Capitulo 13

Regina sat in the meeting with her executives, feeling the weight of the morning's success resting on her shoulders. She laid out a plan for the agencies to pay upfront for the production of their commercials, a crucial element of their business plan.

Sitting beside Regina, Emma couldn't help but worry that her calculations might not withstand the pressure of reality. The room was tense, and Maleficent, in light of all the proposed restrictions, fought back. She was adamant about not compromising on production value, unwilling to budge an inch.

Just as Regina was trying to find a solution to appease Maleficent's concerns, an unwanted interruption came in the form of Robin's sister, Kathryn. The flighty woman swooped into the meeting and grabbed Maleficent's attention, rendering the entire gathering unproductive.

Regina muttered under her breath, "For God's sake, Kathryn, for your convenience, our meeting is done." With that, Regina got up from her chair and headed straight to her office, her frustration palpable. She knew she still had to fight for the respect she deserved in this office, even though she was the boss.

In her office, Regina sat at her desk, highly frustrated with the entire situation. Jefferson followed her into the room, while Emma headed for her own office. Regina glanced over her shoulder at Emma's closed door and stated, "I need Deville far away from my finances. The things we're doing are so risky, and I need to maintain control of everything without it getting back to my sister."

Jefferson nodded in agreement, understanding the gravity of the situation.

"We need someone who's on our side," Regina continued.

"Like Emma," Jefferson asserted.

"That's right. So glad she's here, man," Regina said. "Plus, she's the ideal person to make this happen." Regina felt a glimmer of hope, knowing that Emma was the ally she needed in this complex business environment.

In her office, Emma found herself lost in a picture of Regina on her phone. A warm smile graced her lips, and she had imaginary conversations with the image, her heart racing with each thought. She was so entranced that she was about to kiss her phone screen when there came a polite knock on her office door, startling her. She quickly dropped the phone onto her desk and called out, "Come in!" perhaps a little too loudly.

Mulan entered the room with a friendly smile. "Hey, Emma," she greeted. "My boss wants to know if you took his copy of the business plan?"

Emma returned the smile and turned away from the door. "Yeah, I have it right here." She reached for the binder filled with papers and handed it to Mulan.

"Thanks a million, Emma," Mulan said as she accepted the binder.

As Mulan was about to leave, Emma couldn't help but bring up something that had been on her mind. "Hey, Mulan?" she began. "Out of curiosity, when Tink tells the future, does it usually happen?"

Mulan rolled her eyes playfully. "It's never happened for me, but she's hardly ever wrong," she replied.

Emma was intrigued. "Really? Can you give me some examples of what she's foretold?"

Mulan shared some anecdotes. "She told Ashley that her husband was going to cheat. She told Ruby that she was going to get dumped, and it happened the next day. She also predicted that Ms. Green wasn't going to become the president of the company."

Emma listened with keen interest, her heart racing as the implications of Tink's predictions sank in. "Wow," she commented, her voice tinged with excitement.

Mulan continued to share insights. "But you know, she has also said things that could happen, or couldn't," she explained. "Like she told me that I was going to find a spouse, and... I've been single for so long, I've got cobwebs and bats in my cave."

Emma chuckled, appreciating the humor in Mulan's comment. "Mulan..."

Mulan's tone turned more serious as she offered a word of caution. "But she seemed really certain about your thing... so I would be aware of what's to come for you, Emma." With that, she turned to leave. "See you later."

As the door closed behind Mulan, Emma's heart continued to race. The possibility of everything she ever wanted, a life-changing love with the beautiful Regina, seemed more tangible than ever. She sat back down at her desk, gazing at the picture on her phone. With a soft, heartfelt kiss, she pressed the image to her chest, overwhelmed by the prospect of a love that could reshape her world.

It was time for Emma to head home, and she was looking forward to spending some quality time with her little boy, Henry. She hadn't seen him in two days, and she missed him dearly. However, her thoughts were primarily consumed by Regina, and she was leaving the office later than she had intended. As Emma stepped off the elevator, she overheard Ruby and Mulan engaged in a spirited conversation on the floor.

Ruby was insisting, "Come on! So what if he's not a girl? I thought you were bi. What do you mean it's not a man... kind of night?"

Emma couldn't help but smirk and walked over to Ruby, standing at her desk.

"You never want a man... I'm going to start inviting you on these double dates," Ruby continued, teasing. "Come on, Mulan! I've already said you're coming, and who am I going to find on such short notice?" She then looked up at Mulan, who had a bemused expression on her face. "Fine. I won't beg... BYE!"

Ruby hung up the phone and turned to Emma. "Emma! What are you doing tonight?"

Emma replied, "Nothing, just going home to cuddle with an adorable three-year-old."

Ruby playfully countered, "Oh, how sweet. How would you like to cuddle with a handsome guy instead?"

Emma chuckled and teased, "I don't know, Henry's pretty handsome."

Ruby smirked and persisted, "True... Come on, Emma, I need someone to go out with my guy's friend. He's only in town for tonight, and I really want to see him."

Emma hesitated. "I don't know, Ruby."

"Please, Emma!" Ruby begged. "Please, please, please!"

Emma sighed and checked her watch. "Let me call and ask for permission."

"Permission?" Ruby teased, and Emma dialed her house. "You're a grown woman."

Emma began her conversation with her mother. "Hey, Mom..."

"Hey, Emma," Mary replied on the other end. "Are you on your way?"

Emma explained, "Um, well, my friend wants to take me out to celebrate our victory."

Mary expressed some concern. "Emma, what about Henry?"

"Mom, it's the weekend. I'll be with him tomorrow and the day after. She has a date for me."

There was a brief pause, and Mary spoke with a softer tone. "A date?"

Emma confirmed, "Uh-huh. I just want to try being normal for a change."

Mary understood and gave her blessing. "Okay, I'll tell your dad you're working late again. Enjoy your double date, but, honey, be careful."

Emma smiled, appreciating her mother's support. "Thanks, Mom. Talk to you later."

She hung up and turned to Ruby, who was eagerly waiting. "All set?" Ruby asked, taking Emma's hand and pulling her towards the bathroom. "Great, let's get ready to go. We're just going to tweak your look."

Emma questioned the plan. "Tweak my look?"

Ruby suggested, "Let me loosen your bun and let your hair down?"

Emma hesitated, protectively touching her hair. "No, I work hard to get that up there."

Ruby tried another approach. "Okay, how about you take off your glasses?"

Emma chuckled, "Are you crazy? I'll fall."

"Fine," Ruby conceded, "at least put on some gloss."

Emma agreed, "Gloss sounds good."

As they were making these small adjustments, Mulan entered the bathroom and was clearly perplexed by the situation. "Ruby, what the hell?" she demanded.

Ruby didn't miss a beat. "My friend Emma doesn't do men... sometimes," she clarified.

"Sometimes," Emma added with a grin. "Oh, wait, I forgot my bag. I'll be right back."

Mulan's skepticism was evident. "Are you seriously taking her?" she questioned Ruby.

Emma heard Ruby's reply as she moved to retrieve her bag. The comment left her feeling uncertain, but her determination to step out of her comfort zone remained strong.

On her way to get her bag, Emma unexpectedly crossed paths with Regina, who was walking hand in hand with Robin. Regina greeted her, "Hey, Emma, you headed out?"

Emma felt a sense of acknowledgment and replied, "Yeah, I'm going for my things now."

Regina nodded, and they attempted to walk around each other, performing an awkward little dance. Eventually, Emma looked back at Regina and Robin. If her future lover could be with someone tonight, maybe she could have a good time too. She decided to proceed with her evening plans. The specifics might not align with Tink's predictions, but Emma was determined to make the most of the night, no matter the circumstances.

Regina, aware of Robin's simmering frustration, attempted to engage in small talk with him to ease the tension. "So, where's your friend Lily?" she inquired. "Chasing Jefferson around town?"

Robin, still annoyed, replied, "No, she's at dinner with a friend from college."

Regina quipped, "Oh, did she get tired of Jefferson's antics already?" She chuckled and playfully took his hand, leading the way back towards the elevator. The lighthearted conversation was her way of trying to smooth things over and keep the atmosphere amicable.

Emma met Ruby in the lobby, ready for their night out. Her date, a slightly older man with distinguished graying hair, was accompanied by a younger man who would be Emma's date for the evening. The apprehensive look from her date made her anxious, and she swallowed her nervousness. If she couldn't keep this guy interested, how could she hope to catch Regina's attention?

Emma decided to suppress her disappointment and joined Ruby in an Uber with the two men. They arrived at a pulsing club with music all around. "Oh, Emma, this place is great!" Ruby exclaimed, already dancing in her seat.

"I've never actually been in a club," Emma admitted, taking in the surroundings.

"Really?" Ruby asked. "Here, let's sit." They headed for the VIP section and took their seats.

As the night progressed, Emma noticed her date arguing with Ruby's date, and she realized she was in for a disappointing evening.

A waiter approached them and asked, "Will you be drinking anything?"

Ruby ordered a tequila, and Emma, after some persuasion, decided to go with the same. She wasn't particularly interested in this guy, but she didn't want to come across as uninterested or unfriendly.

Ruby introduced Emma to her date, saying, "Emma is the right hand of the president of High Concepts Productions. Just so you know who you're dealing with. Emma, tell him about your degrees."

Emma responded, "Yeah, Ruby, he couldn't care less about what I studied." She had a feeling this guy wasn't interested in intellectual conversation.

"Hey, I've got to make a call. I'll be right back," Emma announced and headed to the outdoor patio to make a call to her dad. She knew she had to keep him informed to avoid parental wrath when she got home. Ruby's well-intentioned efforts were almost not worth the overprotective concerns waiting for her.

She called her dad and shouted over the noise, "Dad, I just wanted to let you know I'm okay. I went out with friends from work, and they'll take me home."

Her dad insisted on getting her exact location, but she hung up, knowing it was the best way to deal with his overprotective tendencies. She returned to the table, where a shot of tequila awaited her. She had never taken a shot before, but she'd seen it done on the internet. With salt, tequila, and a lime at hand, she braced herself for some liquid fun.

As the night wore on, the lovebirds danced on the floor, and Emma was left alone at the table, bored because her date wouldn't even acknowledge her. He was a terrible conversationalist, and her attempts to engage him were futile. Eventually, he left for the bathroom, leaving Emma deep in thought as she sat at the table.

At home, Regina was trying to find ways to avoid sleeping with Robin. She had already done it twice this week, and tonight she just wasn't in the mood. She needed something else entirely. She suggested, "Hey, why don't we go out tonight?"

Robin responded, "Oh, Regina, how about I draw you a nice bath, and we can cuddle together in the tub?"

Regina hesitated but then said, "But it's Friday, Robin."

Robin explained, "Yeah, but I'm tired. After our bath, we can have a movie night. It'll be ladies' choice."

Regina sighed, "Yeah, sure."

Robin questioned her, "You don't like the idea?"

Regina replied, "No, it's a nice idea, but I was all geared up to go out, you know? It's Friday."

Robin offered some perspective, "I'm giving you a typical married night. That's what life is going to be like. Or do you think we're going to spend our life swinging from one party to the next? This is just how normal nights will be in our not-so-distant future."

Regina considered this and said, "It's not that. I was hoping for something else, but sure, let's have our bath and movie night."

Robin assured her, "Listen, I won't force you to act like an old married lady from now on. Take advantage of the time from now until the wedding to party it up. I'll stay here. I'm going to pick a movie, and if you want to go out, I understand."

Regina smiled, gathered her things, and said, "Okay, see you later," as she walked out of Robin's apartment.

Emma was truly bored sitting at their table. The guy she was with, Rafael, went to the bathroom and never came back. So she entertained herself at the table while Ruby danced with her guy.

Emma sat and drank, swaying to songs she recognized. She yawned and was ready to go home. Then her favorite song came on as Rafael returned to the table. "Ooh, I love this song," Emma said, feeling loose from the shots of Tequila she had taken. She danced and swayed.

"Yeah, too bad I can't dance," Rafael said.

Emma replied, "Yeah, you're pretty lame," rolling her eyes. She noticed a vision across the room. It was Regina, in a slinky black dress, looking around the dance floor. "Ms. Mills!" Emma shouted and stood up.

Regina looked over and smiled. "Hey, what are you doing here?" She joined the younger woman.

"Just hanging out with some guys," Emma stated. "This is... What's your name again?" She asked the guy on her left.

"Rafael," he said.

"Yeah, and um, this is Regina Mills," Emma introduced. Rafael looked Regina over and seemed to have a better reaction to her.

Emma pursed her lips and turned her attention to her foretold lover. "Emma, call me Regina. I'm not your boss tonight."

"Oh, it's out of respect, Ms. Mills," Emma stated. "She is the president and owner of High Concepts Productions," she said to Rafael, who seemed impressed by the important woman in front of him. "What are you doing, Ms. Mills? I never imagined you'd be a nightclub type of person."

"I was bored at home, so I came out to see what was around. I just kind of walked in," Regina stated. "And to my surprise, here you are." The older woman smiled. Regina looked around. "I love this song."

"Me too," Emma said with a smile that would not fade. Her braces were in full display, and she didn't even bother to hide them.

"Oh yeah?" Regina asked. "Would you like to dance? You don't mind, do you, Rafael?"

Emma's heart nearly stopped as she tripped over herself to accept Regina's hand. "Nah, he doesn't mind anything."

Emma and Regina went to the dance floor and danced like two friends would. Rafael followed the two women onto the dance floor and said, "Excuse me, but you're supposed to be here with me."

"I'm dancing with my friend. You were so bored with me at the table. So go sit. I'll talk to you later."

Regina smiled at Emma and resumed dancing with her like a friend. "But if you're with me, you stay with me," Rafael stated.

Regina rolled her eyes and stepped forward. She backhanded him with her ring hand, knocking him down, then she turned to Emma. "Don't pay him any mind, Emma. It's just that you must have awakened some baser instincts and ignited his arousal."

"But..."

"I'm sorry. I don't like it when people disrespect you and, on top of that, interrupt us while we're having fun."

"But you shouldn't have done that for me," Emma protested.

Regina smiled, and as the romantic song played in the background, her smile faded.

"Emma," Regina said, coming closer, bringing the mousy woman closer. Regina looked at Emma's lips and began to lean forward for a kiss. Emma closed her eyes in anticipation.