The next Mrs Cullen

Chapter 10

No copyright infringement meant.

BPOV

The day didn't start any differently to a normal day off. I sat at the breakfast bar, drinking my coffee and looking at the news on my laptop. After a while I made breakfast, toast and eggs, all totally normal. My thoughts, however, kept straying to Emmett. I couldn't help but wonder if green eyes had given him a hard time last night. I'm no pushover but I'd hate to be the cause of getting someone into trouble.

"Who are you kidding?" I said to my piece of toast.

Shit, I thought to myself, I'm talking to myself now. If I start answering myself we really are in trouble. With no appointments booked I was planning to go to the gym, clean the apartment, catch up on paying some bills and if they were free see if the girls fancied lunch somewhere. I sent a group text to see who was available and jumped in the shower.

As I checked my gym bag my phone pinged with messages. Jess and Angela were okay for lunch. The others couldn't get away, so after a flurry of message we finally decided on 1.00pm at my favourite diner.

As I opened my front door, I almost stepped on another delivery. It appeared the same as the one before, a bouquet of flowers, a large take away coffee and a bag of pastries from a nearby bakery. Again, no note, but seeing as I'd let green eyes down last night, I had a strong suspicion where these had come from. Well, if he thought I could be swayed with gifts he was going to be sorely disappointed. I left everything where it was and went to the gym.

My workout was not productive or satisfying. As well as Emmett popping up every couple of minutes, probably to check that I hadn't made a run for it, I just couldn't find my rhythm. I decided to give up when I tripped on the treadmill and only just stopped myself from face planting. There was a yoga class starting in the dance studio which I thought would be a good opportunity to relax. However, the eggs I 'd eaten seemed desperate to make a reappearance in the form of gas so I spent the whole session clenching my butt instead of concentrating on saluting the sun or planking. The third time I saw one of the RR brigade look through the window to make sure I was still there I gave up and went to get changed. As I showered and finally let out the gas any high school jock would have been proud of, I decided what to do with the rest of my day. I had a couple of hours before I needed to meet the girls so I decided to go back home to sort out the bills and at least attempt to do some cleaning.

"Good morning Miss Swan," a new face, a man in a navy uniform, greeted me as I walked into my building. "We haven't met yet. I'm Alex." I nodded, slightly confused, which he took as encouragement to continue. "Today is my first day, I just wanted to let you know I 'll be around now most days and if I'm not here someone else will be."

"I didn't realise we were having security staff," I smiled at him, trying to work out how he knew my name, "when was this agreed?"

His face faltered for a split second and I saw his pupil move to the side as he recalled what he was supposed to say. I know the classic signs of body language, you have to in my game, I need to read what people aren't telling me.

"Erm…It was just decided this week," he recovered after a moment of fluster and delivered his line smoothly, "the building management have decided to up security in the building."

Well, I thought, if that's true it means my service charge will probably be going up. Maybe it was time on move after all.

"Thank you, Alex," I told him, "I hope you enjoy your new job."

"Oh, wait," he said, rummaging behind his little desk, "this was dropped off for you this morning, I had to sign for it."

He handed me a small turquoise gift bag and inside I could see a thin box, it was also turquoise and had a white ribbon tied around it.

"Who delivered this?" I asked. I recognised the trademark colour and the white ribbon, what girl wouldn't? My heart started to beat a little faster in my chest. This was a big step up from pastries and flowers.

"Sorry Ma'am I didn't get a name, it was just a courier".

I could tell he was lying, he couldn't look at me and the fact he'd call me Ma'am gave me a good idea that Emmett had been around.

I went up to my apartment and opened the door, it was only as I walked across the threshold that I realised the mat was empty, everything I'd left there this morning had gone. Maybe security was a good thing, I didn't like the idea of people wandering up to my front door at will.

I dropped my gym bag and purse on the floor and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. As I sat at the breakfast bar I opened the gift bag and took out the thin box. I knew from the colour where it was from, but actually seeing the name stamped on the box made me drop the box back into the bag.

"Who the fuck," I asked out loud, "would send me something from Tiffany?"

Rhetorical question I know, it had to be Green eyes. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes and grabbed the box again, this time managing to untie the ribbon and actually take the lid off. As soon as I saw it I bust out laughing, probably not the reaction he was hoping for, but I hoped it meant he had a sense of humour under all that anger and frustration.

I quickly found the Tiffany website and looked up the piece in front of me. I was part of the Victoria line, a key pendant in platinum with diamonds, set on an 18-inch chain. It was beautiful, absolutely beautiful, but not something I would ever wear or accept. The price tag alone would have paid my rent for months. I would need Emmett and his crew following me around just to make sure that I wasn't mugged wearing jewellery like that. I wrapped it back up and tried to decide where to put it to keep it safe until I could return it. I put it in my nightstand, then got it back out again. I wrapped it tight in a plastic bag then put it at the back of my bathroom cabinet. But, after five minutes I got it back out again. Just having something this expensive in my apartment was freaking me out. Eventually, after another cup of coffee I decided that the ice box was probably that last place an intruder would look. I wrapped the gift bag in the plastic bag again and put it behind my emergency stash of Ben & Jerrys.

Lunch was fun, we had a good catch up and lots of giggles as Angela filled us in on the one night stand she picked up at the weekend and Jess moaned that she wasn't getting anything lately. I thought of my uptight green-eyed man and wondered again about his foul mouth and how dirty his pillow talk might be.

"Where'd you go?" Angela asked as she waved her hand in front of my face. I blushed, I don't know why, but for the first time in years I blushed just like I did in high school.

"Shit girl," said Jess, a huge smile breaking over her face, "what have you been doing?" She waited for a moment but I couldn't think of anything to say. Where could I even start? A hot guy locked me in closet, then got his brother to follow me, then sent me jewellery, the cost of which could have bought a small car. "Spill! "Jess obviously wasn't going to let it go.

I looked at Jess and laughed. It sounded like a fake laugh, even to me. "Nothing, I was just thinking about a guy I thought I was selling a property to, he…" I just stopped. I couldn't think of anything to say that didn't sound completely ludicrous. "Never mind it's not important." I waved them off and changed the subject.

Luckily both of them just gave each other a look and changed the subject. I knew they would return to it at some later date. Eventually they had to go back to work so I made my way home. I was tempted to go and visit my favourite penthouse, but like the addict I knew I was becoming I knew I had to start weaning myself off the place. It would sell soon and then I'd have to go cold turkey.

Alex was standing by the door as I approached. I could see he was talking on his phone but hung up as soon as he saw me. He opened the door for me and looked down at my hands "No bags today Miss Swan?" I shook my head and waved my empty hands at him. At least Miss Swan was better than Ma'am.

"I have another delivery for you," he trilled, "somebody is very popular today." He handed me a gift bag in the same distinctive turquoise and white livery of the delivery this morning.

I held it out in front of me like it was emitting a bad smell and walked up to my apartment. I half expected Alex to follow me so he could make sure I got to the door, but as I turned I saw that he was already on the phone to someone.

I dropped the bag on the breakfast bar and sat down looking at it. It was definitely another gift from Tiffany's, the size of the box inside indicated a pair of earrings or maybe a ring. I reached in and took the box out and opened it without stopping. Inside was a pair of diamond earrings from the same range as the key pendant. I had to admit they were beautiful, dainty but large enough to show you had nearly a whole carat of diamonds in each ear. What green eyes had missed was that my ears weren't pierced, so they were of no use to me. I admit for a split second I did think about going to the store and getting my ears pierced so I could wear them but…

I stashed them behind the Ben & Jerry's and put a stool in front of the door just in case.

"What the fuck Bella?" I looked at my makeshift safe, "Is the stool in case somebody breaks in to steal them or in case the earrings try to escape?"

I was talking to the wall now, a sure sign I was losing he plot.

I spent the rest of the day cleaning the apartment, changing my bedding and scrubbing the shower. Anything that stopped me looking at the icebox and checking that the 3 carats of diamonds were still there.

Finally, after triple checking the doors and the windows I was able to relax a little. I settled down with my latest box set and a glass of wine and before the episode was even half way through I was fast asleep.

When I woke the next morning, it took me a few minutes to remember why I was on the couch and dressed in my comfy house clothes instead of in my bed in my pyjamas. I'd slept later than normal so it was a bit of a rush to get through my routine and out of the door. As I opened the front door I automatically looked down. I could have done with the coffee and pastries this morning, but the corridor was empty this morning. There were a few scattered petals and what looked like a hastily wiped up spill, but that could have been from yesterday. I hurried to my car waving at Alex as I rushed out, he was waving trying to get my attention but I didn't have time as I had an appointment across town. The apartment was in a nice block. It was clean, neat and tidy, a little on the small side but for a single person it was ideal. My appointment was a Mr Jarvis. Young guys usually used first name and surname, it was the older guys who used Mr so I suspected that he might not be a first-time buyer, perhaps a business man looking to buy rental property. It did cross my mind that it could be another pseudonym for green eyes but I shut down that straight away. Not only did I not want to think about him, I didn't want to worry about the jewellery that was now inside the nearly empty tub of ice cream just in case somebody did look in the freezer.

The knock on the door was bang on time. I pasted on my most welcoming smile and opened it to a tall, well-built guy with blue eyes, probably in his late twenties. He was dressed casually, if I had to be critical a little too casually, the hood of his hoodie up, a cap on underneath the hood, sweats and trainers. The show around was quick and uneventful, he asked a few questions but it felt like a charade and it was obvious that the level of interest was not there.

"So, Mr Jarvis," I said, brightly, "do you have many other properties to look at?"

"No Bella I don't," the hair on the back of my neck started to prickle. I hadn't even told him my first name, let alone the nickname that only my close friends use. "Do you have anything else you could show me?"

"Not at the moment in this price bracket," I smiled, knowing it didn't reach my eyes. I had my purse over my shoulder and I reached a hand in, discreetly feeling for the end of the pepper spray. "I can call you if anything else comes up."

"Why don't you do that," he smiled, laughter lines crinkling around his blue eyes. For a moment, I wondered if I was over-reacting. "We could meet up for coffee and pastries and discuss where I'm going to live. "Daddy always taught me to trust my gut and right now I just wanted this man out of this apartment.

"I'll do that Mr Jarvis, I'll be in touch as soon as I can." I opened the door and stood back so he could leave. My fingers still touched the top of the pepper spray. I was wondering how quickly I could get it out when he stepped compliantly over the threshold

"You do eat pastries don't you," he said, looking back over his shoulder with an odd expression on his face, "you aren't one of those women who lives on lettuce and water are you?" His eyes swept over me, assessing my figure and I felt sick as his gaze lingered on my boobs.

"Thank you Mr Jarvis I'll be in touch," with that I slammed the door shut, forcing him to lurch forward so the door didn't hit him on the back. I engaged the lock and stood with my full weight against the door, any pretence at professionalism leaking away with my momentary bravery.

"Shit," I told myself, "there are some loony people out there." The creepiness of the situation finally got to me and I laughed out loud. The noise felt strange and alien but I kept laughing, somehow knowing that if I stopped tears would replace it.

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Please take a quick look at the Tiffany website, there really is a range called Victoria and one of the principal pieces is the key pendant on a chain. It is absolutely stunning.