Disclaimer: see Chapter 1.
A/N: Well... and here we are at last. Entertaining as it has been working on this fic, everything comes to an end. Here you are, then, the last three chapters of this romance. Enjoy!
CHAPTER 16: In Knots
¨Chlo´, have you seen my other high heel? ¨said Lois, looking under the bed.
¨I´m afraid not, ¨ answered a shaky Chloe, touching up her eye make-up for the second time in an hour.
¨I´ve got it! ¨ exclaimed Lois from the living-room. ¨Have you finished with the bathroom yet, Chlo´? ¨
¨I´ll be out in a sec, Lo´ ¨ answered Chloe and stifled a sob.
¨Are you OK, cuz? ¨ asked Lois, opening the bathroom door just a crack.
¨Tell me I don´t look like a punchbag, ¨ answered Chloe with bright glassy eyes and a slightly puffy nose.
¨ You might want to fix your eyeliner, cuz. Don´t worry. If anyone asks, you can put the blame on Luthor. Say it´s an allergy provoked by the pollutants released by the fertilizer plant, ¨ she smirked.
¨That isn´t funny, Lo´, ¨ answered Chloe with the ghost of a smile.
¨You´ll knock him out, ¨ stated Lois, taking both her hands and making her twirl. ¨That dress looks spectacular on you. ¨
¨I shouldn´t have listened to you, Lois, ¨ she responded. ¨This is supposed to be the fiancée´s day. Bridesmaids are expected to be in the background. ¨
¨Trust me. The pink gauze dress that Lana had chosen for you was definitely unbecoming. Green´s your colour. It brings out your eyes. ¨
¨Lo´, ¨ said Chloe when her cousin picked up her handbag and shawl, ¨ what is it you aren't telling me? ¨
¨Lana doesn´t hold a candle to you, Chlo´. Lex would be a fool to miss that. Now... come on. It´s time, ¨she answered, grabbing the car keys.
When Lois drove through the gates of Luthor Mansion there were several cars and limos already lined up on the driveway. Chloe got out of the vehicle aided by Luthor Sr. himself. She was rather taken aback by his presence, considering his relationship with Lex was strained to say the least. A few yards behind, on the steps leading to the front door, stood Mrs Kent with a warm smile on her face.
¨You look fetching tonight, Miss Sullivan, ¨said Lionel Luthor, pressing a kiss on her right hand. ¨ Good evening, Miss Lane. Your escort arrived a few minutes ago. I think he´s on the library. ¨
¨Your escort? ¨asked a puzzled Chloe.
¨Will you be OK if I leave you with Mr Luthor and Martha? ¨ asked Lois.
¨Yeah, sure. But... ¨
¨I´ll join you inside, Chlo´. I won´t desert you, ¨ said Lois, patting her shoulder and kissing her on the cheek.
¨Come, sweetie, ¨ added Martha, wrapping an arm around Chloe´s shoulders. ¨That dress looks marvellous on you. I´ve never seen you this beautiful, honey. ¨
¨Thank you, Mrs Kent. Although I should say I owe it to Lois. I wasn´t supposed to be wearing this tonight. In fact, I wanted to take it off and change into something else, but I couldn´t find the outfit Lana had chosen for me. Don´t you think it´s a bit over-the-top? ¨
¨It´s the perfect dress for a special night, Miss Sullivan. And I´ve got to say that the one who´s picked it for you not only has excellent taste in clothes but knows what a jewel you are, ¨ stated Lionel Luthor with a sincere smile.
¨You´ll make me blush, Mr Luthor. ¨
¨I´m just stating the obvious. You´re an amazing young woman, Miss Sullivan. A man would be a fool to let you slip away. ¨
¨I wouldn´t call him stupid, maybe just stubborn, ¨ she said under her breath on crossing the front door.
Chloe couldn´t dispel the feeling that something was cooking. Lois was behaving oddly and rather secretive. The blond reporter had surprised her elder cousin wearing a satisfied smile more than once, and Chloe was definitely certain the green dress she was now wearing was way beyond Lois´ means. One had to be a complete idiot to mistake a custom-made creation for a garment taken off the rack. Then there was the question of Lois´ escort. It couldn´t be Oliver Queen. Lois had made it abundantly clear that they had broken up and she couldn´t imagine Lex issuing an invitation to allow the Green Arrow to sit at his table on such an important occasion. Last but not least, there was the matter of Lionel´s unexpected presence. Although she was aware of Lex´s affection for Martha, Chloe couldn´t help but believe that something really powerful must have happened to make Lex bury the hatch or, at least, sign a temporary truce with his dad.
The hall of the mansion and the room where the reception would be held had been tastefully decorated. It seemed the ironic comment she had let slip the last time the party planner had held a meeting with Lex and Lana at The Talon had been duly noted. There was no pink or purple in sight- only the white of the exquisite perfumed magnolias.
Unlike the rest of the guests, Martha, Lionel and Chloe entered the dining-room through a side door- a fact which gave the young reporter the advantage of watching Lex without his being aware. He looked dashing in his tailored tux and as deceivingly cold and collected as would be expected of a Luthor. It provoked Chloe to march across the room and give him a smack on the lips in front of the guests just to see him lose his unnerving composure.
Lex was shaking hands with a Lexcorp shareholder when he felt the atmosphere charge with electricity and knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that Chloe had just stepped into the room. He let his eyes stray to the side entrance and spotted her immediately. He had been right about the colour of the fabric and the design of the dress; she was positively breath-taking in green and he couldn´t help but devour her with overly-possessive eyes. He allowed his lips to spread into a dazzling smile and locked his blue-grey eyes with hers. Despite the distance between them, he noticed the betraying brightness of her green orbs and kicked himself for making her pine for so long. He could tell she had been crying, but he loved her more than ever for her dignity. A lesser woman would have sought refuge in the security of her room and avoided holding his gaze but not his Chloe.
¨You´ve come! ¨ exclaimed an exultant Lana, wrapping her arms tightly around Chloe. ¨I was so afraid you wouldn´t turn up, ¨ she added while Chloe held Lex´s unwavering stare. ¨You´ve been so skittish of late. ¨
¨Oh, no. I wouldn´t have missed this for the world, ¨ murmured Chloe, pasting a smile on her face.
¨Come, Chloe. You´re sitting on my left. Mrs Kent, would you sit next to Chloe? ¨ asked the brunette, ushering them to her end of the table.
¨If you´ll excuse me, ladies, I´ve got to talk with my son first, ¨ voiced Lionel.
Chloe saw him approach Lex and exchange a few words with his son before handing him something which Lee stashed away. Then, they walked towards the table and went their separate ways. Lionel drew up a chair and sat opposite Martha while Lex walked past Chloe, softly grazing her back with his knuckles before proceeding to the head of the table.
Chloe felt the spot he had touched burn and tried to hide the shivering. She realised her attempt had been futile, at least for a pair of observant eyes. Lionel Luthor looked at her with the same wry smile she had seen so many times on the face of the man she loved.
´Damn you, Lex. What are you playing at? ´
Go on reading there are still two chapters ahead.