A/N: I still do not own Twilight...This is just fun!

Thank you to everyone who reviewed the first chapter! I hope that you enjoyed it! I think I missed sending someone their quote for the last chapter! If so, I am very sorry! T-T Sometimes the emails get buried in my inbox!

I also did not get to edit this chapter. I am so sorry. Hopefully you still enjoy it and it isn't too terrible in the grammar department.

I hope that you all enjoy this chapter as much as the last! And I hope that you leave me any feedback that you feel will help me improve my writing!

Remember, a review equals a quote from the next chapter!

Day One

All Relationships Have Value

I walk into my office at 8:25 am on Monday morning. This is not abnormal for me, nor is it late. My first appointment isn't scheduled until 9 am. I'm still slightly hung over from my Saturday night escapades, so, it's a comfy day. Giant shawl that may as well be a blanket and leggings as pants as well as giant sunglasses make up a comfortable yet professional ensemble. Don't judge me until you've tried it.

Edward Cullen has done his due diligence and checked in on me on Sunday, making sure that I was alright. He also reminded me of my drunken bet to find him a wife, or fix what is wrong with him. I, also, apparently, have the uncanny ability to make legal documents out of bar napkins while I'm shitfaced and insisted that Edward sign it. So, he was right. I did sign a contract.

Granted, the contract offered myself as collateral in a pseudo-marriage that I was fairly certain would not hold up in a legal court system.

Angela, my receptionist, is already at her desk as I balance my purse, briefcase and my water bottle. She hurries to help me in the door. "Ms. Swan…" she starts in immediately. Angela is the best receptionist a woman could ask for. She is always on time, early even, and keeps my calendar in amazing shape. She handles most of the menial tasks and communications around the office so that I can deal more directly with clients and she is the sweetest person I have ever met.

"Angela," I practically bark, "I'm going to need you to get Victoria on the phone and tell her I need to set up an appointment for a client...or at the very least, I need her help with this one."

Angela nods as I hustle to the room where I see patients to throw my things down and set up for the day. "Ms. Swan…" she tries again to get my full attention as I stumble over the rug in the waiting room.

"Oh, and can you cancel Jessica Newton's appointment because I really don't want to have to deal with that…"

"BELLA!" Angela finally snaps. I stop. Angela has never snapped at me in that way. It is enough to make me stop dead in my tracks. She points to the waiting area. "You have a visitor," she says, as kindly and as customer service friendly as she can. I think my eyes are the size of dinner plates as I pivot to see who my visitor could be.

I feel all of me tense. "Edward?"

Of all the people to show up, it had to be him? Now that I can look at him in a non-inebriated state, he still looks as good from behind as he did while I was drunk. Broad shoulders and a form that is muscular, though still lanky. I forgot how tall he was…

In his leather jacket and khaki pants, he could have been anyone walking in off the street. But, when he turns around, I feel the shock ricochet through me. Yeeeaaah. This guy has issues with women? How?

This is going to be a complete and utter cinch.

I shake my head. "I am so sorry! I completely forgot that I set up an appointment for you before the rest of my clients today!" I am somewhere between embarrassed and flustered. If I hadn't completely spaced it, I would have been here earlier to give myself time to set up.

Edward smiles at me in a familiar crooked way that makes me want to melt into a puddle on the floor. Clutched to the front of his white button down shirt, Edward Cullen holds a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a brown paper bag in the other. I feel my face twist into a smile that definitely shouldn't be there and definitely should not be occurring at this time of the morning.

"Good morning, Bella," he says in the most musical voice I have ever heard.

"Hi," I say with much effort, still smiling stupidly. I want to kick myself.

He shuffles his feet slightly awkwardly under Angela's very observant gaze. "I...um...I brought breakfast."

I finally snapped back to reality. "Oh, that's so thoughtful…" I take the brown bag extended to me. "You really shouldn't have…"

He clears his throat and extends the wildflower bouquet in his hand. "And flowers."

My heart is melting, much like it would if I saw an adorable child or a puppy. "That's very kind…" I haven't gotten flowers in years… "But, also completely inappropriate," I laugh. I notice Edward frown at that remark. "Come on, I'll show you into my office."

Edward follows me back into the back room, still clutching the wild flowers. I go to close the door before I turn to Angela, who is wriggling her eyebrows in a way that is full of implications. I roll my eyes before closing the door gently.

I flip the lock on my door, afraid that Angela is going to try and pry as much as possible. "I am so sorry. I really did forget that you were coming." I quickly hang up my bag and ditch my briefcase under my desk. Edward is still standing, awkwardly holding flowers in his hand as I place the bag of breakfast on my desk. "Well, have a seat! Pull up one of the comfy chairs over there," I motion to the red velvet ones across the room. Normally, I don't have meals with my clients.

Edward does as directed as I flip on my computer and slump into my chair. "Sorry about the flowers." He says as he settles himself in. "I thought that was something that women enjoyed." His smile is slightly embarrassed, but still in good humor.

I smirk. "Oh, it is. And, if this were a date, I think you would have received top marks...but, unfortunately, we have a professional arrangement." I lean forward in my chair, smiling widely, about to dive into the bag on my desk.

Edward leans forward, as well. He returns my smirk and I feel butterflies knot in my stomach. "So, I guess that means you don't want them?"

I think I lost this game because, instead of turning them down, instead repeating that we had a purely professional arrangement and running as far away as possible, I return with, "I never said that."

"That's what I thought," Edward smiles and gets up, going to the vase on my coffee table. He takes the fake flowers out and replaces them. I watch him every step of the way, studying how easily he moves across the space. I watch his muscles flex under the very tight leather jacket. I am briefly startled when he begins to speak, mostly because I am drooling over Edward's form. "So, what's our first step then, oh, relationship expert?"

I shiver for a moment. "Oh. Right." I turn back to my computer. I immediately pull up the email for Victoria Clark. "So, the first step, I'm going to contact a colleague of mine. Her name is Victoria Clark. She's a professional matchmaker. She does impeccable matches and works with a very selective clientele." I start typing out an email, simple and quickly worded, asking her to take on an emergency case. I'm hoping that she replies with the affirmative so that this simple bet will be a piece of cake.

Edward's face wrinkles in concern. "Do you really think that would work?"

I smile my brightest customer service smile. "Absolutely." I lean back in my chair and cross my arms confidently. "Victoria is very good at what she does. She has a pretty high success rate, as well. Most of her couples are married quickly after they are matched. She only takes customers that are serious about long lasting and permanent relationships and really delves into the compatibility of a couple."

Edward laughs. "I feel like you have definitely sold this to someone before." His face shows his amusement ten fold.

Now, I know this might sound silly...I've even considered doing it myself, honestly, because, single, desperate, and working almost sixty hours a week doesn't leave a large amount of time for dating. I have also had to sell this to clients before...few and far between, but I have made this sell. And Victoria really does amazing work. I tried to keep the smile on my face, "Maybe. But, it is still something that is highly effective."

I dig into the bag and grab a bagel. "Now...let's get down to brass tacks." I take a bite out of the bagel and quickly swallow it. "What are you looking for in a partner?"

Just as Edward is about to speak, I hear a timid knock on the door. Angela pops her head in. "I'm sorry Ms. Swan...but, you're nine o'clock is here."

I nod. That's unfortunate. I was enjoying just being in Edward's presence. I sigh. "Thank you, Angela. I'll let them in shortly."

Angela closes the door softly and I turn back to Edward. I smile apologetically. "I am so sorry. If I weren't late, I wouldn't have been cutting this short…"

Edward raises a hand, dismissively and stands up from his chair. "It's completely fine. I understand." He reaches out a hand to shake mine. "Would you like to resume this discussion tonight? I owe you for doing this...maybe I could take you to dinner?"

I shake his hand with a laugh. "I'm sorry. I would love to, but I actually have a date...and very exclusive reservations."

I swear that I see disappointment cross his face. "Oh. I completely understand. Another time then."

"Tomorrow!" I interject. I'm a little too excited as I say this. Edward pauses. I feel my face flush because of how insistent I must have come across to him. "I mean...if I'm going to get you married off to a wonderful, eligible lady in thirty days, we are going to have to do consistent work."

That infectious and genuine smile that has been plaguing me for the past two days spreads across his face once again. "Tomorrow, then," he says. Before I have another thought, Edward is gathering up his belongings and getting ready to walk out of my office. "Oh, Bella," he pauses with his hand on the doorknob. "Keep the bagels. You might need something for lunch."

For some inexplicable reason, I smile as he leaves. It takes me a good ten seconds to get up from my desk and walk to my door where Angela is waiting, watching Edward's retreating back. We both lean heavily on the wall, arms crossed.

"I am a married woman," Angela states, simply. "But, if you don't keep that one, I will."

I give Angela a sideways look. "He's a client, Angela."

Angela turns her head to make eye contact with me. "Is he single?"

"Yes."

"Then why on Earth would you not keep that one?"

With a toss of her curly hair, Angela struts back to her desk to - hopefully - manage my calendar and appointments and not stalk Edward Cullen on social media.

I hate dating. I should never have come out on a date and thought that it might even work out for me. I should have never made these stupid reservations and never bought this stupid dress or these stupid shoes or even kept messaging this guy on the dating app.

I glance at my reflection in the window. I looked nicer than I had admittedly looked in months. My black dress was cut in a deep v-neck showing off and abundance of cleavage thanks to the tightly fitting over the shoulder straps. The bodice fit me like a glove until it reached my waist where it flared out into a beautiful, full skirt to just above my knee. I had completed the look with black patent leather stilettos that made my legs look amazing.

And it had all gone to waste.

I sigh, pushing back the carefully placed curls that were now falling in my face. So much for the sexy red lipstick…

I fumble with my phone. Over the pst thirty minutes, I've been texting with Alice. I swipe to unlock my phone to see her latest reply.

Alice - And he's just ghosting you? No reply back?

Alice - He's a scum bag. You deserve better than to be stood up!

I groan as I type back a response.

Me - Yep. No reply to any of the messages I sent him since this morning. I doubt it's as simple as "I got held up at work."

I put my phone face down on the table and turn back to the window. I'm just unlucky and cynical. I should have known better than to even consider dating again. Talking to someone online was one thing...but actually meeting face to face was something else entirely that usually lead to me realizing that it wasn't as good in reality as it was in my head.

Zafrina, one of the waitresses comes over. We've known each other for a while due to my having business meetings in the restaurant and she's practically a friend. She's seen my ridiculously nonexistent dating history and I think she was more excited to hear that I had a date than I was. She gives me a look that shows that she feels sorry for me. Personally, I don't feel pathetic. Just ridiculous. "Was there anything I can get for you?"

I shake my head and smile away Zafrina's concern. "No, I think I'm good. Give me a minute to look over the menu and I'll be ready to order."

Zafrina's face wrinkles into a deep frown. "Bella, I am so sorry…"

I hold up my hand as my phone starts to buzz. "Don't be. This is a normal occurrence in today's dating environment...and I didn't like the guy that much any way." I pick up my phone so that she will be dismissed, a strategy that seems to work more often than not.

I swipe open the new message from Alice.

Alice - I've got you covered. Don't leave the restaurant.

Alice - Give it ten minutes. Fairy godmother Alice will take care of everything.

I roll my eyes, but can't help but smile. I have good friends. Crazy friends, but good friends. Likely, Alice is coming to join me and then we can just get wine drunk on the most expensive bottle of wine the restaurant has. Until then, I can go through work emails and respond to clients' questions.

Today has been a whirlwind, that's for sure. I see that Victoria has replied to me about Edward. Thank God. I am really in over my head with this one and, as I don't know any eligible bachelorettes, I think Victoria is my best hope!

My thoughts turn to Edward Cullen. Edward seemed to be a great guy. Based on my background check, he wasn't just very well off, he was perfect on paper. He was an MD, a trauma surgeon who literally saved the lives of people on a daily basis. And, when he wasn't busy doing that, he volunteered working in a clinic that was based on a sliding scale so that patients only paid what they could.

He rented an apartment close to the hospital, despite the fact that he could afford to buy a house. Never married, no children, and with the same girlfriend for the past ten years. He's never left Seattle, despite having job offers around the country to join the staff of hospitals. No whispers as to why he was staying in Seattle. Maybe it was the girlfriend. Maybe it was something else.

I look up from my phone in time to catch sight of a tall, muscular form walking toward me. White button down shirt, black tie, khakis and black blazer. I don't pay it much attention and return to my phone, which begin to beep incessantly.

Alice - Did your savior arrive yet?

"Sorry, I'm late, but I wasn't aware I had such a beautiful date waiting on me," I hear, perfectly timed like a scene from a bad romance novel. I look up into a single white rose and striking green eyes. "Hi, Bella," Edward says, still waiting on me to take the rose.

I'm too shocked to even do anything except utter the words, "What are you doing here?"

He shrugs and sets the rose on the table before finding a seat across from me. "Alice."

I roll my eyes. "Of course," I mutter as I look over his clothes. "You changed."

He shrugs. "It's a tie, Bella...and it was my day off. Alice called to tell me about your...situation." He looks ridiculously at ease, sitting across from me. He picks up the wine list from the table and looks over it. "Would you like some wine?"

I look down at my phone again. "I expected Alice to come herself…"

Edward shrugs, never quite looking up from the list. "She had some business to attend to."

"What is she doing?"

"I believe it would be more appropo to ask 'who' is she doing."

I think I turn scarlet. "Oh."

Edward puts the list down and smirks. "Yeah. Oh. And I'm the one that got to hear about it. So, with respect...we are going to pretend that it never happened."

I nod and put my phone away, clasping my hands under the table. "You didn't have to come…" There is a long moment of silence in the busy restaurant before either of us speak. I stare at the table cloth, suddenly finding it interesting.

Why would Alice call him? Why did she have to make me look like a complete idiot in front of him, of all people? I didn't need to look sad and defeated and ridiculously bad at my job in front of him.

I think I feel my eyes welling up with tears. I'll be damned if I'm going to cry in front of him

"Hey," Edward lowers his voice in a way that I'm sure isn't supposed to be seductive, but is. "I didn't have to come; I wanted to." He picks up the rose from the table and my gaze follows it back to his face. "Every woman deserves to be treated well. Let's start dinner over...as two friends." He reaches the rose out again. "If we skip the professionalism for the evening, would you be willing to accept this as a gift?"

I bite my lip. "I guess that's alright…" I say, still wringing my hands under the table.

"Good," he says, still using the low tone that is so comforting to me. I gently take the rose from his finger. "Now, do you have a recommendation on wine or should I pick?"

The dinner afterward is uneventful. It's like a first date. We talk about our favorite movies and music. We talk about high school and college. We talk about what we've been doing over the last ten years. I learned that Edward played the piano. It was the most laid back dinner I have had in a while. I sigh as Edward walks me to my car, my arm threaded through his.

"I can honestly say I had more fun tonight than I would have on an actual date...so, thank you." I say, still laughing.

Edward laughs back at me. "Well, that's good to hear. I suppose that I get full marks on dating etiquette, then?"

I roll my eyes. "Sure, Casanova. Full marks. Now, just do whatever it was you did in there when Victoria sets you up on a date."

As we reach my beaten up truck, Edward spins me around so that I am extricated from his escort. "I think I can do that."

I fumble for my car keys as Edward waits to see me into my truck. "Just remember why you're doing this and I think you'll be fine," I say as I unlock the door to my truck. I wrench the door open, still in serious marriage plotting mode. I smile my brightest smile as I turn back toward Edward. "So, I'll meet you at eight tomorrow morning at my office and we can go over details that Victoria is sending over. Would that work for you?"

Edward seems to think about this possibility for a moment, truly considering. "I have an evening shift tomorrow, so, that should work...but, I'll let you know if something comes up."

"Excellent!" I spin on my heel to turn toward my car again. Unfortunately for me, I am not very adept at walking in heels and I roll my ankle, losing my balance and collapsing into Edward. He wraps his arms around me in concern, holding me up. I fist his shirt, afraid that I'm going to find myself flat on my face on the asphalt. "I am so sorry." I panic, not looking up at him, trying to get my feet back underneath my body.

His chest is warm and hard underneath my body. I feel the chuckle he lets out rumble underneath me. He gently helps me up to my feet. "Don't apologize. Are you alright?"

"Y-yeah. I'm fine. I just...I shouldn't wear heels." I try to joke with him, looking up into his sparkling green eyes. His hands are still on my arms. I try and shake the feeling of warmth out of my system. "Well...I should...I should go." Even as I say it, I make no move to pull away.

There's a quick breath when neither of us do anything. We simply look at each other with some strange rapt fascination. Then, as if in slow motion, Edward's fingertips reach up and brush a lock of hair away from my cheek. I stop deadly still, my entire body going hot and cold at once. I feel some once thought dead instinct in me begging please, kiss me.

I pull back suddenly, pushing my hair back. "Thanks...for a wonderful evening."

Edward looks at the ground, his face a mixture of confusion and...something else. "You're...you're welcome."

I try not to think too much into it and climb into my truck. "Right...I'll see you in the morning."

I start my truck, trying not to look at Edward until I have the truck in gear and I am ready to peel out of the parking spot. I can't admit to what I felt, especially given my bet. I wave, trying to force myself to smile, still noting how concerned Edward's face looks.

I'm fine. This is still going to work. I am just...alone and desperate. I chew on my lip the entire drive back to my apartment complex. I need to stop whatever this is before I lose this bet.

A/N: Thank you so much for reading! What other adventures should they go on? XD

Remember, a review (that isn't anonymous) will get you a quote from the next chapter!