Chapter 25

We cuddled in silence for as we came down from our high. It was nice just laying there with Edward pressed against me.

"You know, when you invited me over for dinner, I didn't expect you to be dessert," he commented, kissing the top of my head.

"Me neither," I admitted, playing with his chest hair. "But I don't regret it, if you're concerned."

"I'm more worried about whether you're going to kick me out."

"Nah, I suppose I can let you stay over. One could say you'd earned it."

He laughed and pulled me closer to him. We fell asleep wrapped in each other.

In seemed only like a few hours later, when I felt Edward stirring next to me. "Where are you going?" I yawned out, reaching for him.

"I need to go home and shower before I head over to the bar. You're still coming in, right?"

I nodded my head. "What time is it?" I sat up, rubbing my eyes.

"Eleven. I'm meeting Claire at one." He nuzzled into my neck.

"Claire? Is that that who you're firing?"

"Yes."

"Well, that sucks. Don't you know her from high school or something?"

"Yes."

Morning Edward is wordy, I thought. "Okay, I can be there whenever you want me to be," I offered.

"Whenever you want to be there is fine with me. I really need to go, though. See you soon."

I watched Edward walk out of my room and decided I liked it.

I lay blissfully in my sex-smelling bed for another twenty minutes before getting my butt into the shower. I put everything I'd need for doing actual work into my tote bag and sent Maggie a text to meet me at the bar.

"Bella!" Jake greeted me heartily.

"Hi, Jake." I took a seat at the bar and looked around.

"He just went to his office with the dragon queen," Jake explained. "Did you want a beer?"

I laughed at his description of Claire. "I think I'll have a Pepsi, instead."

"Woman, this is a bar. Nothing gets made with Pepsi." Jake rolled his eyes.

"Gee, you bartenders are picky. I'll have a Coke, please." I took my laptop out and powered it up while I waited for Maggie. I had just logged in when Maggie graced us with her presence.

"Beer me, please, Jake," she said, taking the stool next to me. She leaned in and air kissed me for who knows what reason.

"Umm… we don't normally kiss," I reminded her.

"That's too bad," Jake responded, handing Maggie her drink. We heard raised voices and all turned to see Claire storming towards us with Edward hot on her heels. Before I could blink, she was in my face, yelling.

"This is all your fault, you stupid cow. You just had to come into this bar, right? Had to fuck up everything I've worked so hard to get, had to steal Edward right out from under me. Jeez, I could fucking punch you." Just as she pulled her arm back, Maggie grabbed it.

"Are you kidding me with this? Really? You went to high school with Edward, you've known him most of your miserable life, she just met him. It's not Bella's fault he only sees you as the skank whore you are. It's not her fault you thought stealing from your friend and boss was a good idea. Now if you don't back the fuck up, you'll see my Irish temper take hold. It's kind of like The Hulk, only worse."

Claire looked Maggie up and down and decided it wasn't worth it. This was a smart move on her part. Edward put his hand on Claire's elbow and steered her away from us.

"Bye, Claire," he told her, sort of shoving her out the door. He closed it behind her and leaned his back against it for a minute before coming back to me. "Are you okay?" he asked, stoking my cheek.

"I'm perfect. Are you okay? That couldn't have been easy for you."

"It wasn't, but it needed to be done. I've gotten a lot of complaints about her attitude. The stealing was much more recent," he explained.

"She's lucky she didn't put a hand on me," Maggie commented, cracking her knuckles.

"I'm sure she is, Mike Tyson." Jake leaned over and ruffled Maggie's hair.

"Want to come and work in my office with me?" Edward offered.

"Sure, if by work you mean ravage me on your desk," I said.

He laughed and grabbed my laptop. "We'll see." He winked. "Jake, we'll be out back."

"Sure thing, boss. I may put Maggie to work since we're down a bartender. I'm not so sure she can hack it, though."

"Dude, I was pouring the perfect pint before you were born," she taunted. Last thing I saw before heading into Edward's office was her hip checking Jake away from the taps.

"That girl…" I trailed off.

"Is awesome," Edward finished. "Really, she is."

"Are you really okay?" I asked, sitting in the chair next to his desk.

"Not really," he admitted. "I've never had to fire someone. Usually people just leave when they're ready to move on. Jake and Liam have been here pretty much since day one, though, so I think they're staying."

"If it's any consolation, it was the right thing to do."

"Yeah, it was. And I know that, but I did consider her a friend at one time." He shrugged one shoulder and picked up his phone. "You don't mind if I call in some orders, do you?"

"Of course I do." I rolled my eyes, opened up my laptop and got back to work.

A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing. Thanks to Mirror for the mistakes are mine, as I fidget after MissElie does her fantastic BETA-ing