"SECRET PREGNANCY"
Chapter 1
EXCUSE ME, I think you gave me too much change- Bella Swan showed her hand full with coins and bills to the teenager in the cash machine, but he kept staring at her with his mouth wide open, with his eyes like plates.
-Eh? - His clouded eyes went down to where it could be her neckline if she were wearing a bikini, instead of a dove gray suit jacket. His mouth opened even more, revealing his disappointment of seeing too much fabric.
-Too much change- Bella said again patiently. –See? - I gave you five bucks to pay something of two dollars and six cents, and you gave me forty seven dollars and ninety four cents- giving a big sister smile. –I don't think your boss would like that.
-Oh, yeah- he answered vaguely – Did you want to see him?
Apparently, the boy still did not understand. She gave up.
-Here- she grabbed his hand, turn the hand up and put two twenty dollar bills and one of five. He looked at his hand, immobile. –Put it back in the cashier, ok?- she lectured him –have a nice day-.
The last five words seem to turn on a little light on the boy's mind. He stopped looking his hand.
-Ah, yeah, have a nice day…- he stopped, with the impression of someone just said that –ah, Miss Amer… Miss Swan- he concluded.
Bella sigh while she was out of the store with the lip balm on his hand and a leather suitcase on the other. Sooner or later, this thing will stop.
But not yet.
-Well, the local princess of Forks- a man said while he was coming out of a real-state agency.
-Good morning Mr. Newton- she said, with the right smile.
Carlisle Cullen's law firm was a few doors away. It had cedar slat blinds on the windows, a caller and a brass plaque on the door and a beautiful brick front painted cream with pale blue tops.
If she would keep the forty five dollars without saying anything, she wouldn't cross with Mister Newton. She would be now safe in the privacy of her appointment with the man old enough to be her grandparent who wouldn't be impressed or become a stutterer to see a former beauty queen.
She should perhaps conclude that sometimes the criminal acts were justifiable.
Mr. Newton was an assistant director of her father, in the County Bank; she could not be rude. Actually, if she were rude with anybody on town, even if it day or night, the story would come out on the cover of the Forks Weekly
The Forks' local princess says "get out!" to an honorable neighbor, or something like that. It could be exhausting, and it make some issues were more difficult to solve. For example, who she was and what could make her happy.
Mister Newton was making her questions: if she like to be back in town, if she would stay three months, if she'll be back to Los Angeles, if she missed the lights, parties and the celebrity she left behind…etc.
She could not answer that. Even if he had all day, she wasn't. Carlisle Cullen was expecting her and she had to be back to her room at the Grand Regency Hotel after eating, to occupy of an endless list of things to do.
-Forks is a fantastic town- she said –I'm not regretting leaving Los angles.
That was true, but just in a minimal way.
-Well, have a nice day, and tell your father I've see you. You know, if Miss America had turned out to be a dam leaked, or something like it…-
-I know- Bella smiled – how unfair hah? How could that woman dare to have an impeccable life?-
-Smart, handsome and funny- said Mr. Newton to the April sky. His expression begun to look like the boy's one, few minutes ago.
-It has been a pleasure to see you, Mr. Newton – said Bella quickly.
She smiled again, because, as almost everyone in Forks, he was proud of her and he regretted that she didn't win the Miss America contest by a bit. It would be offhand getting mad for the support that she always had; those who stared at her neckline were frankly minority.
But the contest had been more than five years ago. She asked herself if Forks would let her go forward in her life again.
Bella opened the door at Carlisle Cullen's law firm and the bell rang. The receptionist looked away of the computer screen.
-Miss Swan!-she smiled – I'll tell Mister Cullen you are here. He's expecting you.
Bella looked her watch by instinct.
-Oh, no, you're not late- said the girl –I mean, he was hoping to see you today.
She pulled back the chair to fast; she stood up and stumbled with one of the wheels. She said a bad word and looked Bella with panic, as if a former finalist of a beauty contest had the right to arrest a woman who cursed in public.
She asked to herself what else left to see. Maybe Carlisle Cullen could get an acid attack when he sees her. He was the family's lawyer before Bella were born. At least, he wouldn't see her with a night dress and a tiara on her head; he had other memories less extravagant. For example, on diapers, or dressed as scout girl. The preferable ones.
-Miss Swan is here, Mr. Cullen- said the receptionist after call and showed her head through the door.
-Yes, please, tell her to come in- said a voice that couldn't seem to belong to an eighty year old man.
After two seconds, Bella was in front of the man who six years ago were close to ruin her sister Rosalie's wedding, if not her whole marital life with Emmett.
Edward Cullen.
Not Carlisle.
And yes, that Mr. Cullen in deed had memories about her.
Her entire body started to burn, then it frozen. She felt a wave of reactions. It was like suffering and ambush of old feelings, those that hadn't been enjoying at that time and in the present she like them even less.
She had been very protective with her sister since her back to Forks, three months ago, after find out why Rosalie and Emmett weren't parents yet, after six years of marriage. She didn't want that anything else interfere with Rosalie's happiness.
And if Cullen still had the power to get it…
Probably he was the only person in the world who can get Bella to feel nostalgia for the princess treatment that everybody in Forks give to her, except for her father. She can't stand to be treated as a princess, but at least she knew how to handle it.
Never knew how to handle Edward. At best, pretending to, that was what she did on Rosalie's wedding.
She didn't know that Carlisle Cullen's grandson was back in town and, as it seems, he was in charge of his grandfather's law firm. He was sinfully good looking, unreliable, and she didn't like him at all.
Not really.
She could not betray Rosalie like that, and she wasn't fool either. In the last years she grew a powerful auto protecting instinct.
-Bella- he said. He stood up quickly. The courtesy he knew as a child it didn't seem affected by his residence in Chicago. The sun that came in through the window, illuminates his golden highlight in his hair, making them to stand up among the lower hair, the darkest ones. His slightly artificial tan over his pale body was very good.
His dark suit pants and a white shirt covering a strong and manly body that seems to feel good under his skin; full with power without the need to prove it. He probably would prove himself so many times, with so many women. He was surrounded bye an electric aura of sexual success, but he was acting like he did not know about it.
Bella was pretty sure that a man like him knew about the aura surrounding him.
He probably should have thirty three or thirty four years old, as she had only twenty eight. He had been her sister's first real boyfriend; when Rosalie was in the last year of high school and she was only thirteen.
The girls were very impressionable at that age and Bella had been…
Very impress.
In fact, she was madly in love with Edward until sixteen. During those three years, he barely noticed her existence. She on the other hand, she was sweating, his face turned red, said stupid things or remained silence when see him, even wrote bad poetry. She was not very proud about how the reaction she had the night he finally noticed her.
Edward, as if he didn't notion that she may feel hostile or negative, nor have feelings even more complex over him, he surrounded the oak desk and offer his hand. His smile was as firm as the hand shaking. The looks in his golden eyes expressed respect and gave the feeling of getting in to friendship, under the right circumstances.
On his attitude and body language it didn't reflect the "another cutie, yawn…maybe a night on the bed" known treatment in L.A., neither "oh, wow, I'm on the same room with the beautiful prodigal of Forks", regular in there.
Was unfair!
He behaves like Bella wanted the entire population could do, except Edward Cullen. She knew by Rose and by own experience, that his attitude should be part of a game that it could only have an ending: Edward being the winner.
-Edward- she said with cold voice. A former finalist to Miss America has learning how to control her voice. –I wasn't expecting to see you here-.
-I was not expecting to be, until a couple of days ago- he sputtered. –Please sit down- showing the two leather couches standing beside the window, each one at a side of an oak coffee table.
Bella sat with reluctance. She had her lips dry, that is why she bought the lip balm. She had spent the day before outside, in Rose and Emmett's horse farm, and burned with the spring sun and breeze. The time seems to be against her attempts of being without make up every hour.
-I arrived on Friday- Edward explain, -and grandpa practically put a bunch of keys in my hand, grab his fishing rod and went to the mountain- he opened his hands and turned his palms up. –I thought I was coming to rest, but he had other ideas.
-So, this is temporally? Just for a few days?-
Bella's voice sounded relief, and she wished to hide better her reaction. She was sure Edward was hiding something.
-Ok- she said -I could arrange another date when your grandfather returns-
Edward looked her in silence, knowing her discomfort and smiled again.
-I'm sorry, I think I gave you the wrong impression- he clarify. –My grandfather and I have talk and concluded I will be in charge of the law firm during the next six months, while we consider the future options. He should have retired years ago, but he wants to think on it. My father's death, six months ago, affected him so much.
-Oh yeah. Obviously. I'm so sorry- she said.
-It was hard- he admitted. –We didn't see a lot since him and mom got divorced and moved to Seattle, but we still were very close.
-I suppose-
She had seen a silver portrait occupying prominent place on the shelf, behind the desk. Edward, his father and grandfather smiled to the camera, with the golf club of Forks as background.
Edward didn't look like them. The bony structure of his face was less angular, his jaw less prominent and was a bit muscular and dense; but the picture showed they love each other so much.
-The truth is, we don't talk about days when my grandpa shows up- said Edward. –I've looked your information and I don't think your problem take too long.
-My grandmother heritage. No, it can't wait. It is too difficult to my mother-.
-I can imagine-
Again his voice had the perfect tone. Sincere condolence. But not overwhelming. It must be a professional technique he had studied. Bella said to herself that it could not be natural in him. After seeing his behavior in Rose's wedding, she hadn't any doubt about it.
-I've heard some great stories about your grandma. Most of them funny- he said. –Without doubt, it must have been very difficult to your mom.
-They were close- Bella wished not to have her throat dry. –If I take care of the practical and legal stuff, it get easier to take other decisions to my mom about grandma's belongs.
-If you wish, you could go to Banks & Moore, in Port Angeles- Edward offered. She thought she saw a sparkle in his challenging eyes. –Or you could try with me-.
-I'm surprised you're here-. Said Bella, trying to win some time. After a few seconds she knew she was acting too slowly. He already had explained his presence. –I mean, I'm surprised you were available. You take a long time in Chicago; I supposed you have some business there.
-I'm taking a break- he said. He hopped not to show the complexity of his feeling about it. –I have a couple of open choices, and I don't want to take the wrong one.
He knew most of the people in Forks wouldn't believe it. Some would wish to see him crash and fall, and interpret his return as a sign that it could happened in any second. Expecting rumors about dirty business, debts, financial scandals or incapacitation to practice law.
That was the disadvantage of have been auto proclaimed a high-flying boy in that town like Forks. Unfortunately, his ambition and his arrogance toke him to make some bad mistakes in the past, and that could give plausibility to the rumors.
Without doubt, he acted like an ass, and he could not let it go. His grandpa Carlisle had put on the shelf some of the trophies he won, playing golf, "to give your personal touch to the office, that now is yours". Edward added another trophy; a fake one that his partners of the Law School had given to him.
Bad Loser, it reads in a nice copper plate. The important of the trophy was when his friends gave it to him, joking; he was not able to laugh. Three years later, the trophy was is most important personal touch in the offices he had occupy, and he laugh a lot more of himself.
He knew the only thing he could do about his reputation was to bow his head, get strength of his maturity and the faith his family had in him, and prove everybody is wrong.
Not everybody, only the people who matter.
The beautiful Bella Swan could not be one of them, but it was without doubt. He has not seen her in six years and he couldn't get her out of his head.
-Banks and Moore haves a good reputation as a practice law- she said getting up. –he stood up and looked her.
Her dark brown hair framed her face and the chocolate eyes were big and clear. She was wearing a classic and simple suit, but in her slender it seems so beautiful and feminine like lace. She didn't seem to wear make up, except by the lip balm, but his skin was so pale and delicate that Edward loved it her natural look. Testosterone started to circulate on his body.
-I guess your secretary could send them the documents, right? - Bella concluded.
Edward felt his stomach shrank. Damn it, damn it. The game turned out wrong.
Of course she wouldn't see it like that. She picked up the reasonable option he had offered to her; he regretted it. Powerless, he let the rest of the conversation follow until the end.
When she got out of the office, the real Edward Cullen took again the control of his actions.
Edward Cullen the winner.
Edward Cullen the fourth generation lawyer.
The Edward Cullen who heard No and acts like an angry bull when seeing red.
Edward Cullen who could laugh when he sees the Bad Loser trophy, but he will not let go his last chance to get in with the Swan family go out through the door on grey pearl high heels, while he stand nailed to the floor, imprisoned bye a wild wave of necessity and physical desire.