Charlies coworkers were not happy. She was only 10 minutes but they insisted like she had been missing for a week. Sitting down she began work. This daly routine really got her down. Get up, drink coffee, catch bus, work, catch bus home. It's a daily grind. Well at least as of two days ago she could add, stalk Wayne enterprises very own Co-CEO, to that list.
Vicki vale suddenly came into Charlies line of sight. She was carrying a clipboard and her voice was loud as she dashed to her office. She'd never really liked her. It was nothing personal just she was loud and so into peoples business. Well, she was a reporter, maybe that's why Charlie didn't like most reporters, some just come off as pushy.
"Did you finish the line up?" A voice broke her gaze and she jumped. Looking up on of her higher ups were looking at her over the edge of her cubicle.
"Oh no I haven't but I just got the email and was about to" he gave her a look, like a disappointed parent.
"Get it done" he demanded them left to his office. Huffing Charlie tried to focus.
Her photo line up came out way better then she expected. Although it was just to show off other people photos so they could choose. She still felt proud. Grabbing her things she began to make her way out. Charlie had not eaten lunch all day and it was one thing after another.
"Charlie! Hey! I need you to stay for a moment." One of her coworkers called out, turning around she faced him," hey I can't stay, the wife is upset it's date night. They just need you for head count at the afternoon meeting.Thanks!" He left out the door she was holding open for herself. Stomping her foot she made her way and attended the meeting. Vicki was there and they had snacks but Charlie was so done with the day she stayed quiet. Once everything was said and done she practically ran out the building and down the street.
Coming up to the Wayne building she held her breath, she could really use some good news, she completely forgot about her umbrella boy until someone called out her name.
"Hey, Charlie!" Her ears perked up and she almost ran into his arms.
"Tim!" She turned around and walked up to him," hi how are you."
"I'm good, want to stand with me while I wait for my ride?"
"Don't tell me you car got stolen too." She laughed and prayed it would remain a joke, that his car really didn't get stolen.
"No I'm just working with Bruce on some up coming projects. So I've been staying at his. Did they ever find your car? I heard they got the guy."
She was surprised at his knowledge, the car theft wasn't huge news. Still, his voice had a sound to it that made all the events of today forgotten.
"Oh come on detective, if I had my car why would I be walking home?"
"What don't want to stop by and say hello?" They both laughed and Charlie remembered the surprising information she found.
"Oh! Remember yesterday when I asked you if you worked here? I totally didn't recognize you. I'm sorry!" He looked surprised and smiled like a boy.
"Really its-" a limousine pulled up and Tim's attention was divided as the window rolled down. He smiled and looked back at her ,"Would you like a ride? I know you said no the other day but maybe now that you know I'm a billionaires son that might help you to trust me." He joked as a butler came out of the car.
She almost fainted, no way.
"Alfred!" She laughed out in glee, it was the limousine driver from this morning. Completely forgetting Tim's question, she took to Alfred. Tim jumped at her excitement and eyed his friend.
"You know each other." He almost whispered.
"Miss, it is good to see you, I am delighted to see you are friends with Master Drake." Her eyes shot to Tim and this days unpredictable events knocked the wind out of her.
"Well this is crazy. Who would have thought, Tim, he gave me a ride to work this morning because I missed my bus." Alfred opened the door, Tim and Charlie got in.
Tim gave her a funny look and she felt surprisingly comfortable. Relaxing in the car she never thought she'd see again. The butler got in and began to drive.
"Miss Laleszas was very nice when she accompanied me to the Precent this morning. A delightful young women." She blushed as his praise and looked at Tim.
"Laleszas? Is that Greek?" Tim asked and she got excited at a question she usually answered when someone asked what her last name meant.
"Yes it is, it's my mothers surname." Tim's eyes sparked with something she couldn't recognize.
"That's really cool, so how was your day?"
"I hate to intrude in your conversation but I will need to know where I'm going Miss Laleszas" The driver looked in the back threw the mirror and Charlie quickly told him.
"I live by the yacht basin, by Roberts Kane Memorial Bridge"
"That's on the other side of Gotham. I thought you lived by Grant park, you said you weren't far from home when we were at Wayne Tower." Tim said startled.
"I know, I didn't want you to worry!", she reasoned holding out her arms defensively.," but if helps I WAS close to the bus stop that took me home!" His arm propped his head on the door.
"So I'm friends with a liar"
"Hey!" She smacked his arm light and and they laughed. A small part felt that bodyguards might pop out of the trunk at her playfullyness but she was relieved when none did. She felt a little happy at the fact that that he said 'friends'. At least she knew she wasn't using him for a ride.
"My day was long", she began to answer his previous question."None of the cars they found were mine and my boss was up my ass all day." She tired not to sound completely querulous. She didn't want to scare him away.," How was your day?"
"Eh, lots of sitting and looking, reviewing a lot." He didn't seem to into talking about himself, his words were empty and for the first time this evening she realized how tired he looked. His eyes were on the verge of blood shot with dark circles and puffy pouches underneath. His eyelids squinted at light. His movements were sleepy. He's leaning a lot. He mumbles his words. Also after giving him a once over he seemed,unkempt. Not dirty but definitely a ruffled undershirt and a mismatched tie.
Charlie looked down at her stuff as it got quite.
"Oh",she tugged his umbrella out of her stuff," you can have this back now."
"Do you have another?" He inquired.
"No" she replied and he smiled.
"Then keep it, I have more."
"Are you sure? It says Wayne Enterprise on it."
"So do the other 100 we hand out to our employees. It's fine. Don't worry about it." He said quickly.
His smile, he was beautiful. Most people call the a man handsome and he was, but Tim had more a gentle face, it was pretty. Charlie felt a pull to be with him, around him. She wanted to know him.
"Thank you" in that moment they just looked at each other.
"So Uhm", she did not like the awkward way they were just staring at each other. He realized and helped to change the subject.
"So what are you going to do if they don't find you car soon?" Ouch not her favorite subject but better then silence.
"I really don't know, I can't afford a new one right now. I might just have to keep walking to work. But I've also thought about moving more middle Gotham, you know? Like somewhere near or before Grant park." He smiled and the ride continued with smalltalk.
A few days later, that was the routine. After work she would walk in front of Wayne Enterprises. Waiting there would be Tim and Alfred, some days it would just be Tim and he will give her a ride home in his car. They would share cordial conversation and he would drop her off home with a smile. That smile, it was something of a drug.
