Disclaimer: I do not own Edward, Bella or any other characters. They belong to Stephenie Meyer and I can only thank her for creating them and their relationship.
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The clock ticked. Once, twice, three times. It was now officially 5:31 and my half an hour grace period had closed. He missed his deadline again. I buried my head in my hands and raked my fingers through my hair as I brought my head up to look at the clock. 5:32. I looked around the newsroom and saw him nowhere.
"Cullen!" I cried out. His head popped up from his cubicle and his eyes met mine. He knew what I wanted; he knew why I was calling him. I could almost see his spirit drop to the floor as he shuffled over towards my desk. My heart sped up as he got closer. I had to bite my lip to keep my mouth from hanging open. Why he worked in a newsroom I would never know. He should be a model. Nevertheless, he did great work. When he did the work, that is. My heart skipped a beat as his hand came to rest on my desk.
"I'm sorry. Here it is." He placed his article on my desk. I wanted so badly to take it and run it to the layout editor. Even worse than that was my want for him to clear my desk and ravish me. I bit my lip harder. "I know it's late, but it might be the best one yet, Ms. Swan." It probably was.
"Edward, I…it…" I was stumbling through my words. My head was swimming with all the different things I could say to him. I had to let him down, but I couldn't. He took advantage of my hesitance and leaned in towards me. His face was only inches from mine.
"Isabella." My name sounded like heaven coming from his lips. His spicy, sweet scent engulfed me and sent my thoughts flying. His brilliant green eyes were locked on mine. My mouth was gaping open as my brain was stumbling for words.
"I'll see what I can do." I could barely whisper. Shit, my mind cursed over and over. He slowly pulled away from me and smiled coyly. He mouthed a polite 'thank you' as he turned and walked away. I shut my mouth and swallowed hard as I glanced at the paper he had laid on my desk. I didn't have the time to read it; if I was going to submit it I had five minutes at best. The layout editor hated my grace period and I'm sure he wouldn't appreciate the extra time I had made for Edward. Again.
I stood up from my desk and walked towards the elevator. I tried to take a route that wouldn't bring me past his cubicle but it was inevitable. I tried to be quick as I passed but I couldn't help but peek at him. The light on his desk was off, his computer shutting down meaning only one thing. He had already left and by the grace of God, I hoped that the elevator carrying him had already came and gone.
No such luck. There he was, standing at the elevator doors waiting. I took a deep breath and straightened out the wrinkles in my skirt. I took a step forward as if to get on the elevator then stopped. Maybe I could just wait for the next one. But he already saw me go towards the elevator. Shit.
His long arm held the elevator door open, waiting for me.
"Going down?" I gnawed on the inside of my lip and nodded meekly. I got in the elevator and he let the doors closed behind me. There was no turning back or pretending I forgot something. I leaned against the back wall of the elevator and stared intently at the article in my hands. I had to distract myself and get my heart beating at a normal pace. It was beating so loudly in my ears that I barely heard him ask me what floor.
"Ms. Swan?" He cleared his throat.
"Oh, three." I mumbled, embarrassed. His finger pushed the button on the keypad as I stared at his body, imagining what it was like underneath his blue striped shirt and navy pants. I could only imagine, but I'm sure it was perfect; hard lines, defined muscles. I gripped the rail against the wall to keep myself from reaching out to touch him.
"So have you gotten the chance to read it?" He asked, leaning back against the wall. His hand rested next to mine, our pinky fingers brushed against one another gently. I shuddered and pulled my hand away.
I shook my head. "No, but I'm sure it's perfect." He laughed quietly. Just like you.
"Ah, this is my stop." I looked up at the highlighted number over the elevator door. Three. Shit! Why today? The elevator doors opened and I wanted to bolt. I wanted to run out of the elevator, place the article on my editor's desk and melt into the floor. If at all possible, I would have liked to melt through the crack in the elevator shaft. "After you," he held his arm out, gesturing to me that I should leave first.
"Thank you," I mumbled as I stepped out of the elevator. I tried not to look him directly in the eyes, but as I walked out I caught him smiling down at me. My heart fluttered and I smiled back at him.
"Goodnight Isabella," he said smoothly. He nodded and waved politely in my direction as he walked towards the door to the parking garage. I waved back and then spun around, steadying myself on a chair in the hallway. I couldn't help but smile when I thought about him saying my name. Saying my name, screaming my name, either way it would sound ideal. I tried not to think about that. I had to explain away the article's lateness again and I couldn't let my mind wander. I peered around the corner to see if James was in his office. For once, something went right. He wasn't there. I could just sneak in, put the article in my pile and sneak back out.
I had gotten all the way up to the second step in my plan, but as I turned around to leave, James's door swung open.
"Well, well. To what do I owe this great honor? Another Cullen piece?"
"I…" I didn't know what to say. I couldn't lie, but then again if I told him the truth who knows what he would do to me. "…I was just checking to make sure I had given you everything!" I smiled a fake smile.
"It better be a fucking masterpiece, Izzy." I cringed. He knew I was lying and he definitely knew I hated when he called me Izzy. He crossed his arms over his chest and looked at me over the rim of his glasses.
"It is. I promise." I flashed my smile back at him. He smiled and caught my arm as I turned to leave the room. Shit. Fuck. Shit. I repeated the curse words over and over in my head. He pulled me closer to him and whispered in my ear.
"I believe you Izzy, but I don't want you making any more special accommodations. Especially not for him." He spat out the last word and I tried to pull away. "You're smarter than that." He kissed me roughly and let my arm go. I walked slowly back to the elevator which brought me back to my newsroom. I grabbed my bag, shut my light and turned off my computer. 5:46. The events of the past fourteen minutes were spinning in my mind.