Okay, so we're going to embark on a journey. A darker journey, one that will be around a different kind of Edward, a snarky, bossy Bella and a new Esme. It will be a drabble-ish type fic. The chapters will be between 1000 to 2000 words. Updates will come on Mondays and Fridays with teasers on Tuesdays and Saturdays on my blog. The link for the blog will be on my profile. The story is planned, but not pre-written.

Chapter Thirty-Five

BPOV

Another two weeks had passed with no word from Edward. Esme said that he was taking some time off and was unavailable for the foreseeable future. I knew she was lying. He was taking some time off but the reason for his absence was due to her.

I'd read Jasper's description of what had happened to him. I got sick to my stomach due to the hell he lived through. I passed the information on to Carlisle. He promised to bring it to the police. This was the biggest lead they had on Esme Platt since they'd begun their investigation. It wasn't enough to get a search warrant, but they could tap her phones.

Just after Halloween, Rose came into my office and sat down in front of me. "Are you still pining over Edward?" she asked, arching a brow. "When you're not working, you're on the phone with Carlisle, talking about Esme."

"Yes, I'm still pining over Edward. But, it's not really pining, it's more worried sick," I countered. "It's been almost two months and he hasn't … What if she killed him?!"

"If she killed him, his picture still wouldn't be on the Buying Love website, Isabella Marie," Rose said.

"What?" I breathed.

"Yep. Here," she said, handing me her iPad. Edward's profile was still online. My eyes filled with tears and I ran my finger down his cheek. "Bells, you still care about him, don't you?"

"I more than care about him, Rosalie," I murmured, handing her back the iPad. "If he's still on the website, then he's still going out on dates. Right? I could schedule an appointment!"

"Bella, Esme probably won't assign him to you. Why don't I request him?" Rose suggested.

"He knows you, too," I frowned.

"Not if I use my middle name and Chuck's address. He's out of town until Thanksgiving," Rose smirked.

"You'd do that for me?" I asked.

"Bella, I'd do anything for you, sweetie. I know that you're concerned about him. In some way, I am too. Eddie made a huge difference in your grumpy demeanor," Rose snickered.

"Hey now," I growled.

"I'm going to call Buying Love and request a date with Edward. Let's plan for this weekend. Hopefully, Esme will agree to let him out of his cage," Rose said, her lips pressed into a thin line. I bit my lip, nodding and praying that this plan of hers would work. She hugged me, taking out her cell phone. I heard her speak to Esme, barely containing her ire as she requested a date with Edward. I could hear Esme's excitement as Lillian scheduled the date, using Charlie's address. The date was planned for Saturday afternoon at three. It gave us a few days to create our plan of attack on how to free Edward from Esme's clutches.

After work on Friday, Rose and I went to Charlie's house. I gave his staff the weekend off. We ate dinner and finished discussing our plans.

"So, you're going to stay out of sight until I give you the cue to come in," Rose said.

"That's if he doesn't turn and bolt out of here when he sees that it's you who requested him," I frowned.

"He won't bolt. At least, I think he won't," Rose said, twisting her hair.

"This was a bad idea," I moaned, falling back on the couch. "He's … he's … FUCK!"

"He's not going to fuck you, Isabella Marie. You two need to talk, girl," she chided. I rolled my eyes. "Don't look at me in that tone of voice, Bella."

"I know we're not going to fuck and that we need to talk," I said. "Honestly, I think the best thing we should do is go to bed. If we plan any more, we'll drive each other crazy. Either this is going to work or it's not. I just pray that it does." Rose hugged me. "This will work, right?"

"If Edward cares half as much as you care for him, it will," Rose said, giving me a sympathetic smile. "Good night, Bells."

"Good night, Rose." She went upstairs to her usual bedroom she stayed in while at Charlie's. I stayed up for a little while longer, staring at the flames in the fireplace. Around midnight, I turned off the gas to the fireplace and went up to my bedroom. I settled into bed, staring at the ceiling. I couldn't sleep. My stomach was twisting and I was anxious to see Edward again. I prayed he would talk to Rose, talk to me.

I eventually drifted off and slept in. I puttered around the house, cleaning and trying to not obsess about the guest that would be coming in a matter of hours. Rose let me do my anal retentive cleaning. She knew me well enough that I had to keep myself busy or else I'd go crazy. However, she did force me to change out of my grubbies a half hour before Edward was due to arrive. I kept it casual, as did Rose and we waited with baited breath for Edward's arrival.

Shortly before three, a Lincoln Town Car pulled into my father's driveway. I noticed that Jared wasn't driving him. A blonde man that I recognized as Felix was Edward's driver. He opened the door, hissing at Edward. My eyes widened when I saw him. He was much thinner and his posture was hunched. Felix gripped Edward's arm and glared at him. Edward nodded, standing taller, but it was with great discomfort. I darted into my father's office. The doorbell rang and Rose opened the door.

"Good afternoon. I'm Edward Masen and I'm here to make all of your dreams come true," Edward said quietly, woodenly, staring at Rose's feet.

"Eddie," Rose murmured. His eyes shot up and he gasped. He started to move away. "Don't go. Please?"

"I can't be here," he choked out. "Esme told me that I couldn't have any sort of communication with you or … or …"

"Bella?" Rose said, reaching for his arm. He whimpered when her fingers wrapped around his wrist. "Shit, please come inside, Edward. Your driver is giving you the evil eye. You don't want Esme to know that you didn't make my dreams come true."

Begrudgingly, Edward walked inside. Once the door shut, his posture deflated and he leaned against the wooden doorway. The rose he held fell to the ground and he let out a shuddering breath. Rose looked at me through the sheer curtains of my father's office. I opened the door and stepped out into the foyer. Rose moved back and I stood in front of him. I reached for his face, but he flinched away from me, similar to how Jasper did. "No," he whispered.

"Edward, please," I choked out. "I know …"

"You can't know," he said, his eyes clamping shut. He stood up taller, trying to appear stronger than he was. "You can't!" His voice grew louder and he glared at me. "You cannot know everything!"

"I don't know everything, but I know enough, Edward," I snapped back. "I know your secret."

A/N: Dun, dun, DUN!

We're going back to Edward's POV, picking up where we left off. Pictures of Charlie's home are on my blog. Check it out. You can also find me on Facebook: Tufano79's Twilight Fanfiction Appreciation and twitter: tufano79. Leave me some loving!