It's alittle shorter than many of the other chapters but not by much... I hope you like it anyways!

Chapter Twelve

"This is really good," I mumbled as I stuffed the sandwich like food in my mouth. We sat in a small Italian restaurant in midtown. When Mike had told me he'd show me the best Panini's I hadn't actually thought he'd in fact come to my rescue. I'd exited Mr. Cullen's office still flustered and scatterbrained happy to see Mike's wide smile. And I was even happier when he asked me to join him for lunch. I left hastily without facing Mr. Cullen, leaving as if someone had set fire to my skirt.

So with most of the morning forgotten, if not only for a while, I sat across from Mike munching on the, I had too admit, best Panini I had even had.

"See, I told you right." Mike answered devouring his own.

"Where'd you find his place," I asked out of curiosity.

"Well," he began. " Jessica was the one would knew about this place. She took me here years ago and I've been coming here ever since."

"Didn't Jessica want to come?" I asked. He glanced again nervously, scratching his right temple.

"Um, she had other plans,"

"Oh," I stated simply. But inside I was jumping for joy. I didn't want to face her, not after what happened. Though neither Lauren or her had given me any trouble since "the incident" I was sure that they would not go down silently. It was only a matter of time, I figured.

After about an hour, we managed to eat our entire lunch before I leaned back swollen and ready to burst.

Matt patted his bloated belly has his face held a goofy little grin. It reminded me so much of Jacob. I smiled.

"So how's work? Are you ready to run?"

"Not yet," I smiled. "Actually I really like it. I mean sometimes it can be a little much but what job isn't."

I glanced up at the waiter who began to clear our table.

"So what's Cullen like?" I gazed at him confused. He'd been working here longer than I had by years.

"I mean I don't spend that much time around him. He's the boss you know,"

I nodded. " Mr. Cullen is…" I thought for a moment. "different."

"Different?" He seemed intrigued. " How?"

"Well," I looked back on my first impression of Edward Cullen and realized that he was nothing like I had expected.

"I don't know. He's not what I expected, I guess."

"Is that good or bad?" He eyed me.

"Good, I think. I thought that all people like Edward, you know the powerful CEO's of a billion dollor company, were all the same. Selfish, stubborn, and…" Sexy. Wow, where did that come from? I focused again. "…arrogant." Though he is, in fact on of the sexiest men I had ever seen, if not the sexiest.

"And Cullen's not like that?" Mike frowned, disappointed.

I didn't acknowledge it.

"No he's not. At least so far he's not but then again how well do I know him." I chuckled once I thought about it. I actually didn't know very much about him. What I knew was what type of businessman he was, but as a person, I knew very little.

"Anyways, I like my job. " I flashed him a smile. "And it's very important to get along with ones boss."

He didn't returned my grin and shrugged.

Mike walked me back to me desk having lost some of the spunk he had when we first left for lunch.

"Thanks for lunch." I announced setting my things down. I paid little attention to the sound of Edwards door open.

"No problem Bella. We should do it again." I had had fun with Mike so I had no problem having lunch with him again so I nodded.

"Sure, anytime."

He waved goodbye and acknowledged Mr. Cullen before he left.

I kept my eyes to myself as I rounded my desk ready to get back to work but it was hard to concentrate when one's boss was hovering over you.

I glanced up to find Edward staring at me.

"How was lunch?" he asked.

"Um good," I asked slightly taking back before turning to load my computer. He didn't move. I sighed quietly.

"Was there something I could do for you," I hadn't realized I was smiling until I had to let it fall.

His eyes glazed over for a moment before he focused on me.

"Yes, I need you book a flight to Japan. It seems that this issue isn't going to resolved over the phone."

I nodded and got to it. I call the airport to get his jet prepared as well his private crew. I guessed their vacation was over.

"Ok, thanks Vanessa." I hung up the phone, grabbed my note pad and swiveled in my chair toward his door. But instead of the smooth action I was hoping for, my foot caught on the side of the desk just I pushed myself off the chair. I knew what was coming next and found myself spread out on the floor, note pad papers everywhere and the chair over turned. I heard a pair of doors swing open and Mr. Cullen was hovering over me.

"Bella!" He called. I groaned. Damn, would this day never end.

"Are you okay?" That question was starting to become a cliché fast. He already asked it twelve times this week.

"Yeah," I stated just before I winched in pain.

He arched an eyebrow. I glanced down at my leg and found the large cut that had caused the pain. I felt my stomach turn at the sight of blood. There wasn't much but enough to have my head spinning. I had never done well with blood, it always made me sick. And now I could smell it. I weaved back but he caught me.

"Bella?"

"I'm alright." I lied, the room moving. " It's the blood." he looked down.

"You're hurt," he stated concerned.

"Only a little," I uttered tying to stay focused. I began breathing through my mouth so the scent wouldn't upset me.

"You should have someone look at that," I heard as I was tried hard to stop my head from going in circles.

I nodded closing my eyes to concentrated on not fainting. The next thing I knew he was sweeping me up into his arms. I gasped at the saddened reaction.

"Mr. Cullen," I began. The motion was making it worst and the last thing I wanted to do was dispense my lunch on his expensive suit. "Put me down." I begged sounding quite sick in fact.

He didn't seem to hear me as he continued to hold me as he walked back to his office.

I was both shocked and crazed by what was taking place. First, the nauseousness was leaving and I felt very comfortable in his hold. Still I tired again to reason with him. This was not appropriate.

"Please," but he only gazed down at me and smiled. I didn't speak after that. I allowed him to carry me across the room to his desk where he seat my down on top of it. I watched in silence as he disappeared into his bathroom. I thought about running, not that I'd get far but before I could even make a move he return moments later with a first aid kit.

I understood then that when he'd suggested someone look at my wound he actually meant him. He knelt down before me and I brightened. I was in a skirt, one shorter than most and if he so much as glanced up he'd get a nice glimpse of my panties.

I began to chew in the inside of my cheek wondering what kind of underwear I had on. The black lacey one, or the cute green cotton one's with Tinker Bell on them. I heard him chuckle and I turned back to him. He was still examining my cut which I made note to not look at. It helped.

He reached up to touch me, and I cringed.

"Please don't," I pleaded embarrassed beyond my dreams.

"Don't worry," he grinned. " I know what I'm doing.

"It's not that," I whispered glancing away. "This isn't right. I'm your assistant,"

In my mind I was trying to understand why would he, Edward Cullen be doing this for me. I was not special. I was not gifted. I was just plain ol' Bella. I wasn't even pretty. So why in the world would he care?

He stopped and looked up at me, his eyes demanding my attention.

"It's precisely because you are my assistant why I'm doing this," He grinned and turned my to my leg once again. " Now hold still." I sighed and froze.

"Okay," I murmured and watched him clean my wound. More like studied. I watched his eyebrow crease as he concentrated. The bridge of his nose, the prefection in his bone sturcture. I sighed. He even had flawless skin.

"So where did you learn to did this?" I blurted out.

He stared up at me as he arched a brow. "What?" I asked. Did I say something?

"How much do you know about me?" he asked and it caught me off guard. My face grew red.

"Not much to be honest,"

He smiled before continued to apply ointment to my cut.

"My father's a doctor. I actually studied medicine before I went into business,"

"You wanted to be a doctor, really?" I grinned.

"You really don't know that much about me," he pointed out.

"Sorry," I smiled shyly. " I should know this stuff, shouldn't I?"

"Don't be sorry," he stated peeling a large band-aid from it's pack.

"It's actually refreshing that you don't." He pressed the band aid to my skin.

"Most people know too much, or think they know. All done," he announced leaning back.

I stretched my leg out to view his work. " Thanks," I answered, looking down at him.

"You're welcome," he smiled back. He stood and helped me to my feet.

I could feel his gaze on my back as I left after the very brief meeting we had about his flight to Japan. I was grateful he couldn't see my grin as I shut the door behind it, then relaxed against it. Even now I could feel my heart trying to beat it's way out of my chest. I couldn't help but feel happy even though I knew I wasn't the best swimmer but here I was placing one foot in front of the other, inching closer to the dark, unknown waters. Edward Cullen was no good for me, more like out of my league but somehow I wanted to know him even more.

"You're rather quiet tonight," My best friend announced from beside me as we walked from her car to the movie theater.

"Huh?" I glanced at her.

She looked so small next to me even in her four inch heels.

"See! You haven't heard a word I've said."

I sighed unable to deny her allegation. I'd been like this since this morning. No matter how hard I tried, and believe me, I tried to get Edwards face out of my head but I saw it everywhere I went. I couldn't stop seeing his face as he played doctor to me. I could even feel the bandage he'd place on my leg rub against my jeans and I felt his hands on me again.

"Sorry," I let out another breathe. I wasn't even going to pretend that she hadn't been right. At least not today.

"What's going on Bella?" She questioned. "Is it work?"

"No,no," I turned to face her. "Work's fine. It just me."

"Homesick?" she asked or stated. I wasn't sure. I thought about it for a moment. It was true that I did miss home. Both Phoenix and Forks.

I shrugged, "Maybe,"

Alice didn't bring my mood up again but she did always gaze at me with the look she had when she was contemplating something. I didn't ask what it was about since she was staying out of my head so I would do the same.

But despite my mood, I enjoyed the movie that people were crazy about. It was my first time seeing Avatar however Alice had seen it three times before. I was sure this wouldn't be her last.

"So where do you want to eat." Alice danced beside me after I finally got her to talk about anything but 10 feet tall Pandora natives.

I shrugged. "I don't know, maybe.." I was going to suggest we eat at the restaurant Mike had taken me, to share joy of the worlds best Panni but before the words could escape my lips my phone rang. I gazed her apologetically and answered the phone.

"Hello,"

"Bella,"

"Mr. Cullen," I was surprised to hear his voice. I glanced at Alice, she was staring back at me smiling oddly.

"Sorry to call you so late, but I was wondering if you've seen my navy blue Armani suit."

Shit, I thought. I forgot to pick up his dry cleaning.

"Yes sir. It's still at the cleaners. I'll pick it up now and bring it over."

"Okay thanks Bella,"

"You're welcome sir."

I ended the call and turned to Alice who had been waiting patiently. I opened my mouth to speak but she held up her hand.

"Just go." she waved me away and twisted her head away. She was acting as if she was mad but I knew Alice better than that. I smiled. "Thanks Alice. I'll make it up to you." I said moving to the curb and motioning for a cab.

A/N: Thanks for reading. I did good right. It's only been a week since I last updated. Read and Review. Let me know what you think!