"Oh, I'm surprised you're alive." Alfred said with his arms crossed as Bruce busted through the front door of Wayne Manor.
Bruce shook his head and limped through the door, nearly knocking over a stool beside the coat hanger. Alfred saw blood seeping through the skin-tight cloth and onto the tile floor. Alfred held his limp body and noticed that he was completely wet and cold. Bruce cracked his neck and took off the mask, slamming it against the floor. He took off the the cloth torso shirt and the Kevlar vest, letting Alfred see all the bruises and blood marks all over his body.
"My, God. What happened?" Alfred asked, helping Bruce up the stairs.
"Ugh. Don't even tell me you weren't watching the news. I got away from the police and I had to blow up the car. God, that was a nice car." Bruce said with a dazed voice.
"Master Bruce! Can't they trace it?" Alfred asked as they neared the master bedroom.
"No...no. I got all the pieces from different places across the country. I used a fake IP address when I ordered the car parts so they'll think the buyer was from New Zealand. But I would be a suspect though. We need to provide a cover because I imagine I have a couple bruises on my face." Bruce replied.
"Not only on your face." Alfred said back smartly as he opened Bruce's bedroom door.
Bruce groaned slightly and flopped onto his bed, laying his head hard into the soft pillows and blankets. He took off his bloodied cargo pants and wrapped the sheets around his naked body, feeling exhausted and stressed. He had made an impact. He had possibly saved lives and got those shooters put behind bars. It had worked. Well, besides losing the car and becoming numb all over his body. As Alfred went quickly to the kitchen to prepare a slew of medications for his pain, Bruce grabbed the wall phone beside the bed used for his father's doctor house calls and he tried to remember the Wayne Enterprises front office number.
"Hello? Is this Francine?" Bruce asked, trying to ignore the pain and give his best playboy impression possible.
"Um... yes? May I ask who is speaking?" the secretary responded, sounding tired and worried.
"It's Bruce Wayne. Remember?" Bruce said with a fake smile on his face.
"Oh..." Francine replied, her voice sounding higher and more happy.
"Hi, Mr. Wayne. Did you see what happened? The bank across the street got shot up by some shooters. I was so afraid but Mr. Early said I had too stay until my shift was up."
"Oh my God." Bruce said, trying his best to sound like a scared idiot.
"Yeah. It was pretty scary." Francine responded, biting her lip.
"I'm sorry, beautiful." Bruce said, sounding seductive and caring.
"Well, thanks. Why did you call? Did you have a question for Mr. Fox? He's the CEO now since Ms. Wells was killed. I got a pad." Francine said, her smile showing through the phone.
"Oh no. I... wanted to see if... you could come over here for a late dinner. I never got your personal number." Bruce said as Alfred walked in with a handful of pills and a big glass of water with a vitamin mix put in with it.
"What? There's no way I could get off. Mr. Early would kill me. He takes his job very seriously." Francine replied.
"Who's Mr. Early?" Bruce asked.
"He watches all of the employees. He's been here for over three decades and knows when someone skips. I would love to spend the ni- eat dinner with you but I can't, Mr. Wayne." Francine said, suddenly stuttering on her words.
"C'mon. I'll give him a call." Bruce said, keeping his fake smile up while Alfred sat his pills on the table, eavesdropping on the conversation.
"Hm... are you sure? I don't want to lose my job." Francine said, sounding like a cute damsel-in-distress.
"Don't worry, gorgeous. I'm bored and would love some company." Bruce said.
"Okay. Give me twenty minutes." Francine said, sounding excited and giddy, quickly hanging up the phone.
Bruce hung up the phone and quickly got up, not embarrassed to bare in front of his butler as he ran to the shower, ignoring the pain all over. Alfred followed him to the bathroom as Bruce opened the glass door and quickly turned the water on.
"Who was that?" Alfred asked after a brief moment of silence as Bruce scrubbed his body hard, wincing as the loofah went over the bruises and scars beginning to rise.
"The pretty secretary at WE." Bruce yelled over the roaring of water.
"Master Bruce..." Alfred began.
"Listen, I need a good alibi in case those cops come in trying to question me. They'll probably come by tomorrow." Bruce replied.
Alfred let out a sigh and shook his head as he prepared the towel for his young master.
"Don't use this poor girl as an excuse. You'll treat her good for one night and throw her out in the morning. I cannot agree with that, Master Bruce."
"I'm not, Alfred. I don't like the girl. She's pretty and gets attention. If the police come and see her leaving, they'll know the billionaire playboy got roughed up in a different way if you catch my drift." Bruce said as he washed his hair.
"I will not be catching your drift." Alfred said with slight disgust.
"Ah... come on. Cheer up. This'll go fine."
"Hello, my pretty lady." Bruce said, taking Francine's hand as she walked through the main doors and Bruce stood in his dark blue robe and nothing else.
"Hi." Francine said with a pretty smile.
She was a very pretty girl. She had strawberry-blonde hair, a sexy slender build, cute white teeth, and legs to die for. She was wearing a tight black dress shirt and a short black skirt that showed off her tan legs. As she walked in front of Bruce, he couldn't help but look at her beautiful figure as Alfred rolled his eyes. The two of them walked into the dining room and she sat her company books down on the table as Alfred took her rain coat. Bruce sat across from her at the family table that was long and built for a king. She noticed the bruise on his left eye and the purple bruise inching from the left side of his robe. She gave it a small look before looking away. Bruce noticed this and clicked his tongue as Alfred brought out their dinner.
"I hope you like steak. I guessed medium rare. Is that okay?" Bruce asked.
"I'm... I'm a vegatarian." she replied, suddenly mocking Bruce's tongue clicking.
Bruce's smile went away and he looked embarassed. Francine leaned over the table and smiled.
"I'm joking. It's perfect." she said with a wink.
Bruce gave a relieved laugh and shook his head in amusement.
I like this girl. She's funny. It's always good when they have a sense of humor. Just like that one girl... what was her name? Sarah? Selena?
"Wow." Francine said in short breaths as she covered herself with the sheet and fell beside Bruce.
Bruce took a deep breath and looked at Francine. He turned over and brushed his fingers over her ear as loose strands of hair went into her eyes. She gave a slight smile and held his hand as they stared at the ceiling, thinking about how amazing their night had just went. Bruce got closer to Francine and held her close as he prepared to speak.
"I need to ask you something... and I'm not sure if you'll like it." he said.
Francine moved her head and looked at Bruce in the dark.
"Please don't tell me you're already in a relationship." she said with regret.
"Oh no. Nothing like that." Bruce replied with a slight laugh.
"But..." he continued, trying to find the right words.
"Tomorrow... there will be police at my door and when they come, I need you to walk out, carrying a pair of my pants and smiling as you go to your car. Just ignore them and drive away."
"What?" Francine laughed.
Bruce sighed and turned on the lamp.
"Listen, Francine. I need your help. The police think I've been involved in something and I can't be shown as the suspect." Bruce replied.
"Does it have to do with these?" Francine asked, pulling the sheet below his chest and slowly rubbing his bruises, seeing his League scars as well.
"Mmm... yes." Bruce answered.
"I don't know, Bruce. I'm a little worried. What happened? You didn't have anything to do with that shooting did you?" Francine said, suddenly rising up and backing away from him.
"Hey! No... no... no. I promise you I wasn't one of them. But the police might think I was there. Don't ask, it's a long story. But anyhow, I need you to help me. This isn't a one-night stand, I swear. I care for you greatly and I want you to help me." Bruce said, holding her hands as he covered himself with the sheet and got on the ground with one knee.
"Bruce." Francine said with a slight laugh.
"Please?" Bruce asked in a cute tone, giving her big and caring eyes.
"Fine." she replied with a smile.
"But I want a Round Two..."