Sorry for the long wait again, but I'm back (and hopefully better than ever)! I'll do my best to update regularly...but online classes take up 90% of my time. I hope this chapter makes up for the wait (seeing as Bruce and Bella finally meet and all). Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to review, favorite, or follow my story! You guys really make this writing process worthwhile.
Without further ado, Enjoy!
Bruce Wayne gave yet another frustrated sigh upon looking out the window of his car. Traffic in Gotham was a nightmare on a regular basis and here he was, trying to get to some restaurant for a business dinner during rush hour. He was already a good thirty minutes late as it was, but due to the state of traffic jam on the freeway, an hour and a half late seemed a lot more plausible.
Perhaps he was partly to blame…but being the Batman was so much more important than some dinner party. The Batman could afford to make people wait hours (or minutes) for him. Unfortunately however, Bruce Wayne couldn't.
Seeing as the traffic didn't seem to be clearing up any time soon, Bruce mentally reviewed the guest list for tonight's event. There was a possibility that he could "analyze" a few gang representatives who may or may not be invited. There were the usual board members of Wayne Industries, a couple of people from Queen Industries and…someone from Xavier Worldwide.
Bruce felt as though he should know the representative from Xavier Worldwide, Lucius had told him his or her name, but in his haste to arrest the leader of a drug smuggling ring before 7 o'clock, it had completely slipped his mind.
Bruce sincerely hoped he hadn't forgotten anything else about this evening. To the best of his memory, he hadn't. Giving his dashboard window one last hopeful glance, he realized the lane ahead of him was clear. He hadn't heard the multitude of people behind him honking. Within a span of 15 minutes, he was able to reach the restaurant.
The name of the place Lucius decided to hold the event was Evander's, best known as the most presumptuous restaurant in all of Gotham. Bruce found himself sighing yet again, a presumptuous restaurant with a presumptuous name, full of presumptuous people. That was "exactly" what he needed right now.
Upon entering the building Bruce immediately found himself searching for Lucius. He wanted to avoid as much unwanted contact with the
"upper crowd" of Gotham as possible. After casting a few fake smiles and giving several attractive women a seductive wink, he found Lucius.
He was in the corner talking to a blonde woman…in a very…nice dress.
"Lucius," he said upon walking up to the pair.
"Ah, Mr. Wayne. Nice to finally see you," replied the man. "I believe I told you that the event started at 6:30."
The woman abruptly turned around. "Mr. Wayne, It… is so nice to finally see you again. It's been a while hasn't it?"
If Bruce didn't have a "Batman-like" hold on his facial expressions, he was sure if jaw would have dropped to the floor. Bella Xavier; what was she doing here? Didn't she live in Metropolis? She was definitely the last person he ever expected to see at a Wayne Industries function. Wow, she had petite girl with long blonde hair had been replaced with an elegant woman in sparkling blue.
Recollecting his composure, Bruce gave her his most flirtatious smile.
"Yes, it most certainly has."
"Well, I've heard about your plans for sustainable energy development from Mr. Foxx here and may I say, they sound absolutely wonderful. Xavier Worldwide will gladly back you up anyway we can. The environment has always been our first and foremost concern."
Bella responded giving him a smile of her own. That's when it hit Bruce; the Xavier family owned Xavier Worldwide. He couldn't believe he hadn't put two and two together and realized that Bella would be the representative. Her last name was in the company's name for Christ's sake!
"Guess I'll leave you two to catch up," said Lucius said walking away.
"So," Bruce said, "What brings you to Gotham?"
He spent the rest of the night in relatively peaceful solace with Bella. She wasn't bad conversationalist by far. They were standing in a rather secluded corner, so no annoying ex-girlfriends or drunken business partners came to bother them. They were however, able to hear most of the evening's gossip. Once word got out there was a mugging going on somewhere in the slums of Gotham City, Bruce had to force himself to leave her company.
After a mouthful of mottled excuses, Bruce had made a beeline for the exit. Bella just gave him an understanding smile. In that moment, it felt almost as though she knew exactly where he was going…and why he was leaving. It was almost like she could he read his mind.
Bruce shook the strange feelings from his mind as he opened the door to his car. If he was going to be the Batman, he needed to have a clear head.
Well? Any thoughts?