~13~

I felt myself sail back down to earth and my mind become clear when I heard Sharon, Leila's preschool teacher, on the phone.

"You're daughter is very sick and pale and has a fever of 101," I heard her say on the other line. Of course, that was my wake up call.

Alice had rushed out of the ballroom after to me to make sure I was okay because I was acting so strange, but I sent her back with a message to pardon my absence. My daughter needed me more than any clients in the world. She had no one else to take care of her and I had no choice but to get out of work.

I figured I would be back to work the next day or two, but I was out for the rest of the week. Leila had apparently caught a virus from her classmates which made her sick with a fever for a few days. I gave her as much children's Motrin and Tylenol as I could, but I had no choice but to skip work in order to stay home and take care of her.

Of course, that meant I would have to miss seeing Edward, but I convinced myself it was for the best. I decided to put Alice in charge of the rest of Tanya's party because obviously I would not be able to do it myself. The change in plans for Tanya's party let me know that I would probably not see Edward again. The party was next week and by the time I got back to work, he probably would have gone back to wherever he was living nowadays; although, whether I was upset or not about it, I wasn't sure.

I wanted to believe that I didn't need Edward anymore, that I didn't love him anymore, but the truth was, ever since I had found him again, a new feeling of hope aroused inside of me and I wanted to find him in the big city and tell him how sorry I was for leaving those many years ago.

Then I thought of Tanya and the way she cooed up to him. He had clearly moved on. He had found someone else to be close with and fall in love with. He didn't need someone like me anymore and I didn't need him. I couldn't get involved with him again, I wouldn't let myself. He would completely disrupt my life, the life I had worked so hard to build for myself and my daughter. I couldn't let my daughter's or my life fall apart thanks to the useless hopes and dreams of Edward Cullen. I would never do that to my child.

Finally, by the next Monday, Leila was feeling better and her fever had gone down. I loved my daughter, but after spending days locked in my apartment with only her and Jacob for company, I started to feel a little anxious to get back to work. I walked to the hotel excited to be back in my element and also relieved that I wasn't about to let Edward Cullen interrupt or distract me from my work.

As soon as I got to my small office, I saw Alice sitting there with bunches of magazines and pictures of designer clothes everywhere.

"What's all this?" I asked cautiously.

"You're back!" she shouted to me as she turned around to the door in which I stood. She threw down the magazines in her hand and ran over to give me one of her great big hugs. "How's Leila?" she asked worriedly, leaning away from me. Alice had been close with Leila as well. I had met Alice in college, when Leila was only an infant, and she had often babysat for me when I had classes. She was like a second mother to Leila and she adored her.

"She's fine," I smiled back to her, "It was a little rough getting her back to school though. She cried and said she wanted to stay home with Mommy, but eventually I coerced her enough into going."

"Oh good. It must have been a long week for the both of you," Alice replied cheerfully, going back to her stacks of magazines.

"Oh yes, it was," I said putting my bag down on the desk, "But you still haven't told me, what's all this stuff?"

"For Tanya," she sighed, rolling her eyes, "She wants a display case of magazines and models with her clothing to show how 'fashion inspired this evening will be'."

I laughed at her tone of disgust for Tanya. She really hated that girl. I felt sorry with leaving her the whole party to plan for her, but I would pay her back and help her in any way I could. "Sounds like you're having a great time with her," I laughed.

"The grandest," she said back sarcastically. "Listen," she started serious again, "I have a meeting with her in 15 minutes so I have to run. Would you mind just dropping these magazines off in the ballroom for me? I have to go meet her in the kitchen to talk with the chef and finalized the menu and it will be a hassle to carry all this stuff there."

"Sure thing," I said cheerfully, saluting her as she stormed out of the room, carrying stacks of folders, papers flying out of them everywhere. Poor Alice, I thought, she was so insane and her work style and organization skills reflected that.

After getting a cup of coffee, I made my way up to the ballroom, carrying stacks of magazines and pictures of beautiful models. I didn't go through the main halls, for fear of meeting up with Edward. I didn't know if he came with Tanya on anymore of her party planning meetings and I wouldn't dare ask Alice. She would suspect something right off the bat. She was very perceptive.

I crept down the hall leading to ballroom, and when I got to it, I slowly opened the door, making sure the coast was clear. The ballroom was completely empty, except for a few tables set up, and my way down the steps to set down the magazines, breathing a sigh of relief that I had not gotten caught by Edward Cullen.

I began arranging the magazines on one of the glass tables that was set up in the large room. A candlestick was sitting in the middle of the table and I was arranging the magazines, I accidentally shoved it off the table. I watched as it shattered into a million tiny glass pieces.

Crap, I thought, only me. I was about to leave the ballroom to go find a broom to pick up the broken glass when I heard the door open and saw three figures stride through it. Alice led the group, prattling off facts with a fake smile, Tanya behind her nodding and shaking her head, and a male in the rear that made my heart jump and my breaths stop.

I panicked and crawled under the table, hoping they wouldn't catch me. He can't see me, I'll just stay hidden under here till they leave, I thought to myself.

"Bella, what on earth are you doing?" I heard Alice exclaim to me from across the room.

I carefully lifted myself from under the table, keeping my eyes to the ground and my cheeks turned red as I felt Edward's stare on me. "Oh, I was just picking up the broken glass," I stuttered, my voice squeaking.

"Well, use a broom, you'll get cut!" Alice said, staring at me like I was an entirely new person. I sure felt like one.

"Right, I'll go get it now," I said shyly, hurrying out of the room, eyes on my shoes. Out of the corner of my eyes, I caught everyone's weird faces and Edward's eyes that wouldn't leave my face. I fought as hard as I could to ignore them and get out as quickly as possible. I would never go get the broom and I would lock myself in my office until they were gone.

Once I was safely in the hall, I felt myself breathe again and my cheeks return to their normal color. I leaned against the wall, a little ways down from the ballroom door, and put my face over my eyes, trying to regain myself. I hated the way he made me feel like such an idiot. I felt like a love struck teenager again.

I was just about to keep making my way to my office when I felt someone's eyes from behind me pierce through my soul. I stopped dead in my tracks.

"Bella," I heard the familiar voice speak softly. I hadn't heard it in five years but it was still the sweetest sound in the world.

I shakily turned to see Edward standing in the hall a little ways down, his eyes locked on mine. I watched as a smile spread across his face, making my heart pound through my body, the sound echoing in my ears, and my breathing stop…

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