Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. Twilight character names belong to Stephanie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended.
Shattered and Shrouded
Chapter 1 – First Encounter
My stomach turned. It wasn't my first job, but it was my first full-time job since I'd received my degree two weeks ago. After a grueling four years of studying and testing my knowledge and abilities, I could finally put what I'd learned to work.
The black leather chair stuck to the back of my thighs as I twisted a bit in my seat. Regret pinched me for wearing such a short skirt on my first day, but it was the only suit I owned. I shifted again, scooting to the edge of the seat to relieve my skin from the leather. Somehow I managed to keep my heart rate at a reasonable pace, but my stomach was threatening me. Any minute my cookies would be tossed. Fidgeting with my fingers, I took a deep breath and stared at my hands until they blurred.
"Isabella Swan?"
I looked up into a pair of hazel eyes.
"Yes?"
The slender, dark-haired woman smiled, her ivory face welcoming, as she lifted her hand to accept mine. "My name is Mary Alice, but everyone calls me Alice. I will be showing you around today." I stood and took her hand. Her handshake was firm, a bit too firm, and I had to flex my fingers a bit to revive them afterward. She flipped her lengthy tresses off her shoulder and turned. "Please, come this way."
I followed her down a long hallway. I'd been here before, when I'd come for my interview, so I wasn't uncomfortable with my surroundings. I was, however, nervous about meeting Mr. Masen, the boss. He wasn't present during the interview, away on some business, so I wasn't quite sure of what to expect from him.
The door at the end opened up into a large room filled with cubicles. Everyone was working, busily talking on the phone or typing away on their computers. Alice led me down the middle aisle to the offices at the end of the room. Each office had a large window and each window had its blinds closed…all but one. I glanced through the pane of glass and noticed a blonde woman sitting on the edge of a desk, leaning toward whoever was sitting there. She ran her fingers down the front of her blouse as if she were trying to seduce someone. It was definitely not professional, and it made me feel a bit uncomfortable. Alice led me into an office, and as soon as my feet passed through some unseen force field in the doorway the feeling of unease diminished.
"Hello, Miss Swan! I am Mr. Cullen, welcome to Masen Publishing." Mr. Cullen rose from his desk and walked up to greet me. "It is a pleasure to meet you." A wide smile spread across his handsome face. He was tall and thin, with an old-fashioned charm to him. Grabbing my hand, he pulled it up to his lips and kissed it gently. I had to catch my breath.
I couldn't believe this man was old enough to be my father. His face held few age lines, and his dark hair was combed back making his large blue eyes the star of the show. His light skin was smooth. Overall, he was an extremely attractive man.
Alice cleared her throat.
Mr. Cullen turned his attention to her. "Yes, Miss Brandon?"
"I'm sorry Mr. Cullen, sir, but you and Mr. Masen need to be in the lobby shortly."
"Ah, yes…" He turned to me. "Miss Swan, you will be working closely with my son, Edward. He and I will be in meetings the majority of the day, but I would like you to meet him before we leave. Come, my dear…"
He turned and led the way. I was nervous as we walked straight to the office with the open blinds.
As Mr. Cullen led me through the door, I felt the butterflies in my stomach shoot into my throat. I was sure my cookies would come up at any minute, because one look at this man sent me nearly over the edge.
Edward looked away from the blonde that was still leaning over his desk, and his deep green eyes caught mine. It took only an instant for his perfection to affect me. My head spun and my heart raced. His dark hair was in perfect disarray, a few strands falling loosely across his forehead. He stood fluidly, tall and thin, his flawless lips popped open in surprise.
Mr. Cullen motioned to me. "This is Isabella Swan, your new assistant."
Edward looked at his father in confusion, and then his lips pulled up into a striking half-smile. "New assistant, huh?" His eyes became dark as he turned to the woman on his desk, and the pleasant tone in his voice changed. "Leave." One word, but the authority in it was very clear. The woman slid off his desk, grasping the front of her shirt as if she were embarrassed. When her eye caught mine on her way out, she looked almost afraid.
Edward walked up to us and held his hand out to me. "It is a pleasure to meet you."
Hesitantly, I reached out and grabbed his hand, shaking it as firmly as possible.
He snickered. "A good, firm handshake – that says a lot about you."
"Really?" I pulled my hand from his and crossed my arms. "What does it say?"
He looked at his father. "You may leave now."
Mr. Cullen grumbled something under his breath as he turned and walked out of the room. It was at that moment I noticed Alice had never entered the office; she was standing in the doorway with her eyes on her feet. She turned and followed Mr. Cullen down the hall.
Edward walked to the door, closed it, and drew the blinds. My stomach twisted as he turned and his eyes met mine once more.
"So, Miss Swan was it?"
I nodded.
"Have you suddenly become mute Miss Swan?"
"No, sir."
"Good. Then when I ask you a question, I expect a verbal answer. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir." I don't know where it came from, but I suddenly felt a spasm of courage. "So, when I ask a question, am I to expect a verbal answer as well?"
His eyes blazed. "Excuse me?" he growled.
I should have bitten my tongue, but the words erupted from my mouth against my will. "I asked you what my handshake says about me, and you didn't answer. I am only asking if you intend to answer me."
He burst into laughter. "Ah, Miss Swan, you certainly have a wonderful sense of humor. I think we are going to get along famously."
"I wasn't trying to be funny."
He walked up to me and leaned forward, so close I could smell the cologne on his neck, and it was intoxicating. For an instant, I thought he was going to try to kiss me. I turned my face to the side.
"Let me make something clear, Miss Swan," he purred in my ear. "I am the owner of this company. Yes, my father handles much of my dealings, but he is merely an employee much like yourself. I am in charge, and what I say, goes." He stepped back and turned away. "Since you will be spending a lot of time with me, I need to make several things clear to you." He faced me once more, rubbing his strong chin with his fingers. "First, you will never call me by my first name. My father is the only one privileged to call me that." He stepped back up to me, his eyes boring into mine, his nose inches from my own. "Second, you will do anything and everything I demand of you when I tell you to do it. I will not tolerate disrespect. Have I made myself clear?"
I nodded and his eyes narrowed.
My heart skipped a beat. "I mean, yes, sir." Annoyance painted my tone.
"Watch yourself, Miss Swan." He frowned and turned. "I will be occupied today, so Alice will assist you for the time being." He walked back to his seat and sat down, immediately sifting through some paperwork on his desk.
I stood, with my hands behind my back, waiting for instructions. A minute or two passed before he looked up at me.
"I said…Alice…will…assist…you. Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then leave."
"Yes, sir."
I turned and walked out of his office, closing the door quietly behind me. At first, I was terrified, then, as the fear of his petulance wore off, I was appalled by his behavior. Who the hell does he think he is? Oh, yeah, the owner of the company. I'm sure the expression on my face revealed exactly what I was thinking. When I noticed the silence, I looked up, and every eye, from over every cubicle, was on me. A moment passed before employees sat back to their work, the sound of computer keys and telephone conversations resuming.
"Miss Swan?"
I turned and Alice was standing beside me.
"Let me show you around." I followed her down the aisles as she introduced me to each member of staff. There were twenty employees, only four of them were men. I forgot their names almost immediately; I'd always been terrible at remembering names.
After the introductions, she showed me to the conference room. "Wait here," she said and slipped out of the room.
The conference room blinds were open, so I could see the office area. Mr. Cullen stepped out of his office and walked to his son's door. A few seconds after knocking Edward appeared, and the two of them walked down the aisle and out the entrance. Mere seconds passed before Alice appeared again.
"Okay, Miss Swan…"
I cut her off. "Please, call me Bella."
"Oh, no, I'm sorry, only Mr. Cullen and Mr. Masen are allowed to call us by our first name. It's office policy. We can only address each other by our last names."
"Are you serious?"
She snickered. "Yes, but when the cat is away, the mice will play!" She winked at me.
I smiled. "I understand."
"Okay, Bella, let's get you to your office."
"Office?"
"Yes, aren't you the lucky one."
She led me back to Edward's office.
"Am I going to be…"
"No, you are not going to be in his office, per se." She led me to a door in the corner of the room and opened it. It was a small, windowless room with a desk. On the desk was a computer and phone.
"You mean…"
"Yes, your office is within his. You must be here promptly at seven thirty every morning."
"But, I thought my hours started at eight."
"Yes, but you'll want to be here before Edward arrives…trust me."
I wasn't sure what she meant, but judging from my first impression of him, I was sure I didn't want to find out.
I sat down and looked up at Alice who was leaning against the door frame.
"So, what am I supposed to do?"
"Well, your job for today is very simple. You only do what Mr. Masen asks you to do. Since he is busy today, you pretty much will just sit here and wait for the phone to ring."
"Who will be calling me?"
"Edward."
I'm not sure what my face revealed, but Alice laughed. "Dear me, Bella, you are Edward's assistant. He is the only one with the number to this phone. When he calls, you answer and do what he asks of you. It is that simple. If you need anything, you know where I'll be. The cubicles aren't numbered, but if you remember, mine is the last one on the left."
I nodded. "Yes, I remember."
"Oh, and don't use the computer or phone for personal use. Trust me, he has a way of finding out things. Sometimes I think this place is bugged, or full of hidden cameras." She winked at me and walked away.
I sat back and contemplated quitting, but it was my first job, and today seemed to be the easiest day. If Edward was out frequently, then maybe my job would be even easier than I thought. I could put up with a jerk of a boss for an easy job…couldn't I? Besides, I was never a quitter, and I didn't plan on giving up so soon after graduation. I vowed to work my way up the publishing ladder, even if it killed me. This place was just as good as any other.
Hours passed as I sat, staring at the blank computer screen in front of me. I made a mental note to bring some books to read so I wouldn't go mad.I don't know how much time passed before my vision blurred and my head bobbed, but I eventually dozed off.
I was vaguely aware of the fact that I was dreaming, because there was no way I could be running through the trees, laughing with my father's hand in mine, while I was sitting in my new office. I was eight, and we'd gone camping in a national forest. My father turned and smiled at me, lifting me into his arms and swinging me around. His large arms pulled me into a tight hug. The love the emanated from him filled me with such joy. He put me down and ran off, into the trees. I ran after him, laughing boisterously. He disappeared behind a tree, and I giggled as I leaned around the trunk to find him, but he wasn't there. I turned and searched with my eyes, finding nothing. The small amount of light filtering through the trees dimmed and I realized it was getting dark - and I was alone. True fear seeped through my skin, igniting the pain in my heart.
A light tap on the door frame snapped me out of my dream.
"Miss Swan?"
It was Alice.
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry to wake you, but it's time for lunch."
"Oh, I only closed my eyes for a second."
"You don't have to explain to me, honey. I'm not your boss. Besides, if I had to sit in this room all day, I'd fall asleep too. Just don't let him catch you." She grinned. "Come on."
We walked to the lounge where everyone was sitting around a long table, eating. There was a buffet line filled with all sorts of food.
"Who do we pay for our meal?"
Alice snorted. "You don't. Mr. Masen covers all costs. We have free lunch and snacks for our breaks every day."
I smiled. Free meals? I think I can get used to this.
We sat at the end of the table, close to the door.
Alice turned to the man next to us. "Hey, Jake."
"Hey, Alice." He smiled at me and winked.
I blushed.
"So, Isabella, how's your first day?" Jake asked.
"So far, so good. Oh, and call me Bella, please."
He grinned. With tidy black hair and russet skin, Jake was a fairly good-looking man. He was muscular and, though he was dressed in a nice suit, he looked more like a guy that would work in a gym.
I sat quietly, listening to Alice and Jake talk about the books they'd read and contracts they were preparing. I was envious of them. I'd rather read books and work closely with the publishing aspects of this company than sitting in a tiny room all day doing nothing.
A buzzer went off and everyone stopped speaking mid-sentence and jumped out of their seats as if a fire alarm had gone off. They dumped their unfinished plates and headed back to their cubicles without pausing to say another word.
I got up slowly, waiting for the rush to pass, and pushed in my chair, taking my time to dump the food I hadn't eaten. Everyone was busy working as I made my way back to the office. When I walked through the door, I was startled to see Edward sitting at his desk.
I gasped. "Oh, I'm sorry."
He didn't bother looking up from his work. "What are you sorry for?"
"I…um…"
He looked up at me, annoyed. "Don't just stand there doing nothing. Go to your office. You don't need permission." He turned his attention back to the computer.
I snickered.
His head snapped up, and anger flitted across his face. "There is nothing even remotely humorous about what I just said."
"Well, you don't want me to stand here and do nothing, so you'd rather I sit in that little room and do nothing. That's funny."
"I wasn't trying to be funny. If you want something to do, grab the mop and bucket from the utility closet, and mop the floor in the lounge."
"Are you…"
"Serious?" A wicked grin spread across his face. "Deadly."
I stood in place, not sure if I should move.
His smile faded and he glowered. "You should leave now."
I turned, fuming, and headed toward the lounge. I decided I hated Edward. There was no amount of physical attractiveness that could make up for his demeanor. I worked slowly, mopping with as much care as possible, wanting to spend as much time as I could away from him and his attitude.
I was nearly done when the intercom interrupted my work.
"Miss Swan?"
It was Edward's voice.
"Yes, sir."
"I am in need of your assistance."
I left the bucket and mop in the corner and made my way back to his office.
When I walked through the door, Edward was standing at his window, looking down at the city below.
"Mr. Masen, what can I do for you?"
He kept his back to me. "Tell Alice to take you to the dressing room. You need to change into something more appropriate."
"Excuse me?"
He turned to face me. "Are you questioning me?"
"Yes, sir. I would like to know what exactly is wrong with my clothes."
He snickered. "Your clothes are hideous. You are accompanying me to an event which is formal. Alice will help you change. I will meet you in the dressing room in twenty minutes, ready or not." He turned away from me.
When I walked out of the office, Alice was already standing by the last cubicle with a grin on her face. She shook her head.
"What?"
"Watch yourself, Miss Swan, or you are going to be another statistic."
"Explain."
She winked and motioned for me to follow her. The dressing room was exactly that. A long room filled with closets full of clothes. The back wall held a three-way mirror and vanity.
As Alice helped me get dressed, she began her explanation.
"You see, Bella, no assistant has lasted more than three months with Edward. Well, no, that isn't exactly correct. There was one woman who lasted almost six, but it was a long time ago and it was torture for her. The office is taking bets on how long you will last."
"Are you serious? Why didn't they last? Is he really that horrible?"
Alice snickered as she began tugging at my hair, pulling it up and fastening it to the back of my head with clips. "Honey, he is the devil in disguise…and a beautiful disguise at that."
"Well, I think I can handle his attitude. It can't be that bad."
"Oh, you have no idea. Edward has a special way of treating women. He gets a thrill out of playing them." She paused and sighed. "He has a certain charm to him. You'd better watch yourself. No matter how disagreeable his attitude is, he has a way of working the mind of a woman. The office is also taking bets on how fast he can get into your…well, you know."
"What?"
She laughed. "You'd be surprised, honey. I can count the number of women in this office on one hand who haven't slept with him."
I gasped.
"Yup. I've known him since before he started this business. I grew up in the same neighborhood he did. He treats me a little differently than others, but I think it's because we go way back. You'll learn his ways soon enough. When he kicks you out of the office to be alone with a woman, you'll now know why. Oh, and the way he treats them during sex…it's even more terrifying than his attitude."
"Tell me."
"Well…"
Just then the door swung open and Edward walked in. If I thought he was beautiful the first moment I saw him, I must have been blind. Dressed in a black tuxedo, he was the most striking creature I'd seen in my entire life. My mouth went dry and my palms started to sweat.
Wait. What the hell am I thinking? This is the biggest asshole in history. Stop looking at him like he's worth your time!
He looked at me and gasped, the hard look in his face softening. I dropped my eyes.
"Is there something wrong?" Alice asked.
I looked at him as he responded. His face turned hard once again. "No. Hurry up, there is not much time." He turned and walked out.
Alice spun me around so I could take a look at myself in the mirror. I was wearing a floor length deep blue dress, halter top, backless, with a slit that ran up my right thigh. My hair was pulled up with long tresses hanging daintily along the sides of my face. She'd placed rhinestone pins in a pattern on both sides of my head. I'd never seen myself so…so…beautiful. A sly smile crawled across my face. If I played my cards right…
She grabbed a pair of shoes that matched the dress and placed them in front of me. "See if these fit."
I slid my feet in. Perfect.
"Wow," she breathed as she stood before me. "You look unbelievable."
Heat rose into my cheeks. "Thanks."
When I walked out into the office, I heard several cat calls from various cubicles, but one icy glance from Edward silenced them all.
He offered his elbow to me. "Shall we?"
I placed my arm around his and he led me out of the office. Standing in front of the elevator was nerve-wracking. On the one hand, I couldn't stand this asshole, but on the other, seeing our reflection on the silver elevator doors gave me a twinge of excitement. When the doors opened I flinched and he chuckled.
"Scared, are we?"
"No."
He pulled me into the elevator. "Don't worry; all of my assistants were intimidated the first time I took them to a premiere."
"We're going to a premiere?"
He peeked down at me. "Yes. Dinner first though." He grinned. "I never attend these events alone, and since you are my new assistant I should start introducing you as such. Keep in mind you will be meeting with very influential people. Don't embarrass me."
"Why would I do that?"
"Trust me, every one of my assistants has said that before, and each one embarrassed me. I am hoping you are the exception."
"So," I pulled my arm out of his, turned to face him, and placed my hands on my hips. "Who was the last woman to wear this dress?"
I instantly became uncomfortable as Edward examined me. His eyes roamed from my toes, up my legs, hesitating at my hips, slowly moving up, lingering over my breasts a bit longer than necessary, until they finally met my eyes.
"Hmm…I don't believe any of my assistants have worn this particular dress for me." He reached over and grabbed the material at my waist, tugging on it softly, rubbing it between his thumb and forefinger. "It must be one of the new ones Alice bought recently. She knows I don't like my women wearing the same clothes twice in public."
"Your women?"
"Yes, my women. You work for me. You are my employee."
I crossed my arms. "Hmph."
"What? Do you have a problem with my terminology, Miss Swan?"
"I do, Ed…I mean, Mr. Masen."
He stepped close to me and I wondered when the elevator would reach the bottom.
"Miss Swan, must I remind you…"
He started at the sound of the elevator bell. The door opened and he stepped away from me. Grabbing my hand, he pulled me through the door, squeezing between two men and a woman who were waiting to enter.
I felt uncomfortable with his hand in mine. It wasn't because I knew he was a prick and had to endure his touch, but because I knew he was a prick and I enjoyed the contact. There was something in the connection his skin made with mine that felt right, and it unnerved me. He didn't release my hand until we reached the limo parked outside the building.
It was early, nearly four in the afternoon, and I wondered why he felt the need to go so early. I knew premieres were late evening events.
"Where are we going?"
"Like I said," he grumbled while looking out his window, "we're going to eat first."
"Is it going to take us three hours to eat?"
He turned to me, his lips pulling up into a smug grin. "No, but it will take an hour to get there. We will not be eating in town, Miss Swan."
I gasped. "Where the hell are you taking me?"
"To eat. What's the big fucking deal?" He turned in his seat to face me, his brow furrowed, his eyes screamed with annoyance.
"The big fucking deal is that I don't know you, and you are taking me God knows where. An explanation would be fucking nice." I crossed my arms and huffed loudly.
He burst into laughter. "Good girl. Don't ride with strangers. Daddy taught you well." I thought he would hyperventilate he was laughing so hard.
I felt my eyes sting as the tears threatened to escape. He didn't know how much his comment bothered me, and I didn't want him to know, so I looked away.
"Isabella…" My name rolled off his tongue like honey, and for once I didn't mind being called by my actual name. He reached over and grabbed my hand. I would have pulled it away, but the contact was nice. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to upset you. I am taking you to the beach. I hope you don't mind. There is a great seafood restaurant I am in the mood for." His fingers played with mine. "I hope you know you can trust me."
I looked into his eyes and I wanted to. I really wanted to trust him. There was just one thing eating away at the back of my mind.
This beautiful creature before you, Bella, is a player and an asshole. Can he really be trusted?
