CHAPTER EIGHT
EDWARD
I swear every day she wears a skirt more testing than the day before.
Since Tanya's visit last week we'd presented a front that was fairly united. She joked around more and continued putting me in my place with snarky remarks.
Right now I was struggling to stay in one place. She had dropped a pen in front of her desk. Unable to help myself I watch her as she bends over to pick it up through my glass windows. Could I legally ban her from wearing skirts to the office? I'm sure pants would do little to stop the problem.
God help me.
"Bella," I call out.
She straightens and looks back at me.
"I need you," I say.
God how I mean that in more ways than one.
She picks up a notepad and walks across to my office tapping the back of her pen on her notebook.
"So as you know Christmas is soon. I want you to organize the Christmas party," he says, "just put someone in charge of it. You're too busy. We can have it here downstairs in the function space. We'll need decorations, entertainment, catering, a bar."
She scrawls down my instructions, nodding.
"What about fairytales for a theme," she gasps, "then I can come as a princess."
I look at her dumbfounded. Seriously?
I want to say no to her. That it's stupid and childish. But I find I can't. Not to her anyway.
"Sure," I nod.
"One of my salesmen secured a decent deal today with American Airlines. They'll pay us to supply books to passengers on long haul journeys," he says, "I think that's kind of a fairytale ending."
"American Airlines gave you a true love's kiss," she laughs.
I lean forward on my desk and let out a humor-filled breath.
"Sooooo, this weekend," she says slowly, "work… are you going to make me do a heap of it?"
How can an adult be so cute? Puppies, babies, and even bumblebees are cute. I should not find a grown woman cute.
But when she smiles like that.
"Alice is a big girl," I shrug, "she's been planning this wedding since before she even met Jasper."
This weekend my baby sister was getting married. I knew from the moment she met my oldest friend they'd one day make it down the aisle. She'd only known Rose and Bella for a short time but she'd squeezed them in. The wedding was lavish with no expense spared. She had no bridesmaids, Jasper had no groomsmen. I bet if she had met her new friends before the wedding they'd both be up there with her in frilly pastel dresses.
"I was kind of hoping to enjoy some of it," she shrugs, "I'll have your suit dry cleaned and organized by Friday afternoon and delivered to your place. I also have a car for you to take you to the venue. But I plan on taking full advantage of the open bar alongside my friend Rosalie."
"Right," I nod, "I mean sounds fair. How about you have this weekend off."
She smiles brightly at me. I almost need sunglasses from the shine of it.
"Seriously?" she smiles.
"Of course," I nod, "you've worked hard and it can be payback for the New York tour I robbed you of.
"Are you excited?" she crosses her leg over her knee, getting comfortable.
I'd grown to love the small talk. It meant keeping her around longer.
"I guess," I nod, "I'm happy she is happy. She'll look beautiful."
"Wait," she holds a hand up, "what was that you said?"
I raise my eyebrow and look at her confused.
"She'll look beautiful?" I answer.
"Nope. A Lil bit further back. You're…" she motions her hand in a circle gesturing for me to speak.
"I'm happy she is happy," I say.
"I thought you didn't do happy?" she teases.
"Get out before I change my mind and have you filing paper work as you drink your champagne at the wedding," I laugh.
"If that makes you happy," She giggles standing.
You make me happy.
I curse my thoughts.
"Oh, can you stay late next week on Monday night?" I ask.
We had an international meeting and I'd need her to take notes, work the phones.
"Sure," she smiles.
I let out a slow breath of air as soon as she's back in her own office. The heat is reaching boiling point and I need to be careful not to burn myself.
The pencil skirts may sting me on a daily basis, but Bella in evening wear is positively cruel.
The navy dress she has on is a crime. It hugs her waist and bust perfectly. Flowing around her thighs, it's strapless and her hair is down. She is radiant.
I sit beside Emmett trying my best not to look back at her yet again. Emmett however has been shamelessly turning around to wink at Rosalie, who sits beside my assistant in a pretty red dress. My mother sits beside me dabbing her eyes as she watches her daughter.
"I do," Jasper breaks me out of my thoughts.
"In the power vested in me I pronounce you husband and wife," the officiant smiles at Jasper, "go on. Give her a kiss."
Jasper smiles down at Alice kissing her politely, holding back from a full-on pash before our parents. Guests around me begin to clap and I do too. I glance back at Bella who is wiping her eyes with a tissue, Rosalie has an arm around her giggling through her own tears.
I don't want to even let myself imagine it. But she would look stunning as a bride.
Jasper and Alice head up the aisle happily, laughing and waving to guests. My mother and father stand and follow them with Jasper's mother.
"How is she married? She's the little sister," Emmett scoffs beside me.
"I know. She puts us to shame," I smile proudly, "she looks incredible but."
"I'm proud of her. It feels like yesterday she was stealing my twinkies," he places a hand on his heart, "how are you holding up? I know sitting at a wedding isn't fun when you just broke up."
"I'm fine," I nod.
I hadn't even thought about Tanya. Not even once.
My mind was totally focused on my sister.
You mean the girl sat rows behind you in blue.
We make our way to the cocktail area where we can enjoy a drink and canapes before the reception. My father had spared no expense. Alice always had him wrapped around her finger. When we finally make it to the reception I'm sat beside my brother. The tables are in long rows, like a banquet. Right now Alice and Jasper were dancing together, between all of their other guests, laughing and kissing. Sickly in love.
Bella and Rosalie sit directly across from us. Our parents have been placed on a table behind us with Alice, Jasper, and Jasper's family. Bella winks at me as she takes a sip of her wine. I don't know how I will get through this.
I need divine intervention.
"So Edward," Rosalie smiles at me, "My bestie here tells me you've been working her to the bone. I barely see her at home lately."
"Rosalie," Bella scolds, "please don't get me fired."
"If he fires you, I'll hire you," Emmett smirks.
"She doesn't want to work for you," I look at my brother, "fitness is boring."
We all have our own companies under my father's name. He ran the Cullen Hotel brand, but as we grew older none of us were interesting in hotels. So he invested in our ideas and helped us build them up. Alice loved fashion so she created a label, Emmett loved fitness so he created a health empire. I loved books so I helped people publish their stories. Out of all of us, he'd become even richer from investing in our dreams, boosting his own company while doing it. We're a family full of moguls.
"Emmett runs Cullen Fit," Rosalie says to Bella, "you know the fitness watches, the diet plans. That's why his body is so.. perfect."
I bite back a laugh.
"Oh, my mother tried that. She lasted a week and went back to pizza," Bella laughs, "She said the meals in one of your plans were delicious."
"Oh, well thank you," Emmett smiles at Bella.
"Bella is a great fit," I finally answer Rose, "I think she's the best idea my sister has ever had."
Bella awkwardly shifts, folding her hands in her lap. I smile at her kindly.
"That's so sweet," Rosalie smiles, "she's such a beautiful person. You are lucky to have her."
"I am," I nod, "my life wouldn't run smoothly without her."
"Want to dance?" Emmett leans across to ask Rose.
"Absolutely," Rose stands.
Once they reach the dance floor, Emmett twirls her. Bella giggles watching them.
"She's obsessed with him," she says, "I think he's really good for her."
"Her for him too," I nod, "maybe we'll be here again for them one day?"
"I think there's a very good chance," Bella faces me.
We sit in silence staring at one another for a moment. I stand making her jump slightly. Once I round the table I sit in the vacant seat Rose left and lean close to her.
"That's better," I say, "the music is too loud to hear you right."
"Oh," she twists in her seat to face me.
I lean in closer, inhaling her intoxicating scent, wishing I could bury my face into the crook of her neck.
"You look sensational tonight," I say, "you're beautiful every day but this… I wish I could see this more."
She looks down at her dress as if to verify my statement.
"Thanks," she blushes as she looks back up at me, "I even wore your shoes."
I look down at her feet, sure enough, she has the stilettos on.
"Want to know something?" she asks.
"What's that?" I smile.
She leans in closer, mouth now in line with my ear. The last time she did this I struggled to restrain myself. I'm struggling again.
"I had Rosalie check them over. Then I showed your sister. Both noticed they weren't worn before and had a price tag. Then Rosalie found the receipt in the box with the date I got them," she says.
Busted.
"Rosalie's pair were worn before. But you purchased mine," she puts her hand on my chest as she pulls back to look at my face.
I'm grinning like a total fool.
"I wanted you to have the very best," I say, "I knew you wouldn't accept new ones and you have been so amazing."
She smacks my chest lightly and leans back to sip her drink. I'm too frightened to even blink in case I might miss something.
"You're sneaky," she says, "but thank you. You don't need to buy me anything again. This is every Christmas present and Birthday present until you fire me."
"Why would I fire you?" I ask.
"I don't plan on quitting. I figured that's the only way I'd not work for you anymore. I might spill another coffee," she says.
"I'd never fire you," there's a sudden urge to take her hand, so I do.
I just needed to feel her soft skin. She looks down at our hands, my thumb brushing the back of her knuckles.
"Thank you for everything," I say, "I'm not an easy boss. But you've taken everything so well."
She pulls her hand free and stands abruptly. I'm unsure what to do as she takes up her phone and bag, pushing out her chair and walking toward the external door. Her posture is rigid, hand running through her hair as she walks. I watch her go confused.
What had I said?
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