A/N: Thank you all for being so patient for another update! :) I am beyond excited about this story, and the road I have planned for it. I hope you all continue to like it and enjoy it as much. And don't worry. I promise, Emma and Regina will encounter each other again. Tomorrow there will be no update, but I will have a chance to work on more for Thursday to update again on Friday. Until then stay tuned and Happy Reading!
Chapter 4: Partnerships
A handshake can go a long way. It could mean anything. A simple introduction. A sealed deal that can go beyond a signed piece of paper. For some. For Samuel Locksley, it was the beginning of a successful business opportunity. The man was serious business ever since he crossed the threshold of the Mills home. He was a tall man, a head full of gray hair of years of experience. Expensive black suit. His handshake was as firm and direct as his voice when he introduced himself.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet the Henry Mills. I've heard many great things. Many great things." He delivered a confident smile.
"You flatter me, Mr. Locksley." Henry smiled.
"Henry," Samuel shook his head. "Please. Call me Samuel. We are going to be doing business together after all."
"Well, that remains to be seen," Cora retorts with her kindest smile directed toward Samuel. "Assuming you can help us, that is."
Henry's cheeks filled with embarrassment, while Samuel shared a small look and an even smaller chuckle along with his son, who stood as still as a statue right behind his father's right shoulder.
"Our company is the best at salvaging what others see as unsalvageable." Robin's eyes move directly to Henry. "You won't be in better hands, Mr. Mills."
"I can understand your fear," Samuel replied. His voice is calm and deep. "But, let's not talk business now, hm?"
"I agree." Henry smiled, feeling more relaxed. His eyes look toward the stairs, his smile growing further. "Ah. And finally, we can enjoy our wonderful meal." His hand outstretched toward Regina, who walked down each step, elegantly dressed in the black dress. Not the red.
Cora frowns at the sight of it. But Robin Locksley's eyes light up at the sight of Regina Mills. His chest puffs out as he stands taller.
"Allow me to introduce my other daughter," Henry smiles at Regina with pride as she stands next to him. "Regina."
Regina put her best smile, shaking Samuel's hand as it was offered to her. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Locksley."
"Lovely," Samuel smiled. "Great job, Henry. You must be very proud."
Henry beamed with pride while Zelena frowned. "Very proud, indeed." He turns to Regina.
"And allow me to introduce my son Robin. He's my right hand at the company."
Robin steps up, holding out his hand. "Regina."
Regina could see he had a strong jaw, he was handsome in a way, broad shoulders. And his beard certainly brought out the color of his eyes, but there was something in those eyes that just didn't sit well with her. "Mr. Locksley." She shakes the man's hand, which fingers wrap immediately and strongly around hers. "Pleasure."
The corner of Robin's mouth lifts, "I do believe the pleasure is all mine."
Zelena's frown deepens as she studies their joined hands. Especially the way Robin brings the back of Regina's hand up to his lips and presses them firmly along her skin. A gesture he didn't have with her when they were introduced not long ago.
"Well," Cora spoke up, grinning from ear to ear. "Why don't we all head to the dining room? Dinner is served."
"That sounds great. I'm famished." Samuel smiled in agreement, clapping his son on the back. "Come, Robin."
Robin's eyes remained focused on Regina as if they couldn't see anything or anyone else. Or perhaps they didn't want to. "After you," he motioned toward the dining room.
Regina smiled kindly as she gave him a small nod before heading into the dining room, taking an immediate seat right next to her father.
Zelena shifted in her seat next to Regina, leaning into her sister, "Well," she cleared her throat, keeping her voice to a whisper while the others exchanged conversation. "It seems you have caught our father's associate's eye, Regina."
Regina turned in annoyance, "What are you talking about, Zelena?" She whispered.
"Oh, come on. Don't act like you haven't noticed. He's practically salivating over you." Zelena rolled her eyes.
Regina's eyes look to Samuel who's in deep conversation with her father. "Don't be absurd. He's here for father. Not me. Plus, he's older."
"I'm not talking about the father. Although, it's nice to see where your interests lie…" Zelena chuckled, reaching for her glass of water.
Regina brows furrow directly at her sister before looking at Robin from across the table. His eyes trained on her the entire time he sat next to his father.
"You know," Zelena runs a perfectly manicured nail along the rim of her glass. Her eyes trained on Robin. "I'd be perfectly capable of taking him off your hands, little sister."
Regina breathed easy, her hands busy with her fork and knife as she cut through her steak. "He's all yours." She muttered, popping the piece of meat into her mouth.
But despite Zelena's dreams and wishes, in Robin's eyes as they looked to Regina from across the table all night; rest other plans.
A partnership had been sealed and signed after dinner. Henry would now be working under Locksley and Locksley Industries. Regina prided herself for reading all about their company before this dinner. Samuel Locksley built the company from the ground up, and had become one of the most successful CEO's by the age of thirty-two. At this rate, he could take any other company and rebuild it under his watchful eye- as well as his son's- in under three weeks. His profits were extraordinary. Truly admirable for a man who wasn't ready to retire.
"Henry," Samuel shook Mr. Mills' hand as he stood before the front door. "I look forward to this new partnership. We are going to do many great things."
"As do I, Samuel. As do I." Henry smiled. He shook Robin's hand next. "I want to thank you both for this opportunity."
"And of course, thank you, Cora for a lovely dinner." Samuel smiled at Cora.
"Come back anytime, Samuel. Our doors are always open to you and to Robin, of course." Cora directed her eyes at Robin, extending her hand to him.
Robin reached for Cora's hand, bringing it up to his lips. His blue eyes positively gleaming, even more so when they turned back to Regina. "Regina." He holds out his hand again, gripping his fingers around Regina's once she placed her hand in his. "It was especially delightful meeting you tonight."
"Have a pleasant night, Mr. Locksley." Regina loosened her grip on Robin's hand, feeling his tighten. Her eyes looked down to find his other hand cup along hers before looking back into his blue eyes that locked on strongly.
"I do hope I have the pleasure of seeing you again. I have a feeling it will be soon." Said Robin, sounding so sure of himself.
Regina gently took her hand back, giving him her best smile out of courtesy to her father. "Good night, Mr. Locksley."
"Oh, Robin," Zelena rushed toward their front door, catching Robin before he exited. "I do hope that you like it here in Boston. And if you ever need a tour guide, I'm always available."
Robin forced a tight smile in return to Zelena. His blue eyes flash to Regina, "I've already seen the best part of Boston. Until next time, Regina."
After shutting the door, Zelena sighed, the biggest smile playing on her lips. "What a monument! Isn't he just dreamy, Regina?" She asked her sister, who said nothing.
"Compose yourself, Zelena." Cora warned her. "I'm just relieved everything we've worked so hard for will be in good hands."
"I can only hope." Henry frowns. A worried frown forming along his brow.
"What's wrong?" Regina asks. "Were they not what you were expecting?"
Henry sighed, "They're fine, Regina. Mr. Locksley seems like a reasonable man. It's his son I don't trust."
"Oh, Henry, you're always overthinking everything." Cora waves a hand in the air.
Zelena scoffs, "How can you doubt Robin, father? He's absolutely perfect." She grins dreamily.
"Looks aren't everything, Zelena." Said Regina, moving toward her father. "If you don't feel great about something, maybe you should stay cautious."
"Don't give your father any ideas, Regina. It was a perfect night and finally your father is doing what he should have done since the very beginning. Watch over his family." Cora smiles a little coldly at her husband.
Henry frowned, forcing a smile toward his daughter. Regina knew that smile well. Pain. Misery. Unhappy, all wrapped in that smile. Her father did more than enough for this family. He was living proof of it.
"Well," Zelena sighs. "I don't know about everyone else, but I'm not ready to go to bed yet. I'll be back later tonight." She gives her mother a kiss on the cheek before heading toward the door, reaching for her purse from inside a closet door.
"And just where might you be going at this time of night?" Henry asked.
Zelena shrugged, her hand resting along the doorknob. "We'll see. The night is young and so am I. But I promise not to be back so late."
Henry sighs as soon as the front door slams shut. "I'm going to bed." He turns to Regina.
"So am I. Good night, daddy." Regina presses her lips along her father's cheek.
"Good night, my darling."
"Night, mother."
"Good night." Said Cora, hearing Regina's heels click along the stairs.
"I don't really want to talk about my parents anymore. So, tell me, other than your heroic bus stranger, how was dinner?"
Regina sat along her bed, her phone close to her ear. "As dull as you'd expect it to be."
"Aaaand… tell me. How smug is this character Robin Locksley?"
Regina breathed out a small laugh, "As egotistic as you'd think."
"You're kidding! You could tell all that just by meeting him once?"
"It doesn't take a genius to figure it out," Regina's eyes fall on Emma's book as she reaches for it. "The guy's too full of himself. Clearly loves money. He's sort of intense."
"Intense?"
"Like, he wouldn't stop staring- intense. It was kind of uncomfortable." Regina shivered at how locked Robin's eyes seemed to be on her tonight. They weren't at all as gentle as the pair of mysterious green eyes she had seen today.
"Maybe he liked you." She could hear Kathryn's grin right through the phone.
"Ugh, don't say that, please." Regina flipped open the cover of the book, seeing Emma's name and number written in the same blue pen.
"Oh, that's right. You'd rather be gawked at by a pair of mysterious green eyes." She could hear Kathryn's smile again.
Regina glared in no particular direction, "Her name's Emma. I think."
"You think? How did you figure that out?" Kathryn asked.
"When our books fell to the floor, I accidentally brought her book with me. Inside it there's the name Emma with a phone number on it."
"So, call her."
Regina chuckled. "And tell her what, exactly?" Even if the thought had occurred to Regina before, committing the action was something entirely different and evidently required a hell of a lot more courage.
"How about: Hi, Emma. You don't know me, but I would love to know you. I think our magical moment on the bus was too short lived and I would love to prolong it to see where this road takes us."
Regina rolls her eyes, "I'm serious, Kathryn."
"I am, too, Regina. Call her. What do you have to lose, really?"
Nothing. Except maybe humiliating herself and finding out that maybe Emma didn't feel some type of connection like Regina had. And… Regina's eyes look at the clock on her nightstand… It was already about ten past 11PM. Who knows if she was awake by this time. What if she called, woke her and got an earful about how she needs to sleep.
So, Regina decides not to call her. For now.
The following morning, Regina is startled by a loud knock just outside of her bedroom door. "What?" She groans, rubbing her eyelids with the sides of her fists.
"Good morning, Regina." Cora happily smiles, carrying a bouquet of a dozen red roses.
"Good morning, mother." Regina's brow furrows as her mother sets them down along her bedside table, almost pushing Emma's book right off, forcing Regina to grab it and move it along her bed, beside her. "Who are those from?"
Cora's grin grew at the corner of her lips, "Robin Locksley," she held up a card, holding it before Regina. "It seems you've made quite the impression on him."
Regina rolls her eyes, ignoring the offered card. "How could I possibly, mother? We barely just met last night. That's absurd."
"Why is that absurd, Regina? Besides, he's being a gentleman. No one sends out flowers anymore," her hands rearrange the roses along the vase she brought them in. "God only knows, your father hasn't given me a single rose in I don't know how long."
Instead of replying to her mother's remark against her father, Regina headed toward her bathroom, leaving the door ajar.
Cora messed with the roses a little more, placing the handwritten card along the nightstand. Her head turned toward her daughter's bed, tilting at the sight of her open sketchbook. Reaching for it, Cora takes in a drawing of a pair of eyes. No face. Just two pairs of eyes, long beautiful lashes and the top of a nose bridge.
Regina paused just outside of her bathroom door. Her eyes wide as she watched her mother study the drawing that she created last night before bed. Regina couldn't get Emma's eyes out of her mind. She had to draw them.
"This is an interesting picture," Cora held up the sketchbook. Her brow quirked. "Is this new?"
"Yes." Regina reached for her sketchbook and closed it, tossing it along her bed again.
"Who is it?" Cora's eyes followed each one of her daughter's movements around the bedroom.
"I draw about a hundred people a day, mother. How should I know?" Regina breathed. She didn't see the need to explain herself. It's not like her mother would ever understand. The first and the last time Regina was brave enough to tell her about her sexual orientation, that confession fell on Cora's deaf ears. And since then, she has been determined to push Regina to meet a nice young man.
The sound of a whistle, followed by Zelena's presence as she's leaning toward the door frame of Regina's bedroom captures Cora and Regina's attention. "Well, well, Regina… you don't waste any time, do you?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Robin Locksley sending you flowers." Zelena's eyes flick to the flowers on her nightstand. "They must have cost him a fortune."
"Well, you can have them." Regina's eyes turned to her sister.
"Regina," Cora's eyes widened. "Is that the thanks Robin Locksley gets for sending you flowers?"
"No one asked him to send me anything," Regina puts on a denim jacket, adjusting her long hair over her shoulders. "I have to run, I'm going to be late."
"Where are you going?" Cora watches her daughter pick up her sketchbook and portfolio and head out without another word. "Regina?" She turns to Zelena who shrugs.
David arrived home, pulling open the fridge door and reaching for a beer. "Hey!" His smiled at the sight of his daughter. "How'd it go?"
"Well," Emma stands before him. "I applied for a job."
"Well, that's great!" David's smile widens. "I'm sure they will call you in no time." He takes a swig.
"Yeah…" Emma slightly frowns.
David's eyes study Emma for a moment. "What is it? Something's wrong. You're obviously not happy about this job."
"No…" Emma shakes her head. "I'm happy. Really. I am, but…"
"But what?"
Emma breathes in, "Dad, the job is in New York." She watches his face fall in a matter of seconds.
"Oh." Is all David can say, taking another swig of his beer before retrieving into the living room, sitting on his worn out recliner.
Emma silently follows him into the living room. She watches him. "Dad…" she pauses. "The chances of getting this job are small. I may not get it."
David's green eyes look up at Emma, "Don't do that, Emma."
"Do what?"
"Make me feel better. You know I hate that." David takes another swig of beer. His eyes move to a movie that's playing on television.
"Dad," Emma moves across the living room, reaching for the remote to turn off the television. She joins him by sitting right in front of him, along the coffee table. "If you don't want me to take this job-"
"No- hey. Stop it-" David reaches for Emma's hand, his shoulders deflating as he sighs. His green eyes lock onto his daughter's and Emma can see them slowly gloss over. "What have I always told you, hm? Never- ever- hold back because of your old man. Especially with that brain of yours." He smiles a little. "You aren't meant to stay here, Emma. You are meant for so much more- far more than I ever could give you."
Emma shook her head, "You've given me more than enough, dad. You always have. If I get this opportunity, it'll be thanks to you."
"No. It'll be because you worked your ass off to earn it. Not because of me." His hand gives Emma's a gentle squeeze. "You deserve this. Go. Work hard, make something out of yourself. Don't be like me who couldn't find a way out of here. This family needs to have one of us have an honest job that doesn't require you getting your hands dirty for once."
Emma looks down to her father's dirty hands from working at the lumber yard. She could feel the colossus that had built in over the years. "There's nothing wrong with getting your hands dirty, dad. We all have to start somewhere. I'll be working as a miner, securing their safety, so I'll be plenty dirty. Trust me." She smiles.
Their heads turned and their hands broke apart at the sudden sight of Ruby, entering the room. "I'm sorry. Did I interrupt something important? I can come back."
"No, Ruby. Come on in." David smiled, sitting back along his chair.
"What's up, Ruby?" Emma asks.
"Nothing important. I was just thinking about heading on over to the mall, and wanted to see if you had some time, if you wanted to join me."
"Sure," Emma shrugs, standing to her feet.
Ruby grinned, "Awesome! Well, let's go. The sooner we leave, the sooner we beat traffic."
"Yeah," Emma turned to David. "I'll bring some dinner on my way back, okay?"
David nods, "Sure thing, kiddo. Thank you."
After Ruby assures David that they won't be gone all day, she follows Emma to the front door. "Hey," she whispers. Her eyes gave David a quick look. "Is everything alright? He looks a little sad."
"I'll tell you along the way," Emma whispered. "Come on, let's go." She shut the door on her way out.