Rating/Warning(s)/Note(s): Rating = M

Thanks to Amberstar63, for sending this back to me all covered in red :P

Disclaimer: All copyrights, trademarked items, or recognizable characters, plots, etc. mentioned herein belong to their respective owners. No copying or reproduction of this work is permitted without their express written authorization.

Prompt: January 21, 2010 Idea Completion: What would be going on in the mind of a young office assistant biting her nails?

I sat at my desk, gnawing on my thumb nail while I listened to Jasper, Mr. Whitlock, unleash a slew of profanities from the confines of his office. He had been holding everything in so well today that everyone was on pins and needles just waiting for that next shoe to drop. And it did. All because of a phone call from Mrs. Whitlock; well, actually, the soon to be ex Mrs. Whitlock.

As soon as I heard her voice on the line, I felt the sense of dread hit my stomach, making my insides feel like lead. I knew she was the last thing he needed today. But, as per my job description, I had to forward the call to his office.

The sound of something crashing made me jump, biting harder than planned on my nail. "Shit," I muttered under my breath as I tasted blood and mentally ran through the decorations in the office that could have made that sound.

I groan as I looked in my drawer for a bandage for my poor thumb, cringing at the realization that the crashing sound had most likely been the Tiffany vase his cousin gave him on his first day as president. I hope they still carry that vase, I prayed as I apply the bandage.

Jasper's voice is louder, more demanding as he speaks to his soon to be ex wife. I can faintly hear her yelling back a response. Apparently my boss has put her on speaker phone and is most likely pacing.

The soft ding from my computer grabbed my attention from the chaos behind the door and I glance over to see an instant message from Esme Platt, Carlisle Cullen's personal assistant.

Esme: Rumor has it, the Majors out for battle. y/y?

I smile despite my torn feelings. The office refers to Jasper's temper as the Major.

Alice: Yes. Is there something Mr. Cullen needed?

Esme: Always business... never pleasure… but yes. He needs Jasper in his office. A.S.A.P.

I sigh and shake my head. I hated interrupting him. After a quick reply, I sign off and grab Jasper's PDA and tablet, hoping to use them as a shield.

With my loud knock, the voices on the other side of the door stop and before I can inhale a steadying breath, the door swings open revealing the man who has owned me heart and soul since I started working for him. His blue eyes are wild with fury, his honey color hair is dishevelled, but his shoulders are slumped in a silent defeat.

"Yes Miss. Alice?"

I give him a sad smile before extending my hand that held his palm device to him. "You have a two o'clock with Mr. Cullen, which you have to prepare for, and I've cancelled the rest of your meetings."

His eyebrow rises at the mention of meeting with Carlisle, but quickly relaxes as realization hits him. "Thank you Miss. Alice," he says with a small nod and an apologetic as he takes his PDA from me.

I turn to leave, but he steps in front of me, blocking the door and motioning to me that I should wait. I pretend to be interested in the documents on the tablet as he continues his conversation with Mrs. Whitlock.

"I don't care Maria! You should have thought about that before you spread your legs for him. Nothing is yours!" He growled, making me jump.

"What about you? I know you're porking your assistant!" She screeched from the speaker.

Before I could even register what was going on, Jasper's large hand was covering my mouth as he tucked me into his side. Shock and confusion gave way to pleasure as our close proximity made my mind whirl and everything but the heat from his body and the scent of his aftershave faded into the background.

The sound of his dark chuckle brought me out of my daydreams and back to reality as I once again became witness to the verbal onslaught between him and his wife.

"No Maria, that house was mine before we married and it remains mine afterwards. Perhaps if you'd actually read the prenuptial agreement, you would have seen that the only things you'd be taking in the event of the dissolution of our marriage are your clothes and any items you purchased for the household. Seeing as how you were far more interested in having me purchase everything, while you lay on your back for everyone but your husband, you should be thankful I'm letting you take your clothes at all."

I glanced up at him just as his hand moved from my mouth down to my shoulder. His eyes met with mine and flicker of emotion, one I couldn't name, danced in his eyes as his thumb rubbed gently at the skin of my neck.

Too soon, the contact was broken as he moved back to his desk, slamming the phone into the cradle. "Good riddance," he mumbled before flopping down into his chair.

Instantly I snapped back into my role as his personal assistant, placing his tablet on the desk besides him before going to the private ensuite. I grabbed the spare shirt and tie from the closet and his hair comb, before coming back in.

"I'm sorry you had to witness that Miss. Alice," he said as he rubbed his hands over his face.

"Not a problem sir. Here is a change of clothes for you, Mr. Cullen would like to see you as soon as possible and you might want to tame that mess you call hair," I teased lightly as he moved his hands to gape at me. "What?" I finally asked, smoothing down my pencil skirt, wondering if something was amiss with my wardrobe.

He shook his head as he tugged his tie off. "I don't know how you do it."

"Do what?" I asked, as I started to clean the mess made earlier. I was right about the vase and I knew Rosalie would be furious if she ever found out.

"That. Act as if what just happened is an everyday thing…"

I tossed the larger pieces of crystal into the trash bin and shrugged. "When you hired me, you said from the beginning that you wanted someone who could multitask but also keep the important task at hand above all."

"And what was the important task today?"

I looked up and felt my breathing hitch at the sight of him. He was currently pulling the lighter blue button up on over his arms, as his pants rode low on his hips due to them being open enough for him to tuck the new shirt in. His toned chest covered in the tight fabric of his undershirt would forever be etched into my memory. He chuckled softly, the sound of it causing me to jump and the heat rise to my cheeks.

"I'm sorry sir," I said timidly. "You were saying?"

"Don't apologize, Miss. Alice. I should have warned you I was dressing. As I was saying though, what was today's important task?"

"You," I said simply.