Chapter 11
B.P.O.V
The sound system was blaring as Angela and I drove out of the town limits.
"I cannot believe that Edward gave us this car for the weekend!" said Angela happily as she stomped on the accelerator a little more, her hair streaming out behind her as she had pulled the top down.
I laughed harshly to myself. "I can believe it!" I said to her.
Angela had picked me up early this morning in a gorgeous, sleek silver Mercedes convertible. As soon as it pulled up, I knew that Edward had been behind it. As much as I was growing to like him and enjoy being with him, there were certain things that bugged me. Why did he always have to involve himself in whatever I was doing? I could never just hang out or do anything on my own.
And there was the way he always seemed to watch me from the corner of his eye, like he was waiting for me to trip or fall so he could rescue me, always hovering on the sidelines.
I stared out at the scenery lost in my dilemmas.
"Bella, you ok?" asked Angela as she turned the stereo down a notch or two. Her green eyes were creased at the sides as she looked at me concerned.
'Yeah love I'm fine! Just daydreaming!" I said too cheerily. I didn't fool her. I had to distract her or the endless stream of questions would begin.
"So guess who came to dinner last night?" I said smugly.
"Oh my gosh, I forgot Edward was meeting Charlie last night! Gushed Angela. "How did that go?" she asked.
"Oh yeah, that went pretty good, but Charlie said he had a surprise for me, and then guess who comes strolling through the door of the restaurant... Jacob Black and his dad" I said excitedly remembering how good it was to see them last night.
"No way!" said Angela staring at me with her mouth open.
"Hey watch the road!" I said suddenly as the car was drifting towards the centre line.
"Oops sorry!" she said bashfully, as she struggled with the sensitive pedals of the car.
"I can't believe Jacob was there! Is he still as good looking as he was all those years ago?' she asked curiously.
"Oh even better! And he's a pro surfer now!" I said dreamily. Jacob had been my first real crush. He was four years older than me, and at the time I had first met him, he wasn't interested in a 'little kid' like me.
"I remember how obsessed with him we both were! Oh it's so funny looking back at high school crushes!" laughed Angela.
"So when does he leave?" asked Angela curiously.
I laughed at her eagerness. "You want to get a good look at him before he goes?" I teased her.
"Well duh!" laughed my friend.
"Ummmm I think he goes back in a week, Charlie and Billy haven't seen each other in ages, so I'm sure they'll want to catch up and hang out" I said.
"Well maybe you should invite him over for dinner, I'd really like to say hi before he goes" she pouted.
I laughed at her expression. "So what did Edward think of Jacob?" asked Angela curiously.
"Ummmmmm" I paused not quite sure how to respond. Angela bursted with laughter.
"You should see your face!' she giggled. "You look so nervous!" she joked. "Nah I can imagine what Edward would have thought!" she rolled her eyes and looked straight ahead at the road.
I sighed and slouched into my seat. "Angela what do you really think of Edward..." I asked her truthfully, keeping in mind that I hadn't told her everything about him.
"I don't know Bells, he seems like a great guy, I mean after what you told me about last weekend with the sapphires, and the amazing food and the club...he bought Lucy an expensive bracelet, he's helping Anthony with getting a good job...I don't know, I think he's a good guy" she said shrugging her shoulders.
"Do you think he's too possessive?" I asked her cringing in my seat.
"Well maybe just a little, but I've only ever seen him around you at the reunion, I don't know what he's like..." she cut her sentence short, and fiddled with the sound system.
"What?" I asked her curiously.
"Nothing... I just got distracted... anyway don't worry about Edward, we have a weekend full of shopping, dining, drinking, pampering and dancing to look forward to!" she said happily, her tone changing exponentially.
By late afternoon we had finally reached Seattle. The traffic was pretty good and we were driving through the city centre, a map sprawled out on my lap... There was a GPS in the car, but neither of us knew how to use the damn thing.
"Ok, so I think our hotel is the next block over...' I said while turning the map every which way...
"ummmmm we aren't staying at the Travel Lodge anymore..." said Angela sheepishly.
"What!" I said narrowing my eyes at her... "What are you talking about? We saved up for this trip for ages, and we booked at the Travel Lodge" I said suspiciously. The Travel Lodge was a cheap 2 star hotel in the city centre, close enough to all the action at a cheap price...
"So we need to find University Street..." she said ignoring me and staring at the road straight ahead...
"What's on University Street?" I said through my teeth... I swear if Edward is behind this... I thought to myself.
"Ah Ha!" she yelled suddenly, trying to slow the car down and take a dangerous left turn...
"University Street!" she said happily as she sped down the street, her eyes scanning up ahead.
We reached a stunning circular driveway and pulled into the valet section, right out front of the massive hotel...
"The Fairmont Olympic?" I said astounded as I looked at the 5 star building before us. Angela didn't say anything. Definitely Edward...
Angela turned the car off and a woman approached us coming out of the massive glass doors of the hotel. "Miss Swan?" asked the well dressed woman, in her mid thirties. She wore a Fairmont Blazer and pencil skirt and had her hair in the neatest bun I had ever seen.
"Nope, that's her not me' said Angela with a big grin on her face, pointing at me...
"Please follow me ladies" she said politely as the two valet parking attendants opened the doors of the car for us.
"What about our luggage?" I said walking around to the trunk of the car to get our stuff out.
"No Miss Swan, our bell boy's will attend to that!" she said horrified. She coughed lightly and regained her smile. "My name is Louisa and I will be in charge of making sure your stay here is to the highest standard, now as Mr Cullen has already paid in full for the Executive Suites, all we need you to do is to sign in please" she said in a well rehearsed voice. She led us through the stunning, well lit marble foyer and into a small, luxioursly decorated lounge. We signed our names in to a ledger book using gold pens, and I noticed that Jane and Sarah had already signed in.
"Jane and Sarah knew to come here?' I asked Angela in surprise.
"Yeah I called them late last night' she said sheepishly, a huge grin on her face as she looked around the decadent room.
"Refreshments ladies?" asked Louisa as she came back into the room with a serving platter on which stood two glasses of champagne.
We took the champagnes and then followed Louisa through another door, which turned out to be a small private foyer. There was an elevator and only one button that read "Executive Suites" on a fancy gold plate. We all stepped in and Louisa pressed the button to close the doors.
"I will show you to your suites and make sure you have everything you need, you must be exhausted! Did you have a long trip?" she asked politely.
"Not really, we came from Forks" I said non commitedly, examining the dark circles under my eyes in the mirrored walls of the elevator.
"Oh" coughed Louisa surprised, I saw her face flush with embarrassment. I giggled to myself as the poor woman was probably only used to dealing with rich clients who hailed from exotic cities; she probably wasn't expecting a couple of country bumpkins.
We reached the top floor and I realised the executive suites must have meant 'penthouse'. A well dressed Bell boy was waiting in the hall with our luggage for us.
Louisa handed us each a shiny key card that unlocked the double doors. I put mine in, and the little light flashed green. The bell boy opened the doors for us and we walked through.
'Oh my god Bella! Angela!' screamed two blondes as they nearly tackled us to the floor.
"Oh my" I heard Louisa mutter in surprise.
"Jane, Sarah how are you?" I gushed holding them back at arm's length. Jane and Sarah had been good friends of ours from school. As soon as they were able; they got the hell out of Forks and down to California to study and party. They had left Forks as pale, fair haired beauties and had now returned as bleached, sun tanned bunnies.
"Bella, you look great!" gushed Jane. Angela and Sarah were chattering excitedly to each other, I could see Angela eyeing off Sarah's hair, she was probably looking for split ends.
Louisa left us alone and the four of us unpacked and cracked open a bottle of champagne. My worries about Edward paying for the penthouse for the weekend melted away as the champagne started to take effect. We ordered room service and chatted for ages about Jane and Sarah's adventures in California.
An hour or so later, the four of us were intoxicated in our PJ's sprawled out across the several sitting sofas. "So uh Bella, Angela told us about your mystery boyfriend!" giggled Sarah, as she twirled the end of her hair raising her eyebrows at me.
"Oh she did?" I said, narrowing my eyes playfully at my best friend.
'I CAN'T believe he paid for this suite for the weekend... this must have cost thousands!' gushed Jane.
My eyes roamed around the decadent hotel suite. It was very posh, too posh for my liking. Gold trimming and brocade along the curtains, gold tinged wall paper and cream carpet that your feet disappeared into. There were four rooms, each with an ensuite bigger than my living room back home. The bedrooms all connected to the main living area which had a small, marble top benched kitchen adjoining. The beds were King sized and had far too many gold covered cushions. There was a gigantic plasma screen TV in each bedroom and an even bigger one in the living room. There was an expensive sound system that nobody knew how to work properly and lastly a large sprawling balcony complete with Jacuzzi, bar, and a beautiful city view.
I sighed to myself and downed the rest of the champagne.
Silence...
I looked up in surprise and stared at my three girlfriends... "What!" I laughed loudly, their faces eager and waiting.
"Please please please spill about this mystery man, I'm dying to hear what he's like, is he cute, what does he do? How much money does he have?" begged Sarah. Her baby blue eyes were wide and waiting.
"Cute does not even cut it!" said Angela throwing me a playful look as she got up from the sofa and walked outside, cell phone in hand.
I rolled my eyes at her. "Well he's my boyfriend, I think..." I said slowly.
"You think?' said Jane confused.
"Well, we've had a few issues; we kind of met in a weird situation..." I said slowly...
"What do you mean?" said Jane curiously, Sarah hanging on to my every word...
"Ok, I'll tell you everything! But you can't interrupt me!" I said the champagne making my head swim.
Jane and Sarah sat very still, their faces solemn
"So I was at the club like nearly 3 months ago, it was like any other night, plenty of old dirty men wanting a good perve, I'm on my break, and the girls are suddenly chattering excitedly to each other all in a big fluster, there's some cute guy sitting at the bar table along the front of stage, I wasn't interested at all, until I went on stage and saw the most beautiful man I had ever seen" I said reminiscing. Jane squealed and clutched her champagne glass, she was enjoying the story.
'So I'm dancing, or at least trying to, he was so distracting, and he stares at me for two fricken hours! I took in every detail about him, his wild golden ochre eyes, his perfectly pale smooth skin, the bronze tousle of hair, and his strong jaw line, he was wearing an expensive suit and sucked on expensive cigars, he was so dreamy, but there was a part of me that was very afraid, like I shouldn't be attracted to him, but couldn't help it... he beckons for me to come over near the end of my shift, I clumsily make my way over and his finger traces down my collar bones to my cleavage and stomach, and down my hips, he rests his hand on my garter belt and pulls out this massive wad of cash and stuffs it in the belt, it felt like time had stopped, and he was breathing heavily, and then all of a sudden his hand just crushes the glass he was holding sending ice everywhere and then he's gone!' I said exhilarated falling back into the sofa.
"No way..." said Sarah pouring herself another drink...
"So then what happened?" asked Jane excitedly clutching a pillow to her chest, her eyes bloodshot with alcohol... we were so drunk.
"Well then he just kind of forced himself into my life...' I said throwing my hands up in the air.
"He reserved me at the club for all of my shifts, throwing down 15grand each time," I said as Jane squealed again.
"And then he follows me into Port Angeles and spies on me, flipping out over a date with Mike..."
"Whoa! Hold up! Mike?" asked Sarah confused; she flipped her hair over her shoulder impatiently.
"And then he takes me to the school reunion and into Seattle for this amazing date..." I said dreamily again.
"And don't forget those Sapphires!' chimed Angela, as she came back into the living area.
Jane squealed yet again.
"Well actually it wasn't amazing "I said getting sidetracked. My thoughts focused on that guy Jake at the bar...
"He drags this guy off out back to do only god knows what!" I said getting annoyed.
"Oh Bella not this again!" muttered Angela.
'What!" I said getting defensive.
"Wait I'm getting confused!" whined Jane as she clutched her head...
"You don't even know the half of it! " I said, death staring Angela...
"I didn't tell you this, but I'm positive that Edward got the club shut down... and ...and..." I said getting worked up...
"Bella!" whined Angela.
"He put this ridiculous amount of money in my account!" I yelled above everyone's whining, closing my eyes shut and falling back into the sofa.
Silence
"Shut up!" said Sarah seriously...
"No... there's no way... he doesn't even really know you...' trailed Angela...
I got up from the sofa and stumbled over to my hand bag, I nearly tripped over my own feet I was that drunk... I rummaged around in my bag until I found my phone and quickly flipped it open...
I accessed the internet function and drunkenly tried to type in my internet backing webpage and then my account number, as I made my way back...
"Look, Look!" I yelled as I shoved the phone into their faces... Angela steadied the phone, her eyes trying to read the screen...
"Well fuck me" she said astounded...
Jane and Sarah grabbed the phone and then dropped it quickly.
"Oh my god!" yelled Jane.
"Bella who on earth is he!" screamed Sarah excitedly...
"And look!" I yelled dramatically, waving around the credit card he had given me...
"He just gave it to me for the weekend... like 'here babe go spend whatever you want...'" I said trying to impersonate his voice...
'Who the hell does that...?" I said getting angry; I could feel hot tears start to well up behind my eyes...
'Give me that!" said Jane as she snatched the card out of my hand and stared at it for a moment.
She laughed loudly...
"Bella this is a Titanium card! The card is actually made out of platinum Titanium, it's an Amex that has no limit" she said amazed...
"Great so now his cards are made out of precious metal..." I said as the tears started to fall down my cheek slowly. I wiped away at them with the back of my hand... I was so confused... and drunk...
"hey now!' said Angela alarmed as she came to give me a hug. She looked shaken... maybe she was worried about me...
"What's wrong...?" I asked timidly.
Her green eyes stared into my brown ones... she her bit her bottom lip and rested her forehead on mine... "Bella this man is giving you everything... take it!" she said excitedly... Her face breaking into a big grin...
"All I can say is I damn sure hope he gets Anthony a job in his company!" she crowed, squeezing me into a bear hug...
I smiled meekly at her. "Ange I'm really not so sure about him, I mean I promised I wouldn't date anyone else... but just this obsessive controlling is destroying me!" I said to her.
"Bella, I don't think giving you money and paying for a hotel for the weekend is controlling!" said Angela...
"Is there more champagne?" she asked no one in particular as she strolled into the small kitchen.
"I don't feel so good!" I complained as I sank back onto the sofa... "No more bubbles please!" I whined impatiently as I tried to process what Ange had said about taking the money... that usually wasn't like her at all...
'Bella... what's this?" asked Sarah as she handed me a silver and cream envelope... I eyed it suspiciously...
"Where was it?" I asked her sternly...
"On the kitchen bench..." she said non commitedly.
I examined the envelope, it wasn't from the hotel... it looked suspiciously like Edward's stationary he used when he wrote me notes and had given me his business card.
"Do you guys know where this came from...?" I asked my friends glancing around the room. Ange was leaning on the bench pouring herself more champagne, Jane was sprawled out on the floor like a star fish, her eyes closed and Sarah had draped herself on the sofa, dangling her tanned legs over the arm rest...
"Just open it already!" mumbled Jane with her eyes still closed...
I sighed and ripped open the expensive stationary... I scanned the folded letter, my hands shaking...
I stood up dramatically. "NO, NO, NO!" I yelled like a bratty teenager...
I flung the letter onto the floor and stormed off into my bedroom, falling face first on the mattress...
I could hear the girls from the living room as I hadn't closed the bedroom door.
"Oh my god, that's so awesome!' said Sarah excitedly,
"What is it?" yelled Jane, who was probably still on the floor.
"It's like a love letter!" cooed Sarah laughing...
I 'humpfed' to myself, sounding just like my dad... love letter my arse!
"Edward is saying how much he will miss her and how he's organised an itinerary for us! He's booked a day at the spa tomorrow, and a fancy dinner at that restaurant he took her on a date too, and then Sunday he's organised for us to have a personal stylist to help us shop!" gushed Sarah...
The girls squealed excitedly, just as I heaved myself off the comfortable bed and stumbled back into the living room, my vision swimming.
"We are NOT going to the spa or to the restaurant that doesn't have menus in English and I do NOT want a personal stylist!' I sneered.
'It's my fricken birthday, and I want to go to the new club that opened up last month and dance with my friends, not sit in some posh restaurant and eat 12 course dinners!" I said storming back into my room and flinging the door closed. I heard them peal with laughter as I screamed in frustration into my pillow...
I sighed in disgust as I sat back into the pedicure chair and let the poor aesthetician paint my nails a blood red color. Majority had won and we spent the day in a fancy day spa not far from the hotel.
The girls had been super excited about the day spa, we had come to a compromise and decided on going to the Spa and not the restaurant, opting instead for the new dance club that had opened up in downtown Seattle.
We had a facial and body scrub, wrap and massage, a pedicure and manicure with a hydrating hair treatment and blow dry and to finish it all off, a makeup session.
The makeup artist smoked my eyes up really dark and applied a thick set of false lashes, it looked super hot and I was excited to go out with my girlfriends. I hadn't been out dancing with my friends in a long time...
Edward had of course paid for everything upfront and was taking care of any extra charges. I hadn't spoken to him since Thursday night and was contemplating whether or not I should call him and thank him for the hotel and spa...
We spent the early evening carefully eating some Chinese take out, trying not to ruin our makeup.
'Bella, good choice on the take out!' said Angela she carefully slurped at her noodles.
"What are you guys going to wear? Are we going super fancy or sexy casual?" said Jane as she opened our sixth bottle of champagne for the weekend.
The cork popped and we cheered excitedly. I was starting to enjoy myself, doing the things I wanted to do and not being told where to go and what to do...
We had finished eating and Sarah had somehow managed to plug her iPod into the sound system, and blared some dance tunes,
"Yeah!' she yelled excitedly as she started to dance around the living room.
We laughed at her ridiculous moves and I felt my mood elevating.
I spent forever trying on different outfits and dancing around my choices in front of the girls... they decided for me to wear a pair of tight denim cut off shorts that only just covered my bum, and a billowy white singlet top.
"Wow I kind of look a little skanky with these shorts...' I laughed to myself in front of the full length mirror in my room, as I eyed my bottom only just peeking out from the shorts.
"Hmmmm I still think we could get skankier...' said Angela playfully as she wafted into my room
"Wow! Ange that dress is amazing!" I said gaping at her short tight baby pink dress.
"Ta da!" she yelled, pulling out two pairs of stripper shoes from behind her back and waving them around in front of me...
"No way!" I laughed at her...
"Yes way!" she said, sitting on the edge of the bed and strapping on her stripper shoes from when she was in cosmetology school.
I grabbed the black sparkle shoes she had brought for me and strapped them on quickly...
"Oh my god we look awesome!" I said to her.
"There's no way I can walk in these..." complained Sarah as she came in to my room and kicked off the PVC stripper shoes she had been wearing...
"Sorry Ange' she said bashfully...
"No worries honey, I'm glad you at least gave them a go" said Ange. Sarah rolled her eyes and walked out into the living area... 'Jane come on! It's time to party!" she shouted happily.
We reached the club by ten, and the line up was long... We stood in line for half an hour, drunk and giggly. We got a few catcalls from guys in the line up and we could hear the loud bass pumping inside. "I'm so excited!" I said bouncing up and down wildly. We finally got in and we gazed in amazement at what was inside.
The club was dark and had very low intimate lighting, it opened up into a lounge area with a high bar table running the length of the room with several bar stools tucked against the table, there were huge mirrors framing the walls, and intricate ornaments twisted into weird designs that suspended from the ceiling. A large spiral stair case was in one corner leading to the upper levels and a large doorway on the other side of the room led to what must be the main dance floor area and the lower levels. The place was packed and pumping with loud dance beats.
We made our way to the main dance floor and squeezed ourselves a spot right in the centre. The music was amazing and we started dancing with each other, snapping photos and pulling stupid moves. Jane was constantly on her phone texting, and I wondered what was so important that she needed to keep checking her phone. After a little while we needed a drink and made our way over to the bar, we hustled our way to the front of the bar and ordered several shots of Tequila and had the bartenders make us obscure cocktails.
"Hey honey!" said a guy beside me, yelling over the loud music. He was in his late twenties and looked extremely drunk, his brown eyes were bloodshot and his dark hair was matted to his face with sweat.
"Hi!' I yelled back at him, raising my shot glass and shooting it back.
He laughed at me. "Are you having a good time?' he asked
"Sure am, it's my birthday!' I said in a sing song voice, giggling at how drunk I was.
"Hey!" said the guy to the bartender, slapping the bar loudly.
'It's this girl's birthday!" he shouted at the bartender. The bartender nodded at me and grinned.
Half an hour later Ange and I were still at the bar, getting shouted drinks left right and centre. The bartenders had mixed anything we wanted and we had a large crowd around us shooting down drinks and chatting to us over the loud music.
"Bella!" slurred Angela... "Where's Jane and Sarah?" she asked drunkenly.
I stopped talking to the group of people around us and pushed our way out of the crowd at the bar thanking everyone for the drinks as we left, ignoring the disappointed comments.
I checked my phone and realised I had several missed calls from Edward and a text message from Jane.
I checked the message from Jane first: Bella come meet us upstairs we have a booth!" was all her message said.
I showed Ange the message. "Well nice of them to let us know" she said nastily.
"Awwww don't be like that! It's my birthday!" I said drunkenly over the loud music. We made our way to the front room and then akwardly climbed the massive spiral staircase. The stairs were made of glass and had intricate stones and plants trapped in the glass material. We reached the top level and entered another maze of large dark rooms with booths built into the walls... there was a huge main dance floor and a ring of booths surrounding it.
"Oh my god they could be anywhere, why would they just run off?" said Ange slightly annoyed.
We walked around the packed dance floor and tried to find Sarah and Jane. People bumped into us and spilt drinks as we squeezed past.
"Bella! Ange!' said Sarah excitedly as she pushed her way over to us and grabbed our hands.
We stumbled along after her in our stripper shoes and finally came to a large circular booth.
"What on earth are you doing up here..." I was cut short as I saw a group of familiar men lounging on the sofa and sipping drinks.
"What the fuck, come on Sarah, why... oh for fuck's sake" I said exasperated.
"Sarah why are Mike and his buddies...err... are you ok Sarah?' said Ange as she looked closer at Sarah's face. Sarah's pupils were massive and her jaw was clenching and unclenching super fast...
"I'm fine honey!" she gushed as she stroked Angela's arm. "Jane texted Hamish before we left LA, and told him we were coming to Seattle, so he asked to meet up with her, and he brought all the old crew from high school!' she said bouncing up and down excitedly..
"Bellaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa" yelled Jane, from Hamish's lap as she raised her arms in the air.
'Oh my god they are so drunk!' I said to Ange.
'I think they're more than drunk honey' said Angela.
"Look who it is boys! Said Sarah excitedly as she wrapped her arms both around Angela and me.
"Oh damn!" yelled a couple of the guys as they cheered and catcalled at us.
' I really don't want to see Mike" I said to Sarah, "Can't we go somewhere else' I whispered to Sarah. I peeked over at Mike who was leaning back on the sofa and chatting to his buddies. He glanced over and waved at me casually, his attention turning back to his friends.
"You'll be fine babe, pay him no attention" she cooed at me as she sauntered off to sit next to one of the guys.
I sighed and made my way over to the sofas. Ange and I sat ourselves down next to Jane and Sarah. I kept my eyes on Mike who was sitting a few people away.
The booth was draped in intricate Indian and Moroccan curtains. The material on the sofa's were silk and cool to the touch. "Drink's ladies?" said Jane in a sing song voice as she handed us a champagne each, she nuzzled her way in between us and raised her glass.
"Happy birthday Bella!' she cheered excitedly, as she downed her drink.
We raised our glasses and clinked. I still felt a little nervous with Mike sitting only a few down from us. The music was loud and the bass was vibrating the entire booth. Jane was bouncing up and down wildly her hands running over the material back and forth fast, her jaw was clenching just like Sarah's and I wondered if maybe they had taken something.
I was broken from my thoughts with Angela talking to me.
"Are you ok with Mike here?" asked Angela.
'Yeah it's all good, he hasn't even said hello, so it doesn't really matter that much" I said as I looked out at the crowd on the dance floor and watched the drunken people move to the loud beats.
'Mike is so in love with you!" said Jane as she clutched on to her glass with both hands and bounced her feet up and down.
"Ugghhhh I don't think so!' I said in disgust... Jane shrugged her shoulders... "Dance?" she said getting up and dancing in front of us seductively...
I laughed lightly at my crazy friend... "Maybe later" I said to her.
She danced off onto the dance floor, Sarah following closely behind.
"So Edward's called me like 20 times..." I said to Ange biting my lower lip as I opened my phone and stared at the screen.
"Maybe he found out that we didn't go to the restaurant" laughed Angela.
I shook my head and sighed nervously as I sipped my drink, enjoying the taste of the bubbles.
I was too nervous to call Edward back, I wasn't sure if I could control my temper if I spoke to him. I was pretty annoyed at the way he had organised my birthday weekend. I did want to thank him for the hotel and Mercedes, and for the spa day but I hated the way he controlled everything.
I sat in the booth for over half an hour talking to Angela about Edward and what I should do about him. I had one major concern... if I gave in and let myself fall in love with him, which would only be too easy; would he be a good father figure for Lucy? Thinking of Lucy pulled at my heartstrings. I glanced over at Mike who was still sitting with his buddies. Mike would never admit to being Lucy's father. He hadn't even met Lucy.
My conversation with Angela was cut short with the presence of Mike standing in front of me, holding out a glass of champagne.
"Happy birthday Bells" he said smoothly. His deep blue eyes were tinged red, and his messy blonde hair swept across his forehead. I smiled at him as best I could and took the drink he offered me.
"Hey Ange" he said raising his eyebrows at her, and giving her a drink too.
"Well hi there Mike!" said Angela in an over the top voice. She took the drink and sculled it down.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?' said Mike looking at me with a small smile on his lips...
"Sure" I said staying where I was next to Ange.
"Uh in private?" he said running his hand through his hair...
"I'm going I'm going" said Ange as she rolled her eyes and got up from the sofa...
"No Ange, wait..." I said desperately, clutching at my best friends arm.
'I'll be right back!" she said winking at me.
Mike took her place and he sat down next to me, his thigh touching mine.
'So those are some pretty short shorts you got there' said Mike in a sleazy voice as his gaze swept over me...
"Yep" was all I could say as I sipped at the drink he had given me.
I looked everywhere but at him.
"So what you been up to?" asked Mike as he downed his drink. My gaze swept over the people sitting in the booth, everyone here was male and a friend of Mike's, it was like the football team had a reunion.
"Oh you know just being a mom and working hard" I said nastily, downing the rest of my drink.
"Bella..." he started running his hand through his hair again. He finished his drink and set it down on the low table in front of the sofa...
"Look I'm sorry about the reunion" he said gazing at me with his eyes. His jaw was clenching fast as well, and I wondered how many of them had taken some sort of amphetamine.
'I don't really want to talk about the reunion..." I said as my phone started vibrating again...
I pulled out my phone knowing who it would be... Edward's name was flashing on the screen...
I sighed in frustration...
"Bella I never stopped loving you..." said Mike as his hand grasped my thigh and squeezed...
"Mike... don't..." I said drunkenly, trying to brush his hand off.
"What's wrong?" he said seductively.
"I don't feel that way about you anymore!' I said. My heart rate started to climb and I felt rushed and light headed... my phone stopped.
"Come on Bella... just one kiss...' said Mike as he leaned in closer, his other hand brushing my long hair off my shoulder.
One moment Mike was sitting next to me trying to suck my face, the next he was wrenched off the sofa. Edward had come out of nowhere and was gripping the front of Mike's shirt.
"Get your fucking hands off my girlfriend!" he said in his voice of steel.
I gasped at Edward appearing out of nowhere... he was seething but looked beautiful at the same time. His glorious body was dressed in dark jeans and a dark grey dress shirt pushed up to the elbows, unbuttoned to the sternum and untucked. He was a walking advertisement for men's cologne... behind him was two striking males. I nearly choked at their appearance. The bigger one was muscled like a wrestler, his dark curly hair was cut short and his height and width was intimidating. The other was less muscled but just as scary looking, his honey blonde hair was curled like a movie star from the black and white era. But what threw me the most was their eyes... those golden topaz eyes were glinting with excitement and danger... their skin was all the same shade, pale marble unblemished and unmarked. All three of them looked alien compared to other people in the club, something wasn't right about them.
Their very presence was terrifying... they looked feline, lethal, ready to pounce and kill. My heart rate continued to climb and I noticed my touch became very sensitive to everything as I started to brush the fabric of the sofa with my fingertips.
Mike tried to shove Edward off, but he wasn't strong enough, Edward's hands were shaking, his face was inches from Mike's, his brows furrowed and his eyes wide in anger.
"Girlfriend eh?" slurred Mike. He laughed out loud. "What are you going to do about it buddy?' he sneered at Edward as he tried to shove him again.
I was paralysed as I watched Edward's reaction.
His teeth flashed a brilliant white as he laughed loudly, it was a cruel, harsh sound and I suddenly felt very afraid for Mike.
Mike's buddies had noticed what was happening and I could smell the testosterone building. They came rushing over, grunting and cursing. The loud beats from the music and dark lighting hid us from view from the dance floor.
The two men behind Edward touched Edward's shoulder, their faces stern and their jaws flexing. It almost looked like they were wanting to pounce, but holding every ounce of restraint in place.
"I'm going to kill you..." said Edward slowly, his words enunciating clearly and slowly. The two men behind Edward flashed their teeth in a sinister smile.
Edward snapped his teeth fully bared and I swear he hissed; his stance in a slight pounce...
My heart rate was elevated and I felt a warm rush all over my skin... my teeth were grinding against each other, making my jaw clench and unclench... What the fuck was happening to me...
Through all of the commotion I had been left alone on the sofa...
Mike's buddies were arguing with him, egging him on to 'take him out'. I could feel a fight brewing and I was petrified for Mike, not because I cared for Mike, that wasn't it at all, I was petrified that Edward would literally kill him. My psycho boyfriend looked even more psycho than normal and I had to calm him down.
I fluidly got up from the sofa and my legs were cramped, I must have been sitting down for longer than I thought...
Edward and Mike were still in each other's faces... Edward was struggling with some sort of self control... Mike was egging him on with words...
"Guess what Cullen?" he said harshly... "I fucked her first..." he laughed loudly with his buddies...
A low growl emitted from Edward's deep chest...Mike stopped laughing and stepped back automatically...
I heard Mike's buddies muttering 'freak' as they grabbed Mike and pulled him back...
Edward was livid...
I stumbled my way over, my vision turning from drunken blur to surprisingly clear and focused. I could feel my heart hammering out of my chest faster than it had ever beaten before. I felt hot and sweaty, my skin was warm and tingling, it felt like a constant rush was brushing over my skin. I felt giddy and excitable.
I wedged my way in between Edward and Mike turning my back on Mike.
'Edward calm down honey..." I said soothingly, my face felt strained and my teeth were grinding against each other, I brushed his forearm with my fingertips, his skin was cold and I enjoyed the cool touch and continued to brush his skin as I was fascinated by it...
He didn't answer me or look at me; his gaze was still on Mike...
Mike had stepped back from Edward...
"Bella... he's a fucking lunatic... let's go..." he said. I turned slightly to face Mike and next thing I knew Edward's hand had shot out behind me and grabbed his wrist preventing Mike from taking my hand.
"I said get your fucking hands off my girlfriend... I'm going to fucking kill you..." he roared.
I had to act quickly, my heart was already hammering, something was wrong with me and something terrible was going to happen between Edward and Mike.
Edward was fuming, his two friends behind him were on edge and alert, Mike was cursing at Edward, Mike's friends were yelling and egging Mike on... I couldn't take it any longer!
I flung both of my arms around Edward's neck and crushed my lips to his, slamming my body against him. His cool body felt wonderful on my hot skin and my lips were greedily sucking on his.
I took him by complete surprise, and after a split second of hesitation his arms encircled around me... after a moment he broke away from me and looked down into my face...
"Bella... honey...are you ok? Jesus Christ, Bella, your high up to your eyeballs!" he said as he stared into my face concerned. I kept trying to kiss him, my face set in a permanent grin... I couldn't stop smiling; my back teeth were still grinding... Edward's head snapped up and he was death staring Mike from behind me...
'You spiked her drink? You fucking coward, you spiked her drink?" he roared again. His arm pulled me into his chest, cradling my head to his body.
I heard Mike laugh, "Whatever man..." he said as he walked away. I looked up to see Edward nodding at his two friends. They melted into the crowd on the dance floor.
"Bella, honey, are you ok? Shit, your heart rate is extremely elevated, your eyes are huge, you're shaking... sweetheart what happened? Did he do anything else to you?" he said desperately, hands either side of my head.
"Edward... I think I'm ok? I mean, did he really spike my drink? I can't believe he would..."
"Bella! What's going on?' said Ange as she rushed up to us. "I heard Mike and his friends arguing about you and Edward..."
"Angela, are you ok? How do you feel?' said Edward, looking down into her face.
"I'm fine, I mean, well I'm tanked... but ok other than that... oh my god Bella, are you high?" said Angela, her hand on my shoulder.
"Mike spiked her drink... ecstasy more than likely..." said Edward sternly...
'I'm getting her out of here... "Said Edward to Angela.
"I'm coming with you" said Ange as she hooked her arm around mine.
"What about Jane and Sarah?" I said my teeth grinding over and over.
'I don't care about them at the moment' said Ange drunkenly, she struggled walking in her shoes and we both supported each other up.
Edward hovered behind us, and I felt him tug the hem of my shorts down. He was muttering to himself and I caught a string of curses as he wedged his way between us and somehow held both of us with each of his arms and carried us down the stairs.
We arrived at the hotel room and Edward sprinted into my bathroom and turned the shower on; he ripped my clothes off with one fluid motion, his eyes stopping to appreciate my body for a split second, and then he gently shoved me into the freezing water, it felt good and for a moment I felt a little better... Angela walked in drunkenly.
'Oh shit!" she said in surprise at seeing me naked...
"Angela I need you to stay here with her... please Angela I won't be long... I don't know how much he put in her drink and I need to get it out of her system" he pleaded with her.
'What are you going to do?' asked Ange slowly, but he had already gone...
'I'm so drunk, there's no way he could move that fast" she slurred...
"Are you ok Bella?' she asked me concerned.
I nodded and slowly inched my way onto the floor of the shower... hugging my knees to my chest, my heart was palpitating and my jaw sore from the constant clenching...
'Some birthday' I said between jittery teeth...
What felt like minutes later and Edward had come striding through the door.
"Get her out of the shower and wrap her in a towel so she doesn't get cold." Said Edward, his voice powerful and smooth.
Ange helped me out and wrapped me in a towel...
'What are you going to do?" asked Angela.
"Narcan' was all Edward said as he took a long syringe from his pocket and a small glass bottle that was sealed with a film. He pierced the bottle with the needle and filled the syringe up.
"No... No...' I said in protest... trying to back away from him, I should have known my attempt to escape would be useless.
He gently grabbed me by the arm and pulled me close to him, pinning my arms to his side.
"Edward... no!' I cried as he stabbed the syringe into my arm. I felt a prick and then hot pain...
"Ouch!" I yelled.
"I'm so sorry sweetheart..." he muttered over and over... his breathing was laboured, his eyes were on the spot where he stabbed me. His breathing became heavier; his jaw snapped and his grip tightened...
"Edward what the hell is wrong with you..." said Ange...
He snapped out of it and then I suddenly felt a nauseated sensation come whistling up from my stomach...
'Oh!" I groaned and covered my mouth with my hand...
"Shit" muttered Edward... he leant me over the toilet bowl and I wretched violently for a good couple of minutes...
"What's happening!' said Ange distressed.
'It's the Narcan, it reverses the effects of the drug and makes her throw up, she'll be ok..." he said as he held my hair back...
"Bella honey I love you... I'm so sorry this happened on your birthday" he whispered to me.. Blackness washed over me and then I was out like a light...