Thanks to Kristi and Lisa who make sure I don't sound like a fool.

Disclaimer: All publicly recognized characters, setting, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter 14 – Workin' 9 to 5

BPOV

It was a short walk to Walgreens where I was able to pick up the few things I'd need for tonight: a soft brown eye pencil, mascara and a little pot of gloss that was more neutral than the lipstick I'd worn to the cocktail party. I knew I wouldn't be able to duplicate the complicated twist Alice had pulled off, but I bought what I'd need so that I could pull my hair up more simply.

The lobby was more crowded than usual when I returned. It was just after four and people were starting to leave for the day. So, I wasn't surprised when I ran into Mike from HR.

"Hey, Bella. Leaving for the day?" He smiled brightly at me.

"Oh, no. I still have a few things I need to get done. How was your day?" I asked politely.

"Fine. Nothing special, really. Just pushing those pencils." He laughed self-deprecatingly before pausing, "So, how about that lunch soon?"

He was a persistent bugger.

"Um, sure. I don't think I'll be in the office the rest of this week, but maybe next Tuesday?"

If possible, his smile got wider. "Tuesday. It's a date." I froze, but he didn't seem to notice. He waved as he walked away and I half-heartedly raised my hand in farewell.

Date? Shit.

I was going to have to head this off at the pass. I didn't see anything wrong with having lunch with the people I was meeting here at CE—the group lunch last week had been fun, and I enjoyed bonding with Angela today, but I didn't think it would be appropriate for the CEO's future "girlfriend" to be seen on a lunch "date" with other employees.

I sighed before shaking my head and making my way up to Edward's office.

Mrs. Cope was packing up to leave. Angela was leafing through a directory of some sort. Mrs. Cope watched me as I walked across the room with my little Walgreens bag and removed my coat.

"Mr. Cullen said you should feel free to go into his office should you need to."

"Thank you, I guess I'll go hang this up, then. Have a good night, Mrs. Cope."

"You, too, Ms. Swan." She smiled at me before getting on the elevator. When the doors closed Angela's head snapped up.

"She likes you," she said.

"Who? Mrs. Cope?"

"Yes, she always tried to stop Ms. Denali from going into Edward's office. Tanya bitched about that until he told Mrs. Cope just to let her through unless someone was in there with him."

"She wouldn't let me in his office this morning when he wasn't in there."

"Yeah, but she asked him today if it would be okay to let you through without permission or invitation. She asked him. If she didn't like you she'd wait until he brought it up."

I didn't know why Mrs. Cope's approval put a smile on my face, but it did.

"I'm going to hang up my coat. I'll be right back."

"Okay."

I knocked lightly before I entered Edward's office. He was looking at some papers on his desk, but raised his head when I came in.

"You don't need to knock, Bella. Mrs. Cope will let you know if I can't be interrupted."

"Okay, thanks." I opened the closet and hung up my coat before turning to face him. When I did I noticed a flat, square box sitting on the coffee table. Before I could ask about it Edward spoke.

"Bella, could you do me a favor? Ms. Brandon called with specific instructions about my clothes tonight. I had planned on just wearing what I had on all day since that's what I'd normally do for one of these dinners, but why pay a stylist if I'm not going to listen to her?" The question was clearly rhetorical. "Anyway, there's a list on the table in my dressing room. Could you pull the clothes and hang them in the bathroom for me so I can change later?"

"I'll get dressed in the bathroom this time. It won't take me nearly as long to get ready as it did the other night."

"Oh, okay. Would you mind pulling the clothes for me, anyway?"

"Not at all."

I walked into the dressing room and read over Alice's list. I could see that she was trying to coordinate Edward's clothes with mine, though this most definitely wasn't a date. Her list was specific enough for me to pull everything easily. It took me longer to figure out what was kept where than it did to find each indicated item. I had wondered if it was Edward or Alice who was so well organized the last time I was here. Seems it was Alice, how else would she know exactly which little cubby held which pair of socks and exactly which dark brown belt would look best with the suit she'd chosen for him tonight.

Once I had gathered everything I removed my garment bag from the rack next to his tux and hung his suit there. I placed everything else on the table, grabbed my garment bag carefully and walked back into his office. Edward was talking on his cell phone so I proceeded quietly to the bathroom, where I hung up the bag before remembering that I had left the bag from Walgreens in Angela's office.

I went to get it and found Angela packing up to go home.

"When are you coming in again?" she wanted to know.

"Definitely Tuesday. I'm not sure where I'll be getting ready on Saturday. I guess I should ask Edward or Alice about that. Hey, can I ask you a question?"

"Shoot."

"What do you know about that guy, Mike, from HR?"

"Mike, eh?" Angela arched her brow as she looked at me.

"No, no, it's not like that. Well, as far as I'm concerned, anyway. It's just, he's been pushing me to have lunch with him. I didn't think anything of it, but when I agreed to eat with him next Tuesday he called it a date."

"Inappropriate much?"

"Yeah, that's what I thought, too."

"Sorry, Bella. I only have the vaguest idea of who you're talking about."

"Ben seemed to know him. They talked with each other during lunch on Friday. Maybe you could ask him?"

"Oh, Bella, I don't know…."

"Please, Ang. Please?"

I could see her wavering. She very much did want this excuse to talk to Ben, but was afraid to approach him.

"You can even tell him what I told you. Please, as a favor to me?" It was really a favor for her, if I was honest, but hopefully we'd both benefit from them talking together.

"Um, okay. Uh, I'll let you know what he says."

"Thanks."

"Okay, I'm all done here for today. I'll email you when I talk to Ben. See you next week."

"Bye, Ang."

I went back into Edward's office. He was off the phone.

"Everyone's gone. I'm going to start getting ready. When do we need to leave?"

"Dinner's not 'til eight, but I'm supposed to have a drink with my brother first. Let's plan on leaving before seven."

"Okay." I nodded before sitting down. Two hours was plenty of time. I pulled out the prospectus.

"Interesting reading?" Edward asked sarcastically.

"Actually, it is. A lot of the business stuff is too technical for me, but I enjoyed the biographies. Did your brother pick the art in Mrs. Cope's office?"

"Some of it. Going to galleries with Emmett has allowed me to learn quite a bit. The piece you mentioned, the Varel, I chose that one."

"It's beautiful."

"Thank you."

"You play the piano?"

Edward sighed. "Not as much as I'd like to."

"Why's that?"

"I don't have much free time anymore. I do love it, though. I have a beautiful Bosendorfer at home; it's been in the family for generations."

He had a faraway look in his eyes. I could tell that playing was important to him.

"You should make time."

"Hm? Oh, yes, well, I try," he said, focusing on me again. "You should start getting ready."

"Okay." I stood up and walked into the bathroom. Stripping down, I carefully laid my work clothes over a convenient chair. I pulled the pretty underwear out of the bag and realized I'd need to cut the tags off. Instead of getting redressed and asking Edward for a pair of scissors, I went to the open cabinet near the sink. A small manicure set was there. I used the tiny scissors to cut the tags off the three pieces.

I carefully put on the bra and panties before sliding on the garter. I unzipped the garment bag and found the hose Alice had included. Inching them up my legs, I attached them to the garter carefully. I decided to pull up my hair next. I brushed my hair and sectioned it off before pulling the strands up and pinning them. The result wasn't as polished as Alice's updo, but I thought it looked soft and pretty.

There was a knock on the door.

"Bella, can I get in there for a sec?"

"Oh! Umm…" I thought quickly. "Sure, hold on." I went to the closet and took out the dark blue, monogrammed robe he let me borrow the other day. Slipping it on, I opened the door and stepped out. Edward didn't move to accommodate me so I had to maneuver around him and went to sit on the couch.

"I'll—" his voice was husky, like he hadn't spoken for a long time. He cleared his throat before trying again. "I'll be right out."

"Take your time. I'm almost ready."

Edward closed the door behind him. I picked up the prospectus and started reading again.

EPOV

Crap!

What the hell was I thinking? What did I think she was doing in here? I should have just used the lavatory in Mrs. Cope's office. This was the third time a trip to the bathroom led to an uncomfortable scene between me and Bella. When she opened the door in my blue bathrobe my brain just shut down.

She was in the middle of dressing. She obviously wasn't wearing her clothes yet and needed to put on my robe to deal with my interruption. Then, when she opened the door, I stood there like a 15-year old boy, gawking. I didn't even move when she tried to get past me. She practically had to rub herself against me to go sit on the couch.

I'm not oblivious. I wouldn't have offered Bella this job if she wasn't physically appealing, but she really wasn't my type.

What's your type, Cullen? Plastic socialites with IQs barely in the three-digit range?

Tanya fit that description and we were together for eleven months. She hadn't had this effect on me in, well…never. Tanya was as beautiful as the talented doctors of Chicago could make her. It was quite plausible that one could find the words "made in China" stamped somewhere in or on her body. Bella's body was natural and all the more intriguing because of it. Where Tanya had been all sharp edges, Bella was soft curves. That was obvious in the dress she wore last week and tonight, in my robe.

You're not attracted to her that way, Edward. You've just been without, ummm, female companionship for too long.

I needed to get laid.

Shaking my head, I finished up in the bathroom by walking to the sink and washing my hands. Sitting on the counter were little tags. I glanced at them and two details jumped out at me—34C and the words "garter belt."

Fuck. What was she going to be wearing tonight?

I let out a small groan before splashing water on my suddenly hot face. I seriously needed to….

Stop. I need to focus here.

Taking a deep breath I turned and walked out of the bathroom. I was about to thank her and let her know she could finish getting ready when I stopped cold. She was sitting on my couch, reading the prospectus, with her legs crossed. The robe had fallen open revealing her legs well past her knee. I could almost imagine that I could see the garter belt the tags in the bathroom told me she was wearing.

I stood there, mute, for a few moments before she sensed my presence.

"Can I go back in?"

The sound of her voice snapped me out of my reverie.

"Sure." I smiled at her. She faltered a bit as she stood up from the couch before recovering and making her way to the bathroom door.

"I'll only need a few more minutes."

"Take your time."

"I don't want you to be late for drinks with your brother. I'll be right out."

She turned and walked into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. I stared at the door for a moment before walking to my dressing room to get changed. By the time I was finished, Bella was sitting in my office.

I looked at her and groaned inwardly. Looking at her all night was not going to be easy. I could make out the barest hint of her bra through the material of her blouse. Pink, I decided, not beige. The plunging neckline more than hinted at how generous her breasts really were. The hem of her skirt was quite modest, falling right at her knees. She stood to put on her coat. I took two quick steps and scooped up her coat so I could help her. She turned to take advantage of my offer and I took her in from behind.

Fuck me.

The skirt, which had seemed modest from the front, gathered right below the swell of her ass, showcasing more of her attractive curves.

"Oh! I almost forgot," I said, laying her coat back on the couch, "this is for you to wear tonight."

I grabbed the box off my coffee table and opened it. Inside was a wide link, gold necklace. Alice had requested it be sent to me for the evening. I'd return it to the jewelry store tomorrow.

Bella's eyes widened as she took in the pretty piece. "It's lovely," she breathed.

"May I?" I indicated she should turn around so I could help clasp the necklace around the column of her neck. My fingers brushed lightly across the back of her neck while I worked the clasp. Her skin was surprisingly warm and I could feel the lingering heat on my fingertips when I moved my hand away. I rubbed them together a bit to work out the sensation. Without hesitating, I picked up her coat and helped her into it. She turned to face me before buttoning it up. I noticed faint color in her cheeks. Charming.

"Let's get out of here," I said gruffly. She nodded amiably and preceded me out the door. We rode down to street level, walked through the lobby and to my waiting Volvo.

Damn, I should have had Demitri bring around the Aston Martin again. I made a mental note to use my occasion car whenever I took Bella somewhere.

We talked a bit on the ride over. She mentioned that she'd be at Ms. Brandon's tomorrow. They were going to look for a dress for the Gala on Saturday.

"I think you'll enjoy the Gala. You know you'll be meeting my parents there, right? First and Elizabeth will be there as well, but they aren't sitting with us."

"Who will we be sitting with?"

"My brother and his wife, my parents and Jasper and Charlotte."

Bella nodded and looked out the window as we pulled up near the restaurant. We were earlier than I had intended due to unusually light traffic. I shut off the car and got out. I was pleased to notice that Bella remained in the car until I walked around and helped her out. We walked past the restaurant and down the street until we arrived at the small lounge where we were meeting Emmett for drinks.

Heading to a larger table inside, I pulled out Bella's chair and watched as she sat.

"Wine?" I asked her.

"Yes, please. White."

I went to the bar and placed our order, ordering Emmett's usual, too. It was just a matter of minutes before I was back at the table with Bella.

"Did I tell you that you look beautiful tonight?" Bella blushed at my blatant compliment and I mentally rolled my eyes at what a sap I was becoming around her. I seriously needed to call up an old girlfriend or something.

"Thank you. Tell me about this necklace."

"It's on loan from Tiffany's," I explained. "Alice ordered it when she decided what you'd wear tonight. She'll order something else for Saturday after you pick out your dress."

"Now I'm nervous."

"Why?"

"What if I lose it or something happens to it? I can't afford to replace it." Bella's knee started bouncing as she fretted over the impossible.

I reached out to still her nervously shaking leg and she quieted under my touch.

"Relax, Bella. You're not going to lose it." She hadn't noticed that I'd been having trouble keeping my eyes on her face. If the necklace were to suddenly slide down into her blouse, I'd be the first to know.

We sat there a few more minutes, her fretting, me soothing, until my brother finally graced us with his presence. He plopped down into the unoccupied chair at our table noisily.

"I'm here!" he announced unnecessarily. "Let the party begin."

"Good evening, Emmett," Bella said sweetly. He waggled his eyebrows at her suggestively.

"You look terrific, Bella. My 'assistant' doesn't look like you."

Gah! He actually used air quotes. Geez!

"You're late," I complained in an effort to shut him up. He was going to embarrass her.

"Had to stop at home and drop off diapers for Rose," he replied, shrugging.

I nodded. I didn't pretend to understand how completely a tiny baby could change the lives of two grown adults and was frequently in awe of how much juggling my brother and sister-in-law had to do just to get to the end of each day.

Emmett saluted me with his drink, and eyed my hand, which was still on Bella's knee, significantly. "Thanks for the drink, man. Cheers." He tossed back the contents of his glass and exhaled noisily.

"Should we get going?" he asked.

I glanced at my watch. "Yes, let's go."

Bella stood up and I helped her into her coat. She led as we walked out the door. I caught up to her on the sidewalk and offered her my arm. We walked back down the street to the restaurant.

"Good evening," the hostess greeted us politely.

"Good evening. We're here with the Jenks party."

"Certainly, sir, right this way." The hostess led us efficiently through the dining room until we reached the table. J.J. was already there, talking with Jasper, who sat directly to his right. Both men stood when Bella approached.

"Bella, so glad you could come, my dear. Please, have a seat." J.J. indicated the seat to his immediate left by pulling out the chair for her.

"Thank you, J.J." She settled into the seat. "Nice to see you again, Jasper."

"Evening, Bella."

"Hello, J.J., Jasper," Emmett greeted before sitting next to Jasper, leaving the seat on Bella's right empty for me.

I sat down as our waiter approached the table.

"Good evening, everyone, welcome to Markethouse. I'd like to tell you a bit about tonight's specials…."

The waiter continued to speak, but my eye was drawn to J.J. He was talking to the waiter, but his eyes were trained on Bella. Actually, to the same spot on Bella that my eyes had been drifting all night. I could feel annoyance rising in me. He was old enough to be her father! While I had no claim on her I didn't think that J.J.'s blatant ogling was at all appropriate. He was a married man.

I shook my head as the waiter interrupted my train of thought, "Sir…?"

What had he asked? Drinks?

I ordered my drink and he continued around the table before walking off.

I had a feeling that this was going to be a long night.

- - - - -

The rest of dinner will be up shortly! Thank you for your continued interest in this story and your reviews. I answer all reviews so drop me a line and tell me what you think.

BTW, I have a couple of links for this story posted on my profile page if you're interested. The necklace Bella is wearing is there. It's lovely, if I do say so, myself.