Title: Game Plan
Author: BackupLover
Disclaimer: Not mine. If AlMiles would like to give me Michael Rosenbaum in exchange for fixing their awful cannon pairing of Lexana, it would be much appreciated and coveted. But at the moment, not mine.
Summary: Thoughts inside of a billionaire's head as he meets up with his borderline obsession at a party. Some references of cannon, but much lighter than what had occurred. Centered mostly around Lex's hidden internal monologue, smut comes later.
**First time writing smut, so please review with suggestions on how to improve.**
Part I
He watched her from across the room, eyes raking up the corset-style back of green ribbon to flawless skin. She was his ideal woman- intelligent, tenacious, gorgeous without knowing the fact. Too many years of being pushed aside for the small town beauty queen had impacted her sense of self-worth.
But he had always seen her. The woman beneath the shell that was waiting to emerge victorious. Which was why her best friend was the easiest way to confirm his suspicion of Clark’s abilities. Obsession blinded him to the repercussions of that choice. Ones he would take back if he could.
It was a stroke of luck that she hadn’t asked him what he thought of her that time she commanded the truth. He had been relieved that she only wanted to know about the skewed psyche of her first reclusive billionaire. The second of which was Bruce Wayne, who was tricked into granting an interview when she confronted him one random day in Gotham. Fate had been on his side when Oliver Queen went after her dropout cousin before meeting the family’s prize.
No, if Chloe Sullivan knew his thoughts, feelings and sheer awe of her; there would be no doubt there would never be a chance to speak to her again. He wouldn’t be able to approach her at a party and make witty small talk while overtly ogling what was never to be his. Throwing back what was left of his drink, Lex Luthor began walking to the bar and towards his Calliope. Who was currently in conversation with some bastard in a six-hundred dollar suit with a bored look on her face.
“You’re a reporter?” the man asked teasingly. “I guess I should put a filter on what I say, then.”
“I wouldn’t bother with this one,” he said from behind her. “she’d only break through it.”
She straightened indignantly and spun around, ready to face off her critiquer. Meeting a set of familiar blue eyes, a smirk spread over her face. “Mr. Luthor.”
“Ms Sullivan.” He replied, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards. “I thought I plastered those warning posters with your face in all the offices of Metropolis.”
“Oh you did. Doesn’t mean I can’t import associates from elsewhere.” Chloe turned to Michael and made the introductions. “Michael Snyder, Lex Luthor.”
As the two shook hands, Lex’s gaze flickered over the man. Too old to be a boyfriend, not her boss. “How do you know Ms Sullivan?”
“I just met her. She saved me from a tipsy ex-wife.”
“Saved *you*? That’s a change.” That’s right, mild digs always kept the conversation lively.
“Well, I got bored with the damsel role.” Chloe said with a roll of her eyes.
Sensing a past, Michael smiled and made his excuse. “I need to get back to my table now. Thank you for your help Ms Sullivan.”
Nodding at the man as he left, Lex turned back to the blonde reporter. “So what’s the story? Mermaid in the water tower?”
“Please.” She scoffed. “Have you seen the tap water of Metropolis? No mermaid would survive living in it.”
“Alright. Is it another tattooed burglar?”
“You know, I did write stories that weren’t about meteor freaks.”
“Yes, but they were all about me. Since I haven’t been pestered in a year, I can only assume all of your bylines are about people with abilities.”
“I’ve expanded into political corruption as well.”
“So why haven’t I been called?” he asked, small smile still gracing his lips. “Corruption is a Luthor’s middle name.”
“Maybe because you haven’t done anything newsworthy? Or possibly, I grew to be neutral as far as LexCorp is concerned.”
“I’m newsworthy.” I’ll blow up a building if you’ll come accuse me in person.
“Not to me. No attempts on my life, no kidnappings, no corporate espionage leading to dire situations—as far as I’m concerned, you’ve gotten boring in your advanced age.”
His eyes narrowed. “I’m not old. Or boring.”
“Really? Had any sixteen year olds’ thrown out of a window lately?”
“Be fair, Ms Sullivan. It wasn’t me who threw you out.”
“Still your place.”
“Not really. I’m not staying at the manor anymore.”
“And here I was thinking that Smallville was to blame for your uneventful lifestyle. Where are you now?”
“At the penthouse.” I followed you to school.
“In the big city and no scandals? I stand by my claim.”
“Maybe I have been a little reclusive. You could have come found me.” Why didn’t you?
“You could have visited me. I’ve been in Metropolis full-time for a while.”
Yes, but I finished using Lana. No excuse to talk to you in public. No reason for me to know your new address. “It might be weird for me to stop by your apartment, you being friends with my ex. And you insulted my head the last time I stopped by.”
“Lana was crying! Of course I had to insult you.” Wait, what? “I couldn’t tell you I thought it was right to break things off when we were standing in front of her. Besides, I’m alone in the new apartment now. She ran off to Paris again.”
“Infallible logic as always. I had no way of deciphering the complexities of a broken hearted girl and the way to deal with it...her.” He drawled, somewhat pleased at her reasoning. “All I did was what you said and left to polish my cranium and pray for a soul.”
Her eyes were almost amused at the idea she had hurt his feelings. “It’s demeaning that you took that seriously. If I wanted to insult you, I would have hit harder than physical appearance. And I hardly doubt your head was the body part being polished.”
He knew that. Chloe had the skill and temper to cut him much deeper than that. But still, he had been so taken aback by her seeming veracity that he had taken the words at face value. “It was a pretty demeaning comment. That can be a sore subject with me.”
Ignoring his reference to her insulting ability, she tilted her head at him. “You know, I don’t think it’s the baldness that depresses you. It’s the fact that you can’t grow a handlebar mustache to complete the costume as you tie pretty girls to train tracks.”
“Only you, Chloe.” The vision of her bound caused him to shift his posture slightly and he quickly changed topics. “You’re still just as... unconventional as ever.”
“Admit it, Luthor.” She said sweetly. “You missed our verbal judo.” I missed you.
“I admit nothing. Simply because you are the closest thing to an intellectual equal at this party does not... shit.” He trailed off and his gaze darkened as he observed someone walking towards them. “Lucas.”
“Big Brother!” came a jovial statement from behind Chloe. The dark haired man came and stood in front of the pair, and his gaze raked over the blonde slowly. “And you are?”
“Celibate.” She replied flatly as Lex’s lips twitched in amusement.
“And feisty.” The other Luthor commented with a grin. “Don’t tell me my brother is allowing you to waste all your time on a conversation with him.”
“How she spends her time is none of your business, Lucas.” Lex stated, earning inquisitive glances from both parties.
“No need to get uppity. As I recall, your pleasures tend to run a bit *darker*. Unless...” turning his head, the younger Luthor looked at Chloe again. “Is this the one, Lex?”
Rolling her eyes, the blonde set down her wineglass. “I’ve been many ‘ones’. Are you going somewhere with this, or will you just keep sneaking glances down my dress?” The expanse of skin being shown was a little distracting, but it wasn’t like Lucas ever said anything worthwhile.
“Bruce Wayne said that there was only one blonde who could hold my brother’s attention. The fact that you’ve been talking to him for ten minutes and he hasn’t shied away leads me to believe that you’re her.” A smile came over Lucas’ face and he winked at her. “And I will keep doing the other part.”
“Bruce doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” She commented with a flip of her hand, refusing to pull up the gown in embarrassment. “It isn’t the hair color that intrigues Lex, it’s the high likelihood that she’s going to kill him. I’ve started to hypothesize that he considers marriage to be training for a final showdown with Lionel.”
“He did say that the blonde in question was difficult to deal with. Can’t say you’re proving me wrong.”
Snorting, Chloe shook her head. “I don’t care enough about you to prove you wrong. And Bruce is just bitter that I said no to being his escort.”
Wait, what? Immediately, Lex’s eyes narrowed. “He asked you out?”
“She turned him down, Lex. And it’s not like she’s yours to claim anyway.”
She may not rightfully be his to claim, but Chloe Sullivan was someone he considered to be his. And Luthors don’t share well. Realizing his brother had a point, Lex stood there and merely watched as the blonde began to rant.
“He was being a jackass! I’m starting to wonder if it’s a requirement for being a billionaire under thirty.”
“And I’m starting to wonder if being a billionaire under thirty is a requirement for you. Wayne *and* Queen, kitten?” Queen--Oliver Queen? Bruce has the whole dark and brooding thing, but Queen is a loser. She couldn’t have dated him. Maybe he should have gone with a full watch on her. The checks he arranged to occur only covered the stories she was working on, in case she got in too deep... again. She would have noticed tails to her apartment. It seems Chloe’s relationship statuses should also have been monitored, mutual respect be damned.
Ignoring Lex’s soft growl of surprise, Chloe shook her head. “Right family, wrong girl. Oliver dated my cousin Lois. I’m Chloe Sullivan.”
“No, I’ve got the right girl. You’ve frequented the Queen Industries banquets; I just didn’t fix a name to the body. Tell me, do you consciously choose a rich bachelor, or do you simply open Forbes and find a random page?”
“Jealous you’ve never been featured?” she asked with a saccharine smile. “I don’t see a reason to explain my contacts to the business world to you, Lucas. You don’t spend enough time there to understand, just show up to the parties and raid the open bar.”
Having recovered from the mention of former classmates and their possible involvement with Chloe, Lex intervened. “I suggest you walk away.” To stop distracting her from the conversation with me.
“Rushing to save the day? She must be the blonde in question.”
“Lucas, it’s not Ms Sullivan I’m trying to save. She’s holding back now. Her revenge on you may impact my stock standings, so I’d like you to go find a desperate society woman to entertain.”
Holding his hands up in surrender, the young man reached out and took his brother’s scotch from the bar as he left. Lex let out a sigh.
“It seems you’ve been busy.”
Glaring at him, Chloe tried to quell her embarrassment over what his brother had insinuated. “Are you trying to tell me you haven’t kept tabs?”
“No, you’re correct in the assumption that I have. It just wasn’t the personal, only professional aspects.”
One of her eyebrows raised in surprised amusement over his mock chivalry. “Then you know how I met Bruce. The nanotech story.”
“I knew that you got an exclusive for that project. Not that he hit on you.”
“It’s not really your business, but I turned him down.”
“Why? You could have gotten a better interview.” Cursing his jealousy, he could immediately see that he had crossed a line. She drew back as if stricken, and he rushed to fix the faux pas. “I’m sure you could have lowered that requirement for scintillating conversation in order to get a scoop.”
Chloe seemed to realize he was offering an olive branch for his comment and smiled, showing he was forgiven. She would always forgive him. “I could have. But he was an ass, so I said no.”
“You told Clark I was an ass when we first met.” And I looked at your ass when we first met.
“You still are.” She quipped, grin widening at his eyes glinting back. “But you’re an ass with depth. I don’t care how good the story is if I’m not kept on my toes.”
Lex chuckled softly. “And the near death experiences with me keep you from boredom?” Among other things I’m willing to do.
“We haven’t had one of those in years, Luthor. And it’s the obscure literature references between us that help keep me sharp. Bruce spoke down to me and had the audacity to suggest coffee wasn’t a good idea after eleven.”
Raising an eyebrow, the billionaire looked at her appraisingly. “And he still has both arms? You’re getting soft.”
Ignoring the jibe, she continued with her story. “I told him it was either that or cocaine, and Alfred was happy to oblige my *legal* request.” Suddenly, her gaze switched from bantering to laser sharp. “Question: what did your half-wit brother mean when he relayed Bruce’s thoughts about one blonde holding your attention?”
Quick! Distract her! Find something unethical that she can write about! “Better question: how can you call him Bruce when you just recently dropped the ‘Mister’ from my name?” When she didn’t budge, he sighed. Damn her memory. This might get awkward. “He may have overheard a phone call between my father and I, then looked you up when I refused to give details.”
Chloe blinked twice in confusion. “You and Lionel talk about me? You still talk to Lionel?”
“once a month, and it was a few years ago. But then he saw me reading your articles regularly and brought the subject up again. I assume that’s how Lucas and he got on the topic of you.”
“Why didn’t he say anything when he gave me the exclusive?” she mused. “Only said that he knew I would be honest and non-judgmental in my writing.”
Jackass had the gall to use the same terms Lex had described her as when he first pestered him with questions. He can’t very well call a hit on the Prince of Gotham. People would notice. “I assume he wanted to judge you for himself.”
“Well, what did he say?”
“Nothing. But given that I effectively told him to screw himself when he asked which one of the Luthors you rendered services to.”
“You *what*?” she hissed, glancing around for possible eavesdroppers. “Don’t you get that lashing out like that probably made him think I had?”
“I was still poised, Chloe. It’s not like I dumped a beer on his shirt and then threw a punch.”
Ignoring the smirk made by his comment about youth culture, the reporter kept her rant. “But you reacted in a way that somehow made him think we had a relationship. Which surprised him so much that he told your brother. Such an ass.”
Once again, Lex had to restrain himself from laughing. “Keep calling him ‘ass’ and people will think it’s a pet name.”
“Speaking of,” she said, voice changing to indignation “Lucas called me kitten. Remind me to flagellate him.”
“A memo will be sent.” He promised, glad for the shift. “Is there anyone you want added to the list?”
Waving a hand at him, Chloe smiled. “Not now, but get back to me at the end of the night. I’m sure someone else will have offended me.”
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