Hey folks...back again :D I have to shout out to Amazingragdoll who is not inlt one of my best reviewrs and completly awesome...but also rec me the best stories around. Thank you :D Enjoy...unore the few spelling mistakes...my stupid spell thing broke and I was too tired to go through everything :( Lazy...I know. So let me know Elliexxxxxxxx
I sat in my office, listening to the clock on my wall tick by slowly. It had been a day already and still my head was swimming.
"Mr. Cullen...A Mr. Blake here to see you." My secretary said through the intercom on my desk. I pinched the bridge of my nose and sighed. This had better be fucking good. Carlisle, my father, was away and as such it was my duty to oversee the mob business for this week. Carlisle was whisking my mom away to Isle Esme for some "relaxation", I may be in my twenties but come on. Thinking about what my parents "relaxation" involved was enough to have my stomach churning. Dad had told me that his main guy from the Italian branch was flying over. Conrad fucking Blake. His name was really familiar but I just couldn't place it right at this moment in time. My head was reeling. I still couldn't get Isabella out of my head. I think I made a complete ass out of myself in front of her. I had drank so much Jack that night, it wasn't healthy. I just needed some fucking tension to be released. After the dinner with Isabella, after she slapped me, I was so pissed. I knew she had every right to act the way she did. And I didn't hold it against her. I had acted like some jealous teenage boy who couldn't believe his girlfriend was even looking at another guy. Of course, we weren't teenagers and Isabella wasn't my girlfriend. Sigh. Wait...no sigh. No fucking sigh. I was bad and she was...well she wasn't as bad as me. she could do so much better and I'm betting Mike was a better bet than me. fucking loser. Argh...Cullen stop. I sounded like a little girl bitching about the pretty girls in school. Knock, knock. I snapped my head up to the door just before it opened. In walked who I assumed was Conrad Blake. He was wearing an expensive looking black Armani shirt. He looked good, even for my standards. He took a seat in front of me and dropped a blue folder onto my desk.
"Conrad Blake, I assume. It's a pleasure." I muttered. Not really caring about business formalities. My father and the rest of his mob business were essentially drug dealers. They just looked better and lived in massive houses in the middle of Italy with more money than sense.
"Edward Cullen." He said. I narrowed my eyes at him. I really didn't like his attitude. I had enough to deal with, without his snarky attitude. I pulled on my game face and got straight down to business.
"I take it all the shipments are coming in alright? Any problems we should know about?" I asked as Conrad pulled out the bank details for the last shipment.
"Nope, it's all running really smoothly from our end." He replied. This was going to be one hell of a long meeting.
After well over an hour of one syllable answers from Conrad I decided to end the meeting. Going against my better judgment I decided to make small talk with him
"So...you sticking around here long?" I asked, hoping he'd take the bait and make nice. He sighed and began packing files away.
"Yeah...I suppose. I have a very old friend living here. So I'll probably stay with her, if she'll fucking forgive me." he laughed. He didn't seem so bad after all.
"Ah...a lady friend I see. Someone special?" I joked. He looked up at me ad for the first time I noticed his blue eyes, something strange was passing through them. He grinned.
"I guess you'd call Bella...special ." I felt my heart stop and my breathing slow. Bella? Isabella? my Isabella? that bastard. That's where I fucking recognized him. He was her best friend. The one she doesn't speak to anymore. And the world gets smaller.
"What? Do you know Bella?" he asked, smirking like the cat that caught the cream. I felt something snap in my hand. I glanced down and recognised my very expensive golden parker fountain pen, split open and lying in half on the desk. My eyes snapped up to his
"Yeah...I know Isabella. She's an employee." I answered, willing myself not to play his little game. He must know something, he's trying to wind me up. For some unknown reason.
"An employee? Well that's okay then. I was afraid she was your girlfriend. That probably would have cause some problems." he chuckled, making it a huge joke. I leaned back slightly in my chair.
"Are you seeing her? I didn't think she had a boyfriend?" I asked, playing my cards closer to my chest. There was no need for me to get riled up. My lawyer had told me that she wasn't seeing anyone and she'd only been in a few relationships. I don't think Conrad counted as one of her relationships. The guy seemed was too arrogant for Isabella. She took no shit from anyone, myself included.
"Nope...we're just old friend. You know, a lot of history between us. We'll probably end up together, I mean her family loves me and I've known her since we were little kids. It's natural." He said, slightly smug. I balled my hands into fists. That asshole. He knew. He fucking knew the way I felt about Isabella. Irrational pangs of jealousy were coursing through my bloodstream. It wasn't natural that he and Isabella ended up together. I wouldn't allow it. Not until I'd sampled her myself. I may have been drunk that night, but I was sober enough to remember giving her my phone number. I had a gut feeling that she'd call. She just had too.
"How do you know she doesn't have her eyes on another?" I asked, pushing the boundaries. This felt more like a pissing contest than a casual chat among business associates.
"Cut the bull Cullen. I'm not a fucking idiot. I knew she worked for you. I met her earlier for some coffee. I warned her to stay the fuck away from you and I'm warning you the same. Got it? Just because your Carlisle's son, doesn't mean you're exempt from getting the shit bet out of you. If you so much as look at Issy again...I'll cut you into small pieces and mail you to your family." He snapped. I blanched. Someone else threatening me? it felt different, out of place. I gazed at him for a moment before replying.
"Blake...I can assure you that no threat is going to keep me away from Isabella, should I feel the need to...taste her. She isn't a piece of property and even if she was, she'd be more mine than yours. She is my employee and as far as I can remember, you're not even friends anymore. So don't come in here, with your hotshot ideas and throw your opinion around. Just because you're my father's right hand man doesn't mean you are exempt from being shot. You're not immortal Mr. Blake. Bullets will kill you." I said in as calm a tone as I could manage. Although it came across as much sharper. I was struggling with myself. Not to lunge across the table and kill him. I'd only ever served beatings to people and I'd only fired a gun twice in my life but I had plenty of men who'd gladly do it for me. We sat there, taking a good deal of time glaring at each other. After a while, Conrad stood up and shook my hand.
"That was an interesting chat Mr. Cullen. I am so Very interested in how you knew who I was and how my relationship with Isabella is, and believe me Edward, Isabella will be ever so interested also. It's not every boss that knows your personal business. Am I right? Regarding Issy though, stay away from her Cullen. She's mine." He said coolly. I looked at him again. a certain fear in my chest. If she found out that I had a background check on her she'd kill me, or worse, she'd quit and I'd never see her again. I stood up and came to stand at the door beside him, leaning in close I whispered.
"And I'm sure Isabella would be ever so interested in why you are a member of the mob? May the best man win, Conrad." I smirked. He sent a murderous glance my way before parting.
"Have a nice stay.!" I called to his retreating figure. Game on. Conrad was a snake in the grass and I was making it my mission to find out what happened between him and Isabella, it would be an advantage.
The rest of the day dragged on until eventually I saw Elizabeth and Emmett slinking in together to open up. I glanced at my watch. Isabella would be in soon.
"Liz! A word please!" I shouted over the music that Emmett had just put on. She walked over slowly, twirling the keys to the elevators around her dainty little fingers.
"Yeah boss?" she asked. I ran a hand through my unruly hair.
"Just...I want you to keep an eye on Isabella tonight. Any funny business and you come straight up to me. got it?" I explained. She nodded but I felt she wanted to ask me something.
"What is it Elizabeth?" I asked, irritated. She smiled slightly, a faint blush spreading over her cheeks.
"Well...it's just that last time, when the shit with those scumbags went down, your retard of a secretary Jessica, basically told us to get the fuck out." She said with a touch of acid lacing her voice. It was obvious there was no love lost between the two. In fact I was yet to meet someone who actually liked Jessica. Except Tanya, my other Bar-maid but then again, they were both little tramps.
"Fucking ignore Jessica. It's in your hands Liz. If anything hurts her, I'll hold you and Emmett responsible. Are we clear?" I snapped. She nodded and I dismissed her at once. Glancing at my watch, I realised that Bella would be here any minute to clock in. It probably wouldn't ease the awkward air if I was the first person she saw in here, so I sprinted up the stairs and returned to my office, warning Jessica to keep her nose out of club business.
I slammed the phone down into the receiver and pressed the intercom button.
"Jessica? send up someone from the bar with the stock lists. I'm about to order." I said into the white intercom on my desk. It was a long night and I could feel my body slowly shutting itself down. I was exhausted. Emmett had told me earlier tonight that Isabella had come in fifteen minutes late. I didn't know why and I was dreading talking to her. It was going to be really awkward, that was if she even remembered last night although I can't remember her being drunk so yep...definite awkwardness. There was a light rap on the door and I was startled back into reality by Tanya walking straight in...followed by Isabella who looked like she wanted to be anywhere but here. Tanya was wearing a strange smile on her face. It was like she was proving something, or winning something.
"You called...Mr. Cullen?" she asked, pronouncing my second name like she was from another country. I frowned slightly, wondering why Isabelle was here.
"Yeah...I wanted the stock lists." I muttered. Isabella looked startlingly close to tears and I couldn't concentrate.
"I'm sorry, but what in God's name is going on here. Why is Isabella with you...nearly crying?" I questioned. Tanya's eyebrows, or what little there was of them, shot up to the high heavens and she fixed me with an innocent look.
"Edward...I...God, I don't want to say this, but I felt you should know. It's just Bella here, was really late into work and then she...was so un-friendly to the punters and then to me...Edward her language was disrespectful. I just feel so bad about this..." Tanya trailed off, pretending to be choked with embarrassment. I rolled my eyes.
"I was aware of her lateness and as regard to the other matter, I'll have a word." I replied, smiling and waiting for her to take the hint and leave the office. Eventually she did, seemingly swaying, her way out. I motioned for Isabella to take a seat and closed my eyes for a moment. Willing myself not to shout.
"Care to explain Miss. Swan?" I asked, sighing slightly. She sniffed and wiped at her eyes slightly. It hurt to see her like that. If there was something that I could consider my weakness, crying women would be it. They were always miserable and they resembled waterfalls, I always felt so helpless. Anything you said to a crying woman was wrong.
"N..no. I'm...s...s..sorry." she hiccupped. I rubbed my face slightly.
" Isabella, tell me please, I will not be angry. Did Tanya...instigate?" I pushed. She needed to let me know what was happening. She blew out a gust of air and leaned back against the chair. Distancing herself from me.
"It's nothing Edward...really. I just had a bad day today. I shouldn't be bringing it into work with me. I'm sorry." She mumbled. I leaned back again and ran a hand through my hand in frustration. I couldn't help if she wasn't willing to open up about her problem. I was a powerful man. I could more than likely help her with her problems. Whatever they were. A girl like Isabella, I couldn't imagine her problems were that big. Maybe it was rent? Maybe it was that stupid, motherfucker Blake. I glanced at Isabella again, she seemed so small and fragile. So unlike the fiery girl who had battled me time and time again for dominance. I felt something pang in my chest. This wasn't normal. I knew that. I shouldn't be feeling these things towards an employee, one that as of yet I hadn't even flirted with. That one feel up at the bar when I was drunk and she was lost, hardly counted. Fuck this situation. It was confusing and I couldn't handle it.
"I am a patient man Isabella but if you don't tell me what is wrong with you in this instant, so help me God...I'll_" she cut me off.
"You'll what Edward? You'll fucking what?" she shouted. Her loud voice a stark contrast of the silent room. I looked at her for a moment.
"Isabella..." I breathed. Frustrated beyond belief. She dropped her head into her hands and I heard her sob slightly. She was shaking. I jumped from my chair and knelt in front of her.
"Look at me Isabella!" I murmured. She didn't and I felt my temper rise. I slammed my hand down against the arm rest of her seat. She jumped, startled by my sudden outburst.
"I said...look. At. Me." I snapped. She swiped at her eyes again and finally her gloriously brown eyes settled on mine.
"It's just...and old friend came back to town. He just...brought some memories with him that I'd rather forget." She whispered. She pulled back suddenly and I realised then that I had my hand on her cheek. Stroking, soothing.
"Wait here, I'll call my driver." I said, an idea forming in my head. She needed to get herself home but I'd be damned if I was going to let her walk home on her own. I knew she really was upset when she didn't even protest. The girl in front of me needed some rest. The beautiful girl in front of me needed some rest. Cullen! My inner business voice snapped. Haven't you heard the term "don't mix business with pleasure", my inner Cullen seemed angry that I was considering Isabella as beautiful. Employee, employee, Complete bitch, mouth like sailor, unwilling to take orders. She was a dominants worst nightmare. Or maybe not...Stop it! There was a crying girl in need and I intended on helping her.
I snapped my phone shut and gently helped Isabella up. She seemed really upset. Even more so than before. She was shivering.
"Shit Isabella. don't you have a fucking jacket?" I asked, seething. It was things like this that made me so pissed at her sometimes. She shook her head. I sighed angrily and gave her my own Gucci black coat, slipping it on her. the jacket completely dwarfed her, in ever sense of the word. But she seemed comfortable so I didn't say anything. I simply led her towards my awaiting car. She seemed completely lost within her thoughts as we sat in the car. The driver whizzing through the streets to her apartment. I glanced at her and blew out a frustrated sigh.
"Isabella….please. Tell me what's wrong. You can't come into work like that and expect me not to be worried." I explained. She turned her head towards me.
"I'm only an employee Edward." she muttered, a little bitterly to my ears. I glared at her slightly. The car pulled up outside and I all but jumped out of the car. Racing to the other side, I opened Isabella's door. She wore a strange expression on her face. Like, she was surprised that I had opened the door to her. I frowned. Was she not used to that\/ hadn't she been in a relationship before? The man was supposed to open the door. I may have only been in one long term relationship, and that woman was a bitch, but I still opened doors for her. Because I was a man and she was a lady and that's how you treated ladies, with respect. She reached into her bag and searched for her keys. With a frustrated sigh, she dropped her bag and began rifling through her little purse. I cocked my head to the side. She lived here? The place looked rundonw, cold and the artwork on the outside of the building, didn't inspire much faith regarding her neighbours.
"Shit!" I heard her mutter. She was getting agitated.I caned my neck slightly and looked up at her on the front steps into her building. She blushed.
"I…..can't find my keys. I'm sorry….Mr Cullen. I'll just walk over to the café across the road and wait for someone to come by. Thanks for the ride by the way and I promise I won't be late tomorrow." she said, her bottom lip slightly quivering. That sight. The image of Isablla, vulnerable, upset, and looking completely defeated by life ade my mind up.
"You'll come with me Isabella to dinner and then I'll escort you home and ensure that you get in safely. It's not safe here and you can't go into a café for_" I glanced at my watch. "I'm, guessing close to four hours." I said suddenly. I heard her gasp slightly.
"Edward….no I couldn't. that's too much…I'll be fine." she stammered. I nailed her with a fierce look and barley held back the growl in my throat. She was fucking getting in tht car if I had to pull her in myself. She seemed to hesitate and then she walked towards the car and sat in. this would be interesting. Another dinner, only this time. There would be no slaps.
So...what ya thinkg huh? Exciting. Yeah...not really. Didnt really like this chapter but I figured I'd post it. Give me review and any re'cs if you have them. Two stories I'd love to rec now are
1) this buried life
2) The handcuff braclet :D REVIEW