 Feeling like her character was wasting her college degree O 'Toole suggested to the producers that Martha go to work for Lex during the second season . The producers agreed , but altered the concept so that Martha went to work for Lionel , and that she would use this new position to spy on Lionel and find out what he knows about Clark . Disappointed when the storyline ended quickly into the second season , O 'Toole hoped that the secret her character was holding in " Ryan " was that Martha was going to run for Mayor . In O 'Toole 's opinion , Martha needs some form of outlet for intelligence . To the chagrin of O 'Toole , Martha 's next storyline — the expectation of a new child — tied the character to the farm in a way the actress did not agree with . O 'Toole wanted to perform as if the pregnancy was fake — something mentally created by Clark 's ship — but the producers insisted that she wear the pregnancy pads to indicate that she was indeed pregnant . Ultimately , that storyline ended with Martha losing the baby to a miscarriage . Before season four began , O 'Toole suggested again to the producers that Martha go to work for Lex . O 'Toole had enjoyed the moments in the show when she was working for Lionel , because it gave her character something more to do , and she wanted to do that again for season four . The producers took her suggestion and had Martha take a job at the Talon , which was owned by Lex , and which O 'Toole felt allowed Martha to interact more with the other characters in Clark 's life . 
