Kreteks
Chapter One
Alright lovies, Charlie here. This idea randomly came to mind and it won't leave me along so I just decided to play around with it. Let me know what you think. Like it? Hate it? Dare I say… Love it? To long? To short? Just right? This is my first real stab at it so be gentle please? Thanks dears.
He smelled smoke. Confusion dashed across Bruce Wayne's handsome face. Why in the world did he smell smoke? But it wasn't just any smoke, it was sweet smelling, tangy… It took his mind a moment to process before he remembered his time in Indonesia. Kretek. Clove cigarette smoke. Interesting.
His eyes roamed the restaurant before they fell upon the source of the smoke. Long, dark brown curls ran down the back of a young woman covered in a red, backless dress. The smoke was curling upwards from the cigarette in her left hand. "Excuse me for a moment." Bruce murmured to Lucious Fox before getting up and heading towards the table where the smoker sat. He turned, standing just behind the empty chair across from the woman and looked down at the woman. Her face was turned down, eyes scanning a cellphone, though her lips were painted the same red as her dress and she had only the slightest bit of make-up. Bruce cleared her throat, causing the young woman to look up, revealing hazel-green eyes hidden behind side swept bangs. Pretty. Bruce thought to himself.
"Yes?" The woman questioned, taking a drag from her black cigarette while waiting for her question to be answered. Bruce offered a smile, trying as hard as he could to appear pleasant and dashing and all of that. "Excuse me, Miss…" Bruce started, trailing off and waiting for her to fill in the blank. She expelled the smoke from her lungs through her full red lips. "Doherty." The woman in the red dress replied.
"Right, yes, Mrs. Doherty." Bruce started before she interrupted. "Miss actually." The mystery woman retorted. "Ok, Miss Doherty. I have to request that you promptly put out your cigarette, or remove yourself from the restaurant." Bruce said while picking up the small plate of the other place setting and offering it as an ash tray. The woman looked up at him like he was crazy. "You see Miss Doherty, there is a no smoking policy in this entire restaurant, so I am afraid that despite the lovely odor of your kretek, I have to ask you to put it out." Bruce added, holding the plate closer within her reach. "Not to mention, smoking is terrible for your health. Black lungs and all of that."
The hazel-green eyes simply stared up at him, red lips pursed before she took another drag of the cigarette, a rather defiant look on her face. "I see. Who exactly, are you?" The woman questioned. Bruce blinked one, then twice. Someone was questioning who he was? He looked down, taking in her raised eyebrow and clearly confused face. She had no idea. How… refreshing. "I am Bruce Wayne, the owner of this restaurant." The woman's face changed as she tried desperately to recall the name. She had heard it before… Where, she had no idea though. "Well since you are the owner…" She sighed while taking one final drag before delicately stubbing it out on the plate. She almost regretted doing it. The plate was impeccable white china with lovely gold detailing. However, she had to follow rules. Bruce watched her hand withdraw, leaving the remnants of the black clove cigarette on the plate. She tilted her head back and released the smoke, the tendrils curling upwards before she set her gaze back on Bruce.
"Happy, Mr. Wayne was it?" The woman questioned. Once again Bruce was confused, almost insulted! This girl didn't even remember his name! Here he was, clad in one of his best Armani suits, hair recently cut, looking perfectly fit, well rested, and charmingly Bruce Wayne, and she had couldn't remember his name. Sure of course he wasn't laying on the charming playboy attitude super thick, but still he expected to be remembered! He simply stared at her and nodded before murmuring "Thank you Miss Doherty." She simply nodded and watched him turn and walk across the dinning room to the large bar. Bruce set the delicate plate on the dark wood bar top while nodding to the bartender. He turned around and passed her table with a fleeting glance before returning to his table, behind her. Delicate shoulders shrugged as she waved over the waiter and put in her order. The other chair across her remained empty still. Her gaze flickered to the delicate silver watch on her right wrist. Thirty minutes late. She had been stood up. What a surprise. Humming to herself in discontent she finished her glass of wine and ordered another before her dinner, a Caesar salad and a slice of chocolate cake, arrived.
Bruce resumed his seat at his table with Lucious Fox. They were having a "business meeting". His eyes trained themselves on the lithe girl sitting at the table. "Who was she?" Lucious asked. Bruce looked at him and shrugged saying "Miss Doherty. She never offered her first name." Lucious shrugged before picking up his glass and taking a long sip of the water inside. The name sounded familiar however he let it rest. He looked at Bruce and took the moment to rein him back in on their previous conversation. They were discussing the new bullet proof vests the "military" had contracted them on. The discussion seemed to never end, going in continuous circles as they discussed price points and the effectiveness of said bullet proof material. They were only interrupted when their food was delivered, and when a flash of red caught Bruce's eye.
He was suddenly distracted. Miss Doherty had risen from her table, a matching red wrap was placed about her shoulders before she paused to pull out her long curls in order for them to cascade down her back. The wrap didn't cover all of the lightly tanned skin that was on display due to the missing material of her dress. She picked up a silver clutch and withdrew a silver case and a silver lighter. The silver case was opened, a black cigarette plucked up and tucked behind her ear. She replaced the cigarette case in her clutch before tucking the clutch and the lighter in her left hand. The front of her dress was a halter with a modest cut. Diamond studs rested in her earlobes. Her eyes flashed to Bruce. She walked towards him with a coy smile curling on her lips. Just before arriving at the table she pressed her bangs back and out of her eyes before looking over the two men at the table. Both looked up at her expectantly.
"Mr. Wayne, correct?" She asked while focusing her fiery gaze on Bruce who nodded.
"I have to say, the wine selection your restaurant has is fantastic, wonderful job. Oh, and the little health lesson," she continued, reaching for the cigarette behind her ear and holding it between her fingers, waving it around a bit, "was very cute. Thank you very much for warning me of the dangers of smoking. However, just like good wine and cute men, I just can't seem to give them up." She flashed a smile before turning and leaving, heading out the door while lighting the cigarette.
"Miss Doherty, I presume?" Lucious questioned, returning his gaze to Bruce. Bruce simply nodded before taking a sip from his glass of water. The familiarity of the name came around as soon as he had heard her voice. He had just spoken to her on the phone that afternoon. "Hmm, she's very interesting. Not what I expected at all." Lucious continued, causing Bruce to give him a questioning look. Lucious grinned and replied "Well, Miss Doherty happens to be the new PR person for Wayne Enterprises."