Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Once Upon A Time!

I am excited about this plot, it came to me suddenly and I knew it would be perfect for the dynamic of these two characters. I'm sure something similar has been done with Emma and Regina before, but I hope to make it my own. Knowing myself and my tendencies, it will probably turn into some kind of activist thing on oil fracking companies (if you don't know what oil fracking is, it's a drilling technique that is very harmful to the environment). I am not one for long chapter-writing. I get restless, so this is probably the length they will stay, unless there is something big that's happening, haha. Foreshadowing? Of course not.

-Regina-

If I could describe myself in one word it would obviously be successful. No woman has achieved as much as I have in this business and I intend to keep it that way. Why? Well, simply because no other woman could top my skills in this corporate world. I know the ins and outs, the loopholes, and I would be naive to say that I didn't have a few tricks up my sleeve when it comes to manipulation.

Yes, things run smooth when I am running the scene. That is how I like it. Which is why today is exceptionally important in order to uphold my values.

Today, I begin the least pleasurable process of the oil drilling preparations- the environmental consulting. Yes, I understand the rules I must follow to avoid being bombarded with a mountain of lawsuits, but this part of the job is particularly annoying. Some stuck-up, kale-chewing hippie is going to march into my conference room and present me with a plethora of legislation that I have to follow, most of which makes the progress on the site slow at a considerable pace. However, as any good businesswoman does, I comply to all the rules... but not without a hearty fight. The modern world is thriving and people need what we dish out. I intend to provide the world with what it wants.

Walking in to work, I look straight ahead to the elevator, smirking at the amount of 'Good morning, Ms. Mills' greetings I hear as I walk by, not bothering to answer any of them. Occasionally, I feel some remorse for not acknowledging any of my employees, but the feeling always passes once I ascend the elevator. Top floor is my office. Just how I like it. I take a deep breath as the elevator door opens, exposing me to my secretary's desk. I give her a curt nod as I walk to her, and she continues to give me my schedule, like I don't already know what's in store for me today. I have known for a while now.

"... Her name is Emma Swan, ma'am. She will be here at 10 o'clock for your meeting."

I scowl purposefully. "Very well. Thank you, dear." I respond flatly and whip away to my office. I hear her say something else, but it matters very little at this point. Emma Swan. That's what matters today.

My morning passes with little distress, the calls come and go, a few papers to fill out here and there, but the majority of the work can wait. I watch the clock on the opposite wall above my office door as it clicks to meet 10:00. I frown. Not very punctual, this Emma Swan. It is polite to be early, that is what I know for a fact. I shuffle a few things around on my desk, trying to set my composure. Perhaps it would be fun to have a little power over Emma Swan because of her distinct lack of punctuality. I smirk at this thought. Having power over others is an essential part of my life, and already having a power over someone I have not yet met calms me considerably.

A clicking noise disrupts my train of thought. The intercom buzzes to life. *Ms. Mills, Emma Sw-*

Suddenly, the door swings open unannounced and the intercom falls silent. I look up at the intruding noise with much scorn, but my eyes fall to the engaging sight before me with much more interest than I had intended. Blonde. That's the first thing I see. Long, luscious, curly blonde hair. A sharply defined face that somehow holds a curving, childish glow to it, adorned with sparkling eyes of a color which I cannot identify due to the length of space between us. A slim body, clad with black dress slacks and a white collared shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows. Her expression is somewhat blank, yet determined. Attractive. Very.

She enters the room and walks toward me with much intention. I recognize her expression. Defiant. "Good morning. I'm Emma Swan, and I will be your consultant on this fracking project." She sits down in the chair in front of me and crosses her legs, showing no signs of hesitance. I find myself slightly restless at her confidence.

Green. Her eyes are green.

I clear my throat and shuffle some papers around again. "Yes. I am aware. Good morning, Ms. Swan."

Before I can think to say anything else, she interjects with a scoff. "Ms. Swan? Wow, that's so professional of you. Just call me Emma, really. It suits me better." She tilts her head slightly to the side and flashes a cartoon-like grin.

I narrow my eyes and lift my chin a little to enforce my status. "I believe, for this occasion, seeing that we are on work premises, I am obliged to address my coworkers with professionalism, Ms. Swan."

She shrugs dismissively and glances around the room. "Whatever suits your fancy, madam." Her eyes spark as she finishes her sentence.

The nerve on this girl is exceptionally irritating.

I choose to ignore the comment and clasp my hands together. "So, are you here to work or did you just wander in here for no reason? Because if so, my secretary would be glad to see you out." I smirk.

She seems to enjoy the squabble and leans forward. "Oh, I don't worry. I'm here for a very important reason." With that, she slaps down a giant folder on my desk.

I frown at the obtruding object and glare up at her. "I see."

"This," she gestures dramatically at the gargantuan folder. "is your paperwork!" She does that tilt-her-head-and-smile-too-wide thing again while she takes in my reaction with her crackling green eyes.

I roll my eyes. "Of course it is."

"I'm gonna need to do a field study on the lot that you're wanting to drill on. I hear it's populated with farms. She clicks her tongue. "Not a good sign. For you, that is."

I sigh dejectedly and roll my eyes once again. I have a feeling that will be a regular occurrence with this blonde hurricane. "It never is, is it? I guess because I'm the villain to you environmentalists, isn't that right?" I lean forward in my chair, testing her. "I'm the bad guy that kills the Earth and doesn't throw my water bottle in the recycling bin, aren't I? I'm the one who brings a whole trunk full of plastic grocery bags home instead of choosing the paper ones, aren't I?"

She leans closer to me and places her hands on the folder. I can see her eyes so clearly now. They are so damn green, it almost feels like a joke considering her job description. It's not until now that I realize my heart is beating much faster than normal. Her tongue momentarily swipes across her bottom lip and she bores her eyes into mine. Somehow I can't remember how to breathe for a moment.

She lowers her voice to playful growl. "You should always take reusable bags to the grocery store."

With that, she she sweeps out of her chair and is out the door before I could register what happened. For the first time this morning, I sit completely still. Emma Swan. What the hell have you gotten me into?