The next day/The Dinner

The next morning Clark is hard at work at the daily planet writing the most flattering article you've ever seen about Mindy and looking longingly at the photos the planet have of Mindy on file to go with the article, Lois approaches him looking over his shoulder at the article, "HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR?", Lois snapped" She's done alot of good for the city Lois", "Yeah and she's head of Intergang" Clark turns to Lois "Don't say that, it was Bill Church, she knew nothing about that", "Are you okay Clark?", "Yeah I'm fine Lois, look I've invited Mindy to dinner tonight"..."YOU'VE INVITED MINDY ON OUR DATE...", "Look I thought it would be a good chance for you to get to know her like I do and we can put this Intergang stuff to bed once and for all"...Lois looked at Clark in disbelief..."You're right Clark, I'll see you tonight at 7:30pm...and Mindy" I'm gonna get to the bottom of this thought Lois.

6:30pm at the restaurant, Clark is sitting at the table waiting for Mindy to arrive early like they had planned when suddenly in she walks in the most revealing dress he's ever seen, split at the hip, and showing her ample cleavage, the light bouncing off her red Jewel necklace as she approached, "Hello Clarkie" she reached in and kissed him on both cheeks, Clark got a face full of the perfume, sweat beads instantly start to form on his forehead, "Hi Mindy I've be...", "Don't Clarkie..." She puts her index finger to his mouth to shush him, "I've been thinking about you all day, I've not felt this way about someone since I was with my Pookie, I wanted to meet you here on your own to tell you, I want you..." Clark gulped, "I want you to know I think alot of you", Clark nods "Oh Mindy, I'm so happy you've said that I feel exactly the same"., "OH GOODIE" Squels Mindy as she blows him a kiss across the table, "But what about Lois? I won't date you while you're with someone else", "I love Lois..." Clark says looking away, Mindy sprays her perfume "I got the impression you and Lois were growing apart, I think we've got something special here Clark and I'd like to see where it goes, but that's up to you"...Clark takes the spritz straight in the face, "You're right I love her but we're growing apart", "You should tell her tonight" for the next 45 minutes Mindy outrageously flirts with Clark over drinks.

Lois arrives and sits down "I didn't know you were getting here early Clark?", "I'm sorry Mindy wanted to speak in private", the 3 order their food and drinks, throughout the night Mindy and Lois throw passive aggressive insults at each other while Clark tries to keep the peace, at the end of the meal, Lois reaches into her bag and pulls out some papers "Excuse me Mindy, but while I've got you here, can I just ask you some questions about this affidavit from Joey Bermuda...you know the handyman, he seems to suggest you paid him to try to kill Clark and I, and I thought it might be a good idea to flesh it out for the article", Mindy feigns tears, "LOIS!" screamed Clark, "YOU WERE THERE WHEN JOEY BERMUDA TRIED TO KILL MINDY", Lois shouts back "What's going on with you Clark? Let's just pay up and get out of here" Clark looks at Mindy, "I think you should tell her Clarkie", Lois quickly interjects with a laugh "Clarkie? Tell me what Clarkie?", "Listen Lois, you know we've been growing apart for a long time and I'll still always love you but I'm in love with Mindy" Mindy shoots an evil smile baring her teeth, Lois bursts into tears and runs out of the restaurant. Clark goes to follow but is pulled back by Mindy, who inches from his face "Listen Clarkie, I know that was hard but maybe we should get out of here and go back to your place" She kisses him full on, Clark is in heaven and is led out of the restaurant like a puppy. "EXCUSE ME YOU HAVENT PAID!" shouts the waiter..."I'LL PAY THEIR BILL" shouts a man at another table, it's Tempus enjoying a steak dinner and fine wine, smiling from ear to ear.

Mindy and Clark arrive back at his apartment, Mindy noticing the several pictures of Lois and Clark starts to slyly turn them around or face down. Clark offers to go and get some drinks, Mindy says she needs to use the powder room, she takes the chance to spray the perfume everywhere, especially on his pillow and bed sheets. Clark calls out for her, "Coming Clarkie", now sat on the couch Mindy puts the 2nd part of the plan into motion test how much Clark trusts her she needs him to reveal that he's superman. "Clarkie, if I tell you my deepest secret will you tell me yours? "Of Course" comes Clark's instant reply, Mindy smiles and moves closer to him, sitting across his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck. "My deepest secret is that I always suspected Billy was up to no good but I was too afraid to do anything about it" she lightly kisses his lips, "Now yours Clarkie", Clark thinks about it and goes to speak, Mindy puts a hand to his lips "Your deepest secret..." another light kiss, Clark looks at her " I'm..." Mindy flashes a vicious smile "Go on Clarkie..." .Clark pensive "I'm..." He realises what he's about to say "I'm...allergic to some pretty strange things." Mindy looks at him disappointingly and his heart sinks"I guess you aren't serious about us Clark, call me when you're really ready to connect on a deeper level..." she gets up and walks towards the door, "PLEASE MINDY, DONT GO" but all he hears is the click of the door closing. Clark despairing goes to his bedroom burying his face into the pillow as his senses are attacked by the perfume she sprayed earlier, Clark goes to sleep dreaming of Mindy through the night.

Outside of the apartment as Mindy leaves she calls Tempus, "Shouldn't you be corrupting "Clarkie" with your feminine wiles?" Asks Tempus, "He wouldn't share his identity he still has some resistance, so I left him to think about his priorities", "I'm sure you did, excellent work breaking Miss Lane's heart my dear". "It's time we bring Superman into play tomorrow we start phase 3, I'll prepare a team to rob the metropolis bank and I'll be there making an innocent deposit" she laughs..."Time to test those priorities indeed Duty or Love" Tempus manically laughs as he hangs up the phone.