Chapitre 41: Chapter 41 (edited)
Facing Bruce, who had changed into formal attire, Kara adjusted her camera and gestured for him to strike a few poses. These were photos for the cover, meant to replace his previous disheveled look.
Bruce was at her mercy, reluctantly following her directions. He cooperated, though, knowing full well that the alternative—using his older, unkempt pictures—was far worse.
"It seems even you understand the importance of appearances," Kara teased with a mischievous smile. "I thought you didn't care about that sort of thing."
Bruce chuckled softly, his voice rich with amusement. "I seem to recall you weren't exactly the epitome of grace when we first met, either."
They both smiled at the shared memory, reminiscing about their travels around the world. Back then, neither of them had been particularly polished or refined.
Kara shrugged off the comment with ease. After snapping the final shot, she stowed her camera, then pulled out a voice recorder, setting it between them. She opened a notebook, pen in hand, and motioned silently for him to begin.
Bruce sighed dramatically, his tone playful. "I hope you're planning to buy me dinner after this. I bet this interview will make you a fortune."
"My earnings are nothing compared to yours, Bruce," Kara quipped, unfazed.
Bruce was tempted to retort about her discovery of hidden resources during their travels but held back when Kara shot him a warning glare. Wisely, he stayed silent.
"Alright, let's get started. Mr. Wayne, you vanished for seven years, leaving your university studies unfinished. Care to share where you've been all this time?" Kara asked, her voice professional but her expression sharp.
Bruce fought the urge to respond sarcastically—after all, she already knew. Instead, he opted for a more polished answer. "I've spent these years expanding my horizons. I traveled extensively, which allowed me to grow as a person. I like to think I'm much more mature now than I was back then."
"So, does this mean you're planning to take over Wayne Enterprises now that you're back?" she pressed, raising an eyebrow.
"Not exactly," Bruce replied, maintaining his calm. "Wayne Enterprises is thriving under its current leadership. I trust the executives to make decisions that will keep the company moving forward."
"Including the decision by Mr. Earle to take the company public and liquidate shares for profit?"
The question hit hard. Kara's tone wasn't just inquisitive; it was sharp, almost accusatory. It wasn't just a jab at Earle but a subtle reminder of how much Wayne Enterprises meant to Gotham.
Bruce hesitated, caught off guard. While he had no direct involvement in the company's decisions, he wasn't exactly uninformed about them either. However, discussing his private efforts to reclaim control from Earle wasn't an option—especially not with Kara ready to publish every word.
"Well," he said carefully, "I trust that whatever decisions are made will ultimately benefit Wayne Enterprises."
Kara didn't push further, though her silence made it clear she wasn't entirely convinced.
"Let's switch gears. Since your return, some have noticed your rather extravagant lifestyle. Frequenting high-end events, buying luxury hotels on a whim—are these business moves, or are you simply enjoying life as a billionaire playboy?"
Bruce smirked, though the question irked him. Kara's phrasing bordered on interrogation, and while the playboy persona was just a facade, it was vital to maintain the act.
In truth, Bruce had returned to find Gotham in worse shape than he remembered. Carmine Falcone had entrenched himself as the city's puppet master, controlling both the criminal underworld and many public officials. To bring him down, Bruce had embraced the double life: a carefree socialite by day and a shadowy figure hunting for evidence against Falcone by night.
Of course, none of this could be revealed to Kara. "What can I say? Gotta live up to the tabloid rumors, right?" he quipped lightly, sidestepping the real answer.
Kara wasn't impressed. "Come on, Bruce. You don't think this lifestyle might hurt someone who cares about you?"
"Who? You?" Bruce teased with a playful grin.
Kara rolled her eyes, swatting his joke away with her notebook. "Not me, you idiot. I'm talking about Jennifer."
Bruce's brow furrowed slightly at the name. "Jennifer?"
"You remember her," Kara said, her tone growing sharper. "She had the biggest crush on you back in school. She's been waiting around for years, Bruce, never seeing anyone else. And here you are, parading around Gotham like some troublemaker."
Bruce's smile faded, replaced by a flicker of guilt. He remembered Jennifer—sweet, quiet, and earnest. But he also knew his heart was spoken for, and no amount of waiting on her part could change that.
"Jennifer deserves someone better," he said softly, the playful edge gone from his voice.
Kara let out a dramatic sigh and flipped her notebook closed. "You're hopeless, Wayne."
"And you're relentless, Danvers," he shot back, shaking his head.
Their banter was cut short as Kara's phone buzzed, drawing her attention. She waved him off dismissively, signaling the interview's end. Wayne stood, tugging at his tie as he prepared to leave.
"Thanks for the coffee," he said, pausing at the door.
Kara glanced up, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Thanks for the cover story, billionaire."
As Bruce walked out into Gotham's bustling streets, the weight of his double life pressed down on him. Kara's questions had been probing, but they barely scratched the surface of the battle he faced each night as the city's protector.
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État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
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