CHAPTER FOUR
EDWARD
"Edward," Bella knocks lightly at my door, an innocent smile on her face, "mind if I run you through your agenda for the weekend?"
A week. Bella had eased into this job in a week.
Since the first day, there had been no hiccups. She'd been flawless. She had things on my desk before I asked for them, and had sticky notes with my to-do for the following day on my desk before she left to go home in the evening. It felt nice to finally have an assistant who assisted.
The other workers liked and respected her. I preferred being here in my office this past week with her to distract me. Her smile was easy, tricking me into believing life could be.
"Of course," I nod watching her enter the room.
"So your flight is at 8 am," she says, "you'll land in Florida and head straight to your hotel. Your first meeting will be with Mr Black. He has already emailed the proposal for his book. I have it in this folder for you to read, possibly on your flight."
"You're saying a lot to 'your' and not enough of 'we'," I interrupt.
She looks up at me slightly annoyed. I know because her eyebrows knit together slightly and her lip juts out a little. She also leans on one leg, a hip popping.
"I told you I couldn't come because it was just too short notice," she stares me down, unintimidated, "you hired me just last week."
"You told me you were flexible," I shrug, "cancel whatever drunk rampage you have planned. I know you're young but booze with Alice can wait."
"I'm only five years younger than you," she rolls her eyes.
God, I wish she wouldn't do that around me. Her big brown eyes could probably convince me to summon the devil if they asked.
"Regardless," I shrug.
"I actually planned on spending time with my friend Seth. He's here visiting and I was going to take him to see the statue…."
"So you'd prefer to shove hot dogs and New York pizza down some guy's throat then board a private jet with me and get paid for it?" I interrupt.
"I'd prefer to have more notice when these things come up. I told you I had these plans last week," she crosses her arms.
A motion that is more sinister than the eye-rolling.
"Cancel the plans," I pick up a pen scribbling my signature on a contract, "take this to the post office. It needs to be mailed today."
"Edward," she shakes her head, "I'm not going to Florida."
"Then prepare a resume," I shrug, "you're on the flight or you're on job sites. You said you could travel so start packing a suitcase."
She slams down the folder with my itinerary before snatching the contracts from my hand.
She's ballsy.
"Oh Bella," I call after her as she storms out.
She stops, back stiff. I watch her shoulders rise and fall. A deep breath before she faces me. I hold down my laughter. Did she have any idea what she was doing? Thank god for the desk. If I stood she'd see the notable tent in my trousers that I'm currently biting down shame for even having.
"Leave the attitude at home," I say, "private flights can't handle that much weight."
I watch her bite down what would probably be profanity if I were anyone else. That is if I weren't paying her. She stalks out of the room leaving me adjusting myself.
I couldn't remember the last time a woman… surely Tanya. No. She hadn't.
Was I even attracted to Bella? Was she really worth the risk?
I knew she was beautiful. Everything about Bella was beautiful. But she was too positive. I'd simply bring her mood down.
She was off-limits. I'm deciding right now.
Regardless of how bad the ache for her might become.
I kept things professional. I intended for them to remain that way beyond the limits of my imagination.
"Bella," I watch her enter the cabin of my private jet, a small suitcase rolling behind her, "welcome on board."
"I took you as more of an economy guy," she jokes.
An air hostess steps forward taking Bella's bag motioning for her to take a seat.
Bella takes one in the seat facing me, a table between us. I shut my laptop gently looking at her. Trying to forget the lengthy showers she'd caused the past few days. Trying to rid myself of inappropriate thoughts I had felt guilty for having.
"You're looking fresh. Have you been to Florida before?" I ask.
"Nope," she pops the 'p'.
"Right," I nod, "did you pack your attitude after all?"
"Just in case of emergencies," she nods, "did you read through the rest of the itinerary?"
"I did. You organised it well. I especially love your use of smiley faces," I smirk, "I've never been one to leave a smiley face. But you use them like they're going out of fashion."
"My little brother used to draw them on my hands before I left for school," she smiles, "so that even when I was sad a part of me remained happy."
"That's nice," I nod, "my brother would fart into his hand and cover our faces."
"Gross," she laughs, "I'm glad my brother was more dignified."
I can't help but miss the past tense. 'Was'? What had happened? Did they fall out?
"So I hope you know I have a very mad friend." She changes the subject too quickly for me to inquire.
"Poor Sam," I say looking out the plane window.
"Seth," she corrects, "he came here from Seattle to spend time with me."
"And I stole you. Mwahaha," I cackle.
She leans back in her seat shaking her head, closing her eyes. I study her closely. Her eyelashes fluttered over her cheeks, her brown hair cascaded like a silk curtain past her bust. She'd worn jeans, a casual sweater but it complemented her perfectly. I admired the simple things. Her light freckles, the curve of her collar bone. I don't remember taking time to admire a woman. For just the things every other man might miss.
God this wasn't helping my shower thoughts at all.
"Did you not sleep?" I ask trying to pry my eyes away from her.
"No," she opens her eyes, "my roommate's new boyfriend thing. I guess that's what he is. Well, she's loud. But I'm bitter because her sex life sounds ten times better than mine has ever been. I've never seen him. He always comes after I go to bed and is gone before I leave for work."
"Ten times, huh?" I can't help but tease her.
"I'm not going there with you," she points at me, "that's not in my job description."
"I can add it? I am the boss," I lean forward, crossing my arms on the table, "it's just ten times is so much. Perhaps we can find you a Floridian to amplify it."
"Perhaps you can not offer up dating advice," she shrugs, "either way I have my ways."
"Like what? A vibrator nicknamed 'Candy' that's pink," I scoff.
"Her name is Chloe and she is baby blue," she leans forward taking my pen off me, my itinerary too, "she does the job just fine."
"But not ten times as well," I wink at her.
She was so easy to tease. It was like setting a trap for a wild goose. She would give chase.
"No," she shakes her head, "let's not. Otherwise, we can call HR."
"Oh not the HR threat," I gasp dramatically.
She ignores me scribbling down notes on my papers. I watch her neat writing scrawl between the printed text.
"Long as you're satisfied," I mutter after a while.
"As I could be," she nods.
I drop it. But I'd be lying if I didn't store the knowledge for later.
You never know when you might need information like that.
My gut said I would eventually.
Thank you so much for reading.
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