Unsupervised

"But... but... three hours! I left you alone for three hours!"

When Lena appeared from her bedroom wearing a pencil skirt, dark-blue blouse, hair in a tight bun, face completely made up, and carrying heels and a blazer, Lois looked up from searching the internet on her phone.

"You going somewhere?"

"That sort of attention to detail must be what won you the Pulitzer," Lena said as she sat on the couch, pulling on her heels. "I'm headed to work."

"You're leaving me?"

Lena chuckled. "We're not exactly breaking up, Lois. I'm merely heading into L-Corp for a meeting then going to look at spreads at Catco. I'll be back."

"But what about the Supers? I thought we were working on this together?"

Shrugging on her suit jacket as she stood, Lena replied, "We are, and as soon as I have more information, I'll be in touch." She lifted her phone from the coffee table, holding it up for Lois to see. "Right now we're in a holding pattern. My worm is doing it's thing. When we hit paydirt, I'll be in touch."

"So you just want me to... to... wait?"

"Patience is a virtue," Lena replied in a sing-song sort of voice as she headed to the door.

Lois rushed in front of her, cutting Lena off with arms thrust out to either side. "Lady, I'm many things, but virtuous ain't one of them. And nor is patient. I need to keep busy. For the sake of your valuables, you want me to be busy."

Lena furrowed her brows, looking around at the contents of her apartment before nodding once, slowly. She quickly selected someone on her contacts list, and said, "Eve, I need a favor."

"Anything, Miss Luthor."

"Someone is going to call you in a few minutes on my behalf. She's working on a project for me. Give her whatever she needs to complete it."

A smile broke out over Lois' face.

"Within reason."

Lois frowned. "Awww."

"Of course, Miss Luthor."

"Eve, no cars. This person is not to have access to or be given any vehicles. She is to stay in my apartment."

"Seriously!?"

Lena nodded. "I don't want you to discuss the nature or any aspect of this project with anyone but me, and that includes Mr. Olsen. If anyone questions you about this project or this person, you are to send them to me. I don't care if it's the bloody FBI. Understood?"

"I understand, Miss Luthor."

"As a matter-of-fact, I don't want you to mention that you are working with another person for me. Just say I've given you a task to complete, and the nature of it is something I asked you not to discuss. You can consider this something covered under your nondisclosure agreement. Any questions about that?"

"None, Miss Luthor."

"Excellent." Lena narrowed her eyes as she looked over at Lois. "Oh, and Eve, no fireworks. In fact, I think no fire in general would be safest in this case."

"Oh, come on, Lenny! What do you think I'm going to do here!"

Lena quirked up one brow. "For the sake of my belongings and the other residents here, I'd rather not find out. Thank you, Eve. You're a gem. Call me directly with any questions or concerns."

"My pleasure, Miss Luthor."

Disconnecting, Lena held out her hand to Lois. "I'll give you her number. You be kind to her, Lois. Eve Teschmacher is a lovely and highly competent woman. She's a bit high strung though. I'm not sure what happened to her working as Cat Grant's assistant."