Chapter 1:
A/N: Ok so bad Summary; Set after TDK. Peyton Morris's parents are murdered by the Joker leaving her alone to run her fathers company, one of Gotham's most powerful organizations and Wayne Enterprises leading competitor. Constantly being compared to Bruce Wayne, the bane of her existence she slowly learns they may not be so different after all. She struggles to find the means to push past the rage that drives her over her parents death and straddles the thin line between good an evil by the people she comes to meet moving back to Gotham to run the business.
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Peyton stared at the headstone, wondering when she was going to wake up from the nightmare she was living, and the grave she was standing over wasn't her parents.
"John and Karen Morris, loving parents taken too soon" it was a morbid wish to hope that it was someone else's grave.
She wiped her eyes even though they were dry, she couldn't cry. She hadn't cried a single tear since she learned of her parent's murder. The only emotion she felt was blinding rage towards those responsible and all she thought about was seeking retribution. It was sickening to think someone could be so cruel as to kill for sport, the Joker did a lot of damage to the city of Gotham and her parents fell prey to him. There she stood alone in the world, her only family taken from her and all she had left was her family's empire she was now to run. Peyton, only 26 wasn't finished her masters in Economics yet. She felt that she was forced to live a life that was planned out for her, all because of the Joker.
"Miss Morris?" Her thoughts were interrupted
She turned to face the driver; he stood meekly as his face was sympathetic. Peyton lowered her gaze avoiding his eyes; she was tired of seeing that same expression on everyone's faces.
"I'm sorry miss, but if we don't leave now you'll be late" he announced
Peyton nodded before turning back to the grave one last time. "Wish me luck dad" she said to herself before stepping to the car.
As she slid in she remembered the day after her parents memorial;
"Peyton, your father stipulated in his will that you are to inherit John Morris Endeavour's and become president" Cameron Mathews announced.
Cameron was John Morris's CEO and his closest friend. He had become the closest thing Peyton had to family left.
Peyton stared out the window of her father's office. She looked towards Wayne Tower, her fathers main competitor, run by an aloof drunken playboy.
"Peyton.." Cameron asked
She finally turned "Honey, we understand your father wrote this intending for it to come into play well in the future, if you're not ready you wont be letting anyone down. If you need to finish school and take a year or two to live your own life, we can manage" Cameron said.
Peyton knew the company would be in good hands if she did what Cameron suggested but her father gave this responsibility to her "No." she said simply "I'm ready" she said not entirely sure of herself.
As Peyton stepped into her father's office, she looked around trying to collect herself for the day to come. She had kept her fathers office the same as he had left it with no intensions of changing it. Te large office held bookshelves that hugged the walls, filled with books and accolades from her fathers career, pictures sat documenting his life, the majority of them were of Peyton. The office had large windows filling the room with natural light, it was high up, staring out the window she looked at the same view she saw the last time she was in the office. Wayne Tower.
"You all set for today?" She heard Cam behind her
She turned and tried to offer him a smile. Cam returned the expression. It was a somber day as the company started up again after the loss of Peyton's parents. They ran a good company, and they were well known to Gotham as good people helping the city where they could, often being compared to Thomas and Martha Wayne.
Peyton's assistant followed Cameron inside with a cup of coffee and the reports for her upcoming meeting along with a copy of the Gotham Times. She gave Jennifer, her assistant a small nod as she set the items down. "Getting there" she answered Cameron's question.
She watched Jennifer exit her office, she knew there was going to be some tension seeing as Jennifer was the same age as Peyton and was going to need some time to adjust to the hierarchy change in the office. They were no longer equals; Peyton was Jennifer's boss, Peyton was going to have trouble trying to establish herself within the company. She had every intention of running the company as her father did, honorably and honestly. She didn't want people to see her age and position as a concern.
Peyton looked down at the paper as she picked up her coffee heading the headline "John Morris Endeavour's picks up after loss of President with unqualified daughter running the show" She read the headline. A smirk appeared across her face "a female version of Bruce Wayne in the making" she read the secondary heading shaking her head.
"Hell's going to have to freeze over before I end up like Bruce Wayne" she muttered to herself.
"Their profit has gone up 13 percent in the last quarter" Cameron countered.
Peyton looked at Cameron with a raised eyebrow as she set the paper down "Oh yeah? You don't think that Lucius Fox had anything to do with that? Their CEO is said to have the medias touch Cameron" Peyton said
Cameron shrugged "What about buying out the company from under William Earle, you have to agree that was a smart play and all Wayne"
Peyton wasn't interested in talking about Bruce Wayne. "Fine Uncle Cam, why don't we send you on over to Wayne Enterprises since you love what they've done so much" she teased
Cameron called her bluff with a small smile "Trade me for Fox?"
Peyton read through the reports with a small smile "Who says I need Fox" she looked up "This everything for the board meeting?" she was trying to sell Cameron her confidence.
Cameron nodded "they have a few more numbers to run off to you but that is everything to get things moving"
Peyton nodded gathering the reports "Ok lets get going" she said
Peyton followed Cameron out as they headed to the board meeting where she was to be briefed on the company's quarterly report.
The mansion that sat on the palisades was almost eerie with out her parents filling it with their friends or parties. It was just Peyton and Nora, their family's housekeeper.
Aside from Cameron, Nora was all Peyton had left. She had worked for the family since before Peyton was even born, she knew Nora her whole life.
"So did you understand all that mumbo jumbo the board was feeding you today?" she asked with a smile.
Nora was well into her years but Peyton never knew who old Nora exactly was. She was English but shied away from the English housekeeper stereotype. She was warm and always had a good word of advice to offer, sometimes served with a humorous quip.
Peyton tried to smile "I felt like my head was about to explode after the meeting. 3 hours going over reports, managerial analysis from the last two years, pressuring me to come up with a new strategic plan" Peyton held her head "I don't know how dad did all of it"
Nora smiled "your dad ran that company beautifully and it was a mystery how he managed it all, the company, spending time with his family, and being one of Gotham's most charitable business men. But he managed, the same way you will" she smiled running her hand down Peyton's cheek.
Peyton tried to smile, she missed her father more than anything, and every time she thought of her father and thought of what happened, her blood would boil.
"Guess you didn't read the paper then this morning" she held up the copy Jennifer had given her today, now realizing the hint Jennifer may have given her.
Nora smiled. "Probably written by someone jealous they only came out of college with a diploma and an STD" she nodded.
Peyton stifled her laugh "I'll make sure to ask Vicki Vale next time I see her"
Nora nodded "remember don't get too close, some are viral" she went back to preparing supper.
The living room was filled with flower arrangements that were still being sent in, it was almost a month since her parent's death, but Gotham was still in mourning. The news was still reporting on her family as Peyton turned on the television.
"Gotham is still reeling from the events caused by the Joker. It's hard to believe one man was responsible for so much tragedy. Today one of Gotham's biggest company's John Morris Endeavors, started by the late John Morris opened it's doors today and at the helm was Peyton Morris, daughter to the late owner and president of the company. The joker killed John and his wife Karen when they were visiting Gotham General hospital supporting the Thomas Wayne foundation, the day it was destroyed. Peyton, their only child was left in to run the company not even a month after the loss of her parents"
Peyton's concentration on the news was broken as the doorbell rang. "I'll get it Nora" she called
As she opened the door her face fell. Bruce Wayne stood holding yet another flower arrangement and a smirk on his face. Next to him was Alfred, his butler holding a casserole dish.
"Bruce.." Peyton said with a hint of irritation. Even looking at him made Peyton sick to her stomach "Long way from your penthouse.." she said. The bane of her existence stood in her doorway. Peyton would give anything to punch that smug grin off of his face.
