Disclaimer: It is with a heavy heart that I admit that the exclusive rights to Twilight aren't mine, nor will they ever be.
A/N: Thanks to all that are reading and that have put this story on alert. One request, if you aren't old enough to by cigarettes legally, please don't read this.
A huge thanks to amazing and sponge-worthy Sartiadreaming for beta'ing for me.
Angela just handed me a Fed Ex letter envelope, and it's sitting in my lap, letting me stare at it.
That's right; mock me, tease me.
"Open it," Angela tells me.
"I can't."
"Rose said it was great."
"I know, but I'm just going stare until I find all the imperfections," I whine.
"Bella," Tia interrupts. "Just open the damn package."
"Fine," I huff. I rip the envelope open and pull out five copies of the June edition of Vogue that hits the stands next week. On the front cover is a picture of me standing on the catwalk, my face is fully exposed with a feral expression.
I've already seen some of these pictures, the internet hosting over two dozen of them about a week ago.
"Wow," Angela quietly says from over my shoulder.
I hand her a copy and reach out to give Tia one.
For the next hour, we are all silent, only the sound of pages turning.
The article is good, fair I would say. It took a few days after the interview for me to realize that I did what I had to do, and I just needed to let everything lay where I placed it. Besides, what good would it do to go back and kiss ass, especially when I'm not the kiss ass type.
Thank God Rose had demanded that she is to receive the draft and would be giving her approval for publishing. Since she was there, knew everything that was said, all the questions Kate asked and our harsh words to each other at the end, I remember that at least I have her on my side.
Even with that knowledge, I'm scared that she will ruin me, but after reading everything, Kate turns out to write a very objective article. She goes over my past, nothing that anyone has ever read before. She states that I'm loyal and only mentions my relationship with Edward a few times.
Inside the magazine are just a half-a-dozen pictures of me from the day of the photo shoot. There is one of me from centerstage, peeks of the gold peering out from the feathers surrounding me, then a few more of me with the blue dress, sitting, watching the stage. The image is so crisp that you can see the condensation on the glass that is in my hand.
But the ending pictures are the most stunning, and at first I don't even realize that it is me. There are pictures of me staring into the mirror, applying lipstick, then another fiddling with my hair, and the last one with what I can only describe as a sexy stare right into the mirror. There is a slight grin on my face, and in the mirror, it is blurry, but you can clearly see a male figure in the background, the object of my vision.
"It's Edward."
"Where?" Both Angela and Tia ask at the same time.
I tell them the page and where to look. Both gasp when they see what I have seen.
"Does he know?"
"I don't know. I haven't talked to him today."
Angela whips out my cell and brings it over to me.
"Um," I stall as I take the phone. "I'll call him later. I need to report to set."
"Stall much?" Tia asks.
"Yes, and I'm allowed to stall." I pout at her words.
The girls leave my trailer as I dial my phone. It rings once before Edward answers.
"Did you see?" he asks, answering.
"Yeah, are you mad?"
"What the hell? Bella, are you crazy?"
"A little. But you knew that when you started dating me," I say, laughing.
"I love you all the more for it, Beautiful."
We talk some more and Edward reminds me that he will be here this weekend, the last before we start to wrap on the filming, as well as when he comes to help me pack and bring me back home. There is a knock at the door before Angela pokes her head in, tapping her watch. I look at the clock and realize that I need to be heading to the set. I say bye to Edward, thankful that he is always there to support us in anything.
I only have a few days until Edward arrives, and I need to start thinking about what I need to do when I return back to L.A.
When I arrive on set I'm happy to see Maria, who is here for the remainder of filming. I give her a hug and request that we have dinner at the house tonight after the day is over.
"I saw an advanced copy of Vogue earlier today," Maria says, smiling at me as we sit down for dinner.
"You did?" I question, gulping. "What did you think?" I take a large sip of my wine, steeling myself for her view. Over the course of this film, I've grown fond of Maria, and I trust and value her opinion.
"I think you are so beautiful, one of the most beautiful women in this industry, a classic beauty. The pictures do everything to show the world this. Kate was fair, and I'm glad that you put so much emphasis on the film. What surprised me is that you never really answered Kate's question about your future."
"Well, I'm not exactly sure. I know that I'm going to take some time picking my next project. Plus, Edward and I are starting a production company together."
"Sounds like you will be busy then."
"Just a little."
"I'm busy as well; I have another book to finish. My editor is complaining daily."
"Doesn't he know that these things take time?"
"That they do."
"Did you always see yourself as a writer?"
"Not really. As a teacher, I enjoy writing, but it wasn't until I felt the need to tell a story that I realized I could be a writer. It's been hard work, lost of tears and anxiety, but the end result has been worth the wait."
"It's just like with anything in life—you work hard, you can do anything."
"Exactly."
After Maria leaves and I clean up, I think about what she has said. It has taken her years to figure out the path that she wants to take, but only after having to wade through so many things to get her to the place that she could afford to set herself in that direction.
I, on the other hand, have the opportunity, not only financially but also occupationally, to set myself on the path of my choice. I know that the production company is that path; I just don't know if I should walk, run, or skip down it.
As I sit in bed, unable to sleep, I find myself looking over some of the scripts that Edward had sent for me. Some of these are very moving emotionally and others have a specific message, but there is one that I pick up to read that makes me cringe with each turn of the page. I wonder who put this in the stack to be sent.
But it's like a train wreck, and I can't stop reading the words. I feel like grabbing a red pen and marking it up and making corrections. Not grammatically that is, but the story. I've read my fair share of scripts in the past, but this one, there is something screaming at me to fix it.
The next day on set, during a break, I finally give up struggling with it and grab a red pen and start making notes. But there isn't enough room, so I move to my laptop and start typing away my notes.
Later at a late break in the afternoon, I am on my laptop again, sitting in my chair off set while they setup some lighting for the next scene.
"What on earth are you typing so fast for?" I look up and see Felix standing in front of me.
"Oh," I pause, trying to decide what I should say. "Um, it's a potential script that I'm making notes on." Potential is not the right would that I would use at its current state, but Felix doesn't need to know that.
"It looks like you are writing one of your own, Bella," he says, laughing.
I look down and I realize that I have almost 20 pages of notes. "Oh."
He pulls a chair up beside me, and we begin talking. I explain to him about reading this script and how many faults it had.
"Are you and Edward jumping in with the production company after we wrap here?"
I had mentioned to Felix that Edward and I are starting our own production company, and he promised me that we could talk more about the subject. I am hoping that I can pick his brain and learn anything and everything that will help us in our endeavor at succeeding.
"Yes, that is one thought. After this long stint on a film, I wanted to take a small break, get my feet wet, so to speak."
"You deserve a break," he starts. "But the production company will be harder work than any acting job you could take."
"I know." I hang my head, the words on the screen blurring a little as I try and not focus on how hard this will be. I'm up for the challenge, but overall it just scares the shit out of me. The last thing I want to do is fail.
"Bella, do you realize that you are already doing the work you would be doing in a production company?"
I look back up at Felix, trying to figure out what he is talking about.
He points to my laptop. "This—making notes, fixing things—it is all a part of the business. Tell me something, would you produce this film as you originally read it?"
"Hell no."
"Precisely. You make corrections, adjustments, and send it back all red marked to the writer and tell them to try again. If you are going to put your mark on a project, then it has to be to your standards."
"I never thought about it that way."
"Well, now you have."
When Friday arrives, I have spent some time thinking about both what Maria and Felix have said over the past week, both giving me new perspectives.
When Edward arrives late, I make sure to keep him downstairs, leaving a surprise that I bought for him in our bedroom for later. I had Sue make enough at dinner that all I have to do is warm him a plate. We settle outside in the courtyard, on the cool almost-summer evening as he eats and enjoy talking and catching up with him.
We talk about random things, leaving work out, eventually talking about how often we want to come visit here in the future.
After he eats, I lead him upstairs to our bedroom. He's right behind me on the stairs, and I'm thankful that the house is dim to hide the grin on my face. After the photo shoot and Edward's reaction to my outfit in front of the large floor length mirror, I knew the next thing I wanted to purchase for this house.
"What are you hiding, Bella?" Edward asks. He's been suspicious since he walked in the door of the house of my actions. I ushered him around and didn't let him take his bag upstairs like he normally does.
"Nothing much, I just bought a little something new for the house," I tease.
He follows me into the bedroom, and he instantly sees that I've rearranged the furniture just a little bit. His eyes go wide when he sees the antique oversized mirror that I have propped up against the wall.
It is absolutely huge, one of the largest ones that I could find. The frame is painted gold, flaking and is intricately detailed with swirls, flowers and more than a few fleur-de-lis. Every time I see it, I just want to run my fingers along all the groves, feeling the workmanship and beauty. The mirror is old—old enough that some of the reflection is peeling and cracking. But the aging just gives the mirror more character.
"Wow," Edward responds, as he steps further in the room, stopping in front of the mirror.
"I know."
I watch as Edward's eyes take in the mirror, following along the frame, reaching out and touching it delicately. I move to stand behind him, thankful that I'm still wearing heels and can pop up just enough to rest my head on his shoulder.
"So you like it?"
Edward looks at me from his reflection in the mirror, "That depends; are you going to model in front it for me?" He smirks, and I have my answer that this is the right addition to the house.
As I let him settle in, I excuse myself to the bathroom and slip out of my blouse and jeans, leaving me in a matching pair of red lace bra and thong before putting my heels back on. In an attempt to be seductive, I leave the bathroom making sure not to look for Edward, but head straight for the mirror, keeping my stride strong.
As I stand there, I try not to focus on my body, but take the clip out of my hair and finger through my tresses. When my nails hit my scalp, I can't help but sigh and close my eyes, enjoying the feeling. I know that he won't need much encouragement to attack me; we are both worked up from our three weeks apart.
I can sense that Edward is behind me, even though I didn't hear him moving through the room.
"So fucking sexy," he groans.
I slowly open my eyes and see him eyeing me up and down in the reflection. Wanting to give him as much of show as I can, I move my hands from my hair, trailing them down my neck to my shoulder, slipping the bra straps off letting them hang on my arms, but leaving the cups holding my breasts in place.
His hands wrap from behind me, palming me before manipulating them through the lacy fabric. When he torturously pinches my nipples, causing them to peak, the moan that leaves my mouth is obscene.
"Fuck, Beautiful, I love this mirror," he says.
As he continues to play with his most favorite part of my body, I move my hands along my skin, my fingers ghosting along and leaving a wake of arousal in their path to my panties. I hook my fingers on either side of my hips and wiggle my ass to get Edward's attention.
His eyes pop to my hips before his hands join them, helping me remove my panties. I pull them down as far as they can go, leaving them at the bottom of my ass for Edward to take over, letting him pull them the rest of the way down as his lips find new spots on my body to make me shiver from their kiss.
He continues to help me, allowing me to lift each leg, removing the panties one leg at a time. His hands trace along my skin as he stands back up, moving his hands to the front of my body and slipping in between the apex of my legs.
As his finger slips inside me, instantly finding how moist I have become, I whimper and melt against Edward.
"Oh, yes," Edward says, in a low, husky voice.
He begins to pump his finger in and out, adding one more and moving his free hand back to my breast. My hands weave up and behind me, finding purchase in this soft hair.
In minutes he has me worked up to the point of exploding, his lips suctioned to my neck, my pants filling the air in the room. Edward begins to grind my ass, his cock straining in his jeans. I know that we both are going to attack each other at any moment.
Just as I think about how to get him naked, he releases my skin from his lips, and pulls his hand from my heat, licking them. My mouth opens heavy breaths give away my want for more. He grins at me as he pushes my torso over gently, bending me at the waist.
"Place your hands on the mirror," he commands.
I set my hands against the cool glass, spreading my fingers to give me as much stability as I can. I give myself mental fists pump for having the mirror secured against the wall instead of freestanding. Edward continues to stay behind me but quickly unzips, pushing his jeans down enough to release himself and position directly at the entrance that he has been working over.
"Brace yourself."
The angle of the mirror allows me to watch as he takes me from behind, his cock sliding through my moist lips and pushing all the way flush with my body.
His reflection shows that he is gripping with holding off on his own release. He grabs my hips, and grins at me as he begins to pull out and thrusts back into me.
My legs shake as I balance against the mirror, my heels moving just slightly with each movement. Edward is holding my body as firmly as he can without hurting me.
My vision moves upward in the mirror, watching Edward focused on us, our bodies moving. Right at that moment, I realize how erotic this is, how much more turned on I am in giving myself to him this way. His eyes move to mine and we stay locked on each other until my release reaches the peak and I have to close my eyes and cry out his name as my body fills with waves of pleasure.
I can feel Edward pump a few more times, his grip tightening on my hips as he explodes and finds his own release.
Later on when we are snuggled together in bed, Edward thanks me, and I can't help but grin and thank him back. It's him that gives me everything, and anytime I can give him a desire like this, I'm happy to hand myself over to him.
The next day, we are relaxing on the couch together, Edward is reading the local paper with my feet in his lap, and I have another script that I'm reading.
"Felix talked to me this week."
Edward continues reading the paper, but responds. "What did he say?"
"He caught me making notes on a script that you sent and told me it looks like I'm doing the right thing with the production company."
"Did he give you any advice?"
"Just that it will be harder work than acting." I laugh a little.
Edward lowers the paper and looks at me. "With the two of us working together, I figure we can handle about anything."
In order to show him how hard things could be, I excuse myself and go get the script that I was working on so hard when Felix spoke with me. Edward is still sitting on the couch when I return and hand him the script.
"Really? Take a read."
After he reads the first couple of pages, tilting his head to read in between all my hand written notes, he flips through the rest and sets it down.
"It needs…" he starts.
I hold out my hand and stop him, "A complete makeover, but it has a good core."
Edward smiles.
"What?"
"You."
"Me?"
"You don't need me to tell you that this is right up your alley."
I think for a second, having Edward's reaffirming on my ability to handle this, to do well for him, for us, is exactly what I need.
"Actually, yes, I do."
Edward pulls me down on the couch, holding me close and giving me a kiss on my head. "You are going to be amazing." He kisses me again. "We are going to be amazing."
It's the last week of shooting, and Felix has me doing more scenes with the kids in the classroom, finishing up any shots that require them. School is out and summer is starting, giving the kids more freedom to be on set. At the moment, I'm offstage, watching the kids prepare for Felix to say 'action', taking in their energy, smiling to myself.
Standing right behind the camera, I see one of the kids standing in a position that I would consider wrong for the shot, and I start itching to say something to Felix.
As soon as I get the nerve to say something to him, he yells out to the kid and makes the correction. I realize instantly that my thoughts of placing this kid in the right spot for the shot is just another aspect of production, further encouraging me that I'm making the right decision with starting this production company.
Then the time arrives that the week ends and the filming of this movie is over.
At the wrap party, I find myself talking to many of the crew, thanking them for all their hard work. I see Angela holding hands with Seth off to the side of the room, talking quietly to each other. Angela seems to have formed a nice relationship with Seth, and I wonder what moving back to the west coast will bring for them. As my eyes continue to scan the room, I see Tia is sitting at one of the large tables setup for eating, talking with some of the crew.
The whole time, I'm reflecting on how much this film has meant to me—the story as well as working with all these people. It has been hard work, and now that it is over, I can go home, to Edward.
Ah, home to Edward.
He's flying in tomorrow, and we will pack up a few things and fly back the next day. Edward's love of a having access to a private jet makes it easier to move back and forth across the country.
At the end of the night, I find myself sitting with Maria, laughing about some of the bloopers during filming. Maria and I are in stitches, doubling over in our chairs.
The next morning, I am up early and packing up my stuff. The house is full of noises, everyone gathering their items that are scattered all over the house. Sue is in the kitchen, food flowing to supply us all with energy.
Angela is taking two weeks off and staying here with Seth. I find her in her room, door open, sitting at her desk typing furiously on her laptop.
"Anything important?"
"Oh, no, just an email to my mom." Angela stops her typing and turns in her chair to face me. "Are you sure you are going to be okay without me for two weeks?"
"Yeah, I'm just going to relax for a few days before diving into the production company," I explain. "I'm sure I'll have plenty to keep me busy."
"If you need me, you know you an always call me home."
I move to sit down on her bed before speaking, "Angela, take a break. You need this time with Seth. Do you know what will happen with you two? Long distance?"
"We haven't addressed that elephant in the room yet."
"Don't let him break your heart."
She sighs, "Thanks."
We hug; even though we are all eating dinner together tonight, I want to take a private moment to connect with her.
Before lunchtime, Edward and Ben arrive. Ben hitched a ride with Edward, his plans on steeling Tia away on a trip further down south for a week. Sweet girl doesn't even know yet.
An hour and a scream later, Tia knows, and Ben is informing her to pack her stuff because their plane leaves in three hours.
Edward helps me pack, laughing at the shoe collection that I've somehow acquired while living here. We decide to leave a nice wardrobe here so that we can visit frequently without having to pack too much.
With one last dinner at the house during my six-month stay here, we are at the kitchen table: Angela and Seth on one side of the table with myself and Edward on the other. I requested that Sue, who is seated at the head, stay and spend our last evening together.
It's early afternoon the next day that I find myself back in California. Stepping off the plane, I'm happy to see Zafrina standing beside a large SUV. She grins at me, her white teeth bouncing off her dark skin.
Her smile is infectious, and I grin right back at her. "Happy to see me?"
"Just as long as you follow my rules."
"Rules? I have to follow rules now?"
Zafrina nods to Edward who looks at me and shrugs. Even though I am off the movie set, apparently I am still going to be subjected to security.
I roll my eyes at both of them, knowing that Edward has been giving Zafrina strict instructions on how to handle me. I bet he's even connected her with Paul.
A few days later, I am lying in bed, when I should be sleeping, regrouping and resting for the week to come. But my mind is in other places. I filter through all that is left to do with my most recent film. The junkets and press, I've been told by Felix, will be unlike anything that I've ever done. I have some time before all this starts, but I know that Felix wants me to be available for any reshoots as well as some voice over work.
I stretch and roll to over to check the clock again, only thirty minutes since Edward left for work, leaving me in a silent house.
It feels weird being back in L.A., home, after being away for so long. Normally when I'm back, it's just me, my apartment, and waiting for the next job to start. Then over the past six months, I've gotten used to the other people in the house, and Sue to have food ready for me so I could concentrate on work.
Now, I have Edward. We have our home together and things just feel right.
Getting up, I stretch out and take a quick run on the treadmill.
My phone rings as I am cooling down. I look down at my phone, seeing Caius' number flash on the screen.
A shot of adrenaline run through my body at the thought of why he would be calling.
"Hello, Caius," I cheerfully answer the phone.
"Bella," he sings. Then I hear him laughing, dare I say, sounding happy?
"Is everything all right?"
"Oh, yes."
"Okay," I hesitantly respond, still feeling like something must be wrong.
"Okay? I believe everything is more than okay, Bella."
"Caius, what is going on?"
"Look, I know that you just got back in town a few days ago, but I need to talk to you. Meet me for lunch. The Bistro?"
"Um, yeah, sure."
I hang up and jump in the shower. After sending a text to Zafrina that I need her today, I dress causal in capris and a pleasant blouse with some flip-flops. Braiding my hair and throwing on a hug floppy sun hat, I grab my purse, and I'm ready to go.
And hour later, I find myself sitting across from Caius staring at a menu.
"Bella," Caius says quietly.
I look up and nod, acknowledging that he is speaking to me.
"You know how hard Edward has been working at getting the Emmy hosting gig right?"
"Yeah, of course I do. He's been kissing ass so hard that his lips are chapped."
"Well, he got it."
I sit up, more excited to be at lunch right now than ever before. "No way."
Oh, my God, I sound like a sixteen year old.
Caius grins and leans across the table, effectively drawing me in closer. "And I want you to go on his show to tell him."
Oh, shit!
"Oh, no, shouldn't you be the one to tell him?"
"Tomorrow."
"Excuse me?"
"On his show tomorrow."
"Caius," I start in protest.
"Bella, he loves you, and this is something that he has worked very hard for. I know. I've seen him sit through lunches and dinners, talking to all the right people. You two have something special during his show, and this is the perfect way to inform him."
Oh, shit! Caius knows that we whisper things to each other at the beginning of the show.
"How did…" my words trail off.
"Edward confides in me, and I would never speak of your personal life to anyone," he starts. "Edward told me what happened with Kate, and as soon as he did, I knew that you would do anything for Edward."
"Of course," I respond, sitting up straight in my chair. "With Edward there is never a question as to what I would do for him. Anything to protect him."
"I know," he sighs. "So, why don't we give him some good news?"
Caius and I continue with lunch and discuss my plan for the show tomorrow. He knows Edward's guest list and is going to arrange the last minute change.
Good thing I'm an actress; it's the only way I will be able to hide my excitement until tomorrow.
