Disclaimer in chapter 1
Chapter 26
Monday morning rolls around and finds Regina smiling to herself as she steps out of her car. Henry was gone with her parents for the day rather than attending day care, so she didn't need to drop him off this morning. She reaches across the passenger seat to get her brief case when a message comes into her phone.
Emma: Morning beautiful just wanted to say have a good day x
Regina: Well someone is up early…. Good morning to you to sweetie x
Emma: What you still thought I would be tired out after the weekend? I have more stamina than that
Regina: Well you fairly ran out of stamina last night before you went home….
Emma: Well that wasn't fair I didn't get to return the favour.
Regina was about to respond when a rather loud bang on her window frightened her. She looked out but couldn't see what made the noise. Looking around she couldn't see anything suspicious. She got out of the car to have a look around when she spots a stone on the ground near her car. Looking around again she doesn't spot anyone.
Regina: I better get to work baby x
As Regina is looking down, she doesn't see the person approach her.
"So, you think you are the bee's knees huh?" comes a snarl from behind her.
Regina turns to find an irate Killian standing behind her.
"Excuse me?" Regina responds with a glare.
"Coming sweeping in writing your article to win her over. Making her think she was the reason my company was so successful. She was mine before you got here," Killian sneers into Regina's face.
"Regina? Is everything ok here?" Regina breathes as she hears David behind her.
"Everything is fine David, this gentleman was just leaving," Regina says with a pointed look at Killian.
"This isn't over," he whispers as he sulks off.
"Regina who was that?" David asks with concern staring after the man that is walking away.
"That is Killian Jones," Regina says.
"What is his problem?" David asks.
"I have no idea," Regina lies not sure how her boss would take to the fact that she was already sleeping with someone she had done an interview with. She didn't want to get a reputation.
David looks at her sceptically thinking there was more going on here.
The head into the office but to be honest the encounter with Killian had shaken Regina. She didn't know what to do to tell Emma or not.
"Morning Miss Swan so glad that you could make it," says Mr. Gold as her shows Emma into her office and she takes a seat.
"Can I get you tea or coffee?" Mr. Gold asks.
"Oh, a coffee would be great thanks," Emma responds.
"Tink dear could you get us some coffee please?" Mr. Gold says politely into his intercom.
"So, Miss. Swan should we talk business?" Mr. Gold says not waiting to get into business.
"Well, you don't beat around the bush," Emma responds with a smile.
"It's simple Miss Swan, I like talented people especially when I get to work with them. You my dear are the best architect I have ever worked with. I am sick of paying fees to a worthless worm like Jones who doesn't realise the talent he had at his disposal. I have big plans for my company dear. We are branching out and I want to extend my portfolio by buying buildings repairing them and either renting or reselling them. The crash a few years ago has left buildings empty and worthless. I want to help people get back into business and getting this city ticking again, I hate to see these buildings going to waste. I want your talents to help me rebuild these buildings" Mr Gold finishes.
"Wow that is some idea you have," Emma says feeling a little excited at the prospect.
"I am a big thinker," he says with a smile.
"So, my job would be to design everything?" Emma asks not sure what the workload would intend for her.
"No, I want to build a team around you. When I read that article about you, I knew you were the one. I knew a lot about you, but I didn't know about you getting the scholarship and building yourself from nothing. I admire someone with hard work. I too built myself from nothing. I like to give others a chance. I want to put a team in place of architects and designers like you that need someone to give them a chance. I want you to guide them, oversee them," Mr. Gold finishes as Tink arrives in with the coffee.
"Thank you Tink," Mr. Gold says with a smile as the petite blonde leaves the coffee on the table in front of him.
"So, my hours? It's just being a single mother and long hours are not going to be an option any further. It has too much of an affect on my daughter," Emma says honestly. She is not going to get herself stuck into another situation like she was with Killian. Alex's needs are most important. While she thought she was doing right by her daughter making as much money as she could to prepare for her daughter's future. Now things need to be restructured. She needed to be around for her daughter, and that was not going to change.
"You can work from home. I would at least want you on site here once a week. Other than that, if you wanted to take conference calls and meetings from your home that is perfect," Mr. Gold says. He wants Emma in this job. He has big plans and he really admires this young woman across from him. He had always thought she was wasted in that Jones' business. He had always planned to steal her from him but given that she left he now has the chance to get her a little sooner than he thought.
"Wow that is quite generous," Emma says hardly believing what she is hearing.
"Miss Swan, you are the only name on the list for this job. Honestly if you wanted me to stand on my head and juggle for you I would," he says with a smile.
"I know what it is like to work to get yourself up in this world. I admire you. I know that giving you this team you will treasure it and do it justice because you know how hard it is to work for something," he continues.
"So, let's talk numbers. Your salary will be 300,000 a year base pays per year. There will be bonuses for projects and you will have health benefits included," Mr Gold says pulling up a contract for Emma.
Wow Emma thinks. She was getting just 100,000 off Killian and while that was a good salary she was putting most away for Alex and trying to save to maybe buy a house. This would make things very easy for her.
"I want you to take this contract home. Have a read get a lawyer to look over it, whatever you need to do. I will be hoping for an answer from you by later this week," Mr Gold says handing the papers to her.
"Ok, this is great. Thanks. I will have an answer by the end of the week," Emma says standing and shaking hands with Mr. Gold.
"Have a good day Miss Swan," Mr Gold finishes as she heads out the door.
Regina was staring at the screen of her laptop. Her story not quite finished but her mind gone elsewhere. A knock on the door brings her back to reality.
"Come in," she says as she shakes her head from her drifting.
"Hey, brought you some coffee," David says with a smile as he steps in.
"Oh, thanks," Regina says with a smile.
David takes a seat across from her after leaving her coffee on the desk.
"How's things going?" David says casually.
"Good, I should be finished this story shortly. I will send it as soon as it is done," Regina says after taking a sip of her coffee.
"I didn't mean the story. I meant what happened this morning with that guy. I know it is none of my business Regina, but I didn't like what I saw. My staff are very important to me. I know you are only new here, but I like you Regina," David says honestly. Since this morning he had been bothered by what he had saw. Walking past Regina's office though the day hadn't helped as she had spent a lot of the day spaced out from what he saw.
"Oh that, it was nothing," Regina says trying to move things along not wanting to get into things with David.
"If you are sure, but Regina please know I am here for you. If someone is threating you an old boyfriend or whatever you can let me know," David says.
"Ok, David. I will be honest. That was Killian Jones," Regina begins.
"Yes, I recognised him," David says.
"Well, you know how you sent me to do the story on Emma Swan his employee. Well it turns out I knew Emma from a few days prior. We got to talking and one thing lead to another and well we are seeing each other. I didn't want to tell you because I didn't want you to think that I was unprofessional. Killian seems to have some obsession with her, and he seems to think I have stolen her from him," Regina finishes.
"I see. Well firstly Regina you are nothing but professional and I wouldn't have thought anything like that. Love happens, I met my wife on a job too," David begins.
"So, this morning, was that the first time he approached you?" David asked
"Yes, it was. Emma and I have only just began dating but he must have seen us together," Regina says as she had been piecing thigs together throughout the day. He must have seen her and Emma on a date which means he could be watching them, and this morning may not have been a coincidence.
David just listens to Regina.
"Do you think we need to be worried? Should you contact the police?" David asks.
"I am not sure. I think the shock is only getting to me now to be honest. I will talk to Emma. She knows him the best," Regina says thinking out loud.
"Ok I want you to go home," David says looking at Regina sternly.
"But my story," Regina starts to argue,
"I can finish it, send it to me and I will finish it," David says
"You need to go home," he says honestly.
"David thank you, are you sure that is ok?" Regina says secretly thrilled she was getting to go home. She needed to talk to Emma.
"Yes, head off and I will take care of that," David says as he leaves the office.
Regina sends the story and closes her laptop popping it into her bag and heading home. She needed a Henry hug and one from Emma too.