"A what?
Retorted Mama.
Emma sat opposite the woman in her office. The phone lines were ringing off the hook as she answered in between dealing with Emma.
"You heard me Mama. I've got a job as a maid."
Mama answered the ringing phone.
"Yes Mr. Charles I'll send Brindy this afternoon... No I won't forget the handcuffs."
Mama exhaled.
"Emma baby... My darling, surely you can't be serious in being a maid. You are better than that!
Emma sighed.
"So is that why I'm still an escort?
Emma threw her hands up into the air.
"Emma... I didn't mean it like that. You have a home here, we stick together here. You make a good wage..."
Emma looked at the ground.
"Look Mama I am grateful... I really am, you took me off the streets and I'll always be grateful for that. You make sure that the clients are safe and respect us. Yes I can make a good wage... but Mama I have dreams and I wanna at least try to get to them... I got accepted to a really important writers class and the fee is a lot of money, all my earnings have gone into that ... Mama I know I am better than this... I don't wanna feel this way anymore. I wanna be something... or mean something to somebody I'm tired of pretending to feel... I want someone to make me feel"
Mama got up from her swivel chair and stood Emma up to face her.
"You mean a hell of a lot to me child. You are my best girl and I mean that. You are good at your job Emma... Do you really think being a maid will make you feel any different, because I think they might treat you even worse than a client."
Emma threw her eyes up to heaven as she tried to stop herself from crying. Emma was tough and it took a lot to break her.
"Mama I love you but enough is enough I gotta try to make something more of myself. Look I won't quit completely because hell knows they might actually think I'm a shit maid and fire me... but you gotta cut my client list okay?
Emma looked at Mama with pleading eyes.
"I know you will make me proud whatever you do sweetheart. You have my blessing...we'll manage"
Emma jumped on the spot as she threw her arms around the smaller woman's neck and pulled her into a tight embrace.
It was Monday already and Emma was dressed and showered right on time to catch the last subway the station. Not quite knowing where to go she found herself walking the rest of the way to the Burbs. Following the directions on her google maps Emma clearly miscalculated the amount of time she needed to get there. Emma arrived at the Mayor's white mansion almost out of breath, she paused for a moment to compose herself wishing that she was more in shape and reminding herself to take up jogging again.
Emma reached out to knock at the door just as the door opened in front of her. Emma tried to steady herself from falling head first into the woman who was standing in front of her. Regina stood in the open doorway, she was wearing a creme coloured blouse with a pointy collar. Her long black pants blew around her ankles as the Autumn breeze blew in the door making it's way up to her dark wavy hair which was kicked out at the sides.
Regina was just as taken aback. She stepped backwards as the blonde stumbled into her hallway and out of reflex placed her arms forward as the blonde fell into them. She gently placed Emma in the upright position and smirked as the blonde met her gaze. Emma gulped hard.
"Miss Swan... You're here... I was beginning to think you had forgotten our little arrangement."
Regina looked the blonde up and down, inspecting her clothes settling on her green eyes. Emma blinked hard.
"You will need some suitable clothes for cleaning. I will provide the utensils"
Regina took the blonde's red leather jacket and hung it up.
"I'm sorry... I got a little lost."
Regina stepped passed the blonde and looked outside.
"How did you get here Miss Swan?
Emma found herself still out of breath as she leaned against the door frame.
"I ummm. I walked I guess"
Regina's eyes grew big.
"You walked?
Her raspy voice went up an octave.
"Yeah you know, it's when you put one leg in front of the other and move..."
Emma smirked at the brunette who was now face to face with her.
"Aren't you cute dear? Well Miss Swan I have to say I am impressed..."
The brunette began to walk towards her office and gestured Emma to follow her with a tilt of her head. Emma closed the front door and followed the Mayor.
"Gosh it doesn't take much to impress you Madame Mayor?
Regina's face lit up.
"You don't have to keep calling me that Miss Swan, I'm not a Mayor anymore... but I do admit it does make me feel wan..."
Regina trailed off. She cleared her throat and smiled a half smile. There was an awkward silence.
"Well I told you that you didn't have to keep calling me Miss Swan but here we are Madame Mayor!
Emma put an emphasis on the letter M. Regina burst out laughing making Emma smile.
"That you did Emm... Miss Swan"
Regina winked at the blonde and Emma felt her insides drop. Why was this woman having such a power over her?
"If you don't mind Miss Swan I have a few questions I'd like to ask you?
Emma nodded.
"Yeah sure ask away"
Regina smirked as she sat behind her desk and put on her glasses.
"So I assume you don't drive then seeing as you walked all the way from the city?
Regina ushered Emma to sit in the seat in front of her. Regina pushed aside a stack of papers so she could see the blonde.
"Umm I didn't walk all the way... just from where the subway stopped. As for driving... no not exactly... I mean I know how I just ummm never got my drivers licence"
Emma looked down as she felt Regina's gaze fall upon her. Emma could feel the shock coming from Regina. Maybe she should have lied to her. Regina pulled out a notepad and proceeded to jot down some scribbles.
"Really?
Regina smirked and Emma began to realize that she was infact being interviewed, if not for the job then to be caught out from her persona at dinner.
"Reg... Madame Mayor is this an interview?
Regina paused her scribbles and pulled her glasses to the end of her nose.
"To an extent yes... I'm rather curious."
Emma found herself fidgeting by tapping her leg.
"Do I make you nervous Miss Swan?
Emma stopped tapping.
"Yes... Ummm I mean no"
Regina smiled a big toothy grin. Emma met her gaze.
"Where did you go to college?
Emma really contemplated lying about this one but there was just something about the way Regina was looking at her that made her feel like she could be herself for once.
"I... I didn't go to college."
Regina's eyes grew wide again.
"I see... and your parent's were okay with your decision?
Emma started to scrunch her fingers as the tears threatened to fill her eyes. She was able to stop them as she composed herself. She couldn't stop herself from admitting the truth.
"No... I mean, they didn't exactly give me a decision"
Emma pushed her long blonde curls behind her ears as Regina looked puzzled.
"They didn't want you to go to college on purpose?
Regina sounded horrified.
"Oh no I'm sure they would have wanted me to... I mean I think they would have I guess"
Emma looked at the floor again and wished it would just swallow her up. If she ever felt like she was nothing before she was wrong now was the moment she felt like nothing.
"Miss Swan I'm afraid I'm a little confused. You say your parent's would have wanted you to go to college but also didn't give you that opportunity? From what Albee has told me he mentioned you were from a very high breeding class and..."
Emma cut her off. She couldn't pretend anymore.
"Regina... I. Albee lied for me."
Regina dropped her pen and sat up straight.
"I see so tell me what you want and you can be on your way."
Emma straightened up in her seat and stared at the woman.
"Pardon me I don't understand?
Regina exhaled.
"I knew you weren't really who you seemed to be at dinner the other night. I figured you were out to get the inside scoop about us from working in our home and selling your info for money to the local tabloids. I know they are dying to get some dirt on our marriage and..."
Emma's eyes lit up.
"Hold on a minute you actually think I'm some kind of pathetic paparazzi who stalks well off upper class snobs for money?
Regina snorted.
"Who are you calling a snob Miss Swan?
Regina raised her voice as Emma stood up.
"Well if the shoe fits and from my secret observations I would say all to well!
Regina's nostrils flared
"How dare you speak to me like that!
Emma huffed.
"Oh I'm sorry your majesty. I'm sorry I don't kiss your ass like everybody else..."
Emma eyed up the nearest exit.
"Oh no you don't we are not finished here Miss Swan. Now sit down so you can answer the rest of these questions is that understood?
Emma plonked herself back down as a very flustered Regina sat down opposite her. She calmly interlocked her fingers together glaring at the blonde.
"Look Regina... You're right I'm not who you thought... I really need this job."
Regina saw the blonde's pleading eyes and found herself believing her.
"Why would Albee send you to me if you two are in fact not together... I can assume that much correctly?
Emma couldn't help but smirk.
"You'd be correct Madame Mayor. He felt like he wanted to help me... You see I ummm did him a favor and I guess he owed me one back. He wanted to help me"
Regina took in a deep breath.
"So you aren't rich?
Emma looked at the Mayor, honesty consuming her whole being.
"No... I'm not rich. I make enough to get by but I honestly really need this new job. My old one just isn't working out anymore"
Regina raised her eyebrows.
"Do go on"
Emma paused.
"I'm afraid I don't have any experience though"
Regina looked at the agitated blonde as she threw a snarky comment towards her not expecting the reaction.
"Probably because your parents raised a smart assed, ungrateful liar who thought she was too good to get an education"
Emma's mouth fell open and this time she couldn't stop the glossy film spreading across her emerald Iris's.
"You're right Madame Mayor"
Emma stood up as Regina noticed her tearful eyes.
"Emma wait... How old are you?
Regina frantically tried to distract the blonde as she looked to leave.
"I'm 28, How old are you?
Emma paused regretting her forwardness. Regina leaned back in her chair and looked the blonde up and down.
"You haven't been to many job interviews before have you dear?
Emma looked at the ground again.
"No... I apologize I'll just see myself out"
Emma walked towards the hall.
"Hold on Miss Swan, where are you going?
Emma was in the hallway when Regina caught up to her and placed her hand on her upper arm. The tears were on Emma's cheeks when the Mayor turned her to face her.
"I have no parents Regina... They died I never knew them... I grew up on the streets and have just about got myself together. I'm obviously not qualified to work for such privileged people like yourself, but I sure would have tried my hardest. I actually want to be a writer..."
Regina found herself wiping a falling tear from the blonde's cheek. Emma could see her face to face in all her glory. My god the woman hurt her but she also was looking at her as if she could possibly see her for the real her. Emma wasn't pretending for the first time in forever. Regina started to cry. As the tears fell her make up disappeared revealing a red welt on her cheek. Emma pretended for the first time all day not to notice.
"I'm sorry Miss Swan. I feel sick to my stomach... I was cruel and a complete monster to you... I guess I let my own personal matters control my thoughts. You are a very brave woman, a very brave woman indeed... I'd be honored if you would work for me rich or not, experience or not, we all start somewhere... I'd love to read some of your work sometime."
Regina chirped. Emma melted into her gaze and found herself holding her hands. The brunette didn't pull away.
"Oh and I'm 35..."
Emma smiled.
"Thank you Madame Mayor. Thank you...
Regina lead Emma back into her office.
