Hulloooo!

Here's the next chapter.

I'm adding what I have so far already.

Enjoy! :)

-MW-

Chapter 3

"Good Girls Go Bad – Cobra Starship ft. Leighton Meester"

TWO YEARS LATER.

Bella POV

"What do you mean the Seattle branch has no money?!" I yelled into the earpiece.

This cannot be happening to me, I thought. Today was the most important day of the month. Not only do I have a meeting with Carlisle – the person who helped my father rebuild this company – but I have to be home in an hour to get ready for my own party.

Today I turn 24 years old, and somehow, Alice convinced me to have a birthday bash in some night club, telling me that soon enough, we'd be too old to get into one. She even pulled out all the stops: save the dates, invitations, a DJ, a caterer – the works.

"No! You better find out what happened over there! Or so help me God I will--!!!" I really disliked dealing with incompetent people. I thought I'd heard a knock on the door, but maybe that was just my head throbbing from all this stress, so I ignored it.

"Fine! Then get HIM on the phone!" There was a long pause on the other end.

"NOW!!!" I slammed the earpiece on the wooden desk. I pushed a button on the intercom and told Jessica, my assistant, to call me when everything in Seattle got straightened out.

I sighed. Today was not my day. I made my way across the room towards the door to get a muffin in the cafeteria. I reached for the handle when someone on the other side beat me to it.

Now, I don't know about you, but after this incident, I'd personally prefer it if most doors opened outwards instead.

The door swung inwards with such force that it slammed into my forehead and knocked me back. I fell and landed on one side of the couch near it, holding on to the arm to keep myself up.

"Ow!"

"I am so sorry!" a velvety voice said. Holding my forehead, I looked up into the most hypnotizing green eyes I have ever seen. I could not stop staring into those eyes. It's like they held in them all the secrets of the world, and I was just dying to find out. Then I noticed the thick bronze hair, the cheekbones, the shape of his eyebrows that were bent down with worry – everything about this man was beautiful.

"I am so sorry, I did knock." Oh, so that was him. He helped me up from my place and took a closer look at the bruise on my face.

"Miss Swan?" I heard Jessica's voice say. "Mr. Cullen has – Oh. Well, I'll leave you now…"

"Excuse me?" I heard his voice again.

"Y-Yes?" I could tell Jessica was mentally drooling over Mr. Cull – wait a minute.

"Could we please have some ice and a towel?"

"Sure. I'll be right back with those."

I stood up properly now, smoothening out my top and hair. "You're Mr. Cullen?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. He smiled, and that alone was enough to make my head throb even more.

"Were you expecting someone else?"

"I was, actually. Maybe someone older, blonde…"

"Aren't I blonde?"

"No, your hair's more like a bronze shade that…" I started to blush when I noticed him staring with this amused expression on his face. I cleared my throat to save myself from any further embarrassment.

There was a knock on the door and Jessica came back in with the towel and ice. I sat down on the couch and held the ice pack up to the bruised area of my face.

"So, where is Carlisle?" He still had that expression on his face. Great.

"My father sent me for the monthly meeting instead. Good practice, he said, for when I…" he trailed off. Then he got very quiet for a moment and turned to face me with a smile.

"I'm very sorry, where are my manners? My name is Edward Cullen, Carlisle's son." He held out his hand for me to take.

"Bella Swan." I replied, taking his hand in my own.

"It's very nice to finally meet you, Ms. Swan." I raised my eyebrow at this.

"'Finally'?" I said, dropping my hand on my lap.

"Yes, the first and last time I saw you was two years ago, on the day of your father's…" he trailed off.

"I see…" was all I said.

It was silent for a few more moments before he cleared his throat and began again,

"So, I heard that there was some trouble with Seattle?" he said, his voice even.

"Um…" I got up and gestured for him to follow me, we went over to my computer that was on my desk and opened the file I was looking for.

"As you can see in this graph, the numbers haven't been looking so great for the last few months. I got a call this morning from them, and apparently, they lost everything."

"I think we'll need more time to sort this out, Ms. Swan,"

"Just Bella, please," he smiled at that. If this guy wasn't working for his father, he'd definitely be a great model.

"Alright… Bella," he said it a little slower than I did, almost like he was trying to pronounce every syllable, "Then please feel free to call me Edward."

"Edward," he had a pretty old-fashioned name, but it seemed to suit him very well.

"We'll probably need to head down there sometime since it doesn't seem like it's going to take care of itself."

"I'll let me assistant schedule a trip." I said.

My phone suddenly rang and I answered it without checking the caller ID.

"Hello?"

"Bella!" I'd know that high soprano voice anywhere.

"Hey, you, what's up?"

"Do you have everything ready for tonight?"

I sighed and mouthed an 'excuse me' to Edward, I knew she was going to do this again. You see, Alice loves to plan things, hence the birthday party I am having tonight. She's really great at it and could actually make a business out of it, but sometimes, she liked to change things up at the last minute. And knowing Alice, that's never a good thing.

"Yes, mother," I replied dryly.

"Okay good, so I hope you don't mind but I invited a few extra guests to your party tonight." Those 'extra guests' would only mean one thing.

"Wait a minute. How many times do I have to tell you, I really do not want to go on any blind dates right now! I've got a lot on my hands!" I said exasperated.

"Oh, come on, Bella! This will be good for you! It'll be fun!" she tried reasoning.

"Alice, no." I said with authority in my voice. I love Alive, but I had to draw the line somewhere.

"Oh, alright!" she submitted, "Just make sure you wear that dress we got, okay?"

"Yes, Alice, you know I will."

"See you tonight, Bella!"

"See you, Ali." I snapped the phone shut. Then a thought crossed my mind.

That was way too easy.

Alice gave into me too fast. That can only mean that she plans to do exactly the opposite of what I asked her not to do. I turned around to face Edward again only to find his face in an amused expression.

"So, Alice, huh?" he said with no hint of surprise in his voice.

"You know it," I sighed, "I'm in for a ride tonight."

"Tonight?"

"Oh I'm sorry, you see, it's my birthday today and Alice convinced me to have this birthday bash at some night club, and now she's probably planning some speed dating-type thing for me to do at the party."

He laughed and said, "Yes, that does sound like Alice… Happy birthday, by the way. How old are you?"

"Thank you. I'm 24, and yourself?"

"25, last June." He said. We were staring at each other for a long time and I found myself drowning in those green eyes again. I sighed. Dazzling should be considered a crime. Then his face went from amused to serious in about half a second. He looked like he was calculating something in his head. Oh, God, he wasn't a pervert, was he? I hope not. I've had my fair share of those creeps and I'd really like to steer clear of them for the rest of my life.

For a minute, my mind flew back to the conversation I had with Alice earlier. I knew that I couldn't stop her from inviting those guys to my party tonight, and the moment I set foot into that night club, she'd grab me and introduce me to the first in line on her matchmaking prospects list. I was trying to think of ways to avoid having to go through that ordeal, when it struck me: I need a date!

I tried to think of anyone that would be my date tonight on such short notice, but most of them were already invited with plus ones or out of the country. I looked around the room, hoping to find the answer somewhere near, so I'd get this out of the way already. My eyes landed on Edward, staring again, as I thought about what Alice would say to my choice of date for tonight. Honestly, I didn't know what she would say, but I wasn't going to take any chances. Besides, this guy looks like a good sport…

Edward narrowed his eyes at me and I immediately felt like he was going to scrutinize my appearance. I tried to nonchalantly run my hands through my hair and fix my blouse when I realized that he was just staring into my eyes like before, as if he was trying to read me.

Then his mouth formed into a smile that looked like he finally found the answer he'd been looking for for a very long time. I bit my lower lip, forcing myself to just do it.

Just say it! Come on! Ask him! NOW!!!

No! It's too embarrassing! And he's Alice's brother, for crying out loud!

So what?? A date's a date!

Edward POV

"25, last June," I answered.

We were staring at each other for a long time when something clicked in my head. Something that I knew I had to do, something that would finally get me to where I have always wanted to be.

There is one condition, my father's voice rang in my ears.

A condition…

-FLASHBACK-

"A condition?" I repeated.

"Yes."

"What is it?" I've come too far to let this slip away now. So whatever condition he had, I was ready for it.

"Again, I'll get straight to the point… Edward, I want you to have a life outside of this place."

I raised my eyebrow, trying to understand his condition. This seriously confused me.

-

"So, what would be the easiest and most convenient?" I asked myself.

-

"Your trust fund is still under my name, as well as this company."

-

"The company owns the bank, Edward."

-END FLASHBACK-

A life outside the company… Move on with my life… Easy… Convenient…

I narrowed my eyes at Bella, trying to really see her. If I was going to do this, I was at least going to do this right, wasn't I? I know looks aren't everything but they do count for something. She had pale skin, almost as pale as mine, though, that blush earlier did look lovely on her cheeks. Overall, her appearance was above average. Surely any man would want to claim her as his own, just not me. But I had to put a good amount of time into this - it has to look like a real relationship. Everything else didn't matter to me. Besides, if anything went wrong, I could just tell my father that I tried. This girl wouldn't want to ruin business ties with our company as well, so everything was set.

I smiled and looked her over one last time, trying to think of a way to begin…

Bella POV

Isabella Swan, you are such a wimp.

Shut up!!

Just go for it! He's right there in front of you!

What if he says no?

What if he says yes?

Oh, don't use that reverse psychology mumbo-jumbo crap on me.

What are you talking about?

You know what I'm talking about.

I don't know what you know I'm talking about.

But you do know what I know what you know you're talking about.

No, I really don't kno – WILL YOU JUST ASK HIM??

Yeesh! Cool it! ...Great, I'm talking to myself internally.

I cleared my throat. "S-so, Edward, do you have any plans for tonight?" I said, trying to sound calm. But I'm pretty sure my voice going an octave higher gave me away.

"No, actually," he said smiling.

"Oh, cool…" It was silent again. *Gulp* What now?

ASK HIM OUT TO THE PARTY!!!

"Would you like to be my date to my party tonight?" I said as quickly as possible.

Now, I have never been rejected before in my life, mainly because I never went out with guys, even in high school or college. I always asked for more homework or some extra credit from my teachers so that I would have an excuse. It's not that the guys I've met are horrible or anything, some of them were actually very nice. I just never held any real interest for any of them. But then this guy comes along, and suddenly I felt like I'd jump out my window right now if he rejected me…

"I'd love to, Bella."

…or not.

I broke out into a huge smile and let out a breath I must have been holding in.

"Great! So umm… the party's at 7 and – "

"Bella, I'm picking you up."

"Huh?"

"I mean, it wouldn't be very gentlemanly of me if I didn't pick my date up for her own birthday party, right?"

"R-right... So, I'll just give you my number then…"

"Here you go," he said smiling while he handed me his cellphone. I typed in my number and saved it.

See! It wasn't so hard!

Shut up.

Aw, come on.

Shut up.

It wasn't THAT bad, Bells!

You're just lucky you're not some physical being that can be physically hurt.

So stingy…

I am going to kill you!!!

"So, I'll pick you up at 6:30?"

"Y-yeah, sure. Perfect." I said, a little flustered. I really need to see a therapist or something.

Edward POV

"Perfect." She said a little out of breath.

I only laughed in response.

You have no idea.

R&R! :)

-MW-