Chapter 5

The Morning After

Diana awoke to a sweet aroma of fruit and coffee. She sat herself up on the propped pillows.

"Morning," Bruce said," I trust you slept well?"

Very,"she said "how about you?"

"I sleep better during the day than at night."

"Now there's a surprise."

Bruce walked over to the bed with a tray of breakfast.

"What's this?" Diana asked surprised.

"Room service princess," He replied as he placed it on the covers. "the best that Gotham has to offer."His Blackberry buzzed in his pant pocket. Diana could not help but notice that he was in a tailor made suit and black dress pants.

"Wait," she said. "where's your suit?"

"In the cave."

"Cave?"

Bruce smirked. He looked at the Blackberry's screen and saw a text message sent by Lucuis Fox.

"I went back to the manor and changed, I can't go walking down town dressed as Batman." He explained. "Batman only operated during the night hours, while Bruce Wayne prowls the city's streets during the daylight hours."

"How come when you're a part timer with the League, you fight during the daylight?"

"That's different."

"Explain?"

"Gotham is my city princess." Bruce said with pride. "Most of the crime happens during the late hours. When the Justice League battles the monster and demons I prepare myself for anything including being seen in the daylight by the general public."

Diana nodded. "Alright that explains it." she said, "so what are you doing after breakfast?"

"I have important business to take care of at Wayne Enterprises with Fox." He looked at his Rolex, "I'm late." He moaned. "again."

Bruce leaned over and gave Diana a gentle kiss on the cheek.

"When will I see you can?" she asked hoping to spend the afternoon with him. "This afternoon, perhaps?"

"I'm busy Diana, maybe tonight,"

Lucius Fox entered the board room, where Bruce Wayne was standing looking out at the tall towers of downtown. Fox could tell that something was bothering the young man by the expression on his sharp featured face as his eyes focused on the American flag blowing on top of the building across.

"Another long night?" Fox asked.

Bruce turned, nodded, and then smiled.

"I thought you were not much of morning person, Master Wayne, we usually have our conversations after lunch, but I am guessing that this isn't s social call. You want to know if I found any more on the blood sample you gave to me." Fox asked.

Bruce nodded. "That is correct, Mr. Fox."

"I examine the tissue and found sepsis in the red blood cells along with the unknown compound that I told you about. The victim's body suffered serve sepsis an infection that causes the organs to dysfunction, hypertension and shock. The victim died within two hours."

Bruce rubbed his lips together showing Fox that he was thinking. "So you're saying that the victim Ashley Whitehorn was a fallen victim of blood poisoning?"

"That is correct, Mr. Wayne. A deadly form I might add. That the compounds in the blood suggest that it was alerted for one purpose to destroy the healthy cells in the body."

Bruce turned to the window. "So we're dealing with someone that knows about deadly toxins."

"I would seem so. Unless you can find out what is the hidden substance in her body this case will remain inconclusive."

Bruce turned to make his leave.

"Mr. Wayne, do you need anything else new equipment?"

"No, Mr. Fox, right now I have a date with a doctor."

The Rose Café was Gotham's newest restaurants, that Bruce had grown accustom to the spectacular food that they served there.

Thomas Elliot and his girlfriend from Brazil Rose Red allowed themselves to be seated at the table by the window. As they waited for their menus, Elliot looked at his watch and frowned.

"He should be here soon. I know that it's his trademark for being late."

Rose raised her eyebrows. "Really? I always wanted to meet the infamous billionaire prince of Gotham."

"Bruce , he's a man about town , there is nothing we don't know about each other."

"So how did you become friends?" Rose asked.

"Bruce and I go way back, his father Doctor Thomas Wayne was best friends with my father . I spent a lot of my childhood at Wayne Manor, but that was before…"

"

Before what Tommy?" she asked, "what happened?"

"Before Bruce's parents were murdered. After that Bruce was never the same."

Rose placed her hand on top of Thomas and smiled looking for his shoulder at a dashing dark haired man with sharp cheek bones and inviting lips, who was entering the restaurant with sunglasses resting on the top of his head. He strode to the table of which they sat and smiled.

"Tommy!" he said. "Sorry I'm late, glad to see that you ordered without me." He looked at the beautiful red haired woman sitting across of Elliot. "And who is this?"

"Bruce Wayne I would like you to meet Rose Red, the woman of my dreams."
"I'll say."

Rose smiled. 'How do you Mr. Wayne?"

"Please Rose, call me Bruce, Mr. Wayne is so formal and I am anything but formal."

Bruce sat down. "So let's order. The food here is to die for."

Rose grinned. "I bet."

It was almost three in the afternoon when the three of them ate their last bite of German cheese cake gazed with cameral.

Rose dabbed her lips with the napkin. "So tell me, Mr. Wayne , do you have a girlfriend or a woman in your life."

Bruce nodded.

Thomas shirked. "Are you kidding , Bruce has countless women after him but he never settles down." He winked at Bruce. "Isn't that right?"

"I've been seeing someone, "Bruce said. " A Greek goddess,"

"Name?" Thomas asked.

"Diana Prince."

"She sounds powerful?"

"You have no idea," Bruce commented. "We've just started to date, but I am having mix feelings with her."

"Care to explain?" Rose asked. "I know a lot about women Bruce."

"The thing that is between us well it's sort of forbidden , your mother doesn't approve."

"Which mother doesn't " Thomas huffed sipping his coffee. "So how did you two meet?"

"We've been friends for a long time and worked together on different…" He paused searching. "Things about restoring the … the world."

Rose smiled. "Funny that's what I do Bruce , except I deal with rain forests and wildlife. If you love Bruce then stay with her , who cares what her mother thinks …"

"I care." Bruce mocked in outrage. "Her mother is not like any mother you have ever met , she keeps her daughters well guarded ."

"So what?" Thomas said. "Who cares , Bruce , do what you want."

Bruce sipped his coffee. 'I wish it was that simple Tommy, but Diana mother' has friends in high places, believe me ."

Rose looked at her watch. "Oh, sorry boys that I'm need elsewhere." She leaned over and gave Thomas a kiss on the lips. "See you later on Doctor Elliot."

"Remember my place at eight."

Rose nodded and looked at Bruce as if she was planning something. "I'm glad I finally got to meet the infamous Bruce Wayne that everyone talks about." She gave him a friendly kiss on the sweet, for some reason Bruce felt his flesh burn as she pulled away. "I enjoyed our little conversation and looked for to see you again."

"You too," Bruce said.

Both men watched her leave through the doors. "So what do you think of Rose?" Thomas asked proudly.

"I think she's one of kind."Bruce answered.

"You got that right; she's like a rare desert flower."

"That's one way of putting that." Bruce said.

"So you have a woman now in your life, I was beginning to lose hope."

"Thanks."

"I would love to meet her,"
"We'll see, Diana is a very busy woman."

Bruce stood placed a hundred dollar bill on the table. "It was my treat. "He said placing his sunglasses over his silver hazel green eyes. "Take care Tommy, try to stay out of trouble."
"You too, Bruce."

"I'll try." Bruce smiled.