CHAPTER 1

I woke up to the phone ringing. I looked at the time and groaned. 4.26am.

Who could possibly be awake at this time of the day?

I blindly reached for the phone on my nightstand.

"Bella?" came the panic voice from the other end.

My anger was immediately replaced by concern and confusion.

"What is it, Ange?" Angela is probably the closest I have to a best friend.

"Do you mind taking my shift at Newtons Jewels today?" she sobbed. "I—"

"Where are you? What happened?"

"I'm at the hospital. It's my—" she sobbed again. "My father just had a heart attack."

I know Mr. Weber. Worry rushed through me.

"Is he okay? Is he stable?" I said quickly.

"For now, yes. He's with Dr. Cullen. But the last thing I need right now is to lose my job."
"Of course, Ange. I'll take over your shift today. Or any other day, just give me a call."

"Thanks, Bella. You're a lifesaver. I have to go."
"Okay, take good care of yourself!"

I put the phone down and tried to get back to sleep. But I couldn't close my eyes. Mr. Weber just had a heart attack. Mr. Weber just had a heart attack. My head was spinning. When I couldn't take it anymore, I got up and put my sports clothes on. I raced to the door and stepped outside. The morning was chilly, but I liked it. It felt like home. I went for a jog, thinking about my parents who were on the other side of the globe.

-----

"Hi," I said to Mike Newton, my boss's only son, as I walked through the glass door of the jewelry store.

"Hey, Bella!" He said excitedly. "I thought it was Angela's shift today. Not that I'm not happy it was you instead. In fact, I'm very happy. Oh, I'm so excited, this must be fate!"
"Well, if by that you mean you're happy Angela's father just had a heart attack, then sure, this must be fate." I couldn't help but put acid in my tone. Mike is deluded enough to think that he and I have the slightest bit of chance together.

"Oh," his chubby face was shocked. "I'm sorry. I didn't know"
"It's okay." My tone still sour.

The day passed in a blur. Customers came in and out. Satisfied and not satisfied. There was only so much I could do to help them. But today my mind wasn't working properly, still consumed with worry. Mike had gone home because he had some 'important business to take care of', which translates into 'the football game is on today'. I glanced at the clock again, like I had been doing every minute or so for the past hour. Yes! I thought. My shift's done and I can go home now.

But as I was putting my coat back on, the glass door opened.

"We're closed, please come back tomo—" I paused as my eyes drifted to the customer's angelic face. He had beautiful green eyes and messy bronze hair.

"I'm sorry," his voice was velvety. "I really need to get something, just really quickly"

"Uh, yeah. Sure. I guess I can stay." I don't know what made me say this. But my brain couldn't process anything. Was it this customer? Just because he had good looks doesn't mean I should do what he says. But for some reason I just couldn't bring myself to turn him away.

"I just need to get a pair of engagement rings."

"Oh, you're getting engaged, congratulations!" I smiled at him. I shouldn't have been surprised, I guess. But I was. He doesn't look like an engaged man. "When's the engagement party?"

"Uh, tomorrow." He said briefly.

"Wow, you sure are a last minute person."

"No, not really." He looked at me with a pained smile. "I just had a lot to think about."

He chose a pair of beautiful rings without seeming to think much about it. Then he left. And I couldn't move for a couple minutes. When I realized how stupid it was, I grabbed my coat, turned the 'Open' sign around, walked out the door, and locked up.