Batman/Bruce Wayne (thedarkknight) wrote in dc_heroes,
@ 2010-11-20 20:56:00

Entry tags:

The Deal
After his meeting with Clark, the anger he felt faded more into irritation as he left the new restaurant he'd just bought. Sure, it wasn't anything like DelMonico's, here in Star City, but it would certain be a top destination once his people finished booking the celebrity chef that Bruce had in mind. He pushed that thought aside as he looked at Carol Ferris, his lips spreading into an automatic grin as he greeted her.

"Carol, you look lovely, as always." Bruce says, taking her hand and giving it a light kiss. It was petty of him to think it, but he wished that Jordan was here right now. Bruce would have loved to watch the man squirm.

As he sat down, he received a text message from the man he was having trail Carol while he was in town.

Ferris, lunch with Wayne. 2:20 pm. -C

At that moment, Bruce Wayne chose to live up to his reputation as an utter klutz and expertly made a show of putting his phone away, only to have it miss his pocket and go sailing towards a table off to their left. Bruce, of course, "tries" to catch the phone, only to have it land at just under the chair of the woman sitting at the table, who is also checking her own phone and does not see it coming. He immediately kneels down to pick up his phone, an "Excuse Me" leaving his lips shortly before he ducks down.

The woman either isn't paying attention or doesn't care. When she notices that he's reaching under her chair, and his proximity to her, she scoots away from her table, a cry of surprise coming from her lips. Bruce immediately stands, pointing at the floor, trying to stammer out an apology and...reading the text message on her phone just before it goes dark.

Ferris, lunch with Wayne. 2:20 pm. -C

And now he has confirmation of exactly what he needed to know, because he knows who this woman is, despite the wig and makeup job she's using to conceal it.

"PERVERT!" the woman yells, throwing her glass of water in his face. The chill liquid hits Bruce full on, which leaves him "unprepared" for the slap across the face that comes next. It stings like hell, but he has to play along, and falls back a couple of steps in surprise.

"Miss, I'm sorry! That's not what it looked like!" Bruce says meekly, in his defense.

Ten minutes later, Bruce and Carol are re-seated in another part of the restaurant, after the woman raised enough hell and was asked to leave by the manager. Sure, TMZ got another bit of tarnish to rub on Bruce Wayne's image, but it was worth it to have one of Luthor's flunkies thrown out and confirm that Lex was having Carol watched by the same man Bruce himself had hired.

"Now that I've made an ass of myself , Carol, I hope you'll consider still doing business with Wayne Aeronautics and the Government. I provide good entertainment, if nothing else." Bruce offers with a self-deprecating smile.

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thedarkknight
2010-11-21 06:01 pm UTC (link)

"Currently, I'm trying to choose between Bobby Flay, Wolfgang Puck and Gordon Ramsey. All of them all well-known personalities and have extensive resumes. I think this venture could be a powerhouse if choose the right one." Bruce says, taking a sip of his water.

"Wouldn't it be great to walk into a restaurant and get seated immediately because own the place? Never having to make reservations no matter how many people you bring? Come on, Carol, I know you like the idea." Bruce grins.

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	ferris_ceo 2010-11-21 09:22 pm UTC (link)
	"Now you're pandering to my vanity," she accused with a laugh. She could just imagine Hal arguing with Gordon Ramsey. "It might be good for me to get my head out of the clouds, so to speak." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

thedarkknight
2010-11-21 10:20 pm UTC (link)

"Diversity is always a good thing, Carol. So is that billion-dollar smile of yours." Bruce says, chuckling along with her.

"If you were to get involved in this venture, can you think of anyone who might be a worthy investment? Or...should we try something different and make it a celebrity chef restaurant and have a couple of chefs attached to it so you never know who's going to be there?" he asks.

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ferris_ceo
2010-11-21 10:25 pm UTC (link)

The billion-dollar smile widened.

"There is a cachet to having a celebrity chef's name attached to your restaurant, but there's also something to be said for creating a celebrity chef. Your name alone could elevate up-and-coming chefs to celebrity status if you featured their food. Even if they stayed only a year, the publicity would bring the world to their table."

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thedarkknight
2010-11-21 10:39 pm UTC (link)

"People /are/ seeking work right now and while it would be nice to have, say, Gordon Ramsay's name attached to things, there is something to be said for having the man or woman trained by Gordon Ramsey or Bobby Flay in residence." Bruce agrees, seeming to think it over in his head.

"One of the few nice things people say about me is that I seem to know my food and drink." Bruce says, allowing for a self-deprecating smile.

"I want Coast City to become an even bigger tourist destination than in previous times, Carol. This city has come back from the worst place a city could be in and it's starting to thrive again. I want to help with that, just like Wayne Enterprises tries to help Gotham City in various ways. Who better to work with than one of Coast City's premiere businesswomen and residents." he says.

"Is this something you'd think about exploring further?" he asks.

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ferris_ceo
2010-11-21 11:12 pm UTC (link)

"Coast City has been through a lot. I've been offered tax breaks and considerations if I moved my business elsewhere, but I'm really a homebody. This is where Ferris Air started and it's where it'll stay until there is no more Coast City."

Carol leaned back in her chair and gave Bruce a considering look. "They say you know expensive food and drink, not if it's actually worth the money. I'm not opposed to letting a talented nobody prove themselves. The city could easily become a foodie heaven as well as cater to families and other businesses."

"This is definitely something I'd want to explore. Count me in."

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thedarkknight
2010-11-21 11:34 pm UTC (link)

"Good to hear, Carol. I'm glad we can continue working together professionally." Bruce says, wondering exactly why a woman like this would waste her time on someone like Hal Jordan.

The guy had to be a snake-oil salesman. It was the only reason he could think of that made any sense.

"I'll have my people get in touch with you on design information and then we can discuss some candidates." Bruce offers as the waiter comes to take their orders.

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ferris_ceo
2010-11-21 11:45 pm UTC (link)

Carol took a notepad from her bag. Her entire life was in the notepad.

"If you and Wayne Industries wouldn't mind something of a detour, perhaps your people will look at a few of the older buildings still standing and see if they're structurally sound enough for renovation. I'll have a file of ideas for them ready when they come calling." She'd have liked to say 'have your people contact my people' just like in the movies, but she was 'her people'. She'd either have to hire another assistant, clone herself, or give up sleeping for good.

Refusing was out of the question. To have some small part of bringing Coast City back and making it better, and making a profit from it, was worth it.

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thedarkknight
2010-11-22 12:54 am UTC (link)

"Already ahead of you, Carol, but I'd like to take a look at your list and see if there are any I've missed. Wayne Enterprises was started in the real estate and land management business, and the Martha Wayne Foundation has been looking into opening a few shelters and soup kitchens both here and in Star City." Bruce tells her.

"My mother was very fond of helping the less fortunate get into better circumstances, and I've tried to emulate that in my own dealings. Coast City is on the road back to prosperity; Gotham lived through something like that in the past as well, and there's still a lot of work to be done.

So, in short, yes, I'd love to look into helping out more around here." Bruce says.

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	ferris_ceo 2010-11-22 01:11 am UTC (link)
	"Telling a fish how to swim, as my father would say." She wasn't bothered by him ahead of her. It was his idea, after all, and sometimes she had to say it aloud in a sequence to think it through. "I'll certainly help your foundation find places to be useful here." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	thedarkknight 2010-11-22 03:01 am UTC (link)
	"I appreciate it. Coast City is a nice place to visit." Bruce says. "I'd live here if I didn't love Gotham so much." He smiles at Carol, as well as the double-meaning of his statement. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	ferris_ceo 2010-11-22 03:18 am UTC (link)
	Carol watched him for a moment. It appeared to be the first, genuine, normal comment from him during the their meeting. "How is Gotham these days?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

thedarkknight
2010-11-22 03:46 am UTC (link)

"I wish I could say it's not like the news says it is, but the news makes it seem /better/ in some ways. Yes, there are problems and things that are wrong, but I'm not willing to write Gotham off. Ever.

I think people just need an example to live up to, someone to show them that things /can/ be better, if they'll work for it." Bruce says, finding that Carol's question has actually reached something inside of him that isn't part of his playboy persona.

"My family has lived in Gotham since it was just a hole in the dirt. My fortune came from Gotham and my family never once gave up on Gotham, despite all the pain and hurt they saw.

And even though some punk with a gun took my parents from me, I don't blame the city for that. I blame the corruption and the complacency of the government." Bruce says.

"But I'll never give give up on Gotham, Carol. I can't, even if it turns out to be the end of me." he finishes.

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	ferris_ceo 2010-11-22 04:01 am UTC (link)
	"That's the important thing," Carol answered quietly. "Not to give up, even if it takes everything you have to give." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	thedarkknight 2010-11-22 04:06 am UTC (link)
	"Yes, that and never compromising yourself to make sure that your dream, whatever it is, comes to pass." Bruce says, just as quietly. "But, I'm sure you already know that, Carol. You seem like a woman who knows what she wants and goes for it with everything she's got." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

ferris_ceo
2010-11-22 04:11 am UTC (link)

"Well, there is a system to it." She picked up her water glass and swirled the ice around. The atmosphere was getting a little too serious and not in a business way. "You ask for what you want, go after what you want, not what you'll settle for. That way if you fall short of your goal, which does happen on occasion, you'll still have your safety net of what you'd settle for to fall back on."

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	thedarkknight 2010-11-22 04:18 am UTC (link)
	"Good way to think of it, that is." Bruce says, though he doesn't believe in settling, not truly. "Do you apply that to your personal life as well, or just professionally?" he asks. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	ferris_ceo 2010-11-22 04:24 am UTC (link)
	"That's very personal of you, Mr. Wayne," Carol said tartly, but with a smile. "No, I don't. I've settled in the past and it was a disaster on both sides. I won't settle when it comes to the person I go home to every night. Never again." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

thedarkknight
2010-11-22 04:41 am UTC (link)

"I know how that is, Carol. I've done my fair share of settling, but recently, I met someone who doesn't make me feel like that. Still, we both have suitcases full of issues, and I'm not really sure if we're something that can even last." Bruce says.

"We've very different people with demanding schedules. Very independent as well. Still, she's a great person and I enjoy her company." Bruce says, a smile crossing his face at the thought of Diana.

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	ferris_ceo 2010-11-22 04:47 am UTC (link)
	"That's a start." Again, the genuine, normal expression appeared. She liked it. The media bad boy wasn't very interesting. Especially when Hal liked to throw that up at her. And thinking about Hal, she know knew a way to settle his grumbling jealousy. "How about the four of us have dinner when the contracts are signed? Celebrate the joint venture." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

thedarkknight
2010-11-22 05:56 am UTC (link)

Bruce's eyebrows raise in genuine surprise at Carol's suggestion. A dinner like that was bound to make her ask some questions eventually, what with three of the four people at the table knowing each other as something /other/ than just significant others.

However, it would be a good way to settle the rumors about him and Carol and show Diana that he did take their...whatever-it-was-they-had, seriously.

"That's a great idea, Carol. I'm all for it if you are." Bruce smiles.

This would be interesting.

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	ferris_ceo 2010-11-22 06:13 am UTC (link)
	"But you're surprised at the suggestion? Surely you've had dinner with your business contacts in the past and have brought a date. I've heard the rumors." Her smile teased him just a little. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	thedarkknight 2010-11-22 07:06 am UTC (link)
	"Oh, it's less surprise at that and more considering what my prospective date will say. She and I have never gone anywhere publicly." Bruce says. "I'd like to make sure she's okay with it, but I'm sure she will be." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	ferris_ceo 2010-11-22 07:12 am UTC (link)
	"That's settled, then. I look forward to it, as well as telling my fiance to stop frothing at the mouth. He's convinced you're trying to charm me." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	thedarkknight 2010-11-22 07:59 am UTC (link)
	"Oh, well I /am/ trying to charm you, Carol. I mean, our business relationship depends on it!" Bruce laughs. "Tell your fiance that I'm not trying to make you a 'Wayne Girl' and that should help him out." Bruce offers. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)