9) 13 years later
I look through the window of my office waiting for one of my newest employees to enter through the doors. When I hear the sound of his approaching footsteps I smile a little before turning my face in a mask of indifference. I always enjoy this. The reactions where most of the time kind of worth missing some of the time I can spend with Bella. And in this case I would've been banned from the house by my evil sister anyway.
I lower myself in my chair, the back of it facing the doors. He knocks.
"In!" I call, my voice has only a hint of treat in it.
'Oh god. I was hoping they were only joking. Trying to scare the new guy and that kind of stuff. I know I did that with my colleagues. And here I was, overjoyed that I found a job. Happy to shake the hand of the man that wanted to accept a man of my age!' He didn't consider for a moment that I could be in on the joke. Oh well. He'll understand soon enough.
He swallowed loud and opened the door. "You called for me Mr. Cullen?"
He sounds scarred to dead! Well he has a good reason, but he is not exactly terrified of a vampire. Only of the big bad boss.
I turn my chair around, in the dramatic way you often see on tv. My hands are folded and I let my chin rest on them.
"Mr. Jones. I was expecting you." I say in a tone that sends shivers down his spine. I decide to end his suffering. I start to smile and allow the fake crows eyes to soften my expression instead of making my glare threatening. His mind fills with confusion. And I start to laugh.
"I'm sorry sir. This is just a joke I and a couple of my first employees made up and now it's become tradition to make the 'freshmen' afraid of me, then choose one of our new workers to meet me and make him spread the news about how I really am." I explain.
The 50 year old man looks at me astonished and then starts to laugh himself.
I stand up and walk around the desk to shake his hand and offer him a chair. The man is quick to like me. That makes me happy.
"Excuse me if I'm being rude but I just wonder. Do you have a family Mr. Jones?" I ask. If I'm being perfectly honest I ask him this half because I really want to know and half because I want to talk about my own beautiful, smart and precious daughter.
"Eh, I have a son and he and his wife are looking forward to their second child. They already gave my wife and me a wonderful grandson." It was clear he loved his son and grandson dearly.
"How old is your grandson?" I ask.
"2 sir. But he's very quick already. Thanks for accepting me and my friends in your company sir. We've all been searching for work for months before we applied here." I smile. That was exactly why I did all this. To help others. And most of all, to help my Bella.
I stood up and walked to the window.
"Have a look at this Jones." I instruct him. Jones walks over to the window and looks out at the forest that's right next to my company.
"This is what we protect, what we care for in this company. This is the better world all your colleagues want for their families. This is what I want for my daughter." Jones looks at me curious.
"Do you have a daughter?" He asks surprised. I pick the picture of my Bella of my desk. It's taken last week. She's smiling shyly in the camera wearing her new dress. She's so beautiful.
"A pretty girl… but I must say she doesn't look much like her father." He admitted.
"She looks much like both of her birthparents actually." I answer. He clearly hadn't seen that one coming.
"I'm so sorry. I just assumed…" he started.
"The same most would. I worked as a firemen when I was 16. Halfway my sophomore year there was a fire the house of chief Swan. Bella," I point to the picture. "Was one month old back then. I could save her, but her father was burned and her mother died from cancer two months later. Bella wouldn't sleep unless I was near so there was no other choice then adopt her and take care of her. I took home school and graduated high school 2 years later. Bella was finally able to sleep without me being right next to her every minute so I could leave her bedroom during her naptime. I got a college degree in business and started this company. Dreaming of a world that could do without nuclear or finite fossil energy, that could be a clean and safe place for my little girl… and as you know I've been rather successful." Jones nods, impressed by my story. I look at my watch.
"It's time to go to work Jones. It was nice to meet you." I tell him. He nods.
"It was nice to meet you too." And he left, eager for work. Motivated as was my intension.
I waited a minute and then left myself. I can run my company at home if I want and that's definitely a plus. An half hour later I parked at home.
"Dad is home!" I hear Bella call out. She is in Alice's room and can see my arrival through the window. "Aunt Alice, can I please go now?" Trough Alice's eyes I see Bella's pleading look. Alice is trying something different with Bella's hair, again. No wonder Bella has been trying to get away for the last hour. Alice knows how much Bella hates the make-overs, she only tolerates them because she doesn't want Alice to feel bad. Looks like Alice has used the guilt card, this also not for the first time.
"Alright then," Alice allows her. Bella jumps up and hurries downstairs where I just open the door.
I shake my head amused. Bella should know better.
And indeed 3 steps before the end of the stairs she trips and I'm there to catch her as always.
"Bella dear, you really need to be careful." I tell her with my best strict father face.
"Sorry dad." Bella blushes and then suddenly her face brightens up.
"Guess what dad? Jake and the girls are coming over tonight! Can we go home so I can surprise them with dinner?" Bella is always exited when her Quileute friends come over. Especially Jacob.
They have so many beautiful memories together. Which reminds me of Bella's birthday present. I should work on that while Bella enjoys her night with her friends.
"Sure Bella. Off we go."
