HAPPY
Welcome! I really hope you enjoy this story. None of the characters belong to me.
SUMMARY: Bella needs a job quick, so she takes the first opportunity she finds. Only the famous CEO, Edward Cullen, is more than she bargained for. He's arrogant, snarky and complicated but Bella finds herself growing close to him, despite Edward's efforts to push her aside. She's exactly the answer he needs. Rated M, Lemons/smut in later chapters, canon.
CHAPTER ONE
BELLA
Coffee. All over a white shirt. It belongs to him.
The expression on the man before me is anything but holy, but he looks like a Greek god.
"Fuck," he growls, "watch where you are going."
"I'm sorry," I shake my head grabbing a tissue from my bag, dabbing at his chest.
BELLA! WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?
"I found out my fiance is cheating on me again and my company is going to fucking shit. Now this," he grunts.
He was tall. The muscles beneath my dabbing tissues were enough to tell me he worked out frequently. He took care of himself. His copper hair, green eyes, chiselled jaw. Everything fate put on a man way out of my league.
"Well then a stain is the least of your problems," I joke.
WHY ARE YOU STILL TALKING.
His eyes meet mine. I expect to see anger. And it is there. But it shifts to something else. An emotion I can't place.
"I'll pay for dry cleaning," I say, "let me write down my details so you can send me the cheque."
"No need," he shakes his head.
It's been a difficult morning. I was on my way for a job interview. Last month I'd gotten fired through no fault of my own. I'd caught my boss having sex with a blow-up doll. He'd fired me the next day. Considering I was a temp I had decided to cut my losses. Waitressing isn't worth the fight anyway.
I'd returned home to my best friend, Rose, crying and thinking the worst. I'd be homeless. But she hadn't been home. Which was sort of a blessing. Seeing my blonde angel of a friend upon my return may have only made matters worse. She was perfect and I wondered every day why she selected me as her best friend.
She'd returned home hours into my ice cream binge, with a short pixie-like woman. Short black hair and an energetic personality. Like a ray of sunshine through this shit storm of life. Rosalie usually returned home with men. Then I'd spend the night listening to her moans with jealousy wondering why no man would ever consider being my one-night stand. My ex said it was because I was 'boring'. Jacob was a dick anyway.
Alice was the woman's name. We'd stayed up all night chatting, giggling, and forming a bond we had only deepened since. Alice was constantly at our house. She said she'd ditched old friends because she realised how we acted was a true friendship. She confided deep secrets in us and us to her. When I told her I was struggling to find a job she'd lined up an interview with her brother within hours.
A position for an assistant at his publishing company had become available. Cullen Publications. Her family were stinking rich. Another perk Rosalie had found us. She let us raid her closet taking last season's barely used handbags and clothes. She'd already treated us to a girl's trip which was very boozy, last weekend.
She told me her brother was sweet. That he'd need someone like me. His last assistant had been an idiot. She'd double book him constantly.
Alice also knew my passion was writing. I wanted nothing more than to be an author. So I jumped at the opportunity. Yet this morning I was already off to a sour start. I'd poured my coffee over a complete stranger while on my way to an empty table at Starbucks.
"Well at least let me pay for your coffee," I insist.
"I'm fine," he holds his hand up, "I have a spare shirt in my office."
"Oh," I nod, "Okay. Well, I'm so sorry again."
"Just pay more attention," he sighs.
I watch him leave, trying everything to look at his shoulders and not his ass.
I fail.
God, it's glorious.
I order a new coffee and try my best to calm my anxiety over it. Quickly I dial Rosalie's number and bite my lip as it rings.
She answers with a giggle.
"Bells," she says.
"Where are you? Why didn't you come home?" I ask.
"I went on a date last night. I told you," she says.
"That didn't really answer my question," I frown as I play with a sugar packet.
"I'm laying naked in this sexy guy's bed and his head is between my le… oh. Ugh. God that's so good," she moans, "Bells I'll call you lat… oh fuck!"
Without another word I hang up.
"Good luck on your job interview, Bella," I imitate her voice.
With a groan I toss my coffee in the bin and walk across the busy New York street, dodging other city goers. I smile at a group of tourists who stop and ask me the way to the Empire State. All to delay the inevitable. But I'm still early.
"I'm here to see Mr. Cullen for a job interview," I smile at the security guard behind the desk.
He nods and hands me a pass.
"It's the top floor on the lift button. When you get up there tell the receptionist," he explains, "keep the pass on you at all times and good luck."
"Thanks," I read his name tag, "Ernie."
He offers me a kind smile, a small nod.
The elevator is packed full of office workers. But by the time I reach the floor I was told to go to I'm the only one left.
So exclusive.
I step out into a white, open office. It's huge. Cubicles fill the space with corridors leading in different directions to different offices.
A woman looks up at me. She deserves olympic gold for the resting bitch face.
"Hey," I smile at her ignoring the icy glare, "I'm Isabella. I'm here to see Mr. Cullen."
"Take a seat," she motions to the small waiting area.
The lounge alone is better than the one I have at home. I inspect my manicured nails. Rosalie had literally turned me into a Barbie doll, insisting I get this job. It was the most corporate role I'd ever seen. Since college, I'd ignored my writing degree and instead worked in cafes and bars. Potential and I didn't meet halfway. Or at least I told myself that. I'd never let anyone read what I'd written.
"Jessica. You called?"
I look up and feel the blood drain from my face.
Fuck.
"Your appointment is here. Miss Swan?" The receptionist points at me.
As soon as he turns to face me I find myself begging the ground to swallow me.
"Ahh," he smirks, "Miss Swan. Something tells me you love a good cappuccino."
"I'm so sorry, again," I sit before his desk as he takes his seat behind it.
"No," he holds his hand up, "let's forget about it."
His new shirt was a button up grey. It looked expensive. My hands wanted to wrap around the thin black tie to pull him to me.
He could be your boss. Stop.
"If it helps I think this shirt is nicer," I blurt out.
He chuckles and shakes his head taking out a folder.
"Sorry," I bite my lip.
"Alice has said a lot about you. She called me the other night to talk my ear off," he says, "she says your good. Organised and diligent. Which is what I need."
"Um. Yes," I nod, "I'm great with time management and I'm reliable. My father is a cop. He drilled punctuality into me from day one."
He nods. He didn't seem all that keen on small talk.
So stop trying to make it.
"How about social life? This role requires late nights, weekends and maybe often some travel interstate. My clients are around the country and sometimes they can't come to me," he leans back in his chair, elbows on the arm rests.
His pointer fingers meet, together pressed against his lips as he waits for my answer.
"That would be fine," I nod.
"I essentially need a second me. My old assistant could barely get dry cleaning right," he says, "and spilling the coffee on me would be a step up from how she managed."
I stifle a giggle with a cough.
"Water?" he asks.
"Thanks," I pick up the glass set out for me and take a small sip.
He watches me intently. It's as if I am under a microscope.
"You have a degree in writing," he states, "why this job? Why didn't you pursue that career?"
"The stars never aligned," I shrug, "I honestly just need to pay rent."
He nods and sits up straightening his tie.
"Can you start tomorrow?" he asks.
I blink shocked.
"Well?" he asks.
"That soon?" I shake my head bewildered.
"You want the job or not?" he shrugs turning to look at his computer screen.
"Yes, Mr. Cullen," I nod.
"Call me Edward," he says, "You'll have to excuse me for not seeing you out. I have a meeting via zoom. Tomorrow 8am sharp. I drink cappuccinos too and you can pick up my shirt from the dry cleaners down the street."
"Sure," I nod standing, "thank you. I'm very excited to work under you."
His eyes flick to me amused. The innuendo didn't need to be there. I don't know why my mouth put it there. Shit.
"I mean have you work on top of me," I stutter out.
He's trying not to laugh. Hand over his mouth.
I hate you Bella.
"With you," I correct, "I'm excited to work with you."
Edward offers his hand out to me. I take it and shake it lightly before rushing to escape the room.
"Miss Swan," he calls after me.
"Yes?" I turn back to look at him.
"I'm excited for you to work under me too," he winks.
God save me.
Thank you so much for reading!
The second chapter will be up in a few minutes.
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