The Rise To Power; A Smallville Saga {Part 6 - Goodnight, Travel Well}

Azure

A/N: I don't own Smallville or any characters and places in the DC universe. Nor do I own the episodes that these chapters are based on and contain from.

I also don't claim to be a writer. My inspiration is simply to get a creative outlet going.

I only own Tyla Nevin and what pertains to her character story.

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The fact that boxes and wrappings were isolated to one specific area of the manor, didn't stop Tyla from throwing a Christmas dinner party. Lex obliged. This was going to be the only way for her to announce why she was leaving properly. Stepping down from LuthorCorp caused a stir from the media and for some individuals already knowing that she was leaving Smallville, it was nothing short of mysterious that she had made the decision so "suddenly". To his relief, it had stopped the rumors that her leaving was his doing. He wasn't surprised that Clark wasn't coming, or that he wasn't invited. He wasn't sure but he had a feeling that Tyla had purposely tried to avoid an altercation this time. Instead, it was a small gathering; Tyla's father, Ana, Oren, Chloe, and Lois.

But he didn't expect the editor of the Daily Planet to show up at his doorstep, dripping wet from the snowfall. He all but blinked as the man walked in. He was younger and shorter than Lex but his shortly cut brown hair and well-tailored dark grey suit showed professionalism. But Lex knew that this was a social call. "Now's not a great time," he warned. People were coming in a couple of hours.

"I'm aware," he mumbled. "I just wanted to see why you asked Lois specifically for this story."

Lex frowned as he let the man in, closed the door, and followed him down the corridor. The man was no other than Grant Gabriel, a man who newly took over the newspaper and was hovering over a dangerous secret of theirs. "Besides a friend to my wife?" He asked, crossing his arms. "A sexy and smart reporter? How dare I ask." Grant narrowed his eyes almost protectively which is what Lex was expecting. "You think word doesn't travel fast. Why not tell me?" Or rather, overhear his wife speaking to her friend on the phone.

"I didn't think it was relevant." He mumbled. "But I didn't think you would start to investigate her either."

"Look, for all I care, you could date every girl from the copy room to the boardroom, just not Lois Lane." This earned a large laugh from Grant. "I'm serious, why do you think those two are friends? The woman has an insatiable curiosity. It's only a matter of time before she connects the dots. I'm just trying to see how much she already knows."

"I'm fully aware of everything you've done for me, but that doesn't give you the right to control my life," he was about to turn around and leave but Lex grabbed his arm.

"I beg to differ." His voice was low but threatening. "Remember, if it weren't for me, you'd be nothing."

The doors from the study opened and Tyla walked out, with one hand on her stomach and the other waving a message as if the ink was drying. "The doctor called; we're seeing him next week." She stopped, looking at the two of them. A hint of familiarity flashed in her eyes before it was replaced with a confused look. "Babe, what did we say about business during the holidays?"

Lex let go and cleared his throat. Something that was amusing to Grant. "I'm Grant Gabriel, the editor of the Daily Planet." he introduced himself, extending his arm. "It was my fault. I was just coming over to discuss his upcoming interview."

Tyla took it without question. Shaking his hand, she eyed Lex who seemed to be studying her reaction. Was he trying to figure her out? Was there anything that she needed to know? "Tyla Luthor, I've heard of you." She glanced over at the man's shoulder, slowly drying from ice and snow. "You didn't come all this way here from Metropolis in the sleet and snow, did you?"