SORRY

I know it's been a hell of a long wait guys, but I've been busy in real life so unfortunately cyber world has had to take a back seat. I'm hoping their won't be such a long wait between this chapter and the next, I'll try my hardest to get it up as soon as possible.

Thanks again!

Chapter Twenty-Five

Edward's POV

Knock Knock Knock

My eyes flickered up from my computer screen at the sound of the tapping on my door, my eyes narrowing as I glanced at the clock before checking my time schedule. I didn't have any meetings this morning, so there should be no reason for someone wanting to disturb me.

Stretching back in my chair I scowled, not in the mood to deal with people in general today. I had been in a bad mood since I had been forced to leave Bella this morning, the fact we had started to sleep together the majority of nights meaning leaving her at the start of the day had started to take its toll on my behaviour.

"Come in!" I grunted.

It turned out to be a light brunette who I had seen walking around the office. I didn't normally pay attention, but it was hard not to notice when they almost ploughed into you holding a tray of coffees.

I raised a brow, watching as she fiddled with her hands nervously. The gesture reminded me of Bella.

"What do you want?" I pretty much demanded. So sue me, it was my company and I was in a shitty mood. What did she expect?

She swallowed. "Urm…h-hi Mr Cullen."

I rolled my eyes.

"Urm…my boss told m-me to ask you-"

"I'm technically your boss," I felt the need to correct. "Give me your ID," I held out my hand.

Nervously, she unclipped it off her shirt before sliding it across my desk. I looked at it with a raised brow.

Kate Denali
Secretary

"You're married to Garrett."

She looked surprised. "Urm…yes?"

I rolled my eyes at her answering me with a question. "And you work here as a secretary?"

She nodded, frowning in worry. I didn't doubt that my bad mood had already circulated around the office. It wasn't exactly a secret to me that I knew the whole department let each other know what kind of attitude I was in and whether to approach me or not. Apparently if I was in a shitty mood I tended to fire people more often.

I scoffed at the thought. I fired people because they were shit at their jobs.

"Stay there," I told her before turning back to my computer screen.

Now it would be unrealistic for me to know everyone who worked in my company by name, there were hundreds of them after all, but her name did sound familiar so I figured I had either been the one to hire her or I had gone through her CV when I skimmed through others at the same time.

Pulling up her details I frowned when I took note of all her computer and design background, much like that of her husbands. It didn't take long to wonder whether that was how they had met, considering they both seemed to have the exact same universities and degrees.

So how did she end up being someone's secretary?

"Who were you hired by?"

She looked confused. "Urm…James."

I scowled, of course it had to be that fucking idiot. My expression must have said as much as she suddenly paled, her nerves increasing as she shifted from foot to foot.

"Y-you're not going to fire me, right? I mean, it's just I really need this job, and-"

I cut her off before she burst into tears. I wasn't that much of an arsehole and I knew Bella would have my head if she heard. I smiled at the thought.

"I'm not going to fire you, Kate," I heard her sigh of relief. "In fact, how would you like a promotion?"

She stared at me, shocked. "W-what?"

"I know you have only been working here four months by the looks of things, but you are far to qualified for that idiot to put you as his secretary. I figured you would do better in the advertising department, and while you will still be below your husband due to his two years of experience already working with this company, it is several leaps ahead of your current position."

She remained staring at me, mouth agape.

"It would also be a 40% increase in pay, we could probably sort you out an office at some point in time, along with it putting your education to its full advantage."

"Urm…"

"It would be challenging. I would drop you in at the deep end, but I suppose your husband can help show you the ropes as you will be in his previous starting position. Further promotions will be possible, but not for at least a year or two unless you show me otherwise."

I leaned back in my office chair as she continued to seemingly be in shock. I sighed, knowing it would be a big deal for her since it was a massive and out of the blue promotion, but still…

Deciding I might as well get something done while she remained silent I pulled my phone out of my pocket once I heard it go off.

Hey baby, change of plans. Staying with Angela tonight, so won't need a lift. See you tomorrow? xx

I closed my eyes, dreading spending a night without her.

I do not know how I feel about you passing me off xx

Oh hush, what if I told you I'd make it up to you later? xx

Now that did sound good.

You have me hooked. What did you have in mind? xx

Now that's a surprise *wink* *wink* xx

Not knowing whether to be annoyed that she hadn't spilled her plans or excited that my little minx was definitely up to something I couldn't help but find myself grinning down at the bright screen. I knew I wouldn't be disappointed, not when I was very much aware of just how creative Bella could be when she put her mind to it.

After texting her to call me later that night, I told her I looked forward to whatever she had planned for as I placed my phone on the corner of my desk. If she wanted to continue our playful banter than that was a message I did not want to miss.

Glancing up I figured Kate had already gotten over her shock and had just been waiting patiently for my attention as she shyly stood there with a bashful smile on her face. I didn't doubt that she would take it, and I knew as soon as she left she would be up in Garrets office to tell him the good news.

"Well?" I quirked a brow.

Her answer was immediate, excitement in her tone. I figured she felt wasted in her position but couldn't afford to quit, and to be honest I didn't blame her in the slightest.

"I would love to take it."

I nodded. "As we are at the start of the week I do not want to drop you in right at the deep end by making you begin immediately. I will also have to arrange a replacement, but that I can begin to do tomorrow as I do not have any meetings planned. I will require that you train that person to the best of your knowledge for it to be possible for them to replace you by the start of next week."

She nodded her understanding.

"Garrett is also on a major account right now, I would appreciate it if you did not allow your personal life to affect in his work."

She shook her head rapidly. "I wouldn't dare, he adores his job to much to risk it any way."

I nodded my approval, well aware that Garrett was a very valid member of the team. I also knew he was a close friend of Demetri's, and the reason I had paid particular attention to his CV was due to the fact Demetri had been working for me a year already and had recommended him.

I did not regret my decision in the slightest. I hoped I never would.

He had been straight out of finalising his degree much like Demetri had and I just happened to need someone with his area of expertise. He was promoted after I had seen his first three projects, and he wasn't far away from running the department himself when his supervisor retired near the end of next year.

I knew he was after the job, but I doubted he knew it was already his as long as he didn't fuck up.

"I need you to come to my office tomorrow for the interviews. I figured since it is your new position on line you would be able to see the required traits and who would be the easiest and most efficient to train."

She once again nodded. She looked slightly nervous that I was already putting the pressure on but she had to know that this was nothing compared to what she was clearly wanting to work towards. Garrett worked nonstop, I knew that, and it was a habit she also needed to get into.

"Do you still want the job?"

She nodded eagerly. "Definitely. You're not going to regret this, I promise. I'm a quick learner and I'll make sure my replacement is trained properly so you won't have any worries."

I nodded, the corner of my lips curving at her obvious excitement.

After sending her away I shook my head in amusement as she practically sprinted from the office before returning less than a minute later, a sheepish expression on her face.

"Forget something?"

She cringed. "Urm…my supervisor actually wanted to set up a meeting with you."

"What for?"

"To discuss the Newton account."

After giving her in a short version that I wanted nothing to do with the Newton account, that I didn't want them involved in my company and I sure as hell didn't want them as a business account, she hurried off to tell her supervisor that I was more than a little irritated.

Newton Industries was a bankruptcy waiting to happen.

Who didn't know that?

They wanted a hand-out that I wasn't prepared to give, and I did not want to lose business when they went down the shits because I had invested anything in them, even my time wasn't worth the effort.

After dealing with that matter, knowing I couldn't hold it against the bloke for wanting to meet with them since the company have been seemingly on the rise, but I personally had hired someone look into it in depth and it turned out they were in panic mode looking for business by offering cheaper rates.

It wouldn't end well.

The rest of the day I didn't have any other faults, and news of Kate's rather sudden promotion seemed to be all around the office. I was happy for her, she seemed pleased and I knew she wouldn't disappoint. She had stuck lucky and she knew it.

"Mother," I answered my phone as I headed to my car.

"Hello dear, how was your day?"

I barely resisted the urge to roll my eyes on how she was asking me the same question she had been since I was a teenager and I was now in my mid-twenties.

"It was fine, busy as always. Why are you calling?"

"Do I need a reason to call my youngest son?" She demanded.

I sighed. "No."

"Good. Now, how would you and Bella like to come around for dinner tonight, nothing fancy-"

"She's already made plans, she's spending a night at one of her girlfriends since her husband is out of town. Bella figures she doesn't want to be alone."

I wasn't surprised by my mother's reply. "Aw, isn't she just the sweetest?"

"She is," I agreed wholeheartedly.

"Why don't you just come then, darling? I would really love to see you again."

"You saw me the other night," I pointed out as I slipped into the driver's seat as I left my office for the day.

"That may be, but you need to visit more."

I didn't say anything, knowing she was right. I may have my own life to live now but I knew I needed to make more time to spend with them. And I told her as much.

"Good. Have you finished work?"

"Just left."

Apparently she took that to mean I was heading right over, and since I didn't have to pick up Bella I didn't see where the harm was in not bothering to go home first. I was wearing a casual suit so it wasn't as if I was scruffy, something I knew if I was Esme wouldn't approve of in the slightest.

She liked neat.

It didn't take me long to pull up outside the house, leaving my briefcase in the back of my car before heading into the house only to frown when I caught sight of a car I hadn't seen before in the driveway.

"Esme! Carlisle!"

"Hi son," I saw Carlisle come strolling around the corner as he pulled me into a hug. "Rosaline is here," he whispered in my ear in warning.

I groaned. "Why?"

"Your mother invited Emmett for lunch, and he turned up with her. He doesn't seem to be a happy camper though."

I shrugged out of my coat. "I heard you cut him off, about time."

Carlisle shrugged, "I think Rosaline upsetting your mother and him sticking up for his lady friend just about told me he needed to grow up."

My lips pursed, did Emmett have no respect?

"So, no Bella?" Carlisle grinned.

"She is spending the night at one of her girlfriends. I assumed Esme told you."

"She has," he wiggled his brows. "You don't seem very happy with that fact," he observed.

I shrugged as I slipped out of my coat and hung it on the coat rack positioned near the front door. "I don't like the thought of not sleeping next to her. She's spoilt me."

Carlisle laughed, clapping me on the back as he led me towards the kitchen.

"Wait, she hasn't touched my piano again has she?" I stiffened as I recalled the last time she had been here.

Thankfully, Carlisle shook his head with a frown. "Esme make sure to make it known to her that if she so much as touched it then she would no longer be welcome in this house. I agree with her, she shouldn't have touched it in the first place."

I visibly relaxed.

"Hey Esme," I smiled when I saw my mother in the kitchen, whisking something in a cooking bowl. She looked completely in her element and I figured her incredible cooking skills hadn't taken long to help my father win her heart. "Where's the bitch?" I whispered playfully in her ear before peaking her on the cheek.

"Edward!" she scolded, but I could see the slight smile she had tried and failed to hide. "Don't speak about her like that."

I shrugged, "If the name fits…"

Catching up with Carlisle, double checking that the hospital account had been set up in his name, I grinned in relief when he told me everything seemed to be in order. Apparently not even Aro had made a comment on it, what with considering if he did his bosses wouldn't be exactly pleased that money they could use to help their funds was retracted because of his attitude.

I was laughing at one of his work stories when I heard a female throat clear behind me. I sighed, knowing exactly who was behind it.

Would it be unethical of me to tell her to fuck off?

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