Falling for a Dark Soul Teaser

Despite our heated interaction in the ladies room, Isabella nailed the presentation for New Moon Cosmetics. She was well-spoken and focused, laying out the promotional plan for their launch. Victoria and Laurent hung on every word, loving every idea that the team had created. Alice was the team leader, but it was clear that Bella carried this presentation.

Her ideas were fresh.

Her plan was multi-faceted, using traditional advertising mediums and venturing out with social media.

Her excitement was apparent as she shared the projected profits the company would receive, using our company.

Her professionalism was on point, pushing aside my behavior and giving the clients what they wanted.

After the meeting, paperwork was signed with promises of further meetings to discuss photo shoots and putting the plan that Isabella had created into place. Victoria, Laurent and their company, New Moon, had committed to a two-year advertising contract with my advertising agency. It was a multi-million dollar contract.

I was so proud of the work of the team, but in awe of Isabella Swan.

I carried the contract and walked back to my office. I scanned a copy of it into my computer before putting the hard copy into my files. I also sent a digital copy to the team. Checking my computer, I had another couple of hours before I had to leave for the fundraiser. It was being held at the Lincoln Conservatory.

There was a quiet knock on my door. “It’s open,” I said.

Alice Brandon walked inside. “Do you have a moment?” she asked. Her voice was still a bit hard, pissed off at how I’d treated her obvious star team member.

“I do,” I replied, looking at her.

“I just wanted to talk to you about Bella,” she said, sitting down in front of my desk. Her hands were in her lap, in tight fists. “She did amazingly well, despite your behavior …”

“I apologized, Alice,” I said. “I was in the wrong.”

“She also told me about the changes in her contract,” Alice said. “Regardless, I would be remiss as a team leader if I didn’t bring the concerns of my team to you. You are a brilliant man. You’ve saved this advertising agency and made us a leader, industry standard among our competition. You strive for excellence, but the way you want us to achieve it is through fear. You are brilliant, but you don’t have our respect. You have our fear. I understand that you’ve been dealing with some difficult personal issues recently, but it’s not appropriate to treat your employees so poorly.”

I frowned, upset that I was feared. I did respect my employees and their hard work. I paid them handsomely, giving huge bonuses at the end of the year. “Alice, there is no excuse for my recent behavior. Regardless of what I was dealing with personally, I should have never treated any of you without the highest modicum of respect. I am sorry.”

Alice blinked at me.

Twice within one work day, I’d apologized.

Clearing my throat, I continued since Alice was stunned by my admission, “I don’t want people to be afraid of me.”

“It’s like walking on egg shells, sir,” she blurted. “We never know when you’re going to explode. What you did to Bella today? That’s bullshit.”

“It was bullshit,” I agreed. “Alice, I will endeavor to improve my relationship with the staff. I … I’m at a loss as how to do it.”

“Something as simple as ‘I’m sorry’ will do wonders,” Alice urged. “This isn’t my company. You hand-selected us because you thought we were the best. I’m proud of what I do and for the most part, we’d never had any issues. However, we need to grow as a team. The agency I’d worked at prior to this, it had a family atmosphere.”

I don’t know how to be a part of a family. I don’t know how to trust.

Picking Up The Pieces Teaser

Sorry that it's a day late ... I went to bed at like eight last night. I was completely bushed. Still am, to be honest, but here's the teaser for Picking Up The Pieces. 

“Thank you for coming in, Ms. McCormick,” I smiled, shaking the hand of the prospective first grade teacher. She’d been the fourth candidate we’d interviewed. “We’ll let you know by the end of the week, one way or the other.”

“I appreciate the opportunity, Ms. Black, Mrs. Whitlock,” she chirped, gathering her portfolio and bag before leaving Alice’s office. “I look forward to hearing from you!”

She left the school and I arched a brow at my friend. “What do you think?” I asked, looking up from my notes about Ms. McCormick.

“She’s the best option out of the four we’ve interviewed,” Alice said. “She seems capable and kind. The other three? Yeesh!”

“Oh, I know. The one before Ms. McCormick? He was an odd duck,” I quipped.

“Quack, quack,” Alice said, rolling her eyes. “What’s on tap next, Hells Bells?”

“We have one more interview this afternoon for my old position and then we interview next week for the opening on the fifth-grade team and group interviews for the music teacher to be shared between our school and Forks Middle School,” I said, checking my planner.

“We also need to finish figuring out the class lists,” Alice sighed. “But, we can’t do that until we have all of the teachers hired.” She leaned her cheek against the table. “My head hurts. Can I go home now?”

“No, Alice,” I snickered. “We’ve got another three hours to go.”

“Can we take a three-hour lunch?” she quipped.

“A half hour, girlie,” I said. “Besides, you said that if we take a shorter lunch, we can close up shop early. You have dogs to get home to. I have two children.”

“And a hot cop,” she giggled.

“Alice,” I said, shaking my head.

“What? He is hot! I mean, love my Jazzy, but Deputy Sexy is definitely on my list,” Alice said, waggling her brows.

“Oh, shit! The list,” I snickered. “I’d forgotten about that!”

“Yep, our five freebies from our significant others. If those people offered us one night, our boyfriends and spouses would give us a free pass,” Alice said. “Mine are Deputy Sexy, his father because Dr. Cullen all sorts of hot for a DILF, Jackson Rathbone, that emo vampire from Twilight …”

“Really, Alice?” I deadpanned.

“Don’t hate! He reminds me of my Jazzy, but with more muscles,” Alice said, smacking my arm. “I love my husband, but he’s a pencil-pushing shrink. He’s so scrawny! I’ve tried to get him to work out, but he’d rather have his nose stuck in a book than pumping iron.”

“So, Jackson Rathbone has two first-class tickets to the gun show?” I snorted.

Alice nodded. “Anyway … rounding out my top five, Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom …”

“More hunks,” I giggled.

“Hush! I like muscles, but I wouldn’t trade them at all for my Jazzy. One night only with those muscles … Jasper is big where it’s important,” Alice said, waggling her brows.

“Oh, lord,” I choked out. “Really Ali-cat? We’re at work. We see children, impressionable young minds, in this building and you’re talking about your husband’s …” I trailed off, gesturing to my crotch. “There are boundaries and you’ve clearly crossed them.”

Shaky Ground Teaser

“Isabella Swan, you look like you’re about to keel over,” Shelly chided. “Girl, were you out too late last night?”

“It’s a long story,” Bella yawned, sipping her third espresso for the shift. It wasn’t cutting it. “But, I was up too late, not doing anything productive.” Instead, I was helping Dr. Asshole, who acted like a royal asshole this morning. Why the fuck do I subject myself to that kind of abuse? Regular sex? Psssh … Shaking her head, she looked at Shelly, “My eyes are turning to sandpaper. We’re pretty dead. I’m going to crash in the on-call room. Page me if you need me.”

“Got it, Dr. Swan,” Shelly nodded, smiling softly at the beautiful young doctor. She turned back to the computer, checking on the status of several patients’ tests. As she was doing that, she looked up and saw someone standing in front of her at the nurse’s station, their back turned. “Sir, if you need to be seen, you’ll need to check in with the triage nurse, first.”

He turned around and Shelly was shocked to see Dr. Masen. His nose was swollen and he had two black eyes along with a bandage on his eyebrow. He looked like hell. “Dr. Masen, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were coming in today.”

“I’m off and making arrangements to take some time off. I was in an accident and I’m a little whoozy,” he chuckled. “Look, do you know where Dr. Swan is?”

“She went to lay down in the on-call room. The poor dear looked exhausted,” Shelly tutted. That’s when she saw two cups of coffee in his hands. Her mind was reeling, thinking about the possibility of Dr. Masen and the gorgeous Isabella Swan becoming a couple. With a coy grin, she replied, “She just left. She may not be asleep yet. But, be kind to her. She’s the most experienced doctor on the floor, acting as an attending.”

“I could stay,” Edward said.

“She looked exhausted, but you look like shit, Dr. Masen. And I say that with the utmost respect,” Shelly snickered. Edward smirked and agreed with her. She shooed him down the hallway.

He used his key to open the on-call room. It was empty, save for the bed furthest from the door. Edward walked over to the bed, sitting down and looked down at Isabella. She was already in a deep sleep, looking so much younger than her twenty-nine years. Edward put down the coffee and stared at her, feeling a bit like a creeper. When he was with her, Edward didn’t feel as empty. The pain diminished and he liked it. He reached forward, caressing her pale cheek and reveling in the softness of her skin. Bella hummed, snuggling further into the pillow. Blowing out a breath, he gently shook her. “Dr. Swan?”

“Dr. Swan’s not here right now. Leave a message at the beep,” she quipped sleepily. “Beep!”

“Isabella,” Edward said a little louder. Bella blinked and looked at him, her pretty face in a scowl. “May I turn on the light?”

“I’m trying to get some sleep, Masen,” she snapped. He flipped on the lamp on the side table, making her eyes squint. “I was too busy taking care of your ungrateful ass …”

“That’s why I’m here,” Edward said.

“To make me more exhausted?” Bella growled.

“No, Bel-Isabella,” Edward said, blowing out a breath. “First off, to apologize for how I acted this morning. I was a jerk.” Bella arched a brow. “More than a jerk. You didn’t deserve my ire and I’m very sorry for how I treated you. You helped me more than I probably deserved. I look like hell, but my nose doesn’t hurt and the sutures on my brow are probably better than any plastic surgeon could have done.” She didn’t say anything, just stared at him stonily. “Secondly, I wanted to thank you for checking on me. Had I known you were working a double tonight, I would have insisted you drive me to my parents’ home.”

“Masen, it’s not a big deal,” she said. “Yes, you were an asshole, but I’m getting used to your mood swings. Though, they give me whip lash.” She huffed out a breath as she sat up, examining his nose. “Any trouble breathing?”

“Not after I removed the packing,” Edward answered. “It’ll be crooked, but whatever. It’ll give my face character.”