Batman: Hero of Gotham

37- New World Order

Bruce closed the secret passageway and heard a knock on his office door. "Mr. Wayne...Bruce! Open up." It was Regina. Bruce opened the doors for her. "I thought maybe you'd left." She walked in.

"Yeah right." Bruce mumbled.

"Well, the board has voted." Regina sighed. 

"Have they sent the chairwoman to wield the axe?" Bruce asked.

"You're being asked to step down from your position as CEO. Effective immediately. At least until this whole mess gets cleaned up. We were out of options, I'm afraid."

"I get it. My name isn't great for business lately."

"I'm sorry, Bruce."

"It's not your fault."

"I asked to slow all this down, but...the press release is going out as we speak. There will be a public event in the morning where you will formally announce your resignation. I'm sorry. I tried to fight for you. The Board believes this is the only logical course of action. I see where they're coming from."

"I really appreciate you trying, Regina. Thanks."

"Don't mention it. Our stock is tanking. The Board is losing confidence. Wayne Enterprises needs a new face. They already had a new candidate in mind. I thought it was...I was outvoted. Remember, he'd only be interim CEO, just until this mess gets cleared up."

"And who would that be?" Bruce asked, desperate. Then, the doors to Bruce's former office opened. Bruce turned around. Bruce's face froze as he saw who stood there. Anger rose from inside Bruce as he saw his enemy just a few feet away. Before Bruce could say anything, Regina spoke.

"Oswald Cobblepot." Oz smirked as Regina spoke his name. 

"Bruce, old boy. Good to see you again!" Oz reached his arms out for a hug. Bruce refused by crossing his arms. "What a chilly greeting." Oz touched Bruce's arm. The jackass was mocking him, taunting him. If only Bruce could blurt out who Oz really was.

"As you know, Oswald's parents were...well, victims of your father's actions. This company was built on the land he stole from the Cobblepot family." Regina talked as Oswald kept staring at Bruce with a smile that made Bruce want to punch him in the face.

"The board thought having me step in would be a good PR move." Oz said, innocently. 

"What better way to show Gotham that Wayne Enterprises is committed to righting the wrongs of the past?" Regina grinned. 

"Happy to help any way I can." Oz added. "People aren't much behind the Wayne name now. And considering that your parents stole from mine."

"I hear you've been keeping yourself pretty busy, Oswald. You sure you can handle this?" Bruce finally spoke. "Wasn't there a revolution you had to handle?"

"I'm a brilliant multitasker." Oz replied, boldly.

"The Board has complete confidence in Mr. Cobblepot. As his resume goes into great detail...his endeavors in England have been quite successful. Besides, the company basically runs itself by this point. The CEO is mostly a figurehead. Don't make this harder than it has to be." Regina said.

"Well, then I guess congratulations are in order. It's nice to know you'll be the one trapped in this tiny office all day." Bruce said to Oz.

"Oh, I'm sure it's bigger than it looks." Oz ogled.

"I'm afraid we need you to leave the building immediately. We'll have your personal effects sent to you." Regina said. Oz picked up a trophy from the desk. 

"'Congratulations, Bruce. I couldn't be prouder of you...Alfred.' Oh, how sweet. Graduation present? Surely we could let him take this along." Oz held out the trophy to give to Bruce. Right before Bruce could grab it, Oz dropped it and let it shatter into a million pieces. "Ah, Bruce. Clumsy, clumsy. No wonder you're not being trusted with nice things anymore." Fury raged inside Bruce.

"I'll call someone in to clean that up." Regina said, taking out her phone. "It'll only take a minute."

"Bruce and I can handle it, no trouble." Oz reassured Regina. "Right Bruce?"

"Pick it up. Now." Bruce said through gritted teeth.

"It's alright. Bruce has been through enough today, hasn't he?" Oz picked up the remaining pieces. "Looks broken. Not a good sign, is it."

"Bruce, time to go." Regina said, holding his hand over the award.

"Yes, Bruce. Time to go. I have a lot of redecorating to do." Oz said goodbye. "Your taste is a little too discreet for me. I think that maybe I'll add a fishtank. A large one. Something exotic."

"I know you, Oswald. I know what you really are." Bruce distinctively said.

"I'm no different from you, mate. Just a hard-working citizen, looking out for Gotham." 

"I doubt that."

"This way, Bruce." Regina ecorted Bruce out. Oz waved goodbye. Bruce gave him the finger when Regina wasn't looking.