Just finished writing this and i thought that i'd just post it before i worry too much about how well it fits into the story. I hope you like it, and i just want to point out that this is only the second time in my life that i've written a story and been at the same point as the audience (writing and posting chapters at the same time so that i'm creating the story as you guy are reading it)...so i'm just hoping that i don't make you wait too long for updates.

Again, thank you everyone for reviews - Malu1, ptime, Mandi96, nonhalema, LucyLuthor, volleygal905, crazypens, DestinyManifested, crazychica21 and lexie2...thanks for taking the time to review i really appreciate it, especially malu1 and nonhalema who've made it a habit :) Oh, and i'd like to say in response to crazychica21's comment, i'm hoping to start writing, in the following, (at least) a serious beginning to the chlex romance, which i hope will be satisfactory. And to lexie2, the reason i said the ending of chapter 8 may not have worked was because it didn't explain much about gwen's behaviour or plan, and i thought that might have been a problem - but it wasn't so, c'est la vie...

Also a big shout out to everyone who's reading! And please, feel free to add comments as i'd love to know what you think about how it's going...

Enjoy!

The Aftermath

POV: Lex

It's been a wild night. Observing my surroundings, I see the three models strewn across my bed. They're so easily satisfied and yet, I'm not. I pick up my robe from the armchair in the corner and think back to a couple hours previously when all three of them gave me a private lap dance. I walk into the lounge of this expensive Metropolis penthouse suite. The bar awaits me and I pour myself a Whiskey. Glass in hand, I look out the window to the city below and wonder. Chloe's probably still in hospital. I sip the whisky and it burns my throat expectedly.

POV: Chloe

Complete hell! Three whole days being confined to this hospital bed – I don't know what I would've done if I weren't allowed my laptop. I hear footsteps and surprise, surprise it's Clark Kent,

"Did you get my coffee?" I ask. I can see the cup in his hand, a brown paper bag in the other.

"Chloe, I thought I heard the doctor said you shouldn't be drinking this?" I carefully watch him as he walks closer to me and then he's close enough for me to grab the cup. Yes, I've got it, "Chloe," he says but I've already taken the lid off and began to drink the contents.

"That's good," I sigh and Clark disapproves with the shake of his head before taking a seat at the chair positioned by my bed. He's looking at the laptop screen.

"So you finished the article?"

"Yep, just emailed it to Pete at the Torch," with my coffee in one hand and my other scrolling my article, I notice the brown paper bag still in Clark's grip "Is that for me?"

He gives me the boyish Kent smile, "sorry, here." I take it gratefully and open it to find a chocolate chip muffin inside. Immediately I take it out and take a bite. Mmmm. So much better than hospital food. As I'm about to go for another bite, I stop and ask,

"Have you spoken to Lex at all?"

"No, he's in Metropolis. He said something about Luthorcorp."

POV: Lex

Walking into the club, the bright flashing lights almost blind my vision as I move through the crowds of hyper bodies. I'm searching for 'her' - my conquest for tonight, having three last night was almost too much to handle. I head for the bar, order my drink and wait. I want to meet someone different. I'm sick and tired of those VIP members. The 'young actress' types and 'long-legged models' who just want to try and get free publicity – I've had too many of them. It's the equivalent to when people watch the same movie too many times and memorise the dialogue. Eyeing the place, I start to get impatient, but then I see 'her'. She's got beautifully tanned skin and long black hair. But it's not her beauty that's got my attention - it's her body. Her dress is velvet red and rises up as she bends and sways to the music, brushing her hands over her body seductively. She gazes at me from her distance and I stare straight back while she parades herself in dance. I take out my car keys, dangling them from my fingers signalling my wants. A sexy smile graces her face, which tells me she wants it too, so I down my drink, pay the bartender and head for the door. She follows.

Like always, I regret it in the morning.

And I've had enough. Now I'm on my way back to Smallville. Speeding past the sign, thoughts of the previous weeks events are provoked. Gwen. To me it's funny how that business started in Metropolis, and yet as soon as it ended, I aimed to get back there. How many women do I need to use before I realise that what I'm doing is wrong? Thoughts and worries consume all of my attention so when I park my car in the mansion's drive I'm glad I'm home. On my regular route to the study I only nod in recognition to security as scenes from the 'Gwen incident' resurface my brain. I open the double doors and I desperately need to relax, doing so on my leather couch. I close my eyes only to wake up in a sweat with Chloe Sullivan practically nose-to-nose with me,

"Finally you're awake," she says, all bright-eyed. She gives me room and without delay I rise from the sofa. She's standing near the chair that faces my desk.

"Please, take a seat," I say motioning to the chair, whilst I perch myself on the edge of the desk, backhanding my sweaty forehead before pocketing my hands, "how can I help you Miss Sullivan?"

"You know, you can call me Chloe, Lex."

This comment surprises me, as does her presence. Momentarily my defences are down, and something about her sarcastic tone tells me she did it on purpose, "I didn't know we were on first name basis," I pause for a response, but she keeps quiet, "but if you insist - Chloe it is. How can I help you Chloe?"

She gives me a little smile, but it quickly disappears and she's in business mode, "I came here to get my bag back. When I came over that day – the whole Georgina Newton incident."

"Yes - the messenger bag, I'll go get it for you," remembering the satchel, I move past her and head out toward my bedroom.

POV: Chloe

Waiting in Lex's study, I begin to wonder about how he's actually doing. Mentally. When I came in Lex was fast asleep on couch twitching and mumbling something that sounded like my name. On top of that, he was sweating – and I have never seen a Luthor sweat, I don't think it's humanly possible. He must've been having a nightmare, but why my name? Mid-thought, Lex appears with my bag, handing it to me with care,

"Where was it?" I ask, he did seem to take his time. Before answering he heads behind his desk and clasps his hands together like Mr Burns from The Simpsons – I've always hated that.

"I found it open in the corridor. There were a few things on the floor; I put them back in for you," I raise my eyebrows to his comment. I bet he looked through my stuff, "by the way, I didn't look."

"Am I supposed to believe that?"

"Chloe, I would never invade a woman's personal possessions," he replies. I simply roll my eyes.

"Anyway, thank you," I add before leaving.