CHAPTER ONE

They say your life flashes before your eyes when you think you are about to die. There is a gun waved around in my face as I walk into the windowless vault. Six guys dressed in expensive ass suits stand around waiting for my arrival.

I see Edward off to the side in a chair and man, does he look pissed. He said he would kill me if I came here tonight and at that precise moment, I wasn't sure who I should be more afraid of. The baboon holding the gun on me or him. It's okay, Edward. If we both survive this, I can teach you the fundamentals of makeup sex. If we are killed, at least you didn't die a virgin, thanks to me. I want to give myself a high-five for that one, but I know that any sudden movement on my part may cause a nasty turn of events.

Edward shakes his head ever so slightly and gives me a menacing stare. I don't know why he has his boxers in a twist. If it weren't for him, we wouldn't be in this mess. Hell, if it weren't for him, my life might have gone completely different. I never knew just how much my life had been dictated by Edward. Like some crap plastic chess piece, Edward played me around his board for years without my knowledge. As pissed as it made me when I found out, I'm glad he did what he did. I was better for knowing him. I just wished I had the balls to say the three words he was dying to hear.

My life didn't flash before me. Instead, I began to think about how we all came to be here at this precise moment. I thought it started when I took that job at The Cullen Conglomerate. It never made sense that a girl with retail experience was uniquely qualified to be the second assistant to the chief executive officer for a multi-billion-dollar company. I want to pat myself on the back. When I first arrived, I didn't even know what CEO stood for and now, look at me! Using it in a sentence like I know what it meant. Uniquely qualified my ass!

I thought it all started with the death of my father. If Edward's mind was telling this story, I'm sure he would have started when we first met. Years and years before I would come to be his second assistant but since my mind is replaying the video, I thought it all started when my dad died.

I thought that my bad luck began when my father passed away. We weren't close so, it wasn't exactly heart-retching even if we did live together. Out of sheer necessity of course. I mean, what twenty-four-year-old would voluntarily live with their parents. In the days that followed, any sympathy I had for my father quickly vanished. I was notified of his demise on a Tuesday. One week after, I learned that my father's enormous gambling problem led to all his assets being seized including the house I grew up in. Apparently, he owed quite a bit of money and I was suddenly forced out of my home.

"Good news. We found a buyer for the house and I'm not exactly sure why, but he is willing to pay nearly double your asking price. It will clear up all your debt…I mean your father's debt."

I looked passively at my realtor. I'm sure that she was excited about the sale. The roots from her dye job were showing through and her shoes were scoffed with set creases in the cheap leather. It was clear, she was probably about as desperate as I was.

"Lucky me." My words biting. "I don't care. Do whatever you need to do and send me the papers to sign. I already took what I wanted. The rest…can go to goodwill."

My realtor was taken aback by my apathy. I stood up from the rickety kitchen table. The damn thing swayed to the left. I grabbed my backpack and put on my vest with name tag and all.

"I have to get to my shift. You can see yourself out. Take whatever you like…"

My feet bounded down the three steps as I pulled on my coat to begin my trek to Newman's Outdoor Supplies. My car died the day after my father. Ironic. There was no way I could begin to afford to fix it unless sexual favors were an option, so now I was forced to walk to my shitty job.

I trudged through the mud along the road and living in one of the rainiest shitholes on the earth, my walk quickly drenched me. Cold and already in a foul mood I arrived at the outdated crap shop I was fortunate enough to be employed at.

"Bella!" Mrs. Newton announced upon seeing me, "I tried calling you but…your phone said it was no longer in service."

I couldn't afford the bill.

"What's up?" I asked already worried about the answer. If she tried to call me, it was clear that she probably was going to ask me to not come in. Mrs. Newton cringed as she placed a stray hair back behind her ear before she gathered up the sense to reply.

"We…were bought out last night. The new owners want us to cease sales ASAP. I have your last check plus a decent severance…I hope it can help," She said obviously hoping to alleviate her guilt for leaving me without a job.

I wanted to laugh but I didn't. Instead, I snatched my paycheck from her wrinkled hand and turned around without a word. I mean honestly, who loses their father, home, car, and job all in one week. I don't know what mirror I broke but it was sure biting me in the ass.

"Bella," Mrs. Newton calls out. "The new owner…he understands what a hardship this is on our employees. He said that he has many openings with his company. Just...tell them you worked at Newman's and he will have HR see what they can do. I put his business card in your envelope…"

I don't wait for her to finish. I wasn't about to go and work for some asshole who took my job even if it was a shitty one. With no place to go, I went and deposited my last check into the bank. I had no idea what I was going to do now. I couldn't afford another night in the roach motel I had been living out of. The idea of going back there to it depressed me even if I did have the funds to cover the board.

The rain was still coming down steadily. I needed to find a place to stay for the night. All my friends were smart enough to get out the second they graduated so I didn't have anyone I could couch ride for a minute while I found another job. In my mind, I ran through every possibility.

Rosalie.

She was this gorgeous supermodel girl I met at a club last year. Big boobs. Big blond hair and the kind of girl that made you feel like the before picture. At the time she was on her road to becoming America's next top whatever but then she wasn't having any luck booking jobs and ended up at a square job. She lived in Seattle and told me if I ever needed a place to stay, I could call her.

I pulled myself up from off the wall and ran out into the rain to head for the last payphone in Forks. I huddled in the small box relieved to be out of the freezing rain darts. I scrounge around my purse for the exact change and began to dial.

"Hello," She sang into the phone.

"Rosalie? This is Bella," I said through my teeth chattering.

"Hey, B! What is up in Knives?"

"Forks," I corrected her. "Although, I wished it was called Knives. I could really use one about now."

"Damn! Depressed much?"

I sighed and looked out at the sky to see lightening brighten the ominous dark clouds. I waited for the thunder and counted to see how far off it was.

"Hello!" Rosalie grunted into the phone.

"Sorry. Hey…do you think it would be possible if I came and slept on your couch for a few days. I just lost my job…and I don't have anywhere to go."

I hated how pathetic I sounded.

"Absolutely! But…I don't have a couch. Sorry, my place sucks."

"If it has four walls and a roof, you are already miles ahead of me. No worries, I can sleep on the floor. I am hoping that I can find a job quick. How is Seattle's employment rate?" I joked.

"Apparently a lot better than Knives. Don't worry, if you can't find something, I'm sure my company is hiring. I hate to send you there if you have another option. That dickwad Cullen barely pays over minimum. I swear, the richer they are, the more they screw over their employees!"

At this point, anything would be preferable than mooching off my friend.

"Hey, I gotta go if I'm going to catch the last bus out of here. I will see you in a few hours."

I hung up and was happy that at the very least I had a plan. Maybe Seattle was just the change I needed. I had no reason to hang around Forks. Maybe my life could finally begin in the big city.

I loaded up at the vending machine in the bus depot before boarding my bus. I found that Doritos could make a very satisfying dinner when needed. I watched as the bus passed by the various landmarks I had been accustomed to since my family had come to live here. I couldn't believe I was finally getting out. I might jump into the aisle and do the Cabbage Patch if I didn't think it would get me thrown off the bus.

By the time I arrived in Seattle, my clothes had dried from the downpour I faced in Forks. However, it was still raining in Seattle so by the time I walked to Rosalie's apartment, I was drenched once again. Rosalie's apartment seemed to be in the bad part of town. I had only been to Seattle once before. A class trip to the Space Needle so I never saw the bad part of Seattle. Now, I was getting the ultimate high-definition tour experience. I was sure I tripped over a dead guys foot but maybe he was just passed out drunk. I clung to my backpack knowing it held everything I had left in the world.

I looked behind me and see some tall creeper walking about a block away from me. Warning bells began to go off and I suddenly wish I would have brought my dad's shotgun. I quicken my pace and frantically look for Rosalie's apartment building. I see it up ahead and practically sprint the rest of the way.

I climbed the stairs to the second floor and looked for number twelve. The door to number twelve had paint peeling from off of it. When I knocked on it, it felt that it wouldn't take much effort to break it down. I look down and see no sight of the tall creeper. I feel silly. I was overreacting. I can't believe I let my panties get in a twist over nothing. My active imagination believing that I was being followed.

"Hey! You made it." Rosalie opened her door wide enough for me to come and then quickly slammed it shut behind me. She began to go down the door and fasten each lock, five in total.

"Yes, and I see you've already started off the ritual with locks and chains. Never saw you as that kind of girl," I joked.

"You have no idea. This area isn't the best. It's this and the gun under my pillow that keeps me safe at night," Rosalie replied.

"Oh, I get it. In fact, I swear some creeper dude was following me tonight. If your place had been much farther, I might have ended the night in some asshole's basement having my skin peeled off."

Rosalie laughed, "Well, from what I hear, you're into that freaky shit."

I sat on the floor next to Rosalie's coffee table and spent the next hour catching her up on my life and misfortunes over a couple of beers. The place on the carpet where I was sitting was to be my new bed. The carpet wasn't too bad and who was I to complain. At least I was out of the rain and Rosalie's heater was working.

"I can't believe Newman's didn't give you more notice. I mean, no one just sells their store overnight. They had to have known about the buyout sooner. You've been their loyal employee for years. A little heads up would have been decent," Rosalie ranted.

I shrugged my shoulders.

"I wasn't exactly employee of the month but you're right! It was fucked up of them. Now all I have is a check for four-hundred and ninety-two dollars and some business card from some asshole who took my job away," I said pulling the check out of my pocket.

I opened it up and the business card fell to the carpet. Rosalie snatched it up for inspection.

"Holy crap! Edward Cullen bought your store? He's the asshole I work for," Rosalie said.

"Who the hell is Edward Cullen?"

Rosalie made a face.

"He's this hottie billionaire. He owns and runs Cullen Conglomerate. The tallest commercial building in Seattle."

"What the hell is a conglomerate?" I asked.

Rosalie shrugged and gave me a confused look. I was glad I wasn't the only one who needed a dictionary.

"The hell if I know. I work in his payroll department as an assistant. Asshole hasn't given me a raise in two years. I barely make over minimum wage. He's cute but weird. I mean really weird. Whenever I have seen him, he seems to be awkward and unable to be among us humans. He's the kind of guy that you totally swipe right for and then you find out that he lives in his mother's basement doing god knows what down there."

I laughed because that happened to me often when I would swipe right.

"Well, I don't know who he is or care who he is. He offered us Newman employees a job if we wanted it. I'm not sure if I want to work for the asshole who put me out of a job but as you can see, beggars can't be choosy."

Rosalie got up from the floor and handed me back the business card. She went and gathered the empty bottles to deposit them in her recycling bucket.

"If you want a job, I can introduce you to Nancy in HR tomorrow. But, as I said, don't expect too much over minimum wage. The billionaire is a tight ass with his money."

I thought about it for a minute. I looked at the card in my hand and the fancy embossing job someone had done on them. I had never worked in an office setting before but if Rosalie could manage, I was sure I could try. I mean, it wasn't like they were going to make me a manager my first day out.

"I think I will go with you tomorrow. You never know. Maybe this is the beginning to something fantabulous."

"Do you have anything to wear?" Rosalie asked looking me over.

I looked down at my jeans and pocket sweatshirt and shook my head.

"I guess I know where this last check is going tomorrow. Maybe you can show me a cheap clothing store."

Rosalie walked over to her room and came back with a fancy outfit on a hanger.

"Wear this tomorrow and we can go shopping this weekend once we find out what department they will set you up in," She offered.

"Geez, Rosalie. You don't have to do that. You're already taking care of me like I was some stray cat."

She rolled her eyes and shook her head at me.

"It's fine. Really. Just be sure to shave your legs. This skirt is a little high but if we can get Tyler Crowley to interview you, I'm sure it will win you any position you could ask for. Just be careful with Tyler. Even though he's in Human Resources, he never got the memo on sexual harassment. It amazes me in this day that someone could get away with it."

Rosalie went to bed shortly after. She wanted to get to work by eight the next morning, so she could take the time to show me around. She said she would wake me up at six to get ready. She was amazing. A real angel. After everything I had been through the past few weeks, I was finally feeling like my luck was changing for the better.

I got up from the hard floor and went to grab a glass of water. I stood in Rosalie's tiny kitchen and looked out the window on the street below. Across from the apartment was a small row of stores and businesses. I squinted my eyes and could see a man standing on the stoop of one of the stores. He had the same shape as the man I thought was following me. I see him light up a cigarette and a chill ran down my spine. I put the glass back on the counter and calm myself down. He was probably a vagrant looking for dry shelter from the rain.

I sighed and went back to my makeshift bed and forgot about the creeper. I had enough to worry about. Tomorrow, I would need to make a good first impression as I attempted to become employed doing a job I have never done in my life.

The rain lulls me to sleep. Even though I hated walking in it, I did love going to sleep hearing it. When Rosalie woke me the next morning, my back hurt from the floor and I was a little too grumpy but that wasn't anything new.

The skirt Rosalie provided was embarrassingly tight. I was worried that if I sat down, a seam would bust. I tried to get Rosalie to find me something else, but she kept stating that it was supposed to be that tight. I tried to explain that if the seam were to burst, then I would no longer be able to show my face at Cullen…whatever it was called again.

"Stop fussing with the skirt. It's hot and you're hot in it. That skirt is going to land you an amazing job!" Rosalie smacked my hand away as I attempted to pull it down. We were standing on the bus and holding onto the rails as we made our way to Rosalie's place of employment.

I could feel every guy's eyes on me and it made me cringe. Not that I wasn't up for a little fun but there was a time and place for everything. With my nerves being nearly fried, now was not the time to think about sex. Ah, sex…it had been far too long, my friend.

"We're here," Rosalie announced.

We stepped off the bus and my gaze traveled up the ginormous building in front of us. I wasn't a huge fan of heights, so I prayed that whatever job was offered to me would be closer to the ground. Perhaps the mailroom.

I nearly stumbled on those damn high heels Rosalie forced me into when we approached the revolving door. Everything in the building was so shiny and polished. I wondered if my immune system silently thanked the cleaning crew. With the number of employees this place held, it amazed me that you couldn't find more fingerprints. Even the panel where Rosalie pressed the elevator button was spotless. We walk into the elevator car and I see someone dressed in a uniform come up and wiped the panel that Rosalie had just sullied. Perhaps, I would find a cleaning crew position. It wouldn't be a half bad job to walk around with a rag and clean elevator button panels.

"Come on," Rosalie said to bring me out of my musings.

Our heels clacked on the bright white polished floors. I had to say, if this Edward Cullen was as stingy as Rosalie made him out to be, he took that money for raises and put it into maintaining this impressive shiny building.

"Is Tyler in?" Rosalie asked a small round girl at the front desk.

"You know Tyler never comes in this early. Nancy is here, however," the young girl replied.

Rosalie made a face and was about to say something when another older lady popped out from her office.

"Did someone say my name?"

Nancy was the epitome of what I thought an office person would look like. A Bland wool short suit coat and matching skirt.

"Hey, Nancy. This is Isabella Swan. She's from…"

Rosalie never had a chance to even finish her sentence.

"Newman's! Yes, Isabella Swan," Nancy replied. She shook her head a little when looking me over. Almost as if she was staring at a mirage. "You may go, Rosalie. I can take it from here."

Rosalie gave me a look and I shrugged in reply. This Nancy seemed a little too happy to find a former customer service rep standing in front of her.

"Why don't you come into my office and we can get you squared away," Nancy said holding her hand out toward her office.

I timidly walked forward wondering how far down the rabbit hole I was willing to go. Everything seemed a little off.

"How did you know who I was?" I asked.

Nancy walked in and shut the door behind her. She went around to her sleek glass desk and sat down in her high back leather chair.

"I was given a short list of candidates to look out for. Mr. Cullen felt horrible for having to let so many employees go without notice. He wanted to make sure that anyone at Newman's who wanted a job, get one," she explained.

"O-kay…" I replied. It seemed a little odd that a billionaire would worry about the employees of a small crap camping and hunting retail shop in the middle of Forks.

"Why don't you fill out this paperwork and I will show you to your new position." Nancy handed me a stack of papers and I flipped through them.

"What position are you hiring for?" I asked.

"Well, I was told that you are uniquely qualified, so we have something ready that I'm sure will suit your needs."

Uniquely qualified?" Just what the hell was I going to be doing? I spent the past seven years at a store selling hunting and camping gear. I filled out the forms as best as I could for someone who didn't have an address, phone number and such. The only things I was able to fill in was my name and social security number. The mound of paperwork was thick and I mostly flipped through the pages looking for the empty lines to sign.

Once I was finished, Nancy didn't even look over my forms. She just stuffed them into her drawer and stood up ready to show me to my new office. We went to the elevators and my stomach almost dropped into my feet when she pressed the button indicating the top floor. The Seventieth-seven floor!

I feel my palms begin to sweat as the elevator rose toward our destination. Images of falling to my death flashed through my mind. Movies like Speed and remembering the Twin Towers nearly made me throw up when the doors finally opened, and the elevator pinged at our arrival.

I tried to shake from my head where I was. It was easy to do when there wasn't a window in sight to remind me how high up I was. I could pretend I was safely on the ground floor in some mailroom where I should have been placed.

Another young girl approached, and she was dressed impeccably. Every piece on her was designer and not just designer like low-end designer like Coach but, like the really good shit.

"Jessica, I want to introduce you to Isabella Swan. She will be Mr. Cullen's second. Please show her around."

Jessica looked me over and her face read what I was thinking. What the hell was I doing here? Even I knew that I shouldn't be on this high of a floor working for…Mr. Cullen? I wanted to tell Nancy that a mistake had been made but I couldn't find my voice box. It was probably still down on the twentieth floor in HR.

Nancy left, and Jessica sighed and looked back at me.

"Isabella, is it?" She asked. "Follow me."

I looked around at the floor as we walked towards Jessica's office. The place looked like something I might see if I was dead and had been a good girl. Everything was white or pearl or glass. All we needed was a few clouds and this could be heaven. I tried to not think of the clouds that probably touched the outside of the building on the floor I was currently at.

"So, what did you do before you came here?" Jessica asked.

Here we go.

"I worked at Newman's," I replied.

"Nieman's? I love Nieman's. Can you still get a discount?"

I nearly laughed but refrained.

"No…not Neiman's. Newman's. We specialize in outdoor equipment for camping and such."

Jessica's face fell and then she looked utterly confused.

"How did you come to work here?" She asked.

I tried to not feel offended, but it was so clear that I so was not in the right place.

"Edward Cullen bought out my store and offered the employees a job at his company," I replied.

"Mr. Cullen! You no longer refer to him as Edward Cullen. Now that he is your boss and he is to be referred to as Mr. Cullen," She corrected. "There is so much that I am going to have to teach you, I see."

I sighed and began to bite at my fingernail. If I wasn't nervous before, I was certainly nervous now.

"Mr. Cullen…is pragmatic. Extremely pragmatic. He is a huge germaphobe and oh…don't even think about going there with him. I am pretty sure he is gay. He won't look, so no need to wear tight suggestive clothing. He is extremely professional…annoying so."

She looks down at my tight tight skirt and I was sure that she thought I was just some tart trying to get my billionaire man catching claws on. I hoped I would be able to change before I met Mr. Cullen. I so did not want him thinking I was a tart.

"First thing I need you to do is input your information into Outlook. Mr. Cullen likes to know where his assistants are at all times. He will be calling you and expecting a lot even after hours. So, always have your phone on and near you."

Jessica walks towards the desk and fires up the computer.

"This is your desk."

I nod my head and sit down in some swanky chair.

"What's an Outlook?" I asked.

Jessica looked like her head was about to pop off.

"Okay…this has to be a mistake. No offense but there is no way that someone with no computer knowledge gets hired to Mr. Cullen's second assistant. We have to go and talk to Nancy in HR. Come on," She said beckoning me to follow her.

I didn't exactly disagree, so I did as she asked.

The elevator pinged. A man who looked not too older than myself walked out in the finest charcoal suit I had ever seen. His hair was copper and perfectly kept. His eyes were dark green. Shoulders were broad, and he was about a foot and a half taller than me. He walked confidently until he saw me and then he faltered almost as if he was wearing heels and trying to maneuver through a revolving door.

He came straight towards us and seemed to lose all confidence.

"You're…here," He said lowly.

"Uh…and you're there," I replied stupidly.

"Sorry, Mr. Cullen. I was just about to return her to HR. I think Nancy made a mistake," Jessica piped up.

Mr. Cullen eyes grew dark, "No, Miss Stanley. I was already made aware of Isabella's impending arrival. I approved it, so I hope you have done your job and made sure she is fully acquainted with our operations and procedures."

"She doesn't even know what Outlook is," Jessica attempted.

"Then I suggest you educate her. If she is unsuccessful then I will find you to blame. Get her set up in our system and be prepared to work over until Isabella is caught up," He snapped. Mr. Cullen turned to me and I nearly peed my skirt.

"I would like to speak with you for a moment in private."

Mr. Cullen continued to walk on towards what I assumed was his office. I stood in place with my feet frozen to the floor wondering if I should follow or attempt to make it to the elevator and run. Edward Cullen intimidated me but when did I ever let that stop me.

"Now, Isabella!" He snapped and like a cartoon character, my feet scrambled to follow on after before he barked any more orders at me.

Into the office I went, wondering what the hell did I just get myself into.

AN: I plan to update on Sunday evening and then once a week. So far, I only have five chapters written. I like to be a little ahead of posting so I don't feel pressure to write. I hope you will continue on this journey with me. Thank you for taking the time to read and review.

DISCLAIMER: STORY IS MINE. CHARACTERS BELONG TO STEPHANIE MEYER.