CHAPTER 1

Regina looked at her phone. 9:30 AM. If only she had slept a little more yesterday, maybe she wouldn't be running and finishing to brush her teeth on the car. Thing is, Henry wouldn't go to sleep and she had to chase him till really late to finally put him to bed so, of course, she was late. As if being the CEO at the age of 28 did not bring enough reasons for the entire Enchanted corporation to talk about her she obviously, had to be late.

RING RING

Her cellphone rang, as the name "Mom*gun emoji* popped up on the screen. -Damn it, not now. - Regina said angrily to herself, grabbing a lipstick and applying it while she pressed the phone against her shoulder with her face.

-What now, mom? - She said with anger

-Hello Dear, nice too speak to you as well! - Cora said on the other side of the line with dripping sarcasm. Regina huffed.

-Sorry, I'm just… late, can you call later?

-I can't, actually, Gina. You know that dress I bought?

-Mom, really, I'm driving and… - Regina looked at the road. She gasped, her eyes widened and her foot slammed the break as her car stopped not fast enough not to hit the blonde girl crossing the road and all the air left her lungs. Oh my god she killed someone.

-Gina? Dear is everything okay? - She heard her mom saying but Regina just stood there for a few seconds, looking as the people in the street looked at her. So she tossed the iPhone away and got out of the black SUV running to the front of it.

-Ouch. - The blonde girl rubbed her head, that was bleeding. Regina breathed. She was not a murderer. The brunette kneeled on the side of the girl as other people started to arrive.

-Oh my god, I'm so sorry! Are you okay?

-Yeah, totally. - She smiled as if Regina had just bumped into her on the street.

-No, no, your forehead is bleeding! I'm so so so sorry.

-It's nothing, really! - After poorly wiping out the blood on her forehead, the blonde tried to get up but as soon as she rose a little she started to fall, Regina quickly grabbing her by the arm.

- You're not okay. I'm driving you to the hospital. - The brunette used her boss voice, and the blonde raised her eyebrows.

-No, you're not. You sound late. I'm fine! Go to wherever you need to go. I'm okay. - She locked her eyes with Regina's. Okay, that was unusual. When Regina used the, so called, "Boss Voice" people did whatever she said, no matter what. That voice was what got her the nickname she hated so much. "The Evil Queen" is what they called her(they probably thought she didn't know about that but, having Kat as her best friend dating one of the interns, there was nothing she didn't know), and no one ever questioned her orders, at least not twice. But there that girl was, being as stubborn as she was. Kind of annoying, to be honest.

-You definitely don't know me. You're hurt and we're going.

- What are you going to do? Run me over again till I'm unconscious and drag me to the hospital? I'm fine and I hate hospitals -The girl didn't stop looking at Regina's eyes and that was the first time she actually looked at the blonde. Okay, other than annoying the brunette had to admit, she was kind of attractive. About 24 years old, green eyes and a gorgeous blonde hair. Typical. With a white tank top, red leather jacket, jeans and boots the girl obviously didn't care about fashion…she didn't had to, though. The mysterious blonde obviously didn't need high fashion to look absolutely stunning.

Neither did Regina. But she liked it. The environment she worked and lived in always asked for high heels, makeup and expensive dresses but even if it didn't, Regina would wear them anyway. Nothing could top the power she felt inside herself waking in heels.

-You have no idea what I'm capable of. - The brunette said. That sentence was reserved only for special moments and people normally shat themselves in front of her when she said it but not the blonde. Without missing a beat she went:

-No, sister. YOU have no idea what I'm capable of. - Then got up. - Regina tried to help her when an idea popped in her mind.

-Okay, you win. Let me at least drive you home.

-Yeah, I'm completely stupid. You're going to drive me to the hospital. I told you, I'm fine!

Regina rolled her eyes. God! Was that girl for real? She was bleeding and Regina wanted to help!

-Okay you know what? I was doing it for you, but now I'm annoyed. I don't want a lawsuit on my back so can you just get inside the car before I feel the need to grab you by the hair and toss you inside my car. I have a little son and he would probably be very sad if his mom ended up in jail. - The Henry card. Always worked. The blonde looked at her, then took a deep breath.

- Fine… - Regina looked at the sky.

-Hallelujah - She said.

-Don't push it or I'll change my mind.

-Just get in the car.

-And tell Jefferson he'll need to cover me on the meeting today, after that ask Sydney about the dresses I need for tomorrow. Don't forget the call I'm waiting from Leroy… - The woman talked on the phone non-stop. God, she told her she was okay but no… Rich people always felt the need to tell her what to do and the obviously successful woman that was practically the same age as her constantly reminded herself that she was only getting an internship.

Emma was proud of herself from getting the internship. The Enchanted corporation was huge and even though fashion was not her thing, the money was good and she needed it. Emma could not wait to start tomorrow. But the brunette got her shit together way sooner than Emma and she was feeling bad about it, Although she was sure the brown-eyed woman was not an orphan and did not lived on the street for years that didn't stop Emma from feeling like a failure again. She finally hang up.

-You really should stop talking to the phone while you drive. Otherwise your car will just be full of hot blondes you ran over.

The brunette raised her eyebrows. - I'm just a very busy person.

-So, you're like… Miranda Priestly. - Emma commented

- Who?

-Come on. You work on fashion and you've never seen The Devil Wears Prada? I mean, you don't even need to work on fashion, Meryl Streep is on it!

-Oh. I did watched the movie, I just didn't recall the name of the character. I guess I could be compared to her.

-Hum. So. What do you do for a living? Are you some kind of CEO?

-Yeah, I'm a CEO.

-Really? I was kidding… Now I feel bad about myself even more.

The comment took the brunette by surprise and Emma cursed herself. Damn, she needed to stop accidentally opening up to strangers like that.

-I mean, you're successful as fuck!
- And you for sure swear a lot.

Emma shrugged. - Force of Habit. But how old are you? - Regina took a little to answer and Emma wanted to slap herself. - Sorry, I don't really think before I talk most of the time.

-I't okay. I'm 28.

-Holy sh… You're like Mark Zuckenberg or something. - She laughed

-It was all my mom's. She founded the corporation and now - She took a deep breath - it's mine. She's still working on it but I'm basically the boss.

-Basically?

-Basically. - The brunette said in a "Not explaining more" tone, so Emma looked around the big car, searching for another thing to talk about. Everything was as clean as it could possibly be, if she did not just got hit by it she would say it was a new car. But then, she noticed something on the floor. A tiny red sock. Emma tried to grab it but as soon as she moved, her head spun, the sharp pain of where she hit the road invading her again.

-You okay?

She nodded, regretting the decision not a moment afterwards.

-You don't look okay.

-Jeez, thanks.

-I didn't mean that. I meant that you're bleeding and obviously dizzy. Does anything else hurts?

-I'm always dizzy.

Regina laughed - I'm serious, Head injuries are the worse.

-So! You have a son?

The brunette scoffed. - What's with you and taking care of your health?

Emma laughed - Nothing! It's just that I've been worse.

-What? Got hit by a truck or something?

-I got beat up by some drug dealers once.

She looked at Emma with a surprised expression. - Once! - And then the brunette broke into a smile, probably thinking she was joking. Wow. She was hot, the blonde had noticed, of course. When Emma was on the floor and suddenly this model in black dress, tights, heels, gorgeous shoulder long black hair and red lipstick appeared she was certain she died and was in heaven or at least, with the head trauma, got really confused and started to see things but that was the first time she saw the brunette smile, and it was hypnotising. Nope. She's probably married - Emma thought to herself - She has a son, she is successful and she looks very straight. You don't want to go there agin, Emma. - Suddenly, she realised she didn't know her name but before she could even ask, the woman stopped the car.

-Here we are.

-And this is a huge waist of your apparently precious time because I'm about to make a bunch of exams just so they can tell you how fine I am.

-And if I was a terrible person, I'd wish you were actually seriously hurt just so I could say "I told you so", but I'm not, so I just wish you stop being so stubborn for a second.

Emma laughed, getting out of the car as soon as the other woman parked and walked into the hospital with her.

Regina hung up on her mom, after explaining to her the situation and asking her to have lunch with Henry. She looked around. Sitting in the waiting room was really not how she panned to spend her morning but there she was, 11:45 and no sign of the blonde. With a sigh, she took a sip of the coffee she had bought before and played with her heels against the floor.

-Hey.

She looked up. With a giant patch on her head, the blonde girl smiled. - You waited.

-What did the doctor say? - Regina got up.

-To stop making effort for a while, that I should be more careful riding my bike and that I'm going to be fine.

-Wait, what?

-To stop making effort for a -

-I heard that. I meant the bike thing.

-Oh. - The blonde scratched her head - I told him I fell off my bike. If I said you ran me over they would probably call the cops or something and you were really nice, and annoying but you, uh, cared about me. And I'm not really used to it so, thanks I guess.

And just like that, all the anger she felt towards the blonde disappeared just like magic. Regina smiled.

-So, I guess that's it? - The blonde said. Was her voice sounding kind of sad or was Regina imagining things?

-I guess so.

-That's a shame.

-It is. - They both smiled and looked at each other for a moment. For some reason, Gina's stomach suddenly felt kind of cold.

-Unless.. - The blonde smirked, raising her eyebrows. - It's almost noon… - She scratched her head again - so, you want to, I don't know, maybe, if you don't need to go home to your son or something or, uh, run a corporation, we could, uh…

-I just need to go to work at 4PM now. And I'm starving. - Regina said and the girl smiled. Okay, the blonde was cute. She was weirdly puppy-cute and model-like cute at the same time. That was a first.

-Great! Uh, you know, You never really told me your name.

Oh my god. Regina was already having lunch with the girl and didn't even know her name.

-Regina. - She shook hands with the blonde - Mills.

-Regina. - She repeated. - I'm Emma Swan. Nice to meet you.

-Nice to meet you too, Emma.

And they started to walk to the car. Emma and Regina talked a little in the road, mostly about Henry.

-Henry. He's 6. - Regina answered her and she felt a little cold on her stomach. Just the age her son would have. - He's a storm, seriously. Can't stop running. Yesterday I had to chase him for almost two hours until he finally went to bed. That's why I was late today.

-Hm, so, thanks to your son, we met.

-Basically, thanks to my son you ended up in the hospital.

-Told you, I've been worse.

-So, where do you want to eat?

-I don't really know the neighbourhood, um, you choose but, I can pay for the food, okay? - Emma said, not really sure she even could pay for the food.

-What? No! No way.

-It's the least I can do. You drove me to the hospital and-

-Ran you over. I'm paying.

-But you didn't leave me on the street. And you waited.

-Are you always that stubborn?

-No, are you?

-Yes. - Regina said and glanced at her with a smirk. - So, do you like Japanese food?

-Sushi? Yeah! - Emma had a hard time remembering the last time she ate something that was not mac and cheese.

-Okay. I know a place. - Regina turned left. In a matter of minutes there they were, in the middle of a very fancy restaurant with really well dressed people. The smell of Sushi in the air and Emma's stomach already making noises. After making their orders, she looked at the brunette and Regina asked.

-So, what do you do for a living?

Emma immediately blushed. - I…just got an internship on a big fashion company as well.

Regina reacted differently that she thought. Emma pictured a "ew, intern" face but she actually got interested -Really?! You're into fashion?

-Uh, Not really… I just need the money.

-Oh well. But congratulations! What compan-

-Your orders. - The waitress started to place the food on the table.

-Thank you. - Regina and Emma said.

-I'm feeling very out of place. - She admitted, when the woman left the table - Everyone is so fancy and I'm wearing a tank top. With blood stains.

Regina shrugged, using the little sticks to eat her sushi flawlessly as Emma had a little difficulty with them.

She finished to eat -That's silly. You look great. - And the brunette's face immediately turned red. Emma was sure as hell hers did too.

-Thanks. You too. - She smiled and the food fell down once again.

- But if you want to, I have a shirt on the car.

-It's okay, You don't need to…

-I insist. I'll give you after lunch.

- Thanks. - She finally got the food into her mouth —Hmm, This is delicious!

-Indeed.

They ate, and talked. Regina talking about her son, Henry and Emma listening, fascinated. The boy seemed really sweet.

-But, who is with him now? Your husband? - Emma asked, worried.

Regina looked down. - I'm single. My fiancé, Daniel…died a few years ago. Before Henry. He is adopted.

Emma felt the pain in the woman's voice, and didn't ask why she adopted a son at the age of 28 -Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.

-It was a long time ago. Anyway, he's with my mom.

- Oh, the powerful mom who owns a company?

-Yup.

-Here's the check. - The waitress gave it to Regina.

-Are you really sure you don't want me to pay?

-I'm sure. - She said, with a smile. After paying Regina politely asked - So, you want me to give you a ride home?

-It's okay, I'll walk. The doctor said I'm in need of some exercise.

-Sure?

-Yeah. - She smiled. - So, goodbye, I guess.

-Oh wait! - Regina walked behind the car, opening the back door and grabbing something.

-Here you go - She said, handing Emma a blue silken button shirt.

-Oh no, this is too fancy I can't…

-Oh stop. I'll, uh - She grabbed her wallet out of her purse and handed a little card to Emma. - Give you my card and you can call me. If you want to give back the shirt or if you feel anything.

-That's really nice of you, thanks. - Regina smiled

- See you soon. - She smirked and Emma waved, getting into the car. As the car drove away from her, she couldn't stop with the goofy smile invading her face as she looked down to the card containing the woman's cellphone. Wait. Holy sh…. the smile fade out of her face as she read it:

Regina Mills - CEO

Enchanted Corporation.

-Fuck.