With You
Chapter 3
A week before prologue…
Edward sighed.
He had a few sleepless nights. He had loved visiting with the old man, especially as of late after Anthony was diagnosed with colon cancer. Edward had spent a few nights just sitting by his grampie's bed, watching the Yankees play. Anthony was such an easygoing old man, a perpetual grin on his face all the time. He had taken pleasures in smacking his grandson upside the head every time the gossips of his grandson's trysts and liaisons had hit his ear.
"You have to pick the right woman, Edward. Stop playing around. You're 30 next year, aren't you? When I was your age, I already had your mom and aunt Caroline," among one of his famous lectures.
Edward would grin and bare his teeth. Truthfully, the institution of marriage did not appeal to him a bit. He enjoyed women. He enjoyed sleeping around with them. He had a few regulars he kept a close reign on. But to settle down with one? No way.
Anthony was delighted that all his grandchildren have pretty good heads on their shoulders. Emmett is a civil engineer, currently handling his own constructing company with his lovely wife, Rosalie. Alice has always been artsy growing up, so it was a no surprise that she went to attend Parsons, and graduated with a magna cum laude. She is the face and founder of ACO's, Alice Cullen Originals.
Edward himself had attended Harvard Business School. He had known from the start he wanted to be the head of Cullen Enterprises. He is neither boastful nor misguided, he is ambitious, and he works for what he wants.
"Hey brother!"
Edward looked up from his tumbler of scotch, a wary smile on his face. He noticed Alice standing on the doorway of the study, with another decidedly familiar woman standing behind her. She had a classical beauty that was stunning.
"Hi Alice. Hi Alice's friend."
Alice giggled, while her friend just flashed him a small smile. Wow, no blushing. No gushing. Edward was half impressed.
"Edward, you can't possibly forget Bella?!"
Memories and recognition dawned on him. "Stanford Bella?"
The brunette let out a small laugh. "I graduated from Stanford about half a decade ago, Cullen."
Standing up, he welcomed both women into the room. He leaned down to kiss his sister on her left cheek, and when her friend offered him a handshake, he pulled her in a hug instead.
"Oh, wow," Bella said, smiling again.
Alice suppressed a giggle. Edward was laying it on thick.
Edward flashed one of his charming smiles. "I give excellent hugs. For free."
"I'll keep that in mind," Bella replied, amused. She pulled herself back and watched as the siblings interacted. Sure, she might have had a teenage crush on Edward Cullen, but that felt like centuries ago.
Edward Cullen was always untouchable in her book. The last time they met was when he bid her farewell before college. Since then she has kept in touch with Alice, who went to Parsons in New York via emails and Facebook.
Alice was aware on her crush on her brother in high school. She used to be teased by Alice mercilessly. She recalled back to those moments with fond memories. She has outgrown her adolescent infatuation, she believed, despite how charming and disarming his smile was.
"Wait here while I go and meet Jasper, okay, Bella?" Alice called before walking out of the study, leaving Bella alone with her brother.
Oh well.
"What do you do, Bella Swan?"
Smiling, Bella leaned against one of the book cabinets that lined Alice's study. "I'm a trauma surgeon resident," she replied, crossing her arms in front of her chest.
"A fixer?" Edward questioned, a mysterious smile on his face. He stepped closer to where she was standing. She was surprised herself that she wasn't even trembling.
Bella shrugged. "I do what I can," she replied modestly.
"Where do you work?"
"What is this, twenty questions?" she joked, watching as he stepped even closer.
Edward laughed. She's feisty, he likes that in a woman. "Well, I would like to know the address for the place I'm sending flowers to," he replied, giving her another crooked grin.
Bella raised an eyebrow.
They were interrupted by Alice who waltzed back into the room. "Okay, all done, Bella. Let's go!"
Edward retreated. He gave Bella a conspicuous wink. He watched as both women departed, his afternoon has definitely gotten more interesting.
A/N: Thank you for the support! Haven't gotten around to replying the reviews. Read and love all of them. Tell me what you think of this chapter
