This story is pure Lois and Clark! Lex and Nigel are their evil selves! Sorry it's taken me so long to comment.
On top of everything else, the last argument he’d had with Lois over Luthor seemed to have done some damage. She was barely speaking to him at the moment, limiting her interaction with him to strictly work-related matters; and while they were ostensibly working together on the fallout from the crane collapse, as a practical matter they were spending very little time together. Clark hated the growing rift between them, but he couldn’t- he wouldn’t- back down. Luthor was evil, and somehow he had to convince Lois of that.
Urgh! Rift? Clark my dear, it seems more like a chasm!
The announcement three days later that the crane’s operator had died from carbon monoxide poisoning sent MetroCon’s stock plummeting, raising concerns that the company wouldn’t be able to meet its current liabilities.
Rats! All of this do Luthor can take over this project for his construction company. Talk about cut-throat business tactics! He does not care about the poor crane operator or his family.
The question came from a haughty-looking woman in her mid-forties and had the effect of sending the younger woman into silence. With a submissive shake of the head, she left through the doorway the receptionist had taken earlier.
Since the receptionist has lost her job, it really doesn't matter if she is talking to Lois and Clark or any reporters.
On to the next part!
Here's hoping RL grants you the peace you need to finish your story. 
