(Special thanks to Bekki for beta reading this, this is still your fault this story got so many chapters lol.)
*No disclaimer needed as I helped create Outlaw Queen, not Adam or Eddie per the COWARDLY ADAM!*
Six months prior...
Regina Mills was in a hurry, her interview with Robin Locksley was in ten minutes and if not for the awful traffic this morning, she would not be in such a rush to make it. She was set to interview with Robin Locksley at his law firm to be his secretary. She needed this job desperately to help her family.
She had just arrived at her noon appointment and looked down at her appearance one last time when she noticed that she had a button undone, she continued walking as she tried to fasten it. She almost had it done when she tripped, and would have fallen if not for the arms that gathered around her...hips. She was practically in the man's arms as she tried to compose herself as best she could.
Strong arms were around her, big hands were holding her hips as she looked up,"I'm so sorry, thank you so-" she broke off as she looked into the bluest eyes she had ever seen. They held her spellbound for a few seconds, as she then saw his eyes move...to her now bra clad breasts. When she had fallen, her blouse had flown open and was now being offered to his appreciative gaze.
"Are you alright?" the man asked, he had evidently composed himself and removed his gaze from her chest back to her face.
"Yes...thank you," Regina said as he helped her stand back up. Regina fixed her blouse, but in the process of doing so she felt his gaze on her the whole time. She had a feeling of regret of not being in his arms any longer than she was.
"I would have fallen on my face if not for you," Regina said.
"Ah, well maybe it's all about timing then," the man said with a small smile on his handsome face.
"Maybe it is," Regina said.
"I've never met before had a woman fall for me quite so quickly. Usually I count on an introduction and a little flirtation before," Robin said,
She glanced up into his eyes again. Deep. Absorbing. Blue as the heavens. He was pure charm. And she had the distinct feeling he knew it.
Regina was about to reply to him, when she realized she was going to be late for her interview,"I must go," she said quickly as she darted around the man and headed towards the elevators. She quickly got on them and pushed the button for the floor.
As the doors were closing, she heard the handsome stranger call out,"Wait!" but it was too late, the doors were shutting on his face. Regina inwardly groaned, wanting to reopen the doors but she also knew she had too much riding on this job for her to pursue anything right now.
This job was her future, and her family rebuilding what was left of their lives. Her father, after her mother's death had fallen into a despair, his only outlet had been between drinking and gambling. Neither were good, but together there had been enormous ramifications. Ones she was literally paying for.
Henry Mills had ran up huge gambling debts, resulting in their home having to be put up as collateral. And even if they sold it today, it still wouldn't be near enough to pay back the loan shark her dad was in debt to.
Leopold Blanchard.
Just the thought of that man gave her the shivers. The way he looked at her, why he was old enough to be her father. He had made several references that if she was nice to him, he would be nice to her and her father. But as much as she dearly loved her father, she couldn't do it. So instead, Regina worked another job on the weekends. One she was not very proud of, and had hopped at it, when this job had come up.
She had her father in a small rehab place, getting cleaned up. She had sold many of her things, only keeping the bare essentials to live on. Often she would do without and skip a meal here or there to help pay between the care her father received and the loan shark. But in paying the money back, meant she would have to see Leopold.
"Now, Regina, you could really help pay this back quicker, if say you went with me on a holiday," Leopold had just told her the week before. She had politely refused, but in doing so she could tell she had irritated him.
"You know, many a woman would jump at the opportunity that I am giving you," he had said as he had walked up to her and put his hands on her shoulders, letting his thumbs graze over her. She had almost puked at the initial impact of his touch on her, it made her skin crawl to have him do this to her.
"I'm sure many would, but I am not one of them," Regina had said as she had left his office, hearing his laughter from behind her in doing so.
How long could she fend him off, before he called in her father's debts? Regina felt sick at the thought of loosing everything. But how much more of this could she do? If this job fell through, her family was done for. She shook the image of the handsome stranger from her mind and focused on her appointment.
As she exited the elevator, she was shown to Robin Locksley's office and was told to wait, that he would be here shortly for the interview. She smoothed her long skirt and looked around his office, he was obviously a man who liked his life nice and neat. She let out a breath and closed her eyes as she heard the door open behind her, she stood and held out her hand to see...the man who had saved her from falling on the floor.
"You?" Regina asked, clearly in shock over it being him.
"And it's you," Robin Locksley said as he too was stunned to see the woman he had helped earlier. The same he had been thinking of for the last little while. Wondering who she was, why she was in his building? Was she seeking legal advice? Now to find out she was applying to be his secretary, it was almost too perfect.
"Forgive me, Robin Locksley, at your service," Robin said as he advanced toward her and held out his hand for her.
She took the hand he offered, and as soon as his fingers touched hers, she knew she'd made a mistake in touching him. The physical contact alone made her aware of him in a very unique way.
She quickly went to pull her hand from his, only to feel his hand almost clamp down on hers. He clearly didn't want to let go of her. And she wasn't sure what to think. A part of her wanted him to keep his hands on hers, while the other was screaming at her to run from this man who was unsettling to her being.
The polite thing was to proceed with the interview and try to keep this as professional as she could. This job would determine everything for her. She once again tried to remove her hand, and she felt his grip ease on hers letting her go.
"Thank you for this chance, Mr. Locksley," Regina stammered out.
"Please, call me Robin," Robin said,"Will you have a seat?" he motioned to the chair.
Regina nodded and took her seat, she watched as he went to his seat behind his desk.
"Here is my list of qualifications, including my schooling and previous jobs," Regina said as she handed him her papers. Robin took them and started to read over them, everything she had listed qualified her for this opening.
"As I'm sure you're aware as my secretary, I'll be needing you to perform secretarial tasks that are specific to this law firm. Which will include, writing legal documents, such as summonses, motions, subpoenas, etc., conducting research and reading legal articles, and more, as well as standard secretarial duties, that might include answering phones and email, filing, creating and maintaining schedules for lawyers, ordering supplies, copying, faxing and maintaining the office," Robin explained.
"I understand, and am more than willing to do so," Regina said.
"This job at time may require you to stay at the office long hours, and also to be ready at a moment's notice when I need you," Robin explained.
Inward, Regina was thinking of how she was going to handle this obvious attraction she had for him. Was she going to be able to keep it at bay if she worked for him? Or was it better to change her mind and not take this job, knowing how desperately she needed it?
In the end, she decided to go forth with this opportunity. "I'll be more than ready to assist you whenever you need me, if you give me this chance to prove it to you."
"There might also be times when we will have to travel to other cities, is that going to be alright with your family?" Robin asked as he looked from her resume to her left hand, her third finger to be exact. He couldn't help the feeling of relief he felt upon seeing it bare, but he also reasoned, just because if was bare didn't mean she was available.
Damnit Locksley, pull it together, he told himself.
"Yes, that will be fine as well," Regina said, knowing her family consisted of just her and her father.
"One last question," Robin said. "Why do you want this job?"
Regina inward was screaming, because if I don't my father will probably become an alcoholic again. Because they would loose their home. Because then she might be forced to do as Leopold Blanchard wanted her to do. All those answers were depressing in their thoughts alone. She took a deep breath before she answered,"I want this job as a way to make a living. My heart is invested into this job, it lead me here."
For several seconds, Robin was stilled into just looking into her eyes as she spoke. He could tell that this job was extremely important to her and he felt this pull to help her.
"Is something wrong?" Regina asked, as Robin had to blink several times to snap out of it.
"I've got all the information I need, thank you very much Regina," Robin said as he stood and started walking towards the door. Regina quickly followed him, looking quite downfallen.
"You start tomorrow at eight," Robin said as he saw her face light up at his words to her.
"You mean it?" Regina asked, not believing she had heard right.
"Very serious," Robin said with a smile forming on his face.
"Thank you so much, Mr. Locksley!" Regina said as the next thing Robin knew, she was hugging him. Her hair was in his face, he couldn't help but to take a small sniff of it. Her arms were around him, her chest pressing into his.
"Oh!" Regina said as she quickly pulled back,"I apologize for that. I won't let you down though."
"I'm counting on it," Robin said as he opened the door for her, she smiled as she started to walk out,"And it's Robin, don't forget."
Regina smiled as she turned and replied,"I won't."
Robin watched as she walked to the elevators and got on. He closed the door and walked over to his office window over looking the city.
"What are you doing Locksley?" he asked outwardly.
Inwardly, he knew he was like a moth to the flame...