The Nanny

The Gender Reveal Party

Regina sat at the table in Robin's office, sipping at some tea as she looked over some proposals. She tilted her head and frowned, pulling out a drawing that showed several darkly colored trees with terrifying faces. "I get being creative and edgy, but going a dark route for a nursery?"

"That's definitely going on the reject pile," Robin said, taking the paper and depositing it on a large pile toward the middle of the table with a shudder.

He then handed her a pale blue folder. "These were lovely. Very whimsical."

"Whimsical sounds nice." She opened the folder and was greeted with a skyscape full of lavender clouds floating in a soft pink sky as a silver sun shone in the middle. The drawing behind it showed white trees with silver leaves as a fox stood with its head raised to the sun. Behind that was a drawing of Cinderella with long blonde hair and a tattered pink dress sitting amongst a pumpkin patch while holding her glass slipper.

She placed it on their smaller pile. "Definitely one to consider further."

"I think we're off to a good start," Robin said, gathering up their rejects. "I'll have Johanna keep these so she can send a polite rejection letter at the end."

"And these?" She placed her hand on the other stack.

He held out his hand and she handed them to him. "I'll hold on to those for now. Then we'll figure out our next steps."

The door opened and Johanna leaned in. "Sorry to interrupt but Leroy called from downstairs. Chryseos Midas is on his way up and apparently, he's in a mood."

"Well, I'll take that as my cue to leave," Regina said, standing with her mug. Even though she had been vindicated, she didn't want to be anywhere near Midas. He was still too closely associated with Leo in her mind. So it was a good there was something else she needed to do while she was at Sherwood, she thought as she kissed Robin's cheek. "If you need me, I'll be in Tink's office just confirming some things for the Winter Masquerade. It'll be here before we know it."

He grimaced. "I know. I can't believe how soon Roland's birthday is going to be. He's growing up so fast."

"It'll be okay," she assured him before heading toward the door. She reached out her hand toward the knob, ready to open it.

The door flew open, almost knocking her back as Midas stormed into the office. Robin hurried over to her as he frowned at the man. "Chrys, you know I value our friendship and all the guidance you've given me over the years, but that doesn't give you the right to just storm into my office! You nearly knocked down Regina!"

"Regina!" Midas looked crazed as he turned, noticing her for the first time. He threw a newspaper at her. "This is all your doing!"

"Chrys! You're out of line," Robin said, stepping closer to the older man while Regina picked up the newspaper from where it landed on the floor.

She straightened up while suppressing a groan at how difficult bending already was getting. Ignoring it, she opened the newspaper and her eyes widened when she saw an annoyed Nat Cole on the cover. "No Whores Allowed—Three Fiddler's Brewery CEO accused of sexual discrimination by current and former female employees."

"You and your little speech did that," Midas told her, his face so red she thought he was going to explode.

Regina crossed her arms. "I was talking to people who were being harassed and assaulted, but you know what? If people who are being discriminated against also got the courage to speak up, then good for them."