Chapter 2

The teacup rolled off the desk onto the floor with a muffled clink. The room, which had temporary froze in time, sprang back to life. Belle gasped and dropped to the floor to pick up the cup.

"I'm sorry! It's chipped," she stood and held it up, "You can barely see it?"

Gold didn't look at the cup, "it's just a cup."

Belle set it down and, with trembling hand, began to serve the tea.

"I didn't know it was you on Friday, I swear," she said.

"I don't normally do things like that," she said.

"I thought I was never going to see you again," she said.

"If I'd have know who you were, I'd never have asked you anything like that," she said.

"I find that very hard to believe, Dearie," he said coolly, then took a sip of the tea she'd finished preparing.

He burnt his tongue.

"Excuse me?" Belle's eyes widened and her face flushed anew. This time with anger.

"Are you implying that I slept with you on purpose? Because I know that you were my boss?" Belle was fuming, quietly, "What would that even accomplish?"

"Leverage, maybe? Blackmail? I cannot begin to fathom how the mind of women such as yourself work," he sneered.

"Women such as myself?!" she exclaimed and took a step forward, "If I'd have known-

It was then that Mary Margret, hearing the swell of voices, rushed in.

"Alright, that's enough!" the director of HR snapped, then, calmly said, "Belle, may I have a word with Mr. Gold?"

Belle nodded, still seething, and exited, the office door slamming behind her.

She dropped into the chair behind her new desk. She was so fired. She hadn't even been there an hour and she was going to be fired. Belle sighed.

"Hello," a voice broke through her thoughts, "Are you Rumold's secretary?"

"I am at the moment," Belle replied, sitting up straighter.

The voice belonged to a tall woman with long, red hair. She was skinny yet curvy with eyes Belle would later describe as green and a bit crazy.

"How can I help you?" Belle asked.

"You can deliver these to Rumold," the woman placed a bouquet of poppies on the desk, "and let him know that there is someone special her to see him."

Belle glanced at the office door where the muffled voices of Mary Margret and Mr. Gold could be heard arguing.

"Um, Mr. Gold is in a meeting at the moment. But as soon as he's available I will do just that," Belle said.

"Oh, you must be new," the woman said, "I'm Zelena Greene, his girlfriend."

Belle paused, "did you... go out with Mr. Gold Friday night? To Club Castle?"

"Yes! You have heard of me!" Zelena exclaimed.

Belle made a rash and impulsive decision. (She was very good at these.)

She picked up the phone and said, "connect me to security please."

"Security, this is Emma Swan."

"Yes, there is a woman here bothering Mr. Gold, he'd like her removed," Belle said sweetly.

Even in retrospect, Belle had no idea why she did that. Was it a weird jealousy for a man she just decided she despised? Did she want to go out with a bang? Whatever it was, within seconds of her call, a giant man was there, gabbing Zelena by the arm.

"Unhand me!" she cried.

"What is going on here?" Mr. gold bellowed. He had come out of his office, with Mary Margret following, to see what all the commotion was about.

"Rumold!" Zelena was hysteric, "Your secretary is trying to have me thrown out! Stop her!"

Gold looked from Zelena to Belle to Zelena again.

Then he said, "Miss French was correct, take her away, Dove," and wave dismissively at Zelena and the giant man inexplicably name for a tiny bird.

"What?! Rumold! Noooooo-" Zelena's protests could be heard even after the elevator doors shut behind them.

"Miss French stays and that is final!" Mr. Gold snapped at Mary Margaret. He punctuated this by walking back into his office and slamming the door.

Both women stared at the door for a moment, before Belle leaned back in her chair and spun around.

A half an hour ago, Mary Margret, finished with explaining Belle's secretarial duties, retreated back to HR.

Mr. Gold has sent Belle a six word email.

To: bfrench

From: rgold

Subject: [blank]

I am not taking any calls.

Slightly annoyed, but more surprised that she was still employed, Belle turned away fifteen calls. One from a publisher, three from IT, five from the vise president of Gold Books, and six from Zelena.

Then, a well dressed man wearing a top hat and ascot walked in.

"I'm sorry," Belle started, "Mr. Gold isn't-"

"Taking calls, I know," he finished and pulled out an ID card, "Jefferson Madden, IT. Here to fix the big guy's hard drive."

"Wait, I-!" Jefferson breezed through the office door and let it click shut on her protests.

"What do you want?" Mr. Gold sighed.

Jefferson dropped into a chair and began playing with his hat.

"Your new secretary is cute," the IT technician commented, "Hey, they usually don't last long, can I ask her number?"

Gold briefly glanced up from his work, "no."

"Well it was worth a try. Listen, I was thinking-"

"A dangerous habit-"

"-about what you said yesterday when you came to Grace's dance recital?"

"I thought we agreed not to talk about it," Gold growled.

"I think we should find your mystery girl. What did you say her name was? Belle?" Jefferson continued.

"Madden," warned Gold.

"But she made you happy, Rumple Bumple! Happier then I think I've ever seen you!"

"Drop it, Madden. Do not call me that. I've already located her, quite by accident," said Gold.

"Really? Great! Let's schedule a double date- you, me, this Belle girl, and the V.P. Mills! We'll paint the town blue!" Jefferson exclaimed, "I can't wait to meet her!"

"You already have," Rumold would not meet the younger man's eyes.

"Really? Where?"

Mr. Gold pressed the interoffice intercom, "Miss French, bring me the publishers list. It's the red folder in the bottom drawer."

"Yes, Mr. Gold," her reply was tinny in the intercom and moments later she walked in and handed him the file.

Jefferson's eyes, wide, followed her out. He was silent a moment.

"Her?" He cried, then hissed in a whisper, "Your new secretary?"

Gold continued working.

"It is her, well that's super. When's the wedding? Grace is dying to be a flower girl."

"There is no wedding," Gold snapped, "Sleeping with her was a stupid mistake, Madden, one I won't make twice."

ooo

"Pick up, pick up, pick up," Belle whispered into her phone.

She was hiding in the bathroom on her lunch break trying to call Ruby. Her previously mentioned neighbor-slash-best friend, Ruby Lucas worked at Bloomingdale's in the make up department.

"Pick up," she tapped her shoes on the linoleum.

"What's up ma cherie?" Ruby answered, finally.

"I messed up, Ruby, totally and completely fucked up," Belle said, "Literally."

"Whoa there, that's some pretty strong language coming from you, B, what happened? And make it snappy, I need to get back post haste."

Belle took a deep breath, "You know that guy I met? Friday? You know..."

"The one you banged harder than a screen door in a hurricane?"

"Ruby!" Belle gasped.

"Well it's true. What about Mr. Great Sex?" Ruby probed.

"Don't call him that!" Belle hissed, "I- I found him?"

"You found him? Belle! That's great! I have to meet him-"

"He's my new boss," Belle interrupted, "and a total jerk."

"WHAT?" Belle held the phone away from her ear.

"Oh man, your new boss? That's the worst," giggled Ruby.

Belle sighed, "I don't know what I'm going to do."

"Ask for a raise? Kidding! Kidding. You are going to tell me exactly how it went down," Ruby said, "Over drinks and cookies. But now I have to get back to work."

"'Kay, see you tonight."

A/N: So after saying over and over again last week that, no, I'm not writing any more, this happens.