Author's Notes:
Special Thanks to ale_nena for contributing ideas, reviewing this chapter, and helping a million with the dialogue! xoxo!
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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Regina walked through the foyer and around to the dining room. Her father was there with his plate and newspaper in front of him as he sipped a cup of coffee.
Straightening up, she avoided eye contact with him as she picked up an empty plate and served herself a helping of eggs from the dish that had been put out on the end of the table.
After getting her own cup of coffee, she sat down on the other side of the table a few seats away.
Setting down his paper, Henry greeted, "Good morning, Sweetheart."
"Good morning," she answered stiffly, "Where's mother?"
"She left for work early today," he answered, "Why? Did you need to speak to her about something?"
"No," she shook her head, "I just wondered.
As she took forkful of eggs, Henry glanced over at her, "Everything alright?"
"Yes," she answered shortly, chewing her bite.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"Yes, I'm fine!" she insisted.
"Well…" he changed the subject, "...are you ready for the wine country benefit?"
"Yes, Daddy. I'm ready. I took care of everything!" she said in annoyance
Looking at her in confusion, he asked again, "Regina are you sure you're alright? You seem upset."
She deflated with a sigh, not answering. Henry, however, noticed and went on, "What's wrong? You know you can tell me anything. Please, Honey."
As she looked up she saw her father staring at her with a sincere concerned expression, and felt a little guilty for her passive-aggressive sulking. She'd been annoyed by him abandoning her at the hospital's groundbreaking, but...it was the only time he'd asked anything of her and everything had gone just fine.
"Daddy," she answered, "It's really nothing. I've just been stressed with so many events back to back."
He blinked, frowning, "Well if you aren't up to this trip-"
"No!" she protested, "It's fine."
"Really, if it's too much I can go alone."
She laughed, "Daddy, I've been working on the plans for this for weeks."
"Yes, I know," he said guiltily, "But, I'm sure if you send Lily, she can help me sort things out."
She smiled at his willingness to try, "No. I'm fine, really."
"You're really certain?"
"Yes," she told him, taking a last bite of her eggs, "In fact, I need to get to the office early today. I want to get everything I need to at the office done today so I can spend tomorrow packing."
"Alright," Henry agreed, "I'll see you tonight."
"See you tonight, Daddy," she said as she left the dining room. On her way to the elevator she thought back over the groundbreaking ceremony. She'd forgive her father. She knew he hadn't done what he did to intentionally trouble her, and if he really did feel that strongly about Gold...well she couldn't blame him for that. The man's words at the ceremony still troubled her. She wasn't sure what quite he meant but it made her uncomfortable.
The elevator doors dinged open, and Drake stepped off.
"Oh, Miss Mills," he greeted, "I was just looking for you. Here's the security procedure for your trip tomorrow, including all special precautions we've implemented."
"Thank you," she said, taking the sheet of paper from him.
As she pressed the button for her floor she scanned over the bulleted list explaining all the new rules for herself, her father, and the security team. At the bottom of the page was a list of the three guards who would be accompanying them and who they were assigned to.
She let out a breath as she saw the name 'Robin Locksley' next to hers as her assigned security for the weekend.
Shifting, she tried not to noticed that the discomfort she'd felt earlier thinking about Gold's words at the ceremony had suddenly gotten worse.
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Staring down at her suitcase with a frown, Regina rubbed the back of her neck. She was supposed to be packing so they could leave for the wine country, but she'd been tense and on edge ever since she woke up that morning.
Walking over to the window, she looked down at the front drive. Two towncars had already pulled up and Razoul, Kronk, and Robin were loading their suitcases into the trunks.
Shaking her head, she moved away from the window and back toward her closet. She was being ridiculous. This was a business trip. A business trip she was going on with her father! She didn't need to be thinking...nothing! She wasn't thinking anything!
Stepping out of her closet, she absently began packing the items she'd grabbed into her suitcase. As she did so, she realized she'd inadvertently picked out her black silk halter dress, the one with a low cut back.
Glaring at the garment, she sighed heavily and sunk down onto her bed. In truth, the dress was one that she could wear either day of this trip. It would be suitable for the dinner she and her father were having with their partner in hosting this event, or for the charity dinner itself. However, she knew it wasn't what she'd usually reach for when packing for these kind of trips. She usually went for something less racy, but this time, without even thinking about it, she'd picked out her sexiest gown...and she was only kidding herself in thinking she didn't know why.
Carefully laying the dress across her bed, she walked back over to the window and looked out to the drive. Razoul was nowhere to be seen, and Robin was leaning up against the first car while Kronk demonstrated some kind of bodybuilder pose.
Regina chuckled at seeing it, frowning at the dress as she turned her attention, again, back her packing. Why was she thinking about this? They'd agreed it was just a one time thing! It hadn't even been that good...well, no, actually it had been, but that wasn't the point. They'd made the rule that they'd keep it to his home town.
Of course, what she had said at the time was that they couldn't risk anyone finding out. He'd turned that into 'keep it in Sherwood' or whatever it was he'd said.
Maybe their rule was actually just not at the estate?
That would make sense. It'd keep the chances of anyone finding out low...oh, what was she saying? They hadn't talked about their encounter since returning from Sherwood. How was she to even be sure he'd be interested in a repeat performance?
Almost immediately, she laughed to herself at the thought as she remembered the morning after Unity Day. How he pulled her into his lap and kissed her senseless. How after just a few seconds his hands had been travelling up her thigh under her skirt, his blue eyes dark and lidded, not to mention that she'd been literally sitting on...another indicator of his desire for her. He'd been completely enthusiastic until she'd put the brakes on things.
He may not have done anything since then, but she was certain she didn't have to worry about whether or not he was still interested.
He wasn't doing anything because she'd told him it wasn't going to happen again, so he probably figured there was no point.
Making a decision, she grabbed up the dress, carefully folded it so that it would not get creased and packed it in her suitcase. All she'd need was a wrap to make it tasteful enough to wear around her father and colleagues, and as for Locksley, well, she'd just have to be the one to seduce him this time.
With that she smiled as she went back to her closet to pick out a second dress to wear to the charity dinner. The thought of being the one to make the first move this time was already exciting.
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The drive up went smoothly. She ended up in the car with Razoul, who sat quietly in the passenger's seat next to the driver. It made for a rather boring trip with a lot of time to kill listening to music and podcasts. She felt fortunate for it, though. During a brief call with her father around 3 PM he'd asked for her input on his speech for the dinner, but she could barely hear it over Kronk yammering in the background.
They finally pulled up to the lodge around 6PM and were shown to rooms opposite wings of the building, as Henry had gone out of his way to insist on it as a security precaution.
Their dinner with the head of the winemakers' association, and owner of the vineyard, was at 8PM, so she had to start getting ready immediately.
She wore her black dress and wrap, as she'd planned back at the estate, but, honestly, didn't give much thought to the other plans she'd made all throughout dinner with Dion Nice.
He was, as he'd been every time she'd met him, determined to be as ostentatious as possible. In the lodge dining room, the three of them shared a meal consisting of three courses that he bragged about instructing the chef to prepare just for them.
The food was, of course, delicious, but Regina was more focused on making sure Dion felt warm and fuzzy about his relationship with the Mills Foundation.
As was often the case, her father took the role of making small talk, and she jumped in when the conversation turned to policy.
"So," Dion folded his hands on top of the table, his tacky rings glinting in the candlelight, "Tomorrow's event. I think we can look forward to a very successful fundraiser."
"Certainly we do too," Regina answered.
"And when it comes to future ventures together," he said, "It's my understanding that the Mills Foundation is committed to environmental protection?"
"Of course," Henry answered.
"Yes," Regina agreed, "Our land will always be one of Misthaven's most valuable resources, and we understand that, particularly in this region, natural spaces are invaluable both for wine production and tourism revenue."
"Yes," Dion agreed, "However, environmental protectionism can be a double edged sword from the point of view of growers like myself..."
"We understand," she quickly said, "We're not about blanket protectionism. We support using land sensibly. Building, developing agriculturally and keeping green space...all where it makes economic sense to do so."
The large man stared at her across the table for a moment before chuckling and looking at Henry, "Spoken like a true politician."
The three laughed, and Dion lifted his wine glass, "A toast, to a long and prosperous friendship."
Regina lifted her glass, clinked it with the other two, and took a sip.
"Now," Dion set his glass back down, "Regina, you grow as savvy as your mother everyday."
She smiled, feeling uncomfortable but hoping it wasn't obvious, "I don't know about that."
He laughed, giving her an impish look, "Any chance I may be speaking to the next governor of the coastal region?"
She stopped mid-sip, carefully flowering her glass and forcing a wide smile, "No, as flattering as your faith in me is, I'm very happy at the Mills Foundation."
"We'll see," he answered smugly.
Regina felt her smile falter, but, she hoped, managed to look away before he noticed. As their host swallowed the last sip of his wine, he rose from the table, prompting the two of them to do the same.
"Well, I will see you both tomorrow night. Meanwhile I hope you enjoy your stay."
"Thank you, I'm sure we will," Henry answered, shaking his hand.
"Thank you very much for dinner," Regina said as she leaned forward to allow Dion to kiss her cheek.
She sighed, watching the man's bulky form walking across the dining room.
"He was trying to give you a compliment," Henry said quietly. Regina turned her head to meet his eyes, "He sincerely was."
She quirked a smile, reaching up to take his arm, "Daddy it's fine. I know well enough how this works by now."
He chuckled as they began walking toward the door to the lobby, "Well at least we'll have some time to relax tomorrow."
She laughed, "Don't you mean you and Dion will have time to play golf tomorrow while everyone comes to me with fires to put out?"
He looked at her out the side of his eye, but didn't dispute the prediction. She didn't mind, though. It was part of her job, and she knew he appreciated all that she did.
As they got to the doorway, Robin and Kronk, who had been standing at a discrete distance joined them.
"Ah, Robin," Henry greeted with a smile, "So are you escorting me or my daughter to our rooms?"
"I'm assigned to Regina tonight, sir," he answered respectfully.
"Well, take good care of her," Henry instructed.
"Of course," Robin answered, as Regina fought the urge to roll her eyes. Even as she and Robin had become much, much closer she still didn't quite understand the rapport he had with her father. Or why her father insisted on talking like that to guards whose job it was to protect their entire family. She supposed it was just his way of being a protective father, but it still got a bit old at times.
"Kronk, lead the way?" Henry asked.
"Yes sir!" he thundered in a voice much too loud for the sedate environment of the dining room.
This time she did roll her eyes as they walked away, once again glad she'd been lucky enough to avoid being assigned to Kronk. The man seemed to mean well, but he was such an overgrown child!
Realizing she and Robin were now alone, the bold plans that she'd hatched before leaving that morning suddenly came to the front of her mind.
"Ready to go back to your room?" Robin asked.
It was an entirely innocent inquiry, but offered a very direct opening. Almost uncomfortably direct, in fact.
"No, I think I'd like to take a walk and see the grounds. I may not get the chance tomorrow."
He nodded, allowing her to lead the way to the front door. The fountain outside was lit up with dark purple lights underwater, giving the illusion of wine flowing down the carved stone.
Taking a deep breath of fresh air, she walked sedately across the grotto and around through the gardens surrounding the lodge.
"Everything go alright?" Robin asked.
"Oh, fine. Just politics," she answered, sliding her wrap off her shoulders and commenting, "It's warm here."
"Hm?" Robin asked from behind her, prompting her bite her lip against a smile as she turned to face him. Meeting his eyes, he answered, "Oh, yes, I suppose so."
Turning back, she continued on her walk.
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They ended up having to walk all the way around the lodge and back to the front entrance, as the wings where Regina and Henry were staying both lacked entrances to the back patio. That way there was only one entrance to watch. Razoul had ensured that was one of their safety measures.
As they arrived at her room, she pulled her room key from her purse to open the door.
"Well, you have a good night. I'll be next door if you need me," he told.
At that she seemed to stand up taller and turned to meet his eyes, "Could you come inside and help me with something first?"
"Ah...sure," he answered, surprised.
She stepped into the room, closing the door behind them as she tried to ignore the way her heart sped up. She was actually going through with this, and it had worked out so well. Razoul, Kronk, and her father were staying in a different wing of the lodge, so there was less chance of them getting caught. Of course, there were still other rooms in this wing, so they'd need to be quiet but that almost made it more thrilling.
Pausing for a moment to make sure her hands didn't shake, she set down her purse and wrap on the table by the door, turned so that her back was to him, and reached over her shoulder to gather her hair up.
"Um…" Robin said dumbly, as he stared at the expanse of bare back that had surprised him earlier while walking in the garden. All throughout the evening she'd managed to look as button down as usual while wearing that and he still had no idea how.
"Robin?" her voice drew his attention.
He quickly looked up, meeting her eyes over her shoulder, "Yes?"
"I need help reaching the zipper," she explained.
"Oh, of course," he nodded, cautiously sliding the zipper down. With every inch it fell the satiny material slid away revealing skin all the way to the curve of her hip, eliminating any doubt he might have had that she wasn't wearing a bra.
Her hair slid across her back, brushing against his arm as she turned her head back to look into his eyes. She found him staring back at her, his blue eyes dark with a look she'd seen before...
Her lips parted involuntarily as his hand fell away from the zipper on her dress, expecting that he'd turn her around and kiss her.
Instead, however, he stepped back, clearing his throat lightly as he said, "There you go."
As Robin attempted to put some distance between them, Regina reached up to pull open the tie at the back of her neck. He just managed to avert his eyes as her dress slid to the floor.
He heard her shifting around as she picked it up, and her heels clicking on the bathroom tile.
"It's been a long day," she commented from the bathroom.
"Yes," he answered, barely keeping his voice even as he desperately tried to think of anything besides the fact that Regina was just feet away from him mostly naked. She emerged just as he was picturing John's back hair, and thankfully she was covered with the hotel bathrobe.
"Funny, though, I don't think I'll get to sleep any time soon."
"Hm," he nodded, not sure of how to respond to that.
"I was thinking of having a drink from the mini bar," she said.
He nodded again.
"Care to join me?" she asked, with forced casualness.
He cleared his throat again and answered, "I can't, I'm on duty this weekend."
She blinked, "Oh."
"I should really go," he motioned to the door, "Let you try to get some rest for tomorrow."
Reaching up to hold the neckline of her robe more tightly closed, she nodded, "Sure."
"Goodnight," he said as he opened the door and stepped out.
She muttered a quick 'goodnight' as she pushed the door closed behind him.
Pausing for a moment in front of her door, Robin slowly made his way to his own room, unlocked it, and stepped inside. As it swung closed, he collapsed back onto the door.
Gods what was that? What had she been thinking getting undressed with him right there in the room? Not even bothering to shut the bathroom door?
Maybe after what happened between them on Unity Day she figured it wouldn't matter since they'd seen all there was to see of each other?
Oh, he definitely didn't need to be thinking about that! He'd already almost embarrassed himself.
Running one hand through his hair, he stood up, making a mental note to make his evening shower a cold one.
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"No!" Regina yelled into her phone, "I already told you. Shrimp are not an acceptable substitute. We have two guests who requested vegetarian meals, that means no meat!"
She sighed heavily as the sous chef on the other end spoke, "We put in this request months ago!"
Holding her phone between her ear and shoulder, she did the clasp on her braclet up.
"I don't care if the chef will be offended! This dinner is 2000 gold coins a plate. For that price he can get over it!"
On the other end the sous chef continued to argue, "You know what? Take it up with Dion!"
With that she hung up the phone, and tossed it angrily onto the bed.
This day had been a disaster. As predicted, starting at 8AM that morning, her phone had been buzzing with questions, complaints, and crises from both staff and attendees to tonight's dinner.
Plus, she had to go over Henry's speech since she hadn't gotten to it the night before.
She frowned angrily at remembering the previous night and how the disaster had started there.
Gods, she felt so humiliated!
She could barely stand to remember all the over thinking she'd done before leaving home. Convincing herself that since this wasn't the estate it 'counted' the same way Unity Day had. Taking it as a given that he'd been thinking similarly and all it'd take was a little nudge...well clearly she'd been wrong!
Very wrong.
And she ended up making a fool of herself right before an important event!
A knock on the door brought her out of her thoughts.
Setting her hairbrush down on the vanity, she stormed over to the door and flung it open demanding, "What?!"
And, naturally, it was the last person she wanted to see at the moment.
"Ah," Robin hesitated, "I'm just here to take you down to the ballroom."
She sighed, drawing herself up, "I'm not ready yet. You'll have to wait."
"Okay, take your time," he nodded.
Turning on her heel, she went back over to the vanity and started putting finishing touches on her makeup.
"Everything alright?" he asked.
"Fine."
"Okay."
Setting down her powder brush, Regina opened her tube of mascara.
"You um...you look very nice," he said.
Lowering the mascara wand, she slowly turned her head to fix him with a death stare, "You think that's funny?"
He wrinkled his brow in confusion, "No. I was just giving you a compliment."
Clenching her jaw she slammed the mascara wand onto the vanity, "You have a lot of nerve."
He gaped at her, "Because I said you look nice?"
She simply glared in response.
"What is the matter with you?" he asked, "Why are you acting like this?"
She had turned back to the mirror, but that drew her attention once more, "Why am I acting like this?"
"Yes! What is going on?"
"Why don't you tell me?!" she demanded, "What the hell are you doing? Why are you acting like this?"
"What do you mean? What did I do?"
"Are you kidding me?!" she shot back.
"Regina, will you just tell me what you're upset about?" he asked in exasperation.
"Are you kidding me?" she repeated, "You come in here telling me I look good..."
"What's wrong with that?"
"...after I throw myself at you last night and you brush me off? What the hell Locksley? What is with the mixed signals? Is this some kind of stupid, control thing?" she ranted.
"What?! I...no...I…" he sputtered, "Regina, what are you talking about?"
She rolled her eyes stepping over to stand directly in front of him, "I literally got naked in front of you last night and you completely ignored me!"
"And you're upset about that?"
"I think I have the right to be," she shot back.
"Wow," he muttered, "And you accuse me of being controlling."
"I beg your pardon?!" she demanded, "What did you just say?"
"You told me that what happened between us was never going to again, but you still want me to want you?" Robin summarized.
"So you don't want me?" she asked.
"Why are you doing this?"
"Me? You're the one who came in here saying 'oh you look nice' after-"
"Do you even realize what you're doing to me?!" he blew up, "You made it clear that what we did was a one time thing. That it wasn't going to happen again. You don't want anything more. I get that! I respect that. I do, really, but you are making it so damned hard! Gods, Regina, the way you looked at me last night...and that dress...and you...do you have any idea what it took to keep my hands to myself with you right in front me?"
"Then don't" the words fell from her lips before she even had a chance to think about them.
"What?"
"You want me? Take me."
He stood dumbstruck for a moment, but, in her worked up state of mind, it was a moment too long. Tossing her hands in the air, she huffed, "Oh what? Now you're too much of a good boy? I thought you fancied yourself a rebel, Locksley? Thievery was no big deal, but now you're afraid to break the rules-"
Her words were cut off abruptly as his mouth crashed against hers. She gasped, lips falling open as she returned the kiss. Her tongue seeking his as he pulled her body to his, hands sliding down over her hips to hitch her thigh up using his hip, encouraging her to wrap her leg around him as he backed her into the vanity.
She slid her arms around him, digging her nails into the back of his jacket.
Turning her head for better access, she nipped his upper lip while he slid one hand up to her breast, causing her to whimper as he tweaked one nipple through her clothes.
"Wait!" she ripped her mouth away from his, pushing at his shoulders, "Wait, wait! We can't do this."
"What?" he breathed, looking downright distraught.
"The dinner," she explained between gasping breaths, "The charity dinner starts in 5 minutes. If I'm not there Razoul or Daddy will come looking for me."
He groaned into her neck, but nodded, backing away from her. Her feet slid back to the floor, as he put a good deal of distance between them, pointedly not looking at her as he muttered, "Give me a minute."
She couldn't help but smile at little as he, in very measured steps, walked over to the door as far from her has he could get.
In truth, though, she needed a moment to calm down too. Glancing in the mirror she also found she needed to touch up her lipstick.
After doing so, she cleared her throat and asked, "You okay?"
"Yeah," Robin answered, turning back to her, "You?"
She nodded, picking up her cell phone and handbag, and making her way over to him.
"Alright, let's go," he opened the door.
"Robin!" she stopped him, holding out a tissue for him to wipe off the lipstick that she'd left on his face.
He quickly did so, "Did I get it all?"
"Yeah," she nodded, "You look good."
"Okay."
"Okay."
With that he shoved the door open, and she quickly brushed past him, making a beeline down the corridor toward the direction of the ballroom.
She didn't look back the entire way there, but she could feel his presence behind her. As she stepped through the door, the room was already humming with guests talking sedately and staff milling about refilling water glasses.
At the front of the room was her table, her father and Dion already sitting there, involved in some sort of conversation. Kronk and Razoul were to the side of the table a few feet away in an inconspicuous but open spot.
She and Robin looked at each other for a moment, nodding in silent understanding before breaking apart to join their relative groups.
Taking a breath, Regina brightened up, smiling widely as her father and Dion spotted her. They both greeted her with a kiss on the cheek, Dion stepping around to pull out her chair for her as she sat down.
Settling into her seat, she set her handbag aside, silently anticipating that this would probably be the longest charity dinner she'd ever attended.
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"Thank you very much," Regina shook hands with a couple as they exited the dining room. They along with several other attendees had left her that night with generous checks for the Foundation. They'd need to crunch the numbers back in Unity City, but she suspected this evening had been very profitable for them.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a bellowing laugh from Dion as he and her father walked up to her with jovial smiles. Both were flushed and obviously drunk.
"Ah, Regina," Dion said, taking her hand, "What a splendid evening."
"Yes," she smiled, "I think it was a great success."
"Still a wonderful partnership," the wine seller agreed, kissing the back of her hand.
"Well," her father interrupted, "I think it's time we say goodnight. We have long trip back to Unity City tomorrow"
"Yes," he patted Henry's shoulder affectionately, "Goodnight, Henry. Regina."
"Goodnight, Dion," Regina said politely.
As he walked away her father stared at the man's back before looking at her, "He'd better not be getting ideas."
"What sort of ideas?" Regina asked as she picked up her handbag from the table where they'd been seated.
"He's old enough to be your father," Henry grumbled.
Looking up at him in shock, Regina laughed out loud, "Daddy, I don't think you need to worry about that!"
He shook his head, "You don't know what some men are like, Regina."
"Well, I do know something about what that man is like. Or at least what it's rumored he's like."
Her father looked at her questioningly, "What do you mean?"
"It's a rather open secret that Dion prefers men," she informed him.
"Oh," Henry said, looking rather embarrassed.
With a smile, Regina tapped her father's arm to get his attention. Leaning down she kissed his cheek, "Goodnight, Daddy. Get some rest."
He sighed, "Goodnight."
With that he and Kronk made their way out of the ballroom toward his wing of the lodge, leaving her in the almost empty ballroom with Robin waiting for her by the wall.
Almost immediately, the tension from earlier in the evening returned. Clearing her throat she said matter-of-factly, "I'm ready to return to my room."
He inclined his head subtly, motioning for her to go ahead of him.
She turned on her heel, walking stiffly from the ballroom, through the foyer, and down the hall toward her wing of the hotel.
Robin followed a few paces behind, standing back as she opened her handbag and brought out her keycard. Her hands looked steady as she inserted it, but his own were shaking by his sides. Clenching his fists, he moved them behind his back.
Opening the door to her room, Regina stepped inside, leaving it open for him to follow.
He did so allowing it to clatter shut behind him. The noise echoed off the walls and was followed by a heavy silence.
Regina turned to meet his eyes. He stared back, both of them perfectly still.
Neither knew who snapped first, as, within what seemed like an instant, her handbag fell to the floor and they closed the space between their bodies, lips and tongue meeting in a fury of passion.
Her hands slid under his jacket to begin pulling his shirt tails out of his pants, as his moved to ease the zipper down the back of her dress.
THUMP, THUMP, THUMP
They leapt apart at the sudden pounding at the door.
"Locksley! Are you in there?" Razoul's voice barked from the other side.
Swearing, Robin straightened his clothes, glanced back to make sure Regina had done the same and swung the door open.
"Gods! There you are!" the other man said, "I knocked at your room and you didn't answer!"
"Ms. Mills just asked me to do a final check," Robin lied, "Is everything alright?"
"No it isn't!" he answered sharpy, "We need to move right now, there's been a bomb threat."