Free Batman 6 - The Dark Knight by Dennis O'Neil

Lucius. More than fine. It felt like Christmas morning under the tree. He had all these toys to play with—others called them “research projects”—and plenty of time to play with them, all alone in his basement den. He kept his own hours, his own books, his own counsel.
    As for money: The new occupant of the big office, William Earle by name, thought he was plenty smart, detail-oriented, the kind of captain who ran a tight ship. Fox thought he was a moron. Lucius had educated himself about computers before digital knowledge was a required subject for anyone with any desire to make a mark in American business because, to him, it was plain that computers would soon be essential tools, as necessary as cash registers had been in his father’s time.
    Bruce Wayne was Lucius Fox’s candidate for the only man in Gotham City who might possibly be stupider than Earle. Then, unexpectedly, the young Wayne inserted himself into Fox’s life. He was genuinely interested in what Fox was doing, and bright enough to comprehend it immediately. But Fox sensed that Bruce was more than merely curious. He wanted something. Make that plural—some things. Things like high-powered vehicles and body armor and climbing gear and weapons—not exactly the playthings of a wastrel.
    Bruce never explained himself to Fox, but it was apparent that he did not doubt Fox’s understanding of exactly what Bruce was doing with his nights. The pretense that Fox was blissfully unaware of the Bruce-Batman connection became a running joke between them.
    Bruce changed Fox’s life, utterly. After he and Bruce had collaborated on Earle’s exit, Fox became the head of Wayne Enterprises, and was exhilarated to finally use his skills and intelligence to implement Thomas Wayne’s vision. Fox privately described the empire he controlled as the “anti-Enron” of the East Coast. Good as all that was, Bruce’s real contribution to Fox’s happiness was what happened between the two of them and was never acknowledged: Fox’s complicity in Bruce’s nocturnal activities. Oh, the idea of fighting crime in a Halloween costume seemed ridiculous to Fox until he saw how effective it was becoming. Then he began to revel in his own secret identity: Batman’s toolmaker. He and Bruce and a few others, like that Gordon fellow and the district attorney, Dent, seemed to be saving the city. That was worth doing and besides, he was enjoying himself. He’d imagined that by this point in his life, he’d be a mellow old guy who spent a lot of free time in parks and watching sports, generally being bored and frustrated. Instead, he not only had a mission, he liked having a mission, liked the challenges and the ability to focus his energy, experience, talent and intelligence on a single and highly worthy persona: Batman’s inventor. Yes, indeed.
    At the moment, he was sitting relaxed at a conference table, leaning forward a bit, listening intently to a dignified Asian man, wearing a suit far pricier than Fox’s own. This was a man Lucius Fox knew as Mr. Lau, the president of a business entity that called itself L.S.I. Holdings. Seven other men, members of Fox’s staff, sat around the table, all of them tapping out notes on laptop computers. Bruce Wayne was sitting at the head of the table, in front of a large window.
    Lau was speaking: “In China, L.S.I. Holdings stands for dynamic new growth. A joint Chinese venture with Wayne Enterprises would result in a powerhouse.”
    Fox replied in a measured voice. “Well, Mr. Lau, I speak for the rest of the board, and Mr. Wayne, in expressing our own excitement.”
    Lau looked at the head of the table. Bruce Wayne’s head was bowed, his chin resting on his chest, apparently asleep.
    Everyone got up and quietly left the room.
    Fox escorted Lau to the elevator, and as the doors opened, Lau said, “It’s okay, Mr. Fox. Everyone knows who really runs Wayne Enterprises.”
    “We’ll be in touch as soon as our people have wrapped up