The response to this fic was almost overwhelming and I'd just like to take a few seconds to thank everyone who left a review and PM'ed me for the next chapter. I apologize that it took so long but here it is! We get a little sneak peak into Regina's life and meet a few more characters in this chapter so I hope you all enjoy! Also, feel free to PM me your thoughts or leave a review so I can thank you all properly!

PS. also, my beta is on vacation so any mistakes are my own.
PSS. Sorry for all the notifications but wouldn't post the chapter properly.

"I will. I'll see you around, Power Suit."

Regina's mind was reeling from her experience with Anna as she followed David through the crowd of half-naked women and men with very noticeable bulges in their pants; the once appealing green and yellow lights now causing a dull throb on her temples. God, what the hell was wrong with her? Acting like a horny teenager was below her! What if this 'Anna' knew who she was? What if someone in here recognized her? or worse, what if her Mother found out? Cora Mills had always kept the Mills family name immaculate and she would definitely not appreciate it if tabloid articles about Regina's escapades in a strip club makes it to the 6 o'clock news.

A groan rumbles in the woman's throat as they approach the exit, the sound inaudible above the boom of the speakers, "Did you have fun?" David asks from up ahead, not bothering to look back at Regina.
"It was..." The brunette considers the answer for a few moments, "...Okay." Regina lied easily.
The experience was so much more than 'okay'; it was intense, tension-filled, make-you-wet-amazingly-sexy amazing. It was- "Oof!"
David suddenly stops halfway out the door, causing Regina to slam against his broad back.
"What are y-"
"Get back inside!" The man hissed as Regina looks up enough to see a dozen or so cameras flashing in their direction.

"Mr. Nolan! Look right here!"
"David!"
"Who's that woman you're with?"
"That looks like Regina Mills!"
"Is that Regina Mills behind you?"

Questions were being fired simultaneously and Regina was thankful for David's build, it was certainly serving to shield her from the cameras. Without needing to be told twice, Regina quickly drops her gaze to the floor before scampering back into the darkness of the club.

"What the hell is the paparazzi doing here?!" She whispers harshly just as David closes the gap between them, panic settling in her gut like a heavy rock. The man chuckles whilst running a hand through his soft, blonde hair, "We belong to the 1%, the richest and most powerful in the country, remember?" He says with a dry laugh, "Someone wanting to make a quick buck must have called them and let them know we were here."

Regina internally curses whoever had set the hounds on them, the last thing she needed was to have her face plastered on the front page along with David, Philip and Eric. Which, speaking of whom, the woman hadn't seen since she had gone into the private room.

Before Regina can even ask about the two men, she spots Philip awkwardly half-jogging towards where they are, "We can't go out the back way, they've got the damn place surrounded. I managed to get Eric into a cab before they spotted us." He says as soon as they come to a stop just in front of Regina. "How are we going to get out of here? I can't get photographed in a strip club, Aurora would kill me!" Philip says, a slight panic tainting his smooth as silk voice. "Okay, listen-" Regina starts but he's cut off by David's light chuckling. When the man notices the way Regina and Philip had glared, he clears his throat and mutters a quick, "Sorry.

It makes the brunette roll her eyes, the nerve on her forehead throbbing again with annoyance. "I can have my chopper pick us up." Philip announces but Regina quickly shoots the idea down, "We have to be subtle about leaving, not turn it into a scene out of a cheesy 80's secret agent movie."

Just then, Ruby and another woman approaches the group. Regina noted that the other woman was not a waitress; for one, she was wearing a beautiful emerald green, long sleeved dress and a leather vest on top; Regina watches as her high-heeled leather boots tap lightly against the tiled floor as they approach.

"Is there a problem?" The brunette says in a heavy English accent, "My name is Zelena. I'm the manager."
"Finally." Regina sighs in relief, glad to have a few sober and able-thinking people around her. She ushers the manager to follow her through the crowd and towards a blacked out window, allowing the slightly red-headed woman to peek through the curtains, "You see those pests outside?"
"The paparazzi? I doubt anyone would miss the blinding flashes of light."
"Exactly." Regina says before pushing the curtains back in it's place. "They're after us and we need to leave as discreetly as possible."
The manager tilts her head slightly, "Well, that's going to be a problem. There are only two ways out of this building and they've surrounded the club."

Just then, David makes his way towards the two women, stopping just behind Regina.
"There has to be another way out, a fire exit?" He asks, "An underground tunnel?" Philip adds unhelpfully from his place beside Red.
Zelena turns her attention to the man with a shake of her head, "There is a fire escape, but it leads to the back of the club which is, again, teeming with photographers. Unfortunately, it did not occur to the club owners to build an underground tunnel." Zelena answers pointedly, her patience with drunk men already as short as Regina's.

"Well, I refuse to wait them out." David says, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
The manager lets out a deep sigh, "I'm afraid there is no other w-" "If I may?" Ruby interrupts, peeking from behind David's broad shoulders. "You can go through the roof." She adds with a shrug and it makes Regina release an exasperated sigh. "For the last time, we're not going to use a helicopter to get out of here."
A soft chuckle escapes the waitress' lips as she shakes her head, "The club is connected to a few buildings, you can get to the next block and hail a cab or something."

David leans in even closer upon hearing Red's proposal, "You're sure we can get to the other street through there?"
"Yeah." The waitress nods before turning to her boss, "Sorry boss, but I may or may not help some of the girls out through there when they need a break..."

Regina watched the exchange with little curiosity as the only thing in her mind at the moment was getting out of here without being spotted. "Take us there." she chimes in before Zelena can speak. The waitress nods once and then turns towards the left, to the door the servers would use to get in and out of the storage area. They push past the black double door and into the large room, turning right then up a short hallway towards, what Regina assumes, are the stairs to the roof.

Her heels click in a steady pace along with Red's and Zelena's as they make their way past several rows of wooden shelves lining up the room. It is well stocked with any provisions a club might need. They walk past several glass cases that lined the cream-colored wall along the hallway. It was filled with every wine and liquor that Regina could think of, wines in one case, champagne in the other; several others containing varieties of bronze and gold filled bottles.

"An impressive inventory you have here, I didn't expect it from such a place." Regina says to Zelena just as they reach a black steel door.
"Only the best drinks make it down my dancers' body and on to our clients lips." The redhead says with a sly smirk before ushering everyone through the door and towards a simple, but brightly lit, staircase.
Regina shook her head lightly as she slips just behind Red, "I suppose so." She mutters just as the waitress pushes open the door; letting them out onto the roof.

The fresh air is like a hug against Regina's lungs after so much time in a room filled with cigar smoke, alcohol and sex. She takes in a large gulp and closes her eyes, blindly walking further into the rooftop area.

"We go through here?" Philip's voice is low and soft, years of experience had taught him how sharp paparazzi ears could be. Smart man, Regina thought to herself before pulling out her phone and hitting a button for her speed dial.

As the phone rang, Regina looks back at her present company. Red, Philip and David were talking about the route that the group was supposed to take to get to the other street while Zelena simply stood by the door, keeping it open as she watched as well.

"Miss Mills." A rough husky voice says,
"Where are you?"
"A few streets away just as you wanted."
"Good. Move to 62nd and wait for us. How soon can you get there?"
"Two minutes."
"Good."

Without waiting for a response, Regina disconnects the call before heading back to where the group had gathered; everyone seemed to be confident enough at what they were about to do and it gave Regina just a little bit of hope that perhaps they wouldn't be caught tonight.

"Thank you very much for you help." Regina says to the two women while the David and Philip began to make calls of their own.
"It's no trouble, we take care of our clients." Zelena answers with a sincere smile, her hands crossed in front of her much like how Regina would stand in front of her own clients.

"I trust you and your employees know the importance of anonymity to your clients?" The brunette knew it was common practice to keep identity a secret in this industry but she wanted to verbalize her worries nonetheless.
"Of course, Miss Mills." She says with a sincere and bright smile, "You were never here but I'm afraid your friends are another story. They've both been photographed and pictures I cannot deny." Zelena adds before reaching into the pocket of her vest and pulling out a card, it was intricately designed with gold and green with the club logo embellished at the top right hand corner. "If you ever need some place to let off some steam, you're free to come here. Consider yourself a VIP."

Knowing full well she wouldn't come back to this place, Regina had all the reason to reject the card but she could see how a partnership with this Zelena could pay off. An exclusive status at one of the best clubs in the state would definitely win Regina some points from her male clients as well as some of the more adventurous females. That was definitely something Regina would not pass up. "I appreciate it." she says with a soft smile before taking the card and slipping it into a random slit in her wallet.

"Let's go." David announces, signalling to Regina and Philip that it was time to leave.

After a full block walking in heels, a rogue pigeon, and several angry rats Regina and her company finally make it to where the men had parked their cars, two were parked equidistant from each other while another one was running in idle.

"This is me." Philip says as they walk closer to a black Audi A6, "I have to say, this was definitely a fun night. I'll be waiting for a call, Regina." He adds before reaching into his coat pocket and pulling out his keys. The two beeps sound like blaring horns in the quiet night and it makes all three of them freeze mid-step. After a moment of listening to their surroundings, Regina and David let out a sigh of relief.

Regina glared at Philip, who in turn threw her an apologetic smile, "Sorry."

"Get out of here. Say Hello to Aurora and little Philip for me." David chuckles lightly, nudging his shoulder to urge Philip towards his car. The man groans at the mention of his wife then nods, "I will. I'll see you guys around." He answers before hopping into the driver seat and leaving as quietly as his car let him.

Once Philip was gone, Regina and David make their way to the second car. A white GMC Sierra with black tinted windows parked under a flickering light post, "Let me bring you to your car, Regina."

"Thank you but there's no need." The woman smiles and shakes her head lightly as her car quietly moves parallel to the truck. David narrowed his eyes to see into the car but the driver was obscured by the darkness as it pulls up, the door right within Regina's reach.
"You know, you should really update your car." David muses lightly.
The random thought amuses her and makes Regina chuckle, "I have a more refined taste for vehicles, I like the classics."
"Fair enough." David smiles, placing his hands on his hips, "What model?"
"560 SL Mercedes Benz. All stock." she answers just as the driver reaches over the center console to open the passenger door for her. Regina turns and steps one foot into the car before looking back at David, "Expect a call from me."

His face twitches in an effort to stop a smile from stretching his lips but eventually he fails and ends up smiling like a teenager, "Of course. You've shown you can go toe-to-toe with Eric, Philip and I in our own game, call us and we'll be there." He answers with a charming smile before slipping into his own car, Regina doing the same and sitting down on the passenger seat after a quick, "Wonderful."

Regina relaxes against the seat as the man beside her began to drive towards her home, the events of tonight lazily flitting through her mind; the drinks, the smell of alcohol and cigarettes that permeated the air in the club, how the leather and velvet seats felt against her skin and the pleasurable warmth and taste from the wine, and of course, Anna. She had tried to think of all the women she had seen tonight but all the faces she could come up with were pushed aside by just one woman. Soft blonde hair, emerald green eyes, skin as soft as silk and those lips… "Did you have a good time, Miss Mills?" Her companion asks without taking his eyes off the road.

"Quite. It would have been better if the press didn't make an unwanted appearance." The heiress adds, irritation coloring her voice.
The man beside her chuckles once, the sound was deep and smooth, "Don't worry. I'm already on it."
"Good." Regina nods before allowing her eyes to close.

It was a move she will soon come to despise, because as soon as she closes her eyes, images of Anna flash behind her lids; grinding and desperate against her thigh. Faster and harder against her, the decadent sounds the blonde was emitting echoing in her head.

"Are you alright?" The man asks, causing Regina's eyes to snap open. It takes her a few seconds before she is able to answers with a weak nod, "Are you sure? You were groaning."

Her gut instantly twists nervously, was she?
"Groaning?" The brunette asked incredulously, "I don't groan." she adds.
"You don't groan, huh?"
"Of course not. I've never made such an unladylike sound."
"Maybe I was mistaken..."
"You were."
"Then maybe you were moaning?"
"Graham!" Regina yelps and then laughs at how absurd he was being.
It makes the man laugh too, deep and full, "I'm just saying..." he says before stopping in front of Regina's apartment building.

"Remind me to thank Sidney for talking me into purchasing an apartment in the city." She muses as the valet opens the door for her. She nods her thanks to the man before looking back at Graham, noticing the amused look on his face.

"What?" She shrugs nonchalantly.
Graham mirrors the action, "I'd remind you but you wouldn't thank him anyway."
Regina nodded at that, knowing it to be true and painfully accurate. "Well... He works best when he thinks he's not being appreciated." she answers simply. "Pick me up at 8 AM tomorrow."
"It's already 4AM that's less than four hours of sleep, Miss Mills." Graham argues but Regina simply brushes off his comment,
"8 AM." She repeats firmly before pushing the passenger door closed and making her way into the building, her thoughts still filled with blonde hair and green eyes. Memories that stayed with Regina well into the night and until the following morning.

Beeeeeeep

"Yes, Ms. Mills?" A disembodied, but clearly cautious sounding, female voice asks from the desktop intercom.
"Where the hell is Sidney? I wanted him here ten minutes ago!" Regina barks at the machine, her hands slamming against the desk loudly and causing the poor secretary to squeak in fear just outside her office door.
"I'll c-call him- No, I'll get him right now!" The woman stutters and Regina could hear the panicked and uneven footsteps as the woman practically runs to Sidney's office.

Her secretary's initiative to drag Sidney to her office would make Regina proud if she wasn't so livid. The paperwork for her latest, and most personal project, was not even close to being complete and the investors were already lined up.

Regina anxiously taps her pen against the table and the heel of her purple peep-toe heels against the hardwood flooring of her office, she had personally taken care of all the legal aspects of the proposal as well as the projected financial needs that the project might need; Sidney was in charge of the program itself, plans and actions that the project would undertake. Of course now Regina can see how much of a mistake that was; aside from the front page of his report and a blank table of contents, there was close to no work done on Sidney's part.

It was times like this that the brunette would regret giving Sidney such an integral position in her company. Sidney Glass was no business genius, he was more adept with the social side of the business industry; newspapers, magazines, tabloids and social media was his expertise. Something Regina just did not have the time or patience for. Still, despite the man's shortcomings, Regina knew she would not be in her position without him. Sidney had helped her gain the trust and support of the company's stockholders thanks to well timed photos and forced attendance to social gatherings that Regina would not have gone to had she been given a choice. He opened her up to the art of gaining business without talking business and for that Regina would be thankful.

To calm herself and her mind, Regina takes a deep breath as she looks around her office, to her left is a long glass board that was filled with her graceful penmanship was mounted on the space next to her door, and on the other end of her office is the magnificent view of the Miami skyline thanks to the full length, floor to ceiling windows of her 50th floor office. Compared to how it looked several years ago, there wasn't many decorative pieces in her office except for some plants, a large mirror and several lamps. She leans back against the plush cushion of her executive office chair as she looks at a particular scratch on her floor, just in front of the unused fireplace.

The fine flooring had been damaged several years back when Henry had somehow gotten into an argument with a marble horse while Regina had him on her hip as she talked on the phone. All the warning the businesswoman got was a quick scream before Henry reached out and swiped at the horse, knocking it off it's spot over the fireplace and shattering it at their feet.

"Miss Mills?" her secretary's breathless voice calls into the room, pulling Regina from her thoughts. "Sidney is here."
Taking a deep breath, the woman leans against her desk and nods to herself; feeling calmer than before.
"Thank you, Mary Margaret. Send him in." Regina says into the intercom and a moment later, the door swings open and the slightly lanky, milk-chocolate skinned man steps in. His posture calm but his eyes betraying the slight panic that comes with being called into the woman's office.

He walks cautiously towards the desk, his steps quiet and his eyes darting around the room like a prey walking into the lion's den. "Regina." Sidney greets with a soft nod and his eyes downcast.
"Sidney." Was the woman's cold reply.
The two were quiet for several moments, Regina burning holes into Sidney's head with her gaze and the man doing everything in his power to avoid meeting the fiery chocolate orbs. After several seconds, it was Sidney that relented; letting out a heavy sigh. "I'm sorry I don't have the materials ready, -" "You're a dear ally, Sidney. Which is why I'm going to keep this short." Regina says quickly, cutting him off mid-sentence.

"Regina, I-"
"You've known me long enough to know that I do not want nor do I need your apology; I wanted action Sidney, I thought this was done and you've failed to deliver yet again." She continues, her expression unreadable. She could visibly see the sweat forming on the man's forehead, his lips beginning to quiver and his eyes almost bugging out of their sockets. Regina reveled in it. In the fear and respect she had from her employees; Sidney seemed to have forgotten just how brutal she can be and this was an opportunity to remind him. "Two weeks. We will be holding the investors meeting in a month and I want you to have your material ready long before then. You know the consequences if you don't."

She notices his shoulders visibly relax enough to release a breath, "Regina I'm a senior manag-"
"If you fail to deliver, then I don't need you. Do you know what happens to things that I don't need, Sidney?" Regina counters, cutting the man off yet again. Instead of answering, Sidney simply drops his gaze and nods; looking very much like a kicked puppy.
"That's all for now, Mister Glass. I'll see you again in two weeks."

After only a few hours at the office and a dozen interns running for their lives, Regina decides to leave early. She finds herself in a small coffee shop three blocks away from Henry's school, waiting for his classes to finish; a random book and a large cup of cappuccino on the table in front of her.

Regina loved to read. She loved how she could read scribbles on a once blank page and get lost in another time or another world but despite her need to escape, Regina couldn't stop her mind from drifting. As hard as she tried to focus on the words on the pages, she just can't bring her mind to focus and with an exasperated sigh, she slams the book closed. The only two people in the cafe with her that were huddled around the corner turned to look, glaring behind their over-sized hipster glasses that Regina was sure they didn't even need. "What?" She barks at the two, making them both bury their noses into their cups.

The brunette immediately feels bad for snapping at the two but knew it would be pointless to apologize. She was just so frustrated at the fact that she couldn't focus because it was very unlike her. She was not the type to be distracted by anything, especially something she didn't even know.

All Regina knew was that her mind would space out and turn to white noise whenever she tried to focus. "God damn it..." Regina hisses under her breath as she sits back and rubs her temples. What was wrong with her? Was she ill? Maybe she was losing her mind. Yes, that was possible. Sidney's idiocy must have rubbed off on her.

Regina was so deeply entrenched in her thoughts that it took her several seconds to realize that her phone was blaring a familiar ringtone for Henry's bodyguard, "Hello?"
"Momma!"
The voice of her son caused her mind to instantly relax, "Henry." Regina says with a soft smile, "Are you done with school?"
Henry giggles happily before answering, "Yes! Miss Ingrid said we was good!"
"It's 'were' good, dear." She corrected.
"I know you're good too, Momma!"

Regina chuckles at her son's answer because really only her son would associate being good with her; normally it would be ruthless, aggressive or downright scary. With hurried movements, she tucks her book back into her bag before heading towards the door, "Mulan and me are going home!" Henry adds happily and it makes Regina take hurried steps as she pushed through the door, unknowingly putting herself in the path of another person carrying several bags, "No, Henry! I'll pick you up. Give me a few m-oof!"

The other person stumbles past the door, passing through just in time before it closed between them, "Watch it, Power Suit! Jeez!" The woman barks behind her, not bothering to look back fully at the customer that had bumped into her.

Regina threw a deadly glare at the blonde as the woman made her way to the counter, an employee? And a rude employee at that. She had half a mind to step back inside the restaurant to give the woman a piece of her mind when a small voice penetrated her thoughts, "Momma? Momma are you gonna pick us up?" Henry asked, his voice small and happy. It makes Regina shake her head, clearing it of any angry or negative thoughts, "Yes, Henry. I'm on my way."

Minutes after Graham had picked her up and while they had stopped in front of Henry's preschool, was when she realized what that blonde woman had called her, Power Suit. Only one other person had called her by that name and it makes an uncomfortable weight settle on her gut, it couldn't be, could it? Had she just bumped into Anna?