Fuck it. Here's four mini chapters. But not "fuck it" enough to post the whole story sorry haha

18.

I don't go to work for the next two days.

I'd feel bad if avoiding Edward didn't feel so good.

I end up working more from home than I would've at the office. Some in-person meetings get moved to Zoom. I do what I can on my laptop.

Midday Friday, I receive an email.

Where are you?

From Edward.

No greeting, no signature.

Just three words.

It sparks something inside of me.

He's curious.

He's… concerned?

I don't reply.

He overstepped by asking about Jared.

I overstepped by talking about him.

I'm drawing a line.

We won't cross it again.

19.

Saturday night.

Out with Rose and Emmett for dinner.

I'm in a funk.

Rose can tell, and when Emmett goes to the bathroom, she asks.

"Why so emo?"

Maybe it has to do with the dream I had about Edward last night.

We were in the elevator. He'd turned me around, cheek pressed against the wall, and fucked me from behind.

"You fucking want me," he'd growled roughly in my ear.

He was right.

In my dream I did.

When I woke up, I touched myself, imagining it was him.

Confusingly, that feeling of want lingered long after I came.

20.

"I had a sex dream about Dior," I tell Rose.

She cackles. "Dirty bitch."

"Shut up. It's confusing."

"How? You obviously have a thing for him."

I frown. "I don't—"

"Bella."

"Rose."

"What's the problem?"

I drain my martini. "He infuriates me."

"And?"

"And… no. We have nothing in common. I don't even know him."

"So? Get to know him."

Like it's easy.

Like he's personable and charming and open.

I try imagining it for a moment.

"What'd I miss?" Emmett asks when he returns.

"Bella's sex dream about Dior."

I glare.

Emmett laughs. "You've been horny for him forever."

21.

"I haven't been horny for him forever!" I screech. Then calmly: "I haven't."

Rose and Emmett are smug.

It hasn't been forever.

I've only been at the company for three years.

And I'm not horny for him.

Sure he makes me burn. But he's an asshole. The entire time I've been there, he's hardly made an effort. Then again, he doesn't really make any effort with… anyone. I don't necessarily ever see him mingling with others. He's not one for small talk.

It's confusing.

By the end of the night, I'm martini drunk and decide to skip work Monday, too.