"His Kingdom"
Chapter 1
BPOV
I took a deep breath from inside the bathroom. No matter what, I said to myself. Do not open this door.
Someone banged on the door with sheer ferocity. "Bella! Come out here right now!" The evil pixie screeched. Is she supposed to be my best friend or nemesis?
"No!" I screamed back. "Just forget it Alice I'm not coming out!." I winced waiting for her to slam her fist on the door again but heard her footsteps as she walked away instead.
I exhaled in relief. Maybe she's giving up. I won't have to go through with this after all.
Didn't I know Alice at all?
"Rose she's not opening the door!" I heard her whine. Shit. Rosalie knows where the key is.
A minute later, they triumphantly wrenched the door open with monstrous smirks on both of their faces. They wouldn't really drag me out of here would they? Yes. Yes they would. Well I'm not going down without a fight.
Alice grabbed my arm firmly and started pulling me out of the bathroom. Despite her size she had unyielding force.
"Alice! Please!" I whined.
"Oh shut up Bella. We're going to a company party not clubbing. Calm the fuck down."
Alice and Rose work for the biggest fashion magazine in New York City, 'Sophisticated Sin International'. They had gotten lucky right after college when they both got the chance to intern there. Its been five years since and they've been promoted multiple times because of their talent. They always work best as a team, finishing each other's ideas and making successes out of them. They both head a wing of the huge company, giving them a bit to much to boast about now days and too much 'right' in their eyes to dress me.
I met them when my boss at the journalism company I work for, gave me an assignment to interview the employees of the company here in New York. It was a colorful conversation Rose and Alice had when they had tried to get me to try on a padded push up bra.
"SSI needs you! The biggest tycoons and CEOs are going to be there and if we want to keep their investments we're going to need some good reviews. What's the point of having the best journalist as a friend if she won't help you out? How many times have we helped you out?"
That was unfair. "Don't emotionally black mail me Alice." I sighed dramatically "Fine!" I said resigned and sat down at the makeup booth for them to transform me.
It took several hours of scrubbing and polishing all surface area of my skin but we all made it out alive on time.
Rose was looking stunning like always wearing her hear up and out of her face wearing a gorgeous plaid dress that showed off her boobs. She was never oblivious of her beauty and she didn't allow anyone else to be either.
Alice was wearing her navy blue halter dress looking beautiful.
They had dressed me in a long teal gown like thing. I had to admit it was really pretty. Rose always fussed over accessories and jewelry and about how simplicity is the way to go, so I was wearing a discreet pearl necklace and matching earrings.
We carefully made our way into Rose's small Audi coupe and sped to the company's party hall.
"Why can't we be fashionably late?" I mumbled.
"No one actually thinks being late is fashionable Bella. They only call it that because everyone is waiting around for that person to come." Rose said. "And don't complain, you'll enjoy yourself. Just take some good notes while your at it."
"Fine" I grumbled like a child.
After a twenty minute drive we pulled into the employees only section. Rose gave her keys to the man outside the lot to park the car.
When I looked at the building, I was literally in awe.
"Wow" I breathed.
"Yeah we know" Rose and Alice said together.
We weaved our arms together in anticipation.
"I am so excited" Alice Beamed.
"I know exactly how you feel." Rose said.
I was about to make a rude comment once again but was stopped short when we heard the crowd of people get suddenly louder. The atmosphere of anticipation became charged.
When we looked over to see the reason for the sudden havoc we saw three important looking stretch black limos pull threw the entry way for the VIP guests parking lot.
"Who's that?" I asked.
"Must be Edward Cullen." Rose said like he was a famous actor or something and I would totally know who he was.
"Um…Who's Edward Cullen?" I asked stupidly.
The look she gave me was frightening then she rolled her eyes. "See Bella! This is exactly what I mean, this party is going to be good for you. You used to be so outgoing then all that work you do at that stupid company made you completely anti social." She fumed.
"Well if the company I work for is so stupid then why should they publish the article your forcing me to write for your company?"
"Ha ha. The point is we're going to turn you around tonight. Your going to have a great time and your going to do this a lot more often." She declared as if that was going to be no problem. I was sure she was right but I bluffed anyway.
"We'll see about that."
"Oh Ms. Brandon! Would you look around! The hall is just so fabulous!" Linda, Alice's assistant said to her.
"Excuse me for a moment guys, I'm going to go find Jason." Rose said. Jason is Rose's personal assistant, and makes me want to jump him every time I see him. His thick Russian accent, dark black hair, sparkly blue eyes and muscular frame would make any woman weak on her knees.
When Rose found him she whispered in his ear, wrapped her arm through his and they walked back together.
"Hello ladies," He grinned. "Smashing party isn't it." It wasn't out of my notice that he gave Linda a bit of a lingering smile. Hmm…that's interesting.
"Would you please allow me to get you all a few drinks?"
"Not now Jason." Rose said "We should go greet all the important guests. You do remember everyone's name right?"
"Yes mam, Linda and myself went over it several times." He said confidently. One of the perks of having a personal assistant, you don't need to remember everyone's name your self.
"Good. Well everyone enjoy the party." She winked at me before swirling around."
Alice gave me a pleading look. "You'll be fine by yourself right?"
"Oh c'mon Alice just because I don't want to be here doesn't mean I can't take care of my self. I'll be fine." I assured her.
She smiled relieved. "Yeah I know, okay then…" She started walking backwards slowly gauging my reaction.
"Alice," I laughed. "Go on." She laughed too then turned and made her way to greet her boss, the owner of SSI, Angela Webster.
I smiled fondly at both of my best friends and decided to make my way to the bar.
When I saw my reflection in the mirror behind the bartender I gasped. Damn I looked fantastic.
"Can I get you anything?" The bartender, a nice looking guy probably in his twenties asked me.
"Yes please, I'll have a sex on ice."
He smirked at me and said, "Nice choice."
I sat on my stool and twisted around so I could watch the party.
First thing I noticed was the atmosphere charging suddenly again. Alice's and Rose's along with every other person's head snapped to the VIP carpet entrance.
Very distinguished looking people started coming through the grand doors. I had to admit they did look like celebrities.
My eyes stopped dead on the last person to come in. I might have dropped to the ground if I wasn't sitting already.
Holy shit.
The sexiest man in the universe walked in the hall.
Wearing a fitted gray suit.
Tall and obviously muscular.
Bronze and disheveled hair. My fingers twitched from wanting to run them through his hair.
I repeat Holy shit…
The Bartender tapped on my shoulder and set my drink in front of me. "Who is that?" I asked him after clearing my throat.
He laughed rolling his eyes. "That would be the owner and CEO of SSI's biggest investor, Cullen Enterprises, Mr. Edward Cullen."
