Happy New Year everyone! I hope you've all made your resolutions and are prepared to stick to them! I hope you do stick to them and make 2021 your best year! Oh, and first chapter of the new year. I meant to update Friday, but I got caught up in other things. But here's a new, sweet (and extra long) chapter! Enjoy!

Chapter Fifteen (Bella's POV)

I had come up with the best monthly special. A pumpkin spice turnover with caramel drizzle. It was pretty good, and it was selling really fast. I had just brought out another large tray from the back.

"Oh perfect," Maggie said as she started bagging them.

"I have more on the way," I said as I wiped the sweat from my brow with my forearm.

"Good, because these won't last long," She said, "Oh, and a lady called for you. Rosalie Cullen, she said to call her back as soon as you can. The number's on the pad."

I remembered Rosalie Cullen; beautiful pregnant blonde that made me feel insecure just by standing next to her. I looked at the clock and figured I had a few moments to return her call. She picked up on the first ring.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Rosalie, it's Bella," I said, "From Swan's Bakery." I added quickly in case she forgot.

"Yes, hi I was expecting your call," She said, "I was wondering if perhaps I could get a huge favor?"

"Uh, sure. What's up?" I said.

"Well, it's a little short notice, so I apologize for the inconvenience," She said, "But I kind of have a big surprise that I want to reveal to my family. And we're having dinner tonight, I was wondering if I could get a little cake with my announcement on it?"

"Um, I think I could squeeze you in," I said, "Is it a very elaborate cake?"

"Oh no, a simple cake is fine. I just want my announcement wrote on the top." She said.

"Okay, I could do it." I said, "When do you need it by?"

"Would you mind bringing it to my in-law's house? I'm busy today and I don't have the time to swing by. Dinner is at seven, so could you be there by six forty-five?" She asked.

"I don't know," I said, "I don't really do deliveries." I said.

"Oh please? I'll give you two-thousand," She said.

My eyes widened, "Okay… Alright, that's fine. I can drop it off. No problem. What's the address?"

She gave me the address then told me the announcement she wanted me to put on the cake. I congratulated her and promised to have it ready.

"Bella, there's a person here wanting to apply for the job." Maggie said.

I nodded and walked over to the person she pointed out. It was a young man, probably around my age, with sandy blonde hair and light blue eyes.

"Hi," I shook his hand, "I'm Bella Swan, the owner."

"I'm Riley Biers," He smiled, "I was hoping I could fill out a job application?"

"Oh, right," I said, "Erm, well, I don't really have one."

"Oh," His face fell slightly.

"Why don't you come into the kitchen and we can just get to know each other. Do you have time?"

"I do," He followed me back into the kitchen.

"This is my kitchen. It's not very exciting." I said.

"No it's great," He said as he sat down.

"So, tell me a little something about yourself," I said, "I'm listening I just have to pull these turnovers out."

"Well, I'm from a Philadelphia, but my dad lives in the city, so I visited New York a lot. And I always loved the city. So, I moved here a couple months ago for school, and now I'm looking for a part time job." He said.

"What are you going to school for?"

"Right now I'm just trying to get some classes under my belt so I can apply for culinary school. And that's honestly why I wanted to apply for a job here, so it'll look good on my application."

I nodded, "That's a good plan."

He smiled, "Thanks, my dad isn't too thrilled about it."

"Why?"

"Well, he wanted me to be a lawyer, like him. But I love to cook. I want to open up a few restaurants in the city. Become a world famous chef. Maybe have my own TV show. Who knows."

I chuckled, and sat the turnovers onto the counter, slowly pouring the melted caramel over them. Riley watched with fascination.

"So, where'd you go to school at?"

"I actually don't have any training," I said, "It's crazy, I know. And probably kind of stupid to open a bakery without any training."

"I thought you had formal training, that's why I asked." He said, "You look like such a professional. And everyone is buzzing about your bakery on Facebook. That's why I actually came to interview, because of your Facebook page."

"Facebook?" I said, my eyebrows furrowing, "I don't have a page on Facebook."

He pulled out his phone and brought up the page. I scrolled through it a bit. I needed a computer or a smartphone to be able to look over this page. It wasn't bad, it was actually great. The comments were encouraging, and the pictures of my baked goods looked wonderful.

I suspected it was Maggie who made this page, because there were pictures of my desserts that I never took. She was the only other person that had access to it. I had to talk to her about it.

"Wow," I said, "It looks great."

He nodded, "Um, so about the job, what exactly do you need?"

"I need someone here to run the counter. I'm constantly coming in and out of the kitchen with food, so I don't have time to take people's orders and work the cash register. Sometimes I need help in the kitchen. The bakery opens at ten, but I come here around seven to prep things. I don't make Maggie come in so early, but if you're willing to come in and help I'd appreciate it. Oh, and I have people who come in and taste things for orders. I need help with that too."

"So, basically you just need an extra pair of hands?" He said.

"Yeah, basically," I said, "It's not very exciting I know."

He shrugged, "Maybe to some people, but I want to learn about this stuff. It's interesting. Plus, it's kind of cool, you're eighteen and already you run a very successful bakery. I have a lot to learn from you."

I chuckled, "You don't have to flatter me, if you want the job it's yours."

"Really?" he said in surprise.

"Yeah, you seem nice and interested," I said, "And you're the first one the apply, I don't really have a lot of time to interview a bunch of people. And Maggie's off to school tomorrow, so I need someone asap."

He smiled, "Awesome. What time should I come by?"

"Well, if you want to come by in the morning and help me prep you can. I can show you how the register works, how to box things, and you can help me prep. Maggie is in school during the day, and she wants to keep working. So I promised her evenings and I can alternate Saturdays if you guys want to work something out."

"Okay, mornings and afternoons work for me. I take evening classes, so I need to be off by at the latest three to get to school."

"That works. Maggie's home from school at two, and she said she can work at three." I said.

"Cool," He nodded, "I'll be here tomorrow morning to help."

I smiled, "Sounds good to me."

He walked out of the kitchen and I sighed in relief. I was so happy to have found help. I'd been dreading Maggie going back to school because I knew I'd lose such a big help. Now I had Riley to help, I just prayed he was a good worker like Maggie.

"Bella, are there anymore pumpkin turnovers?" Maggie asked as she poked her head into the kitchen.

"Bring out a fresh batch now." I picked up the pan. I brought them to the front of the store and helped Maggie wrap them.

"Hey, Maggie," I said as we were wrapping, "Did you make a Facebook page of the bakery?"

"Oh, yeah," She said, "I did. I've just been trying to get the word out. I'm sorry."

"No, no it's fine," I said, "I looked at some of it. It looks great, thanks."

She smiled, "I've been keeping it going. Trying to get the specials out there. Not too many people know about the Bloor Street website, so I decided to make a Facebook page. I have one for my parents too."

"I appreciate it," I smiled, "You got this? I need to go whip up a cake."

"Yep, I got it."

Several Hours Later

I felt so awkward delivering this cake to Mrs. Cullen's house. I would've rather met up with Rosalie and given it to her. I didn't want Mrs. Cullen to think I was rude for just showing up at her house and ruining her family dinner.

I tentatively knocked on the heavy wooden door. Pulling into their driveway and seeing their house was a jaw-dropping experience. I knew Edward and his family had money, but I didn't expect them to have this much money. Their house was enormous.

"Bella?" Esme answered the door, "Hi hon, what are you doing here?"

"I have a cake—,"

"She's here for me!" Rosalie said as she pushed Esme aside.

"Okay." Esme looked surprise.

"Here come in, come in." Rosalie grabbed my arm and dragged me into the house, "Let me see it. Before anyone comes in."

I opened the cake box and showed her. She smiled widely and sighed happily.

"Thank you so much," She said, "I can't believe it. I hope Emmett will be happy."

"Happy with what?" a big man with black curly hair asked as he walked into the kitchen. Rosalie quickly closed the box.

"Nothing," She said, "Bella, this is Emmett my husband. Emmett this is Bella, the baker."

"Oh that girl that Edward—," A book suddenly struck the back of Emmett's head. His hand shot up to his head and rubbed it.

"What the hell?" He asked as he turned.

"Emmett," Alice said with crossed arms, "Why don't you go into the living room?"

Emmett grumbled something about crazy pixies and walked out of the kitchen.

"So are you staying for dinner Bella?" Alice asked.

"Oh no I—,"

"Nonsense," Mrs. Cullen said as she walked into the kitchen, "Of course you're staying for dinner. You came all the way out here to deliver a cake."

"I really shouldn't—,"

"Oh c'mon," Alice said, "It's a heck of a drive from Bloor street. Stay. Mom made pot roast and it's delicious."

"Rosalie, why did you make Bella drive all the way out here to deliver a cake and not invite her to dinner?"

"I was going to invite her," Rosalie said, "But everyone was being so nosey."

"Really, I can't stay." I said, "I was just—,"

"Bella," A voice I recognized said from the kitchen door, "What are you doing here?"

"Hey Edward," I smiled, "I was just delivering a cake for Rosalie."

"Are you going to stay for dinner?" He asked as he walked into the house.

"I can't. I really need to get back I have to get up early tomorrow." I said.

"It's only seven," he smiled, "Just stay and have a little dinner then you can leave."

I finally caved to the pressure, "Okay, I'll stay for dinner."

"Excellent," Mrs. Cullen smiled, "Come in the sitting room, meet my husband."

She dragged me out of the kitchen and into a lavish sitting room. It reminded me of a fancy showroom in old manners that you didn't sit in, you just looked at it and admired how pretty and fancy it was.

"Carlisle, this is Bella," Esme said, "She's our new baker, Bella this is Carlisle. My husband and Edward's father."

"Nice to meet you Bella," He said, "I wish I could say how much I love your desserts, but Esme keeps me on a very strict diet."

I smiled, "Well I'll have to make you some healthy desserts. One of my neighbors is diabetic so I've learned how to make all sorts of delicious healthy desserts."

"I'm not a dictator," Esme crossed her arms, "I just like to make sure he keeps a very healthy diet. He had a heart attack last year that nearly killed him!"

"That was from stress, not food," He chuckled as he shook his head.

"Either way, I'm going to make sure you're healthy so you're with us for as long as possible."

He sighed and rolled his eyes playfully at her, "Sit down Bella."

I found a spot on the white couch as everyone else walked into the sitting room. I crossed my legs, hoping to look more like a lady and not a bum. Now I wished I had dressed in a better pair of jeans and one of my blouses, instead of this old band T-shirt.

"So Bella how did you end up owning a bakery? You seem so young." Carlisle asked, "Did you inherit the business?"

"Uh, no I actually moved here from Washington state and bought the building." I said.

"How old are you?" Carlisle asked.

"I'm only eighteen."

"So, did you attend culinary school? Or business school? Eighteen is so young to buy a business. I know I had to depend on my father to cosign a loan from the bank when I bought my first business. I was twenty-four at the time, and I had been shadowing my father in the family's business for years. It took me forever to build up enough credibility to be able to just open a business on my own. I'm impressed that you were able to convince the bank."

"Actually I didn't go through the bank," I said.

"Really? Then I'm assuming you had an investor." He said, "Forgive me for not minding my own business, but I'm just so curious as to how you pulled this off. The only business I'm allowed to run now is in investing. I see so many young entrepreneurs with great ideas, but I can't back them most of the time. I look at you, and I'm assuming since you're only eighteen, you haven't been to culinary school or business school, you have no experience running a businesses, I would shoot you down. Who is your investor?"

"I had enough money on my own to buy the building outright and purchase all of the business requirements," I said quickly before he could ask me anymore questions, "And I didn't attend culinary school, but I've been baking with my mom since I could walk. It was just a passion of mine, and I didn't feel like wasting four years in culinary school because I used to bake for everyone in my town and I felt as though I had enough experience."

He nodded, "Wow, that's incredible. How did you save up enough money to buy property in New York. Real estate here is ridiculous. You either need to have money or live in a gutter."

I shifted uncomfortably, "The money I used to buy my bakery is from a settlement. My parents and I were in a horrible car accident and the company that the driver represented gave me a bunch of money. I probably could've gotten more if I went to court, but I really didn't feel like going to court so I just accepted what they offered."

He frowned, "I'm assuming that if they settled with you, your parents didn't make it?"

I shook my head, "Nope. It's just me."

"I'm so sorry," He said, "You're very brave to move to a new city on your own and open a business. I know I couldn't have done it without my family. I'm amazed by all you've accomplished at such a young age without any help."

I smiled, "Thank you."

"So you're here alone?" Esme said, "No family?"

"Oh god," Emmett groaned, "You shouldn't have said that. Now Esme's going to smother you until you lose you—."

A look from Esme made him stop talking. He proceeding to laugh and lean back into the chair.

"Ignore Emmett Bella," Esme said, "He is a big goofball. We try to keep him on a short leash."

I smiled and shrugged, "It's okay."

After a moment of idle chatter, Esme looked at her watch and announced dinner was ready. Esme pushed me in the seat beside Edward and smiled widely at him. I noticed his face turned pink when she did. When I saw his blush, I blushed too for some reason. It wasn't an embarrassed blush; I wasn't sure where it came from.

I shook my head sharply and picked up my glass.

Dinner at the Cullen's house. You know, I would love this version of Esme to cook me dinner sometime. I hope you enjoyed it, please let me know in a review!