Miss Sterling & The Billionaire

Pairing: Bruce Wayne (Batman)/OC

Rating: K+

Warnings: Cursing.

A/N: OOOOOO, I'M SO EXCITED! I can tell that this year will be productive. I've finished my FIRST STORY of the year and it's ONLY Feb. Hopefully Trophy Wife will end soon but I'm not betting on that being any time soon since, well, we're on the thirtieth chapter or something. As far as my story plan (yes, I make those) goes, I've got twenty or so chapters to go which is about two or three updates each week means that I'll finish it till the beginning of April or the end of it (if I get SUPER busy)... Buut, I'm getting ahead of myself. ENJOY!

Chapter Ten- Truth Of The Matter

"I want every single article that's bashed me on the floor for dissection," Bruce instructed his lawyers, "I want every single word, suggestion, implication to be brought up and explicitly mentioned. I'm gonna teach this fuck the cost of going against me."

"Of course Mr Wayne," one of them said, "we've got it all here." He pointed at a briefcase that was laid on the table in front of them and Bruce allowed himself to relax.

He had filed for a lawsuit against the website, ihatebrucewayne last week and today was the trial. Bruce and his team were more than ready. The only defence which his opponent had was the First Amendment- something which his lawyers had managed to walk around. Today, they'd destroy the creator.

Bruce looked to the defender's side. There was only one person- a lawyer sitting there. He smiled smugly at that. His anonymous hater was nowhere in sight.

That was good.

That meant that he was too scared to face in court.

Bruce was the one in power here.

He could write all kinds of bullshit about him but here, in front of the law, his lies were nothing. Bruce was about to obliterate him and he was too afraid to take it like a man.

It was a clear victory for him.

The judge wouldn't have to hear some sob story about being a poor pap member who needed money to support his family- his lawyers had imagined that that would be the owner's only argument- that he needed to do something quick to feed himself and his family and Bruce Wayne, with the power and wealth he commanded, was an easy topic. The judge would have gotten a bit soft and the jury might have pitied him.

But that wouldn't happen because he wasn't here.

Bruce smiled. He didn't feel anything for the man. What he did was cruel; Bruce was just returning the favour.

The judge entered the room and the trial started.

Bruce's people went first.

The judge listened as did Bruce and he was pleased to see that his lawyers had followed his instructions to the core. Every single attack, implication and word spoken against him was called into question.

When it was the defendant's turn, the judge asked, "And is the defendant here?"

The closing of a door alerted them of someone's arrival. Bruce looked at his lawyers who looked surprised that he'd even showed up at all. Bruce turned around to look at his opponent, a smirk ready on his face to let him know that he'd won an-

Bruce's smile fell.

His eyes widened.

He abruptly stood up from his seat, his lawyers following him.

At the door stood Iona Sterling, looking positively out of breath. "Sorry I'm late," she said, walking down the aisle towards her seat. Bruce continued staring at her, dumbfounded until the judge asked to resume court.

"No," he said to the judge.

"What?"

"I'm out," he told him. "I'm sorry. I'm taking it back."

His lawyers were shocked. "But-"

"I said I'm done," he said, leaving his seat. "I'm taking back the lawsuit."

He walked over to Iona who looked just about as confused as he felt. "Come."

"Where?"

"You know where. We're settling this out of court," he stated, "I can't do this to you."

"But you did do this to me."

He leaned closer. "Don't make this any harder for me," he said, holding out his hand. Iona looked at him for a moment before turning to her lawyer. "I guess I'll talk to him?!"

The lawyer nodded and Iona took his hand.

Bruce didn't wait another moment. He pulled her out of the courtroom, not caring that she was wearing heels and Iona sucked at walking in those. He didn't say a word to her nor did he pay any attention to her as she complained about him walking too first. It was only when they were out of the court and in the little courtyard that was made for the public, when he turned to her.

"How could you do this to me?" he inquired angrily. "Hmm... how could you, Iona?"

Iona looked less than guilty. "How could I? What about yourself?" she quipped.

"I fired you," he stated, "but then I even offered you your job back! You almost single handedly ruined my image!"

"Your image was already ruined Bruce," she replied, "I just stated the obvious. To show you what people really think about you."

"They never thought about me this way before your website."

"They always did," she countered, "my website just provided them with the platform to freely say what they wanted to say about you."

Bruce said nothing to that, instead he ran a hand through his hair and began pacing.

"Look, I'm sorry if it hurts your feelings," Iona told him, "but that's what people think about you. Everyone's done with this stupid playboy image you've got going. They were talking shit about you before as well but you didn't know then because your PR team glossed over it. People were annoyed from the beginning. Don't blame me. Wouldn't you rather know what they really thought about you than get some filtered shit from the press?"

He growled out loud.

"You could have told me," he said.

"You didn't listen," she countered.

He took a deep breath. "See that's your problem," he went on, "you always have a counter to what I say."

"You want that counter," she responded, "that's why you can't let go of me."

"I just want things to be the way they were," he admitted in defeat, "before I made the horrible mistake of firing you."

"Do you really?" she asked him, taking a step towards him.

"Yes," he replied, cupping her cheeks with his hands. "I do. But I don't want you to leave me ever again."

Iona nodded and he kissed her right there. Out in public. With the press not four feet away from them because, yes, the paparazzi was there to see the outcome of the lawsuit. This wasn't what they'd expected but they quickly clicked at the rare public display of affection (even though he was seen around with quite a few models) that Bruce did.

Iona giggled once they pulled apart.

"I wasn't expecting actual cameras to go off when that happened," she exclaimed and Bruce smiled, taking her hand in his.

"Wait till you attend a red carpet," he said to her. They walked towards Bruce's car where Alfred was waiting.

"Turned out just fine, didn't it?" he asked once they were seated.

"Oh yes, it we-" Bruce began answering but Alfred interrupted him.

"I'm not talking to you. I'm talking to her."

Bruce frowned. "Wait, you knew it was her the whole time?"

"Of course, I did," he responded.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"It wasn't my secret to tell."

Iona giggled and Bruce turned to her. "Who else was in on it?"

"Well, there was Alfred, Lucius, Misha and Jack," she answered.

"What?"

"Yup."

"Are you telling me that each one of them had a score to settle with me?"

"They did."

Bruce looked surprised. "Guess this website wasn't a bad idea after all," he commented, "now I know who my real friends are."

Alfred laughed and Iona shook her head. "Boo hoo you," she quipped and Bruce pulled her into yet another kiss.