Unexpected Ally (complete) R

[Blaire023]

Title: Unexpected Ally
Author: Blaire
Archive: TBT, Malu's, wherever else you want to put
it.
Rating: PG13 (but this is me, we're talking about...)
Summary: On a weekend trip to Metropolis Chloe makes
a new friend. A very unexpected ally. Forces
combine, research ensues.
Disclaimer: Nooo, I don't own it, But thanks for asking ;)




Chapter 1: Mud bath:

"Shit! Watch where the hell you're going, asshole!"
Chloe screamed as the passing car sped off down the
road after spraying her with an arc of mud.

A white handkerchief appeared to her left and a smug
face followed. "It won't help much, but it's the
least I can do."

She glared at the man. Muttering a thank you as she
took the white cloth and wiped at her face she heard
his chuckle.

Turning her glare back on, he quietly shook his head.
"Miss Sullivan, I believe you may have made it worse."


Chloe shrugged. "It's what I get for standing too
close to the curb. I keep forgetting these things."

"Things?" Curiosity peeked his voice.

"Things. City things. In Smallville that would have
never happened. Stand too close to the curb, car
comes flying out of nowhere going way too fast and
sprays an unlucky girl with muddy water.---" She was
interupted by his voice.

"Instead in Smallville you have men made from muddy
water and standing too close to the curb may get you
sucked down a drain hole."

Chloe laughed. "Well, you sure know a lot about a
town you don't even live in."

"Miss Sullivan, surely you jest. I did exile my son
to Smallville, I had no choice but to research it
first." he smiled down at her and she felt her
insides tumble and turn. No butterflies, just sea
sick motions. Since when did the elder Luthor know
who she was?

"Mr Luthor---"

"Please call me Lionel."

"O-kay. Lionel. How do you know my name?" Chloe
tilted her head to the side. His eyes softened a hint
before coming back at her full force.

"You're Gabe's daughter, are you not? Add to that the
fact that my son speaks about you a considerable
amount of the time. Those two together would have me
recognize you in any crowd."

Okay Lex thought about her. 'Since when did Lex think
about me?' The confusion settled against her protests
and Lionel smirked. 'Now I know where he gets it
from.' She exclaimed inside her head as the
revelation hit.

She walked down the sidewalk with Luthor in tow.
"Miss Sullivan, may I ask where you are headed?"

"Chloe, please. And actually, I'm trying to find my
hotel so I can go change. However, I seem to have
lost my way." She looked up at the building looming
in front of her. She had forgotten where she was
going as soon as Lionel had approached her and just
turned when she had felt like it. Within seconds a
limo pulled up beside them and the window rolled down.


"Dad, you ready---" The younger Luthor's eyes roamed
well over her body and up to meet her own sparkling
orbs filled with a challenge to even comment on her
appearance. It was bad enough Lionel had witnessed
the muddy encounter, but Lex seeing it dried and caked
on to her faded jeans and red tank top just topped the
cake.

"Add a cherry why don't you." She muttered and Lex
eyed her suspiciously.

"Care to elaborate?" He replied, leaning a bit
further out of the window.

"Actually, no I wouldn't." She smiled smugly at him
and thanked Lionel for the handkercheif. She shook
his hand gracefully and they said their goodbye's.
She wasn't even going to give Lex the time of day. He
was a pompous jerk. For whatever reason, she wasn't
quite sure of yet. But she knew if she stuck around
to listen to the dry, judoistic comments on her mud
splattered outfit she'd tear him a new asshole.

The limo crept along beside her. "Chloe, get in,
we'll drive you."

She kept walking ahead, chin held high, pretended it
was the wind. Only the winds voice had definitely
switched to an older wiser one.

"Chloe, may we escort you back to your hotel? It
would be our honor."

She turned to look at Lionel and the way his eyes
danced. He had just gotten a woman's attention his
son couldn't get. He looked as if he just poured a
whole box of cereal out to get the prize at the bottom
of the bag. His eyes pleaded with her and she heard
Lex sigh as Lionel opened the door and stepped out
ushering her inside. She sat beside Lex, keeping her
distance as to not get his way too expensive suit
dirty.

"I don't bite." Lex commented as Lionel got in and
she scooted a little closer to the elder Luthor.

"Well, I do." She replied and grinned up at Lionel
who had softly chuckled at her response.

'1 to zero' Lionel mentally tallied the score.

"I'm staying at the Plaza." She said as she
remembered what she was doing sandwiched between two
of the most wealthy individuals this side of the
equator.

The driver nodded and the window whirred back into
place. After a series of turns and a quite
comfortable silence on her part. Lex was making calls
left and right and Lionel watched his son at work,
eavesdropping on the one side of the conversation he
could hear as Lex spoke cryptically and smirked when
he hung up the phone.

The limo pulled up in front of a neon sign flashing.
"Great place." Lex smirked.

"It's all I could afford, okay?" Chloe snapped back
sharply. Lionel got out of the limo holding his hand
out for hers.

She placed her tiny hand in his rather large one,
showing the domineering nonverbal side of him and he
kissed her hand and bowed. "I'll hope to be seeing
you in Smallville, Miss Sullivan."

"it's Chloe." She half bowed back to him. "And yeah,
if you're ever in the neighborhood and get sick of
your current company, stop by and make yourself
known."

Lionel smirked shortly. "Maybe I will, Chloe." Chloe
shifted her bag on her shoulder and heard Lex's
departing words.

"Bye, Chloe."

Her head whipped around and she glared at him, "That's
Miss Sullivan to you."

Lex nodded. "Miss Sullivan."

She turned and stalked off towards the entrance. 'Did
I just make friends with Lionel Luthor?'


TBC...

[Blaire023]

Chapter 2: We meet again.

"Torch." Chloe said with a mouthful into the phone. She sat on the
floor beside her desk that Clark was working peacefully at. Her
laptop perched upon her legs spread out in front of her. "Torch..."
She said again after she swallowed her starburst. Clark let her have
the pink one.

"Miss Sullivan?" A heavy thick accented voice came from the other
end.

"Yes...may I ask who this is?" Clark lifted a brow and his interest
was now placed on her.

"Mr. Luthor would like to extend an invitation for dinner tonight at
the Luthor Estate."

Chloe snorted. "Well then why couldn't he call me himself?" Her
voice had taken on a sing song tone.

"Mr. Luthor's detained at the moment. He requested you be informed
seeing as his meeting's taking longer than expected."

Chloe looked up at Clark and frowned. "What?" He asked with wonder
in his voice.

"Lex wants to have dinner with me." She put her hand over the voice
peice.

"Ma'am, The elder Luthor requests your company."

Chloe nodded silently. "Oh, well, then, sure, why not." Sarcasm
dripping from her statement. "I mean, hell, if Lionel wants to dine
with me, what's stopping me from making him happy."

Clark's head snapped in her direction at her statement. "Lionel?"
he mouthed the name. Chloe ignored him.

"So do you accept?"

Chloe sighed hard. She rolled her head on her neck stretching out
the sore muscles from her position on the floor. "I suppose. What
time is he expecting me?" Clark's mouth turned into a wide
surprised 'O' and she nodded into the phone.

"7 it is." Chloe replied and hung up.

"You, Reporter Extraordinaire, are going to dinner with Lionel
Luthor." Clark leaned back in his chair and folded his hands behind
his head. "I wonder what he wants."

"Excellent question."

Chloe's eyes glared in the direction of the door. "Why would he want
something from me?" She shrugged and continued typing. Her eyes
flitted back to Clark and her fingers stilled. "Oh, my god, maybe he
wants my body." She let her eyes go wide and Clark shook his head
lightly before she sighed. Her shoulders fell back against the side
of the desk. "Relax, it's just dinner."

Lex leaned in the doorway. "Yes, dinner, dinner with the big bad
wolf."

Chloe sneered. "Funny. First of all, my grandmother's dead.
Secondly, I won't wear red tonight, and last but not least, I refuse
to bring your father a basket of goodies." She lifted her arms above
her head stretching. "Can I have my chair back now?" She elbowed
Clark's leg.

"Yea, I have to get home, chores you know." Chloe arched a brow as
did Lex.

"Sure, chores, intriguing really." Lex smirked at Chloe's comment
and watched closely as she stretched again and pulled her legs up
under her, standing and then plopping down into her lush desk
chair. "See you tomorrow." She twiddled her fingers in Clark's
direction. He had just stepped out in the hallway when he heard her
comment. "Aren't you forgetting something? Or should I say
someone?" She motioned over to the door where Lex stood casually.

Lex nodded. "Go on, Clark. I think I'd like to speak to Miss
Sullivan in private." Clark nodded.

Chloe's attention had perked at Lex's tone of voice but she smiled
anyways. "I wasn't talking about you." She stood and walked over to
him, he could have sworn she was swaying her hips back and forth on
purpose. She stopped in front of him and reached behind the
door. "I was referring to this." She pulled a human sized cardboard
cutout of Hugh Jackman as the Wolverine and handed it over to
Clark. "Take good care of him for me." She lovingly pet the smooth
cardboard. "You know how much he means to me, Clark." Clark rolled
his eyes and sighed.

"Yes, Chloe, I'll take good care of your obsession." Chloe smiled.

"Thanks. I owe you." She smiled brightly and stepped back towards
her desk. Lex's smirk turned into a grin.

"Should I even ask about that?" He motioned to the hallway where
Clark had disappeared to with an Xmen cutout.

"Probably not, your ego might get a little bruised." She paused and
turned to him. "So why are you here?" Bitterness evident in her
voice. This was really starting to piss off Lex. She had no reason
to be mad at him. As far as he was concerned she was a friend of
Clark's and he was a friend of his. Besides the playful banter that
consumed a considerable amount of time they spent together, which was
rare to begin with, he saw no reason for her being so mean spirited
towards him.

"Why the sudden hostility?" Lex left the doorway to take a seat near
her desk. "Feel free to tell me what I did to you."

She looked over at him and couldn't help but sigh. "Look, Lex. I
can call you Lex right?" he nodded and was silent. "Well, Lex.
It's actually hard to explain, but I'm pretty sure if you thought
about it, you'd figure it out."

Lex cocked an eyebrow at her. 'This little blonde spitfire
definitely has some nerve.' His mind refocused on the conversation
he overheard when he first walked in. "Are you attending dinner with
my father tonight?"

Chloe nodded. "Shit. Which reminds me." She picked up the phone
and left a message on her home answering machine leaving the message
that she was joining Lionel for dinner.

As she hung up she noticed Lex's smirk had vanished. "Somehow I
don't think your father will be understanding about your situation."

"Somehow I don't think he'll care, seeing as how you sent him to
Gotham for the next week." She narrowed his eyes at him and it
suddenly dawned.

"Is that why you were in Metropolis alone last weekend." It was more
of a sudden understanding than a question.

She turned back to her work. "That's none of your business." Lex
stood and didn't wait for her to speak.

"Well, I'll see you tonight at dinner. 7, right?" And with that he
walked out of the Torch. Chloe sighed and leaned her head against
the cool monitor in front of her. She cursed herself for letting him
get the better of her.

*~*

She was immediately seated at the table when she arrived at the
mansion. Along with being informed that both Luthor's would join her
momentarily, her first glass of wine dissappeared quickly. Something
about tonight, just wasn't right. She told Lana where she was going
to be and decided that although it was rude, she'd leave her cell
phone on during dinner. She was definitely suspicious as to why
Lionel would invite her to have dinner with him, not sure if Lex was
in the original plan, but she also wasn't sure if she'd feel better
knowing he was there, or not. All she knew was that she just turned
17 on Saturday, her father, despite his protests of going to Gotham,
Lex had insisted he go anyway. And now, he was going to pay the
price for taking her only family away from her on the one birthday
that screamed, 'hey, I'm legal!' Well, legal for clubbing in
Metropolis and legal for having sex. But, well, sex wasn't really on
her mind, and clubbing, it has sounded good until she went to one
over the weekend and quickly changed her mind when all the men there,
were only interested in it.

She sipped slowly on her second glass of wine and stared into the
flame of the candle. Past the yellows and oranges and straight into
the blues and purples of the tiny flame. She was brought out of her
haze with a clearing of a voice.

"Eh-hem." Lex stood beside her and Lionel was just entering the room.

"Miss Sullivan," Lionel started.

"Chloe, please." Chloe stood up from her seat, showing the elder
Luthor the respect he probably required in his son's mansion.

"Chloe, then." He shook her hand lightly and waited for her to sit
before he and Lex both lowered themselves into their respective seats.

"Lionel." She nodded her head with a grin at the older man. He
grinned politely back at her and she couldn't help but notice, that
it was, kinda a little, in a very weird and creepy way, sexy. 'NO!'
Chloe berated herself. 'Lionel Luthor is not sexy!' She nibbled on
a breadstick. A voice in her head decided that debating the issue at
hand was a fun thing to keep occupied. 'This is the man that spawned
the hot peice of ass sitting to your right. He has to be sexy in
order to have reproduced that.' "Shit." Chloe mumbled and shook her
head trying to get the voice to stop commenting on the Luthor men.

"Dad, Lex." A light haired man walked into the room and sat down
across from Chloe. She arched an eyebrow and eyed him suspiciously.
She suddenly turned around and looked at the doorway from which he'd
just walked through.

"Is there some type of cloning experiment going on in the woodwork?"
She narrowed her eyes at the handsome man across from her. Lex spoke
up first.

"Chloe Sullivan, this is my younger brother, Lucas Luthor." Chloe
reached her hand across the table and he just looked at it. She
slowly withdrew it back.

"Well, I can see you still need to work on distilling manners in his
geno code." Chloe commented towards Lionel who laughed. She smiled
over at the elder and Lex's eyes rolled heavenwards.

"So are you Lex's new peice of meat?" The youngest replied.

Chloe smiled gingerly at him. "Not even in his wildest dreams." She
retorted earning a chuckle from Lucas. His smile widened and he
leaned across the table extending his hand. Chloe eyed it warily
before placing hers in his. He raised it to his lips and planted a
delicious, yet soft, kiss on her knuckle. She shivered and Lex
cocked an eyebrow over at Lucas.

The chef picked that exact minute to bring out the meal. She looked
around the table. At the head of the table, to her left, was
Lionel. To Lionel's left and seated across from her was Lucas. To
her right sat Lex. And as she peered down at the other twenty some
odd chairs adorning the table she decided tonight, definitely was
going to be interesting. A new Luthor, her age, with hair, an older
Luthor, a few years older than her, so fucking sexy she barely knew
what to do with herself, and the oldest Luthor, old enough to be her
father, much sexier than her own father, of course. 'Jeesh, Chloe.
So many Luthors, so little time.' A voice in her head popped up and
she grinned as she took a bite of her salad. 'Indeed, so little
time.'

TBC

[Blaire023]

Chapter 3: Hell NO!

Lionel led her from the dining room into a den, the
fireplace was lightly glowing and he motioned for her
to take a seat across from him. "I'd like to ask you
a question, Miss Sullivan."

Chloe stopped at the back of the leather chair, her
eyes raked over the overwhelming sight that was Lionel
Luthor, relaxed. She made her way to the chair and
sat down on it careful not to slouch. "Shoot." She
leaned forward putting her head in the palms of her
hands.

"Are you a romantic?"

Chloe perked up right away. 'What the hell?' Her
mind raced a million miles a minute. "Excuse me?"
She replied hoarsely. "Am I a what?"

"A romantic."

Chloe looked at his eyes, they showed no strain of
amusement. "I suppose so. I mean, what teenage girl
isn't?"

Lionel seemed to be in thought of her answer and then
nodded lightly. "I have a proposition for you." His
hands clasped together on his lap and a smug lift of
the corners of his mouth made her throat go dry.
'Shit, what have I gotten myself in to?'

"And what would that be Mr Luthor?" She leaned back
in her chair trying to get comfortable under his
leering eyes.

"First I need your word that whatever I say to you,
between now and my death will not leave your lips."

Chloe's eyes widened momentarily. "Your death?" She
chuckled lightly. "So I take it the Luthor legacy
precedes you."

He shook his head. "I don't plan on passing away
anytime soon, but in the meantime, I have to have your
word. Even if you should decline your assistance in
this task, I need to know it won't 'get out.'"

Chloe tried to lean back even further but she
couldn't. "Okay. You have my word."

Lionel smiled, a little wicked but otherwise somewhat
nice. "Good." He paused and she thought he was going
to actually show the excitement he kept so well
hidden. He was obviously pleased. "I'll explain
myself first, and then I will go into details." He
looked up at her face and she nodded in agreement.

"I plan on retiring within the next year." She hid a
well deserved gasp. "You see, Alexander and Lucas are
both businessmen. I feel as though it's my time to
take a well deserved vacation." She nodded and tilted
her head to the side just an bit. 'Why is he telling
me this? Does he not know I could just as easily let
it leak?' "However, there are still a few glitches in
my plan. Which is where you come in."

Chloe thought about the information he was feeding
her, and that he had asked if she were a romantic.
What the hell did one have to do with another?

"You see, Lex, being the oldest, should be the first
to settle down. However, he doesn't seem to be
appreciative of the opposite sex."

"Well, no shit." Chloe muttered and earned an amused
look from the elder. "Sorry."

"No need to apologize. Would you care to explain your
comment?"

She sighed and leaned forward again, her elbows rest
on her knees and her hands clasped together. "First
of all, I've never seen Lex in a serious relationship.
He considers it part of a business deal, right?"
Lionel seemed thoughtful then silently agreed.
"Secondly, from the women who do pose an interest in
him, it's not for the man beneath the armani, it's for
the money and the social status." Chloe grinned at
Lionel. "Which tells you that he knows this, as well
as everyone else, and doesn't seem to mind. It's
almost as if he's immune to falling in love, or
whatever those little butterfly things are in your
stomach."

"Are you implying he's been molded into such a being?"

Chloe looked at Lionel, then to the fire, then back to
him again. "I don't know your family, and I certainly
don't know Lex. But I'd say it was something in his
past that made him emotionally close down."

Lionel nodded and sighed, a very unexpected mannerism
coming from Mr. Composure. "I suppose you're right.
I've noticed it lately, and that's why I've enlisted
you."

"For what, though?" Chloe replied with a hint of
confusion.

"I'd like you to show Lex how to be romantic."

Chloe's eyes widened and she felt the pit of her
stomach trying with all it's might not to send back up
the food she had earlier consumed. "Hell. No." With
those two words she stood. "It's been great, Lionel,
really, but me teach Lex how to be romantic. No way
in hell."

She stuck out her hand to shake but he didn't even
look her way. "Please sit."

She cringed at his stern tone of voice. 'One pissed
off Luthor and two to go.'

She sat quietly in her seat, crossing her legs.

"In order for me to assure my retirement next year, I
need Lex to be settled down. He had quite a
rambunctious youth, and I thought sending him here,
would lessen the risk of his destructiveness. But it
hasn't. Instead he's locked himself away from people.
He has approximately two friends here. Clark and
you. He needs to get out more, meet people, live a
life other than work."

Chloe almost interjected at him called her a friend.
But then two days ago Lionel had told her that Lex
spoke of her. 'How often.' She wondered. "So, Miss
Sullivan, will you accept my proposal?"

Chloe sighed and looked at her surroundings. She was
ultimately being asked to teach a man, 5 years her
senior, how to have fun again and open his heart to
people. One question remained.

"Why me?"

*~*

Chloe sat in the Talon. She dumped spoonful after
spoonful of sugar into her coffee. Stirring
occasionally. The 'task' as Lionel called it was
really starting to sound like a painfully crazy plan.
She was supposed to do all of this under Lex's nose,
without him realizing she was intentionally taking him
for a ride. How was she supposed to get Lex to have
fun without being painstakingly obvious. Then it hit
her. Metropolis. She could go to Metropolis this
weekend and ask him to show her around the city. She
hadn't been there in so long and her last visit, just
a few days ago had been horrible.

"No too risky." She muttered. She had to come up
with a plan.

TBC

[Blaire023]

Chapter 4: Getting on the good side...

Chloe strolled into the mansion past the butler. She stopped at the
stairs and turned back to look at Donovan. "he's in his study." She
smiled and thanked him, heading up the stairs. Just yesterday she had
been asked to teach Lex, by whatever means necessary how to be a
romantic. Her stomach curdled at the thought of trying to get onto
Lex's good side without him getting curious. 'Does Lex Luthor even
have a good side?' She passed by his office and her eyes passed
through the room, he bent over near the pool table taking a shot at
the balls. Chloe groaned and realized Lex Luthor definitely had a
good side....his back one. She stopped midstep watching him aim and
fire. The balls knocked around and she heard a few drop. She clapped
and stepped into the room.

"Nice." She said as she smiled at him. 'Fake it, Chlo.' her mind
said but she really just wanted to take him right here.

"You play pool?"

Chloe grinned. "Rack em."

She watched Lex dig through the pockets, placing the balls in the
lovely little triangle. She picked up her cue stick and leaned on the
table, her short legs and the full table not agreeing. She placed the
white ball in front of her and Lex removed the plastic interferer.
Her eyes remained focussed and she let one long shuddering breath out.
His smirk was consuming her from the other end. "Stand back." She
commented, "don't want a stray ball to take out the infamous Luthor
heir." And as soon as he laughed lightly and stepped back she took
her shot sending every single ball except two, explosively into the
pockets.

She smiled, so proud of herself and looked up at Lex. His face
shocked beyond recognition. She tilted her head to the side and aimed
for the 8 ball, driving it from one edge of the table to another and
finally into a corner pocket. She laid the cue stick down on the
table and gave a little happy jump. "I win!" She exclaimed and
looked up at Lex's eyes playfully roaming over her.

"Where the hell did you learn to do that." he stated calmly and she
moved over to him.

"Tell me you want me to teach you." She stood on her toes and
whispered into his ear. His eyes still fixated on the table and his
body not budging, almost as if he were replaying the shot in his head.

He smirked and looked down at her. "Teach me."

She grabbed his arm and hauled him over to the table. "Okay this is
like the easiest shot in the world." He picked the cue stick up off
the table and she racked the balls. She rolled them in a circular
motion leaning over the table, once again cursing her legs and rolled
the gleaming white ball over to him. He placed it in front of the
triangle.

"No." Chloe said shaking her head. She removed the plastic triangle
and came around the table to stand beside him. "You're left handed,
you don't want to hit it dead on." She nudged him with her hips a
little off to the side. "Perfect." She grinned at him and his eyes
sparkled down at her. "Now, See the green solid?"

Lex grinned at her calling it by color and not by number. "Yes, I see
the *green* solid."

She rolled her eyes catching his drift. "Look, I'm not a pro, I just
know how to hustle when I need to." She bumped him with her hip again
and grinned. "Now, aim to make the *green* solid go into the right
pocket.

Lex took his stance and aimed, pulled back, and let go. All the balls
including the 8 went in and the white one stood perfectly still where
it had hit up against the clan of balls. He looked at the table
amazed by what he'd just done. "Wow." He muttered.

She smiled at him and turned her back walking to the door. "Nice."
She said and turned around once more, walking out the door in search
of Lionel.

*~*

"Ahh, Chloe, how are you doing this evening."

Chloe grinned and sat down before Lionel turned. She wasn't surprised
he knew she was there.

"I've got a plan." Her wide smiled settling on her features. Lionel
swiveled around to face her.

"Game of Billiards perhaps?"

She bit her bottom lip. "I want to make him an offer." Lionel nodded.

"Go on."

She stood up and stuck her hands deep in her pockets. "Okay this is
really embarrassing, but...umm..."

"Excuse me?" Lionel leaned closer to her pacing figure in front of
his desk. "Repeat that."

"I can't swim." She stated a little louder than before and jumped at
the sound of her voice. "I mean, I can doggie paddle, but I can't
actually swim."

Lionel smiled. It sent an icy patch of something through her veins
but settled nicely in her chest. "So he teaches you the breast stroke
and you teach him how to strategically hustle with balls and a stick."
Chloe snickered.

"Okay, you dirty, dirty man." She placed her hands on her hips and
Lionel let out a low rumble of laughter at the playful gleam in her eyes.

"Am I interrupting something?" Chloe's eyes shot to the door where
Lex leaned against the frame. "Or do I have an open invitation to any
room in my house."

Chloe's face remained calm. 'Oh, he definitely heard my comment to
his dad.' She felt a flush rise and forced it down quickly. "Hey, I
have no problem with you eavesdropping." She let one corner of her
mouth turn up. "I mean, afterall, it's in the Luthor blood right?"
She looked back at Lionel for his earlier comment of Billiards.

Lionel looked completely evil. His grin turned wicked at the corners
of her mouth and Lex sat down onto a nearby couch. She turned and
walked to the couch. "lex?" She sat down on the coffee table across
from him. "I havea favor to ask."

His eyes swam with disbelief. If he had heard her correctly she had
made an indescribable sexual laden innuendo towards his father, and
now she wanted something from him. True he had no idea what was going
on between the Highschool reporter and his father, but the fact that
this was her second day to the mansion in a row was a little, okay a
lot unsettling in his mind's eye. "And what would that be?"

She leaned forward, her elbows on her knees. "I'd like you to teach
me how to swim."

Lex cocked his head to the side. "Excuse me?"

She breathed in deeply and sighed. "I came here to ask your father if
he minded me using the pool. I know it's your place but truthfully, I
was kinda embarrassed by the fact that I'm 17 and only know how to
doggie paddle. I wanted to try by myself but then I realized that it
would be incredibly stupid of me to drown myself in your pool causing
such bad publicity, so...I need someone to teach me." She took in a
deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Please."

TBC

[Blaire023]

Chapter 5:


Chloe stood at the edge of the pool watching the
figure glide easily under water. 'What have I gotten
myself into?' She thought. Lex surfaced and wiped
away the water dripping over his face with a hand. He
stood up in the 3 foot end and Chloe couldn't help but
stare at him. He was elegant. The sex appeal that
radiated off of him, even if you didn't like him,
seemed to be multiplied by having a half naked Lex in
front of you. 'And I thought he looked hot in those
suits.'

"Chloe?" Lex ducked his head to look at her. She
caught his eyes and cleared her throat.

"Sorry."

"It's quite alright. The changing rooms are that
way," He pointed to a single door, "Shower before you
get in, please."

Chloe arched an eyebrow. "Why?" She asked timidly.

Lex had sank back into the water up to his neck.
"Less of a shock when you get in the actual pool."
Chloe nodded and turned away from him, heading in the
direction of the door. "Oh, and Chloe."

She turned back around. "Huh?"

"Do something with your hair."

She seethed and realized he was right, she should have
pulled her hair up before leaving the house, she
hadn't really thought about it.

*~*

She quickly changed and stepped into the stall letting
the warm water flow over her exposed flesh. She
stepped out and draped a towel over her arm, she
paused in front of the mirror and couldn't help but
smile. She had picked the least skimpiest of her
suits, and if she told Lex that, he'd probably have a
heart attack imagining what she could possibly own and
go out in public in that was skimpier than this. Her
blue triangle string bikini. Covered her breasts
perfectly last year when she'd bought it but she had
gained a little weight over the last year, not that it
was a bad thing. She liked the way she looked, she
wasn't skin and bones like Lana, hard edges and no
flesh.

She also wasn't all muscle, all fat, or all of
anything. She was toned where she wanted to be toned,
and her ass looked great. She turned and looked at it
in the mirror thanking the hell out of Jane Austin and
Tony Little. Buns of Steel she wasn't but Buns of
Perfection she was.

*~*

She walked back to the edge of the pool and stared
down at Lex's swimming figure once again. He was
doing the breast stroke and she threw her towel over
to a waiting lounge chair. After watching him do a
few more laps she shifted from one leg to another, his
muscles moved languidly through the water, precise and
cutting in all the right places. Chloe felt a flush
rise to her features as she thought about how those
muscles would move on top of her 'MIND OUT OF GUTTER
SULLIVAN!' A strong voice, sounding much like her own
commented to her.

She watched as Lex finally stopped swimming and faced
the opposite direction as her. "Over here, merman."
She replied. He whipped his body around and for a
split second she wanted to laugh hysterically at the
fact that his jaw dropped. She had actually made Lex
Luthor's jaw drop. 'Point for me.' She cheered
inwardly. "Okay, stop gawking and let's get this show
on the road."

Lex nodded and swam over to her. His eyes praised her
body and she felt a sudden shudder run through her
veins, uturn at her toes and head straight back for
all her pleasure points. He held a hand out for her
and she took it, walking carefully down the steps.
"Tell me why you're afraid of the water."

She cringed. "I'm not afraid, per se, I just don't
know how to swim."

He nodded and ducked under the water. He resurfaced
behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist,
pulling her under. She kicked at him, her arms held
tightly by her sides and she held her breath for her
life. The next thing she knew she was back above the
water sputtering and trying to breath. When she
caught her wind she spun and stared into a very
playful Lex's eyes. Tears caught in her own and the
sob she had tried to choke back dared to escape. She
turned and headed for the stairs, the hot tears
running down her face. She wrapped the towel around
her and sat down on the lounge chair, forgetting about
Lex, forgetting about everything, except for the
water.

The water closing in on her from all sides, couldn't
see, couldn't breath. She shuddered and felt the hot
liquid pouring down her face, she stared ahead of her,
everything blurred and rubbed into one. Her knees
pulled tightly up to her chest. She sat completely
stiff and then she heard her name, and seconds after
felt strong cold arms wrap around her.

"I'm so sorry." Words whispered into her ear. She
closed her eyes, blinking away the tears and when she
opened them again, stared back into a beautiful pair
of blue eyes. His forehead rested against hers.
"Chloe, I'm sorry."

She looked at him, his eyes, past them to his soul,
deeper into him, through everything, and he dared not
blink. Neither did she. He held onto her tight,
swaying back and forth a little. Knowing he should be
uncomfortable by her stare, by her red rimmed emeralds
unblinking and staring straight into his own orbs.
But he felt different. Like she really saw him
although she wasn't even trying.

"It's fine." She choked out and put her head down on
her knees. "I...this was just a really bad idea."
She moved to get up and he pulled her back down.

"Chloe, no, I'll teach you how to swim, it was stupid
of me to act so immature."

She simply nodded in agreement at his words and he let
out a low laugh. "Could you ever forgive me?"

She looked back to his eyes and saw that he meant it.
"No more dunking."

Lex nodded once. "Deal."

"No teasing."

"Deal."

She shook her head lightly and closed her eyes. 'Kiss
me.' She thought and when she opened her eyes she
found an amused pair staring back at her. 'Shit, did
I say that out loud?'

"So you accept my apology?" He smirked at her. She
inwardly sighed a strong breath of relief. 'Thank
god, that wasn't out loud.'

"Yes, I do. But I think I'm done for the day, if you
don't mind."

Lex shook his head casually. "Fine with me, but
tomorrow, we do this whole set up again."

Chloe nodded.

"And try to wear something less..."

"Skimpy."

Lex narrowed his eyes for a thoughtful moment.
"Arousing." He finished and stood up to flag down a
butler to have lunch prepared.

Chloe's eyebrows rose. "Why am I here again?" She
silently asked herself. "Oh, yeah, to help him be
romantic." She frowned. "Well, dear ole daddy didn't
specify whether it was a hands on assignment." She
grinned and went into the changing rooms to get her
clothes back on. She stepped into the shower and
peeled off her bikini, lathering her now naked self
with a small bar of soap.

"Eh hem." A voice sounded from outside the tiny
curtain.

"Yes." She said in a tired voice.

"Want some company?"

She grinned and rolled her eyes. "Nice try, but no."

Lex flung a towel over the shower rod. "For you."

"Thanks."

She pulled part of the curtain back and stuck her head
out. "You wouldn't happen to have any
shamp...nevermind."

"Ouch." She heard him mutter and jumped when his hand
brushed against her back holding a bottle out to her.


"Jesus, Lex. Warn me next time." She pried the
bottle out of his hand and maintained no bodily
contact with him.

"Next time." He said softly and she heard him walking
out of the changing room.

"Lex!" She shreiked with laughter as she inspected
the bottle. She tossed the towel around her naked
form and pulled back the curtain. She threw the
bottle at him as he entered the changing room once
again. She sat down on a bench and clutched the towel
around her laughing hard. "Rogaine Lex?"

Lex smiled. "A man can dream can't he?"

She looked up trying to be serious. "You are too sexy
for your hair, Lex. Don't try to change it now."

He grinned at her and sat down beside her on the
bench. His hand rested on her exposed leg. "So
you're better?"

She bit her lower lip, all laughing stopped
immediately. "Yeah, I'm good." She stood up quickly
and moved to her clothes.

"Good then I'll see you for lunch." He walked out of
the rooms again and she sighed heavily.

"Oh...my...god." She whispered at her shocked
reflection. "Oh, god."

TBC....

[Blaire023]

OUCH <Jumps as sabby&#39;s whip snaps lightly across her rear>

Chapter 6:

A tiny red light caught the corner of her eye as she inspected herself
in the mirror. She was a little flushed from the skin to skin contact
that had just taken place. She felt the imprint of his hand on her
leg and shivered. The camera followed her from the mirror to the
bench. "God. Dammit." She hugged the towel tightly around her and
called for Lex.

"What?" He barged in. She sounded panicked and the last thing he
needed was for her to freak out half naked in the changing rooms.

"That." She pointed an accusing finger at the video camera. Lex
sighed and ran a hand over his head. He grabbed a washcloth from a
cupboard beneath it and reached up successfully blocking the camera
lense.

"I&#39;m sorry, Chloe. I must have forgotten to have them turned off."
Lex looked over at her and saw her face go red. More than a blush
though, almost as if. His thoughts trailed off as she yelled.

"LIONEL&#33;" She stomped out of the changing room and out of the pool
room. Her towel was secure in place and her clothes were tightly
hugged to her chest.

"Miss Sullivan." Lionel appeared at the top of the stairs.


"You bastard." She replied through gritted teeth. Lex&#39;s eyes widened
as he caught up to her and heard what she called him.

"Chloe, that&#39;s enough." he reached for her arm and she snapped over
at him.

"Do not touch me." He backed away standing straight.

"You&#33;" She pointed at Lionel. "We need to talk." She marched up the
stairs and disappeared down a hallway with the elder Luthor. Lex
watched her as she walked away.

He had no control over her and his father, he knew that. He didn&#39;t
know what was going on between them, and although he was curious, he
hoped like hell it went nothing past physical. Lionel wasn&#39;t the type
of man to bed a teenager, but Chloe had more than her age working in
her favor. She was spunky and outspoken, creative and a damn fine
hustler. Lex enjoyed spending time with her, even when they were
sitting innocently at the Talon.

But now, after seeing her in that damn two peice he was having second
thoughts on not only her motives for the swim lessons, but how she
would react if he made a move on her. When he saw something he liked,
he went after it. It was part game, part thrill. But with Chloe, it
was all emotions. She was easier to read than a book, and she somehow
read him also, no matter how he shut himself down, she could still
read him by simply looking in his eyes.

He recalled yesterday when she made the million dollar shot, then
taught him how to do it. The way she whispered into his ear. His
skin had tingled with a sensation that could only lead to arousal.
What was worse for him, was that knowing her age, and her friends, and
no doubt what the town and everyone else would say, he still wanted to
act on these feelings. He didn&#39;t care about anyone but him when it
came to Chloe. It should feel selfish but instead, she had possession
over the one forbidden thing he could never claim as his own. Her
feelings for him couldn&#39;t be any more than a platonic based existence.
He knew that.

He straightened hisself as he heard her coming back into the pool
room.

"Sorry." She apologized. Lex didn&#39;t comment on the fact that she was
now dressed and her body had a faint blush to it. If he hadn&#39;t known
any better, which he didn&#39;t, he&#39;d say she had just gotten done
*handling* his father. Lex pushed those thoughts aside. If she were
in fact with his father in that way, it was none of his business.
However, it could be fun to cause a little mischief and see just how
exactly she felt about the Luthor men.

Chloe sat down beside him and folded her hands in her lap.

"I take it your &#39;meeting&#39; went well." Lex said as he slid a plate
with a sandwich on it over to her.

"Quite actually." She nibbled at the crust and then raised her eyes
to meet Lex&#39;s. "You think your father and I are together, don&#39;t you."
She stated, a small smile appeared on her face. Lionel had informed
her that he suspected Lex was wandering about it as they spoke in his
office.

"It&#39;s none of my business. But I should warn you, us Luthor&#39;s are
nothing but trouble." Lex smirked at the way her eyes danced in
consideration.

"I wouldn&#39;t say all Luthor&#39;s are." She had a far away look in her
eyes that Lex misinterpretted as her thinking about his father. Just
then a voice cleared from the hall. "Of course, the jury&#39;s still
out." She smiled and turned to see Lucas.

"Chloe, how are you today?" Lucas walked into the room and sneered at
Lex before taking her hand and pressing his lips to it. She brought
it down and wiped the back of her hand on her jeans without thinking.
Lex stifled a laugh as his brother&#39;s face fell.

&#39;Interesting.&#39; Lucas thought. &#39;Here I thought all the Luthor men had
free range with this quirky little blonde.&#39;

Chloe looked up at him. Lucas shifted and clenched his jaw realizing
he must have said that out loud. "Excuse me?" She said with a tinge
of disdain in her voice. "Is that what you thought?" She stood up and
grabbed her glass of lemonade. "Is that what you thought too?" She
looked over at Lex.

"Absolutely not, Chloe." Lex replied sincerely. He had only figured
his father had free range with her. He winced at the mental image it
produced and closed his eyes.

"And you..." She turned to face a smirking Lucas. "You figure
because I spend time with Lionel that you and Lex can just toss me
back and forth also. Well I&#39;m so sorry to disappoint you." She
raised the glass and in one swift motion Lucas was drenched in
Lemonade. She walked over to the doorway and looked back at a shocked
Lucas and an amused Lex. Lex sat completely still in his chair, he
smiled up at her.

"Same time tomorrow?" He questioned with guile.

She nodded and grinned, Lucas looked like a wet dog. She walked out
of the pool room nonchalantly. She could have sworn she heard a few
curse words follow her out, but she mentally barracaded them out.

Meanwhile, Lionel sat in his study watching the scene unfold before
his eyes. He watched as Lex laughed at Lucas drying himself off. "I
knew I liked her for a reason." He muttered with a wicked grin. He
had also noticed that she hadn&#39;t said that she wasn&#39;t seeing him. He
had no problem with his sons vying over Miss Sullivan&#39;s attention, as
long as she kept up her end of the bargain.

Chloe thought of her conversation with Lionel. He had informed her
that in fact she was being watched but only to be kept in the loop of
how her progress with Lex was going. It didn&#39;t bother her that there
were camera&#39;s around. She was just pissed that nobody bothered to
tell her. What if she had just let her towel drop in that changing
room. A very dirty old man would have gotten an eyeful. She grinned
at that thought. She liked Lionel. He possessed this evil way that
was somehow counteracted with his patience for his sons. She had to
admit, he was damn sexy when he wanted to be, but Lex was just yummy.
His smile, smirk, grin, everything about his mouth just pleaded with
her to touch it. And she probably would have. Why hadn&#39;t she just
told him to join her for the shower? &#39;Right, because I have a job.&#39;

TBC

[Blaire023]

A/N: Rating has raised a little bit.

Chapter 7:

Chloe sat on the side of the pool, her legs swaying back and forth in
the shallow end of the water. She had on a red orange bikini, much
like the last one only the top was a bit smaller and the bottoms hung
lower on her hips. The strings that tied the sides together had been
triple knotted in hopes that no embarrassing situations would occur
today. Her hair was pinned up and her hands rested on each side of
her, her nails tapping on the cement.

"Ah, Chloe, going for a swim?"

Chloe smiled up at Lionel and stood up, his eyes stayed locked on
hers. She found it refreshing that he didn&#39;t ogle her right then and
there. "Waiting for your son." She walked over to him and just as
she was about to comment further Lex entered.

"Chloe." He nodded at her and took his shirt off. Lionel placed one
hand on her shoulder and she felt his thumb brush against the string
that held her top tied around her neck. She looked up at him and he
winked she grinned back.

"Please, come to my office when you&#39;re done here, I think we have a
few things to &#39;discuss&#39;." Chloe nodded and kept her eyes on his. She
could have laughed at the faint sparkle in his eyes, the playful mood
he was obviously in.

"I&#39;ll be up in about an hour or so." Lionel let his hand drop,
smoothing down her arm and to his side.

"Until then." he turned and walked out. Chloe stood completely still
watching him go.

"Ready?" Lex said as he jumped off the diving board and swam up to her.

"As I&#39;ll ever be."
*~*

Chloe stood beside Lex and tried not to laugh as he floated on his
back. "I don&#39;t want to float, I want to swim."

"Can I ask you something?" Lex stood to his full height, towering
over her.

"I guess." She shrugged and smiled. "Shoot."

"Why do you want to start now? I mean, there aren&#39;t any major bodies
of water anywhere around here."

Chloe grinned and shook her head. "I guess I just felt it was time.
See, as soon as summer hits I&#39;m going on a cruise."

She was interupted by Lex&#39;s words. "With my father."

Chloe looked up at him baffled and then smirked. "Sure."

"Why are you with him? Not that it&#39;s any of my business."

"You&#39;re right, it isn&#39;t." She turned and Lex caught her arm.

"That doesn&#39;t mean I can&#39;t worry about you though."

Her eyebrows arched and she looked down at his grip on her as he held
onto her tight.

"Lex." She heard a woman&#39;s voice call out among the high ceiling of
the pool hall.

"Shit." he muttered.

Chloe grinned and stepped closer to Lex. "I&#39;m not with your father,
by the way."

"There you are." A brunette walked into the room, her skirt way too
short and her blouse hiding nothing at all. "Your father told me I
could find you here."

Lex sighed and ran a hand over his head. "Chloe...this is Victoria.
Victoria, Chloe."

Victoria payed absolutely no attention to her.

"I&#39;m going to work on my breast stroke." Chloe said in a seductive
tone that had Lex smirking. She swam towards the other end of the
pool. Lex watched her form as she swam away and couldn&#39;t help but
smile. He should have never told her to wear something less arousing.
She had obviously went against his judgement and ended up in
something that left extremely little to his imagination.

"I&#39;m still here, Lex." His eyes darted away from Chloe to the woman
standing a few feet away from the pool.

"What&#39;s wrong Victoria? Afraid you might melt?" He jested and earned
a sordid laugh from her. Lionel strolled into the room and his eyes
fell upon Chloe at the deep end of the pool.

"If you&#39;ll excuse me." He walked along the side of the pool until he
reached her. She stopped and looked up at him smiling. Swimming over
to the edge of the pool, she motioned for him to lean down closer to
her. Lex&#39;s mouth fell open as she grabbed his father&#39;s tie and pulled
him in. Victoria gasped in disbelief.

"What did you say her name was?"

Lex was momentarily lost as Lionel surfaced with an angry look in his
eyes and at something Chloe said he let out a round of laughter, his
arms moving loosely in the water.

"Chloe." Lex answered absently remembering her saying she wasn&#39;t
involved with his father. Somehow that seemed like a complete lie.
"Jealous?" Lex quipped as he saw a rage burning in Victoria&#39;s eyes.

"Not at all." She smiled down at Lex. "So are you free for tonight?"

Lex stared up at her. &#39;This day couldn&#39;t possibly get any weirder.&#39;
"Lex&#33;" Chloe laughed as she swam over to him with Lionel right on her
heels. She bounded to her feet and jumped behind him, hiding. Lionel
stood up to his full height in the water and in one swift movement
reached around Lex and grabbed Chloe&#39;s arm pulling her into plain sight.

"Lionel." Chloe sung, his name stretched out beyond belief with a
fake pout.

Lex smirked as the look in his father&#39;s eye caught his and he let go
of the blonde. "Chloe, you will pay for this." She smiled at him and
patted his drenched chest.

"Yeah, Yeah. All bark and no bite." She commented earning an evil
glare from Victoria and a stunned one from Lex.

Lionel leaned down and whispered in her ear, Lex realized Chloe didn&#39;t
shrink away from him and leaned toward him somewhat when Lionel&#39;s hand
landed on her shoulder. "Meet me in my office after please."

Lex had almost not heard the please on the end and Chloe grinned and
nodded. Lionel retreated from the water.

"So, Chloe is it?" Victoria said cattily and Chloe&#39;s innocent eyes
turned up to her hard ones. "How long have you and Lionel been together?"

"What makes you think we&#39;re together?" Chloe asked innocently and
shrugged.

"It&#39;s quite obvious. Although you are a bit young aren&#39;t you?"

Lucas entered the room just then and smiled over at Chloe. "I see you
redirected your hostility to yet another Luthor." Commenting on
seeing his father drenched to the bone as he was leaving the pool
room. Chloe smiled.

"Come here, Lucas." She used her finger to call him over and Victoria
glared over at him.

"And you are?" Victoria said snobbishly as Lucas made his way over to
the pool.

"Lucas Luthor." He held out a hand for her and she looked at it then
down at Lex who remained still staring at Chloe. "O-kay." Lucas said
and smiled down at Chloe. "Nice rack." He said leering at Chloe&#39;s chest.

She rolled her eyes. "Seeing as how we&#39;re never going to get today&#39;s
lesson done, I&#39;ll just go put something a little less &#39;arousing&#39; on."
She smiled over at Lex who returned it.

"And I think I&#39;ll join you." Lex followed Chloe to the stairs and
into the changing room.

Chloe stepped into a shower and turned the water on full force. "Well
if that wasn&#39;t awkward I don&#39;t know what was." She reached for the
string that tied her top together only to feel a pair of hands pull it
loose. She gasped as her top fell down hanging from her by the string
tied around her back. A firm pair of hands came around and filled
them with her breasts. She leaned her head back on his chest and
panted heavily. "Lex." She breathed.

"Chloe." His voice whispered into her ear.

His hands left her breasts and traveled down to her stomach, his
fingers played with the top of her bottoms. "You look so hot in this."

She leaned further back on his chest and placed her hands over his,
letting the water spray down on her chest. "Lex, I don&#39;t think this
is a very good idea."

"Because you&#39;re with my father." Lex whispered again and her eyes
shot wide open.

She moved her arms to cover her breasts and stepped away from him
facing him now. "So he&#39;s the reason you&#39;re coming on to me." She
heard him sigh and looked up into his eyes. "That&#39;s really sad, Lex.
I thought you out of everyone would be better than that."

TBC...

[Blaire023]

Chapter 8:

Chloe pulled her top up and tied it quickly pushing past Lex. She
grabbed a towel and her bag of clothes and ran out of the castle with
the tears already forming in her eyes. Something she had wanted so
badly and he just had to open his mouth and ruin it.

*~*

The intercom buzzed and Lionel&#39;s voice grainily came over the speaker.
"Lex, I&#39;d like to see you in my office. Now." Lex closed his eyes
briefly and swore stepping out of the shower. He just had to make
that comment after she had already told him that she wasn&#39;t involved
with Lionel.

Lex opened the door to his father&#39;s office and Lionel leaned forward,
his fingers steepled together, his elbows resting on the desk in front
of him. "I just had a very interesting conversation with a very upset
young lady. Have any idea what it could have pertained to?" Lionel
met Lex&#39;s eyes.

"It&#39;s none of your business."

Lionel let out a chuckle. "Yes, Alexander, it is. Chloe Sullivan is
under my pretenses while in our home. She is my guest. Had she been
yours, she would have called you."

"I made a comment to her about you and her being together."

Lionel&#39;s mouth quirked up in an easy grin and Lex sat in the chair
facing the desk. "Now, was that before or after you invited yourself
into the shower with her?"

Lex&#39;s eyes narrowed on his father. "You don&#39;t seem too upset, father,
not harboring any real feelings for Miss Sullivan?"

Lionel brought his hands down flat on the desk. "Chloe and I have an
arrangement. She has a task to perform for me and while she is in
this house, under this roof, she will be treated with the utmost
respect she deserves. If you carry on this way I make certain you are
not left alone with her, no matter where you follow her to."

Lex nodded once. "Why are you using her?" Lex forced out.

"Son, I have no intentions of using Miss Sullivan. She is a
refreshing, beautiful young lady whom I enjoy spending time with.
That should be enough of an incentive for you to leave her be.
However, any other arrangements that take place between Chloe and I
are not to be questioned by you."

"I like her."

"As do I, Lex. She is a great person destined to become something
even greater. I will see to it that her destiny is fulfilled on my
behalf. As for you, if you harbored any true feelings for her, you
would not have made such a bold move. Chloe is out of your league
son. And the relationship of her and I is not of your concern."

"You said you like her. In what way?" Lex needed answers and the
scene from the pool with Chloe pulling his father into the deep end
had made him realize that his father really truly did have feelings
for her, seeing as how he didn&#39;t strangle her on the spot.

"If you could imagine, having two sons to keep track of, both with
less than prestigious records, is a difficult task. Chloe is my
answer to relieving my stress. Boldly saying what comes to mind,
acting upon a more mature level. She understands me and my reasons
for doing what I do. In short, she is as close to a daughter as I&#39;ll
ever have."

Lex leaned back. So that&#39;s where the playfulness came from. His
father had so much pent up inside him that his cool and calm exterior
vanished whenever Chloe was around and he had jumped to the conclusion
that it was because they shared a bed. Not a sense of humor.

"Now, I suggest you leave this room with one task in mind. To make
yourself forgiven in her eyes. She won&#39;t press charges, although I
may make her see it as a much easier way of living. Afterall, her
father could then retire." Lionel sneered and Lex stood from his seat.

"Are you taking her on a cruise?"

Lionel smirked. "As I previously stated, son, Chloe and I made a deal
of sorts. For the task she preforms for me, I requested her company
on a cruise this summer."

Lex nodded and stopped at the door turning back. "You wouldn&#39;t happen
to know what her favorite flower is, would you?"

*~*

Chloe sat at the Talon curled up in a corner booth. Lex&#39;s hands on
her body made her liquify to the root. A huge bouquet of flowers were
set on the table in front of her. "Tulips." She said and leaned
forward without thinking.

"I apologize for my once again immature behavior today."

She looked up at Lex. "Your father told me you&#39;d be coming."

"You called him when you left."

She shook her head. "No. He called me a few moments ago."

Lex nodded and realized he had just been played. She motioned for the
seat across from her. "Sit down, Lex." He took the seat and noticed
her eyes averting his. "We really need to talk."

"My father explained everything to me."

She nodded once and closed her eyes. "And?"

"And I have nothing to be jealous of." Her eyes met his and she let
out a sigh.

"No I meant about the deal."

"No, he didn&#39;t tell me anything about the &#39;task&#39; you&#39;re performing for
him."

Chloe nodded and looked at the flowers. "I think you should know."

Lex sat back calmly. "You trust me with this information."

Chloe blinked and her eyes focused on his. "It&#39;s you."

Lex sat up straight. "What about me, Chloe."

"The task has to do with you."

Lana appeared from nowhere. "Hi, Lex. Need something?"

"Go away." His hand shooed her and his eyes never left Chloe&#39;s. Lana
looked from one to the other and shrugged. "Now about this task."

TBC

[Blaire023]

Chapter 9:

Chloe opened her mouth to speak just as her phone
rang, she looked down at the number and sighed. "I
have to take this." She said hello.

"Please, darling, tell me why Lionel Luthor called me
to ask my permission for you to go on a cruise with
him?"

She sighed and put her head down on the table earning
an indifferent look from Lex. "Dad, this really has
to wait until I get home."

"No it doesn&#39;t because I am on my way right now to
speak with Mr. Luthor. Please tell me you aren&#39;t in
any trouble."

Chloe put her head up and looked at Lex. "Oh, I&#39;m in
trouble all right." She flipped her phone shut after
her father announced he was at the mansion and wanted
her at home pronto to wait for him.

"I have to get going." She stood and picked up the
bouquet. "I&#39;m in some trouble and I have to get
home." Lex nodded.

"I&#39;ll follow you."

Chloe raised an eyebrow.

"We still need to talk about this task."

*~*

Chloe watched Lex pace the living room. "And you
agreed to that?" He asked calmly. She nodded.
"Why?" he asked and stopped walking to look down at
her.

"That I can&#39;t say." She looked away from his eyes and
over to the television. "I promised I wouldn&#39;t tell
anyone."

Lex knelt down in front of her. "Chloe, if you are
being manipulated by my father, I need to know."

Her eyes returned to his. "I&#39;m not." She stated
simply. Lex nodded and stood back up.

"So how did you plan on showing me how to romance a
woman?" Lex said and sat down beside her on the
couch.

Chloe shook her head. "No, I was asked to teach you
how to be romantic."

Lex seemed thoughtful. "By me giving you swimming
lessons?"

Chloe smiled at the fact that he hadn&#39;t gotten mad
yet. Yet being the operative word. "That was
actually just a perk. I figured, hey, since I need to
learn how to get in good with Lex, why not have him
jump into a shower and grope me?" Her dry statement
made Lex stand and pace again. "Would you cut that
out, it maked me nervous."

"Chloe Sullivan, you better be in this house or I&#39;m
hunting you down." Her fathers voice rang loud and
clear.

"We&#39;re in the living room, dad." Chloe said loud
enough, but not shouting. Lex stilled as Gabe walked
into the living room and crossed his arms over his
chest.

"I see. First off, Lex, sit down." Lex complied
immediately, not too many people talked to him like
that and got away with it, but Gabe definitely spoke
in a direct father tone, although Lex wasn&#39;t sure what
that was, Gabe definitely had it.

"One week ago you were arrested. On your birthday no
less."

"Not my fault..." She stated simply.

"You were still arrested young lady. And I let it
slide, although it wasn&#39;t the first time." Chloe blew
a puff of air up at her bangs and Lex watched as they
rearranged themselves again. "Plus, I was supposed to
still be in Gotham, but why did I have to come back
early? To check on you. Chloe, you are 17 years old.
Don&#39;t you think you could be a bit more responsible.
Not to mention you agreed, without my consent, to
participate in a deal with Lionel Luthor, not one of
my most favorite people in the world, no offense Lex,
but why *him*?"

Chloe started to protest and was immediately sut off
again.

"Chloe, I don&#39;t know what you&#39;ve been thinking lately
but this reckless behavior of yours has to stop. I
can&#39;t put up with this and I won&#39;t hesitate to send
you to Metropolis to finish off your senior year, or
ban you from the Torch."

Chloe narrowed her eyes and Lex saw her face go froma
small shade of pink to a bright red. "Sit." She
pointed at the couch beside Lex and her father sighed
and did so.

"First of all, I didn&#39;t ask you go to Metropolis alone
on my birthday, as a matter of fact, you were supposed
to be there, but were you? No. You couldn&#39;t have let
your work go for one night, one stupid helicopter ride
for one measly night. And don&#39;t make me remind you
about my 16th birthday or my 15th, because I&#39;m pretty
sure you weren&#39;t there for those either." She took a
deep breath and ignored the stunned look Lex gave her.

"Secondly, YOU were not there. I was only arrested
because that," she waved her hands around her head,
"neanderthal swung at me and I kicked him in the
balls. He deserved it, and that was only after he
grabbed my ass and I made a rude comment. However,
had you been there, it probably wouldn&#39;t have
happened."

And last but not least. I&#39;m 17, I can go where I want
and do what I want yet I still respect your rules
seeing as how I live under your roof. But, don&#39;t
think for one second I&#39;m not going on that cruise,
because I sure as hell am. Plus my two swimming
lessons, courtesy of Lex, aren&#39;t going to waste."
Gabe&#39;s eyes darted over to Lex and he shifted
uncomfortably on the couch. "As for Lionel and our
deal, that is between him and I. And as for my
relationship with any and all Luthor&#39;s. Lionel is the
least perverted of them all." She shot a dirty look
at Lex who put his head in his hands. Gabe stood and
stepped directly up to his daughter.

"I apologized for not being there, what more do you
want from me?" Gabe shouted at her.

Chloe took a step closer and waved her hands around.
"Oh, hmm, let me think, maybe for you to not have to
apologize and actually be there once in a great
while."

Gabe stepped forward and looked down into his
daughter&#39;s eyes, that rage and anger and hurt all
melted into one. He looked over at Lex. "Why are you
here again?" He said quietly.

Lex looked from one to another, Gabe&#39;s eyes fixed on
him, Chloe&#39;s eyes fixed on her father and Lex couldn&#39;t
help but cringe. "Innocent bystander."

Chloe snorted and muttered a &#39;yeah right.&#39;

Gabe backed down and took a deep breath closing his
eyes. "You aren&#39;t in trouble as long as you promise
me three things."

Chloe squared her shoulders. "Depends." she answered
shortly.

"Number one, you are not to become involved with
Lionel Luthor, in anything more than a platonic way."
Chloe huffed and Lex winced. &#39;ewwww.&#39; was the only
thing running through his mind. "Number two, no more
run ins with the police." Chloe nodded and sighed.

"What&#39;s the third one?" She looked tired all of a
sudden.

"You get your ass over here and give your old man a
hug." Gabe opened his arms and Lex watched on as she
walked right into them. "I love you, Chloe."

She sighed and closed her eyes. "Love you too, dad."

Lex watched in awe as the both of them had gone from a
shouting match to a hugging match in a span of very
few seconds.


TBC...

[Blaire023]

Chapter 10:

Chloe parked her car in front of the mansion and
walked up to the door, not bothering to ring the
doorbell she let herself in and immediately made a
b-line for the pool room. A body was already in the
water and she strained her eyes to see the movement
under water. Lucas surfaced and as he saw her pulling
her shirt over her head he grinned widely. "For me?"
he joked.

She turned to look at him and her lips turned upward
in what could have rivaled Lex&#39;s smirk. She held his
eyes with hers as she unbuttoned her pants slowly and
then unzipped carefully. Her hands ran down her sides
and underneath her pants, pulling them down slowly as
she went. She stepped out of the pants with one foot
and with the other kicked them up in the air. Lucas
let out a low whistle at her black crocheted bikini.

Lex stood in the doorway and smiled as Chloe pulled
off her shirt, before he heard Lucas&#39; quip. His eyes
narrowed on his younger brother and returned to Chloe
when he noticed her slow languid movements. As she
stepped out of her pants and kicked them off her
watched Chloe&#39;s hands run behind her, her index
fingers running the hem of her bottoms and adjusting
them on her butt. His breath hitched as she walked
over to the side of the pool and decided it was time
to make an appearance, afterall, who knew how much of
this his father was watching.

"Afternoon." Chloe smiled and looked over at Lex
taking off his shirt.

"Hey, sorry about yesterday, didn&#39;t think you&#39;d have
to witness that." Chloe flushed and Lex walked over
to her, he stopped behind her shortly and his hands
traveled from her shoulders to the back of her neck
where her top was tied together. Lucas stared up at
his brother, silently urging him on. Chloe closed her
eyes breifly and felt Lex&#39;s fingertips graze her neck
and then pull the strings tighter.

"No problem. And your top was coming undone." Chloe
nodded and looked down at Lucas, the small smile
slowly raising the corners of his mouth. Lex stood on
the diving board about to jump in when he looked up at
Chloe only to notice her staring down at his brother
and his father in the doorway. Lionel cleared his
voice just as Lex jumped.

Chloe&#39;s eyes lifted at the simultaneous sound of
Lionel&#39;s throat clearing and the splash of water Lex
had caused from diving. Lionel walked up to her and
touched her high on her back, between her shoulder
blades. "And I thought you two would be done with
these foolish lessons."

Chloe smiled up at Lionel and relaxed to his touch.
"Actually, the first day Lex decided to act completely
immature, and then yesterday we were somewhat
interupted by a skanky brunette, followed by Lex
acting immature. Honestly, though, I can&#39;t decide
whether or not to take a shower today." She grinned
humorously at Lex. Lionel shook his head in
disapprovement.

"Son, please leave the pool so that Miss Sullivan can
get her lessons started." Lucas looked between the
three. He couldn&#39;t tell if she were with Lionel or
Lex, but wasn&#39;t willing to reenact the lemonade
incident. He followed his fathers orders and was out
of the room in less than ten minutes, Lionel leaned
down to her ear. "Please visit me when you&#39;re done."

Chloe nodded with a smile and watched him leave. Lex
heard her sigh and arched an eyebrow. "Relief or
longing?" Chloe turned to him and slapped the back of
her hand on his stomach, earning a small chuckle from
him.

"Just tired, I guess." She shrugged and got into the
pool. Lex followed behind her. "So what are we doing
today?"

Lex smiled. "Actually I thought today we could just
free swim. Yesterday I taught you the breast and back
stroke and to hold your breath without holding your
nose, so I figured today we could play a game."

Chloe nodded once and dove under the water, Lex&#39;s eyes
were immediately drawn to her backside and he let out
a low groan while she was under, she uturned and rose
up out of the water a few feet in front of him.
"Okay, what game?"

Lex grinned and swam away from her. "You be Marco."

*~*

Chloe sat in Lionel&#39;s office, her shower had been a
solo one and although it made her uneasy to think that
she had been hoping Lex might accompany her, she
shrugged off the conflicting feelings. Lionel knocked
on the door shortly, jarring her out of her thoughts.

"Hi." She smiled up at him and he grinned down at
her.

"Hello, Chloe."

"Ummm, I have something to say." She looked over at
him nervously and played with a tiny hole in her
pants. He stared at her urging her to continue. "I
told Lex about our deal."

Lionel eyebrow quirked up. "How much?"

"Only my part, no reasons behind it. I just told him
that you asked me to teach him how to be romantic."

"And he had no qualms?"

"Oh, I did." Lex stood in the doorway looking
delicious as always. Chloe eased her mind away from
the not so sane thoughts racking her brain. "However,
I trust Chloe&#39;s judgement, and if she thinks it&#39;s a
good idea, then I believe her."

Lionel nodded and turned his attention back on Chloe.
"And you failed you mention what you get out of
this...how did you put it? Deal?"

Chloe nodded and looked squarely at Lionel. "I didn&#39;t
inform him of your task, only of mine."

Lionel leaned back and crossed one leg over the other,
right ankle resting on his left knee. "I see."

Lex looked between the two. "Well, seeing as how you
two are getting along so well, I thought maybe you and
I could start on your &#39;task&#39;."

Chloe&#39;s eyes met Lex&#39;s and she grinned. "Sounds
delightful."

*~*

Chloe sat across from Lex, their legs stretched out in
front of them, his back resting against one couch and
hers against a parallel one. "Nice room." She looked
up at the high ceiling with a painting of a night sky
on it.

"It was my bedroom at one time."

"Imagine that." She grinned over at him. "No wonder
it&#39;s on the highest floor."

"Easier to get away."

"Ahh, but difficult to escape."

"I never snuck out of the house."

Chloe snickered. "If that&#39;s what you&#39;d call it."

Lex nudged her thight with his foot. "Where shall we
start."

Chloe pondered the situation for a moment. &#39;Well, I
thought maybe we could start on the couch, then maybe
work our way to the bed.&#39; She shook her head of her
thoughts and looked up to see an interest piqued on
the face of the man across from her. "You okay?" He
asked.

"Just thinking." She noticed the amusement flittering
across his features. "I know, I know, dangerous."
She grinned and he returned it. "I thought maybe we&#39;d
start with you showing me how you would normally get a
girl&#39;s attention."

"You mean show you my bank statement?" Lex smiled at
her.

Chloe rolled her eyes and looked over at him. His
smile hit her head on. "Nooo, I mean, if a woman
didn&#39;t know who you were, just pretend," She added as
he shot her an unknowing look. "Pretend you don&#39;t know
me, and I&#39;m blind, or whatever so I can&#39;t tell who you
are. Give me your best pickup line." Lex smirked at
her.

He cleared his throat with a certain quality of air
about him. "Wanna see my bank statement?"

Chloe laughed loudly and then covered her mouth as she
silently shook. She settled down and patted his bare
foot with her hand. "If I was blind that would have
totally offended me."

Lex nodded in agreement. "I don&#39;t normally have to
make the first move, most of the time women come up to
me."

Chloe returned the nod thoughtfully. "I was afraid of
that."

His head tilted ever so slightly and she continued.
"Okay, you see me from across the room, and I do know
who you are, you catch my eye with yours I make my way
over slowly and you extend your hand, placing a small
kiss on my hand. I ask if you&#39;re enjoying yourself.
What do you say?"

Lex looked at her seriously. "I am now." Chloe
raised both eyebrows.

"You seriously say that?"

Lex frowned and stared at her. "What&#39;s wrong with
that."

"Its just too straight forward, a woman can&#39;t tell if
it&#39;s a line or if you&#39;re being sincere, it sounds
almost too practiced."

Lex leaned his head back and then straightened as his
eyes met hers again. "Chloe Sullivan." She extended
her hand and he delicately took it in his, his eyes
remained locked on hers as he slowly raised it to his
lips and brushed them lightly over her knuckles. "Lex
Luthor."

Chloe grinned and pulled her hand back. "Nice." She
commented and rolled her eyes. "However, the whole
eye to eye thing, a little too intense. It will work
if the woman wants to sleep with you, but not if she&#39;s
generally interested in getting to know you better."

"Why wouldn&#39;t it work."

"A little too sleazy." She cocked her head to the
side. "I&#39;ve got it."

"Huh?"

"Chloe Sullivan." She extended her hand once again
and as he stretched his out to take hers she raised
his to her mouth and kept her eyes locked on his. She
let her lips graze his knuckles and noticed his eyes
darken slightly, she smiled inwardly. As she let his
hand drop he pulled it back and stared at her.

"So?" She smiled at him.

"So." He stated plainly. "Defitely made me want to
sleep with you." She grinned widely and let out a
small laugh.

"That&#39;s the point."

"So I don&#39;t understand why I don&#39;t want a woman to
sleep with me."

Chloe rolled her eyes once again. "Jumping in to bed
isn&#39;t romantic Lex. What&#39;s the point when you know
that a woman will hop in the sack? Don&#39;t you want
someone who wants to take the time to get to know you
better?"

Lex shrugged. "What would be the point in that."

Chloe shot him a disgusted look. "Look, say we sleep
together," lex&#39;s eyebrows shot up as if actually
entertaining the idea, little did she know, he
actually was.

"And?" he added urging her to go on.

"And in the morning you wake up beside me and realize
that you don&#39;t want to leave, you want to get to know
me better. But then I wake up and bolt. Because I&#39;ve
already slept with you, I don&#39;t feel the need to know
you any better, if you did it with me, no doubt you&#39;ve
done it a million other times."

Lex nodded in acceptance. "So you&#39;re saying the
thrill&#39;s gone."

Chloe smiled. "Finally, you see where I&#39;m going with
this."

Lex nodded and let out a sigh when his phone rang. He
pulled it from his pocket and Clark&#39;s voice rang threw
on the other end. "Clark?"

"Yeah, umm, Lex, I was wondering..."

"Spit it out." He took in the annoyed look on his
tutor&#39;s face.

"If maybe you could make reservations at a fancy
restaurant in Metropolis. I&#39;d like to take Lana out
for a night on the town."

"Certainly. But I&#39;ll have to be present. I can&#39;t
just pass my name off on you."

Clark nodded on the other end. "So a double date."

Lex smiled over at Chloe. "Looks that way."

TBC...