Belle woke up Sunday morning facing a huge headache and the Spanish inquisition.
"Good morning!" Ruby cried, throwing open the drapes, "Rise and shine!"
"Uhg, Ruby. No. Go away," Belle attempted to hide under her pillow before her friend stole it.
"It's ten in the morning; I made coffee," she said.
Belle groaned but got up, and, wrapping up in a blanket, followed Ruby into the living room.
"Geeze, it's freezing in here," the more awake of the two said.
"It's cheaper," Belle mumbled, "Why are you here, again?"
"Well, when my best friend shows up drunk, with her sexy boss, and a giant hickey on her neck, I kinda take notice."
Belle rubbed the tender spot on her throat, "Wait, Rumold was here? You met him?!"
"Yep, he's the one who brought you home. Don't you remember?"
"I remember being at the ball, and dancing with Gaston-"
"Uhg. He was there?"
"-yeah. Then I was out on the balcony with Rumold- I mean Mr. Gold- and, oh man," Belle put her face in her hand, "oh damn, Ruby, we kissed!"
"Then what?"
"Then.. I don't know. I don't remember coming home even. Just waking up this morning."
Ruby passed her a mug of coffee sympathetically, "if it makes you feel any better, after I got you in bed, Archie was out here glaring at this Gold guy."
"Archie? Glaring?"
"Well, I could tell he was glaring. You know in his 'I don't approve of your actions, there must be unresolved issues from your childhood' way."
"Ah. Yes."
"Although Archie said Gold said it want well," Ruby sat down next to her friend, her own coffee in hand.
"Not so loud," Belle grumbled, drinking, "Hopefully that means he's not upset about the kiss."
"Yeah, I doubt he's upset, more like aroused-"
"Ruby!" Belle cried then fell back onto the couch, groaning as her head hit the pillow.
"What am I going to do?" she said.
Ruby didn't address this question, and instead asked, "What exactly is going on with you two? I mean, he's your boss, but then you guys start macking on each other. I don't know what to think."
"I don't know," Belle whispered, "I don't know."
Across town and hours later a phone was ringing.
"What?" Rumold Gold grumbled into it.
It was one in the afternoon and his hangover had faded to a dull throb above his left eye.
"So? How'd it go?Am I going to be an uncle? Is Grace going to have god-cousins?" Jefferson asked.
He was annoyingly chipper.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"How did it go with you and Belle?!"
Gold was silent.
"That good, huh?"
"I'm an idiot, Madden."
"What? What did you do!?"
"I fell in love with her."
Monday came quietly, with both parties, politely avoiding the topic of Saturday's event. Belle did not speak of it out of embarrassment. Gold held his peace in case he let his true emotions known.
During their tea he told her he wanted a shelf on one of the book cases cleaned off.
"It doesn't matter which shelf, my dear," he said gesturing vaguely, "pick a shelf and pack up the books to be sent to my apartment."
"Yes Mr. Gold," Belle replied taking the tea things away.
When she returned she pulled out the ladder. Setting it up she began clearing off the highest bookcase in the office. After the books were taken down, and packed in box, Belle returned to the case with a rag. Up on the top of the ladder she began wiping the shelf free of dust. But after a moment, she started pulling on something.
"What are you doing?" Mr. Gold asked, walking over.
"Oh, I was cleaning the shelf and my rag got stuck," she started pulling again, "I think it's stuck on a nail or somethi- oh!"
Belle fell, backward, off the ladder. Gold stared, stepping forward he caught her. Her arms wrapped around him instinctively, their eyes locked. He held her, bridal style, against his chest as long as his bum leg would allow.
He dropped her to the ground, Belle landing on her feet. Gold brushed him self off as she straitened her skirt. Belle tried to hug him but Gold stepped away, and she pulled awkwardly back too.
"Thank you," she said, breathlessly, "For saving me."
"Think nothing of it, my dear," he mumbled, walking back to his desk.
Just then, there was a knock on the office door, "Delivery for Mr. Gold."
Gold waved at Belle to get it. Opening the door, a delivery man brought in a large box. Gold grinned, telling Belle to open it.
She pulled off the tape and gasped.
"It's full of books!"
"Aye, they are Advanced Reader Copies- ARCs for short. I get them multiple times a year before they are sold in my stores. I like to read what I'm peddling to the public," Gold explained.
"Wow there are so many! So none of them are available to read yet?" she asked.
"That's right dear," he was enjoying her enthusiasm, "Pick one that interests you and come read it to me."
Belle grinned back and him, then went through the books, making stacks and methodically reading the back of each. Gold, meanwhile, moved from his desk to the couch and waited for her to choose. Finding her book, Belle joined him on the couch, barely noticing the change.
They read. She read to him and, by the time it was time for her to go home, she was curled up beside him, her head resting on his shoulder.
She jumped up, pulling away, face flushed, and left as quickly as she could.
The walk home was cold, but her face still flushed. What was she doing? How did she just let herself do things like that? Like snuggling with him on the couch or kissing him at the party. It was destructive.
Rich men were dangerous, Gaston had shown her that. But she felt like Gold was different. He seemed to know her much better even in the short time they were acquainted. But should she really risk her job and heart for him?