The Corner

Lena

My alarm startled me. I had zoned out, staring at the same blueprints over and over, my mind unable to latch onto anything I was reading. Tapping the alarm off, I glanced at the thin stack of papers neatly lying on the far edge of my desk. An hour ago, I had all the confidence in the world, but that dwindled with every minute.

I stretched as I walked to the couch, groaning at the kinks in my back from sitting hunched over for hours. Kara was still asleep, curled up in a ball, breathing heavily, her brow scrunched up. The last thing I wanted to do was wake her up, she needed her sleep. “Kara.” I spoke softly, worried I’d scare her.

She shuffled lightly, tugging the blanket closer to her chin, murmuring. I laid a hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently. “Kara, I need you to wake up.”

She mumbled, grabbing her pillow. “Sleeping.”

I smiled, remembering how hard it was to wake her up when we were together. Kara’s two things were food and sleep. “I need to wake up and eat. You can go back to sleep after I check on you.” I tucked a few loose strands of hair behind her ear. The soft touch woke her up, her blue eyes were cloudy as she squinted without her glasses. “Hey you.” I leaned away, giving Kara space.

She swallowed hard, reaching a hand up to the stitches on her forehead. “I’m not home, am I?”

“No.” I stood up, feeling the air thicken between us. “If you keep having gaps in your memory, I may have to take you to a doctor.”

Kara winced sitting up. “I thought you were my doctor.” Her tone stung, hitting it’s mark. “When can I go home?”

I clenched my jaw, moving towards the kitchen. “You can go home whenever you’d like. But I don’t recommend it for a few more hours. You’re very off balance, disoriented and need more rest. You’ve been pushing your body too hard and it’s telling you it needs to stop.” I dug around in a drawer until I found carry out menus. “I haven’t had a moment to grocery shop. Thai or Polish food?”

“Oatmeal? That’s the only thing that sounds edible.” Kara laid a hand on her stomach. “Did I throw up? I can’t remember much aside from waking up in, um, your bed.”

I watched her cheeks turn a soft pink. “Surprisingly, you didn’t throw up. Just spun like a top, and passed out. I barely managed to get you into bed. You’ve grown heavier.” I smiled softly, turning away to find a box of oatmeal I had tucked in the back of a cabinet.

Kara was silent, and I could feel her bore holes in the floor. The air was still thick and heavy with the years between us. “I should go.” She rasped the words out, wincing as she moved to stand up. “I have oatmeal at home.”

I sighed, setting the box of oatmeal on the counter. “I know what I did. I knew what I was doing when I packed my things up that night. I knew the heart break I was causing between us.” I paused, clinging to the courage to continue. “But I couldn’t stop her. I couldn’t stop her raiding my mind every day. She’d call, pushing down my happiness and reminding me that I had no one else. If you left me, broke up with me, I’d have no one to love me, just an adopted family who barely tolerated me.” I clenched my jaw, staring at the ingredients on the oatmeal. “She burrowed deep into my mind, I forgot to think with my heart.” I looked up at Kara, staring back at me with watery eyes. “I know what I did, Kara. I know I broke your heart and a day hasn’t passed where I’ve not regretted it. But I was too scared, until now. I know you won’t forgive me, I wouldn’t forgive me.” I swallowed hard. “I’ve always loved…”

“I need, I should go.” Kara stood up quickly, grabbing the arm of the couch. She turned away from me as she stumbled towards the door. She shoved her feet into her shoes without unlacing them. “I, uh, I’ll call Alex for a ride.” She braced a hand against the door, her other shaking as she struggled to tug her shoe on.

“Kara, wait.” I walked towards her, reaching for her as if this was the last time I’d ever see her. “Let me take you.” My fingers brushed her elbow, causing her to flinch.

“Don’t. Please don’t.” The words rushed out in a trembling breath.

My heart dropped when I heard her tone and saw the distant look in her eyes. “Kara. I have so much I have to tell you.” I swallowed hard, scraping up the last few piece of courage. “Five minutes, please. Give me five minutes.”

She stepped away, her hands shaking as she tried to tie her shoe. “Lena. It’s over. We can’t go back in the past. It hurts too much. At least for me, I’m sure for you it was just a series of corporate takeovers and fancy dinners with your family. Caleb or whoever far more worthy, on your arm.”

Her words stung, forcing me to take a step back. I nodded, blinking back tears as the anger flooded my body. “You know what hurt? Holding your hand during the flight out of the Ukraine. You were unconscious and in bad shape. Or maybe the time I changed your bandages in the jungle hospital after you were stabbed. Then there was the time, I sat for weeks by your hospital bed, waiting. And the morning when you woke up, you looked right at me, grinned and whispered to me. It was the drugs, the pain killers, but I heard you. But I didn’t stay because I knew it was the drugs talking. The awake you still hated me. But then, when I found you coming home to National City around the same time I was coming to set up the company, I took it as a sign. To stop hiding in the shadows, and stand in front of you.” I let out a shaky breath, motioning to the stack on my desk. “Take it with you. I know you probably threw out the USB I gave your sister.” I looked at her, her eyes were drawn to a single spot on the floor. “I’m sorry, Kara.” I went to reach for her, but she shook her head, closing her eyes as tears slipped free.

“I can’t.” She rasped the words out, grabbing the doorknob and ripping the door open.

I let her shuffle down the hallway towards the elevator, digging in her pocket for her phone. I heard her say Alex’s name in a broken sob. I gently closed the door before leaning against it, sliding down to the floor as I cried.

Maybe Kara was right, it was over. I couldn’t take back the last ten years no matter how hard I tried to.

Repent was clearly not in the cards for a Luthor like me.

XXXXXX

Kara

“Is it all true?” I grabbed the pillow, smashing it under my head as I looked at Alex. “Can you verify the files and reports? It wouldn’t be too hard to Google me and my adventures. Most of my major incidents were reported, especially by the Times. They always did an expose when they knew I was alive and going to make it.” I swallowed hard, my head still on a slow rotation.

“It’s all true. I had my team verify everything. Lena was the pale angel on your shoulder, swooping in right when you needed her most. I owe her a thousand bottles of scotch for keeping my sister alive.” Alex glared at me from the end of the bed, fluffing up one of the many blankets I had laying across my feet. “And by the way you ran out of her apartment, weeble wobbling down the street, you didn’t listen to her.”

“It’s not that easy, Alex.” I huffed, turning to look at the tea tin I moved into my bedroom when I made it home.

“It seems pretty easy to me. You just tell her everything you feel, she tells you everything she feels and all the hovering around you she did. Then you either put up or shut up. National City is pretty big, but she’s a huge player in it. You’ll run into her at the coffee shops, the bank, the library.” Alex sat down on the edge of the bed. “You of all people know, running from the past doesn’t stop it from chasing you. You have to turn around, face it and then close this part of your life. Then maybe you can go on a date. Find a wife, husband, a house, and sit in the attic writing those stupid short stories you used to as an angsty teenager.” She sighed. “Please figure it out. I don’t like getting random phone calls from my sister’s ex. I’m starting to like her.”

I clenched my jaw. “She told me why she left. Sort of.” I rolled onto my back, pushing to sit up, wincing as my head still hurt like hell. “Lillian. It was Lillian.”

Alex chuckled. “I could’ve told you that. Lillian is a sociopath, a walking chart of cold distant murderer. She makes most of the killers she’s housed with, tremble when she struts down to the cafeteria for breakfast.” She reached over, squeezing my leg. “Lillian hated you the moment she spotted you. She hated the smile you put on her daughters face, and the way you brought out the sun in Lena.” Alex shook her head. “The entire Luthor family is an exercise in futility. They do what they want and destroy everything in their path, including family.”

“What do I do?” I half whispered the words out. “It hurts to be around her. It hurts to look at her and have all of the memories rush back like it was yesterday. It hurts to let her in.” I glanced at the tea tin. “How do I? How do I do anything of this?”

“First, you can send her a nice thank you card for saving you a hundred times. But honestly, it’s all up to you. There’s a lot you’ve been carrying around and you have to figure out how to unpack it. Talk to her, don’t talk to her. But you have to talk to someone. You’ve had the entire world on your shoulders for ten years and for all the things you went through, you’re fragile.” She held up a hand, stopping me before I could protest. “You’re the strongest person I’ve ever met, but you’re also very broken. Maybe start with putting yourself together, Kara.”

I nodded, plucking at the edge of my blanket. “Why do I still love her? Feel love for her?” I blushed, hating I was admitting it aloud. “She probably, no, she knows I still hate her. She was yelling at me when I left her apartment, giving her the coldest shoulder. I don’t hate her, I think? I don’t know. Nothing makes sense when she’s in the room.”

“Because.” Alex stood up, tugging the blanket closer up. “Love never makes sense, it just picks another heart in the world and says, that one. That one is the one I want. You might still be very in love with her, or you might still be holding on to the scant threads of love you remember, so you don’t have to feel the full pain of the last ten years.” She leaned forward, kissed my forehead. “I’m going to run out and get some pizza for us. Any special requests?”

“Garlic knots and maybe a cheesecake?” I batted my eyes at her as she shook her head. “It’s been a year since I had good cheesecake.”

Alex shoved me lightly. “Fine. Go take a shower and take the pills I left on your counter.”

I saluted her as she flipped me off and left. The second she was gone, I let out a huge sigh and hunched forward, cradling my head in my hands. “Shit.” Rubbing my eyes, I swung my legs out of the bed and got up. I slapped my laptop shut, cutting off the view of every single report of every single moment Lena had pulled me out of the mouth of hell. She wasn’t lying when she yelled at me. She’d sat with me in numerous hospitals. She’d used her own contract companies to rescue me and my team. She used her own money to cover the bills insurance wouldn’t and left a trail of hope behind me. For every war torn country I escaped, she came back in and rebuilt the broken. She provided medical supplies, food, water, and transport to those who needed.  And she did it all without me knowing, knowing I’d either curse her out, or my bosses would force me to do a story on the mysterious angel of hope.

Walking to the window, I buried my hands in the ratty sweatshirt I wore, poking my fingertips through the holes in the sleeves. I didn’t know what I truly felt about Lena in this moment. My emotions were a damn carousel, spinning from love, hate, indifference, heartbreak, back to complete consuming love. I couldn’t put my finger on a single one and say, yes, this is how I feel about you.

I leaned forward, resting my forehead on the cool glass. Lena Luthor was the lump that sat in my throat, only moving to push down on the top of my heart when I looked at her big green eyes and saw everything I’d been running from. And she was also the broken glass I walked on every day that I was back in National City, writing silly articles about the next gala. Digging into my soles with every step, reminding me that I was still very broken.

Alex was right. I had to put myself back together before I faced her. I had to stop working off on doling out so much together in a day, and glue every piece back in solidly.

I grabbed my phone, sending an email to Eve. The second I hit send, I threw the phone back onto the bed and snatched the tea tin up. I shoved the poor battered tin behind the thick fantasy novels I had high hopes of reading, but knew I’d never get to them.

I took a deep breath before shuffling to the bathroom.

XXXXX

Lena – three days later

“Ms. Luthor? This arrived for you today.” Jess gave me a soft smile as she set the small brown paper package on my desk. “It appears to be from Catco.”

I rolled my eyes. “Thank you. Please tell Ms. Grant she doesn’t need to keep bartering for my attention. Reaffirm to her that she has a direct line to my desk whenever.” I set my tablet down. “Are the newest sales figures from Catco available? Along with the progress reports for Project Ninth?”

Jess set a stack of files on my desk. “Project Ninth is moving along. The team is in phase two. Catco sales figures have increased thirty percent since your cover story, along with the news you’re partial owner. It also appears the addition of Ms. Danvers has brought readership from the Times. I’ve scheduled a meeting with the editorial team for next Tuesday to present the idea of Draiocht. The magazine that’s more news than tabloid fashion. I’ve also booked your flight to London for the biotech conference the week after. You’ll have a full itinerary by the end of the week. MI6 is interested a meeting, along with a handful of agricultural companies. All want more information on the clean jet propulsion tech you designed late last year. For vehicle and windmill use.””

I nodded, skimming over the Catco numbers. “Please get me the itinerary as soon as possible for the conference. As for Draiocht, I’m sure I’ll face resistance, but it’s time Catco regains it’s hold as a media empire, and not click bait. We can do both, entertainment, and hard hitting journalism.” I furrowed my brow, reading over a few notes. “Please craft up a statement to the board, and editorial staff, of Catco. I own ninety two percent of Catco, therefore I have controlling stake. Cat Grant may be the face of the company, but I now run it.” I huffed, shoving away the memos from Andrea Rojas and a few others, questioning my intentions and power.

“Of course. I’d love to.” Jess grinned. “Lunch is in an hour, then you have two video conferences. Please take the time, go outside and grab lunch, or at least stand outside on the balcony. I worry you’re not getting enough sun.”

I chuckled. “Thank you, mom. I’ll do my best.”

Jess shook her head, collecting a few of the signed files at the corner of my desk before walking out. When the door clicked shut, I leaned back in the chair, spinning to look out the windows. The sun was bright and shining, like every day in National City. A far cry from the moody weather of Metropolis, Gotham and Dublin. And as much as I loved the break in grey and cloudy, the sun always reminded me of her.

“Stop, Lena.” I rubbed at my temple. I had to stop wallowing in a missed chance. I had to leave it to Kara. She made it clear that she didn’t want to be cornered. She didn’t want to listen to anything I had to say. I knew she read the files, Alex had sent a quick text two days ago, letting me know and letting me know that Kara isn’t the Kara we all loved and knew, and it would take time.

I stood up, picking up the small package as I went to pour a glass of water. Maybe I would take the extra time today and walk down to the deli at the corner. They had wonderful sandwiches, and the staff didn’t care who I was. They didn’t gawk at me like the baristas at the coffee shop across from Craidhe Tech.

Slipping a finger under the corner of paper, I tore off an edge and paused. The worn cover of Tennessee Williams collected stories, stared back at me. I swallowed hard as I pulled the small card out from under the front cover.

              I may have forgotten how to be me, but I never forgot my manners. Thank you. Thank you for everything.

                                         -K

I let out a shuddering breath, clutching the worn paperback in my hands. Whenever Kara was at a complete loss of words, or how to articulate her feelings properly, she did it by gifting a book. Never a new book, never a book you’d ever think you’d ever read. It was always a hidden treasure she found in the corner of some bookstore in some corner of the world.

My heart raced. Flickering beads of hoping rushing through my veins, crashing into the hard beats of reality. I couldn’t push. I couldn’t rush to her and throw my arms around her. The book was the tiniest of baby steps, and based on all the trauma Kara had endured over the years, I would have to wait for her to take the next few steps. At least that’s what my new therapist told me. Kara was lost and no matter how much I wanted to help guide her back to safety, I couldn’t force her. I couldn’t be the lighthouse in the storms she searched for. I was a part, if not the reason why, she splintered all those years ago.

I tucked the card back into the book after running my fingers over her script, and set the book in my bag. I couldn’t hide the stupid tears running down my cheeks. I wiped them, looking back out the window. I had to fight for Kara, if I wanted her back. I would have to fight for her and fight for her in the open, prove to her that I wasn’t that silly girl easily manipulated by her mother. I was the woman I should’ve been all those years ago.

I would fight for her.

XXXXXX

Kara – one week later

“What do you think the big meeting is about?” Winn sat across from me, shoving pretzels in his mouth. “I heard from Pam in HR, Andrea caused a bit of a ruckus with some interoffice memos. She questioned Lena Luthor’s position with Catco.” He leaned on the edge of my desk. “Rumor has it Andrea was seen packing her things up, being shipped off to the Seattle office, bumped down to line editor.”

I closed my eyes, rubbing my temple, my fingertips grazing the edge of my stitches. “You know what I miss about sitting in the middle of the desert, a camel as my only coworker?”

“Hopefully nothing.” Winn chuckled.

I opened my eyes looking at him. “There was no gossip. No one cared who was doing what, who was moving offices. All we cared about was finding somewhere to sleep and a decent meal that didn’t have bugs or sand in it.” I let out a slow breath, waving at him for a handful of pretzels. “I love you, Winn, so stop pouting. I’m still getting used to the world and the silly things people focus on.”

Winn dumped half the bag in my hand. “I know. But things are changing around her so fast, it’s got us all in a twirl. Catco has been stagnant for the last five years, the slow descent into click bait and now, now this merger with Craidhe Tech is pushing Catco into some new respectable territory. I’ve never seen the editorial team so happy to get an article, but when you scoot down there, handing in your last article on two of the largest oil magnates, buying off a Senator, they light up like it’s Christmas and they’re off for three weeks.”

I shook my head smiling. “I think they’re afraid to say anything to me. My articles are only kicked back for simple mistakes an intern could correct.” I popped a pretzel in my mouth. “I’m sure after this meeting, I’ll be handed a list of the hottest celebrities and their skin care routines I should research.” I spun in my chair. I was slowly getting used to the quiet new normal of my life. I had my first appointment with a therapist last week after I sent Lena the book. I was finally ready to start peeling back the layers. The book was the first step, the second was therapy. Kelly had referred me to a colleague who specialized in PTSD and survivors of war zones. Not that I classified myself as a survivor, but I’d been through enough war zones, I knew I’d need a therapist wouldn’t cringe when I started describing all the times the world went upside down on me.

“Ms. Danvers? Mr. Schott? The meeting will start in ten minutes in the main conference room.” Eve poked her head in, smiling as always. She glanced at the bag of pretzels in Winn’s lap. “There will be snacks and beverages available.”

Winn blushed, crinkling the empty bag, tossing it in the garbage. “Um, thanks.” He turned to look at me. “Why am I being beckoned to the editorial meeting? I’m IT. I fixed the broken Wifi and clean out the reporters browsers when they clog it up with porn spam links.”

I laughed. “Who knows. Maybe they need you to set up the projector or whatever people use for presentations these days.” I smoothed out my dark grey button down, flicking off crumbs before I slipped on my dark blue blazer.

“It’s all wireless, Kara. Everything is uploaded onto a touch screen through the network.” He shook his head as we walked down the hallway.

As we turned the corner, my heart skipped when I caught sight of Lena standing next to Cat in the conference room. It’d been a week or more since I skittered out of her penthouse, bouncing off the walls, trying not to throw up my heart onto the floor.

“Oh, shit. It’s the big bosses. We’re about to get fired.” Winn whispered under his breath as I frowned. We slipped into the back of the conference room. I took the seat behind Winn, desperate to hide behind him, but still be in a spot that I could look at Lena.

She was gorgeous as always. Wearing a white shirt and black pencil skirt, her hair down and around her shoulders. She was smiling and laughing at whatever Cat was saying, her eyes moving around the room as more of the main editorial team and journalists filed in.

“You keep staring like that and she’ll feel it.” Winn whispered in my ear.

I blushed, tipping my head down, fidgeting with a button on my blazer. “Shut up.” Winn knew a little about the encounter with Lena, not everything, but most of it. He also knew she was still a weakness of mine. He was with me the day I found the Tennessee Williams book in the old book shop next to Catco. He only gave me a small smile, a soft look and didn’t question it when I asked the clerk for a small card to write her a note, then gave her the address to have the book delivered.

“Thank you for attending this meeting. We’ll keep it short.” Cat’s voice pulled all of the attention to her. “I know the rumors have run abundant through this office, so first up, a little housekeeping. Andrea Rojas has been moved to the Seattle office where she will take over as Division Editor. We will not be filling her position at the National City office.” She glanced at Lena. “You may also wonder why Ms. Luthor has graced us on this fine day.” She waved at Lena. “Lena, if you may take the floor.”

Lena nodded, smiling as she clasped her hands together. “Thank you, Cat.” She swallowed hard, looking around the room like she always did when she was nervous. I went to look away when her big green eyes locked on mine. I saw the tiny hitch in her breath as she nodded and began speaking. “I know many are confused why I’m here. I run a biotech company, not a journalistic empire. Which is correct, but the reason why Craidhe Tech merged with Catco was to create a new world of journalism that looks at the important issues. Biotech, medicine, science, politics, human innovation, and show the world the things that can be done if we work together. Yes, my company is the driving force in science, but I also believe the art of truthful journalism is key to invigorating the future. I learned about science when I stumbled across and old Popular Science in my dentist’s office at the age of four. Needless to say, I never looked back.” She paused, looking around the room, her nerves rising once more. “Anyone can tell the story of this season’s hot new boots, or the skin care regime of a-listers. I can buy fifteen magazines standing in line waiting to pay for groceries.” She turned to the touch screen behind her, tapping the corner, the screen lighting up with a black cover of the galaxy. “Draiotch is the new publication being added to Catco’s lineup. The magazine will be hard hitting journalism. Science, medicine, politics, human rights. We will report on all of it with a fair eye, fair souls, and open hearts. Everything we report on will be researched to the fullest, and giving to the world without bias. If you’re sitting in this room, you’ve been hand selected to be a part of the team.”

A wave of murmurs washed through the room. Lena smiled as the energy shifted from bored, to excited. She tapped the screen once more. “The editorial team will be finalized this morning. The journalists will have packets on their desk highlighting the type of articles that best suit their style. For example, Mr. Schott.” She pointed at Winn, slouching in his chair. “You will be moving from the IT department to writing about the newest advances in coding, hacking, and mainframe maintenance.” She then pointed to another journalist sitting across from me. “Ellie, you will be taking on medical research. Including advances in medicine and where we lack as a country in providing the best medical care. Now, I know these are broad subjects, but I, and Cat, have decided that this magazine will be written by the journalists, not by advertisers and marketing directors. You chose what you want to write, how you want to write it.”

Cat moved to the screen, tapping on it to bring up the chart of magazines first issue timeline. I sat in silence as everyone chattered with each other. I kept my head down, fidgeting with the button on my blazer until I heard Winn clear his throat. The conference room was practically empty, aside from me, Winn and Lena. There were a few interns fawning over Lena about their new positions, but other than that, everyone and rushed out, eager to start their new jobs.

I stood up, smoothing out my pants. I wasn’t incredibly excited about the new magazine, it was a great idea. I just had a sinking feeling that when I got back to my desk, I’d have a new title. Editor in Chief or something even more vapid. I knew the game of this business. You didn’t create a new magazine and leave your star player on the bench. I’d been down this road a hundred times at the Times. Each time I made it back, I was given a new title the second my article hit the newsstands and sent sales to the moon. I was a name. I was a brand and as much as I once enjoyed it, the reason why I took the job at Catco was to hide. I wanted to write the articles I wanted, I wanted those articles hidden in the corners for a bore housewife to stumble across and tell her friends about the article about South African blood diamonds she read in Catco.

I don’t know, maybe I was still bitter from the world shitting all over me. I once wanted to change the world, and I did my damndest, but after being shot and stabbed, I got it. The world didn’t want to be changed.

“Kara?”

I turned to the sound of Lena’s voice, still half in my thoughts. She smiled at me, taking a step closer. “Um, thank you for the book. I received it last week.” She paused, glancing at her hands. “You’re welcome.” She spoke quietly, the shy Lena poking it’s head out. My favorite Lena.

“Yeah, um. Good.” I cleared my throat, sticking my hands in my pocket. “I kind of figured the girl just took the extra twenty and dropped the book in the mailbox.” I looked around the room, anywhere but her.

Lena chuckled, reaching over to grab her bag and blazer. “Did you have any questions about the new magazine?”

I caught how her hands trembled. She was nervous. I still made her nervous. “Not really? I’m sure the packet on my desk will answer any questions.” I stared at her, my heart skipping a few beats. I closed my eyes, hating the way my heart had a mind of it’s own. “It’s an aggressive release date of next month.”

“The team we assembled will get it done. I have faith.” She turned to face me, slipping her blazer on.

I nodded. “You still get nervous speaking in front of groups.” I motioned to her hands. “You still tug on your ring when you’re nervous.”

“And I still look for you in the room. The only person I know is truly listening to me.” Lena tipped her head down, her cheeks turning pink. “I’m sorry.”

I let out a slow breath. Thinking about one of the homework assignments my therapist gave me. Talk to the people in my life I’m afraid to. Alex was number two on the list and this weekend we were going to sit and drink our faces off while I told her what happened in St. Petersberg. Eliza was number four. I had a trip at the end of the month to Midvale where I would spend the weekend with her. And Lena was number one. I clenched my jaw, I had to do something. I couldn’t keep Lena in a bottle on the shelf, never to be touched. “Next Tuesday, can we grab a cup of coffee? Talk about the magazine and stuff.” Stuff? You’re an award winning journalist and all you can come up with is stuff? Jesus, Kara.

Lena met my eyes, and I could see her heart race in her neck. “I believe I’m free for most of the morning. I do have a late night flight out to London that night.” She pulled up her phone.

“If you’re busy, it can wait.” I pushed up my glasses.

“All set. All of my morning meetings have been cancelled.” Lena palmed her phone. “Shall we meet at the Last Drop, say ten?”

I couldn’t hold back the smile at her controlled eagerness. “Ten is perfect.” I sucked in a breath, about to apologize for my garbage behavior when Eve walked in.

“Ms. Luthor? Ms. Grant would like to speak with you before you leave.”

Lena nodded. “I’ll be there in a minute.” She turned to look at me, a heavy silence falling between us. “Oh, here.” She dug in her bag, pulling out a pen and scribbled on the back of her business card. “This is my phone number.” She handed it over to me. “In case you’ll be late, or something comes up.”

I grabbed it, my heart lurching when my fingertip brushed against hers. “Thanks. I’m sure I could’ve badgered Alex for it.” I absently ran my thumb over her handwriting. A distant memory of her writing her phone number on the back of a coaster, rushing forth. I tugged at my collar, wondering when it suddenly became so hot in the room.

Thankfully, Lena was the more professional one. “Well, now you won’t have to bother Alex and have her question you why in the world would you dare want my phone number.” She grinned, her cheeks still pink. “Excuse me, I should see Cat before she sends the hounds in on me.” She whispered a polite goodbye and left me standing in the empty room, holding onto a stupid business card like it was her heart.

“Shit.” I tucked the card in my pocket as my carousel of emotions decided to stop on one. The one being how much I still felt for Lena.

I shook my head as I walked back to my office.

The fancy packet with the Draiotch logo, sat in the middle of my desk. I groaned looking at it, sitting behind the desk as I reached for it. I tore open the top and shook out the contents. I was ready to write a firmly worded email to whoever that I wasn’t taking on the role of Editor in Chief, or lead whatever.

Instead, a thin piece of paper slipped across my desk with more of Lena’s handwriting on it.

              Choose what you want to write. Choose how you want to write it, Kara. You don’t need a title or a path set ahead for you. Write like you’ve always wanted, write like I know you can. It’s time someone gave you the freedom you’ve always searched for. You will have no hard guidelines and will have free rein on topics and research. The editorial team is at your disposal to assist, not change your articles.

              If you’d like a title, Eve has a list you can choose from. But I’ve always preferred Kara Danvers, journalist.

I set the piece of paper down on the desk and spun to face the windows. “Shit.” I let out a huge breath, rubbing at my forehead.

Lena was making it very hard to hate her.