AUTHOR'S NOTE First and foremost-- OMG! Since last night, the influx of readers has been slightly overwhelming! Although, it is definitely not a bad thing! :) I owe and huge thanks to Ms. Priss and Nikkipedia for advertising me, and also I want to WELCOME all my new readers. My hit counter is getting larger every hour and it feels so good.
HUGE THANKS FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE REVIEWED. I love you. Seriously.
Anyways, this is a special treat for you. Unfortunately, the updates will more than likely never come this close again, but I felt as if all of you deserved a gift. Besides, I met a friend for lunch today to discuss her wedding plans (Yay, I get to be a bridesmaid) and instead of wasting gas to drive the 30 miles back home, only to turn around and come right back to UNF for class, I stayed in the library and spent most of my afternoon writing. I am not very pleased with the chapter, not because it was written so fast, but of the slow moving plot. Sorry. But I promise, Chapter Four will have Edward/Bella interaction and if I am up to it tonight after class, I will start writing it in order to get it posted quickly.
DISCLAIMER The Twilight characters are the property of Stephenie Meyer. And anything else you may recognize... well, I don't own those either.
CHAPTER THREE
February 2016- Bella
After seeing Alice and Jasper on T.V., I spent three hours arguing with myself. A part of me knew that I had an almost perfect life in New York City with Angela, Jake, and my job, without any of the Cullens. But the other part of me ached for the girl I was in high school, the one who was surrounded by their love. And, even though I told myself over and over again that I didn't miss Edward, I knew that I missed Alice and Jasper. They had been my best friends and when I left, I left a part of myself.
A little after noon, I swallowed my pride and decided that I wasn't going to let what Edward and I once had interfere with my career. I was a business professional who had a job to do, regardless of the client. I hailed another cab and was half way to work when I chickened out again. I paid the driver and got out, deciding that I would walk back to my apartment. I would need the time to think anyway. Instead, I stopped at my favorite coffeehouse and ordered a latte and a chocolate chip cookie. At one-thirty, I was finished with my drink, but my thinking hadn't helped any. As I left the coffeehouse, my feet carried me left, even though my apartment was to the right. Before I knew it, I was running.
When I reached S & C, I was out of breath and the front secretary, Jessica, gave me a look of curiosity. I smiled politely and bolted for the elevators. It was two o'clock. When I made it to the conference room, I could hear Angela inside making excuses for me. I yelled out to her and then walked into the room, trying to be as casual as possible. And there he was.
Edward had always been what one would call every girl's dream. His bronze hair was styled exactly as it had been in high school and his green eyes were as piercing as ever. I tried to avoid eye contact, but it was close to impossible. When I was able to advert my eyes, I looked at Alice, whose mouth was slightly agape.
"Oh, good," Angela said. "I'm glad you're feeling better." I nodded. "Ms. Hale, Mr. Cullen, this is my business partner, Isabella Swan."
Alice still had not closed her mouth and made no move to acknowledge me. Edward, however, extended his hand.
"So nice to meet you, Ms. Swan." He spit out my name like it was poison.
"Bella," I corrected icily, through I knew he knew that. I glared at him a moment longer than necessary and then dropped his hand. "Ms. Hale," I said, making a move to shake Alice's hand. It took her a moment, but she eventually extended it. "Angela has told me so much about you and I look forward to working you on this project." Edward coughed. "That is, if you decide to sign with S & C." Alice nodded.
I heard Angela shuffling through papers then, and it was apparent she could feel the tension in the room. I released Alice's hand and made a move to join Angela on the far side of the table. Alice and Edward took their seats and Angela began.
"Well, Ms. Hale, here at S & C Architecture…"
Two hours and several legal documents later, Angela and I had a new client under contract with us. We were to start construction in a month, and Alice was willing to pay extra if we had everything completed by June. I was more than happy to oblige. The faster we completed this project, the quicker I could go back to living a normal life without an ex-husband involved. Angela had just bid us farewell, as she had a follow up meeting with one of our frequent clients. Unfortunately, that left me alone with the dogs.
"Bella," Alice started, her voice dripping with sadness.
"Look, Alice," I interrupted. "I'm sorry things happened the way they did. And I am very happy for you and what you're doing and I am even happier that you trust me to do it for you. And I won't lie—I've missed you. A lot."
I made a move to turn, but one look at Alice's face and I couldn't move. Tears were forming in her eyes.
"Aw, Alice. You don't have to cry." I made a move for her then, ignoring Edward as he tried to put his arm up and stop me. I pulled her into my arms and hugged her tightly.
"I'm so p-p-proud of you," Alice sobbed. "And I missed you too."
It was such a surreal moment, standing inside a conference room, hugging your ex-sister-in-law while your ex-husband looked on. I knew that this was definitely not the way this situation was supposed to be. But I guess that is what happens when the person you're holding in your arms is Alice. She pulled away from me then, wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her sweater.
"It's really good to see you, Bella."
"You too, Alice."
"You've been taking care of yourself, right?" She added, her maternal instincts kicking in.
"Yes, mom," I replied, and suddenly, we were falling back into our old routine. She was smiling at me and I wanted to smile too, just like old times. But, the mood couldn't last, and my mind reminded me that this wasn't like old times. We were grown up now.
I cleared my throat. "Well, it's getting late, and I need to get with Angela before I leave."
"Yeah," Alice said, her smile fading. "I suppose you do."
"Yeah," I repeated. "Well, like you said, it was great seeing you. And, um, I guess we'll see each other on Monday. One o'clock, yeah?"
"Yeah," Alice said.
"See ya."
"Bye," she answered, looking at Edward. I could see it written all over her face—she wanted us to talk to each other. Well, I had news for her, it wasn't going to happen.
February 2016- Edward
I couldn't believe it. There was no way that it was possible. The other half of S & C was Bella. My Bella. Well, I corrected myself, she isn't my Bella anymore. The entire meeting, and then the exchange between her and my sister were so weird, I felt as if I was in the twilight zone. I momentary wondered what it was with girls and their ability to act like ten years without contact was nothing. And when Bella had hugged Alice, I wanted to stop her, push her away. She walked out of our lives, not the other way around. What gave her the right to think she could step back into them?
Unfortunately, despite my discreet attempts of protest, Alice was sold and, if it hadn't been for me, would have signed the contract three minutes in. From the moment Bella walked through the door, I could practically hear the wheels turning inside her head, and knew exactly where she thought this business relationship might go. Alice had always been the hopeless romantic, and having found Jasper, she believed that everyone had a soul mate. In her opinion, Bella was mine, and something so final as a divorce would not stop true love. Ha!
As we left the office, Alice was quiet. It wasn't a bad quiet, but a contemplative one, which, if possible, was much worse. I tried to engage her in conversation several times while on the elevator, and again when we got into the limousine.
"Alice," I said. She ignored me. "Alice," I said again, biting my lower lip. "I can't do this."
Alice whirled her small body around so fast I was sure she should have had whiplash. Her eyes had darkened and she pursued her lips. "What do you mean 'you can't do this'?" she seethed.
"I can't work with Bella."
"Oh yes you can, Edward Anthony Cullen. You and Bella may have ended things on bad terms, but this, my building, my office, had nothing to do with either one of your bigheadedness and you will do this." She folded her arms against her chest and fell against the seat. "You will not ruin this for me, Edward."
"I don't plan to ruin this for you, Alice. But, I don't think that it's wise for Bella and I to be working together. Can't you have Emmett do it instead?"
"Edward!" Alice shrieked. "You know they put Rosalie on bed rest and there is no way in hell I would ask Emmett to leave his wife because you're being petty. God," she sighed heavily. "It's been ten years, Edward. You're almost thirty years old. Stop acting like we're in high school."
"Fine," I said, turning my head away from her and letting the subject drop.
"Edward, sweetheart, is something bothering you?"
I shook my head, barely looking at my mother. I scooped up another spoonful of mashed potatoes and put them in my mouth, chewing slowly. It was Friday night, and it was time again for my mother's monthly family dinners. Our party was slightly smaller, however, as my father had to stay late at the hospital and Rosalie had strict orders not to move more than ten feet from her bed. Emmett had tried to stay with her, but his wife insisted he take the girls to see their grandparents and she would be fine for a couple of hours.
So far, the entire affair had been very quiet. In fact, my nieces, who were always loud and almost uncontrollable, sat still as statues in their seats, eating their food very carefully. The conversation otherwise had been very light and had ended five minutes ago after Emmett informed us all that Rosalie's doctor said that everything was going well with the pregnancy and the bed rest was an extra precaution, not something to overly worry about.
"Edward," Alice snapped. "It would be nice if you actually said something tonight."
"Screw you," I mumbled, and immediately shot my mother an apologetic look. Emmett was desperately trying to cover all three of his girls' ears.
"Edward," my mother said sternly.
"It's okay, Mom," Alice said. "He is just upset with me."
"Why?" My mother questioned, sending us both looks of worry.
"Alice," I whispered, warning her with my tone that she better not say anything. After all, it wasn't any of their business.
"I signed with an architecture firm on Wednesday," she said and my mother's face lit up.
"Oh, Alice, that's wonderful!" She patted my sister's hand and Alice beamed. "But why would Edward be upset about that?"
"Because—"
"Because," I barked, "she signed with Bella's firm!" I stood abruptly, knocking my chair against the wall.
"Oh, Edward," my mother whispered, but I didn't have chance to hear her finish. I was halfway out the front door by then.
I had pulled out my car keys and had every intention of leaving until I heard the front door slam. I knew instantly it was my brother; no one else could close a door with such force.
"Edward!" he boomed. "Edward, you get your little chicken shit ass back inside and apologize to Mom! That outburst was completely unnecessary!"
"Was it?" I shouted, whirling around to face him. "Am I not allowed to be a little emotional? After all, the woman I loved, the woman I cared about, the woman who left me without much of an explanation, except 'things just aren't working out', is working for my sister and yet, I am expected to be civil and work right alongside her!"
Emmett had me backed up against the car door now, anger written all over his face. "Life isn't far, Edward! Yes, it sucks. When Bella left, I saw how broken up you were. I know how much you loved her. But, that was ten years ago. Ten years, Edward! I thought you had moved on. Yes, it is very ironic that the firm Alice chooses would be Bella's firm, but sometimes, you just have to go with the way the cards are dealt. What is four months, anyway? Besides, you only have to meet with Bella a couple of times. Put your big boy pants on, Edward. Suck it up and do something nice for someone else for once!" With that, Emmett turned and stalked back up to the house.
I groaned. I knew he was right. I knew Alice was right. It was strictly business, and after which, I would never have to see or speak to Bella again. I felt my phone vibrate against my hip and reached for it. The screen lit up, the name Tanya scrolling across it. Perfect, I thought, she's just what I need after the week I've had. I hit the talk button and smiled.
"Hello, Beautiful."
END AUTHOR'S NOTE Yeah, under cliffhanger. Sorry! I just can't seem to get away from them.
PLEASE REVIEW. I still don't feel good (it would probably help if I want to Publix though to buy some medicine) and would really like to see my number of reviews going higher. IN FACT, I'LL MAKE A DEAL WITH YOU: As of this posting, I have 27 reviews for three chapters. However, there are way more than that on my alerts list. If I can get 23 reviews (making my total 50), I WILL post Chapter Four on Sunday. Deal?
I LOVE YOU ALL!
