Capitulo 16

Lily's dismissive words echoed through the bathroom, her scorn evident. "You witches are capable of saying anything just to make me look stupid, huh?" she stated with a tinge of disdain.

"Nope," Ruby retorted, striding up to Lily. "It's true. She just got a promotion this afternoon. Why did you think we were celebrating?"

Emma swiftly stepped in, trying to ease the tension. "Please, let's not get ahead of ourselves."

Rolling her eyes, Lily brushed off their comments. "Let's see what comes of this ascension of your Royal homeliness," she jibed, playfully using her blush brush to anoint Emma's cheeks, an action Emma found a bit invasive and irritating.

As Lily left the bathroom, Emma couldn't help but feel a twinge of concern. "You guys shouldn't have said anything," she expressed, feeling the weight of potential repercussions.

"Of course not," Granny agreed, and the rest of the ladies gathered their things, preparing to leave. Emma halted them, acknowledging their support. "Hey, thanks for standing up for me, guys. I don't care what happens with my promotion. Lily wants my head, and I don't want you guys getting in trouble for my sake."

Ruby intervened, citing the unwritten rules of their camaraderie. "The rules of the Homely Club are clear. If they mess with one of us, they mess with us all."

Tink chimed in, nodding in agreement. "I know that's right," she affirmed, backed by the consensus of the other women.

Ashley, seasoned by experience, reminded them of their collective resilience. "We may be 'ugly,' but we can't let that stuck-up person beat us."

"Ugly but united," Ruby declared with a determined grin.

Emma hesitated for a moment but then firmly placed her hand atop the others as they formed a circle. The group cheered, reinvigorated by their solidarity, and they made their way back to work, emboldened by their shared support and determined not to let anyone undermine their bond.

Emma walked into Ms. Mills' office, finding her in conversation with her mother, finalizing plans for her arrival the next day. The brunette paused her conversation abruptly upon noticing Emma's entrance. "Emma, where have you been? Where is the report for tomorrow?" she inquired with a hint of impatience.

"Yes, ma'am, I'll have it ready for you," Emma replied promptly, intending to proceed to her office. However, she realized she needed to inform Regina about the situation with Lily and Robin. "Uh, Ms. Mills?"

"Emma, I'm on the phone with my mother, who is on a flight. I need to finish this call, please," Regina stated, visibly preoccupied.

Acknowledging Regina's request, Emma decided to wait and hoped she would hang up soon so they could discuss the matter before anyone else brought it to Regina's attention. Emma listened attentively to Regina's conversation with her mother, anxious for any sign that her parents' reservations about her had been addressed. "Well, Mother, I am so excited to see you tonight. Love you," Regina said, concluding her call.

Emma gasped at the unexpected revelation. She needed to get to Regina before anyone else did. However, as she reached for the door, she overheard Robin's loud voice on the other side. "Regina, I need to talk to you!"

Frozen in place, Emma strained to hear the unfolding conversation. "What's going on?" Regina asked, her tone revealing a touch of irritation.

"Is it true that you promoted Emma to Executive Assistant?" Robin questioned, and Emma cursed silently, pressing her hand to her head.

Regina, seemingly unperturbed, responded, "How did you know that?"

"Just answer my question!" Robin demanded, his frustration palpable. Emma couldn't believe the mess she found herself in.

"I just want to know who told you that," Regina pressed.

"Who else would?" Robin retorted, embellishing the events. "Emma herself waltzed into the office, shouting it into the four winds. She gathered her gaggle of friends and was celebrating like the coven they are."

Regina sighed wearily. "Robin, please..."

"Please nothing! That's not all," Robin continued, airing his grievances. "She was going around giving orders, threatening to fire Lily unless she cleaned the toilets."

Regina couldn't contain a chuckle. "That can't be true..."

"Of course, it is," Robin insisted. "Ask Lily, and you can call the entire coven in so that you don't start saying that my friend is making this all up. You don't know what you have in that burrow in there."

Amused, Regina tried to suppress a chuckle. "Robin, she's right there."

"So?" Robin retorted. "That's your problem. You handed her the entire company. Are you scared of her too?"

"Could you please stop exaggerating?" Regina requested, growing visibly weary of the conversation. "I named her my assistant because that is the job she is performing, and everyone knows that. Moreover, the promotion is a long time coming, just so I didn't have to deal with your dramatic accusations. But this is the least that Emma deserves."

Robin, unmoved, pressed on. "Let me make this clear. I didn't come to defend my friend. I just want you to open your eyes and see what you are doing. All day I have been fielding calls from members of the club about the embarrassment of that woman showing up at your jumping competition. They wanted to know who she was. And you were just having your giggles with little Miss Dumpy all over the club. Is that the image you want to present? If you have a need to be seen at the club, that should have been done by Lily. That's why she is the face."

Regina attempted to address Robin's concerns. "Look, Robin, Emma closed the deal with CineRent. Diana would have decimated Lily. I needed Emma's preparation there. Now, our technology will be financed by them, and we have quite a bit of saving. Lily would never have done that for us."

Robin, seemingly unfazed, persisted. "Oh, so you're going to continue giving her prizes? You're going to give her a promotion?"

Regina, growing frustrated, shot back, "I. will. talk. with. her," emphasizing each word. She turned to Lily, who had entered the office during the exchange. "Come in, come in," Regina invited her, directing her back to her desk.

Lily, clearly uncomfortable, attempted to explain herself. "How do you expect me to be the face if you don't let me do the job? You give me less and less work every day. I could have taken care of you at the luncheon."

Regina countered, "Then why didn't you go to the club?"

"Because you didn't ask me to," Lily stammered.

Regina's sarcasm was evident. "Oh, I get that. Say, can you still get into the club? Because the administrator asked me for you today. They have been trying to contact you for club dues."

Lily, caught off guard, confessed, "Uh, I haven't been able to pay. I wanted to talk to you about that."

"I'm not giving you another personal loan," Regina asserted. "You owe us so much money. And it's strange, but you get paid like an executive assistant. You get paid more than my actual assistant and do way less work. How do you figure that?"

Robin, clearly embarrassed by his friend's financial irresponsibility, couldn't argue on her behalf. Lily, in turn, grew angry. "Fine, don't give me anything. Give it all to that ugly duckling. Promote her, do whatever you want with her, make her my boss. She threatened me with her gang of friends. Now they rule the roost."

Regina addressed Emma directly. "I will talk to Emma about the threats."

Robin, frustrated, exclaimed, "My God! Are you going to continue giving her prizes? You are going to give her a promotion."

"I. will. talk. with. her," Regina repeated, turning her attention back to her fiance. Clearly irritated, she added, "And with the rest of them. Are you happy? Now will you let me work?"

"You are just going to let her keep doing things, taking over, and let her fire Lily and me and whoever else because she is the boss around here?" Robin railed.

Regina, losing patience, retorted, "I will talk with her. Now, please, leave me to work."

Robin, unsatisfied, left the office, leaving Regina to groan, dropping her head in exasperation. The situation had become even more complicated than Emma had anticipated, and she knew that a difficult conversation lay ahead with Regina.

"Emma!" Regina's shout startled Emma, causing her to jump. Regina opened the door to her office, and Emma stood meekly in front of her, feeling the weight of the entire confrontation. Regina appeared tired of the situation. "Emma, please, just tell me what happened. Who authorized the gossip about your promotion? I told you I was going to announce it tomorrow in the meeting, but what's your hurry?"

"Ms. Mills, I wanted to tell you, but you were talk-"

"Hold on a minute. Let's cut the bull, Emma. Why were you ordering people around and threatening to fire Lily?" Regina looked down at her hands. "Not that I don't want to, but please, why would you do that?"

"Ms. Mills, I-I didn't," Emma protested. "I only told my friends I'm happy about the promotion; I needed to share. I didn't think all of this would happen."

"How could it not? You're going around threatening to fire people," Regina remarked.

"Ms. Mills, that is a lie," Emma insisted.

"Well, it's your word against hers."

"You have the right to believe either of us," Emma said. Regina paused, looking at the mousy woman. Of course, she would believe Emma over Lily; it was really a no-brainer. "I don't like to gossip, but I am going to tell you exactly what happened. This isn't the first time I have had a conflict with that woman. I never bring it to you."

"Emma, I know," Regina said. "Alright, tell me." Regina settled into her chair, ready to listen.

"Well, she came into the bathroom upset and started calling me names, implying that I am ugly white trash and stuff like that…"

"She called you white trash?" Regina asked. Emma shook her head and recounted the entire situation. Regina listened intently, finding the office drama quite intriguing.

"The girls began to defend me, and they told her really mean things, and told her that I was above her and that I could fire her if I wanted to. So that she had to respect me."

Regina let out a chuckle. "Continue."

"That's really it. So they kept rubbing it in her face that I could do it."

"So you didn't threaten her?" Regina asked. Emma shook her head.

"But I want to make sure the girls don't get in trouble. Lily has a problem only with me. That's why she said that I was the one that threatened her. So if anyone should get fired, it's just me."

Regina listened to Emma's impassioned argument, punctuated by the sound of the phone ringing in the background. "Emma," Regina said.

"Yes, Ms. Mills."

"The phone is ringing. Answer it, please?" Regina requested. Emma scurried to her office to answer the phone. Regina sat thoughtfully at her desk. When Emma came out of her office, Regina looked at her. The dejected executive assistant excused herself, and Regina asked who had called.

"It was Ursula, sir. She asked for me and my friends to head to HR."

"What for?" Regina asked.

"I don't know, Ms. Mills," Emma replied. "Excuse me."

Regina let Emma go, her mind turning the situation over. She had chosen the best person with the most integrity. Regina couldn't be more pleased with the woman she had selected as her assistant.

When Emma walked into the HR conference room, she saw her friends standing around the table. At the other end of the table sat Robin and Ursula, and next to Robin stood Lily.

"Good afternoon," Emma stated, finding the standoff strange.

"I have brought you here because as employees of our company, you have overextended yourselves and stated yourselves to have powers that you don't have," Robin stated, looking at all of them.

"Mr. Locksley, that's not true…" Ashley began.

"I. Am. Speaking," he interrupted. "I asked Ursula to come here to remind all of you of your functions and your schedules."

Ursula cleared her throat. "We have been noticing a pattern of you returning late from your lunches. It is not something that happens infrequently," the dark woman stated. "I am going to dock your pay the equivalent of one day's salary. You will also get progressive discipline."

The women looked at each other, saddened by the docked pay.

"Emma, you are not part of the docking pay since you were at a working lunch," Ursula said.

"But you do have other sanctions. Ursula, have you received any promotion given to Emma?" Robin said, his eyes intensely on the bossy blonde.

"None at all," Ursula stated.

"Well then, Emma, you will refrain from announcing promotions that were not given, especially threats that you cannot make," he stated. Lily stood next to Robin, a defiant smile on her face.

"Wait a minute, Mr. Lock-" Emma tried to explain.

"I. Am. Talking," he interrupted angrily. No one irked him more than that ugly chick. "The bathroom situation will bring the following sanctions. Ursula?"

The black woman cleared her throat. "Bullying gives an instance of progressive discipline. Ladies, keep in mind that after the third case of progressive discipline, you will be fired." Lily's smile was even brighter, if it was possible.

"Wait a minute!" Ruby spoke up. "Emma was not there by herself… Besides, she wasn't the one who threatened Ms. Lily." Emma shook her head. She just really wanted Ruby to be quiet. She could take progressive discipline. She was sure this wasn't the last time.

"I'll take the progressive discipline, but I have to say something," Emma stated.

"No… uh un… " Mulan said. "I was the one that threatened the lady."

"That's right," Ashley said. "It was us, not you, or Granny. If she felt threatened, it was because of us and NOT Emma."

"Oh… so progressive discipline for all," Robin said. He didn't think these women would stick up for Emma.

"Wait! No!" Emma tried to stop the crazy train.

"No problem, we will all take PD... but we would like to know what aggression we are charged with on her person?" Ruby stated.

"I know I didn't touch her because if I had touched any part of that woman's body, we would be digging up her grave," Mulan stated angrily.

"The aggression included bullying," Ursula stated. "Threats and insults."

"Well, in that case, she should get PD too. You should hear the things she says to Emma."

"You guys, please…" Emma stated just as Regina was walking into the conference room. "Just leave them out of it. Her problem is with me; just let me have the PD." The other women protested because they found it unfair that Emma should get punished for something they did.

Robin and Lily looked uncomfortable and fidgeted as Ms. Mills walked into the room. He looked over at the secretarial pool, all looking incredibly scared of what would happen next. "Relax," Regina stated looking at them all.

"Regina, this is an administrative discipline meeting; don't come here like Captain Save a Pool and remove progressive discipline," Robin stated.

"Oh, no, that's not what I am here for." Regina said calmly. "I'm here to listen to the claims. The conference room has paper-thin walls. In fact, I wanted to add something to the punishment."

She turned to Ursula. "Yes, Ma'am," Ursula said, placing her attention on the senior executive.

"Since you feel like bullying verbally is considered part of PD," Regina stated, "I would like you to consider the words, uncultured and white trash and ugly duckling as part of the aggression. I also believe that by attempting to put down a person for their societal conditions, it counts as bullying."

"As if that was all she'd said…" Mulan stated.

"Oh really?" Regina stated. "You don't have to protect her, you know." She said looking at Emma. Then she turned to Ursula. "What do you think, Ursula?"

"Ms. Paige will also receive progressive discipline."

"Sounds good to me… I will go back to work." Regina said walking toward her office then she paused. "Oh yeah, since we are talking about our schedules too… How about I let you know that Ms. Paige has never arrived on time since she's worked here."

Ursula glanced at Robin and back to Regina. "Well, I guess we will have to dock her pa-"

"No, no… I don't want to keep adding that stuff. The employees need their money. I just wanted to set down the rules of the game," Regina said looking at Ursula and then Robin. "Since you motivated this meeting, Lily, you are warned," Regina stated staring intently at her secretary. "If you are late, one minute… and you will head straight to Ursula's office so that you can get your pay docked. No one is above the law, right?" Regina said looking at all of her employees. "That is all… Wait… one more thing. Please expect a memo detailing Emma Swan's promotion."

"What?" Lily stated.

"From today, she is my Executive Assistant." Regina finished. "Now get back to work… there is much too much to do." Regina turned and went directly to her office.

If looks could kill, Robin would have incinerated his fiancée. But she had played by his rules. She didn't save them from the progressive discipline, but she hadn't spared Lily as he would have done.

Just outside the conference room, the women rejoiced, pausing only when the angry team of executives and Lily walked by.

"Well, I better go," Ashley said. "Because if my boss sees me celebrating with you guys, she will send me on a perpetual vacation without pay." The young blonde walked away toward the executive producer's office.

"Thank you, ladies, so much," Emma said softly.

"Don't thank us. Thank that sweet angel Ms. Mills in that office," Granny said to Emma.

"God, yes…" the rest of them said. "She sure beat them at their own game," Ruby stated.

Emma only smiled, her heart palpitated at the thought of that woman. She still held close that vision Tink had had. Ever since that day, her vivid daydreams were more frequent. But this day hadn't been a dream. Regina had actually helped her out.

"Oh yeah… she's like my guardian angel," Emma said, her smile far away.

Emma went into the office. The smile had yet to leave her lips. She listened as she discussed work with Jefferson and waited until Regina hung up. "Thanks so much, Ms. Mills," Emma said the moment the woman hung up the phone.

"You're welcome…" Regina said, a stressed smile on her face. "But I can change my mind if you don't give me the bloody report for tomorrow's meeting."

Emma straightened up, seeing that Regina isn't joking. "Yes ma'am.. I'll bring it right away." Emma said, but before she headed for her office, she took hold of Regina's hand and said, "Thank you again."

Regina cringed when her assistant took her hand. Her hands were soft, but they were also a bit clammy. She managed to hide a shudder and turned away from her door.

Emma got to work on what she needed. She called the Finance VP for the bank statements. When she ran the numbers, she found some major discrepancies, and the numbers were trending down. In other words, because she took out these loans, Regina won't be reaching her goals for the year. "Why must you remind me?" Regina stated.

"If I didn't put the loans into the projections, I would be able to show a satisfactory rise in profit," Emma stated.

Regina and Jefferson froze and looked at each other.

"Is it completely impossible?" Jefferson asked.

"We would have to readjust the business plan again, but we won't know if it would benefit us for a while. You would just have to do it."

"Well," Jefferson stated. "High Concepts is still good."

"Yes," Emma stated.

"Great! Well, we can show the balance like it is, and then we can assure the board of directors that we are right on track to realizing goals in a few months."

Emma shook her head behind Jefferson. Regina looked at the finance master and then back to Jefferson. "My sister will not buy that."

"We can cook the books," Jefferson stated.

"What… Yes!" Regina turned to face Emma.

"I don't think so. I am not going to lie on paper."

"Why not?" Regina said. "Many companies cook the books and present numbers that are projected instead of the actual numbers. I mean… Look at... The Trump Corporation."

"Great example…" Emma muttered.

"Okay, he's not so great, but I need time and the cooking up will give me time," Regina said to Emma. "We aren't stealing from anyone at all; we are just putting numbers down. This is for our use only."

"I know Ms. Mills, but this is super risky," Emma stated, hugging herself. She tried to appeal to Jefferson's honesty. "Please, Mr. Hatter, they could figure it out."

"The finance VP doesn't know anything that goes on financially in this company. He barely sees the bank movement. He writes checks and doesn't know where the money comes from, let alone where it goes."

Emma is really fretting this. "Oh god."

"Besides, Cruella is separated from the production process. He doesn't know how much we have spent, how many commercials we have produced, nor does he know upcoming projects. All that information filters through you and your encryptions, so we can cook those books."

Emma frowns; that only means she is the one that is going to look like an embezzler if these people turn on her. "It's just that…"

"If they catch us, I will take responsibility," Regina stated. "You are following my orders and will not be the responsible party. Please… Do it for me?" Regina said, and that look in her eyes melted Emma a little.

"O-okay…" Emma said, and Regina hugged her fast and sat her down at her computer.

Emma looked at the balance sheet and began to work her magic. As the three of them worked, Zelena walked into Regina's office. The three of them looked guilty as they looked at her.

"Well, you don't have to look so scared, I'm not death."

"No, but you are his bride," Regina quipped… "What are you doing here, Zelena?"

"I want to have an advance copy of the balance sheet for tomorrow. I don't want to have to read it through discussions and other shenanigans that may present itself during the meeting," the redhead stated.

"Well, I'm sorry, but you will see the balance tomorrow," Regina stated.

"Don't be inconsiderate," Zelena stated.

"No, it's not that. We are working on it now, and it's not ready for us to give you yet. Don't take it personally."

"Ah!" Zelena stated. "You haven't finished it… Why, is it too hard to alter the numbers?" Zelena stated, hitting the nail on the head. "Your business plan is failing, right? And you aren't going to meet your goal."

"That's where you're wrong," Regina stated. "We have made more commercials than ever before. Wait until tomorrow; it will make your head explode." Regina stated.

"I hope you are right… My livelihood is in your hands." Zelena turned and headed for the door. "Good Night… don't stay up too late."

"My sister was up to something," Regina said. "If it were just for the paper, she could have just called, and I would have sent it to her. This was something else entirely."

"You know…" Jefferson said and paused… "She probably knows we're in debt and suspects we are having huge problems."

"Either way, we have to be ready. The balance sheet has to be ready by 9 am tomorrow," Regina said. "Jeffy and I have to read it in the morning.

"Ms. Mills, with all due respect. This thing has to look better than fake if Ms. Green is going to inspect this. I am going to have to look at the department forms and make the changes I need to make for the report to make sense."

"She's right," Jefferson stated.

"Well, how long do you need?" Regina asked Emma.

"I may be able to get it done by Noon," Emma answered.

"That's too late!" Regina stated.

"I know this, but I can't say I can commit myself to get it in sooner; I'm going to use some extraterrestrial powers just to get it done " Emma said.

Regina sighed and let Emma get to it.