Chapter 6
Metropolis
Saturday, October 31, 2020
As discussed the evening before, Lana knocked on Clark's door at 1:30 PM after texting him that she was coming over. He looked and saw her through the door and opened it.
It was not the first time Lana had been in Clark's apartment but it was the first time that she came knowing that it would be a friendly visit with no other outcome. "So, your outfit?" she said. "Where is it?"
"Did you think I was going to answer the door in it?" Clark asked, grinning.
"I've never seen it so I don't know if it's something appropriate to answer the door in or not."
"Good point. Have a seat. Can I get you anything?"
She rolled her eyes. "After last night? No thanks, I'm fine really."
"Okay then, I'll be right back." Less than two seconds later, Clark emerged with his Kryptonian suit on.
Lana's eyes grew wide. "Oh my God, Clark! That looks incredible. It's so…impressive, I guess is the word I'm looking for."
"You like it?" he asked.
"Yes, what's not to like?" She stood up and walked around him as he stood. "I love the cape too. May I feel the material?"
"Of course you can."
She ran her hand across the intricate design that formed the foundation of the outfit. "It's so form-fitting. Is it difficult to put on?"
"Not particularly," he replied.
"Is it hot?"
"No…I don't actually get hot or cold anyway. The material allows me to absorb the sun's rays and also regulates my body temperature a bit. I have been to the equator and in the Arctic and Antarctic and I don't get hot or cold wearing it."
"And the 'S'? What is that for?"
He explained the Kryptonian symbol, its meaning, and that it was his family's credo in a manner of speaking. "So, what do you think?"
Lana took a deep breath and exhaled. "I think it's hard to take my eyes off of it…and you in it."
"Which is why I wear those crummy glasses," Clark replied.
"Well, let's talk about those," Lana said.
"Okay, in a second. Let me change back, okay?" Lana nodded and Clark disappeared and reappeared in less than two seconds, having returned wearing his jeans, socks, and long sleeve t-shirt. He sat in an adjacent chair, facing Lana. "So, glasses."
"Clark, one question: why?"
"Because I don't intend to remain hidden and in the dark forever. I want to be seen, I don't want people afraid of me or unsure of what I am and what I look like. But I also want a life and I need to earn a living, so I have to change my appearance."
"Can't you wear a mask or helmet or something?"
"Neither would be practical but more importantly, hiding raises suspicion and doubt. I don't want there to be any." He paused. "Dad said that someday I would have to stand proudly in front of the human race, and he's right. If I'm to do that and have a normal life too, I can't be the AAM and 'oh, that's Clark Kent' at the same time. It's why I took the opportunity to wear the glasses when I had the excuse after we were attacked."
"Which I never got to thank you for, now that you mention it," Lana said.
"It's what I do now," Clark replied humbly. "You're welcome," he added.
"Okay, that all makes sense. But if you want to disguise yourself Clark, you want to make yourself blend in, not stand out. Those glasses scream attention!"
"I know no one likes them but they also change the shape of my face and eyes. That's why I wear them."
"Well, okay, then let's get some that do the same but not so 'What's wrong with him', okay?" She grinned. "Also, don't act so nerdy because I know it's an act but it draws attention. You want the opposite."
"I thought acting a little nerdy would further distance me from the AAM once I do reveal myself."
"But you don't want to be memorable, right?" He nodded. "So, don't stand so tall, maybe. Don't slouch exactly but you can stoop a little. Just lower your head and look worn down like the rest of humanity," she said and chuffed. "Blending in, being 'just another guy in the crowd' instead of standing out as the nerdy buffoon is the best way to avoid being recognized. Blending in means not being noticed, not being truly seen."
Monday, November 2, 2020
George Taylor paced the floor in his office. He hated doing what he had been ordered to do. On his desk was a termination letter for Clark Joseph Kent he had received from the Telstar Media corporation's Human Resources Director. He was ordered to present the letter that had an effective date of end of day, November 13, 2020.
Taylor had immediately picked up the phone and got into a very heated conversation in which he cussed CEO Dale Rennick, who warned that Taylor could be next if the letter was not presented, acknowledged, and scanned back to the HR director by noon.
George picked up the phone and called Perry White. "Perry, this is George over at the Daily Star."
"Good morning. And to what do I owe the privilege of talking to you this glorious Monday morning?" Perry waxed.
"I'm in a bind, Perry."
"Go on," White replied.
"Do you remember Clark Kent?"
"Your reporter that won Journalist of the Year? Of course, I remember him. I'm getting older, George, not forgetful." He chuckled. "What about him?"
"He's going to need a job."
"Great shades of Elvis! It sounds like you guys are eating your young over there!" He grumbled. "How soon?"
"I'm afraid before the end of the month," Taylor replied. "Orders from on high," he groaned. "They're crying budget cuts again, Perry. Of course, they never thought that maybe unloading some of their high-priced vapid attorneys just out of law school with nice legs or reducing their leased luxury vehicle fleet might help their bottom line. No! They want to kick an award-winning writer to the curb because of it."
"Sounds more like senility to me," Perry replied. He groused. "I hate that for you and for him. Let me make a few calls. Can I call you back in an hour?"
"Please do, Perry. This one is really personal. I have connections with his parents; they're good people and I've known them a long time, salt-of-the-Earth type of people. You won't regret bringing him on if you can. He's got a work ethic that is second to none."
Perry chuffed. "Well, that would make two of 'em for me, then." He added, "Let me see what I can do, and I'll call you back."
Within an hour, Perry called George Taylor back. "Hey, I won't have a salaried staff position until after the New Year, but I can bring him on as a stringer if that will help."
"It sure will, Perry. He'll give you some great stories, I promise you that."
"I read his piece on the senior housing debacle. I think he'll do just fine over here."
"Me too. Can I have him come over for an interview?"
"It's not necessary but sure. Just a moment." He covered the receiver and yelled, "Sally, when do I have a free hour in the next few days?"
"Thursday, Chief. 11:30 to 12:30," Sally called.
"Thank you." He uncovered the receiver. "George, I'm gonna hire him but tell him he has an interview at 11:30 on Thursday." He chuckled. "I can't believe I'm poaching the Journalist of the Year from you. I should go buy some lottery tickets tonight!"
Taylor chuckled. "I can't believe it either. I'm so disgusted. If my home was paid off, I'd tell 'em to just stick it!" He paused. "Anyway, thank you, Perry. You won't be disappointed and you're making my job a lot easier this morning."
He hung up. George still did not relish telling Clark, but he had a parachute for the young journalist and that was better than handing him walking papers alone. He picked up his phone and called Clark at his desk. "Clark, can you come in here. We need to talk."
Tuesday, November 3, 2020
"Oh Lois?" Cat asked from her office.
Looking up from her monitor, Lois replied. "What is it, Cat?"
"Are you busy right now?"
"Well, right now I'm wasting time talking to you," she quipped. "In about five seconds I'll be busy again."
Cat walked over to Lois's desk and sat in the chair formerly occupied by John Corben. "I have a favor to ask; it's kind of embarrassing."
"You? Embarrassed? What do you want from me, videotaping you clear cutting a forest, or pruning a hedge, or whatever your term was?"
Cat smirked. "The term you're looking for is climbing a tree, I think. But that's not what I need from you, at least not now." She leaned forward and spoke softly. "I need to know how to contact Jose. Do you have his number or a way of contacting him?"
"Yes. In fact, both and they are one in the same," Lois replied.
"Would you give it to me?"
"No. But I'll ask Jose if he wants your number because you'd be interested in climbing his tree. That way if he's as annoyed with you as I am, he won't quit talking to me."
Cat rolled her eyes. "You're hopeless, Lois. I'm not climbing his tree, he's the tree I want to climb. Get it?" She snickered. "Anyway, yes, that would be great." She sat and watched Lois, knowing that it would annoy her.
Lois tried to ignore Cat but finally looked up from her monitor. "Is there anything else you can ruin my productivity with before you leave?"
"Girl talk," she replied. "How was your Halloween?"
Lois frowned. "What do you mean? Who asks adults that?"
She chuffed. "I forgot, you're socially-stunted. Did you and Lex do anything?"
"Oh sure. I dressed up as one of the Ghostbusters and Lex put on a Stay Puft marshmallow man costume and we went door-to-door in Queensland Park yelling, 'trick or treat'!"
Cat looked exasperated. "Seriously, wasn't there a costume party or anything you went to? Why not the WGBS party?"
"Huh?"
"The WGBS party. It was so much fun. You would have loved it, Lois. Lots of Spandex."
"Oh yeah, no." Lois replied flatly. "I must have misplaced that invitation."
"I think I saw about twenty people in their 80's rock star costumes. Some of them were pretty cute." She pulled out her phone. "Here, look! Some of these are going into my column on Sunday's paper. Here! Look, Tommy Lee, Steven Tyler, Joan Jett, and this one, David Lee Roth."
Lois looked annoyed as Cat scrolled through pictures of the party and showing each photo to her individually. "Aren't these great?"
"Yeah, it's like looking at someone else's vacation photos, Cat. C'mon, I really do have things I have to get done today."
"Just a couple more, real quick," she said, accelerating the scrolling. "Here's my costume, isn't it cute?"
Lois squinted. "What are you supposed to be, a slutty pole dancer from Istanbul?" she asked.
"Oh please!" Cat cried. "I'm Cleopatra. See?" she said, enlarging the photo and Lois looked. "You should go next year, I…" she added as she pulled her phone away.
"Wait!" Lois said. "Let me see that picture again." Cat obliged. "Who's that in the background? The flapper."
"Lana Lang. Oh my God, she was white hot in that outfit, if I say so myself. That's not how I swing but looking at her, I could be turned. If she didn't have her bodyguard-slash-boyfriend attached to her at the hip, she'd have been mobbed." Cat scrolled through her phone. "I have some other pictures of her. Just a moment and I'll find them."
"That's okay," Lois said. "I just wondered. I thought that was her." Cat continued scrolling. "Cat, seriously, I have to get this done. I'm on a deadline right now."
"Okay," Cat replied and put her phone away. "But I'm going to drag you to that party next year kicking and screaming if I have to, Lois. You need to get out and have some fun at some point in your life." She stood. "See ya later!"
"Hope not," Lois replied without looking up from her monitor.
Thursday, November 5, 2020
While Clark met with Perry White and arranged for a start date, Lois sat with Maggie Sawyer at lunch and was quieter than her normal effusive self. Maggie peered at her while she dabbled with the food on her plate. "What's going on with you today, Lois? Are you having a bad day, had a bad night? Are you planning another Gunpowder Treason and Plot? You seem to be a million miles away right now."
She sighed. "Nothing, really." She looked up. "I'm sorry, these lunches are for sharing information and I'm not doing much of it, am I?" Lois forced a smile. "Something someone at the office said to me a couple of days ago keeps bugging me."
"What was it?"
Lois looked back down at her half-eaten lunch. "She was talking about what a great time at a Halloween party she attended at Galaxy last Friday and asked me what I did, which was nothing. She told me that I have no life outside of my job." She looked up at Maggie. "She's right. She showed me pictures of people my age and older having fun and I thought to myself, 'what's wrong with me' that I'm sitting around worrying about some guy or gal who wants absolutely no press or no exposure? It's like that's the most important thing in my life right now. And it's stupid and it's pointless."
Maggie nodded almost imperceptibly. "Maybe that's why you and I get along so well, Lois. Bev tells me the same thing. But I have her and we do things, but she draws some pretty shitty shifts sometimes and that makes it hard to get out and do fun stuff." She paused. "Who do you have in your life, Lois? Aside from work, what do you enjoy and why aren't you doing those things?
"Granted, I don't have much room to talk, but maybe that person who said that to you is right. And if it's bugging you, then you think so, too."
"Well, I don't know what bugs me more. The fact that it might be true or the fact that it came from someone who drives me crazy…and not in a good way." She smirked.
"Who do you have in your life, Lois?" Maggie persisted. "And if you say Lex Luthor, I'm going to stab you in the face with this plastic fork."
Lois looked at her sheepishly and said nothing.
"Oh, man! Say it ain't so." She shook her head disapprovingly. "You have to be careful Lois. I've told you before, he's not the man you think he is and if you get sucked into his world, you'll end up just as corrupt and dirty as he is."
She frowned. "Seriously?" Lois replied. "He may not be squeaky clean but c'mon, Maggie. He's a rich guy who makes deals that screw some people sometimes and they end up pissed off and make a big deal about it." Maggie slowly blinked her eyes. "If you knew what he was like in private…"
"I don't care to know."
"He's not a bad man, Maggie. Look, we've had dinner together probably ten times and lunch a few times. Most the time, we're eating at his penthouse at the LexCorp building. Once I ate at his home in the country. Never in the times we've spent together has he ever forced himself or come close to forcing himself on me. And I know what he wants. But he's been the perfect gentleman and the perfect dinner companion. And after dinner, I always return home." She paused. "Does that sound like a dangerous man?"
"It sounds like a guy who is playing the long game and can afford to do it. Let's face it, Lois, if Lex Luthor wants female companionship, he's not going to have any trouble acquiring it. He's playing the long game because you have something that he needs and it's more than just photogenic arm candy, intelligent dinner conversation, or a night between the sheets."
"You mean like fair press coverage?"
"Exactly. But more than that, probably, because he's really making a push with you. It sounds like he's on his best behavior." She paused and narrowed her eyes. "Think about it. Other than your charming personality and your work, what do you think you could bring to his table that he might covet?"
Lois was drawing a blank until it dawned on her what it might be. "Oh shit! My dad," she said. "He's a General and he's in the Pentagon and he's often in the middle of the Pentagon's contracting activities."
"Well, that sounds like a connection an industrialist mogul might covet," Maggie said. "Now, I'm not saying Luthor has ulterior motives. Maybe he's just smitten with you and doesn't want to push you away. I can understand that. But I suggest that you keep this conversation in the back of your mind." She paused. "And in the meantime, keep yourself open to doing new things, new people, new relationships, even if they're out of your comfort zone.
"Bev told me that and I did, and we've actually had some really fun times because of it." She leaned forward and in a conspiratorial manner, said, "If things don't go well with Lex Luthor, it's always easier to move on if you have something or someone else to move on to." She smiled and winked.
Sunday, November 8, 2020
Lois rose at the crack of noon on Sunday, her only day of the week to sleep-in, other than Saturdays. She padded into her kitchen wearing pink flannel lounging pants, a Metropolis Sharks jersey over a long sleeve T-shirt, and a pair of fuzzy bunny slippers.
Once she got the coffee started, she walked to her front door and peered out the peep hole. Seeing no one in the hallway, she cracked open her door, reached out and snatched the Sunday edition of the Daily Planet before shutting her door. She walked over to her couch, dropped the paper on the coffee table, yawned and stretched, then rubbed her eyes, and sat. She separated the sections looking at what story landed on the front page. Of course, it was all about the mayor's re-election win and other races for state and national seats.
"Boring," she muttered and put it aside. She picked up the sports section and turned to injury report for the Metropolis Sharks and New York Giants game that afternoon. It was a habit she had developed when playing fantasy football for a few years. The Giants were one-point favorites but they were playing in the Meadowlands so Lois knew the home team was not favored to win and an upset by the Sharks would not be surprising. She read some predictions for other games and checked the TV schedule for the early game and Sunday night game.
She read Steve Lombard's column. "Oof," she muttered. "He gets paid to write that?" She put the sports section down. Behind the advertisement inserts, she saw the 'Lifestyle' section, Cat's section. She pulled it out and the front of the section had three photographs from the Galaxy Communications Halloween 2020 party and a brief teaser with promises of more pictures starting on page 3.
"I'm surprised your picture isn't on the front page, Cat," she muttered. She turned to page 3 and there were two full pages and one half-page of photos and a half-page of article. She skipped the write-up and instead scanned the photographs. She saw one of Cat with a guy she did not recognize but whose name was Doyle Swift, according to the names beneath the photo, and apparently is the lifestyle editor at WGBS-TV news and was her date for the evening. He was wearing a Pennywise the Clown outfit, complete with makeup, wig, and pointed teeth.
On the next page was a large picture of the assembled crowd. A smaller shot had Lana in her flapper outfit accompanied by a tall man in a Zorro outfit, which she suspected was Clark Kent but it was hard to tell with the mask, moustache, and without the horrid glasses. They stood side-by-side and Lana wore a smile. The man with her, that Lois presumed was Clark, did not particularly seem happy about the picture. In fact, he looked annoyed. Maybe he's not happy being there with her, Lois thought. Sure, Lois. Wishful thinking.
Monday, November 9, 2020
"Cat," Lois called out as Cat made her way to her office. She turned and looked at Lois, surprised that it was the intrepid reporter calling her name out.
"What is it, Lois?"
"I saw the Lifestyle section yesterday. The photos were great. Would you mind sending them all to my email?" She paused and as not to raise suspicion, "I wanted to see who else might be there that I know."
Cat obliged and in less than ten minutes, Lois had a large zip file of the photographs that Cat took. Lois unzipped the file, and the pictures were extracted in a folder on her desktop titled, Halloween 2020. She clicked on the folder and opened the photo program and began looking at the pictures.
She advanced through them until she got to the picture of Lana and her date standing side-by-side. She magnified the image and looked closely at the man. Yep, that's Clark, she thought. He doesn't seem entirely happy to be there."
She advanced and a second photo showed him standing with his left hand balled into a fist on his left hip and right arm around Lana. He had a serious look to him while Lana had a playful look, draped along his right side. Hmm. Serious look. She magnified the photo. He doesn't seem happy in this one either.
The next picture told a different story. Clark had Lana dramatically dipped backward as though they had just finished a tango. She had his Bolero hat in one outstretched hand and the other outstretched as though she was swooning in his arms. They were in a very intense, passionate kiss and Lois had a strong reaction to it, although she was not exactly sure why. It was as though Lana had taken something from her, which she knew was silly.
It's always easier to move on if you have something or someone else to move on to.
She advanced to the next photo and then continued through them and there was only one more photo where Clark and Lana were in the background of the photograph of a specific couple and out of the flash range of the camera. She closed the photo viewer software.
God, she looked so emotionally spent. Was it real or were they mugging for the camera, she wondered. She also wondered what it would be like to be held and kissed by someone the way Lana was being kissed by Clark. Whether they were mugging for the camera or not, it made her breath catch in her chest.
Her cellphone rang and the ringtone played 'Reveille'. She had assigned that to her father. She answered, "Hi Dad."
"Good morning, Lo. I got your voicemail from last week. I'm sorry but I was in a no-service zone out at the National Training Center. What can I help you with?"
The General was always straight to the point, so Lois was too. "I was wondering how many contracts are up for bid this year that LexCorp has bid on?"
"I'm afraid I can't answer that, Lois. Those bids are secret, and I can't divulge who bids on what."
"Let me put it another way," she began. "I'm currently seeing a man and he may or may not be interested in me because of what my father does. I'm trying to make sure that his interest is solely in me and has nothing to do with what you do."
"And this man is a member of LexCorp?
"He is," she replied.
"Does this man have a name or do you to expect me to go through the entire LexCorp phone book, Lo?"
"Lex Luthor."
There was a pause and Lois was pleased that her father was apparently taken aback and speechless for at least a moment. "Lex Luthor of LexCorp?"
"Is there another?"
"You believe Lex Luthor is interested in you? Why?" His tone was not inquisitive, it was interrogative.
"I could list a few reasons, but some might be awkward for you to hear, Dad." That was a barb intended to sting and she paused. "But yes, he's interested in me. We have quite intimate dinners at his penthouse almost weekly now when he's in town and we catch lunch occasionally too. 'Why' is the question I'm looking to find an answer to. I was hoping he wasn't pursuing a relationship with me in hopes of getting an advantage on future contracts with the Department of Defense. I don't want our relationship to go any further if that's his intention."
"I hold Lex Luthor in the highest esteem. He's a great patriot and a savvy businessman. If he's pursuing a relationship with you, then it's because he's interested in you, Lo. He doesn't need to leverage anything to get a contract. LexCorp makes good equipment for us, and he has a great reputation with the Defense Department. Just because he's a shrewd businessman doesn't mean he'd take advantage of you to get a leg up on his competition. In my book, he doesn't need to. He's a damn good man, Pumpkin!"
"Okay, Dad. Thanks for the call. We'll talk later," she said, and disconnected before he could.
Damnit! Couldn't he have just given me an answer instead of a ringing endorsement of Lex?
Thursday, November 12, 2020
Lois sat in Lex's dining room and marveled at the impressive artwork on the walls. "Those are originals, I take it?" she asked. "That's a Matisse and over there a van Gogh, right?"
"Great eye! Yes, they were given to me by a Saudi prince as a token of his appreciation for the advanced aircraft warning radar system LexCorp built and installed," he said.
"They're exquisite," Lois commented.
"They aren't the only thing exquisite in this room," Lex said with a satisfied smile and Lois blushed.
The dinner prepared by Chef Charles was also exquisite. Lois believed that after so many compliments, Chef Charles was eager to try and top the last meal he served to them.
The night's meal began with escargot in garlic butter and warm artisan bread and a simple spring mix salad with fresh mango slices and a citrus vinaigrette dressing. The main course was a fresh grilled Gulf Snapper filet with shallots and capers in a lemon beurre sauce, grilled asparagus with roasted garlic and shredded Parmesan topping, and diced roasted pumpkin squash with a sweet and tangy balsamic glaze. They made small talk as they waited for the dessert, a thick slice of hot lemon cake with a Grand Marnier reduction drizzled over top and whipped cream that never seemed to melt.
They retired to the library for a quick after-dinner cordial before Lex silently led her by the hand to his bedroom. He kissed her deeply, more deeply than he had ever done before and she could feel him becoming aroused and she felt herself grow flushed, hot, and moist. She looked out at the massive window that matched the curved exterior design of the tower suite at the lights of Metropolis. A balcony that extended from his den continued outside the bedroom glass wall.
She was naked and spread, laying on Egyptian cotton sheets that felt silky and smelled fresh. The bed was a massive four-poster that was absolutely soundless beneath her. Lex was on top, penetrating her and although it felt glorious, it did not feel right to Lois. She had allowed herself to be rushed to this point because she would never have Clark Kent and now, with Lex inside her, it was too late to protest. Instead, she grabbed his lower back with each hand and pulled herself to him, driving him deeper inside her over and over until she exploded in a massive ecstatic orgasm not once or twice, but three times before Lex collapsed next to her, exhausted and dripping with sweat. She ached where he had been, but in a wildly satisfying way that she had never felt before.
She closed her eyes to relish the moment and remembered her father, "He's a damn good man, Pumpkin!" He is indeed, she thought.
He had rolled onto his back and had caught his breath, no longer breathing hard or even sweating. Lois reached over and felt along his chiseled chest and arms, running her hand down between his legs and caressed the source of her pleasingly aching parts, and it was now in the process of returning the blood it had borrowed from elsewhere in his body after providing them both such pleasure.
He's a damn good man, Pumpkin!
"Lois, I'm in love with you," he whispered, his voice softer, more melodic, and sweet to her ears. "I'll never love anyone more."
She smiled. "My God! I love you, too," she replied, frighten by the intensity of emotion and ease with which the words came out. But she had just given herself to him and right or wrong, it no longer mattered. Smiling still, she opened her eyes, rolled onto her side to face him, and was nose-to-nose with Clark Kent.
Lois jolted awake. She felt flushed, hot and even out of breath herself. A longing deep in the pit of her stomach reminded her that it had been too long since she had chosen a lover to take to bed.
She rolled to one side and grabbed the clock on the nightstand, looked at it and groaned. It was 4:55 AM. "Shit!" she muttered.
Clark Kent. He was on her mind again and she knew she would not be able to go back to sleep. Her alarm would ring in 35 minutes, and she decided there was little point in even trying. Instead, she got up, slid into her bunny slippers and padded out to her kitchen and made coffee. As it brewed, she sat at her small kitchen table and opened her laptop, bypassed the lock screen, and opened the folder that was on the laptop's desktop screen. They were the pictures Cat had sent her on Monday.
She scanned through the earlier ones until she got to the three that clearly showed flapper Lana and Zorro Kent. She kept enlarging the first two of the three to try and decipher the look on Clark's face. She moved to the last of the three pictures and muttered, "Bitch".
She felt ashamed. Lana was not a bad person. In fact, they could be great friends if she was not in the arms of a guy she was attracted to, Lois thought. Lana was always cordial and sweet to her. She looked at the picture once more and muttered, "Lucky bitch", with a reluctant smile. Better.
She perused the rest of the images straining to see if there were other glimpses of Clark Kent. Since their talk at the donut shop, she had not stopped thinking about him.
But Lois felt conflicted as well. She wanted to spend more time with him like they had at the donut shop, but he was taken. And not just taken, Lana Lang had him locked down. He was with his childhood sweetheart, the one that looked like she could still win a Miss Teen America pageant, and the one who was sweet natured, refined, gentle, and wildly successful in her career. What the hell would he see in Lois Lane, she thought.
On top of that, Clark was still a mystery to her in many ways. But she knew from personal experience that he could also be kind of a jerk, snarky, deceitful, and she had witnessed his violent side once. Clark's clean-cut, All-American, 'aw shucks', country boy routine might fool others, but Lois saw it for what it was, a façade. Kent put up that front because he was competitive. The dorky glasses and the clumsy naivety he exhibited had to be a ruse to lull others into underestimating him. After all, how does a hot shot NCAA college quarterback become such a nerd in three years, she wondered. It usually works the other way around.
But if he's so duplicitous, why can't you take your mind off him, she asked herself. Lex Luthor possessed train loads of sterling attributes that Clark Kent would never come close to having and Lex was hers for the taking. If she could just get over whatever it was that drew her to Kent and concentrate her attention on Lex, others would look at her the way she saw Lana Lang. Lois Lane, that lucky bitch.
She clicked her way through the gallery of images and until she reached the one image at which she could not quit looking. Lois stared at the photograph and the mental image of rolling over and looking into the face of Clark Kent in the dream that had jolted her awake returned.
I've had all the sweaty make-out sessions and couch canoodling I can stand, she thought. At least once in my life, I want a man to hold me and kiss me like that.
Her eyes began to burn.
She closed her laptop, guzzled another cup of coffee, and headed to the bathroom to get ready for work.
An hour later, she was at her desk docking her laptop and plugging her cellphone into the charging cord on her docking station. She arrived over thirty minutes early and the bullpen was eerily quiet. Before switching her monitor on, she got up and made a pot of coffee that would not be mistaken for brake fluid that day.
When she returned to her desk, she snapped on the monitor and entered her PIN to bypass the lock screen. Her cellphone application appeared and showed four missed calls since the night before. The numbers belonged to Maggie Sawyer and the last one was about twenty minutes ago. "What the hell," she muttered and picked her phone up. She unlocked the phone with her index finger and the phone app showed four missed calls and three voicemail messages, all from Maggie. It also showed that it was charging and currently at a three percent charge.
Lois realized that her cellphone had died sometime late the day before, obviously after she got home from work. She dialed her voicemail and listened to the latest message from Maggie.
"Lois, this is Maggie…again. This is the last time I'm calling you. Something has come up. Call me, girl!"
Lois frowned and dialed Sawyer.
"Where the hell have you been? I've been trying to call you," Maggie answered her call with.
It startled Lois. "What's the matter?" she asked. "Who died?"
"That's not the issue," Maggie replied, talking fast but quietly. "I'm going out of town on an early flight, right around 1 PM in fact, and we need to meet early today."
"Okaaay," Lois replied. "Is meeting early that urgent or can we, I don't know, discuss it over the phone or meet tomorrow or Saturday instead?"
"I don't want to talk over the phone," Maggie said, conspiratorially. "Why? Do you have a conflict?"
"No," Lois replied. "If you want, I'll meet you now somewhere. I got an early start today," she added, "I just have to let Perry know."
"That would be better. How about we say about ninety minutes or so from now, sometime between nine and nine-thirty? I have to finish up something and grab a few things from here and stop by the house before then. I'll text you when I'm on my way. The donut shop you like, okay?" Before Lois could answer, Maggie added, "And keep your goddamn phone turned on."
"Okay, Mags," Lois replied, knowing Maggie Sawyer hated being called that name.
"You shit!" Maggie replied and hung up.
Lois laughed, got up, poured herself a cup of coffee and went to Perry White's office. "Good morning, Chief," she said as she walked through the door.
"Lois?" Perry replied with a confused look. "Was there a time change last night that I'm not aware of? Aren't you here a little earlier than normal?"
"Early bird gets the worm, Chief."
"Yeah, that's why I get here early." He gave her a skeptical look. "All the worms are usually long gone before you get here. What happened, you couldn't sleep?"
She hated that he knew her so well. "Anyway," she began, sidestepping the question, "I had a call from Detective Sawyer at MPD. It's our Thursday meeting day but she has something hot that came up and wants to meet early. I'm probably going to miss the morning meeting and wanted to see if you had anything for me?" She then added, "If that's okay with you, Chief?"
Perry looked at the assignments on his desk and picked one up and handed it to her. "You can take this one," he said. "Go. Let me know what comes of your meeting." She nodded and started to leave but Perry stopped her. "Hey!"
Lois abruptly about-faced. "Yes?"
"Anything new with that Angel of Mercy character?"
She grimaced. "Not so much, Perry. I don't know if it's due to crimes being down or he's not around anymore but it's been dead quiet."
"Well maybe that would be something you should ask Detective Sawyer about this morning."
"You got it, Chief," Lois said and stood in place, watching Perry.
He looked up. "Well, what are you standing around for? Go. Get outta here," he barked, waving his hand.
She turned, scurried out and Perry cracked a smile.
At 9:00 AM, Clark Kent arrived outside the Human Resource office on the fifth floor of the Daily Planet building. He walked through the door and was immediately met by a receptionist. She called the HR director who came out from a hallway shortly afterwards and told Clark that he was not expected until the next day.
"I have a day of annual vacation I was required to take from the Daily Star and since yesterday was a holiday, I thought I'd come today. If that's a problem, I can leave and come back tomorrow," he offered.
"No, we can 'on-board' you this morning. It just may take a little longer than normal. Please, have a seat, Mr. Kent, and we'll be with you momentarily."
As Clark was filling out paperwork five floors above, Lois received a text from Maggie that said she would meet her in twenty minutes. Lois replied to the text, locked her computer and turned off the monitor. She grabbed her valise and headed for the exit.
Arriving before Maggie, Lois took her time looking at the variety of donuts they had. She usually just ordered the maple frosted cake donuts but having the luxury of time, she perused the selection. "Lots of goodies in here," she commented. After a couple minutes of looking, she moved to the register. "I'd like a large cup of coffee, black, and two maple frosted cake donuts, please."
"Miss Lane, I think you singlehandedly kept the maple donuts on the menu. They don't sell as quickly as others but since you're such a loyal customer, I make sure we keep making them."
Lois smiled. "Then give me one more, Steve."
Maggie arrived and Lois had selected a table as far away from the counter as possible. She watched as the detective sped through the order and paid.
She sat, took a bite of her donut, and smiled. "A little taste of heaven," she said and followed it with a swig of coffee.
"I didn't think you'd even have time to eat, given how urgent you sounded," Lois said.
"Don't be bitchy," Sawyer replied. "You're the one who let her phone die." She took another sip of coffee and took another bite of her donut. "Ummm. These are so good." She looked at Lois who was staring at her. "Stereotypical, right; cops, donuts?"
"Probably so," she replied. "So, again, the urgency?"
"Okay. I would have told you this last night, but you were, um, 'unavailable'. We got notified by the Pittsburgh Police Department of a possible DNA match in the murder of Alvin Mickler."
Lois's eyes grew wide. "Alvin Mickler? I didn't even know you had DNA evidence in that case."
"Well, we do. They found a trace amount on the duct tape. Apparently, the murderer had ripped a section with his teeth and the DNA transfer occurred there." She took another bite of donut. "Those forensic guys and gals are just incredible, you know?"
"I'll say!"
She washed the donut down and continued. "Anyway, they picked this guy up in Pittsburgh on a felony conspiracy warrant. Apparently, the guy was caught up in a sting operation out of Kansas City. He responded to an ad for a hitman on a dark web board. I'm worried that it's something that he could bond out from today and disappear unless we get a retainer on him. So, I'm flying there in about two hours to do it in person. I'll talk to the judge and let him or her know about the case we have here in Metropolis and see about extraditing him to Metropolis before he rules on a bond for this dirtbag. I'll need to have the Metropolis DA talk to the agency in Kansas City that has the warrant on him too."
"What's his name? Does he have anything previous on him?"
"The name is Jerome Flint, spelled like the stone, flint." She told Lois that Flint had no criminal offenses on his record, only a few traffic-related moving violations. "That's not all that unusual though, nowadays. A lot of the mobs are turning to first timers for hits because their big hitters are too well-known to authorities."
"So why the secrecy?" Lois wondered.
"That's touchy. The brass were fine with closing the Mickler case, making it an inactive unsolved investigation pending new information. Reopening it has hit some headwinds, so to speak. There are some who are high on the food chain that want this case to just go away and never come back for whatever reason. Maybe because LexCorp is tangentially involved and there's obviously good reason to tread lightly there. But unless it was the Police Director's son who offed Mickler, I don't understand the reluctance to see it to a conclusion."
Lois frowned. "Are they obstructing?"
Maggie grimaced. "Not really. They're pushing unreasonably hard to close it. It's tough to substantiate a claim of obstruction when their response would be they were simply motivating slow-moving employees. Get it?"
She rolled her eyes and nodded. "Only too well," Lois replied.
Maggie went on to speak a little about the dark web sting operation that had been run out of Kansas City to try to wither down an organized crime syndicate operating out of there. She did not know very much and would find out after she finished in Pittsburgh.
Lois frowned. "So, they got DNA results on the guy that fast?"
"I'm not sure how they got DNA results to match ours so quickly, but I'll find all that out once I get out there. I just thought this might be something you're interested in since you were so involved in the Hob's River warehouse burglary case connected to the Mickler murder."
"I am. I would like to know definitively if Lori Lemaris was connected to the thing at all. I never thought she was, but that jackass Corben thought she was or at least knew something about it." Lois went silent.
"Okay, I'll keep you in the loop on this," Maggie said. "It's a pretty interesting case, I think. Funny how it went from being a flaky burglary report that I suspected was a rookie insurance fraud attempt to a case like this." She looked at her watch. "Anyway, I have to shove off. I have to jump through hoops to get on flights anymore, being armed and all. It's time-consuming getting through security and everything. Thanks for meeting me on such short notice."
"Let me know when you get back," Lois said. "Have a safe trip, Maggie."
It was nearly 11:30 when Lois returned to her desk at the Daily Planet. She put her valise down and went to the elevators to brief Perry on what she found out.
She got off the elevator and heard Perry talking to Ron Troupe. She stood near the doorway in his line of sight. "Lois!" he called out. "Come in here. We were just talking about you."
"Of course you were, Chief," she said, smirking. "I'm sure it was all positive."
"Lois, I think you know Clark Kent, right?"
She frowned. "Yes, I know him."
"Good! Clark is going to be working at the Planet in a freelance capacity until I have a staff position available, which will be January 1st. I asked Ron to show him the ropes here and get him acclimated to the way we do business."
"Good," Lois replied. "Ron will do a great job. Look at me!"
"Yeah, about that," Perry replied. "Ron has some family emergency matters he has going on and he's not going to be able to break Clark in. I'd like you to do that."
"You're kidding," Lois said. "Perry, I don't have the best of luck with new employees and certainly not with rookie reporters. Isn't there someone else who can do this?"
"Only one other," Perry said. "So, you think I should assign him to Cat?"
Lois closed her eyes, sighed, looked at the ceiling, and then back at Perry. "When is he starting?"
"After lunch."
"What?" Lois shrieked. "Today? Oh, come on, Chief," she groaned.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Perry frowned and barked. "We're all one big team here. Clark Kent is the newest member of it. Now let's start acting like it, shall we? I need you to start acting like a team player and help get him up to speed with the way we do business here at the Planet. You got it?"
"Yes, Chief," Lois said sullenly.
"Oh," Perry said, "speak of the devil. Come in, Clark." Clark walked through the door.
Ron Troupe stood and turned around while Lois stood in place, facing Perry. "Have you met Ron Troupe, Clark?"
"Briefly at the Metropolis Journalist Guild award ceremony in September," Clark replied. He stepped forward and shook hands with Troupe. "A pleasure to see you again, Ron."
"And I understand that you and Lois are already acquainted?" Perry asked.
"Yes, Sir," he replied. "We're friends."
Still facing her editor, Lois grimaced. "Well, 'friends' is kind of a strong word to characterize our relationship," she corrected, without looking at Clark. "I'd say 'colleagues' is probably closer to the truth. In fact, if there was such a thing as distant colleagues, that would be even more accurate."
"Well now you'll be desk mates," Perry decreed. "He's got the vacant desk facing yours, Lois."
White suppressed a laugh at the expression on Lois's face. "Chief, is it customary to assign freelancers a desk here? Isn't the point of freelancing not to be assigned to a fixed location?" She looked back at Clark for the first time. "No offense, Kent."
"Of course not, Lois. None taken."
"He's in a freelance status until January 1st. After that, he'll be hired on as a staff reporter. He either gets it now or in 45 days. What difference does it make?" He looked at Clark. "Lois will be showing you the ropes around here, Clark. Every paper functions differently and while you are used to the Daily Star's routine, we have a different one here."
"That's fine, Mr. White," Clark said. "I look forward to being here and being a part of the Daily Planet team."
"See there! That's exactly what I mean. Teamwork!" he roared. "Welcome aboard, Clark. Lois," he said, "take Clark down to the bullpen and help him get situated, please."
"Of course, Chief," Lois replied flatly.
"Nice meeting you, Clark," Ron said, patted him on the shoulder, "we'll see you around," he added, and left.
Lois did an about face, headed for the lobby and said, "Let's go, Smallville," and led Clark out the door to the elevators.
Perry sat down behind his desk, watched them walk out, shook his head and chuckled.
"This is your desk," Lois said, pointing to the desk that was abutted against her desk. "You'll be issued a laptop, a cell phone, a docking station for your laptop, and a Daily Planet press pass. Perry will assign you stories…oh, once you're part of the staff that is. Until then, I guess you find your own assignments."
"The bathrooms are over there," she said, and began pointing. "The elevators are over there - we just came down in one - the stairs there lead to the lobby, which is also the ground floor, the garage is accessed from the lobby or from the street with your Daily Planet ID badge, the supply room is over there - take only what you need, and Mr. White has an assignment meeting Monday, Wednesday, and Friday each week at 8:30 AM sharp. For freelance reporters, Tuesdays and Thursdays at the same time, 8:30 AM sharp. Don't be late to the Chief's meetings."
She plopped into her chair. "I see you at least took my advice, that's a good start," Lois uttered. "You might do enough to remain employed here if you do that consistently."
He cocked his head. "What advice is that?"
"The glasses. Those are better. They aren't what I would have suggested but getting rid of those rape prevention goggles do wonders for you."
Clark smirked. "So, you're saying I look better to you now?"
Lois leaned to her side and peered at him from around her monitor. "Cool your jets, Farm Boy. Rule number one in journalism, know your sources and don't act on unsupported theories.
"First of all, this isn't a Hallmark movie where you start out as thorny competitors and end up making out in front of everyone as the picture fades to black.
"Secondly, we're co-workers now, not colleagues from competing newspapers. I don't comment on your looks, and you don't look period. Got it?"
"Oh my God!" a husky female voice called out. "Is that who I think it is?"
Clark turned in his chair and stood. "Miss Grant," he said. "Nice to see you again."
She quickly walked over to greet him. "What are you doing here, Clark? I know you're not visiting Lois because no man in his right mind would want to do that." She looked down at Lois and smirked. "And it's 'Cat'."
"Perry just poached him from the Daily Star," Lois said, annoyed that Cat had suddenly captured Clark's attention. "I'm orienting him to the Daily Planet routine for a while."
"Well, it's about time! New blood and it's beefcake, no less! We needed someone new that isn't psychotic or beat down and weathered." She patted Clark on the shoulder. "Of course, if you hang around with Lois for very long, you're bound to end up one or the other, if not both." She grinned and Clark tried to suppress a chuckle, but Lois shot him a stern glance. "Hey, it is lunchtime, Clark. Do you have plans? I'd love to show you my favorite spots. You can look at it as a 'lunch and learn' opportunity."
"He probably would prefer to eat than learn about the firmness rating of your mattress, Cat."
"I'll take a rain check, Cat," Clark replied. "I brought my lunch today."
She smiled. "I'll hold you to that, Clark," she turned. "See you later, big guy," she said and began to leave. "See you later, Lois!"
Lois groaned. "Before you go, I haven't gotten the chance to give Gangbuster your number like you asked, yet. I just wanted you to know," Lois added, smirking.
Cat smiled. "Thanks Lois." She looked at Clark and then back at Lois. "There's no rush, now." She winked, turned and headed to the elevators. "Later!" she called.
"Bye," he replied, and sat down in his chair. "She sure is nice," Clark said, looking at Lois through the monitors, knowing that his comments were pushing her buttons. "I like that she's so friendly and welcoming, too. It was nice of her to offer to show me good places to eat around here."
She leaned around her monitor again. "Seriously?"
"What?" Clark asked with a confused look.
"You've got 'Princess McGorgeousface' hanging around with you and now you're going all weak in the knees over Cat Grant?" She leaned back over behind her monitor. "Let me let you in on a little fact, Kent. She lands more guys in her bed in a week than land at the Metropolis International Airport."
"Princess who?" Clark asked, suppressing a laugh.
"Oh please! You may be dumb as a bale of hay, Farmer John, but I know you know who I'm talking about. I saw your picture with her in the Sunday paper. And if I'm being entirely honest, you looked pretty bored there…Zorro!"
He chuckled. "Really? Well, I had the best time I've had since I got to Metropolis that night."
"Even though they didn't have a hayride?" she quipped.
"Did Lana look bored too?" he asked, smirking without her seeing it. Lois mumbled something unintelligible. "I'm sorry, what was that?" he replied.
Lois exhaled loudly to accentuate her annoyance. "I said you did. I don't really remember how Lana looked."
"Oh." He paused and waited. "So, what about you, Lois?
"What about me?" Oh God, don't say it.
"Did you do anything for Halloween?" Clark asked.
Lois sighed. Damn you, Perry!
Friday, November 13, 2020
Clark's phone chirped as he received a text message. He looked at the screen and read, Pete. He opened the text that read, "Coming to Metropolis next week for couple days. Want to see you and Lana. Availability?"
Clark dialed the number and Pete picked right up. "Pete!" Clark said. "It's been a while since I've heard from you. How are you doing?"
"Really good, Clark. How are things going for you?"
"Good," he said. "I just started a new job today; I got laid off from my last one, but they had an opening for me at the Daily Planet."
"The big leagues!" Pete exclaimed. "That's great."
"So, what's the occasion and when do you get here?"
"I arrive Tuesday. I'm coming in with Senator Ferrell. I'm his legislative assistant and he wanted to make a trip to Metropolis and asked me to come along." He paused and in a quieter voice said, "It's probably a bit of a boondoggle. His daughter goes to college at Met U and she'll probably fly back with us." He chuffed. "Politicians, you know?"
"I'll get everything set up. Text me when get in and what your schedule is like, okay?"
"Absolutely, Clark. Take care. I'm looking forward to seeing you, buddy!"
"Same here, Pete. Talk to you soon. Bye," Clark said and disconnected.
Pete, Clark thought. He's got a lot of catching up to do! This will be interesting.