[ WP ] You are the world 's richest skyscraper insurance salesman . You made your money by convincing buildings they were next after a superhero knocked down their neighbors . However , 5 years ago you were flat broke . Until your former best friend from high school , Clark Kent , came looking for a loan .

“ I appreciate you meeting with me, Mr. Luther, ” I shook the hand of one of the most imposing men I ’ ve ever met. 
 
 “ Pleasure is mine, ” he responded with a certain intimidating elegance. “ I ’ ll be frank; your business model is absolutely brilliant. In the presence of superpowered collateral damage, you ’ ve found ways to protect both the common man and business owner alike. 
 
 He paused for a moment to swat a speck of dust of his otherwise completely black suit. He offered me a glass of vintage wine, though I politely declined. 
 
 “ Tell me, ” he began. “ How did you start your business? ” 
 
 “ Well, ” I replied. “ About five years ago, I was near penniless and broke. I made my way through bussing tables and sweeping hair. Then an old friend tracked me down asking for a loan. Usually when old friends come asking for money, you slam the door and turn away, but he wasn ’ t the type of person you say no to. ” 
 
 “ Intimidating? ” Lex offered. 
 
 “ No. On the contrary, I ’ ve never felt safer around the guy, ” I responded. I paused to collect my thoughts to describe my old friend. “ He ’ s the type of guy that when makes a promise, you wouldn ’ t think for a second he would break it. I mean, he would give his last penny for you if you asked for it, and often when you wouldn ’ t, and never expect to be paid back. I couldn ’ t say no, so I scraped every cent that I could find and gave it to him so that he could secure a down payment on an apartment in Metropolis. ” 
 
 “ Sounds the quite the salesman. Or politician. ” Lex countered. 
 
 “ Not quite, ” I answered. “ He became a journalist on the Daily Planet. Once he won the Pulitzer in his first year on the job for his piece on inner city poverty, he paid me back with a *very* generous interest rate. At the time I began working insurance, beginning to understand the business when he gave me the idea, especially as Superman began making his debut. I took the idea and ran with it. ” 
 
 “ I see, ” Lex leaned back in his luxurious leather chair. “ Out of curiosity, was your friend Clark Kent? ” 
 
 “ The one and only, ” I proudly announced. “ You have to meet him one day. I think you two would get along well. ” 
 
 “ We had an interview the other day. He ’ s quite, ” Lex paused for a moment to collect his thoughts before a dry grin crawled across his face. “ He ’ s quite the incredible man. ” 
 
 “ Anyway, ” I carried on. “ I ’ m sure you didn ’ t call me to talk about local reporters. ” 
 
 “ Quite correct, ” Luther answered. “ I like your business model. I would like it even more under the Lexcorp brand. ” 
 
 “ Oh I appreciate it, Mr. Luther, ” I flattered him. “ But it isn ’ t for sale. ” 
 
 “ I ’ m proposing more of a partnership, ” he countered. “ You would still have considerable autonomy, though I have veto power. In exchange, you can use my vast array of resources and contacts to expand your fledgling business into other…trouble cities. Like Gotham or Central. ” 
 
 “ Like I said Mr. Luther, ” I repeated. “ I am incredibly flattered you would have any interest in my business, but it ’ s not for sale. ” 
 
 “ I see, ” Lex resigned before handing me a pure black business card made of cotton paper with silver trim in an intricate pattern around the edges. His name and number sprawled across the front of it. “ You know where to contact me if you change your mind. And I believe once you ’ ve had time to think, you *will* change your mind. ” 
 
 ***** 
 
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