Bruce Wayne walked in to the manor, practically dragging his feet at the thought of going back out as Batman. Work was crazy at the moment, everyone needed his help at once! He was at his wits end! And on top of that, Richard had been left alone all week with only Alfred for company, because even though it was the start of summer holidays for him, it sure wasn't for Bruce. Speaking of Richard, Bruce watched as his adopted son raced down the stairs.
" Hey Bruce! Did you have a good day?" He asked brightly.
Bruce smiled at the sight of him, but his expression soon changed.
" No, my day was so busy I hardly had time to take a breath! If only someone could handle all my issues for me, then I'd be at home having fun with you," Bruce sighed, annoyance in his tone.
Richard smirked at him, an idea clearly forming in the child's mind.
" Why don't you get a secretary?" Richard suggested.
" Wayne Enterprises already has a secretary," Bruce said with a shrug.
" No! Not one for the company, one for you! A personal Secretary to deal with all the issues people want to bring to you, they could represent you, and they could set up your schedule and stuff. Maybe they could even hang out with me when you take me to the office!" Richard explained eagerly, liking this plan.
Bruce pondered this for a moment, curiosity in his gaze as he thought over the idea. It would be good to have someone do that for me, and someone to entertain Richard while I'm at the office would be even better! It'd be good for both of us! Richard's idea actually isn't bad.
" You know what, kiddo, that's an excellent idea. When did you get so smart?" Bruce chuckled, ruffling his son's Raven black locks.

( If anyone has seen princess diaries 2, you will recognise the sort of thing happening now! )

The living room was set up for a long night. Snacks and drinks were lined up on the coffee table and the couches were turned to have perfect view of the television. Since no crimes needed their urgent attention, both Bruce and Richard were going to go online, projected on to the television, and search up some candidates for the personal secretary job. They found a site that had a slideshow of applicants, showing who they are, what they do, and their skill sets, all next to a large picture of them. Almost like a dating website, but for job applicants!
Bruce walked in to the room and sat on the couch beside his son, offering him the bowl of popcorn.
Richard rubbed his hands together and started the website up.
" Okay, so I've looked around and this site has the best applicants. Let's see who the first applicant is," Richard said eagerly, clicking the start of the slideshow.
The screen showed a picture of a young man with glasses and severe acne.
" Gerald Ray is 21 and loves to file papers. He has two years of Secretary experience and has completed two years of a law degree at Gotham University. He follows orders well, learns quickly, and makes very good coffee," Richard read out loud.
Bruce contemplated the guy, he seemed like the quiet, nerdy type, and obviously didn't do well in his law degree since he only completed two years of it and then abandoned it for being a secretary. Sure he had experience, but he didn't seem to be a media person, and when his secretary had to give statements to the public for him, he doubted Gerald was the guy to do it.
" I don't think he's the right guy for the job, cross his name off the list please," Bruce decided simplify.
Richard shrugged and crossed the name off the list.

They kept looking, some seemed to be good possible candidates, but no one stood out to him yet, they were mainly men, but there were some women applying for Secretary jobs on this site. Bruce was starting to doubt things, when a last minute applicant popped up.
" Hey Bruce, there's a new candidate just popped up on the site, want to check it out?" Richard asked curiously.
" Yes, I'm hoping just someone good," Bruce called happily.
Richard clicked on the new applicant and the application filled the screen.
The woman whose face filled the screen was young, with long,dark brown hair, tanned skin, and light, Hazel coloured eyes. She had a genuine smile, that made her look actually happy about something when the photo was taken. He noticed her eyes seemed to shine.
" Alexis Mercury, she's 24 and as of yet has no Secretary experience but is still well qualified for the job. She has just completed three years of ancient history studies, and three years of a law degree. She has a bachelor in both, and works very hard to achieve her goals. She studied at Gotham University, and searches for a secretarial position in Gotham city. She's been in various public speaking teams, is good at following orders and is very organised. Her list of recommendations include a recommendation from a childcare facility," Richard read aloud, a grin plastered on his face.
Bruce grinned too, this girl stood out to him! Being in a public speaking team would make her confident towards the press, and she was obviously very smart, being organised was just what he needed!
She was perfect.
" Definitely put her on the list for interviews!" Bruce called out around a mouthful of popcorn.
Richard nodded eagerly, and he obviously liked her too, judging by his eager expression.

The next day, he'd called in all the candidates on his Interview list in for an interview that he himself would conduct. He wanted to use his detective skills to read them, and see what their character was like.
However, by lunch time, he was regretting being the one conducting interviews, he was so sick of girls and guys kissing up to him, and and flattering him, trying to get on his good side. The girls were flirting with him shamelessly and he was so sick of it. However, he was optimistic, he had one more Interview left for the day, and he was actually looking forward to meeting Alexis Mercury in person after reading her application form.
A sudden call to his personal mobile made him pick it up cautiously. It was Richard's school!
" Hello? Mr Wayne here," Bruce said, picking it up.
" Yes, Mr Wayne, I'm sorry to inform you that your son was injured during school sport, a football incident, and we need you to take him to the doctor to make sure that his wrist isn't broken," The school nurse said in to the phone.
Bruce instantly starting packing up his stuff.
" Yea, of course I'll be right there!" Bruce said before ending the call.
Richard had to be okay! How had it occurred? He'd have to ask his son when he saw him.
As he ran out he didn't give a second thought to the young woman sitting patiently outside his office, awaiting her interview.

" You're just lucky your wrist isn't broken and it's just sprained," Bruce sighed, as he helped his son in to his car.
Richard winced as he sat down and buckled himself up with his uninjured hand.
" Yeah, well it still hurts like crazy," Richard said with a wince.
They'd been in the hospital for four hours, including the drive there, and the school pick up.
" When you get home you can convince Alfred to give you some pain medication, but for now, I've an hour left of paperwork I need to finish at work," Bruce said sympathetically.
" Oh yeah, I forgot to ask, was Alexis Mercury nice in her interview like she looked online?" Richard asked curiously.
Instantly Bruce remembered something, he had been going to Interview Alexis four hours ago! She'd probably gone home by now! He'd have to contact her from his office and get her to come in tomorrow.
" I completely forgot that I was going to interview her four hours ago," Bruce confessed.
Richard rolled his eyes with a sigh and nursed his bandaged hand.
" Good job," he muttered sarcastically.

When the two of them rode the elevator up to his office floor he saw the receptionist looking at him in slight annoyance.
" Mr Wayne, a Miss Mercury is here to see you, and has been for a very long time," The receptionist, Andrea, stated, gesturing to a young woman in a white shirt, a grey skirt and black flats reading a textbook in the waiting area.
Bruce felt embarrassment light up his face, she'd been there since he'd rushed out! Wow, she sure was committed.
Rushing over he stood in front of her as she looked up to face him, her Hazel eyes lighting up in recognition.
She leapt to her feet and smiled at him broadly. Offering her hand out she took the lead.
" Good afternoon Mr Wayne, it's a honour to meet you face to face! And I'm assuming the handsome young man with you is your son Richard?" Alexis greeted, her voice carrying a distinct accent that wasn't American.
Bruce shook her hand, and marvelled at how strong her grip was.
" Yes, this is Richard. I'm so sorry for leaving you waiting for so long, but when I got the call that my son had hurt himself at school I had to go help him," Bruce apologised.
Alexis just smiled brightly at them both, and gave Richard a small wave.
" You don't have to apologise to me, Mr Wayne, there's no harm done at all. You've actually done me a favour since I've been waiting for a chance to read my new textbook anyway," Alexis replied smoothly, eyes shining like twin hazel suns.
Bruce instantly liked her, her joyous mood was infectious and he felt himself smiling too.
" Would you like to conduct the interview another day? Under the circumstances I wouldn't be surprised if the both of you wouldn't be up to interviewing a boring woman like me. Richard must be in pain, poor boy," Alexis stated once the silence issued for a moment or too.
She'd picked up on Richard's occasional wince and shifting of his body at times. Bruce watched this with interest, she was good at reading people, another plus. He realised that form the moment she'd first smiled at him, no, the moment he'd seen her application, he'd made his choice.
" You hardly seem boring, Miss Mercury, and it would be good for us to get home, but there's no need to hold the interview another time, you're hired!" Bruce announced, a broad grin on his face.
Why he'd said sunk in, and if it was at all possible, Bruce swore that Alexis's smile grew wider than before. Sh shook his hand again, but this time with much more enthusiasm.
" Thank you so much, Mr Wayne, I promise I'll work very hard, and I'll do my very best! I'll be here for work on time, at eight thirty on the dot!" Alexis enthused eagerly.
Bruce smirked at her reaction. Alexis picked up her textbook and her black leather handbag and started to walk to the elevator, and thinking that he wants to watching, she did a little jump of joy, and a pumping of her fist.
" Oh! And Mr Wayne, would you mind calling me Alexis? Miss Mercury makes me sound like my mother," Alexis called suddenly, glancing over her shoulder.
Bruce just chuckled as she disappeared behind the silver elevator doors, he was glad he'd hired her. And by the cackling laughter being omitted by his son, Richard liked her too.
Alexis Mercury was his new personal Secretary.