She didn't go to the event. She had to worry about the Harley and Joker triangle, and how to stay out of it.
She was in her office, when there was a knock on the door. A moment later, the door opened, and Dr. Daniels poked his head in.
"Hope, are you busy?" He asked.
Hope shook her head.
"I can talk. What's up?" Hope asked.
"There's someone here..." Dr. Daniels said, almost hesitantly.
"Dr. Lake, it's so nice to finally meet you."
A man walked in behind Dr. Daniels. Hope stood at the new arrival. Hope raised her eyebrows. She looked over at her boss.
"Mr. Wayne wanted a tour, to see what his money is being used for. He also asked to see you." Dr. Daniels said.
Hope looked back at Bruce.
"Mr. Wayne, this is a surprise." Hope said.
Bruce Wayne smiled.
"Well, I was hoping to meet you at one of my charity events, but you seem to skip them, even though they've all been to raise money for the Asylum." Bruce said.
"I didn't realize it was mandatory to be there." She said, crossing her arms in front of her.
"It is now. Hope, Mr. Wayne has donated lots of money here, so the next time you get an invitation, you will be going." Dr. \Daniels told her.
"What?!" Hope said.
"Great, because, I wanted to deliver this one personally." Bruce said.
He handed her an envelope, as Dr. Daniels got a text.
"If you'll excuse me, I'm needed elsewhere." Dr. Daniels said.
As soon as he was gone, she turned to Bruce. She crossed her arms in front of her.
"What do you think you're doing? I mean, seriously? I don't show up at your little party, and you show up at my work? Are you missing something in your brain? Good Lord! You and your friend need to stop pushing me." She told him.
"My friend?" He asked.
She rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, your friend, Batman. He was pushing me to go to your party, he thought that I needed to relax. I told him that he had no room to talk." She said.
"You think that the Batman and I are friends?" He asked.
"That's what you took from that? Wow, I think he might be wrong. You're just as bad as Oliver Queen, and Lex Luthor." She told him.
"That hurts! And it's just not true. You have to let me prove it to you." Bruce told her.
She raised her eyebrows.
"Really? And why would I do that?" She asked.
He smiled.
"Because, for one, you do need to relax, and for two, you want to be proven wrong." He told her.
She gave a laugh.
"Do I now?" She asked.
"Oh yeah, know how I know?" He asked.
"How?" She asked.
"You compared me to Queen and Luthor. That's just a challenge for me to prove you wrong. So, let me. Come to my little party, and let me surprise you." He told her.
"What happens if I'm not surprised?" She asked.
He raised his hands.
"I'll let it go, and tell my friend to as well." He told her.
She gave a nod.
"Okay. What happens if I am surprised?"
"What do you mean?" He asked.
She rolled her eyes.
"What happens if you actually manage to surprise me? What happens next? I know your reputation Mr. Wayne, and I do not forsee myself being just another notch on your belt." She told him.
"Fair enough. Well, if I surprise you, I'll just have to figure something much more surprising for you for a second date." He told her.
She gave a laugh.
"I guess it's lucky that my boss has ordered me to go to it, you've already got me to your party." She told him.
He laughed with her.
"The rest is on me, I guess. I will see you tomorrow night then." He said.
"Tomorrow?" She asked.
"Is that a problem?" He asked.
She frowned.
"That isn't a lot of time to find a dress." She muttered.
He laughed.
"If you had come the first time, this might not have happened." He told her.
"Whatever." She mumbled.
He laughed, then left. She exhaled loudly. She paced around her office, trying to figure out what she was going to do.
She was brought out of her reverie by a knock at her door.
"Doll face!" Joker said, just walking in.
"Joker, please, come in." Hope said.
She gave a nod to the gaurd. The gaurd left, shutting the door behind him. Hope turned to Joker.
"Doll face, it's been too long! Why did you make me wait?!" Joker demanded.
Hope sighed.
"Someone had gone after Harley. You threatened her. Your actions have consequences Joker." Hope said.
Joker studied her. She sighed again, and turned to the french doors. She looked out at the landscape.
"Doll face, Harley deserved it, she put her hands on you." Joker said.
Hope frowned, and turned around. She gasped, as she pressed up against the wall. Joker was right in front of her, extremely close. She held her breath, as Joker played with a locke of her hair.
"What do you think you're doing?" She asked, in a whisper.
"You kept me away doll face." He told her.
She shook her head, as Joker traced her jawline, then his finger trailed down her neck. She pushed his hand away from her.
"We are not together. You are my patient. I am not yours, we are not getting close. Stop torturing Harley, or you won't like the outcome." She told him.
He laughed.
"You're teasing." He said.
"I'll pass you off to another doctor, and take on Harley as a patient. You will never see me again, and I will cure Harley of you." Hope said.
"You wouldn't dare. He said.
All laughter was out of his voice. He was serious. She walked over to her desk, and opened a drawer. She pulled out a piece of paper.
"All I have to do is sign it, and you'll be gone." She told him.
He stared at her.
"You haven't signed it yet." He said.
"Not yet. It's up to you. Stop torturing Harley, and you'll still be my patient." She told him.
"Just leave her alone, and you'll keep me?" He asked.
She didn't like how he had said that.
"Yes." She said cautiously.
He smiled.
"Okay." He said.
"Okay? Okay, what?" She asked.
"I'll do it. I'll stop torturing Harley. For you." He told her.
There had to be a catch. There was always a catch with the Joker.
"Okay." She said.
His smile returned.
"So I heard Bruce Wayne stopped by today, to see what his money is paying for. Have you met the Prince of Gotham?" He asked.
Hope smiled.
"I did. Today." She said.
"And?" Joker said.
She exhaled loudly, as she rolled her eyes.
"I have my opinions about Mr. Wayne, but he feels like he can change my mind." She said.
"What are you talking about?" He asked.
She sighed.
"Mr. Wayne invited me to a few of his events, but I've been declining. That is, until today, when he managed to get Dr. Daniels to order me to his next event. So now, I have to find something appropriate to wear by tomorrow night. Mr Wayne seems to think that he can change my opinion of him. I think that he is no different than Oliver Queen, or Lex Luthor. He wants to prove me wrong." She said.
"He wants one thing from you, doll face." He said.
She frowned.
"I'm not stupid, or naive, I know of Mr. Wayne's reputation. It's why I don't think he'll be able to change my mind. Now, that's enough about me, the sessions are about you." She told him.
"Oh no, these sessions are not about me." He said.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"They are about you, doll face." He said.
She frowned.
"These sessions are never about me." she told him.
Joker got closer to her. She was backed up against the wall. Joker was giving a half smile as he pressed up against her.
"Everything is all about you." He told her.
"Stop. Now." She whispered.
He laughed at her.
"Do I make you uncomfortable doll face?" He asked.
She narrowed her eyes at him.
"The position that you've put us in, is unprofessional. Now, please, step away from me." She told him, calmly.
He paused for a moment. She waited. He finally took a couple steps away from her. The look in his eyes, clearly said that he wanted to do much, much, more than just touch her.
"Like I said, it's all about you, doll face." He told her.
She exhaled loudly, as she straightened her dress suit out.
"Thank you." She said.
She took a seat at her desk. Joker chose to stand, and pace slightly.