The ABCs of Love (NC17)3/17/11 *VWXYandZ*

[Minty Revolution]

Title: The ABCs of Love
Author: Minty
Spoilers: Season four? Maybe?
Rating: NC-17
Summary: When Chloe asks Lex for help in finding her a boyfriend, he hosts her debutante ball and finds himself caught in the net he helped her cast.

AN: I needed something different to work on for a bit. I think I work better with a deadline so here I go, let's get this done before February is through!

ETA: So I didn't make it after all. But I'm done now! Thank you so much for reading and feedback is very much appreciated!


The ABCs of Love


Chapter A is for Advice


When Chloe said she had a proposition for Lex, he assumed it would be mutually beneficial and pleasurable. She was younger than him, and barely legal, but he was a Luthor with Luthor charms and traits. He felt flattered and agreed to meet with her. He was sorely disappointed, however, when she revealed to him what she really wanted from him.

“Chloe, I'm not going to do that,” Lex said plainly. He didn't bother to hide his annoyance.

“Lex, I just...I really would like your help. I helped you didn't I?” Chloe pointed out. She gave him her wide eyes, that trick always worked for Lana and Chloe wondered if she looked dumb trying to do something like this.

“That was different. We were putting a murderous man in jail. You want me to get you a boyfriend. I have to say, it's a little beneath me,” Lex gently scolded.

Chloe had to rethink her angle. He wasn't interested and he wasn't a bleeding heart. She gathered her wits about her and raised her head in defiance. She was not beneath him, she just had to get him in a helping mood.

“It's just that, you're so good at getting girlfriends. I don't know, you seem so successful, I thought you could just give me some advice about boys,” Chloe said finally. Stroking his ego was plan B and she hoped she didn't have to go for plan C. She didn't have one which was dangerous because that was the point, impulse was the point.

“Chloe, I'm rich. Women flock to my money, not me,” Lex stated with just a hint of bitterness.

“Whatever, Lex. You're really good looking, well read, have a lot of confidence, and on top of that, you're a really good friend. Your money is just a pleasant cushion to sit on,” Chloe said and meant every word of it. She left out the fact that he was obsessive and had a penchant for unearthing and hoarding secrets. Also, his dubious sense of justice made her a little wary.

Lex leaned back in his seat, searched her face for any hints of guile, and finally, gave her a crooked little smile. It was a nice compliment. And she was Clark's friend and she did help him out so much with putting his father behind bars, however temporary those bars were.

“I'm going to give you the advantages that I have, Chloe. It's temporary, but it'll give you some experience. Probably not the kind you want, hopefully you'll have fun in the meantime,” Lex said. He sighed and made a show of finally giving in to her whims as if she were some spoiled child. The way she bounced in her seat and clasped her hands together made her resemble someone's spoiled child, he thought.

“Okay, what's the first step?” Chloe asked. She'd taken out a little notebook and a pen and looked eagerly at Lex.

“No, not today. Go home and do your real homework, Chloe,” Lex said as he rose from his seat. He walked around his table to escort her to the door. Chloe resisted at first, but saw that there was nothing to be had from digging in her heels at this point. He said he was going to help her and Chloe knew he wouldn't go back on his words.

Before she left, she pulled him into a thank you squeeze. He didn't hug her back, of course, she expected as much. When he pushed her out and closed the door, Chloe couldn't help jumping up and down with excitement, smiling and dancing like a fool outside his door. When Lex opened the door and surprised her, Chloe flushed and scampered away before he could change his mind.

The next day, Chloe's dad was sent back to metropolis for three weeks. He was gone before breakfast, hugging his daughter goodbye and promises of constant phone updates. Chloe knew this was Lex's doing. Having her dad out of the picture would drastically improve her chances of getting a boyfriend, sure. But she wanted Clark and that boy was so straight arrow it was sad.

When she was done with breakfast, she was running a little late. She ran upstairs to brush her hair and teeth simultaneously when the loud roar of a fancy car made her jump. She rain downstairs and out the front door to find Lex leaning against a bright red corvette. The hood was down and the seats were white leather, there were even white racing stripes on the hood of the car.

“Whoa, is that a new car, Lex?” Chloe asked, tugging at her tee shirt. The hem of it was a little short but that was the style she wore when he dad wasn't around. And though she didn't really think of Lex as a father figure, he was eying her belly too long and she was getting a little self conscious.

“It's your new car, Chloe,” Lex said and handed her the keys. “I hope you know how to drive a stick,” he added.

“This is country town, everyone knows how to drive a manual car,” She retorted as she smoothed her hand along the hood.

“It's a nice present, but what's it for?” Chloe asked. She was happy to have it, of course, but she always questioned Trojan horses.

“I told you, I'm giving you the advantages that I had,” Lex was so nonchalant about the gift although he secretly wished she would dance around again like she had outside his office. “Come see me after school,” he added before he made his way to his waiting Bentley, driver provided.

When she slipped into the seat, Chloe moaned with pleasure. The car was purring under her butt and gave her all sorts of inappropriate tingles. Lex's cologne invaded and surrounded her even though the top was back and she found it comforting. It was then that the giddiness hit her and she bounced in the plush leather seat, wiggling her shoulders and giving a victory hoot.

Lex watched all of this from his car, binoculars held between clenched hands like a crazy stalker. He was at a fair distance away in his car but was close enough to see her happy smile. It stabbed at his core, twisted to fit and snuggled in like it belonged there. As uncomfortable as it was, Lex wondered what else would make her happy.

Chloe figured out what the gift was for. She wasn't late after all, considering how fast the car could go. When she pulled up in the parking lot, people stopped to stare. Everyone watched as she turned off her loud music and opened her door. The boys were smiling at her, and when she grabbed her backpack out of the car, she made her movements languid. The car gave her a lot of confidence, and though she was brassy before, she felt desirable now which was different.

The affect was temporary and selective. Chloe noticed that, away from the vehicle, she was still Chloe Sullivan. Every once in a while, she caught a glance from one of the guys that had seen her arrive in the car. But some of her glamour had worn off through out the day until school was over. There was a crowd around her new baby, like moths to a flame. They all backed away when she appeared in front of it. That was when she saw the license plate. CHLOE with the O as a heart. It was a cute little detail that made Chloe smile.

It was such a charming plate that Chloe didn't even notice the boys asking her questions. She just drove straight to Lex to thank him for the car.

[Rachet]

this looks to be a fun read

[Minty Revolution]

Chapter B is for Brownies

Lex wasn't in his office, he was in his industrial kitchen reading a dusty tomb with a round man. There were little plates with chocolate samples everywhere on the counter and it smelled delicious. He looked up when she came in and then went back to what he was doing.

When Chloe was close enough, she heard him talking to the other man, probably his personal chef, about a certain recipe from his childhood. Something about chocolate fudge and cream cheese piqued her appetite and made her more proactive in their conversation. Without asking, she picked up a chocolate chunk and munched on it.

“Mm! Whatever you're looking for, it's right here. That's the best brownie I've ever tasted!” Chloe exclaimed and licked her lips. “What are you guys doing?”

“We're trying to find the recipe my mother used for my birthday cakes as a kid,” Lex replied, watching her eying the other cake samples.

“So you're baking every chocolate cake recipe in that book?” Chloe asked, a little excited at that prospect and a little amused at the level of commitment Lex put into the things he searched for.

“What can I say, I'm ruled by sentimentality,” Lex answered. Chloe knew that wasn't true which made her wonder why he was doing such a thing. She caught herself before asking if this had anything to do with her, she shouldn't be so self centered.

“I didn't know you had a sweet tooth. What's the occasion?” Chloe asked instead.

“I'm sponsoring you, Chloe,” Lex replied, distracted, half talking to her, half reading the ingredients that, alone sounded like nothing special, but together would prove to be the perfect marriage.

“Sponsoring me? Like, for a charity walk?” Chloe was confused and she didn't hide it. She also didn't hide her impatience, she wanted his full attention, but she appeased herself with another sample.

“No. You're my debutante, Chloe. I'll be sponsoring your grand entrance to society.” Chloe wished she had it in her to spit the brownie out all over his crisp lavender shirt, but that would be wasteful, and rude. Instead, she made a half choked sound and cleared her throat.

“That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard! Besides, Cl- boys don't care about my status,” Chloe exclaimed, correcting herself and blushing for the obvious mistake. If Lex caught it, he didn't say anything about it. And although she didn't tell Lex that she wanted to do this for Clark, she was sure he knew, everyone knew.
“If you knew what boys wanted, Chloe, why are you here?” Lex asked. His tone was soft but simmering with easily maintained anger. The control he had over his voice also controlled his facial expression but not his eyes. Those blue eyes smacked her and humiliated her and made her feel small and weak. But as quickly as they had come, those mean eyes disappeared and were replaced with regretful shamed eyes.

“Look, I want to open you eyes to other types of men, Chloe. And I want to open their eyes to you,” Lex said with an extra sweet note to his voice. She thought it was his way of apologizing, but it was also his plan. He was going to play her off to the world as upper class when she was proudly working middle class. Not that the upper class didn't work, of course.

“So, what happens? I honestly don't know much about debutantes. I think the last debutante we had in Smallville was Nell and I wasn't even born yet,” Chloe said. Lex sent his chef away then, at which point he smiled and motioned for her to join him on his side of the table.

“I know a few things about debutantes,” Lex answered with innuendo. Chloe couldn't help but cringe at the way his eyes lingered in his memories. She wanted him present, with her. She needed guidance and he assured her he would be of assistance.

“So wait, what are the brownies for? And how does it connect to me being upper class now,” Chloe asked.

“It's for your ball. And it's my favorite,” Lex said as he perused the recipe book again. None of the samples matched what he remembered his mother's brownie cake tasted like and he'd tried all day to recapture it. If only she'd marked the page or something.

“Why are you worried about the brownies? Shouldn't we worry about...I don't know, the boys?” Chloe was worried that Lex might not be as helpful as she anticipated. He seemed a little off kilter, worrying about brownie cake recipes.

“Boy's like brownies, Chloe,” Lex replied smoothly.

Chloe helped him the rest of the evening with brownie recipes. He brought his chef back and both Chloe and the chef questioned Lex about the flavors that he remembered. When Chloe broke it to him that taste buds change from adolescence to adulthood, she could see his heart break. Maybe he really was sentimental, she thought.

Chloe ended up doing homework in his kitchen as the men created brownie mixtures. When it was late, Chloe was invited to stay over. Usually, she wouldn't accept, but he father wasn't home and she hadn't had a sleep over in a long time. Not that sleeping over at Lex's would be like sleeping over at Lois' place or anything, but it would be pleasant.

When she retired for the night, Chloe found another gift on the bed she would be sleeping on. The room, of course, took precedent over the present because of how big it was and how warmly and trendily designed. That was when Chloe realized that the room was specifically meant for her and that, when Lex thought of picking out bed spread and curtains, he thought of her favorite colors. It was such a nice gesture.

It was then that she gave in to the plainly wrapped box on the end of the bed. She excitedly tore open the box and lifted the lid, thinking she'd find her debutante dress. What she found instead was a pair of fashionably faded jeans, a loose white tank top, a gaudy necklace, and to her horror, a pair of undergarments. When she lifted these underthings up to inspect, she found them to be her exact measurements. And though they were simple nude colored things with just the lightest hint of lace and a satin rosette between the two fabric cups, the image of Lex's hands on them haunted and flattered her in unsettling ways. It so unsettled her that she nearly missed the note on the underside of the lid.

Chloe,

These are for school tomorrow,

Lex

It was so short and without any known innuendo that Chloe felt a little better about the bra and panties. Still, he had to have looked at her long and hard enough to know her size. But then again, he might not need to look so hard, he was a veteran after all.

She slept soundly and was awakened by a gentle knock on her door. When she was aware that it wasn't a knock in her dreams, Chloe rolled up and rubbed her eyes.

“Who is it?” She called out with a sleepy rasp.

“It's me,” Lex answered as he opened the door. He didn't hide his disapproval that she was still in bed. “I just wanted to tell you that breakfast is getting cold. And that I have to go to Metropolis tonight so if I'm not back when you get here, you're welcome to wait for me. You're free to come and go,” Lex added.

“Mmhmm,” Chloe said as she rolled over again and hid her head under the blanket.

“Chloe, it's seven thirty. You have school soon and you need to give yourself time to get ready in the morning,” Lex chided as he walked over to the bed and narrowed his eyes at the pink and orange lump as if he could see her snuggled underneath.

“Okay!” Chloe grouchily mumbled. It was a sign he should leave her be. She was obviously not a morning person and that was a trait that was hard to change.

When Lex left her alone, she managed to push herself up out of bed and paw around looking for her slippers. Then she remembered that she was at Lex's house and grumbled. That meant her tooth brush wasn't here, or her hair products.

She dressed quickly and found the outfit to be really comfortable and attractive. The tank was very loose and of a very thin stressed cotton. It draped alluringly over her breasts and felt as if she wasn't wearing a shirt at all. There was a detail she hadn't noticed before and immediately loved. It was hemmed with gold thread and Chloe wondered if it was real gold. The tank showed a little midriff, not as much as her shirt from that morning. And the jeans were a perfect fit, hugging the curve of her butt and hips like nothing she'd ever felt before. When she pulled the long twisted gold chain around her neck, it no longer looked gaudy.

She looked like a different person all together. Not Chloe Sullivan, like she'd known all her life. She was a different young woman with all the swagger she might have been raised with if she were brought up the same way Lex was.

She would get to brush her teeth because her private bathroom was well stocked with new hygiene related things. There was also a brush for her hair, a blow dryer, bath towels, and a bathrobe with her initials on the pocket. What a wondrous this it was, to be a friend of Lex's. She secretly wondered what it would be like to be his girlfriend.

Downstairs, Chloe smelled breakfast before she saw it. Eggs, bacon, all matter of fruit and breads. A pitcher of orange juice, water, an coffee was presented to her. She really ought to hurry off to school but being waited on was such a pleasure. It was then that she learned of how long Lex had waited for her. He'd been up early, as that was what he liked to do naturally, and had breakfast ready at seven. Now it was seven forty and she felt a little bad at snapping at him the way she had. She vowed to do better next time.

Before she left the house, Chloe saw a pair of white ballet flats waiting for her at the door. It went better with her outfit than the sneakers she wore the day before. Arriving at school was a similar experience as yesterday but today, her appearance matched her car. Eyes followed her through out the day and Chloe found it to be both incredibly exciting and exhausting. She wasn't being herself, she was aware of that, and all that acting was making her emotionally drained.

Clark did talk to her today, however. He noticed her car and wanted to ask her where she got it from. She told him what she dared, that Lex had given it to her because she helped him with the case against his father. Though it was a form of the truth, Chloe felt a little guilty.

When Chloe built up the nerve to ask him to the Valentine's dance, Lana interrupted their conversation gushing with compliments. She looked sincere and utterly beautiful herself, naturally herself that Chloe felt a little jealous. Why does she get to stay the same and I have to change, Chloe thought angrily.

Chloe didn't stick around, she couldn't be near Lana and Clark, she was upset at herself for buying into what Lex was doing to her. Or rather, what she wanted to do to herself. If this debutante ball thing was more of what Chloe suspected it to be, she would pull out before Lex spent anymore time and money on her. That was another vow to him she was determined to keep.

[Ronida]

I like Lex kinda being a fairy godmother-ish type for Chloe! Did I miss Gabe's reaction to Chloe's new car in the previously chapter though?

[Zannie]

I was wondering what Gabe would think about Chloe's accepting a car from Lex too! That's not a gift a father would be happy about for his teenage daughter!

This is cute! It's fun for me to read Chlex so much younger than I normally conceptualize them now (I'm all about the future-fics at this point). And they both definitely feel young in this one. I don't yet have a good handle on the emotional position of either of them. At first, I was thinking maybe it had a Lessons in Seduction vibe, with Chloe playing Lex by asking for his advice and help, but the second chapter didn't feel that way. So I'm not quite sure what to think, either of what they're feeling or why either one of them are willing to do this.

Anyway, it will be fun to see where you take this. Thanks for posting!

[Minty Revolution]

this looks to be a fun read

I hope it will be! I am having a blast writing it.


I like Lex kinda being a fairy godmother-ish type for Chloe! Did I miss Gabe's reaction to Chloe's new car in the previously chapter though?

I do too. I think, in the beginning, he was highly capable of giving, especially material things, to people he considered friends.

As for Gabe knowing about the car, he left for Metropolis before breakfast and Lex arrived after. I just didn't want Gabe around to give her good advice before anything fun could happen. He seems like a man that loved his daughter enough not to let her have frequent sleep overs with a grown rich man.


I was wondering what Gabe would think about Chloe's accepting a car from Lex too! That's not a gift a father would be happy about for his teenage daughter!

This is cute! It's fun for me to read Chlex so much younger than I normally conceptualize them now (I'm all about the future-fics at this point). And they both definitely feel young in this one. I don't yet have a good handle on the emotional position of either of them. At first, I was thinking maybe it had a Lessons in Seduction vibe, with Chloe playing Lex by asking for his advice and help, but the second chapter didn't feel that way. So I'm not quite sure what to think, either of what they're feeling or why either one of them are willing to do this.

Anyway, it will be fun to see where you take this. Thanks for posting!

Oh, I love LOVE future fics because it makes more sense to me. But I've been trying so hard to finish my other fic that I was dangerously close to not having any fun! So I am taking a break away from the future and fixing the past. Going back to a time when I thought that Chlex was providence.

Also, look above for the Gabe answer!

Thanks so much for taking the time to read my Valentine's Fic, everyone!

The next chapter will be up after lunch! My lunch, not your lunch...

[Minty Revolution]

Chapter C is for Cotillion

Chloe didn't go over to Lex's mansion that night. She didn't want to wait for him all by herself in his study, being waited on by people of whom she did not know the names of. Instead, she spent her time thinking about an article she was suppose to have finished yesterday.

Her house was quite and cozy, it smelled like laundry and coffee, and she knew where the remote for the television was. She also had a fridge full of food she liked and a bedroom with all of her favorite posters on the walls. This was her room and she felt like Chloe Sullivan in it.

When her phone rang at nine thirty that night, Chloe knew it would be Lex. His voice, without the context of his body, was strangely tantalizing. When Chloe realized she wasn't really listening to his words, she apologized and lied.

“I was just finishing up my homework. Can you repeat that?” Chloe asked.

“Your ball will be the day before Valentine's day,” Lex repeated, not at all annoyed. He did seem tired however.

“Um, isn't that only three weeks away?” Chloe asked. She looked at her digital clock then as if it would reveal to her the seconds she had before her big debut.

“I've gotten married in less time, Chloe,” Lex said as if that were a good example of how efficient Lex was with his time management.

“I'll look up some things I need to know right now,” Chloe said as she reached for her laptop, always within reach when she was at home. She meant to look it up earlier but with homework, the article and television, she was thoroughly distracted.

“No, you should get some sleep. I'll give you a hard copy of your schedule tomorrow and I'll email it to you later tonight,” Lex said. He should go to bed too and Chloe said so only to hear a soft sexy chuckle. It made her squirm in her bed but she settled when Lex cleared his throat.

“Okay, good night, Lex” Chloe said finally.

“Good night,” Lex echoed before he shut the phone off. Chloe was glad he didn't linger like she did. She always found it hard to say goodbye and walk away. Maybe that was why she was always left behind.

In the morning, Chloe woke up earlier than usual which gave her enough time to take a nice shower. She had plenty of time to put on her favorite tight purple tee shirt and an old pair loose gray cargo pants. There was even time to make coffee and fill her favorite cup instead of dumping most of it in a thermos, her hands, and the sink.

Chloe ate a healthy breakfast, fussed with her hair, and brushed her teeth. There was even enough time to check her email. Lex was true to his word and there was a digital itinerary. Her schedule was marked off with color coded blocks. School took up a lot of her time in blue, time with Lex was marked a purple, yellow for exercise, there was a pink for dance lessons, and a green for seamstress appointments. The colors were in pastels to appear nonthreatening, but Chloe saw through it and felt overwhelmed.

On her leisurely ride to school in her new car, Chloe thought of how to make Clark like her. She was always truthful to Clark about her feelings for him and though he shied away from them, he never discouraged her affections. Most of the time, Chloe assumed it was because he just didn't notice them when Lana Lang was around, smiling her pixie smile at him. She was hard to compete with not only because she was very beautiful but because she was just so incredibly nice.

When she couldn't get Clark alone that morning, she felt as if it was purposeful. He was avoiding her, she could tell by those strange nervous glances her threw her way when he saw her coming. After the third try, Chloe decided to give it a rest for a little while. The boy was scared of her, that much was apparent, she did want to scare him further by chasing him around the school.

Chloe checked her email again during a free period in the Torch office. There was a new email from Lex telling her to come over to his place again. She took the time to finish her new article and to edit the article she wrote three days ago, she even managed to finish some calculus and a history worksheet.

Her schedule for today overlapped time with Lex with dance lessons and she could only imagine awkwardly holding on to Lex as they painfully shuffled across his study. It was not a good vision, and it was also not accurate.

When Chloe arrived at the Luthor mansion, she was tired and hungry. Secretly, she hoped for more brownies. When she smelled none upon entering, she was sorely disappointed. However, there was a little snack for her on the dining table that consisted of a platter of fruit and cheeses. Chloe picked out a few of the Brie slices and the Pepper Jack cubes and went to find Lex. She was pointed in the direction of the dance hall by a familiar face named Michael. He looked pleasantly surprised to have her ask him his name and it made her feel better about being so tenderly cared for when she was there.

There was already music in the hall, a gentle piano playing a repeated melody. When she entered, the music stopped suddenly and all eyes turned to her. There were three pairs of eyes, three bodies rising up from their seats. Chloe didn't want to dance in front of other people.

Lex was dressed as he usually was, in a crisp dress shirt and a pair of dark slacks. There was another man in the room, sitting at one of the many grand pianos idly playing a melody with one hand. He was dressed similarly to Lex except he wore a jade colored tie. He didn't play now. There was a woman in a chair across from Lex. She wore her dark brown hair up in an elegant french twist and soft nude lips made her look warm even as her jade dress gave her a colder countenance.

“Chloe, welcome back,” Lex said to her as she closed the door behind her. She smiled cautiously and peered over to the two strangers. The abrupt stop in the music made the atmosphere instantly off kilter.

“Hi,” She said, staying by the door.

“This is Mirko and Alessia, They're world champions in professional ballroom dance. I've hired them to help you choreograph a quadrille for your cotillion along with a few other dances should you prove to have a knack,” Lex went on without checking to see if she was obtaining any of the information.

“Um, okay,” Chloe responded. She looked to Lex for a way to better immerse herself into this atmosphere. She felt under dressed and overly tired. With the way they all looked at her expectantly, she assumed they wanted to watch her perform on command.

“Come have a seat there,” Lex pointed to the chair that Alessia had been sitting. Alessia had moved to stand by Mirko in the mean time. Chloe was glad to have some direction. In her current state of mind, she would have stood by the door a lot longer than she had.

Lex left her alone in the chair facing the wide empty space. He sought out the company of the piano instead and seated himself with as much pride and grace as a professional pianist. Mirko and Alessia snapped into position as Mirko led Alessia out onto the floor. What followed was an elegant gliding, flowing, twirling adventure and Chloe was dizzy from trying to keep up. The music, played by Lex's deft fingers, cushioned her between the boundaries of fantasy and reality. When it was over, she felt breathless from exhaustion.

“Wow, um...That was really beautiful,” Chloe said, standing up and turning toward Lex. “I hope I don't mess this up,” she added.

“That was the slow waltz,” Alessia said with a smile. “You and a partner will be learning that particular choreography as well as the quadrille.” Her voice was rich and foreign, it wasn't until she spoke again to Mirko that she learned the woman, as well as her partner, was Italian.

Chloe looked to Lex and wondered if he was good at dancing or if he was just as nervous as she was about the whole thing. Or maybe he wouldn't really be her partner. Was she suppose to have a date for this cotillion? Was she suppose to find a boyfriend there? Lex did refer to her as his debutante, and that he was her sponsor, maybe it meant that he was automatically her date. These were all questions that needed clarification, the sooner the better.

As it turned out, Chloe didn't dance with Lex at all that night, but he did dance. Alessia and Mirko were good teachers, and the language barrier wasn't too bad at all since a lot of waltz phrases were French and Lex was capable of interpreting for her. Also, if that failed, the simple show and tell method worked just as well as explaining.

The basics were taught that night but not mastered. Chloe was still very far away from that lovely waltz Alessia and Mirko did. She didn't look over at Lex too frequently but when she did, she saw that he too sometime struggled with some of the steps. But he did have more practice than she did, Chloe was sure. After all, he'd probably been to his share of cotillions.

Alessia did not break one little sweat. Her nose wasn't even shiny and Chloe found that to be ridiculous. She hadn't touched the woman yet, but she began to wonder if the woman was real. Mirko wasn't sweating either, but he didn't do a lot of moving around during the lesson. He just corrected their postures now and then. Chloe found some comfort that Lex glistened just the slightest bit.

They ended the lessons for dinner. Chloe was drenched and disgusting and so glad she didn't have to touch anyone during practice that night. They had imaginary partners to learn box steps and bone straight posture. Chloe looked at her feet too much and was aptly scolded. It was going to be a hard habit to break.

After they bid their instructors a polite farewell, Chloe sighed with relief. It was going to be like this everyday until the cotillion, she just knew it. Lex handed her a bottle of water and suggested that they both freshen up before dinner.

Of course, Chloe did have a change of clothes. They'd washed her school clothes the first night she'd slept here and there they were, fresh and folded on her bed. She was glad to see those plain jeans and teeshirt instead of some magazine outfit she couldn't afford.

Dinner was eaten in the same dining room she had breakfast in. Lex was already there, all put together and dry. Chloe, however, not wanting to be late for dinner, towel dried her hair and did a sixty second blow dry. Needless to say, her hair was still pretty damp.

“Hey, Lex?” Chloe ventured after a long moment of silence.

“Yes?” Lex replied.

“Am I suppose to go to the cotillion or ball or whatever with a date? Or with you?” She asked casually even though the question made her a little embarrassed.

“Both,” Lex replied and continued eating as if the question had meant nothing. In truth, it probably didn't mean anything to Lex. He expected to escort her there and show her off. He was the fishing pole and Chloe was the tantalizing bait. She'd get plenty of dates after and maybe even a well-to-do boyfriend so why not have her now while he could.

“Oh, okay,” Chloe said. She assumed Lex meant that he would simply be her date. It was a relief to know, she wouldn't have to ask anyone to go with her. She'd ask Clark, of course, but she didn't want to bring him into those dance lessons and let him watch her fail. It was better that Lex and all of his friends see her crumble under pressure. That way, when she went back to school, no one would know.


A/N: Mirko and Alessia dancing! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve82-LCzXFI&feature=related

[dkfuryan]

just discovered this! Brilliant concept!

[Minty Revolution]

Chapter D is for Dreams

When Lex said he would walk her to her room's door, Chloe played along. She liked interacting with him better when no one was around, when she didn't have to hide how comfortable she was around him, as comfortable as anyone could get around a billionaire. A lot of the comfort stemmed from the trust built during the murder trials. They worked well together and she only stepped on his toes when he was asking for it.

“So, this is my door,” Chloe teased with her hands clasped behind her back. She tilted her head and smiled up at him through light brown lashes.

“So it is,” Lex replied and smirked at her little game.

“Well?” Chloe ventured, raising an eyebrow expectantly. She thought she'd done a really good job tonight and wanted a reward.

“Well what?” Lex asked, holding his head back with his hands casually in the pockets of his slacks.

“Aren't you gonna give me a goodnight kiss?” Chloe bit down lightly on her bottom lip to tantalize him but only served to titillate herself. Her lips were very sensitive to touch.

Lex gave a short and soft laugh at her audacity. They didn't drink any alcoholic beverage for dinner or during the brownie dessert, so he had no real explanation for why Chloe was acting so...tempting. Leaning down, he let his lips hover over supple mouth. Her eyes closed and her lips parted to further invite him in.

“So, you want me to kiss you?” Lex whisper onto her skin. His sweet brownie breath tickled her and made her lick her lips.

“Mhm,” Chloe managed. Lex reached out to touch her then, to run a gentle hand over her shoulder and arms. The touch sent her reeling inside but in reality, she just leaned against the door to her room. Lex's mouth still teased her, but not her lips. He caressed her cheek and neck with his soft mouth, finding his was to the shell of her ear where his free hand swept her hair back and away.

“Wish I could,” Lex murmured in a deeply sexy timbre.

Chloe's alarm woke her up at six in the morning. She gritted her teeth with frustration, she was sure she could have convinced Lex to kiss her. That was when her eyes widened with shock. That wasn't Clark Kent she was trying to convince in her dreams, it was Lex freakin' Luthor! And it was so utterly sexy that Chloe wondered if she tried to go back to sleep if she could get back to that point. Unfortunately, she was too turned on to go to sleep and she'd promised herself to not make Lex wait around for her in the morning, she couldn't satisfy any of her needs.

She was up and out of bed, with a frustrated groan. Again, there were no slippers by her bed. She should really grab her pair from home. She just hated touching her bare feet to cold linoleum. It was one of the worst things about the morning, the other horrible thing with her warm ass on the cold porcelain.

There was a box on her bed, she remembered seeing it last night but was in no hurry to see what Lex would dress her up as. Luckily, it was a bit toned down. There was a very cute purple capped sleeved teeshirt with a variation of her name on it. It read LOVE in white right across her breasts but didn't bare her midriff at all. Instead, it hugged her like a glove. There was a pair of Bermuda shorts and a charm bracelet that made all sorts of twinkling sounds when she moved.

There was also a few underthings in the box that she wore beneath her new clothes. A sports bra, she assumed would be for tonight, an a REGULAR package of underwear. She was a little relieved to know that Lex didn't finger her panties before buying them for her, but also a little disappointed.

She fixed her hair, fluffed it up, and fixed it again. When she was satisfied how it looked, Chloe applied her mascara and her lip gloss. It was the first time in a while that she had time for make up. There was something new on her sink that hadn't noticed before. A little perfume bottle with an old fashioned pump. Chloe sniffed it before she tried it, but because she was inexperienced with perfumes, she only spritzed herself once to avoid smelling like she had bathed in it. When the scent settled on her, she thought it smelled even better, like a vanilla flowers.

By the time she came downstairs, breakfast had made it's way to the table. She was just in time because Lex had already seated himself and was reading the morning paper. Seeing him stirred her appetite for kissing and made her hyper focused on his mouth. So when he licked the corner of his lips and ran his fingers over them, Chloe wanted to melt.

“Is there something on my mouth?” Lex asked, unnerved by her hooded expression.

“Yeah,” Chloe said dreamily but snapped out of her trance enough to correct her behavior, “but you got it off,” Chloe finished and took her seat.

Breakfast was an omelet filled with veggies, toast, a glass of OJ and half of a grapefruit. Lex had the other half of the grapefruit and they both saved it for last.

“So, I was wondering, who's invited to the party?” Chloe asked as she pushed the veggies around her plate. Lex put his paper down and considered her question.

“Who do you want?” Lex asked in return.

Chloe didn't know a lot of high society people. Lana, was of course, the only person she could see at one of these things. And she'd bet the girl was already good at dancing. But Chloe didn't think she'd want to see her rival there. After a while, Chloe shrugged.

“Who do you want?” Chloe shot back.

“The mayor of Metropolis has a son about your age, I think. He is attending Metropolis University for Political Science, I think. And there's also Wendy's son, the premiere socialite of this year. And I'm sure they've got friends,” Lex said.
Chloe didn't think any of these guys sounded interesting. But then, she thought of why Clark was so interesting. He was just a farmer's son. But he was so big and strong, and he didn't have a mean bone in his body. And, even better, he was her best friend. Chloe decided that she wanted Clark to be there. If he was, maybe she would try harder not to mess up.

“Can Clark come?” Chloe asked. She didn't want to reveal too much in her voice but her expression gave her away.

“Of course he can come to the party,” Lex replied, “He's our friend!” And though Lex did recognize Clark as a friend and in any other circumstance, would have treated him like a younger brother, in this situation, he was a rival. Lex knew it was silly to think of himself as a rival for Chloe's affections. In that arena, Clark has already won. What Lex really wanted from Chloe was her undivided attention.

“I have to go to school,” Chloe said and picked up her back pack and keys. “Will I see you after school today?” Chloe asked.

“Yes, I'll be right here,” Lex assured her and watched her head for the door. He waited to hear the engine of her little racer before he got up to practice the waltz. He hadn't really thought of the guest list too much. He'd assume that everyone would want to come to a cotillion that Lex sponsored. It was his first time throwing an event like this together.

Chloe sped off to school with plenty of time to spare. There weren't too many people there when she parked her car, which was fine. She rushed to the Torch office and sat smack dab in the front of her computer. She needed to know a little more about what this debutante ball was all about if she was going to invest her energy into it. She was really going to pull through on this one.

She also tried to talk to Clark again that day to invite him to the cotillion. Lex already said he was her date, but she wanted Clark to see how beautiful and graceful she could be. And in Lex's care, she knew she would be just that. But Clark was no where to be found, he wasn't in school today at all and Chloe frowned. That boy had never had a sick day in his life, something must really be up.

Chloe finished school that day, unfulfilled and cranky. She didn't want to go back to Lex's to dance until she was gross and slimy. She just wanted to vent to him about how dumb Clark was and how the world was so unjust. But that would be pretty immature of her and she was level headed enough to control most of her tantrums. When her dad was done in Metropolis, she'd vent to him.

The mansion was alive with music. Chloe found her way to the dance hall and found the door just slightly ajar. She assumed the music came from Lex but it was just a recording. And there in the middle of the floor was Lex twirling Alessia around and around. Her butter yellow dress fanning out around her floating feet and her dark hair moved like air around her beautiful face. They intermingled quick quick steps with long slow steps. and their torsos were pressed close together.

The young blond couldn't help but think back to the dream she had about Lex. His hand was very gentle in her imaginations and though they've touched before, it was never an intimate contact. Chloe wondered if Alessia felt the same thing when Lex touched her. The brunette seemed to like dancing with Lex because she smiled and closed her eyes to let him guide her.

Chloe watched intently, unable to pull her gaze away. There was something admittedly erotic about being a voyeur. Lex led this lean brunette across the floor, holding her body so close, and his face with smooth and gentle. What they did looked really complicated and Chloe didn't realize that Lex was so good at it. He must have been practicing with her for solidarity reasons only. When the music ended, Lex lowered Alessia down into a languid dip, holding her so tenderly in his arms. Chloe felt jealous. It was a very distinct feeling, jealousy, and she was already familiar with it.

“Are you going in?” asked a voice behind her that made her jolt. It was Mirko, light brown hair perfectly in place like yesterday, dressed much like he had yesterday except his tie color matched Alessia's dress.
Chloe turned away from the man, avoiding his gaze in hopes that doing so would keep him from seeing her flushed face. She felt bad for herself but she felt even worse for Mirko for she assumed that Mirko and Alessia were a couple, married even. And here Lex was, seemingly putting the moves on his gorgeous wife.

“No I've got to go to my room first,” Chloe lied and backed away from the dance hall. In truth, she did have to go to her room. There was a sports bra with her name on it.

Not only was there a sports bra, but when Chloe absentmindedly opened some of the drawers, she found that they were now filled with a few of her clothes from home. Chloe cringed, Lex had taken it a little to far. Chloe changed, anyway, into a pair of spandex and a loose rocker Tee that used to belong to her dad.

She was late by the time she came back but she'd done it on purpose. She needed time to pull herself together, if Lex wanted to “dance” with Alessia behind her husband's back, then he could. It was not her problem, nor did she feel like she should get involved.

“Chloe,” Lex said and checked his watch. “Mirko said he saw you arrive,” Lex added. He didn't want to scold her about the time she arrived but he did look annoyed at her. And she did break a vow to herself.

“Oh I had to change first,” Chloe confessed coolly. It was the truth, she did change. She still looked under dressed, but better she get sweaty in regular close than something too nice. Lex accepted her answer and moved to pull up a pair of strappy gold heels.

“I think these should be your size,” Lex said and gestured for her to sit down. When she thought he might kneel before he to slip the shoes on her feet, Chloe's heart floated up into her throat. But he just placed them on her lap and moved over to the piano. he picked up a remote there and music spilled over the room, not the waltz music but something faster and bouncier.

They practiced the quadrille steps. Alessia explained that there would be other couples doing this dance with the main couple, Chloe and Lex. But for now, just the four of them would have to do. Everything was basic, nothing fancy thrown in yet. They were waiting to see how quickly Chloe could learn. Chloe didn't even know how quickly she'd learn them. It seemed like everything she was taught yesterday went in one ear and out the other.

“Don't look at your feet, Chloe,” Alessia said again. “No no, you're standing too close, and keep your frame strong.” She didn't yell, but she spoke loudly over the looping music. When Chloe managed to figure out that the choreography was just four repetitions and two turns, she stumbled a lot less. And by then, Mirko joined Alessia in the quadrille. The two couples dance together, spinning around one another.

“Okay, Chloe, you are going to be handed off here,” Lex said in a gentle warning. He spun her quickly into the arms of Mirko. It should have gone smoothly, and would have had she been good at it, but she wasn't. She tripped on her heels and squealed as she landed with a clumsy thump into Mirko's arms.

“Are you okay, Chloe?” Mirko asked, hefting her up with shockingly strong arms.

“Yes, I just lost my balance,” Chloe said and rotated her ankles to make sure nothing was sprained. Besides the ache in her arches from the heels, Chloe was fine and stated so to keep anyone from worrying. It wasn't the first tumble she'd taken, but it was a properly timed tumble.

“How about we end it for tonight. Thank you Alessia and Mirko. The driver will take you back to Metropolis,” Lex said as he picked up a bottle of water, bringing it over to Chloe.

“Goodnight,” Chloe called out to them as she watched them leave, happy to be finished with tonights lesson.

“Why don't you--”

“Wash up before dinner?” Chloe finished with a tired grin, “absolutely!” She'd never been more excited about taking a shower in her life.

“See you in fifteen,” Lex said with an answering smile.

“Ugh, thirty?” Chloe negotiated with pleading eyes.

“Twenty,” Lex answered back.

“Twenty five.”

“Fine, twenty five,” Lex agreed and they both separated on the stairs up to their respective bedrooms.

Chloe wished she had more time to relax, but she was pretty hungry. The sooner dinner was over, the sooner she could go to bed. So she showered efficiently, dried her hair and put on the new tight jeans he'd first given her, and one of her red tank tops with the low cut neckline. She even reapplied her mascara and lip gloss. Why she decided to put that much work into a quiet dinner with Lex, Chloe wasn't really sure, but it might have had something to do with her dream last night.

[Fouzia]

I just read the story and I really like it^^
thank you

[Zannie]

Why she decided to put that much work into a quiet dinner with Lex, Chloe wasn't really sure, but it might have had something to do with her dream last night.

Heh. Maybe, just maybe.

Poor Chloe - what did she think? Of course she's going to dream about Lex rather than Clark! I'm sure she'll be figuring it out here soon. Now Lex I don't have a sense of yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if he's been dreaming of her too.

[Minty Revolution]

AN: Work is stupid. I hope it doesn't put me behind!


Chapter E is Even More than Anyone that I Adore

It felt like a dream, but Chloe knew it wasn't. She'd pinched herself underneath the table when Michael was finished serving her a plate of apple cooked chicken on a bed of micro greens. No, this was a reality.

Lex really was looking at her breasts. It must be the tank top. She'd done it on purpose but she didn't really think Lex would even notice. His tastes in women didn't elude her, she knew what he liked and she didn't think a little cleavage would grab his attentions that much.

“Do I have something on my...” Chloe didn't finish the sentence, she brushed her hands over her décolletage softly, finding pleasure in the fact that her skin was so soft. Lex pulled his eyes away from her breasts for a moment and smiled.

“Yeah,” Lex said, “but you got it,” It was unmistakably the same thing she said to him that morning. So he had known what she was thinking after all. Chloe stared down at her chicken cutlet and hoped the dimmer dinner lighting would conceal her blush.

“Remember, we have a trip into the city tomorrow,” Lex said after a moment of silence.

“Yeah, I know,” Chloe replied, thinking about her schedule. It was going to be her first trip to the a seamstress. Chloe was perfectly comfortable picking out whatever dress from some second hand shop, but she knew Lex would make a face if she mentioned anything. The only thing second hand in Lex's life was his furniture, and those antiques were passed down within the family so it just barely counted.

“Do you need to pick up anything else while we're there?” Lex asked, he took a sip of his juice while he waited for her answer. He saw her ponder for a while, trying to drag up what she could possibly want in the city that she could obtain in a single day long trip.

“Nothing that I can think of right now,” Chloe said at last. It was a safe answer that gave her the opportunity to come up with a real answer later, when she really was in the city and could think of something she could bring back. And though she knew she could ask Lex for anything she could possibly want, she didn't want him to be her personal bank. She had her own back, and it had exactly two hundred thirty three dollars and twenty seven cents. She could definitely buy a few things with that.

They finished their dinner in idle conversation. Chloe questioned the reason why the dancing was all that necessary. As fun as it must have been back in the day when the youth didn't have a whole lot of entertainment, now a days it was different. Dancing the waltz wasn't her idea of a sexy time with a guy. Although Chloe was too young to go to clubs, there weren't any in Smallville even if she wanted to go, she knew that partner dancing had taken a new turn with bumping, grinding, and jumping up and down like an idiot.

Lex was passable at these turn of the century dances not because his father thought it was a viable skill for world domination, but because Lex discovered that leading a woman across the dance floor was the precursor to leading her right into your bed.

Chloe did not ask Lex to walk her back to her bedroom but her breath did catch when they ascended the stairs side by side without so much as a word between the two. When they reached the top of the steps, she knew they would turn to their respective directions.

“Sleep well,” Chloe said just as Lex was saying some other common place night time idiom. She smiled at him and he walked away. She wasn't sure if it was her imagination but she noticed that Lex's eyes lingered just below her chin for a passing moment and she considered wearing her tank tops more often.

That night, Chloe dreamed of Lex waiting for her at the breakfast table with the perfect brownie and a hot latte. The dream in itself wasn't particularly sexual as much as it was sensual and the scent was so rich and real, Chloe thought she really was reaching out for that latte. When her alarm went off, Chloe wasn't disappointed, she really was looking forward to getting up and seizing the day. She was headed into Metropolis with Lex and she was going to remember to have fun.

Despite having a hard time finding something to wear, Chloe managed to match together that gold hemmed tank top with one of her shorts and the thickly twisted gold necklace. She dressed after her shower and tugged at her hair until she was satisfied with the bounce and flip. Chloe searched her reflection until decided on not wearing make up. A little chap stick didn't count did it?

When Chloe smelled the silky dark smell of coffee permeating her room, she knew it was time for breakfast. She was quick in descending the steps and found herself face to face with Lex Luthor, holding a steaming thermos and a plate of chocolate chip muffins.

“Slow down, Chloe. I don't want you breaking a leg before your debut,” Lex said with a smile. He offered her a muffin and the thermos, “we're a little behind so we'll have to have breakfast on the go. I hope you like muffins,” Lex added.

Chloe already took a bite, sipping the hot coffee cautiously though still managing to burn her tongue. She said “Mm!” through her bite and followed Lex to the door, putting on her white flats. He already had his shoes on and she thought briefly how no one in this place walked around without their shoes on when they were inside.

The ride to Metropolis was smooth and quick. Lex took one of his amazing sports cars and sped off like a rocket. Chloe saw then that it was nine and wondered if she was the one that held him behind. He would have woken her if she was getting too lazy, he had before, although she did snap at him.

They reached the city without trumpets or flairs. Lex slowed down and followed the laws of the road and she could see how he itched to swerve in and out of the traffic. He had the perfect car and a pretty good handle on his speed. And Chloe did find it exciting to race the stripes down those empty roads between here and Smallville, she could see the appeal.

By the time they passed through the Metropolis gate, the muffins and coffee were gone. Chloe felt the tingling buzz of coffee and hoped she could get out of the car soon. She hated confining places in general but with the caffeine high, it was terrible. It looked like Lex felt the same by the way he pressed his lips together and squeezed the steering wheel.

They parked in an all day lot with other pricey cars, and walked the city streets like they've always been there. And though they didn't look much like a couple, Chloe thought their juxtaposition made them special and edgy.

J'adore looked like any old boutique to Chloe upon first glance. She knew she couldn't afford anything in the shop herself. Lex didn't even look at the frilly bright things on the racks and display walls. He just went to the back of the room as if he'd owned the place, and Chloe had to wonder if he did. Not that she thought he would buy such a place, maybe he owned the building the boutique and several other stores leased.

Chloe followed him into the back room, passed the bolts of fabric to a studio space that hummed with a rhythmic beat. The beat stopped when a woman on one of the four sewing machines glanced up from her work. She smiled just the slightest bit and did something complicated with the flirty tuft of yellow fabric she was feeding into the machine. Then she cut the thread and put the fabric aside, standing up.

“Vous êtes en retard,” the woman said and Lex turned to translate. Yes, they were pretty late. They were suppose to be here an hour ago and Lex wasn't usually a tardy person.

“Parlez-vous Français?” the woman asked, casting her brown eyes on Chloe. Chloe knew enough to shake her head and the woman nodded and added, “You should learn,” with a heavy accent.

“Chloe, this is Eveline, Eveline, Chloe. Okay, now that you've been introduced, let's get to work. ” Lex asked. Chloe looked between the two people discussing her debut dress. It would be white, what difference would it make? Why they needed a seamstress was beyond her.

“Come here,” the woman commanded of Chloe. She looked to Lex and then back to the woman. How did these two know one another? The other woman was a petite older woman with her light brown hair twisted up behind her head. She wore a gold framed lauriet around her neck on a thread thin gold chain. She wore elegant pants and a fitted sweater and very little make up. These were all the things Chloe thought to notice when she walked closer to the seamstress.

Eveline reached out an over worked hand and placed it on Chloe's bare shoulders. She was expecting it to be icy cold but it was almost feverish. The older woman caressed down Chloe's attached arm and watched her squirm from the sensation. Next, she touched Chloe's chin and neck, down to the front of her tank top. Chloe blushed, not because she didn't expect her boobs to be fondled, but because Lex was watching quietly beside her.

When the embarrassing part was over, Chloe exhaled and folded her arms over her chest. She couldn't even look at Lex, who she was sure, was looking at her.

“She is supple, and petite. Her dress should be ivory, not white,” Eveline said at last. She reached over her desk to pull out, from a mess of cloth, an average black sketch book. She flipped through it and when she found the page she looked for, showed it to Lex and Chloe.

The sketch was very quick with angry lines but the flow of the dress was slower, softer. It folded around the stiff form like smoke. Chloe liked it immediately but Lex hummed doubtfully.

“I think this neckline could be changed,” Lex said and gave Eveline a heavy look. She smirked and nodded in understanding even though she didn't look like the kind of woman that would bend so easily to criticism, she must have agreed.

The woman took Chloe's measurements as Lex walked around the front of the shop. She engaged Chloe in very personal conversation but did not answer any of her questions in return. She found the woman's secrecy to be alluring.

“It must be nice to have a beau like Alexandré,” Eveline said as she jotted down some notes about Chloe's arm length.

“He's not my...beau,” Chloe replied.

“Il vous adore, and that is all the matters. The title is peu substantiel.” Chloe didn't understand French, but she got the meaning out of the context and could only smile pleasantly at the woman as she measured her breasts.

Chloe left the room and joined Lex out by the store front. He was looking around as if he were genuinely interested in the frilly things he saw. He even fingered some of the fabrics within reach and that was when Chloe went to his side.

“Okay, next stop?” Chloe asked.
“We've got some shopping to do,” Lex said and he wasn't kidding. By the end of their shopping trip, Chloe thought she was going to die from exhaustion, they never even carried their own bags! Lex just charged everything and then had them sent to Smallville later that day. They were mostly clothes for her and lots of side trips to catering places to sample foods. They were in a rush because planning something like this took more than six months and they were doing it in less than one. Needless to say, Eveline and anyone else Lex was hiring would be paid very well.

Chloe was getting hungry and suggested that they stopped somewhere to eat. And when Lex asked what she was in the mood for, all she could think about were burgers, fries, and soda. She hadn't eaten that simple fair in a while, not since Clark started hanging out more with Lana. And while the petite brunette could pack a burger in her gullet like any proper Kansas girl, Chloe just didn't like feeling like a third wheel.

“A burger it is,” Lex said and led the both of them away from the boutique lined streets to a different district in Metropolis, one that Chloe knew when she was younger but was a little different now.

“Have you ever been to Georgie's?” Lex asked, herding her through the door. It was a pretty relaxed place and the lunch hour was over so it wasn't too packed.

“Didn't it used to be a bakery?” Chloe asked, remembering the feel of the layout. She'd been here before.

“They still bake their own bread, but now they put a delicious cow in between it,” Lex said with a smirk. Obviously, he'd been here before and liked the cuisine. Chloe couldn't help but feel glad that he did like burgers and fries. He seemed more like the rest of the common people.

Service was speedy and the food was very satisfying. Chloe didn't want to look like a pig, shoving her face in her salty fries, so she tried to take it easy by engaging Lex in conversation.

“So, how do you know Eveline?” Chloe asked.

“She made my mother's wedding dress,” Lex replied. Everything Chloe thought about Lex and his knack for evading the truth seemed wrong. Was she so mistaken? Maybe all Lex needed was someone to ask the right questions instead of accusing him of something unfounded.

“So you...What? You found your mom's seamstress on a whim?” Chloe tried to put the pieced together.

“I asked around when I first got engaged. I saw a photo of the dress and thought I just had to find that same person to make my fiance's dress. She wouldn't do it, didn't want to make a dress for a person she never met,” Lex said with a shrug. The wedding had happened so quickly, they didn't have time to get measurements.

“Oh, I see,” Chloe said lamely. What could she say here? Lex just hired the seamstress that he'd wanted to make his wife's wedding dress to make her debut dress which might as well be a damned wedding dress.

When the check came, Chloe snatched it up like a king cobra. She pulled out her own little plastic card and gave Lex a winsome smile.

“It's the least I could do,” Chloe said as she held it aloft for the waiter to take.

“The least you could do is nothing,” Lex corrected but did not protest. He saw how victorious Chloe looked and liked it enough not to fight her.

Lex walked a tired Chloe back to the car. She very nearly slumped into the vehicle when the door was opened for her. By the time they got back to Smallville, the blond was asleep, mouth open and head rolling with every bump in the road. Lex didn't know what to make of her or of this thing he was doing for her. He wasn't expecting anything in return, he was just trying to repay her and let her know how much their partnership and friendship meant to him. He didn't mean to have her father sent away, to have her cloistered in his home, and to dress her up like a doll. But these were all the things that came naturally to him.

Lex hated to wake her up when they reached his mansion but they had a schedule to keep. Though they were late for Eveline, they cut their trip short to be on time for Alessia and Mirko. Lex roused her by putting a hand on her arm and giving it a light squeeze. When Chloe smiled before opening her eyes, Lex couldn't help but smile in return, even if she didn't see it.

Even though they weren't late, Alessia and Mirko were already in the dance hall. Their faces were close together and they were having a heated discussion in Italian. They stopped with Lex and Chloe walked in, Mirko's face was red and he stormed out. When Chloe started to ask if everything was okay, Alessia simply said , “He needs to compose himself.”

“Chloe, stop looking at your feet, look at Mirko,” Alessia scolded. She looked up at the man's face. His storming out didn't seem to be an issue because he came back ten minutes later and the partnering began. And though Chloe knew she ought not to be looking at her feet, she'd seen some videos about waltzing and saw the couples looked anywhere but one another. She didn't sass back, of course.

“Your feet, Chloe,” Alessia said again and Chloe's head snapped back up. She didn't even realize she was looking at her feet. The shoes were beginning to bite into her tired toes and her soles were aching with her weight.

When Lex finally cut in, Chloe was relieved. There was some scary tension coming from Mirko and Chloe felt trapped in his rigid frame.

“You look tired,” Lex said. He did push her today. The shopping had been frivolous and had delighted Chloe at first but after countless stores, her feet dragged on the linoleum inside the stores. But he still persisted, wanting to give her more clothes than she could wear in a lifetime.

“I'm really really sleepy,” Chloe admitted and rested her head against his shoulder. It was the wrong posture and Alessia was quick to say so. Chloe's head popped up again but her steps faltered.

“Okay, lessons are over for today,” Lex said at last. He wanted to get Chloe into bed because he was also feeling a bit fatigued. Alessia looked as if she wanted to protest when she looked at her wrist watch but Mirko agreed and gave his partner a pointed look. They had unfinished business.

Lex did walk Chloe to her bedroom. It was only seven and she chose sleep over dinner. There were already packages on her bed from their shopping, promptly delivered by stores that wanted to make a good impression. Chloe and Lex pulled them off the bed and set them carefully on the floor. Chloe took off her shoes and crawled into bed, knowing that sleeping in her makeup would make her look like a monster the next day. She didn't care, she was really tired. Too tired to even notice that Lex pulled the covers up over her body and turned out the light. He'd said good night but she was already asleep. And he felt then what he'd felt in the car, but he couldn't put a finger on it.

[Fouzia]

I really like thos story^^
I take a look to the last video: very gracious^^
I am french so Merci to use it^^

[SouthernChlex]

Bring on Chapter F please. I hope it's titled Falling in Love, or something equally cheesy. I love this story. I usually hate reading WIP because I'm a very impatient person, but I couldn't help myself. Can't wait for more.

[Minty Revolution]

UGH, was busy for V day and couldn't get out a chapter to save my life. Sorry!
I love corny too! But we're not there yet.

Chapter F is for Fear of Falling

Chloe woke up the next morning to work out in Lex's gym. He offered to get her a trainer but Chloe refused. There were already too many people added to the equation, she didn't need a trainer to make her feel like shit too. In reality, it was only Alessia that gave her the majority of the criticism, and granted, she deserved them.

The treadmill was her first machine of torture. And though Lex was lenient with her time in the gym, she did get quite a work out from dance practice, Chloe thought she would do better from now on. But she could only stay in the gym and work out until her body could no longer handle the stress, a total of thirty minutes. She felt like drooping to the floor on her way to her shower.

Lex was standing outside her door at a quarter passed eight. He was tired of waiting for her to wake up and when he didn't hear any answer after his initial knock, Lex let himself into her room. She was in the shower, he knew that upon entering and hearing the water run. She sang in that porcelain room, the off key notes tickling out to greet him.

He found that he was stuck in his position, holding his ground and his breath just thinking about how water would run off her skin. On her bed was an outfit she'd put together for that day. It was no surprise to anyone that Lex didn't have a real sense of moral fortitude. It certainly didn't surprise Lex that thinking of Chloe all wet in the shower aroused him. What did surprise him, however, was that he thought about acting on his impulses. He wanted to walk into that bathroom, throw open the curtain and pull her wet mouth onto his.

Lex's fingers twitched from the effort to hold him back. I should leave right now, Lex told himself but that thought fell on deaf ears when the handle to the bathroom door turned and out walked a very damp Chloe Sullivan. The only problem was that she had wrapped around her the white terry cloth robe he'd had embroidered for her. Lex gritted his teeth in both relief and regret that he'd given her that damned robe.

“Lex!” Chloe exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock. Her hands pulled the robe closer around her and a light flush made it's way up her neck to bloom on her cheeks. “I could have been naked!” Chloe added, walking over to her bed and snatching her clothes up, holding them close.

“I called out, I didn't hear you answer so I thought you were still asleep,” Lex explained. It was a good explanation because he'd come get her before. Chloe checked the clock on her nightstand and grimaced. Her shower had gone over long and she was a little late.

“Sorry, I'll be ready in five minutes!” Chloe said and took her wet body into the bathroom with her clothes. Lex could hear her getting ready behind the door, could hear the weight of the robe fall to the floor. And could hear her voice asking him something through the door.

“What?” Lex asked, now focusing only on the sound of her voice.

“I said, what are we doing today?” Chloe repeated. “I get a large chuck of time with you but it doesn't say what that time is used for.” Chloe added. She thought any time Lex was with her was technically time with Lex and redundant that Lex would block off her weekends to be with him. It wasn't as if she'd go anywhere else.

“We're going to do whatever it takes to make your debut a great thing for you and for all your guests,” Lex said after some consideration. At first, that was why he'd blocked off her weekend. But now that he really thought of it, Lex just didn't really know why. He could obviously plan around her and throw her into the midst of her own ball to watch how the wealthy young men would hack at each other to reach her, he knew she would bring that out in them without his tutelage.

Chloe opened the door, hair still damp, with the gray shorts and the cowl necked magenta tee shirt clinging to a slightly glistening body. He'd rushed her but wasn't guilty about it. What he was guilty about was the way he just stared at her legs, those shorts were a lot shorter now than when he saw her try them on in the store.

“Can I still have breakfast? I'm starving,” Chloe asked, clutching her belly dramatically.

“Of course you can have breakfast,” Lex replied and then both walked out of her room and down the stairs. Lex's legs were a little stiff from standing so still in Chloe's room, and Chloe's legs were a little stiff from the treadmill.

Breakfast, as it turned out, was a hot plate of french toast and the best maple syrup she'd ever had. There were also lots of fruits and the never empty pitcher of OJ just within her reach. Lex had already eaten so he just sat across from her, reading his paper until she was done gorging herself.

“Okay, what are we doing first?” Chloe asked as she wiped her mouth and leaned back in her chair. Lex looked up from his paper only for a moment and then back down, glad that the paper could hide his amused smile.

“I thought we could talk more about your guest list, we should send out invitations today,” Lex said nonchalantly. He shook his papers, folded them, and let them fall onto the table finally. “I'm going to show you some profiles I've gathered and I'll suggest a few but I'll let you do the choosing,” Lex added.

“Are you sure?” Chloe asked, taking a sip from her glass. She pushed her chair out when Lex started to and they both stood.

“Yes, I'm sure. I am confident that you know what kind of boyfriend you're looking for,” Lex said and gestured for her to follow him. They walked into his study, a room she'd been before.

There were manila folders on the couch with a laptop near by, some music was softly playing, and the room smelled distinctly of Lex and what he wanted people to smell, which was a slight tobacco with the aftermath of a strong sandalwood cologne and very fine polished leather. It was very masculine and, from what Chloe has gathered about Lex now, didn't really seem to fit him.

The two of them looked through the piles and piles of information that Lex provided her with and Chloe impressed Lex with her the way she could easily manipulate people over the phone, and through their technologies. Chloe hacked into several school accounts and cooed her way into learning about certain sealed juvenile crimes. They wouldn't tell her what the crimes were, of course, but the fact that Chloe managed to find out that there were sealed cases was enough for her not to extend invitations.

Not that Chloe thought that a criminal record was a bad thing, she knew that Lex had one, but it was just out of the sheer need to edit the long list of handsome young men and their families. Lex could afford to host a big party, and it would be a grand thing of at least two hundred guests, but there shouldn't be more than twenty boys to dance with or else she'd really collapse from exhaustion.

“I know you like Franklin, I like him too, but he's got a girlfriend, Lex!” Chloe said, closing the manila folder over the sweet smile. The boy was big, with blue eyes and thick brown hair. His similarities with Clark ended there. Franklin had just come back from a peace corp trip to South America, rode his bike back and forth between school and home instead of using his Bentley, and spent his spare time volunteering in the children's wing at the Metropolis hospital. The boy was well on his way in life, using his resources for good and he was really the best candidate for an awesome boyfriend. If the girl in his life could accept that saving the world came first.

Still, Lex pushed the issue. Stating simple things like being in a relationship doesn't mean that he's married to the mystery girl. Chloe shook her head, refusing to add his name to the list of names of boys that were invited to her debut.

“Should I invite girls?” Chloe asked suddenly. She didn't think she'd like a party with so much testosterone and so little estrogen. And she didn't want all the boys to stand around while she danced with one person at a time. Of course they were welcomed to dance with one another.

“Hm, I hadn't really thought about other girls,” Lex admitted and Chloe couldn't help but smile at the statement.

“Well, I just thought other girls would be welcomed,” Chloe said. “It is a dance after all,” Chloe added quickly.

“Who'd you have in mind?” Lex asked.

“Well, I know for sure I'd like my cousin there,” Chloe replied. As for other women, she really didn't know. She knew Lana but she didn't want Lana there, knowing the girl had a way of attracting the boys.

“I'll see what I can do,” Lex said and rubbed his face. They spent the next hour and a half going through the list of forty seven boys, trying to whittle it down to twenty. It was a tiring process and Chloe's stomach grumbled just as they crossed the last boy off the list. Lex had his chef send in some quick sandwiches and tea and they ate in his study, looking over the boys a few more times. By the end of that session, Chloe thought she knew these twenty boys like the back of her hand.

Lex called a stop to it, he noticed Chloe was having too much fun. And though he liked seeing her smile and flirt on the phone with what he could only assume were paper pushers, he did feel a little jealous that she didn't use that voice with him too often. In fact, she was different around him, floundering between her teenage years and somewhere younger, smarter, and a little too trusting of him.

The next step was picking out the perfect invitations. Chloe chose a scalloped edged card with the faintest green tinges on the corners. Then they decided on the wording and font to be used. Lex wanted the both of them to sign each invitation by hand but after several attempts, Chloe's wild scrawl could not be tamed, he gave up on the idea.

“Okay, let's practice the dances for a while before dinner,” Lex suggested as he rose from his spot on the leather couch. He'd been sitting there for so long, it dented from his shape. It took Chloe more effort to get up and she winced from the ache in her calves. She hated that treadmill.

“Not too long though, I have an article to edit,” Chloe said. It was really the first time that Chloe revealed that she had other work to do and Lex had to wonder if she did her homework at school or secretly at night after their practices.
Lex lead her across the floor and didn't pipe in when he noticed she broke the frame to look at their feet. She was struggling a little to understand the steps and if looking at her feet was helpful, he'd let her do it for a while. When she stopped stepping on his feet, Lex counted that as progress and sent her to the dining room and then to her room to finish her other work.

Lex was a kinder teacher than Alessia, that was for sure. But his leniency might give her more trouble when Alessia and Mirko come back for tomorrow because she wasn't sure if her frame had gotten any better, in fact, it might be worse.

Chloe worked late into the night, typing up the final copy of the next article. Clark rarely wrote anything worth while and when he managed to hand something in, it was chock full of errors as if he typed it in thirty seconds or something.

Lex knocked on her door and when Chloe gave confirmation, Lex pushed it open to see her still working.

“I saw your light on,” Lex said. He was dressed in a pair of sweats and a plain tee shirt. For some reason, Chloe thought he dressed that way for her sake and that he didn't really wear so much clothes when he slept.

“I had a lot more work to do,” Chloe said and groaned, saving the file and closing her laptop. She checked the time and rubbed her face.

“I thought I'd tell you, since you were up, that I'm going to Berlin tomorrow morning and I won't be back for a couple of days,” Lex said.

“Can I skip school and come too?” Chloe asked, jokingly.

“Yes,” Lex replied, taking her every request seriously. If he wanted to show her the life of luxury, he'd allow her those few benefits as well, which was travel at all hours and days of the year.

“Really?” Chloe asked, obviously shocked by his quick reply.

“I actually have to go in a couple hours. Do you want to get ready?” Chloe jumped right out of bed, wearing nothing more that an over sized Smallville High tee shirt and her polka-dotted underwear. She didn't even seem to notice that he was there, watching her find a duffle bag and throwing all sorts of things into it. Then she paused and looked up at him with the prettiest dismayed look.

“I don't know where my passport is,” Chloe whined. Lex just shook his head.

“I'll take care of that, don't worry. Why don't you get dressed and meet me downstairs in thirty,” Lex said in return, waving off her problem as if it were minuscule. He was on his way out, and in the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Chloe lifting the hem of her tee shirt up, hands crossed over her belly. He would have stayed for the show but knew better than to repeat what happened that morning. Also, the sweatpants did nothing to conceal his erection.
Chloe bounded down stairs twenty minutes later, fresh faced and giddy. She had a duffel bag, and a messenger bag he assumed held her computer. She wore a bland light blue tee with a pair of comfortable jeans and had a book in her hand.

“Okay, when's out flight?” Chloe asked, a little breathless from her rush.

Lex was sitting in the dining area, his bags all packed, wearing one of his regular suits and had his briefcase open to peruse some of his papers. He was obviously in no rush. He looked up when Chloe asked him a question but only looked down at his papers again.

“Soon,” Lex replied, shuffling his papers and closing his briefcase.

“Is this about your business?” Chloe asked, walking closing and heaving her bag onto the table.

“Yes, but it should fun,” Lex said with a little sneer to show he was being sarcastic.

“Oh! Should I not go with you? I didn't think it through,” Chloe returned, she didn't want to intrude on his business. This wasn't a vacation for him. Chloe just jumped on the idea of traveling because it was what she'd always wanted to do, and Lex just offered without any hesitation.

“No, you should come. I'd really appreciate your company,” Lex said, his face softening to assure her. He stood up from his chair then, checking his watch. There was a sound of an engine outside and Lex suggested that they make there way to the door. There would be a car to take them to the airport.

It was four in the morning and Chloe was too hyped to feel tired, which might be a problem by the time they got there. She didn't know how long that would take and whenever she turned to ask Lex a question, she thought he looked too preoccupied so she clammed up.

They weren't on a commercial airline. Instead, Lex took his personal jet and they were in the air within minutes of taking their seats. Chloe was very excited and spent the first hour just looking at the small world outside her window, imagining what it would be like to fly above it on the wings of the jet instead of inside of it.

When the sun rose, Chloe looked over to Lex's seat across the isle. He had one of those neck pillows hugging his shoulders and his head dropped back just slightly. His lips were only a little ajar and he breathed so long and deep that it put Chloe in a trance. In...out...in...out. It was rare for her to see him so vulnerable and Chloe couldn't help but take advantage of the situation. She saw how, even in sleep, his face was tight and Chloe wondered what it was he dreamed of. She also wondered if, perhaps, he dreamed of her the way she dreamed of him.

Chloe pushed the thought to the back of her head, feeling her cheeks burn with the thought and knowing there would be no real privacy on the jet and there was no way she'd join the mile high club all by herself.

His breathing made her sleepy, luring her into the welcoming depths of unconsciousness where she didn't have to wonder what it was about Lex that made him so...delightful.

Chloe finally woke up to the sensation of someone's hand on her arm. But they weren't shaking her, but stroking the arm until the skin raised with goosebumps.

“Mm,” Chloe managed and opened her eyes. Lex was kneeling next to her, looking fully rested and happy to see her.

“We're here,” Lex said. Chloe looked out the window to find that they were, indeed grounded and that Chloe had missed the landing. She stretched and cold feel Lex's eyes on the exposed section of midriff. She held the pose a beat longer to bath in the warmth of flattery.

She rose from her chair but Lex did not rise with her. He stayed where he was, kneeling in front of her and, for a moment, Chloe was afraid that he was going to ask her to marry him. But he did no such thing. What he did was reach for his hips, pulling her closer to him and lifting the hem of her tee shirt up passed her navel and kissed her left hip repeatedly, moving across the expanse of her creamy skin to the other hip bone.

It felt so good and when Lex murmured “delicious,” Chloe felt herself getting embarrassingly wet. She wanted him to touch her more, to let her touch him. When his hand slipped further under the shirt to flirt by the underside of her right breast on it's way to her ribs, Chloe's knees buckled and she nearly fell if Lex hadn't reached out to keep her steady. She wasn't afraid of falling, but was grateful that Lex anchored her.

“Lex,” Chloe whispered, sinking to the ground so that she could wrap her arms around his neck and pull him in for a sweet kiss.

“What?” Lex asked in a tone that didn't fit the mood. Chloe leaned back and narrowed her eyes at him. “Did you say something?” Lex asked, in the same preoccupied tone.

“Fuck,” Chloe said and leaned her head on his shoulder. When she opened her eyes again, she was on the jet, still soaring through the air. And Lex looked up then, eye brows raised as if she were going crazy. He was still sitting across the isle, writing notes on one of his important files.

“You said my name?” Lex asked, looking at her suspiciously now. Was she asleep when she did? She looked

“I just wanted to know if we're there yet,” Chloe lied, looking out the window.

“Not much longer. Another hour I think,” Lex said, looking at his watch. “Are you hungry? There's a delicious shrimp stir fry,” Lex added, going back to his work and missing the annoyed quirk on Chloe's mouth at the word delicious.

[SouthernChlex]

A-freaking plus. I love the alone time they'll hopefully be getting. And that dream...Whoo! Holy Hell. I loved it. I 've never been so fond of the alphabet...

[lilinny]

I just read a to f and it was great. I can't wait for G.

[dkfuryan]

loving it!

[ChloeLovesLex]

I've read A & B and love it so far. Can't wait to see where it goes.

Hope I can catch up quickly.

[Minty Revolution]

AN/ Expect another post today!

Chapter G is for Germany

Chloe was a sky grouch the way she was a non morning person. After the jet lag set in and the extremely painful ear popping during the landing, she was downright unpleasant. And to top it all off, Berlin in February was down right chilly and she hadn't packed well. Lex gave her the space she required, not only because of her disposition, but also because he had a lot of work to do.

This was, first and foremost a business venture. Lex was supremely responsible when it came to work but in the last week, he'd pushed back important meetings to spend more time with Chloe. And since the phone call he'd received late last night about the ebbing interest in Lexcorp fertilizer, Lex had no other choice but to fly out to Berlin and speak with the corporation in person. Once an interpreter was procured, of course.

Lex set Chloe up in a magnificent suite overlooking the glorious city that was Berlin. He wasn't sure whether he should let her sleep or work through the jet lag, but he honestly didn't have the time to coddle her. He left her with her homework and a vague promise to be back around supper. After that eight hour flight, Chloe didn't know exactly when that'd be.

Chloe cast a gloomy eye on the textbook that was her math homework. It wasn't difficult, just tedious. Everything seemed tedious now from the perspective of the rich and Chloe wanted nothing more than to eat and walk around the new city. She wished she could speak the language but she didn't know a lick.

"Where's you adventurous side?" Chloe demanded of herself as she turned off the television. Her laptop had not proven useful because she didn't recall where the password for the wireless was placed, but that didn't mean she could go out and make discoveries. Maybe she could even find a place for dinner tonight with Lex!

She she grabbed a pair of cargo pants and a very wrinkly loose butter yellow tank top as well as a thin long sleeve and a sweatshirt, her messenger bag with laptop, and all her money on a plastic card, and was out the door without translator or escort of any kind.

On the streets of the city, Chloe was decidedly less confident. Though she tried not to shrink into herself, she knew she must look like a tourist. She didn't understand the language and knew she had to exchange her money if she even considered buying anything.

And buying something was exactly what she thought would chase her grouchiness away. It was starting to be a bad habit but Chloe made herself feel better about it by using her own money. Also, she would need a coat.

Chloe walked into a building that looked and smelled like a bank. Her instincts were correct and when the teller waved her forward, Chloe gave the other young woman a sheepish look.

"I'm sorry, I don't speak any German. Can you help me?" Chloe asked. The teller didn't even blink an eye.

"Yes, what can I do for you?" She asked without the heavy accent Chloe expected.

"I need to exchange some money from my bank card. A hundred dollars," Chloe said.

"U.S to Euro?" the teller asked and Chloe confirmed. She took Chloe's card and looked it over. "You're out of luck. This is not one of the companies we accept!" She added before turning toward a computer. Chloe made a sad noise half between a sigh and a moan.

"What should I do?" Chloe asked. It was unfair of her to ask this woman for the assistance she should have gotten on her own soil. These were just things you learned before you travel but Chloe was too impulsive and now she'd have no money to spend and nothing to do before Lex got back.

"Well, you could either find an ATM that accepts your card or you could create an account with us and transfer funds," The teller replied, not at all impatient with her. In fact, the place was very busy with a customer at every teller. And that was when Chloe noticed that every slot had someone working in it, no closed signs and the lines were around one to two people per section. Efficient, Chloe thought.

And so, Chloe made an account. Easily pulling out her fake ID and within a few minutes, she had a German account with one hundred euros in it. She took fifty out for carrying cash and thanked the woman happily.

Now that she had her viable currency, she was ready to shop around. She wasn't quite hungry yet and wondered whether or not Lex was eating lunch somewhere with some corporate guy, talking business.

As she walked around the city, without any concept of good streets, bad streets, or where the hotel was, Chloe stopped by several places. A shoe store, not too expensive, to buy a pair of shiny black winter boots with a red heart embellishment as the calf strap. The shop owner spoke english and it was easy to let him teach her about how to count foreign money. The shoes were listed at fifty euros but was on sale for thirty five and Chloe thought it was a steal.

Chloe entered and exited many stores until she came across a second hand shop where she could more easily afford the clothes. It didn't take her long to find she was looking for. It was a charming hounds tooth coat that had a red belt across the waist and an exaggerated collar. The woman in the shop was very helpful finding her a fluffy scarf and long black gloves because, as warm as the coat was, it was quarter sleeved.

The woman, also easily speaking English, assisted her in finding the perfect off the shoulder sweater dress and a pair of tight gray jeans. Chloe talked the woman into trading for a few things. Though the cargo pants were way out of fashion, the woman found interest in the buttery yellow tank top and the thin long sleeved shirt Lex bought for her when they went shopping recently.

Chloe felt great and it wasn't until she was half way down the street that she knew why. She felt more like herself before the trials, before running around petrified that her father would be killed. In this new place, she wasn't the recent Chloe with all her school work, boy troubles, and Luthor problems. She was just Chloe, adventurous and fearless. And Chloe really missed herself and regretted asking Lex for help because he wasn't doing anything for her that she couldn't do for herself.

When she sat down for a late lunch, Chloe didn't even apologize for not speaking the language. Everyone in Berlin spoke English as fluently as they spoke their own language and were proud to showcase their skills. She did, however, feel guilty for knowing only one language and vowed to pay more attention next time in spanish class.

Inside the dimly lit restaurant, Chloe ordered a hearty soup and salad as well as some delicious dessert which consisted of baked pears, wine glaze, and melted brie. She was just half way through her dessert when a familiar voice called out to her.

"Chloe? What are you doing here?" Lex asked, standing next to her looking less than pleased.

"I'm eating my dessert. What are you doing here? I thought you were busy all day," Chloe shot back, unhappy with his disapproving tone. She already had one dad, she didn't need another one.

"I am, I'm meeting a client here for drinks in ten minutes. You shouldn't be out in a strange city by yourself," He chided, looking her over. She looked more adult than child and he wondered where she got the money to buy herself a new outfit in the two hours that he last saw her. He thought Chloe would stay inside, sleep off her lag and be happy to see him when he got back. Instead, he finds her at a restaurant eating sweet pears without a care in the world.

Lex had no other choice but to keep her close. He checked his watch and looked around him to see whether his client was around yet. The man wasn't and Lex knew he had to think fast.

"Would you like to join me and my Client for drinks?" Lex asked suddenly.

"I'm not really old enough for drinks," Chloe stated tartly.

"Well, you can have a rum and coke without the rum. It'd look the same. And that way, you won't have to be by yourself," Lex suggested.

"I don't mind being by myself," Chloe replied, not quite playing along. She was still sore about his earlier tone.

"Okay, I would like your help in making this deal. It's really easy, you just have to smile at him and be your regular friendly self. It'll make me look good and it'll give you something to do," Lex said. It was a lie and Lex wondered if she could tell. He didn't want her going about all by herself, she probably didn't even know the way back to the hotel. WHen it looked like she was considering saying no, Lex added, "You know I would owe you again," for good measure.

"Okay, what's my story? I don't want to be some random American girl that latches on to you like a gold digger," Chloe said at last.

"Why don't you be what you really are," Lex said. The last thing he wanted to his client to catch him in a lie. She was his debutante and he was her sponsor. Lex didn't see the twist of Chloe's lips, obviously unhappy with the truth.

[Fouzia]

The description is awesome because it was me in Berlin 2 years ago lol. I love this story so much!! I cant wait for the next update

[Rachet]

love chloe finding herself on her own.

[FarrahLea]

Great update! Love the independant and enterprising Chloe, and how comfortable she is in a strange city by herself. Can't wait to see what the next update brings.

[Minty Revolution]

AN: Stay tuned this week for more updates! AHH It's a race against time. Hopefully the writing doesn't suffer with my speed!

Chapter H is for Hospitality

Chloe was sure Lex didn't mean to call her a gold digger, but it stung nonetheless. But the fact that he would owe her again was too good an offer to refuse and so she agreed to play along.

The man they met at the bar was a man of great stature. He wasn't fat so much as stocky, tall and clean shaven. Chloe couldn't pin point his age, he looked anywhere between thirty to fifty, which was quite a leap between numbers. The only helpful hint was his voice, which crackled with age and a love of tobacco.

Lex greeted him first with one of those quick pump masculine hand shakes and a handsome smile. He'd call the man "Dieter" and Chloe assumed it was a first name because the man called Lex "Alexander" in return. Before Lex could introduce Chloe, she shot forward like a viper to take the man's hand.

"Hi, I'm Chloe Sullivan. I'm a journalist for the Daily Planet," Chloe half lied and hoped she looked far older than her age. The shocked look on the man's face was very revealing. He did not like reporters and did not know there would be one around, especially American ones that were so often vultures with their subjects.

Lex tried to save her but it looked as if his Client had made up his mind to leave. So Chloe reached out a pretty hand and placed it on the other man's arm to hold his attention.

"I'm here on vacation and bumped into Lex, so you don't have to worry. When I'm off duty, I'm off duty," Chloe promised with the sweetest smile Lex had ever seen. His client was certainly swayed but it wasn't the promise that did it. Chloe could have said she was an undercover cop and he'd still have a drink with her.

Lex was very impressed but not at all happy with her outburst nor her flirty attitude. This was not for pleasure, he was wining the man so that he could go back to the hotel and dine with Chloe. But here she was, arm in arm with Dieter Ruprecht, walking toward the far end of the bar where it was quietest.

"How has your stay been, Ms. Sullivan?" Dieter asked his youthful companion, so besotted that he forgot he'd only meant to have a drink and tell Lex that there wasn't going to be a deal after all.

"Oh, it's been a dream! It's my first time in Germany and though I have only been here for less than a day, I am honestly in love," Chloe replied with all the regal gestures she could remember Eveline and Alessia doing. Dieter laughed, amused by her straight forwardness and ordered her a Cherry Schnapps. Chloe knew she shouldn't refuse and so, before Lex could reach out to stop her, she took a ginger sip and licked her lips.

Lex tried a few timed to redirect the conversation to topics that would help him close the deal but found that Dieter was becoming more and more agitated with the interruptions. So, instead of change the topics, Lex carefully guided the conversation around Chloe and her involvement with LexCorp fertilizers.

Chloe, thankfully, played along. Going on and on about her next article on the raging success the fertilizer has been on the crops and the amazing health turn around because of it. Lex was surprised to find out that most of Chloe's gushing had been facts she up rooted all her own and wondered just how much she knew about his company.

Chloe was smart enough to nurse her Schnapps because Dieter had four times as many drinks and Lex was on his second. It was getting close to dinner time and when Lex brought that up, Dieter glowed with delight.

"Chloe, have you a dinner companion for tonight?" The older man asked. Chloe saw Lex's shocked expression but didn't know how to answer. She had to say yes, right? Lex was her dinner companion, he was her travel companion, and he was her friend. She was suppose to eat with him tonight, not Dieter. But Chloe also noticed that Dieter was not all that excited about LexCorp and didn't think he'd sign any paper work to tie their business together. Chloe thought she could do it, she could do anything.

"Why no, I don't think I do," Chloe replied with a smile. She ignored the dark look on Lex's face and said their fair wells to Lex as if he were only an acquaintance, and made their way out of the bar area toward the restaurant area where Chloe was a few hours earlier.

Chloe could feel Lex's eyes bore into the back of her head but couldn't afford to look back at him. And she could still feel those eyes when she had ordered her meal and ordered a glass of wine she very slowly nursed.

Dieter was obviously interested in Chloe but she knew she'd blow it if she'd reveal her real age. And so she stayed in character and tried her best to keep the dinner less like a date and more like a friendly supper. After all, Chloe was not in any position to lead anyone on and wanted to keep the dinner short so that she could head back to the hotel where, she was certain, Lex would not be.

"Are you Alexander's girlfriend?" Dieter asked finally after a fourth attempt to get Chloe to reveal more of herself. Obviously the woman wasn't a drinker and her wine was evaporating faster than she was drinking it. He had a sense the woman wasn't being very honest with him and Dieter wondered if it was, perhaps, an American thing. After all, he'd gotten the same dishonest vibe from both of the Luthors.

"Who me? No!" Chloe exclaimed and giggled prettily. "We're just good friends," Chloe added.

"Really? He doesn't seem much like a person who has friends, much less one as bright as you," Dieter replied, both a dig at Lex and a compliment for Chloe. Chloe smiled sharply, the way Lex smiled when he was only being polite.

"Well, I must say, Dieter, that Lex has been one of the best people I've ever had the privilege to call my friend. He's very honest to those who have the ability to grasp honesty and he's loyal to those that deserve it. And he's always been friendly to me," Chloe said in a huff. She took a sip of her wine and cringed, wondering if that was the final straw.

"A woman that knows what she wants," Dieter said after a moment of trying to interpret her face. He didn't understand Chloe and that made her all the more alluring. So what if she was interested in Lex, Dieter was confident that he could snatch her away. All he needed was time.

"I'm hoping to sign this deal with this Lex Corporation after all," Dieter announced as Chloe finished her dessert. The same kind she'd had earlier but never finished. "But I'd like to see these flourishing crops with my own eyes," Dieter added after he gaged Chloe's expression.

"Oh! That would be great! I'm sure Lex would love to show you around his plant," Chloe said, elated.

"No, I'd like for you to show me. You seem even more knowledgeable of the way his fertilizer works, and you are much more hospitable," Dieter replied. He saw Chloe think it over in her head, and like watching lightening in the sky, Chloe's green eyes sparked with what Dieter could only assume was approval. When she confirmed, Dieter smiled.

When Chloe returned to the hotel, via a lift from Dieter, Chloe was shocked at how far she'd walked without feeling fatigued. After all, she'd been on a plane all day long with only little bites of food. She was feeling the energy loss now but that was not unusual, it was night time and though she never finished either her schnapps or her wine, she did feel just a little light headed.

As she predicted, Lex was not in the suite. There were two rooms, two bathrooms, on large common room with a comfortable burgundy sofa and a fireplace with fresh flowers on the mantel. And though Chloe didn't notice the beauty of the room when she'd first come in, she saw it now but felt it lacking, empty without Lex.

She was trying to think of a way to make him forgive her when a knock on the door to the suite startled her.

"It's room service, Mrs Luthor," called out a youthful male voice. Chloe opened the door to a cart full of food and a bottle of Bizzl. Chloe's face drooped when she realized that Lex had prepared for the both of them a dinner for when he returned from his meeting. It only added to her guilt that she'd made Lex either eat alone or starve with the decision she'd made to dine with Dieter. She tipped the boy ten euros and stared at the food.

Chloe thought she heard another knock on the door and when she turned to open it, saw that it was Lex with his briefcase gutted on the floor. She bent to help him pick up his papers in silence, what could she say to him now? She felt as if he she'd ditched him and Chloe did a lot of things but never did she ditch. She knew from experience how much it'd hurt.

Lex tried to ignore her face. It was silly to feel so upset and jealous over the matter. She wasn't anything more to him than a friend. And if he wanted to dissect it further, she was Clark's friend. So, more a friend of a friend and a one time parter, and now he was her sponsor and she was apparently the key to getting Ruprecht to sign with him. Chloe was becoming too many things in Lex's life in so short a time.

"Have you eaten?" Chloe asked finally, looking behind her to a tray of food and the bottle of something fizzy. Lex had forgotten about the food he'd ordered before he left her.

"Not yet," Lex admitted and stood with Chloe, accepting the papers she handed him. They entered the room and stood on opposite sides of the table and sat.

"Dieter said he'd sign," Chloe said finally.

"I know," Lex replied.

"You were spying on me?" Chloe asked, without any rage in her voice. Just a curious musical lilt. For how long? she wondered. Did he hear her strong declaration of friendship?

"I just wanted to make sure you were safe," Lex replied easily. It was the truth, Chloe was too young to be dining clients for him and Lex regretted asking her to do such a thing. The fact that she was successful didn't make it okay and Lex also didn't like the way Dieter looked at her.

"Oh...I think Dieter wants to come to America...But you know that," Chloe said, rolling a grape between her fingers. She was full, she was just here to keep Lex company.

"Yes, I know," Lex replied, looking even more displeased.

[SouthernChlex]

Speed away, speed away. I loved G and H. Jealous Lex is one of my favorites in any story, and this is no exception. I wonder how they'll keep Chloe's real identity a secret once Dieter visits Smallville?

[Minty Revolution]

AN: Here's the next chapter. I'm working out the really embarrassing kinks of the following installments!

Chapter I is for Inevitable


Lex found Chloe camped out in the common room with her lap top, a few books, and her music whisper quiet at six in the morning the next day. She was in rare form and Lex wondered if she'd ordered coffee because he'd only ever seen her like this in the afternoon and probably two years ago.

She was wearing a pair of plaid shorts and a tank top, one leg folded up and the other stretched out on the table, soaking up the warmth of the room that she requested to be at least seventy three degrees. There were several different kinds of pens on the ground around the table along with a few scattered papers. Her hair was held back by a band Lex had never seen her use before and her head bobbed occasionally with the music Lex could barely hear. He discovered then that he couldn't hear it because she had her head phones in and her music was, in fact too loud that she didn't even hear him greet her good morning.

It was then that Chloe dropped one of many pens. Her first instinct, and the reason why there were so many pens on the ground, was to grab her yellow plastic baggy that was probably filled with pens at one point in time. Unfortunately, she had none left and grumbled with displeasure.

She removed her ear plugs then, to Lex's great horror and pleasure, to crawl around on the plush carpet to collect all the pens that she could find. She had the loveliest ass he'd seen in a long time, plush and neatly rounded beneath the tightened fabric of her cotton shorts. And when she stretched to reach under the table for the final pen, Lex thought he would explode in his trousers. She wasn't wearing panties and he could glimpse her beautiful slit both protected and glamorized by the dark gold glimmer of downy pubic hair.

It was only for a moment, but Lex thought it was enough torture. He adjust his throbbing erection and cleared his dry throat to get Chloe's attention. He succeeded in startling her and getting her to bang her head in the process. But he couldn't go over to check if she was okay, if he touched her, he'd more likely pull her down onto the ground than help her.

“Sorry,” he managed tightly.

“Huh? Oh, it's nothing, I was just doing my homework. I'm almost done,” Chloe said and pushed herself up, rubbing her head.

The little vixen wasn't even wearing a bra, Lex thought. She was still in her sleeping clothes and got up at the crack of dawn just to torture me!

But that wasn't what Chloe was trying to do. She wanted to finish her work before she got back to Smallville so that she could have some time to breathe. Clark emailed her the work she was missing and she finished it without too much difficulty. It was the next big article that Chloe couldn't figure out. She could write about Germany but she's only been in a handful of shops, one restaurant, and a very nice hotel.

“I thought I'd show you around the city today,” Lex said eventually, breaking into Chloe's internal monologue. When Chloe looked at him with her bright eyes and smiled happily, Lex knew he'd said the right thing. And though he often said the appropriate things at appropriate times, it was a real relief to know that he could say the right things to her.

“Where do you suggest?” Chloe asked. She didn't know much about Berlin other than the wall that had once separated the citizens came down in her life time. She wanted to see the remnants, if there were any, of the wall, and the writing she'd only read about in textbooks.

“I thought we'd go to the Pergamon Museum first,” Lex said, checking his watch. “When everyone else wakes up,” Lex added with a smirk.

Chloe went to get ready, showering and wearing the same sweater dress she'd worn the night before with a pair of fitted blue jeans and the same boots. She hadn't brought any makeup so she'd have to do without. Chloe was ready in thirty minutes and Lex was waiting for her on the cozy sofa facing the fireplace. Apparently the gilded still life painting was actually a television and Lex was watching the local news.

“Do you understand German?” Chloe asked, strapping the belt on her coat.

“Ein Wenig,” Lex replied, pressing his thumb and pointer finger together until they almost touched. Chloe took it to mean that he didn't know much.

“Ready?” She prompted and he finally stood, turning off the television and reverting it back to the drab painting of wine bottles and fruit baskets.

The walked there only because it was still a little early. Lex took her to a bistro for breakfast and they sat quietly while Lex sipped his coffee and Chloe watched the early risers bustle about on their way to work through the comfort of a warm interior.

“I'm sorry about yesterday,” Chloe said after a time. She wasn't looking at Lex and even if she did, wouldn't be able to decipher his expression. “About ditching you?” Chloe clarified.

“It doesn't matter. I know you did it for me,” Lex replied nonchalantly. But a flash of realization ripped through him at saying it out loud. She dined with Dieter for Lex, she flirted and smiled and placed herself in possible danger for him just like she had when she faced his father.

“Well, whether or not it matters, I'm not predisposed to ditch my friends and I know how much it hurts to be the ditchee. I just want you to know that,” Chloe continued. She looked at him now with genuine distaste for herself and her actions. Her apology had taken a lot of soul searching. She couldn't help playing out in her mind that she was Clark apologizing to herself and that thought was thoroughly sickening.

“Tell you what, you can make it up to me,” Lex said.

“How?” Chloe questioned, a little ashamed to be suspicious of Lex still but he was always sneaky.

“I'll let you know,” Lex replied with his slithering smile. It used to make her skin crawl, the way he did this to others, the inherited look he got from his father, but now it made her tingle with anticipation, aroused, and a little afraid. Chloe never thought she'd be into the bad boys, she thought only good girls liked bad boys and Chloe wasn't a vixen or anything, but she certainly didn't peg herself as the good girl.

The trip to the museum was very nice. They spent hours there and Lex showed her the underground tunnel that led to adjoining museums. Berlin was a great indoor tourist spot for winter weather. When Chloe admitted to feeling a little claustrophobic, they took to the streets for a walk and then lunch. Lex bought her all manner of souvenirs and apparel that would only suit colder climates, and then with just pure roaming about they went to Haupstadt Zoo.

In the winter time, right dab in the middle of the day, there were no crowds about and the crisp air made the animal smells tolerable. The walk was peaceful, with hardly a sound, most of the animals were sleeping or eating their lunches. Chloe was happy, walking next to Lex, teasing the big cats that roamed restlessly behind their fences.

They had dinner out as well, at a restaurant close to the hotel. Lex ordered Chloe some champagne to congratulate her on her travels outside of Smallville and Chloe drank with abandon, trusting Lex to be able to find their way home if she was too far gone.

He did know the way and led her there without trouble. Lex didn't know how much of the expensive bubbly stuff she had but she wasn't usually a drinker and it went straight to her head. She wasn't toppling over or flashing passers by but she did chatter quite a bit and was prone to wrapping her arms around Lex and telling him that he was a good friend, that he was her best friend.

Lex took her to her room, helped her take off her shoes, and left her just as she began to take off her jeans. He didn't need to be around to see that, he didn't think he could survive the memory of earlier that morning even. But Chloe stopped him at the door with a surprisingly firm grip and turned him around with a warm palm on his cheek.

“Lex?” Chloe started, her eyes serious and desperately honest.

“Yes, Chloe?”

“Is this a dream?” She asked.

“Yes, Chloe,” Lex lied automatically because he knew what was coming, could taste her mouth even before she leaned up on her toes to press her luscious body and lips onto his. He pulled her in and closed his arms around her like a vice, and before he could crush her, he pushed her away. This wasn't what he wanted, not for Chloe. She was special, she was his friend and he was not going to take advantage of her no matter how delicious her mouth was. But he didn't count on how persistent she would be.

How she pulled him back down to her waiting lips was a mystery to him but not as strange a mystery as how she managed to guide his straining body to her bed and wrap her creamy bare legs around his waist, pulling his suffocated erection down into the hot juncture between her thighs. And when her mouth wrapped around his ear lobe, whispering heated nonsense into his ear, Lex rolled her over to take control of the situation. But instead of rising out of bed and escaping into his own room, Lex found himself reaching beneath the black cashmere sweater to touch the softer skin beneath.

He pushed the sweater up to lay hungry kisses on whatever skin his mouth could reach and when Chloe moaned, Lex groaned in frustration. He forcefully pushed the knitted material over her head but kept her arms tangled up in the sweater. With her arms raised, her body inelegantly exposed, Lex drank in the sight of her. She was wearing the bra and panty set he picked out for her in the beginning. He thought she'd look good in it but that was an understatement. She was both beautiful and fuckable, dancing precariously on the fence. The needy way she gazed at him as he gazed at her and the flush on her neck and cheeks made Lex gentler with his touch.

He smoothed his hand over her full right breast, feeling her hard nipple through the delicate fabric. His body was attentive to hers, everything in him was attracted to her like metal to magnet. When Lex leaned down to kiss a soft path along the exposed edge of her breast, he was entranced. Every inch of skin was soft, fresh, and sweetened with the natural scent of her skin. He released her of the sweater and kissed up to her collar bone, licked and biting along the flesh there. Lex mouth traveled up further to her neck and he heard Chloe breath deeply, becoming relaxed with his calmer touch.

“I want you, Chloe,” Lex whispered into her ear but heard no affirmative response. When he lifted his head away, Lex saw that she had fallen asleep, mouth open and skin still flushing prettily.

[Fouzia]

Lex is so sweet!! I want one for me!!!

[SouthernChlex]

*I* love this story! I wonder how often Lex has had someone fall asleep while, well, you know.
I love it when you update, and I hope you find it in your heart to update again- soon.

[Minty Revolution]

Chapter J is for Jealousy

Chloe was already a sky grouch, but add to it the fact that she suffered from a horrible hang over and an equally moody Lex, the flight back home was more or less, a disaster. There was some turbulence that made her queasy and she couldn't finish her article because her computer crashed before she could save the last three carefully worded pages. Chloe was going to scream, she wanted to scream at Lex.

He'd become both distant and hovering, cold and terribly sensitive to her needs that it made her both grateful and spiteful. Chloe moped the first four hours of the flight, gritting her teeth to keep from saying hurtful things to him. The aspirin he'd given her had worked it's miniature miracle only on half of her brain, leaving the other one tight and throbbing. She'd napped and woken up with the same pain and groaned, pacing the aisle to keep herself from going stir crazy.

The last leg of the journey home, Lex was on the phone with Dieter, assuring him that Chloe was still somewhere in Berlin to stall him from flying out to America with them. Chloe listened carefully to the conversation until they spoke of margins and equity.

She was flattered that Dieter found her attractive. She'd had her share of guys interested in her but it was the guys that she found interest in that always broke her heart. Dieter was, of course, too old for her to even consider but that didn't stop him from considering her.

When Lex insisted that Chloe chew some gum as they landed, she complied and her ears just barely popped. But before she could thank him, he moved to get his things and throw his gum into the trash. Chloe wanted to stick her gum to his bald head she was so frustrated with his fluctuating moods.

Chloe didn't go back to Lex's place, she instructed the driver to take her to school and informed Lex that she'd missed enough. Chloe looked very tired and Lex was about to refuse but reconsidered. She was agitated and Lex didn't know whether or not it was because of last night or something else entirely. She didn't reveal anything about the night before, and Lex didn't know if she thought it was a dream or reality.

He was very upset and embarrassed that she'd fallen asleep when he'd whispered to her his need. It was a form of rejection and he knew that he could have taken advantage of her then, or woken her up to finish what she started, but he couldn't bring himself to do that. It was late and they had to go home the next day. Out of spite, he woke her up and packed her on the jet at the butt crack of dawn on purpose. They could have returned to Smallville anytime that day or the next but Lex just needed a little sweet revenge. And when he saw how she suffered on the flight home, he battled with himself to be kinder.

He'd let her go to school with the residual affects of alcohol in her system, reminded her to drink water, and drove off back to the mansion. He'd have someone pick her up after school in a few hours.

“Clark!” Chloe called out and regretted it. Her left brain still ached from sounds and lights. And there were a lot of sound and light in the middle of a busy hallway between class changes.

“Chloe? Hey!” The big farm boy exclaimed, pulling her into a half hug.

“Are you still sick? You don't look so great, need me to take you home?” Clark asked, taking a good look at her. He seemed peppier than usual and Chloe was very suspicious.

“I have to ask you something,” Chloe said, ignoring his questions.

“Okay...” Clark replied suspiciously. Chloe always asked hard questions.

“Will you come to my debut? I know you have a date for the Valentine's dance but this one is the day before and I just thought you could go with me to that one. No one in school will be there, I promise,” Chloe said in a rush.

“Um...” Clark replied with obvious discomfort.

“You can sleep on it, I'll send you an invitation, okay?” Chloe asked as the first bell rung to signify that everyone should be through the doors of their next class. He waved and turned away, thankful to escape the awkward situation.

Clark was making head way with Lana and the two of them were almost inseparable. He'd asked her to the dance and she'd agreed to go with him. Hoping to tell Chloe so that she'd finally back off, had proven difficult for the gentle giant. He'd hurt the blond many times before and though it was habitual, it made him guilty nonetheless. This time though, she seemed different, sick and sad. How could he say no to those eyes?

Chloe didn't stay long in any of her classes that day. Taking advantage of her hang over, she just dropped by to pick up and hand off work. Her teachers were so impressed by her effort that she knew she'd get good marks for participation even though she hadn't been there the last two days.

She spent the rest of her time in The Torch office finishing and editing her Berlin article. Then she stopped and stared at the pages. It was a confession that she'd been to Germany instead of being sick. It was an important article to her and she wanted to publish it but how the hell was she going to do that without admitting her guilt?

“Fuck,” Chloe spat out and leaned back in her chair. How was she going to come out with another article by Friday?

“What's the matter?” Chloe nearly jumped out of her seat. Lex was always so quiet without trying. It was the light footed method he used to get around his own home as a boy to avoid being caught sneaking out.

“Oh, Lex, you got me again. Oh nothing, I was just trying to figure out how to do a miracle before this Friday,” Chloe said. Then she checked the time and looked up at Lex. “Are you here to pick me up?” She asked.

“Mmhm,” Lex hummed, reading over her shoulder. It was a pet peeve of Chloe's but she bit her tongue and let him until he was satisfied.

“H A U P S T A D T,” Lex spelled out for her. “That's how you spell Haupstadt Zoo,” Lex added.

“It doesn't matter,” Chloe said. “It's not going to be published anyway,” but she made the corrections anyway.

“Because your school will know you went to Germany?” Lex inquired. Chloe nodded her confirmation and they were left with the hum of the computer to taunt her. Chloe sighed and leaned in her swivel chair.

“I'll let you interview me,” Lex offered.

“Really?” Chloe responded with disbelief. She'd hounded him before but he never relented. And here he was, offering her an interview of a life time only to help her out of a sticky situation. Lex was such a helpful friend, he'd become more and more the best friend she'd always wanted.

Chloe's face twisted with the uncomfortable haze of a memory pushing itself into her mind. Lex, her best friend? That phase seemed familiar, as if she'd had that thought already before. Lex's nudge helped her back to reality on onto her feet. She took his hand into a professional and eager shake, ridding herself of the lingering memories with a willing wide smile.

“Thank you!” She said with a giddy voice, bouncy on her soles as a powerful ecstatic jolt rippled through her body. It was the same dance that Lex found so endearing, when good things happened to her. He was happy he had the power to make it come about.

They started their interview right away. Chloe asked Lex questions in the car, writing down notes and keeping her eyes on him to catch any facial ticks. She wanted to record it but Lex didn't want to wait for her to find her hand held device. He promised to repeat anything she wanted him to repeat.

“When did you know you were going to take over your father's business?” Chloe asked. She knew it was a sensitive topic and expected Lex to either bypass it.

“Take over? Commandeer, steal, these are the things that my father taught me how to do as soon as I was able to understand. I didn't have a choice, he bred me to be his successor. I don't think he expected me to do it so soon,” Lex replied. His face was calm, his voice almost bored.

“Did you ever want to be anything else?” Chloe asked then, not a question she'd planned on asking but asked only in response to his answer.

“I wanted to be a scientist,” Lex answered after only a second's hesitation as if he were searching for the answer in himself. “A biologist,” he specified with a quirk of his lips.

They arrived at the mansion with Lex suggesting that Chloe have more time to collect all the questions she wanted to ask him and they could continue the next day. For now, they still had to practice there dance with Alessia and Mirko who happened to be waiting for them outside.

“I hope you've been practicing!” Alessia said as they group went inside and on to the dance hall. Chloe was feeling a little peckish and took a detour to the kitchen for a snack, assuring everyone that she would be right behind them.

Michael gave her a cookie and some milk and shooed her out of the kitchen where the staff were busy prepping for dinner.

Then Chloe changed into her sports bra, tee shirt and tights, and ambled down to the dance hall to rejoin her group. She bumped into an angry Mirko storming off into the opposite direction. He mumbled his apologies but didn't even look at her. Deciding it was a personal matter, Chloe continued on her way to Lex, excited about dancing with him again. He was really and excellent dancer, a lot more polished than she was.

But as she reached the door, she heard giggling that stopped her from entering. She peered into the wide crack and saw Lex kissing Alessia's elegant hand and then swooping her into his arms and the first dramatic steps of the choreographed dance. She'd seen them dance together before, and though it had more flourish now, it also made her heart ache somehow. She was becoming increasingly upset and realized that her expression probably mirrored Mirko.

When he let her fall into a dip, she trusted him to keep her steady and practically swooned, lifting her foot up high and was pulled up and spun out with what looked like wild abandon. Chloe was jealous. She was jealous of Alessia and Lex's chemistry as well as the older woman's skills. She was also upset because Alessia more suited the kinds of women Lex became romantically involved in. Chloe felt like running into her room to cry and storming into the room to demand Alessia take her dirty fingers off of her... Her what? Her sponsor? That would be humiliating.

“I just go take a breath, and then come back to dance,” came Mirko's rich deep voice. Chloe jumped. It was the second time that he'd spoken to her without having her speak to him first. So he was jealous too, and he dealt with it by storming out and coming back, able to dance without letting too much of the pain come through. How long had he loved Alessia?

Chloe assumed that they were married but they weren't even dating, they were just dance partners. Platonic dance partners that seemed to brim with romantic possibilities. It must be torture, Chloe thought as he nudged her through the door with a hand on her lower back. His hand didn't move even as Lex cast a dark look to the new pair entering the room.

“Chloe, you have to keep practicing with Mirko, he will be good for you,” Alessia stated as she pulled Lex back into her arms, correcting his posture and aligning his gaze with her own.

They both fell into the music, Chloe stumbled into the dance at first but with Mirko's steady yet unrelenting pace and posture, she fell into an easy rhythm and by the end, made only one mistake.

“Eyes, Chloe!” Alessia scolded and Chloe snapped her head back up. But other than that correction, her feet were doing a good job of moving to and fro. She was even starting to smile at her progress.

“You're doing good, Chloe,” Mirko said after a time.

“You think so?” She asked, happy for the compliment. She honestly needed the praise, she was feeling a little sorry for herself that Lex and Alessia were, literally, dancing circles around them.

“You're getting better and better every day,” Mirko admitted.

Chloe let the practice go on for a few more minutes and then decided to take the power to call it for the night. The cookie she had before hadn't been enough and she wanted her dinner with the impatience of a starved teenager.

Lex was quick to agree even though Alessia disapproved and Chloe raced everyone out of the room, pushing back her after practice bath in lieu for food. She was also hoping to have more quality time alone with Lex. But to her dismay, the other couple stayed for dinner as well and sat down with her at the table that had only seated Lex and Chloe all those nights before. Alessia even took the seat that was the most intimately close to Lex!

Chloe was less than pleased. She was down right angry at the attractive instructor. Chloe was also very confused because just that morning, she'd asked Clark to her debut. He hadn't answered but Chloe had a feeling he wouldn't say no.

[Fouzia]

I dont like Alessia^^And I hope Lex is just trying to be a good partner lol

[Rachet]

Did Lex not even take in to acount that Chloe may not remember what happened after drinking so much? I hope that Clark tells Chloe no, and that she is not upset because she relizes that she has moved on to something better. But something better means that there is more to loose. :)

[SouthernChlex]

Chloe, Chloe, Chloe... Tsk, tsk. Grab that little ho by the ponytail and kick her ass!
And Clark? Don't even get me started about him. File him under unattainable, and move on. Of course, I can't wait to see how jealous Lex will get having to compete with the German dude AND Clark.
You know, kiss starts with K, Minty...

[Minty Revolution]

AN: Grr, 28 days in a month. Ridiculous! And yes, another chapter out. Okay, three days left for...GULP, 15 more letters! Damn!

Chapter K is for Kissed

Chloe pulled his mouth down onto her waiting lips. Her tongue did not hesitate and made quick work of the barriers in between, flicking at his lips until he relented. He tasted of champagne and something stronger, more intoxicating. She moaned into the kiss and when he pushed her away, she took the firmness of his hands on her upper arms as a form of tease and Chloe was completely titillated by it. She didn't waste any time and leaned in again. He seemed weak to her insistence and that was exactly what she'd hoped for.

She walked them backwards, only vaguely aware of where the bed was. When he back hit the edge, she fell back and pulled him with her. His weight was so warm and welcomed, afraid that he might escape, Chloe wrapped her legs around him and locked him in place. He struggled only a moment but couldn't resist her probing kiss.

“Fuck me,” she whispered into his ear and nibbled on the lobe to sweeten the deal. He flipped her over then and touched her body with the roughness of a man in desperate need. She was elated in having caused this primal hunger to match her own. And when he pull her sweater up and left it tangled in her arms, Chloe could only gaze at the creature she'd created. He looked at her, licking his lips as if waiting to eat her up, an act Chloe anticipated.

But instead of feasting on her lush body like she thought he would, Lex very gently kissed her. She sighed happily from his kindness. His hands were particularly rough from hard work, but they were strong, firm, and precise. His mouth was soft and sweet on her breast and Chloe felt as if she were floating. Waves of goosebumps ran through her as his mouth moved to her collarbone and her neck and Chloe felt as if she were someplace else entirely, a warm safe place that glowed with candlelight and indistinct melodies. And before she could float too far away, she heard Lex whisper, “I want you.”

Before Chloe could gag on the cliché that were her thoughts, she opened her eyes too see that it was five thirty in the morning and she was wide awake. The dream was the most erotic she'd had yet and also more sentimental than they usually were. She wasn't really a “Get It Done With” kind of girl, but dreams were her special place to fuck without consequence, without heart break. And that dream felt dangerously close to, dare she think it? Falling in love?

Chloe pushed the thoughts out of her mind as she rose to greet the day. The sky outside was a very dim stale blue that would eventually explode with the glory that were Smallville sunrises. She lingered in the shower, standing under the strong stream with thoughts of last nights dinner zipping into her mind. What happened? Chloe thought as she rubbed her face with hot water.

“You are such a good dancer, Lex,” Alessia had said. She leaned in to talk to him and Lex smiled, thanking her for the compliment. He seemed a little uncomfortable, which made Chloe glad but he wasn't sending her the right signals to send her on her way. She even grabbed his hand and added, “You know what they say about men who are good dancers.”

“Is it the same thing they say about men who have big feet? Because I've heard that idiom and I don't think it actually correlates,” Chloe shot in. She wanted to burst Alessia's bubble but the woman only looked at her with the slightest annoyance. Chloe was pretty, but she was young and reckless, and her brain was bigger than her chest which most men didn't really like. She was intimidating and she knew it. But Alessia was her teacher and she used that title to dominate the table.

“You're very funny, Chloe,” Mirko said to loosen the tension the silence caused between Alessia and Chloe's remark. Chloe smiled at him in thanks. They were in the same boat and he wanted her to know that he was on her side.

“How long have you been dancing?” Alessia asked Lex. The way she said dancing made it sound like she'd said “made love,” and it made Chloe increasing uncomfortable that Alessia was so unabashed that she'd do this in front of Mirko.

“Since my Beautillion, I had a lot of practice at girl's debuts,” Lex admitted and Chloe wondered if she could use this in her interview. Sure, she didn't ask the questions but they were interesting little factoids that she was sure the world would love to know about the mogul.

“I bet you did have a lot of practice,” she said, touching his hand and laughing as if it were the funniest joke in the world. Chloe didn't think it was even a joke to begin with, he was just making a truthful statement. She had to go and dirty it up with her gutter mind. Not that Chloe didn't think about the kinds of practice Lex had. She had to do something to stop her from her embarrassing actions.

“So, Mirko...How long have you two been dancing together?” Chloe asked.

“England, we came together accidentally in the middle of '95,” Mirko replied. The tone of his deep voice softened to caramel as if he were recalling the exact moment of this coming together.

“Yes, accident indeed. He'd had a falling out with his partner at the time. She'd been thoroughly seduced by the last year's champion and had a rendezvous at the exact time they should have been on stage together. I was around and thought I would step in,” She shrugged. “End of story,” Alessia added in a rush.

“Yes,” Mirko agreed in compliance. Chloe felt as if Alessia was skipping over the best parts, although the tryst did sound very juicy. And poor Mirko, Chloe thought, lost his partner to another man. Was it happening to him again? Would Alessia do that to him after knowing that it'd happened to him before?

“I'm full,” Chloe said with a bratty lilt to her voice. She noisily pushed out her chair, making sure to rattle the table, and made her way toward the stairs that would take her to her room. And thus to her present situation of bathing away the night sweats that accumulated from the hot dream she had about Lex Luthor.

Clark was avoiding her at school again. He zipped out of sight at every chance he could get and Lana was acting funny too, catty but still sweet. Chloe couldn't make heads or tails of the situation and was too frustrated from trying to figure it out.

She'd gone through all of her classes in a daze, thinking of all the preparation ahead her. It felt a little like planning a wedding but Chloe had never done such a thing before and couldn't really compare. She'd also been thinking about the interview with Lex.

What bugged the most were her dances, she wanted to get better even more now knowing that Alessia had her sights set on Lex. She knew it was the green-eyed monster and she knew it wasn't fair to Lex to gripe about Alessia's attention when Chloe herself wasn't going to fill the woman's shoes.

“Chloe? Did you have a question?” asked Mr. Turner, her history teacher. Chloe looked at him with wide eyes and shook her head. When she looked around, she saw that the last students were on their way out and the door was closing.

“Sorry,” She squeaked and got her bags to go. She didn't want to stay any longer than she had to. Chloe had to get back to the mansion and finish the interview with Lex so that she could finish the article and get it published in time.

The drive to the mansion in her new car was still a thrill. The little shiny thing could go so fast and smooth. Half way there, Chloe began to list all the questions she wanted to ask Lex. She was sure that if she asked the right questions, she could paint a better portrait of the man. Chloe was always very detailed oriented but this interview was special, not only because it was Lex Freaking Luthor but because it was Lex. And if it was one thing that Chloe loved more than caffeine, it was knowing everything there was to know about her friends.

“Lex?” Chloe called out into the study. She'd busted in with all her usual flair but she expected him to be sitting in his chair waiting for her. He wasn't. He wasn't in his study at all. Chloe pursed her lips and looked around the room, an impish smile captured her lips as she closed the doors behind her. What better way of knowing a man than giving his mancave a thorough inspection?

Chloe started with the things closest to her, his door. It was big and double doors, with a few carvings to make it elegant, a little imposing, but not at all gloomy. Chloe then glanced to the book shelves, fingering the spines and smiling wider. There wasn't a spec of dust on them, on anything in this room for that matter. And why would there be? Chloe thought. Lex loved his things and took very good care of them.

Next were his strange war displays. Little glass cabinets with metal warriors in action poses. A rich boys version of plastic army soldiers that couldn't go into the microwave. Were these his favorite toys? Did he still play with them when he was all alone in his big house? Chloe wondered all these things as she meandered to the liquor. She couldn't tell brandy from rum but she thought she try to smell it it. The amber liquid burned her noise and made her eyes water.

“You're too young for that, Chloe,” Lex said. He grinned when she jumped and nearly dropped the glass stopper. She replaced it and turned around smiling brightly.

“Do you always have to sneak around?” Chloe asked.

“I don't find a need to make a grand entrance like yours when coming into my own study,” he replied. He saw her looking at his war figurines, touching the glass with a delicate hand, a whimsical look on her face. He'd told her two nights ago that he wanted her and he still felt the same way.

“I was looking for you,” Chloe said, taking a step back when Lex took an imposing step forward. “You know, for the interview?” Chloe added.

“I remember,” Lex replied, walking forward. Chloe was scrunched up between a glass case, a book shelf, and an advancing Lex. When he reached out to her, Chloe closed her eyes and tried to calm her wildly beating heart. But when no touch actually came, instead there was music, Chloe opened her eyes. Lex had been reaching for his remote control and was turning on his music and adjusting the volume.

“Are we going to dance?” Chloe asked, recognizing the music to their waltz.

“Yes,” Lex answered simply and took her hand to spin her out from her tight spot and into his waiting arms.

“But what about the interview?” Chloe asked, her feet moving on their own accord without her needing to think about each step.

“We can do both,” Lex stated with a shrug, the only time his frame ever faltered. He moved so easily and led so confidently that Chloe wondered why he didn't want to be a dancer instead of a biologist. “Ask me a question,” Lex added as he glided around his study.

“What do you hope to accomplish in your lifetime?” Chloe asked, wondering if she'd start to feel dizzy, thinking of the questions in her head and remembering all his answers too.

“You're merciless. I was expecting something more along the lines of favorite music or something,” Lex said. Chloe was sure it was his way of stalling so that he could either think of a suitable answer or a way to escape the question.

“Answer the question Lex, it's an easy one compared to the questions I'll ask you later,” Chloe chimed.

“Okay, okay. Of the record, I really want a family,” Lex revealed and looked a little embarrassed. He didn't blush but Chloe thought if she pushed it a little more, he would. The power was intoxicating.

“A family? You, bilionaire Lex Luthor wants a wife and kids,” Chloe verified in a teasing tone. There was a little color on his cheeks and he kept his eyes averted.

“And a dog,” Lex added with a crack of a smile. They both laughed as Lex spun Chloe around.

“You get one more off the record, but anymore than that and this isn't going to be much of an interview!” Chloe warned as Lex spun her back into position. When Lex nodded, Chloe pursed her lips to think of another question.

“What's your guilty pleasure?” Chloe asked, making sure to put a little flirtation into her voice. Men responded well to that particular voice but it was only a very temporary spell she weaved and Lex didn't seem immune, which was a very good thing in Chloe's opinion.

“Hmm,” Lex hummed, his voice involuntarily thick with desire. “I would have to say comic books.” Lex replied with a smirk. The disappointed look on Chloe's face revealed more than she probably intended.

“What's the most money you've ever spent? Ever,” Chloe probed, purposefully ignoring the evil look he gave her.

“Your debut,” Lex admitted without so much as a quirk of an eyebrow, as if it wasn't a big deal.

“Really? How much?” Chloe asked, both horrified and curious.

“Next question,” Lex prompted. He didn't look like he was going to relent, he just pulled her across the floor, smiling like a gentleman.

“Who do you look up to?” Chloe asked. She knew he wasn't going to say his father like most men, or God like others. Chloe had a list of dead warriors that might fit the bill but there were a lot of powerful dead men in history, more than she cared to name.

Before Lex could answer the question, he pulled her close and pushed her back into a deep dip. Being unprepared for it, Chloe hesitated and fell back awkwardly, but upon feeling Lex's arm firmly beneath her, Chloe relaxed a little into it. Lex was looking at her intensely, and to avoid his gaze, Chloe let her head drop back and her eyes fall shut. She felt as if she hung there for a long time and felt on her neck his soft breath like kisses in her dream.

A knock on the door broke Chloe from her trance and she struggled in his arms, tripped herself up and landed with a thud on her butt.

“Sorry to intrude, Sir, but there's a man demanding to see you, Miss Sullivan, by the name of Dieter?” Michael said, looking a little flustered, the same flustered look he'd get when Chloe barged in. Chloe stood up just in time to see the afore mentioned man push through from behind Michael.

“Chloe! It's so good to see you again!” said Dieter with a bright smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

[Rachet]

Oh no, another cliff. Come back and save us.

[Fouzia]

I want more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! please

[SouthernChlex]

Hey now, those were make believe kisses! No fair. *pouts*
Great chapter. Loved it, never doubted I wouldn't. And I really liked like how Lex's favorite guilty pleasure was comic books. Go Warrior Angel!

[Minty Revolution]

AN: 28 days in February! I guess there's no such luck that this is a leap year?! Ahem, I cheated.


Chapter ELEMENOPEE is for Short Cuts, More Smuts?

Dieter spent the night in the mansion, finding any moment at all to socialize with Chloe. Lex was frustrated by how easily she smiled at him, how warmly she spoke to him, and how adult she was around him. Of course, Lex knew that Chloe was playing an older version of herself, and Dieter didn't even know that it was just an act.

In all the rush of trying to entertain Lex's possible business associate, Chloe came up with an idea that she should live in her house so that Dieter wouldn't think that Lex and Chloe were romantically involved. Lex didn't like the idea but Chloe just couldn't be stopped. She packed a few things and right after dinner, mysteriously disappeared.

“I have some business in Metropolis so I will take up some accommodations there in the morning,” Dieter said casually over drinks. The man was sharply dressed from his perfectly combed black peppered hair down to his shiny alligator shoes. He was obviously dressing to impress this Ms. Sullivan as he took to calling her.

“When would you like to see the plant?” Lex asked. In the back of his mind he cringed with the thought of a messy factory. He wished that he'd had the renovations done last year as planned instead of having it pushed until the year after this one due to limited funds. Lex hadn't had time to walk through the fertilizer plant or the crop fields that used his product. He had no idea if they would impress Ruprecht enough to have him sign on.

“I have a meeting with Crandall tomorrow so I won't be able to in the morning. When is Ms. Sullivan available?” Dieter asked, taking a sip of the strong flavorful brandy.

“I have no idea. She didn't leave you her contact information?” Lex asked smugly.

“No, do you have it?”

“Do to privacy, I don't think I'll hand that over to you. But I'll give her a call tomorrow to remind her to reach you for the plant tour,” Lex relied.

“Plant tour? No, I wanted to ask her out to dinner again. She is quite beautiful, I'm surprised you haven't tried to scoop her up yet, Alexander,” Dieter said with a wide grin.

“Me too,” Lex replied with a hard smile, challenging the man standing before him.

Lex watched Chloe eat, reading the mock print of his exclusive interview. Knowing that she wasn't there in the mansion the night before was torture. Knowing that she was in her house all alone was even worse. As soon as Dieter drove off to Metropolis, Lex called Chloe at school and demanded that she return to his home. She didn't argue which made him think that perhaps Chloe also had trouble sleeping knowing that they were so far apart.

But she didn't look as if she'd lost any signs of sleep. In fact, when she came home from school she looked very cheery and even hugged him hello. When Lex asked her, she just shrugged. And now, here she was in a tight tank top with one teasingly loose strap that would slip down every time Lex looked up at her from his computer. He knew Dieter was right, Chloe was very beautiful. She was beautiful when she marked her paper with her red pen, she was lovely when she squinted her eyes as she read, and she was gorgeous when she smiled proudly of her work.

“This can go out next week,” She proclaimed triumphantly. “What?” Chloe asked upon noticing that Lex was staring at her. He'd done that since she got back.

“Oh, Dieter wants you to call him. For a date,” Lex said and regretted it. He wished he'd said something else to keep her from realizing that he was checking her out.

“Ugh, that's the last thing I need,” Chloe groaned with all the teenage flair. “When?”

“Whenever you feel up to it. I'm taking you to Metropolis for a dress fitting this Saturday so if you want to keep up appearances, what with you being a journalist at the Daily Planet, you should plan it for then,” Lex shrugged but Chloe could tell he was a little irritated and she wondered if he was jealous of Dieter.

“Okay, I'll call him,” Chloe said and put away her homework. “You wanna dance?” Chloe asked, holding out a hand to him to pull him out from behind his desk. They danced for a little while, Chloe looked at her feet for only a quarter of the time. She was genuinely getting better, but she wondered if she'd be as good as Lex or if she was going to look like a zombie dragged by a swan.


Chloe had a bad feeling about the white plastic bag that hung in the very center of Eveline's studio. Part of the hem exploded from the bottom of the bag and it made Chloe nervous. She worried over the fact that she might look ridiculous in the frilly white thing, or not be able to dance and fall flat on her face in front of all those society people.

But when Eveline shooed Lex away and unzipped the bag, Chloe was awe struck. The dress was not as poufie as she had suspected. It was an empire waist ivory dress with a sweet heart collar and it wasn't too long either so she wouldn't trip up. When Eveline helped Chloe into the dress and let her gaze at herself in the mirror for a while, Chloe thought she believed in miracles. The dress played on her girlish charms but also emphasized her breasts and gave her the most amazing cleavage she'd ever had. It had strands of pearls in place of straps, a few on her shoulders and the rest slipping over the edge to rest high on her upper arm. And when she spun, it fanned out like a proper dress should only to rest on her calves after she was done messing around.

“Quick, take it off,” Eveline said after she'd made some notes. It was a little too long still and Eveline suggested that she would tuck the hem two more inches and make Chloe a wrap with some of the left over material. Chloe easily unzipped herself and carefully stepped out of it, handing it over to Eveline before putting her jeans and tee shirt back on.

Lex came in just then, looking a little disappointed in the fact that he missed the dress fitting. He'd had to step out for a moment because Eveline didn't want him there to see her undress. She said she'd come get him when Chloe was done but apparently the woman lied because when he looked accusingly at her, she only smiled wickedly.

“When's you date?” Lex asked, almost spitting out the last word.

“At seven,” Chloe replied, not unaware of Lex's temperment. She wished he'd seen her in the dress. He wouldn't be so grumpy now, Chloe was sure.

They were currently shopping for clothing for Chloe's date and a few more things that she might want. Lex scowled at every date outfit she brought up. They all seemed too provocative to him and he made a point in leering at all the exposed skin or overly emphasized curves. He thought he was seeing her through Dieter's eyes but he had to admit that if Chloe came out covered in mud and wearing a burlap sack, Lex's cock would still throb against his tight trousers.

Chloe eventually decided on a fitted navy pant suit. She wore a lacy lavender tank underneath that emphasized her décolletage and though Lex seethed when she adjusted her breasts for better cleavage, Chloe wouldn't go back on the outfit now. She added a tiny glass heart on a thin gold chain and a pair of dark blue and white stripped sling backs. She looked hip and mature all at once and decided to do the rest of her shopping in this exact outfit.

Lex was not pleased. He did not like the idea of buying Chloe an outfit that Dieter would be mentally stripping off her. She looked so good with her blond hair tossed about. She clipped it back on one side with dark clip to expose one bejeweled ear. And the fact that she was wearing it all day as they walked around the fabric district of Metropolis drove him crazy. There were so many dark alleys that he wanted to pull her into, to push her up against brick walls and to rip that flimsy lace thing off her to prove to her how fragile the material was. And the thing that he hated the most was all the attention she was getting from the men around her. She didn't notice most of the quieter stares because Lex glared at them until they looked away.

Chloe thought they looked like they match more. She'd made a point to match his color choice. His navy suit and his pale lavender dress shirt, no tie. They weren't matchy-matchy like a couple but looked more unified as friends. When before, Chloe looked too much like a teenager hanging out with an older man, not she looked like and felt like his business partner.

Lex went to his penthouse in Metropolis to wait out the date. Chloe didn't want him to spy on her and Lex didn't think he could bare watching her laugh at Dieter's jokes or feign interest at his stories without rushing over and tackling the solidly built man. So he tried to get some work done, checking the clock regularly to make sure it didn't go past ten. Chloe told him she'd make sure the date was over by then, and meet him at his penthouse.

They spent the first twenty minutes drinking at the bar. Chloe first ordered a coke with a lemon in it and drank it slowly. Then Dieter ordered her a beer and she sipped it. Beer wasn't so bad, if she took it slow, she could drink two of them without getting more than a little buzzed.

Dieter regaled her with stories of being on the coast of Spain last summer during dinner. And when she ate dessert, Dieter spent his time smiling knowingly at her.

“You have the most beautiful smile, Chloe,” said Dieter. It sounded like a genuine compliment and Chloe smiled the smile she assumed he was complimenting instead of saying thank you. She wiped her lips when she finished her little fluffy cake to signify that she was done. He'd led the conversation so far during dinner but Chloe was determined to guide the next part. She couldn't leave so soon after dessert, thinking to herself that she should treat him how women should be treated after sex. Cuddled and cared for.

Chloe took him back to the bar and ordered the both of them a beer. She smiled at him then, a crooked, let's get down to business, smile.

“I suppose you want to see the plant during this visit since you're already here,” Chloe stated and sipped her beer. It was cold and refreshing and she liked it.

“Yes, I do. What's your availability?” Dieter asked.

“How about Monday after...Work?” Chloe nearly said after school and that would have been a slip she wouldn't know how to fix or cover up.

“Okay,” Dieter agreed. Chloe hoped that Lex could get the fertilizer plant in shape by that time. She didn't want Dieter here any longer than he had to be here and the truth was she wanted him gone before her debut.

“Why've you been so skittish to sign the contract?” Chloe asked, wondering if he'd take the bait and give her some information to take back to Lex.

“Skittish?” Dieter began with a scoff. “I'm just careful. LexCorp is relatively new in the fertilization field and Alexander is too young and risky an investment. His father was different, older, more wise to the world,” Dieter continued.

“Lionel? He's in jail. I would think he'd be more risky than Lex. Besides, business is started in youth and maintained by the young at heart, Lex is the perfect investment!” Chloe exclaimed as if she were really selling Lex.

“You speak about him like you love him, Chloe,” Dieter said with a chuckle even though his eyed gleamed with jealousy.

“I do. He's a very good friend of mine and I have no qualms about letting you know all his amazing qualities,” Chloe replied smoothly. It was then that Chloe looked at her watch and cringe.

“It's nine thirty eight, I got to get home and finish some work,” Chloe lied.

“Shall I take you home?” Dieter asked eagerly. Chloe knew what he wanted and though it was kind of thrilling to know that he wanted her, Chloe didn't want him in return.

“Oh no, I'll be fine,” She assured him and began to stand. Dieter stood as well and they walked out of the restaurant together. He kissed her very chastely on the the lips and called her a cab. It made Chloe uncomfortable not because the kiss was inappropriate. It was actually pretty appropriate considering the fact that it was the second dinner date they've had and they he'd made it quite clear that he liked her. What made her uncomfortable was the fact that she was leading him on and would be leaving him heart broken soon than later.

Chloe was depressed all the way to the Lex's penthouse and when she found her way up to his portion of the building, Chloe had a hard time pushing the thoughts out of her head. Lex opened the door without her knocking, looking her up and down to see if any of her clothes were out of place. He saw that she was upset and that made him anxious.

“What wrong?” He asked, pulling her into his apartment with both hands, almost lifting her up and shaking her when she was slow to answer.

“Am I a bad person?” Chloe asked a question of her own leaving Lex with an annoyed confused look. “I think he really likes me, Lex. And I'm starting to feel bad. I don't know if I can keep this up, I feel like I'm a horrible person,” Chloe continued in a soft whining lilt.

Lex sighed in relief and wrapped his arms around her. She smelled like she'd been drinking, beer most likely, and he wondered if she was drunk.

“You're not a bad person, Chloe. You're a great person, you're the best person I know!” Lex admitted with a little smile pressed into her sweet smelling hair.


Chloe was very aware of the fact that there was only one bedroom in this apartment as well as one bathroom. When Lex offered to sleep on the couch, Chloe felt very bad and refused. This was his place and he could sleep in his own bed. She was a guest and she could take the couch. That was the right thing to do and Lex saw that she was still morally disgusted at herself about earlier and so he relented out loud. In his head he thought he'd trick her to sleep in the bed.

Chloe showered after Lex revealed that he'd showered when he got back. She changed into a pair of Lex's sweats and a dark blue LexCorp tee shirt she'd found waiting for her on the toilet seat. And though she didn't mind Lex dressing her up every now and then, this seemed very intimate. Just as intimate as Lex picking out her bra and panties that first time.

When she got back to the couch, Lex was preparing it with a big fluffy pillow and a comforter. Chloe helped him unfurl the soft white blanket and line the couch with it. But when she expected him to move, he just stood there, looming over her as if he were trying to convey a dominant message.

“What, are you going to tuck me in?” Chloe asked with a smirk. She was about to slip into the couch but Lex cut her off and dove for the pillow wrapping himself up tight.

“No, but you can tuck me in,” Lex replied with a triumphant look on his face. If he refused to budge, Chloe would have to sleep in the bedroom instead. He felt like a fox.

Chloe, however, was not going to let go that easily. It was as if the guilt she felt earlier in knowing that she might hurt Dieter by leading him on turned into determination to do right by another human being. And that human being was Lex and he had to sleep in his own bed and not the couch. It was irrational and she was going to be stubborn about it, and there wasn't anything Lex could do to change her mind.

Instead of going into the bedroom like he thought she would, Chloe pounced on him like a pretty mountain lion. She wiggled her way into the crevice between the couch back and Lex and tried to shove him off. She would have succeeded too if he didn't figure out what she was doing and just simply rolled over her and thus putting a damper to her plans.

Her muffled screams did make him feel bad, and afraid that she might not get enough air made him relent, moving just a little to see if she was okay. She looked breathless, but she was breathing. Her eyes were closed and she had a flush that started somewhere before the collar of the tee shirt and rose up to greet her cheeks. He should have known better than to be entranced by her sexy looks now while they were in the middle of a battle. She surprised him by using all her strength to sit up and push him off of her.

Lex held on to the blanket which was attached to Chloe now and then both slowly, comically, slid off the couch and landed in a confused heap on the ground next to the very object they fought over. Chloe was laugh and the sound was infectious that Lex followed suit. She'd landed on top of him, the blanket twisting around her legs and his. He could feel her skin on his at certain contact points and he knew it must be her abdomen on his arm. He relished the sensation and didn't realize that they both stopped laughing.

What resulted from the battle were too people slightly panting with exertion. Chloe's flush remained on her smiling cheeks and the light behind her caught in the fly away strands of blond hair, creating this halo affect that made Lex's heat thud against his ribs.

When her smile slowly dissipated, leaving behind an awkward grin, Lex cleared his throat. He was staring at her again and he was sure she noticed, just like all those other times she's noticed. She started to unravel herself, to release him of her comforting weight and Lex panicked. He wanted her to stay just a moment long and to do so, he had to give her a reason to stay.

A kiss seemed the perfect reason. Before she got too far, Lex pushed himself up on his elbow and grabbed her shirt, pulling her roughly towards him. She resisted only initially but then assisted him in scooching closer on her own accord and soon their mouths connected on an intake of breath. Her arms were around him first, then her legs parted to hug him.

Lex pulled her close and deepened the kiss by licking her soft lower lip. She readily invited him in and their tongues moved slow against each other, enticing a sweet moan from Chloe.

The moan was Lex's undoing. He'd only meant to kiss her, to savor the feel of her on top of him, but of course he had to have her now. If she gave him any indication of stopping, Lex wouldn't know, he felt lost and out of control. She did this to him just by moaning into his mouth. She must know the power she possesses, Lex thought as he felt her lovely hands gingerly reach under his shirt to touch the skin along his side, up to his ribcage. Now it was Lex's turn to moan, moan because it both tickled and aroused him to have her touching him so lightly, so carefully.

It was then that it occurred to Lex that Chloe might be taking it slowly so as not to scare him. And these kisses were very different from the ones that he had the fortune of experiencing when they were in Berlin. These seemed very sweet, very affectionate, and very tame, almost barely reigned in. Lex didn't understand why she was trying to be so careful, if it was for her own sake, he'd follow along.

“Can I take this off?” Chloe asked, nudging the material of Lex's tee shirt up. He assisted her and pulled it over his head, feeling exposed to her appreciative gaze. Lex couldn't remember the last time a woman appreciated him that way. And it hit him again that Chloe might be inexperienced and her appraisal might be more of her teenage curiosity than anything else.

“Lex, I never knew how many scars you had,” Chloe said. Leaning her mouth down to gently kiss the nearest scar she could reach on his shoulder. It felt good so he let her continue kissing but didn't respond otherwise to her statement. When she started to lick the scar that went from his rib to his right nipple, Lex jumped. That was also new and unexpected and Lex had to wonder if she really was inexperienced.
Her hands explored his upper body and savored the feel of his scarred skin in her palms. He was quite something to see, lean and elegantly sculpted. Chloe wondered if he liked what she was doing, she was doing it out of sheer instinct to touch and taste, to discover secrets. She was gathering information and committing them to memory. Caressing his ribs makes him squirm and moan, gently kissing his skin made him quietly content, licking his nipples made his cock twitch.

Chloe knew it twitched because she was directly over it and she knew if she got off him enough, she'd see a throbbing tent in his gym shorts. But, instead, she pressed down on it with her covered pussy, riding along the underside with the most indelicate of gyrating motions, no method, no rhythm. Chloe couldn't tell if Lex liked the sensation or hated it because his face seemed to twist unreadably.

“Chloe, please,” Lex begged and thrust up to meet her undulations. His hands found their way up her shirt and as he traveled up further, discovered that she wasn't wearing a bra. The thought lead him to curse and grit his teeth, he wanted to be on top now, to move things along faster. But there was something so appealing in letting Chloe take the reigns, she was very generous with her touches, and Lex couldn't help but notice how her foreplay matched her personality. It made her so unique and it turned him on even more.

“What about these?” Chloe asked, ignoring his plea as she tugged at the band of his shorts. Lex groaned with frustration and elation, yes, yes he wanted to take them off. But he wanted her to take her pants off too so that they might more easily have sex.

Lex untangled himself from the blanket and unceremoniously shoved his gym shorts down and scooted out of them the rest of the way. Chloe's eyes were transfixed by Lex's cock and Lex could feel her eyes like a caress over every inch of him. He never knew the power of a gaze and Lex wondered if Chloe could get him off that way. But when she reached out to touch him with the feather lightest of touches, Lex knew that he'd prefer her touch.

It sent a shudder through his body that he could barely conceal. He was rock hard and aching with the need to release. The way Chloe licked her lips made Lex moan again and when she bent her head to taste the precum that beaded at the tip of the head, Lex didn't think he could hold on. He may have liked letting Chloe have the reigns before, but she was moving too leisurely, as if they had all the time in the world.

Chloe's lips closed silkily over the head of his cock and Lex cursed again, unable to keep his hips from jerking forward. He'd had blow jobs before, but nothing as intimate as this. It was never like this. And it wasn't much of a blow job either, more like a taste and feel on his virile skin in her mouth, against her wet tongue.

“I can't, you have to let me,” Lex managed through gritted teeth. Chloe didn't understand, it wasn't dirty talking, was it code? Chloe didn't have time to decipher it now, not when, every time Lex tensed up, is testes tightened curiously. Chloe reached for them, always with a soft hand.

“Fuck, can't” Lex tried again, now shaking with the will power it took to keep from exploding all over her hands. He roughly took her hands and pulled them away, taking deep breaths to cool down. Then he pushed her until she laid on her back on the blanket. Without so much as a word, he tugged her sweatpants down, growling in frustration when they stuck at her knees. Thankfully, Chloe helped him the rest of the way and kicked them off.

She wasn't wearing any panties either and the small dark gold nest of curls between her thighs caught his eyes. She smelled good, and with an adoring hand on her muff, he found her to feel good too. He lifted his hand away slick with the clear slippery juices that made his mouth water. He licked his fingers and smiled, she tasted good too.

All the while, Chloe watched his actions, with the same curious gaze. She knew her body would respond well to Lex because she often woke up from dreams of Lex just as wet as she was now. And all his gasps, moans, and cursing turned her on further, knowing she had, for a moment, controlled one of the most powerful people she knew.

Chloe smiled when he positioned himself at her entrance. She wanted him to push through her, to ravage her like she had been ravaged in her dreams, to let her ravage him too. But Lex only pushed the head of his cock into her, waiting for something. If it was a sign, Chloe thought she'd already given him a pretty clear one. She moved her hips a little and managed to pull him in a little deeper. Lex growled low in his throat and pushed the rest of the way, shaking hard. Chloe bit back a whimper, it wasn't the pain, it was the pressure.

“Chloe, I can't, I'm too close, I can't.” Lex said between gritted teeth. She barely understood him. He pulled out then, sitting back on his knees. “We can't,” he continued. “I can't last, if I thrust, I'll come and...and we didn't even think about condoms. God, God Chloe,” Lex said, wrapping his hand around the base of his shaft. A little pressure relieved the ache there.

Chloe just laid there, looking up at the ceiling with her body comfortably exposed. She felt good, there was a little bit of an ache and a little tremble in her walls, obviously missing Lex long caress. And of course she was unsatisfied, but other than those things, Chloe felt good. She looked at Lex then, knowing he might not feel that same wonder she did. And she was right, Lex wasn't lost in thought like she was, he was ambitiously taking care of business, looking at her body and stroking his cock very slowly.

“Don't you have condoms here?” Chloe asked. He should, this was the place he stayed when he was in Metropolis. Wasn't this the place he had all those one night stands?

“I haven't restocked,” Lex admitted, stopping the movements of his hands. Chloe sat up fully and scooted closer so that she might wrap her hands around his erection. He let her take the reigns again, knowing that he was so close that all she needed to do was blow on it and he'd come.

He was hot and wet, probably from her juices, and he assisted her with rhythm as he thrusted into her encircled hand. Lex moaned, eyes closed and lips parted. Chloe leaned forward then to kiss him, to tug at his lower lip and Lex gasped, thrusting into her palm faster. When Chloe pulled away and reached her free hand to cup his testes, Lex tensed and reached for her shoulder, held it firmly as if to say, “don't stop.”

With a ragged grunt, Lex came onto his abdomen, her hands, and his thighs. But Chloe still stroked him, stroked him until he shook with pleasure and pain. He'd become quite sensitive but Chloe was merciless, she stroked him until he cried out, bucked into her hand before, fully embarrassed, pushed her hands away.

“Okay, okay,” Lex whispered, looking down at the mess he'd made, technically he could blame her.

“You better wash up,” Chloe suggested. She was getting up too and was headed for the sink in the kitchen to wash the come of her hands. Lex headed to the bathroom to wash for the second time that night, going over the events in his head. If he'd had condoms here, they would have done it. But he didn't want to risk anything and he was so close as it was. How would this change their relationship? Lex thought. Would it be for the better or for the worst? Would the people of the town accept them or would they be a secret?

When Lex returned to the living room, Chloe had commandeered the couch. There was a smile on her face. She looked as if she'd won. But Lex, still not willing to give in, reached down and lifted her, blanket and all, and turned and sat on the couch with her in his lap. She squealed and tried to kick free but the blankets had her trapped.

Lex sighed tiredly, resting his head on the back of the couch. Chloe nestled on his chest and yawned. It was late, they should have been in bed an hour ago.

“Truce,” Chloe murmured before she fell asleep.

“Truce,” Lex agreed.

[SouthernChlex]

Well...Lex, buddy, you let me down alittle.
I was thinking with all the sexual tension that this would be a full blown smutilicious scene. But, oh no. Lex goes all fifteen year old boy on us and well...
Still, loved it. Chloe must be feeling pretty smug and all-powerful. I wonder how long it will take Lex to go out and stop for a box of condoms now? I'm guessing about fifteen minutes after Chloe falls asleep. Can't wait for more. I'm curious to see how many chapters are left in this story since there's still ten letters left. I'm hoping you don't cheat again.

[Fouzia]

Honestly I cant wait for the real deal lol!!
Thank you

[Rachet]

i loved your short cut.

[Minty Revolution]

AN: Okay, I'm admitting defeat. Thank you for your patience! Sometimes, you just can't fight real life, other procrastinations, and father time. But that being said, I had a lot of fun trying. Here is the next installment and stay tuned for the rest of the story, which I will get out speedily because of guilt. :( Just not within the month of February.

Chapter Q is for Quarrel

Monday came in a whirlwind of chaos. Chloe had no patience for anyone and cappuccinos only made her more irritable than she already was. The problem was Lex. And Chloe had to stop and wonder whether her hang ups over guys was them or her. Sure, she wasn't shy and reserved when it came to her feelings, her desires, but Chloe thought a guy as mature as Lex would appreciate her confidence.

Chloe woke up that morning on the sofa all by herself. Lex left a note on the bathroom mirror to let her know that he was at his offices in LexCorp catching up on some work for Dieter. He didn't say when he would return and when Chloe called him, he never answered his phone. Chloe waited around for about an hour, watching good old cable tv and eventually became restless. Without a clue as to when Lex would return to his apartment, Chloe decided to go out and about the city. She left a note of her own telling him she had her cell phone and her number just in case he didn't know. Which she knew he did.

He never contacted her and when Chloe got back, it was getting dark and Lex was packing up the car with all her knew purchases. They drove back to Smallville without a word other than Lex's, “Oh, I was just about to call you,” which Chloe had a hard time believing. Would he really leave her in Metropolis because he regretted almost going all the way with her.

“Is this about last night? Because I just want you to know that it wasn't a big deal, okay?” Chloe managed to push out as they entered the mansion.

“Yeah, I know,” Lex responded mechanically. He did his best to avoid her for the rest of the weekend, skipping dance practice and dinner, seemingly disappearing from the mansion all together.

Chloe already snapped at everyone who bumped into her at school, and she even made snide comments at her teachers. Unable to take any more of what the educational institute could do for her, Chloe skipped her last two classes and hid in the Torch office until the bell rang. There, she printed out all the copies of the next edition of the Torch and changed into a sexy gray pencil skirt and a ruffled white and violet striped blouse that she'd bought in Metropolis the day before, meant for the date with Dieter but Lex talked her out of it. And he wasn't here now and she was just too made at him to heed his opinions. Chloe wore a pair of shiny purple pumps and ruffled her blond hair with her hands until it lay messily around her face. She was done dressing before the printer was done spewing out warm copies. She took her time reading her work and doing the homework she had gotten that day.

When the end day bell rang, Chloe joined the crowd to escape into the parking lot. She drove away, ignoring all the lingering looks she got from class mates that never used to stare so openly. She had a meeting with Dieter today and had expected Lex to prep her but that hermit didn't even eat breakfast. She was going to be flying by the seat of her pants most likely.

Dieter was already there and he looked angry, using sharp gestures as he spoke to someone Chloe couldn't see around the corner. When she got close enough, she saw that it was, standing calmly by in a perfectly pressed black suit with a satin egg plant tie and dress shirt. But before she could think about how handsome he looked, she heard him quietly speaking.

“I can show you around my company a lot better than a she can. I'd rather not have an outside party participate in private business matters. If you would just let me lead the tour, I assure you, you'll learn more about me and my company. Ms. Sullivan is beautiful but she is not equipped to give you the tour,” Lex said with a razored edge. He spotted Chloe then and gritted his teeth. Dieter turned then as well and all the anger he'd held before melted into a victorious smile.

“Chloe, I've been waiting for you,” Dieter said, reaching out to touch the small of her back and guide her closer. “Lex here didn't think you were capable of leading me around,” Dieter added.

“I'm sure Ms. Sullivan is very capable,” Lex shot in, emphasizing her last name as if to let Dieter know that he was not welcome in using her given name so casually. He was also saw red the moment Dieter put his arm around Chloe possessively, he was practically chewing his tongue he was so furious.

“Oh, come on, Lex. It'll be fine, I'll show him only the parts I'm allowed access and if Dieter wants to see authorized sections, we'll come find you, okay?” Chloe looked up at Dieter to see if he was game for a plan like that. The man's attention was briefly on the hint of exposed cleavage before he looked up at Chloe and dumbly nodded. He might be an intelligent business man but boobs made boobs out of men, Chloe thought.

Lex finally relented but only because he didn't think he could open his mouth to speak without shouting and throwing a tantrum like a child. He didn't like Dieter touching Chloe, he didn't like it one bit and he didn't trust the man either, with the way he was looking at her.

Chloe started with the main section where the laboratories were. She knew the place pretty well because her father had brought her to work and Chloe, being Chloe, had gone where she shouldn't have gone. She'd been a very curious young girl with ambitions bigger than herself. And now that she'd grown up, walking through this area again with more grace than she'd ever thought she'd possess, Chloe felt proud of herself.

“As you can see, LexCorp fertilizers are a mix of the natural nutrient rich manuer from local grass fed cows and a specific cocktail of engineered enzymes that encourage twice the bounty,” Chloe said as she walked along. A few of the men in white lab coats looked up as they walked passed but said nothing to stop them from moving through. Chloe did look like she knew exactly where she was going in the complicated building.
Chloe took him everywhere that she could think of taking him, ignoring unauthorized doors. She could get in, she had her ways, but Lex would not be happy about it, and she had the strangest feeling that Lex was watching her through the surveillance camera. Chloe actually put herself in view of a camera because it felt safe under Lex's watchful eye.

The last place Chloe took him, the facilities were set up circularly, was the testing green house. There, workers in muddy jumpers and sweaty tee shirts toiled away in the soil, planting seeds and harvesting bright red tomatoes. The temperature was somewhere in the nineties and the dampness was suffocating.

“Chloe,” Dieter began, taking a hold of her bare upper arm. He'd been polite throughout the whole tour and only looked at her with his usual knowing smile.

“Yes?” She responded, looking down at her arm curiously. When she tried to pull it back, he didn't release and Chloe felt her throat closed with panic. They were in the center of the field among the ripe corn stalks, hidden from any surveillance.

“I don't think you're who you say you are,” he pulled her close so that there faces were just inches apart. His eyes were a clear brown and they penetrated into her to find that she was, in fact, lying about something. “I went to the Daily Planet this morning to see if you'd come to lunch with me before our meeting,” Dieter continued through gritted teeth.

“I am Chloe Sullivan,” Chloe exclaimed, a little louder than she had to to attract the attention of the workers.

“And you did work at the Daily Planet, but you were fired, Chloe. And why would an ex-journalist be best friends with a cheating business mogul, hmm?” He asked. His face twisted with fury and he shook her hard. “You're a corporate spy, aren't you?!” he practically shouted, spitting in her face. Chloe slapped him hard and though it hurt, yanked her arm away from him.

“I don't know what you're talking about, Mr. Ruprecht,” Chloe said in reply.

It was then that he pulled something out of his pocket, and Chloe flinched, thinking that it was a gun. It was not any sort of firearm and could, perhaps, be the most powerful weapon anyone could carry on their person legally. A checkbook. He scrawled something down and handed it to her with a grin. He was hot and cold this man, capable of exploding and then gathering that anger back into himself so easily.

“I have a proposition for you, Ms. Sullivan,” he said finally. He ripped a check out of its leather binding and handed it over to Chloe. She took it automatically without intending to keep it. There was her name written in a clear quick hand as well as his signature and nothing else. A blank check, she surmised, but what for?

“I'm not really...”

“Be a double agent. My company has been on the rise and with its connection with LexCorp, it'd boom within the next year. But I know the Luthors and I know what they do with their partners. With you as my eyes, I can see a coup before it happens and be able to prevent it,” he said quickly, his eyes uncharacteristically bright.

Chloe was dumbfounded. A corporate spy? That sounded very adventurous, especially for a teenager living in a small farming town. She wasn't a corporate spy, although she did have the experience and know how to be one. And she certainly wasn't interested in the financial gain. She'd learned a long time ago not to back stab a friend, and she was certainly smart enough not to make the same mistake again, no matter how tempting a blank check could be. How many zeros are in a trillion dollars?

“I honestly don't know what you're talking about,” Chloe replied. She tried to hand the check back but he shook his head and folded it in her hands, tucking it into the waist of her pencil skirt. He leered at her then and pulled her lips into a crushing kiss, sweeping her up against his muscular bulk before releasing her.

“We'll be in touch,” he said gruffly against her bruised lips and walked away from her, leaving her in the middle of the corn stalks with a blank check in her waist band feeling somehow like a cheap prostitute.

She walked out fifteen minutes later, sweaty and tired. Lex had been searching for her and had waited outside of the green house entrance where he'd last seen her. Ruprecht left without so much as a word for him, smiling all the way out the door. And when Chloe didn't show up, Lex panicked.

“Where have you been all this time?!” Lex demanded, taking her by the arm. When she winced, Lex let go, unaware that he'd grabbed her all that hard.

“I could have asked the same about you,” Chloe shot back, revealing to him the hurt in her eyes at his recent disappearance. Lex felt very guilty. It was partly due to work and mostly due to how close he'd come to ruining their friendship. But looking at her now, it seemed that the lack of his presence did more to destroying their bond than too much of it.

“I had work to do,” Lex said lamely.

“Of course you did, I understand,” Chloe said quietly and walked away from him toward the door. He expected a quip from her but she didn't snap at him like he wanted her to. A verbal lashing from her would make him feel better, hell, a physical lashing might do them both some good. The thought made him hard and he tried to repress it. He looked her over, watching her ass as she walked stiffly ahead of him. Although she was upset, she still had a great body. And that was when he saw her shoulders shaking.

“What happened, Chloe?” Lex asked suddenly, coming up beside her to see her face. She looked very upset and Lex wondered how much of that discontentment was because of him.

“I don't want to talk about it right now, okay?” Chloe replied, running her hands through her hair. Lex decided to drop it, knowing she'd tell him eventually.


Chloe was on edge for the dance lessons as well. She didn't change, hoping to give Alessia a run for her money dressed up in heels but when Alessia corrected her posture, Chloe frame wobbled more, even Mirko's encouragement wasn't giving her any comfort. Luckily, she did not dance with Lex and Chloe could only thank Alessia for that.

“Your eyes, Chloe! Look at Mirko,” Alessia demanded impatiently.

“Maybe if you kept your eyes off of me you wouldn't be spending all your time tripping over Lex?!” Chloe finally snapped. So angry and embarrassed at her outburst, Chloe took a page out of Mirko's book and stormed out of the lesson. She rushed into her room and slammed the door like an angsty teenager.

[Minty Revolution]

AN: First of March post. I've got something you've been wanting!

Chapter R is for Reasonable Doubt

Lex canceled the rest of the dance lesson and excused himself, going off to find Chloe. He stood outside her door and heard her soft crying. He knew there wasn't a lock on the door but he didn't barge in right away. He felt bad for her, she was going through a lot, he knew. He looked down at the envelope in his hand. It was an RSVP from Clark that he knew would cheer her up. It'd come this morning and he was going to hide it, let her keep guessing whether or not that boy of hers would show up. But now that all seemed cruel and he'd been cruel enough to her already.

“Chloe?” Lex called out while knocking simultaneously. Chloe's crying stopped immediately. He heard some rustling and her voice rising over the sounds to let him in.

Chloe was sitting on the edge of her bed, a big white box next to her. Lex knew instinctively that it was a dress box from Eveline. Even the woman's dress box was fashionable, with silver edges and Chloe's name calligraphied on top. Chloe pushed the box back, seemingly trying to hide it's importance from Lex.

“Are you okay?” He asked her lamely. He knew what the answer was before she even nodded her head yes so he tried to rephrase in a way that might get a better answer out of her. “Don't worry about earlier, Alessia didn't mind your outburst,” Lex continued and sat next to her on the bed.

“Oh, she didn't mind, did she?” Chloe mumbled, wiping an errant tear from her puffy eyes. Even though she'd been crying, Chloe looked lovely to Lex and he found it a little difficult not to tell her so. He didn't say a word, however, because she didn't look like she was in the mood for compliments.

“You sound jealous,” Lex said instead, hoping to gently tease her. She usually responded better to that. She was unreadable for a moment, eyes wide looking up at him as if he'd found her out. “You were?” He asked.

“Don't be so surprised, like you weren't going to rip Dieter's head off,” Chloe said, practically spitting that man's name out in disgust.

“That's different,” Lex lied without any way to back up his lies with examples. It really wasn't so different at all.

“Can we talk about Saturday?” Chloe asked, combing a hand through her hair. She was still wearing that sexy outfit she'd worn earlier today that sent fire through his already furious body but now the fabric crinkled and wrinkled, and the shoes looked like they were hurting her.

“Yeah,” Lex finally consented. She moved to face him a little more and reached out to take his hand in hers. Her hands were cold but firm, trying to send him good vibes, he was sure.

“I'm not so different from other women, Lex. I don't like waking up alone after a really intimate night and then being completely ignored like some cheap date. I would have rather had sex with you and had an awkward morning where we put our friendship back to how it was before, ignoring that it had happened at all than being ignored myself,” She said in a rush. She'd kept that in for a couple days now and it just spewed forth like a geyser.

“I don't want things to go back to the way they were,” Lex admitted quietly thought not intentionally out loud. He glanced at her to see if she'd heard and, of course, she had. Chloe never missed a thing.

“Then where do you want things, Lex?” Chloe asked. She looked like she was going to cry again but she didn't. She saved her tears for private times and watched his face through shiny wet eyes.

It felt as if he were breaking up with her, as if he were about to say that they should be hanging out with different people, people their own age. And through hanging out with Lex, Chloe discovered that she didn't have very many friends at all right now, much less any her own age.

Lex didn't know what it was about her. Seeing her dancing excitedly outside his office two and a half weeks ago made him feel so bright and good. And seeing what he'd turn her into since then made him feel monstrous. The worst part was that he'd lost sight of everything and let it get out of hand with her and the situations around her. He wanted to be friendly and charitable but he gave her too much of what he had. These were not advantages in life, they were barriers between the classes, between people in general. He'd given her nothing she could use in life.

He kissed her then, only meaning it to be apologetic. But Lex's intentions never live up to his goal and Chloe swept him up again in a searing kiss. She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him closer. He hadn't realized just how cold she was, practically shivering next to him. He'd warm her up, he thought, and hugged her waist, pulling her onto his lap.

“I bought condoms,” Chloe murmured against his lips. Lex backed off for a moment, surprised.

“You did?” He asked, almost smiling with disbelief.

“I thought we could try...again. If you wanted,” Chloe admitted a little shy.

“I do want to,” Lex replied and pulled her in for another kiss. Chloe took charge so easily hear, touching him as if her hands were familiar with him and his contours. It turned him on that she was so unabashed, so eager. He didn't know whether she was a virgin or not, but Lex didn't care, how could he care when her sweet mouth found the trail from his lips that led to his right ear where she nibbled at her own slow pace, licking along the shell.

“Me too,” she whispered and kissed him again. He rolled them over onto the bed, lowered her head and bringing his mouth to her neck. It was salty there but it tasted good, delicious. He unbuttoned her blouse, opened the ruffled folds to find a whimsical floral bra. It was a gentle reminder that she was just a young girl and he was glad for the reminder. Lex leaned down to kiss her chest, cupping one breast in his hand while pulling the fabric down to suckle the other. He moan was musical, surprised, and pleased. His erection throbbed but Lex could only ignore it.

Chloe pushed up on her elbows then, peeling the blouse away, reaching back to unhook her bra with such exact percision. He was not only impressed, but also extremely turned on by her expert fingers. Of course, she was a woman and women knew their way around their own undergarments, but the look in her eyes as she did it made it so so sexy. It was as if she were asking, “you want this?” and Lex could only reply with an affirmative growl low in his throat before rushing forward to press his hot face against her cool soft chest. Kissing his way down to her belly. The waist of her skirt was high up and it looked a little tight but Lex didn't know where the zipper was. He felt around but didn;t have enough focus to tug on the three buttons on her hip. Instead, he kissed around that section and slid off the bed, kneeling at her legs, pushing the dress up from below.

The slit in on the back of the dress accommodated only so much but when the skirt would go no high, Lex ripped the flimsy thing in earnest. Chloe squeaked in protest but Lex went to work on her quickly, kissing and sucking at the skin of her upper thigh, nibbling and massaging all that he could comfortably reach.

Her hand on his head guided him to the place she most wanted his exploring mouth to go. And though her panties were still on, Lex put his mouth on her clit through the fabric anyway and pressed at the wet cotton with his tongue. Even through the panties he could taste her and she tasted so good.

“Lex,” Chloe pleaded. The panties were a problem, he needed to do something about it because, though the pressure was very welcomed on her tingling nerve endings, she wanted to feel his warm wet tongue sliding along her clit. Too impatient with the speed at which Lex decided to take things, Chloe reached down and pulled her panties aside to expose herself to him. She was so wet and she wanted him to know that he'd been the cause of it.

Lex licked her, from her wet slit all the way up to her swollen clit. She moaned so loud then, holding his head with her nails digging into his scalp and Lex loved it. He loved it so much that he continued, rolling the tip of his tongue around the most sensitive part of her, reveling in her passionate cries of encouragement.

She was coiled so tight that Chloe felt her abs ached from clenching them so hard. Afraid that he might stop, Chloe wrapped her legs around his neck and locked him in place between her shaking thighs. Her high heels pressing into his shoulder blades. He didn't seem to mind, didn't struggle against her hold on him. In fact, he gripped her thighs tightly and pushed his face closer. It wasn't until Lex was half way through with the the letter O when Chloe realized he was tonging the alphabet into her clit.

“W,” Chloe whimpered, clutching onto the sheets of her bed. And W was what she got, over and over until her body jerked roughly with her orgasm. Chloe shook violently as Lex finished, going on to X Y and Z and then sucking at the throbbing clit until she sobbed his name and begged him to stop.

“Where are the condoms?” Lex asked. He'd had condoms of his own here at the mansion, but it was good to know that she'd wanted to try sex again with him and went out of her way to purchase them.

“Drawer,” Chloe breathed, stretching languidly on the bed, kicking off her shoes, her legs hanging over gracelessly. Lex watched her only for a beat, how beautiful she was, all flushed and warm to the touch. But then he had to sate his own needs and went for her drawer. There they were, a pack of Pleasure Pluses sitting unopened and ready to be useful. He was quick with it, undoing his trousers and quickly ripping the individual pack.

Chloe watched as he slid the lubricated condom onto his rock hard cock. She licked her lips, thinking back to the time she'd put his in her mouth and the way he'd responded to her touch. She wanted him immediately and moved to be closer to him so he wouldn't have to waste time walking back over to the end of the bed toward her. She even reached underneath her skirt to take off her wet panties.

They didn't undress fully, it was as much a waste of energy as all the unnecessary walking and positioning. Chloe wanted to be on top and she made it very clear. When Lex scooted closer, she patted the pillow, smiling at him. Lex didn't argue, he'd take the opportunity to lay back and watch her.

Chloe didn't hesitate, the moment he was on his back with his pants and boxers around his ankles, she climbed on top of him. Taking a hold of his sheathed cock in her gentle hand, she guided him to her entrance, welcoming him with a sigh of relief as she eased down around him. But where as she was relaxed and content to have him back inside her, Lex was tense and rigid, shaking with control.

“Chloe,” he warned thickly and bucked beneath her. Maybe having her on top was a bad idea. Chloe might like to take the reigns, but she had her own pace about things. And Lex didn't think he could take it if she rode him out nice and slow.

Chloe responded to his hips with a movement all her own, undulating back and forth testing the rhythm, testing the sensation. Lex groaned and reached for her hips to pull her down harder onto him so that they ground together roughly. He made her ache but Chloe found that she loved it and moaned his name to let him know.

And that was when Lex decided to take the control back from Chloe. He needed her urgently, they could go slow some other time. He held her hips tightly in his hands, not surprised if he'd find bruises there tomorrow, and lifted her up only to plunge into her again. Chloe resisted only for a moment, tightening around him deliciously before just letting him take her as he wanted to. She even assisted, popping her hips to meet his grind and eventually, they sank into the perfect pace for both of them.

“Lex!” Chloe exclaimed, feeling herself awash with this heavy heat starting from her pelvis and rushing out to meet the very tips of her body, tingling on her scalp. She touched her clit then, pressing down hard and the walls of her pussy squeezed around Lex, making him shudder and arch off the bed. She came first, murmuring his name and softly profaning as he attempted a last few lingering thrusts into her before he came himself. Chloe was droopy, happy to lean on him as he pushed himself deep inside her, she sighed contently as Lex came down from his orgasm, breathing hard. She could feel his pulse and it matched the throbbing of his cock against her walls.

“Chloe,” Lex rasped against her ear, sweeping back her hair and kissing it softly.

“Mmm?” Che replied weakly.

“Don't fall asleep, we have to get the condom off first,” he said.

“Okay,” She replied and took her time to release him and roll over on her back. She was so light headed and so thoroughly satisfied.

Lex slipped the condom off, hearing Chloe giggle tiredly when it popped off wetly in his hand. He tied it in a knot, wrapped it in some tissue and threw it in her trash can.

“I'm going to take a shower, would you care to join me?” Lex asked. Chloe opened her eyes then and nodded.

She looked down at her ruined skirt and crinkled her brow. She unbuttoned it, forgetting that there was a check folded up in her waist band, and let the ripped skirt fall to the floor to lay next to her wet panties she'd discarded earlier. The check perfectly hidden in the soiled pile where it belonged.

Lex undressed as well, tossing his clothes in a pile near by. They made their way to her bathroom then, easily sharing the smaller space made misty with hot water. They kissed there in the curtained space, feeling as if all their fights had been resolved and their friendship somehow stronger. They didn't really speak about what would happen to them, instead, their thoughts turned to Chloe's debut.

“Eveline doesn't want me to see the dress before the debut,” Lex stated simply. It wasn't a question, it was a fact.

“She made me promise,” Chloe admitted. And though Chloe was very intimidated by the French woman who was practically a stranger, Eveline had proven to be both highly professional and charming in her own way. Also, Eveline had know Lex's mother and that fact was very important to Chloe.

“Do you like it?” Lex asked.

“It's gorgeous, Lex,” Chloe beamed. “I just hope that I can dance in it,” she added. Self doubt etched itself on her lovely face and Lex brought a wet hand up to wipe it away.

“I know you can dance in it, Chloe. You're getting better every day,” Lex said truthfully. His hands were on her again and he kissed her softly on the lips. She still tasted so good. His hands gripped her upper arm and pulled her closer. When she gasped in pain, Lex released her immediate, watching her cradle her hurt arm. There were a few oval shaped bruises high up on her arm and Lex had to think of when he'd grabbed her that way.

“Did I do that? I'm sorry, are you okay?” Lex asked, trying to get a better look for himself. Chloe turned away from him, trying to wash her face under the spray of water.

“It's nothing,” she said easily, and because Lex didn't know that it was a lie, he let it go so that he could pull her into his embrace where she belonged.

When they were done, Chloe grabbed them both fresh towels. There was only one robe in her bathroom and Chloe didn't don it. Instead, she opted for the more casual towel wrap around, copying the way Lex wrapped the towel low around his hips. Of course, Chloe's towel was wrapped up higher, not that modesty was anything for either of them to be worried about now.

Chloe was busy thinking of their sleeping arrangements, not knowing whether Lex would like to sleep in her bed or if he'd go back to his own. He was obviously welcomed to actually sleep with her if he so cared. Chloe wanted him to, it would be a nice gesture, the final bow on top of the wonderful gift he'd given her.

When Lex bent to pick up his things, he searched through Chloe's pile for a missing sock. As he searched, his cell phone went off in his pants pocket. He answered it, grinning smugly when he heard that it was Dieter on the other line.

“I've signed the papers. I gave them to your secretary and they're probably on your desk in Metropolis,” Dieter said on the other end. Lex nodded, smiling from ear to ear. This turning out to be a better day after all, he thought as he picked up a piece of paper folded up on the ground.

“That's great news,” Lex declared into the phone, not hiding his excitement. In his hands was a blank check addressed to Chloe from Dieter. Lex became very still, hearing the sound of Chloe's blow dryer in the bathroom, hearing Dieter breathing into the phone, hearing his blood racing into his ears.

“Thank Chloe for me, won't you?” Dieter replied, his tone dripping with barely reigned in triumph.

“I will,” Lex replied tightly and hung up the phone. Lex put his trousers back on as well as his dress shirt but did not button them, had no patience for that menial task with the rage he was feeling right then.

Chloe stepped out of the bathroom, smiling, only to drop it instantly upon seeing Lex dressed and pacing. His hand was clenched around a piece of paper and before he approached her, Chloe knew what it was.

“You took money from him?” Lex demanded.

“No, he put it there himself!” Chloe attempted.

“You let him touch you?!” Lex roared.

“No! He...I didn't let him do anything to me!” Chloe shouted back, near tears out of shame and frustration. She was so happy just a moment ago and now Lex was stomping all over her and why? For a piece of paper?

“Well, he signed the papers, so whatever it was that you did, I guess I should thank you,” Lex spat out. He threw the piece of paper at her feet and stormed out of her room. Chloe heard him slam his bedroom door down the hall and covered her face. How did this happen? She thought.

She'd been so wrapped up about the way Dieter treated her that she'd forgotten about the check he shoved into her waist band. And to know that they'd had sex with it there the whole time tainted it for Chloe, and she wondered if there was anything about the night that could be salvaged. She didn't like feeling that a whore, but she hated that Lex thought she was one, he looked so disappointed in her.

[Fouzia]

I love the two update^^
Maybe Lex can see the video of the scene and realise chloe done nothing to the perv lol^^
Thank you an UPDATE SOON please because I LOve this story

[SouthernChlex]

I absolutely adore this story. Poor, poor Chloe. I can't wait until Lex realizes what an ASS he was just now. You're doing an amazing job, and in such a short time, too. Cannot wait to read more.

[ArcAngel]

Im loving this fic and cant wait for the next part!

[Minty Revolution]

AN: Ugh, sorry I've been missing! Just read the two last books in The Hunger Games and couldn't bring myself to write anything before I finished them!

Chapter S is for Savior

It was the moment of truth, and the lady of the hour was stalling in her dressing room, sending her personal hair and make up team on a snipe hunt for a pair of lacy ivory gloves that Eveline brought with her to the Ringly Hotel where the debut was held. Chloe sat there, holding the wrinkled RSVP Clark sent her many mornings ago. Lex left it on her dressing room table, why, she didn't know. Chloe knew better than to make her guests wait, but she was really making Lex wait. He'd be meeting her at the bottom of the stairs, where he would then proceed to lead them into the introductory waltz before passing her off to the wolves.

They never made up from their last fight, or rather, Lex's outburst. Very slowly, she managed to coax him out of his funk by revealing details of how she came by the blank check. Because it was a financial bribe, Lex was more understanding of it though he demanded to know how she got the bruise on her arm. Chloe skirted over the bruise and the kiss, knowing that it would make him furious. She never denied anything outright, but in choosing to be less forthcoming, she created a rift between them that Chloe was battling to sew closed.
“It's okay, I've found the gloves,” Chloe said as the door opened. Instead of being either Janie or Becka, her hair and make up duo, it was her father. His frame didn't fill the door way like most Smallville men, Kansas beef fed, but rather tightly built, and center balanced. He wore a suit she'd never seen before with a pink tulip boutonnière on his chest.

“Dad,” Chloe whispered, surprised and guilty all at once. They'd only spoken twice in the two and a half weeks he was gone and both times were short rushed conversations about work and school and food. Lex kept him pretty busy, piling on a lot of desk work and tagging on one bogus deadline after another. The man was worn and Chloe was upset at herself for letting this get so out of hand. Would he have been so disapproving of a debutante ball for his little girl? Chloe thought.

“Chloe, you look beautiful,” Gabe said in return. He went to his daughter, helped her up and hugged her without even looking at the silky frock that draped from her shoulders. He didn't care about that, even though he thought the bodice was too revealing. He usually disapproved of those types of things, knowing that they lived in a small town that was quick to sensationalize even the tiniest of differences.

“Thanks, dad. When'd you get here?” Chloe asked, pulling away from him, hoping that her makeup didn't smudge around her wet eyes.

“Ten minutes ago. Lex sent me up here to get you. Apparently it's a faux pas to be fashionably late to your own debut,” Gabe replied dryly. “Anyway, he said, since I was here, I could escort you tonight,” Gabe added. Chloe couldn't help feeling a mixture of relief and disappointment, wondering which would win out in the end. Though she dearly missed her father, he was always a strong voice in her head, reminding her the ways of the world. Without him, she had a chance to explore on her own.

Chloe pulled on her little gloves and her father covered her shoulders with the gauzy wrap. Chloe smiled at him as best she could but her anxiety over this day had come to a head. And now she had to face the people down below who'd look up at her and wonder who the hell she was and why she deserved their attention this night.

Her predictions were mostly true. She didn't know what they were thinking as these wealthy strangers looked up, as the music changed to a softer melody, she had no idea what thoughts ran through their minds. There was a hush in the well dressed crowd when her father presented her at the stairs. She was glad he was there because she didn't think she would have come down these wide stairs on her own. Everyone was in shades of coral tulips, except the men in their traditional black with actual tulip boutonnières, only Chloe wore white.

Lex was there, separated from the crowd, standing at the foot of the stairs. His face was the same as always, entitled, bored, sardonic, vaguely amused, and very handsome. He wore a white tulip with streaks of red at the base. Her father's hold on her arm tightened possessively, letting her know that he didn't approve. But he could only let her go at this point, let his daughter twirl into some billionaire's arms.

Lex removed her flimsy wrap, said it'd detract from their frame. Gabe held onto it tightly, ready to scoop up his daughter if anything should go wrong. Chloe was ready, she'd spent many hours a day getting ready for this dance and all the other dances to follow. What she wasn't ready for was the feeling of dancing in front of so many people.

“Ignore them,” Lex said to her. He'd smiled civilly as he pulled her away but Chloe knew he was still sore about what happened between Dieter and her.

“Easier said than done,” Chloe whispered back through a plastic smile. They danced only for one minute more before Lex held her closer, pressing their bodies together. It reminded Chloe of sex and she wondered if he thought of it too, but all he did was lean close to whisper in her ear.

“I'm going to pass you off now to your left, get ready,” he said and immediately following the beat, he twirled her in the direction he warned her about and she was in the arms of James Weaver.

What ensued was something like speed dating on your feet. There were other young women there dressed in similar shades of tulip coral, stepping in to take her place once she'd been traded off. Most of the boys were passable dancers, having been at other debuts as is custom of their heritage. Others were just awful, out of nervousness or lack of practice, and a couple were very good. She enjoyed her dances, but trying to learn about them and answer questions about herself over and over was beginning to make her lose her mind. Plus, she couldn't remember James from John from Jack.

Chloe did, eventually, check the door and scan the crowd for a particular tall dark haired man. She expected him not just because she could possibly still love him, but because she wanted him to see what he was missing. She also needed a friend and though Clark had never been consistently there for her emotionally, she thought he'd come to her now. She really needed to ask him how to mend this rift between Lex. How had they mended the rift between each other? Did they punch it out, like in the movies?

“What are you looking at?” Asked her dance partner.

“Oh, I was looking for a friend,” Chloe replied vaguely. She could tell that, Andrew, or Anthony, or Ashton, was the jealous type and didn't want to make waves. Regardless of her intentions, the boy held her firmly and roughly spun her to her eyes would lose track of whatever she was looking. They moved in a different direction all together and when it was his time to turn her over to the next dancer, he took her for another spin on the floor.

Chloe had to pass herself off to another partner, anticipating that he would not relinquish her on his own terms. He doesn't seam happy that when she twirls away, she doesn't twirl back. And though not all the boys seem particularly interested in her, some are strangely possessive. She can tell right away that the boys who ask a lot of questions about Lex and his corporation are not interested in having her as a girlfriend, they want her as a fame ticket, seeing as they're already too stinking rich to need a meal ticket.

When Chloe is allotted a break from her dances, she sighs in relief. She is still hopeful that Clark might arrive, that this is the perfect place to bury the hatchet and maybe he could talk Lex into being himself again. Chloe knew how stupid her plan is and secretly hoped that Clark didn't show up at all.

When the next round of dances begin, Chloe is swept into familiar arms again and again, the names she could remember, she addresses, those she can't, she pretends with a brilliant smile. For dancers she knew who'd try to hold her attention longer than necessary, she easily slips there grasps, giving them apologetic looks as she escapes into the arms of another. This dancing goes on for the first thirty minutes of her debut and when Chloe thought it would never end, another break came.

This was a toast in Chloe's honor. Here, her father led her around to people, introducing her as the belle of the ball. He didn't know what he was doing and soon, made a few minor social taboos. He wasn't an ass, and certainly had better manners, so Chloe chocked it off to the fact that he didn't really want her mingling with these people anyway. Eventually, he gets a call from work and she is left with one of her possessive partners and his mother.

“You look beautiful, Chloe,” said the woman.

“Thank you,” Chloe replied, a little uneasy. The woman had the same look that her son had, hungry for only what Chloe could provide.

“It's Charlotte Warren,” The woman offered, reaching a hand out to touch Chloe's bare shoulder. Chloe wished she had her wrap just then, even if the material is so incredibly flimsy.

“Well, Mrs. Warren-”

“Ms. Dear,” She corrected.

“Ms. Warren, I should really be going,” Chloe finished, trying to politely shrug off the woman's touch. It made her skin crawl. Even though she'd been shot at, fallen through a window, dealt with fat suckers and all sorts of strange meteorite powered people, it was nothing compared to the intensity of the gaze from the mother and son pair. And a few others.

Without an escort, she was sucked into other groups of hungry eyed people. And when Chloe thought she they were going to reach out and eat her flesh like the hoard of zombies she thought they were, a hand reached through the crowd to pull her out and she was twirling on the dance floor once more. The musicians, seeing that Lex and Chloe were dancing, quickly played their waltz even if it wasn't on the nights itinerary.

“I meant to get you right after your dad left for his phone call,” Lex admitted, looking passed her.

“You sent him away on purpose again,” she stated simply. When Lex didn't reply, she took that as confirmation and gritted her teeth. No more sending her father away, she wanted to make that demand but thought that their current uneasiness with one another should be solved before trying to fix something else.

“Are you okay?” He asked finally. Chloe assumed that he meant about how the guests rushed her and so she broke her frame to shrug.

“I was just chatting with my new friends,” she replied nonchalantly.

“So why did you look so panicked?” Lex asked, there was a little smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.

“I wasn't panicked. I had everything under control,” Chloe lied, knowing that he knew the truth. Anyone could have seen how panicked she was, surrounded by people she didn't know, reaching out to caress her dress, hold her hand. She didn't like it.

“Right, like you always do. Your grip on control is unbreakable,” Lex teases but without any good humor behind it. In fact, she could see how visibly unpleased he is by her claims.

“Look, I'm fine, okay? I didn't need you to come to my rescue,” Chloe back. She looks around for another partner and one manifests itself immediately. She knows he's another possessive dancer but twirls into his arms anyway, as if to prove she didn't need Lex.

It was only after the fourth rounds of dances that Chloe truly felt fatigued. The adults were drinking, a few of her partners have apparently been drinking, and Lex gives another toast. When one of her possessive partners, who's name is Anthony, offers to give her a ride home, Chloe shakes her had and practically runs into her father's arms without another word. She'd spoken enough already, her throat is practically hoarse.

Clark never showed up and when Chloe goes home, to her house in Smallville where she lived with her father, not the mansion where she stayed the last two and a half weeks. They drove home in silence, but Chloe knew a storm was brewin'. She could see it in the way her father gripped the steering wheel all the way back to the less shiny town. He'd made this trip with her before, many time.

It wasn't until they got to the house that Gabe woke her and told her to go to her room. She hadn't changed out of her beautiful debut dress and was happy to pull the weightless thing off her, slip out of her shoes, and into her familiar bed.

Her last thoughts before she drifted off to sleep were that Clark didn't show up and that Lex was still made at her and would probably always be mad at her. Here feelings were between longing and regret, sometimes both and it made her heart ache.

[Rachet]

in the home strech now. thanks for another great update. i kind of hope to see lex tell off clark for not showing so that chloe doesn't have to have that talk again.

[Fouzia]

UPDATE UPDATE PLEASE^^^^^^^
I love this story and the chapter was really good.
Thank you

[SouthernChlex]

This was just a very sad chapter for Chloe. After all that hard work, she didn't reap anything from her efforts. Clark failed to be there for her, as usual. And, Lex refuses to set his pride aside and forgive Chloe. And, on top of that, if Chloe would just tell Lex what really happened, I have a feeling he'd take her side. Drama, drama, drama. Still, loving it.

[lilinny]

�Fantastic! Read H-S. Love it!

[starmoon]

love it please come back and update again soon i really can't eaiy for more.

[Minty Revolution]

AN: I think you'll like this chapter! Thank you for sticking it out with me! And the feedback was much appreciated and VERY motivating!

Chapter T is for Truth

In the morning, the sounds of her father rattling around in the kitchen woke her. Waking up in Lex's mansion is so quiet, and a little lonely. It was only then that Chloe realised how much she missed her dad. His time away had given her the chance to experience a lot of new things, but having him back was like finding her security blanket again.

Chloe rushed downstairs in pajamas she threw on for modesty's sake, her face wet with water and makeup remover. It felt good, familiar as he pushed creamy yellow eggs and sausage onto her plate, filling her cup with coffee and cream as well as his own.

“Lex called,” he said, shoveling eggs into his mouth, giving Chloe permission to do the same.

“What'd he say?” Chloe asked, trying to hide the excitement in her voice. Her dad caught it anyway.

“He pleaded with me not to ground you until after this big Valentine's dance. He said it was really important,” Gabe replied. He sounded so casual, Chloe didn't know if he was being serious or if he was using that ever elusive humor of his.

“Okay. Can I go?” Chloe asked tentatively.

“Of course you can go, Chloe,” Gabe replied with a smile. But behind his eyes are steel beams of strength and Chloe hears the words coming in her head even before his mouth opens.

“But after the dance, you are grounded for life, young lady. Don't even think about keeping anything Lex gave you, give it all back!” He isn't screaming or yelling, but his voice is an octive higher and Chloe knows better that to smile at how funny it all was.

“Not even the car?” she asked timidly.

“Car?! Especially the car!” Chloe hides her smirk with her coffee. Her dad grounds her every time he comes home, seeing all the shenanigans she gets herself into and out of, she even gets grounded for getting herself into the hospital. Chloe doesn't think he will enforce it, he's gone pretty often, but she couldn't place that steely determination in his eyes. Has her debut made him realize just how much of her growing up he missed?

She called Clark but Martha answered, revealing to her that Clark had been with Lana in the hospital. With only a little prodding, Chloe discovered that Lana was in a major vehicular accident and had broken her arm. Chloe had assumed that he was with Lana, but now felt guilty at her initial assumption that he ditched her to cozy up to the other brunette.

Chloe prepares for her Valetine's dance. She has to be there because she's covering it for her paper, as per request. She drags so many things out of her closet, hoping for something brilliant to wear to face all her classmates. When it dawned on her that she could wear her debut dress again because no one from her Valentine's Dance was at her debut the night before.

She wears it again, smoothing out nonexistent wrinkles and twirling around her room. It was a very pretty dress that indulged her with all its feminine glamour. She was too anxious at her debut and couldn't fully appreciate her dress. Nor could she properly thank Eveline because she was pulled every which way with toasts, dance partners, and speeches on her behalf. Chloe made a mental note to send a really nice letter and a bouquet, or even deliver it herself soon.

Without a makeup and hair team, Chloe does it herself. Her face was easy, a dab her, some mascara there, not a problem. But her hair did not cooperate. After her shower, it hung limply around her face, no longer damp but equally lifeless. Casual was easy, she could blow it out and be fine for a few hours, but formal? Chloe kicked herself for not paying more attention to how they folded her hair up and pinned it.

Eventually, she gave in and curled the short tresses with a hot iron. When she was sure that there was only minimal damage and that it looked okay, Chloe clipped a red rhinestone heart to one side of her hair. The affect opened up her face and made her look a lot younger than she intended, a lot more vulnerable but there was no time to change it now. Pulling the clip out would cause a chain reaction of fraying curls and Chloe had to be at the dance before the guests arrived.

A few guests are already there and Chloe easily talk to them. She asks them to comment about the decoration and the music, wanting to know whether tonight was going to be a success or another Valentine's flop. Since they were the coordinators, they were very optimistic and a little insulted at her underhanded comment of past dances.

Chloe just smiles and glides over to new arrivals, eventually, there are too many and Chloe can't talk to everyone. Instead, she hangs around the punch bowl, ambushing thirsty awkward teens.

When Clark finally arrived with his arms protectively around Lana, Chloe sinks a little. Seeing him only reminds her of her failures to allure him, though only very little of her crush knocks at her heart. Seeing Lana still so beautiful with a bandage on her temple and a cast in a sling makes Chloe a little envious. Even the spectacular dress she wears does nothing to make her feel better, not when Lana, also in white, moving with such elegant timidity like a doe in the woods, possibly looks better.

Chloe let's them dance but when Clark makes his way over to the punch, he looks surprised to see her. And then he looked very guilty and smiled sheepishly at her as if he knew that that smile was his winning ticket.

“I'm not mad,” Chloe revealed, addressing everything in that one simple statement.

“You're not?” Clark asks.

“No. I know what happened. You were with Lana in the hospital,” Chloe replied. She looked so calm and cool that Clark didn't question her. She offered him some punch for both him and Lana and he was off again, dancing. Although Clark didn't tell her that he was dating Lana, Chloe figured it out. Now that her mind was clear of everything, she could see a little better.

Even though she said she wasn't mad, a part of her felt the sting of resentment and jealousy. It was hard enough to watch her old crush dancing with the person he chose over her, but now she was standing by the punch bowl, feeling a little bit like crying, a little bit like smashing things, and a little bit like laughing with relief. Clark was spoken for, he was clearly not interested in her, and she could finally move on.

With these thoughts ruminating about in her head, Chloe didn't notice the stillness and sudden quiet of the room. It wasn't until someone was standing very close to her that Chloe was brought back to herself.

“Can I have some punch?” Lex asked and smiled when her face shot up, wide eyed at his appearance. Lex didn't take any punch though, he took Chloe's hand instead. He pulled her away from the table and twirled her into the all too familiar waltz. The music was familiar too and Chloe wondered how he'd orchestrated this, smiling when she thought that he might have paid the DJ to slip in this song at his arrival.

“What are you doing here?” Chloe asked.

“I miss high school dances,” Lex lies easily and shrugs. “You look happy to see me,” he adds.

“I am,” Chloe admits and smiles brightly. The uneasiness she felt when dancing with him last night was replaced with pleasant surprise that he would put himself in this situation for her.

“Good,” he says and spins her round and round until she is breathless, laughing, and dizzy. She breaks her form, collapsing onto him and he hold her close, like the night they'd had sex, and Chloe could feel that familiar heat, both comforting and sensual.

“Are you still upset about Dieter?” Chloe asked suddenly, the smile on his face tightened briefly before it smoothed back to neutral.

“No,” he lied. Chloe narrowed her eyes at him, searching his face through her lashes as if her penetrating stare would make him confess.

“Really, I'm fine. What do you want me to do?” Chloe asked in a low frustrated tone.

“It's not you, Chloe, it's him. I'm very mad at him. And I'm terminating the contract,” Lex said finally. His shoulders relaxed a little as if the plan had burdened him greatly.

“What? But you've been working so hard!” Chloe exclaimed, a little louder than necessary. There were other dancers on the floor now and a few looked over at her.

“He's planning a coup, Chloe. That's not the sort of guy I want to do business with anyway,” Lex said back. He seemed tired to Chloe, over worked and under appreciated, like her father. It made her feel bad for taking up so much of his time.

“There's got to be some way around it. I mean, he was planning on using me, right? Why don't we let him think it's working, and I'll just feed him false information!” Chloe said brightly. Her enthusiasm sparked a twin flame in him but there was so much more involved, it was a lot easier said than done.

“Why don't you just enjoy your dance, Chloe, we'll talk about it later,” Lex said at last. She was more than capable of being the fake spy Chloe planned to be, but high school dances weren't the place to talk about business.

“Lex?” Clark called out from fifteen feet away. He held a delicate Lana in his arms, dressed in a slinky white satin that clung tightly to her hips. Her arm was in a cast and it was riddled with doodles and signatures.

Chloe and Lex stopped dancing to look at the other couple. Apparently it was the first time they'd seen Lex at the party and were wide eyed with surprise. Clark recovered first and smiled cautiously.

“What are you doing here?” Clark asked.

“Chloe's date bailed on her last night so I stepped in,” Lex replied coolly. He wrapped a possessive arm around Chloe and pulled her close. Her smile was too bright to be a real smile, but Chloe didn't feel comfortable about this stand off. Obviously Lex was being passive aggressive, calling Clark out about yesterday.

Clark looked guilty again like he did earlier and when Lana looked up at him questioningly, he looked even worse. He must not have told Lana about his invitation to the debut. And because Chloe didn't want both Lana and Lex to shoot daggers at Clark anymore, she cleared her throat and tried to step in between Lex and Clark.

“Yeah, but it wasn't a big deal. He had to go take care of someone so he's not in any hot water, or whatever the phrase is. Oh hey, I love this song, let's dance!” Chloe rushed and pulled Lex away, bouncing up and down to a song that she didn't recognize. Lex did not really dance along so much as pulled her body close and sway. Songs like these were obviously not his cup of tea so Chloe took them over to the punch bowl again.

“I guess I don't really fit in here,” Lex admitted, glancing around at all the curious teenagers.

“I didn't really fit in at the debut either,” Chloe confessed with a smile. She didn't drink any of the punch, someone spiked it when they were away and now, the dark red was much lighter and the smell was very strong. Lex, smelling this, decided that he would finally have a drink.

“Did you get any calls from any boys last night?” Lex asked. His voice was so plain and calm that Chloe knew something was up. He was trying to hide that jealous accusatory tone by sounding monotonous.

“Maybe,” Chloe teased.

“Did anyone catch your eye?” Lex asked.

“Well, I hand picked everyone so, I guess everyone would have caught my eye at one point,” Chloe shot back.

“Don't be a smart ass, tell me who you like,” Lex asked.

Chloe pretended to think about it, and as she pondered, she placed her index finger on her chin with a long drawn out hum. Lex, unable to continue his nonchalant facade, became increasingly curious and agitated. He looked as if he wanted to shake her until she spilled the beans about the boy she wanted to date. The sooner she'd tell him, the sooner he could send him on a peace corp mission to Africa.

“I do like someone, but I don't know if he'd like me back,” Chloe said at last. Lex gritted his teeth.

“He'd be a fool not to like you, Chloe,” Lex replied.

“I certainly hope you're not a fool, Lex,” Chloe shot back with one of her flirty smiles that illuminates the room.

Lex kissed her then, pulled her close and pressed his mouth onto hers. Before the kiss could become embarrassingly wanton, Lex pulled back. He was glad that Chloe was the only active writer and editor of the Torch because he wouldn't want any headlines about seeing Lex Luthor whisking her out to his car.

There, he could kiss her with fewer eyes. He cursed himself then because his sports car wasn't made for comfortable back seat romps. A few times, Chloe had to stop kissing to pull her leg out of a painful position or to get her back off his stick shift.

“Drive somewhere,” Chloe demanded at last. Lex put the car in gear with Chloe still draped over his lap, her white dress filling up the car like puff crème pastry. She smelled so sweet that when she tried to move over to the passenger side, a safer choice, he refused so that he could turn his head now and then into the crook of her neck and inhale her scent.

She was sitting right on his erection and the pain of the pressure edged toward pleasure. He bucked up against her round bottom several times, wondering if he could get off that way. Perhaps if he tried for a long time, but Lex and Chloe didn't have a long time. Especially when she wouldn't leave his ear alone, licking it, nibbling the shell, whispering how much she wanted him and how wet she was.

Lex pulled over twice to grab her face and kiss her deeply. The tension was thrilling and terrible and when he couldn't take it anymore, and she couldn't find a comfortable position, Lex suggested they take this outside. He drove into an unknown corn field, still green with youth, and pulled her out of the car with him. They escaped into the young stalks, Chloe giggling gleefully, until she tripped and took Lex with her.

They stayed there in that spot, kissing and whispering nonsensical things in the dark. Lex smoothed along the skin of her calves, up to her thighs, pushing the dress up and away. He pulled her panties down, telling her that he missed the taste of her and that he wanted to drink from her. And though Chloe thought these words were on the ridiculous side, there was no arguing with his eyes, nor his intent. He could go down on her any time, any place.

And he chose here, in a stranger's corn field, under the starry sky. It didn't take her long to come, she was already so turned on and the adventure was titillating as well. Just a few long slow laps and Chloe cried out, wondering suddenly if she should be so loud. But Lex didn't give her time to think long because his fingers were inside her then, and his tongue back to work around her clit. He made her feel as if she was delicious, like he couldn't get enough. It was a few minutes later that she came again, teary eyed and squinting up at the stars.

There was a crinkling sound, and because the moon was half full, Chloe could just see the glimmer of a metallic square. She saw Lex rustling around with his trousers and though she couldn't see his cock, she knew it was already hard. He even gasped when he rolled the condom on, he was so close to the edge.

He was just outside her entrance, looking down at her intently, studying her face as he slowly slid himself in to the hilt. Chloe watched his face too, saw how difficult it was for him to hold still, to let her adjust. She didn't really need the allotted time but appreciated his consideration. When Chloe lifted her hips, Lex started to move again, long and slow strokes until Chloe arched her back and begged him to fuck her faster.

He kissed her softly then, continuing his slow torture, breathing heavily onto her mouth. He knew that if he picked up speed, he wouldn't last and he wanted this to last. Chloe looked so beautiful by moonlight, laying in the silken pool of her debut gown, cheeks flushed and hair disheveled. He knew he didn't deserve her but neither did Clark or anyone they chose for her debut and he took solace in that.

When Chloe started to shake, her hips breaking up his rhythm, Lex kissed the orgasm she silently had. It lasted so long that Lex wondered if he should stop rocking against her, but eventually, it ebbed and Lex began to pick up speed. He gripped her ask roughly, using that and the ground as leverage as he pumped deeply into her, grunting her name between any gasp of air he could spare for speaking. When she wrapped her legs around his hips, and held him tight and deep, Lex shuddered and cried out a garbled message to the heavens before he collapsed onto her.

She stroked his scalp, calming his pounding heart and her own. It felt so good, so peaceful that he didn't want to move off her. He did though, to discard the condom, tying it up and wrapping it into his handkerchief, stuffed into his pocket. When that menial task was done, Lex rolled over to gaze up at the stars.

“You know, I'm grounded right? And it's all your fault,” Chloe said.

“Don't blame me, you're the one that begged me to help you find a boyfriend,” Lex replied, taking her hand in his, stroking the soft skin of her palm.

“And what did you do instead?” Chloe asked accusingly.

“I found you a boyfriend!” Lex claimed.

“Oh you did, did you?” Chloe asked, turning on her side so that she could look at him and smiled when she saw he was smiling.

“I did,” He said before she kissed him.

They laid together for a little while longer, Chloe pointing out constellations and making up outrageous stories about them. Lex joining in though he wasn't quite as good at making up stories and a few times, Chloe caught him telling her the real story behind a couple of the stars.

“I really am grounded though,” Chloe said at last.

“Do you want me to send your dad back to Metropolis?” Lex asked.

“No! No, not unless he has to go. Don't send him away like that, I miss him when he goes,” Chloe admitted. Lex stood then, helping her up. She doesn't put on her panties again but instead, just carries them to the car. They'd run a long way before Chloe fell into the perfect spot and Lex into her arms. But the trek back wasn't terrible, there was a trail of damaged stalks to the car and Lex promised Chloe they he'd reimburse the farmer.

“My car's still at the school,” Chloe said as Lex drove her back to her house.

“I'll get it back to you in the morning,” Lex replied. They held hands whenever his hands were free from shifting gears. It was a sweet moment, one neither of them experienced too often.

He didn't take her to her door, knowing that now was not a good time for Lex to talk to her father. He was as protective of her as Lex was and now, when things were warm and perfect, was not a good time to drop the bomb. He kissed her lingeringly in the car, stroking her face and telling her to sleep tight. He watched her sneak into her house in her crinkled dirty dress, and saw the light turn on in her room before he drove away back to a quiet mansion.

[gecko]

great story, loving it

[Fouzia]

love it^^ thank you!!!!!!!

[ArcAngel]

That was fantastic! Can't wait for more.

[SouthernChlex]

T is now my favorite letter of the alphabet.

[Firefly24]

I really love this story. Can't wait to see what happens next.

[lilinny]

I loved it! It was so sweet. On to letter U.

[Minty Revolution]

AN: Okay, I've got a good idea for the next five letters! My wifi is hella weak right now though, so I hope it gets better the next time I post!

Chapter U is not for Unrequited

After two months of sneaking around under the guise of Chloe interning with Lex, the thrill of secrecy ebbed. They thought it wouldn't be much of a secret after that very public kiss at her Valentine's Dance, but they'd been very careful after that and rumors quieted down. Now Lex wanted to break the news to the world that he was dating her. She'd turn eighteen between the time of her debut and there relationship now and though it would have been frowned upon for the both of them to be together, it would no longer be illegal.

But Chloe didn't agree. The secrecy was for her father's benefit, she knew how much he disliked Lex and how much it'd hurt him to know that his daughter was going out with his boss. And though Lex promised not to send her father away on a whim anymore, there were times moments that were just too convenient to be coincidence.

“Can't we just wait until I get into college?” Chloe asked. It wasn't that much further and she'd a already sent in her early admissions, refusing Lex as a reference.

“I don't want all those college boys to even think they have a chance with you. Can't you go to an all girl's school?” Lex asked, and though he only meant it teasingly, Chloe saw the spark of truth behind his laughing gaze.

“You know how drunk girls can be, Lex. I might sack up with a sorority sister one night and she might never want to give me back to you,” Chloe teased back.

“Online degrees are going to be a big hit!” Lex exclaimed, pulling her into his arms and holding her tightly. He didn't want her to go away to college and had been more or less begging her to stay close to home. It was one of the only times Lex and Gabe agreed with one another when it came to Chloe.

“Sorry, no can do. I'm casting my net far and wide to see what bites, and then I'll choose from there, okay?” Chloe said sternly and wiggled out of his vice. It was sweet that he didn't want her to study on the east coast, but that was where some big ivy league schools were and the future those schools promised were hard to ignore.

“What about the secrecy?” Lex asked.

“It's enough that my father is moping around because his little girl is going off to college next fall, I don't want to drop a bomb like you on him. Can't we just hold out a little longer? Enough to have him feel secure that I'm okay on my own, and then we'll hint at the fact that you might be a good match for his baby? Please?”

It was the same argument time and time again but it was hard to refuse that sweet face of hers, pleading with him. Also, if he pressed the issue, she would skirt the topic by initiating back breaking sex with him to get him to shut up. And because it was such a great incentive, Lex pushed the issue just to see what sort of position she would come up with or what surface she would shove him onto. The counter of his kitchen was painful, but it did offer a really good perch and the slight chance that his chef and team might walk in was highly arousing.

Instead, she pulled him to the floor. And just seconds after she did, Lex could hear the footsteps of the kitchen staff on the cold linoleum floor.

“Oh, there's that...fork,” Chloe said, popping right up, trying t discreetly fix her hair.

“Yes, thank you for helping me find that,” Lex forced out, trying to hold in his laughter at how silly it was that they were sneaking around his own house. Of course his chef knew exactly what was going on but the man took great pride in the kitchen he worked. It might be Lex's kitchen on paper, but the other man knew every nook and cranny about it and he wasn't going to step out during the dinner hour just because his boss wanted to use the room for some nooky.

Chloe grabbed an apple on her way out, smiling brightly, glad to have the opportunity to avoid the college talk. Lex followed her because he couldn't not follow her. The way her butt swayed in those tight jeans captivated him. When she found her way into his study, Lex wanted to be on her, wanted to tackle her to the ground and have his way with her.

But Chloe'd turned herself off just as quickly as she'd turned herself on. It was a gift that he loved and then hated, because when she was off, he was left with an aching erection and no way to sate it unless Chloe was feeling merciful.

“Dieter called me last night,” Chloe said at last. It had been so long since Dieter signed his end of the deal and things were going smoothly. Lex didn't back out of it like he wanted, taking Chloe's opinion as his own. He'd worked hard to get that man to sign, she'd worked even harder even though she would never say so. As for the takeover the dark haired man was planning, well, it was quiet and very secret, he didn't even say a word about it to Chloe. Until now, anyway.

“What did he want?” Lex asked, his libido vanishing instantly and he wondered if her special gift was contagious.

He wanted to know if I would be available to meet and discuss your company, see how much he would gain, how much you would lose,” Chloe said, sitting in one of his arm chairs facing the fireplace. There were moments that she flickered so effortlessly between young girl and jaded adult, but now she was most definitely the jaded adult, burdened with worry.

“You don't have to do this, Chloe. I don't want you to risk yourself again for me,” Lex said tightly, walking over to her and kneeling on one knee at her feet. A position he'd never taken with anyone before, not even women he'd proposed to.

“No, I should do this, just one last time, Lex,” Chloe said, staring into the empty hearth. When she looked back at him, a smile played on her lips, a smile too similar to his own and he wondered if whatever tainted him was contagious as well.

“What were you thinking?” Lex asked.

“It's a surprise,” Chloe said cheerily, running a hand through her pin straight hair. “It's revenge,” she added with an almost delectable sweetness.

Chloe sat at an outdoor table, shaded from the sun by a large lacy umbrella attached to the center of a similarly lattice table. There was a cup of ice coffee in front of her, as well as a plain book without title or sleeve. She touched the book a few times but made no move to read it. It was just one of those props that made you look smart but didn't do much else.

Since Metropolis could get so warm and so muggy with the thousands of people that bustled about, Chloe opted to meet outside, away from the cool air. She'd thought of everything, down to her cloths and up to the words she would say, how she would say them.

The disgust at herself when Dieter assaulted her manifested itself much later in forms of vivid dreams where he would grab her so hard, her arm broke in his hand. Where he would kiss her so roughly, she woke up tasting blood. After the shock of falling into a relationship with Lex ebbed, and newer feelings just beginning to crack the surface, so to did these feelings of shame and self doubt. And to make it worst, she secretly kept the blank check in a slit in her mattress.

She didn't expect Dieter to call her again, thought he was only testing his power over her. The kiss was a warning for what he could really do if he had the opportunity. But Chloe was just a journalist, just a girl, what kind of spy could she make for a man like Dieter who could, if he wanted, hire someone with more field experience.

Chloe drummed her perfectly manicured fingers on the book as she waited for Dieter. He called her to tell her he was on his way just ten minutes ago, that he was running late from a meeting he had here. Something told her that he was manipulating her again in his little games, making her wait while he took his time, building up the tension he must know she felt.

“Chloe,” he murmured intimately into her ear, resting his warm callused hands on her bare shoulders. The contact and voice made her jump but she laughed it off as he sat across from her.

“Dieter, you startled me,” Chloe said, resting a hand over her heart to calm it, reminding her lungs to breathe.

“It's so good to see you again. I missed you,” Dieter went on. He crossed his legs, wearing some sort of airy suit, he must or how else could he stand the warmth? His eyes traveled the length of Chloe's body, taking in the massive amounts of leg exposed in her micro shorts. She'd worn an edgy summer suit, the shorts with the tightly fitted pin stripe blazer, a practically sheer under shirt, and dangerously sexy high heels. The warm of the day caused her to perspire, and now she glistened beautifully.

“I missed you too,” Chloe lied and leaned forward to squeeze his hand with her own, a gesture of support and concern. She knew he still wanted her and she played with his emotions against every fiber of her being. At one point, he must have liked her, but his charm stopped short when he realized he could use her to further his ambitions.

“What have you been up to?” he asked, raising a brow to imply that they were getting down to business and his question had nothing to do with caring about what she was really doing.

“I'm glad you asked,” Chloe replied with a silky smile. She reached into her purse and pulled out a manila folder neatly stuffed with a stack of important papers. Papers that Lex handed over to her this morning after he pulled her into a long intoxicating kiss that led to sex and breakfast in bed.

Dieter took the papers from her, unsure at first what they were. But once his eyes and mind connected the dots and added all the numbers, the pages and pages of words began to make sense. These were Lex Luthor's important tax documentations for the last three years. This was more than Dieter could hope for and because he was only vaguely familiar with the American taxation procedures he really appreciated Chloe circling in red, all the numbers that did not add up.

“This is perfect, Chloe. With this, I can collapse him and leave his empire virtually untouched,” Dieter beamed. He gave Chloe another once over. He didn't think she would do it, didn't think she had it in her to get this close to Lex, to his personal files. She must have been lying when she said they weren't romantically involved. It came to him then that he could take even Chloe away from Lex and the man would literally have nothing left.

“Oh good, you approve. I guess it's okay for me to cash that check now, huh?” Chloe asked with a giggle.

“Oh yes, whatever it is you want, go ahead. After LexCorp is mine, I could easily afford a hundred corporate spies,” Dieter exclaimed, smiling ear to ear. His greed was disgusting and also misinformed. LexCorp was an empire worth billions, but if he paid all his spies like he did her, he wouldn't make a penny for himself.

It took several months but Lex finally stepped down from LexCorp. Though the tax documentations had been fraudulent, he wanted a little down time anyway, to be with Chloe. He'd been with her every step of the way, holding her hand as she played an aching head game with Dieter, slyly moving her chess pieces across the board, trying to expose his weaknesses. And now she was tired and needed some down time.

She'd been accepted into half the schools she applied for and because of her scheming, couldn't decide on which school to attend. Now they were visiting schools. And though it was a trip meant for father and daughter, Gabe relented. He'd visited colleges with Chloe before she applied to them and now Chloe wanted another look. If Lex was willing to fork over his time, Gabe would let him. Besides, there was some strange thing going on with the plant, he didn't know whether or not he'd be able to keep his job so he'd work as hard as he could now so that he could pay for whatever college Chloe decided on. It was his job as a father.

They toured the east coast, dropping by stuffy ivy league schools that looked unmoved, almost bored at her high SAT scores to her A plus grades and list of accomplishments and then perked at the knowledge of her billionaire escort. Visiting middle ranged schools, with one or two exceptional programs. Tiny art colleges in the middle of sleepy towns crackling with charisma and wit captured her heart immediately, but she knew she wouldn't survive there, so isolated from the world.

“That's how small colleges get applicants, Chloe. They are beautiful, picturesque, with a great small town appeal,” Lex said as Chloe looked over the deep green fields at the young women galloping on spotted stallions. She felt guilty, denying her heart the solace these small colleges offered, but her ambition needed great programs, journalistic programs.

The last college visited was Metropolis University. It was a great college with many great programs, in the perfect sized city close to home, close to Lex, close to people she timidly considered her friends.

Chloe didn't want to mention it to Lex but she couldn't afford most of the colleges that accepted her. She knew her father could partially get by but she'd need loans and didn't want his offers to help. He'd helped her financially before and it wasn't that she wasn't grateful, but she felt in debt.

Coming back to Smallville submersed her in feelings of home. And it also reminded her that she still had dealings with Dieter. Chloe went to her bookshelf, pulling out the plain book without titles or sleeved, and opened it to reveal the cut out portion, nestled within was a small recording device. And because she could contact her German bank account, also, luckily enough was Dieter's same bank, she could keep an eye on her money. Through German papers, easily translated, and on line websites, Chloe surmised that Dieter was worth 3.5 million dollars. And because he didn't expect her to fill out the check with such an exorbitant fee, Chloe carefully filled out her check.

When Dieter called her, feathers obviously ruffled, Chloe simply replayed the damning evidence into the phone. And then she informed him that the knock he just heard was the police coming to arrest him for fraud and embezzlement and that she was going to hold his money safe for him while he rotted a quarter of his life away in prison.

And that was how Chloe paid for college. She lied to her father, of course, telling him that she'd gotten some financial and and educational scholarship, but she let that go to other kids who were needier than she. She had bribe money to play with that even Lex didn't know about, or would find out about later on.

She'd decided on Metropolis University perhaps from the start. And when her father dropped her off at school, Chloe hugged him as they sniffled their goodbyes. Her father was the one she got her tender heart from, any vibrations against her heart strings sent tears prickling to her eyes. It was also from him that she learned control, learned to tightly squeeze her eyes and to twist her mouth to keep the sob from coming out. And all these lessons prevailed now as they rocked side to side out front of her dorm. She could visit anytime and so could he, they were so close, but she knew these tears were about her growing up and leaving.

When he drove away, Chloe felt a little devastated, like the time he left her at preschool, hanging on to her Thunder Cats lunch box, with tears dripping from both of their eyes. She'd wailed and wailed until lunch time and then she napped and everything was okay. It was a good plan and Chloe turned to execute it back in her room.

Instead, she bumped into Lex Luthor. His hands steadied her and when she saw who it was, she pressed her face into his chest and let the last couple of sobs left in her escape, muffled in his arms. When she was done, she wiped her wet face on her sleeve and pressed her cool fingers on her eyes, hoping to calm the puffiness.

“I'm okay, Lex, sorry, I'm okay now,” Chloe said stuffily.

“I guess it's my turn to say goodbye,” Lex said. He didn't have tears in his eyes, he had humor brimming there, tugging at his lips to form an amused smile.

“You're laughing at me!” Chloe exclaimed loudly, whacking him hard on the chest. She pushed away from him and started for her dorm again. He followed her, letting out a chuckle he couldn't hold in. He wasn't taking this situation as seriously as Chloe did but it was only because she was so close, he could permanently move into his penthouse, maybe get her to agree to live with him as she studied, what more could he ask for.

The door slammed and locked in his face and Lex realized how deeply in the doghouse he'd stuffed himself. He knocked on the door softly, relenting an apologizing, when she didn't answer, he panicked.

“Chloe? Come on, I'm sorry!” He cried out, knocking louder.

“You said your goodbyes, you can go back to Smallville now!” Chloe shouted back through the door.

“I didn't mean to laugh at you, I'm sorry, can't I come in?” Lex tried, knocking again. When Chloe didn't answer, Lex pressed his forehead on her door, groaning with both frustation and embarrassment. He knew from the sudden silence of the hall that everyone was listening to the very familiar bald billionaire apologizing to his girlfriend. Well, they would get an ear full now, there secret was out. College kids loved to blog.

“Chloe, I wanted to say this to your face, but I'll say it through the door,” Lex warned. And when she said nothing, he slowly and loudly annunciated the three words that had been echoing in his head since the night he discovered that Dieter had given her a blank check. “Chloe, I love you.”

It was the magic words, like open sesame, and the doors swung open revealing to him a beautiful, red faced Chloe with her sweet surprised lips.

“What?” she demanded, almost angry.

“I love you,” Lex said again and stepped into her room uninvited, pulling her lips to his to keep her from replying, protecting his heart if she didn't. But the urgent way she kissed him was more than enough, and he realized she'd been saying she loved him in just that way all along.

“I love you too,” Chloe managed against his lips, between deep kisses. Their secret was out.

[lilinny]

How sweet! And devious! I don't want this to end. Invent new letters!

[Minty Revolution]

AN: Here's the last post! I hope you had as much fun as I did. This is my first completed fan fiction with multiple chapters! EVER, out of all of the fan fiction I've ever written since the seventh grade all the way to my post graduate years, this is it! I hope this feeling of accomplishment lasts and becomes addicting enough for me to try it again! So many exclamation points! Thank for sticking it out with me even though I didn't make my own deadline. All the smut to follow is dedicated to all of the support I've received. Thank you!

Chapter V is for Valentine's Day

They went to dinner, Chloe and Lex, to a place called fauna. As lovely as the name was, it was really a delectable little steak house that chuckled at itself as it served up venison burgers called Bambi and thick rabbit Thumper stew. So particular was it's patrons that, at first glance, one would think they were bikers. And most of the assumptions would be right, but that was only a quarter of the guests, most of them were the wealthy, like Lex and Chloe, dressed down in jeans, rocker tees, and sneakers.

“I don't know why they want to make me feel so guilty eating this burger!” Chloe exclaimed, wiping the red sauce from her lips with her flannel napkin. It was her idea to come her for Valentine's Day. She wanted to stay away from those classier restaurants where men left and right would drop down on their knees, confess their love and ask for wedded bliss. Not that she didn't want to get married some day, just not right now. And with Lex being the competitor that he was, Chloe knew that he would try to out stage everyone in asking her.

Oh, she knew he wanted to, he hinted at forever enough. It wasn't suffocating, listening to him plan out their future in terms of Roth IRAs and what nots, but Chloe wasn't ready yet. She just started school. She loved her classes, made friends with the editor of her school paper, and loved her roommate, Janie. She didn't want such an adult commitment to tarnish the last couple of years of adolescence.

“I think they're secretly vegetarian/peta people who create delicious dishes, juxtaposing Bambi and other cuddly creatures to guilt you into meat sobriety,” Lex offered as he took a bite out of his burger. He didn't fall for the guilt trip and Chloe wasn't shocked, what shocked her was his admission that he had never seen the Disney classic, Bambi.

“Chloe, really, this is not how I wanted to spend Valentine's with you,” Lex said as Chloe pushed the DVD tray closed. He should have lied about not seeing the damn movie, anything, to avoid this and get some sex out of Chloe. They had sex every time they saw one another, if she wasn't on her period or had that tail bone injury. That left the last time they had sex to be over a month ago.

“His mom's going to die,” Lex said just as the movie starts. Chloe narrowed her eyes at him.

“I thought you said you hadn't seen it!” Chloe exclaims.

“I didn't. But the premise is simple and formulaic. Mothers never survive in Disney movies, in most fairy tales, real life. It leaves the child without a common nurturer and they search for a replacement,” Lex goes on. Chloe is startled by the honesty revealed in his statements. She knew he was talking about their parents, her mother and his mother.

“Just watch,” Chloe whispered as the fire spread across the screen.

When the movie was over, Chloe sighed. Bambi was a definite mood killer and she sorely regretted making Lex watch it. Not only was Lex incredibly guilty, he also felt a little sick and spent some time in the bathroom throwing up his expensive Bambi Burger and fries.

“Should we go to a doctor?” Chloe asked. If it was food poisoning, he should really get help. But Chloe didn't feel sick at all and she was sure they switched burgers at one point for a taste test of medium rare burgers and well done.

“No, I'm fine,” Lex managed, between mouthfuls of liquid which he gargled ferociously. When he felt his hygiene was properly cared for, Lex laid down in bed. They were at his penthouse, it was suppose to be a special night for the both of them. Instead, they ate Bambi, felt bad about it, watched Bambi, and felt worse. Maybe he was on to something when he said that Fauna might actually be Peta undercover.

Chloe cuddled with him, hummed softly over his pained groining sounds, and rubbed his back until he fell asleep. She'd never seen him sick before, beaten up sure, but never sick. Perhaps they've crossed a milestone.


Chapter W is for What Wedding?

Junior year, Chloe was now the editor of her college paper, a position she rose into with a lot of hard work. And in order to keep it, she worked even harder. Lex was working hard too and they would go for weeks without seeing each other, surviving only on nightly phone calls declaring love, suggesting elopement, plans for world domination.

That was also the year that Clark Kent, cape and tights, flew across the sky with a supple Lois Lane in his arms. She never understood that boy, though she used to think she did. In all his self centered egotistical, bullshit, he still managed to make a remarkable superhero.

It was the end of her year, almost time to pack up a few of her things and go home to Smallville for the summer to spend quality time with her father. He should have retired but didn't want to, spent a day in the house all alone with his thoughts and thought he'd go crazy. Also, he was beginning to accept Lex, and Chloe thought the two men in her life should start bonding soon.

“Chloe,” Lex said, pulling her into a warm hello kiss. No one cared anymore about them together. The first year was hard, the second year got a little easier, but the third? Tabloids began to call her Mrs. Luthor and all of her achievements were tainted by the intimation of his monetary power, but Chloe was quite rich on her own, investing her German Euros abroad, multiplying them. She really was waiting for Dieter, she wasn't that attached to the cash. She was ready to give back what she took from him, maybe even a little more. Her revenge was over, no need to cling to the money that represented nothing more than her ability to win.

When Chloe pulled back and smiled, she caught a glint of something sweet in his gaze. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously and took a step back. The last time he looked at her like that, Chloe's whole journalism class went on a field trip smack dab in the middle of warring Iraq. His grand gestures were a little too grand sometimes.

“How do you feel about a big Paris wedding?” Lex asked suggestively.

Chloe was afraid he was going to ask her to marry him. Couldn't he wait until she was out of school at least? Just one more year and they could finally live together, travel around first, then get married. Why was he jumping the gun? They had plans!


“What wedding?” Chloe asked innocently.

“I've got your passport,” Lex said, waving the little blue rectangle in front of her face. She tried to snatch it away but it wasn't a game. She was nervous, not because she wasn't ready to tie the not, but because she was pretty sure she was ready. Forget their plans, they can travel as a married couple, she thought, gritting her teeth.

“What wedding?” Chloe asked again, her voice an octave lower.

They were off to Paris, France two months later, flying in Lex's private jet. He was deep into his work, typing away on his lap top and answering calls that seemed to be pouring in every fifteen minutes or so. Chloe was working too, editing an article about the Metropolis financial aid scam written and jointly investigated by her roommate and herself. It was a hard project with many obstacles, but Chloe managed to make some leeway just before she left Metropolis and she too was on the phone, asking her partner questions and typing at breakneck speed.

It was three hours into the trip that Chloe got a hand cramp and hand to call a truce with the keys on her computer. She massaged her hand and looked over to see that Lex was also massaging his. He wasn't calling it quits just yet, however, and before she could suggest some down time, Lex began typing again. He looked up for a second when Chloe stood to walk up and down the aisle of the plane but went right back to work.

It wasn't until Chloe's gentle hand smoothed over his scalp that Lex felt the scales of his attention tipping her way. When she gave his shoulders a couple luxurious squeezes, he found it hard to concentrate on his bright screen. And when she kissed the top of his head lightly, he closed his laptop and pushed it aside in lieu of better things. Chloe.

Her weight on his thighs, on his erection was comfortable, deliciously oppressive. And when she gyrated her round butt, Lex groaned impatiently against her soft lips. He didn't need her to seduce him, he was already caught up in her.

But Chloe had her own plans and would not easily be deterred. She reached between them, unbuttoned his trousers and unzipped them, pulling out his hot thick erection with a firm and familiar hand. There were no objections to be had by Lex, glad to be free of the confines of his slacks.

He did momentarily object when Chloe sank to her knees between his legs. He wanted to bury his cock did inside Chloe, wanted to thrust hard so that he could hear her cry out, wanted her to stroke his scalp the way she does after she comes, urging him over the edge. But when she looked up at him with soft sleepy eyes and licked her lips in preparation, Lex turned off his brain and waited for those wet pink lips to touch him.

First contact was actually her tongue, circling the tip hungrily, taking her first samplings of precum. Then, wanting more, she wrapped her lips around the head and very gently suckled, rolling her tongue around and making sure to avoid catching him with her teeth. Then she pulled away, licking him from base to tip and wrenched a shudder from him before proceeding to treat aching cock like a Popsicle in July.

He tensed, every muscle begging for release but Chloe grants them, not him. He couldn't will an orgasm if he wanted to, she could take it away, could slow down, could change her pace or, god forbid, stop all together. But she was playing nice today and looked up at him with those beautiful round eyes, and moaned. She moaned so convincingly, as if she got sexual pleasure from his dick in her mouth, that Lex climaxed. His deep moan just barely stifled as he shook inelegantly in his seat, grabbing a handful of her blond hair to keep her from sucking anymore life from him, which she would definitely do until he begged her to stop. She'd keep going, even after swallowing the cum, just so she could feel him shake at her mercy.

“Chloe, Chloe,” Lex murmured, eyes closing tightly as she gave him a final lick along his tip. She always left him in pieces and he'd need a few minutes to put himself back in order.

“Thanks, I needed that,” Chloe said with a bright smile and went back to work, looking rejuvenated as if she actually had sucked the life force right out of him. He needed a nap while she looked as if she'd had a cup of her favorite coffee and was ready to go. She was a succubus, Lex thought admiringly.

They arrive in Paris and shopped for a day. When the couple arrived at their hotel, they both collapsed into a deep slumber, laptops humming side by side, phrases unfinished, fingers loosely resting on random keys.

Eveline looked radiant in a cream colored sheath, resting off her shoulders, tight around her torso and hips and upper thighs before it draped and gathered together by decadent strings of iridescent black pearls. Her arms were encased in silky black gloves and in those arms was a comely older gentleman with intelligent bespectacled eyes.

“Congratulations, Eveline! You look trés magnifique!” Chloe beamed.

“Finally, you've learned French!” Eveline teased and pulled Chloe into a hug. She introduced her husband, the owner of a medium sized fabric producing and importing company, Tristan Toussaint.

The night was full of dancing, laughing, and eating of rich pastries and savory miniature versions of meals. Like chicken, mashed potatoes, and sausage gravy in one artfully arrange bite on a personal silver platter.

“I'm glad she finally got to make a dress for herself,” Chloe said, as Lex led her around the floor with the other dancers. Her pale lilac dress fanned around her, the shimmery fabric caught the light and twinkled beautifully.

“Me too,” Lex said, looking over at the happily married couple and wishing that it was him and Chloe smiling like that, surrounded by people that supported them.



Chapter X is for (XXX) Romance

Back in their hotel, with the sun about to rise and Chloe wobbling on her high heeled feet, Lex thought she looked beautiful. Her make up was just starting to run, dark brown smudging around her eyes and her blush replaced by the natural flush of too many champagne toasts. Her lips have since lost their rosy lipstick but they were soft and smelled of a rich buttery pastry when he kissed her and lifted her up in his arms.

Lex carried her satin draped body to their bed and laid her down on the thickly embroidered comforter. She stretched sexily, arching her back until the bodice of her dress tightened against her breasts, nipples hard and tempting even in her lazy state.

Lex sank to his knees between her legs much like she did to him a little over twenty four hours ago. She moaned in approval when Lex reached up into the satin mess that was her dress and slipped her panties off of her. He pushed her dress up around her middle, leaned forward to further part her legs, and kissed her thighs until she whimpered with her impatience.

Upon hearing those encouraging sounds, Lex finally stroked her from her wet slit all the way up to her pink clit. She gave him a soft relieved moan then and when he repeated the motion again and again, Chloe squirmed beautifully, pressing her thighs around his head as if holding him there. But Lex could not be contained and used his strong hands to part her thighs even wider so that she was exposed far more than necessary. He had the best view of her he'd ever had before and he took his time to stare at what his actions had down to her.

“God, Lex. You're killing me,” Chloe gasped, her fingers fluttering down to slide wetly along her aching clit. The visual was enough to send him over the edge and he felt tempted to undo his pants and fuck her brains out on the spot. But he swallowed hard, determined to draw this out, to make the night memorable. He let her touch herself, moaning as she squirmed against his grip, wanting to close her legs but he wouldn't let her, he wanted to see.

As her moans rose in octave, announcing a close encounter with her orgasm, Lex leaned forward again to lick her clit, licking around her fingers until he ceased to block his way. She arched on the bed again, grabbing the blanket with wet fingers, murmuring his name, begging him to fuck her as she climaxed onto his tongue. When she tried to close her legs again, to get him to stop lapping up her juices, Lex refused, holding her aloft as he continued against her broken pleas.

When she shook violently in his hands, Lex persisted with his mouth and released one thigh to gingerly slide into her constricting canal.

“No, I can't!” Chloe gasped but pushed her hips against his fingers reach anyway. Resting her free leg on his shoulder, locking his head in place even as her mind and her lips protested. Lex urged a second orgasm from her as he wrote nonsensical letters on her clit, Ws, Ys, Ms. She couldn't concentrate, not when he stroked her walls with long clever pianist fingers.

“Yes! Yes!” She cried out as she came again. When Lex pulled away from her, his face was flushed and he smiled victoriously.

“Good,” he seemed to say as he made quick work of his tuxedo pants. He leaned over her lissome body and plunged into her, without cause for protection. They hadn't used protection for a year now and though they didn't have sex as much because of their busy schedule, he still thanked her every time for going on the Pill, and her roommate for talking her into it.

Chloe was too lost to make heads or tails of Lex's response, she just held onto him as he pumped into her already overstimulated pussy. She actually thought the room was moving by itself but Lex had taken her hips and dragged her down onto the ground where he had better leverage.

She now straddled him, leaning against the side of the bed for support and Lex knelt where he was before, hands behind him for balance and his hips thrust up into her with more force than before. Her dress pooled around them both, innocently hiding their actions from view. Chloe cried out, grinding against his movement, partnering with him to bring them both towards release.

“Lex, I-I'm close!” Chloe hissed, tightly gripping his lapel, pulling him toward her for a kiss she knew would send her over the edge. Lex did lean into the kiss, rising up on his knees to pin Chloe against the side of the bed, using the bed as leverage now, one hand on her hip, the other gripping the blankets as he plunged into her. They both came, for the first time, simultaneously with kiss muffled cries and involuntary shaking as they crashed back into their sweat drenched bodies.


Chapter Y is for Yes!

“I never said yes,” Chloe said as she glared down at the giant diamond on her left ring finger. She wasn't so drunk the night of Eveline's wedding that she would forget that steamy sex they'd had. But how she woke up to a beaming Lex and a heavier left hand escaped her memory. She couldn't bare to take the ring off on the flight home, for fear of hurting his feelings.

“Yes you did,” Lex said as he brought her a glass of juice and some aspirin for her head. The ache was more from frustration at racking her brain, trying to remember when Lex had asked her to marry him and when she said yes.

“Then why can't I remember?” Chloe asked suspiciously, narrowing her green eyes at him. When he knelt beside her chair and held her hand, Chloe wanted to yank it away and bop him on the head because of his fox-like expression.

“I can help you recall...If you like,” Lex said and licked the tips of her middle and ring finger on her right hand. When Chloe's eyes brightened with realization, Lex laughed, he laughed louder when she pulled her hand away.

“That doesn't count! You can't write messages to my pussy and expect me to be able to translate them!” Chloe cried in protest. But he was right, he'd asked her and she'd unknowingly said yes. And now there was a big rock on her hand, glittering against the light from the window.

“Oh but it does count. It's a verbal contract, Chloe,” Lex said teasingly as he pushed himself up.

“A verbal contract isn't worth the paper it's written on,” Chloe spat half heartedly, which was as close to saying yes as he was going to get from her until the actual ceremony. He'd let her cool off before suggesting a date, which would probably be around the time she graduated.


AND Chapter Z is for a Lot of Zeroes

Dieter Ruprecht walked out of prison with an envelope to his name and nothing else. During his five year stay, the maximum punishment for the crime at hand, there was an anger that built up within him until there was no more space, searching the borders of his body for some sort of violent release. She'd taken everything from him and he'd envisioned numerous ways to kill Chloe Sullivan, finding a strange eroticism in choking her to death.

When he was clear of the prison, on a bus back into the city limits, he opened the envelope to find a carefully written letter.

Dear Dieter,

Within, you will find 4,000,000 dollars. I've kept it safe while you were away. Don't spend it all in one place.

GAME OVER,
Chloe

Inside was a German check, and he counted the zeros to make sure he wasn't dreaming. He deposited it right away, and checked his balance. She'd taken money from him and returned it with interest. Though he'd initiated the game with Chloe, she'd schooled in the end. He was relieved not to have to start over, but the money would be a constant reminder of the power she had over him, and Dieter knew she was watching what he would do.

The anger in him welled once, threatening to crush his ribs before it ebbed into a throb. He could use a conscience, Chloe could be that voice to humble him when his greed and arrogance tried to tempt him. Alexander was right to keep her around, Dieter thought. She was a good influence.

[Fouzia]

Thank you for this wonderful story^^

[SouthernChlex]

Amazing ending! Thankyou so much for writing this. It was a great story, and I hope this won't be the last multy chapter fic you write.

[Lynzie914]

Just read through the whole thing and I LOVED it! I love the idea of using the alphabet for each of the chapters and I loved the plotline and all the twists and turns you gave. Amazing job on this!

[Rachet]

what a great finish.

[TheDragonLady]

This was a really awesome fic, man! I wasn't expecting to enjoy it this much!

[sjww]

great story - really liked the use of the alphabet and the baseline for the story

enjoyed this very much thank you for writing

[CrazyGirlWriter]

Wow, this was definately an interesting story. I mean looking back at the beginning i really didn't see it ending here but now that i'm here it all fits. Nice

[Emch]

Simply FANTASTIC. Love it

[starmoon]

i still love this story it is so great.

[chicablue]

great fic

[Irikidzai]

Wonderful fic, I especially love how you had Chloe give the money back at the end.

[ajl_gurl84]

Yay! Finished another great fic! :nsparty:

Was at first a bit disappointed in Chloe for using Lex to get her a boyfriend :wth: but as the story progresses I enjoyed it more. :)

The development of the feelings, the banters and interactions altogether makes for a veru fun story to read :popcorn: and of course all the yummy scenes that came later in the story :yeahbaby:

Glad Dieter decided not to go through with anger, always nice to have someone actually learning something from a bad thing :)

Great story! Thank you for writing it and looking forward to your next one! :D

[cuttie_blossom]

AWESOME! <3 I loved it thank you for sharing! :)

[Yelena]

Great story!

[Ami Rose]

Lmao that was amazing! loved it from beginning to end!

[malugargula]

Great fic
Perfect ending
And the hottest proposal ever lol