Title: The Cullen Enterprise

Author: Amethyst Jackson

Rating: M

Summary: Bella has no idea how she's going to continue supporting herself and her recovering father on her meager income…until a certain CEO waltzes in with an offer she can't refuse.

Disclaimer: The characters in this story are in no way mine, and that is why I am making absolutely ZERO dollars off this story. And the idea isn't all that original, either, so I'm really not making any claims here.


Chapter Two: Maybe No, Maybe So

The next day at work, my thoughts continually returned to the strange e-mail from the supposed Edward Cullen. I hadn't yet deleted it, and I couldn't with certainty say why. It was probably just that I really wanted it to be genuine.

I was mostly left to my own devices at work, spending the majority of my day back in the stockroom again, so my thoughts had little to do but wander.

By the end of the day, I was once again exhausted, but I had resolved to do some research before bed tonight. Perhaps I could determine whether or not the e-mail was the real deal.

I made some fish for dinner that Charlie had caught the weekend before on an outing with Billy Black. That was one thing Charlie could do - help out our food budget with free fish. While we ate, I lied about having a good day again, and Charlie talked a little about the baseball game he'd watched.

After dinner, I went through my usual routine of cleaning up the kitchen, showering, and going through the bills. Only after I'd organized the bills in order of priority did I turn on my computer.

I studiously avoided my e-mail and went to Google instead. After a moment's hesitation, I typed in "Edward Cullen."

I was a little alarmed when Google offered me "Edward Cullen shirtless" as an alternative.

There was a lot to wade through about him. He was indeed the CEO of Cullen Enterprises at only 28 years of age, which I found sort of ludicrous, but apparently he'd taken over after his uncle died childless. It was a rather large company but remained privately owned, which was why the running of the company remained in family hands.

I couldn't exactly pin down what the company did, but whatever it was, they seemed to be successful.

There were a lot of press releases about the company's, and Edward's, charitable giving. My first thought was they were looking for a tax write-off, but then I saw that the Esme Cullen Foundation was named for Edward Cullen's mother.

She'd died of breast cancer five years ago.

I closed the page abruptly, feeling as though I'd just stumbled on something extremely private. Maybe it was on the internet for the world to see, but it still wasn't any of my business.

I opened up the e-mail again and read it carefully. Nothing in the message asked for any information from me. He'd only asked permission to use a phone number he apparently already had. If I said he could call me and he did, what information could he garner from talking to me that he didn't already have? As long as I was careful, it couldn't do any harm. Right?

I thought about talking to my dad about it, but then I'd have to explain what was going on...and my dad didn't even know what exactly our financial situation was. I'd done my best to hide it from him. He needed to focus on staying healthy rather than stressing about money.

But that was all the more reason to give this a shot, wasn't it? If this was a real offer from the real Edward Cullen, it could completely change our lives.

I took a deep breath and wrote a simple response:

You can call me.

I turned off the computer and got into bed. I had to be at work early in the morning, and all that debating had me exhausted. I was just reaching to turn off my bedside lamp when my phone rang.

I froze. I didn't recognize the number flashing. Could it be him already?

My hand was shaking as I picked up the small pay-as-you-go phone I'd been using.

"Hello?"

"Hello, is this Miss Isabella Swan?" The voice coming through the phone was kind of amazing, all warm and low and smooth like melting butter. That was the last thing I'd expected.

"Yes – um, yes, it is," I replied.

"This is Edward Cullen," the man with the honeyed voice said. "I hope you'll forgive me for contacting you in such an unconventional fashion."

"I'll admit, I wasn't quite sure what to think," I told him.

"Your story moved me, Bella – may I call you Bella?"

My name sounded disturbingly sexy in his voice. "Yes."

"When I read what you'd been through, Bella, it reminded me of what it was like when my mother was diagnosed. It's a terrible burden for a young person to bear. I had my father to help, at least, but you...you've managed this on your own, and I can't fathom how difficult it's been."

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying not to cry. My mother had begged me to come live with her after my dad was diagnosed, but I'd refused, and she'd settled for sending me $100 every month. It hadn't really made a dent. Other than that, I really had been on my own in this.

"Bella?"

"Yes, I'm here," I managed, gathering myself. "It's been...very difficult, but he's in remission now. That's what matters."

"And that's wonderful, Bella, it truly is. Right now, though, I think it's time for someone to help you recover."

Well, that just did it. I broke down and cried like I hadn't cried since the night after my dad's first chemo treatment. Long, snuffling snot-sobs.

And Edward murmured comfortingly from the other end of the phone the entire time.

"Shh, Bella. You're okay. Please don't cry. It's all going to be all right now, I promise," he rambled, and as I calmed down, I hugged my pillow to my chest. My head and eyes hurt from crying, and I felt absolutely limp and worn out.

"Why...why me, Mr. Cullen?" I asked, a little unsure how to address him. "I mean, when I applied to the foundation, we were obviously not top priority, and I get that. There are single moms with little kids trying to fight cancer...I mean, my dad and I are better off that most people. Why would you single me out?"

Edward let out a breath, almost a sigh. "I meant it when I said that your story touched me personally. I'd like to talk about it with you in more detail in person, though. Would you be willing to meet with me?"

I stiffened, my anxieties about the mysterious e-mail resurfacing. "Um..."

"I'm sure you have reservations – I'd be more than happy to come to Forks and meet you for dinner somewhere."

I thought about his offer. He really did sound like the real deal, and what was the worst that could happen in a public place? I could just Google his photo and know whether it was really him or not.

"Not Forks," I said. "It's a small town, and everyone knows everything about everyone else here. I don't want word getting back to my dad. Do you think...would you be willing to meet me in Port Angeles?"

"I would be more than willing. May I have my secretary call you tomorrow to arrange the details?"

"Okay, sure," I agreed. My head was starting to spin.

"All right, Bella. I look forward to meeting you. Have a good night."

"Good night," I repeated, then listened to the line go dead.

I lay back in my bed and stared up at the ceiling, trying to figure out what was happening to my life.


A/N: Amazing response to the first chapter! I'm very, very excited.