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"Well, things are certainly ... fun with you around, Selina." Joanie said as I helped her move a large laser printer onto a cart.
"A girl's got to have some excitement in her life." I replied sweetly. I stretched to remove the crick in my back, and looked around the room. A set of large racks in cabinets like I'd seen uptown were covered with blinking lights. I nodded at them, and asked, "What are they?"
"Mr. Wayne sublets this building to some city agencies. He provides network and Internet services through WayneTech." Joanie nodded at the racks, and continued, "The first one is ours, of course." She motioned to the others, and said, "The others are Legal Aid, the DA's office, and the Public Defender. They're on the first and second floors, respectively. The others are county heath department, Building inspector, and our Public Assistance office is on the fourth floor, along with the shared gym and lunchroom." She stacked a couple of boxes of supplies on top of the laser, then said, "C'mon. I'll introduce you to Mrs. Harris, your new boss."
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"Mrs. Harris!" Joanie called. A middle-aged black woman paused on coming out of the ladies' room, and said, "Yes, Joan?"
"Mrs. Harris, this is Selina Kyle. She's just starting work here today." Joanie said.
"Ms. Kyle. I understand you and Joan helped Pyotr earlier today." Joanie scuffed her feet, suddenly looking ten years old, when Mrs. Harris continued, "I'd like to thank the both of you. Pyotr is a sweet man, and I hope he'll pull through."
Joanie answered, "The paramedics thought he would, but because of his age, they wanted to make sure. That's why they took him down to General."
Mrs. Harris smiled, and said, "Well, we're getting a card and some flowers together for him."
Joanie looked up, and said with a smile, "I'd like to take it to him, if that's ok."
"I think that would be wonderful, child." She smiled, and Joanie moved away. Mrs. Harris looked at me, and said with a frown, "And you, child. Taking on two of them by yourself." She tisk'd, and said, "In the future, I hope you don't repeat that kind of thing."
"I'll try not to, ma'am." I promised.
"Good. Now, then. You're going to start out at the reception desk, learning where everyone and everything is. Clarissa will explain it all. Now, let me show you where you can put your coat."
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"What a day. I'm glad it's over." I told Clarissa.
"Slow day, actually. You'll get the hang of it." She told me. "You did well. Have you done this before?"
"No, I haven't. When I was married, I didn't have to work, and now that I'm divorced, my degree from Gotham U isn't worth much." I pulled my heels off, and padded over to the closet that we stored our stuff in. I held the door for Helen, the other receptionist, and added, "Now I catch the train back to my apartment, get dinner, feed my cats, and collapse into bed."
"Shame. We usually take the new girl out for a drink her first night." Helen added.
"Well, I really do need to catch my train..."
"C'mon. I'll drive you to your station. Where's your car?" Clarissa asked.
"Parkhurst. But ..."
"Girl, you helped save Pyotr's life earlier. The very LEAST we can do is to buy you a drink."
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"So tell me, Selina. I saw you fightin' those guys. You ever run into the Bat?" Helen slurred.
"Not the Bat, no. I've run into Robin, err, what's he calling himself now? Nightwing?" I looked at her over my glass of vodka, and added, "I've run into the Cat, too. Both of 'em got nice butts."
"Damn, girl, I didn't know you went that way." Clarissa said.
"A nice butt is a nice butt, no matter who it's on." I said. I stood up, or tried to, and signaled the waiter. He came over, and I dug into my purse. "Could you call a cab for the three of us, please? I don't think we should drive."
"I was about to cut you off. What were you celebrating?" He asked.
"Selina here saved a guy's life this morning. She helped to beat off some thugs." Clarissa said.
"Ah. In that case, let me call you ladies a cab, and I'll buy you all some coffee." He disappeared. A few minutes, the manager came by, and said, "I understand you ladies helped to save a man's life today."
Helen waved in my direction, and said, "Selina did. We just called the cops."
"Well, in that case, I'm going to comp your drinks, and Fred is calling you cabs." He reached over and picked up the bill, and added, "Thank you, miss."
"You're welcome, and thank you." I said.
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"Where to, lady?" The cabby asked me.
"Wayne ... Wayne Manor." I told him. "I'm gonna go talk to my boss, Mr. Brucie the billionaire Wayne, and give him a piece of my mind." I hiccuped, then moaned, "Oh, my head..."
"Your funeral, lady. Wayne's done ok by this city, though. Even if he is an airhead."
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The cold air from the door hit me, and I peeled open one eye. I saw the cabby, and he was saying, "This is the only address she would give, Pops. She said Wayne was her boss, so I brought her here."
"Indeed. We shall handle her from here." Alfred's voice said.
"Wayne ain't gonna, well, y'know, fire her or anything, is he?"
"That is up to Mr. Wayne, but I shan't worry. Mr. Wayne will undoubtedly let her sleep it off." I felt myself being lifted in a fireman's carry, and I giggled.
"Thanks, Pops." I felt myself being carried, and the cabby added, "Oh, Pops? Fare's $23.75."
I felt myself shifted, and Alfred said, "Please keep the balance for your trouble."
"Thanks, Pops!" I heard car doors slam, and the cab pulled away. Alfred tisked and said, "Miss Kyle, what will we do with you?"
### Chapter 12: Of Bosses and Booze