Chapter 21
The Morning After
The feeling of togetherness didn't end with the morning. It was still with her that afternoon as she prepared to meet up with Edward. She felt positive that they were on the same wavelength. It had absolutely nothing to do with business, but more to do with the intimate, exhilarating emotions they'd discovered the day before.
Bella sat quietly in what she assumed was a recreation area waiting patiently for Edward to join her. The room was huge, with couches and chairs placed through out. A huge flat screen T.V. was in a far corner.
By noon the nervous energy she was feeling quickly melted away when she spied Edward walking across the room to greet her. That's when she knew he felt it to. The same emotions were reflected in his emerald green eyes, warm, triumphant, admiring. He was grinning from ear to ear; his handsome face was relaxed giving him a youthful appearance. They didn't notice the others around them, only aware of each other and the exciting magnetic force that sparked and crackled around them, drawing them close.
Love? She caught her breath, she felt a tingle of delight as his hand reached out and closed around hers, she wanted this newfound togetherness, to last forever.
"Bella," he greeted her softly his eyes looked deeply into hers.
"Hello, Edward," she said shyly back a blush spreading in her cheeks.
They stood there in silence, just gazing into each other's eyes. Neither wanting to look away, the goofiest smiles on both their faces. A cough sounded, and Bella reluctantly dragged her gaze from Edward's to turn her attention to the right of her where Jasper Whitlock stood, beside Edward.
"Miss Swan," he greeted, with one of those knowing smiles, inquisitiveness shining in his eyes.
Edward snapped out of the besotted daze he was in, and became aware of his surroundings. "Are you ready for lunch? He asked her. He noticed her glance toward Jasper, "Oh Jasper will be meeting up with us later."
Bella nodded her acceptance, as he escorted her to the entrance of the shelter and out the door.
Once they were seated in the crowed restaurant, the feeling of being alone persisted. She found that they talked about everything, they laughed, told jokes. At one point they even sat in silence, just staring at each other. Bella had never felt so completely and utterly happy in her life, as she did in that moment.
"Edward! When did you arrive?" Bella heard a woman's voice cry. She noticed the warmth in Edward's eyes as he stood to greet her.
"Alice! I didn't know you were here." He said pulling a very short, darkly spiked hair, pixie like woman into his arms. "Oh, Bella, this is my sister Alice Cullen. Jasper you already know." A small frown formed on his face when he saw the other woman who stood behind his sister. "Tonya, what a surprise" He greeted her, his voice slightly harder.
"Hello, Edward," the woman named Tonya purred, a sultry smile played about her lips.
As they all seated themselves, Bella found herself wedged in between Alice and Jasper, leaving Edward to sit across from her, and Alice on his right side and the woman named Tonya on his left. She stared at Tonya and took notice how beautiful she was with Strawberry blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. She was so striking she could be a model on magazine cover.
"You know me, Edward I wouldn't miss a chance to miss a party, besides it gave me an excuse to see my big brother." Alice said. "So I asked Jasper to get a hold of Lauren Mallory to send me an invitation."
Bella went completely still, what? Got a hold of Lauren Mallory? She thought, and then she remembered. Lauren's cousin was the one behind the charity ball for the children's shelter. She'd almost forgotten about that small tidbit of information.
"Tonya what really brings you here?" Edward asked a little stiffly.
"Alice invited me of course, besides I wanted to see you again. I've missed you, Edward." She purred. "I hope you don't mind?" She asked placing a well manicured hand on Edward's arm, and leaned closer toward him, giving a nice view of her ample bosom.
Bella's teeth clenched, and felt a spurt of jealous rage overtake her. She wanted to claw this woman's eyes out. How dare she touch her Edward?
"I thought you'd be happy to see her again, Edward." Alice chirped excitedly.
"Your right…it's been awhile," Edward replied with a clipped voice, and then cleared his throat nervously when he glanced over at Bella and caught the look in her eyes. She was staring at Tonya's hand on his arm as if she liked to burn it off. He politely pried Tonya's hand from his arm, and tried to scoot a little closer toward Alice without being to obvious.
"So…Bella, isn't it?" Alice asked her. Picking up on the sudden tension between Edward and Bella.
"Bella," she quickly answered.
"You're the Executive Assistant Edward's told me so much about?"
Bella nodded her head, "Yes, I am," she answered. "I'm pleased that Edward has told others that he is happy with my performance."
"Well…err, pleased. I'd say he is quite pleased with your…performance wise of course," Alice smirked, devilment shining in her eyes, when she noticed Edward choke on his drink. Then turn fifty shades of red.
"Excuse me?" Bella asked aghast. A blush stained her cheeks, when she realized the hidden meaning behind Alice's words.
"I mean he's pleased by your…professionalism on the job."
"Oh…I-"
"Alice, that's enough!" Edward warned embarrassed. "I-I don't think…err how did you wrangle an invitation to this ball?" he stuttered at Alice's knowing look directed at him. "I thought you didn't like Lauren?" he was trying to distract Alice from her previous question.
"Actually, Jasper wrangled the invitation off of Lauren's cousin." She answered laughing. Watching the expressions on both his and Bella's faces.
Eventually Bella managed to chat with Jasper, though her attention was riveted on the others. She realized with a pang how little she actually new about Edward. He had a whole side of his life she had not known about. They mentioned his stepsisters, and his brother Emmett, but up until now she hadn't given them much thought, had never considered the history he shared with Alice, and apparently Tonya. Who she noticed with agitation was quite determined to keep Edward's attention.
Bella could feel the happiness slowly fade away as the time passed. An isolated, jealous, envy filled her heart, as she watched the interaction of Tonya trying to monopolize his attention. She sighed. It couldn't get any worse. She thought.
"Darling!" came an all to familiar voice from behind Edward. "Here you are, when I couldn't find you at the children's shelter. Someone told me I could find you here." Lauren Mallory appeared behind Edward's chair and slipped her slender hands possessively onto his shoulders, leaning in to kiss his cheek. She rose up straight to greet the others.
"Hello…Alice how nice to see you, and Jasper." she said in a fake sweet voice.
Bella rolled her eyes in exasperation, her hands fisted in her lap under the table. As she watched Lauren massage Edward's shoulders with her hands. Damn, I spoke to soon! She thought irritably, as she glared across the table at Lauren.
"I was so happy when, my cousin told me you all were attending the ball this evening…I've been so busy, all week."
Bella stiffened, Wait! Just one minute, all week? She's been here…with Edward all this time? Bella thought angrily, a stab of pain shooting through her heart. She watched Lauren's hands sensuously caressing Edward's shoulders, and brushed his hair lightly near the nape of his neck. It was as if she was familiar, as if she had a right to…too touch him.
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Edward sat across the table, heart beating nervously as he helplessly watched, Bella stiffen with anger. She was trying hard to mask her emotions, but failed miserably. He tried to convey with his eyes that she had nothing to worry about. That she was the only woman in his life now. He stiffened when Lauren laid her hands on his shoulders and started to caress him, playing with his hair. He had already pried Tonya's unwanted hand off of him, now he was going to have to do the same with Lauren.
He jerked his head away from Lauren's persistent fingers, then stood up quickly when he felt Tonya's hand trying to stroke his thigh, causing both Lauren's and Tonya's unwanted hands to drop off and away from him. The only hands he wanted touching him were Bella's. He glanced quickly at her, and saw the blaze of anger shining in her chocolate brown eyes.
Please, please, don't read too much into this. I don't want them.
He pleaded to her in his thoughts, with his eyes. He became upset when she looked away from him. Damn her and her insecurities!
"Hello, Lauren. I didn't know you were back," He said in a hard steely voice. "Let me introduce you to Tonya Rodgers, you know Alice and Jasper, and Bella Swan." all aware of the soft inflection in his voice when he said Bella's name, and the genuine smile he gave her.
Lauren flashed them all a fake radiant smile. "Yes, so nice to see you …all again," pausing to look at Edward. She placed her hand back on his arm. "Please excuse me…but I need to steal Edward. Honestly darling, I leave you…for one day and everything goes crazy, having to help set up for the ball and all," she explained to the others before turning back to gaze at Edward.
Edward stood stiffly, beside Lauren and wished she'd just go away, if he hadn't known better he'd of thought this was another ploy to get his attention. Though its what he deserved for leading her on for the past two years. It was funny before he'd met Bella that Lauren's company would have pleased him greatly. But now it was a hindrance.
"What do you need my assistance with?" he asked irritated.
"Why Edward, darling, did you completely forgot you had to meet with me this morning to prepare for the Mayor's arrival." she asked smiling, then turned to look at the others. "So if you'll excuse us everyone. I must take this very handsome man away," she purred.
Edward sighed, his eyes closed, knowing if he opened them and looked into Bella's eyes right now they would be hurt, confused and angered. His heart beat faster, the blood roaring in his ears. How was he going to explain this to her? What is she thinking right now? He didn't want her to hate him…to reject him. Not after what they had shared last evening. It would kill him to lose her. He frowned at Lauren and removed her hand from his arm.
"I'm sorry, Lauren, I was detained." He said silkily. He slowly opened his eyes to gaze into Bella's. Letting the hunger, and desire he felt for her darken his eyes for a quick moment, before he looked away. He could have sworn, that there was a tiny hint of jealousy in the dark pools of her eyes directed at Tonya and Lauren.
"Then you won't mind if we have our meeting now?" Lauren glanced at all of them. "If you'll excuse us, will see you all tonight.
He then leaned down needing to touch Bella, assure her with his touch that he wanted only her. He placed a loving hand on her arm and gently caressed her back. "I'll see you later, love," he whispered softly, close to her ear. He had to restrain himself from capturing her mouth in a passionate kiss. Before he reluctantly took a step back from her, and let Lauren lead him away.
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Bella at that precise moment was unaware of the way Edward pulled his arm free from Lauren's grasp, or the way he had looked at her with desire, and love ablaze in his eyes.
It didn't matter that he turned his attention to her and leaned down to touch her arm, and gently caress her back with his hand, the softness of his voice when he whispered in her ear.
"I'll see you later, love."
The only thing that was registering was the way Lauren clung so possessively to him…as if she belonged there at his side, the intimate way she looked up at him. Jealous, envy consumed her making her numb.
"That…that cunning bitch!" Alice snarled from beside her. Her beautiful face was a mixture of anger and disgust. "It's been so busy all week," she mocked in a convincing voice that sounded like Lauren's. "I ask you Jasper. How log does it take for a simple party prep?" she scoffed.
Bella raised her eyebrow she had wondered about that herself.
"Well that's just it, Alice," Jasper said. "It's not just a simple party. You see the Mayor of Washington will be in attendance tonight. That is why Edward and Lauren have been here since Tuesday…preparing."
Wait!
"Did you just say that Lauren has been here since Tuesday…here with Edward?" Bella asked a gust.
Jasper glanced at Bella, "Why yes…since Tuesday. Though Lauren had to leave on Thursday to meet up with her cousin…"
He continued on but Bella stopped paying attention to what he said. All that registered was the fact that…that Lauren Mallory had been here with Edward all week.
So that meant the only reason he had spent time with her on Thursday was because she was away on business. She paled as a thought struck her, Oh God she had let him make love to her…had let him seduce her…use her…
Pain such as she had never felt before cut through her, almost doubling her over from the force of it. She was unable to mask it from her face, making her vulnerable for all to see.
He never cared for her; she was just a distraction, used to abide the time until Lauren returned to him. She thought bitterly, as she fought back the sting of tears. She couldn't believe she had let her guard down, had let herself fall into the arms of Edward Cullen. Letting her feelings over shadow what she all ready knew, had always known him to be.
"Well, I didn't come here to be second best to the likes of Miss Mallory," Tonya sneered. "Maybe this was a bad idea, being Edward is other wise occupied."
"Tonya, please don't start. You're forgetting you still need to attend the ball. I think once Edward sees you in that dress of yours, Lauren Mallory won't stand a chance. Besides the witch has been chasing him for two years and still hasn't snagged him yet." Alice replied.
"Well Lauren is a beautiful woman." Jasper said.
"She's no more beautiful than Tonya," Alice decided
"Why thank you Alice," Tonya said with a laugh. "I guess if I can handle hundreds of teenagers at school, I should be able to handle Lauren."
Bella snapped out of her thoughts and looked at Tonya, "Are you a teacher?" She asked Tonya, thinking of something Jessica had told her months ago.
"Yes, I'm a high school drama teacher."
"Oh…" Bella whispered softly, Jessica had said something about Edward being interested in a schoolteacher, and apparently that was Tonya.
As she sat there staring at Tonya, she knew what Jasper said was right. Tonya was very beautiful, then you have Lauren Mallory, and all the other women in his life, all trying to get a piece of Edward, all seeking his attentions, grasping, clinging, greedy, gold digging women. The kind of women that used him as much as he used them, to sleep with them…
And she was one of them, Oh God! Why had she ever given in to him?
Bella felt like she was suffocating, gasping for breath her hand moved to cover her chest; her heart was being ripped into a million pieces as the reality of the situation hit her. She could feel the tears that threatened to spill over. Suddenly she had an overwhelming urge to get up and run out of the restaurant. She didn't want to lose control of her emotions in front of them.
"Bella, is everything all right?" Jasper asked, concern in his voice as he noticed her behavior.
She stood up quickly, almost knocking the chair to the floor in her haste. "I-I have to use the restroom, please excuse me," she said.
"Will you be coming back?" Alice asked her.
"I-I" she stuttered.
"Bella, you barely touched your lunch." Jasper said giving her a concerned look. "At least stay…until Edward gets back?"
Like hell I will! She wanted to shout at him. There was no way she was going to stick around, and patiently wait for Edward. When he was off doing god knows what with another woman. It was pathetic really, here she was completely and utterly in love with a man who had just made love to her not even eleven hours ago, and this is how he repays me, by going off with another woman…a woman he had been with, here all week. Well I won't be one of them. She thought angrily to herself.
"Bella?" Jasper implored.
"It's all right, I-I'm not as hungry as I thought." Bella said instead. Before she turned and headed toward the entrance of the restaurant.
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They all watched Bella walk quickly away from their table. There was something bothering her, they knew, but she had not voiced her concerns.
"Well I need to use the restroom," Tonya said, as she stood up and excused herself, walking toward the direction of the restrooms.
Alice with an eyebrow raised turned toward Jasper a quizzical look upon her face. "What just happened?" she asked him perplexed.
"I'm not sure myself," Jasper answered her with a shrug of his shoulders.
"Was I imaging things, or was my brother actually blushing? Also the way that he and Miss Swan were staring at and acting with one another."
Jasper leaned in closer toward Alice, "I think there may be something going on between them," he whispered.
"Really? What do you mean?" Alice asked interested.
"Well…Wednesday, Bella comes charging into my office to deliver some kind of important documents to Edward. He was really surprised to see her, and I immediately picked up on the tension and awkwardness between them. Edward was tongue tied, if you can believe that."
"Tongue tied you say? Edward?" Disbelief was clearly heard in Alice's voice.
Jasper nodded, "Yes he was tongue tied. Also they stood there and stared into each other's eyes, as if they were the only two people in the room. I swear I saw sparks flying," he paused, a smile on his lips. "I had to clear my throat three times to get Edward's attention."
"Are you sure about this, Jasper? I can't believe my brother Edward Cullen was tongued tied and awkward around a woman." Alice said, amazement in her voice.
"Not only that, Alice he looked at me like he wanted to rip my head off when I offered to show Miss Swan around the children's shelter."
"So you're saying that my brother was jealous?" Alice asked, bewildered, awe in her voice and expression. "It's about time," she whispered under her breath, as a smirk played across her face. Wouldn't it be nice to see Edward settle down with just one woman and stop his philandering ways? She thought to herself.
Jasper laughed, at the expression on her face, and nodded. "Alice, I think…no I believe that Miss Swan isn't just Edward's Assistant."
"What are you trying to say?" She asked him, thinking that maybe she had been right, but not wanting to get to excited.
"I think that one if not both…have feelings for each other."
"So what your saying is that, Edward…and Miss Swan," she paused and looked at him. "Like each other, but what about…Tonya and Lauren? I thought he was interested in one if not both of them? I mean that's why I asked Tonya to accompany me. I thought Edward would be excited to see her, they haven't been together since the Cullen Family summer picnic held last year"
"No Alice, I've seen him with Tonya, as a man I can tell you he is defiantly not interested in her as marriage material, nor for that matter is he with Lauren," he paused then sighed. "But he is very…and I mean very interested in Bella. I just hope that all the other women here, hasn't ruined anything between them," he stressed at her.
"Well that changes things." Alice thought, that she had, had, Edward pegged. But she could see now that he stumped her once again. Well she was just going to have to get to the bottom of this. If there was a possibility that Edward was in love with Bella Swan then she needed to know, to help them along. The rest of the family would be happy to know that Edward had finally found someone for himself. They were all worried that he would never want to settle down with just one woman. But she needed to take this slow, and let Edward introduce her to the family, for goodness sakes she had just met her.
"That does change things, at least for him. I tell you, Alice, Bella Swan is different than those other women he's been seen with. She's nice, smart and does not take his crap, pretty much good for him in everyway. I just hope that Bella's not upset with him, Edward has mentioned to me that she has a lot of trust issues." Jasper said.
"Oh, no! Jasper do you think that is why Bella was so upset and left so suddenly? Because of the way Lauren was acting toward Edward." Alice asked with a worried frown.
"I think so, something…happened between them, I'm not sure as to what…" He trailed off when Tonya suddenly reappeared at their table and sat down.
Edward sat in Jasper's office in his chair behind his desk, and sighed. He was unable to concentrate on anything except for thoughts of Bella. Reluctant didn't even come close to what he felt when he had to walk away from her. He didn't want to leave, had wanted to stay, but knew he had to help Lauren and her cousin with preparations for the ball tonight.
He ran a hand through his tussled bronzed hair. A pang of worry stole through him. He'd tried to call her cell phone to tell her to wait for him at the restaurant, but her voice mail picked up. It was strange, because Bella never turned off her phone before or during working hours nor at home.
"Edward, did you hear me?" Lauren asked him, snapping him out of his thoughts. He shook his head and gave Lauren an apologetic smile.
"I'm sorry, Lauren what did you say?"
Lauren gave him a questioning look; "I asked you why do you keep insisting that Miss Swan be seated at the head table with us?"
Edward frowned, and visibly stiffened in his chair. Slowly he placed his hand palm down to rest on Jasper's desk. "Because I want her there," he said irritated, that she would be rude enough to ask him such a question.
"But it's all ready over crowed." Lauren argued loudly.
"Lauren!" her cousin warned, he had noticed the tightening of Edward's jaw and saw the anger blaze to life in his eyes.
"Because, I said I want…her to be seated beside me." Edward grated out between clenched teeth, annoyance clearly in his voice.
Lauren was about to reply when loud knocking on the office door interrupted her. Next thing Jasper popped his head into the office. His eyes moved back and forth between the three of them before resting on Edward.
"Sorry to interrupt, Edward, but do you have a minute to spare?" Jasper asked. When Edward nodded, he moved to stand in the doorway, accompanied by Alice at his side.
"Jasper, Alice," he greeted. Then noticed that Bella was not with them, a worried frown formed on his brow. Where was she? "No not interrupting at all, what did you need?" he asked.
"I wanted to let you know that we were heading back to the hotel, Tonya has already left and is awaiting us." Alice answered him.
"All right, but where is Bella?" he asked.
"Well, she…err left early. I think she went back to the cabin to prepare for tonight." Alice replied quickly, looking anywhere but at him.
Edward sat up straighter in his chair, a jolt of panic washed over him. "What do you mean, left early? Was she unwell?" what caused her to become so? Then a deep blush stole across his cheeks, as realization dawned, maybe hiking and then the awesome mind blowing sex, lying naked in the cold weather, wasn't such a good idea after all. He thought.
"Edward!" Lauren called his name sharply, snapping him out of his reverie. Drawing his attention back to her. "I still don't understand, how do I introduce her to everyone?"
Edward narrowed his eyes upon Lauren. His hand that lay upon the top of Jasper's desk fisted, he tried with difficulty to control his temper. What the hell was Lauren's problem? She was acting like a jealous girlfriend, which she would never be. Okay she might have been over the last two years a, good lay and companion on nights he was feeling lonely, but that was all she was to him. He did not love her and he never would. There was only room in his heart for one woman, and that was Bella Swan. He thought to himself.
"Explain, to me what is so hard about that?" his voice steely.
Lauren snorted, and flipped her long blonde hair back over one shoulder,
"It's not like she's your wife or anything?" she said rudely.
No not yet, but if things go well!
Edward thought, as he sat back in the chair, and took a deep breath, to control his anger. He closed his eyes as he pinched the bridge of his nose between his fingers. He so badly wanted to throw Lauren out of Jasper's office. How dare she even question him about his motives, or relationship with Bella? He mused angrily. Lauren was not his girlfriend, his woman, and she had no right.
"Lauren…what my relationship to Miss Swan is not your concern. I suggest that you refrain from making any more comments. It's quite easy to introduce her as my Executive Assistant." He bit out coldly, he opened his eyes and made contact with Lauren, his eyes were blazing with anger as his gaze hardened on hers. "Do you have a problem with that…Miss Mallory?"
Lauren's eyes widened, and she grimaced at his chilling tone directed toward her. Gone was the warm, compassionate man from earlier. She realized almost to late, she might have overstepped her bounds, and angered him. That was something she had not planned on doing, she wanted his ring on her finger, and knew she would do anything to get it, even if it meant scheming behind his back to get what she wanted. She thought to herself.
"No…no it will be fine." She said trying to smooth over the fact she had made him mad.
"Good, lets end this discussion right now then, shall we?" he asked. Edward had about all he was going to take from her today, she was grating on his nerves. What he really wanted no needed was to see Bella again, to make sure with his own eyes that she was okay. He knew that his worry, and frustration about her was starting to show in his actions, but he could not help but to worry.
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Alice stood in the doorway beside Jasper and gave him a small sideways glance, as she felt the tension that suddenly filled the office. Jasper had a slight knowing smirk on his lips, that told her 'see I told you so' then she turned her gaze back to look upon her brother, an eyebrow raised in enquiry. When he caught her questioning stare, he quickly looked down at the desk top, a slight blush stained his cheeks, whether it be in embarrassment or anger at that moment she was unsure.
Yes! She thought silently to herself, there was defiantly something going on with Edward when it came to Bella Swan. She had never witnessed him lose his cool over a woman before, except for when it came to his mother and sisters. She could tell from the way he'd glared at Lauren, he was not a man who was not supposedly in love with her, nor for that matter was he with Tonya. Well she was going to get to the bottom of it…yes brother dear you are so going to fess up, she thought still gazing at her brother.
"Well, Edward we will be off then. Will see you later on tonight, sorry to have bothered you," she said.
"Its okay Alice, I'll meet up with you both at the ball with Bella." Edward answered her.
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He turned back to Lauren and her cousin, "Is they're anything else we need to discuss?" he asked them.
"I think that is all, Edward," Lauren's cousin answered him with a shake of his head. Lauren remained quiet beside him.
"Well then lets go ahead and end this meeting then shall we. Lauren, I'll see you at the ball, until then I bid you good evening." He dismissed them ending the meeting. Both Lauren and her cousin stood, said their good byes and let the office.
Edward sighed, and leaned his head back to rest on the back of the chair, he was starting to regret keeping Lauren in his life. Lately she has been tiring to win his attentions, and stupidly what did he do?
I let her wheedle her way into my life again and again. Well it's going to stop now; I've got to stop it, especially after seeing Bella's reaction to Lauren and Tonya this afternoon. If I'm not careful I will lose what little trust I'd gained with Bella, and that is one thing I did not want to happen.
All he wanted was she to love him, as he loved her. But with her trust issues it was going to be so hard for him to convince her of that. But Bella was worth the trouble this was stirring in his life, he realized that he could not live with out her, if he was to lose her now, he didn't know what he would do…. how he would go on living in a world with out her.