EPV

"Call the agency and tell them I am taking legal action against them. Effective Immediately!" My suitcase was laying lazily on Tanya's desk and her eyes weighed heavily on it, she evaded eye contact with me thus far, my rant was long and not suppressed, Tanya kept a level expression on her face, but the minute I ended with "Legal action" her eyes made its way to mine.

"Edward what in the name of all things good are you going on about?" She seemed genuinely confused. She had reason to be, I'd been fulminating about random aspects, none related to the other and my sentences were hardly coherent.

"The Agency expects me to wed a child?" I narrowed my eyes at her because a loud laugh escaped her lips. "Is that what your argument is centered 'round? She just looks young Edward. What on Earth are you doing here anyway? I thought you checked out for the weekend? Since you're here, complaining, It's safe to guess that your first meeting with her didn't go well?" Tanya looked like she was holding back a smile. I hated the look on her face more than anything, she was deriding me.

I slumped on the chair at the end of her office. My eyes scanned her office, Black and white seemed to be her scheme, like me, her office space seemed impersonal. "It was awful." I said lowly. She looked up, withholding any expression she felt, "What happened?" I thought of avoiding it all together, but I'm sure that wouldn't help. "She walked in on me… and some Texan woman, do you know how hard they are to find !" I expected a scolding, instead I got a laugh, one like before. "I bet she was at your throat this morning wasn't she?" I frowned at her, "No she, she was asleep in fact, in my lounge, on my couch nonetheless!" I think I shuddered a little at the end.

Her face was outrageous. I expected a similar look when I admitted my type of beguilement last night. "The couch Edward? Really?" She looked like she was in complete nihilism. She narrowed her eyes at me "Look I know what's going on here, this is not you, no matter the circumstances you will always love women, and of that isn't reason enough to get you to respect her enough to give her a damn bed, then remember that you were raised better than that!"

I hadn't dictated that she should sleep on the couch, but even, so she was right. If it was another women I would've at least directed her to a room. I saw her take a deep breath, as if her chiding had taken all the breath from the depth of her lungs. "I know Edward, I know 'married' doesn't sound good, but please! Just please." She sounded completely desperate for me to make this work, I knew what she was asking of me. I wasn't sure I could do that.

"She's a stranger Tanya! That's basically imposing on me! Don't expect me to welcome her with Mary's pie and my arms wide and inviting! It was Your idea! Why don't you marry her!" After I said all of that I realized just how simple I sounded. My frustration was bubbling over and consuming my sensible side. Even the look in Tanya's face was an indication that she was worried of my mental stability. "Why couldn't I marry someone I know?" She rolled her eyes, "Like the Bar Bimbo?" She asked, "Like you?" I said quietly.

I didn't even attempt to camouflage my appeal towards her. She gave me a look of exasperation, "Don't go there Edward. I'm not asking much Ed, just…be civil to her. Nothing more,"The desperation was evident in her eyes and leaked from her words. I couldn't deny her.

"Take me out." I demanded, "For the day." My voice was firm. She looked wary and lifed her eyebrow at me. "A friends. Just one day to myself, please?" I could hear her resolve crumble, she knew this was the only way I'd consent. And as she nodded, I wondered if she felt anything for me.

She agreed only if I took her with when I returned home to officially meet The Girl. She also urged that I abstain from referring to her as, 'The Girl'. We had a lovely day, walking and talking. Nothing more. Even Tanya had a pleased look on her face.

"Think she'll be asleep?" Tanya asked in hushed tones. It was around ten when we returned. "Think I care?" I mimicked her while leading her through the door, once again, she didn't scold me but laughed lightly. Her face was colored in complete understanding. That's why she is one of my closet friends, she understood me. She knew I was frustrated.

I looked at Tanya's face and she looked utterly fatigued. I was mentally planning her a vacation that I barely recognized the foreign voice. "Oh! I'm so sorry, I'll just be leaving," I was still staring at Tanya when she said, "Isabella! Wait!"

That snapped my gaze from Tanya. This was the first time I actually saw Her. She stood before us, looking at Tanya but I saw her eyes flicker in my direction on multiple occasions. She was just a few short of average height. She was wearing nightwear and that same blanket engulfed her, it was a deep royal blue. Her hands were clutching a pillow so tightly I thought she might free the feathers. I made myself look at her face, for some reason I'd been avoiding it. The first thing that struck me was her pale skin. It was far too pale to be healthy. Her lips were so pale that they looked dull and matching next to her skin. Hey eyes were an unusual brown-, they were so off-color, and just like everything else about her, was unflattering against her skin. The only thing that stood out was her hair, it was a deep shade of brown. It was tied back in a loose bun.

"No hum, you two carry on, I'll- I'll be in the next room." Her voice was not dull. If I had to elucidate it by a means of color, I'd say it was the full spectrum. It was, and I regretted that, alluring. "Actually Isabella, we're here to see you." Tanya was the one addressing her, and I knew she expected me to speak, clearly indicated from the collision of her foot with mine. The Girl caught that, and I saw her tapering eyes look over at us. "And you have, Tanya, so I'll be on my way, It's been a long day." She stressed heavily on 'Tanya' and for some reason, she was,and this can be said in no plainer words, working on my nerves.

"You're being rather antagonizing, we're trying really hard and- er I suggest you decrease your crudeness and-uhm- wait what the fuck is up with that anyway" Lately, my verbal skills were really faulty. I would've laughed at her if I wasn't angry, she didn't look one bit intimidating, nor intimidated for that matter. "Well I AM a little antagonizing, Deal with it. And Tanya was trying, as you mentioned, not you." She turned away from me to face Tanya, "It was lovely seeing you again Tan!" She smiled, the perfect picture of polite. Bipolar, all women are. She turned to me, "Look, I'm sorry but this wasn't my idea either. Please, don't blame me. And I am grateful, I'll do anything you ask of me," I watched her eyes flutter to Tanya, "Except a threesome." Tanya laughed loudly and I managed a smile.

"Always a pleasure, Isabella. Come let Us, show you your room…" Tanya trailed off looking at me, I was intrigued by Her, my eyes never left Her. She acted nothing like how she looked. "Edward?" Tanya asked. "Pick whichever." I said shortly. "I think you should take the room adjoining to Edward's" Tanya said quietly. Her eyes and mine were incredulous, but she beat me to the arguing. "Tanya I don't want to be a bother." She started, "Well then why don't you leave!" I snapped at her.

"I didn't ask for this!" She shouted at me. "And what exactly gave you the idea that I was keen on taking this up? Do you honestly believe I'd want to put up with you for One second!" she flinched the minute those words left my mouth. Tanya obviously decided that this had gone far enough and stepped in, "Edward you really shouldn't-" "NO, Tanya, I'm really trying but all she's doing is being a bitch so tell her to take the fucking room and get the hell out of my face!" Tanya looked like there was no words left for me, and The Girl looked belittled. I almost felt bad. Almost. "Come Isabella, let Me, show you the room." Tanya cast a rather angry look my way but our looks of surprise could rival when she said,

"Let him come Tanya.". And both Tanya and I, for once, were speechless.