AN: This is a short chapter, I know, but I wanted to get it out there since I have to complete the outtake for FFNKH and I'm not sure when I'll be able to start the next chapter.
Meet me at the bottom – I have a few more things to say As always, this has been beta'd by the wonderful SereneinNC.
All things Twilight belong to SM.
James was almost the last person I wanted to run into – figuratively and literally. I didn't think I was never going to see him again, because really, whatever arrangement I had with Edward wasn't going to last. I was just hoping that I wouldn't see him until I really needed to.
"What do you want?" I asked, my eyes narrowed and accusing.
"Calm down. We need to talk," he responded, waving his hand dismissively.
"And what do we need to talk about?" I asked, waving my finger between the two of us. He rolled his eyes and then grabbed my arm, forcing me to walk behind him. I wasn't afraid of him; I just thought he was an asshole. I followed him, though, out of curiosity. He led us over to an unoccupied bus stop bench.
"So where you been?" he asked, making unnecessary small talk.
"Eh, around; here and there," I answered, being vague on purpose.
He sighed deeply and dramatically. "Okay, frankly, I don't give a shit and we both know that." I nodded in agreement. "I have a business proposition for you," he began.
Again with the propositions! This time, however, I knew that we were on the same page.
"So there's this guy who stays at the motel every now and then, some rich dude. Anyway, we got to talking and he told me that he was looking for a steady girl for like two or three days. He asked me if I knew anyone and I thought of you," he finished like he had just told me that I had won the lottery – like I was supposed to be honored.
"Oh, well, in that case…" I said sarcastically. "What made you think of me?"
"I dunno. You just seemed like the most reliable person. Besides, I'm sure you can use the money," he said knowingly.
"How much money are we talking about?" I asked.
"Five thousand a night, so ten to fifteen thousand." He smirked when my jaw hit the floor.
"What the fuck does this guy do for a living?"
"Who knows?" He shrugged. "A lawyer, a CEO, a drug dealer - who cares, they're all fucking crooks. The point is that it's serious fucking cash and all you have to do is spread your legs and suck some cock." He had an odd sparkle in his eyes. I knew James and I knew this sparkle.
"What's in it for you?" I asked, knowing that he was daydreaming about his own payout from this whole deal. This was the closest thing I had to a pimp and I didn't like it.
"Seven large – a finder's fee if you will. As long as you two close the deal, I get paid. Here." He pulled out a business card from his wallet. "Think about it. This is his number. Call him and hear him out."
I took the card from him. The name on it was E. Yorkie with a number. That was it – nothing else. It didn't state a place of employment or title.
"What does he look like?" I asked, even though it didn't really matter. As long as they paid, they could look like Sasquatch and I'd still do the deed.
"I dunno. I guess chicks would think he's good looking. He's got black hair that's always slicked back, tailored suit, white teeth. About six feet or so, maybe two hundred pounds. Let's just say, if I swung that way I'd blow him. Actually, fuck that, if he paid me the money that's he's willing to pay you I'd blow him, gay or not."
I guess it helped a little knowing that he was at least handsome, based on what James said.
"Look, I gotta go. Like I said, think about it and what you could do with ten g's. You could even get yourself housed in a small studio for like a year with that kind of money or even get the fuck outta Seattle." He parted leaving me with his words of wisdom. I think that was the most civil he's ever been to me. Then again, he would profit from this also.
I sat on the bench for what felt like hours, thinking about the different things I could do with that money. It could actually change my life. I could get a shitty studio and have rent for at least a year. I could get a job in the mean time. I could become a productive member of society without having to fuck another guy if I didn't want to. I could even buy art supplies and start painting again.
This job could be the answer to my prayers. Maybe I could even stay in Seattle, but move to a different part of town where no one knew me. I could visit Rose and Isabel when I wanted or they could visit me.
At first thought, the offer seemed appealing. It could be the last arrangement I ever made – I could go out with a bang – no pun intended. But the more I sat and thought it through, the less sense it made. If he was as good looking as James said, then why the need to pay for sex. He was probably into some twisted shit which explained the high price that he was willing to pay.
The scenery around me grew eerily dark and quiet. It had to be at least nine or ten o'clock. Deciding to take my chances, I headed back to Edward's condo. I smiled at the doorman and made my way up to his apartment. The light was shining underneath the door. I didn't want to try the knob to see if the door was open, not feeling that it was my right to just walk in. Instead, I knocked lightly, hoping that he was still awake. I wasn't waiting a full minute before the door was flung open and I was pulled inside.
"What the hell, Bella?" Edward screeched as he slammed the door shut. "Where the hell have you been?"
"Nowhere," I answered as I stared at him with wide eyes and slightly scared. "I didn't think it was a good idea to stay here alone so I went for a walk."
"I've been here for two fucking hours. Where the fuck did you walk to?"
"I'm sorry," I quickly apologized. "You're note said you'd be back around eleven so I tried to stay out until that time."
"So you mean to tell me that while I was gone, you just walked?" His tone was sarcastic and unbelieving.
"Yeah. I mean, I ran into…someone and we were talking for a bit, but most of the time I was by myself.
"A friend?" he asked, his disgust clear. "Who,? Peter?"
I swallowed hard hearing his name. I hadn't thought about him since I saw him in the warehouse, but hearing his name again reminded me how I could have easily run into him tonight.
"No, not Peter. Just someone I know from around the way."
He looked at me accusingly. "Well, I have to work tomorrow. Should I have Alice keep you company?"
I read between the lines. He was asking me if I needed to be watched. He thought I was up to some shady business that I was going to bring into his home. I guess he had the right to be wary, but I wished that he had a little faith in me. I thought we were heading in that direction, but something happened that had us taking two steps back. It seemed like we were getting along just fine, but the minutes I said or did something that he didn't particularly like, he was back to being that rude man I had met on the street all those weeks ago. Half the time, I didn't even know what I said or did to upset him.
I shrugged a shoulder. "If you want; it's up to you. Or I could leave with you and come back later. Maybe hang out with Rose while you're gone."
"Rose is visiting her aunt in Portland this weekend." I knew of this aunt but I had never actually met her.
"Okay. Well I guess you'll let me know what you want me to do in the morning," I responded. I turned to head to my bedroom when I felt a tug on my wrist.
"Are…you okay? I mean, you didn't get hurt or anything, right?" He was so up and down. One minute he was irate and the next he actually gave a shit.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for asking." I offered him an appreciative smile.
He opened his mouth and looked like he was about to say something else, but closed it instead. He let go of my wrist and headed for his bedroom. I stared at him and watched as his shoulders slumped and his head bowed. Instead of going to my room, I got comfortable on the couch.
As I thought about my conversation with James and the job offer, I realized I never seriously considered Edward in this whole thing. If I went through with it, and I was seriously considering going through with it, then I don't think whatever kind of relationship that Edward and I had could withstand it. While I was convinced that he no longer hated me, he sure wasn't my biggest fan.
Losing Edward also meant losing everyone else, except maybe Rosalie. However, she may even be too disgusted with me if I went that route. As sad as it was, I knew that this is what I had to do, despite what everyone else would think, say, or even do. I needed this.
I slowly slouched down on the couch until I was completely lying down. It pained me to have to make such a decision, but my options were truly limited.
I stared ahead at nothing in particular, thinking about everything I was going to allow myself to lose and not allowing myself to think of anything I was going to gain. It was easier if I thought negatively so I didn't set myself up for disappointment. I kept thinking this was something that was definitely going to go down, but this Yorkie guy could still refuse my services.
I don't know when I had fallen asleep, but I was jostled awake. The light was streaming through the blinds and I could hear the birds competing with the traffic.
"Hey, I'm just letting you know that I'm heading out now," Edward said as he put on his coat. I was still trying to figure out how I had fallen asleep on the couch while he kept talking. "Alice will be here around noon."
"A-huh," I answered, still trying to comprehend what he was telling me through my sleep-fogged brain.
True to his word, two minutes past noon, Alice walked through the door. I had been fiddling around with the card that James had given me and wasn't paying attention to the time. As quick as I could, I shoved the card in my bra, ensuring that Alice wouldn't see it.
"Hey Alice," I began, but immediately stopped. "What's wrong?" I asked when I took in her appearance. She was dressed in sweats, sporting a messy up-do, and looking absolutely miserable.
"Nothing," she said, waving me off. "The thermostat broke yesterday, and the house was blazing hot so we put on the air conditioner when we went to sleep. Every time we use the air conditioner again after not using it for awhile, I always wake up with a cold."
"Oh, that sucks. I usually get about four colds a year – one every time the season changes. Funny enough, I've never had the flu."
"That sucks," she said, pointing to me. "I hate having summer colds. Anyway, don't mind me. I'm just gonna park my grumpy ass on the couch and sleep for a bit."
"Alice, you really shouldn't have come." I felt so guilty since I was probably the only reason she got out of bed this morning. "I could have found something to occupy my time."
"Nah, it's okay. Jasper is conveniently off on the day they're running a medical marathon on TLC, or some channel."
"Okay, well I'm going to use the bathroom. Let me know if you need anything."
With a nod and a wave she sent me off. I took a shower, simply as something to calm my nerves. I was about to make the phone call to Yorkie and I felt like my emotions were still all over the place. It didn't help that Alice would now be in the house while I made the phone call.
While dressing in the bathroom I tried to figure out a way to sneak the cordless phone into my room from the living room without Alice seeing. If she did, she was surely going to ask me who I was calling and it wasn't like I could tell her the truth. However, everything was for naught when I saw she was fast asleep on the couch. I could never break it to her, but Alice was a snorer who drooled.
I grabbed the phone and ran as quietly as I could back to my room. I locked the door just to ensure that Alice couldn't sneak up on me while I was still on the phone. Taking a few, or a lot, of deep calming breaths, I finally worked up the courage to call.
"Hello?" A smooth, attractive sounding voice answered.
"Hi,this is Bella; I believe James told you about me."
"He did," he replied, offering nothing else.
"Okay, well I wanted to know if you were interested in meeting or something – to talk about your offer," I clarified.
"Based on the things James has told me about you I think that I'm ready to commit. The only things that we need to discuss are some of my own requirements." His voice dripped confidence and finality.
"I have some rules of my own that need to be laid out."
His laughter was smooth; he truly sounded humored. "With the money that I'll be paying you, I don't think you have much of a say in how I run this show." I had no response so I remained quiet. He must have taken my silence for agreement because he went on as if nothing was wrong. "Tomorrow, around six, meet me in front of James' motel. We'll do a trial run, if you will. Whether this works out or not, you'll get paid for one night. If we are…compatible, expect to be with me for three nights."
"Okay," I muttered, still completely at a loss. I didn't expect this conversation to be so one-sided. He made a point when he mentioned the payment. I had never taken a job with such a huge payout and it felt wrong to feed him my list of demands. I had a weird knot forming in my stomach, but pushed the feeling away. I needed this to work out.
"We'll talk more after we get to…know each other better," he said, then hung up. This didn't feel right, but these jobs never did.
The fact that he was so vague about everything was a huge red flag that I forced myself to ignore. My only concern now was explaining to Edward that I would be gone a few days.
AN: Thank you to everyone who continues to read, review, alart, fav. And thank you to however it was that rec'd this story over at ADF. I responded to a lot of reviews and planned on doing more, but this update was not planned so…
First off, I was nom'd over at TLS for fic of the week *wink wink* (http:/www. tehlemonadestand. net)
Second, I was nom'd for a Wordsmith Award for Best Angst. Voting begins 5/17 thru 5/26 (http:/ wordsmithawards. blogspot. se/)
Third, the o/s that I donated to FFJD is now posted on my profile. Shelves, Pegs, and Endless Baskets. I guess it could be considered a sexy comedy, I dunno. Read it and you tell me.
I think that's it…
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