Disclaimer: I do not own twilight. Or anything twilighted related. I wish I did though. Have you seen the previews for New Moon. Taylor is one good looking kid.
Bella's POV
Everything Emmett feared to become I had to learn how to do better than everyone else. My father, Charlie, was a Wall Street legend he could make more money in an hour than most people in a month. Technology was where the money would be made and when my father figured it out he worked everyday anywhere from 12 to 20 hours a day. As CEO of Swan Industries he made sure to remain at the top of his game. The only thing missing was someone to take over the company and keep the Swan family in high society. Unfortunately for my father Emmett dreamed of being a writer.
As children we grew up studying at home and were taught by the best instructors. It was a rare occurrence when we left the house grounds to visit the outside world. During such circumstances our father would parade us around. Showing the world what wonderful children he had. Everything and everyone in our family revolved around Charlie Swan.
We were sheltered from everything bad in the world. Once we reached our teen years Emmett began to rebel against my father. I saw the effect it had on my mother. She loved us but never defended us or protected us from our dad. Fuck I hated that. Charlie's vision of the future was picture perfect. With Em in charge of the company and I would be happily married to some prick with 2 kids on my side. I feared my father and pitied my mother but having grown up is such an ambiance I kept quiet like a good girl. My mother tried her best to keep me from hearing the males in my family argue but it's not like they were quiet.
That shit went on for years. I don't remember there being a tranquil night in my house after I turned 12. Emmett had started high school and that's when my father made his sentiments known out loud. We all knew what he expected of Em but, Charlie had never vocalized his thoughts until Em started Wayward High.
Boarding schools, my father believed, would allow us to grow and become model citizens while creating a path leading to an Ivy League college. With that philosophy in mind I followed Em to school after two years. My sophomore year was Em's last year. He planned on telling my father after graduation that he was going to attend Brown and be a literature major.
I distinctly remember the shouting, which kept rising from my father's office. Emmett stormed out and ran to his room to emerge a few minutes later with two cases packed. My mother was crying and pleading with him to stay and listen to his father but he threw his suitcases in the back of the jeep. I ran to his side but he pushed me away and I tumbled into my mother's arms. After the initial shock was over and I watched him speed away I broke down on the ground and cried.
Em and I only had each other. He was my older brother and I loved him. When I woke up I ran to his room, but found an empty bed instead.
I waited for a call an email anything but never received one. Days turned to weeks, weeks to months, months to years and I gave up on my brother. He didn't want to see me or talk to me ever again.
School became my obsession, an outlet. I graduated from Wayward at the top of my class during the ceremony I looked out into the crowd and saw my mother and Nana but Charlie was a no show. I attended Harvard receiving a degree in business and following in my father's footsteps. Again, school became an obsession. I was the only freshman taking 7 courses and working myself stiff. By the end of my first year there my head fucking hated me. I graduated a year early and this time when I scanned the crowd my father was there next to my mother. I made my way towards them weary of what was to come. I had a job waiting back home. My father had his heir.
My life had turned into what would have been Emmett's and I understood why it is he had left. I never went anywhere outside of home and my office because there was always something to do.
New York had turned into hell. I hated my job it suffocating me but, I was great at what I did. Two years of nothing but paperwork and numbers. So three months ago when my father promoted me and gave me the task of over a merger between Swan I. and Del Monte & Co. I was pleased. However, many shareholders were worried. I understood why though. This was my first big project on my own. It's always a difficult process when merging two companies and Charlie thought I was up for the job.
After a month though, things were going to slow for Charlie so he flew me out to Seattle to oversee the company up close. I brought Angela along with me knowing she would have ripped my head off if I had left her alone. She was one of my only friends which only tells you how fucking sad my life is.
I had spent my entire first day catching up and going over the financial downfall of the company and why they had to sell. I didn't leave until seven in the morning the next day. Of course the only way to make that possible required several refills of coffee. None of which had died down by the time I left. I was starving so I went out in search for a place to eat.
Twenty minutes later I spotted a small café that read Forks; it seemed quaint enough so I entered and took a booth by the exit door. There was no one there besides me so when I heard a small commotion from the entrance I lifted my head in order to see who had entered. My brother. Emmett had certainly changed over the years. He was always big and muscular but this was just ridiculous. I didn't know people could get so big. What has he been eating? He had his arm around a tall blonde and was smiling. Emmett was genially smiling something he hadn't done with anyone except me.
This was the first time in eight years I'd be seeing my brother, and as much as I love him, I expected him to be a little torn up. The waitress placed the food in front of me and left. All the while I just stood there not sure what to do. How the hell did I expect to see him? Distraught. He obviously was happy and that broke my heart a little. Not knowing what else to do I took the cowards way out I left. I hurried out the back door before he could see me.
When I reached the apartment I had signed a year six month lease for it felt a lot smaller. Like the feeling the walls would close in on you and the shit scared me senseless. I should have stayed and said something. Maybe I was wrong maybe he missed me, sure as hell didn't look like it though. More determined than ever, I picked up my phone and dialed Angela I needed to talk to him.
"Bella, what can I do for you tonight?" She asked in a happy tone. Always in a happy tone, I wonder what makes her so happy.
"Sorry to bother you so early in the morning but can you please get me my brother's number."
"Your brother, as in Emmett Swan?" Confusion covered her tone.
"Yes, I'll be in the office in 30. Don't mention this to anyone please."
"No problem boss lady." Angela always knew how to bug me.
"Ugh. You know I hate it when you call me that." All I heard was a stifled giggle on the other end.
"I'll have the information for you when you get here bye."
"See you in a few."
The shower seemed like a great way to relax right now. I turned the hot water on letting it ease the tension in my muscles. The morning was off to an unusual start I pray work is easier today. As much fun as spreadsheets and endless paperwork are my body and mind needed two minutes to breathe. Dressing as quickly as I could I rushed out of the building running late since I took longer than expected in the shower.
Jessica meet me at the front door with several proposals that needed my signing while Mike informed me I had two weeks to deliver my presentation to my father. Before I had a chance to enter my office I already had three days of work in my arms, again. Angela walked around her desk to greet me.
"I have what you asked for." She smiled at me.
"Angela you're getting a raise." I could hear her laughing as she followed me to my office. We stepped inside and she closed the door as I flopped down on my chair.
"Do you want me to call him or will you do it yourself?" Ugh. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea.
"Um…I'll call him. Thanks just leave the number here."
The remainder of the day I worked in my office never leaving it. People came in and out needing something signed or wanting to leave more work in my office. Everything had to be revised before the final sale. Charlie would be coming in two weeks to see how things were progressing and to check out the Del Monte building to see if we needed to reconstruct or redesign anything. My father acted peculiar when it came to how an office should look.
By the end of the day the little yellow slip in my coat was weighing me down. Having made up my mind I grabbed the number and dialed. After four rings I heard the voice I hadn't listened to in years.
"Hey this is the great Emmett's answering machine which means he's away shagging up a girl. Leave your message. If you're a girl and sound cute I'll call you back if you're a guy and sound hot maybe but if you sound ugly don't even bother." I couldn't contain the laughter from escaping me and then I spoke to the machine as if I was speaking to him. I'm such and idiot. Leaving the office I headed straight home weary of the days events and the ones of the previous day.
I had arrived home waiting to see if Emmett would call back or visit me like I asked. Hoping it would be the latter of the two I called take out before showering. When I walked out dressed in purple shorts and a white tank top I sat on the couch listening to Debussy trying to stay awake to eat something but failing miserably. The moment I let my eyelids close a knock on the door woke me again. I walked toward the door opening up to receive my food eat and go to sleep. Well, that's what I thought would happen. I was surprised when the person I was expecting wasn't the one at my doorstep.
"Hi," Emmett's voice was no more than a whisper. Was he afraid of my reaction or me?
"Hi? I haven't seen you in years and all you can say is hi?" I teased wanting to ease the tension a little. I took a step forward and wrapped my arms around him. He was no doubt taken by surprise but soon copied my movements. Using his strength he lifted me off the floor and spun me around.
"Em Bear I can't breathe." I really couldn't he was cutting off my air supply which I'm pretty sure humans need.
"Sorry Bells I don't know my own strength." He laughed and I joined in. Someone cleared their throat and it was then I realized we had an audience.
"You brought a crowd with you?" My cheeks felt hot and I knew I was blushing.
"Sis, I didn't exactly know what I was going to say when I saw you. I was freaking out and they came here for moral support." Emmett was nervous.
"Let me get this straight. You, who happens to be well over six feet and probably weighs a ton, Emmett Swan are scared of me?" Everyone laughed and a grin appeared on Em's face.
"Hey squirt I remember your pranks. I don't want my butt stuck to the toilet again." I gestured for everyone to come in and followed.
"I remember that! Hey! You deserved it."
"For what stealing your little doll house."
"It was a gift from dad." Mistake. Huge mistake. When I mentioned dad's name I saw a hint of sadness in Em's face. "I'm sorry I shouldn't have."
"Bells, he's our father. You have the right to talk about him besides I made you bring it up."
"How about you stop being rude and introduce me to everyone."
"About time!" A small woman with black spiky hair and a pixie face exclaimed. "My name is Alice Brandon." She took to strides and hugged me.
"Alice you shouldn't spring yourself up on people." A blonde man with blue eyes said. "I'm Jasper and Alice's better half." She scowled at him in return he kissed her gently on the lips and she smiled.
"Sorry about those two they can be too sweet. Not that your brother and Rose are any better. Edward by the way." Edward was gorgeous. He had emerald eyes without a trace of blue or brown in them. His messy hair only made him that much more irresistible. Trying not to pay to much attention to him I turned to the blonde girl I had seen earlier.
"That must make you Rose." I stated.
"Yes, it's a pleasure to meet you." Her voice was trembling lightly but she hid it quiet well. If my father hadn't insisted on teaching me how to know what someone was feeling just by listening to their voice I wouldn't have picked it up. My arms fluttered around her to pull her in for a hug. She held tightly on to me but we broke away when we heard a knock on the door.
"Who is it?"
"Take out!" A voice yelled back.
I opened the door to meet the guy that had brought me dinner.
"How much?"
"32.54"
"Here you go." He grabbed the money from my hand but left something in return. I turned around and Emmett was pissed. He wasn't the only one Edward seemed troubled too. I couldn't be sure though.
"What's wrong?" I checked myself quickly to make sure I didn't have anything on me.
"That guy was checking you out Bells. He looked at you as if you were something to eat." His face was adorable. Since it was Emmett I decided to mess around with him.
"I know. Why else would he give me his number?" I lifted the paper to show Em. He wasn't happy about it that's for sure.
"Wait here I'm going to go punch him in the face and then I'll be back to finish off the meal." Alice laughed and Jasper placed a hand over her mouth sensing Emmett's I'm-pissed-off-don't-fuck-with-me-look.
"Emmett will you please stop acting like a child." Now I was growing frustrated. I wasn't a child I could take care of myself.
"Bells you are mad at me when that guy was clearly undressing you in his mind."
"I can take care of myself. Besides I doubt I'll ever see him again."
"You're right you won't see him again because when I'm through with him no one will see him again."
"Em I already told you I can take care of myself. I have been since you left." I regretted what I said the second it left my lips. Emmett was clearly hurt by my words and I knew it. Me and my big mouth I couldn't just stay quiet could I.
