Hello All! Sorry for the late post, but remember I'm still laptopless until Dell decides they've fixed mine and want to give it back. There were alot of heated responses to the last chapter and I can understand why but there will probably be a few more bothered readers since this chapter doesn't pick up exactly where we left off, but actually many years later. Remeber there will be times when you hate my characters and story turns and times when you love it, but I'm not doing my job if you're not yelling at the screen at-least once.
I decided since I had such passionate readers I'd reward a few with by making them original characters in the story. It hasn't changed the story line any, only saved me from making up names and descriptions. So thank you Karina, Carson, Madison, and Zoey (the last two in which had had no choice at all in the matter) for allowing your likenesses to be at the mercy of my twisted mind.
*Double Disclaimer*
1*i don't own twilight, or the characters, I just like letting them roam free in my head.
2*I don't own Karina, Carson, Madison, and Zoey either. (rolls eyes) Just the TWI versions that I'll just occasionally make do things to help the story progress, so please remember that Twi characters actions and thoughts don't reflect the actual person. (I think that made sense :/ )
Anyway see me at the bottom...
Chapter 9- Thank you Edward Cullen...and James Marsden
...Five years later...
The human mind was truly a fascinating thing. Once a person went through an ordeal their minds always gave them a choice on how to proceed. There was option one, where they could hold on to that memory, think about it constantly; how things should have gone, how you wanted them to go, etc. Or you could choose to not think about it, shove the memory deep into the recesses of your mind and hope it'd never resurface again; option two.
Sometimes it doesn't, sometimes you can go long periods of time without the calamity ever crossing your mind. Then again, sometimes all it takes is the sound of an anxious voice to send it all flooding back. The mind was funny that way.
I snapped myself out of Nantucket and back to reality replaying the voice mail I'd missed last night.
Bella...you know who this is...call me back as soon as you get this. I need your help.
Hearing her voice in particular didn't really affect me anymore, we made an effort to talk every few weeks at least. No, it was the tone that took me down memory lane. That message was practically identical to the one that got me on a plane to Boston all those years ago—running to her rescue.
It was seven-thirty here, so I knew she'd already be busy at work for the day. "Not really in a rush to call that one back," I muttered putting my phone on the counter before turning back to the skillet hissing at me impatiently.
He had his life, and I had mine, and other than the occasional memory of that weekend, neither of our lives had intercepted since. I went back to cooking feeling quite proud—I had trained myself years ago not to get overly emotional at the thought of Edward Cullen, and I wasn't going to start letting it get to me now.
Today was supposed to be a happy day. For starters it was Friday, I had slept in my own bed last night for the first time in two weeks because of work, I woke up this morning to two very good voice mails, and I was having a home cooked breakfast to celebrate.
I repeated the message that caused my initial excitement.
Isabella, hey it's James. So, I just got off the phone with my numbers guy, he looked at your proposal and liked what he saw. We'll have to go over the finer details of course... but I want in. If you want to take Twilight Affairs bi-coastal you got it.
I shrieked again saving it to play for everyone else later—we did it. We actually did it. When I quit Happily Ever After four years ago, and went into business for myself I had never dreamed we'd be successful enough to even keep our L.A. office afloat, let alone discussing the idea of opening another firm on the east coast.
The years had been a whirlwind—not just for me—but the nine other team members that helped make each event a success. We all worked endless hours our first year, and there were several times I thought at least a few of them would crack from stress and lack of sleep. There were also times when I thought I didn't have what it took to run a firm. But, with a lot of hard work—and a very confident financial backer—we managed to etch our name into our own private piece of Hollywood.
I thought about my first conversation with him and laughed in embarrassment. If I had known that conversation would change my life forever, I probably would have been less of a mess.
—
Summer 2008, Miami, Versace Party
"Okay, I've checked with the caterers, bartenders, light and sound technicians, and the models backstage. What else do you need help with?" I listed off in a single breath.
Sam's eyebrows shot up looking over the list. "You've literally done the entire list Isabella, relax, take a seat, and watch the fashion show."
Sam didn't get it, I couldn't relax. I needed to bury myself in as much work as possible I needed to have something other than last weekend to focus on, I needed to keep moving—preferably fast—because I knew that if I stopped to slow down for even a second, thoughts of him would catch up with me.
But rather than save myself the judgmental looks that would come with sharing my story and issues with Sam, I decided to find something else to keep me busy, "I'm going to mingle through and see what type of vibe the guests are giving off."
"Fine…"he shrugged in surrender but grabbed my arm before I could wander off. "Thanks for your help Bella. You saved my ass on this one."
"Thanks for giving me something to keep me busy," I countered truly grateful, because going back home would have driven me crazy. I had to leave for Sacramento in a few hours to meet the florist deadline, and was already dreading the peace and quiet that would come with the plane ride. But then I perked myself up again at the thought of how crazy things would be once I landed.
Sam gave me an oddly understanding look, "Hey, I know you're trying to keep busy to stop thinking about your boyfriend and stuff, but if you want to talk about it—"
"—Sam do you really want to talk about chick stuff? Because I don't." He must have really been worried, because even though we knew general details about each other's private lives, our working relationship was never close enough for us to talk about them.
Sam just surrendered, "Okay. Well I'm here if you need me."
I focused back on distractions, "I'm going to leave my phone on in case you need me. My flight leaves at two am, so I'll be out of here by midnight."
"See you before you leave?" He asked checking his watch, knowing this party wouldn't be over until at least six in the morning.
"If not, I'll see you in Sacramento in a day or so." I shrugged noncommittally, the later it got the more crowded this mansion would get and I might not have the time to hunt him down to say goodbye. He knew that too, so he could only nod in acceptance and let me walk away.
I mingled and smiled despite the fact I really didn't want to. I met a few models, aspiring models, designers, aspiring designers, press, and photographers; some were important names and I just wasn't familiar enough, while others were completely unknown all together. The celebrities were known for arriving late. Regardless, I greeted each guest I met with a flashing smile Zafrina's words repeating in my mind like a mantra.
"Each person you meet is a potential client, and you represent Happily Ever After at all times."
A little after eleven I had grown tired of forcing a smile, and escaped to the fountain hoping to relax my face muscles in solitude. I sought refuge in the courtyard grabbing a seat by the fountain to re-check my flight plan. I was really cutting it close flying out at the last minute, but I really didn't need my mind to have any down time.
I ignored the twenty text messages waiting inside my inbox, as well as the seven voice mails. They were all messages from Emmett, Alice, and Rose—with the occasional Esme and Carlisle sprinkled in—all telling me how bummed they were that work forced me to leave so suddenly, how they wished I could have stayed longer, to call when I had a free moment, and so on.
I sent them all a massive message, hoping it would cease whatever worry they might have. I made sure it sounded as light as possible.
Hey all. Sorry it's taken me a few days to respond but I've been up to my neck in work. Off to Sacramento next and then home in a week. I'll call the second I'm settled in. Glad everything went okay, sorry I had to miss it. Much love. :) -B
I attached a smiley hoping it would reflect the general mood it was meant to be written in, despite the fact that I truly felt the opposite. To say I felt like hell was an understatement, but what could I really do? I knew he wasn't mine when we slept together.
No— I wasn't going to let my mind travel down that road again, because it'd only leave me a crying unprofessional mess. To distract myself, I checked my emails from Zafrina and was almost surprised to see one from Alice.
To: Bella
From: Alice
Sub: For your portfolio
I opened the massive attachment and immediately wished I didn't. Inside were about a hundred pictures and videos of Edward and Tanya's wedding. The welcome party, the movie under the stars, the shower, none of the bachelor and bachelorette parties but enough from the ceremony and reception to make up for it.
With every picture the ache in my heart grew taking me dangerously close to breaking down all over again. Unable to close out fast enough I shut my entire phone down to get the images off my screen.
"You really have to press the power button thirty times to turn it off?" A humor filled voice echoed in question off the marble of the courtyard making me look up. I was met by a stunningly familiar face and gorgeous blue eyes. "I'm glad I didn't decide to get a Blackberry."
He wasn't familiar like I'd seen or met him personally before, more like I'd seen him a hundred places on screens and posters. A few days go in fact, curled up on Alice's bed while we went over wedding details. "I know you—you're Kevin from 27 Dresses" I breathed feeling like an idiot because I couldn't remember his exact name. In my line of work I occasionally met a few celebrities here and there so I wasn't exactly star struck—just having a brain fart because he'd unknowingly walked in on a very emotional moment and I was forcing myself to get it together.
I half expected him to be insulted that it wasn't coming to me, but he just walked over flashing his All-American smile he was so known for. "Normally I get 'Scott' or 'Cyclops' from the X-men movies, that and the occasional 'that guy from 'The Notebook'. It's refreshing to be associated with one of my recent films"
In an attempt to recover I tried to explain myself, "It's my friend Alice's favorite movie, and we've watched it recently, so Kevin popped in my head first. But I do know your real name, Mr. Marsden."
"Really? Then you still have me at a disadvantage..." He hinted waiting for my introduction.
"Isabella Swan," I greeted standing to shake his hand.
He nodded taking note and released my hand, "You know, I have been coming to these parties for about—well I've lost track of how many years—but I have never once seen you. Why is that?"
"This is my first one," I admitted.
He raised his eyebrows, "Well you picked a good year, usually they're all the same—but they went all out this time."
"If that's the case why are you hiding in here instead of enjoying the party?" I countered trying to figure out why he'd be here in the first place, and so early at that.
He shrugged pulling out his phone, "This is where I sneak off to play Trisim until my obligation to attend is met…"
I frowned at the mention of the game that took up most of my friend's time. "The Bejeweled knock off?" I didn't get it the appeal, but then again maybe it was an iPhone thing?
"Oh I'm sorry, does Blackberry have some cooler game?" He argued, taking a seat on the bench.
I rolled my eyes oddly defensive about my phone. "My phone isn't meant for games, it's for work."
"You sound like my wife," He chuckled opening the app but not starting. "We have the same argument every few weeks when she realizes my phone does something hers can't."
"It does what I need it to," I muttered checking my watch.
"Yep... still sound like her," He added motioning for me to grab a seat. I chose the bench across from him to keep my view of the fountain— it really was pretty. Grecian women in stood in a circle facing away from each other. "So... Isabella with a Blackberry, what line of work keeps you tethered to such a trite device?"
I ignored the jab and answered him. "I'm an event coordinator for Happily Ever After."
"You work for Zafrina? Tough break on that one," He knowingly sympathized.
"It's a great opportunity," I half defended. "She's the best, and the experience will come in handy when I open my own firm someday."
Apparently my response surprised him, "You don't plan to stay on? Interesting, I don't think I've ever heard anyone deciding to leave Zafrina's claw."
"Don't worry, it's a ways away." I smirked wryly.
He thought for a minute longer, the music from the party could barely be heard over the trickling water echoing in the space. "So, if you're here... then that means, you put all of this together."
"Sam Uley is the coordinator for this event, I'm just here for something to do." I denied not wanting to take any credit for Sam's baby. I repainted the vision but he executed it thoroughly.
He seemed impressed, "So he decided to turn the swimming pool into the runway this year?"
No, not technically, but this was his baby. So instead of lying I just made a joke, "Don't the Versace models think they walk on water anyway? Might was well."
He laughed, "Hey, I was one of those models once."
"Really?" I don't know why I was surprised.
He nodded in confirmation, "Yep, that's why I'm here every year. I may be acting now, but Versace gave me my start."
All too soon, my watch beeped and I needed to head out. "I'm sorry… I have to go…I have a flight to catch,"
"So late?" He wondered probably just as bothered that the conversation had to end so soon.
"Duty calls," I droned standing up offering my hand. "It was a pleasure meeting you Mr. Marsden."
"Call me James," He insisted taking it with a smile. "Who knows, maybe I'll be crashing one of your exclusive events one day."
"A girl can dream," I laughed genuinely for the first time in days. I gave him another wave over my shoulder before sending a quick text to Sam to let him know I was heading out, then called a cab to get going.
—
Some memories really did feel like they were only yesterday. I don't think either of us knew how right he really was, because he and his family were in attendance at the private wedding in Sacramento. Impressed with what he saw—a few months later, he specifically commissioned me to coordinate a private release party for The Box. And if that wasn't shocking enough, a few weeks later, he offered to become a financial backer if I chose to go into business for myself.
At that time, I politely declined— I was happy with my job, I was making good money, and I wasn't ready to give it up without the security that I could actually succeed on my own. Sure he was willing to provide the start up funding, but a firm needed staffing, certifications, marketing, clientele, partners. And who did I trust enough to start a business with?
After another few months of letting fear halt me, and overall just standing in my own way, I decided to go for it. I resigned from Happily Ever After with barely fourteen months under my belt, but I wasn't scared in the slightest, because by then I had the perfect partner to take the road with me.
Yep, today was a going to be a happy day indeed. I turned on my 'happy go lucky' play list, immediately starting to sing and dance along with Katrina and the Raves currently 'Walking on Sunshine'.
The music kept me upbeat as I cooked enough for me and my roomie and in the back of my mind I wondered if I should be cooking for three instead of just the two of us. If I had to judge from the sounds when I came home last night it'd be a definite yes, but then again jet lag made me crash long before my normal bed time so I had no idea if they left or stayed.
With a shrug I said, "screw it," and threw some more eggs into the pan.
I lost track of time squeezing orange juice, tonelessly singing along with E.L.O and nearly jumped out of my skin when I caught a statuesque brunette watching me curiously from the doorway. "Gah!"
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," She apologized sheepishly in no way budging from her spot. She was wearing an oversized t-shirt and shorts that were too big but with her hair in a braid it actually made her look more cute than 'morning after messy' "I woke first and heard the music—"
Her voice sounded wrong, like it used to be a smooth melodic tone, but now it sounded hoarse and forced. I turned the music down so that she wouldn't have to strain making apologies of my own, "No need to be sorry. I didn't mean to have the music so high, I'm just—kinda in a celebratory mood—I'm Isabella."
"I'm Madison," she greeted coming into the kitchen trying to clear the hoarseness out of her throat.
The poor girl sounded like Alice and I did after going to a NKOTBSB concert a few years back. I shook her hand and released it just a quickly. "I'm sorry, would you like some tea, or juice?"
"Tea would be great."
I quickly grabbed a kettle and put some water on, inviting her to sit while I collected a mug, and an assortment of bags. "Honey?"
"Please" She nodded sitting in the chair furthest from me. She watched me work for a bit in silence before curiosity got the best of her. "Do you cook here often?"
I sat everything on the table for her before turning back to the cupboard for plates, "Not as much as I'd like. Work keeps me pretty busy so we're forced to eat quite a bit of takeout, but I try to cook when things slow down."
"You live here," she gathered obviously surprised, "with Jazz."
I nodded sitting a plate before her, gesturing at the food as we talked. "Yes he's my best friend."
"Oh," She absorbed, and I could tell by her eyes she had a ton more questions but wasn't sure what she was allowed to ask me.
I was used to this part, the uncomfortable awkward silence that came with meeting Jasper's lady friends. Most women—most people for that matter— didn't exactly get our relationship, but we'd long stopped trying to explain it to anyone.
"So," Madison started, spinning the waffle into her pile of syrup. "What do you do?"
"I'm an event coordinator for Twilight Affairs," I answered matter-of-factly, over a bite of my food.
She perked up, familiar with the name, "That's the company Jazz works for too, right?"
"Yeah, we're business partners." I added continuing to eat.
That seemed to relax her a bit more, "Jazz says you guys plan parties for the rich and famous, that has to be fun."
"Sometimes, but with a firm as small as ours, there's several tiers of hierarchy put on one person. It's a lot of work, and we never get to indulge in the events." I cleared up—it wasn't nearly as glamorous as everyone thought.
Madison frowned at the thought, "I couldn't imagine planning huge parties and not being able to have fun at them. That must suck."
"It has its downsides, but it also has its perks. They usually send gifts to the office when everything is wrapped up. I got some pretty cool handbags my first year."
She laughed, "Handbags? I bet Jazz loved that."
"Loved what?" A Texan accent yawned from the doorway.
Madison—actually facing the kitchen entrance—dropped her fork, staring at him open mouthed, her cheeks and neck flushed a deep shade of red. I turned around to see what the problem was, and rolled my eyes.
There stood my roommate, teasingly indecent. He was shirtless, and boxerless; his long blonde waves hanging freely on his strapping shoulders, a pair of white silk pajama pants hanging low on his hips exposing just a hint of the "V" below his six pack.
I shook my head turning back around to continue eating—no wonder poor Madison dropped her fork. Jasper Whitlock had that cat ate the canary smile working overtime, heading over to grab a plate. "Good morning, Sugar."
"Good morning—" "Morning—"
Madison and I greeted at the same time making her head snap at me. I knew that Sugar was my own specific term of endearment, but I shouldn't have said anything right away. It was a habit for us, but I'd only made it awkward.
I stole a glance at my best friend wanting to smack the amused grin off of his face, mentally willing him to fix my mistake. He understood my silent communication better than anyone and took a seat next to her, leaning over to kiss the side of her temple. "You were gone when I woke up this morning, Sugar."
With a blush of her cheeks, all was forgotten, "I smelled food and heard music..."
"Please tell me Bella didn't subject you to her singing and dancing?" Jasper apologized pouring himself a glass of juice.
I would have kicked him in the shin if he were close enough, "Hey—watch it—or I stop cooking."
"Then you'll have to eat my cooking," He came back unfazed by my threat.
"You cook?" Madison wondered, finally feeling comfortable enough to start eating.
He nodded, and I scoffed shutting that illusion down, "Yeah if you like meals out of a box, anything he tries to make on his own is cruel and unusual punishment. Now, enough with the snarky comment exchange, Madison, tell me about yourself."
I spent the rest of breakfast getting to know her, listening to them tell the story of how they met, and occasionally there were a few questions directed towards Jasper and I about our relationship. How long we'd known each other, how we came to start a business together, how Jasper even got into the event planning business considering he was a bartender when we met. Nothing we hadn't been asked a million times from the people we dated, and after years of experience we had those answers down to a science. After breakfast, Jasper walked Madison out while I cleaned up. Overall, everything ended on a positive note.
"I got it Sugar," Jazz drawled coming over to the sink and I more than willingly abandoned the soapy water to pour myself a cup of coffee. "How was Seattle?"
"Bleak, dismal, rainy. It seriously rained the entire two weeks I was there."
"Yep sounds like Seattle," He deadpanned putting the dishes in the washer facing away from me.
"What time did your flight get in last night? I didn't hear you come in."
My lips involuntarily quirked into a grin at how easily he set himself up. "No but I heard you—well technically not you."
"Yoga instructor." Was his completely unabashed response.
I rolled my eyes at his back, "I was gone two weeks, what happened to 'I'm gonna take a month or two off from the dating scene'?"
"Yoga instructor," he repeated again with that same smile in his voice.
"You said L.A. girls were too shallow...that beauty didn't cancel out narcissism...that it wouldn't hurt to date a girl with some depth..."
Finishing the last of the dishes he closed the washer, turned it on, turning to face me repeating the same thing. "Yo-ga in-struc-tor" He spelled out to me, like two words explained everything I'd missed the past two weeks—sadly, it kind of did.
"Fine," I relented putting my dirty mug into the sink earning a scowl from him. He hated that, but I had a thing about opening the dishwasher once it started. "We've got to get to the office."
"Mind if we take your car this morning? I've gotta drop the truck off to get serviced on the way in."
Of course I didn't mind, I wanted to drive anyway. I hadn't seen my baby in weeks and missed her probably more than I should. "Then we need to get going or we're going to be late. We still have to stop by the Windows store, to pick up the order—"
"Imma step ahead of you Sugar, the box is already in my trunk."
That just added to my list of good things today. After paying off my initial loan from James and having a surprisingly large amount left over, we decided to get the team new equipment to celebrate, and expand the expense account with the remainder. "That's why you're the best, I have more good news James is willing to take us bi-coastal."
Before I knew it, I was in his arm and spinning around, "I knew it, I knew there was a reason you made waffles this morning. This is amazing! Where do we start? What city? Are we moving or staying here?"
"Too many questions," I whined dangling my feet for him to put me down. "We need to discuss all of this in the office. Sam's not here and we all need to brainstorm and discuss options."
"Then we need to hurry up," He agreed just as excited as I was.
"What we need to do isget dressed Mr. Silk Pants, or the girls on the team won't get very much done. Go!" I shooed heading to the opposite end of our place to get dressed for work myself.
—
"You could have at least warned her that you lived with me," I lectured whipping into my designated space and shutting off the engine.
Somehow on our trip to the mechanics to drop off Jasper's car, and our way to work we had gotten back on the subject of Madison. Jasper pressed the button for my trunk before getting out. "We didn't get that far into conversation Bella."
"Of course not, you just threw her to the awkward wolves," I sighed getting out of the car myself, so preoccupied I barely noticed Sam showing up.
The alarm chirped on his Jaguar and he shook his head, "I should have known you were back by the way you Tokyo drifted into that space, I'm surprised you haven't wrecked it yet."
"Don't speak such blasphemy," I hissed rubbing the glossy black paint on my V12 S-class before crooning a tad softer, "Ignore mean Sam Uley, I would never wreck you." Then a thought occurred to me and I spun on Jasper, "Wait—have you been driving my car while I was gone?"
"It's a Vanquish," Was the only response I got while he shifted the boxes in my trunk. "Need a hand man."
"Sure," Sam shrugged grabbing the other box, while I carefully shut the trunk. "So what did we go with? The Surface?"
"Yep," I confirmed holding the door for them before following, waving a silent good morning to the building's concierge before walking ahead to call the elevator. "So what have I missed the past two weeks? Besides Jasper breaking his dating ban early?"
Sam raised his eyebrows looking over the box at Jasper, and I was glad I wasn't the only one out of the loop.
Jazz just gave him the same answer he gave me this morning, "Yoga instructor."
"Nice," Sam congratulated making me roll my eyes all over again.
"Yeah, nice until she walked into the kitchen surprised that he lived with a woman." I added to stress my point.
Sam winced, "You didn't tell her you and Bella lived together? Not good."
"When is there ever a good time to tell a girl that?" Jasper countered, "It would have been fine if she wasn't dancing around in her Superman's this morning."
Sam shook his head, "Bella not the Superman's."
"What's wrong with the Superman pajamas, I think they're cute?" I defended unsure why they'd be an issue. It was a tank and matching pajama shorts, and considering I normally slept in an oversized t-shirt I thought we were lucky.
Jasper sighed, "Nope, they make you look like something out of every teenage boy's wet dream."
"They don't bother you or Sam." I countered never being able to recall them being a single reason for distraction.
"Because I'm not a teenage boy," he retorted stepping off the elevator. "I'm just saying it isn't all my fault."
Sam just sighed, "Are we getting on this again?"
"No—" I rushed before he could get started with the Bella, Jasper lecture. "I was just saying if he prepped his girls a little better, I wouldn't be forced to have awkward conversations with women in my kitchen turning twenty shades of red."
"Speaking of shades..."Sam grinned pointing to an empty reception desk, and then four women huddled into one corner cubicle leaning over a desk, talking in hushed whispers.
I pinched the bridge of my nose, both surprised and unsurprised at the same time. "Jessica..." I called carefully making all four of them jump and look up.
"Boss!" She shrieked closing the book, trying to hid the cover with crossed hands as best she could. She turned pink when she noticed Sam and Jasper behind me, "Boss...boss...boss." She greeted the three of us waiting to be reprimanded.
I didn't know where to start. "Ladies...why?"
"Research Miss Swan," Zoey our bubbly blonde, twenty-five year old receptionist and administrative office manager volunteered.
Sam sighed looking to Carson, the junior coordinator he directly supervised, "Do I even want to know?"
Carson shook her head, not really embarrassed that her bosses just caught her reading romance smut. Or at least she didn't show it, she never really showed any emotions actually. "Not really but I'm sure Stanley will tell you anyway."
"I'm just trying to see what I'm doing wrong here," Jessica—Jasper's junior— volunteered.
Okay, I'll bite. "Wrong?"
"Yeah, wrong." She repeated with a nod. "I've read through this book at least ten times, and I realize I'm a carbon copy of Anastasia Steele, so where is my Christian?"
I pinched the bridge of my nose again regretting that I even asked, but Jasper didn't get it, "What do you mean?"
"Oh come on, we have all types of big wigs walking in and out of this office every week, and I have yet to pull my troubled good looking billionaire with a sensitive soul. I have it all; brunette, powder blue eyes, soft full lips, pale skin, slightly stubborn, a tad shy—"
"Jessica Stanley, you are not shy." Karina, my personal junior coordinator corrected before I could.
Her eyebrows furrowed like the thought had never occurred to her, "Really? Huh, maybe that's what I need to work on. Being aggressive a little less, blushing a bit more...I can do that."
"Seriously?" Jasper whispered from the corner of his mouth, no doubt questioning her sanity.
Sam just shook his head reminding him, "She's your junior."
I really hoped she wasn't crazy enough to try and snag a client. "That's ridiculous Jessica, he's a character in a book, a book that is to never been seen during office hours. And if you're gonna be in here all doe eyed and lash batting in hopes of gaining a client's affection, then you better bite your bottom lip for the extra effort because you're in trouble if we catch you."
"Wait—how do you know Anastasia bites her lip all the time?" Zoey accused through narrowed but entertained eyes.
I was done, "Do you guys want to see what we bought you or not?"
"We get presents?" My junior lit up taking a seat on the edge of Jessica's desk taking note of the boxes in Jazz and Sam's hands.
Sam sat his box down and cut it open giving them each a box. "That's right ladies, you get Surface tabs. Starting today these will be replacing you planner tablets and doubling as a laptop away from the office."
"Ekk! I wanted one of these." Jessica shrieked hugging the box with both arms.
Jasper took the time to remind all of them, "You're allowed to take them home, but they're for work, so keep them password protected, m'kay?"
"Yes Mr. Whitlock." The four of them chanted in unison all shuffling off to their designated areas to set them up and transfer information.
We pulled out our own and gave the rest of the box to Sam since he'd see the others before we did. Eric, our tech guy, Charles, our photographer and filmographer, and Paul, our accountant made up the last three members of Twilight Affairs.
I got to work immediately returning any emails and calls I missed being away, and went over the last few details for the wedding Sunday. About two hours into the work day Zoey dialed my extension.
"Hey! Are you busy?"
What kind of question was that? It was my first day back, my desk was cluttered beyond recognition and my emails looked worse. "Considering you're the person that handles my messages and schedule, you should know the answer to that."
She groaned the same time I did. She always did her best to keep us from coming back to a full agenda. After spending days and sometimes weeks at a time away for work was hard enough, but coming back to a long to-do list of things you missed was worse. "I know, but you've got this call on line three. She called this morning before we opened up pretty hell bent on speaking to you, but you weren't here yet. I got her number and told her you'd return the call, but she's called back before I could even put her in the queue."
"Just what I need, another client that feels more important than the others. Who is it this time?" I breathed balancing the phone between my shoulder and ear while I used both hands to pull up the call queue.
Zoey's typing skills got to it a bit faster. "She isn't in our client files yet, someone named Alice Cull—."
"—Put her through." I ordered, a hint of worry settling in my stomach. If she called my office line whatever she needed had to be serious.
My urgency caught Zoey off guard, probably because the name wasn't familiar but she put her through without question. "Ooookay…"
"Allie? What's wron—"
"—Where have you been?!" Alice demanded on the other end. "I can't believe I had to go through a receptionist to talk to my best friend."
Irritation flickered now that I was sure no one was fatally injured or worse, "I just got in from Seattle last night, it's been a long two weeks."
My reason wouldn't fly with her. "You've been MIA longer than two weeks, try a month Bella."
Man did a month fly by, "I know, but you know its wedding season, we're all spread pretty thin here. I'm doing a minimum of sixty hours a week. It's no excuse, and it sucks, but we're in the middle of something huge and I have to just work through it."
Alice shifted into that whining tone that always made me feel bad. "I miss you Bells, I can't remember the last time we saw each other."
"Three months ago, Miami, Versace party." I answered with perfect recollection.
I could practically picture her shaking her tiny head, "Doesn't count, that was only for a day before you were off to Cincinnati and I was heading to New York."
"You were at that fashion show in Atlanta two months before that, we spent like three days there. Then there was Met Ball last May." I reminded trying to find a silver lining.
My old college roomie let out a long breath of frustration, "When was the last time we spent time together outside of our work making us cross paths. It's been at least two years. We're never supposed to be too busy for each other."
"Says the woman that's in Milan, and Paris every other month," She was just as busy as I was if not worse.
Her whine disappeared, and I could hear the real genuine sadness there. "I know, but we promised each other no matter how busy we got we'd at least make time to Skype every other week and get together at least once a year."
Now I just felt worse, Alice and the other Cullen's had invited me to several events over the years, most of which I declined. Work was always the guise I used and they more than understood, but in truth I promised to stay far away from any function that would hold even the smallest possibility of Edward attending.
It'd gotten easier overtime to train my voice not to waver at the slightest mention of his name, and I learned long ago how to finesse my way out of family get togethers with promises to stop in whenever work took me near Boston. Sometimes I only had time for a quick lunch with Carlisle and Esme, or a tiny shopping trip with Rose, hell other times Emmett would just show up to keep me company in-between flights—I noticed quickly that as long as I followed through on that particular promise they'd easily forgive my absences on more important gatherings.
Then there were other times, when it'd cause tension. Like the time Alice and I argued for a solid three weeks because I couldn't attend her first fashion show. A few months after Edward's wedding, Alice took a trip to Milan and discovered that the world of fashion was her calling. It took her almost a year, but she designed a very small line and hosted an invite only fashion show for feedback in Pittsburg.
I was in my first four months of Twilight Affairs and running myself ragged trying to get our name out there. Everyone was going to be there, but we had an event that same weekend. Jasper and Sam offered to cover for me a million times, but then again they were the only two people on the planet that knew the my story about that weekend in Nantucket ( Jasper knew about love feelings and all) so neither of them pressed me to go.
"It'll get better Alice, I'm free the entire month of September so far, and maybe I can carve out a week just for us?" I suggested hoping she'd have a week free that month too.
She sighed, "It'll have to be after the thirteenth, that's fashion week in NY."
"Are you featured this year?" I perked up trying to catch up on the past month.
"Hell no, it's way too late for that now. I'm fighting for next year, I'm trying to get a spot between Lulu Frost and Kenneth Cole it's a bidding war out of this world." Her whining voice was back, but it was stress related.
I knew all about the bidding war for best exposure, "Don't let them box you out. Are you keeping track of your figures?"
"Yeah, Edward's helping out for the time being since he has time on his hands, but I'm going to have to hire someone permanently eventually. Between this and the party planning he's driving me insane." Alice admitted no doubt rubbing her temples. "I need your help Bella."
I was more alert at the mention of Edward's name and mine in the same sentence grouping. "With what exactly?"
"We have a family reunion type thing in New York this year for the family on Dad's side. We figured since most of the Cullen's would be there anyway, and him and Mom's anniversary is in the same week, we'd throw them a party." I listened in silence as she rattled on. "Nothing big, just about a hundred fifty people, but this isn't Emmett's thing, and Edward's all distracted with—outside stuff— and I haven't coordinated anything since Edward's wedding and I want it to be really special. They've never had anything big for their anniversary."
"When is their anniversary again?" I asked more out of habit, not really thinking.
"October tenth."
I was stuck—torn between letting Alice down and putting myself through torture. I couldn't do this. I'd spent the last five years staying away from Edward Cullen and she was basically asking me walk into awkward.
I must have been silent for too long, "…We'll pay you whatever you charge of course—"
"Money isn't the issue Allie, if I can do it I'll do it for free, you know that. Esme and Carlisle are like parents to me." I breathed tapping my nails on my desk.
Alice was in an intuitive mood today, "Issue? There's an issue? What's wrong Bella?"
I panicked, "I don't know my schedule. Can I check, on it and call you back?"
"You'll call me back today?" She hesitated, skeptical to let me off the phone.
Was I getting that bad? "Yes Allie, I promise. I'll call you back before five."
"Your time or mine—"
"—Alice." I hissed
"Just checking," She defended.
"My time," I surrendered without argument. "I have to go Al."
The second I put the phone down I was out of my desk and office heading next door to Jazz's. I knocked twice, and burst in. Sam was with him going over his project in Vegas next month, apparently my face mirrored my inner dilemma perfectly. "You okay Bells? You don't look so hot."
"You look like you've seen ghost," Jasper agreed gesturing to the chair next to Sam.
I locked the door behind me and collapsed in the leather seat. "Just got off the phone with Alice."
Jasper turned the name over in his mind. "Alice….Alice…why does that name sound familiar?" I couldn't blame him, she reacted the same way whenever I mentioned Jasper. They both knew of each other, but with her living on the other side of the country—and sometimes the world— they'd never actually met.
"You remember Emmett, the one we went to the Lakers game with?" Sam reminded so that I could get to the point.
Jasper could place Em easily, "Yeah—so Alice must be the blonde model looking one with the nice—"
"No that's Rosalie, Emmett's wife." I clipped.
"That makes Alice, Emmett's baby sister and your old college roommate." He connected rather proud of himself. "And I was going to say eyes by the way. What? She has nice eyes…. They're so blue they're almost violet."
Sam brought us back on topic, "Okay ignoring eye fetish over here—what about talking to Alice? She's a good friend right? I figured talking to your friends would be a good thing."
"Not when she wants me to plan her parent's anniversary party," I disagreed shaking my head.
"Oh—I get it." Jasper realized. "Breaks the rules."
Sam sighed, "You two and your rules. Someone explain this to me."
"Alice Cullen is Edward Cullen's little sister—the guy she has to stay away from. It is literally impossible for her do that coordinating a party for his parents, he's going to be there." Jasper explained knowing how I felt better than anyone, after all, we both had our one person.
Sam ran a hand over his head, "Edward—hold on, the married guy from five years ago? I thought that was done when you ran away ages ago."
"I didn't run away," I argued defensively, "if I recall correctly I came to be your white knight."
Sam rolled his eyes, "No, you came because you couldn't handle feeling like an idiot and not being able to tell anyone why. You couldn't face the rejection so you left it, and that's okay."
"Hold on a sec'" Jasper intervened on my behalf. "In her defense, he did sleep with her, and the morning after convinced her he was calling off a wedding that he went through with anyway. That's a dick move. "
"Yes but we have two consenting adults here, not just one. At any time she could have backed out of this entire thing, but she chose to take a risk—on what basis I still don't understand—but she chose." Sam argued logically.
I didn't take offense to him somewhat defending Edward, because that just how Sam was. He was my friend, I had no doubt about that, but he wasn't the type that would blindly take my side out of loyalty. He looked at it from all angles and didn't hesitate to tell me when I was at fault, no matter how slight the fault was. It was one of his best qualities and it made me trust him almost as much as I trusted Jazz.
Jasper was in disbelief, "So, what are you saying, she should have stayed? Talked it out? She should have stood in the back watching a guy she—" He had to catch himself, "Really liked marry some woman he said he'd break it off with? Was that the right way to handle it?"
"No I'm not saying that her staying would have been the right way to handle it. I'm saying that there was no right way to handle the morning after situation because they're initial start was wrong. They were already wrong. They were both involved, and chose to cheat and there's no real going back from that." Maybe he had a point, and when spelled out that way, Jasper couldn't even argue.
Sam let out a loud breath. "Look, if they met, hit it off, and he felt something and wanted to explore it, and they agreed to break up with who they were dating, and he turned out to marry her anyway before he and Bella had sex, then yeah, asshole Edward all the way.
Not saying that using your wedding coordinator for one last single tryst isn't an asshole move—because it is. But—"
"Yeah I know—I'm asshole Bella too." I agreed.
Sam gave me an apologetic smile and I forced myself to smile back.
"Hey," Jasper whispered walking around to sit on the desk in front of me. He tilted my chin to make me look up at him. "You were twenty-two, and you did something stupid. Did you learn from it?"
I nodded rolling my eyes up at the ceiling because that was the understatement of the century. I learned never to leap without the security of being caught, and no one could ever one hundred percent promise they'd catch you so it was safer not to jump at all.
"Then what's rule number three?" He demanded with a smirk.
I let out a sigh chanting one of the many rules that got us to where we were. "Never look down, and never look back. Everything thing we need is front of us, and the only place we're going us up."
"Good girl," He praised with a nod.
Sam just groaned uninterested, "Don't get me started on you two and your rules. If you two weren't exactly the same I'd tell you to get together and get it over with, but I'm worried about what type of crazy offspring you'd produce."
We shifted away from each other, "What is that supposed to mean?" Jazz insisted crossing his arms.
"You know we don't—"
Sam cut me off scrolling through his tablet. "Yeah, I know, but that doesn't mean the world isn't assuming."
"The world can think what they want," Jazz flexed. I just shrugged, he helped me learn a long time ago not to care what people thought about me personally, I'd only end up being someone else—Rule number nine.
"Another conversation for another day, Bella when is the anniversary?" Sam asked getting us back on point again.
"October tenth," I recalled still wondering how I wanted to proceed.
Sam tsked and shook his head, "You've got The CW fall premiere party the week before, are you and Jazz have clear schedules for two weeks after that."
"What do you wanna do Sugar?" My best friend asked, both of them staring at me.
I was still torn, "I don't want to let Allie down, but I don't really want to see Edward again."
"Then don't," Jasper suggested, "Plan the event and we'll send one of the juniors to see that everything's carried out."
Sam looked surprised at Jasper's ability to compromise. "Which junior? Carson's with me planning that Hollyween thing."
"Karina's going to be assisting me with CW and she'd be ran ragged jumping from that to this." I denied frowning. She was the only one I trusted to go, but I didn't trust Jessica enough to swap projects and take her to premiere party with me.
Jasper grinned already knowing that his choice in junior was far from my favorite, "How about we cross the bridge when we get there?"
"Or we can discuss the other option on the table." Sam added, "Her sucking it up and actually going."
I started to protest all over again, "But Ed—"
"—It was five years ago Bella, he probably doesn't remember you." He suggested in an attempt to ease anxiety and failed. "That sounded bad—but you know what I mean. You could just talk to him, it could have just been some miscommunication."
Jasper pounced on that one, "Miscommunication? Um, getting married is the biggest way to answer without saying anything. And okay, let's just say he wanted to talk to her, or work all of this out, Bella wasn't exactly a stranger. He knew enough about her to reach out if he wanted to."
"Can we focus on the actual? I don't even want to remember Nantucket let alone listen to you two dissect it." I breathed when I heard enough.
Sam was all for it. "Okay, 're viewing this all wrong, you should kinda thank him."
"Thank him?" "Thank him?"
Jasper and I said that the same time. Sam just chuckled, "Yeah. Think about it. You were on vacation when you met him. You weren't supposed to work again until Sacramento. He hurt you and you ran, putting you at the Versace party you wouldn't have gone to otherwise."
"There you met James Marsden…" Jasper followed.
Sam nodded, "And five years later at twenty-seven look where you are. You're successful, Twilight Affairs is literally etched into Hollywood. You drive a Vanquish. You have friends and a team that love you. And other than one little blemish in your past I'd say you pretty much love your life."
"Oh, and we're going bi-coastal!" I rushed mad I didn't tell him sooner.
It was déjà vu, I was in a strong set of arms and being spun around all over again with cheering so loud I'm sure everyone outside the office was wondering what in the hell we were up to. I couldn't help but laugh as I listened to the both of them make a chanting song about it.
"We're going to the east coast, we're going to the east coast…"
Sam rocking me back and forth still not putting me down. "Okay, okay, we're going to the east coast! Now put me down."
"Whelp, I'll be the first to say it," Jasper drawled with a grin on his face miles wide. "Thank you Edward Cullen."
I rolled my eyes, "Thank you Sam, for not taking all the credit."
"And thank you James Marsden." Sam finished up. "I feel like we should be toasting right now."
"Don't worry, drinks after work." I promised wanting nothing more than to unwind with alcohol and my boys.
Okay, Hopefully I'll have another chapter up on time Sunday since I'm working on it now. Once again thanks to Karina, Zoey, Carson, and Madison for letting me use them. I have room for four more readers if anyone is brave enough to let me (three girls and a guy) but if not I'm not short on imagination. Feel free to PM me if you're up for it.
As always let me know what you think...
DINISHAROB
