XYK
Chapter 9 - "In Outer Space."
"Buona Mattina mia bella sorella!" Lucy said, practically flinging herself at Lois. Lois, who was completely unprepared, dropped her suitcases and stumbled backwards. Lois looked around, Models everywhere. She smiled up at Lucy who in stiletto heels and outlandish hairstyle towered over her.
Lucy had been spotted, at the age of 16, by an agent whilst visiting Lois from Boarding school. The Metropolis based agent had declared Lucy the next big thing, within months Lucy or 'Lucille' as she now went by, had graced the catwalks and covers of magazines on every continent. "I can't believe you're here in Italy!" exclaimed Lucy.
"Well, it's been a while since I've seen you on the catwalk."
"Are you OK? I mean you look..."Lucy stepped back and appraised her sister "...ill,like you've lost weight."
Lois hadn't told Lucy about the pregnancy or the miscarriage, and she was glad. She couldn't bear the idea of being fussed over or pitied. She'd flown thousands of miles to escape that and intended to relax, not forget, but heal. She was fed up of feeling sad, something had to change. "I'm fine,really.",Lois lied. "Work stress..."
"Well, where's Clark?" Lucy asked ,looking over her sisters shoulder.
Lois's guts dropped. "He couldn't make it. He sends his love." The truth of the matter was that Clark hadn't been invited. The moment Clark had left the apartment, Lois had cried, the Vodka bottle untouched at her side. After half an hour, a light bulb moment had struck her, she had wiped her tears and began throwing things into a couple of Suitcases. She'd quickly scribbled a note to Clark and then She'd driven to the airport. The ticket had been damn near extortionate but she had taken it, and here she was standing before her little sister.
A brunette toting a clipboard came up behind Lucy "Lucille you're on in 2."
"Thanks."Lucy mouthed to the woman; she straightened out her expensive gown and turned back around to face Lois. "We'll have dinner after the show. Wait right here."
"Sure."Lois smiled as Lucy went to join the other models at the catwalk entrance.
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Sitting in a quiet Corner of the upmarket Italian Bistro, Lucy and Lois exchanged giggles .It was at this point that Lucy picked up the bottle of red wine that sat between them and made a lunge as if to pour Lois a cup. Lois quickly covered the glass with her hand. "None for me."
"You love red wine."Lucy persisted "Ok..just have half a glass, it's gorgeous."Lucy reached for Lois's glass again.
"I said NO!" Lois screeched ,causing a few diners in close proximity to turn around.
Lucy was puzzled, she pulled a face "O-k."
Lois immediately felt bad, she hadn't meant to shout at Lucy "I'm giving up alcohol."
"Any particular reason?"Lucy asked, forking some pasta into her mouth.
"It's bad for me." Lois shrugged, sat back and watched Lucy tuck into the huge plate of spaghetti "...Luce, don't you have another show tomorrow. Are you sure you wanna eat all those Carbs?"Lois asked playfully.
"Shut up!" Lucy slapped her sisters' hand playfully from across the table. "I'm just gonna go to the bathroom." Lucy got up and weaved past other diners until she was out of sight . Lois took this as her cue to tuck into her own plate of Veal and roasted vegetables . So busy devouring the meal laid out before her,she didn't notice the man confidently approaching her.
Standing over where she was seated in the corner, Lex Luthor cleared his throat with a faux-cough to get her attention. Lois looked up and immediately wanted to unleash a thunderous verbal attack, but settled for, "Anyone would think you were stalking me."
"Don't flatter yourself, Lane." Lex pulled back the opposing seat recently vacated by Lucy and sat down. "It's Milan Fashion week." Was all he added by way of explanation.
Lois mentally kicked herself for making an assumption. She'd forgotten that Fashion week attracted the rich, famous and always ostentatious from all over the world. Lex Luther's presence in Italy made complete sense.
"I'm of the opinion that Journalism isn't a real vocation with you, Lane."He began.
Lois took another bite of her food, "I don't care for your opinion."
"I'm offering you a job Lois."
"I have one."
Lex couldn't help but smile, even when she was stuffing her mouth, Lois Lane was still a firecracker.
"I want you to come and work for me. I want you to be the Editor in Chief of my new magazine."
Lex weighed up the incredulous look on Lois's face. He liked that she wasn't an easy sell. He pressed on, "I'm talking a premium glossy magazine, aimed at upwardly mobile, borderline affluent thirty something women who are full of drive, sexy and living life on their own terms. A lot like you."
"Cosmo,Marie Claire,VOGUE,Glamour...glossy magazines have been done to death." Lois took a sip from a glass of water.
"Those things are aimed at Teenyboppers, anorexics and celebrity obsessed sycophants. I want your savvy know how. You're smart , tough, sexy and incredibly stylish. I want to see a magazine that doesn't undermine a woman's intelligence, a magazine that truly celebrates the correlation between femininity, strength and intelligence."
"I never had you down as a feminist." Lois smirked.
"No one appreciates women more than I do." Lex leant forward, fostering a sense of intimacy between the two of them "I'm talking six figures. Your own office, staff and vision."
Lois could hardly believe her ears. "I'm sorry!I don't understand...Why would you..???"
"Because you look like you could do with a change in your life."
Lois shivered. It was something about the way he said that, as if he could read her mind . Lois looked down,completely unsure of what to say. The old Lois would of told him where to go but the old Lois didn't exist,she had been inextricably altered ,and maybe just maybe Lex Luthor was offering her a lifeline. "I'm sorry I slapped you the other night, but you completely over stepped the boundaries. You had it coming and I'd do it again."
Lex didn't say a word, instead he looked bemused.
"...I like you Lex, but If I am to consider your proposition I need to feel like I can trust you.." Lois took another sip of water
"Trust me?To do what?", Lex asked quizzically
"Not to ...No flirtations, no inappropriate exchanges, no impromptu kisses and no innuendo."
Lex reclined in his seat "Well you can't trust me."He replied flatly and looked defiantly into Lois's eyes "But at least you know I'll always be upfront about it."
Much to Lois's surprise that was good enough for her.
"Besides..." Lex tilted his head toward the tall Nordic looking model, anxiously tapping her feet over at the bar ".. I have Anjka to keep me busy."
Lois watched Lex stand up. "What's this magazine called?"
"I'm sure you can think of something." Lex said as he walked away.
"Who was that?" Lucy said taking her seat opposite her sister.
Still in thought , Lois turned her attention back to Lucy. "... My new boss.I think..."
TBC.