Post by Lex Luthor on Aug 7, 2012 23:19:09 GMT -10
“Mr. Luthor……… Sir? …… Mr. Luthor?”
It was a bright day in Metropolis. It seemed as if most days were. The sun always shinning, the weather seemingly never too hot, never too cold. Certainly no place was perfect but so often Metropolis made you forget it’s rare imperfect days with a slew of days like today.
Lex Luthor stood, staring down at the city below from his high rise office inside of the Lex Corp Towers. His gray power suit, his white collared shirt, his gray tie and even the intentionally unshaved (but still dignified) stubble upon his face reflected in the window as the sun shone brightly from outside. Behind him stood a tall, leggy, blondish/brunette in professional attire. Her hair placed up as she looked at Lex, who presently was still looking out the window.
“Look at it Laura… This city… This bustling metropolis of the same name… I’ve lived here most my life but, it still never ceases to amaze me. Especially when I can look out over the city from this view and know that I own nearly everything I can see.”
Not quite sure how to reply, Laura didn’t say anything.
“According to the US Census Bureau there’s somewhere around eleven million people in metropolis. Lexcorp employees more than a third of those people and we’re adding jobs and expanding every day. Do you know what that means Miss Shane?”
Laura smiles as she replies, “It means we’re giving jobs to the great citizens of Metropolis.”
Although we were looking at Lex Luthor’s back, we could see his reflection in the window roll his eyes.
“Power… Miss Shane… It means, Power.”
Lex turned around walking over to a large leather swivle chair that sat behind a much larger wooden desk.
He placed a hand on the back of the chair and continued, “I hold the lives of more than one third of this city in the palm of my hand. Matter of fact, I hold nearly the entire city in my hand. If the day should come where I ever decide to pack up our operation here and leave Metropolis, then about four million people here would be out of work. That’s four million people suddenly not showing up to restaurants to splurge on overpriced hamburgers and fries. Four million people not reading the… “Daily Planet”… Four million people not going to the cinema… Not catching the shows on Bessolo Boulevard and Topaz Lane… Not using Taxi cabs and subway tokens. If I folded up our Metropolis offices and facilities, the city of Metropolis would all but turn into a ghost town over night. This city needs me like an infant needs it’s mother. That, Miss Shane, is raw power.”
His assistant, Laura Shane, wasn’t sure how to respond to that. There was a time when her boss didn’t just break into rants about power. There was a time when he almost seemed down to earth. Sure, he was always a bit eratic and certainly he had confidence for miles. Some might have suggested he was a little arrogant but Laura never really saw him that way. She chalked up those quarks to the genius that lived inside of Mr. Luthor. Every great inventor and scientist was a bit “different” for lack of a better term and Laura knew this. However, it was beginning to disturb her that more and more often her boss would get on these tirades about power and being the driving force behind the city of Metropolis. Never the less, she still had a job to do. She looked down at the PDA in her hand and then back at Lex Luthor.
‘Administrative Assistant’ Laura Shane, “Mr. Luthor… It’s getting to be that time of the year again.”
Lex perked a curious eyebrow, “You only have ‘that time’ once a year? You’re a real catch. Whoever snags you is a lucky man.”
It was hard to tell whether Laura didn’t get the joke or if she was just choosing to ignore it. Either way, she didn’t react.
She simply replied, “With November approaching quickly, we’ve gotten a lot of calls recently for endorsements and campaign contributions.”
Lex scoffs, “To no surprise. And from whom have we received these calls?”
Laura looks down at the PDA and slides her finger across the touch screen.
Laura Shane, “Congressman Alverez… Senator McCasey… Gubernatorial candidate David Patrick.”
Lex stroked his chin as he contemplated.
Lex, “Didn’t Congressman Alverez refuse to change his vote on the Carbin tax bill?”
Laura nods, “He did.”
Lex groans, “Because he wouldn’t play ball I had to shell out twice our normal pay off rate to Congressman Stevens to keep that Bill from getting passed. If he wants an endorsement or campaign contribution, tell him to go talk to those Environmentalist nuts he tried to win over. Not another red cent leaves this company or my bank account for Hector Juan Alverez.”
Laura quips, “Actually I think his name is Joe… joe Alverez.”
Lex gives Laura a look… And that’s all that was necessary for Laura to move right along.
Laura, “What about Senator McCasey?”
Lex nods slowly, “Senator McCasey is on the National Defense committee. He really put his neck out to get us the contract for necronomical research and development for the government. Additionally, he could end up being of great service to us in January when their weapons contract comes up for review with WayneTech. It’s be great if we could replace WayneTech in that capacity. Put us down for a twenty fifty thousand dollar donation and contact his assistant to set up a time and a place where we can meet and discuss my endorsement.”
Laura’s fingers went to work on the PDA making a note of everything Lex just said.
Laura, “And Gubernatorial candidate David Patrick?”
Lex shrugged, “Blow him off. He’ll call back and when he does he’ll be more desperate… The more desperate he is, the better deal we’ll get out of him for our potential endorsement. Is there anything else, Miss Shane?”
Laura flipped through her PDA as she said, “No, I don’t think so……… Oh, I almost forgot. An Oswald Cobblepot called about a possible campaign contribution as well. Evidently he’s running for Mayor of Gotham.”
Lex perks a perplexed eyebrow as he replies, “The Mayor of Gotham? Why not just beg and plead Bruce Wayne. Those idiots over there worship that guy.”
Laura Shane, “Mr. Wayne’s currently in critical condition. He had a…”
Lex dismissively waves as he cuts her off, “Yeah, Yeah, Playboy had a big car wreck. The plus side is, if he keels over, I think they’d lose some clout and that’d mean more WayneTech contracts being dropped in favor of Lexcorp contracts. If only we could be so lucky.”
Laura looks uncomfortable as she says, “I don’t think we should be hoping for a man’s health to diminish.”
Lex looks like he wants to say something… But whatever it was he wanted to say, he opts against it and instead says, “No, you’re right. In any event, this Oswald Cobblepot… I’m intrigued. I don’t have very many resources in Gotham. It’s a rancid city. If you build a business you’re just begging for it to be robbed or vandalized. But, it might not be a bad idea to talk with this guy and see if he brings anything to the table for our financial support. You have my schedule. Call his people and set something up.”
She nods and makes a note on her PDA.
Laura looks up, “I think that settles the political business for now… Would you like me to order out for lunch?”
Lex walks away from the desk and grabs a putter that leans against one of the large windows in his office. His office is large and amongst the space, he has a little putting green on the floor. Lex reaches into his jacket pocket and withdraws a golf ball, dropping it on the floor. He get’s it placed where he wants it with his putter and then sizes up his shot… Tap… The ball rolls up the green and drops into the hole. He smiles.
Lex Luthor, “No… I’m ducking out early today to play golf with the Mayor Berkowitz at the country club… I’m sure we’ll get lunch there.”
BRRRRRRRRRING… BRRRRRRRING… The door had been left open a crack and on the other side, Laura Shane’s phone could be heard ringing.
Laura, “Alright… If you don’t need anything else, I’m going to go answer that…”
Lex Nodded… His ball had been returned to him by a mechanism in the green and he was sizing up his next putt. He didn’t bother to look up as he said, “By all means, that is what you’re paid for Miss Shane.”
She nodded and headed out the door, making sure to close it tightly on her way out. Lex drew back a few inches and then tapped the ball again, allowing it to travel the length of the small putting green and into the hole a second time drawing a smirk upon his face.
