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Chapter Two
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Emma is hesitant, yes, but mostly excited. Is she really about to meet Killian Jones for the second time? She had worked with him once, almost a year ago, as a stunt for one of his pirate-themed music videos, but she doubted he would remember her. She follows the hot brunette to her car and decides she will take the risk. If anything she can take her, she's shorter than her, without the killer high heels that is, she can definitely take her.
Once in the car Emma starts to reconsider. She really needs to stop trusting people so easily, no matter how attractive they are. She could seriously be kidnapping her right now and she willingly got into her convertible. "Very smart Emma" She congratulates herself mentally.
-"Killian said to bring you to the hotel where you two first met, which one is it?" Emma's startled. So he does remember her. Wow, the blonde is once more excited.
-"The Ritz-Carlton, Central Park. Room 1210" Regina looks at her, exasperated. "Of course it is"
Forty minutes pass by and while Regina doesn't mind the silence, Emma finds it awkward, she can't stop the fiddling with her hands. Once they get there Emma follows the brunette inside and goes up in the elevator, Regina tells her to go ahead she will meet her shortly. She then takes the stairs. The brunette is exhausted when she finally meets her there. Emma wants to ask her what is wrong with her but decides against it. 'Rich people', she concludes.
After a minute of her regaining her breath back, Regina once again acknowledges Emma's presence. "So, this is where you first met Killian huh? Was it memorable?" She asks mockingly
Emma doesn't get the double innuendo and innocently replies "Yeah, it actually was. We cracked some real moves in here, it was dope"
Regina looks at her curiously "can I be blunt? I've never met someone in your .. line of work.. Is it common for actresses to start their careers this way? Didn't it bother you?"
"Why would it bother me? This place is great. In my line of work you don't often get such nice .. locations"
-"Yes? Do share dear, what were some other more memorable sites?"
-"Mostly outdoors" Emma says, surprised at Regina's amused and slightly disgusted facial expression, "also abandoned buildings, cars, airplanes, .."
-"You seem to be pretty straight forward and I can't stand not knowing things. So I must ask you: how much money do you usually get? From a top star like Killian for example?"
Regina eyes Emma once more. She realizes she's actually very attractive despite her lack of make-up, poor choice of attire, and messy hair. Regina feels bad for her. Killian must have dumped her because of her social status no doubt. And her crass language surely.
-"I actually don't get much more for working with a pop star. But honestly I was really happy for the opportunity I can't actually believe Killian freaking Jones remembers me"
Now exasperated Regina retorts "Well of course he remembers you. Didn't you date afterwards? He's a player but he's not that much of an asshole"
-"He said that?"
-"Well? Didn't you?" Before Emma can figure out what's going on Regina's iPhone goes off. Killian. The brunette excuses herself and takes the call.
-"When were you going to tell me you are not Kat?" Regina is pissed, brown eyes wide, pupils dilated.
Emma can't believe her rudeness "Lady you never asked for my name, you haven't even told me yours!"
-"This has been an enormous waste of my time. Come on, we have to go back. Kat is about to hold a press conference. I will never make it back on time"
They make it back on time. Emma takes the wheel and manages to go back to the filming site in 25 minutes. Regina is horrified, she swears she saw her life play before her eyes, but also impressed by the younger woman's ability, and yes, a little bit thankful. She parts ways with not-Kat and finds the real one before she can cause any damage to Killian's career.
On her way out she spots the blonde again. She's surrendered by five men wearing similar clothes to her. She takes them all down with precise skill and a bit of grace. Regina is once more impressed. "So this is what she does, she's an action star", she realizes
She waits for her to be done with the shoot
-"This is what you do? Action movies? Why did you let me think otherwise?
Emma laughs "Otherwise? I have no idea what you were thinking, I don't wanna know either"
-"You are injured" Regina points out, looking at Emma's bleeding arm
-"This is nothing, just a scratch. I got it earlier this morning"
-"I can't believe you've been walking around like this. You are coming with me"
Once in the hospital Emma realizes that she's actually drained. She has a slight fever and risk of infection so they provide her a private room, courtesy of Regina, where she can rest for a while.
Regina is about to leave her be when the younger woman's cellphone goes off. It's a flip phone, Regina smirks, who has flip phones in 2017? She picks it up anyway. It's a man named August Wood who claims to be Emma's boss. Her name is Emma, Regina learns. He gets quickly agitated when she tells him that the blonde is in the hospital. So he hangs up and rushes there.
Regina assured him she wouldn't leave Emma alone. So she sits at her side. Emma looks different when sleeping. No longer larger than life. But she's not peaceful either. She seems to be fighting even in her sleep. Her eyes moving to the sides from time to time, her eyebrows scrunched together. Regina wants to wake her, to save her from her nightmares. But she doesn't dare, instead she touches her face, lightly places the tip of her index in between her eyebrows and Emma's face relaxes immediately. Regina is delighted.
When Emma wakes up she finds Regina and August arguing in hushed voices. She's annoyed to have been awakened but quickly sits up. (Shit, why is August there?)
-"Emma I can't believe you came to the hospital and didn't let me know. Don't you trust me enough to tell me you were injured?" A hurt August inquires
-"I'm so sorry August, I really didn't need to come here" she says the last part while giving a nasty look to Regina
Regina, irritated, retorts "You are welcome"
-"Anyway, I should leave now. Thank you both for everything"
Both Regina and August offer to give Emma a ride home. But she declines both offers and after signing the paperwork to be released, she heads towards the closer subway.
While she's walking there she finds Regina again, the brunette is in the middle of the street talking with the one and only Killian Jones. She wasn't lying then, she did know him. Emma didn't think she would get to meet him today after all.
Regina spots her a few feet away from them. Killian catches Regina's look and spots Emma as well. His demeanor changes from agitated (what had they been discussing?) to flirty. Emma walks to them
-"Well aren't you a sight for sore eyes?" Says Killian, one hand in the air, half smile on his face.
-"Hi" says Emma, other words failing her. Regina rolls her eyes. "I will not stick around to see you and Captain eyeliner making eyes at each other" Killian laughs. Emma looks away.
-"Emma Swan, right? I remember you from last year shoot"
-"How do you know her name?" Regina asks him, not one to be left aside
-"How do YOU know it" Emma asks her instead
-"That's besides the point"
Killian notices Emma's bandaged arm "Did you injure yourself, luv? Want me to blow on it? I will make it better"
Emma laughs, she didn't remember Killian being so cheesy
Regina clears her throat "Katherine provided me with quite the material Killian, you do have moves after all"
-"Did you get the pictures from her?" He asks, nervous again, Emma forgotten
-"Go back to your car Killian" Regina commands
Killian doesn't need to be told twice. He quickly says good bye to Emma and gets back in his car. He knows not to cross Regina when she has the upper hand.
Regina turns around to talk to Emma alone but the blonde is gone.
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Emma gets home and tells Ruby all about her day. Meeting the strange brunette and later on her encounter with Killian Jones. Ruby is ecstatic for her.
In the mean time, in the other side of the city. Regina is back in her house. Brooding. Killian going after her, asking for his non existing compromising pictures.
-"I can't believe she didn't let me drive her home. I even offered to close the top"
-"Why are you upset?" He asks her then "She didn't seem like your type"
Regina doesn't know why she is upset either. It bothers her that she can't quite figure it out so instead she focuses on Killian and mentally schedules his next autograph session for the department store.
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Two days later Regina finds she can't stop thinking about Emma. Not even the impromptu autograph session she scheduled for Killian was able to distract her. She can't focus on her work at all. And she should. She knows the board of directors is not too happy with her right now. Her junior manager had ratted her out and now everyone knew about her limited work schedule. Her grandfather was not going to be pleased either. Yet Regina found herself daydreaming about the blonde more often than not.
The way she walks with such authority and looks cool even while looking down on her. The way her emerald eyes twinkle and subtly change colors under different lights, the way she steps into her personal space and does not back down.
Regina thinks about her in her office, while sitting in her private library, while going on walks on her large estate, it was truly disturbing. Emma wasn't even her type. Regina enjoys the company of more sophisticated women, cultured and intelligent, rich, everything Emma was not.
Still Regina knows she must see her again. So she asks Killian for Katherine's number. Katherine hadn't been pleased to be contacted for that reason but she gives it to Regina, in exchange the brunette promises to later take her to Killian, the man had been avoiding her calls and Kat didn't appreciate it.
Regina calls Emma on Saturday morning. Emma is not too happy to hear from her, to Regina's surprise, and instead of humoring her, hangs up.
Regina can't remember the last time someone had hung up on her. She's thrilled. So she gets into her car and drives to the city. She now has a certain action diva to put in her place.
When she gets there, she sees a large line of men outside the academy. They were holding auditions. Emma is sitting next to August. She seems to be having fun. She looks very relaxed next to him. Regina is immediately jealous. Is Emma attracted to men? Regina hadn't considered the possibility before. She should have though, because Emma had been comfortable with Killian's flirtations as well after all.
Regina needs to know. So she gets Emma's attention and gets her to talk to her. Emma gets up and Regina notices August irritation right away.
-"What are you doing here?" Emma asks
-"Miss Swan, I don't appreciate being hang up on. Surely you have better manners than that. Your parents must have thought you better"
Emma stiffens at the jab. Mention of her deceased parents always getting to her.
-"None of your business, lady. What do you want? Why are you here?"
-"My name is Regina. Regina Mills" the brunette introduces herself.
When Emma doesn't say anything, Regina's smile falters. This is going terribly wrong.
-"Anyhow, I just came to check up on you, how's your arm?"
When Emma still doesn't respond Regina grabs her and takes a look for herself.
-"It will leave a mark. You won't be running for Miss America anytime soon"
Emma wants to laugh but decides against it. Still annoyed at the manners dig.
Regina catches the effort and smiles. Emma can't help but stare at her lips. The brunette is annoying, and rude and so arrogant. But she's beautiful. And Emma finds that she can't look away.
-"Anyway, I have to get going. I have a pending appointment. It was good seeing you, Miss Swan"
And with that Regina walks away, swaying her hips as she walks to her car. She still doesn't know if Emma is gay or not, instead she's now more intrigued by her than before. A failed mission.
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Later on Regina finds herself at her usual dating spot. This time she's sporting a gorgeous fitted blue dress and black Jimmy Choo heels. Her date, her mother had informed her, was the grand daughter of the president of Zara and the niece of the dean of New York University. She walks towards her and sees Milah, once again, smiling at her.
Regina is not amused. "What is going on here?"
-"Last time you met me through my father's side, today through my mother's side. I really wanted to see you again, Regina" The brunette raises her eyebrows and crosses her arms, an invitation to continue
Milah takes it "You've analyzed the way I walk and my taste in perfume among other things, it's only fair I get to do the same"
Regina finds this amusing but still doesn't appreciate the effort. She had made up her mind about Milah already. "Next time, will I meet your through your uncle's credentials?"
Milah smiles. She so hopes there will be a next time.
-"I still believe that arranged marriages are the most efficient approach to romance, dear"
-"I know. But I gave it some thought. At the end of the day I believe in destiny. I believe there was a reason for us both to meet. Twice now."
-"Yes, I believe there was. You arranged it so"
-"Have you ever fallen in love at first sight? Milah asks, her last effort. Regina closes her eyes, all she sees is Emma. She shakes the thought. Annoyed. Then without responding walks away.
And just like that Milah is once again left behind. No matter. She will get her eventually.
As Milah is walking towards the exit she sees him walking in: Killian Jones. It's too late to pretend she didn't see him so she makes eye contact, puts on a façade and walks towards him
-"I guess it's too late to avoid each other now" she says and smiles sweetly. Killian looks at her with sad eyes
-"Have you lost weight? If I knew I was going to see you here I would have put more effort into my appearance"
Killian finally reacts and asks her with trembling voice "I thought you were abroad?" before Milah can answer the obvious question a reporter comes running after Killian, apologizes for the wait
-"Good luck with your interview, Killian, I'm sure we will see each other again" and then Milah leaves a shaken looking Killian behind. Once outside the brunette's fake smile drops and two tears come down her cheeks. She had not been ready for that.
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Back in the office Regina is being briefed about an upcoming prize giveaway event planned for the company's 25th anniversary, where the winner would receive a romantic gateway to Puerto Rico with no other than Killian Jones. Regina missed most of the briefing though, being lost on her thoughts like she was, and agreed to it right away to everyone's surprise.
Her assistant, an Australian beauty named Belle, was starting to worry about her hot tempered boss, it was not like her to not go over every detail before approving a project. She was even more shocked when after the meeting Regina called her in to ask her about a commercial they are currently filming for the department store. Doesn't she have other things to be worrying about instead of micromanaging the marketing team? Finally, Belle is beyond concerned, and quite honestly a little intrigued, when Regina gets in contact with them and convinces them to switch their family oriented sketch into an action packed one.
When Regina is exiting the department store (feat that takes her about 15 minutes to her annoyance) she can't believe her luck when she spots certain gorgeous blonde in a floor below. She seems to be upset though. She's talking with a skinny, tall brunette with red strikes in her hair.
-"I can't believe they fired you Rubs. Whoever runs this place is an asshole"
-"I know. I didn't think they would. I even talked to Belle about it. She was supposed to speak to the president of the firm but she said her boss had been distracted lately and she couldn't get through her"
Regina's face falls, she sort of remembers Belle's pleads for an insubordinate employee, but she thought the dismissal was warranted. She couldn't have her most valuable customers feeling unheard and therefore unhappy. Now Regina regrets her decision. Maybe she should have heard the girl out first. So she gets the girl's attention and talks to her while Emma is distracted.
She gives her her job back with two conditions: that she won't tell Emma who Regina really is, (she doesn't need the blonde knowing she was the one responsible for her friend's dismissal) and that they will both join her for a drink. Ruby accepts, thrilled. Emma is harder to convince.
Regardless later on they find themselves in Korea town, Ruby's suggestion, eating belly pork and tripes. Regina is slightly unhappy about their whereabouts, she wanted to go to a more upscale restaurant, but Emma and Ruby are eating their hearts content so Regina lets it go. They do not notice that Regina never touches the food. Afterwards Regina offers the girls a ride to their place. Regina's face falls when they arrive to a tiny apartment in the most questionable side of Brooklyn. She had known Emma was not rich, but she had not been expecting her to be so poor.
It bothers her that she's so affected by this woman. She knows Cora would never approve of such union. It annoys her farther to be thinking about her in those terms. She does not want to marry Emma Swan. Perhaps date her, nothing else. Still, it doesn't matter if Regina finds her acceptable or not, Emma is clearly not interested. She had avoided eye contact with her all night. Allowing Ruby to do all the talking. The brunette wonders if perhaps she should just let go. Sleep doesn't come easily that night.
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Notes:
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