CHAPTER TWO
BELLA
Sitting in the armchair before his desk I study him. He concentrates on his computer, nodding and speaking when required. The meeting was with someone in France. Something about partnering.
I kept scribbling down notes, but I'd ended up doodling for the most part of it.
"Miss Swan," he clears his throat.
I blink focusing on him. He'd caught me staring. It's a good thing he couldn't read minds.
"Sorry what was that?" I ask.
"I asked you if you'd like some lunch yet?" he says picking up his phone.
He doesn't watch me as he waits for my response. Instead texting somebody.
"I can go get your lunch," I stand, "I'll type up these notes for you when I get back."
"I won't need them," he shakes his head.
So he made me scribble this down for fun? How kind.
"Oh," I bite my lip, "Okay. I'll go get your lunch. Can I grab you anything else?"
"That's all. Get yourself something," he pulls his wallet out, taking his card out.
It's a black American express. Fancy.
I'm way too poor to even hold that.
"I've got it," I wave him off, "Consider it payback for the whole three minutes I was late."
"It was four," he smirks wickedly up at me, "and please take my card. It's an order."
"An order?" A shiver rolls down my spine.
Why does everything sound do sexual?
"Yep," he nods.
"Fine," I stomp to him, taking it from his hand.
Where our fingers graze, I notice the skin there is freezing.
"I'll be back soon," I say, "call me if you think of anything else you need."
He answers me with a curt nod, turning to his computer.
His skin was probably so cold because he was. It had nothing to do with the temperature of the office. I'd learned from one of the workers in the kitchen he refused to ever warm up the office. His fiance always complained when she came in, so he asked it be kept like that in hopes it would keep her away.
Petty.
But also - as if you would want your fiancé away from you so bad you'd make your staff shiver.
When I return with his lunch I hand him back his card. Failing to mention I had paid anyway. He doesn't thank me. I try not to let it bother me as I sit and eat my salad at my desk.
"Miss Swan," he calls out shortly after my first few bites.
I look down at my lunch trying to hide my internal anger.
It's just spinach. It won't wilt. I hope.
I walked across the small hallway into his office, a grin plastered on my face. But his annoyed face makes me wipe it clean off.
"Yes?" I ask.
"Something really strange has happened," he says.
"What's that?" I ask.
"My account is the exact same balance as when you left to buy lunch," he glances at me, finger pointed at his computer monitor, "how strange considering I told you to pay with my card."
"I must have used the wrong one," I shrug turning to leave.
"I'm not done," he says, "I asked you to pay with my card."
"I didn't," I say, "you're seriously going to lecture me for buying you lunch?"
"No. More that you ignored me," he crosses his arm.
"I didn't ignore you. I just listened to what you said and dismissed it at the cash register," I begin to step back.
"So ignoring," he tilts his head.
"If we're defining it," I nod.
"We are," he's such a sarcastic bitch.
How is this man from the same parents as Alice? She was so kind and sweet. He was an arrogant ass.
He made the plastic doll fucker I had before as a boss seem like a damn holiday.
"Look. I did something nice for you. You could thank me," I roll my eyes, "pay for my lunch tomorrow. I just wanted to thank you for giving me this job. I don't need a man to pay for me."
"Oh so this is a pride thing," he scoffs.
"No it's a 2021 thing. I can vote now too," my tone is getting snarky.
I'm going to wind up getting fired on my first day.
"I'm not trying to make this about sexism," he sighs, "I just like things done a particular way. I'm not trying to be difficult."
"Nor am I, Mr Cullen," I say.
"Edward," he corrects agitated, turning to throw his empty lunch in the trash can beside his desk, "I won't correct you again."
"Okay. Edward… oh, you have food in your teeth," I tease.
But my just desserts are short lived. I step back toward his door as his hand shoots to his teeth. I stumble back, my stiletto snapping beneath me.
He jumps up but not quick enough as I fall back, landing on my ass.
"Are you okay?" He kneels beside me, hand on my shoulders.
His cautious eyes search me for injury.
"I deserved that," I nod groaning, "oh my roommate is going to have a cow when she sees her shoes."
He reaches across me to pick up the broken heel before reaching down to take the shoe off my foot. I flex my toes startled.
"You're a size seven?" He asks.
"Yeah," I nod.
"I'll have it sorted for you, Miss Swan," he stands offering me his hand.
I take it smiling as he tugs me up.
"Call me Bella," I say.
I might imagine it but I'm certain he squeezes my hand gently.
"Okay," he nods, "Bella. Finish your lunch and get onto that report I emailed you."
He returns to his desk, my broken shoe still in hand.
This was the most fucked up version of Cinderella I think I'd ever seen. Only I was unsure if he was the prince or the ugly step boss.
I jot down a list of tomorrow's appointments on a notepad. Colour coded and itemised. I'd found the stationary closet - my favourite part of the building so far.
A soft knock at my door interrupts my focus.
"Bella," A woman stands there, she's thin, tall.
Black hair and a slender frame, but a friendly smile that made me smile.
"I'm Angela," she says, "from the wardrobe department downstairs. Mr Cullen asked me to bring you these."
Angela places a shoe box on the chair by my door.
"Oh," I stand, "thank you."
My toes had enjoyed the plus carpet. I'd scrunched them between the soft floor while working.
Edward worked with his door closed, taking back to back calls. He glances up at me as I wave bye to Angela.
"Open it," he mouths.
He did this thing with his mouth. A crooked grin where half of his mouth moved upwards. Like a mischievous secret you'd be lucky to get in on.
God it was hot.
I shake my head smiling, flipping open the lid of the box.
My mouth drops.
Surely this would pay my rent this week.
A pair of Chanel shoes. I pick them up shocked, stroking the black leather. Size 7. I shake my head astonished as I look up at him. He simply winks at me before turning to face his window, phone to his ear.
"You're impossible," I say quietly.
Can I even accept these? Had he personally paid for them?
Try them on.
While his back is turned he'd never know. I could try them on, put them back and refuse them.
I sit in the armchair taking the out of the box. I slip my feet into them and stand. They were comfortable. Usually stilettos hurt. Not these. I pace toward the window behind my desk and back again smiling to myself.
Maybe one day I'd own a pair.
I reach down to pick up the box from the floor.
"They look better," Edward says from the doorway, "I'm headed to a meeting with my attorney. You can head home for the night."
"Oh. Wait Edward," I stand up straight.
He turns back to face me, expectant.
"This is a lot. I feel like it's too much to accept," I say.
"They're from the wardrobe department," he shrugs, "they would have probably just gotten thrown. When authors or actors come in for cover shoots and pictures we dress them. Beside your friend will prefer them. Angela is arranging a second pair for her in a similar style. They'll be on your desk tomorrow."
"It's not worth the trouble," I shake my head, completely bashful.
"None at all, Bella," he shakes his head, "I'll see you tomorrow. Give that taxi driver hell tomorrow."
Perhaps he wasn't an ugly step boss?
I was still undecided as to whether he was Prince Charming though.
Thank you so much for reading.
Please drop me a review if you enjoyed it!