One chapter will talk about the past, one about the present until we reach the point where we began with the present. Confusing much? It keeps things interesting. ;)
Same disclaimer applies-Twilight belongs to S.M., but the idea of this story is mine.
Many thanks to my awesome betas and friends - TeamAllTwilight and m0t0b33. And to my newest help: Momma Laura.
October 2011
I almost take my eye out with the mascara brush when my phone blares from the bedroom.
I rush to it and answer, annoyed. "I thought I told you eight-thirty."
"I have to get to work early. James called me about a problem. If you can't come downstairs now, you'll have to take a cab."
So sweet, Edward. I roll my eyes.
"Give me five minutes," I beg him.
"Fine, but just because I know you won't be late."
I hang up and pull off my skirt. No time for that. I slip on a cotton dress and my boots, make sure I have all I need in my purse, then lock up and run down the stairs.
When I make it outside, I realize I forgot the coat. Damn it.
"I'm so sorry to rush you," Edward says as a greeting.
"Don't worry. I was kinda done anyway." I shrug.
He drives like a maniac to work.
"So where's the fire?" I wonder, crossing my legs.
"I don't know much, but James told me something about Bill..." He glances at me. "I truly hope he didn't do anything stupid, because we just got that big project where all the teams work on it at the same time."
"The Thanksgiving one?" I ask.
"Yeah. It's pretty big, and we usually work together on something like that. So we can't afford losing a team."
"Bill is their supervisor. You won't lose the team..."
"Isabella, without the supervisor, a team is like a headless chicken."
I nod but don't really believe it. Especially when it's a group thing.
When we get to work, Edward sends me to our team, telling me to make sure the latest project is finished by the time he returns. I stare in disbelief at his back as he walks into our boss's office.
How can we finish a project we started yesterday?
Is he crazy?
Maybe he forgot what day it was in the grand scheme...
Ugh.
We're working on a cosmetics commercial, and of course, the men stepped away allowing the women to brainstorm. Actually, that was Edward's idea yesterday.
Well, he put me in charge now. Everything's gonna change.
In our team room, the girls are at the far corner of the table, working on the project while the men...well, they're spread around the room, talking, thumbing through their phones. I see red—and not because of the room's color.
"What's going on in here?" I hiss.
Nate, one of the new guys, shrugs. "They're working on the commercial. You should join them."
I narrow my eyes at them. "Edward's busy, so he put me in charge." I put my hands on my hips. "So you better get your butts over there and help with this commercial or I'm telling James about your lack of interest! You don't see us women staying away from manly commercials. Do you, now?" I shout.
Surprisingly, I don't have to say it twice because everyone gathers on the other side of the room, asking what they can do to help.
In the end, it turns out that some of the guys have better ideas than the girls.
We even start working on the technical part, while half of the team goes to shoot for the commercial. I hope Edward won't be upset we took that step without him.
Edward joins us around lunch time, looking around confused as to why there are so few people there. I explain that I sent them to shoot the video, and he nods, giving me a small smile.
On the way to cafeteria, he falls in step with me, taking my wrist. "Isabella, James wants to talk with you later."
I stumble, but he catches me.
Shit.
My stomach just pummeled to the ground, and my heart is in my throat.
"Does he know?" I murmur as we step into the elevator.
"Know what?" He looks innocently at me. "It's about Bill."
"Oh. So he doesn't know..."
"Isabella, there's nothing to know."
Right.
I'm giving us away if I keep hinting at our relationship.
Though I know the boss isn't aware of the intercompany relations, it's still hard to make my food settle. I give up eating after a few bites.
Edward gives me a raised eyebrow, but he continues talking with Kim, from our team. I shake my head then get up.
"It will be okay." It's all he tells me as I pass him.
I wish I'd be just as confident as he is.
I'm afraid I'll spill the beans at how nervous I am.
My hand is shaking horribly as I knock on Mr. Brown's door.
"Enter!" he calls out.
I step inside with my heart beating wildly. He doesn't look upset or anything.
"Oh, Ms. Swan! Come on in. Please, take a seat." He gestures to the intimidating chair in front of him.
I hate that chair. I sweated it in when I had the job interview last year.
"Don't look so worried; nothing bad is happening," he tells me, amused.
"Yeah, well, it's not every day I'm called into your office," I mumble, feeling a blush rising to my cheeks.
"It will be a common occurrence, if you agree with me." He smiles widely.
Shit.
No.
What does he want?
"You've been working here for almost a year now, am I right?" he asks, cocking his head to the side.
If he's not firing me, then he's interested in something else.
"I have no idea what you're thinking right now, but hear me out first. Look at me, Isabella. Is it okay to call you that?"
I swallow hard and meet his blue-gray eyes. "Y-yes."
"Good. As I was saying, you've worked here long enough to know how the company ticks. You have worked under one of my best men, Edward. I trust you learned a lot from him."
I'm close to graduating Sexual Positions 101 with flying grades. "Yes, a lot." I nod, stifling a smile.
"That's good. Have you heard of Bill McCoy?"
"Edward told me something happened...nothing specific."
"He did the best advertisement for the Halloween costumes website. I told him to just find a different name, and it was a go. What does he do? He goes to another company that accepts his work, and now he left us, along with half of his team for the rivals."
"Oh. Uh, crap. Shit, I mean... I..."
"Yes, I felt the same when I heard what happened. But luckily I don't have to look too far for a supervisor for the Green Team."
"Well, I bet anyone is better than that two-faced..." I trail off.
Mr. Brown looks at me amused. "The person is in front of me."
My eyes widen. "Me?" I squeak. "I'm sure there are...others..."
"You're the best. I don't need Edward to tell me what everyone can see," he says firmly. "Once you're done with this project, come to me so I can introduce you to your new team."
"But...I'll work against...Edward."
"That's one of the most appealing things, isn't it? I simply love this. The supervisor teaches you everything he knows, then the best from his team flies from the nest and works against him."
He's crazy.
"Thank you," I whisper, realizing I should say that. "I'm still...shocked."
"Well, think about it. I see you're friends with Edward. Ask him how it was to leave my team and become the leader of his own team. How he felt when one from his team started working on another team. I won't expect your answer until the end of the current project."
"Alright, sir."
For the rest of the day, I don't really pay attention to my surroundings.
When it's time to leave, I feel so guilty about James's proposal that I avoid Edward, wanting to go home alone, away from him. My plan vanishes when he holds the elevator for me.
Damn.
"You've been quiet," he comments.
"Just thinking of what Mr. Brown told me," I explain, aware of other people in the elevator.
I meet Edward's eyes in the mirror, but we don't talk until we're alone again—that's in the garage where he guides me to his car.
"Tell me, Bella."
"It's nothing."
"You're going to tell me. I have lasagna."
"You cooked?" I ask, shocked, staring at him, amused.
"No, of course. Mom dropped by yesterday after I returned home." He throws me a huge smile. "You have to taste her lasagna. It's delicious."
I pout, sliding in his car. "That means you didn't like mine?"
"Course I did!" Edward shouts, but I can see he doesn't really mean it. "Okay, fine. Yours is very good, but Mom has this sauce or something, and she puts lots of mozzarella in it."
"I'll have to steal the recipe."
"She wouldn't give it to Rose, so I doubt you'll be able to get it from her."
At his house, I try my luck eating in front of the TV. Reluctantly, he agrees.
It's so funny to see him unsure how to situate himself—where to put his plate, how to maneuver the fork and knife.
I tuck my feet under my ass, place the plate on my lap, and start eating, cutting the lasagna only with my fork.
Like a curious child, Edward peeks at what I'm doing and does the same.
He settles on HBO where there's an action movie playing. He seems captivated by it, forgetting to eat.
I take his hand in mine and raise it to his mouth, making him laugh.
"I really like this guy. He has awesome movies," he tells me, nodding to the TV.
I nod, not really into the actor or movie.
Luckily, the movie ends soon—we probably started watching when it got more interesting.
"Mr. Brown wants me to supervise the Green Team," I blurt out.
"I thought so." He grins.
"Not just for now…"
"I know, Bella. He even asked me if you'd be able to take charge of a group of people and not only come up with good ideas. So I allowed you to take charge of my team while I talked to him."
"You did that on purpose?" I screech. "Couldn't you have warned me?"
"If I told you this morning, you would have probably been overwhelmed by the news and unable to focus on keeping everyone in line. You did a fantastic job, by the way."
"Oh, God. Are you sure I can do this?" I ask fearfully.
"You proved to yourself today that you can."
"I'm serious, Edward. How do you feel? I'll be working against you!"
He smirks. "That will be a huge problem on my side. I'll need to find someone to rival your skills so I can compete."
"I'm not joking."
"Neither am I. Stop fretting, woman. Look, when we first expanded and James assigned all the members a team, I was just as scared as you. Back then, James had his own new team, so we all had the same chances to win or lose. All of us from the original team kept going to him to ask stuff, and he answered in such a way that it was too late when we realized he stole our ideas. At the end of the project meeting, James reminded us to never spill from the house cup, so to speak. We were the leaders of our teams, and only when the project was done did we talk with him about it. That was a hard lesson for everyone to learn."
"You won't borrow my ideas if I ask your opinion on something, will you? I'm so worried I'll suck," I mumble.
Edward puts his hand on my shoulder. "Isabella, you won't suck. You'll be just as amazing as I believe you'll be. Stop worrying for nothing. Until then, you're still on my team, and we have a project to finish."
"Thanks, I needed the ego booster," I laugh.
"Anytime." He leans closer and kisses my cheek. "By the way, next week…are you coming to the party?"
"I thought it was customary."
"It is, but some escape it."
"Are you going?" I challenge.
"Only if you are."
"I've never attended a Halloween party, so I guess I'll go. Though, I have no idea what costume to wear."
"That's easy. We have to call Victoria. She's an expert at this." He winks, tucking me under his arm.
