Chapter 7:
"Good morning, miss Mills." Regina's assistant said as she set down Regina's morning latte.
"Good morning, miss French." Regina sounded unusually happy as she smiled at her assistant.
"Is everything okay, miss Mills?" Belle distanced herself from her boss' desk, out of fear, as she spoke but returned the smile. She had noticed her boss' mood being a lot lighter recently, but she had never been this happy on a Monday morning.
"Of course, dear. Why would it not be?" Regina looked away from her assistant and began typing away on her computer. A large smile still spread across her face.
"I, er, don't want you to take this the wrong way but you… Well, today you seem… different. A lot… happier." Belle tilted her head to the right, as she puzzled over what could spark such a change in her boss.
"I see." Regina said, her eyes clamped onto her computer. "Well, I am. Happier, I mean."
Belle stood wide-eyed facing her boss. She was in shock, frozen in place. She had never seen Regina exude such joy. She wanted to ask what caused her boss' happier, and more open, mood. She knew she probably shouldn't, but her body felt unable to just walk away after hearing that information. She bit down hard on her tongue, subduing her curiosity, which was now threatening to bubble over and spew out of her mouth.
"Do you plan on working at all today, miss French? Or are you simply going to stand there and gawk at me?" Regina nonchalantly said, her attention still remaining solely on her computer.
"Oh, yes. Of course. I'll just go and, er, you know, er, work." Belle nodded frantically as she walked to the door. She put a hand on the door knob, then hesitated. She slowly turned back to her boss, the pot that once contained her curiosity had managed to blow its top off. "Why?" Belle said loudly, her volume surprising both her and Regina.
"I beg your pardon?" Regina's eyes were now on her assistant.
"Sorry. I just, I was just wondering. Why? Why are you happier today?" As she spoke, the brunette was becoming increasingly self-conscious and her body stiffened. She clasped her hands tightly in front of her chest and her eyes refused to blink. "It's just, I don't think I've ever seen you this happy and I'm just really curious. I apologise if it's out of line for me to ask or weird or I don't kn-"
"Miss French, please relax before you have a stroke." Regina smiled warmly at her assistant. "I believe it is a bit inappropriate to discuss such matters with you, so I'm afraid your curiosity will have to go unquenched."
"Of course. Gosh, I'm so sorry, miss Mills." Belle shook her head, she really needed to learn how to control her curious impulses.
"It's alright, dear." Regina said as she went back to typing away at her computer. Belle took that as her cue to leave, so she turned around and exited the room.
For the rest of the day whenever Belle would glance into Regina's office, her boss either had a huge grin plastered on her face or she was eagerly tapping away on her phone, most probably texting. Both of which largely contrasted what she would usually see; A frowning Regina angrily typing away ay her computer or ploughing through piles of paper work. As a result, Belle's curiosity grew and grew.
About twenty minutes before Belle was due to clock out, she poked her head into Regina's office to let her know she would be leaving. "Miss Mills, I'm leaving soon, is there anything you need me to do?"
Regina put her phone down and looked towards her assistant. She then rested her right elbow on her desk, and placed her chin on top of her clenched fist. She furrowed her brows in contemplation. "No, I don't believe that I do, dear. Thank you, anyway." Regina sat back in her chair and picked up her phone again.
"Okay." Belle watched her boss as she tapped away on her phone, her smile growing each second. "I'm glad for you, miss Mills. Really, really glad." She smiled widely at her now confused looking boss.
"Excuse me?" Regina raised an eyebrow at her assistant's boldness.
"Whoever, or whatever, is making you this happy, I'm glad you found it. Happy suits you miss Mills." Belle said.
"Oh… Thank you, miss French. And it is a who." Regina said as she looked into her lap and smiled at the thought of the blonde.
Regina looked as though she was going to speak again so Belle was uncertain of whether or not she should leave the room.
"I haven't felt this way about anyone in… quite some time." Regina continued.
"Who is the lucky guy?" Belle blurted out, her eye-brows shot up and her lips shrivelled shut as she mentally slapped herself. She knew better than to pry into her boss' personal life, she had even been told just this morning that it was inappropriate topic of conversation. Damn her curiosity for getting the best of her, once again. "If you, er, don't mind me asking." Belle half-smiled at her boss, hoping she hadn't crossed the line.
"I can assure you that I am the lucky one, and it's someone I met rather recently." Regina blushed, unsure as to why she was allowing her walls to drop and why she was sharing such personal details with her assistant.
"Are you two a thing yet? Or still just early days?" Belle found herself slowly gravitating towards the empty chair that was opposite her boss.
"We most definitely are not a 'thing', miss French" Regina quirked an eyebrow. "I've only known them a week, and I don't think Saturday was even a date." Regina trailed off.
"Oh, why not?" Belle was not sitting on the chair, with one leg folded beneath her and her head was being propped up on the tip of a single index finger. "Was it just the two of you? Or was it, like, a group thing? Did you actually arrange to go together? Or did you just happen to bump into each other?" Belle asked, her curiosity soaring ridiculously high. Miss Mills had never shared this much with her before, and this was by far the longest conversation they'd ever had.
"Yes, it was just the two of us, and yes." Regina simply said, she was now eyeing her assistant suspiciously.
"Definitely sounds like a date to me. So what's with the doubts?" Belle asked.
"I don't really know. Neither of us labelled it a date. But it ended kinda weird. We were in my car, and I thought that we were going to… kiss" Regina sighed. "But I must have just read the whole situation completely wrong, and now I can't stop thinking about what if." She suddenly became all too aware of the situation and sat up in her chair, feeling very awkward.
"You should find out. Subtle hints never work out well, trust me. You need to be direct. You should know that is the only way you get anything." Belle said.
"I know, but how would I even bring it up? What if I was wrong? I'll look like a fool." Regina was now frowning.
"That's a risk you'll have to be willing to take. Surely the potential of the positive outcome largely outweighs the risk of the negative one?" Belle asked.
"Yeah, I suppose you're right." Regina looked at her phone. "They did text me after. Inviting me over this coming Saturday. That's a good sign right?" Regina looked at her assistant, willing her to give some advice.
"Definitely! That at least means they enjoyed your company. You have to go! This could be a great opportunity to find out exactly how they feel then." Belle exclaimed, nearly jumping from her seat due to all the excitement.
"It is not going to be just the two of us, however. I was told there would be a small group of people."
"How many people? Friends or family?"
"Er… I believe there will be four others, all friends."
"Four friends? Okay." Belle pondered for a moment. "That's definitely not a party. Four seems like a suspicious number of people. Too… even." Belle shuffled around on the chair, her face clearly showed how deeply she was thinking. "You know, I bet all of those friends will mysteriously cancel last minute. It's a brilliant plan really. It relieves you both of the pressure of coming over for the first time by using a small get-together as a cover."
"No offence, miss French, but that seems slightly eccentric and very excessive. Surely no-one would put that much thought into it." Regina asked, deep down she was beginning to hope that her assistant was right though. She'd love to spend more time alone with the blonde, hopefully it would help clarify whether or not there was something more between them.
"In my experience, they would and do. Especially If they think you'll be an easy lay." Belle rolled her eyes as unpleasant memories flashed through her mind.
"I am most definitely not an 'easy lay'. And I'm sure I have better taste than someone whom would think of me as such." Regina felt hurt and highly offended, her assistant, whom barely knew her, had essentially suggested that she is a slut.
"Oh, god. Miss Mills I did not mean I like that. Not at all! I was talking about my own personal experiences. I am so, so sorry." Belle had gone bright red.
Regina let out a huge sigh and let go of her anger. "Forget it." She said.
"Well, erm, if all the 'friends' mysteriously cancel Saturday, you'll have you answer." Belle said.
"And if not?" Regina sounded concerned.
"If not, we'll have to come up with a plan B." Belle only just managed to stop herself from informing her boss that plan B was also known as 'plan grow some Balls'.
Regina smiled slightly, the brunette had just offered to help her again if she need it. The older brunette then shook her head slightly. "I can't go, anyhow. I have a prior engagement. One of the CEOs are hosting a charity-gala, and I'm expected to be there."
"I'll go." Belle's mouth ran much faster than her seemingly out of shape brain. "I mean if you want. I could go and say you are ill and sent me in place? I'm sure if you sent me with a decent sized cheque no-one would even bat an eyelid?"
"Really? You'd be willing to do that?" Regina was taken back by the kindness the young brunette was showing.
"Sure. I did have plans, but they're not important so I can just cancel them, and it's not as if going to a fancy party would be such a bad thing anyway." Belle tried to shrug it off, as though she wasn't doing Regina a huge favour.
"Let me think about it, and I'll get back to you. Thank you, I really appreciate the offer." Regina's mind was racing. Could I really blow off the gala just to spend a little extra time with Emma?
"They must be pretty special to have this big of an effect of you after just a week!" Belle sounded genuinely amazed.
Regina relaxed slightly and nodded in agreement, as an image of the blonde sitting in her car popped into her head.
"How did you meet?" Belle just couldn't help herself.
"During a lunch break last week. They had just started working at my regular coffee shop." Regina grinned.
"I hope it works out, miss Mills. I really do." Belle's grin was now even bigger than Regina's, anyone would think she was the smitten one.
"I do, too." Regina sighed, she glanced at her computer screen, it was half past five. "I believe it is time you left." The older brunette then began typing away on the computer.
"Oh. I'm so sorry, I'll leave right now." Belle jumped from her seat and ran towards the door. Before she escaped she heard Regina speak again.
"I meant that I believe it's time for you to leave work, miss French. It is half past five. I was not suggesting you had overstayed your welcome in my office." Regina held back a laugh. Sometimes she really enjoyed how meek her assistant is.
"Oh, of course. Yeah. Well, goodnight then. Have a good evening, miss Mills." Belle blushed as she finally exited the room. She packed her things away as quick as she could and practically ran out of the office.
After Belle left Regina paused doing her work again and pulled out her phone to text the blonde.
I may be able to drop by on Saturday after all. X
She smiled to herself as she put her phone on silent and buried it in her bag. She only had an hour left to finish today's work. Which was nearly impossible considering she had barely dented her workload in the past seven odd hours she had been in the office, thanks to the blonde texting her every five minutes with some witty joke or observation. Regina had absolutely no problem with the stream of texts she was receiving, but she wished she had more self-control as to not check them and reply straight away. She'd have to work on that if she didn't want to get even further behind. Perhaps tomorrow she would just leave her phone off all day.
An hour of speed-typing later, Regina logged off of her desktop and retrieved her bag from the small cupboard under her desk. She pulled her coat on and left her office. She hadn't even made it to her car before she checked her phone again. The blonde had replied to her last message almost instantly.
YAY! (but why only maybe?) X
Regina giggled as an image of the blonde shouting at the top of her lungs and flailing her arms about formed in her head. She slid into the driver's seat of her car, she decided she would wait until she got home to respond in order to give herself some time to think of a short response.
By the time she got home and poured herself her usual glass of apple cider, she had thought up, what she believed to be, a perfect response.
I have yet to decide if you're little party is worth abandoning a work obligation.
Is that so? Well I'm going to have lots of alcohol and really yummy food… will this 'work obligation'?
Indeed, it shall. It's actually being catered by a Michelin star restaurant. X
Oh… and you still believe you don't have a posh job? X
Do you still believe that red jacket isn't hideous? X
Okay, okay, calm down! No need to get personal here. I hope you'll choose to come to my flat-warming though. X
Regina's heart fluttered. Emma really want me to go. She continued to stare at the text smiling. Her assistant had thought of a pretty fool proof plan, she was planning on donating generously to the charity anyway, her presence wouldn't make a difference, right? She typed out a short message and hovered her thumb above the send button. There were so many reasons to go, but the only differing reason was the only one she cared about, to see the blonde. Could I really do this? Regina shook her head and took a deep breath before throwing caution to the wind and tapping the send button.
You've convinced me. X
The Coffee Cabin was unusually calm for a Monday morning. Emma didn't need to rush around cleaning tables and taking orders, like she usually did. But the blonde had gotten so accustomed to working at a fast pace that she was left with nothing to do. She scanned the shop, hoping that she had missed a table and would have something to do. She hadn't. There was one man sitting alone in the corner, hopefully he'll finish soon. Emma wiped down the work tops behind the till, again. She patted her thighs and hummed a small tune. Then she walked over to the main counter and leaned her arms, palm down, on the counter.
The Coffee Cabin had three employees, including Emma. The other two employees were both only working part time and Emma hasn't had more than two shifts with either one, so she didn't particularly know them, but she found herself wishing one of them were here to keep her company. She had never been bored at work before, there seemed to always be something to do.
Just as Emma thinking about wiping down all the tables for a third time, she heard her phone buzzed in her jacket pocket. Robin had said that he didn't want her to use her phone at work, so she usually left it switched off in her pocket. Crap, I didn't turn it off, Emma thought as she rushed over to her jacket. She plunged her hand into the pocket and pulled her phone out. She woke the screen and saw who the message was from. Regina. Emma looked around, Robin was in his office, with the door closed. And the man sitting in the corner seemed to be completely focused on something that was happening outside the window. Emma quickly unlocked her phone and replied to the message.
I'm afraid I won't be dropping by for lunch today. X
Why not? I'm so bored! Today's been so slow! I need something to do! X
Emma put her phone on silent and stuck it in her back pocket. If the day continued being slow she could text Regina again. Surely Robin won't mind if no-one is here, right? The blonde walked back to the counter and leaned her lower back against the wooden and sighed. Less than a minute later Regina had replied. Emma felt her phone vibrate in her pocket and smiled. She checked the coast was still clear and pulled out her phone again.
I have a lot of work to get done, work I was supposed to do over the weekend. What a shame! You have no work to do? I feel so sorry for you. X
Why didn't you do it over the weekend? I thought you were the type to finish any work you have before you even have it. Do you speak anything other than sarcasm? X
Emma heard the bell above the door to The Coffee Cabin ding just as she sent her text. She jumped round and shoved her phone back into her pocket. Finally, something to do. She served the customer, figures that they just wanted a coffee to-go now she wouldn't even get a table to clear up. She looked around the shop again. The man that was in the corner had left, and he had cleared up the table. Great.
Emma grabbed a cloth and made her way over to the table, may as well wipe it down I guess. Just as she got to the table she felt her phone vibrate again. She dropped the cloth on the table and pulled her phone out. She perched on the table next to the cloth and starting texting.
I was preoccupied. With you. Or have you forgotten already? I was under the impression all you understand is sarcasm? I was just trying to be accommodating. X
No I haven't forgotten. But I'm pretty sure I only took up a few hours out of you Saturday evening. You had plenty of time to do your work. Don't try blaming me for your laziness! That's weird because I was doing the same for you! X
I wasn't lazy until I met you, miss Swan. You've been an awful influence. What a weird coincidence. X
I am not lazy! I work hard! Speaking of work, shouldn't you be doing that instead of texting? X
You're proving my point. You're distracting me from my work. X
I do believe you text me first, miss Mills. X
I thought I ought to let you know in advance that I wouldn't be coming. My mistake. Next time I'll just let you prepare it and just never turn up. X
I'm not sure if that was sarcastic of not… X
Emma placed a hand on the table to balance herself and felt the wet cloth under her hand. "Oh, shit." She said as she remembered she was supposed to be cleaning the table. She quickly stood and wiped the table then walked back behind the counter. She felt her phone vibrate again, but before she pulled it out a large group of people poured into the coffee shop. Emma put on her work smile and began taking orders. Most of them were eating in so Emma had plenty to do for the next few hours, but she still managed to find time to sneak behind the counter and text Regina back.
As the afternoon rolled into the evening, Emma continued to text Regina between taking orders and keeping the shop clean. Every so often Robin would pop out if his office and ask how things were going, he had almost caught her a few times, but she always managed to hide her phone just in time. When the clock showed six thirty, Emma walked into Robin's office to tell him that she was leaving.
"Hey, it's six thirty. I've cleaned all the tables and put the chairs up so I'm gonna go, unless you need me to do anything else?" The blonde said.
"Okay, that's fine. You can go, I'll see you tomorrow." Robin said, without even looking up at the blonde. Emma nodded and walked out the room. She took off her apron and hung it up next to her jacket. Then she pulled out her phone, she hadn't replied to Regina's latest message yet.
If you don't stop texting me, I'm going to have to turn my phone off! X
Why don't you just learn some self-control, miss Mills. X
Emma was so focused on her phone that she didn't realise that Robin had exited his office and was standing behind her. He reached his arm over her shoulder and grabbed her phone.
"Is this who you've been texting all day then?" Robin said with a raised eyebrow as he began scrolling through Emma and Regina's messages.
"Can I have my phone ba- wait what do you mean all day? Did you see me? Crap I'm sorry, it's just we weren't busy so I thou-" Emma's face burned red.
"Calm down, Emma." Robin said. "did you forget I have CCTV in here? I saw you every time you pulled your phone out. You were far from discreet about it." Robin laughed and then handed the blonde her phone. Emma fiddled with her phone and hung her head and let her blonde locks cover her tomato coloured face. "I'm going to let you off this time. I do, after all, know what it's like to be in the honey-moon phase of a relationship. It can be hard not being together constantly." Robin winked at Emma, who now looked thoroughly confused.
"Honey-moon phase… what? With who?" Emma asked.
"Miss Mills, as you seem to like to call her." Robin said, Emma's expression grew more confused. He thinks that I'm with Regina? "You are one lucky lady, Emma. You better not hurt her." Robin said sincerely.
"No, you've got it wrong. Me and Regina aren't… we're just friends. Why would you think we were… more?" Emma stopped fiddling with her phone and put it in her back pocket.
"Oh, I'm sorry. It's just the messages were quite… flirty. And you seem to have a glow about you, I put two and two together." Robin said. "but I guess I ended up with seven."
"Yeah, I guess you did." Emma said as her phone vibrated again. Emma's hand instinctively went for her phone. Robin smirked as he watched Emma pull out her phone and reply with a smile on her face.
"Or maybe I got four, but you just don't know it yet." Robin said under his breath as he turned and went back into his office.
"What was that?" Emma called after him, even though she heard exactly what he had said. She shook her head. As if her and Regina could be considered that. He is nuts. She pulled her jacket off the hook and shrugged it on, then made her way to the train station.
