Hello everyone! So I have finally finished all of Once Upon a Time and am all caught up to the new episodes that will be coming out. My addiction to Rumbelle is growing stronger and I just love them both so much!
I haven't had much time to do any writing and I should be studying at the moment but I can't bring myself to do it (even though my exam is tomorrow! Eep!)
Anyway this story is rumbelle AU and I hope you all enjoy it. This is all me so I apologize for any mistakes. I can't guarantee regular updates (probably only able to on weekends) so please forgive me. I'll try make the chapters long so that you have something solid to digest.
Summary: AU- Gold had no idea why she was smiling at him, but she was and she was beautiful. Gold owns a large company and Belle is a new employee who had yet to hear the rumours of the monster.
The Enchanted Forest
Chapter one
Smoothing her grey skirt and fiddling with her long brown curls, Belle French looked up at her new workplace. The Enchanted Forest was printed across the large glass doors that led to the many floors of the building. The Enchanted Forest was a company that had many branches that dabbled in many different things.
An opening in the research department had come to light and Belle had eagerly applied for the job. It had been a long two weeks before she heard any word. Finally, she received a phone call from a woman who called herself Regina and told her to come in Monday morning at nine.
Monday morning brought Belle standing out the front of the building. Taking a breath to calm the nerves that tingled under her skin, she pushed open the glass doors and stepped inside. Her red heels clicked against the marble stone floor of the lobby. It was mostly bare apart from a set of four elevators and a receptionist desk. Sitting behind the extravagant desk, was a woman. She had blonde hair that was piled atop of her and she was wearing a green dress.
"Good morning," the woman greeted. "How can I help you?"
"Good morning. My names is Belle French. I'm supposed to be starting today."
Recognition lighted up the woman's face and she stood. "Follow me, Belle." She gestured with a jerk of head and went straight to the elevators. "My name's Tink."
Belle blinked at the unique name, but smile anyway. "It's nice to meet you."
A ding announced the arrival of the elevator and the thick metal doors slid open. Belle's reflection shined back at her as she stepped inside the comfortable sized elevator. They were lined by mirrors and the floor matched the marble of the lobby.
Tink pushed the button for the 9th floor and the doors slid shut. "Regina is waiting for you," Tink explained. "She'll take you to your department and fill you in on the rest."
"Thank you," Belle said sincerely. With Tink's reassuring smile she felt a few of her nerves fading.
When they reached the ninth floor they stepped out. The first thing Belle noticed was the wall paper. It made her feel as if she was stepping into a forest. The room was elegantly decorated and behind a glass desk sat a woman. She too was elegantly dressed with painted red lips and dark hair.
"I have Belle here, Regina," Tink said, striding into the room with Belle following behind her.
"Miss French," Regina said, giving a slow smile. "Welcome to The Enchanted Forest." She stood, moving around the desk. "Thank you, Tink."
Tink nodded and gave Belle a smile before going back to the elevator. She stepped inside and the steel door shut behind her.
"I'm second in command here at The Enchanted Forest," Regina explained. "I oversee all the floors of this building and I expect them to all run smoothly."
Belle could hear the underlying threat in her tone and she nodded. Regina expected the very best work and that is what she would get. "Who is first in command?" Belle asked.
"That would be Mr Gold," Regina said with a hint of resentment in her voice. "You'll meet him at some point I suspect." She strode towards the elevator and gestured for Belle to follow. "I'll take you to the fourth floor where you will be working."
The elevator arrived and they stepped in. Five floors down they stepped off and Belle stifled a gasp. It was like stepping into the biggest library she had ever seen. Books lined the walls as far back as she could see. There were several shelves that held many boxes filled with files. A large mahogany desk sat in the middle of the room, boxed in by the shelves. Atop the desk sat an expensive looking computer.
"This is your floor," Regina said, striding towards the desk. "Unfortunately this department had a complete overhaul and so you'll be working on your own until we can find another to join you."
"Of course," Belle said. "I don't mind."
"We'll see," Regina hummed. "You'll find your instructions emailed to you every morning and you are expected to complete them within the time frame given to you by Mr Gold. You are also expected to help any other department that requires your assistant."
"I understand," Belle nodded.
"Good," Regina smiled. "I'm having Ruby from the sixth floor come and show you the system so that you may get started."
"Thank you," Belle said sincerely. "For giving me this opportunity. I look forward to working with you all."
Regina only smiled and turned on her heel, leaving Belle alone on her floor. While she waited for Ruby, it gave her the opportunity to explore her floor a little. It felt like heaven, or what Belle imagined it to be. There were books everywhere and where the shelves didn't have books, were files.
It had been sometime that Belle had been looking for her place in life. She had always been a little lost and it had only increased in the last few years. But like Belle's mother had always said, she decided her own fate. Finding that there was an available position at The Enchanted Forest was a blessing and just what she needed.
The ding of the elevator made Belle stop her examination of her floor and turned to see a leggy girl with long brown hair streaked with red stride towards her.
"Hey, you must be Belle. I'm Ruby."
"Nice to meet you," Belle said, smiling shyly.
"Regina sent me down to show you the system," Ruby said, leaning over the desk to switch on the computer. "It's not that hard once you get to know it. I'm sure you'll pick it up quickly."
Belle came around the desk and sat herself in the chair. Ruby gave her a wicked smile and opened up the system.
It was one o'clock when Belle finally got the hang of using in the system without Ruby's assistant.
"You've picked it up better than most," Ruby commented. "It took me a few days."
"You're a good teacher," Belle assured her.
"Come on, I'll treat you to lunch," Ruby said. "There's a diner just down the road where everyone eats at. My Granny owns it."
Belle gathered up her purse and followed Ruby to the elevator.
"You'll meet some of the others who work in the building," Ruby assured her.
"Do you know which department I'll be working with the most?" Belle asked, curious.
"Mostly the seventh floor," Ruby said as they stepped in. "Bail bondsmen. Emma and David work there. You'll mostly be working with them."
Belle was surprised by the variety of different occupations that the building held. It didn't take them long before they were entering a quaint little diner. It was full, nearly every available seat taken. Ruby led her to the counter where several girls were sitting.
"Belle," Ruby grinned. "Meet Mary Margret and Emma Swan."
"Hello," Bello smiled shyly.
"How's your morning been so far?" Mary Margret asked kindly.
"Ruby has been showing me the ropes. So far everything is going well," Belle explained to them.
"Have you met Regina yet?" Emma asked dryly.
"Yes," Belle said, looking unsure.
"Don't mind Emma," Mary Margret soothed her. "She and Regina don't see eye to eye on a lot of things." She hesitated for a moment before adding, "A lot of people don't' see eye to eye with her."
"Oh," Belle said, startled.
"Just try and stay out of her way," Ruby suggested.
"I will keep that in mind," Belle said. She was startled by the news of Regina and certainly didn't want to get on the bad side of the second in command to the whole company.
Granny (who Belle deemed a sweet and protective woman) came by and took their order. Over lunch Belle was informed of the inner working of the company and who was in each floor. She was informed of who to avoid and who would be good company. She was also caught up on the gossip in the company and found out that Emma had a young son and that Mary Margret and David were engaged to be married.
After lunch, she was walked back by the girls and dropped off at her floor. Emma assured her that she would be dropping over the next few weeks. Alone on her floor, Belle went back to the few tasks she had been set on her first day, more eager now to make an even better impression to the those who owned the company.
Although exhausted, Belle was pleased at how her first day went. Upon getting the job, Belle had moved to the city. She had saved enough money to get a decent apartment that was close by that she could either walk or take a taxi (depending on her finances that day).
As she got to her apartment building, she fished out her keys from her back and went inside. Her apartment was on the second floor and the last down the hallway. It did give her a rather beautiful view of the city and of the small park that was nestled in a playground of concrete.
She was greeted by the many unpacked boxes that she hadn't gotten around to sorting through yet. The only thing she had unpacked were her books and clothes. Anything else, she reasoned, could wait.
Kicking off her heels, she placed her back on the small kitchen table and went to the fridge. She grabbed a snack and went straight for the couch where the current book she was reading waited for her. There was nothing more satisfying then coming home to a good book, other than true love but she had yet to find that.
Before she lost herself in her novel, Belle looked around the apartment.
I did it, she realised. I decided my own fate. I hope mum would be proud of me.
Smiling at how well everything was turning out, Belle settled in for the night with her book.
Please review! I hope you all enjoyed and happy reading!