That evening, she got a cake from Gideon. He took Henry to swim at the same hotel where Drizell was helping her father out. They were at the cake shop and decorated them together because Henry wanted to eat one and Drizella said it would be so special if Henry got to do a cake himself.
Henry was a blast, he came home and told her about how fun and beautiful Driz was.
She picked the card up to read.
You let the owner of the bank decorate the cake, it was as plain as you see, hope you enjoy it!
She let out a laugh at the comment and looked at the cake. It was a simple decoration with just a sugar mouse figure on top and icing that spelled 'love'.
She turned back to the coffee table and saw her white lilies lying there.
She was still surprised that Emma gave her the flowers. Sometimes she couldn't help but feel like a prey to her eyes, she didn't know what the blonde was thinking almost of the time. Her green eyes seemed too far in depth, she couldn't decipher. She had to admit, getting flowers from Emma again made her heart beat a little faster.
Her lips curled up into a small smile, picking them up and automatically inhaling the scent. Her lips spread into a wide grin.
She stopped smiling the moment she thought that this was from her boss. Emma was her friend, nothing more.
She shook her head and went to look for a glass to put the flower in then she put it on the bedside table in her room.
Emma was excited to see her girlfriend today since it was Monday. She walked into the new office and stopped when she caught sight of Regina picking up flowers and placing them into a jar. The brunette brought them to decorate beside the table.
Regina looked so soft with flowers, her small smile adorned her face when she worked with them.
Seemed like Regina loved the flowers very much.
It's such a pity that she hated them now.
Yesterday, Ann, the big sister, who already hated Regina, came to see her and warn her about the true color of who Regina was.
It made her think that she was right, Regina had changed.
She was not the same Regina she used to give her heart to.
Her eyes shifted away when Regina looked up and finally noticed her in the room.
"Good Morning, Miss Swan. I have finished preparing Drizella's room." Regina greeted her with a smile.
She tilted her head to the side.
"I'll go now." The brunette finished and then hurried out to the door.
"Wait." She said.
Regina looked at her expectedly.
She thought back to The Gold's sister, Regina's stepdaughter's words.
This woman was only his trophy wife! She only got the marriage certificate and nothing more. She was just an indignity woman who married for money. She couldn't love someone except herself.
"As a friend, I want to tell you that if you want money or anything else from now on, just tell me, okay?" She saw a little surprise flash in those brown eyes.
"I couldn't help you before because I was poor but now that I'm a millionaire, if you want money, just tell me. As a close friend, I'll give you without any hesitation, without you having to marry me or something. I'm willing to give it to you because I pity you, Regina. That's all I have to say."
Again, she couldn't read Regina's face. She was too darn good at keeping her act.
"You wait here in the room, while I'll go get my girlfriend." She said and walked out instead.
"What? Ann went to Emma's house?!"
"Yes, she contacted me, and told me she had an important matter to talk to Emma." Snow confessed to her later when they were standing in the room, waiting for the couple to arrive.
Regina thought about what Emma just said before she went downstairs.
"I know what's it all about then," Regina said to herself.
"Emma wouldn't mix personal stuff and job together. She is good at separating things, Regina. Even though how bad Ann was mouthing you, Emma knows. You don't have to worry about that, trust me." Snow smiled. She nodded.
"I can't believe, Emma orders flowers for Drizella!" Graham suddenly said out of nowhere as he turned to Snow. "Since the company had been opened, flowers haven't been permitted to be brought into this company ever. Don't you think it's amazing, Snow?!" He exclaimed in disbelief.
"Don't you have work, Graham?" Snow lifted her brow.
"No?"
"I think you have," Snow warned him, while she eyed Regina like she knew, how women felt for him to bring that kind of topic up.
Regina smiled at those two, who always bickering about their boss. She stood straight and looked at the door when she heard the clicking sound. The door opened later, and Emma and her new secretary came walking in.
"Wow! The flowers are beautiful." Drizella said first thing in the room as she took off her sunglasses. She walked over to the desk, where Regina put the flowers there.
"Do you like it? I chose it myself," Emma said while following her girlfriend to the desk.
"Really?!"
"Yes! You could go ask the shop. I did this for you, babe." Emma grinned.
"Aw, you're so sweet, thank you," Drizella said and kissed her cheek.
"Excuse me, let us welcome you into our company properly. If there are any questions, Graham is happy to help you. Graham is the head of the manager here." Snow said to Driz.
"Nice to meet you. We're the same team now." He smiled.
"Thanks. I'm not sure how much I can be of help here but I'll try my best. Let's begin the day then!" Driz said, energized.
Everyone left the room. Emma was the last one who leave the office. She let her two ladies work it out first then she would follow up later.
She made it out in the hallway, about to reach Regina's desk, she stopped as she heard voices. She stood hidden against the wall, eavesdropping on Regina and her girlfriend.
"What time does Emma come to work?" Drizella asked.
"Eight."
"What? Then I have to wake up at seven?!"
"Yes. But while I'm still here you can come in late, adjust your schedule then after I le-"
"No, no, no. Don't say left or quit! I won't allow it."
Emma smiled upon hearing that. Drizella was very committed to her goal to help Regina out.
This could work, having her girlfriend as a backup so Regina wouldn't quit.
"I almost forgot. Thanks for my office today. I loved it! I know you're the one who chose my flowers, not Emma."
"How?"
"Gideon told me when I met him accidentally at the pool on Saturday. He took Henry swimming because you have to go shopping with Emma. Your son is so cutee! I don't doubt that Gideon is so fond of your family, Regina."
"Thank you. Henry is a bit shy to strangers but when he's with Gideon. I can trust him and so is he." The gratitude in Regina's voice made her stomach churn with unpleasant feelings.
"He told me to act like I don't know any of this so Emma won't get a word with you."
Emma tightened her fists. That smug face Gideon again and again. Why was he revolved around them?
"He is nice like this with everyone." A smile was in Regina's voice.
That made her want to puke.
She didn't want to hear any more of this cheeky thing from Gideon so she turned around and left for her room.
Drizella tried to make her favorite drink both coffee and cocoa.
Turned out the coffee was too dark and bitter and her cocoa was too sweet for her liking.
Of course, she smiled at her girlfriend and told her it was perfect, even Regina couldn't compare to her. That earned her another sweet kiss from her girlfriend. She didn't mind another brunette in the room seeing them make out.
Once she glanced at Regina, she smirked at how uncomfortably Regina looked.
After the door closed, Drizella left for her room. She turned around to Regina suddenly.
"Can I have some water, please?" She sucked her cheeks, the bitter taste remained on her tongue.
Regina lifted her brow in wonder but walked to grab a bottle and thrust it in her hand.
She hurried to take a sip of the water. Then another gulp, she handed it back to Regina's waiting hand.
"Should I tell Drizella to learn a new recipe?"
She forgot that Regina was there.
She smirked.
"No need. I can drink everything she made for me. She's not you, I mean, since she's my girlfriend."
The look of amusement was gone from Regina's face.
"Oh, I have something to talk to you, don't leave just yet," Emma said and looked for a nod of approval from Regina.
"Do you think Driz was satisfied with the room today? Has she had any problem while she's with you, or any dissatisfaction at the company?"
"No, she was perfect and bright, not even complaining."
"Okay. I'm afraid she wouldn't want to work with me."
"You don't have to worry about that, boss."
"Thank you so much, Regina."
Emma suddenly stepped closer to her, taking Regina's hand in her. Regina reluctantly let her hold her hand and tried to pull away but she held on.
"No need to thank me," Regina said.
She was annoyed. If it was before Regina would love to be touched by her, the brunette was an affectionate person even.
She was just holding her hands why did Regina have to be all awkward with her act of kindness?
Regina used the moment she lost in her head and yanked her hand back.
"I was just doing my job. It's the least I can do. The better Drizella is at her job the faster I can quit."
She watched Regina leave the room.
"Is Emma a player? Does she flirt with others a lot?" Gideon asked while wiping sweat off his forehead. He came to see Drizella as he had a question to ask her. She saw Driz checked in at the boxing center. But the exchange for a question was that he had to be her partner in boxing.
"No. She's very into herself, arrogant even, I dare say." Driz laughed. "There are lots of women after her but Emma never toys with one." Then with a gasp. "Oh my god, don't tell me you're jealous of Emma with Regina?"
His face burned slightly at the accusation.
"Do I have to?"
"No! You shouldn't be jealous at all!"
"Why are you so sure?"
"Well, Regina has a good and kind-hearted man like you to take care of her already."
"That's the reason?!"
"It's true! I just know her and I know how Regina is. She's very independent. Even if Emma was a playboy, Regina would see right through and doesn't want anything to do with her. Besides Regina doesn't have an eye on anyone else when you're around her."
"Wow. Another reason for me not to get jealous is that you already got Emma."
"Correct!"
Both were laughing at their current situation.
"You know I used to think that if you and Regina met each other first instead of Mister Gold, it would be nice. The one who got to marry Regina would be you!" Driz smiled.
He sighed.
Yes. If he didn't hold on to his pride back then and didn't want to be in a blind marriage by his father. He would have been married to Regina a long time ago.
He thought Regina was selfish to marry for money. He hated a person like that.
He denied Regina and that was why his father married her instead.
He regretted it now.
The first time he met Regina wasn't at his father's wedding but it was a total accident. His purse fell at the cafe and Regina was the one who picked it up and ran after him.
He admired her at first sight, Regina looked so young and beautiful. So when he got to see Regina at the wedding, he was so shocked that the woman he denied and hated was Regina.
Over the years, Regina had been nothing but lovely toward his father. Later she warmed her way into his heart as well. Regina took good care of his father including him. He thought of Regina more than just his stepmother ever since. When his father died, he never got the courage to move forward with Regina.
Because deep inside he knew that Regina didn't like him that way, or maybe Regina already had someone in her mind long before she stepped into the Gold family.
Regina let out a happy smile after she placed a ring box on the table in front of her parents.
"You brought this for me? How do you remember the anniversary of us, dear?" Her mother asked with astonishment, grabbing the ring to see and appreciate it with her bright brown eyes.
"Yes. It's an important day! Besides, when we ran out of money, Daddy had to sell the ring away. So now that I can afford it back, I got it for you guys. Do you like it?" Regina grinned.
Cora cried and Sir Henry embraced her before going to Regina and pulling her into a big hug too.
"Thank you so much, darling." He pulled away to look at her in the eyes. "If it wasn't for my downfall at the stock, you wouldn't have to…marry him."
Regina swallowed down her tears, pressing her lips together before giving him a small smile.
"Don't say it like that! What happened is not everyone else's fault. I decided to marry him. I chose to do it."
"I know you chose to and I also know that you're not happy. You carried everything on your shoulders so I ask you to stop now and do something for yourself, once in a while, Regina."
She couldn't hold it in anymore when she heard that. Tears ran down her cheeks at his words.
"Yes, he's right. I just want to see you happy. I want to see you get married to someone that you love the most…again." Her mother said and stood up, went to a group hug.
Regina could only cry on her mother's shoulder and nodded.
Drizella had an urgent matter to deal with at the hotel of her father again. Her father and Gold Bank were now a partnership on building the new hotel. She had to meet with them in the afternoon so Emma let her go.
Emma let Regina be her secretary for the rest of the day. Her customer was at the five-star hotel that was not far from the company. She brought Regina to meet a customer with her.
Well, after the meeting was over, she had another plan for her.
If it wasn't for Snow she wouldn't come up with this plan at all. Yesterday, Snow came to her house and took care of the garden decoration for her.
A newly born grass is being crushed by a giant rock, we need to put it off, so the baby grass won't die and still alive, Emma.
If you want someone to remember things, you have to remind them of that said memory, right?
So Emma brought Regina to lunch with her at the same old dinner that they used to go to often back in the day.
It would not be her fault to remind Regina of their young love way back then in the process while she was indeed hungry.
They were at a local diner, near their old university. She took Regina's hand in her and pulled her in after seeing Regina hesitate to walk with her.
"You go wait for me at our table, I'll order for us." She finished without waiting for Regina's reply and left.
Regina looked at Emma with a frown. She was not sure what Emma was thinking. She swallowed hard and turned to look at the table that was at the corner of the dinner.
She hadn't been here since she got married.
It was their table. It was the place where she learned how much Emma loved her fries.
And how much the blonde could eat in one go as if it had been her habit since she was an orphan.
She learned how Emma knew her eating habits.
Emma knew that Regina loved the crispy bacon in her salad and would eat it in the final. She told Emma that it was not healthy but she also knew that the blonde loved to steal one to eat and she let her.
"Why are you still standing!? Let's go sit." Emma came back with a tray in her hand.
She snapped out of her reverie and walked behind the blonde to their table. She sat opposite Emma.
Regina didn't know what to think when a plate of green salad with extra crispy bacon on the side was placed in front of her.
She looked up suddenly at Emma and saw the blonde send a smile back at her.
Emma looked down at her burger and ate with eagerness. She finished off her burger fast enough and turned to the remaining fries after.
She was chewing happily when she looked up and saw Regina's plate was clear of any green leaves. Leaving only crispy bacon. Emma reached out to pick it up in her mouth without thinking anything but out of her habit.
"Hmm, It's delicious as the same, don't you think so, Regina?" Emma asked her.
Regina shook her head.
"I don't know. It's been so long, I can't even remember how delicious it was supposed to be." Regina wiped her mouth with a white nap and placed the fork down.
"You can't remember how delicious it was but you still do remember how you eat your salad. You eat those green leaves and leave the bacon in the end because you know someone here couldn't help herself and steal one of them off your plate later, right?" Emma put the rest of the bacon in her mouth, and after chewing and swallowing it down she smiled.
"You can't remember or you just pretend that you do?" Emma asked.
Regina stared at her and sighed.
"I didn't save it last for anyone. I left it last because I don't eat them." Regina put the plate away and took a sip of her water.
She pressed her lips together.
This was not like how she imagined her plan would go. Regina fought her back in everything she reminded her so far.
"Come on, Swan! Pass the ball!"
She panted while running with the ball with her ankle, her eyes were on the goal. She lifted her leg and kicked it hard, causing the ball to fly through the air.
Her lips parted open when the ball did not go straight at the goal but it flew over the goal into the group of cheerleaders on the field behind them.
Fuck!
Emma ran with a shout to the brunette whose back was facing her.
"Watch your head!"
She hadn't even finished the warning when her heart stopped as the brunette who got hit by the ball on her head slowly fell to the ground.
Emma picked up her speed and ran toward the fallen woman. She kneeled over the brunette and the sight of the woman facing up at her got her heart beat wildly in her chest.
It was not of tiredness but of wonder.
She just wondered what love at first sight would feel like.
Did it feel like this then, heart-picking up rate by only seeing the pretty face of the brunette?
The brunette had her eyes closed but a wince was still on her face. Emma reached out to clear the hair away from her forehead and the pretty face moved with her hand. She looked at the now reddish and swollen bump on her forehead.
That must have hurt, and she felt so bad.
"I'm so sorry! Are you alright?!" Emma said when the brunette regained her composure from the fall and started to sit up.
She immediately went to help her sit up on her hands.
"My head hurts! Obviously, I'm not alright, you idiot!" The brunette winced and opened her eyes to send Emma the scariest stare ever.
Emma gasped. Although how pretty that face was the woman had one of a mouth.
"Let me help you to the hospital room." Emma offered her arms and tried to help the brunette stand up.
"No! I can go alone. You can go back to play."
The brunette stood up and took a step before she swayed, Emma abruptly stepped closer and picked the brunette up in her arms, without her permission.
"Nope, Let me carry you then." Emma grinned.
"What are you doing?! My friends are all looking!" The brunette gasped and tried to let her lay her down.
She wouldn't do that and gripped the woman tighter in her arms. The woman was tiny than her, it was no bother to her at all. She ran to the hospital room.
Emma let the nurse check on the injured woman while she waited outside in the hallway.
Not long after, the brunette walked out with a small plaster on the side of her forehead. The pretty yet scary brunette glared at her before walking past her without any words.
She shrugged and followed after her.
Suddenly the smaller woman stopped and turned to look at her.
"What are you doing?!"
"Walking you to the field? I don't want you to faint on me." She smiled, showing off her dimples.
The brunette rolled her eyes with a mumble of 'idiot' and walked ahead of her.
They walked in silent but she noticed the smaller woman slowed down her pace and let Emma walk in sync with her. Emma smiled.
"You're a cheerleader? Why I haven't seen you in the field before?" Emma started as she was curious to know more about the beautiful woman beside her.
"I just got some free time today so I came to practice. But I guess I have to go home late since the ball had me to go over the dance all over again."
Now she was feeling worse than ever when the brunette said it to her face.
"If you finish up late, let me take you out to dinner, then?" Emma offered with a small grin. "or do you want to go now, you can just tell the team that you're injured in the head?"
The smaller woman's lips curled up slightly at her daring to ask her right out after she was the one who got her into this situation.
"My injury is very far from the heart. This bump is nothing but a small scratch."
She laughed.
"I'm Emma." She told her.
The brunette just looked at her with a knowing eye but said nothing and continued to walk.
Not long a field was in front of them. They reached the field and the woman stopped, turned around to face her.
She hadn't noticed the motion and stopped abruptly, bumping into the smaller woman. Emma reached out to grip her petite torso, preventing her from another fall.
She stared into those brown eyes that captured her from the start.
"It's Regina. Thanks for walking me by." Regina said and gave her the most beautiful smile she had ever seen.
Her heart beat faster at the sight.
Regina suddenly leaned in and kissed her cheek then turned to wave bye, running back to her cheerleader group.
She touched her cheek, and it felt warm where the soft lips were at the moment ago.
"Emma! Come on, we need another score!" Her friend yelled at her.
And she ran back to the field.
It was late around eighth when the last of the cheerleader group left and finally Regina gathered her things up on the bench. Emma grinned as she had been waiting for her to finish her dance since evening.
It was worth the wait for just a dinner with a beautiful woman.
"Hi." Emma greeted, hands in her pocket.
Regina turned around, bag on her shoulder, and let out a small gasp.
"You're still here?"
"Yep, are you hungry?" Emma asked again.
"Famished!" Regina smiled.
"Let me carry the bag, you must be sore." Emma reached out her hand and was the gentlewoman ever. Regina chuckled and gave in to her.
"Do you charm every woman with this chivalrous act, Emma?" Regina chuckled.
She swore she wanted to hear more of her chuckle, laugh even.
Emma put the bag over her shoulder, and she dared to reach out her hand to hold Regina's. Regina let her and she laced their fingers together.
"Do you believe me when I say it's just you, Regina?" Emma said.
"I will when you buy me dinner first, dear," Regina smirked.
"Deal."
That whole week she kept coming back to play football and eyeing Regina while she was practicing her dance. She brought her water after the practice was over and she took Regina to eat every day.
There were days that she was invited to go for a drink with the cheerleader group.
There was one night outside the bar, under the streetlight, beside the road, she got a kiss from Regina and it made her stomach tingle all over for just a simple kiss.
That night she got herself a girlfriend and she was so glad that she dared to ask Regina out.
"Do you still remember this place where we met for the first time?" Emma turned to ask Regina as she walked the brunette here in the field of their old university.
Regina only stood there and looked at her.
"After being together with you for almost four years, you hurt me so badly with your goodbye, Regina. It was the most hurtful thing I've ever experienced. You broke my heart." Emma's eyes hardened all of a sudden, swallowed down her tears when she thought about it.
"It's late. Let's go back, please. I have lots of work to clear." Regina said.
No, she had to let everything out for her plan to work.
Her eyes softened and she stepped closer.
"Everything that had happened was not your fault, Regina. Don't blame yourself. I admit that I was angry and hated you for leaving me without explanation. Without any care in the world, without any chance for me to say goodbye. After I knew that you married to pay off the debt of your family, I understood now. You did the right thing. You don't have to feel guilty over me anymore." Emma reached out to touch Regina's shoulder softly, looking into her wet brown eyes.
"I know you're tired. Tired of pretending that we don't know each other. You tried to forget our past. Even though how hard you tried and you're good at it. You know in your heart that you can never forget so please don't run away from it anymore."
She saw her throat move and those brown eyes filled with tears, turned softer.
"I don't care how many times you have to marry off for money, you are still my Regina. I understand everything now and I forgive you. You don't have to pretend or lie to yourself anymore."
She decided to walk past her since Regina didn't say anything, she must still process what she just said.
"Thank you."
Her step faltered, and she turned to see the brunette was holding it in.
"Thank you for understanding." Regina gave her a grateful smile.
She finally got her.
"I have to go now since I have to pick up Drizella. I don't want her to wait." Emma said out of nowhere.
"Alright." Regina nodded.
Emma turned around and left.
Her tears ran down her cheeks. Emma's words did unlock something deep inside her.
Regina wiped her cheeks and promised herself to start over again.
She would leave everything behind, the past that hurt, and start again.
