When I Fall In Love

Thanks to all who review and read. Glad you are enjoying it.

The next couple of chapters will be fairly short. I apologise. I'm back at work and do not hours on end free to do thousand upon thousand of words.

If I Don't update as quickly as previously blame my job and ths hit hours I do.

As Usual grateful thanks to SM

Chapter 14

I open the door to the English department. Some of my collegues are there already, some are not. I walk through the door casually shouting''Hi' to everyone who is there already. The colleagues already here are the most conscientious, the ones who have already emailed me their class projections and targets. I take a seat and await the arrival of the two that are missing along with the principal. It does not surprise me to see all three arrive together.

I open the meeting requesting the projections and targets from the two colleagues who had yet to submit them. Both looked suitably embarrassed but said they had not prepared what I had requested. When I why they both shrugged. I swear I saw a smirk on the principals face. I explained to all present that everyone had had the same amount of time to submit their projections and targets and I was extremely disappointed that some members of the department had not bothered to do this work when other colleagues had.

The principal scribbled away on a note pad. Both colleagues who had failed in their set objectives were asked to complete them now whilst everyone else moderated the targets and projections already on offer. The rest of my department had done well, targets were in line with what I would expect, yet challenging. The two colleagues appeared purposefully to be idling, umming and arghing. They were both much more experienced than me. I had previously found one of them to be quite driven to succeed whilst the other appeared lazy and would only do the very minimum required. As department head I am going to have to give some serious consideration to failing both these people on meeting their objectives for the year. Not a job I particularly would look forward to but never the less one I will not shy away from. I cannot help but feel a little let down. After our last departmental meeting I got the impression everyone was pulling in the same direction and we all liked and respected each other enough to be honest and up front. Obviously I got it wrong.

At the end of the meeting I asked both colleagues to remain behind, this was met a series of heavy sighs and tuts. The principal also stayed behind I assume to record how I handled a matter of this nature. I told them I was disappointed, let down that they had failed their classes not only me and the department. Both looked suitably embarrassed. I get the impression that there is more to this than I am being made privvy to.

They both leave with their tails between their legs. I have left them with no doubt that unless they both pull their socks up, both will fail their set objectives this year. I do however give both the opportunity to redeemed themselves. The balls are now clearly in their court.

The principal clears his throat.

" Well Miss Swan how do you think you handled that?"

I answered truthfully.

"Well sir I can honestly say it is not something I like doing but I thought I handled it well. I made them do the work themselves giving them clear instruction. I feel by giving them the chance to turn things around that they will be more likely to respond and be reciprocative. I hope I offer myself as a guide and mentor if required."

He did not comment, instead taking notes. He asked about my thoughts on the targets we had set as a department, did I think that they were achievable?, did I think they were challenging enough to continue to give the department proven sustain ability over a period of time?

Again I answer truthfully, yes I had done my own planning, reviewing, moderating and tracking. With the right children targeted and the teachers delivering good to excellent lessons week in and week out then I am confident that our department will continue to have success year upon year.

He says no more and walks out chuntering something I cannot hear under his breath.

I collect my stuff out of my office and head to Edward's. I have missed him today. I'm later than I promised so our time together this evening will be shorter than I would like.. Three hours to eat and just be together. I ring the penthouse bell to let him know I am on my way up. He has the door open for me and a delicious smell greets me. I hear the sound of laughter coming from Edward's kitchen. He has company and I can tell from the tinkleing noise the company is female.

"In here love" he shouts.

I place my bags on the sofa and make my way into the kitchen. Stood leaning against the counter as Edward cooks is non other than his sister Alice. Alice had always been rather distant with me back in Forks I got the impression she thought I was some sort of threat to her close relationship with her brother. She was always impeccably polite just rather cool.

"Alice" I say with a big smile. "What a lovely surprise." I walk towards her and wrap her into my arms in a hug. I had forgotten how petite she is. Almost pixie like. Edward used to call her the evil pixie as she cajoled everyone into getting her own way. She seems genuinely pleased to see me and drags me back to the lounge so Edward can finish making dinner.

Alice is paying her parents a flying visit staying for just three days. We talk about what we have both been up to over the last six years. Alice now runs a successful fashion magazine in LA. She is currently living with her long term partner Jasper Whitlock. He too runs a success magazine and they met a university studying different forms of journalism. She is far nicer than I remember and tells me openly how badly Edward took our break up and how much he suffered over the years. She hugs me to her and congratulates me on our engagement saying she hasn't seen her brother this happy since they lived in Forks. It was quite the compliment and she seems genunely happy for Edward and I.

Edward's meal is tuna pasta bake, very tasty. We eat and talk, laughing at the old memories. Edward has to get ready to go to work all too soon. Alice begs me to stay with her that night so we can catch up some more. I agree, I phone Angela telling her I'll be staying over with Alice. All three girls agree to meet up for dinner and drinks the following night. We do after all know each otehr from high school.

Alice and I talk for hours. I really start to feel close to her in a way I never have before. I hope she no longer sees me as a threat to her relationship with her brother. She swoons over my engagement rings and tells me she secretly hopes Jasper will propose to her one day soon. She shows me photo after photo of him. He is tall with blond hair slightly curly shoulder length. He is attractive in an odd sort of way. Alice obviously adores him.

Before she goes to bed Alice says.

"Bella can I offer you a piece of advice?"

"Of course Alice" I say in response.

"Please be careful when dealing with Paul and Kate Ridgeway. I've known them both a while now and both are capable of manipulating any situation to their benefit."

I tell Alice about Kate's warning to me about her Father.

"If she is doing that Bella then she thinks she will be able to wind her way back into Edward's good books, she will take every advantage she can to separate you, please be careful and watch your back. Edward may think he has her sussed but she is a canny one and would never show her true hand in front of him, she wants him too badly."

I ponder Alice's words long after I should be asleep. The next morning I am woken up to being kissed around the ear as a naked Edward slips between the sheets. Alice's warning is forgotten for now as my fiancé and I make mad passionate love to each other.

Leaving Edward fast asleep. I drag myself up kissing him on his head, I get dressed and go to work.

Today I have a smile on my face. I wonder how long that will last.