Disclaimer: I should say that the characters names of Edward and Bella are SM's alone and that I am just borrowing them for my car ride through this partial real story.
As promised this chapter is in a much lighter tone…All aboard!
Don't forget to review…
I think he was possessed at the time and I think he was bi-polar…or maybe I'm the stupid fool…
Stupid or not I pulled a nice outfit and stood my ground in front of a committee of people who in 30 minutes I had convinced to give me a great county job as a manager for a big housing property.
The first manager meeting was when I saw him across the room. Who was this guy who stared at me like if I was some thing to eat?
He stared at me for two weeks straight till one day at the weekly meeting the county Director says "Edward, this is Bella, one of the new managers. I am counting on you to work very closely together to whip her property into shape." Turning to me, he stated "Bella, this is my #1 inspector in the unit and I am assigning him to your property to go over each of the 110 units with you. I want you two to strictly go over procedure and do it with a fine tooth comb."
I can still feel his eyes over me as he tried to remember my name 5 minutes after we were introduced
I extended my hand and he froze. I waited. Do I smell? Is my shirt open? What the hell is he staring at? Did he forget…my name? "Hi, Edward….my name is Bella Swan"
He finally came out his trance-like state and shook my hand. "I'm sorry, yes…my name is Edward Cullen, it's a pleasure to meet you."
What a voice. What eyes, they looked like honey, like I could see to his soul…Listening to him was like listening to the best symphony, like angels whispering…he was breathtakingly beautiful.
That assignment lead Edward and I to spend 10-15 hours a day going through first procedure, then protocol, and then the actual inspection of the property. As time went by he started to joke with me and get comfortable. He became a confidant, a shoulder to lean on. I found myself sleeping on day in his car as he attempted to eat. I explained I had had a rough night with the baby. I could not explain the real reason I cold not sleep.
I could not tell him of my demons that waited for me at home, waiting to attack me when I get to the closing of the door. Who would ever understand that I lived in hell, and even though the cause was gone for a while, my apartment held the memories and my mind was vivid.
Lunch time was in usually in his car, and we naturally just talked about everything. He had a girlfriend…and well I had my monster, currently looked away. He sympathized and so did I. Secretly I wished he was alone and his look to me sometimes said the same. I was physically attracted to him. He was very good looking to say the least. He was tall and muscular, but not in a dramatic way. I compared him to a chiseled statue, perfect in everyway.
I could tell he longed to say more, he looked at me too long sometimes with a strange faces, as if his eyes could do the talking he would be saying more. I sometimes wondered what he would say and some nights the memory of him would stay with me enough for me to hear his voice in my ear. I would wake up those mornings with a new found assurance of the future. As quickly as my thoughts crept up on me, they would vanish as I would remember…
Going to work with him was a way out of the apartment that was my hell and as time went by his relationship fell and I was there, as a friend. Things between him and I turned slowly by being playful at work by joking around and by his sudden change in mood; I would move just too close to him. I could feel him stiffening and taking deep breaths. He said one day that I smelled good…I blushed. Our talks got personal and heavy as he eagerly questioned me about my daughters' father. When I cried, he wiped my tears and when I needed to talk to someone, he magically would call my cell phone. He always had great timing, I found myself wishing that my days at work would become endless…I was scared but I longed for him to touch me. Would I even be ready for that type of closeness…the physical feeling burned inside of me and I wanted him. He clouded up my mind and for the first time in a while I was not repulsed by the thought of having a man over my body.
One day…it took one day and he changed my life.
He looked at me with glowing green eyes "Will you go out with me tonight…on a date…with me?
Did I hear him? "Edward...what did you say…date? Hinting the words I really wanted to hear over and over again.
"I'm sorry…I did not mean to be so forward…I just thought well maybe…" Shit she doesn't like me after all…
"No...no…I didn't say no…" Remember to breathe, "Yes, of course I'll go…I mean… we are two friends who are going to have a nice time together…" Oh God, please let me live for just one minute and let him not look away form me…
"Bella…are you ok?" Shit if she looks at me like this tonight I am going to have to tell her…
"Yes, I'm ok"
"So, do you want to meet me here, at work, or can I pick you up at your house?"
"Actually…it would be great if you can meet me here as I have to take the kids to grand moms, so mommy can have a "Big-girl-date" Shit, did I say date?
"Ok, lets say 7:30 pm"
"Oh...oh…ok" a new panic emerged: 7:30, that gives me way to little time to prepare .
Thinking abut that day now I say I probably thought too much into it as well… we were done early and he invited me to go eat with him… it seems harmless. I accepted knowing that my daughter was safely in my mothers' arms. The fear of the already promised warning in my mind was all that held me which is why I think he felt I was uncomfortable so I remember him making it clearer for me…which then broke me once again:
"Hey, Bella, don't get the wrong idea here, this is not a date…just a meeting after work, where we eat and talk…"
Then…he winked… hope!
"Ok Edward, whatever you say. So where you taking me on our non-date?"
"How about a Chinese restaurant?"
"Ok…" I think it's safe to say that at that moment where ever he took me was good so long I was out of that bullet he called a car…he was lucky not to be stopped by any cops as his license plate, was yellow, thus showing cops he was part of the county.
This date was when I noticed he open doors for me and held his hand out so I could get out of the car…I wasn't used to this idea of being treated nicely…he always did this but today he actually held my hand afterwards, like he was not only guiding me but really holding my hand. As we reached the front attendant he said with a voice I had not heard before...
"Reservations for Cullen"
"Oh, yes, Mr. Cullen, please step this way…" The guy nearly fell out of step guiding us to the VIP area of the restaurant. I could feel all eyes on us, as these tables were the most expensive. How did he do that? I had to ask…
After being seated and he ordered us some wine I decided to ask speak up and I asked: "Edward, what is this? What's with the fancy table?"
He just looked at me with adoring eyes for the first time showing emotion, he was still holding my hand when he said…
"Nothing but the best for you, Bella, you deserve this and much more. It's too bad I could not show you earlier" Sadness in his eyes, he got closer to me…"I did not think it was fair, as I was in a relationship and well you…you seem to be mesmerized by me but distracted by him. I want to tell you something and I want you to hear me, no Bella, I demand that you really listen" he was now whispering in my ear "I intend to change that little problem, Bella…I will try because you are my life now"
I gasped at his words, not because I secretly thought that I was dreaming but because I knew of the consequences if he would find out somehow. My new look of shock and torment must have been apparent as he quickly apologized.
"I'm sorry, Bella…I didn't mean to drop that on you. I just thought well you felt the same…"
"But I do" I whispered…tears filling my eyes…"but there's something you must know…" I start to cry…"how do I explain…Edw…"
At that same moment he lifted my chin and I was gently scooped up in his arms and he looked in my eyes and said the sweetest words…"So the lion fell in love with the lamb…?"
I was speechless…he gently kissed my lips.
I was scared.
He just grazed my lips, they almost didn't even touch…I was frozen; he confused my fear for shock.
"please don't cry…whatever it is we can do it together…all three of us"
Three? Three? "All three of us…Edward?" My eyebrows frowning…my heart almost down to my feet…
"Well yeah…you, me, and the baby" One tear ran down my face…he gently smoothed it by stoking my face.
I knew I had to tell him…but how…how do I explain my other side. The side he never knew existed. How would he react to know that I was broken, that my heart was broken in so many different ways unimaginable to man? How was I going to explain my scars in my body, or the nightmares I still had. Could I even kiss him? Did I kiss him? Would he walk away?
I had to get rid of these feelings as I was still in his embrace and I did not want him to see my inner battle with myself…"I don't know what to say…"
"Don't say anything love…just know that I am hear, and we will talk when you are ready."
That entire night, while we ate, he didn't let go of my hand. He held it and made circles with his thumb and I felt amazing. How long before this lasts, who knew?
