"I have the results of your scan," Dr. Kapoor said to Bruce, who had finally gone to get his knee checked.
"And how are things looking?" Bruce asked.
"As far as I can tell," Dr. Kapoor said. "You haven't sustained any further degeneration of the joint since your previous scan."
Bruce looked at the doctor.
"Well, that is good news isn't it?" Bruce asked.
"The news could have been worse," Dr. Kapoor said. "If that is what you mean. Everything looks about the same."
"So it is stable," Bruce said.
"Stable is not a word I would use to describe a knee joint in this condition," the doctor said.
"Things have not changed which means they are stable," Bruce said.
"That could be due to lifestyle factors alone which may not be sustainable long term," the doctor warned Bruce.
"I admit, I have been more sedentary," Bruce said. "I haven't worked out in ages. No load bearing activities or resistance training. I don't even have sex."
"Bruce..." Dr. Kapoor said. "I would still advice a knee replacement. That way you could become more physically active again."
Bruce looked the doctor in the eye before standing up.
"I am relieved that my knee is no longer deteriorating," Bruce said. "Have a good afternoon, Dr. Kapoor."
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"Eric," Bruce said to Adriana. "Would be an obvious choice."
It was a little after nine in the evening and Arsenio was asleep. Bruce and Adriana were in the den, going over their plan. Adriana's surgery had been over a week ago and she was feeling recuperated.
"Eric..." Adriana said. "I was hoping you wouldn't bring him up."
"He's the most obvious choice," Bruce said. "He's interested in you and has already expressed it."
"This League," Adriana said about the Catwoman's team, Bruce's unknown enemies. "I wish we knew who they were so I could just go and kick their asses. Instead of all these games and schemes to get them off our backs."
"If it were that easy, I would have done it already," Bruce told Adriana. "You have to publicly distance yourself from me. Not only distance yourself but alienate yourself. Estrange yourself. Do things that would be perceived as wrongful against me. I was also thinking you could begin to spend money. Take the black card with my name on it. Go shopping, spend as much as you can. "
Adriana sighed. "Okay," she said. "Then confirming to the world that I was just a gold digger all along?"
"The cherry on top," Bruce said to her. "One issue though. With Eric, I already spoke to him about how much I love you so he may not be willing to date you at first. If he contacts me about it, I will give him my blessing."
Adriana was quiet. He had told his friend how much he loved her.
Adriana nodded. "Sounds like...we have a plan."
"You could call him tonight," Bruce said. "Sooner the better."
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"Bruce suggested I call him tonight," Adriana said to Jack.
He was sitting at his kitchen island, and she was standing across from him with a box of open chocolates between them.
