"I think Romero Donnelley is abusive towards Roxanne," Tim told Bruce the day he was supposed to report his progress on the case, "I have not met the man more than once because she makes it a point to keep me away from him. But they will both be attending the Fall Gala so we can make use of that event to find out more."

He nodded, going through the binder Tim had compiled on the Donnelley siblings, including each and every news article on them as well as their public appearances. His eyes too stopped at the case of Adrian Castellan, a young man rumored to be killed by Romero.

"I have no more information on Adrian yet," Tim remarked, noting his attention on the case, "I will have to go to Ireland to scoop out more and I don't think that will be feasible."

"Don't worry, I will send someone and inform you if we get anything," Bruce closed the file but then remarked after a pause, "I see you have adapted very well to your new role."

He shook his head, "what can I say, I am very adaptable."

"How is Miss Donnelley's behavior toward you?"

He paused to think, "she's getting better. At first, we were very formal with each other but I think she is starting to open up more."

"Good. She is the only person who knows exactly what her brother is like, you can find out a lot through her if you are observant."

"I know," he mumbled but a shadow crossed over his eyes, "but I don't think I would like to find out more."

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing," he shook his head, placing the binder back on the desk, "I think... I am worried for her."

Bruce knew Tim was a very kind person at heart and even in the current situation, he was worried for Roxanne because he had somewhat of an idea of what she could be going through.

"You can't help her until or unless she asks you to," he reminded him of the contract once again and Tim took in a deep breath, nodding his head in affirmation.

"I know. That's all I have on them so far, I will inform you if I find more."

Bruce stood up, intending to leave the room. But before stepping out, he left him with one last word of warning, "in all the time I have known Roxanne Donnelley, I don't think she's a victim you should be taking pity on. It can all be an act too so you must be careful when dealing with her."

"Why do you even know her?" Tim spoke up, asking the one question that had been bothering him ever since Bruce had put him on the case, "and why would she ask you to arrange a bodyguard for her of all people? She doesn't know we're the Bats, right?"

"She doesn't know. But that's all I can tell you," he stepped out, closing the door behind him.

There were times Tim felt as if he was being played by both of them. It was a foolish thought, considering Bruce would never trick him but the man held too much information that he refused to share and it sometimes made Tim anxious.

He looked back at the binder, the one name standing out from it still.

Adrian Castellan.

He felt that man was linked to the Donnelleys by more than just his murder. There was something to him that could be a clue to uncovering Romero's dealings with the underworld. 

He just had to find out what that clue was. And Bruce was right; Roxanne might be the best person to point him in the right direction. The only problem was that she hadn't yet told him about anything regarding her personal life and he couldn't get involved unless she asked him to.

He had to get her to trust him enough for that.

***

Romero had some business to tend to so he finally left the Donnelley residence. There was no knowing when he would be back but Roxanne knew he had to attend the Gala so he would probably return sometime before the event.

However, it was back to being calm and silent around her with him gone but unlike earlier, she did not feel that content in being on her own. So she thought of calling Tim over as there were a few things they had to sort out among themselves so that their fake relationship wasn't caught out.

Tim showed up at the given time, punctual as always. And it was a slight relief for him too that Romero wasn't around.

He felt uncomfortable in the man's presence but it was imperative for his case to get close to him and find out what he was up to. And that couldn't be possible if Roxanne kept the two away from each other.

He contented himself by thinking that he was slowly working on that. Haste often spoiled the outcome and time wasn't exactly running out for him to compromise things.

He noticed that Roxanne was once again in a pleasant mood as she had offered to show him around her house. She was dressed in a rather casual attire, a pale blue shirt and jeans paired with a white cardigan that hung loosely over her figure. 

However, a matching azure scarf was tied over her neck despite the weather not being too chilly. He took note of that but said nothing, knowing he wasn't supposed to interfere.

But it worried him nevertheless. If Romero Donnelley could cause pain to his sister and she would quietly bear it despite having enough power to go up against him, there was something much sinister that bound them to each other.

She had shown him the library and the home cinema along with the kitchen and other places that she spent time in. In the end, she brought him to her room.

"And this is my room," she spoke up, opening the door to let him step in.

It seemed blue was her favorite color, he assumed, judging by the pale blue shades of wallpaper and curtains. Her vanity table and other furniture were in ivory but most of the textured items in her room were blue.

Blue pillows, bedsheets as well as the tablecloth covering her vanity table. And right then the color of her outfit was matching her room's theme too. 

"It's nice," he remarked, noticing that she was waiting for him to say something, "I like the color combination."

She smiled, "don't stand there awkwardly. You're my guest, you can sit anywhere you like."

"Okay..." He was about to sit down on the chair placed by the vanity but she took his hand, bringing him to sit on the bed across from her.

He felt slightly nervous because that was a side to her that was too informal. She was acting almost as if she was actually his girlfriend.

"You know what, Tim, I was thinking that there is a lot to us that can give it away that we aren't actually a couple," she spoke up, answering his questions about why she had brought him there, "I felt we could use some time getting used to each other so that if we are together in public, it doesn't seem forced."

"Ah, I see... You're right."

"As I said earlier, I don't want to do anything that makes you uncomfortable," she resumed in a softer tone, brown eyes gazing into blue, "so I called you over today to practice us being together."

He understood her point but it still made him nervous. It was not that he hadn't been in a relationship before her or he was uncomfortable getting close to her, it was the last line of the contract that would make him hold back.

This is a seriously professional relationship, both parties are required to abstain from showing any signs of misconduct, including catching feelings for the other.

"We could start slow," her voice was as smooth as silk, rousing him out of his thoughts, "with the little things like holding hands, hugging each other, kissing... If you're comfortable with it, that is."

His thoughts got stuck on the last option she had given and he tried hard not to let her see the faint red creeping over his face. She was stunning and her lips seemed no less than perfection, just imagining what it would be like to kiss those lips made his stomach twist into knots.

"It's just that I don't want to sabotage anything and you know the Gotham Press is freakishly observant. I don't want any rumors flying around of me not really dating you."

"Why do you even want them to believe we're a couple?"

"Because it will be easier that way for us to stay together without raising any questions," she tried to test the waters, her finger gently touching his and when he didn't pull his hand back, she interlaced their hands together. "We can start slow, right Tim?"

He nodded, his eyes focusing back on her to judge her expression. But there was nothing deceptive there on her features for him to catch. She looked curious, a bit nervous herself, and her eyes were also focused on him with a similar intent to find out what he was thinking.

She had leaned closer but before her lips could meet his, he pulled her close in a hug, his arms wrapping around her. She froze, not expecting that then slowly brought her arms up to hug him back.

Her head rested on his shoulder as she tried to recall when was the last time she had been held that close without the gesture causing pain to her or suffocating her.

"Regardless of the contract, if you ever need my help, you can call me," he mumbled, his right hand gently gathering her hair and pushing it over her shoulder. 

She didn't stop him as he undid the knot of her scarf, revealing the bruises that she had covered up. But he didn't ask her how she got them, feeling he knew the answer very well.

She took in a deep breath, inhaling his scent as she held him close too. At last, she spoke up, "don't be so nice to me, Tim. It won't end well for you."

***