Chapter 56

"Is there something that's bothering you?" Regina asked while looking out the window of the car. Emmett glanced a look at her but didn't say anything.

"Did I do something to upset you?" she asked again, trying to figure out if she might have done something. She finally made herself look towards Emmett when she asked that question.

Emmett again glanced at her to find himself looking straight into her brown orbs. He quickly diverted his attention to the front.

He cleared his throat before he spoke up. "No! it's nothing."

"Then why are you acting strange?" Regina pressed further still looking at him to catch his reaction.

"Look!" he shook his head and sighed realizing he was about to raise his voice at her. "Look, it's nothing Regina. I am fine. If you are wondering why I didn't have any breakfast this morning well it was because I wasn't feeling up to it. That's all." He explained as he continued keeping his eyes on the road in front of him.

Regina decided to let it go. She didn't want to make him angry or frustrated with her.

Finally, Emmett pulled up to the building. They both got out of the car and Emmett gave his keys to the valet.

Regina was about to enter the building when Emmett called out to her.

"Regina, wait right there." He said as he came from around the car. He stopped next to her and grabbed her hand in his.

"Let's go," he said as he kept hold of her hand as they walked inside.

Once inside, everyone was looking at them. Gasping, whispering, and murmuring. Emmett didn't care though. He led himself and Regina straight to the elevators. Regina on the other hand was feeling a bit embarrassed that she even tried to avoid eye contact with everyone.

Once inside the elevator, the silence came back but Emmett didn't let go of her hand. Regina didn't put any effort to let go of his hand either. She couldn't help but feel warm inside from the gesture that even made her smile.

Her smile didn't go unnoticed by Emmett who was looking at her looking at their joined hands. But both broke out of their trance when the elevator shifted harshly suddenly.

Regina let out a gasp and quickly held on to Emmett's arm for support. Emmett was about to protest the action when the elevator shifted again, lights started to flicker causing them to lose balance.

Emmett quickly took hold of Regina before she could fall back and pulled her against his body as he wrapped his arm around her waist and let his body lean back against the elevator wall.

Regina closed her eyes waiting for a nasty impact whereas Emmett kept his eyes on Regina and hovered over her as much as possible to protect her.

After what felt like forever, the elevator stopped shifting and was running smoothing again while the lights fully came back on.

Regina finally opened her eyes to find herself pressed tightly against Emmett's body. She looked up from his chest to notice him looking right at her.

She wanted to pull herself off him right away but couldn't find the strength to do so. The longer she looked into those green pools of his the more lost and weaker she felt. 'I…II…..I have to get away from him she thought to herself. Instead, she felt her face getting closer and closer to his.

Emmett couldn't help himself either. He didn't know how or when, but he couldn't push her away. He started to lean down as well.

They both closed their eyes as their lips were about to touch when the elevator door dinged letting them know the door was about to be open. They quickly opened their eyes and looked at each other in panic. Emmett let go of her waist as Regina pulled herself away from him. They both turned away from each other fixing their clothing feeling as if they had done something wrong.

The door to the elevator finally opened bringing them to the floor where Emmett's office was at.

Regina took the opportunity and made her way out of there. She didn't even look back to make sure if Emmett was behind her. And without saying anything she made her way towards Belle. Emmett stepped out as well and wanted to call out to her but decided not to. He gathered himself and went towards his office where his parents were waiting for him.

Regina and Belle

Regina finally reached where Belle was. Belle saw her from her desk and waved at her. Regina waved back as she tried her very best to calm down.

"Hi" Belle greeted with a big smile on her face as she made her way over to Regina.

Regina greeted her back as they hugged and smiled at each other. Regina on the other hand was having a hard time keeping calm. Her face still felt hot.

"Hey, are you okay? Your face is all red" Belle said with concern in her voice. Regina didn't say anything she just nodded her head to assure Belle that she was okay.

"Let's go somewhere quiet, please." Regina requested as she started to walk off with Belle tailing behind her.

Finally, they managed to find an empty office room. They both sat down facing each other.

Regina had managed to calm down a little bit. Her heart was beating so fast, and her face was feeling back to normal.

"Are you sure you are, okay?" Belle asked again as she gave her a worried look. Regina just smiled at her.

"I'm fine. Don't worry." She said as she put her palm on top of Belle's hand on the table.

"Alright!" Belle finally said. "How is the baby doing?" she asked with a big o smile on her face.

"The baby is doing well," Regina said as she put her hand on her small belly.

"I can't believe you are already 3 months" Belle stated with excitement. Regina couldn't help but laugh at her friend. It was also so good to see and hang around with Belle. It put her mind at ease to have such a good friend by her side.

"Thank you for being here for me, Belle" Regina declared. "I mean it" she added as Belle gave her a soft smile. "You're welcome" Belle responded.

They talked about work and other random stuff, laughing, and joking about things. Just plain having fun and enjoying each other's company.

"How is Katherine doing?" Regina asked since she hadn't seen Kat in a while.

"She's doing good just busy with work. You know how she is when it comes to that." Regina couldn't help but laugh at the statement.

"And…what about you and Ruben? You guys doing alright now?" Regina asked as she raised her browns and grinned at Belle.

Belle couldn't help but feel a blush creeping up on her face at the mention of her and Ruben. She looked down at her lap not waiting to give Regina the satisfaction.

"We are actually doing really great. He has been wonderful to me. I can't help but keep falling in love with him." Belle said as she replayed the blissful moments she had spent with Ruben. She couldn't stop smiling and feeling loved by him.

Regina smiled as well to see her friend so happy. "I am so happy for you," Regina said as she genuinely felt happy for her childhood friend.

"Enough about me….how are things between you and Em…I mean Mr. Swan? God, I don't know how to address him..." Belle said as she fumbled around to find the right title. At the mention of her and Emmett, Regina fidgeted in her seat as she felt the blush come back on her face. She looked away from Belle so she wouldn't notice.

But it was too late Belle had already noticed the change in Regina's demeanor.

"Regina! Look at me," Belle called out as she took hold of Regina's hand to confront her.

Regina turned around to face her and noticed the look on Belle's face. "Oh my god!" Belle screeched out loud as jumped up and down in her seat and Regina instantly regretted looking her way.

"You have to tell me what happened!" Belle demanded with a look that said she wasn't going to take a no for an answer.

Regina tried to protest and tried to change the topic, but Belle wasn't having it. She wanted to know everything and anything that happened between the two.

"It's nothing serious, Belle," Regina said as she avoided Belle's gaze again. When she got no other reaction, she eventually gave in. She told Belle about the dinner the other night and Emmett being intoxicated in the middle of the night. Belle couldn't help but look at Regina with a shocked expression on her face. But she also couldn't keep the laughter in as well. Regina waited for Belle to finish having her laugh.

"I don't know what he was thinking, honestly…" Regina said as she too was now laughing at the incident. Belle noticed the gentle smile on her face, and it helped her feel relieved to see that smile again.

Regina then confided in her about the elevator incident not too long ago. Belle listened to every single word that came out of her mouth not knowing how she should react. Once Regina was done talking Belle just stared at her.

"Is…Is…Is that why you were so red on the face?" Belle finally confirmed her doubts. "Oh my god, Regina!" Belle screamed out loud again forcing Regina to motion at her to lower her voice.

"Sorry…. sorry," Belle said as she calmed down in her seat.

"You are falling for him, aren't you?" Belle said as she raised her brows at her with a mischief grin on her face.

"No, absolutely not!" Regina quickly protested. "It was just spur of the moment, nothing else" she added. "I am sure Emmett thinks the same," she said as she nodded her head in agreement.

Belle just burst out laughing. She could clearly see the denial on Regina's face.

"I think he might be falling for youuuuu, Regina" Belle said with a gleeful smile on her face as she tugged at her blushing friend. Regina just ignored her.

"Maybe we should head back now" Regina decided to change the topic and get back to business.

"Fine! Fine! You win. I won't pester you any more about it." Belle said as they both got up from their seat and headed back to Belle's post.

Meanwhile with Emmett and his parents…

"Mother, father you don't understand. This could be a great opportunity for our company." Emmett pointed out. The moment Emmett stepped into the office; Mary decided to jump into the main reason for this meeting. David however still hugged his son and greeted him. Whereas Mary was still very upset with him.

"And if it fails? Then what Em?" Mary asked projecting some of her own feelings into the conversation.

"Listen, son, we have been very stable and consistent with our business if we venture outside of it, it might bring more damage than good" David tried to reason with him. Emmett just shook his head in defeat and sat down on the sofa across from his parents.

"Will you at least let me seek this party out? Maybe I can find out why they want to join our company." Emmett asked as he looked at them with hope. Mary immediately shook her head in no and David just gave him a pleading look.

Emmett was about to give up on the idea altogether when David asked him, "You are just going to look into it, am I right?"

Emmett shook his head for a yes. David got up and moved to the front of the office window.

"Well son, I guess there is no harm in that at least," David said with a soft smile on his face as he turned around to face Emmett. Emmett smiled back at him. He always wants to do what's best for his family, and he wanted to explore this opportunity for that reason.

His excitement was short-lived when he noticed his mother getting up and storming out of the office. He got up to chase after her. "Leave her, Emmett" David spoke behind him before he could exit the door.

David walked up to the door and held the doorknob in his hand as he looked at Emmett and put his hand on his shoulder and squeezed it in support.

"Keep me updated," David said as he too went out the door after Mary. Emmett closed the door behind him and sat on the chair with a worried look on his face.

Mary x David

"I don't why you indulge him so much sometimes!" Mary protested as she pushed the button to the elevators. David was standing right beside her but didn't say anything.

"Well do you have anything to say?" she asked as she looked at him in anger. The elevator door dinged open.

As Mary and David were about to step inside, they found themselves face to face with Regina and Belle.

'Oh, shit' Belle thought as she saw who was in front of them.

Mary was about to say something but felt David's hand on her shoulder stopping her right in her tracks. She sighed as she and David made her way inside the elevator as Regina and Belle existed it.

"Thank you, Mr. Nolan" Regina said as she noticed David's hand on the door. David only smiled at her whereas Mary was staring daggers at Regina which Regina noticed.

"Hey, Belle! Hey Mrs. Swan!" Ruben spoke up from behind them all as he came strolling in to kill the awkward silence between the four.

"Have a good one, Mr. and Mrs. Nolan" Ruben said with a cheeky grin as the doors to the elevator closed. Regina didn't move from her spot not until Belle nudged her to follow her and Ruben to Emmett's office.

Ruben didn't even bother knocking on the door as he opened it. He let Regina and Belle pass through as he came up behind them and called out to Emmett.

"Hey Em!" Ruben said as he noticed his friend was sitting leaning back on the sofa. "I am assuming it didn't go as planned with the parentals" Ruben added as he motioned to Belle and Regina to take a seat anywhere in the office.

Belle pushed Regina to sit next to Emmett on the sofa meanwhile she and Ruben sat across from them on the other sofa.

Emmett felt someone sitting next to him. He opened his eyes and sat up to notice Regina next to him.

"It actually….it went well actually..." he confirmed as he tried to keep his eyes off Regina. Who wasn't even paying him any attention.

Ruben got up and went to the little bar area in the back of the office room to grab himself and Emmett a drink.

While Ruben was busy doing that. Emmett finally diverted his eyes away from Regina's face. He gave his attention to where Ruben was.

Belle on the other hand was throwing pointy looks at Regina.

'Say something' she tried to whisper to Regina as she motioned at Emmett with her eyes. Regina just shook her head in no.

'Oh, come on!' Belle said out of frustration. Regina shook her head again in no.

"Did someone say something?" Emmett turned around and asked. By time Ruben was back with their drinks and he handed Emmett his glass. Belle completely went still as Regina glared daggers at her.

"Regina just had the pleasure of seeing your parents again," Ruben said as he sat down next to Belle.

"What?!" Emmett said shocked and he fully turned towards Regina and grabbed her arm to make her face him.

"Are you alright? Did mother say something to you?" Emmett asked as he looked at her face to make sure she was alright.

Regina pulled her arm out of his grasp and responded, "I am perfectly fine. No need to worry about me."

"Oh…uh…alright," Emmett said. He then turned around to face Ruben who smirked at him as he sipped at his drink. Emmett wanted to punch that smirk off his face as he grabbed his drink and took a sip before placing it back on the table.