Samantha was at the club that she knew he used to perform in and her eyes had quickly tracked him out among the crowd of people, those striking features were hard to mistake anywhere.

There was no doubt that the man sitting alone on a corner table was none other than the Gray Son, or rather Richard Grayson. Though he no longer performed in that club nor did he operate as a vigilante that often as he did before. 

It had been a month since he had to give up his secret identity due to the fact that people had begun to think of him as a threat.

Deep down she felt as if he was a kindred soul, a person ending up in a terrible situation without meaning to get caught up in it. The only difference was the way he had chosen to deal with that situation.

She could never bring herself to be that selfless. Or in other words, she could never take such a huge risk of revealing her real identity to people who could indefinitely use it against her.

She made her way towards that table and up close, she could see he had the sort of charm that could very easily captivate anyone. Back when she had ordered the Talons to capture him, she hadn't gotten the chance to talk to him or even see him up close.

But right then was her chance and she intended to play her shot then and there.

He was looking away, probably lost in thought, judging by the far off look in his eyes such that he didn't even notice her though she was close, her hands resting on the chair across from him.

A smile played upon her lips as she extended her hand out towards the man in front of her, "good day, Mister Grayson."

He paused at the familiarity in her tone and turned to look at her though he couldn't recognize her. "I'm sorry, have we met before?"

She shook her head, an eyebrow raised at the fact that he hadn't attempted to take the extended hand. At that gesture, an apologetic look flickered in his icy blue eyes and he reached forward, shaking her hand a little before immediately letting go.

"Samantha Vanaver," she introduced herself.

"Pleasure, though I get the feeling that you know me already..."

"Oh, yes I do," a light laugh escaped her as her bluish grey eyes focused on him, "Richard Grayson. It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person."

He had smiled back politely but it was clear from his eyes that he was being cautious. It was at that moment Samantha began to realize there were further similarities in between herself and the man she should be extremely cautious of.

They both treaded carefully as if they were walking on thin ice. And they both had a clear sense of whatever peril lay ahead, instinctively sharp to guess it beforehand.

"Would you mind if I ask why exactly did you want to meet me?"

At last the question had been asked and she nodded her head, knowing full well what to answer. "Ah that... I've heard a lot about you from a friend. In fact, you were recommended to me for a certain issue I've been facing. I was hoping you could help."

He looked a bit surprised, "what kind of help?"

"Perhaps it would be better if we talk about it elsewhere?" She had widened her eyes a bit, waiting for him to take the hint.

"Oh... Right."

Taking that as a yes, she slipped a small card into his hand, "I'd love it if you join me for dinner tomorrow."

He turned the card to see it belonged to a high end restaurant, "Miss Vanaver, I don't think I should..."

"Please, Mister Grayson? I'll take very little of your time but I really really need you to help me out."

He paused as if to think then asked, "what friend of yours had told you to meet me?"

There was a very slight flicker in her irises and her tone turned somber as she replied, "Timothy Drake."

Richard froze upon the name. He felt as if something was not right about the entire ordeal.

Tim wasn't one to have friends in his circle and certainly not if they were people like Samantha. Besides, it had been half an year since the boy's death and no one except Richard's own friends and Barbara knew that he had been close to Tim.

The woman in front of him exuded a level of confidentiality as if that fact was made known to her by Tim himself, no wonder if it seemed absurd at first.

Richard didn't know whether he was walking right into a trap or whether it was really something Tim would have wanted him to do. But there was no other way to find out either and he had been a bit intrigued about what the woman could want him to help her out with.

"Mister Grayson, I promise I won't take much of your time. Just give me one chance to explain properly and if after that you decide not to help me out, I'll not force you," she spoke up, shaking him out of his thoughts, "please don't refuse."

He took in a deep breath then nodded, pocketing the card at last, "alright."

A smile spread on her features, "thank you. I hope to see you around 8. Is that fine with you?"

He shrugged nonchalantly but internally he was thinking what could be the reason to her eagerness to get him to help her, "yeah. It's fine."

"Great. I'll see you tomorrow then. Thanks once again," and with one last smile the woman had walked away, leaving him in a heap of questions regarding her.

Samantha had taken the first step towards the changed approach of tackling Richard. If he couldn't be taken in by force, the only other option was to manipulate him into picking her side.

And the fastest way of doing that was tweaking a nerve that would affect him emotionally. The only thing that could affect him to that extent of making him change his decisions was Timothy Drake.

Even if she might not have known Tim that well as she had just pretended to, still the boy could prove to be a key towards a locked door she wanted to turn open.

***