Well guys here is the next installment and I would like to thank those of you that have reviewed and/or added me as Favorite Author,Story Alert and all of the above. I would also like to thank my luverly Beta MyLion.MyLamb. for doing all the necessary corrections and great advice and encouragement. This chapter has to be the longest I have ever written so i am proud of myself and I thinkt that you guys should too... anyways I will finish writing the Disclaimer and then you could go on and read.

Disclaimer: I have nothing to do with The Twilight Series all owned by Stephanie Meyer and the Last book is coming out on Saturday and I did not pre-order it but that's okay becasue I will get it on Sunday...

Anyways enough of the babbling and onto the story...

Chapter 2: The Therapist

"Fifty-seven on seventh, please and can you please hurry?!" The little piece of paper said that I was meeting her at a restaurant called Rue 57.

I knew that it was expensive just by the location and the name. I was more of a burger joint type of girl and hardly knew anything about these upscale restaurants. Well I guess this is an opportunity to give you a brief summary of my history.

I grew up in Forks, Washington with both of my parents. My dad, Charlie was a mechanic and then retired to become the chief of police while my mom Renee just made sure that he ate properly and had a good night's rest. I love my parents even though my mom had been worried about why I dressed so much like a tomboy and why couldn't I wear skirts and experiment with makeup like other girls my age.

I didn't believe in such things and as many times as she tried to convert me, I just did my own thing and ignored her, but my dad always fought for my side and I guess you can say I am a 'daddy's girl.'

I decided to move out at the tender age of twenty-two, because I needed a change and I needed to be on my own, this is also how I met my two best friends, Alice and Rose. We were all scouting for roommates to pay the rent and we just bumped into each other when we were hanging up flyers for potential recruiters. Since we were doing the same thing, we decided that we should all just live together and that's what we did.

I lived through the drunken stages and the hangovers, the breakups following the binge eating, anger and so many other emotions. I have to admit, though, those were the best two years of my life. I was happy and grateful that I left Forks University and continued my studying in New York and I finally had friends that I truly cared about and vice versa.

When Rose and Alice had boyfriends, I usually tried not to show that I was jealous and instead submersed myself in my studying. They tried to set me up with "potential bachelors" but I always waved them off. Many nights I have laid awake thinking of my perfect guy and what he would be like, and on those same nights many tears were shed unbeknownst to my roommates.

I refused to be weak and decided to take the responsibility of being the back bone of the household to keep it together. My friends always teased me about being a virgin, but they always said it was all in good fun and that they respected that I was saving it for marriage, which was totally not true. I was saving it for someone who would appreciate me. Give me love and I could show them the same, but if I had to wait until I get married, then so be it.

I was knocked out of my little memoir when I heard the gruff voice of the taxicab owner, "Were here, Ms."

"Oh wow that was really quick," I mumbled to myself. I quickly paid him and thanked him for getting here quickly and also gave him a very generous tip. I walked into the restaurant looking and feeling professional.

"Hello, I'm here to see a Ms. Winthrop," I spoke to the maitre d'.

"Your name, Ms."

"Oh sorry, Isabella Swan or Bella Swan."

"Alright, Ms. Swan, will you please follow me." I nodded and followed him through the restaurant toward the back. He opened a door that lead to a private room and motioned me in.

What is this? Am I having a meeting with the mob?

"Your party, Ms. Winthrop, has yet to arrive, but she said that you may order anything off the menu that you may desire." I was feeling antsy and I was already trying to kick my coffee addiction so I opted for the ginger ale, "May I have a ginger ale please?"

"I'll have that for you in just a moment. If you need anything, there is a little buzzer to notify someone to service you," he said.

"Thank you." He smiled and walked out of the room. Considering that I was early by five minutes, I guess I can start prepping myself to ask her questions and how we can get into contact with each other during the whole entire investigation etc.

My soda came back in record time and I decided to order some fries with a hamburger. As I was getting excited about meeting Ms. Winthrop, the door opened and the same gentleman that sat me came in and directed a much more…mature woman than I was expecting. She looked to be about sixty-four, but I wasn't sure, but she had kind eyes which were a vibrant blue.

"You know my regular, Charles, please be sure to add extra milk and sugar. I am ignoring what my grandchildren keep telling me for a day; sometimes a woman needs to indulge herself," She said her eyes focusing on me. The man, host or server I didn't know, Charles, chuckled silently leaving the room.

I was alone with this woman, so I stood up to do the regular pleasantries by extending my hand so that she could shake it. She seemed to have ignored my hand and I quickly let my hand fall back down to my side. Maybe speech introductions are a better way to go about this.

"My name is Isabella Swan, but I like to be called Bella." she was staring at me with her eyes which were giving the impression of trying to penetrate my soul, "You must be Ms. Winthrop." At that moment she broke out of her trance like staring.

"Yes, Yes, I know who you are, the reporter in which Mr.…Mr.…"

"Mr. Daniels," I interjected.

"Yes, that lovely man, Mr. Daniels," she said, her voice was melodic and comforting it was like having one of those sweet old grandmothers you hear about, but I have no idea what it's like to have one, so I'm assuming.

I was about to sit down when I heard her speak again, "Stand child; let me have a real good look at you." I stood, afraid of what the verdict was and annoyed that my food had yet to arrive. I had not eaten all morning. She surveyed me with her eyes again and said, "Turn around slowly." so as before, I complied and did as I was told. She told me to stop turning and to face her.

"Are you a virgin, child?"

"Excuse me." I could already feel the heat rising in my face becoming more pronounced.

"You heard me all right and I could also tell by the blush coming into your cheeks. I can tell."

"What does this-" but I was cut off when Charles came through the door with my burger and fries and Ms. Winthrop's coffee.

"Thank you, Charles, that will do for now."

"So I am going to guess that you are," She continued our conversation still staring at me intently.

"What does this have to do with my small investigation and getting the information for it? All I need is the information and I will not have to bother you anymore." I was getting aggravated, but I had to be professional and because of my job, you have to acquire that type of technique very quickly when dealing with different personalities.

She ignored my question all together, "Well I know you are one, there is a type of innocence that still looms on your features and also naivety."

Who is this woman to be asking such personal questions? This has nothing to with the reason as to why I'm here? And last but not least, how did she know? Am I that easy to read?

"Trust me dear, I know these things," she said as if being able to read my thoughts.

"Now, its time to eat and I will tell you of my contact information when you are done."

She did not have to tell me twice, I dug into my hamburger, which was done very well. For some reason, I find it really weird to have a half-cooked and uncooked piece of meat to be consumed by a human mouth. I have never had a burger so good in a long time. I thoroughly enjoyed my lunch. When you work as much as I do, McDonalds and BurgerKing become your best friends. I don't have time to cook my usual gourmet dishes anymore, so they really come in handy.

"You must have really enjoyed that, practically took it apart in less than ten minutes."

"Well those are the perks of becoming a journalist and having to shove food down your throat then actually savor it when trying to get a story." She chuckled and even that was musical.

"Well, my dear, since you are finished, it's time to discuss some business. You may want to know the reason as to why I have been staring at you and the reason is, because I honestly don't think that you are ready to take on such a big task and I was actually thinking that you would be a little bit older to do what is asked of you and the fact that your innocence is still intact, I don't want you to regret anything that will happen if anything of course happens, but since Mr. Daniels has recommended you as one of his best top workers and you are dedicated and headstrong, which, by the way, I admire in a person." I was kind-of beaming on the inside, but I dared not show it off on the outside.

"You seemed to be a quick learner, little bit rough around the edges, but that is something that can be refined." Wait am I being admired or insulted? I chose the latter.

"Excuse me, I am sorry, I don't like being insulted in any type of way or form," I started to stand, "I thank you for the time and patience and the lunch, but I don't think I can do this." I was almost to my boiling point and I could not just scream at her. Maybe I was overacting, but still there is so much insulting that you can take in such a small amount of time.

"Please sit down." I felt that I have been doing a lot of this up and down business, "I'm sorry, but you have mistaken my honesty for being inappropriate, so shall we begin."

"Shall we begin what?" I asked spectively.

"Shall we begin the transformation of you going undercover?"

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When I left the restaurant, I honestly didn't know what I was setting myself up for. Ms. Winthrop said that if I am serious about doing this, then she will make an appointment with a woman named Barbara who will explain everything in detail, when I called.I needed to call Greg pronto.

As I was walking up my one floor walkup, I was hit with the unyielding smell of cabbage. Oh no! It was Monday, Mr. and Mrs. Pachenko's day to cook traditional Hungarian food. I loved the old little couple and their little bickering fights which were so cute, but today and Wednesday's are the worst days to be in the apartment.

You usually had to wait awhile until the smell diffused from the air, usually it would be gone around 9 or 10. I typically was the only one who stayed in doors during most of the week, because of my lacking social life. I will bear with the smell for now and just finish things that I need to do. I unlocked my door and went straight to the phone to first check my messages, then to make the phone call to Greg.

"You have one new message," the automated voice said, "Hello Bella, this is your mother. I am calling, because I have not talked to you in along time. Ok, well you're not there, so I want to tell you that we miss you and love you and I want you to call me back."

My mother thinks that not talking to her in three days is along time, but you have to love her, right?!

Finally after doing a little bit of cleaning up I called Greg.

"Hello."

"Hey Margie, its Bella, is Greg there?"

"Yeah, hold on." Margie, also known as Margaret, is Greg's wife and the reason why we get along so well. I was their matchmaker even though I didn't know it. They have been married for six months now and I was shocked that after such a short courtship, they were engaged almost six months later.

"Hey Bella, what's up?" Greg asked.

"You know you could have warned me about Ms. Winthrop and you could have schooled me on the fact that I am going to be going "undercover" and stuff. Do I look like Ms. Congeniality to you?"

"Calm down, gosh. Do you think that you would have taken the job if I said that you were going undercover?"

"No."

"Exactly my point. You are on of the best journalist/exploiter/investigator and all of the above that I have. I could send the others, but they are not as strong minded and/or have the same amount of concentration, plus look at it this way, you'll have fun throughout the project so don't worry."

"So, what about the others? I don't want them to get the idea of favoritism?"

"Don't worry, Lauren and Jessica will be covered with Angela on this new story. Mike and Alex, they will be working on separate projects."

"Well, you know how this goes, come on take out the paper, I do you a favor and you do me one."

"Okay, are you ready? Well let's begin… when it's all done and over with, I will let you have two weeks off."

"No. Four weeks."

"No. Three weeks, take it or leave it."

"Okay fine, but this includes pay and rental money for getting a car and air flight if need be."

"Are you crazy? Have you not seen the prices for gas? The most that I will get you is payment for the three weeks."

"Okay fine, I hope your writing this down or else I will tell Margaret your dirty little secret."

"You know as well as I do, that it was a mistake," he hissed into the mouthpiece.

"Yea, and when I invite her over here to watch a movie, all it takes for me is to press play."

"I am just kidding lighten up Greg" I snickered into the phone.

"Good. So for the rest of the week you really don't have much of any other work to do, so you can relax for this week. I shall be wanting my report in about a month and this is including weekly updates."

"Thank you so much." I squealed into the phone.

"Honestly, what is with you girls and screaming?"

"Whatever, I will be by in an hour, so please wait for me."

"What is with you coming to our house and stealing our food?"

"Shut up, Greg, Bella is allowed into our house whenever she wants to," Margie shouted.

"Thanks, Margie!" I shouted through the phone knowing she wouldn't hear me, but it would bug Greg.

"Whatever, anyways an hour, one minute over and you shall not come in or eat."

"Bye, Greg."

"Bye."

Greg is my boss, but not my official boss. The real boss is Mr. Hawthorne who is the owner of everything for the Daily Reporter. The thing is, he doesn't have an office here yet, so we talk and discuss the latest news and projects via video conference. Greg is also more like a brother than a boss to all of us, but when it comes down to it, he can be very boss like where business is concerned and we treat him with the utmost respect.

Maybe I should call Alice and Rose to see if we could do lunch tomorrow. I called and they both agreed.

Finally, my life is somewhat going back to normal after such a long time.

Okay well if you live in the New York area that restaurant may sound familiar... I just wanted to point that out... Well to those who like this story I am so glad and would love to hear your opinions so drop a comment or two and if you have any questions and/or concerns I would be happy to respond to them so if you want to add a review or just add me on your story alert or favorite author or something... anything goes!! So thankyou again and I will talk to you soon!!

-musicluv585 :)