Chapter: 1

I walk downstairs Rene and Charlie are talking. "Good morning Bells. First day of work, huh?" Charlie says.

"Yes dad." I say excited. I graduated Yale a few months ago and I haven't been able to get a job. I've been working at The Gap and it's miserable working there with rude customers who curse you out if they can't get a return, and have a grabby boss.

I sit down at the breakfast table and mom sit's a plate of pancakes in front of me. My parents have been married for twenty two years. My father like most men from Forks is reserved and doesn't show much emotion. My erratic mother is always doing something ridiculous causing them many fights. I had to call the cops once when I was younger because my mother was acting like a maniac, I'm surprised they're still alive. I can't wait to start work so I can afford a place of my own.

I eat breakfast take my briefcase then go to my old but refined 1986 Audi Quattro. My friend Jacob who goes to MIT fixed it for me since my old truck broke down and left me stranded. It was terrifying I was on the highway, my cell phone had no reception, and the heat was off. I managed to make a call to Charlie and he fount me freezing in the winter night. I was berated and coddled at the same time.

Jacob said he couldn't fix it, it had a good run though.

"When you see Edward tell him thank you for the opportunity." Rene says to me.

I got the job because Charlie knows this man named Carlisle. They were best friends until Carlisle and his family had to move to Connecticut, they moved back in my adolescence. I had met Edward my new boss a few times, he was quiet and glowered at me some of the time. The other times he didn't pay attention to me or just gave me this odd look almost like lust. But he's six years older than me, I was fifteen then. What would a man graduating from Harvard want with an awkward teenaged girl? He now owns his own incorporation and he's done quite well for himself.

I drive to downtown Seattle to a glass skyscraper that should be in New York. I go to the underground parking garage and leave my car with a middle aged Latino man who stands at the valet post. I walk inside the building and go to the blonde buxom receptionist. "Hello can you tell me which floor is Cullen Inc?" I ask.

"This whole building is Cullen Inc. Do you have an appointment." She says in a southern accent.

"No, I'm Mr. Cullen's new assistant. I was told to meet with Rosalie Cullen so she could show me the ropes."

Before the receptionist can speak I see her. Rosalie Cullen with her long blonde hair, violet eyes, statuesque figure, and the face of an angel. She smiles and says "Bella it's been so long since I've seen you. Come on." I follow her in shock. When we were kids she tortured me. She put crazy glue in my hair, put a kick me sign on my back (that Edward took advantage of), the list is endless. She must have grown out of it, or the reform school her parents sent her to must have changed her.

"You work for Edward?" I ask walking beside her.

"It's a shame I work for my little brother but yes. I run marketing he was going to send his first assistant for you but since we know each other I thought it would be good if I showed you what to do. Edward hasn't changed much over the years, he's still moody and quiet. His temper has gotten better but he still isn't the calmest person you'll ever meet. You have to have a university degree to be his assistant because he needs smart people to help him. Here's a tip, if his jaw is clenched he's going to throw something. Get out of his way."

She goes over the rules with me, and tells me what to do and how to do certain things. She gives me a rule book in case I forget anything then takes me to Edward's office. It's a large mahogany room with a desk, a laptop file cabinets, a large couch, a plasma screen television, a view of the city with a balcony. She opens the door and shows his messy bathroom with a shower, whirlpool tub, porcelain sink with the matching toilet and a closet with ironed clothes some still in the bags from the cleaners.

Then she opens the French doors to my office I share with the first assistant. I have a small desk in the corner, with a desktop computer. There's a semi-kitchen with a sub zero fridge, a microwave, cabinets with no handles, very state-of-the-art.

"You understand that Cullen Inc is a multi-billion dollar a year company and you must take care of the man who runs it. My brother is very stubborn so you have to be forceful sometimes."

"I understand." I say and sit down at my desk.

"Get me my fucking coffee from start bucks." I hear an angered velvet voice say. I know exactly who it is.

"Here he comes good luck." Rosalie says with her hand on my shoulder.

"Hey Sis." Edward mutters looking magnificently hansom in a black designer suit with the matching tie giving his jacket to woman much shorter than him who looks impassive. "Why is Bella here?" His green eyes stare directly into my brown I feel a twinge of fear and for some reason enticement.

"You hired her remember?" Rosalie says.

"Oh yes Carlisle wouldn't stop asking me to hire her. You better be a good assistant."

"Bella went to Yale and graduated top of her class." Rosalie says defending me.

"Yale are for those who couldn't get into Harvard." He barks and sits down at his desk. "Go get me coffee Bella. I like it black with three sugars. Jessica sit in on my meeting I want you to take notes."

"Yes Mr. Cullen." I say and go out to Starbucks. My boss might be frightening but at least I have a job. He's always been like this though, he's actually nicer now.