Chapter 1

"Bella, come on! Pleeeeeaaaase! Just for one night! I can't miss this audition, and Aro won't give me a night off because it's a Saturday. You know how much I need this job!" My friend, Jane begged me through the phone late Friday night.

I groaned and kicked away my devil stiletto heels the moment I entered by apartment. "Don't I need some sort of a… I don't know… license in order to do your job? And why on earth are you asking me to cover for you anyway? Why not just ask any of your other dancer friends."

"You ARE one of my dancer friends! Everyone else has something to do on a Saturday night."

I set my groceries down with a loud thud. "What?! And you thought I didn't have any plans?!"

"Uh, puh-leez. Everyone knows you work every Saturday night."

"That's not true!" I tried to think of some excuse. "I had plans to watch a movie!" In my apartment.

"Really? With who?"

"Uuuhh…," very convincing, Bella. "Alice?"

"Mhm…mhm… Alice will be in Chicago for a conference this weekend."

Shoot. Forgot about that.

"Bella, please! I'm begging you! It's just for one night! Admit that you miss dancing on stage. You'll have a blast! Drinks are on me. Just tell the bartender to put everything on my tab."

I sighed. "Jane, I've never done your type of dancing, you know. Everyone might just boo me off stage and your boss could fire you for it."

She laughed. "Honey, you and I both know that you can totally do this. Remember the frat party back in College? You certainly brought the house down."

I felt the blood rise to my face with the memory. "That was college. And I was drunk!"

"Yeah, from doing a keg stand!"

"Which YOU insisted I do!"

"Let loose just for a night, Bella. I know you've been working really hard with your up-coming store, but I think this could be healthy for you. No one will know."

I finished putting away the last of the groceries and started fixing myself a salad. "You don't know that. If any of my co-workers see me in a bodice and kitten heels, I'll never hear the end of it."

"It's a 'corset!' and it's classy! Come on! I'll do anything you want! Just do this favor for me, please! You won't regret it!"

"Goodbye, Jane."

"Bella, wai-…" I cut off the line and shook my head. Jane was crazy. There was no way in hell I was doing Burlesque.

I couldn't believe I was doing this. Apparently friends like Jane who are a pain in the ass can be quite persistent. She came to my apartment passed midnight and locked me in my bedroom until I agreed to her favor.

Could you believe that?

She locked me. IN MY ROOM! Who does that?

Anyway… so here I am in front of Hollywood's most renowned Burlesque Bar. The word 'Volterra' was as flashy as it could be at the entrance. With a sigh, I stepped into the bar and asked to meet a Mister Aro at the front desk.

If this Aro guy wasn't gay, I'll personally kill Jane if he ogles me. I was directed to head backstage and on the way, I noticed how full the bar was. And it is quite classy indeed. The bartenders were all well dressed and the floor looked very posh and… velvet. Dark red curtains hung the walls, the floor was polished black, and dim crystal chandeliers hung the ceiling. It reminded me of a more modern Phantom of the Opera setting.

"Oh!" Unfortunately, my clumsy self had to break head at that moment because I just bumped into an innocent gentleman. "I'm so sorry!"

"No, no. It's my fault." He was tall with a head of bronze-like hair and wore a dashing black business suit. Oh, damn… handsome lovely Adonis with green eyes. He flashed me a smile and I almost melted. "Hi."

"Uhm," I blushed, "yeah." I smiled slightly and stepped away, completely embarrassed. What the hell was that, Bella? A cute guy says hi and all you say is uhm, yeah? So it's not just Clumsy Bella who reared its head, but Bashful Bella had to come out too?

"Oh, hell." I whispered to myself before running backstage.

I asked one of the girls in a very pretty pink corset if she could direct me to Aro, and she was nice enough to do so. Once I figured out that girls weren't shy walking around in practically nothing backstage, I felt a lump in my throat. "So you're the college friend who's covering for Jane, huh?"

Her name was Angela.

"Yes. Friend is sort of a thin line right now. She locked me in my room until I agreed to cover for her tonight."

She laughed. "Yeah, that sounds like her. We call her Jane the Pain here. Have you ever danced Burlesque?"

I shook my head. "Never."

Her eyes twinkled. "You will love it." She led me up a flight of stairs and into Aro's office. "Aro! A Miss Swan is here to see you."

I walked in and almost did a fist pump. Yes! Gay! Definitely.

"Hmm." He looked me up and down. "Yes, very good body. Love your chest. A size 34C, I believe. Angela, would you please get me the black and red corset downstairs. Do you dance?" Oh… and Italian, I think. I almost laughed. He gets straight to the point doesn't he?

"Uh… thank you. Yes, correct bra size. Wow. Good eye… and I dance, but I've never done anything like… this."

He smirked. "Burlesque is an art form, darling. Do not be ashamed. Do you sing?"

My eyes widened. "Uh… sing? Jane didn't tell me-,"

"Do you sing?"

My eyes widened. "Just a bit. Jane and I did a theatre elective together in college."

"Sing to me."

"What?"

He sighed. "I'm a very busy woman, darling. I need everyone," he snapped his fingers and I blinked. "Snappy."

"Uuh…,"

"Sing!"

I sang the first song that came to my mind.

"Never know how much I love you… never know how much I care. When you put your arms around me, I get a fever babe that's always there, you give me fever…," I crooned and he squealed.

"Yes, fabulous!" He gripped my arms. "You will be our opening act for tonight!" His eyes showed excitement while mine showed horror.

"Opening act?" Noooo! "But but but—I don't' know how-,"

"You don't need to know, darling! Just feel sexy… feel your song… feel the fever tonight." He gazed into my eyes as if to hypnotize me and I suddenly felt fearful for what I was getting myself into.

"I have the corset!" Angela chirped behind us.

"Ah! Fabulous! And get the white fur coat!"

"Oh my God." What was I getting myself into?

… … …

Thirty minutes later, I was dressed in the tightest corset in the world, which practically pushed my boobs up and together to form cleavage I didn't even know I had. I wore no stockings, but garter belts were around my thighs and my shoes were a lovely pair of black heels with red soles. The contrast to my outfit was a white fur coat… or scarf… whatever you call this big soft fluffy thing around my shoulders that reminded me of Marilyn Monroe. My make-up was fixed by Angela and it was the thickest I'd ever worn, but it did look good, if I do say so myself. I did love the apple red lipstick I had on. My hair on the other hand, fell in luscious waves down my back and smoothed away from one side of my face to expose my neck.

This was the first time I'd ever worn something so… so… revealing. I felt like I could seduce even the gay out there. Ha ha. Impossible. Half my senses were nervous, other half was excited. I guess Jane was right in a way. I did miss theatre. The thrill and the adrenaline before, during, and after the performance was addicting.

Aro had explained to me what would go on when I go out the stage and I was committing it to memory. Something about a spinning stage, ceiling mirrors… blah blah. I hadn't practiced my voice in a while, so I hoped it wouldn't break.

"Five minutes, Bella. You ready?" Angela was every bit as supportive. I was so thankful. My nerves were killing me. Sure, I did a mock performance of Alex's Flashdance routine in college, but this was totally different.

"Very nervous."

She chuckled. "You'll do great."

"I've never danced like this before, Angela. What if I'm not… you know…,"

"Sexy?" She smirked.

I chuckled and nodded nervously.

She sat beside me and smiled. "I don't know if this will help but if I could give you a piece of advice…,"

"Oh please do." I'm all ears.

She smiled and blushed. "Well, the first time I danced solo here, I sort of imagined that I was dancing in front of my boyfriend, Ben."

I blinked. "Oooh, is that so?"

"Yeah." She looked up shyly. "I don't know. It's just… there's a different sort of inspiration if you're in front of someone you really love and want to please, you know. When Ben saw me dance that night… Oh dear, Lord… we didn't leave the bedroom for the entire weekend. After that moment, I sort of broke through my shy shell."

I smiled. "I know how you feel." The performance of an artist mostly depends on their inspiration and motivation. I almost forgot about that. College seems like such a long time ago.

"And not a lot of guys approve this sort of profession for their girlfriend… so I guess I'm lucky."

"You are, Angela. Ben sounds like a great guy."

She smiled. "He is. So," she nudged me. "Do you have a boyfriend?"

"Uhm," I blushed. "Unfortunately no. So I guess dancing in front of an imaginary boyfriend is out of my table."

"Oh don't be silly. We can find someone." She stood and peeked through the curtain.

"Angela! Wait… what are you-,"

"There! Look at those gentlemen over there." She let me peek through, and sure enough I saw a few men dressed in tailored suits around the front of the stage at the end of the walkway. "Imagine that one of those hott saucy men is your boyfriend and believe me, inspiration will fall easily from there." She smacked my ass and I squealed in surprise.

I looked at her with wide eyes. "You're more naughty that I thought you would be." She smiled and just shrugged her shoulders.

When the lights dimmed, my heart beat increased.

"Oh! Goodluck!"

"Oh God…," I took a deep breath and took my position behind the curtain. Closing my eyes, I tried to relax as much as I could. Hmm… imagine someone as my boyfriend huh? But who…

Just before the spotlight hit the curtain to reveal my silhouette, I imagined the face of the green-eyed Adonis who I ran into earlier and I bit my lip to hide a smile.

Perfect.

The light came through the curtain to reveal my shadow and the strum of the double base started. When the saxophone came, I raised my arm in a voluptuous way and ran it down my side slowly before moving the curtain aside.

"Never know how much I love you… never know how much I care."

Applause and whistles sounded as I stepped out but aside from focusing on the vast audience, I imagined the Adonis dead straight at the end of the stage, sitting with one leg up on his other knee and a smirk on his face, fingers to his lips.

"When you put your arms around me, I get a fever that's so hard to bear. You give me fever."

My hands touched my neck down to my breasts and to the curved sides of the corset I was wearing. The atmosphere was intoxicating and the live band made me feel like I was back in the 70's and acting like a naughty Peggy Lee.

When you kiss me. Fever when you hold me tight. Fever.

Just then, like Aro said, a part of the round stage started to move, moving me in a circle for everyone to see.

In the morning baby, fever all through the night. Sun lights up the day time. Moon lights up the night. I light up when you call my name and you know I'm gonna treat you right.

In the last words of that verse, I purposefully looked him in the eyes and he was there looking back, eyes dark and lustful. I almost gasped at the intensity of it. He ran his finger across his lips and looking at me as if he wanted my lips to be there instead. I shivered.

Everybody's got the fever. That is somethin' you all know. Fever isn't such a new thing. Fever started long ago.

I don't know what possessed me, to do so, but I went down on my knees slowly and lay down on the spinning round stage just as the mirrors in the ceiling revealed itself. I could see myself clearly and I couldn't believe it was me. This girl looked sexy, beautiful, and confident. I moved my long legs in a naughty way as I continued the song and I imagined his hands around my skin instead of mine.

Romeo loved Juliet, Juliet she felt the same.

I rolled over on my front and bent my knees, swaying my legs in the air.

When he put his arms around her, he said, 'Julie baby you're my flame, thou givest fever." When we kisseth, fever with thy flaming youth.

I dragged a finger along my red lips, imitating the Adonis' action as if it was the closest thing we could do to kiss.

Fever I'm on fire. Fever yeah I burn forsooth…

When it was the band's turn to show off their smooth jazz, I rolled again and arched my back and slowly stood, swaying my hips to the music, showing off my body and humming the tune.

I stepped away from the spinning stage and walked slowly along the walkway down the stage. Down to him. If it was any possibly, his eyes seemed darker than they were before. His eyes, his expression, his whole body screamed sex and passion. He wanted me just as much as I wanted him.

When I finally stood in front of him, I kneeled down and traced his sharp cheekbones and chin with my fingertips. His emerald eyes were mesmerized with mine and I never felt more powerful than I did at that moment.

Captain Smith and Pocahontas had a very mad affair.

I smiled and took my fur scarf from my neck and wrapped it around his shoulders to pull him closer to me. But I didn't even need to pull. His body went straight at me. His hands were itching to touch me, I knew. But it felt oh so good to tease.

When her daddy tried to kill him, she said, 'Daddy oh don't you dare, he gives me fever.'

When I felt his arm raise to touch me, I suddenly pushed him back on his shoulders and teased him by placing my lips so close to his but not touching. His breathe was hot upon my lips. He was lovely. His features sharp and defined and his cologne hypnotizing my senses that I needed to move away.

"No," I heard a dark whisper before I pulled away. Did I just hear a growl?

I almost laughed. Just your imagination, Bella.

With his kisses, fever when he holds me tight. Fever, I'm his missus and daddy won't you treat him right.

I moved away from him and smiled at him when he looked like he was about to jump and claim me right then and there. His eyes were ferocious and hungry.

My my… what a beautiful lion.

I stood back up and strutted and swayed my hips to the music, knowing that this song… this fantasy was about to end.

As I turned around, my burlesque back-up dancers went out on stage and strutted their breasts, hips, and long legs to the music.

Now you've listened to my story. Here's the point that I have made. Chicks were born to give you fever, be it Fahrenheit or centigrade.

I turned back to him and his dark gaze and felt the girls behind me come closer.

They give you fever when we kiss them, fever if you live and learn. Fever till you sizzle…

Just on cue, the girls made a huddle around me and hands were touching everywhere from my neck to my legs.

Ooooh, what a lovely way to burn. What a lovely way to burn. What a lovely way to burn…

The lights were dimming, and the fantasy was coming to a close. I took one last look at his face as the lights came to a close.

What a lovely way to burn…

I snapped my fingers above us at the same time the lights went out and the curtains closed. An enormous applause erupted the bar. I snapped out of my fantasy and my eyes widened.

The girls around me were squealing and telling me what a wonderful job I did.

I was at a loss for words.

What exactly happened?

"Hey, hey, Bella!"

"Huh?"

Angela was prancing next to me and gave me a big hug. "That was ah-may-zing! Did you hear the crowd? Are you sure you haven't done this before?"

What? They loved it? What happened? "No, most definitely not." I answered monotonously.

"You were a natural! And so sexy! Oh my God! And that guy looked like he was going to pounce on you or something." She chuckled.

"Guy?"

She gave me a weird look. "That hot piece of man meat you just teased at the end of the walkway. I think every guy in the bar wanted to be in his place when you were doing your thing to him."

My thing. "Huh." I replied casually.

"Huh? That's all you have to say? You two were practically eye-fucking. It was so hot! Do you know him?"

I shook my head. Holy fucking shit. Did I just do… all that? Was my fantasy actually a reality? Did I mix those two up again? "No, I don't know him. Uhm… am I done for the night?"

She sighed. "Yeah, unfortunately. Are you sure you don't want to do the closing act?"

And risk mind-fucking him again? "No." I answered immediately.

A familiar squeal erupted behind me. "Ah! Bella Isabellaaa! You were fantastico!" He kissed both my cheeks. "Oh, unfortunately you are done for tonight. But are you sure you don't want a part-time job here? It pays well." He smiled.

"Oh… no. Thank you, but I have my hands full with my other…job."

He nodded. "Ah well, I had to ask. You are welcome to cover for any of my girls anytime. Ciao, darling." After he kissed my cheek, he started shouting in Italian too fast for me to understand, but it was probably for preparation of the second performance.

I looked at Angela. "Help me get out of these clothes?"

"You know it." She chuckled.

I smirked. "You dirty girl."

Thirty minutes later, I reverted to my original form and blasted away from the Burlesque bar using the backdoor. God knows I couldn't face that man again… after what I did to him. Oh God, just thinking of it…my face was burning up.

If all that really happened, then… he must have… he… I sighed. Did he really look at me like that? The thought of his dark eyes as he looked at me got my legs all weak. How on earth was I going to live this down?

I groaned and slapped my cheeks. "This was a one night thing, Bella. You are not a burlesque dancer. You are a chef and you are about to open the store of your dreams soon! Phew… snap out of it, girl."

I ran towards my car and drove as quickly as I could back home, trying to get rid of memories of a green-eyed greek god back at the bar. Unfortunately, memories of his face, his lustful gaze, his sexy smirk and the smell of his perfume followed me all the way to my dreams that night.

Looking at the competition in front of me, I almost laughed. I so had this.

There was an available studio space down at Larchmont Street that would be perfect the Café Bakery I was aiming to put up. Unfortunately, since it's in such a popular street in Los Angeles, I wasn't the only one who wanted the space. I had three other competitors here in front of me, and none of them looked like they knew what they were getting into.

One looked like a young fashionista looking to put up a boutique, maybe. However, her clothes didn't look appropriate for a business meeting we were having today with the owners of the building. One man looked like he was on crack and whatever business he might put up could be on the verge of illegal. Ah, yes, lovely future lawsuit we have here. The last person, on the other hand dressed quite nicely and though he looked like a sweet old man, I didn't think this was the right place for him. Contracts in places as popular as this are usually long-term, and with his age… well, yeah. Sad really.

Me, on the other hand, I believe I could fit quite well here.

With a degree in business administration and two-years experience of apprenticing under a renowned patissier and barista in France… also I was young, fresh, and professional. I could be the perfect candidate for this. I wasn't one for bragging, but I was too excited. My dream was finally coming true.

The door opened revealing a handsome blonde man with blue eyes whom I estimated to be around his late forty's or early fifty's. He had a friendly smile on his face. "Sorry to keep everyone waiting. Please come in."

My competitors entered the room first and since I was the last to enter, I only thought it appropriate to close the door, but someone beat me to it.

"My name is Carlisle Cullen, I'm the owner of the building."

When the man behind the door revealed himself, I made a silent gasp.

Tousled bronze hair, green eyes, a chiseled face, and tailored suit… No, no, no, no, it can't be.

His eyes widened for a moment in surprise as he caught my gaze, but then they turned dark and amused, making my knees weak as they did just a few days before.

"Ah, also I would like to introduce everyone to my son, Edward. He will be joining us today and will be helping me with my decision."

He gave me a full blown smirk with mischievous eyes and outstretched his hand for me to take. "It is… a pleasure to meet you."

I. Am. So. Dead.

So… Let's see how much attention this story gets. (FYI: This will only be a short story).

Ya'll see that review button over there? Yep, that's the source of my inspiration. Haha.

I'll blow you a kiss if you leave me a message :*