A/N - Thanks for all the feedback. Glad to see people still reading even after all this time.
Chapter 16 – New Energy
Chloe stepped out of the car and stared up at the old building. The few cars still parked in the lot showed that something still occurred at the old Luthorcorp plant, but much less than in the past. It was about to change. Biodeisel was about to make a sharp movement on the stock exchange and in people’s minds.
Walking up to the front door, she waved her card over the security and nodded quietly at the guard posted on the other side of the door. She made her way down one of the same hallways where she had been attacked by the same guards not but just a few years ago.
“Good morning Oliver. So are we ready to flip the switch tonight?” Chloe handed the binder of paperwork to him as he turned in step with her down the hall.
“I think we are on track. We have a full press conference set up. Most of the former employees that have not moved on are on their way back as well as Senator Kent. I think she has an incredible stake vested in letting us move back here and hope to revitalize the community.”
Oliver sat in the immaculate office that Chloe only guessed had been the one nice hole in the musty factory and Lex’s old office. Glancing at the walls, it felt stale. “I take it the redecorator hasn’t arrived to redo the Luthor taste.”
“I figured for the time being we would leave well enough alone seeing we haven’t made a permanent decision on manager placement. But I still liked the way Gretchen Peters was running the ¼ operation.” Oliver looked up from the paperwork at Chloe’s uncomfortable grunt and irritated look. “I know you didn’t quite like the way Lionel used her to test his personal theory, but she is good at what she does.”
Chloe rolled her eyes. “Fine, but I don’t want her around Lex.”
“Done. I doubt Lex would really appreciate being put back in the first job that he had. Anyway, let me give you the rest of the tour and then go over the announcement notes for the evening.” Chloe looked back down at her notes and continued with her meeting without letting the nagging feeling of what Oliver said last bothering her.
Chloe followed Oliver down the hall; she wasn’t’ going to tell Oliver that she knew her way around after all the years she had visited her dad or snuck around. The further they strolled through the plant looking at minor issues that had flared up over the week, the more her thoughts had moved to Lex.
Stopping in front of the main generator, Chloe couldn’t go without asking. “Oliver, I feel really strange about making this announcement about the company and the plant without even letting Lex know. I know you and he were at each others throats for years, and believe me I have seen why, but isn’t fair to at least tell him the truth.”
Oliver turned from the computer screen he was looking at and shook his head at Chloe. “He’ll find out with everyone else. Chloe, he’s not special anymore; he gets no privileged information.”
“Even with the plan that you have in place? You don’t think he deserves that much?”
Oliver started back down the hall toward the office and answered her without looking at her, “I think you need to start thinking with your head and stay out of your heart.”
*********
Lex leaned back against the counter that night and watched a wall of cars that all drove down the main drag in one direction. Spring athletics were not typically that involved for the town to all shut down, but he watched shop owners all lock up early and leave as well.
He nodded pleasantly as an older gentleman walked through the door in an overcoat that was overly stylish for Smallville, more like an Italian tailor. “Good evening, I need a … my heavens how the mighty fall.”
Lex stood against the counter feeling the weight of the man’s eyes burning into him. “Yes sir. Can I get you something?”
“Just something to keep me awake until I get to the plant. The drive has been backed up for miles.” The man threw a ten on the table not quite sure of the price but seeing Lex Luthor behind the counter was worth the ticket price.
“May I ask what’s going on at the plant? My impression was that they were finalizing closing it down.” Lex handed the man a cup of coffee to go and handed the man his change.
“Keep it. No, apparently a subsidiary of the old Luthorcorp has been working on some green and charitable projects from behind closed doors and are planning on some big announcement tonight. The plant is going online as the new premier biodiesel producer in the country. Some coordinated effort with Queen Industries.”
Lex leaned back against the counter. Oliver was taking advantage of Lex's situation in more ways than one. Lex then bit on his lip remembering Chloe’s position she got with Queen; she would be in town, just miles away. Shaking his head, he couldn’t fall for her that weakly.
“So Queen Industries is in charge? And you are?” Lex asked, still curious about the whole situation.
“Not really, just a joint venture this one location from what I gathered in the board reports. I sit on the board for Queen, not that my input had anything to do with the decision. Apparently there have been several companies from your old holdings that have floated back together in the last few months. You didn’t know anything?”
Lex swallowed and felt himself slowly backed into a corner. Trying to ignore the urge to fire back at the man in a way that sounded like his former self, he simply smirked slightly. “I attend to other things now.”
The man chuckled slightly, “I’m sure the gym and food biz is much more … involved. Nice talking to you.” The man turned after leaving the empty cup on the counter along with the change.
Lex ran his hand along his scalp, pressing harder with every inch. He knew the man was attempting to goad him, but he didn’t want to fall into that again. Still, his curiosity was killing him. Turning on the television, he quickly found a local channel and pulled up a chair.
“Good evening Smallville. My name is Oliver Queen of Queen Industries and I am so happy to be here this evening for this wonderful announcement. Behind me you see only the small lights that illuminate what had been a defunct plant and a painful memory to those in town who had been laid off almost a year ago.”
Lex stiffened at the reminder of losing not only that plant but everything. Focusing, he stared at the woman in light blue dress suit. Chloe had grown up beyond what he could have imagined, maturing even more in the last year.
“Tonight, we bring the lights up once again on a plant that at one time was the hallmark of this town and this region. It showed that Kansas had growth possibilities and now we do again.” Oliver stopped and signaled someone off the stage.
Lex took a deep breath seeing the lights of the plant flip on and light up the crowds that adorned the parking lot in front of what used to be his plant. All the Luthorcorp signia now was removed and replaced with a signage that Lex couldn’t possibly place.
“As you can see ladies and gentleman, the plant has a new vision and a new future. Many of you in the last week have received letters of interest for you to return, to be trained in new positions, some promoted. Smallville is a special place; many of you have lived here for generations and I am in agreement with President of this new corporation that states that this town cannot perish.”
Lex stared at the logo still, Lane Industries. The L was more of a block L than Luthorcorp. Rubbing his chin, he drowned out the noise of whatever Oliver was going on about and knew he remembered Lane from something. General Lane had met with him once before about some military contract, but he couldn’t stretch it. Shaking his head, he laughed off the improbable connection.
“Now ladies and gentleman, to introduce the operations director for the newly formed Lane Industries, Ms. Chloe Sullivan.” Oliver applauded as Chloe rose from her chair and waved at the crowd.
“What?” Lex’s attention immediately was pulled back to the screen as he heard her name. He watched as Chloe elegantly walked to the podium and thanked everyone for their attendance and began to speak about the actual implementation of the plant. Lex heard no words, just her voice, saw her face in a position of power he had never pictured her in. His.
********
Chloe sat in her car a block from the Talon and stared at the lights as they went out. The open tours of the plant had lasted longer than expected, but she finally escaped to see the last people leave the restaurant.
She knew he had to have seen, one of Oliver’s board members couldn’t quit talking about running into Lex in town. Gripping the wheel, she gritted her teeth until she could feel a headache coming on. She was scared. Scared of what Lex would think of her, what he would say to her. She had wanted to tell him beforehand but Oliver left no time. She knew Oliver wanted the element of surprise to drive the knife into Lex from afar.
“Goddammit.” Chloe beat her head on the wheel and grabbed her purse. Slamming the car door, she stomped down the street and banged on the glass doors, praying Lex had already headed up to the apartment.
Raising her head up and pushing her purse strap up higher on her shoulder, she bit the inside of her cheek as she saw the light click back on and then him appear at the door. Was that a smile on his face? Thrown back by the way he greeted her on the other side of the glass, her face stayed long.
“I’ve seen that look before.” Lex opened the door as Chloe’s facial expression hadn’t changed. “After awhile it gives you awful migraines and wrinkles too early. Then again, you new position might do that as well.” Turning, he locked the door and stared at her. “Come by for some tips?”
Chloe leaned back on her heels as her purse slinked back down her arm were Chloe eventually dropped it in the floor. Lex watched as she continued to just stand completely silent in front of him. Her face was flushed but her head never dropped; she was stoic. “Chloe?”
Chloe breathed shallowly as she moved toward Lex. “Not really,” she whispered as her arms wrapped around his neck and her lips found his.
TBC
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The ending has me baffled. I can't wait to see how Lex reacts to this. 
that was hot!! I am glad Chloe finally gave in. I can't wait to see how that dinner will go. 
Originally Posted by superag
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