Part Four was all about contrasts and emotions.
On autopilot, she made her way into the building and took the elevator to the penthouse floor, punching in Lex’s private security code when prompted. Her legs felt wobbly as the elevator rose higher and higher. She turned her head, catching her reflection in the mirrored side of the elevator. For a moment, she just stared, wondering at the woman in the reflection. That woman didn’t look comfortable or excited; in fact, she was expressionless. She looked like an expensive doll, beautiful but lifeless.
Was that Lois Luthor?
Yes Lois, that is the person you will become should you allow Lex to slide his ring on your finger. His all powerful need to be the most important person in the room will cause Lois Lane to be nothing more than a mannequin. Ultimately devoid of anything approaching life giving emotion. Glad the reflection made you shudder, it shook off the last of the blinders.
“Oh, wow.” She didn’t have to feign her impressed expression. She took a small sip and rolled it experimentally on her tongue, savoring the flavor. “That’s amazing. I’m sure it was an expensive purchase.”
His grin broadened, Cheshire-like. “To the tune of $38,000 dollars a bottle.”
What?! Talk about bragging!
Expensive boarding schools, money, power, pleasure: they were pursuits Lois didn’t understand. She looked over at the urbane, sophisticated man who sat across from her, and it was almost as if she was emerging from a dream. She had nothing in common with this man. She had no desire to spend the rest of her life this way, high atop a penthouse balcony, discussing business politics while drinking insanely expensive wine and eating a meal that she couldn’t even pronounce.
Decisively, she put down her fork. “Lex, we need to talk.”
His lips upturned slightly as he picked up his napkin and dapped at his mouth. “Haven’t we been?”
“No.” She pushed her plate away. “I mean really talk. About us.” She took a deep breath and plunged ahead with what she’d come here to say in the first place: “Lex, I can’t marry you.”
Good! Forget about talking, get out of there!
