Disclaimer: Do I really have to? (Looks at lawyer with puppy dog eyes; lawyer nods; I sigh sadly) I - I do not own the Twilight saga and its characters, unfortunately. It all belongs to the excellent Stephenie Meyer. I also don't own Ms. Franziska Von Karma… ;)
A Cullen or A Swan? Case Solved
Bella's point of view
It was still a mystery to me how Edward got accused of trespassing. Well, there was a lot of time to talk about that later. After I fixed my table (I didn't have enough proof but I got a feeling James Everett was lying to me) and grabbed my bag, I turned to Edward with a smile. He was looking at me, determination shining in his green eyes. I got to admit, he looked good wearing that suit.
"You know it's not polite to stare," I scolded, putting my hands on my hips but I was smiling up at him.
"I know but I still did," he smirked before putting an arm around my shoulder.
"Oh, so you're all about impoliteness, Mr. Cullen."
He stopped walking and looked at me, his eyes, entertained. "Oh so we're all about business today, Ms. Swan?"
I smirked and opened the door. I totally forgot about his companion and I saw his jaw dropped as he looked at the arm slung across my shoulder. I glanced at Bree next. Yup, same reaction.
"You knew each other, Ms. Swan?" The man who might be in his early fifties asked.
"He was a –," I stopped. Now that he mentioned it, Edward played what role in my life. He wasn't really my brother, yet we're so close…
Edward continued for me, "Childhood friend. We're pretty close when we were young. Ah Bella, this is Peter Flynn. He was a former customer of mine and he's the one who introduced me to you." He grinned.
I looked at the man. "If that's the case, thank you. You don't know how much I'm grateful for what you did." I smiled at him.
He blushed slightly and muttered a 'you're welcome'. I turned to Bree and said, "This is Edward Cullen," then I faced Edward. "Edward, she's my assistant, Bree." The I shifted my gaze to my assistant. "I'll be leaving now. You can go home too, if you like. And if Mr. Everett called, well, you know what to do."
"Okay, Bella, uhm, Ms. Swan, uhm, Bella." She stuttered and settled on Bella when I gave her an exasperated look.
"Bella, you have a client named, James Everett?" Edward asked slowly.
"Yes, why?" I asked curiously.
"I'll tell you everything later," he said while I nodded.
"I'll help you close the office," I told Bree and faced Edward. "You should wait at the parking lot. Did you bring a car?" He nodded. "Then, I shall follow you to the hotel in my own car. Wait, how about Mr. Flynn?"
"I have brought my own, Ms. Swan," Mr. Flynn interjected.
"Oh, alright," I guided the men to the elevator. And then, I went back to Bree to help her.
…..Bella…..Edward….Forever…..
"See you tomorrow, Bella," Bree waved as she approached the taxi.
"See you tomorrow, Bree. Bye," I waved back to the girl in the now moving vehicle.
I walked to the parking lot where Edward was waiting. I saw him leaning against the all too familiar silver Volvo, talking with someone in his phone. I walked towards him and waited until he finished his conversation.
After a few moments he shut his phone and was surprised to see me standing beside him. "Sorry, Bella. It was just business going on." He shrugged.
"It's fine. Mr. Flynn left already?" He nodded. "Oh yeah, you still drive this Volvo?" I asked.
He laughed loudly. "Yeah. You thought I'd drive another car if I already have my own baby?" Then he seemed to remember something. "Bella, about that Everett guy, well, I kind of know him."
"Really? That guy was accused of embezzlement. Can you believe his own mother sued him?" I shook my head in amazement.
"Let me guess, he sold their home to a guy without the mother knowing, who was the true owner," Edward pronounced.
I gaped at him. "You're the 'guy', aren't you?" I asked him.
He looked at his feet as he nodded.
"Tell me everything when we get home later."
"Where do you live now?"
"I bought a house here in Seattle. I still have Charlie and Renee's home in Forks but I only visit it once a month."
He didn't get a chance to ask further for I was inside my mother's Ferrari (Yeah, I used it.) He went inside his own car and drove to the hotel he was staying at.
After checking out and putting all his belongings inside his car, I led the way to the house I owned.
My house here in Seattle was very plain but it was neat. I happened to have a client who wanted her house sold. I looked at it and actually fell in love with it. The location was also great that is why I bought it.
I parked at the driveway and Edward did the same. I opened the front door first before helping him carry his things into a spare room. Lucky I have one.
I rushed to the kitchen after that to cook.
After a few moments, I was finished with my work and I proceeded to set up the table. I caught a glimpse of something moving in the living room. As I put the food in the center of the table, I walked to the living room and found Edward looking at the pictures on the shelf.
"I thought you're packing upstairs." I moved to his side and looked at the picture he was studying. It was a picture of my high school graduation. Renee asked Angela to take the picture of the three of us. I was wearing a yellow graduation robe that hid my blue cocktail dress and I was holding my diploma proudly while Renee and Charlie were both kissing my cheek.
"I missed your graduation," he sighed sadly.
"You're like a father," I accused him teasingly. He glared at me but his eyes were clearly teasing. "And for the record, I also missed yours. Come on, dinner's ready." I pulled one of his arms, which were resting behind him and pulled him to the dining room.
"I felt seventeen with you again, Bella," he chuckled.
"Same. Only I'm fifteen," I told him as I let go of his hand and sat in my usual seat. He took the seat across from me.
"How were Charlie and Renee? Where are they?" Edward asked as we blessed our meal and we were now eating.
I stopped eating and kept my breathing even as I answered quietly. "Th–They died in a car accident."
He was quiet before taking my hand in his and said, "I'm sorry, Bella. I wish I was here for you at that time."
"It's okay," I mumbled. "The accident happened when they were travelling for my graduation. This was their gift," I lightly touched the necklace that I often removed. "And a bunch of freesias. If only…" I stopped talking and the tears that were threatening to spill made its appearance.
"Stop it. If I didn't know you better than anyone, I wouldn't have guessed what's going on in that pretty head of yours. You're blaming yourself for something you have no control of. It's nobody's fault, Bella." His voice faltered in the end.
I nodded mutely, too emotional to speak. We finished dinner and after a little fight over who's doing the dishes (he won, of course.) We were in the living room. He was telling me about the real events of the embezzlement case. I was right about James lying. I called him and told him about how I was quitting his case because of some family problems.
"I hope you're in good health, Bella," he said seductively before ending the call. He was the sole client who used my first name without me allowing it.
"Hmph," I said as I slammed my phone shut.
"He's pretty deceitful," Edward commented. He was amazed when I told him James Everett's own mother sued him as well. Further proof that he was a fraudulent man.
Edward admitted that his trial will take place tomorrow afternoon and I told him that it will all be easy since he's innocent. I told him what to say and what to do inside the court and after putting some additional information in my laptop; I went to bed and easily fell asleep.
I woke up the next morning to the sound of my alarm clock. I headed to the shower after making my bed. When I stepped out of the bathroom, I smelled something ravenous coming from the kitchen. I went down and saw Edward cooking breakfast. He was still undressed for the day.
"Good morning," I greeted reaching for my mug in the shelf and made myself coffee.
"Morning," he greeted back. "You also wake up at this hour?"
I nodded and took a sip of my coffee before sitting on a chair. He placed a plate before me. "Thanks. Hmm, this looks good. Where did you learn to cook?"
"Before I went to college, I experimented around the kitchen and well, who knows I can cook?" he chuckled as he took a sit next to me.
"This is awesome!" I exclaimed as I took a bite of the omelet he made.
"You mean, I am awesome," he made a gesture towards himself.
"Yeah, right," I allowed and asked, "Do you know what to say later?"
"Yes, ma'am," he saluted like a good soldier.
He excused himself and showered for the trial later. I did the dishes and grabbed Wuthering Heights, the book that Edward bought for me almost fifteen years ago and lounged to the sofa to read.
After a few moments, I felt someone sit beside me and said, "You still have that?" His voice was seriously shocked.
"Of course. It was your gift, I would protect it always," I shrugged. There was a moment of silence before his arms encircled my waist. My heart started to beat furiously.
"What would I do without you?" He asked from behind me and I felt him kiss my hair. I wanted to turn around and know if it was really his lips but I noticed the time.
"Come on, Edward. If we wanted to make a good impression to the judge, we must leave now."
He sighed and pulled away and I inwardly frowned at the loss of contact. Huh? Why did I feel like that?
I agreed to let him drive his Volvo and just like I remembered, he opened the door for me. Within minutes, we were at the district court. I saw Mrs. Everett at the entrance and she shot me a death glare. I sighed and gently shook my head.
We were seated at the right side of the court and we both waited for the judge to come out.
"The court is now in session. Mrs. Flora Claire Everett against Mr. Edward Anthony Cullen who is accused of trespassing on a private property. Prosecutor Franziska von Karma and Defense Isabella Marie Swan, your opening statement, please," the clerk announced.
Von Karma stood up and said in her strict voice, "I assure you that the defendant will be found guilty. Perfection is in the von Karma blood." She bowed and took her sit while I refrained rolling my eyes.
"She's so stern, Bella. Is she always like that?" Edward asked. I just smiled. I stood up next and said, "The defense promised to tell the court the truth and only the truth."
The court continued its normal proceedings. I pointed out how the case of James was somehow related to this case and I saw von Karma's perfect façade fade slightly.
After a five minute break, the court had reached to a decision.
The clerk of court stood up from his place and declared, "The court has reached to a decision. Mr. Edward Anthony Cullen is found…" he trailed off and I felt Edward stop breathing next to me. I chuckled, whatever the decision is, I'm sure Edward was innocent…
A/N:… Slight cliffhanger. Sorry, I'm feeling kind of evil today…
So… review, if you want an immediate update!