Chapter 32
When morning came Belle had told both her friends about Ruben, who had gone to the Nolan's place to discuss surely about Regina. She had left for work and so did Katherine even though both wanted to stay with Regina, they had workplaces to be at which couldn't be ignored. Regina promised them that she would stay home and would try not to stress much about things even thought it seemed less possible to do so.
On the other hand, the elder Nolan's couldn't understand why their son was so against Regina. To them everything seemed accurate to them for the job, they both couldn't help but notice that their son was involving personal feelings into a business deal.
"Emmett, I thought I taught you to never try to involve your personal feelings into any types of business deal…so why am I noticing such change in you from this situation, YOU very well know it's not accepted when it comes to the company" David had not heard a single definite reason why they should not hire Regina as their son's secretary.
"Father….it was because of her stupidity that I had to let go such a good deal, that land would have benefitted our company a lot but because of her ignorance she decide to insult me and rip the paper apart and refuse to give what was suppose to be rightfully ours….I can't work with her…she's not right for our company"
"Alright….how about this then? Why don't you try to clear up what happened and see if you both can come to terms with each other….because Em…she has potential and credibility at such a young age I think she will do right by our company. You just have to at least give her a chance" Mary decided to speak up.
Ruben decided it was better if he didn't butt into the conversation cause it was stressful enough to handle one Nolan but three at the same time.. 'God no!' he thought while he looked between the people sitting around him. Emmett was now supporting a frown on his face he didn't seem to like his mother's idea at all but Ruben knew it was going to be hard for his friend to go against his mother. 'Haa…she got you man!'
"Ruben is there something you want to say about this girl…I remember you accompanying our son to Storybrooke" Ruben was sure that David saw him smiling at his friend and now he was in the spotlight. Mary was smiling at him and his friend was giving him the stare, which was telling him to say what he wanted him to say.
"Well….I think Mrs…I mean Mary is right, we shouldn't bring in personal feelings and see if her potential keeps her in the company" more than on what to say Ruben tried his best not to look at his friend, he knew he was being a subject to his deadly glare but he was not doing this to mess around with his friend but to actually see if Regina would be capable of working alongside his friend. 'Well…that's something to look forward to now'. He thought as he passed a small smile at his friend and his parents.
"Hmm…so are we clear on this now? Son!" David asked. He knew his son didn't like the idea but he also knew his wife had best interests for their son and the company.
Emmett then looked at them and nodded his head. "Yes, we are clear…I guess I will take my leave now. Lets get back to the office Ruben".
"Don't you want to stay to eat with us Em? Ruben?" Mary offered.
"Yes"
"No"
Mary looked at them confused for different answers. More than her son, it was his friend who seemed to be more excited at the mention of food. She knew her son didn't want to agree to what she proposed but to her it seemed to be the valid solution. She just smiled them and nodded her head towards the dinning table. They all then sat on the chairs and breakfast was served to them. Ruben had let go of his nervousness and dived into the food right away. Emmett on the other hand was still being grumpy about for the way things turned out.
They finished eating after a while and Emmett decided they should leave already which they did, leaving David and Mary alone in the mansion.
"I hate that he likes to distance himself from us..from everything else… but work" Mary spoke into the silence now with a frown on her face. David came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, Mary let herself lean into her husband's touch feeling herself relax.
"Don't worry, he will come back to us, we just have to give him more time" David assured her. Then he felt his wife turn around and face him.
"But for how much longer it has been several years since then" Mary then hid her face in her husband's neck and let the tears come out.
"Oh snow…don't cry I am sure, everything will be alright and this time I promise you I will make everything right again"
They both continued to hold onto each other and feel each other's support and comfort. There was no such better feeling then this except maybe again seeing their son be happy and alive once more.
(I will use 'Snow' as a nickname for Mary Margaret, only David I guess will refer to her with that name…)
"What the hell?! Ruben….why didn't you say anything against that girl, you know…you saw how her and her family treated us so why the hell did you agree to this ridiculous idea!" Emmett was fuming inside, they had just stepped outside the mansion and while Ruben was sitting inside the car on the driver's side waiting for his friend to get in, Emmett was pacing back and forth in front of the car.
"Em..get in we can talk about this when we get to the office" Ruben said while patiently waiting for his friend to listen to him. When Em didn't say anything nor listened to him, he stepped out of the car and walked in front of it stopping his friend from pacing again. They were now facing each other, Emmett still with his grumpy look on his face.
"You know you have such a nice looking face so why do you ruin it with that grumpy old look all the time" Ruben knew it was no time for jokes but his friend was needed to learn how to let things be sometimes.
He then noticed that the grumpy look turned even more angrier and probably wasn't going to lead to anything good.
"Are you seriously joking right now? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND RUBEN?" Emmett finally yelled at him. 'Ah here we go….let it out Em'
"TRUST ME WHEN I SAY THIS THAT GIRL…THAT…SHE'S NOTHING BUT TROUBLE, I AM TELING YOU RIGHT NOW, SHE'S GOING TO BE NOTHING BUT TROUBLE" by now Emmett was all over his friend's face, yelling straight at him.
"Okay! Okay!… first of all back off and stop yelling at me" Emmett decided to back off and stop and stare at his friend to see what he was about to say now to infuriate him further.
"Listen Em….I get it…she gets to you…we need to work around that…remember its just a job she's going to be doing for you…and you are making it sound like you are being forced into an arranged marriage with her because then I would understand all this personal outburst of yours" yep another harmless joke which didn't seem to be so harmless to his friend at the moment.
"Can you just not with the damn jokes!? I have no desire to be with her in anyway…work related or not!"
"Hmm…" Ruben paused and smiled at his now calm friend. "If you say so….but Em you can't take the job away from her, Mary wants to see her work and I agree that we should at least give her a chance…come one Em" Ruben tried to change his friend's decision who was set on getting rid of the girl.
"I don't know Ruben…for some reason…I just don't want her around me at all" Ruben could feel the tone of his friend's voice going soft. "But I guess you are right..there's nothing wrong with giving her a chance….but just one chance Ruben and that's all". Emmett warned him, he knew he won't be able to make his mother change her mind about this anymore, it would be pointless. "Lets just go…I want to get my mind off of this mess".
When they reached the office Ruben decided to go see Belle meanwhile Emmett went to his office.
"I was afraid you wouldn't show up today..not after yesterday" Ruben spoke, Belle was so into her work, organizing papers and such that she didn't even notice Ruben walk in and stand by the desk.
"Oh! Ruben…its you" Ruben then nodded his head and looked around to if someone else was suppose to be here. "You just startled me when you announced your presence" Ruben then laughed at her statement.
"I am sorry I didn't mean to, I just wanted to drop by and check in to see if you came in today"
"No its alright and yea I had to" Belle gave him a small smile. Ruben just nodded his head again, feeling nervous all of a sudden.
"I—uh I…how's your friend?...uh…Regina I mean"
Belle tried not to let the worry show on her face and nodded at Ruben. "She's alright".
"Belle you don't have to lie to me. I know after yesterday….well never mind that but I think what I am about to tell you might cheer you up" at that he got her attention.
"Anddd…what might that be?" Belle was amused now.
"Hm I don't know maybe…..that your friend….." Belle then nodded her head at him when he didn't continue, "Well she might not have to look for another job…" When again Ruben stopped mid sentence, Belle finally decided to speak.
"Ruben..please if you have something to tell me then please tell me straight out…this pausing in between is making me anxious"
"Awww…." he said while he went around the desk to wrap Belle in his arms and feel close to her. Belle just leaned into his body and tried to feel relaxed but was still waiting for what Ruben had to say. She then broke herself out of his hug. "Ruben….uh we shouldn't be behaving like this during work" She nervously voiced out, trying not to make Ruben feel offended by her comment.
"Uh…Yea, yea your right…I am sorry" Ruben then cleared his throat and offered Belle a small smile who was now standing few feets away from him. "And….as I was saying earlier..well the good news is that Mr. and Mrs. Nolan wants to see Regina want to keep Regina and see her work for the company" Ruben then noticed the big smile that was now on Belle's face, he was happy to see her that way. 'At least she's feeling better now'. Ruben himself was feeling better now too.
"Thank you..thank you…thank you so much, Ruben" Belle squealed out in happiness. She was lost in her happiness for her Regina that she ended hugging Ruben herself this time. Ruben without thinking wrapped his arms around her again. They were so lost into each other's touch that even they didn't know how long they were standing there in each other arms.
"I am glad to be of any help for you Belle" Ruben voice finally got Belle out of her comfort daze and this time she decided to not break away from Ruben but instead looked up to his face and into his eyes. She didn't know how it happened or why but all of a sudden their lips were on each other, it wasn't a rough kiss like she thought it would be but instead it was a soft kiss they both shared with each other. 'Soft and sweet' Belle thought with a smile and her hand touching where Ruben's lips were few seconds ago, both of their eyes were still closed taking in the feel of the kiss. Belle was the first to open her eyes and she looked in front of to see that Ruben still had his eyes closed and was smiling.
Belle couldn't help but smile herself. "Ruben…you can open your eyes now" she told him.
Ruben didn't reply but he wrapped his arms a little tighter around Belle and snuggled her into him, putting his cheek on top of her head. "But it feels so much better to stay this way" he reasoned out.
Belle had her head laid on his chest; she again decided to break out of their trance. That's when Ruben finally opened his eyes and looked at her intensely. "Gosh…you are so beautiful…Belle" he then let out a breath that he didn't even know he was holding in.
Belle just blushed at the comment and lightly pushed Ruben away. "And you are quite handsome yourself" Belle then teased him back with a sweet smile of hers. They then talked for a little while; Ruben then decided to go to his office room but not before inviting Belle again for lunch like he has been doing for the past few weeks.
(I know…I know….I wasn't planning on making them kiss at all not until after their first date (which I will try my best to make them have one) but I thought about giving Ruben a break like he's already dealing with his friend's outbursts every now and then…..so might as well to take his mind off the stress…..hope you guys enjoyed it :)
