A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed and / or put this on their story alert / favorites. I honestly didn't expect any feedback since there are already so many amazing FF's out there! I don't have a beta, so I tried to edit myself. I apologize if I'm horrible with grammar. I wanted to get this chapter out there cause chapter three is where it begins to get fun ;)

Once again: Edward, Bella, and the gang belong to Stephenie Meyer. Robert Pattinson belongs to me. In my dreams.

"You need my help," Alice barged into my apartment using her emergency key. I think in the entire three years I've lived here she's never used it for an emergency. Not even when I broke my toe two years ago and needed help hobbling down the stairs. She told me to hop and she'd meet me at Northwestern Memorial. That was a fun day.

"With what?" I was lounging in my sweats, half on the couch, half on the floor.

"You need the perfect outfit," she ran straight into my bedroom and could hear her rummaging through my closet.

"For what? Where are we going? "

"For work," she stuck her head out the door, rolled her eyes at me, then disappeared, "Bella you need the perfect outfit for tomorrow"

When I got the email from Edward I immediately forwarded it on to Rosalie and Alice. Within minutes I got responses via text message. Of course, I never actually responded to the man himself, but during my train ride home Rose and I had already thought of at least ten different subjects to write about.

"Alice, my outfit is already hanging on the closet door," I got up to show her just that and gasped in horror when I saw what she had done to my bedroom. It looked like a damn tornado came in, thrashed around a bit, then left.

"Bella, you need to walk your pretty little butt in there tomorrow and let them know you mean business. Just because you are a woman doesn't mean you can be treated as less than an equal," she began holding up different blouses and sweaters up to the black pressed Donna Karen trousers she had evidently picked out for me to wear.

"Alice, really, I'm going to be working in a professional environment. I'm not going to be walking into Hooters or anything,"

"Bella, it's going to be a sausage fest. I mean, how many men work in your office? Chances are the only women they see on the daily are their assistants and make up artists,"

"Alice, you're being really judgmental. Rose works with all men and she's treated with respect,"

"She works with nerdy old men lawyers who know the repercussions of sexual harassment," Alice retorted and began rummaging through my underwear drawer.

"No one is going to see those," I called from behind her.

"I know," she turned to look at me, then proceeded to continue sorting my underwear from my bras, "Bella, you need to buy new lingerie,"

"Hey, Al, over here we just call it underwear,"

"Bella, come on. A sexy pair of lace panties can really boost your self esteem,"

"I don't need a self esteem boost, Alice. I need new friends," I walked to her, grabbed all of my underwear that was currently nestled in her hands and shoved them back in the drawer.

"I'm only trying to help," she scolded me like a child and went back to picking out my outfit. "Bella, I didn't see any thongs in there and these pants show visible panty lines,"

"Well, I don't care, Alice. I'm not going commando. Especially now that you have insinuated that I'll be pants in the break room and ravaged because these men have never seen a woman before,"

"Stop being so juvenile. You're 25 for God sakes, about to be 26, and you are so reluctant to accept help,"

"First of all, my entire wardrobe was picked out by you," I gestured to my closet, "every single Mac brush, Chanel lip gloss, and Lancome eyeliner in my makeup bag was picked out by you. You even decorated my damn apartment. You help me plenty, but you know, I did manage to survive on my own without you for four years!"

"Look, Bella, I didn't mean to imply anything," she held her hands up in surrender," I just love you and want you to succeed. I dress CEOS and Presidents of companies every day and believe me, they feel empowered by how I dress them. You think it's easy to run multi million dollar companies? No, but wearing fabulous Christian Louboutin shoes helps,"

"Alice, I don't know what you're talking about, but listen. He already pretty much owns the company. Well, his family does. And I'm not looking to bump my boss out of her job or anything. Plus, I wouldn't want it. She hardly ever gets the rewards for a job well done, but the minute something bad happens, it is her ass that's on the line,"

"Because she's a woman," Alice retorted walking out of my bedroom and into the kitchen to help herself to a bottle of water.

"You know, Alice, thank you for coming tonight. I actually have my first idea for a story thanks to you," she looked at me with a skeptical look on her face, which signaled for me to continue and further clarify myself, "stereotypes. How women think men think of them and vice versa,"

"Oh Bella," she rolled her eyes, "It's not a stereotype. It's the truth,"

"Does Jasper think of you as some weak little girl who gets shoved around all day?"

"No, but Jasper's a southern gentleman, " Gag me. Gag me now with a spoon.

"Stereotype,"

"Bella, perhaps you're right, but I've worked in the real world long enough to know these things,"

"Alice, you work in fashion. Any man you encounter is either gay or really secure with himself. I doubt you have any more insight into the male mind than most women do," I replied back.

"Maybe you're right, Bella," she pacified me, "I guess this assignment is a chance to prove me wrong. Or right, depending on how it goes."

We remained silent for a moment, sipping our water, and winding down for the day when she spoke up again.

"Just wear pants. At least tomorrow. I don't want you to walk in there in a skirt or a dress and have anyone automatically fantasize about the naughty secretary,"

"Alice, you are SO weird," I rolled my eyes, but nodded my head signaling I was heeding her advice.

I walked into my office and quickly walked back out to look at the name plate on the door.

Yup.

Isabella Swan

So why was there some way-too-perky for 8 am blonde haired twelve year old sitting at my desk?

"Excuse me, this is my office. Perhaps you're looking for American Girl Magazine? It's in Suite 800," the girl just looked at me with a confused expression her face and just as she was about to speak I heard Tanya's voice calling me from across the hall.

"Bella," uh-oh. Sing-song voice. She only used the sing-song voice when she was about to deliver news I wasn't going to like. That's how I got tricked into representing the magazine at some lame job fair in Minnesota the first year I worked here. I had to share a hotel room with Irina from advertising and the entire time she was there she was having phone sex in Russian with her boyfriend.

While I slept in the next bed.

"Tanya, what's makeshift Barbie doing in my office?"

"Bella, that's Lauren. She's a temp I hired to be my assistant while you're helping Edward and I out," Tanya explained.

"So…when I'm doing work, where am I supposed to sit?" I was utterly confused.

"Bella, Edward should have sent you an email in regards to meeting him in his office today?" when I nodded my head she continued, "He has an office set up for you in the Modern Men's suite. It's important you two work together very closely so we figured it would be easier if you just stayed there. Meanwhile, I do need an assistant to help me because the next few months as we begin to strategize are going to be hectic. It's just easier for you to be up there and Lauren to remain here doing all the tasks you used to,"

"So, I'm just to report there every day? I don't even need to come here anymore?"

"You will go straight to the 17th floor every morning and complete your work there, but you still are an employee of Vanity, so I would like frequent updates. Maybe not every day, but a couple times a week. I will be out of the office the rest of this week and next, but starting the week after, I will try and come up to the floor and see what's going on and how we can all work together. See if I can help at all, if you will. Bella, I realize what you're doing for me is a huge favor. I should be working on this with Edward, but can't. I mean, this week alone I am going to New York to meet with our advertisers and see if I can charge more for less space in our magazine,"

Boo hoo, Tanya. You get to go hang out in New York and hobb knobb with the VP's of Gucci, Valentino, and Louis Vuitton while I have to sit in some office that probably smells like gym socks and semen and work with people I don't even know.

"Ok, Tanya, I'll be sure to fill you in on what's going on," I replied picking up my bag.

"Oh, Bella," she held her hand up signaling for me to wait and pulled her desk drawer open, "almost forgot. This is your new work related blackberry. Our IT department set everything up, so your email is directly connected to this. They have also programmed my cell and home numbers in there as well as key contacts for you to have at your disposal. That will also be the best way to get ahold of me while I'm in New York,"

"A new Blackberry? Tanya, aren't we looking to save money?" I knew it was a moot point, because the Blackberry probably didn't cost that much, but I felt...displaced and wanted to stall

"Oh, Edward is funding it, " of course he is, "saving this magazine means a lot to him. Probably some complex about disappointing his family, so I'm sure he'd be willing to whip out his credit card for anything. Hey, tell him we need a new big screen TV here in our office. You know, for research," she giggled and sat back in her chair.

"Is there anything else you need Tanya or am I free to roam about the building?" she looked from her computer back at me and waved me out the door.

"No, Bella. I'll be checking in next week, so I expect some good ideas. Remember: your deadline is in two weeks. I'll need a rough draft of your first piece and need it to be 1,500 to 2,000 words co-written by both you and Edward. We haven't decided the exact format, but he's either going to feature the same article in his magazine or a variation of it. So this essentially means prepare for two stories in two weeks. I know you can do it, though, so just make sure to check in,"

As I left her office, I felt like dead man walking. Seriously. I was saying goodbye to all my friends to go spend time with…boys. Ugh.

When I stepped into the offices of Modern Men's Magazine, I immediately walked over to the receptionists desk.

"Name please?" he was some young guy, probably around my age.

"Bella Swan for Edward Cullen, please," he signaled for me to wait and picked up the phone to call whomever was supposed to meet me.

"Bella Swan is here to see you, sir," the receptionist, Seth, as his name plate told me, quickly hung up the phone after delivering the message and turned to look at me," someone will be collecting you shortly,"

He then pointed to a group of chairs lined against a wall and I figured he was motioning for me to sit down. Not even a full minute later, some perky girl with pin straight brown hair and a tight smile walked over to where I was sitting.

"Isabella?" I was the only person in the room besides Seth. So yes. I am who you were looking for.

"My Edward, I know we've never met, but I was expecting some taller and with a hairier chest," that's my thing. I use sarcasm to try and break the ice, but this girl was having none of that.

"Excuse me?" she quickly looked at Seth who shrugged and then back at me, sticking her hand out, "I'm Jessica, Edward's assistant. We've been anticipating your arrival all day,"

I looked at the clock and it was 8:23.

All day, huh?

"Please call me Bella," I stuck my hand out to shake hers and offered her a friendly smile.

"Nice to meet you Bella. If you'd please follow me?" she motioned for me to follow her as we walked through a long hallway leading lined with offices and cubicles. The Modern Men's suite definitely was less inviting than the Vanity offices, but the mahogany desks and marble floors made this place absolutely breathtaking. My office might not smell like jock straps and stale sex.

"Edward?" we reached the office at the end of the corridor and Jessica stuck her head in, presumably to debrief him that I was here.

Oh no. Ohnoohnoohno.

He stood up to greet me and it was him. Elevator guy. Sexy GQ looking, sex hair having, girlie wood giving, sex god.

A brief flash of recognition marred his features, but he quickly regained composure.

"Edward, this is Is-sorry, "Jessica corrected herself, "Bella Swan. She prefers Bella," she turned to him, then back to me, "Bella, this is our Editor in Chief, Edward Cullen. I just wanted to introduce the two of you before showing you your new office,"

"Jessica, why don't you type up the memo alerting the staff of Bella's arrival. I can give her a tour a show her the office,"

"Are you sure? I usually do that for you," Jessica looked puzzled, but Edward just gave her a look and nodded her head.

"Oh, ok, well Bella it was a pleasure meeting you. I'll see you around," she swiftly scooted past me and out the door leaving me and Edward alone. In his office.

"Well, isn't this a surprise," this bitch ass was smirking.

"Bella Swan," I stuck out my hand.

"Edward Cullen," he took my hand in his and gripped it…sensually? Did that even make sense? How could you get turned on from a handshake?

"So, I heard something about a tour?"

He closed the door behind him and gestured for me to take a seat. I felt like I was in third grade and was being sent to the principal's office.

"So, Bella, tell me about yourself," he settled in his chair before, again, motioning for me to sit down. "I know you've worked for Tanya for three years now, are single, and make wild assumptions about people you don't even know."

Balls. Why couldn't he have forgotten he knew me? I mean, pretty sure he was looking at my legs and ass yesterday in the elevator anyway. I know I'm pretty hot, but couldn't my face have been forgettable, like, one time in my life?

"What does me being single have to do with this?"

"We are writing pieces on love and relationships. Do you even date around? I mean, you ignored my request to buy you a drink, rather rudely, I'd say, so I can't peg you for the fun, flirty girl who dates around," he shrugged looking at me, still carrying that smirk across his face.

"So, just because I turned you down, I must be some grouchy spinster?"

"You don't even know me and you judged me,"

"Like, what you're doing right now? Sorry I don't make it a habit of accepting dates with creepers who leer at me in elevators. Plus, I don't piss where I eat,"

"You didn't even know you'd be working for me yesterday," he countered.

"It doesn't matter, it's Newton's Law. If – when- it went sour, I'd probably end up seeing you in the elevator at noon every day," I shrugged.

"It's Murphy's Law," he chuckled, correcting me, "and who said it didn't have to work out,"

"Listen, if I would've accepted a drink with you yesterday, the second you told me your name, I would've been hailing a cab back to Lakeview. Dating your superior is inappropriate,"

"Technically, we're co-workers. Tanya is your superior. Unless, of course, you're into that,"

"You need to stop implying I'm a lesbian,"

"Just saying,"

"So, about that office tour?" I tried breaking the tension and changing the subject. He had on grey slacks and a pressed white shirt with a blue tie. No suit jacket, but he looked utterly fuckable and the sooner I got out of a closed four wall space with him, the better.

"You know, Bella," he ignored my request to GTFO, "you provided me with some insight and inspiration into our first article"

"And what was that?"

"Stereotypes," shut the fuck up. Was I not having this exact conversation with Alice yesterday night? Ok, maybe we could work together cause clearly we think alike. Which means he thinks like me. Which means he's smart.

"Oh?" I replied cooly. I think I knew where this conversation was heading.

"You assumed that because I was hitting on you and dressed in an Armani suit, that I was rich, good looking, and could get any woman I wanted,"

"Was I wrong?"

"Obviously. I wanted you yesterday and didn't get you," he smirked.

Eye roll. On my end. HUGE eye roll.

"And let's see, I'm betting you want me even more because I turned you down?" I smiled sweetly at him.

"Actually, no. I don't like to shit where I sleep either," he said making his own variation of my earlier statement, "at least not anymore,"

"Ok, so can we put Elevator-Gate behind us and act like two working professionals?"

"Sure, Isabella,"

"Bella," I corrected.

"Bella,"

A/N: The next chapter will be longer. It's when they do their "Field Studies". Anyway, please review and let me know what you think! Until next time...