The phone rang and Chloe reached under her blanked and pulled the phone to her ear.

“Who is this?” she managed to scratch out.

“Oh I’m sorry. Is this Miss Sullivan?”

“Speaking.”

“Miss Sullivan, good morning.” The perky voice continued. “I’m just phoning to confirm your position with the Journal starting next month.”

“Hmm.” Chloe sat up. “What?!”

“You’re position as staff reported for the political issues of the Journal, we sent you all the detailed information of your job.”

“I never applied for any job...”

“I am speaking to Miss Chloe M. Sullivan? Of Apartment 164, Northern Cadre Rd, Metropolis?”

“That’s me.”

“You didn’t receive any information from us?”

“Look, its really early for me...I’m a student in my last year at Metropolis University. I don’t even remember applying for any job at the Journal.”

“Perhaps you just forgot about it, sometimes we keep resume applications for over a year. You will be available for the job though?”

“Well,” Chloe tried to clear the fog from her brain. “Yes, I guess so.”

“Excellent. I’ll resend you the information you will need. Take care Miss Sullivan.”

Before Chloe could say anything more, the line clicked dead. She stared down at the phone in her hand, maybe she was just having a really realistic dream or something.

************************

“The Journal? Chica, I’m so happy for you.”

Chloe maneuvered between another couple on the sidewalk before rejoining Carla. “Thanks! Who would have guessed? They’re even willing to let me keep working at school and start part time until school is over. Man! This is just so incredible. Ouff.”

Carla pulled Chloe back from being toppled over by another pedestrian. “Jeez, there sure is a lot of traffic out here this morning.” Chloe muttered.

“It’s got something to do with the library over there. Look.”

Chloe turned around, “Hmm. A new gallery or something.”

“Uhh. Chica, I think we should turn around.”

“Hunh?” Chloe turned her head. Walking towards them was Lex Luthor walking beside another young man.

“Damn it.” Chloe muttered.

Carla pulled her towards a doorway and they walked inside a shop. “That was close.”

Chloe turned around and started looking around the interesting shop filled with exotic looking furniture.

“Miss Sullivan. I’ve been trying to get in contact with you.” Chloe froze. She slowly turned around.

“Mr. Luthor. I don’t have anything to say to you.” She tried to move to the exit, but just as before Lex moved in front of her way. “I hear you’ve accepted the job for the Journal. I’m very pleased.”

“How...”

“I was the one who suggested you take the position. I’ll be very happy to have you on my political staff for the upcoming election.”

“WHAT!”

Lex removed his gloves and reached behind him. The other man she’d seen on the sidewalk handed him a folder.

“Here is a outline of your itinerary. Starting the week after your exams, you and Michael Sansca will be accompanying me to Gotham City for the preliminaries.”

Chloe blinked. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Lex gave her a little smirk. “Please Miss Sullivan. Didn’t my secretary get in contact with you about all the information?”

Chloe shook her head. “Okay, let me get this straight. That phone call I got Monday morning was from your secretary? I’ve been hired to work for the journal to report on your political career?”

“Yes.” Lex shoved his hands into his pockets. “Chloe, remember what I said a few years ago. Our critics are our friends, they show us our faults. You are by far, my favorite critic.”

“Gee thanks.” Chloe said sarcastically. “I’m not going to work for you.”

Lex leaned closer towards her. “Chloe. I think you are forgetting something here. Either you work for me, or I let every reputable and unrepeatable agency have access to your well documented past. Just take a look at that folder. My cell phone number is attached to the top, give me a call with your answer by Midnight tonight.”

Without another word Lex turned and walked out of the store.

A hand touched her elbow and Chloe whipped around surprised. It was Carla, she’d forgotten that she was behind her.

“What the heck was that?” Carla asked.

“I’ve just been blackmailed into working for Lex Luthor.” Chloe said with a tight smile. “I knew it would come down to this one day. I just knew it, he got dirt on me and now he’s never going to let it go. Damn it! I hate being cornered.”

Carlo took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “I don’t know what to tell you. We could see a lawyer maybe, get someone to try and do something.”

Chloe shook her head and laughed. “Oh Carla. Lex owns the Metropolis DEA’s office. There would be no way I could bring charges against him. Trust me, I’ve tried and...”

Carla looked shocked. “What did you just say?”

“Nothing. Forget it.”

“What did Lex do to you Chloe?”

“Nothing. Come on let’s just get back home so I can look at what the Devil wants from me in exchange for my soul.”

After a few more seconds of patter on her binder, Michael looked up at her through his silver rimmed glasses. “You’re doing it again Miss Sullivan.”

Chloe offered a fake honeyed smile. “Oh, I’m sorry. Did you loose your concentration?”

Michael slammed his binder closed. “That’s it! I can’t do this anymore.”

“That’s too bad Michael.” The amused voice said from the other end of the conference room.

Chloe didn’t even bother turning her chair around to look at Lex who had obviously been watching from the far doorway. Michael, always the obedient puppy, jumped to his feet. “Mr. Luthor. I didn’t mean I couldn’t work for you...I meant...that is...what I meant was...”

“You sure you went to Yale?” Chloe asked the blubbering Michael.

Michael shut his mouth. He looked back at Lex. “It’s her fault.”

“Oh come on.” Chloe groaned. “What are we in 3rd grade?”

“Don’t worry Michael. I fully understand the difficult that Chloe can be. If you would excuse us for a moment Michael?”

“Yes sir.” Michael quickly scattered out of the room.

Chloe finally swung her leather chair around. “You know, if you don’t watch him he might end up licking your shoes next time you show up unannounced.”

Lex shook his head. “He’s a brilliant legal mind Chloe.”

“You mean boring.”

“That too. You don’t have to like him Chloe, any more then you have to like me for that matter.”

“Gee, thanks for pointing out the obvious once again Mr. Luthor.”

Chloe stood up and gathered her papers. “If there wasn’t anything else, I’m going to go home now.”

Lex moved forward so he prevented her from moving quickly out of the way. “Chloe. It’s been a month, do you think we could move a little more beyond simple civilities to one another?”

Chloe met Lex’s cold eyes. “No.”

Lex looked at her for a few uncomfortably long seconds. “You are the most keen political intellect that I’ve met in a long time Chloe. I only used your...past...to get you to work for me. I’m not expecting to get anything more from this then what it is.”

“What it is, is the strained civility that it will continue to be Mr. Luthor. I don’t care what you do, but I’m telling you, nothing you can say, nothing you can do will ever make me stop hating you. The fact that I can tell you this without hitting you shows how much of a social improvement I’ve made. You should be happy with that and just leave it alone.”

Chloe pushed her way past Lex, bumping his shoulder on her way to the doorway. “I’ll tell Michael to come back in.”

****************

Lex shoved his hands into his pockets and cursed under his breath. Damn it. She was working for him and she wasn’t about to leave him with her illicit past still hanging over her head like an axe. Then why did he feel as if he was in a war with her and loosing every battle? Lex swore once more. He hated loosing, he refused to lose.

“Mr. Luthor?” A tentative Michael asked from behind.

Lex turned around, “Michael. Chloe said that you two would have the report finished by Friday.”

“She did?” Michael asked. “Uh, yeah. Friday, we’ll have it done by Friday sir.”

“Don’t sir me Michael.” Lex said impatiently and walked back towards his office.

*****************

Chloe slammed her apartment door shut behind her. “He is the most stupid, pain in the butt, idiotic…argh!!!!!! I can’t do this anymore!”

“Its spaghetti and meat balls for dinner tonight.” Carla answered.

Chloe threw off her light spring coat and flung it in the direction of the coat rake. “Did you hear me Carla!”

“I heard you.” Carla said from the kitchen. “You want any cheese with yours?”

Chloe stormed into the kitchen. “I hate him.”

“And I hate cheese with my pasta, but I’m not ranting and raving about it.”

“I don’t want to work for him anymore.”

“Then don’t, give notice. Get a job you’ll love.”

Chloe heaved a dramatic sigh and plunked down on the kitchen stool. “I need to invent a time machine so I can stop myself from ever selling that information to the European papers on Lex. Then my life would be perfect.”

“Then your life would be so lonely...you wouldn’t have met me.” Carla said as she placed the food on the table. “Perfect timing, I am the queen of dinner planning.”

Chloe looked at the plate. “I can’t eat. I’m too mad.”

“Is that your cell phone?” Carla suddenly asked.

“Oh crap.” Chloe ran to the hallway and grabbed her jacket off the floor. “Hold on, hold on. Hello?”

“Chloe?”

Chloe pulled the phone away from her ear and pressed the end button.

She walked back to the kitchen.

“Who was it?” Carla asked.

“Lex.”

“You didn’t talk?”

“No.”

The phone rang again.

“You have to answer it.” Carla pointed out. “He’ll just keep calling and then he’ll show up at the apartment like he did last time.”

“Damn it!” Chloe swore. “Fine.”

Picking up the phone she snapped. “What?”

“No ‘hello’ Chloe? Very rude.”

“I don’t have time for polite when it comes to you.”

“Very well,” She could feel Lex’s smirk coming over the cell phone. “I’ve just been going over these papers you and Michael finished this morning, and I have a few questions.”

“Tell me about it tomorrow.”

“I would prefer to discuss it tonight Miss Sullivan.”

He used the last name, never a good sign.

“Fine. I’ll be over in an hour.”

“Actually, I’m waiting downstairs in my car.”

“I haven’t eaten yet.” Chloe spat out. “And I just got back to my apartment not even five minuets ago!”

“I’ll get you something to eat.”

“No thank you.” Chloe snapped. “I’ll bring my own. I’ll come down.” Chloe turned her phone off. “Crap.”

Carla held out a tupper ware container of spaghetti and a water bottle. “I just knew he was going to drag you away from me again. If I were a husband, I’d be jealous of all the time you spend with that man.”

“Trust me, I wish I wasn’t.” Chloe took the food and drink. “Thanks Carla. See you later.”

******************

Lex tapped his fingers against the steering wheel. She sure was taking her time about coming down. Patience, he told himself, all things come with patience. Ever since she’d left this afternoon from the office, Lex had been going over and over in his mind the idea that he and Chloe were locked in some emotional war that had begun nearly five years earlier. He wanted to make sure that he won this next battle. He had thought he had the upper hand with the black mail hanging over her head, but in a moment of insight Lex realized that Chloe was actually the one with the upper hand. He should be the one who had the right to be angry since it was she who left him. It was Chloe that had sold some of his very personal business secrets to the European market. All he had ever done was treat her as an equal, bail her out of a very dangerous situation and offer her a job that most people would kill for. And what was her thanks? The constant spit fire attitude that she gave Lex, the constant anger that seeped off of her like a fragrant perfume.

Lex’s hands tightened their grip on the steering wheel. So what if he had told some nosy reporters a few years ago in Smallville that Chloe meant nothing to him? He always said that to reporters about any women he dated. But Chloe, she didn’t understand…she never really wanted to understand, Lex thought bitterly. Lex frowned, it had been as if she was relived to be breaking up with him, relived to be the one to walk away angry. As if she had won the right to be angry and just walk away from him.

A loud tap on the window startled Lex out of his dark thoughts. Chloe’s angry face peered at him through the glass. “Gonna open up?”

Lex reached over and opened the door to the Porch.

“You just had to drive the Porch didn’t you.” Chloe muttered. “I hate this stupid car. Its too small.”

Lex rolled his eyes as Chloe managed to sit her butt down into the leather seat and slammed the door shut.

“What’s that smell?” Lex asked. He looked down at Chloe’s lap. She actually brought her food with her. “That better not stink up my car.”

Chloe turned around with a mean little smile. “I hope you just don’t jerk to a halt anywhere and cause me to spill the spaghetti and sauce all over your nice leather seats.”

Lex checked his mirrors and slowly moved out into traffic. He wouldn’t put it behind her to try a stunt like that.

Beside him, Chloe was looking out the window as the shops went by. Another ten minuets of silence, and Lex felt he had to make an effort.

“Your room mate made the dinner? What was her name, Carli?”

Chloe didn’t bother turning around, like she always seemed to be doing around him. “It’s Carla and why don’t you just save your breath with the uncomfortable chit chat.”

“You prefer the uncomfortable silence do you?” Lex asked tightly.

“I love it.”

“Good to hear there are more emotions to Chloe Sullivan then just pure hate.”

That got her attention. Chloe whipped her head around. “I have every right to hate you and don’t you try to convince yourself otherwise.”

“I don’t have to convince myself. I know that you don’t have the right.”

“Don’t have the...!”

“Don’t get all self righteous on me Chloe!”

“Well isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black.”

“That’s it!” Lex snapped. He jerked the wheel bringing the porch to a screeching halt on the side of the road, half-ending up on the sidewalk. Around them other drivers honked their horns and yelled. Lex pushed his door open. Chloe did the same on her side, the container of pasta falling into a rain puddle on the sidewalk.

Lex came around the car. “Let’s get this all out into the open for once and for all Chloe. Let me list all the things I have ever done to make you hate me. I dated you and helped you keep it a secret from everyone for nearly a year. I protected you from my father and made sure your farther always had a job. I always treated you as an equal and for some bizarre reason I tended to put your interests ahead of mine. And worst of all, I saved you from being raped and beaten by a gang of thugs whom you were trying to get an exclusive report about!!”

Chloe stared up at him her expression remaining the same closed off look that nearly mirrored his own. Around them the wind was picking up as if the weather was matching their moods.

“Alright Lex. You’re right, I was just so grateful to have you in my life.” Chloe began sarcastically. “Let me remind you, why I have EVERY right to hate your guts. You never treated me as an equal, I was always that little hidden secrete. I never wanted to keep our dating a secret! It was your stupid idea. You went to some reporters and denied any relationship to me at all, you said that I was just a girl with a crush on you. And then you just expected me to continue the masquerade that was any sense of a relationship between us? You used me! I was just another object to put on display, but what made it even worse was that you couldn’t’ let anyone else see me. I was the ugly duckling, the shameful truth! I never meant anything to you, ever! I was just another chess piece for you to play with.”

Chloe suddenly shut her eyes and took a deep shuddering breath.

Lex was nearly shaking with rage. He had never felt such rage seeping through his viens before.

“You said that you didn’t want anyone to know that we were seeing each other.” Lex yelled at her. “Don’t you dare push this on me! I supported you from day one and all you ever showed me was embarrassment.”

Chloe reached out and pushed Lex in the chest. “You *#$&! I didn’t know what the heck you were thinking, I’m not a mind reader. I just told you whatever I thought you wanted me to say! You never told me anything! You expected me to know things about you...I was a freaking child Lex! I was only 18, how the heck was I supposed to known anything about how your world worked! You never told me! You never explained anything! You just assumed!”

Lex clutched his fists tight by his side. “Damn it Chloe! That wasn’t how it was!”

“Yes it was!” Chloe hissed. “You’re just so blind you can’t see it for what it really was.”

“I was protecting you!” Lex yelled over the rumbling thunder. “Everything I’ve ever had has always turned against me! I never wanted to expose you to all the evil that was in my life...and it was and is evil Chloe. If I told you everything, you’d have left me.”

Rain began to splatter around them. Chloe wiped the raindrops off her forehead. “You never gave me the chance damn it. You were judge, jury and executioner when it came to our relationship and I was left completely in the dark. That’s what I hate about you Lex! You were never able to let me in.”

Lex turned away from Chloe and ran a hand over his face. He felt like punching a hole through his porch’s window. Instead, Lex took a few calming deep breaths and then turned back to face Chloe.

“Chloe?” Lex looked around him. “Chloe!”

She was diving across the main street, heading towards a taxi. Lex took off after her, the rain began to fall in sheets around them. “Chloe! Don’t get into that taxi!”

The cab door shut just as he reached it. Lex jumped forward to the driver and pounded on the window. “Hey. Hey!”

The cabby started at him through the glass.

“Just go!” Chloe yelled from the back seat.

Lex pulled out his wallet. “Five hundred bucks if you let me in.”

The cabby looked at the huge wad of cash.

Chloe was still yelling from the back seat.

“She’s my girlfriend.” Lex lied easily. “We had a fight, come on, just take it.”

The cabby turned the engine off and took the wad of cash. “All yours buster.”

Chloe opened the door and made a dash for another taxi.

Lex caught her around the waist.

“Let me go! Help!”

Lex pressed his hand to her mouth. “Would you shut up.”

Chloe bit his hand.

Lex cursed but didn’t let her go, he began carrying her back over to the Porch. Chloe struggled as hard as she could. Around them, people were staring but none came to Chloe's help, that was Metropolis for you.

Lex pushed Chloe against the Porch.

“What ever you have to say...” Chloe began.

Lex wrapped his arms around her and pulled her forward until his lips connected with hers. He’d been wanting to kiss that anger out of her since the moment they had gotten out of the porch. Chloe struggled against him, her hands slapping at his back. He kept kissing her, forcing her mouth open and deepening the kiss against her wishes.

He finally pulled back, but only far enough for Chloe to catch her breath. “I wanted to say that.”

Chloe looked slightly shell shocked. Lex felt a smirk coming on, she had the same expression on as the first time he’d ever kissed her.

Looking into the dawning light of Chloe’s eyes though, Lex knew the war was far from being won.

*****************

Chloe snapped herself out of her dazed and confused reaction to Lex’s kiss. Wow, but he still knew how to do that better then anyone else.

Suddenly Lex pulled her forward. “Time to get going.”

Before Chloe could say anything, Lex was putting her into the Porch and he climbed into the passengers side. He quickly pulled out into traffic.

“Take me home Lex.” Chloe said.

“Not a chance. We have a lot more to talk about.”

Instead of offering any argument, Chloe leaned her head against the porch’s seat and closed her eyes. He was right, they did have a lot to talk about. Was all that stuff he had just yelled at her true. If it was, then she owed him an apology, but if he was lying...which he likely was. Then what? Chloe had been hurt once too many times, and to go back to the source of all that pain. Some things were better left dead and buried.

Chloe suddenly realized they were on the Metropolis freeway. “Where are we going?”

“The Castle.” Lex said.

“Oh hell no!” Chloe yelled. “You aren’t taking me back there.”

“We have to Chloe. Its where all this started, and its where its all going to end tonight.”

“Oh please! Don’t be so melodramatic Lex!” Chloe snapped.

Lex gave her a side ways glance. “I’m being truthful.”

“This is kidnapping, I’m sure of it.”

Lex laughed. “Now who’s being melodramatic?”

“Fine. Do whatever you want, it won’t change a thing.”

*********************

Chloe jerked awake when she felt someone nudge her arm.

“What?” She looked up at Lex’s face. “Oh.”

“You fell asleep about half an hour into the ride. We’re here.” Lex said as he got out of the Porch.

Chloe ran a hand through her short hair and pushed herself up and out of the seat. She existed the car and stifled a yawn. It was probably near to nine o’clock now.

“So this is what it feels like to enter the gates of hell.”

Lex ignored her comment and began to walk to the entrance.

Chloe hung back.

“You can stay outside in the cold Chloe or you can come inside.” Lex said.

“As if I have a choice.” Chloe responded.

Lex opened the door and held it for her.

“As if I’ve ever really had a choice.” She muttered under her breath. She went up the stairs and walked into the castle. Suddenly she felt a weight on her chest as if she was entering a part of her childhood. She felt the same unsure feelings all of a sudden come rushing in on her. Shutting her eyes briefly she pushed away those feelings. It was different now. She wasn’t that 18-year-old anymore and she wasn’t afraid of what Lex would think of her anymore.

*************************

Lex pushed open the door to his study, inside there was a roaring fire and a tray full of coffee and sandwiches.

Chloe paused when she saw the fire and tray. “You sneaky bastard. You planned this. What is this, some kind of seduction trap?”

“Is it working?”

“No!” Chloe yelled.

Lex smirked. “Relax, I didn’t plan this at all. I called ahead while driving and told my staff to leave out something to eat and to have the fire going to warm up the room.”

Chloe marched over and grabbed one of the croissant sandwiches.

“Your favorite.” Lex said in a muffled voice.

Chloe flinched. “On second thought, I’m not hungry.”

Lex sighed. The walls were back up in place and higher then ever.

“Calm down Chloe. We need to work out what we yelled at each other earlier tonight.”

“I don’t see why...”

“I’m trying to help you understand me Chloe. Isn’t this what you wanted?”

“You’re about four years too late.”

Lex shook his head and sat down in one of the chairs. “Sit down Chloe. I want to talk to you, not yell at you.”

Chloe hesitantly sat down across from him in the other leather chair. “Chloe. I never realized that my protecting you seemed as if I was keeping you away from me.”

Chloe nodded her head. “Okay.”

“I want you to understand that I really did care for you.”

“So what?”

Lex cursed. “You really aren’t making this easy.”

“Oh I’m sorry,” Chloe snapped. “I was supposed to make this easy for you? Should I forgive you and thrown myself at your feet? Tell you that I’ve never stopped loving you. Fat chance Lex!”

Lex suddenly sprang up from the chair before he could stop himself and leaned over the arms of Chloe’s chair, affectivity trapping her in the brown leather chair.

“I think I was growing to love you Chloe.” Lex ground out through clenched teeth. “I was about to tell you about it when you suddenly turned around and left me. Then you sold my secrets to the European papers, I felt like you had betrayed me...just like every other person in my life has.”

Chloe swallowed under his scrutinizing stare.

“I want to know why you betrayed me. Why could you turn around and suddenly sell me out.”

“I didn’t sell you out Lex.” Chloe said. “I didn’t betray you, and at least that’s the way I feel about it all. Don’t think I wish I could change the past. If I hadn’t sold those secrets then you would never have anything to hold over my head. I wish I could change the past Lex, but we can’t. We just have to live with it.”

“Very philosophical.” Lex muttered.

“No it isn't. It's just truth. Now sit back down in your chair, shut up and listen to what I have to say now.”

Lex paused for a second, thinking of whether or not he wanted Chloe to take control of the conversation. Slowly he moved away and sat back down in his chair.

“Well?” He promoted.

“What does it matter what happened between us in the past Lex. We were both confused, lonely and we both thought the other had betrayed us in some way. I thought you never saw me for who I really was, and you thought that I had just been a great actress around you. What has that gotten us to? It's gotten us to this exact moment Lex. Here we are four years later, back in this same study. We both don’t know how to talk to each other still, we only talk at each other.”

Lex smirked. “My mother and father ended up like that.”

“So did mine.” Chloe echoed.

“Fate of the child perhaps.” Lex said softly.

Chloe sighed. “What do you want from me Lex? An apology? Well fine, I’m sorry that I never understood you at all. I’m sorry that we can’t seem to move beyond the deep scars that we dug into each other. And I’m sorry most of all for...for thinking that...”

Lex glanced over at Chloe; she was struggling to finish the sentence. She gave up and covered her face. Was she crying?

“Chloe?”

She just shook her head.

Lex stood up and reached out a hand to her.

“I’m not crying because of you.” Chloe's voice came out muffled.

“Okay.” Lex said, unsure of what else to say.

Lex scrunched down and reached out and took a hold of Chloe’s hands. She sniffled a little. Lex rubbed her hands with his.

“I’ve never seen you cry. Not even when you told me we were over.” Lex commented at last.

“I don’t collapse in view of other people anymore.” Chloe said. “I think I’m just too tired and hungry or something like that.”

“Have the croissant.” Lex said handing it to her.

Chloe gave a weak watery version of her smile. “Thanks.”

“Well isn’t this a lovely picture.” A voice sneered from behind. Lex stiffened and silently cursed, he stood up and turned.

"Father," He said in a dead-pan voice, "What are you doing here?”

“Nice to see you too Son.” Lionel Luthor droned.

Behind him, Lex felt Chloe stand up.

“And Miss Sullivan. I went by your apartment Lex and they told me that you had made arrangements with a Miss Sullivan to come to the castle. I had hopped that I was misinformed, but I see it is true.”

“I remember when you couldn’t see much of anything.” Lex bit out. “Get out!”

“This is my castle Lex, just as much as it is yours.”

“Fine. Then we’re leaving.”

“I hope the two of you aren’t getting back together. It was such a disastrous idea from the start more so then Helen and Desrie.”

“So what if we are,” Lex snaped at his father. “It’s none of your damn business.”

Lionel pointed at Chloe. “This thing was always the source of weakness in you Lex. You can’t throw your life away on some useless piece of...”

Lex slammed his fist into his father’s jaw sending the older man sprawling on the floor.

“Never talk about Chloe that way! You have no right to control what I do with my life and who I spend it with!”

Lex grabbed Chloe’s hand and pulled her quickly out of the study.

“Lex.” Chloe gasped. “Wait. Slow down, you’re hurting my hand.”

Lex realized he was nearly crushing Chloe’s hand, he released it and stopped. “I’m sorry about that Chloe.”

“It’s not your fault Lex. So you father is an ass, so is my mother. He was obviously drunk Lex.”

Lex sighed. “I know. His drinkings gotten a lot worse. I’m sorry Chloe...for everything.”

Chloe suddenly leaned forward and into his arms. Lex was so surprised by the ease of which she was hugging him that he just automatically returned the hug.

“I forgot how much I missed your hugs.” Lex said against her hair.

“I can't promise you Lex that this will change how I feel about you...I'm...I'm still not sure if I can forgive you. But just promise me one think Lex,” Chloe said against his chest. “If and when anything could happen between us when we walk out that door, you will always be honest with me about our relationship. I don’t care about political or economic lies, it’s the emotional truth that I care about.”

“Chloe, nothing could happen between us...it's going to happen." Lex said firmly, his eyes flashing still with the rage trigered by his father.

Chloe pulled out of his arms. "Lex...I'm not ready for anything..."

Lex smirked, reached out and ran a hand through her hair. "You can't say that you don't want to get back together."

Chloe sighed. "Okay, I won't deny the fact that...it would be nice...but..."

Lex silenced her with a kiss that was as passionate and violent as his emotions were.

Chloe pulled away on a gasp. "Lex...please. Don't push me."

Lex suddenly realized that she was right, he was pushing too fast too hard. What he wanted to do was take her upstairs and continue their relationship where it had ended four years ago.

"It's okay Chloe...I'll do things slowly, I'll only go as far as you want us to." He said and kissed the top of her head. "Come on, let's get out of here."

Lex put his hand to Chloe's back as she walked down the hallway to the exit. If she thought that he would agree to slow down for longer then a week though...she was mistaken.