"Lex I don't need a babysitter," Lana gripped her hands together tightly in her lap, Doctor Allen had placed her on bedrest. As she looked up at Lex her eyes were nothing but resolute matching his own blue piercing gaze.
"She's not a babysitter, she's my sister," Lex shook his head, " that's besides the point though, Lana you have to admit it you're reckless, you charge head first into danger." Lex paused seeing anger flare in her eyes. "I love you for it, but we need to keep the baby safe, Dr.Bethany wasn't an isolated event, I haven't questioned your reasons for visiting Tobias."
"I went to school with him, I hadn't heard about his blindness," Lana sighed, "I only did what I hoped someone would do for me if i was in his situation, be a friend. Dr.Bethany showing up was something none of us could account for." her voice was soft as she finished.
"We can't predict the future Lana, which makes it even more important that we do everything we can to protect you and the baby." Lex said pointedly making Lana frown.
"How is your younger sister going to protect us?" Lana asked confused.
"Tess is- was an agent under a woman who runs the most secretive agency in the government, but it wasn't an easy job and she hasn't had the easiest life. So while yes she will accompany you everywhere, even to the bathroom, she needs this just as much as we do. She hasn't had much of a chance at a regular life." There was no need to manipulate Lana with guilt, or point out how secretive and hypocritical she was being, the truth was enough.
"Fine," Lana said and although Lex could still feel her reluctance he knew she wouldn't regret it. Tess was a good person at heart, growing up away from Lionel Luthor had been both a gift and a curse. She was loyal to a fault, as long as Lana returned that loyalty she'd have no problems with Tess.
"This is also a good chance for you to start working at Luthorcorp," Lex smiled as Lana froze with confusion appearing on her face.
"What are you talking about?"
"You're a college dropout Lana and last I checked the talon wasn't operating," Lex could see the cogs spinning in her head as he continued. "This is a good chance for both you and Tess to take a look on the inside of the company. If you don't like it you're free to quit, but I think it'll be good for you." It was easy to criticize a company from the outside, Lana wasn't always privy as to what was happening within Luthorcorp. Still Lex believed she would be a good addition to the company he had seen the ways she treated people like Bethany and Groll. She was callous when she needed to be, empathetic when a soft approach was needed. Tess on the other hand was more like Lex, she was a tiger, who only treated those she trusted with kindness. Everyone else was the enemy, he hoped Lana could rubb off on her. She would one day hold a high position in the company, maybe they both would.
"I'll think about it," Lana said and Lex could only smile in response. He was throwing a lot at her, and she was pregnant.
"That's all i ask," Lex journeyed over to her reaching down he placed a kiss on her forehead. "When you make up your mind let me know, I need to go meet Tess, I'm sure she's already arrived."
And arrived she had, entering his study he spotted a lone figure. She wore a black pant suit with with burgany heels, she looked up at the mulitcolored window resembling that of a church only instead of christ there was a veritas symbol. Her red hair fell past her shoulder, a brown purse hung off her shoulder she seemed to embody the word professional.
"How does it feel to be back?" Lex asked interrupting her thoughts.
"I thought it would be easier," Tess took a second formulating her thoughts before turning around. "I was so young when I was sent away, I thought I was over it, that the pain was gone."
Judging by the look on her face that screamed uncomfortable he could tell the pain wasn't gone. "Lionel Luthor if nothing provides his children with childhood trauma," Lex offered her a sad smile as he opened his arms. She seemed to hesitate before accepting his embrace, "I'm glad you're back mercy." He said tightening his grip around her.
"Thank you Lex," Tess said as the hug broke, her eyes glassey. "If you hadn't found me all those years ago I don't know who I would be."
"You'd be you," Lex said smiling. "Luthors are strong, you might be the strongest," Her life hadn't been easy, Lena likely had it the easiest. The political power her mother held in national city was enough to keep LIonel's demons away. Tess had been sent to an orphanage as a kid due to Lionel wanting to keep his image clean. As if getting rid of Tess would stop any of the affairs that happened afterwards. Lex had lived his life under the shadow of his father, he'd almost died due to his father's machinations. He had been weak, but those times were gone, he was a different Lex, his memories playing a factor in that.
"Have a seat," Lex motioned with his hand for Tess to take a seat across from his desk. "I know you're overqualified, delegating you to bodyguard seems like an insult but you're the only person I can count on."
…
Things weren't exactly going as Lana Lang had expected. As she stood in front of the mirror looking at her figure she couldn't help but frown. The wedding dress seemed all wrong, it didn't fit in any of the places it was supposed to.
"What do you think dear?" The bridal stylist said a smile on her one that only added to Lana's frustration.
"It feels wrong," Lana looked back to the mirror unsure if she was talking about the wedding dress.
"Can you give us a minute?" It was Chloe that stepped for an awkward smile on her face.
"Sure take all the time you need," the stylist spared Lana one last look before exiting the room.
"Lana," Chloe called out and Lana shook herself from her reverie turning to her friend. "There are more dresses."
"She's already tried on at least 10, if she hasn't found one yet she never will, " it was Tess that spoke this time she wore a burgundy pair of pants with a button up satin shirt. She had forsaken her suit jacket, her hair laid flat down her back.
"Not helping Tess," Chloe said frowning at Tess who has seemed every bit of Lex Luthor in her few weeks of being here. Lana wasn't sure if she liked Tess, but looking at the mirror one last time she knew she was right.
"It's okay Chloe, let's take a break from dress shopping."
"Lana your wedding is in two weeks," Chloe said a shocked look on her face and Lana couldn't help but frown. Two weeks, when Lex had proposed she was so sure.
>>>
Lex stared at his computer screen a hint of confusion in his eyes, things were picking up fast not only in his personal life but in his business life as well. Lana had been busy, he half considered calling Lena and having her stop by to help with the dress shopping but she was busy with her last year of high school. She was smart, almost as smart as he was but sheltered from what it truly meant to be a Luthor. Things seemed to be going so well as of late, if you didn't count Lana's sudden interest in the news reports from the last 5 or 6 years. She was close to Clark's secret and Clark had no idea. Lex could feel it in his gut, something was coming, he just wasn't sure what that meant. Braniac had been surveying all Luthor operations with constant vigilance but his fathers almost absence in his life was worrying Lex. What was he planning? Lex had begun to repurpose some of the land LuthorCorp owned in Smallville beginning to create his technological empire. His own SIlicon Valley being built before his very eyes, he'd invested in the building new water distributors throughout Metropolis, just another way to keep his image clean and everyone's eyes off of what he was doing in Smallville. But there was a new company rising through the ranks, InterCorp, even when looking through his memory Lex found no connection to it.
On the surface it was run by young and upcoming harvard grads but Lex could feel something beneath it, someone lurking in the shadows. He only wondered if he should invest his time in digging deeper when the wedding was so close. What was a man to do, he shook his head reaching for Brani but stopped himself as he saw Tess enter the room. It was early Lana was likely still sleeping the sun had only just begun to rise, Tess on the other hand seemed to be wide awake.
"How's the dress shopping going?" Lex asked a smile on his face.
"Kill me now," Tess said flopping down in a chair. "We've gone to three different shops and nothing."
Lex raised an eyebrow at that, his previous wives had all been out for his money so they hadn't really cared about the dress. Lana on the other hand was a different story.
"What" Tess asked sitting up as she saw Lex thinking.
"I'll give you a number, It's Lana's Aunt, i'm sure she'll know what to do," Lex said and Tess could only nod.
Passing her the phone number he stopped her before she could leave the room "Tess," he called out watching as she stopped turning around.
"Things had been slow these past few weeks, but I need you to remain vigilant, Lana like me has the tendency to attract people with the worst kinds of intentions."
"I'll take care of her," Tess said exiting the room.