Chapter 20

EPOV

I left the office just after 6pm on Wednesday. After having two days off to be in Seattle I had a lot to catch up on, the least of which was training a new assistant.

When Embry had come to me three months earlier and announced he would be leaving in July I was grateful to him for giving me so much notice. His wife was originally from Texas and had secured a job there with a well-known interior design company. I was happy for them both and contacted some colleagues to help Embry line up a position to go into when they moved.

I advertised for a trained executive assistant shortly after Embry gave his notice and we held interviews in late April. He was going to be impossible to replace. Embry had started law school at the same time as me and had decided it just wasn't for him. He went back to college and did a second degree in human movement. I knew he was hoping to one day open his own kid's gym, but money was always going to be an issue.

When I started with Yorkie and Cheney I was told that I could hire my own assistant and immediately thought or Embry. I gave him a call and he was on board within ten minutes. We knew each other so well that half the time I didn't even need words. We established boundaries early on – my office was off-limits to everyone except for me and the partners. This also meant that Embry didn't enter my office if I wasn't there, without my permission. He was to answer the office phone but never my cell. I'd always been a private person and my cell was never to be used for business calls.

He and I had both been stressing 'the rules' to Tanya since she started with us the week before. Embry had three weeks to train her up to my standard. While her resume was impeccable, having worked for our biggest rival for five years, she was still your typical vapid blonde. She had arrived for her interview in a modest cranberry coloured suit with a white cream blouse – I only remembered because the colour was striking on her. First day of work, she had arrived in a black skirt suit and enormous stilettos. Yorkie and Cheney both forbade stilettos on employees because they marked the wooden floors that ran through most of the building. Embry politely mentioned it to her and the next day she was in more 'suitable' shoes. The clothes had become more and more revealing however, until last Friday when someone had slipped the company dress code into her in-tray. I had a sneaking suspicion it was Embry but didn't feel the need to ask.

Her taking Bella's call to my cell had been awful. I had gone to the bathroom and had run into Yorkie in the hallway. He wanted to know how the interview in Seattle went and I ended up being longer than expected. While he was technically my equal since I was now a partner, I still saw him as my boss. Both in their late 40s, Yorkie and Cheney had decided to open their own firm straight out of law school instead of working for someone else. And it worked for them. We were now the second largest law firm in Chicago and had a fantastic reputation. I was sad to be leaving it all behind but I knew without a doubt that my future was now in Seattle…with Bella.

I stopped off at my favourite Thai restaurant and grabbed some take-out for dinner. I love to cook but I was ready to relax with a glass of wine, some easy food and a good book. I pulled into my garage at 6:30, grabbed my briefcase and dinner and walked inside. The townhouse complex I lived in was full of young professionals much like myself – doctors, lawyers, the odd actor. Young people with plenty of money and no family.

I dropped my briefcase inside the door and walked into my kitchen. I quickly unpacked the containers of food and made myself a plate, mixing the leftovers together to take for lunch the next day. Maybe I'll go to the park and eat, I thought to myself, smiling as I remembered my picnic with Bella. I poured myself a glass of red and walked into the living room to eat.

The message light on the answering machine was flashing so I hit the play button before sitting in my favourite armchair.

"One new message," the recorded voice droned.

"Eddie, it's Emmett." His voice still managed to boom, even through the tinny speaker. "Look, I know you don't have the job yet, but I was thinking I'd come help you move when it happens. We can hire a truck and take turns driving, the other can drive your car. Talk soon!"

I grinned at Emmett's plans. Moving closer to the rest of my family was the main reason I'd decided on Seattle in the first place. And now there was Bella as well…life was pretty darn good.

I flipped idly through the channels while I ate but nothing held my interest. I scraped the last of the noodles off my plate, drained my wine glass and took them back to the kitchen. I loaded them in the dishwasher and set the timer on my coffee machine for the next morning. There's nothing better than the smell of freshly brewed coffee when you walk into the kitchen. Unless it's been freshly brewed by Bella… A stupid grin attached itself to my face as I thought of her again. I chanced a look at the clock and saw that it was only 7pm. That meant Bella was still at work in Seattle.

I walked down the short hallway to my bedroom and yanked off my already-loosened tie. I hung it, along with my belt in the walk-in robe and kicked my shoes into the corner. I could just imagine my mother grimacing at my treatment of the expensive shoes…not to mention Alice. I crossed the room and turned on the lamp next to my bed, then switched off the main light as I walked into my ensuite. I turned on the hot water in the shower and removed my clothes, throwing them in the hamper while I waited for the water to heat up. I stepped in and adjusted it to the right temperature, then stood there and let the warmth flow over my body, relaxing me.

My mind wandered back to the shower Bella and I had shared. I could almost feel her with me as I imagined her moans filling this bathroom. In my mind's eye, I saw myself holding her against the blue-tiled wall, driving into her deeper and deeper, her legs tightening around my waist to pull me even closer. I pictured us moving from the shower to my bed, her hair soaking my pillows as I laid her down and made sweet love to her…

I shook my head to clear my mind. There was no point getting myself all worked up now – it was going to be far too long before I was with her again. I quickly washed my body and my hair, then shut off the water and wrapped myself in a towel. I took my time shaving and eventually moved back into the bedroom. I pulled on a white t-shirt and a pair of blue cotton pyjama pants. I could just see the clock from the corner of my eye and resisted the urge to look at it again.

I walked back to the living room and picked up the book I'd been reading before going to Seattle. Again I smiled as I saw Bella reading her book on Mandela. I couldn't wait to share my favourites with her. I turned the worn pages of The Da Vinci Code to the place my bookmark was tucked into the margin. I let myself get lost in the world of codes and running from the French police and jumped when my phone rang.

I reached across and lifted the receiver. "Hello?"

"What, no secretary this time?" Bella's voice came down the line and I immediately ached to hold her in my arms.

"Very funny," I shot back. "How was the rest of your day?"

"Can you believe it got worse than thinking you had some bimbo answering your phone?" she sighed.

Better not tell her Tanya really is a bimbo, I thought to myself. "What happened?" I asked.

I laughed as she told me about finding our two favourite doctors locked at the hips in the locker room, quickly assuring her that I didn't think it was funny that she'd seen that, just that it was funny that they were stupid enough to do it in the first place.

"I miss you," she whispered once she finished her story.

I could tell there was more on her mind. "I miss you too baby – I can't wait till I see you again," I told her honestly. "Is there something else on your mind?"

I could tell she was contemplating whether or not to tell me. "Well…are you licensed to practice law in Washington?" she asked timidly.

Time for more honesty. "No Bella, I'm not. The Washington bar exam is in early July though so I'm going to come and take it even I don't get the job at the hospital. Results can take up to a month but apparently the Chief of Staff is related to the head of the Washington Bar Association in some way and can get my results processed faster."

"So you won't be delayed six months or anything?" she squeaked out.

She sounded like she was going to cry and my heart just about broke. "No honey, I'm not going to be delayed. Even if I don't get the hospital job I'm moving to Seattle. I want to be with you, Bella, job or no job."

The smile in her voice was evident. "I want you be with you too Edward," she said. "Just the thought of seeing you every day…"

"I know," I replied wistfully. Trying to lighten the mood, I asked, "What are you wearing?"

I felt her blush through the phone. "Edward!" she squealed.

"What?" I asked innocently. "Can't I ask what my girlfriend wears after a long day at work?"

She hmpphed into the receiver and I laughed. "Keep that up and I won't tell you," she threatened.

I stopped and promised to be good. "I'm waiting," I prompted.

"I'm wearing an old pair of grey sweats and one of my college t-shirts – how exciting am I?" she said. "What are you wearing?"

"Nought but a smile," I teased again.

I heard her breath catch and really did smile. "You're evil," she told me.

"Am not," I retorted. "You asked, I answered."

She blew a raspberry down the phone then asked again, "What are you wearing?"

"A t-shirt and my pyjama pants," I replied honestly.

"I wish I was there," she said sadly.

"Me too." I chanced a look at the clock then. It was just after 11 – I'd been reading for a lot longer than I thought.

"I should let you go," she offered. "It's late there and you'll have a big day training Tanya again tomorrow." The vitriol in her voice was evident.

"Don't worry about Tanya – Embry will keep her in check," I assured her. "And we should probably say goodnight – I don't want you tired at work tomorrow either."

"I don't start till eight. That's not too bad," she told me.

"So I can talk to you again tomorrow night?" I asked, feeling like a little boy.

"Even I was working tomorrow night you could talk to me," she said tenderly. "Nights are usually fairly quiet unless there's an accident somewhere."

"I'll keep that in mind. Call me during the day tomorrow if you get a chance?" I couldn't believe that I was missing her voice already – she was still on the other end of the phone.

"I'll make time to call you – it's a priority." Once again I could hear the smile in her voice. "Now get to bed before you turn into a pumpkin!"

"Yes ma'am," I chuckled.

"Sleep tight baby," she cooed.

"You too – sweet dreams," I said back softly.

We said goodnight and I gently placed the receiver back in the charging dock. I stood and stretched and decided bed was a pretty good idea.

I quickly cleaned my teeth and then slid under the covers. I closed my eyes and saw Bella smiling at me. I smiled at the memory and drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

A/N: Everyone together now…awww. I decided to do an EPOV so you all knew that he's missing Bella as much as she's missing him…and he's definitely not screwing Tanya behind Bella's back. She's just his EA, and that's all she'll ever be. (Hope that clears things up!)

I'm not so sure I write well as Edward – I have no idea how the male psyche works so I don't know that he'd really be missing her as much as I hope he is…looking forward to your reviews!