Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or the movie The Secretary. I just wanted to play with the characters and put my own twist to it.
First off like always my words wouldn't make any sense without two wonderful women. Ginnie my pre-reader and JD my beta… Now with that said… this chapter has been pre-read only… my beta has had it for a week now but RL got in the way and she hasn't been able to get it back to me.
It being Thanksgiving and I being so thankful for all of you who take the time to read my little story, I wanted to post this chapter for you already.
I hope you are all having a wonderful and Bless holiday… for those of you who don't celebrate this day. I wish you all a happy Thursday.
Most of you prefer shorter and quicker updates… so with that in mind I have already started chapter 5 and hope to have time this weekend to crank it out.
In the mean time I am participating in a couple of things for the Christmas Holiday so when you can go check it out and see if you can figure out what I wrote… Breath-of-Twilight's Countdown to 2012, and Twilight FanFiction Advocacy Secret Santa.
Now on with the Chapter…
***TCBS***
Bella could still hear all the voices around her. She could hear Jake begging for forgiveness, and Charlie's panicked voice trying to get her to wake up. She also heard a new voice she didn't recognize.
"Isabella, I need you to open your eyes now," the soft, authoritative voice commanded.
Bella began to force her eyes open and the fog of unconsciousness slowly cleared from her head. The reason she was currently now in her bedroom instead of the backyard enjoying the reception returned to her as she became more aware and panic gripped her again. The vice tightening around her lungs, making each breath harder and harder to enter her body. She moved her head left and right as if she were looking for something or someone, but not really seeing anything. All she could think about was him and the way he made her feel when he put his arms around her waist.
Eventually, cold soft hands took hold of Bella's head trying to get her to focus on the person in front of her. Unfortunately, that wasn't happening. Her eyes kept going from one side to another, still searching... looking for what, or rather who, lingered around the shadows.
"What are you searching for?" the unfamiliar voice asked.
Slightly more in control of her body and thoughts, Bella croaked out, "Where is he? I know he is here."
Charlie addressed Bella's panicked question, "Who are you looking for, sweetie? Jake? He's right here, he's so sorry for scaring you, Bella."
She shook her head. "Not Jake. Him, I know he was here, I heard him."
Charlie looked at Bella with pained eyes. He knew who Bella was looking for now and there was no way in hell that man would ever be anywhere near his little girl again. No matter that she wasn't so little anymore. She looked so lost, with wide alarmed eyes, her face void of any color; Charlie had never seen his daughter that pale and breathing erratically. Knowing there wasn't anything he could do to help her get rid of that fear that gripped her, pained and angered Charlie.
"Believe me, baby, he's not here. I would never allow him anywhere near you again," Charlie reassured Bella in a soft but firm voice.
Still not completely coherent, but more aware of her surroundings, Bella finally noticed the small, dark haired woman with blue eyes sitting in front of her. "Who are you?"
Alice let out a relieved sigh and introduced herself, "I'm Alice Whitlock. Mrs. Cope was extremely busy and asked me to come talk to you, and help your family out."
Now that Bella was beginning to relax, everyone stepped out of the room to leave her alone with Alice. They knew what and how much Alice and Bella needed to discuss. They also knew that were details some didn't know anything about and others really didn't wish to rehash once again. Once Bella and Alice were alone, Alice was able to properly introduce herself and explain what Mrs. Cope had shared with her already. Bella went ahead and gave Alice an account of her past.
Alice was quite surprised at everything she'd learned during the discussion, but completely astonished at the lack of reaction Bella showed while retelling it. Her face was completely devoid of any emotion, her voice was cold and calculated, and her eyes were completely blank, it looked to Alice as if Bella wasn't even present in that moment. Alice grew worried, she knew that there was no way for Bella to completely heal, or even begin the healing process, if she continued to hide herself from the feelings.
Bella sat quietly waiting on what Alice would say to her once she was finished with her story. She imagined a look of pity or disgust, but what she wasn't prepared for was the questioning look in Alice's eyes.
"What do you feel right now Bella?" Alice asked. Then, before Bella could answer she changed the question. "Let me rephrase that. What do you feel like doing?"
Bella gazed down at her hands for a moment before finally looking Alice in the eyes, where Alice could finally see some kind of emotion. She never expected was the dark irises full of desire that were looking back at her.
"I want to go up to my room and get my little black bag. I want to feel the sharp cold metal slicing through my skin. I want to see the red drops of blood oozing out of my flesh. But most of all I want to release the ache in my heart, by feeling pain on my flesh."
Alice nodded and took a moment to make sure she understood everything that Bella had just told her. Bella noticed the moment Alice made her choice of what to say next when her face went from contemplative to determined.
"You are not to touch that bag. Do you understand me Isabella?"
There was something in Alice's voice, an authority, a command, that automatically made Bella want to listen to her.
"You are also going to stop blocking your emotions and let them out. You are going to meet with me once a week and we will work on a positive way to get past this need. And you are going to get a job- which I will set up for you. You will meet with Mr. Cullen tomorrow at noon, you will become his new secretary and you are to follow all the instructions he gives you. Do you understand me Isabella?"
Bella nodded in understanding noticing another reaction in her to the way Alice was speaking to her. The only other thing that had ever caused the reaction in her before was the feel of the knife cutting her skin.
Alice watched Bella carefully, noticing the subtle flush that spread over skin and the way her breathing picked up. She filed this information away and wondered if Bella would flourish as a submissive under the capable hands of an experienced dom. Needing to refocus herself, Alice went on to give Isabella suggestions on what kind of clothing she should wear for her meeting with Edward the following day. When Isabella was calm and stable, and had all the instructions she needed for the next day, Alice excused herself for the evening.
Feeling exhausted and drained from her anxiety attack, Bella quickly prepared herself for bed. The next day would be another long day; she would be meeting another new person and preparing herself for the new job. Bella tried to reflect on her reaction to Alice's words and actions but she didn't understand what it was that caused that reaction in her. Or why her body was reacting the way that it was.
***TCBS***
Bella woke up early the next morning, her anxiety and nerves on the high side, but still under control. She knew that her family was going to have a lot of questions once she made it downstairs. She was also aware that Leah and Jake would want answers as to why she ruined their wedding, and what it was that triggered that reaction from her. Only problem was that Bella wasn't sure if she would be able to make it through the explanation without having to run up to her room to cut. The other problem was the command Alice gave her the previous night to not touch her bag played on her mind. Seeing no other choice or option Bella took a few cleansing breaths as Ms. Cope taught her back at the center and walked down to the kitchen where she could hear everyone congregated.
The moment Bella walked into the kitchen the air filled with tension and uncertainty. No one wanted to upset her or set her off again, so they were afraid of saying or doing anything sudden, fearing that something might trigger another attack. Bella sat down, and explained only as much detail as she needed to. She relayed how she'd been lost in a memory at the moment that Jake came up behind her. When Jake once again began to apologize Bella stopped him citing that it was impossible for him to have known what was going on in her head at that moment. She glossed over a few of the details she knew would be hard for her dad and Sue to hear about, even if they'd heard about them when she was at the center before.
And after all the questions she was willing to go through were answered and the details put out there for the family to digest, Bella wanted to go back to her bed and wallow. Unfortunately, that was not an option for her today. Instead, she got up, got dressed, and prepared herself to meet her new boss, Mr. Cullen.
***TCBS***
Edward awoke that morning feeling a bit off. He wasn't sure what the cause of his unease was, it was just that feeling that something important was pending, and he couldn't for the life of him think of what he could've forgotten. So hoping it wasn't anything severely important he went about getting ready for his day. For some unknown reason, he wanted to make a good impression on Isabella -as much as he hoped she wanted to make on him- he dressed in a pair of charcoal slacks, with a crisp white button down dress shirt, and a matching charcoal tie that Alice had told him once before made his green eyes stand out more.
Once he was ready, Edward's anxiousness over the events of what were waiting for him for the day really started to manifest themselves. Again, there was no explanation for these feelings. It was as if something big was looming just over the horizon to drop itself on top of Edwards head or heart. Maybe the fact that he'd been without a submissive and basically abstinent, save for his occasional masturbatory session, for close to a year was what was causing him to feel the way he was -at least that was the only logical explanation he could come up with.
Edward arrived at the office to find a very excited and giddy Alice.
"Edward, how great you look today, on this wonderful day," she greeted him with a wide smile that made Edward a bit nervous.
Alice was excited to see how Edward would react to Bella. She just knew that Bella was exactly the woman that he needed in his life. thinking more about it, Alice was sure that Bella was a submissive by nature; Alice could see how her body reacted the night before from just Alice's simple commands. Then, after arriving home and discussing not only with Ms. Cope, but with Jasper as well she knew that the arrangement would work lovely for both of them, if they chose to have a physical relationship -it would help both Bella and Edward heal from their respective emotional scars, and for Bella, the physical aspect of a BDSM relationship could help with her need for her physical pain release as well.
Edward smirked at Alice's' comment about how he looked before answering. "Alice I always look good, but I tried a little extra hard today. I do have an impression to make if I plan to ever have a secretary."
Alice laughed having to relent knowing that what Edward was telling her was very true.
"Well, you have a little while before Isabella arrives, so why don't you go ahead and head into your office take care of anything that you need to in there. I will do the same out here and prepare the desk for Isabella. This way when she starts tomorrow there won't be anything she will need to set up. She'll be ready to get started with the instructions you give her." Alice was careful in the way that she worded that thought to Edward, not wanting to tip him off on the other plans that she had. She also wanted to see if Edward could pick up on Bella's nature on his own.
Edward followed Alice's advice and went into his office to dictate a few letters that he wanted written to a few clients, as well as a few depositions that he'd need for court in the next few weeks. Before he realized it, it was time for his meeting with his future secretary.
Nothing could've ever prepared him for the person who he came upon when he walked out into the reception area of the office. There stood the plainest woman he'd ever seen, her long dark brown hair hung limply, it had no life, no shape, nothing. The blouse she was wearing was plain white with blue ruffles and looked to be about three times too big for her, and Edward couldn't figure out if the long pleated grey skirt she was wearing was supposed to be ankle length and was just a little too short on her, or if it was actually three sizes to large on her.
Edward flashed Alice a panicked look which she returned with one of warning. He then remembered the conversation they'd had the night before about Isabella's quirks and appearance. Edward quickly tried to hide his irrigation and discomfort after that.
Alice noticed how Edward's body was now trying to take on a relaxed demeanor, so she went ahead and introduced the two.
"Edward, this is your new Administrative Assistant, Isabella Swan. Isabella, this is Edward A. Cullen, Esquire."
Edward stuck his hand out to shake Isabella's and then without giving her much choice, he ushered her toward his office to sit and have a formal chat about what he would require from her. Edward observe the meek woman that walked beside him; her slightly slouched shoulders were an indicator of her discomfort. Also the slight tenseness he could feel, through the hand on her lower back told him she wasn't really comfortable with being touched by a man. These were all things that Edward was curious about and thought that maybe it would be good to ask Alice about later.
After showing Isabella to his office, Edward sat down at his desk to observe her for a little bit longer before he began to speak.
"So, Isabella, what makes you think that you would make a good secretary?"
"I don't really know. Alice just told me that I needed to get a job and that I would start here tomorrow."
The blush that erupted on Isabella's face when she said that Alice told her to come in did not escape Edward's notice, nor did the girl's soft, very quiet voice.
"Isabella you do realize that you will need to speak a bit louder than that when you are working for me. If the phone rings and you answer it I want to make sure that the clients will be able to hear you over any interference or background noise," he explained.
Bella just nodded her head before giving him an equally quiet answer, "I will try."
Edward got up from his chair and came around to Bella's side while disconnecting the phone. "I want you to pretend this phone is ringing and show me how you will answer it."
Edward imitated the sound of a ringing phone before thrusting it in Bella's direction.
Bella giggled at what Edward was doing but did not move to answer the phone. Edward continued with his ringing sound until he forcefully told Bella, "The phone is ringing Isabella, you need to answer it now. ANSWER IT!"
Bella's eyes widened slightly and she felt the ache from last night return with the way he spoke to her. Moving quickly, but still quietly, Bella answered. "Edward A. Cullen Esquire's office. How may I be of assistance?"
"Louder, Isabella," Edward commanded before going back to his phone ringing act.
Bella once again answered the phone, only slightly louder that time. Edward again told her that he needed her to be louder. They went back and forth like that for some time, until Edward was satisfied with Isabella's volume.
By the time they were done for the evening Edward found himself to be not only intrigued by this woman, but aroused as well. Something he never expected to feel. Something he knew he shouldn't feel. Fearing that he would do something that might make things difficult for them to work together, Edward walked Isabella -or Bella like she'd told him she preferred to be called- back out to her car.
He closed up the office and went home himself, thinking how he really needed to take not only a cold shower, but to release the tension in his pants as well.
***TCBS***
AN: I don't have much to say since I said most of it at the top… but please don't forget to let me know what you think… and as always I try to send a little teaser to reviewers…
Happy Holidays.