Wow - what a response to the first chapter.
Thank you so much! I am humbled.
One last bit of info. This is not my usual type of fic... let me stress M for a reason and fantasies fulfilled ... I will leave it there.
And we continue.
I read the lines twice. Obviously someone sent the message to the wrong person. I tried responding but was unable to do so, the number coming up blocked. I shrugged sadly. Strange I got sent that message on today of all days, when I had just told Rose how I was invisible. No doubt someone had a fight with their boyfriend and he was reassuring her, but accidentally typed in the wrong digits. He would figure it out when she was still angry later. Meanwhile, I was still invisible. I glanced down at the screen, my fingers tracing over the words.
I wish I was beautiful to someone.
I gathered up the copies and went back to my desk. I glanced around the room at the different people around me. Jasper was standing talking to Masen and they both lifted their hand in silent acknowledgement to my smile in their direction. I grinned a little wider when I noticed the still uneaten sandwich clutched in Masen's hand. I knew it.
Masen's boss, Alice, walked by and she indicated Masen should come with her. I smiled sadly at the look of longing on Jasper's face as he watched them walk away. He was so in love with her, and in my opinion, her with him, but she refused to allow anything to happen between them because of their work relationship. I knew Jasper kept hoping she would change her mind.
Emmett was at Rose's desk, clearly still trying to win her over. He was leaning close, smiling at her, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. She was frowning at him and batting his hand away. I chuckled at the replay of their usual interactions. Other PA's were busy in their boss' offices and the rest were at their desks with interns working on various projects. The entire office hummed.
I was grateful to see my ex-boyfriend, Riley, wasn't at his desk down the hall. Luckily his new boss kept him so busy he was rarely there anymore, which made things easier on me. I avoided him at all costs, but made sure I was always professional if I had to deal with him. I never gave him a reason to complain about me in that respect— he found enough other reasons to find fault with me.
Fortunately, my work kept me busy and the afternoon flew by. I had just finished adding the last of the documents to James' presentation when Rose sat down on the corner of my desk. "Hey."
"Hi."
"Sorry about earlier, Bella. I didn't mean to upset you." She looked at me, obviously worried I was angry with her.
Smiling, I patted her hand. "I'm not upset, Rose. It is what it is and you are beautiful. I'm what I am, which is not. Don't worry about it."
"You don't really think that, do you?"
I smiled sadly. "I have a mirror, Rose. I'm not you."
"You're very pretty, Bella. You just need to show it off more."
I shook my head. "That's you, Rose. You're comfortable showing yourself off. I'm not. I prefer to be in the background."
"Bella …"
I shook my head. "Just leave it, Rose. Please? You live how you live and let me live how I live."
She shook her head. "That's the problem, Bella. I don't think you're living."
I sighed. "It's fine, Rose. Please."
"Fine," she huffed. "For now."
I paused as a thought occurred to me. "You didn't send me a text to try and cheer me up did you?"
She frowned. "No. Why?"
I laughed. "No reason. I got a weird text earlier that was obviously meant for someone else."
"What did it say?"
I shrugged. "Nothing really … it's not important."
And it wasn't meant for me.
She stood up. "Okay. Drinks after work?"
I shook my head. "No. I'm off to the gym and then home. Maybe tomorrow."
She shook her head. "You say that every time. You'll never meet anyone at home, Bella. Or, at a 'women's only' gym. How will you ever be in another relationship if you don't put yourself out there?"
I sighed softly. "I'm not looking for a relationship, Rose. I don't think I will be for a long time."
She looked at me quietly. "I'll be at O'Donnell's if you change your mind."
"Okay. Goodnight."
I watched her leave with a little relief. I knew she meant well but sometimes she simply didn't get it. We were two very different people. We got along well at work, but even though she was constantly after me to do so, seldom saw each other outside the office. On the rare occasion she would drag me out I would end up leaving not long after I met her in one of her favorite bars, Rose otherwise occupied.
The office began to thin out and I decided it was time to leave. I leaned over to switch off my desk lamp and was surprised to hear my phone buzz again with another text.
I picked it up and stopped, my eyes widening as I read the words on the screen.
It wasn't a mistake.
I meant you, Bella.
You are beautiful.
See you on Thursday... the reason for the rating becomes... clearer. Much clearer. LOL
