Hello all, here's chapter 12. I want to thank Katerina (springbreakers) for letting me use her likeness, thus adding another fanfiction reader to my character list. Read, enjoy, and comment.

Chapter 12- The one that got away…

I hit the alarm before it echoed long enough to annoy me, and pulled myself out of bed. Though I was no stranger to being up at six am, normally my Sundays were more lax, but I had too much on my plate to fit into an average week and if I wanted to handle all of the personal things I'd been putting off I needed to get them done today before the week started all over again.

I had to set aside a few hours to go over the drafted proposal for buying out McNab and Co, and tweak whatever I didn't like. I had to go over Alice's business plans, and make sure she could actually afford the slot she wanted to acquire for some fashion week in New York, and then go over her personal finances. Groaning at the thought of how that would go, I washed my hair, mulling over the best way to suggest the adjustments in her portfolio without offending her. Then go over the party plans I hadn't even started to make for Mom and Dad's anniversary party.

Not that we were getting anywhere, because any idea we cooked up Alice immediately shot down. I was starting to think she just wanted a reason to yell at us, because she knew event planning was no where near Emmett or my forte, yet she insisted on drafting us instead of hiring a professional. All of that had to be squeezed in by one since I had a meeting with my own legal team before dinner with the family at my parent's house.

Knowing I'd need breakfast, I snuck downstairs as quietly as I could in hopes of not waking Alice since she never woke up before noon on a Sunday. She surprised me by being in the kitchen already sipping hot tea in a mug four times larger than a normal one, and scribbling on a sketch pad.

"Good morning, I made breakfast" She beamed continuing to work.

Cautiously, I walked over to the spread of toast, coffee, and eggs and tried not to make a face. I could tell by the lines on the toast that it had been burned and scraped to a lighter color to the best of her ability, the eggs were scrambled and dried out from over cooking, but I made a plate and thanked her in an attempt not to hurt her feelings because she was obviously so pleased with herself.

She hopped up the minute I sat down, startling me, "Oh the preserves."

She ran to the fridge, and came back with my favorite blackberry jam, sitting it in front of me just as proud. "Alice, you're turning into quite the domestic." I teased using a knife to put a generous amount on my toast.

She blushed but went back to drawing, "You know, I just figured since you normally make breakfast, I should give it a try."

"You're up early," I noted taking a sip of what I knew would be the best part of my meal. Alice could always make the perfect cup of coffee or tea; strong enough to enjoy the flavor and the effects, and weak enough to require no cream or sugar.

She nodded, "Yeah, well I wanted to get some designs out of the way."

"And how's—" I stopped when I crunched into an egg shell. I buried it into my napkin before she could notice, taking another sip of my coffee. "How's that going?"

"Good, I'm working on a coat right now," She held up the sketch of sharp lines, and bold colors. "It's no where near finished, but it should be ready by spring I'm thinking of putting it into the conversion line, but I don't know what else it can double as."

From what I knew about her line, she had three garments completed out of her projected twenty pieces. She had a purse that converted easily into a fitted vest, a dress that could go from casual, to business, to evening by the repositioning of a few ties of cloth, as well as button down shirt that shifted into a mini dress. She also had an evening line and a classic-chic line that would make up the twenty pieces.

I tried to remind myself that it was my business to know what she as a designer had to offer once I realized I knew way too much about hem-lines and cuts. "Maybe a dress?" I suggested eating more of my toast.

She looked back at the coat and shook her head unable to picture it. "No, I'll probably find a way to put it into the evening line, but the colors too loud, don't you think?"

"You could make it black." I suggested. "Every woman needs a black trench coat"

She rolled her eyes and accompanied it with a delicate snort, "Yeah to live out every guy's odd fantasy."

"Or to keep warm and dry," I muttered for a brief moment trying to recall a single guy I knew that didn't want to see their girl wearing just a trench coat. I gave up quickly deciding this was the best moment to bring her good news. "Neiman Marcus is in negotiation. They want your apparel as well as your bags and coats."

"What?" She sputtered covering her mouth, and forcing herself to swallow tea. "They want my clothes? My clothes? Mine?"

I nodded, "It's in the works, but they want exclusivity. I said I'd speak with you before making any real deals—"

"Do it," She urged picking up her tea.

"Alice, I know you're anxious to be in stores and not just selling via website, but you don't want to limit yourself. People will be chomping at the bit to have a piece of the Mary Brandon Collection in their stores after you've made fashion week, so you don't have to lock yourself in. A clear head and longevity will pay off better." I reminded gently. The name of her label was a reminder in itself not to act to rash.

Four years ago, when she first discovered her love for designing, a man by the name of Brandon Thomas—an aspiring designer himself—was the one to help convince her. She'd fallen head over heels in a matter of months, and was more than willing to not just share her start up capital with him, but also the rest of her life. Before Emmett or I could make heads or tails of our sister's newest infatuation he had disappeared with her heart and well over eight hundred thousand from her bank account.

"Yes," Alice agreed after blinking a few times—probably clearing her head of everything I was thinking, "well, business is your forte, not mine. I trust you."

I smiled and continued to eat, "Good, you should, because I was hoping you'd be interested in designing an exclusive line for their stores and continue to shop your other pieces elsewhere."

"You mean, like a reserve label?" She brightened up, "I'd have to use a textile factory in France or Italy, better fabric quality, and a lot more expensive, but you'd get what you pay for. I honestly don't think Mary Brandon is a strong enough name to support a reserve line on its own not to mention, the start up cost for something like that—"

"—Yes, Mary Brandon will have to generate a lot more capital, but it's something to work towards. I suggest you start." I urged, not really wanting her to worry about the money. I reached in my briefcase, and pulled out her portfolio. While we were sitting we, might as well kill two birds with one stone. "Speaking of which, let's take a moment or two to discuss your finances."

The light of excitement always seemed to drain from those grey eyes at the talk of fiscal responsibility. "Am I broke?"

"No—"

She interrupted me in a dead pan, "Am I close to being broke?"

"Actually far from it," I assured passing her the folder.

Mom and Dad had given us all, a small allowance from our trust funds on our twenty-first birthday, provided we were in college and or gainfully employed; the other half was received on our thirtieth birthday. Emmett and I had used our twenty-first allowances similarly, investing. He held his until graduation and threw the entire bulk into the start up of his architectural firm, and yielded such great results that he opted to transfer the remainder of his sealed trust fund to him and Rose's future children. I chose to invest in other companies, let the profits build in a few baskets before arraigning them in other baskets. Then, I graduated to the buying and selling of companies, making the same decision to hold my remaining trust fund too. Alice had planned to use hers to start a business, but after spending a year trying to find herself and what she wanted to do, she found Brandon instead, and lost most it.

She was still a few years shy of her thirtieth birthday, but now that she had given me control of not just her business, but personal finances, I was determined to make sure she wouldn't need to cash in the remainder of her trust.

"Most of the investments are up a few more points, but a few aren't jumping as quickly as I'd like. I'm going to give them until the close of the quarter before pulling out."

Alice scanned the report I had translated into laymen's terms just for her, with a practiced patience—I had to commend her for at least attempting to take it seriously. "These three are down, aren't you supposed to pull out before they get too low?"

"Normally, I would say yes, but considering this is an off season, and they're more than likely to make up for it in the winter three times over, I want to hold on to them." I explained raising an eyebrow in surprise. Alice knowing even the slightest blip about stocks was a shocker.

She shrugged, closed the folder and gave it back to me, "Welp, I trust you." And then she returned to herself. "Anything else you want to tell me?"

I ran over in my mind about what secret I could have been caught keeping, because there were a few as of late. She couldn't know that I secretly stashed away a nest egg of ' just incase money for her', and she actually had a lot more money than the she thought she did. But that was just the big brother in me worrying for her future—if I told her she'd want to invest it all into Mary Brandon, and she wouldn't have anything for a rainy day if this didn't work out.

"Can I get a hint?" I asked giving up.

She obliged, "You've been looking at houses."

"Oh," I shrugged continuing to eat since that wasn't a secret, "well I can't stay here forever."

I'd been staying with Alice since Tanya and I separated trying to figure out if it was actually time to call our marriage quits. What started as a week or two of reflection had stretched into two months once I made the decision that divorce was the best way. She didn't take it well, and the last I heard went back to her parents home in England until I 'came to my senses' and to my knowledge hadn't came back yet. I could have gone to our home in Chelsea at any time, but couldn't' bring myself to.

"I like you here," She pressed, the hint of worry creasing her forehead.

I tried to keep the conversation light, "You're just going to miss my cooking when I leave."

"Edward," She wasn't having it. "If you want to stay longer, there's no rush in finding a house. You're distracted with everything as it is, at least wait until everything is final."

"That might take a while," I admitted with a sigh, pushing aside my breakfast now that I had lost my appetite. "This isn't going to be a amicable parting, she doesn't want the settlement the lawyers offered."

"She had the affair," Alice argued in a huff. "What's difficult about it? She should take what you're offering. It's more than fair."

"It's not about the infidelity," I answered earnestly. Tanya and I had been growing apart for well over two years, and in all honesty I anticipated her having an outside lover long before I noticed the signs.

Our marriage had problems, and as much as I tried to fix them we got nowhere. And instead of gritting my teeth and making them work, I gave up, made myself too busy to think about them and she did the same. We kept up the pretenses of course—since those are what always mattered most to her, and the pride of not wanting to hear 'I told you so' or see the worry in my family's eyes mattered to me.

We rarely spoke to each other, let alone touched and when we did, it was the straightforward meeting of a mutual need without the slightest hint of intimacy and with Tanya's constant need for worship and attention of course she'd find it elsewhere. We both shared the blame, maybe more on my end if I factored in the karma that came with my own premarital indiscretion.

"Of course it's about the infidelity," Alice hissed, slamming her mug down on the table making me jump out of my own thoughts. "I don't see what else it could be about. She lied, and cheated, and she hurt you—and don't tell me she didn't because that haunted look you had when you showed up on my doorstep said it all."

"There was no prenuptial," I reminded trying to get back on point as to why it could take so long. "There's no law that says she has to take the package we're offering."

Alice's eyes narrowed as she brought her knee to her chin. "She doesn't want to take the settlement because she wants to make your life hell. That's it, it isn't about the money, it's about sticking it to you because no one leaves Tanya fucking Hughston. Give me twenty minutes with her, she'll sign."

"It's my mess, let me handle it. Promise me you won't make a drive to Chelsea, even when she comes back. Don't add to my stress list." I didn't want to think about my elfin sister administering violence on my wife.

"No need to stress about me. Women like Tanya do most of their evil indirectly behind closed doors through gossip and tea. Her years of pedigree and upbringing won't prepare her for knuckles to the face." She swore making a show of grinding her tiny fist into the tiny palm of her other hand.

And I laughed—genuinely laughed. "Allie, though I'm sure you're right I'd like to keep you out of all that legal trouble that comes with assault. You might give Mary Brandon a bad name, not to mention make my divorce a lot harder than it already is."

I could see the wheels of debate turning in her mind. "Fine, if you promise to stay here until this mess is over. We don't know how much she's going to bleed you for and it would be fiscally irresponsible of you to make such a large purchase during such an uncertain time."

"You almost sound like a venture capitalist." I smirked watching her get up to put her dishes away.

She smiled, "Yeah, well I just echoed financial advice given to me every other month from someone I know." She put a hand on my shoulder, "Promise me."

"Alright," I agreed, mentally removing it from my to-do list. "Look, I know you're worried about me, but you don't have to. I know I've been distracted lately, throwing myself into work, but I'm going to get better."

She just smiled and shrugged, "We're family Edward, it's my job to worry about you."

She was always willing to let me off easy. "Still, I'm going to get my priorities straight. Start helping out with Mom and Dad's party plans more; I know we've just dumped it on you. I apologize for that."

"That's what you're worried about? Ha!" She burst tilting her head back and slapping her knee. "You and Emmett are so fired. I'm working with a pro now, but if you want to make it up to me the both of you can split the cost of the party and consider it a buy off for my pain and suffering due to neglect."

I let out a breath, glad that I had one less thing ticking at my brain, more than willing to write a check for the relief. "Done. I'll talk to Em. Who did you get?"

"You'll all know when Mom and Dad know." She grinned hopping up again. Speaking of which, I need to do research on a few things, are we riding to Mom and Dad's together?"

"I'm meeting with the lawyers at one, so I most likely won't finish up until late—"

"Say no more," She understood running over to kiss my forehead before darting upstairs to start her day, "I'll see you there. Since I cooked, dishes are on you. Bye."

Though I had no doubt the pans that made breakfast would probably need to be soaked for a full day and scrubbed with an entire box of steel wool before they let anything lose, I didn't mind being on dish duty. The general gesture behind her making breakfast said it all, and I wouldn't change my little sister for anything in the world.

—

"Jason," I greeted shaking the hands with one of the best attorneys in the state of Massachusetts, and the head of my legal team. "Thanks for making time to see me on such short notice, and on a Sunday at that."

"It's what you pay me for." He dismissed with a wisp of a smile. He wasn't wearing his normal Italian leather suit, instead opting for a casual pair of khakis, his pale blue shirt rolled up at the sleeves. He gestured to the lady next to him wearing a grey suit and pin straight posture. "This is Katerina Evans, one of the best divorce attorneys in the state."

Her cool eyes sized me up for a brief moment but extended her hand to me with no hesitation. "Mr. Cullen, nice to meet you."

"Please, Ms. Evans, call me Edward." I insisted hoping my smile would put her at ease a bit.

She released my hand and attempted at a smile. "I'd rather not if that's alright."

Apparently she was as 'all business' as Jason said she was, "Um, okay."

Jason shifted his weight awkwardly. "Why don't we sit, and you two can get to know each other."

We met on the roof top of one of the snazziest restaurants in Boston at Jason's suggestion, and I had to admit it was a good choice. The early fall weather made for a beautiful day, only the slightest of breezes danced in the air. Meeting around lunch time, kept the clientele low enough for privacy. Not really hungry I ordered a glass of Chardonnay, and took a seat across from them.

The second my ass hit the seat, Ms. Evans dug straight in. "If you don't mind, I'm going to have a few questions for you. I haven't really gotten the chance to become familiar with your case, considering Mr. Jenks faxed it over to me just this morning." She glanced at him from the corner of her eye in some sort of disapproval, as she pulled out a note pad.

"No worries, thank you for deciding to take the case under such short and demanding circumstances." I excused attempting to be friendly.

She continued to sort through her bag, not even bothering to give me a glance taking out a mini recorder. "I haven't decided if I was going to take your case or not Mr. Cullen, but your associate offered me an obscene amount of money to meet with you today, so here I am. Do you mind if I record this?"

"Go ahead," I offered ready to just get it over with.

As I listened to her pure Bostonian accent report the date, time, as well as the names of everyone present I could label her as nothing but thorough. "Alright, now why don't you tell me about your relationship with Tanya Cullen."

Though her pen was in hand, she didn't take a single note as she listened to the story of our marriage from start to end. Jason—who had heard it all before, merely ate in silence while Katerina's calculating eyes bore into me, watched every facial expression and gesture as I told it, giving nothing away as to what she thought.

When I finished, she played everything over in her mind for a minute or two longer, "From what I'm hearing, I suggest we use adultry as grounds for your divorce. It's the best way to keep her from fully bleeding you if we can't reach an agreement outside of court. Do you have any proof of the affair, or know how long it went on? Is it still ongoing?"

"No—" I cut off before she could get carried away, "I'd like to go for a 'no fault' if at all possible."

The once still hand that held the pen started flying across the pad as Jason intervened, "I'm sorry, I know divorce isn't exactly my thing but if you want to come out of this even I know you've gotta use what we have."

Katerina silenced him with a finger, "Interesting, why an 'irretrievable break down of marriage'?"

"Because we both had parts to play in this," I explained the best way I could. "She had the affair because I wasn't exactly fulfilling her needs in that area. We'd grown apart, and I didn't do anything to stop it or fix it."

Katerina only needed a second to process, a coy smile playing across her lips for the first time since I'd met her, "So there was impotency on your end?"

"No, not impotency," I corrected trying to keep the hiss out of my voice, "apathy, disconnection, take your pick."

She narrowed her eyes, but removed the smirk. "Did you have an affair of your own Mr. Cullen?"

"Yes, years ago, before we got married," I admited letting my eyes drop from her scrutiny.

She leaned back in her chair, but continued to write, "Does know?"

"I never told her," I revealed, "never told anyone before now. It was a one time thing."

She clicked the pen shut and brought it to her lips, still deep in thought. "Well we all make mistakes Mr. Cullen, but now isn't the time to relieve our guilt. Legally in the eyes of Massachusetts you were a faithful husband. You didn't sign a prenuptial."

It wasn't a question, it honestly sounded more like a reprimand, "I honestly didn't think I'd need one."

"A man with your net worth should have signed a prenup." Yep, definitely a reprimand.

Jason used this as a time to try and ease some tension, "It was before he met me."

He got a small chuckle from me, but Evans all but ignored him, "Alright, have you offered to come to some sort of separation agreement."

"She won't take what I'm offering."

"And what did you offer?"

Jason took the pen from her and scribbled down a figure on the top corner of her pad. Her eyes widened but she recovered quickly. "With the option of being transferred all at once or broken up in quarterly payments over the course of two years. Along with the house they shared in Chelsea, her car, and all gifts and items acquired during their marriage." Jason added.

"That's a very generous offer—to a philanderer— Mr. Cullen." Evans figured coolly. "Very big of you."

I disagreed, "We were together for ten years and married for five of those years. I owe her at least that much."

"To me it's all the more reason to drag her through the muck for her affair, and doing so would come off a lot cheaper on your bank account." She argued back.

"She comes from a very well known family, and her reputation is everything to her. I couldn't in good conscience do that." I refused taking a sip of my wine. "I forgave her for the affair."

"But you still want the divorce," Evans countered, her eyes narrowing in some type of internal speculation.

Jason's glance darted back and forth between us so rapidly, that I was probably sure he was going to make himself dizzy. "Yes, I feel it's best for the both of us."

"Okay, if it isn't about the affair, why do you want the divorce?" She pressed, her eyes sparking with something I could only assume was a gut feeling.

Up until today everyone, family included, had always taken the fact that Tanya had an affair as reason enough to get divorced. Miraculously, Katerina had actually found a cause to dig deeper and for the second time with her, I found myself revealing something I'd never told anyone.

"We have different views on our futures. I want children, she doesn't." I answered as simply as possible.

Pleased that her gut was taking her somewhere worthwhile she dug deeper. "And this wasn't something you discussed before getting married?"

"Of course, I went in thinking a family was what we both wanted. Family is important to me, and it wasn't something that I would have negotiated on." I added finding the rumblings of anger trying to surface all over again. "It's why—" Realizing I was more angry at my own foolishness than Tanya I cut myself off.

She closed her pen and turned to the head of my legal team. "We need a private moment, Jenks."

Jason started to protest, but since I figured it wouldn't end well, I surrendered. "Go ahead Jason."

In a huff he stood, and walked to the other end of the roof pulling out his phone to no doubt make a few calls—far enough to give us distance but close enough to keep an eye on things. "That man," Katerina muttered as she clicked the recorder off, shaking her head. "Mr. Cullen, since you seem uncomfortable I'm going to turn off the record for as long as we stay on this topic."

"Is this topic really necessary?" I hissed in frustration.

She nodded without hesitation. "Absolutely. If you want the best results from me I need to know every single intimate detail. It's the only way that I can get a clear enough picture of what happened and how both parties will react to any choice we make. Now, did you have a shotgun wedding?"

I shook my head, but apparently she didn't believe me. "Initially no." I adjusted. "Our wedding was very much planned, but I started having second thoughts."

"Because of your tryst," She connected bluntly, keeping her eyes glued to mine.

I nodded, "There was this girl, and until I met her I swore Tanya and I were solid. Then, we had a night—and logically, if I'm able to bring myself to sleep with another woman we weren't as solid as I thought we were and we shouldn't be getting married until I sorted everything out. I was going to put the wedding on hold."

"Until she told you were going to be a father." She connected on her own. "You married her anyway."

"I couldn't leave my child without a father, no matter how I felt. So I did what I thought was right." I reasoned, more to myself than to Ms. Evans.

She nodded, but said nothing for a minute, "And I assume that since I read nothing in the file about custody something happened?"

"It was a false alarm, said she was probably late due to stress from the wedding and everything else going on at that time." I went on.

"And you believed her," She nodded showing no judgment in her expression.

I nodded.

"And I'm assuming that you found out otherwise, tell me about that."

I let out a breath trying to recall it to memory. "At her sister Kate's engagement party, three months ago, Tanya had a thing here so I went back to England solo to attend for both of us. We weren't really close at first, but when she fell for one of my old flat mates, I guess it mellowed us out. We, started talking about futures, and children, and she asked when Tanya and I were going to be bringing home nieces and nephews that sort of thing. I told her that we were working on doing just that."

Reliving it all again, made me rake a frustrated hand in my hair, "And I suppose she was trying to be encouraging when she told me not to worry if things didn't take right away, that things tend to take a few months after ending birth control."

"And are you sure her sister wasn't just lying?" She asked for clarification.

I nodded, "She didn't know we'd been trying, she didn't know Tanya told me she ended all forms of contraception once we got engaged. I thought we'd been trying all these—thought something was wrong with me—worse, it made me worry about her too."

"And how did she react when you confronted her?" She moved on.

I shook my head, "I didn't, don't plan to. I just want out." She blinked at me, her eyes saying what she didn't have to, "You think I was a fool, still am."

Her answer surprised me, "I think that you were telling the truth when you said that you could have gotten past her having an affair. I think that despite the fact you married her for what you felt were the right reasons, you've been in a loveless marriage from the start; and even that you could have continued on with. I think that the lie tipped the scale and understandably so. But most importantly I think that you fell for the type of woman that is going to make divorce very difficult Mr. Cullen."

She turned around in her chair and waved Jason back over, pressing the button on the recorder the second she turned back around."Let's go over a few more things before I get started."

"You're taking the case," I realized once we were all seated again.

She didn't glance up, "You're lucky I enjoy challenging work, Mr. Cullen this one is going to make me earn every penny of my fee."

"Thank you." I breathed still in shock, because I was pretty sure she hated my guts.

Licking her index finger, she turned to a fresh page of paper. "Don't thank me yet Mr. Cullen. I'm demanding, and I have several rules. When I ask you a question, you tell me the truth, one hundred percent as you know it. If you withhold or lie to me at any time, I'll know it and all bet's are off."

"Fine," I accepted easily. I wouldn't lie to her, I knew that much, because if I had to admit it, she scared me a little.

"There's more, you must keep in mind that I know what I am doing. " She added, "If I give you advice, know that it is the best option for the situation at that time, and trust me to adjust said advice as the situation calls for it. I can't legally make you do what I say but if at any point you decide to do the opposite and make the situation worse, I can and will end my services."

Jason rolled his eyes, "He'll be paying your salary."

"Do you know the divorce rate in this country, Jenks?" She questioned sarcastically, "There will always be someone to pay my salary, especially with the results I produce. My time is valuable, and I won't waste it on someone that won't listen."

"Alright, what do you suggest I do?"

"You want to end this as amicably as possible we're going to have to take the long way around." She explained quickly and concisely. "If I factor in all that I know, and her refusal to take your initial offer it isn't all about money with her. She wants to leave this being a victim, and she wants to hurt you as much as possible as she does it."

"I'm being more than fair here," I argued in the disbelief at hearing my own worries aloud.

She straightened in her chair, "You told me yourself that her reputation is important, and considering she did what she did to keep you around, you leaving isn't going to sit well. We'll need to set up a meeting with her attorney, make an attempt to offer her a separation agreement."

"She won't accept." I told her, because I knew.

She just shrugged a shoulder, "And it will look better for you when we have to take it to court. When did you leave the house?"

"Two months ago," I reported.

She made note, "And where are you staying?"

"With my sister for the time being, I was looking at houses—"

She shook her head, "Don't, a judge will be more sympathetic if you don't appear to have moved on too soon. I suggest you remain there, but if you must find a new dwelling place, choose an apartment at least for the duration of your divorce."

"How long?"

She knew what I was asking, "You separated two months ago, that means were looking at another ten months."

"Ten months!" Jason and I echoed in disbelief.

She didn't raise her voice at all, "You want to do this amicably we take the long way around, offer settlements, on record with both parties present. You show the judge a year of trying to keep this out of the courts and coming to no agreement despite your attempts to do it civilly you'll get your divorce, and have to shell out a lot less than you're already offering."

"Damn it's a good plan," Jason surrendered lowering in his seat. Obviously mad he hadn't thought of it.

"If you want a quick route, we go for the jugular. Your choice Mr. Cullen." She waited.

I shook my head, it was a good plan. "Alright I'll do it."

"Now, over the course of the next few months I'll need you to report to me all attempts she makes to contact you. Keep it cordial but stay firm in your choice. No sex with each other." She stressed with a firm point of her well manicured index finger.

That wouldn't be hard, "That won't happen."

"You're human, humans get lonely, and with the right words and a trip down memory lane you're vulnerable. It's psych101 and this plan won't work if you falter. Stay away from the house, and don't physically see her without someone else present—preferably me."

"Alright," I agreed.

"No dating, the last thing you need is her lawyers insinuating you were unfaithful during the marriage as well. You can best believe you already have P.I's around, if not they will be soon." She conditioned.

Women were the least of my worries, so it was easy to accept.

She glanced at her watch, "It's getting late, and I have an agreement to prepare. I plan to start average and gradually increase with each meeting. I suggest we meet next week to go over everything before I contact her lawyers, I'll call your office and set up a time."

She stood and extended her hand, dismissing herself. "Mr. Jenks, Mr. Cullen."

With a thank you and another shake, she was gone. "Well..."

"I know, she's intense, and a little too straight forward, but she's the best." Jason apologized.

"I like her," I admitted signing the check. "even though she hates me."

"Well, we can't always win."

—

"Alright, everyone," My mom called the chatter to order sitting her famous dish of lasagna in the center of the table next to the salad and garlic knots. "We're starting the updates on the left this time, Carlisle."

My dad took the salad and put a little on his plate thinking over something that happened this week that was worth sharing, "Sailing." He said in one word before passing the bowl to Emmett.

My brother plated his salad and answered quicker, "Contract."

"Dad's retirement," Rosalie answered passing the bowl to my sister who was already bouncing on her seat.

I expected her topic of choice to be about Neiman Marcus being in negotiations, but it wasn't, "Party planning."

"Katerina Evans," I decided as I plated myself and gave the bowl back to Mom.

She gave me a curious look but put some salad on her plate. "I'll finish with family reunion news."

As the seven of us sat over lasagna we listened to my dad start the family dinner tradition. Since we were children, mom and dad would start each meal with us choosing a topic to share over dinner in an effort to always stay in the know about our lives.

As kids, we hated it—apart form Alice— who you couldn't stop talking once she got started. But it was something that continued even after we became adults and left the house. Now that the dinners were once a week when possible, it felt good to know that we all loved each other enough to stop now and again to reinforce our bonds as family.

My dad decided that since their anniversary would actually fall during our family reunion, they would take a week before to themselves and sail around Europe. Rosalie awed at how romantic it sounded, and dropped a hint of her own to her husband that she wouldn't mind a trip to Europe, if he could clear his schedule.

"Please, it's always a honey moon with you two." Alice quipped digging into her pasta.

Emmett reached over and ruffled her hair, "We're over do for another honeymoon, short stuff."

"Alice—Emmett" My mom cautioned, "I think it's a great idea."

"Me too," my Dad agreed.

"But I just picked up a contract for a housing complex in DC." My brother informed shifting seamlessly over to his share time. "It's going to take up most of my time for the next few months.

I lifted my cabernet to him, "Congratulations."

"Thanks man," He mumbled continuing to stuff his face. "It's a huge deal, and since it's going to be a lower income area I'm looking at a decent tax break for it."

"Not that that's why you decided to do it." Rosalie smiled, more than proud.

We spent another few minutes asking our questions as to how the project would fold out, and him explain he'd spend most of his time in DC and home on weekends once they broke ground, but for now he could work from here.

Then Rose went on explain that she had finally convinced her father, Mr. Hale, to retire. He was getting older, but remained adamant about running his automotive shop on his own, and it was no secret that she was constantly worried for him. "I just sent them on a trip to Florida. There's fishing for him, and my mom is over the moon with the shopping there. It won't surprise me if they decided to move."

"So who's taking over the shop?" Alice wondered.

Rose grabbed for another piece of bread. "I'm going to get one of the managers at the other shops to take over, figured I might as well promote from within."

"Smart move," I agreed. "Any plans to expand?"

"Not anytime soon," She smirked, "I'm busy enough as it is here. Go on Allie, you've been bouncing all night, tell us about Esme and Carlisle's party plans, Emmett told me you fired him."

That got a snicker from my parents and an eye roll from my brother. "I had great ideas."

"I didn't," I admitted with a chuckle.

"You both were dead weight, besides I hired someone else last week," She smiled kicking off her heels to sit on her feet.

"Oh?" My mom perked up in question. "Who?"

"Isabella Swan!" She shrieked in delight, my family all murmuring some type of positive reaction none noticing that I dropped my fork at the mere mention of her name. It was far from the first time I'd heard it since the wedding, so I suppose it was the coincidence that she was already on my mind from earlier today.

I wanted to find her, before the wedding, I wanted to be the one to explain to her why I got married. I knew she'd hate me regardless, but I at least owed her the explanation. Then Rose told Alice that she was called on location for work immediately, and I knew that someone had told her before I could. So I convinced myself that there was no point in trying to do damage control—I'd made my decision.

The first holiday after the wedding, I approached with dread, hearing in casual conversations that Bella would be joining us for Thanksgiving, and then Christmas. Worried about how she would react to seeing me again, what I would say to her once we spoke again, built up more anxiety than I thought possible. I almost felt guilty about the relief I got when work made her cancel for both occasions.

Then as time went on and I heard a story here and there about her flying in for a day or so, Emmett and Rose stopping by when business took them that way, I started to think that she avoided seeing my family for all big holidays to avoid me, and honestly I didn't know how to feel about it.

" Bella on the party means a good time will be had all around," Emmett agreed.

Rosalie rolled her eyes up, "And let's you and Edward off the hook."

"We Skype almost every day with ideas and it's going good." Alice reported, " She picked the theme Chicago."

"Like the musical?" My Dad asked curiously, creasing his brow.

Alice nodded and shook her head, saying yes and no at the same time, "Chicago circa 1920's."

"Big band, organized crime, gangster's and bootleggers, jazz and booze," Rosalie listed brightening up at the idea. "Oh what a time."

"Will there be costumes?" My mother wondered keeping her excitement a bit more refined than Rosalie and Alice were.

Alice nodded, "I get to have a cigarette holder."

"Maybe we can all go shopping together, there's a great costume shop right off Broadway." My mom suggested looking between her daughters. " When is Bella flying in?"

Alice's face fell, slightly, but it was Emmett that said something first, "She isn't coming?"

"She's going to be really busy with a network party." Alice explained. "It's going to be a busy time for her. But she's coming the week after Fashion Week, so we'll see her then."

"Did you forget we have to visit Nana Cullen after Fashion week?" I reminded.

She smacked her palm to her forehead. "Darn it, I'm going to have to cancel, now I don't know when I'll see her."

"Why is it that she can't attend again?" Dad asked breaking out the dessert.

Rosalie knew more information than Alice did. "She's throwing a season premier party for CW. It's actually a big deal, did she tell you her firm is making plans to open up a branch on the east coast?"

"Really?" My mom wondered. "I'll really need to call her, she's left me quite out the loop."

"Is Bella going to run the eastern branch?" I asked casually, because it would be odd if I didn't inquire.

Alice shrugged, "No clue, they're still in the early stages, but if not her I'm sure one of her partners will—"

"Ow! Damn it Alice," My brother growled rubbing the spot on his forearm that she stopped mid sentence to flick. I winced at the 'pop' and rubbed my arm knowing very well how lethal her thumb and middle finger could be.

My mom tsked Emmett first, "That isn't language for the dinner table Emmett Cullen. Alice I thought we grew out of this flicking phase."

"I'd flick Rose too if I could reach her." She threatened looking for an opening around Emmett.

Rose raised an eyebrow, "Me? What did I do?"

"What did I do?" Emmett demanded still rubbing where the welt had started to form.

"Why didn't either of you tell me Bella was living with a boy?" She demanded, her fingers curled to flick again.

Rosalie snorted, "Probably because you just referred to it as 'living with a boy'"

"Bella is living with someone?" My mom echoed in a more refrained shock.

Alice threw her hands in the air, " At least I wasn't' the only one kept out of the loop. Yeah, apparently she's been living with Jasper Whitlock since she moved to L.A. She calls it 'their place' and everything."

"Her business partner, huh, go figure." My father dismissed.

Allie wasn't having it, "Dad you're the worst some time, this is huge. Why did no one tell me?"

"Because we knew that you'd make a big deal out of it, and it doesn't really seem like they want it to be a big deal." Emmett reasoned, when her pouty face stirred up enough guilt. "The second you knew you'd be planning their wedding."

"Not true." She countered too quickly.

Rose backed him up, "Yes true, you're a hearts and rainbows kind of girl Allie, and that's okay—for you— Bella's not like that. Plus it wasn't our place to share. She said it so casually when we visited that I assumed she didn't want to explain it, so we respected it. "

"Okay, well I understand why you didn't tell Alice, but why did no one share it with me?" My mom pressed, in a tone too polite to be sincere.

"Ask Emmett," Rose suggested becoming very interested in her turtle pie, abandoning the love her life to fend for himself.

"U-uh" Emmett stammered, trying to find a good excuse. "Because I thought that I was respecting Bella's right to tell you herself?"

Mom pinched the bridge of her nose trying to hide her smile at the fact that his reason came out more like a question than an actual response. "Fine," She gave up. "At least tell me a bit about him."

"Pretty cool guy," Emmett shrugged, still treading cautiously along the line of trouble. "We went to a Lakers game while we were there. They won by twenty."

"And that's all fine and well, but what about them specifically," Alice clarified losing her patience.

Rose took over, "They're great, basically best friends. Finish each other's sentences, have all types of inside jokes. I get the impression that they look after each other, and the love is obviously there."

"Can we talk about something else?" I suggested trying to ignore the lead feeling in my stomach.

Though Emmett nodded in agreement, the women at the table ignored the motion. "Is he handsome?" My mom asked leaning in slightly.

Rose's eyes widened and she laughed, "He is a god, Esme. 6'2 sun kissed skin, lean and muscled, eyes blue as pools with the yummiest southern accent I ever heard. I'd just about sum him up as one of the finest specimens to be birthed in the great state of Texas. I mean— if you're in to that sort of thing."

"Really?" Emmett scowled pretending to be offended. "I'm right here."

"That is quite a description," My mom cocked an eyebrow, too much in thought to full on laugh, though her lips did twitch in amusement. "I'll definitely be giving Bella a call."

"Can we talk about something else now?" I repeated.

Rosalie frowned, "What's up your butt Edward?"

"Nothing, it's just rude to talk about someone when they aren't here." I reminded taking a bite of the pie I'd been shuffling around my plate, she still watched me carefully, like she wasn't buying it. "You're right, I'm a bit salty right now. This divorce is going to take longer than I thought." I ran over Katerina's suggestion and they all listened intently.

When I was finished my dad was the first to input an opinion, "Well Katerina Evans is the best in her field, if she thinks this is the best option, I say go with it son."

"She doesn't like me very much." I deduced, thinking over my time with her earlier.

Rosalie just shrugged, "She doesn't have to like you, she just has to produce."

"Yeah," I agreed, not really sure what else to say.

Alice reached across the table, giving my hand a slight squeeze, "You're welcome to stay with me as long as you want."

"I say take her down, she deserves it." Rosalie hissed narrowing her eyes, "You're better than me Eddie." Her admission started a full table of venom, and suggestions among my siblings.

My mom grabbed the hand Alice released giving it an assuring squeeze of her own, her own way of telling me that we'd talk about it behind closed doors since it was obvious I didn't want to talk about it now.

I nodded in acceptance and she called the table to order. "Alight you three, although I'm glad to see the three of you actually agreeing on something for a change, I will not have that woman's negativity ruining our family dinner. So we'll move on to other news."

And no one argued.

Okay guys, so the outline goes as follows I have one more chapter from Bella's POV, and then Ch. 14 in Edwards again. They'll be reuinted soo, and thats when the real fireworks start. Until next time.