Chapter Three: The Doorman and the Date
A/N: Hey everyone! Thanks so much for the attention that you've given this fic so far; I really appreciate all the encouragement and kind words! Sorry that it took me so long to get this chapter up; it's been a hectic couple of days! I've decided to try writing these chapters in smaller portions, but to update very frequently in smaller chapters so that you guys don't have to wait as long for updates. Please let me know how you guys feel about this structure, and let me know if your personal preferences are different. Also, I know that there isn't very much Mr. Gold in this chapter, but fear not! The next chapter is completely Gold-oriented. ;) Have a great night, and enjoy the read!
Leroy's thundering laughter filled his small but cozy office, "You took away his door!? What did he DO?"
Belle was laughing as well despite herself, and she leaned back in her chair, perfectly at ease now that this was just another funny story. "Oh, he threw quite the tantrum. I never knew that canes could be such effective weapons! But it was fine… I simply told him that he can have his door back once he's established a more open system of communication with me!"
Taking deep breaths as he tried to calm himself down, Leroy reached for his mug and took a long drag of his coffee, shaking his head in disbelief. Belle liked these easygoing afternoons in Leroy's office, when he shared his smiles that always reminded her that he had been young and optimistic once, too. These were the afternoons that had made Belle feel at home at Storybrooke Literary Agency, when she had nowhere left that felt like home. It was one of the reasons that she had left London; why she probably would have left anyways, even if things had unfolded differently between her and Gaston.
A knocking at the door startled both of them from their laughter and thoughts, as the clip-clip-clip of industrious heels clapped against the polished hardwood floors of Leroy's office. Regina was donned in her usual designer chic clothes, including the heels that no person in their right mind would wear as a street shoe when walking the streets of Manhattan. Her mouth twisted in a disapproving scowl as she took in the scene of Belle and Leroy, completely at ease and enjoying their afternoon coffee.
"I have just finished reading through Mr. Gold's manuscript," Regina announced.
Belle winced. She had not met Regina in person before, but her voice was difficult to wipe from memory after it had been used as a method of torture via the telephone every day for a week.
"And?" Leroy said, his usual gruff tone settling back into his voice.
"Who is she?" Regina said, nodding in the direction of Belle.
"I'm-" Belle began, but before she could continue, Regina interrupted.
"Wait, I know you. You're that prissy little up and coming agent I've been talking to this week."
"Um, yes?" Belle said, unsure of how to answer that.
"Ugh," Regina rolled her eyes then, "I hate having to teach the young ones to mind their place."
Tossing the manuscript down on Leroy's desk, Regina turned on her heel and showed herself out, calling over her shoulder, "I want the next draft, adhering to my notes, in my mailbox by the first Tuesday next month."
With that, she was gone.
Silence settled over Leroy's office, which was devoid now of the warmth and mirth that had shone from within it only a few short minutes ago.
"Really knows how to kill the mood, that witch," Said Leroy, pushing back from his desk to rise and stretch. Skimming through the manuscript, he grunted. "Well, these notes are ideal, assuming that your Mr. Gold wants to write himself a whole new novel, lacking any resemblance to the manuscript on this desk."
Belle rolled her eyes, reaching to take a long sip of her own coffee. "Don't you worry, Leroy. I can handle her."
"It's not you that I'm worried about, sister," Leroy said, his eyes still locked on the door to his office, as the clip-clip-clip of Regina's heels echoed back behind her. "That author of yours has another thing coming."
Belle sighed, stretching her aching back muscles. Gathering up her things, she glanced back at Leroy over her shoulder and said, "I should get going…"
Leroy glanced at the clock, then back to Belle. "That's early, even for you, sister. Got a hot date or something?"
Belle flashed him a wicked smile, and Leroy shot her a knowing look. "You behave yourself; don't go breaking any hearts tonight!"
Belle rolled her eyes, "I'll try."
Once outside in the chilly winter evening, Belle pulled her wool scarf close around her ears and quickened her pace down the glimmering sidewalks, sparkling in the streetlights that had begun to illuminate the dimming streets.
She stopped by her apartment to change first. It had been a long time since Belle had gone out on a first date… she and Gaston had dated for three years before their engagement, and that hiatus of an engagement had lasted another year before… well, she didn't want to think about that.
Her doorman smiled and waved her through. David was a charming doorman, and he had been very helpful when she had first moved into her new apartment, even offering to carry some of her larger parcels for her. She had to wonder sometimes how he had wound-up serving as a doorman when he had the charisma of a CEO, but she had often seen him interacting with the different people passing through. She figured he must just really be passionate about people.
As he was holding the door open, Belle turned to him and said, "When a man named Neal drops by in a bit, can you tell him to wait here with you while I'm getting ready? I don't want him to feel like he has to wait outside, and I know how good you are with people…"
David gave Belle one of his killer smiles and nodded, "You got it, ma'am. Now go get pretty."
Belle rolled her eyes as she walked away, wondering how anyone could take him seriously. Once she was up to her apartment, Belle shed her clothes and turned on her shower. As steam began to waft up toward the ceiling, she replayed the events of the morning over in her head. It had been several days since she and Mr. Gold had finally submitted the first draft of his new novel to Regina, and this morning had been the first time they had seen each other since.
Belle stepped into the shower, and began to lather herself as she continued to remember the way Mr. Gold's eyes had lit up when he'd seen her, and the way that he had tried to mask his surprise and pleasure at seeing her as quickly as he had shown it. They had sat down for tea together, something Belle had told him that she wanted to establish into a routine each morning in order to better open up the lines of communication between them.
It had begun a little awkwardly, as he wasn't accustomed to regular visitors, apart from Ashley. They'd discussed the book mostly, and the inspiration behind it. They also spoke about an awards night that was fast approaching, The Gellar List Night. Mr. Gold's most recent novel had been nominated for the Gellar, and Belle was trying to convince him to attend the awards ceremony.
"I don't see what all the big fuss is about dearie," Mr. Gold had said, glaring down at his tea as though it was mocking him. "I dislike those crass gentlemen of the new generation who fancy themselves artists. And I'd have to pretend to be nice to everyone!"
Belle chuckled now, remembering the indignant way he'd defended himself. Poor Mr. Gold. Stepping out of the shower, Belle wrapped a towel around herself and shook the residual water droplets from her hair. Wrapping her hair in a separate towel, she began applying her makeup for the evening out that was to come.
Smearing lip gloss across her lips, she tried to shake Mr. Gold from her thoughts. She was about to be going on a date, for goodness sakes! She needed to stop focusing so much on her work! Shimmying into a black dress that reached just down to her mid thighs, she admired herself in the full length mirror.
"I am ready for this," She said, trying to convince herself more than the pale young woman staring back at her.
When she arrived back down at the lobby of her building, Belle found the two men talking as though they were old college roommates… just as she'd suspected.
"Hello, gentlemen," She said, stepping through the door that David held open for her. Turning to him, she smiled and said, "Thank you for keeping him company, David."
"No problem!" David said, turning to wink at Neal, "We had ourselves a few laughs."
Neal sighed, a wide smile reaching across his open face. "You look gorgeous, Belle."
Belle blushed a little, then nodded in the direction of the door, "We're going to miss our reservation…"
"Right," Neal said, opening the door to the outside for her. Over her shoulder, he looked at David again and said, "Thanks, David. See you around sometime hopefully."
Belle gave him a pointed smile as she passed through the door, "Well, we'll see how tonight goes before you get too chummy with my doorman."
Neal rolled his eyes at David, then followed Belle outside. As Belle settled into the passenger seat of Neal's car, Neal reached into the backseat. Lifting a bouquet of blue roses, he set them on the dashboard in front of Belle. "For you, m'lady."
Belle's eyes widened and she grinned. "How did you know that roses are my favourite?"
Neal laughed, "My Dad never really got too far with the ladies, but if there's one good thing he did pass on to me, it's an appreciation for the bond between women and their flowers."
Belle smiled, lifting the roses to her nose and inhaling deeply. Gaston had never brought her flowers… He had tried to once, but he hadn't been able to keep them alive long enough to get them to her, and by the time they'd arrived at the restaurant the roses were already dead. They'd been yellow roses, too… Belle wasn't very sad when they died, and Gaston never tried to give her flowers again.
"So, where are we going for dinner?" Belle said, and despite the darkness in the car, she could have sworn that Neal began to blush.
"Umm, you might think that it's kind of lame…"
Belle laughed, "Wherever it is, I'm sure that it'll be nice."
Belle almost laughed when they pulled up in front of the large, limestone building that was probably the most grandiose Starbucks she had ever seen. Almost. But then she saw how nervous Neal looked, and thought better of it.
"I thought at the time that it would be… I dunno, romantic?" Shrugging out of his seatbelt, Neal made his way around to the other side of the car and opened the door to Belle. The night was crisp, and the untouched snow glimmered in the warm, orange light that fell from the windows of the café. As they stepped inside, a smooth bar of jazz music greeted them.
"Well, if it isn't lady luck," A familiar voice sounded from the other side of the counter. It was the barista from the day they had first met, her red lipstick as bright as ever.
Neal greeted her with an open smile, "Hey there, Red. We'll take our usual."
Belle's eyes widened, "How many Starbucks locations do you work at?"
The barista shrugged, "My grandmother is one of those new-age, hip grandmas. She's the district manager, so she gets me in for as many shifts as possible." Handing them their drinks, she sent them a wink, "Have fun, lovebirds."
Belle and Neal sat at one of the tables of the café on the second level, looking down on the street. As they sat and talked, Belle tried to engage and keep up with the conversation. But she couldn't help but feel like she'd done all of this before. Pursing her lips, she tried to smile as she thought to herself, Why do I always end up feeling this way when I'm out with a nice, friendly guy? What's wrong with me? If this isn't what I want, then what am I looking for?
It wasn't long until Neal realized that Belle looked… well, for lack of a better word, she looked bored. "Everything okay?"
Shit, Belle thought, am I that obvious? Poor guy…
"Oh, it's nothing," Belle said, forcing a smile. What can I say? I'm sorry, it's just that I've dated you before. Several times. I've even been engaged to you. I just don't think this is going to… "Work! I was just caught up in a thought about work… don't mind me. You were saying?"
"Oh, I was saying that I need a date for this dinner thing coming up… The Gellar Awards? And since you mentioned that you work in publishing, I figured that you might have to go as well, and I thought it would be a little less boring if we could at least go together!"
Books! Books Belle could talk about. She turned to him, finally feeling as though she could engage,"That would be nice! Who are you attending for?"
"My Dad," said Neal, his eyes concealing a hint of sadness, "He's been going through a rough time lately, and I figure this way I can make sure that he goes. It's a work-related thing for him… and he could really use the support."
"Well, I'd love to!" Belle said, her smile brightening as she thought about how considerate Neal seemed to be. Maybe she should give him more time… and try not to be bored right away. "I mean, I'll need to focus on my own work for some of the night, especially my one client… that author I've been working with? – but then I'll be all yours."
"Sounds like a date," Neal said, raising his coffee cup to hers, "Cheers."