Bella.
I woke up, regrettably, to the sound of my beeping alarm clock. I made an effort to ignore it, to tune out the high-pitched chirping, but it was to no avail. The sound was driving me mad. In an attempt to reach for it with my eyes closed, it fell from the impact of my impatient fingers, and fell to the floor with a light thud.
I groaned.
Sitting up, I rubbed my heavy lids as I tried to clear my groggy head. Sunlight peaked through the slight openings of my dark curtains, illuminating my messy room slightly. Staring into the light so suddenly momentarily blinded me. I spent another five minutes in bed, rubbing my eyes sore.
"I have to go to work," I told myself, with a yawn. It was more of conviction that it was a reminder. My better judgment was already planning different reasons to remain in bed.
Yesterday had been a total disaster. Not only had the Cullen-boy been exactly as I'd expected-- rude and arrogant-- but he had also been bold enough to say, "You're pretty sexy, for a manager," interrupting me completely when I was in the middle of discussing his schedule. Even so, with the crude comments that he so graciously complimented me with, I had still--somehow-- managed to keep calm. I disregarded his disdainful remarks, and kept everything professional… that is… until his verbal flirtations turned physical.
Just as I had finished explaining how everything was run in our company, and given him various documents to sign, the brainless idiot crossed the line! Before he had stepped out of my office, he leaned towards me as if he wanted to tell me something privately. What's more was that I was foolish enough to fall for it! It was almost as if I allowed him to grab my ass!
I released the large, green pillow that I had been just been crushing, and flung it across the room in aggravation, knocking down almost half of the cosmetics I had neatly placed on the shelf just yesterday.
I sighed again.
'Disaster' was an utter understatement. 'Catastrophe' seemed much better suited for how yesterday went.
I felt like a total idiot, letting my dominating emotions get the better of me. Well, there was certainly no way that Cullen-- I sneered the name-- would ever return to Twilight Runway. Not after the way I clobbered him yesterday, anyways.
I groaned in annoyance. Even my own feelings were conflicted.
There was a part of me, the more domineering part, that was ecstatic to see the tactless bastard go. And then of course, there was the professional part of me, the modeling freak, that was almost pained to see such a beautiful guy leave the company.
Well, there was one thing I was definitely certain of; I did not envy whatever agency he would decide to transfer to, next. Much.
The morning went by in a hazy daze. I took a bath for what seemed like hours, got dressed-- something that literally took hours, and left home without time to eat breakfast. Even if I myself could never model, I had to at least dress the part. My career did revolve around the fashion world. I dressed stunningly everyday, my clothes usually bore the name of numerous brand names. Still, admittingly, of all the innumerable pieces of clothing and accessories that threatened to overflow in my closet and countless dressers, my most preferable choice of attire would be the sweatpants and large T-shirts that I wore to sleep.
I disliked standing out tremendously, and though I always felt out of place when I went to and from work, I at least blended in with the rest of my coworkers and models… to a certain extent.
The ride to work was quick, as usual, seeing as how I lived less than a mile from my company building. My car, a silver '08 Toyota Prius, made the trip even quicker. That was, of course, my everyday public item of transportation. There was another machine that I did have, that no one, aside a few selective people, knew I coveted; My beautiful motorcycle-- A Suzuki GSX-R 600. That would remain a secret from the fashion industry, of course. I couldn't allow one of my guilty pleasures to ruin the image that I have so desperately worked to gain. And In the modeling world, image was everything.
After parking in my personal slot in the lot behind the company, I walked as slowly as I could to the front entrance. I stood before the large, transparent revolving doors, and braced myself. Taking in a ridiculously large breath, I walked inside and past the security guards, flashing my ID Card for less than a brief second, and headed towards the front desk.
"Morning, Bella," the receptionist, Angela, a woman who I had become good acquaintances with since I first joined the company, greeted me with a smile.
"G'morning, Angela," I returned her greeting with what I hoped was a warm smile, and asked, nervously, "Listen, did an extremely drop-dead-gorgeous guy come in this morning?" I couldn't refrain from biting my bottom lip.
She stared at me, obviously suppressing a smirk, and said, "Yes… there were quite a few of them, actually."
It took me a second for her words to make sense.
I was such an idiot. This was a modeling agency for chrissake!
"Well, never mind then," I chuckled foolishly.
When I turned around to head to my office, Angela suddenly said, "Now, if you are referring to a Mr. Cullen…" I whipped my head around quickly, and nearly ran to her. She looked startled, "Then he's been waiting for you for nearly--" she glanced at her watch "--30 minutes."
My eyes widened in surprise.
"Did he say why he was waiting for me?" I asked her.
She nodded her head and continued, "He only said that he had an appointment with you."
I was shocked. It never occurred to me that he would still meet me at the time that I asked him to yesterday. Well, not after I hit him the way I did. I groaned. It probably wasn't good news.
"Thanks, Angela." I smiled weakly and once again made my way to my office.
As I turned the corner, and came less than 3 yards from the door, my feet slowed of its own accord. My pace decreased almost dramatically, as I tried to imagine what he could possibly want with me after yesterday. I was expecting to hear something from my boss, Mr. Hale, of course… but definitely not from Cullen himself.
The churning of my stomach increased ten-fold when I finally reached the door. Since he wasn't outside, he was definitely inside. Waiting for me. Probably with cold and ridiculing eyes, just like yesterday. There was also the possibility that he would try to exact his revenge for getting clobbered yesterday.
'Let him try,' I almost laughed aloud this time, 'He'll get a first hand taste of the months I spent at self-defense classes'
My grin faded, however, when I placed my hands over the doorknob.
'Just relax, Bella. You wont know what he wants to say unless you actually talk to him.'
Taking one final deep breath, I turned the knob with trembling fingers and pushed the door open.
Walking inside, I noticed a beautiful figure seated in the same soft, purple chair that he had been seated in yesterday. This time, he wore dark grey jeans and a very fashionable-- not to mention incredibly sexy-- tight green turtle neck with a very unique, woven design and black suede boots. His hands were pressed together, fingers interlocked, as he waited patiently with his elbows on his knees. Once again he was listening to his I pod.
I took a step further in the room, and closed the door sharply behind me. Realizing someone had walked in, he looked up at me, and our eyes locked.
I couldn't look away.
He stared up at me from under his eyelashes, and his hazel eyes-- mixed between a color of emerald green and honey brown-- bored into my own, causing me to hold my breath. It felt as if a wave of electricity ran through me. It shocked me internally, and I could feel the heat that was rising from to my face.
I wanted to pull away. I wanted to. But I couldn't.
It was his voice that broke the connection.
His lips curved into an almost-triumphant smirk, and he pulled the headphones from his ears.
"You're late again, manager." His voice was beautiful, but it was hidden behind deep sarcasm and an obnoxious tone. That snapped me back from whatever daydream land I just visited, and pulled me back into the real world.
I frowned at him, my eyes narrowed. I already punched him yesterday, what was the point of acting all nice now?
"What do you want, Cullen?" I asked coldly, as I turned away from his face to get seated at my desk.
My breath was caught in my throat at his coming reply.
"You," he said casually. Arrogantly.
And my heart skipped an involuntary beat.
I was certain. I hated this bastard.
Edward.
When she walked in, I couldn't help but smile.
After she nearly sent me flying yesterday, I had intended to quit the idea of modeling. That is, until my mother, Esme, nearly burst into tears with excitement when Carlisle informed her of my temporary career choice.
There was no way I could back out now.
Even so, I had decided to switch companies. I had never been hit before (unless it was during a fight, and even those times were minimal) and I had no intention of working with such an abusive manager. I had every motive to report her tempered butt to her boss. That was the initial plan, at least.
Before I had realized it, I was cracking up in my bed, imagining her angered face. She really was cute when she was mad. And so very interesting! I figured it would be fun, entertaining, to work with her. And it would be to my advantage as well. I needed some modeling acts, she would get them. If I needed some fun, she would handle that as well. I grew excited with the idea of teasing her. Of her furious expression when I would torment her.
So I let the fact that she hit me go.
I was, in no way, a masochist… but I decided that I could handle a few hits from her. It wasn't as if the one she had given me hurt that badly. It stung, nonetheless, and I had to hold an ice pack over it for nearly half the night to soften the swelling. Of course, I wouldn't freely permit her to strike me again, either. Last time was a fluke; I was completely left unprepeared. The next time, and I was almost positive that there would be a next time, would be much more difficult for her.
Imagining the look on her face as she missed at an attempt to hit me made me laugh again. I might enjoy working here after all.
"What do you want, Cullen?" she nearly spat. It took much effort to hide my smile.
"You." I told her, as casually as I could. Really, it wasn't as if I meant it.
I wasn't expecting her next expression at all.
Her eyes opened wide, and her face suddenly burned a fevered scarlet.
My own breath was caught in my throat.
She held that expression for nearly a second, and then scowled. Her eyes were piercing, and you could see the burning anger that erupted within them.
I was right, after all. I would enjoy it here very much.