A/N:
Small warning; this chapter might shock some of you!
Title: The Perfect Partner Program
Author: MarieCarro
Beta: EdwardsFirstKiss
Pre-reader: brwneyedgrl01
Genre: Angst/Hurt&Comfort/Romance
Rating: NC-17
Summary: The summer of 2005 was the summer that changed Bella Swan's life forever. Sent to Ohio by her mother to attend a school for debutante girls not quite up to par, she meets Edward Masen, an apprentice. But is that really all he is? AH
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter Word Count: 2, 838
CHAPTER 9 A HIDDEN AGENDA
The steps of his sneakers were barely audible in the empty marble hallway as he made his way toward the office at the very end. Once in front of the door, he didn't bother to knock. Instead, he let himself in and when the occupant behind the desk gave him a disapproving look; he challenged her with a look of his own.
Esme Cullen sighed and placed the papers she'd had in her hand down on the tabletop. "Where have you been? I sent a message asking you to meet me yesterday," she said with a hint of annoyance coloring her tone.
"I was busy doing the job you gave me. If you want me to do it thoroughly, I can't be at your beck and call and leave as soon as you call for me. She would have gotten suspicious," he replied with poison lacing his smooth voice.
The pair stared at each other angrily until Esme directed her eyes in a different direction and sighed again with frustration. "I always question why I continuously choose you to do this for me."
"Because you know I'm the best," he said arrogantly and leaned back in the chair he was sitting in. He crossed his legs and smirked at the older woman.
"No, Edward. What I know is that you still don't have permanent work and these jobs I give you are your only income," Esme retorted.
Edward chuckled humorlessly. "I hear you've been talking to Dad again. The old man sure loves to unload on you."
"I can't say my brother's calls top my list of things I enjoy, but as long as I keep bringing you back here, I guess I'll have to endure them."
He hummed uninterestedly. "Sure. Why did you want to see me, anyway? I doubt it was to vent about Dad calling."
Esme remained silent for a few seconds before answering. "Renée wants a progress report."
"After three days? Your old BFF is rather impatient, don't you think?" Edward said with a frown.
"She listened in on a phone call Isabella had with Charles last night. She called rather late and explained it was because she had been in town with a friend. Charles didn't ask anything since he assumed it to be one of the girls here, but Renée figured out it had to have been you."
A grin spread on Edward's face, and it looked nothing like the crooked smiles he'd given Isabella the night before. "Yes, I took her out to dinner," he said.
"And?"
"And what? You want me to give you a detailed minute by minute re-telling of what we did?" he asked with a rude attitude. "You want to hear all the dirty details?"
Esme narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "What do you mean by that? Have you done anything sexual with her?"
He snorted. "I wouldn't call it that. I believe it was the most chaste kiss I've ever had, so don't worry. Isabella Swan's virtue is safe from me for the moment."
"But you kissed?" Esme asked for clarification. "How did Isabella respond?"
Another smirk. "I was the one who had to pull away."
Esme hummed and wrote it down in a notebook. "That's good progress. Anything else?"
"She has willingly shared most things that she feels are positive in her life. How she looks up to her dad, and that her best friend means the world to her. She has yet to mention the Carter boy, and she's tight-lipped about Renée."
"Why do you think that is?" Esme continued to write in her notebook and didn't look up at Edward when she fired off her questions.
"Probably because we just met a few days ago. I don't think she distrusts me, per se, but those two things are her heaviest baggage, so I expect it will take a bit longer for her to tell me about them."
"Do you think she likes you yet?"
Edward smiled widely. "I'm quite certain she's already falling for me. My act has been immaculate. She doesn't suspect a thing."
Esme shook her head with obvious caution when she finally looked back up at her nephew. "I know you're good at what you do, Edward, but don't get arrogant. Not with this case. It's not like the others. Isabella is a lot more intuitive."
"She is, and a hell of a lot more intelligent," he agreed. "But she's still sixteen and incredibly naïve. All I had to do to convince her was force a small blush and tell her that she's the most beautiful girl I've ever seen." He got up from his seat and made his way toward the door. "I've already found her Achilles' heel, so don't worry about me not doing my job." He made a mock salute. "See you around, Mrs. Cullen," he said and left the office with confident steps.
{=A=}
I closed my eyes and tried to shut off my mind in order to relax and get some sleep, but it proved to be difficult. All I could think about was Edward and the kiss we had shared the night before. It warmed me to my core just thinking about it.
I didn't know him too well, yet, but there had been an instant attraction, and that wasn't how I usually was. I wasn't the girl who fell in love at first sight, and although I was nervous about what it all meant and doubted it would end well at the end of the summer, it felt as if I was supposed to let all of it happen because it would eventually lead to something good.
I had never connected with another person the way I had with Edward. He brought a confidence out in me that I often had to force and sometimes hide behind. With him, it was effortless, and I was certain Dad had heard the giddiness in my voice when I spoke with him over the phone.
I rolled over on my side, but that didn't help. I was still wide awake with my heart beating hard in my chest, and I kept touching my lips with the tips of my fingers. I could still feel the ghost of his mouth on mine.
All of it was just a bit too good to be true when I really thought about it. What were the odds that when I felt like I had hit rock bottom, this guy, that turned out to be everything I could ever want, shows up in my life at the most unexpected place ever, and on top of that, he wants me as well?
The screen on my phone was lit up, soundlessly alerting me that I had received a message. The clock read past midnight and I checked my inbox to see who had written to me. The message was from an unknown number and I opened it to see what it was.
Open your door. I have a surprise for you.
I frowned in confusion and wrote back: Who is this? I think you have the wrong number.
It's Edward. C'mon, Bella, open your door.
My heartbeat quickened, and I immediately threw my covers away to get out of bed. I was almost by the door when I looked in the mirror to check that I didn't look too hideous, and I was grateful I did because it made me realize that while there was nothing wrong with my appearance, I was only wearing a thin tank top, underwear, and no bra.
As fast as I could, I pulled on a pair of cotton shorts and a sweater over my tank to keep my small, underdeveloped boobs from being the first thing to say hello when I opened the door.
I cracked the door open a tiny bit and right away saw Edward standing outside with a mischievous smile. As happy as I was to see him, I was also confused about why he was here in the middle of the night.
"What are you doing here?" I whispered and cast a glance down the hall to make sure no one was there to catch us. I doubted it was allowed to have late night visitors. "And how did you get my number?"
He shrugged somewhat sheepishly. "I might have online stalked you a bit, but I'm not a creep, I promise," he said with a soft smile.
I smiled back. I couldn't help it. "That's exactly what a creep would say," I joked. "I might regret it later, but I believe you. Still doesn't answer why you're here, though."
He held up a portable DVD player and a bag of candy in response. "I haven't been able to stop thinking about you all day. You have been so busy with lessons, we haven't had the chance to talk, and I was hoping you'd want to watch a movie with me?"
As cute as I thought he was, it was still strange he had waited until it was this late. "Edward, it's in the middle of the night," I said, pointing out the obvious.
The smile fell. "I'm sorry. Were you sleeping? I mean, that's why I sent the text. If you hadn't answered, I would have known," he said, and he looked so apologetic it made me feel like I was a douche.
"No, no," I hurried to say. "I was awake. I couldn't sleep."
He wiggled the DVD player a bit in front of me. "Sounds like movie night is exactly what you need."
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly as I still hesitated. Talking with him at daytime wasn't a problem; going on a date with him in town where there were lots of other people wasn't a problem; but having him in my room, in the middle of the night, completely alone, was a whole new level of intimacy. There were no proper seats either. I only had my bed and the thought of having him sit on it when I had been thinking of him while under the covers just fifteen minutes earlier made me feel strangely self-conscious.
Still, he was looking at me with those heart-melting eyes, and I wanted nothing more than to invite him in. And so, I did. I stepped aside and opened my door wider, and his reactive smile was blinding as he passed by me through the door.
I closed the door and turned to him. The bedside lamp was the only light on in the room, and the soft, yellow glow made the room feel smaller and even more intimate. It made me nervous, and I started babbling. "This can't be allowed, can it? I know I said I break rules at home but this is different. What will happen if we're caught? Will you lose your apprenticeship? Will I be kicked out? Will they c—"
"Hey, hey, hey," Edward interrupted me softly and took a gentle hold of my shoulders. "It's most definitely not allowed, but I'm not gonna tell anyone. Are you?"
I swallowed hard and shook my head.
"Okay, then," he said and moved my loose hair away from my face and behind my ear. Then he leaned away to grab the movies he'd brought with him. "You said your favorite movie is Catch Me if You Can, well I brought my favorite with me. We don't have to watch it, but I strongly recommend it." He held up a DVD case where the cover looked like a frozen New York, and the title said Day After Tomorrow.
"What's it about?"
He gaped at me. "You haven't heard of it?" When I shook my head, his eyes lit up with excitement. "Now we have to watch it."
Half an hour later we were slouching on my bed next to each other, the DVD player sitting between us. The surrounding atmosphere wasn't any different, the bedside lamp was still on and we were, of course, on top of the covers, but there was a buzz in the air that I felt all over my skin. It made it difficult for me to focus on the movie and I found myself constantly glancing at Edward.
He caught me looking once and smiled when I blushed. "What?" he asked.
"Nothing," I replied, thoroughly embarrassed.
With a shrug, he let it go, which I was very grateful for, but only a minute later, with his eyes still on the screen and the movie, he spoke again. "Tell me something."
"What?"
"I've been wondering since you told me that you're not here willingly—"
I sighed. "Edward, I told I'm not ready to talk about that."
"No, no, I wasn't gonna ask about … that," he hurried to say and looked away from the movie. "I was actually wondering what it is you hate so much about this life. From an outside point of view, it doesn't seem too bad."
"Are you kidding me? All of it is just shallow crap. Presenting an image of yourself that's not the real you. Looking down at people who are less fortunate because the donations and charity are all to make you look better. It's never about helping. It's about the gossip and to climb up the ladder until you're on top," I spewed out.
"Well, when you put it like that..."
"Believe me; this life is far from as beautiful as it looks on the outside."
It was quiet for a moment, and then Edward took a gentle hold of my hand. The warmth that radiated from where our skin touched spread through my entire body and settled in my chest. I had never imagined that a simple gesture such as hand holding could make me feel this way. My fingers tingled, and I didn't know what to do, but he didn't care that I was suddenly tense and nervous. "Then why don't you turn it around?" he asked.
"What do you mean?" I was confused about whether he meant our hands clasped together or something else.
"Socialites have a lot of connections, don't they? They know a lot of important people and have a lot of influence, right?"
I frowned as I thought about. I knew Dad knew a lot of important people, like the Mayor of Seattle and even the Governor of Washington, but that was because he was the Commissioner. Renée wasn't personally involved in politics, but she was on a first-name basis with a few politicians and their spouses. "Yeah, I guess. What about it?"
"I just know that there are people out there who would give up a limb for that sort of influence and platform. Maybe, instead of fighting what you were born into, do the best you can with what you were dealt with. Turn the trend around and make being a socialite about helping people. Like you want."
"Huh?" I said as I thought about it. I was a bit embarrassed that I had never thought of that myself, but he was right. "You know, sometimes you make me feel so unintelligent," I mumbled, but he heard it and immediately let go of my hand to cup my cheek and turn my head so that I faced him.
"That was absolutely not my intention. You are very intelligent, Bella. Don't doubt that. But you are young and it's not always easy to see things from all sides; especially not when it is your life. I just wanted to help you with a bit of insight, that's all."
We looked into each other's eyes, and then my mind filled with thoughts of our kiss, and I wanted another. My eyes automatically looked at his lips and then back to his eyes, and I had to swallow down the surge of nerves I felt building in my chest.
Edward picked up on the very obvious signs I gave him, and he didn't need to ask this time before our faces closed in on each other. This kiss wasn't the completely closed-mouth kiss of our date. It was still very innocent compared to kisses in the movies. There was no tongue, but it had still evolved. Our lips moved together, and when Edward's hand fell away from my cheek, it traced down until it settled on my waist where he squeezed.
My face burned with the blood that had rushed up there, and my hand gripped Edward's bicep hard.
Then, he suddenly pulled away with a soft groan and I instantly missed the physical connection when he removed his hand from my waist. "I should let you sleep," he said and got out of my bed, but as he collected the DVD player and movies, he smiled. "I'll see you tomorrow."
I mutely nodded and looked after him until he had closed my door behind him.
A/N:
Don't hate me!
Yes, Edward isn't the sweet guy he's been around Bella. It's an act because he's been hired by Renée. He does, however, give Bella some valuable advice in this chapter, but she is clueless to his real personality
What do you think/hope will happen now that you know?
Sidenote: some of you had suspicions after chapter 7 that Emmett knew what was going on … well, let's just put it like this, it isn't Edward's first time at the Academy ;-)
I'll see you on Monday!