Two chapters in three days... makes up for it right? ;)
Chapter Four
The Deal
BPOV
I ran my fingers through my hair tapping my pen continuously back and forth against my desk top, flicking through pages and pages of notes in my journal.
Why was this so difficult?
This was a writer's dream.
"Anything," Jane had said, "you can write about anything."
I had always wanted to write about "anything", I had millions upon millions of ideas of what I would write about if I ever got the opportunity to write "anything".
But when it came to it I had not one clue where to start.
I groaned banging my head against the table then sat up straight with a huff. I'd been sat at my desk for hours, eager and ready and excited. Sure I hadn't gotten anywhere is the past couple of days but today was the day I would crack it.
Wrong.
Today was the day I would tear every strand of hair out of my head, one by one.
Right. That's it.
I stood and left the room, closing the door firmly behind me.
I needed a break from staring at my journal for four hours straight.
I grabbed my phone from where I'd left it on the coffee table in the living room and called Edward.
"Hey," he answered after the second ring, "how's your article coming?"
I growled.
"That well?" He chuckled.
"It's ridiculous," I grouched, slumping down onto the couch, resting my feet where my phone had just been. "I can't think of anything to write about. Not a single fucking thing. Writer's block sucks balls."
Edward hummed in sympathy. "Going stir crazy?"
"How did you guess?" I grumbled sarcastically before heaving a sigh. "I need a distraction."
I heard a melodic tinkering in the background and guessed he was sat at his piano.
"Are you working?" I worried, "I'm sorry, you can call me back when you're finished."
"No, no don't worry about it. I was about to take a break anyway." He soothed. "So you want a distraction?"
"Please."
"Guess what Sophie asked me a couple of nights ago on my babysitting shift."
"What's that?"
"'Are you and Auntie Bella going to get married?'!"
"What?!"
"Yeah." Edward muttered. "Alice has got a big fucking mouth."
"She told Sophie that we're getting married?"
"Apparently she was 'merely predicting the future'." I could almost hear Edward rolling his eyes. "So then Sophie started asking me all these questions."
"Like what?"
"Like whether I loved you like Jasper loved you or whether I loved you like Carlisle loved you."
"Ha!" I snorted, "What did you say?" I could picture Edward squirming under a spotlight as the four year old, dressed in her Beauty and the Beast costume, interrogated him.
"I didn't know how to explain it, I made up a story!"
"A story?"
"I panicked, okay? I mean what was I supposed to say 'Sorry, Soph, I'm banging your auntie'?"
I laughed, "So what the hell was this story?"
"Uh, it was about two best friends called Emma and Ben." Edward mumbled.
"Ah, I see what you did there, switching the initials" I said wisely. "Clever move."
"Yeah, yeah. It was actually a really good bit of fiction based loosely on the truth, you would have been proud. While Ben was rocking Emma's world and giving her multiple orgasms I managed to keep the whole thing child friendly. They even got hyper on pink fizzy soda instead of off their faces drunk on champagne and tequila. Right before Sophie fell asleep she all but demanded to hear more the next time she's at mine. Hey," he said suddenly, "that's what you should write about."
"What?" I frowned, "multiple orgasms and tequila?"
He barked a laugh, "There's an idea. But no. Me."
I rolled my eyes, "Mmhmm. What exactly about you?"
"About how amazing I am! About how I'm Edward Cullen, Sex God of-"
"The Universe. Get over it. I was drunk and talking bullshit."
"You know what they say," Edward chuckled, "when you're drunk the truth comes out. Maybe if you wrote about that it would inform the women of America what they're missing out on."
"And attract more psychopathic, obsessive nutcases like Jessica."
"…Okay maybe not."
I rubbed my hand over my face with another groan.
"Write about something personal," Edward said.
"Huh?"
"You told me once that Jane is all for mixing personal shit with your writing. Why don't you write about something that really means something to you?"
I thought about it. I couldn't remember for the life of me telling Edward that but it sounded about right. Jane really was all for that personal stuff.
But what was personal? It had to be something…noteworthy, I guess. Not about stupid shit like my daily skin care routine, that sort of thing was Jessica's territory, definitely not mine.
And then it came to me. It was a light bulb idea that flashed in my mind then fizzled out the second I thought of it.
The idea scared me shitless.
"Do you…do you think…"
"What, Bella?"
"What if I wrote about suffering with endometriosis?"
There was a pause on the other end of the phone. "Well it's personal."
I nodded despite the fact he couldn't see me. "Would you be comfortable writing about something like that? I mean, it will be put in your magazine, wouldn't it, everyone will read it?"
By everyone I knew he meant the rest of our family.
"I know." I murmured. "But there are so many women suffering from it and…I don't know, maybe it's something they'd like to read about? You know, so they know they're not the only one because, shit, I know I feel like that sometimes."
"Bella, if you're sure you're comfortable with it then I say go for it. I mean, there's nothing more personal, it opens people up to the idea that you're actually human and someone relatable which, I'm guessing is something that will make people want to read it, and I reckon you'll be helping thousands of women."
I nodded again slowly and silently while Edward let me mull things over in my head. The soft tinkling of the piano keys in the background were soothing and helping me focus.
"I think I'm gonna do it."
I could hear his smile from across the phone line. "I think that's a great idea."
"Thank you," I breathed a sigh of relief, happy I had finally pinpointed something that I thought could really work.
"No problem, you were the one who came up with it."
"I'll let you get back to work."
"Great," Edward grumbled and I laughed.
"Hey, let me know how that story turns out next time."
"Shut it," he laughed. "See you later."
I ended the call and put my phone back on the coffee table, remembering that night. Edward was right, the truth did come out while drunk. There was no doubt about it, Edward Cullen was the Sex God of The Universe. Not that I would ever let him believe that whilst sober. But he had made me feel things I had never felt in my life. I hadn't been kidding when I'd told him the best sex I'd had was with a vibrator. I had only been with three men before Edward – my high school boyfriend, it was the typical prom night shit, same old same old, but instead of a cheap crappy motel it was in the back of his mom's car. Classy. I'd had one boyfriend in college who turned out to be an asshole (surprise, surprise!) and I had drowned my sorrows in alcohol and found a guy who wasn't opposed to taking advantage of an inebriated college chick trying to fix a broken heart.
Needless to say none of them were the Edward Cullen's of the world so my one night with an Edward Cullen – the Edward Cullen, in fact – had blown my fucking mind to the point I couldn't stop thinking about it and it had started to affect my work.
For two days afterwards people spent the majority of their time clicking their fingers in front of my face to get my attention while I was battling out world war three inside my head. Devil Bella was all for getting Edward drunk and seeing if he'd be up for it again. Angel Bella was terrified she'd lose the person closest to her if she went through with it, despite that fact that even she could recognise that my work and just general every day life was suffering.
Every time my phone buzzed with a text I grabbed it hoping it was Edward, and most of the time it actually was, because, you know, he's my best friend. But not once did he ever mention the incident in his texts – and why would he when we had agreed that we wouldn't? – nor did he ask for a repeat.
And I desperately wanted a repeat.
Which was weird.
Because it was Edward.
Edward!
My best friend, my confidante, the one person who could make me laugh until my brain slipped out of my nose. He was the one person who I could rely on for anything and everything. He had always been there. I didn't know what I would do if I woke up one day and didn't hear a word from him at all, let alone the rest of my life if I fucked this up and did something as stupid as begging him to do it again!
"Edward, we need to do it again."
His green eyes darted away from the necklace he considering purchasing for Alice's Christmas present and shot to mine, wide and surprised.
"W-what?" He swallowed thickly.
I clapped my hands over my mouth. Fuck. Please tell me I didn't say that out loud!
But from the look on my best friend's face I was sure that what I had feared had come out of my mouth really had blurted out.
"I…um…shit." I covered my face with my hands, turning and walking out of the store.
"Bella, wait!" I felt and heard him jogging to catch up with me as I power walked through the mall, absolutely aimlessly, needing get away, to get out, to find a black hole that would swallow up my words, that would swallow me up right along with them.
"Bella," he grabbed my arm and spun me around to face him. "Be honest with me for two seconds." He tugged at my hands, pulling them away from my blushing face. "You have never lied to me, right?"
I reluctantly nodded, refusing to meet his eyes.
"Would you ever lie to me?"
Slowly I shook my head.
"Then tell me…did you really mean what…well, what I think you meant?"
"Edward," I sighed in resignation, "it's the stupidest thing ever. You're my best friend, it's weird, I don't see you in that way at all but I just," I shook my head, willing the images of the other night away, "I can't get it out of my head."
He didn't say anything and I wasn't going to look at him and risk seeing the awkwardness shadowing his features. Edward and I weren't awkward around each other, ever, and I really fucking hated feeling this way with him now.
"So, I'm just going to go and dunk my head down a toilet, I'll see you tomorrow." I turned to leave again but he stopped me with the words that left his lips in a hurried blur of panic.
"Ican'tstopthinkingaboutiteither!"
What now?
I turned back slowly to face him once more. I stared. "You're blushing!" I don't think I'd ever seen him blush the whole time I'd known him.
He glared at my observation making me laugh. A smile spread across his face and I knew that no matter what happened, Edward and I were going to be okay.
"Bella," he said when I moved to him. "I don't think of you that way either. I mean of course I fucking love you, but I'm not in love with you. I think I'm just…I don't know…horny!"
I snorted and he grinned.
"Sometimes you just need it." I agreed and he nodded. "Maybe that's just what it is. I haven't had sex in…a long time." I winced even thinking about it.
"Neither have I," he scowled.
"Well," my tongue darted out to moisten my dry lips and his eyes shot to my mouth. Oh god. The want in those green depths was clear. "Maybe we should…test our theory."
"Right," his voice was low and husky as his eyes flickered between both of mine and my lips. "Maybe we just need to get it out of our system."
I nodded, my heart rate picked up, my breathing turned heavy, a little laboured. I bit my lip and unconsciously he copied the movement. Fuck. I needed him. Just once more. "I don't think doing it again," I swallowed thickly, "would cause any harm."
"No harm at all," he breathed, now an inch away from me, so close, his breath was minty fresh. I could smell the cologne I got him for his birthday. "Just once more. Just so we can…get over it…move on."
"Exactly."
When I lay naked on his bed beside him an hour later I knew we were in trouble. Because this sex was just too fucking good.
"Well, shit." He muttered.
"Ditto." Was my reply.
He sat up abruptly, turning to face me…naked. And I did the same. Weirdly I didn't care. I liked seeing him naked. His chest, his abs, his shoulders, his – down girl! Let's not get carried away or we'll end up going for round two…or was it three?
"Okay, I'm just gonna put this out there," he said, "laying my cards on the table. Feel free to let me know if it's a shit idea-" I nodded. "This," he gestured between the two of us, "Sex like this is just…"
"Hot."
"Really hot. Like, wow. I think…I think we should keep going. I mean, you just don't have sex like this every day, this is rare. We owe it to sex to carry on."
I was bobbing my head up and down completely and totally agreeing.
"Right," I said. "I'm not seeing anyone and you're not seeing anyone. We're just two consenting and mature adults that have needs."
"Of course."
"And when you know there's sex like this, just out there in the world, and suddenly it's right on your doorstep-"
"You gotta let it in!"
"Exactly!"
"So we'll still be best friends but we'll just… occasionally-"
"Sometimes-"
"Have sex."
"Like, once a month."
"Yeah… or twice."
"So, every other week?"
"Maybe… or maybe once a week?"
"Sometimes two, just depends it we're in the mood for sex."
"Right."
"And we can stop whenever we like, if either of meet someone, somewhere down the line-"
"We'll just stop."
"Yep."
"Okay."
"Cool."
"So we'll be friends with benefits and the second either of us want out, we stop."
"Deal," I said.
"Deal." He shook my hand to seal the deal.
Then he kissed me.
Then he fucked me.
You know… to seal the deal.
Turned out Devil Bella was right this time. It was so worth it. Because we knew just how to handle it. Alice warned me against the whole thing, as did Rose, both of them claiming that at least one of us was going to end up hurt.
That was bullshit.
The reason people got hurt when they did shit like this was because they did it with the wrong people.
Edward and I would never hurt each other, we were so close that something like this would never come between us. And that was why the situation was perfect.
No matter what happened I would always be there for him and he would always be there for me.
When I found out I had endometriosis Edward was my fucking rock. Without him I would have fallen to pieces. I very nearly did.
I was woken up, for the second time in two months, by my own cry of pain, tears wet on my cheeks as I clutched my abdomen.
I gasped back a sob as I pulled myself out of bed looking for my phone. Of course I'd left in in the living room last night.
Biting my lip against the whimpers that wanted to escape I made my way slowly through my apartment to the other room, leaning heavily against the wall, falling onto my knees by the coffee table to grasp my phone in my trembling hand.
Edward chose that moment to walk in calling, "Rise and shine!" as he tossed my mail onto the table beside the door and focussed on toeing off his shoes.
A stabbing pain shot through my again and I choked on a cry of pain.
Edward's face shot in my direction, his eyes filling with dread and horror when he saw me on the floor.
"Bella!" He leapt over the back of the couch to get to me. "Bella, what's wrong? What's the matter?"
"It hurts," I sobbed into his shoulder, my nails digging into his arm.
"Shit," he muttered angrily, stroking my hair, "you didn't go see the fucking doctor did you?"
He had pestered me and pestered me since the first time this had happened to get checked out. I was too shit scared to do it. I'd convinced myself it was nothing, just really bad period pains.
I was pissed he was angry with me, I was in pain and pissed off, "I was fucking scared, okay?" I sobbed.
He squeezed me tight before taking hold of the tops of my arms, "Come on, let's get you to the hospital."
I whimpered, "No, Edward, please, I don't want to move."
"Bella," he groaned frustrated and probably scared himself, "you need a doctor."
"I don't want to move," I shook my head, "please don't make me move."
"Fuck." I heard him mutter. He kissed the top of my head murmuring, "I'm sorry, sweetheart," before he lifted me into his arms.
I cried out, whimpering into his neck.
"Shh," he soothed, his cheek against my hair, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
I found myself strapped into the passenger seat beside him, curled up in a ball, one of his hands clutched between my own, being squeezed to death, the other on the steering wheel.
"You're gonna be okay," he promised.
They made me spend the night in the hospital and they didn't let me know what the hell was wrong with me until a week later.
I ordered another shot of vodka from Jared who was working behind the bar tonight. I never saw Emmett behind the bar. What was the point of owning a bar if you were never gonna be there?
I swallowed the shot before asking for another.
"You sure that's a good idea, Bella?" Jared asked, eyeing me warily as I glared at him.
"Fill it up," I muttered, holding out the empty shot glass, "or I'll cry."
Jared couldn't deal with crying women. Too bad I was getting to that stage.
He poured me my fifth one and then suddenly it was gone.
"Hey!"
I spun around to see Emmett behind me holding my shot.
"That's mine!"
"Technically it's mine." He arched an eyebrow.
"Not if I've paid for it." I slurred, trying to fix him with a glare but there were four of him. Ha! One for each shot.
"Have you paid for it?" He asked knowingly, looking around for my purse, which he knew wasn't there.
"That's completely besides the point," I slapped the bar but missed and slipped off the stool.
"Easy there, Bells, you're gonna knock yourself out."
"That's what I'm trying to do." I muttered.
Emmett heard and raised his eyebrows. "Why are you here, alone, knocking back shots at five o'clock on a Thursday?"
"Why shouldn't I be?" I poked him in the chest.
"Because you should be at work."
"Work shmirk," I growled, "there's no fucking point. Got shit all in my life anyway."
"Hey," Emmett took my chin in his hand, not allowing me to escape, as he looked at me closely, "why are you saying shit like that? It's not funny."
"Never said it was." I slapped his hand away but missed again and lost my balance, nearly falling over.
"Right," he sighed, putting the shot back on the bar an grabbing my hand, "I'm taking you home."
"I don't want to go home," I pouted.
"Well you don't have a choice. Where are your keys?"
"I dropped 'em."
While he was looking around on the floor for the non-existent keys I tossed back the vodka. "Mmm, they taste better and better after every one."
Emmett stood up with a scowl. "I'm taking you home. Now."
He wanted to take me home to my empty apartment and tuck me into bed thinking I'd sleep it off and it would all be better in the morning.
But this wasn't something I could sleep off. This was never going to go away.
I didn't want to go back there, how could I go back there to something so normal when everything had changed?
I stared at Emmett, willing him to understand, "Please don't take me home," I breathed.
Emmett frowned in concern, "Bella, what's happened?"
I shook my head as tears welled in my eyes, "Please don't take me home."
He sighed heavily before taking my hand in his, he said over his shoulder to Jared, "I'm getting her out of here, don't know how long I'll be."
I didn't hear Jared's reply as Emmett pulled me out of the bar.
"Where are we going?" I slurred, stumbling along beside him.
He grabbed me around the waist, probably so I wouldn't fall over as he opened his car door.
"To your brother's." He helped me in and did up my seatbelt like I was a baby. I choked on a sob. When he got into the driver's side and pulled away I looked over at him.
"Not to Jasper's. Sophie will be there." My insides squirmed painfully.
"Guess I can't take you to your brother's." Emmett muttered, remembering the nearly three year old that would be toddling about the house. No doubt she'd rush straight over to me as she always did, wanting a cuddle. I didn't want that. Not now.
I sniffled, "Just take me home."
He glanced over at me but I just turned towards the window and squeezed my eyes tightly shut, willing the tears back.
They kept coming.
And I bawled like a baby when we pulled up outside Esme and Carlisle's house. And I cried even more because I bawled like a baby.
With one arm around my waist, his other hand clutching mine that was slung over his shoulders, Emmett let himself into the house calling, "Carlisle, Esme!"
They appeared out of nowhere and both rushed over. "Oh, sweetheart," Esme took my face in her hands as I cried. "Whatever is the matter?"
She was the perfect mother, always doting, caring for her children, even me despite the fact I was merely her son-in-law's little sister. They were too good to me, her and Carlisle. I didn't deserve them. I'd probably barf on their couch that Emmett had just sat me on.
I hardly heard what was being said as Carlisle crouched down in front of me, brushing my hair out of my eyes. He didn't need to. I couldn't see through the tears anyway.
"Bella?"
Edward.
Where did he come from?
I didn't care. He was suddenly just there, stood by the front door, staring at me in horror. Just like last week.
"Edward."
He came to me and sat down next to me pulling me into his arms. I collapsed into his chest and let go. I sobbed like I had never sobbed before. I could remember crying like this only twice in my life – when I found out my father hadn't really taken Floppy to live at the bunny farm, and a couple of days after my parents funeral.
"Are you in pain?" He asked, "Are you hurting again?"
I couldn't answer.
He turned to the others for answers they didn't have.
"What happened?"
"I turned up for work and there she was, sat at the bar necking shots." Emmett explained. "She didn't want to go home, and Alice and Jasper have Sophie, I didn't know where else to go."
Edward turned back to me, holding me tight and soothingly rocking from side to side. "Bella," he murmured, "please, sweetheart, tell me what's happened."
"The h-hospital got back to me." I hiccoughed.
I felt him still and his grip on me tightened, everyone else went quiet.
"You went alone," he breathed. "I told you I'd go with you."
I continued to cry into his chest.
"What did they say?" He whispered.
"W-well," I whimpered, "as it turns out – I'll be in a lot of pain once a month for the rest of my life and…a-and…" my voice cracked and my moan was muffled my Edward's chest. "And I have a t-two percent chance of ever h-having a baby."
All that could be heard throughout the entire house was my sobs as I cried, Edward holding me together.
Emmett murmured something but he was silenced quickly.
"Bella," Edward's voice was hardly above a whisper, "I'm so sorry, sweetheart."
I must have fallen asleep because the next morning I woke up in Edward's old bedroom, a doughnut on the bedside table with a note.
Had to sort out some work stuff. I'll be at yours for 4:00pm. Edward x
I sighed heavily and took a bite of the doughnut, unwilling to face the world.
Edward found me at four o'clock lounging on the couch in my pyjamas, duvet bundled up on top of me while I worked my way through the box set of Friends.
"I come baring gifts," he said, joining me under the duvet and placing a huge bar of chocolate on my lap, along with hot chocolate, little marshmallows and whipped cream. "I brought this along as well but it's Emmett's so we'll have to give it back tomorrow."
I arched my eyebrow at the box set of the first series Game of Thrones.
Edward shrugged, "He said it's a crime we haven't watched it yet."
I leaned into him and we wrapped an arm around my shoulders while I rested my head on his, his head on top of mine. I could hear the frown of confusion in his voice when he said, "Friends? I thought you'd be watching Dirty Dancing."
He was right to be confused. Dirty Dancing was the movie I watched when I was sick or just downright miserable. I made it up to the part when Penny went to get the abortion and switched it off, feeling sick to my stomach, and cried for two hours.
When I didn't say anything I felt Edward shift so he could see my face.
"Fuck," he muttered at the tears welling in my eyes. "Want to talk about it?"
I shrugged a non-committal shrug but he asked questions anyway, knowing I would answer despite the fact a part of me was screaming and running in the other direction at the mere thought of this conversation.
"What exactly did the doctor say?"
I took a shaky breath. "I have endometriosis, which basically means there's womb lining or some shit outside of the womb where it shouldn't be."
"Do they know where?"
"My ovaries." I mumbled.
"That's why it's painful?"
I nodded.
He kissed the top of my head. "Are there any treatments?"
"There's no cure," I muttered with a sniff, "there are pills and stuff but they decrease the chance of…conceiving… most of the time. Hormones and shit I can take but they all stop pregnancy. I don't know, Edward, she just kept talking and talking and I just wanted to get out." I sobbed.
"Hey, hey, shhh, it's okay, come here." He pulled me fully into his embrace and held me tight like he had last night. "Bella," he murmured after a while, "I know you've always wanted kids, I know how important it is to you to have a family, but even if it doesn't happen naturally for you there are other ways of going about it. There are other options. Just because this shit has happened and has fucked up the way you saw your future happening, doesn't mean it's been taken away from you completely. You could always adopt."
When I didn't say anything he said, "Hey, I'll always get knocked up for you! Just tell me when." I snorted and I felt him smile against my hair. "You know I'll give you cute babies, but the other dude has to be smoking. I have high standards if I'm gonna brave gay sex for you."
I giggled and wiped my wet face all over his t-shirt.
"Bella, gross!" He pulled away from me with a playful glare. "Get yourself a tissue don't snot all over me."
I shoved at his shoulder and he laughed before tilting my face up a little with his hand on my chin.
"No matter what happens," he murmured, "I promise you I will be there every step of the way." And he leaned down to press a soft, sweet kiss to my lips.
That's the one time he had ever kissed me like that while we weren't engaging in the particular "benefits" of our friendship.
I was grateful. I had never needed it more.
We settled down to watch Game of Thrones and when zombies in in fucking medieval armour shit came onto the screen I grouched, "What the fuck are we watching Cullen?"
The bittersweet memory was playing on my mind when I sat down to write my article.
And very clearly I knew exactly what to write.
*FFAS*
I took a deep breath. If I turned this article in to Jane there was no going back. It would be out there for the world to see. It would be out there for my family to see.
My phone buzzed in the inside pocket of my blazer.
I pulled it out with a shaking hand and read the text from Edward.
Go for it loser.
I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the smile that spread across my cheeks.
I didn't know how he knew and yet it was fucking typical that he did.
Go for blow
Shit gold*
Autocorrect
My bad
Speaking of blow…
I laughed at the stream of texts he was sending through. My reply: Shut up Cullen.
His: Shutting up.
Steeling myself I stood from my desk and headed for her office. But I came face to face with somebody else right outside her door.
"After you," he gestured with a suave smile that had me and no doubt any woman, living and breathing or six feet under, swooning.
He was tall, probably the same height as Edward, but he was a little more polished than Edward – no stubble graced his smooth, nibble-y chin (yes I wanted to nibble his chin!) he was clean cut, sharp, handsome. His posture put prima ballerinas to shame and his suit was definitely some brand of designer, Alice would probably know. His chocolate hair was perfected into style, his eyes a piercing blue I don't think I had ever encountered in my life.
He was like something out of a movie. Glinting white teeth and, no doubt, a body you'd want to slather in chocolate and diamonds and just put up on your mantle to admire.
He arched a perfect eyebrow and I realised I was staring.
"Oh!" I tinkled a laugh, "Sorry." I went to rap my knuckles on Jane's door but the god-like creature before me just grinned and reached for the handle.
"Jane, someone's here to see you I believe." He waltzed into her office and left me gaping a little in the doorway.
Jane moved her gaze away from her computer and saw me stood like an idiot just outside her office.
"Come in, Isabella, and close the door behind you." As I followed her instructions she turned to the man now stood by her window, watching the view, one hand in his pants pocket the other holding an apple to his lips – one he had swiped from the bowl of them on the little table beside the door. "And Alec, I really wish you wouldn't waltz into my office unannounced."
This was Alec Volturi? This was Jane's younger brother?
They looked nothing alike! Surely they couldn't be related. Whenever I had pictured Alec Volturi I had imagined pretty much a male version on Jane – short, scrawny, mousy blonde hair and those grey eyes that could kill with a single glance.
Alec Volturi turned and merely shot a grin at his scary big sister.
She gave him an expressionless look – because when did Jane ever need to show any sort of emotion? – before turning back to me. "Sit down, please, Isabella."
I sat.
Alec Volturi winked at me behind Jane's back. I gave a small smile and when Jane looked up from her computer again I was staring at her brother with a grin on my face.
She cleared her throat, gave me an expressionless look and then arched her eyebrow.
"Oh, um, I have the article you asked me to write." I slid it across the desk to her.
She grabbed it, picked up a red pen to mark with, like a fucking teacher would, and nudged that stupid Newton's cradle "to help her think".
Alec Volturi rolled his eyes behind his sister, "Must we listen to that incessant ticking?" He inquired.
Jane ignored him.
I gave him another nervous smile.
"Since dear sister of mine is being awfully inhospitable I shall introduce myself," he offered me another charming grin and held out his hand, "Alec Volturi, Jane's favourite brother."
Her only brother.
"Isabella Swan," I murmured, reaching out my own hand, I expected a shake but instead he brought it to his lips.
"Isabella, enchanté."
Fuck me, he was that Charming Cheeky Chap that old women spoke about. He was a dreamboat. He was Mr Dark and Mysterious. He was a walking talking cliché but it worked for him so, so well.
I tinkled another giggle like a schoolgirl.
Jane cleared her throat, her face still hidden behind my article.
Alec Volturi looked at me with an "oh-shit-we-got-caught" grimace and I smiled before looking back at my boss.
Yeah, Swan, your boss is in the room, get a grip!
I made sure to keep my eyes focussed on her while she silently read the article, but I was way too aware of Alec Volturi's presence. He was trying to distract me, trying to make me laugh so I'd get told off by the teacher. He was currently juggling three apples behind her back until one bopped him on the head. I bit my lip to keep from smiling but out of the corner of my eyes I could see him grinning.
But, no! I would prevail! For instance, I was also very aware of the fact that at some point Jane had placed the looming red pen back on her desk and had yet to reach for it again.
That had to be a good sign, right?
Finally, seconds after Alec Volturi had tossed a grape up into the air (where the hell had all this fruit come from?) and caught it in his mouth, Jane looked up and her brother turned back to the window with a smirk.
"Isabella," she began and suddenly all the anxiety I'd had about this piece had come rushing back to me. "This is…" she shook her head and I swallowed thickly, "this is a very personal piece."
I nodded, "Yes, it is. You told me I could write about anything I wanted," she nodded for me to continue, "and I have recently begun to understand what you've always said about needing a bit of you in your writing. This is something extremely personal, something that I feel strongly about and something I felt I needed to write."
Jane pursed her lips, the only sign that she had even heard a word I had just spoken.
"This isn't an article one would normally find in a copy of Twilight…what reason do I have for allowing this to be published?"
What the fuck?
Alec Volturi turned slightly, his eyebrows raised and his arms crossed, waiting to hear my answer for himself.
Right, like that helped.
"Well… I did exactly as you asked. You told me to write about anything I wanted, this is what I wanted to write about." When she gave no response I continued quickly, my palms sweating. This was it. I had to fight my case. This was the article that would determine my future and I wasn't about to go down without a fight. "With all due respect, Jane, that piece is something I'm truly proud of. Not only is it a damn good bit of writing but it's about something that affects more American women than even I initially believed. There is nothing more personal than what I have written in that article and it is something I that I honestly believe would help thousands of women like me, women who have believed they were alone in this when in fact it's actually quite a common problem." I shook my head, "I mean, what's the point of being a writer if you're not going to write about something readers can relate to? I wanted to write about something that's helpful, that could change somebody's life, even if all it did was reassure them they aren't alone."
Wow.
Uh… rant over.
I think.
Jane gave no indication of her mood but Alec Volturi seemed to be smiling with pleasant surprise.
I held my breath.
"Alright, Isabella, I'll allow your article to be published in this month's issue."
I let it out.
"I shall be keeping a careful eye on our readers' response." She turned in her chair to face her brother. "Is there any particular reason you're here?"
And just like that I was dismissed.
I stood from my chair and headed to the door.
Alec Volturi pulled out a card from his pocket and placed it on the desk, "Just wanted to let you know they'll be in touch, but you should probably call them first." He looked up at me, his eyes sparkling, "I'll join Isabella."
"Isabella has work to do."
"Isabella is free to leave," he said nodding to the clock on the wall.
Jane didn't even glance at it but fixed her eyes on me. With a sigh she simply nodded and focussed her attention back on her computer.
Alec Volturi opened the door for me and followed me out.
"I'm impressed," he smiled as he walked beside me towards my desk on the lower level. Well, that's where I was headed, I assumed he was making his way toward the exit.
"You sound surprised." I observed.
He chuckled and I wanted to let out a little girl-crush, love-struck sigh. There were probably love hearts in my eyes.
We passed Rosalie's desk where she was packing away her things. She raised her eyebrows, glancing pointedly at Alec Volturi with a big grin, she mouthed behind his back, "Who is that?!" I shook my head minutely. Her response was an exaggerated mouthing of, "We're talking later!"
"Honestly, I am surprised." We stopped at my desk while I packed away my things. He eyed me up and down. "When I first saw you I assumed you were one of those fashion writers or something, maybe make-up…"
"Excuse me?" I took back the pen he had picked up and was fiddling with, placing it back on the desk. Turns out Mister Dreamboat was bit of a jackass.
He smirked, "Well, you're gorgeous." Was his apparently simple retort.
"…" I couldn't find any words. Where were the words?
"I figured someone who looked like you would be based in one of those departments. Turns out you have beauty and brains. Not to mention a backbone. I don't think I've ever seen any of Jane's employees stand their ground like that. You did good."
"Thanks… I think," I muttered, not sure whether to be offended or flattered. That didn't stop my cheeks tingeing a rosy pink.
"So, Isabella Swan, what did you write in that article that had my sister so worked up?"
"That was Jane worked up?" I asked with a smile.
He grinned back, "Oh yeah, big time. She loved it. Sure she can be a shrew but if you stay on her good side then she loves you. Trust me, she loves you."
My eyebrows rose, "You shouldn't call her a shrew."
"You don't think so?" He laughed.
"Jane can be…"
"Evil?"
I snorted then slapped a hand over my mouth.
The man in front of me barked a laugh.
"I was going to say 'a little difficult'."
He chuckled again, "You're too polite, Isabella."
"I like Bella."
"Who's Bella?"
"I'm Bella."
"I like Bella, too." His gaze suddenly became a little more… suggestive and I was held captive in his eyes. I couldn't look away.
He took a couple of steps backwards before turning and heading for the exit. "I think I'll be seeing more of you, Isabella," he called over his shoulder.
"It's Bella," I called back.
"See you soon, Isabella."
Was it possible to scowl and grin widely at the same time?
Uh-oh. Here comes trouble!
A picture of Alec can be found on my blogger.
Please review :)