Chapter 12

Bruce glanced at his watch anxiously. It was rare for Selena to be late, let alone be late to a meeting with him. He was about to pull out his phone to call her, when he heard the click of high heels headed toward his direction. Glancing up, he saw her approaching him quickly. He frowned. Something was wrong. As she sat down, he scanned her concerned. Clearly, something had happened. Her hair was askew, and her blouse was slightly wrinkled.

"Selena," he paused giving her a moment to collect herself. "Are you okay?"

"I apologize Bruce for my tardiness. I will be fine. I am here to discuss business, nothing else," she replied flatly.

He took the cue. He did not take her coldness as offensive for he knew she only did that when she wanted to focus on anything besides the problem at hand. Something to discuss later then. Bruce made a mental note.

"Anyways, do you want to order lunch? I got you some coffee," he offered with a smile.

"Thank you, just order me a sandwich. Anything is fine."

Bruce waved down their waiter and ordered two club sandwiches and some chips. He hurried away to fulfill their order.

"So, what's up? Did you find something on the case?" Bruce asked getting to the topic at hand.

Selena nodded. "Yes, as well as another problem."

She went on the explain her meeting with Dent and their discussion around Gregory Hurst.

"Dent is hiding something. I am sure of it. He acted nonchalant about it, but I can read him like a book. He was nervous which means he knows more than he let on with me. There is also someone new who came to his office. This person apparently wants to meet me for some reason. I don't like it Bruce."

Bruce watched her intensely. "Who is he?"

Selena reached into her wallet and pulled out the business card Dent gave her.

"His name is Max Derain-Entrepreneur. He sounded familiar when Dent mentioned him, but I couldn't put a finger to it. So, I did some research and it's not good," Selena growled glaring at the card. "This guy was an old partner of my father's. Well not Max, but his father. The son himself is nothing but a cocky fool who thinks running a business is all grabbing drinks and hanging with half dressed women."

Bruce hummed. "You really don't like that guy, huh?"

Selena sighed. "It's not so much him as it is his father," Selena paused clenching her jaw. "He was the one responsible for my dad's accident. He'll deny it till it kills him, and I don't have any evidence yet to prove it, but I know he was there that night."

Selena didn't realize how angry and disturbed she was until Bruce reached out his hand and laid it over her clenched fist.

"I think your stare is burning a hole in the card," he said softly. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

Selena laughed darkly. "I wish Bruce, but I don't want to drag you further into my family's business. You've helped me clean up so much of my family drama already. I couldn't place that burden on you. As his daughter and direct heir, it is my responsibility to find solutions and fix the errors."

"I know, but you don't have to do it alone. Isn't that what you're always telling me?"

Selena tilted her head. "Look, I know you have friends in high places as do I, but this guy is something else entirely. He and his family don't belong in our circles. I wish I never met him in the first place."

"What does he want?" Bruce asked unsure if he should approach the subject. He watched the woman across from him refocus by taking a sip of her coffee.

"He wants my father to invest in this new project he is taking on with his new partner," she spat.

"New partner?"

Selena nodded. "Take a wild guess. It's none other than your rival, Harvey Dent. They will be launching a new science program in the coming months. This program will be recruiting budding new students who excel in science, technology, and engineering."

"I see. The program itself could help many young Gotham citizens as they will be running the future. Just as I am hoping my new software systems in schools can help educate and guide these children. There are some brilliant minds out there."

"I agree, Bruce. I approve of the project, but I'm afraid of what is going on behind the scenes. When I had my past relationship with Dent, he showed me some things off the record. Projects that he said would take years to complete. However, I've overheard discussions that he already has investors lined up and these guys are from all over the world, top scientists, government agencies, and independent factions. Bruce, I can't control his product or who he sells it to, but something never felt right when I was at his offices. They say every good thing has an unseen side. I could never forgive myself if something happened and I could have stopped it."

"Selena, as you said you have no control over the outcome."

"No, but I can have influence. If I contribute to it, this Derain guy said I can follow along in the process and see the results of it in person."

"But you don't want to."

"No. I don't. History tends to repeat itself, and I can't help but follow my instincts, and my gut is telling me not to get involved."

Bruce narrowed his eyes at her. He could read between the lines, even though she tried to hide it.

"He threatened you, didn't he?"

Selena dropped her gaze. "Well, indirectly yes he did, plus he also insulted my dad."

"What did he say?"

"Bruce, I can't drag you into this."

"Selena. I am already involved. As your friend I have an obligation to look out for you, not because I have to, but because I want to."

"I know," Selena said taking a bite of her sandwich. "You've always been there to have my back, and I appreciate it immensely, more than you could ever know. Threaten me or not, I have the final say. If I go through with it, it could throw a wrench into your plans on finding more about Dent's employee. He'd get suspicious of me and I doubt he'd let me out of his sight once I'm on board."

"Don't worry about that. I have other resources I can rely on if I need more information."

"Right. Your bat friend."

Bruce laughed. "How chummy do you think I am with that guy?"

Selena raised a brow. "What aren't you two like partners or something? I swear you two always end up being involved on the same cases somehow. It's kind of freaky."

"We've only run into each other a few times. Everything else was simply coincidental."

"Right…." Selena rolled her eyes smirking. She loved teasing Bruce about his relationship with the most feared man of Gotham. "Seriously, are you sure you two aren't brothers? The secret hidden child of the Wayne family?"

Bruce shook his head. "Please, as if my family needs any extra exposure to the media vultures."

Selena gazed out the window watching the people pass by the small city café. "When I was first saved by him, he wasn't nearly as intimidating as the rumors claim him to be. I am sure under that dark cowl is a real living breathing man. Not a monster or bat creature, but a decent guy. He may have a slight obsession with everything black, but I feel like he's a genuine person. Sure, he's violent with criminals, but by then they kind of deserve to get their asses beaten. Anyone who takes to crime as a career opportunity gets what's coming to them."

Bruce smiled. "Yeah, you've got a point." He studied the woman across from him. She was so strong, intuitive, creative, and independent. She was one of his closest friends and it berated him that he couldn't knock out her problems with one of his Bat-a-Rangs.

He'd struggled with hiding his biggest secret from her, but he knew it would bring more damage and danger in the end. His dual identity was something he hid close to his chest. In the whole city of Gotham only two people knew his other persona: Alfred and his son. That was still two lives that he had to keep an eye on, as criminals and crazy freaks had no discrimination against any innocent civilian.

Somedays, he wished he could tell her that he was Batman. He had played out a million scenarios on how it would go. Some were good and some were not so good. He knew Selena and how much of a levelheaded woman she was but receiving news like that would put any sane person on the floor.

Bruce ran a hand through his hair as Selena turned back to him. "So, what are you going to do?" he asked meeting her soft brown eyes.

"I don't know yet. What do you think I should do?"

Bruce gazed across from her. "You want my honest opinion?"

Selena nodded.

"I would do what I think is right."

Selena frowned at him. "Meaning what exactly?"

He shrugged. "That's up to you to decide."

"Ugh, Bruce I swear you are no help at all," she groaned propping her head on her chin. She shot him a pouty face. "Please just help me."

"I just did."

"Argg! That was not an answer."

"Yes, it was. I responded to your question. Henceforth by default I gave you an answer," he replied smirking.

She rolled her eyes swirling her black coffee. Perhaps its dark caffeinated depths would give her the solution she was seeking. "I guess I'll have to sleep on it some more."

"Whatever you decide I will back you up no matter what happens. Okay?" Bruce replied softly.

"Thanks, Bruce."

The two of them continued to chat into the afternoon as Bruce had taken the rest of the day off and Selena needed some space to think away from her business affairs. Selena was ecstatic at the announcement of Dick Grayson's adoption into the Wayne family. She promised she would come visit once things settled down. He also agreed knowing Alfred would love to have her over. She was one of his favorite women to come visit outside of the late Mrs. Wayne and the commissioner's wife who now rarely visited due to her health issues. Alfred always chided Bruce into bringing a more decent woman home. Selena seemed to fit that description though their relationship was strictly platonic.

Alfred always did want a grandchild and now he had one he could dote over. Bruce would watch security tape footage of their daily activities and he realized how much energy the old man regained. It was as if he was in his thirties again. Who knew Alfred could move that fast setting up lab tables or running to get the fire extinguisher for their latest experiment? Seeing his old friend's face light up at the young boy was a pleasure Bruce thought would be lost to time. Alfred wasn't getting any younger and he dreaded the day when he'd have to say goodbye to the man who was a second father to him. Bruce prayed Alfred would at least live long enough to see Dick grow up into a strong young man, but sometimes fate had other ideas.

He sighed internally. Why did he fight to save Gotham every day from sinking into the cesspool of crime it was? Why didn't he just pack his bags and take his family on a lifelong vacation to a private island away from it all? Lord, knows he could afford to. The very reason why he couldn't leave was also the reason for why he became Batman. Gotham, the city of greed and crime formed the man he is today. Who would he be without it? How could he let go of the crime and let down his parents whom he had promised their death would not be in vain? He knew deep down he would never walk away from a life of vigilantism even if it killed him. It formed the darkest parts of him, and he didn't know how to cope outside of it. His life's work and purpose weren't putting pen to paper and signing new deeds. It was the small moments of victory over the many years of stringing up criminals and dropping them on the doorsteps of the GCPD. It was seeing the relief in the eyes of a parent whose child was just saved or the wonder in the police force's faces as Batman shielded them from a collapsing building. These were the moments that defined his life. His behind the scenes that few people would witness in person. For that reason, he could never give up being Batman. No amount of money or luxury in the world could force him to turn his back on his city. It was his home and he would defend it from all threats internal or otherwise.