A/N: I don’t own TWILIGHT or any of its characters.

First of all, I had a lot of requests asking for me to write The Training before starting this story. Believe me when I say I am just as interested in The Training as you are. But Edward needs his say and I need to get his POV straight before starting The Training.

And he asked me very, very nicely to tell his side first.

Secondly, I will not be posting this story every weekday like I did The Submissive. That schedule about did me in. But I hope to post at least two chapters a week.

Thirdly, thank you for reading. I’ve said it before and it’s no lie. My readers are the best. You just are.

My thanks to MsKathy for everything.

****

Please, please, please, read THE SUBMISSIVE first.

****

The phone on my desk gave a low double beep.

I glanced at my watch. Four thirty. My administrative assistant had explicit instructions not to interrupt me unless one of two people called. It was too early for Yang Cai to call from China, so that left only one other person.

I hit the speakerphone button. “Yes, Heidi?”

“Mr. Jenks on line one, sir.”

Excellent.

“Did I receive a package from him today?” I asked.

“Yes, sir.” Papers rustled in the background. “Should I bring it in now?”

“I’ll get it later.” I disconnected and switched to the headset. “Jenks,” I said. “I expected you to call earlier.” Six days ago earlier. And I’d been waiting for the package just as long.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Cullen,” he said. “You had a late application I wanted to include with this batch.”

Very well, it wasn't like the women knew I had a deadline. That was something I would discuss with Jenks later. “How many this time?” I asked.

“Four,” he said, relieved I'd moved on from his lateness. “Three experienced and one without any experience or references.”

“You know how I feel about inexperienced subs, Jenks.” I leaned back in my chair and stretched my legs. We really shouldn’t be having this conversation. Jenks knew my preferences by now.

“I know, sir,” he said and I pictured him wiping the sweat from his brow. “But this one is different, she asked for you.”

I lifted one leg and then the other. I needed a nice, long jog, but that would have to wait until later tonight. “They all ask for me,” I said and I wasn’t being vain, just honest.

“Yes, sir,” he said. “But this one only wants to service you. She’s not interested in anyone else.”

This was new. I sat up in the chair. “Really?”

“Yes, sir,” he said. “Her application specifically states she will sub for you and no one else."

I had rules on prior experience and references because, to be frank, I didn't have time to train a sub. I wanted subs with experience, someone who would learn my ways quickly. Someone I could learn quickly. I always included a lengthy checklist in the application in order to ensure applicants knew exactly what they were getting themselves into. I might be a Dom, but I did not consider myself to be cruel or unfeeling. In fact, I had enjoyed long term relationships with most of my collared subs.

"I assume she filled out the checklist properly? Didn't indicate she would do anything and everything?" I had that happen one time. Jenks knew better now.

"Yes, sir," Jenks said. "Filled out nice and reasonable like."

"I suppose I could take a look at it."

"Last one in the pile, sir."

The one he'd held the package up for, then. "Thank you, Jenks." I hung the phone up and stepped outside my office. Heidi handed me the package without my asking for it.

"Why don't you go on home, Heidi.” I tucked the package under my arm. "It should be quiet the rest of the evening."

She thanked me as I walked back into my office.

I took a bottle of water from the small refrigerator in my office, sat it on my desk, and opened the package.

I flipped my way through the first three applications. Nothing special. Nothing out of the ordinary. I could set up a test weekend with any of the three women and probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference between them. I rubbed the back of my neck and sighed. Maybe I had been doing this too long. Maybe I should try again to settle down and be "normal". With someone who wasn't Tanya this time.

The problem was, I needed my Dom lifestyle. I just wanted something special to go along with it.

I took a long sip of water. Highly doubtful I'd find my something special in the last application, but since Jenks had held up sending them to me because of Miss I-have-no-experience-and-only-want-Edward-Cullen, the least I could do was read the damn thing.

I glanced at my watch - five o'clock - I needed to get home to spend time with Jake, the Siberian Husky I'd rescued as a puppy. He had made excellent progress lately, but I didn't like to work long hours if I could help it and much of my work could be done from home.

Two minutes, I told myself. It won't take longer than two minutes to look over the last application. Then I would shred it and flip a coin to decide which of the remaining three women I'd invite to my house for a test weekend.

I picked up the last application and read the name.

Isabella Swan.

The papers slipped from my hand and fluttered to the ground.

***

I was a complete success in the eyes of the world.

I owned and ran my own international securities corporation. I employed a staff of hundreds. I lived in a mansion that had graced the pages of Architectural Digest. I had a terrific family.

Ninety nine percent of the time, I was content with my life.

But there was that one percent . . .

That one percent that told me I was an utter and complete failure.

That I was surrounded by hundreds of people, but really known by very few.

That my lifestyle was not acceptable.

That I would never find someone I could love and who would love me in return.

I never regretted my decision to live the lifestyle of a Dom. I normally felt very fulfilled with my life and if there were times I did not, they were very few and far between.

Those times generally occurred after I saw Bella.

She didn't know I saw her, of course. Dropped by the Chicago Public Library every few months or so to catch a glimpse of her, my unobtainable dream. Until today, I had no way of knowing if she even knew I existed. Until today, Bella was the symbol of my one percent, because as far as social standing, lifestyle, occupation, sexual needs, financial status, and anything else I was forgetting, our worlds could not and would not collide.

But if Bella was a submissive.

If Bella wanted to be my submissive . . .

I allowed my mind to wander down paths I'd denied wanting for almost seven years. Opened the floodgates of my mind and let the images wash over me.

Bella naked and bound to my bed.

Bella on her knees before me.

Bella begging for my whip.

Oh, yes.

I picked her application off the ground and started reading.

Name, address, phone number and occupation I skimmed over. I turned the page to her medical history - normal liver function tests and CBC, HIV and Hepatitis negative, negative urine drug screen. The only medication she took was the birth control pills I required- Seasonale. Very nice. I didn't mind playing while a woman was on her period, but it was not my favorite thing to do. With Seasonale, that would only be a problem four times a year.

I went to the next page, her completed checklist. Jenks had not lied when he said Bella had no experience. Only seven items were marked for experience: vaginal sex, masturbation, blindfolds, spanking, swallowing semen, hand jobs, and sexual deprivation. In the comment field beside sexual deprivation, she had written, "Ha Ha. Not sure our definitions are the same." I smiled. She had a sense of humor.

Several items were marked as "No, Hard limit." I respected that - I had my own hard limits. In looking over the list, several of them lined up with hers. Several of them did not. There was nothing wrong with that, limits changed, checklists changed. If we were together for the long term -

What was I thinking? Was I actually thinking about calling Bella in for a test?

Yes, damn it, I was.

But I knew, I knew, that if this application were from anyone other than Bella, I wouldn't even give it a second glance. I would shred it and forget it existed. I don't train subs.

But it was from Bella and I didn't want to shred it. I wanted to pour over her application until I had it memorized. I wanted to make a list of what she had marked as "willing to try" and show her the pleasure of doing those things. I wanted to study her body until its contours were permanently embedded in my mind. Until my hands knew and recognized her every response. I wanted to watch her give in to her true submissive nature.

I wanted to be her Dom.

Could I do that? Could I put aside my thoughts of Bella, the fantasy I would never have, and instead have Bella, the submissive?

Yes.

Yes, I could.

Because I was Edward Cullen and Edward Cullen didn't fail.

And if Bella Swan no longer existed. Or if she was replaced by Isabella Swan....

I picked up the phone and dialed Jenks.

"Yes, sir, Mr. Cullen," he said. "Have you decided?"

"Send Isabella Swan my personal checklist," I said. "If she's still interested after reviewing it, have her call Heidi for an appointment next week."