(A/N-Special thanks to Bekki for beta reading this story. And special thanks to those who read, review, follow and fav.)
Monday morning came along with Regina a bundle of nerves, she could have sworn some of the others were staring at her, staring at her for too long. Did they all know that she was dating the boss? Will Scarlett even winked at her as he asked her for a file. She was so keyed on the fact that she suspected, they all suspected she was dating Robin, that she missed Robin getting off the elevator and walking towards her until the last second. She felt rather than heard him approach her.
"Good morning, Regina," Robin said as he gathered his notes from her to call this person back.
"Good morning, Robin...Mr. Locksley...I mean-" Regina stammered out this morning. She took a few deep breaths to try to calm herself. She could do this right? She could pretend that he was just her boss again.
Robin stopped looking at his memos and focused on Regina, "Are you alright, Regina?"
She nodded as she answered, "I'm just not sure what to do now. How to act now."
"You answer the phone as normal, you retrieve files that I need, you know...normal," Robin teased her with a wink.
Regina chuckled, "I know, it's just all new to me."
"I understand, and just try not to let this get to you," Robin said as he looked around before lowering his head towards hers, "and try not to think about our time in the back of my limo."
Regina wanted to pull him the rest of the way, until their lips could meet and hold. Until she could lose herself in him, let herself have all that she wanted from him. If only she had her life in order, her other life she had that she had to end, and soon or risk the possibility of loosing him, forever.
"I'll try my best to," Regina said as Robin smiled at her, biting his bottom lip before straightening back up.
"Hold my calls for an hour," Robin said as he headed towards his office. Robin went to his desk and started making a few calls. He wanted this Hopper case over with as soon as possible, he would be in court later today and probably wrap up tomorrow if luck would have it.
The rest of the morning went by rather normally as Regina did her daily tasks, along with running a few errands for him. Before she knew it her lunch break had arrived and her meeting with Blanchard. She shuddered upon thinking about him, but the sooner she could pay off her father's debts, the quicker she could breathe without fear of him calling it in on her.
She grabbed her purse and was about to leave, when Robin's door opened and he called to her, "Regina, would you like to have lunch with me?"
Regina stopped in her tracks and looked back at him before turning back around to answer, "I would love to, but I promised Amanda that I would have lunch with her." She had no choice but to make up some excuse, so that he wouldn't think she didn't want to go with him.
Robin was disappointed but understood that she had other plans, "Of course, some other time then." Robin said as he walked up to her, taking her shoulders in his hands as he took her lips in a long, satisfying kiss. She closed her eyes as she enjoyed the kiss, opening her mouth to him, and instantly his tongue slid in her mouth. Oh, how this man could kiss. His kisses were not just passionate, they were from the soul. His kisses made her think he was a man drowning, and she was the air he needed.
His hands were on on the side of her face, holding her face for the deep kiss now. In his arms, she realized what she had been missing from her life for so long. She wished that she could stop time, as this was the best feeling ever. Before she wanted it to, the kiss ended and she opened her eyes to see him looking into her eyes, there was warmth and desire there.
"Have a great lunch, and I'll see you later," Robin said as Regina slid her hands on top of his. She turned her head slightly and kissed the inside of one of his hands. He shifted one of his fingers and she opened her mouth and sucked his forefinger into her mouth, moving it up to his knuckles before retreating back. Robin groaned at her actions and knew he had to stop this before he grabbed her and brought them to his office...to his desk.
"You better get going," Robin whispered out as his gaze was locked on her mouth on his finger.
"You sure?" Regina asked as she removed her mouth from his finger.
"Damnit, no," Robin answered, "but remind me of this moment at a later date."
Regina smiled and turned and started towards the elevator, she was in complete bliss right now at how they were around the other. She got a boost after how she clearly affected him just now. She was still smiling as she got off the elevator and actually continued to feel great until she walked out of the building.
Then it hit her...she was on her way to see Leopold.
A little later, she was arriving at his building. She double checked to make sure she had the check ready for him. He always insisted on being paid in person, she walked inside and headed to his office. The door was opened and he was at his desk, counting money.
"Ah! And here is the sweet Regina," Leopold said as he got up from his chair and walked to Regina. He pulled her into a hug. It was nauseating to be held by him, especially when she felt his hands starting to move down her back. She quickly moved from him before he could touch her there. He looked at her shocked, startled in fact.
"I have a check ready for you," Regina said as her hands were trembling as she located the check and held it out for him.
"Why the rush? Sit down please," Leopold said as he went to his desk.
"Please, Mr. Blanchard, I'm on my lunch break and I really need to be getting back soon," Regina said.
"Now, there is no need to be like that," Leopold said, "you wouldn't want to let me down, now would you?"
"Here it is," Regina once again held the check out for him, "I even added another few hundred to help pay you back faster," Regina said.
Leopold smiled like a snake, as he took the check and gave a soft, satisfied laugh that made her want to run away as fast as she could. He opened a drawer in his desk and put the check inside.
"Very good," his voice made her cringe. "I always knew you would do as you were told."
She moved from the seat, aching to be gone form him. To be away from his corrupt, unnerving presence so she could get her life back together. She was almost to the door when it suddenly was slammed shut in front of her by Leopold's hand on it.
"Not quite so fast," Leopold said, his tone held a threat. But it was when he touched her wrist with his grip, that sent the blackest of black shivers coursing through her.
"Take your hand off me," Regina whispered the words through clenched teeth, and tugged against his hold.
He squeezed her wrist ever so much, causing her to wince at it. His eyes narrowed on her with what she swore was hatred. What had she ever done to make him feel that towards her?
"Don't get so upset, we're not done with our business dealings for the day," Leopold said.
"Oh, we're completely done," Regina said as she tried to make him release her wrist.
"I think you'll want to listen to me, Regina," Leopold said, "Because what I have to say is going to matter to you greatly."
She tried to brave rejection of his threat, "I doubt that."
Before she could say anything else, he said, "Oh you'll think so, all right."
She wanted to dismiss him, but she was caught up in the aura of menace that seemed to surround him. "Get on with it then. I'm listening."
"You're doing quite well for yourself aren't you?" He leaned forward, she could feel his breath on her skin. "You are dating a very successful lawyer, who is well known to be very rich."
Regina didn't know which bothered her more, the fact he knew she was seeing Robin or how he was talking about Robin. "Is there a point to this?"
"I want reparation, and you're the one who is going to give it to me," Leopold said.
"I'm paying you as much as I can," Regina said.
"I'm calling in your debt, or your father's debt," Leopold said.
"You can't," Regina said.
"Oh I can," Leopold said, "Now you have two options, one you can go away with me for a very long weekend...where we can enjoy ourselves."
Regina would die first.
"Or you can pay me the remaining ninety thousand dollars that you owe me," Leopold said, "You have one week."
Was he insane? "I can't pay that, that quickly," She couldn't get her hands on that sort of money. It simply wasn't possible. "There's no way-"
He gripped her shoulders, shoulders that half an hour ago had been loved by Robin's touch, now were being hurt by Leopold's harsh grip. His chilling eyes raked her face, "Find a way."
"Or what?" Regina was trembling inside, but she forced herself to meet him stare for stare. "You'll hurt me?"
He laughed and let her go, she rubbed her wrist as he continued. "Oh no, Regina. I won't hurt you. I'll hurt you dear lover boy, the man behind the money. A drive by shooting perhaps? Or maybe he'll be crossing the street and get hit by a passing car. Or, how about his brakes go out? What a tragedy it would be. What a waste of a good life."
He meant it. She didn't want to believe it, but she truth was there in his eyes. This man was unhinged. He thought money would solve all his problems. Regina gave a bitter, silent laugh as she had learned from the hard way, that it didn't.
She took a few steps towards him, "Please-"
"One week, Regina," he cut her off. "Or I'll be booking us plane tickets."
He walked around her and opened the door, she quickly walked out of there. She was numb as she began her trek back to the office. He had threatened to kill Robin. How could she get her hands on that amount of money? What could she do?
She arrived back at her job, and was just staring at the wall across from her. Not seeing it, but just thinking how all this had to be a nightmare. She heard Robin's office door open and a very familiar voice, very much loved and wonderful voice speak.
"Regina, would you come into my office? We need to talk about something," Robin said.
(Well that didn't end too well did it?)