AN - Again, everyone has been so kind, so I want to say thank you very much. It meant someone was reading what I've got going on here and were into it enough to say something. That's pretty cool. It made me rethink the hundreds of fics I've read...I don't think I ever reviewed any, and now I'm resolved to go back and do so. I have to give a shout out to a few special ladies who rec'd me on Facebook and God knows where else. I saw a couple of them (I'm on fb under my 'RL' name so I know you don't have a clue how much I appreciate it), but just so you know, the RL me did, in fact, 'like' what you said :) PM me some rec groups, please! I'm always looking for new reading material and a place to talk about it!
This is a long story. I'm sorry that I didn't jump into the lemons off the bat...it seemed unnatural to. It's already a pretty far-fetched (it IS fanfic, after all!) concept if you think about it...instant attraction, obsession, wrap that all up in a neat little mafia bow. They're getting their bearings...don't worry, the citrus is coming. I don't want to go into much more than that in regards to their personalities/secrets/direction because SPOILERS!, but I'm strictly HEA in my preferences. I will say that all the characters have more going on that meets the eye.
And the anon review who said my paragraphs were too long for devices...I apologize. I type this on word and then edit on my iPad, and it's the regular site, so I have actually never seen ffn mobile. I have a terrible habit of typing like I think and talk, I've found. I'll try to break up some of the type as I continue to edit, but thanks for the feedback.
Lastly, this was a little bit of a slow burn so far, I know, and not much dialogue. Now we're present day and about to get this party started Xx
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Seriously peeps...mind the ratings. Basically, if you aren't old enough to vote, you shouldn't be reading this.
Everything Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meyer. I just like to play in her proverbial sandbox.
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BPOV
I slowly unwrapped myself from Edward, hesitant to end the contact that I had dreamt of for so long. So many years had gone by since I first saw him, and while life went on in his absence, I now wondered if I had unknowingly sabotaged my potential for romance the entire span of it. I'm pained to let him go, but I need time. Is this too good to be true? Is everything they say about him true? Is he dangerous? Who is he? Why does he want me?
I was scared, and I wasn't going to reach any level of clarity in this city, not with temptation at my fingertips. The sound of a throat clearing caused me to try to jerk suddenly away from Edward to find an amused Esme, eyes darting between the two of our faces, but he didn't relinquish his hold.
"Bella! I'm so sorry to be late. I ran into a bit of traffic. I'd apologize for being entirely unprofessional," she said with a smirk, "but dio non voglia, heaven forbid then I'd have to acknowledge that you're holding my wayward son."
My face flushed red with embarrassment. Alice would be so disappointed if I didn't salvage this meeting immediately. Business first. This is why you make the big bucks. Prioritize, Bella! With a final push, I untangled myself from his arms, nervously smoothing the wrinkles out of my dress.
"Esme, it's wonderful to finally meet you in person. Alice and I are so impressed with your work and have heard nothing but stellar reviews. It was at her insistence that I get into contact with you after she held a show on Rainier. We had the pleasure of viewing some of your models and prints displayed at the Metro Museum of Architecture."
Way to go, Bella. Focus on a safe topic, keep it together, stay in command. I walked over to my bag, gathering my things before spreading them out on the spacious table. I could feel Edward's stare but was afraid to look up at him.
"Thank you, Bella. I have to admit that I've been looking forward to this meeting for quite some time." Her words were careful, like they held a hidden meaning. Edward stepped forward then, wrapping one arm around my shoulders.
"Isabella, please allow me to formally introduce you to my mother, Esme Cullen. Mom, this is my Isabella."
I gulped. I urgently needed to take control of this afternoon before it went into a direction that I wasn't ready for. I shrugged back out of Edward's grasp, gathering my thoughts to steer this conversation back onto its intended path.
"Thank you, Mr. Cullen. It was a pleasure seeing you again. That will be all." I said dismissively with a flick of my hand. His jaw dropped before turning into a grin. Esme belted out a laugh.
"I think we're going to work perfectly together, Bella. Edward, I'll speak with you later. Give your father a call on your way out."
Esme's orders held no room for negotiation, showing me that the Cullen apple didn't fall far from the tree. Edward leaned over to place a kiss on my cheek before walking over to his mother to do the same. He was nearly to the doorway when he stopped and turned towards me, eyes set firmly on mine.
"Isabella."
I opened my mouth to speak, but settled for nodding slowly, a last-ditch effort to memorize the vivid green of his eyes, the shape of his lips, the angle of his jaw. I cleared my throat, trying to give some semblance of confidence.
"Edward."
He left swiftly without another word. I wrung my hands together, feeling bereft and shivering despite the fire burning nearby. Esme and I both took a few minutes to organize our paperwork before sitting side by side at the table, blueprints unrolled on the tabletop before us. A waiter made his way in a few minutes later, holding a tray full of baked goods and an Italian coffee press. I took a moment to pour the rich, hot liquid into the oversized white mug, wrapping my hands around it to soak in some of the warmth.
"So Bella, tell me a little about yourself before we get started. Let's make sure we're a good fit."
"I'm not a big fan of talking about myself, but I do love talking about what we've accomplished at AWD. Alice and I have been friends since we were teenagers, and not much has changed. We have the same core beliefs and it's translated well in business. I know most people recommend that friends and family not work together, but it couldn't be more incorrect with Alice and I, and she's certainly family."
Esme took out a legal pad and made a few notes before giving me a warm smile. "Sometimes there isn't a better business relationship than a family one. I have extensive experience in family businesses and I feel very strongly that maintaining a successful one is a good measure of a person's character."
"Absolutely, Esme. Our friendship comes first, no matter what, and the comfortable business relationship has its effects on every facet, whether we've been working with magazines, fashion shows, personal stylists, or in this case, looking to expand. It definitely helps us see eye to eye and anticipate the needs and goals of one another. We know what we want when it comes to the bare bones of this new venture: the day to day operations, the fittings, the tailoring, retail sales all under one roof. We're hoping you can fill in everything between the lines. We want a clean space that feels high-end, but still offers a sense of comfort that will carry over through the whole facility. And we're hoping you feel as strongly as we do about keeping as much of the original architecture in the building as possible."
Esme and I spent the next hour going over our different ideas for the fashion house. I'm not sure that a designer could be any more in-sync with their client than she was with AWD. I was confident that I didn't need any input from Alice to act on my decision; I'm responsible for these types of things for a reason, and it hasn't steered us wrong yet.
Construction and permit plans ironed out, contracts signed, the ink hardly dry, Esme picked up her phone and quickly typed out a message before setting it back into her purse. Not two minutes later, a man wearing a black suit walked in quietly, handing Esme a bottle of expensive champagne and two flutes. She nodded before he promptly turned and left, and gave me a wink.
"I think this calls for a celebration. I knew we'd be needing these." She tapped a manicured nail to her temple. "Cullen intuition's never wrong."
I laughed at her excitement over the prospects, the giddiness contagious and an adrenaline high from the prospects of the future. "My intuition isn't, either. Alice always says that's why I'm the brains!"
Laughing, Esme wiped a few wayward tears from the corners of her eyes. "Bella, I think you were meant to be a Cullen!"
I shook my head at her joke, choosing not to touch that subject, flashes of Edward at the forefront of my mind. Cork popped, she poured us each a glass, and I couldn't help but laugh again as mine slightly overflowed. "Esme, I can honestly say that I've never considered drinking champagne at a coffee shop, and I don't know if I should be worried or impressed that you keep liquor on-call." We each took a sip before dissolving into another fit of giggles.
"I think a little of both, Bella. Just my attempt to welcome you into the Cullen family."
I choked on my drink, coughing loudly while setting it down with shaky hands. "I…uh…it's not what you…"
"Bella, I quite honestly have no idea what you mean," Esme said a little too innocently, giving me the type of side-eye that I think all mothers naturally possess to make it clear that you're not fooling anyone. "Cullen Incorporated strives to welcome all new clients warmly into the fold."
"Of course, Esme. And AWD is excited to move forward with this new chapter." We clinked glasses and I took another sip, thinking absently about the layout of our new office when my phone chirped with a message from Alice.
"Bella! I haven't heard from you, so I'm assuming that means we're officially a go with Esme at the helm! We've got to celebrate! Don't forget that you're supposed to meet Rose at the office at 1. XOXO" I clicked back to my home screen to see it was already 12:47. Shit.
"Esme, I'm so sorry to cut this short, but I have another appointment this afternoon. I'll finish up this contract and have Victoria fax it to your office on Monday."
"Yes, of course. I should have a rough idea of the permits we'll need to file by midweek. Again, this was lovely Bella. I can see this is going to be a very long and mutually prosperous relationship. We have to get together sometime soon. Maybe dinner at my home?" she paused, studying my face. "Don't try running off on us now that we've finally got you."
Well, that's…an odd thing to say. Am I that transparent? Freaking figures.
It seemed like she'd been hinting at Edward the entire meeting, but maybe my imagination was getting the best of me once again. It had a way of doing that when he was the subject. I've been paranoid all week and the lack of sleep coupled with champagne isn't helping. Trying to convince myself that she's simply referring to our new partnership, I settled for smiling and a nod, ready to clear my head of this weirdness. She gave me a quick hug before I gathered my things and made my way back through the front of the café. A blast of cool wind hit me at the curb before I steadied myself and raised my arm to hail a cab.
"Miss Swan."
I turned quickly to the unfamiliar voice. It was one of the men from Rosalie's...the one who confiscated the phone in the cafe.
He stood about Edward's height, with dark curly hair and the build of a linebacker. He motioned his hand towards a dark tinted black sedan parked directly in front of the restaurant.
"Mr. Cullen insists."
