HOW I GOT HERE

Disclaimer: The Cullen's, the Swans, and most of the characters mentioned in the story that are known from Stephanie Meyer's beloved Twilight Saga, are all hers and hers alone. I neither have nor wish to pass them off as mine. I do appreciate the fact that she did bring them to life and allows us to play with them in our imaginations. The only thing I will claim is the current storyline.

The awesome and talented dowlingnana searched out my errors and corrected them.

So, with that done Edward had Steven drop him off at his home while his agent went back to his office to begin gathering what information he could in order to fulfill his client's request.

CHAPTER 4: WHAT THE HELL?

Several days had passed since the signing of the contracts and Edward had the three different types of flowers sent to one Isabella "Bella" who was a script and screen writer. Edward was starting to lose patience while waiting for his agent to get back with him about the information he had requested as they were leaving the studio offices after finalizing his commitment to doing the movie. He made up his mind that if he hadn't heard from Steven by the end of business today that he would be placing a very irate call to his agent with no holding back on his anger directed towards that individual during the conversation.

Edward wasn't a conceited person like a lot of other Hollywood A-listers were, but, he had paid his dues along the way to be in the position that he felt that when he asked something of his people then he had the right to expect it to be done; for it to be done immediately since he was more or less paying their salaries.

He was that eager to find out all he could about the young screen writer of his film. Even now, after rereading the entire script again, Edward still felt that his character and the story, itself, was speaking to him on a deep down level. It was a connection he was feeling that gave him the confidence that he was meant to bring life to this story; to give it a voice and a permanence in the realm of cinematography.

And for some unexplainable reason Edward felt drawn to the young lady that wrote it. It was driving him crazy not to know anything and everything about her. He was feeling a connection to her that was beyond reason; a connection that was similar, but, still different just like he was feeling towards the story she had created. In fact, he had even gone so far as to question his parents about any possible accidents he might have had, but, didn't remember as a way of trying to explain away the connection he was feeling towards her. Of course, their answer was what he expected, "No." So, how else could it be explained since he didn't believe in 'love at first sight'. To him that was a lot of bull. It just didn't happen in real life on a normal level, except, maybe, with his parents, but that was different than what had happened to him and after his short lived experience into the land of marriage that concept was definitely blown out of the water as far as he was concerned. Never again would he take that leap with another woman.

XXXXX

Bella had been completely surprised when she had been informed that her screenplay was going to be made into a film. When she had submitted it to her boss, Lawrence Clark, she thought it would end up going the same way as all of the others she had turned in: not worth the time to clean it up. The studio, although, encouraged their people to expand and submit original material, didn't feel that it had the necessary money to throw away on projects that would require more time than production time to make it useable. But, this last one, "Time Everlasting" seemed to speak to a lot of people on a level she never imagined.

And, then to be told after such a long period of time that the studio wanted to make it into a movie and they began talks with her for the purchase of the script was what she had dreamed about for a very long time. She was doing the job she loved, but, most of all she had wanted to have her work worthy to be made into memorable movies; and, now her dream was coming true.

Bella had been involved in the industry long enough to know how to deal with a contract in regards to the studio purchasing her script and she used that knowledge to her benefit too when the contracts were signed and both sides were happy with the arrangements. She had maintained her copyrights and would be the one to revise any necessary changes needed in regards to the script when filming began. She had also received a promotion which came with a raise in pay and a staff of her own. This was done because the studio heads had decided that Bella and her team would be responsible doing the scripts and any revisions needed for a certain listing of popular series they had running on television.

The studio had received the rights to cast what actors they deemed worthy of making the project into a box office hit, the director would be able to ask for any changes that would make the picture flow more smoothly and only a certain percentage would be paid to Bella after the movie began running in the theaters that was beyond the agreed purchase price. The percentage was expected to be paid everytime the movie ran after the initial run because of her retaining the copyrights to the storyline. And the powers that be were entirely happy with the small details of what Bella wanted since they hadn't been unreasonable, but, they had been aware of the excellent job she had been doing in her own area and that was why they had promoted her; it had nothing to do with the screenplay they had purchased from her.

But, the biggest surprise was that the studio thought it was worthy enough to bring in A-listers to portray the main characters. She was thrilled that the male lead was going to be done by the one man she thought oozed talent and sex appeal out of every pore of his body, both the covered and uncovered parts, but, who always had the starring role in her dreams with her being the female lead.

However, she wasn't really thrilled about Kathrine Denali playing the female lead. True the woman could act her way out of a paper bag, but, still her whole demeanor was off putting. Bella's skin crawled every time she had to be around that woman. In fact, she got a sick, creepy feeling anytime the woman was near; Bella didn't have to see or hear her before that feeling would overcome her, Kathrine just had to be in the vicinity for it to happen. The only way Bella could describe Kathrine to anyone to try to explain how she felt towards the actress was that Kathrine was too sickly sweet in her approach to people, except for those she felt were beneath her then she just didn't give a damn as to how she spoke or treated them.

The day everyone was to meet with the director Bella was nervous since she was going to be in the same room with Edward Cullen, but, at the last minute before his arrival she had gotten an urgent call concerning one of the weekly scripts and she had to leave to help get the problem resolved immediately. However, as she opened the door who did she nearly run over, but, the very person she was nervous about meeting, let alone being in the same room with him. Of course, he had been very nice to her, but, that spark that she felt as she had touched him had only helped to increase her nervousness. Although, she did wonder if he had felt it as well.

That question was answered for her later that day when three different sets of flowers had arrived addressed to Isabella 'Bella' in the writing department. The note on each of the arrangements was different, but was a very sweet one that she had refused to allow any of her associates to see even though they tried to get the information from her all the way up to time to leave for the night.

The first note read: For a lovely lady that came as a complete surprise. The second note read: To the lady that gave me a spark to life. And the third note read: Intrigued to know you after the jolt of meeting you. As she had read each note her question as to whether he had felt that same bit of an electric shock as she had was answered: he had.

Once she had gotten home and unloaded the flowers placing them around her living room, Bella sat down and reread the three little notes that Edward Cullen had sent to her with the arrangements. She smiled as she read them once more and felt a silly little tingle begin running down her spine. And there was a sudden jump in her heartbeat as she finished reading the third one where he said he was 'intrigued to know her'. How he could possibly be intrigued and wanting to meet someone like her when he was in the light of the world and moved on a totally different social plane than she did she felt was beyond reasoning? After all, Bella knew that she wasn't plain looking, but, she wasn't any raving beauty, either. But, there wasn't anything wrong with a woman dreaming, was there?

As she got ready for work the next day, taking the time to dress with a bit more care instead of her usual jeans and shirt. Bella wore a business pant suit and applied some light makeup. All of this was done with a nervous expectation of some kind of surprise and she wanted to be looking her best for whatever or whoever might approach her. But, as the days passed and nothing happened so she went back to her normal dress pattern.

XXXXXX

One week after the encounter between Edward and Bella another meeting was being called for all of the major leads to meet and begin rehearsal of the script. Bella was expected to be present to make note of any possible revisions that might be needed. And as he walked through the door Edward was excited with the prospect of seeing the young woman that had been haunting him all week. Now he would be able to speak with her and hopefully have a chance to get to know her better. There was something about her that made him realize that he couldn't get away with approaching her or treating her the same as he would have any other female. But, also, came the realization that he was going to be in the same room for a lengthy period of time with whore hag Kathrine Denali.

But there was something about Bella that made her different, but, he wasn't sure about the 'why' as yet. He was determined to find out what it was. Once he did that then he would be able to move on to another woman and the haunting of this one would stop turning up in his thoughts at the most inappropriate times.

He had really given Steven a dressing down because of the amount of time he was taking in doing as he had requested concerning getting information about the young Bella. But, once all was said and done it seemed that she didn't speak of her life to anyone; she kept her private life, private which was the reason it was taking Steven so long to get anything as a whole lot was being kept under wraps.

Steven was able to find out that her father lived in a small ass town, the kind that if you blinked you missed it, and was the Chief of Police there. Her mother and father were divorced and the mother was remarried to another guy and they lived happily in Florida. He had been able to get the public information about her schooling, but, that was where everything ended. And that surprised the hell out of Edward just like it had Steven.

So, Edward told Steven to try to approach the subject from getting more information on her parents and see if that would lead into more in-depth information concerning her. But, once again road blocks began to appear; only the public type of information was available nothing too revealing concerning her parents was found.

All of this brought Edward to the question 'what could she be hiding' and then the next question of 'why'. Next came the thought of 'could this have anything to do with the writing of 'Time Everlasting'?

A/N: Edward is intrigued with Bella and the shock he felt when they had first met. But, the fact that no one seemed to be able to get any further other than just the basics about her was pulling him into wanting to get to the bottom of why she was haunting him. What is it that Bella and her family could be hiding? What would be the reason to keep most of the information about her and her family secret?

All thoughts and reviews are always welcome. Thanks for reading.