Disclaimer - I'm not Stephenie Meyer, and unfortunately can't pretend to be. She owns Twilight, I'm just messing with it.

A/N - thanks to all who read and reviewed last time, much appreciated.

Massive thank you to my beta, Trip, for all her brilliant help.

EPOV

Fuck. Me. Hard.

This isn't an expression usually found in my head whilst residing in Aro's office but, my God, it seems fairly appropriate right now. For a horrible moment I wonder if I muttered the words out loud, although perhaps that wouldn't be too much of a big deal as it is definitely a proposition I wouldn't mind offering Ms Isabella Swan.

When I arrived I was in such haste to speak to Aro about a development in the Coleman project that I barely even noticed the small brunette sitting in the chair opposite his desk. I had been wondering when my new PA would arrive but mainly just in connection with the huge amount of work I have piling up. Now she is here and I can't even remember what I had needed Aro for so desperately.

She lifts her head to greet me and I can't help but notice the way she quickly rakes her eyes over me. In all honestly I'm certain I did the same.

A smirk sneaks onto my face almost entirely against my will and she blushes the most delicious shade of pink. I can't take my eyes off the way the colour spreads across her cheekbones, down her delicate neck and into the collar of her blue shirt. I want nothing more than to see how far down it goes.

Nobody has spoken so I feel a need to break the silence. I reach out my hand for her to shake and introduce myself. She continues to stare in silence for a beat too long and I'm torn between feeling flattered and uncomfortable.

Finally, she blushes further and puts her hand in mine, offering the smallest of shy smiles. Her hand is soft and slightly damp from nerves and it feels tiny in mine. I'm instantly overwhelmed by a need to wrap other parts of myself around her to keep her safe. Okay, that's a very weird fucking thought, Cullen, you perve.

"Hi, erm, I'm Bella" I can barely hear her. She clears her throat and lifts her chin a little. "Isabella Swan that is, but I prefer Bella please."

"Bella it is then," I smile at her in a way that I hope is reassuring but it only seems to unnerve her further. I realise I'm still holding her hand and hastily let go.

"Right then. Ed, didn't you need to speak to me urgently?" Aro asks. In truth I had momentarily forgotten he was even in the room. My mind feels a little fuddled and I quickly grapple around in it for the reason for my visit.

"Ah yeah that's right. It's about Coleman, do you have five?"

"I said I did, didn't I?" He raises his eyebrows. If I didn't know better I'd say the old bastard was laughing at me a little.

I turn to Bella. "Why don't you wait in my office and make yourself at home." Jesus, why is my heart racing like a fucking schoolboy? "You and I have quite a lot to go through so I'll be there in a few minutes."

I'm rewarded with another small smile and then she dashes out, it takes all my will power to resist glancing at her arse. Aro already questions my professionalism with colleagues and I don't want to make matters worse.

"Jesus, Edward, wipe that bloody grin off your face won't you? This isn't a damn school yard." Aro growls as he sits back behind his desk. He's a moody bastard before 10am.

"Sorry." I mutter and try to force my face into neutral before sitting down opposite him.

"So anyway, what do you want?"

Did I mention short-tempered and abrupt too?

I proceed to fill him in on a tricky development that I had previously overlooked. One of Coleman & Son's main competitors, and therefore potentially a rich source from which we can headhunt potential candidates, is on the Volturi US off limits list. Which technically means we can't touch them, thus cutting off a whole avenue of options for this assignment.

"For fuck's sake, Ed!" Aro explodes. I'm beginning to wonder why I chose this particular moment to bring this up - early morning, just back from a conference that has left us all knackered and before he has even had a brew.

"Why the hell didn't you notice this earlier? That's your bloody job," he continues.

He is completely right, I should have noticed. Unfortunately, I'm already handling eight other assignments so things have begun to slip through the net and I somehow managed to only check the UK off limits list.

"I know, Aro, you're right. It's a total oversight on my part and entirely my fault. But I will fix it, I promise."

"How, pray tell?"

"I'll speak to the US, Caius himself if I have to." I grimace; dealing with our American CEO is not my favourite activity. "We might be able to reach an agreement."

"Well you'd better" Aro meets my gaze sternly. "Because you know how much is riding on this Coleman project, don't you Ed?"

I shift in my seat. Yes I certainly do. If this assignment ends in a successful placement Michael Burrows is going to permit Coleman & Sons to be a key account client for Volturi, meaning we'll be their preferred search firm for the next five years, thus bringing in thousands of pounds worth of new revenue.

Additionally, Aro has also made it abundantly clear that if I manage not to fuck this up, he will finally promote me to Head of Sales & Marketing. So, yes I need to fix this.

"Don't worry, Aro, I'm on it. Trust me."

"Hmmm, I am trusting you. Don't mess this up." he waves his hand and I sense I am dismissed.

Just as I reach the door he calls out.

"Oh, and Ed?"

"Yep?"

His smirk is back. "If that little girl lasts a week working for you I'll eat my hat".

Yeah, he was definitely laughing.

I wander back to my office and try to shake off Aro's comment. Usually people's jokes and jibes about my working style (and let's be honest my personal life too) slide off like water from a duck's back but this time it grates on me. I know I can be an arsehole to work with, I'm not a fool, and my colleagues aren't afraid to be honest with me, but I'm really uncomfortable about the fact that someone may have already given Isabella Swan this impression.

I study the back of her head from the doorway of my office as discreetly as possible. As backs of heads go it's a beautiful one. I clear my throat purposely and she leaps a foot in the air. What's the deal with this poor bird's nerves?

"Hi again, I'm sorry to keep you waiting." I say, sitting down at my desk. "Shall we get started?"

She nods, readies the pen and paper on her lap and smiles up at me. Once again my heart gathers some extra, unnecessary speed. This is getting quite ridiculous.

"So I assume Kate showed you the ropes before she left?"

"For the most part." Bella replies. "She didn't have a chance to go through everything but I've got the basics I think. Plus, I'm familiar with all the systems and procedures from Seattle so that's an advantage."

It's the most I've heard her speak so far. Her accent is delicate, easy on the ears. Some Americans can sound a little brash to me but Bella's voice is soft and subtle. Apparently my misbehaving heartbeat agrees.

"Good. Although I should warn you we have some of our own procedures that may differ from what you are used to."

A tiny wrinkle of confusion furrows her forehead. "But I thought all offices worked the same way with the same systems?"

I snort. "Not here they don't. We have some of our own methods that you'll definitely need to adhere to." Was that a little harsh? I might as well get all the expectations on the table.

She nods but looks unsure. I remind myself that she is a pod person from Volturi Seattle and will need to be broken in a little.

"We'll go through all my current assignments and I'll get you up to speed on where we're at and then you can attack your in-tray and inbox which I can promise will be full about 30 seconds after I get logged on. Sound good?"

"Yes, sir" she nods.

"And enough of the 'sir'. We're not in school, Isabella."

She squares her shoulders and sits up a little straighter "Well then, enough of the 'Isabella'. It's Bella, remember?"

Whoa. Not so shy then, are you, Treacle? I can't help but chuckle, Aro may just end up eating his hat after all.

I hold up my hands "Got it. Fair enough. You did say so already after all, it must have slipped my mind." I lean forward in my chair and slide my eyes to hers. "I guess I was a little...distracted when I first saw you."

I hold her gaze steady and watch with satisfaction as that adorable blush slides up again from beneath her shirt. Incredible. And way too easy.

Although I started it, cocky shit that I am, I now find myself unable to draw my gaze away. Her eyes are chocolate brown pools I could drown in, her heart shaped face is open and innocent in a way that awakens things that really shouldn't be woken in an office environment, and her gorgeous long dark hair (already an Achilles' heel of mine) is swept back in a high pile on top of her head. A few strands have broken lose to frame her face and I have an inexplicable urge to undo the rest to see it flowing over her shoulders. I panic that I'm in danger of turning an embarrassing shade of red myself in a few seconds.

She finally breaks away and looks down at her lap. She looks a little lost, and for some reason sad too, and I instantly feel guilty. This sort of office flirting is exactly the sort of shit Aro is talking about and also could possibly lead to a lawsuit.

I clear my throat. "Anyway as I was saying, let's go through assignment by assignment, shall we?"

For the next hour I lose myself in what I love and almost forget about the weird atmosphere. I take her through each project; explain at what stage we're at, how many candidates are in the running and even my thoughts on those individuals. I imagine I go into way more depth than she needs to do her job, or than she is used to, but I can't help it. I'm passionate about headhunting. Plus I really believe that PAs should know the little details of an assignment because it allows them to do their job so much more easily.

By the end, Bella looks a little shell-shocked. She puts down her pen and asks. "So you are handling all of these assignments alone?"

She is stroking my ego a little here and I admit it feels good.

"Well not entirely alone as I have Jess and other researchers when I need them. And now you." I add with what I hope is a non-lecherous smile.

She smiles gently back. "It just seems like a lot, that's all. What sort of hours must you keep?"

Ah! Now I see where she is going with this.

"Pretty long to be honest. But don't worry, I would never expect you stay late except possibly when we're up against the occasional tight deadline."

She jumps in quickly. "Oh no I didn't mean that! I can do whatever is needed. I just meant, well wondered really, don't you have a life?"

Ouch. I wasn't expecting that. I suddenly feel quite uncomfortable and don't really know how to respond. I guess I do spend a lot of time at the office but don't lots of businesspeople? And it's not like I don't go out or meet people or whatever. Although, admittedly, rarely the same person more than once...

Bella has taken my silence as offence and is quickly back-pedalling.

"God I'm sorry, Mr Cullen. I really can't believe I even just said that to you. It must be nerves or something-"

"Hey, Bella, it's fine seriously. No worries." I try to reassure her.

"-But really how many hours you work is definitely none of my business, not my place at all and-"

I place my hand down on the desk between us, reached out towards her.

"Seriously, I promise Bella. I'm not offended, don't worry. I was just surprised. I guess I never really think about it. I just love my job I suppose." I smile.

She grins back, apparently relieved.

I continue. "Anyway, I think we're basically finished here. Why don't you go and settle at your desk and give me a shout if you have any questions."

"Okay thanks." she turns to leave.

"Actually, one last thing." I remember. "No 'sir' but no 'Mr Cullen' either. That's my dad. Ed or Eddie is fine. Or Edward, if you must."

When she smiles and quietly repeats "Edward" before walking out I somehow feel it in my chest. It must be her gentle accent that makes my full name suddenly sound so good.

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