Disclaimer: see Chapter 1.

A/N: Some of you may have found Lois´ ability to deceive Lex hard to believe, taking into account who he is. Still, he´s been known to fall for other women´s lies, and this is just what I needed for my fic. The characters may appear OOC sometimes but believe me, there´s a reason for everything.

A huge thank you to those of you who´ve joined my new Lex website!

Now, here´s this week´s three-part instalment. Enjoy and keep those reviews coming! I love them.

CHAPTER 11: The Bait

Lex´s engagement was six weeks away and Chloe was finding it really hard to concentrate. The atmosphere at work didn´t help matters either. Miss Kahn was more strung-up than usual and demanded she come up with a good story or interview before the weekend or else she´d end up writing obituaries again. Chloe couldn´t blame the editor since her romantic life- if pining for a thick-headed billionaire could actually be called as such- was wrecking havoc on her professional life. She spent hours giving shape to a single paragraph before pressing ´delete´ and starting over again. Meanwhile, Jimmy roamed the newsroom like a lovesick puppy, throwing yearning glances her way.

Chloe had developed a splitting headache, which seemed to worsen as the hours went by and her gaze strayed of its own accord to the building across the street - a constant reminder of the object of her obsession. ´You´re pathetic, Sullivan. You´ve got to pull yourself together. Damn monthly cycle! Don´t you dare burst into tears in front of everybody! What time is it? Four o´clock.An hour to go. You can do it, Sullivan. Oh, hell! What am I going to give Kahn before the week´s over?´

Suddenly her musings were interruptedby the sound of her mobile. She checked the caller ID and flipped the phone open.

¨Hi, Lo´! ¨ she answered, trying her best to appear cheerful.

¨Hi, cuz! How are you? ¨ asked a worried Lois.

¨Mulling over an article for Sunday´s edition, ¨ said Chloe, locking herself up in the photocopying room.

¨You sound desperate. ¨

¨I am. My head is bursting and I´ve got less than twenty-four hours to find something decent to print. ¨

¨Are you open to suggestions, cuz? ¨

¨Have you got any ideas, Lois? I´m willing to put your name next to mine as co-author if you help me out. ¨

¨How about an interview with a playboy billionaire?¨

¨I don´t feel like joking, Lois. I´m dying here. ¨

¨I´m not talking about Luthor. Would you like an exclusive interview with the CEO of Queen Enterprises? ¨

¨An interview with Oliver? I don´t know, Lois. He and Lex don´t... ¨

¨It doesn´t necessarily have to be about business. Ollie´s involved in a lot of charity work, Chlo´. Besides, you don´t owe anything to Lex. You aren´t his fiancée or anything. ¨

¨Gee, Lois, thanks for lifting my spirits! ¨

¨What have you got to lose? Say ´yes´ and it´s done, Chlo´. ¨

¨He´s a very busy guy, Lois.¨ ¨He´s the freaking Green Arrow- for God´s sake! ¨

¨He owes me, cuz, for standing me up so many times in the past; and he´s quite fond of you. ¨

¨OK, OK. But it´s got to be tonight for me to be able to transcribe the interview and write the profile in time. ¨

¨Put your mind at rest, Chlo´. I´ll phone you with the details. ¨

¨Thanks, Lo´. You´ve saved me. ¨

¨You´re welcome, cuz. ¨ ¨Well, step two´s been taken care of. Now, we´ll have to see if cue ball bites. ¨

This isn´t over yet. Go to Chapter 11.