Sorry for not updating...life you know...a shorter chapter than usual sorry...again.

Mike is 33yrs old - he's more like an Uncle figure to Bella.
Laurent is 26
James is 28
Edward is 18 and is Alice's cousin.
Bella is almost 18
Alice and Emmett are 19.
Jasper and Rose are 20

Disclaimer goes here

BPOV

Edward led me into my office and closed the door behind us with Mike standing guard outside. I faced Edward carefully, containing my emotions.

"Bella" He murmured one of his hands caressing my face, the other holding me close to his body.

"Yes Edward" I returned staring into his beautiful emerald eyes. He leaned down and kissed my lips softly.

"I can't lose you" He whispered leaning his forehead against mine.

"I'm not going anywhere Edward" I replied quietly. Edward bent down and kissed me gently again.

"I know Bella, I just want to protect you and keep you safe" His words brought tears to my eyes.

"Thank you" I spoke softly. Edward's lips crashed onto mine. After a few minutes, we reluctantly pulled away, short of breath.

"Let's get your paper work and we'll go home" Edward stated gently.

"Ok, just let me change first and I'll grab some spare clothes" I agreed. He slowly let go of me as I headed towards the bathroom. I put on a pair of black jeans, a red long sleeve, v neck top and a designer jacket. I found a backpack in the wardrobe and proceeded to throw a few changes of clothes into it before adding my necessary toiletries. I opened the door to the bathroom and found Edward sitting on the couch.

"Catch" I tossed him my backpack, which he caught with ease and a smile. From my desk I unplugged my laptop and shoved it into its case before locating the Mallory file and all the documents that were associated with it. I walked over to Edward with my laptop bag and he stood up wrapping an arm around my waist.

"Ready love?" Edward asked me.

"Sure" I nodded as he opened the door. Mike led us back to the elevator and got in after us.

"So... Edward?" Mike stipulated.

"Yes" Edward replied serenely.

"You know James" Mike stated.

"I know of him, yes" Edward smiled down at me carefully.

"Then watch your back...and Bella's" Mike added gruffly.

"Can I ask how you know James, Mike?" Edward enquired politely. I stiffened next to him slightly. He kissed my head and I relaxed once again.

"Everyone who was in the company at that time knows just who and what James is" Mike spat venomously.

"And it was kept inside the company?" Edward wondered. Where was he going with this?

"I believe so yes" Edward nodded to Mike's response and fell silent. We all exited the lift and Edward and I headed toward the car park.

"Thanks Mike" I called out over my shoulder. Edward unlocked my car and held open the passenger door for me.

"You don't mind if I drive do you?" Edward asked kindly.

"Of course not...and it's not like I know where you live, I would probably get us lost" I laughed quietly to myself. Edward kissed me lightly before he walked back around the car to the driver's side.

"How many times have you got lost?" Edward questioned curiously. I started laughing again.

"Just on my way home or in the whole city?" There was way too many times to count. All the buildings looked the same. Skyscraper, apartment block, high rise...it was just a monotonous grid.

"Ok, point taken, you get lost often...my house is a fair way out of the city in the country, it will take us an hour or two to get there, is that ok?" Edward queried.

"Wherever you want to go Edward, I don't mind" I smiled at him warmly. "Would you mind terribly if I worked while you drove?" I added as he turned the keys in the ignition and the Ferrari roared to life.

"Can you talk while you work?" Edward smiled crookedly. I felt a smile spread across my face in return.

"All women can multitask...can you drive while you talk?" I laughed in response. He chuckled.

"Silly Bella" He focused his eyes back on the road as we exited the parking lot. I pulled the folders out of my bag and opened the Mallory file, pulling out their business outline and requested advertising plan.

"Isn't there a Mallory in our class at school?" Edward wondered out loud.

"Yes, one Lauren Mallory, she's friends with Jessica...her father just recently switched to my firm and he has us on a tight deadline...he's been breathing down my neck all week to personally manage his company's campaign." I answered, reading through the budget, requirements, company motto and their achievements.

"Do you often work nights Bella?" Edward continued.

"Until recently yes, I used to work every night at the office...most of the time I would sleep there" I replied quietly.

"What happened recently?" I thought I could hear the smile in his voice but I didn't dare look at his gorgeous face.

"I met you" I murmured, keeping my eyes trained on the pieces of paper I had scattered around me already.

"You shouldn't work so hard Bella, I'm glad I've distracted you from it" Edward declared. I tore my eyes away from my work and stared at his face. His eyes flickered to mine briefly before he focused back on the road. A smile was playing on his lips.

"Well you certainly are one big distraction" I muttered to myself. Edward chuckled.

"So what Business do the Mallory's run?" Edward asked after a while.

"Huh...oh...they make surgical equipment" I spoke distractedly, overlooking some of the basic sketches the people in designing had come up with. They were boring to say the least. I pulled out a sketch pad from my carry case and began listing possible ideas.

"What are you doing now?" Edward sounded curious again.

"I'm brainstorming...usually I use a bigger piece of paper though...that whiteboard at the office would have come in handy right now..." I was fully immersed in my thoughts; it was hard to carry out a conversation at the same time...so much for multitasking.

"What kind of advertising package are they after?" Edward persisted.

"They want a few different print ads done, a billboard print and a television commercial" I finally gave up brainstorming and gave him my full attention. I looked out the window at our surroundings and noticed that we were on the outskirts of the city...how long had we been driving for.

"And when's the deadline?" He resumed questioning.

"Two months at the latest, but ideally he wants the billboard to be unveiled in around five weeks." I sighed heavily. This was too tight a deadline...we were really going to have to push it to make this one.

"Sounds tough...it's not a particularly easy subject is it?" Edward conceded turning his head to face me briefly.

"You have no idea" I mumbled focusing back on my ideas, jotting a few more down. I didn't have anything good yet...usually it wasn't my job to come up with slogans or designs but once I had an idea I could sketch and create to my heart's content. We sat in a comfortable silence for what seemed like minuted but would have been much longer. I only looked up when I felt the car slow down. We were on long winding dirt road that was surrounded by forest. We must have been a long way out of the city.

'Where are we Edward?" I asked slightly alarmed. "Are we lost?" I panicked.

"No Bella we're not lost, and even if we were you're safe with me" I nodded calming down instantly.

"So where are we then?" I wondered, inquisitively.

"This is my driveway...we'll be coming up to the property boundary in a minute and then you will be able to see the house." Edward sounded more excited than I was. I was going to his house...secluded in the middle of the woods...for the entire weekend. We pulled up to a very expensive and high tech gate with a guard's house in front of it. Edward turned off the car.

"I'll be back in one second Bella" I smiled at him as he gracefully got out of the car and walked over to a tall man. I watched as they talked and laughed for a few minutes before the automated gate slowly opened and Edward came back to the car. We drove for another hundred yards and then I saw it. The house was beautiful...well it was more of a mansion. It looked extremely modern, was easily three stories and three times the length of a normal house. My mouth fell open as I noticed the intricate detailing. It looked like something inspired by 18th century French-chateau architecture with a highly modern twist. And it was night time...imagine what it would look like in daylight (See link on profile)

"It's breathtaking Edward" I murmured, absentmindedly shoving all the papers back into files and into my bag.

"Yes, you are" I felt the blush rise on my cheeks. Edward ran a finger across it lightly. "Beautiful" He whispered in my ear before kissing my neck. "C'mon love, let's get you inside and warmed up" He added, pulling away and stepping out of the car. I undid my seatbelt and found myself once again face to face with the Greek God. I took his offered hand as he helped me from the car. It was cold outside and I felt myself shivering. Edward threw my backpack over his shoulder and took my laptop case form my hands before intertwining his hand with mine and leading me to the front door. The light shone warmly from it, illuminating the ground outside. I shivered again as a breeze blew past. Edward let go of my hand to unlock the door before pushing me in. I stood in the foyer gobsmacked once again. There was a beautiful marble winding staircase that led upstairs and hallways before it leading down either side.

"You want a tour?" Edward breathed in my ear. I smiled at him warmly and nodded.

"Ok, let's go drop your stuff in my room and we'll start form there" Edward walked towards the staircase. I followed right next to him. "Look up at the roof Bella" Edward encouraged. I gasped as I observed the Michelangelo -reminiscent painting on the high ceiling.

"Amazing" I uttered, slowly climbing the stairs. We walked up to the top floor and along the right corridor till the very end. We were in the very back corner of the house. Edward opened up a set of double doors and we entered what I assumed was his room. It was very large and spacious with an extremely large bed pushed against the far wall. The room was done in golds, reds and blacks and reminded me of what a royal bedroom would look like. I stood in the doorway as I watched him place my bags on his black leather couch.

"Bella, come here" Edward spoke from the other side of the room. I walked cautiously towards him. He took my hand and brought it to his lips as we stood in front of deep red curtains. "I want to show you something" I smiled reassuringly at him. He reached up and pulled on a cord that drew the curtains apart. His wall sized window looked out over the backyard where a large fountain was, lit by floating candles.

"It's truly beautiful Edward" I smiled as I just took in the beauty of it. Edward wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me close to his chest.

"No Love, you are the only truly beautiful thing in this world" He whispered staring into my eyes. I leant up and kissed him softly before resting my head on his chest. His arms held me close to him. "Shall we take a quick tour now or wait till morning...I wouldn't want to lose you in this big house" Edward murmured in my ear. I snuggled closer to Edward's chest. "Tomorrow it is" Edward chuckled.

"I suppose I better get ready for bed" I yawned. Bed...oh crap! "Oh man" I exclaimed thumping my head against Edward's chest, much to his amusement.

"Bella, what's wrong?" Edward laughed.

"I forgot to pack pyjamas" I groaned, embarrassed, a blush tinting my cheeks. Edward pulled back slightly and caught my face with one of his hands.

"Well then I guess you'll just have to borrow some of my clothes" His eyes were dancing with excitement.

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