Chapter 6: Gala

Clark tugged at his shirt collar. The thing felt slightly tight. He didn't like wearing these sorts of shirts, but given this was the dress code for the Mayor's Gala Dinner he'd gone and bought one.

Lois had said he looked handsome in it, and so he used that as something to make him stop tugging at his collar. He'd have to get her back for recommending him to Perry. He hadn't wanted to cover this damned dinner, but Lois had brought his name up at the Editorial Meeting and so here he was.

He was to interview the Mayor, or try to anyway, and interview as many of the guests as he could. Given that the event was happening in the City Hall and not Mannheim's mansion, he wondered if it would be easier or harder to do that.

He took a breath and then spotting a man with dark black hair and a green suit, walked toward him. As he did so, Clark recognised him as Ray Palmer the C.E.O. and founder of Palmer Tech. A company that was normally based in Star City. What was he doing here?

"Mr Palmer?!" Clark asked as he stopped before the man. He noted with some satisfaction that despite his height, Palmer had to strain his neck to look up at him.

"Yes?" The man replied, his voice was softer than Clark had imagined.

Clark pulled out his Daily Planet ID card and said. "Clark Kent, Daily Planet. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?"

Clark heard Palmer's heart rate quicken and wondered at that, especially as Palmer's voice hadn't changed when he answered. "Of course, go for it."

Clark put his ID back in his pocket, and pulled out his phone and hit record. "Can you tell me what it is you're doing here? Palmer Tech is based in Star City is it not?"

Ray Palmer nodded. "It is, but I was invited to this dinner by the Mayor and thought it rude to not attend."

"And why was that?" Clark asked. Palmer Tech didn't have an office here. So, unless Ray Palmer wanted to open one up, there was something else going on. Clark's suspicions were confirmed when Palmer's heart rate quickened even more.

"It is not often that I get invited to these sorts of events." Palmer answered.

That was a lie, the way Palmer's heart quickened and then remained at that quicker pace after the words had been said convinced Clark of that. "I see, and what are you hoping to achieve from attending the dinner?"

"I'm sorry?" Palmer replied, frowning.

"Well, you're a businessman, Mr Palmer, you must be wanting to achieve something from this dinner? Be it a chance to build a new centre for Palmer Tech in Metropolis to rival Mercury Labs, or to get a chance to meet influential Senators and lobby them for something or the other." Clark said.

Palmer looked at Clark and then looked passed him. The man chuckled. "I'm just happy to be here. I want to enjoy the event."

"And that's all is it?" Clark asked, wondering why Palmer was lying.

Before Palmer could respond, another person answered for him, this man's voice was deeper than Palmer's. "Enjoying a dinner isn't a crime, Mr Kent."

Clark looked at the man who had joined them. With slicked back black hair, a little bit of stubble and piercing eyes, it was Bruce Wayne. What was he doing here? Had he been tipped off about Clark's searches? Clark took a breath and then said. "Mr Wayne, a pleasure."

"Likewise." Wayne answered.

"Were you also invited for this dinner?" Clark asked. He had managed to sneak a look at the guest list before coming, he hadn't seen Wayne's name on the paper. But he had seen Wayne's deputy, Fox's name on the sheet.

Wayne chuckled. "My deputy, Mr Fox was invited, but couldn't make it. So, I'm substituting in for him today."

Clark nodded, Wayne's heart rate had remained normal, so he wasn't lying. "And what do you hope to achieve from your being here today?"

"Achieve?" Wayne replied, eyebrows raised. "Why would I need to achieve anything?" That last was asked with a slight rise in his tone, indicating something, but what it was, Clark wasn't quite sure.

"Well, the guest list is filled with Senators, Councilmen, Military officials and other such worthies. All people who could benefit your business, Mr Wayne." Clark said.

Wayne laughed. "I'm not sure what they're telling you at the Daily Planet, Mr Kent, but not every Gala Dinner is about networking."

"But most are." Clark shot back.

Wayne chuckled. "I suppose so, yes."

A pause then, as Clark looked at Wayne. There was something there. Something in the way the man looked at him. It unnerved him slightly, Clark couldn't quite place it, but he wondered if Bruce Wayne was sizing him up. He turned his attention back to Ray Palmer then and asked. "What do you make of the Mayor's policies to tech businesses, Mr Palmer?"

Palmer seemed somewhat surprised by the turn in the conversation, his eyes widened, but his heart rate returned to a normal pulse. "I think that they are quite generous. I know that the Mayor has spoken about wanting to bring more technological development to Metropolis, and I think that that can only be a good thing, given the way our world is going."

"And would you like Palmer Tech to be at the forefront of that?" Clark asked, it was an easy question, but he wanted to see how the man replied.

Ray Palmer smiled. "I would definitely like Palmer Tech to be at the forefront of this development. I think we have a lot to offer Metropolis."

"And what would you bring?" Clark asked.

Before Palmer could answer, Clark heard someone knocking a spoon against a cup. He turned and saw Bruno Mannheim the Mayor of Metropolis standing there holding a glass of champagne. "Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the 160th Mayor's Gala Dinner. We shall soon begin serving the food. I hope you enjoy tonight."

There were cheers and Clark saw Mannheim look at someone from the corner of his eye. Who it was Clark didn't know, but he was going to find out. His interest was piqued. Of course, he'd need to learn more about Bruce Wayne as well. He turned around to ask some more questions, but found that Bruce Wayne and Ray Palmer had disappeared. That was strange.