Isis, having finished her milk, jumped on the table and pushed the gold-framed envelope with her paw.
- Exactly! And how could I forget, dear?!
The envelope contained an invitation, just as pompous, with gilded letters on green velvet.
- Charity reception at the City Hall. We invite you, Miss Selina Kyle, to visit him and take part in the auction for the needs of our city.- The girl put it down and kissed the cat on its nose.
- We have to go, dear. So that at least someone can shake these rich bastards. Agree?
Meowing in agreement, Isis began to lick the girl's face.
- You're right. You need to take a shower and sleep. I have to look like a goddess tomorrow! So that they do not notice how their money disappears before their eyes.
Leaving her pet to do her own thing, Selina Kyle disappeared into the bathroom, relaxing and wondering: what kind of revenge will Batman come up with her next meeting?
There comes that same charity evening in the City Hall. Lights flickered everywhere, sophists illuminated the road for everyone, carpet paths and dozens of limousines, the main people of the city passing by journalists who barely had time to click them.
- Obscurantism and window dressing, - Selina Kyle decided, having received a personal invitation and standing in the corner of the room, next to the door leading to the balcony, as if it were an emergency exit where she could escape.
Although the girl stood aside, she chose one of the best positions: she could see the entire hall, all those present, and, in addition, the scene of the future auction. An ideal place where few people will disturb you. And even though she came here only six months ago, she knew many people. For example, the red-haired guy's name is Eric and he is assistant to the assistant to the mayor of Gotham. And also clings to all the girls, dragging them to bed under the pretext of giving everything they want. But in the end, he just deceives them and gets free sex with stupid fools. He approached her a couple of times and promised "the sky in diamonds", to which Selina promised him a diamond under her eye, if she did not fall behind.
The brown-eyed blond was John, working in a good position at WayneTech and licking the entire top of the firm so hard he'd rather please his wife than jerks in a suit. Selina ran away from him for a week, until he found himself a new goal.
Taking a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, the girl hid, waiting for the right moment and hoping very much that no one would approach her. Very much. In addition, a black dress with bare shoulders and back was not the most defiant here. Therefore, there were fears, but very small.
Bruce arrived at City Hall by taxi. Sometimes a man got tired of all these social events, where it was the same thing: a meeting of people from high society, constant boasting, as well as false smiles and empty promises. Wayne crossed the threshold of the building and he is immediately showered with attention by various people. He shook hands with many of his acquaintances, and John also approached him to show his accounts.
- Not today, John. Go and relax.
Everything was ready for the auction. A table with the necessary items was already located on the stage. Bruce began to watch this from a distance, while exchanging words with unfamiliar guests who were trying to fit into his business. The atmosphere on stage was hectic, but people generally enjoyed the champagne and were eager to relax. Bruce told his friends that he would go to the restroom, but on the way back he notices one lady in a black dress, abstracted from the whole society. She looked alluring, so why not try your luck?
Bruce himself was dressed in a white shirt, dark trousers and a sophisticated black tie. Smiling, he steps closer and closer to the brunette and gives her a glass of champagne, because he was already empty in her hand.
- Good evening, miss. Are you new here? Usually people here are either in a hurry to get acquainted, or already come with acquaintances. And I'm ready to be your guide to City Hall, because I've been here before. By the way, I'm Bruce. Bruce Wayne.
Selina already regretted that she had come here: all this human noise and fuss, like those of ants, evoked not the most pleasant memories and feelings.
Glancing towards the door, dreaming of running away from here and quickly, out of the corner of her eye she noticed a movement next to her and a very familiar face.
- I know who you are, Mr. Wayne, - the girl replied, not even looking at him, more interested in observing the arrangement of furniture on the stage. - Anyone who visits or lives in Gotham should know the face of its king, right?
She placed a glass of champagne on the tray of a waiter who passed by and grabbed another one before he could escape.
- You are the richest asshole here and, I suspect, on the entire east coast. And also a philanthropist, a womanizer, the "sex symbol" of these seedy places, a benefactor of a shelter named after your parents. And the one who banned my initiative to fight homeless animals on the streets of the city.
Selina turned to him and gave him an appraising look.
- You are much prettier in the papers. I always knew that photoshop was everything, - she said, turning away and continuing to silently drink champagne.
It was unusual for Bruce to hear something unkind in his address. Usually he only cursed about business, but many girls had a positive opinion of him. Of course, among the ladies' smiles, there was a falseness that Wayne saw, but the man wanted to prove the opposite by standing right in front of her face.
– It looks like you have collected all the most common and sometimes false rumors about me. Read less yellow press and communicate more with people. Or maybe you are the same journalist who writes various fakes about prominent people in the city? Bruce crossed his arms over his chest, staring at her for an answer. Apparently, the acquaintance went in a completely unusual direction.
- Banned? Various initiatives are served to me on the table and ... hmm ... oh, for sure. It was signed with Selina Kyle's name. Are you by any chance? Or is it a bitchy version of yourself? - Bruce answered without swearing, turning into a passive-aggressive mood with a caustic smirk.
- I think that the initiative should be improved. It is necessary to save homeless animals, and not fight them ...
- That is why, that this is not true, you stood up in a defensive position and began to mentally put pressure on me? - Selina asked with a grin, taking a sip from her glass. So you know your mistakes. And yes, writing about you is not self-respecting, but I'm fine with that.
Raising her head, she looked at the man, seeing how he was starting to get angry.
- He remembered the name, but what happened next, like in a fog? - no longer hiding, the girl began to mock him. - Don't worry, I'll tell you. There was a request to rent out one of Macmillan's abandoned farms, they still sit idle to build a shelter for stray dogs and cats. But you, I quote: "do not have the necessary classification and this place is already occupied by the construction of a commercially profitable enterprise." Are you building a statue of liberty, Wayne?
She pronounced his last name with obvious disdain. Like it was a curse.
– A year has passed and everything is in the same place. Without changes. They could write honestly that my idea is financially unprofitable for you. I would at least begin to respect you for your honesty, otherwise ...
Selina looked out the window.
- Is it good to make a saint out of yourself, having so much money and power? M? You have ruined the parents' shelter, the safety of the city too. Even the unfortunate animals, which are not to blame for anything, do not want to help, - she looked sharply at him. - How do you sleep at night, Wayne? Oh, sorry... Stupid question. Girlfriends do not give, I understand.
Bruce looked a little embarrassed at her question about defensive posture. He immediately removed his hands from his chest, carefully observing her sneerful mood. Similar grins were from Catwoman, who Bruce didn't want to remember at the moment.
- Then it was necessary to transfer part of the assets to Macmillan and it would be inappropriate to involve more participants in the transaction. But now I am ready to solve this issue. I'm sure you pulled up the necessary classification, and by a commercially profitable enterprise, I meant a shelter. Then business partners answered you verbally.
Bruce looked out the window and saw the moon beginning to open.
- Male intuition tells us that we are both dishonest to each other. How about a truce and rethinking your idea of an orphanage. I'm sure we'll get along...
By this time, the auction had already begun. The guests came closer to the stage, and the presenter made an introductory speech
- Macmillan farms have been yours for three years. It's time, - Selina said, looking at him wearily. - They answered me in a letter. This is two. And it had your signature on it. It's three. There are two options: either someone forges it and you don't know all this, or you don't read what you sign. Except the name. And I don't even know which is worse.
The voice of the auction host invited everyone to come closer to the stage, and Selina only grunted in displeasure.
- My intuition, female, suggests that it is wrong to take away from the ladies here the chance to drag you into bed, and then the illusion down the aisle. Therefore, I do not detain you.
She waved towards the hall.
- But I'm not going to drink with you and flirt, thank you. I do not need it.
Music was heard.
- And now you can leave and not interfere with my observation of obscurantism. And you block the most interesting.
Bruce moved away from her thoughtfully. Still, he was not going to be imposed, although Selina hid a mystery that the man wanted to solve. Yes, and somewhere deep in a heartless heart from a double life lurked a sensual drop of guilt for having refused to build a shelter. He didn't always care about animals. The billionaire has repeatedly shown philanthropy. Wayne moved a little away from her and then a lady stuck to him, who flirted with him. Bruce's forced smile mutually smiled at the lady next to him, and together they listened to the auction.
People began to throw off some of their money to the funds offered by the host. Bruce also spared no expense, but something strange was going on behind his back. Turning around, he noticed a group of suspicious faces. Such people always behaved strangely in front of their plans, and therefore Bruce began to leave the event in a hurry.
– I have to go now, see you later. - Bruce hastily said finally to his temporary companion and walked off somewhere in an unknown direction.
This group were members of a new and unknown mafia. The guys with machine guns and in balaclavas began to instruct people and gave various commands.
- All aside! Get together in a crowd! Otherwise, we will spare no one! - Firmly and clearly said a large thug. Whether he was in charge, or another, but a smaller guy pointed a gun at the leader and with the muzzle of a gun hinted to throw all the goods into a bag. They were not only in the City Hall, but also on the street. They patrolled the situation and waited for the end of the theft. One of them moved away from the entrance and decided to lower the need under one tree, as the crowns of the trees immediately grabbed him and he began to hang there, bound and stunned. The second was dragged away by the branches of the bushes. From them protruded stripped boots. And no, it's not mother nature's tricks. A dark and gloomy figure entered into a covert battle.
Selina rolled her eyes, following him with her gaze. And then quietly chuckling at the girl's harassment of Wayne. She heard only snatches of phrases, but it was a masterpiece. It seemed that a little more and she would start calling him names right in front of people.
But somehow everything changed dramatically. Strangers with weapons, cries of distraught ladies and fear that was in the air. They were agreed to a far corner, and Selina became sandwiched between the plump wives of city hall chairmen and Wayne's firm.
The shots slammed into the ceiling, causing it to crumble like whitewash.
- Everyone be quiet! one of them shouted, and everyone, frightened, fell silent.
Selina, being pinned down, couldn't draw an extra breath, but she managed to sharpen the ring and bracelet from the hand of the mayor's wife. Good too.
She watched them, knowing full well that the police would not be able to deal with them. She's not, but…Batman. He can. If only he knew about it.
Chuckling, listening to the heavy footsteps of the criminals on the tiles, the girl looked around the hall, realizing what a big booty these guys would get if they were lucky. Though, she was surprised by the fact that she didn't see Wayne. He was not in this group of people, but in the opposite one. It's like he disappeared. Given that the entire catch could go to a gang of bandits, Selina decided to run into one room in order to dress in her costume.
Batman infiltrates City Hall. Everyone who kept the patrol out was neutralized. He has not yet identified the actors from the gang. The thugs had no stripes, no notes. The dark knight began to walk along the roof. From there, a man descends a rope with a hook in order to notice through the far window how the lights were on inside the hall, and the criminals were collecting money.
The man was waiting for the right moment, when the hostages would be in a heap, and the machine gunners would be grouped in one place. It was time to apply the blackout. This is some kind of button with a sensor that caused interruptions in the light, because the darkness is his ally. Now the lights began to flicker, the lights of the candles faded and pitch darkness sets in. For a moment, the light turns on again, and Batman immediately knocks out one after another and knocking weapons from the hands of enemies with batarangs. Periodically, the energy of light then closed, then reactivated. This gave confusion to the bandits, and they immediately clung to the fight with the Dark Knight.