Chapter 1—Tour Guide

BPOV

"So, what made you want to get this job?" Said the woman who had declared herself to be Lauren in a nasal voice.

Could her grammar be any worse? I surveyed her red and blue uniform and mentally grimaced. What had made me want this job? It was the only one I could find.

I plastered a fake smile on and formed an upbeat answer…after all…what did she care about me?

"Oh, y'know. I saw an ad that said you were hiring and I'm just such a fan of the Whitehouse, I mean, all the history here—who wouldn't want to share that with every one?"

I wanted to throw up. But my answer seemed to work. We started negotiating wages.

"It's 12 an hour— around 5 hours a day, 6 days a week— not really glamorous but I get that this isn't your main source of income..." she trailed off raising her eyebrows as if willing me to contradict her.

I gulped and mentally calculated the wages—and realised I'd only have 10 a week for food and gas.

"16 dollars and hour—it may not be my main job—but that's just criminal."

Her eyes narrowed, I was pretty sure that bartering for wages was illegal—but I desperately needed the money.

"Fourteen" she said menacingly

"Fifteen" I retorted—acting like I didn't care either way.

"Deal."

It took around two hours to run a background check on me— courtesy of the not-so-secret-service and I had the job. I paid upfront for the uniform that looked like a hairball that America's most patriotic cat had coughed up.

"You start tomorrow. 8 a.m. sharp. Don't", she paused, "be late"

I shook hands with the slimy woman and walked out of her office.

I ran my spare hand through my long brown hair in frustration. I was desperate. Because this job failed to pay well I would have to get a job at a diner or the like to pay for Charlie's medical bills.

Ever since my father had been diagnosed with dementia three years ago I had been struggling to keep my head above water and pay for his medical bills. I had first moved in with Charlie when I was 17, in my second last year of high school. It was two months later when he was diagnosed with dementia and a year later he had lost sense of who he was completely, only recognizing me every other day. It hurt when your own father didn't know who you were. I was 21 now, and Charlie had just moved into the mental age care facility here in D.C. My mother had sent me a couple hundred dollars so I could get a place and support myself for a few months, but my money was running out.

I walked through a door way into a wood-panelled room when I heard a group of people coming. Not wanting to be rude, I tried to open a door to the left, but it was locked, as was the next door I tried. The voices became clearer and I desperately looked around and hid behind a wooden cabinet.

As I awaited for the people to pass a large, no an enormous man came into the room He was quite literally the biggest man I had ever seen, with black curly hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a crisp black suit and dark shades; the outfit was completed by a skin coloured ear piece that attached to his collar.

I heard the large oak doors open with a slight squeak, and who should emerge but the president and his eldest son. They were both breathtakingly handsome. I had seen them both on television, of course, but they were even more absurdly good looking I real life. President Cullen had blonde hair, a charming smile and exuded trust. Edward, on the other hand had a messy, bronze mop and straight, angular features, with emerald green eyes to top it off. On television he always seemed calm and serene, but that was not the extent of his emotions known by the public; in paparazzi shots he often looked sullen and brooding, only adding to his 'bad boy' image as seen by teenage girls all over America. He was the countries most eligible bachelor, and he didn't seem to care.

They appeared to be having some sort of argument.

"That's the end of it Edward. I won't hear any more on the subject." He dismissed his son harshly and turned to a woman who resembled a highly efficient secretary

"Felicity, brief me on tomorrow's schedule."

"Carlisle, don't just sweep this under the rug!" Edward yelled, stopping in his tracks, forcing Carlisle to look at him.

"Don't act like it doesn't matter Dad, because it does." He folded his arms across his chest.

"Edward, stop acting like a teenager and accept responsibility for once! You keep doing stupid and reckless things just to gain attention"

Edward seemed to realise that there were other people in the room and his demeanour immediately turned defensive.

"Maybe now's not the best time to discuss it" Edward suggested coolly

"No Edward, you wanted to talk, so let's talk. You have been acting inappropriately since the death of your parents, and really I know you miss them, but is that any reason to act the way you have been?"

My jaw dropped as my mind sped at a million miles an hour. Edward's parents were dead. He must have been adopted. No wonder the Cullen's didn't look anything alike. I wondered if Alice, the younger daughter was adopted too.

"Edward, what's been going on?" Carlisle's voice turned soft and compassionate. He put a hand on Edward's shoulder. I realised with a shock that the room was entirely empty, bar me Edward and Carlisle. I nostalgically wondered how no one could have seen me.

Edwards's ripped away from his surrogate father as he was put off guard by the comment.

"Nothing. I'm fine." He seemed to be trying to convince himself. He was facing away from Carlisle, and therefore towards me. I saw a hundred emotions flicker across his face before he regained composure. I caught embarrassment, pain, anger…but there was something else…almost self loathing.

"Edward," Carlisle's voice sounded worn, "We all know that's not the case, Esme's worried, and she's not the only one. Just think about things before you do them."

Edward looked like he wanted to say a lot more, he looked like he wanted to run to his father and admit everything, but instead he took a deep breath and nodded his head.

Carlisle clapped a hand to Edwards shoulder and I could see that Edward almost let his guard down, almost, but not quite.

There was a long silence after Carlisle left the room. Edward dropped his folded arms and ran his long pale hands through is hair in apparent frustration and slumped against the wall.

"Dammit" he whispered quietly, his voice full of agony. I had a strange urge to comfort him. I cleared my head of those crazy thoughts and bit my lip. I had to leave now before I was discovered.

I attempted to silently tiptoe out of the room, but an inappropriately placed rug tripped me. I let out a slight gasp before hitting the floor with a thud.

I furiously blushed and picked myself off the floor with what little dignity I could muster.

Edwards's eyes locked with mine and he sent me a glare that I could only describe as bone chilling. He slowly moved towards me, his piercing eyes not leaving mine. I couldn't look away; I was trapped in those icy emerald eyes.

I was in a state of shock. I didn't know what would happen next, and strangely I found myself not caring. I knew I should be afraid, but all I could feel was awe and admiration for the beautiful man that stood in front of me. We stood for a long time in a silent standoff. I was shocked that I was here, in this room, with Edward Cullen. And judging by his demeanour and expression he hated me and I was unwanted.

Someone had to speak soon; the air was so thick that you could cut it with a knife.

Just then the door burst open and the burly security guy burst into the room. I jumped and was able to break eye contact with Edward. The fear hit me then. I was surely about to get arrested.

"Emmett. How did this," he looked pointedly at me, "Happen?" Edwards face turned up in a crooked grin that left me breathless and the man named Emmett looked shocked, but then relaxed.

"The chicks man, you know how they go crazy over you." He strolled over and gripped me by the arm.

"Hey! Get your hands off me!"

"Sorry Miss, but you pose a security risk to—"

"I have a name, its Bella."

"Well, Bella, you're going to have to come with me."

"Not until you let go" I hissed, yanking my arm free of his grip.

With more grace than I thought I possessed I quickly knelt down, gathered my uniform, purse and jacket and haughtily stalked away.

"Hey! Where do you think you're going?" Emmett ran after me and once again gripped my arm and started steering me away from the exit.

"Don't touch me!" My voice broke and I was suddenly very scared. It brought back too many memories. Bad memories.

He seemed to read the fear on my face.

"Oh, I'm sorry miss, but you do have to come with me."

"Why? Because I happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time? Because I was trying to do the right thing by not disturbing the president? All I wanted was a stinking' job! And look where that landed me! In a jail cell for the night." By the end of my little tirade I was nearly hysterical.

Then I noticed both men staring at me and I looked down and blushed profusely. I folded my arms across my chest, in an attempt to make myself feel less vulnerable.

I looked up again and Emmett and Edward were having some type of silent conversation. Edward caught my eye and glared hostilely. I immediately looked down.

Emmett took out his phone and sighed.

"Hey Jess…yeah its…" He seemed to shudder, "Emmy" Emmett grimaced

"Yeah, that's nice…hey listen we have a slight situation here in the red room"

"Yeah I just need a routine check on…" He looked towards me with a raised eyebrow.

"Isabella Swan" I said quietly

"Isabella Swan" he repeated

"Oh…well that's…yeah its all good now. Thanks Jess. Oh…umm. Dinner on Friday?" The expression on his face turned to absolute horror. "I would love to…but I have to…clean my jeep. No, it can't wait. Goodbye."

I bit my lip to stop myself from laughing. He seemed to catch my smile when I looked up.

"Third time this week." He told me, smiling.

I laughed

"Well, Miss Swan, you're free to go. Don't be late tomorrow though" he winked at me and pointed me towards the door.

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Well there you have it. This is my first fanfic and i would really like some feedback so please, if you took the time to read this im sure that you can take two minutes to review.