Hello sweethearts, heres chapter 3. Thanks for the reviews, I'm happy to read that you are enjoying my story so far…
But keep the reviews coming, and maybe I will update before Monday!
Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns all things twilight. Prickward is mine, all mine! LOL
Chapter 3: Long time no see...
The weekend moved on fast. Alice and Rosalie took me out for a girl's trip to a local wellness spa Saturday, sensing I could use one after the craptastic Friday I had had. They didn't ask any questions, they knew me well enough to know, that I would bring up the subject, when I was ready to talk. Trough the day, thoughts of Edward didn't slip into my mind at all. The treatments there really helped me clean my mind, and I promised my self to get an appointment next time my work was giving me a headache.
Sunday, I worked on getting into my new job so I would be as prepared as possible when I walked into the office on Monday. The workload increased when I got promoted, as could be expected by a first assistant, so I had a great deal of information to read and meetings to plan for the next weeks to come.
Fortunately my focus had been on my job the most the day, so I had little time to even think much about anything besides work. I was exhausted when I finally went to sleep and looked forward to bury myself in my new assignments in the following week. Anything was better than reliving my miserable past with Edward.
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When Monday morning finally arrived, I was surprised as to how well rested I was. Apparently working like crazy meant I got a good night sleep and because I woke early, I had enough time to take my time in the shower and make myself a delicious breakfast.
I was in a good mood when I started my car and drove on my way to work. The sun was shining and spring was finally here. It had taken some time before the winter finally gave up and the warmer weather at last won the battle. In my positive state of mind, I couldn't help thinking that seeing Edward on the street last Friday, maybe was a sign from God or fate if you like, that he had moved on and so should I.
Even though it still hurt to see him with another woman, this could be the event that made me move forward and find a man who would appreciate me and love me back. I hadn't dated other men in the last year since my breakup with Edward. I neither trusted men or my own judgment for that matter, when it concerned falling in love and finding a new partner. But now I felt I could look forward to a new chapter of my life. That I could see beyond the past, to the future and all the possibilities that it held.
My drive to work went by faster than usually, as the roads were nearly empty at this time in the morning, and suddenly I was at the office building, which held the Estelle office. I drove down to the underground car park and parked my car as near to the elevator as possible. I hated when I had to go search for my car in the big, creepy car park. It reminded me too much of the thriller movies I had seen, and sent chills down my spine, even though I knew there was no real danger.
The office was nearly empty when I got off the elevator. Only the receptionist in the lobby, and a few early workers had met in. It gave me the space I needed to clear my head, while I prepared the day's meetings and assignments. I couldn't help rejoice and smile inwardly while I went on with my work.
My boss was a sweetheart. While she hadn't had any problem with being bossy and complaining if anything didn't live up to her expectations, she was also appreciative, encouraging, helpful and funny. All in all she was a fantastic boss, and deserved her job title fully. I was so glad I was transferred from Jessica's part of the office to Angela's, a half year ago.
Jessica had a problem with being appreciative or even friendly, especially towards me. While I had dealt with bosses like her in my former jobs, her anger towards me made my job hard if not impossible. And at times I felt she was sabotaging me on purpose. Angela could see that I was a hard worker, who was inhibited by my boss, and she took me under her wings, when a position as her second assistant was open. It was one of the happiest days of my life, when I got the news I was the one who got it. And now I was her first assistant.
I inwardly made a happy dance while I thought about the weeks to come. As a first assistant to Angela I had privileges that no other assistants had. I would travel with her to Paris, New York, London! I would have a say in the projects she asked me to look trough. This was going to be awesome!
Angela came into my office 5 to 8. She looked stunning as always in a coral-red D&G suit, and seemed really happy to see me.
She gave me a hug and looked me over; a worried expression came on her face, she looked like my mom did when I stayed up too late on school nights, reading books.
"Bella, you look worn out. You haven't used too much of your weekend preparing for work? I did tell you to go celebrate!" She smiled
"No, I celebrated! I went with Alice and Rosalie to club 81; it's a really great club."
"Yeah, I hear about it all the time. I like to go but haven't really had the chance lately. Between work and Ben, there hasn't been much time left to go clubbing." Angela smiled blissfully and blushed a bit. "Besides he really hate going to "chicks clubs" as he call it." She continued as she shook her head and chuckled
Ben and Angela was newly weds, really happy ones that is. They had been married for a month, and I often heard Angela sigh in pure contentment, after they came home from their honeymoon. I met Ben once when he visited her at the office; he seemed like a really nice guy.
We changed the subject to the day's events. Angela's and my calendar were packed, thanks to the meeting with Estelle Magazines ad firm. We were cooperating with the firm to launch a campaign that would outdistance our magazine from our competitors. We were going to work on this project the next two weeks, and I looked forward to take a part in it.
"So, Bella today is really important. Were meeting with Taylor Advertising, and are discussing the development of our brand. As you know we like to find a way to make our magazine stand out amongst all the other magazines, and I like you to give me your honest opinion on that subject."
I looked at her with what was clearly a stunned expression. I had expected to have a say in some small projects but not in one as massive as this. We were talking about the whole magazine here, not just a fashion reportage on which shoes was a musthave this month.
"Bella you have a brilliant mind and some really good ideas, I've learned that in the few months you been my second assistant." She gave me a warm smile, while she continued "To have you at my side in this project is really a support to me. You know the magazine really well and since you have been an assistant to a creative leader in an advertising firm, your knowledge really comes in handy."
I was still baffled that she wanted me to be involved in this project so much, and felt embarrassed about the fact that I was fired from said job, but I agreed to tell her my ideas and work with her on the project.
She smile widely, hugged me and told me we were going to be an excellent team. I really hoped I could live up to her expectations; she had believed me and cheered me on when my self-esteem was at a low point, I owed her so much.
The meeting was scheduled to be held in the big meeting room at 10 that morning, and after we had gone trough or plans for the day and the coming week, I went on to prepare for the meeting. I made sure the projector communicated with the laptop, that the wireless internet connection worked on said laptop, and thereafter went on to collect the refreshments. When I finally was done making everything ready for the meeting the time said 9.40, and I assessed that was just enough time for me, to take a trip to the ladies. One newer knew how long such meetings took, and you could be stuck in that room for hours. It was better to go and do your business when you could.
I felt giddy and excited when I walked back to the meeting room, I couldn't wait to start on the project. The room was nearly full when I walked into it, I took a seat beside Alice who looked like she soon were going to burst right out of her seat, I clearly wasn't the only one keyed up. This project had been on everyone's lips the past week, and we all looked forward to the launch of the campaign.
At 10.57 I heard Angela's voice outside the door to the meeting room, I was eager to meet the people I was going to work close together with, over the next two weeks.
Angela walked in with a smile on her lips and started talking as soon as she stood before us, at the end of the long conference table.
"As you all know, we have had a hard time braking trough at the magazine market, and it is my conviction that is because Estelle magazine are too similar to the magazines that already exist. Therefore I have summoned our advertising firm, Taylor Advertising, here to help us find a strategy that works and in addition to that, help us launch a campaign that will make us as visible as our competitors."
"Now I will present the man, who will help us along with this project."
"Everybody, please welcome - Edward Cullen and his assistant Tanya Denali"
What the hell?
Is this some kind of sick joke??
Oh please dear God, please let it be a joke!
But my prayers was futile, because there he was, Edward fucking Cullen, the man I had hoped newer to meet again, my personal Hell and Heaven in one handsome package, with the blonde woman he had talked to outside the restaurant, standing at his side.
Edward eyed me the second he came into the room; it was almost as if he had been expecting to see me here. He didn't seem surprised, he seemed…smug, like he finally had me were he wanted. Maybe he had only taken this assignment to play a little with me, a little cat after the mice, since I was the one that broke our relationship. Maybe his male ego was hurt. That shouldn't surprise me, that prick.
"Hi Bella" Edward said with all the charm he could muster "Long time no see"
Everyone in the room stared at me, but I didn't care, I concentrated on putting him on ice.
"Hello Mr. Cullen" I replied back sharply with a cold smile, and hopefully made it clear that I would do nothing but business with him.
He just raised his eyebrows a bit as he welcomed the challenge, smiled warmly and greeted the rest of the group, and to my bad luck his charm worked on every single one of them, even the straight guys! Not that I could blame them entirely. I could remember my first impression of him, and to say that I was quite taken with him was an understatement.
But now I knew what lied under that charming surface, - a cold and calculated man, whose sole purpose was to promote himself, and enhance his own position in society, with no concern for the people and the life he crushed on the way to the top.
This was going to be two dreadful weeks, I longed for them to be over so I could get back to my uncomplicated life. I just had to get trough this, and then I would newer see him again, I prayed.
