BPOV

Being Edward's publicist meant a majority of my thoughts should be about him, especially since he was a high priority client for the firm and my only client. Being a woman with an unhealthy and unattainable crush on Edward meant I simultaneously wanted to always be thinking about him and hated myself for every second I did think about him. Both of those things meant my head was in a constant state of confusion and frustration.

Thankfully, after I met Rose, she helped me find an outlet for confusion and frustration and the soul crushing anger I had felt when I moved to Los Angeles. It wasn't often I trained with her these days. I had been her guinea pig a lot when she was studying and preparing for her personal training certifications. My workouts alone were a lot simpler than hers, though she had organized my workout schedule. Cardio days and ab days and everything in between.

Today, though, I woke her up early and asked her to come with me. I already typically had trouble sleeping, but last night it was doubled with my mind constantly replaying my afternoon spent with Edward and his family.

I could come to terms with the fact that he wanted to get to know me because I was working so closely with him. It made sense for a parent to want to know someone who might come and go from their house with their kids in it. Edward wanting to know me really put a hinder on my plan to get over my crush on him, but I understood it.

The rest of his family, though, they were inquisitive ones too. Alice quizzed me on my life in Los Angeles. What gym do you go to? Where do you live? What does your roommate do? We should all do lunch! She was invasive but sweet and her happiness was infectious.

Carlisle was nearly as bad as his daughter. He wasn't pompous or arrogant, even though he had every right to be with his career. He would mumble things under his breath after someone at the table said something, usually little sarcastic remarks followed by a giggle from whoever was seated around him. He wasn't rude, simply trying to make everyone else laugh.

I also caught a few moments of Esme and Jasper's conversation. Most of what Jasper was talking about sounded like gibberish with all the medical terms, but Esme seemed fascinated as he talked about some new research study he was working on.

Even though I seemed to constantly feel Edward's eyes on me during the dinner, I kept mine off of him as much as possible. Because seeing him like that, happy and carefree and joking around with his kids, it did nothing to kill my butterflies. Seeing him smile and laugh and be the complete opposite of the man I once thought him to be was kind of excruciating.

Thus, I ended up at the gym at six in the morning the next day. With Rosalie pushing me harder than usual because I needed it. I needed the distraction of the burn in my abdomen and shoulders and legs. Needed to know I was strong enough, at least physically, to handle whatever the world threw at me. And it had a history of throwing me a lot of shitty punches.

I collapsed on the ground, finally spent, and Rosalie plopped down beside me.

"Stretch," she demanded, kicking my foot lightly with hers. I did as instructed, relaxing when my heart rate finally started to even out.

"So, are you going to tell me what has you all stressed besides work?" she asked, raising a perfectly sculpted brow at me.

Rosalie knew me better than anyone else in the world. She knew I wouldn't wake her up at six in the morning just because I wanted a good workout. Before I could spill all of my dirty secrets to her, Emmett bounded over.

"Hey, Bella? There are a couple kids at the front asking for you," he said softly, confusion laced in his voice.

"Kids?" I asked with a frown. I hopped up, Rosalie following me, and headed around the corner only to find Masen and Lucy waiting for me.

"What are you doing here?" I gasped, confused as hell.

"Can we talk to you? About our dad?" Lucy asked softly. Masen suddenly seemed very distracted by Rosalie.

My heart clenched. "Is he okay?"

"Yeah, I mean, yeah," Masen stuttered.

My mind started going a hundred miles a minute, the peaceful calm I had achieved after my workout gone. "Just give me a minute, okay?"

"Those are his kids?" Rose asked as I threw my jacket on over my sports bra and grabbed my keys and phone.

"Yeah. I don't even know how they knew I'd be here," I mumbled. "I'll see you later, okay?"

"Sure. Good luck," she added with a smile. Her desire to ask me questions swam behind her sparkly blue eyes, but she kept it to herself.

Once I got back to the front, Masen and Lucy followed me out. I had no idea how kids and ages worked, so I wasn't quite sure how to really act around them.

"Does your dad know you're here?" I asked as we stood awkwardly outside the gym. "Or your mom?"

"No," Lucy admitted, earning her a nudge from her brother.

I looked around, spotting a Starbucks across the street. "Let's talk in there," I said, nodding in its direction.

They followed me across the street and I felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility for them as they did. They were only sixteen. Yeah, they could drive and I'm sure they were competent enough to take care of themselves, but they were still kids. With me. When they shouldn't be.

The place was crowded, as every Starbucks was at seven-thirty in the morning. "You guys go snag a table."

I waited in line, ordering myself an iced coffee and two caramel Frappuccino's for Masen and Lucy. I was curious and more than a little nervous walking back over to them. They both stared up at me with wide, green eyes when I pushed the drinks in front of them.

"I was hoping the caramel Frappuccino addiction had been passed down to you two," I told them, hoping to break the awkward tension at the small table. Maybe I was the only one that felt awkward, though.

"Thanks," they smiled simultaneously.

"How'd you know where I would be?" I asked quickly.

"I heard you talking to Aunt Alice about your gym. You said you always did early mornings," Lucy admitted.

I nodded. I did have that conversation with Alice yesterday. "What did you want, then?"

"We want to help," Masen declared, his voice surprisingly stern. It reminded me too much of Edward's. When I frowned, he elaborated. "Our dad. You're helping him, and we want to help you."

I sighed, my panic subsiding and looked at the two kids sitting across from me. It was heartbreakingly sweet, how determined they looked to help their father.

"I hate the way people talk about him," Lucy admitted softly, staring down at her drink. I was pleased to realize that while she looked like her mother, her demeanor was much more pleasant than Irina's.

"I know," I agreed. "I do, too."

"So, can we help?"

I shook my head. "There's really nothing you can…"

"Is it because I checked you out the first time you were at the house? I'm sorry," Masen added quickly.

I smiled patiently at him. "No. It's okay. It's just, there's a lot that goes in to something like this. And, your father specifically told me you two were off limits. Besides, using your kids to improve your image is kind of a sleazy move."

"We're not kids," Masen argued.

"I know, I know. It's just…" Even if Edward hadn't told me his kids were off limits, I always thought it was bad practice to go the 'Hey, I've got kids I can't be a bad guy' route. They both looked so determined, though. So invested in helping their father that I didn't have the heart to turn them down.

"You could help him with his Instagram," I offered. "Get him to post a picture every week or so."

Both of their faces lit up and Lucy exclaimed, "I can do that!"

"That's it?" Masen asked with a frown.

"For now." I really didn't want to go against what Edward said about his family being the line, and I made a mental note to tell him about this visit by the end of the day.

I grabbed the napkin from my drink and a forgotten pen on the table, quickly writing down my phone number and pushing it across the table to them. "Call me next time you want to talk. Or if you need anything, okay?"

They both nodded and Lucy dropped the number into her bag.

I stood up to leave, grabbing my keys when Masen spoke up. "It was a good idea. Giving my mom and Demetri those NDAs."

His admission surprised me. While I was no fan of Irina, the kids spent a majority of their time with her and weekends with Edward. It was quite the dig at her if Masen was implying that she would go out of her way to hurt Edward.

I smiled softly at them both. "Can you get yourselves home? Or to school? Or…"

Masen smirked. "Yeah. I parked down the street."

Right. Sixteen meant they could drive. "Good. I'll see you around."

-B-

I had to rush to get ready once I got home. My mind was fuzzy and confused and I had the early signs of a migraine coming on. I pulled on a comfortable, grey cotton dress with a cinched knot at the waist and took a few Tylenol before leaving the house.

My entire drive to the theater was spent wondering whether I should tell Edward about my conversation with his kids this morning. My phone buzzed in my bag as I walked down the hall, dropping off Edward's coffee in his surprisingly empty office.

I stared down at the two messages I had, one from both Masen and Lucy so I would have their numbers in case I needed anything from them, too. Pocketing my phone, I looked up as I approached the door to my office, only to see a tall blonde pressed against Edward right on my door.

I froze, feeling my butterflies drop dead in my stomach, and tried to decide what to do. My legs couldn't decide whether to keep going straight or turn around and my eyes were unfortunately glued to the way the blonde was smiling in to her kiss with him.

Edward must have noticed me then, because he pushed her away gently and looked at me with wide eyes.

"Um, sorry. It's just, that's my, uh, office," I stuttered, pointing at the door behind Edward's back.

Edward's eyes looked sad, but that could have just been me projecting my own sudden crushing depression onto him. He muttered a curse, rubbing a hand roughly over his mouth and along his jaw.

The blonde, who I could now tell was one of the infamous six, smiled politely at me. Her name was Serena King and she was one of the actual supermodels he had been with in the past.

"Serena was dropping off the NDA you had sent to her," Edward said, his voice gruff but quiet.

I nodded, not trusting my voice. She held out the folder and I opened it, making sure everything looked okay. "Thank you," I said quietly, stepping around them when they finally moved away from my door.

I closed my door a little too roughly but I didn't care. I dropped the file on my desk and let my bag fall from my shoulder. Leaning against the wall, I slid down until my butt hit the ground and tears started flowing freely.

This whole thing… it was so stupid. I was stupid. I had gone twenty-two years without having a single crush. Then I go and have a butterfly-inducing, heartbreakingly intense one on my client. At the job I had been working my ass off for four years to get. When there were a million and one reasons why we could never have any kind of relationship outside of work.

I couldn't keep meeting his kids and having dinner with his family. There could be no more Starbucks treats in the mornings or sweet smiles as he walked out to film. I had to draw the line and stick to it before anything got worse.

Taking a few deep breaths, I picked myself up off of the floor. I stood by the door for a minute, listening to make sure the coast was clear before scurrying down the hall to the restroom.

Thankfully, it was empty. I grabbed a paper towel and blew my nose, hating myself for getting so sad at something I never had in the first place. Letting myself cry over someone who should have been nothing more than a client.

Shut it down before it's too late.

I ran my fingers gently under my eyes, collecting the smudged mascara that had collected there. The door opened and I barely kept myself from poking my eye out as I jumped.

Angela Weber walked in. She was one of the writers, a newer one if I was remembering correctly. She had stark black hair and almond eyes and a kind face. I hadn't said more than two words to her, but she hadn't put up a fuss about me approving what they wrote so that was a plus in my book.

"You okay?" she asked softly.

I nodded, tossing the paper towel and straightening myself up.

She reached her hand in the purse on her shoulder, holding out a miniature chocolate bar to me. "Need some chocolate?"

My brows shot up and my eyes met hers before I took it. "Thanks."

"You're doing a good job, you know. The show is slowly improving, I think."

I nodded, unsure of what to say. My communication skills were iffy in situations where someone hadn't just walked in on my emotional breakdown.

"I'm here if you need to talk. Or need some chocolate," she added with a smile.

I offered her the best smile I could manage in return. "Thanks," I repeated, leaving quickly.

The rest of the day, I exiled myself in my office. I responded to emails and approved scripts and turned down more than one pornographic film deal for Edward. Work had always been my best distraction, and it worked today because by the time I looked up again as there was a knock at my door it was nearing four.

"Come in," I called, trying to keep my voice firm because I knew who it was. There was only ever one person who came to visit me in my office.

He was in a suit, dark blue with a crisp white shirt on underneath. I only let my eyes linger on him for a minute before returning back to my computer. It took every ounce of determination I had to beat my butterflies to death before they filled my stomach at his presence.

"You weren't at rehearsal," he said softly, leaning against the door jam.

"I was busy."

There was an uncomfortable silence between the two of us.

"Did you need something?" I asked, trying to keep my voice sharp.

Edward waited to respond until my eyes were on him. "I'm sorry about earlier. I didn't know she was going to show up and – "

"It's fine," I snapped. "Although, for future reference, I would avoid blatant displays of affection with other women in the hallway while you're trying to run with the idea that you're happily married."

Edward's eyes hardened and his shoulders tensed. "Right," he grunted with a nod, leaving without another word.

This was what I needed. Harsh words and glares. The smiles and jokes, those were no good. Or too good. Either way, I couldn't let it happen anymore.

-B-

How I managed to survive the week until Friday, I wasn't sure. Edward and I barely spoke. He was mad at me because I was mad at him. And I was mad at him because he wasn't the asshole he was supposed to be. Which, in turn, turned him in to kind of an asshole. It was a vicious cycle that I had created myself.

I ended up sitting on the floor, my back against the couch with a pizza box in front of me. I changed in to my most comfortable sweatpants and a Tonight Show with Edward Cullen t-shirt because I was a glutton for punishment. Rosalie had gotten it for me as a joke after I first told her about him becoming my client.

My pizza was untouched and the television wasn't even on in front of me when Rose walked in. She sat silently beside me.

"I have a crush on Edward Cullen," I admitted softly, my voice cracking at his name.

"He still gives you butterflies?" Rose asked quietly. I had forgotten I told her about the butterflies after my first meeting with him.

"Yeah," I answered. "They get worse every day."

"He's married, Bella," Rose added, her voice more concerned than I had ever heard her.

I turned my head in her direction, hoping to tell her with my eyes what I could verbalize. Because I did have an NDA and I couldn't tell anyone about my job or the secrets I held. Not even Rose, even though I trusted her completely.

"Oh."

"I don't know how to make it go away. I've tried, but nothing works." I've tried being nice to him, hoping my relationship would turn platonic. I've tried hating him all week and it just made me sad and lonely. It was so fucking stupid of me, missing someone I never had.

Edward was never mine to lose. He was my job. And I was the idiotic girl who got heartbroken over her first client. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

"Sometimes," Rose sighed, wrapping her arm through mine. My head fell to her shoulder. "Sometimes, you just have to ride it out."

"That's not a very good answer," I grumbled.

"I know," she went on. "I'm sorry the first guy you've ever liked is… him."

"Yeah," I whimpered, traitorous tears starting to spill out of my eyes. "Me too."

-B-

"I have everything set for New York the week after next," I added. Edward and I's weekly meeting hadn't happened at his home this weekend. I never asked him for a meeting and he never mentioned it to me, either. Instead, on Monday I walked in to his office to let him know how things were going.

"We'll leave Saturday morning and you can watch that weeks episode being filmed. Then you start working on your episode Monday. We'll come back the following Sunday."

Distance. Distance was the key. That would be a lot easier to accomplish if I wasn't about to be in New York with him for over a week. I had spent days trying to convince myself I could send him without me, but too much could go wrong. And I was determined to fix his image, and not just because I had an all-consuming frustrating as hell crush on him.

Sure, I might have spent all weekend moping in my bed. And it took every ounce of willpower I had to not acknowledge the butterflies floating around in my chest. But I was still here and getting my job done. As torturous as every day was.

"Don't bother booking flights. We can take my parents' plane," Edward said, voice devoid of emotion.

"Oh, I don't need to…"

Edward rolled his eyes. "It's just a plane, Isabella. They're staying in town for the foreseeable future and get their feelings hurt if any of their children attempt to fly commercial with it ready. It's easier, safer, and faster. I'll send you the information."

I had also been reverted to Isabella. It happened at the same time I started attempting to keep my distance from him. Somehow it managed to hurt my feelings, but I wasn't sure why. I brought it on myself.

"Um, okay," I sighed, editing the calendar on my computer in my lap. "I think that's it."

I packed up my things and stood. I was nearly out the door when he said, "Did you tell my children to make me use that Instagram account?"

"What?" I gasped, turning to face him. I heard the question. Understood it. Just didn't want to answer.

"Every three days one of them tries to get me to use it. Like fucking clockwork."

My impromptu meeting with them had happened the morning I saw him with Serena. It had been my plan to tell him about it, then everything went to hell and it completely slipped my mind.

To his credit, he had been using it. The pictures he, or probably Masen and Lucy, posted were the only times I really saw him smile these days.

"They showed up at my gym one morning. I took them to Starbucks and they were desperate for some way to help you. I told them no repeatedly but they're just as stubborn as you. That was the simplest thing I could think of to give them on the spot."

"I told you they were – "

"I know what you said, Mr. Cullen," I sighed, feeling completely defeated. "I didn't seek them out. They came to me. I'm sorry I forgot to tell you."

I made my way down to my office with my head down. I was tired of fighting with him and I could tell he wasn't trying as hard on the show, too. The writers were back to trying to squeeze in everything they thought was funny, but half of it the public would call insensitive.

I knew I was being a little picky. Most of it was probably fine. But Edward was walking a fine line and one wrong thing could push him over. At the end of the day, my job was basically to protect him and only him.

Later that afternoon, I took my spot by the cue-card guy. His name was Paul and he was probably my only friend in the building. Him and Angela, who stopped by my office sometimes just to say hi.

Edward came out and the cheers were right on cue. He started the monologue I had approved a few hours ago, but then I heard a name I had definitely nixed from it.

My eyes went wide and I slid my hand quickly across my throat, hoping Edward could see me through the lights aimed at him. His brows flinched, resisting turning into a frown and he only slightly stuttered over himself.

"Jack Taylor… he's here tonight to perform two songs from his upcoming album. You wouldn't know, though, because there is absolutely no one in the audience only here for him," he added with a smirk, earning a round of mind-numbing screams from the audience full of everyone who was only here to see him.

I sighed in relief, grateful for his quick thinking. I mouthed thank you to him before leaving the stage.

I had cut that line. I knew I had because I double checked about four times to make sure it was gone.

The writers' room was still full of everyone, a slew of sandwiches in the middle of the table was they watched the taping from the television hanging in the corner of the room.

"Who added the Jack Taylor joke back in?" I snapped, eying everyone. They were all wide eyes and snickers and no answers. "Who added it?"

"Shit, I did," James chuckled. "It was a good joke. Cullen just has no taste, recovering like that."

I rolled my eyes, my hands coming to fists at my side. "Jack Taylor is the grandson of the head of this fucking network," I hissed through clenched teeth. "He uses a pseudo name."

"Oh."

"Oh?" I barked, my eyes going wide. "That's your response? You could have singlehandedly gotten this show off the air within about twenty-four hours if that had gone through."

"We could have edited it out before the show aired," James grumbled.

"You don't think the audience full of teenagers who have basically devoted their lives to Jack Taylor wouldn't have posted about it in an hour? Or that someone in this building wouldn't have let it slip to someone else and news would have eventually gotten to his grandfather?"

It had been a really long time since I had been this furious. I was so tired of everything from having to pretend to hate Edward to having to defend every single decision I ever made. So fucking tired of no one ever listening to me.

"You don't mention tabloids calling the grandson of your bosses bosses bosses boss a lice infested ratand then ensure the audience you had him fucking checked before he got there!" I groaned.

"If anyone pulls shit like that again I will personally make sure you are fired on the spot, do you understand?"

There were muttered agreements as I left, slamming the door behind me. I was no one's boss. I had no power over who was hired or fired at the show. But if someone pulled anything like that again I would do my damndest to get rid of them as soon as possible.

I spent the next two hours sitting in my office, head in my hands, fighting back against every memory of people never caring enough to listen to me.

"You're overreacting, Bella. It's just a scratch, and Tyler is sorry. Right, son?"

"You need to be more careful, Bella. I'm tired of spending so much time in the emergency room."

"Your mom wouldn't let that happen, Bell. You just need to keep yourself upright."

"I'm tired of that girl blaming my son, Ren. She's a bold-faced, liar."

"Isabella?" Edward's voice broke me out of my thoughts.

I wiped my eyes quickly, a few unfortunate tears stuck in my lashes. He was standing in the doorway, still in his suit.

"Angela told me what happened," he said softly, walking a few steps in. It was a small office, so a couple steps put him right in front of me at my desk. "Good catch."

"Good recovery," I added quietly.

I felt his eyes on me and I avoided looking up at him for as long as possible. He was waiting for it, though. Had to be, because he wasn't budging.

His eyes were full of questions when I finally gave in. Maybe questions about my outburst at the writers or my sudden coldness directed at him last week. I hated my urge to jump up and run to him, to make the sadness in his eyes go away and the hope that maybe he could make mine go away, too.

"You're doing a good job, Bella," he added quietly. I watched, holding my breath, when his hand came up to my face slowly. His thumb gently flicked away an embarrassing, escaped tear that had fallen down my cheek.

His smile was sad when he turned and walked away.

A/N: Slow and steady with these two… kind of the complete opposite of the Hopeless series, huh? Hope you're enjoying it so far. Thank you for all of your kind words!

You can find a BKOB pinterest board for some of my inspo if you're interested – just search for fragilelittleflame to find me. See you Friday!

EDIT: My apologies for having mixing up the names Lucy and Maggie in the last couple chapters. Edward's daughter is named Lucy. Wont happen again!