Took my time again =p
Chapter 14: The Oscar Winner is...
Emma was lying on her friends' couch. A deadly silence had wrapped the team of relationship breakers since they came back. No one had said anything yet. Anyway, there was nothing to say.
Emma turned around and switched on the computer. The family was getting ready for the last sweet night after this long, stressful and weary day.
An unexpected hell of a day.
And all began at the restaurant.
All the family was sitting at a table close to the windows which had been prepared under Regina's supervision long before the lunch. What was frightening was the effect the famous CEO had on the Mills while she wasn't even present. The normally unshakeable women and the sassy boy were reduced into the shadow of themself and regressing into scared little animals.
When Madam Mills was announced, the three of them shared agitated and fearful looks. The moment « the Godmother » appeared, they all stiffened and everyone else in the restaurant stood still waiting for the next show of horrors. In an instant, the permeating apprehensive vibe transformed into an oppressive atmosphere like a gathering storm threatening to break out after a hellish hot and heavy day. She looked in disgust the restaurant and greeted every Mills with a sickly line of her own politeness. Then the CEO sat at the end of the table, with her back so straight, it made Emma remember her first encounter with Regina. Unlike what she thought at first, Regina was a holy fallen angel compared to her unbearable mother who Emma had just met.
"I heard you want to cancel the fireworks" the cold mother reproved.
"I think it's a little bit too much" Regina's convinced tone was in contradiction with her body langage which was the one of a miserable little girl that was going to be grounded. That difference with the usual powerfulness the businesswoman was emanating baffled Emma.
Ruby had the courage to come in and intentionaly made something fall to put a bug under their table.
"Il me semble que j'avais commandé un martini sans olive" Cora said in a icy tone. She looked at her soon-to-be son-in-law with a deceitful smile "Robin, don't you agree it would be a shame not to ?"
"I think it was a great idea" he first answered but when that face carved into stone that displayed no authentic emotions but distate, fixed him with a deathly look, he corrected "the fireworks I mean."
Cora gave him a satisfied smile. His turnaround left Emma appalled. How could he changed sides on every whim ? He couldn't make his mind once and for all ? He let Regina planned everything and he couldn't even support her, could he ? Was he the man she wanted to marry ? One that couldn't even support her against her own mother if needed. As she was thinking about how Robin was really getting on her nerves as Cora's behaviour, Emma's feet brought her closer to Regina.
"Did you choose this restaurant ?" Cora said her voice plastic as her smile.
Regina inhaled.
"Yes."
Cora smiled a bit forcefully, her eyes as cold as ever.
"Why do you ask, Mother ?" Regina asked, waiting for another undubitable criticism.
"Don't you think it's a bit ordinary ? You're getting married, not going to some birthday."
Regina frowned.
"Madam Mills, I find it totally charming."
Cora smiled to Robin with that hypocritical smile of hers, her eyes sharp and cold.
"Charming… it is" she conceded, the words put in her acerbic mouth felt wrong.
"I took a pick of the menu" Cora continued to nag, she always seemed to have things to criticize "I do feel we could make some improvements."
"Mother, please don't start" Zelena stepped in "I think we should respect Regina's wishes."
"She has been organizing entire wedding on her own" Emma jumped into the conversation to everyone's surprise.
"Who's that ?" Cora said showing Emma with such disdain the false bodyguard was sure she had finally met the most contemptuous woman she ever had the pleasure to meet.
"Emma Swan. My bodyguard" Regina answered with a hint of protectiveness.
Emma inhaled sharply. "My" she said ? Cora sighed.
"What use do you have for a bodyguard ?" the apathetic woman scoffed.
"I am employed to escort and to guard from bodily harm" Emma retorted sarcastically.
Regina and Zelena scowled at her. Maybe it was a bad move, but Emma didn't care. The formidable CEO bit back with a Machiavellian comeback.
"Well, as you said, you're here to guard not to interfere into some private conversation."
Emma gritted her teeth. Unfortunately, the sardonic president was totally right.
"Emma don't try anything with her ! That woman is more dangerous than shotguns. Nobody stand against Cora" August advised her.
Emma would be the first then. Because that wasn't going to stop her.
"Since when do you have a bodyguard ?"
"I hired her" Zelena stepped in again.
"Why did you choose her ?"
"The company did send one of their best" Zelena explained as a matter of fact.
"She seemed more of a rookie." Emma's blood boiled, she was used to criticism but the way Cora said it just hit right on the bodyguard's nerve "Which company does she work for ?" Cora dogged.
"I don't remember…" Zelena lied "I just signed the costs estimate which seemed the most reasonable."
"Zelena, that's why I can't let you have a high position in the company if you can't even do such a simple task."
"I'll be careful" Zelena answered completely weary and detached.
"That's not enough" Cora cut short toneless.
Zelena just rolled her eyes exasperated. Somehow, the line of Cora's fire had changed of target. Emma suspected Zelena had deliberately done it to protect her little sister. And at the same time, Emma's bad move was forgotten.
"Even her sense of fashion is lacking. You can't show up with a crumpled shirt at work !" Cora continued making Emma gawked. The nerves she had "She can't be serious about being a professionnal…"
It infuriated the bodyguard that Cora's criticism was indirectly aiming at Regina again thanks to Emma's fucked up. Even if she didn't have time to iron her clothes, they weren't that crumpled. Emma wasn't known for her patience and her cool attitude. She didn't like people walking all over the others and staying passive she wouldn't.
"She is right here, and she can hear you, Lady !" Emma protested. August sighed and Ruby facepalmed herself.
"You're being offensive" Cora gasped as she put her hands to her chest.
Emma flummoxed. The cheek of her !
"Emma is kind !" Henry interjected "And she is really cool !"
"Please Henry, you don't know what you're talking about" Cora said condescendingly when surprise wore off.
"We spent a lot of time together this week" Henry justified "We had a lot of fun !"
"I thought she was a bodyguard not a babysitter" Cora scoffed.
"I am not a baby" he mumbled.
"I know, Sweetheart" she approved with no real interest or warmth in her tone, her face just as false as everything since the beginning "You're becoming too old to have … fun" her lips curled up in distate " I don' t want you to spend your life being licentious."
Henry crossed his arms, frowning.
"I like to have fun ! We even went to the Parc Asterix altogether !"
Oh ! Emma looked at Regina who seemed scared stiff. That was turning bad.
"Excuse me ?"
"Henry…Please" Regina tried to calm down her son.
"We had fun !" he continued stubbornly, his rebellious part amplifying with each remark.
"We ?"
"Mom and me !"
"Could you bring the entry ?" Regina asked a waiter, wishing this talk to end.
"Henry, dear…"
Cora looked at him right in the eyes but the sulking boy turned this head away from his ruthless grandmother.
"You can't understand" he continued while standing up "because you're no fun at all" he dared to say before running out. All the table and even the waiters were taken aback by his sudden audacity.
"Henry !" Regina and Emma called after him but Cora prevented her daughter from actually catching him up.
"Sit down !" the dispassionnate president ordered, her tone so harsh, it even stopped Emma in her track.
"But…"
"Sit down I said !" the peeved woman repeated harsher than earlier.
Regina clenched her jaws, her fingers gripping her black sheath dress with royal blue sleeves and Emma finally ran after the kid.
"Henry…"
He was sitting on the stairs outside the restaurant looking at the Seine, his head on his hands, under the shade of trees, their leaves gently swaying in the fresh breeze.
"You're going to dirty your suit…" she said while sitting next to him, not praticing what she had just preached.
"Don't give a damn !"
Emma's lips curled up, at least he hadn't swore in front of his judgemental grandmother. She leant back on her hands and looked at the small clouds scattering the blue sky.
"It's the first time… "
Emma's eyes drifted back to him.
"It's the first time I really say what I want" he explained.
"And ?" she asked feeling guilt in his tone.
"I don't know. Feels good. And kind of bad" he concluded.
"Always like this when you become emancipated."
He looked up at Emma.
"I hope Mom won't have any trouble because of me…"
Emma sighed. He was already too mature and responsible for his age. And worst of all, it was surely because of his grandmother.
"If you go back now, I am sure there will be no problem" Emma wanted to reassure.
"You don't know her, Emma" he warned her "that's when you think it's all over, that all begins…"
A shiver ran dow her spine before his seriousness. What did it feel like a prophecy ?
"Let's go back. Or I'll eat all your food !" Emma tried to cheer him up by changing of subject.
"You wouldn't dare !" he challenged her.
"First come, first served" she said while standing up but stopped when she saw Regina leaning on the door frame. The warmth of the sunlight on her tanned skin and the wind sweeping her black hair were brightening her already exquisite features.
"You really should take care of gifts."
With a guilty conscience, Emma removed the dust on her pants while Henry doubled crossed the bodyguard and got in the restaurant, his lips cocked in a mischievous grin. Regina was as beautiful as an unpredictable apocalyptic morning, as astonishing, devastating and formidable. As beautiful as the butterfly's life was ephemeral or as a fully open bloom peony ready to wither. And unfortunately, it was just for the eyes, with no way to touch. Dammit… She gave Emma a grateful look before following her son.
When Emma got back, Henry beamed at her from his chair. Well, she had let him win, obviously. When her eyes met Cora's, the false bodyguard's heart sped up from surprise and fear. Okay, she could be really frightening. The CEO checked her phone and made a call before the entry was served.
The first service consisting in extravagant French meals that would be served for the wedding went smoothly and very, very quietly. Uncomfortable before the heavy silence which reigned in the room, Emma drew away from the table to the door of the kitchen to discreetly talk to Ruby.
"What happened ?" she asked, her eyes on the silent table, paying more attention to Regina who seemed already drained.
"What do you think ?" Ruby whispered back "I did think Granny was frightening when she was angry… well, I've changed my mind, she is a sweetheart compared to her" and she walked in to get the empty plates.
Okay, that wasn't really helping Emma.
"August ?"
"Well, from what I've heard from the bug, she said that Henry should get into a public or military school, that he would help him with his disobedient behaviour before he turns completely insolent and scornful. And then… they just all stayed silent and she asked for another white wine" he summed up "oh ! She also say his should cut his hair 'cause it's as long as girls."
Emma reined in the impulse to scoff. No wonder Regina had left the table to avoid Cora's insufferable behaviour. Being an actress was running in the Mills' blood. Put all the drama for nothing. And Henry's long bangs was part of his charm anyway. The bodyguard came back to her place. Cora was sending some mails or whatever it was.
The silence was broken by a phone ring.
"Ah !" Cora exclaimed almost content "from work" she explained. She dabbed her lips with the napkin and stood up "I have to take it."
She went outside, glowering at Emma, who wasn't impressed anymore. She had her fair share of infernal looks this week. When the CEO left the room, everyone breathed out releasing the oppressive atmosphere which completely vanished. Emma looked at Regina who sighed from relief.
"Bloody hell !" Zelena half-shouted while stretching out.
"Zelena…" Regina admonished.
Her sister rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, yeah I know" she took Regina's admonishing tone "You shouldn't say this, blah blah blah, I know the lines, thank you !"
Henry stood up and came to his mother.
"Mom, I am sorry" Henry apologied "I didn't mean to snap."
She brushed his bangs from his face and smiled lovingly at him like Cora had never smiled to Regina or Zelena since the scornful mother had arrived.
"It's fine, Henry" She hugged him and kissed his forehead "Are you alright ?"
Henry turned back and glanced at Emma.
"Yes I am now" he whispered.
He hugged her. Regina's gaze didn't leave Henry until he sat back to his chair. When her eyes fell on Emma, they were full of sincere gratitude. Emma answered with a little bow and a small smile. But everything shifted when Zelena went on stage, sending a kiss to Emma.
"Good job, Emma !" the older sister congratulated.
Emma tensed up at the Zelena's unexpected gesture. What the fuck ? The older woman was weird since this morning. The false bodyguard's eyes fell on Regina whose attention was directed to Robin who had put his hand on hers.
"Are you alright ?" Robin asked "Your mother is quite something, you know…"
Regina frowned while removing her hand and played with her ring. Emma just wanted to give Robin a smack and to shake him up until his primitive brain or the rest of it liquefy.
"Trouble in paradise ?" Zelena mocked.
"At least we have one" Robin answered taking Emma by surprise. Manual of instruction got teeth.
"Stop it !" Regina gritted her teeth.
They all turned back silent when Cora came back, everyone waiting for the thunderstorm to burst. Her sadistic smile and the way she sly look she gave at Emma brushed against the bodyguard's senses and made her shudder. Like she knew something that would bury the relationship breaker into the abysmal abode of the damned. The bodyguard swallowed but she stared back at the witch, fighting against the impulse to drop her eyes to the ground. But her face as immobile as a statue and her steady diabolical glare made Emma's eyes finally drop. Bitter surrender.
"I booked a table at Le Nôtre for tonight. Would you join us ?" Cora asked.
"Thank you but no. Tonight, it just the three of us" Regina answered.
"Please, you'll have the time in the world to be together after the wedding."
Regina absently looked at Emma while the bodyguard rolled her eyes in silent solidarity, annoyed by that infernal mother. Pride overtook the bodyguard when Regina 's lips curled up discreetly. Yeah. That was stupid. Emma was behaving like an idiot these day anyway, she may as well kept behaving like that.
"I have already planned everything, Mother" the soon-to-marry woman explained weary.
"Fine" Cora gritted her teeth. Her following "I understand" said in a defeated tone as if she was the victim made Emma recoiled.
During the rest of the lunch, Cora and Robin debated over the patnership between the company and the association. When lunch was finally over, to everyone's relief, it was time to put the conspirators' plan into motion, to make the two lovebirds realize they were too different. When Emma reached the car, a spiteful voice came from behind her :
"So how is your fiancé doing ?"
Emma whipped back. Fiancé ? The execrable Queen was there with Regina who was looking at her with an intense and penetrating gaze.
"I am not fiancé" she mumbled.
That would be the greatest mistake of her life. She wasn't going to chain herself to someone.
"Sorry, I thought so. You're so demonstrative of your love" Cora said looking at her phone.
"Mother" Regina admonished.
Emma frowned.
"What are you talking about? " she asked completely clueless about what she was saying.
"Look for yourself" Cora held her phone.
Emma took it. It was tumblr blog. Captain Jones and her Swan. The fuck ! What the actual fuck ! She scrolled down the screen. There was a lot of pictures of them, of her, some she didn't even know, some quite private... Killian had the nerves ! Without asking her. That was taking Emma's damned cake. The relationship breaker was talented to search information on people but she had never check her own profil.
"You see, Regina, that's exactly why I told you not to put your private life online."
Regina clenched her jaws and looked away, frowning.
"It's not sane to post private things in the eyes of the whole world" Cora sighed while taking back her phone "Regina you should be careful on who you hired, next time check their background."
Regina didn't said anything while Emma stood petrified by those pictures she didn't even know the existence and Cora got in her car.
"Come with me" Cora commanded as she closed the door.
Robin took Regina's shoulder to guide her into the car and the future family got in. Henry glanced at Emma, sorry overflowing his gaze while Cora opened the window of her car.
"Miss… Swan, was it ?" Cora spit Emma's name as if it was sour and rotten "You're not needed anymore. You can return to whatever you're doing, bodyguarding or not."
She gave her an awful but knowing look. Did she imply Emma's real work or Emma was reading too much between the lines ?
"I won't let you destroy my family" the hostile woman threatened.
The car started off leaving Emma alone on the sidewalk while she absorbed what had actually transpired. That woman was clearly dangerous. When the car disappeared from her sight, Emma felt an elbow on her shoulder.
"It seemed it's just you and me" Zelena observed.
Emma rubbed her eyes.
"What the actual fuck with your Mother ?"
Cora was just layers of different degrees of bitchiness and Emma didn't really want to dig deeper... The false bodyguard didn't want to find out was going on on that fucking diabolic mind. Zelena laughed.
"I think you pretty well summed her up. At least, I am not her favorite, I don't have to live under such stress."
Emma sighed. A lot of things were now making sense. The relationship breaker now understood who the Mills were taking after. No wonder they all had a strong personality.
"Does she know ?"
"It wouldn't be surprising" Zelena said looking at her nails, like it didn't matter at all "She is just another impediment to get rid of."
"An obstacle you couldn't get rid of thirty seven years ?"
Zelena gave her a dark look.
"What ? Forty years ?"
Zelena swatted Emma's head.
"I really don't understand her" Zelena was talking to herself "How could she be attra…" she stopped when she saw Emma looking at her. She sighed "Nothing."
"Are you going to help ?" Emma finally asked.
"Maybe the lionness can join forces with coackroaches…"
As Emma was getting off the car, Cora, Regina, Henry and Robin were already waiting for the priest on the doorstep of an old catholic church lost in the small streets of the 4th district. Zelena opened the window.
"I am waiting !"
Emma rolled her eyes. Ruby was right. Zelena was way worst than her sister and the bodyguard feared that it was just the tip of the iceberg.
"Opening the door of my supervisor doesn't enter in Security. Do it yourself." Emma said curtly, now used to Zelena's tantrums.
Zelena made seductively fluttered her eyelashes or rather try to be. Emma just raised an eyebrow and smirked.
"You've got hands right ?"
The older sister scolded and muttered under her breath.
"If it was Regina, you would do it without a second thought."
Emma scowled, dismayed by Zelena's capacity to piss her off. And okay, Regina had a way to make Emma yield to her wishes with just a look or a smile but it wasn't going to work with Zelena. First the younger sister didn't have to ridiculously bat her eyelashes like crazy.
"She is my supposed boss" Emma defended in an attempt to save face.
"I am your real boss" Zelena wickedly retorted.
"I don't have to behave like a bodyguard with you" Emma observed.
"You have to make them believe it" Zelena gave a sidelong glance at the clique on the other side of the road.
The bodyguard leant on the hood facing the little park bordering the church and crossed her arms.
"Well your mother is already aware of something, Henry is with us and Regina and Robin have only have eyes for each other. So, no need for details" Emma rationalized.
"You're so dense" Zelena sighed like she was facing the worst curse ever.
"Not gonna change my life" the bodyguard shrugged detached.
"With a behaviour like that, I am not surprised" Zelena put her chin on her hand while looking at the white steeple "You know you could ruin someone else's life with that behaviour."
Emma rolled her eyes. With her behaviour, the bodyguard would ruin nobody's life but her own. Zelena still hadn't made a move to open the door.
"You're giving me a headache" Emma complained.
"What was that ?"
"I said you're a headache !" Emma shouted.
Zelena raised her eyebrows and smirked that fucking little smirk Emma dreamed it never existed. Only on Regina's face.
"I'll take that for a compliment" the older sister mocked.
"Wasn't one" Emma muttered under her breath, suddenly very drained.
Zelena still didn't seem to intend to open the door herself. It was like a match to see which one of them was the most stubborn, like rounds of the contest for the Oscar of the most bitchy. First the mother, now the daughter. Emma could be stubborn, but she was afraid she couldn't measure up to the Mills.
"I am still waiting."
Anger flashed suddenly but deflated just as quickly when the bodyguard saw Zelena was completely ignoring her, her gaze focused on the other group.
Emma finally opened the passenger door under the intense gaze of Cora who was scrutinizing them. Zelena got off and put her hand on the crook of Emma's elbow.
"What are you doing ?" the bodyguard said stiffly trying to get rid of the virus that was taking her for a host.
"Having my own little fun" the plague whispered in Emma's ears "And giving you a headache at the same time" she said while stroking… stroking ? Emma's arms. She tried to pull away but Zelena held onto her.
Really, the older sister had to revise her own meaning of fun given Emma's embarrassment and given the Mills' gaze, Cora's disapproving look, surprise painted all over on Henry's face and Regina's intense gaze. What was Zelena trying to do ? They were supposed to make Regina see that Robin wasn't for her, not make the group believe there was something between Zelena and Emma. The false bodyguard darted a look to Regina who was still wearing that plastic face she had adopted since her mother came this morning. The soon-to-be married woman moved closer to Robin who put his arm around her waist and kiss her cheek to Emma's disappointment and repulsion.
Zelena tsked and got closer to Emma who desperately looked at Henry. The kid only shrugged like he was powerless and gave her a sympathetic smile.
"Stop putting shame on my name, Zelena" Cora warned her and turning to Emma, the infuriating CEO added in a corrosive tone :
"I told you to leave you're not welcome here."
"You're not my boss" Emma blurted out, her impulse to retort was way too fast for her to rein it in.
All eyes were on Emma, impressed or curious to see how her stupid rebellion would go.
"She is paying you with my money. Technically, I am your boss" Cora explained with a such haughty and disgusted tone that Regina's and Zelena's ones were pale in comparison.
"Technically, not officially" Emma taunted "Not on the paper."
Regina looked away when Zelena strocked Emma's arms and blocked the bodyguard from elbowing her, all the while both of them forced themselves to smile.
"What with that mouth of yours ? Did you ever learn respect ?" Cora sounded falsely affected.
"I learn to respect people who respect me, lady !" Emma retorted, anger threatening to spill over again.
The three others's head were bobbing back and forth between Cora and the bodyguard. Emma knew that the CEO was just testing the limit of her patience.
"You're such a…"
"Mother!" Regina intervened before it got really ugly for Emma and put a hand on her mother's arm to stop her. Cora inhaled sharply at this interruption "Miss Swan, you…"
"Regina" her mother began ; her tone, as calmly as darkly, didn't bode well "remind me what I told you ?"
The usual powerful businesswoman recoiled like she remembered who she had just interrupted.
"Not stepping in your businesses."
"You know I don't like insolence" Cora warned.
"I am sorry mother" came into a whisper.
Emma was shocked by the turnaround. Regina had the courage to go against her mother just to be belittled once more. Her shoulders slumped as if heavily burdened, one arm circled her belly like a scared animal willing to protect its most vulnerable part against a predator and her fingers gripped her dress.
"That's all I wanted to hear."
That infernal satisfied smirk painting Cora's face was the last straw for Emma. She freed herself from her jailer and stepped between Regina and her unsparing diabolic mother.
"Hey, leave her alone !" Emma shouted "She didn't do anything wrong !"
"You really don't know your place, don't you ?" Cora snickered.
"Mother…"
Cora looked at Regina in fury over Emma's shoulder.
"People are watching" Zelena observed completely detached, looking at her nails.
Pedestrians were staring at them as they passed near the attention-getting talk. Cora recollected herself but killed Emma so many times with her glare that even cats wouldn't have enough lives to survive it.
The priest finally arrived and invited them to come in. Emma's attention turned to the woman who had tried to protect her even if she was unnerved by her own mother. Her heart fluttered at that thought and a lopsided grin adorned her face until she was elbowed by Zelena. The bodyguard gave her a dark look and followed the future family, Zelena and Cora climbing the stairs.
"Are you okay ?" Emma heard the only male voice of the group speaking to his soon-to-be-wife who was circling her belly with her arms.
Of course she wasn't ! The will to cheer Regina up and to kiss her until she forget what had just happened itched Emma like hundreds of mosquitoes' bites coupled with eczema.
"I am fine" she answered nonetheless.
He put his arm around her shoulders and stroke her arms, accepting her answer but giving the support Regina needed. Emma tsked, the rascal always appeared when the battle was over and she clenched her jaws when envy bubbled up. She looked away from them, blindness would be such a sweet punishment for her right now. Just before Cora stepped in the church, she stopped and closed the door, leaving her and Emma alone outside the church. She turned around to face Emma.
"Did you really think I was going to let you have the last word ?" the scheming woman scowled.
"Of course not" Emma scoffed, and with the same tone she snickered "But I won't either."
Emma took pride on the masked look of anger and annoyance the older woman was currently trying to contain. Cora took her haughty air and scoffed.
"What are you doing ?" Zelena cut them from the incoming turbulent talk "They are waiting for you Mother. You're the one who wanted to come" she continued with an accusatory tone.
Emma was impressed by Zelena's resistance against her mother who smiled a shallow smile and came in.
"Are you coming in ?" she asked her daughter without really looking at her and completely ignoring Emma's existence.
"I have a phone call" Zelena gave a knowing look to Emma before drawing away.
Emma walked into the white church. While the priest was talking to the family near the altar, the bodyguard stopped at the other side of the nave enjoying the subdued light passing though the large stained-glass. To her own surprise, the Church was quite illuminated thanks to the white wall and the high baroque vault embellished by large windows.
When she felt a presence right behind her, Emma turned around.
"Don't be so disappointed."
Yeah. It was only Zelena.
"Were you waiting for someone else ?" the impertinent woman asked.
"No" Emma denied clenching her jaws "I supposed you talked to August."
"Good supposition" Zelena approved.
"So what's the plan ?"
"Basics first. Whatever you're going to say to Regina or do is going to screw up everything."
"I don't get it…" Emma frowned not understanding why.
Zelena sighed.
"You're kind of slow, aren't you ?"
And obviously coming from Zelena, it wasn't a question but an affirmation.
"Maybe…" Emma finally capitulated. She didn't want to get worked up over Zelena, one of the only Mills who was on her side "So ? "
Emma sat down on a dark wooden chair under rays of sunlight. Zelena sat down in behind her, and Emma turned around her back to the rest of the family.
"Let Henry manage his mother" Zelena pointed at the kid who was following his mother like a shade.
"And us ?"
"Well we have all the bloody time of the world to… what was it again ?" Zelena clapped her hands in appreciation and added in a mocking tone "Learn to know each other !"
It echoed in the church and all the others turned around before getting back to their own occupation.
"Are you serious ?" the bodyguard asked disbelieving.
She wasn't going to waste any more time. This time she wouldn't make the same mistake she had made more than once.
"August ?" Emma whispered.
"What she says" he directly answered the unasked question.
What the fuck was actually happening ?
"You can't be serious…"
Zelena lifted her hands.
"If someone you know since what ? less than a week, tells you that you shouldn't get married to the man you know for years and you're actually living with, what are you going to do ?" Before Emma actually answered she continued "Follow their advice and run away from the life you ever known ?" Zelena shrugged like it was obvious. Well it was.
"No…" Emma frowned "I would think 'go to hell, you don't know me'."
"So let Henry handle this part" Zelena concluded.
"Okay" the bodyguard looked at Regina's straight back with a lonely and aching heart "and you ?"
"You mean us."
Zelena looked up at the vulture that was circling around Regina.
"We have Mother to handle."
Oh shit…They had the worst part…
"And Robin ?"
"Ruby'll take care of him."
"So how do we…'handle' your mother ?" Emma didn't know if she wanted to laugh or cry at that.
"The Church Tour isn't the best place for it. Regina had a manucure session after this. Henry will ask to come with Regina and Robin is going to ask for a cab to sort out the rest and that's when Ruby come on stage."
Okay so Ruby was either going right into the traffic jam or turning in circle in Paris to save them time until dinner.
"So we just have to get rid of her » Emma said it with such contempt, it even surprised her « during the manucure session."
The way Zelena raised her eyebrows told Emma she was nearly crossing the line but the older woman didn't make any comment.
"I am going to inform Henry."
"Okay. Give him the earpiece. He will need it more than me" Emma said while taking the device off "And stop looking at me like that, you're creeping me out."
"I don't know what you're saying" Zelena answered with a faux-innocent tone.
The bodyguard recoiled when the older sister smiled at her like she was going to eat Emma. What the hell was wrong with Zelena ?
"It's going to be like tearing off a leech" Zelena sighed once she stood up.
This was exactly the job Emma needed to change her mind.
"Everything is into place" Zelena said once she got out the room where Regina was having her manucure.
As Zelena said, Henry had asked for accompanying his mother to the beauty parlor and Robin had left in Ruby's cab. Emma prefered not to think about the way she got it.
"We need to proceed carefully now…"
They were cut by a phone ring. Zelena sighed ready to hang up without looking.
"It from… work ?" Zelena frowned "I have to get it."
She got outside the beauty parlor leaving Emma alone in the corridor. Okay… Should the bodyguard wait or try to do something ?
"I thought 'you are not needed here' was easy enough to understand" the most vindictive woman Emma had met said.
Well, tearing the leech off seemed easier that the false bodyguard thought. Emma turned around, a forced smile plastered on her face, ready to face her new opponent. Cora.
"As I said, you're not my boss."
"I don't want to waste my time with these futile pursuits" Cora sighed, frustratingly cryptic.
What a shame… it was exactly Emma's mission and she would clearly enjoy throwing a monkey wrench into the nefarious woman plans.
"Let's get to the point."
A new dangerous glint shone in the CEO's eyes.
"Let's make a deal. I won't warn the police about your little intangible business, if you leave now and don't ever show up again."
Emma narrowed her eyes. Okay, first the false bodyguard wasn't stupid enough to make any deals with that diabolical woman. And second, that confirmed Emma's suspicions : Cora knew everything.
"I don't know what you're saying" Emma denied, fearing what was coming.
The relationship breaker squared her shoulders ready to take the blows she knew were coming.
"Dear…" Cora began with a patronizing tone "don't play dumb. You're smarter than you look."
Emma tried really hard not to take it to heart. The CEO's mocking smirk forever plastered on her face made it even harder. What a good beginning…
"Why would you do that ?" Emma asked in order to fill in some time.
"Having the kindness not to tell the police ?" the despising woman wryly asked.
"Force me to leave."
"My daughter is going to marry, I am afraid she is not… 'unhappy' " she hissed the last word as rubbish.
"Are you fucking blind ?"
Cora imperceptibly recoiled before Emma's expression.
"She is not unhappy, she is miserable !" Emma shouted "and I am quite sure now, it's'cause of you !"
"I don't know what you're saying…" Cora was now playing the dumb.
"You fucking know about it ! It's like your controlling everything ! What they eat, what they do, the time they do it, even their social medias …"
That was why the team breaker didn't find anything private on their family or just found positive articles on the company.
"Everything I do is for my daughters and my grandchild" the stifling woman stated.
"They can't even make a freaking choice !" Emma's on rage surged to life, knowing that a life depraved from choice was one the worst.
"Miss Swan, I can't control everything. I can't control people's heart" the control freak observed as a poor and unfortunate evidence and offered as an counterexample "See for yourself, they can choose the people they want to be with. "
"Yeah, right. Let me guess…when they make so-called bad choices, you're here to make them change their mind."
"I am not here to explain myself to you. I am their Mother and their guardian. I am doing this for them. I know what's best for them" Cora cut out.
Emma was just talking to a wall. The two women were exchanging views like two boxers in a ring giving punches without lowering their guard.
"Aren't you Mother of the year ?" the bodyguard mocked in Cora's equal tone. The Mills were rubbing off on Emma "What you think the best for them may be, is not necessarily what they want" Emma defended remembering Regina who didn't want to be the next CEO.
"They don't know what they want" Cora scoffed.
"But you know ?"
Emma knew that Cora was one of the reason the aspirants were fleeing from her daughters but she didn't imagine the real reason behind. It asn't because they were scared of that vicious and grim woman like she first thought but because she was the picture of manipulation. She was controlling everything, amplifying what would benefit her and erasing everything that as contradicting her plans. It wouldn't surprise Emma that she was the reason they didn't find anything on Henry's adoption. Like she wanted to erase Regina's beautiful gesture.
"What I did, I did for the good of the family. To protect them."
"If you're so willing to protect them, then why do you always criticize them ?" Emma probed in order to understand why the younger Mills had to put up with this tyrannical behaviour.
"I am not criticizing them. I am helping them" Cora defended.
"Helping them ?" Emma was hallucinated. That woman was more compelling than helping. Twisted people like her were just perverting the beauty of motherhood.
"For being so much more than they actually are. And I have such high hopes, especially in Regina and Henry. I want to see them win and they will."
"Win what ? There is nothing to win !"
It was just revolting Emma.
"I'd like to believe that the world carved us, you and me, as realists Miss Swan. We both know that life isn't all rainbows and lollipops. We have to endure to survive in this tremendously hostile world infested by nothing but asinine and good-for-nothings people totally convinced of their own superiority. And once people like us, coming from nothing, thrived, we still need to struggle and keep safe while thwarting their low blows. And if you make the single mistake of showing them weakness, they will trample on you the second after."
Her reasoning flatfooted Emma. Cora thought she was fighting against the world of rats. Not everybody were rats. Not everyone wanted to see people fall into destitute circumstances, not the entire world at least.
"You know that I am doing this for their best. Your pretty face buys you a lot, but not my time. So I suggest you get in your car and disappear or i'll destroy your life and everything you tried to built until today. For your sake, don't get in between or you'll lose more than some feathers" Cora said with her quiet voice full of menace and her eyes flashed in warning, her mask still full of hatred and rage, sweeping away everything the bodyguard had just said like hare-brained ideas.
Emma was used now to the Mills' family threat and she wouldn't care even if she was cursed. They stared right back at each other, one with pupils dilating with rage and the other death in the eyes.
"All due respect, Madame Mills, the fact that you have now threatened me three times since this morning makes me want to stay more" Emma explained, danger colouring her words.
"If you think I am going to let you keep coming after everything I hold dear, you're misleading" Cora warned sharply.
"Are you that afraid I break that stupid wedding ? Is it more important than Regina's happiness to you ?" Emma asked confused.
Was Cora that afraid that the relationship breaker succeed ? But why ?
"Why's that wedding is so important ? You don't even find that guy interesting ! You're just an hypocrite who isn't even interested in him, just his association !" Emma stopped in her track "Wait. What is the point of all this?"
"To protect my family" Cora answered as a matter of fact.
A wedding between Regina and Robin, two people who embodied their own companies. As Emma realized the truth, Cora narrowed her eyes and her face took the colour of carefulness.
"Clever girl."
Being clever almost felt like an insult right now.
"Or expanding your company" Emma read between the lines.
If Regina and Robin were married, it would be easier for Cora's company to absorb her son-in-law's association and safely expand her market into the developping countries thanks to his charity organisation while making her comany yield a profit thanks to a better advertisement in the others. That's the reason why Cora didn't make him run away.
"Whatever growth I am haggling over is for protecting my family."
Emma stayed flummoxed. For the good of the family ? For the company ? Or her thirst for power ?
"And that's why you need to leave in such a way everything go back to normal" the conniving woman continued.
"And you think that my leave will put everything on order like before ?" Emma asked flabergasted.
"Except Zelena, none of this rebellion phase happened until you got here."
Emma bit back a mocking laugh. Rebellion phase ?
"I'm sorry. Did you ever stop to think that maybe the problem isn't with me, but with you?"
"Excuse me?" the impish woman recoiled.
"Henry 'rebelled' " Emma stressed the same word Cora hissed a moment ago "against you. Regina stopped you from anything you were going to tell. They both protected me. Maybe, Madam Mills, you need to take a good hard look in the mirror and ask yourself why that is. Why is everyone rebelling against you?"
That haughty face twisted into pure hatred.
"They are all scared of you. They just listen to you because they fear you, not because they love you !" Emma finished almost shouting.
And for the first Cora laughed. Her laugh was even more terrifying than her cold eyes and her stone face plastered with that usual infernal grin.
"Foolish girl" the self-sufficiant woman waggled her hand to scatter absurdities Emma had just blathered like flies "What does love bring Miss Swan ?"
Emma wanted to squirm under the intensity of Cora's stare.
"Nothing…" Cora chuckled and stated as matter of fact "Love is weakness."
At that moment, facing that derisive smile, Emma knew she never would feel anything but resentment for that infernal human being who showed not a single, clear, identifiable emotion, except for contempt and disgust.
"You see in the end it isn't love or whatever other feelings that wins. It's power. Because when you have it, people just yield to you and follow you without second thoughts. So while you spend your time chasing fanciful illusions of whatever you think love is, helping people to find their 'True Love' which we know are just mirages and dreams for children," she hissed with a grating voice "I'll gave my family the power to make other people bend the knee before them."
Power ? That was what it was all along. Power. She was making Regina, Henry and Zelena suffer for power…
"You're a monster" Emma declared to the insane woman.
Cora cracked up. Chilly shivers ran down the relation breaker's spine before the sneering laugh of the deadly woman. The heartless woman took a step forward and instinctively Emma stepped back.
"You think I am like the plaque and you're their cure I suppose" Cora scoffed at Emma's nonsense, wiping away a tear and after pulling herself together she added with her usual somber seriousness "I have the feeling you need to do good around you. You're young, full of idealism. But good isn't always what you think."
"Because what you are doing is good for them ?"
Cora sighed.
"This conversation is going around in circle…" the pernicious CEO replied rankling "Leopold told me about your efficacity but he scared me for nothing…"
Leopold ? Mary Margaret's father ? Did he tell her about their business ? Is that how she find about them ?
Cora turned back. The cockfight was finally over to the relief of Emma who had lost some feathers in the affrontement with the malevolent CEO. The older woman stopped in her track.
"You are talking about love and family and you're trying to destroy mine for money !" she snarled "Who's the hypocrite here ?"
Emma inhaled and clenched her jaws at that new blow she took as an insult. She wasn't a hypocrite. She was just trying to help unhappy women.
"And the funniest part of all is that you haven't even one yourself !" Cora continued with her condescending tone "You're a clever girl. But you can't understand this."
She laughed a dark and somber chuckle while Emma swallowed the lump in her throat, dreading what the disdainful and abusing woman was going to say.
"You don't know what a mother would do for her children since you were given up" the vicious woman hissed like a snake and turned around to watch carefully the emotions playing on Emma's face.
The relationship breaker was struck silent by the hurtful truth coming out of that caustic mouth. Her coldblooded opponent narrowed her sinful eyes which pierced Emma's soul.
"An orphan girl like you, who never have been adopted, who has been carried around in the foster system, can't understand and won't understand what I, a real mother, am doing" the sly woman added.
The bodyguard inhaled sharply, rolling with the punches, each punch more painful than the last.
"You're scared to be once more in that situation, are you ? To feel like no one care about you, to still be an orphan." Wearing a scornful mask, the merciless CEO tilted her head "Is that why you're running after acknowlegment ?"
Her shoulders slumped when the Emma's insecurities which were lurking these past few days, blew up into her face. Too late, the orphan girl put her poker face over the hurt, refusing to give Cora more advantages she had already gave.
"I am not going to let you near my daughter again. You can do whatever you want, you lost" Cora deviously gloated before her lowness victory and left with her infernal smirked plastered on her face, leaving the looser alone in the corridor.
Once she had disappeared, Emma rushed out from the beauty parlor and leant against a tree not far away from the shop, inhaled and exhaled deeply many times. She fought the tears that were threatening to fall. The world had carved Emma into a fighter, but sometimes things or people weren't meant to be beaten. And Cora was undubitably one of them.
"I am back !" Zelena said when her call ended "Emma ? Are you alright ?"
Emma blinked. The relationship breaker had thought she had been prepared for the CEO's cutting remarks, but those ones dug deeper than she had expected. Even a black mamba was less terrifying than her. And its bite less mortifiying than hers.
"Yeah… I am fine" Emma wiped away the tears she couldn't hold "You know, your mother is a piece of work."
"I do" Zelena shrugged as if it was the only way it was supposed to be "What happened ?"
"I saved some time for Henry" Emma ran a hand through her hair "Remains for us to hope it was enough."
"Does she know about him being with us ?"
"I don't think so."
At least, not yet.
"Where are you going ?"
"I need some space" Emma explained as she walked on the sidewalk away from Zelena. "I just need to walk around."
Cora's reputation didn't do justice to what she was really capable of. Too many memories had reappeared with the last events. Some appalling, some gloomy, some sorrowful but overall haunting insecurities Emma had spent years to bury and that had piled up over the past days and she couldn't fight it anymore.
She mechanically checked her phone. 0 message. Oh… that's right, it didn't end well last night. Emma sighed and rubbed her eyes.
"Emma…"
"You really can't leave me alone for one moment today" Emma sighed, saying it more as an affirmation than an accusation.
"They are over" Zelena said while patting her shoulder "we should go."
Emma turned around and saw Regina and Henry leaving the beauty parlor and get into the car closely followed by Cora watching them like a hawk would with her prey.
"Do we really need to ?" Emma complained, letting herself being pulled by Zelena.
"Yes !"
What a fucking day…
Even with Zelena's and Henry's help, their plan didn't really work. The team had completely failed. They couldn't do anything. Cora had her hands in everything and she had masterfully conned the cons. They hadn't been able to pass through Cora's reinforced lines of defence during dinner and Regina remained deaf everytime Henry tried to broach the subject even with August's help.
Finally, they came back unsuccessful. They just dug their own grave, deeper and deeper each hour they were approaching the deadline. And the God of Death was waiting for them, opened arms, with a sadistic smile. How could this case get worse and worse ? How were they going to make it through this with one night left ? Even her nightmares could be sweeter than this. At least she had a getaway. She could escape to another dreamworld or into the real one, even if it was another kind of nightmare itself.
In their room, the three relationships breakers were all watching the computer absently. It was already late and the future family was already sleeping.
"I am going to get something to eat. Want to come ?" Ruby asked.
"Yeah" Emma answered without motivation.
"You are down since the beauty parlor, something happened ?" Ruby asked stroking Emma's hair.
"Well, I lost the Oscar for bitchiness."
"Rough."
'You don't know what rough is, sister.' Emma thought.
"It's over guys. The wedding is tomorrow. We're done" the false bodyguard sighed, defeated and ready to embrace the soon-to-come hell.
"We could kidnap her" Ruby shrugged completely serious ""We have never done it before."
Emma and August looked at her dubious. It wasn't a good idea but a terrible one Emma stood up and looked the almost new moon out the window. The light the dead planet reflected was as weak as Emma's hope.
"Did I tell you that the bitch, first of the name, threatened to call the cops about our litlle business ?"
"We're paying much more taxes than her. No need to worry" August shrugged "We didn't do anything wrong."
If the cops actually came, Emma would let August solve everything.
"She is waking up" August informed them after glancing at the computer, already focusing on another case Emma supposed. He had either way lost interest or he was searching another solution to their problem.
"And ?"
It's not like the false bodyguard could do something now.
"She is getting dressed ?" Ruby detailed, looking at the computer.
Emma ran to the door, taking her red jacket and putting her favorite boots.
"The earpiece !"
"Henry didn't give it back ! I'll do whatever pops into my head…"
"Well, that's ever worked for you" Ruby teased.
Emma didn't take time to come with a witty comeback and got out of the suite. She called the elevator and waited for Regina. Someone approached and she knew who it was before she even turned around.
"Hey."
"Hey" Regina repeated.
"I can't sleep" Emma explained, her hand on her neck, trying not to stare at Regina's brand, of course, but simple outfit consisting in a white short-sleeved shirt and dark pants.
"Neither can I" Regina added "I should apology for my Mother 's behaviour. We are all nervous with the wedding..."
"Don't worry about it. That's parents for you" Emma shrugged, not really willing to think back about what happened earlier.
"Not all parents are like this. Were yours ?"
"They were… fickle people" Emma lied, not willing to broach the subject of being an orphan.
"I see"
Emma's vague answer didn't seem to bother her. She was playing with her ring like something were pressing on her mind. Regina surely had others issue to think of.
The bell of the elevator rang.
"Do you want to walk around?"
"Sure. Why not ?"
Tonight was the last time the conspirators could eventually change the game. Emma couldn't miss that chance. She couldn't mess up. And she wouldn't.