I own none of the characters.

All Stephanie Meyer.

EPOV

After the meeting with Jacob, we made it back to the office with no mention of the date on Saturday. I wasn't sure how to take her acceptance of his date. At the time when he was asking her I felt a little torn. I wanted to be the man she would go out with. Well, we did have lunch together. But I was crass in the beginning and she was a little lippy. But I liked that. She didn't seem to want to please me because I'm wealthy or that she could see what she could get out of me. All the dates I've been on the women would always ask me about my 401K or if I had vacation homes amongst other material possessions.

I liked her.

There was something that made her stand out and she's only been working with me for a week. And now, she's going on a date with Jacob Black. The man was decent enough but I didn't like the way he was looking at her, like she was something to eat.

Once we returned to our offices, she informed me that she had forgotten to get Jacob to sign the contract and she was going to call Jessica and start setting up the appointments for the contract signing and meeting times to discuss more about the campaign. I simply nodded at her and walked into my own office. I sat down at my desk and pulled out my phone. Dialing the numbers on the keypad I settled in to my chair.

"Hello Edward. To what do I owe a phone call?" The voice on the other line said.

"Hi mom." I say cheery.

"Are you coming home this weekend dear?" She asked optimistically.

"Yeah mom, I think that would be a good idea."

"What's wrong sweet heart? Talk to me." She demanded.

"It's happening again. I don't think I can stop it this time." I run my hands down my face and take a deep breath.

"So soon? Edward it's only been a week. Give it some time sweet heart." She presses.

"Mom, can I come tomorrow? I'll take the day off work. And I can be back here by Sunday night." I whisper.

"Of course dear always, you can come whenever you like. You know that. It'll be good to see you." She pauses and says, "Should I tell you're father?"

"If you like, no sense in hiding it from him. I'll leave first thing tomorrow morning." I say rolling my head around.

"Alright then, we'll be waiting. I love you."

"I love you too mom. Thanks. Can you not mention anything to Alice? I don't want her to know what's going on." I ask

"Not my story to tell dear." She answers.

"I'll see you soon." I say hanging up.

Just before lunch Bella knocks on my door and I invite her in. She saunters her way to my desk and stands in front of me. I look up at her and she smiles a warm smile.

"Hey, I have some papers that you need to sign that came back from the lawyer. Did you have few minutes?" She asks.

I pulled my glasses from the top of my head and slipped them on. "Of course, what do you got there?"

She comes around my desk and stands so close I can smell her fresh scent next to me. If I moved a couple of inches I could touch her thigh.

"Edward, what is it. Do I have something on my skirt? I just brushed my teeth in the bathroom a few minutes ago. I hope I didn't drip. See I had these crackers with seeds in them, because they're to die for and well I just hate it when …" I cut her off not wanting to hear about small cute little intricacies that make up Bella.

"You're rambling again, what do I need to sign?" I interrupt her.

"Oh sorry, ummm…..here, sign this page at the bottom. And then the second page in the middle." She flips open the next file and shuffles a few papers.

"Here, here and here on the first page where I marked with the sticky arrows, and the last page at the top with just your initials." I sign and she flips the files closed and heads out of my office.

"Bella wait." She turns around and looks sadly at me.

"I know that I can be rude sometimes, but I really don't mean to be. I have a hard time expressing how I feel and right now I'm feeling confused and irritable. I didn't mean to take it out on you. No there's nothing wrong with your skirt. AT ALL! Just ummmmm…..that will be all. Thank you. Oh and I'm taking tomorrow off so if you could take messages for me and set up any appointments tomorrow for later on in the week I would appreciate it." I ask of her.

"No problem Mr. Cullen, thank you." She says trying to put on a strong exterior. I feel so shitty. I probably made her feel really unimportant. Well I can't think about this right now I can't think about her right now. She's been invading my thoughts and turning my dreams around.

She starts off in my dreams then turns into someone I've been trying to forget for along time now. I shake my head and continue on with my work. My phone rings at my desk and I look at the call display. It's Bella.

I press the speaker phone button. "Yes Bella, what can I do for you?"

"Well I was going to ask if you need anything before I head out to lunch."

"Oh is it that time already?" I asked surprised.

"Yes Mr. Cullen, would you like me to bring you something?"

"No Bella I don't want anything. Why aren't you calling me Edward? I told you to call me Edward."

"Is that all sir?" She asks avoiding my question. I hang up the phone and angrily make my way over to the door. Loudly opening it I walk out and go to hers. I don't knock, I just enter. She's standing at her desk with her hands on her hips. She's startled when she see's me and gasps.

"Bella, why aren't you calling me Edward? I demand to know. Is it because I cut you off? This is ridiculous. Can't you just get over it?" I asked madly.

"Edward I really don't want to do this right now. I'm fine. I'm confused and irritable as well. I didn't mean to go against your request. But you tell me something. Why are you always hot and cold with me? You're nice and a gentleman sometimes and then you're mean and rude the next. Is there something wrong with me that I should know about?" She states as the claws come out.

Slowly I walk to her side and brush her hair back from her shoulder. I inhale the scent that has been driving me crazy. I close my eyes lean into her ear.

"Bella I'm sorry." I breathe.

"There is nothing that you've done wrong. If anything, you're perfect. I can't explain why I'm acting this way. Something about you has me reeling. I don't want to cross any lines with you, I apologize. I'll try to be better, I promise." I run my hand down her arm and I feel her lean into me. I'm momentarily at a pass as to kiss her or not. Here she is standing in front of me, close to me, leaning into me. She pulls her bottom lip into her mouth between her teeth and I bring my hand up against her cheek. I rub the pad of my thumb across her lip and pull it out. I look from her eyes to her lips. With my heart beating fast, I slowly, judging her reaction along the way, lean my head and hover over her lips. She hesitates and I can feel her warm breath. I open my eyes and look at her. Her eyebrows are pulled together and her soft brown eyelids closed.

"I'm sorry, this won't happen again." With that I leave her standing there unmoved.

I make my way back to my office and begin pacing the floor. "What am I doing, what am I doing?" I chant.

I can't do this.

Keep it professional.

This can't happen again.

I won't let it.

She's not going to destroy me like the other one did. But why can't I stay away. This is bad, this is very bad. I need to explain my self.

I turn to go back, I open the door and she's standing there right in front of my door.

"Edward, can I speak with you a moment?" She asks timidly.

"Bella, look I need to explain I…"

"Edward nothing happened ok. Please don't fire me. I really like it here and I need this job." My jaw drops and I stare incredulously at her. I see an out and I take it.

"I'm not sure I know what you're talking about Bella. I felt dizzy earlier and I wasn't myself. I apologize for my actions." I say.

I'm such a coward. She's going on a date with Jacob and I lie to her. It's for the best. It has to be.

"Thank you Mr. Cullen. " She smiles.

"Edward, Bella."

"Edward."

She turns and leaves my office. I just stand there and my mind goes blank. Ok see, perfectly fine. She means nothing to me. Put her aside and move on.

I sit back down at my desk and finish going over accounts from micro managers a couple floors down. About an hour later I realize that I haven't had anything to eat yet. I make my way to the break room and look in the fridge. Employees have their lunches in there and some juice and pop. I don't think that I've ever been in here before. Huh! I start walking back and Alice stops me right outside her office.

"Edward can you come in here please?" She calls.

"Yes Alice, what's up?" I say entering her office.

"Well I was hoping that I could ride with you this weekend to moms? Jasper has to be at the hospital till late. What time are you leaving on Friday?" She says chewing on the end of her glasses.

"Oh well I have some business in the area, so I'm going to be leaving early Friday morning. Sorry Alice."

"Oh that's perfect. I would love to get an early start. Besides I can hang out with my wonderful twin brother. Just like old times."

"Uh Alice?"

"Great, pick me up at 9am would you? Now shoo, I have a client coming in 10 minutes and I need to freshen up." As she walks to her bathroom, "Shut the door on your way out!" She calls.

Can this get any worse? I make my way back to my office and approach Bella's office, stop a few steps before and listen.

"Hey Jacob, just wanted to confirm with you for Saturday. How does 11am sound? Really! Great! I have some ideas too. I haven't talked to Mr. Cullen about them yet. Uh huh, sure, Ok well I can do that. I'll let him know. Do you think it's a good thing? Ok. Well if you want to pick me up you can. Oh no you're too far out of the way. Let me take a cab to your place. Are you sure? Ha ha ha ok. Well I'll see you then." She hangs up the phone. I can hear her walking towards the door.

I'm going to be caught for eavesdropping any second. It's like my legs can't move. I have no where to run fast enough. She swings the ajar door open fully and finds me standing there. She gasps loudly and takes a step back.

"Edward what are you doing there? You scared me!" She exclaims.

"I'm sorry, I was walking back to my office and I stopped here and was going to ask you something. Then I heard you on the phone."

"So you thought it was alright to just stand here and listen?" She says cocking her eyebrows.

"No, Bella it wasn't like that. I didn't want be rude. I'm sorry, I just walked up here mere seconds ago." I lied.

"Oh, ok sorry then. What's up what do you need? Oh I forgot to tell you that Luke Scott called and says he likes the idea and to run with it. And also…what's her name, hold on….." She says as she walks back to her desk. I can't help but glance at the curves that grace her backside.

"Edward, up here." She points to her eyes. She chuckles.

"Oh you can just get back to me about the other messages. I think I'm going to take off early today." I say embarrassed that I was caught.

"No can do boss man, you have two meetings this afternoon, the first one is at 1:30 with Fashion Style via skype and the other at 3:30 with your lawyer. And you have to call Gloria back about the back log. She says no good and that you would know what that means." She smiles.

Why is she acting so comfortable? Does she not see that I'm a wreck here? It's like nothing happened earlier.

"I never made an appointment with my lawyer. There must be some mistake." I reply.

"No you didn't. He called and said that he needed to see you personally. So you had some time in your appointment book so I penciled him in. I hope that's ok. He said that it shouldn't take more than 20 minutes." She says as she cocks her head to the side.

"Thank you Bella. That's fine." I say as I turn around towards the door.

"What were you going to ask me?" She stops me in my tracks.

What was I going to ask? Nothing, I was eavesdropping.

"Just if I had any appointments or missed calls." I lie again.

"Oh well there you go. Beat you too it."

This time I make it out through the door and into my own office. I pull out the Fashion Style files and refresh myself with the clients. I look at the clock and see that it's 1:20. I open up the skype browser and a video screen appears. I wait for the other party to log on. All of a sudden Bella appears on the screen and she's looking beautiful. Her hair falling around her shoulders, I remember touching it as I swept it across her collar bone on to her back.

"Hi Edward, I have Jill from Fashion Style on the line. Are you ready?" She smiles with her red lips. So close, I was so close.

Clearing my throat, "Yes Bella thank you. Could you stay on to take notes please?" I ask really not needing her to. I just want her there because, well I feel better knowing that she's here with me even if it's on the computer.

"Sure no problem, let me patch them through." She says.

Moments later I start my meeting and barely hear anything they're saying. All I do is stare at Bella chewing on her damn pen. About an hour later the meeting starts to wrap up.

"Thank you for your input of the designs. I'm sure that we can accommodate your requests. If there is anything that you need further my assistant I'm sure can help you in that." I say needing to get off line.

"Bella dear, we'll be in touch with you!" Jill says to her. Dear? Huh. Jill really must like her if she called her dear. The only words I've heard come out of her mouth were curse words.

"Absolutely Jill, I look forward to hearing from you." She replies.

Jill smiles at Bella and turns to face me on the screen.

"Just lovely Edward." Referring to Bella, then she disconnects leaving me with Bella. "I think that went well don't you?" She asks shrugging her shoulders.

"I do, you were wonderful. You have some great ideas. Follow up with her and let me know if you need anything." I say.

"You mean…you don't want updates?" She asks.

"No, I think you can handle it from here. If there's anything major that you're not sure of, ask me. If not, carry on." I say with full confidence. Actually I would like to keep her busy so she wouldn't have so much free time. Like maybe having to work on Saturday's? I watch her reaction and her mouth is hanging open.

"Close your mouth Bella, you'll catch flies." I say chuckling.

"Thank you, thank you so much, wow ok great. Oh my gosh I'm so excited!" She squeals jumping in her seat.

"Hey I need to ask you something about Saturday with Jacob."

"No need, you don't need to ask me anything. You're an adult Bella, you can make these kind of decisions by yourself." I don't need to know what they're going to be doing. More salt to the wound they say.

"Thank you, I won't let you down." She says and disconnects the skype window leaving me with a disheveled view of myself.

Soon later a knock at my door interrupts me from my thoughts and Bella enters. "Mr. Cullen, your lawyer is here." She says.

"Thank you, send him in." I say picking up the Fashion Style file.

She directs him into my office and I hand her the file. "All yours Miss Swan." I say with a large smile on my face, showing her my trust.

"Thank you so much." She whispers, turns and leaves.

"Come in Evan, what is it that you needed to see me for? I hope everything is ok and in order?" I ask sitting behind my desk pulling my glasses off.

"Good morning Mr. Cullen. All is in order, but there are some developments that I wanted to personally let you be aware of." He says in all seriousness. I lean forward on my desk and clasp my hands together and hold my breath.

"Bree has filed a lawsuit against you. She claims she lost the baby due to stress. And the source of the stress would be you she says." He shakes his head and looks straight in the eyes.

"What! Are you joking! This is absurd!" I shout.

"That's what I thought Mr. Cullen. The time line doesn't match up. This should be a piece of cake in court, though she wants money." He says quietly.

"If you pay her what she wants she won't go to the media. If not, she'll talk."

"What's there to talk about? She's the one who was unfaithful in the relationship!"

"Edward we'll fight it. I ask the judge for a gag order. No one will be able to talk. I promise." He assures me.

"Deal with this Evan, I'm not going to let her get away with it." I demand.

"I'm already in the process of filing an appeal. I'm just waiting to hear from Judge Salvator. We'll take care of this and take care of it fast. No one needs to know. Don't tell anyone anything. The gag order goes for you as well. I'll call you with any new developments. " He says as he stands to shake my hand and head to the door.

"Thank you Evan, I appreciate it."

"As always, Mr. Cullen." He nods.

I turn in my chair and face my window. I look at the tiny ant cars passing, the small people walking to and fro. I think of my life and how I've gotten this far. I think of the relationships I've formed and I think of the obstacles I've over come. I'm left thinking of a brown eyed girl and how much I hate her.

A/N: Whoa cliffe, who loves me now?

Bet you can't wait for the next one huh?