A/n: For the record, this is all EPOV...for now...and to clarify he is NOT married to his...whatever the fuck she is.
I forgot to mention a special THANK YOU to Kiki TheDreamer in last A/n...THANK YOU SO MUCH my rad lady for being a pre-reader on this little journey:) I 3 ya like mad!
Here it is, chapter #2...thanks for sticking with me as we start to get into the heart of the matter...
I walked into the office two hours early and hoped that I could hole up within my four walls and a closed door, without being interrupted today.
I booted up my computer to see what was on the schedule for today. I hoped my contact with actual people was very minimal. In fact today was one of the rare days that I had planned to get through all the legal paperwork that filled my inbox daily.
As I sat at my desk, I couldn't help but think about how skeptical my parents were of my career choice at first. Their hesitancy sort of made sense to me, as we didn't have any lawyers in the family and they knew how shy and introverted that I tended to be. They relented when I told them that my goal was to become a contract litigator, it would bascially mean I held a law degree but never actually practiced law in a court room. I negotiate and wrote contracts. I would handle the basic legal needs of a business.
I work for an organization called 'A Child's World', their main focus is to be an advocate for children's rights. One of their goals was to get children out of the system, off the streets and into healthy homes.
I've worked here for almost three years, since I graduated from law school.
I met my one and only girlfriend my second year of law school. She was beautiful, confident and I thought she would change my life for the better. That was until I graduated and turned down a prestigious law firm in order to accept the less distinguished position I currently held. She wanted more for us socially than my "drab little job" would provide for us.
Things really began to change once I turned twenty-five and received my trust fund. She became a spoiled brat and I became the weakling once again.
It was little things at first, a shove into a wall as she walked past me because she was angry with me, a pinch on my thigh under the dinner table when she felt like I was embarrassing her with out dinner guests, a knee to the groin when I voiced an opinion she didn't agree with during an argument at home.
But, now...now when I close my eyes all I see is her anger and rage fits, over and over again.
I'm pulled from my thoughts by a knock on my office door, "Mr. Cullen, there's someone I'd like you to meet." Mrs. Cope's voice filled the room as she opened the door.
There stood next to her a beautiful woman and I felt myself get nervous. My mind immediately rushed to the conversation at home about this new person in the office. There was no way this wouldn't end up with allegations of an affair on my part. I just didn't want to tell her, just to avoid the drama around something as simple as a new employee. However, if I kept this new woman a secret I would get a much worse punishment for it when she found out.
"This is Bella Swan, our new children's advocacy attorney."
I stood and walked around my desk to shake her hand as I tried to keep my face turned to the left, awkwardly.
"So nice to meet you, Mrs. Swan." I spoke softly as I held her hand in mine.
"It's Miss and it is very nice to meet you, too, Mr. Cullen." Her smile was warm and her voice was friendly as I tried to avoid eye contact.
"Ed...Edward," I stuttered as I gave her my name. Fuck, not the stutter again.
"Edward it is then and I'm Bella." Our hands were still clasped together as we greeted each other, informally.
"Well, come along dear, we still have a few more people to meet." Mrs. Cope said, as she pulled Bella's attention back towards the door.
"See ya around." She said as she closed the office door behind her.
I sure hoped so, but, that thought alone made me cringe.
A/n: Well? still with me? Would love to know your thoughts...
Til tomorrow then, Kyla