Okay. So This is going to keep going. Looking to be about 12 chapters. Thanks to VP for betaing this and helping me cement the plot.

And dont be alarmed at what you read in this chapter. There is a method to my madness. Thanks to Lucien and a reviewer who let me know Brooklyn has projects! Made a change to Emma's location.

Chapter 4

Emma exhaled in relief as the driver pulled up in front of her building. The man had been quiet for most of the trip, only speaking to her to make sure everything was ok. Do you need anything ma'am? Am I going too fast for you ma'am? Would you like to stop anywhere on our way ma'am? It had been nerve wracking. Especially with him calling her ma'am and he had to be at least 30 years older than her. Amazingly he didn't question Regina's direction for him to drive her home, not even when she gave her address, showing she lived in the projects. Did Regina always give him random women to drop off in the morning?

The man said nothing as he dropped her off at the apartment building, as if it were normal for him to be driving around here.

"Um…thanks," she said stepping out of the luxury vehicle. She turned around to grab her bag and wanted to scream. Her bag was missing. She had left it in Regina's car.

"Fuck my life," she murmured as she shut the door on the driver's confused face. She wasn't going to ask him about it. She had her keys, wallet and phone of course, but her bag had her makeup and several other items she was going to need. And with no way of contacting the businesswoman, she was screwed.

"This is what I get for staying out all night and shirking my duties," she entered the grimy apartment building. For most people, it wasn't a place they wanted to live, but Emma was lucky she had found the place. She didn't meet the income requirements for other places by any means, even with the housing assistance she got. Her worker had helped her get in here when she moaned and cried, despite the fact the waiting list was a mile long. It was probably the sad look on her face and the fact she had a timid 4 yr old with her at the time.

Despite the appearance, most of the people were pretty nice, aside from a few bad apples who dealt with drugs. Everywhere she went had those. Hell even Henry's sperm donor dealt with people like that. She was used to it.

She trudged up the stairs, thinking about how the hell she was going to replace everything that was in that bag. Her work clothes were in there also, not for the coffee shop, but for the Golden Lounge. She tried to keep that stuff away from Henry's eyes.

Her watch showed she only had a short time till she had to get Henry to the bus. Despite it all, he was in a good school. One of those public charter schools. Yeah she had to pay for the uniforms, but it was worth it. He was getting a good education. 5 yrs old and he was reading those level 2 books with some help.

"Its me," she said unlocking the door to Ruby's apartment only to be stopped by the security chain. She went through this everytime. No one came to the door except her, yet Granny was always worried. The woman even had an old shot gun she kept in the closet just in case.

"Mama!" a tiny voice cried and Emma couldn't help the grin that hit her face. She was tired as hell, but hearing that squeaky voice cry out for her made everything okay.

As soon as the door was opened she was nearly knocked down by the short body colliding with hers.

"Mamma you're late. You're never late!"

"I know sweetie but they kept me at work a long time!" Emma looked from Henry's hug to see Ruby standing there rolling her eyes. "I'm here now bud."

"I havta go to school now tho, so I won't see you."

"But you'll see me after," she pulled him to her side and mouthed a thank you to Ruby and granny. "Lets go get ready."

Their apartment was only two doors down and across from the Lucas' so it was short walk. Henry talked the entire time about what he ate that morning, what he was planning on doing at school and how much he disliked his tie, which is why he threw it.

"What do you mean you threw it?" Emma said as she stepped into her apartment. "Threw it where?"

"I don't know. At school. I don't like it."

"Henry you have to wear that tie!" she shrieked, causing the little boy to look up at her in confusion.

"But I don't want to wear it." Emma turned around shortly to calm down. That tie was $25. $25 for a tie she had to spend just because the damn school required it. And her son had lost it at school. She breathed in deeply before turning back to her little boy.

"Henry, you have to wear that tie to go to school. It's the rules. That's why mama buys you special clothes. They have to have the little school symbol on it."

"Oh," Henry said looking down. "I'm sorry mama."

"It's okay baby, just don't….don't do that again. Maybe you can try to find the tie at school?"

"Okay." Emma prayed he found one. She couldn't go about doling out money for uniforms on a regular basis. Yes she had money from last night, but most of that was going to her $700 rent and the rest for some things they needed in the apartment.

Henry was washed up quickly and put on his proper, yet wrinkled, uniform. Nice white collared shirt with the prep academy's emblem on it. Blue jacket with another emblem. Khakis and nice black shoes. She smiled every time she got him dressed. He was getting the best education she could give him. Far better than she had.

"You have your homework?" she asked as he picked up his book bag. No need for lunch as he got it free.

"Yes mama," he said. His homework had been nothing but some coloring sheets that were filled by adding small numbers then coloring in the appropriate color by the answer. One had been a bat. She had been so proud. All he needed her to do was read the instructions and help him sound out the colors so he knew which crayons to use. He did the both sheets by himself.

"Good, kid." He beamed at the praise and they started down the stairs. The school bus stop was a few blocks away and either she or Ruby took him every morning. She didn't want him getting lost or snatched up.

As they exited the building a few of the guys waved hi. She stood out. There were only about 5 white people in the entire building, so she was known. No one was ever rude though. She had been worried, but everyone was nice, realizing that they were all in the same boat and just trying to get through the day.

Henry was quiet as he munched on the poptart she gave him. She tried to be careful with the food allowances, but she couldn't let the boy go without some treats.

As a kid Emma's biggest desire had been Trix. It was a name brand cereal in a colored box with a rabbit on it. She never got name brand cereal. Although she knew her foster parents were getting over $600 a month for her, they never got her anything she wanted. It was all whatever they decided she needed. If it was edible by their standards it was good enough for her.

So now, she never told Henry "no" if she could afford it. Sure she had to give up some things for herself, but if it got him pop tarts and coco puffs, then so be it. She could deal with no bear claws.

They made it to the stop just in time, other children were already piling onto the bus. The school was in downtown, a ways away but it got a 10 rating. Getting him into it had been a hassle, but he was there to stay.

"Have a good day okay," she said bending down to look her little man in the eyes. "Listen to your teachers and learn."

"Of course mama," he said. Emma knew she place a lot of emphasis on him when it came to school, but she couldn't bear him ending up like her. Struggling paycheck to paycheck. No he was going to graduate and go to college. She asked him everyday what he did and what he learned new. Sometimes it wasn't much, but every little bit counted.

She waved as he got on the bus.

She had about three hours till she had to go into work. She could either sleep, or grocery shop.

Sadly it was a tough choice

[SQ]

The reports were god awful. Regina flipped through her printed out copy, while surveying a few of the charts on her screen. Several of their divisions just weren't making the amount of money they should have been and this acquisition wouldn't help. As of right now, pouring money into TI wasn't looking like a good idea.

"Rachel," she said into the speaker phone, "before you leave can you please setup a conference with Lewis Granger of Thornton International. I need to go over our analysis of their finances." She didn't wait for a response, but hung up immediately and sat back in her chair with a sigh.

It was nearly 5:00 pm

She had thought she'd be out of here at a decent hour, but as of right now, she'd be lucky if she was out of here before 8:00pm. She still had four more reports to get through and prepare for her meeting with Mr. Hachs on Monday regarding her projections on upcoming trades.

Emma.

The thought of that women sent shivers down Regina's spine. This was why she didn't get intimate with anyone. Her mind was supposed to be focused on TI's third quarter earnings and instead she was thinking about her night with the blonde. The feeling of the woman's lips on her skin. The feeling of velvet heat surrounding her fingers.

A twinge of arousal filled her stomach.

It was a Friday. A night most would be spending with their lovers. And she was planning on spending it working.

No one would have found it weird. That was who she was. She worked in the office until the last minute every day and then logged back on at home. Regina Mills was a powerhouse. She left no stone unturned. She analyzed everything her subordinates told her. Nothing was taken at face value. She scrutinized their work. She didn't care how long it took her or how many times she had to make her subordinates redo it. Perfection was mandated.

Except tonight.

Sighing loudly, Regina ran her hands over her face. She was screwed, and she knew it. Five times she had read the same line on the report and still nothing had sunk in. She stood and wondered over to the wall length window and stared out. She rarely ever did that, preferring to spend her time at her desk. It was pretty useless to have this view from her office as staring out at the skyline was not her prerogative. But just this once she did. She looked and couldn't help but wonder what the blonde was doing at that moment. Was she working at the club tonight, or maybe at the coffee shop?

The peaceful view had done nothing for her nerves and she had to get back to these reports. She couldn't think about soft skin, firm fingers or a nearly prehensile tongue inside of her.

Groaning loudly she headed off to her ensuite. Splashing her face with cold water, Regina glanced up at herself in the mirror. She didn't look any different than yesterday, same dark eyes, same short hair, same full lips. But something felt different. Urges that had lied dormant for years were suddenly bothering her in a brand new way. And she couldn't control it.

"Damn it," she said taking one of the towels and patting her face, not caring about the makeup she was removing. She was going to make herself focus.

The executive inhaled deeply before leaving the bathroom. She was going to get through at least two reports before she allowed herself the luxury of leaving.

"You know, your chair is a lot more comfortable than mine," a familiar voice said as she stepped out. Regina's eyes jerked up to see Whale sitting at her desk, spinning around and flipping through one of her financial reports.

"What the hell are you doing in my chair Victor?" she growled. "How the hell did you get in here?"

"I'm so sorry Ms, Mills," a timid voice said from the door. "I told him that you didn't want to be disturbed but he insisted." She didn't respond to her secretary, instead waving the woman off as if she were a fly. When Victor wanted something, there was nothing anyone could do. It wasn't the young woman's fault.

"Whale….I asked you a question. And get the hell away from my desk!" She stalked over, ripping the bound report from his hands and slamming it down on her desk. The man still didn't move.

"Oh come on Mills! I thought after last night we were friends. I did buy you that dance after all."

"Whale…"

"The least you could do is let me get a look at these before you sum them up for Hachs on Monday. I have to have an idea for rebuttal."

"Get up." Sighing loudly, the pale blonde stood from the leather chair, slipping his hands into his pants pocket after straightening his tie.

"You know. You made quite the impression on Pritchard yesterday. He couldn't stop talking about how you loosened up at the end of the night," he smirked. "I can't help but wonder what made that change."

"Get out," she sat at her desk and didn't look up at the COO. Opening her reports she began reading, attempting to block out his monologue.

"The great Regina Mills, I think I may have figured you out." He walked over to the window. "I mean you really enjoyed…what was her name, Princess? Yes Princess. You really enjoyed her didn't you?" Regina didn't look up, though she could hear every word out of his smug mouth. The tone of his voice, the way he strolled around her office as if he owned the place. Every step he took grated on her nerves.

"So here I am, finally realizing I don't have to worry about you at all. That Vice Presidency has been handed to me."

"What?" that caught Regina's attention and she glared. "Nothing has been handed to you Whale, and I assure you that I am still eligible."

"Really? You think Hachs wants some wetback lesbian at his side?" Regina raised an eyebrow and kept herself from correcting him on the fact she was Puerto Rican and not Mexican. "What kind of face would that make for Dyle and Hachs? No, I'm golden."

"I don't know what delusional world you are living in Whale, but I assure you my heritage has never kept me from anything in this company. I mean look at me right now. CFO. Your competition. And the other accusation you made…well I'm not even going to dignify that with a response." She kept a straight face as she sat back, crossing her legs as she tapped her pen on her lips. "No I think you're scared. You know that nothing you do can phase me. You can sic a blonde stripper on me in a room full of possible business partners and I'm not going to back down."

"Oh you didn't back down. You practically fucked that whore in front of us." Regina just shrugged and gave him a smirk. She did in fact fuck her later that night, though Emma was no whore. "I never knew you were so desperate Mills. Though I should have known. You spend all your time here, so I'm sure that lap dance was the most actions you've gotten in years. Tell me…did it settle you for now. Since no free man or woman will come within 20 yards of you."

She kept the smirk on her face, but those words hit her. It was true. No one would come near her. All offers stopped a couple of years ago. She was 37. Nearly 40. By her age she was supposed to be settled down. Have a significant other. Someone she went home to, even if she didn't bring her private life to work. She'd considered adopting over the years, but with her work schedule she couldn't be a single parent. A girlfriend was out of the question. The moment she came out, she could kiss her career goodbye. The entire board was made up of old, conservative white men. Men who looked at Whale and could see a younger version of themselves. She was an anomaly already. No need to shoot herself in the foot.

"Whale, why don't you save me this impending headache and leave. It's Friday. Don't you have someone else to annoy? Some gold digging hussy to be with?"

"Actually no. I'm free," he said with a grin. "Maybe I'll head down to that little club again and see if Princess is available. If she sat on your lap for a grand, I'm sure she'd do a lot more for me," he nodded at her. Regina felt her jaw tighten and the moment he left her office she couldn't help but throw the first object in her line of sight across the room. Turned out to be her wireless mouse.

Emma wasn't some street girl looking to make money by sleeping with some jerk like Whale. She was actually nice and had reasons why she was doing what she was doing. She knew that the blonde wouldn't sleep with him, but he could still make her do anything else that was legal. And he would push the line as far as he could, even complaining to the owner if he didn't get his way. That was the kind of man he was.

"Benjamin," Regina said into her phone after dialing her driver. He'd been with her for years and had been discreet in all things. Thus the amount of bonuses she gave him. "Do you still have the address you dropped Miss Swan off at this morning?"

[SQ]

"She lives here?" Regina said as Ben pulled up in front of the large apartment building. He only nodded into his rearview mirror, leaving Regina to her thoughts. This building was owned by the New York housing authority. Public housing. Just how hard up was the young mother?

She nodded to Ben who unlocked the doors, allowing the executive to come out of the luxury sedan. Her heels hit the pavement loudly, drawing the eyes of a few people who were on the sidewalk. Nodding a greeting, she swung the single mother's duffle onto her shoulder before slamming the door shut. The building was huge and she couldn't help but wonder how the hell she was going to locate Emma.

As soon as Regina walked up toward the building she saw various men who weren't visible from the street. She exhaled and made herself keep from rolling her eyes as one blew a kiss at her. She was not in the mood to deal with any drama.

"Eh señora atractiva ," said one of the men, who was covered in tattoos on every visible piece of skin. "¿A dónde vas esta noche? ¿Quieres venir conmigo . Puedo hacer que se sienta muy bien." Regina ignored the blatant come on. Sometimes she cursed her light skin, despite its advantages in the work place. Most didn't realize she was Hispanic herself. The rest of the men laughed at his remarks. "Bonito culo…vengo voy a buscar un mejor aspect"

"Where you going boo?" he said moving from his space and walking towards her. She turned toward her car, raising her hand to keep Benjamin from getting out the vehicle to protect her. No need for an incident.

"Yo no voy a ninguna parte con usted," Regina said smiling at him. He laughed and shook his head. "Y sí, yo tengo un buen culo"

"Eh I'm sorry mami," He said. "I didn't think…."

"No you didn't," she said. "I'm looking a friend of mine. She lives here. Emma?"

"Don't know no Emma. A lot of people live here. What she look like?"

"Um white..."

"Oh no problem. Only a few gringos in here," another man said.

"Which white girl mami?" the first guy said, not moving from his new job of holding up the pole. "White girl with the kid, or white girl with the red hair?"

"Oh you forgot Juan, we got the new white girl. White girl with the black baby."

"Um, I'm looking for the white girl with the little boy," Regina said wondering about their classification policies.

"Si'. Okay she in apartment 412 senorita." Juan said.

"You're sure?" Regina said suspiciously. "How can you know?"

"Senorita, there is only five white people in this building, only three women who are young, an old lady and a little boy. The little boy lives with the blonde white girl in 412. I know this because she walks him to the bus stop everyday," he took a drag off his cigarette. "I see her."

"Ok," Regina nodded. "Gracias." She slung the bag on her shoulder more securely and walked into the door. She was immediately assaulted by the smell of smoke and marijuana. It permeated the foyer and seemed to have been embedded in the walks. Coughing to try and dispel the scent, she headed for the elevator before deciding not to chance it and just taking the steps.

Four flights in 4-inch heels had her thinking risking her life would have been easier.

In the corridors she could hear babies crying, TV's running and the mothers talking rather loudly. She winced at the sound of one woman cursing at what was obviously a child. Shaking her head, she was glad it wasn't coming from 412, or else she might slap the blonde the moment she saw her.

Finding the door she fixed her suit jacket and unbuttoned her top three buttons before knocking.

"Aw Rubes…I told you to just let him slee-" Emma cut herself off as she opened the door, mouth falling ajar at the sight of the business woman. "R-Re-Re-Re…"

"Regina dear, and yes it's me."

"What are you doing here? How the hell did you get here? How the hell did you know where I lived?"

"Quite a few questions you have. Are you going to let me in?" Emma nodded quickly and stepped to the side, letting the impeccably dressed woman into her small one bedroom apartment. She scratched at her bare arms and then suddenly pulled at her hair, smoothing it down while the brunette's back was to her. She hadn't been expecting company and she was wearing a plain white tank and some basketball shorts.

"Um, I know it's not the Ritz but you can have a seat. I kinda sleep on the couch bed and henry gets the bedroom." Regina nodded and held up Emma's duffle bag before sitting on the slightly messy futon.

Despite being small, the apartment was clean and smelled good. The carpet didn't have stains and dishes were washed. She could tell it was taken care of. There was a small section of carpet where they were standing and directly next to it was a galley style kitchen with linoleum. A clean white stove and fridge were the only appliances. Off down what could barely be called a hallway were two closed doors, a bathroom and bedroom possibly.

"I bought your stuff back. You left it in my car."

"How did you get here?" Emma asked again. "Please tell me you didn't drive the Mercedes!"

"No dear," Regina said with a small laugh. "I had Benjamin drive me since he had dropped you off. I assume he has found somewhere to sit until I come out. Not to worry. He's armed" she added with a shrug. Emma arched an eyebrow thinking of the kind old man who had dropped her off that morning wielding a gun.

Emma sat on the small coffee table across from Regina. She scratched at the back of her head, trying to think of something to say. She watched as the brunette's eyes scanned the living space. Bars were on the windows and she was sure the woman was going to develop claustrophobia from being in here. She had never been so embarrassed in her life.

"Where's your son? I don't hear anyone."

"He fell asleep at the babysitter's while I was at work. I told them to just let him sleep," Emma cleared her throat. "I thought you were them when you knocked."

"Oh," Regina looked down at her hands. This was better than she thought. The woman was alone. She removed her suit jacket and tossed it on the coffee table before leaning back on her forearms, crossing her right leg over her left. "Lovely place."

"Oh god, don't lie."

"What? I'm not lying. It's actually nice in here. Clean. Neat," Regina smirked. "I am happy that I don't have to endure the same smell of weed and smoke in here as I did outside the door."

"Oh god yeah. You can get a contact high coming up the stairs," Emma said. "Sometimes I wanna put a mask on Henry when I walk him down the halls." Emma's head tilted to the side as she watched Regina's body stretch out as she got relaxed on the futon.

"Yeah it's much better than I thought."

The room again went quiet as Regina and Emma twiddled their thumbs and cracked their knuckles respectively. Regina cleared her throat and crossed her legs in the other direction. With her leaned back how she was, Emma could see all the way up to the businesswoman's thigh.

"You," she licked her lips. "You…um, want something to drink. I have water, apple juice…milk…." Emma let her words trail off as Regina shook her head with a smile. Emma could feel her pulse increasing at the woman half laid on the futon, glancing around the room at nothing in particular. Three of the buttons on her shirt were already undone, leaving a teasing amount of black lace showing.

She hadn't just come here to drop of her duffle.

"Fuck it," Emma said as she jumped up and pounced on the brunette, immediately attacking the full lips with her own.

"Emma?" Regina said, breaking the kiss and looking up with a smile. "What are you doing?"

"Exactly what you want me to do." The blonde said nothing else as she placed kisses and nipped across the soft skin of the older woman's neck, all the while unbuttoning the rest of the silk blouse.

[SQ]

Emma ran her fingers up and down the center of the slowly cooling back. With the brunette's breath blowing hot against her neck, she couldn't up but caress the silky skin.

She was sure last night was the last time she would see the woman, let alone sleep with her. But here they were, sweat drying on their naked bodies, entwined in her living room of all places. Emma looked down as she heard a giggle come from the woman on top of her.

"What's so funny."

"Me. Us," Regina looked up, pushing her messy hair out of her eyes. "I could get used to this."

"Really?" Emma shrieked.

"Yes. Orgasms on a regular basis. God, I didn't remember how good it felt." Emma let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. Sex. The woman was talking about sex.

"Yeah. It feels great, especially when you haven't had it in a long time," Emma stretched and turned over, looking at the clock. They'd been at it for almost two hours. With the way Regina had been moaning her name, she was worried the neighbors might call the police. She had never had any company except Ruby and no one ever called her name like that.

"We should keep it up." Emma turned back over hurriedly. Surely she hadn't heard right.

"What?!" she sat up quickly, pulling the sheet over the rapidly cooling skin. "Regina, I have a son. I am not looking for a relationship. I thought-"

"Will you calm down? Who said anything about a relationship? I know I didn't."

"But you said-"

"I said let's keep the sex up. I don't want a relationship dear. Especially not with a 23 year old female stripper. No offense, but I have a reputation to uphold." Emma nodded, not taking offense. She had a son and didn't want to bring anyone into his life. She wasn't going to be one of those mothers who had men, or in this case women, in and out of his life, making instability a norm.

"Then what are you suggesting?"

"This. Right here," Regina was already up, and slipping on her ruined underwear, only to take it off and shrug. Emma grinned, knowing that it was completely messed up. She had been nibbling on the woman's clit through her panties and they had been drenched. "We can occasionally meet up, scratch an itch and go about our day. No strings attached, no expectations. It ends whenever one of us wants it to end."

"No rules?"

"Oh there must be rules," the businesswoman stated matter-a-factly. "After all I don't want to end up with an STD nor have my face on business weekly being outed."

"Okay so, the moment one of us wants to sleep with someone else, or sleeps with someone else, we let the other know."

"Agreed," Regina said, buttoning her blouse. "And we keep complete discretion. You will not tell anyone about me, nor will you show up at my job or house unannounced."

"Not a problem considering I don't know where you work or live," Emma frowned. "What do you do again? I'm just curious. I know you work in business, I remember them saying you're CFO, and I know it's for some major company, but I have no idea what it is you do exactly."

"I'm CFO for a major banking company. That's all you need to know."

"Okay…." Emma said rolling her eyes. She was trying to remember the name that was told to her last night at the club, but she was pulling blank. "Well same here. Don't just show up like this again. Henry could have been here and I don't want him meeting you." Emma exhaled. "I need to make sure he is normal. As normal as can be."

"Understood dear. I will not show up unannounced." Regina pulled on her skirt and then tossed her stockings and ruined panties into the kitchen trash before slipping on her heels. "In that case let me give you my cell phone number."

Regina pulled out a smartphone, it looked Android to Emma, from her purse and waited.

"What?"

"Your cell dear?"

"Oh!" Emma giggled and then said her number, hearing a beep from her own phone with a message. "Hey! Don't send that! I don't have one of those packages. I'm prepaid and they charge by the minute and the beep!"

"Are you seriously telling me you can't afford a decent cell phone package? They have that…what's it called….metro phone for $40"

"Yeah well they charge for the phone and I can't afford one of those, nor for the transfer of my number. This works just fine. I keep it paid and I have a phone." Regina growled

"I cannot have an…associate who cannot receive text messaging, nor who has a phone that is a million years old. Do you have a bank account?"

"No." Regina rolled her eyes again before wondering just how she managed to cash her work checks. How people operated beneath the government was a complete mystery to her.

"Okay I'll see you tomorrow. Deal with having text messages until then," she put her jacket on and smoothed down her hair as best as possible. "I'll bring you a new phone as well as the amount required to set it up with a decent carrier. I use Verizon."

"Seriously?"

"Yes dear, seriously." Regina pressed a small kiss to Emma's cheek. "Good night."

Emma just stared at her closed front door. What the hell had she gotten herself into?

review plz. They are my food