AN: Not quite what I had in mind but serves as a link to the next few chapters. Sorry

Chapter 9

Chloe

When Chloe awoke there was a small stream of daylight coming into the room. The ray went over the covers and hit the floor in front of her. Lifting her hand she placed it into light watching it play over her skin.

As she became more alert the arm wrapped around her waist filtered up to her brain, she sighed and wriggled against the warm body behind her. Her eyes were hardly open and the cogs of her foggy mind had yet to turn properly, coffee deprived as they were. "hmmmmm" she heard the mumbles of the owner of the arm before he shuffled against her in turn.

She inhaled deeply taking in the scent, leather, musk, something finally connected, Oliver! Her body went rigid for a few seconds before she relaxed again. It felt nice to be held, to know someone wanted to hold her.

As she lay waking slowly the events of the previous night came back into her mind, she had messed up and needed to be rescued, again. Only this time it was by the Batman, he was new, so much darker than anyone she had come across before, at least in terms of saving people. He intrigued her, she wanted, needed to know more, to see more, the question was how without getting herself into more trouble.

Oliver stirred against her again loosening the hold he had on her allowing her to slip free and finally stand. Stretching she yawned and looked down at him, he seemed peaceful, more so than the last time she had seen him sleep. The covers were half way down the bed and one of his feet was resting on top of the sheet. Chloe leant and covered him over before hitting the shower.

When she emerged Oliver was awake and sat reading the morning paper. "Coffee and morning bagels are on there way." She sat on the bed next to him, "Oliver," she began quietly noting he hadn't looked at her, "about last night." It was then he lowered the paper and turned those deep brown eyes on her making her feel a little more guilty. "There is nothing to talk about Chloe, just don't do it again, please."

Making some generally non committal noises Chloe dressed before heading to the door when she heard a knock. The smell of strong coffee made her nose twitch and her taste buds tingle with excitement. The maid pushed in a trolley with a couple of pots of coffee and some bagels with fruit giving her a choice of what to have but Chloe being Chloe the first thing past her lips was one strong coffee.

"The fundraiser starts at 8pm so I've arranged for a car to pick us up at 7.45pm." Oliver appeared next to her grabbing one of the bagels and a glass of OJ. "There is a car at your disposal all day as well, the driver will take you where ever you want to go. I'll be as quick as I can but business is business."

She just shrugged and nodded, she was going to take in some of the culture of Gotham today since she had taken in part of its darker side already. Besides she didn't want to let Oliver down and find herself with cuts, bruises or worse before being his date to this function. "Don't worry Ollie I'll be a good girl."

Giving him a quick grin she snagged a bagel checking the time, 10.30am, "I guess I could get started now, give you a chance to get ready for your meeting. Those museums are waiting." Taking a bite and another slurp of coffee she moved to grab her coat and bag.

His hand encircled her wrist causing her to stop and look up at him, "Chloe be careful." It was soft and half pleading causing her to nod in assent, "I will." She meant it, at least for now.

Oliver

Oliver watched her leave, the memory of her body next to his fresh in his mind, he had felt comfortable, warm, secure with her there. Something that had been missing for a long time. He moved back to the bed and finished reading the newspaper while he finished eating. The financial section wasn't exactly the most thrilling of reads but he liked to know how his stock was doing, which as per usual was well. He didn't have to worry about money something he was thankful about, it meant he could get on with saving the world from Lex Luthor and other assorted criminal types without wondering where the backing was going to come from.

Once he was satisfied he showered and dressed putting on an appropriate suit for the days meetings. He didn't need to go but he liked to keep his hand in on some things, in this case dealing with Wayne Enterprises.

Heading out he stopped by the desk and arranged flowers to be delivered to the room to make up for his shortness with Chloe the previous night. He also organised for a couple of corsages for the evening, giving only the colors of the dress Chloe was wearing and his own suit so the florist could choose the most appropriate colors.

The person behind the desk was male but no less accommodating than their welcoming clerk had been, perhaps with less innuendo which Oliver was grateful for. After checking that the car was booked for the evening he stepped out into the warm air of Gotham.

It smelt of car fumes and other things slightly less pleasant but he was hoping some of the technology his own corporation had would help take care of that. He believed that the two enterprises could work together to help improve Gotham and take some of the technology out into the poorer communities to help them as well. Oliver was a great believer that his company should not just be about profit but about giving back to the world as well.

Not exactly the same ruthless business tactics as Lex but it worked well enough for him and he would keep moving in the same direction, after all what was the use of all that money if he couldn't put it to good use.

Stepping inside the car he sat and began to flick through the documents related to the business scheme. This was the part he hated, which was why he normally left this kind of thing to his management team but Bruce was a friend and the business they were going to be doing together was close to his heart.

Finally approaching his destination his fingers drummed against the manila folder while he ran through a few things in his head. If things went to plan he could get this over and done with quickly and then go and find Chloe. Silently he promised himself the next time he had a few days off from saving the world he was going to go to a deserted island, just him, the sea, sand and maybe a pretty girl.

Smiling and making the right noises as he walked into the tall building that dominated the skyline he was not surprised to see a wealth of young attractive women working for Bruce. How many of them were employed for their brains he wouldn't like to guess but Bruce's reputation seemed to demand that he be surrounded by airheads at all times.

One the one hand it didn't surprise Oliver, Bruce was meant to be a playboy but on the other Oliver knew he was intelligent, an airhead was not the woman for Bruce Wayne. They were alike in that respect, Lex perhaps could get away with it but not them. Those thoughts brought him back to Chloe and he wondered briefly where she was and if she was having a good time. Pulling out his cell he quickly tapped out a message as he walked, finishing as he swept into the boardroom pleased to see two of his top negotiators already there.