Emma boldly pushed open the large white doors of the office, insisting to herself that she wasn't at all nervous (the jittery feeling in her stomach begged to differ). She was still unsure as to whether this woman was even going to be the one from the magazine, it didn't seem to make any sense.. Once inside she was surprised by the sheer scale of the room, it was much larger than anything she had pictured. Unlike the minimal approach taken with the rest of the building this room was tastefully done in a black and white theme, framed by black marble columns and a marble and granite floor. It seemed to be divided into a few areas, there was lounge with sofas and a fireplace, a conference table and a desk which Emma turned to last. She hardly had time to take any of the details in because sitting there, staring right at her, was none other than the woman she'd just been reading about, Regina Mills, her eyes gleaming with a faint amusement and a smile curling at her lips which seemed almost predatory.

'People are often surprised that this place is all mine,' she broke the silence proudly and the sound echoed slightly in the vastness of the room, 'I suppose I got pretty lucky.' The tone of Regina's voice suggested that luck had almost nothing to do with it at all. Emma couldn't help but glance around her again, still trying to take in all of her surroundings. The scenario was so unlike the one she had expected that she wasn't sure how to process it. 'Well, are you just going to stand there gawping or will we get started?' Regina interjected, less amused now and eyeing a seat in front of her desk, 'and your name is?' Emma snapped back to reality and made her way to sit down, her cheeks colouring faintly with embarrassment.

'I'm Emma Swan,' she answered, and she forced herself to meet the other woman's eyes, 'and I'm sorry this is just a little different to what I was expecting I—'

'Yes Miss Swan,' Regina interrupted, 'well the ad was purposely vague I'm afraid. But I have a few questions to ask you before I elaborate. I'd appreciate if you gave yes or no answers only as I have an incredibly tight schedule. Do you understand?'

Emma's eyebrows raised ever so slightly, she wasn't sure she liked the patronising edge to Regina's words, but she nodded anyway. She could always duck out if this all got too ridiculous and before she had more time to hesitate the other woman had begun her quick fire of questions:

'Have you been previously employed by any other media outlet, fashion related or other?'

'No.'

'Do you have any experience as a cleaner?'

Emma hesitated, but decided she had little choice but to tell the truth, 'No.'

Regina's expression didn't give away a particular reaction, if she had one.

'Are you presently in a relationship with anyone who-'

'Hey, I'm sorry but I don't see what that has got to do with the job.' Emma interjected, and admittedly she had been looking for an excuse to do so, but she still felt her point was valid. With one glance upwards, Regina's eyes shot daggers right through Emma's confidence.

'If you had allowed me to finish, I was asking in case you were personally involved with any of our competitors,' she said curtly, 'it is incredibly important that they don't get hints about upcoming issues. I'd appreciate if you didn't jump to conclusions again.' Emma opened her mouth to protest, but Regina was already continuing on. 'Are you in a relationship with anyone who works for one of our competitors or any other media outlets?' Emma silently begrudged the question again, but for some reason she gave in. An effect rarely anyone had succeeded in achieving with Emma Swan, she could be incredibly stubborn at the best of times.

'No.' Emma answered, and Regina's smirk graced her lips so briefly that it was impossible to be sure that it had been there at all.

'Will you be willing to take on flexible shifts, that wouldn't necessarily be the same each week? Your pay will remain fixed even if one week you do less hours than usual, and of course there will still be additional pay for any extra hours?'

Emma didn't really have to think about that one, in fact, it sounded like it would work to her benefit. She hadn't had a consistent weekly wage at the bar and the idea of one was incredibly appealing.

'Sure.' She said. Regina nodded.

'And would you be willing to sign a non-disclosure agreement entailing that you do not discuss any company business that you may come across nor any of my personal information?' Emma was puzzled by the last bit of that, but she nodded her head, and the other woman sat back in her seat a little.

'Good,' she said, 'your answers were satisfactory. I'll explain a little more about the position now.' Emma wouldn't deny that she was intrigued at this point, here was this powerful woman in a her big grand office, with her secretive job offer and possibly most intense technique for interviewing a cleaner ever.

'If you succeed in getting the job, you will be my personal cleaner. Your main tasks will involve cleaning my office and private bathroom. Should I need it, I may also request that you also provide your cleaning services in my home, this will only be on rare occasions when my schedule means that I don't have time to do so myself. Once again I have to emphasise that you will be expected to act with the utmost discretion towards my personal privacy,' Regina slid a paper covered in fine print towards Emma, 'here are all the details of the job, along with the terms and conditions. There is also information about your salary.'

Maybe it was Emma's mistake, but the original ad had read that the job on offer was 'a cleaning position', she'd assumed that just meant tidying up a couple offices when the work day was over, sweeping the floor, throwing out the trash, that kind of deal. But being Regina's personal cleaner sounded way more intense, for one, she had no experience as a professional cleaner in the first place – and while it couldn't be hard, she also was pretty sure that this woman had incredibly high standards, Emma certainly didn't want to get on her bad side. Moreover would she even be able to stand her? Sure, maybe Emma wouldn't even encounter Regina too much, but in this short interview alone she had already felt herself growing greatly irritated by Regina's rather blunt attitude. Would this job really be a cleaning position, or would she end up being Regina Mills' personal slave? Emma couldn't help but feel like there was something she was missing.

'Out in reception I saw a copy of Brooke with you on the cover, 'fashion's own evil queen'? Is that really what they call you?' She asked, almost certain that it wasn't appropriate but equally sure that she wasn't going to take a job if she was likely to be treated like crap by her boss. Regina shifted slightly in her seat, not much at all but just enough for Emma to notice her vague discomfort, and just for a moment her hardened gaze seemed to soften.

'I suppose that is what people have called me before, yes,' she said, 'but in that issue we found it convenient to use as a theme for the photo shoot.' She seemed to shake herself out of whatever had come over her then, her eyes shot back up to meet Emma's. 'You have a day to decide whether or not you are still interested in the position,' she said, 'if you are then you will undergo a test shift to ensure you are suitable. You will be asked to sign the non-disclosure agreement on that day. Do you have anymore questions?'

Emma was intrigued by the way Regina's apparent reputation had shaken something within her, but she didn't dare ask any further questions. She folded the paper she had given her and put it in her pocket.

'No that will be all,' she said assuredly, she let her eyes linger on the other woman for a moment too long, as if she could figure her out just by looking at her, 'I'll get back to you in a day then, I guess.' Emma stood up and made to leave.

'Thank you for your time, Miss Swan.' Called Regina curtly, and Emma glanced back at her briefly. It was odd but as she left the office she realised that things had just gone surprisingly well. Regina hadn't torn her apart, in fact, she'd kind of offered her the job (provided she passed her test day). Emma knew things must have gone well when Snow looked so surprised that she was smiling as she said goodbye to her. Maybe Regina Mills was fashion's own evil queen, but maybe Emma Swan could handle it. She just hoped she wouldn't kick herself for thinking that later.