Chapter Fourteen
Kate had stopped what she was doing in the kitchen and had sat at the table with Edward while he related the events of that day from his point of view. There were times when he had to stop talking to draw breath and count to ten before he could continue as his emotions were still in a raw state.
It was evident to Kate that his scars were very deep. The death of his grandmother, the neglect and vindictiveness of his parents, and loving and losing Bella had taken a toll on this young man and she was sure there was more angst and grief to come. She had yet to find out why their relationship had come to an end, when it was obvious to Kate that Edward was still deeply in love with Bella.
Kate's experience as a counsellor had taught her that it was important for her patients, or 'clients' as she preferred to call them, to relate in detail all the major and minor events leading up to their breakdown. She didn't consider Edward had experienced a classic breakdown, but the obvious pressure from being famous, on top of the added trauma of what no doubt has been a painful break-up with Bella, plus his grandmother's inheritance dispute, he was a prime candidate for one in the future.
Kate left Edward with his thoughts and went back to the Aga to finish preparing dinner, leaving Edward sitting at the table with his head in his hands. This morning he had felt fresh and alive after their talk last night and a good night's sleep. Now he felt the weight of the world was slowly creeping back to sit heavily on his shoulders again.
"Dinner's ready," Kate cheerily called which pulled him away from his depressing memories. He got up to wash his hands and helped set the table while Kate placed bowls of two different vegetable curries, home-made samosas and rice on heat-resistant mats. "Beer?" she suggested, and Edward's eyebrows shot up and he nodded enthusiastically. "You can't eat curry without beer" he stated gratefully.
They talked about normal everyday matters over their dinner, which was delicious. Edward was astonished to learn that Kate hadn't been to the cinema in over twenty years and that modern technology had totally passed her by. He asked her why she didn't have a television or a telephone and she explained she had effectively walked away from the outside world some time ago and was now practically self-sufficient. She preferred her own company most of the time, only venturing into the 21st century when it was absolutely necessary and into London very rarely.
Edward asked the question which had been bugging him since he saw the photographs on the piano.
"Where are your family now?"
Kate was silent for a few moments, deep in thought before replying.
"I lost my family because of a fire," she said after a while, and then she stood up and collected the empty plates and bowls and took them over to the sink.
"I'm so sorry," Edward responded, feeling embarrassed because his problems now seemed trivial compared to what Kate had been through.
"It happened a long time ago, Edward; I've come to terms with it but would rather not talk about it," Kate continued. "Let's carry on with your story. What happened when you returned to the hotel?"
Edward sat back in his chair and put the beer bottle to his lips as he recalled the moment when they arrived at the hotel after their day out in Richmond and the reaction of the welcome-party which was waiting for them.
Edward handed over the keys to the Aston Martin in the same spot to the same guy who had delivered it that morning. Taking Bella by the hand, they walked the short distance to their hotel, which was now completely surrounded by Paparazzi, waiting no doubt for the first shot of Edward Cullen and the mystery girl after the 'thisisnotTanya-gate' picture had been published. The eyes of the Pap's and every camera lens was pointing directly at the main entrance of the hotel, so Edward and Bella managed to creep up behind the lines of photographers without being seen.
Spotting a small gap in the crowd, they rushed their way through amid shouts of 'Oi' and 'Watch it', as elbows got nudged. They had almost made it to the steps unrecognized before they were spotted.
Knowing that the Pap's couldn't go any further than the pavement, they ran up the steps as fast as they could and dived into one section of the revolving doors and fell out laughing into the hotel lobby.
They were greeted by, "Where the fuck have you been?" from a seething James. He had hardly moved from the lobby all day, waiting for his golden boy to make an appearance. His cell phone had been ringing non-stop with calls from all the usual gossip magazines and websites wanting a quote. "Fuck Off" was what he wanted to say to them, but these people were useful for free publicity when he needed it.
"Family business," Edward retorted, and started making his way towards the elevators.
"You stop right there," James hissed. "There's a small matter of a candid photograph which needs an explanation before you disappear off the face of the Earth again." James was staring intently at Bella and two and two were certainly adding up to make five.
"So, you want to discuss that here, in the hotel lobby, do you?" Edward spat at his agent, who suddenly realized he had an audience of about fifty interested people waiting for the next bit of juicy gossip.
"My room, now," James said in a more discreet voice.
"No, James. Your room in half an hour. I've been out all day, I'm taking a shower, I've a phone call to make and then I'll see you in your room."
James took a step backward. He could see anger and determination in Edward's face and realised this was a battle not worth fighting, especially in front of an audience. "Half an hour then," he grumbled.
Edward and Bella walked to the elevators, feeling the eyes of fifty amused people boring into their backs. Edward pressed button three and escorted Bella to her room where he had left his backpack.
Bella flung her arms around his neck and kissed him on the lips. "Thank you for taking me out today and telling me about your grandmother."
Edward nodded in response and then returned Bella's kiss, this time with tongues, then pulled away and stroked her hair gently.
"Bella, don't answer your door or leave your room until you hear from me; okay?"
Edward's voice was quite insistent which took her by surprise.
"Tanya may have found out who and where you are," he added, "and I don't want you two meeting up unless I'm with you; is that clear?"
Bella nodded in agreement as she certainly didn't feel ready to meet a fire-breathing Tanya on her own, and Edward was glad when he heard her put the safety lock on the door when he left. He got back in the elevator and punched in the code for his floor.
He was surprised and relieved there wasn't a welcoming committee waiting for him outside his suite. Once inside he threw his bags on the bed which now had a new cover on it, then stripped off and walked into the bathroom naked and turned on the shower which was one of those all singing and dancing ones that sand-blasted you from all directions. He turned the temperature up to 'fucking hot' and stood in the cubicle with the palms of his hands resting high up against the walls while his skin was pummelled and massaged by scalding jets of water. He shampooed his hair and covered himself with body wash, then turned the water temperature right down to cool himself so he didn't come out of the bathroom looking like a lobster.
After wrapping himself in a towel, he laid down on the bed while he called Jasper to find out what was being said about the photograph in the media. Jasper picked up on the second ring.
"What's up, Ed, you fucking idiot, or shouldn't I ask?" Jasper chortled. "You really know how to fuck things up, don't you?"
"Oh God! Tell me the worst" Edward responded, running his free hand through his damp hair. He could feel his stress levels rising, even before Jasper related what he knew.
Jasper took a deep breath before he started. "Well, these are some of the stories I've heard so far.
It wasn't you;
It was you, but you'd only kissed the girl because she was on her hen party;
It's a fake photo;
It's Tanya in disguise;
It's a publicity shot for your next film and the girl's an actress;
You're gay, so it can't be real;
It was taken three years ago before you met Tanya;
Would you like me to carry on?"
Edward laughed for a moment. "So no-one's picked up it was Bella yet?"
"No, I haven't heard her name mentioned at all. You can't see her face; all you can see is your face and your floppy hair covering her features because you were bending down to kiss her. It's fortunate Bella's so tiny and the gossip sites have described the lucky lady as being slim with long brown hair, which of course means 'definitely not Tanya'."
"That's good news, Jasper. Thanks mate, I'm in your debt, again."
"No worries, but one word of advice, Edward. Look after Bella; she's one hell of a girl. If you ever fuck her over you'll have me to deal with."
"Okay, I promise there's no chance of that. Thanks, Jasper."
Edward turned off his cell then picked up the hotel phone and called Bella's room.
"Hi," she said, pleased to hear his voice, even though it was only about twenty minutes since they parted.
Edward related what Jasper had reported and Bella in turn had called Alice in New York, who had given her a similar story. Bottom line was that Bella was still anonymous as far as the press were concerned, and even though their original plan was to rub Tanya's nose in Bella's presence when they first planned this weekend, Edward wanted to keep it that way for the time being until he spoke to James about the photograph, as nowhere in their revenge plan was Bella's name being broadcast to the world's media.
"I must go as James is expecting me in five, Bella. I'll call you as soon as I'm done."
Edward replaced the phone on its cradle and laid his head on the pillow, not caring that his hair was still damp.
"Why am I so worried about what James might say; it's my fucking life!" he spoke determinedly out loud to himself.
He rolled off the bed and slung his sweats and an old t-shirt on. He wasn't dressing up for this; "it might get bloody," he thought. Grabbing his cell and room key, he strolled along the corridor and banged on James's door.
James answered the door with a drink in his hand.
"Come in, Edward. Drink?" he offered, holding up his glass as though Edward didn't understand the question. For some reason he was all sweetness and light and Edward was instantly suspicious.
"No thanks, James. I intend having one later, with Bella," he almost shouted.
"Oh, Bella is it now! Not Isabella? What are we going to do about Bella?"
"You're going to have nothing to do with Bella; she's my girlfriend, period."
James refilled his glass and sat down on the sofa and watched Edward intently as he paced up and down the room while running his hands through his hair.
"So, you're going to fuck up the whole PR machine around these movies, just for a five-minute screw with a girl you met a week ago then - hmm?" was James's opening salvo.
Edward advanced towards James with a murderous look in his eye.
"She's not a five-minute screw, and I've known her for a lot longer than you think. Anyway, it's none of your fucking business who I'm dating."
"Why haven't I seen or heard of her before then if she's so fucking important?" James retorted. Then he sat bolt upright in his chair.
"Bella, Bella, where have I heard that name bef...Oh fuck."
"Yes, James. She's that Bella. Remember? The Bella who Tanya tried to fuck-over and almost succeeded, and you obviously knew all about that, you disloyal bastard."
"But that was almost two years ago! Are you telling me that you've been fucking her for two years without my knowledge?"
"No, not that it's any of your business who I'm fucking. We met up by chance last week, but I've been searching for her ever since the day I met her...since the day I fell on her."
Edward went over to the drinks cabinet and poured himself a large whiskey, then sat down for the first time since entering James's room.
James verbally launched into him.
"Tanya's pissed as it is, as this photograph's made her look completely fucking stupid, even though that's not too difficult to be fair. It totally contradicts the tales she's been telling the world about your relationship, and when she finds out its Bella Swan, she'll go into fucking orbit."
James got up from the sofa and went out onto the balcony to light up, leaving Edward to mull over the consequences of his relationship with Bella. He leaned over the rail and took a long drag on his cigarette as he gazed appreciatively at the darkening blues and purples of the summer sky, below which the twinkling lights of early-evening London were gradually becoming brighter. He wasn't a heavy smoker, but as the instant hit of nicotine hit the spot he felt mildly calmer, but he shook his head ruefully as he accepted that if Edward decided to go public with this relationship, he would probably be a chain-smoker by the end of the week.
Edward sat in silence with his drink in his hand, contemplating what James had said to him. He wasn't stupid. He knew this film and the third film wouldn't be as financially successful as the first if Tanya was found out to be lying about their supposed 'relationship' after his real-life relationship with Bella was made public. These films made millions, from which he took a cut, and professionally he would rather leave the series on a high than with a third film that bombed. He knew then that this mess would have to be sorted, but whatever happened in the next day or so, he would be straight with Bella and keep her fully informed of what the explanation of the photograph was going to be broadcast to the media, as he was not prepared to do anything that would jeopardize his relationship with her.
He reluctantly decided to tell James he would go along with whatever story the PR people concocted, within reason, but if Tanya came anywhere near Bella, or tried to destroy her career again, then the gloves would be off. He would invite the world's media to the top of the Empire State, get down on one knee and propose to Bella in front of them, and Tanya would be on her own to talk her way out of that one.
James came back in the room and Edward relayed his thoughts to him, leaving out the bit about the Empire State and the proposal, but he was serious about Tanya's vendetta with Bella.
"Okay, Edward. I'll get back to you as soon as the story's been agreed. In the meantime, keep a low profile, which means don't be seen with Bella if you can help it."
Edward nodded in agreement. "Room service it is then."
James laughed for a moment then looked hard at Edward. "You really like this girl, don't you?"
"I love her, James, and I think that she loves me."
Edward eventually returned to his room after speaking to James's PR people in LA about a press release. He sat on his own for a while thinking about the implications of what had been agreed then called Bella's number. She answered straight away.
"My room, dinner and a movie sound good to you?" Edward suggested. "And don't bring any clothes, you won't need them," he said jokingly, but actually really meaning it.
"Very funny," Bella replied. "Be with you in five."
Edward searched the desk for the room service menu and found it in one of the drawers. He was perusing it when there was a knock on the door. "That's quick," he thought and rushed over and flung it open, expecting Bella, but getting Tanya.
"What the fuck do you want?"
Tanya burst into the room at warp speed.
"Where is she? Where's the fucking whore?"
Edward lunged at her to stop her getting in, but Tanya was too quick. She ran into the bedroom and bathroom looking for evidence of a female presence but found nothing.
"Get the fuck out of my room, Tanya, or I'm calling security again," Edward hissed and advanced towards the hotel phone.
"You had a girl in here last night, you, you, cheating bastard."
"Yes, I did have my girlfriend in here last night, Tanya. We fucked, and then we fucked again, thanks to your timely disturbance. Do you honestly think I've been celibate since we've been having our phantom 'relationship'?" Edward did the two finger air-quotes gesture to emphasize the point.
He was on a roll now.
"My balls would be bluer than Elvis's Suede Shoes if that was the case. I'm a young guy and I fuck as often as the opportunity arises, but get this into your thick head, Tanya, once and for all, I'm never, ever going to fuck you!"
Edward heard the ping of the elevator and his first thought was to protect Bella from Tanya's venom if she walked in on the quivering, seething gorgon, whose face would turn anyone to stone. He anticipated a knock on the door but it didn't happen, so while Tanya was screaming expletives at him, he walked to the door himself, opened it, and gestured Tanya to leave.
"Don't worry about your reputation, you ignorant bitch. The PR people are all over this mess. You'll come out of this smelling of roses as usual, so don't worry your ugly head. Now fuck off and leave me alone."
Tanya stalked out of the room without saying another word and Edward slammed the door behind her so hard he felt the floor vibrate under his feet.
About five minutes later there was a gentler knock on the door. Edward checked through the spy-hole this time and saw Bella standing there with James behind her.
"I rescued her," James announced, grinning widely and obviously expecting to be invited in to collect some brownie points. "I was standing outside your door listening to Tanya screaming, when Bella walked out the elevator just as Tanya was moving into top gear. I convinced her to take refuge in my suite."
"Thanks, James, I'm grateful," Edward said. "I'll see you in the morning," he added, hoping James would take the hint that he wanted to be alone with Bella.
"Goodnight, James," Bella called out as Edward pulled her into the room and shut the door in James's face.
"How come he's being nice for change?" Bella asked looking totally confused.
Edward guided her over to one of the sofas. "We need to talk, but not before dinner; I'm starving."
"That sounds ominous," Bella replied, sounding slightly concerned. "I'm starving too, so let's order everything on the menu and you can tell me later."