an + EDIT: been brought to my attention that i mentioned balenciaga in this chapter. tbh i forgot since it's been a while, but i changed it.

Every day since the flood feels like a dream. Gotham is still dreary, but with Wayne Enterprises donating so much and the national guard stepping in, the rebuilding didn't take long. You're laid off from your job due to the damage. Luckily, through your father's old connections with Alfred, you're able to secure a job at the newly minted Wayne Foundations as a grant approver. Since finding out about his father's failings with his Renewal plan, Bruce made his own but keeps his plan away from politics. You've only seen him once.

"(L/N). I know that last name. Is your father (F/N)?" Alfred asks, his eyebrow quirking up. Bruce sits back in his chair, brooding. He looks like The Thinker a bit, but you don't mention it. "Yes, that is my dad." "He was a driver at the same, err, hospitality company as me. I think I saw him call me a few days ago about you. A glowing review of course." He chuckles and you laugh embarrassed. "He said that you were a good man--You both!" Bruce looks you over for the first time it seems and then back at Alfred. "He's smart," is all he says. Alfred continues asking questions, wondering about your job history and asks the usual interview questions.

Bruce leans forward slightly when Alfred asks, "If you noticed that your coworker was using funds for the wrong reasons, what would you do?" Your eyes meet Bruce's and you shiver, blinking rapidly. He scares the shit out of you. "I mean, I'd tell. I'd be scared though, but I'd tell. Since we're dealing with a lot of money, if anything is missing, it'd come back on us, right? I also read and watch the news so like..." Bruce crosses his arms and you curse mentally. Wrong answer. "I know it's important for this Foundation to succeed with no issues with corruption and deceit..." You trail off before your words stop making sense. With that, Bruce leaves abruptly and silently. You feel on edge still, but Alfred is still kind, smiling and writing down notes.

You think for sure you bombed it, never feeling so nervous in your life. Fear melts slightly when you're at the corner store with your friend when you get the call that you are hired. It is a well sought-after job, but Bruce has an intensive background check and makes sure no one with mob ties or any sign of corruption gets hired. You don't have any that you know of. You've lived in Gotham your whole life. Your father instilled in you to keep to yourself and mind the business that pays. Though staying hidden and out of the way doesn't seem to matter in Gotham. Looking on the news or reading through social media reveals that even the quietest mouse could be murdered in cold blood.

You're lucky however that it has kept you out of the way. Your family recently relocated upstate with your distant cousins. Since your apartment was able to be repaired, you stayed. Sometimes you wonder if it's a mistake like today.

Your boss is a nice woman named Rachel who wears bright red lipstick with dyed blonde hair and brown roots that never seem to fade. She doesn't mind her business most of the time while you work. There are only three of you so far. Rachel tells you it's because Mr. Wayne doesn't trust anyone, but in the same sentence mentions that he trusts her the most since she's your boss. Her shirt is a little low for business casual in your opinion as you wear a dark green turtleneck, a tan blazer, and matching dark green plaid skirt and dark green leather boots, a splurge from getting this cushy job. You feel like you're dressed for the weather, however. It might rain later and there's the familiar summer to fall chill in the air. You wonder if Rachel feels it too in her summer blouse and light pink skirt. You stop thinking about her and to your folders. Rachel is fine. You know if she calls in sick, it's because she didn't bring a jacket.

Your other coworker is Gregory. Something about him gives you an ick. He is married, but he doesn't mind flirting with Rachel to get less work. You've met his wife and she looks similar to Rachel but more normal. They have two kids and you always forget their names. He's in charge of calling the organizations and making sure they're actually doing what they promised. You wonder why he's in charge of that sometimes. You think your ick comes from the fact that he wears loafers no matter the weather and that sometimes he calls you sweetheart and carelessly invades your personal space. But you put up with it. Not because you're worried Greg will hurt you or something, or that Rachel will set you up to fail. The direct deposit stays on time and you learn so much about your town and the people in it.

The current file you're researching is for a boys and girls club run by some business owner named Cytonia Jones in Central Gotham. You think you may know her but aren't sure from where. As you research, you come across her husband, Don Jones. Bruce has an extensive list of names to avoid so you find the J's, and there he is. He moonlit at The Penguin's club years ago, and though he hadn't in a while, he also disappeared from his other security job. You're sure Cytonia doesn't have contact, but you're not sure. No connections at all you were told. You dig deeper into her life, feeling like a voyeur as you find her Facebook. It's her and her kids, all boys. In her bio, she has a white dove emoji and black heart with "Love of My Life; Donovan Jones 1960-2014. Always remembering you!" It seems like an open and shut case, but you run her friends through the list as well finding no one else. By luck, she passes the no connections test.

Next, you read her mission statement. She's written a lot about her husband and raising their sons on her own, keeping them out of trouble and following in her husband's shadow. You're moved, but a lot of the foundations move you. She wants to run the club to continue the tradition of keeping kids off the streets and into the rampant criminal activities and create safer spaces. You have a feeling that Bruce would approve, thinking maybe he has a soft spot for children in unfortunate circumstances. Maybe you're reaching, but you put her club in the approval pile for Greg or Rachel to call.

You go to the water fountain to fill your water bottle when you hear Rachel's voice surprisingly chipper say hello to someone. Sometimes the different organization leaders would visit when they had questions about funding or dropped off more paperwork. It also could be Alfred, but Rachel wouldn't be as happy. He always brought some tea and stories about his years at Wayne Manor. You turn slightly to see from the corner of your eye. You almost drop your water bottle and you hear sudden shuffling from Greg's desk. There he is, put together, slightly sullen like usual, but with an attempt at a warm smile, as he wears a dark trench coat with black buttons, a black button-down, and black pants. His hair is brushed to the side, revealing his face, strikingly handsome with those same light blue eyes. He grins at Rachel, but his eyes go to you.

You curse to yourself but return the smile as you hurry to your desk. You don't want him to think you slack off. Your stack on your desk isn't high up like it can be today anyway. "How is it going today?" He asks Rachel, but still eyes on me. You open a random file on your desk, heart thumping in your chest. "It's fine. Approving. Disapproving. Checking in on everyone. You're a saint you know! Giving to these people who want to change Gotham for good! Especially after The Flood." Her voice drops low as she scoots her rolling chair over to obstruct his gaze from you. You think it's a bitch move, but also grateful to not have eyes on you for a little bit. "That's good to hear. I only want to do what is best for my city." He hands her coffee and you see he brought you all coffee. You wrack your brain for the visit and the kindness. "Oh! This is nice. You're so nice Mr. Wayne." She stands and suddenly is by his side, almost linking her arm with his. You wonder if she sees the two other cups for you and Greg.

Bruce scowls, using his long legs to lose her. To your relief, he goes to Greg next. It gives you time anyway to actually read over this file in case he asks. You tune out Greg's voice as he talks about going golfing with his brother (or is it his friend from college this time?) and him inviting Bruce to go. "Mr. Wayne, golfing is a man's right. You ought to go with me and Brandon one day. Hit the range and shoot the breeze." Your eyes roll before you can catch yourself and you notice Rachel sipping her coffee, but her eyes train on you. You never think Rachel thinks of you as competition for anything until now. Bruce effectively brushed her off and you're next for the cold shoulder of course. Suddenly, you're in the savannah, at the watering hole as a zebra. You feel the hyena watch you and the lion on his way to make his move as well. Your lips are so dry, you grab your water and take a sip, putting it down carefully.

"It's fine. Thank you for the invite, Greg. You should call our clients though." He hands him his coffee before leaving Greg bumbling to himself.

Your heart skips beats. Your turn. You feel overdressed suddenly, but Rachel chimes. "You two are almost matching! How cute!" You hear the envy slip as she stresses cute.

You flip between embarrassed and vindicated. You're not an ugly person and you know it, but you do not flaunt it. You don't think you could pull a billionaire, but with eyes on you... It doesn't hurt to try. Besides, Bruce Wayne sightings are as rare a day without crime. His eyes go up from her thighs to her face in a slow precise motion. You're surprised by his boldness, but know Rachel must have seen it because now she has a phone call she must desperately make and she talks in a hushed tone. She's faking you're sure, but you can't point it out. If she's so worried about you taking Mr. Wayne, why not prove her correct?

"We must have gotten the same memo." You joke, closing your file as he stands over your desk space. "Must have." He cracks a whisper of a smile. "I have to say you're very diligent with your work." He takes the empty chair at the desk behind you and slides it over. Oh fuck. You fight your incredulous smile, knowing Rachel must have hung up her "phone call" seeing Bruce disappear at your desk. He keeps his voice low, however. "You have very specific rules so it makes it easy." You shrug off his compliment though he picks it back up. "No, it's very thorough." He goes through your disapproved file and grabs the first one, opening it up and reading it briefly. "Why did this not make it?"

"The co-owner had ties to um Falcone. I figured that was an immediate no." You try not to sound doubtful, but he points at the man's name. "What's his connection?" You try to remember, reading his name again. "Falcone loaned him money right before The Flood. It's in his banking history." Bruce's eyes light up. "You're meticulous, amazingly so." He closes it and says, "I don't think many would have looked, but you potentially stopped Wayne Foundation from any fraud."

He puts the file back and sits back in his seat. "Would you be willing to do an extracurricular for me?" Your eyebrow raises in question. "Will I be paid for it?" You ask with a small laugh. "If you want. There's a gala next weekend and I must go. It will have a lot of potential grants, organizations, and other donors." His stare pierces your soul, and his voice is even lower. He really does not want Rachel to know.

"I... Do you not have any other person to take?" You ask, scooting forward a bit so you could hear him better. "I haven't made much of a debut in my social life to have a Rolodex of bachelorettes to take to balls. It's not the 1950s." You laugh, "But it is 2022. You could slide in a DM or two. You're Bruce Wayne. I'm sure some girl of your class would immediately say yes." He opens his mouth to say something back but closes it as he pulls out his phone and taps a bit, eyes flicking to your face and back the screen. Your heart is beating in your ears. You're really flirting with your boss and he's flirting back. Hell, even asked you to a ball and you said NO! Rachel would have jumped at the opportunity and probably change her last name to Wayne overnight.

Your phone vibrates and you narrow your eyes. He couldn't have. There's an unread message on your Instagram as well as some notifications from some likes on your posts from the official Bruce Wayne account. "Hello (Y/N). There's a gala next Saturday and I have been invited. Your work ethic and personality and affinity to black made you a stand-out choice for me. Please go with me. All expenses paid. Even the gala. If you want. Answer me in person xx."

You read the message a few times, looking back at Bruce and your phone. You did tell him to slide in a DM, but yours? He finds you so fast. Of course, he does. You remember the background checks and give in. "I'm not a cheap date." His smile widens, as he looks at your shoes. "I can tell. That's a luxury brand right?" You hesitate but find yourself drawn to his knowledge of fashion. "Yeah... I um splurge sometimes." His smile softens as he flicks his eyes back up to your face. "You'll be well taken care of for the Gala, Miss (L/N)."

He stands before handing you a coffee. "Alfred will send you a car tomorrow." Your eyes widen slightly. "Tomorrow?" "If you're going to get a dress, you better get it soon." You fix your face, keeping your eyes from bugging out of your skull as he turns on his heel. Charming motherfucker. "Keep up the good work!" He says as he leaves. The silence in the office however is almost deafening.