Catherine checked her hair in the full length mirror one more time, tucking a curly tendril back behind her ear delicately. She'd had a premonition the night before; things would go as planned today. But still, no use throwing caution to the winds.

She threw her Prada bag over her shoulder, gently though, she didn't want to harm the capsules sitting inside.

As she went down the stairs, Lex emerged from the front parlor. He kissed her on the cheek and bade her good luck, and she gracefully slid into the limo waiting outside.

Crossing her legs, she felt confident.

She was going to win, which could only mean he was going to lose. She couldn't help but flash herself an evil smile in the car mirror.

Bruce Wayne worked diligently in his office, faithfully wading through all the paperwork and helping his father's business to flourish…sort of.

Actually, he was staring blankly at his computer screen. He'd tried to think of every possible way to find out more about the Phantom, but it seemed that she and Vanish had…appeared out of nowhere, so to speak. All he could find through his connections were things about Superman, and frankly, he didn't care about him at all. They hadn't seemed to like on another particularly. Perhaps Superman had noticed him looking at the Phantom. Could they be…involved? He hoped not.

Buy why?

He leaned back in his chair, sighing. Looking at the lock, he realized that he had a meeting with an independent business owner in just a few minutes. He quickly cleared his desk of all the work he hadn't done, straightened his blazer, and took a sip of the water on his desk.

Just then, his phone beeped, a page from his secretary.

'Perfect timing.' He commended himself, even though he'd done nothing else today worth commending.

He pressed the button. "Yes, Patricia?"

"Your 2:00 is here." She said.

"All right. Thanks. Hey, could you tell me her name again?"

"Catherine Luthor, sir."

"Thanks, Patricia."

She hung up and he repeated the name a few times in his head, hoping he would remember. He still wasn't sure why an unknown female independent business-owner wanted to meet with him, but it wasn't the first time and most likely wouldn't be the last.

The door opened and he stood as Patricia ushered a tall, blonde professional-looking woman.

She offered her hand to him and he shook it. "Catherine Luthor." She said.

"Bruce Wayne." He answered, smiling politely.

"Yes, I know." Was that retribution he heard?

"Please, sit." He offered. She did, crossing her legs, but keeping her purse in her lap. "Can I offer you a drink?" He asked, seeing her eye his water glass.

"Yes, please." She said eagerly. "Water will be fine."

Bruce made his way over to the counter with the water pitcher on it.

Catherine swiftly and silently broke a capsule into Bruce's water. Then, a second, just to be safe.

'This is too easy…' She thought.

He was signing his own death warrant.

Bruce returned to his seat, passing Catherine her water as he went. She took a sip, and he did the same…something changed.

His eyes burned for a second, and he blinked furiously, almost broke out in a sweat…

Then it was gone, and Catherine was looking at him slyly, but for some reason, he wasn't bothered by it.

"Now, Miss Luthor, what did you…wish to discuss?"

Catherine leaned forward, folding her long, slender fingers under her chin. It had worked, she could already tell.

"Mr. Wayne, how do you feel about emergency instance financial security?

"And by the way, it's 'Mrs.'"