AN: For everyone who's been sticking around with me since Memory and Mishaps and Flights and Fates, I love you guys so much. Your support means the world to me and only inspires me to write more each day.
If you're new here, hi welcome to the inside of my head, I hope you enjoy your time here.
Here's a new story I had in my head and I'm glad I can finally start writing it.
Here goes,
Stephanie Meyer owns the lot.
Bella POV
The alarm blared through my ears, I forgot I had kept the phone next to my pillow last night and I regretted it now. I briefly opened my eyes, lids heavily coated with sleep to peek at the time.
7.15 am, ugh. Normally I wouldn't wake up this early, but today was different.
Today I, Isabella Swan had an interview at Cullen Couture. The only magazine I've dreamt about working in since I started envisioning my career path. It wasn't easy to get in unless you were a model or a celebrity or even a photographer, none of which I ever qualified for. But I somehow pulled some strings, made some friends and bagged an interview.
I didn't know what the position was yet, I was given a vague response when I called last evening to confirm my interview appointment. They told me to dress well and bring a detailed portfolio of my works, education and any other extracurricular activities. I had gathered all my little side jobs and experiences into a filed folder along with my literature degree and additional documents that they would probably need.
This was my fifth interview in this city in the past two months, if I didn't get this job, I'd have to return to Forks and outlive each day of pressure and stress to get married by my dad, Charlie. I was only 22, so I knew I had to get out of the tiny town and make a name for myself. Here in beautiful New York City.
I had a small apartment just outside the city, I'd take the train in every morning. Always an interesting sight of people on the train, I never did need to use my earphones. I got up from bed and stretched. I quickly brushed my teeth and took a shower to start getting ready. This was a big deal, I rehearsed what I would say to make a good first impression while shampoo soaked in my hair.
I addressed the mirror in my room with several different accents and body languages to see which would fit the presentation that was required while I tried on a variety of outfits. I went with a black skirt, a well ironed white blouse and some comfortable flats. I carried my brown over the shoulder bag and packed it with all the papers. I put minimal makeup on my face, just flaring out my eyelashes with mascara and tinting my lips and cheeks with some color. I didn't want to look as pale as I felt.
I quickly ate some cereal and was on the train by 8.00 am sharp. The Cullen couture building was just a street away from Times Square Centre. It was a tall, probably more than 50 storeys modern glass building that almost glowed in the sunlight. While on the train I pulled out my phone and re read the research I was doing on the company. I knew they were in competition with vogue and GQ who I did have interviews with but never made it past the first round.
Cullen Couture was a family run magazine, Carlisle the CEO was the main founder of the magazine with his wife Esme. But after it's establishment and a few years of success they've let their children now handle it. Alice, Edward and Emmett Cullen. Each of them distinctly perfect in their own way, or so from what I've read.
Alice Cullen, head fashion designer and main editor for the fashion column of the magazine. She handles all the photo shoots and is the creative brain child for the front covers. She's a social butterfly and is seen in all the biggest social events of the season.
Emmett Cullen, head of the sports column and head sport stylist , he does athleisure and takes care of all the sport infused photo shoots they do. Including articles with some famous players.
And last, Edward Cullen. Not many people have seen him in the public eye. Both Alice and Emmett Cullen have been spotted at several events, making contacts or doing work. But Edward, apparently he was always away from the limelight.
I wondered why.
Online it said, Edward Cullen was the managing director of Cullen Couture and future CEO. No magazine is printed unless it's been thoroughly reviewed by the man himself. There have been some photos online of Edward but all of them have him covering his face, or wearing dark shades to get out of the public eye.
Maybe he didn't like the attention as much.
But other than that, the Cullen children were drop dead gorgeous. They were those people just genetically built to be beautiful. If they weren't part of the magazine, I could guarantee they would be models or in the movies.
I locked my phone and then got up to exit at my stop. I took the subway stairs up to the street and it was bustling. People walked in different directions, some yelling over their phone, others sipping their morning coffee while going through their emails and then the few who would just jog amongst the crowd.
I walked in the direction of the building, I had walked past the building several times before since I got to New York, it was embarrassing how well I knew where it was. When I finally crossed the street, I saw the large glass doors and the letters CC on them. I took a deep breath and looked up at the building, this was the first time I would enter it. And I hoped it wasn't the last.
I was about to push open the glass doors when I heard someone say "Please, allow me". A tall, muscular guy held open the door for me. I didn't get to see him clearly because as soon as we walked through the doors I was awestruck.
And he disappeared towards the lift.
The interiors were brilliant. Marble flooring, dainty gold elements on the wall, the main entrance had a large atrium with hanging chandeliers and vines. Sunlight poured into the space so delicately it illuminated and reflected off the gold details. The waiting lounge had leather couches and mirrored coffee tables, the front desk was a decorative piece with free-flowing formation of dark wood.
I heard my footsteps as I walked to the front desk. There was a beautiful lady with soft grey hair at the reception desk. I noticed the hair because she kept playing with it until I finally reached her.
Once the lady saw me, she greeted me with the warmest smile.
"Hi, good morning welcome to Cullen Couture, how can I assist you today?" she asked standing up and placing her hands on the reception desk.
"Hi, I'm Bella. I have an interview at 9" I say and she sits down to type in something on her computer.
"Full name?"
"Isabella Swan" I said leaning on the desk and giving her a small smile.
She worked her way into the computer, typing quickly.
"Did you get an email with information about who will take your interview?" She asked, eyes fixated on her screen.
"Uh no, but I called yesterday and spoke to uh..Angela I believe" I say hoping the name was right and I didn't mess it up.
The girl smiled at me "I'm Angela, pleasure. Alright" she printed a small slip of paper and handed it to me "You have an interview at 9 am, first left, take the elevator to the 40th floor, there should be someone expecting you there, just hand them this slip of paper and they'll set up the interview" she says.
I take the paper from her and look at the lifts.
"Any questions?" She asks and I turn to her nervously.
"Do you know what position this is for?" I ask and she giggles. Huh weird.
"I do, but it would ruin the surprise" she says and I laugh nervously.
"Any tips then?" I ask and she gives me a soft smile "Just be yourself Bella"
I nod and thank her then head towards the lifts. A few people are bustling in and out of the building but no one I recognised yet. I wait for the lift to arrive and then step in. I'm luckily alone for the lift ride, so I adjust my appearance in the mirror. I hand comb some strands of hair and adjust my skirt. I take a deep breath when the lift arrives on the floor.
As the door opens, I see a bright white room, another smaller reception desk is directly in front and behind the reception desk is a wall with the logo of Cullen Couture. There are small lounge chairs on either side and TV's above them that are playing the various covers of their magazine. I walk towards the reception.
There's a cute guy at the desk. Ugh.
"Hi, welcome to Cullen Couture" he says flashing me with a bright smile. He has blue eyes and blonde hair, he's wearing a white shirt, slightly ironed. He stands up as I approach him.
I wondered if everyone in Cullen Couture were this classy when you approached them.
"Hi, I'm Bella" I say handing over the slip to him. He takes a look and then asks me to wait for a while on the side. I take a seat on the chair and look at few of the magazines sprawled on the coffee table.
I hear the lift door open and three people exit, one girl has a couple of papers in her hand and a phone against her ear, one guy has rolls of fabric in his arms and a measuring tape around his neck. And one girl, who I immediately recognised had a pixie haircut, she wore a tight red dress with black stockings and black sunglasses and held a few magazines analysing them while the other two tried to get conversation flowing. Alice Cullen.
I watched quietly as the three of them approached the reception.
"Good Morning Ms. Alice" The reception guy said standing up to greet her. She smiled at him.
"Is he in yet?" she asked and it was the first time I hear her voice. She had the voice of authority and respect and I admired that about her.
"He is, but he has an interview at 9 first then the meeting at 9.30"
Alice sighed and asked the two people with her to wait. They scurried off quickly to the lifts and then left. Alice stood with the reception guy.
"So Mikey, how did the date go" she asked softly but in the quiet room and the three of us, I could hear everything. I pretended to look at the pages of the magazine. I didn't want to be rude.
I noticed the guy who's name was Mike laugh nervously and Alice returned it with a chimed laugh. Absolutely melodious. Who were these people.
I heard her heels approach me and my heart beat faster.
She cleared her throat and I looked up at her. For the first time, I had never seen someone as beautiful as her. She had perfect porcelain skin, gold eyes, her hair was spiky but silky and shiny and I was staring at this point.
She smiled and all her 32 teeth were aligned.
"Hi there, you must be Isabella" she says extending her hand out to me. How did she know my name. Oh my god, she knows my name.
"Uh..just Bella" I say shaking her hand and mentally slapping myself in the head.
"Just Bella it is then. You're here for the interview?" She asks and I nod. I don't want to say anything afraid stupidity will pour out. I had to make a good impression.
"Well, good luck Bella. I think he'll like you" she says and turns on her heel. She smiles back at Mike briefly then takes the elevator.
I wondered who she meant.
Time went by fast and it was 8.45 when Mike called out to me. I gathered my things and he led me down a corridor, one side of it was wall while the other was glass. You could see how high up we were and people on the streets looked like tiny ants.
The corridor ended with a beautiful big brown door. It had gold linings along the framework and it was a double door with gold handles. Before opening the door, Mike turned to me.
"Two rules, One don't ask him questions, he will do all the talking. And two, no handshakes. Goodluck Bella" Mike says curtly and gives the door two knocks before leaving me alone. I wait patiently outside.
It's almost a minute of waiting outside and I consider trying to knock again. I look down the corridor back towards Mike, but I can't see him. I look back at the door and wait. Another minute passes, what if the person didn't hear the door knock. I fist my hand and lightly knock twice on the door.
"Come in" I hear a low voice. Finally.
I turn the handle and push the slightly heavy door. The office is huge. Like a presidential suite huge. It had a beautiful view of the city, a large desk in the centre, a high back leather chair. The man sat facing the glass windows away from me. I saw a bit of his hair stick out from the top of the chair.
I made my way in, cautious.
"Good Morning I'm Isabella Sw-"
"Have a seat" I was cut off by his voice. It was low deep velvet voice and I took the seat in front of the desk as quick as possible. There was something about this voice that made me want to just listen.
The office chair turned around and revealed the man in it.
He has reddish brown tousled hair, out of place but looked like it was intentionally kept that way. He has a chiselled jawline and high cheekbones. His eyebrows thick and his lips in a tight line. I didn't see his eyes, they were covered with dark sunglasses. He wore a grey suit and white shirt underneath, all that were tailored perfectly to his stature.
"Good morning Isabella" He said and I smiled. He didn't smile back and I got ten times more nervous.
I adjusted myself on the chair. The man had a few papers in front of him, none that he bothered to look at. He had a pen in his hand that he tapped on the table.
"Graduated from?" He asked and I gulped before answering.
"University of Washington" I say "I have my portfolio you can take a look" I start to open my bag out to get the portfolio.
"No" The man says in a stern voice. I freeze. I let the lock stay open and slowly keep my bag down.
"You're from Forks?" He asks and I nod. His face is turned towards me, but I can't be sure if he's looking at me with those sunglasses on.
There was silence until he asked again "Are you, Miss Isabella, from Forks? Yes or no?"
"Yes" I say, I guess nodding wasn't allowed either.
"I have one last question" He says and I wait. It's over? That was the shortest interview ever. He didn't ask any questions at all, he didn't look at my portfolio yet. I felt defeated. He probably hated me the minute I walked into the room. That's why he didn't bother asking me any question.
"Do you handle stressful situations well?" He asked
"I would say I do. I've handled my parent's divorce, my childhood bullies, my awkward adolescent peer pressures and I've somehow made it out alright" I say and regret it "I'm sorry, I don't know why I just told you all that"
I see the man's lips twitch with a small smile at the corner.
Yeah, I wasn't going to get this job.
"Well, that is all. Someone will get in touch with you by the end of the day." The man says and stands up, he was tall and lean. I stand along with him.
"Oh okay, uhm thankyou so much for your time I really appreciate this opportunity" I say extending my arm forward and pulling it back as soon as I realise my mistake.
For some reason the man didn't notice.
"Okay..thankyou have a good day" I say grabbing my bag and stumbling towards the door. But before I leave I turn to ask the man his name.
"I'm sorry I didn't catch your name" I say and he chuckles "Maybe because Mike may have told you not to question me"
"Yeah..sorry I should go" I say turning the handle of the door already embarrassed enough.
"My name is Edward Cullen" he says then returns to his chair. I walk out with my heart in my throat. The lump is hard to swallow.
Oh my goodness. I had an interview with the future CEO of Cullen Couture, I was shaking. I nearly ran towards the reception and Mike greeted me again.
"How did it go?" He asked and I looked at him surprised.
He smiled "I'm sure Mr. Cullen was gracious"
I leaned onto the desk and looked at Mike "What position did I just take that interview for?" I asked and he nodded "Assistant"
"Assistant?"
"Yes, Mr. Cullen has been looking for young individuals who come from a good background to help assist him with everything related to the magazine. From covers, to photoshoots, apparently cloning Mr. Cullen isn't an option and therefore he needs an assistant. You are the eighth one in the past week to come here for the interview. Don't take it the wrong way if you don't get selected, Mr. Cullen is well….very particular" Mike says softly
"I see." I say feeling a bit disheartened.
"Anyways, can I have your portfolio? We keep it here in case he needs to review it" Mike says and I open my bag and hand over my portfolio to him.
"Perfect, let me just take a few copies of this, do have a seat. Would you like a coffee?" Mike asks and I decline the offer. I take the seat and wait.
A few minutes pass I hear Mike slowly get up and face the corridor. I hear faint footsteps, Mr. Cullen comes around the corner and taps Mike's desk twice before heading towards the lifts.
"18th floor Mr. Cullen" Mike says as he walks towards the lifts. Mr. Cullen does not acknowledge me sitting there but I don't feel bad.
Because as Mr. Edward Cullen walks towards the lifts, I see him unfold a white cane in his hand.
DUN DUN DUN
In order to unlock the next chapter, I'll need to know if you guys are interested in reading more in this story, SO PLEASE REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW
If you guys do, I'll release the chapter tomorrow 11th July 2019.