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Chapter 6.

It was just another day down in archives, and I was finally filing just the last two pieces of manila folders in my hands. Just as I slid the door of the file drawer shut, and spun around on my heel, pushing forward, I bumped into something solid and that smelt quite nice like a clean after shave and cologne that almost made me dizzy, and certainly let all my papers of hard work fly to the floor.

I let out a short gasp. "Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry! Um, I wasn't looking, I mean...in my own little world, uh..." I looked down at the mess and then dropped to my knees to quickly pick them up and went to reach for a single document until our fingers touched one another and made me freeze. My heart was literally pounding as I tried to keep it together because it wasn't Mr. Fox and it sure as hell wasn't Mr. Earle.

"It's okay. Miss Blake, right?"

He handed me the document and I kept it in my hand a little too long befoee I finally slipped it in and lifted my glasses up my nose. "Yes, uh, Melanie."

"I'm Bruce." He offered a hand for me and I took it nearly leaning on his shoulder as I tried to steady upright without falling over. Man, he sure was a strong one!

I smoothed out my ponytail. "Bruce?"

"Wayne?" he gave me a sheepish look as if I should know that and truth be told I should but it's been years since the good looking Princeton boy dropped out and suddenly disappeared for seven years. I only remember seeing him from the papers and the news that don't do him at all justice.

"Right," I inhaled shortly. "I knew that, totally! I was just uh...admiring your sudden return back from the dead and all. It's just not every day, you know?" I said, trying to keep it together as I laughed nervously. This was awkward. "And I'm babbling. Sorry. Did, uh, What can I help you with?"

"Mr. Fox said you may have something on what Mr. Earle has been up to while I was tone?"

"Oh? Uh I mean, sure," I nodded. Oh my god, stop and get it together is is a person not Johnny Depp! "I've only been here for seven months but archives keeps a lot or old history from blue prints of the building to Mr. Earle's favorite color."

Bruce smirked at that. "Excellent. I'll take the whole file."

I raised my eyebrows. "The whole file, Me. Wayne? I mean i's pretty heavy. It is Wayne Enterprises after all."

"That sounds perfect actually."

I frowned a bit. "Mr. Wayne I just finished dusting and categorizing every file in the archives and survived and endured with every paper cut on my poor thumbs," I wiggled my fingers for proof of my band aids on my other hand. "Despite all that I actually like this job. It's the best job I've ever had, dust and all. And you think you're just going to waltz right in here and know exactly what you are looking for? And don't even get me started on finances."

The corners of Bruce's lips curled upward. Amused. "That's what I have you for."

I tilted my head forward and pressed my lips to the side. But of course. Why should a guy back from the dead suddenly want specific details of my own boss? I tosses the folder on my desk and crossed my arms, stepping forward.

"And what id Mr. Earle found out I was snooping on him?"

"Does he come by here often?"

"No."

"He won't find out. I promise."

"Bruce, I just finally settled into this job. I like this job! It's safe, keeps me grounded, and allows me to have a roof over my head, clothes on my back, and decent food in my stomach. I'm content. I was miserable at my last job, please don't make me get fired and make me go back to that hellhole of a place. This is really step up from that. And if Earle shuts it all down...I just don't want them to get into the wrong hands."

"Mr. Fox told me you were passionate about working here," he noted.

I nodded indefinitely.

"I promise I won't let anything trace back to you on my end. I came back for a job too and this is kind of where he sent me, well, applied sciences. I'm just trying to learn what my father did from the ground up. Same as you."

I bit my lip. He seemed kind. Genuine. Not at all what the papers painted him iut to be.

"Really?"

He smiled. "Really."

I smiled too. "Ok," I clapped my hands together. "So, where do we start?"

"How about the beginning?"

"That might take awhile," I said.

"Let's get started."

"I'll get coffee!"