Chapter 1
Bella was late for work. She was ALWAYS late for work. Rushing into the office, her coat was halfway off before she slammed into her seat. Working for a hedge fund company suggested a certain air of propriety—of decorum. Both of these things she appeared to be sorely lacking. She felt so out of place in a sea of perfectly smooth hair and immaculately pressed materials. Everyone was thin and perfect and groomed and she always felt chubby, frazzled, and chaotic. Hot. She always felt hot. And wasn't that appropriate, she laughed inwardly. She really was a hot mess.
"I needed those files yesterday." She heard a steely voice grate as she took a sip of her expresso. Too hot. Probably it was for the best that she was just a secretary. Math was not her strong suit.
"Well, get them to me as quickly as possible." She heard a phone snap shut. Yes, PG was definitely upset.
PG was the only guy that had ever made her heart clench so tight it was painful. He was also someone who made her feel woefully inadequate, so she tried to limit time spent around him as much as possible.
She took another scalding sip and down-screened a file to look at her screensaver. The Bahamas. They were the only thing that got her through the day. That and the small peeks she would occasionally take at PG.
His name was Edward, but to her, he would always be the perfect guy. Sure, he happened to have a slight problem with an addiction to women, but she'd seen him one night, accidentally stumbling upon him in his office. And she knew the truth. He had a good soul.
She stood up to grab an ice cube for her coffee and a throat cleared to her left. Heart stopping, she made hazel eye contact and blinked.
"Yes, P—Edward?"
"Your uh—"
She glanced down to see her cammi under her dress had slid down so that her bra was partially exposed.
Face flaming, she jerked her clothing up and scurried past him without a word.
Her day had officially begun.