Lois sighed and began speaking again. “Mom, the man irks me. I can’t figure him out! One minute he’s a professional investigative reporter, the next he’s a puppy dog, hanging on every word that comes out of his obnoxious girlfriend’s mouth.”
Now it was Ellen’s turn to be silent for a beat and then spoke. “He has a girlfriend?”
I like the dynamic here with Ellen and Lois. It's nice to see them getting along instead of the usual love/hate relationship. I see Ellen has some investigative skills of her own when it comes to her daughter's relationship
“Since when does my daughter poach another woman’s fella?”
“Poaching? Mother, I’m not interested in this guy! Besides he’s one of those friendly types that everyone likes.” Lois said with a chuckle.
Poaching? Haha she cuts right to the chase doesn't she?
“Oh no? How can you say that? Every man whoever caught your eye - and I can count them on one hand - always irked and challenged you. That weasel Claude never did. This man Kent is not from Claude’s mold. He’s caught your eye, even if it’s in a small way.”
“What about the guys from High School?” Her daughter countered quickly, trying to change the subject.
“Didn’t I say men? Besides, back than you were much too young for a serious relationship.” Ellen’s voice softened and she said,
Mama Ellen is fun! I like her. More please!
Lois sat down at the kitchen table and spoke more to herself than her Mother, her voice rising with every word. “Why would a man as intelligent as him want to waste time with a woman who clearly doesn’t esteem him? Lana Lang … if she was right for him I would step back and respect his choice. Mother, he’s too good for her!”
My thoughts exactly....
“Newsflash: It’s not your choice. It’s Mr. Kent’s.”
Let's hope he can see through Lana's manipulations soon. Come on spine ...
“Lady Plushbottom likes him.”
Both of Ellen's eyebrows raised in surprise. “That spiky little furball? She doesn’t like anyone but you and then only just before dinner!”
“Yeah,” Lois muttered quietly, “tell me about it. Clark was over for one of my tuna sandwiches and we worked on the Arianna Carlin-Luthor interview. Most of the time, Lady P sat near him, purring for all she was worth. What a furry little traitor,” she mumbled.
“Well, if I remember correctly, Lady Plushbottom bit Claude…”
“Yeah, I know. I should have followed her lead and kicked his cologne drenched butt out of my apartment and life then and there.”
Cats certainly do have a way about sniffing out rats don't they hahah?
On Monday morning, Lois awoke determined to put as much personal distance between herself and Clark … Kansas as possible. Her mother, as much as she hated to admit it, was correct; no one should have to endure the pain she went through when Linda stole Paul from her. Not that she had any plans of stealing him from Lana. After all, she had principles, even if Linda with her fake red hair did not.
EEK! Poor Lois!
The thought flashed in her mind. <Lana is going to Europe? What a relief! The newsroom will be spared her intrusive presence for awhile.> With a supreme effort, Lois fought to control her tongue; the last thing she needed was to bad mouth Kansas’ girlfriend.
Don't go there Lois!
“But …but we’re a team!” She hated how peevish her voice sounded.The laughter she heard on the other end came through loud and clear.
“Not anymore we aren’t! I have a new partner! Listen, with Kent you should be able to wrap up the Daae case and bag a Pulitzer nomination, if not the prize itself. Remember you started this investigation without my help. Considering the articles I’ve read from ‘Lane and Kent’ his writing style is a better compliment to yours.”
“Me and Kansas … get a Pulitzer, that’s unlikely! It’s still hard to believe you are giving up journalism to teach American Literature? You’ll be bored silly within a week!”
“Not from where I’m sitting! I have to go; can you forward this call to Perry? I need to have what will probably amount to a painful conversation … with him. Take care of yourself! Don’t frighten Kent off and stop calling him Kansas! Cheerio, mate!”
Clark's getting the nod from Eduardo, huh? Not bad for a rookie, huh?
“That’s funny, Skip told me the rent was $750.00. From where I sit, that’s a two hundred dollar increase.”
Wrenn was surprised that this mild mannered young man had been so direct; he looked like someone he could easily convince to pay the planned increase. “Well, like I said, huh, renovations have to be paid for…”
“…which should not come exclusively* out of my pocket. Look, Mr. Wrenn, the Clinton neighborhood is improving, but improvements only go as far as the people who live here. It’s in your best interests to attract responsible tenants who can pay reasonable rents. I am not going to haggle about the cost. I’ll pay $850.00 for a two year lease. Take it or leave it.”
“What! Two years? Ok, $900.00.”
Clark hated the idea of giving up such a perfect place, but Wrenn needed to know he was not going to be taken advantage of. Reluctantly he got up from his chair and purposefully walked towards the door, he began counting mentally; One … Two … Three.
Clark could almost hear Wrenn’s jowls shake as he barked, “Ok, ok’! It’ll be $850.00 for one year!”
Without turning around and with his hand on the doorknob, Clark spoke firmly, “Two.”
Haha! Nice negotiating skills Clark.
“Here, catch!” Bonesteel, barely missing a beat, caught the diskette containing the list of investors Daae had provided, Templar said, “Get on the phone and start working on these investors and make bloody sure to be discreet.”
“Yes, Mr. Templar.” He said nodding, “Shall I send the report of my conversations with the investors to you in the morning?”
“Of course, imbecile,” he snarled, “no one else should be reading those reports.”
And where did this diskette come from? I smell a rat....or maybe a virus...from the Daily Planet hmmm?
She could have easily departed to one of the sleeping berths and read. Still she had made the most of her situation and charmed both men, in the meantime she discerned the inner workings of the board better than perhaps even her father, Professor Lang. Mlle. Lang was witty, intelligent, and more than willing to change a situation to her favor.
Yeah, I'll bet.
The first step in recovering lost ground was granting an interview; one that was up close and personal - the kind which his lovely wife had participated in the week before. Since he was Metropolis key resident the most popular news outlet would have to be the Daily Planet. With its international reputation for truth and fairness it was the only logical choice. What better reporter to ask than Lois Lane? He had noted Daae had taken considerable delight in needling her. After reading the news of her belittlement the next day in the Metropolis Star, he was certain her professional pride and private ego had taken a thrashing.
Uh-oh...
