A/N: Time to meet some new people. ;)

Chapter-3: Sullen Meets Cullen

Standing before the mirror in her bedroom, Isabella tries to fashion her hair, knotting it this way and then that before giving up altogether and brushing it through so that it falls in waves along her shoulders.

As she starts to pull on her dress, she feels the barely visible scar on her thigh. Quickly, she pulls on her skirt as if it would hide the hurt caused by the scar. However, her heart still hurts because the impact of the scar is not just skin deep.

After giving herself a once over for the last time, she nods her head in satisfaction. It's a new day, Isabella, she tells herself. No one knows you there. You will do fine. You can do this. This is just a new job.

Getting to the address Royce had given her, she is greeted by an overly excited blonde woman who introduces herself as Lauren Mallory, PA to the producer.

When Isabella simply nods her head at her in acknowledgement, she sees the other woman's eyebrows pull together in a frown. She fears that she must've come across as unfriendly, but then she feels her resolve strengthen. You're here to work, she tells herself. Not to make friends.

So when Lauren leaves her to get her makeup and hair done, all she manages to say to the woman is a quiet thanks before letting her mind go through the script Royce had sent her the day before.

This is a new opportunity and she's going to do her best to make it work for her.

Once the makeup artist announces her to be a picture of perfection, she thanks her and walks out of the makeup room only to be met by Lauren again.

"Ms. Swan," she says, sounding more reserved than before. "Mr. King would like for you to meet him before the camera starts rolling."

"Okay," she responds and starts to make her way to the direction Lauren pointed to her.

Just as she reaches the open door to what she presumes is Royce's room, she runs into a solid wall, smacking her head on it.

"Ow!"

"Oomph!"

With her eyes closed to block out the impact, she feels a pair of arms wrap around her before pulling her away. And that's when she realizes that it's a person she just ran into, not a wall.

As she opens her eyes and looks up at the owner of the arms currently holding her, she feels her breath catch in her throat. A mop of chaotic bronze colored hair and bright green eyes greet her in welcome, making her heart beat pick up.

For a moment, all she can do is stare back at the depth of those eyes as they look at her with a mixture of concern and what seems like awe. Until …

"Ah! Isa, you're here!"

The sound of Royce's voice jolts her back from the train of thoughts and she lets her eyes fleet away toward the producer.

Gently, she pushes away from the green-eyed man. Trying not to sound impolite, she responds in a soft voice, "It's Isabella, Mr. King. And you said to be here now, so I'm here."

A smile comes over Royce's face and he nods contentedly. "See, Cullen?" He addresses the other man. "What did I tell you? She's a professional, total opposite of Rosalie."

That's when she recognizes the man in front of her as the award-winning actor, Edward Cullen.

Edward doesn't seem to bother to answer Royce as he faces her fully and holds a hand out for her to shake. "Hi, I'm Edward Cullen," he says, a smile coming over his full lips.

She tries not to notice how one corner of his lips rise a little higher than the other making his smile look a little crooked and that much enticing as she lets her eyes fall on his outstretched hand. "I know," she murmurs after a moment of silence before turning her eyes on Royce. "Are we ready for the shoot?"

She hears rather than see Royce laugh at her question before he answers, "Ready when you are, Cullen." He walks up to them and slaps Edward on the back before leading Isabella toward the center of the room where the lighting is being checked.

After taking a few steps away from him, Isabella tilts her head to the side and looks at Edward from the corner of her eyes. The way his smile falls makes her want to go to him, but she steels her resolve and walks away.

All through the shoot, she feels his eyes follow her.

She tries to stay in her own little bubble without trying to be rude to the people surrounding her and does what she does best—she acts.

By the time the day rolls to an end, she feels exhausted, but overall pleased with her work. That is until she hears Lauren whispering rather loudly to a stage-hand as she walks past them, "A ray of fucking sunshine, that one."

She lets the insult slip as she walks away.

Just before getting inside the taxi awaiting her, she looks up and finds her gaze locked on the intense green ones of Edward's. She watches as his lips turn upward in a smile. Letting out a small sigh, she ducks her head into the car.

As she drives away from the studio, she knows she will have to guard her heart closely because the man with green eyes was already starting to take over her thoughts.

A/N: So … thoughts?

Share them with me and leave a review.

Thanks for reading.

And Granma, you know I love you, right? :)

Take care.

Ann