I know I'm writing another story but I couldn't help myself, don't worry the other story isn't done. I thought of this a few months ago, but now I'm getting it posted.
Disclaimer- Yeah don't own teen Titans
-"This part of my life is called 'internship'." The Pursuit of Happyness,2006-
Richard Grayson sat int the back of his cushy limousine, flicking his engraved Zippo on and off. The light flickered in front of his icy blue eyes. He had quit smoking six months ago, but the temptations were very powerful theses days. Suddenly the limo came to a screeching halt. The driver explained that they had entered traffic zone, while Dick swore under his breath.
Why this morning of all mornings?
For the past two years Dick was breaking his back trying to win a competitive internship at Wayne Enterprises. He'd beat out eighteen other guys, and now in his last nine months to impress President Bruce Wayne, it was down to him or another hopeful of the name Roy Harper. And damn he wanted to win. This particular morning was a presentation, crucial to the final decision. Then Dick's cell phone vibrated in his pocket.
"Where are you Dick, the presentation is in twenty minutes?" came the voice of his pushy, assistant manager Raven.
Dick ran his hands through his jet black hair. "Traffic." he mumbled irritably. He heard Raven groan loudly.
"Damn it, Dick, didn't I tell you take the metro this morning?" she said, along side the sound of papers shuffling. Dick could tell that Raven was frustrated, so he was glad he wasn't in the room with her at that moment.
"The tunnels are fucked up, because of the floods-"
"Well, the streets aren't much better!" she said loud enough to make Dick jump a little. Dick sighed again. after all this shit he'd been putting up with for the past two years, this job had better be worth it. Raven sighed again, "Roy just got here."
Just hearing the name Roy Harper, made Dick's teeth bare. Since before he could remember all he wanted to do was be the Director of media and franchise at Wayne Enterprises, and now was his chance, and he wasn't going to let some hot shot, kiss ass like Roy Harper take everything he had been working for since high school, go to hell.
"I'm on my way." Dick said before closing his phone. He grabbed his brief case and jumped out of the limo. Ahead he could see the long crowd, of cars and cabs sitting in the street. He looked at his watch again. The meeting was in twenty minutes and he seven blocks away. Dick took a deep breath, and ran. The streets were more crowded than usual, he ignored the smog and irritating sound of cars honking. He squeezed between people, a ducked under construction sights.
Rounding the corner, his cell phone vibrated again, reluctantly he reached in his pocket and grabbed it without stopping. "Hello?" he said breathlessly.
"Dick, Bruce just came in." Raven said
Dick was hoping it wasn't Raven to badger him about getting there on time, and two why was Bruce there so early? Dick ran down another street corner. " Really..how ..long..ago...was he?" Dick could see the building, it was in his sight."What's wrong, you sound out of breath. Raven said pushing her hair out of her face.
"Running...almost there...see you...in... a minute." Dick said hanging up the phone. He burst through the doors of the sky scraper that was Wayne Enterprises. No one noticed him because it was very busy and crowded. He swooped over to the elevators, just in time to miss it. "Shit." he muttered. He jabbed the up button, and waited very impatiently, finally a door slid open. Dick quickly hopped in and hit the close door button, before the eighth floor. Sure it was pretty selfish, but they didn't call it a competitive internship for nothing. Dick impatiently tapped his foot, when finally the elevator hit the eighth with a ding. The first thing Dick saw when he got off the elevator was the face of his dark haired, violet eyed manager Raven holding a new jacket.
She thrust it in front of his face. "What's this for?" Dick asked moving towards the doors were the conference was being held. Raven took his brief case and hold a manila folder.
"In case you were all sweaty from running." she said. Dick took off his jacket and threw it on Raven's desk." Thanks." she said sarcastically. "Alright remember the three main points of sponsorship are-"
"I know Rae, we went over it last night and you called me three times before breakfast this morning." he said preparing to go to the conference. It didn't start for five minutes but Dick felt really late as it was. He slowly reached his hand out, hoping for some sort of distraction.
"Dick?" Raven said
"Yes?" he answered quickly taking his hand off the door knob. He turned his head around and Raven sprayed breath mint into his mouth.
"Good luck." she said with a smirk. Dick rolled his eyes and pushed the doors open to find absolutely no one in there. "What the hell is going on?" he said turning back to Raven.
"Yeah I lied, the meeting isn't for another half in hour." she said nonchalantly. "I lied, because who else was I going to get you here on time, and I knew all that bull about Bruce and Roy would drive you fucking nuts, and you'd get your ass here earlier." Dick stared at her in utter disbelief, but then again nothing Raven did should surprise him. She wanted him to get this job, just as much as he did. If he got a raise, she got a raise. Before this internship Richard was just graduating and didn't know how to get ahead in life. Raven was a student and way too advance for where she was. This internship changed both of their lives. Some time for better others, for worse.
Raven sat at her desk and started typing on her computer. Dick leaned in the doorway. "So..." he said making attempts at small talk. "How's Malcolm." he said referring to Raven's boyfriend.
"We broke up two months ago." she said not stopping to look at him. Raven had been with Malcolm for five years, they lived to together and lived a good life, but then he moved back to England, Raven was very heart broken at first and still was today but hid it under work and never let herself seem vulnerable.
"Then why are you still where wearing that ring?" Dick said. It was not that he didn't care about Raven, she was one the only friends he had right now. He did care about her and wanted her to get over Malcolm and get on with her life, besides Malcolm was a jerk anyways.
Raven stopped typing, and her gaze turned to the silver ring with the small princess cut diamond in the center. She stared at it for a moment, then pulled it off her finger. She opened a draw on her desk and threw the ring in, and slammed the draw shut. "Happy now?" she said in the up most of sarcasm.
Dick said nothing. She shook her head and turned back to the computer. "You want to talk about it?" he said. she didn't acknowledge the question. Raven had been avoiding emotion her whole life, especially when she was hurt. "Rae, when are you going to be ready-"
"To what?" she interrupted. " Ready to except the fact it's over or accept that fact that I wasted five fucking years with him." she stopped typing and shot Dick a glare so heavy it could kill a man. "I'll have you know I've far than accepted the fact he lied to me, and he'll lie to some other poor impressionable, naive girl and propose to her, but ...it won't be me, not again." her eyes now looked sad.
"Raven, you don't have to feel guilty." Dick said softly
"I...I just wish he'd come back... and take his shit out of my house." she said. She looked up and gave Dick a gentle smirk, which was rare for her. "Anyways enough about me, let's talk conference."
"I need to bounce back, I know that Roy had preplanned the Elio Manning fund to sponsor him, which is sneaky and underhanded on his part since he knew I was going to get the Manning fund. Which I'm sure impressed Bruce more than Gianie Valtorie, which was the best I could come up with last minute. This time I'm going to get someone big, someone with a lot of money, hard to get, someone elite." he said as if this was his master plan.
Raven leaned in to him. "Dick, you want to know a secret?" Dick looked around to see if anyone was around, then shook is head. "I happen to know that Bruce isn't swept off his feet by big corporate giants." she whispered
"He's not?"
"Of, course not." Raven said sitting back in her chair. "I mean... why would he? They're after the same thing his is, they're his competition. What Bruce wants is someone small to represent under Wayne Enterprises, someone who is up and coming, that way they are no where near as close to successful as he is, and Wayne Enterprises started as a small business, and now it's a very large business based on other small businesses."
Dick stared at her confused. He sat back sighed, and ran his fingers through his jet black hair. "So... what you're saying is that instead of trying to get big investors and companies we should... hire smaller less know ones?" he said slowly
Raven nodded her head "Exactly." Then Bruce Wayne, his entourage, and Roy with his ever obnoxious manager Garth. Raven and Dick quickly stood up.
"Good morning Richard." Bruce said pleasantly "Raven." he said nodding in her direction. Bruce then waltzed to the doors of the conference hall, and gently pushed open the doors. Everyone flooded in for the meeting, ready to take on whatever challenge lay ahead. They had no idea.
The meeting was like it always was long, and unbearable dull. Yet the interns and their managers furiously scribbled down notes about the slightest thing of importance. Bruce went over, yet again, the finer points of what Wayne Enterprises was looking for in investments and companies to represent. Good qualities, honest business, and no criminal records. Bruce was a 'goody two shoes' about Wayne Enterprises, like it were some kind of family thing. Finally after two hours of diagrams, charts, and debate the meeting was coming to a close and Bruce was making is point, directed at the interns.
"Now, this is were you guys come in." he said looking Dick to Roy. "As you both know all to well, we are always looking for honest companies to come to us for to represent, but also we jet set to World Corporation meetings, at the drop of a hat. So with that I will request that you two come and assist me to the next Burma tomorrow for the conference in three days."
Roy's mouth dropped open, as Dick dropped his pen. Going to Burma on such short notice? Raven seemed not in surprised. Raven always came to the office two hours early and stayed two hours late, so naturally she knew a lot about Bruce's ways. She was good at keeping her composure. Garth had the hungry look of competition in his eyes.
"But," Bruce continued "business never stops, whether your here for it or not. I want you to get a company for Wayne Enterprises to represent, and a sponsor to invest in that company. You must have the company and the sponsor by our next meeting in two weeks. Alright, see you on Sunday." he said with a sly smile.
The room cleared out. Dick stood up and leaned in towards Raven so that Roy couldn't hear, them as they walked back to her office. "What do we do? If I'm in, India, how am I going to find a company in New York?" he whispered
"Relax Dick, that's why you have me for."' she said furiously typing into her computer. "You go to Burma and I'll find someone. I'll do interviews myself, I'll e-mail you the status on the hopefuls, give you my opinion, and you pick your favorite. I'll find the perfect investors for you, then when you get back we'll sign the contract."
"OK, great plan." he said impressed "Now I need tickets to Burma."
"Done." Raven said pulling paper out of the printer. "First class to Phoenix tomorrow at seven Am sharp, then at ten that same night there will be another plane that will take you to Burma."
"What would I do without you?" Dick said taking the flight information.
"Absolutely nothing. And I reserved the rest of the seats so that Roy can't get on a plane to Burma unless he takes the flight to Dallas, which isn't until Saturday so he'll be a little late." she said smirking. Dick was amazed at Raven's diabolical thinking. She always had the best ways to screw over Roy." Well, go get some rest, and pack." Dick rubbed his eyes with his pointer finger and thumb.
"This is so exhausting. Sometimes I want ti just give up. But I was never happy being just ordinary. I could never get ordinary grades or play ordinary sports. I wouldn't be happy with an average mans' job making a average mans' salary. I want something most people couldn't even dream about, something far beyond my reach. I knew it would be tough but this is fucking insane. I haven't taken a day off in two years. This internship pays very well. Better than most jobs. Ten grand a day is more than generous, four of which I give to you."
"Dick, you are damn fortunate to get a paid internship at Wayne Enterprises. You are twenty-five and already making over three hundred thirty thousand a year, that's more than most people make in two years." Raven rolled her eyes and continues typing. "OK let's talk money. If you become the director of media and franchise you'd being making over... eleven million a year. Wow, money really is the most tempting lust of the world. Compared to money, sex and drugs are nothing."
"What about you? You, Miss. Roth would be making eight hundred and forty, hundred thousand a year. You can't tell me you wouldn't kill for that kind of cash." Dick said coolly
"Trust me Dick, I'd kill for a lot of things, not just money." she said "So, good luck in Burma, be good, take notes, and relax I'm doing all the hard stuff. I'll call you when I do my interviews."
Monday 1:49 PM
"Kory! Kory! Kory!" Gar Logan ran through the small offices of StarFire Inc. The hauntingly handsome man's blonde hair and green eyes sparkled with delight. He was the personal assistant to Kory Anders the CEO, of a very small unknown business, of an upcoming restaurant and diet plan based on natural and organic foods, untouched by preservatives. Yes it was Gar's idea. He saw the long vibrant red head, sitting on the shabby couch of their office(which was rented).
"Guess who just called!" he said barely containing himself.
"Gar, I'm no good at these games." she said flashing him a sweet smile. Kory was naturally sweet. She was naturally everything. Beautiful, witty, kind, caring, and red haired. Her green eyes shone with the delight of her friend and partner's enthusiasm. She was the CEO of StarFire Inc. It was an idea that Gar came up with four years ago. They had barely anything. Money, investors, no one had much faith in the idea. Gar and Kory shared a rented apartment with three bedrooms, one which they kept as both of their offices.
"Raven Roth." he said on the edge of his feet. His smile was so huge, it looked like his gums would rip.
"Who?" Kory asked in an unsure tone. Gar stopped his irritant jumping and his smile faded.
"Are you kidding me? Don't you read the papers? Anyways you know how Bruce Wayne is having that internship?" Kory nodded. "Well the two finalist are Richard Grayson and Roy Harper. It turns out that Bruce has requested that they find a company for Wayne Enterprises to represent. So Richard Grayson's assistant manager Raven Roth saw our ad, and wants us to personally meet with them so that we could have a chance for Richard to suggest us to Bruce!" he said overjoyed
"Which means?" Kory said
"If we ace this interview, StarFire Inc. might be represented under Wayne enterprises. Which means-"
"If Richard likes us, Bruce Wayne might give us the money we need to start our restaurant!" she said catching on "This is the best thing that has happened to us in months, and I can tell you Gar catering to Bar Mitzvahs and sweet sixteens wasn't cutting it for me."
"Me either." Gar said so she wants us to come meet her at some bar tonight." he said plopping down on the dingy red sofa. He looked around he wished that there were more things in their apartment. They had cooking utensils, beds, a couch, and two tables and chairs mounted with files and papers. On the walls papers were taped with pictures of fancy bar stools and revolutionary kitchens. They looked through magazine and planned out what their restaurant would look like.
For years they went door to door pitching their ideas to big companies, just to have the door slammed in their face. Most people didn't care for the idea of a health bar. They said 'if they wanted a health bar they'd get a sushi bar'. But this was a dream the twenty-four year olds held very dear to them, and they were going to make it happen.
"Tonight?" Kory repeated "Isn't that a little short notice?"
"She said that they only had two weeks to find a company and investor, and she has more people to talk to, so it's take it or leave. We really need this. This could be our big chance." Gar said pleadingly
"Are you crazy? Do you really think I'd just let this just slip through the crevices?" Kory said jumping to her feet.
"So we're going." Gar said his eyes widening. Kory nodded she moved to the widow. The streets below were dirty and not her dream house. But the big white suburban house, with the white picket fence, perfectly manicured lawn, and bundles of kids running around with a German Shepard flashed before her eyes. Her dream house.
"Of course we're going." she said. She turned around and smiled at Gar. "But I think we should invest in some suits. To make an impression."
Gar nodded we have twenty grand, and we need to pay our went so we're on a budget." he said sternly. Kory nodded and whispered "OK". What else was new?
7:44 PM
Kory stood on the fourth floor of a bar called Keli. She and Gar bought suit to make an impression on Raven. Kory felt so out of character in the suit-skirt she was wearing with her hair tied back in a neat curly ponytail. Her heels were filling her. Gar was none too happy about the plain black suit he had to wear. Kory had forced him to slick back his hair. He stood bouncing to shake off his irritability. They were seated at then bar waiting for Raven to arrive. The bar was a sky loft that over looked the finer points of Manhattan. It was extremely swanky and a lot nicer, quieter, and less full than the bars they were use to in the Bronx.
"Can we just leave I hate it here." Gar whined openly. He slouched in his chair, and sighed.
"I think you're forgetting the reason we are here Gar. Isn't this beautiful? I'd love our restaurant to look like this." she said dreamily, Kory wanted so bad for a nice business venture like this, and she's put up with Gar's bitching for it. Kory's cell phone rang.
"Our place is going to be a lot less...serious." Gar said. Kory rolled her eyes as she answered the phone.
"This must be the vice of Kory Anders." came an unknown female voice.
"Uh, who is this?"
"Forgive me for not introducing myself, my name is Raven Roth. I spoke to your business partner earlier." she said calmly
"Oh, where are you?" Kory said looking around the bar as if she were lurking in the shadows, or hiding in a plant somewhere. All day she'd been paranoid that this one chance would come to an end. As if it were some sick joke, and Raven would not show up, or pop out saying 'you idea sucks. your a loser'.
"Pardon my tardiness I... got caught up. I'm actually on the elevator right now I'll be there in one minute." she said in a rather uncaring tone. Kory hung up the phone. She smiled happily and turned to Gar.
"She'll be here any second now." Kory turned to the elevator and watched as the person who could make her dreams come true would soon walk through the door. She was flooding with joy and excitement.
"Who cares, as long as she gets us that deal with Richard Grayson, I couldn't give a rat's ass. These business girls are all the same. Ugly chicks that did nothing in high school but study to make up for their low self esteem, and now she waste money on furs and cars when their are children in third world countries dying of AIDs. Born with a silver spoon in her mouth, and a broom stick up her ass."
"That's an awful thing to say." Kory scolded. "How can you say that about someone you've never met. This morning when she called you were going to break the floors boards, bouncing with excitement, and now your making all these nasty assumptions? What happened?"
"I find out she was the daughter of the lying, cheating, scum bag Tristian Roth." he said angrily. He slammed his tall glass of Long island iced tea on the counter. Kory didn't know what to say Tristian Roth was a billionaire. He, like Bruce Wayne, based his company on small companies, which meant instant success. But he got seventy percent of the profits and when he was done with them he screwed them over, and they ended up with nothing. anyone who defied him ended up missing, but no legal justice was ever brought upon him, because they were deathly afraid of him.
"She's probably just like him." Gar said coldly "Cold, cruel, an unlawful bitch."
"Don't be so judgmental." Kory warned darkly. Gar could tell she was serious, she never used a stern tone. "This woman is doing us a huge favor. without he we mine as well throw in the towel. Now I expect you to be nice."
Gar turned back in his chair towards the elevator. "I will but she's probably a..." Gar's voice trailed off as Raven Roth walked off elevator. Her long hair bounced off her shoulders, in perfect Italian waves. Gar felt as if there was a ray of light urberating off of her perfect pale complexion. And her eyes were like nothing he'd ever seen before, like brilliant amethyst diamonds. Her curvy figure slithered in the room like gentle wave of an ocean. "Total hottie." he finished. Kory gentle pushed his arm playfully.
Raven walked over to the bar and stood before Kory. "Hi, you must be Kory?" she asked. Kory looked around to see if Richard was coming off the elevator.
"Yes," Kory said "Will Richard be joining us?"
"Unfortunately Dick is in Burma at a very important conference and has asked that I doing all the interviewing until he gets back, but if all goes well you will be meeting him in person very soon."
"I'm sorry who." Gar said rather coldly
"Oh," she closed her eyes for a second and shook her head slightly "Richard prefer to be called to be called Dick." she said. Gar opened his mouth to say something. "Don't ask why." she said reading his mind. She sat down on the stool next Gar. she placed the brief case on the counter.
"Now let's get down to business. as you both know Di..." Raven cleared her thought "Richard is a finalist in the competitive internship at Wayne Enterprises. As a requested task by Bruce Wayne himself as asked that he acquire a company for Bruce to represent. I saw your ad and luckily for you it caught my attention. So me about your company."
Kory took a deep breath. Where to begin? Kory took a sip of her cosmopolitan." Well, we're an independent company that specialize in vegetarian cuisine and culinary. About four years ago Gar had idea about a upscale restaurant based off of the raw food diet. everything we make is completely natural, and have zero preservatives. We use the freshest of vegetables and fruits and seasonings that are farm raised. We make our foods delicious and nutritious. With today's' fascination and obsession with weight loose, we make it a breeze." she said. Suddenly Kory felt light headed, she did an excellent job but the nervousness wouldn't leave her mind.
Raven scribbled something down on a piece of paper. Then her cell phone rang. "Hey, Dick...yeah right now..culinary arts...Ok I'll call you back." Raven hung up the phone. "He wants me to make sure you are truly in it for the greater goods, not bullshit." she said
"Of course not." Gar and Kory said at the same time.
"I wouldn't worry, you have good qualities, and your independent Richard likes that. So far I've interviewed four other and so far your my favorite so that's good. You lack experience but I think you have enough to get you through. so thank you for your time, and I'll call you in a few days. So far it's looking good." Raven said packing up her things.
"That's it?" Kory said
"Yeah, I know these things are shockingly short, but even talking for just three minutes makes the greatest of difference." Raven then passed them a thick packet of documents. "Look over these so you know exactly what your doing."
"Thank you so much." Kory said as Raven got up to leave.
"Just doing my job." Raven said. she turned around to leave.
"How's you father?" Gar asked out of nowhere. He leaned and rocked in his chair, Heavily glaring at her. Raven turned around surprised at his question. She gave him an unsurprised look.
"My father and I don't speak...ever." she said coldly. Then she turned around and stomped off to the elevator. She jabbed the down button. How dare he ask her something like that. She'd spent most of her life escaping the image her father thrust upon her. People always assumed she was just like him. Ruthless, manipulative, a crime lord, everything she feared to be. Raven hated to admit it but her and her father were a lot alike. They both were determined, and had a infamous temper, they both wanted to be on top. But that' s where the similarities ended, she wanted nothing to do with him, and her worst fear was she'd become him.
Raven leaned against elevator. She took a deep breath, and started breathing heavy. Raven leaned on the floor she pulled out a bottle of prescription medicine. "Not right now." she said to herself. As if she needed more problems right now.
Kory was pacing around the office. The pale moon shone in a reflected off the dull wood floors. She could hear the cars beeping, and people shouting below. "What the hell were you think! Did you see her face! You upset her! You hurt our chances at this deal! What the fuck!" ever since they left the bar Gar had been listening to Kory bitch about his lack of courtesy towards Raven.
"Fuck Kory, I said I was sorry, let it go!" he said pulling off his jacket. He tossed it onto the already messy table. He didn't care much for Raven for really no reason. When he was younger his father was leading an expedition in Africa funded by Tristian. One day he just cut them off. They were only in Africa with no money. It took them years to make it back to the states. He'd always felt hatred towards him, and now he was taking his anger out on Raven.
"Gar if we don't get this deal, I will personally rip out your testicles and feed it to a starving dog." Kory said. Gar rolled his eyes.
"Whatever." he said rudely. Kory scowled. She walked into the small bathroom. It wasn't much just a shower, sink, toilet, and medicine cabinet. Kory stripped out of her fancy attire. She closed the lid on the toilet and neatly folded up her clothes, and placed them on top. She turned on the shower, and stepped in as it quickly steamed the bathroom.
The hot water ran through her silky hair, The water dripped off her golden skin and long legs. The shower was were Kory thought about who life was going to be for her, when she got her restaurant opened. She'd move out of the Bronx, and buy a luscious apartment, and buy designer clothes everyday. She'd donate lots of money lots of money to the Boys and Girls club, where she volunteered. "We'll call it la carotte fraƮche." she said which was french for the fresh carrot. Her dreams were finally coming true.
I know this is boring but it heats up next chapter. Richard and Kory meet and it gets steamy after that.
