Chapter 1: The Meeting

Regina furiously storms into her office slamming the door behind her. What an egoistic prick! She thinks to herself. She no longer cares if she doesn't get the ad campaign with Locksley Corp. To hell with this deal! To hell with Gold!

Christina Bell enters Regina's office after hearing the loud ruckus Regina left.

Christina more commonly known as Tink was her first friend after moving to The Big Apple. Her blond hair tied up into a bun with a few loose strands. Her makeup set and sharp down to every detail.

"What happened? Why are you upset more than usual?" She asks as she occupies the open seat in front of Regina's desk.

Regina sat on her chair looks at the woman with a deep scowl. "What happened? I'll tell you what happened, Robin Locksley happened!"

"Good Morning, Dearie!" her boss Robert Gold greets as she enters his office. "Regina you know that you are my MOST capable employee."

Regina scoffs at the word. "Capable" was the best praise he would give if he actually gave anything more it would mean that he likes people. She sits down on the black leather chair at the front of his desk.

"The Locksley Corporation is looking for an ad agency to create a campaign for their newly established Sherwood Resorts and I'm sending you to get their account," he continues. "Now, their resorts are spread all over Asia, Europe and they have one in Hawaii. I hope you understand how big this is and how much it will cost us not to get it. Are you up for it?" He asks tapping his fingers on the desk.

Regina accepts without a second thought. How hard could it be? She's handled bigger projects than this.

After multiple sleepless nights, a broken coffee machine from making 20 cups a day, and a couple bags under the eyes, Regina and her team had created a flawless business deal. If Regina was, to be honest with herself she had outdone herself.

The following day, Regina enters Locksley Corp. in a red silk top with a few buttons purposely left unbuttoned and a short pencil skirt with a slit. She matched it with four-inch black stilettos and a black blazer. She wanted something and she knew exactly how to get it.

She pushes the conference room door open lightly and enters with some extra sway into her hips. "Good Morning!" She greets with the brightest smile.

When she enters Mr Robin Locksley is left astounded. She's the one he thinks. She's going to be his wife.

"He wanted an exchange."

Tink's eyes glimmers, "Oh!" She exclaimed excitedly. "What did he want?"

Before Regina could answer Gold bursts into her office. "I'm expecting good news Mills!" He announces.

"Well I'm sorry to disappoint but Mr Locksley wanted more than we– I can offer."

Gold looks at her intently. "I see and what kind of offer did he want."

Regina thinks over Robin's words earlier. "Sorry sir but according to him everything we discussed was highly confidential and must never leave the conference room."

"Regina, must I remind you how big this account is?" Gold turns to the door and was about to leave but he stops. He turns back to Regina. "I expected more from you. I expected you to do everything that you needed to do."

Regina lays her head, arms crossed on the table once Gold leaves forgetting that Tink was still in the room. "So what did Mr Locksley want?" She adds a sultry tone at the mention of his name. Regina lifts her head up and rolls her eyes. "Oh come on Reggie! You can trust me."

"I told you not to call me that and if you really want to know he asked me to go on an indefinite leave with him."

Tink jumped out of her seat in excitement. "He what? To where and why?"

"I don't know. The minute he mentioned going away I rejected the offer, walked out, and that was the end of it."

"So I'm assuming that you'll never go back to arrange anything with him."

Regina slowly nods her head.

Regina enters Le Début Bar and Grill, one of the most upscale restaurants in New York. The lobby is quite dark with red lights and a fireplace lighting the place.

"Hello, how are you tonight?" the hostess greets.

Regina replies and checks in her coat. The woman quickly finds the reservation and leads her to a table near to the centre of the room where her father awaits.

Regina and her family are quite well off. Her father is a corporate lawyer and is part of the top-paid ten percent. Meanwhile, Regina's mother is a highly known and respected cardiac surgeon. Who is best known for her works at the Mayo Hospital when she published her own research on ACHD (adult congenital heart disease) as a resident.

Regina sits down and notices the vast chandelier above her. The light coming down from it feels like a spotlight.

"Your waiter will be with you in just a moment." She hears the hostess. "Feel free to look over our wine selection as you wait."

Regina shifts awkwardly in her seat and looks over the wine selections. "What would you like, sweetheart?" Her father asks.

Regina lifts her head up to look at her father but then she sees him. Looking past her father's shoulder a few feet away is Robin Locksley dining with a blonde woman. She can feel the slight rage building inside. That insufferable man!

Suddenly their waiter appears causing Regina to break her gaze away.

"My name is Sebastian and I'll be your server for the evening."

Sebastian is a tall man that appears to be in his mid-20s. He had impeccably good hair and a handsome face. He spoke with a noticeable French accent and Regina couldn't help but notice the glean and kindness in his smile.

"Perhaps you'd like to start the night off with some drinks," he suggested.

"I'll have the Moët and Chandon Nectar Imperial Rose."

"I'll have the same." Her father requests.

The man marks down their drinks and asks, "Would you like to hear our specials for the evening?" Henry accepts the offer and Sebastian lists the evening specials starting with Purple Top Turnip "Bavarois" and ending with "Torchon" of Élevages Périgord Moulard Duck Foie Gras that he assures that they will have no regrets in.

"Regina, I rarely get to spend time with you let alone spoil you these days."

"That's because you and mother don't like coming to New York."

Henry and Regina continue to banter on who gets to pay until Regina gives in realizing that they will end up staying here all night if she doesn't forfeit.

"Sweetheart I have to go. I have an early meeting then a flight back tomorrow, therefore, I need to rest early." Henry kisses his daughter's forehead and takes off.

Once Henry is out the door someone takes over the now empty seat. "Good evening, Milady." A thick British accent greets her.

Regina rolls her eyes. "What are you doing here Mr Locksley and what do you want this time?"

Robin smirks and winks at her. "We both know what I want Ms Mills– I want you."

Regina choked on the wine she was sipping.

"An hour Ms Mills, that's all I need. I'll explain my offer to you and your company. If you don't want to then I'll be on my way and you'll never have to interact with me. Ever. Again." Robin reaches for her hand that lays on the table. He looks up, blue orbs meeting brown. "Please." It was a silent plea but it was enough to break Regina.

"Fine. Tomorrow. Meet me at Granny's the diner at noon. I don't need anyone seeing us together." Regina pulls her hand back from his grasp. What had she just done? "You better not pull anything on me Locksley!"

Robin and Regina make their way out of Le Début. An Audi R8 pulls up in front of them followed by a man in a suit stepping out. "Sir Locksley" the man greets holding the car door open.

"Good evening Channing" Robin greets back.

A few moments later a pearl white Tesla S2.0 pulls up. "Ms Mills" the valet greets handing her car keys.

Robin greets Regina a good night and she nods before heading over to the driver side. Robin then enters his car with a content smile knowing that his plans are about to be complete.

When Robin hears the bell ring from the door he looks up and sees Regina enter.

Regina walks towards him in the back corner of the diner. "Good Afternoon, Locksley." she greets when she gets to his table booth.

"Locksley? Isn't that a bit disrespectful?" he teases looking up at her.

Regina sits down with an annoyed look, "Disrespectful? I don't think I'm the one lacking in business etiquettes here."

"Touché." He replies with a smug grin.

Regina was about to say something until she is interrupted with a voice, "Good Afternoon, my name is Ruby and I'll be your server today. What can I get ya?"

Ruby is a tall brunette with wavy locks and red streaks. She's quite pretty and sexy as she dawns black leather pants with a white crop top.

Regina spots Robin practically drooling at the sight of Ruby. She rolls her eyes. "I'll take a grilled chicken salad to go hold the ranch on the side please."

Robin hears Regina say "to go" and pulls his attention from the hot waitress and back to Regina. "To go? Eager to get rid of me already, Milady?" He turns back to Ruby and orders, "I'll have the ultimate bacon cheeseburger with a side of fries and extra barbecue sauce."

Once Ruby left Robin looks at Regina intently. "My offer is simple Ms Mills."

Regina scoffs, "Simple? I hardly call going on a random rendezvous and an indefinite leave simple."

"If you would've let me finish rather than walking out on me it would've made this whole thing SIMPLE." Robin grabs her hand on the table and looks into her eyes. "My offer is you fly with me to London and pretend to be my wife until the company is transferred to my name. Once the charade is over I give you the account and it will be over. It's a win-win situation."

Regina takes her hand back and folds them on the tabletop. She leans forward and says, "What makes you think that I'd agree to such terms?"

Robin leans forward until their faces are only inches apart, "Because I know that you wouldn't be here if this account didn't matter to you." He notices that her face scrunches a bit more. "Look, Ms Mills, I can hire anyone to be my wife but I'm choosing you because I like you. You're sophisticated and professional. I can get a wife with or without you, but without me, you can't get the deal."

Regina sinks into her side of the booth and asks the question that has been running through her mind, "But why do you need a wife?"

Robin relaxes into his seat as well and answers hesitantly, "On my parents' will it states that before I could get the company under my name I would have to marry."

Regina raises an eyebrow, "and why would your parents do such a thing?"

Before Robin could answer Ruby enters and brings their food. "Is there anything else I could do for you?" She asks politely.

They both shake their heads and say their thanks.

Robin grabs a fry and munches on it trying to avoid Regina's previous question. Unlucky for him she repeats the question and will not give up until she gets her answer. "My father wanted to be sure the company will be kept in the family name. By having a wife it would mean that I would have legitimate offsprings."

"And if you didn't?"

Robin lowers his voice, "Then the company will be given to my cousin and he'll continue the Locksley name."

Regina smirks at him, "What makes you think that with all the information you disclosed I wouldn't double-cross you?"

"Like I said you're sophisticated and professional. The easiest way to create a deal. All business no strings attached."

"Fine. You've got yourself a deal, Mr Locksley."

Robin smiles. He won.