Chapter 14

Bella walked into the residency a few minutes before Edward was scheduled to meet her. She was somewhat anxious, but she couldn't pinpoint exactly why. It could be attributed to the speech she would be making in front of millions of people in less than a week or to the fact she would be spending a significant amount of time alone with Edward.

Bella looked herself over in one of the hallway mirrors. She was dressed causally in a pair of jeans with a long sleeved white shirt paired with a thin burgundy scarf. The attire didn't look as if she had tried too hard, but she hoped it would catch Edward's attention.

"Bella," Emmett called as he walked in shaking his head as he found Bella in front of the mirror.

"Emmett," Bella exclaimed blushing as she met Emmett's knowing gaze.

"Edward is here," he continued with a smirk.

Bella nodded before moving into the living area. A few moments later Edward walked in a gray suit and dark blue tie with two yellow writing pads in his arms.

"Hi," Bella greeted with a warm smile.

"Hey, how was your day?" Edward asked as he took a seat next to Bella on the couch.

"School was school," Bella shrugged. "Just a day full of lectures and boring demonstrative speeches."

"I remember those," Edward answered with a laugh. "Please tell me someone didn't explain how to balance a checkbook?"

"YES!" Bella exclaimed. "I had to sit through a five minute speech on how to balance a checkbook followed by one on how to put together a matching outfit."

"Are you serious?"

"I wish I was joking." Bella sighed and rolled her eyes. "This girl in class actually spent her time talking about complimentary and clashing colors."

"When I took it I had to sit through how to play the tuba complete with a demonstration and everything," Edward added causing Bella to giggle.

"I think you're making that up," Bella retorted as her body shifted towards him.

"Fine, don't believe me." Edward's face remained stoic as he too moved closer to her.

The two laughed for a few more seconds before their eyes met. Bella bit her lip nervously as she looked into his eyes. She felt as if he wanted to say something more, but didn't know where to begin. His eyes looked greener than normal and filled with an emotion Bella couldn't decipher.

"So," Edward began breaking the silence and their gaze. "Have you thought of anything you wanted to include?"

"Sort of," Bella answered slightly disappointed that the moment had been ruined. Bella reached into her bag taking out a small notebook and handed it to Edward. "I wrote down a few of my dad's characteristics that I think might be important."

Edward read over the list as he mentally chastised himself for getting caught up in Bella. He needed to remain in control of his attraction towards her especially now that he was required to work with her. But he didn't consider working with her work, and that was where the problem was. He didn't know how to make himself focus on the work aspect of things when part of his job required him to get to know her better.

"This is a good start," Edward said after he had read the list.

"I feel there's a 'but' coming," Bella commented hoping she wasn't way off target. She didn't want Edward to think she wasn't intelligent.

"I think this is what everyone expects you to talk about. Everyone knows your father is smart, loyal, and determined," Edward explained as he read off some of the adjectives Bella had written down. "But nobody outside you and your mother really know the real Carlisle Cullen, the husband and the father."

"So what should I talk about?" Bella questioned as she kicked off her shoes and brought her legs under her.

"Tell me something about him only you will know," Edward prompted. "Well within reason."

"I know what you mean," Bella assured Edward before going into some stories about her relationship with her father.

Bella and Edward worked together as they scribbled down a rough draft of what would become Bella's speech. The two of them worked effortlessly feeding ideas back and forth for what felt like a short time but really was three full hours.

"I didn't know speech writing could be so much fun," Bella stated after she reread what they had accomplished.

"It's never really this fun," Edward added with a smile.

"Are you saying your job is boring, Mr. Masen?" Bella teased as she arched her back in a stretch, her arms reaching behind her.

Edward's eyes were immediately drawn to Bella's form as she stretched. He allowed himself a few seconds to look wishing he could pull her towards him and ask her out. He couldn't remember ever really enjoying himself as much as he had in the few hours they had spent together.

"Quite the opposite," Edward answered after he looked away focusing instead on the notepad in front of him. "I just think it's much more entertaining when I have such a great partner like you to share it with."

Bella smiled but didn't get the chance to respond before Alice walked in. "Hey Bella!" She called stopping as she noticed the two of them sitting near each other.

"Alice, what are you doing here?" Bella asked as she looked at Edward apologetically. She loved Alice but right now she hated her for having interrupted her time alone with Edward.

"I convinced my dad to bring me along tonight," Alice explained as she studied Edward carefully.

"Oh, right," Bella stated awkwardly as she stood up. "Let me introduce you. Edward this Alice Brandon. Alice, this is Edward Masen the Head Speechwriter."

"It's nice to meet you, Miss Brandon," Edward stated formally as he too stood up.

"Alice is fine," she replied with a smile.

"Well, it's getting late," Edward added after he looked at his watch. "I'll type this up and make some corrections. We can look it over tomorrow before we send it to Eleazer."

"That'd be good," Bella answered keenly aware that Alice was watching their interaction.

The two of them decided to meet at noon before Edward left, leaving Bella alone with Alice. Alice waited to be sure that Edward was really gone before she grabbed Bella's arm and dragged her towards her bedroom.

"Alice what are you doing?" Bella asked as she pulled along roughly.

"You have to tell me everything," Alice stated as she threw herself stomach first on Bella's bed and held her chin up with her hands.

"There's nothing to tell." Bella felt her cheeks burn with a blush as she spoke a clear indication that it was a total lie.

"Whatever, Bella." Alice rolled her eyes. "I know what I saw when I walked in and that was not nothing. The two of you were sitting super close and if I didn't know any better I would say the two of you are dating."

"We're not," Bella clarified even though she really wished they were. In the few hours she had spent with Edward just that day it became quite clear how different he was from Jacob. Edward was fun to talk to and a great listener. He was smart witty and just one look from him made her stomach flutter. She had never felt half of that when she had been with Jacob.

"Not yet," Alice added with a giggle. "Because he's one fine piece of ass."

"What about Jasper?" Bella asked pushing down the slight twinge of jealousy she felt at the idea of Alice checking him out.

"I know Jasper and I are meant to be. It's just taking longer than I thought it would. But regardless of that I'm not blind and Edward is gorgeous."

Bella nodded in agreement as she sat down next to Alice. "It's not just his looks. It's his entire personality he makes me smile and he's just so different than any other guy I have ever met."

"He's not just a guy," Alice stated as she sat up. "He's a man."

"I just don't know what to do," Bella continued as she hugged one of her decorative pillows to her chest. "Today I felt as if we shared some sort of connection. When his eyes met mine I felt tingling and giddy. I also feel like he wants to tell me something, but doesn't."

"I think you should make a move," Alice suggested.

"I'm not that brave." Bella hated the fact that they had so many obstacles against them. It was easy with Jacob, but that obviously hadn't been right. Maybe if it was easy then it wouldn't be worth it.

"Then be subtle about it." Alice could see Bella's infatuation with Edward. Her entire face lit up when she spoke about him, and she had a sneaking suspicious that Edward was just as taken with Bella. The very short interaction between the two that she had been bale to watch made it clear as day.

"How would I do that?" Bella questioned.

"It's called flirting," Alice answered with an exasperated sigh. "Touch his arm and smile, hold eye contact, compliment him. All the small stuff add up to something big."

"Do you think it would work?" Bella wanted to believe it would, but she was scared. Even if it did work she 'd have to deal with her father, Eleazer and the press. That was enough to scare any sane person away.

"Bella, if he doesn't act on it then he's stupid," Alice stated. "Besides your father is not going to be President forever and after he wins, because we all know he will, none of it will matter. The press could talk all they want but Edward's position is not at all affected by his relationship to you."

Bella thought carefully about Alice had said. She knew Alice was oversimplifying things, but she did have a point. Once her father was reelected there was no reason they couldn't date. Edward's job was to write speeches and if they had a romantic relationship it wouldn't affect his job performance. The two weren't related. The problem lied in whether her father, Eleazer, and more importantly Edward would see it that way.

A/N: I'm glad so many of you are excited for more Bella/Edward interaction. I know I am. It's very hard to keep the two of them apart.

I am really trying hard to post two chapters a week, but I do not think I'll be able to do that this week or next week. Real life has been hectic giving me very little time to write. But I hope to at least post one next week as well.

I'd really like to know what kind of advice you would give Bella. Do you think Alice is right? Is flirting the answer? Let me know in your reviews. They are the reason I work through writers block and what inspires me to keep writing.

Thanks for reading!

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