Note from the translator: all things Twilight belong to Stephenie Meyer, and Collisions belongs to the lovely, very popular and talented French author Drinou. This chapter is my Christmas gift to you, to thank you for all your reviews. I hope you'll like it. Good reading.

Chapter 5: Adaptation

I grabbed my bag, and since the elevator door was opening, I rushed inside and left this hellhole.

I entered the elevator in haste and frantically pressed the button for the ground floor.

How could I be so stupid?

I knew this man was a notorious bastard, I knew his reputation and I even had a taste of it, which cost me a great deal. And yet I continued to fantasize about him. He haunted all my nights since that infamous evening and I couldn't stop my brain from rambling as soon as I thought about him.

I'm such an idiot!

I'd never been so humiliated in my entire life. Could he not just shut his big mouth instead of taking pleasure in belittling and ridiculing people?

I raged while retaining my tears, railing against the elevator for being too slow. I was suffocating in this place and I wanted to get out of this hell as soon as possible.

And the worst part was that I was stuck, trapped. Now I had no choice but come back here every day and endure this beautiful lothario and his derogatory remarks. Why had I given my resignation to Starbucks?

Damn, you're really an idiot!

The door opened at last and I left this building of doom without regret.

Even after a boring afternoon spent listening to my marketing teacher ranting for three hours in a monotonous and soporific tone, I was still on edge.

I hated that bastard for his disparaging attitude, for the new public humiliation he just inflicted on me, and for his ever present smug expression. But above all, I hated myself for being such a stupid idiot, for believing even for just one second that working for such a piece of trash was possible. I cursed myself mostly for my attitude in his presence. Why couldn't I behave normally when he was around? It was as if every time he entered the room, my brain switched to standby mode and only my hormones were left in operation.

Find yourself a guy; it will get better!

Easy to say, but the only guy I had in mind for weeks was precisely the one I needed to avoid.

He's so sexxxxx…

Exasperated, I sighed and threw myself on my sofa bed, bitching.

Would I have the courage to return in the devil's den tomorrow? Nothing was less certain.

I had to clear my head before becoming completely crazy dwelling on my dark thoughts.

Uh, I won't become crazy; I'm already there…

I picked up my phone and called my best friend.

"Hey, Bells!"

"Hi Jake. Please, tell me you're not working tonight."

"Uh, no, why? You want to snatch another one of my shirts?" he joked.

Ouch! Right on the mark.

"Very funny," I grumbled.

"Oh, you sound like you've reached rock-bottom. Want to join me at the Zanzibar?"

"The what?"

"The Zanzibar. You need to go out a little more, girl. It's the latest fashionable place in town. I'll send you the address. Hurry up, I'm waiting for you."

"Okay, I'm on my way."

This improvised evening would allow me to take my mind off things.

I rushed to the bathroom to take a quick yet relaxing warm shower. I put on a gray sweater dress, black leggings and my favorite Converse shoes and left the apartment in haste.

Twenty minutes later I arrived at the famous Zanzibar and I had to admit that the place was quite nice. It was a lounge bar, both fashionable and cozy, with soft and slightly jazzy music playing in the background. I was delighted.

I joined Jake at the bar and he offered me my first margarita of the evening. I drank a few sips of my cocktail, listening to my best friend's crazy stories, laughing from time to time.

God it felt good!

He'd managed, with his presence and good nature, to clear my head and erase all the stress and edginess of this calamitous day.

"So what do you do now? Still at Starbucks?" he asked after he finished telling me how he got rid of a little too enterprising female customer the day before.

"Um, no. I'm a switchboard operator at the headquarters of the Cullen Corp.," I informed him.

"The Cullen Corp. Well! Wait a second, that evening that cost me my shirt, wasn't it organized for them?"

I evaded his question with a nod. Jake was venturing a little too close to the hot potato.

"Besides, you never told me why you so urgently needed one of my shirts. A hidden fetish, perhaps?"

"Stop with your rubbish!" I exclaimed, punching his arm playfully.

"Come on, Swan. Spill the beans! Will you return it to me one of these days or should I say goodbye to my favorite shirt?"

I gulped the rest of my cocktail in one go.

"Hum… What's that? You're blushing?" he wondered. "Give me his name!"

Shit!

"Jake, stop mess-"

"I know you, Bells. There's a man behind all this! Tell me his name or else I'll harass you for the rest of your life."

Help! An emergency exit, fast.

I remained silent, cheeks crimson and staring at my empty glass.

"Bells…" Jake sang. "I'll make you drink if necessary, but you will tell me, so save yourself some pain and spit it out."

Resist!

Jacob was staring at me with inquisitive eyes, looking for any weakness to make me confess.

"There's nothing to say…"

"Spit it!"

He motioned to the server, who brought me another margarita. I held out my hand to take it, but Jake pulled it toward him.

"Actually no, I'm going to stop you from drinking instead. You'll get your drink when you've told me."

Traitor!

I growled and moaned and railed against him, calling him every unflattering name I could think of, but he stood firm. He waited patiently, grinning as he watched me get upset.

"Cullen," I let out after several endless minutes.

Jake's eyes widened and he let go of my glass in surprise. I took advantage of his shock to grab it and I drank it down in one gulp.

"Cullen as in Cullen Corp.?" he asked cautiously.

I nodded affirmatively.

"Wait a minute. You're telling me that you gave my shirt to one of the richest men in town? But why?"

I blushed even more.

"You slept with him?" he cried upon seeing my reaction.

"Ssshhhh!"

"Stop. Rewind and start again. Go back to the beginning."

I laid my head on the counter and sighed.

"I accidentally spilled a glass of red wine on his shirt; he was really pissed. I was afraid of losing my job so I called you, hoping you'd lend me one of yours. I returned to the men's restroom to give him your shirt and…"

"And?"

"And let's say he was shirtless and… He made advances… And that's how…"

"You slept with Edward Cullen. In the restroom. Wow! I didn't know you were like that, Swan."

Give me a shovel so I go dig my grave right away…

"Shut up!" I exclaimed, motioning to the bartender for a refill.

I grabbed my glass and raised it to my lips.

"You slept with him in the hotel's restroom when you were on the job that evening and you didn't even know him!"

Quickly, a gag to silence him!

"Oh, shut up Jake! You think I don't regret it enough as it is? I lost my job because of that, so no need to rub salt into the wound."

"That's why Newton fired you? You got caught?"

I nodded in silence.

"Luck's never been on your side much, but you may now hold the record for being jinxed," he giggled.

I gave him another punch in the arm.

"And now you work in his enterprise. What a coincidence!"

"Tell me about it. But this guy is truly a first class bastard! He's insufferable, authoritarian, contemptuous…"

"Unless it isn't one…"

"One what?"

"A coincidence. Think about it: Newton fired you, and then he called you back a month later to offer you this position, without any explanation, and you end up at the Cullen Corp…"

"So what? The Cullen Corp. is one of N.Y.E.'s largest clients, isn't it? Even you work for them right now, if I recall correctly."

"True, but you never know," he said, winking.

Ahhhhh!

Suddenly I wanted to throw the rest of my margarita at his face to remove his smirk. But in the end I raised my glass to my mouth and drank the remaining of the cocktail in one go.

Two margaritas later, I was clinging to my bed, waiting for the tidal waves that raged in my apartment to recede and for the walls to stop spinning.

The awakening was brutal and painful the next morning. My alarm clock attacked me more violently than usual and I silenced it with my fist as I groaned at the ear-splitting sound it emitted. My heavy eyelids opened with difficulty and I swore.

Help! My head is going to explode!

I mentally called Jake a lot of bad names again as I went to prepare myself, dragging my feet. Two aspirins, some coffee and a shower later, I was ready for another day in hell. And I had to admit that even though it was not my goal; my hangover had made me partially forget my stress and anxiety.

My morning seemed endless. Why couldn't this teacher speak without shouting?

Another two aspirins later, I found myself at 1028 Water Street at 2p.m. sharp, ready once again to face my worst nightmare.

And fantasy on two legs!

"Hey, Bella!" Alice enthused when I left the elevator.

Ouch!

"Alice, please, tone it down."

"Oh, I know a girl who went partying last night, obviously."

I mumbled my answer as I went put my things behind the reception desk.

"So you feel better? I'm glad to see you; I really was afraid you wouldn't come back after your departure yesterday. What happened exactly? You were fine before I left you alone for a couple of minutes, and when I came back you seemed turned upside down and on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Nothing serious, I hope?"

But where is the 'stop' button?

"I beg you, Alice. Let's resume the interrogation session later if you don't mind."

"Oh, sorry. I got carried away," she apologized.

I sat at my post while occasionally glancing anxiously at the people entering the hall. My heart started racing with each suit and tie that crossed my field of vision. No need to say that at this rate I'd have a heart attack before the end of the day.

Equipped with my cup of coffee, I was listening to Alice as she updated me before leaving when I saw her demeanor completely change. Usually so exuberant and joyful, she suddenly sank back in her seat and shied away as a man walked toward us.

Hum, quite a cutie, this handsome blond.

"Hi, has the video conference with Miami started yet?" he asked politely.

I cast a quick glance at my colleague and I saw her blushing while stammering an unintelligible response.

Jeez!

"Uh, no, but you can have a seat in the room; the others will arrive within a minute or so," I replied.

He thanked us with a gorgeous smile.

Hmm, really sweet!

With a tenacious look, I stared at Alice, who was as red as a peony at that very moment.

"So you have a crush on this handsome blond?" I asked, laughing.

She took an alarmed expression and straightened up swiftly.

"Not at all. I don't see why you'd say such a thing!" she exclaimed.

"If you say so," I laughed even more. "Anyhow, he's cute. Is he single? Because if he is, I-"

"Okay, you win," she cut me off. "I'm downright crazy for Jasper."

"Jasper?"

"Jasper Whitlock. He's an architect and he's been working for the company for a month now. You should have seen him the day he arrived. He was so lovely, shy and lost. I really thought I was going to kill Lauren that day."

"Lauren?"

"The operator that you're replacing. She almost jumped on him. But this man is a gentleman."

Her comment made me smile. She was completely hooked. It was really cute to see her like this. I took the opportunity to learn more about my predecessor and began to question Alice.

"And why is this Lauren no longer working here?" I asked.

"She got fired."

"Okay, but why?"

"Because she slept with the boss."

I spat my mouthful of coffee.

"Pardon me?"

"Yes, she slept with Edward Cullen or at least she tried. I don't know if…Anyway… But one day he got sick of her and bye-bye Lauren. And if you ask me, I'm glad he got rid of her. That girl was getting on my nerves."

I felt myself turning white as Alice spoke. The girl occupying my current position had lost her job because she had slept with Edward Cullen. The same Edward Cullen I had slept with only a few weeks earlier.

A margarita, please!

"Why are you so pale?"

Alice's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Uh, for nothing," I stammered.

"Don't worry, it's not like you intend to do the same and run after the boss! You have no reason to be concerned whatsoever," she said, grabbing her bag.

She waved and left. Alone at my post, I kept going over Alice's words until the phone started ringing and then it continued to ring nonstop until 6p.m. I hadn't noticed the time pass when I realized that I hadn't seen the shadow of my worst nightmare taking shape today. I gathered my things and grabbed my sports bag, which I'd brought in preparation to exercise and let off some steam, hopefully reducing my stress.

I ventured on the 8th floor for the first time and discovered a huge state of the art gym overflowing with all kinds of trendy torture devices. About twenty people were present at this hour and I made a quick tour of the place before I caught sight of the locker room and went to change. Back in the center of the gigantic main room, I found an unoccupied bike and I climbed on.

The exercise was very beneficial to me. I mentally reviewed everything that was upsetting me and sped up like a mad woman, pedaling at full speed in rhythm with 'This Ain't A Scene It's An Arms Race' by the Fall Out Boy that the speakers were playing loudly. I was totally sweaty and exhausted when I got off the bike half an hour later.

The week elapsed quietly. And so did the following one. And the one after that. Edward Cullen was gone. Or rather I learned from Alice that he was on a month-long business trip. The time allowed me to get my bearings and get used to my new job without having the constant fear of running into him and being subjected to some new admonitions just as humiliating as the previous ones.

In his absence, only a slight skirmish with his bimbo of an assistant was to be deplored.

Alice was always affected whenever Jasper Whitlock was around and I couldn't help but gently tease her. We were getting along better and better. I loved her freshness and spontaneity. She was natural and sparkling and in the very particular environment of the Cullen Corp, it was nice.

I had the misfortune last week to accept a shopping trip with her, in need to pump up my wardrobe with suits. My feet still remembered it. I'd never walked as much in my whole life. This girl was a whirlwind, crazy about fashion!

And today was the beginning of a new week. The last one before the return of the man who was both my worst nightmare and my biggest fantasy.

Here we go again! A little mental slap, it's been a long time.

Like every Monday morning in the past three weeks, I arrived at eight o'clock and started my day with a huge cup of coffee. I needed that much to manage the hundred phone calls I'd receive in the morning.

Time passed quickly and I was astonished to see Alice coming. I hadn't noticed the hours scroll by and now I was late. Juggling work and school wasn't always easy, especially at the moment. I quickly updated Alice, grabbed my bag and with a hurried wave headed toward the elevators. I frantically pressed the button as if it would make the lift come faster, grumbling 'hurry up', and when at last the door opened, I hastily stepped inside. I had a very important report to hand in at the end of the week and I was desperately lacking time to work on it.

I finally reached ground level and I ran out of the building, waving at Bill, the guard, as I did so. I pushed the large glass doors open and rushed down the few steps leading to the sidewalk two at a time.

Big mistake when your name is Bella, you're extremely clumsy, and you're wearing pumps.

I twisted my ankle on the last step, letting out a cry of pain and surprise as I collapsed head first on the asphalt, but the brutal impact that I dreaded didn't happen.

Strange.

My face hit a surface that was both hard and soft and I was enclosed by what looked very much like arms.

And this smell…

"You can't stop yourself from ending up in my arms, Isabella?"

Special announcement: if you liked this chapter, you owe my beta India Rose a great deal because she's fantastic. However, she's very busy and she won't be able to keep on editing all the coming chapters, so it is urgent that I find someone who can take over as soon as possible.

That said, I wish you all a very happy New Year 2012.

Until next time.

Milk