Title: Breaking Chloe Sullivan

Summary: Her strength is intriguing him, her fire captivating him, but can she survive his interest? Lex decides it's time to find out, what exactly will it take to break Chloe Sullivan?

Shipping: Chlark Chlex mostly Chlark

Major Characters: Chloe Clark Lex

Author's Note: Hey guys I'm starting college! Woo-hoo! If this means more time for posting or less I'm not sure. I'm thinking more.

Reviews: Thanks so much for those of you who did review! For those of you who didn't please please please do! Enjoy the chapter guys!

Previously:

Chloe

Even now, with all they'd been through, he wouldn't tell her. But now it was a little easier for her to accept, now she knew what it was like to have a secret you didn't want to tell anyone. A secret you hid so deep, that you were the only one it could eat away at. "Clark it's okay. It's going to be okay." She pulled him into a hug, wrapped her arms around him, and he put his around her too, holding onto her like she was the only thing he had left. She just wanted to stay here… the only place she really felt safe.

Lex? Now? He would find out. All these years she'd avoided his detection, ducked behind people at social events, made excuses to get out of introductions, always making sure her picture was small and distorted when it was in the paper. All of that would be for nothing now. He would find out.

Clark

Is it a good thing she has to convince you to come back all the time? He walked into Chloe's apartment building and stepped into the elevator, pressing the button for the 7th floor. Of course it's a good thing, I love her, she loves me. We belong together. We always have. The door opened as Clark shook his head, giving up his self-convincing.

Lex

It had been years since he'd touched her skin, since he'd held her body close to his. When was the last time he'd seen her intelligent eyes look at him with anything except fear and hatred? But of course she wouldn't remember that… She didn't remember any of it, he'd seen to that. Lois Lane would be asking the questions. But it was Chloe Sullivan he had all the answers for.

Ch. 13 I Know You

"Lois Lane. I don't believe I've had the pleasure."

"No. And you won't. Not ever." She looked at him, sitting behind his glass desk, his laptop closed, sitting on the clear surface. He stood and she watched his expensive shirt shift over his chest, his custom-made shoes clicking on the floor as he walked around to the front of his desk. She was still in the same place, her feet rooted to the spot. His hands motioned her over to the leather couch off to the side.

"Please, take a seat." She couldn't put it off any longer, and so, as she slowly walked over to the spot, she looked up at his face. God there was that smirk, it was always on his face. His eyes were the same… and she quickly looked away. He would see right through her.

"So, Ms. Lane, aren't you wondering why I asked for you?"

"No not at all," Chloe said, sitting down, even though that was the one question she was dying to ask him.

"Really?" He sat down next to her, and she shifted farther into the corner of the couch, trying to avoid eye contact.

"Why do you sound so surprised?"

"It's just that you're famous for that curiosity Ms. Lane. You do know that saying right?"

"No, I live in a cave Mr. Luthor."

"Retract the claws please kitty. You must be on what? Your eighth life?"

"Not even close."

"Oh, and call me Lex please."

"So Mr. Luthor," she said, setting up a tape recorder, "I have a few questions for you."

"I'm sure you do."

"What do you have to say about the rumors that LuthorCorp has been using humans in experiments?"

"I would say those rumors are ridiculous."

"Of course you would. I have information that you've bought an old warehouse outside the city limits. Can you tell me what you're using it for?"

"Storage."

"Of course."

"You seem to know all my answers before I do."

"A good reporter always does. That way I know if you're lying."

"Am I lying?"

"Yes. But I'm not surprised, I expected it. So can you explain the enormous amounts of power your 'storage' warehouse is sucking from the city's power grid?"

"Certain things have to be kept at certain temperatures, and of course the whole warehouse is protected by a security system that draws power. How would you like to be surprised?" He leaned forward, his eyes glinting like he knew a secret. Shit, does he know?

"What about the trucks coming and going in the middle of the night? And I don't like surprises."

"Those are shipments. Really? I thought I remembered you did."

"Shipments in the middle of the night? And you don't know anything about me."

"I know more than you think."

"How? Have you put a tail on me Mr. Luthor?"

"Lex. And I'm certain you would have seen him if I had."

"I would have."

"I would never attempt such a thing Ms. Lane."

"Of course you would."

"You seem to have me pegged Ms. Lane. How is it you came to know so much about my inner workings?"

"Well that's easy. You're in things for power. It's all you want. And it's one of the easiest things in the world to figure out. Everything you do is to achieve that goal."

"It seems I'm a very selfish person."

"Yes well…"

"I have done unselfish things in my life you know. Perhaps you'd like to write about them?"

"Oh really? Like what?"

"I once took in a young girl after her father died." Shit. Chloe swallowed, looking down for just a second. It was a mistake.

"Oh you've heard about that?"

"I did research you before conducting this interview Mr. Luthor."

"Lex. What else did you discover?"

"Just what I told you. That you are in things for power, only for power. I'm sure that taking care of this girl somehow played into your eternal chess game between you and your dad."

"I'm surprised this is the first time you've brought him up. And there was nothing for me to gain."

"I doubt that, and I don't write a gossip or celebrity column Mr. Luthor."

"And yet you seem to have a fictional piece planned anyway Ms. Lane."

"Excuse me?" She had to get him off this topic of his charitable younger years.

"Human experimentation? Shipments of secret materials in the middle of the night? Sounds like something that belongs in a novel, albeit a well-written one. Don't you agree?"

"Of course it will be exceptionally well written, but as to it being fiction, I don't think so."

"Can you prove it?"

"Of course!"

"How?"

"What? You just expect me to give you all my secrets? You can read it in the article Mr. Luthor. And now that we're back on topic, can you explain to me why you paid a Mr. Young the ridiculous sum of $500,000 when he left your company last year?"

"Mr. Young? I'm sorry you'll have to refresh my memory, I do have a great number of employees."

"He worked on a project Gray? Interesting name by the way. As in the space between black and white, wrong and right, as in the area most of your work takes place in? He had an extensive medical background and could have taken his pick of any major hospital in the world, but instead now resides at a small town hospital in Wisconsin?"

"Oh. Dave? He was a good employee, and LuthorCorp takes care of its employees. As for the project, it was a study of the brain. Gray matter?"

"The human brain I presume? As that was his field?"

"Yes." Chloe scowled at his patronizing tone and his smirk, fighting the urge to stick her tongue out at him.

"So did you have willing subjects or unwilling ones?"

"We studied cases Ms. Lane. And the human brains of deceased patients who donated their bodies to the study and furthering of medical science."

"Oh of course. What exactly were you studying?"

"Various parts of the brain. I won't bore you with the details, I would like to tell you about LuthorCorp's latest development."

"I will ignore the fact that you're avoiding the question and allow it."

"LuthorCorp is setting up a new Foundation for those with medical problems, primarily those involved with the brain. The Pegasus Foundation will help those who have nowhere else to turn, who have problems no one else can solve. We will try to solve them."

"Really? Why Pegasus? And what will you be getting out of this?"

"Pegasus represents the hippocampus in Greek Mythology, which is the place in the brain that controls memory, a special interest of the Foundation. And I will be getting the joy that comes from helping people."

"Please." He laughed, he actually laughed, and the sound caught Chloe off guard.

"Okay fine. I will get to say that LuthorCorp funds charities and helps people. It's good PR."

"Wow. An honest answer. I didn't expect any of those today."

"You know Ms. Lane. I find you to be quite refreshing, like someone I used to know a long time ago."

"I'll tell the media." His smile widened and suddenly Chloe thought that she might be playing right into his hands. Still she had no idea if he knew or not. His comments could have been innocent or hints meant to keep her up at night wondering.

"Would you like to attend the opening with me? Lots of rich, power hungry people such as myself to take a stab at? Personally I find events like it a bore but I'm sure with you around to tell us we are all liars, pretending to want to help, it will prove to be quite interesting." Did he just ask me out?

"I'm sure the Daily Planet will send someone to cover it. Now I think I have all I need." She started packing up her things.

"Nothing about me eating little children for dinner?"

"Oh no, I'm saving that for the next article. Along with your criminal record, the bodies in your basement, and the fact that you turn into a pumpkin after midnight."

"I believe that's your particular curse Ms. Lane. I look forward to seeing you again."

Chloe walked out of his office unsure of what exactly had taken place. A part of her was excited that he hadn't seen through her changed hair color and fake name, and another part of her was disappointed. He was supposed to know her… after all that time she spent with him, all the things they'd talked about… and he didn't even recognize her through a flimsy disguise. A bitter feeling swept through her, apparently she hadn't meant as much to him as he'd said. All the things she'd told him today about only being in it for the power must have been true. I'm not good enough for him to remember anyways.

She was different. He'd known all along she would be. No one could go through what she had without changing, it wasn't possible. It was in the way she held herself now. Before she'd been open, almost careless with her movements and body placement, and now she carefully put every limb protectively around herself. Her legs were close together, her hands rested in her lap, clasped together, her arms tight to her torso. She probably didn't even notice.

Even more than her body, it was in her eyes. Before they had been touched by tragedy, now they were haunted by it, consumed by it. She'd avoided his eyes, probably to try and keep him from figuring out who she was. But that effort was in vain. Because for all that she'd changed, she was still the same. He would have spotted her from a mile away.

The fire in her eyes was still there, dimmed, but not put out. He'd seen it as she'd argued with him, he'd done everything in his power to set it ablaze just so he could see it, so he could commit it to memory. She still bit the inside of her lower lip when she was thinking, still rolled her eyes and scoffed in exactly the same manner. And her way of speaking, sarcastic and witty, intelligent beyond what anyone would expect from the pretty face, was still the same. He could have listened to her talk for hours.

He'd gotten what he wanted, discovered exactly what he'd wanted to find. She was no longer an innocent child he had no right to touch. Now she was someone who had done more than glimpse his dark world, she had lived in it. She still did, every night, just like he'd told her, forced back into it as soon as the lights turned off. Now he could take her into it with him, and maybe he would show her it wasn't as bad as she thought it was.

Lex got off the couch, walking to stand by the window that composed the back wall of his office. Again he looked at Chloe's apartment building, wondering when they would meet the next time. And what exactly would take place. He would tell her. He'd held his hand of cards to his chest for ten years, that was long enough. Ten years! He had waited and watched, simply allowing things to play out, simply studying what she was doing, who she was becoming. He had just studied his experiment, and now it was time to add another variable.

Him.

Would it be here? In his office? No. Not here. It was too light, too open. She would feel too safe here. He had to get her somewhere else, somewhere he could control her, somewhere she would need him, need someone familiar, someone linked to her old self, someone linked to before. He had to get her in the dark.

Finally he would be able to see how she would handle him. It would be interesting to find out how pliable she would be, hopefully she'd prove a challenge, hopefully she still had some of that spine left in her even though he'd done his best to break it.

All these contradictions. She was different but she was the same. He had wanted to change her but he had been obsessed with the way she had been. He wanted to break her but he wanted her to keep that fire. He wanted so badly to have to fight for it, he didn't want her to just roll over for him. For her to defy his every move, for her to stand back up every time he knocked her down… it would prove she had to be the one. The one who could survive him.

Chloe walked into the ball room with determination in her step and arrogance in her eyes. Perry might have forced her into covering this stupid opening, but she would not be sociable. Her black dress swayed around her feet as she walked, her heels clicking on the marble floor. It was elegant, the set up, it was all glass and glitter, everything shimmering or shining. But it wasn't going to fool her. Everything was beautiful now, but it served a dark and dirty purpose.

Purposely arriving at the last minute she'd only just walked in the door when Lex walked to the podium. His eyes met hers and he smirked. Chloe squared her shoulders and met his gaze.

"I'd like to thank all of you for coming. It was always a goal of mine to put my money to use for the public and the Pegasus Foundation will be my biggest step towards this goal. I won't stand up here and drone on and on about how I've helped in the past. That might drive all of you a little crazy. Then again, we can help you with that here." Polite laughter filled the room and Lex looked at Chloe again, smirking as he showed how well he could fool the masses.

"Everyone who comes seeking aid will receive it here at Pegasus. With benefactors such as yourselves, we hope to be able to have no limitations as to what we can accomplish. And without further ado, let me introduce our splendid entertainment for the evening, Rob Thomas!"

Chloe went over to a table in the corner, sitting down. She didn't want to watch him but she couldn't help it, his presence, as always, was mesmerizing, captivating. He made his way through the crowd, shaking hands, making pleasant conversation, laughing at jokes that were probably terrible.

"Miss would you like some champagne?" A well dressed, handsome gentleman offered her a tray and Chloe smiled at him.

"Yes thank you." Chloe sipped from her glass, watching him slowly progress across the room to where she was sitting. It was inevitable and she was resigned to her fate. It was only after everyone had refocused their attention to the front of the room that he came over to her.

"Miss Lane, I would like to personally thank you for coming." He smiled down at her, extending a hand. Chloe looked at it, and back up at him, debating. Finally she reached out and took his hand, giving in to her curiosity about how time had aged his skin. It wasn't callused but it wasn't soft either, and his grip was light as he brought her hand to his mouth. His lips rested on her skin, warm and firm, for just a second past the time that would have been appropriate, just long enough for her to know he wanted her to notice.

"As if I had a choice Mr. Luthor."

"Lex, please." He sat down next to her and she could feel the confidence radiating from him.

"Mr. Luthor what are you doing?"

"Entertaining a guest."

"I am not a guest, I am a reporter." Chloe shifted in her seat, and drank the rest of her champagne in one gulp.

"Drinking yourself into oblivion?" Freezing, Chloe remembered the exact time when he'd said that to her last. Back when she'd been Chloe, back in Smallville in the Talon. He can't know. Of course it was just one of his lines, just a refrain he goes back to.

"Working on it, anything to get away from you."

"You mean anything to get away?" Chloe just looked at him, something between fear and hatred in her eyes. "What exactly are you running from Miss Lane?"

"Nothing."

"Your past?"

"Of course not."

"Me?"

"It's a possibility Mr. Luthor I really don't enjoy your company."

"You can't outrun me."

"Watch me." Standing up, Chloe went to the nearest exit, a door in the corner of the room marked 'Employees Only.' It led to a hallway and Chloe went into the first door she found. It ended up being some kind of examination room, like the kind you'd see at a doctor's office. She went to the back of the room, leaning her head against the tastefully painted wall.

When the door opened, she didn't bother to move. She was so tired of running.

"I told you, you can't outrun me." Lex shut the door softly and she felt him move across the room to stand behind her, God she could feel the smirk on his face.

"And you can't hide either. It really is impossible, although I do respect your attempt. But how could you think I wouldn't know you?" By now Chloe was just limp against the wall, feeling everything she'd worked for slip away with each word that came out of his mouth.

"Chloe…" She felt his warm breath on her skin, and could almost feel his lips on her ear. "I know you."

Slowly, he turned her around, his hands light but firm on her body. "I know you."

Chloe looked at him, and saw that he was no longer smirking. Instead his eyes were serious, and they were burning into her. She should have known better than to think he wouldn't have known everything. All that time they spent together… He gently brushed the hair away from her face and to her horror Chloe felt tears prick her eyes.

"Do you?" Her voice was trembling but she couldn't hate herself for it tonight. Not now.

"Chloe," he said, and she loved hearing him say her real name. "I know it must have been terrible. I can see how it changed you… and I can see how it's tearing you apart." He lifted her chin with his fingers and he pressed into her. But now she welcomed the feeling, the closeness. Because he knew.

"I know you Chloe," he said again. And she believed him. Because she knew he was damaged, knew he'd been dragged down into dark depths by terrible things. Just like her.

Hey how'd you like it? I know no Clark but Lex has been MIA for a little too long!