For Florence

[daddy_luthor]

The computer screens was scrolling through information and there were papers scattered all over his desk but Lionel Luthor really wasn't seeing any of it. Part of that was because he was half turned away from his desk, looking out the windows that overlooked Metropolis. His city

Comments

[hungarianheart]

Florence had sworn up and down that she would never get involved in power plays and deals again. She had kept that vow too - at least up until she had, in all innocence, answered an ad for a personal assistant to Lex Luthor.

The man was charming, that much could not be denied. And though he was a genius, he wasn't insufferable about it, unlike some other chess grandmasters she could mention. It had been so refreshing to work with a man who appreciated her, not just for what she could bring to the table but also as a person that she'd allowed herself to be swayed into doing some of the more delicate negotiations.

And so here she was now, meeting the great and terrible Lionel Luthor himself. She had no illusions that this was to be a simple delivery - far from it. He wanted to see what she was made of and she was more than willing to meet that challenge.

She had faced down CIA and Soviet agents - how could he be any worse?

[daddy_luthor]

Lionel was still looking out the windows when his secretary came on the intercom to say that Ms. Vassey was here. He smirked for a moment, letting both secretary and guest wait for a moment before he turned and hit the intercom. "Send her in."

Before Florence could come in the door, Lionel stood up, straightened his suit coat and turned again to the window with his arms crossed, giving the image of an king surveying his kingdom. It was an image that stuck in the mind of his competitors and gave him an edge.

[hungarianheart]

The image Lionel presented as Florence entered the room was a powerful one, and she would certainly have been intimidated had it not been for the years and years of experience she had with chess players and CIA agents doing the same thing.

It was all about power and the expression of it. She knew the game well and so she patiently stood a few feet from the desk, files in hand. When he finally deigned to turn around and acknowledge her, he would find her completely calm and unruffled.

[daddy_luthor]

But of course, Lionel didn't expect any different, if the tales he'd heard of Lex's new PA were true. Still, he had to play the game. It had gotten him this far and he wasn't about to loose faith in it now.

"Ms. Vassey." Lionel said more to Metropolis then to the person he was addressing and he still waited a moment before turning around with a pleasant, yet professional curl of his lips that couldn't decided if it was a smile or a smirk. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you. Your reputation is quite impressive."

[hungarianheart]

"Mr. Luthor," Florence murmured with a polite, non-committal smile. The polite greetings and compliments meant nothing, not really - it was all a prelude to the battle that was on the verge of beginning. "It is a honor to meet you at last."

She leaned forward to carefully deposit the files he had requested on the desk. "Shall we get done to business?"

[daddy_luthor]

Well, Lionel had to respect a woman who wanted to right down to business. He sat down behind his desk and gestured for her to take a seat. "Of course. I'm sure Lex is eager for your return as I see you've been indispensable to to him." If he put particular emphasis on 'indispensable', be it that Lex was incapable or that Florence had other uses, it didn't show in his expression as he looked through the files.

[hungarianheart]

Florence gracefully took the indicated seat. It was clear she wasn't going anywhere for awhile and while she'd realized this was most likely going to be the case, a small part of her had hoped he'd be too interested in the files to pay her much attention.

"I do my best to anticipate his needs," she answered sweetly. Let him take that as he would. "I pride myself on being the best at what I do."

[daddy_luthor]

"Do you now?" Either she was very bold or very arrogant. Bold was good for Lex, who liked his people to be as brazenly stupid as he was. Arrogant on the other hand...arrogance worked nicely into Lionel's favor. Victoria had been beautifully arrogant. "Tell me, just how did you earn my son's trust so quickly? And he must trust you considering the...delicate nature of matters you have been handling for him." If anything, her answer would amuse him.

[hungarianheart]

"Isn't that a discussion best reserved for the two of you?" Florence raised an eyebrow, keeping her tone mild. The fastest way to get herself into trouble would be to rise to Lionel's insinuations, even as subtle as they were.

Lex prized her for her discretion and tact and she was not about to let him down.

[daddy_luthor]

Lionel chuckled to himself, impressed by her audacity. "If I wanted to get the official version, I'd ask my son. Humor me with the unofficial?" He asked, glancing up from the folder for only a moment to give her an amused grin.

[hungarianheart]

Men and their games. She was remembering why she had given all that up in the first place. Nothing had truly changed in the years between... but then she had known that. The only reason she had ventured back into this world at all had been Lex but damned if she was going to say that.

Instead, she just shrugged her shoulders lightly and smiled. "I do what is asked of me, efficiently and quietly as any good assistant should do. That is all."

[daddy_luthor]

"That is all hmm?" Lionel asked, suggestion in his voice ever as he didn't look from the folder. He already knew what was in them but he made a show of reading everything.

He made a show of slipping the contents of the files between his fingers. "I see you handled the Jones Steel contract while Lex was once again handling the Hardwicks. That seems more then a mere assistant would do." Lionel knew Lex had handled the Hardwick case for personal reasons. Victoria had been such a promising heir prospects too. "This is clearly more then assistant work."