Penname: RI40
Story Title: The Team That's Built on Lies.
Rating *NC-17
Characters: Edward*Bella
Genre: Mystery/Drama
Summary: Rigid Bella gets her dream job as Planning and Quality Officer, selected for a two year project in the Caribbean. Enter a shy, stuttering, green-eyed, handsome Edward, with a dangerous past and you have a project disaster. Will Edward make Bella forget all her rules when it comes to work and play? Or, will one of them end up dead before they get a chance to explore the possibilities of a relationship.
BPOV
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
God, my eyes. They feel like gravel.
I just need two more hours sleep, I thought as I rolled over onto my back.
After my talk with Angela and run in with Edward last night, I couldn't sleep no matter how I tried. I tried taking a bath then retired to bed, but my eyes still refused to close.
I tossed and turned, replaying the conversation between Angela and myself, and came to the conclusion that I got myself into some deep shit.
Out of all the companies where I interviewed why did I pick the one where the children and their spouses were fighting for power within a corporation which didn't belong to them?
Alice and even Rosalie had been very nice to me ever since I met them on Monday. Even so, the look on Rosalie's face during that meeting when Emmett was bypassed for the position was a look of jealousy, disgust, and anger. Toward whom I still didn't know.
Then there was Edward. I thought he was shy, but when Emmett took a jab at him in front of everyone, calling him a silly, stuttering, little boy, everyone around the table, including me was shock when he responded to Emmett's denigration of his character.
Guess he showed them who the leader is.
Tossing and turning one last time, I couldn't delay getting up any longer. I brushed my teeth, took a bath again and walked out of the bathroom toward the bedroom. With my hair dripping wet, I pulled on my Levi skinny boot jeans, brown safety boots, and black short sleeve polo with the MPS logo. Grabbing my laptop, I headed out my bedroom door to where Angela was seated patiently waiting for me in her blue jeans, safety boots, and blue MPS polo shirt. Her laptop was by her feet and she held two coffees in her hands.
My brain started to function again once the scent hit my nostrils.
You're definitely on my side, Angie.
Promptness and coffee were two of my favorite things and among the quickest avenues to my heart.
Looking at my watch, I realized we had ten minutes to go before seven a.m. o'clock.
We need to get a move on if we want to be on time.
"Morning, I got a coffee for you," Angela said with a genuine smile.
"Thanks. I need this, Angie," I replied appreciatively. "Where are Alice and Rosalie?"
"They left about half an hour ago while you were in the shower. They said they had something to do."
I raised my eyebrow at her statement.
"Hmm, what do you think they're up to?" I hoped Alice had not yet been roped into whatever scheme the others were cooking up.
"Alice was on cloud nine. I think she had too much coffee. She said she was too excited about starting the project to be sitting inside on a beautiful morning. Rosalie, on the other hand, still looked upset."
"Things are not going as she had planned; that's for sure," I observed aloud to Angela. Throughout the night, as I had thought back over our conversation again and again, I came to the conclusion that I could trust Angela. I would need a reliable confidant to succeed in a cut-throat environment like this, and Angela would be a great asset…with her keen eyes and ears and her analytical mind.
Upon walking through the suite door, Angela and I heard voices coming from the nearby stairs and couldn't help but turn in the direction of the noise.
What we saw made our jaws drop.
Strawberry slut-cake, Tanya Denali, had Edward pushed up against the wall with her hand down his jeans. She looked like she was about to eat him alive. However, the expressions on Edward's face were comical.
First he was shocked, then bored and finally he was livid.
Edward's jaw was tight as he sneered at Tanya through clenched teeth. "Remove your hands from my balls, right now." When she did not comply, he pinched the bridge of his nose.
Punch her. Punch her, Edward, I mentally cheered. But I knew Edward was not the type of man who would ever hit a woman.
"Eddie, I want to help you relieve some of that tension, so you can be stress free on your first day," the slut said in her most seductive voice.
"Move. Your. Hand. Now. Tanya," Edward ordered.
Tanya shook her head, "no" slowly with a big grin on her face like she thought it was a game and Edward was playing hard to get. It was clear to Angela and me that he was not interested.
"Come on, Eddie. You know what they say about all work and no play…," she taunted as she tightened her grip on his package.
"Miss Denali," Edward began curtly, "my name is Edward. I am your boss and co-worker, and you will address me as Mr. Whitson—nothing more, nothing less. Please remove your hand from my pants and get out of my sight before I report you to Carlisle." He spoke in a voice that was so cold, it sent shivers down my spine.
Tanya was both shocked and embarrassed at the words coming out of his mouth and the severe tone he was using. From the redness of her cheeks, one could tell that she was not accustomed to being turned down. At least, she didn't need to be told a third time as she finally removed her hand and ran down the stairs in a huff.
Before we could be seen, Angela and I hurried to the elevator to join the rest of the group. After the shock wore off, we looked at each other, smirks on both of our faces, and snickered
"SLUT" under our breath. That was the only word that could describe Tanya, and I obviously wasn't the only one who thought so.
We met up with the full group in the lobby as everyone grabbed their bagel of choice from the box that was provided for us and headed to the construction site to begin work. On the compound, there were large containers that were renovated into air-conditioned offices for the workers. Angela and I parted ways as I met up with Edward for our meeting with Carlisle and Esme.
At the site, Carlisle and Esme spoke to both Edward and me, instructing us as to what would be required of us. I quickly discovered that the only thing that was sure to make this position difficult was working with Emmett, Jasper, and Rosalie. They clearly telegraphed their opinions as they looked on us with squinted eyes and clenched teeth.
After Carlisle and Esme signed the contract, we met with the sponsors and received the charter and scope for the project. Shortly afterward, Carlisle and Esme left Edward and me alone to discuss any further plans necessary to start and complete the project successfully.
I really tried my best not to ogle him. But it was impossible with the way he was looking. Edward was leaning against the window inside the container, feet crossed, wearing a black fitted company polo. This showed off his defined his muscular upper body, that I didn't know existed—as well as black safety boots, and boot leg jeans. Watching him made saliva pool in my mouth and wetness drip in my panties, and I hadn't even reached his face yet.
Don't get me started on that face.
"When you are finished ogling me, Isabella, I would like to start this meeting," His velvet voice brought me out of my daydream.
Whoa, where did that come from? Pompous prick! I thought indignantly.
"I'm sorry Mr. Whitson. Please let's get started," I replied, feeling my face flame, red with embarrassment.
"You really need to learn how to filter your thoughts when you're around me, Isabella." He kept calling me Isabella. Something about him saying my proper name like that—so intently, so directly and seductively, without even trying—made me shiver.
Damn, I think I just soaked my boy shorts.
Flashing me a billion-dollar smile, he said, "I can assure you, Isabella that I am not a pompous prick. If you need a moment to…uh, change your boy shorts as your called them, by all means, you're excused."
Shit! Double shit!
"N-no," I squeaked intent on not saying or even thinking anything else. I seem to be a loose cannon around this guy.
"Isabella, I think we got off on the wrong foot yesterday at the airport. When I said … well, when I spoke with you so candidly, I did not realize we would be working together in such close quarters. I mean: I'm your direct supervisor now, and I … well, I just hope we won't have any problems working together because I believe that we could make a good team."
Team? Boyfriend and girlfriend or married couple. They are all teams. Can we be that type of team? You're thinking again, Bella.
I couldn't look him in the eye as he spoke, so I stared at the ground when I responded, "Yes, sir, you'll have no further problems from me." This was so unlike me, putting my career on the line over a silly, fleeting crush.
Business before pleasure; remember, Bella?
"Please, call me Edward," he said.
"Only if you call me Bella," I responded. I couldn't have him going around calling me Isabella in that stormy, creamy voice of his all the time. There aren't enough panties in the world. I was extra careful to keep my thoughts to myself for the rest of the meeting.
"Sure, Bella," He responded, flashing me that smile that made my knees go weak.
Over the next half an hour, we talked about what we needed to make the sponsors happy. Edward informed me that the construction workers would be starting work on Monday; therefore, we needed to have the schedules up and on the board so they would know their responsibilities. Our private meeting had been all business, but I knew we had a lot more to discuss about the team.
I wondered how much Edward had gleaned about Emmett and Jasper. He seemed like a perceptive observer, and I was sure we would need each other's help against whatever they might be planning. We didn't have the time to discuss the politics of MPS at the moment. When Edward mentioned we would be breaking the team into two groups, I suggested that the Cullens and Hales be assigned to our group, where we could keep a close eye on them.
"Keep your friends close and your enemies closer," Edward said with a grin. "I like the way you think, Swan." At the end of the meeting, we stood to call the rest of the group so we could update them on our decisions.
As I reached out to open the door, I froze. Edward's hand came into contact with mine on the door handle. Such a simple thing—two people reaching for the same object at the same time—but the skin to skin contact sent my body into overdrive. Feelings that I had never felt before, coursed through me. It felt as though I was being electrocuted as this new sensation washed over my body. Looking up at him, my eyes met his emerald green irises through the thick glass of his lenses, and I was instantly paralyzed. We both stood there—unmoving like stone, afraid even to breathe and disturb the energy between us.
I wanted to kiss him so badly.
This is new. I suddenly realized. I've never felt this way before.
In all of my adult life, I had never cared about anything other than my career. There in that moment, with his hand on top of mine and his green eyes boring into my soul, all I cared about was him. I couldn't help but wonder if he felt the same way.
"Bella, you need to move your hand now … otherwise, I won't be held responsible for what I do next." Edward's breathy voice brought me out of my trance, but I still made no attempt to move. I felt as if a rope was tied around us—a feeling of need and want that made it impossible for me to let go.