Love Actually: Chapter 2
Chapter Two: 4 weeks until Christmas
Bella POV
Please, God. Pleaaasseee, do not let me fuck this up!
I will not fuck this up… I will not fuck this up..
I had been chanting my new mantra since the moment Carlisle Cullen had called me to request an interview about three days ago. Apparently, one of the regular columnists, Leah Clearwater, had gone through a major breakdown after she caught her fiancée fucking her cousin. Yeah, major gossip I’d learned from receptionist who greeted me this morning. So, because of Leah’s breakdown and her decision to take a small vacation during the holiday season I was now going to be interviewed to be her temporary replacement.
In a way I was relieved the nervousness I felt kept my mind away from what happened to Ms. Clearwater. It wasn’t long ago that I got my heart broken, and much like her I moved back to Seattle to lick my wounds and start over.
No! You will not think of Mike today! I took a deep breath as I stirred my thoughts away from my commitmentphobe ex-boyfriend.
“Waiting for Carlisle?” A smooth, deep voice startled me.
Letting out a little squeal, I jumped on my seat as I realized there was a man standing over me. He must’ve come into the waiting room while I was still chanting to myself.
I clutched my hand to my chest as I willed my heart to slow down, not only because of the scare, but because the man standing in front of me was the most beautiful creature I’d ever seen.
Beautiful? You’re calling a man, beautiful?!
His vivid green eyes danced with mischief as he glanced at my bewildered expression. His hair was red-ish, and it looked so messy I wanted to run my fingers through them and tame it. More than anything his crooked smile was enough my make my knees quiver.
“I…” I cleared my throat, “Yes, I am.”
“Mind if I wait with you?” he asked, motioning to the chair next to me.
“Not at all,” I shook my head.
Mr. Beautiful sat next to me. Angling his body towards mine he reached out his hand and introduced himself. “I’m Edward.”
“Bella Swan,” I said, taking his hand and trying my best not to jump when there was a spark of electricity between us.
Edward quirked an eyebrow and looked at our hands, obviously feeling it as well. I immediately released his hand.
“So, you’re here for the interview?” I asked, trying to avoid the awkwardness of what had just happened.
“Oh, no.” He shook his head. “Today is my first day actually, I just needed to see the boss before starting my duties,” he said casually.
I let out a breath of relief. I was sure this man could charm his way into anything, and I really didn’t need him as competition. Not when I quit my job in Arizona and I was crashing at my sister’s house.
Edward chuckled at my action. “Nervous?” he asked.
“Jesus, you have no fucking idea! I had this awful premonition that this interview would be absolute shit… and to make matters worse my sister told me Mr. Cullen can be intimidating-“ I couldn’t stop the verbal diarrhea.
“Intimidating?” Edward asked with curiosity.
“Oh, no, no! Not scary intimidating … Intimidating as in… he’s so gorgeous you might get distracted.” I gasped as I realized what I had just said.
“Not that I’m the kind of girl to think about their boss in a sexual way… shit, I mean that… I know how bad sexual harassment in the workplace can be and I-“
Edward had an expression that was equal parts amused, and terrified at my rambling.
“I’m just going to shut up now,” I finally said, hiding my face in my hands.
He laughed and pulled my hands away from my face. “It’s okay, Bella-“
“Edward! So sorry I am late,” a blonde man greeted him, stepping into the room and giving us an apologetic look.
Edward released my hands and we both straightened up. I was completely mortified by my behavior. My cheeks felt like they were about to explode and I was sure I was as red as a tomato.
“Don’t worry about it, Dad,” Edward replied coolly.
“You must be, Ms. Swan,” Carlisle said, taking my hand and shaking it professionally. “I see you’ve already met my son, Edward. He is the new editor-in-chief, you’ll be working really closely with him.”
I was stunned speechless as I shook Carlisle’s hand and tried my best not to look like a deer caught in the headlights.
I simply smiled and managed to say, “Pleasure to meet you.”
Carlisle nodded and turned to Edward- whose gaze I was avoiding. “Want to join us for the interview?”
My eyes widened and I snapped my gaze to Edward. He was looking at me like we were sharing an inside joke. “Nah, I trust your decision completely…. Besides, Ms. Swan, was just telling me how excited she was to meet you.”
I gaped at him as he gave me a polite smile. “Just wanted to let you know I’m all settled,” he added, giving Carlisle a friendly pat on the back and offering me his hand.
“Best of luck, Ms. Swan.”
Taking his hand I managed to say a meek, “Thank you.”
So much for not fucking up.
Leah POV
So much for a romantic Christmas. I thought to myself as I looked out the car window. I found it incredibly ironic that I was using my Christmas present for Sam- a romantic trip to the Spanish countryside- to escape from everything and everyone.
The past week had easily been the shittiest week of my life. After realizing that Emily and Sam had been having an affair for the better part of the year, I truly lost it. After throwing them out in the street- still naked, I might add- and destroying most of Sam’s possessions I had spent the week in daze, refusing calls from my family and Jake.
Around the third day of my pity party, Jake decided it was enough and used his emergency key to get into my house. After he wrestled me into the shower, claiming “Jesus fucking Christ, Leah, you stink!” He picked up the rest of Sam’s crap and hugged me as I cried my eyes out when he asked me what to do with the plane tickets to Spain.
After embarrassing myself beyond belief, Jake was worried enough to stay with me for the rest of the week. Helping me cope with everything and making me realize I was much better off.
Apparently, Sam and Jake had gotten into a huge fight the night of Nessie’s wedding and Sam had run off with Emily back to La Push, claiming they both needed to go back to think about what had happened. When I realized how easily Sam could run away, I decided to do the same. I cashed in the plane tickets for a fist class one and packed my bags.
Now, as the driver parked in front of the gorgeous cabin, I realized spending the holidays alone in a strange country might’ve not been the best idea.
“We’re here, Miss,” the driver said.
I smiled and nodded. As soon as I stepped out of the car I noticed a tall, handsome man approaching us.
“Alejandro, como estas?” the driver started talking in Spanish to the man.
I averted my gaze towards the house, uncomfortable at foreign the conversation going on. Before I knew it, both men had my bags out of the car and were guiding me towards the front door.
“Well, Miss, I leave you in good hands,” the driver said. “This is Alex, he takes care of the house and he’ll be around if you need anything.”
I finally looked up to get a good look at the man, noticing he seemed harmless enough. He had short black hair, olive skin, and baby blue eyes. He was obviously handsome and it didn’t hurt that he was a head taller than me, and very, very toned.
I shook my head as I realized both men were looking at me with odd expressions. “Sorry,” I said, snapping out of it. “Nice to meet you, it’ll be nice to have some company.”
I tried to give my best pleasant smile, which he retuned and nodded, although he looked more confused than ever.
The driver laughed. “Oh, I forgot, he doesn’t speak English, but I’m sure you’ll both manage,” he said dismissively.
Before I could protest he set the bags down and said his goodbyes. I watched helplessly as my translator drove away into the road, leaving he alone with this stranger.
“No te preocupes, nos las arreglaremos, *Don’t worry, we’ll figure something out*,” he said something and laughed, making me laugh nervously because I had no idea what was going on.
I nodded, catching his sheepish look when he knew I wouldn’t understand anything he said.
“Sigueme, *Follow me*, ” He motioned with his hands for me to follow him, and I just prayed he wasn’t a psycho.
Well, this is going to be interesting to say the least.
Chapter 3
Chapter 1