A/N: Okay I know it took a while but I just couldn't leave it where I had ended it the first time and it took me a little longer to write an ending to this chapter that I was happy with. But on the bright side it's way longer than it was. Sincere apologizes. I hope you like it still. Enjoy!!!!!

Chapter Fifteen

Work didn't end soon enough and I was out the door before I had the chance to see Edward leave. I didn't have much time. It was already five which only gave me four hours to get my self together. I would need help and of course this was one of those times that I was thankful that my best friend was a fashion God. Or Goddess in this case. I dialed Alice's number as I rushed to the curb. She thankfully picked up on the first ring.

"Hey Bella," I didn't have time for formal introductions.

"Meet me at my place in twenty minutes." I stated as I waved down cab.

"Why?"

"I got invited to this party by my boss. Alice I need you help!." I stated as the orange car pulled up to the sidewalk.

There was silence on the other line before she replied. "Make it fifteen." Then she was gone.

I hopped in the cab unaware of the glare of the person beside me.

Alice was at my place when I arrived forty minutes later. She was leaning against my door frowning.

"Sorry I'm late." I apologized as I pulled my keys out. When I'd stated twenty minutes I had completely forgetton that in New York, traffic was a daily thing.

"I said fifteen." She stated dryly.

"I know, I know." I wouldn't mention how unrealistic that was. I finally got my door open and we entered my apartment. I kicked off my shoes. With the traffic I was even more behind than before. Alice would have to work a miracle.

I rushed into my room and turned back when I noticed that Alice wasn't following me. She was still standing by the door with a huge grin on her face as if she knew something I did. She probably did but I didn't have time to find out.

After a very vigorous and tiring feat to make myself presentable I was finally done. My hair was curled, light make up applied with glossed lips, I wore a dark cocktail dress and I had heels on that were higher than anything I've strapped to my feet before. Thank God I had spent the last month practicing and strengthening my ankles for such a pair of stilettos.

I stared at myself in the mirror and I couldn't help but smile. I looked good, almost better than good if I wanted to toot my own horn.

"Thank you Alice." I glanced at her before I turned back to my refection. "You're a miracle worker." I added.

Alice was lying on my bed, one arm propping her head up. I saw her roll her eyes.

"Really Bella, you make it sound as if you're some type of ogre. Give yourself more credit."

I smiled at her compliment although I wouldn't have believed it any other time. But looking the way I did now, I had no choice.

"What time did he say he was sending the car to get you."

I glanced at the clock. It was 8:54.

"Nine, I think." I twisted and turned back to the front of the mirror as I admired Alice's handy work from every angle.

"And he didn't say he was coming to get you." Alice questioned.

"Nope," I wasn't really paying much attention to her but I swore I heard her whisper some along that lines of 'That bastard'. I only continued to eye myself when not long after I heard the sound of a horn. I stopped and looked at Alice, then the clock. It was exactly nine o'clock. We eyed each other again before we launched ourselves across the room to my window.

There pulling up in front of my building was a silver car, so shiny, so expensive. My face turned hot. Was this really nessaccary? But then again I shouldn't have been as surprised as I was. This was Edward Cullen, one the world's richest people. And Edward had class written all over him.

"Ready?" I heard and rotated to find Alice holding a black clutch and my coat in her hands. I smiled and took them from her.

"Ready."

I arrived at the apartment building thirty minutes later, surprisingly calm. Well that was until I place a foot on the sidewalk. But I continued to stay in control of my breathing as I entered the building. In the elevator I eyed the invitation that was mailed to me phone about fifteen minutes before I arrived. I told myself to just relax as I walked down the hall to the room. I took a deep breathe before I knocked, noting to myself I would need a drink if this was going to go well.

If I had thought that walking into that dinner two month ago was intimidating, was wrong. There were all types of people here, men, women all dressed amazingly. But thanks to Alice, I didn't feel out of place. At least not at first, not until it dawned on me that I knew absolutely no one here. Every one else was gossiping in groups as music that belonged more in a night club played softly in the back ground.

I didn't even know who's apartment I was warming. And it was an amazing place, loft style like mine except ten times bigger with a much better view. I could see the entire city from the wall of windows. There were even a few waiters floating around handing out glasses of wine and champagne . I grabbed a glass of wine and down it.

I needed to relax. And one more wouldn't hurt so I returned my glass and grabbed another one.

"There you are," I spun around and Edward was standing there smiling, one hand placed in his pocket the other holding a slender glass full what I was guessing was champagne due it's light color. My heart beat rose just at the sight of him.

"Hi," he stated. I couldn't help it as the sides of my mouth pulled up.

"Hi,"

"I'm really glad you came." He grinned.

I shrugged playfully. "Yeah, well what are friends for." He found that funny.

"You haven't been here long have you?" he asked.

"No I just arrived."

He smiled. "And you're already working on your second glass?" He pointed out.

I glanced at my glass and then back at him. My face was turning pink.

"I, uh," I was struggling for the words.

He chuckled and leaned in a little.

"I'm teasing."

I frowned. "Well you realize I have no idea when do that." I admitted.

"Really, I'm always so obvious." I looked up at him. He was giving me his slanted smile. The one that sent my heart fluttering around my body. I was about to say something when suddenly I heard a shriek across the room and turned to find a women crossing the room toward us. Well toward Edward. She was tall, slim, gorgeous with chin length strawberry blond hair and wore a fitted red dress. Even though I looked more amazing than I could ever remember I instantly took a hit to my self-esteem.

Edward obviously knew her. I could see the familiarity in his eyes. I just wondered how familiar there really were.

"Edward," She voiced as she got closer. "You finally made it." she flew into him and hugged him in an odd way. The way you'd hug a close friend but at the same time I could sense something between the two them.

"I told you I was coming." He answered. She pulled back.

"Your words are meaning less to me. You've been saying you were going to come see me for weeks now."

"Then you should be glad I came at all." He joked. I got that one. Maybe it was only when it was towards me. She gasped before smiling.

"You think because you're finally taller than me you can treat me any way you want." Then she surprised me by turning to me. I hadn't even thought she'd noticed me.

"Now," she eyed me. " You must be Isabella,"

"Bella, it's just Bella" I corrected. She glanced at Edward.

"You were right." He shrugged but smiled.

"Hi Bella. I'm Tanya, a very old friend of Edwards. I'm glad you caould make it." She extended her hand. I took it. So this was her place. Of course it was.

"Nice to meet you." I smiled.

Tanya turned out be rather sweet. She took me under wing and introduced me to most of her guest. She made me feel as if I had known her my entire life. It helped ease my anxiety and allowed me to actually enjoy myself.

Not long after I found myself seated next to Tanya on her couch. It was also occupied to one other girl and a guy but they're weren't interested in our conversation as they were practically making out. No one but me seemed to notice.

Edward was standing across the room chatting with a group of girls that couldn't disguise their desire for him if their life depended on it.

"So Bella, how is it that you know Eddy." She'd been calling him that all night, and I wasn't sure how it made me feel. It made it seem as it they were more than just 'old friends'. Or maybe, I realized, it was just me.

Tanya was currently sipping on her cocktail drink. I only had two glasses of wine which was more than enough to get me to loosen up a little. My tolerance was low, in fact it was lower than low and this was neither the time or the place to let the other me out. Isabella as Alice called her was not really tamed.

"Actually, I work for him. I'm his assistant. Didn't he tell you?" I questioned. I saw no need to be embarrassed by the fact. She appeared surprised so I figure that no, he hadn't. I watched as her face turned confused as she looked over at Edward.

"Interesting," She stated more to herself.

"Why?" I asked. She blinked and turned back to me.

"What?"

"You said that me working for him was interesting,"

"No that's not what I find interesting. It's the fact that he brought you here." She turned back to Edward.

"He never brings anyone never from work." She took another sip of her drink. "Never."

Tanya's words got the wheels in my head turning. Not a good thing but she had a point. I turned to where Edward was.

Why did he bring me?

The next morning at work, Angela was there waiting for me. It was very odd to find her at my desk so early. She looked worried. Well at least that's what I thought it was, her expression was very hard to read.

"Hey Angela," I grinned, setting my things down. She wasted no time.

"Is it true?" I glanced at her.

"Is what true." I sat down and booted my computer. I had so must things to finish with my hasty departure yesterday afternoon.

Angela sighed. "Rumor has it…"

Her words caught me off guard. "Rumor? What Rumor." I hadn't heard of any rumor.

"There's a rumor going on that you and Mr. Cullen are…" I saw her face turn pink.

"Are what?" I probed impatiently.

"Are well, more than friends."

"What!" I flew to my feet. My head was flying.

"Where did you hear that?"

"I heard it this morning. Lauren was talking to Jessica in her office this morning. She said that you and Edward went out last night."

"Yeah, but,"

She stopped me. "Wait, it's true."

"Yes. No." I shook my head. "It's not like that. His friend was having this thing and he invited me."

"He invited you?"

I nodded.

"Bella," She began. "This is not good." She sunk into one of the chairs used for waiting guest.

"What was I suppose to do Angela?" I rounded my desk. "Say no!"

"Yes!" She let out another breathe. I opened my mouth to make an excuse but then realized that she had been right. I should have just said no. I had realized that I was treading in more dangerous waters than I realized last night as I stared at my ceiling because my mind wouldn't let me sleep. It was too busy remembering everything about Edward. And even though I had ended up having an amazing time last night I shouldn't have gone. Because if this continued then the lines between work and friendship were going to get blurry fast. I understood this all to well now.

I sunk into the chair beside her.

"Shit."

"Yeah. And if I know Lauren and Jessica it will be all over the building by lunch." I turned to her as the reality of the situation hit me again.

"Shit."

I was seated at my computer working on the a draft report for Mike well at least I was suppose to have been. Instead my fingers were frozen over the key board and I was staring blankly at the screen. I still couldn't believe how things had turned upside down in such a short time. And I was pretty sure that Lauren and Jessica were doing this to get back at me. I still didn't understand how either had found out. And even though I hadn't officially heard anything else I wasn't surprised as I was up here and everyone else was down there. Who knew what was being said.

"Bella?" I heard but it wasn't till I heard my name again that it broke me out of the trance. I snapped out of it and looked up. Mike was staring down at me.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Oh sorry. Do you need something?"

"Yeah I need the draft report."

"Oh." I glanced back at the computer screen. Crap, now I was slacking on my job. I felt my face heat up.

"Actually Mike, I'm not quite done."

He frowned and I realized that he wasn't his usual sunny self. In fact he looked annoyed.

"Not done, huh? Of course." He turned to leave.

"I'm sorry Mike."

"No take your time. Since you and are together I guess it's okay to slack on your job." I could hear the harshness in his voice.

"Mike," I pushed out of my chair. " There is nothing going on with me and Edward."

"So it's Edward now."

"What? No!" I didn't even feel like going into that. "Mike I'm telling you that nothing is going on."

"Yeah, okay." he answered sarcastically.

"I'm telling you the truth." I walked after him to the elevator.

"So he just invites anyone to go out with him."

"I don't know. I don't even know why he asked to me. I mean it doesn't make sense. I mean think about it. I'm me," I gestured to myself. " And he's him." I pointed to his office door. I let out a breath. The elevator dinged.

"Please Mike." I stared up at him. "You have to believe me. There's nothing going on with me and Edward."

Just then the elevator doors open to reveal Edward. He eyed both of us before he stepped off the elevator still glancing between the Mike and myself. I wasn't sure if he'd heard anything but my heart sank in my chest anyways.

He didn't speak, only headed into his office. I stared after him.

Something was different.

It was Mikes voice that brought me back.

"So there's really nothing going on with you two." I turned back to him.

"No there's not. If anything we have a work related friendship. The same as you and I." I noticed the slight twitch in Mike's brow at my words. He continued to stare at me before he sighed.

"Fine, I believe you. I'll put an end to the rumor."

Mike made good on his promise. Angela came to me two hours later to tell me what Mike had done. He called both Lauren and Jessica out for being childish. He also told them how lucky they were that Edward hadn't heard the rumor and hadn't gotten involved. No one was happier about that than I was and I was grateful that my little nightmare was over.

Well for now. Lauren and Jessica would hate me even more and I knew that neither of them would give up so easily. I just had to make sure that from now on I wasn't giving them the bullets to their gun.

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