Wayne Enterprises.
A monumental building right in Gotham city.
Over that past years, this company had helped so many people. Now, it was Shayera's turn to be helped.
Scarlet Hall. The new assistant of Bruce Wayne, who was chairman and CEO of Wayne Enterprises. The old assistant quit for some unknown reasons. As she made her way to her new desk, Scarlet could hear the whispers surround her and stay with her until she reached her desk. Even as she sat down, the whispers didn't stop.
"They always love to gossip."
Shayera looked up to the woman who had just spoken to her. She was taller than Shayera and had wavy brown hair with light brown eyes.
"You must be Scarlet. The new assistant? I'm Katie Reeves, Mr. Wayne's secretary."
Shayera stood and took Katie's outreached hand and shook it. She cocked her a little to the right. "Secretary? Why does he need an assistant and secretary?"
Katie dropped her hand and sat down at her own desk, which wasn't too far from Shayera's. "I make his appointments for business meetings and interviews. You on the other hand have the crap job. You'll be with him most of the time getting him whatever he needs. Be it a cup of coffee, a pen, or a shoe. Anything he needs."
Shayera grimaced. This wasn't the job she signed up for. Hell! She didn't even want one. It was as if this was some way to keep an eye on her. She sighed. "Well, it's a job and apparently I need one."
Katie smiled kindly. "Mr. Wayne really isn't that bad. The tabloids may make him seem like nothing but a playboy, but honestly he's a decent guy."
And speak of the devil, in came Mr. Wayne himself. He casually strode in the office floor as if he owned the place. Granted he did, he just didn't need to seem so damn cocky about it. When he reached the two woman's desks he addressed Katie. "Ms. Reeves, I see that our new employee has arrived. I trust that you'll show her the ropes?"
"Oh yes Mr. Wayne. By the way, Mr. Fox called; he said that he'd be stopping by."
Bruce smiled. "Oh Lucius, that old bat. Let me know when he's here. On second thought, just let him in."
"Yes Mr. Wayne."
Finally, his gaze met Shayera's. "Welcome to Wayne Enterprises Ms. Hall."
Shayera smiled knowingly. "Thank you Mr. Wayne."
With a quick wink, playboy charmer Bruce Wayne went into his office, leaving an open mouthed shocked Shayera.
"What the hell was that?"
Katie laughed and began to log on to her computer. "That, my new work buddy, was Bruce Wayne."
The whispers around them picked up once more and Katie gave Shayera a glance filled with humor. "Welcome to Wayne Enterprises."
The day went by surprisingly fast. Shayera mainly sat at her desk and waited for Mr. Wayne to need her. Her and Katie talked and found that they had much in common. At first, Shayera didn't seem to have any remnants of people skills. She was used to the usual silence in the mansion. Eventually, she warned up to Katie and the day was filled with laughs.
By the time she got home, she had a friend.
"How was your day Miss?" Alfred greeted her as she stepped in the car.
Shayera smiled at the older man. "Great Alfred. It was nice to be out instead of being cooped up in the mansion."
Alfred chuckled. "Interesting word choice Miss." His lips were tilted up in a hint of a smile. "And the device Master Bruce gave to you?"
"Worked like a charm. I almost forgot about it. I finally got to see how it was to be… human."
As Alfred drove back to the mansion, Shayera watched the city. Right at the heart of the city, while the sun was still out, there seemed to be no crime. It seemed to be a place where a happy couple could live in peace with their 8 year old boy. However, she'd be willing to bet that crime merely stepped out of the shadows at night. Just as the Bat did.
At the mansion, Alfred stopped the car and held her door open for her. She got out, said thank you, and went to her room.
"Dinner shall be ready in an hour."
Making it to her room, Shayera stripped out of her work clothes and grabbed a pair of black yoga pants and a white tank top. After putting the tank top on, Shayera reached behind her and deactivated the small device implanted into her back. She felt a tiny tingling sensation and then the familiar weight of her wings. Rolling her shoulders and flexing her wings, she made sure that they were alright and survived. Reassured of her wings, she made her way downstairs and as she passed the large kitchen and let Alfred know that she was going on her daily flight.
She took her time walking over to the edge of the cliff. Instead of running towards it as she got closer and jumping off, Shayera simply walked over. Upon reaching the edge, Shayera sat down and let her legs fall over the edge. She thought over to her day. For once, she was invisible. There were no cruel words about her, merely gossip on how she got the job. All were implying she had slept with Bruce. She snorted out loud to the thought. People were curious about her, wanted to know all about her. The attention made her cringe inwardly. On the outside however, she smiled and made a new life out of her web of lies.
She was used to this. This… adjusting. She had always been the one chosen for an assignment that dealt with new identities. It was what she was trained for. But this was different. Somehow, this would be the new her. Scarlet Hall, assistant to Bruce Wayne of Wayne Enterprises.
Suddenly, she felt a brooding presence behind her. Without turning around she spoke to it. "Hello Mr. Wayne. Can I interest you in a cup of coffee? Or perhaps a copy of the news?" She asked him mockingly.
Playing along, Bruce spoke. "No, thank you Ms. Scarlet." Settling down on the ground next to her, Bruce decided to ask her about her day. "Was it as bad as you thought it would be? Being my assistant?"
Shayera chuckled softly. "No, it was pretty good." She sat up straighter and brought her knees close to her chest. "I felt accepted. Even though my identity is a sham, there aren't any ulterior motives. No need for information. Just a new life." With the last statement, she turned to face Bruce.
He wasn't looking at her. His gaze was focused on the setting sun. "This can't be who you are forever. Scarlet Hall isn't who you are. You are Shayera Hol and that's who you'll always be. You can't hide forever."
Shayera harrumphed and turned towards the view. "I can try."
Bruce said nothing and the two simply remained there until the sun went down.