Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. Twilight character names belong to Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter 5 – Only for you

I sat at my desk staring through the open door at the small section of Edward's office within my view, a mahogany bookshelf standing next to a matching filing cabinet.

Drawers opened and slammed, papers shifted noisily about, and keyboard buttons were pushed forcefully. Minutes passed as I sat, staring into Edward's office, in a sort of trance, until his mumbled voice met my ears. He was on the phone and sounded irritated.

I listened, trying to decipher any words I could while starting up my computer. I couldn't. Watching my computer flicker through the process of booting up, I noticed a change in Edward's tone. His voice rose, the mumbles turning into distinct words.

"You knew, you fucking knew, didn't you?" There was a long pause. "Don't fucking tell me that…no, I was out of town when she interviewed," he growled, pausing once more. Is he talking about me? "You'd better have a fucking good explanation or you're going to regret your existence." He must have forcefully slammed the phone into its base, because there was a loud clatter and I noticed the light for number one on my phone flicker off.

Edward walked to his door, which was also in my view, opened it, and stormed out. Within minutes he was back, at my desk, panting as if he'd gone for a run.

"Is everything okay, Mr. Masen?"

Taking a moment to catch his breath, he reached out and placed a thick manuscript on the desk in front of me.

I grabbed it, the neatly typed title, Those Who Wait, stared up at me.

"What's this?" I looked at him and he grinned, though his eyes looked pained.

"It's a manuscript I would like you to read and work on."

I could feel my mouth spread into a beaming smile, nearly hurting my cheeks, but it soon faded, my face scrunching up in confusion. "Um…I didn't think my job consisted of…"

He cut me off. "Are you refusing an assignment?"

I gasped, "Oh, no. I'm sorry, Mr. Masen. Of course, I would be thrilled to take this on. I was just confused. I'd been given the impression my job consisted of, well…pretty much sitting here, waiting for you to call me."

He laughed out loud, humor replacing the pained look. "Who told you that? Alice?"

I grinned and nodded.

He stopped smiling, all traces of humor gone, and growled, "Did you just answer me by nodding your head?"

I caught my breath. Shit! I'd forgotten his demand that I answer him verbally at all times. "Oh, I'm sorry. Yes, Mr. Masen, Alice told me."

He grabbed my phone, pressing number two, and grumbled into the receiver, "Alice, meet me in the conference room…now."

Hanging up, quite forcefully, he turned and stormed out of the office.

It certainly was turning out to be an interesting morning. I looked down at the manuscript. The author's name, Ankit, typed neatly at the bottom. That was it. No last name, unless that was the author's last name, so it made me a bit curious. I flipped open to the first page and began reading.

Good things come to those who wait. That's what they say, but I've been waiting my whole life, and I've yet to have a good thing come…and stay.

The story went on to describe the wonderful childhood of a boy with hopes and dreams, and I was so captivated, deep into his world of love and carefree childish romps, I didn't notice Edward standing over me.

"How's it coming along?"

Startled by his voice, I gasped, nearly jumping out of my seat. "Shit! Ed…I mean, Mr. Masen, you scared me."

He grinned, "Payback is a bitch isn't she?"

I smiled, clearly remembering how I'd startled him earlier that morning. The thought of him in nothing but jeans flashed through my mind, making me blush. "Yes, Mr. Masen, yes she is."

Reaching over, he ran his fingers along my cheek. "You're blushing. May I ask, why?"

"I'd rather not divulge."

He pulled his hand away and ran it through his hair, reminding me of the little secret I still had in my pocket. Inwardly, I was beaming.

I watched as his face went from curiosity, to amusement. "So," he murmured, leaning closer to me, his nose inches from mine, "you want to call me Edward, don't you?"

Oh, God, yes! "Not if you'd rather I didn't."

"But you want to."

"Um…I'm not comfortable calling people by their last names. It seems too impersonal."

"So, you want to have a more…personal relationship with me?" He reached over and ran his fingers along the edge of my collar, lightly touching the side of my neck. "Less…businesslike?"

My body wanted him to touch me, in fact, I wanted to strip right then and there and take him on my very desk, but my inner Bella interfered, eyes glaring, fist in my face once again. My words shot out at him like daggers. "Mr. Masen, if you're asking whether I'd like to be another one of your fuck buddies, I'd rather not."

He stepped back, his brow furrowing, eyes blazing. "I don't want to fuck you, Miss Swan. In fact, you're the last woman in the world I would fuck."

I watched him storm out of the office, returning moments later with Irina, one of the staff.

He walked into my office and glared at me. "Get the fuck out."

"Where should I…"

"Just take the fucking manuscript and go the fuck somewhere else." Nostrils flaring, face reddened, I thought for sure his head would explode if I didn't get out right away.

As I passed Irina, I looked at her. Her head was down, eyes on her feet, but I could see the smirk on her face.

"Have a nice fuck," I told her as I walked out, hearing the door slam behind me.

Alice was by my side before I could take two breaths.

"Oh, no," she breathed. "What did you do?"

"What do you mean?"

She grabbed my hand and led me to the conference room, closing the door and locking it behind her. I watched as she closed the blinds and scurried about, moving objects, placing material over some items.

"Okay."

"What was that for?"

"I covered the cameras and microphones so you-know-who won't invade our privacy."

"Won't you get in trouble?"

"Nah, he puts up with me."

I pulled out a chair and sat down, feeling a bit confused. I could certainly understand why he didn't think I would last one day. Any sane woman would have bailed by now. My sanity was quickly becoming questionable.

Alice walked up and sat on the table next to me, swinging her legs, looking down at me in expectation.

I needed to explain things to her. Of all people, she would probably be the only one to understand, and possibly give me constructive advice. She'd known Edward for so long, maybe she could shed some light on his behavior.

She grinned and nodded as I described the previous night's events. "Yes, he told me about that."

"He told you?"

"Yes, this morning in the conference room."

"Oh." I remembered him leaving my office earlier to meet with her.

I continued on with my story, Alice's grin turning into a deep frown when I neared the end. She laughed at the comment I made to Irina.

"Good for you, honey. Irina deserved it, but I wish you hadn't refused Edward like that."

What the fuck? "You think I should let him fuck me like all the other women?"

"No, that's not what I meant. I'm just saying you shouldn't rub it in his face. He's not proud of the way he deals with stress."

At that I had to laugh. "Alice, I'm stressed and I don't go around acting like a whore."

She shrugged. "It's the only way he knows how to deal."

"Deal with what?"

"His loss." She crossed her hands and took a deep breath. "Edward has been through a lot, Bella. There are things you just don't understand. I know I gave you a horrid impression of him yesterday, and none of it was false, but I knew what would happen between the two of you had I not warned you."

I nodded. "I would have slept with him."

"No doubt."

I reached for her hand, taking it in mine. "Thank you," I murmured, squeezing her fingers lightly.

"No problem."

We were startled when Edward barged into the room. "Alice, we need to talk." He looked at me. "You can go back to your office."

The look on his face scared me. He wasn't angry anymore, but either worried or really frightened.

"Yes, sir," I responded, grabbing the manuscript and making my way back to my desk.

As I walked past the cubicles, I glanced at Irina, who was whispering with four giggling women. It made me sick. Get fucked and brag. I wouldn't brag. Then again…

I thought of his perfection, how his close proximity sent my body into another dimension, his breath caressing my neck, his fingers grazing my skin. Oh, you know you would. I nodded to myself and hurried back to my desk.

Time passed and I continued reading, Those Who Wait, reaching the first conflict, the death of the boy's loving parents.

My wounded heart ached for my mother's loving embrace, my father's protection. Things I would never experience again and, at the tender age of ten, my childhood was over.

Those words ripped me apart inside, accessing parts of my memory I thought I'd lost. The pain of losing my parents, though I couldn't remember how, came to the forefront, pushing me into despair.

Tears crawled down my cheeks, my nose a runny mess, and as the words blurred before me. I couldn't read anymore.

"Here." Edward's unexpected voice made me flinch.

I looked up and saw the handkerchief he was offering me.

"Thank you." I took it and turned away from him to clean up my leaky face.

"If it's too much for you, you don't have to finish reading it."

Swiveling my chair back to face him, I stammered, "No, I um…I really like it." And I did, it was no lie. "I want to finish this assignment."

His mouth pulled up into that sexy ass crooked smile and I nearly hyperventilated right then and there. I had to look away.

"I'm sorry I treated you so harshly earlier."

"I thought you never apologized."

He frowned. "I don't." His brow furrowed and he looked down at the manuscript, fingering its edges. "For some odd reason, I feel the need to apologize to you quite frequently." Looking back up at me, I could see the sincerity in his eyes. "You have no idea what you do to me, Miss Swan. I am perplexed by the force of it all." With that he turned and walked out, once again leaving me to my thoughts.

Minutes later Alice appeared. "You ready for lunch?"

"Sure." I got up and followed her to the lounge where everyone was already eating.

We joined Jake once again.

"Hello, Bella." He smiled brightly, and I felt immediate comfort. There was something about Jake I really liked.

Alice brought up a manuscript she was reading and the two of them went off into a conversation about the similarities in plot. When they'd taken a moment to continue eating, I took the opportunity to mention my manuscript.

"Mr. Masen gave me a manuscript to look at this morning."

"Really?" Jake's attention shifted to me, forgetting about his food.

"Yeah."

"Who's the author?" He asked taking a swig of his drink.

"Ankit."

Jake spit his drink across the table, choking on it, and Alice's head snapped toward me, choking on her food as well.

After taking a moment to compose themselves, they looked at each other and then to me.

"Did I hear you right?" Alice asked. "Did you say, Ankit?"

"Um…yeah. What's the big deal?"

Just then, Edward walked into the lounge. He glanced in my direction, my eyes catching his, and continued on to grab a plate.

The whole room went silent.

"What does he think he's doing?" Alice's question was undoubtedly spoken thoughts not meant to be heard.

She looked at me, brows furrowed, then back at him.

"Is there a problem?" I asked, not caring about the volume of my voice.

Everyone turned to me as if to say, "Shut up!"

"Edward never eats with us," Alice whispered.

Everyone's eyes went back to Edward, watching as he piled food onto his plate. He turned, looking rather uncomfortable, and glanced around the room, his eyes stopping on mine once again. My heart twisted as I saw the discomfort in his eyes as he stepped forward, toward my table, and then did an about face and walked out of the lounge.

Everyone resumed conversation as I grabbed my plate and stood.

"Where are you going?" Alice and Jake asked simultaneously, turning to each other and saying "Jinks!" once again at the same time. They burst into giggles and I had to smile.

"I'm going to eat in my office. I'm really into this manuscript I'm reading."

"Ankit's story…" Alice shook her head slowly.

"Yeah, we'll talk about it later."

I turned to leave when Jake's voice caught my attention. "Hey, Bella?"

Looking back at him, I had to smile. His face was too adorable. "Would you like to go to dinner with me, tonight?"

Alice's head whipped around to glare at him, as if to say, "What the fuck are you doing?"

It made me curious, so I accepted. "I'd love to, Jake. Meet me in the lobby after work."

I turned, leaving a shocked Alice and beaming Jake, and made my way back to the place I knew Edward was.

When I walked through the door, Edward was sitting at the end of the large table in the conference room. He looked like a sulky child. I made my way to the seat next to him and sat down.

"What do you want?" he snapped.

"I would like to have lunch with you, Mr. Masen. Unless you'd rather eat alone."

"No. I quite enjoy your company, Miss Swan." Then he whispered, so low I wasn't sure I heard correctly, "You have no idea how much."

"Excuse me?" I asked.

He looked up at me, eyes pleading. "Let it go…for me?"

I nodded. "Sure."

We continued eating in silence, quick glances passing between us, and my mind suddenly shifted to Irina. I had to ask.

"Please don't get angry with me, Mr. Masen, but why do you feel the need to…be…with every woman in this office?"

"I don't…and I believe the word you're looking for is fuck."

I looked down at my food, pushing kernels of corn around with my fork.

He sighed heavily. "Don't do that. I'm not angry with you." He reached his hand over to stop me from demolishing my food with my fork. "Bella, please look at me."

Bella? What happened to Miss Swan? I looked up at him and found his troubled eyes.

"I didn't fuck her if that's what you'd like to hear."

I smiled.

He removed his hand from mine, raising one eyebrow. "Do you find that funny?"

"No, I'm just glad you had the strength to restrain."

He looked down, pushing his plate away from him. "Actually, I didn't."

"Did she refuse you?"

He frowned. "Nobody refuses me, Miss Swan," he motioned with his hand toward me, "with one exception." He looked across the room at nothing in particular, undoubtedly making a decision. "Well, I'm sure you'll hear it buzzing throughout the office sometime, so I might as well tell you now."

He took in a deep breath and gazed into my eyes. "I didn't even touch her. My dick refused to respond, so I called in four more women, one at a time of course, and my dick refused each of them as well."

"So, you're manhood is failing you is he?"

His gaze turned into a furious glare. "My dick works fucking fine," he growled, standing and pulling me up by my arm. He shoved me against the wall, pressing his body into mine, and I felt his manhood grow against me, firmly standing between us.

"Oh," I gasped, and my inner Bella smiled wickedly.

He shifted his hips, rubbing his length against my pleasure spot, making me moan. His lips were so close to mine I was sure he would kiss me. I leaned forward, but he moved his head to the side, murmuring in my ear. "It seems to only work for you." He ran his hands up my sides, leaving a deep burning in my core. "Since I can't fuck you, I guess I'm shit out of luck aren't I?" He shifted his hips once more, sending tremors through my body, before he turned and stormed out, leaving me panting against the wall.