Quicker update for you all! Luckily for me, I've had a bit of downtime before things get crazy again. Let me know what you think - I know everyone had quite a reaction to the last chapter, but things will get good soon! Enjoy this look at the future with this update :) Will send teasers again to those who review!

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight.

BPOV

"Thank you, gentlemen. We'll be in touch soon."

The sharp looking, suit-clad men stood up from their seats, smiling confidently while thanking me and gathering up their paperwork. If only they knew how God awful their pitch was, that stupid smirk wouldn't have been on their faces. But I couldn't bring myself to shatter their egos… yet. They were smooth, sure. Polite, even. And hell, it was Friday and I thought I'd be a little kind and not break them down in front of everyone. Brief dismissal and they'd be on their way out, I thought would be the easiest way.

I seriously better get some good karma for this.

"Miss Swan, the pleasure is truly ours," one of them boasted, although I had long forgotten his name as he shook my hand with a terrible sweaty grip. "I mean, this is a phenomenal opportunity. There's no doubt that we can develop a great business partnership. Not to mention, working with a gorgeous woman such as yourself. Think of it as you doing us a favour, sweetheart."

Men. Being a woman in the business was difficult as it was, but it was the worst when you had cocky, conceited, and absolutely pathetic worms such as the one I just rolled my eyes at walk into your office smelling like they just walked out of an Axe factory. Apparently this one thought that flirting and shots at my own self-esteem would give him an up.

I sighed loudly. So much for that good karma.

"If only that were the case," I began, leaning back into my leather chair, my voice flat and emotionless. "Your pitch was one of the worst I've seen in my entire career. I'd expect more out of a kid in junior high. There was no spark, no idea, and no structure. Your intro was horrible, failed to captivate my attention. Your presentation skills lacked passion, and your research was sloppy. Not to mention, if you did your math right rather than the garbage you presented, you'd have known that your profit ratio was actually incorrect and instead you'd be costing me money, not saving me."

I held back my grin as the smiles left their faces, and the crooner himself was going red in the face in complete embarrassment.

"All you've done is waste an hour of my time, which costs more than those tacky suits you have on. And if you really think I would invest a penny on that terrible idea of yours, then you must also be deranged. Now, I suggest you take your worthless ideas and throw in those pieces of paper you call your degrees, and escort yourselves off of my property. And how about you do me a favour and burn them when you do, because you really won't need them anymore once word of this gets out." I took a deep breath in, exhaled and smiled widely. "You can leave now."

Sorry good karma, but man that felt good.

Their jaws all dropped, gaping at me like I had grown a third head before the one who had spoken up narrowed his eyes at me. I quirked an eyebrow at him, just waiting for him to grow some balls and stand up to me. Though, really, it was always the same reaction.

Wait for it…

He opened his mouth once. Twice. Before finally realizing that he would've ruined his entire career if he even spoke a word against me, then hurried out the door with the other dogs hot on his tail.

Typical. They just never changed. But I didn't blame them, I couldn't really. They knew what they were in for before they even stepped foot into the building doors. They knew what they would be facing if they disappointed me, of all people.

I sat back in my chair, reflecting back on everything I'd gone through to get where I was today. Harvard kicked my ass, hard. But it was a fresh start, and one that I definitely needed after Forks. Not to mention all of those kickboxing and martial arts classes I took on the side that mostly helped me keep my anger in check and my body as well.

Yes, Harvard was tough and some days I felt like I was going to quit, but I never did. I drove myself to become stronger, smarter, and even more successful. Their business program was notorious, and if you made it through Harvard, you would be known forever. And I wanted a fresh start, right from scratch. Which I decided, would include my name and I stuck with the one that held a strong emotional and mental tie on me. The one that only my mother would always call me, Isabella.

Of course, it was my actual name, but the name brought back pieces of my past that made me vulnerable and weak. It reminded me of how I was manipulated and taken advantage of, and that I would never allow anyone to do that to me again. So, I stuck with it.

I pushed myself at Harvard, beyond any expectations, striving to become the best. And that's what I was now.

At the mere age of 27, I was one of the youngest and most successful CEOs in the entire world. Swan Enterprises was built by my very own hands three years ago, revolving around innovation and discovering new technology that were eco-friendly and ultimately would be used to benefit the world. Whether it was to be implemented in third world countries where children were starving from hunger, or in developing countries who were facing an epidemic and needed a low-cost and easily accessible option to help their healthcare.

Supporters from around the world came in thousands, mostly wanting to get their hands on whatever new and innovative piece of technology we had developed for their own economies, knowing that anything we developed would drastically change their towns, cities, and countries. Either that, or they came to us for an opportunity to invest in their own ideas and concepts. Swan Enterprises was nothing like the world had seen before. It was changing the world as we knew it, by boosting economies and populations around the world, and contributing to making a greener Earth.

Those who wanted to present an investment opportunity came in to my home office in Manhattan, bringing whatever new ideas that they had in hopes that they'd win me over and I'd say yes. Occasionally, I did. But don't get me wrong, there was a lot to live up to at Swan Enterprises. I wouldn't invest in just anyone's pitch – it had to be that good. Plus, I wasn't the easiest person to impress. I was always fairly stubborn, but since everything that had happened in my past and where I was now, I was as stubborn as a brick wall.

But could you really blame me? After having a psychotic, abusive lunatic as a mother who would abuse me physically and mentally whenever she could, and then once more having myself being ripped apart emotionally by someone who I thought I was going to spend my life with, there was no way that I was ever going to allow myself to become that weak and vulnerable Bella Swan again. And that's why she was long forgotten by now. Isabella Swan, corporate titan and wealthy CEO of Swan Enterprises took shit from absolutely no one. I was one of the very few in the corporate world that could either make or break your career.

So those three monkeys from before? Their careers were long gone now, especially the mouthy one. And they knew that.

A soft knock on the door broke me out of my thoughts and I turned to face the door where my assistant was standing.

"Miss Swan? Sorry to disturb you, but Riley's on the line. Would you like me to tell him you're busy?"

I shook my head at Angela, telling her that I would take it from the phone where I was in the conference room. Considering many of my past assistants, Angela was by far the best, and she's also lasted the longest. She reminded me of myself in several ways – headstrong, independent and intelligent. Which is why I liked her. And why she had been my assistant for over a year now.

She nodded and turned to leave, but before I could pick up the phone she came back in.

"Oh, and I almost forgot. The candidate interviewing for the assistant position has arrived, she's waiting outside of my office in the lobby. Your schedule is clear for an hour until your next meeting, so should I still continue with what we've planned?"

I couldn't help but smile at Angela. She knew what I was up to, and I'm sure she would love it just as much as I would, but still stayed professional. I had given her a quick overview of what I had planned for the interviewee, assuring her that she wasn't losing her position, but this was something I definitely couldn't pass up.

"Of course, Angela. You remember everything I'd told you?" I asked.

"Yes, Miss Swan. Everything's prepared. I'll tell her that you will be by shortly when I get back to my desk."

"Perfect, thank you Angela. Expect a little bonus on your next pay as my appreciation for your help." I winked, smiling at her. She blushed and thanked me before leaving the room.

My smile only seemed to grow when I looked back down on the phone, picking it up and laying on my nicely perfected 'seduction voice'.

"Riley, how nice of you to call."

I heard him sigh, whispering my name. "You ran out so quick on me last night, I never had the chance to say goodbye to you properly."

"Properly?" I chuckled, crossing my leg over my thigh. "And how would you say goodbye to me properly, Riley?"

"Isabella," he growled. "Don't tease me or I'll have to come down to your office and show you how I would've said goodbye to you. You really have no idea how hard you make me, it just makes me want you more. I can't get enough of you."

Oh great, here we go. Poor Riley had no idea what 'just fucking' meant, and now I my fears were confirmed: he was getting emotionally attached. What a shame, especially with how good in bed he was. Even though I hadn't reached my peak during sex in years, since Forks anyways. Every time I'd get close, I'd have my pathetic teenage memories coming back and then it'd be gone. No orgasm for Isabella.

Riley was good though, as he'd never stop until I was completely satisfied. Even if I couldn't get off during, he'd follow up with a few other things that would make sure I did.

But so much for that anyways, because he was starting to really ruin my buzz.

"Riley, we discussed this. I had an early meeting this morning. Plus, you know I don't do sleepovers." I rolled my eyes, ignoring the pending headache.

"I know that, Isabella." I could hear him taking a deep breath into the phone as he thought about his next words. "It's just that last night I had an epiphany. I can't do just sex anymore, I want more than that. I want you, baby."

All the air left my lungs at that silly nickname, immediately flashing back to the numerous times Edward would call me that. To the times where I would giggle when he called me by his many pet names, and how he'd kiss me so deeply after. And how I fell into his words and believed I was in love with him.

How pathetic and weak I was.

And this is where I really blew up.

"We had an arrangement, do you not remember, Riley?" I said quietly, trying to keep my anger in control. "I told you, over and over again, but you don't listen, do you?"

"Isabella, please, just listen –" He sputtered, trying to redeem himself or convince me but I was already long past it.

"No, you listen to me, Riley," I snapped, unable to help the growl that left my lips. "We were just fucking, that was it. No strings attached. And that's what we agreed on, and that's what we would've been doing until you involved your pathetic feelings in this. Your dick was all that mattered in our arrangement, and you ruin all of that because you caught feelings. So no, I don't want us to be more than this. And as far as I know, there's no longer even a this. Enjoy the rest of your life Riley. Let's hope you find yourself a naïve little girl to have more with, and then you just treat her like a simple fuck just as you all always do."

I slammed the phone down, my heart racing as I had gotten much more riled up that I had expected. Even those last words, I didn't know where they had come from. Although they seemed to be more directed to Edward, than Riley. My heart was racing, hands trembling as I struggled to calm myself down. My anger was always an issue when I was younger and even after taking different classes to contain it, I still couldn't help the moments where it was almost uncontrollable.

I leaned back into my chair and closed my eyes, taking in deep breaths through my nose and out of my mouth.

Calm down, Isabella. He's not worth it, none of them are. You're better than this.

It took a few moments for me to calm down after clearing my head before I opened my eyes and slowly stood up. I adjusted my black fitted wrap dress and shook off those unwanted emotions, taking a deep breath before walking out of the boardroom and preparing for the next order of business for the day.

Oh, this was going to be fun.