Disclaimer: I do not own Batman Begins, just my OC. Writing for fun.

A/N: Hey all. Here's another new chapter. Hope you enjoy! More to come soon! Follows, favorites, and reviews are always welcomed and loved. Thank you for reading! Also, I'm not sure if I'll make her a vigilante, maybe...we'll see, I might. There's a strong possibility. She just needs motivation to be one. I'll take suggestions too!

Chapter 11: He Bought A Hotel

Dinner reservations with another model, or two models I should say was not something I had planned, kept in mind, let alone three dates he'd have on his arm tonight. Well, sort of. We had a plan for tonight Bruce and I talked it over coffee, while I got ready and put some much needed makeup on to hide my acne and scars. I usually went with NYX professional makeup, better for my skin.

He bought me an expensive dress for me to wear. Navy blue, sequin with sheer straps and diamonds that kept them over my shoulders. Seemed to be the only jewelry I ever needed until he suggested I wore a bracelet of pearls. It was a couple of strands together with a small bow that looked like it came from an old Tiffany's shop especially with the enclosed diamond. I could not take this nor could I wear such a beautiful thing on my wrist, but he insisted and it was his way of payment for what I was about to endure in tonight. Plus, he wanted to make it up to me in case I didn't even have a job after this. I was already fretting but he said don't worry about it. I guess I tried not to worry. I still had bills to pay and an apartment I was renting in the Narrows to think about.

But tonight my sole focus was Mr. Earles' table and sitting alone where I was close to. Bruce and I made sure of it.

My hair was wrapped up in a French twist, and I wore a sheer shawl around my shoulders. I felt out of time, but also really amazing despite his choice of dates tonight who were currently splashing in the hotel pool. I felt embarrassed actually. I rolled my eyes and sipped my water out of my champagne flute it came in. His reasoning? 1. They were models AND movie stars and knew who to see in the business. Great for me. They could point me in the right direction. And 2. It was part of his billionaire playboy aesthetic he chose to put on for those around them, keeping everyone safe…. everyone safe but him.

But I wasn't impressed with his choice. And I'm sure Rachel wasn't either. But I was glad that I did not have to sit at the dinner table with Mr. Earle. He looked worse and worse every time I saw him.

Nope. I just remained alone, pretending like I was waiting for a date. Oldest trick in the book, but it works, so Bruce swears. I didn't fee like eating alone though. However, Rachel Dawes was here, I think, but I was wondering if Bruce knew that.

He glanced behind me and that was my cue to 'act'. I started crying and tossed my cell phone into the pool as the girls finally stopped splashing around. They climbed out of the pool as soon as he pulled out his checkbook. I was amazed. To be honest. I watched in awe as he spoke to the waiter and bought the hotel. He placed it within his pocket and I thought he was going to go swim with him, but he didn't. They got out and instead he walked over to the pool and fished out my cell phone that made quite a splash in front of Mr. Earle. He glared at me slightly and I gulped, sinking low a bit, muttering sorry, as I placed my chin within the palm of my hand.

"Excuse me," Bruce said quietly, excusing himself while everyone started talking about the Batman causing waves for the police.

"Bruce?" Mr. Earle asked, shocked as he walked over towards me and handed me my cell. I glanced at it curiously then at him as he sat down across from me. My heart was pounding wildly against my chest. I knew it was a show, and an act, but I still couldn't help it. It was fun. I'd never been on a date like this before…like ever. Guys have asked me but I turned them down, not feeling right. I never wanted to get into relationship woes.

"Hi," he slid down in the seat in front of me, very casual like. "Are they looking at us?"

I reached out from behind and looked at the folks who worked at Wayne Enterprises, then slid back and nodded.

"Miss. Are you okay?" he asked.

"Do I look okay? And why did you bring that back?!" I cried within a small shriek, pointing at the dreaded phone. "I don't want that! I'm done with tha!" I cried out loud and tossed my phone back into the pool, splashing more water on Wayne Enterprise people.

"Maybe you're hungry, how about dinner?" Bruce suggested.

"Can I eat you?" I asked, noticing Earle's eyebrows raised high.

Dead silence. Bruce shifted uneasily in his seat. "I was looking more towards their menu," he indicated at the menu still in front of him that was meant for my imaginary date tonight.

"But…." I began.

He silenced me with a pleading look.

I looked over at his two model girlfriends giggling at us as they nodded their heads and walked over to the open bar instead, hugging together as they did.

"My European girlfriends? Eh, they're a dime a dozen," he shrugged. "I'm much more interested in the dumpee tonight."

"Thanks for that," I sniffled.

"Oh, you're welcome. I'm just glad it wasn't me you threw the cell phone at that."

I winced. "Sorry. I'll pay-"

"Nonsense. I own the Hotel now. They can do something about it for me," he said. "For us. Dinner tonight, my treat. Just tell me your name, and we'll call it even. I mean you already know mine." He motioned a nod over to my newspaper hidden undernerath my own menu.

"Heh…." I said. "Okay. You sure your pals over there won't mind?" I asked, motioning my chin over to Mr. Earle who was clearly glaring at us.

"I'm sure," he nodded.

I smiled. "Okay. You're on. It's Melanie by the way. Melanie Blake."

"Sounds like an awesome actress name."

"Thanks, I always wanted to be one," I teased, leaning forward. "Maybe you know some people. I've seen you go to all the big movie premiers. How exciting!"

"Ah yes, the biz of Hollywood and it's glitz and glam," he smiled at me.

We sat like this for about an hour. Everyone was moved by the way he 'swooped' in and saved me from a night alone.

Bruce didn't want her to be alone! How sweet! Those were most of the sayings that had come up from the hotel he just bought.

After dinner, we left the table. Bruce left a hefty tip for the waitress, making me wish I'd worked here now. Maybe I should if I wasn't going to be keeping my job at Wayne Enterprises for much longer by the way things were going…

We walked towards the entrance, where his Bugati arrived. My jaw dropped at the beautiful car.

"Come on! Come on! We have some more hotels for you to buy!"

"You two ladies head without us! I'm taking her home. She needs to rest," Bruce said, glancing at me as I lifted my plain brown strand of hair that had fallen out of my hairdo.

"Awe, okay Bruce-y! Good night!" They cried and waved at me as they got into the cab behind the Bugati that was meant just for me. I swallowed hard. Wow. I was a bit overwhelmed.

We were about to walk out until… "Rachel."

"What are you doing?"

"Uh, just fishing..." he said, as I dried my cell phone off for the last time that I threw it into the pool. He motioned a nod over me and I gave her a small wrist wave before I placed my new dry phone into my clutch purse.

We stopped. Oh. Ha. She wasn't here. Who was she with then, I wondered?

She blinked. She was in a beautiful dress too. I wondered if this was just the place to be for dates this evening. And yes. It did stop raining.

"I…heard you were back," Rachel said, still kind of shocked. "You were gone a long time."

I hugged my shawl tight, and stepped to the side, hugging my arms and clutching my purse within my fingers a bit awkwardly.

"Yeah. How are things?" he shrugged.

I winced. Smooth.

Now Rachel was a bit tense. "Same. Job's getting worse," she said before he could smile at that.

"Can't change the world on your own," he stated.

"Well, what choice do I have when you're too busy...fishing," she motioned a nod over to me.

I gulped.

"Rachel, all of this, is..." he began to say.

I glanced sideways at him and she looked back at the fancy Bugati behind her waiting for me to get in as another fancy girlfriend by his side.

"Rachel, all that…that's not me," Bruce tried to say. "Inside, I'm different I am more."

"Deep down inside you still may be that great kid you used to be, but it's not who you are underneath, but it's what you do that defines you," she said.

I smiled at that, liking that statement a lot. I sighed slightly. Damn. Well, now I like her too.

We walked towards the Bugati as she walked away from him, leaving him stunned. I pulled his tie and jacket lightly with me.

"Come on lover boy," I said and climbed in the fancy Bugati. We climbed into the car and before he took off, it was silent.

"I like her," I said.

He scoffed.

"Bruce. It doesn't look like it's over. I think she still hasn't given up on you. So, what's your next move?"

"My next move, Miss Blake, is to take you home."

"Bruce, may I give you a suggestion?" I said.

"About?"

"Rachel."

He shrugged.

"Plan didn't work out. I'm done."

"I'm not. I'm not giving up on you either. I see true love between the two of you. And I can tell that she is looking for realism, Bruce. Real. I know you want to protect her until Batman is over but how long will that be?"

"Okay," he gripped tight against the wheel, running his thumbs over the leather. "What's your suggestion?"

"How about we try dating for a year?"

"Heh."

"Or a couple months, then she'll see you truly do mean to have a stable relationship with someone and not just a flim flam thing! Trust me, girls like stable," I said. "More than you think."

"She's probably not even interested anymore. Probably dating Finch," he scoffed. "Or…" he shuttered. "Crane."

"Who's Crane?" I asked curiously.

"No one. He's no one you need to know, trust me," he said.

"Okay, well then trust me that I can help you get the girl of your dreams, Bruce. Please? I don't mind helping and right now there isn't a single guy out there I want to be with. I don't mind being single. I really don't."

He glanced at me and then I smiled softly at him. "Well too bad."

I arched an eyebrow.

"Because now," he leaned in to kiss me and I swore I saw a million flashes outside the Bugati. "We're dating, an official couple for the Daily Gotham."

I smiled and leaned back into my seat. "Great. I'll help you and before you know it. Rachel will be crawling at your feet."

He chuckled. "She's uh, not that easy."

"No she isn't, which will make this so much more fun for me," I grinned. "Plus, I get to pry information out of you and Alfred about my past all the time while we're working on this 'Save Gotham' phase you're going through to impress a girl," I teased. He rolled his eyes and chuckled at me. He turned into traffic, and we headed home, yes to my apartment in the Narrows because it would have looked weird otherwise if I went straight to the Palisades. Bruce was going to be a serious boyfriend for a very serious girlfriend, me, well acting girlfriend, so I was expecting an Oscar after this one. Or maybe… I shook my head. No no. Just an Oscar, nothing more. I was happy to help.

~*BB*~