Summary
Regina Mills is a wealthy entrepreneur whose life grows exponentially complicated when she meets Emma Swan, aspiring action movie star. This story is based on my favorite Korean Drama. Won't say the name yet because, spoilers. But if you know it you will quickly guess it.
I have not finished writing the whole thing yet, but will be updating often. Alternative Universe. Our ladies do not have magic. SwanQueen slow burn. Rated M for language and stemier scenes later on, hopefully, we shall see. Enjoy!
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Chapter One
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Regina Mills checks her reflexion in her full body mirror once more. She likes what she sees. Fitted red dress, designer heels, deep red lipstick, light make up. She doesn't need the extra intimidation layer today, today's date should be short and simple. Her mother had insisted on this one, and even though Regina wasn't exactly excited about the prospect of meeting yet another dull, plastic, well-off woman, she appreciated her mother's effort to find an acceptable partner for her.
Coming out to Cora, Regina's mother, had been one of the most difficult things Regina had to do in her life. Luckily she had managed to assure her mother that her sexual orientation would not interfere with her ability to marry someone of equal (or better) social status, and to later on provide her with grandchildren. It had taken a while (Cora had been horrified at the prospect of Regina losing her presidential position in the family company, and therefore their privileged status in society) but eventually the older woman had relented, and agreed that there was no reason why Regina shouldn't live the life she chose to. She was her favorite daughter after all.
And so Regina finds herself in her way to meet another prospect, the third this month, chosen oh so carefully by her mother. She doesn't mind, not really. She's not a sentimental person and the concept of finding "true love" had never appealed to her. But at 33, Regina does wish to finally find a compatible partner and move on with her life already. All this dating was taking too much of her time.
She knows she should be leaving soon, but she's in no hurry, a queen is never late after all. And Regina always had fancied herself some sort of Queen. The heiress of one of the most profitable chains of upscale department stores in America, Regina is the head of a very lucrative empire. Though she's not exactly the only sovereign of MillsCo.. Her grandfather had two daughters with his first wife: Barbara and Cora. Barbara, as the oldest daughter, always likes to stress out that her son, Killian Jones, should have been the one to become president of the company. Fortunately Killian was not in the least interested in the position, instead he had chosen to pursue the arts and became a very successful pop star. Which, conveniently, secured Regina the job. No one had objected. She was the one with the brains after all. Freshly graduated from Harvard Business School, Regina had managed to double the companies domestic revenue in the first five years of her reign.
Regina and Killian grew up together. And though there's a lot of love between them there's also an enormous sense of rivalry. The one always trying to top the other. If Killian buys a sports car, Regina buys the sports car store, if Killian buys a yacht, Regina buys the land around the dock. To outsiders this looks like petty sibling jealousy but Regina and Killian actually get along pretty well, they are each others' confidants, and quite possibly each others' only true friends. Killian Jones has proved to be a good companion to Regina, even if his arrogant personality and horrible dating track do often annoy and, occasionally, inconvenience her.
After checking her hair and attire one last time, Regina finally heads to the Museum of Modern Arts. Her date, Regina had been informed by her mother, is the grand-daughter of a prominent New York politician and the daughter of a hotel magnate; she went to art school overseas and is now the head of a film studio in Manhattan. Regina had found her acceptable.
The brunette spots her date across the room, she's pretending to study a painting but really, the girl looks uninterested. Odd (wasn't she an artist herself?). She's beautiful, sharp face structure, hazel eyes, long toned legs, athletic looking arms. She is wearing an elegant grey dress and pointed high heels. Regina approves of her style. "Milah?" Regina calls, her date turns around and smiles, quickly glances up and down and then nods approvingly. Regina smirks, introduces herself and without farther ado starts examining the room. Milah follows. They walk side by side around the museum, not saying much, just looking at a couple of private art collections. Milah is clearly annoyed to not be getting much attention from Regina but the magnate doesn't seem to notice.
-"We must be the only couple here on a date, bold choice." Says Milah with a slight English accent.
Regina, still looking at the pieces in display, replies:
-"I chose this place for a reason, dear. You see, the way one walks around these halls says a lot about one's personality type, the way one looks at the art reflects on their level of intelligence, whether one belongs in an art museum or in a club..."
Milah's face falls. Had she been in some sort of test unawarely? Then, unexpectedly, Regina steps into her personal space and continues:
"... whether one's taste in perfume is alluring or refined, all is answered rather quickly" Then she steps away and casually asks her if she would like something to drink.
Milah is horrified (Had Regina just smelled her?) but also oddly turned on, so she follows her to the outside dinning area. Once seated Milah looks at Regina, who is calmly sipping her cappuccino, and wonders why she's the only one feeling so nervous, so affected. That's not like her at all.
-"If this is an uncomfortable situation for you, it is ok to leave now, you know? You look like you don't want to be here" she says, putting up a façade. Regina looks up, amused:
-"Is it uncomfortable for you, dear?
Milah looks uncertain but continues:
-"I am aware that as much as we have in status there are some things that people like us have to give up. However, I'm not interested in a loveless marriage. Honestly I am too hot-blooded to live as an obedient girl who only follows what her parents want her to do"
Regina looks impressed and so she asks, appearing legitimately curious:
-"Are you saying you are not interested in a convenience marriage, dear? Why is that?"
Milah looks at Regina, truly considers her next words. This is clearly her one chance to make an impression. But Regina cuts her off and continues instead:
-"Love" she says with a bit of disdain "of course it is important to some .. people, but just because of some silly love hormones, should status, education, background and abilities be ignored? Being able to express oneself correctly, carrying one self correctly.." She stops for dramatic effect
-"Do you think it is justifiable to substitute kissing for all of that?" Regina finishes, right eyebrow in the air
Milah is speechless.
-"You are more innocent than you look" Regina continues, "if you are the type of girl who chooses to wait for Prince Charming then I think I will pass"
Milah can't help but stare at her while Regina licks her spoon and then gets up "should I tell the families that you were uninterested?" She asks, almost mockingly. And then continues:
-"Great, I'll stick to that story then" and so Regina walks away. Leaving Milah behind, looking properly schooled and frankly, a bit startled.
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Later on Milah finds herself in her favorite rooftop Lounge in need of a drink and a chatty friend.
-"Anyway, she just walked out afterwards, didn't even allow me to reply"
-"Wow, that's tough. Can't believe she didn't fall for your princess act"
-"I know. In retrospect, she seemed rather cold. The lovy-dopey act was definitely not the right approach."
-"So you are saying you got dumped"
-"Darling, you know me, I am not one to step down from a challenge that easily."
Just when Milah prepares to explain her plan of seduction, a rather strange girl walks into the lounge. She sticks out right away. Sore thumb, neon sign. She's wearing tight ripped jeans, a white fitted tank top, red and white flannel around her waist and a red leather jacket on top. Her blonde hair barely contained by a loose pony tail and white cap. Everyone stares her way. Some of them uncomfortably. She walks in like she owns the place and sits in a table by the door.
Milah looks her way. This day just refuses to get better. One of those.
-"Am I just supposed to watch this place turn into a supermarket over night?" She asks her friend rather loudly. "As the future lady of the house, shall I teach this wench a lesson?" And then she walks towards the new comer.
Emma Swan looks up, sees the crazy lady approaching and comes to the realization that the upcoming encounter will not be pleasant. Great. She pulls off her headphones and looks her way, emerald eyes expectant.
Milah walks to her and calls the employee in charge of the VIP Lounge with a twist of her fingers.
-"Is there anything else I can do for you today ma'am?" The employee asks politely.
-"Since when did the admission standards for this lounge became so loose? Milah asks the scared-looking brunette, eyes on Emma. "Isn't this quaint little space exclusively for the enjoyment of VIP customers who spend more than a hundred thousand dollars annually in this department store?" Milah asks rhetorically
She then looks at her name tag "tell me, Ruby, did you check her identification when she came in?"
-"Of course ma'am" Ruby answers and then notoriously swallows
-"Liar, you didn't check me" Milah spits
-"No. I didn't. But you are a regular, ma'am, everyone knows who you are"
Emma can't stand this anymore. She regrets right away having come in and subsequently having put her friend in such an awkward position. And so she gets up and says to the psychotic brunette:
-"Listen lady, there's really no need to cause a scene. I was on my way out anyway."
And then to her friend: "Thank you for the coffee, Rubs, I will see you at home"
But Milah doesn't let go so easily: "We are the ones who spend the money but someone else gets the free coffee. We will see about this, Ruby" she pronounces her name like she's spitting it, takes name tag from her chest and walks away with it.
Emma, not one to let rudeness pass by, prepares to go after her. Ruby stops her before she can cause any damage. "I'll be fine Em, don't worry about it, I just have to apologize some more" and then quietly "the bish is cray"
Emma laughs but walks after her anyway. She's always had a slight hero complex. Milah sees the blonde coming after her, fists at her sides, and no longer feels so brave, and she's about to relent when all of a sudden someone runs by her and steals her designer purse. She stays still, shocked that that had happened to her. Emma sees an opening and goes after the thief. Follows the guy among crowded Manhattan streets. Of course the guy is not alone and she ends up fighting two bandits by herself. Finally the police breaks it off and Emma gets the purse back.
She brings it back to Milah. If Emma had expected Milah to be grateful she didn't show her disappointment when the brunette was anything but.
-"Since I got your bag back let's pretend nothing happened at the lounge before. Give me the name tag back"
-"I don't have it, I threw it away. If you look in the garbage can inside .."
Unamused Emma grabs her by her collar:
-"Both someone who spends a hundred thousand dollars in a department store and someone who gets a free cup of coffee from a friend would find a dirty garbage can repulsive. The one who threw it away should be the one to retrieve it, don't you think?" asks Emma, piercing the brunette with her emerald eyes, she then pulls her back inside the department store where Milah, unimpressed, finally hands Emma Ruby's name tag.
Victoriously, Emma walks away.
For the second time that day Milah is left behind, speechless.
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Emma Swan sits on top of a building. Bright lights underneath her, people small like ants. She looks down and knows she has to continue the fight. Black leather covers her body. Two guns tied to her tights plus two on each hand. Sword on her back. She looks down one last time and jumps. Before she properly lands she starts shooting. Shot to the front, one to her right. A knife graces her face, too close for comfort. Guns run out of bullets. No time to recharge. She spins around, time for manual combat. Three guys come to her at the same time. Sword in hand Emma handles it like the pro she is. Finally she's the last one standing. She turns around dramatically and
-"Cut" the director screams "no one move, switch places" Emma walks away and the main actress, Katherine Midas, takes her place." Director does a close up and then they are done for the day.
-"Good job, everyone" announces the director, and then his assistant adds: "Good job, Emma, you looked pretty cool today"
-"Thank you" Emma replies politely. Surprised that someone bothered to give her a compliment at all. Everybody else is busy sucking up to the main actress. The action team starts packing and Emma puts on her headphones and helps them out.
-"Day dreaming about Killy again, Swan?" August asks her, half mocking her, half concerned.
Emma looks up, surprised, takes her headphones out.
-"You usually listen to him when you are sad. Did something happen? Don't tell me it was that damn actress again, you know she just treats you badly because she's jealous of your talent. If she could be half the badass that you are, she would then be a real action start. Instead she needs you as her stunt. She knows she could easily lose this gig, she hates that she's lacking"
Emma is aware of her jealousy. If only Kat understood that Emma was not interested in her job. She does not want to be the pretty blonde in romantic movies, the damsel in distress. Her passion is action, the adrenaline, the excitement. Still Kat brings her down sometimes, and the way everyone around her seems to think Emma is invisible, dispensable even. So she blasts Killian on her ears, the pop star her only escape from reality sometimes. August doesn't get it. He means well but he's just another boy, part of yet another club where Emma doesn't fully belong.
But he cares, she goes with her to Killian's concerts and holds her hand when she's feeling down. He's like the older brother she never had. August and Ruby are the blonde's only family.
Emma became an orphan at the age of 12. Her father was a firefighter and had died on duty, a hero. After his death, Emma became the State's responsibility giving that she didn't have any living relatives. When she turned 16 she escaped the system, tired of ever changing foster parents and siblings. In a strike of good luck she met August Wood, a professional martial instructor, who allowed her to enroll in the action school he directed. Now, at age 28 Emma is a certified Stunt Woman and the right hand of the academy director. The job does not pay much, but luckily a year ago Emma's best friend, Ruby, with whom she shares her small studio apartment, had gotten a job at one of the most luxurious department stores in Manhattan, MillsCo, and together, Emma and Red have been able to survive in the city, so far.
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Regina had had a long day at the office. She dreaded walking into work these days. The ride from her uptown home was too long, and although she enjoyed driving her convertible Mercedes at full speed on the highway, the weather was turning too cold for her to fully enjoy it. Even twice a week was becoming too much; because the ride did not end there. Once she arrived at the department store Regina had to go all the way up to her office, she avoided elevators as a rule and so, she had to use the electric stairwells to cross the enormous mall.
It had become some sort of ritual for every employee in the mall to come out of their stores and greet her as she passed by with her assistant and executive team behind her, and even though she appreciated the power trip, acknowledging the peasants became tiresome.
The latest project in Regina's desk was the next season's campaign. Her department store was expected to present a winter exhibit that would rival any other in the city. Winter season was the most profitable of all and the Christmas decorations were key to attract new customers. But when her useless employees presented her with their proposal, Regina knew without opening it that it was lacking, their team's expectant faces gave it away. They truly thought that because she chooses to grace her office only twice a week she would not demand the absolutely best of them. But they were mistaken, Regina Mills does not do average. She always expects the best. And so when she was met with silence after asking if it was truly their best effort, she told them to re do it. She now expected an outstanding proposal by the end of the week.
There was only one pending issue in her agenda for the week. Having her cousin Killian sign a renewal contract with the company. Having the singer as the store's face had proven to be quite the asset. Her handsome face attracted many rich tourists who unbelievably fell for his unshaved face and half smile. But Regina knew Killian would put up a fight, even if they both knew he was no longer a rising star. She had heard the rumors about his inability to secure a producer for his upcoming album. He had walked out of too many shoots and annoyed pretty much every single producer in New York. Killian needed Regina as badly as she needed him. Too much bad publicity could seriously damage his career irremediably. A recurring contract with a prestigious firm would certainly benefit him. But her cousin is a stubborn man. He hates the extra responsibility the company demands of him, the endless autograph sessions and photo ops.
And so Regina and Killian find themselves having a drink at a popular but selective lounge.
-"When was the last time you filmed a commercial? Has it been a year?" Regina asks him, appearing uninterested
-"Why do you ask?" Killian asks, amused
-"Whenever I turn on the TV I see so many new stars. It must be hard, cousin. To no longer be relevant. You could really benefit with the renewal."
-"Is that why you wanted to meet?" Asks Killian, fast annoyed. He had been hoping to spend some quality time with Regina. He was in between girlfriends and wanted to catch up with the younger woman
-"Your seventh album might be the last chance for you to retire at the peak, and, quite honestly, your last chance to sign a contract with a prestigious firm"
-"That's what you think, luv" Killian looks around, jackpot, he manages to catch the eye of an attractive brunette sitting at the bar. Eyebrows up, flirty wink, got her.
-"You and I are not the kind of people who need money desperately" Regina goes on "But I will give you enough to save face. I will even tell the press the payment was three times the original amount"
-"True, money is not important to you and me" Killian replies, interested again "So why are you asking me to have less? Don't be greedy, luv, share your bounty"
-Regina smiles, perfect teeth on display "Can't do that, cousin. My pride would be hurt"
Killian laughs. "Forget it. I'm not signing" and then "I'll get going now, there's a girl by the bar that keeps looking my way. Probably a fan, can't get them away"
-"You will be disappointed cos. She's actually been looking at me. Old date" Regina gets up, looks seriously at Killian and adds "Step by my office this Tuesday, the contract will be ready then." And then without saying goodbye she leaves the singer behind, with the bill.
Killian laughs again. They will always have their games.
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The following day Regina gets a call from a nervous Killian. He had just received a text from one of his pissed ex girlfriends, whom he had been avoiding, Katherine Midas, who claimed had very explicit pictures of them together and was threatening to release them to the media. She was mad he had abruptly broken up with her and figured the publicity would be good for her upcoming movie. Killian begs Regina to go to the filming site and talk some sense into her. He was in the middle of a photo shoot and his manager would kill him if he dared walk out again. There was no one else he would trust with this task. Killian was desperate. After some consideration Regina agrees to retrieve the girl for him as long as he signed a modified renewal contract. A win-win.
And so Regina drives uptown to talk to the nuisance actress, annoyed at the mundane task but feeling victorious about the very profitable contract her cousin will have to agree to. When she gets to the filming site she asks a passerby who this Katherine is, not familiar with the latest Hollywood trendy stars, he points at a rather though looking blonde and Regina walks to her, red stilettos marking her steps.
-"You are familiar with Killian Jones, yes?" Regina asks her, predatory eyes looking up and down. The blonde was wearing impossibly tight black leather pants, and a black tank top which put her toned, sexy arms on display; no make up, blond hair tied up in a messy bun. Not really Killian style, she decides, but who knows with him, when it comes to Killian she never quite knows what to expect next.
Emma stares back. Green eyes unwavering
-"The Killian Jones?" The blonde repeats, "yeah, I am"
Emma wonders why this hot brunette is asking her such an obvious thing. Everyone in the city is familiar with Killian Jones, his dark eye lined eyes, and handsome face are all over Times Square these days. Emma would have ignored the brunette but something about the way she was looking at her intrigued her. She couldn't look away. Quite honestly she was mesmerized.
-"Great. He wants to see you. Come with me" Regina commands, and then turns around without checking if Emma would follow.