Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or setting. I borrow them from the lovely Stephanie Meyer, however what I do with them is all me and my crazy imagination!

I was standing in front the full length mirror in my bedroom trying to decide if my outfit was professional enough to wear to my first real interview out of college. I was wearing a white button down blouse with a black pin stripe pencil skirt and a pair of what I like to refer to as stripper heels. The blouse was professional; it was clean cut and pressed to perfection showing just enough of my collarbones and a bit a cleavage (but not too much). The skirt hugged my hips beautifully and showed off the butt that I had somehow developed in college. It made my legs look long and lean and the heels gave the effect that my legs just went on forever. Normally I don't flaunt my feminine wiles but my future career depended on this interview and I'd take every advantage I had. Since I was trying to break into a predominately male business, I figured I could use all the help I could get.

I was waiting to hear back from several places I had applied to and had high hopes since my advisor, Dr. Wade, had sent in letters of recommendation to everyone he knew in New York City. I was shocked when my first choice in firms was the first to contact me. Steinberg Sports Agency was the premier sports agency in all of the United States. I was out to be a professional baseball agent, but I was willing to work my way up the ladder if I had to. I was hoping having a Bachelors degree in sports psychology and a Master's degree in sports management, both from New York University, would give me an edge over the competition as well as the letters of recommendation from Dr. Wade. But knowing my luck it wasn't going to be that easy so adding a little feminine charm couldn't hurt anything.

When I got to the building the butterflies in my stomach where going crazy because I was interviewing to work directly under Scott Steinberg. If I could break into the field under Scott, I would have no problem nailing down a few promising clients. His name alone would open doors for me, I would never dreamed available to me. Rumor had it that his agency was over flowing with prospects that were moving up to the major league from the minors. The past students that he had taken under his wing had gone on and made a great career for themselves and if I had the chance, I had no doubt the same would be true for me.

When I got called back, I was taken to a very posh conference room. I sat down in front of a very well dressed man that obviously had been around the bend a few times over. I was shocked to learn that this was Mr. Steinberg himself. I would have never dreamed he interviewed his own people.

"Ms. Swan I have heard such wonderful things about you, Dr. Wade is a close friend of mine and I don't think he gives his recommendations out lightly."

"Thank you Mr. Steinberg for this opportunity, but please call me Bella. Dr. Wade was my advisor all through school at New York University and his praise means the world to me. It was his advice that told me that maybe I could have a promising future in the sports agency field. He didn't so much recommend baseball to me as tell me it was the best avenue for me to pursue."

"Well if your resume is a glimpse into what you're going to be able to do in the future, I believe this is going to be a wonderful match. And please, call me Scott. I do have to ask though, are you sure breaking in the professional baseball is the field you want to pursue? Very few female agents actually want to go into the field." His face was earnest when he asked this. He wasn't trying to be sexist; it was just a sad reality in the world of sports management. Women did not do professional baseball.

"Yes Scott, when Dr. Wade and I decided on my path for my degrees I was set in what I wanted. I know it'll be difficult but I am up to the challenge. I've always been able to keep up with the big boys and I don't think this situation will be any different. Besides, if I'm working under you personally, I will learn the correct way to approach situations that could potentially be disastrous otherwise. I have every faith that if I am trained properly I would be able to take on a mountain." I was tired of fighting towards that glass ceiling that was always going to hang over my head as a woman. I knew it was only going to get worse but I really honestly thought I would be good at it.

"Well Bella, it's nice to hear some self confidence coming from a newbie. It'll help you a lot along the road." He looked down at the table in front of him as if contemplating something very intense and when he looked back up at me he had a smirk on his face. "Since we seem to have so much in common I believe you'll be a great fit for my protégé. I would like to talk to the board before I make my decision but, I promise to get back to you tomorrow. Then we'll discuss what you should expect from April to October. In November we'll really put you to the test."

He explained to me the job requirements and what would be expected of me on a daily basis. I have never felt so relaxed when interviewing for a job. This job would have been the best thing to happen to me ever so I thought it'd be a very uptight situation. We talked a little bit about his newest list of potential clients and then it was over. I left the conference room with a spring in my step and a smile on my face, feeling more hopeful than I had any real right too.

"Alright Bella, I'll give you a call tomorrow and if you're the right fit I'll let you know. It's been a pleasure."

"Thank you Mr… er Scott, I appreciate you taking the time to speak with me!" I left and grabbed a cab back to my loft with a hopeful air about me.

I walked in the door of the loft that my boyfriend Edward and I shared and let out a breath that I had no idea I'd been holding. The interview went well; he seemed to have immediate faith in my abilities to learn under the right circumstances. And he sounded like he wanted to offer me the job on the spot but then thought better of it when he mentioned the board.

"Hey baby, how'd the interview go?" Edward greeted me at the front door with a soft kiss on my forehead.

"Hey! I think it went really well, I actually interviewed with Scott Steinberg, THE Scott Steinberg! It was amazing; apparently he knows Dr. Wade and that weighed heavily in my favor. He told me he'd call me tomorrow if I was the right fit for the job." I was feeling so giddy it felt amazing to have something go right for a change. I must have had a huge smile on my face.

Edward wrapped his arms around me in a congratulatory hug. He rubbed his hands along my back and up and down my arms. I loved it when he touched me like this, it felt so natural. He had been the love of my life since I moved here sophomore year of high school. I thought this city was going to swallow me whole but instead it has been the best 10 years of my life.

I used to spend summers here with my father, when my parents had divorced but stopped once I was old enough to have a say in where I spent my summers away from home. But when I stopped visiting for the summer I also lost contact with my two very best friends in the world, Seth and Angela. Since I came back we reunited and we've been inseparable, they were even able to accept Edward into their lives as I did, even though they didn't particularly like him. They tolerated him because I loved him. I thought if I got this job that my life would finally fall into place and maybe Edward and I could settle down. That was just the little girl in me being hopeful. Edward and I hadn't really discussed marriage or settling down but after 10 years of being together and 6 years of living together he had never spoke on the topic. I figured eventually he might pop the question but I honestly wasn't holding my breath. It was the same old internal debate in my head. There was nothing special about me I was just a normal girl who was born in Los Angeles. Edward was gorgeous, rich, successful, and he was on his way to be a very famous surgeon just like his father. Maybe I was just lost in school girl fantasies after all, why would he want to settle down with me? But at the same time, why would he waste 10 years of his life if he didn't have intentions? I had no idea.

Still lost in thought Edward kissed along my jaw line down to my lips. Stopping to place feather light kisses on each side of my mouth and then looked deep into my eyes.

"You're going to get the job, stop thinking so hard about it baby."

I looked up into his eyes and felt guilty that he was thinking I was lost in thought about the potential job offer when really I wasn't. "Oh, you have too much faith in me Edward, there's probably going to be a ton of people who are more qualified for this job than me." And just like that, I was doubting myself all because I wasn't secure in what my future held for me. I was a shadow of the girl who had left Mr. Steinberg's office with every faith in the world I'd get the job.

"Oh stop it Bella, everything will work out you'll see. Although I really don't see why you want to get a job anyway, I told you years ago that you didn't need to go to school or get a job. But I indulged you and supported you through your bachelors and masters degrees. But I'll tell you again that you really don't need to work, we have more than enough money. Besides if you get this job you'll be gone all the time and I'll lose all my Bella time."

"Edward I told you I want to work because this field fascinates me. I know you've supported me through all of my education but this is something I want to do for me. I thought you understood why I'm doing this; I have to have something that's mine. You have given me most everything I could have ever dreamed of but I feel like I have nothing to contribute. When you come home I have nothing new tell you. I want to be able to feel like I have things to tell you about my day. If after 10 years you haven't realized that I'm not going to be satisfied being your puppet then you don't know me at all!" I shouted the last bit because I was over and done with being controlled and not understood. I had been with Edward for so long that I had just grown complacent with the way he treated me.

"And besides, you're at school so much I'll just be gone when you're gone. You won't be losing any time with me if we make time for one another. I just won't be sitting here waiting for you to come home so I can have some human interaction."

"Bella, you do contribute and all those doubts you have are just plain stupid. My fear of you being gone all the time is completely warranted and if you don't believe there will be a strain on our relationship then you really are blind and selfish! If this is going to be how you want it, maybe there shouldn't be an us anymore."

I stood in front of him and it felt as though he had just slapped me. Being called stupid and selfish was not something I had expected to come from this conversation. We had this particular fight all of the time, he had just never outright demeaned my dreams before. I took two slow steps backward holding my hands in a "don't touch me" gesture and started to climb the stairs to our bedroom.

"Bella you know I didn't mean it like that. I was trying to make you see the consequences your actions will have on us! Don't get all emotional because you misunderstood what I was trying to say. You know I understand that you want to work to make yourself feel useful, I get that. I just don't believe that you fully understand what you're doing to us right now. That's all. If you would open your mind to reason you'll see I'm right."

I kept walking up the stairs and his final words floated up to me I walked into our room and slammed the door shut. I plopped down on the edge of the bed and tried to get my breathing under control when I heard my phone ringing from my purse. I walked over to where I dropped it and grabbed the phone seeing it was Scott calling me. I looked at the clock and I'd only left the interview a couple hours ago and he was already calling me?

"Hello, this is Bella"

"Hey Bella its Scott. Listen, I spoke with the board and they are extremely interested in you taking the position so I'd like to you come back first thing Monday morning so we can get you your credentials and you can come sit in with me on my meetings. So just be here by 6 a.m. and we'll get you all setup. Oh and Bella...Congrats!"

"Thank you so much Scott I can't believe it, it's a dream come true! I'll see you Monday morning!"

We hung up and I immediately dialed Angela to let her know the good news.

"Bella that's great we need to go out and celebrate, it's Friday night and you haven't been out for fun in much too long! I'll be there to pick you up and then we'll go to The Patriot Saloon! See you in 15!"

I turned to my closet and grabbed a pair of jeans to change into and unbuttoned a few buttons on the white shirt from the interview because it was good for getting drinks bought for us if I could show enough cleavage.

I went downstairs and found Edward in his den reading some large medical volume.

"Baby, I'm sorry I freaked out. I know I was being irrational. But, I got the job. Scott just called me back and offered me the job. I start Monday morning so Angela and I are going to the Patriot Saloon to celebrate." I know I wasn't in the wrong for our fight but I just wanted to leave and hang out with Angela without wondering what I'd come home too. It was always easier if I caved and apologized first because he was so pig headed most of the time it just made my life easier. I shouldn't let someone treat me like that but you can't help who you love right?

He turned from his reading and looked at me without really saying anything. He got up wordlessly and started stalking to me as I backed up and eventually hit the wall across the room back first. He leaned his head down by my ear and in a really husky voice, "I know you're sorry but I don't think going out looking like that with Leah is that good of an idea. You look too hot for your own good Bella. I think I should come and keep an eye on you."

I looked into his eyes and laughed, "Edward you know I can handle myself we're just going for celebratory drinks and I'll be home at a decent hour. You don't need to be jealous; you know I'll be coming home to you!"

He laid his lips on mine and began kissing me deeply. Whenever he did this I couldn't think straight and my brain went to mush. He continued to kiss me then broke away slowly and trailed kisses down my neck. He worked his way back up to stop at my ear again and said; "I know you're coming home to me I'm just reminding you what you're coming home to. Just in case you see something that tickles your fancy while you're at the bar with Angela who, by the way, is not the best influence."

Abruptly, he turned and went back into his den and shut the door behind him, no good bye no nothing. The doorbell rang shortly after so I grabbed my purse and met Angela at the front door. We made our way out to the street to hail a cab to the Patriot Saloon. We were going to get our drink and our groove on.

Ok friends, this is my first attempt at a fanfic of my very own. Please let me know what you think, I welcome any and all feedback! So go ahead and press that review button and make my day!