Disclaimer: All recognisable characters are the intellectual property of Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended.

AN: Thanks to Naijeavah for my first ever review! You weren't signed in so I couldn't respond – sorry. Thanks also for all other reviews and favourites. You really made me smile. And now, on with the show!

Once Upon A Cinderbella

Chapter One: Interesting

My day couldn't possibly get any worse. Even with my reputation as Queen Klutz, today was particularly terrible. To begin with, my phone had died in the night, so my alarm didn't go off and I overslept. After a rushed shower, during which I stubbed my toe, I raced to work, arriving late – surprise, surprise. To top it off I was chastised by the ugly stepsisters.

"Late again, Bella?" Lauren Mallory's nasally voice commented.

"Tsk, tsk. Mr Newton will not be happy," Jessica Stanley added.

I sighed and rolled my eyes. Those two truly were the bane of my existence. I worked at a small publishing company and due to the fact they had been working here longer than me – by a whole month – they felt that it gave them the right to order me around and generally make my life a misery. I didn't know why I put up with it really. Oh, that's right – the money.

I pushed my way past Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dumber and made my way to my desk. As I dumped my purse in my drawer, right on cue, my boss walked in.

"Ah, Bella. You made it! I was beginning to get worried. I thought that something might have happened to you." His concern would have been endearing if his eyes weren't trailing over my legs.

"Sorry Mr Newton. I was running late. It won't happen again." I mumbled reflexively while adjusting my skirt, trying to hide as much of my legs as possible.

"Please Bella. I keep telling you, call me Mike. We're all friends here." Mike smiled in a fashion that was supposed to be seductive but merely made him look as though he were constipated.

"Yes, M-mike," I stuttered.

"I'm only worried about your well-being" he continued. I rolled my eyes. "I hate thinking of you in that apartment by yourself. It's really not safe."

"Truly, Mike, I'm fine."

"At least let me see you home this evening."

No way. Not again. This must be the third time this week he had tried to ask me out or 'escort' me somewhere and it was only Tuesday.

"Really, that won't be necessary. I'm meeting a friend after work and we're going out for dinner."

"A friend?" Mike's eyebrows inched towards his hairline. "Don't tell me our Isabella actually has a date?" He seemed upset by the idea.

"No, it's Alice. We're having a girls' night." Not that it's any of your business. I mentally added. "Ah, charming Alice. Such a lovely girl. And what a talented brother ..." he trailed off.

"Speaking of whom, I'd best start making those calls finalising the organisation for the release party for Mr Cullen's next novel," I interrupted, finally seeing a way to make my escape.

"Oh yes. That's right; Mr Cullen should actually be coming in later today. So please get right on that." Mike finally got the hint and left to speak to the other employees. I rolled my eyes as I saw Lauren and Jessica pounce.

"That tie looks wonderful Mr Newton," Jessica purred while Lauren batted her eyelashes pathetically.

I sighed and dropped into my seat, letting their shameless attempts at flirting fade into the background. Mike's attentions were becoming a problem. Not only was he my boss, but Lauren and Jessica were interested and when attention was shown to me they reacted jealously. I wondered what it would be today.

As I logged into the computer and started my daily routine my thoughts drifted. Apart from the irritations of my boss and co-workers my life was quite peaceful. I lived by myself in a small apartment, I had a few good friends that I saw regularly, and I loved curling up after a long day in a nice hot bath with a good book. I suppose when you put it like that, my life was positively dull. It was no wonder that Alice kept annoying me to go out more.

Alice. What can really be said? Alice was just – well – Alice. Honestly, when she was made, God broke the mould. Alice was five foot nothing of pure hyperactivity. I swear she had enough energy to power the entire city of Seattle for a month. Otherwise known as "pixie", Alice's short stature never stopped her from completing the impossible. With short black hair, impeccably styled into modern spikes and her pristine designer wear, Alice Whitlock was the very image of professionalism. However in her off hours she could party with the best of them. Alice was a fashion designer whose label – Mary Alice – had made it big in recent times. Her fervour for all things fashion was legendary. She truly was the most amazing bundle of enthusiasm and positivity and made up one half of my best friends.

This brought me to Rosalie Hale. The Miss Rosalie Hale. The supermodel herself. Rosalie was tall, blonde and had a body that curved in all the right places. It was one of life's unsolved mysteries as to how such an alluring woman remained friends with plain little old me. The first time I met Rosalie was at one of the fashion shows Alice had invited me along to in the hopes that I would develop some taste. At a party afterwards I had another Bella moment. I managed to trip over air and run into Rosalie Hale. The glamazon turned on me with a ferocious look in her eye. I was absolutely petrified until suddenly she broke into a huge smile and demanded to know where I got my dress. Alice had lent it to me for the occasion. Once she realised it was a Mary Alice original and I introduced her to the designer we were all firm friends and had been practically inseparable ever since.

I was startled out of my musings by my mobile phone. Alice.

"Hi Alice."

"Bella! I am meeting you for lunch. No ifs, no buts, no excuses. Just be ready for me at twelve," Alice bubbled away, hardly taking a breath between sentences.

"Yes Alice," I groaned. There was no stopping her so it was easier to give in.

"Yay! I'll see you then. I really want to talk to you about something. You know my brother is going to need a date to ..."

"Stop right there," I interrupted. There was no way that she was going to do this to me. "I will meet you for lunch but I am not going to be set up on a blind date again."

"Don't be such a spoil sport. You'd be such a good couple!"

"Alice, I can't talk about this now. I'm busy. I'll see you at lunch." I hastily tried to end the conversation before the little matchmaker could get too many fancy ideas.

"Okay. I'll see you at twelve and don't you dare keep me waiting! Bye Bella."

"See you later Alice." I sighed in relief. Crisis averted. For the time being at least. Lunch was another story.

I briefly wondered if this was another thing that I should just give in about. Alice was determined that the perfect man for me was none other than her own brother Edward Cullen. There were only one or two problems with this. One was that he was an internationally acclaimed author and would obviously not be interested in a nondescript nobody like myself. The second problem was that the publishing company that I work for is the same company that publishes Edward's books. While I've never actually seen him at the office I would hate for him to think I was just another girl throwing myself at him. It would also be a nightmare if Mike ever found out. Speaking of Mike, he was headed in my direction. It was a sign; there was no way I was giving in to Alice.

"Bella!" Mike chirped, "Could you do me a huge favour and grab me a coffee from the corner?"

I sighed, then smiled. "Sure Mike, a grande low fat upside down caramel macchiato with whip like usual?"

"Bella, you know me too well." Mike smiled. Pretentious git. I thought to myself. What self-respecting man would ever order such a drink? Honestly, if it weren't for him hitting on me all the time I'd think he was batting for the other team.

I grabbed my purse and headed towards the elevators. Jessica and Lauren called out their orders on my way. As the elevator doors closed with a ping I sighed. Just another ordinary day. God my life was dull. Why couldn't something interesting happen to me?

The line at Starbucks was ridiculous. I'd been a good 15 minutes already and I was beginning to get edgy. God I needed my caffeine fix. The line in front of me slowly got shorter. As I approached the counter a smiling face greeted me.

"Hi Bella! How's it going?"

I gazed up at the tall, russet-skinned barista. Jake's dark eyes matched his raven hair and twinkled in ever-present mirth. He was quite possibly the happiest person I'd ever met, a sunbeam in a cloudy world. Or if you considered his profession, Jake was the ultimate caffeine hit.

"Same old, Jake. How are you?"

"Couldn't be better. You look as if you need some caffeine. I'll get right on it."

I gave my order and waited while Jake busied himself preparing the coffee. I glanced at my surroundings. The line was dwindling and the coffee shop was slowly emptying. It seems that I'd come in on the tail end of the rush.

When my order was called I smiled at Jake and headed towards the door carefully balancing the coffees. The last thing I needed was to end up wearing them. As I walked through the door my string of bad luck continued. The heel of my shoe got stuck in the grate and I pitched forward. I prepared myself to once again meet the pavement and tried to save the coffee. Be damned if I was wasting another twelve bucks – the cheapskates from work rarely paid me back as it was.

Just as I resigned myself to the inevitable disaster, I felt a strong arm around my waist, and the coffee tray was taken from me. I felt a jolt of electricity buzz through my veins and looked up into the face of my rescuer.

The face smiling down at me was sheer perfection. I gazed into eyes that were shining emeralds, twinkling in amusement. His hair was an intriguing shade of bronze and tousled haphazardly. My fingers itched to touch it, to see if it felt as divine as it looked. I continued to gaze and saw a chiselled jaw and perfect lips curved into a crooked smile which immediately set off an army of butterflies in my stomach.

"Euh... Miss... are you okay?" The voice which broke my reverie was rich and regal in tone. The butterflies began doing somersaults.

"Yes, I'm fine. Happens all the time." I stammered my response, mentally kicking myself. When I finally meet Prince Charming in the flesh I just happen to be Queen Klutz. My life was just one embarrassment after another.

Charming smiled, helped me to a chair and placed the tray of coffee on the table next to me. "Wait right here" he ordered before rushing back to the door to retrieve my shoe from the grate. I blushed in embarrassment. I could see Jacob over at the counter laughing uproariously. Great, just great. Yet another witness to my humiliation.

I glanced back to see my saviour kneeling in front of me, checking my ankle and putting my shoe back on. I felt a tingle throughout my entire body and his hand brushed over my skin. He looked up and smiled.

"There, no damage done. Do you often find yourself recreating fairy tales?" My blush deepened. I was sure that by this stage I was doing an excellent impression of a tomato. Who would ever consider me to be part of a fairy tale? Sure, losing the shoe was a whole Cinderella thing, and this god in front of me certainly fit the bill for a Prince Charming, but me? I was definitely just peasant material and there was no way I'd ever be a princess.

"Well, I don't know about fairy tales, but if you're referring to my inability to remain balanced for any period of time, then yes, I do find myself falling regularly." Oh, no. Word vomit. Seriously, this was the best my brain could come up with?

Prince Charming chuckled, and I gathered my things. "Thank you so much for helping me. I really appreciate it. I'm so sorry for running into you." I began to babble.

"Truly, it was my pleasure." Oh that smile! The butterflies in my stomach were trying to escape. "It's not every day I get to help a damsel in distress; you've made me feel very useful." This picture perfect man remained smiling at me. For a moment I found myself in a fantasy of knights and maidens and then shook myself out of it. Let's face it, we were leagues apart.

"Oh, well, you're welcome, and thank you once again". I hastily tried to make my escape. My 'knight in shining armour' looked downcast.

"No, no. You can't just run away. At least tell me your name." His eyes pleaded with me.

A smile lit up my face as I saw my opportunity. "Just call me Cinderella." And with a smile, I turned and practically ran for the office. I could hear chuckles behind me and wondered at my fate. Well, it seemed that interesting things could happen to me after all.