Capitulo 10

"It's just that... I didn't have time to..." Lily began, her voice tinged with an excuse.

Behind the door, Emma released a sigh of relief and silently prayed she'd find all the work she had diligently completed the night before.

"You don't have the business plan?" Regina inquired, her tone edged with frustration.

Lily struggled to respond, "No, I..."

Regina's patience waned. "Okay, now I need you to call the board and inform them that we'll have to postpone everything to next week."

Lily, sounding incredulous, retorted, "Come on, Regina, don't exaggerate."

Regina remained determined, "Fine! Then I want the report in two hours!"

Lily's voice conveyed concern, "Two hours? Regina, please!"

Regina defended her stance, "What? You did an amazing job with the documents for the last meeting, and now you can't craft a business plan from those materials in two hours? Did you even start them?"

Lily hesitated, "Yes, but..."

Regina, not one to relent, declared, "Well, go on and finish it. And if you can't, just bring it to me, and I'll complete it."

Challenging Regina's authority, Lily shot back, "Oh, do you want to do it?"

Regina's anger flared as she responded, "Lily, let's go get to work," and Jefferson pulled her out of the room.

As Jefferson returned to Regina, she began to laugh hysterically. "Great job, Jefferson. Not only do you arrive late, but you also distract Lily from her work when she clearly needs all the concentration she can muster."

Jefferson attempted to explain, "Well, I..."

Regina, too frustrated to continue, interrupted, "You know what?" With a shake of her head, she continued, "I don't even want to look at you right now, at least for the next two hours. I need a Xanax or something; I can't take this anymore today."

Jefferson offered a solution, "Let's work on it together, Reg. We can get it done."

Regina, despite her frustration, declined the offer, "No, I'll do it. If I want something done right, I have to do it myself." She sat down at her desk and called out, "Emma!" As soon as Jefferson left the room, Emma jumped and limped out of the office.

"Yes, Ms. Mills," Emma said.

Regina, needing a reliable assistant, made her request, "Can you ask Lily for the accountability reports she took home last night? I need them so I can work on the reports myself."

Emma nodded in acknowledgment, "Yes, Ma'am," and left the office to fulfill Regina's request.

With a wish and a prayer, Emma embarked on her mission to locate her flash drive. She strode purposefully to Lily's desk, but it was conspicuously unoccupied. She hesitated for a moment, contemplating whether to wait, but then her gaze landed on the paperwork she needed, neatly arranged on the desk. A sigh of relief escaped her lips, and she gathered the documents, fully intending to return them to Lily as soon as she appeared.

However, before she could make her way back, Lily reappeared, her tone quizzical and slightly wary, "What are you doing?"

Emma glanced at the paperwork and then back at Lily, a hint of surprise in her expression. "Regina asked me to collect these, but since you weren't here, and I saw them right there, I thought I'd save time by getting them."

Lily, concerned about the documents, responded, "You can't just take these. If Regina needs them, I can bring them to her."

"Alright," Emma replied with a nonchalant shrug, relinquishing the reports to Lily. "Sure, go ahead."

She pivoted and headed back to Regina's office, determined to complete her task. Regina was seated at her desk, her gaze focused on her work. Emma offered an answer to the looming question, "Where are the forms?"

Lily's delay in returning had made Regina impatient, and she voiced her concern, "Lily said she'll bring them to you. She didn't want me touching the reports."

In this high-stress situation, Regina was eager to begin working and pressed, "Could she hurry up? I need to get started on them right away."

Emma tried to explain her predicament, but Regina cut her off, demanding, "Emma, I don't have time for this. Please go to your office."

Reluctantly, Emma complied, heading back to her workspace. She couldn't help but wish she didn't have to walk past Regina to reach her office, as she was increasingly anxious about getting to Henry.

Seated at her desk, Emma contemplated the whereabouts of her flash drive. Why hadn't she saved it on her OneDrive or Google Drive? Her concerns about confidentiality seemed less important now, given the precarious situation she found herself in.

As she was about to reach for the phone to call Killian for assistance, her office phone rang. It was her mother on the line, but Emma wasn't in the mood for a protracted conversation. She informed her mother that she couldn't chat at the moment, emphasizing, "Mom, I can't talk right now. I have to find the flash drive, or I know I'll lose my job today. Ms. Mills is just..."

Mary attempted to convey some crucial information, "Emma, your dad is on his way to your office."

The news caught Emma off guard, and she questioned, "He is what?"

Mary reassured her, "He should be arriving any minute."

Exasperated, Emma muttered, "For heaven's sake," and promptly hung up the phone. She exited her office, only to find Lily engaged in a passionate plea with Regina.

Emma, driven by urgency, interjected, "Excuse me," as she rushed out of the office.

Lily felt compelled to explain the situation, "Well, Emma has the flash drive with that document."

Regina appeared baffled, "Why does she have it?"

Lily clarified, "Because, as I said, she filed everything."

Still stunned, Emma couldn't help but ask, "Can you bring me the flash drive with the report that Lily made for the meeting?"

Regina, clearly impatient, pressed, "Um... I have a little emergency. Do you need it right now?"

Regina's impatience was palpable, "Yes, I need it now. Or would you rather me go into your office and find it myself?"

"Okay, I'll go get it," Emma said, her voice reflecting her sense of urgency. Rushing back into her cubby, she desperately searched for the flash drive that contained the vital report. However, it was nowhere to be found. A curse escaped her lips, "Fuck… I used it for the work I did last night."

With a sense of anxiety creeping in, Emma emerged from her cubby, her heart pounding. "I'm sorry, Ms. Mills, I can't find it."

Regina's expression transformed from impatience to anger, and her voice took on a more demanding tone, "You what?"

Emma explained further, her voice trembling slightly, "You see, I took it home to look over the numbers since Lily had all of the paperwork for the business plan, and I left it at home. So, I don't have it now."

Regina's frustration reached its peak as she exclaimed, "Emma, I can't believe this. This is a disaster!"

Emma, eager to rectify the situation, quickly suggested, "I can go get someone to bring it to me, or... um, I could go get it myself." She saw this as an opportunity to leave and collect her family members, who were waiting in the lobby.

Regina, still fuming, reluctantly agreed, "Fine, go get it, but make it quick!"

With Regina's permission, Emma bolted toward the door, hoping to find her flash drive and prevent any further damage to the situation.

Regina was frantic. Everyone was useless that day, and they didn't seem to grasp the company's perilous situation. The business hung in the balance, and they needed a miracle. But before Emma could make it to the door, Lily reappeared, bearing surprising news.

"Regina, you have a visitor," Lily informed her.

With an exhausted groan, Regina asked, "Why is anyone visiting me right now?"

Lily clarified, "It's a David Swan in the lobby."

Emma, standing nearby, muttered, "Oh my God."

Regina seemed perplexed, trying to recall the name. "Who is David Swan?"

Lily answered, "He says he is Emma's father."

Regina ransacked her thoughts, puzzled. "What business do I have with that man?"

Lily, as perplexed as her boss, replied, "How should I know?"

Regina turned to Emma, seeking an explanation. "Emma, do you have any idea what he could need?"

Emma, a touch worried, answered, "My dad? He probably asked for me, not you. Let me go see what he needs. I'll be right back."

Emma quickly made her way to the lobby where her father, David, awaited. Concerned about his presence and the potential for confrontation, she greeted him with a sense of urgency. "Dad, what are you doing here?"

David looked at his daughter with a determined expression. "I came to talk to Ms. Mills. I didn't like how she was treating you."

"Please, Dad, just go home and take Henry with you," Emma pleaded. "Don't make a scene. She's dealing with something, and, as you heard, she's in a god-awful mood."

"I'm here to talk to her and let her know that you have a family that cares," David insisted.

"Daddy, please," Emma implored. She used the word with all the weight it carried. "Let me deal with my boss on my own."

As they conversed, Robin Locksley observed the interaction and approached the pair. He inquired, "Is something the matter?"

David paused and took a good look at the man. "Are you Robin Locksley?"

"I am," Robin confirmed.

David offered a firm handshake. "A pleasure to meet you. I'm David Swan, Emma's father."

Robin acknowledged him. "Ah, I see. To what do we owe this visit?"

David began to explain, but Emma interrupted, fabricating a story. "I forgot some work I was doing at home, and he brought it to me. Thanks, Dad, I'll walk you to the car. I have a ton of work to do, and I gotta get back to work."

Emma waited for Robin to have left the lobby before she turned to Ruby, who had been discreetly watching the situation. Ruby, in turn, engaged Henry, leading him to his mother. "Thanks, Ruby," Emma whispered, grateful for her help.

With Henry in her arms, Emma said her goodbyes. "Henry, thank you for being good with Ruby today! Now be good for Grandpa, okay." She kissed her son's cheek and handed him over to her father, noticing something in Henry's hands. "My flash drive!" Emma exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. "Henry, baby, where did you find this?"

Henry pointed to the place where Emma had fallen earlier. "Where you broke your glasses," he answered. Emma beamed and kissed her son's cheeks, knowing that her day was looking up. "I'll see you guys later, okay? Bye!"

With her flash drive recovered, Emma rushed away from them, heading to the print room. There was no need to hurry back to the tense atmosphere on the fourth floor.

Regina sat in her office, engrossed in her work, but her frustration was palpable. The morning had been a complete disaster, and she was taking it out on everyone around her. As she continued her tasks, Robin walked into the room and greeted her with a kiss.

"Good morning," he said, his voice warm.

"I don't want to talk to anyone right now," Regina replied, not bothering to look up from her work.

"Not even me?" Robin asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.

"Especially you," Regina retorted. "Because you remind me of your friend, the one you made me hire as my secretary. Because she is so amazing and has six semesters at Wharton under her belt. So I don't want to strangle you by association."

Robin tried to defend Lily, saying, "It's your own fault. You should have given her more time to do the work. You're being unfair. You saw the report she did for the meeting."

Regina's response was drenched in sarcasm, "Oh yeah, that whole thing was brilliant. I should give her a raise! Better yet, an all-expense-paid European vacation because she did the best work anyone has ever done. Oh no... I have one better. Why don't we gift her shares of High Concepts! Then we can make her our partner."

Robin felt the brunt of Regina's anger, but he understood that she was having a rough day. "Leave me alone, please. I am doing the work your friend should be doing."

With a parting shot, Robin questioned Regina about her complaints regarding Lily. "Tell me something. Why do you complain so much about Lily, but what about your super financial wizard? Why isn't she here helping you? You're over here taking it out on Lily when that girl is out there just hanging out with her entire family."

Regina, fed up with the situation, finally relented. "You are right. And just so you'll shut up about it already, I have decided to fire her. But I have to wait till she gets back with what I asked for." Her decision was made, and she hoped it would bring some relief to her tumultuous morning.

As Emma returned to the building, she sought out Ruby for a quick update. Her concern was whether her father had caused any trouble during his visit. She knew he could be intense, especially given his profession as a police officer.

"Hey Ruby, when my dad was here, did he start questioning people or harassing people?" Emma asked. She wore an anxious expression, fearing that her father might have created a scene.

Ruby reassured her, "Nah, Emma, he was cool. The only weird thing he said was that you were Regina's Executive Assistant instead of her secretary."

Emma let out a sigh of relief, but curiosity gnawed at her. "What did you tell him?"

"I didn't say anything. I was too busy trying to keep Henry from running out to him from behind the desk. I told him to pretend he was playing hide and seek. Robin had walked in with Augie, and I didn't want him to be seen. Bad enough your dad was there."

"Thank god," Emma whispered, grateful that Ruby had managed to keep her father from digging into her work life.

As Emma moved away from the front desk, Ruby couldn't help but notice her limp and injuries. Concerned, she confronted Emma, "Emma, wait. What happened to you? Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine," Emma insisted, her tone slightly dismissive as she continued walking.

"You're not fine," Ruby asserted. "I'm taking you to our conference room, and we're going to do something about this."

She led Emma to the fourth-floor ladies' room. However, their brief exchange didn't go unnoticed by Regina, who was on the lookout for her executive assistant. Spotting Emma with Ruby, Regina's anger simmered, but she knew she needed to release some stress by taking a walk.

"I thought you had gone to your house to find the paperwork," Regina remarked as she approached Emma.

Emma, intimidated by her boss, replied, "No matter. I need to go out for a walk."

Regina nodded curtly. "I have to talk to you when I get back. It's incredibly important."

"Yes, Ms. Mills," Emma agreed, a sense of trepidation washing over her. She knew that this day was turning into a real challenge.

Emma's friends had convened in the bathroom, their collective concern evident as they gathered around her. Mulan, being the most practical, brought her first aid kit and kneeled in front of Emma, ready to treat her injuries. Belle and Granny provided additional support and supplies, showing their dedication to helping Emma look presentable again.

"My god, Emma, did your boss see you like this?" Mulan inquired as she began tending to the injured knee.

Emma sighed, her frustration with the day apparent. "My boss isn't seeing anything but red."

Belle joined Mulan in treating Emma's dress, working to remove the bloodstain with a tide stick. Granny, the experienced one among them, searched for thread in her sewing kit that would match the color of Emma's dress, preparing to repair it.

"The people here are way too elitist, and we can't let you look a mess. They will find any excuse to fire you," Granny remarked, her no-nonsense attitude clear.

Emma sighed again, feeling the weight of the day pressing down on her. "I don't think I'm going to last the day, I'm afraid," she admitted, watching her friends work together to restore her appearance.

Mulan, as always, spoke her mind, albeit quietly. "Ms. Mills just sounds like she has hit strong PMS."

The group chuckled at Mulan's jab at their boss. They had a deep affection for Regina, even if she could be difficult at times. These were, after all, her "Evil Queen" days, and her temper was notorious.

Ruby, ever resourceful, offered to repair Emma's glasses. "Hey, give me your glasses. I'm going to get that leg repaired," she declared. "I think Augy has a glasses kit."

Emma hesitated, reluctant to part with her glasses, as she relied on them heavily. "No, Ruby, I can't see without them."

Ruby understood and relented, suggesting, "Okay, fine. You should invest in contacts."

The group of friends worked diligently to help Emma, and in the end, she looked nearly as good as new, except maybe her glasses. They truly were her fairy godmothers, ready to support her in their own unique ways.

In her office, Regina was still seething with frustration when Emma cautiously entered. She cleared her throat, attempting to address her boss.

Regina remained focused on her work, waiting for Emma to speak. The tension in the room was palpable.

"Ms. Mills..." Emma began, her voice trembling with unease, "I am so sorry for all of the confusion. I've got the flash drive you asked for. And I apologize again for my dad. As for your business plan, I wanted to say that..."

Regina couldn't bear to wait any longer and decided to take control of the conversation. "I want to say something," she interjected, her tone sharp and final. "I am no longer in need of your services. It has been the consensus of the committee that having two secretaries is wasteful, and now I am finally convinced of this. I am supposed to have secretaries who are well-versed in the subject of business and finance, but I am still unsupported. We will give you a full severance package, so that you may find another position. Go on and empty out your office. I want to be alone."

Emma felt her heart sink, and she struggled to hold back tears. She didn't want to cry in front of Regina, so she quietly retreated to her office, closing the door behind her. Alone, she allowed her emotions to surface, tears streaming down her cheeks as she packed up her belongings.

Despite her sudden termination, Emma remained professional. She placed the flash drive onto her computer, opened the documents she had created, and watermarked her business and financial plan. With steady hands, she emailed both files to her now former boss, fulfilling her last duties to the company. Then, she continued to pack up her personal items, a mixture of sadness and uncertainty in her heart.

Regina, absorbed in the brilliance of the business plan, hadn't paid much attention to Emma as she left the office. However, the thought of Emma's departure lingered in her mind, and she decided to speak with her briefly before she left.

As Emma reentered Regina's office, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease and sorrow about her impending departure. She started, "Hey Ms. Mills. I just wanted to thank you for the opportunity."

Regina barely glanced at her, still engrossed in the business plan. Emma continued, "I just wanted to tell you one more thing. The reason I was late this morning was because I was finalizing this business plan. I stayed up all night, and in my accident this morning, I dropped the flash drive, and I had a hard time locating it. But I am glad you have it now. The original is in my computer in the office. That's it."

With those words, Emma turned to leave, but Regina stopped her with a question about the business plan. Emma paused, setting down the box of her personal belongings, and approached Regina's desk. She explained the features of the plan, and Regina's excitement grew as she absorbed the details.

Realizing that she had made a valuable contribution to Regina's work, Emma smiled. "Oh, of course, I get it now," Regina said with a satisfied grin. She completely forgot that she had fired Emma just moments before.

Jefferson walked into the office, slightly puzzled by the atmosphere. "Are we not headed out to lunch?"

Regina, still immersed in the business plan, responded, "Lunch? Nah, I have the business plan. I have to work."

Jefferson looked confused and said, "I didn't... I thought Lily hadn't done it."

Regina corrected him, giving credit to Emma. "No, Emma did it last night. Look, she found the issue that you and I couldn't locate last night."

Regina continued to boast about Emma, who couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness despite her professional demeanor. She was helping her boss while knowing she had been fired.

As Emma left the office to print copies of the report, Jefferson turned to Regina and asked, "What's wrong with her?"

Regina looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"She is limping, and her glasses are broken... or do you not notice her at all?"

Regina briefly glanced over her shoulder but dismissed it. "Is she? There isn't anything to take notice of, Jeffy. Please."

Jefferson persisted, concerned for Emma. "Reg, okay, so you aren't attracted to her, fine. But at least treat her like a human being. Something happened to her."

Regina appeared uninterested in his observations but did take another look at Emma when she reentered the office with copies of the report.

"Here are your copies," Emma said, handing Regina a stack of papers and the flash drive.

Regina, still engrossed in her work, barely acknowledged Emma. "Great, now leave us alone and leave because we have to look through this."

Emma's face displayed the devastation she was feeling. She had done a good job, but she didn't feel appreciated for her work. She regretted sharing her brilliance with this seemingly self-absorbed woman, whom she secretly found attractive.

Finally, Regina looked directly at Emma, who stared back at her with a sense of defeat. Regina, momentarily confused by the question, said, "What?"

Emma, with a heavy heart and longing in her eyes, asked, "Do you still want me to leave the company?"