First, I would like to say a HUGE thanks to everyone who has read/reviewed/put on alert, my story. It's so lovely to see you're liking this so far.
Second, I know I said to a few reviewers that there would be an amazing Green Arrow/Oliver bit in this chapter. As it turns out, that's not so much true. I had to jiggle around the chapters. Don't look at me like that! This chapter would have been 12 pages of my word document otherwise, so I split it, jiggled it, and now each chapter will be around 9 pages (size 12 font). That way you won't get a really long chapter, then a really short one. I think it's better like this, so I must apologise, but there will be Oliver/GA and Chloe action next chapter. And I think you'll like it (it depends if you like flirtacious banter really - but I shall say no more).
Your support is amazing!
Xx
Chapter Two; Breaking In.
'Weakness isn't something you're born with. You learn it.' – Lionel Luthor. (Season 3, Episode Legacy)
Chloe sat herself on the chosen bed. The mattress welcomed her, curving to her shape in a soft hug. The luxury bedspread was begging to be felt and ran against her smoothest skin, she indulged her whim. It shamed anything she'd ever felt before. But honestly, she didn't care which room she took. Lex preferred his own settlements in the north facing side, with the view overlooking the front entrance to his palace. He always had, and probably, he always would. Her feet had naturally taken the west side overlooking the bountiful gardens lavished with care and attention. Without a doubt it would be absolutely free of weeds, full of fragrance and dazzling to the eyes with the amounts of colours the staff could magically blend in harmony. It wasn't just the view from the room that had helped her choose. The bottom floor of the east was the staff's quarters. It had been her hell hole for a good few number of years under Lionel's reign of terror. She still battled nightmares about that place. They didn't care for your comfort at all there. What a difference a few years and a staircase could make.
With a sigh, she dropped back to the bedding soundlessly, shuffling her feet out of their confining heels. Her soles were throbbing alive with an attention demanding ache. Perhaps now she'd finally have a chance to stop running. Her previous few jobs had come close to being her last. It had been the final twist in the bitch that was her shitty life. That last straw had prompted her to do anything and everything to escape that fate. But really, it wasn't her fault. Who knew the Spanish were so friendly with the United States government? If she hadn't called Lex about her proposed 'social visit' she didn't know if she would still be connected to a beating heart now.
Pushing another heavy breath from her lungs she continued to press heels to paving. Why she had worn heels she had no idea, she knew there was a chance of this happening. But the money was too good to pass up. Maybe that should have been the give-away and make her pause for thought, but the purse was growing slimmer and another trip to the bank was too risky. All she needed was nestled in her arms, jostling against her heaving chest as she picked up the pace. Risking a glance back at her pursuers, the foreign shade of copper coloured hair whipped out. Brown, long, curled and shiny, nothing like the honey she kept hidden underneath.
Hugging the laptop closer, she barrelled around the corner, splitting the locals as they cursed in a language she had yet to fully comprehend. She knew enough to get by, enough to know they weren't yelling pleasantries, and enough to know the men chasing her had no objection to putting a bullet in her. But she knew these back alleys almost better than they did. She knew which doors led to the whore houses and which to the gambling bars that licences forbade. She fell neatly into the world of criminals and they were more than happy to accept her. Her feet slipped in the sweat lined heels as she skidded another corner, cutting quick into the crowd. It was a bazaar today, lots of festivities, lots of noise, lots of fun, but above all, lots of people. The perfect place for a secret meeting with a needy client. Only today's client had an offer of jail time rather than the cash she desired. Using both cunning and skill she'd avoided the cuffs, but now there were men in uniform and street clothes both chasing her down. She dodged between customers of cheap fake jewellery and let the feeling of failure wash over her. It wasn't the first time she'd had a run in with the law like this. But it made her feel better knowing the results would be much the same; she'd disappear like magic and they'd go home with heads hung low and hands empty.
She made her living bypassing levels of security some sectors of the government didn't have access to. They made their living trying to close the gaps in their fingers she kept slipping through.
Another quick corner, another alley, another false slip. She'd lost some of them, swallowed by the crowd. It wasn't hard when the streets were this busy. Shouts came in Spanish for her to stop. Stop or they would shoot. She disregarded it and kept pushing on, trying to ignore the burning sensation flaring in her lungs and legs. The buggers were pretty fast and she was running out of alley tricks… and oxygen. A bullet soared to her left, missing her leg by an inch. She jumped and swerved right down another alley, praying it wouldn't lead to a dead end.
The playground of her work had many turns and ends, if you take the wrong one, it can be your end. She twisted down another skinny alley, tossing the wig one way and she sprouted the other. The Mac came off next folded over her arm and she rounded back the way she came. She knew she would have no other option but to return somewhere safe after this. She couldn't stay in this country. She'd have to lay low until this died down. Flying was becoming increasingly difficult, customs had facial scanners looking for anyone matching her bone structure. All her fake ID's were tagged and new ones were impossible to get on such short notice for a quality to pass customs checks. She dragged in a breath again, peering around the corner to watch the police split, following the direction of her tossed wig.
A hand grasped at her arm and tugged her aside into a building. Her fight reflex was cut short as she recognised the décor.
"Miss Angela." One of the girls from the cat house had tugged her away, just in time to miss an official's narrowed gaze. "Come." The door shut after them and she left herself be tugged down the corridor of sultry red walls. "Your man send you help." she hissed out as Chloe tried to remember how to breathe. Her fingers were sliding with sweat across her laptop, her heart still hammering inside her chest. "He in here." The words were heavy in accent, the English was poor at best but the notion carried to her oxygen starved brain. It shamed her even to need it, but she knew without a doubt he would send an escape for her. She'd emailed him a few days back after her last brush with the law, with the desire of a return back to the USA. Lex worked fast and his high hand swooped in just at the right time.
"Miss Sullivan." The suited man looked 100% uncomfortable and out of place in the cat house interior. Bathed in the red lights of seduction the girls leering eyes were mentally undressing him.
"Darren." She nodded and leant against the wall, sucking back in the air. It smelled like cigars and stale sex, but it was bringing colour back to her face. He had sent his best. Going himself would have drawn too much attention. His head of security however, was the next best thing. He took the laptop from her fingers, an arm around her as she took the air her aching muscles demanded.
"Another close call Miss?" She flashed dark eyes up to him, knowing his humorous side was loving this.
"Say. Another. Word." she panted. "And the entire house. Will find out. About Morocco." He stiffened and straightened his tie, nodding. His eyes inspected her for grazes of injuries and she pushed herself back to standing. "Right. Got me a ticket to go home? I'm dying for a bubble bath." Darren stifled a laugh and handed her some other clothes.
When changed she let her tongue speak their language with goodbyes and thanks. For now she'd be Claire Hartford, wife to Darren Hartford, major contributor to Luthor enterprise. All flights direct to Metropolis were checked so as an alternative, Darren's high standing would get her un-noticed and escorted safely up the country for a few miles and get her onto a shipping boat headed to Granville. Darren stayed behind once he saw her off, leading the police round in circles while she disappeared. Then he would fly back home.
After a few hours of sea sickness and the smell of fish she'd donned another disguise, hopped a train home and settled herself into a motel for a surprisingly cold 'hot' shower and flea ridden mock effort at sleep. Then the call of alcohol demanded she answer until Lex gave her a green light to storm his fort.
She left her reminisce, thinking Darren would probably be back at the Luthor fortress by now. He'd helped her out of a lot of sticky situations before on behalf of Lex's input. He could take a joke and he wasn't above having a heart. Out of all Lex's security, he was her favourite. Chloe ran her fingers over the dresser, finding her reflection staring back from the mirror. It was lightly dashed with a hint of foundation, a tiny edge of dark eye shadow over her lids, giving her that seductive whip of her aqua eyes. It was a face easily forgotten as she walked down the street, she needed it to be trusted, to be good at her job and to be invisible in a crowd. Her hair was bouncing with curls after her undesirable shower. It was happy to be free of wigs, her eyes happy to be without coloured contacts or glasses. She could be anything or anyone, but around Lex, she could just be normal Chloe. That thought put a smile back on her face.
"You redecorated." she stated, feeling a shadow behind her, the air feint with the musky and distinctly male cologne he wore. The mirror confirmed his presence in the doorway, leaning casually. Like he had nothing better to do.
"My taste's changed." Lex simply answered. He pushed from the side, walking further into the room. "Though I still find you breathtaking." She smiled and turned back from the mirror.
"Smooth Lex." she complimented and nodded to the 4 poster bed that dominated the space. "I like it."
"I thought you would." He came from behind, his arms snaking around her waist as he drew her close, his chin resting on her shoulder. "Your company was missed." He nudged her hair free of her neck, his lips touching brief kisses along her throat and down to her shoulders.
She knew he didn't really miss her as a specific. He just liked someone around he didn't have to romance for sex, someone he didn't have to lie to or take out or listen to drabble about their lives. She relaxed into him, assisting his fingers in unbuttoning her blouse. Their agreement came with benefits. One was being put into action swiftly.
"I missed you too." she spoke, feeding the dance more fuel. The words didn't cost her anything to say. Her soul was already blackened by the numerous lies over the years, the deceit; the trickery. The Luthor handbook had become her lesson in life and she had been taught well, but they didn't tell you the price for success was your heart and soul.
"I suppose some man named Raul will be in sheds of tears around now." She breathed a laugh, enjoying the feel of his fingers across her skin as they met with the buttons of her trousers.
"If there was a Raul, I suppose he would be." she allowed. "There was only Pablo, Jesùs, maybe an Antonio." Lex growled lowly at her tease turning her in his arms.
"And now?" he prompted, her blouse tossed aside, her breasts free of any bra and crushed against his chest.
"Now I only see you." she purred, knowing exactly what he wanted to hear. Her fingers slithered up the wine red shirt, the black tie in her grasp and she walked back slowly, he followed on her lead. His usual blank expression became lustful, his eyes darkened and his lips stole hers, taking back the control. It was always a fight for control between them, and he always ended up winning.
The back of her legs found the bed. He pounced, taking her with a squeal as they sank to the quilt. The belt found its way free, clothes lost in the war of sex, her fingers too busy running the planes of his solid hairless chest to care. With other lovers she might roll her hands in their hair. Somehow, Lex's baldness didn't make her crave them. It made her crave his touch, again and again, until she forgot everything and anything. He entered her swiftly and they rocked the familiar rhythm until it was nothing but sweat, sex and moans in the room.
She lay in her afterglow, her head rested on his chest listening to his heart slow to a healthy pace. It still amazed her that he even had a heart beat for someone so destructive and controlling. The smooth fingertips of his digits rolled in quiet wash over her bare shoulder. Lex was rarely ever as calm as he was post-coitus. But like all good things, they had to end. She wasn't naive to think she'd spend the next 20 minutes in his embrace until they both dropped off to sleep. No, she had that erased after the first time he shoved her off him. Now she knew him too well. Well enough that when the mumbled vibrations of his mobile kicked up a call she sat up first, before he could double tap her shoulder and push her off him. He slid from the bed, pulling on the silk boxers and slacks before fishing the top of the line mobile. A heavy breath exhaled from him and declined the call, ending the noise. Whoever was on the caller idea didn't please him.
"Bad news?" she asked from her position, the bed sheet covering her modestly. Lex turned back to her, fastening the fly of his trousers swiftly.
"Nothing for you to worry about." Read; none of her business. He swept his hand down scooping the shirt and throwing it on in a temper. "Sleep off your jetlag." he instructed, dismissing her again. "Help yourself to whatever you want, the staff know you're here and will accommodate your needs. I'll have the file on the Green Arrow Bandit ready for you when you wake." He pulled the belt through the loops for a second then finished the shirt.
"Green Arrow Bandit?" The name didn't ring any bells.
"The archer fiend." he sneered and he drifted closer to the bed, she automatically leant closer expecting of the kiss. "The media are having a field day." he continued and bent down to place his lips to her forehead. Not exactly where she wanted him, but it would be all he would give. Then he was gone. No caress, no sweet whispered words of adoration. Just the weight taken from the bed as he walked to the doors like he'd done nothing more than another of his many business transactions. "It was your cousin who named him. Take it up with her." Those last words preceded the click of her door as it shut behind him. The hollow edge of the sleazy one night stand came assisted with a huge dose of guilt. Lois.
Chloe sighed and dropped all her weight back to the bed. The sheet fell from her chest but she didn't have to energy to protect what was left of her modesty.
Lex could be a cruel, cold hearted bastard sometimes. Lord knows why she deserved that low blow but even an angel's touch couldn't make it sting any less. With a sigh, she kicked the blouse from the edge of the bed to fall crumpled to the floor.
She missed Lois. So very much. Lois still thought Chloe had run away halfway across the globe for education and a killer story. It was made that way to everyone she knew. Lionel had handed her an untraceable mobile and told her to make the calls. Her father, her best friends, her cousin, they were all told the same message. Your basic 'Don't try to find me, I don't want to be found' After the first 3 months her father has hired a private investigator who came up blank. After the first year Lois's pestering had reached the General and he'd sent a squad searching for his niece. Even the army came up blank.
But that was the better way, at least that was what she thought before. Lionel had given her the option of faking her death, or running away. She'd taken the second. But would it have been more merciful to let them think her dead? They could have moved on with their lives by now. She knew for a fact that Lois hadn't given in. Even after all these years she still had a small part of her attentions searching for anything Chloe related. Maybe if she'd been dead in her eyes, her cousin could finally move on and live a little. Still, Lois was doing well career wise, on the fast track onwards and upward in journalism for the daily planet. When she'd first heard it she had to check it wasn't an April fools. Lois; a journalist? Her relationship with the spell check would be dangerously close and not always healthy: her spelling had always sucked.
But Lex had offered her an option Lionel had not. He'd let her have the option of calling back her cousin and contacting those old friends… but after all this time, there would be too many questions she couldn't answer. She wouldn't bring answers and salvation to Lois, she'd bring more pain, more questions and more obsessions into digging up those years she was astray. Chloe dropped herself into the pillow and squirrelled down into the sheets for warmth Lex could not give. Maybe sleeping without fear of being awoken by guns pointed at her would help. A single tear dripped down her face as she closed her eyes and prayed for sleep.
Chloe woke to find a tray of breakfast products in her room directly in her line of sight. Panic flooded her system. Had she forgot to lock herself in the room while she slept? Of course as soon as the thought came she saw the décor and her living situation came back to her. It didn't stop the irk that she'd slept through someone parading food through her room while she was unconscious. Her mood was worsened as she saw the time. 1pm… how long had she slept? Well, she could only hope Lex would chose to not pick on her sleeping habits while she was here. Of course, she knew it was a long shot. Chloe rolled over to the other side and saw the clean empty floor, amiss of her clothes. She scowled at the carpet. If Lex didn't terrorise the staff so much with their daily dose of fear, maybe she'd have something to wear. He wasn't the maniac his father was. But as a general rule there wasn't a single member of staff who dared to oppose a command. Chloe was the only exception… but really, the word 'staff' was used very loosely. Prisoner maybe would be more suited. Hostage? No… none really applied. She'd signed herself away knowing this would happen. Granted her other option was to let a bullet penetrate her cranium, but it had been her own free will to play queen in the chess match between father and son.
Chloe lifted the sheet around her and slipped from the bed over to the food. But as soon as she caught the glimpse of the Green Arrow Bandit file she lost her appetite. Lois would probably be fluttering away in the bull pen trying to type out the new article at super speed to satisfy her editors. She snatched the file angrily and turned it over in her hand. A post-it was stuck to the back with Lex's handwritten font scrawled all over it.
'Your clothes are thrown out. New ones are in the wardrobe.'
She ground her teeth at his high handed behaviour and in protest threw the note across the room. Then sat on the bed in nothing but the sheet. In further protest to the new clothes she tipped the file upside down and unleashed the information in torrents across the bed. 20 minutes later she gave in with the collection and went to the wardrobe too curious of what Lex would deem appropriate wear for her.
She pulled open the walk in wardrobe and found rails of her sizes. Dresses, trousers, blouses, swimsuits, even jeans. Had this been here before? She hoped to God it had, otherwise not only had she slept through a maid bringing her food, but also a bunch of personal shoppers parading clothes in while she slept… naked.
Deciding to forget that issue for the sake of her sanity, she explored further finding underwear and her favourite perfumes and bathroom products. Most of the time Lex was an ass, but there were rare special occasions like this where he showed he could listen and he was capable of acts of kindness. She smiled and snatched a large bath sheet softer than she'd ever been accustomed to and ran into the bathroom. Oh, it was beautiful! She could most definitely get used to this style of life. She showered and dressed, feeling a million times better and picked back up her search through Green Arrow. It sounded better without the bandit she thought. But she could hardly take it up with her cousin.
She was just thinking of heading down to find Lex when two quick taps hit her door and Lex let himself in before she could open her mouth.
"Nice to see you've finally decided to wake up." She groaned internally, he never could pass up an opportunity to point out other's flaws. "I'd ask if you slept well but I already know the answer." He grinned with his hands in his pockets and leant against one of the posts of the bed.
"What do you want me to say Lex? It's nice to finally sleep without the threat of being woken by a dozen Spanish officers with loaded rifles."
"I don't think la policía use rifles Chloe." he replied with a grin. She sighed and dropped the point addressing another.
"Is this all there is?" she asked, her head tilted to the files she'd organised into piles across the bed. Inside the envelope had been everything Green Arrow related. Starting with newspaper clippings and ending with witness testimonies about the incidents. A security camera had made the effort to capture a blurred shot of the emerald thief in his costume. No head shot though, just the outer frame of his body as he ran uninterrupted away with the prize. There wasn't even a good shot of his weaponry. It seemed Robin Hood was a little camera shy. She'd have to change that.
"Everything connected to the criminal so far." he confirmed.
"I'm going to take a wild guess and say you've stocked a little more though." Lex smirked and crossed his arms over his chest, letting her reel off the information she guaranteed he had hidden somewhere. "I'll need everything about what was stolen, the blueprint of the area and evidence of his escape route to plot over it. Guest list would be a good place to start too. Also, any other testimonies in the past two month relating to arrows or green dressed fiends."
"I'll have them in your hands soon. But now you'll be starting work on bank accounts and securing files." She nodded and nudged the laptop from her knee to the side where she promptly closed down the file composition she had of the green fiend and tucked the personal computer under her arm. She followed Lex down the halls to one of his offices he favoured.
"Which files do you want-"
"Later." he interrupted and pulled out some paper sheets for her. "Find Queen's banking records." he instructed and she sighed before taking the files. He let her settle with the information he already had then left out the door. Instantly his departure lifted a weight from her shoulders, she hated being watched while she worked, but clients never seemed to understand that. At least Lex did.
She worked her magic and when Lex walked back in she smiled proudly and swivelled on his computer chair in a peaceful bliss, yet her lips spoke like the devil she was.
"Guess who knows how much Oliver Queen has in his bank account?" she teased and sent the copies direct to the printer which kicked up a fuss in the previously quiet room. Lex let the evil grin loose once more. Power was flowing to his hands again, all due to her.
"You work wonderful magic Chloe."
"I'm not done yet Lex." she berated comically. "Guess who can tell you what Oliver Queen has been squandering his time and money on for the last two month?" Lex rose an eyebrow but she held up a finger, still not finished. That finger turned and crooked him forward. He didn't usually follow orders, especially from women, but this one promised something sinfully brilliant. "I'm going to need chocolate cake for this one." she warned him as he leant over her shoulder. "Take a wild guess what this button does." Her mouse hovered over a circular red icon on his desktop.
"I have no idea." he spoke honestly, but Chloe's tone said he would love it.
"Shocking." she mocked "Are you ready to be amazed by my wonderful skills?" Lex impatiently nudged her hand from the mouse and double clicked. Everyone who'd met Lex knew he only liked his tease in the bedroom, even then it was a push. He was a man that liked control.
A black screen opened and maximized to fill the screen. A timer loaded centrally. He turned back to Chloe, about to complain, but she cut him short.
"Genius takes time, Lex. Be patient. You'll be rewarded." He just rose an eyebrow again. "Look." His eyes turned back and his vision was feasted with the interior of Queen Industries. "Oh. Look. We tuned in right on time." she spoke and the doors opened as a blonde man walked in with a letter in his hand and a phone to his ear. His head was bent as he read, his features undistinguishable, but Lex knew it was Oliver. Chloe had bugged Oliver's office. Brilliant. "Guess who activated a little piece of untraceable magic in Queen's security cameras?" she whispered as he leaned closer. She couldn't be more pleased with her work.
"Amazing." he praised in awe. That simple word warmed her more than a steaming cup of coffee. Such genuine praise from Lex was as revered as the word of God to your ear, and just as hard to obtain. He watched Queen sit down at his computer, his free hand moving as if in a conversation still. "No sounds?" And just like that Lex robbed her victory.
"Doesn't work like that." she defended herself and the work that had taken her last hour and best skills. "We'd need a bug inside the lair of doom for voices." she continued. But still, she couldn't shake the feeling she'd seen this pixel shaped man before, if he'd only lift his head to the camera, maybe she'd recognise him. Quickly, she vacated the computer chair, offering it Lex back and gathered the printed documents to hand over. "All transaction details are saved in a folder free for you to password as you choose, the printed copies are here and bank statements are as well. Printed, but not saved for obvious reasons. I can get new ones when you require. Otherwise, I'm done for the destruction of your business opponent and I can start building up your protection systems when you want me."
"Later." he spoke dismissively and she took the hint, unplugging the laptop and causing a moment's pause in the streaming before it cleared up and continued. His attention switched from the screen and he spoke again before she reached the doors. "Darren said you were a bit out of shape in your recent running hobbies." Chloe halted and turned on her heels.
"I'm sure you'd be out of shape if you tried losing three squads of Spanish and American government operatives. Shove some heels on your feet then we'll see who's panting shall we?" He laughed, taking his eyes once more from the screen to her.
"Mi casa es su casa señorita." The Spanish was like a second tongue to both of them and soothed her somewhat. "You're free to use anything you see fit. I'm sure if you ask Darren, he'd be more than happy to teach you a few things on the mats too." Darren was the only security in Lex's fleet that he called by his first name, the only one Lex trusted his life to and the only one he enjoyed sparring with.
"I'm sure he would." she answered still intending to head back to her room and finish her Green Arrow search.
"Or…" Lex continued. "Alternatively, you could wait a few hours while I tie up some loose ends and I can give you some time myself." She pondered it for a second. Maybe she'd have more fun beating up Lex than Darren. She smiled with an evil hint and turned back.
"I suppose I could wait a little while." He nodded and her hand pulled open the door.
"Oh, and Chloe." Cursing internally she turned back. "I appreciate the work." he added and she nodded as she left his office grateful of the words.
But Lex never called for her; instead Darren filled the door frame in his place, informing her Mr Luthor had to step out. She hadn't expected Lex to come and tell her himself, but a little notice would have been nice. Still, Lex did what Lex wanted. He came first (often in the bedroom too). But Chloe told herself she had no issue with that, she wasn't desperately in love with him, she'd told herself that for a while. Maybe her allegiance to him was similar to the Stockholm syndrome. But loving a man like Lex was one sided, you only ever got hurt.
"Miss Sullivan?" Darren pulled her from her thoughts and she set aside the laptop. Taking out some frustration on the mats would be good for her.
"I'll be down in a few minutes. Thank you." He nodded curtly and left her in her room. She changed into some comfier clothes for sparring and led her feet down the halls to the exercise room.
Fighting was as much a Luthor trademark as deceit and fear, and she'd been forced into it since she signed her soul away to Lionel. He'd thrown her a sword and told her if she could so much as leave a scratch on him after 20 minutes he'd drop all agreement and she'd be free to do as she wished. She'd fought with all her strength and cunning yet after a painful 17 minutes she'd been unable to take anymore and was the only one out of them to be covered in scars. No mercy was taken upon her inexperienced body. Mercy was for the week. Every Friday she'd been given a fencing sword and beaten in the name of sport and skill. 'You'll never walk if you can't find the strength to stand' he used to tell her. He'd tease her with freedom, laying it on the table if she could beat him in his game of the week. She never did. She always crawled back to her room beaten and bruised to be doctored silently by the other maids in the slave's quarter. Lionel was brutal, but he had given her a skin far thicker than she'd thought possible.
"Good." Darren complimented again, feeding her another series of moves and watching her follow them in pattern against his blocks. "Now again." Chloe pushed back the stray pieces of hair yet to grow to a length held by a bobble and repeated the sequence. "Good. Now go again, slower this time, and watch the blocking pattern. You'll be doing it next." Chloe followed his lead, feeling a few drops of sweat roll down her spine. They swapped roles of attacker and defender and Darren ran scenarios of self-defence and capture with her. They fought across the floor for a while, burning off her anger and excess energy. They were both sweaty messes when they drew a conclusion to the activities.
Chloe's head whipped around suddenly at the sound of clapping, her fists instantly forming. It wasn't just the fact her tunnel vision had let him sneak up on her, it was the reminder of Lionel's old habits to watch her while she got beat by his guards. But this was no bored father. This time it was Lex who appraised her movements. Forcing her fists to relax she took the steps to the bottled water and tried not to show her annoyance at his presence.
"Very good. I see you'll be giving the men a run for their money." Chloe grinned and brushed her hair from her forehead again. Another old habit was to lose the guards Lionel had assigned her whenever she went out. It was her favourite hobby, and the best part was that as long as she got back before them she wasn't the one in trouble.
Lex nodded swiftly and Darren disappeared from sight. With that action he shucked his suit jacket and took off the tie. Chloe couldn't help but smile.
"Want a go Lex?" she purred teasingly.
"I do owe you." he agreed and toed off the shoes. "What was it? Twice that you called me Alex?" Her smile grew more pronounced and she re-tied her hair after setting down the bottled water again.
"I don't remember, Alex. I still don't see why you don't like your name, Alex." she teased.
"Are you sure you want to keep going?"
"Didn't realise it bothered you, Alex." she spoke playfully and Lex rolled up his cuffs past his elbows as he met her stance opposite.
"Queen's security found the bug in the feed today." he started, letting her take the first motions while be blocked and dodged.
"I never said they wouldn't." He sprung his attack, taking her arm as she made to punch and used it to push her to the floor and had it pinned behind her back. She wriggled until he let her back up. 1 for Lex. If her presumption was correct she'd be pinned another 4 times. 1 for each Alex she'd called. She found her footing again and let him take point, using his force against him. It made him sweat and do all the work while she used it against him. "It's untraceable, you shouldn't worry." she added as she broke his attempt to hold her. Lex may have been taught by a retired navy seal but at least Chloe knew his style and personality of fighting. He liked things fast and furious when he was face to face without time to sit out and plot. He was ruled by his emotions. Taking an opening she jabbed her fist toward his stomach, he took it with his caged palm and slipped back to pull her to the ground again. She found herself pinned and unmoveable. 2 for Lex.
"I didn't say I was worried." he corrected her and stood himself up, offering her a hand as well. "I want a bug in his system. On his phone. In his office. Wherever he goes."
"Then you best get your experts to plant some then. It doesn't happen by magic." she replied and stepped into a familiar sequence with him. But the tables turned again and she was down. 3 for Lex. She hated the Luthors. Against anyone else she could consider herself a good fighter. But the masters who taught her would always remain superior. Lex was a fighter by nature and nurture, she had little chance of beating him physically.
"You'll be planting them." he stated without a change in tone. She coughed a laugh and dropped her fists.
"Really?" She rushed a hand through the loose locks and stepped into the fight again, flying punches and forcing him backward. He blocked, dodged and tricked, but she kept cautiously aware of counter movements and managed to remain upright. "What exactly do you expect me to do Lex? I can't walk into a business like Queen Industries, flash a smile and drop a device." she argued and had his back close to the wall, but he slipped her win from her hands before it happened and with a few quick motions he had her in the sleeper hold but without the pressure necessary to black the opponent out. She kicked back but quickly resigned to her failure again. 4 for Lex.
"You won't walk." he replied calmly and with her tapping fingers he released her from the hold.
"I'm not breaking into Queen Industries!" she hissed and stepped from his grasp to the other side of the mats.
"Did I say you were?" he countered. A breath of frustration left her and her hand landed on her hip.
"Fine, what is your fantastic plan, oh great one?" she mocked. His expression said he wasn't impressed.
"His head of security opens the doors at 5am. He happens to like petite dark haired women and has recently suffered a break up." She didn't question how Lex knew this. "I'm sure if you had an accident on your way to work as he was opening he'd come to your rescue and escort you past the doors for first aid."
"You want me to trick my way into Queen Industries?" she checked. Lex shrugged and they stepped forward again. Lex met her easily as she tried not be ruled by anger, but failed and was swiftly pinned under his weight, his face over hers. 5 for Lex. She let out a heavy sigh, her hands locked by his and hair across her face. "How do you know this will work?" Lex just smiled and took his hand to brush the unruly locks from her vision.
"Trust me Chloe. He'll let you in. The rest is up to you." His lips pressed quick to hers and he pushed up from the floor, offering her a hand again. She accepted, feeling tired and annoyed.
"And how do you expect me to get all the way up to Queen's office?" she challenged.
"You'll think of something." He left the mechanics up to her. Just a puppet to the Luthors.
Lex's finger unrolled the sleeves and he stepped back from her finished with his dealings.
"Fine." she huffed. "In that case, you'll be taking me out for Chocolate cake, coffee and a new disguise." He'd thrown out her old one she kept in her bag.
"There are two new securities that need breaking in. Care to do the honours?" he asked, still with his back turned. She could read the honesty in that statement. He couldn't be bothered to go himself. Chloe didn't mind the brush off, she expected it. It would have been nice though, she couldn't remember the last time she spent time with anyone where it wasn't business.
"I'll take a shower and be right back down." she informed him and padded barefoot through the empty halls of the Luthor kingdom at her own slow pace.
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I know that was a very inactive chapter for some of you. But give me until chapter three at the very least before you dismiss me.
Any opinions on this and you can drop me a review, even just a smiley face will be lovely. If you've got any worries about where i'm going, anything you want cleared up then you can feel free to message me at ANY time and i'll try to get back to you asap. I'm pretty friendly, and i'll even reply if it's just for a chat. I can't promise i'll know when the next chapter will be going up, but you can drop me a message to see how i'm doing progress-wise.
Thanks.
Xx