Disclaimer: I am not DC Comics or Bob Kane or Bill Finger, so what you see is not mine. Great, now that that's clear let's get this show on the road
A couple of weeks had passed since she had got her new job at the Boys' Home. And today she did not have to go into work because today she had to be at Wayne Enterprises for their board meeting. She had got up early and taken an extensive amount of time to get dressed in order to make a good impression. As it was still February and the weather outside was horrible, Selina opted for a black pantsuit with a crisp white button down shirt. Selina called the taxi company last night to make sure there would be a cab waiting for her at 7:15 in the morning, so she could make the 9:00 meeting. Holly had kindly woken up to made her breakfast, which she only ate about a quarter of due to her nerves. Grabbing her umbrella and coat, Selina made her way down to the taxi waiting for her. As the door closed behind her, she could her Holly yell, "Knock them dead."
The taxi dropped her off at the corner of Main and Broadway at 8:30. Taking her coat, suit jacket, and briefcase in her left hand; and umbrella in her other, Selina walked to the entrance of Wayne Enterprises. Mid-way to the door, a car sped by her causing the drainage water to soak her. Seething, she ran to car that had stopped at the red light and knocked on the window revealing a man in his early thirties with dark brown hair, high cheekbones, cobalt blue eyes, and a thin smile.
"You blithering idiot. Do you have any consideration for pedestrians?" Selina asked vehemently, "Or do you believe that own the Earth, so you can do as you please."
"Neither miss." He said amused. His voice was deep Selina observed.
"So what possessed you to fly down the street soaking bystanders?" She said annoyed.
"It was never my intention…" the man started.
"Never your intention," Selina repeated, "You could have at least stopped to apologize. You have drenched me in sewage water and you drive off like I was some dog that you splashed. I hope the weather causes your precious Lamborghini damages." She stalked off. Upon entering Wayne Enterprises, she was greeted by the receptionist.
"Hello. Welcome to Wayne Enterprises. How may I help you?" The girl smiled.
"Hi," Selina said breathlessly. Looking at the clock behind the girl she saw that she only had 15 minutes to make herself look somewhat presentably. "My name is Selina Kyle. I'm here for the 9:00 meeting, but before you call Mr. Fox down could you point me in the direction of the ladies' room, some idiot drove by and drenched me in rainwater."
"Oh, I'm so sorry. The ladies' room is down the hall, third door on the left." The girl responded.
"Thank you. Do you, by an chance, have any make up I could use?" She asked the girl.
"Sure," she said pulling out a make up bag.
"Oh my god, you're a life saver. I didn't catch your name."
"Annie."
"Thank you so much, Annie." Selina said and rushed to the restroom. Once there she inspected the damage. Her white shirt was completely soaked to the point where her cream bra was showing. Her pants weren't that wet, she could live with them. Her hair, which had been initially left down was wet and matted. She would without question have to redo her make up. Thankfully her briefcase had not been drenched. She quickly peeled off her shirt and placed it under the hand dryer. After a few minutes, she had dried it to the best of her ability and put the shirt back on. It was still somewhat see through. Sighing Selina put on her suit jacket on. Rummaging through her purse she found a few bobby pins and put her hair in a bun. Checking her watch, she had a little less than 10 minutes left. She wiped her face and pulled out foundation, eyeliner, mascara, blush, and lipstick out of the makeup bag and put it on. Five minutes later, she was back in the lobby. Annie looked up and smiled.
"Thank you so much," Selina repeated.
"You're welcome. Mr. Fox is waiting for you." Annie responded indicating to the tall African American man standing by the glass door that would lead to the elevators. Selina nodded and walked over to him.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Fox," Selina apologized.
"Not a problem, Ms. Kyle. Ms. Helms told me of your predicament." Mr. Fox smiled at her. It reminded her of how a grandfather would smile at his grandchildren making Selina smile back. They took the elevator, Mr. Fox explaining what Wayne Enterprises does and why it supports the boys' home. They reached a room that was set up with couches and chairs.
"This is our waiting room," Mr. Fox explained, "You'll be called into the meeting to present your work. We don't mean to be rude, but it could be detrimental if people listen in on our board meetings."
"I understand; no need to worry." Selina smiled.
Mr. Fox smiled.
Suddenly a deep voice behind Selina said, "Good morning, Lucius."
Selina cringed as she turned around praying that it wasn't the same voice from just a half an hour ago. Unfortunately, she was met with the same amused blue-eyed man.
"Morning Mr. Wayne." Lucius replied. "Allow me to introduce Ms. Selina Kyle, she is the new sponsorship manager of the Gotham City Boys' Home. Ms. Kyle, this Mr. Bruce Wayne owner of this fine establishment."
Bruce smirked as Selina managed not to grimace at the owner of Wayne Enterprises. "Is there something I'm missing?" Lucius asked looking between the two.
"You see, Lucius, we've already met." Bruce told Lucius, "Just a half an hour ago, actually, but I didn't get her name." Selina breathed. He was enjoying this; he was enjoying every last minute of it. "Selina you said, right?" he continued. Mr. Fox nodded. Bruce turned his attention to Selina, "Pretty name. Pleasure to make your acquaintance Selina."
"Pleasure's all mine, Mr. Wayne." Selina forced.
"Please call me Bruce. We are much more acquainted than the formal Mr. Wayne." He smiled.
Selina blushed in fury. Lucius intervened, "How exactly did you meet a half an hour ago?" He inquired. Selina closed her eyes for a moment hoping that the ground would just swallow her up.
"Well, she happened to be walking with great form and then decided to knock on my window to call me: I quote 'a blithering idiot'. I tell you Lucius it was like being in London all over again."
"You forget to mention the fact that you drenched me in rainwater." Selina added dryly.
Before a war words broke out, Lucius said, "Mr. Wayne, we're ready to start," and disappeared behind the door to the conference room. Bruce nodded and walked past her and said, "I look forward to your presentation, Selina," and walked into the room.
The door closed and Selina sat down, dragging her hands over her face. All she could think about was that she was definitely fired. Her hands itched to text or call Holly but she could not have her phone go off when she entered the meeting, so she sat tight.
Forty-five minutes later, Selina heard Mr. Fox's voice coming from the loudspeaker. "Ms. Kyle, please come in."
The door clicked and Selina pushed the door open as Mr. Fox was addressing the board of 12 people. "Let's end our board meeting on a happier note. Ms. Kyle is here to tell us about Wayne Enterprises's impact on the Gotham City Boy's home. Ms. Kyle."
Selina nodded and walked up to Lucius. She set her briefcase on an empty chair and pulled out the packets she'd made for the board and handed them to Lucius. Facing the board she realized that she would be looking at Bruce Wayne the entire presentation as he was sitting at the other end of the conference table. There were three women and nine men.
"Good morning, my name is Selina Kyle. The first page of the packet that was just handed out is a comprehensive document on the allocation of your money. The second page is all the boys that turned eighteen two years ago and where they are now. Finally, the third page is our projections for this coming year."
In the next 15 minutes, she went over the three pages and answered any questions the board members had. Thankfully, Bruce had no questions. The meeting was adjourned. Everybody cordially came up and thanked her and left the room. Selina began packing up her things and turned around to see Bruce Wayne.
"Yes, Mr. Wayne, what can do you for you?" Selina sighed internally.
"I just wanted to say that it was wonderful presentation and I look forward to working with you," he said extending his hand.
Selina looked skeptical but shook his hand anyway. "Thank you."
"I am sorry about this morning." He said still holding on her hand, "I really didn't intend for you to be drenched."
"It's alright. I'm sorry for blowing up at you on the road." Selina said trying to discreetly pry her hand from his grasp. Fortunately, he let go a second later. "Well I hope you have a good day; I have to get to work." This wasn't entirely true; she technically had the day off, but she was going to go in to see the boys. First, she was going home to take a shower and was eager to get there.
"Really, Jeremy didn't give you the day off."
"He did," Selina said truthfully knowing he probably had Jeremy on speed dial and would call after she left to confirm, "but I'm going in to see the boys. They're going to be bummed that they can't go outside. And honestly, I really want to get out of these clothes."
Bruce smiled impishly, "Understandable, why don't I give you a ride?"
Selina honestly had no idea why he was being so nice, but replied, "No it's okay. You probably have work to be done here. I can get a cab." And I don't you to know where I live, she added mentally.
"It's the least I can do." He insisted.
"How about I let you make it up to me another time, and I go home in a cab?" Selina offered.
"Are you want to do that, Selina," He asked her with a smirk, "I will collect."
"I have no doubt that you will, Mr. Wayne," Selina told him as she moved towards the door.
As she reached the door, "Selina," she turned her head, "It's Bruce."
Selina smirked, "I'm sure it is, Mr. Wayne." With that she walked out of the conference room, went down the elevator, and out of Wayne Enterprises. Traffic was atrocious with the rain and it took her an hour and half to get home. She grudgingly climbed the stairs to fourth floor. She found Holly there standing next to a bouquet of flowers.
"Hey," she said, "Those are pretty. Are they yours? I didn't see them this morning?"
"They're not mine, Selina." Holly said with a sly smile. "Seems like someone made a really good impression."
Selina's widened and rushed to the note on the bouquet. It read:
Selina,
Dry cleaning's on me. Send your bill to Wayne Enterprises. I'll take care of it.
Bruce
PS. Don't forget I will collect.
Selina groaned. So much for not knowing where I live, she thought bitterly.
"So are you going to tell me what happened or do I have to guess?" Holly asked with a smirk.
"I will tell you after I get back from work. Right now I need a shower." Selina said.
"But, I won't be here when you get back from work," Holly whined.
"Fine, I'll tell you after my shower." Just as she was going to make a beeline for her room before Holly could argue, her cell phone rang.
"Hello," she answered.
"Hello, Selina," said the deep voice that she left behind over an hour ago.
"Mr. Wayne. How did you get my cell phone number?" She asked as politely as she could manage.
"Oh I called your work first and since you had gotten there yet. I called Jeremy and he gave it to me," he responded.
Selina closed her eyes and took a deep breath and forced herself to say, "I see. Also, thank you for the flowers. It wasn't necessary."
She could practically hear him smile, "Necessary or not. I'm glad you liked them."
"Did Jeremy also give you my home address?" Selina asked.
"No, I just called Jeremy about 15 minutes ago. " He replied.
Selina paused, "Well, I have to run. I will speak to you later."
"Good-bye, Selina."
"Bye."
As soon as she ended the call, Holly jumped, "That was him wasn't it?"
"Yes." Selina answered. "I'm going for a shower."
Fifteen minutes later, Holly and Selina were making sandwiches. As Selina began explaining what transpired over the morning, "So I get out of the taxi and this imbecile drives past at splashes rainwater on me. I, being me, run up and knock on his window and begin telling him what an idiot he was, that he had no consideration for pedestrians, that he acted if he owned the world, and that the least he could have done was apologize." They sat down at the table; Selina took a bite of her sandwich and then continue, "Turns out this idiot, I told off was the one and only Bruce Wayne."
Holly choked on her water and began laughing, "You called Bruce Wayne an idiot."
"A blithering idiot to be precise." Selina responded. Holly laughed harder. "Anyway the receptionist spotted me make up, bless her heart, so I freshened up there. I met with Mr. Fox, who's the general manager, and we're talking the room where I had to wait. And guess who strolls in?"
"Bruce Wayne." Holly smiles.
"You bet. My back was to him so I'm just died when I saw him standing there. He clearly was enjoying the fact that I was uncomfortable."
"What did he say?" Holly inquired.
"He just told Mr. Fox that we had met a half an hour before and he had caught my name. Then presided to call me by my name and insisted I call him Bruce."
"Did you?" Holly asked.
"No," Selina said stoutly.
"Why not?"
"Because he said we were quote: more acquainted than that." Selina responded.
"Oh," Holly said understandingly, "he wants to get into your pants."
"Ya, you'd think one would hate or at least dislike the person that told you off."
"He thinks you're playing hard to get." Holly said reasonably.
Selina sighed and returned to her meal.
"Then what happened?" Holly asked.
"Mr. Fox asked how we knew each other. So, he tells how he was just driving along and I knock on his window began to tell him off. I made sure to stick it to him that he did drench me in rainwater. Then after the meeting he waited after everyone was out of the room to talk to me. Offering to drive me home."
"How did you get out of that one because I think I would have seen if Bruce Wayne dropped you home?"
"I told him he could make it up to me some other time. So much for not wanting him to know where I live." Selina responded getting up and grabbing her purse and umbrella.
"Well I've got say you really did knock them died or should I say knocked him dead." Holly laughed.
"Good bye Holly," Selina said in sing song voice.
"Bye." Holly called as Selina closed the door. She spent the rest of the day with the boys even staying past hours. Jeremy usually stayed with boys. Every once in a while Selina would take over. Today, Jeremy told her to go home. At home, she fought the urge to put on the suit and roam the night. After two hours of willing herself not to, she put on the suit and swung to the rooftop. Gliding aimlessly, she was soon in East End. From a rooftop she watched the streets that had created, cultivated the woman she was now. The streets lit only by the street lamps.
She was about to jump down and walk the streets when two men in ski masks dragging a bound girl through the streets. Catwoman crouched low and then pounced the man behind the girl and knocked him out with one punch to the head. The other man became aware that his partner was no longer there and held on to the girl tightly by the arm. Out of sight, she could see the girl light blue eyes widened in fear as the man gripped her. She quickly crossed the street and ran a block to head them off. She watched as the two of them came up to where she was. Then she struck punching the man in the gut. He quickly recovered and ran to strike her. They engaged in hand-to-hand combat. Finally, Catwoman scratched him. With her attacker distracted, she was able to grab the girl and take her to the rooftop. There she unbound her and the girl began to scramble.
"Hey, don't be scared." Catwoman said gently but firmly, "I'm not going to hurt you. What's your name?"
"Lisa," the girl says softly with her scraggly blond hair falling into her face.
"Okay, Lisa. I'm Catwoman. Now where do you live, so I can take you home?" She explained.
The girl did not respond.
"You're from the East End Orphanage aren't you?" Selina guessed. The girl nodded. "I'm taking you there. What floor is your room on?"
"Fourth," Lisa said quietly.
"Look I know you don't want to go back there, but I'm not leaving you on the street." Catwoman explained. With that she carried the girl five rooftops over to the orphanage, then decided to make her way home.
Just as she approached her apartment, a cloaked figure swooped down in front of her.
Selina sighed and crossed her arms in front of her chest, "I'm not in the mood Batman. Besides you're out of luck today, I didn't steal anything."
Batman didn't say anything.
"For Pete's sake, what do you want?" She said irritated.
"Why did you do it?" he asked.
"Do what?" Selina posed back.
"Save the girl." Batman explained shortly.
"How did …," Selina began, "I don't see how that's any of your business."
"Come over to my side have you, Catwoman?"
"In your dreams," Catwoman responded with a smirk.
Batman remained stony faced. She had to admire him; he had a good poker face. Without responding, he turned around and left into the night. Selina shook her head and swung down to her apartment, retiring for the night.
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