"That's about it then," said Gold as he re-read the piece. They had crossed out a lot of paragraphs from Belle's original draft, much to the woman's dismay.
"What about that last part about the internet?" said Belle raised. "You said all internet matters should be disregarded since the piece is about print."
"Well it's still about print vs digital news so we can still keep it," said Gold as he drank the last of his tea. "Like I said, if I would have my way, I'd print this entire thing."
"Yeah and have Leroy out for my blood," began Belle. "No way. The piece is still very good even if you massacred it. Your reputation precedes you, Mr. Gold."
Gold frowned. "I hope what you've heard isn't anything false."
"Oh just that you turn into a beast when one misses a deadline and that you will edit an article to perfection, much like you did this one." At his face, Belle immediately added, "Don't get me wrong, Mr. Gold. I find that very inspiring. An article is still a literary piece and it is meant to engage the reader. We should never settle for anything mediocre, may it be a news or a feature article."
Gold smiled, glad to find someone as passionate about writing as he was. He made to reply but then his phone buzzed, seeing the caller he immediately pressed ignore and stuffed it back in his pocket.
"Who was that?" asked Belle, noting the expression on his face. It was that of pure terror.
"My aunt, well adoptive aunt," replied Gold and felt his phone buzz again. Unable to stop himself, he fished out his phone once again and groaned. Belle looked up at him, confused. "Make that aunts."
"Are they in trouble?" asked Belle.
Gold made to answer but then his phone buzzed again. "No, just being nosy."
"Nosy about what?" asked Belle, raising an eyebrow at him. Gold turned his phone off.
"My life in general." replied Gold. "Sorry about that. We should probably head back so I can give this to Marco. Thank you for doing this in such short notice, Ms. French."
"Thank you for the company, Mr. Gold," replied Belle as they stood.
"Call me Adam," replied Gold with a smile and was Belle wrong or was he blushing.
"Well then Adam," began Belle with a smile and she could feel her own face reddening slightly. "Please call me, Belle."
They walked silently back to their offices, both smiling like idiots.
"So how long have your aunts been together?" asked Belle, trying to avoid the silence that had settled between them.
"Oh they're not together," said Gold, understanding what Belle must have thought. "I have three adoptive aunts who are all siblings. They were the ones who found me as I was abandoned in a marketplace back in Scotland. They decided to raise me."
"Oh I am so sorry," said Belle, feeling stupid and inconsiderate for jumping to conclusions. "I just thought when you said aunts-"
"No harm done," said Gold. "Aunts Flo, Ana and Mary were delightful folk and took me in when they found as an infant. They raised me ever since and I've always seen them as my mothers but they still wish I call them my aunts."
"So they live in Scotland then?"
"Yes," replied Gold. "But they're currently touring the world. One big adventure while they still can. They're in Nepal right now, I think."
"Oh I would love to do that some day," said Belle. "See the world and all its beauty."
Gold made to comment about how beauty was already in front of him but stopped himself.
"Is that why you're a journalist?" asked Belle. "You want to know what happened to your parents?"
"Never really thought about it like that," replied Gold. "My family are my aunts and Bae of course. You can even count the Times as my family. My parents left even before I could think for myself. Why bother caring about them when they didn't about me?"
Belle's hand was suddenly on his shoulder. "I'm really sorry I brought it up."
"It's really alright," said Gold. "It doesn't really bother me because I love my life. I don't regret not knowing who my biological folks are."
"I admire you for that," said Belle. "I wish I could have met my mother." She paused and took a deep breathe. "She passed away when I was a young girl."
"I think it's my turn to apologize," said Gold. "It must be painful to think about it."
"Yes," began Belle. "But worth it because I can remember her and think about her. With that, it feels like she's alive within me."
Gold could only nod at how strong Belle was. He was about to comment when Belle's phone rang and she was surprised to see Mal calling her.
"Excuse me," said Belle and answered her phone. "Mal, anything up?"
"Hi Belle," said Mal. "Is Gold with you? He turned his phone off and three lovely women have been calling Ashley and Milah nonstop because they can't get hold of their nephew."
"I'll tell him," said Belle hanging up. To Gold, "You'd better turn your phone on."
Gold made a face that Belle clearly read as 'do I have to?' but did as she said and once his phone had signal, numerous messages appeared on screen. Belle noticed some where on all caps but Gold immediately pocketed his phone.
"We'd best get back to our offices then," said Gold and they both rushed back to their building. As they rode the lift, Belle could hear Gold's phone buzzing all the way but he did not move to answer it. Belle couldn't suppress the smile on her face.
The door's opened. "This is me," said Belle. "Thank you again for the snack and the company, Adam."
Gold smiled and bowed his head in response. "It was my pleasure, Belle. Until next time."
She made to reply but the doors chose that moment to close and she mentally cursed lift but sighed and made her way to her desk. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw all her colleagues watching her.
She sat behind her desk and continued to work, noticing how silent the floor was. Two can play that game so Belle remained focused on her computer until after a solid minute Ruby leaned on her desk.
"Out with it French," demanded Ruby.
"Good afternoon to you too Ruby," said Belle, not lifting her gaze from her monitor. "Lovely afternoon we're having."
"Oh my god," gasped Ruby. "You kissed him."
"I did not!" said Belle, glaring at her friend. "We just ate and edited the article to meet the required word limit and talked."
"And that stupid grin on your face when you left the lift was what exactly?" asked Ruby, a teasing smile on her face. "Do we have another date?"
"None of your business, Lucas," said Belle as she got up and made her way to the printer. "Now if you don't mind I have work to do."
"You mean fantasize about your crush," said Ruby with a triumphant smile. "I will get the story out of you Belle French. I am the head of the entertainment section and gossip is my trade."
"My personal life is not for the Entertainment section, Ruby," hissed Belle as she sat back down on her desk.
"Come on," urged Ruby. "Just tell me what happened. I mean it's not everyday your best friend gets asked out by your boss."
"It was not a date," said Belle, typing away on her computer. "It was technically a meeting to fix the opinion article. We were on a deadline."
"But you couldn't have done that here?" asked Ruby, a raised eyebrow.
"People would have constantly disturbed us for sure," said Belle. "You always said that whenever you edit articles you want nobody around so you won't break your streak."
"That's different," argued Ruby but knew Belle had a point.
"No it is not," said Belle. "It's exactly the same thing. So if you don't mind, I have another section to fix so I won't be behind."
"One of these days French," warned Ruby. "I am going to get a straight answer from you."
"Never," said Belle with a smile.
"Who is this woman?"
"Is she beautiful?"
"How old is she?"
"Have you kissed her yet?"
"Did you ask her out on another date?"
"Do you love her?"
Gold sighed and held the phone a good centimeter or two from his ear. "If you would just stop talking all at once, you might just get an answer or two from me." Gold mentally cursed Milah for he perfectly knew that it was her who told his three aunts that he had gone out with Belle. It wasn't even a date but more like a meeting...just outside the office so his annoying colleagues wouldn't bother him.
The lift opened to his floor and he stepped out, the phone still a good distance from his head. He could hear his aunts passing the phone from one another. Why he ever thought that introducing his aunts to modern technology was a good idea was beyond him?
Ashley did the intelligent thing and did not speak as he walked passed her desk and shut the door to his office which was already occupied by a sheepish looking Milah, who sat on one of the chairs opposite his desk. He glared at her but he had more pressing issues that needed his attention.
"She's a sub-section head at the Times, Aunt Flo," said Gold as he finally managed to get one question at a time from his aunts, who appeared to have set the phone down and turned on the speakerphone. "Yes, Aunt Mary, she's beautiful inside and out. No, Aunt Flo, I am older than her. No, Aunt Mary, I have not kissed her and no I am not adding the word 'yet' to that. No, Aunt Flo, contrary to what Milah has told you, this was not a date."
"And what about my question sweetheart?" asked his Aunt Ana. Out of the three sisters, Aunt Ana was always the level headed one, the peace keeper of the constant bickerings and squabbles of her two sisters. Being the middle child, Aunt Ana had always played the mediator and Gold admired her patience.
"I…" began Gold but dropped himself on his chair and leaned back, sighing. "I don't know...I haven't felt like this about anyone before."
He saw Milah smile and turned to her. What he felt for Milah was love yes but in a different sense that what he was feeling for Belle. He loved Milah yes, wanted her to be happy, wanted to strangle any man that comes and breaks her heart (which he knew Killian wouldn't dare do), wanted what's best for her. For Belle...he wanted her to have his heart.
"There's your answer then," said Aunt Ana. "Now be a good lad and hand me over to Milah."
Gold made to ask but just sighed and handed the phone to Milah and then buried his face in his hands. The late lunch/snack at the coffee shop turned his day into a brilliant one. Sure he was facing the aftermath of turning his phone off and of Milah telling his aunts...but every second alone with Belle had been worth it.
"Oh don't worry, I'll make sure he won't screw it up," he heard Milah say and she ended the call and placed his phone on his desk. "So?"
Gold lifted his head from his hands and glared at her. Milah's smile only widened. "This is payback you know."
"You and Killian are together Milah, I should be getting a car or a boat," said Gold taking his phone and shifting to focus on his computer. "Not my best friend ratting me out to my mothers like some teenaged boy."
"If you must now," began Milah. "They had called your office and found that you were out. Then they called me. I just told them you were eating with someone and they concluded on their own. I did not rat you out."
"And is there a reason why you are in my office, then?" asked Gold, studying her as she leaned back on her chair.
"Come on, Adam," said Milah. "Spill. What happened on your date?"
"It was not a date," said Gold, a little loudly than he intended to and noticed the shadows behind his office door. With a grunt, he stood and rather forcefully opened his office door to see most of his staff trying to eavesdrop. "If I don't have any of your articles by the end of the day, I will not sign off on any meal reimbursements for a year and I will double all your word limits."
The news staff scrambled back to their desks as Gold slammed his office door.
"For a bunch of investigative journalists, you would think they would find a more subtle way to get the information they wanted," said Milah with a smile as Gold laid himself on his office couch. "You alright?"
Gold covered his face with his hands once again. "I don't know how to do this."
Milah rolled her eyes. "Adam, what the hell are you talking about?"
Gold moved his hands to glare at her. "Come on, Milah. We've known each other how long and have you ever seen me court someone before?"
"You went out on a couple of dates," countered Milah.
"That's because you dragged me into doing double dates with you," argued Gold. "No one has ever showed interest in me...romantically speaking."
"Except our drunken night together," said Milah, her tone trying to get Gold to lighten up. "Adam, you do know you are an extremely attractive man."
"Old man," corrected Gold as he covered his face once again.
"Oh so what am I to Killian?" asked Milah. "A cougar? Love doesn't have boundaries, Adam. You told me that."
"Why am I even entertaining this idea, Mil?" asked Gold, his face still covered. "She deserves someone far better than who I am."
"Who you are Adam is a man full of love," said Milah. "What more could she ask for?"
"I…" Gold sighed and finally sat up on the couch and Milah joined him. "I just...I don't know what I'm supposed to do."
"Well," began Milah, placing a hand to his chest. "Instead of using that brain of yours, listen to this one. Listen to your heart, Gold. You'll find your answer."
"Anything else today, Wendy?" asked Peter Malcolm as he passed her desk on the way to his office.
"None, minister," began Wendy but immediately grabbed his arm. "But there is someone waiting for you inside your office."
Peter made to ask who but the fear on her face already told him who was waiting. He nodded and grasped the doorknob before taking a deep breathe and opening the enough the man sat on his on own office chair, his feet propped up on his desk, "Mr. Greene, what can I do for you?"
"Ah, Peter," said Zozo Greene, sitting up in Peter's chair and standing to shake the man's hand. "I just wanted a chat. You know how things are with the coming election." Peter of course knew about Greene's plans to move from the private sector and into politics, a move that a lot of people from the media found suspicious. Greene has been known to be somewhat of an under the table operator and with him becoming a politician, a warning bell was sounding, very loudly.
"Yes, I believe so," said Peter. Although he himself wasn't thinking about it, but rather thinking about finally hanging up his political agenda and leaving the public eye.
"You see Peter," began Greene. "I am in talks with a lot of people, colleagues if you will. Who I know supports my own ideals and beliefs."
It took a lot of Peter's self-restraint not to scoff at the man. Was it really that or was it because Greene had something to blackmail them with. Whatever it was, Peter Malcolm did not want anything to do with it.
"Well, Mr. Greene," began Peter, he walked towards his chair and sat on it. "I've made it clear that my life in politics is ending once election time comes."
"Of course," replied Greene. "The quiet life. Something I know is not meant for me. But I would love to have your support in my endeavors."
"I hardly think my support will help you," replied Peter. "I can hardly call myself a strong political player Mr. Greene. I just want to enjoy my life. The rest of it anyway."
"And of course Felix shares the same dream," said Greene with a smile and Peter glared at him.
"Please leave my partner out of this," said Peter.
"I will," said Greene with a sly smile. "Of course, we wouldn't want Felix to know a certain aspect of your past now do we Mr. Malcolm."
Peter's eyes widened but tried to suppress his reaction just as quickly. How did Greene know about that? "I have no idea what you are talking about."
"Nothing is a kept a secret forever Peter," said Greene with a smile. "You wouldn't want your dear Felix to know about him."
"What do you want?" hissed Peter, standing so he and Greene were on equal level.
"Like I said," began Greene walking towards the door. "I need your support. You give me that and we keep things buried. Felix doesn't need to find out. He doesn't need to find out."
Peter glared at him which only made Greene laugh. "Do we have a deal?"
Peter continued to glare at him and Greene smiled. "I'll be in touch then Mr. Malcolm."
Greene left the office but Peter continued to glare at where the man stood last.
A soft knock then Wendy entered his office. "Are you alright?"
"Please call your brothers," whispered Peter. "Greene knows." Wendy's eyes widened.
"Greene wouldn't dare harm him," began Wendy.
"I don't care about him, Wendy!" said Peter. "I care about making sure Felix does not find out."
"Then why did you bother with the DNA test, Peter," said Wendy. "You care about him."
"I lost that right, Wendy," said Peter. "I knew but I left and cut off all ties. Then I learn years later that she had died."
"But you still made the effort to find out, Peter," said Wendy.
"I just wanted to know if I was right or not," said Peter. "It was never about him. I don't care about him, never had. What I want to know is how the hell did Greene find out?!"
"I'll call them," said Wendy. "But he will eventually find out Peter. Him and Felix."
"Not while I'm alive." replied Peter. "That night was a mistake."
"And you deal with it by forgetting about it, like it never happened?" asked Wendy. "You have a child, Peter. You can't run away from that."
"I have for the past 38 years," answered Peter. "I was never meant to be a father."
"Maybe you're right," hissed Wendy. "Look how your child turned out, very well without you." She slammed the door on her way out and Peter collapsed on his chair, his head in his hands. Peter of course never forgot about his child. The thought never escaped his head every single day since he left the woman pregnant. He hadn't known that the woman had died at childbirth and that the child was left in the marketplace by Vivienne's mother.
Vivienne. Peter could say that she was the only woman he had loved. But things weren't that so simple in his life. The ring of his phone distracted Peter from his thoughts and saw the last person he currently wanted to talk to. He sighed and answered.
"Hello Felix, how are you?"
"I take that it went well."
Zozo smiled as he got into his car and motioned for his chauffeur to drive them home. "Better than I imagined. Who knew our little family mishaps would eventually become useful."
"You can thank my daughter for that," replied Mrs. Greene. "Although, I would prefer we don't say anything to Zelena."
"Of course," replied Zozo. "The girl would be crushed to know that she has this infatuation with her step-nephew."
A silence settled between them as they made their way home. Zozo Greene was a powerful man but when it comes down to it, but it was his wife who made everything possible. Without her, well Zozo would be nothing.
"You've never really told me anything else about your ex-lover and daughter, my dear," began Zozo. "Besides the fact that we can use a certain incident about them to our advantage."
"And I would prefer to keep it that way," replied Mrs. Greene. "I don't ask about Zelena's mother now do I? I expect the same courtesy."
Zozo cringed at that. To be honest, he never felt anything for the woman. Glinda White was a big player in the private sector once upon a time but she eventually lost everything and Zozo would not have that. He took the opportunity to leave and file for divorce, ensuring that White lost everything. Zozo of course knew that Glinda would eventually try to take back everything that she had lost (She would insist that Zozo took everything from her, which was true.) so he made sure Glinda White was a problem that was dealt with accordingly. And then of course he met the new Mrs. Greene.
"As you wish," said Zozo. "I just want to make sure you don't care for the lad. He is an annoying little prick sometimes. I had hoped that with recent events, he would stop digging."
"He'll stop once he has what he wants," replied Mrs. Greene. "Just like his grandfather. But if he interferes with our plans, then we interfere with his life."
Zozo smiled and took her hand. "You are absolutely diabolical my dear."
"The darkest of all, my dear Zozo. The darkest of all."
"How was your day?" asked Gold as his son got into his car. Gold had asked Milah to drive him to the shop so he could get his car. Bae's bike would be done the day after tomorrow so he was still riding with his father.
"Very uneventful," replied Bae. "Headmistress Hart is asking about you as usual. Have I apologized enough about that?"
"No," said Gold as he drove them home. "Next time you set me up on chaperoning duties, just don't."
"Hey, Headmistress Hart is ok," said Bae and Gold made a face. That was far from the word he was looking for to describe the woman. "Ok fine, she has her crazy moments like she can actually turn her heart on and off or her ability to care...but again she has her moments."
"Can we please not talk about Cora Hart," said Gold. "It was bad enough I had to spend time with her during that school dance because you volunteered me to be a chaperone."
"Nobody wanted to do it," explained Bae.
"I could guess why," said Gold. Headmistress Hart had considered the chaperoning a date and Gold had to endure an entire night, sharing a table with Cora Hart.
"Enough about me," said Bae. "How was your Monday?"
The tone of voice already told Gold that his son knew. Two can play that game.
"Just an ordinary Monday," said Gold, his gaze on the road. "Nothing special."
"Well something must have happened because grams Flo, Ana and Mary called me," said Bae, looking at his father suspiciously. Care to share? Or should I call mom?"
"You're a real imp aren't you Bae," said Gold as he made the turn to their street.
"Come on dad," said Bae with a smile. "Spill."
"I just had a late lunch meeting with another sub-section head," said Gold. "I turned my phone off because I didn't want to be disturbed."
"But why would that cause grams, grams and grams to call me," asked Bae.
"Because your mother ratted me out," said Gold as he parked his car in their garage.
"Dad," whined Bae. "Just tell me already. Who did you have your meeting with?"
"The art and book section sub-head," replied Gold as he turned the engine off. "I don't think you know-"
"Belle, of course I do," replied Bae with a conniving smile that made Gold groaned. He knew that look too well. "Why did you have to turn off your phone?"
"I turned it off for a short while Bae," explained Gold. "It wasn't like I turned it off for an hour or so, it was more like 5-10 minutes."
"And?" pushed Bae. "Come on dad, I'm 18 not 8."
"We just edited an article," defended Gold.
"Yeah and you had the thought of shutting your phone because you didn't want to be disturbed. Tell me, you had this meeting in the office or you guys went somewhere else?"
Bae laughed at the expression on his father's face. "Yeah, dad. Got you. You like Belle. No, I'd wager you love, her."
"Bae…" began Gold but in all truth he didn't know what to say. Gold knew his son knew him better than anyone, even better than himself. "Alright, let's say I do have feelings for her-"
"Don't dare say 'but' dad," warned Bae. "I've seen the way Belle looks at you. I'm pretty sure the feeling is mutual."
"Come on Bae," said Gold. "She's young and attractive and I'm an old man who doesn't even register in the looks department."
"Okay, I may be the more good looking man in the family but don't sell yourself short, dad," said Bae giving his father a very cheeky smile. "But other than moderately good looking, you are smart and come on who wouldn't fall for that accent."
"Baelfire Neal Gold, you are spending way too much time with Killian, Neal and Jefferson," reprimanded his father. "Stop being an imp or else you aren't getting any dinner."
"Alright, alright," said Bae, arms raised in surrender. "But please tell me you are going to make a move right? Not just put this aside and ignore her. I could give you tips."
"Get upstairs and clean up before I disown you," threatened Gold as Bae only grinned and ran up the stairs.
"What did I do to have my own son as my wingman?" complained Gold as he headed to the kitchen listening to his son's laughter as the boy went to his room to clean up.
