The next Mrs Cullen
Chapter eleven
No copyright infringement meant, I know Mrs M owns them.
Emmett POV
"Come on Jasper, give me a break here," I moaned, not amused by my brother in-law's attitude. "How the fuck do I tell him someone else is leaving her gifts?"
"Not my problem Emmett," said Jasper, with a tone of voice that made me think that he might be smirking on the other end of the phone. "Just tell him. The sooner he knows the better. I don't need to tell you what could happen if he finds out from someone else."
"Some help you are, brother," I grumbled. I had hoped that telling Jasper would halve the responsibility of telling Edward.
"I'm not your brother," he told me. "I'm your brother in law by marriage only, so technically no relation at all in the eyes of the law." I could hear the humour in his voice, the fucker was enjoying my discomfort.
"Bull shit and I'm going to tell Alice you said that," that should bring him in line.
"Look Em," this time he did actually sound sympathetic, "just tell him, he needs to know."
"I know, I just need to work up to it." I snorted. "It's not like I can wait to catch him in a good mood or anything is it?"
I could hear jasper chuckling on the other end of the line, it broke the tension and I couldn't help but laugh myself.
"I'll go over there later and tell him," I had resigned myself to whatever fate might befall me after letting him know the bad news. "I just need to go and check on her again, she seems to be determined to injure herself and I really don't want to have to also explain to him that she got hurt at the gym when a machine attacked her."
Jasper let out a bark of a laughter before hanging up. I needed to get over and brief Alex about whoever was leaving the coffee and pastries and drop off the next package for Bella with him.
As I looked at the turquoise gift bag I couldn't help but think that Edward had this all wrong. Bella just didn't seem to be the sort of girl who could be swayed by diamonds. Alice maybe, Tanya definitely, my Rosie no way. That girl would rather have my time than my money, she had proved that over and over. As I watched Bella go about her business I had the feeling that for once Edward was approaching this all wrong.
I made sure one last time that Bella was still in the gym and in one piece before I turned her protection detail over to Quil. I made my way over to her apartment building and checked in with Alex.
"What have you done with the coffee and pastries he left?" I asked him.
"Here," he pointed under the newly installed security desk. Miss Swan had no idea just how much effort was being put into making sure she was safe. He took the pastel paper bag out and sat it gently on the desk.
"Is this bakery local?" I asked Alex, looking at the delicate fleur de lis design on the side the bag. Inside there were two chocolate covered strawberries in a little clear box, a croissant and a chocolate muffin.
"I googled it," said Alex, way ahead of me. "It's about three blocks from here."
"The coffee looks as though it's from across the street but the flowers I'm not so sure about," he said, clearly annoyed that he couldn't be more specific, "there isn't a card and the wrapping is just the clear cellophane so I can't even trace them through it." Alex was so much more than a security guard, he was ex special forces with a classified history and an experienced personal bodyguard, highly sought after. He had already 'questioned' the night guard who had let the mystery guy in minutes before the shift change over. The mystery present leaver was either very lucky with his timing or very organised to make sure he missed Alex coming on shift. I was hoping for the first option as the second one didn't bode well for anyone.
"I'll make sure I'm here a couple of hours earlier in the morning" he said, cracking his knuckles absent-mindedly. "I want to be here if the fucker turns up again and I need to make sure the new night guy is a bit more switched on."
"Good idea," I told him. I looked at my watch. "I'll be back later. I'm going to go and check out the bakery.
The visit was a waste of time really, the idiot behind the counter was no help at all and when I asked to look at the CCTV he just shrugged and informed me they were dummy cameras. I tried to gently jog his memory, I used my 'mean face' as Rosie calls it, but it frightened him so much he almost forgot his own name.
I spent the rest of my morning following the directions on google maps to all the local florists but I soon realised that asking them if a guy had bought a bunch of flowers early this morning or late last night wasn't really a good enough description to make sense. One lady suggested I take a photo of the bouquet, apparently a florist would recognise their own work. Flowers are flowers for fucks sake, how difficult could it be? It had to one of these shops though, this guy was local, I could feel it.
I made my way back to Bella's block and Alex was waiting for me, she'd already come home from the gym then left again so her apartment was empty.
"I'm just going to go and check upstairs, make sure everything is okay."
As I wandered up the stairs I noted areas that could house a camera easily and places where we would need to do some alterations. If by some miracle Edward did manage to woo her with these glittery baubles she would need a lot of protection, particularly when they went public. If she didn't move into his mansion straight away it would be easier if Edward bought the building, we could do what we needed then. I made a mental note to suggest that very thing later when I had the wonderful task of telling him about the mystery admirer.
As I stood outside her door I tested the strength of locks, they were okay but nothing I couldn't get past. I pressed the timer on my watch and checked 12 seconds later as I finished picking the locks and walked across the threshold into her apartment. Slow for me, maybe they were a little better than I'd originally thought. A quick check and everything seemed to be in order, the only thing that caught my eye was that the freezer door wasn't shut properly, I wandered across to see if the hinge was broken. I could arrange to have that fixed without her even knowing. The door opened smoothly, no problem, so why hadn't she shut the door? I looked at the contents but nothing seemed unusual, I checked the top shelf smiling when I noticed the stash of ice cream, typical women. I picked up the carton to see if she was as bad as my Rosie for the strange flavours when I noticed the gift bag.
I nearly wet myself laughing, I knew diamonds were sometimes referred to as ice but this woman had upwards of $18k in the freezer. Where was she going to hide the next box that I had just left with Alex? I knew I was right about her, Edward really was doing this all wrong. I replaced everything as I 'd found it, and let myself out, it was time to meet my Rosie and then I was going to talk to Edward.
"Hi my sweet Emmy bear," Rosalie screamed as she jumped into my arms. "How are you today?" We had agreed to meet at the lunch truck around the corner from the club, she only got 45 minutes break as she was running lunch service today in the private dining room.
"I've missed you baby," she said, smacking an affectionate little kiss on the bottom of my chin. "I thought you were coming over last night?" Luckily, she wasn't a whiney type, she understood my job and what it entailed
"I know sweet pea," I told her, kissing the top of her head before gently lowering her to the ground. "I just got caught up in something so I just crashed on the couch in Edward's office."
"When are you going to ask that tight ass for a raise and more time off," she asked me. "I never get to see you." She sighed, theatrically. "I can't even remember the last time we had a whole evening to ourselves, you know, dinner, candles, a long hot bath and then some sexy times. I'm starting to think you just want to screw me at work so we can keep getting caught."
"Trust me sweet pea," I put my arm around her as we stood side by side reading todays specials on the food truck menu. "I would love nothing more than to just wake up in your arms but I really can't see that happening anytime soon. Isabella is my priority at the moment" I pushed her against the side of the van and kissed her hard, I loved her big fat squashy lips, they were equally good whether I was kissing them or they were wrapped around my dick.
"It's a good job I know how much you love me," she said, her voice husky with lust, "or I could get seriously mad that you just admitted another female is your priority." She raised her eyebrows at me and laughed. My beautiful Rosie, I loved her so much it hurt to be away from her but just lately it seemed I was always being pulled in several different directions, all of them away from her.
"I wish things were different Rosie," I told her. "I'd love a normal job, one where I could come home to you at night. Even better I'd love something we could do together, you know, me and you against the world and when we had had enough we packed up and moved on."
"I'd love that too Emmy bear," she pushed me away lightly yet the tone of regret in her voice was heavy, "but you're a Cullen and you were born into this life, you don't get the chance to choose it or not."
"I know but …"
"Don't Emmett," she said. "It will work out I know it will, we will be together for ever, we'll watch our children and grandchildren grow, I knew that deep in here." She took my hand and pressed it against her heart.
I knew I had to speak to Edward about being with her, he needed to understand how much she meant to me. There had to be a way to make it work.
We managed 27 minutes together before my phone rang.
"Boss," barked the voice at the other end, "it's Quil. She's left the diner and is on her way home."
I confirmed his exact location and told him I'd meet him and take over the surveillance.
"You have to go already?" Rosie said as I stood up from the picnic bench and threw my lunch wrapping in the bin. This truck certainly could deliver a mean Burrito.
"Afraid so sweet pea," I pulled her into a brief embrace. "I'll see you late tonight okay? No matter what happens I'm coming over."
"Promise?"
"Promise," I grinned and kissed her. "I always keep them, you know that." I jumped in the Range Rover. Time so see what Miss Swan was up to and try to figure out who the mystery present leaver was.
"All quiet here Boss," said Quil. He looked at his watch. "I'm starving, I'm going to go and get something, you want anything?"
I nodded and sat watching as he walked towards the deli down the block, my phone rang just as he disappeared inside.
"EMMETT," no surprises who the raised voice belonged to, "where the fuck are you?"
"You know where I am, I'm with Isabella." He put me on this detail, where did he expect me to be? I looked at the screen just in case he had face timed me and I hadn't realised.
"NO shit head I mean where in this glorious city are you? What is she doing? Who is she with?"
"Wow Edward calm down, take a breath, she's just back from the diner after having lunch with two girlfriends."
I heard him take a deep breath, shit he needed to chill out before he keeled over. Our uncle Roberto had dropped dead from a heart attack in his early fifties and I could see Edward going the same away.
"Jasper says you have something to tell me?"
"I do, but it can wait until I get back to the office." Bloody Jasper, wouldn't help me out in telling Edward but quite happy to throw me into the firing line.
"I think I'll be the judge of that," he spat, "now what the fuck is it?"
"Boss…" I couldn't do it over the phone. "Edward," I continued, in as sensible a voice as I could muster. "As your brother please believe me, this is better coming from me personally. I'll be there as soon as Quil has had his lunch and is back watching her.""
"Fine," he huffed. "Get here as soon as you can, I hate being kept waiting." With that the line went dead.
"Well out with it," he said, before I could even close the door of his office behind me. "What is it?" "Alex called me this morning," I started. "It seems that when he got on shift, the night guy informed him that a guy had been in and asked to drop off some breakfast for his girlfriend as a surprise. He escorted him up and the guy led him to Isabella's apartment. He left a bag of pastries, a coffee and a bouquet of flowers. From what we can gather this is the second or maybe even third time he has done this. As soon as Alex heard he grabbed everything so she hasn't seen them this time, we think she saw the ones before."
He was quiet, too quiet, way too quiet.
"Who is he?" asked Edward. I could see the blood pulsing through a vein on his temple.
"At this moment we don't know," I stuck to the facts, "the night guy didn't ask and just remembers he had been over a couple of times before."
"Where is the night guy now?"
"He has been dealt with," I reassured him. "He won't be back on the desk and Alex has recruited someone he has used before so the building will be covered 24/7 now for the foreseeable future."
"TOO FUCKING RIGHT IT WILL BE," he screamed, self-control suddenly completely gone. "I WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING. WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHY AND WHEN AND THEN I WANT TO KNOW EVEYTHING ELSE THERE IS TO KNOW." "IN FACT, FUCK IT I'LL DO IT MYSELF, BRING THE NIGHT GUY HERE SO I CAN FIND OUT FOR MYSELF"
As I looked at my big brother I felt sorry for him, for the first time I could recall he wasn't in control and micro managing everything. He looked sad, confused, angry and lonely. It was time Bella knew just what was going on.
"Edward, he isn't in any state to be questioned at the moment, Alex had quite the 'chat' with him when he realised what had happened. Believe me if there was anything to know we would already know it."
I could see that wasn't the answer he wanted but all I could do was tell him how it was.
I left the office to the sound of smashing glass, I was sure the crystal decanter and probably the set of six Royal Doulton Crystal whisky tumblers that had been imported from England where now just a pile of crystal shards. This wasn't good for anyone, Edward, Isabella, the business and definitely not me.
I sat outside her apartment for a couple of hours but she didn't seem to be going anywhere. I'd promised Rosie, I'd be there so I decided to combine the two. She could come and keep me company until I was sure Bella wasn't going anywhere, then we could go home for some us time. Just as I reached for the phone to call her, Bella came out of the front door. I sat and waited to see if she was going for her truck or walking, but she surprised me by walking straight towards me. I wound down the window.
"Emmett," she smiled, "haven't you got anything better to do than sit out here tonight?"
"Well I think that rather depends on you and your plans," I told her, "but I am on a promise so if you could get a rush on I'd be eternally grateful."
I watched as she went through her options, she was trying to make a decision. Her face set with a determined look and she surprised me again by opening the passenger door and climbing in.
"Let's go and get something to eat, I need to ask some questions and you can answer them for me."
"Fine, where do you fancy eating?" I asked.
"Nothing expensive or posh, I want proper food and lots of it," she said as she fastened the seat belt.
I quickly turned the SUV around and made my way across town to a restaurant I loved. As we walked in Josie the manager looked up and her face dropped.
"Where is my Rosie tonight?" she asked, shooting a dirty look at Isabella.
"Don't worry," I told her, "this is just my friend Isabella, she is in need of some good home cooked food so I bought her to you."
We sat at my regular table at the back, I could see everything that was going on and could leave quickly if I needed to.
"What's good here?" she asked as she pretended to read the menu.
"Everything, so go for it." I told her honestly.
She ordered a huge amount of food, more than I'd ever expect her to eat, and as soon as it arrived she dug in. I was quietly impressed the girl could eat.
"Okay, so now I've quietened down the beast in my belly," she began, "do you want to start by telling me why you are following me? I don't think you want rid of me, that would have happened by now, so why, why are you and those other goons in the Range Rover brigade following me?"
Where to start?
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Thank you as ever to LL who is off touring Scotland at the moment. Hope you have had a wonderful time.
A quick wave to everyone at the Meet up in Vegas, I really hope I can get to the next one it's on my bucket list of to do's.
I'm astonished at the amount of you that are reviewing this story. Thank you so much, I love reading them and I do try to answer as many as I can. I'm very honoured you take the time. Thank you xx