"Receipt Madame?" The balding man asked.
"Please."
He opened his receipt book and started writing, only stopping to look at the check when he got to the amount. His eyes widened and he started coughing a bit. "Why th-thank you Miss." he said hurriedly scribbling the rest of the receipt and passing it to her. She tucked it back into the clutch, and headed back towards her escort for the evening. She'd decided she would plead a headache, and since she'd already made her appearance, good publicity for the company, and she'd made her donation-- there wasn't much anyone could say.
"Care to dance?" came the deep raspy voice. She barely had time to think before Bruce had managed to lead them onto the floor.
It seemed like they fit together perfectly, her curved and luscious frame fitted into his muscled and powerfully built body. His body heat, and scent was playing havoc with her breathing, and her heartbeat had sped up. "Tell me Mr. Wayne, do you dance with everyone at these little soirées?"
"Well when it is one's company throwing the shindig, it's good for donations."
"Ah, but I'd already made my donation."
He pulled her slightly closer to his body, and she didn't stop him. "I saw. It looked like you were giving Mr. Thomas palpitations, which I can only assume means you were quite generous."
She shrugged and blushed slightly. "It's an extremely good cause."
"We agree on that then." he said looking into her thunderstorm eyes.
"You're a very hard man to read Bruce Wayne." she said softly, "I'm normally quite good at reading people."
"I get told that all the time."
"So where were you all those years you were gone?"
"Overseas mostly. Trying to find myself." he said seriously.
"And did you?"
"In a way, I suppose yes."
Realizing that she needed to dispel the intimate tone that their conversation had taken, she grinned slyly. "And is overseas where you found the wonder twins?" she motioned over her shoulder at his dates who were currently giggling and drinking champagne.
He had the grace to flush. "They came buy one get one free." he said with a straight face.
Callie laughed delightedly. The song came to an end, and they headed off the floor. Halfway there, Rachel stepped in front of them. "Bruce, I was hoping I could speak with you for a few moments." she said looking quickly at the woman he'd held in his arms so recently.
"Of course Rachel." he looked down at Calliope.
"I will leave you to it then." she said smiling at them both. "Thank you for the dance Mr. Wayne. Ms. Dawes." Callie turned and walked away, finding her way to Lawrence.
Bruce led Rachel to a quiet corner, and turned to her expectantly.
"I didn't know you knew Calliope Hughes." she said looking at him closely.
Bruce shrugged, "We had a business meeting recently, and she obviously showed up tonight due to the fact she is wealthy and travels in these circles."
"Oh, How have you been?" she whispered.
"I'm fine Rachel. How are you?"
"Good," she answered. "The city is starting to show a definite improvement in our Justice system."
"I'm glad. Now what did you really want to talk about Rachel?"
She sighed and met his eyes. "I've started seeing someone."
"I would assume you're talking about the gentleman who was keeping you so close to him earlier?" he said gently.
"Yes, William." she said searching his face.
"If you're happy, then I'm happy for you Rachel." he took one of her hands in his. "You deserve the best. And we both know that at this point, I can't give you what's best for you."
"Yeah."
"Be happy, Rachel." he said and started to walk away.
"Are you seeing the Hughes girl?"
"No." he answered without looking at her. "Why?"
"When you were dancing. It looked like more than a requisite dance. You looked like you were the only two in the room."
Bruce made his way over to Fox. "Let's do it. Let's sign the documents and support Calliope Hughes' project. I'll go tell her."
"Unfortunately that won't be possible Bruce."
"Why not? I thought you said it was a worthwhile project?"
"Oh, it definitely is. But Calliope left about ten minutes ago, leaving a very disgruntled Mr. James behind." Lucius told him, gesturing across the room.
Lawrence James was drinking something much harder than champagne now, and had a grimace on his face. Suddenly a scream echoed through the room, and people rushed to the sound. Bruce and Fox made their way out the ballroom, and over to the front doors entering the hotel. A burly man lay on the concrete outside, his hands cuffed behind him, and a large bruise forming across his face.
A note fluttered to the ground at Bruce's feet. He picked it up, and hotel security and Lieutenant Gordon raced over to check on the unconscious man. It read, 'He came for Bruce Wayne. Let it be known, Batman isn't the only person who can deliver justice."