Disclaimer: I do not own the Batman series by Christopher Nolan, just writing for fun.

A/N: Ooh, look another chapter! Yay! Let the fun begin! Enjoy! Thank you all for following, favoriting, and reviewing! Means a lot!

Chapter 10: Theatricality and Deception

I got out of the cab, and marched straight towards the door, glancing up at Wayne Manor. It was huge, needless to say, but I couldn't help it. As soon as I hit the knocker on the door several times, I craned my neck to look at how tall it was. This was at least bigger than the Narrows combined; I mean it had to be. It was beautiful too. The Palisades were definitely a rich place to be for the rich out here.

But Alfred or someone had to hurry and answer this door because I was getting cranky again. My coffee was running out and I needed more in order to function a full day properly because somebody didn't let me sleep last night. And now I had bags under my eyes.

"Ah, Miss-"

"Don't Miss Blake me, Alfred. I need coffee." I said, trying not to sound too harsh, but I couldn't help it. I was probably hungry too.

"I made lunch, breakfast, "

"We have time for brunch?" I said, making him smile. I watched him take a silver tray of food that he'd been preparing before I got here.

"I wanted to make this fast…I'm already late because someone failed to explain themselves!" I said with a glare.

He smirked at me and then looked me up and down at my very unkempt outfit. My black dress was askew and my stockings underneath were not on straight. I tried. My makeup wasn't even on. I looked like a hot Goth ragdoll mess. I shoved my coffee mug at him that was already getting low.

"We're not going into work today."

"We're not?" I asked him. "But it's nearly-" I wanted to strangle him at what time it was. It was already in the afternoon and I was extremely late. I'd never been late before in my entire life. And that was Alfred's fault for not letting me sleep properly last night thinking who's out there killing other people and stealing things from people! But then again I was just a nobody so who'd want to steal or kill me at this point?

"Nope. If you haven't noticed already, we're taking a PTO today. Come with me. I'll tell you everything you need to know that kept you up at night."

I sighed. "Good. Thank you."

"You're welcome Miss-"

"Just call me Mel, Alfred, everyone does," I said, sending him a small smile as he looked at me a bit startled. I was not a morning person and I wasn't even sure how I could keep lying to myself that I was for this job. Because this job alone had been the best thing that ever happened to me and certainly was giving me a way out of the Narrows that was for sure and that was always the goal, to get out of poverty, and to get out of living paycheck to paycheck. But did it make me happy? Why did I suddenly feel so empty? Maybe it was this big house as we winded up the stairs after Alfred poured me some more coffee in my mug and gave me a little bit of whipped cream for it, which was nice for my latte this morning. I'd always been alone. Always. Never had any family whatsoever. The closest person I considered a friend was Liz, and even then we didn't talk much anymore not since I got the new job. I guess that's why I liked talking to Lucius so much because he was nice and cared and he understood where I came from too. But then again, I also understood him, and where he came from too. I had a knack for understanding people and why they did the way they did things in life. I called it a curse, though most considered that a blessing, but what was the point of being empathetic if no one was there for you in times of need? There had been many times when I did not want to keep going.

The staircase and hallway finally came to an end where we ended up in Bruce Wayne's room. His parent's room, I duly noted by the sheer size of it that was definitely bigger than my apartment. I felt small all of a sudden. I leaned against the threshold of the doorway, while Alfred walked in and opened up the curtains to let the sunlight in.

"Ugh, bats are nocturnal…" Bruce groaned into his sheets, trying to hide away from the sun.

"That's what I said," I said, motioning my coffee mug towards him. He suddenly stopped, and then sunk a bit lower.

"Alfred? What is she doing here?" Bruce asked, staring at me. I smiled at his awkward position in bed. My cheeks were already hot and burning with a bit of embarrassment for him and of course myself because I wasn't ready for this kind of exposure to the Bruce Wayne himself.

He chuckled, and continued with the tray in his hand and set it down on the table.

"Bats may be, but even for billionaire playboy, that's pushing it," he said lightly. "Bruce. I called her in because of some very interesting information I found about her. And, because I think it's about damn time that Bruce Wayne finally admits he has someone in his life to at least spread across page six. He has to outwit Batman somehow," Alfred said, and I nearly choked on my coffee at the mere suggestion.

"I'm sorry what?" I asked.

"Oh Miss Blake, you've been thinking about it. I know you have. Why can't Bruce Wayne get the girl of his dreams like Rachel Dawes, right?" he asked.

I shrugged. "Well, if he dresses up like a bat like some people say he does then…maybe that's a turn off."

Alfred chuckled. "I like her already."

"Alfred, no, no way. I know what you're doing. It's not going to work. No offense," he said to me.

"None taken," I shrugged, rolling on the heels of my shoes, gripping tight on my mug. "It's not every day a girl likes to strike out with a billionaire playboy named Bruce Wayne. I'm just a mere wallflower," I smirked at him, sipping my latte.

"Price for leading a double life, I fear," Alfred said.

Bruce placed his hand on the back of his forehead.

Alfred handed him the newspaper. "Your theatrics made an impression."

Bruce took it and started to look into it, rolling out of bed, placing his feet on the ground.

"Theatrics, deception, these are powerful weapons, Alfred it's a good start," he said, and as soon as I saw them, I tried to look away, a slight gasp left my lips. I nearly dropped my mug the bruises on his shoulders gave me chills.

Even Alfred noticed. "If those are to be the first of many injuries it would be wise to find a suitable excuse. Polo for instance."

"I'm not learning Polo, Alfred," Bruce said in quite defense of that.

I smirked and sipped into my mug. I watched him get up and take a sip out of his green smoothie. I definitely called that one.

"Such injuries and a non existent social life… these things beg the question of what exactly does Bruce Wayne do with his body, time, and his money."

He placed it down on the inn table. "What does someone like me do with money, Alfred?"

I arched a curious brow. Where in the heck did this guy go for several years? Antarctica?

"Oh, I don't know, drive sports cars, date movie stars," Alfred continued to rattle off as Bruce dropped to do pushups right then and there on the rug. I blinked, a little bit impressed actually. "Buy things that are not for sale. Who knows Master Wayne, you start to have pretending to have fun, you might even have a little by accident."

"Okay," I coughed at Alfred, hearing enough. "Well, while this has been fun, I'm going to go home and go back to sleep."

Bruce turned around and got up from his pushups. He quickly walked over towards the threshold, and blocked me in so I couldn't get out. We were way too close for comfort.

"Bruce," I pleaded with him.

"You know, I'm not quite sure why Alfred brought you on board, Melanie, but if you leave, I may have to kill you since you know already who Batman is."

"Our little secret?" I swallowed hard. "I swear I won't tell anyone. I'm good at keeping secrets. I had so many from the restaurant that they're non-existent now. Just mere memories," I whispered and looked up at him as he stared down at me.

"Well, I don't like it either, but Alfred's right. I do need a cover. Maybe we can work together since Wayne Enterprises is going down?" Bruce asked.

I frowned. "It is?"

"It is if we don't stop it together," he said. "What was the one thing you really wanted to be when you grew up, Melanie Blake?"

I swallowed hard. "An actress."

He smiled. "I can make that happen for you," he said, lifting my chin up at him, making my heart slightly melt for him right then and there, but I had to remind myself he liked Rachel and we were only going to do this so that she would fall for him.

"Really? I mean I don't want to intrude…"

"Nonsense, that already happened when you got the job in Lucious's department," He chuckled, and patted my head leaving me to sigh with frusteration. "You're welcome to sleep in the guest room for the rest of the day."

"Seriously?"

"It's raining. Don't want you to catch a cold. Plus we have dinner reservations for tonight," Bruce smiled at me. I narrowed my eyes at the window and then frowned. When the heck did it start raining? Gotham's been known for rainy nights though, so I really shouldn't be surprised, right? Maybe it will clear up soon for dinner reservations.

I sighed and nodded. "Dinner reservations. Alright, I'm game for whatever you got for me. Just you know let me know what you got on me every now and then."

"Of course Miss Blake. All in due time," Alred said mysteriously that made me just wanna drink my coffee and not but heads with him. But hey, this was also to save Bruce's father's company, I hope at least. It seemed like he had a plan up his sleeve, especially that day when he asked for any information on Earle. I wondered if he looked me up as well.

~*BB*~