Irene looked at the mock-up of the evening paper happy that within the next couple of hours the world would know who Lex Luthor really was.

Once Perry had all the evidence she and Jimmy had collected he had no hesitation to get it printed. He understood the urgency of finally exposing Luthor, waiting any longer meant that he could do something else that would get hundreds of more people killed.

Jimmy was at the police station giving them all the evidence that the had collected against Luthor, and Irene was beginning to feel a large weight being lifted off her shoulders.

Now that she had made sure that everything was about to be printed the way she wanted she was eager to get back to her apartment.

But more than anything she found herself wanting to tell Martha everything, she had to know what was happening and that everything was going to be okay with her son. Irene attempted to call her a couple of times as she took the elevator down to the lobby, but was disappointed when Martha didn't answer. Which was odd considering that she always answered her calls.

Irene knew that she had been on edge the last couple of days and maybe she was overthinking everything now. Maybe Martha was still at work or maybe she was taking a nap. There could be a thousand reasonable explanations.as to why she couldn't answer the phone.

But when Irene stepped out of the elevator and into the almost empty lobby of the Daily Planet she realized that maybe she hadn't been over reacting.

The man that was standing in the middle of the lobby was someone who she would never forget. How could she forget the face of the man that had a gun pointed to Jimmy's head out in that desert?

"You're Anatoly Knyazev." Irene said but his face remained expressionless, either he expected her to know his name or he really wasn't worried. And if he wasn't worried that meant that he didn't think of her as a threat, probably because she wouldn't be a profit much longer.

She was expecting something like this. But they were too late because the papers were getting printed and the police were being informed of everything.

Irene took a couple steps back knowing what was about to happen next before she tried to run back towards the elevator. A part of her knew that it was a pointless attempt but she wasn't going to make it easy for him.

Before she could reach the open elevator door an arm wrapped tightly around her waist as another covered her mouth preventing her from screaming for help. Not that Irene intended to, and as the man dragged her out of the Daily Planet Irene had to remind herself to remain calm.

That she had been through a lot worse. And maybe she didn't know exactly what Luthor had planned but she knew it was going to involve her bringing Superman to him.

And she just couldn't let that happen. So Irene had no other choice than to let Anatoly Knyazev carry her out of the Daily Planet.

Irene surprisingly wasn't scared or nervous. All she felt was anger as the helicopter lowered into the helipad. Lex Luthor was standing there waiting for them and Irene knew what all of this was.

Again she was just a pawn that Luthor was using. He needed her to lure Superman out of hiding, but she wouldn't allow that to happen. Whatever Luthor had planned he couldn't get what he wanted.

When the helicopter finally landed Irene looked to Anatoly, who motioned for her to step off with his gun.  It wasn't the first time someone had pointed a gun at Irene, and she had a feeling that it wouldn't be the last.

Stepping out of the helicopter Irene couldn't help but hesitate, it was the not knowing what was going to happen next that worried her.

"Irene Miranda just the girl I've been wanting to see." Lex yelled from the other side of the roof. It was difficult to hear him over the sound of the helicopter flying away, but he didn't see me to notice as he motioned her closer. "Come see the view."

Seeing as she didn't have much of a choice she walked across the rooftop to where he was waiting. The moment that Irene was in his reach, Lex put his arm around her shoulders. Having him so close disgusted her and she attempted to pull away.

It was a pointless attempt. He was a lot stronger than she expected and as he pulled her even closer Irene decided that it was best just to play along.

He made them walked closer to the edge of building, she could almost look down at the busy street below.

"Now, the secret is the height. It's the building material. It's light metals, which... sway a bit in the wind." Luthor said as he finally let go of her. He was facing her now and she couldn't help but notice how pleased with himself he was. He clearly had been waiting for this moment for a long time. "And you know something about LexCorp metals, don't you, Irene?"

"I've proven what you've done."

"Wow, you're feisty. One of my favorite things about you." He continued not at all concerned with what she had told him. Either he thought he was untouchable or maybe he finding evidence to prove his guilt meant nothing. "Unfortunately, that will blow away. Like sand in the desert."

"When people find out it was you trying to turn them against Superman it's all over."

Luthor sighed almost like he was disappointed in her.  He seemed frustrated that she didn't see things the way he did.

"I do not suffer fools. And you Irene are no fool, which is good. The world is already filled with too many fools. Obsequious cretans who worship aliens believing them to be agents of justice. But I know the alien's true face. I understand the threat and so does the Bat."

Irene's confidence faltered hearing the last part of his little speech. She had never thought that Batman would have any part in Luthor's plan, unless they were working together. Which Irene would highly unlikely.

"What does Batman have to do with this?"

"You've overlooked him." Lex noted as he shook his head in disappointment. "He's just a man I suppose he's easy to overlook."

Irene couldn't help but worry now, realizing that there was something that she had missed. "What's your next move then?"

She wanted to ask about Martha. But what he hadn't done anything to her? Irene didn't want to put ideas in his head about other ways to hurt Superman. But even now it felt like everything was going according to his plan.

"They're all looking for your God." Lex stated and the more he let his mask slip the more she understood him. It wasn't that he was afraid of Superman or that he believed him to be an actual threat.

Lex Luthor was jealous of Superman. He was jealous that no matter how smart, powerful or rich he was he would never be able to compare. He would never be able to have that same amount of power.

"They won't find him. You won't find him."

"Round and round and round they go to find Superman. Little do they know that the shortest distance between any two points is a straight path." He continued as he reached over taking a strand of Irene's hair between his fingers. "And I believe the swiftest path to Superman... is you."

Irene stepped back annoyed with how he felt it was okay to touch her. "I little cliche don't you think?"

"I know that you're probably controlling that pretty little heart of yours. Not wanting to draw him here. There's only so much you can control Irene."

He was right. Of course she was. This whole time she had been trying to remain calm and not let herself become overwhelmed by it all. He knew as well as she did that if Clark heard her in any kind of distress he would come.

Superman had proved that in the desert when he saved her.

It was ironic how the last couple of days she had been desperate for him to come back. Now she wanted Clark as far away as possible.

"Clearly." She muttered because if she was in control she wouldn't be in this situation now and he knew it.

"You have a lot to learn still. But you want to know something you have yet to learn?" He asked and she only looked at him not bothering to answer. Irene knew he would tell her anyway. "Even angels fall from heaven."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Irene questioned and she couldn't help but gasp as he roughly put his hands on her shoulders turning her around to face him.

Irene understood then, but the moment she realized what he intended she felt as he pushed her back.

She hadn't noticed how close she really was to the edge. Not until she felt as her feet were no longer touching solid ground and she was falling over 500 feet to the busy street below.