A/N: First and foremost, I want to say sorry this chapter took so long. Christmas and New Years, plus work killed me. I also hit a little writer's road block but I'm back.

And secondly I want to thank my beta, yes I finally got one, SanDiegoGal for doing an awesome job editing this for me. It didn't take that long surprisingly. Thanks...

To all my readers, I hope this chapter made up for weeks of no update.

Chapter Nine

I called Kim that weekend to congratulate her and she asked me to be in her wedding. I got teary as I told her I would be more than honored to be one her bridesmaids. She was planning for a January wedding, and she was going to be busy since that was only five months away. I told her I would help as much as I could, but I knew that wasn't going to be much because of the distance.

On Saturday I helped Alice put the finishing touches on Alice in Wonderland. To me it was perfect to begin with, but Alice needed everything to reach her standards, even though that was sometimes unreachable. We stood back, staring in awe.

"It's ready," I stated, feeling a sense of pride and joy that I had been part of something so wonderful.

"You think so?" she asked, unsure from beside me.

I glanced at Alice, my face clearly reading, 'If you change any thing I'm going to kill you.' I was tired and I was positive she was too.

"Fine, fine. It's perfect."

I smiled, taking a deep breath.

"Now, let's eat."

We invited Kate and Jasper, and we met up at the bar for a few drinks and a night of fun.

"So when's the opening?" Kate asked. Again. This wasn't the first time she'd asked and this wasn't the first time Alice had answered. I had given up. Kate's memory was like a saturated sponge. Nothing else could be absorbed.

I chuckled to myself at my witty analogy.

"Wednesday."

"Okay, I'll be there. Two o'clock, right?"

I shook my head and rolled my eyes. Maybe it was some type of disease.

"No it's at three." Alice corrected. "And you guys have to come. My entire family will be there. My parents are driving down and they're dying to meet you." She was talking to both Kate and me now. Her parents had met Jasper years ago and apparently loved him.

"I already talked to my boss about getting off early, so I'll be there," Kate confirmed. Alice turned to me while I bit into my burger. I looked up and realized that they were all looking at me. I looked like I had been caught doing something I wasn't supposed to be doing.

"What? I'll be there." My best friend eyed me.

"I will," but all I could think about was how I had forgotten to ask Mr. Cullen if I could get off early this coming Wednesday when I had been given the prefect opportunity to ask on Thursday. I'd just have to remember to do so on Monday.

So early Monday morning, when Edward Cullen exited the elevator, my face grew red as he approached me with a heart stopping grin. I smiled unintentionally as he came closer. As I was about to bid him a "Good morning," something caught my eye.

Lauren was right behind him, dressed in a fitted grey suit that looked like it belonged in a catalogue. It probably did. She was smiling as well but her snarky grin didn't make my heart pound heavy in my ears. In fact, I could almost feel it curl up and hide behind a lung.

"Morning," he sang.

I blinked and turned to him smiling anyways.

" Good morning." For what reason, I don't know, I glanced at Lauren, who was smiling confidently at me as she passed. I wanted nothing more than for her heel to catch the carpet and for her to fall on her pretty face, but instead I watched as she passed me gracefully.

Mentally, I shook myself, gathered what I had been working on and followed them into his office.

"Mr. Cullen," I called as I passed Lauren in the doorway.

"Yes," he answered, placing his things down.

"I was wondering if it would be okay if I worked only half day on Wednesday. My friend is having this thing and I really need to be there." I could feel Lauren's glare on my back. She hated it when I ignored her like this, one of the main reasons I did.

I hated being petty, but it was all I could do to keep my sanity when it came to her and Jessica.

"Wednesday, huh?"

I nodded, clutching the brown folder to my chest.

"I don't see why not. In fact that reminds me that I have something to attend on Wednesday as well."

I smiled. "Thank you, Mr. Cullen."

"You're very welcome, Ms. Swan." He looked at me before his eyes shifted down to my chest. My face brightened, and I kicked myself for wearing the blouse that exposed the very little cleavage I had. But it had been the only clean outfit in my closet. Alice hadn't mentioned that all her designs needed to be dry cleaned.

"Is that for me?" he asked, still looking at my chest.

I looked down and realized that he wasn't looking at me, but what I had been holding. I heard a low laughter from Lauren, as I nodded and placed the folder open on his desk.

"These are for you to sign," I stated before I took my leave. I heard a loud, nasally giggle from his office and it made me shudder.

"So, I got off," I announced to Alice, holding the phone to my face by a strained shoulder. I was wandering behind my desk, trying to get everything together for Mr. Cullen's meeting on Thursday morning.

"I'll be there. I promise," I stumbled forward, tripping over the phone cord that had wrapped around my ankles from my constant pacing.

"You better be. I can't do this with out you." I could hear the panic in her voice. It had been that way since last night when the intense reality that the dream of opening her own store, the dream she'd had since the age of three, was actually becoming reality. I told her, like I had before, that she had nothing to be nervous about. Everyone would love her clothes. In fact, they already did.

"I can't promise you anymore. I'll be there. That's all I can say," I stated, putting a stack of papers away, and twisting to another. Where had I put that document?

"Is your family here yet?" Alice's entire family was going to be there for the opening. They were as proud of her as I was.

"No, my parents are only coming for the opening. My dad has some major business back at home."

"And Emmett?" I asked lightly, struggling to concentrate on the conversation and the work I had to do before I could get out of here.

"He'll only be here for the day. Got a gig game on Sunday, and has to get back in time for practice. Plus he's bringing his fiancé." I could almost hear her frown.

"What? You don't like her or something?"She sighed on the other end.

"No it's nothing. Well, I got to go. I'll see you Wednesday, okay?" She was rushing her goodbyes, which meant she had something going on more important than me.

I placed the phone back on the receiver and decided to call it a day. There was nothing left to do without my boss's consent, and he had already left the office. I gathered my things, and headed home.

Tuesday pasted mostly uneventfully, and I only had to deal with Jessica or Lauren minimally. I did spend a few hours in Mr. Cullen's office though trying to finalize the contract that he would sign at Thursday's meeting, along with James and his partner, Laurent, of Matheson Enterprises. And though by the time I arrived home my feet were on fire and my head was pounding from the inside, I was still in lifted spirits.

I called Kim for a wedding update and was surprised to hear that they already reserved the Town Center for the reception. I could hear the excitement in her voice as she explained the detailed plans for turning the building - that was in dire need of renovations - into a hall fit for a king, or in this cause, a queen. I joined in her excitement giving her what little advice I had learned from Alice in the last four, well almost five months. Kim really appreciated it.

I got one last call before I went to bed, surprised when it was my boss.

"Hello, Mr. Cullen," I addressed him, striving to sound like I wasn't in the middle if pulling on a pair of Jacob's old slacks.

"Bella, are you busy?" Even if I was, would it matter?

"No, what can I do for you?" Crossing the room, I prepared to grab a pair of jeans.

"Well, the partners from Matheson want to go over some minor details before Thursday."

I didn't quite understand my part in this. "So you want me to bring over the contract?"

"Actually I wanted to invite you personally." He sounded slightly hesitant to state the fact. I, on the other hand was rather awed.

"Me?"

"Yes you,"

"Really? I mean it's not really necessary."

"Bella, I would really like you to be there. They're not a very entertaining bunch, and I need someone to keep me awake before I blow this whole thing out of the water." I almost laughed. I could almost see him, seated asleep across from his future business partners because God knew that he didn't get enough rest. I had no idea how he did it, when I could barley pull myself out of bed in the morning.

I sighed. I guess I have no choice.

"Okay, Mr. Cullen. I'll come."

"Great, we're meeting at the Sundial around nine."

The Sundial. I began to panic. Anyone who was anyone knew the Sundial. Well, I hadn't until a day ago when Angela and Nickie were talking about it at lunch. It was a rotating restaurant above a five-star hotel in the busiest part of the island.

I didn't belong in such a place. Who did?

"Are you sure it's okay for me to come? I mean I'm not really part of all of this. I'm just your assistant," I muttered as I began to pace.

In truth, I really wasn't needed, and I had no idea why Edward would request me to meet with them even though he had already given me his explanation. Edward chuckled on the other side. He could probably hear how nervous I was.

"You are my assistant. So assist me."

I sighed again, feeling even more strained than I had the entire day.

"Okay. I'll meet you there."

Mr. Cullen gave me the address, and I proceeded to become as worthy of the five-star restaurant as I could. I donned my sleek, black, baby-doll dress, since it was the only thing I owned that could possibly be suitable for this place. I somehow remembered Alice's fashionable words of wisdom, and paired it with a black strappy heels that would have my feet freezing as soon as I stepped outside. An hour later, I decided I looked the best I could and locked my apartment.

It was rather confusing trying to get to the top floor. No one told me that certain elevators took you to certain floors. I spent twenty minutes riding the pulley up and down until I finally figured out how to get to the Sundial.

I was sure I looked nothing like I had when I left. The few curls I had managed to set in my hair were falling, and I was hot probably sweated my make up off. Great, I was about to show up look like a sea creature. Maybe I could slip into the bath room before anyone noticed me.

The Sundial was beautiful, large window allowing it's guest to visit to lighted city below, soft classical music playing in the back ground feeding the relaxed atmosphere. But with beautiful places came the beautiful people that filled the moving eatery. Men in pressed suits and women in pearls and designer gowns.

I immediately felt out of place and intimated by what I saw. I looked like I was going to a cocktail party. I seriously considered turning around, but I knew that wasn't an option, not when I was already this late.

So, instead, I gathered myself and turned to the neatly dressed man behind the stand.

"Good afternoon," George smiled as I glanced at his name tag. "Welcome to the Sundial."

He was obviously more feminine than man, but he was nice.

" Hello," I said before I cleared my throat. " I'm supposed to be meeting someone here. A Mr. Edward Cullen."

George's eyes widened.

"Bella Swan, I presume." I nodded. He turned away for a moment and whispered to another man I assumed to be a waiter by his lack of suit jacket and the red vest. The waiter turned to me and whispered back to George. I tried to read his expression, and was slightly startled when George abruptly twisted back to me.

"Come with me."

I continued in steady breaths as I followed the man who was shorter than I had initially thought. Maybe he had been standing on a platform.

Their table was very easy to spot, mainly because no other table could compare to the utter beauty that radiated from my boss as well as James and Laurent. Even Victoria, James's secretary, was gorgeous with her fire red hair and stunning olive green dress. I took a minor hit to my self-esteem, but at least had managed to walk across the room without falling on my face.

This thought made me feel slightly more confident as I approached. Neither of them noticed me, but then Edward looked up. Upon seeing me, his smile radiated from his mouth throughout his entire body. It was hard not to smile back.

"Here you are, Ms. Swan." George stated holding out a chair for me.

"Thank you," I slipped into my seat next to my boss.

"Sorry I'm late," I whispered, shaking out my jacket.

"Believe me, no one minds." I saw his eyes glance over me and his expression froze.

"What? Is it too much?" I began.

"No, no," he shook his head, clearing his throat. "It's perfect." He turned away then, and I was glad because he missed the smile that formed on my lips.

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