In the dim conference room, Galavan stood before the screen, outlining his plan to reform Wayne Enterprises.
He dressed up those hawkish policies as "necessary growing pains" and the cuts to charitable programs as "paving the way for a more efficient future for Gotham."
Ririko sat midway down the long table, watching the board members and executives around her-
Their eyes were all fixed on Galavan, gleaming with the faint light of people who had fallen under his spell.
She drew a little knife in her notebook, then a pig with wings, which could more or less be taken to represent "reform" and "Gotham's future."
Galavan's speech drew to a close. He looked at everyone around the table in turn, waiting for each department head to report on the previous phase's implementation.
His gaze swept across Ririko's face and lingered for a moment.
Ririko met his eyes and, just as he was about to look away, gave him a slight smile.
As Galavan sat down, she stretched her foot forward beneath the table, the toe of her high heel "accidentally" brushing his calf.
Galavan tilted his head slightly, looking at Ririko in confusion-
She offered no response, lowering her gaze to her notebook, an ambiguous smile still playing on her lips.
He kept his leg still, assuming she wanted some sort of "under-the-table interaction," and returned his attention to the person speaking.
She waited quietly for a few seconds, then withdrew her foot.
Galavan glanced over again, a hint of probing curiosity in his eyes.
Ririko raised her head slightly and winked at him as though nothing had happened.
At the other end of the long table, Jeremiah had never taken his eyes off her.
Those little gestures exchanged across the conference table-
The angle at which she tilted her