Disclaimer: I don't own anything Twilight related. Lemon in this chapter – yup – you've been warned

Chapter 1: One fine summer's day…

August 2008

I looked at the street signs to see where I was, the E. 60 and 3rd. A glance at my watch told me that I needed to move as I had an interview in 10 minutes at the MSK research building. Having worked at Memorial Sloan Kettering for 5 years I was familiar with the ins and outs of the institution. I had started as an administrative assistant and had moved up to executive assistant. During that time I had helped my physicians with a number of grants, learning the ins and outs of grant management.

However I had also hit a glass ceiling since having had my kids. Having been bypassed for 2 promotions my boss said there would be another opportunity. I realized on my 30th birthday that they were stringing me along so I started to quietly apply to other departments. The grants manager job was exactly what I had in mind. This was my 2nd interview, this time with the physician herself, a Dr. Jessica Stanley. Finally I made it to the research building and found the office.

Knocking on the door, I heard a hushed come in. I walked in a women in her early forties opened the door. She walked over and extended her hand, "Dr. Stanley," I asked shaking her hand.

"Yes, Bella," Dr. Stanley asked. I nodded, "Glad to meet you, please call me Jessica, let's go into my office."

I nodded and smiled, noticing another young woman in the corner, looking at me curiously. Jessica walked beside me, to block my view from her.

"That's Kara," Jessica explained, "She is my AA."

"Ah," I said nodding at her. I wasn't sure but I think I saw her shudder. "I'm assuming that you have already have one, but here is my CV." I said handing her a folder with my personal information.

She took it and commented me on my organization. This isn't so bad, I thought taking my surroundings. It was not dissimilar to my office. The furniture was standard MSK issue favoring the light honey colored scheme seen in the administrative areas. What I couldn't believe is the number of plants in the office. They were everywhere, there had to be at least 20 of them.

"So Bella, you have been at MSK for the last 6 years," Jessica asked me looking at my resume.

"Yes, I started with Michael Devlin as his AA," I explained.

Jessica squealed, "Really Dr. Michael Devlin" she asked excitedly.

"Yes I was his AA before he went on sabbatical," I explained.

"Oh he is one of oldest dearest friends from medical school," she told me. That worried me a little as Dr. Devlin had a reputation. In fact one of the promotions I had been passed over for had gone to a colleague of mind who hadn't made it a secret that she was "helping" him recover from his divorce.

"Small world", I commented. "And I was promoted to my current position 2 years ago."

"You have a master's degree?" she asked.

"Yes, I completed that 2 and half years ago from Hunter," I explained, "And I completed my bachelor's degree in Cal State San Diego."

"Really you are from California?' she squealed again, "Why did you ever leave?"

"Well, my parents relocated to New Jersey and I wanted to be near them" I explained.

She clucked her tongue at me. Ok, I thought that is definitely odd. "Well, Bella let me explain the job to you." Jessica said, "I need someone to manage the financial aspects of my grant. I have an R01".

I nodded eagerly remembering why I applied to begin with. Think promotion Bella, I chanted to myself.

"Yes I have experience with that at my current job. I have designed 6 different budgets and also distributed funds to the subcontracts," I explained going further in my skill set. Jessica nodded and gave me the visual cues I needed to think I was making a good impression.

"I also need someone to manage my calendar," Jessica added, I was finished describing my background.

Ok, that threw for me for a loop. "Doesn't your AA do that," I asked, a little concerned. Why would she need that if she already had a secretary? For a moment I had an uncanny feeling that she was looking for a secretary. I did not need to leave a job I was comfortable to take another one with a boss who frankly was strange. Weird bosses were one thing, I could live with that, but a weird boss and gaining nothing? As my husband would say: Hell No.

"My AA isn't comfortable doing that and frankly she is terrible with it. I just need someone to do it," Jessica said batting her eyes a little.

"I don't mean to overstep my boundaries but that is usually the AA's responsibility. May I ask why she is still on staff if she isn't fulfilling a basic duty?" I asked not wanting to be a situation where I did my job and half of some else. That's what I did right now with current boss Jodi, Dr. Devlin's love tool.

"I can't answer that," Jessica responded her face growing very cold. It was almost frightening. Shit – I must have offended her.

"My apologies," I replied, I could feel myself turning red. "The answer is yes I am comfortable with scheduling."

"Don't worry," Jessica said her face brightening up. Our interview went back and further for a few more minutes. She walked to the door, the AA had long since left.

I walked to the subway feeling disorientated from the experience. Good manners kicked in and I composed a thank you letter longhand on the train which I planned to type it up when I got home. The interview threw me for a loop so I just stuck with the standard politeness and well wishes. I wasn't that desperate and frankly the she freaked me out. I knew from previous job experiences that when you think something is off it mostly like is.

When I got off at my stop Edward was waiting for me by the turnstile to walk me home. "Hey baby, how did the interview go," he asked, kissing my cheek.

"Weird," I answered truthfully. "How was your day?"

"Equally weird but in a good way. I got a bonus check and a plead from my manager to spend it." He told me as we walked to our building.

That was the nice thing about having a husband on Wall Street. He got his bonuses like other people got library books. He was a contradiction he hated his job but loved the perks that came with it. In fact I had been one of those perks, his favorite he claimed. That was might be explained since we meet when he had been a guest lecturer when I was getting my MHA. I had to attend a general education finance class, it most boring requirement I which I never failed to remind him. In fact when he had lectured I was dangerously close to falling asleep, a combination of the subject matter and hour of the class.

6 years ago…

I raced up Lexington Avenue aware how late I was going to be when I get the door. This finance class was killing me, both in time and subject matter. To top it off Jodi, the other AA in the office held me up by going out for an extended lunch. That bitch knew it was my day to leave early and she had to be on time.

Hunter was coming into view so I increased my speed and ducked into the building. When I walked into the classroom they were introducing the speaker, an Edward something or other. The cursory glance I gave him told me that he was fairly good looking but had that whole Wall Street vibe. Clean cut with a swagger The Wall Street guys gave me the creeps as they reminded me of Dr. Devlin who was always on the make. We had a fair amount those guys who like to hit up our happy hour.

My opinion didn't change as Mr. Cullen started to speak. His bio put in him as some sort of whiz kid from Wall Stree with an Ivy league education and while I was sure to people in his industry he was fascinating but he was boring me to tears. I grabbed my notebook and started to write the paper I had due this Friday in an effort to stay awake. Oddly enough his native New Yorker accent was soothing and putting me to sleep.

Two hours and about 25 pinches I needed to give myself the seminar was dismissed. Thankfully I got up ready to start the 2-hour trip home to Staten Island. I had bought a townhouse there last spring and was renting out half the place to pay for it. So far it was working out pretty well but the commute was hell.

As I got up, I felt a tap on my shoulder. Turning around I gasped and saw it was Mr. Cullen in the flesh. Up close, I realized my vantage point didn't do him justice. He was absolutely gorgeous with his copper colored hair and green eyes. Smiling at me, he handed me something.

"I thought you might want my notes since you were late getting in and were obviously not paying attention," Mr. Cullen said with a mega-watt grin. I wondered if this what he used at Lehman's.

"I'm good thanks," I replied and gave him back the papers.

"You don't want to fail do you," he replied, smiling with his perma-grin.

I held up my micro recorder. "I'm good – I'm a secretary and transcription is 2nd nature," I told him.

"You have a Bachelor's," he asked surprised. I'm guessing he never saw Working Girl.

"Yes," I replied, dryly, wondering if he read the syllabus and realized this was a Master's level class.

"What the fuck are you doing working as a secretary if you got a Bachelor's," he asked.

"Read the papers – we're in a recession and that was the only job I could get," I replied, "Not all of us go to the Ivy League and get a junior executive position out the gate."

He laughed. "You obviously read the bio," Mr. Cullen replied, "How about we grab some coffee and you can tell me about your goals."

"That's the worse pick up line I have ever heard and I have a two hour commute ahead me," I told him, grabbing my backpack. I was so out there I could see the tire marks.

"Whoa – can I give you ride – make that a 30 minute commute for you," Mr. Cullen said coming up to me.

"I live on Staten Island – I doubt you slum it down there," I replied.

"You live in Staten Island? I didn't think those people actually came to the city," he said in shock.

"You're batting a thousand – I'm out of here," I replied hitting the fresh night air.

"Wait – you're weren't kidding – you have at least a 2 hour commute. Let me drive you to the Ferry. It's late," he said coming up out with me.

"I'm good – I've been doing this for 2 years," I told him, entering the subway with my metro pass. I was pretty sure Mr. Wall Street didn't have a metro pass or exact change. What a jerk, I thought waiting for the train. Over the PDA the announcer called out a minor delay due to a police incidence.

"Good I thought I missed you," I heard a voice behind me a few minutes later.

I gasped and elbowed the voice not thinking twice. "Umph," the voice said.

Turning around I realized had elbowed Edward Cullen and his Brooks Brothers covered ass was on the filthy subway floor.

"I'm so sorry," I said bending him down to help me up.

"Sorry enough go on a date," he asked when he got the air back into his body.

Edward stayed with me the entire ride including the ferry. He bought me coffee on the boat. We went on our first date the Friday afterwards. Here we were 5 years, 1 wedding and 2 kids later.

We lived on 93rd Street and 3rd Ave in the Upper East Side. The location was worth the amount of money we spent on rent it but we both needed to work maintain the expenses. As I found living with Edward, middle class in Manhattan was different then middle class say across the river where my sister lived with her husband. We had a rental property on Staten Island, the townhouse I had purchased during my single days.

Edward wanted to buy a new place in Manhattan. I was holding mainly due to expenses. If we stayed in Manhattan, the cost of an apartment was high enough but that didn't include the private school we would have to invest in for Geoff and Melody. Also with the price of gas and the real estate market being so erratic I wanted to wait. While our apartment was expensive and the size of a postal stamp, it had those 2 little words every New Yorker loved hear. Rent controlled. I made frequent pilgrimages to the Container Store or Ikea trying to get squeeze more into our space.

I had bought my townhouse in Staten Island for a steal and the location to the subway and ferry made it very attractive. The people renting it were stable and paid like a slot machine. It didn't make sense to sell at the moment, as property had really generated income. Edward and I had two different money philosophies he like to spend hence the dependence on his job and me I like to squirrel every cent under a rock. Blame the fact that my parents could be featured on a couponing program, I didn't care. My dad was a cop and my mother was a kindergarten teacher. Being civil servants didn't bring in millions of dollars like my father-in-law Carlisle who was a retired financial advisor and my mother-in-law Esme who was a socialite.

"30, 30, 40 plan," Edward asked looking me, anticipating what I was going to say about his bonus.

I nodded, 30% for fun, 30% for bills, 40% for savings, was the formula we had to come to agree over the years. When I first met Edward his personal finances were a mess, an irony given he was a financial analyst. After dating for several months, I sat him down and showed where his money was going. Needless to say he was shocked.

We walked into our building and relieved our babysitter Lisa. I bathed our twins while Edward cooked dinner. During the beginning of our relationship Edward and I had reached an agreement about cooking. He cooked and I watched. During my senior year in high school, my Spanish class final had been to cook a Latin food dish. Out of a class of 35 people I was the one who managed to nearly burn down the Home EC room. My teacher took pity on me and let me submit a 5 paper on Prop 187 instead in Spanish. However we all agreed Bella in the kitchen was a recipe for disaster. Edward agreed with this after I nearly burned down his kitchen in his old apartment and took over all cooking duties.

After I got the twins bathed and fed I put them down for the night. Edward had dinner ready and a glass of wine for the 2 of us. "So what about the interview weird?" he asked me, pulling out my seat. You had to love his chivalry my mother-in-law Esme had trained him well.

"Well for one thing the boss was a little hyper. She reminded me of the Energizer Bunny." I told him.

"What did she suggested that you keep going and going," Edward asked with a straight face.

"Haha no –she all but body slammed me from looking at her secretary," I told him.

"That is a little weird," Edward conceded, "What else?"

"I don't honestly it was just vibe I got from her," I took him, "She knows Devlin."

Edward grimaced at that one. He knew that Devlin had first hit on me when I started working while he was still married. In fact, I had to put up several knowing sneers from him when Edward and I first started dating. Edward had been on assignment in my area and used to take me out during my lunch hour. Those dates usually consisted of going to the hotdog vendors or grabbing a sandwich from the deli.

Edward would come up to my office and hang out for a few minutes while I set phones to voicemail. Every now and then Dr. Devlin would come up and look at me and Edward like we were having sex on my desk. It stopped finally after he started sleeping with Jodi, our office manager and I got engaged to Edward.

"Also the job they advertised is different than one she described. She is asked me if I would be ok with scheduling for her," I said.

"I thought this was for a grants manager job," Edward said, spearing ravioli with this fork, "that sounds secretarial Bella. You don't need to do that."

"Yeah I know, that is another weird part, she already has a secretary. She got really upset when I pointed that out. That is what is really bothering me about this I think that her AA is going to be fired. I don't need another secretarial job. I have one of those. There is no point in switching over for a completely lateral job." I replied.

"Then don't we're doing well. Hell you could quit if you want and do the stay at home thing," he said.

"You know how I feel about that," I said quietly. It was a discussion we had many times before. Edward and his family didn't make a secret that they rather I stay at home. However I was proponent that you never knew what could happen and two incomes were better than one. Edward learned to accept it. He knew I would never be a trophy wife. That was another thing that appealed to him, I was different then the other he had dated before me. I wanted to make my place in the world not marry into it.

"I know and I am sorry – just letting you know that you have options. But you shouldn't take this job because you are bored with your other one," he said taking my hand.

"Thanks sweetie, anyway this is all a moot point. I haven't been offered the job and I don't think she appreciated me calling me on her clerical issues," I said taking a sip of wine.

After dinner, I loaded the dishwasher and typed out my letter to Jessica. Edward checked it out and gave me his seal of approval. I was mildly dyslexic so it helped to have someone who was a double major in business and English around. Finishing it up, I sent it over and turned my attention to my husband who was playing with my strap on my pajama top.

"About time," Edward growled, nipping on my shoulder, "Put that fucking computer down."

"Hmm – you gonna distract," I purred turning to sit on his lap.

"Let me show what I can do," he told me pulling me close to him and his bare chest.

I was rewarded with a brush of his erection on my clit. Instant pleasure flooded me, making me tingle on all over. Edward pulled up on my tank top off me, exposing my chest.

"Perfect," he hiss, palming my breast with hand and my nipple with his mouth.

"Oh Edward," I moaned rubbing against him, "I love you." With that I kissed him back.

"Good – because I love you beyond reason," he told me kissing me back.

With that I pulled down his PJ bottoms and realized he was commando.

"You planned this," I said with a smirk, caressing his cock. Edward so hard – I was surprised he wasn't in pain.

"When you have two you gotta be prepared ," he replied positioning himself between my legs and entered me.

The intrusion shocked me even after all these years and two kids. "Move," I commanded wanted to feel Edward move in me. The anticipation was killing me.

"Hell yeah," he replied and started to move. We didn't have time to indulge in the sex we had prior to the twins but Edward was good at getting us there in a timely fashion.

"Edward," I panted, as I got closer.

"You feel so good – how do you always feel so good," he replied and then slammed into me one more time making me come. He shattered right after me.

"I feel better," I told him, we both came down, wearing dopey grins.

"Me too baby," he replied, "I love you."

I remember that night because of how beautiful it was, lying next to Edward. There touch of humidity in the air and I opened the windows to allow the air in. At that moment I felt that there was nothing that could touch us.

AN: Hmm – anyone think that Edward and Bella's life is that perfect? We'll have to wait and see…

Sorry for the weak lemon – if you read my previous work A Long Journey – you know that's not my strong point.

The Home EC story was actually did happen to me. My teacher and I reached a conclusion that me being in a kitchen with would be too much of an insurance hazard. All memories…

Thanks everyone for taking the time to read/review/favorite/follow. I got my first review this week!