Chapter 136: Choose Your Enemies Wisely Part 5

While Arias was getting his "interview" underway, Clark was waiting on another Metropolis street. This one was more... average in appearance and lacked any overly luxurious stores or restaurants.

Clark was dressed somewhat formally, wearing the standard "I work a 9-5 office job" outfit. He held two hot beverages in his hands as he stood outside a well-known local cafe.

'She's running a little late,' Clark thought while looking at his wristwatch.

He was supposed to meet with Lois 30 minutes ago, but so far, there was no sign of her. His fascination with her started when he began working at the *Daily Planet*. She was far from a kind and helpful superior to a rookie, but he learned she was far more passionate than he gave her credit for.

She even went as far as putting herself in life-or-death situations, in which he had to save her as Superman. Sometime along those interactions, he just found himself smitten with her.

Unfortunately, her interest was in Superman, not Clark. So he had no choice but to pretend he was close to Superman in order to get close to her as Clark.

It really was true that men became fools when they were infatuated. The man of steel was no different, sadly.

"Let's try calling her. It'll be getting late soon," Clark muttered while reaching into his thrift store-like blazer and retrieving his phone.

Unsurprisingly, her number was already on speed dial, so he immediately called.

Back at the restaurant, Lois was all smiles as she tried to maintain composure, finding Arias's stories far too humorous.

"Stop, you can't be serious," she said while covering her mouth.

Arias just looked at her and shrugged while wearing a mischievous smile. "I am. Vicki practically begged me to give her a story so she could one-up you at some gathering for reporters or whatever that was."

Lois held in her laughter and just shook her head before taking a sip of wine. "I knew that slu... sly woman had some help. That begs the question, what did she do to convince you? I can already make a wild guess."

Arias cracked a smirk and nodded. "I'm sure you can. If it's any consolation, she left the restaurant with her makeup in shambles."

The blunt reply caused Lois to almost spit out her drink. Women were always a petty bunch, so hearing the struggles her rival Vicki went through was rather entertaining for Lois.

She quickly collected herself and cleared her throat while wiping her mouth with a napkin. "Well, that's certainly... interesting. I hope you don't think that's what will happen with me."

Arias leaned forward slightly and clasped his hands together while looking Lois in the eyes. But before he could utter the most godly of rizz, Lois's phone rang.

He looked at it and saw the caller I.D. before leaning back, inwardly smiling. 'I have to give it to Lex; his information was more accurate than I anticipated.'

Lois looked at the call with a slight frown. A big part of her was very curious about what Arias was about to say.

'Dammit, Clark, why such timing? Let me just wrap this up and meet him,' she thought while cutting the call instantly.

Arias raised a brow at this but didn't comment. Lois quickly explained while just smiling, "Just a work call. It can wait. You were saying?"

One could almost hear her eagerness to carry on conversing with Arias, but this was enough for him. "It's fine. I think we lost track of time; our interview was supposed to end thirty minutes ago. I best get going."

He looked at his own watch and then spoke nonchalantly to the somewhat disappointed Lois, who just nodded and agreed.

"Oh, I hadn't even noticed. I just realized I didn't get to ask you any proper questions..." Lois trailed off while sighing.

'Really, Lois?' She scolded herself while shaking her head.

Arias stood up and smiled before passing her his card. "Just tell your employer I was difficult but still open to future opportunities. For now, just make up something about me and the Lexcorp CEO, my secretary."

Lois thought for a moment. "The same secretary that made sure I was late every time Lex had her drive me around? Oh, I'll definitely do that, the socials will love it. Her? Not so much."

"Anyway, thanks for this. It was definitely different, but I needed it," she concluded, speaking in a sincere tone.

Arias just nodded and paid the bill before the duo began to exit the restaurant. Once outside, Lois was immediately about to call a taxi when Arias offered, "Let me drop you off, you'll mess up your outfit if you use a taxi."

Lois had no reason to refuse, so she just nodded with a smile plastering her face.

The drive wasn't at all long, and despite Lois trying to spark a conversation, Arias just played the listening role and answered in a way that prompted her to speak more.

While speaking, she could see the cafe she was supposed to meet Clark at and pointed towards it. "Just over there."

The car stopped in front of the cafe, prompting some passersby to stop and admire it, given the nature of its luxury and price alone.

The driver stepped out and opened the door for Lois while Arias remained inside. Clark was among the crowd that gathered near the cafe, thinking a celebrity had arrived.

In all fairness, Lois Lane was indeed a celebrity, but certainly not to this degree. Clark walked to the front to meet her. "Hey, Lois..."

Lois saw him and waved toward him to wait as she said her goodbyes to Arias.

"Thanks again. I'll be sure to communicate in the future," she stated, trying to downplay her newfound interest in Arias as a whole.

"Looking forward to it," Arias replied stoically before having the driver close the door.

The car drove away, and the crowd still took some photos while some asked Lois for an autograph or a photo with her.

She was especially well-known within Metropolis. Once it was all over, she finally approached Clark. "Sorry I ran late; the interview ran longer than I thought. We're still on to meet him, right?"

Clark paused and collected his thoughts. He had long used his x-ray vision to see that Arias was in the car, so he felt rather complex at this moment.

On one side, he understood it was her job, and they weren't anything yet, but on the other, he was very suspicious of Arias and didn't want her getting close to Lois.

"Oh right, of course. But I'm running late, so I'll give you the meeting place."