Determined not to be rattled by her reproof, Clark folded his arms defensively and said, “What will your husband think if he discovers you were here?”
Her chin jutted upwards, a gesture of defiance. “Nothing at all, especially since Gregory is aware I’m visiting you. He … we feel it is important to ‘clear the air’.”
“Really? I think that was accomplished already in Zurich and then at the airport when you announced your marriage. You cleared me completely out of your life! When we were on the phone all the time you were in Europe, why did you lie to me?”
Lana’s pretty face twisted and she spoke sharply, “I never lied. There were a number of business contacts that had to be made in order to acquire the pieces necessary for the exhibit. Gregory helped me accomplish that task. Without his connections, locating those pieces and the Napoleon camp chair would have been close to impossible.”
“So, let me get this straight, over the course of a few weeks while ‘pursuing’ these pieces for the Napoleon exhibit the two of you ‘fell in love’?”
“Yes,” she responded flatly.
Get her Clark!
“Even before returning from Europe, I’ve been hearing about a series of ‘incidents’ around the city. The accounts vary, but they all agree on one thing: a ‘haze’ of motion and sound. Nothing will stop you from being a do-gooder, so I also need to distance myself from Clark Kent ... would-be superhero.”
His self-control slipped and angry words tumbled out of his mouth before he could stop them, “I can no more stop helping people, than you could stay out of that man’s bed!”
OUCH! Yeah she totally deserved that one.
“But you were never strong enough Clark, never willing to take risks. The kind of strength I wanted from you - for us - was to be a force to be reckoned with … without using your powers. I wanted a husband who could provide more than just a ‘good life’ for our family. We should have been one of the fabulous young professional couples in Metropolis. You’re a good reporter Clark, someday you are going to be one of the best, but print journalism won’t get us where we should have been. Don’t worry about your secret, it’s safe with me. I will never betray you in that regard. That much I can promise you. Good-bye, Clark.”
Well, there's that but still...
Clark was deeply touched by the genuine concern and little gestures of comfort his friends and co-workers bestowed upon him. Everyone that mattered came over, everyone that is except the lovely woman who was his work partner.
Lois held back and watched from her desk, she was proud of the newsroom staffers; everyone was trying to show they sympathized and would be there for him. She worked for the best newspaper and with the best people in the world. When the time was right, they would talk, for now he had to regain his footing.
Yeah, probably best to let him sort this mess out first before talking about that kiss on her couch .... or the obvious....ahem...sexual tension going on between them.
A slow smile spread over her face as she exited the conference room, watch out Mr. and Mrs. Daae, Lane and Kent, The Hottest Team in Town are on your trail!
Awwww yeah....
“It’s about time you showed up Boney!” Ralph hissed. “Perry White is going to want to know why I’ve been disappearing and not pulling my weight in the bullpen. Templar had better fork over some swinging fringe benefits - especially since I’ve been doing a lot of extra work for him and DMG.”
Bonesteel sat down next to Ralph Lombard on a pitted wooden bench in Centennial Park that had seen better years. He was careful that his perfectly tailored, navy pinstriped River Brothers suit did not suffer any indignities due to this meeting. “Considering the fact that those ‘extracurricular activities’ are helping to pay off your gambling debts among other things, deem yourself fortunate that Mr. Templar still has need of your ‘assistance’.”
Ralph snapped back, “Don’t get high and mighty with me! Jasper Templar may be our boss, but we all work for Gregory Daae! Guys like Daae don’t have anything to do with people like us. We’re the ones who get our hands dirty while he stays out of the picture.”
Ralph is a naughty naughty boy...
