Job Interview [Batman]

[Deleted]

Edward Nigma knew how to look dashing in any suit from his green one to the professional pen strip blue one he wore now. If he hadn't been fired during the economic recession followed by a tragic accident leading to his life of crime, he certainly would have become a powerful businessman. Afterall, studies have shown that Chief Executive Officers have common traits related to sociopaths.

He didn't draw attention without his trademark green. He easily walked up to the security guard at the front desk of the large skyscraper building. The guard pulled away from the miniature television set that had the Gotham Rogues against the Dallas Cowboys. He could hear the sounds of the game and whistle blasting through his headphones. Disgusting. It was example of a failed species. The Roman's collapsed shortly after their obsession with the Colosseum. It was disappointing to watch idiots follow history into the same failure, but he wasn't here to teach a lesson, no he was here for something much more important.

"Can I help you?" the guard grumbled as he pulled out a visitor log for him to sign.

"Yes, I'm here for an interview with Mr. Wayne," he said, but the guard had already gone back to his game. Edward took the pen and signed his name in the guest log. He then went to the elevator and accessended to the top floor as the assistant had informed him over email. He felt giddy. He hadn't gone on a job interview in years. Of course he would get the job for multiple reasons, the most important, he was over qualified. It was a simple financial analyst position, and Edward had been studying the markets for years. How else would he be able to steal investors broke in a matter of minutes.

He stepped out of the elevator into a large waiting area with a desk and a beautiful young secretary. The woman was busy typing, and ignoring the new presence in the room. Edward walked to her desk. He read the name on the desk. "Hello, Ms. Harris, I am here for the interview with Mr. Wayne," he said politely.

Ms. Harris continued to type, not looking up to acknowledge him, which made his eye twitch with irritation. "Yes, Mr. Ed Gamin, Mr. Wayne is currently busy. If you don't mind waiting, please have a seat," she said.

....of course, he is busy. It was insulting, but in another way, it made him feel confident. He hadn't figured it out yet, even though he left it printed in green on buildings across the city. "Yes, I'll have a seat. With such a wonderful view, I don't see a problem with waiting," he was speaking about her and not the window, and he caught the pause in her typing, as if the words had just sunked in.

She glanced at him, and realized that he was actually fairly attractive. She gave a small smile before nodding to the chair. "I can get you a cup of water while you wait," she added.

He shook his head and moved to the chair. "Thank you dear, but I am fine." He took a sit and started pondering the reaction that might occur. He had no doubt that he would recognize him, but he knew if he sold it right, he would get a chance to 'straighten' out his life.

He tapped on his cane, impatiently.

[Deleted]

Bruce heard the slight ping in his office when the elevator opened up to his receptionist’s office. He glanced up to the picture of Wayne Enterprises over the door leading to the receptionist area. The picture flickered, revealing it to be a monitor and, for several seconds, it showed who had entered the outer office. There was no sound, as that could too easily be detected, but the quality of the image was enough to allow him to read lips. That Nigma was at his door, posing under a false name and had somehow managed to secure an interview was interesting, though he doubted the Riddler would be calling for outwardly nefarious reasons. Though it would be a coup for the villain if he were.

He sat back in his office chair, leaning back. One arm wound around Selina’s waist as the other played in her hair. Her legs split wide around him, each going out under an arm of the chair as she straddled him. Her lips and tongue played on his neck, her lipstick leaving telltale marks along with her tooth, though as always, she had been careful to leave no lasting marks where they could be scene. She had, at times, enjoyed a position of authority over him and he, at times, believed he enjoyed it more than her.

Her hips moved under her skirt, suggesting a lewdness in their activities, though if there were any such contact, it remained hidden beneath said skirt. If seen, someone might complain at the appearance of indecency, but in fact, nothing was visible and the conclusions drawn would be in the mind of the beholder, for their eyes had no proof.

Bruce moaned softly and Selina played his body, enjoying her closeness and, even more, her touch. It was with regret that he responded to the scene outside his door, though it had to be done and, perhaps, Mr. Gamin might be a little thrown by the scene. If not, it couldn’t hurt the reputation of the million dollar playboy.

“Sasha, I am otherwise engaged, but I realize Mr. Ed Gamin has demands on his time. If it is all right with him to speak with another present, he may enter. If not, well . . .”

He moaned and nuzzled into Selina before continuing, “. . . it may be a while.”

[Deleted]

Edward's fingers tapped on the top of the cane as each minute ticked by. His eyes slowly narrowing as he stared at the clouds in the distance sky. Gotham sky always looked on the verge of rain, as if no matter how often god tried to wash away the sins of the city, he could never quite get it clean.

A buzz came from the receptionist desk, and he glanced over to watch the woman pick up the phone. She nodded, "Yes, I'll inform him." His mind started to jump to possible conclusions of the delay. Was he being turned away because he had already determined the truth, or was it just another bimbo taking up the 'bachelors' time. "Mr. Gamin, Mr. Wayne is willing to see you now if you do not mind another guest in the room during the interview. If not, you are welcome to wait longer," she said politely, but he noticed the twitch of her lip as she said guest. Ah yes, Edward had been correct. He was entertaining himself with some gold digging bimpo.

He smiled and stood. "I do not mind at all. It is always pleasant to have another mind in the room as long as they show some willingness to engage in an intellectual discussion," he stated, but he highly doubted whoever else was in there would have an ability to accomplish such a task. He straightened his suit again, and then walked towards the door. "Wish me luck," he smirked at the receptionist, who surprisingly actually gave him a smile, but covered it up quickly by burying herself into her work.

He opened the door. His mind jumping to all the scenarios that could take place. Would he be dressed up as Batman and yank him out the window back to Arkham? Or would he call the cops in order to keep his identity hidden? He suspected that he would play ignorant to see what Edward was planning. He knew Batman did not know that Edward knew everything. No one knew that Edward had answered the most important riddle. He had not told a soul of the realization that came from the Lazurus Pits. Edward knew how to play ignorant just as well as the masses when times called for it. He could do it perfectly because realistically, who in their right mind would walk into the office and ask for a job from the person who had been beating them to a pulp for years?

He walked in with all the possible scenarios in mind, feeling completely prepared, but he had not expected this.

He jaw dropped and he stood frozen at the door as he saw just who this 'bimbo' was. Of course, he had heard of Selina's relationship with Bruce. Everyone had heard, but he hadn't expected her to be so....'shameful'. He swallowed thickly and forced himself in. "Hello, Mr. Wayne, it's a pleasure to get some of your time," he paused. He knew it was too late to act like he did not know Selina, so he continued, "Selina, dear, it is always a pleasure to see you as well. If I had known I'd be interrupting your....conversation...I would have waited."

He knew Selina was intelligent and would play along with his false name, but for some reason, seeing her in such a position greatly lowered his expectations of her. For a moment, he actually was worried, he might be heading back to Arkham before he even had a chance to place his pawns on the board.

[Deleted]

Bruce looked at “Mr. Ed Gamin” with a bit of confusion, a look he had mastered over the years. It seemed Bruce nearly always wore some kind of puzzlement on his face when he was anywhere the public could find him. He was genuinely confused, though, as to why the RIddler was paying him a visit. He cleared his throat and adjusted himself subtly in the chair, though not enough for him to cause Selina to have to move.

“I do have a meeting with Selina later, not that it’s any of your business . . . may I call you Ed?”

He didn’t wait for an answer but rather continued on, assuming the familiarity would be allowed. “It is unusual for me to handle interviews personally. Honestly, I don't really know enough about the company to make informed decisions, but it is my name on the checks, so I guess they must think I need something to fill my time."

He smiled indulgently before continuing.

"You may leave your resume and credentials with Sasha when you leave, and pardon me for not rising to meet you; as you can see, you are not the only person demanding my attention at the moment. And please, take a seat.”

He gestured to one of three empty chairs across the desk from him, then turned his attention sharply toward Selina for the briefest of moments.

“No marks, Bunny. My PR managers give me hell for that.”

He looked back up at Edward. “My apologies if I am not completely up to speed on your background. I’m sure the file was sent to me, but I haven’t managed to find the time to find it yet. I do assure you, though, that you have my undivided interest. So, what is it you would like, Ed? What do you offer Wayne Enterprises that demands my personal attention? And, perhaps, more importantly, what do you believe Wayne Enterprises can do for you?”

[Deleted]

As he watched the man across the desk clearly, he became more disgusted by him. It was very difficult to believe that this pompous, idiotic, and disrespectful man could actually be the Batman. Even his expression screamed bewilderment, and not the mind that had challenged his own for years. He reminded himself though that it all was but an act, an act that had been fine tune over the decade. As hard as it was to imagine the brooding man in a cape being able to act in any other way then his cold expressionless features, he knew this was the act he put on to protect his identity. And what a great actor he was! It had taken Edward years to figure it out, even though it was all so clear! The pit had made every puzzle piece connect into the perfect picture. Who had the money for the equipment? Who disappeared at social functions? Who had an odd amount of adoptive male children around the same age of the new birdies that seemed to appear with the Bat? It was all so obvious. He didn’t quite understand why it took him so long to figure it out in the first place.

It also concluded that Selina had known who the Batman was all along. He had always thought her interest in Bruce was a pure show for the Gotham elite to continue to support her business. He had not expected that she had been getting busy with him in and out of costume. Either way, he had never expected this desperate show she was currently putting on. To him, Selina was always a woman of class, not a woman to be hung around like arm candy for the public. No, she was something to be cherished like the diamonds she stole.

His jaw locked when he called him Ed. He would prefer if he stayed with a more formal title out of respect, but swallowed his pride with force smile, “Yes, of course.”

As he continued to speak, Edward found himself repeating over and over again that this was a façade. He wasn’t really this incompetent. The fact that he was partaking in the façade also meant that the Batman truly had no idea that Edward knew who he was. Everything was going to plan even if it was slowly giving Edward a migraine.

When offered a seat, he moved to the center one, but he caught the pet name and almost fell out the seat completely. He caught the arm rest and pulled himself back up. God, what was Selina doing with this man?!?!

He sat straight in the seat, looking far more professional then the man across from him. He met his gaze and locked onto it, and finally for a moment, he caught something familiar in his eyes that confirmed to him that this was actually the Batman. He smiled as the question left his lips, question he knew had more of purpose then just for a job interview.

“It’s not a problem at all, and thank you again for taking the time to see me. To be quite honest, my background does not do the best to highlight my skills. After all, I have had…” he paused actually acting like he had to think of the word, “some would say a checkered past. It’s one of the main reasons I have actually applied for a position at your company. I hope to change the direction of where my life was going into something far more important. I believe I can do that here,” he smirked, the underline meaning to each of his words just below the surface. “I am certain you are aware that you are losing investors because a large sum of your profit is going to charities,” he held up his hands to stop any interruption, “Not that I am against that, I do quite appreciate all the things you have done for the habitats of wild cats.” He couldn't help the smirk that came across his lips as he continued. “However, I have been in the markets for years, and I believe I can persuade these investors to stay, as well as continue to grow profit. With that you could see a continued increase in your business success, instead of the stagnant market share price it has been at for the past few months. I know my gap in resume makes most suspicious to hire me, but I promise you, I am a changed man, trying make an even larger change in my life.”

He folded his hands across his cane, as he studied the man’s expression carefully, but his focus kept being drawn to Selina and how she was draped on him like some fancy scarf. “I have worked with Miss Kyle in the past, and she can certainly attest to my skills and talent. Though of course, no one is at talented as Miss Kyle in pose and charisma, I do attempt to match her.”

[Deleted]

Sitting in the lap of Bruce Wayne, nibbling on his neck like caviar, it was a delicacy. He smelled like some expensive Parisian cologne, and she could feel every muscle beneath her ass. All she had to do was that. Sit there. Not say a word. Kiss and nuzzle him. Listen mildly to the bland conversation at her back, feel the rumbling in his chest, against her chest. She breathed in, curving to his body. She was the luckiest woman in the world.

It was with a wriggle of her fingers, and a pointing to the door that she would wave past the secretary, and then into the office. She has free reign, and knew his other meetings wouldn't be starting for a few hours. So as she opened the door, and let it click behind her, a few snippets of a familiar voice already praising her, did she stop, a gasp catching awkwardly in her throat. This was not what she had been expecting. Oh. Shit. Her long-lost friend, Edward Nigma was.....being interviewed by Bruce? As...she smiled at this, almost shaking her head. As...a rather enticing piece of work was draped in his lap, nuzzling at his neck. A few strides took her to Edward's left ear, her lips almost nuzzling his ear as she whispered, 'You know, he prefers to call me Kitten Edward," before pressing her lips to his cheek, and making her way to the empty seat beside him. With a cross of her knees; one over the other, the file of papers nearly laid against a thigh, she caught Bruce's eye, a twinkle in her own gimlet green ones.

"Sorry to duly interrupt you, Mister Wayne. I had thought this block of time had been open for me to stop in for a consult." She plainly ignored the woman, but noting the lack of poise, and finesse. If she had been sitting his lap, she'd never had straddled Bruce. Too hard to disengage if someone stopped in. She'd have sat across his legs, natch. But either way, she sat among the two men, noting the heady tension as she stifled her laughter, before turning slightly to Edward, her hand clasping his priorly injured knee, and saying to him, "Good to see you again," quietly. She had a feeling he would have questions for her, over coffee, and sooner rather than later.

[Deleted]

Bruce noted the sour look on Edward’s face at the declaration of the familiar form of address, and saw that his behavior with the woman on his lap bothered his visitor, though he played the part of ignoring it well enough. He listened to Edward’s sales pitch and found it to be straight forward enough, at least the part about his past being checkered. He wasn’t sure exactly what the Riddler was up to or why he wanted to see the inside of his office, though surveillance cameras would be catching everything. He would have time to figure it out if it didn’t become obvious. The idea of him wanting to increase both investments and charitable contributions was appealing. It was also the Holy Grail of any business venture concerned with how they were perceived. If Edward had a way to do it, Wayne Enterprises would be the best place for him to sell it, in terms of pure profit. But, this was the Riddler.

Bruce smiled as Ms. Kyle entered the room. Always the picture of grace and beauty, she strolled in and took a seat next to Mr. Gamin, a man she new to well to be taken in my a false name. When she reached to touch his leg, it had been a moment of conformation for the detective. While he had the cane, Edward had not seemed used to walking as though he needed it anymore. Bruce didn’t believe it was carelessness, so he decided it had been deliberate. Why, though? To see if Bruce noticed? That would only matter if there was a reason for Edward to suspect that he might. That was a disturbing thought.

“The memo concerning Mr. Gamin here seemed to have slipped past my desk somehow. I had thought this time was reserved for –“

He paused as the woman on his lap found a particularly sensitive area with her tongue, his breath catching and his eyes becoming unfocused. When he was under control once more, he tapped her on the small of the back.

“I think it’s time for you to leave now, Bunny. I have something to attend to that will require my attention.”

“But, Mistah Waayne, y;all said I’d be getting’ paid fer a whole day!” the woman said in protest.

“Follow directions and you will,” he answered in a friendly voice as he helped her to untangle herself from him. In the process, her wig fell off from her, revealing her to be a shorthaired blond with brown eyes. Attractive in her own right, she was no Selina Kyle.

“Sasha,” Bruce said into the intercom as the woman headed out of the office, adjusting her skirt and buttoning her blouse as she went, “please see that Miss Selina Davenport is given a position in the receptionists’ pool. Assign her to Steve.”

“Yes, sir, Mr. Wayne,” the voice came back.

Bruce rose, straightened himself, and smiled at Edward. “You can see why they don’t normally let me do interviews, I guess? But, where were we?”

Bruce looked to Selina and gave her a smile and a nod. He moved over to her and took her and, kissing the backs of her fingers and looking her in the eyes for a few seconds before turning to Edward. He extended a hand, not mentioning that he should have done so earlier, though the reasons he hadn’t were obvious. “Security. Right. Well, as Ed is already here, why don’t we listen to him, Kitten?”

He moved back to his chair and shifted his attention toward Ed. “You don’t mind Ms. Kyle being here, I hope? She is a trusted advisor. You were talking about drawing back our investors while increasing the scope of our charitable donations, I believe? I do believe in second chances, so I am not all that concerned with your past, so long as you weren’t one of the masked rogues of the city that is!”

He chuckled at his own joke and then went on.

“What you propose sounds very interesting, Ed. What will you need to get started?”

[Deleted]

Edward heard the door open and glanced back to see the beautiful Miss Kyle walking in with the very pose he had just commented on. His eyes widened for the briefest of moments of the utter confusion of who exactly was sitting on Bruce’s lap. He hadn’t seen her face, but the hair seemed similar, and he had called her Selina. It had been odd for Selina not even to recognize his presence, but he had suspected that she was truly obsessed with the Batman/Bruce Wayne as the rumors suggest. He felt like a fool, which naturally made Edward quite angry. His grip tightened on his cane and forced to hold his smile.

Selina’s hot breath against his cheeks naturally caused his tighten body to relax. Yes, he supposed all the hints had been there. Selina acting that way around any man seemed unrealistic. She didn’t just throw herself at them like a desperate prostitute. If anything, men seemed to fall at her feet with admiration and desire. He studied her carefully after the kiss and the sit she took next to him. Yes, it had been a long time since he had seen her. He knew she had become close to his….lose end, and for some reason had been prying around Gotham asking question about him. It was almost like she had missed him. He smirked at the idea, but then her hand landed on his knee. Something she knew better then to do because it was his ‘injured’ knee, yet another person who had come to the conclusion that he had somehow fixed it. Unfortunate, that he wasn’t able to kill that insufferable woman. She certainly had been a drain, but he would handle it on a later date when she wasn’t surrounded by an unnecessary army and he had time to waste.

He nodded, “You as well, looking as stunning as ever.” He smiled, attempting to act as if her presence didn’t particularly start his mind into a million questions that he wanted answered.

His eyes turned to the other woman and watched as the wig came off.

……..

His jaw locked. Batman was fucking with him. He was purposefully attempting to make him look like an idiot. To think for the briefest moment he thought Bruce Wayne might not be Batman, but this! This was a plan executed in attempt to rile him. Why else would he purposefully try to make him appear foolish? Only a man wanting to be thrown into a riddle where they might not survive would ever try to make the Riddler look idiotic. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, calming himself. He could possibly be overreacting. It could be Bruce idea of role play, having a woman dress up as Selina Kyle, the woman he would never truly have, to turn him on. It was possible….if Bruce Wayne was actually the idiotic millionaire playboy he paraded himself to be, but Edward knew, he knew this was the Batman.

It didn’t matter. He would not fall for his little trick. He would not lose his temper.

“Yes, I can see, luckily I don’t think she will be offering a sexual harassment suit anytime soon. She seemed quite pleased,” he said lightly as if it were a joke, though the insult was there.

His eyes watched carefully as Bruce lips touched Selina’s skin. He rolled his eyes off to the side, not wanting to see any more of this affection. She might not have been the woman in his lap, but there was still no doubt that something was occurring between the two of them.

He turned his attention back to Bruce when a question was directed at him. He grinned. “No, not at all. Miss Kyle and I have known each other for some time, and I do say while her presence is distracting to any man, anyone would be a fool to let her slip from their grips.” He gave her side glance, and a serious look, as if to say, I know we have much to talk about, but not now.

“Ah yes, I was,” he agreed to their topic and tried to laugh lightly with Bruce’s joke, though he knew it was another taunt. “I don’t need much. With a computer, a phone, and a desk, I can start getting to work and implementing a strategy…that is, if you’re willing to hire me.” He gave a full cheshire grin.

[Deleted]

The voice was so grating, she had to wince slightly at the tone. At least Bruce had been nice enough to line up a legitimate gig for the girl. Steve would have nothing but attentiveness in his department from now on from Ms. Davenport. Smirking as she eased back in the chair slightly, she was able to make a few more whispered comments to 'Ed.' "She doesn't have quite the poise, does she. The skirt, the blouse, maybe the hair have a bit of resemblance...." Her lips quirked in a tease; "So nice of you to defend my honor, Edward. At least you're one of the few that doesn't suspect I'm a cheap whore sleeping my way to what I have." As the blonde imposter sauntered away, Selina became fully aware of the man now grazing her hand with his soft, supple lips in a gracious manner. But it was that little sobriquet that he stumbled on. Did he mean it? Was he really fucking with Eddie in this manner? It was tacky, and she even knew it, but didn't bother to acknowledge it. The composure he had was unbelievable, considering who was in the room at the moment.

At Bruce's quip, she had to let out a light twitter. "None of those dolts could possibly gain a job like this. Save for one. He has an exquisite mind, Mr. Wayne.." She murmured demurely, her body shifting slightly to angle toward Edward. He was always too kind with his compliments. Even if she did deserve them. And while her trained eye could see the briefest of tensing in his jaw, she knew, no, she could guess what he was thinking. Something along the lines of DAMN BATMAN. ASSHOLE. But more eloquently, of course. It almost irked her that he'd never had thought his Selina could do him ill. Not that this was ill in it's purer form, but still. If anything, it had flushed some strong emotions to the surface. And she was quite pleased that he'd never thought her a whore.

"He's a good friend, Bruce. Quite a palate for crosswords, linguists, espresso, and a few vintages of wine you really should get the names of. His IQ...well.....I can't comment on brilliance, but he is quite literate, I will admit to that." Beaming as she prattled on, she wasn't lying. Edward was brilliant. And was an excellent dinner companion, as well as conversationalist.

And while Edward took it from there, she glanced down now and again at her file, ticking away at a small tablet she had as well, her eyes flicking to Bruce, then to the man beside her as she refrained from the conversation for this section of Q and A of the 'interview.'

[Deleted]

Bruce watched the reactions flow across Nigma. He was impressed with how well the psychopath kept his emotions in check, but didn’t for a second believe it had anything to do with being cured. That he was here under an assumed and had garnered a personal audience with “the” Bruce Wayne had meant he was up to something pretty substantial. Bruce wasn’t sure if it was access to the computers he was looking for or just being able to walk around in the building. Both were safeguarded from most forms of intrusion, but the Riddler was far beyond the realm of a security system.

That Nigma knew Selina was not a surprise, but that he handles the transition so smoothly when he had obviously been surprised was a feather in his cap, so to speak. Whether or not Selina knew he was something he was interested in knowing. That she addressed him as Edward, though, when Bruce had insisted on calling him Ed was telling.

“Sexual harassment? Hardly. Have you never heard of a personal services contract? She’ll do well her, and if I need a woman on my arm with an eye for detail, I could do worse than Ms. Davenport.”

Selina’s greeting of him was utterly smooth, but he expected nothing else. Her portrayal of Edward as one of the rogues, and the only one that could do the job seemed a little heavy to Bruce, though Ed didn’t seem to notice the verification. He wondered if she were trying to make the Riddler a little more nervous. He gave a nod of acknowledgement to her, and a brief smile before he turned his attention back to Ed.

“As I said, decisions such as this don’t normally come to my desk. That you’ve made the effort to be here, though, shows something of perseverance. A computer, a phone, and a desk; you still haven’t told me exactly what it that you intend to do, and I’m told that there is a matter of security involved with the whole computer thing.”

Bruce pulled out a tablet and started browsing through it, apparently looking for proper procedures. “I think I’m supposed to ask you what you will need access to and why . . .”

After several seconds, he put the tablet away and gave Ed his attention again. “Protocol. Who comes up with all this stuff, anyway? So, what do you need to access to? Do you really need access to a computer here?”

Bruce rolled his eyes. “I hate paperwork. Selina vouches for you, which is an excellent starting point. I must admit, I am rather close to the charity work we do. If you can do what you say, I would be very grateful.”

He pulled a checkbook out of his desk drawer and set it on the desk, holding a pen at the ready. “What are you asking for a salary, and when would you like to start? Setting up an office will take a little time, more so for the access than the hardware. As for the phone, I assume a cell would do?”

[Deleted]

Selina was taunting him. Wonderful, she should know better than to make him feel like a fool. If he wasn’t in the presence of his arch nemesis, he would have reminded her that he didn’t know of any cat that enjoyed water, and would love to see if she’d still have her poise after being drowned for five minutes. A riddle indeed! He kept his lips in a firm line attempting to focus on his goal. Selina had a natural talent to be distracting. He supposed that was the reason he didn’t have a cat.

However, as she continued to speak the tension in his jaw slowly relaxed. The words that left her lips sounded almost like praise, and it was unlike Edward ever to object praise. He lived off of praise. He would roll around in it like money if it were only possible. Then again his suspicious mind wondered if the praise were more hints as to who his identity actually was, but he knew Batman already knew. Why was she dropping the clues? Was she actually praising him or did she truly think this was Bruce Wayne? His mind danced with so many questions, that he couldn’t ask.

Luckily, the stone in the room decided to mutter off nonsense. He almost rolled his eyes at how easily readable Batman was behind his Bruce façade. Batman was trying to dig up clues to what he was actually after. Edward smirked. It would never be that easy. “What do I need access to? That’s a simple answer. Handling stocks is like being a sales man at a car dealership except the buyer never gets to drive the car. You may ask, why would someone purchase a car knowing they cannot drive it nor see it? Answer, they had a good sales rep. A sales rep that could describe the feel of the leather on their hand as they placed themselves in the vehicle.” He couldn’t stop his eyes from darting to Selina quickly as a different image came to mind. “How she would purr as if you were the only man given the opportunity to drive her as your fingers twist the ignition. How she seems to encompass you as you lean back into her leather form teasing you of what it would be like to own her. Her sleek curves and form tell you she’s dangerous, but don’t we all want to own something dangerous, something fast, something we are afraid might just slip through are hands if we don’t hold onto the wheel.” He paused letting the words sink into the room around him, his mind not fully there, but on a much more marvelous image.

“That is a car someone will buy, even without seeing, touching, or hearing it. They will buy it for the dream,” he stated, his hand rolling on top of his cane, but his eyes snapped back into reality.

“But to be able to sale such a pitch, I have to see the products we produce. The first rule of sales is knowing the ins and out of your product, and of course, since I’ll be handling stocks, I need access to your program to make the transfers,” he said with an innocent smile that seemed far from innocent.

The checkbook caught his eye, and he knew any normal man after hearing his little speech would write him a check right there, but the riddle was would Batman break his façade to prevent his hire or would he go along with it to see what Edward was up to. “I think anyone would enjoy a six figure salary, but I will leave it up to you. I am thankful you are giving me this opportunity in the first place.”

[Deleted]

Edward was pushing it. So was Bruce. The two men had huge egos, and always had agendas. If Bruce thought playing dumb with Eddie was a good thing, he was anything but right. And whatever the hell Edward was doing, propositiong Bruce-cum-Batman, was stupid as well. Thankfully she was here to ease the tension slightly, even though they were all play-acting. It mildly reminded her of the dinner Bruce had put on at his Mansion. Hopefully this event would not turn out the same. Fiddling with her tablet she had brought in, she let the men playact bantering back and forth, smiling at their words, their calculated movements, and Bruce's stupidity. It was only when Edward commented on his little sales pitch did she barely give anything away, making a note in a paper and pen notebook she had. Bruce had to know The Riddler wasn't referencing a luxury car. He had to. And if that went over his head, he was a genuine moron.

But she bet he wouldn't let it pass. Batman was known to have an attraction to Catwoman. And considering Selina Kyle, and Bruce Wayne had been seen more publically lately, well, that spoke to something as well. And shit, Edward had even made enough cat-references to make her want to roll her eyes. It was too bad for him she actually adored the water. Swimming too.

As he made a proposition to gain access to Wayne Enterprises, she snorted, the sound escaping her in a rush. Bruce would never allow one of his enemies; one of the more coherent, smarter ones that much access to something that could prove his downfall. So unless he had an intricate plan in place, she had never thought to see him reach for his checkbook.

Ticking away on her laptop, she played dumb, her mind racing. He'd provide limited access with the computer, a phone to track calls...and a six-figure payout? Shit. Something like that rubbed her the wrong way, and finally she shifted, smiling a bit. "If I had known he was going to be so agreeable, I would have offered you a place at my own company. I could double his offer, make it salary, give the same ammenities, and of course, my company is a bit more intimate, we have a smaller staff, but not as much clout as Wayne Enterprises..." She feigned sadness at the end, knowing that whatever Bruce's last name graced, usually flourished. "I would take his offer, Mr. Nigma, he can offer more advancement and training than I could with a small, independant company." Almost conceeding her offer in the same breath, she smiled a Bruce, beaming, the brief flash of question in her eyes. "Mr. Wayne, Bruce, I would hire him. He's fantastic at whatever he sets his mind too, and always has a hand in improving operational efficency and effectiveness." It was a bullshit, buzzzword filled statement, but it would get it's point across. And it would more than likely irritate Eddie with her endearment to Bruce, and Bruce, as she reached out and grasped Edward's arm, urging him on not only verbally to take the offer, but physically in her encouragement.

[Deleted]

Bruce listened with interest, hearing that Ed was looking for access to unspecified products, presumably those in development as well as in production, as well as services and contracts held under Wayne Enterprises, as well as access to their stock portfolio. In essence, he was politely asking to be allowed all the information required to make decisions for the company and control of the assets to make changes as he pleased. It was an audacious request that mirrored his audacious proposal. There were very few people in the world he would grant such a request to.

“You make an interesting pitch. If you’ll pardon the colloquialism, you sound like you could sell snow to an Eskimo. I can definitely see where someone of your inferred skills could improve the value of our company, and the desirability to invest in it, in a fairly short period of time, and there on those on the board that would be greatly interested in that. After all, ROI is a key metric.”

Bruce looked up to Selina as she talked, giving the merits of her company before backing off on the subject and advising Ed to take what Bruce offered. The buzzwords she threw at him made him want to laugh, but he kept a professional demeanor as he listened to the advice. Black Cat Securities was not a company to he laughed at or taken lightly, though, and Bruce knew that. If it were available for sale, he’d have approached the owner some time ago. Then again, had the owner not been Selina, the company would not have been worth his time. Interesting little circle, that.

“It will take time to get everything set up,” Bruce said as he began writing out the check. “I believe we will be seeing each other again, though perhaps not on exactly the same terms. After all, if you can do what you say, you might well own this company by week’s end.”

He removed the check from the book and handed it across the table. He gave Selina a look that told her to be wary and waited for the check to be taken. It was make out “The Riddler” in the amount of a single dollar. On the memo line was written “Nina Stenet.”

“I’m certain you’ll be able to find your way out, Mr. Nigma.“

[Deleted]

Edward wasn’t focused on Selina. How could he be when he was faced with his arch nemesis in the chair across from him? The very man who had stopped him from committing his retribution on the people who had ruined his life. The very man who actually managed to challenge him on an intellectual level. The very man who would one day bow to him on his knees! Selina might have been captivating in her own right, but she held nothing to this man.

Her hand on his arm only seemed like a distant breeze touch his clothes.

His eyes took in Bruce as a strategist took in the troops on the battlefield. He watched for every facial twitch looking for hints to what his next move might be. His smug grin stayed on his face as he watched him concede to his point. There was no denying that Edward would be a great businessman. Before his days in green, he was one of the best. Even if he hadn’t have been fired, he probably would have eventually gotten caught for a white collar crime as like most corrupt in the field, but Edward was never given the chance to succeed. He had been denied. How foolish they had been.

And yes, if Bruce was the actual idiot he paraded himself off as, Edward had no doubt he could take over the corporation within a week. He could probably accomplish such a task in twenty four hours.

Edward felt powerful as he sat in the chair with Selina clinging to him as he listened to Bruce compliment his strengths. To think Batman was actually going to give him a job. He knew it was likely to keep an eye on him, but he was still getting the job. He watched him write the check and reached out to take it. The huge grin stayed on his face as he pulled the check to him to read it over.

…

His smile faltered.

His gripped tightened on the check. His arm started to shake.

How dare he…

How dare he do this to him, the Riddler!

He shot up out of his seat and slammed his fist onto the desk. “ONE DOLLAR! ONE GOD DAMN DOLLAR!” he shouted unable to control his full rage from boiling over. “DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?!?” It was a stupid question because he had obviously written it on the check.

It infuriated him. Batman had been taunting him this entire time!! He had wrote this check to push him over the edge! It was a slap in the face, followed by the finger. It degrading, demeaning, and outright insulting! The fact that Batman would clearly advertise the fact that he knew of the situation with that stupid doctor! Was he a fool!?! It was basically telling him he was the Batman!! Even if he didn’t already know, the lines would have connected right then and there! Why would Bruce Wayne know anything about his personal life?!?!? Batman must know that Edward knows his identity!

But what if he didn’t…

His mind slapped him in the face. What if Batman thought Bruce could still know the information. The riddle gnawed at his mind. Why would the billionaire know anything about him?! But then it hit him, after all, she was sitting in the very room with them. Selina could have told Bruce, and with how much she ran her mouth these days it wasn’t far from the truth!

It didn’t change the fact that the man in front of him was Batman! And how desperately Edward wanted to curse his name to hell!

“I’m the Riddler! You complete fool! How dare you insult me! How dare you get involved with my personal business!” he shouted, ripping the check in half and throwing it at his face. “You think I need this job!?!?!?!” he laughed. “I make more money than you even can spend on all you whores twenty times over!”

Batman always knew the best way to push the right button to get a full reaction out of Edward. He was truly one of few who could accomplish such a task. He grabbed his cane from the chair, as his hand reached into his pocket. “Riddle me this, a certain crime is punishable if attempted but not punishable if committed? I promise by the time I’m finish with you, Bruce Wayne,” he said his name in disgust, “You will be begging for the answer.” His gloved hand pulled out a black business card with only a question mark on it, but it had something else hidden beneath it an acute bacillus that was effected by direct touch, and if somehow Batman survived, he would find that it was a strange strand that could only be found near the Lazurus Pits.

He placed it on his desk and finally smiled. “If you ever want to see the answer please feel free to give me a call.”

He then finally turned to Selina. His eyes went cold. He grabbed her with his cane hand and pulled her up to his height, and brought his lips to her ear. “If you ever speak of my personal life to this brute ever again, I promise,” his lips slowly ghosted along her jaw and up to her own lips, locking his glare with her defiant eyes, “we can find a way to sew up those pretty little lips and then you will never be able to speak to break it again. Question, what is it?” he smirked, chuckling softly before he let go of her.

He brushed himself off, straightened his suit, and placed his cane on the ground before giving a nod to Bruce. “I would say it was a pleasure meeting you, but I would be lying. Have a good day,” he said calmly and went to the door.

[Deleted]

She hadn't known what Bruce was going to do, only that she was to play a part. A role. And even when Edward shot up in his seat, she calmly shut her laptop, and rubbed at her wrist where she had been tossed aside. What sort of salary he had written, she didn't need ask, because Eddie clearly shouted it to the room, infuriated, and even worse, insulted. So as interviewee set down a card, and she were about to follow Edward from the room, Selina shot Bruce a look, a clear one, with a nearly imperceptible nod that said 'Don't touch.' If Eddie wasn't going to touch the damn thing without a barrier, neither should he.

As she was hauled up, yet again by Edward, she followed his eyes, the closeness no doubt orchestrated to enrage Bruce, or Batman, his lips hover so, so close, his breath washing warmly, hotly over her with his little riddle. She knew the answer, yet she let out a breath of pent up air as he loosed her, another bruise no doubt forming on her arm. A glance behind her to the man behind the desk, and Selina would be off after Mr. Nigma.

Only once they were both past the door, and into the elevator would she dare speak a word, her hand slamming the hold button as she shored him up against one of the finely brushed nickle walls. "I wouldn't dare break it, Edward." She purred, perfecting a blend of Catwoman and Selina Kyle in one sentence. "Your trust? It would take more than Wayne being insulting to drive me from your friendship, your steadfastness, and just you." She smoothed her hand down his lapel, focusing there for a moment. "Unless you meant silence, Edward....but then again, I doubt you'd want these quieted. You know how delicately skilled they are..." She whispered into his ear, the stiletto of her heel releasing the hold button.

"Wayne will get over himself. And I was being honest, if you want a legit job that badly, I can give you one. Wayne Enterprises is not the most...beneficial gig out there, trust me on that one. You'd forever be in the shadow of his stupidity, and dumb choices." She knew better, but she'd rather not come in contact with whatever he'd dosed that card with. And even if Edward were disgusted with her for even breathing the same air as Bruce Wayne, he had to trust her on this one.

"And don't go looking like that. If I asked you to trust me, for hanging out around Wayne, would you? I wouldn't invest time with that air-head unless I had something in mind, and you, of all people would figure that out. So I'm hoping it was an act, you behaving like that. And don't you think that Batman would yap to Bruce Wayne, once he had wind of you applying there? The masked man has a hand in every damn thing around here. 'Don't hire Nigma, he's the Riddler!' Save for my company, considering I run it, you know. Edward. Trust me. There is a reason for me being in his business...." Came her matter-of-factly non-explanation.