Chapter 2 The next day.
BPOV
When I got home, after leaving his apartment, I found a police cruiser in my parking lot. Charlie was here and I didn't know what to do.
After 50 seconds of breathing hard I knew I was ready to face him.
I opened my door and said "Hi Daaaaad!
Then I looked to my couch. There they were, Charlie and Jacob, both glaring at me.
"Hello guys. May I ask what are you doing here, this early in the morning?" Because really, the nerve of both men.
"I don't know Bella, maybe we wanted to have breakfast with you before heading to work to celebrate the anniversary of the day someone was born... as in Jacob's birthday." Shiiit! I totally forgot!
"Sorry Jake, happy birthday."
I was hugging him, suddenly an idea came to me. "Wait, why didn't you tell me yesterday you wanted to have breakfast together? You knew I was going out."
Jake look to the floor and Charlie look a bit sheepish but answered "Bella, we always celebrate Jake's birthday being together;" Always? This is only the third time for me. "And about you going out, you were supposed to return home before midnight. You know how dangerous the streets are. Ladies never stay out this late, as if you were a lady of the night."
Lady of the night? Like Batman? Ah no, he is the dark knight, but maybe Catwoman. I think I may look hot in a Catwoman outfit...wait, did my father just call me a whore?
"Dad, are you sure of the statement you just made? Are you calling me a whore?" Calm down Bella, calm down, he didn't mean it.
"Bella, what do you want me to think? Good girls spend the night in their house. Where have you been?"
Oh Dad, if you only knew.
Jake began to sniff me. Shit! Maybe I still smell like sex, not that I think Jake would know what sex smells. But before anything happened, I stood up and faced Charlie.
"You know I was with Rosalie Cullen, one of my best friends, girl friend. I don't know what your problem is, but I'm fine and really tired."
"Bella, you are my daughter and you are supposed to obey my..."
"Oh no, I'm an adult. I don't depend on you for anything: My tuition is covered by a full ride scholarship. This apartment is paid by mom as long as I get good grades. And the rest comes from my work at the coffee shop. So sorry, but you have no right to come over here and ask anything. Most of the time I agree with you, because I know you worry for me; but I'm not living the life you want, and I'm not going to obey anything. I'm an independent woman!"
"In Forks, a 'independent woman' is how we call one who can't land a husband, or doesn't live with morals"
"That's why I don't live in Forks"
Jake turned to look at me and said "Bella you smell funny" Oh my, think Bella, fast, think fast...
"Oh and now sure you smoke..."
"Dad, I don't smoke, I was out and I need a bath. Where are you going for breakfast? Maybe I can meet you after..."
"No, now we don't have the time. We need to get to work."
"And then why did you come and wait for me if you didn't have the time? Were you checking on me? Wait, at what time did you get here?"
And the look on their faces... They spent the night here to know when I came back! Thank God we went to Edward's apartment... and came in Edward's apartment. I need to focus on the real problem. They always come to my apartment at their will. But why? I'm really tired of my father's controlling ass.
"Dad, give me your keys. I don't want you in my house at your will anymore."
"What? But I'm your father and Jake is your future husband!"
"Nope. I'm an adult and I'm sick of you messing with my life. From now on, if you want to visit, you call before and I'll let you know if I can see you."
Yay Bella's time to stand up!
xxxx
EPOV
What is that noise? Damn cell phone! And who can be calling this early?
"Hello?" I said with the raspy voice everybody has when waking up.
"Well hello, dear brother." My little sister. "Damn Rose, I just woke up."
"Sorry bro, but I'm calling you with terrible news."
"What news?"
"Tanya and Lauren claimed their car broke yesterday and spent the night in our house"
"Please, tell me Jasper escaped"
"Of course, he came to my apartment, hence the problem. They spent the night at the house expecting both of you to be there. In the middle of the night they went to your rooms and slept there"
"Oh, I've got to burn the sheets..."
"Worst, Tanya went down to breakfast... almost naked, claiming what a good lover you were. Mom almost had a heart attack! Lauren still hasn't woken up."
"How do you know this?"
"Mom called me crying; she asked all of us to have lunch together to discuss this situation."
"Are they still there?"
"Not for long, Mom almost castrated Dad for letting them stay"
"He deserves it. Ok, just let me take a shower and then I'm going"
"Ah, and then you can tell me all about the girl who really spent the night with you, Hmmm?"
Girl? Oh sweet girl! Wait a minute, where is she? Damn she left!
"Sure Rose, see ya"
Now that I'm awake, I started to search for something she may had left. There, under my pillow was a note.
Sweet girl didn't leave me a phone number. Just her name and a duck? What does it mean?
First, I need to go to my parents house, maybe Jazz could help me. I really liked this girl, and I want a repeat of last night.
"Hi sweetie. Thank God you stayed at your apartment last night" Yes Mom, truer words had never been said.
"Hi Mom, you know we don't like them. I don't know what's the deal with Dad"
"We're discussing it today" So there's a reason behind all this. "Come, let's have lunch"
When I got into the dining room, I found that Jazz and Rose were already seated.
"Son, it was about time you got here. Let's start"
Dad sounded really serious. "As you know I'm turning sixty next year."
"Old man!" Jazz always joking...
"Well, the thing is I'd like to retire next year. In order to do that, I need to leave the company in good hands"
"Dad, the company is fine, Jazz should take your place as CEO and..."
"That is part of the problem, I'm not sure which of you should take care of the company."
"Edward is the one Dad."
"The problem is that I think neither of you are ready. You both are still acting like teenagers, don't face the responsibilities that the company entails. That's why I want you to get married."
"Dad, I don't see the logic in your argument. Why marriage will make us capable of run the company?"
"Because you are going to be responsible for another human being, not just you. And that's why I thought Tanya and Lauren shall become your wives."
Then Mom coughed and looked at Dad. "After discussing recent events, I think I see your point and maybe they are not adequate to become members of this family." All of us sighed of relief.
"Understand guys, Eleazar is one of my best friends. I always thought one of his daughters would marry one of my boys."
"Now that Tanya is almost thirty, she's getting desperate to marry, don't you think?" Mom said to Dad. "Don't get me started with that awful Lauren"
"She's the daughter of senator John Mallory."
"And? That doesn't give her the right to walk around my house naked."
"She was naked? Mom!"
"She said neither of you used a condom, when I asked her what she was doing walking naked into my kitchen!"
"No way! But we weren't even here!"
"That's what I told them, before I threw them out. They are not allowed to come to this house anymore."
"Thank you Mom"
"I love you Mom" I said.
"And what about Irina?" Dad asked me
"She's my friend" Not again, she's my friend, if only they knew...
"Edward, she goes with you to all the parties, galas and events. There's got to be something."
"No Dad, we are just friends."
"Well, that's something to start a marriage, at least you like her."
"No, that's never gonna happen."
"Well, there's where plan B comes. In case none of you grow up, I have another contestant to become CEO. I'm giving him the chance to court Rosalie, so the company's control remains in the family."
My sister got pale. Come on, she's twenty!
"Whom?"
"Royce King. He's a good worker, really smart and ambitious; he could take the company to another level."
At this point, all of us were shaken by the news.
I didn't know Royce that much, but the little I saw, made me dislike him. He's a backstabber. I've seen him in action with Ben, one of my guys.
Rose looked at Dad and began to cry.
"Dad, I'm just finishing college! I can't even think of marriage! And that guy, Royce, I don't like him!" She said between sobs.
"I'm not saying this is happening tomorrow. Just wanted you all to know what are my plans, and why I support the idea of marriage. Just please think about it."
After lunch, I was at the gym. I thought about what Dad said. I don't know if I want to run the company. I always thought Jazz and I made a good team, but it seems that we are not ready. Poor Rose, she had worked hard to show Dad she is capable and now he just reduced her to a woman some guy has to marry so he could run the company. Hey, I can't imagine Rose being just a housewife. I think with some years of experience she could run the company. She has the balls, she can make decisions without blinking an eye.
While I was getting home, I thought of last night. She was without a doubt the best sex I've ever had, part wild, part sweet. And she was beautiful. How am I gonna find her?
xxx
BPOV
"Hi Rose."
Oh oh! She looks bad.
I've never seen her like this, crying and so defeated.
"Can I come in?"
"Babe, you don't have to ask. What happened?"
"Oh Bella, it was awful! Dad wants me to marry a guy so he can retire!"
"And what about your studies? He knows you want to work. "
"He doesn't care!"
What's wrong with fathers? This is the 21st century, women have rights! We're equal to men! Or so I thought.
"Did he gave you a time frame for this?"
"Less than a year."
"What did your brothers say?" They should had said something; they are supposed to protect her.
"Oh, they are in the same boat with me. They have to marry some bitches."
"Why is your father pressuring you for marriage? I thought mine was the only one, and just because he's from a little town full of narrow-minded people"
"Bella, what if we are wrong? What if we are supposed to marry and have children, and all our dreams are a waste of time?"
"Rose, look at me," I took her face and forced her to look at my eyes "we are smart, hey perhaps brilliant. Not using our intelligence is a waste. We are not going to let our fathers put us down."
"You are right. Maybe they are scared that we are more intelligent than they are."
"Sure Rose, we are better than them"
"Could I stay with you? I don't want to go home"
"Of course you can, you are my best friend"
"Let's get some sleep so tomorrow you can tell me what happened yesterday?"