A/N: Outfits for The Opening are on my profile! Enjoy!
Isabella Cullen
I took a deep breath and knocked on Edward's door, I needed to find out before we announced it tonight that we were finally going to start a family.
The door was opened by Jasper wearing nothing but a towel, while drying his hair with another. Jesus I might have been a lesbian but I admit to getting turned on by the sight of the man before me, he had been a god in high school but the years had only added to his perfection.
"Enjoying the view there, darlin'." Jasper drawled in his southern accent.
I glared at him knowing he did that deliberately. "Where's Edward?"
"He's making breakfast." Jasper said stepping to the side letting me in, I almost ran back out when I saw Edward was wearing as much as Jasper. "Delicious, isn't it."
I bit back a moan and closed my eyes trying to control myself. I should be grateful that these two were the only ones capable of turning me on. "We need to talk."
Edward looked up with a knowing look on his face. "About the baby."
"Among other thing's." I admitted walking over to the island and taking a seat. "You know Alice and I are announcing it tonight at the grand opening."
"I know."
"Well I wanted to make sure that you were still in, and that you were ready for what's to come. Alice and I have talked and we're willing to put off telling people until you were ready." I said taking his hand in mine. "The last thing I want is to make you feel like we don't want you to be the father of our baby, because we do. But I also don't want you to feel pressured if your not ready."
He took my hands in his and looked into my eyes. "I'm ready, and I'm committed to this. I love you and I'm so sorry that I've created doubt because of my stupid unthought through actions. I want this baby as much as you and Alice want it."
"So when we announce it tonight you'll still stand with us?"
"I will."
I stood from the stool and pulled him into a hug. "I love you."
"I love you more." He chuckled pulling back. "When are you heading to the restaurant?"
"I'm leaving at 5:30, but you don't have to be there till 6:30." I explained with a wide grin.
"Did you pick up Alice's gift?" Edward asked going back to preparing breakfast.
I nodded as Jasper joined us now fully dressed. "Why does Alice need a gift?"
"It's Alice's birthday today." I explained with a sigh.
"Oh..." Jasper said trailing off confused probably wondering why no one had mentioned it.
"Alice doesn't like to make a big thing of her birthday, it brings back to many bad memories of her family." I explained with a sigh. "Every year her birthday comes around and only a handful of people are brave enough to give her a gift."
"Did you get her anything?" Jasper asked Edward.
"I've giving her a baby." Edward laughed shaking his head. "Even if I did get her something she'd just pay me back by giving me a raise or letting me go home early."
"Rosalie came around this morning and took her for a spa day, Rose used the excuse of needing to look fresh for the opening tonight. Alice knew better."
"I bet she did." Edward smiled leaning on the bench. "So what did you get her?"
"You'll just have to wait and find out." I grinned knowing she'd love it even though I'd spend a good three hours trying to get her to accept it. But unlike some I was very persuasive and even more stubborn then she was. "Anyway I should get back home and call mum to make sure dad is still coming tonight, I will be pissed if he blows me off for some hospital emergency."
"I'm sure he wouldn't blow you off on purpose, darlin'. He's a very important man."
"And I'm his daughter, and this is a very important night for Alice and I. If dad's not there I can't go through with telling everybody, the whole point of waiting for the grand opening is to tell our family and closest friends."
"Relax Bells, I'm sure Carlisle will be there. He knows tonight is a big deal for more then just the opening." Edward said shooting Jasper a look. "We'll see you tonight."
I sighed and nodded kissing his cheek. "Alright, thanks."
Back at my apartment I sat on the couch and called my parents home phone only to get the answering machine. I sighed and pulled the phone from my ear dialling my fathers office number, I got his assistant Mrs. Cope.
"Chief Cullen's office, Shelly speaking."
"Mrs. Cope, it's Isabella Cullen. I'm chasing my father, is he available?"
"Oh Isabella, Darling how are you?"
"I'm fine, Mrs. Cope-"
"That's wonderful, I heard your opening your restaurant tonight-"
"Yes, but-"
"You must be so excited."
I pinched the bridge of my nose and took a deep breath. "Thrilled, can you give a message to my father."
"Of cause dear, he's currently in surgery at the moment."
I sighed in defeat knowing trying to get a hold of dad while he was at work was like winning the lottery. Rare. "Just tell him to call me, it's about the opening tonight."
"Okay dear, have a good day." She said before hanging up.
I laid on the couch throwing my arms up over my eyes before a knock sounded at the door. I groaned and stood from the coach and tripped over Poodle. Poodle was the poodle, but she was also mine. She was quite and shy, and she spent most of the time lounging around with me.
Which is why she was unofficially my dog, while Alice had her three overly excited Yorkie's who chased each other around the apartment like they were on crack. I leaned down and picked Poodle up. "Sorry baby girl, here sleep up there so you don't get trampled on." I said putting her on the couch. The three Yorkie's were all at the door wagging their tails. "Get back, go on!" I scolded causing the three trouble makers to run out of the hallway and hiding behind the wall with their little heads poking out around the corners.
Nobody could say they didn't have character.
I opened the door expecting someone from the building or even Victoria but instead I found a young lady around 19 or 20. She was standing there nervously looking around the hallway as if someone was going to come out and eat her alive.
"Can I help you?" I asked gently seeing that she was nervous.
Her head spun around and she looked at me with surprise. "I- I'm looking for Mary- or Alice."
I chuckled. "Their the same person, honey. She's not here at the moment, but she shouldn't be to far off if you want to come in and wait."
She nodded biting her lip and followed me through to the kitchen shutting the door behind me. "Do you want a drink or something... I'm sorry I didn't catch your name? Mine is Bella by the way."
"Just water, and it's Cynthia, Alice is my sister. Are you a friend of Alice's?"
I almost dropped the glass of water in my hand when she'd said that. "Cynthia..." I said and for the first time I took in her appearance, she had a completely different style from Alice yet somehow similar. But apart from her fashion sense she had long brown almost black hair, with the same blue-ish grey eyes as Alice had. She was petite like Alice but more rounded but not fat, she was a beautiful girl.
"Yes?"
I smiled placing her water in front of her. "Sorry, I didn't see it at first but your a lot like your sister."
"Really?" She asked with a bright smile. "Nobody really talks about her back home."
I sat down beside her feeling sorry for her. "I'm sorry."
"You didn't answer my question before."
I looked at her leaning back against the back of my chair. "I'm Alice's girlfriend."
She nodded with a slight smile. "I thought so."
"You don't have a problem with it?"
"Not at all, I never did." Cynthia said with a sadden look on her face. "Alice wasn't just a sister to me, she was my best friend, my idol. I wanted to be just like her growing, everybody loved her. When she came out to me when I was 8 I didn't care, not because I didn't know what it meant but because she was still my big sister."
"Then why now after all these years?" I asked not able to help wanting to protect Alice. Cynthia didn't look like someone out to use or hurt someone, but then looks can be deceiving.
"After my parents sent Alice away it was like she never existed, like she'd died, all the photos of her were thrown out- the ones I couldn't save anyway- her room was turned into a second attic and the door was always locked. Whenever I brought her up my mother would leave the room, and my father would send me to my room. For years it was like that until I got sick of asking, and I started to search for her and I found out that they sent her to some mental hospital- I tried to write but my letters were returned, my parents nearly flipped when they saw the letters."
"I'm sorry, I can't begin to imagine how that must've been for you."
"I love my sister, and if it wasn't for facebook I doubt I would've ever found her. Again I tried to send her emails but I could never take that last step and send it. I didn't know what to say, and if I did would she even care, she probably thinks I abandoned her. So I facebook stalked her, she didn't make it easy because she doesn't have many pictures."
I chuckled knowing this was true. "She's a little sceptical about facebook."
"What she like Bella?"
I smiled thinking of how to describe Alice. "Alice is the most giving, kind, loving, caring, and amazing woman I've ever met. She can walk into a room and it's like all your troubles just drift away and your left with a sense of calm and hope that it'll all work out." I smiled looking at Cynthia. "She's understanding and is always there for her friends when they need her. She's also very forgiving."
"You love her, don't you?"
"I've been in love with Alice since the first time I laid eyes on her." I grinned running my fingers through my hair. "We've nearly been together 4 years."
We were interrupted on our Alice conversation by the sound of Alice, Rosalie, Victoria, Mom and Renee's laughter as they filled into the apartment.
"You girls looked like you had fun." My mother commented in the hall.
"We did, it was actually kinda great." I could hear the happiness in Alice's voice. "Thanks for the birthday gift, baby girl."
"Don't mention it, I'm just glad you accepted I was sure I'd have to get Emmett to throw you over his shoulder and drag you out." Rosalie laughed.
"Has Bella gone to the restaurant?" Renee asked seeming disappointed.
"I'm in the kitchen!" I called out looking at an almost green Cynthia. "Relax kid." As I said this the girls entered the kitchen with bright smiles.
Alice walked into the kitchen practically glowing. "You will not believe the day I've had-" Alice trailed off before her eyes landed on her sister. "Cyn?"
Cynthia stood looking at her sister with tears in her eyes. "Hi."
The others stood behind her and looked questioningly at me, I stood from the table and began to gesture for the others to follow me into the living room but Alice caught my hand in a death grip. "Stay, please." I looked at Alice and saw the pleading in her eyes, I nodded and my mother led the others out of the kitchen to give us some privacy. "What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to see you." Cynthia said before picking up her bag off the floor. "I brought you a gift?"
Alice stared at her with tears in her eyes. "I don't want your gift..."
"Alice." I whispered. "Give her a chance."
"Why!" Alice cried turning to me. "Your my girlfriend, you don't take her side, you take mine."
"I'm not taking sides." I said raising a hand to wipe her wet cheek. "But she's your sister, she flew all this way to see you and yes it's taken 11 years but she has her reasons Alice. Give her a chance, and then if you still can't do this then I'll do whatever you need me to do, okay?"
Alice sighed and looked back to her sister. "Why now, Cynthia?"
"I would've come sooner but I had school, and Mom and Dad would never allow me to travel let alone travel to come and see you. I got a scholarship for college right here in Phoenix and I knew you lived here so I took the scholarship even though I knew you probably hated me anyway. I want my sister back Alice, and I'm willing to do anything."
"Why didn't you just email me then?"
"What was I going to say! Hey Alice it's your sister, long time no see, I hear Mom and Dad sent you to a mental hospital. That must've sucked. But I want to get back in touch?- I didn't know what to say!"
"Anything would've been fine!" Alice yelled at her sister throwing her arms up. "We could've worked from 'Hi' but instead you never tried!"
"Of cause I tried!" Cynthia yelled back at her. "I wrote you letters every single day."
"I never got them."
"That's because mum and dad had the hospital send em back." Cynthia cried out. "I swear I tried, Alice. All I've ever wanted was my big sister back, that's all I want!"
Alice pulled her hand from mine and walked to her sister wrapping her arms around her as they cried in each others arms. "I've never hated you, Cyn."
"Really?"
Alice nodded her head looking down at her. "All I ever wanted was my little sister."
Cynthia smiled and threw her arms around Alice's neck. "I love you, Alice."
"I love you too, Cyn." Alice smiled pulling back before looking her up and down. "Your going to need a dress."
Cynthia looked confused. "A dress for what?"
"Bella is opening her restaurant tonight, I'd love it if you came with us." Alice asked hopefully.
Cynthia nodded her head. "I'd love too."
"My back up dress will fit her." I said when Alice looked at me.
"Thank you." She said and I knew it was for more then just the loaning of my dress.
"Go try the dress on, I'll talk with the girls and have Victoria set up an extra seat at our table."
While Alice and Cynthia were in our room trying on the dress I was hounded with questions.
"Was that Alice's sister?" - Renee - "Why is she here?"
"Is she a lesbian?" - Victoria asked a little to keen. "Can I put her next to me at the table?"
"Are Alice's parents coming?" - Mom - "What's going on, Bella?"
"Yes that is Cynthia Brandon, she's here for college." I answered Renee before moving onto Victoria. "I doubt it, and put her between Alice and Rosalie. Not at this point in time but their youngest daughter is a college student so their no doubt going to be paying a visit in the future. Right now I have no idea what is going on but we have 3 hours before opening and dad is still in surgery."
"He'll make it to the opening, Bella. Don't worry." Mom said kissing my forehead running her fingers through my hair. "Now sit so I can do your hair."
I sighed and sat down on the kitchen stool. "Victoria?"
"Yes, Boss?"
"If you so much as try and convert Alice's little sister you'll find your pussy and your mouth sewed shut." I threatened glancing at her from the corner of my eye. "I mean it."
"Touchy." She laughed sitting on the kitchen table. "I'll behave if she does."
"Victoria." I growled in warning. "Make yourself useful and call the restaurant and let them know we have an extra person to feed."
"Already taken care of." She said flipping her straightened red hair.
Opening Night.
"So what do you think Boss?" Victoria asked as we arrived to the second floor of the restaurant where the private V.I.P guests will be eating with us.
I felt myself smiling proudly, I had done it. "It's perfection." I whispered before turning to her. "How are we for time?"
"The first floor opens for business in 30 minutes." Victoria said looking down at her iPad. "V.I.P guests arrive in an hour, the wine will be ready for when they get off the elevator and the band is setting up now so there will be dancing and good music to boot. Everything is on track."
"Thank you, Vic." I said taking her hand in mine.
She seemed surprised but smiled and squeezed my hand back. "I'd do anything for you, Boss."
I chuckled and nodded before I dropped her hand. "Before the guests arrive I wanted to ask you something." I said as the waiter brought us two glasses of wine.
"Okay?"
"After tonight I will be taking a break from the club and restaurant."
Vic nodded her head. "I know, and let me be the first to say it's about fucking time. You and Alice could use a week to yourselves."
"It's going to be longer then a week, Victoria."
"How long we talkin'?"
"Awhile." I said improvise on awhile. "I'm taking Alice away for 2 weeks for a holiday, and when we get back we're going to start a family. Eddie's going to be the father."
"Oh my god!" She gasped. "Your serious?"
"We're announcing it tonight." I admitted. "Your job at LL is as manger, but basically your my personal assistant."
"I don't mind." She grinned.
"I know you don't, but your capable of more then ordering flowers and gift baskets for my girlfriend. I know I said once the restaurant was open you could go back to the club, but I'd like you to be the manager of Luscious Lips and Abbassare. You'd be the Big Boss, you'd have the power to fire and hire whoever you pleased and you'd be the one with the assistant and your own office."
"Your serious?" She whispered in disbelief. "B-but the club- this restaurant- it's your dream, all your blood, sweat and tears went into it. What if I destroy your all your hard work."
"Oh I'd be pissed if you did." I grinned teasingly. "You have amazing work ethic, Vic. I wouldn't ask you to take on the responsibility if I didn't believe you could handle it."
"So your just going to hand it all over to me and become a family woman?"
I chuckled at the look of distaste on her face. "Basically. But I'll still be round, I'll stop by the club every couple of weeks, and I'll be around the restaurant as often to check on things and do paperwork. You'll be running the show but you'll still be working for me. I expect a monthly report for the club and restaurant and I'll have the final say when it comes to the more important deals."
"You speak like I've already agreed."
"Haven't you?" I grinned knowingly. "This is a great opportunity, Vic, you'd be crazy to knock it back."
"I'd get my own assistant right?"
"Yes."
"Do I get to pick her?"
"I guess so." I said giving her a knowing look as I shook my head. "No sleeping with the help, Vic."
She gave me a cheeky grin. "You did."
"That was different." I defended shamefully.
"I don't see how." She grinned knowing she had me pegged.
"Okay, okay!" I said throwing up a hand. "But I don't want to have a sexual harassment suit on my hands, I mean it. If your going to sleep with the help let them approach you."
"Don't they always." She said cockily.
I rolled my eyes. "You came to me."
"You wanted it, don't pretend it wasn't fun while it lasted." She grinned before she straightened up and held out her hand. "Your going to be a great Mom, Boss."
"Does that mean your accepting the offer?" I asked sliding my hand into hers.
"It does, besides I love my fucking job." She laughed pulling me into a hug. "Thank you for picking me, I know you must've had a lot of other people to choose from."
"I did." I lied not wanting to make her already big head even bigger. "Don't make me regret it."
"You won't." She said before her phone buzzed. "The first guests have arrived downstairs, I'll head down and make sure thing's are going smoothly."
When she began to leave I called out to her. "Vic?"
"Yeah Boss?"
"What we had was a lot more then just fun." I smiled raising the glass in a silent toast.
She smiled and nodded her head before she turned and got on the elevator. I sighed and walked over to the small balcony by the dance floor.
It was still hard to believe how much had changed in the last 4 years.
"Oh my god!" I heard Renee gasp from behind me.
"This is absolutely beautiful, I can't believe how good it all looks." Mom said in awe.
I turned expecting to see Mom on Dad's arm only to see Charlie with a woman on each arm. "Where's Dad?" I asked feeling a knot in my stomach.
"He's at home on his way, he got caught up at the hospital." Mom explained kissing my cheek before pulling back to look at me. I was wearing a floor length black silk-crepe. Silver and clear sequin, crystal and bead-embellished sheer tulle yoke with a knee hight slit on the right side of my knee. "Oh honey you look- stunning."
"Thanks, Mom." I said as the waiters appeared out of thin air with wine and a bottle of beer for Charlie.
"The place was packed downstairs, kid." Charlie commented taking the beer.
Hearing this brought on a wave of relief. "Really?"
"Oh yeah, I'm real proud of you Bells." He smiled charmingly flashing his bright whites.
Soon enough guests and guests were filling the room and it was just after 6:30 that Emmett, Rosalie arrived with Emmett's daughters Adele and Diana.
His ex had dropped them off at Rosalie's place a few days ago and told Emmett she was going on a cruise with her boyfriend. The girls weren't the only children here tonight so they'd have plenty of kids to play with.
Edward and Jasper arrived next with Alice and Cynthia. My guys looked so very handsome in their suits and Alice looked amazing in her floor length red silk halterneck and open back dress. Her tits looked great. Cynthia was wearing my back up dress which was a black maxi dress that dropped to the floor and was see through lace passed the knees.
"It's beautiful babe." Alice grinned walking up to me.
I smiled wrapping my arms around her giving her a kiss. "Nothing compared to you, you look fantastic."
"Thank you." She grinned.
"What are we chop liver?" Edward asked raising an eyebrow.
Alice giggled and turned to them wrapping her arm around my waist. "You look hot." I grinned at the two of them before looking at a blushing and nervous Cynthia. "That dress looks better on you then it did on me."
"I doubt it, you look amazing, Bella." Cynthia said before looking around the room. "This place looks like something out of a magazine. It's beautiful."
"It does." I agreed. "If you'll excuse I need to speak to Alice."
They nodded and Jasper and Edward led Cynthia over to the bar, I hope they knew she was only 19. I pulled Alice out onto the crowded dance floor. "What is it?" Alice asked wrapping her arms around my neck.
I looked down at her and couldn't help but kiss her once more. "I talked to Vic about taking over LL and Abbassare."
"And what she say?" Alice asked with an excited and hopeful spark in her eyes.
"She accepted."
Alice squealed throwing her arms around my neck, I laughed hugging her back before I set her back on her feet and she pulled back looking up at me with concern and guilt. "And how do you feel?"
I raised my hand to her cheek. "I'm not giving up anything, Alice. I'm gaining a whole new life, a new future with the woman and mother of our children."
"No regrets?"
I grinned at her. "Absolutely none."
After that the first cause arrived singling everyone back to their seats, I looked across the table and saw dad's seat empty. Halfway through main he finally made an appearance.
"I'm here!" He said kissing my forehead when he came out of nowhere. "I'm sorry honey, I was just leaving when the hospital rang... anyway I'm here now."
I sighed and nodded. "I didn't expect you to be on time, I get it."
He looked guilty and took a seat beside Mom, apologising some more to her. Victoria walked up to the stage and got everyone's attention. The waiters were coming and clearing the tables and bringing out the fresh wine.
"Before desert is brought out the owner of Abbassare would like to make an announcement." Victoria said before clapping her hands as Edward, Alice and I stood from the table. "Please put your hands together for our good friends Isabella Cullen and her better halves Alice Brandon and Edward Mason."
Vic handed me a microphone and moved to the side of the stage.
"Before I go on with the announcement, I want to thank everyone who played a part in tonight. I especially want to give a huge thank you to my mother Esme, and Victoria Louis." I said gesturing to Vic who stood on the side. "Without you two I don't think I would've been able to get this restaurant up and running so fast. So thank you both."
"Tonight is about a lot more then just the opening of the restaurant, tonight is the beginning of a new chapter in our lives. After tonight I will be taking a break from the business side of my life and leaving LL and Abbassare in the very capable hands of Victoria." Confusion and shock spread around the floor and I knew this would come as quite a shock. "Alice and I have been together 4 years, the best 4 years of my life and as most of you know Edward and I have been friends for a very long time, he is my best friend in the whole world. The announcement tonight is that the three of us will be starting a family, Edward is going to be the father of our future child."
Gasps all around the room echoed around before Alice took the microphone from my hand.
"We waited for tonight to share the news because we wanted to share it with our closest friends and family, as most of you know the last couple months haven't been easy but with the help of each and everyone of you we managed to get through. So we thank you from the bottom of our hearts."
A/N: I hope you all enjoyed The Opening, i decided to end it on a good note. You'll see Carlisle, Esme, Renee and Charlie's reactions in the next chapter. So i know some of you are asking where the story could possibly go from here, well let me just tell yous now. LL is far from being over we have a whole lot more in store for our couples. Also in case you didn't read the AN up the top the dresses for The Opening are on my profile. Check Em out! Now add me to your favourites, put me in your alerts and most importantly review me your thoughts on LL and I'll be sure to give you an LL fix as soon as i can.
Much Love O.U.G