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Breathe Slow

Chapter. 26

Bruce never came back to the penthouse last night. She waited up until one in the morning, well pretty much until she passed out from exhaustion and anxiety. She got up with bags under her hazel eyes and her hair messier than usual. She quickly showered, put on a salmon pink knee-length dress, dabbed on some Calvin Klein, and hailed a cab to work. As soon as she arrived, she grabbed her mug and poured some house blend down her scorching coffee, and pretended to be occupied. She organized her folders, double-checked her schedule, and even wiped her computer monitor. She still couldn't stop thinking about where Bruce had been all night. Was he with Rachel? Did he get mugged and possibly murdered? Did he fall asleep in his car?

She stopped questioning and decided to dial Kayla's number. What are best friends for, right? Even though Kayla constantly demanded to know about Vic's sex life, she needed to find solace in someone. After ringing for a few seconds, Kayla picked up.

"Hi stranger." she answered.

"Hey. I'm sorry I haven't called. I was tired."

"R-ight." Kayla said sardonically. "What's wrong. Something's wrong."

"Bruce never came home last night." she said quietly.

"Okay. Maybe he's cheating on you with some bimbo." She paused. "Or, he got really drunk and fell asleep at a hotel or something. Doesn't he own the one on theWest End Avenue?"

"Yes. No. Maybe. He went over to his friend's place for dinner."

"Without you? Well, he was probably with his college friends or something. Guys do that sometimes. They get together, eat junk, watch porn and drink till pass out."

"Well, he was with Rachel." She drank some more coffee and winced as its bitterness dominated her mouth.

"Rachel? Who's Rachel?"

"His friend. And no, they're just friends."

"Right. They're just friends. Just like how you and Bruce were just colleagues."

"Kayla, it's different. Clearly."

"Is she pretty?"

"Yeah. And she has long legs, perfectly skinny, and smart. I mean, smart as in 'I-went-to-Harvard' smart." Kayla chuckled and cleared her throat.

"Have they dated? Or have feelings for each other?"

"I have no clue. He never told me anything about Rachel before, so I don't know."

"Vic, I'm sure everything's fine. He probably stayed somewhere else for the night. How is he anyway?"

"Who?" Vic said even though she knew who Kayla was dying to hear about.

"Bruce! Have you guys had any kinky office sex? Or wet pool sex like I recommended?"

"Um, he's fine. And no. We just started dating."

"Interesting...But you already slept with him. You whore."

"No I didn't." she lied and tried to conceal her emerging smile.

"Yes you did. I know you, Victoria. You sound different."

"I have a sore throat." she cleared her throat again and got up to refill her mug.

"From all that screaming I bet." Kayla chuckled and paused. "So you plan on getting busy with him while working there, missy?" she teased.

"Maybe. But that's none of your business-"

"Hey! You're harsh! I tell you literally EVERYTHING."

"Yes, but some of your stories are very gratuitous and-" as she turned her head to the left, she saw Bruce looking sharp with his hair slicked back as usual and wearing his suit. She hung up immediately and feigned a smile.

"Morning."

"Morning. Anything on the agenda for today? I know there's something with , but other than that, am I booked?" he approached her with a signature smirk on his face she wanted to rub off. She kept her posture and took out the schedule.

"Mr. Rodgers would like you see you briefly any time of the day. That's all."

"Great. Thanks." He nodded and made his way to his office without looking back. Honestly, he was too exhausted from last night.

Bruce closed the door shut behind him and inhaled the smell of crisp ivory carpet and recycled coffee beans. He undid the top button and loosened his tie. After talking for hours with Rachel (which was nice and friendly) and having a few glasses of pinot noir, he kissed her goodbye on the cheek and left for his patrol duty. Thankfully, the city was more peaceful than usual and Batman didn't run into too much trouble. Just a few teenage smokers and lousy prostitutes in the narrows. He stretched out his arms and tried to think of a legitimate and plausible excuse for his absence last night. The best one he came up with was that he fell asleep on Rachel's couch. Then, he thought that might complicate things if Victoria decides to ask her whether her boyfriend really fell asleep on her couch. And he knew that girls do talk. As he was still contemplating, there was a knock on the door. As he said come in, Victoria walked in with a cup full of lukewarm coffee.

"I thought you needed some coffee." As she handed him the cup, he pulled her in close and hugged her lightly. She didn't move for a minute and eventually pulled away.

"I missed you. I'm sorry I didn't come home last night." He ran his fingers through her sleek hair and took a small sip of coffee.

"I bet you have a long night. Where were you?"

"Uh...I had dinner. As you know." he paused. "And then I went spelunking."

"Spelunking. Why would you go cave climbing in the middle of the night?"

"Uh...I needed some exercise. You know, getting my adrenaline pumping."

"Oh-kay, workout junkie. Definitely a weird excuse-"

"It's not. I got so tired after that, so I fell asleep at the cave by the manor." he shrugged and kept his grin on his face.

"Right. Well, I hope you are happy that you got your adrenaline pumped, Mr. Wayne-" Before she could finish, his rough lips landed on hers and his hand traveled down to her butt.

"I did fall asleep in the cave." Both of them laughed, and she pulled away once again.

"Fine. You fell asleep in the cave. Or whatever. Now I have to get back to work-"

"No, you don't. How about a half an hour break?" Then he slammed the door shut with an inevitable grin.

AN: Here ya go! Another update :) I finish school in a month and I can't wait to go to college! I'm heading off to Yale in the fall and I hope I get to update as much as possible before school begins.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW AND SUBSCRIBE!

Love and peace,

Jaime