Disclaimer: I own nothing. Characters belong to Stephenie Meyer. Plot inspired by Halsey's Hurricane.

Beta: SunflowerFran


11


So, I do.

And, an hour later, boss man arrives. He's late to his own retirement happy hour. I would usually resist the urge to roll my eyes. You know, stay PC and all that. But, by now, I'm blitzed out of my mind so everything's game.

My eyes roll hard as he takes the stage. Mic in hand, he proceeds to wax poetic about his reluctance to retire, but his needing to be close to family. I snort hard into my glass. The rumor is he's senile and got pushed out. Doesn't really make a difference, though, as he spends the majority of his "company" time on golf courses rather than in board rooms.

He drones on and on, hands gesticulating wildly as he laments his love for his company. I motion for the bartender to keep them coming. Pretty soon I'll be cut off. Maybe then I'll be willing to crawl into bed tonight.

Blinking back into focus, I visibly jerk at the scene that unfolds in front of me. Big boss is still on stage. But, now he's not alone. Standing next to him is someone I never expected to see again. Someone I haven't seen in thirteen years. Someone that is the star of every one of my sexual fantasies.

Bee.

Big boss introduces her as his daughter.

Isabella Swan. The daughter of technology mogul Charlie Swan, AKA big boss man. I'll be damned.

He parades her around the room like a prize. She shakes hands with the entire room. My palm itches for its turn.

She is a stark contrast to the wild seventeen-year-old in my memories. Her dark hair is much tamer now, pulled back into a neat little bun at the nape of her neck. But the few tendrils that have fallen loose against her shoulders hint at its hidden chaos. I like that, I decide.

Her wardrobe has clearly improved. She's an absolute vision in a form-fitting cream-colored dress. I want to tear it down the middle and see what time has done to her body. I bet its fucking fantastic.

Unconsciously, my thumb presses against the ring on my left hand. It does nothing to ebb the embers building inside me. In fact, it makes me want to take the damn thing off. I don't, though. That's what scumbags like Mike would do. Instead, I tuck my hand into my pocket and wait.

She drifts alongside her father, smiling and laughing at the things my colleagues say to her. That's one thing time hasn't changed. I smile faintly as I remember the way her freckled nose wrinkled every time she laughed and the deep dimples every smile revealed. She was as magnificent then as she is now.

Boss man finishes with Jessica from marketing and wraps his arm around Bee. Leaning into her ear, he guides her gently toward where Mike and I are posted up by the bar. Her eyes close as she listens intently to what her father tells her, lips stretching in a faint smile.

I'm breathless by the time they arrive. And grateful for all the drinks I consumed earlier. This is definitely something I need to be drunk for.

Boss man grins when he greets me, arm snug around Bee's waist. Her face betrays nothing as she nods in understanding at our introductions and reaches her hand out for a shake. Shockwaves jolt down my arm at the skin-to-skin contact. Her flesh is like silk against my palm.

I gulp and then release her, lest I drop down on my knees and begin worshipping right here. She seems unaffected. Soft smile in place, she laughs through Mike's kiss ass attempts to flatter her father. Normally, I'd join her. But I'm frozen in place at the sheer proximity of the most profound ghost of my past.

After a few minutes of rubbing elbows, Charlie and Bee take their leave. She doesn't even look back as they drift away, and I'm left with a mild hangover and bitterness in my belly


Uh oh! Bee sighting. Doesn't seem to go as swimmingly as Edward hoped. Does she remember him?

Thank you for reading!

xo

j