Disclaimer: see Chapter 1.
CHAPTER 7: The Morning After
Chloe had cried herself to sleep, and she woke up to find the penthouse empty and a late breakfast waiting for her in the kitchen. The coward had slipped away sometime around sunrise, leaving her to face the morning after alone. He had scribbled a note informing her that her clothes were washed and pressed, and that she only had to pick up the phone to inform reception she was ready to leave for the chauffeur to bring the car to the front.
Chloe felt like throwing a tantrum and eyed the rare works of art in the living-room with a glint. What would it feel like to smash a Mink Dynasty vase to little pieces? Or pierce a hole in a Matisse with one of her high heels? A lot of different scenarios crossed her mind- many of which were worthy of Fatal Attraction? Leave it to Lex´s charm and a stolen kiss to stir a murderous streak in a peace-loving creature like her. ´Cool down, Sullivan. You´re a sensible woman and Lex´s already had his fair share of creepy female stalkers to last him a lifetime. You feel like wringing his neck, but- at least- he´s admitted to having deep feelings for you, so not everything´s lost. His plans to marry Lana may still be on but he hasn´t put a wedding ring round her finger yet. ´
Chloe picked up a freshly-baked croissant and, nibbling at it, went back to the guest room with her clean clothes. Twenty minutes later, she emerged from the bathroom showered and ready for an energizing cup of coffee with which to swallow down one of the pills Lex´s doctor had prescribed her. The rebel in her wanted to prolong her stay and demand he came back to his senses using any means necessary, but she knew it wasn´t the sensible thing to do. Despite her resentment towards Lana, she couldn´t stoop to using underhand tactics in order to snatch her boyfriend away from the princess- Chloe wouldn´t have appreciated that one bit had she been in Lana´s shoes. No, she would just have to have faith for both of them since Lex seemed to have given up on happiness. He had surrendered to his predestined dark path, but she was determined to show him he was still worth-saving.
Lex had left the penthouse a little before seven o´clock to escape from temptation. He was aware that being around the blonde reporter was playing with fire and that he could handle casual encounters in Smallville but not at close quarters in Metropolis. He relived what had happened at the penthouse the previous night and berated himself for being so weak. Kissing her had been a mistake for, now that he knew what heaven tasted like, he would find it extremely hard to make do with the pale reflection that was Lana. He cared for the brunette, but he had never and would never love her the way he did Chloe.
Keep scrolling down! There´s a bonus chapter ahead.