Chapter Four – Unexpected

BPOV

I'm pretty sure I spend the next half hour or so of my life making a complete fool of myself.

For some reason, when Rose mentioned Edward over and over again as a "beanpole jackass," that had been exactly what I was expecting. I was thinking tall, skinny, pimple faced, maybe some adult braces or other equally horrifying ailment.

Rose was full of shit.

I'm completely taken back by the tall, lightly muscled, beautiful man sitting in front of me. Edward is like some combination of male model and Greek god, gone terribly right. And as if his body wasn't enough to stop women everywhere from breathing, his face was breath-taking. His eyes have to be the brightest, most beautiful shade of green I've ever seen and he has lashes that go on for miles. And his hair. It's a gorgeous shade of reddish brown and just disheveled enough to give that, "I've just stepped out of the bedroom after an afternoon romp" feel without being too overdone.

Looks aside, he is charismatic as hell. A real charmer, my mother, Rene, would say. Every now and then he interjects little tidbits about his life and personal experience, especially when I talk about my college experience. He never sounds self-centered or conceited though; just grateful for everything he's had and the opportunities that have come his way. Edward seems like he's always had his life together. He's the kind of person I always saw myself becoming after graduation; the kind of person that, so far, I had failed to emulate.

Men like this are just too perfect to exist.

I mentally chastise myself for sounding like a middle school girl who is "hot for teacher" and continue blathering on about my qualifications or something like that. I'm actually struggling to remember the question he's just asked me when he laughs to himself.

Oh right, I was talking about my background. Great, I've made a fool of myself.

"Well, Bella, there's only one thing I can really say," he says after a moment.

"What's that?" I asked feigning confidence. I'm sure he's about to throw me out the door.

"Can you start tomorrow?" he chuckles.

I laugh, not quite believing that this is really happening. This morning I woke up jobless and depressed, stuck in a post-graduation nightmare most people take great pains to avoid. Now, I was being offered not only a decent job, but from an employer who wasn't all too shabby himself. It isn't my dream job by any means, but it's something. It's a start.

He goes over some of the finer details of what the job will entail: answering phones, filing cases, accompanying him to meetings and interviews and the like. All for the most part what I expected. I find myself actually excited at the prospect of taking all of this on. It's been so long since I've done something productive with myself that I probably would have accepted a job as a garbage collector at this point.

Desperation was beginning to set in.

"Well I think you're all set then, Bella." Edward says with a smile that makes my heart melt just a little bit.

"Sounds great! I can't thank you enough for this opportunity, Edward."

"I'm more than glad to take you on. Now, if you just stop in the personnel office and ask for Kate she will go over some of the finer details and set you up with payroll. I'll call her as soon as you leave to let her know you'll be coming."

"Perfect! I'll see you tomorrow then?" I ask, actually feeling excited.

"Tomorrow," he agrees.

I start to walk toward the door and he calls out to me just as I'm about to leave.

"I almost forgot, Bella. I've just been given a rather large case I'm going to be focusing on with Rose over the next few months. I just wanted to let you know that your first couple months might be hectic, but I promise it isn't normally that intense," he explains.

"Well I'm always up for a challenge," I smile.

We say our goodbyes and I walk out of his office on a freaking cloud. I make a mental note to call Rosalie later and thoroughly worship the ground she walks on, something I sure she'll love immensely. I make my way back to the front desk to ask directions to the personnel office. The snotty receptionist is still there and lifts her head as she hears me approaching.

"Don't worry, sweetheart, he's really finicky about his assistants. I'm sure you'll find another job. I'm really sorry it didn't work out for you," she says sounding anything but.

"Actually, Jessica is it?" I say looking at the tiny placard with her name on it. "I need directions to the personnel office. Mr. Masen wants to have me on payroll starting tomorrow," I say smug.

Her mouth drops and then twists into a grimace as she directs me to Kate. I thank her more politely than she deserves and make my way to the last stop of the day. The personnel office is busy with people rushing back and forth, carrying massive amounts of paper.

"Bella Swan?"

I look up and see a sweet faced blonde standing in front of me with a huge smile on her face. She's dressed in a simple skirt suit with her hair in a sleek, bouncy pony tail. This must be Kate.

"Guilty," I laugh.

"I'm Kate, Mr. Masen told me you'd be coming in today. If you'd like to take a seat we can go ahead and get you set up for tomorrow."

We go over everything from company policy to the dress code and back again. It appears that general office hours are 7AM to 7PM, Monday through Friday. I'll be working on a flex schedule that Edward and I will decide upon later. She lets me know that he tends to work from 8 to 6 most days, so that will likely be my schedule as well. We set up a direct deposit for my pay, which is far higher than I'd been expecting, and finally she asks if I have any other questions.

"I think I've got everything," I say.

"Great! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to come see me. Oh! And the office usually breaks for lunch at noon each day; you should come eat with me sometime this week!" She says enthusiastically. I smile, it's hard not to around Kate. She's a far cry from Jessica, for which I am beyond happy.

"I would love that, Kate. Thanks so much!"

"No problem, the more the merrier! It'll be nice to eat with someone other than my boyfriend for a change," she laughs.

"Does he work nearby?"

"Actually, he's a paralegal here at the firm under Mr. Masen. His name is Garrett," she says proudly.

"That's really great," I smile.

"It's certainly convenient," she laughs. "Well go on and get out of here. Enjoy the rest of your day and congratulations on the job, Bella!"

"Thank you, Kate. See you around," I say before I leave.

I exit the building and look at the people bustling around on the busy street surrounding me. Men dressed in suits with briefcases and satchels, women in designer skirts and blouses, all running back and forth to their jobs. Men and women that I will be joining, starting first thing tomorrow. For the first time in a long time, things seem to be looking up.

I reach into my bag and grab my cell phone, dialing the first number I can think of.

"Bella? How did it go?" Alice says as soon as she picks up.

"I got it!" I shout, excitedly. I had entirely planned on giving her the run around, but apparently I'm more excited than I wanted to admit before.

"Bella, that's amazing! I'm so happy for you! We're going out and celebrating and that's all there is to it. Drinks and dancing for our hardworking asses I say!"

"Sounds too perfect," I smile. "I'm going to call Mom and Dad. I'll see you at the apartment later, alright?"

"You bet! I want that ass of yours in something sexy as soon as I walk in the door," she shouts.

"I'm sorry, Alice are you my roommate or my boyfriend?" I laugh.

"Your roommate, but meet my request and maybe you'll leave the club with a boy who will appreciate my suggestion."

"Cute, Alice. See you later tonight."

"Love you!" She shouts before hanging up.

I decide to walk back to the apartment and make a quick call to my parents on the way. Mom spends about twenty minutes shouting her excitement into the phone, both to me and my poor father who has to deal with the mania in person. She gushes about telling the ladies in her book club the exciting news. You would think I was just elected president or something. My dad is more casual when he answers the phone, letting me know that he's proud and excited, but not much else. My sweet, simple Charlie.

My parents are living proof that opposites attract. Where my mother, Renee, is outspoken and excitable and fierce, my father, Charlie, is quiet, reserved, and able to enjoy the simpler things in life. In terms of personality, I tend to lean more in the ballpark of Charlie. Still, my parents have been married and madly in love for 23 years, something they're extremely proud of.

I couldn't have asked for two better people to raise me, so I take my mother's over-excitement in earnest and appreciate my father's simple congratulations immensely. My mother takes back the phone and asks me when I'm going to get out to visit again. I placate her with a vague answer of hoping to be around for the holidays and that ends our conversation.

I finally get home and decide to keep myself busy for the new few hours by cleaning up around the apartment. I change into some more comfortable clothes and get to it. I'm knee-deep in sorting through Alice's back issues of Cosmo and trying to decide which ones she might not notice have gone missing when the little pixie burst through the door.

For such a tiny thing, she really knows how to make an entrance.

"There's my working girl—"she starts before stopping in her tracks.

"What?" I ask.

"I do believe I demanded an outfit exuding sex appeal, not sweats, "she deadpans.

"Alice, I wasn't about to clean the apartment in a mini skirt."

"Why the hell not?"

Alice is the kind of girl who spends an hour in front of the mirror just to take out the trash.

"I'll go change right now, Master," I respond sarcastically.

"Wait! I bought something for the occasion!" She shouts, shoving a Macy's bag in my unsuspecting hands.

"What the hell is this, Alice? I have clothes you know."

"I know that, but tonight is a special occasion and it called for a special outfit. Consider this my congratulatory gift," she smiles.

"Alice I really—"

"Not another word, woman! Go get yourself ready! We ride at dawn! Well, more like half an hour, but you get it."

I shake my head, knowing that the argument isn't even remotely worth it, and head into my room. I pull a sleek, form fitting black dress out of the bag and slip it on. It fits like a glove. Of course. I shouldn't have expected any less from my personal stylist. I make quick work of curling my hair and pinning some of it back before putting on just enough makeup to bring out what's already there. I have to admit, standing in front of the mirror tonight I feel more confident than I have in a long time. Maybe everyone was right. Maybe all I needed this whole time was a kick in the ass to get myself going. Even if this wasn't my lifetime career, it was start and who knew what doors it might open.

The boss man isn't too hard on the eyes either.

Yeah, that was going to be a little distracting. Still, it wasn't anything I couldn't handle. I wasn't one of those girls, I never had been. If there was a strongly defined line, such as boss and employee, you could guarantee that I would stay safely on my side of it. I suppose it couldn't hurt to enjoy the view a little though, could it? Besides, it seemed like there was more to this Edward Masen than just his looks. He seemed… genuine, I guess is the word. His personality seemed like it would be just as beautiful as his features. Maybe we could grow to be friends. Yes, friends, that should help to quench any attraction.

I walk into the living room exactly thirty minutes later to find Alice waiting for me, tapping her foot impatiently. She looks amazing of course, in a black and gold dress, her short black hair framing her face.

"Finally! Are you ready to go?"

"Yes, impatience I am actually. Is Jasper going with us?"

Jasper and Alice had been a package deal since our freshman year at Berkeley. He was a big, tall, blond "hunk" as Alice likes to say. He really is a sweetheart and one of the nicest people I've ever met. He reminded me a lot of Emmett when we first met, which made my initial feelings of homesickness a little more bearable those first few months at school. Just like Alice, he quickly became one of my best friends. Alice and Jazz are the kind of couple who make you sick just looking at them looking at each other. When we made the decision to move the city, it was a no-brainer that Jazz would move out here too. Personally, I still don't understand why he didn't just move in with us, but whenever I asked Alice just spouted some nonsense about needed to explore her freedom before settling down entirely. More power to her, I'm just happy they have each other.

"Nope," she says popping the 'p'. "I told him it's a testosterone free zone tonight. Just you and me, babe!"

"Bring on the drinks and dancing!" I say enthusiastically.

Two hours and three… maybe four… margaritas later, I'm on a dance floor with my best friend probably making a complete fool of myself, but not caring at all. While Normal Bella is quiet and keeps to herself, Drunk Bella is just about the polar opposite. Alice says it's almost like I have Multiple Personality Disorder when you put enough drinks in my hand. She took to calling my drunken form by my full name, Isabella, because apparently I very much resembled "a headstrong, classy, biotch," her words, not mine.

Alice and I are enjoying ourselves when a tall blonde guy walks up to us.

"Hello, ladies," he says smoothly.

"Hello," Alice says back with a smile. She's not quite as far gone as I am, but she's getting close.

"What brings you here tonight?"

"A celebration!" Alice shouts back.

"What's the occasion?" He asks, laughing.

"I got myself a pretty great new job today," I reply.

"Well congratulations! That is something to celebrate. My name's Mike," he chuckles.

"Isabella," I say deciding to go with Alice's distinction.

"Nice to meet you," he says taking a step closer to me.

"Likewise I'm sure, now shut up and dance with me," I say wrapping my arms around him.

He doesn't seem to mind my straightforward approach. His hands make their way to my hips and we lose ourselves in the music and smoky atmosphere of the club. I feel rather than hear the beats of a techno song start playing and nod my head enthusiastically.

"I love this song!" I shout to Alice.

"Well then how about a little less talking and a little more dancing!" She shouts back.

I'm not even sure my newfound partner is still with me. I just feel the floor shaking from the pounding bass of the speakers and match its rhythm. I throw my hands over my head and let the music take my away. I can't even explain how happy I am. To say today's events were unexpected would be an understatement, but that doesn't change my elation over how things turned out. I look up and think I see a familiar pair of eyes looking down at me from the balcony, but after blinking a few times they disappear. I'm going to pay for this in the morning.

But I don't care. I just keep dancing until it's time to go home.

Hello! I know, it's been a while... a really long while. I wanted to say a quick thank you to the readers who first took on this story when I started it for taking me back with open arms. I also want to say hello to my new readers! I know it's been a really long time for some of you, but I'm back and a lot more committed to finishing this than I was before. I will say that I'm finishing up my fall semester at school, so it will be a slow start. But never fear. Finals are next week and once they're over I'm going to start updating once a week. I haven't picked the day yet, but I will certainly let you all know when I do!

Thanks for all the reviews on the last chapter and make sure to keep them coming!

Until next time!