Bella

I get out of my room by seven in the morning after a particularly blissful night's sleep. There's a pep in my step as I walk into the kitchen in my heels, and I don't even falter when I spot my mother by the breakfast bar, coffee in hand, bitch-glasses perched onto the bridge of her nose.

"What are you doing up?" She glances at the clock, at the Rolex on her left wrist before shaking the perfectly ironed silk shirt back over it again.

"I need to get to work on time," I state simply, biting my lip as I open the fridge and grab a bottle of water. Or daddy might spank me during lunch… God, I still feel Edward's cock with every move I make. Sex sprains are glorious.

"Work?" Mom finally puts her phone down, her glasses sliding down before she grabs the mug in front of her and takes a sip. When I turn around, I get a better look at her judgemental expression.

"You shouldn't pinch your face like that, Mother," I breathe. "Might wear out the Botox a little too soon." I throw her a toxic little smile before I turn on my heels and walk off.

"Bella!"

I don't wait for whatever nonsense she'd spill at me now and get to my car, typing in the address for Edward's company.

When I arrive twenty minutes later, I'm in awe. I've never been here before, so I didn't know what to expect. Little did I know Mike and Edward would be the owners of Cullen and Newton Ltd were working out of this cute little warehouse. It's an all-white little building with a parking lot off to the side of it and three little windows.

I thought it would be more…grand?

The sun beats down heavily on my skin, and I'm glad that I picked out a little red dress with fluttery sleeves. It's conservative enough to pass as professional. Even though I know Edward and Mike often work without a shirt on in this impossible heat. I don't think that's how I should be showing up for my first day. For one: I really do need this job. And the second reason? Well, I'm trying to improve my life. And that includes not being easy. Not anymore. The attention from guys never did anything for me besides getting me in trouble. With Edward? I don't even have to take off my clothes to get a second of his day.

"I don't fucking know, man…this shit needs to stop, we need a decent lawyer to look at this. Because if they keep stealing out clients like this we'll have nothing left." It's Edward's voice. And he doesn't sound so upbeat. Judging by the topic of conversation, I quite understand.

"Edward, chin up! We're drowning in work…what is it that you're so afraid of?"

"We are for now, yeah," Edward continues. "But who says our competition lowers their prices again, or they call our client list with a new proposal, heh?"

"As long as I can pay my bills, I'm stellar, Edward," Mike says. "Besides, you have your sugar momma at home, don't worry so much. It ages you," he jokes.

I almost puke up my coffee on the wooden deck that leads to the open office door.

"Don't," Edward threatens.

"Come on…just bite the bullet, Edward. Either stay or dump her. But this wallowing of yours is getting old. Bitch treats you like utter shit. It's time to get out. Plenty of fish in the sea, trust me."

"I am gonna get out. I just need a little time to find a decent way out and stockpile some evidence that she's cheating on me."

I smile, feeling awful for it. But at least now I know Edward has been being truthful to me. He really does want to leave my mother. And that really makes me want to be here. So I knock on the open door, two sets of eyes on me instantly.

I've heard stories about Mike. He's a playboy, good-looking with strands of California gold hair that fall over his forehead, and a tanned complexion. But he knows he's hot. He knows it all too well. Which makes him instantly unattractive to me. His dark blue eyes scan my face, go down to my covered cleavage, down to the hem of my dress and back to my face before shooting Edward a smile.

"Hi, good morning," I say, standing there feeling a bit awkward. "I'm Bella."

Edward and I haven't really discussed the details but I know that he doesn't want me to tell Mike I'm his stepdaughter.

"Ah," Mike sighs dramatically, placing one hand over his heart over the fabric of his yellow and black T-shirt. "Look what the angels brought in."

I arch a brow at his pathetic opening line.

"I don't know about angels, but I'm sure you have Edward to thank for my being here," I state bluntly, tucking some hair behind my ear.

"Right, Edward the saint," Mike nods. "Where, oh, where did you find us a secretary this fast, heh?" There's a glint in Mike's eyes but I ignore his poor attempt at fishing. Edward looks at me, smiling kindly, but not overly so. He's got this pretending thing down to a T. I'm not sure I can be that good at it.

"Office administrator," I say with a wide smile. If there's one thing my mother is good at, it's working. So she's always told me to stand up for myself even as a newbie at the office.

"Office what, now?" Mike asks, laughing.

"Office administrator," Edward tells his friend. "Secretary can be a little sexist."

I suppress a smile.

"Edward is a friend of mine," I say.

"Oh, a friend?" Mike chimes in again.

"A friend, Mike. You know, people who you like hanging out with."

"You got any more friends like that stashed away, Cullen?" Mike asks warily, eying Edward, then eying me. I feel heat crawl up my neck, licking my cheeks.

"Work first," Edward states. "Play later."