Stephenie Meyer owns all thing Twilight related.
I know I confuse the hell out of my beta, Francesb001, but he hasn't left me yet. Please don't leave me.
Finding a grocery store should not have been that fucking difficult, or so I thought. I drove around for what felt like hours looking for a damn store. I know these haughty motherfuckers must eat. I was starting to wonder whose dick I would have to suck for a hint.
Once I did finally find a store, the damn prices had the nerve to change at will. At least that was how it seemed to me. Shelf price said two dollars but register price said eight. What kind of bullshit was that? The cashier tried to tell me that I needed to be a member to get the advertised price. That is all fine and dandy but the sneaky fuckers had the nerve to want to charge me for that too. The damn membership fee was more than all the groceries I was buying from the store. So I kindly declined by flipping her the fuck off, with both hands.
Where the fuck is a Wal-Mart when you need one?
Why can't my life just be simple?
When I make it back to the house, I can see that no one is home. I guess that means I am on my own with these bags.
This is becoming the story of my life. No fucking help.
As I'm unloading the bags in the kitchen, I hear chatter and laughing coming from the front. This is a very welcome change from the ninjas. My nerves would not be able to handle any more of that shit.
I know the moment they enter the kitchen because the room goes silent. Like someone pressed mute. I look up to see three sets of eyes staring at me. Two sets with the same creepy grayish blue coloring and one with dark brown. They stop mid conversation and just stare at me like I'm one of the monkeys at the zoo.
Take a picture that shit lasts longer.
Where the hell are everyone's manners? I have been the first one to speak all day. I'll be damned if I keep doing it.
Using my time wisely, I stare back. The three girls in front of me all look alike but not really. It's like maybe they all have the same mother but different fathers, which would definitely explain how they ended up in a whorehouse. Genetics and all that. However, I could be wrong.
All three of them are slim. They are each pretty in their own way, I guess, but they don't have anything on Rosalie. Not that I'm checking these girls out or anything. I'm just saying.
Again, the two with the same creepy eyes have the same California blonde hair while the other one has dark brown hair kind of like mine. She is the shortest out of the three.
One of the blondes interrupts my ogling when she finally speaks up.
"New girl?"
Damn you Charlie. Didn't you tell anybody I was coming?
"No, I'm Bella. Bella Swan."
I am getting really tired of people thinking I'm a whore.
"Charlie's daughter?" questions the brunette looking far more confused than necessary.
"Yeah. And you must be the hookers that Rosalie was telling me about."I snickered.
Their faces dropped when I came out with that. But before any of them can respond, Charlie walks into the room from behind where I am standing.
"Bells!" He yells while walking towards me. I turn to greet him.
"Hey baby. Welcome home."
He closes the distance between us and slides his arm over my shoulder. Gently, he gives me a side hug before he turns us back toward the three girls who are now gaping at me. They don't look like they appreciated being called hookers.
"Thanks Dad. I've missed you." I reply.
And I meant every word. I really have missed Charlie. The past few years, with me going to school and working, haven't given us much time to spend together. Before college, Charlie took me to a different country every summer. I really enjoyed those vacations. It wasn't because they were exotic or expensive but because it made me feel like I was special to Charlie despite the distance between us. Back then, I didn't understand why we never stayed at his house. Obviously, since, I have since figured out why. Now, I can appreciate the effort he put into making our time together memorable.
"I see you have met Tanya, Kate, and Irina," he gestured towards each of them with his free hand.
Tanya? Where have I heard that name before? I am pretty sure I heard that name mentioned today.
"We were in the middle of getting acquainted," stated the one that he referred to as Tanya, in the most annoyingly sweet voice I think I have ever heard.
"Good. I want all of my girls to get along."Charlie stated trying to peek into the grocery bags.
"Anything for you, Charlie," they all replied in unison.
Wow. That was freaky.
"What are you planning on cooking there Bells?"He spoke while he poked his finger into various bags.
"Something special."
I may as well start my ass kissing now.
"Just for you to show how grateful I am that you're letting me stay with you."
Yeah, I laid it on pretty thick.
"You don't have to do that, Bells"
Oh yes I do.
"We usually go out to eat as you could probably tell from the empty kitchen."He stated while motioning towards the girls to show who he meant by 'we'.
"It's no problem, Dad. I'm sure I can make enough for all of us."
"How domestic of you," snarled thebrunette.
"Kate." My dad admonished her.
"Charlie, that was a compliment." She replied.
Bullshit.
"Well, I'm going to go get some paper work done. Ladies be nice or I'll send Rose in here." Charlie threatened while giving us all one last look.
"Yes Charlie," they all replied again.
Did they rehearse this shit?
I wonder how Charlie gets them to do that.
I will give my father his credit. He is one handsome man, which may have something to do with it. I inherited my dark brown hair and eyes from Charlie but on him, they looked intense. His sharp Italian features and lightly tanned skin only added to his presence. Despite being a pimp, Charlie was refined. It must have been all that travelling abroad because it was not his upbringing. Forks, Washington does not raise them like that, no way. Not with the charm Charlie had. I guess I could see the appeal but these girls were as young as I was. They must have daddy issues.
Once Charlie left the room, I didn't even girls the opportunity to continue our conversation from earlier as I was sure it would not have been productive in the least.
"Alrighty then. If you will excuse me, I am going to get started," I stated while going back to putting the groceries away. I did not even wait for them to walk away before I turned my back on them.
My plan for tonight did not include standing around chit chatting all night especially now that I had three more mouths to feed. If I am going to get Charlie into a good mood then channeling my inner Julia Child is going to take some serious concentration. This needs to put Charlie into a stupor. Food induced comas tend to ease bad news. Well, this is not necessarily bad news. He does want to pay double for me. That is more than he wanted to pay for…oh my God. Tanya.
If I could have gasped inside my head, right then would have been a good time to do it.
I knew I heard her name today.
Does she know her john dumped her for me?
Seems like this little bit of information is going to make tonight's dinner that much more interesting.
Speaking of johns, I wonder what he is doing right now.
Mr. Fine Ass Motherfucking Cullen. That should be his name. The way that man looks should be illegal.
From the way he was dressed earlier, he is probably some kind of CEO or Wall Street trader. I can imagine him sitting behind one of those huge mahogany power desks in a three piece suit.
Power is sexy.
His hair in that same sexy mess style he had it in this morning. I want to run my hands through it. It is late so he might be tired from his long day. Poor baby. So to relax a little, he slowly loosens his tie with his long, flexible fingers. Hand porn. Then one by one, he opens the buttons on his shirt starting from the top.
Pop.
Is he thinking about me?
Pop.
Because I am definitely thinking about him.
Pop.
"Damnshitfuckassbitch!"I shout when I drop a jar of pickles on my foot, which effectively kills my little fantasy.
Just. Fucking. Great.
This kitchen is sending my libido into overdrive.
After I lysoled the hell out of every surface in the kitchen, I went to work. Cooking has always felt like such a natural thing for me. By the time I had turned nine, I was fed up with Renee and all the fast food she tried to shovel down my throat so I took matters into my own hands. I started with simple things, like oatmeal and spaghetti, then worked my way up to the fancier dishes. Over time, cooking became by sanctuary. It relaxes me and helps me focus my thoughts, which right about now I desperately need.
Once I finished my masterpiece, I went to find Charlie to let him know that dinner was ready.
"Thanks Bells. I'll go let the girls know," he replied.
While Charlie and the Olsen twins plus one seated themselves around the table, I began to set out dinner. I made grilled Ono with garlic mashed potatoes and steamed asparagus.
"Wow. This looks great," Charlie exclaimed as I brought the food to the table.
Charlie sat at the head of the table. Irina took the seat to his left and Kate sat next to her. Tanya had tried to take the seat on Charlie's right but I will be damned if I don't sit next to my own father. If there was one thing that I learned from Charlie it was that the person most important to him always sat on his right. She had me fucked up if she thought she was more important to him than I was. I don't care what she does to him in private, blood is thicker than saliva.
"Tanya, right?" I said while conveniently wedging myself between her and the chair. "Why don't you just sit here?" I motioned to my left while given her my best bitch brow.
After shooting a quick glance around the table, she begrudgingly took the seat.
Everyone began filling their plates while Charlie tried to break the ice that had settled over the table.
"What do you think of the house so far?" He asked me.
"It's gorgeous," I hedged. "But it's a little more open than I'm accustomed to."
"Yeah, it takes a little getting used to but we don't have any neighbors so you shouldn't worry about it," Charlie laughed.
"Well that's good because I could only imagine all the free shows they would have gotten if you did have neighbors," I snorted. "That would make for an interesting topic at the community meetings."
"Maybe, but I bet I'd win neighbor of the year," Charlie added enthusiastically.
I loved that Charlie and I had the same sense of humor. With him, my inappropriateness was welcomed and revered. I hope that this same sentiment will carry over to the Mr. Cullen issue.
"I bet you would too." I responded.
"So Charlie," Tanya started, obviously trying to shift Charlie's focus, "What's on the agenda for this week?"
Charlie looked uncomfortably around the table at the girls then settled his eyes on me before he responded, "I don't think we should discuss this in front of Bella."
"It's fine Dad," I assured him.
I don't want him to feel as though he needs to hide his business from me. Given the fact that I have already pretty much thrown myself into the middle of it, this might be the segue I need to discuss my problem. That is if I don't chicken out first.
"Ok. It's just that we usually discuss schedules and clients over dinner. We could talk about this later," he stated.
"I said it's cool Dad. I really don't mind. Go ahead."
He hesitated a moment before continuing. "Jasper is coming by tomorrow. He should be here around noon so you girls should plan to be here most of the day. Also, I need your confirmations for the week. Since Bella is here we will need to make alternative arrangements for any future meetings."
Who is Jasper?
"I have Edward on Thursday. That's too short notice," Tanya interrupted. "Bella can deal. Isn't that right Bella?"
Is she talking about Mr. Fine Ass Motherfucking Cullen? Not my Mr. Fine Ass Motherfucking Cullen. If I have anything to say about it, she won't ever have another 'meeting' with him.
Before I could get a word out Charlie spoke, this time in a stern voice. "Alternative arrangements will be made. That is not up for discussion. Am I clear?"
Looking rather dejected, Tanya mumbled, "Crystal."
Ha, bitch. He told you.
"I'm glad to hear that. Did you girls have any issues this week?" Charlie continued.
At that statement, Irina spoke up. "I have a client that is refusing to go see Jasper. He said that he has his own doctor and that should be good enough. I told Rosalie about it and she said to tell you."
I was following up until that point but now I'm lost.
A look of irritation crossed Charlie's face as he addressed Irina, "I'll call Emmett in the morning and we'll have a sit down with him. Anything else?"
Who is Emmett?
"Um, Alec called me again today," Kate whispered.
"Fuck," Charlie spat as he slammed his fists on the table. "I thought I told you to get your number changed."
Everyone at the table looked shocked at his outburst.
"I did," Kate replied meekly.
That only pissed Charlie off more. "What did he say?"He seethed.
"Nothing really," she stammered. "Once I realized it was him I hung up."
Charlie steepled his fingers in front of his face and sat quietly for a few minutes.
I'm not clear on what just happened but whatever it was had just turned Charlie's mood to shit. So much for telling him about Cullen. Tonight was definitely not going to be the night for that conversation. Call me a coward if you like but pissed off Charlie is scary. I worked too hard to try to get him in a good mood to throw caution to the wind and blurt it out now.
"Ladies, will you please give Bella and me a moment?" Charlie requested in strained tone.
The girls quickly acquiesced by getting up and leaving the room.
As soon as we were alone, Charlie looked to me with grief written all over his face.
"I'm sorry about that, Bells. I did not intend to ruin your dinner," he apologized.
"You didn't ruin anything Dad. It's alright," I tried to assure him.
"No, it is not alright," he disagreed. "There are a lot of things that you will need to know while you live here. I won't be able to go into everything tonight but I do want you to understand that I have the utmost respect for women despite what others may think. There are men and women in this business that degrade and abuse women but I put my girl's safety above everything else. I am not like them. I would never harm them, physically or emotionally, just like I would never do that to you."
The look in his eyes when he said that was intense.
"You're my father. I know that. I would never think of you like that," I stated.
I know that Charlie is not the type of man to cause anyone harm. When we would spend time together, he would tell me that he treated me like his princess because that is what I deserved and he taught me that I should not expect any less from the men in my life. Even though my mother left him when I was very young, she always spoke highly of him. She would tell me that meeting Charlie was the best thing that ever happened to her and I was lucky to have him as my father. I believed her when she said it and I still believe it today.
"While you are here, there won't be many guests. If someone will be coming here then I will make sure I tell you beforehand," he uttered in a tone that still held a hint of his aggravation. "I have a doctor coming to the house tomorrow, Dr. Jasper Whitlock. Since I need to handle some business with the girls, I won't be in until late but Rosalie will be here with you."
"Okay," I muttered.
"The food was great by the way. We'll talk some more tomorrow."
With that, Charlie got up and left me sitting there by myself.
Tonight did not go as planned but when does it ever. This dinner left me with more questions than answers. I sat there for a while mulling over everything that had happened. Tomorrow I would try to get Rosalie to clear some things up for me. She would be my best options for information since I don't think any of the other girls would be very helpful.
When I finally broke from my thoughts, I realized that nobody cleared their plates. They had all left me down here to clean by myself. Assholes. I am not a maid.
A/N: What do you guys think about Charlie so far? He's my good guy. What about the girls?
Review may result in a catfight...(sharpening claws)