scifichick774
19th April 2003, 23:56
Title: "My Valentine"-1/3
Author: PMD and Scifichick774
e-mail: mary.davidson@sympatico.ca and scifichick774@yahoo.com
Rating: PG-13 (for situations and language)
Category: Friendship, Chlex, angst, humor, Valentine's Fic, Futurefic, Lex's and Chloe's POV, AU
Spoilers: Various slight mentions.
Summary: All he needs is her and all she needs is him, they're both just too stubborn to admit it.
Disclaimer: To whomever owns Smallville and the characters, we're just borrowing, will give them back, not making any money with their use in this story, so don't sue us. To whomever owns the lyrics to My Valentine, Set The Night To Music, Love of My Life and Jim Brickman, we're just borrowing, will give them back, not making any money with their use in the story or as the title of the story, so don't sue us.
Archive: At BtS, SPP, TBT, SFF, Intrepid, Wwomb, Verbal Judo, FF.net, Naughty-Seduction, Malu's site and my page on Wendy's site. If anybody else wants it, all they have to do is ask us.
Feedback: Yes we would love feedback.
Author Notes: First off, we would both like to thank David for giving this the once over. Thanks, dude. It's much appreciated. Beyond that:
PMD: I had so much fun writing this piece with Kris. She really brought my writing up a notch, as I knew it would. A friend told me once that collaborating with somebody gets you writing so much better. And I have to agree---through Jay, Piper, Rebel and now Kris, I find that I can do other things I never thought I could do---I've even written a murder mystery. And I never would have taken the chance, without doing collaborations. And without Kris, throwing those curve balls and surprising the heck out of me. In particular, doing this piece in PG-13. Believe me, we could have very well gone the other way. Trust me---while you read this---you'll see what I mean. So, Kris, from one Chlex writer to another, oh man, did I have fun. And I am so looking forward to our next collaboration. You brought me up a notch and I thank you for that.
Kris: I think Peggy covered just about everything I had to say, but I had loads of fun working on this with her. This fic is definitely sappier than I'm used to writing, but that's a good thing in this case. She's an amazing writer to work with and I think that you'll really get a kick out of what we came up with.
"My Valentine" - by PMD and Kris - 1/3
Lex's POV
"Hey Lex."
I look up from the paperwork on my desk. "Mr. Sullivan?"
"Ah---Lex--hmmmmm---I don't know how to say this."
"Say what?" I ask, a little harried.
"The workers and I are worried about you."
"Worried about me? Why?"
I watch him close the door and walk over to sit on the chair in front of my desk.
"Why are we worried about you? Because you're our friend and benefactor, that's why."
"Friend?"
"Yes, friend."
"Why are you worried about me? I'm okay."
"No you're not, Lex. You're exhausted and irritable. Your secretary didn't get a file to you fast enough today, and you almost bit her head off. You've been working 16 hour days and it's got to stop."
"Excuse me?" I ask, angry.
"Now you're about to turn on me---just for caring about you. Lex, listen to me. I know you've been brought up to work and never have a vacation but you need one---badly. If not for your sanity, then for ours."
I let out a sigh. He's right; I do need to cut back---but a vacation? I look into his eyes and see something my fathers never showed---he really does care about me---it's not an act.
"I guess you're right. I do need to cut back but---a vacation?"
"Yes---you need to get away from it all---the castle, Smallville, everything that will lead you back to work."
"But I haven't taken a vacation in years. Where would I go?"
"Doesn't your family own a villa or a cabin at a ski lodge?"
"Yes we do at Whispering Winds."
"Well, there you go. Take a week and go up to do some skiing. Or maybe bunny chasing," he says, with a wink.
"Gabe!"
"What? I may be older than you but I remember what it was like to be young."
"You mean the days when they used to have ice boxes," I say with a smile on my face.
"Chloe's right," he replies.
I'm startled by this comment and then catch myself. "About what?"
"You really can verbal judo with anybody."
"Tell her thanks. And tell her---I miss doing it with her the most. By the way, how is your intrepid daughter doing?"
"Working like a dog at the Ledger. I swear she's the female version of you."
"Maybe you should give her a vacation for Christmas, Gabe."
"Maybe I should---but would I have to hog tie her to get her there."
"Nope---just bet her and make sure you win the bet. She never welches on those."
"You may have something there. So, you are going to go, right? I don't have to hog tie you too?"
"No, I'll go. And tell the staff, I'm sorry I've been such a bear."
He gets up and leans over. "A bear we can handle. You, on the other hand, were starting to turn into your father."
I smile at him. "Yeah, me neither. Thanks for caring enough about me to bring this to my attention, Gabe. Now---back to work."
"Yes sir," he says, just before he opens the door and walks out.
Two Months Later
I find myself humming to the music on my car radio. I'm on vacation--I can't believe it. And it's going to be fun---keep telling yourself that, Luthor, and you might even start believing it.
I think back to the comment Gabe made about going up there and having fun, with a young lady. Just walk up to one and ask her for a date. This isn't hard to do. I used to do that in my sleep, but for some reason, when I close my eyes and think about doing it, I see her. Chloe is standing there and I'm asking her out. Why? Oh you know the answer to that, Luthor. Face it---you don't want to go out with any snow bunny---you want to go out with her---with the snarkiest, sassiest, sexiest reporter on the Ledger. And you know why. It's because, somewhere down the years of knowing her and counting on her help, you fell for her, hard and fast. And how do you know this---you are too scared to ask her out because she might turn you down. And that would kill you. God, I wish that I had the ability to read her mind---it would make things easier.
I pull into parking lot and get out, breathing in the clear air up there. I smile---I missed this place. The last time I was up here was with my mother. She used to sit by the fire, watching me drink cocoa. While I was outside, she would watch through the window, and I would smile at her and throw a snowball at it. I miss her so much.
I walk up to the entrance to the lodge and open the door. I'm accosted by red and white streamers and the smell of cinnamon. Oh dear lord, I forgot this week has a holiday in it---Valentines Day. The one time one is truly the loneliest number. I let out a sigh, watching a couple walk by.
I walk towards the front desk, my nose picking up the scent of vanilla and cinnamon. God, that reminds me of Chloe's scent. I let out another sigh.
"What the hell do you mean you lost my reservation? How could you lose it? I got here on time. What is it because I'm alone and you needed it for a couple? What?"
I walk up to the woman ranting and raving. I touch her arm and she turns around.
She's about to verbally accost me when she sees who I am. "Lex?"
"Chloe?"
"What the hell are you doing here?" we both say.
~*~*~*~*~
Chloe's POV
'This isn't happening, this isn't happening,' Chloe recites to herself. For once my dad actually gives me a present I can use for Christmas, a nice ski package for a whole week at Whispering Winds Resort, and they lose my reservation! Argh! To make things substantially worse, Lex Luthor is standing in front of me with luggage and ski equipment, which certainly makes it look like he intends to stay. I bet they haven't lost his reservation.
"My dad got me this trip as a Christmas present," I say, snapping out of my astonishment that Lex is here too. He groans. Why is he groaning?
"I forgot about that," Lex mumbles. I can feel my eyebrow shooting up as we speak and I see him smirk. Why does he have to do that? It's incredibly sexy. Okay Sullivan, not thinking those kinds of thoughts about Lex. But he knows it sets me off guard --- or maybe he doesn't. Geez, I hope I'm not blushing.
"But if you must know, I needed to get away from Smallville for a while. The atmosphere there was getting---" I hear him pause as he searches for the right word.
"Stifling?" I suggest.
I see his smirk turn into a small smile and I can't help but return it. Oh no. I will not do this. I will not let him see that I care about him as something other than a friend. He goes through society bimbos like a fish goes through water; and there's no way that I will put myself in a position to get hurt like that. Not that I would ever be in that position anyway, because he doesn't like me as anything more than a friend, but that's not the point.
"Chloe?" He's waving his hand in front of my face. Great. I must have zoned out.
"I'm here," I say. The clerk behind the counter is looking at us with some amusement and I scowl at him. "Have you found my reservation yet?" He's grimacing. Good. Right now I don't care if it's because he's intimidated by Lex's presence or not.
"I'm sorry, Ma'am," the young man says. "But it must have gotten pushed aside because of the Valentine's Day rush. We would be more than happy to extend your vacation package to a different time and reimburse you for your travel expenses here."
My hands are clenching into fists, and it's all I can do not to punch this guy.
The only thing stopping me is the fact that Lex would tease me about it endlessly for the next few years. I feel a hand on my shoulder and I look around, as if I don't already know who it is. A nice, not so subtle gesture telling me to calm down is what he's giving me. Well screw him! He has a place to stay, not to mention someone who's probably staying with him, and I'm stuck in this *winter wonderland* by myself with no hotel room. "What?!" I ask him. Okay, that came out kind of bitter. So why is he smirking at me again? He turns to face the incompetent clerk.
"She'll be staying with me," Lex says.
Oh, my mouth just dropped open. That can't be good.
"I most certainly will not!" I answer. God! The nerve of him! Lex is leaning down to speak into my ear, and I'm immediately thankful for the cold weather that I can blame my goose bumps on.
"Don't be so stubborn," he says. I can feel his warm breath cooing against my ear and barely resist the urge to close my eyes. "You're my friend, Chloe." He's pulling back a little now to look at me. "You're also my plant manager's daughter, and he'll give me hell if I don't let you stay with me under the circumstances." I'm about to speak when he smirks again. "Don't worry. My cabin has two bedrooms, if that's what you were worried about, and I'll be a perfect gentleman."
I'm staring at him. I shouldn't be, but I am. He's being nice for no other discernable reason than to be nice. I let out a sigh and shake my head.
"No, that's okay, Lex," I hear myself saying. "I don't want to interrupt your Valentine's plans. I'll just reschedule."
Okay, so I'm conceding defeat. There's a reason for it though. It would be hell to stay at this place and risk bumping into Lex and his fling of the moment at any given time. Lex, I can handle. We've been doing our verbal judo for years and everything's fine on that front. Lex with a girlfriend, if you could even call her that, is substantially different. I would end up sounding more like a jealous and resentful ex-girlfriend, which is essentially true except for the ex-girlfriend part. He's grinning at me again and I see him look at the clerk.
"Have her things brought to my place please," Lex says.
The man nods and hurriedly calls a couple of bellhops over.
"I thought I told you that I wasn't staying with you," I remind Lex.
"So you did," he says casually. He's smiling softly at me and I can feel my heart start to thump a little harder against my chest.
"So?" I ask expectantly.
"So," he repeats. "I forgot that Valentine's Day was this week. I only made my plans for this vacation to get away from Smallville, and I would rather not be alone in the midst of happy couples due to momentary stupidity on my part." The corners of my lips are turning upward.
"And you figure that helping me out and having a friend here is better than nothing at all?" I fill in for him with an understanding smile. He's smirking again. I wonder if he knows how sexy that is?
"Something like that."
~*~*~*~*~*~
Lex's POV
I watch her thinking, trying to figure out if she's going to be there as just a friend or maybe something more. Am I not hiding my feelings for her well enough or is it my reputation rearing it's ugly head again? It's been a few years since I've been that wild and reckless---can't people forget about the past. Well, not in Smallville since the past is part of their tradition---especially when it comes to 'Not So Daddy Dearest'. I let out a sigh and almost don't hear her answer.
"What did you say?" I ask, just in case I heard wrong.
"I said I accept!"
I smirk at her. "I knew you would!"
She blushes slightly and turns back to the clerk, who is smiling, probably happy to be able to keep his job. "What are you grinning about, laughing boy? I'm not finished with you yet. For losing my reservation, for---hey!" she says, as I pull her away. "I wasn't finished with him!"
"Yes you are!"
She pulls away from me. "Hey, who died and made you God, Luthor? I'm not finished with that weasel."
I lean into her ear and whisper, "Chloe, don't make more of a spectacle of yourself than you already have. The clerk knows he's on your naughty list already---let it go."
I back away, noticing a slight shiver coming from her. She gives me my classic smirk and nods. She turns back to the clerk. "All right, I'll let you off easy this time. But next time, the kid gloves come off, Buster. And I've got my eyes on you."
I have to turn around to hide my smile. That's my girl! Acquiesce but not before having the last word. I'm so glad she's on our side. I feel a tap on the shoulder and turn around.
"So, where's this cabin of yours, Luthor. It better be nice, or I'm going home."
I give her another smirk. "It's got running water. That's all that counts, right?"
"Yeah and maybe two bathrooms, instead of one," she verbal judos back. God, I missed this. I missed her.
"Well, you're in luck. We've got two bathrooms and a big bedroom too. But that's mine---you get the smaller one. But you should be used to it---you do come from Smallville."
"Funny, Luthor," she states.
"The truth, Sullivan," I retort.
She gives me an evil grin. "We'll see who gets the bigger bedroom. Now where's the cabin?"
"Outside." I notice two bellhops, in their ski jackets, waiting for us at the door, with our bags.
We walk out, the cold not as cold anymore for me. We walk along the path---snowflakes falling down. She looks up, opens her mouth, and a few alight on her tongue. She closes it and makes an hmmm sound, before turning to me and smiling. This is going to be an interesting week.
We arrive at the cabin and watch as one of the bellhops unlocks the door for us. He turns on the light and I hear her gasp. "Oh, Lex. This is so beautiful!"
~*~*~*~*~*~
Chloe's POV
Oh my God! I don't know what I was expecting when Lex said he had a cabin here, but this sure wasn't it. I was thinking an oversized place with some nice furnishings, and if I was really lucky, that I would get hot water too. But the sight in front of my eyes is completely different. It looks like the inside of an expensive hotel room.
The colors are various shades of rich browns and reds and---oh man! Who the hell has leather couches in a ski cabin? I suppose I should have expected as much, seeing as how he is Lex Luthor, but to tell the truth, I stopped thinking of him like that a long time ago. I'm not sure when that changed. When did I stop thinking of Lex as a billionaire who I could write about and start thinking about him in, um, other contexts?
"It's beautiful," I repeat, purposely turning my face away from his on the pretext of looking around the room, when in actuality it's to hide the blush I feel rising to my cheeks as I think of him.
"I'm so glad you approve," Lex says.
Hmm. It's hard to tell whether that's sarcasm or not.
"Would you like me to show you to your bedroom?"
I turn around and smile at him. "Depends," I say. "Which one is the big bedroom?"
He laughs. He has a nice laugh. No, no, no, Chloe. You can't think that way about him.
"The one that's mine," he replies.
I roll my eyes. "Fine," I say.
He looks surprised. "You're giving in that easily?" he asks. Ooh, damn him. I can't keep eye contact for more than a couple of minutes when he looks like that.
"Well," I start and glance around the spacious cabin once again, "This place is really amazing. I'm sure even the smaller bedroom is nice." I let out a small sigh and then look at him again. "Thanks for doing this, Lex." I can see the corner of his mouth start to twitch, and he smiles at me. Not a smirk, but a smile. That's nice too.
"Of course, Chloe," he says. He emphasizes my first name, which means that he's probably happy that I called him by his first name. I'm glad. You can only know someone so long before using his or her title gets tedious.
It looks like he wants to say something else as he takes a step closer to me, but he closes his mouth. Why is he looking at me like that? I must be imagining things. There's no way he would ever consider me as anything more than a friend, if he even considers me as that.
"Let me show you to your room." I follow him up the stairs and try not to let my surprise show, but it doesn't work.
"I thought the smaller bedroom would have been downstairs," I comment. He shakes his head slightly.
"Both bedrooms are upstairs," he says. Great. That won't make the situation any more uncomfortable. And yes, that's sarcasm.
We walk pass the first door and continue to the second, where he opens it for me. Wow.
"I---wow," is all I can get out. I'm a reporter, someone who works with words for a living, and I can't come up with anything better than 'wow' to describe the room. Way to go, Chloe.
I walk inside and take note of the decorative theme. It's rustic meets wealthy apparently, if there is indeed such a style. The room is about the size of the first floor of my house and I shake my head. He's obviously teasing me by showing me his room first. "So this is your room?" He smirks at me again.
"This is your room," he clarifies. I see him lean against the doorframe and can't help thinking about how good he looks. I turn around to face him completely.
"May I ask you a question?"
"Depends," he says. "A normal question, or an interview type question?" I can't help but chuckle.
"Just a normal one," I say. He gives me a curt nod and I take that as a sign to continue. "Why didn't you bring anyone with you? I mean, I know that you said you forgot it was Valentine's Day this week, but this type of vacation isn't really the sort of thing you spend alone." His face doesn't give away whatever emotion he's feeling.
"You came up here alone as well," he points out. "I could ask you the same question."
Oh. I can't have this conversation with him. Not yet anyway, and maybe not ever. I'd better lie. I walk over to the bed and sit down on the plush comforter. Ooh, this is going to be heaven to sleep on. I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear and grin at him.
"I'm not in a relationship right now," I say. There. It wasn't a lie. Good for me. He pushes himself off of the doorframe and starts to walk toward me.
"Neither am I," he retorts. I have an overwhelming urge to bring up the fact that in the past he has been known to have several women hanging all over him, despite the fact that he wasn't in a relationship with any of them, but I don't.
"Ah," is all I can say.
"Any prospects?" he asks. My eyes grow wide. Don't answer that.
"Not exactly," I answer. "There's someone I like, but he doesn't like me like that."
He nods in understanding. "Clark," he says. I smile at him and shake my head.
"Nope. Way over that," I say. He looks intrigued, but if he thinks he's going to get me to tell him, then he has another thing coming.
"Interesting," he says. "And who is the man currently receiving your attention?" I push myself off of the bed and walk over to the fireplace. It's gas and has a remote to switch it on, so I do. "Do I know him?" You could say that.
"Yes," I find myself answering. Crap. Why did I say that? Change the topic and quick. I turn to him and flash him a big smile. "So are you ready to hit the slopes?"
He's eyeing me suspiciously, but I think he's going to let it slide. Please, please, please. Lex is smirking at me. Again. And now I'm convinced that he knows what that does to me.
"Do you even know how to ski, Chloe?" he asks. I notice that I'm biting my bottom lip and quickly put a stop to it.
"Uh, well, no," I say. "But how hard can it be?" His smile turns into a smirk and he offers me his hand. "You're going to give me lessons?"
"Unless you'd prefer to be surrounded by loving couples who already know how to ski," he says. Ugh. My stomach just turned over. That's not an appealing thought at all. "Besides, if you're with me, it will look like neither one of us is alone for this vacation." I smile at that.
"So this is just some elaborate scam to make us not appear completely pathetic?" I ask. He chuckles and I nod. "I can do that."
"Good," he says with a grin. I walk by him into the hallway and he grabs my arm lightly. "Oh, and Chloe?" I turn my head to look at him. He smirks at me. Bad timing. We're so close to each other, it's all I can do not to grip his head with my hands and bring his mouth down to mine. "I expect full details on your crush when we get back."
~*~*~*~*~
Lex's POV
I can't believe I grabbed her arm, as she walked out into the hall. It was all I could do to not grip her head with my hands and bring my mouth down to hers. And it wasn't only the nearness to her that was causing this reaction. As I watch her walk away, I know, I want her in my life, and not only for a day, but for always. For the first time in my life, I want to marry for love.
God, is it this holiday having an affect on me? Has Cupid's arrow found it's way through the steel wall surrounding the heart of one Lex Luthor?
No, I know this is love, not a holiday illusion. I felt the jealousy as she mentioned she had a crush on somebody and he didn't know about it. I heaved a sigh of relief inside, when she mentioned it wasn't Clark. I never want to hurt that man ever. Besides, I would hate to tell her that I saw him with her cousin a few weeks ago and they looked pretty chummy. But who is my rival for her heart? I must find out so I can---what, destroy him? No, that was the old me. I must find out so I can convince her he's not right for her. That's the new Luthor way. Mom would be so proud of me, I think, as I walk into my smaller bedroom. What? So I lied---but it did make her happy. I must remember not to bring her in here, if I do get lucky enough to be with her, at night, sans clothes.
I walk over to the window and look outside. She's standing out there, in her jacket. I watch as she walks over to the bank of snow and sits down on it, smiling. What an idiot? But she seems to be having fun---maybe I should be an idiot for once in my life.
I walk downstairs, the bellhops still there. "Sir, shall we put your bags in the big bedroom?"
"No, put them in the smaller one. And put hers in the big one. Oh, here's something for your trouble," I say, giving them both a $100 tip. They smile at me.
"Thank you, sir," they answer, as they go to work. I take the keys off the table and walk outside.
"Didn't your father ever tell you that only gets you a cold butt," I yell at her.
"That's why they made fires, Luthor," she states. She gets up and goes over to the flat part of the land, flopping down once again.
"Now, what are you doing?"
"Making a snow angel. Want to make one too?" she asks me.
"Not on your life---this is pure virgin wool."
"The only virgin that's been near you for years, right?" she states, smiling.
"Funny, Sullivan."
"You think?"
I turn around and see what I need---ammunition. Now, we're going to have some fun.
"What are you doing?" I hear her ask.
"Nothing!" I state, as I lean down to pick something up.
I hear her get up and walk over. "Doesn't look like nothing."
"Well, you're right," I state, as I turn around and throw the snowball at her.
"What the---? I can't believe you did such a childish thing, Luthor!"
"Childish? You have the guts to call that childish when you were just making a snow angel?"
"Well, at least my snow fun didn't fly onto your person. Well, turn about is fair play. You're virgin coat is about to be pummeled by the expert snowball thrower from Smallville, Billionaire Boy."
"Only if you can throw at a moving target, Reporter Girl," I state, chuckling. I run for the door and throw it open, closing it just as the snowball hits the glass in the door. 'Missed me!' I mouth at her, as I lock the door.
'Not fair,' I see her mouth at me.
Life's not fair, Chloe, I think. But I'll make it up to you---I hope. I walk towards the stairs and watch as the bellhops walk down. "Do me a favor? Wait till I'm upstairs and than let the angry blonde in, okay?"
"Yes, sir," they say together.
"Thanks and here's an extra $50 for the both of you," I chuckle as I walk up the stairs, hearing the banging behind me.
I'm about to enter my bedroom when I hear, "Luthor, you are in so much trouble, Mister!"
I turn around and look down at her. "What for? Getting the upper hand, for once?"
She sputters and smiles an evil grin. "Well, I guess somebody won't be finding out who I have a crush on tonight."
Damn, I forgot about that. Better suck up to the girl.
"Chloe, if I take you out for a nice dinner---all the trimmings---might you rethink that?"
"I don't know---maybe, maybe not. It'll depend?"
"On what?"
"On how good the meal is and how convincingly you can apologize to me."
I let out a sigh. "All right. I'll pick you up at 8. And be prepared to bare your soul, Chloe." I walk into my bedroom, heaving another sigh. A Luthor doesn't apologize but to find out who my rival is and to win the hand of the fair maiden, I would walk a thousand miles and apologize till the cows come home.
Author: PMD and Scifichick774
e-mail: mary.davidson@sympatico.ca and scifichick774@yahoo.com
Rating: PG-13 (for situations and language)
Category: Friendship, Chlex, angst, humor, Valentine's Fic, Futurefic, Lex's and Chloe's POV, AU
Spoilers: Various slight mentions.
Summary: All he needs is her and all she needs is him, they're both just too stubborn to admit it.
Disclaimer: To whomever owns Smallville and the characters, we're just borrowing, will give them back, not making any money with their use in this story, so don't sue us. To whomever owns the lyrics to My Valentine, Set The Night To Music, Love of My Life and Jim Brickman, we're just borrowing, will give them back, not making any money with their use in the story or as the title of the story, so don't sue us.
Archive: At BtS, SPP, TBT, SFF, Intrepid, Wwomb, Verbal Judo, FF.net, Naughty-Seduction, Malu's site and my page on Wendy's site. If anybody else wants it, all they have to do is ask us.
Feedback: Yes we would love feedback.
Author Notes: First off, we would both like to thank David for giving this the once over. Thanks, dude. It's much appreciated. Beyond that:
PMD: I had so much fun writing this piece with Kris. She really brought my writing up a notch, as I knew it would. A friend told me once that collaborating with somebody gets you writing so much better. And I have to agree---through Jay, Piper, Rebel and now Kris, I find that I can do other things I never thought I could do---I've even written a murder mystery. And I never would have taken the chance, without doing collaborations. And without Kris, throwing those curve balls and surprising the heck out of me. In particular, doing this piece in PG-13. Believe me, we could have very well gone the other way. Trust me---while you read this---you'll see what I mean. So, Kris, from one Chlex writer to another, oh man, did I have fun. And I am so looking forward to our next collaboration. You brought me up a notch and I thank you for that.
Kris: I think Peggy covered just about everything I had to say, but I had loads of fun working on this with her. This fic is definitely sappier than I'm used to writing, but that's a good thing in this case. She's an amazing writer to work with and I think that you'll really get a kick out of what we came up with.
"My Valentine" - by PMD and Kris - 1/3
Lex's POV
"Hey Lex."
I look up from the paperwork on my desk. "Mr. Sullivan?"
"Ah---Lex--hmmmmm---I don't know how to say this."
"Say what?" I ask, a little harried.
"The workers and I are worried about you."
"Worried about me? Why?"
I watch him close the door and walk over to sit on the chair in front of my desk.
"Why are we worried about you? Because you're our friend and benefactor, that's why."
"Friend?"
"Yes, friend."
"Why are you worried about me? I'm okay."
"No you're not, Lex. You're exhausted and irritable. Your secretary didn't get a file to you fast enough today, and you almost bit her head off. You've been working 16 hour days and it's got to stop."
"Excuse me?" I ask, angry.
"Now you're about to turn on me---just for caring about you. Lex, listen to me. I know you've been brought up to work and never have a vacation but you need one---badly. If not for your sanity, then for ours."
I let out a sigh. He's right; I do need to cut back---but a vacation? I look into his eyes and see something my fathers never showed---he really does care about me---it's not an act.
"I guess you're right. I do need to cut back but---a vacation?"
"Yes---you need to get away from it all---the castle, Smallville, everything that will lead you back to work."
"But I haven't taken a vacation in years. Where would I go?"
"Doesn't your family own a villa or a cabin at a ski lodge?"
"Yes we do at Whispering Winds."
"Well, there you go. Take a week and go up to do some skiing. Or maybe bunny chasing," he says, with a wink.
"Gabe!"
"What? I may be older than you but I remember what it was like to be young."
"You mean the days when they used to have ice boxes," I say with a smile on my face.
"Chloe's right," he replies.
I'm startled by this comment and then catch myself. "About what?"
"You really can verbal judo with anybody."
"Tell her thanks. And tell her---I miss doing it with her the most. By the way, how is your intrepid daughter doing?"
"Working like a dog at the Ledger. I swear she's the female version of you."
"Maybe you should give her a vacation for Christmas, Gabe."
"Maybe I should---but would I have to hog tie her to get her there."
"Nope---just bet her and make sure you win the bet. She never welches on those."
"You may have something there. So, you are going to go, right? I don't have to hog tie you too?"
"No, I'll go. And tell the staff, I'm sorry I've been such a bear."
He gets up and leans over. "A bear we can handle. You, on the other hand, were starting to turn into your father."
I smile at him. "Yeah, me neither. Thanks for caring enough about me to bring this to my attention, Gabe. Now---back to work."
"Yes sir," he says, just before he opens the door and walks out.
Two Months Later
I find myself humming to the music on my car radio. I'm on vacation--I can't believe it. And it's going to be fun---keep telling yourself that, Luthor, and you might even start believing it.
I think back to the comment Gabe made about going up there and having fun, with a young lady. Just walk up to one and ask her for a date. This isn't hard to do. I used to do that in my sleep, but for some reason, when I close my eyes and think about doing it, I see her. Chloe is standing there and I'm asking her out. Why? Oh you know the answer to that, Luthor. Face it---you don't want to go out with any snow bunny---you want to go out with her---with the snarkiest, sassiest, sexiest reporter on the Ledger. And you know why. It's because, somewhere down the years of knowing her and counting on her help, you fell for her, hard and fast. And how do you know this---you are too scared to ask her out because she might turn you down. And that would kill you. God, I wish that I had the ability to read her mind---it would make things easier.
I pull into parking lot and get out, breathing in the clear air up there. I smile---I missed this place. The last time I was up here was with my mother. She used to sit by the fire, watching me drink cocoa. While I was outside, she would watch through the window, and I would smile at her and throw a snowball at it. I miss her so much.
I walk up to the entrance to the lodge and open the door. I'm accosted by red and white streamers and the smell of cinnamon. Oh dear lord, I forgot this week has a holiday in it---Valentines Day. The one time one is truly the loneliest number. I let out a sigh, watching a couple walk by.
I walk towards the front desk, my nose picking up the scent of vanilla and cinnamon. God, that reminds me of Chloe's scent. I let out another sigh.
"What the hell do you mean you lost my reservation? How could you lose it? I got here on time. What is it because I'm alone and you needed it for a couple? What?"
I walk up to the woman ranting and raving. I touch her arm and she turns around.
She's about to verbally accost me when she sees who I am. "Lex?"
"Chloe?"
"What the hell are you doing here?" we both say.
~*~*~*~*~
Chloe's POV
'This isn't happening, this isn't happening,' Chloe recites to herself. For once my dad actually gives me a present I can use for Christmas, a nice ski package for a whole week at Whispering Winds Resort, and they lose my reservation! Argh! To make things substantially worse, Lex Luthor is standing in front of me with luggage and ski equipment, which certainly makes it look like he intends to stay. I bet they haven't lost his reservation.
"My dad got me this trip as a Christmas present," I say, snapping out of my astonishment that Lex is here too. He groans. Why is he groaning?
"I forgot about that," Lex mumbles. I can feel my eyebrow shooting up as we speak and I see him smirk. Why does he have to do that? It's incredibly sexy. Okay Sullivan, not thinking those kinds of thoughts about Lex. But he knows it sets me off guard --- or maybe he doesn't. Geez, I hope I'm not blushing.
"But if you must know, I needed to get away from Smallville for a while. The atmosphere there was getting---" I hear him pause as he searches for the right word.
"Stifling?" I suggest.
I see his smirk turn into a small smile and I can't help but return it. Oh no. I will not do this. I will not let him see that I care about him as something other than a friend. He goes through society bimbos like a fish goes through water; and there's no way that I will put myself in a position to get hurt like that. Not that I would ever be in that position anyway, because he doesn't like me as anything more than a friend, but that's not the point.
"Chloe?" He's waving his hand in front of my face. Great. I must have zoned out.
"I'm here," I say. The clerk behind the counter is looking at us with some amusement and I scowl at him. "Have you found my reservation yet?" He's grimacing. Good. Right now I don't care if it's because he's intimidated by Lex's presence or not.
"I'm sorry, Ma'am," the young man says. "But it must have gotten pushed aside because of the Valentine's Day rush. We would be more than happy to extend your vacation package to a different time and reimburse you for your travel expenses here."
My hands are clenching into fists, and it's all I can do not to punch this guy.
The only thing stopping me is the fact that Lex would tease me about it endlessly for the next few years. I feel a hand on my shoulder and I look around, as if I don't already know who it is. A nice, not so subtle gesture telling me to calm down is what he's giving me. Well screw him! He has a place to stay, not to mention someone who's probably staying with him, and I'm stuck in this *winter wonderland* by myself with no hotel room. "What?!" I ask him. Okay, that came out kind of bitter. So why is he smirking at me again? He turns to face the incompetent clerk.
"She'll be staying with me," Lex says.
Oh, my mouth just dropped open. That can't be good.
"I most certainly will not!" I answer. God! The nerve of him! Lex is leaning down to speak into my ear, and I'm immediately thankful for the cold weather that I can blame my goose bumps on.
"Don't be so stubborn," he says. I can feel his warm breath cooing against my ear and barely resist the urge to close my eyes. "You're my friend, Chloe." He's pulling back a little now to look at me. "You're also my plant manager's daughter, and he'll give me hell if I don't let you stay with me under the circumstances." I'm about to speak when he smirks again. "Don't worry. My cabin has two bedrooms, if that's what you were worried about, and I'll be a perfect gentleman."
I'm staring at him. I shouldn't be, but I am. He's being nice for no other discernable reason than to be nice. I let out a sigh and shake my head.
"No, that's okay, Lex," I hear myself saying. "I don't want to interrupt your Valentine's plans. I'll just reschedule."
Okay, so I'm conceding defeat. There's a reason for it though. It would be hell to stay at this place and risk bumping into Lex and his fling of the moment at any given time. Lex, I can handle. We've been doing our verbal judo for years and everything's fine on that front. Lex with a girlfriend, if you could even call her that, is substantially different. I would end up sounding more like a jealous and resentful ex-girlfriend, which is essentially true except for the ex-girlfriend part. He's grinning at me again and I see him look at the clerk.
"Have her things brought to my place please," Lex says.
The man nods and hurriedly calls a couple of bellhops over.
"I thought I told you that I wasn't staying with you," I remind Lex.
"So you did," he says casually. He's smiling softly at me and I can feel my heart start to thump a little harder against my chest.
"So?" I ask expectantly.
"So," he repeats. "I forgot that Valentine's Day was this week. I only made my plans for this vacation to get away from Smallville, and I would rather not be alone in the midst of happy couples due to momentary stupidity on my part." The corners of my lips are turning upward.
"And you figure that helping me out and having a friend here is better than nothing at all?" I fill in for him with an understanding smile. He's smirking again. I wonder if he knows how sexy that is?
"Something like that."
~*~*~*~*~*~
Lex's POV
I watch her thinking, trying to figure out if she's going to be there as just a friend or maybe something more. Am I not hiding my feelings for her well enough or is it my reputation rearing it's ugly head again? It's been a few years since I've been that wild and reckless---can't people forget about the past. Well, not in Smallville since the past is part of their tradition---especially when it comes to 'Not So Daddy Dearest'. I let out a sigh and almost don't hear her answer.
"What did you say?" I ask, just in case I heard wrong.
"I said I accept!"
I smirk at her. "I knew you would!"
She blushes slightly and turns back to the clerk, who is smiling, probably happy to be able to keep his job. "What are you grinning about, laughing boy? I'm not finished with you yet. For losing my reservation, for---hey!" she says, as I pull her away. "I wasn't finished with him!"
"Yes you are!"
She pulls away from me. "Hey, who died and made you God, Luthor? I'm not finished with that weasel."
I lean into her ear and whisper, "Chloe, don't make more of a spectacle of yourself than you already have. The clerk knows he's on your naughty list already---let it go."
I back away, noticing a slight shiver coming from her. She gives me my classic smirk and nods. She turns back to the clerk. "All right, I'll let you off easy this time. But next time, the kid gloves come off, Buster. And I've got my eyes on you."
I have to turn around to hide my smile. That's my girl! Acquiesce but not before having the last word. I'm so glad she's on our side. I feel a tap on the shoulder and turn around.
"So, where's this cabin of yours, Luthor. It better be nice, or I'm going home."
I give her another smirk. "It's got running water. That's all that counts, right?"
"Yeah and maybe two bathrooms, instead of one," she verbal judos back. God, I missed this. I missed her.
"Well, you're in luck. We've got two bathrooms and a big bedroom too. But that's mine---you get the smaller one. But you should be used to it---you do come from Smallville."
"Funny, Luthor," she states.
"The truth, Sullivan," I retort.
She gives me an evil grin. "We'll see who gets the bigger bedroom. Now where's the cabin?"
"Outside." I notice two bellhops, in their ski jackets, waiting for us at the door, with our bags.
We walk out, the cold not as cold anymore for me. We walk along the path---snowflakes falling down. She looks up, opens her mouth, and a few alight on her tongue. She closes it and makes an hmmm sound, before turning to me and smiling. This is going to be an interesting week.
We arrive at the cabin and watch as one of the bellhops unlocks the door for us. He turns on the light and I hear her gasp. "Oh, Lex. This is so beautiful!"
~*~*~*~*~*~
Chloe's POV
Oh my God! I don't know what I was expecting when Lex said he had a cabin here, but this sure wasn't it. I was thinking an oversized place with some nice furnishings, and if I was really lucky, that I would get hot water too. But the sight in front of my eyes is completely different. It looks like the inside of an expensive hotel room.
The colors are various shades of rich browns and reds and---oh man! Who the hell has leather couches in a ski cabin? I suppose I should have expected as much, seeing as how he is Lex Luthor, but to tell the truth, I stopped thinking of him like that a long time ago. I'm not sure when that changed. When did I stop thinking of Lex as a billionaire who I could write about and start thinking about him in, um, other contexts?
"It's beautiful," I repeat, purposely turning my face away from his on the pretext of looking around the room, when in actuality it's to hide the blush I feel rising to my cheeks as I think of him.
"I'm so glad you approve," Lex says.
Hmm. It's hard to tell whether that's sarcasm or not.
"Would you like me to show you to your bedroom?"
I turn around and smile at him. "Depends," I say. "Which one is the big bedroom?"
He laughs. He has a nice laugh. No, no, no, Chloe. You can't think that way about him.
"The one that's mine," he replies.
I roll my eyes. "Fine," I say.
He looks surprised. "You're giving in that easily?" he asks. Ooh, damn him. I can't keep eye contact for more than a couple of minutes when he looks like that.
"Well," I start and glance around the spacious cabin once again, "This place is really amazing. I'm sure even the smaller bedroom is nice." I let out a small sigh and then look at him again. "Thanks for doing this, Lex." I can see the corner of his mouth start to twitch, and he smiles at me. Not a smirk, but a smile. That's nice too.
"Of course, Chloe," he says. He emphasizes my first name, which means that he's probably happy that I called him by his first name. I'm glad. You can only know someone so long before using his or her title gets tedious.
It looks like he wants to say something else as he takes a step closer to me, but he closes his mouth. Why is he looking at me like that? I must be imagining things. There's no way he would ever consider me as anything more than a friend, if he even considers me as that.
"Let me show you to your room." I follow him up the stairs and try not to let my surprise show, but it doesn't work.
"I thought the smaller bedroom would have been downstairs," I comment. He shakes his head slightly.
"Both bedrooms are upstairs," he says. Great. That won't make the situation any more uncomfortable. And yes, that's sarcasm.
We walk pass the first door and continue to the second, where he opens it for me. Wow.
"I---wow," is all I can get out. I'm a reporter, someone who works with words for a living, and I can't come up with anything better than 'wow' to describe the room. Way to go, Chloe.
I walk inside and take note of the decorative theme. It's rustic meets wealthy apparently, if there is indeed such a style. The room is about the size of the first floor of my house and I shake my head. He's obviously teasing me by showing me his room first. "So this is your room?" He smirks at me again.
"This is your room," he clarifies. I see him lean against the doorframe and can't help thinking about how good he looks. I turn around to face him completely.
"May I ask you a question?"
"Depends," he says. "A normal question, or an interview type question?" I can't help but chuckle.
"Just a normal one," I say. He gives me a curt nod and I take that as a sign to continue. "Why didn't you bring anyone with you? I mean, I know that you said you forgot it was Valentine's Day this week, but this type of vacation isn't really the sort of thing you spend alone." His face doesn't give away whatever emotion he's feeling.
"You came up here alone as well," he points out. "I could ask you the same question."
Oh. I can't have this conversation with him. Not yet anyway, and maybe not ever. I'd better lie. I walk over to the bed and sit down on the plush comforter. Ooh, this is going to be heaven to sleep on. I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear and grin at him.
"I'm not in a relationship right now," I say. There. It wasn't a lie. Good for me. He pushes himself off of the doorframe and starts to walk toward me.
"Neither am I," he retorts. I have an overwhelming urge to bring up the fact that in the past he has been known to have several women hanging all over him, despite the fact that he wasn't in a relationship with any of them, but I don't.
"Ah," is all I can say.
"Any prospects?" he asks. My eyes grow wide. Don't answer that.
"Not exactly," I answer. "There's someone I like, but he doesn't like me like that."
He nods in understanding. "Clark," he says. I smile at him and shake my head.
"Nope. Way over that," I say. He looks intrigued, but if he thinks he's going to get me to tell him, then he has another thing coming.
"Interesting," he says. "And who is the man currently receiving your attention?" I push myself off of the bed and walk over to the fireplace. It's gas and has a remote to switch it on, so I do. "Do I know him?" You could say that.
"Yes," I find myself answering. Crap. Why did I say that? Change the topic and quick. I turn to him and flash him a big smile. "So are you ready to hit the slopes?"
He's eyeing me suspiciously, but I think he's going to let it slide. Please, please, please. Lex is smirking at me. Again. And now I'm convinced that he knows what that does to me.
"Do you even know how to ski, Chloe?" he asks. I notice that I'm biting my bottom lip and quickly put a stop to it.
"Uh, well, no," I say. "But how hard can it be?" His smile turns into a smirk and he offers me his hand. "You're going to give me lessons?"
"Unless you'd prefer to be surrounded by loving couples who already know how to ski," he says. Ugh. My stomach just turned over. That's not an appealing thought at all. "Besides, if you're with me, it will look like neither one of us is alone for this vacation." I smile at that.
"So this is just some elaborate scam to make us not appear completely pathetic?" I ask. He chuckles and I nod. "I can do that."
"Good," he says with a grin. I walk by him into the hallway and he grabs my arm lightly. "Oh, and Chloe?" I turn my head to look at him. He smirks at me. Bad timing. We're so close to each other, it's all I can do not to grip his head with my hands and bring his mouth down to mine. "I expect full details on your crush when we get back."
~*~*~*~*~
Lex's POV
I can't believe I grabbed her arm, as she walked out into the hall. It was all I could do to not grip her head with my hands and bring my mouth down to hers. And it wasn't only the nearness to her that was causing this reaction. As I watch her walk away, I know, I want her in my life, and not only for a day, but for always. For the first time in my life, I want to marry for love.
God, is it this holiday having an affect on me? Has Cupid's arrow found it's way through the steel wall surrounding the heart of one Lex Luthor?
No, I know this is love, not a holiday illusion. I felt the jealousy as she mentioned she had a crush on somebody and he didn't know about it. I heaved a sigh of relief inside, when she mentioned it wasn't Clark. I never want to hurt that man ever. Besides, I would hate to tell her that I saw him with her cousin a few weeks ago and they looked pretty chummy. But who is my rival for her heart? I must find out so I can---what, destroy him? No, that was the old me. I must find out so I can convince her he's not right for her. That's the new Luthor way. Mom would be so proud of me, I think, as I walk into my smaller bedroom. What? So I lied---but it did make her happy. I must remember not to bring her in here, if I do get lucky enough to be with her, at night, sans clothes.
I walk over to the window and look outside. She's standing out there, in her jacket. I watch as she walks over to the bank of snow and sits down on it, smiling. What an idiot? But she seems to be having fun---maybe I should be an idiot for once in my life.
I walk downstairs, the bellhops still there. "Sir, shall we put your bags in the big bedroom?"
"No, put them in the smaller one. And put hers in the big one. Oh, here's something for your trouble," I say, giving them both a $100 tip. They smile at me.
"Thank you, sir," they answer, as they go to work. I take the keys off the table and walk outside.
"Didn't your father ever tell you that only gets you a cold butt," I yell at her.
"That's why they made fires, Luthor," she states. She gets up and goes over to the flat part of the land, flopping down once again.
"Now, what are you doing?"
"Making a snow angel. Want to make one too?" she asks me.
"Not on your life---this is pure virgin wool."
"The only virgin that's been near you for years, right?" she states, smiling.
"Funny, Sullivan."
"You think?"
I turn around and see what I need---ammunition. Now, we're going to have some fun.
"What are you doing?" I hear her ask.
"Nothing!" I state, as I lean down to pick something up.
I hear her get up and walk over. "Doesn't look like nothing."
"Well, you're right," I state, as I turn around and throw the snowball at her.
"What the---? I can't believe you did such a childish thing, Luthor!"
"Childish? You have the guts to call that childish when you were just making a snow angel?"
"Well, at least my snow fun didn't fly onto your person. Well, turn about is fair play. You're virgin coat is about to be pummeled by the expert snowball thrower from Smallville, Billionaire Boy."
"Only if you can throw at a moving target, Reporter Girl," I state, chuckling. I run for the door and throw it open, closing it just as the snowball hits the glass in the door. 'Missed me!' I mouth at her, as I lock the door.
'Not fair,' I see her mouth at me.
Life's not fair, Chloe, I think. But I'll make it up to you---I hope. I walk towards the stairs and watch as the bellhops walk down. "Do me a favor? Wait till I'm upstairs and than let the angry blonde in, okay?"
"Yes, sir," they say together.
"Thanks and here's an extra $50 for the both of you," I chuckle as I walk up the stairs, hearing the banging behind me.
I'm about to enter my bedroom when I hear, "Luthor, you are in so much trouble, Mister!"
I turn around and look down at her. "What for? Getting the upper hand, for once?"
She sputters and smiles an evil grin. "Well, I guess somebody won't be finding out who I have a crush on tonight."
Damn, I forgot about that. Better suck up to the girl.
"Chloe, if I take you out for a nice dinner---all the trimmings---might you rethink that?"
"I don't know---maybe, maybe not. It'll depend?"
"On what?"
"On how good the meal is and how convincingly you can apologize to me."
I let out a sigh. "All right. I'll pick you up at 8. And be prepared to bare your soul, Chloe." I walk into my bedroom, heaving another sigh. A Luthor doesn't apologize but to find out who my rival is and to win the hand of the fair maiden, I would walk a thousand miles and apologize till the cows come home.