Chapter twelve: how to win

Harmony's POV:

I rolled out the punches as best I could into the thick and hard sand bag. Defense training was harder than I thought, but it was worth it to see Bruce shirtless and sweaty. Honestly I wasn't very good at defense training, as well as any kind of physical activity.

Since the incident with the news Bruce had a few press meeting, describing the true nature of our relationship. I had quit my job at the news station perminantly, and I've beening looking for any job I can get snapping photos. Much to my dismay all the tabloids and news casters wanted nothing to do with me. Another let down was that I was relying on Bruce to pay my next rent, which even if he had the money to spare, bothered me a lot.

"Harmony?" Bruce asked me in mid punch.

"Yes?"

"As you know Christmas is only a few days away, and I was hoping you'd like to come to my annual Christmas Eve party at the Wayne Enterprises ballroom. If you want a dress I can get one for you."

I was a little shocked with his offer. I totally forgot about Christmas. Besides with all the attention our relationship was getting these days I didn't think he wanted to parade me around.

"I don't know, I'm not really close with any of your rich friends."

"Oh please, mingling will be easy when you'll be the topic of intrest, trust me it's not hard to entertain those barbaric buisness robots, all you have to do is be smart, and last time I checked, you were."

"I can disagree with you on that one."

How could he think I was smart, for fucks sake I tripped into him and cut my head on his broken wine glass.

"You're dating me? I'd consider that a smart choice any day."

"I'll think about it, but you have to promise me that I will get to pay and buy my own dress, and I don't want any gifts at all what so ever, are we clear?" I poked his chest.

In a sweaty for of passion we started to kiss.

"Not even one present?" He said through gasps.

"Not even one."

"You know you don't have to pretend like you don't want me for my money, I understand it's a tempting attraction," he played.

"I would still love you if you got me a bottle cap ring for a proposal."

I felt his lips curl into a smile as we continued our kiss, falling on the exercise mats on the floor.

Besides my loss of employment, so far my life was looking upward. I'd spent the last two weeks building up our relationship, and my confidence. I'm no lioness yet, but I'm hoping that to the streets of Gotham I no longer look like a succulent sheep. Especially if I get into trouble I won't have Batman to look forward to anymore. Certainly not after I accused him of stalking.

"I need to make plans for the party, it's tomorrow at nine," he lifted me off the floor. With one last peck on the lips I left him.

"Oh and one more thing," he stopped me at the doors.

"Don't wear heels."

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I waisted no time calling Daisy to help me get a dress. I didn't hold a grudge over the night at the club, though it could have gone better, if she hadn't left I would have never been reunited with Bruce.

"So what kind of event is this exactly?" Daisy asked.

"I just need an evening gown, something I can move around in and still look hot."

"So let's go into a more expensive store this time, your going to have to step up your game from Macy's girl friend, your dating a billionaire."

Unfortunately she was right, cheap chiffon drapes weren't going to cut it this time. With all of his rich friends at the party too, god knows they're going to judge me.

"Alright you pick the place and I'll help you look," I instructed.

"See how well we work together when you actually want to go shopping."

We went into a place called DAZE, which I've never heard of before, and is appearantly embarrassing seeing as my former job was taking pictures of people wearing DAZE clothing. Most of the dresses there were, well, they were a bit over the top for me. They had huge fabric flowers stuck on them, or countless amounts of rhinestones, making you look like a disco ball. As you can imagine Daisy liked them all. She knew however that I didn't like to go big, so she kept her mouth shut.

"What about this one?" She forced a frilly, but not insane dress into me.

"It's still a bit much."

"At least try it on while I keep looking, I'm not sure there's anything less toned down than that here."

I proceeded into the fitting room to try the dress on. After turning left and right for a bit I decided to check the price tag.

"Seven thousand dollars!" I say to myself in disbelief. I couldn't afford this, not in a million years, this was more than my rent.

Just as I was about to leave the fitting room a knock came at my door, Daisy.

"Oh my god, so I totally found this dress hiding under all the others, and it's perfect for you."

Daisy swung the dress over the top of the dressing room. The color was a very pale sky blue, and it seemed to be sewn with a million strings of silver thread, giving it a metallic look.

When I pulled it over my body I was astonished by how regal it looked. There was a slit down the lower half of the skirt that meshed so well with the overall style, I had to get it. The price on the dress was reasonable, it was only five hundred dollars.

"This is the one," I told Daisy.

"I know you better than you think Harmony."

We bought the dress and then Daisy insisted I get my hair and nails done professionally for the ball.

"After your done with the mani peti, then we can get you some nice new rocking heels," she said enthusiastically.

"I'm not going to wear heels, that's what caused this mess in the first place."

"I didn't realize dating a billionaire was being messy, what did heels ever do to you, I mean you can't wear flats, it just won't work."

"I'm going to wear some sandals, it will be fine I swear."

"Alright, just don't come running to me when they decide to dump 20 gallons of blood on you."

"I'm pretty sure if they did my telekinetic abilities would scare them off."

"Your the only girl who understands me Harmony, I'm happy for you."

"Thanks Daisy."

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My heart was beating thirty miles per hour as I entered the active Wayne enterprises building. I'd been here a few times before on assignments, but not dressed like this, and not without my camera.

"Harmony!" Someone called me. It was Bruce, and he looked absolutely dazzling. He was wearing a tight and slick black suit, with a well matched bow tie.

"Oh my god," he said looking me up and down.

"What? Is it the sandals?"

"No, you look amazing, the sandals really pull it together, you look like a modern Cinderella."

"Really? I didn't think I looked that good," I blushed.

"Well let's hope not, because this party doesn't end at midnight."

I bit my lip in pure lust, and then when into a kiss. It was a short one, but it was long enough for the press outside to snap a few shots.

"Now, shall we go inside?"

"I can't wait."

Bruce led me through a group of people all headed in the same direction, saying a few hellos on the way, until we reached a large high ceilinged room. It was covered in Christmas decorations, and a moderately sized tree, all lit up and glorious. An orchestra was playing loud Christmas tunes as wealthy and privileged people danced to the sounds. Besides the dancing people there was hundreds of others mingling and eating from trays passed around the room.

"Wow."

"I knew you'd like it."

Bruce linked his arm around my own and dragged me unwillingly to the middle of the dance floor.

"Bruce, i don't know how to ball dance!" I pleaded, not wanting to make a fool of myself.

"It's easy, just follow me, 1-2, 3-4, 1-2, 3-4, just always move your feet backwards and in turning motion," he instructed.

I tripped once or twice but soon enough I had the hang of it, until Bruce spun me around suddenly and I lost balance, falling into his arms. Since Bruce is clearly mastered the art of everything, he somehow managed to make my fall look like a purposeful dance.

"You are unbearably cute," he lifted me back on my feet.

"I don't know what your talking about, I did that on purpose," I played along.

"Yeah and I've only got five million dollars in my savings account."

We kissed again, my hand pressed against his neck, and his hands on my lower back right above my ass. I felt his tongue slip into my mouth and I leaned closer into our kiss.

"Master Bruce," someone cleared their throat.

"Alfred, what are you doing here?" Bruce looked worried.

"I'm sorry to have interrupted you, but Mr. Fox has some urgent news."

Bruce looked at me apologetically "I have to go deal with this quickly, I'm sure you'll be fine?"

I nodded, "there's got to be someone here I can talk to."

Bruce left me alone in the middle of the dance floor, which I quickly left and headed straight for the table with champaign glasses lined in neat rows. I downed one quickly and held another for my search.

"Your Wayne's new girl arn't you?" A man asked. He was in a group of four people, all of them now staring at me.

"Yes I am, my name is Harmony, what's yours?" I held my hand out to shake.

"My name is Walter and this is my wife Edna, and this is Derek and his fiancé Paula."

I shook hands with each one of them as they were introduced.

"Now Harmony, how much do you make in a year?" Paula asked me.

"Nothing right now, I quit after the scandal with the news station."

"So not much I suppose, that means you know nothing of the oil trade prices then?"

"Sorry no, I'm new to this whole rich thing."

"Is that why your dating Bruce, for the money?" Derek raised an eyebrow.

"I could care less about what he has, it's who he is that matters."

"I've got to say Bruce has been much of an idiot these recent days," Edna chimed in.

I gave her a confused look "how so?"

She snorted "well for one thing he's being used by a money theifing paparazzi spy."

I was taken back by her remark, wanting to say something snarky back, but my mouth wouldn't seem to open.

"Well let's leave then guys, the gold digger can stand in her own shame," Derek looked me up and down.

The four of them left, all laughing at me, and I walked back over the the champaigne table for a few more glasses. This was like a bad high school comedy movie. Bruce needs to hurry up with whatever he's doing.

"Not much fun are they," a skinny man approached me. He was tall and lanky, with dusty brown hair and glasses. He wasn't the most attractive man in the room, but at least he was talking to me.

"No, I'd say they were rather bitchy."

"Couldn't agree more, I hate these sort of things, would you like to join me for a smoke?" He pulled a pack out of his coat pocket. I looked around the room and contemplated my options.

"Sure."

I followed the man out a back door and into an alley behind the building.

"You want one?" He offered. I used to smoke once and a while in my old life, I guess it couldn't hurt?

"Why not," I took one of the cigarettes.

"I'm Edward by the way, Edward Nigma."

"My names Harmony, I'm sure you already know this."

"Becuase of the tv thing, yes I do know who you are."

"Fantastic, I'm sure your dying to tell me what a slut I am."

"Only a fool would use the vulnerability of others to their amusement, much like that fellow the joker, I however like to take what I want and not look back," Edward explained.

"The joker is unhinged, at least he has an excuse for what he does," I took a long puff of smoke.

"Are you giving him excuses?"

"I'm excluding excuses for those bratty, frilly ass holes."

"Those who see with eyes have no conscience, but those who see with reason have no heart."

"That was pretty deep, and intresting, you do that a lot?" I admired his intellect.

"I have a thing for poems and riddles, but I dare not make a living from it, my real talent is with technology."

"Well maybe you should consider writing some down on your free time, instead of hiding in back ally's to escape the losers in there."

"Thank you, nobody's ever told me that," he looked uplifted.

"I'm suprised, you have a real gift with words."

Edward nodded "I think I'm going to take you up on that, I'm ditching this shit hole."

Edward turned to leave much to my dismay, I would have hoped he'd stay with me while I waited for Bruce. Before I got back inside the building I heard Edward yelling for me.

"Harmony, wait!"

"What is it?"

"Don't go to the theater tonight, the Christmas carol play!"

"Why not?"

"Just trust me."

Edward turned back around and left. Which frankly, scared me.