Chapter 11
(Down in Mexico – The Coasters)
Chloe was dancing. She felt the slow, sensual beat invading her and she felt sexy. The man dancing behind her thought she was sexy too, she felt it against the small of her back. His arms were around her waist and his hips matched the rhythm of hers. Chloe smiled. It felt so good, so right.
The dance floor was empty except for her and her man. The bar was dark and smoky. She knew that there were other people around, but she really couldn’t pint point anybody. And when his hands slid further down her abdomen, she really didn’t care. He pressed her harder against him. Chloe basked in the feeling and threw her head back and snaked her arms around his neck. She heard his breath hitch, and he slowly moved his hand up to breasts, his thumbs playing with her nipples through the thin material of her blouse. She was suddenly aware that she wasn’t wearing a bra and she heard his sigh when he found that out as well.
She was well aware that she was in a public place and that this was wrong. She didn’t care; he felt too delicious to stop and she arched her back. Her nipples were clearly outlined through the thin blouse. One of his hands stayed and played with them. The other slid down; he brushed her stomach, her hip, her leg. Chloe moaned. His hand moved between her thighs and his knuckles brushed her Venus mound as he took hold of the material of her short black skirt. Chloe cried out in pleasure as he slowly inched the material upwards.
Abruptly, she was spun forcefully around to face her partner. Lex’s mouth descended hungrily on hers. They weren’t dancing anymore. He was backing her up and her back hit a wall. God, she wanted him. She wanted him inside her, pounding into her. Lex pulled away and Chloe cried out his name. His face was flushed and he smirked at her as his hands moved to her hips and pushed her skirt up just a little bit more. Still, he stared at her as he fingered the flimsy material of her panties. A Cheshire smile spread across her face and he ripped them from her body. Lex stepped back as he undid his belt. He wanted her to watch. He undid the button on his jeans. She drank him in and licked her lips when she saw his hardness outlined through his tight fitting pants. He slid the pants down his hips and…
KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.
(Will You Be There In The Morning - Heart)
“You awake, sweetheart? You don’t want to keep Mr. Luthor waiting.”
“What?” She cried out.
Chloe sat up bolt right in her bed and looked around her bedroom, mystified. She didn’t want to be here! She wanted to be back where she was! Her dad walked into her room, tying his necktie. That’s the last time she watched Dirty Dancing before going to bed.
“Remember, sweetie? Mr. Luthor got you that temp job at the Planet? His letting you stay in his penthouse for the month? Are you okay?”
Chloe nodded at her father.
“Just a bad dream, Daddy. Nerves.” She explained, catching her breath. Yeah. Cause that dream was terrible.
Gabe smiled and walked over and sat on the edge of her bed.
“You’ll do great, Chloe.” He said reassuringly and once again she felt a pang of guilt for lying to her father. But what could she say? ‘Dad, I was bitten by a werewolf and I have to go to Metropolis to hunt him down’. Ah…no. He would have her committed. The excuse that she and Lex had thought up had worked surprisingly well. Her dad had agreed because it was a great opportunity and it was during the summer. Lana had said she was happy for her and then went on day dreaming about Clark. And Clark had figured Lex was doing it as a favor to him and then he fussed about her safety and such as he usually did. Clark loved her, she had no doubt, and she was happy for it. He was her best friend. He just wasn’t in love with her, which was where things started to suck.
Chloe smiled at her father.
“I love you, dad.”
Gabe gave his daughter a hug.
“I love you too, baby.” He said as he kissed her forehead. “Now get ready. Lex is going to be here in an hour.”
(One Step At A Time – Jordan Sparks)
After a slightly longer shower than usual, Chloe had changed into the clothes that she had decided on last night. Since everyone thought that she was offered a job opportunity from Lex, she couldn’t really get away with jogging pants and no make up. She had dressed in a black pencil skirt with a matching tapered jacket and a red blouse. She dragged her rolling suitcase by the door and put her large briefcase-like purse down beside it. She checked herself in the hall mirror. All professional – her blonde hair was straightened and fell just under her chin. She went for minimal makeup and rocked some black mascara and red lipstick. In other words, she looked like she was starting a new job today. And as far as everyone here was concerned – she was.
She made her way into the kitchen and her father had her coffee and morning muffin waiting for her. Thankfully, she had snuck downstairs after Lana had gone to the Talon and her dad was on the phone and shoved a couple of packs of ham down her throat. Hopefully it will be awhile before they realized that half the meat in the fridge had disappeared.
“Thanks, Dad.” She smiled as she grabbed the banana muffin and her large size travel mug off of the counter just as the door bell rang.
Gabe accompanied her to the door and opened it as she picked up her purse.
“Good Morning, Mr. Luthor.” He said jovially as he opened the door to the young man.
Lex stepped in and shook Gabe’s hand. “Good morning, Gabe.”
His scent hit her as soon as her father opened the door. Good God, that man smells good. Her father smelled of aftershave and home, which was good but in a different way. Temptation. That’s what Lex smells like. She attempted not to blush as she remembered her dream.
“Listen, thank you so much for getting Chloe this temp job on such short notice. We really appreciate it.” Her father gushed.
Chloe was standing next to her father and her smile faltered. Again with the lies. Lex looked at her for the first time and did a subtle double take. Ah yes, Chloe thought, Poor guy was used to seeing me either bloody or in holey jeans. He greeted her as he bent down to retrieve her suitcase. Always the gentleman.
The three of them chatted for a few more minutes and then Lex and Chloe said goodbye to Gabe. Chloe kissed her father on the cheek and promised to call him when she got there. When they stepped out into the driveway, Lex handed the suitcase to his limo driver and opened the door for Chloe. He followed her in. Only when she was seated and they were on their way out of the driveway, did Chloe finally begin to relax.
“You look very professional.” Lex said with a smile, setting his laptop up on his lap and getting his cell out of his inside jacket pocket. Chloe noticed that he was wearing a beautifully tailored black suit. The man had taste.
“Hmmm?” She asked, confused. “Oh, yes. Well, I don’t think I could have gotten away with a sweat suit today.”
Was that supposed to be a compliment? Chloe wasn’t sure.
“Oh!” She said as she snapped out of her stupor. She opened her purse and grabbed the things that she had printed out last night. “So, I did a lot of poking around on the old online copies of the Planet last night and I think I hit pay dirt.”
Lex took the papers and flipped through them.
“Basically, I found four animal attacks that fit Peter’s M.O. All females in their early twenty’s, all ripped apart as if by a large canine. But the last one had witnesses.”
“Huh. Getting careless?” Lex murmured as he scanned through the printouts. “It says that a couple came across the dead girl and a man covered in blood crouching over her. When he realized that they we watching him he started screaming for them to call the police.”
“His name was never released. He was a prime suspect before he was let go because he couldn’t have made the wounds found on her. No weapon that could possibly do that much damage was found on his person or in the ally. It was determined that it had been an animal attack so he was cleared of all charges.”
“Sounds like our man. I’ll have my…”
“Actually,” Chloe interrupted. “I already called in a favor from a friend in the MPD. He’s going to have the information we need about this guy ready for me by tomorrow.”
Lex stared at her with a grin. “You have a source at the Metropolis Police Department?”
“Yes, Lex, that is what I said. Are you losing you’re hearing in your old age?” She shot back. “In fact I have many sources in important places because I happen to be A) an amazing reporter and B) very sneaky.”
Lex laughed.
“I am surprised a very young girl such as yourself can find time to be a reporter, what with all the new boy bands to gossip about and reality shows to watch.”
Chloe leaned forward and placed a sympathetic hand on his knee, purposely giving him a better look down her blouse.
“I’m a woman now, Lex. But that’s okay, because you old folks don’t quite have the grasp on time as you once did.” She said in a very patronizing and mock caring tone.
Lex laughed and was about to reply when his cell rang.
“Excuse me.” He said to Chloe as he answered his call. She listened to the half of the conversation, something to do with a new investment. Lex put his hand over the receiver. “I’m sorry, Chloe, I have to take this. I have a lot of work to catch up on.”
“No, no! Go ahead. I’ll occupy myself.” She replied, reaching for her purse.
Lex nodded and went back to his conversation as Chloe put her earphones in and played some John Mayer on her ipod. She settled back in her set and looked out the window. The long stretches of corn fields flew by her and she lost herself in simple, calming thoughts as she watched the scenery. She had no idea how long she was occupied in her own little world, but she slowly became aware that she was being watched. She looked at Lex and he was gazing at her. She smiled at him and saw a brief expression of surprise flit across his face before he smiled back at her. His eyes darted down to glace at her body before he focused on his laptop.
Lex was looking at her. The thought filled Chloe with the familiar warm feeling and she wondered what his reaction would be if she crawled forward and kissed him. She distractedly raised her hand and started brushing her thumb against her bottom lip. How could she even entertain the idea? The thing was, it was something that she could see herself doing right now. Wasn’t she supposed to remember something about hating him or whatnot? The thing was she was starting not to hate him. Quite the opposite.
“Chloe!”
His voice startled her out of her reverie. He was off the phone and looking at her again. She had the vague idea that this was not the first time that he had called out to her.
“Hmmmm?” She asked, shaking her head.
“I have something for you.” He said as he passed her a black rectangular box.
“What?” She replied ever so suavely as she took it from him. She opened it and saw a beautiful gold bracelet. “Lex, this is… I can’t accept… It has a tracking device in it doesn’t it?”
“Yes.”
Chloe chuckled and put it on her wrist.
“You know, I think I would have been hurt if there wasn’t one.” She replied, playing with the lovely golden trinket.
Lex nodded and was about to restart his work when she interrupted him.
“Ummm,” She started awkwardly, “I think I owe you an apology. I didn’t mean to slap you the other day. I… I just lost my temper. I’m sorry.”
“Chloe, the majority of women I have met have slapped me at on time or another, so don’t feel bad. It’s kind of like foreplay to me now anyway.”
Chloe laughed. Wow. A joke coming out of the mouth of a Luthor. It had to be a first.
Chapter 12
(Girlfriend – Avril Lavigne)
Chloe was riding up the elevator with Lex to his no doubt fabulous penthouse. The elevator alone was larger than her room with mirrored walls that seemed to stretch the space out into infinity. Millions of Chloe and Lex copies. Hmmm. Like the world needed another Lex Luthor. A couple of more Chloe’s could be of good use, though.
The elevators doors opened to a short, wide hallway that lead to the double doors of his apartment. There was a solitary chair by the wall in the middle of the hallway with a small desk by it. A large man in a guard’s uniform stood and nodded at Lex.
“Chloe, this is Benny. Tell him where you are going when you leave this apartment without me.” Lex ordered as he stepped passed the armed man.
“Alright, Lex,” Chloe said lightly while smiling hello to the large man. “The only way that you can order me around like that is if you put me on the payroll. And I’d never work for you.”
Lex smirked as he put down Chloe’s suitcase and took the key from his pocket.
“And why is that Ms. Sullivan?”
“Because you order your employees around too much.” She immediately answered, swinging her head around to face the guard. “Am I right, Benny?”
The large man tried not to laugh.
“See?” Chloe said as he opened the door.
Lex stepped aside so she could enter first. She took a couple of steps in and stopped in her tracks.
“Gah!” She shouted, startled at the monstrosity before her.
There was a blonde plastic-looking woman coming toward her. It was as if someone had put Barbie into a machine and made her human… and the result was horrifying. Barbie tottered on a black pair of stilettos. She was wearing a skin tight black halter dress that Chloe supposed was to show off her curves but ended up making her look skeletal except for the giant, unmoving melon type tits that protruded from her chest. Good God! The woman was more plastic than human! The plastic thing disregarded Chloe and smiled at Lex. Actually, grimaced was probably a more accurate term. Her bloated pink lips spread over her gleaming white veneers. She looked about 40 trying to look 20 but failing miserably. Chloe wasn’t she if that was her age or if it was the plastic surgery that aged her.
“Hello, baby.” She purred, focusing at something behind Chloe.
She felt Lex’s hot breath on the back of her neck as he sighed.
“Hello, Sophia.” He replied unenthusiastically.
Chloe spun her head around to look at him, astonished. He knew this thing?!
Lex stepped in front of her, thankfully partially blocking the woman from her view. Was that the girlfriend? Oh Lord. Lex had finally lost it.
“What are you doing here? I told you I would send the limo to take you to the restaurant.” He asked as he put down Chloe’s suitcase by the large black leather couch.
Now that she was no longer looking at the giant Barbie, Chloe looked around the room. It was amazing. The large living room equipped with a couple of couches, the largest television that she had ever seen, a full bar, stereo… But the thing that really caught Chloe’s eye was that the wall at the far side of the room was actually made of picture windows displaying Metropolis’ skyline. Wow.
“I wanted to surprise you!” She said in an obviously practiced breathy voice.
Lex didn’t answer. Chloe noticed that he did not look pleased.
“Baby,” Sophia said as she dramatically back on the couch. “Get your assistant to get me a room temperature Evian.”
Chloe eyebrows rose. Obviously, the monstrosity meant her. Luckily, Lex answered for me.
“Sophia, this isn’t an employee. This is Chloe and she is my friend. She will be staying here for a while.”
“Oh.” Sophia said, glaring at her, as if she suddenly saw her as competition.
Chloe didn’t like this woman-thing. She did not like her at all. She felt a pressure in her chest and she suddenly realized that she wasn’t jealous of this woman (or her concrete tits), but starting to feel very protective of Lex. She didn’t want this gold-digger anywhere near him. Chloe sighed. Great, she thought, I’m turning into Lex’s guard dog. That’s just fucking awesome. This bitch rubbed her the wrong way. She smelled like a fucking play-doh factory.
Okay. This was starting to get awkward.
“Ummm. I think I’ll leave you two alone. Lex, would you be able to show me where I’ll be staying.” She asked. He wouldn’t meet her eye. Chloe realized that he must be embarrassed. She’ll have to remember to make fun of him later.
“Absolutely. It’s down the hall, left of the library.” He answered politely while he helped him self to a scotch. Chloe didn’t blame him. She would’ve needed a drink to face that woman again, too.
“Thank you.” She nodded and grabbed her suitcase. She started to hurry toward her room. She was half way down the hall when Sophia spoke again.
“God, Lex. Where’d you find that? Are you taking the poor in off the streets now?”
Chloe never had much patience for people who were mean to her. And now she had even less. Her anger level shot up from slightly annoyed to ready to kill in about two seconds. That must be a record. She dropped her bags loudly on the hardwood floor and prowled out into the living room again. Her blood was rushing through her ears. She could see Lex saying something angrily to her, but couldn’t pick up what it was. She marched up to Sophia who was now standing.
“Alright, Mrs. Robinson, listen up. Why don’t you keep that giant mouth of yours shut before I get really angry and pop the merchandise, alright?” Chloe said spitefully, looking pointedly at her terribly augmented breasts.
“Excuse me, little girl?” Sophia shouted, stepping into Chloe’s personal space. She towered over Chloe on her stilettos. “I wouldn’t say anything bad about my appearance when your ass is big enough to serve a turkey dinner on!”
“You know what? I might have an ass, you skeletal bitch, but at least my tits are real!” Chloe shouted louder, grabbing her own breasts to emphasis her statement. “Just because someone named Ricky who has on a lot of bling approaches you and offers to give you discount implants in his garage for twenty bucks, does NOT MEAN YOU SHOULD TAKE HIM UP ON THE OFFER!”
“BITCH!” Sophia screamed and pushed Chloe back.
“WHAT-THE-FUCK-EVER!” Chloe shouted. She was just about to grab Sophia by the throat to choke the bitch when she felt Lex’s strong arms around her waist. He lifted her off the ground and swung her away from her target. Chloe wrestled from his arms and turned to face him.
“Are you KIDDING ME!?” She yelled at him as she pointed at the other woman. “On behalf of the intelligent portion of the female gender, I’m insulted.”
Lex covered his face with his large right hand and tried his best to look tired, but it was fairly obvious he was laughing by the shaking of his shoulders. What the fuck is so funny?! Chloe huffed and stomped into the hall and grabbed her purse. She needed to get the fuck out of here. She needed time to cool off so she wouldn’t kill Lex’s skank of a girlfriend. She came back out of the hall and brushed by Lex.
“Chloe, where are you going?” Lex asked, exasperated.
“Out.” Chloe growled, glaring at the plastic woman as she made her way to the door.
“Wear the bracelet!” He barked, obviously none too pleased about her leaving.
Chloe continued toward the door and raised her arm to show him both that she was wearing the bracelet and to give him the finger. Just before the door slammed shut behind her, a shrilly voice followed her out.
“You gave her a BRACELET!?”
Chloe stood in the hall and shut her eyes, allowing a couple of deep, calming breaths. She opened her eyes and looked at Benny.
“I don’t think she liked me.” Chloe shrugged at him.
Benny chuckled and pressed the elevator button for her.
Chloe laughed, feeling less anxious now that she was laughing with someone, and stepped into the elevator.
Now she just had to kill some time.
Chapter 13
(Don’t Wanna Fall In Love – Pussycat Dolls)
Chloe stumbled into the elevator and drunkenly fumbled for the elevator key that would allow her access to the penthouse. When she found it, it took a couple of tries to get the key into the slot. Why do they make these things so small? She finally turned it and rested her back against a mirrored Chloe as she rode up to the top. The slight rising motion of the elevator and the many drunken Chloe’s in the mirrors started to make her dizzy and she began wondering if she would be able to get to the door without crawling. She knew she shouldn’t have had that last vodka and orange juice. Silly Chloe!
When she had first left the Penthouse this afternoon, she had decided that she should do some more research on lycanthropes. It seemed imperative because she was presently turning into one. Could hunting down and killing the werewolf that bit her cure her of her present predicament? Cause killing Peter seemed like a great idea. Even if it didn’t cure her. As she walked through the crowded city streets, she noticed that her olfactory sense was being assaulted by thousands of different scents. More than once, she winced when a car alarm sounded, or someone shouted. Her senses seemed to be enhanced. It was a very strange feeling. She felt like she was unintentionally spying on people.
After she stopped at three or four hotdog stands along the way, Chloe went to a couple of bookstores and the downtown branch of the Metropolis Public Library, but she ended up reading things that she had already known. It was a very disappointing and frustrating day. So, she decided that she was going to drown her sorrows at a nearby pub while she had supper. She had spent most of the time sipping her drinks and wondering what the hell Lex saw in that artificial eyesore. What the hell? It bothered her that she was putting way too much time and energy into pondering this. Which made her think about it more. It was a terrible, terrible downward spiral. Drink, thoughts of Sophia, anger, and drink. Grrrrrrrr.
As Chloe tumbled out of the elevator, she hoped that the penthouse was empty. She couldn’t have another confrontation with her right now. She refused to face her when she was not at the top of her game. One look at that face and she’d vomit. She caught herself by basically stumbling into the wall and holding on to it. God, she was off of the elevator, why was the floor still rising? Suddenly she felt a hand on her arm. The smell of gun metal, mouth wash, and a faint odor of sweat. She knew that smell! She turned and looked up at Benny.
“Ms. Sullivan, are you okay?”
“Yup. I’m fine, thanks.” She replied, placing her cheek back onto the wall. “I’m just taking a break before I actually go into the apartment. I may have had a little too much to drink.”
“Let me help you in…” Benny said.
“No! No, no, no.” Chloe slurred. “I’m okay. I just need to take a break. Then I can slide against this nice wall to the door and everything will be fine…”
“But you’re…”
“No! I am NOT drunk! Just a little tipsy. The elevator made me a little dizzy. Just shush, and let me rest!” She said as she closed her eyes. Benny picked up the phone on his small desk and said a few words then hung up. Traitor. He called Lex! She opened her eyes in time to see Lex step out into the hallway.
“Chloe, where the fuck… Are you drunk?” Lex asked as he stood in front of her, his hands on his hips.
“I may have had a few drinks, yes. What of it? You drink all the time.” She replied indignantly.
“Yes, but you’re under age and not used to drinking.”
“How the hell do you know that I’m not used to drinking? I could drink all the time! In fact, I do! So there!” She said, looking past Lex to the door. God, it was a long ways away. And then she had to get to her bedroom… Maybe she should just sit down here. No, that was what a drunk would do, right? Wait, was she drunk?
“Yeah, I doubt that. Perhaps because you’re in my hallway right now, hugging the wall, and insisting you’re not drunk.”
Chloe pouted and glared at him. He had an exasperated smile on his face.
“Let’s go.”
“No! I can make it myself.” Chloe said, swatting away his hands. She took a deep breath and pushed away from the wall. And then suddenly the world shifted on her and she found herself in Lex’s arms. Oh Lord, he felt great! He leaned down and she felt his arm against her back of her thighs. Before she knew it, she was up in his arms and being carried into the penthouse.
“Fine. You can carry me. Not because I’m drunk, but I just happen to like being carried by handsome men.” She mumbled. It seemed very important at the time for him to know that she could walk.
Chloe felt Lex chuckle and she buried her face into his neck. Then she thought of something that made her head jerk back up.
“Is she still here?” Chloe asked fearfully, looking around the dimly lit living room.
“No, she’s long gone.” Lex answered, putting her down on the couch.
“W…w…why? Why her?” Chloe asked, flabbergasted as she watched Lex sit on the chair facing her.
He smiled.
“I don’t know…a man has needs, you know.”
“Oh, please! That’s a stupid reason! Can you actually have a conversation with her? I mean an actual conversation, not one about lip gloss.”
“I take it that you don’t like my girlfriend?” Lex laughed.
“No! Absolutely not! Do you?” Chloe asked vehemently, kicking off her heels and curling up on the couch. “I mean, I’m sorry. I just don’t trust bitches that aren’t biodegradable. They make me nervous.”
Lex laughed.
“I mean, really!” Chloe continued, “Do you really find that plastic abomination attractive? She smells like a Barbie doll!”
“Where did you go today, Chloe?” Lex said, changing the topic.
Chloe sighed.
“I went to do some research because I didn’t want to look at your scary girlfriend. Then I went to a pub and had a couple of drinks, to calm my nerves after that encounter with your girlfriend, the living blow up doll.”
“Thanks for clarifying that. You shouldn’t have been out so long by your self. Your blood is changing and we don’t know how and when it’s going to affect your behavior or outward appearance.” Lex said as he picked up his book from the table as he studied her.
“Yeah.” Chloe frowned, resting her head on the arm of the very, very comfortable couch. She could feel the sandman creeping up on her. She’d explain the changes in her senses later. Right now – sleep. “I don’t want to think about that now. My thoughts are too jumbled. Besides, alcohol is a depressant, so shush. If you must talk, do so about pleasant things like puppies, and flowers, and rainbows or something.”
“Yes, well, I do love puppies…”
And with that, Chloe drifted off to sleep.
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