Luckily my blush dies down in time for the elevator stopping at our floor. Edward heads to his office and I stop by Angela's to say good morning. When I walk past Jessica's she looks up nodding in acknowledgement, but quickly does a double take and flies up to flung open the door and call me back.
"Bella, can I see you inside for a few minutes?"
Her hair is put up in a strict bun. An unusual look for her but it happens. Coffee room rumours claim that it not only makes her feel daring, it also makes her more daring. There's a theory going around that this is the hairstyle she goes for when she has to make bold decisions.
Naturally I hesitate and throw a quick glance at my wrist watch. Our weekly group assemble is starting in ten minutes.
"A few minutes? Sure," I hear myself saying.
Jessica fires off a smile so bright it hurts my eyes. Either she's in a real happy mood or she's got an evil plan. I guess when it comes to her the two can absolutely be connected, sneaky as she is. I head inside her office and close the door behind me. She gestures to the chair on the opposite side of her desk.
For some reason I look behind me before I sit down as if I'm expecting someone to spring at me through the door and save me from this meeting. I make eye contact with June of all people. She's on the other side of the glass wall, hanging out in the corridor seemingly doing nothing at all. The odd thing is the look she gives me. Full of sympathy.
What now? June is looking at me like she actually feels sorry for me?
This can't be good. I sit down and eye my boss nervously. She's sorting through some papers, ignoring the fact that I'm here. The shuffling sound is the only sound in her office. It's quite unnerving. The way her hair is put up in that strict bun... She may be in a daring mood...
"What do you need me for?" I ask.
She looks up swiftly between her paper-shuffling looking surprised, as if she just now discovered that I'm here although she was the one who invited me inside one minute ago.
"There are a few things I'd like to talk about. Not so much fun but they have to be said," she mutters.
It hits me.
She's going to fire me isn't she? I'm not going to hear this. Not without a witness or a recording device or... I have to do what Emmett told me to do. I have to document her. My body reacts on its own behalf. I'm standing up before I know it and Jessica is looking at me confused, wondering why the hell I'm looking ready to sprint. She fully ignores the papers now.
"Bella," she says. "Where do you think you're going?"
That's a good question. I have to pull myself together and record her. I don't think it would be a great idea to tell her that though. I put my hands on my stomach, grimacing.
"I.. I-I'm going outside. I'm feeling terribly naseous," I stutter.
She raises her eyebrows.
"Well okay. Take fifteen. I need to get coffee anyways", she shrugs her shoulders as if to stress how little she cares.
Before she can say something else I rush out and decide to head to my office. I exhale. I've never faked sick at work before. Up until now I've only used that skill for crappy dates when I've needed a quick exit. Or as I did last time I was on a crappy date: told my date that Rose was sick and that I was the one who needed to give her a ride to the hospital. Actually thinking about it now I realize that it's weirder to fake a friend's illness than faking migraine for yourself.
Halfway down the corridor I stop and get the idea to go the group room instead and see if I can borrow Rose. I need someone with balls. Not Edward funnily enough since he's the only one in our team that has actual balls, but he's too involved. I hurry past office after office, smiling stiffly at my colleagues as I pass by. I try my best to look naseous as well, grimacing every now and then, stopping swiftly and dramatically every ten meters, taking deep breaths...
There. I've reached the conference room. That was the longest walk of my life.
I knock once on the door. The conference rooms are the only rooms, besides toilets of course, that don't have see-through glass walls at Stanley Projects. It's for the secrecy. Any of these rooms would be perfect for an office romance. Only problem is you have to book them before-hand and that sort of takes away the spontaneity. Also June, who is the one who approves the bookings, would question why I would need a meeting room to myself: or even crazier, why I would book one for me and Edward. That info would go straight to Jessica and I have a feeling I wouldn't get away with it.
I knock one more time before I freak out and knock about thirty more times rapidly in a row. I must look crazy. I'm pretty sure the door isn't even locked. Soon I come face to face with Rose who looks mildly pissed off.
"Fell asleep in the office did we?" she asks annoyed.
"No!" I say. "Can I see you outside for a minute?"
"Alright guys," she says over her shoulder. "I'll be right back. Our boss is going through a personal crisis of some sorts."
She steps out in the corridor and lets the door half-close behind her.
"What's going on? You're all flustered!" she hisses.
"She's going to fire me!" I whisper dramatically. "I know it because even June gave me puppy eyes. You know June hates me. Why whould she do that?"
"Bella. Have you gotten enough sleep lately? It sounds to me like you think June is giving you signs or something. She looks like June. She doesn't have puppy eyes."
"I said she gave me puppy eyes."
"So like, she was looking cute... You don't mean she actually gave you..."
"Stop messing around Rose and help me. I need a recording device or..."
"Don't you have one on your phone? Oh, that's right. You ignore your phone. I called you and textmessaged you when you didn't show, but no answer," Rose scolds.
"I think she forgot her cellphone at home," I hear Edward's voice.
He shows up in the doorway behind Rose. He's looking all kinds of smartass, cool and sexy at once.
"What are you a mindreader?" Rose says irritatedly.
He's taken off his jacket and my eyes get temporarily stuck on the top button in his white dress shirt that's undone. While he does roll up his sleeves often for a more relaxed look, Edward is usually pretty careful not to leave any buttons undone. When did that happen?
I straighten up.
The corners of his eyes crinkle as he smiles amused. His green eyes focused soley on me.
"Just a wild guess."
Distracted by his annoying confidence and his handsome appearance I pat my pants pocket absentmindedly. I wrack my brain to try and remember if I put my cellphone in my purse this morning.
Only to realize that Edward's wild guess isn't that wild at all.
Crap.
"That's it. I'm screwed," I exhale.
Rose puts her hands on my shoulders, shaking me roughly.
"Look at me. Get it the fuck together," she orders.
Woah. She's in a snappy mood today.
"Okay," I nod nervously.
"You've got this. Einsten flunked out of school twice and Beethoven was deaf for crying out loud!"
Unexpected people to compare me with, but I'll take it. I probably have something in common with either Einstein or Beethoven. Maybe they really liked architecture. Or chocolate.
"Right," I say.
"You're gonna eat lightning and you're gonna crap thunder!" she growls.
She lets me go and presses her cellphone in my hand.
"And you can borrow my phone."
"Passionate speech, Rose" Edward comments dryly. "It sounded like it was straight from a movie."
"I'm sorry guys. I'm all pumped up," she says exhaling.
"'Ello people what's going on?" a manly voice with a distinc french accent calls out.
We all look at Laurent Da Revin of all people casually strolling by us. He has a paper under his right arm and a cup of coffee in his hand. I think about how he supposedly fought a wolf and survived with only a scratch. Considering his thin frame I don't believe the story, but he does have some kind of feral charisma: maybe it's his dark eyes that are slightly too mischievous for an accountant.
"Rose," he greets cordially.
"Laurent," Rose says narrowing her eyes at him.
"The no-fraternization policy is still non-existing," he says winking and I cringe just watching Laurent trying to flirt. "How about dinner later?" he asks rolling his r's.
Rose smiles stiffly.
"I'm not hungry."
"That's why I said dinner," he says.
I look at Edward who looks like he's enjoying watching Laurent try and work for it.
"Let me rephrase it," Rose says. "I won't be hungry then either."
"A drink?"
"My boyfriend will get me one. Thank you very much."
Laurent laughs.
"Ah, the imaginary boyfriend. Good luck with the imaginary drinks. I'm sure they don't taste as good as the real ones," he raises his coffee cup as if he's toasting. "'Ello Isabella. Edward," he nods at us in acknowledgement and looks like he's about to walk away when he changes his mind. "Exactly what are you doing standing around here for?"
"We're having a..." Edward attempts to answer, but Rose interrupts:
"None of your business, you sleazy frog!" she exclaims.
Edward clears his throat.
"Not what I was going to say," he murmurs under his breath.
"Rose," I say shocked.
She really woke up on the wrong side.
Laurent clicks his tongue and shakes his head in disapproval.
"Someday I hope someone will teach you manners, miss Hale."
"Get lost," she spits out. "There's nothing wrong with my manners."
He smiles widely at me and Edward.
"I think I proved my point, yes? Good luck," he says cheerily and struts off before Rose can say anything else.
She looks at us and then at Laurent who's moving further away down the corridor.
"Imaginary boyfriend?" she scoffs. "He can't handle the fact that I have a real boyfriend."
"You don't think you went a bit too far?" I ask her carefully.
She shakes her head.
"I have a boyfriend now. I can afford to be rude to old dates. That's half the fun of being in a relationship."
"You used to date Laurent?" Edward asks, disbelief coloring his voice.
Angela appears in the doorway now and Edward moves to make room for her.
"I can hear you guys," she says. "What are you doing? I thought we were supposed to have a meeting, in there," she points behind her. "And you Edward. I thought you were better than them. Hanging around out here gossiping?"
"Ah. I've disappointed you," he says hanging his down dramatically.
If I wasn't so nervous I'd laugh. It's not often Edward acts silly.
"And I must say, I didn't peg you for a Rocky fan, Rose," Angela says.
"Is that what it was? The thing about Einstein and thunder," I say.
Rose sighs.
"Alright. I'm guilty. Emmett loves those movies. We started watching them yesterday and it's getting me all riled up. Did you know they've made six of them? Although the latest one is set sixteen years later."
"You lost me back at the eating lightning and crapping thunder part. I feel very confused," I confess anxiously.
"It's not that confusing. Even Rocky grows older, Bells. It's the way of life."
I can't decide if she's funny or if I want to punch her. I settle on shooting her a dead glare.
"Did you need help with anything, Bella?" Edward asks amused.
"Your top button is undone," I blurt out suddenly fixating on his shirt again.
I'm about to reach out and fix it myself but end up pointing at him awkwardly.
Throwing myself at Edward, although fixing a button, wouldn't look good if someone were to see it at work. They'd read something more into it (and they'd be right if they did). Restraint, Swan. Restraint.
Edward looks down and very very briefly his smoldering green meet mine before smoothly attending to the undone button. I swallow hard. Even in situations like these when I'm stressed and confused and what not, I still get helplessly distracted by Edward.
"So...?" Angela says. "Are we having the meeting here or inside the actual meeting room?"
I realize how silly this must look. Four people standing outside a meeting room doing absolutely nothing but quoting Rocky and bickering when there's work to do. Most people know that we're working on the Newman-project as well. We'd get known as that weird group. "You know those Newman-people? Yup, they're always standing just outside rooms arguing. I know it doesn't make sense! Not to them either!"
Laurent had already interacted with us and that was... weird. All Rose's fault though.
"You're right, Ange," I say. "Our boss is waiting for me. I've kept her waiting too long."
"So go to her," Rose says.
"What do you need?" Edward asks but my attention is elsewhere.
Angela's looking at me in an alarming way.
"She's right behind me isn't she?" I whisper not daring to turn around.
To my surprise she smiles. Now I kind of want to slap Angela too. God forgive me.
"I'm sorry. That was mean. I have no idea what this is about," she shrugs her shoulders. "If you don't mind I'm going back inside to go through some papers."
"Will you show me how to do this? Quickly please," I ask both Rose and Edward holding up the phone.
"Bella has no idea how to handle a cellphone," Rose snickers and playfully shoves Edward in the side.
To my surprise he actually chuckles. What the fuck? Is my best friend bonding with my future boyfriend over my cellphone skills?
"Your autocorrection is a bit off," Edward says smiling sheepishly.
"Does she type hagahaga to you too?" Rose asks.
He grins.
"Hagahaga?" he repeats, his eyes darting swiftly to me.
I go red.
"That happened one time," I say. "Okay twice," I change my mind. "Four times," I add quickly because I can tell Rose is about to call me out on it.
"Autocorrect from what?" he asks curiously.
"From hahahaha," Rose says and then laughs for real. "For real Edward, you've never gotten one of her Hagahaga- texts? And for the record it happened more than four times."
"I've never gotten one," Edward pouts.
Okay. I was wrong. Pouting actually works for some people. People like Edward.
"Maybe you need to be funnier," Rose teases.
"Or maybe I just don't put any effort in responding to your texts Rose."
"How did you manage to get that kind of autocorrection?" Edward asks.
Long story.
"The wonders of cellphones," I offer impatiently. "Focus guys. Help me. I told her I was feeling nauseous and by this time I would've thrown up enough already."
Rose takes a hold of her phone and shows me how to work it. Edward gives me a few words of encouragement and Rose finally sends me off with a loud "get back in that ring!"
Yeah.
I have amazing friends, but Rose needs to stop watching Rocky. And Edward should make sure all of his buttons are done before going to work. We can't have that kind of distraction at the office, seriously.
When I get back to Jessica's office she looks surprised to see me again. How long was I gone? Maybe she even forgot I was ever here in the first place? She's got a coffee cup now and it's fuming so I'm guessing I wasn't gone for way too long.
"I thought you'd gone home. Irina saw you in the hallway. She said you didn't look too well," she says grimacing in what I believe is fake sympathy. "Actually, you look a bit green."
Excuse me? I do not look green!
"I feel better now," I say and remember the damn recording thingy. "And isn't Irina supposed to be on our Monday meeting? I mean, if she's working with us on the Newman project now," I ask just to make pointless small-talk. I really don't care about Irina and if she decides not to show up to our meetings, that's fine with me.
I press the button on the phone as Rose showed me, but nothing seems to be happening. Damn it.
Jessica smiles, seemingly not noticing me fiddling with my cellphone.
"She's her own boss. She knows when and where she's needed," she answers. "That's why I hired her."
I click a few more times, getting stressed now.
"Bella? Is everything alright?" Jessica asks raising one perfectly arched eyebrow. "Do you need to leave again?"
"Yes," I say and click it five more times until I'm satisfied. "No, I mean. I'm fine."
Yes. It's recording now. I think.
"Did Jacob Black call you?" she asks.
I take a deep breath.
"Yes, on my private cell. Why did you give him that number?"
"He likes you. I thought I was doing you a favour. Come on, he's cute," she says.
"He's also our client. Why would you lie and tell him I work weekends as well?"
"You do work weekends," she says innocently.
"I do not," I huff.
"Come on Bella. We all know you work weekends. You're a workaholic."
"Not anymore. I work at work. I've learnt how to relax so I'd appreciate if you wouldn't hand out my private number to any more clients."
"Okay. Point taken," she says holding her hands up as if surrendering.
"I like to keep my job and my personal life separate."
"Except when it comes to Edward."
"I'm not his type, like you said," I say tiredly.
"I did say that," she sneeres.
"I'm also friends with Rose and Angela outside of work, but that doesn't disturb you at all?"
She frowns.
"Now that you mention it."
Is she serious?
"I'm kidding Bella," she smiles first and then soon goes all serious s if she just remembered something. "But need I remind you under which circumstances I let you come work here? Do I have to tell the story about how I hired you when no one else wanted to?"
"That's a slight exaggeration. I never applied for any other job than this. I came here straight from Havens."
"Still. I know what other hot shots in the business told me when I hired you."
Okay I'll bite.
"What were they saying?" I ask.
Jessica smiles.
"Your name wasn't worth much. I mean, having an affair with your boss? Tsk tsk. Not a great idea. Not professional, is it?"
I try my best to smile.
"I think you misunderstood some details. James and I were engaged to be married. There was no affair."
"I'm sure there was an affair in there somewhere," she says her eyes glittering in amusement.
She knows the story. Obviously. Everyone does. I have nothing to say.
"I had a meeting with James Haven and his secretary Lauren Mallory this past Friday while you guys were at the Newman-building. They such a sweet couple. They're getting married this summer. Lovely, right?"
"Very," I say dryly. "What did you want to talk about?"
She looks confused. Her hands go up to her hair and she starts pulling out pin after pin, her hair coming down gradually in big shiny waves.
"I just wanted a chat," she smiles.
Is she serious?
"To give you a heads-up. Havens are not doing so well. Stanley Projects are in talks about buying their business. Hence the meeting."
What? I haven't heard about this at all. Why would James and Lauren even be getting married if that was the case? It's not like Lauren makes a lot of money. She's his secretary for God's sake!
She exhales loudly and leans back in her chair, running her fingers through her hair as if to loosen up.
"Apparently not getting the Newman-project was their death-blow. Their work went downhill after their best architect left."
"What are you saying?" I ask feeling like someone just dropped a pile of bricks on the top of my head.
She leans in closer looking so smug I feel like pulling her hair. Only I'm too shocked to even move. If she's saying what I think she's saying...
"I'm saying some people from Havens may become a part of this office in a not so distant future."
"Are you alright Bella? You're going green again."
I feel nauseous for real now. I guess that's my karma for playing tricks earlier.
"I wanted you to be the first to know about Stanley Projects buying Havens considering your history," she says, but her voice is sounding far away.
I stand up confused and head for the door. My hand is shaking on the doorhandle and as I push it down and the door swings open Jessica says my name.
"Yes?" I"m halfway out.
"Did you see my Facebook request?"
What? She must be joking.
"Yeah," I nod three times. "Yes, I did."
I walk away. Behind me I hear Jessica asking me to close the door behind me, but I ignore her. James would work in the same office at me. Also Lauren. Considering how much Jessica adores me she'll probably put one of them or both in my team. This is great. Just great.
