Rating/Warning(s)/Note(s): T, Duplicity
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Prompt: Laugh
Dialogue Flex: "Did you do this?" he asked.
Going back to work was interesting. Not only was I on crutches but sporting a new, gorgeous, huge ring. News of our engagement had spread like wildfire, egged on by Miss Stanley's article, which seemed to be on display in every cubicle I hobbled past. Everyone was shocked to varying degrees. A few girls nodded appreciatively, putting out a fist to bump and saying, "You go, girl!" I wasn't sure where I was supposed to go, but I bumped them back with a wan smile.
No sooner had I made it to my chair and turned on my computer than Alice Cullen bounced down on my desk, startling me. If everyone wasn't paying attention to me before, they were after hearing the scream I let out. Holding my hand over my heart I wheezed out, "Hi, Alice."
"Sorry," she chirped, "but I did try to get your attention earlier. We need to plan your wedding!" My stomach tied itself into knots as I looked up at her, not knowing what to say. I had planned on talking about the wedding yesterday with Edward, how we could put this off, but my mother had been more interested in if it could be arranged during her husband Phil's off-season, which started in three weeks.
"I talked to your mom this morning and she told me that you wanted to get married in just another month. That gives us four weeks to choose a location, pick a caterer, get you a dress, get a cake, …"
"Alice?" I tried to interrupt as she continued ticking each item off on her fingers.
"Choose your bridesmaids, get them dresses, pick out colors, pick and send out invitations…"
"Um, Alice?" I tried again, a little louder this time.
"You'll need a band, or would you prefer a string quartet? I guess you could use a DJ, but it's just not that classy. Plus we need to schedule your bridal shower, bachelorette party…"
"Alice!" I shouted, very close to hitting her with one of my crutches, but even that didn't get her attention.
"She's at work, Alice, you'll have to deal with this later," Edward's smooth voice cut across his sister as he smiled at me. Leaning over he trailed his fingers down the side of my face. "Hey, honey," he whispered.
"At least give me a date to work with," Alice whined, causing Edward to laugh.
"You have four weeks from Friday," he told her, making me begin to cough.
"Four weeks?" Alice and I said at the same time, in much the same tone, but for completely different reasons.
"Sure, why wait any longer? Don't you think we've waited long enough?" he asked, kneeling by my side.
"Fine," she huffed as I did my best imitation of a guppy again. Turning to me she asked, "Any requests?"
"Navy blue and silver," Edward said, making me remember my dress from the Christmas party. Then he chuckled, "And put her in flats, please. Do you care about anything else, love?" For a half a second I considered telling him 'not getting married' but decided it was a bad idea, so just shook my head.
"So, I have free rein then?" Alice asked, and we both nodded. "Good, I'll see you this afternoon with invitation samples," she added as she jumped off my desk.
"Edward," I hissed, about to ask him just how far he planned to go with this but he cut me off by greeting my boss.
"Hello Bob," he said while extending his hand. "You wanted to see me about something?"
"Did you do this?" he asked, holding out a file.
"I had to, sorry," Edward said.
"What did you do?" I asked.
"I appreciate the situation, but I doubt most will realize it's even a problem," Bob said over me.
"It's about appearances. How would it look if she stayed where she was?"
"Wait, are you two talking about me?" I asked, wondering what was in the file.
"But she's one of the best employees I have," Bob argued. "Her promotion has nothing to do with her relationship with you. I had no knowledge of it."
"What are you two saying?" I asked, my voice rising.
"I know that, you know that, but how does it look? We announce our engagement and she suddenly gets promoted. You know it's bad. A job change is the only way. Mike is really excited to get her."
"Mike?" I screeched. "You're moving me to work under Mike?" Mike was in charge of the final edit of the books. As his employee I would have to do a quick scan, checking for any errors in the first printing, and do it quickly. The entire department was always stressed. I much preferred my current job where I could leisurely read through whatever came across my desk.
"It's only temporary," Edward said, finally talking to me.
"It's not the only thing that's temporary," I hissed back, surprising Bob with my vehemence.
"True, after we're married you don't have to work anymore if you don't want to," he replied calmly. His eyes danced, as if daring me to argue with him. He didn't know me very well.
My eyes narrowed as I slowly rose, using a crutch and my desk to help me up. "Edward Cullen, did you change my job without consulting me?"
He started to back up. "I told you yesterday you were getting a promotion, that it entails a job change." His demeanor told me he knew he had been withholding information.
"I like working for Bob," I said, advancing on him. Granted it was slowly, involved crutches and a great deal of limping, but I tried to look menacing.
"But Bob works for John, who works for Peter, who works for me. This means you work for me, which means we are in violation of the non-fraternization policy." He had backed up into the hallway created by the cubicles, looking worried.
"I understand that, but you decided to change my job without discussing with me where I was going to go!" I was definitely upset by now. The only thing that kept me from attacking Edward was Bob laughing behind me.
"Edward? A little advice from a man who's been married for twenty years, don't make unilateral decisions without consulting the wife." His words were met with applause from the girls around us and grunts of agreement from the married guys, the unmarried ones just laughed.
Edward changed tactic. Instead of retreating he started to advance. "Why don't we discuss this in my office?" he crooned. "It is work related, after all."
I started backing up. It was hard for a normal person to do on a crutch without falling over. It was impossible for me. No sooner did I take my second step than I tripped over air and started to go flying. By this time, though, Edward was close enough to catch me, literally sweeping me off my feet. Thankfully he was aware of our audience enough to just set me on my desk. "Bella, I'm sorry, but we've let this go on long enough and now it's going to be a problem."
He was being sincere now, reasoning with me, but at least talking to me. "I know I can't work for Bob, as much as I'd like to, but I don't want to work for Mike," I whispered, not wanting the others to overhear. "Isn't there someone else?"
"Not and get a raise, which you deserve by the way. Your promotion never came across my desk, so I only found out yesterday when my dad called to ask me about it, but it still looks bad, and I had to move fast." He ran his hand through his hair, messing it up even more than usual.
I ran my hands up his arms. "I don't like working in Mike's department, I don't like the job. Do I have to go somewhere I'm not going to be happy?"
His eyes widened, then narrowed, then closed in defeat. "No, that's not fair to you." He opened his eyes again to stare deeply into my own. "Believe me, I want you to be happy."
I'm lucky, most of my bosses have been wonderful people I have loved working for. My current boss is almost my personality doppleganger. We have a great time together.
