Chapter Three – A Twist In The Story

EPOV

I can't do anything but stare at the absolutely beautiful girl standing in front of me.

Angelic is the first word that comes to mind when I see her. I have a strong urge to run my fingers through the tresses of rich brown hair that frame her perfectly sculpted face. Her eyes are the color of melted chocolate and her full lips do more than distract me. I can't help but run my eyes along her body from top to bottom. From beautiful face to her firm ass fitting snugly in a professional black skirt. I can literally feel my body responding to her, one appendage growing more than any other.

Jesus Christ, I sound like a fucking teenager. Get it together, Masen.

"Miss Swan, I presume?" I ask in a formal tone. She seems to snap out of some sort of trance at the sound of my voice. She clears her throat and smiles.

"Yes, it's nice to meet you, Mr. Masen," she replies with a smile that does nothing to calm me.

"Please, call me Edward." I tell her.

Where the hell did that come from? I never let any of my assistants call me by my first name. Then again, none of my past assistants were anything like her. I don't know what it is about her that has me acting like a total ass, but I can tell that something about her is different. She's special.

"Well in that case, please, call me Bella," she says.

Bella, a name pertaining to beauty. It's perfect for her.

I mentally kick myself and put all my effort into forcing myself to get my fucking act together and be professional. I don't like the affect this girl is having on me. I'm a very put together man and I can't let one attractive woman change that. Have things really been so bad with Tanya that I'm allowing my eyes to wander this badly?

"Please, sit down." I say, motioning to one of the chairs in front of my desk. She obliges and takes a seat, crossing her legs in a completely innocent, yet sinful way.

"So, Rosalie tells me that she thinks you'd be perfect for this position."

And many others I imagine... Shit, stop that. You're a married man, asshole.

"She thinks far too highly of me, but I am definitely willing to do my absolute best," she says modestly.

"I'm sure you would do a fantastic job. Why don't you tell me a little about yourself?"

I listen, completely enthralled, as she weaves a tale of the last year of her life and what lead her to sit here in my office. It turns out she's not just a pretty face. She graduated top of her class, attended college at Berkeley and has an outstanding degree in Communications. She gives me a watered down laundry list of her best qualities and promises that she'll do everything in her power to be the best assistant I've ever had. It's a cliched approach to getting hired, but when Bella says these things I feel a sense of sincerity coming from her. She doesn't seem like the type to kiss ass just to get a job.

I have no choice but to consider her for the job. Beauty aside, this Bella Swan is a truly remarkable girl. She's young and inexperienced, and true, she came right out and told me that working at a law firm wasn't her ideal job, but she seems like a hard worker. I have a gut feeling that if I ask Bella to do something, she'll get it done. She won't flake out on me like my past assistants have had a tendency to do. She exudes dependability, something I'm looking for.

There is only one thing keeping me from hiring her on the spot. Since I've received such a big case, I can't afford any distractions and Bella, well, she's a distraction. I need to be completely focused if I'm going to be able to do my best and make partner at the end of this and her beauty is already doing too much to keep me unfocused. Maybe I should do the safe thing and just look for someone else. On the other hand, if I'm going to be focused on the case I can't be worrying about whether or not the things I need done are done correctly. In all honesty, I don't know if I'll be able to find someone as qualified as Bella without the involvement of a tedious search.

Bella fidgets uncomfortably in her seat as I tick of my mental list of pros and cons. Ultimately the pros win out. I can't deny that Bella is absolutely perfect for the job and if I can shut out of obvious physical attraction for her, everything should work out quite well. After all, I'm a responsible, married and grown man, I think I can handle myself around a woman without getting out of line.

I was raised to be a gentleman and from this point on I intend to be just that. I quickly write off any vulgar thoughts I've had since meeting Bella as simply being taken off guard by just how beautiful she is. It's been a long time since I've seen someone like her, if I've ever seen someone like her. I will do everything in my power to make sure I don't lose myself like that again.

"Well, Bella, there's only really one thing I can say."

"What's that?"

"Can you start tomorrow?" I chuckle.

She smiles and laughs as well. We agree that starting the next morning she will be an official employee at the firm. I tell her everything she'll need to know for tomorrow, setting her up to visit Kate in personnel before she leaves, as well as letting her know about the case, just so she's aware of how busy things will be getting soon. When I'm finished prepping her for the next day, Bella leaves and I'm left to myself.

I pick up the case file Carlisle had sent over and start reading about the young woman Rosalie and I will be defending. Her name is Angela Weber, she was a freshman, before having to withdraw after the attack, at the University of Chicago. She was a top student, seeing a steady boyfriend of four years, and had a great list of extra curricular activities. On paper, her life seemed like a student's dream.

That all changed six months ago. Ms. Weber was leaving a rehearsal for a college production, she had been forced to park in the back lot, but refused an escort, not wanting to put anyone out. I shook my head, knowing how common this mistake was in cases like this. I've represented too many poor victims who put their safety second behind asking someone for help. She reported feeling uneasy as she reached her car, where she was attacked.

The attacker was later identified as one, Royce King. A lacrosse player from a wealthy family, with a golden-boy reputation. The money and reputation would be minor hindrances, but overall, it seemed to be a pretty air-tight win.

I've lost myself completely in the case, going over the details in my head and making notes in the margins, not noticing anything but the words before me. That is until I hear three short raps on my office door. There's only one person I know who would barge in without an appointment or phone call.

"Come in, Rose!" I shout.

She throws open the door and saunters in, perching herself on the edge of my desk, rather than one of the two over-sized arm chairs in front of me. Rosalie doesn't believe much in the concept of personal space or manners when it comes to her close friends.

"So, how did things go with Bella?" She asks.

"Really well, actually. She starts tomorrow," I said nonchalantly.

"I knew it, I just knew you guys would click! I'm a fucking genius, I know," she says smugly.

"Don't let your ego get too big, Hale."

"A more grateful person would thank me," she says jumping down from the desk.

"Fine, thank you, oh great Rosalie Hale," I say sarcastically.

"You're very welcome, oh ungrateful one. So I talked to Carlisle earlier and he tells me that you and I have quite the case ahead of us," she says taking a turn for the more serious.

"Yeah, have you read the file?"

"I have and, personally, I hope we get this bastard put away forever. What he did to our client was just disgusting and I would love to rip him apart piece by piece myself, but I suppose the justice system will have to take care of it for me."

"I know what you mean, Rose. He's one sick fucker and I have faith that we're going to win this one," I say with determination.

"Good, we'll get together with the firm partners tomorrow to see what the next step is," Rose says walking toward the door. Suddenly she turns back and faces me. "That reminds me, congratulations on practically making partner."

I balk. In all of my happiness and excitement over getting one step closer to becoming a partner, I neglected to take Rosalie's feelings into account. She's been working her way up the ladder just as long and just as hard as I have and I'm the one that gets rewarded. I feel like an ass.

"You're not mad?"

"No, dumbass, I'm not mad. I'd rather it be you than someone else. You're like a brother to me, Edward and I know you'll make me proud. Besides, my day will come," she says with a reassuring smile.

"Thanks, Rosalie. It really means a lot to have your support."

"Just don't get too used to it. I'm going to have to keep your ass in shape for the next few months while we work on this case," she says with a wink.

"Get out of my office, Hale," I say through fits of laughter.

"Hey, before I go; drinks tonight at the bar with Emmett and some of the guys from the office. Be there." She says as she leaves, not giving me a chance to object.

I pack up my brief case at the end of the night and get ready to head out. I stand, ready to shut the lights off and leave, but take a second to think about all that's happened today. Things certainly went from shitty to amazing fairly quickly. Not only am I heading the biggest case of my career, but I finally have my chance at becoming a partner. All my dreams are coming true.

And yet, I can't shake the feeling that perhaps the biggest blessing of the day came in the form of my new assistant. Bella. There is certainly something about her, that I can't deny. It certainly seems that our professional relationship would work out well at the very least. Still, I find myself hoping for more. Nothing beyond the line of friendship of course, I could kick myself for letting my thoughts get so far out of hand when she walked in this morning.

But boy were those thoughts right.

Bella is absolutely beautiful. There's no denying that fact. I convince myself that after she's been around longer, I'll be able to keep my straying thoughts in check. And I do hope she's around for a while.

I finally click off the lights and lock up the office. Compared to my feelings coming in this morning, I'm walking on a cloud as I ride the elevator down to my car. I place my briefcase on the passenger seat and put the key in the ignition. I dial Tanya on the car phone, but get her voicemail. I leave a quick message telling her about Rosalie's offer of drinks and encourage her to join us when she gets my message.

Perhaps if the rest of my life has started looking up, things will Tanya will take a turn for the better soon too. I find myself hoping so as I drive off to the bar to meet up with everyone and celebrate the exciting twist my life has taken today.