A/N: I do not own these characters.
Special thanks to cookie my beta. She takes my ideas and makes them shine.
Another thanks to all of my reviewers. I really like to hear what you think.
That weekend with Bella was amazing. It started out with the drunken strip game in the bar Friday night and waking up to her feeding me breakfast. Sex in the kitchen, the living room, my bedroom, the shower. I could still smell the freesia on me. We spent most of the day Saturday in my apartment. I had to get as much of her as I could. After all, the plan was to let her go this morning. I didn't know how I was going to do that. What the fuck was I supposed to do? I wanted her today, I wanted her tomorrow, I wanted her next week and next fucking year. This was not good. Relationships in the workplace get complicated. I had always avoided them, always. Now I was blindsided, not in control and completely crazy for her, and she felt the same for me. Her proclamations Saturday were amazing. "Edward, I really want this." I was hearing her say those words over and over again. She said it wasn't about the sex either. Fuck, Bella! I really wanted that too. I was starting to think she might be the one, which surprised the shit out of me.
It was now Monday morning and I was headed for a date I was not looking forward to. Jacob Black. He had called that morning, telling me how important it was for me to meet with him. I could feel for the guy. Bella was amazing and he had lost her. I was sure that had to hurt, but what use would he have in meeting with me? It wasn't like I had anything to do with the demise of their relationship, we had just met.I walked into the coffee shop and found him sitting in a booth in the corner.
When he saw me, he stood up and waved me over. "Thanks for meeting me, Cullen."
"I don't know why I'm here, Black." He shook my hand. I sat on one side of the booth and he on the other facing me.
"So, has she gotten you into bed yet?"
"Excuse me?" I raised my eyebrows and scrunched up my nose while pinching the bridge between my fingers.
"Well, that was her goal." He smiled smugly.
"Okay, Black. I am getting up, beating the shit out of you and walking out if you don't get to your point and quickly." I glared at him. He had a lot of nerve talking about Bella that way. My Thief. The one who was stealing my heart.
"She set you up, Cullen. I just thought I should warn you, even though I can't stand you. No one deserves what she has planned for you."
"You're pushing it, Black, and I still haven't heard anything." I tensed my hands into fists and put them on the table.
"She came to visit me, in court, when you and I were up against each other the last time. She watched you. She learned how you talked, what you ate for lunch. And breakfast. She studied your strategy. The woman is brilliant, really. Amazing, in fact." "You've got that much right," I interrupted him.
"Amazing enough that you are pulling this shit out of your ass to try and get rid of me. But it won't work, Black. She's mine." Fuck, did I really just say that? " I'm not going anywhere. She isn't available for you anymore. I am going to forget we had this little conversation." "You haven't heard it all yet,"
Jacob put his arm out to keep me from leaving. "She has a goal that has nothing to do with romance."
"What the fuck could this goal possibly be, Black?" Not that I believed him.
"Her career. You are good for her career. Black and Associates is a good firm. Cullen, Whitlock and Hale is better. She had the son at my firm and my dad gave her all of the cases he knew she could win. She was his future daughter in law. That is why she has that wonderful track record. So now, she'll have Carlisle Cullen giving her special treatment because she drops to her knees at your beckon call." How could he talk about her like that? It couldn't be because he meant it, it had to because he wanted me gone.
"Black, you are so easy to read, it is almost as if I could read your mind." I patted him on the shoulder as I got up to leave.
"I know it hurts to lose her. But the best man won, again. Get over it and leave us alone."
I walked out of the coffee shop and checked my watch. Fuck, 15 minutes. I had to get across town in 15 minutes.
I walked into the office just in time to slip into my chair before my father called the meeting to order. Bella was sitting next to my father, looking beautiful. I smiled at her and she waved at me. Everyone in the room turned to look at me. She was the new girl, of course they would pay attention.
"How the hell did you get her attention?" Newton whispered.
"I don't give away my secrets." I winked at him.
"Since I know that no one will listen to me until I make this announcement, I will go ahead and get it over with. I am sure many of you have heard that we are taking on a new junior associate. I am pleased to announce that she is here with us today. She has a great track record from Black and Associates. I can foresee her being a very valuable asset for us. Please welcome Bella Swan."
My dad paused for a minute while everyone muttered their welcome. Bella blushed. Heaven help me, that was the most unbelievable sight. I couldn't take my eyes off of her. She looked up from the paper she had been sheepishly looking at and her eyes met mine. I felt my heart start to race. I was falling in love with my co worker.
After the introduction, the meeting was boring and filled with junior associates vying for my father's attention. I didn't have to worry about that and despite the fact that my dad was making me work for my place in the firm, I never had to get him to notice me. At the end of the meeting as everyone was packing up, Carlisle asked Bella and I to stay. Shit! Had he noticed the interaction between us? He was going to confront us now and I was not prepared for that. My feelings were still a jumbled mess for me. I didn't know if I could properly defend them. Hopefully Bella would have my back.
"Bella, I am so happy that you are here," Carlisle began. "I want you to second chair with Edward on his latest case."
"Thank you sir, but I really don't need my hand held." Bella was looking straight at Carlisle as if I didn't exist. I was relieved that this conversation wasn't about our relationship.
"I realize you have a good track record, Ms. Swan." He was laying down the law. He had gone from casual to formal. "However, you made it clear in your interview that you were impressed with what you had seen of Edward. In light of that, I felt he would be the perfect candidate to show you the ropes here. I'm sure you understand."
"Yes, sir." Her response was forced.
She mentioned me in her interview? Her interview was weeks ago.
"That did not go at all as I had planned." Bella walked past me as I walked down the hall. I was still focused on the fact that she knew who I was on Friday. She didn't let on to knowing me. I was dazed. She had been misleading me.
I walked into my office to find Bella standing over my desk. She picked up a coffee cup and brought it to me. "I got you breakfast, coffee with two sugars, no cream and a maple donut." Fuck, she knew how I took my coffee and my favorite breakfast. Was Black right? Was I being played a fool?
"What exactly did you have planned Bella?" I didn't take the coffee, I just stared at her, my stomach feeling like it had battery acid in it. I wanted to puke all over her. Fuck, Bella, don't do this to me. No. I needed it to all be a lie. Tell me something that will make it all better.
"I just didn't think I was going to be your lackey is all, Edward. But it's okay. Once your dad knows about us, he'll assign me to something more challenging."
"Once my dad knows that you are willing to fuck your way to the top, you mean. I doubt if he would up your career. But I'll let him know that you're a good lay so that he can decide for himself." I walked out of my office, away from Bella. I couldn't believe it was all true. She was just using me, and I fell for it. I thought I was smarter than that. I went across the hall, straight into Carlisle's office.