Chapter 7: Unfortunate Interruptions

A/N: Sorry if anything is wacky in this chapter, I've been dying to get a chapter up and have an appointment for more bloodwork today. Hopefully test results are good and everything is in check! Too many visits right now. Anyways, enjoy loves!

Unfortunate interruptions he called them. Yes, and unfortunately plenty of them. It was the Monday after their last… dare he say, date? He didn't know that to call it. Once again Gold was strolling in early morning, a little after five and oddly enough, his office door was unlocked. His heart picked up its pace, feeling rage begin to take course through his veins. Had he been robbed? A search warrant? 'Did someone honestly think that stealing from ADAM. B. GOLD WAS ACTUALLY A GOOD IDEA?!' He tightened the grasp on the golden head of his cane, being ready to strike like a cobra if something dared to attack him as he slowly pushed open the door, a soft creak echoing throughout the empty halls. As he limped into the office, he caught the view by his desk.

Why was he surprised?

As soon as he saw long, stocking clad legs wrapped over each other on top of his desk and the blue heels that rested upon small feel, he knew just who they belonged to. He followed them up to her slightly bared thighs covered by a grey skirt and traced up her body see a patterned top, eyes eventually resting upon her face. "Good morning, grump." The woman said, commenting on what had to be an unpleasant look on his face. It was no one but Belle French herself.

"Morning," His face softened and slowly his grasp loosened on his cane as he rested on it, a smirk working onto his face as he thought of a taunting reply deciding to carelessly let the words roam out. "...Y'know if you wanted a quickie, could have just called me, love." Before he could even blink, a book was chucked towards him and he surprisingly was able to duck it. After hearing it smash against the wall behind him and make a thud as it fell to the floor, he straightened up to see her cheeks heated up to a nice red that had to be either anger or arousal. He didn't dare ask. He ran his tongue over his dry lips and gave a cheshire grin. "Guessing that's not why you're here." He grumbled, taking a few short steps to stand in front of his desk.

Meanwhile, Belle had let herself breathe in the musk of his cologne, smelling the intoxicating mix of leather and a hint of dark cherry scent to it as well. In total it gave her body a pleasant wave of shivers that went straight to her core, leading her to have to bite her lip to stop herself from letting out an embarrassing little moan. Damn that man. It was very tempting to just grab him by the lapels of his jacket and yank him over the desk to kiss that smug expression off his face but instead she just rolled her blue eyes and scoffed, "Ha! You wish!" She bantered, pushing that little fantasy of hers away.

He simply shrugged, not denying it yet, yet not admitting it, and she couldn't help but feel lured in as his now darkened amber eyes stared straight into hers. Intently she watched his movements, the way his eyebrow rose- she knew he had come up with some other damned quip-, the way he began to lean over the desk as he popped out his next question. "Heh, and don't I usually get what I wish, Miss French?" Tilting his head to the side in question, the sound of two palms of strong hands hitting the dark oak desk top resonated throughout the room. She knew what the man had to be playing at, trying to embarrass her in some way. So she decided to play along with him, a role play of sorts- kinky one at that, maybe she could even turn the tables straight back on to him... or have him straight on the table, right under her. So she gave her lip a little luscious bite for him, teeth running over the red lipstick, looking up at him from under eye lashes. "Mm yes sir!" She seductively purred out, ending up in more like a moan. It was only a few moments before she was giggling at their performance, him chuckling along. If only she knew what effect she had on him, thank the gods that it wasn't that bad...

"Gold!" A new voice boomed in from the hallway, voice violent and bitter. For a moment Belle and Adam looked at each other like caught teenagers and Belle rushed to take her legs off his desk while he just remained in position hunched over his desk. Irritated, Adam visibly tensed at the voice that sounded behind him. "Regina." He frowned growling out a greeting, rolling his eyes he smiled sadly at Belle before turning towards the blacked haired woman, the previous mayor of Storybrooke- or current? In all honesty he hadn't payed much attention to Storybrooke, even while doing the paperwork for anything that had to do with it. It was all bad memories.

Suddenly the woman's attention moved on to Belle and she gave something that was a rather obvious fake smile, almost like an evil gleam as she started off in an overly honeyed tone."Oh Miss French! Welcome back to New York, I'm sorry I haven't been able to say so sooner." Belle gave a short thank you in reply, letting Regina say what else she wanted. Her taunting gaze shifted back to Gold as she all but threw the files on the desk between the two. The paperwork threatened to fall slide off the edge of the desk before Belle scurried over the desk to catch them for him. He nodded in thanks.

Yet again the small moment of peace was ruined."Anyways, someone doesn't know how to Deliver files." Regina sneered glaring at Adam. "Some of your damn files ended up in my mail. Adam's face twisted in a bitter expression, hand tightening on the handle of his cane. His voice had raised in pitch, words quickening in anger. "Well it wasn't me, because quite frankly I'd rather get hit than deliver your mail, dearie." How had he not gotten high blood pressure from all stress from the annoying patrons of Storybrooke? Meanwhile, Belle couldn't help but frown at the comment. Sure, she had wanted to practically kill him, but she didn't want to think of the man dead. Don't ask her how that could possibly work out. Somehow it just did.

Regina's voice shifted in pitch to an overly sweet and excited tone, making Adam physically cringe. "Great! I'd love to watch. You'd make nice roadkill Gold." Now patience was wearing thin, quicker than usual since Belle was right behind him- and he was getting a headache. "And yet so would you." He smiled momentarily, mockingly. "Now if that's all you have, will you please. Get. Out. Of. My. Office." It was almost a feral growl and with a simple annoyed expression and a 'fine' Regina fled, slamming the door behind her, the blinds flying up and back against the door from the force. At least there was no bell to break like in his shop.

Eventually, the two were able to relax again and Gold was leaning against his desk, her still making a claim on his chair, he decided to attempt at some small talk. "By the way, how did you find my keys?" She looked momentarily surprised, what was he supposed to know the answer? The moment it appeared, it vanished. She shrugged, standing up walking towards the door. "Simple. You never moved them." She said blatantly as if it was so obvious.

Gods, She remembered the smallest of things.

The day went on and Adam doing his office work until he decided to visit the break room to procure a snack. He had a small mini fridge under one of the tables in his office, but it lacked anything of interest. There he found found her against the counter, even on the tiptoes of her heels as she tried to reach something on the upper shelf of a cabinet. If he knew her, she probably was after his tea, creamer or biscottis. He placed his cane to the side of the doorway and silently stalked over to her, placing a hand on the counter top near her hip. "Need help?" She gasped, jumping as she accidentally backed into the stiff form behind her. Her voice betrayed her, giving in and hinting at the surprise and a hint of something else..."Y-yes..." She cleared her throat slightly, "The tea and biscottis please." He smiled and nodded, keeping the one arm from the counter to let her go if she felt like it as he moved his arm up, brushing against her, front against back as he grabbed for them taking the two targets off the shelf at once. "Here you go." She was blushing, looking over her shoulder at him. "Thanks." She hated herself for how she was so wound up in something so tiny and cliche. The older man's nose was brushing against her hair, inhaling the vanilla scent. "Adam…" he heard an angelic voice whispered.

Now apparently if you're an Adam Gold- who happens to want to enjoy his time how he chooses, well apparently that's just not an option. Then to add to the list, Archie Hopper had walked into the break room. "Hey Adam!" He said cheerfully. Adam turned in the slightest, also revealing a red-faced Belle Suddenly "Oh, Belle… Um, am I interrupting anything?" Archie asked, his cheeks heating up visibly.

The two answered at the same time. The words of a gruff 'Yes.' and high pitched 'No!' colliding against each other.

Gold grumbled in irritation, could he relax how he chose on his break for once? He didn't mind the man (over the years they had become close-ish in a way) but couldn't refrain. "Yea-" "No!" She repeated, spinning around in between the counter and Gold, hitting his chest only receiving a chuckle from him. "Pervert!" She hissed in his chest. Soft enough so only he could hear. He simply smirked down at her, both of them knowing very well that she was joking. She grasped him by the shoulders, looking over them; "Don't worry, Mr. Hopper, nothing was happening!" She tried to push him away but he didn't budge and she wanted to kill him after seeing his body starting to shake as he tried to hold in laughter. With a deadly gaze she glared at him and turned around in his arms to make her tea.

"Well I'm glad to see you again!" Hopper said beaming, making a crack at Gold's rough edges and how she seemed to smooth them then an awkward silence taking a hold of the room until one of three left.

Lastly, she ended being an interruption- or maybe he had been. Unfortunate? Maybe not so much.

Eventually, the interruptions had become too much and he hightailed it outside the building and into the alley after requesting one of the secretaries to take care of his phone calls. He had been rather sure she was a 'Selena' maybe? All he knew is that she had been a rather unfortunate one night stand, clingy one at that. She had seemed almost too happy to help. He wished Regina had just fired the lady.

Now, he leaned against one of the building walls and out of jacket pocket came a pack of cigarettes. It was unpleasant addiction, but thankfully had begun to get better over the last couple of months. He searched for his pockets for a lighter, frowning when he couldn't find one.

"Need a light?" A voice chirped. He looked up from the inside of his jacket and down the alley to see the brunette, whom he seemed to completely go unnoticed at first. "No." He snapped bitterly. As if he was someone who defensively wanted to hide an embarrassing action, perhaps he was. He instantly regretted in doing so as she stomped out the the stick she had been smoking and starting after the doors of the building.

"Belle! Wait." She slowly stopped, just about to round the corner, barely looking over at him. "I'm... I'm sorry, I really am. I didn't mean to snap on you." Suddenly it seemed as if he was apologizing for other reasons but she pushed that aside. She studied his eyes for a moment, not saying anything or daring to make a movement until she read him. Finally, she took a light blue and gold lighter with a rose from her coat pocket.

"Thank you." He said before placing a cigarette between his lips, and extending his hand for hit, she shooed it away and walked over, leaning in and striking the lighter up. He simply nodded and let her have the honor of lighting it. taking it carefully. He placed the cigarette between his lips and brought the flame to it. It was an oddly intimate gesture

"Never knew you smoked." She didn't seem to accuse him of anything, just curious like had always had been.

Smoking was nothing new to him, he had been since he had been in college and it had been an off and on habit for a while. He had stopped for Bae before he'd been born, but had picked it back up when what had happened, well happened. Only once had he smoked while Bae was around, around the time Mylah had left. It was that time he had been caught he promised to his boy he would try to stop- that seemed like enough for him. Just trying. From then on it had always been based on how his life was going if he had been smoking or not, how heavily,

With a lift of his shoulders, "Long story?" He answered. "Didn't know you did either."

"...Ruby kind of a started me on it. I usually don't."

They stood in a calming in silence for a few moments before Adam finally decided to break it, "Why you out here by yourself?"

A frown graced her features, her eyebrows furrowing. To him it seemed much like an adorable pout, but refused to let that take the meaning from her words. "I'm capable of taking care of myself Mr. Gold, I've been doing so for a while now…"

He sighed, letting a hand run through the locks of his greying hair; the guilt burning from the inside out. "I'm aware of that, but still... "

'It doesn't affect that I still care about you and your well being...'

He saw her breath hit itself against the cool winter air as she spoke, "I'm probably outside for the same reasons you are." He doubted that one. " The office gets stuffy after a while, and well… you know me." Her cheeks, already red from the cold has brightened slightly. Red, he always liked that color on her...

Shaking his head with his lips curling in a light smile, he replied. "Yes, the girl who can't stay still unless she has a book in her hand, miracle at that."

With that the two laughed and eventually walked back in with each other arm in arm.