Stephenie Meyer owns the characters.

Painted on my heart

Chapter 14

I've still got your face

Painted on my heart

Scrawled upon my soul

Etched upon my memory

(The Cult)

EPOV

I'm standing in my new office with a ridiculously erratic heartbeat, staring out of my windows down at the small town that I have now made my home. It's actually fucking ridiculous for a thirty story building to be situated in the middle of a town this small. What the hell was he thinking anyways? I can see the entire town from my window. I stuck my clenched fists into the pockets of my Armani suit and felt my jaw tighten on its own accord.

Nothing could have prepared me for this…nothing. I never thought for one second that I was going to come face to face with my past today. A low groan escaped my throat. Even after five years of convincing myself that I hate her…I don't. Fuck! My arms are still empty without her and my body still yearns for her and my heart still longs for her…not to mention my lips…

Stop this shit Cullen, she fucked you over remember? I chastised myself. I pushed my thoughts back to my hatred, my bitterness.

It's been five years, well you can add a couple of months to the years but all and all it's been five years. Five years since she walked away from me, since she walked away from our marriage and our love. I had five years to hate her and her father and believe me, I hate them. They fucked my life up and I made a promise to myself five years ago, that I will get even.

So, here I am, standing in the office of the man who is the cause for all my hatred. It's just so sad that he died on me. I was going to reveal myself today, the anonymous buyer who bought his bankrupt Corporation, and I really wanted to see his face.

I've been through hell for the last five years. There were days that I couldn't even get out of bed; not from only hurting but also from being drunk all the time. There were days that I've lost my will to live…and almost died…had it not been for my sister, Alice.

Every day that I went through that hell, I hated her with even more passion. I never thought I was capable of hating someone, but the Swan's proved me wrong.

Over the years I've learned to deal with my pain, I've learned to live with a broken heart. It wasn't easy at first, but I have managed to pull myself together and start to live my life.

My face turned hard and my fists clenched inside my pockets. Of course, I've never forgotten her. No matter how hard I've tried to bury my love for her, I never succeeded. And after I've managed to suppress her face from my memories during the day, I never, ever succeeded at nights. She was constantly in my dreams; her eyes, her lips, her smile, her body…waking up in a pissy mood was becoming a habit in my life and it took me a few hours to get myself together.

I've followed Swan Corporation over the years and I knew Charlie has gotten himself into trouble. I couldn't be happier because I knew that this was my chance. I was going to get even with Charlie Swan and I was going to show him that I wasn't a nothing. I was going to show him and his daughter that I didn't need my parents' money to be someone.

I walked back to my desk and took a seat, leaning on my desk with my elbows and intertwined hands. I closed my eyes with a sigh; I never thought that it would be so hard returning to Forks.

Bella's been in my thoughts constantly and the memories just flooded through my brain of our time together. Memories I've suppressed because they're way too painful to think about.

What I don't understand though, is the hollowness in her eyes, the same hollowness and pain that reflects in my eyes. She left me; she walked away from me…why is she so broken? Maybe it's because she lost her father. Bile rose to my throat just thinking about that monster and Bella grieving over him.

I picked my telephone up and dialed her extension. Her soft voice sent shivers down my spine and I swallowed around the lump that formed in my throat.

"What can I do for you Mr. Cullen?" she asked softly. I frowned. Am I imagining myself or do I hear tears in her voice?

"I want to see Mr. Black, the financial manager as soon as possible" I said without emotion. My voice sounded dead…five fucking years…

"I'll get to it right away, is there anything else?" she asked.

"No, thank you" I said and hung up.

Ten minutes later there was a soft knock on my door. She opened the door and behind her stood a huge man. He had a rusty skin color, maybe his Native American, with short black hair. He walked past her and stretched his hand out towards me with a big smile, showing off his white teeth. Bella turned around and left the office.

"Mr. Black I presume" I smiled back and took his hand. He nodded his head. "I'm Edward Cullen"

His hand fell out of mine and his smile fell as well. His eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched at the sound of my name.

"You're Edward Cullen" he spat.

"You know me?" I asked sarcastically.

"You can say that." He cleared his throat before he added, "You wanted to see me?"

"I wanted to see the financial statements and books of the corporation. I want to know what kind of shit Charlie Swan left this company with" I smiled because I already knew the kind of shit Charlie has gotten himself into and I knew exactly what I bought. I knew every single thing about this company but I wanted to test this financial manager. I wanted to test his honesty and if he was trustworthy.

"It will be on your desk in an hour" he said.

"I know you must have heard things about me, it's the only explanation for your change of attitude, but let's get one thing straight. I don't give a shit what you've heard or what you think about me personally, what I want to know from you right now is; will you be able to work with me on a professional level or am I going to have problems with you?" I spat. I didn't give a shit what Jacob Black thought about me but as long as he works for me and I have to pay his salary, he will treat me with respect or he can just pack up his office right now.

"I can do that" he smiled but it didn't reach his eyes.

"Good." I said with the same amount of coldness he approached me with. He left my office but I could still hear him in the front office talking to Bella. I walked to my door and leaned against the door.

"Why didn't you tell me he was coming back?" he hissed.

"I didn't know and besides, you couldn't do anything about it" Bella sighed. She sounded so hurt.

"Bells," he sighed and it felt like someone just stabbed a dagger through my heart and twisted it at the amount of love his voice said her name with. Why does it bother me?

"I hate to see you like this. Do you know what I'm thinking right now?" he asked her but she didn't answer so he continued, "five years ago when I first met you…you were so broken and there were days that I thought you were going to cry yourself to death…"

"What's your point Jake?" she asked in exhaustion.

"My point is that I don't want to see you like that again. It breaks my heart to see you like that and now that this man has returned-"

"I won't let him ruin my life again. I'm stronger now and besides, he wasn't the biggest reason for my emptiness" she whispered with a trembled voice.

Okay, so now I'm completely confused. What the fuck is she talking about? She won't let me ruin her life again…what the fuck had I done?

"Charlie-"

"Don't even mention his name now, Jake. I don't want to hate him today, not today. I just buried him and I think I could put my hatred aside for one day" she hissed.

"Bells, you have to forgive him" Jake said.

"I know but…it's going to take time Jake" she said without any emotion. Her voice was cold and I could hear the hatred and bitterness in her voice.

To say I was shocked by her reaction when Jacob mentioned Charlie's name, was an understatement. What brought this hatred on? Here I thought I was the only one who hated Charlie but I guess I was wrong.

"Bells, I know he fucked your life up but-"

Bella cleared her throat. "He has done more than that Jake and you know it. I'm dead because of that man and…you know what, I don't want to talk about this." She sounded so exhausted.

I turned around and went back to my desk. What has Charlie done to her? Don't let her get to you, she played you once and it almost killed you. Remember what she did to you; dream it, breathe it and live it. It's payback. The Swan's had their time for five years, now it's my time…

I really need a drink right now. I groaned in frustration while running my fingers through my hair. Why does she still have this effect on me?

And she met Jake five years ago…that's fucking interesting. So what, is Jake the boyfriend or what? I shouldn't be interested in her life right now…but I can't help myself. She always had this effect on me; from the first time I've met her, I couldn't stay away from her or keep my hands off of her. Now I'm in that same position. I want to know what happened five years ago because something doesn't seem right and nothing makes sense.

Jacob brought everything I've asked an hour later. He wasn't as stiff as before so I took my chance.

"How long have you known the Swan's?" I asked. And there is the stiffness back in his posture. I noticed how his hand clenched into a fist and a sly smile crossed my face. Oh yeah, something is definitely going on.

"I've known Charlie almost all my life" he answered without mentioning Bella's name. If he knew Charlie all his life, then he's supposed to know Bella as well but she never mentioned a Jacob or Jake when we were together. Besides, I overheard him earlier when he said that he met her five years ago.

"So then you and Bella practically grew up together?" I asked stupidly.

He met my eyes and glared at me but I didn't back down. I'm a broken man with a lot of hatred and bitterness inside of me and someone glaring at me doesn't scare me off. I've learned to glare back and to spit back.

"No, I've met Bella five years ago" he hissed through clenched teeth.

"Really?" I asked. Jacob's eyes narrowed and a low huff escaped his mouth.

"Is there any particular reason for your questions?" he asked annoyed.

"Just curious" I replied nonchalantly.

"Look, why don't you just stay away from her" he said.

I laughed out loud.

"What makes you think I have the slightest intention of-"

"I know what you've done to her and I'm warning you, boss or not, I will kill you if you hurt her again" he interrupted me. I was on my feet in a split second and slammed my hands down hard on my desk. Jacob was on his feet as well and the both of us leaned forward, our faces inches away from each other's.

"I have never, and I mean never, in my life hurt that woman. I've done nothing but to love her with everything I had" I spat.

He chuckled.

"Yeah that was until you smelled the money" he smiled sarcastically now. I must admit that that threw me back. I felt the blood drain my face and a deep frown creased my forehead.

"What…what money?" I croaked out.

"I'm going back to my office. Just remember that I've warned you about hurting Bella again. She has been through hell and she doesn't deserve you trampling on her heart again" he said and pushed his body back up and turned on his heels and walked to my door.

"Now me and you have a real problem Jacob Black" I hissed.

"I don't give a shit about you or this stupid company but Bella…Bella means the world to me and I'll be damned before I'll let anyone hurt her again" he said before he left my office.

I fell back into my chair and grabbed a fistful of my hair in frustration. What the fuck was that about? What's this money he mentioned? Since when did I give a shit about money?

Edward's back…any thoughts? Do you think he took the money?

Please review…