Summary: Could a man dedicated to the night have it all?

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Rating: T

Chapter I

Six years earlier...

In Karen Miller's mind this merger made no logical sense. What on God's green earth would a fortune five hundred company, such as Wayne Enterprises, want with a small local business like Trust Meyers? What would a man with far too much money to spend expect to gain from this simple consulting firm? Despite her suspicions, she dared not open her mouth, but resumed the task of ensuring her desk was tidy and hair neat.

"Hurry people, hurry, Mr. Wayne will be here any minute." A skittish little man wearing an insanely bright red bow tie raced down the aisle boarded by a wall of cubicles on either side.

Rupert Meyers was his normal obsessive compulsive self, yet today his disorder was cataclysmically out of control. He barked at blond female employee as he pointed to the minimal amount of trash in her waste basket and told her to dump it. And he was hostile towards an eighteen year old intern and commented on their choice in wardrobe.

Shaking her head, Karen walked the short distance to the file room, and deposited three yellow folders in her possession. Inside the tiny four walled room she could clearly hear Mr. Meyer's earsplitting tirade. She sulked and rubbed her temple. It was going to be a long morning.

"He's just a man for goodness sake's," she muttered under her breath and headed towards the tiny lounge for a cup of coffee.

"Bruce Wayne. I can't believe it." A woman cried in girlish giggles.

Karen wheeled round to see her obnoxiously exuberant colleague tip toe into the room. Beth's large blue-green eyes were wide with excitement and her dazzling smile reached the edge of her twinkling pupils. She ran her fingers through her blond hair teased in bountiful waves and savagely started to clean a coffee stain out her white blouse.

"Oh damn," she whined, working the napkin deep into the fabric. The stain seemed to grow larger and spread.

"You better wear you're jacket," Karen suggest, blowing the hot steam from her mug.

"But that would kill my figure," she complained and soaked the napkin in cold water and began scrubbing again.

"You're only making it worse," said Karen shaking her head. "You're pushing the stain deep into the fibers."

"Oh." Beth cried and contorted her face in disapproval. She decided to apply a minimal amount of dish detergent. Hoping the chemicals in the soap would alleviate the coffee stain a tad. Her actions turned into disaster. She had misjudged the amount of soap to water and ended up with a drenched blouse. "Oh no," she squealed in horror.

Karen finally lashed out in disgust. "All for a man who barely knows—!"

"Karen! Beth!" a woman cried out.

Both women turned towards the door to see Rebecca coaxing them to her. The forty-two year old woman's face brightened and her eyes were aglow. Despite the fine lines and tinge of grey hair she incessantly dyed, she was aging gracefully. "I think he's just arrived."

"No," Beth exclaimed glancing down at her damp blouse which was boldly displaying her white lace bra. "I don't want him to see me like this." Tired of her constant bickering, Karen yanked off her black jacket, and handed it to her. "It doesn't match. I'm wearing navy-blue."

"The man is going to be tied up in Mr. Meyer's office. You'll probably never have direct contact with him." Karen snapped and watched as Beth begrudgingly slipped into the simple attire.

The office quieted just as the elevator doors parted to unloaded a stream of men and women dressed in sharp business suits. Planted in the lobby by the elevator doors, Mr. Meyers waited nervously, and shook hands with a tall dark skinned man that stepped out the levitator. The men talked as he escorted him to the small conference room in the far side of the office.

"Oh, it's Lucius Fox," Rebecca said. "He's the new CEO of Wayne Enterprises."

"I thought Mr. Wayne was coming." Beth cried, pouting.

The older of the two women flashed a sideways smirk. "Maybe he's overseeing a hostile takeover in another country."

Karen was hardly interested. She lifted her mug and with caution sipped the rich Columbian brew. The office resumed normality; however, hardly a soul worked or answered phones that were constantly ringing off the hook. Employees were keeping a constant vigil on the conference room.

"Mr. Wayne is probably home, asleep, where I'd like to be and instead of being dragged into work on my day off to cater to his every whim." Karen commented.

She rubbed her tired eyes and sighed. She could have told Mr. Meyers 'no' but the extra hours would help pay the excruciating energy bills. During the winter months, her furnace was on overload, and the payments were killing her.

Beth gave her a dark look. "A man like Bruce Wayne goes sailing in the Caribbean or skiing in Switzerland. He doesn't lounge around in bed all day."

"He's a man. If they're not lying on their asses, they're out screwing anything in a skirt," Karen said grimly.

"I'm glad my daughter isn't like you Karen." Rebecca said, shaking her head. "Otherwise, she wouldn't be married today."

"Wonderful."

"And you wonder why Steven left you," Beth scoffed. "You're such a pessimist."

Two things alarmed Karen, one was Beth obviously knew the definition of pessimist and two she was aware of her fallout with her longtime boyfriend. She gripped the handle of her mug as pain swelled in her chest. She shut her eyes then caught the smug look on Beth's face.

The little twit was lucky they were at work.

"Besides," the blond continued. "You shouldn't be mocking my future husband. I could have you fired one day if this merger goes through."

"Now ladies," Rebecca mediated, not liking where this was going.

"I'll quit by then," Karen replied in a clipped voice. "Anyway, I think the two of you deserve each other. He's spoiled, arrogant, and likes dating airheads like you."

Beth's mouth shaped into a large 'o' as she gasped in outrage. She gritted her teeth ready to unleash hot darts when someone interjected into the brutal conversation:

"It's nice to know you have an honest opinion about me."

Karen narrowly spilled coffee on herself as she swirled around in her heels. A man, standing a few feet from the women, lowered a file and flashed a smile. He was impeccably dressed in a dark blue suit. He wore a light blue shirt with a blue tie of a different shade. Polished, handsome, Bruce Wayne was epitome of wealth and status.

Blood drained from Karen's face. Her heart hammered murderously in her chest. "Mr. Wayne." It was the only words she could find at the moment. Her head felt light and her mouth was suddenly dry. She wanted to run and lie down somewhere. Beth was equally horrified, knowing the well-to-do bachelor picked up on every word she had spoken. Feigning a stomach ache, she hurried out the office to the nearest restroom.

Karen wished her legs would carry her just as quickly, but they were glued to the grey carpeting. She watched Bruce closed the distance between them. He was tall, impressively, by at least two feet. He stretched out his hand. "Bruce Wayne."

She didn't know whether to shake it or grovel on the floor and beg for her job. She had just insulted him for goodness sake even though the barb was meant for Beth.

"Karen," she said, taking the hand offered. His fingers clamped around her hand as she shook his hand. For a moment, she was amazed by how soft and strong his hand was and how it swallowed hers completely.

"Karen—what—?" He asked, his smile never fading.

"Mr. Wayne? Mr. Wayne we weren't expecting you!" Rupert Meyers came scampering away from the conference room with Lucius Fox not far behind. He nearly ran across the room, plowing down several employees in his path.

Bruce had to admire his agility. For a short, stubby little man, he moved rather swiftly. "I see you've met Miss Miller. She's the finest consultant I ever had the pleasure of employing. If you ever need a straight forward answer or opinion, she's the woman to have in your corner."

"So I can see," Bruce said looking her over. "She was more than willing to tell me her opinion a few moments ago." Karen's eyes went wide as a crimson hue blush her cheeks.

"Really," Mr. Meyers said excitedly.

"She was kind enough to inform me that I would be making a wise investment in your company."

"Really."

"Yes." Bruce remarked. "She also would like to discuss the terms of the contract." He turned to look at Karen. She was utterly speechless. "Let's say over lunch tomorrow if the documents are available."

"They're ready when you are Mr. Wayne," Lucius Fox said.

"Splendid." Bruce looked at his wristwatch and explained he had to leave to get ready for a charity dinner. He shook hands with Mr. Meyers and departed as swiftly as he emerged.

"I'll have my secretary fax you the documents as soon as possible." Lucius Fox said to Mr. Meyers as the two men walked slowly out the office floor and to the elevators. After he departed Mr. Meyers went back inside his office as happy as a clown.

"Excellent work Karen," he said as he streamline towards his office to monitor the fax machine. She, on the other hand, had hardly fallen out of her trance. A business lunch with Bruce Wayne? When did this occur?