Disclaimer: I do not own any of the original characters from SM's Twilight. I do, however love making them human and sending them back to a different era.

Author's Note: Thanks for all of the great reviews guys. I'm so thankful that my work is appreciated. I've found myself doing a lot more research than I realized I would need to do for this. While I have a pretty good grasp on the era, there are lots of things that I'm not greatly familiar with, such as food rationing, and then toward the end of the war they were even rationing nylon. For a generation where not wearing stockings was a major social no-no, that must have been difficult. Considering my predisposition to getting runs in my hose, I can only imagine how difficult that was for some women! Anyway, I'm reading away trying to get my head into the mindset of the time as much as I possibly can.

Thanks for all the alerts, reviews, and rec's you've been doing. I love seeing the numbers keep climbing! Thanks also to my ever persistent beta AgoodWITCH.


4. To Protect

I felt the butterflies fluttering in my stomach as I stepped out of the cab. I felt guilty as I paid the driver. I should have taken the subway, but I knew that I wouldn't look as presentable when I arrived and I truly did want to put my best foot forward. I sighed, handing over the cash while promising myself I would take the subway back to the hotel.

I walked up to the double doors of the large brick building, taking one last deep breath before opening the door to the lobby. I walked up to the security desk to check in, getting a pass to take with me to the twentieth floor. I stepped into the elevator, pushing down the wrinkles in my skirt and straightening my suit jacket. I watched as the arrow slowly moved along the numbers as the elevator rose higher and higher, finally stopping on the number twenty.

The doors opened to reveal a reception area obviously still in transition, yet already looking quite clean and accommodating. Soft cream colored walls met up with a shiny dark tile on the floors. I walked up to the empty reception desk, looking around for someone to ask for directions. After a few minutes, I finally called out a quiet 'hello' down the hallway. My effort was rewarded as a cute girl with long black hair and thin wire framed glasses leaned out of a doorway into the hall with a confused look on her face.

She smiled, wiping at her head before walking down the hallway toward me with a smile. "I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting anybody to be coming in today. Can I help you?"

I smiled nervously, fidgeting with my pocketbook gripped tightly in my fingers. "I'm sorry. My name is Bella, um, Bella Swan. I was told that you might be hiring administrative staff and I was hoping I could apply."

She smiled again with a nod, leading me to her desk. "Technically we're not going to start hiring until tomorrow, but since you're here you can go ahead and fill this out and meet with our head of personnel."

I sighed, taking the little board on which she had rested a small stack of papers and a pen. "Thank you so much. I wouldn't be able to come in tomorrow. My husband leaves for Europe in two days and I don't want to miss any more time with him."

Her face grew sympathetic as she nodded, rubbing at the ring on her hand. "Yes, you don't want to miss any second you get. My husband Ben shipped out six months ago. It's hard, but we'll get through." She lifted her eyes to me again with a smile. "Well, let's hurry up and get you back home then, Bella. We mustn't leave your poor husband waiting!"

Half an hour later, I handed over my completed paperwork to Mrs. Cope, an older red headed woman with a generous build. She smiled as she looked over my paperwork with a smile. "Angela tells me you need to be getting back to your husband before he leaves. How long have you been married dear?"

I cleared my throat, feeling tears pooling in my eyes. "Just three days, ma'am. He leaves Friday."

Her eyes grew wide for a moment before she hit a button on her phone, asking Angela to see if Mr. Volturi was available before turning back to me with a big smile. "We might as well just take care of all of this at once then, Miss…or should I say Madam, so that you can hurry back to your new husband. I think you would be a prime candidate to work with Marcus Volturi, who is a Vice President at Cullen Steel and will be heading our New York office. Instead of making you sit through my questions and then another fifteen minutes with Mr. Volturi, we can just do it all right now and get you back to your new husband."

I sighed, swiping at my misty eyes as I thanked her. The phone soon rang. Mrs. Cope picked it up smiling at me as she said we would be right down. She stood up and directed me to follow her as we left her office and walked down the hallway toward a large mahogany door at the end of the hallway.

Mrs. Cope opened the door to reveal a beautiful office, still only half organized. A handsome man that appeared to be only slightly older than Edward sat behind the desk with a frown as he shuffled through papers. He looked up with a polite smile that froze for a split second before it widened into something more genuine.

Mrs. Cope and I sat in two large and extremely comfortable chairs on the far side of the large desk ornately carved from a dark shiny wood. Introductions were made before the questions began. Most of the interview was the usual questions, and thankfully, both employers seemed pleased with my answers. I explained about my business classes and how they could help me assist Mr. Volturi.

Finally, at the end of the interview, they began to probe a little more into my personal life, asking about Edward. I answered the questions vaguely as possible until Mr. Volturi lifted my application with a frown.

"This application lists you as Isabella Swan. Is this your married name?"

I swallowed feeling the butterflies rumble. "No sir, it is my maiden name. My official paperwork has not yet been processed completely, so I thought I should submit it with what still resides on my identification."

He nodded with a frown before asking to speak with me alone. Mrs. Cope looked confused, but did as he asked, leaving us alone in the large office. My heart began to pound and the fluttering in my chest grew frantic as scenarios began to flood my mind. Mr. Damon was not opposed to getting handsy with the help. I, on more than one occasion, had to retaliate to get him to back off. I certainly hoped that wouldn't happen here with an employee of my husband's company.

When the door closed loudly behind me, I jumped in my seat. Mr. Volturi looked confused before understanding graced his features.

"Please don't be frightened, Mrs. Cullen."

My eyes grew wide as I gasped. He chuckled, leaning further into his desk.

"I'm not sure why you aren't using your new last name, but I suspect it's to earn the job on your own merit. I admire that, and you honestly did before I ever saw your face, but the second you walked into the room I recognized you."

I frowned in confusion as he laughed. "Don't get upset. I was at Tavern last night when you came in with Edward. I left right away so he wouldn't know I was in town. He would be very upset to know that I'm here and I must ask you not to tell him. The last thing he needs while off fighting is to be worrying about the state of Cullen Steel. He left me in charge when he went away to begin his training almost a year ago, but once he was gone, my father and uncle made a bit a coup and shipped me off here to get out of their hair."

I gasped, raising my hand to my mouth with a frown. It really bothered me that while Edward was gone, someone was abusing their power in his company. "Oh, no. What are you going to do?"

He sighed running his hand through his hair. "There's nothing I can do right now. Without Edward there to vote, they, along with their two best friends have controlling interest it the company. They can do whatever they please, and trust me, their goals and Cullen Steel's traditional goals do not align."

He smiled as he crossed around to my side of the desk, leaning back against it while crossing his arms and legs in front of him. "They have their fingers in everything around here, which is why I am quite pleased to see you applying here, Mrs. Cullen."

I sighed raising my hand. "Please, call me Bella. And I think for the sake of everyone's sanity around here, I should be addressed as Miss Swan. Otherwise, everyone's either going to be like little live wires around me or they'll hate me on principle. I think a little anonymity might be a good thing in this case."

He smiled with a twinkle in his eye. "I was hoping you would say that. If nobody suspects you, then you might catch onto someone we should be keeping an eye on before we have a problem on our hands."

I giggled. "You mean like a spy? I'm not really sure I'm up for that, Mr. Volturi."

He chuckled. "Please, call me Marcus in casual settings. I'm thinking a little like a spy, but more than anything, I need to know that the person working at my side is interested in putting Cullen Steel and its greater good first and not some secret agenda of my not so honorable family. What better person than the woman who loves that man who, in essence, IS Cullen Steel. Edward is the epitome of all we stand for…or at least usually stand for. If he chooses you as his life mate, then I am definitely willing to put my trust in you as my right hand. What do you say, Bella?"

I blinked slowly at him as I tried to process all he had to say. I couldn't do much for Edward, but if I could help his friend keep his business running like he would like in at least some degree then I would be at least doing something for him. I smiled sheepishly at Marcus before standing up and extending my hand to his.

"It would be an honor, Marcus. Anything for Edward."

He nodded with a smile. "Bella, I have a feeling that you and I are going to get along just fine."

He led me back to Mrs. Cope's office where I filled out a few more forms and was given my employee identification. My job would not officially start until the following Wednesday since Marcus had to go back to Chicago for a meeting early next week, but I was asked to come in starting Monday to help finish setting up the office and settling myself in my own space so I would be prepared to start in bright and early Wednesday morning.

I was smiling as I left the building, catching the first subway train headed back toward the hotel. When I walked in everyone was waiting in the living area, smiles on their faces.

"You look happy, dear." Esme stated causally as she sipped on a drink in a fancy crystal glass. "I take it things went well?"

I sighed happily, crossing to where Edward stood to greet me, wrapping my arms around his neck.

"That it did. I was hired to work for the head of the New York office."

Edward beamed down at me as he kissed my lips sweetly. "That's wonderful, love. I'm so proud of you. Did they end up sending Eleazar? That was who I had suggested, but I had to leave before the vote went through."

I sighed feeling horrible for having to lie, but Marcus's words were ringing in my ears and I refused to let any of this upset him and possibly distract him. I looked away toward the window before looking back with a forced smile. "You know, in all the excitement, I forgot what they said his name was. It was something a little more unusual, but I can't think of it off the top of my head."

He frowned and I worried he would call me out on my falsehood, but it didn't last long. "Was it possibly Cassini?"

I shook my head. "No, that doesn't sound right."

He furrowed his brow deeper. "Lawrence?"

I sighed, hoping he would give up soon. "No, that's not it either. You know, sweetheart, I really don't want to waste any more of our time together on anything that doesn't involve just me and you, okay? I'm sure I'll get all the details on Monday and be totally prepared when he arrives on Wednesday. First, though, I think I need to make a call to Hannity to inform them of my change in employment."

He smiled brightly at me, kissing me one more time before suggesting that he and his family go down to the restaurant downstairs while I make my call and I join them once I'm finished and had a chance to change my clothes. I smiled and waved as they walked out.

I picked up the phone dialing the department for Hannity's personnel division, thankfully getting Mrs. Salinger on the first ring. "Hello Mrs. Salinger, this is Bella Swan. I was just calling to inform you that I have new employment and will not be returning to Hannity. My friend Rosalie will be collecting my things from my desk later this week and I will expect my final paycheck to arrive in the mail as usual for the time I put in before my resignation. An official letter will be on your desk Monday morning. Good luck finding someone willing to put up with Mr. Damon. If any other inquiries of me are necessary, I can be reached at Cullen Steel's New York office where I will be the executive assistant to the head of their offices."

I waited to see if she would respond, only to hear sputtering on the other end of the line. After allowing her a few moments to compose herself I smiled. "I thank you very much for the opportunity, Mrs. Salinger. I hope you have a nice week. Goodbye."

I hung up the phone before walking into the bathroom to freshen up, slipping out of my uncomfortable suit and sliding instead into a light weight brown wrap dress with short sleeves. As I walked up to the table, I overheard a tiny bit of the conversation. When Edward saw me, he stood immediately and smiled, reaching out to take my hand. He kissed the back before pulling out my chair for me and helping me to settle at the table. Once I was situated, he gestured for the waitress to get my drink order and return to take our orders.

We had a nice evening together, talking over drinks well into the night as we moved from the restaurant to the lounge. Carlisle was leaving early the next morning to return home, but Esme had agreed to stay behind and begin the hunt for a new place for the girls and me to live. We all shared hugs, ending with a particularly long one between Carlisle and Edward; we retired back to our own rooms.

After freshening up and climbing into our night clothes, we curled up together on our bed. Edward ran his hands through my hair as he told me about the company and how happy he hoped I would be there. He confided in me about those on the board he trusted and those he didn't. What pleased me the most was to hear that Marcus was his best friend and the person he trusted most in the company. They had grown up together over the summers since they were young when Edward and his family would come to visit Chicago on vacation. When Edward hit his teen years, he came to shadow his grandfather and learn the business. He went into college at Northwestern in Chicago, interning at the company under his grandfather the entire time. Marcus was his college roommate and full time confidant.

When he graduated, he spent the next two years training one on one with his grandfather, taking over the business the year he turned 25. He spent the next four years running the company until the day President Roosevelt declared war. That day he, Marcus, and a few others from the company went to the recruiter's office. Marcus was labeled 4F due to the fact that he was nearly deaf in his left ear after a horrible ongoing infection when he was young stretched his eardrum so badly that it never recovered. Edward left him as chair of the board, knowing he would do the company proud.

It was hard to bite my tongue, but I couldn't let Edward go off to war knowing how much things had changed in his absence. I would support Marcus however I could, and hope that the greedy men in charge didn't ruin things in his absence. I had every faith that when Edward returned, he would put things right again. I the meantime, Marcus and I would keep an eye on things and do our best to protect what he loved so much.

He listened as I told him more about my childhood in Kansas and my friendship with Alice and Rose. He laughed as I shared stories of when we first arrived in New York and how completely overwhelmed we were. Eventually our talking turned into kiss, which eventually turned into making love. We fit together so perfectly, touching each other as though we had explored one another for years as opposed to days.

Soon after we found completion together, Edward drifted into a deep sleep. I couldn't rest though, choosing instead to lay next to him with my head propped on my hand as I stared down at his perfection in the low light of the room. My chest felt as though it were crushing under the weight of a bus as I thought about his leaving. In fifty hours I would have to say goodbye not knowing when he would come back to me, but I held the faith that he WOULD come back. He just had to, because I could no longer picture my life without him.

Author's note: Okay guys…you know me. I can't resist a good intriguing plot twist. We've gotta have something to keep the homefront interesting while E is gone!

Recap:

Bella is 25.

Edward is 30. He Graduated college at 23, worked for 2 years with his grandfather, being groomed to take over, which he did at 25. He was CEO and chairman of the board for four years before he enlisted and left the company in his best friend, Marcus's capable hands, not expecting Aro and Caius, Marcus's father and uncle to make a power play while he was gone…although really he should have anticipated it, but his focus was elsewhere.

Marcus is a good guy in this story. He's being shipped to NY because he was a fly in Aro and Caius's ointment. Even though he was replaced as head of the board, he was still a major stockholder and held sway amongst the board members. Putting him in NY makes it harder for him to be the voice of reason amongst the fat cats between major meetings.

Marcus saw Bella and Edward at Tavern the night before and saw a great opportunity when she applied the next day. Not only is she fully qualified and intelligent, she's also the one person he can trust not to be a turncoat. This, my friends, is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. :)

P.S. took Baby Cullen Wannabe to the docs today after racing into her room when I heard her choking on phlegm int he middle of the night and ended up sleeping all night in the recliner with her because I was afraid to lay her back down. Poor baby girl has a double ear infection with so much pressure the doc said her left ear might rupture, but would be okay. I felt horrible for her. She clung to me through the whole appointment and cried. She's on antibiotics and is actually down playing again now, which is a good sign. It's been a rough week. This chapter was courtesy of her nap yesterday afternoon. Hope you enjoy it!