My alarm beeped softly, but just loud enough to disrupt my dreams. I stretched my arms over my head and felt a few vertebrae pop into place. Maurice lifted his head to glare at me.
"Sorry pretty kitty. I didn't mean to wake you up." I scratched his ears until I was forgiven. I pushed my covers aside and made my way to the shower. It was overcast today so I dressed in darker clothing. Rain+ light colors see through. I had learned the hard way one day, but those construction workers did enjoy the show.
I pushed the button on my single cup coffee maker and the aroma filled my kitchen. I sat at the table trying to dissect last night. My first cup of coffee woke me up enough to think relatively straight. I was no school girl so I should not have been so surprised by Edward's invitation. Obviously Fiona or whatever her name was had to leave so he needed someone else to fill the slot.
I grimaced. To think I was third choice to a horny football player. Yuck. Maybe if I had been his first choice… no, don't even go there. Just because I haven't had a relationship in six months does not mean I should lower my standards…
Maurice sauntered in. He yawned and looked longingly at the cabinet. I sighed and served him breakfast. His gray sides vibrated with his purr as his food was engulfed.
"What do you think Maurice? Should I get involved with an arrogant football player?" He turned and licked his lips. "I'll take that as a maybe…"
The office had calmed once again as I stepped from the elevator. Alice was speaking into her phone and Rosalie was nowhere in sight. Maybe I should drop off my stuff and go back to IT. I hung my jacket on my chair and made my way back down stairs.
Jake's door was open so I walked right in.
"Knock knock." He lifted his head from a computer mother board.
"Hey, Bella. Did you enjoy yourself last night?" He asked returning his eyes to his project.
"I did thanks to you." Was I flirting? I couldn't tell if I was interested in Jacob that way. He was handsome…
"Glad I could help," he chuckled. "Are you here looking for your computer?"
"Caught me red-handed." He smiled. "It came in just before close last night. I'll get it for you." He stood and walked into a back room. I followed him and peered into the storage room. It was a mess.
"How do you find anything in here? I can see no sign of organization what so ever…" I was hesitant to actually enter the room. It wasn't very big and Jake took up most of it.
"It's all organized right here," he replied by tapping his temple. I couldn't stifle my laugh so he turned looking mischievous. "Don't you trust me Bella?" He asked sweetly as he took a step forward with a box under his arm.
"Sure. You are god of the technology department. I believe you have some sort of system. I was just thinking about if someone ELSE wanted to find something. This tactic could either be laziness or security. I'm thinking lazy… but I'm open to opinions." He barked a laugh and cracked a huge smile.
"I knew I liked you," he ruffled my hair playfully. I smiled in return.
"Is that mine?" I asked slowly reaching towards the mystery box.
"It most definitely is."
It didn't take long for Jacob to finish setting up my computer. He even hooked it up to the floor network so I didn't have to fool with it. Alice was still on the phone so I searched out Rosalie.
"Hey there," I called from her doorway. She was furiously typing away at her computer.
"Hi, come in. I wanted to talk to you." She kept typing without looking at me. I slid into one of the leather chairs around her desk. There were a dozen or so more key strokes before she finally looked at me. "I have decided I like your idea, this weekly article on different players. I feel like Washington needs to become acquainted with their sports teams. That's way this special is going to be seasonal. Basketball, football, baseball, and hockey will all be interviewed. We might add in soccer since the baseball season is so long." Her eyes glazed over as she calculated in her head.
"Whoa, Rose. I don't know if I'm ready for that. That is a lot of pressure for my first assignment. Maybe you should give it to someone else." My hands were shaking slightly. I couldn't tell if it was from excitement or fear. There was a cyclone of emotions going on inside of me that I didn't even know what I wanted. Rose bit her lush pink lip lightly as she thought.
"Ok… how about this. We'll start with football and see how it goes. Maybe send out a poll to the people to see if anyone even wants the information we're offering. Does that sound fair to you?" Finally her eyes returned to mine and I gulped. There was no reason for me to turn down an opportunity like this. The only obstacle in my way was myself.
"I guess I could do that." Rose smiled quickly and then turned back to her keyboard.
"Fantastic. Why don't you interview Emmett next? I'm having lunch with him today and you are welcome to tag along. He really liked you. Actually, it made me a little jealous when all he could talk about last night was your waiter collision." A faint smile tugged at her lips as her fingers danced across the keys.
"Oh…" I felt my face flush with embarrassment, but of course she was too busy to notice. "So, are you and Emmett and item? Wow that sounds horribly juvenile to my own ears…" I felt my face flush more when she turned to look at me.
"Well, technically, we are engaged. But we haven't come out publically." It clicked in my mind. They were so perfect together last night it made sense that they were in love. It had seemed like their universes revolved around each other.
"Congratulations! That's so exciting!" I was surprised by my own jubilation. Generally I tried to keep my emotions in check but my romantic heart was ecstatic. The world was right at least once. Two people who were obviously destined for one another were getting a happy ending. Star-crossed lovers…
"Shhh! By quiet Bella! I just told you we haven't come out with the news and you respond by shouting? Really, I thought you could keep a secret better than that." She pouted her lips. I clamped my hands over my mouth but I still couldn't stop my smile. We both ended up laughing.
"I would yell 'stop the presses,' but I think that might be a bit less discreet than you want…" I shrugged and continued giggling slightly. She returned my smile.
"Well, I'll add you to our reservation for lunch. I'll get you before I leave so don't worry about that. And, I guess you can start typing your first article since I saw Jacob installing your computer earlier." With that I stood and made my way to my desk. Alice waved from behind a mountain of paperwork. I returned the gesture but didn't approach. We both had work to do.
With my new computer humming under my fingers I rolled my head along my shoulders stretching muscles. My feet jiggled slightly with impatience as it loaded. I should have gone for my run this morning but the chance of rain always made me lazy. Yet now I have pent up energy.
The familiar Windows logo finally appeared and I quickly opened word. It didn't take long to lose myself in my work. Occasionally I would glance at my notes but I just let the words flow.
Writing was another outlet in which to release energy but when I reached a good stopping point at closed my eyes for a few seconds. I saved my document and lifted my arms over my head. My back popped and I felt the blood rush to my brain. Feeling slightly dizzy from the welcome sensation I just let my head loll to the back of my chair and my eyes close.
"I thought I had lost you in the Twilight Zone or something Bells. I've been standing here for five minutes watching you work. It puts me to shame…" My eyes popped open to see Alice standing behind me. She looked amused and bubbly as normal. I twisted my chair around to talk to her.
"When I get in the zone, nothing much can stop me. How was the rest of your night?" I asked. She smiled a wicked smile and I laughed and raised my eye brows. "I see…" I chuckled crossing my legs in my chair preparing for the story.
"Well after you left Rose and Em got really cozy. I assume Edward disappeared with a random bimbo, so Jasper and I got to know each other." When she mentioned Edward I felt a blush creep up my face. I tried to suppress it, but nothing escapes Alice's gaze. "Why are you blushing?" She seemed honestly stumped for a minute trying to work out the mystery.
"So are you together now?" I desperately tried to divert attention from myself and back to her relationship. She rolled her eyes. I assumed she thought I was a prude.
"God no. I want to torture him a bit. That's actually one of the reasons I came over here, not that I don't love talking to you." She added to gloss over any hurt feelings. "He was acting all macho trying to impress me. I think he got the wrong idea about me since he tried this tactic. Whenever a guy tries to act all egotistical I feel the need to take them down a few notches." There was an evil glint in her eye as she said the last part.
"I didn't take him as that type at all. He was very laid back and seemingly honest when I met him yesterday."
"That might be true, but I think the guys were teasing him or something. He changed his actions towards me and he deserves to be punished. You and I are going out tonight and I am going to make him so jealous that he'll have blue balls for a week." She smiled wickedly and a slight maniacal laugh escaped. I felt my mouth open slightly as I saw Alice on a rampage in my head. I couldn't even imagine what she had in mind.
"So what are we doing?" I practically whispered. I felt a slight tingle of anticipation. Whatever happened tonight was going to be fun.
"You'll find out later. What are you doing during lunch break?"
"I'm going out to lunch with Rose and Emmett. I'm interviewing him for my next article." She smiled hugely
"Alright then, I'll pick something out for you and be at your place after work. This is going to be so much fun!" She squealed. I rolled my eyes and glanced at the clock. It was almost time for lunch.
Alice made her way back to her desk and I started the lengthy process known as editing. It didn't take long before Rose came over to get me. We walked in compatible silence to the lobby. There was a car waiting for us. It drove us to a nice restaurant and Emmett was waiting inside.
Rose and Em's eyes met and a private smile tilted both their lips. It was known that they were together, but their engagement was a secret. Yet they did not kiss. He laced his fingers with hers and turned towards me with a big goofy smile.
"Hey Bella! Don't you want to sneak through the kitchen and make all the waiters hate you again?" His booming laugh seemed out of place at this restaurant. I smile and blushed slightly.
"Don't worry about me Emmett. I'll make a fool out of myself when I try to order." I promised with a smile. Rose elbowed Emmett in the side lightly to quiet his laughter. We were gaining an audience.
"Bonjour, your table is ready Monsieur," the host informed Emmett as he led us across the thick carpets to a discreet corner. The cream linen on the table was luxurious as I slid my fingers over the material.
"I could get use to this…" We were each handed a menu and as I expected nothing was in English. Relying heavily on my high school French I tried to decipher the gibberish.
"What do you think you want?" Rose asked as she delicately folded her napkin in her lap. My eyes searched the page looking for something recognizable.
"Um… escargot?" I squinted at the words describing the meal with no luck.
"Huh, I didn't take you as the snail type," Emmett commented as he too studied his menu. I just about swallowed my tongue.
"Are you serious?" My whisper was fierce but quiet, not to get attention. Rose laughed lightly.
"Would you like me to help you choose?" I nodded and her eyes slid down the list of options. "Do you like fish, poultry, or beef?"
"Poultry."
"How about… coq au vin?" She looked up expectantly, as if I knew what she had said.
"Huh?"
"Chicken in wine sauce." The waiter appeared baring water and a wine list. Rose listed off our wine order and he sped away. He returned with an open bottle of a rosia. "Since we are all having poultry I figured a nice pink wine would be best." She swirled her glass and inhaled the scent before she sipped slightly. It must have reached her standards since two more glasses appeared in front of Emmett and me.
The food was delicious and the company was entertaining. It barely felt like an interview. Instead it felt as if I was learning things about a new good friend. Time flew as we laughed and ate. All too soon the dessert and check were received. We shared a massive tiramisu while Rose slipped the waiter his credit card.
"Since this was a business lunch, I think the business should cover it." She smiled at us.
"Thank you for lunch. It was delicious." I dabbed at the corners of my mouth with my napkin. I would hate to walk around with food on my face. "I think I'll quickly powder my nose before we leave. I'll be back in a minute." I stood quickly and ran right into the unsuspecting waiter. The water pitcher
that had been in his hand spun in the air for what seemed like minutes when it could not have been that long. I saw Emmett's eyes light up as my disaster poured over my head.
"Excuse-moi mon chere! Je suis tres desole!" The waiter began in French. I felt the ice water drip down my back and I arched slightly. It slid right down my spine and I shivered. I felt a strange coat being put around my shoulders so I glanced up. A stranger stood behind me with his hands on my shoulders.
"Here, let me help you." He reached down and took my hand, helping me to my feet. He ushered me to the bathroom before I was aware of what was happening.
"Who are you?" I asked in a daze and he handed me a towel. As I dried my hair and neck he answered while lounging against the sink.
"My name is Mikhail Strauss. It is nice to meet you. What is your name?"
"Isabella Swan," I replied slightly stupefied by his beautiful accent. It was Slavic and scrapped my senses.
"Does this sort of thing happen to you often Miss Swan?" His ice blue eyes bore into mine. I felt myself lick my dry lips and his eyes followed the motion like a predator. It reminded me rapidly that we were alone in a bathroom.
"Not every day, but it does seem to happen on a regular basis." I blushed and tried to nonchalantly shake the remaining ice cubes from my blouse. Obviously it didn't work because he started to laugh. I blushed and huffed at the same time. "Thank you for your assistance, but I really mustn't keep you. My party is waiting." I handed him his damp jacket and went to leave.
"I am sorry for laughing. It was just a very humorous situation." He chuckled again. His hands lifted to the sides of my face and pushed my disarrayed hair back into place. "I would like to see you again. May I have the number of your telephone?" His voice purred and I felt my heart jump.
"I… I… I don't give my number to strangers." My eyes closed half way. He leaned closer so that my back was pressed against the tile wall. It was cold on my wet back but my face felt like it was on fire. I sucked in a ragged breath trying to concentrate.
"I see. Then perhaps I may give you mine and you may contact me at your leisure." I felt his capable hand enter my pocket. My knees trembled slightly as he retrieved my phone. Without removing his gaze from mine he entered his number and replaced my phone.
"I re-really do have to go…" His lips moved closer still, just a breath from my own when Rosalie slammed into the room. Her eyes zeroed in on us. She smirked, grabbed my arm and pulled me along behind her. I heard Mikhail laugh again as the door closed. Once in the fresh air outside I could breathe properly. It was raining now so my wet attire was not as shocking.
Emmett kissed Rose on the cheek goodbye and ruffled my hair before jumping in a car. Another pulled up and Rose thrust me in.