Here is the revised version of *Chapter 10* with some wordsmithing and a smoother flow:
Chapter 10: The Party (continued)*
Lois arrived at the Queen penthouse, dressed in a stunning dark blue gown that hugged her figure perfectly. Her hair fell in soft waves down her back, and she looked effortlessly elegant. The penthouse was more intimate than she had expected. With Ollie being a billionaire, Lois had assumed "intimate" meant at least a hundred people, but instead, the setting was much smaller and cozier than she had imagined.
The space was beautifully decorated with dim lighting, creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere—not too bright, not too dark. Tall tables were scattered throughout the room, along with comfortable couches. Outside, tables and loungers with heaters dotted the terrace. Lois noticed a few very dark corners—perfect for slipping away unnoticed. The whole event felt personal and close-knit.
She made her way over to Oliver and Chloe, greeting them with a warm smile. "Congrats, you two," she said, giving them each a hug. "So, where are the rest of the guests?" she teased, expecting more people to arrive.
"We decided to keep it to family and 'special friends' only," Oliver replied with a wink, emphasizing "special friends."
Lois, well aware of the superhero world, caught the meaning behind Oliver's words. He had revealed his Green Arrow identity when they dated, and he had introduced Lucy to Victor, who was Cyborg. He'd even stood as best man at their wedding. Now, though, Lois couldn't help but wonder what kind of "special friend" Clark might be.
As they chatted, Chloe's excitement about the wedding plans took over. She grabbed Lois's hand and, with her typical burst of enthusiasm, dragged her over to a cozy nook where she had set up some wedding details on her tablet.
"You have to see what I've picked out so far!" Chloe exclaimed. "And I *need* you to weigh in on the maid of honor dress. I want it to be perfect!"
Lois gave a half-teasing grin. "No pressure, huh? Let's see what you've got."
Chloe quickly flipped through some pictures, showing off flower arrangements, venue setups, and, of course, the dresses. "I'm thinking something elegant but not too flashy," she said. "Something that complements the whole vibe. And, oh, I also need to introduce you to the best man." Chloe's grin widened mischievously. "You might even remember him... from Smallville?"
Lois's heart did a tiny flip, but she kept her cool. "Best man, huh? Should I be concerned?"
Before Chloe could answer, Lucy appeared, her energy as bubbly as ever. "Chloe! Lois! Look at you two, wedding planners in action." She hugged Chloe warmly before turning to Lois, her grin widening. "I have *so* many questions about your hot mystery man from the other night—"
Lois quickly cut her off, waving her hand frantically. "Oh, uh, the wedding! Right, Chloe, tell us more about the flowers," Lois interrupted, her voice louder than necessary.
Chloe raised an eyebrow, her curiosity instantly piqued. "Wait, wait, hold on—*hot mystery man*?" she echoed, her attention completely diverted from the wedding details. "Lois, what's this about?"
Lois shot Lucy a quick glare, but Lucy just shrugged, grinning. "Oh, you know, nothing too serious. Just a certain someone Lois met recently. Very charming. Very *hot*."
Chloe's eyes lit up with curiosity, her playful nature immediately drawn to the idea. "Oh, really? Lois, spill!"
Lois laughed nervously, racking her brain for a way to steer the conversation back to wedding planning. "There's really not much to say, Chloe," she said quickly, waving it off. "Just someone I met while I was covering a story. But speaking of *hot, I need to see these bridesmaid dresses—come on, show me!"
Chloe, momentarily distracted, smiled as she swiped back to her dress options on the tablet. "Alright, alright, you can dodge the question for now. But I'm coming back to this later."
Lois exhaled, relieved to have bought herself some time. "These dresses are gorgeous, Chloe," she said, focusing her attention on the screen. "I'm loving the elegant look. If I get to pick mine, I think I'd go with either 3 or 5."
"Right?" Chloe beamed, scrolling through the different options. "I want something that looks beautiful but still allows you to move. You know, just in case there's any dancing or hero-related emergencies."
Lois smirked. "Practical *and* elegant. I like it."
Lucy, still amused by the earlier exchange, leaned closer to Lois and whispered, "Nicely dodged, but you know Chloe's not going to let this go."
"I know," Lois whispered back, her voice resigned. "But I'll handle it."
Chloe, still engrossed in wedding talk, hadn't noticed their quiet exchange. She flipped to another section on her tablet. "And for the reception, it's really hard not to go with green." Chloe proudly displayed the detailed decorations, highlighting a beautiful deep green—Green Arrow's signature color.
Lois and Lucy exchanged a knowing look, then turned to Chloe and said in unison, "Perfect!"
Just then, Oliver approached, wrapping an arm around Chloe's waist. "Chloe, honey, Lana just arrived." He turned to Lois and Lucy, smiling warmly. "Excuse us," he said as he guided Chloe toward the entrance.
As they walked away, Lucy turned to Lois, her voice amused. "So... *Clark, huh?"
Lois groaned softly. "Yeah... *Clark*."
"Smallville Clark?" Lucy whispered again, suppressing a laugh. "Wow. And here I thought he was just a hot stranger."
"He was supposed to be," Lois muttered through a tight smile. Her eyes shifted as Chloe returned, walking toward them with Lana.
Lucy nudged Lois, her expression playful but understanding. "You're going to have to explain this to me in full later."
"I will, I will," Lois promised, knowing she couldn't keep Lucy out of the loop for long. "But for now, please... just play along. No one knows and we want to keep it that way."
Lucy gave a small, satisfied nod. "Oh, don't worry, sis. Your secret's safe with me... for now," she added with a wink.
Chloe glanced over, catching the tail end of their whispered conversation. "What are you two whispering about?" she asked, narrowing her eyes playfully.
"Nothing!" Lois and Lucy chimed in unison.
"Lois, Lucy, this is my old friend Lana Lang," Chloe introduced her cousins to Lana.
"Hi. Lois, right? I think I remember you from Smallville," Lana said, her voice friendly but with a hint of amusement. "I had just gotten back from Paris, and I was so sure you and Clark were dating back then."
Chloe laughed, a little too hard, adding to the awkwardness of the moment. Lois forced a smile. Back then, she would have laughed off the idea of smooching with the farmboy. Now, though, Lois could only hope Chloe would be happy for her if things with Clark progressed.
To defuse the tension, Lois quickly asked Lana about her work. Lana explained how she had spun off from the Luthor Foundation and was now working with Queen Industries to bring clean water to underserved communities in Africa. Lois was genuinely impressed, admiring Lana's dedication to social causes.
Of course, in typical Chloe fashion, she shifted the conversation back to romance. "Lana, what about you? Any love interests these days?"
Lois, without realizing it, held her breath. Lana smiled mysteriously. "It's hard to find someone after the love of your life slips through your fingers," she said wistfully, just as Clark approached the group.
He greeted everyone, locking eyes with Lois. Only Lucy noticed. Lana turned to Clark and gave him a tight hug, which seemed to last a second too long for Lois's liking. Instinctively, Lucy placed a protective hand on Lois's elbow. Lois glanced at her gratefully, and when Victor caught Lucy's eye from across the room, she seized the moment.
"Excuse us. Hubby calls," Lucy said quickly, pulling Lois with her.
Clark looked back at them, confused as to whether they had left because of him. Chloe, sensing there might be some lingering tension between Lana and Clark, made an excuse and walked away with Oliver, leaving Clark and Lana to talk.
Lois, now with Victor, chatted with him about the vacation plans he and Lucy had been making. But from across the room, Clark's gaze kept drifting back to Lois. He started to realize that she knew everyone in this room. Which means she probably knew about their abilities too. The weight of his secret loomed larger. If dealing with Lana's presence wasn't enough, he now had to face the fact that he hadn't shared his full truth with Lois.
Clark grew visibly uncomfortable, struggling not to keep glancing in Lois's direction. She caught his glance, offering him a reassuring smile, but she could tell something was wrong. Sensing his discomfort, Lois found a way to slip away to the terrace, where she found Clark standing alone, his tension palpable.
"Hey, what's going on?" Lois asked softly, touching his arm with concern.
Clark took a deep breath but struggled to speak. His breathing became shallow, and Lois realized he was on the verge of hyperventilating. "
Sit down," she urged gently, guiding him to lean against the wall. She moved into his embrace and helped set the rhythm of his breathing. "Deep breaths, Clark. In and out."
After a few moments, he started to calm down. Lois leaned in and gave him a soft, reassuring kiss. He kissed her back, and when they pulled away, he kept his eyes closed for a moment longer, letting the calmness wash over him. He rested his forehead against her right shoulder as he loosely held her waist.
"You were right," Clark said quietly, a small laugh escaping him. "Tonight is full of social awkwardness."
Lois chuckled softly, gently moving his head so she could brush a lock of hair away from his forehead and look into his eyes. "It's not the easiest crowd to navigate."
Clark looked at her, his expression more serious. "There's more I need to tell you, Lois. I know you know everyone here is... special."
Lois smiled softly, her fingers gently fixing his hair. "We're moving at the speed of light, you and I, aren't we? You'll tell me when you're ready, ok? No rush."
Clark slowly nodded and a small smile appeared on his lips. "You are incredible, Lois Lane."
She stood up and extended her hand to him, giving him a playful wink. "Come on, the toast is about to start."
She started to pull him, but Clark didn't move just yet. "Lana was my first love," he blurted out, his voice thick with emotion. "But there's nothing between us now."
Lois closed the distance between them, still holding his hand. "Thank you for telling me," she said gently. "But can this wait? There's already so much happening tonight." She exhaled, her shoulders sagging slightly under the weight of everything.
Clark nodded. "Yeah... it can wait." He leaned in and stole a quick kiss, a small reassurance that everything was okay between them.
They let go of each other and walked back inside, side by side, ready to face the rest of the night together.