Chapter Text
As she bent down to pick up the bouquet from the ground, Mona heard the sound of someone clearing their throat. Although she didn't have to look to know who it was, she did it anyways and saw Scaramouche standing at the end of the hallway. He wore an apologetic look on his face as they stared at each other.
"Mona, please hear me out," he said as he started walking towards her.
Mona slowly stood up with the bouquet in her hands, her gaze never leaving Scaramouche's. She spoke in a firm voice, "Don't. Don't get any closer. I don't want to hear any excuses."
Scaramouche stopped in his tracks, looking slightly taken aback at Mona's rejection of his pleas. He hesitated momentarily, before continuing in a softer tone, "Mona, please just let me explain."
"There's nothing to explain because I know what I saw," she stated, then added in a lower voice, "I was expecting more of you. Not for you to kiss your ex after what she did not only to me but to you too. That's really low." She turned around to go back inside the room, only for Scaramouche to lightly grab her arm.
"If you let me explain-"
Mona's lips pressed into a thin line as she considered his words. After a few moments of silence, she eventually sighed. "Go ahead," she said wearily.
"I didn't kiss her back." He paused, waiting for her to react. "I was too stunned to have a quick reaction but the moment I snapped back the moment I saw you and I broke it off before telling her to fuck off the wedding. At first, she didn't want to leave, saying she had a right to be there and all that shit considering she was invited, but eventually I managed to make her leave."
Mona turned around.
"Please tell me what you're saying is the truth, Scaramouche."
"It's the truth. You and I both know the pain of being cheated on. I'd never make you go through that shit ever again. Especially with her of all people."
"You didn't kiss her back," she said with a small smile on her face.
"No, I didn't."
"And you told her to leave."
"I did."
Mona wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling herself close to him. She looked up into his eyes, her own eyes filled with emotion but also a shred of hope.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, tears now streaming down her face. "For not believing in you."
He touched his forehead against hers and sighed. "It's okay," he replied softly. Then he added, "But if we're going to make this work then you need to trust me."
"Of course." Mona nodded, understanding what he meant. She stepped back and wiped away her tears.
"Hey," he said to catch her attention. "How about we ditch the estate and get a hotel room so we can properly enjoy our weekend in Inazuma away from my family before we go back to Mondstadt."
Mona smiled at her boyfriend. "That sounds great."
When they settled in their hotel room it was already half past five and although it was early, they decided to go have something to eat and drink at the hotel bar.
Mona sipped her martini slowly, letting the bittersweet liquid slip down her throat as she savored the taste. As she drank, she thought of all that happened from the moment she found out her ex was cheating on her to her now, having drinks with her boyfriend in a fancy hotel in Inazuma. Just then she remembered something that made her freeze.
The no dating coworkers policy at F&H.
She didn't know how it had completely slipped not only her mind, but it had and she felt like she now had to also remind him of it.
"Shit," she said out loud, almost spilling her drink in the process. Scaramouche looked at her in confusion. "Do you know what I just remembered?" she asked him.
He nodded slowly, understanding that whatever it was, it wasn't something good. "Hm?"
"We're technically not allowed to date... company policy. And we've already got a bad track record with HR."
Scaramouche cursed under his breath. He had completely forgotten about the rule too. He swirled his drink around his cup as his mind raced, trying to figure out a way for them to be together without getting into trouble with HR. Finally, he thought of something.
"You've got a good relationship with uhh..."
Mona rolled her eyes, guessing who he meant immediately. "The old hag?"
Scaramouche chuckled despite himself and nodded. "Yes, her."
Mona raised an eyebrow incredulously at him before taking another sip from her martini glass. "I do, why?"
He smiled softly at her, relieved that his plan might actually work after all. "You could talk to her. I'm sure she'd understand and make HR allow us to be together."
Mona's face lit up. "You're a genius, Scara!" She exclaimed before pulling him by his collar and crashing her lips with his.
Mona paced around in front of the door to her boss's office as she waited to be called in. It was the day after she and Scaramouche had gotten back from their weekend in Inazuma and Mona thought it best to just rip the bandaid off and ask her boss for permission to break a company rule right away.
"Settle down, Mona," Scaramouche said from his desk. He'd be joining her in speaking to the hag but considering their desks were a few steps away from their bosses' offices, he didn't see the need in waiting while standing up.
"I'm too nervous to. What if I get fired? I need this job."
"If one of us has to get fired, it should be me. You're more passionate about the business and I'm pretty comfortable in life, so I'd probably do fine without a job for however long it takes me to find a new one. So please relax."
"You're right," Mona said, finally calming down.
After some more minutes of waiting, the hag's door finally opened and the older woman motioned them inside.
"So..." she said once the three of them were all sat down. "What is it that you two want to discuss with me?"
Mona gulped. "Well, uhm, I am aware this might as come as a surprise but-"
"You two are dating and want me to give you the company's blessing, am I right?"
Both Mona and Scaramouche's eyes widened in surprise as the hag guessed their predicament successfully.
"Yes, that is exactly it," Scaramouche said.
"Well, it is against company policy, as you two know. But..." She turned to Mona. "Considering how you are like a daughter to me, you could get the privilege of being exempt from that policy. But that is only if you both prove to me that you will work hard without being a distraction to each other and promise to keep out of trouble with HR. Am I clear on those conditions?"
"Yes." The couple said in unison.
"Good. Now get back to work. I'll have a word with the Tsaritsa and HR soon, so don't worry about them and just focus on your jobs."
The couple nodded and went back to their desks with a smile plastered on both of their faces.
Now they knew they could be together, with both their pasts and the now void possibility of getting fired behind them.
They were happy.