When the others arrived, Regina was at easy to know that Elsa was with the team also. When all of them were standing in front Emmett's desk, he asked them all to take a seat on the desks in front of him. They all took their seats and went to open the files on the desks. Regina stayed close to Emmett's desk, standing by just in case he asked her for her assistance. She also had a notepad and a pen in her hand for whenever she would have to note down anything.
It fascinated Regina when Emmett started talking about the files and the project they were soon going to work on. She has never seen him so concentrated other than him just being angry with her every time they had their encounters. This was a new side Regina was viewing for the first time of her boss and she seemed to prefer it. They had been going at this for about half hour now, with only Emmett talking more and more and sometimes some of the members giving their inputs here and now. She was about to zone out again, when she noticed Emmett give her a glance and nod at her notepad. At first it took her by surprise when she thought he might have noticed her spacing out but at his indication she quickly started paying attention to what was being said so she could write it down.
"I believe this is all everyone but if you have any questions let me know right now" Emmett asked as he put down the files on the table behind him. During the meeting, he had gotten up and moved in front of his desk, close to his colleagues.
"Mr. Swan…if I may?" one of the members asked.
"Go ahead, Archie" Emmett responded.
"I just believe that with a project like this, it should be more about the people who are going to be residing there rather that making it appear to one of those other institution for them to be stuck in" Emmett didn't say anything immediately, he thought about what else there could be that he could different from the way he has been doing things for so long. It didn't upset him but rather got him thinking about it.
"So how do you suggest we should create these nursing homes differently?"
Before Archie could provide Emmett with his ideas, Regina beat him to it. "These nursing homes should make them feel at 'home', where they can be able to attach personalized materials to their surrounding as they did at their homes with their children and grandchildren, I think it would be more comfortable for them to stay in these homes if they were allowed to move around freely as they would in a regular home that way they would not feel disconnected with their loved ones and still maintain a mindset where they can come to believe these nursing homes are adequate to their living style" Regina didn't notice the death glares Emmett was sending her while she was in her mind talking out loud about how she believed making these nursing home with a different structure could provide more closer for the elderly. Before Emmett could yell at the girl, everyone around the table started to hum in agreement and talk among each other how the idea sounded way more interesting and not so dull, even Archie was applauding to his secretaries idea. Emmett couldn't help but hold in his thoughts and anger for now.
"Alright everyone, quiet down" when he got everyone's attention he continued speaking. "As I am seeing here, if the suggestion agrees to you all then by all means come to the next meeting with the new formats and designs, I expect best work to be presented next time…..if you will excuse I need to go…..I am sure my secretary will be of assistance for the next few hours" Emmett finished as he dismissed his colleagues and left them to the hands of his secretary. He didn't even glance at Regina and was out of the mansion office before Regina could comprehend what did she just do.
She was still staring after the door from where Emmett had left few minutes ago, and didn't seem to realize coming up to her side and put their hand on her bicep. Suddenly she looked to her right and noticed Elsa standing by her and smiling at her.
She tried to gather herself and said, "What! Why are you smiling like that?"
"hmm" Elsa continued smiling teasing her friend further. "Elsa! If you have something to say, just say it" Regina asked, getting impatient.
Elsa finally decided to cut her friend some slack and said, "Okay….what is with the matching colors, did you guys like discussed the night before or what?"
Regina couldn't help but be confused as to what she was talking about. "Matching colors? Elsa what are you talking about?" she asked, rolling her eyes.
"Are you being serious right now?" Elsa asked with a dramatic gasp. Regina couldn't help but roll her eyes again at her. "Regina!...Did you seriously not notice the matching colors of your outfit and Mr. Swan's?" Elsa asked, shocked.
Regina thought about it but soon decided not to dwell on it. "I'm sure it was just a coincidence" Regina said dismissing her friends notion.
"Hmm...I'm sure it was.." Elsa said with a taunting voice.
"Lets just get back to work before the 'wicked monster' comes back" Regina requested.
"Wicked Monster?!" Elsa then laughed at the absurd name. "Did you really just refer to our boss as a 'wicked monster'?"
Regina then nodded, laughing a little along side with her friend at the name she choose for Emmett. "It suits him…" she then gave Elsa a sly smile.
They both then joined others and began to discuss about the project.
After some few hours or so Emmett finally returned to his home office. When he walked in he didn't expect what was happening in front of him. Regina discussing about the project and going over the blueprints of the design and providing adjustments to it. It was becoming so hard for him to control his rage now, all he wanted to do was to go up there and yell at Regina in front of everyone but he decided that wouldn't be wise. As he was sorting out his emotions he couldn't help but feel mesmerized by Regina's voice and the way she was talking so passionately. He then realized he was so intoned to her like everyone else in the room. He quickly shook himself out of the trance and cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. When everyone was facing him he walked to the where Regina was standing and noticed that even she had stopped talking.
Regina was about to explain when Emmett gestured with his hand to make her stop. He then turned his attention to his team. "So, do we have something already to work on?" he then asked, ignoring Regina who was now standing behind him.
"Nothing concrete yet sir….but I believe it will be a good idea to make Regina be a part of this project"
Emmett slightly shook his head and responded. "As you are all aware Regina is my secretary, it would wise that the next time you all remember that. Her only job here is as my secretary and nothing else" at his decision everyone went quiet. "As much I appreciate her opinions and ideas, I can not allow her to work on this project" when again no one said anything or agreed with him, it ticked off Emmett even more.
"If that is all then….you all are free to leave" he quickly dismissed them. Everyone got up and gave Regina a small smile; it didn't go unnoticed by their boss though. He then noticed Regina give them a smile back and she wave them bye.
When they were finally alone, Emmett looked at Regina, who couldn't find it in herself to look at him in the eyes but could feel him staring at her. To avoid it, she turned around and tried to walk back to her desk so she could busy herself with something else. Before she could take even a one step towards her desk, Emmett called out to her.
"Now wait a second" He then took a single step toward Regina whose back was now facing Emmett. Regina slowly turned around to face him also but didn't look up right away.
When she was finally looking at him, she again could see the anger in those same damn eyes. 'God!...Why does this keep happening over and over again?' Regina questioned to an unknown deity out there.
"You! How dare you?! You have no obligation to give your input when it comes to such projects. Not unless I require you to do so. Do we understand each other?" before Emmett even realized it himself he had gotten even more close to her and was towering over her by time he finished what he wanted to say. Regina tried to back away from him but ended up bumping into one of the corners of her desk as Emmett kept advancing towards her. Not being able to find support behind her, she felt herself fall. She quickly closed her eyes and waited for the floor's impact but it never came instead she felt a strong arm wrapped around her waist and pull her up and against a strong body. She then opened her eyes and was eye to eye with her boss's face, who now seemed even more irritated. She tried to get out of his grip on her waist but only managed to pull Emmett towards herself a little and make herself and him fall again. But Emmett seemed to bring her up again and now had both of his arms circled around her waist. Regina now having both of her hands on his chest, griping his vest with a strong grip.
"Will you stop moving?" Emmett asked, as he looked at her face first then down at where her hands were holding so tightly around his vest. They then both looked up from her hands and into each other's eyes. They both tried to not stare for too long but couldn't help but be hypnotized with each other's eyes. Regina relaxed her hands against his cheat but still kept a hold on it lightly. Emmett then let his arms fall from her waist, letting Regina stand properly on her feet.
'God….why do I only see pain in those brown eyes?' Emmett asked himself as he kept trying to find a reason behind it. He could see that her eyes were trying to read into his, he then again tried to put his arms around her waist but before that could happen, a phone rang and Regina quickly let go of him. She then quickly went to her desk and sat down on the chair and turned away from him. Emmett still in shock and confused a little, he then heard another ring and looked to his table and saw that it was phone that had intervened into whatever that just happened.
He then reached for his phone and picked it up and answered it. "Hello, Emmett Swan speaking…" he then toward Regina again, who still had the chair's back to him. He then took a deep breath and try to give his attention to the person on the other side of the call.
