You've Got Mail (Gotham Bruce Wayne)

Awkward

It was once again early morning when Lori awoke. However, of course, it was a completely different scene from 24 hours ago. Her apartment was now situated further away from Holden Enterprises, however she was still in the upmarket part of Gotham. Naturally, Mr and Mrs Holden weren't going to let Lori live anywhere else in the city. Lori rolled over onto her side and smiled to herself among the white, warm duvet. She was finally free and ready to begin the rest of her life. (After she unboxed the rest of her things that is!) No longer would she have to endure the squabbling of her siblings, or be constantly hounded by her mother to do things. This was her space, to what she wanted. 

But that happiness was rather short lived, and her smile instantly evaporated into thin air as she saw the time. Her eyes widened as she read the 8:30 on the alarm clock that she had placed next to her bed the day before. She was meant to be at Holden Enterprises within the next half hour! And on top of that, she was also meant to walk to Holden Enterprises with Sally, whom was also on her way to work this fine, troublesome morning. Everyone in the Holden household knew who Sally was, as Lori invited her round often. Sally had been in the year above Lori in High School, and they had become quick friends, as Sally was the perfect balance of sarcasm and directness to Lori's caringness and sympathetic state of mind.

"Hey! Where the hell are you!?" Sally demanded through the phone. 

"I know! I know! I slept in! I'm just coming!" Lori assured her as she hurried around her apartment, picking up the nearest pair of shorts and putting them on. 

"George is going to be in work today, and on top of that you know I have a really big presentation this afternoon!" Sally complained. 

"I know! I know! I'll be down in five, ok?" Lori assured her before hanging up as she went to go do her hair. She decided to do it in a side plait as doing anything else would take up more time than she had to spare. If I told you everything Lori did to get ready, it would also take up more time than I can spare, so long story short, she managed to make it down to ground level before Sally could lose the rag completely.

"Where were you?!" Sally exclaimed upon seeing Lori rush out of the buildings main door. Lori just looked up at her, panting slightly from the sudden amount of exercise she had just endured. Sally just rolled her eyes and motioned for Lori to start walking. 

"Didn't you get a taxi?" Lori frowned.

"No! I never take taxis." Sally replied like the fact was totally obvious. 

"Why?" Lori asked, as they started to walk along the street together. 

"Too expensive, and I don't trust taxi drivers. They could just as easily pull out a gun and shoot you. And I actually have things to live for right now." Sally pointed out.

"No they couldn't!" Lori replied. "Not all people are criminals."

"Oh please! This is Gotham. Anyway, I got you a coffee since you were taking so long." Sally said, changing the subject, knowing she was right. 

"Oh, thanks." Lori said gratefully as they turned the corner to set eyes upon Holden Enterprises that was situated just down the street. 

"So, how was the party?" Sally asked. 

"Terrible." Lori said as she sipped her coffee. Sally just nodded as if she expected Lori to say something along those lines. "Hey Sally?" Lori spoke up.

"Yeah?"

"Have you ever talked to someone online? Like a message thing?" Lori asked hesitantly.

"Not really." Sally shook her head. "Why?" 

"Nah I was just wondering." Lori sighed, deciding in that moment that it would be best not to say anything about W.B093. For now, at least. 

"Well, gotta go." Sally piped up, throwing her own coffee in the nearest bin. 

"Yeah..." Lori replied, being brought back from her thoughts of the night before. 

"Uhm hello?" Sally questioned, trying to get Lori's attention. 

"Yeah, uh huh. I'll um see you, tomorrow ok?" Lori asked, now fully aware of her surroundings once again. 

"Sure, drinks at 7?" Sally asked as they parted ways.

"Yeah!" Lori called out to her friend, before crossing the road towards Holden Enterprises main entrance. But as she walked up the stairs, a voice called out after her.

"Miss Holden!"

Lori stopped in her tracks and turned around. There, on the sidewalk, was Bruce Wayne, leaning against his car door. It was a lamborghini of some sort, however Lori wasn't very good with cars so she had no idea what it's real name was. And upon seeing Bruce, Lori internally cursed. Why did Bruce Wayne have to be here? He really was the one man she definitely didn't want to see for at least the rest of her life. To be frank, she found him condescending and full of himself, and Lori didn't like people like that.

"Mr Wayne." she acknowledged.

"Nice outfit." he remarked, walking up the steps towards her. 

"Thank you." Lori replied, determined to not have him put her in a bad mood.

"Nice day isn't it?" he said, stopping next to her. 

"Maybe, so what exactly are you doing here?" Lori spoke up, wanting to get rid of any chance of small talk and just get to the point. Bruce looked at her. "I mean, don't you have a company of your own?" she asked.

"Well, you see, that's why I'm here. For our deal." he stated. "Well, my and your parents deal." he corrected himself. 

"Oh, how lovely." Lori rolled her eyes as they started waking up the stairs again. 

"You know, I'm starting to get the feeling you don't particularly like me." Bruce spoke up, as he held the glass door open for her to walk through. 

"Uh......" Lori started, thinking desperately of what to say. 

"Mr Wayne!" an employee called out, as he walked up to both of them. "Mr Holden is expecting you upstairs." he informed Bruce. Bruce just nodded and turned his attention back to Lori. 

"Well, Miss Holden. Till next time." he said, before walking off in the direction of the elevators. "Oh, and by the way, if you were wondering your clothes do attract attention. Not to mention flies." he said,  before disappearing among the small crowd of employees and visitors. Lori desperately wanted to say some great comeback but nothing came to mind as she shook the fly that had landed on her arm straight off again. 'It's a warm day!" she thought hatefully. Then she inhaled deeply before heading right back out the front doors. She couldn't even stand being in the same building as him anymore. And she was completely certain that there would never be a 'next time'.

In the end, Lori decided to spend the rest of her day back at her apartment, unpacking things and looking sentimentally over the city below, before sitting down at her computer to discover that she did indeed, once again, have mail.

Subject: Worst Version of Yourself

Dear Shopgirl24/7,

Do you ever feel as though you have become the absolute worst version of yourself? That a pandora's box of all the secret, hateful parts - your spite, your arrogance, your condescension - has sprung open. Someone provokes you, and instead of just smiling and moving on, you have to say some sort of comeback to always get the upper hand. 'Hello! It's Mr Nasty!' I'm sure you have no idea what I'm talking about...

-W.B093

Lori gasped slightly in both jealousy and understanding, and immediately started typing away on her keyboard.

Subject: Jealous

Dear W.B093,

No, actually I know what you mean and I'm completely jealous! What happens to me when I'm provoked is I get completely tongue-tied and my mind goes completely blank! Then I spend all night tossing and turning trying to figure out what I should have said. Even now, I just can't figure it out. 

-Shopgirl24/7