BPOV
CHAPTER TEN
The past couple of days, Edward practically had me under lock and key. Well only in the sense that he wouldn't allow me to leave the bed except to go and use the bathroom. He didn't mess around when I was sick. However the moment he was called away on a business call I took my opportunity to go and explore.
I felt like Belle in Beauty and the Beast when she was exploring the castle. Unfortunately I had no idea where Edward's west wing was so I hoped there wasn't any rooms I wasn't supposed to go in.
I didn't get too far as the first thing that still had me pretty curious were the glass walls. Part of my bedroom wall was glass and it stretched into the bathroom which I have to say is rather unnerving when you wanted to go to the bathroom or take a bath. What could be on the other side? Were there cameras? Edward, wouldn't watch me in the bathroom while I sat on the toilet would he?
Don't get me wrong there were drapes in my bedroom and a light cloth drape in the bathroom if I needed to close it but these walls were the biggest mystery of all.
I only made it a couple of feet out of the door to the room I was staying in, to a cozy sitting area before I pressed my face up against the glass wall and tried to strain my eyes to see what was behind it.
"I don't think Katherine particularly likes cleaning fingerprints and face prints off the glass." Edward had startled me.
"Sorry." I apologized abashed.
"You shouldn't be out of bed." Edward replied.
"Edward, I can't take one more second being in a bed no matter how comfortable it is. I'm fine. I think the sickness has past." Of course right then I couldn't help the reflex action of turning my head while I sneezed.
"The one thing Katherine hates more than fingerprints on the glass." Edward smirked as I looked at my snot residue which splattered all across the glass wall.
"I'll clean that." I cringed.
"No, leave it. If you really are feeling up for a little tour…" Edward started.
"I finally get to see behind the glass?" I asked way too excited.
"Maybe. If you're good. Follow me."
Edward took me around his vast mansion. Even though it was built in a rectangular floor plan; I still didn't think I would be able to find my way back to any of the rooms. So far he had shown me a gym, his office, a whole game room, a library and an even bigger media room then the one he had downstairs. We weren't even through half the house when I became hungry.
"Come on, just tell me what you think is behind the glass. I won't laugh if you're wrong which I can already tell you; you will be." Edward was smug and I hated when he was right.
"Some kind of cameras?" I guessed.
"Nope." He laughed.
"You said you wouldn't laugh." I huffed.
"Sorry, I apologize. Go on."
I thought for a minute.
"Does it have something to do with…sports? Like some kind of an arena or court?" I only guessed that because I couldn't help but notice how much Edward had changed physically since I last saw him.
"No."
He was much larger and beefed up. I'd be lying if I didn't say that he looked rather good. I looked into the glass wall and saw my reflection and I hadn't changed one bit. I still looked like my old nerdy self from high school.
"Hey, what happened?" Edward stopped walking and I snapped out of it.
"Uh…nothing. What?" I was confused. What were we talking about again?
My stomach growled saving me from answering further as I grasped my stomach.
"Lunch should be ready. Ready to see what's behind the glass wall?" Edward smiled like a kid but he also had to take a breath which was something he used to do when he was nervous.
"Yep. All ready."
I forgot about my reflection wanting to put that on the back burner for now.
We walked down the stairs to the main entry way. I hadn't even noticed the first night when I was here that there was a beautiful etched glass door directly opposite from the main entrance door.
This was the entrance to the vast rectangular room that was looked down upon from nearly every room in this house.
"I was thinking maybe we could have lunch in here." Edward said with his hand on the gold door knob. "But first you have to trust me."
Boldly I walked up to him. Of course I trusted him.
I heard him open the door and through the door I could see absolutely nothing. Even inside it was still pitch black.
"Give me your hand." Edward took my hand and walked into the dark room. He carefully guided me however this is me we're talking about. I could barely walk without tripping when I could see where I was going.
I went stumbling into Edward's strong arms and he stopped my knees from hitting the ground.
"That's your fault. You know how clumsy I am." I huffed.
Edward laughed a little. I still couldn't see anything so I gave a small yelp when I felt myself being picked up. "I got you."
"Again with the picking up. Just because you have new muscles doesn't mean you need to keep showing them off." I grumbled.
"New muscles? I've had these muscles for some time now and I wasn't aware that you thought I was showing them off. I didn't realize you noticed them so much." He teased.
"Please just put me down already." I complained. I was embarrassed that I ever said anything. I didn't want Edward thinking I was checking him out…okay maybe I was checking him out but Edward is way out of my league so it wasn't like anything could ever happen there.
He finally set me down on my feet and I took notice of the squishiness my socked feet felt.
"Okay." Edward sighed.
"Edward…" I said cautiously still wondering why we were in complete darkness.
Suddenly I heard a noise overhead and watched as I could see the sky begin to appear. The sun slowly lighting up the whole area as the shadow descended down the glass walls and finally to the ground.
I was surrounded by flowers. Hundreds and hundreds of flowers. There was a large circular grass circle we were standing in and a path that led from the front glass door. With the light from the sun I could now see through the entire house.
My heart was racing. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I stood with my mouth open completely in awe.
"Edward…" I whispered.
"Do you like it?" He asked softly.
"It's like our…uh…the meadow."
Every glass wall had a rich wooden frame. I could see into the house and I wondered what it must look like being in the house and looking out. I imagine just as impressive.
"I designed this. I wanted to try to recapture the meadow we spent so much time at. It's not as great as the original…"
"This is truly the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." I cut him off. "I can't believe it. How did you even accomplish something like this?"
"I'll tell you more over lunch." Edward went over and picked up a big blanket and spread it out.
"Are we having a picnic?" I asked with a smile on my face.
"So much better than the picnics we used to have." Edward replied.
When we would head out to the meadow when we were young we usually bought along a couple of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and a small snack size of chips each. Katherine walked in carrying a large tray and Edward ran over to take it from her as I went to sit myself down.
Edward placed the tray down between us.
"My goodness. This is a feast." I remarked.
"Yep and this is just the first tray of food." Edward replied.
"Edward, I can't eat all this." I replied looking at the tray which had for each of us a small salad, bowl of soup and some type of filet steak with veggies and a potato.
"Sure you can. I'm not going to make you race me. Take your time. Plus there's still dessert."
Overwhelmed I began with the soup. Edward started telling me about his design process for this house and how he went through several drafts before being content with the overall structure. He always knew he wanted to bring a piece of home with him but also wanted this house to be a haven from the notoriety he had gained.
Being successful and powerful at such a young age, Edward had quickly found that he became a target. People would try to use him. He was unable to have a successful relationship with any woman in the past because he was constantly worried about the motives of the women.
"So mostly I have tried to stay to myself. Of course I did my duties for my company and would go and attend functions when needed but I bought and designed this place so I could come and unwind and have no fear of anyone causing me problems while I was within these walls."
"But now you have to deal with me…"
"Bella, I don't have to deal with you. I have waited for so long for you to come here. I have thought about you every step when I went to design this house." Edward confessed.
"If you truly designed this house while thinking of me, you would have made it one story and the walls padded knowing of my clumsiness." I tried to dismiss his thoughtfulness.
"Stop joking. Tell me what you think. I have waited to hear whether or not you like this house." Edward pushed.
"But why? I mean…we only knew each other for less than two years. I just don't understand why you would care of my opinion. I have been out of your life for far greater than I have been in it."
"So you're telling me that in the past nine years…you never thought about me?" Edward asked solemnly.
I thought about him every single day. I thought about him even when I shouldn't have. I would think about him when I was cleaning. Imagining myself in a home we shared waiting for him to get home while I made dinner. I even imagined him when Jacob would climb on top of me and hold me down while he fucked me.
"Of course I thought of you." I whispered. Images haunting me of what I just thought about. "I love your house. You did a really great job. Even your office at Cullen International is beautifully designed."
"Thank you. It means the world to me." Edward said.
It started to get cold as the sun slowly moved west. I started to rub my arms.
"It's getting kind of late and we have work tomorrow…" I stated.
"Oh…yeah…I guess." Edward looked upset at the idea of having to go back to work.
"Why so sad. I imagine being in your position at work would be fun. I mean so better the high school, right? People have to listen and respect you." I teased.
"Well for the first time in years…I don't want to go to work. We should take a week off." Edward suggested.
"I can't afford to take a week off. I only have thirty dollars to my name. Speaking of which, what happened to my clothes the first night I was here. I left them in the sink…"
"Oh, well…they were pretty beat up. I just…I was just going to get you some new clothes." Edward replied.
"Wait, what do you mean? You still have them right?" I asked a tad excited.
"Uh…no…I think Katherine threw them away. I will buy you new clothes, Bella. The pants had holes in them and the shirt was torn…"
"Edward, why would you do that? My last bit of money was in those pants. You didn't even ask. What's the matter with you?" I jumped up from my spot on the blanket and started to hurry out of fake meadow.
"Bella." Edward called as he scrambled to get up. "Where are you going? I'm sorry."
"Where's your trash? I'm going to get my pants back." I snapped.
"Is this just about the money? I will pay you back." Edward pulled out his wallet. "How much?"
"No. I…you don't have to do that. Just show me where your trash cans are." I demanded.
"Stop it, Bella." Edward cut in front of me and grasped my arms to keep me from walking. "What does it matter if I give you the money? I took the money, let me pay you back."
"It's the principle. I don't need your money. I don't want you to buy me clothes. I don't want you to buy me anything. I already owe you more than I can ever repay you."
"You're talking nonsense. You don't owe me shit. Here. Take it. I don't care. I have more money than I ever fucking wanted." He pushed his wallet into my hands and stormed off leaving me on the entrance steps to fake meadow.
I walked into the entry way and placed his wallet down on a table. Edward and I could always get into some rather heated matches and afterward I always felt guilty and then scared. Back in high school after we had become friends a part of me was always worried that after one of these fights he would never come back or worse what if he managed to become popular and leave me behind. Stupid thoughts but I thought them.
I walked over to his main entrance door and punched in the code he gave me; six-one-zero…
The code.
June tenth two thousand and…four. It couldn't be a coincidence. I carried that date around in my head for far too long. No way Edward would make the code to his house the very same date I had my abortion.
I paused there not able to punch in the four, just lost in thought.
"One little fight and you're leaving?" Edward said from behind.
"Six-one-zero-four." I turned to him.
"The last day I ever saw you." He whispered.
Oh… that's right.
"Sorry, I…that date." I said with tears in my eyes.
"I'll change the code." Edward replied.
"No. It's fine. I should be reminded."
"Bella, you can't keep torturing yourself like this. It's not healthy. I'm not upset with you. I don't blame you and don't you think if you really believe that you should be punished for what you did…Jacob shouldn't be the one to punish you. If you really believe that; I should be the one to take that right."
"You're right." I whispered. I wronged Edward. Not Jacob.
"Then as punishment you have to not go out that door, Bella. Face me. No running from me anymore."
"That's not really…how this works." I mumbled.
"I'm not going to abuse you. I would never hit you. I want you to get over that idea this instant. If you really want to make this up to me; I want you to go and see Dr. Harper. Sit and talk with her. She has helped me immensely."
Another person who wanted me to talk. Why all the sudden were people trying to get me to open up about my past. The past nine years no one gave a damn about what my life was like. Now all the sudden in the course of a week that's all people wanted to focus on. Couldn't I just get on with my life already?
But I owed him. I owed him more than I could ever repay…even my own life wasn't worth much.
"Fine." I replied.
"Come upstairs with me." Edward asked.
I looked back at the door once more and sighed. Edward walked over to the stairs and waited for me. Together we walked up the twelve steps to the landing of the second floor. Now that it was dark once again I could barely see out the glass walls.
"It's a shame you can't see fake meadow all the time." I said softly.
"Fake meadow?" Edward shook his head. "I could put lights up in there I guess."
"No. I like it the way it is now. Kind of like a gift that you get to open every morning."
We reached the room I was staying in and on the bed were two different outfits.
"I don't want you to get upset with me. I pulled two different things to choose from for you to wear tomorrow. There's a whole closet full of clothes behind you but I don't want to fight with you so hopefully in time you will come to accept them." Edward explained.
"Also there are some essentials in the chest of drawers and if you can please just accept this for now, I promise with your fist paycheck I will take you shopping and if you want you can blow the whole check on whatever will make you happy."
"Edward…thank you but I don't want to use you. I just want to try and figure out how to do something on my own…something I can be proud of."
I truly did appreciate everything that Edward was doing for me but I was at someone's mercy for so long that now all I wanted in this world was to be independent. I would never get over owing Edward and every nice thing he did whether it was providing me with food or lodging or now clothes was one more thing on the list I had of things I needed to repay.
"It's getting late and I think it would be best if you have your heart set on going to work to arrive a little early since I…we didn't go to work on Friday. Good night, Bella."
Edward didn't even wait for me to respond before he left. I think I hurt his feelings. I would try to find some way to make it up to him tomorrow.
I climbed into bed after setting aside the two clothing options. My curiosity was driving me crazy, telling me to look into the closet but on the other side of my brain it kept telling me to be afraid.
While I was sick Edward would stay with me all through the day, leaving only to handle a couple of calls or go to the restroom. But at night he would leave usually after I fell asleep. Now I just stared up at the ceiling unable to count one damn sheep.
After an hour I kept telling myself to just snap out of it but no luck. I needed something. Deciding to creep down to the kitchen for a glass of milk was my only option. The house was much creepier and darker at night. There were no lights just the moon peaking through the windows. I clung to the walls and railings to get myself down to the first floor but now came the tough part. Remembering the path to the kitchen and getting there with hardly any lights.
I may have stubbed my toe at one point and ran my arm into wall but I managed to make it. There were an electronic panel to the left of the kitchen door; one of them must turn the lights on. Everything in this damn house was hooked into these electronic panels from what I had seen of Edward when he would go and press upon them.
I hit the first button and I could hear the roof begin to retract over the atrium. Worried the noise would wake Edward I pressed the next button hoping that it would stop it. Instead a voice came out over an intercom and said, "Alarm deactivated."
Shit.
The roof was still retracting and now there was a beeping noise that sounded like it could wake up the neighbors.
"Shut up, shut up, shut up." I whined.
Where the fuck are the damn lights I can barely see anything.
The lights turned on with the third button I pressed and I exhaled happy that I could at least stop working in the dark.
I could hear the clearing of a throat come from behind me.
Edward was on the other side of the kitchen next to a regular old light switch.
"Having issues?" he asked.
"You're stupid panel over here wasn't turning on the lights." I growled.
"Sorry, I haven't been able to update my technology. You'll have to settle for the old-fashioned light switch right behind you on the other side of the wall." He teased.
"I'm going to bed." I huffed. I was so embarrassed.
"Bella, wait." Edward called. "What are you doing up? It's really late. Don't you think you should be sleeping?"
"I don't need a babysitter. Geez." I rolled my eyes. Edward folded his arms across his strong….hard…chest. I think I was actually turning red. Cut it out Bella. Stop looking at him like that. I looked away and tried to play it off that I was just pissed but Edward just stood there staring at me.
"Why do you keep looking at me like that?" I snapped agitated.
"Tell me." He coaxed.
Tell him what? I couldn't tell him that I thought he may have physically grown even more attractive over the past few years. I cringed.
"Bella, did you want something? Was there a reason you were in the kitchen at eleven o'clock retracting my roof and de-activating the alarm?"
Oh… that's all.
I breathed a sigh of relief and brushed it off, "glass of milk was all."
"Okay, this way." He headed over to his impressive refrigerator and pulled the milk out. He grabbed a glass and poured some for me.
"You're acting weird." He said.
"Just…can't sleep." Well not a complete lie.
"Hope this helps."
Doubtful
I drank my milk and Edward reset his control panel and then made sure I was able to get back up to bed without incident. He left me at the door and mumbled a 'good night' before rushing off back to bed.
He was being weird. I couldn't understand what had happened to make him act so weird.
The next day wasn't any less awkward. We both sat in the back of the car as Seth drove us to work. I didn't know exactly how this was going to work out. Somehow I didn't think that it would be a good idea for Edward and I to work so close together especially in a subordinate role I played. But if it didn't work I would be sure to ask for a transfer straight away.
"Uh…here." Edward awkwardly handed me some cash. "Just to make up for throwing out you money the other night. You said thirty, right?"
I took the money and nodded. I didn't have a purse to put it in and the dress I wore didn't have any pockets. I could do the hoe thing and stuff it in my bra but the dress I was wearing was high collared and I didn't think it would be appropriate so I just held onto the money with my hand. I would barrow an envelope once we got to the office.
I said a good-bye and thank you to Seth before departing the car. I never did properly thank him for saving me a few nights ago. I should do that.
Edward walked at a brisk pace the moment we entered the building. People would constantly stop to try to say their good mornings.
"Edward…Mr. Cullen. I don't have my key pass. I left it at Rosalie's" I said as we approached the elevator.
We entered the elevator and no one would join us. Edward turned to me the moment the doors closed.
"You don't have to call me Mr. Cullen. I would prefer if you didn't."
He looked completely different. In that moment there was no trace of my best friend and suddenly I wondered if this place brought out a different side of Edward.
"Are you upset with me?" I asked.
"No. Just…have Alice take you down to human resources to get you another card." He huffed and then turned away from me.
The elevator door opened and he was off like a race horse. I followed behind trying to at least keep pace. Alice rose from her desk when she saw us.
"Alice, I need a minute." Edward barked and then walked in through his office doors without saying even a good morning. Alice looked at me for a couple of seconds.
"Now." Edward yelled from inside his office and Alice sprang into action.
Jessica was there already and was sitting back at her old desk…my desk.
"Didn't think you'd be back seeing how you missed your second day of work. So you and Edward? What are you some kind of relative?" She asked.
A relative would make some sense I guess. I shrugged my shoulders and decided to go toward the kitchen and grab myself some coffee. If I was going to have to put up with a grumpy Edward, I would do so caffeinated.
I was still carrying around my thirty dollars so I stopped by the supply room to pick up an envelope. When I came back around to the desks, Alice was still gone. I wasn't sure what files I needed to start working on and at the moment I had nowhere to even sit. I decided I best go and sit in the corner where Alice had put Jessica.
A few minutes later Alice finally came out the double doors and looked over to find me in my corner.
"Edward said you needed a new key card. Come on." Alice said.
I got up and followed her. The second we got into the elevator it was like a piñata had exploded. Alice was asking a thousand questions a mile a minute.
"Whoa, just….calm down." I said.
She took a breath, "So…what's going on? You just left. No call. Nothing. Rosalie feels just awful. Please say you'll come back. You don't have to stay with Edward."
"I know. I…I don't know what I am going to do right now. I told Edward I would stay but…I need some time to think."
"So…what were you and Edward? I mean I still don't really know what the hell happened on Thursday."
The elevator door opened and we continued walking on toward HR.
"We…used to be best friends. Back in high school. We were social outcasts together. I hadn't seen him in over nine years." I confided.
"What happened that would cause your friendship to end? I mean why didn't you remain friends?"
Alice was entering no go territory.
"It was senior year…you know how that goes."
"Were you two…ever…" she asked and I didn't know what to say.
"We were just good friends." I didn't want to tell her and honestly it wasn't her business. I mean I really liked Alice but I didn't feel like telling her about the time I got her boss drunk and then begged him to fuck me and oh yeah…then I killed his baby.
She could sense that I didn't want to share anymore so she dropped it for now.
"Well, I'm really glad you came back to work. I wasn't sure if you would. I'd like to take you for lunch if that would be okay."
"Of course. I'd love it."
We got my card all figured out and went back upstairs.
Alice and Jessica got back into it over the seating arrangements while I stood awkwardly in the corner. It was a whole morning ordeal. Finally I think the squabbling became so much that Edward came out.
"What the hell is going on?"
"Thank god, Mr. Cullen, Alice is trying to send me to the corner. She thinks she's the boss of me." Jessica whined.
"Alice is the boss of you. If she asked you to move your things to the corner then I suggest you do so."
"I don't need the desk. If it makes her happy to be there, really she can have it." I spoke up.
Edward's eyes flashed to mine.
"It has nothing to do about what anyone wants. It's about efficiency and productivity. Jessica will take the corner table and Bella will go sit in the desk." Edward snapped and then turned back toward his office.
I couldn't believe his attitude. What the hell was wrong with him?
I marched right through his office doors and decided to confront him.
"Is this how you treat people all the time? What happened to you? You never acted like this back in high school."
"That's because we're not in high school any more. I now run a multi-billion dollar company."
"Oh wow a multi-billion dollar company?" I sang sarcastically. "Do they pay you well because if I were you, I might want to take some of that multi-billion dollar money and buy some manners." I spit.
"When we are at home you are my friend but here you're my employee so start acting like it." Edward growled.
I can't even remember when I was so upset with a person before. I could feel my skin becoming hot and for the first time I wanted to hit him. I mean like really hit him.
"You're right, Mr. Cullen. My apologies, sir." I bowed and then turned to storm out.
"Bella, wait. Come here." He ordered.
"I'm going on my lunch break." I snapped. I slammed the door behind me as I exited.
Okay, that was unprofessional.
"Alice, are you ready?" She looked at me in shock but snapped out of it to gather her purse.
Edward managed to open his door and practically growled at me. "Bella, I told you to come back. I want to speak to you."
"I said I was going to lunch. I'm pretty sure that in the great state of California there is some kind of law that permits me to do so. Right, Alice?" I looked over to Alice for confirmation. She nodded her head.
"She's right." Alice confirmed.
"I don't want you going out with her." Edward ordered.
"Hey, what's wrong with me?" Alice whined offended.
"You're starting to remind of Jacob." I could immediately tell that my words affected Edward. "You don't get to tell me what to do, who to eat with, or how I choose to live my life." I turned to Alice, "Let's go."
I wouldn't hear any more from Edward. I couldn't believe how he was acting towards me. Was this what I had turned him into? Was all of this my fault? Edward Masen was always so kind to me and others. There were times when he would get upset or mad but he never treated anyone like they were inferior.
As Alice drove us out from under the skyscraper that was Cullen International I finally started to wonder if I had made the right choice for Edward nine years ago.
AN: Thank you for taking the time to read and review. Happy Hunger Games for all my HG friends. Can't wait for tonight!