Isobella stormed into Mr Gold's office. Slamming the box down on his desk the beauty spat out "What is this?". Her brunette locks fell around her shoulders as she leant over the desk towards him in an echo of the days she had leant over him to watch him spin. Gold shrugged in amusement as her scent filled the air before him. "A box, Dearie, containing a set of keys" he replied, not bothering to keep his amusement hidden. "Don't try to buy me, Robert" Isobella hissed. Mr Gold raised his eyebrows in query. Isobella continued "This is not going to change anything. I am not coming back". Mr Gold leant back in his chair and tented his hands. Surveying her over his fingers he replied "I was simply providing you a business, with which you can support yourself, and apartments that you can use should you want to, I would imagine the B & B is not very comfortable for a long term stay" Sighing he explained his motives. Not his real motives of course. Just what Isobella would accept "You like books. You enjoy reading. Every moment of our marriage your nose has been lodged firmly in a book. I happen to own a library now which I want to open, and this necessitates the obtaining of a librarian. I thought it would suit you". Isobella glared at him. "I'm not accepting this. I don't want to be another tenant in your debt". Gold chuckled darkly. "Oh Dearie, this would be yours outright". Reaching down he opened a draw and took out some paperwork. "Here. These are our divorce papers. I haven't signed them yet and I will not unless you sign them. I recommend you read this. It clearly states the library remains yours in the event of our divorce. It is exclusively yours and I retain no rights to it on your accepting the keys and in the event of our parting ways. Think of it as a parting gift. I would like us to remain on good terms. I should make it clear that, however unlikely this may be, should we reconcile the conditions will be the same". Robert took out the contracts for the library from the same drawer; he'd already signed the library over to her. Isobella thought for a minute. Robert had always kept his promises. "Thank you. I'll be in touch" She said. Taking the divorce papers and the contract, and retrieving the keys to the library, her library, she turned to leave. She turned back to him, intending to say...something...anything not so indifferent but nothing came to mind. Mr Gold met her gaze dispassionately and watched her finally leave. He allowed a smile to ghost over his face as he reclined in his chair again. He was confident those divorce papers would remain unsigned. She still loved him. She wouldn't have taken the time to return the keys and be so angry if she hadn't. His smile broadened. Yes, his plan was working.
It was cold in the vault, so cold her breath frosted in the air. A necessity though. The hearts kept much better in the cold without magic to sustain them. They were all useless here of course. A relic of a bygone life; a harmless sentimentality but the only one she had. All useless with the exception of one. The person to whom this heart belonged was in Storybrooke; perhaps that was why it retained its power. She gently ran her fingers across the drawers lined against the wall, towards the drawer that contained this particular heart. Regina paused to listen, as she did every time she ventured down here, beneath her father's tomb. A rather pointless exercise since no one would have reason to follow her here. She was feared here, as she was before, and people kept their distance for the most part. Hearing nothing but the silence of the cemetery she returned to the task at hand and opened the drawer. Holding the faintly glowing red heart in her hand she squeezed it, and watched it contract whilst the glow brightened. Yes, the power still held here just as it had done every day for the last 28 years, and could be used to her advantage She smiled as she imagined the effect it would have on the owner; Sheriff Humbert. He could come in very useful if the situation arose.
Isobella returned to the diner in a daze. She had read the divorce papers and the contract on the way back from Gold's office and the offer was there in black and white as he had said. The library was hers. No conditions, no bargaining. It was hers outright whether they divorce or reconcile. She joined Ruby behind the counter and helped herself to a cup of coffee whilst Ruby busied herself with waffles.
"He did what?!" Ruby exclaimed, a couple of patrons swivelling their ears around in interest. It was well known that Gold, the unscrupulous lawyer, was divorcing his pretty young wife and the rumour mill had gone into overdrive. In a much quieter tone Isobella replied "Yes. I have the library. There are no clauses. It is mine to do with as I wish. There are apartments there too; I'll have my own place, whether the divorce goes ahead or not". Ruby exhaled slowly. "So I take it you'll be moving out and digging in at the library? You sure Gold doesn't have another set of keys?". Isobella scowled good naturedly at her friend. "He's not a monster. But I'll have the locks changed anyway. Not that I distrust him but there's no telling how many people have had access to make copies of these. I'll be moving in tonight, and he's arranged for my belongings to be moved with me so I don't have to do anything". Isobella took a sip of coffee. "Like he couldn't wait to be rid of me" she sighed, inexplicably disappointed. Ruby shook the divorce papers in front of Isobella. "Have you read all the terms here? They're very generous considering you went into the marriage with nothing. There's the library, the house if you want it, use of his cabin in the woods, a monthly allowance" Ruby's eyes grew wider and wider as she read the down the list. "I know, but he'll want something in return. There's always a deal, he just hasn't made this clear yet". Isobella finished her coffee. "I'll be at the library if you want me, just call and I'll come let you in". Isobella picked up the all the paperwork and the key, and left to inspect her new business premises and apartments.
The apartment was of a very generous size and could be made very comfortable. Robert was not going to remove her access to their joint account until the divorce papers were signed, so she could afford to furnish the apartment immediately, in whichever way she saw fit. Recalling the opulent furniture of Robert's salmon pink house; all mismatched due to the rarity of his finds but very expensive nonetheless, she determined to visit the local second hand furniture store. She wanted comfortable furniture to snuggle onto, not show furniture designed to intimidate those who wished to make a business deal.
Isobella smiled at the prospect of unleashing her creativity in decorating the apartment. She noted with pleasure that the kitchen was big. Much bigger than was strictly necessary. One of her hobbies, before marriage into a life of indolence, was cookery and baking. Not fitting in today's world of emancipation but she always found it a calming hobby. Robert had disliked her hobby. His wife did not need to be covered in flour and whatever other kitchen detritus was possible, not when she had to be on his arm for another meeting, or dinner, or corporate event, so after a while she'd given it up. She'd always disliked the idea of being a kept woman, and wondered bitterly how she had allowed it to happen.