Hello! As always, I appreciate every single one of you who continues to read and support me and this story. I can't even begin to express how happy I am to back as an active member of the fandom.
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Thank you so very much to my beta, princess07890 for making me sound smarter than I am.
And a special shoutout to tawelephant for inspiring the scene between Edward and James. I hope I did your vision justice!
I own nothing.
~Edward~
When I get home from the club, I read through the Twilight file again. I know there's something that I'm missing, and it's pissing me off that I can't figure out what it is. Thankfully, I have a couple of weeks until I have to meet with Miller and Victoria again.
I take off my reading glasses, and rub my eyes before heading downstairs for a glass of water. It's nearly two in the morning and I know that Bella will be here soon.
She seemed so relieved when I called her my girlfriend. I don't understand it. That term is so juvenile. Honestly, I think the same thing for significant other, lover, or anything else you can think of. Why do women feel the need to label everything? Like a label is going to keep a man faithful or committed. He either is or he isn't. No label on earth is going to change that.
Whatever. If she wants to be called my girlfriend, then, by all means, she can wear that label. At the end of the day, she's mine, and I'm completely committed to her. That's really all that matters to me. And I'll do whatever it takes day in and day out to ensure that it stays that way.
She's so mature for her age in many ways that I sometimes forget how young she really is. The way she carries herself, the way she makes decisions, the way she stands up for and respects herself is really something special. But, I saw another side of her the night we made love. I saw a beautiful confident woman, yet she had an insecurity so deep it made me wonder what put it there.
I believe that part of it is simply lack of experience, but it may also be bad experience. She's knows she's sexy. She knows she's desired. She feeds off of her appeal. The problem is that she doesn't really know what to do with it once you get down to it. I can't say that I mind teaching her to embrace her sexual prowess in the bedroom.
Bella exudes confidence outside of intimate situations; she's a master at keeping people away. She's a master at keeping her composure, and demanding respect. But something tells me that, as much as she wants to be "all in" with me, actually letting me in might be the real challenge.
She's lost so much. I can't blame her for the challenges we'll likely face. She's more than worth it. My heart aches for the little girl who lost everything, and I want, more than anything, to give whatever I can right back to her.
Even if it's simply security. Security that I won't leave, no matter how annoying her little bouts of insecurity are. Because, once she realizes that she can truly count on me, those insecurities will fade.
I rinse my glass, and then put it in the sink. Looking through the junk drawer, I find a notepad, and scribble a note to leave on the foyer table. I don't want Bella to feel awkward coming up to my bedroom, but I don't necessarily want to wait up in the kitchen either.
It's about two-fifteen, and I expect her at any moment, so I leave the note on the accent table and then head up to bed. Our relationship might seem fast to some, but, to me, it seems like it took an eternity to get to this point. I've never met a woman who made me work so hard to win her over.
I'm asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow, and am only stirred awake when I feel Bella slide in next to me, and cuddle up to my side. She's not shy about maneuvering my arm so that she can lay her head on my shoulder, and, for some reason, that makes me laugh. It amazes me how this tiny slip of a girl can be so unintimidated by me. And, just to further prove her point, she presses her cold ass feet against me.
"Fuck!"
I flinch, but don't move, earning a giggle from her. "Sorry. It's freezing out there." She kisses the underside of my chin in apology, and then wraps her arm around my stomach, snuggling in as close as humanly possible.
I've never been much of a cuddler, but I can't bring myself to roll away when she lets out a content sigh. Within minutes, her breathing evens out, and I know she's asleep. She must be exhausted.
With my arm securely wrapped around her, I force myself to relax, and follow her soon after.
Cuddling isn't so bad after all.
My alarm goes off at six-thirty for my daily workout, and, for the first time in years, I ignore it. I'm toasty warm and wrapped around my gorgeous girl, not to mention that her soft, round ass is pressed snuggly up against my morning wood. The only downside is the mess of dark hair I have to blow out of my face.
My hand reaches down to caress her bare legs. Her skin is so soft, so warm. I slide my hand up underneath the shirt she's wearing to cup her tits. They're so full that they spill out of my hand, and I have pretty large hands. Fucking perfect.
I tweak one of her pretty pink nipples between my fingers, and earn a soft mewl in response. She arches her back enough to grind her ass against me. My hand snakes back down her body, down the front of her thighs, and up the back of them. I palm her juicy ass roughly before reaching between her thighs to stroke her drenched pussy. I lick and suck down her neck, careful not to leave a mark, because I'm not a fucking teenager, until I have her grinding against my palm.
"Do you like that, baby? You like waking up to my fingers in your pussy?" I try to tame my words a little because, while my girl is no virgin, she's definitely not very experienced. She's also a lady, and I'm trying my best to treat her like one.
She moans softly, pushing even harder against my hand.
"Answer me." My voice is rough and gritty in her ear. I guess I can only tame the asshole so much. I hope I don't scare her off.
"Yes." I'm surprised by her breathy answer, as well as the fresh wave of arousal that coats my fingers. I guess she is the perfect woman for me after all.
"FUCK!"
I'm not gentle as I push her on to her stomach and shimmy my boxer briefs off while encouraging her to lift her ass for me.
Fucking exquisite.
I gently palm her ass cheek as I position myself behind her.
"You okay, baby?" I ask as I fill her up to the hilt. See, I'm not a complete savage. She drops to her elbows, and pushes back against me, and, fuck, it's so tight this way. I don't know how I'm going to last.
I reach around to flick her clit as I drive into her hard and fast. Thankfully, it isn't long until she's quivering beneath me. She whines in protest when I pull out of her, and flip her over, but I just have to see her gorgeous face. I wrap her legs around me, and slide back in, groaning at the wet heat before leaning down to capture her pouty lips with mine.
She hesitates for a moment, but eventually gives in to my demand for her mouth.
I kiss her long and deep, matching my thrusts to the rhythm of our mouths. She's so sensual.
I pull back to look at her, and, when she finally falls apart in my arms, I waste no time letting myself go.
I'm not going to lie, having a twenty-one year old woman with twenty-one year old tits in my bed is exhilarating, but that's definitely not the only reason she's in my bed. Yes, she's probably the sexiest woman I've ever been with, but it's the way I feel when I look into her eyes that makes me want to keep her here. I've never felt a connection so deep.
Not even with Kate.
I spend a few more minutes cuddling and kissing her, but, all too soon, I realize I've got to get in the shower before I'm late to work. That's something that's never happened, and it's not about to start now.
Placing one final kiss to her temple, I roll out of bed, and head to my bathroom.
When I'm showered, and fully dressed for the day, I find my way back into my bedroom. Bella is dead asleep, looking absolutely tiny in my monstrosity of a bed. I bend down to kiss her cheek, and leave a note on the nightstand. I don't have the heart to wake her up. Especially since I know she's picking up every extra shift that she can. Having opposite work schedules already makes it hard to spend time together, but, when you add in her extra shifts, it's damn near impossible. I'm determined to make it work, though. I just wish I knew why she's so hell-bent on working so much.
Carlisle comes straight into my office when I arrive at work, takes a seat in one of the leather chairs, and tosses the Twilight file on my desk. He looks troubled when he reaches up to rub his chin, so I don't say anything, I simply open the file.
My eyes dart up to his concerned face when I read and then reread the top document. The third person with invested interest is none other than Charles Richard Swan, deceased.
"This can't be."
I'm shocked and angry. How could she not tell me? Why would she purposely keep this from me? She knows how hard I've been working on this acquisition. I go back to reread the document a third time. She knows that we're having a hard time locating the third party. Why would she do this?
"Why would she do this?" I know my brother doesn't have the answers, but I can't help but ask.
"I don't know, brother, but there's got to be an explanation. She'd never keep something like this from you on purpose."
Just then, Joyce interrupts, "Mr. Miller is on line one."
"Thank you, Joyce. I'll take it." I take a deep breath and then pick up the receiver.
"Edward Cullen", is my greeting. I don't have the patience for pleasantries this morning.
"Edward! It's wonderful that I got a hold of you. I was wondering if you could squeeze me into your busy schedule sometime today. I have some information to share with you." His cheerfulness grates on my nerves.
"Be here at eleven."
"Perfect. I'll see you then." Miller swiftly hangs up the phone, leaving me to stew in my annoyance.
Carlisle knows better than to say anything until my anger recedes, but, as soon as it does, he tells me that he's going to find out everything he can. We only have two hours until that leech gets here, and I have a phone call to make.
Carlisle stops at the door throwing one last warning my way, "Be patient with her. She doesn't deserve your wrath. Save it for Miller."
She answers on the third ring, her voice sleepy. "Edward!" She sounds so happy to hear from me, even though I left her less than an hour ago.
"Isabella, I need to ask you something, and I need you to be honest with me, no matter what, okay?"
"I'm always honest with you, Edward. What's going on? You're scaring me." Her defensiveness makes my hackles rise, but I reign it in.
"You know how hard I've been working to find the third investor in the company, Twilight Telecommunications, we're trying to acquire, right?" Please be honest with me, my internal monolog pleads.
"Yes. But I don't understand what that has to do with me." She sounds genuinely confused. What the hell?
"We finally found out who the third investor is."
"That's great, Edward! Now you can close the deal." The sincerity in her voice douses out my earlier anger. This girl really has no idea.
"Bella, the third investor is Charles Richard Swan. Which, by law, means the third investor is you."
Her sharp intake of breath is all I hear on the other end of the line. "This isn't funny, Edward." Oh, now she's pissed.
"This is no joke, sweetheart."
"What? How? I didn't inherit anything from my father's estate, except over three hundred thousand dollars of debt."
"No, baby. You don't inherit debt." I pinch the bridge my nose, because this conversation just took a turn in a direction I simply don't have time to deal with right now.
"Then tell me, oh wise businessman, why I'm paying over three hundred thousand dollars' worth of my father's bad debt?"
I don't have time for her attitude right now.
"I'll have to look into that later. Right now, I need you to come to the office, and tell me everything you know about Twilight Telecommunications."
"I already told you, Edward, I don't know anything about it. I didn't even know that it existed. I don't even know what it is! And I have to work tonight, so I apologize for not being available to be at your beck and call."
God, this woman can try my patience like no other.
"You're working again? This is the third extra shift this week." I swear she's going to work herself into the ground. It's not healthy.
"I have responsibilities, Edward."
I don't have time for petty arguments, so I just cut right to the chase.
"Well, who handled your father's estate?"
"My father's business partner." Her tone is short.
"Name?"
"Don't talk to me like a child."
"Then don't act like one. Name, Isabella."
"You're really pissing me off, Edward. I'm not one of your little cronies that you can talk to like that."
"Likewise, sweetheart. I don't have time for a temper tantrum. I have a meeting in thirty minutes so I need the name."
"Why, so you can destroy my father's business? Break it up and sell it for parts? I know how your company works, Edward Cullen."
Christ almighty.
"I'm not going to do anything but research, Isabella. I swear. I wouldn't do anything without discussing it with all affiliated parties. What kind of man do you take me for?"
"Aro Volturi."
With that, the line goes dead. She fucking hung up on me. I'll have to deal with her later, but I have more pressing matters to attend to right now.
I buzz Carlisle's office, and give him the name. We're working on limited time, and the last thing I want is to appear unprepared for our meeting with Miller.
As much as I want to wait until later to talk to Bella, I can't resist sending a text.
I'm sorry I'm a tyrant. I shouldn't have spoken to you that way. Please don't talk to Volturi until we get more information. It doesn't sound like he's doing right by you. I'm on your side, baby. Don't ever forget that.
~Edward
I don't get an instant reply, but I'm not really expecting one, so I don't worry too much about it. I don't have time to, really. Before I can obsess too much about it, Carlisle comes in, and takes a seat.
"Your girl is getting royally fucked. And not by you."
Unfortunately, that's all that Carlisle gets a chance to say before Joyce informs us that Miller has arrived.
She shows him into my office, and he takes the empty chair next to Carlisle. Eleazar isn't in the office today, so we'll have to get him up to speed when he returns.
"It's good of you to make time for me this morning, gentlemen." Miller's voice is forcefully jovial, something I just don't have the patience for today.
"It's good to see you, James." Carlisle's voice is even and polite. I admire his ability to compartmentalize issues, and deal with the task at hand. I'm not nearly that personable. "What have you been up to? How's business?"
"It's looking up, my friend." He looks over at Carlisle before adding, "I got a new client. Referred to me from one of my big fish, as a matter of fact. He needs some help in getting this sale closed. Anyway, this girl is young, feisty, and all business. It's kind of cute that she actually thinks she knows what's going on. She doesn't realize that her lawyer is taking her for all she's worth. Not that I care, really, I'm making a profit out of it so, whatever, you know?"
He looks over at me and rolls his eyes, like I give a fuck about his naive clients. The only thing I want to talk about right now is the Twilight acquisition. That is until the next words come out of his mouth.
"But this girl. She's a total sex pot. Legs, ass, and the rack on her; man, I can't wait to see if they're real, if you know what I mean. She's a Bunny at the Playboy Club, just started a few months ago. She shot me down pretty hardcore, but I swear I'm gonna fuck her if it's the last thing I do."
Realization dawns in Carlisle's eyes at the same time it dawns on me. Miller must feel the shift in the atmosphere, as well as in my demeanor, because he's quick to ramble on.
"So, here are the affidavits you need to complete the sale. I got her to sign them pretty easily. I thought you'd appreciate that."
He tugs at his collar uncomfortably, and Carlisle's eyes are trained on me, as if the weight of his stare can keep the words in my mouth.
"Did you bother to explain to her what she was signing?" The venom is dripping from my voice, and Carlisle's eyes dart between James and me, trying to gauge my reaction.
The color completely drains from his face, and he swipes at the sweat beading on his forehead as he answers. "Uh… no. I didn't think you'd care how I got them. Just that I did."
"In case you hadn't noticed, Mr. Miller, we run an upstanding business here at Cullen Enterprises. We don't participate in shady business dealings, and we don't manipulate people into signing their rights away." I stare him down with all of the disgust I can manage before continuing, "I have no use for your type of business practices."
I get up from my large leather chair, and push my hands into my pockets as I slowly make my way around my massive desk. Carlisle opens his mouth to interrupt me, but I level him with a glare before he has a chance as I make my way to stand right in front of the chair James is occupying.
My expression is full of malice and warning as I give him my final parting words. Eerily calmly, I utter words that I hope he'll take heed of. "One more thing, Mr. Miller. If you ever speak of Ms. Swan in such a crude and disrespectful manner again, you'll live to regret it. As a matter of fact, you're never to speak to her, look at her or even think of her in any manner ever again. Am I making myself clear?"
Fear paralyzes him for a split second before he nods, and slithers out from under my intimidating stance with a nod. I'm so furious that I don't even take satisfaction in his terror.
My hand immediately reaches for my hair the minute the door closes behind Miller. What has my girl gotten herself into?
I don't even realize that I say that out loud until Carlisle answers. "I don't know, brother, but we'll figure it out."
What do you think will happen with the Twilight Telecommunications acquisition now? Will Edward go through with it? What do you think Bella should do once she finds out how badly she's been taken for granted? What do you think Aro has actually done?
Kisses,
Lailaxx
