Chapter Two: The Old and the New
"Hush" by Deep Purple
~Bella Cullen~
"Good Morning Samantha." I smiled and greeted our new secretary.
"Good Morning Mrs. Cullen." She said shyly.
"Please, it's Bella." I rolled my eyes. "I feel like I'm sixty if you call me Mrs. Cullen." I laughed.
"Of course…Bella. Do you need anything before the meeting?"
"No, I'm good, but thank you."
I walked the rest of the way back to my office. The interns were scurrying around doing the busy work I assigned to them. They were here early as well because they didn't want to work on Saturday—funny how that could motivate them. Maybe becoming a mother made me stricter than I used to be, but after my set of interns two years ago I had enough with their crap and decided to get a little tougher. Today the interns were in early and had to stay late. They needed to realize that a job didn't always get done between the hours of eight and five and if they wanted to work in our department, there were certain times of the year they had to pitch in a bit more. Most of them understood just fine. It was always the ones like Lauren Mallory who were the problems.
But at least I was rid of her now anyway.
I placed my laptop on my desk and sat behind it and smiled. My life had changed so much in the last few years I almost couldn't believe it. Across my desk were photos and mementos of the milestones I had passed. It held, a picture of Edward and I on the beach on our wedding day, the first picture of Edward, Eric and I together, several of Eric as a baby and toddler and of course one of the entire Cullen family as well as the entire Swan-Clearwater clan.
My life was perfect.
Then why couldn't I shake the strange eerie feeling I had been getting again lately. I couldn't put my finger on it. I only knew that I hadn't felt it in over four years. Not since that summer. Not since then.
But I just pushed it aside. I was sure the uneasiness came from the recent article about Edward's grandfather and the subsequent press coverage that followed. I should be used to the reporters by now. I never realized what marrying one of New York's elites might entail. Edward loathed it more than anything, but I soon came to find out that every event we attended or special occasion that was had often involved some sort of "social" coverage. I quickly learned to smile, grab his arm and simply try to steer clear of any questions. Not that I could provide them with anything anyway. But after the fallout of Jan's company and Carlisle having to deal with everything, we had more than our fair share of reporters sneaking around.
In the end, it all came down to one thing. They were nosy. Pure and simple. They couldn't believe that the rest of the family wasn't involved and they surely couldn't believe that Carlisle had nothing to do with it all. But we just persevered, as a family, and, as any family would do, we stuck together. I truly felt as though I gained a second mother and father in Esme and Jasper and Alice were the closest things I had to a brother and sister again.
I quickly pulled up my email and began preparations for the final program the following night. Just as I was about to go out and check on the interns I had a new message pop up.
Lunch?
It was from Rosalie and I smiled.
Rather than responding, I decided to simply call her.
"Rose McCarty."
"Rose. It's Bella."
"Bella! Wow that was fast. You must have gotten my message."
"I did. I was just calling because I don't know if I can do lunch. We're doing last minute preparations for the fundraiser tomorrow."
"Oh, I completely forgot about that." Rose sighed. "Well what if I bring you lunch? You'll have to take a break at some point right?"
"That sounds great Rose. What time will you be here? Do you want me to see if Jasper wants to join us too?"
"No. Let's just do a girl thing. There's something I want to discuss with you."
I furrowed my brow. What could Rose need to talk about? I just saw her the past weekend.
"Okay. How about 12:00? I'll leave your name with security."
"Great. I'll pick up subs. See you then."
"Bye Rose." I smiled into the phone as I sat up from the desk. Suddenly Lucy gave me a good kick and I put my hand over my stomach.
"What do you think Lucy? What do you think Aunt Rose needs to tell us?" I smiled as I rubbed the spot and glanced at my photos again. I couldn't wait for our little girl to join us. I knew Edward was excited, but a little more scared this time. I hear the guys teasing him about having a daughter on the Fourth of July and couldn't help but chuckle. He really didn't know what he was in for. But I was positive she would have him wrapped around her little finger before the suave agent even knew what to do about it.
"Oh yes Lucy. Daddy's in for a bit of surprise isn't he?" I smiled and shut my laptop as I grabbed the last round of assignments and made my way out of the office. I effectively left any uneasiness and stress behind as I glanced at my photos again and walked out to do the job I loved.
*&^%$#
"So how is Ethan?" I asked as I slid into my chair in the conference room.
"He's great. Finally sleeping through the night and just…" Rose trailed off dreamily. I smiled in response. I never thought I would see the day Rosalie McCarty would get giddy and wistful about kids.
I guess we were similar that way. I never thought much about having kids until I was pregnant with Eric. But having Edward's child…our child, who was created out of so much love was the greatest thing in the world to me. As much as I loathed the actual process of being pregnant, I loved Eric to pieces and I couldn't wait until Lucy was here.
"He's a cutie Rose, but of course how couldn't he be."
"Well." She sighed almost nervously. "I hope his brother or sister takes after him…"
"What do you mean…Rose?" I raised my eyebrows at her and she just nodded.
"Seriously!" I all but shrieked and leaned over to give her a hug. I knew how much trouble she and Emmett had getting pregnant the first time, so this was unexpected.
"That's amazing…Emmett's going to be so excited…but when?"
"Yeah." She smiled. "After all that…but I just hope Emmett's okay with it."
"Oh Rose, I'm sure he'll be ecstatic. Didn't you say he wanted more kids?"
She shrugged and looked down. "You know how it is with a newborn, and I just went back to work and we're finally getting schedules down and…well, I honestly didn't know if it would happen again. I mean we had so much trouble the first time and then it was like nothing. Why was it so hard before you know?" She finally blew out a breath.
"Sorry I'm rambling." She muttered.
"Rose, I'm sure Emmett is going to be so happy. I mean were you trying or…?"
She shook her head. "No, in fact we just thought because we were older now and because it took so long the last time that why prevent it." She shrugged. "But I never expected this."
"What's really bothering you Rose?" I asked quietly, staring into her nervous expression.
"How am I going to do it Bella? Two babies in just over a year!" She cried.
"Rose. I'm sure it seems daunting, I can't imagine. But you are the strongest person I know and I'm sure you will figure it out. And I know Emmett will be with you every step of the way." I squeezed her hand. It was so odd to see Rose let her guard down at all or voice her concerns about something. She always put up such a tough exterior.
"Thanks Bella. I think it's the hormones still." She joked and I smiled.
"So when did you find out?" I asked excitedly.
"Yesterday. I needed to tell someone, but I was so freaked I didn't tell Emmett. I mean I know you're right but it's just crazy!" She exclaimed.
"I bet you would be surprised about Emmett." I patted her hand again and thought about the things Edward told me. Emmett had trouble confiding in anyone but with everything he and Rose went through the first time. But he opened up to Edward. He really wanted to be a father and felt like he was putting too much pressure on Rose. Yet at the same time, he was trying hard to get her to understand that even if they didn't have any kids, she was all he would need. It was a double-edged sword.
For that reason, I knew he would be ecstatic about another baby, regardless of the timing.
Rose and I continued to talk and I thought about having our newest addition so soon. I rubbed my hand over my belly, knowing our little girl was in there. As much as I already loved her and wanted her, I remembered how much work it was when Eric was a baby. I couldn't imagine having another one when he was only a year old.
"How have your interns been this summer? Not the troubles you used to have right?"
I rolled my eyes at her. "No, thank God. That was horrible two years ago. Fucking Lauren Mallory." I muttered under my breath and Rose chuckled.
"Yeah I don't envy you that. My mother said she saw her mother at a luncheon last week. Apparently she was going on and on about Lauren and how she was graduating from Columbia in December and she's looking for a job. I should warn you, she mentioned something about trying to get back on at the Met."
"She didn't?" I said shockingly.
Rose nodded with an intense look. "I wanted to tell you so you could watch your back Bella. I don't trust the Mallorys as far as I could throw them."
I thought about Rose's warning. I hoped I wouldn't have to deal with the Mallorys again. Kitty and Bernard thought their daughter was all sunshine and rainbows when she was really piss and vinegar.
Two summers ago we had a set of interns who were more experienced than usual. Most of them had been with us for more than one or two summers and because of that they thought they knew everything. I decided to put them to the test. We had a special event for a new exhibit and I assigned each of them a very specific portion of the program. Of course some of the boys and Lauren Mallory decided they wanted to take it to the next level. They lined up inappropriate pieces for the auction and put subtle messages in the program guides. I caught it all of course, only days before the event, and had to rush to get everything changed and prepared.
When I questioned each of them about it afterward they all denied any wrongdoing and wouldn't fess up as to who was the mastermind behind the entire scheme. But I knew exactly who it was.
Lauren Mallory.
Lauren had caused other problems for me personally. Every event Edward attended with me she fawned over him and threw herself at him. Apparently her mother knew Edward's parents and the Whitlocks quite well. Esme never said anything outrightly bad about Kitty Mallory, but she also didn't put forth anything good.
Then one night Esme, Alice and I were up late after dinner and the kids were fast asleep. The boys were in Carlisle's study and Alice and I got Esme going on a few bottles of wine. I found out that Kitty Mallory always had a thing for Carlisle and was rather bold about it. She was sure Kitty got her daughters to chase after her sons as well, even though they were seven and eleven years their juniors.
Needless to say once all the pieces came together, I knew it was Lauren Mallory behind everything. I told Mr. Banner either we fired her or I would make her life a living hell and make her want to leave. Of course the Mallorys insisted the entire thing was my fault. Banner had to smooth the way with the Mallorys and "let" Lauren go. Of course they put up a big story about her needing more time for school. I was just pissed she got away with it.
I finished my lunch as Rose and I chatted a bit more. I wasn't relishing in the idea of that old pain in the butt making her way back into my life. I was almost glad I would only be coming back part-time after Lucy was born. It would be less time I would have to deal with her.
"Well Bella. I better go. I need to figure out a way to break the news to Emmett." Rose smiled as she got up and threw her garbage away.
"I'm sure he's going to be thrilled no matter what Rose." I gave her a quick hug and we said our good-byes, promising to see each other tomorrow night at the fundraiser.
I walked back to my office and pondered over the recent Lauren Mallory news. I wasn't going to let it ruffle me. I had more important things to worry about. Hopefully I could talk to Banner and he would try to get her placed in another department. I quickly grabbed the finished pieces for the new Santorini exhibit and walked out to help set up for the Fundraiser.
The afternoon flew by as it usually did in preparation for any event. It was late and I was hungry as I hadn't eaten anything since lunch and I was on my feet most of the afternoon.
After we finished putting up the last of the new pieces in the new collection, we closed it down for the night. I was ready to go home and spend some time with my boys.
"Hey Bella, are you heading out?"
"Yeah Jazz, you?"
"Yeah, I'll walk you out."
I thought of something then and raised an eyebrow at him. "You haven't talked to Edward this week have you?" I inquired.
"No, why?"
"Hmpf. Because of the way you acted with the reporters I thought maybe he said something to you."
"As much as I know your husband and my brother-in-law can be a bit…overprotective." I snorted and he shook his head. "I would do that anyway, and no, he didn't ask me to."
"Good. Even though I am as big as a house, that doesn't mean I can't fend off a few reporters."
"I know Bella, but they shouldn't be hassling you. They shouldn't be around at all." Jasper furrowed his brow and I thought about his reaction.
"Have they been bothering Alice too?"
"Yes. And the other morning when she was taking Soph and Syd to the sitters one all but cornered her. I was pissed when I found out."
I saw Jasper's eyes flash with fire and I knew not to say much more. Jasper was so even keel, so laid back all the time. But the one thing he got riled up over was his wife and daughters.
"Well, it will get better and go away soon. It always does." I shrugged and tried to act nonchalant about it.
We stepped into my office to grab my bag and shut off the lights. I noticed a note on my desk. I quickly picked it up to see if it was something last minute for tomorrow.
Bella-
Maggie Carlton called for you from the Post. She said she was a former employee and to call her back.
Samantha
Maggie?
I hadn't spoken or thought of Maggie in years. She was our receptionist for a short time about three years ago but once she finished her schooling she became a reporter for the Post.
At once it dawned on me. She was probably trying to work an inside contact to get information from me on Edward's family. Well I wasn't biting.
I threw the note in the garbage and finally grabbed my stuff and locked up my office. Jasper walked me to my car before climbing in his own to head home.
As I pulled into the condo building only minutes later I quickly climbed out of the Range Rover and threw my bag over my shoulder. The car beeped as I locked it and I walked to the elevators.
Suddenly I felt like I was being watched. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and a chill ran down my spine. I hadn't had that feeling in a long time and I didn't like it. I knew it too well.
I quickly glanced around and noticed no one was in the parking garage.
"You're just being ridiculous Bella." I muttered under my breath.
The elevator doors opened and I stepped inside. But as the doors closed, a hand flew in to stop the elevator.
"Oh!" I put my hand over my mouth reflexively. I was still a bit apprehensive about elevators anyway, but the sudden movement made me all the more jumpy.
"Sorry." A man with dark brown hair and dark eyes stepped into the elevator and I moved to the side. He pressed the number for the eleventh floor and I tried to determine if I had ever seen him before. He didn't look familiar to me and at the same time, I felt like I should know him from somewhere.
I stared at the numbers above the door and for some reason held my breath. I could feel his eyes on me and it made me uncomfortable. Finally the elevator stopped on eleven and I let out a breath as he stepped off.
But before the door closed I heard him murmur good night to me.
"Mrs. Cullen." He turned as the doors closed and gave me a piercing stare and my breath caught again.
What the fuck? How did he know me?
My hands began trembling and I quickly pressed the button for twenty as the elevator rose again. I knew I was probably just being paranoid. He likely met Edward and knew what floor we lived on. But I knew I never met him before.
Before I could let my mind run away with me the elevator opened to our floor and I stepped into the hall to unlock the door. It was nice to have an additional line of security even though no one else lived on our floor.
As I wiggled the keys I heard giggling from the other side and feet pattering across the floor.
"Eric just wait." I heard Edward's voice cautioning him and I smiled.
I slowly opened the door to be met with a flash of sandy blonde hair and our three year old son tackling my legs.
"Momma!"
"Eric!" Edward simultaneously grabbed my arm and scolded him for knocking me off balance. "You have to be careful with Momma, buddy." He ruffled his hair and rolled his eyes.
Finally he looked at me and his expression softened.
"Hi Liefje. I'm glad you're home." He leaned in to kiss me sweetly and I hummed in response.
"Hi." I smiled.
"Hi baby, are you excited to see me?" I smiled down at Eric as I set down my bag and purse and ruffled his hair. He put his arms up to have me hold him and I shook my head.
"Sorry Zoonie, but I can't lift you right now. You're a little too big for Momma." I said as I bent down to come to his level. "But I will take a hug."
He threw his arms around my shoulders and I smiled as I pulled him close. I looked up to see Edward smiling down at us and our eyes locked.
My boys.
"I made a roast if you're hungry." He helped me up and then picked up Eric to walk us to the living room.
"Starving? What time did you get home?" I noticed he was wearing a black t-shirt and jeans. He must have had training today.
"I took off early. Training was done and I picked up Eric around 4:00."
I glanced at the clock noticing it was close to 8:00. I always lost track of time when we were preparing for the fundraiser.
"Why don't you go change and I'll heat it up for you and get this one to a bath." He tickled Eric, who screeched and giggled.
"I don't need a bath Daddy."
"Yes you do cause you're a smelly little boy and all smelly little boys need baths." Edward teased him.
"I'm not smewwy." Eric responded and I smiled at them as they walked toward the kitchen.
I walked to the master bedroom and quickly changed out of my dress and heels into some yoga pants and a tank top. I couldn't wait to get out of my dress clothes at the end of the day, especially when I was pregnant. I washed my face and hands and pulled my hair in a ponytail just enjoying the feel of my skin able to breathe again.
As I walked out to the kitchen I noticed a plate of food in the warmer and quickly grabbed it and took it to the table. I ate in silence, enjoying the peace and quiet with only the small interruption of a giggle or Edward's low laugh making its way down the hallway. Once I finished and cleaned off the dishes I walked to Eric's bedroom to help tuck him in for the night.
"Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman…" I smiled as I listened to Edward read Jack and the Beanstalk to Eric. He was curled up in bed with him as Eric's eyes were focused on the book and he clutched one hand on Edward's shirt and the other around his blanket.
Before long his eyes were heavy and his breathing deepened. Edward gave him a kiss on the head and tucked him in. I walked over to do the same and felt Edward's arms wrap around me from behind and his lips on my shoulder. He gently rubbed his hand over my stomach as we stood there for a moment simply awing at our sleeping little boy.
Finally Edward grabbed my hand and we quietly closed the door as we walked back out to the living room.
He seemed tense and serious again tonight. I couldn't put my finger on it, but I knew something was bothering him. I also knew that I had to patiently wait until he was ready to tell me. That was just how he worked.
I curled into my spot on the sofa and soon Edward joined me with a glass of Ketel One for himself and a lemonade for me. He pulled my feet into his lap and started working on the heels of my feet.
"Mmmm. Baby that feels amazing." He smirked at me but didn't say anything. I could tell he was forming his thoughts.
After a few minutes, he blew out a breath and took a big drink from his glass.
"I'm surprised you can drink that already after Sunday night." I joked trying to relieve a bit of the tension and give him a bit of an opening.
He chuckled and shook his head. "I know." He said but then his smile faded just as quickly.
"There's something I need to tell you." He said as he focused on my feet again.
I didn't say anything. I just nodded and let him continue.
"Remember when we were at the beach on Sunday and the man with the dog came running toward us."
"Yeah." I furrowed my brow and wondered what that had to do with anything.
"Well, he said some strange things to me and it made me a bit…apprehensive."
I furrowed my brow at him and leaned over to grab his hand and stop him for a moment.
"Okay?"
"He said some things about a 'runaway train' and 'reigning in rookies and how they're not like the old guys'. Then he said something about a 'jailbreak" it just seemed a little weird."
"Edward that doesn't sound so bad." I offered.
"Fuck. I know but a few other things happened too." He looked at me and I saw a dark look in his eyes, one I was all too familiar with but hadn't seen in over three years. It was a flash of the haunted look he had about him when we first met, so much different from the man he was now. But I always knew that dark agent, the assassin, was still deep down inside.
"What other things?" I asked determinedly.
He blew out a breath and grabbed my hand as he swallowed the rest of his drink with the other. He went on to tell me about drinking with his father on Sunday night and trying to both pump him for information and get reassurance from him. Then he explained that his senses were even more heightened after the article and all the reporters this week—specifically the one that stopped him yesterday. Finally he mentioned the new program at Quantico and some of the information he found out about the new agents.
But the thing that struck me most was June's interaction with the man at the park. A shiver went down my spine that someone had come so close to our son. Whether the man was a true family friend, or someone bad as Edward feared, the thought made me nauseous.
"Edward, do you think…I mean do you have any idea who the man might have been."
He shook his head and ran his hand through his hair nervously. "I don't know. I just know I have a bad feeling about it. All of these things have come together at once and it just doesn't sit right with me."
"What did Garrett say?"
He gave me a look out of the corner of his eye and I knew it wasn't good.
"He's going to look into it and he's going to have a few of his field agents that are under right now work a few contacts and find out if anyone has been poking around."
"Well that's good." I said without thinking. "I just wish you would have told me all of this sooner." I said sternly.
"Liefje I…" He started to explain but I raised my eyebrows at him.
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't being paranoid. I didn't want to worry you for no reason with everything else going on." His eyes immediately went to my stomach and I instinctively rubbed my hand over it.
"I can understand that. But you have to tell me everything from here on out. No excuses." My voice was stern but I gave him a small smile and grabbed his hand as I said it.
"I will. I just…I'm angry at myself for getting…I don't know…complacent. I feel like I should have seen this coming or should have known something."
"Edward, you can't fix everything. And nothing has happened, but we know now and we know to keep our eyes and ears open." I reassured him. Then suddenly something popped in my head. I mulled it over for a minute until Edward looked at me intently.
"What is it Liefje?"
"I just." How could I explain the sixth sense feeling that I got?
"Tonight when I got in the elevator there was strange man in there. I've never met him before but he called me Mrs. Cullen. He got off on the eleventh floor, do you know him?"
Edward's expression darkened once again and he shook his head.
"I'm sure it was nothing. He probably knew me from somewhere and I just didn't recognize him."
Edward thought for a moment before he scrubbed his hands down his face and let out a deep sigh.
"God. I wish we didn't have to think about this. I wish we never had to look over our shoulders and we could just forget about everything." He grumbled.
"I know. But you know what. I have you and Eric and we have more resources than we can imagine. It'll be fine."
"I just don't want to think about it anymore. All I have done is think about it all week." He sighed dejectedly.
"Well, I'll tell you what Agent Cullen. What do you say you take me back to the bedroom and I'll help you forget your woes for the night?" I smirked as I wrapped my arms around his neck.
He gave me a small smile and I knew I had to bring him back from that place. It was the place he always went when he started to worry about something. He pulled me tightly to him and pressed his lips to my forehead.
"Bella you just have to know that you and Eric and this little one." He rubbed his hand over my stomach. "You are the world to me. I can't let anything happen to you."
"I know. Nothing is going to happen to us. I'm always going to be here for you." I kissed him tenderly and he sighed into the kiss. I could feel the tension leaving his body yet again as he relieved his stresses and fears.
"How about I provide a distraction?" I said as I trailed my lips from his and down his neck.
"I think I like your way of distracting me." He said lowly as he leaned in and placed a kiss under my ear.
I slowly ghosted my lips up to his jaw and finally met his mouth again. Soon enough he lifted me up and set me down only to grab my hand and lead me back to the bedroom. And just like before, just like always, we lost ourselves in one another for the night, focusing on being close to one another and just forgetting about everything else.
*&^%$#
Saturday morning came all too quickly. Now that I was married and we had Eric, I reveled in my weekends. I didn't used to care about going to work on Saturdays, but now my time was much more precious to me. After a quick breakfast and a kiss for both my boys I was off to the Met for our final preparations.
Edward and Eric were going to spend the day together, a little quality father-son time. I think Grandpa was even going to be in the mix as Edward mentioned something about going to Esme and Carlisle's to watch the baseball game later. Esme was going to be busy getting ready for the event with Alice.
I pulled into the Met and turned off the car. I was relieved to see there were no reporters today. I guess they didn't realize I would be working on Saturday.
The red carpet was already laid out for tonight and I quickly shuffled into the main hall to get started. We were double checking the last of the displays, setting out the programs for tonight and strategically placing new pieces to draw the crowd out and hopefully draw out their checkbooks as well.
Jasper and a few of the guys from the research department were finalizing all of the dates and names on the cards as I checked for stupid things like grammar and spelling. But one little mistake could have a potential donor complaining and we didn't want to slip at all.
I quickly worked my way through the new pieces from Santorini. The exhibit was donated by someone new. I wasn't here for the meeting when Mr. Banner announced it, but I knew it was special. Santorini was a little island off the coast of Greece that had been all but destroyed by a volcano centuries ago. It was a highly civilized culture for its time period and theorists believed Santorini, or Thera, as it was called, was the basis for the story of Atlantis. Archeologists had been excavating it for over forty years and now they were finally releasing some of the artifacts for a touring exhibit. We were lucky to get it.
"Hey Bella. Did you double check all the cards in here?" Jasper walked up to me looking tired and ready to go home as well.
"Yeah. I just did. I think we're good to go."
"Good, because whoever donated this is a piece of work apparently."
"Who was it? I was at a doctor's appointment the day we had our meeting."
"Some Brazilian financier. I guess he's new to New York but not new to the business world. I'd never heard of him before."
"What's his name?"
"I don't know his first name. He only goes by J. J. Frederico."
I shrugged. I'd never heard of him, but I should ask Edward about him because he might have heard something after he set up the trust. I shook my head at the fact that the harrowed hall I was standing in was basically owned by my husband.
"What?" Jazz asked amusedly.
"Oh nothing, just thinking about all this." I waved my hand and Jasper chuckled knowingly.
"Oh you'll learn Bella, with the Cullens you just have to roll with it."
"Don't I know what you mean." I said wryly.
I finished up with my last minute checks and made sure everything was in order before Jasper and I each left to get ready for the event. Alice dropped him off earlier and he was coming back to our place. We were all going to get ready and attend together. We planned to have a fun night out away from the kids. It would probably be one of mine and Edward's last nights before Lucy arrived in mid-September.
Jasper grabbed my bag for me and I huffed teasingly as we descended the steps to the parking lot. In a matter of minutes we were joking and laughing about previous events and the things that happened.
"Do you remember two years ago when Lauren Mallory practically threw herself at Edward? I've never seen him so flustered. He's always so calm and collected, ever the agent. And here she was this twenty year old twit hanging all over him."
I laughed as I recalled his panicked face as I walked up to them. I had been planning to step in but the Jasper stopped me as I saw Esme walk up and give her a piece of her mind. I had never seen Esme irritated before and she called her a "harpy" and told her to get her hands off of her son. Jasper and I laughed so hard we had tears in our eyes and it helped us forget, for a little bit, what a mess the little brat created for us.
As we pulled into our underground garage, I instantly tensed. I hadn't felt odd this morning, but after everything Edward told me last night I was a little leery of our parking garage and of running into the man from the eleventh floor again. Now I was secretly glad Jasper was with me.
We continued to regale tales of our different events in the almost thirteen years we worked together.
Once we opened the door to our apartment I was met with Justin Bieber blaring over the speakers. I looked at Jazz and he instantly closed his eyes and shook his head.
"The girls like this?" I asked appallingly.
"Worse…Alice." He said soberly and I covered my mouth in laughter.
I looked up and noticed Edward walking toward us with a glass of something clear in his hand. Obviously he wasn't too pleased with the song choice either.
He bent down to give me a kiss and shook Jasper's hand as he met us at the door.
"What's going on?" I asked as he swallowed another large drink.
"Christ she has our son dancing around to that fucking Justin Bieber song." Edward shook his head with a disgusted look on his face and I just giggled.
"Oh poor Daddy, afraid our son's going to be influenced by the girls too much." I laughed and he scowled at me.
I touched his cheek and then kissed him as I pulled him toward the living room. "C'mon tough guy, he'll be just fine."
Edward sighed and reluctantly followed me back to the living room.
There we were met with the sight of Alice dancing around with the twins and Eric, who had a pink boa around his neck. I started laughing and Edward shot me a look of disdain.
Jasper busted up as they all sang "baby, baby, baby ooooh…" as loud as they could.
Finally Edward's scowl dropped and he smiled and shook his head. When the song ended the girls jumped to give me hugs and I got a sloppy kiss from Eric. Alice was already dressed and she shoed Jasper to the guest bathroom to get ready.
"Bella you need to get cleaned up." She tsked as she looked at me disapprovingly.
"Okay Alice." I sighed and walked down the hall toward the master bedroom. It wasn't like I was going to look spectacular tonight or anything, I was seven months pregnant. I would like I was trying to hide a basketball under a toga—still obvious.
***I closed the door behind me and quickly slipped off my shoes and jewelry as I made my way to the bathroom. I turned on the shower to let it warm and then bent over the sink to scrub my face of my make-up and the grime of the day. Suddenly felt a hand on my back and I jumped.
"Oh! Edward, you scared me." I exclaimed as I looked up at him. He gave me a sly grin.
"I thought I would come get ready with you."
I knew that look. I loved that look.
But now?
"Edward your sister and Jasper and the kids are all out in the living room. We can't do this now." I hissed.
"That's exactly why we can do this now. Everyone's preoccupied."
He set his glass down on the counter and swept my hair from my shoulder as he began to place kisses up my neck.
My knees instantly buckled and a wave of heat rushed through me.
Damn pregnancy hormones.
He knew he could get me going with one little touch at any time, but now it was even worse. I was like a light switch.
"Babe…I really don't think…" I protested. But he spun me around and silenced me with his lips.
After giving me a searing kiss he leaned against my ear and I felt his hot breath on my neck and all the way down my back.
Fuck. I am so done for.
"Shhh. C'mon, they won't even know." He whispered mischievously. "I promise I'll be fast and efficient." He wiggled his eyebrows at me and I snorted and slapped his chest. But the thought of showering with a naked Edward, water droplets running over his still fantastic body and hot ass tattoos, made my insides tingle and I could feel my face flushing in an instant.
"Hmmm. See, I think someone agrees with me." He said as he stepped closer and trapped me against the counter and skimmed his nose up and down my neck.
Son of a bitch. Damn sexy agent got me every time.
"Oh, well when you say such dirty things like 'fast and efficient'." I teased.
He laughed wholeheartedly against me, but the vibration only spurred my temptations for him.
My husband.
My charming, devious, irresistible husband.
Without responding he worked his way up my neck with his lips as his hands gripped my waist. He lightly tugged on the shirt I was wearing, and with only a brief departure of his lips from my neck, had it off me and flung over his shoulder to the floor of the bathroom.
In a matter of seconds my bra, jeans and panties joined the pile and Edward was slowly kissing his way up my body. We were skin to skin and I could feel the steam from the shower filling the room and making us slick against one another.
He lightly palmed my breasts and I moaned and gripped his hair as he brought his mouth to one of my nipples and slowly sucked, tweaking it and making it pucker against the thick air of the bathroom.
"Fuck Liefje, your breasts are so fucking amazing." He switched to attend to the other as he ground himself against me as much as possible. I moaned and continued to work his scalp with my fingers as he took me higher and higher.
"It's just because I'm pregnant." I gasped as he lightly bit down and then sucked again.
"God, I love you pregnant." I laughed as he finally moved his way up my sternum to my neck and pushed my hair back as he found my pulse point. "Who am I kidding? I love you all the time."
I laughed and then moaned as he bit down on my ear. "Oh. Baby, please we don't have much time."
"I know. But I plan to take my time with you later. I promise." I groaned at his implications and wrapped my arms around him to pull him closer and bring his mouth roughly to mine.
Our tongues tangled and our bodies fought for friction until he picked me up and set me on the counter. I squeezed my legs around him as much as possible and leaned back as his erection pressed against me. Soon we were frantic and clinging to one another, our teeth crashing and our hands running roughly over one another. I gripped his strong chest and biceps and he hissed as I bucked into him.
But then I pushed back hard and he pulled away giving me a questioning look.
"Bella?"
"Help me up." I offered him my hand as he pulled me off the counter and I gave him a devilish smile. I stepped forward and ran my hands down his chest.
"I want you behind me." I whispered.
His eyes flashed with want and he all but growled at me. "Fuck. Turn around."
I did as he told me and shivered as he ran his hand down the side of my neck, pushing my hair over my shoulder before wrapping it around his wrist. He bent forward and kissed the nape of my neck as his other hand snaked around to tweak my breasts again and then work their way down to my center to make sure I was ready for him.
Like I wouldn't be.
"Quit teasing me." I shot him a smirk in the mirror and saw his wicked grin in return as he pressed against me. I moved my butt back into him and widened my stance to bend a bit as I felt him right at my entrance.
"You're okay." A flicker of concern crossed his face and I groaned.
"Edward. Just fuck me already."
"Jesus Liefje." He closed his eyes and pulled me back as he thrust into me.
"Oh…ahhh." I let out a long sigh. It was always so deep this way, but since I was pregnant it made me feel impossibly full and impossibly close to him.
Edward pushed in and then out, slowly and deliberately until I started to bring my hips back to him. My eyes were glazed and my mouth was open as I looked at him in the mirror. His face was set in a tough line, his jaw tight and his eyes blazing in fire.
"Fuck, Liefje, you look amazing." His teeth clamped down on my shoulder and I moaned.
I wanted to shake my head at him and tell him that there was no way I looked amazing seven months pregnant, but I knew he would just scold me. I knew he loved me like this; it was just hard to believe sometimes.
"You make me feel amazing." I gasped as he picked up his pace and brought his hand around under my breasts and drove into me deeper. I braced myself against the counter as he planted wet kisses down my back, making my skin rage in fire.
"Harder…Edward." I whimpered as we pushed and pulled against one another. Soon enough our slick skin was slapping and the mirror had fogged over from us and the steam in the shower.
"Ugh. Bella…" Edward groaned and I knew he was getting close. I could feel the burning in my abdomen and reached down move my fingers over my clit. The increased motion instantly had me spiraling.
"Oh. Edward. Edward." I cried out and then bit my lip because I didn't want everyone to hear us.
"Liefje." He groaned as he grabbed my shoulders and drove into me with abandon.
"I'm…I'm…" I didn't even finish the thought as my body started shaking and I plunged into the depths. I braced myself against the counter as I heard Edward growl my name and come before he lay flat against my back.
My legs were shaking and I was blissfully limp and sweaty. Edward wrapped his arms around me and pulled me against him as he wiped my now damp hair out of my face. He placed a kiss at my jaw and then my chin until I turned to meet him and our lips met, not with urgency this time, but in a tender, loving kiss.
We stood there simply kissing and reveling in our closeness for a moment until we realized we should get moving. We had already been in the bathroom for quite a while.
"We better get cleaned up." Edward said raspily as he hugged me to him. I hummed in contentment and leaned back with my eyes closed.
"Do we have to go?" I whined.
He laughed. "Bella, this is your event remember."
I sighed and gave him another kiss before I finally stepped away and got into the shower.
"Aren't you going to join me?" I popped my head out.
"I don't know if that's a good idea." He gave me a smirk and I laughed.
"Probably not."
I quickly showered and Edward helped me out and wrapped me in a towel. He cleaned up after me and then left the bathroom to put on his tux and finally go tell Alice that she could come back and help me with my hair.
I dried out my hair, leaving it straight until she got her hands on me, and started applying my make-up.
"Is it safe to come in?" I heard her voice at the door and I turned and rolled my eyes at her.
"What?" She put her hands on her hips. "You think people really take that long to…cough…'shower'…cough, cough." She said teasingly.
My face flushed and she started laughing.
"Shut up. I can't help it! Your brother is irresistible."
"It's the Cullen charm. What can I say?" She shrugged and I just shook my head and laughed harder.
We caught up a bit more on our week since the holiday as I quickly finished my make-up. My dress tonight was a Grecian style that was flowing and full and had plenty of room for my expanding belly.
Alice sat me down and started putting big curls through my hair. Once my entire head was curled, she pulled it halfway up leaving only a few tendrils around my face. Then she finished my make-up by making my eyes more dramatic and a bit cat-like. I was used to doing my own, but it was fun to have her amp it up once in a while. She attended so many photo shoots and was around make-up artists that she picked up some cool techniques.
We laughed and chatted as she sipped wine and I drank a sparkling water.
"Ok. All finished." She finally turned me and my breath caught a bit in the mirror. It was very similar to how she did it for our wedding day.
"Ali, it looks just like…" I trailed off.
"I know. I thought…this isn't the first time you have worn white…or well ivory for a big event since…" She said.
"Yeah." I sighed. I touched my hair and examined my now huge eyes and glowing face. I was instantly taken back three years in time.
"Alice I don't need a multi-thousand dollar dress. We're going to be on the beach."
"But Bella." She whined.
We were walking through Bloomingdale's to pick up shoes for the attendants. I still hadn't decided on a dress, and Alice couldn't believe that I didn't want something big and extravagant like hers.
She stopped at the jewelry counter to get the last of the jewelry as well and I decided to just swing into the dress area. I was rummaging through a rack of clearance dresses when one caught my eye. It was white and long with a deep v in the front and the back. It was a BCBG MaxAzaria dress. Usually I would wear that line out for dinner or to a show, but this was much more formal and yet simple at the same time.
I grabbed it off the rack and quickly text Alice that I would be in the dressing room. I slipped out of my clothes, smiling that I had lost nearly all the baby weight and my body was returning to normal. I pulled the dress over my head and felt it fall to the floor around me.
I looked up in the mirror and smiled.
It was perfect.
The deep v was still edgy and gave it some flare, but the flowing skirt hid my now curvier body from my pregnancy and still made me feel sexy and feminine. I loved it. It was on sale for only $70. Even better.
"Bella?" I heard Alice call for me and smiled to myself as I stepped out into the larger area.
"Oh…Bella. It's perfect." Her eyes went wide and I nodded my head as I looked in the three way mirror.
"Edward is going to love it and you look just…wow." She added. And in true Alice fashion her speechlessness gave way to an almost incoherent babble about shoes and hair and accessories.
Finally my head was spinning and I grabbed her hand.
"Ali. I don't want to overdo it."
"Bella, Bella, Bella. Have you ever known me to overdo it?"
I cocked and eyebrow at her and we both broke out in laughter.
Alice's ramblings brought me out of my thoughts as she went on and on about the wedding. Of course, Alice's other touches were spot on for the wedding just as they were for tonight. I wore studded little white sandals that had a slight wedge so I would have some height but I could still walk in the sand. She did my hair in a Grecian style, just like tonight, with it curled and half up so it could blow in the breeze. My make-up was light and I only wore my grandmother's simple lion necklace. I found it fitting.
I stepped out of the bathroom to finish changing and getting ready. Alice excused herself to go check on Jasper, Edward and the kids as I put on my dress and heels. It was a silky one shoulder ivory dress that had an empire waist and flowed down over my stomach to the floor. It looked like something straight out of the Greek Isles. I should know as I admired many things like it when Edward and I took our honeymoon there.
I was just putting on my gold wrapped bracelet and making sure everything lay right when I heard a click at the door and turned to look.
My eyes caught Edward's form as he stood in the door looking devastatingly handsome in a simple black tuxedo. My eyes raked over his body as he did the same to me. His hair was moderately tamed but still sexy as hell and his muscular body filled out the tux to perfection.
Damn, I am one lucky woman.
He swallowed as he stood there with his eyes wide and an awed expression on his face.
"What?" I asked.
He cleared his throat and stepped forward tentatively, never taking his eyes off me.
"The last time you wore white…" He rasped as he took each step slowly.
"I know." I said quietly and smiled.
Finally he reached me and ever so lightly trailed his fingers over my face from my brow to my jaw. The amount of love and devotion in just the simple light touch was indescribable.
"You look…I have no words for it Liefje." I closed my eyes and smiled as I felt his fingers trail to my lips and pull out my bottom one. My eyes fluttered open as he gently reached forward to cup my cheek with his other hand.
Then he kissed me, soft, warm and ever so tenderly. It was so much different than earlier in the bathroom, but that was why I loved him so much. I loved that he could be raw and passionate, protective and demanding and yet so gentle and caring. He took my breath away on a daily basis and I found myself once again breathless with my chest heaving as I gasped in air from his kiss.
He ran his hands down my arms and goose bumps instantly sprung up in their wake. He moved to my belly and the feeling of his warm touch over the silk was amazing. I covered his hand with mine and we were rewarded with a kick. Edward's face broke out in a breathtaking smile and we just enjoyed the moment.
At last he cleared his throat again. "I…um…I have something for you." His brow furrowed and he stepped over to the top drawer of the dresser where he kept the things most sacred to him.
I watched him with rapt attention as he stepped back over to me and fiddled with a small box in his hands.
"What's that?" I questioned.
"A little something Eric and I picked out…for you."
"Edward…" I started to admonish him, but he put his fingers over my lips. He was forever surprising me with things, and I constantly told him he didn't need to spend money on me.
"Bella. I love you. You are my wife, the mother of my children, my best friend, and everything in the world to me. If I want to give you something, I'm going to." He gave me a stern, but joking, look and I sighed as I couldn't hold back the smile on my face.
"I called Alice this morning to find out what your dress was like for tonight. She said it matched the theme of the fundraiser so I took a chance. Eric and I went down to Greenwich today and found these at a vintage place."
He opened the box and I bit my lip in anticipation. Even though I didn't like it when he bought me gitfts, he really had exceptional taste and his gifts were always spot on.
He pulled out a pair of antique gold chandelier earrings. They matched my strappy heels and gold bracelet perfectly and I knew they would look magnificent with the dress.
"Edward…they're…"
"Do you like them?" He asked hopefully.
"They're lovely, and…perfect." I ran my fingers over the earrings and he pulled them from the box.
"I'm glad. Here, let me help you." He pulled them from the box and we walked over to the mirror. He gently pulled my hair back as I took out the small gold drop earrings I had in. Then I took them from him and placed them in each ear. Edward gave me a huge smile and kissed me gently on my exposed shoulder.
I spun around and put my hands on his lapel as I leaned up to kiss him. "Thank you so much."
"You're welcome Liefje." We shared our quiet moment until, as could be predicted, Eric came bounding in.
"Momma. Did you get the earwings?"
Edward laughed and I bent down to show Eric that I was wearing them.
"I did baby, thank you so much, they're so pretty."
He gave me a big smile and I kissed his forehead. He giggled and ran back to the living room.
I turned toward Edward then and smiled at the look of joy on his face as I offered him my hand.
"Ready."
"Ready." He clutched mine and kissed the backs of my fingers as we strode out to the living room.
We said our good-byes to Eric, the girls and June and made our way to the limo. Alice and Jasper were just as excited for a night out as we were and were already a little tipsy from the wine they shared at our condo. Alice oohed and ahhed over the earrings and Edward simply shrugged.
The limo pulled up to the event and we stepped out on the red carpet. I still had a hard time getting used to this. Before I met Edward, I always arrived early and went in the back. But now I had to walk up the red carpet and make an appearance.
We might be on page 6 or something.
I put on my smile and grabbed Edward's hand. He pulled me into his side as he walked up the carpet.
"Edward, Bella!" I heard Esme's voice from somewhere ahead of us and I turned to look.
Before I knew it my mother-in-law wrapped her arms around me and pulled me in for a hug.
"Oh Bella dear you look wonderful." Esme gushed.
"Thanks Esme."
"Mom, you're going to mess up her hair and dress, and yours!" Alice all but screeched.
"Oh who cares Alice. We all look better when we're normal anyway." Esme waved her hand at her.
I laughed under my breath as Esme was really one of the few people who could snuff out one of Alice's fits in a second.
"You look beautiful as well Esme." I smiled as she stepped back and noticed her beautiful gold dress. She looked like a Grecian princess with gold leaves in her hair.
"Edward! I didn't get to see you and Eric this afternoon. How are you?" Esme threw her arms around Edward next and he laughed as he hugged her. It was so good to see him reconnected with his family. Esme looked ten years younger since he came back into their lives. She liked to give me credit for it, but I couldn't take it. It was him; he did the work to go through counseling and to bring himself back. I just tried to support him any way I could.
We greeted Carlisle and the Whitlocks and followed everyone into the event. Emmett and Rose weren't there yet; they were going to dinner beforehand.
The hall looked even better than I could have imagined. It was set with twinkling white lights and only the lingering light of day. The warm glow reminded me so much of the night Edward proposed to me.
Without thinking, I left our group of family and friends and wandered over to the Apollo statue. I stood there taking in the smooth lines of the stone and remembering the feeling of seeing Edward here the first time. The electricity between us was staggering and I could feel the warmth in my body as I thought about not only that day, but the day he proposed right here.
Suddenly a tingle ran up my neck and down my arms. I knew my own Apollo was right behind me, so close but not touching.
"It's really remarkable isn't it?" I could hear the smirk in his voice as he leaned right next to my ear.
"Remarkable is the perfect word for it." I responded without turning to look at him.
"Hmmm." He pondered, playing out our intense second meeting. "I would venture to say there are more beautiful things in this room however."
I turned around then to look at him and find the playful grin on his face. I placed my hands on his lapel as I stared up into his dancing jade eyes and gave him a coy smile.
"Oh really? What's that?"
"You." He whispered as he placed his hands on my waist and bent down to kiss me gently. My lips tingled from the contact and I smiled as he released them.
"You're a charmer Apollo."
"Only telling the truth." He smirked again. Then he looked around the hall taking in the last light of day. "You know what this reminds me of…" He trailed off.
"I know." I smiled. "I was thinking the same thing just a few minutes ago."
He stepped a bit closer, wrapping his arms around my back and bringing his lips to my ear. "That was one of the best nights of my life Liefje…when you agreed to be my wife."
My breath hitched as he placed a soft kiss on my temple. I was still amazed at how he could make me utterly speechless and forget everything, even in a room full of people at a very public event.
He ran his hand up over my belly then and looked down at me with a small smile on his face.
"What are your other favorites?" I asked without thinking.
His brow furrowed as he thought for a moment. "Our wedding, when Eric was born, and of course, when you told me this one was on the way." His hand grazed my stomach and I gave him a watery smile.
Suddenly a throat cleared next to us, breaking us from our private moment.
"Edward. It's been a long time." A nasally voice said from somewhere beside us.
Edward's whole body stiffened and he closed his eyes. He looked annoyed to be interrupted and I had to agree with him. But he turned, keeping his arm around me, and pulled me into his side.
"Claire. It has." He offered nonchalantly.
I looked up to see Claire Whitney in all her fake blonde, twiggy glory, clinging to the arm of a dark-haired, olive-skinned man.
There was an awkward silence as I felt Edward dig his fingers into my side. Something was amiss and I could feel the warmth and tenderness of our private moment instantly morph into something else.
Finally Claire cleared her throat and run her eyes up and down me.
"Edward, aren't you going to introduce us." Claire raised one perfectly plucked eyebrow and I had to fight the urge to roll my eyes. She knew who I was. We had met before, but just not with Edward around. Usually he tried to avoid her at all costs at these things.
Edward cleared his throat and turned to give me a small smile. He was up to something.
"Yes. Claire Whitney, this is my lovely wife, Bella."
"Claire." I extended my hand and she shook it limply. Edward pulled me back and placed an arm around my back with the other lightly against the side of my belly.
Her eyes flashed to my stomach again and I had to hold back a smirk.
"Well. I see you haven't wasted any time in expanding your family. My mother told me that you have another child as well?" She asked haughtily.
"Yes. Eric. He's three." Edward said coldly and I could see something flash in her eyes as she heard his name.
"Oh." The tension in the air was stifling. I knew it shouldn't matter to me, but I was always a bit wary of her. Ever since the encounter with Jan Cullen at the fundraiser four years ago, I knew Claire still had her eyes set on Edward. I was absolutely secure in our relationship. But I didn't trust her one bit.
The awkwardness continued until Claire straightened her back and turned to the man at her side.
"I'm sorry. Where are my manners? I forgot to properly introduce you to my my boyfriend. This is J. Frederico."
J. Frederico?
Claire Whitney was dating the new up and coming businessman who donated the Santorini exhibit.
"J. Edward Cullen." Edward nodded.
"Edward." His voice was thick with an accent and his eyes were dark as he extended his hand.
Edward extended his as well, but the rigid look on his face had returned, almost like he knew him from somewhere. They shook forcefully and for longer than necessary until Edward placed his arm back around me.
I decided I needed to change directions with this conversation and offered my own hand.
"Bella Cullen. I work here at the Met. The Santorini pieces are quite an addition to the exhibit. Thank you for your generous donation."
"Yes, Mrs. Cullen. I see you did a fine job putting the exhibition together. I heard you were the one to request."
I furrowed my brow at him and felt Edward stiffen beside me again.
But before I could inquire more about what he meant, Esme stepped in to break up the encounter.
"There you two are. Your father and I want to introduce you to someone…Oh. Claire, it's nice to see you again." Esme nodded pleasantly and then grabbed Edward's arm to usher him aside. He in turn grabbed my hand and nodded toward the cold couple in front of us.
"Claire, J. Enjoy your evening."
"I'm sure we will Edward." Claire said haughtily again.
I just offered them each a small smile as I was being led back toward our family.
As soon as they were out of sight, I looked at Edward and he seemed deep in thought as if he wasn't even aware of where he was at.
As I let him collect himself, I checked the time to see if I needed to speak with the MC. Then Alice saddled up to me.
"So what was that all about?" She questioned.
"I have no idea Alice." I rolled my eyes.
"Just an awkward meeting of old and new flames huh?" She chuckled.
"Awkward is an understatement."
She giggled and handed me a glass of sparkling water. "Here. Don't let that hussy ruin your night. We're without kids and without a curfew. Let's have fun." She offered a cheers and I held up my glass to hers.
"To tonight." She stated.
I smiled, but out of the corner of my eye I noticed my still distracted husband and over his shoulder one old flame looking on with interest. I shook it off and turned back as we clanked our glasses.
"To tonight." I finished and took a sip of my drink. I just hoped tonight wasn't another indication of Edward's worries. We didn't need any of our old issues coming back to haunt us and I definitely didn't need any new ones to worry about.
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