A/N: Thank you for reading and responding. I'm flattered. Best wishes for 2018.

Chapter 3 - First day

It might be odd for some to hear that Bella didn't like to be the centre of attention. Isn't that what modelling is all about? Then again, not many people knew that back then she was in dire need of money and modelling was the quick and easy way to access money.

Upon arrival, she was led to the room where the cleaning staff could keep their personal items. She placed her hand bag on the table next to all the other ones. Lauren Mallory gave Bella a brief explanation; dusting, cleaning, scrubbing. Between 7.30 a.m. and 9.00 a.m. they would go through all the offices and clean the desks, empty the bins. She was shocked to see each office had a small bathroom, with a shower. 'Because they sometimes sleep here,' Lauren explained reluctantly upon Bella's inquiry.

It was not that hard to tell that the cleaning staff had taken in instant dislike against her.

They had to finish at 9.00 a.m. that was the moment the workday started, and the offices would be clean for the day. It took them an hour to take away the supplies and throw away the trash. By 10.00 they had an awkward coffee break.

Bella only drank tea and found herself being suffocated in the room. Especially when she noticed Mr Cullen heading to the automatic drinking machine, she dashed upstairs with her tea, and hoped the roof was accessible for all employees.

She tried her key card, but the lock didn't open. She tried it several times until a voice from behind had her gasping out loud.

"How's it going?"

She turned at the unfamiliar voice.

"Uhm..."

He was from security, in a black suit. He wore a smile. It was the first one she received since weeks.

"Yeah, this is my first day here," she said awkwardly. "I thought I might go get some fresh air."

"Coffee break?" he said with a nod to her cup.

"Tea," she said, her head nodding for no apparent reason.

"I'll have your card fixed before noon," he said. "The roof is accessible to all employees."

He leaned over and used his card to unlock the door.

"Thank you," she said sincerely.

He followed her up with his own cup in hand.

"I'm Emmett," he said as I took his massive hand in a handshake. "Emmett Cullen, from security."

She literally felt her face fall.

"Cullen?" she repeated.

He nodded and released her hand. He stared at her for a moment, then said, "And you are?"

Some wave of anger hit her, caused by Mr Edward Cullen and she felt the need to respond in ways such as 'Don't pretend you don't know about my reputation'.

But his eyes were soft. As opposed to his brother, he hadn't done a thing to make her think bad of him.

"Isabella Swan," she said. "Look..."

She gathered some courage to look him straight in the eye.

"You needn't... I mean, come on. God, I don't even know what I'm trying to say. My apologies, Mr Cullen."

"First of all, Mr Cullen is my dad. Mr Cullen is my brother. Call me Emmett. Second... I've seen you on the news. But that doesn't mean I believe it."

"What?"

"I've seen the pictures. If they can edit you that much how am I supposed to believe the headlines?"

"Thanks a lot," she muttered, glancing over the horizon. "Your brother already mentioned the editing and I really needn't hear it again. I just came here for work, okay?"

He looked shocked and protested instantly.

"I meant it in a good way; if they can change you, who's to say they can't change the reality? I certainly don't know how Edward meant it. Did he say something to you?"

"Uhm... Like what?"

"Anything," he said. "Anything unacceptable."

"What would you do about it? You're security, not my body guard."

"I'm security for all employees, including you."

"Are you going to secure me from your brother?" she said teasingly.

"If necessary."

"I'll keep it in mind."

"You should know that I don't think badly of you, Miss Swan. Not badly at all."

He held out his hand again.

"Friends?"

She looked at his hand sceptically.

"Alright," she said.

It might be fun, having the brother as a friend.

She took his hand long enough to say, "My friends call me Bella."

"And keep in mind to call me Emmett," he said. "I shudder when people call me Mr Cullen."

They both took a sip from their drinks, but something was still nagging Bella.

"We can't be on first name bases on the floor."

"Sure we can."

"But... It isn't professional."

He's security and she's the janitor.

"Trust me, it's fine."

"I should head back. The staff doesn't like me and I'm not even sure this break is supposed to last."

"It been only ten minutes now. You're safe."

She sighed in relief and headed back.

"You'll fix my card?" she said to remind him.

"I have some spare time now."

He held out his hand and she gave it to him.

"Great," she said, smiling. "Thanks. See ya."

She headed back to the coffee room and noticed it was empty. She roamed the halls and searched for Lauren.

How was it she could lose the cleaning staff on her first work day?

She randomly started glancing inside rooms which had their doors open, hoping to find them in there.

This floor was immense. She hated to admit that she was lost on this twenty-fifth floor that should come with a map for all employees.

People around her walked about, laughed, made phone calls and worked so fast. For Bella, everything moved in slow motion.

Asking directions seemed silly. She would simply walk through the hallways until eventually she found the other girls.

"Bella!"

She jumped at the loud voice and many turned their head at the source.

She turned back to see Emmett walked to her with her card in his hand.

"Fixed it," he said. He leaned over and whispered, "They're on the east wing."

"I didn't know there's an east wing," she muttered back.

He pointed her all wings and even showed her small sign that could help her to remember.

"Thanks," she whispered back and turned to walk as fast as she could to the east wing.

Upon her hurry and slight panic, she noticed one thing from the corner of her eye.

It was Mr Cullen, staring at Bella and Emmett, with darkness in his eyes.

She should've kept walking, but she did the opposite. She halted abruptly and waited.

He looked at her for only a second and made his way toward her. She braced herself.

"Morning," he said.

"Morning."

"Everything good?"

His eyes went to Emmett and Bella cringed when Emmett winked at her.

"All is well," she replied. "You?"

"You've met Emmett."

"Briefly."

He watched her lazily.

"Is that okay?"

He scoffed first, but next she was surprised to see an amused smile on his face - it was the first smile he gave her.

"You're asking me if it's okay for you to hang out with Emmett?"

Realizing how stupid it sounded, she looked away.

"Is that a nickname or something?"

"What?"

"Bella."

She blinked several times and shook her head. "Sort of... It's what my friends call me."

"You and Emmett are friends?"

That stare hit her right in her core, each time he looked at her like that.

"Of the sort," she said awkwardly.

"And what are we?"

"You're the boss. I'm-"

He nodded and said, "The janitor, yes. I gathered that from your e-mail."

She remembered as well:

Bella Swan
The janitor

"There's your answer then."

She hoped it sounded conclusive, but he remained rooted in his spot.

"You can be friends with Emmett. But not with me?"

"I don't recall you asking me anything of the sort. I remember other stuff. None that-"

"Would tempt you, yes," he finished again. "I remember the contents of your e-mail, Bella."

She couldn't help a smile, because he called her Bella.

"Is that your way of asking me if we can be friends? If so, the answer is no."

He raised an eyebrow. She stepped away from him.

"I only stopped to see if there's anything you need before I get back to work," she said with a nervous swallow.

"None for now," he said softly. "Good day, Miss Swan."

That ended their brief and hopefully only encounter of the day.

But not hers and Emmett's, because they ate lunch on the rooftop.

"How's work going?" he asked.

"It's... work."

"I'm not your boss and even if I was, I'm not one to judge a person for their opinion. Tell me."

"Fine! Lauren gossips about everything. Tiffany giggles each time she sees me. Britney does about ten percent of the work she should be doing. Kirsten has a cigarette break every hour. Kerley complains. Keeley-"

"I see you've made friends."

"The worst part of it all is the complaining about how tired they are and it's only Wednesday!"

Bella rolled her eyes and bit her sandwich.

"How's security?" she asked.

"We're going out for a drink tonight. Join us."

"Oh, please, don't feel-"

"I insist," he said. "Besides, haven't you noticed?"

"What?"

"I don't gossip, giggle, do ten percent of my work, smoke or complain."

Bella nodded and said, "You certainly don't."

"Life is much more pleasant with a few friendly colleagues," he remarked.

"Fine," Bella said.

"It's a date."

Bella froze.

Emmett laughed.

"Relax," he said. "I'm married. I'm thirty-six. And you're fun to mess with."

"Jerk," she said with slightly warm cheeks. "I almost feared I had to reject a grandpa."

"Excuse me?" he said in mock anger.

Lunch break was bittersweet, for she had to head back to the nagging girls.

It was easier to do her work when she the security regarded her as her friend. Not just Emmett. She also met Quil Ateara, Sam Uley, Embry Call, Paul Lahote, Jared Cameron, but her favourites were Jacob Black and Leah Clearwater (to prevent confusion, Leah refrained from changing her name to Leah Black), for they were the sweetest married couple she ever laid eyes on.

They made one thing clear and that was to stick to first name bases.

She still had to get used to it, but if it's what they preferred, she would grant them their wishes.

At 16.30 p.m. sharp the ladies planned to leave.

"Can you finish up?" Lauren asked Bella.

"Sure?"

As soon as she uttered the words, somewhat uncertainly, the girls headed back home, and Bella was left to wonder...

What needs finishing up?

And... she was certain Mr Cullen e-mailed her that her day would finish at 17.30 p.m. Were they not leaving an hour early?

She did her best, by placing all used items back in the correct places.

Emmett appeared by her side.

"You're not finished yet?"

She was surprised this task alone cost her over half an hour. She was exhausted and ready to go home instead of a pub.

"Oh, I lost track of time. Honestly, I'm-"

"Great! Unfortunately, my car is jammed."

Oh, God.

This was not heading the direction she was certain it was heading.

"Emmett, I'm pretty-"

"Don't worry."

No, no, no, no...

"You can catch a ride with Edward."

She was going to be sick.

"He almost finished working. I'll see you at the pub!"

He vanished, and Bella was left to stare at an empty hallway.

She started searching for Mr Cullen with drooping eyelids. She found him at the copying machine.

"Just fucking work with me."

"Hey," Bella said, staring at his frustrated face. "I came to cancel tonight."

His finger pressed the touchscreen uncontrollably. The error was one Bella was familiar with. She bent over the machine and took hold off the power plug and unplugged it. She pressed it back in and glanced at the touchscreen. It was restarting.

"It will work again in a moment."

He shook his head.

"See? There's your file."

And to make a point, she pressed the screen and his file started printing.

"Clever."

She looked up at him and wondered if he was complimenting her or mocking her. Coming from Mr Cullen it was most likely mock.

"Thank you for wanting the give me a ride to the pub, but I'm heading home."

He grabbed the printed papers and gave her a nod.

"Sure. Do you need a ride home?"

Given the fact that they were having some form of conversation and he was walking away from her, she followed him.

"No. Have fun tonight. I was just wondering. My shift ends at 17.30 but the staff went home and I'm not certain what remains to be done."

"Your shift ends at 16.30."

"No, it doesn't."

"Are we arguing about what time your shift ends?"

"Yesterday you mentioned ten-hour shifts. Also, you said 17.30 in your e-mail."

"I think I mistyped."

They reached his office and she waited by the door as he placed the papers on his desk and grabbed his jacket.

"You think you mistyped?" she repeated deadly.

"It was late."

Honestly, all she wanted to do was shake him until he turned decent.

She turned on her heels to get her handbag and leave.

Unfortunately, they met again at the elevator.

"Did you drive here?" he asked.

Small talk.

Great.

"No."

"Is somebody picking you up?"

If that's his way of figuring out whether she had a boyfriend, it was very done poorly.

"No."

"You need a ride, then."

Ping!

Was it too late to take the stairs instead?

She could pretend she forgot something, so he'd go and she'd be rid of him.

Her legs moved against her will and she found herself and her boss in a small box.

Before the elevator had even descended one floor, he stepped pressed the red button. The one that said, only press in case of an alarm.

She looked at his hand, the sign, the letters.

"Is there an alarm?" she asked painfully slow.

"How do you do it?" he asked.

"What?"

"The talks, the whispers, the rumours, the bullshit. Especially the bullshit. Everybody's been talking about you. And it's not the kind of talk that's complimentary."

"You stopped an elevator, because you're curious how I cope?"

"You can't pretend it doesn't get to you."

"I'm not."

"How do you do it?" he repeated.

"I was deprived of my privacy, my looks, food, you name it, the minute I stepped into Playboy world and the moment I stepped out. That's when the paparazzi stalked me, when the lies spread, when my reputation smashed and my chance of ever getting the job that I deserve stolen. I hear the talks, but I also don't. Why should I waste time listening to bullshit? Besides, I'm not pretending that it doesn't get to me, because there's no need in pretending when it doesn't get to me to begin with."

He watched her as if he wasn't sure if he could believe her.

She instead stepped forward and pressed the red button to get the elevator to start moving again.

"Besides, the security likes me. That's more than I could have hoped for."

The elevator ride was a long one, but Bella was happy when it stopped on several occasions to allow people in.

The happiness was gone as soon as the whispers began.

"Oh my God. Check it out. Behind you."

"It's that whore!"

Ping!

"The whore from Playboy! In the CC."

"It's a joke, right?"

Ping!

The problem was that all day Bella could easily mask out the whispers by just not listening. But this small box that was the elevator didn't allow her to block them out.

She heard them, loud and clear.

"What's your favourite?" Mr Cullen asked.

The elevator grew silent all at once. Bella had to make sure he was speaking to her before replying, "What?"

"Favourite food?" he said as if it was obvious.

"What?"

She knew she should ask a different question beside what? and put in a bit more effort, but she was dumbfounded by the conversation.

It appeared out of thin air.

"I'll surprise you with my favourite then."

Perhaps a what? would've sufficed. She found herself unable to even say that word.

It sounded a lot like he was insinuating they were heading toward a date.

She was very certain that he never asked her on a date and she never agreed to a date. Thus, it would be illogical for him to dive into such questions about favourite foods.

"You made a good impression on the twenty-fifth, Bella. Keep it up, and you'll be CEO before you know it."

Her lips parted, and she was probably more confused than all those people in the elevator put together.

The doors opened when they reached the first floor. He led her outside, to his car, until she stood before him, while he held the door open.

"What was that?" she asked, pointing at the CC. "And what's this?" She pointed at him holding the door open.

"Give them something juicier to talk about?" he said with a shrug. "And this is me offering you a ride home."

"Oh no," she said instantly. "Giving them something juicier to talk about is absolutely not helpful. Being called the whore of Playboy magazine is not that bad compared to being called the slut that's screwing the boss."

"I thought you said you don't waste time listening to bullshit?"

She opened her mouth.

"And that it doesn't get to you."

"That doesn't mean... Just stop it! Yesterday you said that you can't help me with my problems, but I never thought... I never thought you'd find a way to take my reputation even lower. The funny thing is that I probably should have seen it coming."

"Really?"

"I gotta go."

"I'll give you Saturdays off if you accept my offer to drive you home."

She crossed her arms, contemplating the deal.

A whole day off for the same salary was amazing.

There was no logical reason for him to offer her something so generous.

"Plus, a ten percent pay raise."

Of course this was a lie. He knew she was poor, needy, but that didn't give him the right to mock her in her face.

"If I'm just a joke to you-"

"I'll send you the confirmation by e-mail within five minutes, right before I drive you home."

"What's the catch?"

"There isn't one," he said with a shake of the head. "Get in the car, allow me to send you the conformation, and I'll drive you home."

Her wall crumbled a little, and she stepped in the car.

He shut the door.

If he gave her Saturdays off and a ten percent raise, she would cry of happiness tonight.

As he started working on his phone, she looked at the parking street. There were still plenty of people heading to their car or finishing up their conversations on the street.

"I sent you an e-mail."

"Show me," she said, looking at his phone.

The e-mail was sent to her and it contained the deal he just made.

You'll be working Monday to Friday, from 7.30 a.m. to 16.30 a.m. You're of work on the weekends. You're salary is 10% above minimum. These terms apply effective and immediately.

"Is this legal?"

"Yes."

She thought for a moment, and nodded.

"If you're lying, I'll-"

"I promise I'm not lying. It's a done deal."

He started the car and left the parking space.

"Take a left here," she muttered.

It was rather quiet in the car, in which Bella found herself laughing.

"Everything alright?" he asked.

"Yeah, but it's funny. You're funny."

"Aha. That explains why you're laughing."

"Seriously, what's up with the raise and the change of six days to five days work a week? And the mistype of 17.30 p. I'm certain at least that was a lie."

He hummed.

"Come on, this is almost human. Working five days a week, from 7.30 till 16.30 for more than minimum wage is great. And the change occurred because of this."

She waved around at him and the car.

"Because I accepted your offer. Oh, you were supposed to take a right. Take a right on the next street and just stop there."

"Almost human?" he repeated.

"You're pretty decent," she said hesitantly. "Maybe I was wrong about you."

"Good news spreads like fire," he said. "In the elevator everyone thought we're off on a date. As curious as the human nature is, they were all still peeking at us. You were about to walk away from my car, even if I was the gentleman holding a door open for you."

She said it again. "What...?"

"My dear Izzy. I'm not going to get dumped before a date even started. So honestly-"

"You deceitful, horrible shithead!" she snapped in rage, because she knew exactly what his so called generous offer was all about.

"-you did me the favour by stepping into my car and allowing my image to remain intact. If they are letting their imaginations run wild and free, why not just go up to your room and give them something to really talk-"

She clicked the seat belt open and hopped ungracefully out of the moving vehicle. In the process, she stumbled face flat and rolled twice until coming to a stop.

His car came to a screeching halt and she heard the door open.

"Christ! Watch out! What's your problem?"

"You!" she snapped, getting on her feet. "I quit!"

"Sure you do!" he said when he came to stand before her.

She slapped his face out of anger. It was ironic, seeing that last night she told herself she would never slap him. Here she found herself doing precisely the opposite.

For a moment she feared he would hurt her back.

Something else caught her attention, something much more important.

Just like last night, it was a flash. This time she was certain that it was a camera, which meant last night someone - perhaps the same person, took a picture of her just like now.

She tried to cover her face with her hair.

It would never end for Bella. Even her simple job as a janitor was going to be terrorized by Playboy.

"What was that?" Mr Cullen asked.

She was surprised he even noticed the flash. It had been very subtle, but to Bella's trained eye it was noticeable.

"It's Playboy magazine," she answered defeatedly. "It's the paparazzi, the stalkers, the ones who have brought me down."

He turned his eyes to her, a slight shade darker now.

"Be careful, Mr Cullen. They might do the same to you."

She went home while he was left there on his own to ponder the meaning of her words.