Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.
AN: Special thanks to my beta, toocute24. She's the best!
Chapter 10
BPOV
It had been two months since the masquerade, since my engagement was announced, and since I had left college. After our little intervention with Edward, Alice and Esme had gone off on a tangent to plan the big day. I couldn't have cared less, especially since it wasn't exactly the wedding that I had pictured when I was younger.
I was sitting at the desk in the study going over the books for Carlisle, when the door suddenly flew open. Not wanting to hear anything else about seating arrangements, floral designs, or train lengths, I didn't bother to look up.
"Alice, I don't want to hear anything else about the damned wedding preparations. I've told you what I expect, now get the fuck out and let me work!"
"Good to know, Bella."
My head snapped up and I stared at my fiancé as he walked toward me.
"Sorry. Your sister is driving me nuts."
Edward laughed and I started at the sound. I wasn't used to this carefree Edward. I was waiting for the old him to reappear. It wasn't something I was anxious to see.
"Sorry. If it's any consolation, she's doing the same to me." I watched as he flopped into the chair in front of the desk. "I don't get it. It's a wedding…a forced one at that."
There it was. It may have just been a wedding, but it was the only one I was going to have. I didn't say anything to him after that; I simply smiled and went back to my figures. We sat silently for so long that I almost forgot he was there. As I was going through the backlogs, I noticed something that seemed off. I pulled up the same file on the laptop and again on the desktop. The discrepancy was different each time. Someone was skimming.
"Um, Edward, I think you should take a look at this," I told him while keeping my eyes on the numbers before me.
I felt him before I heard his voice in my ear. "What am I looking at?"
"Okay, see this here?" I pointed to the first set of figures. They were supposedly from a week before. "Then this one…" I turned to the next screen. "Its time and date stamp is the same as the other. Then there is this one." I handed him the papers on the desk. "Same time and date."
"Mother-fucker…" he hissed.
I watched as the wheels started to turn in his head. Gone was that carefree man from earlier and in his place was a ruthless mob boss.
I turned away from him and picked up the phone that was in front of me. When the voice on the other end was heard, I spoke. "Carlisle, we have a problem."
~~LWaC~~
CPOV
I looked over all of the information that Bella had compiled and then took a deep breath. "Bella, I need you to go back over all of the account information. Go back all the way to where your father stopped. I know it's a lot, but I have to know when this started."
Bella nodded, and I watched as she and Edward shared a glance. I never expected that this little arrangement would actually work, but their behavior toward each other had changed since the ball. Edward was gentler with her than he was anyone else. If I didn't know better, I would think that he had feelings for her.
"This is going to take some time, Carlisle. May I make a suggestion?"
"Sure."
"I think that you need to do a more thorough background check on anyone that has been brought in since around the time that my father was killed. That might be a way to flush this person out faster."
I nodded. "Edward, get Peter working on that. If he needs help, you can ask Emmett. I need Jasper for something else."
"Okay, Dad," Edward agreed, then pulled out his cell phone to get the ball rolling.
"Bella, let me know as soon as you find anything else."
"I will." She smiled and then went back to work. I wasn't going to regret this decision at all. Bella was going to work out perfectly, and with her and Edward together, we would be near unstoppable.
EPOV
After I made my calls and got Peter to work, I turned to Bella. She was already concentrating on the screens in front of her, and I could hear the printer going behind her. The humming was the only sound in the room. I stood back and just observed her for a minute.
"You know you're really creepy when you stand there and stare at me."
I chuckled. "Sorry." I walked over and got in her line of sight. "Do you have any plans this evening?"
She looked up at me and shrugged. "No, I was going to be working on this."
I nodded. "How about you let it go for the night and let me take you out?"
Bella leaned back in her chair and studied my face. I wondered what she was thinking.
"You want to take me out?" She squinted her eyes and crossed her arms, looking at me curiously. "Why?"
"Bella, we are going to be married in two weeks. Don't you think that we should at least attempt to get to know one another? All you know of me is the little boy that used to torture you, and all I know of you is…well, nothing." I grinned. "Plus, I think that it would be a good idea for us to be seen in public, together."
"We have been seen."
I waved my hand dismissively. "I don't mean for wedding plans. I mean intimately. Just in case King is watching us. They haven't made a move and I don't like it. I don't understand what they're waiting for."
Bella finally nodded and looked at me with a grin. "Fine, but I want dinner and a movie."
I laughed. "Done. I'll meet you in the foyer at six."
She nodded and I left the office to go make reservations and to find out what to see. Once plans were made, I went to my room and tried to relax.
~~LWaC~~
I was waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs at a quarter to six. I faintly heard a door close upstairs and looked up to see her walking toward me. Her dress was green, hit just above her knees, and fluttered gently with every step she took. Her hair was in waves and flowed down her back like a waterfall. She was stunning.
"Close your mouth, Edward," she teased me.
I swallowed. "Sorry. You look stunning."
I watched the color wash over her face. "Thanks."
"Shall we?" I held out my hand for her to take. I was surprised when her small fingers wrapped around mine. Perhaps we could make something of this after all. Only time would tell.
BPOV
I wasn't prepared to see him waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs, especially looking like he did. He was wearing black slacks and a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up, showing off his muscular forearms. I shook the lustful thoughts off and decided to tease him instead.
Once we were on our way to the restaurant, a silence descended upon us that I wasn't sure how to break. I wasn't sure I wanted to, either, but once we reached our destination, I definitely had something to say.
"Edward!"
"What?" He grinned and helped me out of the car.
"This is too much." I gripped his hand. "This is one of the most exclusive restaurants in the city."
He laughed. "I know. I pulled a few strings to get us a table. Just enjoy it."
I sighed, but followed him inside. I watched as the hostess undressed him with her eyes the minute we walked up to the podium.
"We have a reservation under Cullen."
"Of course. Would you and your…" I watched as she looked me up and down, "…sister like a booth or a table?"
Edward didn't hold back his laugh, but I squeezed his hand and shut him up. "I'm not his sister, Sweetheart, I'm his fiancée. We would like a table." I leaned toward her. "Make it a secluded one," I whispered.
Edward kept quiet, but grinned at me as we were led to the table. I grinned right back at him as he held out my chair for me. I was ready to see what else the night brought.