The room was buzzing that chilling morning. Men and women speaking softly about what they were writing about, but as not in too much details so nothing could ever get stolen. Clicking of keyboards echoed in the rather large room, taping of feet walking around to get where they are going, ringing of phones everywhere. It was a busy day, their due almost coming causing them to work a little bit harder. Oh, how she wish she was among them all. She rather be out there stressing unnecessarily than being seated in her bosses’, Mr. Derby, office with him jumping down her throat for yet another article that she did recently.
Her eyes stay glued out through the window, watching all her coworkers running around franticly. Listening to all the muffled sounds that came from the closed door. Besides that, the room was filled with a man’s grievance of needing to keep this business a float. Mr. Derby ranted for fifteen minutes about her negligence of popular media streams and that she needed to get a better story than the ones she’s been doing since she got here. But what was the point if she couldn’t print out all that happens in the night? The people that lurk out only causing chaos to other people.
“We need more viewers to our brand, Laynie. No one doesn’t need you playing detective.” He told her harshly, his voice deep and gruf. He sat in his chair, leaned against the old desk. The light from both the window and the light in the ceiling caused a glare in his glass. A glow bouncing off his dark skin. Laynie rolled her eyes at his words, feeling her blood boil with anger. She knew red was creeping across her face, she didn’t have to look in a mirror to know this.
“People deserve to know the truth, boss.” She responded just as harshly to him, turning her head to him with cold eyes. “And I’ll keep giving them what they need to know to keep them safe.” He heaved a tired sigh. This response was not new, but weighing its annoyance heavily on his shoulders. The old man had took his glasses off, rubbing his eyes a bit hard. Uncomfortable, Laynie thought to herself while watching him start to lose more patients with her. She could tell that he was at his wits end of her putting out the crime reporting and digging up activity that happened in certain areas of Gotham.
Mr. Derby stood up from behind the wooden desk adjusting the worn suit a bit before proceeding move around it. Placing himself a bit closer to her as he sat on top of the large desk that was littered with papers and folders.
“What they need is a peace of mind. Uncovering the things that this Batman does in the night doesn’t give them that.” He spoke to her a bit more softly. Hope in his voice that she understood him. Hoping that she would listen to him to keep herself alive. Especially since there’s not a lot to know about the mask vigilante, other than he fights the criminals during the night. He didn’t need her involve in something that he couldn’t very well trust or understand.
Laynie had heard her father’s words echoing in her mind. ‘You can’t find peace until you know there are problems to begin with.’ Of course she had thought it was silly when she was a child. Now though, now that she dug up more of every gang and criminal in this city, there no such thing like peace here. There never will be if people keep ignoring it, or being naïve that there isn’t a problem at all.
Laynie held his stare for a bit longer, not wanting to back down from this. She couldn’t agree with him at all. There was no peace in this city that she loves, and barely anyone who wasn’t living in the dumps had no idea what was going on in the dark. And barely any news cast covered it. She felt that the people had to know what else that was going on. Everything she could find and put out there.
The noise outside grew louder some, a bit of an argument circling among a few people. It didn’t take long for it to settle down. More typing, banging on metal desk now occurring amongst the crowd outside. The
“I disagree, boss.” Her voice went colder then before. Another minute of silence from both of them. His eyes drawing in disappointment at the reply she gave. He knew she would say that, knew her all too well. God have mercy on him moving forward with this. The solemn gaze to her way brought confusion to her.
“Then Laynie. You given no chose now.” With that said, he stood on his feet. Back straight, arms crossed. The suit now showing just how much he worn it. The bit of threads popping out, the material looked it was ready to collapse on itself any given moment. She brought her head up, narrowing her eyes with suspicions. What was Mr. Derby planning now? “If you don’t do this interview, I will have to let you go.” He warned her.
Laynie froze at this, honestly she didn’t see this coming at all. “You’ll fire me?” She spoke breathlessly. It hurt. Having a man she knew since she was a kid tell her this. “What the hell?” In a fit of hot blood temper, she also stood. Shoulders stiff with that anticipation he set out. Heart racing with worry, eyes spiking suddenly. Mr. Derby had placed a hand on her shoulder to her reaction. Wanting her to calm down.
“I’ve told you time and time again. You know your place here. And I am expecting no less than that. If you refuse, than I’m sorry. I have to fire you.” His voice assertive, but in a soothing tone. One she use to hear at a young age. Use to it was because she would run up and down the hallways, almost running into people in the process. Her father of course got on to her, but it was Mr. Derby’s stern eyes and assertive voice that caused her to listen. She felt like a child again, and she hated every moment of it.
Laynie took in a deep breath then. Soon, she was looking away from him. A bit of bitterness towards this old man now that he was punishing for what she was passionate about. A few people started to leave for their lunch through the window. She really longed to go with them right now. Having to pull on her hair when writers block came, drinking ten cans of red bull to stay up through the night to finish her article or investigating a new lead for her life’s work. Having him threaten her only income just stung so bad.
Finally, after moments of trying to keep from crying a bit and losing her temper, she faced him. Heaving a sigh, “Alright fine. I’ll do this damn interview.” Her boss smiled at her. It made her stomach twist unpleasantly. “Who am I interviewing?” She questioned him.
“Ah!” He went back around his desk, taking a seat in the big rolling chair. Doing a small dance of success that she was finally listening to him. Opposite of what she felt in that moment. Laynie stayed where she stood, folding her arms rather tightly. This was not what she wanted at all. It felt wrong. Laynie felt a little betrayed in that small moment. What happened to the man that wanted her to live out what she was passionate about doing? Now, all she saw was a stranger before her.
Mr., Derby heaved a sigh, leaning back like any old men out there. “You’ll be interviewing Bruce Wayne.” The answer was not what she wanted. It was bad enough that she was doing a stupid worthless interview. But with that guy? Laynie knew there was enough information and gossip about that guy. Whether they were true or not.
She groaned lightly, rolling her eyes to show her displeasure at the situation he put her in. “Don’t you think there’s enough 'peace of mind’ about that guy?” She questioned again, annoyed. The reaction causing him to grin gleefully.
“No.” He put it simply. Of course he wouldn’t, she thought. “You’ll be at his office tomorrow at 12.” Laynie nodded her head to him before leaving the small area. Mr. Derby had started typing away on his computer. She stopped in her tracks once the door closed behind her, glazing over people’s heads with a heavy heart. They were busy, like every day. Lucky them for not having to deal what she had to deal with. Her thoughts ran a bit wild while at what she needed to interview him. Her boss never told her what she needed to question him about.
That was when a grin appeared on her face. The mischievous glint in her eyes. Maybe she could take some creative liberties for her old boss. She almost felt like laughing evilly to herself at her plan. Laynie walked off to her little cuticle, cracking her knuckles as she went off in the internet to research Bruce Wayne.