The awkward moment was broken when Lex's Cell phone rang. Glancing at it with a grimace he answered, "Father...."
Bruce caught his wrist, not quite trusting Lex to hold his temper under the circumstances, and rapidly gave Lex instructions in sign language. Startled and irritated, Lex grimaced until it became clear what Bruce was suggesting. He didn't like it, particularly with Clark in hearing range, but it was a good idea even though it might require him to make some comments that would undoubtedly sting Clark until he had the chance to explan. Hopefully, he'd have a chance to derail his father's inquiry before that happened. After a second's consideration, he abruptly nodded.
"What is it?" Lex asked Lionel in an easily achieved, impatient voice.
"Why Lex, you sound quite upset, surely you've heard that Martha's in the clear?"
"Of course, I spoke with her after she came out of surgery. Was there anything else? I appreciate the update, but I have a meeting to get back to."
"A meeting? I wasn't aware that you had anything scheduled for this morning?" Lionel sounded surprised and curious.
"That reminds me, I need to fire my office assistant. My appointment schedule is not for public consumption."
"Hmm, public consumption? I hardly think that describes our relationship."
"True, but I hardly intend for my schedule to be whispered to competitors either."
"Competitors? Really, now Lex, you have some distance to go before you can honestly call yourself my competition."
"Really? That's an interesting statement for you to make, Dad, when you've set yourself up to compete with me for everything in my life for as long as I can remember: from Mom's attention to fencing, business, and my latest fling. If I have it, you seem to want it. So, while I really have no idea why you used to think that an eleven year old was an appropriate opponent in kick boxing, I have no doubt of the fact that we were then and remain now - competitors."
Chuckling loudly enough to be heard over the line, Bruce smirked at Lex's thin lipped smile, as he asked, "Can I break the news of your latest success?"
"Is that Wayne?" Lionel asked suspiciously.
Not certain which succes Bruce was referring to, Lex shrugged his shoulders and handed Bruce the phone.
"Hello, Lionel. I'm afraid that I'm going to have to withdraw from the contract we were negotiating. I've received a better offer."
Lex watched his friend warily, wondering what had just happened, when Bruce handed him the phone.
"Well played, Lex." His father commented in a chill voice just before he snapped the phone shut and stared at Dominic. Somehow, he had miscalculated his son's interests. Instead of distracting Lex, Clark's absence had apparently been ignored, if his son even knew about it... in lieu of a sweeping attack that in one move dismantled a plan that Lionel had been working on for three years.
"Dominic, I was under the impression that you were confident that you had *distracted* Lex this week so that we could finalize negotiations."
"Yes, I had. Why?" Dominic kept his eyes averted as he answered casually.
"Interesting, could I ask you then, how you would explain that Lex has just pilfered that contract for himself?" Although Lionel's tone carried a supressed note of pride, Dominic didn't miss the dangerous irritation and menace resounding in his tone.
Bruce caught his wrist, not quite trusting Lex to hold his temper under the circumstances, and rapidly gave Lex instructions in sign language. Startled and irritated, Lex grimaced until it became clear what Bruce was suggesting. He didn't like it, particularly with Clark in hearing range, but it was a good idea even though it might require him to make some comments that would undoubtedly sting Clark until he had the chance to explan. Hopefully, he'd have a chance to derail his father's inquiry before that happened. After a second's consideration, he abruptly nodded.
"What is it?" Lex asked Lionel in an easily achieved, impatient voice.
"Why Lex, you sound quite upset, surely you've heard that Martha's in the clear?"
"Of course, I spoke with her after she came out of surgery. Was there anything else? I appreciate the update, but I have a meeting to get back to."
"A meeting? I wasn't aware that you had anything scheduled for this morning?" Lionel sounded surprised and curious.
"That reminds me, I need to fire my office assistant. My appointment schedule is not for public consumption."
"Hmm, public consumption? I hardly think that describes our relationship."
"True, but I hardly intend for my schedule to be whispered to competitors either."
"Competitors? Really, now Lex, you have some distance to go before you can honestly call yourself my competition."
"Really? That's an interesting statement for you to make, Dad, when you've set yourself up to compete with me for everything in my life for as long as I can remember: from Mom's attention to fencing, business, and my latest fling. If I have it, you seem to want it. So, while I really have no idea why you used to think that an eleven year old was an appropriate opponent in kick boxing, I have no doubt of the fact that we were then and remain now - competitors."
Chuckling loudly enough to be heard over the line, Bruce smirked at Lex's thin lipped smile, as he asked, "Can I break the news of your latest success?"
"Is that Wayne?" Lionel asked suspiciously.
Not certain which succes Bruce was referring to, Lex shrugged his shoulders and handed Bruce the phone.
"Hello, Lionel. I'm afraid that I'm going to have to withdraw from the contract we were negotiating. I've received a better offer."
Lex watched his friend warily, wondering what had just happened, when Bruce handed him the phone.
"Well played, Lex." His father commented in a chill voice just before he snapped the phone shut and stared at Dominic. Somehow, he had miscalculated his son's interests. Instead of distracting Lex, Clark's absence had apparently been ignored, if his son even knew about it... in lieu of a sweeping attack that in one move dismantled a plan that Lionel had been working on for three years.
"Dominic...
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"Yes, I had. Why?" Dominic kept his eyes averted as he answered casually.
"Interesting, could I ask you then, how you would explain that Lex has just pilfered that contract for himself?" Although Lionel's tone carried a supressed note of pride, Dominic didn't miss the dangerous irritation and menace resounding in his tone.
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