A/N: What the hell does Alice have up her sleeve you might ask? Hmmm...well for now you may have to wait as we need to check in on Bella...and see if we can peel back a little bit more of her personality.

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or any subsidiaries or characters. I just wish I did. Is that wrong?

CHAPTER 9 - PREPARE TO EAT CROW

BPOV

Oh this was just so fucking perfect. Not only had I managed to send Alice running for the hills, on top of that, I'd now have to deal with the wrath of Rosalie, just to round off my crappy week nicely. My pathetic life couldn't get any suckier...could it?

After enduring an awkward silence in the cafe with Sue staring at me the whole while until I paid the bill and left with Emmett, I knew I'd have to go back to Rosalie and face the music sooner or later. I had no way of finding Alice now, and was too fucking proud to chase her down the street like some cowering fool. I was a total and complete fucking moron, my pride and ego getting in the way of doing what was right. The only way of catching up with her was at the upcoming conference, as I didn't have nearly enough information from our meeting to add to the article. And, after today's shit-storm, I was sure that she wouldn't talk to me even if I did wait until the conference to see her again.

It was my vacation time from Monday, so I wanted to deal with it before that time and try to relax before going to the conference and finishing off the article. Or, as I now realised, I wanted to try to salvage my job before my vacation time was extended...indefinitely. Fuck.

I heard the camera click as I sat on the floor staring at the laptop, trying to focus on the article. "Em, don't!" I snapped as I looked up, glaring at him as he stood near the window looking all smug. My reaction just made him take more shots.

"You know, Bella, you're drop dead gorgeous...for a girl," he said as he grinned from behind the camera, clicking away.

"Yeh, well, right now I need to save our asses so quit bugging me," I complained as I noticed the time on my laptop.

"How much have you got?" he asked as he sat down on the floor next to me. I turned the laptop toward him and after a few moments of reading what I had, he said, "Hmmm...this really isn't much more than you can find on the web." He clicked his tongue in disapproval.

"No shit Sherlock!" I snapped.

"Okay, so what are you gonna do about it?" he challenged as he took another couple of shots.

Sighing, I said as I pushed away the camera, "Well, guess I'd better tell Rosalie that I'll be in next week to clean out my desk."

"Bella, I know apologising is not usually your thing, but maybe you should..." he suggested, putting the camera down on the coffee table and staring at me."You really hit below the belt back there."

"Yeh, I know," I admitted, picking up my cell.

"So do the right thing and fix it," he demanded.

"Okay, okay!" I huffed as I stood to my feet and went outside to the fire escape. I took out my pack of cigarettes from my pocket and lit one, trying to give myself the courage I needed to speak to Rosalie. As I watched the sun begin to set, turning day into night, my stomach felt strange. This wasn't gonna be pretty, and I was running out of time. I searched through my contacts and pressed send, taking in a big drag as I prepared for the wrath of the bitch.

"Hello?" a male voice said.

Surprised, I took my phone away from my ear, checking the screen. Yep, it was Rosalie's number.

"Um, I'm sorry. Who's this?" I asked indignantly as I tapped some ash over the railing.

"I'm not at liberty to say," he said, laughing.

"Well whoever the fuck this is, put Rosalie on the phone," I demanded, beginning to get a little pissed off.

"She's otherwise occupied, but if you like I can leave a message, darlin'," he said smoothly.

"No. No message. Where is she?" I asked.

"Well, now, maybe if you tell me who you are, I might let you know where she is," he teased.

"You know who it is, or didn't you bother to check the caller ID?" I snapped.

"Yes, Bella, I did," he breathed. "I'm just teasing you, darlin'." Oh this guy was a charmer.

"Well just tell her I need to speak with her."

"I don't know if I can do that, because I'm having way too much fun talking to you instead, Bella." I was beginning to lose patience with this guy. Obviously he didn't get it. I flicked my cigarette in the air in frustration and watched it fly downward and hit the road below.

"Look. Whoever the fuck you are, I need to speak with Rosalie about work. So get your dick out of her mouth and put her on the goddamned phone!" I commanded in a shrill tone.

"Oh you're a feisty one, aren't you Belllllaaaaa?" he drawled, accentuating my name. "I like that in a woman." Now, that I believed. If he was with Rosalie, he must like them mean. Ball-less freak!

"You really have no fucking idea who you're dealing with, douche bag," I growled. "So I suggest you tell me where I can get hold of her before I really get pissed!"

He chuckled and then sighed, realising that I was in no mood to play. "Fine, Bella. She's in a meeting with some clients right now, but I tell you what. She'll be meeting me for a bite to eat and a drink later at this club I like to go to. Maybe you'd like to come meet us there, talk about your urgent work thing, and then have some fun. I'd like the chance to put a face to that sexy voice of yours." Was this guy for real? Dating Rosalie and flirting with me? What an asshole!

"Ugh!" I moaned in frustration, rolling my eyes.

"Invite a date if it makes you feel more comfortable," he offered.

I realised I had no option but to meet her, as much as I didn't want to cross paths with this guy. At least if I brought Emmett along, he'd hopefully keep his smarmy comments to himself. "Just give me the address."

"The club's called Trinity and it's on Yesler Way. We'll be there for some dim sum in the Card Room at nine."

"Thanks. We'll be there," I said without so much as a goodbye as I hung up and went inside. Emmett had his head stuck in my refrigerator and was searching for something to eat when he popped his head over the door and stared at me curiously.

"So?" he asked, chewing on a cold slice of pepperoni pizza.

"Stay of execution until later tonight. She's in a meeting and her boyfriend answered the phone. We're joining them for dinner at nine, at that club on Yesler. Trinity."

"We're meeting the boyfriend? What's his name?"

"He didn't say," I answered, shrugging.

"I can't wait!" he said as he took another mouthful of pizza. "Oh! What will I wear?" he said with a sudden sense of urgency.

"Beats me Em, but you'd better get home and dress up. I've heard about that place and I think it's pretty exclusive."

"Sure thing, Bellacakes," he said through a full mouth. "I'd better get home and get ready. Pick you up at eight?"

"Sure sure," I said as he shoved the rest of the pizza in his mouth, grabbed his camera from the coffee table and planted a kiss on my cheek before he left.

I walked toward my bedroom and opened the closet, scouring its contents for something to wear, all the while distracted by my situation. Though it annoyed me that Alice got under my skin so much, she was right, and that realisation only served to piss me off further. I did go for the good looking guy, even if I was treated like shit. Maybe that's why I'd never fallen in love. And maybe, just maybe, it was why I was still alone.

Stupid thing about it was that I didn't even think I ever loved Jake. He was a friend, and more like a comfortable glove that fit into what my family's image of the perfect boyfriend would be more than anything else. He was the kind of guy that my family approved of, rather than the one that was right for me, and as much as I tried to make things work, it obviously wasn't meant to be. What the hell was wrong with me? Why did I always seem to attract the wrong kind of guy? Why couldn't I settle for a secure, comfortable life with Jake? I obviously needed a serious attitude adjustment, and maybe Alice was the catalyst behind that very thing happening. She was the only one who stood up to me, had seen right through my bullshit, and even though I had already admitted it to myself, someone else calling me on my flaws made it feel at little to real for my liking.

And I wanted to get to the bottom of it. All of it. All of my mixed up feelings, and of Alice. The girl fascinated me, and on top of that, my newfound realisations about the kind of person that I was scared the living shit out of me.

I pulled out a blue knee length dress which had thick straps and went over the shoulders, criss-crossing over the low slung back. It was figure hugging and showed off my cleavage. It was the dress I wore when I wanted to attract attention, and by Christ, I needed some serious attention tonight. I laid it out on the bed and smiled to myself, wondering if I could snag some unsuspecting man tonight, and have yet another meaningless encounter.

Slightly ashamed of where my thoughts were taking me, I walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower, thinking about the kind of person I'd turned out to be, my smile immediately wiped away as I undressed and stepped under the water. I went through my faults and attributes, making a mental list of everything about me...some I liked, but most I hated. I was impatient, shallow, selfish and rude. I was arrogant, egotistical and liked to shock people to get attention. I hated fools, but despised those smarter than me even more. Then there were my good points. I was loyal, and stuck by people no matter what. I never backed down, and I knew that when love finally came my way, it would last forever.

I just hoped in my heart it would happen. That I'd fall in love.

I was someone who had craved love ever since I was a little girl, my Mom and Dad separating when I was little. My dad Charlie wasn't really around until much later in my life, and though Mom was there to guide me, she really had no idea how to be a father as well as a mother. That role, to my detriment, was never filled until it was too late...well after the damage was done.

And every little girl needs a father in her life.

I had no idea how to relate to men, and chose to allow their looks to dictate what I'd allow them to do with me. That made for some shallow and fleeting relationships...the one exception being my relationship with Jake. That relationship was the closest to normal I had ever experienced, and even then that wasn't enough. My flaws finally finished what could have been a potentially lifelong partnership because I realised that there was something missing. I wanted heat. Fire. Passion. I just didn't want to settle for comfortable...for mediocre. I wanted more. So much more. I wanted it all...and I wanted it all wrapped up in a perfect package. I tried to make Jake conform to my ideal of the perfect man, but he couldn't do it. Why should anyone have to change to please another?

"You want the hero," I admitted to myself as I stood underneath the warm water and soaped myself up with my favourite strawberry body wash. "You want something that's a fucking fantasy. You want Chase."

I dried myself off and walked naked to my bedroom, absentmindedly getting dressed in my black bra and lace panties. Realising all of this, I decided to change my mind about what I was going to wear tonight. "No sexy blue outfit for you tonight. You're on a hiatus from men until you figure out what you want," I told myself as I put away the dress and retrieved a conservative but dressy pair of black pants and white shirt.

A/N: I wonder what will happen when she meets with Rosalie? Stay tuned...and meanwhile let me know what you think...