How can I decide what's right?
When you're clouding up my mind?
~decode (paramore)
Hello. I'm Isabella Swan. I'll be working here as the sub-editor in the newspaper.
Whoosh. I had been practicing my first interaction with my new work-people since the morning. I was a bundle of nerves. I wanted to come across as the bold, intelligent, confident Isabella and not the shy, mousey, timid Bella.
Alice had insisted that my clothes were too plain, and a bit informal for work. I let her dress me, because Alice was an obsessive fashionista.
So after a breakfast of bacon and coffee, I was dressed in black A-line skirt, and a burgundy blouse. I looked sexy, I must say.
Ooh, and the heels I wore, totally were priceless. I mean, even Paris Hilton would beg to have those heels from me.
Alice dropped me to the red brick building, which read "THE WEEKLY HAROLD". Thanking Alice, I entered the office, feeling rather like Alice from Alice in wonderland myself. It was looking like an adventure waiting to happen.
Skirt? check. Blouse? Check. Blackberry? Check. Confidence? Uncheck. Fear? Check. Fake smile? Check. Sarcasm? Not sure.
Taking a deep breath, I entered the Office.
The receptionist looked at me and smiled a big, fake grin. "Hello. I'm Isabella swan. I m supposed to start my work here today", I said. Wow, that came across good. No stuttering, no gasping. Straight to the point. I Fist pumped in victory in my head.
Another fake smile. "Ahh. Yes Miss swan, I'm Jessica. And ma'am your office is on the 3rd floor, 4th door to the left. It must be having your name on the door. ", She said, shaking hands with me. Wow. Whoever this Jessica was, she was obviously good at her job.
I walked away, but then turned and went back to her. "Can you please tell me where i will find Mr. Mike Newton? I was supposed to be meeting him first thing in the morning", I said, coolly, surprising myself once again.
Jessica had an evil glint in her life, and spoke in a hard voice. "He's the one in the 2nd door to the right in the 3rd floor"
Huh. Why such a change? I let it go. "Oh and Jessica? I turned once again. She looked up at me with annoyance. "Call me Bella. I said, and walked away, oozing confidence, looking damn hot professional. I was happy with myself. But then I remembered that the day had not yet ended and that wiped the smile out of my face.
I boarded the lift to the 3rd floor. I was so deep in thought that I had failed to notice that someone else was in the lift with me. I t was only after I smelled a Deep, musky, manly scent that I became aware of my surroundings. I turned slightly, discretely, because i did not want to be caught spying on this wonderfully smelling person. I took a sharp breath in shock. It was HIM. It was Edward Cullen. Without thinking, I blubbered out, "What? Edward? I said, shocked. I realized that I had called him by his first name. "Oh I'm sorry. I meant Mr. Cullen", I said, blushing, because I messed up.
He smiled a big smile, obviously happy to see me. i was thrilled. "Isabella?" he asked. Who else? i wanted to say.
"Yes. Isabella. But you can call me Bella. i mean, everybody calls me that. ", i said, carefully keeping my eyes down. i did not want to mess up once again.
"Well then. Hello Bella. And please, call me Edward. ", he said, offering a friendly smile.
"Hello Edward", I said shyly.
"So what brings you here?" he said.
"Work, ofcouse. Do you work at the weekly Harold too?" I said, praying to god that it becomes true.
"Uhh. No. I m the director at the Cullen Enterprise. Dad's company", he said, winked and flashed a big smile from his kissable mouth.
At that i had to laugh. "Well, you're incredibly lucky Edward. Not everybody is a Director", the light indicated, the door opened to the 3rd floor. Damn. "Umm... Edward, it was nice talking to you. But I m on the 3rd floor. I'll talk to you later. I said and hurried off, afraid that the door might close.
"Bye, Bella! Later. ", he called out loudly after me, causing several heads to turn.
I blushed, and turned to the Mike Newton s room, who was my boss here.
I knocked. "Come in", a girly voice called me in. I entered to see a cute, baby faced man, having blonde hair. He was cute, but strangely unattractive. I noticed he was taking in my whole appearance, from head to toe. Sheesh, pervert.
I crossed my arms, on instinct. At that, he looked up to meet my eyes, and smiled a cocky grin. "You must be the lovely Isabella Swan", he said.
"Ahh yes. I m Isabella. Newly appointed sub editor. ", I said, miffed that he was still looking at my body. "Ahem... Mr. Newton?" I said, rudely, because seriously, this man was pissing me off. He looked embarrassed to be caught looking. "Miss Swan, your files for the next week issue are in your cabin. I ll send some others shortly. in case you have any problem, I m always there for you", he said, and smiled cockily.
Grr. Of course, you're always there.
Utterly exhausted by the end of the day, I went towards the lift, hoping for a restful, dreamless night.
I still didn't have my own car, and I didn't want to disturb Alice every time. I hated this part. Hailing cabs. None of the cabs wound up near me. It was so rude. Already, I had tried stopping 6 cabs. I was a patient woman, but I request people not to test my patience. Otherwise, I ll start crying. Yes. Not anything else. CRYING. My only weapon.
I was on the verge of tears, fighting them in, when a slight touch on my shoulder, made me jump. Don t judge me, I have silly reflex actions. "Isabella?" the quiet, musical voice asked. I knew whose voice it was.
"Yes, Edward?" I said, my voice shook, with the frustration.
"Do you need a Lift? I can certainly drop you home", he offered, and smiled sweetly.
Aww. "No No Edward! I'll take a cab... ", I said.
"No Bella. I think the chances of getting a cab at this hour are slim. I d much rather you come with me to my car, so that I can drop you home. ", He insisted.
"If you say so..." I said, timidly.
Edward and I talked about different things on the way home. I tried keeping the questions focused on him, because my life was not interesting enough to listen. I learnt a lot about Edward s family. His elder brother Emmett was the Chief executive of the company. He said that he hated golf, but from his athletic personality, i deduced that he must be well off in some other sport.
Edward asked me about my dad, mom and education, finally shifting his attention to my job. I don't why, but I told him about mike Newton. Seriously, I would rip that guy's head off, if he would stare at me like that the next time. Hmph. He laughed, saying my fury was kitten-ish, and then too soon, we reached my home.
Edward gave me a polite kiss on the cheek. But even that the innocent gesture sent my heart hammering, and made my eyes dreamy.
"Bye Bella..." he said, once I got out of the car.
"Bye Edward", I said I turned away, walking towards the door, when he called me back. He rolled down the dark, tinted windows of his Aston Martin Vanquish; I leaned in, and realized that I my face was less than 6 inches from his. My heart beat sped. He leaned in even more, and said,
"Sleep Well." he said, and drove away, once I managed to get my head out from the car.
Woah. It took some time for my mind to function properly, but when it did, i couldn't stop myself from smiling like a Cheshire cat.
Home was home. I skipped dinner, too exhausted to cook anything, took my shoes off, and fell asleep in my work clothes.
That was the first night I dreamt of Edward Cullen.