THE OTHER WOMAN
DISCLAIMER: STEPHENIE MEYER OWNS IT ALL.
November 05, 2015
BELLA
I smile sleepily when I feel soft, warm kissing trailing on my naked back. I sigh softly and feel Edward's lips curling into a smile against my skin. I shiver when his hand glides across my hip and makes circles on my stomach. He plants a soft kiss on my arm and I roll in his direction. I frown when I feel his t-shirt against my hands. He is dressed.
Edward drags kisses to my neck and I tilt my neck to give him better access. His hair tickles my chin and I giggle softly. I moan when he playfully bites my neck.
"Don't put hickeys on me. I don't want them to be printed in the trashy magazines again." I hear him laugh softly.
I open my eyes and find his playful green ones staring back at me. His messy copper hair flops on his forehead and his sexy smile sends my heart into overdrive.
"Good morning, beautiful." He captures my lips for a sweet kiss and I wrap my arms around his neck. We pull back a few minutes later and I yawn.
"I wanna sleep." I mumble and cuddle against him.
"It's eight in the morning, my love."
"Well, I fell asleep at two, thanks to your shenanigans."
"Shenanigans?" He asks, amused. "It takes two to tango, Isabella. You can't blame me alone. Now get up."
"No!" I close my eyes and he strokes my cheek.
"I thought you were attending a workshop with mom today."
"It's at twelve noon."
"Hmm. And I wanted to visit the bookstore with you today before heading to work."
"We can do that too, now let me sleep."
I feel Edward stroking his hand up and down my back and his gentle kisses on my neck.
"How long is the seminar?" I hear him ask.
"Till six in the evening."
"And you won't be answering calls or texts?" I shake my head and he plays with my hair. "I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too."
Edward tightly covers me with the duvet just as there is a knock on the door. I frown but don't turn to find out who it is. Edward carefully sits up keeping his arms encircled around me and sighs.
"Come in," He says in a velvet soft voice and I hear footsteps entering the room. "Yes, thank you very much."
The door closes and the aroma of fresh coffee, bacon and pancakes wafts around the room. My stomach growls and Edward chuckles by my side. I blush and peek at him from under my lashes. He gives me a chaste kiss and gets out of the bed.
My eyes follow him and I watch him check on the breakfast that was placed on the coffee table. He lifts the tray and saunters in my direction with a smile on his face. I sit up and grab his last night's t-shirt next to the nightstand. I put it on and he sets the tray on my lap.
"Breakfast in bed for my beautiful girlfriend." Edward says with a cute smile.
Wow. That's a lot of food. There is a cup of coffee, a glass of juice, strawberry pancakes, strips of bacon, fried eggs and a bowl of freshly cut fruit.
"This must have been a lot of work for Mrs. Cope."
"I made breakfast today." I smile and my eyes melt. He kisses my cheek and I tightly hug him.
"Thank you so much, sweetheart. You didn't have to."
"You do it for me all the time, love. It's only fair that I get to spoil you too." He whispers and pulls a long-stemmed red rose out of his pocket. I laugh and gladly accept it.
"Thank you, baby." I cradle his face in my hands and press my lips against his. We breathlessly pull back a few minutes later and he touches his forehead to mine.
"Breakfast is getting cold."
"It looks delicious."
"Then dig in."
"Please tell me you are going to eat this food with me."
"Uh, only the fruit and juice are mine. I have a brunch meeting at twelve," He drinks the juice within seconds and gobbles the fruit in his mouth. "So start in on the breakfast and I'll take a shower until then."
"Edward, stay please?" I pout and take his hand in mine.
He sighs. "Okay, I'll stay."
I start with pancakes and moan softly when they melt in my mouth. They are heavenly.
"Best pancakes ever." I say between bites and he laughs.
"Ah yes, of course they are. So do I have to sit here until breakfast is over?" I nod and he exhales soundly.
"Great."
"Is there something you want to talk about?" I ask and he shakes his head.
"Not at the moment, why?"
"Just curious." I feed him a strip of bacon and he smiles.
"Well, there was the matter of the Annual Dinner this week," I wait for him to continue. "Is there any way you can accompany me as my date instead of Jacob's?"
"Honey, we've discussed this many times before. I'm going with Jake." I say softly and his lips form into an adorable pout.
"Bella, really?"
"Yes."
"You are my family too, baby."
"And I'm Jacob's only family."
"Okay," He kisses my forehead. "Thought I'd ask. But, whatever works for you. I mean, it doesn't matter, we're still going to have sex in the powder room, anyway."
My face heats up and I gasp in shock. He laughs and I push him away from me. "Go take your damn shower! My god, you never get enough. You are insatiable."
"You have to admit, you love it too." He gives me a swift kiss and saunters to the bathroom.
Oh, I do love it!
"Careful over here." Edward whispers and points to the uneven surface on my left.
"How long until the surface is level?"
"It should be finished around Thanksgiving," He says, distractedly and his eyes fall on something. "Tia!" He yells angrily and stomps off to the far right.
I cautiously follow him and try not to trip on the uneven hard surface. I can't wait to see this ground levelled. Tia rushes to where Edward is and I watch him speak to her in a firm tone. I hear footsteps approaching from behind me and turn to find Julie walking in, holding three files in her hands.
"Good morning, Ms. Swan." She greets me and I smile at her.
"Good morning, Julie. How are you?"
"I'm fine, m—"
"Julie, why the hell are you late? Get in here now." Edward snaps and she stiffens. She sprints over to where he is and three men appear from the other side of the site. Have they been here the whole time? I make my way to them and Edward pulls me by his side.
I remember meeting the men briefly during my visit at Edward's office last week. They offer me tight nods and I smile at them. Edward asks about several details and I can barely keep up with the conversation. He uses architectural jargon that I try to understand, but can't.
"Play with the light, Trey and I'm really concerned about the façade. I need to you need to re-think it."
"Yes, sir." He grunts.
"Julie." Edward says and Julie holds the files open in front of him. He pulls out a pen and quickly signs the documents placed in front of him.
"Bella, what is it that you wanted to talk about?" Edward asks and all eyes turn in my direction. I blush brightly and he offers me a comforting nod.
"I'm not really satisfied with the design between the end bookshelf and the staircase. I haven't been able to come up with a better idea, but I think we can do something better."
"Are we sure we want to do activate the space for more? We should keep it diagrammatic." Jo, the interior designer says with a confident nod.
"No, I think Ms. Swan is right," Edward runs a hand through his hair. "We have around 120 square feet of free space. Let's celebrate it. Tia, take the lead on this issue."
Celebrate it? Wow, they really have a way with the words.
"Yes, Mr. Cullen."
"Is there anything else that needs my attention before Ms. Swan and I take a look around?"
"There are a couple of advanced payments yet to be paid."
Edward frowns and looks at Julie—who blushes and hastily opens a checkbook.
"Um, I—I wasn't sure how many checks needed to be signed off from your account."
He sighs and nods his head. "Alright, give them here."
Julie opens the checkbook and Edward speedily signs a couple of filled checks. Is he even reading the figures? He suddenly pauses on a check and frowns. He mouths something to himself and I realize he is calculating something.
"Julie, it's nine thousand two hundred and sixteen; not sixty." He mutters, as he avoids the check, completes a new one, and signs it. Once he finishes, he offers me a smile and I smile back.
"Are Ms. Swan's checks ready?" He asks and she nods. I watch her pull out another checkbook from her purse and she opens it for me.
I read the checks I'm signing and realize they are for government issues. Whoa, these checks are for large sums of money. I wonder how much money Edward put into my brand new, unnecessary bank account.
"Hand Bella's checkbook to Demetri on your way out and Matt will drop you off at the office. I'll see you in an hour."
"Yes, Mr. Cullen." Julie offers me a parting smile before she leaves.
Edward interlaces our hands and we excuse ourselves. He leads me to the back where the bookstore meets the photography studio he bought. It's one huge room now. The space is big and gives more area to be creative. I love it.
"That's where the magazine stand was." Edward points to the open space on our right and I giggle.
"You remember," I murmur and put my head on his chest. "I never would've thought this could happen." I motion to the deconstructed sight.
"Hmm." He kisses my hair and wraps his arms around me.
"Thank you for being avidly involved in this. I know you have work lined up at the office," I whisper and give him a chaste kiss. "I really appreciate it."
"It's not an issue, darling. I love to help you with everything you want to do. And you happen to love what easily incorporates into my world too."
I frown. "What does that mean?"
He chuckles. "You want to build a bookstore and I happen to own an architecture firm," I roll my eyes, and he laughs. "I can assist you in that endeavor. Plus, you want to write a cookbook and I love to eat."
"That's true," I smile and wind my arms around his neck. "We balance each other out pretty well. But, I think it will take me a while to get used to your 'work language'."
"Work language?"
"Yeah, you have a different list of vocabulary when talking about work. What the hell is parti and fenustration?"
He laughs softly. "It's fenestration."
"Right whatever," I shake my head. "You use English words but they have different meanings when you use them in discussions. What do you mean by celebrate it?"
"Well, it means that we need to design something that highlights the features of the bookshelves."
"Oh."
"God, you are so adorable," He kisses my lips soundly. "I love you."
"I love you too, sweetheart."
"Do you want a tour? I can show you exactly where everything is going to be."
"Great!"
Edward leads me to the entrance and I almost trip but grip his jacket in my hand. He shakes his head and holds me to his chest.
"Why are you wearing heels?" He whispers and kisses my forehead.
"Because I have to be at a seminar in one hour and I didn't want to carry two pairs of shoes."
"That doesn't leave me much of a choice then." He says to himself and suddenly lifts me in his arms, bridal style. I squeal with surprise and wrap my arms around his neck.
"Edward, what do you think you are doing?" I whisper-yell and feel a couple of people curiously gazing at us. I bite my bottom lip anxiously and hide my face against him.
"I'm showing you around without having to worry that you might trip. Let's begin."
"This is so silly."
"But necessary," He pecks my cheek. "And when did you gain so much weight?"
I gasp in horror. "I'm fat?!"
He bursts out laughing. "I'm kidding, Bella. You are light as a feather. Absolutely perfect. And not more than hundred pounds."
"You are mean, Edward Anthony."
"So, I've been told."
November 08, 2015
I can feel the light brush strokes against my nails as Stella paints them. I think she is going with a coral color to highlight the floral design in my gown. I hear Mathis humming something under his breath as he brushes my hair. Mathis and Stella have been sent by Alice to help me prepare for tonight's event. I think she knows I'm helpless when it comes to getting glammed up for these things.
Mathis seems to be conflicted about how to style my hair. I try not to listen to their chatter and have my eyes closed.
"I think a braided chignon would look lovely." Stella suggests and grabs my left hand to apply nail polish.
"Oh, not that again!" Mathis whispers disapprovingly. "She has worn that hairstyle on many occasions. Haven't you seen the magazines?"
"Well, it does look good on her."
"Not that," I feel him stroking my hair. "Such gorgeous hair. You have a lovely texture to your hair, darling," I blush furiously and he sighs soundly. "Look at that blush. Encantador! She is a natural beauty."
"I agree. Are you leaving it down then?"
"Of course! Everyone should see how pretty her hair is. I think I'll go for beach waves."
"Yes, that'll be lovely."
"Bella sweetheart, what do you think?" Mathis asks and I open my eyes to stare at his reflection in the mirror in front of me.
"I think I'd like that." I smile and he claps his hands.
"Goody! Stella, start with her make-up. We just have three hours before she has to leave."
Jeez, just three hours?
For the following two hours, Stella and Mathis work on making my face and hair look pretty for tonight. I don't know why it is such a big deal for Alice that she needs me to look good. It's just a dinner. But, she wants everyone to be perfect because we are meeting many people. I wonder if Jake is getting ready. Alice insisted that she give him a tux, but I politely refused. I don't want her to overwhelm him. They haven't even met yet.
I can feel Mathis using a curling iron for the ends of my hair while he shares some funny stories of his time working at fashion shows. He has been a part of Alice's team from three years and he clearly loves that little pixie to death. Just like everybody else.
My heart stutters a little when I hear a pair of familiar footsteps entering the walk-in closet. I try to open my eyes but Stella clears her throat.
"Don't open your eyes." She says sternly and I huff.
"How's my girl doing, people?" Edward asks in an irresistible voice. I blush and my lips curve into a smile.
"She is not necessarily enjoying this, but she is getting there," Stella says dryly and I chuckle.
"Hey, handsome. How does she look?" Mathis asks and I can hear the smile in his voice. My face turns redder if that's possible.
"That's a silly question, M. She always takes my breath away."
"Aren't you the sweetest boyfriend?"
Stella finally stops touching my face and sighs. "Alright, open your eyes."
My eyes flutter open and I find Edward staring right at me, leaning against the free standing wall. He looks more like a hot high school teenager than a diligent CEO dressed in light indigo jeans, a black sweater and white sneakers.
"I have to go, baby." He says softly and I pout.
"No, don't go."
Edward sighs and looks at Mathis and Stella. "Can I speak to Bella in private for a minute?"
"Sure, honey," They strut towards the exit but Mathis turns and gives us a hard look. "No kissing, hugging or anything else. Don't ruin her make-up."
"Seriously?!" Edward says with exasperation and Mathis blows him a kiss before walking away. I giggle and Edward shakes his head.
"Hey, beautiful." He kneels in front of me and takes one of my hands in both of his.
"Hi."
"God, you look gorgeous."
"Thank you. You are just as handsome."
He chuckles. "Do you want to come with me?"
"Edward, don't. It's just your family."
"But you are a part of the family now. Don't be like this."
"I'll come next year, I promise."
Edward rolls his eyes. "Of course you'll be there next year; we'll be engaged by then."
"What?" I squeak out and gaze at him curiously. "You think about that?"
"I want to start spending my life with you, sooner rather than later."
"Me too." He smiles and kisses my hand.
"But I want you there tonight."
"It's just a photo for Christ's sake. Don't argue."
"Fine." He sighs.
I smile and stroke his cheek. Every year, the Cullen and Platt clan take an official family portrait —a tradition commenced by Edward's dear grandfather Victor Platt. He started it because everyone lived in different places around the world but for this one day, everyone gathered at Esme and Carlisle's place to have their photo taken. I love family traditions like this one!
Edward also mentioned that there is a room at his late grandfather's house where all the portraits from the last fourteen years are proudly displayed. I would love to see them all. And now, he wants me to be a part of that family portrait but I don't think I'm one of them, yet. It took me a lot of effort to make my boyfriend realize that.
"I'll see you in a while then." I whisper and his smile turns shy.
"I have something for you."
"What?"
He pulls a black velvet pouch out from his sweater and places it on my lap. I lift up the lid and let the contents fall into my hand. I gasp when I see a pair of gorgeous gold triple drop earrings. They are magnificent.
"Alice told me that you had yet to buy earrings. So, I bought these. I hope they go with your outfit." He says nervously and I cradle his face in my hands.
"They are perfect, honey. Thank you so much. I'll wear them for sure, thank you."
"It's my pleasure, love," His green eyes bore into mine. "I really want to kiss you right now. But, I know Mathis will kill me."
I laugh. "He might."
"Is your date coming to pick you up?" He asks and I shake my head.
"I think I'll pick him up."
"Sounds great."
His hands gently travels to the sash of my silver robe and he lightly tugs on it. The robe parts and he intakes a sharp breath gazing at my black lace bra and thong set. His fingers trace the waistband of my thong and I hold my breath. I can feel myself getting wet from his electrifying touch.
"Fuck, you look so tempting right now." His eyes drink in the sight of me and they slowly darken. I exhale a shaky sigh and stiffen when footsteps approach the walk-in closet. I quickly tie my robe and Edward rises to his feet.
"Alright, time's up. Edward, get out." Stella says and I snort.
"Yes, ma'am."
Edward leans down and kisses behind my ear. "Don't be late."
"I won't."
An hour later, Stella straps the black Louboutins to my feet and I'm ready. I hold my gown and gently rise to my feet. I'm ready. I look unrecognizable. My face is glowing and flushed from the anticipation of the night, my eyes have a smoky look, my lips are glossed with a natural shade pink lipstick and my hair is down in gentle beach waves.
I'm wearing a gold lace and threaded gown with a button front opening, floral gold work and metallic feather appliqué. My earrings look perfect with the dress, thanks to my amazing boyfriend. The color of my gown highlights my pale skin and the long-sleeves ensure that I'll be protected from the weather.
I bid Mathis and Stella goodbye with hugs and kisses and gather my black clutch. I put my phone, wallet and lipstick inside and give myself a once over in the mirror before exiting the room.
I find Mrs. Cope and Demetri standing in the great room having a silent conversation. Their eyes fall on me and Mrs. Cope covers her mouth with her hand in shock. She walks over to me and gives me a light hug.
"Oh my god, Bella. You look breathtaking, dear!"
I blush and she grins at me. "Thank you."
"Demetri, look after Ms. Swan. Mr. Cullen will probably have a panic attack if anybody remotely tries to touch her," I chuckle, and she laughs along. "Have fun tonight. I'll see you in the morning."
I bid her goodbye and Demetri and I make our way to the waiting car. Thirty minutes later, Demetri parks the car outside Jake's apartment and we wait for him to come out. I smile when I see Jacob leaving his apartment, wearing a tuxedo and fiddling with the bowtie, trying to right it.
Jake suddenly looks at the car in front of him and his eyes almost fall out of their sockets. He walks closer and looks closely at the exterior of the car. I bet he can't see me due to the tinted windows.
"Ms. Swan should I—" I cut Demetri off.
"That's okay."
I roll the window down and glance at my brother. "Jake, we're going to be late."
Jacob freezes and his brown eyes meet mine. He finally recovers his expression and gives me a big smile. I step out of the car and his jaw hits the floor. He gives me a bone-crushing hug and I hug him back.
"You look gorgeous, Bells."
"Thank you, Jake. You look great too. Do you need a hand with the bowtie?"
"Yes, it's so annoying." He says grumpily and I chuckle.
"I know it is."
I release him and make quick work of tying it for him.
"Is that Mr. Cullen's car?" He asks, staring at the car with a dreamy expression.
"Yes, this is his second favorite car. Demetri said that he was instructed to take this and not my car." I roll my eyes at that.
"Holy shit, he gave you two cars, right?"
"Yes. Anyway, we should get going."
"Can I drive, please? I'll be super careful. I promise!"
"Well, you can drive it on the way back when Demetri drops you off. Alright?"
"Cool!"
I smile and ruffle his hair. "Let's go now. Edward texted me few minutes ago asking where we were."
"You're his girlfriend." He says and I chuckle.
"Did that just occur to you?"
"No, it's different."
We get inside the car and Jake looks like a kid in Disneyland as he studies its interior. On our way to the Fairmont Olympic, Jake strikes up a conversation with Demetri about the car—who eagerly offers his view on… something.
I ignore them and stare out of the window as we get closer to our destination. There is a line of cars ahead of us and it takes a while to reach the entrance. A valet holds the door open for me and I step out alongside Jacob.
"Good evening, Ms. Swan." He greets me and I try not to look surprised that he knows my name.
"Good evening." I say softly and walk up the stairs.
There are a lot of people around and the place is decorated to the nines. Wow, it's wonderful. I see four round tables where people seem to be asking about something. Jacob takes my hand in his and I gaze at him. He looks anxious.
"Jake, loosen up."
"I'll try."
"Good," I kiss his cheek. "And what is going on here?" I motion to the tables.
"I think we have to confirm our table number before we go into the ballroom,"
"Oh, alright."
The noise suddenly dials down and turns to whispers when a familiar figure walks out of the ballroom. Carlisle looks dashing in his tuxedo and has a polite smile on his face. I can see everyone admiring him, trying to get a good look at his face.
"That's Carlisle Cullen," The shaggy haired man next to me says and I nod. "Edward Cullen's father."
"Oh, good to know. Thanks." I say and he winks.
"Anytime. What department do you work in? Seems like I would've remembered you."
Jacob stands between us and towers over the man with a hard look on his face. "She is my sister."
"Oh hey, Jacob. Nice to meet you." He says and gulps. I smile and shake my head.
Carlisle suddenly catches my eye and his smile widens. He walks over and gives me a quick hug.
"Bella my darling, you look amazing. My son is dying to meet you." He whispers and I giggle.
"Well, he can wait a little longer."
He laughs and releases me. "That's a good idea."
"Are you going somewhere?" I ask and he nods.
"Yes, I have to go with Rose and Em to the hospital for a bit. We'll be back in a while."
"Great. And this is my brother, Jacob." I introduce him to my brother.
"Jacob, it's nice to meet you. Bella has told me a lot about you," They shake hands and Carlisle checks his watch. "Unfortunately, I have to leave. We'll talk when I get back. I have some questions about my car. My sons don't like to talk to me about cars. I'll bore you with them."
Jacob laughs and his shoulders relax. "Yes, sir."
"Bye, kids."
Carlisle kisses both my cheeks and rushes out of the room. I feel everyone's gaze on me so I turn away and face the third round table by which we are standing. There are at least ten people ahead of us, and I sigh softly.
My phone pings with a text and I check the screen to see it's from Edward. I open it.
Where on Earth are you? —E
I roll my eyes and type a reply.
Hold your horses. —B
Edward has so many people in his company; I bet no one misses this event. There must be hundreds of people already inside the room. I want to see how the entrance to the ballroom is decorated.
Jake leans closer to me and I frown. "People have been looking at us ever since you spoke with Dr. Cullen."
"Ignore them."
"I think they are staring because you look pretty tonight."
"Thank you, Jake. You look very dashing too." I kiss his cheek and he grins at me.
About ten minutes later, we finally reach the person sitting at the table and the woman does a double take in my direction. She jumps to her feet and gives me an anxious smile.
"Ms. Swan, I apologize I didn't see you there. You could've gone straight inside. Mr. Cullen told us that—" I cut her off.
"It's alright. I'm here with my brother. Could you please confirm what table we're assigned to?"
She nods and gazes at my brother. "May I know your name, sir?"
"Jacob Swan."
"Right," She checks her iPad and glances at us. "You're at table one."
Jake gapes at her. "I'm sorry but we were supposed to be at table seventeen."
"Um," She stares at the screen and back at us. "I believe you are seated at table one alongside Mr. Cullen, Mr. Platt and Ms. Gill."
"That sounds like something Edward would do." I mutter under my breath.
"Please take a left and you'll be greeted by our staff. I hope you have a good time." She says warmly, and we bid her goodbye.
"Bells, I can't sit up front." Jake says as we pass people giving us looks. I link my arm with his and sigh softly.
"Relax, honey. You'll have a lovely time."
"I hope so."
I gasp when we take a left and come directly under a well-lighted up dome. The neon lights, flood lights and halogen bulbs accentuate the features outside the ballroom. There is a multi-tiered spray fountain lit with different colors that looks captivating. We walk past it and finally enter the ballroom.
"Good evening, Ms. Swan, Sir. Welcome to Cullen and Platt Architecture's Annual Dinner. We hope you have a wonderful time tonight. Sonya will assist you to your table."
I smile politely. "No, thank you but we would like to take a look around before reaching our table, if that's quite alright."
She nods furiously. "Of course, ma'am."
The brunette next to her offers us glasses of pink champagne and we gladly accept them. Once we are officially inside the room, I take a moment to appreciate the beauty of this place.
The room features round tables, candlelit balconies, candelabras, a live quartet and a dance floor. Shades of gold and elegant pomegranate centerpieces cast a warm tone throughout the ballroom, creating a charmingly intimate vibe. The place looks perfect.
Jake gives me an overwhelmed smile and I nod at him. Yeah, I still can't believe we're here either. I sip my drink and see many familiar faces conversing with people. I see Kate, Kyle and oh, is that Ursula? I have wanted to meet her! I enjoy my champagne, the music and the fact that I'm here with my brother.
The emcee is standing alongside the quartet, pleasantly welcoming guests. He is the same person who was at the charity dinner in August.
"Ms. Swan!" I hear someone call my name and I turn to see it's Dave. He walks in my direction with a woman by his side—who is staring at me with a dazed expression.
"Jacob?" Dave frowns curiously and Jake and I laugh. "This is surprising."
"Dave, this is my sister Bella. Bells, I believe you already know Dave."
"I do."
Dave chuckles and we shake hands. "This is completely unexpected. I would've never imagined that you were Ms. Swan's brother."
"We like to surprise." I shrug and he shakes his head.
"I'd say. And this is my sister Nina. Nina, Jacob is our intern and Ms. Swan is his sister."
"It's lovely to meet you, Ms. Swan."
"Please call me Bella. So I hear my boyfriend dragged you to Seattle from Chicago." I say to Dave and they share a laugh.
Jake and I have a relaxed conversation with them for another ten minutes and I can see how relaxed Dave is tonight, compared to how jumpy he is at the office. They bid us goodbye and soon after, Matthew Dumich—one of the Directors' comes over to speak to me alongside his charming wife.
It's fun to see how surprised people seem to be that they never found out that Jake was my brother. I feel more at ease speaking to him now than I did when we met at the office a couple of times. Jacob, on the other hand seems intimidated by him.
After Mr. Dumich leaves, we end up meeting a couple of more familiar faces from the Board of Directors who introduce me to their other halves. I love how freely they talk tonight. I am seeing a different side of them. For once, they are in a room with familiar people and they don't have to talk about work.
"Enough, I'm done." I say after the seventh person leaves with her boyfriend.
Jake laughs softly and takes the empty glass from my hands. He passes them to the nearest server and puts an arm around my shoulders.
"I have never spoken to the Directors before except for Dave, but they all seem pretty cool." He comments and I nod.
"They are."
"Should we wait for somebody else to come over and talk to you, Ms. Swan?" He asks and I groan.
"No. I think I would like to meet your friends from work."
"Cool," His face brightens up. "And they don't know about you and Mr. Cullen. You'll like them. I think they were going to be bringing someone along with them. They aren't from Seattle so they don't bother to find out about their boss' love life."
"No, I think Mr. Cullen is here alone. Lorie look, Mr. Platt!" A redhead points somewhere behind me; and Jake and I share a look.
"Really, Jake? I think you said that they didn't care." I mutter to him and he rubs the back of his neck.
"They've never spoken about this crap in front of me."
I sigh and shake my head. Jake introduced me to five of his friends who were already chatting before we joined them. Lorie and Nadine are the interns who are working with Alex on his project while Terence, Riza and Vince are interns at the Project Management department. They must be working with Mr. Dumich.
"So Bella, have you seen any of the bosses yet?" Vince's sister, Dina asks me and I smile.
"Not yet."
"You should totally check them out. They are eye-candy for sure. Vince, do you think Edward Cullen's single?" Sorry, he is taken… for good.
Vince groans. "Dina, please don't talk like that. I work for him."
"Oh come on! He is hot. Maybe you can introduce us."
"Hell no. Not gonna happen. I'm not going to speak to him or introduce you."
"But he is so handsome," Dina says and sighs dreamily, gazing over my shoulder. "Look at that smile. If I knew he is the one you all are working for, I would've left Atlanta and moved here with you."
"God, you are so dramatic," Vince says, embarrassed and offers me a smile. "Sorry about that Bella. So, Jake told me that you are working on a cookbook."
"I am," I grin at him. "It's been a lot of fun and my bookstore is yet to be ready so I have time."
"I would really like to learn about cooking. I hope your book helps."
"I'm sure it will. How long have you been working here?"
"Almost three years now. It's been the time of my life. It's the best firm where a person can work ."
I smile proudly at that. "I hope Jake is offered a permanent job once his internship ends."
"Believe me, he will," I look over at Jake and find him speaking with Terence, sharing an animated story. "He has a lot of potential. Mr. Cullen doesn't always trust interns with massive projects, yet Jake is a part of the Dubai project. Have you heard about it?"
"Yeah, I think so. It has frequently been in the news."
"It's an ambitious project. If you come down to the office to meet Jake, I can show you how we are planning it out."
"Yeah, I'll let you know about it."
"And you look stunning tonight." My cheeks turn red and I offer a small smile.
"Thank you."
Nadine and Lorie walk over to me and stroke the fabric of my gown.
"Bella, your gown is amazing! It looks like something straight out of a fashion magazine. Where did you get it?" Nadine asks, her eyes are burning with curiosity.
"Um, at Alice Cullen's store."
"Really? There was a sale? Why didn't I know about that? I even get their monthly newsletter. This is so not fair!"
Lorie laughs. "Don't worry, we'll get something later."
"Anyway Bella, Jake told me that you are friends with Alex Platt," Lorie whispers conspiratorially. "You went to a charity event with him in August, right?"
"Um, yeah." I mumble awkwardly.
"Oh, you are so lucky. What is he like? Does he have an Australian accent? I've heard his father is an actor."
"I don't know." I lie and they sigh.
"Oh damn."
"Girls, leave Bella alone. Nobody is interested in knowing about Alex Platt." Vince says and I send him a grateful look. Lorie and Nadine go back to where they were ogling Alex and Edward. I wonder what Edward looks like tonight. I haven't seen him yet.
"Bella, you'll want to see this," Nadine says and points to the tables at the front. "That's Esme Cullen and Jane Platt. Did you meet them at the charity event?"
I smile and watch Esme and Jane admonishing Alex about something. Typical. Where is Edward? I don't think Will is here yet either and I don't see Alice. Where is everybody?
"Yeah, I did."
"What are they like?"
"Oh, they are the sweetest people you'll ever meet." I gush and they smile.
"I bet they are."
"What table are you at, Bella?" Vince asks and I turn to him. Jake having heard that, comes closer to me.
"Which table are you at?" Jake asks him back, and he chuckles.
"Table eleven. I think you guys are at seventeen, right? Jake do you want to switch places? Table eleven is closer to the stage."
"Yes, I really want to switch my place with someone," Jacob says seriously and I give him a look. He sighs, resigned. "But, no thank you."
"Alright, your call."
"See? He found me." Dina smirks and Vince has surprise on his face.
"Wow, Mr. Cullen's coming over here."
"Oh god he looks so hot!" Lorie whisper-yells to me and I stifle a giggle.
"I bet."
"Bella?" Vince calls out and I look at him. "Would you like a drink? I need to drink more alcohol if I want to watch my sister talk to the owner of my company."
I giggle. "Yes, please. Thank you."
Vince walks away and I can feel adrenaline rushing through me, knowing I'm going to see Edward. Suddenly everyone in the group stops talking and I feel Edward standing behind me. His hand lightly brushes against my waist and a tingle runs through me.
"Good evening, everyone. Are you having a good time?" Edward asks with a charming smile and Jake gives him some space to stand between us.
"Yes, it's absolutely breathtaking." Dina raves and plays with a lock of her hair.
"I'm glad to hear that. Terence, where is your date?" He asks and Terence's ears turn pink.
"Uh, I don't have a date, sir."
"You could've invited your parents. I'm sure they would've had a good time. Invite them next year; I would like to meet them."
"Yes, Mr. Cullen."
"Good evening, Mr. Cullen." Riza greets and Edward offers a nod.
"Good evening, I heard you were the one who started the monthly recess tradition in our office," He says with a smile and Riza nods. "And I thought it was an amazing idea. I'm glad we have you in our company. Everyone loves it. Maybe I'll join you in the coming month."
"We would love that!" Lorie says enthusiastically and Edward chuckles.
"I believe you are the interns who work with Alex?" How does he remember everything about everyone?
"Yes, sir." Nadine smiles and her cheeks turn red.
"How is the boss? Any complaints?"
They giggle like schoolgirls. "No, sir. He is great."
"Really? You think so?" Edward asks doubtfully and they laugh again. "I'm kidding; he is a pleasure to work with. And when he becomes a pain in the ass, you come see me. I handle him well."
"Yes, Mr. Cullen."
Edward finally gazes at me and his green eyes darken as he looks at me from head to toe. His lips curve into a sexy smile and he buries his hands in his pockets. Oh, he is so handsome. And that tux makes him look so hot. I just want to jump into his arms and kiss him. He runs a hand through his hair and cocks his head to the side.
"And you are…?" He trails off and Jake clears his throat.
"Mr. Cullen, this is my sister Bella. Bella, this is Mr. Cullen."
"It's lovely to meet you, ma'am." He says in a velvet soft voice and shakes his hand with mine. His thumb strokes the back of my hand before he unclasps his hold.
"Likewise, Mr. Cullen." I stare at him from under my lashes and he gives me a scorching look. I get lost staring into his dazzling eyes and he pins me with an intense look. Oh, it's so hard to look away from him.
"Bella?" I blink rapidly and find Vince standing next to me with an extra glass of champagne in his hand.
"Thank you." I whisper and take my drink.
"Vince, how are you?" Edward greets him and they shake hands.
"I'm good, sir. How are you?" Dina clears her throat and Vince nods reluctantly. "This is my sister, Dina. Dina, this is Edward Cullen."
"It's wonderful to finally be introduced Mr. Cullen."
"It's nice to meet you too, ma'am."
Edward's phone buzzes in his pocket and he softly sighs. He checks the name on the screen and answers the phone.
"Hey, where are you guys?..." He laughs. "That's fine, Aro. It doesn't matter… Yes, with my parents… She's here," He gives me a side glance and looks away. "Not an issue. We're waiting… Bye."
"I'm sorry about that." Edward says politely and strikes up a conversation with Jake, Riza and Terence. Vince asks me about my college and I can see my boyfriend is keeping a close eye on us. Lorie and Nadine seem too busy staring at him to say anything but Dina, on the other hand tries to be a part of the conversation even though she knows nothing about it.
About fifteen minutes later, Nadine's boyfriend joins us and she eagerly introduces him to everyone. His name is Dwayne, and he works at a Fine Foods company. Edward seems a little edgy towards him. I wonder why.
"Bella, would you like a refill?" Vince asks and I shake my head.
"No, thank you."
He takes my empty glass and walks away. Edward frowns at his retreated form and then looks at me. I shrug and he rolls his eyes. When Vince returns I ask him about his work, which he eagerly talks about.
I tuck an errant piece of hair behind my ear and sigh when the material of my sleeve, tangles with the earring. Great.
"Here, let me help." Vince whispers and offers to untangle the fabric. I find Edward gazing at us with an unhappy expression on his face and he clenches his fists as his side. Jake nervously peeks at Edward before looking away.
"Thank you." I murmur and he smiles.
"No problem."
"So, Mr. Cullen, any date of yours that we can meet?" Dina asks bluntly and Vince groans softly.
"Dina!" He hisses, and she ignores him.
Edward smiles, but it doesn't reach his eyes. "My date passed on the offer."
"Oh, that's sad."
I blush and Edward chuckles softly. His phone buzzes in his hands and he answers it.
"We're almost there, Aunt Jane… Give us two minutes." He hangs up and puts the phone in his pants.
"Jacob, is it alright if I steal your sister for a while?" Edward asks and Jake nods.
"Sure."
"What?" Nadine mouths Lorie who shrugs, clueless.
Edward snakes an arm around my waist and nestles me to his side. "Excuse us, everyone. My girlfriend and I need to be somewhere."
"Girlfriend?" Dina chokes out and Edward smiles at her.
"Excuse us."
We interlace our hands and walk away from the shocked group. Edward leads me farther away from them and spins me in his arms. He cups my face in his hands and takes a good look at my face. His eyes travel to my clothes once again and he pulls me flush against him. He touches his forehead to mine and I smile.
"You look ravishing, Bella. I'm a lucky, lucky man. You're so beautiful. I was going to break Vince's nose when he touched you and punch that boyfriend who was ogling you instead of his girlfriend," I giggle and he strokes my cheek. "But, I can't blame them. You are perfect."
"You don't understand how annoying it is to listen to all those ladies say how handsome and sexy you are. It took everything in me to not tell them that you are mine."
"It's annoying, huh?" He arches a brow and I wind my arms around his neck.
"Yes, annoying. When they realize what a grumpy baby you are, they won't have the same opinion about you."
"Hey!"
I smile and press my lips against his for a much needed kiss. He sighs against my mouth and his tongue tangles with mine. His hand snakes around my waist and the other one traces every inch of my face. He bites hard on my bottom lip and I moan softly. We break apart a couple of minutes later and he hugs me tightly. He buries his nose against my hair and takes a deep breath.
"I love you, Edward."
"I love you too, baby." He kisses my hair.
"Did you change our table arrangements?"
He chuckles. "Yes."
I pull back and stroke the lapel of his jacket. "Jake doesn't want to sit at the front."
"Oh come on, it's not a big deal. He'll get used to it. Plus, I couldn't bear the thought of staying away from you for the rest of the night." He pouts and my heart melts.
"I know, honey. Me neither," I give him a chaste kiss. "Do you mind if I introduce Jake to your family?"
"Not at all," He looks over my shoulder and chuckles. "I'll get him, and there is a pixie coming your way."
Edward walks away and I hear a squeal behind me. I turn and Alice hugs me hard. I smile and hug her back. She pulls back and I take a good look at her dress. She is wearing a plum V-neck trumpet gown.
"You look lovely, Alice." I say and she giggles.
"And you look perfect in that gown. Where's your brother?"
I hear footsteps approaching us and Edward snakes an arm around my waist. Jake stands next to me and shyly gazes at Alice.
"Jake, this Edward's sister, Alice. Alice, this is my brother, Jacob."
Alice beams at him. "Jacob, it's nice to meet you. Bella has told me great things about you." They shake hands.
"It's nice to meet you too."
"Alright, excuse me now. Kate needs me." She gracefully skips away and I smile, staring at her retreated form.
"Come on, let's meet everyone." Edward whispers and I smile. I peck his lips and turn to Jake.
"Jake, do you want to meet Edward's family?"
He stares at me anxiously and Edward speaks up. "Jacob, Bella has met my family, it's about time they meet you too."
"Okay, sure."
We make our way to the table near the center stage and I send friendly smiles to people who meet my gaze. I can feel everyone staring at us and Edward beams at me, sending my heart into overdrive. He kisses my cheek and my face heats up. He strokes my back and leans closer to me. I tremble when his lips graze my ear.
"There are four powder rooms here." He murmurs and I try to look mad but laughter escapes my lips.
"What am I going to do with you?" I shake my head and he gives me a quick kiss before engaging in a friendly conversation with Jacob about a work problem my brother is facing. Edward is always keen on giving solutions to everyone and he genuinely cares about every person in this room.
"Bella!" Alex says excitedly and swoops me up in his strong arms. I struggle to breath and Edward chastises him. "Why is your boyfriend so uptight?" He asks grumpily and releases me.
"I don't know, honey." I kiss his cheek.
His frown turns to a big grin when he glances at my gown. "Ms. Swan, you look smoking hot! Damn, we need to take pictures!" He points to spots he really likes. "And also there! We can keep Edward on the side if you want, he looks alright," I giggle and Alex winks at me. "As if he can compete with the—Ow, mom!" Jane pulls his ear, cutting him off.
"Thank you, Aunt Jane." Edward says behind me and Jane smiles.
Her eyes fall on me and she gasps. "Bella dear, you look like a doll tonight," She gives me a quick hug. "Edward, keep her away from my sons if they hog her."
"I'm going to try." He mutters with a scowl and I roll my eyes.
I walk over to Jake and take his hand in mine. I smile at him and he smiles back. I lead him over to where Jane is.
"Jane, this is my little brother Jacob. Jake, this is Alex's mom, Jane Platt."
"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Platt."
"It's a delight to meet you, Jacob," He offers her a charming smile, and she sighs softly. "Such a handsome young man. You remind me of Will for some reason."
I look around but there is no hint of Will. "Where is Will? Is he back from New York?"
"He got in last night. He is supposed to be here unless—Oh, there he is."
Will waves at us and sends a beaming smile our way as he walks over. He looks handsome and well-groomed in a tux. He greets everyone and I introduce him to Jacob—who seems relaxed around everyone. Edward, Will, Alex and Jake talk about the one thing they all love; Cars. I try to follow their conversation but nothing makes sense to me.
Jane and Alice excuse themselves and I decide to go meet Kate. I try to leave but Edward tightens his hold on my hand. He tugs on it and I walk closer to him. I put my head on his chest and he wraps an arm around me. He occasionally leans down and plants a soft kiss on my hair. I rub his back and his lips curl into a smile against my hair.
"Edward, I'll be back in ten." I say softly and look up at him.
He pouts adorably. "Stay with me."
"Ten minutes," I kiss his jaw. "I am really not interested in listening to you talk about cars. It's really annoying and I'm outnumbered."
"Come on, you aren't outnumbered," Alex says, having heard us and all eyes turn to me. "We can talk about something else."
"Okay, do you want to talk about books?" I ask.
"No." They say in unison and I huff.
"You should find girlfriends for yourselves so I can have somebody other than Alice and Kate to talk to." I snap and Edward laughs by my side.
"Alex already has a girlfriend." Will mutters and my eyes widen.
"What? Why didn't you tell me?" I glare at him and his face turns red.
"She is just a friend." Alex says shyly and I smile. That's cute.
"And that's how it starts." Will mutters and Alex glowers at him.
"Yeah, right. Like she would want to go out with me."
"Why not?"
"I'm not her type."
"What does she do?" I ask and he takes a deep breath.
"She is a doctor."
There is a beat of silence before Will and Edward burst out laughing. I try to mask my amused smile but let out a chuckle. Alex dating a woman as poised as a doctor seems difficult to imagine. Edward gazes at me and I shake my head, motioning him to stop laughing. Even though the idea is funny, it doesn't mean he needs to laugh with Will.
"Ignore them, honey," I say to Alex and he smiles. "Where did you meet her?"
"At the Halloween party last Saturday. She is very smart and fun."
"That's great. Have you met her again after that?"
"Once."
"What's her name?"
"Senna Hill."
"I'm sure she likes you too. I'm here if you ever want to talk about it." He smiles and gives me a hug.
"Thanks." He whispers and kisses my cheek.
"Alright, now I'm going to go," Edward opens his mouth to argue and I press my index finger on his lips. "Nope, you can continue talking about football and cars and what not after I leave."
He rolls his eyes and I smile at him. I press my lips against his and he parts them, kissing me back. He smiles against my lips and I smile too.
"Now I have to go," I whisper against his lips. "Bye." I peck his lips and walk away.
Alice and I have been with Kate for the last twenty minutes and she has not stopped gushing about her boyfriend, Garrett. It's nice that she has someone and I feel like I know everything about him now. I would've never thought that Kate would be so hopelessly in love when she first told me about Garrett, but tonight, I know she is.
Kate looks gorgeous in a body hugging black gown that highlights her curves. She is really hot. People come up to us and have a word as they introduce their families. Kate is very gracious as she greets everyone, something I believe she has in common with Edward.
I feel a tap on my shoulder and turn to see it's Jasper, looking dapper in a navy blue tuxedo. He offers me a handsome smile and tightly hugs me.
"God, you look beautiful tonight. And where's the boss?" He asks and I shake my head.
"Talking about football and cars with his cousins and my brother." I mutter and he snickers.
"That sounds more fun, should I go over?"
"No!" I frown and release him. He smiles and kisses my cheek.
"Alright, I won't. Kate," He gives a quick hug to Kate, and she smiles. "You look stunning."
"Thank you, Jazz. You look great too. Have you met Alice yet?" She asks and I stifle a smile.
Jasper's smile disappears, and he stands by me. "Yes, we've met. Hello, Alice."
Alice crosses her arms over her chest and nods at him. "Hey."
There is an uncomfortable silence around us as Jasper and Alice send each other death glares at different intervals. Kate sends me a clueless look and I shake my head. I mouth 'Later' and she nods. Kate and I talk about the weather for some weird reason, but try not to let the unpleasant silence linger over us.
Jasper and Alice don't share their opinions and stand awkwardly by us. A couple of minutes later, Jasper sighs soundly and runs a hand through his blond hair.
"Excuse me, I think I'm going to get a drink," Jasper says and looks at me. "I'll catch up with you later." He whispers and kisses my cheek before walking away.
"He is the biggest jerk I have ever met in my entire life!" Alice opens her big mouth when Jasper is still within hearing distance. Having heard that, he marches over to us.
"What did you say?" Jasper asks icily, and she glares at him.
"That you are the biggest je—"
"Guys, let's not fight in public." I say soothingly but I don't think either of them heard me.
"At least I don't behave like a spoiled little brat everywhere I go!" Jasper answers back and she gasps.
Kate intervenes. "Alright, enough. Don't start arguing here."
They ignore her. I look around and my eyes finally fall on Edward who is speaking to a few employees, having a good laugh with them. I hate to interrupt him but I don't want things to heat up here. As if he knows I'm looking, he catches my eye and I tilt my head towards Jasper and Alice.
Edward closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose. He nods at me and excuses himself from the group. He saunters in my direction and places his hand on Jasper's back.
"Jasper, please. Things will get uncomfortable. Let's keep the environment positive around us. Go mingle with Alex and Will. I'll handle Alice."
"She started it." He says and walks away from us.
"Alice, what the fuck is your problem?" Edward snaps and she sighs.
"I don't like him."
"I need you to behave for the night. Please, don't start something. Mom and Aunt Jane are looking for you. Now, excuse us."
Edward interlaces our hands and leads me away from them. I sigh softly and he chuckles, taking in my expression. He kisses the top of my head and I blush lightly.
"There are so many people asking to meet you. Have you met Ursula and Kyle yet?" I shake my head. "Zidek's here, my team is here. I want you to meet everyone."
"Lead the way, Mr. Cullen. I want to meet the people who keep you busy all the time." He laughs and pulls me closer to his side.
Edward steps forward and quickly buttons up my gown. He runs a hand through his wild hair and takes a careful look at me. He lifts his chin up as I help him with the bowtie. I grab a tissue from my purse and wipe the lipstick marks on his neck. I blush and bite my bottom lip as I get every single trace off his skin.
He runs a hand through my hair to make it presentable again. He sighs softly when his eyes fall on my neck. He brushes his thumb over light mark on my neck and covers it with the curtain of my hair.
He touches his forehead to mine and I can't help but chuckle. He laughs and presses his lips against mine for a quick kiss. I dart my tongue inside his mouth and moan when he tugs on my bottom lip with his teeth. I grab the lapels of his jacket and draw him closer to me. I gasp for breath against his mouth and he eventually breaks our kiss.
"Not again, baby. Let's go back."
I pout. "Okay."
Edward straps my sandals back on and quickly kisses me before we leave the powder room. I chuckle and take my lipstick out of my clutch. I quickly re-apply it and take a deep breath before I exit the room. I blend in with the crowd until Edward finds me. He takes me back to our table and I find Esme and Carlisle discussing something amongst themselves.
"Where on Earth have you been?" Esme implores and smiles as she hugs me. "Oh sweetheart, you look gorgeous tonight."
"Thank you. You look just as lovely. Have you met Jacob yet?"
"I have," She smiles and releases me. "He seems like a talented young man."
"He is."
"Where were you guys?" Alice asks, as she gathers around us with Will, Alex and Jake.
"I was introducing Bella to a couple of people." Edward says and puts an arm around my waist.
Alex grins. "Congratulations, Bella. You have officially replaced my position as being the one who has to meet everyone with Edward Cullen. I can't be any happier than this."
"Shut up, Alex. Why do you talk garbage all the time?" Edward says and Alex laughs heartily.
"How did it go at the hospital with Rosalie and Emmett?" I ask softly and Esme and Carlisle offer me hopeful smiles.
"We hope everything is fine." Carlisle says and Esme sighs.
"Maybe their test results will be fine and we'll receive the news of having a grandchild in a couple of months." She gives me a big grin and I smile.
"I'm sure everything will be fine."
"Let's hope so," Esme stares at Edward and me. "And I hope you don't make me wait for grandchildren either." She says loud enough for the family to hear.
Edward and I pale looking at her but I can hear everyone laughing. I blush furiously and Jane walks over to her sister. We're not even married yet?!
"Oh, Esme won't their babies be gorgeous?" Jane prods and Esme nods. I send a pleading look to Jane who answers me with an 'I-can't-stop-her-when-she-starts-talking-about-babies' look.
"Of course. And I would really appreciate if you have a girl first," I look up at Edward who is staring at his mother in shock. He blinks and snaps out of his reverie. "You know Bella; there has always been a boy—"
"Alright, mom. Enough. Take a seat," He snaps and points to the table. Carlisle shakes with laughter and Edward glowers at him. "Dad, there is nothing funny about this."
"I beg to differ."
Rosalie and Emmett rejoin everyone and Emmett curiously looks at my ashen face and others who are holding in their laughter.
"What did we miss?"
Will speaks up. "Aunt Esme wants Edward and Bella to have babies soon and their first baby should be a girl because there are enough boys in the family."
Emmett scoffs. "Of course they are going to have babies soon. I taught Edward everything about the birds and bees. Don't worry, Bella."
My face turns red and Edward cracks a smile as he walks over to me. I hide my face against his chest as I hear everyone laughing. He kisses my hair and I chuckle when Alex comments something over it.
"If you are done, please take your fucking seats." Edward snaps and I hear everyone moving around.
"Language, Edward." Esme admonishes but I can hear the smile in her voice.
"Right sorry." He says, not meaning it. I pull back and he leans down to give me a chaste kiss. I smile and he caresses my cheek with his hand.
"Edward! Bella!" I hear Aro and we turn to find him and Renata walking in our direction. They greet us with hugs and kisses and apologize for being late. Edward introduces them to all the family members, including Jake. They sit at the table next to ours and I see Jasper and Alice glaring at each other.
"Edward, can we switch places? Alice and Jasper are at the same table."
He rolls his eyes. "They'll be fine. Come on, take a seat."
Edward pulls out a chair for me and I sit down. Kate sits on my right and Jake is across the table in front of me. The chair next to me is for Edward while Alex is by his side. I take a sip of water and Edward speaks to the emcee. He walks back to the table and grabs a flute of champagne.
"Where are you going?" I ask and he chuckles.
"I need to address everyone, it's the least I can do," He leans closer and his cool breath fans my face. "But not before a kiss."
"You're so cheesy, Cullen." I giggle and plant a swift kiss on his lips.
Edward sends me an impish grin and saunters over to the emcee. I watch intently as he thanks everyone for being here, even Alex. That earns a round of laughter and I'm pretty sure the witty banter between Edward and Alex never ends. I think everyone is familiar with that too.
I have a stupid grin on my face as I watch him deliver a kick ass speech. He talks about how motivated he is to come to work every day because of everyone in this room, he talks about the firm's future prospects, about Aro and leaves everyone inspired by the time he finishes his speech. There is an Earth-shattering applause around the room as he walks off the stage and sits down by my side.
The emcee says something on the microphone and music from the quartet resumes as the first course is served. Edward takes my hand in both of his and I peck his lips.
"That was a remarkable speech. I'm so proud of the fact that you motivate people everywhere you go. I love you." I murmur and he touches his forehead to mine.
"That really means a lot to me, Bella. Thank you for being here."
"I'm not going anywhere."
Our moment is broken when we hear a little voice screech Edward's name. We look behind and find Jared sprinting in our direction. Edward chuckles and gets up. He kneels in front of Jared when he is at a reaching distance and hugs him hard. Jared laughs and waves at me. He is such a sweetheart.
"Edward, look!" Jared points to his black suit and Edward laughs.
"It's better than mine! And you look so great in this!"
"Thank you."
"It's way past your bedtime, buddy. What are you doing here?"
"I wanna come here."
Edward stands up and carries him to us. Jared blushes, gazing at me and I give him a hug. He produces a white rose from his pocket and offers it to me. I flush and take it from his little hands. I lean over and kiss his cheek.
"Thank you so much, honey. Nobody has given me a rose tonight. This is so special."
"Bella, you look very pretty."
I blush even more. "Thank you again, Jared. And you are the most dashing little boy ever! I love your suit!"
"Thank you!"
Edward's phone buzzes, and he answers it with a smile.
"Yes, he is here… Was he? Well, at least he knows how to find us… That's alright, Vic. He can have dinner with us; we'll feed him well… What is he doing here anyway?... Does Reese know about this? I can ask Matt to be there… No, I think I'll let Matt know… He'll be done by then, don't worry… Fine, later then… Bye."
"Jared, would you like to have dinner with us?" Edward asks, and he nods vigorously.
"Okay!"
"Why is he here?" I ask softly and he sighs.
"Emily is coming to pick him up. This event will last past his bedtime. Plus, Jared was very adamant about coming tonight."
"Bella," Jared stretches his arms in my direction and I quickly settle him onto my lap. He rests his head against me and I kiss his hair.
"Let's start with soup, okay?"
"No soup." He pouts and crosses his arms over his chest.
"Jared, it's a special Halloween soup with pumpkins." Edward says animatedly and Jared gasps.
"Special?"
"Yes, it's extra special."
"Here, baby. Taste it," I feed him a spoonful of soup and he smiles.
"Yummy."
"I bet it is. Now tell us, what costume did you wear on Halloween?"
Jared shares a detailed summary about his Halloween celebration which keeps the table enraptured for the next two courses. The fourth course is an assorted cheese course, which is delicious. Very French. Jared nibbles on a slice of cheese and lets out a big yawn. Kate engages him in a little joke and he laughs along with her.
"He is getting sleepy." I comment softly and Edward nods.
"It is fifteen past nine."
"When can we leave?"
Edward laughs. "It's going to be a while, my love. Why?"
"I want to go home."
"No, we're going to mom and dad's after this. The family portrait is pending."
I frown. "I thought you took it already."
"No, everyone wants you to be a part of it but you weren't present so we postponed the session."
I blush, completely overwhelmed. "Wow, really?"
"Yes, really. You don't realize how important you are to everyone," He whispers and pecks my lips. I smile and take a deep breath. "Do you want me to take Jared?"
"It's alright."
Jared shifts on my lap and sits sideways, facing Edward—who smiles at him. Jared offers him a sleepy smile and closes his eyes. I rock him a little on my lap and he drifts off to sleep. I slowly take off his jacket and undo the top two buttons of his shirt. He snuggles against me and I stroke his hair. Edward adjusts the collar of his little shirt and I catch Esme watching us with a smile on her face.
"Hey, Bella?" Kate says and I meet her gaze. "Did Julie tell you?" She whispers with a conspiratorial smile and I nod, excitedly.
"Yes! Isn't it lovely?"
"Hell yeah!"
"What's going on?" Edward asks and I sigh happily.
"Julie is taking her girlfriend to Aspen for a mini-vacation tomorrow. She is going to propose to her."
"That's great. I'm happy for them. How did you find out about this?"
"First hand from Alice and then Julie told me when we met two hours ago. Didn't she tell you?"
He chuckles. "My extent of the news is that she is taking four days off. That's it."
"Their meet and greet story is so romantic. I'll tell you later."
"You look more enthusiastic about this than Julie herself." He comments and I roll my eyes.
"There is nothing wrong with that. And when is dessert being served? I'm waiting!"
Edward laughs. "You're going to love the dessert. It's Fallen Chocolate Soufflé."
I grab the menu and read the dessert. He is right. I thought it was going to be something different. I frown and shake my head. "But, when you showed me the menu at home last week, it was something with peaches."
"Well, I changed it because you love chocolate."
"What if others don't like it?"
He shrugs. "They will. And so what if I abuse my power sometimes? I like it when you are happy."
I blush brightly and kiss his cheek. "You are over the top, do you know that?"
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Jacob twirls me in a circle and I laugh softly. I didn't know that my brother was a good dancer. I think it's because we never went to an event where we had to dance. Except for our friends' weddings. It's nice to spend time with him. And he seems happy to be here and meet so many people.
"You have changed a lot, Bells." Jake comments with a smile and I frown curiously.
"What?"
"You are happier now than you used to be. You are more positive now."
"That's a good thing, I guess."
"It is and Mr. Cullen's family loves you too. They think of you as a part of the family. I'm happy for you."
"Thank you, honey," I kiss his cheek. "They are all wonderful people."
"I didn't expect them to be so humble and fun-loving. I thought they would be uptight."
"They like you as well."
"And you and Mr. Cullen look great together."
I blush and give him a shy smile. "Really?"
"Yes. He can't find someone better than you. Trust me."
I roll my eyes. "You're just saying that because you're my brother."
"I'm saying that because I know it. He is a lucky man."
"That's so sweet of you, Jake."
We smile and continue dancing to the slow music. My eyes race everywhere as I try to locate Edward. I find him standing alongside Vic, Julie and her girlfriend, Charlotte chatting about something. His green eyes meet mine and my cheeks turn red. He chuckles and I look away.
Jake and I dance for a couple of minutes more when I hear a pair of footsteps approaching us. Edward stands by us with a sexy smile on his face.
"May I cut in?" He asks softly and Jake releases me.
"Sure." He kisses my cheek and walks off the dance floor.
Edward draws me in his arms and presses his lips against mine for a kiss. I smile and wind my arms around his neck. We pull back quickly and twirl gracefully with the beats of the romantic music. His eyes bore into mine and my breathing falters. He brushes his thumb against my bottom lip and I close my eyes.
"I really don't like the way men are looking at you tonight."
I open my eyes and bite my bottom lip. "Don't worry; I'm going home with you."
"I'll drag you even if you don't want to." I giggle and caress his handsome face with my hands. He smiles and kisses the top of my head. His phone buzzes in his pants and I sigh. He sends me an apologetic smile and answers the call.
I put my head on his chest and he tightens his right arm around me as he talks on the phone. He nuzzles against my hair and traces idle patterns on my arm. I find many couples dancing on the floor, peeking glances in our direction. They look away when they see me glancing in their direction.
A couple of minutes later, I look up at him and give him a look.
"Put the phone away now." I say in a feather soft voice and he nods. He immediately ends the conversation and puts his phone in his pocket.
"Sorry."
"It's alright."
Edward plants a swift kiss on my lips and buries his nose against my hair. He sighs soundly and snakes his arms around my waist, pulling me closer to him.
"So, did my cousins persuade you to dance with them?" He asks and I nod.
"Yes, Alex and Will both did."
He laughs and kisses my nose. "And Jasper?"
"No, he knows me well."
"I'm sure he does."
"And Alex told him about the whole incident with Esme and babies; and he couldn't stop teasing me about it."
"Do you want me to fire him?" Edward asks with a straight face and I snort.
"Not right away. He can stay."
"Speaking of babies, I wouldn't mind having a girl," He whispers, leaning his forehead against mine. "She should be a mini-version of you."
I blush and chuckle softly. "You think about that kind of stuff?"
"Sometimes. But, before having babies, I want to travel the world with you. And have you all to myself for a while. I don't want to share you so soon."
I smile and stroke his cheek. "You won't have to, sweetheart," My eyes fall on Emmett and Rosalie and I sigh. "I really hope Rosalie and Emmett have a baby, you know. They really want one."
"Hmm."
"I have a feeling they will make good parents."
"Hmm."
I look up at him and find an unreadable expression on his face. "You don't think so?"
"Sure, I want Emmett to be happy."
"Come on; don't be like that about Rosalie, especially about this matter."
"Can we not talk about her?" He asks, disturbed and I nod.
"Okay," I peck his lips and his eyes soften. "Esme and Jane always ask me if I know something about the fight you and Rosalie have going on. But, I tell them I don't."
"I'll tell you, soon. Rosalie still has until December."
"Yes she does," I decide to change the topic. "This place is very special for me."
He chuckles. "Is it?"
"We had our first kiss here."
"We did," He gives me a chaste kiss. "And you missed the fireworks."
"We saw them on our first date."
"Seems like such a long time ago."
"It's been the best time of my life, because of you. Thank you." I say earnestly and his green eyes pierce into mine. His lips press against mine and I smile.
"We're just getting started, baby."
I curiously gaze at the black velvet backdrop, the reflectors, main light and all the other stuff. Wow, this family portrait is a big deal. Alex hovers over them and gives a helping hand. He has his own camera in his hands as he fiddles with the equipment. He takes pictures of the crew staging the set.
Alex aims the camera towards family members and starts taking everyone's pictures as he walks over to them. Edward and Carlisle seem to be in an intense discussion about something; and I have no doubt that it's about Eleazar Denali. Emmett and Rosalie are in their own bubble, happy and smiling. Will is sitting on a chair next to Alice, poking her face as she dons her make-up.
Jane and Esme hover over each other as they try to get their hair perfect, like it wasn't before. They're both always perfect. They don't even need make-up.
I feel someone's eyes on me and I turn to my left to find a pair of green orbs lovingly staring at me. His eyes are gleaming with excitement which makes me grin wide. I drink my wine and hear a gasp near me. I tear my eyes off him and look at Alice.
"Oh my god, Bella! You need touch-up!"
Alice leads me to where she was previously sitting and I close my eyes, letting her do whatever she wants to. Once she is finished, I glance at my reflection and it looks the same. I smile at her and she beams at me.
"Thank you, Alice."
"No problem!"
Carlisle walks closer and thoughtfully stares at Esme and Jane.
"Boys! You had better drag your mothers over here for the photo or else we won't get one tonight." He warns and all the boys immediately rush over to them.
"Mom, your hair is fine." Edward mutters and winds an arm around her shoulders. He leads her towards the chaise lounge and she sighs.
"Just a little—"
"You'll be sleeping soon, anyway." Emmett says with exasperation making her laugh.
"This portrait is important to us," Jane says and offers me a smile. "I'm so glad you are here," I blush and whisper 'thank you'. "Is my gown alright, Bella?"
Before I can open my mouth and speak; Alex does.
"Yes! Sit on the lounge right now!" He snaps and Jane gazes at him with wide blue eyes. "I'm sorry, was that rude? Or was it rude for everyone to wait for forty minutes while you retouched your make-up?"
Edward chuckles and shakes his head. I smile and quietly follow them. Alice stands behind the couch between Rosalie and me. Edward and Emmett stand on opposite ends while Alex and Will sit on the arms of the couch. Esme, Jane and Carlisle sit on the elegant couch and Alice explains to Carlisle about seating in a good pose.
Will and Alex bicker about how tedious this is and Jane is trying to shush them. My attention diverts to my boyfriend when he plants a soft kiss on the corner of my mouth. I smile at him and he leans his forehead against mine.
"This happens every year?" I motion to the chaos and he laughs.
"This happens every fucking year." He grins, shaking his head.
Finally everyone settles and I shift closer to Edward when his hand caresses my waist.
"Ms. Swan, don't move!" The photographer says, and I blush furiously. I can hear a couple of chuckles and Alex gazes us.
"Maybe we shouldn't have Edward and Bella standing next to each other."
"Shut up, Alex." Edward snaps at him.
"So are we ready?"
The photographer adjusts his camera and I look ahead. Alice places her hand on Carlisle's shoulder and I feel Edward tightening his arm around my waist. I beam as I gaze into the camera and feel incredibly lucky to be here with all of them. It's the best family one could have and I can't believe I am here, and it's because of Edward.
"Great smiles everyone, here we go."
I hear a click and the flash goes off.
SPECIAL THANKS TO EdwardsFirstKiss FOR EDITING THIS CHAPTER!
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Paint the Walls