Chapter 2
He looked me in the eyes and I slowly felt his fingers loosen their steel grip. I saw his eyes flash very briefly down to my lips, and I almost expected him to place his on mine.
"I will if I have to Isabella." he calmly said. I held my breath, waiting.
It never came. And it surprised me to feel the sudden disappointment.
"Go home Isa." he said finally letting go. I watched as he walked back to his desk so casually, that I could have been convinced he was never mere inches from my face. I was left standing there alone and cold. I knew it was probably the fact that it had been months since I'd had some private time to myself, but I felt the need for some human contact. Having been so close to him, any woman's body would have reacted as mine did. I convinced myself that my body needed the warmth, it didn't mean a damn thing!
"See you!" I snipped at him and made my way out.
Perhaps I should finally accept Mike's advances and have sex with him. The need I was feeling wouldn't let me think clearly anymore.
As soon as I got back down to the ground floor I quickly made my way out to where my driver Fred, was waiting for me. I kept replaying the conversation Edward and I had over and over in my head. I was so deep in thought I didn't realize the speed we were traveling in.
"Miss Isabella, Perhaps you would feel better spending the night at your parents tonight." Fred said.
"Why?" I asked but realized he was speaking into his bluetooth and stealing glances behind us using the rear view mirror. His voice was too low for me to understand, but I had an inkling he was speaking to someone about getting more security out to us.
I looked behind us and saw the SUV swerving in and out of traffic trying to catch up. I rolled my eyes and sat back.
"Very well."
The next morning my father assured me I wouldn't be disturbed by whoever it was following Fred and I last night. I didn't ask who it was, and I hardly cared what happened to them. There would be others soon enough. He also let me know that security would be tighter at my condo for the next few weeks.
"I don't worry, dad." I answered while chewing on my nails. Such a terrible habit.
He looked me in the eyes for a second longer than usual and surprised me with the topic.
"I apologize for having made the decision I made about your life all those years ago, sweetheart. I only want to always keep you safe and I see how unhappy it's been making you lately. Believe me angel, there's no way around it now."
I was silent for a moment and decided to open up to him and hoped to get somewhere by doing so. "I'm seeing someone, dad. I don't know if it'll lead to something, or die out as soon as it began, but I wish to let it take it's course. See what may come, for myself."
He stepped towards me and caressed the side of my face before looking sorry and walking away slowly.
"I'm sorry that I cannot give you my blessing, dear, but it can't be. You will need to get used to the idea that you need to be with Edward Cullen. The families need to unite. It is the only way to be the most successful family."
I wanted to scream, cry, and throw a tantrum. It wasn't about hating the idea of being with Edward per se. It was the act of giving up my life for money.
I also worried what it would do to my relationship with Edward, if it ended badly. We were good friends and I was afraid all this 'baby making business' might ruin our relationship.
"Can I continue on the way I am and eventually settle down?"
"He's going on 29 and you're going to be 27 Isabella, it has to be sooner rather than later."
I dramatically inclined back on the lazy boy, indicating I was through with the conversation. Thankfully my father had more pressing matters and didn't bother to argue with me any longer.
3 months later
It was a warm Saturday morning and the sun was getting hotter by the minute. The sweat on my hair line was beginning to start gathering enough to trickle down my temples. Chicago was already bustling loudly and I couldn't stop my feet from driving forward. I found myself at Edward's condo and determined to make it to his door before losing the courage to go through what I had decided on midway my run.
The foot man greeted me warmly already knowing who I was.
"Has Mr. Cullen gone out yet?" I asked as I jogged in place.
"Nowhere yet, Miss." He smiled.
"Thank you." I continued my jog towards the elevator where I eventually stopped my legs from bouncing up and down.
I seriously didn't think I would make it as far as I had. He lived on the 24th floor of this building and I just made the connection with his floor at the corp. I briefly wondered if there was something significant to the number.
"Here goes nothing" I said to myself when I reached his floor. I knocked and it took a while but he finally came to the door. It was eight o'clock so I was hoping he was up. He was already showered and dressed to the nines. A lot more casual than his office attire. He wore khakis and a light gray pull over.
"Isabella?"
"Hi." I smiled.
"Is everything okay? Come in." he moved aside and looked out into the hallway.
"Yes, everything is good." I smiled and hoped for the first time my body odor wasn't offensive, having been jogging for a while.
"Good." he said with a smile while making his way to the kitchen, "I'm pouring some coffee, would you like some?"
"Uhh, no. Thank you."
I began to feel self-conscious and awkward. I knew he would be up to it, but I was nervous no less.
"So, what's going on? It's been a while." he asked while leaning against his counter top slowly taking sips from the hot brew.
"I believe," I paused because it was hard to say, "I came to accept." I let the silence hang in the air and whispered,"Finally."
His eyes grew wide. He pulled the coffee mug away from his lips as if the hot drink had burned him.
"Are you ready?" I asked pulling the zipper on my hoodie down. I pulled it slowly and held his eyes with mine until I reached the bottom and separated the sides and pulled each sleeve off slowly.
"What now?!" He finally spoke.
"Might as well!" I said nervously and started to slowly walk to where I thought the bedrooms were.
"Wait, Isa! Let's discuss this!", he spoke desperately.
"I might lose the courage." I said with more determination as I reached the hallway.
"Isa, I'm not alone!" he whisper yelled.
I stopped dead in my tracks. Why hadn't I taken another woman into consideration? How stupid can I be?
"I'm so sorry!", and for some unknown reason, other than embarrassment, I began to laugh quietly.
Edward chuckled too but motioned for me to walk towards him. "Please don't change your mind" he said to me.
"I might though!" I said honestly because it took so little to change my mind and go back to my safe zone.
"Look, you can't go! Let's come to an agreement…"
"Did you have sex last night?" I cut him off, I had the sudden curiosity. He couldn't speak and I could see the panic in his eyes.
"Well?"
"Please tell me you won't be mad. How was I to know that you would have a sudden change of heart and appear at my door out of nowhere?".
"I just want to know." I said trying to convey the indifference.
"I would hope not! It's not like we're together."
"I'm already said I'm not upset, Edward" I laughed even though I felt it sting.
"These are the things we need to talk over about." he said seriously.
I didn't want to get hurt, so I don't know why I decided to say what I said next.
"You don't have to break it off with her! Let's just do what we need to, give our families their heir, and be done with it!" I tried sounding strong.
"Out of wedlock?"
"It's better than nothing!" I said laughing. The truth was, I didn't want to share a husband of mine. It seemed that Edward had a constant relationship with Tanya and from seeing my friends fight for their beaus attention, I didn't want any part of that.
"Can you come back tonight?"
"I feel cheap now." I said pulling my sweater back on quickly. I felt the need to cover up my skin. I also didn't like the idea of jumping in bed with him when he'd just been inside Tanya.
"We could get married, Isa." He said seriously and with a pinch of nervousness.
"Ugh! I don't know!...What about Tanya? You act like she's not here!"
"Isa, I've told you! We're not together. Look, it'll look better for our child if his parents are married. Legitimize everything."
Well, when he said it so romantic like that, I wondered how I ever needed any persuasion.
"Isabella?" Tanya came out of the darkness in the hallway and Edward and I straightened ourselves out "I thought it was you!". She spoke gleefully and I was momentarily pleased she had not heard the content of our conversation. She walked towards me and pulled me in for a hug and I felt like an ogre.
"Hi Tanya!" I mustered a smile on my face and looked at Edward over her shoulder and shot myself in the head with my fake finger gun.
"I haven't seen you in so long! Edward didn't say anything about you coming over!"
"Oh, I dropped by unannounced. Small business matters." I smiled awkwardly.
"Babe, can I have some coffee?" she requested. Hmph! My left eyebrow minutely lifted on its own accord.
He agreed with a smile and walked towards the kitchen. I watched him walk away and he looked nervously back at me.
"Come sit with me" she demanded almost.
"Aren't you the little sergeant." I joked.
She and I caught up for a good half hour until she announced her need to leave soon, but not before a shower. I let her know I'd be gone when she came back out so I said my good byes then.
"So babe, that doesn't sound serious at all!" I said to Edward with slit eyes.
"Stop." he warned, "Come back at seven tonight please? Or would you rather I go over to your place?"
I thought it over for a bit and just agreed to come back. If I changed my mind, I could just turn around and leave.
"No, I'll come back." I said sounding bored.
"Hey!" I said when something came to mind.
"How do you not know if she's..." I tilted my head in the bedroom's direction, "not already pregnant?" I was mostly being nosey because I wanted to make sure he was using protection.
"Condoms and she's on the pill."
I nodded.
"What about you?" he asked. "Have you been careful?"
"Excuse me!..." I stopped him quickly "I assure you, I'm not!"
"Have you been checked?" I asked while looking down at my finger nails as if it wasn't an important question.
"Clean. You?"
"I'm good" I said looking anywhere but him.
"Alright!" I said pushing myself up off the couch.
"Tonight?" He asked hopeful.
"I'll come back." I tried to sound convincing and made my way out before he could detect the uncertainty in my voice.