I do not own Twilight or the characters, they are owned by the talented Stephenie Meyer.
Hello! and welcome to Hate What You Do To Me! The second story that i am currently working on.
Hope you like! Please review and let me know if you want to read more!
Hope you like this as much as the first!
Happy reading! and reviewing! :)
Touch Me and Die
On the way home from her first, and possibly last, day at Cullen Enterprises, Bella's actions began to sink in. It was completely unprofessional and she was surprised at the reaction he evoked in her. Every time she looked at him her blood boiled and caused her to lose hold of the filter between her brain and her mouth.
Surely after her behavior today he would call the temp agency and request that she not return. It was to be expected, she would have done the same if the situation were reversed. With a sigh she climbed the stairs to her apartment. One good thing about living in Chicago was all the exercise she did just doing daily things, lots of walking and stairs.
Approaching the door she heard music coming from the other side signaling that her roommate was home. The smell of something burning, along with an 'oh shit!' assaulted her as she entered the apartment, the door slamming behind her.
"You OK in there Rose?" Bella called as she tossed her keys back into her purse and pulled out her phone to await the call she knew was coming.
"Hey, Bella. Everything is fine, just burning dinner as usual," Rosalie called form the other room before peering out from behind the cabinet. Her long blond hair was up in a bun, makeup removed, and dressed in her favorite t-shirt and jeans. Clearly Rosalie was staying in tonight as the woman was always dressed to kill. "So, how was your first day back on the horse?"
"Probably my last," Bella answered with a groan as she stripped out of her suit.
"What? Why?" Rosalie's concern written on her face.
"The temp agency did not tell me where they were sending me," Bella fumed.
"And?" Rose prompted, her eyes alight with curiosity.
"Cullen Enterprises," Bella sneered, enunciating each syllable. She heard a gasp escape Rosalie's lips, her eyes growing wide with realization. "Yep. Edward. Fucking. Cullen."
"Oh shit!" Rosalie exclaimed and leaned in with rapt attention. "What happened? Give him a piece of your mind?"
"We fought per usual. He insulted me, I insulted him. He was bossy and yelled. I said 'screw you' and threw a thick file of papers up in the air at him."
"Oh my god, you threw something? At him?" Rosalie broke out in laughter. "Oh, Bella that is priceless. He really does get under your skin."
"He goaded me yet again! I just can't rein my temper in when it comes to him. There was no filter Rose. None."
"Are you sure you aren't attracted to him? You know how you get with men you are interested in," Rose lectured. Bella glared up at her friend who ignored her. "Plus, you have to admit, the man is gorgeous."
"Never!"
"Fine, you stubborn ass. Just remember this; denial is more than just a river in Egypt," Rosalie smirked at her.
Bella rolled her eyes. "Shut up and feed me woman."
Rosalie stood up straight and turned back toward the possibly still burning food. "You got it boss."
Bella walked to her room to change, returning a few minutes later to a salad, pasta, and burnt garlic bread. It was sweet of Rosalie to attempt to cook for her. Unfortunately most of Rose's attempts were unsuccessful and usually involved take out afterwards. She sat down and twirled a forkful of the lumpy pasta and stuffed it in her mouth. Well, it was edible and that was saying something.
"So, job still going good?"
"Yeah. Miss working with you though, Chika. Could use some spice in the office."
"Rosalie, you are there," Bella reassured. "There is enough spice in you to make a lethal weapon."
"True, true. It would just be nice to have another kick ass girl in the office."
"It's your fault I'm this way. You rubbed off on me."
"I know full well I am responsible for the 'take no shit' Bella. Add your stubbornness and smarts into the mix and you are one hell of a force. Just ask Edward Cullen," Rose smirked at her friend. She was met with a glare that screamed 'don't you dare go any further'.
After a few minutes of shoveling down lumpy pasta and burnt garlic bread Bella's phone rang. Looking down at the number she was not in the least bit surprised. The call she had been waiting for. "Bella Swan," she spoke into the phone.
"Hi Bella, its Vicki. I was just calling to see how your first day went."
"Disaster, Vicki. Complete and total meltdown," Bella admitted.
"Really?" Vicki questioned, surprised by Bella's account of the day.
"I'm sure Cullen called."
"Yes, he did," Vicki responded, her voice betraying her confusion. "He said you did a great job today. He was pleased with your work and told me you livened up his office."
"Ha!" Bella broke out into hysterics.
"What?"
"Vicki, I yelled at the man and threw a file at him. 'Livened up' is a bit of an understatement. In fact I am surprised any words of praise fell from his venomous mouth."
"You threw a file at him? Why?" Even over the phone she could hear the shock in Vicki's voice.
"Cullen and I don't get along. It is a long standing feud. We fight when we see each other. It's compulsory, like Pavlov's dog."
"I didn't realize you two knew each other."
"We met several times through business when I was with Newton's."
"Well, he seemed eager to have you back in the morning. If fact he said he would like you in at seven thirty. Try not to throw anything at him tomorrow, ok?" Vicki pleaded.
"Can't promise anything, but I will try," she answered before saying their goodbyes and hanging up.
After finishing her call Bella helped Rose clean up dinner, then headed off to bed. Lying in bed she looked up at the ceiling replaying the day over in her head. It had all gone horribly wrong from the moment she saw the company's name as she entered the reception area.
It was that moment that set her off. She had been unprepared to see him. Tomorrow she would know she was walking into the throne room and would hopefully be able to stele herself enough not to let her mouth run away from her. Damn Rosalie and her 'spice'.
The next morning Bella walked into the office a few minutes before Mr. Cullen's requested time. Setting her things at her desk she headed to the break room for a cup of coffee and found Angela sitting at a table finishing off her breakfast.
"Good morning Angela," she smiled.
"Morning, Bella. You seem in a better mood today," Angela smiled in return, a little laugh escaping her lips as she recalled the previous day. Who knew that the small woman in front of her could cause such an uproar with the head of Cullen Enterprises.
"I am prepared today, unlike yesterday. Frankly I am surprised he didn't tell the temp agency that they should no longer represent me after my behavior," she admitted sheepishly.
"Well, I think he was a little abashed when he took a good look at the spreadsheet you sent him. He was very pleased with all the ways you analyzed the data and broke it down."
"My goal was not to please him," Bella grumbled.
"Then why were you so detailed?" Angela asked. Curious as to why Bella would put out such quality work if not to please him?
Bella sighed, bowed her head, and brought her hand up to rub her neck. "Because that is exactly the detail I expected my assistant to give."
"Wow. You were a head honcho?"
Bella laughed. "Head honcho? No, but I was higher up on the food chain. Cullen and I used to play on the same field. Now I'm not even in the same ball park. Pathetic, huh?"
Angela gave her a sad smile. "That sucks. Nice baseball analogy. My boyfriend Ben would like that one. He works in IT for the Cubs."
"Wow. That sounds like a great job."
"He's a huge Cubs fan so it's a dream come true for him," Angela explained as she looked up at the clock. "Well, better get the day started."
"Wish me luck."
"Go get him, Bella," Angela grinned before heading to her desk. As she passed her desk Bella grabbed a pen and notepad and walked over to his office door. Taking a deep breath she turned the handle and stepped inside.
Upon entering she found Mr. Cullen staring straight at her. "Ever heard of knocking, Miss Swan?"
Bella quirked her eyebrow at him and sealed her lips before walking out the door, closing it, and lightly rapping on the wood with her knuckles. She could swear she heard a chuckle from the other side before his voice beckoned her in. With purpose she walked through the door, her head held high, and stepped right up to his throne… desk.
"What can I help you with, Miss Swan?" his velvet voice asked and she could swear she felt the vein in her forehead twitch.
"I am here at seven thirty per your request, Mr. Cullen." she responded as she tried to smile, but a grimace it would be called.
"Yes. I had some things regarding yesterday that I would like to discuss. First being that I apologize for yelling at you last evening before you left. I did not thoroughly go through the information you compiled and it was a grave error on my part. Your analysis could not have been better if I had done it myself," He smiled up at her in an attempt to ease the tension in the room. The static charge running between the two was so thick it was almost palpable.
"Thank you, sir. I accept your apology," she replied. Her body was stiff and she was clenching her teeth in order to hold back any snide remarks.
"That being said I do believe that you owe me an apology for your behavior throughout the day starting from the time you first opened the door to my office," Edward said as he leaned back in his chair.
"You can't just accept that we have always been this way and it is apparent we shall remain?" she snipped. Crap! Slip number one.
"Alright Miss Swan, let's have it out," he huffed as he leaned back onto his desk. "There is too much animosity between us and I would really like to clear the air. It is my dire hope that we can get along as I want you on my staff."
Her eyes widened in shock. "I want to be nowhere near your 'staff', Cullen," Bella spat back at him. Shit again. The longer she spent with him the more of the battle she lost.
Edward's jaw dropped at her implication. He was rendered speechless for a moment before his indignation raised him out of his chair to the other side of his desk right in front of her. "Are you implying that I have motives that differ from wanting to hire a knowledgeable, experienced, person to my workforce?"
Shit.
It was easy for Bella to see that she had crossed the line with her last comment. He was furious. She had never seen him furious before. There was something…. sexy about it.
Sexy? Where the hell did that come from?
"No, Mr. Cullen. I am merely letting you know ahead of time that I will never be anywhere near your….'staff'," she replied trying to hold back her laughter and failing miserably. Unable to contain herself any longer she bent over, leaning on a chair for support, as her body convulsed in laughter.
Why was she laughing you ask? The sheer fuckupidness that was being near Mr. Cullen.
"Are you finished, Miss Swan?" he growled at her. His green eyes glared at her and she couldn't help the shiver that ran down her spine.
"I believe so. Carry on," she instructed.
He stared at her for a moment, her last sentence causing his jaw to tighten."Just so you know I have never been involved in any way with any of my employees. I do not mix business and pleasure..."
"Doesn't that make you a dull boy then?" she interrupted.
"What?" he asked bewildered as he looked down at her.
"All work and no play. It is obvious that you spend most of your time here. If you do not form relationships of any kind in the work place what do you do in your free time?" she asked. Why she asked even she did not know, especially since there was nothing snide about it.
Edward was taken aback by her sudden inquiry. Based on their prior encounters he was curious as to why she even cared. "That is an entirely different matter. We are speaking of work. I assure you Miss Swan I will not make any move toward you in a non business way."
"Just so you know I would turn you down anyway," she declared. Inwardly Bella was amazed at her quips. Rosalie would be proud.
"Can you shut that mouth of yours for five goddamn minutes you insufferable woman?" Edward screamed at her.
'Insufferable'. Bella rolled the word around in her head. 'Insufferable'. Hmm, doesn't have as nice of a ring to it as 'spice'.
Bella tilted her head up to meet his eyes. She was met with his glare, green eyes stormy, and the two stared at one another. "Insufferable is such a dirty word, don't you agree?"
Edward growled deep in his chest, his hand reaching out and grabbing her arm. "Can't you even attempt to get along with me, damnit!"
Bella's eyes widened as she stared up at the furious man in front of her. Her body shuddered as she drew in a ragged breath. Fire shot up her arm from where his hand was its flames licking throughout her body. She could feel the blush creep into her cheeks. Inwardly she wanted to punch her body for betraying her.
With this the atmosphere shifted and Edward's glare softened. The static charge had changed to a gentle humming. Edward's hand released her arm and relaxed down at his side. "Forgive me. That was uncalled for," he spoke, his voice low and quiet as he lowered his gaze and returned to his side of the desk. "I will email you the tasks I needed completed today. "
"Will that be all, Mr. Cullen?"
"Yes," he responded firmly, staring down at the papers on his desk.
Bella returned to her desk, her knees nearly giving out by the time she found her chair. Just what had happened in that office? And why did she have the sudden urge to tie him to a chair, duct tape his mouth, and have her wicked way with him?
That was the strangest part of all; Bella Swan wanting anything to do with Edward Cullen.
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Any good? continue? want to read more? next step?
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