you this morning sleeping on the edge of the bed that couldn't have been comfortable."
Lex shrugged his shoulders trying to ease his muscles that had been tense all night. "You're right I didn't sleep well."
"Want a massage?"
"No." He said quickly and then he looked at her hurt face. "It's just that I have this meeting to get to after breakfast. There is no time maybe I'll take you up on your offer later."
"What am I supposed to do?"
Lex looked at her closely. "Well mine and my father's office has to be cleaned while we are at this meeting; I have to order you to clean my side while his wife cleans his."
"Of course." Chloe sat down at the edge of the bed.
Lex moved over to her. "Just remember that the man I am outside of this room is not who I really am Chloe."
"I know." She mumbled, she didn't know what she thought would happen today since she knew that they couldn't stay in this room forever.
"Just so you know I may have to kiss you today, after all last night we were supposed to…"
"I know. Its fine Lex do whatever you have to do to act as though you control me."
Lex held his hand out to her. "Let's go get breakfast."
Chloe took his hand and allowed him to lead her through the mansion to the dining room. Lionel was already there his wife was sitting next to him eating slowly. She looked as though she was in her mid twenties, her red hair curled close to her face. "Sit." Lex ordered Chloe as he pointed to a chair. Chloe sat down and then she watched as Lex sat next to her.
"Lex, I hope you had a good night." Lionel looked at his son placing a smile on his face.
"I didn't have a good night dad." Lionel then looked at Lex with surprise. "I had a great night." Lex said with a laugh and then he glanced at Chloe and touched her face.
"I'm glad son. Maria what is taking so long?" Lionel shouted out.
A young girl quickly ran into the room her eyes darting around to all of them. "I'm sorry sir the cook he burnt the food, it will be…"
"Are you blaming this on a man Maria?" Lionel asked as he rose from his seat.
"No I'm just saying that it's going to be a few more minutes." The girl was stammering she didn't look as though she could be any older than thirteen. She had short brown hair, and blue eyes. She was wearing a worn brown dress just as the other girls who had worked on Chloe had been wearing.
Lionel moved over to the girl he grabbed her face in both of his hands. "Who is in control Maria?"
"You are Mr. Luthor sir." Her voice was shaking with fear.
"Good then you realize that this is completely your fault that my son's breakfast is late, and that now we are both going to be late for our meeting."
She shook her head. "Yes it's my fault I'm sorry."
"Sorry isn't good enough." He then slapped her hard across the face. Her head was thrown to the side and she immediately clasped her face with her hand. "Now get into that kitchen and do not come back out until you have my son's breakfast."
"Yes sir." She said weakly and then she ran out of the room.
Lionel then came back to take his place at the table, and he acted as though nothing had ever happened. Chloe however couldn't stop staring at Lionel; she couldn't believe that he would strike a young child. "Is there a problem Chloe?"
"No sir." She told him and then she looked down at her hands.
"Good because I'm sure my son would fix the problem if there was one." Lionel fixed his eyes on Lex.
Lex shook his head at his father. "Of course I would father." He glanced at Chloe coldly.
Chloe held her head down just as Lionel's wife was doing. Lex and Lionel then talked about what was going to be discussed at their meeting. When suddenly the door opened back up and Maria came in with a plate of food. She placed the food in front of Lex. Lex looked displeased at what he saw before him. "Come here Maria." Chloe suddenly felt afraid of what Lex would do to the girl, she hoped that she didn't have to see him hit her too.
Maria walked over to Lex and stared down at the ground. "Yes sir." She said to him.
"Was this what I ordered?" His voice was cold and was raised in anger.
Lionel was watching the scene with fascination. "No sir but the other food… I'm sorry sir." She stammered to him.
"As you should be Maria, but as my father just said sorry isn't good enough." Lex stood up from his chair and grabbed the girl by her shoulder. He then forced her out of the room.
Chloe kept her head down but she could tell that Lionel was beaming with pride. Chloe couldn't help but wonder what Lex was doing to the child, and she again wondered whether or not she had chosen the right person to marry. Lex returned a minute later his eyes locking with his father's. "I think she won't let this happen again." Lex said as he sat down and started to eat his breakfast. Once he was done taking his portion of the plate he looked at Chloe. "Finish it." He told her coldly and then he looked at the plate of food that was sitting in front of his father, there was only a tiny bit of food left on his.
"Finish mine Victoria." Lionel ordered the girl sitting next to him. Victoria then took the plate that sat in front of Lionel and placed it in front of her. Chloe did the same and she waited for Victoria to take a bite of food before she also started to eat.
Once the plates were clear Lex got up and ordered Chloe to follow him. He led her to where she guessed was his father's and his offices. "My office is on this side of the room; clean it up while I'm gone." Lex stood in front of Chloe pointing to the side of the room that was his. Lionel had also ordered Victoria to clean his side of the room, and then he grabbed her chin and kissed her. Lex grabbed Chloe's shoulders and looked at her sternly. "You are to stay on this side of the room, and I expect this side to be perfectly cleaned by the time I get back." He then titled her chin up and pressed a kiss on her lips.
Lionel smiled at his son, and then they both left the room. Chloe looked at Victoria curiously. "What do we clean with?"
"There are supplies under his desk." Victoria pointed at the desk that was on Chloe's assigned part of the room.
Chloe went under the desk and grabbed the cleaning solution. She started to dust off Lex's desk. "How long have you been married to Lionel?" Neither Lex nor Lionel had said that they couldn't talk to each other.
"A year, I was married before him, but my first husband passed away. I was told by everyone that I wouldn't be able to find another husband in the two months that I was given to find one. But I was determined and I found ways to travel to meet different men until Lionel offered to marry me." Victoria was working on Lionel's desk, and Chloe was sure that she had done this many times but she was missing spots.
Chloe had become good at cleaning things because she was always helping her father clean their house, and he liked for everything to be perfect. Chloe had learned how to clean fast, but well so that she didn't miss anything. "Do you have any children?"
Victoria shook her head at Chloe. "I have a nine year old daughter she files Lionel's paperwork in his main office."
"This isn't his main office?" Chloe continued picking things up and making them neat, she wasn't sure exactly how Lex's office was supposed to look.
"Oh no, we are moving back to the main house in a few days. Lex didn't tell you?" Victoria looked at Chloe her eyes held surprise in them.
Chloe shook her head. "Last night there wasn't much time for talking." She lied to Victoria but she knew that someone must be watching and so she had to lie.
Victoria shook her head as if she understood completely. "I'm sure he will explain it all to you soon. You are very fast at cleaning."
"You think it looks good?" Chloe hoped that Victoria would help tell her how the office was supposed to look.
"Yes it looks wonderful I only wish I could be done that fast." Victoria was still dusting Lionel's desk.
Chloe moved over towards her. "Here let me help you." Victoria shook her head at Chloe but Chloe had already crossed and was helping her to straighten Lionel's side. Once done Chloe looked at the sparkling office. "There looks perfect to me." Chloe said as she went back on Lex's side to wait for them to come back.
"This could be very bad." Victoria said as she heard footsteps coming towards the room.
Chloe looked at her curiously but then her attention was focused on Lex and Lionel. Lex had come over to his side of the office to inspect Chloe's work. He looked at his desk and then at the bookshelf that was built into the wall. "Looks good." Lex said to her and then he watched as his father looked around at the work Vitoria had done.
"You didn't do this alone did you?" Lionel glared at Vitoria his voice was filled with anger.
Victoria shook her head at him, and then Lex turned on Chloe. He grabbed her by her arm but his grip was light. "I told you to stay on your own side did I not?" He yelled at her his face close to hers.
"Yes you did." Chloe said to him as she put her head down.
Lex looked at his father. "Sorry that we can't have that conversation you wanted to have dad, but I have to go punish my wife."
"You can punish her here son." Lionel said as he looked at Lex.
"I might be nicer to her with people watching, so I think it's better if we take this somewhere else." He then dragged Chloe from the room pushing her in front of him as they reached the door to the office. Once they were out of sight from Lionel, Lex didn't push her as much. Chloe knew that he still had to look mad for whoever was watching them on video. Then once they reached their room Lex opened the door and shoved Chloe into it. He slipped behind the door and shut it, and then clicked the lock on it. He turned towards Chloe looking at her sadly. "I didn't hurt you did I?"
Chloe looked at him and then she looked at the arm he had grabbed. "No."
Lex came over to her and inspected her arm just to make sure. "Please don't make me do that Chloe." He brushed his hand on her cheek.
"I'm sorry Lex it's just that I thought I was helping."
"I know but next time don't." Lex sat down on the bed and put his head in his hands.
"Is she going to get beat because of what I did?" Lex looked at Chloe his eyes told her the answer. "God I really need to think more." Chloe said as she sat down on the bed next to Lex.
But then there was a knock on the door. Lex got up and looked at Chloe. "Get against the wall now, and take off your dress." Lex shouted, at her but his eyes told her that he didn't mean what he was saying.
Chloe ran to the other side of the room and she started to pull her dress up, when Lex opened the door. "Lex, I was wondering if you needed any help."
Lex looked at his father and gave him a smile. "I don't think I do dad." Lex had taken his belt off from his pants and was holding it in his hand.
"Make sure you teach her a lesson you don't want her turning into your mother do you?"
"No of course not."
Lionel tried to press his head into the room. "I want to watch you punish her Lex."
"I don't think that would be wise father considering I just made her take off her clothes. You know the law doesn't allow for you to see her naked."
"Alright then son." Lionel sounded disappointed, but Chloe could hear him walking away from the room.
Lex then shut the door and locked it again. He replaced his belt on his pants and then he looked at Chloe who was smoothing her dress down. "I never thought that this would be this hard."
Chloe came and sat down next to him. "I'll make it easier for you I promise."
"He is going to want to see proof that I taught you a lesson." Lex said his eyes looked sadly at Chloe.
"So you are going to beat me?"
"No of course not. I'll figure out something." He looked down at his hands.
Chloe touched his cheek with her hand. "I truly am sorry Lex."
Lex looked at her. "I know you are. And I'm sure you are still curious about the events that happened this morning."
With everything that had just happened Chloe had completely forgotten about the girl whom Lex had removed from the dining room earlier. "Yes."
"I didn't hurt her, but I had to throw her against the wall and yell at her. God I hate that there are cameras everywhere in this place."
"Are there cameras at the other place too?"
Lex turned his head quickly to look at Chloe he hadn't told her about that, so he knew that Victoria must have told her. "Yes there are. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about that, but last night was going so well and I didn't want to ruin it."
"Ruin it how exactly?"
Lex got up from the bed and started to pace the room. He didn't want Chloe to hate him, in fact he had taken a liking to her touching his face. But he knew that he couldn't keep hiding information from her. "I'm sure you have heard the name Luthor before."
"I have but I couldn't place where exactly I heard it."
Lex shook his head at her. "You probably wanted to block it out. You see my father is in charge of the law." He looked at Chloe wishing that he didn't have to tell her this information.
Chloe suddenly remembered that they had learned about the Luthors at school. The first Luthor that came to their country had set the laws in place, and his son enforced the law after his father passed away. The line of Luthors was long and each of them was always in charge of the law. The Luthors were a family of control, and they had made it so that the law allowed them to control everyone. Men weren't treated as unfairly as women were but if they weren't Luthors then they also had to give up certain rights, like who to vote for, and what kinds of things they were allowed to say to the Luthor men. As far as Chloe knew these laws were still in place. "No." She whispered as she looked at Lex, knowing that he was next to be in charge.
"Yes Chloe, are other home is at the law building, and if you think they watch you closely here they watch you even more at the law building." He sat down next to Chloe again his eyes searching her face for anger, or for hatred towards him.
Chloe looked at him tears running down her cheeks. "Why did you come and find me? Why did you make me think that I could actually trust that you wouldn't harm me?"
"I'm not going to hurt you Chloe, even when we move I won't hurt you." Lex looked at her hoping that she could understand.
"If you don't then someone there will for sure." She stood up and ran into the bathroom. She locked the door behind her and then she slid down it and cried. She couldn't believe that she had felt so safe being with Lex. He wasn't a safe person to be with, even if he didn't hurt her the people at the law building would. All you had to do was make one mistake and they would attack you, she had heard the horror stories about the law building. She had heard of the rooms that they locked people in, the walls were filled with sharp glass and pointed rusty nails and there was only a tiny bit of room for a person to stand in, and even they made one wrong move they would be cut instantly. Chloe couldn't believe that this was the man that she had married, and she couldn't believe that she had forgotten why the name Luthor had sounded familiar.
"Chloe come on open the door please." Lex called through the door. Chloe didn't say anything back to him; instead she just sat on the floor wondering what her future held. "No one at the law building is allowed to touch you except for my father, our wives are forbidden to anyone else. If anyone touches you then they are killed instantly, and my father has bigger things to worry about then hurting you. I know this isn't the greatest situation Chloe, but once my father dies things will change."
Chloe didn't believe his words, after all hadn't his father just come in to ask him if he needed help in punishing her? She was sure that Lex's father would find pleasure in beating her, just as he found pleasure in hitting his own wife and the servants. Chloe knew that it wasn't Lex's fault that he was born into the Luthor family, but she had wished that he had told her when he met her who he was. So she pushed herself up from the floor and unlocked the bathroom door. Then she pushed it open and saw Lex standing outside of it. Lex wrapped her in a hug holding her tightly. "I won't let him hurt you."
"I wish we could run away."
"I wish we could too Chloe." He stepped back and brushed the tears from her eyes. Chloe moved away from him and sat down on the bed. She wished that she had her father to talk to about everything that was going on. "Here." Lex said as he gave her the journal that he had given her yesterday. "Write whatever you are feeling down, I'm going to go figure out a way to prove to my father that I hit you. Lock the door behind me and don't answer it for anyone."
Chloe shook her head at him and watched as he left the room. She wrote in the journal until he came back in with a man. "This is Marcus." Lex told her as he shut the door behind them. "Why don't you go change into a shirt and pants and I'll explain what's going on when you come out." Chloe got up from the bed and grabbed a shirt and pants from her dresser, and then she realized that Marcus must have seen the journal that she had been writing in. She looked at Lex with worry. "Don't worry Marcus won't say anything about that." Lex pointed to the journal on the bed. Chloe then went into the bathroom and changed. When she walked out Marcus had opened the suitcase that was in his hand. She saw all different types of makeup in the suitcase. "Marcus is a makeup artist, he is going to make it look as though I beat you."
Chloe looked at Lex and then at Marcus. "What do you want me to do?"
"If you could lie down on your stomach I can start with your back." Marcus told her, his voice was gentle.
Chloe shook her head and then went and lay down on the bed. Lex sat on the bed next to her. "Marcus doesn't like the way women are treated either." Lex explained to her.
"The way I see it we should be treating women with more respect they do go through so much to please their husbands, and then of course they go through all of that pain when giving birth. Men should be more appreciative of women." He had brought his suitcase over to the bed and was opening different containers.
Chloe looked over at Lex. "Will you hold my shirt for him?" Lex nodded at her and then he pulled up the back of Chloe's shirt. He held the shirt up as Marcus started to work. "Won't they wonder what Marcus is doing in here?"
"No my father uses Marcus all the time to try and cover up the beatings."
"Good thing he does use me then at least I can make this look as realistic as possible." It took Marcus over an hour to finish Chloe's back. "Wow it looks so real." Lex told him seeing the lashes that he was supposed to have done to Chloe.
"It needs to dry for a bit before we work on her face."
"Will this last until tomorrow?" Chloe asked Marcus hopefully.
"Yes just don't take a shower and don't sleep on your back tonight."
Once the makeup had dried enough Lex replaced Chloe's shirt and then Chloe sat up. Marcus then started to make a bruise on Chloe's eye. "If this fades over night just dab it like this in the morning." Marcus said as he showed Lex.
"And you are sure this will trick my father?"
"Yes just don't let him touch her, and you should be fine." Marcus smiled at Chloe and then at Lex.
"You'll receive a hefty check Marcus, thank you."
"You're welcome Mr. Luthor." Marcus then left the room.
Lex then turned and looked at Chloe. "He sure did a good job if I hadn't watched him do that to you I would have been asking you who I had to kill for giving you those wounds."
Chloe laughed at him. "As long as we convince your father."
"I'm sure we will." Lex sat down on the bed next to her.
"When do we leave for the law building?" Chloe looked at him curiously.
"The day of your birthday we are leaving." Lex looked at Chloe glad that she didn't hate him.
Chloe realized that her birthday was only two days away. She had felt like all that had happened had taken a lifetime.