The glass doors whispered shut behind them, sealing the outside world away with a quiet hiss. Lex didn't bother with the pleasantries most visitors received — no rehearsed greetings, no empty gestures toward lobby art as he walked her inside for her first visit to his building.

This wasn't just a courtesy; this was a calculated performance.

LuthorCorp's main floor stretched out before them in pristine efficiency — gleaming floors reflecting the overhead lights, seamless technology embedded in every surface, and employees who knew better than to slow under their employer's gaze. Lex moved with unhurried precision, each step deliberate, though every so often his eyes flicked sideways to catch the flicker of quiet awe on her face. That look — unguarded, unpolished — was something he found unexpectedly compelling.

"This," he said smoothly, gesturing toward a cluster of glass-walled labs. "Is one of our R&D wings. All cutting-edge technology, years ahead of public release." His tone carried a quiet superiority, the kind that suggested she was being granted a rare privilege by being here — one only given because he allowed it.

They moved on at his pace, the hum of machinery and low voices weaving around them like a technological symphony. Lex guided her through corridors of innovation, pointing out key projects with a measured hand. Rows of workstations blurred past, analysts locked to cascading data, engineers trading bursts of rapid technical shorthand, department heads adjusting their posture under his passing glance. Every so often, he paused just long enough to make the moment he deemed necessary resonate.

"That is Ms. Wainwright, one of our lead systems architects," he said, gesturing to a passing woman and offering a courteous nod that was returned with military precision. "She's overseeing AI integration into our manufacturing processes. Revolutionary work, truly." The words seemed simple enough in passing, but the subtext unmistakable: look at the empire I've built, look at what I made happen.

He let the tour flow naturally, allowing her a moment to take in the scale of work happening before turning toward a private corridor. The elevator was already waiting for them — no call button pressed, no pause — and Lex ushered her inside with a subtle hand at her back.

"The upper floors," he remarked quietly as they ascended, his reflection in the brushed steel walls showing clean lines and absolute control. "House the more... sensitive work. Fewer distractions, more privacy needed. Do be sure to keep anything you see here to yourself, hm?"

The executive level greeted them with a hush as the doors slid open quietly — no crowded chatter, no clatter of keyboards. Just the muted click of polished shoes on marble and the vast sweep of Metropolis through floor-to-ceiling glass. Lex led her past a handful of closed conference rooms, each understated yet rich in design, before finally arriving at the corner office.

He pushed the door open, stepping aside to let her enter first. The space was vast and curated, every piece of furniture intentionally picked to give the best impression to anyone stepping inside. Dark wood and steel contrasted with the skyline beyond, the city spread out along an entire wall of floor-to-ceiling windows like a carefully arranged display. One wall held a library of leather-bound books, another his massive walnut desk, and the last was accented with awards and framed headlines — all bearing his name.

Crossing to the window, he rested a hand lightly against the glass, drawing her gaze to the view. "Every deal, every policy shift, every innovation worth knowing about... I see it all happen from here." He said, voice low and even with quiet satisfaction.

Glancing over his shoulder at her, a faint smirk curved his mouth, his hand making a subtle sweeping gesture towards the room.

"Impressive, isn't it?"