Ms. Meyer owns the characters; I own the world of Hands-On History.

~HOH~

Chapter 5: Meet your team, Bella

Bella scratched at her head with the eraser end of her number 2 pencil as she perused the biographical notes on her reports. While she had been introduced to everyone except Dr. Cullen at the end of her final interview, in just a few minutes, she was going to lead her first staff meeting. She was simultaneously thrilled and terrified.

"Conference room three is ready for your meeting, Miss Swan," Eric chimed, checking a few things off on his clipboard. "Angel Cakes has delivered, coffee and beverages are ready, and your reports are awaiting your divine presence."

"Eric," Bella replied warningly.

"Bellllll-a!" he conceded with a smile. "Now you go work it, girl."

Bella laughed at the confidence in her talents Eric seemed to have. His attitude was certainly contagious and she felt just a little braver after the blinding smile he gave her.

With a self-assured smile, Bella grabbed the stack of manila folders and a legal pad before heading down to conference room three. True to Eric's word, most of her team was waiting for her. Bella beamed. She appreciated punctuality and the fact that everyone was in attendance early before having met with her for any extended amount of time, gave Bella grand feeling about the potential of her team.

Bella noticed one lone empty chair. She quickly ran through the list of her team to determine who was absent.

While she did not have a photographic memory, Bella did have a propensity for remembering minute details. Around the table, she saw Dr. Edward Cullen, music. He had written his dissertation dissecting the phenomenon surrounding Trans-Siberian Orchestra, The Canadian Brass, and Mannheim Steamroller and their respective successes in bringing classical music to the masses. The abstract had been a fascinating read and as Bella's own opinion closely aligned with his thesis, she had ordered from UMI a copy of her own.

Dr. Jasper Whitlock, military history, sat to Edward's left. His primary focus was the Civil War but he was well versed in any and all military skirmishes as well as the psychology behind the militia mindset. Frankly, Bella had shuddered when she read his dissertation abstract. The war machine both literal and figurative was something she would have nightmares over if she read much more so she decided the few sentences was quite enough for her.

Dr. Whitlock's wife, Mrs. Alice Whitlock, fashion and attire, leaned over and whispered something in his ear, earning a squeeze of the hand and a warm smile. Bella had long wondered how successful married couples working together could be but after a look into the personnel files she had been given, the two had received nothing but glowing reports. Alice was world-renown for being able to recreate any form of dress, often by hand and without a pattern. Eric had placed a small Post-it note with a warning that she often took co-workers under her wing and 'freed them from being wardrobe victims.'

Next came Dr. Rosalie McCarty, transportation and engineering. Bella had known her for several years and was certain Rose's ability to break down not only vehicles but their driving force whether by foot, animal or carbon-based fuel would bring another level to the team's reports.

She then realized that it was Mr. Michael Newton that was absent.

She glanced at the clock over the door and gave a nervous smile to the expectant faces watching her.

Outside the conference room, Bella heard a door slam and then the sounds of someone slowly saunter down the hall. Through the conference room entry a pudgy, stout gentleman appeared resplendent in frat boy khakis and pale blue long sleeve oxford. Bella was not sure if the clothes were rumpled or if it was the body underneath. She shuddered at the image that went through her brain.

"Sorry," the man muttered, ducking his head in a half apology, though Bella had the distinct feeling he truly was not.

Mr. Michael Newton, self-proclaimed expert in agriculture, aquaculture, and wildlife. His rather brief dossier claimed extensive knowledge in all things in the great outdoors both domesticated and wild. Frankly, Bella had found herself quite disturbed at his Master's thesis summary as she was not really interested in the breeding history of the Northwest Tree Octopus. She had Googled the beast and had an overwhelming feeling she was going to be doing a lot of verification and editing for anything she received from Mr. Newton.

For a fleeting moment, Bella felt a little intimidated with the brainpower surrounding her, Mr. Newton notwithstanding, but she took a deep breath and gathered up her faith in her own talents.

"I want to thank everyone for meeting with me today," Bella smiled, setting down the manila folders and taking a seat. "Let us start with introductions and then I will lay out my plan for our team and then we can dive into the new project that has come before us."

Bella looked expectantly at Mr. Newton who sat to her immediate right. He gazed up at her with a combination of puppy dog-like adoration and a smirk. She instantly shuffled back just a half-step. Something about him was unsettling and until Bella could figure out just what it was, she felt better being a little more closed.

"Mike Newton," he began in what she was sure he thought was a smooth, sexy tone. "Newton's the name, wild in the fields is my game."

Bella blinked rapidly in an attempt to avoid rolling her eyes. The mask of professionalism fell back over her and she nodded in greeting before shifting her gaze to Dr. McCarty.

"Rosalie McCarty. I research the engineering developments and the history of transportation for any given time period," Rosalie replied crisply before a warm smile broke her face. "Good to see you again, Bella."

"Good to see you, Rose. Em good?"

"As always. Depending upon the time period of the next assignment, he will be around."

"I think we can always use an architect, especially with our investigation focusing on a specific house that seems to be a combination of time periods," Bella smiled.

"I'll be sure to have him contact your PA."

"Wonderful." Bella's eyes shifted to the next seat.

"Alice Whitlock. Fashion and fabrics. If they wore it, produced it, imported it, and traded it, I can provide everything you need to know."

"Impressive."

She pointedly ignored the scoffing cough that came from her right. Apparently Mr. Newton disagreed with her assessment.

"Jasper Whitlock. My passion is military history, particularly strategies and the psychology behind the battles."

Bella nodded in understanding before turning toward Edward.

"And you, Dr. Cullen?" she smiled encouragingly.

"Edward Cullen. Music, theory, compositions, and the social implications therein."

"Excellent. As you know, I am Bella Swan. My specialties are creative writing, archival management, and historical research. I … "

"Couldn't make up your mind in school?" Mike grinned, trying to make a joke but only he found any amusement in his question. He shrunk back in his seat under the icy glare of more than one of his co-workers. "It was just a joke," he muttered.

"No, Mr. Newton," Bella replied with a quiet, deadly calm. "I had in mind exactly what I wanted to do upon graduation and here I am."

Bella's brown eyes stared into Newton's pale blue ones, silently daring him to continue. He wisely kept his mouth shut.

"As I was saying …" Bella cast a quick glare at Mr. Newton to imply the unspoken 'before I was interrupted,' "our new assignment is to investigate the Masen estate and to uncover just what happened to the last descendants to reside in the home."

Bella handed out individual folders to each member of the team.

"We will be recreating everything virtually and presenting the Masen Foundation our findings as quickly as possible so that next summer, they can reveal the estate in its former glory for the anniversary of the disappearance of Anthony Masen and his bride Marie Cigno. If you will check page one, please."

The light ruffle of papers filled the room as everyone eyed the printouts before them.

"The estate of Mr. Masen has long supported the arts in Washington and wishes for Hands-On History to put an end to the question of what happened in 1790 before they open the newly renovated estate which will house the Anthony and Marie Masen School of Music."

"But we are researchers, not mystery sleuths," Mike muttered, tapping his pencil on the folder before him.

"I believe they are one and the same, Mr. Newton," Bella replied coolly. She already was developing a rather healthy dislike for this man. She loved a good challenge and like a bulldog would latch on to a challenge with all that she had and would not let go until she had solved it to her own personal satisfaction.

Mike threw up his hands as if in defeat and waved them before him.

"I would like all of you to work this week on determining what outside information you are going to need. If you could write up an outline of the path you plan to take and get it to me by Friday, I would greatly appreciate it. The Masen Foundation has graciously agreed to allow us access to the entire estate, grounds, libraries, everything once we have a plan of action in place. I want to have in play our plan of attack before we step onto the property so we can use our time as wisely as possible."

"And what are you going to do during this?" Mike interrupted.

Edward rolled his eyes, unable to take Mike's disrespect any more.

"Perhaps she will do what an archival historian-in-residence is supposed to do and organize our findings so all we are tied down to do is the research," Edward gritted. "Ever think of that?"

"Just because you had lunch with her, do not think you know everything, Cullen," Mike muttered. "Brown nosing, self-righteous…"

Apparently Mr. Newton had no filter or just did not realize that he was saying his thoughts aloud.

"And do not think that just because Jessica did not get the job that you can make Bella's life miserable," Rosalie stated with a cool calmness that made Bella shiver. She was so glad Rose was on her side.

"I … I … never …" Mike stuttered, unable to finish.

"Whatever," Rosalie muttered, waving him off.

"So we will take our assignments and report to you our findings by week's end so you can report to the powers that be over at the Masen Foundation," Alice said in clarification.

Bella realized Alice was a natural peace maker and had found a way to re-centralize the discussions so that they could move forward. For this, she was eternally grateful.

"Exactly."

"And Anthony Masen and Marie Masen disappeared when?"

"1790, though from some of my early perusals of the documents, the area was caught in almost a time warp—the inhabitants behaved more like those a century earlier in the east."

"Is that a clinical term?" Jasper interjected, a teasing smile gracing his lips.

"Time warp? Yes. It's just a step to the left."

"Oh, God," Alice groaned, knowing full well she was going to be humming the earworm all day long.

Edward smiled broadly, relaxing significantly in his seat as he tipped his head toward Bella who rewarded him with a grin.

"My office is always open if you wish to discuss your findings," Bella stated, making eye contact with each member of the team.

"Oooh!" Mike grinned lasciviously.

Bella paused, turned in her chair and angrily eyed at him.

"Mr. Newton. I understand the team has been without leadership for quite a while. I understand that I am younger, fresh out of graduate school. I know that you have issues with women in charge and frankly, I do not give a damn. I am now the archival historian-in-residence and if you wish to remain on this team or in Hands-On History's employ, you will think before you speak and treat absolutely everyone with respect. Am I clear?"

"But…" Mike's face flushed bright red and his eyes screwed up as he fought with glaring at her.

"Am. I. Clear?"

"Yes, ma'am." His voice was barely more than a whispered hiss.

"Excellent." Bella pulled back, her features softening significantly. "Now, my roommate owns Angel Cakes and I know we have refreshments so I say we enjoy the fruits of her labors."

The general consensus was that of agreement, even from Mr. Newton and soon the team was sitting around enjoying the treats.

~HOH~

"Kudos to you, Miss Swan," Rosalie smiled as she helped box up the remains of the Angel Cakes goodies after the others had vacated the room—Mr. Newton being the first to depart which was of no surprise to those present.

"For what? And what's this Miss Swan bit?" Bella asked, pouring a half cup of coffee into her travel mug.

"Just giving you a little grief," she teased, lightly hip checking her friend before turning back to the task at hand.

"For putting Mike Newton in his place," Rosalie continued. "He did an absolutely bang-up job on a project right after he was hired and they took him off probation and …"

"And has been resting on his laurels ever since?"

"Absolutely."

Bella sighed. She knew the type. The type that once they gained their profession's equivalent of tenure slacked off and never applied the drive that had gotten them to that position. She hoped and prayed she would never lose her passion for her life's path. There was just so much to learn and so much to experience.

"And his fiancée applied for your position. She couldn't write a summary any more than I could fit into a size two." Rosalie motioned toward her own curvy body. She was by no means a large woman but certain attributes could not be cramped into that size without removal which would greatly upset her beloved Emmett.

"So why did she apply?"

"Same old same old—Em and I sometimes work together, Jasper and Alice work together. Mike thought it would be perfect to have is little Jessie-Poo." Rosalie made a gagging noise that made Bella giggle.

"We'd been so long without a team leader, he thought they would be ready to hire anyone. In this market to go almost a year without a hire for a vacant position, unheard of. I think Mike thought HOH would be desperate and put anyone with half a brain into the slot. Maggie's more discerning than that."

Bella nodded. Her brief meeting with the head of human resources had had quite an impression and she knew the esteemed Ms. Green was a sharp individual who did not put up with sub-par performances.

"Why is Mike allowed to continue here if he isn't pulling his weight?"

"We're not sure. I think it's because they just don't have enough good reasons to fire him. You can do a piss poor job but still get the work done and float along under the radar. And with no one doing performance reviews, there really isn't a whole lot of documentation. All I know is if I worked with Em every day, all day, I would go nuts," she continued. "And you know how much we love each other. Jasper and Alice have offices on different floors just to prevent the overload."

"Wait—Jessie-Poo? Jessica? The receptionist?"

"One and the same."

Bella's face held every bit of disbelief that she felt.

"Isn't she overqualified for the receptionist position?" Bella inquired gently.

"More like drastically under qualified for archival historian-in-residence."

Bella blinked in amazement.

"Drastically," Rosalie repeated. "Not much up there." She tapped her temple with one well-manicured finger. "At. All."

Her face cracked into a wide grin. "Not like the archival historian-in-residence we have managed to hire."

"I'll do my best," Bella smiled gathering her belongings.

"You'll do more than that, Bella. You'll be perfect."

~HOH~

Yes, there is such a thing as the Tree Octopus. At least on the Internet and you know if you find it via Google, it has to be true, right? *VBG*

Thank you, TLammy and Marijee for your bids on the FGB auction! Thanks to them, there will be two additional chapters for Evermore Experience in the works!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I've had a fabulous birthday beginning with a midnight movie with friends and it will conclude with two concerts in December (Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Straight No Chaser!). Makes getting older even better when you can celebrate for over a month.

Unfortunately, life will be getting more hectic, and I don't know if I'll be able to keep up the weekly updates (but I will try!).

Regardless, once FFn gets its act together, I will be responding to all of your wonderful reviews. I truly appreciate each and every one.