Warning: Will eventually contain mature material. Language. Lemons. Some spicy limes. Maybe full-blown things. ~_^

A Salvation Called Love

-Chapter 1-

Gold Corporation was a very big, busy company and at the head of it stood a man that was one of the hardest to deal with, Mr. Gold. He was rough and unforgiving, but sly as a fox. He was also one of the most powerful men in the world, had been for more years than he ever wanted to think about. And right now he was staring out the window at the city laid out before him. New York City, it was busy and full of people who loved to make 'deals' with him. He had started out poor in his life until he became the Dark one, and now he was basically the richest man in the world. Mr. Gold had stepped out of the old ages and into the new one, building up Gold Corporation from the ground to be one of the most successful businesses out there. And he'd earned millions. Aside from the people coming to make 'deals' with him, he'd broke out and merged with other companies in trading and stocks. Money and magic: two things that would make almost any man happy. But was he really happy?

"Mr. Gold."

I turned slowly at my name being called and frowned at my secretary as she hid partially behind my office door. Most of my employees were afraid of me. "What is it, Margret?"

"Uhm…" Margret fidgeted and didn't want to look at me. "There is a… a woman outside saying she wants to speak with you."

I arched a brow. "Well, let her in then, Dearie. That's what your job is, right?"

Margret's face flushed as she nodded and quickly disappeared. I slowly walked over to my desk and propped my cane against it as I sat down, stretching my bummed leg. Taking on the human characteristics of the man I was before I became the Dark one when I decided to become a part of this new world had put me at a disadvantage physically. The bummed leg was an illusion of course, but sometimes an inconvenient one. I'd made it feel and appear as accurate as possible, to the point that it was almost real. So much annoyance for a little acknowledgement in this world.

"What a fragile creature you have there, Mr. Gold."

I looked up as my rival in all things walked through my office door. Regina Mills. She'd been the Evil Queen during the time in my life where I went by my first name on this earth, Rumplestiltskin. We'd both taken on new names when we'd stepped into the new world. "Well if it isn't the snake from across the way."

Regina laughed and walked over to where I kept my scotch and poured herself a glass. She arched a brow at me and held the glass out. "Want me to pour you some?"

I shook my head and slowly stood up, taking my cane with me. "What do you want, Dearie. I'm a busy man."

She turned and smiled evilly at me. "Come now, Rumplestiltskin. Relax a little. It wouldn't kill you."

I narrowed my eyes at her. "I don't go by that name anymore and you damn well know it. Now I won't ask again, Regina. What is it that brought you here?"

She gave a small sigh and tossed back the rest of the scotch in her glass before slamming it down onto my antique table. "I just wanted to come bring you some proof that you have someone stealing from you. I know you've suspected something because of the change of your employees over the past few months."

"That's none of your business."

She sauntered forward and reached up to place one of her well-manicured hands against the front of my silk business suit. "Oh honey, sure it is. I'm just looking out for an old friend."

I stared down at her for a long moment before shrugging her hand off of me. I walked around her and headed towards my office door. I held it open for her. "I know who it is."

She grinned. "Oh? You do?"

She was beginning to piss me off, which was probably her goal from the start. Ever since she'd killed someone I'd come to care about I'd stopped dealing with her. Now we were company rivals in this new age. "I also know that you hired him to spy on me for you alongside stealing from my company. He's the only one who has access to a few of my accounts and my books. His name is Bill Amatheon."

"My, my, aren't you the smart one." She slowly sank into one of my office chairs and crossed one of her legs across her knee. "How long have you known?"

"For half a year."

She gave me a surprised look. "And you haven't fired him yet? What is this? Have you changed into a soft man, Rumplestiltskin?"

I pushed my door closed and walked over to her, slamming the golden handle of my cane down beside her on the arm of the chair roughly. "I told you nicely, Regina. I don't go by that name anymore and if I hear it slip from those pretty lips of yours again I'll ensure that your company mysteriously goes bankrupt." I leaned forward until we were eye to eye and I could smell her plum lipstick she always wore. "I haven't fired him yet because I was waiting for you to come knocking on my door. And now that you have, I'm going to get back every penny he stole. I'm going to ruin him. Blacklist him from ever working in another company. The only place he'll be able to work at is a measly gas station out in the middle of nowhere."

I stood up and moved away from her, walking back around my desk to sit. I watched as she slowly stood and straightened her skirt. It seems I could still shake her golden cage. "You know he has a daughter he's putting through college, right?" She turned and grinned at me as if my previous words had no effect on her.

It didn't matter who he was putting through college. He'd stole from me on the behalf of this vile woman and I wasn't the forgiving type. "His daughter is of no concern to me. As soon as you leave I'm going to call him up here to my office and fire him."

Her grin grew and I narrowed my eyes at her. She was taking this awfully well. "Good. That's as it should be. I'll be taking my leave then."

I quickly stood up as she moved towards my office door and I called out to her. "What are you up to, Regina?"

She refused to answer and slipped out the door without another word. I felt like there was something that I should be catching onto but I just didn't get it. I gave a small sigh and leaned back into my leather chair, my eyes slowly making their way across the room to where my most prized possession temporarily sat for the day. A small, very old chipped tea cup. Every time I saw it I could see her beautiful face. Her voice echoed in my mind as I closed my eyes and remembered her. All you'll have left is an empty heart and a chipped cup. "I'm sorry." A small tear slipped down my cheek.

[Regina]

Stepping into the elevator I quickly pulled out my phone and dialed Mr. Amatheon's cell number. He picked up after the third ring. "Mrs. Mills, to what do I owe this honour?"

I rolled my eyes. "He knows it was you who stole from him. Drop everything and run."

Mr. Amatheon's voice hitched over the phone. "But you told me that I wouldn't get found out. I only wanted to be able to put my daughter through college. You told me I'd be safe!"

I grinned and put a little of my magic into my voice, a compulsion spell. "Run, Bill Amatheon. He'll kill you." I quickly hung up and stepped out of the elevator as it opened to the first floor. I gave a small laugh and tucked my phone into my purse as I walked out the doors and into the crowd of people traveling to and fro. My plan to ruin Rumplestiltskin was working. He'd never have the chance at happiness again. Not when he was about to destroy the only remaining thing in this world that could bring it to him. She would be his downfall.