The Dark Persuasion [30]

In an office building in Metropolis, Bob Rickman sat across from Paul Hendrix, one of the officials at the Center for Environmental Protection. The tension in the air was palpable as Paul, with a serious expression, tried to explain the situation.

"Rickman, you can't build another plant in Smallville," Paul said, his voice firm. "Your last plant already contaminated the groundwater, and we have several lawsuits against you. This has to stop."

Bob Rickman leaned forward with a carefree smile, as if Paul's words meant nothing to him. "I understand your concern, Paul. But let's be realistic… those lawsuits will disappear. You know how things work."

Paul shook his head, clearly irritated. "Not this time, Rickman. We have a restraining order against you. Until all these lawsuits are resolved, you're banned from building anything in Smallville."

Rickman stood up calmly, adjusting his suit and walking toward the door. "I believe you'll change your mind, Paul. In fact, I think you're already changing it."

He extended his hand to Paul, offering a handshake. Paul, hesitant, accepted the gesture, not noticing the green glow that surrounded their hands during the handshake. His eyes glazed over, and his body tensed for a moment.

"Paul, I know you're in pain," Rickman murmured, his voice soft and persuasive. "The only way to end this pain is to end your own life."

Paul, still in a trance, nodded slowly, agreeing, while Rickman walked away with a satisfied smile.

In the lobby, Rickman straightened his tie as he left the building, leaving behind an inevitable tragedy. Minutes later, a deafening sound echoed through the corridors.

Crash!

Paul Hendrix had jumped from the building's window, plummeting to his death.

Rickman, now outside, heard the commotion but didn't look back. He simply smiled as he calmly walked down the sidewalk, knowing another obstacle had been removed from his path.

...…

Clark drove the truck along the road, the morning sun illuminating the way as he and Chloe talked. The comfortable silence was interrupted when Chloe, still curious, glanced at him.

"You should have told me your parents had arrived," Chloe said, with a slight teasing tone, but clearly expecting an answer.

"Sorry, Chloe. I was so focused on handling what was happening with Earl that I ended up forgetting," Clark replied with a sigh.

Chloe frowned, intrigued. "And what happened with Earl, after all?"

"My dad took him to the police this morning and hired a lawyer to help with the case," Clark explained, keeping his eyes on the road.

"That's good. I hope he has a chance to redeem himself," Chloe said, now more at ease.

As the truck approached Chloe's house, the sun shone over the surrounding trees. Clark parked the car in front of her driveway and turned off the engine.

Chloe looked at him, smiling. "Thanks for bringing me, Clark. And for everything today."

Clark returned the smile. "You know you can count on me."

Chloe leaned in and gave Clark a quick kiss before stepping out of the truck. She waved one last time as she walked toward her front door, disappearing after entering.

Clark watched for a few seconds, taking a deep breath, before starting the engine again and driving back to the farm, the sunlight accompanying his journey home.

...…

"Lana, I'm sorry I missed your party," Whitney said with a tone of regret as they rode through the field. The sun shone brightly in the sky, and the weather was pleasant, but Whitney still felt guilty.

"It's okay, Whitney," Lana replied, smiling at him. "You had important things to deal with. The party wasn't that amazing anyway."

They continued riding side by side for a while, enjoying each other's company, until Lana, feeling a competitive spirit, smiled mischievously.

"How about a race?" Lana asked, already pulling the reins of her horse to gain speed without waiting for Whitney's response.

Whitney, surprised, smiled and started to accelerate, but Lana had already gained a considerable lead. The wind hit Lana's face, and she laughed as she looked back to see Whitney trying to catch up.

However, when she looked back, Lana didn't notice the man standing ahead, in the middle of the trail. The horse neighed loudly as she pulled the reins sharply to avoid a collision but lost her balance and fell from the horse.

Thud!

"Lana!" Whitney shouted, rushing to catch up with her.

The man in the path quickly kneeled beside Lana, trying to help her up. She was dazed but seemed okay.

"Get your hands off her!" Whitney yelled furiously as he jumped off his horse and ran toward them.

The man, scared by Whitney's approach, quickly backed off, running into the forest without saying a word.

Whitney knelt beside Lana, helping her sit up. "Are you okay? Did that guy hurt you?" he asked, concerned, glancing in the direction the man had fled.

"I'm fine, Whitney. I didn't even see him. I just fell off the horse when I tried to swerve," Lana replied, rubbing her shoulder, which ached from the fall.

Whitney looked at Lana, still worried but not entirely convinced. "Are you sure? He didn't do anything to you?"

Lana shook her head, trying to reassure him. "I'm sure, Whitney. It was just an accident."

Whitney sighed, still suspicious. He helped Lana stand, and they both returned to their horses.

"Let's head back home," Whitney said, giving one last look in the direction of the forest before mounting his horse.

Lana agreed, and the two rode back to the farm, the incident still lingering in Whitney's mind.

...…

Clark was driving toward the farm, the clear blue sky without a single cloud, when in the distance, he saw Whitney helping Lana down from her horse. He frowned for a moment but soon relaxed.

'She must have fallen, nothing to worry about.'

As he passed them, Clark, curious, activated his telepathy to try and read Lana's mind. He wanted to know what had really happened there. As he delved into her mind, he saw flashes of the mysterious man in the path and the sudden fall from the horse.

'This episode is about that guy who wants to buy the farm.'

Clark frowned, quickly connecting the dots. He knew that man had nefarious intentions and could be involved in something much bigger.

'All I need to do is cut off his hand, erase a few memories, and hypnotize him to confess his crimes about the environment.'

Clark continued his way to the farm, remaining calm on the outside but already devising a plan in his mind.

...…

At the reception party in Smallville, the atmosphere was sophisticated, with elegant guests. Bob was the center of attention, chatting with local businessmen and displaying his usual charm. Among the attendees, Lex watched the scene cautiously. He knew Rickman wasn't just an ordinary businessman.

"Come to ruin Smallville's soil too, Rickman?" Lex said, approaching with a disguised smile, but the tone in his voice was challenging.

"Lex Luthor," Bob replied with a cold smile. "Everything I do is within the law. Just trying to bring progress to this town. You know how it is, right?"

Lex narrowed his eyes, clearly skeptical.

"Laws that you seem to bend to your convenience. Where exactly do you plan to build, Rickman?"

"I've chosen the Kent farm as the site for my new pesticide factory. A perfect location, central and productive."

Lex shook his head and laughed, his expression showing disbelief.

"Jonathan will never sell the farm to you, Rickman."

"I can be very persuasive when I want to," Bob said, a menacing gleam in his eyes. "How about a bet?" He extended his hand to Lex, as if expecting a deal.

Lex ignored the gesture and, instead of shaking Bob's hand, grabbed a champagne glass from a passing tray. "It's no fun betting on something I know I'm going to win," Lex said, raising the glass before taking a sip, keeping his gaze fixed on Bob.

A female guest approached Bob, momentarily distracting him. "We'll see, Lex," Bob murmured, returning to his superior smile as he greeted the woman beside him.

Lex, with his eyes locked, watched the interaction for a brief moment before stepping away, satisfied that he had shown he wouldn't be easily intimidated. As he distanced himself from the party, his thoughts turned to the Kents.

'Jonathan would never cave to pressure, but Rickman is dangerous,' Lex thought, feeling a pang of concern. He needed to make sure the Kent family was aware of who Bob Rickman really was.

"Maybe it's time to pay a visit to the Kent farm," Lex murmured to himself as he planned his next move.

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