AN: Hi everybody, hope you're having a great day. Thank you for all your reviews and comments. I realise that quite a few of you were intrigued by the scenes with Tanya; they are setting up for an incident to come in a few chapters' time, and serve as a contrast between Edward's attitude to relationships before Bella came back into his life, and what he is like with her.
Also, for those of you thinking you'd missed something- Bella's tattoo was not mentioned before the last chapter.
Anyway, I know a lot of you have been looking forward to the Halloween Party, and so here it is. This is a longer chapter at 7000+ words. As always, supermassive thanks to SunflowerFran, my lovely beta!
I do not own Twilight or any of the wonderful characters that Stephenie Meyer created to bewitch us all. I also do not own Jane Austen's Persuasion. I am merely her humble admirer, and in borrowing plot points from her final published work, I mean only to honour her memory. This story is rated M for language and lemons. Please do not read if you're offended by either of these.
Thank you muchly!
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Halloween 2012
Four days had passed since the twins' birthday party, and Bella was still preoccupied with the conversation she'd heard between her father and Emmett. She was immensely curious about details of the relationship between her sister and her beloved's brother, and also very conflicted. She understood why Rosalie and Charlie had insisted on the relationship being kept from her, but that didn't stop her from feeling annoyed and frustrated. Yet she was also delighted that Rosalie had finally found love again, and the more she thought about it, the more she acknowledged that Emmett and Rosalie were exceptionally well suited. She decided not to tell Edward yet because she understood implicitly that the fewer people who knew the better, although she hated keeping a secret from him, especially one that involved his brother. She also needed to sort out her own feelings about the situation before she could talk about it.
Edward had noticed that Bella was a little distracted, but didn't want to push her when she said it was nothing. In every other way, they continued to be ecstatically happy together. They were making great progress with the tracks for their new artist, Alistair Kinsella, and had three new writing contracts with established artists coming up in November and early December. Although Bella herself did not play an instrument or sing, Edward was struck by the depth and passion she brought to his music via her words; every song they wrote together made him fall in love with her a little more.
Bella and Edward were so busy writing and producing for AJE's own artists that they had largely managed to avoid The Hunters and the large production crew from Prince Records who had taken over the live studio for the week. Jacob was conspicuous by his absence, and Alice had managed to ascertain that he was in Jersey on business, but was returning in time for the Halloween party. Edward continued to remain apprehensive about the event as he would be spending a lot of the evening coordinating the music and DJ-ing. He would not be able to spend the whole night by her side, and he dreaded seeing anyone, especially Jacob Black, hit on his girl.
Jacob hadn't contacted Bella since the weekend of Angela's birthday party, and she believed he had lost interest, and for that she was grateful. She wasn't sure how she would have coped being bombarded by texts and calls from him. She wasn't especially looking forward to the party because it wasn't her scene and she was afraid of getting overwhelmed by the number of people and the noise. Her apprehension wasn't helped by Alice, who had been bouncing around the studios all week, excitedly organising everything. However, Angela and Ben were coming, which assuaged her, as were Siobhan and Liam, and Carlisle and Esme, although they wouldn't stay too late as Esme got tired very easily.
On the day of the party, Bella and Rosalie finished work early and headed to Alice and Jasper's cottage to get ready with Alice. Bella had tried to get out of wearing a costume at all, but Alice had insisted, even going so far as to procure a black and gold brocade coat and fake cutlass for her, to form a girl pirate costume based on Elizabeth Swann from Pirates of the Caribbean. Bella wore it over her work outfit of black shirt, tight, black, skinny jeans and flat, brown boots, and then bound it at the waist with a wide black and gold,leather belt, to which she attached the cutlass.
Rosalie shimmied into a Wonder Woman costume with high, red patent stiletto shoes, whilst Alice was going, fittingly, as Tinkerbelle in a light red and gold fairy costume. Jasper was going as Peter Pan, although had managed to persuade his wife that he could do so without wearing tights, instead opting for cropped brown cords and a distressed red velvet tunic with a black sash belt.
"O.M.G!" Alice squealed as she saw her dear friends dressed up. "You guys look fabulous!"
"As do you!" Rosalie and Bella exclaimed together before turning to each other and yelling "Jinx!" Like they used to as kids. Suddenly Bella turned away, and Rosalie realised that she still wasn't fully forgiven, although Bella had been talking to her more over the past few days.
Alice picked up on the tension and tried to nip it in the bud.
"Champagne?" She picked up the bottle from a cooler and poured three glasses.
"Thank you," murmured Bella, feeling bad for the change in atmosphere. "Uh, but I think I'm going to go find Edward for a few minutes before the party gets underway."
"Sure, see you later."
"Bye Bellsie," Rosalie said resignedly.
Bella headed out to Edward's cottage and knocked on the door. He opened it a few seconds later, still wearing jeans and a Ramones t-shirt, his mobile phone cradled between his ear and neck. He beckoned her inside.
"Carlisle, Bella's here. I've got to go. Yeah, just park by the cottages. The security guys already know to look out for your Merc. Bye."
"Hey, you're not dressed yet."
"No, I've just had one phone call after another this afternoon," he sighed. "But, fucking hell, you look stunning!" He placed his hands on her hips and drew her closer.
"Edward, I'm wearing the outfit I wore to work this morning with a weird-looking coat, belt and boots."
"You're always stunning to me, love." He nuzzled his nose into her neck. "Besides, the more clothes you wear, the more I want to take them off."
"Soon, mon ange." She tilted her head towards him and kissed his jaw. "What are you wearing tonight?"
"No idea. Alice thrust a garment bag and a box at me an hour ago and told me to wear them. Care to help me get dressed?"
"Of course." They strolled into the bedroom hand in hand. Edward picked up the garment bag and unzipped it, whilst Bella stood behind him, watching his rippling musculature move. Her mind became occupied with one thought. Mine. He's mine. On instinct, she stepped forward and lightly placed her hands on his ass, causing him to still.
"Bella?"
"Just helping." She kept one hand on his firm behind and pulled his t-shirt over his head with the other. Edward pulled it off completely and tossed it onto the floor. Bella stepped closer until her lips were pressed against his back.
"Oh fuck ..." She had hardly touched him, but it was more than enough to entice his body into reacting.
Bella pressed herself into him, and he could feel the swell of her breasts against his back, along with the slightly rough material of her coat. She continued to pepper his back and shoulders with small kisses, but slipped her hands around his waist; one hand travelled up, exploring his chest with fingertips while the other travelled south, creeping closer and closer to the hard bulge that was nudging the fly of his jeans.
When she finally cupped him, he growled loudly and thrust against her hand before turning around in her arms. Bella's eyes drifted across the strong planes of his chest. Edward watched her face as she came across the swan tattoo that graced his skin. He wasn't disappointed when her mouth dropped in surprise.
"You have a tattoo?" Her fingers traced the design. "Edward, it's a swan?"
"Yeah, My swan. My. Beautiful. Eternal. Swan."
"Oh my ..." she choked back a sob.
"Because my beautiful swan owns me and my heart," he added.
"When?" she whispered, looking between him and the ink.
"The day before we were supposed to run away."
She kissed the skin over his heart before tracing the line of it with her tongue, leaving Edward groaning with desire, completely at her mercy.
"Mine," She bit her lip, and with a new fire in her dark brown eyes, she pushed him onto the bed. "Only mine." I hope you love my ink as much as I love yours ...
"Yes! Oh Bella, love. I'm yours, and you're mine."
"Lie back," she instructed. When he complied, she crawled on top of him and whispered in his ear, "Tu est mon ange du ciel ..."
"Oh hell, the French ..."
She started unbuttoning his jeans.
"Tu es toujours dans ma coeur…"
"Bella … oh, please …"
She pulled them down slowly until they ended up in a heap by his t-shirt. So did his black boxer briefs, exposing his hard, long member, glistening with pre-cum.
"Je suis à toi, et tu es à moi …"
She promptly leaned forward and sucked the head of his cock into her mouth, pressing the rough of her tongue into the engorged flesh, swirling it around slowly.
"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" Edward cried.
Bella gripped him at the base of his hard shaft before taking him deeper into her mouth. She had just one previous experience of giving oral sex, but she did what felt right, and took Edward's deep, guttural moans as a sign that she was doing it adequately.
Edward couldn't believe how pleasurable Bella's mouth felt on him, and how sexy she looked bobbing up and down, making little sucking and grunting sounds as she tried to take him deeper. For years, the memory of her going down on him had got him hard and got him off quickly. He even imagined it was her when other women were doing the job. Now that it was Bella sucking him once again, he was doubly affected.
"I'm really close, love." She glanced up to show she'd heard him, and then continued sucking and licking and slurping over his dick, loving his taste and the power she currently held. She used her spare hand to fondle each of his balls in turn. The extra stimulation tipped him over the edge, and he spilled thick spurts of cream into her mouth. She gagged a little, involuntarily, causing him to sit up in alarm, but she then smiled at him as she swallowed, looking triumphant.
Edward could only stare back at her in shock, and her smile faded.
"You didn't like it?"
"Bella, I fucking loved it. The best I've ever had. I just wasn't expecting it."
"Seriously, the best you've ever had?" He held out his arms, and she crawled over.
"Yeah, up there with the last time you did that to me." He combed his fingers through her hair and brought his lips to hers briefly. "Now, when can I return the favour?" He let go of her hair as his hands ran down her back to her ass. "Did it affect you?"
"It did, mon ange. I'm so wet right now, butyou're still not dressed. We're going to be late, and Alice is going to go mad. I don't really want you to rush when you're doing it to me."
"I hate not reciprocating, love." He stroked her bottom, but she got up instead of rolling over as he hoped.
"You will, Edward." She ran her fingers through his hair. "Over and over and over again!"
After Edward had changed into his costume, a battered dark green and gold brocade coat and black jeans with a pair of men's boots, a black bandanna for his hair, a fake parrot to perch on his shoulder and a cutlass, which made him look somewhat like Jack Sparrow, they headed to the party. Edward went to find Mike and the production crew to get the technical aspects sorted out, whilst Bella went to find Bree and Diego, who had just arrived from Belfast.
It didn't take long before guests from far and wide arrived and the party was in full swing. Alice had spared no expense. She organised for a row of chocolate fountains, a vodka ice luge, and blackjack and roulette tables. There were a Ferris wheel, bumper cars and a haunted house in the gardens. She also put together a cabaret show and got a collection of AJE's artists to perform a set. There was a dance floor and two free bars, including one just for cocktails.
Bella chatted to Bree and Diego for a while until she left to get ready for her set, and then Siobhan and Liam, and Carlisle and Esme. They occupied a cosy corner of the bar which was set up as a lounge, chatting and enjoying each other's company while listening to Edward DJ. She was having such a good time that she almost forgot that Jacob was supposed to be making an appearance.
Emmett arrived at the party with a sense of apprehension. Edward hadn't invited him, but Alice had called and begged him to come, whining that she hadn't seen him in 'like, forever', so he relented. Alice and Jasper were Edward's best friends, but they were also some of his closest friends, and he had been so busy with work that he'd not had time to make new ones in the area, other than Rosalie, who he was dying to see in her Wonder Woman costume. He hoped Edward wouldn't be too annoyed that he'd turned up.
After psyching himself up, Emmett walked into the lobby and picked up a glass of champagne from a waiter. He was about to follow the general direction of people moving towards the music in the auditorium when his mobile went off. He fished it out of the belt pocket on his costume. He had come dressed as Mr T from The A-Team, knowing that it was one of Rosalie's favourite programmes from her childhood.
"Emmett Cullen."
"Hi, it's Seth Clearwater. Sorry to ring you when you're off duty, boss, but Jared asked me to phone."
"No problem Seth. Hang on a sec."
Emmett ducked into one of the empty enclosed seating areas adjacent to the lobby and shut the glass door to ensure nobody could hear his conversation.
"So what's going on?"
"Two things. Ben Cheney's office just delivered their report, and more interestingly, we had a phone call from Mary Matthews."
"The accountant who did the original forensic accounting report? How? I thought you said that she was abroad."
"She lives in Portugal these days, but she flies back to visit friends and family a few times a year. She happened to have coffee with one of her old colleagues, who mentioned that our paralegals had been looking for her. She got in touch, and bottom line is she kept every single thing from the original investigation, right down to her Post-It notes."
"Which means ...?"
"Jared thinks we might have enough information to charge. Mary Matthews' has evidence that Billy Black was aware his son was involved and both the old and new forensic accounting reports prove that Jacob was aware and fully complicit in Royce King's defrauding and embezzlement game."
"That's great, but where is King?"
"Jersey Police are tracking him down. We know that Billy and Jacob Black are in Warwickshire though so we could pick them up ..."
"No. We have to have the three of them arrested simultaneously. If we stagger it, then Jacob Black will have time to warn King, and he's already proved to be a slippery fucker."
"Got it. Should we have Warwickshire Police monitor the whereabouts of Jacob and Billy?"
"Yes, definitely."
Emmett glanced out of the glass door to see Jacob Black himself, arriving at the party, striding in like he owned the place, in a navy suit with a pinstriped shirt and tie, his dark hair slicked back like Christian Bale's portrayal of Patrick Bateman in American Psycho. Just to make sure everyone knew who he had come as, he had pinned a piece of paper to the back of his suit, with the word 'Psycho' on it. Emmett had never met him, but had looked at photos enough to recognise him instantly.
"And I can tell you exactly where Jacob Black is right now."
Jessica arrived on Mike's arm. They had come dressed as Bonnie and Clyde, and made a beeline for her cousins. They caught up with Rosalie first, who was on the dance floor with Makenna and Tia from the production team. They danced for a while, through a few tracks spun by Edward, and then through Bree's short set.
"Where's Bella?" Jessica yelled over the music. "Who did she come as?"
"A pirate. I think she's in the lounge area, or else she might be by the chocolate fountains ..." Rosalie gestured behind her, but her voice trailed off as she caught sight of Emmett winding his way through the crowds, flanked by Alice and Eric.
"Hi! Oh Jess, it's so great to see you!" Alice squealed, clearly having partaken in a drink or two. "I'm so happy you could make it and I totally dig the costume! This is Emmett, Edward's brother. You guys haven't met, have you? Anyway, Em, this is Jessica, our former intern who now works in drugs counselling. She's Bella and Rosalie's cousin. You've met Rosalie our receptionist-slash-super administrator, right? This is Emmett. He's Edward's brother and like, a super-duper lawyer!"
"Whoa, slow down short stuff! Damn, you talk fast when you're boozed up! I forgot about that!" Emmett laughed. "Nice to meet you Jessica." He shook her hand.
"Nice to meet you. I'm afraid we were just off, but I'm sure I'll catch you round." Jessica and Mike scuttled off.
"Nice to see you again, Rosalie." He held out his hand, and Rosalie took it tentatively.
"You too, Emmett, love the costume. A-Team?"
"Spot on."
Alice looked between the two, and was shocked to see a hint of pink on Rosalie's cheeks that hadn't been there before. What's this I see? Rosalie likes him! They look fabulous together! They should totally go together!
"You know what, guys? I am totally jonesing for some chocolate scrumptiousness right now! I'm gonna head for the fountains, but you guys should dance! I know this is one of Rosalie's favourite tracks!"
Edward was playing a remix of Run DMC's It's Tricky. It was indeed one of her favourites.
"Err ... do you want to?" Emmett held out his hand.
"Sure."
"Cool! See you later! Come on Eric!" Alice spun away.
Emmett and Rosalie danced as chastely as they could manage, but it was difficult. All Emmett wanted to do was to pull her close and run his hands up and down her. Rosalie wanted to bump, grind and do all manner of things too inappropriate for a public place, whilst whispering erotic words of love into his ear.
"You look amazing, by the way," Emmett told her.
"Ditto, handsome. So much so that once the song finishes I'm going to walk away otherwise I won't be held accountable for my actions."
"It's not going to be for much longer, gorgeous."
"Really?" Rosalie replied hopefully.
"Really. The ducks are lining up. But I can't say anymore."
"You've said what I needed to hear."
They didn't know that someone was watching them from the side of the dance floor. Bella saw them interact from her spot near the chocolate fountains, where she and Esme were indulging. Emmett and Rosalie were only holding hands lightly, but they moved around each other completely in sync. They looked perfect together, but Bella could make out a hint of sadness in both their features.
Suddenly, from out of nowhere, Alice appeared, jumping up and down, holding a kebab skewer of marshmallows and fruit dipped in dark chocolate.
"OMG! OMG! I have had the best idea!"
"Wow Alice, how much sugar have you had?" asked Esme, her hands resting on her large bump.
Alice shrugged.
"Who knows … Anyway, look!" She pointed at Emmett and Rosalie. "Don't they look great together?"
Esme appraised the couple.
"Maybe? Perhaps, though, you should let them decide? What do you think, Bella?"
"Mmm ..." Bella mumbled nonchalantly. "If Rosalie wants something, she'll move heaven and earth to get it. If she likes Emmett, he won't know what's hit him."
"Bellsie!" Jessica's loud squeal interrupted. "I've been looking for you, like, everywhere! How are you?"
"Hey Jess. You look remarkably well!" The two hugged. "So, how are things at the drugs counselling centre?"
"It's so great! I was just telling Mike, wasn't I, baby, about how ..." Jessica spent the next few minutes talking about her job excitedly, and Bella was quite happy to see her so fired up and passionate about something with substance.
Mike ducked away to talk to some friends. Jessica moved on to talk about her new flat in Leamington Spa, which she was sharing with another girl, but just as she started, her smiling features dropped.
"Jess?" Jess flicked her eyes upwards, and Bella turned around to see Jacob lolloping towards them. "Great," she muttered under her breath. She glanced back at Jessica who had gone pale. "Just smile, say hi and then say you're going to find Mike, OK? I'll get rid of him." Jessica nodded and plastered on a fake smile.
"Bella Swan!" Jacob cried. "How are you? You look so fucking amazing! A sexy girl pirate or something!"
"Right. This is my cousin Jessica. You might not remember her since she would have been twelve when you guys met last time. Jess, do you remember Jacob Black?"
Jessica, despite feeling shaken and queasy, managed to heed Bella's advice and kept smiling.
"Sure, hi".
"Hi, beautiful." He turned back to Bella. "So, Bella, I got you a drink. It's a 'Sloe Comfortable Screw.'"
"Bella, I'm going to go find Mike."
"OK, see you later." She waved Jessica off. Alice and Esme had moved back to the lounge, so she was all alone.
"So I finally get you to myself. You know, I was really disappointed not to catch up with you that night a few weeks ago when I was in town." He tried to give her the drink, and it hovered in his outstretched hand for a moment until Bella took it and put it down on the table behind her.
"Yeah, well, I was busy, like I said."
"So, what are you up to after the party? Maybe we could catch up then. Have our own 'after-party.'"
"Rosalie and I have to relieve my dad from babysitting duty."
"Both of you? Surely Rosalie can do it by herself."
"I told you, I like being there."
"Bella, what do I have to do to get you to go out with me? I know I fucked up before by not calling you when I left for Jersey. But I'm really trying."
"Jacob, I'd like you to stop 'really trying'. Your father and my father are best friends, and you're a childhood friend of mine, so our paths are always going to cross," she began, crossing her fingers behind her back, "but I've told you several times now that I'm not interested in a relationship with you. Why do you keep pushing?"
"Because I think we could be great together. Like you said, our fathers are best friends. Remember how delighted Charlie and Renee were when we got together last time?" he replied, stepping a little closer. Bella immediately stepped backwards.
Renee had, indeed, been delighted. She had always had a soft spot for Jacob, often lamenting that she would have loved to have had a son just like him.
"My father just wants me to be happy, and I don't agree that we would work in that way."
"But your mother ..."
"Her opinion stopped counting the day she walked out on us."
"Geez, sorry. Touchy subject or what?"
Bella was fast losing her temper, but she held onto it.
"Yes, very. Anyway, how are The Hunters getting on with recording? I haven't seen them yet to say hello. Are they here?"
Bella managed to divert the conversation onto the band's progress, all the while avoiding the drink Jacob had brought her.
Jessica, somewhat panicked, felt deeply uncomfortable leaving Bella alone with Jacob, even though there were plenty of people nearby. She went to find Rosalie, and eventually tracked her down in the lounge with Alice, Jasper, Emmett, Siobhan, Liam, Carlisle and Esme, and they had also been joined by Bree and Diego.
"Hey Jess! Have a seat! Did ya wanna drink darlin'?" offered Jasper, holding up both sparkling grape juice and champagne.
"Actually, I really need to borrow Rosie for a second."
"OK. What's up?" They stepped out of the lounge, but Emmett, perched on the end of the couch, could still hear them.
"So, Jacob's here, and he's talking to Bella at the chocolate fountains. She's by herself with him! He brought her a cocktail! I'm super-scared Rosie. I know I shouldn't have left her, but she told me to, and ..."
"Hey Jessie, I need you not to worry. You stay here and chat to Alice, and I'll wander over to interrupt."
Jessica's shoulders sagged with relief.
"OK, Rosie."
Rosalie excused herself and headed over towards her sister. Emmett wasn't entirely sure what was going on or why Jessica was so particularly concerned, but he did know that all hell would break loose if Edward spotted Jacob-the-dickhead talking to his girl and overreacted as he was prone to do. He glanced towards the DJ booth, where Edward's eyes were trained on a spot in the distance. The chocolate fountains.
Shit.
"Jazz, can I borrow you a second?"
"Sure, man." Jasper got up and followed Emmett out of the lounge. "What's up?"
Emmett pointed at Edward, who had jumped out of the DJ booth and was making his way across the dance floor, elbowing people out of his way.
"He's about to kill Jacob Black for talking to Bella."
"Oh hell!"
Edward had never known rage or jealousy like the green fire that consumed him when he looked across the room to the bar and the chocolate fountains, to see Jacob Black talking to Bella. He expected that they would exchange a couple of pleasantries and then she would walk away. But she didn't walk away. He watched in horror as Jacob offered her a tall, orange cocktail, which she seemed to accept.
Why the fuck is she taking a drink from him? She knows he might have spiked it!
They continued to talk, and although they didn't seem to be flirting, he couldn't help but wonder why, if she couldn't stand him, and she suspected he might have drugged her before, she let the conversation continue.
It was when Jacob Black took a step closer to Bella, and she stepped back, that Edward reacted.
That fucking shit had better not upset my Bella! She's my love and I won't have him hurt her again!
He yelled to Benjamin to take over on the decks, vaulted over the hatch and started to make his way over to claim his girl. He chose to walk through the people dancing, which slowed him down, making him even angrier.
He had gotten fairly close to them when he suddenly felt the solid bulk of his brother in front of him.
"Bro, we need to talk!"
"Not now Emmett!"
"Edward, listen, man, you're about to do something extraordinarily stupid," Jasper warned from behind.
"It's none of your business! Stay out of it!"
"We're here, in a room full our artists, the press, and your very pregnant sister. The last thing we want is any of them to witness you attacking someone, even a cheese-dick snake, like Black."
Edward was still raging. His friend made sense, but the urge to plough his fist into Jacob and cart Bella off was riding high. Emmett could see it in his brother's face, and decided to get him out.
"Come on, let's go. I really do need to talk to you, and if you stay here, you're going to do something you regret."
Before Edward had a chance to reply or break free, Emmett grabbed him by the arm and pulled him out of the room so fast that if he put up any resistance, Edward would have dislocated his shoulder. Jasper directed them to Edward's office.
"WHAT THE FUCK, EMMETT?" he roared when Emmett finally let him go. "You didn't need to fucking frogmarch me out of there!"
"Yes, I did!"
"You don't know ..."
"Jacob Black was talking to Bella. We saw, Baby Bro."
"How do you know Jacob Black?"
"Err, I don't. I mean, I've never met him, but I've heard of him."
"From who, how?" Edward was starting to panic again. "I've got to get her away from that douche!"
"Edward, you gotta calm down. You're gonna have an aneurysm, man!" Jasper told him. "Do you really wanna make Bella make that sad, disappointed puppy face she does, by going out there and making a scene?" Uncertainty crossed Edward's handsome features. He knew the face well, and it got him every time. Bella never made it deliberately, which made it all the more effective. He backed off a little. "Now, I'm gonna go find out what's going down back there. You stay here and talk to your bro."
Jasper walked out, leaving Edward and Emmett staring at each other, Edward breathing heavily. Emmett eventually broke eye contact and started looking around the room, eventually spotting the small drinks fridge.
"I sure as shit hope you've got some beer in here," he said, getting up. "Score!" He passed Edward one and took one for himself.
"I don't understand. Bella can't stand Jacob, but she must have been talking to him for at least five minutes. Why doesn't she tell him to bugger off?" Edward asked quietly after a minute.
"Because she's a nice girl, a good girl, and he's the son of her father's best friend. She represents your company who are being paid a shit-ton of wonga for his lame-ass band to use her lyrics and rent your studios ..."
"How do you know?" Emmett was silent, realising that he'd given too much away. "Emmett, how the fuck do you know all that?"
Edward got up and started pacing.
"If you calm down a second, I'll tell you, but you have to keep a lid on itbecause it's an extremely delicate situation. Are you prepared to listen?"
"Yes."
Emmett explained to his brother about the case against Royce King and the need for Bella, Rosalie and Charlie to keep up pretences that their family considered the Black family close friends while the Crown Prosecution Service investigated.
"You see, Bro? Even though Bella hates having to interact with him, she's doing it for her family. Just like Charlie Swan is keeping up pretences with Billy Black. Bella said in her statement that she would do whatever was necessary to help with the investigation and prosecution if it meant that the future of her sister, niece and nephew could be secure again."
"She only told me about what Rosalie's ex-husband did, and that the investigation had been re-opened. Why didn't she tell me about the rest of it?"
"I can think of several reasons, baby Bro," Emmett replied. "When all this started, you were barely speaking to her. Now that you're back together, she probably doesn't want to spoil it by bringing up the heavy stuff because she lost you once before. That, and because we asked her not to tell anyone, even her closest friends."
"So why tell me all this now?"
"To stop you from losing it with Bella. I don't ever want you to doubt her because she's it for you, and almost everything that girl does is for the sake of other people or with others in mind. I was wrong to keep quiet about stuff that had to do with Bella before, and I'm so sorry. I'm not making that mistake again."
Edward took in his brother's sincere explanation and apology. I've missed my big Bro.
"I'm sorry I stopped talking to you. I was so angry about the whole situation and confused, and it was easy to dump all the blame on you, when actually, most of it was my fault. I overreacted that day on the phone with Bella and didn't hear her out. That's why I lost her. What happened on 9/11 was just the icing on a messed-up cake."
"Does that mean we're okay?" Emmett asked, his voice a little shaky.
"We're okay," Edward replied, grinning at his brother.
"Thank fuck for that!" Emmett grabbed Edward into a man-hug. "Cullen Crush! Yeah!"
"Now, Em, I need to tell you about something else Jacob Black might have done, so you'll understand why it's so important that he's never in the same room as any girl we care about."
While Edward and Emmett talked, Bella was unaware of how close Jacob had come to having his lights punched out by her boyfriend in front of five hundred party guests. Rosalie sauntered over to her sister, grabbed her arm and managed to pull her away, claiming that she needed the loo and that she didn't want to go alone. Bella was surprised as Rosalie wasn't one of those girls who needed company to go to the ladies', but she was happy to have any excuse to escape Jacob.
"Wait, Bella, don't forget your drink!" Jacob called as they were leaving. Bella turned around and was tempted to say she didn't want it, but decided to take it, thinking that she could give it to Inspector Kennedy to analyse.
"Thanks."
"See you later," Jacob called, but Bella didn't reply. She followed Rosalie into the admin corridor and to her office.
"Rosie, I thought you needed the loo? Why are we here?"
"You haven't had any of that drink have you?"
"Do you think I'm daft or something? Of course I didn't touch the drink. You didn't need to 'rescue' me, you know! I'm not five years old. I was handling things. "
"Bella, please, I didn't mean it like that. Jessica came to find me when she left you talking to Jacob, worrying about leaving you alone with him. I said I'd intervene."
"Oh, right." Bella wasn't sure what to feel.
Rosalie slumped back on Bella's tub sofa.
"I wish I could make things right between us again, Bellsie. I wish I could take back all the mistakes I made, and I bloody wish I could tell you what's been going on. I hope that when it all comes out, you'll understand."
Bella sat down next to her sister and took her hand. She was tempted to tell Rosalie that she knew exactly what was going on, but decided to keep quiet. It's not the time or place to be having a conversation about her and Emmett and the impact on the case.
Rosalie gasped in surprise.
"I'm sorry. I love you Rosie, I really do. I don't want things to be weird either. It just hurt to feel excluded in my own family. You know that I'll understand, and I'll support you whatever it is."
"I know. Even though so many exciting things are happening for you right now, your dedication to me and the kids has been unfaltering. If I wasn't under strict instructions not to tell you what's been happening, I would be sharing every single detail."
Bella leaned forward and hugged her sister. Rosalie relaxed. I've got my sister back.
"What should I do about this drink then? I mean, it's evidence, right? Dad's always talking about the importance of preserving evidence and the hard-nosed facts."
"The drink needs to go into a plastic bottle and the glass into a baggie so it can be tested for prints and DNA. You should also get a DVD of tonight's CCTV footage from the security people."
After preserving the evidence and storing it in Bella's office fridge, they headed out to the lobby to meet Angela and Ben who were just arriving.
"Bella, you look so cool!" Angela exclaimed.
"Thanks Ang, so do you guys!" They were dressed as a zombie bride and groom. "And thanks for coming!"
"Are you kidding Bella, she's been so excited about tonight!" Ben exclaimed. "Sorry we're late. A report I was supervising needed to be dealt with before I could leave."
"I'm just glad you're here now. Come on!"
Bella showed them around the studios and then into the main auditorium, before introducing them to Alice, Jasper, and several more new friends and colleagues. Bree and Diego, as well as a few other artists, stopped by to chat and Bella was delighted to introduce them to Angel and Ben.
Angela was having a wonderful time. She was so happy to see her friend bask in her success, and delighted the people around her appeared to appreciate the talents that had lain hidden for so many years. Edward and his brother joined them after a while, and when his eyes met Bella's, both their faces lit up like Roman candles. They didn't sit together or even say anything to each other, but it was clear they were connected deeply as if threaded together by invisible strings.
The group in the lounge had become involved in a jovial discussion about the various costumes on display, when Rosalie suddenly nudged Bella with her shoulder. Bella followed Rosalie's line of vision and Angela watched as a tall dark haired man appeared to be striding confidently towards them. Bella then whispered into the ear of one of the assistants and he got up and diverted the man away.
Angela suddenly felt sick, hot and cold. Her heart started hammering in her chest, and her ears started to ring. I know him. I know that face. She was assaulted by a memory.
Flashback- Angela's birthday three and a half weeks earlier:
Angela was at the bar when her mobile pinged.
So sorry, Ang. Rosalie called. Gemma needs to go hospital. Have left out the back. Call you tomorrow B xxx
Angela was disappointed, but not surprised since it sounded as though Gemma was feeling poorly. She headed to the bar for a refill of her Gin and Tonic. There was a bit of a wait, but she knew Harry had seen her, so she knew it wouldn't be long. Suddenly a very tall, dark-haired guy sidled up to her.
"Hi." He was dressed in a designer grey marl jacket, white shirt and designer jeans, with shiny, pointy black boots. He obviously thought a lot of himself.
"Err ... hi."
"I got you this. You're drinking G+T, right?" He placed a large G+T on the counter.
"Yeah, thank you, but ..."
"So, you must be the prettiest girl in this bar tonight. I imagine that you're the prettiest girl wherever you go, though. Have you ever done any modelling?" He nudged the drink towards her.
"Um," Angela felt her cheeks burn with blush. "Uh, no ... look," she was about to tell him that she was married when Ben placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Darling, everything OK?"
"Yes, babe, this nice man bought me a drink."
"How kind of you to buy my wife a drink on her birthday," Ben responded through gritted teeth.
"Your wife?" Ben picked up Angela's left hand and kissed her wedding ring.
The interloper had apparently not seen it before and backed off immediately, although he looked annoyed, and stomped out of the bar, muttering something about losing out twice in one night.
"Sorry, babe."
"What are you sorry for? Being so beautiful that a guy hit on you?"
Angela laughed, picked up the Gin and Tonic and took a couple of gulps of it before once again joining her group of friends.
End flashback
"Angela, Angela, what's wrong?" Ben's voice floated into her ears.
"Can't breathe ..." she murmured. "Need to get out of here!"
"OK, just relax, darling. Bella!"
"Come on Ang, let's get you somewhere quieter" cried Bella.
Once out in Bella's office and away from him, Angela felt better instantly.
"What was all that about, Angela?" asked Ben, his face etched with worry.
Angela explained what she remembered.
"It was after that drink that I began to feel strange. I didn't even make the connection that he had given it to me."
"I think you had a panic attack, Ang," suggested Bella. "I think it was brought on by seeing Jacob."
"Jacob? You know him?"
"Oh Ang, I need to tell you a story, and afterwards I'm hoping you and Ben will help me nail that bastard."
-cc-
"Hey, thank you so much for doing this, guys," Bella said to Angel and Ben as they made their way up the steps to the police station the afternoon after the AJE Halloween party. She had delayed going to London so she could go with them. She hugged them both. "Did you sleep well?"
"So-so," Ben replied.
"Yeah, I just feel so ... violated," Angela murmured. Bella squeezed her hand. "Anyway, let's get this over with."
They walked through the doors and were swiftly shown through to Colin Kennedy's office.
"Isabella, how are you?" The Chief Inspector shook her hand warmly.
"Thank you for seeing us on such short notice. These are my dear friends Angela and Ben Cheney. We think that Angela may have had her drink spiked as well."
"Thank you for being brave enough to come forward, Mrs Cheney. Is it all right if I ask you some questions?"
"Yes, of course," Angela replied, her voice hoarse.
"Whatever we can do to help, sir," echoed Ben.
Over the next hour, Angela and Ben gave statements about what happened on the night of her birthday and Angela's recollection at the Halloween party the night before.
"Until I saw his face, I didn't even consider the possibility that my drink had been spiked, even though Bella mentioned the similarity to Jessica's collapse. God, I feel so stupid!"
"You are a victim, Mrs Cheney. It's not your fault."
"But if I'd thought about it at the time, the doctors could have done a blood test. Now there's no proof I had drugs in my system."
"What I don't get is why the doctors didn't test for it in the first place. They tested Jessica."
"But that was in London, Mr Cheney. In central London, each hospital treats around ten cases of GHB poisoning, either by recreational use or drink spiking, every week. It's becoming extremely popular as a club drug, you see. In Warwickshire, it's hardly seen, so it's not tested for on a routine basis."
"So we can't prove that Angela was spiked?" asked Bella.
"Not by a blood test. But GHB lingers in hair for a few months, so if you were prepared to give us a hair sample ..."
"Yes, absolutely." Angela pulled out her ponytail band along with a few hairs. "Here you go!"
"Thank you." The police officer pulled out a plastic bag from one of his jacket pockets and used it to take the hair as evidence. "We can also ask the landlord of The Stag to let us look at his CCTV."
"I doubt Harry would have a problem with helping. He thinks very highly of my wife, and his son is a lawyer with the Crown Prosecution Service."
"Speaking of evidence, Jacob tried to give me a drink yesterday." Bella fished out the plastic- bagged glass and the bottle from her handbag. "I don't know if it would be admissible in court, but I thought it would be worth a try."
"Thank you. I'll be in touch."
Bella hoped that the next time Colin Kennedy contacted her, it would be with the news that Jacob Black was going down.
-cc-
AN:
French translations
"Tu est mon ange du ciel ..." *"You are my angel from heaven ..."*
"Tu es toujours dans ma coeur …" *"You are always in my heart ..."*
"Je suis à toi, et tu es à moi …" *"I am yours and you are mine ..."*
Thank you for reading. The next update will be Thursday, maybe Friday or Monday 22nd (my schedule for the weekend is really erratic- sorry!).
CC xxx
