OK I'm adding another chapter and hopefully I'll get some reviews after this story and tomorrow I plan on updating Home is Where My Heart Is…. If you haven't read it check it out!
Sad to say, I don't own Twilight.
EPOV
The meeting went well, just as I had planned. Our lawyers were meeting tomorrow to work out the final details, and then the company would be ours. Just like that. We walked out the conference room, Emmett followed me to my office. "Got any big plans tonight?" Emmett asked.
"No why would I?" I responded.
"I don't know Ed, it's a Friday night!" Emmett exclaimed.
"Oh yeah I forgot.." I mumbled, I had worked so much lately the days just seemed to past by.
"We should take a night out on the town tonight, we haven't had a guys' night in forever, maybe we could even drag Jasper away from Alice"
My phone rang, it was Tanya.
"Hello?" I answered.
"Hi baby!" she sounded excited.
"whats up?" I asked.
"Oh nothing, I just thought I'd let you knows I'm on my way to fly out to California, Victoria's Secret called and they asked if I could fill in for a model, I couldn't say no of course!" she exclaimed.
"That's great" I faked, I just wasn't a big fan of her model gigs that involved underwear and swim suites. I didn't like the idea of every man in America looking at her half naked.
"Oh Eddie, I know you're not a big fan of these shoots, but it's best for my career I'm only going to be gone a week" she stated.
"I know" I said. Emmett cleared his throat and rolled his eyes, his way of telling me to get off the phone.
"well I've got to go Emmett is here to talk business, have a good flight, love you" I said. The word love rolled off my tongue without even thinking it.
"Love you too" she replied and disconnected.
"Well as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted" Emmett was not a big fan of Tanya. He claimed it was nothing personal against her he just felt she was not right for me.
Emmett didn't get to continue because he was interrupted again by my office phone beeping.
"Edward, you have a call on line 2, I suggest you take it. It is a Ms. Isabelle Swan" my receptionist Anne informed me.
I had not the slightest idea who that was, and Emmett gave me a wink.
"Edwards Cullen speaking" answered.
"Hi uh- Edward, I'm sorry to bug you at work but I am Isabelle Swan from the New York City child services" she paused. My eyebrows knitted together and gave Emmett who was still standing in my office a confused looks.
"Well we have your daughter here Emma Cullen, and unfortunately her mother, Lauren, has passed away in a deadly car accident."
"Is this some kind of a joke?" I asked, but I did not let her continue "I do not have a daughter"
"Well I am sorry Mr. Cullen, our records show here that you are the father, we are more than happy to perform a paternity test, and I am not saying you even have to take responsibility-"
I cut her off rudely, "Miss Swan, I will be at your office in 20 minutes" and with that I hung up.
Emmett stared at me, and laughed "they think you have a kid? What a joke? It probably is just some crazy crack whore scam trying to get some money man, do you want me to go with you?" he offered
"No, no you stay I am sure I can handle this." I stated, and took out my blackberry and called my driver to meet me out back. The last thing I wanted is the press to follow me to Child Services in New York.
BPOV
I hung up the phone angrily. Of course I should have known, he would claim that the child was not his. I swear people were just idiots these days. It takes 20 minutes to get back a paternity test, why even try to lie I wondered to myself. (AN: I don't know exactly how they do paternity tests or how long it takes to get back but just go with it! Thanks!)
I continued flipping through Emma's file making sure I had all the facts correct before Mr. Cullen showed up.
About 10 minutes later I heard a knock on my door, and in stepped the most beautiful man I had ever seen.
Snap out of it you idiot I thought to myself, reminding me that this jerk had dumped his daughter off on some lady and was now willing to claim she wasn't even his. I could save our office a paternity test I knew but his striking green eyes there was not a doubt she was his.
He seemed surprised when he saw me, his angry features he first had softened a bit.
"Hello, Ms. Swan" he said holding out his hand.
I stood and smoothed out my white blouse that was tucked into a high waisted gray skirt I had on. "Bella" I said as I shook his hand, out hands fit perfectly together, by surprise I drew to away quickly. "I-uh I'm glad you could come so quickly"
Edward took a seat "can you please explain what exactly is going on?" Edward asked.
"Well, like I said, Lauren Murphy died-" but he interrupted me.
"Lauren Murphy" he asked incredulously.
Here we go I thought, this is when the rich boy realizes he has to own up now, to knowing about the child.
"Yes Lauren Murphy, does that ring a bell?" I asked unable to hide my attitude.
"Yes, it uh-does. How old is the child?"
"Emma is 5 years old" I said handing him her picture.
His breath caught in his throat when he saw her picture. The resemblance was undeniable.
"Her eyes" he muttered. "She never told me-"
I was surprised when I saw his green eyes clouded with an emotion that looked like sadness.
"We dated for about 4 months, when she came home one day and just said she couldn't be with me anymore, she didn't want to hold me back, it was 5 years ago" his mouth dropped
There was something about him, something about the honesty in his voice. I believed his story.
"I can't believe she held this from me- I had a daughter, a beautiful daughter and I wasn't there for her…" he looked crushed.
I didn't know what to say, I was speechless.
"Mr. Cullen, it's not too late" I said softly.
He looked up at me, not understand what I was saying.
"She needs you, she needs help, she's lost she doesn't know what's going on, but I'm sure she'd love a daddy in her life." I comforted him the best I could.
"Can I see her?" he asked.
"Sure, she's at the adoption agency if you wouldn't mind just following me" I replied as I stood up.
EPOV
In the past hour my world has taken a 180. I had been a father for the past five years of my life. I was hurt, I didn't know what was going on. All I knew is that I wanted to be a part of her life from here on out. I hated thinking of all the things I had missed already. I followed Bella out of her office.
"It's only a 10 minute walk, if you don't mind?" Bella asked.
"No I don't mind" Fresh air sounded exactly what I needed. I opened the door for her, and she seemed surprised, but didn't say anything and walked outside. I followed her.
"I just met her yesterday, she's absolutely beautiful , and although she's lost and confused, I can tell with some love and attention she'll be whole again..but if you don't think you can handle it-" Bella commented.
I interrupted her, slightly offended, "she's my child, I have missed five years of her life, I refuse to miss anymore, I want her to be my responsibility, I want her to be a part if my life"
"I'm sorry Mr. Cullen-"
"Edward please" I corrected.
She took a breath, "Edward, I did not mean to offend you in any way; you just have to understand I'm just looking out for her best interest, Emma's a sweet girl we talked a lot yesterday. I see a lot of children go through here that I can tell just aren't ever going to be the same, no matter what family we send them to. They'll never look at life and see their glass half full, but when I do see a few that still have hope, like Emma, I don't want that view to change. I'm just here to help them along."
I looked at Bella beside me, I was touched, she had so much passion. I took a good look at her, her chocolate eyes met mine and I saw a blush appear on her milky skin. Her eyes though, they were full of passion, but there was something behind them something dark and mysterious. She had a reason for her passion I could tell, but before I could try to find out anything else she stopped in front of a building.
"I told her yesterday I was coming, possibly with a visitor, I didn't tell her you would be here because we have many dads who want nothing to do with their children. But none the less, I think you should tell her you are her father and she may give you a bad reaction. I just want you to be prepared. She told me yesterday whenever she asked Lauren about her Daddy, Lauren would just say he didn't need us in our life."
I felt angry. How could Lauren have done this? I would have wanted nothing more in my life than to be a part of this little girls life. I followed Bella up the steps as we walked into a building, I could hear children's screaming and laughter. I took a deep breath prepared to meet the girl that was about to change my life forever.
OKKK please review I kind of like this story and I think have some good ideas for it!
