Hello there! Thank you for the feedback, it warms my heart to see that people want to see more of this. I hope I can keep up with everyone's expectations. I hope you all like this chapter, I swear I'm putting a lot of heart and hard work into this.

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CHAPTER TWO

Weeks had passed since David and Regina's first and only encounter. He still went to that same coffee shop every single day in hopes to see her again. True is, he was starting to lose hope. If the darn woman weren't so amazing, he would already have forgotten about this. But he couldn't. He wouldn't. He wanted her. He needed her. He had never felt something so strong in his entire life. Now here he was, with the job of his dreams and he couldn't even concentrate enough.

"Still with us, Mr. Nolan?", Gold asked coldly from the center of the table, where he was sitting.

"Yes, yes, apologies", David cleared his throat. He adjusted himself in the chair and stared at Gold.

At this, Gold nodded and continued with the meeting. David could see Emma on his left with the corner of his eye. She was worried about him. The last few weeks had taken a toll on David and everyone close enough to him could see it.

"So we're done here and I'll see you all tonight", Gold finished and walked out of the room, allowing everyone that was sitted around the big table to get up and leave the room too.

Emma quickly approached her friend. "David, what were you doing?", she asked him in a whisper. People were still leaving the room.

"I-I just got lost in thoughts, that's all", he said, trying to justify his behavior.

"Yeah, mate, you're not gonna lose your job too if you keeping acting like that next to Gold, you know that", Killian said coming closer.

"Is it still that woman?", Emma asked putting a hand on his arm.

David sighed and nodded. He knew he was acting like a lunatic. He met the woman one time weeks ago, talked to her for 10 minutes. He knew nothing about her except her first name, which wasn't very promising. He knew he had very slim chances of ever seeing again, let alone have a real conversation with her. Yet he still couldn't shake that feeling that Regina was the woman of his life. He knew she was.

"Not to be a killjoy here, but you need to think less of that Regina you don't have and more of the job you do have", Emma said. "At this point, this woman seems less and less like a reality. Your reality now is your job, which is also going to turn into a fantasy unless you stop thinking about her", Emma knew she was being harsh, but she already loved David like a brother and she loved working with him. She didn't want to lose that.

David looked down.

"I'm sorry", Emma said sincerely.

"I know", David nodded again.

Everyone took a deep breath.

"Now heads up", Killian said happily, he wanted to cheer thing up a bit. "We have a party tonight!" Any excuse to get drunk was a good excuse on his book.

"I guess you're right", David sighed, "I could really use some alcohol."

"That's what we're talking about!", Killian put a hand on David's shoulder.

"Ok, so we'll see you tonight, right?", Emma asked cautiously.

"Sure." David didn't really want to go. But he knew he had to. He decided he had to forget (at least, momentarily) Regina. Right now his job was at stake and he couldn't lose it. Not after everything he did to get it.

xxxxx

At night fall, David put on his best suit. Tonight's event was a big event. Gold Law was going to held a fundraiser for orphanages all over New York. This kind of thing is big around the country, it gathered the most powerful people in the city. It was a chance to expose the company in an attempt to make it even bigger. It was all more business than charity. Just like Gold liked it. It was also a chance for David to put up a good and professional face to impress his boss.

David got to the party around 8 o'clock. He quickly spotted Killian and Emma close to the bar. He smiled and waved and started to walk into their direction. Killian was just as handsome as David and Emma looked amazing.

"Emma, you look beautiful", David said while he kissed her on the cheek.

"Why, thank you very much, sir", Emma smiled and him. "You're not so bad yourself!", she joked while measuring him up and down.

He turned to Killian. "Jones, if I didn't know any better, I'd say this is your most expensive suit."

Killian narrowed his eyes. "Don't mess with me, mate, you know I have several expensive suits for different occasions", he readjusted his tie.

They all laughed and ordered a few drinks. The three turned at the same time to spot Gold. He was engaged in conversation with two other businessmen in what appeared to be a very serious conversation.

"How many billions are just in that triangle?", Emma asked with a sigh.

"I'd guess quite a few", David sighed. He took a sip of his drink. He couldn't deny he envied Gold's power and success. A man like him could get whatever he wanted.

"I wonder where's his wife, though?", Emma said looking around. "We never really see her. This is the kind of event she'd make an appearance."

"You two know her?", David asked curiously.

"Just socially", Emma replied. "Like I said, they are very private and it's rare to see her around. I never even held a conversation with her other than small talk", she said trying to remember.

David nodded. "What about their son? Neal, was it?", he looked at Emma.

Emma glared at him.

"Oh, it's not their son", Killian corrected David. "God, no, Neal is from his first marriage. It's Gold's only child."

David arched his eyebrows and nodded in acknowledgment. "By the way, aren't you going to tell me what happened between you two?", David asked her.

She glared at him again and sighed. "It was ages ago, we were in high school. Of course, at that time I didn't know he was Gold's son, I didn't even know who Gold was", she said. "But he was a rebel, got us into trouble several times. Until one time it was serious and police almost got me, so I just broke up with him. I wanted something different for my life, obviously."

"Was it serious?", David asked.

"I liked him a lot", Emma said, remembering their time together. "He was fun and a free spirit. He was an adventurer, wanted to see the world, didn't care about money or status. He always talked about how strict his father was and how he wanted to have his own life. Which is why he was always rebelling and getting himself into trouble, I guess. Maybe he just wanted his father's attention."

They all looked at Gold again.

"Now knowing it's Gold, it kind of makes sense", Emma continued. "He does seems like the tough parent."

"Well, he sure ain't the soft boss", Killian said matter-of-factly.

They all nodded in agreement.

"Does Gold know about you two?", David asked.

Emma stop to think for a moment. "I don't think so", she said. "Or he doesn't care, I don't know. It's not like it's a topic conversation between me and him", she laughed.

Just then they were interrupted by Ruby. "Hey guys!", she kissed each one.

"Hi Ruby", Emma said kindly, "How are you?"

"I'm good!", Ruby replied happily. She was one of those people who were always in a good mood. "So what were you guys talking about?"

"Oh, you know", Emma shrugged while Ruby got herself a drink, "Just about Gold's personal life", she whispered.

"Uh, I love it already", Ruby said with sparkling eyes. She loved to gossip and everyone knew that.

"Hey, your grandma works at his house, doesn't she?", Killian asked, remembering this fact.

David looked at Ruby surprised.

"Yes, she does."

"Oh, I had forgotten about that! Ruby, please, spill the beans! You must know everything!", Emma pleaded.

Ruby laughed. "Ugh, I'm so very sorry to say that my grandma doesn't open her mouth about it. Trust me, I've tried it to make her talk", she made a frustrated face.

Emma sighed. "Your grandma must really like Gold."

"On the contrary", Ruby said getting the attention of the three of them. "That's the one thing I know. Granny can't stand Gold", she whispered, afraid someone else might hear, even though it was practically impossible considering the loud noises of talk and music in the room.

Everyone gave her a quizzical look.

"Then why does she work there?", David asked.

"I don't know, she won't say it", Ruby said before taking a sip of her drink. "But she says she has to stay there." She stopped to think. "She isn't miserable there, she likes working in that house. She just doesn't like him", she discretely pointed at Gold.

That made everyone weirdly suspicious.

"Anyway", Ruby said to change the subject, "I think Mary Margaret has a thing for you", she put her finger on David's chest, teasing him.

Killian started laughing like it was the biggest joke he ever heard. Emma was trying hard not to laugh.

"What?!", David asked as he was starting to blush.

"Yeah, yeah!", Ruby said. "I, as a receptionist, have to know everything about everyone, of course, and I've heard some talking. Apparently she has a crush on you", she smooched lips as a joke.

"I-I-I don't know what to say", David lost himself. He turned to his two friends "And you two are not helping."

"So sorry, mate, I don't know why this is so funny!", Killian was holding his chest to contain himself, "Maybe it's because it's pretty obvious."

"That's true, she's always making heart eyes at you", Emma completed.

"Well, you two should know she's actually a very nice person and an excellent secretary", David said.

"I never said she wasn't", Killian replied, "But this is an impossible quest for her, poor thing."

"Am I missing something?", Ruby asked, arching her eyebrows.

"Our brother here", Killian touched David's chest, "Is in love with a ghost, apparently."

Suddenly, the door of the saloon opened and a woman arrived. The entrance was a few stairs above the room, so everyone looked up to see who it was.

David couldn't believe his eyes. There she was. Regina. She looked absolutely stunning and breathtaking in a long fitted black dress. She almost felt like a vision. David froze, he didn't know what to do. He just wanted to run those stairs and say something. Was he dreaming? Was it real? What was happening?

"Regina", he whispered in a smile.

Just as he was about to walk towards her, he felt a hand on his arm. "Woah, woah, there", Killian said. David ignored him and kept looking at the woman. "You mean THAT'S your Regina?", he arched his eyebrows in shock. His tone got David's attention. Killian didn't need a answer, his friend's eyes already said it all.

"Oh, mate, I'm so sorry", Killian swallowed and nodded to make David look at the woman again. David gave him a questioning look.

Just as David turned, he could see Regina taking Gold's hand while he assisted her in coming down the stairs. When she got down, Gold placed his hand on her waist and kissed the side of her neck, followed by a whisper in her ear that only she could hear. Regina showed a small smile. To everyone there, they seemed the perfect couple.

Everyone made the same connection at the same time. His Regina was Mrs. Gold. What were the chances?

"No", it was all that David managed to whisper. He didn't know if he was shocked, angry, sad, heartbroken or mad.

"Looks like it's not a ghost, after all", Ruby said while sipping her drink as Emma and Killian looked at each other with concerned eyes and back to David's back.

There you have it! Thoughts?