BPOV
"Hello, Leah!" I said opening the door, but what made me regret opening the door was the one person standing behind them, my Dad.
"Hmm, Bella, we found him snooping around your house," Leah stated, wriggling her hands.
"What? Why?" I was getting so angry. What the hell were they doing at my door? Why did they bring my father?
Jacob gave a step closer and sighed. "Look, we, me and Leah," he was sure to let Charlie out, "came to say hi; but we found him trying to take a look inside your house by the window."
"Oh."
My Dad seemed annoyed for being caught but showed no regret at all.
"Well, it's the only way I have to know how my daughter is doing these days. I came looking out for you on Thanksgiving, but there was no one home."
Oh, right. It was the days we finally got the so wanted visit to uncle Aro's cabin. We decided to avoid family and business, some well-deserved vacation.
"You don't bother to call anymore. I knew marrying this rich city guy would change you for the worst." He continued.
I was getting too angry to form words when I realized it was the way he had to evade his guiltiness. He was completely aware he caused the distance between us, it was clear in the way he stood straight, but his eyes couldn't look me in the eye.
I considered to leave him outside, but poor Leah and Jacob were here probably with good news, and he had to spoil the moment.
"Come in." I let them in but stopped my Dad. "Don't make me regret it. I'm very volatile because of the hormones." He had to be advised.
Once inside, Leah was kind enough to help me to bring refreshments and snacks to the living room, where Jacob was glaring at my father. Something I never thought I would see in my life.
"So Jacob, how's the academy? What about your classes?"
Dad turned to me and glared. "You knew? Of course, you would make him forget what was his place." He huffed. Strike one.
Jacob glared back at him. "I needed to leave for my peace of mind. The path you were guiding me led to nowhere but despair. Bella was married already, for Christ sake! You know what? I think leaving Forks was the best decision I ever took in my life. It gave me distance, let me met Leah, who's kind enough to give me a chance," Leah's eyes shone with joy, "and finally gave the perspective of how deranged you are. Now I know why you are alone. I came back to apologize to Bella for being an ass and help you. I'm really sorry Bella. I'm glad you look happy with Edward."
"I am. Thanks, Jacob, I'm glad you're moving on with your life. So tell me, where they are locating you?"
Jacob turned to Charlie and sighed. "If I keep my good grades I'll be set in Port Angeles next semester. They say I could make to Chief in... a couple of years... if things go as they are right now, given I am in good terms with everyone around the rez."
Silence fell in my usually loud living room. The implications of what Jacob said weighed on my father who finally realized his bad attitude affect him in more than one aspect of his life.
"But, but I'm still too young to retire!"
Leah gave him a sad smile. "Well, you certainly had more than twenty-five years of service. Jacob told me you joined Forks Police years before meeting Renee."
Hmm, she had a point. So Dad was old enough to retire. Shit! If he was such a nuisance while working, I didn't want to imagine how much he would do with free time.
"And what about you, Leah?"
"Hmm, I'm working on something. We plan to move together to Port Angeles."
Wow! I was really glad for them. It felt so fine to take one obstacle, the less annoying and see him move on. If only the others were so kind to follow his example...
"But are you leaving me alone?" My Dad asked Jacob, "After all I've done for you. If I hadn't taken you under my wing, you still be hanging around the rez, with no prospect of future."
Uh oh. In my opinion, this was strike two, but I wanted to see how Jacob dealt with him. Honestly, I thought he would be terrified because he always was so compliant to Dad, but it seems distance really did well on Jacob because he faced my father and glared.
"I had a life in the rez, but I can thank you for the chance you give me. But lately, I realized all my achievements are mine. I alone went for more courses, my grades and the letters of recommendation I got are mine, the respect of the woman I love is mine, and no the illusion you tried to sell me and impose to your own daughter just to force her to stay with you!"
And for the second time, the room went silent. Dad was getting red on the face, almost purple. I would had worried but when he glared to me I decided he was fine.
"It's all your fault! You were supposed to stay at home, marry him, and that baby was supposed to be his!"
Woah, woah. "Excuse me?"
"My mother was right. I never should had let you out of my sight or Renee's nefarious influence would ruin you."
"But your mother died when I was a kid! And as far as I know she was evil incarnate."
Jacob nodded. Yeah, he probably remembers more from her.
"But she knew Renee. All those ideas of independence and education. The place of a woman was at her husband side taking care of the kids, just like my mother did."
Jacob burst out laughing. "Please! I don't want to talk ill of the dead, but she forced your poor father to leave town. She wasted the few dollars he made and pushed him to his limits with all her fancies and demands. And you may not remember but he was the one who took care of you as a kid. Dad always told me how they used to make fun of him because your mother always was around... you know. One day he had enough and left, Dad said he tried to take you with him, but otherwise your mother would have been left without money so she kept you with the promise to release you once he was established, but he passed away so your mother had to finally work to support you. Is a story well known in the rez."
I could really picture now why she mistreated my mother. Really could see it. Poor mom! and I was all haughty with her. I really regretted those days when I came back to Forks leaving her alone.
"So that's why she tried to control Renee, right? Mom had money and you didn't. And you made her miserable, just like your Mom did to your Dad."
"No, you're lying. She was an angel, a saint!"
"Jacob, why did you never tell me?"
"Hmm, well it's embarrassing and she was your Grandmother, and well, he got always angry when we mentioned her."
I nodded in understanding. That may explain why Dad never mentioned my Grandmother around someone who met her.
"But that doesn't explain what are you doing here. I mean, God forbid old Mrs. Thorpe's cat climbs a tree. Who's gonna get it down while you're three hours away. Aren't you on working hours right now?"
"Now that she mentions it, I didn't saw your cruiser or the old Toyota Embry lends you. Which car is yours?" Jacob asked. Is it wrong to think I like this bold Jacob better?
"The Mercedes-Benz. Someone lent it to me. They understand my need to know my daughter's whereabouts." Charlie answered, trying to sound smug.
"Right, lend. Dad, be honest. Where did you get the car?"
"I already told you. Some woman who understands my need to keep an eye on you."
"And by any chance, that woman is a blond, twentysomething woman by the name of Kate?" Edward asked, he really has a way to sneak upon you, "Because if she was, then I'm sorry to tell you we fired her for harassing the male employees. Good luck with cashing whatever she offered. How are you going to give her the Mercedes-Benz back? She left Seattle as far as I know." Edward walked to my side and kissed my head. Strike three Dad, you're out.
Is Kate gone too? Yeah!
xxx
Rosalie POV A few days later.
"Sure Carmen, I'll check with the caterers." I said and she dismissed me.
With the Christmas party looming around, everybody was distracted. These days everybody seemed to forget how close we were to ruin and scandal. After the board meeting, where they designated my brother officially the new CEO, it was decided that our Christmas party was the perfect place to make the changes in the company official. Which, of course, gave me the chance to figure out more about the problems around here. Edward was a bit distracted because Bella's ob-gyn mentioned the possibility of the baby coming sooner than he thought. Bella went crazy finalizing those details on the nursery, keeping her distracted from her mother's health. I was thinking about her because she stuck a stick figure of Kate crying on my Christmas party planner. She never admitted it in front of Edward, but Kate really made her insecure; quite the opposite of her reaction to Tanya.
Then I checked our guest list. I happily crossed Victoria's and Kate's names from the list as well as Heidi's. Carlisle was still outraged because she went one weekend to Vegas and married an old friend of his. What did he expect? Heidi planned to get a sugar daddy since her first day.
"Rose, the numbers in this list don't tally. What did I do wrong?" Jessica came asking to me, surely to make get her work done. One look and I realized what was wrong.
"Let me handle it." I said and she went to her place smiling.
This is what made me mad. Edward was great leading the software area, but he spent so much. Jasper, on the other hand, was so meticulous checking our expenses, he overdone the extra hours of his area. We had to find a balance. Hmm, wait, Carmen has a tricky way to get what she wanted. She was supposed to set a six-month plan previous to her retirement, but here I see plans for her as late as August from next year. Well, it's one more month. I can't get so picky.
"Hello, hello!" Emmett smiled from Jane's desk. He had a sunflower's bouquet.
"Oh, Emmett! You're so sweet!"
"Anything for you, my darling. Now, are you ready for a glass of wine of a couple of beers? Because I have reservations for both." He wriggled his brows. He knew how stressed I got here.
"Beers. And something greasy."
"Whatever my lady wants. There's this little sports bars around the corner..."
I kissed him silly. He just knew what I wanted.
The sports bar wasn't busy, we got a table immediately.
"So, which brother made you mad today?"
"Both?" Emmett giggled and brought a couple of greasy burgers and fries.
"Edward is so brilliant but he completely ignores the budget, and Jasper is so meticulous that he makes me check my numbers four times before I sent them. Why those two can't find a way to work together?" I hid my head between my hands.
"One five-year-old girl puked on me, but she gave me a Hello Kity sticker and I saved it for you." He put the damn sticker on the tip of my nose! Isn't he the sweetest man?
"Emmett, I love you." And I proceeded to kiss him silly.
"Rosalie Cullen. So nice to find you here." I heard a male voice, it was James.
"Uhm, hi!"
"So here's where the big heads come to relax."
"Hmm, no. I'm just here with my boyfriend. Do you want a beer?" I asked. He was disheveled and obviously irritated.
"Sure, why not?"
"So James, are you ready for Chrismas party? Do you have a date?"
He huffed. "I don't think I'll assist."
"Why?" Emmett asked. "They have Buffalo wings, man!"
James smiled to Emmett. "I think I'm not really wanted. Jessica rescinded her invitation, and Bree dumped me."
"Oh, James. Jessica changes date as she changes underwear. I'm sure she's expecting Eric to finally ask her." I tried to make him feel better. "Here, have a beer."
xxx
A few more beers later, James got talkative.
"What really has me worried, is that my future in the company is uncertain. Just because I helped Kate and the girls at Humans Resources it doesn't make me a bad guy. I mean, I had made mistakes in previous works, but here I've been trying to get better."
"Really?" I knew Alec was investigating him, but on the other hand, Edward made James work with Stefan, and that was punishment.
"Sure. The company where I worked before, Osorio something, caught me 'sneaking information'. Please! I was just chatting with my cousin stationed in Egypt. But no, they threatened me with terrorism charges and forced me to work here. Not that I have something against Cullen Inc, everybody has been nice, but I was forced to apply here for a job. And for what? I'm just a babysitter for that European guy!"
"I know you were... you had something to do with various girls..." I said because he couldn't play the innocent card. I knew he was asking for passwords around the company.
"Because she threatened me! Maybe you don't know it, but I have to take care of my family. Sure, I wasn't always honest, but I'm doing my best. Because my family counts on me."
I gave him another beer and asked him who was pressuring him, who was his contact at Osorio.
"Is my previous boss, Elisa. She's always checking what I'm doing, and she calls me with petitions for me to investigate. Your brother and his wife are very dirty people. They do the nasty quite often in his office." He wriggled his brows, and I coughed because it wasn't something new. "Sure, a few girls helped me, but I'm really only doing what she asks from me."
"Elisa what? I think I didn't hear you."
"Elisa D. Hunter, just like Miss Vicky. But she looks a lot like your boss Carmen. Maybe they're related?"
Hi!
Do you think Charlie was shocked by Jacob? It wasn't what you thought at the end of the previous chapter, right?
What do you think about James?
Now, we're getting closer to the end and I want to hear your opinion for my next story. Remember I have a poll in my profile or you can tell me on a review or PM.
The night of the puss caterpillars. Summary: Megalopyge opercularis. A really cute marvel of nature, which in its wisdom made such a venomous creature come in a rather small package. Until man messed with nature. Now the tiny town of Micanopy is at fate's mercy. Remember, don't touch the puss, it's dangerous.
This is my little homage to B movies. A little town with an entomologist Bella trying to find what's wrong with the local fauna, Edward, and his friends try to help her while hiding a secret of their own, a greedy CEO and his unscrupulous but beautiful assistant, two unreasonable admirers. What else could go wrong? Right, giant creatures destroying the town.
Between women. Summary: Two times a week they reunite after their Zumba class to share their laughs, their secrets. It's the only time they have to be themselves. But life is more than stolen smiles and shared secrets.
Four married women bare their souls through cups of coffee. This is the story of four friends sharing the problems they face daily, especially when their marriages face the biggest crisis in their lives. Will their marriages survive those crises?
Both stories are tied. Let me hear which one you choose.
In case I can't post before, Merry Christmas!
Have a nice holidays!