4. Prompt by Thaigher Lillie- The Silver Stallion
August 26, 2014 Day 2: Schedule—
1. Ask Edward if there is a budget to redecorate the office.
2. Type up proposal for advertising.
3. Hint to Edward I'd very much enjoyed spending lunch with him yesterday and hope he asks me again today.
From: Isabella Swan
Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2014 11:06 AM
To: Edward Cullen
Cc:
Subject: Office waiting area
Edward—
With the excitement and prospect of looking for new clients yesterday, I forgot to ask you about a budget for updating the office/reception area a bit. I'd like to have a comfortable area that we may welcome our clients, minus fly traps and dingy window coverings :)
Please let me know the parameters of this task at your earliest convenience.
I very much enjoyed having lunch with you yesterday and hope that we may have additional opportunities for lunch meetings.
-Bella Swan, Office Administrator
Pies Among Us & Cullen Intelligence and Securities
Office: (555) 595-5329
Fax: (555) 595-5330
Xx
Edward had yet to surface this morning from his office, so I wasn't sure what our current footing was. When we left yesterday, everything seemed great. We had a friendly, yet productive lunch, and then an afternoon filled with brainstorming regarding reaching out to the community to promote both businesses. I even felt like we'd settled in with a comradery that was professional, yet laid back. I'd even thought that I could call Edward friend, so it was a bit of a surprise when he'd taken measures to avoid me thus far, today. He didn't come out for morning coffee, and had waited until I went to the restroom to retrieve his messages and mail. My hope was that by reaching out via email, I could coax him out of his office and into the easy going character I'd gotten to know over the last few days.
It was only a few minutes later that my spirits momentarily lifted when Edward's door opened and he stepped out, coat buttoned, hat in hand.
"Bella, I will be out the rest of the afternoon. I will see you tomorrow." His tone was flat and there was no eye contact as he walked toward the door. I'd begun to wonder if perhaps Edward thought he'd made a mistake by hiring me. "Oh, and there's a thousand dollars in petty cash for office upkeep. Use whatever you need to make this area presentable," he mumbled. With those parting words, he closed the door behind him.
My guess was that we weren't going to try the Indian restaurant for lunch today.
Xx
"What's wrong, Bella Bird?" My mother asked as I picked at my dinner. I was hesitant to confide in her. I wanted to be a grown-up and deal with my own problems for a change, not complain so that someone would swoop in and fix everything.
"It's just work."
"How is your new boss? Is he mean?"
"No, my new boss is great. He's just hard to read sometimes is all." It was the truth. I'd thought that Edward and I had become friends, but clearly after the cold reception he gave me today, I'd misinterpreted things. It was a little more disappointing than it should have been. I'd known the guy for less than a week, so it shouldn't have been so upsetting that he was giving me the cold shoulder. Plus, my ex was the master of the cold shoulder, so I certainly should have been used to it by now. Edward seemed different though, and I'd wondered more than once if there wasn't a mutual attraction blooming between us. I tapped it down so far because it seemed too soon after my separation to be looking for a relationship, but realistically, I'd checked out of my last relationship emotionally long before I ever did it physically.
As I lay in bed that night, I couldn't help but replay all my interactions with Edward. I even wondered if I should start calling him Mr. Cullen again. Maybe he would see that he was driving a wedge between us. He'd even said that Mr. Cullen was his cold and distant father, so perhaps he just needed a little reminder. I knew there was a good guy in there—he'd just forgotten to come out today. I wasn't ready to give up on Edward yet.
From: Cullen, Edward
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2014 06:26 AM
To: Isabella Swan
Cc:
Subject: Job well done
Bella—
Thank you for sending out the advertisement packages yesterday. We've already received a query from a night club, The Silver Stallion. I am meeting with them today, so I will not be in the office again but will be checking my email via mobile. Please contact me if you have a problem that cannot wait until tomorrow.
Thanks, and make it a great day!
-Edward Cullen, CEO.
Pies Among Us & Cullen Intelligence and Securities
Office: (555) 595-5329
Cell: (555)977-8745
Fax: (555) 595-5330
I guess that answered my question as to whether or not Edward was done giving me the cold shoulder.
