sydsvaughn
8th May 2003, 04:42
Title: Storm Damage
Author: SaraC
Rating: NC-17
Spoilers: Futurefic
Summary: A roof + A rainstorm = Chlexy goodness
Disclaimer: Don't own any of these characters. Just borrowing them for some much needed fun!
Author Notes: Okay, this comes out of a certain "Blue Lounge" discussion on rooftop sex. It was screaming to be written so I had to oblige. Don't know if it's any good, but I had to try! My apologies for the minor "Alias" references, I'm still brooding after the season finale!
Archive: Anyone who wants it, just let me know!
~*~*~*~*~*~
Trapped with nowhere to run. The words took on new meaning for Chloe Sullivan as she stood with her back pressed against the cool bricks that made up the Luthor Mansion's roof. A desperate glance around told her that unless she had suddenly become Sydney Bristow, super spy, there was no way she was getting off the roof anytime soon.
If only she had her own personal Agent Vaughn to help her out of this situation! Although her ideal spy partner would have a lot less hair and lot more devious ways of resolving her current situation.
Sighing, she glanced down at the paper she clutched tightly in one hand. The bold "LuthorCorp" logo was clearly visible on the sheet but what was written on it had the power to shut down LexCorp for good- courtesy of one devious and definitely evil bride-to-be. It was also the reason she was in this ridiculous predicament.
~~~~Flashback~~~~
She'd been watching Lex and Helen argue quietly in a corner of the Talon for twenty minutes trying her best to eavesdrop while being halfway across the room. What she wouldn't give to know what Dr. Drop-Kick was upset with now. More than likely it was Lex.
Still, she couldn't help but feel enormous satisfaction as the brunette threw her napkin down on the table and stormed from the Talon in a huff. Lex, to her pleasant surprise, did not follow but simply sat sipping his coffee with a contemplative look on his face.
Grabbing her own latte, Chloe took a deep breath and decided to brave the Luthor waters, simply for her curiosity about the argument between Smallville's most talked-about couple. At least that's what she told herself as she slid into the booth across from him.
"Miss Sullivan, to what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?" His voice was sarcastic but there was warmth in his eyes that bellied the words.
"You know me Lex, always sniffing out a good story." She smiled brightly as she took a sip of coffee and contemplated him with amused eyes. "So want to tell me what the good doctor was so upset about?"
God he was cute when he got that look of frustrated annoyance on his face.
"It's really none of your business Chloe." She nodded as he stressed her first name in the same way she had his. Figuring that would be his response, she chose a different tactic.
"Figured you'd say that." It was a struggle to hide her amused look at the expression on his face. "Which is why I feel I must inform you that whatever it was will probably be all over town by tomorrow." She tried not to laugh at the blank expression that quickly came over his features.
"Do tell?" The words were clipped but she knew he was dying of curiosity. Smiling she shrugged.
"Mrs. Johnson was sitting behind you and from her facial expressions, she heard every word." She did laugh this time at the comical expression of annoyance that appeared on his handsome face.
"Great, Helen would pick a booth next to the town gossip to take me to task." Chloe perked up at the muttered words, a question on the tip of her tongue. But something about the look in his eyes had her remaining silent.
"Well then I suppose you'll find out with the rest of the town- tomorrow." She gave a fake pout at Lex's clipped reply as he began to gather his things. Chloe tried not to feel hurt that he was obviously so eager to leave.
"Fine, be that way. But don't say I didn't warn you. Who knows what story will be circulating by then if I know Smallville's gossip mill." With that she offered him a quick wave, turning back to her coffee.
"Good-evening Miss Sullivan. I'm sure I'll be seeing you around." She couldn't deny the tingle his words sent down her spine nor the anticipation that ran through her system at the look in his eyes as he towered over her for a moment.
"Good-evening Mr. Luthor and you can count on seeing me around." Proud of her response she watched as he nodded, heart jumping at the strange look in his eyes as he gazed at her in contemplation before striding quickly from the building. Her eyes followed him all the way with a hungry expression that went unnoticed by everyone in the Talon except Lana. The brunette shot her a worried look that Chloe chose to ignore in favor of her coffee.
Deciding she'd had enough, she chugged the rest of her coffee and slid from the seat. She jumped as her toe hit something on the floor. A quick look down revealed a leather case with the name "H. Bryce" written in gold lettering on the front.
Surreptitiously looking around, she reached down and grabbed the case, glad to see no one had noticed. Placing it on the seat beside her, she looked around to make sure no one was watching then opened it to reveal a sheaf of papers. Pulling them out, she began to skim through them with an editor's eye, dismayed to see they were nothing more than patient files.
She hit pay dirt with the last one however. Her eyes widened as she saw the LuthorCorp logo on a sheet of paper tucked underneath one of the patient reports. Pulling it out, she found herself staring at a memo from Lionel Luthor to one Helen Bryce. Her heart sinking, she began to read.
A few moments later she had to fight the righteous anger coursing through her, most of it aimed at Lex's fiancée. Because what this memo revealed was that Lionel Luthor had paid Helen to get close to Lex in a plot to bring down LexCorp and force Lex back to Metropolis and under his father's wing. And from the personal sound of the letter, she suspected the doctor was more than "friendly" with the elder Luthor.
This was going to break Lex's heart. Again. Part of her fury turned to sympathy then, knowing that despite their problems, Lex seemed to love Helen. Not that she was any expert on the emotion considering her disastrous failure with Clark several years ago. Still, Lex needed to know and he needed to know now before the wedding this weekend.
Folding the paper into a small square, she slipped it into her jacket pocket and returned the rest of the papers to the case. Not a moment too soon as she heard a car screech to a halt outside the Talon. A quick glance up alerted her that a very irate Helen Bryce was now striding towards the front door.
Slipping the case back to the floor, she quickly got up and walked over to the bar, settling onto a stool just as Helen strode in. She watched from the corner of her eye as Helen grabbed the case and walked quickly from the Talon again, not even looking through her bag.
Chloe breathed a sigh of relief as she realized she was off the hook. Now all she had to do was get to the mansion before Helen realized her incriminating note was gone.
"You look like you're deep in thought." She jumped at Clark's voice and turned to her friend even as she gathered her things.
"Not really, just dreading something I've got to do before the night ends." She knew it was vague but luckily before he could question her Clark, as usual, was distracted by Lana moving towards him with a smile.
Calling out good-bye's to a nearly oblivious Clark and a concerned looking Lana, she walked quickly from the Talon and over to her car. Slipping into the driver's seat she steered the car towards the mansion trying to figure out how to tell Lex that the latest woman he'd given his heart to was once again only after his money, his company and his father.
Part of her however couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Lex deserved a lot better than that bitch. She was helping him in the long run by making sure he did not make another marriage mistake. It was her duty as a journalist and as his friend.
What she would only admit to herself, however, was that despite the improbability of it she wanted Lex Luthor for herself. The feelings were not new; they'd been tormenting her for the past year, ever since she'd finally given up on Clark. Lex had been spending more time with them and by turns with her. They'd begun a strange sort of friendship, filled with innuendo-laden judo and even a few confidences much to her surprise.
During that time, she'd come to realize what a unique and fascinating person Lex really was. He had the same ruthless streak that was obvious in his father but she knew from listening to him that he did not want to turn into Lionel. That to her was the crowning proof that he wouldn't. Along with his seeming devotion to making his friendship with Clark and even herself work.
Then there was the fact that he had a body to die for. Her mouth watered as she imagined what his naked chest would look like, the muscles gleaming in the firelight as she stroked them with her hands; what his skin would taste like against her tongue. What's more, the image of Lex pounding into her, hard and fast, grew clearer every day, making her nights long, agonizingly arousing ones alone in her room.
Still, Lex was not going to need another lover tonight, he would need a friend. And that was as good a start as any. An old saying about "friendship being true love set on fire" filtered through her mind as she pulled up to the gates of the mansion.
Her forehead creased into a frown as she noted that Helen's car was already parked in the circular drive. Quickly turning off onto the side road next to the gate, she parked her car a ways down and quietly made her way back.
She easily slipped through the gates, realizing Lex's security was still well below par. Moving quietly to the side door she recalled Clark talking about using for delivering produce, she was grateful to find it unlocked. Creeping inside, she began to make her way through the dark kitchen and soon found herself slipping into the shadows of the long first floor hallway.
Hearing voices echoing down the hall, she crept towards the doors to Lex's study, praying his minimal staff was either asleep or gone for the night. Luck must have been with her because she reached the office with no interruptions. Settling herself outside the door, she listened to what was being said.
"Lex, I really don't want a huge wedding." Chloe rubbed her forehead at Helen's whiny tone. It sounded a bit too much like Lana for her taste. "Let's just elope to Las Vegas. We can do a quick wedding and get right to the honeymoon." Her senses went on red alert at the words. Helen not only sounded whiny but desperate as well. Which meant she must have discovered the missing memo and was now trying to do damage control.
"Helen, I can't leave right now." Chloe was relieved to hear Lex sounding rational. "I'm in the middle of a huge deal and I need to be here to close it." She tensed as she realized what the "big deal" must be since she'd read about it in the memo less than an hour earlier.
"You can do it by fax from Las Vegas." Definitely desperation in that annoying voice now, Chloe thought to herself. "Lex, I want to be your wife and I want that now. We've already waited six months."
Chloe's heart fell at Lex's reply.
"I know Helen and I can see your point about avoiding the fuss of a huge wedding." Oh no! Lex could not be considering this. Not now! She held her breath as he continued. "But I just can't leave right now. Please try and understand. Besides, it's only a few more days until the weekend and then you'll have the wedding you've been planning for months."
Chloe's sigh of relief was not enough to drown out the obvious anger of Lex's fiancée.
"You're being unreasonable Lex." Anger had now replaced the desperation in Helen's voice and Chloe found herself rooting for Lex to stand up to his fiancée.
"Actually, I think you are the one being unreasonable Helen." There was a note of annoyance in his voice that made her smile. "This is important business. If you can't understand why I need to deal with it then maybe you should rethink spending your life with me."
Chloe's heart nearly stopped at the words. She hoped against hope that Helen would break it off. Then she wouldn't have to tell Lex his fiancée was evil and set to betray him. Although she would miss out on the much hoped for "comforting Lex" phase of her plan.
"Fine. Take care of business. But when this deal is done, I come first in your priorities and we elope." Chloe's heart fell again as she heard the tonal change in Helen's voice, now sugary sweet.
"I'll consider it Helen. Now I really have work-" His words were cut off abruptly and Chloe felt sick as she imagined exactly how Helen had gotten him to be quiet and taken his mind off work. The spark of jealousy was fast fanning to a flame and she found herself wanting to do nothing more than burst in and expose Helen for the lying bastard she was. But that would give Helen the upper hand and she needed Lex alone to tell him the truth before the evil doctor could twist the situation to suit her evil agenda.
Wondering what to do now, she sank back against the wall, trying not to feel helpless. A sudden movement, however, made her freeze. Her eyes spotted an unfamiliar man walking towards her, his eyes thankfully on the papers he held in his hands. Panicking, Chloe turned and quietly made her way down the hall and into the first door she could find unlocked. Slipping inside, she pushed it closed and sank against the paneling with a small sigh.
Obviously, she was not going to be able to get to Lex immediately. But she had time, at least another day until Lex's deal was done. That was if Helen was waiting until it went through to make her move. Biting her lip, she unconsciously began to pace around the dark room. She froze again as she heard voices coming down the hallway. Pressing her ear to the door, her blood ran cold as she made out their words.
"I'm sure of it Ms. Bryce. Chloe Sullivan's car was spotted just outside the gates but the young lady herself is nowhere to be found."
Chloe shuddered as she realized it must be the man she'd seen in the hall. Obviously, he knew Helen. Her eyes widened as she heard the doctor's reply.
"Thanks Jack. She must have taken the note from my bag at the Talon." Chloe's heart began to beat faster at the pure evil she heard in Helen's voice. "I want you to search every last inch of this house for her. She's here somewhere and I can't allow her to get anywhere near Lex."
"Don't worry Ms. Bryce. She won't get near Lex. She won't get near anyone else ever again."
Fear hit Chloe full on as she realized that Helen had most likely just given her conspirators the okay to have her killed. Moving quietly back across the room, Chloe tried not to panic but instead to figure a way out of this situation. Obviously the guards would be looking for her discretely if Helen did not want to arouse Lex's suspicion, which at least gave her a fighting chance.
Gathering up her courage, she slipped back to the door and listened carefully for voices. Hearing none, she cracked it and managed to look up and down the hallway. The coast was clear but probably not for long. Not to mention she was sure Lex had security cameras around the mansion and no doubt Helen's henchmen were using them.
Cursing quietly, she slid the door closed again and leaned back against it. There had to be a way out of this. What would Sydney Bristow do? The ridiculous thought was at least enough to calm a smidgeon of her fears as she began to look around the room for anything that might help. Disguise was probably her best option although she wasn't sure what she could find.
Walking towards a huge closet near the window, she opened the doors on pay dirt. A bevy of what looked like maid's uniforms was displayed before her. She must have somehow stumbled into the servant's room. She only hoped the outfits were not of the French Maid variety. Although the image of Lex seeing her in such an outfit was enough to make her panties damp.
{{Enough! You need to think about saving your life, not fucking Lex Luthor. Concentrate girl!}}
Subduing her sub-conscious for the moment, she prayed there was something in her size. A few moments later she pulled out a gray skirt and white blouse that looked about right. The skirt was a bit too short but that could be overlooked as long as she did not bend down too far. The blouse however was a different story. It was very tight across the chest and would hardly button so she had to settle for leaving the top three open, hoping no one would notice how much of her cleavage it revealed. Still, being that it appeared to be the only size stocked, it would have to do. At least it covered the basics and hopefully would make her blend in with the other maids in the mansion. Not that she'd seen any at this hour.
As a final precaution however, she found a little maid's cap and tucked her hair up underneath it. That way no one could even get a hint of the bright blonde color that would surely alert everyone to who she was.
Keeping her head low, she again cracked the door and noting the coast was clear, slipped into the hallway and began to make her way towards the front door. Only to stop and turn directly around the other way as she heard voices coming towards her. Heart pounding, she kept her pace sedate and her head to the ground as she tried to distance herself from the voices. She wasn't sure where she was going but it really didn't matter as long as it was away from anyone searching for her.
Several minutes and several flights of stairs later, she finally found an open door after what seemed like hundreds of locked ones. Figuring she was on at least the second or third floor of the mansion she slipped through the door with a sigh of relief. Her mood brightened as she realized she was now outside. It immediately fell as she realized she was on the roof.
"Great, I get outside but I'm more than three stories up." Muttering to herself she reached for the door handle, resigning herself to finding another way out. She frowned as the knob refused to move. Turning a bit harder, she felt the panic begin to well up as she realized the door must have locked from the inside.
A muttered moan emerged from her throat as she sank against the metal, wondering what to do now. There was no other entrance to the house she could see from her position and nothing to even think of climbing down.
She was trapped on Lex Luthor's roof, holding the one piece of paper that could save his company and hopefully his heart. Could things get any worse?
~*~*~*~*~*~
Present
Chloe sighed as she settled onto the hard, cold roof, wracking her brain for any great ideas. She had her bag but for once, her cell phone was not in it. She'd stupidly left it in the car without thinking. Everyone thought she was at the Torch, which meant no one would be missing her for another few hours. And it was progressively getting colder as storm clouds hovered over Smallville, visible even with the blackness of night around them.
"Just great. You've really done it this time Chloe." She muttered the words to herself as she wrapped her arms around her waist, trying to conserve body heat as the wind picked up. Closing her eyes, she continued to wrack her brain for a way out of this mess. She was so involved in her musings that she did not hear the door creak open or spot the menacing figure creeping towards her.
Chloe screamed as a large hand was clamped around her neck. Struggling with all her might she found herself no match for the burly man. Fear set in as the man dragged her closer and closer to the edge of the roof. Kicking and punching every part of him she could, she managed to break free for a moment but her attacker was obviously quicker and had her back in his grasp seconds later.
Chloe knew no one could hear her screams this far up but she hoped against hope someone, somewhere would hear. Her heart nearly stopped as she felt herself being lifted off her feet and shoved towards the edge of the roof. In full panic mode now, she struggled even harder but to no avail. Feeling her body begin to tip over the side she found herself with the insane thought that once again, a visit to Lex was going to end with her taking a fall, only this time she knew it would be fatal.
She gasped as she suddenly felt her attacker's weight pulled off of her and she fell forward, thankfully back onto the roof instead of over it. She watched with stunned amazement as Lex struggled with the man, not even thinking to question how he'd gotten there. However, seeing her attacker looked to have the upper hand, Chloe gathered all her strength and launched herself at the back of the man, wrapping her arms around his throat in an imitation of a move she'd seen Andre the Giant do in the "Princess Bride." She only hoped it would work long enough to give Lex a chance to move in again.
Her move must have startled the man because he staggered back from Lex, trying to claw her off his body. The distraction was the opening Lex needed as he sent one well aimed punch into the man's now unprotected face. At the same time, Chloe used all her strength to tighten her grip around the man's neck, hoping he would choke.
The attacker stumbled backwards, losing his balance and throwing Chloe off of him. The impact of hitting the ground stunned her for a moment as she watched Lex once again move in. Her attacker looked ready for another round, but seemed not to notice how close to the edge he was. Lex however must have, and in a move worthy of a Superbowl quarterback, lunged for the man and tackled him against the wall. The impact however overbalanced the larger man, who teetered on the edge then slipped backwards.
Chloe knew she would never forget the sound of his harsh scream as he toppled over the edge and disappeared from her sight. After a moment of shock, she managed to move over to where Lex lay panting on the ground, his body pressed against the hard stone of the roof. Thankfully, he didn't look as if he were hurt too badly.
"Chloe, are you okay?" The concern in his voice was music to her ears as she felt the emotion of the situation overcome her. Crawling towards him, she didn't think twice about going into the arms he opened as she approached.
"I'm fine now." She whispered the words against his chest as his arms closed around her, holding her tightly against him. Now this was the way to recover from a traumatic experience. Although she did have to wonder why she always ended up in danger every time she came to the mansion.
For a long time, she remained silent, content to reassure herself that they were both alive and unharmed by listening to his heart beat in time with her own. Finally though, she collected herself enough to realize she needed some answers. And she needed to tell Lex about Helen.
"Lex, Helen hired those men. She's probably got more-" She stopped as he placed a finger over her mouth to silence her.
"I know. They've all been taken care of. You're safe now Chloe." The calm words reassured her like nothing ever had. Breathing a sigh of relief, she rested her head against his chest, absorbing the knowledge that Helen's plan had been thwarted. But how had Lex known about it?
Raising her head she knew her eyes showed the suspicion she was beginning to develop. "How did you know Helen wanted those men to kill me Lex?" His sigh confirmed her suspicions.
"I knew Helen was working with my father to destroy LexCorp, I just didn't have any proof." The weariness in his voice tugged at her heart as she snuggled closer. "I've spent the past few weeks trying to establish the connection but had no luck. Still, she was so jumpy tonight I figured something had gone wrong."
Chloe chose not to comment on anything yet, wanting him to finish.
"When one of my guards mentioned to me that your car was spotted near the gates but you were nowhere to be found, I figured you'd stumbled onto something." Her look of surprise prompted a smile that quickly turned to a frown. "I really began to worry after remembering Helen's mood and the fact my men hadn't seen you. When I was told that there were several of Helen's 'guards' searching the house I knew they were trying to find you."
Chloe frowned as something occurred to her. "Lex, how did you find me?" His small smile sent a shiver down her spine.
"You forget this place has cameras everywhere, most installed by my father. I simply told security to use every one of them until we found you. I spotted you going out here and the rest, well, you saw what happened."
Chloe smiled as she realized how fast Lex must have run to make it here, just in time to save her. "I never thought I'd say it, but thank God for your father's worries you'll do something un-Luthorish." His low laughter set her senses on fire along with the knowledge that he hadn't removed his arms from around her waist.
"I agree. But I do want to know what you found on Helen, since I'm assuming that's why you're here?"
{{Oh, if you only knew I really wanted to be naked on top of you}}
Shaking herself out of the fantasy, she unfolded the paper still clenched in her hand. Handing it to him reluctantly she watched carefully as he read it. His reaction surprised her.
"Damn! I should have figured the deal was too good to be true!" With a muttered sigh, he struggled to his feet, pulling her with him but keeping his arms around her waist. She waited quietly, sensing he was working things out in his mind and not wanting to interrupt as he processed the situation. Although part of her was feeling pretty happy that he didn't seem heartbroken or devastated by the loss of Helen.
"So I take it this is what you need to bring her down?" It sounded like a line from a bad movie but the reaction she got made it worth her while. Lex broke out into a sly smile as he pulled her closer and lifted her off her feet in a hug. Feeling amazed at the show of emotion and giddy at his action, she allowed her brain to process the wonderful sensation of being so close to him, closing her eyes and inhaling his scent.
"Thank you Chloe. You've just given me the proof I need to prove Helen was hired by my father to destroy me and my company. You saved me and I won't forget it." The words were whispered against her ear as he kept her in his arms, almost as if he did not want to let her go. She wasn't going to complain.
"Well, if I'd have known I was going to get that reaction, I would have framed it or something." Lame she knew but it made him laugh and that was worth it. She smiled up at him, enjoying the amused look on his face. Suddenly though, something registered. "Lex, wait a minute. What about Helen?" She shivered at Lex's almost demonic chuckle.
"Helen will not be a problem anymore. And yes, the wedding's off."
She felt a tinge of sadness at the resignation in his voice, hating that things had to end like they had. But a larger part could not help but rejoice at the fact that Lex was single and could now begin the healing and moving on process.
"You okay with that?" She sighed at his curious look. "I meant, are you okay with losing yet another possible wife to your father's megalomaniac tendencies?"
His smile warmed her to her toes and sent butterflies loose in her stomach. "I'm more than okay Chloe. In fact, I don't think I've ever been better."
Smiling, she allowed him to pull back, catching her breath as he caught her hand in his and lead her towards the door. The smile faded as she noticed the door was closed tightly.
"Um, Lex, you do know that door locks from the inside, don't you?" Her tone was light but her heart sank as she noted the surprised expression on Lex's face.
"Oh damn." The muttered curse quickly turned into a string of expletatives as he repeated her actions of earlier and began to struggle with the doorknob. She knew he wouldn't rest until he was sure he couldn't open it so she did not even try to help or offer a comment. Her brain was still trying to process the fact that she and Lex were apparently trapped on the roof of the mansion.
Alone. Together.
Any fear she might have felt at being trapped was suddenly eliminated by the heat that swept over her as she imagined several lustful scenarios of what they might do to pass the time and keep warm until they were rescued.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Author: SaraC
Rating: NC-17
Spoilers: Futurefic
Summary: A roof + A rainstorm = Chlexy goodness
Disclaimer: Don't own any of these characters. Just borrowing them for some much needed fun!
Author Notes: Okay, this comes out of a certain "Blue Lounge" discussion on rooftop sex. It was screaming to be written so I had to oblige. Don't know if it's any good, but I had to try! My apologies for the minor "Alias" references, I'm still brooding after the season finale!
Archive: Anyone who wants it, just let me know!
~*~*~*~*~*~
Trapped with nowhere to run. The words took on new meaning for Chloe Sullivan as she stood with her back pressed against the cool bricks that made up the Luthor Mansion's roof. A desperate glance around told her that unless she had suddenly become Sydney Bristow, super spy, there was no way she was getting off the roof anytime soon.
If only she had her own personal Agent Vaughn to help her out of this situation! Although her ideal spy partner would have a lot less hair and lot more devious ways of resolving her current situation.
Sighing, she glanced down at the paper she clutched tightly in one hand. The bold "LuthorCorp" logo was clearly visible on the sheet but what was written on it had the power to shut down LexCorp for good- courtesy of one devious and definitely evil bride-to-be. It was also the reason she was in this ridiculous predicament.
~~~~Flashback~~~~
She'd been watching Lex and Helen argue quietly in a corner of the Talon for twenty minutes trying her best to eavesdrop while being halfway across the room. What she wouldn't give to know what Dr. Drop-Kick was upset with now. More than likely it was Lex.
Still, she couldn't help but feel enormous satisfaction as the brunette threw her napkin down on the table and stormed from the Talon in a huff. Lex, to her pleasant surprise, did not follow but simply sat sipping his coffee with a contemplative look on his face.
Grabbing her own latte, Chloe took a deep breath and decided to brave the Luthor waters, simply for her curiosity about the argument between Smallville's most talked-about couple. At least that's what she told herself as she slid into the booth across from him.
"Miss Sullivan, to what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?" His voice was sarcastic but there was warmth in his eyes that bellied the words.
"You know me Lex, always sniffing out a good story." She smiled brightly as she took a sip of coffee and contemplated him with amused eyes. "So want to tell me what the good doctor was so upset about?"
God he was cute when he got that look of frustrated annoyance on his face.
"It's really none of your business Chloe." She nodded as he stressed her first name in the same way she had his. Figuring that would be his response, she chose a different tactic.
"Figured you'd say that." It was a struggle to hide her amused look at the expression on his face. "Which is why I feel I must inform you that whatever it was will probably be all over town by tomorrow." She tried not to laugh at the blank expression that quickly came over his features.
"Do tell?" The words were clipped but she knew he was dying of curiosity. Smiling she shrugged.
"Mrs. Johnson was sitting behind you and from her facial expressions, she heard every word." She did laugh this time at the comical expression of annoyance that appeared on his handsome face.
"Great, Helen would pick a booth next to the town gossip to take me to task." Chloe perked up at the muttered words, a question on the tip of her tongue. But something about the look in his eyes had her remaining silent.
"Well then I suppose you'll find out with the rest of the town- tomorrow." She gave a fake pout at Lex's clipped reply as he began to gather his things. Chloe tried not to feel hurt that he was obviously so eager to leave.
"Fine, be that way. But don't say I didn't warn you. Who knows what story will be circulating by then if I know Smallville's gossip mill." With that she offered him a quick wave, turning back to her coffee.
"Good-evening Miss Sullivan. I'm sure I'll be seeing you around." She couldn't deny the tingle his words sent down her spine nor the anticipation that ran through her system at the look in his eyes as he towered over her for a moment.
"Good-evening Mr. Luthor and you can count on seeing me around." Proud of her response she watched as he nodded, heart jumping at the strange look in his eyes as he gazed at her in contemplation before striding quickly from the building. Her eyes followed him all the way with a hungry expression that went unnoticed by everyone in the Talon except Lana. The brunette shot her a worried look that Chloe chose to ignore in favor of her coffee.
Deciding she'd had enough, she chugged the rest of her coffee and slid from the seat. She jumped as her toe hit something on the floor. A quick look down revealed a leather case with the name "H. Bryce" written in gold lettering on the front.
Surreptitiously looking around, she reached down and grabbed the case, glad to see no one had noticed. Placing it on the seat beside her, she looked around to make sure no one was watching then opened it to reveal a sheaf of papers. Pulling them out, she began to skim through them with an editor's eye, dismayed to see they were nothing more than patient files.
She hit pay dirt with the last one however. Her eyes widened as she saw the LuthorCorp logo on a sheet of paper tucked underneath one of the patient reports. Pulling it out, she found herself staring at a memo from Lionel Luthor to one Helen Bryce. Her heart sinking, she began to read.
A few moments later she had to fight the righteous anger coursing through her, most of it aimed at Lex's fiancée. Because what this memo revealed was that Lionel Luthor had paid Helen to get close to Lex in a plot to bring down LexCorp and force Lex back to Metropolis and under his father's wing. And from the personal sound of the letter, she suspected the doctor was more than "friendly" with the elder Luthor.
This was going to break Lex's heart. Again. Part of her fury turned to sympathy then, knowing that despite their problems, Lex seemed to love Helen. Not that she was any expert on the emotion considering her disastrous failure with Clark several years ago. Still, Lex needed to know and he needed to know now before the wedding this weekend.
Folding the paper into a small square, she slipped it into her jacket pocket and returned the rest of the papers to the case. Not a moment too soon as she heard a car screech to a halt outside the Talon. A quick glance up alerted her that a very irate Helen Bryce was now striding towards the front door.
Slipping the case back to the floor, she quickly got up and walked over to the bar, settling onto a stool just as Helen strode in. She watched from the corner of her eye as Helen grabbed the case and walked quickly from the Talon again, not even looking through her bag.
Chloe breathed a sigh of relief as she realized she was off the hook. Now all she had to do was get to the mansion before Helen realized her incriminating note was gone.
"You look like you're deep in thought." She jumped at Clark's voice and turned to her friend even as she gathered her things.
"Not really, just dreading something I've got to do before the night ends." She knew it was vague but luckily before he could question her Clark, as usual, was distracted by Lana moving towards him with a smile.
Calling out good-bye's to a nearly oblivious Clark and a concerned looking Lana, she walked quickly from the Talon and over to her car. Slipping into the driver's seat she steered the car towards the mansion trying to figure out how to tell Lex that the latest woman he'd given his heart to was once again only after his money, his company and his father.
Part of her however couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Lex deserved a lot better than that bitch. She was helping him in the long run by making sure he did not make another marriage mistake. It was her duty as a journalist and as his friend.
What she would only admit to herself, however, was that despite the improbability of it she wanted Lex Luthor for herself. The feelings were not new; they'd been tormenting her for the past year, ever since she'd finally given up on Clark. Lex had been spending more time with them and by turns with her. They'd begun a strange sort of friendship, filled with innuendo-laden judo and even a few confidences much to her surprise.
During that time, she'd come to realize what a unique and fascinating person Lex really was. He had the same ruthless streak that was obvious in his father but she knew from listening to him that he did not want to turn into Lionel. That to her was the crowning proof that he wouldn't. Along with his seeming devotion to making his friendship with Clark and even herself work.
Then there was the fact that he had a body to die for. Her mouth watered as she imagined what his naked chest would look like, the muscles gleaming in the firelight as she stroked them with her hands; what his skin would taste like against her tongue. What's more, the image of Lex pounding into her, hard and fast, grew clearer every day, making her nights long, agonizingly arousing ones alone in her room.
Still, Lex was not going to need another lover tonight, he would need a friend. And that was as good a start as any. An old saying about "friendship being true love set on fire" filtered through her mind as she pulled up to the gates of the mansion.
Her forehead creased into a frown as she noted that Helen's car was already parked in the circular drive. Quickly turning off onto the side road next to the gate, she parked her car a ways down and quietly made her way back.
She easily slipped through the gates, realizing Lex's security was still well below par. Moving quietly to the side door she recalled Clark talking about using for delivering produce, she was grateful to find it unlocked. Creeping inside, she began to make her way through the dark kitchen and soon found herself slipping into the shadows of the long first floor hallway.
Hearing voices echoing down the hall, she crept towards the doors to Lex's study, praying his minimal staff was either asleep or gone for the night. Luck must have been with her because she reached the office with no interruptions. Settling herself outside the door, she listened to what was being said.
"Lex, I really don't want a huge wedding." Chloe rubbed her forehead at Helen's whiny tone. It sounded a bit too much like Lana for her taste. "Let's just elope to Las Vegas. We can do a quick wedding and get right to the honeymoon." Her senses went on red alert at the words. Helen not only sounded whiny but desperate as well. Which meant she must have discovered the missing memo and was now trying to do damage control.
"Helen, I can't leave right now." Chloe was relieved to hear Lex sounding rational. "I'm in the middle of a huge deal and I need to be here to close it." She tensed as she realized what the "big deal" must be since she'd read about it in the memo less than an hour earlier.
"You can do it by fax from Las Vegas." Definitely desperation in that annoying voice now, Chloe thought to herself. "Lex, I want to be your wife and I want that now. We've already waited six months."
Chloe's heart fell at Lex's reply.
"I know Helen and I can see your point about avoiding the fuss of a huge wedding." Oh no! Lex could not be considering this. Not now! She held her breath as he continued. "But I just can't leave right now. Please try and understand. Besides, it's only a few more days until the weekend and then you'll have the wedding you've been planning for months."
Chloe's sigh of relief was not enough to drown out the obvious anger of Lex's fiancée.
"You're being unreasonable Lex." Anger had now replaced the desperation in Helen's voice and Chloe found herself rooting for Lex to stand up to his fiancée.
"Actually, I think you are the one being unreasonable Helen." There was a note of annoyance in his voice that made her smile. "This is important business. If you can't understand why I need to deal with it then maybe you should rethink spending your life with me."
Chloe's heart nearly stopped at the words. She hoped against hope that Helen would break it off. Then she wouldn't have to tell Lex his fiancée was evil and set to betray him. Although she would miss out on the much hoped for "comforting Lex" phase of her plan.
"Fine. Take care of business. But when this deal is done, I come first in your priorities and we elope." Chloe's heart fell again as she heard the tonal change in Helen's voice, now sugary sweet.
"I'll consider it Helen. Now I really have work-" His words were cut off abruptly and Chloe felt sick as she imagined exactly how Helen had gotten him to be quiet and taken his mind off work. The spark of jealousy was fast fanning to a flame and she found herself wanting to do nothing more than burst in and expose Helen for the lying bastard she was. But that would give Helen the upper hand and she needed Lex alone to tell him the truth before the evil doctor could twist the situation to suit her evil agenda.
Wondering what to do now, she sank back against the wall, trying not to feel helpless. A sudden movement, however, made her freeze. Her eyes spotted an unfamiliar man walking towards her, his eyes thankfully on the papers he held in his hands. Panicking, Chloe turned and quietly made her way down the hall and into the first door she could find unlocked. Slipping inside, she pushed it closed and sank against the paneling with a small sigh.
Obviously, she was not going to be able to get to Lex immediately. But she had time, at least another day until Lex's deal was done. That was if Helen was waiting until it went through to make her move. Biting her lip, she unconsciously began to pace around the dark room. She froze again as she heard voices coming down the hallway. Pressing her ear to the door, her blood ran cold as she made out their words.
"I'm sure of it Ms. Bryce. Chloe Sullivan's car was spotted just outside the gates but the young lady herself is nowhere to be found."
Chloe shuddered as she realized it must be the man she'd seen in the hall. Obviously, he knew Helen. Her eyes widened as she heard the doctor's reply.
"Thanks Jack. She must have taken the note from my bag at the Talon." Chloe's heart began to beat faster at the pure evil she heard in Helen's voice. "I want you to search every last inch of this house for her. She's here somewhere and I can't allow her to get anywhere near Lex."
"Don't worry Ms. Bryce. She won't get near Lex. She won't get near anyone else ever again."
Fear hit Chloe full on as she realized that Helen had most likely just given her conspirators the okay to have her killed. Moving quietly back across the room, Chloe tried not to panic but instead to figure a way out of this situation. Obviously the guards would be looking for her discretely if Helen did not want to arouse Lex's suspicion, which at least gave her a fighting chance.
Gathering up her courage, she slipped back to the door and listened carefully for voices. Hearing none, she cracked it and managed to look up and down the hallway. The coast was clear but probably not for long. Not to mention she was sure Lex had security cameras around the mansion and no doubt Helen's henchmen were using them.
Cursing quietly, she slid the door closed again and leaned back against it. There had to be a way out of this. What would Sydney Bristow do? The ridiculous thought was at least enough to calm a smidgeon of her fears as she began to look around the room for anything that might help. Disguise was probably her best option although she wasn't sure what she could find.
Walking towards a huge closet near the window, she opened the doors on pay dirt. A bevy of what looked like maid's uniforms was displayed before her. She must have somehow stumbled into the servant's room. She only hoped the outfits were not of the French Maid variety. Although the image of Lex seeing her in such an outfit was enough to make her panties damp.
{{Enough! You need to think about saving your life, not fucking Lex Luthor. Concentrate girl!}}
Subduing her sub-conscious for the moment, she prayed there was something in her size. A few moments later she pulled out a gray skirt and white blouse that looked about right. The skirt was a bit too short but that could be overlooked as long as she did not bend down too far. The blouse however was a different story. It was very tight across the chest and would hardly button so she had to settle for leaving the top three open, hoping no one would notice how much of her cleavage it revealed. Still, being that it appeared to be the only size stocked, it would have to do. At least it covered the basics and hopefully would make her blend in with the other maids in the mansion. Not that she'd seen any at this hour.
As a final precaution however, she found a little maid's cap and tucked her hair up underneath it. That way no one could even get a hint of the bright blonde color that would surely alert everyone to who she was.
Keeping her head low, she again cracked the door and noting the coast was clear, slipped into the hallway and began to make her way towards the front door. Only to stop and turn directly around the other way as she heard voices coming towards her. Heart pounding, she kept her pace sedate and her head to the ground as she tried to distance herself from the voices. She wasn't sure where she was going but it really didn't matter as long as it was away from anyone searching for her.
Several minutes and several flights of stairs later, she finally found an open door after what seemed like hundreds of locked ones. Figuring she was on at least the second or third floor of the mansion she slipped through the door with a sigh of relief. Her mood brightened as she realized she was now outside. It immediately fell as she realized she was on the roof.
"Great, I get outside but I'm more than three stories up." Muttering to herself she reached for the door handle, resigning herself to finding another way out. She frowned as the knob refused to move. Turning a bit harder, she felt the panic begin to well up as she realized the door must have locked from the inside.
A muttered moan emerged from her throat as she sank against the metal, wondering what to do now. There was no other entrance to the house she could see from her position and nothing to even think of climbing down.
She was trapped on Lex Luthor's roof, holding the one piece of paper that could save his company and hopefully his heart. Could things get any worse?
~*~*~*~*~*~
Present
Chloe sighed as she settled onto the hard, cold roof, wracking her brain for any great ideas. She had her bag but for once, her cell phone was not in it. She'd stupidly left it in the car without thinking. Everyone thought she was at the Torch, which meant no one would be missing her for another few hours. And it was progressively getting colder as storm clouds hovered over Smallville, visible even with the blackness of night around them.
"Just great. You've really done it this time Chloe." She muttered the words to herself as she wrapped her arms around her waist, trying to conserve body heat as the wind picked up. Closing her eyes, she continued to wrack her brain for a way out of this mess. She was so involved in her musings that she did not hear the door creak open or spot the menacing figure creeping towards her.
Chloe screamed as a large hand was clamped around her neck. Struggling with all her might she found herself no match for the burly man. Fear set in as the man dragged her closer and closer to the edge of the roof. Kicking and punching every part of him she could, she managed to break free for a moment but her attacker was obviously quicker and had her back in his grasp seconds later.
Chloe knew no one could hear her screams this far up but she hoped against hope someone, somewhere would hear. Her heart nearly stopped as she felt herself being lifted off her feet and shoved towards the edge of the roof. In full panic mode now, she struggled even harder but to no avail. Feeling her body begin to tip over the side she found herself with the insane thought that once again, a visit to Lex was going to end with her taking a fall, only this time she knew it would be fatal.
She gasped as she suddenly felt her attacker's weight pulled off of her and she fell forward, thankfully back onto the roof instead of over it. She watched with stunned amazement as Lex struggled with the man, not even thinking to question how he'd gotten there. However, seeing her attacker looked to have the upper hand, Chloe gathered all her strength and launched herself at the back of the man, wrapping her arms around his throat in an imitation of a move she'd seen Andre the Giant do in the "Princess Bride." She only hoped it would work long enough to give Lex a chance to move in again.
Her move must have startled the man because he staggered back from Lex, trying to claw her off his body. The distraction was the opening Lex needed as he sent one well aimed punch into the man's now unprotected face. At the same time, Chloe used all her strength to tighten her grip around the man's neck, hoping he would choke.
The attacker stumbled backwards, losing his balance and throwing Chloe off of him. The impact of hitting the ground stunned her for a moment as she watched Lex once again move in. Her attacker looked ready for another round, but seemed not to notice how close to the edge he was. Lex however must have, and in a move worthy of a Superbowl quarterback, lunged for the man and tackled him against the wall. The impact however overbalanced the larger man, who teetered on the edge then slipped backwards.
Chloe knew she would never forget the sound of his harsh scream as he toppled over the edge and disappeared from her sight. After a moment of shock, she managed to move over to where Lex lay panting on the ground, his body pressed against the hard stone of the roof. Thankfully, he didn't look as if he were hurt too badly.
"Chloe, are you okay?" The concern in his voice was music to her ears as she felt the emotion of the situation overcome her. Crawling towards him, she didn't think twice about going into the arms he opened as she approached.
"I'm fine now." She whispered the words against his chest as his arms closed around her, holding her tightly against him. Now this was the way to recover from a traumatic experience. Although she did have to wonder why she always ended up in danger every time she came to the mansion.
For a long time, she remained silent, content to reassure herself that they were both alive and unharmed by listening to his heart beat in time with her own. Finally though, she collected herself enough to realize she needed some answers. And she needed to tell Lex about Helen.
"Lex, Helen hired those men. She's probably got more-" She stopped as he placed a finger over her mouth to silence her.
"I know. They've all been taken care of. You're safe now Chloe." The calm words reassured her like nothing ever had. Breathing a sigh of relief, she rested her head against his chest, absorbing the knowledge that Helen's plan had been thwarted. But how had Lex known about it?
Raising her head she knew her eyes showed the suspicion she was beginning to develop. "How did you know Helen wanted those men to kill me Lex?" His sigh confirmed her suspicions.
"I knew Helen was working with my father to destroy LexCorp, I just didn't have any proof." The weariness in his voice tugged at her heart as she snuggled closer. "I've spent the past few weeks trying to establish the connection but had no luck. Still, she was so jumpy tonight I figured something had gone wrong."
Chloe chose not to comment on anything yet, wanting him to finish.
"When one of my guards mentioned to me that your car was spotted near the gates but you were nowhere to be found, I figured you'd stumbled onto something." Her look of surprise prompted a smile that quickly turned to a frown. "I really began to worry after remembering Helen's mood and the fact my men hadn't seen you. When I was told that there were several of Helen's 'guards' searching the house I knew they were trying to find you."
Chloe frowned as something occurred to her. "Lex, how did you find me?" His small smile sent a shiver down her spine.
"You forget this place has cameras everywhere, most installed by my father. I simply told security to use every one of them until we found you. I spotted you going out here and the rest, well, you saw what happened."
Chloe smiled as she realized how fast Lex must have run to make it here, just in time to save her. "I never thought I'd say it, but thank God for your father's worries you'll do something un-Luthorish." His low laughter set her senses on fire along with the knowledge that he hadn't removed his arms from around her waist.
"I agree. But I do want to know what you found on Helen, since I'm assuming that's why you're here?"
{{Oh, if you only knew I really wanted to be naked on top of you}}
Shaking herself out of the fantasy, she unfolded the paper still clenched in her hand. Handing it to him reluctantly she watched carefully as he read it. His reaction surprised her.
"Damn! I should have figured the deal was too good to be true!" With a muttered sigh, he struggled to his feet, pulling her with him but keeping his arms around her waist. She waited quietly, sensing he was working things out in his mind and not wanting to interrupt as he processed the situation. Although part of her was feeling pretty happy that he didn't seem heartbroken or devastated by the loss of Helen.
"So I take it this is what you need to bring her down?" It sounded like a line from a bad movie but the reaction she got made it worth her while. Lex broke out into a sly smile as he pulled her closer and lifted her off her feet in a hug. Feeling amazed at the show of emotion and giddy at his action, she allowed her brain to process the wonderful sensation of being so close to him, closing her eyes and inhaling his scent.
"Thank you Chloe. You've just given me the proof I need to prove Helen was hired by my father to destroy me and my company. You saved me and I won't forget it." The words were whispered against her ear as he kept her in his arms, almost as if he did not want to let her go. She wasn't going to complain.
"Well, if I'd have known I was going to get that reaction, I would have framed it or something." Lame she knew but it made him laugh and that was worth it. She smiled up at him, enjoying the amused look on his face. Suddenly though, something registered. "Lex, wait a minute. What about Helen?" She shivered at Lex's almost demonic chuckle.
"Helen will not be a problem anymore. And yes, the wedding's off."
She felt a tinge of sadness at the resignation in his voice, hating that things had to end like they had. But a larger part could not help but rejoice at the fact that Lex was single and could now begin the healing and moving on process.
"You okay with that?" She sighed at his curious look. "I meant, are you okay with losing yet another possible wife to your father's megalomaniac tendencies?"
His smile warmed her to her toes and sent butterflies loose in her stomach. "I'm more than okay Chloe. In fact, I don't think I've ever been better."
Smiling, she allowed him to pull back, catching her breath as he caught her hand in his and lead her towards the door. The smile faded as she noticed the door was closed tightly.
"Um, Lex, you do know that door locks from the inside, don't you?" Her tone was light but her heart sank as she noted the surprised expression on Lex's face.
"Oh damn." The muttered curse quickly turned into a string of expletatives as he repeated her actions of earlier and began to struggle with the doorknob. She knew he wouldn't rest until he was sure he couldn't open it so she did not even try to help or offer a comment. Her brain was still trying to process the fact that she and Lex were apparently trapped on the roof of the mansion.
Alone. Together.
Any fear she might have felt at being trapped was suddenly eliminated by the heat that swept over her as she imagined several lustful scenarios of what they might do to pass the time and keep warm until they were rescued.
~*~*~*~*~*~