AN: Geez you guys, absolutely no faith in a character you haven't even met. Maybe Garrett is a GREAT boyfriend. Maybe he's been working extra hours to save up for an awesome wedding. You don't know his life. (Yeah, I'm not fooling anyone, am I?) Credit goes to Once Upon A Time for their amazing characters and this plot isn't really my own, I borrowed a great deal from Nerina Hilliard's Harlequin, "Dark Star". Remember, feedback makes a happy phoenix!

"The intention of the contract is to provide for an heir, is it not?" Mr. Gold said coldly. "I have an heir. Bae will inherit Sidheag when he comes of age. So the intent of the contract is already fulfilled."

Regina Mills chuckled softly, the sound making Mr. Gold's skin crawl. She crossed one leg over the other, looking dangerously smug.

"Honestly, Mr. Gold, I'm surprised at you," She said delicately, fingering her cup of tea. "Weren't you the one to tell me, not so long ago, that intent is meaningless?"

Mr. Gold's cheeks flushed with anger as his own words were used against him. Leave it to Regina to make her revenge a cruel irony. Self-important, manipulative bitch…

"So, I'm afraid the terms of the contract are fairly specific," Regina purred. "Sidheag will go to you if, and only if, you return with a bride. I know, that does seem a tall order…" Her hand rose to her mouth, covering a soft little laugh. Mr. Gold resisted the urge throttle her.

"But you know, these old family homes often come with silly little traditional clauses." She gave a delicate little shrug. "You have one month, Mr. Gold, to obtain a wife, otherwise Sidheag will be sold to the highest bidder—an auction you will not be permitted to participate in—and I assure you, Mr. Gold, I have such plans for that lovely little area. A parking lot perhaps, or I'm sure a gas stand would be very economical." Regina's smirk widened as Mr. Gold tensed at her words. He knew she was only saying these things to anger him and that any show of emotion would only provoke her further, but the idea of his ancestral home being turned into a BP or something of that nature…he clenched his fists.

"I realize that doesn't give you much time, Mr. Gold, but well…" Regina trailed off, waving her fingers. "Some things just aren't meant to be."

"And some things are," Mr. Gold snapped and Regina looked even more amused. "The terms of the will are bothersome, not impossible. Don't let this unfortunate situation fool you, dearie, I'm the one with the real power around here. Sidheag will be mine with every line of the will fulfilled. Make no mistake."

Regina's poisonous smile never faltered. "We shall see." She stood with a serpent's grace and strolled out the door.

Mr. Gold resisted the urge to start throwing things. Her conceit would be short-lived, he would see to that. He looked down at the sheaf of papers before him. There had to be a way around this. Some sort of loophole he could devise, that would enable him to fulfill the letter of the law, if not the spirit.

He'd been married once before, a long time ago. It had been one of his more grievous mistakes. The only blessing out of the marriage had been his son, Bae, and even that was eventually taken away from him. The ensuing divorce had been so nasty, he barely even remembered any good times. He had memories of Gail doing everything in her power to keep her from seeing his son, long nights screaming at each other over the phone, aggravating and lengthy court dates. In the end, it did nothing but make Bae miserable and start to resent them both. So he'd stopped. He'd let Gail have her way. He only saw Bae when Gail allowed it and that wasn't often, once a year if he was lucky. Bae still wrote him letters. On Bae's twelfth birthday, he'd even been permitted to call his father, a phone call that only made Gold miss his son desperately.

He vowed a long time ago to never let any woman come to mean anything to him again. Marriage was out of the question. But he couldn't bear to lose Sidheag, not after all he'd lost.

His eyes narrowed. Perhaps there was a loophole. The contract failed to specify the future of this marriage. This clause dated back to a time when the end of a marriage was much more scandalous. But this oversight meant there was a way—a way that would give him back Sidheag without irritating emotional entanglements.

He smiled coldly. Without this provision, the terms of the contract could be easily fulfilled. He could circumvent this.

Of course that brought in another problem. He was sure Regina knew about this oversight, which would mean she would do everything in her power to obstruct it. And then there was the hiccup of the bride herself. He needed to find someone who would be willing to enter into such an arrangement, a girl who would keep sentimentality out of it. A girl who would not be scared off by Regina, and who wouldn't try and take him for every cent he owned.

He ran his fingers through his hair broodingly. This was where it would get complicated. He barely had any female acquaintances, let alone friends. Certainly none he could trust with this kind of delicate proposition.

There was a knock at the door. Irritated, Mr. Gold looked up from his broodings to see his secretary poke her head in.

"I'm going out to lunch in a few minutes, sir," She said briefly, as she always did around this time. "Do you need anything?"

He shook his head, waving her off. Usually, around midmorning or so, he'd dictate memos and the occasional letter, but his meeting with Regina had pushed that aside. His secretary quietly shut the door behind him and he idly watched her through the glass window panel as she gathered her things. Despite her distasteful commentary on him, Belle French was good at her job. She was entirely unflappable, never getting upset, never shedding a tear, even during his foulest tempers. He'd gone through at least twelve secretaries before she showed up.

He continued to stare at her with renewed interest. Miss French did have a certain practicality about her. She wasn't giggly or silly, not like the other girls he'd noticed about the office. She was never anything but professional and detached, a clear career woman, smart enough to see the advantages of this…business arrangement.

Mr. Gold shook himself for a moment, recoiling at the idea. After her commentary at the diner, did he honestly want to propose this deal to her?

But then again, he argued to himself, it didn't matter what she thought of him. This was a business arrangement. He got along more tolerably with his secretary than he did with most women and in any case, it would only be for six months.

The more he considered the idea, the more he liked it. His secretary certainly wasn't rich, not on his salary. He could offer a substantial amount of money in exchange for her going through with it. If she was as smart as he thought, she would accept, and he would get Sidheag back.

He pressed the buzzer. "Miss French, a moment before you go."

Belle paused in her ministrations. She picked up her notebook, probably assuming he'd remembered a memo he'd wanted sent out at the last minute. She crossed her office and entered his. She stood in front of his desk expectantly.

Mr. Gold hesitated. A man noted for perfect composure, he wasn't entirely certain how to bring up such a personal matter and turn it into an impersonal transaction. He frowned, emboldening himself, and started to speak. Belle, whose thoughts had wandered and was not concentrating on her work, automatically took down what he said without actually realizing what it was.

Then she translated her shorthand.

Mr. Gold observed her carefully, waiting for the inevitable shock, but she gave none. She merely stared at her notebook. Her blue eyes narrowed slightly, but he could perceive no other reaction.

Belle, however, had wondered for a moment if she'd suffered a stroke. Or perhaps a blow to the head. Both possibilities seemed far more logical than what was written down in her notebook.

She finally tilted her face towards him, pulling herself together. "I'm afraid I didn't get that, Mr. Gold."

His expression was wry. "I believe you did, Miss French. I asked whether you would consider a purely business proposal of marriage."

This time he got more of a reaction. Her mouth opened slightly and he noticed a few spots of color on her cheeks. It was about time she showed some emotion.

"Don't misunderstand," He tented his fingers. "I have recently been left my grandfather's estate in Scotland. However, to claim them I must fulfill certain…traditional conditions, otherwise I lose the estate."

"Conditions?" Belle squeaked.

"To be married," Mr. Gold clarified. "It would, of course, be a temporary arrangement."

She stared at him for what seemed like hours. Finally, she wetted her lips to speak.

"I—er—well, I'm afraid I'm already engaged," She stammered out.

This time it was Mr. Gold who was surprised. For some odd, unexplainable reason, he'd never imagined his briskly efficient secretary to even have a romantic side, let a lone a fiancé.

"I've been presumptuous, I'd assumed you were single," He looked pointedly at her bare left hand. She covered it self-consciously.

"I don't really wear it at work," Belle explained. "It just feels…inappropriate to…I don't know, flaunt my personal life."

Mr. Gold's eyebrows rose. She certainly was an odd creature. Didn't most women brag about catching husbands? The women who worked for him certainly seemed to like flaunting their personal lives, if the chatter in the lounges told him correctly. He could understand a 'modern' woman not wanting to wear an engagement ring, but a woman who felt it 'inappropriate to wear it while working', that was something else entirely.

"It is in that event, impossible," He said calmly. "Do you intend to keep working after you're married?"

Belle's lips twisted. "As far—as I know," She exhaled. "Garrett—my fiancé wants me to quit working, but I don't really want to. We haven't quite come to an agreement about that yet."

Mr. Gold nodded. She hurried on to say, "If I do, I'll be sure to give you plenty of notice."

He nodded again. "Of course. That'll be all, Miss French." He turned back to his sheaf of papers, already intent on preparations for plan B. He heard her awkwardly shift in one place before finally exiting his office. When she did, he felt an odd sort of emptiness. He couldn't entirely pinpoint the reason why.

It was a pity. It would've been a perfect solution.

XXXXXX

Belle's mind swam as she left her building. She still wasn't entirely sure what had just transpired and the shock of it all left her flushed. Her first instinct was to text Ruby and tell her everything. She knew that Ruby would be as stunned as she was and listening to Ruby's input could be valuable. But when she pulled out her phone to do so, she hesitated. She put her phone back into her purse.

She'd seen paperwork on Sidheag before but she didn't know her boss's connection to it. She'd assumed it was merely another one of his business ventures. Perhaps it was. Even so, it must mean a great deal to him if he was willing to undergo a 'business marriage' to obtain it.

As much as she wanted to confide in Ruby, Belle wasn't a gossip. This was clearly a private matter for Mr. Gold and she didn't feel like starting rumors for her own enjoyment. It's not like it was any of her business. Still, as she crossed the street, she felt a little sad for her boss. To resort to asking an employee to marry him, just to comply with the terms of a will—that was a distressing endeavor.

She decided to put it out of her mind, focusing her thoughts on her absent fiancé. Garrett was a computer systems analyst for a privately owned accounting office. It seemed like the most boring job in existence (not that Belle's secretary gig was winning awards on thrill) but it had its perks. Like Belle, Garrett had his own office and his afternoons were slow, as most of the bugs he had to contend with were in the early morning, when computer traffic was at its highest. There were other perks to having a computer savvy fiancé too—Belle never had to worry about taking her MacBook to an Apple genius for an exorbitant amount of money and when her chargers decided to die (she did own a Mac after all) Garrett always had a spare one for her.

She pulled out her phone again, this time calling Garrett. She waited patiently as the phone rang, bypassing Granny's diner. Garrett's building was just behind the diner, across the street.

"Hello?" Garrett answered, a bit breathlessly.

"Hey," Belle said with a smile. "Listen, I know we got sidetracked last night, so I decided to surprise you with lunch. I'm headed towards your building." She stopped abruptly as a taxi honked at her rudely.

"Oh—uh—I'm actually kind of busy for lunch," Garrett said hurriedly, sounding frazzled. Belle frowned in disappointment.

"Well, let me at least drop it off," She persisted. "It's tuna salad, I made it last night. I brought over some brochures to look over for the wedding. Mary Margaret gave them to me, and a bunch of them look really nice."

"Can't you give them to me later?"

Belle blinked, a little hurt as she walked through the doors. "It'll only take a second if you're really busy," She said finally. "I'm in your lobby now. I'll drop off the food and brochures and get out of your hair. Just…don't work too hard, okay?"

"All right…"

Belle tried not to let it bother her when he abruptly hung up. She didn't like being a bother to anyone, certainly not her fiancé. Maybe Mary Margaret's plan of surprising him during his lunch hour wasn't such a great idea after all. Still, she was here, so there wasn't any turning back. She crossed the hallway, nodding politely at the bored-looking receptionist and knocked on the door that read GASTON.

She opened it, smiling at her fiancé. "Hey," She greeted him warmly, setting her plastic grocery sack of food on his desk.

Garrett was a good-looking man in all respects. He was at least a foot taller than her and certainly fulfilled the 'tall, dark, and handsome' trope with his broad shoulders and chiseled features. Belle's lips screwed in sympathy; he looked stressed beyond belief, hair tousled, papers and whatnot littered across his work area.

"Hey yourself," His eyes flitted. He pecked her on the cheek and Belle noticed his palms were sweaty when she leaned in to embrace him.

"Everything okay?" She questioned worriedly.

"Mmhmm," He nodded quickly. "This looks great, Belle. Thank you."

"No problem," Belle attempted to kiss him again but he turned his head, so she only caught him on the jaw. She shrugged, presuming his mind was elsewhere. She tilted her head for a moment, thinking she'd heard a thump of some kind near the supply closet but ignored it.

"I like the idea of a church wedding," Belle said after a pause. "There are some really nice ones here…" She pulled out a manila folder containing a few pamphlets. "The botanical gardens look really pretty too."

"Sure. I'll look at them when I get my break," Garrett said in a rushed voice. He took the pamphlets and set them down without giving them a second glance.

Belle fidgeted, twisting her fingers together. "All right," She said uncomfortably. "I guess I'll head back to work…you know how my boss gets."

"Right," Garrett barked out a laugh. She stretched on her tiptoes towards him for another kiss, and this time he obliged her, although it was short-lived and not at all satisfying. She sighed a little against him, but turned back, giving him one last smile before walking out the door.

Belle supposed it was her own fault for attempting spontaneity. Garrett had never liked surprises—he'd always been a born planner. It was something they had in common. She decided that attempting to vary things simply didn't work for the two of them.

Belle was halfway to the lobby when she realized she'd left her purse next to Garrett's lunch. She cursed silently. Rolling her eyes at her carelessness, she turned around and marched back towards his office.

Her hand twisted around the door handle. "Garrett, I forgot my—" Belle froze, her insides turning to ice.

Her fiancé was leaning against his desk, arms wrapped around a leggy blonde who was moaning as he kissed her neck. The two of them sprang apart and Belle took in the woman's distinct lack of clothing.

"Belle—" Garrett gulped. "It's not what it—I can explain—"

Belle, strangely, felt nothing. Her stomach was still lined with frost. She crossed the room and calmly took her purse. She looked up at her fiancé who was licking his lips anxiously.

"I think—" She said quietly. "I'll take these back." She picked up the scattered pamphlets.

"Enjoy your lunch," Belle said coldly before walking out the door.

XXXXX

Belle waited until she was in Granny's diner before starting to cry.

It was over. It was all over. Everything was ruined. The man she loved, the man she wanted to spend her life with—he'd been cheating on her all this time. How stupid had she been? How could she have not seen the signs? Was she really that much of a fool? She'd been so intent on starting a new chapter of her life, so focused on leaving Mary Margaret's house and finally having a life of her own, she'd missed the obvious.

She wanted to call Ruby. She wanted to call Mary Margaret. But somehow, the humiliation of admitting that her engagement was over was too much to bear. She could not deal with the sympathetic looks, the hugs, Ruby's vows to mutilate Garrett.

Nor could she face the shame of telling Mary Margaret that she'd be living with them indefinitely. It wasn't as though her friend would be upset or disappointed—Mary Margaret was never anything but nurturing and maternal. But Belle still hated herself for constantly depending on Mary Margaret. She wanted freedom. She thought she had it with Garrett.

Belle put her face in her hands. What else could she do? Move back in with her father? That would mean she'd be back under his 'my roof, my rules' mentality, meaning whatever she earned was his. It would mean hiding her credit cards, arguing with him over the dinner table, and locking herself in her room like a teenager, feeling furious at his lack of rationality.

She'd have to stay with Mary Margaret for longer. The Nolans would never ask her to leave, especially as she was paying them rent, but no matter what, she'd still be a burden. She'd still be reliant on her friends to take care of her.

Belle needed a way out.

Then suddenly, it came to her. Mr. Gold's deal.

There was an instant withdrawal at the idea. Belle wanted love and laughter in her life, not a calculated business marriage with someone she wasn't even sure she liked. No. It was out of the question.

But still…Belle pondered. Mr. Gold had called it a business arrangement. That meant she would surely receive some compensation for her part of the deal. Enough compensation to move out of the Nolans house, no matter how bad her credit was. He was the one who needed her, that put her at an advantage to ask for what she wanted.

Assuming of course, the offer was still open.

Belle bit her lip. Her lunch hour was nearly over. Wiping the messy mascara from her eyes, she redid her makeup, and paid for her iced tea. She straightened, walking back towards her office.

She didn't even pause as she strode across her adjoining office and knocked on Mr. Gold's office door. She knew her resolve would weaken if she didn't get it over with now.

When she received his permission, she slipped into his quarters. She nearly panicked when Mr. Gold cast his cool, dark eyes upon her.

"Yes?" He asked.

Belle swallowed. Do the brave thing, and bravery will follow. "I was wondering…" She looked him dead in the eye. "I was wondering if the business proposition you mentioned to me was still open."

Mr. Gold watched her, eyebrows raised.

"Because if it is, I'd like to accept."