Everyone jumped up and Emmett and Jasper were surprised at my clumsiness. I suppose they thought there was method in my madness; maybe they thought I had tried to get her top wet or something.

"I'm sorry," I apologised bashfully.

"It's quite alright," the lawyer replied, still coolly but she sounded slightly annoyed. I suppose she might have thought I was trying to get her top wet too.

I cleaned everything up, but realized I had saturated some crucial documents. It was OK, though. I knew Jessica had them on file.

"Oh, I've got these wet. I'll have to go and quickly re-print them," I said unwillingly. I didn't want to leave the beautiful creature. I didn't want to look at her either, for fear I would lose my train of thought.

Emmett and Jasper were still dumbstruck, but as I left the room I heard Emmett come to his senses and try to chat up the lawyer.

I stumbled to my office, trying to regain my usual confidence, and bumped into Jessica. She giggled mercilessly, and I wondered what I could do to stop her flirting so shamefully with me.

"Jessica, I was wondering if you might go and reprint these; I got them wet."

"Yes, Sir," she giggled, looking at my disheveled appearance. I decided to go and change while the documents were printing.

I walked quickly to my office, wanting to get back to the conference room. I grabbed a shirt from my closet, again, and was careful to close the shutters this time. I looked down to my desk while I was changing to see a yellow post it note saying that Sandra had called and said she would be coming over later that night.

I'd have to remember to stay out. Sandra had a serious drinking problem.

I was quickly changing my trousers (one leg was drenched) when I heard a knock on the door. I was about to tell Jessica to scamp off when the door opened suddenly and the tantalizing lawyer stalked in.

She immediately looked as shocked as I did as she found me without my pants on.

"Oh, I'm so sorry…" she said and trailed quickly out the door again.

Could this be any more awkward? I asked myself. I wondered what had come over me. I was usually incredibly smooth with women. They threw themselves at me, for God's sake! And as soon as I come across a woman who slightly attractive and less than willing I lose my head!

I threw my jacket on and dashed to Jessica. I picked up the papers and without a word flew back to the conference room. As I walked in, Emmett and Jasper tried not look at me, as if ashamed. I realized they must somehow know what had just happened. The lawyer looked unimpressed and I knew Emmett had failed at cracking on to her.

I attempted to act as if nothing had happened. I also attempted not to look at the lawyer. I failed miserably at both tasks and continued to be incredibly unsmooth throughout the meeting.

"So, you've been invited to this meeting here today to talk about your negligence claim. Basically, the offer we are prepared to make is straight cash, and for this financial addition no one will here about how your injury occurred, you will not convince anyone to boycott the store and no other enquiry or appeal may be made regarding this matter." I spoke and did the honours as usual; Jasper and Emmett appeared only to be there for heavyweight value.

"What's the offer?" the lawyer asked cautiously.

I took out a piece of paper and was about to write when I heard a distinct, "Save a tree. Say it out loud."

Emmett cleared his throat theatrically; he was clearly enjoying this. His favourite game, negotiating, with some eye candy thrown in.

"We are prepared to offer you, Beryl Smith, twenty thousand dollars," he spoke clearly and grandly.

The lawyer quietly and quickly conversed with the client and replied calmly, adding a dazzling smile for value, "We will accept no offer under fifty five thousand dollars."

Surprisingly, Jasper let out a high pitched and nervously strung out laugh.

I just barely lifted my eyebrow and attempted to mimick her cool tone.

"Then, Ms Smith, we shall see you in court," I let out, sounding more like a petrified bird than my usual smooth self.

I knew it then, and I know it now. I just had to get her number. But how would I do it? She seemed so incredibly aloof, not interested in me at all. I was so not used to this behaviour that I purposefully rolled up my sleeves to try and imitate the Emmett look. Muscular and relaxed.

The client and lawyer left the conference room, and I quickly got up and ran to the elevator they were waiting for, talking.

"I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name," I said.

"Bella Swan. I didn't catch yours either." She looked bored.

"Edward… Edward Cullen." I was desperate. I noticed how red her lips were. I wondered what it would be like to kiss them…

"I'm sorry, was there anything else you wanted, Mr Cullen?" I realized I had been staring at her shamefully for about thirty seconds.

"I was wondering if you would like to come to dinner with me tonight." I was getting desperate.

She raised her impeccable eyebrows. "I'm sorry Mr Cullen, but I think you'll have to try a bit harder than that. See you in court." She stepped into the elevator. The doors closed. She was gone.

I walked dejectedly back to my office. How could this be? Never before in my life had a woman rejected me. Never. My good looks and charm always had them falling over themselves trying to date me. I dropped to tie my shoelace when I heard an argument breaking out behind me. Emmett and Jasper's secretaries were arguing heavily over something.

"He's never said that to you! You're lying!" cried one.

"Well, I know that I was at his house this morning - and you certainly weren't!" the other shot back.

"Ladies, ladies," I said, switching on my usual charm that seemed to disappear when Bella Swan was around, "What is the matter?"

"Well, it appears Emmett has spent the night with both of us. On two different, consecutive nights." The first one explained, looking highly irritated.

Emmett waltzed up then, as if on cue, and said, "What's happening?"

Huge grin in place, as always.

Jasper was following, smiling at Jessica playfully.

"It would appear that you have pushed these young ladies around a bit too much of late," I said through gritted teeth.

Emmett's face fell.

I turned back to the two secretaries. "I'm sorry, ladies, but it would be a conflict of interest for me to keep you here. I will have you both transferred to the Chicago branch."

With that, I turned to Jessica to signal for possible new secretaries to be brought to my office tomorrow.

Now… back to Bella Swan…