All right folks. So I just got the facts in about the divorce, drug, and other charges. And I hate to say this but I hate the facts so I'm going to screw them. Basically what we're looking at, for the trouble I've created for James would cause the divorce to not be dealt with for a fucking year. I just groaned internally. So here is what I have to say about all of this. SCREW THE FACTS I'M DOING THIS MY WAY. I am saying this because if I don't do it my way Bella and Edward will hurt me.
Edward: I am not waiting a fucking year to finally be able to kiss the woman I am falling in love with when you have the power to change it all!
Bella: I am not waiting a fucking year to make love to Edward. You cannot make us wait this long.
Edward: I will hurt you, Lauren, if you don't speed it up. I know where you live!
Me: Ok, ok, I'll bend the facts. I didn't want to make you wait either.
So there you have it folks. I'm bending the facts. So after this chapter I'll begin James' trials. That's right plural trials. He's gotten himself into deep doo-doo. I pity the fool.
Enjoy!
Chapter Fourteen
Gives You Hell
I wake up every evening with a big smile on my face
And it never feels out of place
And you're still probably working at a 9 to 5 pace
I wonder how bad that tastes
When you see my face
Hope it gives you hell, hope it gives you hell
When you walk my way
Hope it gives you hell, hope it gives you hell
Now where's your picket fence, love?
And where's that shiny car?
And did it ever get you far?
You never seemed so tense, love
I've never seen you fall so hard
Do you know where you are?
And truth be told I miss you
And truth be told I'm lying
When you see my face
Hope it gives you hell, hope it gives you hell
When you walk my way
Hope it gives you hell, hope it gives you hell
If you find a man that's worth a damn and treats you well
Then he's a fool, you're just as well, hope it gives you hell
I hope it gives you hell
Tomorrow you'll be thinking to yourself
Yeah, where did it go all wrong?
But the list goes on and on
Truth be told I miss you
And truth be told I'm lying
When you see my face
Hope it gives you hell, hope it gives you hell
When you walk my way
Hope it gives you hell, hope it gives you hell
If you find a man that's worth a damn and treats you well
Then he's a fool, you're just as well, hope it gives you hell
Now you'll never see what you've done to me
You can take back your memories, they're no good to me
And here's all your lies, you look me in the lies
With the sad, sad look that you wear so well
When you see my face
Hope it gives you hell, hope it gives you hell
When you walk my way
Hope it gives you hell, hope it gives you hell
If you find a man that's worth a damn and treats you well
Then he's a fool, you're just as well, hope it gives you hell
When you see my face
Hope it gives you hell, hope it gives you hell
(Hope it gives you hell!)
When you walk my way
Hope it gives you hell, hope it gives you hell
(Hope it gives you hell!)
When you hear this song and you sing along, well you'll never tell
And you're the fool, I'm just as well, hope it gives you hell
When you hear this song I hope that it will give you hell
You can sing along, I hope that it puts you through hell
Bella was use to luxury but not the type that the Cullens had. After James inherited the business she never got to go on the private jets. The jet was sleek and was defiantly high-class. The sun was just about to rise when Edward and Bella boarded the plane. Each with a small bag incase they did have to spend the night. They also had both brought their laptops because they would be working while they would there. Bella planned to get her share of the campaign that was due tomorrow morning done on the plane and then send it to Benjamin when she had Internet access.
Bella made herself comfortable in one of the large leather seats on the jet. Edward took the one right next to her. She opened her laptop and put it on the pull out table that pulled out of the arm of her chair.
"You're a little busy be, aren't you?" Edward chuckled as he slowly pulled out his laptop.
"I'll be better off once we are in the air and I have my coffee."
"You already had a cup at the house."
"On a normal day where I'm not getting up before the sun comes up, that would be fine, but today is going to be a very, very long day."
"I'll have one of the flight attendants bring you a fresh cup once we take off."
"Thanks." Bella said with a smile and then got to work.
Once they were up in the air Bella got her coffee just as Edward had promised. She felt more awake now. Edward leaned over into her personal space and looked at her computer screen. Bella was pounding away at the keyboard as she wrote up the product description based on the technical one that Jake had written for her to use. She was also working on the graphic design for the still frame advertisement and editing the script that had been given to her to advise. Bella noticed that Edward was staring and then asked him what he was doing without looking at him.
"Did you find something interesting?" She asked in a suggestive tone.
"Oh, very, but she's a bit preoccupied."
"I meant on my screen." Bella said with a bit of light laughter.
"I'd say that putting you as a marketing executive was one of the smartest moves my dad has ever made"
"Why thank you, Mr. Cullen."
"I thought we were on a first name basis."
"Oh, we are." Bella threw one of their previous conversations back at him.
"I swear that if we weren't under certain constraints I'd-"
"You'd what?" Bella looked at him this time raising her eyebrow.
"Kiss you." He said in a barely audible whisper.
Bella's cheeks filled with crimson blush and then she smiled at him.
"You're so sweet." She murmured and then leaned over to place a quick kiss on his cheek.
Then she went back to work but Edward was still in shock. He had his hand on the cheek that she had touched with her lips and had the goofiest smile on his face.
"Oh, and Edward, I don't know if you know how the world works in LA. At least how it is when you're associated with the Martins so it's best I brief you so that you're prepared."
Edward nodded in agreement and then put one of his hands on top of hers, causing her to look at him.
"You see. James parties with A-listers and well, he is an A-lister, and don't ask me how is one. I'm still trying to figure that one out. Ever since I moved to LA I've had to deal with the paparazzi and let's put it this way. There's nothing the tabloids love more than seeing the distressed mother of an A-lister out and about especially when she is distressed. I've had my bodyguards when I go out shopping with Gracie actually punch out some photographers because of the harassment level. Due to James's recent arrest and my lack of appearance in public over the last few days they're going to be looking for me. They already know that it's for rape and abuse charges but they're going to want to hear my side of the story. Not all of the reporters will be from tabloids, some will be from actual news stations. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the major stations try to interview me because they were headlining his arrest. It's known that the Martins and the Cullens are rivals and so it's going to look quite peculiar that I'm getting out of a jet with you. People are most defiantly going to think I'm doing it to get back at James. It's crucial that you and I do not show affection for each other, which means no hand holding in public, despite how much we enjoy it. This is the one time that it does matter what people think because it could be used against me in court, even though his charges are much greater James could make it look like you and I are together-together. I bet you his lawyer could bullshit some facts and make it say that we were having an affair long before I moved to Seattle. If reporters ask you questions don't say anything. Just ignore them. And if you're overwhelmed by the paparazzi I'm right here beside you."
Edward had no idea how much Bella had to deal with the media. It was absolutely ridiculous. He had never had to deal with the media like that before. He only had to do a few press conferences and that wasn't harassment at all, it was just part of the business.
"I promise, Bella. I wont let you down." Edward murmured as he gave her hand a squeeze.
"I know you won't, Edward. You're my best guy friend. Besides Rose you are my best friend. I trust you."
Edward was moved by her words. He couldn't help but smile. Slowly he brought her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers and then her palm.
"I feel so protective of you, Bella. The thought of another man touching you, it makes me so angry. The thought of what James did to you, it makes me want to kill him. I just want to give him hell. I know that you and I aren't in a relationship, but I just got so jealous when I saw you with Jake."
Edward had to hide the anger in his eyes.
"Oh, Edward. There's no need to be jealous of him. If I weren't going through this I promise that we'd be dating. Emotionally I believe I'm ready. Gracie is my first priority, though, and I need to gain full custody of her. As I have already said having a boyfriend wouldn't be fair to you and it wouldn't help my case."
"I understand, Bella. I understand completely. I just want to be honest with you."
"I appreciate that. But I think we should get back to work. I have a feeling that my husband has us in for a whole mess of trouble. And knowing James I wouldn't expect anything less."
When the plane landed at the LA airport there was a chaos waiting for Edward and Bella on the tarmac. The door to the jet opened and the bodyguards left first, then Bella and Edward, and then more guards behind them. Bella was already familiar with the roar of the media, but Edward, on the other hand, was startled by it.
"Isabelle, how long as the domestic violence been going on?"
"Is it true that you've been secretly working for the Cullen's behind your husbands back?"
"Isabelle, do you have anything to say about your husband's arrest?"
"Isabelle, how long do you think that your husband is going to be locked away?"
The slew of questions didn't faze Bella but they made Edward nervous. For his own comfort he wanted to grab Bella's hand, but he had to force himself not to. Luckily the car wasn't too far away and they got into it successfully without the paparazzi swarming them.
"Are you all right?" Bella asked as she put her hand on Edward's.
The windows were darkly tinted so she knew that she could touch him like that.
"That was quite an unpleasant experience. Let's not do that again." Edward murmured and then squeezed Bella's hand.
"I know, baby, it's hard your first time. Hopefully today will be the only day you'll have to face it."
Edward groaned but then decided that he needed to be pulled together for Bella. They were going to her old house first to see what James had been hiding. It was best that they went so that they had answers before they saw James. That was what Edward was most nervous about, seeing James. He was concerned for Bella. He didn't know how she would react.
When they got to Bella's house the car pulled into the garage and Bella began to shake nervously.
"Bella." Edward said in a calming voice.
"Maybe this was a bad idea." Bella whispered as she unbuckled her seatbelt.
"Bella, I know it's hard, but you need to be strong. Remember that you're going this for Gracie. Don't you want Gracie to live in a safer world? A world where she can play in the backyard and laugh and you don't have to worry about James taking her away?"
"You're right. Thanks for reminding me." Bella said and then hugged him tightly.
"You can do this, Bella. I know that you can. You're so brave and strong. You've been through so much and if anyone can do it, it's you."
Bella kissed him on the cheek and then got out of the car with Edward tagging not far behind her.
When they got into the house Alec was waiting for them. Alec took her into his arms and held her close. He knew that this was extremely hard for Bella, having to be back in the world that she just ran away from. As they now knew, this house was painted with memories that she would rather forget. When Alec let her go he whispered something to her that Edward didn't hear. She nodded in reply and then motioned for Edward to take her hand.
"I can't do this by myself." She whispered.
Edward nodded and then followed Alec with Bella beside her. They walked down to the basement, which was Gracie's playroom. It was a bit luxurious but the one thing James did do regarding Gracie was buy her toys, well more whenever he felt like he owed his daughter for not being around he gave Bella his card and told her to order Gracie something big and expensive to play with. That was James's idea of parenting. The walls had been torn open and Bella nearly fell to her knees when she saw what was stuffed in them.
Hundreds of packages of an assortment of drugs were stuffed in the walls where the insulation should have been.
"You're looking at two hundred pounds of marijuana, two hundred and fifty pounds of cocaine powder, and an assortment of free style drugs that have been laced." Alec explained as Bella started at the police offers and forensics taking pictures and samples of the evidence.
"Alec, we're ready to show her if you are." A police officer said after approaching them.
Bella looked up at Edward, searching for something stable that she could cling to. With his free hand he cupped her cheek in his palm.
"Hey, I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."
She nodded and then turned towards the policeman.
The forensic men opened a door that Bella had never seen before. That was because it was expertly sealed to look like part of the wall as well. When Bella saw what was inside she nearly fainted. There were snipers, machine guns, boxes of ammunition and all sorts of cargo with the name Wyrot on it.
"What the fuck?" Bella growled. "This was Gracie's playroom. How could he put all of this in here? How could he put this all in the house?" Bella was going to have a breakdown.
Edward held her by her shoulders and soothingly moved his hands up and down her arms.
"He used the large toys to cover the openings where the money was stored in the walls, along with the drugs. He used the Disney Princess play kitchen to cover up the door to this room." One of the police officers explained. Everyone looked at him like he was crazy. "Sorry, my daughter has the same one." He explained and then everyone laughed.
"The Wyrot's are an organized crime family located here in LA. I'm sorry to say that it looks like your husband is involved. It looks as if he were having all of this smuggled into the country and I'm guessing the same goes for the drugs, too." Another policeman spoke up who was investigating the room.
"James, you fucking idiot. As if I didn't have enough to deal with." Bella muttered and then looked around room.
"Ma'am, did you know about any of this?" The first policeman asked.
"No, the only thing I knew was that my husband was having an affair, well several but he had one main girl. He also has a terrible drinking charges, which I'm sure you have heard the results of because of his arrest."
"I just find it strange that you left right before the company was about to release their newest product knowing that you had rape and abuse charges against him. And something like this could assure that you could get full custody of your child even if you had a small bit of doubt that the rape and abuse charges wouldn't get you that."
"You think I knew about this?" Bella growled.
"It would be a reasonable explanation."
"If I had fucking known about this I would have left a long time ago." Bella barked.
Edward had to take hold of her before she got physical. She was a feisty little thing. She definitely didn't take false accusations well.
"So why did you leave when you did, when it's been reported that James was abusing you since he took over the company?"
"I've already explained this to my lawyer, but I'll explain it again to clear my name."
Edward took hold of her hands and rubbed gentle circles in her palms. He needed some way to calm her before she got overwhelmed.
"You see, a week before I left was Gracie's birthday. That was when I realized things wouldn't get better. I started planning then how I was going to leave. I had to wait until James would be gone long enough to pack what we needed. I left the big stuff behind which I plan to have the movers pack up today. I hope that wont be a problem for you. I would appreciate it though if you searched the rest of Gracie and my belongings to make sure James didn't hide anything in there. I really wouldn't want Gracie to find drugs or ammunition in her play toys. Anyway. I was waiting around for the perfect day of last week to leave. It came the day after I heard James on the phone."
Bella's eyes began to water and Alec offered her his handkerchief. She took it gratefully and wiped her eyes.
"He had just…" Her voice got a lot smaller. "Taken advantage of me."
Edward's hold on her tightened; he was standing behind her, now holding only one of her hands, and so he bent down and whispered in her ear.
"Hey, it's ok. I'm here. No one is going to hurt you. These nice men just want the truth so that they can help you. I know it hurts but I'm right here to catch you if you fall."
"You mean when?" Bella whimpered.
"No, I mean if. I have confidence in you, Bella."
She nodded and then took a deep breath.
"I was just lying there in bed. Everything hurt. He had been drunk and Gracie was thankfully asleep in her bed. Sometimes I'm really happy that she can sleep through almost anything. This time was worse than any other. I felt sick and he had cut me. He told me he was marking me. I have a slash on my back to prove it. I knew I needed to get to Gracie, but I couldn't. Luckily, I had told her to lock her door behind me when I left her room. You see I put a special lock on her door that she can lock and unlock because of these situations. James had promised he would never lay a hand on her and I knew that if I tried to leave he would go for her. That's why I stayed, because I was afraid he would hurt her. It wasn't until I was looking out the door that was left open a jar and saw him leaning against the door of Gracie's room. I thought he was on the phone with one of his girls because I thought what I heard was him talking dirty but now after what I've seen here I knew that he wasn't. He kept saying he had the best gun and it had enough ammunition to last him a lifetime. He said something about having the best in the room. Then he said something about getting high like the mile high club so I just thought he was talking real dirty. Then when he said that he would meet whomever he was on the phone with so that they could discuss how it would go down, I was thoroughly disgusted. He said something about meeting at Nomad. I couldn't hear him after that. When he knocked on Gracie's door I freaked out. I started yelling at him to get away from her door and then he came at me. He saw the blood and freaked. He did the best he could to stop it from bleeding and then ran out of the house. I pulled myself together and then began packing."
By the time Bella was finished Edward was holding her to his chest. She wasn't crying but she afraid.
"I'm so proud of you, Bella. I'm so proud of you. You're so strong." Edward repeatedly whispered until he was sure that she had pulled herself together.
"Mr. Cullen, can I speak to you for a moment? My teammates and I have a few questions for you." The first cop asked.
Alec reached out his hand towards Bella.
"Bella, here come with me while they talk to Edward."
Bella nodded and then took Alec by the hand even though she was reluctant to be out of contact with Edward. She knew that they were asking Edward about the nature of their relationship and looking for any motives for James.
"Bella, are you sure that you're going to be all right seeing James?" Alec asked as Bella handed him back the handkerchief.
"No, but I need to do this. As Edward said, doing all this will help make the world safer for Gracie and for that I'll do anything." Bella said with a bit of a smile.
"That's right. Just focus on Gracie and you can get through this. You're a strong and responsible woman, Bella. James hasn't been cooperating with the police and maybe he'll tell you what he's gotten himself into."
"I'll do my best." She said.
When Edward came back Alec looked at Edward and smiled.
"Ready to enter Hell?"
"Sure, I've always wanted to meet the Devil, I hope he serves refreshments at the welcome party."
Bella had to laugh at Edward's sarcasm; if anyone could get her through this it was him.
…
Like stones James's eyes were hard. They were animalistic and wild. The vein in his neck throbbed and he snarled when he was brought into the questioning room. He was handcuffed but that wouldn't stop the damage that he could do to Bella with his words. They were doing this the nontraditional way. Bella needed support and only Edward could give that to her. The room was white and had a single one-way window that looked like a mirror. James sat at the metal table in a metal chair with two police officers and his lawyer.
"I already told you, I won't tell you shit!" James spat.
"We believe otherwise, James, we have our methods." One of the cops said in a cold tone.
James's eyes narrowed as if he were trying to see through the man's façade. What he didn't expect was to see Bella walking through the door.
"Bella." He gasped and his face softened.
The vein in his neck bulged again when he saw Edward Cullen walk in behind her and put his hand on her arm. What killed him even more was when she smiled softly at Edward.
"Bella?" He said this time with a bit of anger.
"Hello, James." Bella's tone was flat.
The security guard took a step to stand behind James, just in case.
"James, we're going to try this again. What relation you have with the Wyrots?" The cop asked.
James looked at Bella and kept his mouth shut until he saw Edward take her hand.
"Get your hands off my wife!" James yelled.
He was scary when he was angry but Bella stayed strong.
"Like you care, James." Bella was cold again. "This is just like you. You can't keep your damn hands to your self and your dick in your pants. But the moment that a friend who happens to be a guy touches me when he is trying to comfort me because of the mess you made, you all of a sudden care! When you force your stupid cock into me, and I beg you to stop because you're hurting me, when you hit me and push me down and into glass object and I scream because I'm in pain and you're scaring me, when I cry because I see you with another woman you don't care about me, but when you don't get what you want you pretend!"
"Shut up, Bella, you stupid bitch!" James yelled at her as he tried to get up but the guard forced him back into his seat.
"Don't you dare speak to her like that!" Edward growled as he stepped in front of Bella. "You don't have a right to speak to her like that! You fucking whore! You thoughtless bastard! Are you so thick in the head that you don't see what you've done to your wife and child? You should be so enthusiastic to be married to a woman like Bella. I know if I had even an ounce of luck that you do to have the opportunity to be married to Bella and have a child with her, I would do whatever it to took to keep her around and make her happy. She's the most beautiful and kindest woman to ever live and you've used and abused her. And your child, James, your daughter, Grace, how can you neglect an angel like her. There is so much joy and love in her, just like her mother. She takes a stranger and makes them feel familiar and at home. How can you deny her your love and attention? How can you be so heartless? How can you put them in such danger?"
Edward was breathing heavily. Bella put her hand on his shoulder and arm and coaxed him to look at her.
"Edward." She murmured when he finally looked at her. "Thank you."
He pressed his forehead to his waited for his breathing to even out.
"I'm just so angry, Bella. I knew it was bad and I knew I would be angry, I just couldn't contain it.
She lifted her hand to his hair and brushed back his bangs that had fallen in his eyes.
"Sh. It's all right, Edward."
Their moment was interrupted by James's snarl.
"So you're with Cullen now? Are you doing this to get back at me?"
Bella whipped her head around and then stormed towards the table. She slammed her hands down on the table, her bangle bracelets clanking against the metal.
"Now listen to me you mother fucker. You don't have a damn fucking right to accuse me of any shit ass thing. I fled because it was the only place for me to go and you know damn well. Edward is a friend and unlike you he has been there to take care of me. All the times I have cried lately have been because of you and he has been there to wipe my tears away. Do you know how nice it feels to have someone actually support you no matter how hard you cry? You hurt me bad, James. I can't take this. So don't you point fingers at me when you are the one sitting there handcuffed. Spit out the damn truth about the guns and drugs before I cut off your favorite appendage!"
Everyone was dead silent. It wasn't until one of the cops whispered to the other.
"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."
"We should get her on the squad. She's ruthless."
"Fine, you want the damn truth, Bella. Here's the mother fucking truth. I made a deal with the Wyrot's because I needed money."
"You're rich, James. Why would you need money?"
"I meant for the company. We weren't bringing in what we needed to support our new product."
"You wouldn't use personal money. Your father always did when the company needed it."
"I'm not my father."
"That's a given."
"Look, I was saving my personal money for something else. Something I wont say."
"Tell me now, James. You're already going to court for rape, domestic violence, and abuse. Do we want to add possession of illegal drugs and possibly trafficking, possession and trafficking of illegal weapons, child endangerment, and involvement with organized crime to the list?"
"You don't know shit, Bella. How do you think I was making twice what my dad made? You figure it out. You cunt, you backstabbing cunt. I'll see you in court."
"So shall I call your bitch, Victoria Daniels? I threaten her will jail time and she'll spill."
"Don't you lay a hand on my girlfriend?"
"Oh so she's your girlfriend now? She got promoted. How very kind of you. Maybe she can go buy some dignity because she must not have any if she's happy with your sleazy ass. Or do you get her so drunk that you do with her what you please?"
"Shut up, Bella! Just shut up!"
"The truth is hard ain't it? Being an adult is hard! Stop trying to run from the truth and just tell me what you did."
"Stop it, Bella. Just go away." James panted.
"Have I given you Hell yet?"
"More than I deserve."
"I say you need more. When you decide to grow up let me know. I can't wait until we're divorced."
Bella sauntered out of the room leaving everyone speechless. Edward and Alec followed after her, their mouths hanging open in complete shock.
Please, please please leave a review! So now it all begins J