The Way We Fall | Bruce Wayne

CHAPTER 2 - All's Fair

Sara was welcomed by a bright pink sticky note on her desk the next morning.

TOMORROW, FRIDAY, 11am. WAYNE ENTERPRISES.

Sara ripped the note and tossed it in a waste basket. It didn't make a difference. She'd have to attend the meeting regardless, or there'd be a new opening available for vice president of Gotham Tech Co.

She spent some time reviewing reports and signing off on documents. A new email appeared. From Mr. Riley.
Tomorrow at 11am.

The satisfaction she received by deleting the email didn't meet her expectations.

Normally, Sara was perfectly polite and professional. Excellent at her job. She was one of the best executives that the company ever had, according to Mr. Riley. In fact, she'd previously received many job offers from various other companies. Even including Wayne Enterprises at one point. Maybe that's why Mr. Riley put up with her for so long.

Sara pressed the intercom on her phone. "Cathy?"

The other woman answered promptly. "Yes?"

"Please, could you get me a coffee?"

"Sure."

She considered something stronger, but it was too early in the morning.

Cathy returned with a coffee: black, no sugar. "Your usual." She set the cup on the desk.

"Thanks." Sara took the cup and sipped it like it wasn't boiling hot.

Cathy waited as she finished the sip. "Are you going to that meeting tomorrow?"

"How do you know about it?" She set the cup back down.

"I know everything that comes in and out of this office." Cathy crossed her arms. "Including the talk of acquisition."

"Don't get me started on that." Sara turned to check her emails.

Cathy didn't turn to leave. "You never answered my question."

"You know I have to go." Sara took another sip of hot coffee, allowing the burning sensation to suppress her frustration.

"So, do you think-"

"I don't know yet." Her voice was sharp. Sara pulled files out of her desk. "We'll find out tomorrow."

Cathy left her to continue working. The remainder of the day went by fast. Before she knew it, the outside world was already growing dark. Sara looked down at her watch and noted the time.

She had an appointment in thirty minutes.

Sara signed out of her computer and gathered her things before leaving the office. Stepping outside into the chilly air, she headed toward her apartment.

Though she lived only a few blocks away, Gotham wasn't the best place to walk at night time.

But she didn't fear the dark.

———

The headquarters of Wayne Enterprises was nothing short of impressive.

Sara had entered the building previously for minor business deals. But this time she felt like she was stepping into her own prison.

A receptionist at the front desk looked up promptly as she entered the lobby. "Hi, may I help you?"

Sara introduced herself. "I have a meeting with Mr. Fox regarding a business proposition with Gotham Tech."

The receptionist typed into her computer and searched for a few moments. "Yes, I see a meeting scheduled for 11 in conference room C." She gestured to the elevators down a short hall. "It'll be on the fifteenth floor, down the hallway on your right."

"Thank you." Sara proceeded to the elevators, her heels clacking against the shiny, pristine floor.

As the elevator ascended, she felt her stomach flutter more than usual. It wasn't common for her to be nervous for meetings. Maybe annoyed at best. Then again, she typically didn't go to meetings alone. Mr. Riley didn't want anyone else involved in the initial meeting, in fear that they would initiate rumors. Sara figured Cathy was already in charge of that.

A single ding! signaled the elevator's arrival to the fifteenth floor. Sara followed the receptionist's instructions and continued down the hallway to the right until she came to conference room C.

The door was already slightly ajar. She knocked briefly before entering. There was a man standing on the opposite side of the table, arms crossed as he stared out of a head-to-floor window.

As she entered, he began to turn. "Ms. Carter." He nodded his head in greeting.

Sara stopped where she stood. "Bruce Wayne."

He was nothing short of striking in his typical expensive suit. Hair slicked back as usual. Exactly as she'd seen dozens of times at banquets and on the news.

"I believe I'm supposed to be meeting with Mr. Fox." She set her purse on the far end of the expansive table. Staying as distant as possible.

"Another matter came up. He told me to meet with you about the acquisition."

Sara grew stiff. "I hadn't expected to discuss this with the owner."

He pulled back a chair on his end of the table. "Majority shareholder, actually."

"Same thing." She joined him in sitting at the table, her back rigid as she looked at him from across it.

He folded his hands on the table and leaned forward slightly. "So, I've been told that your board of directors is interested in our offer."

"Your offer?" Sara blinked. She should've known that it wasn't the Board's original idea. "I was under the assumption that we were submitting a proposal to you. Is this not the case?"

"Wayne Enterprises had offered to acquire shares in your company."

Sara felt heat rise within the pit of her stomach. "With intentions of buying out the competition?"

Bruce sat a bit straighter. His tone revealing a hint of frustration. "With the intentions of preventing Gotham Tech's inevitable bankruptcy."

"Mr. Wayne." Tension lingered in the air, threatening to light a fuse. "I understand all's fair in love and business. However, I find that attempting to eliminate competition by running them into the ground and then buying them out to be a poor practice."

He straightened his tie. "We will explore both of our options - friendly or hostile takeover." With that, he stood from his chair. He looked down at her with a piercing glare. "Negotiation may not be necessary. I'll have your president contacted with our final decision."

Fuming, Sara stood and clutched her purse. She nodded an acknowledgment before heading out the door. "Good day, Mr. Wayne."