A/N: And, here's the next chapter I promised you all enjoying this story. :) There's a little bit of everything in here, some things you'll like, some things you won't, maybe lol but I am very pleased with the result. Especially that darn cliffhanger that we all hate to love. ;) Happy reading!
Chapter 37: Like Fuel To Fire
"Decided to take the long way to work this morning, Ms. Emma?" Sidney smiles, glancing at Emma through the rear view mirror.
Emma returns his smile. "I needed to clear my head of a few things, Sidney. Do you mind?"
"Not at all, Ms. Emma. Mrs. Page was very specific that I needed to make sure your every need was met with satisfactory results. I intend to keep my word on that. Wouldn't want to let her down now, would we?"
Emma chuckles. "No. No, we wouldn't." She gives a quick look over her left shoulder, out the rear window and takes notice in an old maroon Nissan. The same car she saw parked in front of her father's apartment. As the ride continues, she takes notice that every turn Sidney makes, the Nissan is not too far behind. And as they reach her building to Page & Swan Industries, Emma notices the car drive by at normal speed.
Sidney marches to the passenger door, holding it open for Emma when he notices the quizzical look on her face. "Is everything alright, Ms. Emma?" He asks.
"Everything's fine, Sidney," Emma nods, giving him a smile. "Thank you for everything."
"Always at your service," Sidney nods curtly.
Emma glances toward the side of the road where she saw the maroon Nissan turn, seeing no sign of its return. She continues to march into her building, briefcase clutched in her right hand. She stops short at the sight of Regina, and a few others that work with her. Emma always managed to forget that she would most likely run into her here often enough.
Regina gives a small smile her way, and nods in greeting before she gets back to work, instructing one of the women on various paint colors.
And for the first time ever, Regina notices when Emma gives a small, very faint, curt nod as she continues up the stairs until she reaches her office. A small sign of acknowledgement Regina wasn't expecting today, but she'd take it. Once in the privacy of her office, Emma sets her briefcase down, beside its usual place, by her chair as she plops down and sighs. Truthfully, nothing occupied her mind quite like that maroon Nissan that has been following her for days with no meets-to-an-end. But if this is the game Robin Locksley wanted to play, she could play.
Her cell phone ringing startles Emma out of her thoughts. "Mrs. Williams?" She answers, wondering why the owner of Regina's dream house would be calling her now.
"Emma, I'm sorry for calling so unexpectedly like this."
"Don't apologize," Emma leans back in her chair. "It's unexpected, yes, but it's a lovely surprise. To what do I owe it? I wasn't expecting to hear from you until tomorrow morning."
"Well, a woman has a right to change her mind, doesn't she? Besides, I didn't realize that you and I had a friend in common. You know, you could have warned me."
Emma's brow furrows, "Friend? What friend might that be?"
"I'll tell you what. Come to my house later this afternoon for brunch, where we can talk more about that property you wish to own. If I'm going to sell it to you, I'd love to meet you face to face."
Emma can hear the woman smile on her final decision, and it caused her body to lean in. "Sell me the house?"
"That's what I said. Come by noon. I'll forward you the address, yes? We'll have ourselves a proper introduction."
"I'll be there," the corner of Emma's lip lifts.
"See you then!" Mrs. Williams' beams before hanging up the call. Emma's smile can't possibly grow any larger than it is as Lily walks into her office.
"What's that smile about? I haven't seen you smile like that since we were in New York." Lily smiles.
"I got it." Said Emma. "The house behind Regina's. I just spoke to the owner and she wants to meet with me to seal the deal."
Lily can't help but take in the way Emma's eyes positively light up. "That's wonderful news!" She says happily, hiding the hint of pain in her voice. "So, you and Regina will become neighbors, then. Are you sure you'll be able to handle that?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Emma asks, her smile fading.
"I don't know," Lily shrugs. "Who cares?" She grins. "We'll need to celebrate this once you have your new place up and running. And I guess my invitation to lunch will have to wait."
"I'm sorry. Rain-check. I promise."
"I'll hold you to that," Lily warned. "Listen, I just wanted to come by, really, to inform you that I'll be flying to New York tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" Emma's brows raise. "For how long?"
"Just for two days." Lily promised.
"Is everything alright? Is Mal okay?"
"She's fine. She needs me to settle some financial situations over at the company, and I have to be there presently. Husband number two wants to sue her for all she has, apparently over a disagreement," she rolls her eyes. "So, naturally I have to be there."
Emma smiles. "Breaking hearts left and right, huh? So Mal."
"I'll tell her you said that," Lily grinned.
"Be sure that you do." Emma doesn't hesitate to pull Lily into a hug. "Mm, I'm sure gonna miss you. I hope this means you'll miss me."
"Of course," Emma smiled.
"Well, in that case, I'll hurry back." Lily winked. She took a moment but ultimately leaned in and placed a kiss along Emma's cheek, closer to the corner of her mouth.
There's a knock, followed by Regina entering the office and stops short at the sight of them. "I'm sorry, I-"
Lily pulls away, smiling, "No, it's okay, Regina. Come on in. Emma and I were just-"
"Please, spare me," Regina holds up her palm. "It's not my business." Her eyes glare in Emma's direction. "I'll just come back later."
Once the door is slammed shut, Lily turns back to Emma. "Is it me or did she seem angry to you?"
"What time is your flight tomorrow?" Emma asked, avoiding Lily's question.
"Early, six-thirty-six. I figured the earlier I get there and take care of everything, the sooner I can come back."
"Sidney can drive you, if you want." Emma offered. "That way you don't go alone."
"Oh, no, I already asked for a cab by tomorrow morning. Thanks, anyway."
"Cancel it." Emma shook her head. "I insist. There's no one I trust more than Sidney to drive you to the airport. Please."
"Well, how can I say no when you insist so much?" Lily pulls Emma in for another lingering hug. "Thank you. It warms my heart to know that you actually worry about me."
"Of course I worry, Lily. Your mother would kill me if something happened to you." Emma smiled.
"Well," she pulls away. "I'll be ready by five to make good time getting to the airport."
"Sidney will be there."
Lily exited out of the office and made her way down the stairs. Her eyes landed on Regina, who was observing the new color of the wall. "Pretty color," she commented, walking over to Regina. "Doesn't really seem like Emma's style, though, does it?"
"On the contrary. I think it is exactly the style Emma will appreciate." Regina retorts.
"Are you sure about that?" Lily stares Regina down.
"It's blue. Blue is her favorite color. This is midnight blue."
"And how would you know what her favorite color is, Regina?"
"Well," Regina blinks. "Doesn't everyone like blue?"
Lily chuckles, "Do you?" She looks over to the part of the wall that's coated in midnight blue. Her finger taps along her chin, "Hm… I was thinking more of a red wine type of color. Yes," she grins. "Red wine definitely pops."
Regina forces a smile. "While red wine does have a certain pop to it, I have to disagree with you on it being the color that this place needs."
"And just how would you know what this place needs?" Lily places her hands along her hips.
"Well," Regina mirrors her stance. "I'm the artist. It's my job to know these things."
Lily observes the wall more carefully. "We're going with red wine." She gives a tight smile. "It's more elegant."
Regina inhales deeply through her nose, counting down mentally from ten. "While that's true, Lily, midnight blue gives an office space a more calm and focused environment. It's exactly what Emma needs."
"And now you know what Emma needs?" Lily's brows raise.
"Look," Regina glares, having had enough of this ridiculous conversation. "I can paint it red wine, if that'll make you happy."
"It will make me happy."
"But, you should know that with time and the sunlight entering through those doors," Regina motions to the glass doors in the main lobby. "Red wine will fade and it will need repainting every few months. Three- max."
"So will midnight blue." Lily retorted.
"Yes…" Regina's jaw tightens. "No one is arguing that, but midnight blue lasts longer. After all, in the end I think it should be about what Emma prefers."
"Emma," Lily beckons Emma over as she's coming down the stairs. "Let us see what she prefers, then." She whispers to Regina.
Regina resists the urge to roll her eyes in that moment. Instead, they land on Emma, who stands in between them.
"So, Regina and I can't seem to find some common ground on which color would be perfect for the walls around here." Lily reaches for a scrapbook, flipping through the pages dramatically until she stops at wine red. "I say wine red would be the perfect choice. See. It pops more, don't you think?"
Emma hesitantly takes the book in her hands, her eyes looking over the color.
"And as I was explaining to Lily here," Regina continues. "Is that while that is a fine color to have, wine red fades faster. I think a midnight blue is more suitable." She motions to the wall behind her.
Emma's eyes quietly look over to the wall coated in midnight blue before looking back down at the strip of wine red along the booklet.
"Emma, what do you choose?" Lily asks. Regina, too, turns her attention to Emma.
The truth is, Emma loved the idea of the midnight blue. It stung her heart, the fact that Regina remembered her favorite color. But Regina always remembered everything. "I think…" she says, glancing down at the red wine color before handing Regina back the book. "Red wine would be better."
While Regina's frown deepens, Lily's smile widens triumphantly.
"There, you see," Lily beams. "I knew you would see it my way."
Regina snatches the book from Emma's hand. Her eyes glaring into Emma's. "Very well, then. Red wine it is. I'll just get right to it."
"Thank you, Regina." Lily nods, and as if the situation wasn't already drenched in gasoline all the more, Lily goes and pours just a little more on that wound along Regina's heart, by leaning in and placing another kiss on Emma's cheek. "I'll see you later, Em."
Emma doesn't say goodbye, she simply nods and looks over at Regina, who continues to glare. "Excuse me," she mutters under her breath, exiting the building.
"Robin Locksley," Robin speaks on his cell after it rang with an unregistered number.
"Mr. Locksley. This is Claire Williams. I don't know if you remember me since this is the first time that we have officially spoke, but-"
"Mrs. Williams!" Robin leans back in his chair, his body relaxing. "Of course, I remember you. I wasn't expecting your call. Tell me," he leans in. "I hope this means you have good news for me." He grins. "My wife can't wait to move into our own home."
"Well, unfortunately, Mr. Locksley…" Robin instantly frowned. Nothing good ever started with unfortunately. "I'm afraid I have decided to go with Emma Swan's offer on this one."
"What?" His lips tightened into a thin line. "I gave you triple your asking price!" His body shoots up from his chair.
"I realize that, and that is precisely why I decided in favor of Ms. Swan."
"You are making a grave mistake," Robin seethed.
"I don't make mistakes, Mr. Locksley. I make corrections. If I pry myself in anything, it's in having a good judge of character. Honestly, a person who is desperate enough to be willing to pay triple of my asking price is either a sociopath or wants to insult my intelligence. But I won't take much of your time. I simply wanted to deliver the news personally, so don't expect to be hearing from me anymore, Mr. Locksley. Good day to you."
"No, wait-" the line clicks. "Hello? Hello!" Robin's arm flings and his phone flies across the room, shattering into a million pieces after impacting the wall.
"Robin, what the hell?" Samuel's eyes widened.
Robin lifts a menacing finger, "You. This is all because of you. If you hadn't given her the damn liberty to do as she pleases, none of this would be happening!"
"What in the hell are you talking about? Explain yourself!" Samuel demanded.
"No, I am through, explaining myself to you, father! Through!" Robin brushes past his father's shoulder, slamming the door to his office.
Killian exited the vehicle quickly upon seeing Robin exit the building.
"Keys, Killian," Robin holds out his hand before a flabbergasted Killian.
"Sir?"
"Give me the fucking keys, I want to drive." Robin demanded, snatching the keys from Killian's hand and mounting the driver's seat. The tires along the car burned along the pavement as soon as the engine roared to life.
"Ah, Ms. Swan! At last!" Mrs. Williams, a gray-haired woman of what looked to be seventy-something, yet still strong, extended her hand in greeting toward Emma. "Welcome. I hope you didn't have any trouble finding my new place. I like my privacy, you see."
The house was settled along the beach, far from the city and others. Emma definitely had to drive-ways in before locating Mrs. Williams' new home that was surprisingly smaller than the house she would soon own. For a woman with a lot of money, and Mrs. Williams' definitely flaunted it. This new one story, beach mansion was all white with trinkets here and there that looked to be worth more than the house itself. Nothing the woman couldn't afford.
"I can understand a thing or two about privacy, Mrs. Williams." Emma smiled, welcoming herself into the woman's home. Clearly, she liked large windows.
"I know what you're thinking," deep expression lines were visible along the woman's cheeks as she smiled, brighter than the room itself. "Open windows, right? Quite large."
Emma chuckled, "Something along those lines, yes."
"What's a house if you don't let a little sunlight in? We aren't vampires. Our skin needs a little Vitamin D!"
"I couldn't agree more." Emma smiled. "I plan to leave the glass windows and glass door to your old home."
"Please," she waved a dismissive hand. "Change whatever you want. It'll be your home now. Speaking of which, I asked our friend in common to join us for brunch. I hope you don't mind."
"Not at all, I'm quite intrigued as to who this friend in common might be."
"Well, as it turns out you know her very well," Mrs. Williams' pushes open a set of double doors that lead into a closed-in patio area.
Emma's eyes grew in surprise. "Mary Margaret?"
Mary Margaret stood from the patio table, giving Emma a direct smile. "Hi, Emma."
"You know Mrs. Williams?"
"For years," Mrs. Williams' perks up. "Why, she was practically like a daughter to me growing up! We lost touch for a while, but thanks to you becoming interested in the property, and Mary Margaret reaching out to me to vouch for you, I recognized that voice right away. I said to myself, 'That there is good 'ol Maggie.' That was my nickname for her, you see."
Emma can't help but grin, joining both women along the table. "I've actually missed you calling me that. I'll admit." Mary Margaret beamed.
"Now, Emma," Mrs. Williams claps her hands in excitement. "Maggie tells me that you have a special attachment to the house. Honestly, I couldn't have sold to anyone better."
"Well, I appreciate the vote of confidence, Mrs. Williams." Said Emma.
"Please, we are on the brink of a closed business deal. Call me Claire." Claire turns to one of her servants, who whispers something along the lines of dinner being ready in her ear. "Alright, give us five more minutes, please." She nods, turning her attention back to Emma. "Now… shall we get started on the paperwork?"
Emma's smile positively brightens the room as it fills out along her lips.
"You again," Zelena groans with a dramatic roll of her eyes at the sight of Killian standing at her front door. "What do you want now, Gilligan?"
"It's Killian," Killian blinked.
"Whatever." Her eyes take in the bag of groceries he suddenly holds up. "Didn't you already do this?"
Killian reaches into the bag and withdraws a single bar of Hershey's chocolate.
Zelena's eyes narrow, "What am I supposed to do with that?"
"Well, some people like to unwrap it and enjoy a piece of two. It's a craving." Said Killian.
"And you just happen to know my cravings?"
"I heard you mention it to Mr. Locksley once."
"No, I haven't."
"Okay," Killian clears his throat. "Once when I drove you home, you kept insisting that I stop to buy you a Hershey's chocolate bar. I of course didn't, and I've felt really bad about it since. And a lot of other things."
"A guilty conscience isn't fun to carry around," Zelena frowns. "I know that feeling well." Suddenly she snatches the Hershey bar from Killian's hand, so fast the wrapper crinkles. "Thanks. But just because you brought me chocolate, it doesn't mean I forgive you for luring me into that hospital."
Killian nods, "Understood." Clutching the bag in his hand, he turns on the balls of his shoes and begins walking down the hall.
I must be out of my mind, was the last thing Zelena thought before she shouted, "Hey, Gilligan."
Killian decided not to correct her as he turned back around.
"I'm having some leftover Chinese food. There's plenty for two. If you're, you know, hungry." She shrugs, remaining by the door.
An invitation for reheated Chinese was the last thing in Killian's plans. But who was he to turn down such an offer? "Is there sweet and sour chicken?" His face relaxed as soon as Zelena held the door open, making room for him to enter.
"Have a good evening, Mr. Locksey," a nurse from behind a check-out desk said, going ignored by Robin as he stepped out of two sliding double doors. He stopped in front of a sign that read: Rain Forest Nursing Home, exactly when his new purchased phone rang.
"About fucking time you call me," he hissed over the phone. "Tell me you have something."
"I have something." a male voice on the other end informs.
"Where can I meet you?"
"There's a bar called The Blue Anchor. I'll forward you the address."
Robin presses his thumb on the end call button and shortly receives a message with the address to this so-called Blue Anchor bar, which looking at its location on the map, it wasn't a bar Robin would be caught dead frequenting. Until tonight. With his destination in mind, Robin climbed into his black BMW and drove off.
It took him a good forty-five minutes to arrive to this hole in the wall place that looked like it had seen better days. He questioned leaving his brand new car parked out here, but he didn't have much of a choice. Killian wasn't answering his phone, which made him wonder where he was so he could meet him over here, but that's a mystery he would later solve. And just as he feared, the bar smelled like piss mixed with cheap beer. So bad, his throat bobbed as he held back a gag-reflex.
A hand raised from one of the back booths, where it was dark, waving him over, and it took Robin a second to recognize him before he marched over, careful not to allow anything to brush against his clothes. Or anyone that kept eyeing him as he entered further.
"If I paid you a little more money, is it possible that you could have found a better rat hole to meet in?" He hissed as he joined the man sitting across the booth, sipping his cheap beer.
"Hey, be nice," the man's husky voice said. "In case you're wondering, you aren't so welcomed in here either." The man had a thick head of black curly hair, and a five o'clock shadow along his jawline. Dark eyes that held many secrets, and a thick new york accent that went well with his persona.
"How about a drink, handsome?" The girl from behind the bar smiled at Robin, throwing a wink into the mix of her offer.
"Well, thank you," the man smiled, holding up his almost empty mug. "Usual beer; goes on his tab."
"I wasn't talking to you." The woman rolls her eyes, smiling down at Robin.
Robin's nose crinkles in disgust at the way the man drowns the remainder of his beer. A trail of it runs down the side of his mouth, creating dark puddles along his shirt. "Scotch on the rocks. Double."
"You got it." She winks again before walking away.
"Hey, don't forget my beer!" The man nearly shouted.
"Yeah, yeah!"
"Enough wasting my time," Robin demanded, keeping his voice low. "I asked for the best investigator and you're what I get?"
"Hey, be nice or I won't share with you what I found."
"Show me."
The man digs into his jacket pocket and pulls out a phone, tossing it along the table. "It's all there."
Robin eyes the phone before looking back up at the man. "A fucking phone? I ask you to investigate Emma Swan and all I get is a fucking phone?" Having had enough, Robin stands and tosses a few bills along the table.
"Hey! Hey, hey, whoa!" The man grabs a hold of Robin's arm, feeling it yank away. "Hold on a second. Sit down. You wanted solid proof, you have it. I got you what you wanted."
"What is a phone supposed to prove?" Robin sneered.
"Sit the fuck down and I'll tell ya, will ya?" The man leaned back along the booth as Robin began walking away. "Fair enough, but you leave now you will never find out about who she was madly in love with. You wanted to dig deep, right? Know more about what made Emma Swan tick? Well I can tell you that. But if you walk out of here, you won't see me again. I promise you that."
Robin stops short, rotating along the floor before walking back the three paces he had taken. As he sat the waitress came along delivering his drink, and the beer. He digs into his pocket and tosses another set of large bills in front of the man. The amount must be more than he had ever seen in his life with the way his Adam's apple bobbed. His eyes were practically dollar signs.
"This is yours, along with what I already paid you… if you tell me Emma Swan's secrets."
The man chuckled, snatching the bills off the table and pocketing them. "Take a sip, rich boy. You won't like what I have to tell you."
Robin reaches for his scotch and drowns it down, slamming the glass down.
Regina's hand swiftly moved along the canvas that evening. She decided to start combining blue and a shade of black until the perfect combination of midnight blue was created. The color was haunting her, that if she didn't paint it it would drive her insane. "Wine red," she muttered under her breath, shaking her head. "Of all the stupid, stupid, stupid colors!" She tossed her brush along her canvas, creating a small splatter effect.
It was then, there was a sudden knock at the door.
"Go away, Kathryn," Regina announced, hearing another set of knocks after. "I'm busy. And I want to be alone, thank you." More knocks followed that finally, Regina shot up from her bench with the heaviest of sighs and marched to yank her door open. "Kathryn, I'm seriously not in the mood for your shi-" Her eyes grew unexpectedly wide, mouth dropped to the floor, voice gone at the sight before her. "Emma?" She breathed.
Emma's green eyes bore into Regina's as she looked down at her. Regina always loved working barefoot in here, which airways brought her down to two inches shorter than Emma.
What was she doing here? That was Regina's last thought.