Chapter 28
It's been a week since Regina came over to NY; she met Katherine during the first day of her stay. They seemed to get along pretty well; all three of them were now adjusting new arrangements inside their apartment and in personal lives mostly for Regina and Belle. The only problem now present that it was becoming difficult for Regina to find a suitable job. She didn't plan on being a burden on Belle any longer than it was necessary. She was looking for some office desk job with any law firm around the city but she always ran out of luck whenever she tried to apply because nothing related to those positions was available. As for Emmett and Ruben well they were facing the same issue not being able to find anyone suitable and trustable enough take the role of co-habiting with their boss for the secretary job. And this was taking a toll on Ruben for the most part because Emmett was taking all his frustration out on him for not being able to do this simple job.
'Simple job…yeah right its not so simple…who the heck wants to be around their boss 24/7 anyways…' Ruben let the thought run in his mind, this was starting to stress him out.
"You know if you grab onto that glass anymore tighter than you already are, you might end up breaking it and seriously hurt yourself" said Belle after noticing the stressful look on she didn't know what to call him anymore….her boyfriend….her lover….she decided to let it go for now.
Ruben finally relaxed his hand and let the glass sit on the table and pulled his hand back. He looked at Belle and started to feel his worries fade away. A smile crept onto his face without him realizing and he said "I missed spending time with you"
Belle couldn't help but smile and blush; she noticed how Ruben's mood changed. "I am sorry, we haven't been able to spend time much lately..but I have a friend who I am helping find a job; she's new to the city so she needs my assistance" Belle offered an explanation.
Ruben looked at her with a shocked face. Belle was confused as to if she might have said something wrong. "What's wrong? Are you upset with me?" Belle tried to ask, while feeling nervous.
"Uh..no no Belle no I am not upset. I am just shocked you didn't tell me sooner" He noticed the disappointed look on Belle after he said that. Ruben took hold of Belle's hand on the table and said, " Look what I meant was, I have been looking for someone who can work as a secretary for Emmett while he works from home. Oh Also I want them to be comfortable and professional enough to be able to live in the same living space as their boss….uh in other words she or he has to live along side with Emmett" He finished and looked at Belle who was now the one looking horrified and shocked. " But..but I promise you its all professional and all the expenses will be taken care of except their own personal needs of course" Ruben added to not freak out his girlfriend even more.
"So what do you think…will your friend be willing to do it?" Ruben asked with hopes in his eyes, he desperately needed someone who can get him out of this situation besides he trusted that who ever Belle's friend was would be just as nice and sweet as her…. right?! Well nothing can wrong with having faith.
"uh…Ruben…I don't think it's a good idea, she's just looking for a simple desk office job for now….besides she's knew here and doesn't know anybody else besides me….on top of that I don't think she will be to handle our boss and his personality" Belle tried to reason for her friend back at her place.
She looked as Ruben and saw that all the excitement and hope was gone from his face. Then she noticed him letting out a sigh and look at her with calm eyes and his smooth features. "Look…I understand. I didn't mean to pressure you or your friend…but I would appreciate it maybe uh you try asking her at least once and maybe she can even come over to our office to give an interview and have a face to face meeting with Emmett" Ruben hoped that maybe trying his luck more time wouldn't hurt. And he was right; he could notice that Belle was at least considering the thought.
"I suppose asking wouldn't be a bad idea" she offered with a small smile.
"Hey….hey now, I am sorry if this seems like I'm pressuring you…you don't have to do it if you don't want to…and trust me I won't bring it up again…I am sorry I made you feel this way Belle that was not my intension" Ruben said with sad eyes and pleading tone…he really didn't mean to make Belle be forced into anything..specially because of him.
"Oh my..I am sorry Ruben I didn't mean to make you feel guilty and no you are not forcing me into anything…I don't mind asking her but after that it will be up to her decision on what she will say about it" Belle understood that Regina won't be saying yes to this job…she still wasn't familiar with the city so her trying to live with a stranger who will be her boss would be a lot of pressure for her. She didn't want her friend to go through that while she was still around to help her as much as she can.
"Of course…yes it will be all up to her decision" Ruben agreed.
That conversation was held few hours prior, now Ruben was anxiously standing in Emmett's office and being the target of one deadly glare. 'Oh boy! He's for sure mad…well I wonder when is he not mad….especially at me…' thought with a thinking expression on his face, he had seemed to forgot that he was still being glared at by his dear friend.
"You know I would really appreciate it if you would pay attention a little….I don't know Ruben I feel like since you have been seeing Belle you have been slacking off…..I still don't see anyone to be hired to be my secretary…yet again!" the blonde was losing patients with his friend day by day…it has never taken Ruben this long to complete any task no matter how hard it was..so this seemed to be really new and surprising.
"The hell Em! What do you suppose I do?! huh!" Ruben said with a frustrated tone…Belle was not the reason he was having trouble with this task and he knew Emmett knew that too so why was he bring Belle into this again! "You know I can't just force someone to be your secretary neither can I go buy someone to do this job for you….so for god's sake stop bringing Belle into this matter" Ruben ranted out.
"Haa…Alright…geez calm down I was merely teasing you….But I am most certainly serious about our issue at hand…I need someone as soon as possible" Emmett looked up at his friend who was still not pleased. "Alright alright..I am sorry dear friend" Emmett apologized with a big smile on his face hoping that this will ease his friend's behavior toward him.
"Gahh…don't smile like that Em, you look like a creep!" Ruben exclaimed. Emmett couldn't help but laugh at his friend. "Stop laughing you idiot!"
After Emmett was done laughing at his friend, he tried to pry more to see if Ruben was at least close to finding someone for the job. "I hope you don't find me someone from the company at the last minute because as I told you I don't need anyone from inside the company for this job..an outsider will be perfect and he/she wouldn't have to interact much with the staff and even if it came to that he/she will be trained enough to keep certain things from pry eyes and ears" Ruben couldn't help but nod. Those reason were making this very difficult.
"Well…there is hopefully…I am not sure yet but Belle said she has a friend who just moved out here recently and might be willing to do the job but I wouldn't get my hoped up because Belle was certain that her friend won't be saying yes for this kind of job" Ruben didn't know letting Emmett know about this was a good idea. He looked up at his friend noticed his features change into something like amusement, which made him confused. "What? What are thinking about Em?"
Emmett couldn't help but chuckle at what his friend just informed him about. "Ruben..why does your girlfriend believe her friend won't say yes to this job when I can list many reasons of her saying yes to this very good opportunity!" Ruben couldn't help but be even more confused at what his blonde friend was going on about. "Look…I can assure you she will definitely agree because she's new to this city..she will need a job as soon as possible to support herself and she will need the financial help and on top of that she will be having a space to live at without having to worry about paying for any utilities and all she will need to worry about is her own personal expenses what ever may that be so I don't see any reason there to be for her to reject this job offer" Emmett finished with confidence in his eyes and smirk on his face. "It really is a very very good deal!"
Ruben could have sworn that he felt a chill run up his entire body, this was starting to creep him out and he most certainly won't be trying to get too deep into his friend's mind. "Damn…..I'll see myself out..you are starting to really creep me out…Em" Ruben went out the door and couldn't help but hear his friend laugh a little before walking back to his office.
"Thank you Graham. Keep me updated on everything my mother is doing, please. And make sure she doesn't find about you being in contact with me..so please be very careful" With that Regina cut the call and turned around to see Belle was standing behind her with a surprised look.
"Belle…I…" before she could continue to explain, Belle stormed off to her room and closing the door on Regina. Regina couldn't help but go back to the living room and wait for Belle whenever she would be ready to listen to her.
Half an hour later Katherine had also had came back from work. They were setting up the table for dinner when Regina decided to ask Katherine to call Belle for dinner.
Knock! Knock!… "Belle please come out and have dinner at least" Katherine called out to Belle through the closed door. Then door clocked open and came out Belle, Katherine could tell Belle seemed upset, she still didn't know what had happened before her and she was itching to find out what had caused all this tension in the air.
"Soo….how was work Belle?" Katherine tried to spark up a conversation which she noticed wasn't working at all with Belle's 'It was alright' answer to her earlier question. After they finished dinner, they were all sitting in the living room with the tv on playing a movie which they didn't care to take into notice, all were just waiting for someone to say something.
"Okay! Can someone tell me what is going on? I have noticed you both looking all sad and depressed. So can I know what is happening?" Katherine demanded, she was getting frustrated with the silence, usually they would all talk and joke around and try to relax after a long day of work.
"It's not me who needs to say anything, I am not the one hiding things from her friends in this room" Belle finally spoke up as she gave a pointed look to Regina.
Regina didn't know where to start she was sure Belle must have heard her talking to Graham a while ago.
"I am sorry Belle I have been wanting to tell you guys everything specially you Belle, I had no intention of keeping things from you any longer than I have" the brunette pleaded with her childhood friend to understand. Belle still didn't look at her; she had diverted her attention to the movie on the tv. Katherine on the other hand was looking at Regina with a sad look. "Belle at least let her explain!" Katherine requested for the girl she had only know for a little while but knew she meant no harm.
Finally, Belle decided to give them her attention. She stared at Regina for a moment and decided to have her friend explain her conversation on the phone. "Alright! Can you tell us why you really are here, running away from your family?" she questioned her friend.
Regina took a deep breath and looked at her childhood friend and her roommate, she knew she wanted them to know but she also wanted to be prepared for how to tell them but she guessed there was no right time to let them know about what was really happening or had happened in her life.
She then told them about her mother forcing her into a marriage for money and status, and how in the end she and her whole family was tricked into a fraud by the man she had married, she decided to keep the part about her self being pregnant out of the events that had happened.
Regina couldn't help but cry during the time she was going over her past, Belle and Katherine couldn't help but hug her and try to comfort her pain. They knew they wouldn't be able to understand the pain she was going through but they would try their best to be there for her and support her in anyway they can.
"I am sorry Regina, I knew something was up and that there was a reason you were running from your mother but what I was upset over was you not letting me in and help you through what you were facing, I had been waiting for you to confide in me and I am sorry it had to be this way but I couldn't help but notice the worry every time you would talk to Graham"
They stayed hugging each other for a while before Katherine got up and decided to make hot coco for all three of them. Belle stayed with Regina and kept comforting her, they finally let go and wiped away their tears and waited for Katherine to come back into the living room.
After few minutes Katherine came with three hot coco's in a tray, she put the tray on the table and sat on the carpet with Regina and Belle.
They were all paying attention to the movie when Regina spoke up.. "There's…there's something I think I should let you guys know…however…I am not sure how you both will take this news".
Belle and Katherine put their mugs on the table and turned towards Regina to give her all their attention.
"I…I…am.." Regina took another deep breath; she was finding it hard to tell them. Before she could continue though, it was Katherine who spoke up, "I think I know what you are about to tell us and its alright we will both we here for you Regina, you don't have to worry about anything we will support you in any decision you come to make" the blonde offered a loving smile to Regina and a supporting shoulder squeeze.
They both looked to Belle who was now supporting a puzzled look on her face. Katherine sighed and Regina held her breath. She hoped that Belle would support her like Katherine is.
"I am sorry what did I miss here? Regina?" Belle was now concerned.
" sigh…..Belle…I…I am pregnant" Regina didn't have the energy to look at her friend and see her friend's reaction. She wouldn't be able to take it if another person she loved in her life told her to get rid of her baby; she hoped Belle wouldn't ask her of this.
"Oh..Regina!" Belle had no words on what to say or feel but she knew her friend needed her and she decided that she wouldn't back down, so she engulfed Regina into another hug. "Its alright Regina, like Kat said we will work through this, we both are here to help you".
The night turned out to a very emotional night for all three of them. They decided to go to sleep for now and Belle decided that she would let Regina know about the job offer from Ruben tomorrow morning.
