AN: To those of you stateside, Happy Thanksgiving! DOn't be a butthead during black Friday shopping; I can tell! ;)

Bella

Late Wednesday morning, I'm standing in my bedroom, trying to decide between my old interview outfit and some of the new clothes I've recently bought. The old outfit is a standard pair of black slacks, a white blouse, and black cardigan. It doesn't pop, but it's professional looking. My other option that I've picked out is basically the same thing, except the slacks are better tailored for my body and in a dark purple with a matching jacket. The top is a bit of a crop, only exposing my midriff if I raise my arms, but it's super chic, and I feel really confident in it.

I choose the purple, shooting off a picture to Rose and Edward after I do my hair and makeup. Rose wishes me luck and so does Edward. I'm more than a little bit nervous as I drive over to Crowley's, but after all the posts I made in Milan and the reaction I received to them, I feel confident. After all, they reached out to me; that means they want me, right?

Walking into Crowley's during the daytime when it's all but empty and quiet is odd. There's someone at the bar, restocking bottles, and I give them my name before they disappear toward the back. I take the opportunity to really take a look at the place. The pictures that line the walls have little plaques on them with descriptions, and I realize that whoever owns this place brought their entire family with them. It adds an enchanting element, and I pull out my phone to take some photos when I hear someone approach from behind.

"I see you're already trying to get to work." The voice is strong, friendly, and very male. I turn around to find a smiling man with dark, almost coal black skin and warm eyes.

Extending my hand for him to shake, I smile. "Bella Swan."

"Tyler Crowley. Thanks for coming in to meet with me." He doesn't lead me to a table or an office, instead choosing to stay where we are.

"Thanks for reaching out." I turn back to the wall. "Are these originals or copies? Please tell me they're copies?"

Tyler laughs. "They're copies. My grandmother would kill me." The look on his face is one of pride and admiration as he gazes at the photos lining the wall.

"Your website doesn't mention anything about this being a generational dream or business. Can you tell me more about it?"

We sit down, and Tyler tells me about his great-grandfather opening a waterfront saloon in the '30s in North Carolina, his grandfather making moonshine in the '50s and '60s, and his dad opening the iteration of Crowley's in the '80s. "It was a yuppy bar back then." He tells me how he was a late baby for his parents, but he used to work the bar when he was a kid.

"It's a family business, and now that I'm older, I understand how important this is to my family and to me." He smiles, leaning back in his seat. "But, I also understand that I can't do everything. I don't know how to keep up engagement on social media, and our website needs help."

I nod. "That's where I come in?"

"If you're interested." Tyler explains the bar's budget for my work, and it's not great. More than what I made at the dealership, and I can work my own hours, as long as I'm here for events.

"Tyler, I'm really interested, and I appreciate that you were willing to wait for me to get back from my trip." I'm seriously on the side of taking the job, but I want to talk to Edward. Nights spent at the bar for live music and other events will mean time away from him when he's already so busy.

"You want to think about it? That's fine with me. We have another band coming in on Friday. That's three days for you to weigh your options." The offer is generous, and I accept.

Leaving Crowley's, I feel confident that I want to take the job. I head down to Edward's office only to be met at reception not by Irina but an entirely different person. A smiling man greets me as I walk up to the desk.

"Where's Irina?" I ask, worried she may be sick or, worse, still upset from the other day.

"Oh, hi. Are you Bella? I'm Dwayne; it's so nice to meet you! I'm actually Edward's personal assistant. I'm just filling in for Irina for the day." He drops his voice and leans forward. "Between you and me, she needs a vacation after the way Eddie boy spoke to her the other day. He can be an ass sometimes."

I burst into laughter. "Oh, I think I love you." He smiles brightly.

"Sweetie, I already know I love you. Anyone who can put my boss in his place is my favorite person. He's in a meeting right now, so do you need anything before you head to his office? Coffee? A snack?"

"I'm good for now, thanks. Has he had lunch yet?" I ask, leaning on the desk.

"No, I was just about to order something for us. Do you want something too?" Dwayne winks, and I tell him to just order me whatever Edward is getting.

I begin to walk away when I stop, turning around. "Dwayne, if you're Edward's personal assistant, why are you filling in for Irina? Couldn't the magazine just get a temp or something?"

He rolls his eyes, putting on a very professional voice. "My job description reads that I will do whatever job Mr. Cullen requires of me. Sometimes, that includes filling in for his employees."

"And what are your normal duties?"

"I run his house. I made all the arrangements for Milan." He winks, and I feel my cheeks heat up.

"So, you're really the man in charge?" Smirking, I turn to walk to Edward's office when Dwayne calls after me.

"Don't you forget it!"

Giggling, I step into Edward's office and sit down to wait for him. I text Rose, telling her how it went at the bar, and she's excited, asking me if I took the job. When I tell her that I want to think about it and talk to Edward, she sends me an eye-roll emoji.

Rose: You can't base every decision on him.

Bella: I'm not. I honestly want his opinion.

We go back and forth a little bit before she has to meet with a client. It's not long after that Edward comes walking back into his office, a huge smile gracing his face when he spots me. "Hi! I wasn't expecting you." He leans down to kiss me before dropping some paperwork on his desk. "How was the meeting at Crowley's?"

Once I explain everything and he listens intently, he asks what I think about the offer. I explain my concerns about the pay and the nights that will keep us apart.

"Is the pay based on posts or engagement or will it be a base pay?" Edward asks, and when I tell him that it's a base pay, with the opportunity for bonuses based on engagement, he nods.

"If you're looking for my input, I think it's a great opportunity, and you should take it. You're looking for steady work in this arena; here it is. If we can't spend every free evening I have together, that's okay. We'll make it work." He smiles warmly.

Nodding, I agree with him. "I'll call Tyler tomorrow to accept." He congratulates me and apologizes for not being able to take me out to celebrate this week. "Maybe I just need to talk to Dwayne to have him clear your schedule." I smirk when he looks up at me from his desk.

"I was hoping to prolong that meeting for as long as possible." He sighs. "You two are going to be a handful together, aren't you?"

"I like him," I say sincerely.

"I do too. He's invaluable to me." Edward smiles warmly, and I can see true affection in his eyes.

"And Irina, is she all right?" Edward and I lock eyes as he nods.

"She is, but I think she's going to quit. I know she's been offered a job somewhere else, and frankly, I wouldn't blame her if she left after the other day."

"Do you often yell at your employees like that?"

Edward sighs. "I really try not to. I want everyone to feel comfortable here, and I want them to enjoy being here. I screwed up, and when Irina came in on Tuesday, I offered the rest of the week off with pay."

"Do you think she'd really quit for another job then?"

He sighs, and I can tell there's more to this story than I know. "Irina also wants to be a writer for the magazine. I've given her numerous opportunities, but her skills just aren't where we need them to be. The other offer is as a staff writer."

"What are you going to do if she takes it?"

Edward shrugs. "Wish her the very best. I can't stop her. I don't want to talk about Irina anymore."

I nod. I'm about to ask if he's figured out who's trying to buy the magazine when Dwayne pops into the office to tell us that he's set up lunch for us in one of the conference rooms. He joins us for lunch, and I can tell Edward is happy we're getting along. When I decide to leave for the day, Edward kisses me softly, apologizing again for how busy he is this week.

"It's okay; I understand. Anyway, I'm going to be busy on Friday night," I remind him, and he smiles.

"I'm really happy for you. You'll let me know when you get home? I don't care how late it is?" His serious expression sobers me up a little.

"Of course, I will." I kiss him again before grabbing my bag. "I'll talk to you soon."

I don't end up speaking to Edward much the rest of the week until I'm getting ready to leave to head to Crowley's. Rose and Emmett are joining me, and I tried to convince Edward to meet us there.

"Trust me, I'd much rather be with you tonight, but I have a business dinner I can't miss." Edward is talking to me on FaceTime as he dresses for the evening. He asks my opinion on ties, and I ask him if I'm wearing too much jewelry.

"Are you staying until close?"

"Yeah, I want to get the full experience tonight. Plus, the band is playing until 1:30, so it makes sense." I'm slipping into a pair of flats as I answer him.

"Are Emmett and Rose staying the whole time?"

I pause to look over at him. "I don't know. I kinda assumed they would, but they might bow out early. Why?"

"I just want you to be safe. You'll call me when you're home safe, right?"

Smiling, I pick up my phone from the nightstand. "You're a sweet man, Edward. But I'm a long time wanderer of these mean streets. I'll be fine."

His brow furrows. "It would make me feel better if you let me know. I trust you; it's everyone else I don't trust."

Conceding, I agree and tell him I should get going. He wishes me luck, and I blow him a kiss in return. Hanging up and tossing my phone in my purse, I think back on how surprisingly easy this week was to be away from him. I missed Edward like crazy, but we managed; that's what we were really worried about.

So, what if it's only been three days since I've seen him?

The bar is already busy when we arrive, and I like to think that's due in part to my posting on their Instagram in advance of the weekend. When I called Tyler on Thursday to officially accept, he sent me all the logins and passwords for their accounts and put me in touch with their website developer.

The site is currently under construction for a revamp, but I now have control of their Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and I created a TikTok for them. Tyler is at one end of the bar mixing drinks, so I drag my friends down to introduce them. Part of my deal is that I get a small tab for every event I work, but I've already decided I won't drink while I'm working, so I let Em and Rose have it.

The band tonight is "Transactional"; they're a cover band of Avalanche, a local Seattle band turned international superstars. I love their music so this promises to be a fun night if the band can hack it. I walk around, snapping pictures and video, even approaching tables to take videos of groups to splice together.

By the time the band kicks up, everyone is excited and the place is packed. I'm excited for what this means; for me and the bar. The music is fantastic; the band has the same amount of energy as the real deal, and the singer even sounds like the guy from the real band. People are dancing, singing, and drinking. Everyone is enjoying themselves, and when Tyler catches my eye from across the room and shoots me a thumbs up, I know he's happy with how things are going.

Around midnight, Em and Rose want to call it a night, and I don't blame them. Neither of them are fans of this type of grunge rock, and I know it's too crowded for Emmett, being as big as he is. I'm talking to Tyler as the band takes a break, and he says it's fine if I call it a night as well, but I offer to stay. The energy is electric, and my adrenaline is flowing. I'm having such a good time; I don't want to miss out on anything.

Emmett offers to come back to pick me up, but I wave him off and tell my friends to go home and get some sleep. "I'm perfectly capable of calling an Uber and waiting for it safely."

"I'll make sure she gets home safely," Tyler says as Emmett and Rose reluctantly leave me behind.

"I can get home on my own," I tell Tyler gently but firmly.

"I don't doubt that. I just mean that I won't make you wait on the corner for your ride." Tyler smirks, and I realize that Tyler isn't someone I need to worry about. He pours me another Coke, and I take a sip before scrolling through my photo album.

I'm scripting the posts in my head: Instagram stories of the band, tagging Avalanche of course. Creating a TikTok that showcases the atmosphere in the bar, the people, and the nightlife. Then updating the Facebook page so it reads a little more interesting and engaging.

The band comes back on for another ninety minutes and makes the last call for the bar. Glancing at my watch, I decide that this is probably a good time to request a ride, so I check the app to find a ride. I select the cheapest ride and wait by the door, talking to the security guard, Alec, while I wait.

When the car pulls up, Alec helps me to verify the driver before I climb in. Texting Edward, I let him know I'm heading home and not to wait up for me. I haven't heard from him all night, and even though I'm a little disappointed, I know he has business to attend to, just like I did.

By the time I'm dropped off at the house and safely tucked into my room, I'm exhausted. Changing into my pajamas and brushing my teeth is all I have the energy for before I climb into bed. I plug my phone in before I drift off, a tired smile on my face.

Waking up, startled and confused, I grab my phone to check the time, but I see through bleary eyes that Edward is calling me; that's what woke me up in the first place.

Swiping across the screen, I raise the device to my ear. "Hello?"

"Bella? Are you home?" Edward sounds out of breath and a little frantic.

Pulling the phone away, I pull down to check the time. 3:24 AM. "Ugh, Edward, why are you calling me so late? I sent you a text when I was leaving the bar."

"I never got it. I've been worried sick. I went to Crowley's looking for you."

Pushing myself up and rubbing my eyes, I can just picture Edward pacing. "I'm sorry, Edward. I swear I sent you a text. I was in the backseat of the Uber when I did. Hang on." I grab my earbuds from the nightstand and slip them in before toggling to my messages, only to find my text to Edward failed in bright red letters. "Edward, I'm so sorry. The message failed to send for some reason." I screenshot it and send it to him, and it goes through without a single issue.

I can hear him shuffling a little over the line before he sighs. "I'm sorry I woke you; I was just worried when I didn't hear from you. Didn't I ask you to call me when you got home? Not when you were leaving the bar?"

Swallowing, I know he's frustrated and disappointed and not really angry with me. "Yes, Daddy, you did."

His breath hitches over the phone. "Bella, don't play with fire right now."

"I'm sorry, Daddy. I'll be better behaved in the future." I'm serious, but I can't help the smirk that crosses my face as I hear Edward's labored breathing over the line.

"As long as you're safe, that's all I care about." He inhales sharply, and I wonder if he's touching himself.

"Are you free tomorrow or later today, I guess?" I ask, yawning into my hand.

"I have that charity golf tournament. But Dwayne wants to know if he can call you. I have a feeling he wants to talk to you about Halloween." Edward sounds calmer now, and my interest is piqued.

"Of course, he can call me." I slide down onto my bed. "Why does he want to talk about Halloween?"

"Because he always decorates my house for every holiday, and Halloween is his favorite. I mentioned it was yours too."

"Am I going to see your house without you in it?" Giggling, Edward snarls a little.

"If you end up at my place, you better stay there and wait for me."

"Goodnight, Edward."

"Night, baby."

AN2: Dwayne is an OC character based on one of my dear friends. If you follow me personally, you'll know he's the one that throws the AMAZING themed dinner parties! Also, did anyone catch the Easter egg for another current WIP?