Murder at Wayne Manor

Chapter 4

Gotham, Wayne Enterprises; April 15th, 12:57 EST

I quickly make my way down to Diana's office, somewhat anxious to find out how she's getting along and hoping Jason Trask is long gone. After introducing the pair, I had made a quick exit. I wasn't in the least bit interested in standing by to watch as Trask attempted to impress Diana.

Whoever Diana wants to date is her business and doesn't affect me in the least. I just don't want to see her get hurt. I also want to make sure Trask keeps his focus on the drug coalition and not Diana's figure. Granted, the woman has a body that defies nature and sinfully long legs, but this drug coalition is my immediate goal and is my top priority right now.

Gotham is under siege right now with this drug that is threatening to steal the lives of our young citizens. We can't waste any more time trying to get a handle on the situation. We need to go to battle now in order to get our city back from whoever is making Ash, get it off our streets and put this monster behind bars once and for all.

I glance down at my watch, quickening my step with how late it is. I had lost track of time between phone calls and meetings all morning. I had thankfully been able to bury myself in work, keeping me from wondering what Trask and Diana were doing in the conference room.

Approaching her office, I pause at the doorway to find her sitting at her desk, studying the files that I had left for her. She's fully engrossed in her work, making notes and highlighting certain facts. I always feel an unexpected sense of tranquility wash over me when I'm near her, mesmerized by her whether I should be or not...whether I want to be or not.

"How's it going, Miss Prince?" I inquire in an effort to break the spell that she is weaving around me and between us. I'm pretty certain she has no idea that she's even doing it, but I still can't allow it to happen just the same.

Diana looks up at me, somewhat startled, a warm smile spreading from ear to ear. "Hello, Mister Wayne," she greets me. "What brings you to my neck of the forest?"

"Neck of the woods," I correct her with a smirk. "Are you ready for some lunch?"

She glances down at the watch Alfred had picked out for her to complete her look, her expression one of stunned disbelief. "I didn't realize it was almost one o'clock."

"It's my fault," I reassure her. "I got caught up talking to Lucius and lost track of time. Are you hungry?"

She quickly grabs her purse from the bottom drawer before standing to her feet. "I'm starving," she replies as she follows me out of her office.

We walk in comfortable silence as we head to the elevator, each checking messages on our phones. I glance at her out of the corner of my eye, doing my best to appear impassive, but I want to know what happened between her and Jason Trask this morning after I left them.

"So where are we going for lunch?" she finally asks as we make a right out of Wayne Enterprises.

"There's a little diner I like to go to sometimes," I tell her. "It's nothing fancy, but it's owned by a nice family and they serve good food."

She looks at me, her lips curving and I know she suspects something more. "Don't tell me," she says. "You saved their cat from a tree after a tornado hit Gotham."

"Their son and it was a bad fire," I maintain, keeping my gaze locked straight ahead of me.

A melodious laughter precedes her sliding her hand around my arm, leaning in close. The warmth of her breath against my ear as well as her scent makes me feel lightheaded. Her whispered voice doesn't help—at all.