Hi All,
Another chapter I won't rabble on as much as I did on chapter one. ;) I just want to send a quick thank you to my awesome beta, pre reader and banner maker. Y'all have made this story what it is. Thank you.
I have discussed with my beta and we both realise Bella would have had to take some exams to practise law in the UK. For the sake of this story please assume she could take the tests online before she arrived. I know this is more than likely wrong but this is fiction so I hope you can over look it. :)
I don't own it Mrs Meyer does.
Enjoy and let me know what you think :D
Bella's point of view
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to London Gatwick Airport. Local time is 6.34 pm and the temperature is 14 Celsius. For your safety and comfort, we ask that you please remain seated with your seat belt fastened until the Captain turns off the Fasten Seat Belt sign. This will indicate that we have parked at the gate and that it is safe for you to move around."
Okay, now to navigate an airport I've never been to and find the car the company has sent for me. My apartment in London is costing an arm and a leg but the company is helping me for the first 24 months because I'm moving over from the States to fill a high end position. I have no idea how Garrett worked all this out but I'm not going to complain because I need some good luck for once.
Emmett, Garrett's London counterpart, is eager for me to arrive so that helps. He's a nice guy, I've met him a few times he doesn't take him himself too seriously outside the courtroom but when he's in there you better watch out. I've never seen someone rip a defence apart like he did he actually scared me at one point. I wouldn't want to be facing him that's for sure. He actually said the same about me which is nice to hear, not many people compliment me.
A loud ding overhead and the seatbelt light going out had me out of my seat in seconds. I grabbed everything out of the overhead bin and made my way to the exit.
"Thank you for flying with American Airlines." I smiled at Kate Moss and braced myself for the wobbly legs I usually get when I touch down in a new place. I don't know why it happens but the first few steps after a flight my legs feel like jelly.
As I walked throughout to the terminal I searched my purse for my visa and passport. Once I located them I held my head up and made my way through the crowds of people.
I hate passport control I always feel like someone's going to jump out and arrest me no matter where I go even if I stay in the USA. As I approached the desk the lady behind it smiled at me. I handed her my documents and once she was happy with what she saw she gave them back and nodded at me. Why don't they talk? I mean is it against the rules or something? It's kind of rude in a way.
"This is a customer service announcement, "Mr Pattinson, please report to gate 3B. That's Mr Pattinson, to gate 3B." There's always one who's late and holds up the flight.
Okay now for the luggage. Most of my stuff is already here I had it brought over in a container but I have a small case in addition to my carry on which I have to pick up. A girl can't survive without her essentials, especially not this girl. I need my home comforts more than anything else in the world. If someone took away my beauty products I would cut a bitch. There's no way I could do without them now I've been too spoilt by them. I like soft skin even if it's only me who enjoys the feel of it.
Baggage claim is surprisingly quiet. Score. There's a young family by the belt but that's about it. The other people from our flight must have rushed through in anticipation of getting back to their loved ones. I can't remember the last time I had someone to go home to who made me feel giddy inside be it a family member or a boyfriend. I haven't been missed or missed anyone in a long time.
As I grabbed for my bag a few things happened in slow motion a hand reached out at the same time as mine and I knocked into someone who I hadn't seen previously, causing me to lose my balance and start falling to the floor. I waited for the impact and braced myself to hit the deck but it never came, instead I felt two arms wrap around my middle.
My whole body is tingling. What is that about? Maybe I'm just dizzy from loss of balance.
"Jesus are you okay, love, that idiot was obviously in too much of a rush to wait for you to get your bag before he grabbed his. What a prat." I kept my eyes shut for a second checking that I definitely had my balance and then I slowly opened them as I moved out of the arms of the guy in question.
Green eyes. That's all I can see. Whoever this mystery man is he's been blessed by the gods. He's beautiful. Can you call a man beautiful? Heh, I don't care that's what he is so I'm going with it.
"Are you okay?"
"Um yeah, sorry. Thank you for catching me." The side of his mouth lifted in a small smile but it dropped as I put more space between us. What am I doing? I need to go. I can't make small talk with this guy. What is wrong with me. Say thank you again and go Bella.
"No problem. Here." He handed me my suitcase and stood awkwardly for a second.
"We'll I should go, thanks again." I rushed off taking extra care not to lose my footing or bump into anyone else.
"Wait I didn't even get your name." His voice faded as I got further away. That was weird I haven't been attracted to a man in that way for a long time. Thank goodness I won't see him again, that would be awkward. I don't think I could cope with feeling like that again. I don't want to feel like that again.
In my rush I ended up going in the complete wrong direction. Shit, that's all I need now. I have to walk all the way back to the other exit.
At least the guy that caught me will be well gone by now. I don't know what came over me. He was just so. I can't even explain it.
When I reached the other side of the airport again I looked around for my driver. A sign with 'Swan' on it had me letting out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness, I could really use a stiff drink right about now.
"Miss Swan?" Oh right I've been stood here staring at this poor guy for a couple of minutes he must think I'm a complete weirdo.
"Yes. Sorry I took so long I got a little lost." He's an older gentleman quite round with dimples. He seems nice enough though.
"We'll that's okay I haven't been here long myself. You've given me a good excuse to miss the god awful soaps my wife watches on a daily basis." Taking my bag from me he gestured to his left and we began the walk to the car.
"Oh, how rude of me I didn't ask your name." He stopped and held out his hand for me to shake.
"I'm Billy, Miss Swan, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"Oh please call me Bella."
"Okay Miss Bella. Mr Emmett doesn't like surnames either, says it makes him feel old."
"Oh you're Emmett's personal driver?" I thought he'd send a car company but not his driver.
"For my sins." He let out a belly laugh as we continued towards the car park. "He's a good man we have a lot of fun especially when he gets into mischief."
"I'm sure he gets into a lot of that. The couple of times I've met him he's seemed like a boy in a man's body when he's not in a courtroom."
"That he is. He needs a good woman to settle him down." I hope he isn't suggesting me.
"I'm sure he'll meet someone soon." I bet he has no problem finding women he's a nice enough guy. And I'm sure all the gold diggers flock to him when they hear the size of his bank balance. That's a scary thought. What a position to be put in.
Billy led me to the parking lot and called it a car park I'm going to have to get used to the English ways everything seems so different here but in a good way.
"This is us, Miss. Emmett insisted I bring the Jag for you. He said, and I quote, "Only the best for Garrett's girl." Garrett, shit I should text him and let him know I've arrived Kate will probably be rolling her eyes at him pacing the floor by now. Billy opened the door for me like a proper English gentleman and shut it just as a silver car sped out of the parking lot squealing its tires for good measure. Someone's in a hurry. I'm glad I don't need a car whilst I'm here I can barely drive on our side of the road let alone on the opposite.
Taking out my phone I sent a text to my only friends left in the states telling them I'd arrived and to stop worrying. I know Garrett he's like the big brother I never had, he'll be more nervous than I am about my first day on Monday and won't settle until he knows I've really adapted to it here. He's worse than a woman, honestly, Kate definitely wears the pants in that relationship.
After putting my bags in the boot Billy slid into the driver's seat and started the engine. Not long now until I get to see my apartment. I'm actually quite excited.
"Miss Bella, Mr Emmett gave me this for you he said it holds your keys and other information you might need before he sees you on Monday." He handed me back a large envelope that had been carefully sealed and obviously not tampered with. "Now be careful when you open it, lovey, I got a terrible paper cut the last time I opened one of those."
"Thank you I can't wait to see my new place."
"We'll Mr Garrett never stays there anyway and you'll be the perfect tenant as your such good friends."
"Wait. What?"
"Your apartment, it's owned by Mr Garrett he has it as an investment and thought it'd be perfect for you to house sit as it just going to waste. That's what Mr Emmett said anyway." I'm going to kill him. No wonder this place just comes out of thin air. Crap, how am I ever going to pay him back for this.
Pulling out my phone not caring what time it was and what he might be doing I dialled Garrett's number.
"Bella, missing me already?"
"I'm going to kill you."
"I take it Billy the gossip has let slip about the apartment? Emmett didn't think it would take long. That was the plan anyway."
"Wait you planned this?"
"Yep. You see I knew you'd never stay at the apartment if you knew it was mine because you'd feel like a freeloader. Which you definitely are not, so I decided to let you find out this way because you can't really say no now."
"Garrett." Yes I just whined down the phone at my best friend in the world he hates it but it serves him right.
"Bella." I hate it when he imitates me he sounds nothing like me and makes me feel stupid.
"I have a place in London that's left empty most of the time as I'm never there. It was brought as an investment a few years ago. I only use it as a holiday home so why shouldn't you live there full time and house sit for me? You're really doing me a favour."
"I don't know."
"You can't say no Bella then you'd be homeless and homeless in London isn't fun. Come on girl you deserve this after what you've been through let your brother from another mother spoil you for once."
"I'm not happy about this, you and Kate have both made my shit list."
"Oh come on Bells. You'll love it it's right on the river; it has stunning views and a kitchen to die for. It needs to be someone's home though and that someone is you." I hate him I hate him I hate him. "Stop slagging me off in your head."
"How did you even know that?"
"We know you Bella, Kate is fully expecting to be cussed out when you get settled in. We love you, let us help you out, please."
"Oh okay but whenever you come to London I'll stay in a hotel."
"It has two bedrooms Bella we'll all stay in the same place. Okay?"
"Okay but I'm not happy about it."
"That's good enough for me." And now he's probably doing a happy dance complete with the robot.
"Stop dancing about Garrett or you'll hurt yourself."
"You gotta let loose sometimes Bells." Usually when he lets loose it involves a bottle of vodka and a roulette board. I guess I should be happy he's sober this time.
"I'll take your word for it."
"You do that. Right, little sis, I have to get going, I have to meet a client for lunch. Enjoy the apartment and call me when you've got some sleep."
"Okay, take care of yourself."
"Take care of yourself, little sis." And with that he's gone he's such an ass for doing this I'll have to get him an extra nice Christmas present this year as his birthday has already gone.
"They made me do it, Miss Bella, please don't be mad." Like I could be mad at Billy he only did as he was told.
"I couldn't be mad at you. You're too nice."
"Bless you Miss Bella you are a sweet woman."
As the journey continued I snapped a few pictures and tried to take everything I was seeing in. Britain is a cool looking place. I've already short listed a ton of stuff I want to do it's all logged on my phone ready to go. Maybe I can get out this weekend,that'd be cool. Yeah I think I might depending how the jet lag is.
"Not far now, Miss Bella."
"Great I could really use a coffee."
"You should try and get some sleep, if you drink coffee you'll be up all night."
"That's a good point but I've been drinking coffee a long time. It doesn't affect me anymore."
"Ah, that makes sense you were a student after all."
"Yeah, for too long."
We shared a few more stories and a few laughs. When we pulled into a posh neighbourhood, I was instantly confused. One of these apartments can't be Garrett's, surely. This is way too much. I was expecting a shoe box not the lap of luxury.
"Here we are, Miss Bella, take a look at your new home." I looked towards where Billy gestured and couldn't hold back the explicit words that left my mouth.
"Holy shit!"
