Disclaimer: All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer, however, the contents of this story are mine.
Chapter 1- A Plan and a New Start
Today was the day that Bella would always remember. For the first time in her life, she got drunk. It would clear Bella's clean record of alcohol, but she was careless. She chose Tequila by random because she did not have any idea about this area. She did not even know how to drink it, so when the bartender gave her Tequila with a salt and a slice of lime, she just stared at them. She still remembered the look on the bartender's face when she asked him to teach her. He was trying so hard not to laugh. Bella was grateful for that.
It had been an hour since Bella came to this pub. She did not feel disturbed despite the fact she was in a crowd of nocturnal people and loud music boomed the room. She was in her little world, trying to forget everything. If she smacked her own head to the wall, would she get amnesia? Smiling to her silly idea, she ordered another bottle of Tequila.
She played with the empty bottle as she waited, absentmindedly whirling it. The effect of alcohol helped her in reducing the pain and she liked it. Why did not she try this before?
As she was given the new bottle, she drank slower than before. She wanted to feel the feeling.
Feeling, eh?
A flash of memory made her gripping the bottle. Her heart was beating rapidly as the numbness crawled inside her.
She grew up with a family that did not know knew what feeling was. She even forgot when the last time she had a real happiness. She was stuck with guiltiness and responsibilities. She had many dreams and she tried to reach them, but she had to give up all them.
Bella wanted to be out from this hell.
If only she could remove her family name. She would be free. She would be Bella and only Bella.
Arrangement marriage, eh? What a stupid egoistical plan…
xoxooxoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxoxox
Flashback
Nine hours ago...
The class had just finished when Bella's phone vibrated in her bag. She looked to the caller's name and frowned in confusion.
"Emmet, what's up?"
Surprisingly, it was not Emmet, her brother, who called her. The voice was smooth, but firm. The voice that could make Bella's blood frozen by only phone, "Bella, this is Grandma."
Bella inhaled sharply. What is Emmet doing with her? Why did he give his phone to her?
Oh right, I will never answer if she uses her own phone.
"I'm sorry, I thought—" Bella tried to apologise, but she was cut off, typical Grandma Marie.
"I want you to be home in one hour. There is something that I want to say." Click. Bella wasn't given a chance to reply.
Shit, Bella cursed mentally. She quickly packed her things and ran to her car, wishing whatever Grandma wanted, it had a nothing to do with her job. She did not want to loose her chance to be a normal woman for once in her life. She wanted to use what she got from studying. She wanted to be useful to people who need her.
Bella had a master degree a year ago when she turned 20. She wanted to thank her parents for this achievement, but she could not They were dead since she was nine years old.
Speaking of parents, Bella used to have a perfect family which consisted of five persons; Charlie, Renee, Alice, Emmet, and herself. Charlie was a chief police who loved his carrier. He rarely showed his feeling, but he cared for his family. Renee was a stubborn childish mom who loved Charlie unconditionally. Alice, Bella's nine years older sister, was extremely cheerful. She was always high spirited. Emmet loved to make the family laugh by making stupid jokes.
Everything changed when they moved to Grandma's house in New York. They learned the fact that Charlie was not an ordinary man. He used to have a glamour life before he ran away with Renee to Forks. Two years later, Alice left with no reason and Emmet changed. He became a snob boy, thinking that the world revolved around him. Little Bella did not want to be like them. She thought about responsibility too much and she decided to do anything Grandma told her to do.
Too bad it was already late when she realised everything. Grandma already enjoyed controlling her life.
Bella arrived at Grandma's house in half an hour. She met Emmet who was standing outside the big house, waiting for her. She gave him her best glare. Emmet muttered something, but she ignored him. Then, she saw the woman sitting gracefully in the living room. Old was not a correct word to describe Grandma despite her age. She still looked beautiful and elegant, as always.
"Have a sit, Bella." Grandma said, pointing the black leather sofa in front of her.
Bella sat obediently, not wanting to make a false attitude. .
"Bella... I thought I have taught you how to dress properly." Grandma began, looking at Bella's dress with a clear disapproval.
"I have just finished teaching, Grandma." Bella wondered if she used 'your majesty' in the end of her sentence. Would it make any difference?
"Teaching? You supposed to work every day in Swan Company, not to do anything else."
What the hell? Is it that wrong to have another job?
"Speaking of business" Grandma continued, "I want to say that I have planned marriage for you."
Bella could not help shrieking, "WHAT?" …the hell was she saying? She has not satisfied ruining my life, has she?
"Don't speak in that tone to me!" Grandma snapped.
Bella had to use all her energy to resist her anger. Grandma had already gone too far. For God's sake, she wasn't a toy!
"In order to keep the success of Swan Company, we have to build strong cooperation to another company. We have just had a deal."
A deal to sell your granddaughter, eh?
Bella still did not say anything, but her nails were already digging the sofa.
"You do not want to disappoint your parents, do you?" Grandma raised her eyebrows.
That it was. Grandma had said the key of her winning.
"What is the name of the guy?" Bella choked out the question, surrendered.
"Jacob Cullen." Grandma smiled smugly.
End of flashback
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxxooxoxox
Bella drank, drank, and drank again.
Cullen Company was an unbelievably successful. It used to be Swan's competitor. Who knew how in the world Emmet could make it into friend?
Bella gripped the glass, knowing the answer. A moment later, she felt someone's presence behind her. She already knew their intentions from their auras. She turned around and met three set of eyes bored at her hungrily.
"Hey gorgeous, why are you alone?" The guy with a long hair, asked slyly.
"Leave me alone." Bella muttered.
"C'mon, sugar. I can help you with your problem, you know." He insisted.
Bella stood up as if she wanted to grant his wish.
"You know what?" Bella said with full of venoms in her mouth
"You are a useless bastard!" She said as her right hand grabbed the nearest man's elbow and her left hand took the wrist and threw him to the ground. Good thing, she knew some basics of Aikido.
Then, she got the impact of her action. She stepped backwards, loosing her balance and fell to a solid wall. Wall? There was no way wall behind her.
"Stay awake, please" a voice said.
Edward was just an ordinary guy who was trying to enjoy his life. He came to the bar to relax his temper that was nearly exploded because of meeting someone this afternoon. He was waiting for his order when his eyes fell to lady beside him. Frustration, anger, and desperation, he could read all of them in her angelic face. Angelic, eh? Way to be lame, Edward.
He examined the lady's appearance now and then, he frowned to his guess. She did not belong here. She should be in a cover of Business Magazine, launching a big project. She belonged to the same world like him. A tall figure flashed into his mind. He scowled, but he kept looking the lady though, feeling her glow radiated from her body. She was wearing a blue dress that looked classy. It suited her perfectly, making her skin look creamy.
Yummy...
Oops. Edward shook his head. He decided to move his eye to what she was drinking. He raised an eyebrow. Two empty bottles were the evidence of her intention. She was not here for dancing.
Unconsciously, Edward's eyes scanned her body as he thought about how perfectly her body fit to his body when they slow danced. He wondered if he could feel….Whoa, whoa, stop it Edward!
Mom raised you to be a gentleman…
No, he contradicted himself. Esme was not his mother. He did not know whom his mother was. That was why everyone, except his friends, treated him like a trash, especially him.
While Edward was trying to control his anger, he noticed a group of men sensed the lady's glow too. Edward gritted his teeth, realising his temper was just getting worse. He had made different methods of killing the bastards in short time. Then, another realisation hit him. He rarely cared about woman and here he was, trying to protect a lady that he barely knew.
The lady's reaction next made his jaw drop. She threw the nearest man, who was her double size, to the floor. Edward swore the pub went silent for seconds.
Trying to recover from awe and sensing that she was going to pass out, he stood up and reached her.
"Stay awake, please." He pleaded as he made her sit again.
The pub was chaotic as Edward fought the men. The people surrounded them, not making a move to stop the fight. Fortunately it was stopped as the manager came with NYPD. Edward was scared a little, knowing he had just made a chaos. After sorting some things outside pub, the police let him to go. Edward walked straight to where he left the lady, afraid of her getting hurt. He was relieved that no one was beside her. She was sat still on the chair, her head resting on the bar.
"Are you okay?" Edward asked, tapping the lady's shoulder.
The lady's head snapped up to him and for the first since this long night, he finally saw bottomless chocolate eyes staring straight to his.
"You have beautiful eyes. Green like an emerald." She said, not breaking the eye contact. Her voice was beautiful, ringing like a melody.
Focus Edward, "Can you call your family?" He asked again. Please answer.
Her eyes looked defeated as he said the word 'family'. She looked down. Edward groaned inwardly.
He had to lift her chin to make her look at him again, "Are you okay? Please answer me." He was panicked now. Edward could feel his phone vibrating, but he did not have time to check it. He had to get answers from this lady.
"Hey, look—" He tried to ask her again, but was cut off by…a kiss.
Neither he nor she moved. Their lips just connected perfectly.
God, that feels heaven.
Wait, he should not take advantage when she was drunk like this. Edward cursed himself for not being a gentleman. He broke the kiss and the lady looked hurt.
"Please...save me." She said as she passed out.
Oh shit
He had not gotten his answers. What was he going to do now? He could not leave her alone. He then looked to the shiny bag. I am sorry for being rude, he thought as he took the bag.
As in on cue, her mobile vibrated in the bag. Edward dug in to get it. The caller was a man named Emmet.
"Hello?" Edward answered.
There was a silent for a second.
"Who the hell are you? What did you do to my sister?" Emmet spat furiously.
Edward startled, but answered clearly, "I did not do anything. Your sister just passed out in front of me" after she kissed me, "and I decided to help her."
"Do you think I believe you? I swear I will kill you cheerfully if there is anything wrong with her."
Gee, what a troublesome, Edward thought.
"We are in Eclipse." He challenged.
As Edward waited, he took out his mobile. There were ten missed calls and five messages. He was surprised, knowing that he had too occupied with his mystery lady. He smiled to himself, feeling proud that he had succeeded protecting her. Closing his eyes, he savoured the memory. Planting her face, her eyes, her hair, and how soft her lips to his, to his memory.
"Thank you for keeping her safe."
A voice made Edward's eyes shot open. He saw a bulky man with dark curly hair with eyes that were similar to the lady beside him. He nodded curtly, examining the man's appearance.
Classy metro sexual… Playboy.
Sometimes, it was weird that Edward could tell someone's personality accurately by look.
Emmet took out money from his wallet and placed them on the table. Edward hissed. He was disgusted with this gesture.
"I just want you not to make her do anything that she doesn't want to." Edward said coldly and walked away from bar without giving a glance to the money.
A/N :Is there anyone reach this bottom? What do you think? Review? You can say anything, but be nice please. :)
