We were sitting in a board meeting when the phone rang.  He made a face I didn’t recognize as he reached for it, telling us, “Excuse me gentlemen, Carrie, I’ll just be a moment.  Luthor.”  The last was said in his coldest voice, one I have usually heard reserved for his father. 

We could hear the caller through the phone, and whoever it was, it was not his father.  “Nice voice.  You know, for a gazillionaire, with a maid and a cook, you really have no food in your apartment.”  We could hear laughter from the receiver as the voice added, “You must be trying to impress people, answering like that.” 

Mr. Luthor smiled slightly and replied quietly, “One, I’m a not-quite-billionaire.  Two, I have a housekeeper, not a maid.  Three, I have a chef, not a cook.  And four, I have a penthouse, not an apartment.”  By the end, we could hear more chuckling from the other end. 

“And what about the food?” 

“I have food!  My chef prepares my meals for a few days and places them in the freezer so I can heat them up as per my preference unless I KNOW I am having company, then he makes what I tell him to make. See the stress on knowing I am going to have company?”  We started to feel sorry for the person on the other end, as it sounded like Mr. Luthor was beginning to get upset at both the intrusion and the apparent insult to his living space.  I was personally wondering who would have the nerve to just show up at his penthouse without notifying him first. 

“Oh, stop pouting.  I’m not company, and you know it.”  Mr. Luthor chuckled softly and demurred an agreement we couldn’t quite hear.  “And also, had you been paying attention to the calendar, you would have noticed that harvest is over, and that means I get to come back.” 

Mr. Luthor tried to remain businesslike as he looked at his calendar, “Ah yes, I see that noted right here.  I’m not sure how that could have been overlooked in such a flagrant manner.  I’ll have to make sure that situation is rectified.  Was there another reason you called?”  He seemed all business now. 

As I was sitting closest to him, I was the only one who clearly heard the last of the conversation we all seemed privy to.  And to this day, I have kept it to myself.  The caller said, “I missed you, Lex.  Mom sent you pie, and asked when you were coming for a visit.  She also finally sent her cookie recipe, so I need you pick up a few things on your way home so we can make some together.  Can you come home yet?” 

Mr. Luthor turned his chair away so the others could not hear him, but I still could.  “Anything for you, Kent.  Let me wrap this up and I’ll call you back to get that list from you, ok?  Or would you rather come with so you can help me pick the right things?  Ok, I’ll be there in 20 minutes.  And Clark?  I missed you too.”  With that, he disconnected the call and turned his attention back to us. 

“Well everyone, I’m sorry, but we will have to reschedule this meeting.  My assistant will call you with the new date and time.  I have to go…..grocery shopping.”  He smiled at us as he said the last part, one I had never seen on him before.  As I was heading back to my office, I realized what made the smile different.  Mr. Luthor was truly happy.  Happy to cancel a meeting, go grocery shopping and bake cookies with someone comfortable enough to interrupt a meeting.  Someone who felt his penthouse was home.  Someone who felt Mr. Luthor was home.

END