BAE Chapter 58

Ivy’s hair is loose. It looks as though they haven’t let her shower yet today.

“Welcome, Dr. Eisley,” Lucius tells her, stepping forward and offering his hand.

She shakes with an ironic smile, her handcuffs rattling. Her eyes linger on Barbara, then she follows them into the elevator. Several guards crowd in as well. Lucius uses his card to select the level that will now be Ivy’s.

“I expected more of a circus. Or at least a few more nervous execs,” she remarks as they ride up.

“They’re too nervous,” Lucius replies.

They arrive. There’s a security checkpoint sort of like an airlock, all automated. Anyone getting in or out of Ivy’s area will have to go through it. The floor-to-ceiling windows have been specially reinforced; they’re as strong as bank vault doors. It would take Superman himself to break through them.

The space is huge, and it looks bare at the moment because it hasn’t been fully furnished.

“Open floor plan,” Ivy notes lightly.

“I’m sure you understand,” Lucius replies.

Ivy looks up at the dozens of cameras. “I’m sure I do.”

“Your bathroom is private, but we are monitoring the atmosphere in there for certain types of molecular activity.”

“You thought of everything.”

“We hope so.” Lucius opens the inner doors and steps aside, gesturing graciously. Ivy crosses her new threshold. “Can we free her hands now, please?” he asks the guards, who remove the cuffs and irons.

Ivy is unreadable as she takes in her new home.

“Plenty of sunlight,” Barbara notes.

“Is that a plant joke?”

“Too soon?”

There’s a hint of a smile at that. Lucius steps away to speak to the workmen. Barbara faces Ivy and moves close, lowering her voice. She points.

“I was thinking the lab would be over on the east side, and your sleeping area on the west. The bathroom’s on the other side of the elevator here. We’re going to find some big blinds so that you can control the light level and visibility. Nobody can see in, but still. We’ll start with a basic Wayne Enterprises setup, and you can see how you feel about that and then talk to me or Lucius about any changes you want. What colors do you like? What kind of sheets do you want?” Barbara gets out her phone to take notes. “We’ll have everything set up by tonight. And I ordered some breakfast for us. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Ivy replies. She seems taken aback.

“I know. It’ll be an adjustment from Arkham.”

“Most people don’t talk to me like this.”

“Like what?”

“Like a normal person. It’s going to annoy me when you disappear after you get your promotion and I get some boardroom prick breathing down my neck.”

Barbara holds her gaze. “You don’t think I’m committed to this partnership?”

“Is that what we’re calling it?”

Barbara dials her assistant and lifts her phone, unwilling to throw the staring contest with Ivy.

“April? Get maintenance on the phone. Set up my office on Dr. Eisley’s floor in the southwest corner. I want to be ready to work from down here by this afternoon. Thank you.” She hangs up. “You’re worried I’m going to leave? You’ll beg me to leave.”