I know it took awhile but here you go.


As promised Drake woke me with a tray full of food, I was almost finished when Grace came in to check on me. "Good morning Bella, I take it you had a good nights sleep?" I took a sip of my freshly squeezed orange juice and nodded. "Well Mr. Cullen has a meeting this morning so you are free to do what ever you would like until one and then he will join you where ever you are. So, what would you like to do?"

No one has ever asked me what I would like to do so when she said those words I almost cried. "Bella I didn't mean to insult you or anything. Please just take your time finishing your breakfast and then we can decide what you would like to do then."

I laughed at her panicking and she looked at me silently asking if I was ok. "Grace I'm not upset or anything and honestly I would love to get out of this room. I was just surprised that you asked what I wanted to do, nobodies ever asked me that before."

She tilted her head to the side and smiled, "Well what would you like to do? We have an indoor swimming pool with hot tub, a pool table, tennis court, a bowling alley in the basement and of course a gym with all the exercise equipment you could possibly need. There is also a screening room but we haven't sent out for any movies that are currently in the theatres."

I was still caught up on the fact that they had an indoor pool and here she was acting like it was nothing at all. I had to admit sitting in the hot tub and reading a good book did sound absolutely perfect. "I guess the hot tub sounds the best." She smiled at me, "You don't sound to enthusiastic about it."

I was a little afraid to say it but how would she know if I didn't say it out loud. "Do you have any books around here?" She smiled showing me her bright white teeth and opened a drawer on the dresser. "Just put a bathing suit and cover and follow me."

She stepped out giving me a chance to get dressed. I grabbed what I considered to be a skimpy bikini and the matching black cover before opening the door to find Grace waiting for me.

She nodded her head to the side and I followed her down stairs and down the back hall. "The pool and hot tub are through the door at the end of the hall, you will find plenty of towels there but first." She opened the wooden door that was directly beside her. "This is the library. You are free to take anything you like and read it. Please try to remember where you got the book from and put it back there, you may take them out of the room just be careful with the older more expensive books."

My jaw dropped when I saw how many books were in this room. "I'll leave you to enjoy your free time. Mr. Cullen will be by later." I subconsciously nodded at her trying not to be rude. I swear I heard her laugh at me as she left the room.

I scanned the room for two hours before I settled on reading Where the Red Fern Grows. It isn't on my top list of favorite books but its one of those books that is great to just read without having to concentrate too much on the plot.

I headed to the pool room at the end of the hall and was floored when I got in there. Along with a pool that's bigger than the entire brothel, there was a hot tub big enough to hold twenty people and still have plenty of space and there was slide and diving board for the pool.

I took a few minutes and I couldn't help but to think of Dorothy saying 'Toto I don't think we're in Kansas anymore'. I placed my cover on a chair before I took the book and climbed into the hot tub immediately enjoying the heat on my muscles.

Before I knew what was happening I was halfway through the book and when I looked up Edward was in the hot tub with me. He looked really relaxed as if he had been there for awhile. "How long have you been here?" He ran a wet hand through his dry hair before speaking, "What chapter are you on?"

I didn't see why that was important but I answered anyways, "I just finished chapter 10." The same smirk from last night spread across his face, "Then I have been here for the last two chapters." I immediately closed the book and placed in the chair I pulled to the edge of the hot tub, "Why didn't say anything? I would've stopped reading."

Fear went through me, maybe he really didn't want me here or maybe he was a complete ass and expected me to notice when he entered the room at all times. "Bella I didn't interrupt your reading because it wasn't necessary. My family will be here tomorrow evening for dinner and I took my last meeting this morning. I have nothing but free time until they leave after the holidays. Besides after my meeting I thought it would be best to relax a little."

We sat in an awkward silence for a while before he spoke again, "So were you enjoying your book?" I pulled my knees up to my chest under the water, "I guess, I just needed something to do and I rarely ever get the chance to read at the… at my aunts house." Why was I so ashamed that I lived in a brothel, its not like I did anything with anyone?

"Is that one of your favorites?" I shook my head, "Not really but I enjoy reading it. I guess that's because my dad used to read it all the time before he died. I would always see him sitting in his favorite chair reading it." Just talking about my parents made me miss them, the only thing that I have left to remind me of them is a locket I hid from Lady Hannigan.

After everything was given to me in their will she started pawning things off leaving me with nothing. The sad part is that the locket is hanging on a piece of floss because I broke the gold chain one day when I fell off a latter cleaning in the attic of the brothel.

"You look sad; did I say something to upset you?" I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, "No, I was just thinking about how much I miss my parents." He titled his head as if asking me to continue, "I don't really talk about my parents but every once in awhile a little tidbit will slip and then it all hits me again."

"You mentioned them last night; I would like to here your entire story if that is ok with you." Did I really have a choice? I could lie and tell him that I had a great life and just bull shit my way out of this awkwardness but for some ungodly reason I felt the need to tell him the truth.

"It was New Years Eve in '97, I was eight. My dad had a party to go to for work. I cried as they left begging my mom to stay because I hated the old lady from next store who was to watch me. The next morning when I woke up the police where there but my parents weren't. That after noon my aunt Agatha Hannigan showed up and took me to her house."

"I cleaned the brothel, which doubled as our home, as compensation for living there. Hannigan is a total, pardon my language, bitch. She always treated mw like garbage, in fact the girls that work for her treated me better than she did. The only good thing about her was that she never tried to make me work in the brothel and for that I will forever be thankful. God knows what could have happened to me if she really didn't have some kind of heart."

I waited for the tears to start pouring but by some amazing grace from God they never came. Edward looked very confused like I was a puzzle he was trying to figure out. "Please just ask because you're freaking me out." He sat up straighter before looking into my eyes, "If you didn't work in the brothel? How did Grace find you?"

I let out the breath I was holding, "I needed to get the grocery money from Hannigan and Grace was looking over the girls when I walked up. She immediately sent the others away and then ten minutes later I was in a limo coming here. Needless to say I don't think Hannigan or the other girls were happy."

Soon after our conversation ended Grace came in the double doors, "Sir, Emerson sent me to get you for dinner. Where would you like it to be served?" He climbed out of the hot tub and grabbed himself a towel. "I think in the kitchen will be fine, unless you would like to eat in the dinning room Bella." Both of them looked at me waiting for my response. "Anywhere is fine with me." Grace nodded quickly and left us alone.

I stood to get out and when I turned Edward had stuck his hand out to help me out. I smiled a thank you as he quickly wrapped a towel around me. "We should get dressed before dinner. I'll meet you in the kitchen when you're ready." I grabbed my book and cover before heading upstairs.

Once in my room I quickly grabbed a pair of jeans and a sweater. I pulled my pulled a brush through my hair hoping to tame it but gave up on it quickly. I would really have to learn how to do my hair while Edward's family is here. In the bathroom connected to my room was some perfume, I smelt them all settling on a strawberry scented one.

When I finally made it down stairs he was pacing in the foyer yelling on his cell phone pulling on his hair. I thought about going over to him but I thought it best to let him find me when he was feeling better. I went into the kitchen and there was a man running trying to get the food finished.

"You must be Miss Bella?" He was a very tall with long bland hair tide back in a ponytail. His eyes where the palest blue I have ever seen they reminded me of ice. He extended his hand out towards me; I hesitated before shaking it and immediately regretted in because I got a cold chill all over.

"I'm James Emerson the cook around here. Mr. Cullen and Grace call me Emerson but you can call me James. Well I should get back to finishing the dinner." I chewed on my bottom lip and sat down in the chair furthest from him but making sure I could keep my eyes on him at all times.

Even though he never directly looked at me I still felt his eyes looking over my body. I relaxed a little when Grace came into the room but I still stayed tense until Edward came into the room. That worried me the most; I've never been able to trust anyone but it seemed as if my heart and body were trying to tell me it was OK to trust him. I knew I should keep him a safe distance from me but just him being around seemed to calm me.

Edward took the seat across from me at the small table after exchanging a few words with Grace. Moments later it was just me, Edward, and James left in the kitchen and I was still uneasy as James moved around. When he placed our plates down in front of us I jumped a little when he was standing right next to me.

Edward must have seen that James made me uncomfortable because he asked him to leave us alone. I finally relaxed and I felt slightly exhausted from keeping my body so tense even for just that small amount of time. I used my fork and played around with the food. It looked safe but I was a little afraid to be the first to take a bite.

I looked up and watched Edward take a few bites before I finally decided to try it. It was delicious not that I thought Edward Cullen would eat anything that was disgusting. We ate in silence the only sounds were out utensils against the plates or us taking a drink.

I was completely stuffed and couldn't eat anything else, but Edward thought I could. He reached across the table and started cutting into some type of dessert. He placed a slice on a small plate and tried to hand it to me. I looked at it and scrunched up my nose at it and shook my head. "You don't like strawberry chiffon?" I shook my head, "I don't really like strawberries."

He titled his head at me, "You used the strawberry scented perfume?" I blushed that he noticed which perfume I used, "I like the smell of strawberries and I can eat strawberry flavored things but actual strawberries are just gross. I know it's weird." He laughed and took a huge bite of the dessert.

I took a deep breath before speaking, "So Edward you know a lot about me, but all I know about you is that you are a rich businessman, you live in this mansion with several savants, and apparently you have a family you want to impress. Who is the real Edward Cullen?" He dropped his fork not even finishing his dessert.

He stood and signaled me to follow him, where we ended up in his office. Once were we through the door he turned me around and pointed up to a huge family picture above the door. "The blond haired man standing between me and the bronze haired woman, that is my father Carlisle the woman is my mother Esme. They live in Chicago next door to my uncle Aro who has two twin sons, Jasper and Emmett. They are the three men on the opposite side of the painting."

He turned to his desk and grabbed a picture frame, "This is Jasper and his wife Alice. They got married a year and a half ago and they have four month old twins Leah and Seth. Since Alice can't keep up with them they have a nanny who I understand is named Rosalie, she will be joining them when they visit."

"Emmett lives in Florida away from the family like I do, but he will be coming to visit too. My full name is Edward Anthony-Mason Cullen, named after my grandfathers, and I am 24. I hate people who crunch ice, my favorite color is blue, I eat the fancy food that Emerson make but I love hamburgers and tacos, even though I'm good at my job I hate it, kids scare the shit out of me but, and I love to travel all over the world."

I sat down next to him on the couch that he flopped down on while he was telling me his likes and dislikes. He turned his head to look at me and I smiled, "I'm Isabella Marie Swan, named after my grandmother, I turned 18 nine months ago. I like any shade of green especially emerald, I'll eat fruit but prefer vegetables, I've never had a taco in my entire life, the only family I have is Hannigan and I hate her, I like kids until they cry, and the only time I've ever been kissed in a romantic way was by my neighbor Jacob at my parents funeral when I told him I had to move away."

When I turned to look at Edward his eye brows were raised and his mouth hanging open. "You've seriously never had a taco?" I shook my head surprised that was the only thing he got out of my confessions. "Ok tomorrow you are going to experience Spanish cuisine." He lifted the black phone that was sitting on the table next to him, "Grace please tell Emerson that we want Spanish food all day tomorrow…Thank you… Good night."

"OK Bella would you like me to escort you to your room?" He extended his hand out and I took it as we walked up stairs. Neither of us spoke as we walked but it was a comfortable silence. He opened the bedroom door for me and wished me a goodnight. Before he could close the door I called out to him, "Edward," he turned and looked at me, "you're different than I thought you would be."

"How so?" He looked really confused.

I played with a strand of my hair while I spoke. "Well being around the brothel I have seen several of the higher classed men and you are completely different from them. I've seen them hit the girls and yell at them but you're really nice, at least from what I've seen." He ran his hand through his hair and he blushed a little, "Bella I'm so sorry you had to meet people like that and I hope you will see that not everyone in my world treats woman like that. Goodnight."

He closed the door and left leaving a smile on my face. I may not know him very well but I have a good feeling that we will be getting along even if it is just for this short amount of time.


So what did you think?