I hope everyone had an awesome halloween, filled with huge cavities, lol. Anyways, I still owe nothing.

Chapter Three

Thank god for friends in fashion. Also for a warehouse full of designer clothes. Alice had two suits on hand for me, the ones that had walked in her spring collection a year ago, and she promised to make me more. I insisted that wasn't necessary as I stood on the round platform as she took my measurements, but she heard nothing I said. Finally she was getting what she wanted, like dressing top models wasn't enough, she had dreamt of dressing me since I had split coffee all over her.

"Bella, just leave it all up to me. In fact I think I'll remake your entire wardrobe." She stepped back to analyze the fabric she attached to me by straight pins. I dared not to move, so I wouldn't be stuck.

"Really Alice you don't need to do this," I pleaded, my eyes following her back and front as she worked her skills. She waved me off, as she took up her sketch book and began to draw down what ever inspiration she had come up for me. I was positive that what ever Alice made would look amazing but I just wasn't sure that I'd be able to appreciate it like I should have been able too. After an hour of insisting that she didn't have to do this, I left with the two suits with the promise of five more by the end of week. And not just suits, but accessories, shoes and bags. I went home more exhausted than when I had left the office. I got home around nine, without haven eaten anything since lunch. I put my new clothes away and went to the kitchen. I opened the fridge and I swear I saw spiders crawl off, disturbed by the light. All I had was half a gallon of milk, a stack of cheese and two fruit cups. I was definitely going shopping with my first pay check. Thank you this Friday was pay day, not that it would be much, but it would be more than enough to get something to eat. I grabbed a fruit cup and went to my phone. I had a ton of calls to make, and if I didn't do them now, I'd never get to it. And the last thing I wanted was to have my mother show up on my door step because she believe I had gone missing. I cringed at the thought and dialed her number first.

"Bella!" she screamed. I pulled the phone from my ears before she made me deaf. " Where have you been? I've been calling you?"

" I know," I cut in. "Mom, I'm fine."

"How's everything in the big city. Did you find a job yet sweetheart?"

For the first time since I had gotten off of work the idea really hit me. I had a job, one that paid great and had wonderful benefits. The fact that it had nothing to do with my degrees in literature and journalism meant nothing at the moment. The bills would be paid on time, and I wouldn't have to live off of fruit cups any more.

"That's the reason I called. To tell you I finally got a job today." I heard her scream again which was then followed by a streak of questions. It took me an hour to answer them all before she finally hung up the phone. I sighed back into the couch but it wasn't even three minutes before the phone rang.

"Hello," I said.

"Congrats baby, I just heard," I recognized my dad's voice.

"Wow, word travels fast." I laughed tiredly.

"Well you know your mother," I nodded unconsciously.

"I told you you could do it. If you looked hard enough and were patient enough, you'd find one." I acknowledged that he had.

"I know dad, thanks," I couldn't hide the exhaustion in my reply.

"Your tired sweet heart. We can talk about this later. Get to bed."

"Alright Dad. Thanks for calling." I heard my words slur.

"Bye Bells. I love you." I sighed.

"Love you too." I think I was asleep before I even hung up the phone.

Thanks to the phone call I got from Alice at five in the morning I was up with plenty of time to spare. Really, what in the world was she doing up but I was grateful she called. I wasn't sure I would have heard my alarm clock from the living room. I had to be at work by 7:30, thirty minutes before Mr. Cullen arrived. I took a shower, washed my hair and eat what ever was left of the fruit snacks. I dressed in this one piece suit that looked like a two piece with a white blouse attached to a gray pencil skirt, with vertical pink pinstripes. I added the pearl necklace and earrings that Alice suggested and wore the gray buckle up high heels that was sent with the outfit. I had to admit, as I stood in front of my full length mirror, that I looked the part. At least if I couldn't do the job, I appeared that I could. Then I realized something. My hair. Yeah the suit looked great but my hair was still recovering from my makeshift ponytail yesterday. I panicked. I had forty mintues left and I had no idea what I was doing. I tripped on the corner of my bed as I fled to my purse and pulled out my cell phone. I dialed her number and waited.

"Bella?"

"Alice, I need your help!" She heard the desperation in my voice and that was all she needed.

"I'll be there in six minutes."

"All done." Alice chimed. I stared at myself in the bathroom mirror. Really, Alice worked miracles. She'd taken my birds nest and made it into a river of flowing silk. I hardly even recognized myself. Well I wouldn't go that far, but she did an amazing job.

"Thank you so much Alice. I owe you one."

"Yeah you do." She grinned. She glanced at her watch.

"You'd better leave soon. You don't want to be late." I thanked her again and took a taxi into Manhattan. This time entering the building I felt the part. I was smiling like a school girl in the elevator.

"First day?" I heard from beside me. I hadn't even noticed the man in the navy suit. He was blond with green eyes and had an amazing smile.

"Yeah," I answered. I didn't know what else to say.

"I'm Mike. Mike Newton. I work in Accounting." I smiled as I took his hand.

"Hi, I'm Bella Swan. I, um, work for Mr. Cullen." I hear gasp around the elevator, and everyone was suddenly staring at me. I could see the surprise in Mike's eyes as he said.

"You're the new assistant?" I nodded, feeling a little uncomfortable with all the staring.

The elevator stopped on the 17th floor and a few people exited.

"Oh this is me. Good luck Bella." he waved before he disappeared leaving me alone with the six beady eyes that I felt on the back of my neck. I thought I even heard my name in a whisper. What were we, in high school? I ignored them and rode to the top floor alone. I exited and went straight to Angela who was just coming from the break room.

"Good morning," she called with cup of tea in her hands.

"Morning," I stated starting to feel the nerves take over.

"You ready. I'm going to let you handle things today but I'll be looking over you in case you have any questions." She smiled and some how I felt a little at easy. I nodded and we got to work.

Mr. Cullen liked his coffee to be waiting on his desk, so that was the last to be made. First I printed out the files from yesterday. He liked to go over them personally before we sent them down to Accounting, where Angela also worked. So after all the morning reports where typed and printed out, Angela took me into his office holding that stack of papers.

"Okay just set them down on his desk." I did as she ordered.

"And I do that every morning?" I asked to make sure I wasn't missing anything. She nodded and began to prepare to make Mr. Cullen's coffee. I stood next to Angela as she showed me how it was done. I realized that he liked the same Cambodian Roast that Alice did, although she enjoyed hers for fifth bucks less at the Coffee House where Kate worked. I heard the phone ring in the front.

"Do you want me to get that?" I asked.

"No, I'll do it. Just finish making the coffee." I nodded and poured the water in the top of the expensive machine. I heard it begin to boil and soon the smell of coffee roast filled the area. It was a very homey smell and I was enjoying too much. So much I didn't here the door open.

"Good Morning, Ms. Swan" I swung around knocking the small china cup and the plate to the ground. I swore I saw it all in slow motion. The cup flying the air before it broke on the floor. I blinked when I didn't hear the cup shatter. Apparently the carpet had saved the day. I sighed even though my face was turning red. I saw Mr. Cullen smile as he bent over to retrieve to cup and the saucer. He handed them to me.

"Thank you." I said just has I caught his eyes. They were the most amazing shade of green. Not a regular green. Not a green I had notice before but a rare green that seemed almost clear. I caught myself staring at him and I turned immediately back towards the counter. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Why did he have to be so good looking? And why did he have to come with the most gorgeous set of eyes? After I took a minute to calm down, I went back to what I was suppose to be doing. Getting his coffee. Then I realized I couldn't give him his coffee in the same cup that had just fell to the floor. I quietly began to open a few cabinets, looking for a new cup.

"There are some on the second shelf in the cabinet just below the coffee maker." I glanced back at him. He was quietly reading the reports I had gotten ready for him. Or so it was would seem but I caught the smirk on his lips before he turned away. I opened the cupboard as he'd suggested and found the cups. I took one out and poured coffee into it very carefully. I wasn't trying to burn myself on the first day of work. Well second, if you wanted to get technical.

I made it the way Angela had said, adding one spoon of creamer and one and a half spoons of sugar. I had a small yoga breathing session before I proceeded across the room cautiously. Even worst than spilling coffee on one's self is spilling that coffee on one's boss. I was relieved when I placed the cup down with out so much as a drop lost.

"Thank you Ms. Swan," He took the cup and put it to his lips. I held my breathe as he swallowed the still streaming liquid and breathed again when he smiled.

I straightened my poster, quite pleased with myself.

"Is that all, Mr. Cullen?" I inquired ready to be out of the room.

"For now." he didn't look at me. I nodded and turned toward the way out.

"Oh and you look very nice today." I spun around and glanced at him surprised. Had Edward Cullen, of Cullen Corp. just given me a compliment. Me, plain and clumsy me. My face flushed. Maybe I was dreaming? Maybe I was still asleep on my couch? If so that meant I was dreaming about my handsome boss already, something I didn't want to be happening. So I called it what it was. He had given me a compliment and that was it. I thanked him quietly and retreated to the exit but I couldn't help but smile as I closed the door behind me.

"How did it go?" Angela asked from behind her desk. Well my desk now.

"Good, I think?" I stated chewing on my bottom lip.

"Don't worry you'll do fine. You've already got the hang of it." She stood with a few things in hand.

"Okay so this is Mr. Cullen's planner. Any event, or meeting, even if it's to get a hair cut needs to be written down in here." She handed the thick black book to me. I glanced through it.

"And this is your new cell ." She passed the silver gadget to me. "If Mr. Cullen needs anything and he's not at the office or your out running an errand, he'll contact you on this." I took the phone slash mini laptop form her. I'd never owned anything so fancy. I guess this was one of those things everyone needed in the business world.

"And this." She turned back to the desk and picked up a laptop. A real one this time and faced me again.

"Use this if you have to work from home, which you will." she smiled. I added the computer to the pile in my hands.

"And one more thing." She pulled a single key from her pocket and held it up. "This is the key to Mr. Cullens apartment. On occasion you'll be asked to aid Mr. Cullen at his home. This will give you access to the building as well as his room."

"Thanks," I said as she placed the key on top of everything.

"Is that it?" I asked, if only to make sure there was nothing else. A helicopter, perhaps.

"Yes, that's it for now." She moved around me as I took seat. "I'm heading down to Accounting to do some work. I'll be gone just a moment. Do you feel comfortable enough to handle things by your self?" I scanned the desk. Not much to do, I noted.

"Yeah, I'll be fine."

"Okay," She headed toward the elevators. " If you have any questions, call me. My numbers already programmed in your new phone." I nodded as she vanished. The first thing I did was check out my new phone, a black berry I read. So the job paid well and it had it's perks, too. I was so happy I'd be able get rid of old phone that was on the brink of fallen apart. Then I wondered, who paid the bill. The company perhaps. Anyways, it was one less bill for me to worry about. This was getting better and better with every minute. Still I put those thing aside and got to work. I had this job now, but I also had to keep it. I followed what Angela taught me yesterday, and I was in the middle of adding a new spread sheet to the computer when the phone rang. It scared me at first but afraid a few breaths I answered unraveled.

"Hello, Mr. Cullen's Office, this is Bella speaking. How may I help you?"

"Bella, where's the other girl, Angela?" It was a mans voice, deep and rich. I remembered what Angela told me, that very few people had the direct number to Mr. Cullen's office.

"Angela stepped out for a moment. Is there anything I can do for you?" I repeated, reminding myself to smile.

"Yeah I need to speak to Edward please?" Angela also mentioned that not many people called Mr. Cullen by his first name, mainly close friends and family.

"May I ask whose calling?"

"Say it's his brother, Emmett." Emmett, I thought. I had heard the name before. But I couldn't place where.

"Okay please hold." I pressed the hold button, thankful that the phone was the same as it had been in the business office at Washington state. I dialed Mr. Cullen's extension and waited.

"Yes," I froze. I wasn't sure how to greet him. Did I say hi again or did I get straight to the point. Then I figured that a man like Edward Cullen was a very busy man who wouldn't waste time on more than one greeting so I went with the latter.

"There's a call from an Emmett Cullen on line-" I glanced at the phone.

"-one."

"Okay thanks. I'll take it." he hung up and I transferred the call. A few seconds later I hear the phone ring in his office. My first transfer had gone well. Better than well. I relaxed back in the chair for a moment before I got back to work. I worked alone for only fifteen minutes before Angela came back to check on me.

"So how are things?"

"Everything's good." I continued to type.

"What are you working on," she came around the desk to hover over my shoulder.

"Well, I'm familiar with this layout," I touched the paper that I had been working from. " So I thought I'd go ahead and work on it." She glanced at me and I cringed back.

"What? Did I do something wrong?"

"No, you're doing fine." she smiled before leaning back on the edge of the desk. "actually your doing better than I thought you would." She folded her arms across her chest before she continued.

"I was a little afraid for you when I first saw you and I was even more surprised when Mr. Cullen said he wanted to hire you but now I see why he did. You're a quick learner and I think you'd do great here." I smiled.

"Thanks, but to be honest I was a little nervous as well. And after I embarrassed my self the first day, it didn't help any. But once I found out I kind of knew what I was doing, it helped me a little."

"Yeah it's not really brain surgery, I was just stressed because I had to do this job and my other job in accounting."

"That must have sucked." I added.

"Yeah, but you're here now, so I can relax." she grinned. "Well I still got some work down stairs. Call me if you need any help." she said before she disappeared into the elevators again. I sighed again before the phone's speaker sounded.

"Ms. Swan?"

"Yes," I replied.

"Could you have Angela make reservations for tonight at Blu Sushi?"

"If you'd like I could take care of that for you." I heard silence for a moment before he spoke again.

"Okay, lets say eight."

"Yes sir. I'll do that right now."

"Thanks Ms. Swan." I smiled before I realized I had.

"Your welcome, Mr. Cullen." When I hung up and got out the phone book. To help me out, Angela had circle in red marker all the restaurants and places that Mr. Cullen often frequented. Thank god Blu Sushi was one of them. I had of course heard of the place, who hadn't, but I would never be able to afford such expensive fish. I dialed there number and proceeded to make a reservation for Mr. Cullen. I thanked the women and added the event to his schedule.I even sent a reminder to his phone like Angela showed me. That was when I noticed all the events he had coming up. A meeting with the board tomorrow at ten then a lunch date with his sister at noon. I looked later in the month and found it be even more extensive. More meetings, lunches, bachelor parties, Rehearsal dinners, even a invitation to attend a party at an Associates house. Really when did this man sleep. Then I noticed it was written in there, where ever it could fit. I closed the book. It was making me depressed for him. I continued with my work with little interruptions, only one call that I handled by myself and a few faxes that I sent to France. Yeah, France. Apparently Mr. Cullen didn't just do business in the U.S, but all over the world. I tried to ignore the sound of my stomach growling when I glanced at the clock on the bottom right of the computer screen. It was almost 12:30. Almost time to eat. I was ecstatic when Angela came back to invite me to lunch with her and a few other co workers. I asked about Mr. Cullen's lunch before I went and she told me that if he didn't ask me to get anything before my break then he was ordering in. It meant he had a lot of work to do. Or her was just skipping. For some odd reason that didn't sit well with me. A man like Mr. Cullen couldn't afford to get sick, and skipping meals was never healthy. Still I left.

After lunch I returned to work and Angela came up to help me with the rest of my work, but I caught on fast. Faster than I thought I would. I also found out that I kind of enjoyed life behind the desk. I had been in the Mr. Cullen's office twice, and down to the finance department six times. It was five and I was getting ready to pack up my things. Things had gone well my first day and I was happy. Mr. Cullen's office doors opened and he stepped out, holding his briefcase. I looked up and met his gaze.

"See you tomorrow." he said.

"Okay, oh remember you have a dinner reservation at Blu Sushi for eight." I reminded hoping I wasn't out of line. He nodded and headed to the elevator. I went back to getting my things together when I heard the ding from the elevator.

"Oh and you did great today by the way," I heard, but by the time I looked up he was already getting into the elevator. I knew he wouldn't hear me but I said it any ways.

"Thank you." I smiled.

"Cheers," we all sang as we clanked our glasses filled with beer together. We, Alice, Jasper, Kate and I were celebrating my first day at my new job. We all took a deep swallow before we dropped our glasses again.

"Thanks you guys," I beamed.

"We're so proud of you," Kate said, her short, curly sun brown hair bouncing circling around her face. I was even more pleased with myself. We stayed till ten and then everyone went there separate ways. I got home, took a shower and pulled out of my closet what I was going to wear tomorrow. As I glanced at the Cream suit and I remembered Mr. Cullens words when he had complimented on how well I looked. My face flushed and I was thankful no was around to see it. But of course I wouldn't think anything of it. Mr. Cullen was my boss, who just happened to, not only be a handsome man, but a nice person as well. This had surprised me the most. Was it even possible to be both rich and powerful in New York and still be a decent person. But not once when I had messed you did he yell,but only helped correct the problem. Was I lucky or what? I just prayed that this luck lastest.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter.... Her first day went well, but can her good luck last? Who knows? Please read and review... they are the fuel to my brain, the more reviews the easier it is to be creative.