A/N: I know I shouldn't be starting anything new but here I go. This is an old story of mine slightly based on the movie Overboard so yes, it's totally random and reality inaccurate (as if any of this would happen IRL, tsk). It will obviously be an Alternative Universe kind of thing so let's see how it goes. Rated M just to be sure, characters not related as they are on the show and no Henry for Regina. Other than that enjoy.
Intro
Running the ball of her forefinger through the smooth surface of the marble bathtub that rose in the middle of her Presidential Suite's luxurious bathroom, Regina Mills closed her eyes in relaxation and breathed out until she found the object she has been blindly looking for with her hand.
Once it was secure in her hold she lifted it, brought it to her lips and took a sip of it. Without looking at it, the raven haired could imagine it in her eyes, the deep crimson colored liquid nearing her lips and sliding right pass them to fill her mouth with its dark and mysterious flavor.
It was a really good wine, not that she would settle for less, and as she savored it she was glad that she decided to order a whole bottle with her room service dinner.
She was after all in an uncork and unwind kind of mood.
Taking another sip and swallowing it down, she put the glass back to where it has been, her ears picking up the distinct sound of her phone ringing in the distance.
"And here we go again." She mumbled under her breath to no one in particular as she opened one eye first and then the other.
But then, as if answering her complain, the phone rang once again and Regina grunted, getting up to her feet and stepping out of the tub while dripping wet.
She did this with all the calm in the world, her warm chocolate eyes searching through the room for a towel and then walking to it when she found it. Once it was wrapped around her frame, she finally stepped out of the bathroom and headed towards the room to attend the phone call.
The iPhone was ringing alright, it hadn't stopped doing it since she was back at the tub and now that she was next to it was still going strong, the person at the other line obviously being way too insistent and a pain in her behind.
Rolling her eyes and blowing out a breath, Regina picked it up without checking who it was and in the most neutral tone she could muster she answered. "Mills speaking,"
"Ms. Mills, thank God you answered; we've been trying to contact you all throughout the day with no luck whatsoever. Are you already here? The meeting will start in less than half an hour."
Recognizing the woman's voice as that of her assistant, Regina rolled her eyes. "I'm on my way, won't make it on time though." She said petulantly, walking across the room until she was standing in front of one of her Louis Vuitton rolling cases.
"Okay… um." The woman at the other end of the line chuckled nervously. "So what do I say to them? They've been asking and I don't know what to tell them."
Without bothering to say something to that and without any kind of remorse whatsoever, Regina hung up the phone and threw it over the bed.
So yeah, she lied about being on her way but who cared?
Besides being late wasn't such a bad thing in her situation; actually it was the icing on top of the cake as she was sure that it was the opportunity she has been looking for. She knew how the business worked and well, truth was that punctuality was an essential asset and if she started lacking it then they would deem her unreliable.
Now it could be that yes, a woman in her position shouldn't be trying to make herself look fickle or even irresponsible, but she tried to do it the right way and they didn't even listen, now it was going to be her way.
It was simple, she has been trying to resign from the company she has been basically running for some time now and nothing, no response. Not a yes, not a no. As far as she knew the letter was gathering dust in the hands of the Board of Directors and as of yet they hadn't even cared enough to accept it.
First they claimed they needed her to close a few deals, well she closed them. Next it was the external audit, and for that she stuck, but by then they had run out of excuses and they were simply ignoring her request in the hopes that she would get over whatever it was that she was going through.
But she hadn't gotten herself through it, what she wanted was an amicable way out of her contract and even though she has practically given everything she had for them, they wouldn't even answer her.
But they did have the time to ask for her to do this and there she was. That day it was more than a business deal to close, it was selling the opportunity of a partnership between two companies that promised to prosper into something huge, something that was going to change the course of the company in a very positive way and they wanted her there.
What they wanted was big, and for that reason she decided to pull her own strings. She said she was going to be there, she checked-in into the hotel they reserved for her and she was definitely going to get their attention by arriving fashionably late. That it was an asshole move? Yes, but it was what it was. It would serve them well not to ignore her a next time.
Besides they had a great team to make the presentation, it wasn't like it all depended on her.
Sure, pulling a no show no call was an irresponsible thing that was nothing like her, but now they would get the hint and finally grant her what she has been asking for the last couple of months.
A mutual release of contract.
With that in mind and hoping this would be the last straw, the COO of the company she wanted to resign from picked up the clothes she was going to wear and started to put them on. She did that relatively quick, but then it was time to do her make-up and she knew for sure that she was going to take longer than half an hour. And that was without mentioning that then she had to drive to the location where the meeting was about to take place.
"I'll definitely won't make it on time."
After saying that, she went on to get ready and amidst her meticulous work, she scoffed. She was sure that her days as COO were numbered and she loved it… because as soon as that part of her life would be over, she could start doing what she has always wanted to do…
XxXxXxXxX
Tapping his lean long fingers to the fabric of his pants covering his knee, Robin Locksley forced out a smile as the woman sitting behind the desk cleared her throat once more.
"Do you want to reschedule the meeting?"
"No. We are good to start whenever you are ready." He said in his British accent as he gathered the folders and papers he had brought with him to deliver the presentation he and his team worked so hard to come up with.
"Perfect, in five minutes then." With that said she picked up the phone and started dialing to what he assumed was the directives of the company.
"Where the bloody hell is she?"
Clenching his jaw as the man at his side whispered the question almost in his ear, Robin nodded while the smile remained on his lips. He said nothing though, first because he didn't have an answer to that and second, because it wouldn't do to give the impression that there was something wrong.
It was bad enough that the secretary suggested they reschedule the meeting so imagine if they realized that she apparently wasn't coming at the appointed hour.
"We'll have to do this on our own." He said finally, making sure that only the man at his side could listen.
The other man pulled back and ran a hand down his face, gathering his thoughts "Alright, alright. That's not too bad. I mean who better than you to do it, mate? We got this, we got the charm and the guile."
Humming, Robin bit down the bitter chuckle that wanted to break out of him. So yes, what his co-worker and best friend said was true, what they brought to the meeting was pretty much his presentation as Marketing Manager and he knew it better than anyone. But it was also true that the face of the company and basically the ace they had to their advantage was missing and that wasn't good… like at all.
Now usually, Robin was more confident and perhaps even more cheerful when he had to present an idea to sell. It was his job and not only did he love it, but he was very good at it, but that day he just wasn't feeling it.
It was stupid and he knew it, but he had a lot of things going through his mind that were making him feel a bit out of his element; besides he couldn't deny that it bothered him that of all the presentations they had scheduled, Regina Mills choose to skip the most important one. The one that promised a new partnership for the company and sure, why not? His chance to prove his worth.
He didn't know nor he cared what was going on with the woman, but judging by her assistant Belle's frustrated complains about the whole thing, it wasn't like she had an emergency or something of the like. No, she just wasn't showing up on time.
The way he saw it, it was a very reckless thing to do and well, the least she should have done was tell them beforehand of her absence so they wouldn't end up looking like complete fools in the eyes of their possible business partners. She knew better than anyone how those little details could affect the whole deal and it bothered him that she just didn't seem to care.
Yeah, yeah, it wasn't like her at all to pull such a thing. She was after all known for being pretty much an extremely driven workaholic; she breathed and lived for the company and was even considered a ruthless business shark in a very competitive enviroment. But what she was pulling on them that day, he didn't like.
"Still can't believe she's not showing up today of all days."
Quirking his lips and holding back from telling Killian his own thoughts about their COO, what he did was take a look at his wrist watch, noticing that they still had a couple of minutes to spare. "Belle says she'll be late, but I think it would be better if she doesn't show up at all."
Grinning, Killian arched an eyebrow. "Yeah, and who is going to tell our lovely boss lady that, you?"
Smiling from ear to ear even though he wasn't feeling it, Robin nodded while picking up his phone to start dialing her number.
Now, he knew the COO was going to auto combust in anger about the fact that he was calling her out, but he didn't care. Maybe he was out of line because she was after all one of the top dogs, second in command under the Board of Directors and she wasn't someone who was specifically known to be an amicable boss; but looking at it in a business perspective, not showing was better than being late.
She would understand that. Yes, she was a condescending woman but she had a great head for business and he doubted that she wanted to see this deal fail. So he was going to take his chance and hope for the best.
So yes, he called and when she picked up he got mentally prepared for it. "What is it now, I told you I was on my way."
At the sound of her exasperated voice through the other line of the phone, Robin took in a deep breath and blew it through his mouth.
This was not going to end well and he knew it. Now, Regina Mills, he couldn't say that he knew the woman outside their work environment, but what he knew of her was enough for him to know that maybe, just maybe he shouldn't have called. But what was done was done.
"Ms. Mills, this is Locksley speaking. I, we are about to start the meeting and before going in I wanted to inform you that Jones and I will excuse your absence and go on with the presentation."
"Locksley?" She asked from the other line and he snorted, his hand automatically going to his forehead as he rested his head against his palm.
"Yes, Robin Locksley." He said and swallowed down the urge of ending the sentence with his job tittle to see if it rang a bell.
"I know who you are, what I don't get is why are you calling." Her voice came off in her usual petulant tone. "If I said I was going to be late then I'll be late."
Unbelievable he thought, but she was the boss so he sucked it up and talked as easy going as his mood allowed him to. "Alright. So should we wait for you then?" He asked because he had to, but he knew full well that waiting was going to kill the deal before the meeting even started. He didn't want that to happen, he has worked his ass off on that project for too long and it wasn't fair that it was going to fall short just because of this.
But that was it, the ball was in her yard so it was up to her.
For a few seconds she said nothing and Robin waited anxiously. "You know what, Locksley, go ahead and start without me. Let's see if that ridiculously high paycheck we give you is justified."
With that said she hung up.
Once the line went dead he pulled the phone from his ear and stared at it. He didn't exactly knew what to make out of that brief conversation. Sure, she didn't exactly act as mad as he though she was going to get, but she hadn't either made him feel at ease with what was going on.
"So, she chew your ass, didn't she?"
"I don't know yet, but I have a feeling that if we don't make this deal happen she will definitely do just that."
Killian scoffed. "Sure, yeah, no pressure. I mean she'll just eat us alive and spit our bones if we don't deliver. Wouldn't be the first time anyway so-"
Unable to help it, Robin snorted and patted his friend on the back. "Talk for yourself, buddy, because I still haven't been on the receiving end of one of her infamous rotten moods." At least not personally but he knew all about it.
Killian was the one who would always get his ass handed to him but he guessed that came with the territory, he was after all Chief Financial Officer and the one responsible for all financial woes.
"And that's totally not fair."
Sighing and nodding his head, Robin shrugged. "Life is not bloody fair. Come on, let's do this."
With that said, Robin got to his feet and proceeded to do what he came there to do.
It took them a little more than an hour of being in there to finish, and even though they got no definitive answer to the proposal, Robin was positive that they will hear from them very soon and with great news. It went well, extremely well if he had to give his opinion but still, they had to wait.
As for the COO, she never showed up. It made him wonder because quite honestly it wasn't in the woman's nature to delegate and let alone to leave such an important meeting on the hands of others.
She was the kind of person that was first to arrive and last to leave and that she just didn't show up was strange.
Now Regina Mills, he couldn't say that he couldn't stand the woman because in his always good nature he didn't have it in him to despise anyone. But if there was someone that rubbed him the wrong way, it was her.
She was just an arrogant human being that only thought about the things that could benefit her cause, which was obviously always work related. She was a hard pill to swallow who wouldn't hesitate to tell people off, she was a perfectionist to a fault that demanded the same of her staff and yes, even though a brilliant business woman she lacked on interpersonal skills.
He guessed he could give it to her and say she wasn't entirely terrible, after all she drove everyone who worked close to her to reach their full potential and sure, he guessed she was fair and would recognize a work well done, but overall she was just someone totally opposite to him.
Where he was kind and friendly she was haughty and sharped tongued, her attitude was cutting and that was something that didn't settle so well with him.
It was a shame, really… but the woman was as cold as she was beautiful.
But not wanting to waste another thought on the woman who almost screwed him over by not showing, he switched off everything work related in his brain and drove straight to his house once the meeting was done.
He was tired, probably even mentally drained and all he needed was to rest now that the weekend was there. He even passed on going out with Killian to have their mandatory celebration drinks not to jinx the results of their presentation.
But as it was always happening as of late, his plans were completely ruined and as soon as he opened the door to his home, his sanctuary, he groaned out loud and wished he would have said yes to a couple of drinks.
"Oh great! Tuck, what did I tell you about pooping outside the training pad? God… and what is that smell?"
Shaking his head, he took off his soiled shoes and threw them in his front lawn. After that he turned on the lights and took a look into his house.
It was a mess, Tuck seemed to have forgotten his training and he was doings his things everywhere. He knew it was probably the new house, but as of late he didn't have the time nor the patience to start training the dog all over again.
And then it was this, ever since his divorce and then moving into a new house, it was a bit hard to keep things under control. When he wasn't there, which was most of the time thanks to work, there was no one to walk Tuck. He was lucky his brother agreed to come every day to feed him but he didn't always took him out.
He was also finding it extremely hard to keep things tidy, his laundry was a mountain of clothes that seemed to have no end and he was sure that his fridge held a ridiculous amount of spoiled food that sat there undisturbed.
It was ridiculous, but what was worse, it was unacceptable of him to have the house like that when he knew his son's visitations were about to be settled for good.
For all he knew he could have Roland as soon as the following weekend so he needed to put his life together before then.
"Well, it seems like we need to find some help here, you naughty boy." He said absentmindedly as Tuck came running to him. Crouching down, he petted his Lab and sighed. "So remind me first thing in the morning to call an agency that can come here to clean this mess."
Once he said that, his phone started to ring and straightening up, he took the smartphone off his pocket and picked it up.
"Hello,"
"Good after noon, may I know who am I speaking to?"
Quirking his lips and automatically thinking that it was a wrong number, Robin arched an eyebrow. "Who do you want to talk to?"
"I'm talking from the Saint Mary hospital. We have a woman here that suffered an accident and since this was the last number in her phone, we are trying to find a family member."
Having a bad feeling about it, Robin held the phone tighter and tensed his jaw. "A woman, and what woman is this?"
"She didn't have any kind of ID with her, but there's a credit card with the name Regina Mills. Does the name sounds familiar?"
"Oh my God, yes… what happened? Is she alright?"
"She was in a car accident, it wasn't too grave so don't worry. The thing is that she hit her head hard and how she doesn't remember anything. She has post-traumatic amnesia."
Shaking his head, Robin snorted. "What?" Wasn't that the kind of things that happened only in movies?
"We are positive that this will be temporary. She just needs someone to help her remember things. So are you related to her, sir?"
Blinking slowly and taking a look around his messy house, his mind started to run a thousand miles per second.
No… he couldn't do it, it was wrong! But then again, he was too tired and clearly not thinking straight.
Clearing his throat and looking up to his ceiling, Robin closed his eyes and silently asked God for forgiveness. "Yes, yes… we, umm she's my wife."
TBC?