Chapter 1

Bella Swan sat at her mahogany desk in her oversized swivel chair. Dressed to the nines in the ultimate power outfit, she was deep in thought. Her close friend Angel had just called and share the so-called happy news. She was getting married and that to in the most traditional sense possible. Bella understood that the society that she had been a part of since birth strongly believed in arranged marriage, but she will always be sceptical due to her personal experience. Seriously why are we conditioned to just accept a life partner chosen by our family. It's so messed up; I wish I had understood it sooner. Would that have helped? Her musings into her past were broken by a sharp knock at her glass door.

"Ms Swan?", came the tentative voice of his PA Mike. "Mr Jennings is here for your meeting about the Stanley account. I tried you on the intercom…" He spoke hesitantly not wanting to face the wrath of his merciless boss so early in the week.

"Yeah, okay. Take him to the conference room, hope Eric has everything set up? Rose will also be joining us. Ask Tanya to get her." Bella gave instructions while looking for her phone.

"Sure, ill do that. Here, Ms Swan" Mike said, handing her phone from behind the pen stand on her desk.

Acknowledging with a nod, Bella started toward her door.

"Hi John! How are you?"

"Hey Bella, all good can't complain. Good life, good wife. Happy kids, grandchildren to keep me on my toes."

Bella nodded and sat down at the head of the twelve-seater conference table. The room was set up to impress. All kinds of snack items were laid out for the Swan Advert's biggest and oldest client. The aim today was to keep the environment homey but professional at the same time. Just as Bella and John were being served tea by the newest intern,Jessica, Rose sauntered in, followed by her frazzled assistant Tanya.

"Hi John, Hi Bells, Sorry I got held up at home today. Nick's caught a cold." She explained while looking around the room. "Tanya, get Eric here, stat". Tanya hurried out of the room to look for the campaign manager.

John, as composed as ever consoled the girls. "Relax dear girls. He gives me much need time to catch up with you both, in particular Bella here. You have been keeping busy, your aunt has been after me to have our meetings at home. She misses you. We are having a get together this Saturday, why don't you join us? Rose and Emmett will also be there"

Having lost all interest in any kind of social gathering, particularly the familial kind, Bella tried to come up with an excuse, but Rose beat her to it. "She already promised to look after the kids John, I really need some adult fun without kids. Their school needs to start soon".

Rose loved her twins to bits but even a doting mother like her needs a break from the little terrors that her kids turned into during the summer break.

John looked disappointed but not deterred in his attempts in coaxing Bella he continued. "Okay, Friday night then, Ill tell Jenna to make the Butter Chicken that you like. Really Bella, Jenna is worried that you blame her for everything."

Bella trying to keep her composure replied, "You know that no one is to blame for anything John, we can discuss personal matters later. Now that Eric has finally decided to grace us with his presence, let's get back to business." She looked pointedly at Eric who hurriedly entered the room looking apologetic.

"Well that went as well as expected", Rose said entering Bella's office.

"Yeah! That's why I didn't want to be there for this, you and Eric could have done this on your own."

"That's true. But Jenks specifically asked for you, we couldn't ignore his request. You know how much business and contact we get from him. Not sure why he had to bring personal shit to the office. Aunt Jenna must really be pestering him. Don't know what her issue is, Emmet and I have tried to put her worries to rest so many times."

"Rose, I really am not up for this discussion today or ever. I've made my peace with things, there really is no point is rehashing the past. I'd like to move on please. Can you be my friend and not my sister-in-law from now on please" Bella reasoned with her.

Rosalie nodded reluctantly and headed to her own office next door.

Speaking into the intercom Bella shouted, "Mike, send Eric here immediately, he better have a good excuse for this morning."

"Sure, Ms Swan."

"ERIC, ERIC, where are you man?" Mike started shouting the moment he stepped out of the elevator at the 11th Floor.

Running to Eric's cubicle he found the man in question sitting on his desk with his face in his hands.

"What the hell Eric? What's wrong with you? You were late to Swan's meeting, why didn't you just hand in your resignation directly to her?"

"Breathe Mike, relax, I was not late. The sneaky bastard Jenks told me, scratch that threatened me to be late. Since I valued my life too much, I was only a couple of minutes late but I think that was enough for him. Ms Swan is going to fire me…I didn't know he wanted to speak to her about personal stuff. Everyone knows how she is with her personal life."

"Idiot! What did you think he was going to talk about? C'mon man, even Jessica would have figured that."

"I know. She wants to see me, right? That's why you are here."

Mike nodded remorsefully. He knew Eric was in for a good lashing.

Bella was not an unreasonable boss by any means, but she was highly professional and demanded the same from all employees of Swan Advert. Having started the up-and-coming ad agency just two years prior in partnership with Ms Rosalie Swan, her cunning and no-nonsense attitude had made their company one of the most sought-after ad agencies in the Olympic Peninsula.