CHAPTER FOUR: DINNER WITH BRUCE WAYNE

The airplane descended steeply, its nose diving head on towards the ground.

Another gust of wind and it righted itself, flying upwards but rolling on its side out of control. When the force of the currents dissipated, it began to make its perilous descent. It began to enter a spiral and its pilot, knowing that would more or less be the end of any flight try to regain control. A vacuum of air followed and in the suction, the plane leveled off briefly before riding the gentle breathe of air once more, maintaining its altitude.

"Bored?" Martha Kent asked Clark as she stepped into the loft and watched her son torturing the paper plane he had made with his super breath.

Clark Kent looked at his mother and stopped what he was doing immediately, causing the airplane to nose dive straight into the floor, an embarrassed expression on his face at being caught.

"Not at all," he said trying to maintain his dignity by feigning nonchalance. "I'm just sitting here, trying to decide what I'm going to do first."

"I see," Martha nodded, wearing a look on her face which indicated she didn't believe him for one second. The lady lowered herself next to her son on the sofa. "I thought you were going to Star City to hang out with Oliver."

"Can't," he muttered. "Oliver's on Section 33.1 business somewhere in Russia."

"Why don't you join him?" Martha suggested. "You can fly now. It might be a good exercise for you to see if you can make it that far."

"I don't know," Clark shrugged. Although he had been flying for a few weeks now, he had been taking it easy. As exhilarating as the experience was, it required some effort to maintain a controlled flight without landing through someone's roof with most of his attempts being conducted at night so that he wasn't seen.

Besides, it wasn't much fun without Lois.

When he took her flying, he forgot all about his fear of heights because his concentration was fixed solely on ensuring that he didn't fall with Lois in his arms. The fear for her safety had disciplined him, not to mention her talking had the effect of distracting him so that he didn't freak out when he looked down.

"You can't sit around here all weekend, moping." Martha pointed out.

"I'm not moping," Clark said defensively but it was true he was moping. He hated how much he missed Lois and Chloe not being around. Then again, he also missed not having Pete to shoot hoops with and worse yet, hanging with Lex like he used to.

"Really?" Martha looked at him skeptically.

"Hey I'm happy Lois is gone for the weekend," Clark stood up, "I've got all these things I was going to do and you know how she hates farm work."

"Uh huh," Martha stood up herself to leave her son in his denial "whatever you say sweetie."

Clark groaned inwardly because Martha was giving him the look that only mothers seemed to manage so expertly. "I'm not missing Lois or Chloe at all!" He called after her as she left.

Suddenly, his cell phone rang and before the second ring could sound Clark had already retrieved it from his jacket.

"Lois?"

"Hey Smallville," Lois' voice returned. "How are you doing?"

Clark burst into a wide grin, not realizing how much he missed hearing that obnoxious voice until now. "I'm fine," he said using the same casual tone he had with his mother. "You're lucky you caught me. I'm up to my neck in chores."

"That's great," Lois said cheerfully before continuing on to tell Clark about the shopping expedition with Chloe and Lana at the Artisan's Mall near Plaza Bahia followed by a visit to the Zocalo and finally lunch at La Vela, a restaurant on the wharf at Bahía de Puerto Marqués.

Clark listened feeling more and more depressed he wasn't there but consoled himself with the fact that all three girls were having a great time, which made him feel less like a martyr.

"How's Chloe doing?" He asked, since part of the reason for this trip was not only for Lana's benefit but also to cheer Chloe up.

"Oh she's fine," Lois sniggered, recalling the morning at the beach. "We've got her a dinner date with a really hot guy."

"Lois you know Chloe doesn't like being fixed up," he reminded. More accurate however, was Clark didn't like Chloe being fixed up unless he got to meet the guy first and ensure he wasn't evil, psychotic or worse yet, Jimmy.

"Oh trust me Clark," Lois retorted, "she'll like this one. It's not every day I get my cousin a date with a hot billionaire."

Why were they always billionaires? Clark groaned inwardly. "Yeah because hooking up with those guys always works out so well. "

"Don't be so negative Smallville," Lois declared. "Look Lana and I are going too so if he's a creep, he'll have all of us to contend with. Now I've got to get going, I'll call you tonight after dinner okay?"

"Okay, okay," Clark grumbled, hating to end the call. It had killed a few minutes. "Wait who is this guy anyway…..?"

**************

"Bruce Wayne's table please?" Lois asked the waiter once they entered the hotel's restaurant which was located at the water's edge to give its patrons a panoramic view of the ocean.

"This way please," the man lead them through the main dining area of the restaurant to what appeared to a private area, cordoned off just for Mr. Wayne, away from the rest of the diners.

Despite the obvious fix-up and Lois' optimistic belief that Bruce Wayne was interested in her, Chloe had to admit, her excitement over the evening was largely due to the fact that she was getting the opportunity to interview one of the most elusive men in America. Despite his well documented playboy antics, which seemed to grace every cover these days, very little about Wayne himself was known other than the tragic passing of his parents when he was a child. Other than that, Wayne was oddly private for someone who was so often in the public's eyes lately.

Chloe brushed down the skirt of the scoop neck light gold brocade dress she had spent all together too much money on last month. She had been saving it for Lana's wedding but when Lex told her where he had booked them into, Chloe decided that perhaps this was a good a place as any to debut it. Her hair pinned up in the style she had worn for prom, Chloe didn't know why she was bothering. She was a reporter and this was supposed to be a business dinner, not a date, despite what Lois might think.

Lois as usual looked spectacular, her height making her look terrific in the black dress she wore and Lana looked good in any colour, in this case sapphire blue. Chloe half expected to fade into the background walking next to these two to Wayne's table. Perhaps it was owing to the fact that both Lois and Lana had always come first in Clark Kent's life that left Chloe a little bruised where her self esteem was concerned. In any case, he was her best friend and whatever insecurities she might have felt in the past, all of it seemed incidental in the face of their friendship.

Bruce Wayne stood up when the three females were shown at last to his table.

After all day searching for any clue as to what might have happened to Tanya Fox, Bruce knew he needed some PR attention to give credence to the story that he was in Acapulco for pleasure not a secret investigation. When Lucius Fox had called him at Wayne Manor more than a day ago, Bruce had had flown immediately here to learn what had happened to the man's wife. Bruce had encouraged Lucius to take his wife along when some business required the CEO in Acapulco. Knowing how hard Lucius worked for him, Bruce wanted the man to share some time with his family.

After all, if anyone knew the importance of spending time with family, it was Bruce Wayne.

However, things had taken a turn for the worse after Tanya had vanished mysteriously. She had gone to a beauty appointment while Lucius was in meetings and had not come back. Worst still, owing to Lucius' schedule, he hadn't realized she was gone until later in the day when she didn't return to their hotel room. Bruce was aware that it was common occurrence for foreign tourists to be held for ransom. It was never an exorbitant amount and most of the time the ordeal did not last any more than a few hours. Abductees were returned quickly enough. Realizing that it would be more expedient to simply pay the money, Bruce had advised Lucius to wait for the ransom and pay it when it came.

Except nothing had.

And with each passing hour of silence, Bruce was more convinced that time was running out even if he did not know why.

*************

It was difficult to concentrate when Bruce Wayne looked almost as incredible in a tux as he did in a pair of swim trunks, Chloe thought as she sat next to him at the table for four he had prepared for their dinner. So few men could really wear tuxedos but Bruce looked amazing at it and to her surprise, he did not sound like the boring wastrel that had apparently slept with super models' galore back in Gotham. Chloe had expected him to hit on all three of them but so far Bruce had made no such attempt. He was a perfect gentlemen.

Dinner was magnificent with the reputation of the hotel's gourmet chef well deserved. The conversation too had been similarly pleasant. Bruce Wayne was indeed as charming as reported but he was on his best behavior tonight, Chloe noticed. They discussed Mrs. Kent platform as a state Senator and Bruce had surprised Lois by revealing that he would be interested in becoming a contributor through the Wayne Foundation, his charity arm of his company.

The Wayne Foundation fascinated Lana who had been attempting to carve herself a place in Lex's world by putting to good use some of Lex Corp's vast resources to help the underprivileged of Metropolis. Chloe noticed that his answers to questions were remarkably generic, often remarking that Lucius Fox would handle the details and yet, for a man who claimed to not have any real knowledge of business workings, there was a lot going on behind those dark eyes.

The mystery of him deepened Chloe's interest even more.

By the time dessert was served, Bruce had succeeded in winning the friendship of everyone at the table. In some ways, he was like Oliver Queen, compassionate about the less fortunate people in the world but there was subtlety to him that was difficult to pin down. Chloe doubted that even Oliver could pull it off as well as Bruce did. Fortunately Bruce Wayne leaned towards the Oliver Queen category of billionaire as opposed to the Lex Luthor.

"Oh my goodness," Lana laughed after being told that Lex Luthor's rendition of Gilbert and Sullivan's 'Model of Major General' was still talked about by his classmates at Excelsior Academy. "I never thought of Lex as having a singing voice."

"He was actually pretty good," Bruce chuckled, playing to the devil in his nature by revealing Lex's more embarrassing secrets. After all, considering what else Lex was up to these days, a little bit of embarrassment was the least of what he deserved to say nothing of this lovely young woman who could not possibly know what she was getting. "He used to play the piano as well. Does he still play Manilow?"

"You're making this up," Lois accused laughing harder at the thought of Lex playing Barry Manilow songs. "Nobody likes Manilow anymore."

"Scouts honor," Bruce smirked, wishing he was there for Lana to present that little truth to her fiancé. Lex had been a nice enough guy in school and Bruce had always though that Lex would escape the yoke his father would have him wear. However, it seemed Lex had been no more able to escape his fate than Bruce himself.

"I think you should request Copacabana to be your wedding song," Lois suggested to Lana, winking.

"No thank you," Lana smiled back, taking a sip of her club soda. "I value my life and that of my unborn child."

The news of baby Luthor had been public for some time now and though there had been some innuendo about it being a shotgun wedding, Bruce doubted that Lex couldn't avoid that problem if he really wanted to. No, the girl was lovely and it was rare to see someone that beautiful possessing a warm and compassionate nature. She was a much better than Lex deserved, that was for sure.

"Although," Lana added, "I think I'll start listening to some good music before the baby's born…just in case."

"Whitesnake," Lois suggested.

"Whitesnake?" Chloe rolled her eyes. "What is it with you and Whitesnake?"

"Hey its good stuff," she returned.

The waiter returned at that moment with a fresh supply of beverages and commented to Lana as she was served another club soda. "Congratulations Miss Lang on your good fortune."

"Why thank you," Lana said with a smile. It was nice that people still treated her like a normal person. In the mansion, Lex's staff tended to regard her like royalty and though she kept it to herself, Lana hated it.

His arrival coincided with a hotel photographer. "A picture Mr. Wayne?" The man asked in heavy Mexican accent.

Bruce swept his gaze across the table, "what do you say ladies? A memento of your trip?"

The three exchanged glances and Lois answered for all three. "Why not?"

Smiling into the camera like he had done a hundred times before in the last few months, Bruce Wayne was snapped with Lois Lane, Lana Lang and Chloe Sullivan in a tasteful picture that would make good copy in the gossip pages the next day. That is if Bruce had anything to do with it.

"Well I think I'm done for the night," Lana said rising demurely to her feet. "I tire easier these days," she confessed. "I had a wonderful time Bruce; it was very nice to meet you."

"Me too," Lois added her voice. "Well not the tired part but I've got a boyfriend in Kansas who insists he isn't miserable without me and I promised I'd call."

"Oh," Chloe said starting to rise, a little disappointed to be leaving when suddenly Lois placed a hand on her shoulder and stopped her in her tracks.

"You should stay Chloe," Lois spoke with such perfect innocence a halo could have formed on her head. "I mean the night is still young and Bruce has this great view. Besides, didn't you want to ask him a few questions about the Wayne Foundation?"

Bruce hid the smile that wanted to steal across his face as he watched Miss Lane corral her cousin into staying right where she was.

"But…" Chloe started to protest.

"We'll be fine," Lana commented. "Have a nice time."

When they were gone, Chloe shook her head and looked at Bruce whose smirk had managed to slip past his control.

"There they go," Chloe said with a gesture of her hands, "Lois 'Subtle' Lane and Lana 'Obvious' Lang, my friends."

Bruce chuckled out loud. "Friends like that are hard to come by Chloe. You should hang on to them."

"Yeah," Chloe had to agree there. "I think I'll keep them but they can be kind of annoying though."

"So," Bruce smiled, "since you're staying, shall I order us another bottle of wine?" He asked.

What the hell, Chloe thought. She was on vacation and he was drop dead gorgeous. "You're not trying to take advantage of me are you?" She teased, not that she wouldn't mind. God only knows what Jimmy was up to with Lucy 'I'll do the Continent' Lane.

"For some reason, I seriously doubt that it is possible for anyone to make you do anything you don't want to Miss Sullivan." Bruce remarked looking at her thoughtfully.

He marveled at how lovely she looked tonight with her hair up. Bruce wondered why she did not wear it that way more often. This morning, she had looked like the sweet girl next door but this evening, this evening, he kept thinking of Grace Kelly in those old movies, an elegant beauty with just enough quirk in her features to make her irresistible.

Shame of it, most men would probably never notice until it was too late.

"I'll take that as a compliment," Chloe blushed a bit as Bruce ordered the wine.

"You should," he responded turning back to her. "You're an excellent investigator."

"What makes you say that?" She raised a brow at him.

"Well you spent most of the night letting Lois and Lana do the talking while you observed."

Chloe blushed a bit more because that had been her tactic alright. "You know, you're nothing like what the papers say about you."

"You mean I sleep with supermodels and jet set all over the world like a vapid pretty boy?" He asked.

"Ouch," she laughed. "Even I wouldn't have put it that uncharitably but you have to admit, there has been overwhelming evidence to that effect."

It would have been easy for Bruce to play the part but for some reason, alone with her, away from prying eyes now that the publicity purposes of the dinner were done, Bruce didn't wish too. There was always going to be a part of him that was guarded but he saw no reason why he couldn't give Bruce Wayne, idiot playboy the night off.

"It's all a case of slight of hand Chloe," Bruce replied. "I've cultivated an image that allows the press to assume that the playboy is who I am instead of the truth. I dangle a few movie stars and supermodels in front of them and that keeps the paparazzi and the tabloids happy. So while the world is more interested in who Bruce Wayne might or might not be dating, I can get down to business directing the Wayne Foundation to improve the life of underprivileged Gothamites."

"Aren't you afraid by telling me all this, you're blowing your cover?" Chloe asked.

"I should be," he said giving her that same thoughtful look, "but I read people pretty well. You're a crusader Miss Sullivan. It's more than just a story to you. I think behind that journalistic exterior, there is a strong moral compass and genuine integrity. That's rare."

"It's the friends I keep," Chloe said smiling, denying nothing. "They tend to remind me that there are more important things in the world than a story."

"There are," Bruce agreed, finding himself warming to this girl more than he would have liked. "Would you care for a walk on the beach?"

Chloe stared into those dark eyes and nodded, "I'd love to Bruce."