Irene and Clark hadn't been at the cherry for very long but it was clear to her that these kinds of events were not for them. But they could leave, they still had to find Lex.

"Bruce Wayne was speaking to someone. He has some kind of earpiece." Clark whispered as they made their way through all the people in search of Lex Luthor, but Bruce Wayne had piqued both of their curiosities.

"What were they talking about?" Irene asked as they came to a stop along the wall.

"He wants to steal something."

The idea of Bruce Wayne stealing something was laughable. Why would he need to steal something when he had more than enough money to buy whatever he pleased. "Steal? Bruce Wayne wants to steal?"

"I believe it's information. Like a hard drive." Clark replied, which made a little more sense. Lex Luthor could be considered Bruce's competition, both of their companies focusing on advanced tech, maybe he wanted to steal tech plans or numbers.

"There he is." Irene whispered as she elbowed Clark to get his attention. Bruce Wayne had entered the main hall and was picking up a glass of champagne from one of the server's trays.

There was an easy smile on his lips as if he hadn't just snuck off to steal from Lex.

"Mr. Wayne. Mr. Wayne." Clark said as he stopped Bruce Wayne as he walked by them. He and Bruce shook hands, and Irene had to take a mental not not to tell Cat that they had met Bruce Wayne. He was Cat's celebrity crush, and having him this close Irene had to admit that she understood why. "Clark Kent, Daily Planet."

"Oh, my foundation has already issued a statement in support of the... books." The billionaire replied, and Irene took a moment to raise her camera and take a picture of the two of them. The action caught Bruce's attention as he finally noticed her. He made no attempt to hide the way his eyes looked over her. "Hey."

"Mr. Wayne?" Clark said trying to regain his attention.

"Wow. Pretty girl. Bad habit. Don't quote me, alright?" Bruce Wayne told Clark dismissively before turning his attention to Irene. She could have almost rolled her eyes at him, clearly everything they said about him was true. He had no shame when it came to women. "What's your name?"

"Irene Miranda. Also Daily Planet." Irene replied taking Bruce's extended hand.

"What's your position on the bat vigilante in Gotham?" Clark questioned and although he tries to hide it Irene could see that he was slightly annoyed.

"Daily Planet." Bruce said thoughtfully, his arrogance was irritating but it was expected from men like him that had everything in the palm of their hand. "Wait, do I own this one? Or was it the other guy?"

"Civil liberties has been trampled on in your city. Good people living in fear."

There was a slight shift in Bruce Wayne's mood, and he finally looked at Clark like he was worth his time. "Don't believe everything you hear, son."

"I've seen it, Mr. Wayne. He thinks he's above the law."

"The Daily Planet criticizing those who think they're above the laws. A little hypocritical, wouldn't you say? Considering every time your hero saves a cat out of a tree, you write a puff piece editorial, about an alien who, if he wanted to, could burn the whole place down." Bruce replied and his words shocked her. There was genuine hate in his voice in the way her spoke about Superman, but it was so much more than that. It was almost like he took what Clark had said about Batman personally. "There wouldn't be a damn thing we can do to stop him."

"Most of the world doesn't share your opinion, Mr. Wayne." Clark replied as he too became irritated at Bruce's words.

"Maybe it's the Gotham City in me, we just have a bad history with freaks dressed like clowns."

"Yes what is it about Gotham that has grown men dressing up like clowns and bats anyway?" Irene added, at first she had planned to remain quiet throughout the exchange, but that proves itself to be impossible now. She couldn't just stand there as Bruce insulted everything that Clark did. It annoyed her that there were people who didn't understand that what Clark did was selfless. "Do you dress up in free time Mr. Wayne?"

Initially she wasn't sure why she had set it, but once she did it was like her mind had started putting the pieces together without her realizing. The way Bruce Wayne reacted when Clark questioned Batman's intentions. The mysterious person he was talking to and whatever information he was trying to steal. How it only made sense that whoever The Batman was had to be rich, because how else could they afford the cars, planes and all the advanced tech that he was was known for.

Bruce Wayne was The Batman, or at least associated with him. But then that only brought on so many more questions.

Like what did Batman want from Lex Luthor?

"Irene Miranda. You're the reporter that writes about Superman right?" Bruce said and Irene realized then that he had known who she was. And that he was looked to annoy her by reducing her to just the reporter who writes about the hero that we was speaking so horribly about moment before.

Bruce got what he wanted from his comment. Irene was angry now, but she wasn't about to give him the satisfaction of knowing that. "Among other things."

"Irene. Looking truly angelic as always." A familiar voice greeted, and she turned to see Lex Luthor approaching joining them.

It was ironic how she had come here for Lex and try to learn more about what he was planning with the Kryptonite, but now it was Bruce Wayne who had her attention.

"Hello, Lex." Irene greeted as he took her hand placing a kiss on her knuckles. She watched as his eyes lingered on the diamond necklace around her neck. She had considered returning, but in the end her and Clark decided it was best for her to wear it tonight. Turning down his gesture could have offended him, and keeping Lex close was probably best.

"Bruce Wayne meets Clark Kent." Lex declared as he turned his attention to the two men. "I love it! I love bringing people together! How are we?"

"Lex." Bruce greeted as he shook hands with Lex.

"Hi, hello. Lex. It is a pleasure..." Lex said as he now turned his attention to Clark shaking his hand. "Wow, that is a good grip. You should not pick a fight with this person."

Clark smiled trying to be polite, but Irene knew that he was still upset about his conversation with Bruce.

Lex seemed incredibly pleased with himself as he looked between Clark and Bruce. "So, after all these years, we've finally got you over to Metropolis."

"Well, I thought I'd come drink you dry." Bruce joked  but considering what Irene suspected now everything about Bruce felt insincere and calculated.

"Well, you're welcome. You should hop the hub more often though, I love to show you my labs." Lex continued thoughtfully, unaware that Bruce was here to take something from him. "Maybe we could, be partner on something. My R&D is up to all sorts of no good."

Before Bruce could reply Lex's assistant, Mercy Graves, approached them with an apologetic smile.

"Mr. Luthor. The governor." She told him softly, and although Lex initially seemed a little annoyed he nodded.

"Yes. Excuse me." Lex said before disappearing into the crowd.

When Irene and Clark turned back to where Bruce was standing a few seconds ago they were surprised to find that he was gone.

"Come on." Clark whispered as he took her hand leading the way as they followed after Bruce Wayne. "Whatever it is you're thinking, I think you're right."

Irene smiled in disbelief that he knew her so well. "You mean about Bruce Wayne being you know who?"

Clark nodded as they made their way down a flight of stairs not far from Bruce but still keeping a safe distance in case he decided to turn around.

As they began to walk past the kitchens Clark came to a sudden stop. He turned his attention to a T.V in the far end of the kitchen, the cooks and the rest of the kitchen staff had also stopped what they were going.

A Telemundo report was on, the broadcast was in Spanish as they reported a factory fire in Juarez, Mexico. From the images on the screen the fire was out of control as they described that there were people inside of the building.

Clark looked down at her and he didn't have to say a word. Superman was needed and he had to leave.

"Go." Irene urged noticing his hesitation. "I'll be fine go."

Clark slowly began to loosen his tie as he rushed back up the steps of the mansion. Once he was out of sight Irene continued down the corridor that Bruce Wayne had taken earlier.

As she walked down another set of stairs, a woman was quickly making her way up. Although she was clearly in a rush, the way she moved was graceful. She has to be the most beautiful woman Irene had ever seen. She was almost too beautiful.

"Wait!" She heard Bruce Wayne yell down the corridor. Irene couldn't see him yet, but it wasn't difficult to assume that he was after the woman who had just walked by. Hiding around the corner Irene hid just time, hearing footsteps up the stairs.

Stepping back into the hallway Irene also rushed up the stairs after the two of them. She wasn't sure why he was after her, maybe she was someone who he was interested in. She certainly seemed like his type.

Once she was in the main hall again, Irene quickly made her way through the crowd of people following after Bruce Wayne. She couldn't deny that now she was invested and incredibly curious.

But when she finally made it out both Bruce and the woman he was after were gone.

There was no one outside the mansion except for the valet workers. It was still too early in the night for anyone to even consider going home. And considering the surprising turn that the night has taken, all she wanted now was to go home to Clark.

"Where is your reporter friend?" A familiar voice questioned and Irene couldn't help but jump a little bit.

She turned around meeting Bruce Wayne's dark eyes. Not only did she not expect him to be so close, but she hadn't heard him coming. Irene didn't like how easily he was able to sneak up on her.

"Family emergency." Irene replied, the lie coming to her so easily.

"Do you need a ride? I could take you to your place." He replied a smug expression on his face, the same that he had given her inside. "Or mine."

Irene crossed her arms not at all amused. "Does that usually work?"

"Normally." Bruce said confidently, and Irene could only imagine that it always worked. What woman didn't want to spend a night with Bruce Wayne? He was handsome and rich and she was sure that no one had ever turned him down.

But in the few interactions Irene had with him, she could imagine herself ever being interested. Even if she didn't have Clark, the arrogance that came from Bruce comical.

"Yes, I'm sure all that money is a big motivator."

"I wouldn't say that the money is the big motivator." He replied and this time Irene couldn't stop herself from rolling her eyes. "What do you say? You shouldn't be the one taking off that dress."

"Why are you assuming I'm the one that's going to be taking it off?"

"What were you doing downstairs?" He questioned catching her off guard for a moment. She hadn't expected him to be to coward with his question, not to mention that she hadn't realized that he had seen her.

Now his proposition made sense. Maybe he thought if he took her to bed that she would talk. He probably was just dismissing her as a nosy reporter that he could pay off.

"I could ask you the same question." She quickly countered just as the valet parked Bruce's fancy car in front of them.

He said nothing as he walked away from her. But just before he got inside the car her met her eyes one last time. Bruce's face was serious as he finally dropped the act. Irene couldn't help but be amazed as she realized that everything the work knew about Bruce Wayne was a lie.

The scandalous playboy that the tabloids loved to discuss was all just a persona that he had created. Because no one would ever think that arrogant and selfish Bruce Wayne spent his nights jumping the rooftops of Gotham as a masked vigilante.

But he had only allowed her to see the persona slip because he knew. Bruce knew that she had figured it out.

A/N: We've finally met Bruce! I've been so excited for this moment and to keep exploring Bruce and Diana. I loved reading your comments last chapter and how excited you all were for Bruce and there will be more of him.