"Did you get sleep last night?" Tiffany asked from her position on the couch in my office.

"Yes...I...I did." I said breathlessly as I ran on the treadmill that I had in my office. I was also reading documents as I ran so...multitasking at its finest!

"You don't look it." She said as she took off her heels and stretched out.

"You don't look like it." I countered and she gave me the middle finger in which I stuck my tongue out at her.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Tiffany get up off the couch and walk over to the dress rack that had many choices of evening gowns on it.

"So, have you decided which one of these bad boy's your wearing tonight?" she said as she scanned each one.

"Nope!" I said before slowing down the treadmill to a more moderate pace and jumping off it.

So, in case you're not up to speed, the past 24 hours have been eventful. This morning, instead of finding myself far away from the socially sad and depressed human being known as Richard John Grayson, I found myself relaxing on my left side with his right arm around my shoulder. Not only was I petrified, but I was terrified that I would have to explain how I somehow got wrapped up in his arms. Ew...no. No, no, no, no, no. So, I did what any person would do, I fucking bolted out of my own damn house. He probably knew already that I was gone before he got up, but I honestly didn't care.

"It's a Society Ball Ash...you gotta be a showstopper." Tiff explained pulling out a black strapless gown from the rack.

Tonight however, was another stupid society ball that was being put on by 'The Martha Wayne Foundation' to help support education in Gotham. Ugh...I hated these parties. They make you wear stupid gowns and heels and talk to people that you hate talking to, along with trying to act like a total upper-class citizen that likes to help poor people, when in reality most people who come to these things hate helping poor people. Plus, most of the people that go to these things (aside from my family) act like total snobs. One of the best parts about these parties is the free alcohol...now that is a reason to go.

I took a large gulp from my water bottle. And pushed back the hair what was drenched in sweat from running. "Too basic, plus I always wear black."

"Exactly my point!" She explained. "Black may be basic, but it is elegant, mysterious, plus it is your color."

"Maybe I want to branch out." I explained putting my water down on my desk.

"To what?" she asked raising an eyebrow. Before pulling out a hot pink one. "To this?"

"Fuck no." I said shaking my head.

"That's what I thought." She replied and I rolled my eyes.

"I just think you should be classy..."she continued as she hung the dress back on the rack.

I crossed my arms and gave her a look. "I am classy."

She smiled. "I didn't say you weren't Ash. I...what about this one?"

I glanced over the gown. It was a deep burgundy color, leaning more on the berry color lines, it had a slit going up the left thigh, it was beaded, the bodice was the slightest bit sheer and it was strapless.

"I'll take it." I said with a nod.

"You serious?" she said looking at me, surprisingly. "You usually don't go for color."

I smirked. "I wanna change it up."

She smirked back. "Atta girl!"

Sure enough, within the next few hours I was sitting in my apartment with Tiffany getting my hair and makeup done. Honestly, I was use to doing this that it came to me like a routine. Every big event, interview, or court case, I had a hair and makeup team almost on standby to make me look the best. I felt like a Barbie doll, but other than that...I kind of ignored the process.

After getting my hair and makeup done, I changed into my gown and heels and looked over myself in the mirror that was in my walk-in closet. My hair was loose and curled so there were big waves, and my makeup was minimal. I wore a diamond pendant for a necklace that I've had for a long time, and I also had a pair of diamond earrings in. I kind of just looked like the more put together version of myself.

The party was at a museum downtown, and I was so unhappy that this was happening. The reason? I wanted to keep a low profile on coming back home...but now...that wasn't going to happen.

Walking into the building I gave Tiffany the rundown:

"Here's what's going to happen." I began. "There is going to be a bunch of old people trying to hit on you and your response is to say no because they are pervs. You also want to make sure to not act snobbish and try to drink as much alcohol as you can because it will make the night go faster and trust me, after dealing with these people you'll need it."

"So, try and be myself...but not get with the pervs?" she asked.

"Essentially." I nodded.

"Stass would've been better at this." She murmured and I laughed.

After we were inside of the stupid party, Tiff went one way, and I being the usual anti-social bitch that I am went right towards the bar. However, I got sidetracked on my way when I saw one of the waiters carrying a tray full of champagne. I snagged one of those bad boys as I continued to walk towards the bar. As soon as I got there, I surveyed the crowd, god I hated these parties. Sometimes they made me question my drug sobriety, cause they'd give me that much of a headache.

"Tired?" a voice from behind me asked and I sighed. I knew exactly who it was. My father.

I turned around and shrugged. "You know me, and how much I hate these parties."

"Yes, but it is for a good cause. You know that." he explained.

I nodded. "Yeah, I know, but I feel like I'm always put on display as a fricken show pony. It's annoying and irritating."

He laughed. "I use to feel the same way when I was your age. I also had your mother with me, so I use to have her to help me get through this."

I rolled my eyes at the mention of my mother. "She probably was distracting you while she stole from these people."

"You know her too well." he sighed, and I laughed.

"Anybody come up to you to bother you?" I asked.

He sighed again. "The usual, Stagg, board members from L-Corp, Cadmus which has some interesting research discoveries that I want to look at later, and a few board members from WE."

I nodded. "They all want money?"

"Yep." He acknowledged.

"I'm going to walk around." I said and walked away from my father.

I started walking around the room. Away from all of the crowds and started to look at the artifacts. From the times that I would travel to Paris for business, I would visit Diana. I almost saw her as my mother/older-sister figure. She was a close ally/friend of mine and I learned so much from her. When I was with Diana in Paris, she taught me about all kinds of artifacts. Her knowledge was something that I envied of her, and she knew it too. But it was all in good humor as her and I became fast friends as soon as I met her.

As I was looking over a Ming Dynasty vase, that I knew wasn't the authentic one due to the fact that the authentic one sold on the black market 5 years ago. I heard footsteps approach me from behind, but I didn't turn around to act like I didn't notice. You see, after years of training under my Dad, I could hear people coming from a mile away. It was both helpful and useful sometimes.

"Beautiful isn't it?" A familiar voice said. "Though it's not authentic. The real one was..."

"Sold on the black market five years ago." I interrupted with a smile. But I still didn't turn around. "Yeah, I know."

I turned around with a small smile to make eye contact with none other than Lucius's son Luke.

"Hey Ash." he said with a smile. "How the hell have you been?"

I smiled back. "It's been a while, but I'm good."

"Never thought I'd see you back in this town." he explained.

"Yeah," I agreed. "That makes two of us."

"Congrats by the way, my Dad and sister were telling me that you're your Dad's lawyer." he continued.

"Yeah, all his lawyers went to Stagg so he needed someone he could trust." I explained.

"Yeah, Tam was telling me about that." he explained. "Well, I'm glad he has you."

"Yeah." I sighed. "If you'll excuse me, I have to go talk to my father."

I quickly walked away from Luke and walked back into the crowd, but instead of walking to my father who was talking to some woman who was around my age, I walked right outside to the balcony. It wasn't the fact that I hated talking to Luke, it was the fact that years ago, when we were in High School, he had a thing for me. I knew he did due to my observational skills, but I stayed in the friend zone. Thank fucking god.

I walked over to the balcony and leaned against it to look out at the city. I liked the view. It was gorgeous. I tried to clear my mind, I hated pulling negative thoughts especially while I was here.

"Come to clear your head?" a voice said from behind me.

I turned around to look Dick in the eyes. He was dressed in a tux...just like every other guy at this event. "What are you doing here?"

"Came to see if I could get some rich people booze." Dick explained and I raised both my eyebrows. "Okay, I wanted to talk. You know, it's kind of our thing...late night therapy session."

I rolled my eyes as he walked to stand next to me on the balcony. "Yeah sure."

He leaned against the balcony and looked me up and down. "You look...phenomenal."

I blushed...but not a lot so he wouldn't notice. "Thanks."

"I forgot you hate these parties." he explained.

"You're going to get caught. My Dad is going to see you here." I replied changing the subject.

"Ashley..." he began. "Relax, if your Dad or anybody that I know sees me...I can easily come up with an excuse."

"Really?" I asked with a small smirk. "What's the excuse?"

He was silent before looking out at the city.

"You don't have an excuse, do you?" I asked and he shook his head no.

I laughed. "Richard, you are an idiot."

"Thanks." he snarked making me smile even bigger.

"Ash!" Another voice called.

My eyes widened and glanced at the doorway to see Tiffany walking towards me in her emerald green gown.

"You are about to meet my assistant. Do not speak unless spoken to." I whispered.

"Ash, where the hell were you?" she began once she reached Dick and I.

"I was out here getting some air. Why?" I asked.

"Your Dad was looking for you." she explained. She then glanced at Dick. "Who's this?"

Dick glanced at me.

"This is...John. He and I...use to go to school together." I explained and the look Dick gave me said it all. He wasn't happy with that analogy.

"Hi!" Tiffany said warmly. "I'm Tiffany. I'm Ash's executive assistant."

She held out her hand.

"Nice to meet you." Dick replied as she shook her hand.

"Meet me back inside." I explained. "I'll be there in a few."

"Cool." she said and turned on her heel and walked back into the ballroom.

After she went back inside, Dick looked at me. "Really? We went to school together. How about the fact that we lived under the same roof for 8 years?"

I sighed. "I had to think of something."

He huffed. "Yeah, I know you did. Spur of the moment?"

I nodded with a small smile. "100%."

We were quiet for a while as we looked over the city before I interrupted the silence.

"You know," I began. "You should come inside. You can drink your troubles away."

He smiled. "No, I won't do that." His smiled slowly faded. "I'll wait to see Bruce in person before I make any public appearances as myself."

I nodded and I felt his right hand come to rest on the top of my left hand. I also felt myself resisting the urge to interwind our fingers together. And I didn't stop myself. It felt familiar, calming, and relaxing. That was until we heard glass shattering and people screaming coming from inside the ballroom. Both of us pulled our hands away as our heads jerked towards the ballroom.

"Get inside." he instructed.

I turned towards him. "What are you gonna do?"

"Do what I always do Ash." he explained before walking off to change. "Save your Dad's ass."

I smirked before I walked inside to see who the hell attacked this god-awful party.