Editor

Chapter 5 Impress

"Hey, we're going out tonight, you in?" Tiana and Ruby asked Regina as she got there. "Sure, sounds like fun," Regina nodded and agreed. "Great, get us some dudes, and drinks," Tiana said. "I think the dude Regina wants is in his office," Ruby said. "True," Tiana added. 

Regina laughed and shook her head at them, "Stop it," she scolded cutely. "We ship you, we can't help it," Tiana winked. 

"Miss Mills!" Killian called at 9:30 am, and Regina couldn't help but smile at the girls and head into his office. "Morning again," He smiled and shut the door, gesturing her to sit down. He sat in his chair behind the desk and Regina placed her hands in her lap.

"Well, I must say, in the first week, you give me your first article of a difficult deep topic, a night early, and it's one of the best first articles I've read," he said. Regina gaped at him in awe. "Wow," she couldn't say more than that.

Killian chuckled a bit, "For such a brilliant writer, that's your response?" He asked, tucking his tongue to the side of his mouth. "Uhh, well, I just, I didn't expect to be able to come up with that article and get it done fast," She shrugged, and smiled at him.

Killian's POV-- Damn that smile, lights up the room, she's like a little angel from heaven. 

"Well, like I said, I am rarely impressed, especially with first time writers, how old are you anyway?" He asked. "Umm 29," Regina nodded at him. "Mmm," he grunted and nodded back at her. 

"So, just minor little edits, but it's wonderful, and will be in next issue." he smiled. "Great," Regina beamed at him. "Uhh, did you want to publish it under your name? Full name? Anything special?" he asked. 

"Umm just Regina," she shrugged. "Ok, don't want your last name?" He asked. "No," she shook her head shrugged casually. "Ok, REGINA," he said.

Regina's POV- Damn, the way he said my name, oh my god. 

The day went on and Regina gathered her things to go out with Tiana and Ruby. Killian couldn't help but watch the three of them laugh and smile, and leave together. "Goodnight Boss!" Ruby called to Killian. 

He nodded and waved them off, but focused only on Regina. She blushed and looked down as she stood between the two giggling women. Killian smiled and thought about Regina now for the night. 

Killian didn't go home, he sat in his office, and poured a glass of wine there. He typically would work Friday's late, as it was days before he would need to have the full magazine together for printing. 

Killian sipped his glass of wine, and most of the office lights were off. The building janitors were cleaning up the office space as usual. "Hey Rich, how's the kids?" Killian asked the worker, "They're wonderful Sir, baby is walking," he smiled at him. "Ah, seems only yesterday you welcomed her to the world, time flies," Killian smiled. "Yes, Sir, it does," he nodded to him. 

Some of the lights were dim in the office, but he saw someone enter, not the cleaning crew either. He went out of his office and looked down the hallway, seeing the ladies room light flick on and the door just closed. 

He heard some gently weeping, and headed to outside the door. Killian pushed the door open a bit, "Uhh hello?" He asked. 

"Shit," Regina cursed hearing his voice. "Regina?" Killian came into the bathroom. She placed her hand on her cheek, and had her sunglasses on. She sniffled and he stared at her. "What are you doing here?" He asked.

"Well, I had to use the bathroom, and I left my purse here actually, and it was closer anyway, I didn't think you would be here, I'm sorry, I'll go," she tried to rush past him, "Woah, hold on, you ok? You're shivering," he noticed. 

The fact she had sunglasses on and hadn't moved her hand off her cheek, and was clearly crying, gave him a sign something was indeed wrong. 

"Regina," he lowered his tone, and gently took her hand off her face. It was red, he sighed, and gently took off her sunglasses. There was a tiny cut on her eyebrow. "Regina, what happened?" He asked. 

"It's fine, it's no big deal," she shook her head. "What happened? I thought you went out with the ladies, they're not irresponsible," he said. "No, they're not, it was after that, it's just an ex boyfriend I ran into," She said, sniffling. 

"He hit you?" Killian asked, his blood boiling. "It's fine, it was more an accident really," she lied. "Ok, well you're bleeding, so just," he got a napkin and wet it gently and placed it on her eyebrow. 

"This is really not how I wanted to end my first week, it went so great, and I'm not your problem," Regina said, his eyes looked down at her, warmly, "You're my employee though, and I care about my employees," he said softly cleaning the little wound.

She stared up at his eyes and felt comforted just having him there. "Umm, let me get you home?" He offered. "You don't have to do that, I can get a cab," She shrugged. "No, I want to, I want to make sure you get there safely," he said. "Technically as your boss, I'm requiring you let me get a cab and get you home," he said.

Regina felt so embarrassed, and Killian led her downstairs and got a cab for them, she told the driver her address. She couldn't even look at him, she was so embarrassed this is how her first week ended, with her stupid ex boyfriend showing up. 

Killian noticed her phone blinking, texts. 'Regina I'm still here at the Blue Tavern bar, you better get back here.' 

The cab stopped, and Regina got out, "Thank you," Regina nodded. "Mmm, sure thing, you'll be ok?" He asked. "Yes," she nodded and headed inside. 

The cab door shut, "Take me to the Blue Tavern," Killian said with a grin on his face. 

Arriving at the small club, he looked around, and went towards the bar. He noticed a blonde man at the bar who kept looking around like he was expecting someone. Killian went next to him, "Waiting for a woman?" Killian asked casually. 

"Kind of, she went somewhere, hopefully not hiding from me," he laughed, and picked up his phone. "Regina..." he started to leave her another voicemail. 

"Regina hmm?" Killian asked, with a grin on his face, glaring at the man, "Yeah why?" He asked, "I just passed a Regina in the bathroom hallway, think there's a line for the ladies," Killian lied. "Ah, of course," the man shook his head, "Thanks man," the blonde headed back there.

The man headed back near the bathrooms, and there was no one there. He looked around, and Killian ended up right behind him, "Man." he scoffed, and Killian threw his right fist into his face.

"Ah! What the hell?" he yelled, and Killian pinned his back against the wall, with his arm across his neck, "You don't know a Regina anymore, do you know where she lives?" Killian asked. "No, she moved," he defended and struggled against Killian.

"Good, you text her again, I'll hunt you down," Killian warned, "Who the hell are you?" the man attempted to push him off, Killian was wild with anger, "I'm your worst nightmare if you come near her EVER again," he gritted his teeth, "Do I make myself clear?" He asked. "Fine fine, geez," the man held up his hands in defeat. 

Killian released him, "Good, takes a real man to go exert himself over a woman, next time, try me, or someone your own size," Killian scolded and left. 

A/N-- GOODDDD don't we love a protective Killian?