Author's Notes:
Special Thanks to ale_nena for contributing ideas and helping me work out the organization of this chapter.
Sorry for the short chapter but I had to get through some plotty things that will be important later, and I promise that the next one will be long had contain lots of OQ goodness!
Setting: Misthaven non-magical modern AU. The society and political system will be based on a combination of modern countries, with a probable bias toward the American system as I am an American. However, all characters are fictional and resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidence.
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Robin took a seat around the conference table, glancing around at the other members of the security team.
Everyone had gotten text messages from Drake at 11PM announcing an emergency staff meeting this morning at 5AM. That was early even for Drake, so the looks around the table were of bleary tiredness and confusion.
Finally, Miguel leaned over and asked, "You know what this meeting's about?"
He shook his head no.
"Yeah, no one else does either," the blond frowned, "They could have at least put out coffee if they were going to drag us out this early!"
He smirked, but wasn't really feeling the humor. The fact that Drake called a meeting so hastily had to mean that something big and important happened, and it worried him exactly what that might be.
He stat quietly as the rest of the team chatted amongst themselves until Drake abruptly stormed into the room. He looked put together and professional as always, but, although his beard and bushy eyebrows hid it somewhat, his eyes looked even more tired than usual.
"Alright!" he barked, "Good morning, everyone. Thank you for being on time. Since it's very early, I'll get straight to the point. Recently the threats against Mrs. Mills have ramped up. There were recently some threatening emails to Mr and Ms. Mills private email accounts, as well as letters delivered to the Unity City political office and the Mills Foundation headquarters."
Robin shifted uncomfortably. He hadn't been aware of that.
"For this reason we will be implementing new security precautions. For Mrs. Mills, all public outings, other than to her office or the country club, will require the venue be cleared ahead of time either by our team or by the Unity City Police Department. The same will be true for any public appearances where press will be present for the rest of the family. However, for smaller, private, events that will not be needed at this time as the majority of threats are still against Mrs. Mills herself. Another change that will be implemented, though, is that any overnight travel with a member of the family will require at least two members of the security team be present. I will also be screening all lodging ahead of time, so spontaneous travel is out. The family is already aware of these changes, so I don't expect there will be any push back. Thank you, that is all."
With that, the older man turned around the conference table and left the room as briskly as he'd entered it.
After some shuffling, the security team slowly began rising to leave.
"Wow," Kronk commented, "These threats are pretty scary!"
Razoul scoffed, "Please! It's standard bullshit that happens to famous faces! Just some nutjob with too much time on their hands. I saw it a million times when I worked for Mallory Drago."
Miguel laughed, nodding in agreement, nudging Robin's side comically.
For his part he remained quiet. A few months ago he would have agreed with that assessment, but now he couldn't help but think of Regina. Finally, he cleared his throat and said casually, "Well, I suppose it doesn't hurt to be cautious. That's our job after all."
"I'm glad you feel that way, Locksley," Drake said from behind him, causing all four men to jump, "You're assigned to Ms. Mills today, and she and Mr. Mills will be attending the groundbreaking ceremony at the children's hospital, so I expect you recognize the need for attention at such a public event. Razoul! You and I will be doing a sweep of the area before the ceremony. Kronk, I believe you're on camera duty today?"
"Yes sir!" Kronk snapped to attention, "I was just on my way there now."
"Good," Drake grumbled, and turned away with an equally sour looking Razoul on his heels.
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A few hours later Robin was parking Regina's silver mini in the back parking lot of the children's hospital. They'd decided to take her and Henry in through a back a exit so that there would be less of a crowd.
He got his cellphone out of his jacket pocket and typed out a text informing Drake that they'd arrived.
A few minutes later a reply came: Wait a moment. Mr. Mills is delayed.
He glanced up to where Regina was fixing her makeup in the mirror, "Drake says to wait a minute, your dad isn't here yet.
Flipping the overhead mirror closed, she looked at him, "Not here yet? Why?"
"He didn't say."
Regina picked up her phone and typed out a text to her father asking when he'd be arriving. Setting it down, she stared out the front window with a sigh.
He glanced at her, "Everything alright?"
"Yes, fine!"
"Okay, sorry," he answered.
"Look I don't mean to snap at you, but it's been a nightmare getting this deal set up so quickly, and I'm supposed to be upstairs for the ground breaking in 10 minutes but I'm not even inside the building!" she ranted, "I'm just...I have a lot on my mind."
"Alright well I'll text Drake and see if he's heard from your father," Robin offered.
"Thank you," she said quietly.
After a few minutes a text alert sounded from Robin's phone. He looked at it and said, "Huh, okay well we're clear to go in."
She glanced over at him, "My dad's here?"
"Actually, Drake says he isn't coming," he answered as he got out of the car.
"What?!" she demanded, getting out as well, "What do you mean he isn't coming?"
"Drake just said he isn't coming."
She groaned, digging through her purse as they walked together to the back door. After a knock, one of the hospital security guards opened it, letting them in.
"Afternoon, Ms. Mills," he greeted, nodding silently to Robin, "The route up to the children's wing is a little complicated, but I'll lead you there."
"Yeah, great," she answered, absently as she dialed her phone.
The guard pressed the button for the elevator as Regina held her phone to her ear.
"Daddy?" she said, "Yes, Drake's saying you aren't coming to the ground breaking ceremony? What happened? Is everything alright?"
"Well…" Henry said quietly, "...actually, no."
"What is it?" she asked in alarm.
"I just can't attend this ceremony. I'm sorry," he told her.
"Why?" she asked, "Are you sick?"
"No, Honey, I'm perfectly well," Henry answered, "However, I've made it clear how I feel about this deal with Gold."
"What?" she asked, "This is about Gold?"
"Miss" the hospital security guard prompted as he held the elevator door open, "We really need to be getting upstairs."
"Yeah, just give me a minute!" she told him, "Daddy, I thought we worked this out! Legal and Accounting reviewed Gold's contribution backwards and forwards. It's completely above board."
"I know," he answered, "But that doesn't change what kind of person he is-"
"Daddy!" she said in frustration, "Without his donation this project would be dead! We agreed to go forward with it!"
"Yes," he said, "And we already have. I won't stand in the way or attempt to reverse anything, but I am not going to stand next to that man in public."
"But-"
"Regina," he interrupted, "I'm sorry but my mind's made up."
"Miss Mills," the guard prompted again.
She sighed, "Okay, okay! Daddy, the ceremony is in less than ten minutes..."
"I won't keep you then," Henry responded, "I'll see you at home later. I love you, bye."
With that he hung up. She stared at her phone in shock before realizing that both Robin and the hospital security were staring at her from inside the elevator. Pushing away any emotions she might accidentally be giving away, she shoved her phone back in her purse, stepped onto the elevator, and order, "Let's go!"
After an elevator ride up the guard showed them through the labyrinthine halls until they finally arrived at the children's wing.
Near the door to the main lobby, Drake was waiting with a short, middle aged nun.
"Miss Mills," the nun stepped forward to greet her, "I'm Sister Andromeda, I'm the administrator of the children's center."
"A pleasure to meet you," Regina shook her hand politely, "I'm sorry but I'm afraid my father won't be able to make it to the ceremony. He had an emergency."
"Oh," she frowned, "Nothing serious, I hope?"
"No, no," Regina quickly corrected, "Just um...foundation business."
The nun looked at her for a moment before answering, "I see. Well, that's a shame. I hope it all works out for you."
"Thank you."
"Well we're starting in 5 minutes, and it appears you'll be on your own. I'm afraid Mr. Gold hasn't shown either," the older woman informed her.
"Excuse me?" Regina asked, "Gold isn't here? Is he coming?"
"I'm afraid I don't know," Sister Andromeda answered as she led Regina to the door, "He hasn't sent word. Apparently, to some, there are more important thing than the children we treat."
Regina frowned at the obvious dig, but didn't say anything.
"At one time the fact that we're a temple affiliated hospital might have gained more respect for our work, but I suppose that's no longer fashionable," the nun complained, "The press are set up in the lobby and the hospital director will be there to introduce you. Are you alright to open the ceremony by yourself?"
"Yes, I'll be fine," she answered, handing her purse over to Drake as they entered the lobby. A few of the reporters took note of her entrance, their cameras clicking. After a quick introduction to the hospital director he introduced her at the podium, and, taking a deep breath, she stepped forward. Her stomach jumped at she went because, expecting that her father would be there, she hadn't prepared remarks ahead of time so she'd have to wing this one.
Standing up at the mic, she decided to just keep it simple and launched into a friendly, if generic, welcome speech.
While she stood at the podium, Robin discretely took his place at the back wall where he had a new of the crowd in front of her.
It wasn't an easy task, though, as, behind the gathered hospital personnel and a few children, obviously patients, were a gaggle of reporters, all with flashing cameras that made it difficult to actually see anything in the crowd.
"I must say, Miss Mills is doing quite well," a voice startled him. Whipping his head around, Robin found that Mr. Gold was standing right next to him along with a large bodyguard.
"Mr. Gold, I wasn't aware you'd arrived,' Robin said, disturbed that the man had managed to sneak up on him.
Gold chuckled softly, "I'm afraid sometimes I'm...fashionably late. A terrible habit, I know, but no one's perfect, right?"
"Hm," Robin nodded, remembering with annoyance how stressed Regina looked when she heard her father and then Mr. Gold both hadn't shown.
"Besides, it actually works rather well this way," Gold went on, "I gives me the chance to speak to you."
Turning, Robin asked, "To me?"
"Indeed," Gold nodded.
"About what?"
"Well, to be quite blunt...I'm always on the lookout for persons who might serve me well."
"Excuse me?"
The older man shrugged, leaning on his cane, "Good help is hard to find."
"You're...asking me to come work for you?"
Gold simply stood quietly.
"Why me?"
"As I said, good help is hard to find," Robin looked at him skeptically, which the older man seemed to find almost pleasing, "And also...well I'm sure you've heard the rumors about me? As I said, no one's perfect, least of all me. It would be beneficial to me to have someone who understand the gray area between right and wrong."
"Right," Robin nodded, turning away, "I appreciate the offer, but I'm not really looking for a new job."
"Oh?" Gold asked, "I assure you I can match and top whatever the Mills are paying you. Unless, of course, there's something else holding you back?"
At the moment, Regina's voice interrupted, "And it looks like our benefactor, Mr. Rum Gold is here."
As she prompted the crowd to welcome him with a round of applause he stepped over and said quietly to Robin, "If you ever change your mind."
He felt a slight brush against his pocket as Gold limped forward to the podium.
"Thank you very much," Mr. Gold said, "And, I believe the lovely Miss Mills has expressed my feelings about this triumphant event quite well."
A brief awkward moment followed before, the hospital director stepped forward, "Alright, well thank you very much Mr. Gold, Ms. Mills. So, without further ado, let's get started…"
As the group on stage began setting up, Robin reached into his pocket and subtly glanced down at what Gold put inside. It was a white business card with his name and a phone number embossed on it. He let out a huff, letting it drop back in. He wasn't sure if the man was just that arrogant, or, like most people, making assumptions about Robin because he'd gone to prison, but he definitely had no intention of going to work for that slimeball.
On stage, Regina and the hospital director got outfitted with hard hats, work gloves, and safety glasses. The director picked up a sledge hammer as Sister Andromeda lead a small girl, wearing a bandana over her shaved head up.
Regina smiled, crouching down to her level, "Hi Sweetie, I'm Regina. What's your name?"
"Missy," she said quietly.
"Hi Missy. It's good to meet you. Would you like to help me get started on the new building?"
She nodded quietly.
"Okay," Regina smiled again.
Sister Andromeda helped the girl get on a hard hat that was comically big on her and a smaller pair of safety glasses.
Accepting the sledge hammer from the hospital director Regina directed the girl over to the wall that would be knocked down to build the new center, and, holding most of the weight herself, helped Missy wrap her hands around the hammer and carefully swing it to make a hole in the dry wall.
The crowd erupted in applause and camera flashes.
Regina took back the hammer, passed it to the director, and removed her glasses so that she could look out at the audience.
Sister Andromeda ushered Missy off stage as the press called for handshakes. The hospital director smiled good naturedly, and stepped between Regina and Gold to shake both their hands in what was sure to turn out to be an excellent photo op.
With that the director took the lead, allowing Regina to step back. Gold stepped up next to her, "Well, I think that went quite well."
She nodded.
"Everything alright, Miss Mills?"
She sighed, "It's just been a long day."
"Hm," he remarked.
She glanced over at him, "Are you trying to say something, Gold?"
"Just seems like something else is on your mind," he remarked, "Something that's frustrating you."
"I'm fine, really," she said irritably.
"Hm," he repeated, "Well whatever it is I hope you resolve it soon. I would hate for it to interfere with your work."
Turning, she asked, "I beg your pardon?"
"I mean no offense," he said innocently, "All I'm saying is that if there's anything preoccupying you...something on your mind...you should fix it."
Turning she looked at him, "What exactly are you talking about?"
He shrugged, leaning heavily on his cane as he drifted into the crowd to join the hospital director in mingling with the reporters.
TBC...