12
I watched Rosalie with tears in my eyes as she came down the aisle, looking at Emmett with happiness radiating from her. She looked absolutely stunning in her wedding dress and the bouquet with white lilies in her hands.
When she was standing next to Emmett, the wedding minister started speaking. They both said their wedding vows, kissing each other afterwards. I couldn't feel happier for them, as I saw them walking away together.
At the reception, I had to give my speech, following Jasper, the best man.
"Thank you, Jasper, for your wonderful speech," I said, nodding at him. He smiled, raised his glass and nodded. "I've known Rosalie for a long time and we have been friends for most of those years. I met Emmett a few years ago and immediately knew he was the one for Rosalie. I've seen her with hundreds of other boyfriends – just kidding there – but she was never as happy as she is with Emmett.
This morning, Rosalie was a bag of nerves. She listed all the things that could go wrong, but Alice and I told her that the only thing mattered was that she loves Emmett and that he loves her.
I feel honoured to have been made the maid of honour, I have enjoyed every second of it. I hope you will enjoy your life as Mrs McCarthy, which will hopefully be for a long time. You'd better be prepared, Emmett," I said, winking at him. He laughed and I ended my speech, "Thank you."
I raised my glass and everybody mirrored me. We toasted and sat down as the food came in. Rosalie was sitting next to me and leaned over to hug and thank me for the speech.
"No problem. I really do hope you will have a great life, Rose," I said. She got tears in her eyes and smiled.
Later that night, as the people started dancing, I sat at the table and watched them, suddenly thinking about Edward. How I wished he would've been here, with me. I was wondering what he was doing at the moment. How was the company doing, with their 'cut backs'? How was his new assistant? I hadn't spoken to Emma much, regrettably, but we had called each other a few times. She had quit a her job a few weeks after me, after she had gotten a better offer, so she hadn't met the new assistant.
Would Edward have a girlfriend? Perhaps his new assistant, I thought sadly. There had been a few moments where I had regretted getting angry at him, but I knew that I had had good reason to and even if we would have gotten a relationship if I had stayed calm and acted as if it hadn't bothered me, then I would always know our relationship was built on lies. I couldn't have lived with that and I would have probably broken up with him.
I was pulled back to reality as Jasper came over to ask me to dance.
"Are you sure you want to risk that? I'm not a very good dancer," I told him, laughing.
"I thought you had taken dance lessons for the wedding?" he asked, chuckling.
"I have, but I'm a lost cause," I chuckled.
"I'll risk it," he said, pulling me up with his hand. I smiled, glad that he had taken my mind of off things.
After a few minutes, I swapped with Alice and was dancing with Emmett.
"How are you feeling?" I asked him.
"Great, absolutely fantastic," he said, grinning widely.
"I'm so happy for both you guys, it was about time you got married," I said, smiling.
EPOV
I sighed and put my head in my hands, leaning on my desk. That was the third interview that day, and all three had been horrible. Were there no good assistants looking for a job at the moment?
I still hadn't fully forgiven my father for what he had done. We did speak occasionally; my mother called often and then gave the phone to my father under false pretences – we both knew what she was doing. He had apologized and I told him that I had forgiven him, but deep down I hadn't really. Not yet.
I couldn't stop thinking that he had ruined my chances of being happy. I hadn't seen her since she had found her new job.
I wanted nothing more than to pick up the phone and call her, but I knew she wouldn't want to talk to me. And she had a good point.
At the time, I hadn't realized that it wasn't fair to take her to the party without telling her that she was getting fired. She had every right to be angry at me.
I still remember how my father had called me on my telephone.
"Edward, I've spoken to a few of your colleagues in London," he started, gravely. I was sitting in my office at the moment.
"You have? What have they told you?" I asked, not feeling suspicious yet.
"Well, they have informed me about your assistant, Ms Swan, right?"
"Yes, that's right," I answered slowly, not sure I knew where this was going. I had an unnerving feeling I wasn't going to like this conversation.
"Everybody agrees she's a lovely lady who tries hard to do her job, but that she may not be the ideal person to be your assistant," he told me.
"She may not be ideal, but she does her job properly and we can work together pretty good."
"A little too good, perhaps?"
"That's nonsense, dad, and you know it," I told him, even though he had a point. But he couldn't possibly know that for sure. My colleagues couldn't even know that for sure.
"All right, then, and that's not really the problem either. I need everything to be perfect in London. It takes a lot of time to build up this company in the US, so everything needs to run smoothly with you. I can't have you tolerating employees who aren't good for the company, just because they are kind or because you can work together with them. Of course, these things are important, but not as important as that they are good at their job."
"So you say I should fire her?" I asked through gritted teeth.
"Well, of course, it isn't fair to just let her go. You should offer her help and pay her in the mean time. She should be fine," he said casually. He had no idea how much this affected me.
"I will not fire her," I told him resolutely.
"I thought you wouldn't. Unfortunately, you don't have a choice, son," he said, determined. I knew there wasn't really any point in arguing with him, but I wasn't going to give up that easily.
"Don't you think I should hire my employees myself? I am the one who has to work with them!"
"Yes, all true, but I am still your boss and you do as I tell you. Now, fire the girl. But don't be harsh about."
"Yes, I was really planning on being harsh about it," I said, sarcastically.
"Can I count on you, son?"
"Dad, you haven't even seen her yourself. She is good at her job, I can promise you that."
"There are people out there who will be much better at it, won't that be more useful for your job?"
"Perhaps, but there is a chance I won't be able to work with them."
"There are a lot of people out there, you just have to interview a few and see with whom you think you can work the best."
"And what should I tell Ms Swan?" I asked softly, giving up.
"Tell her you need to cut back, she'll believe that. Oh, and there will be a business party in Croydon. Take her there, let her meet some people. Get connections, you know. It'll be helpful," he told me.
"Fine, I'll do exactly as you told me to," I said bitterly.
"Come, come, it's all for the company. It's just a simple assistant. Why are you so intent on keeping her anyway?"
"I don't know. She's different, I suppose. Special."
"You chose to finally fall in love and it's with your assistant?"
"I can't help it," I said, angrily.
"No, I know you can't. Well, just be kind to her. She won't me mad at all, believe me."
"I hope so," I said. Knowing Bella, I wasn't sure if he was right
BPOV
I got home that night, feeling absolutely exhausted. The wedding had run smoothly, mostly thanks to Alice, and everybody had enjoyed it thoroughly. Emmett and Rosalie would leave tomorrow morning for their honeymoon.
Alice and Jasper had stayed with me until the last guests had left. We had cleaned up a bit and then all went home, desperate to get some sleep.
I wasn't sure if I wouldn't fall asleep in the shower, but took the risk. Having danced all night – even though I had convinced myself I wouldn't – and having to run around to make sure everything went fine, a shower was something I could use.
I dragged myself to the shower and afterwards dragged myself to bed. I looked at my clock, only half surprised to see it was five in the morning. I groaned as I already saw the sky get lighter through my window. I closed all the blinds and laid down on my bed, knowing I wouldn't get up before twelve.
As I woke up, I realized that there was a sound penetrating the walls. I shook my head and noticed it was the phone ringing. I wasn't sure if I should get up and get it, but then I saw it was two o'clock pm, so I got up.
"Hello?" I said, my voice hoarse.
"Hi, Bella?" a cheery voice said. It sounded familiar, but I couldn't quite place it.
"Yes?" I asked.
"This is Madison!"
"Oh, Madison, hi!" I asked, smiling as I remembered her."It's been so long since I've talked to you."
"Yes, months," she said sadly.
"I'm sorry, I was quite busy, but I should have kept contact."
"Oh, don't worry. It's not like I tried to reach you. Though I have missed you around here, it's so boring now," she said, laughing. I knew this was probably my only opportunity to inquire about the new assistant without sounding desperate.
"Is it? Surely not! How is Edward's new assistant?"
"Assistants, you mean. Loads of them have been coming and going. No one either wants to stay or Edward doesn't think he or she is appropriate after all."
"Eh… a lot of she's?" I asked, knowing I was betraying myself. I heard her laugh loudly on the other side.
"Equal, I would say. Though none of the ladies quite as pretty and kind as you, dear," she said kindly.
I laughed, "Thank you, Madison." I was silent for a few seconds. "How is Edward?"
"Oh, even more rude, absent-minded and stiff than before. You wouldn't believe it. He isn't capable of having a normal conversation with anyone. When you came, he slowly started getting better, but it has only gone downhill since you left."
"Perhaps something has happened to him."
"I know something has," she said immediately.
"What?"
"You left," she said, matter-of-factly. I blushed and laughed.
"I think that won't affect him very much," I said truthfully.
"I think you undermine the effect you have upon people," she told me.
"Well, perhaps I should come and visit, cheer Edward up," I said jokingly, though I wanted nothing more than to do that. I had a strong want to see him again.
"Perhaps you should," she said, not meaning it seriously. "Shall I tell him you said hello?"
"No, better not," I said sadly.
"All right, I'll – Oh, no, Mr Cullen, just a friend," she suddenly said. I frowned and my heart sped up as I realized she was talking to Edward.
"Sorry for that, Edward just walked by and wonder who I was talking to."
"That's fine, I need to go anyway. You'd better go back to your work, before he fires you also!" I said, laughing, knowing he wouldn't do that.
"Yes, you may be right. I hope I can speak to you again soon."
"Yes, absolutely!" I said, hanging up afterwards.
My heart ached to be back to the time I was working there, though a part of me knew my new job was better for me.
The next week, my boss told me I would have a class for my own for a few days. A teacher had called in sick and I was to take his place.
I had already met this class and knew they would be fine to handle, though I was still nervous.
"Your own class to teach?" Alice asked excitedly.
"Yes, I know! It's so nerve wrecking!" I said, laughing.
"You'll be great. I really think this is the perfect job for you. In some ways, the fact that Edward fired you has worked out rather nicely."
"In some ways yes," I said gravely.
"You don't get to see the love of your life daily, though," she said, smiling smugly.
"As if he is the love of my life," I said, rolling my eyes, secretly hoping she wasn't right. If he was the love of my life, I had screwed up quite badly.
I was standing outside the class room, listening to the voices of the students chatting loudly and excitedly for a few moments, to calm myself down.
I entered the class room and noticed how a few students stopped talking. Others needed more encouraging, but eventually they were all silent and I could get on with the lesson. My nerves slowly faded away as I told the students about one of my biggest passion, English literature. It was one of the few things I could endlessly talk about. I fancied that the students were interested, but didn't flatter myself too much.
At the end of the lesson, I was quite proud of myself as I watched the students walk away. I was about to gather my things, when I noticed someone in the far left corner of the room who had remained sitting.
I focused on the person and felt my heart stop as I realized who it was.