Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, or it's original characters, SM does. Stalker, his Care Bear, Princess Bree, the twins, and Garrferret belong to me. No copyright infringement is intended with the posting of this story.

A/N: If you're reading this I'm happy, so happy Sunday! FFn is being a total butt with notifications and has been all week. It would mean a lot to me, if you're active in the fanfic-fandom on FB and Twitter, if you'd share this update on your feed.

This chapter has had me lying in bed a wake for the last few nights, lol. It's heavy, and it ends… abruptly. Next update might take a little longer than a week, but I'm always shooting for Sunday/Monday updates now. Hopefully by next week FFn will have their act together.

Much love to my beta, myonlyheroin. Any and all mistakes belong to me, myself, and my twitchy fingers.

Let's get to it then…

Wicked Plots & Deceptive Plans

Chapter 36

~.~}BELLA{~.~

We'd been cuddled up together, watching I Love Lucy reruns from the couch with a blanket over our laps in the sitting room of our suite when the dreaded knock came at the door.

"Why don't you let Garrett and I talk alone for a minute?" Edward's lips were right beside my ear. He pulled me in deeper against him a little more firmly while waiting for my response, then placed his slightly parted mouth over the top of my shoulder blade, giving it a warm and tender kiss.

I caught myself holding my breath over his action, still taking it all in, before finally nodding my head with a gentle sigh. My body carefully wriggled itself free from his comforting embrace, but he let his hand reach out to grab onto mine just as I'd started to silently walk away. I turned and looked down at him, his eyes easily telling me everything he was feeling without him having to say anything at all. He gave my fingers one last pulse between his own, then released me completely, and gave my bottom a light tap that allowed a short lived smile to sneak across my face.

I could still feel him watching me as I made my way into the bedroom. That made me smirk again, but this time he couldn't see the reaction he'd caused, although I was sure he'd felt it the same way I could feel his own.

After closing the door behind me, all the while holding my breath, I fell belly first onto the bed, burying my face deep into the soft pillows.

It only took me ten seconds to start to consider pressing my ear to the door, so that I'd be granted the ability to eavesdrop on their conversation. I was still feeling ridiculously nervous over the idea of, once again, being in the same room with Garrett.

Edward had obviously sensed that my guarded apprehension was very much real, so he'd promised to not leave my side unless I'd told him it was okay. I didn't foresee myself ever telling him it would be okay, but stranger things have happened, and who knew what would happen once we were all face to face again.

With that last pulse he'd sent into my hand before releasing me from his grasp, he'd silently expressed his own unease over the idea of us all being in the same room together again, but I also knew he hadn't changed his mind.

Garrett and I still needed to talk. Sober.

Edward told me he had a plan. Something that he thought could make things easier on everyone in the long run. Even though it was rather unorthodox, as he'd put it. He'd however refused to share any of the details with me just yet, not until after Garrett had shown us all of his proof, and he'd gotten a minute to really evaluated the situation, and we'd both gotten a few minutes to talk to Garrett alone. One on one.

Apparently, depending on what he had as proof, and what words would be exchanged, that's what would ultimately dictate how we would play our next move when it came to dealing with Edward's former business partner's sick obsession with me, my family, and our marriage.

I rolled myself over onto my back and automatically began counting the small squares molded into the ceiling above me to help pass the time without continuing to lay there over thinking the last week of my life.

I'd been texting with Alice off and on ever since Edward and I had our talk. Jasper had told her about us moving back home. She was upset, but said she understood why it was needed. She also admitted that she was more than a little bit jealous. This, of course, only initiated about twenty rapidly fired texts from me telling her there was nothing keeping her in L.A. anymore, ergo she could totally follow us back to the city without even blinking an eye over it.

At least until she'd landed her next big role.

I'd even offered them our guest room to stay in until they found something that would live up to her meticulously high standards.

My best friend hadn't shot the idea down, and that had made me all kinds of giddy with excitement over the possibility that I could soon have the home I loved, the man I loved, and my best friend that I loved- all back in one place again, right where we all belonged. Right where it all began.

Just as I'd reached the number four-hundred and fifty two, while counting the small squares molded into the ceiling, Edward knocked two times and came through the door, then gently closed it behind him. His face was blank, but he was hiding something behind his eyes now. He seemed calm still, and collected. Garrett obviously hadn't revved him up. This was good.

"Ready to come out?" He softly questioned after sitting down beside me on the bed.

I swiftly closed my eyes, like a toddler avoiding a torturous task, then adamantly shook my head, declining his inquiry.

No. I was not ready.

"We're good, baby. I'm not going to hit him again, I promise, and he's not going to push me to the point where I'd feel the need to. We've reached a mutual agreement on that. We both understand our limits now." He assured me… as if that was all I was worried about.

I nodded obediently though, and then slowly sat myself up. My husband reached over to take my hands into his, and he purposely lifted my body from the mattress to position me into his lap, so he'd be able to wrap his arms around my hips and draw me into his own solid frame. He kissed my neck and took in a deep inhale beside my ear, creating tiny goosebumps across every inch of my exposed skin before giving my hips a gentle tap, signaling I should stand.

With his hands still at my waist, he silently guided me towards the door that would take us back out into the sitting area of our suite.

Before we could actually cross through the doorway, he pulled me back suddenly and promptly shut the door again with a loud bang. He took me by absolute surprise when he rushed me backwards and pressed my back against the wall. Our eyes had barely connected, but he fervently brought my bottom lip between his teeth. My mouth moved against his, with lust filled need, and my hands found their way to their happy place, getting lost in his auburn hair as I pulled him in closer against me. I wanted to feel every part of his body against mine before we'd have to really start in on all the bullshit again with the person who was currently waiting for us in the other room, and I could tell that's what he was in need of as well.

I was more than happy to oblige to that need.

His lips left mine and I closed my eyes in silenced ecstasy as his teeth moved to my ear, then slowly down my neck line towards my bare shoulder where he sensually bit down, finally eliciting a loud yelp from deep within me. I giggled at my impulsive reaction over his rampant attack on my body, with the use of his hungry mouth, and tugged at his hair again to bring his face back up to mine. Our eyes looked deeply into one another, and I released a soft sigh as he stared down into my longing gaze.

"Are you sure we have to do this right now?" I whispered, just as he'd cupped the side of my face with his strong but tender hands.

"It'll be like ripping off a bandaid, Care Bear."

I smirked at his analogy, "Oh yeah? One that's been super glued, and then stapled to my skin?" I teased, hoping it would make us both smile, even if it was forced and short lived.

"Just remember, no matter what happens. I love you. You, and our kids are my life. Always. Whatever he says, whatever he does, nothing will change any of that. Not for me." Edward whispered after pressing his forehead against mine. He then brought his hand from my hip to gently tilt my chin upward so I'd be forced to look up into his softened hazel green eyes again.

He really did seem oddly calm, and collected, but there was something about the sadness that still remained in his stare.

I don't know why, or how it was even possible, but out of nowhere, that seemed to make me feel even more neurotic.

"Let's just get it over with." I mumbled, then leaned in to softly kiss his lips one last time. He was smirking about something now. My eyes followed his and instantly noticed the red bite mark he'd imprinted onto my skin at the top of my exposed shoulder.

"Proud of yourself are you, Stalker?" I teased, giving him a playful shove backwards.

"I like seeing my mark on you. I've missed it. Shoot me?"

I rolled my eyes mockingly and took his hand back into mine, then began walking backwards, pulling him towards the door that would lead us out to Garrett, where I was sure he'd picked up on our abrupt non-entry-re-entry, and what it had likely been in relation to.

Good.

When we entered the room, we found him sitting on the couch with a glass of water in his hand, looking the saddest I'd ever seen him.

I paused for a moment when our eyes first met, noticing the dark black and purple mark that now circled his left eye. His bottom lip was also a little swollen and he had a rather large knot at his left temple. He forced a half smile, and I instantly found my own bottom lip tucked nervously between my teeth as I bit down much harder than I'd anticipated. I could taste blood in my mouth almost instantly.

I grimaced at the pain and began pulling at my fingertips in front of me from where I stood beside Edward.

"It's not as bad as it looks." He gently reassured me. Sadness and melancholy still clouding his more than solemn expression.

I hated that I even cared… But I did… and a part of me despised him for that revelation.

Edward guided me closer towards the couch parallel from where Garrett had remained seated, then pulled me down beside him. Once sitting, I took his hand back into mine and placed it between us over my knee.

"You look… better." Garrett commented, his eyes stealing glances back and forth between mine and Edward's locked hands, and our own guarded expressions.

Neither of us said anything.

I mean, what was there to say?

Gee, thanks, yeah… you didn't destroy everything that mattered the most to us.

We will survive, and we will be stronger than ever, regardless of your deception and lies.

Kudos to us! Here's your gold star! Now, where's ours, asshole?

When the silence remained, Garrett cleared his throat and sat himself forward from the back of the sofa, pressing his elbows into the tops of his knees and folding his hands in front of him, "Okay, so... let's get to work. I printed out all of the emails I had, and some screenshots of our texts. Which, I still have on my phone as well, in case you want to question their validity. You'll find everything in that folder. It's all yours to keep and do what you want with."

Edward carefully released my hand from his and reached out to take the manilla folder that was sitting on the coffee table between the two couches. "You seriously had all of this gathered already?" My husband questioned without looking up.

Garrett laughed nervously and stood up to start anxiously walking the room, "No. Kate and I found a coffee house down the street with free wifi and a communal printer. I wasn't that prepared, or diabolical." When neither of us opened our mouths to say anything in response he began tapping his foot over the ground beneath him, then cleared his throat before continuing. "Right, well…" cue the third long uncomfortable silence of the morning, "You can see from the date on the first email, he had sent that to me a few days after our initial lunch meeting Bella. He'd literally called me less than an hour after we'd parted ways that afternoon. I have that voice mail saved too, if you'd like to listen to it, but he basically called me and told me he wanted me to come by his office later that night to talk about another employment opportunity. That's how he lured me in at first. No details, just a short statement that he had something else he'd thought I'd be perfect for. I only got one other voicemail from him over the last six months. He was always very good at attempting to cover his tracks. I hope you can see, though, I never sounded thrilled by any of this. He had to sell me on it, and boy did he sell it. He was relentless right from the start."

My eyes ran across the words before us, but I could barely believe everything I was reading. I could see Edward's grasp instantly increase on the papers as he held them stacked in his hands, his own eyes scanning line after line, from top to bottom, his knuckles turning white.

RE: Operation BC

To: GarrettLanaliArt

Reply-To: MasterJay79

Be at the carousel around three. Make sure you're wearing that hideous uniform shirt I gave you. That's where she'll go once she takes off when the new nanny gets there. Bella is a creature of habit and familiarity. 'Routine' should be her middle name. That park and the pier are her two go-to spots close to their house.

RE: RE: Operation BC

To: MasterJay79

Reply-To: GarrettLanaliArt

She was there. We talked. We spent some time drawing. It wasn't easy, but she gave me her cell number.

It went… well.

RE: RE: RE: Operation BC

To: GarrettLanaliArt

Reply-To: MasterJay79

Excellent. I knew you wouldn't disappoint. Your job is about to get much easier too. I'll have Edward plenty distracted sooner than I'd thought, thanks to an opportunity that's literally fallen right into his lap.

Once again, the pretentious little shit seems to have golden luck, but this time it will work to my own personal advantage.

I'll need you to clear your schedule from about noon until at least 3 tomorrow afternoon. Once I find out exactly where she will be, I'll send you a text. Edward hasn't mentioned her running into you at the park. This is good. She's already keeping your existence from him, and I've got him so wrapped up with work, he's too busy to even notice. Remember, the goal tomorrow is to get yourself invited to her best friend's party. Her name is Alice Brandon. She's an actress. I've included an attachment with a brief summary of her background, likes and dislikes, to help you win her over. Don't mess this up, kid. I'll open doors for you that you didn't even know existed if you get this job done. Fame, fortune, you name it. With me in your life, the sky isn't even the limit.

RE: RE: RE: RE: Operation BC

To: MasterJay79

Reply-To: GarrettLanaliArt

Alright, Mr. Nomadio, I got the invite. Alice is even letting me borrow some of her husband's clothes. I have to say, after seeing Bella out with her kids, I'm feeling a little less motivated by all of this. Why is it so important to you? How will you benefit from any of this?

RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: Operation BC

To: GarrettLanaliArt

Reply-To: MasterJay79

Reasons you will never understand, kid. Don't ask questions. Don't over analyze. Just do what I'm paying you to do. Tonight will be your chance to really get in with her people. She doesn't have many friends here, so the ones she does have will be important in order for this to actually work. If they like you, she will feel more inclined to let her guard down. You need her to let her guard down. I can NOT stress that enough.

*Please understand, the main goal this evening is winning over Edward*

Get in his good graces. You need him to feel comfortable with the idea of the two of you starting to spend time together alone. He's not an overly trusting person. He will have suspicions.

*DO NOT* eye fuck his wife in front of him the entire night.

Gain his trust and you'll be in.

Don't over sell it when it comes to her. That was my mistake at the beginning. It needs to feel innocently natural, or she will push you away. Believe me. She has no problem shutting people out when she decides they can't be trusted. At least that's been my experience.

RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: Operation BC

To: MasterJay79

Reply-To: GarrettLanaliArt

Whatever, man. If it's meant to be it will happen. I never force or fake anything. That's not my style. You'll just have to hope for the best, because that's what I'll be giving. I'm going to deposit your check today. I feel like I've sold my soul to the goddamn devil. That shit better not bounce.

RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: Operation BC

To: GarrettLanaliArt

Reply-To: MasterJay79

It won't bounce. Just remember, there's another fifty grand waiting for you once you've completed your quest. This will be my last email to you.

From here on out, I want you to text me constant updates to ONLY this number; 555-619-1069.

Get rid of my other number, and these emails. Have fun at the party, enjoy yourself. You'll be mingling with some of Hollywood's up and coming 'it' crowd. Take advantage of these opportunities I am providing you with, Lanali. If you really pull all this off, there could even be a future in acting for you. Lord knows you'll have proven yourself to be quite the thespian.

Then came two pages of screenshot text messages.

(555-619-1069)

.(J).

-What's going on over there, Lanali? How's the party?

Land any non-married pussy yet?

Making Bella jealous?

-Party was great. No pussy for me tonight,

but Alice did invite me to stay in her guest room

until I find something else besides my van.

-Bella and Edward left about an hour ago.

-She was pretty drunk, but progress was made. All around.

-I think you'd be pleased, but I'll know more tomorrow.

-Excellent. You meant what you said.

I'm proud of you, kid.

I knew Alice would fall for your depressingly sad situation

and invite you into her home. She loves a good charity case.

-Nice job.

-Progress indeed.

-I told you, I never half ass anything,

and my people skills are golden.

-You just better not get too comfortable in

your new easy going life over there.

-I'm not paying you to make art on the beach all day.

-I have two jobs I'm being paid for,

and one of them involves me drawing.

-You can't have it both ways.

I need to get my other work done too,

otherwise what's the point in all of this?

-For me, anyways.

-Make BC your priority, or that show won't even happen,

and then you won't have to worry about either.

-Don't test me.

-Don't disappoint me.

-I own you until I say otherwise.

-Your time is my time

-What the fuck ever. Don't pressure me.

-I know what I'm doing.

-I know what she needs from me now.

It's not going to happen over night.

-Girls like Bella can't be forced to do anything too soon.

If you actually knew her at all, you'd understand that.

-I know all about girls like Bella.

Just do what you're told. I'll be in touch later.

-Any news?

-Hello?

-WHEN I TEXT YOU FUCKING ANSWER ME LANALI!

-Chill man.

-I'm going over to her place in an hour

with Alice to watch a movie.

-Nothing much else to report, boss.

I saw her for a few minutes earlier today

-Other than that, she's been inside

with her family all day.

-Alice is really great though...

-I'm starting to feel like a real dirt bag

taking advantage of her life this.

-Then stop letting your feelings control you, kid.

-Separate yourself from that right NOW.

-This is a job.

-An opportunity to further your career as an artist,

and also show me you're someone who will do

whatever it takes to make things happen.

-If I see you as committed as I am,

I will become just as committed to changing your

life in ways you can't even begin to imagine.

-That is my promise to you.

-Whatever, I'll text you tomorrow

and let you know how the movie went.

You could tell by most of Garrett's responses that he was never actually totally comfortable with their arrangement, but James had done a fairly decent job at keeping him roped in without giving him much of a chance to change his mind, or back out once he'd sunk his fangs into him. I mean, he'd even at one point, threatened to take our show away from him the first time he'd started to second guess things and hint he was beginning to grow an actual conscience. That realization actually caused me to pause a little longer than the lines about the money and stardom had. I knew how much sharing his art with the world meant to him. I knew deep down that our show meant more to him than anything else.

The realization that it more than likely wouldn't be happening now… No, I couldn't think about that.

That was no longer important.

There would be other shows in his future. I had to believe that.

Now was not the time for me to feel bad for him.

Edward let out a low growl, which brought my eyes back up onto his own distressed face. He was processing this, but he didn't seem to be handling it very well. I'd never seen him look so silently angry, paired with absolute confusion, and then disbelief before. If looks could kill, then the look on his face, without question, could be classified as a nuclear bomb just waiting for the bright red button to be pressed and activated.

"It sounds like him. It's for fucking sure his verbiage and syntax, but that isn't his regular email address, or his phone number, so it can all still be considered hearsay, and even doctored for all I know." Edward finally spoke up after turning the page again to see the last couple of text messages between James and Garrett, arguing about him finally wanting to officially back out for good.

Those texts had ended with Garrett agreeing to meet with James in person at his office to further discuss things.

Garrett glanced back and forth between the two of us and nodded one time, apparently understanding Edward's apprehension. He narrowed his eyes, thinking hard about something, then ran his hands through his hair, briefly highlighting his bruised and slightly swollen temple for a moment.

The sight of it sent a short stab into my side after I'd noticed him grimace over the pain that had been brought on when he'd accidentally brushed his injuries with his fingers, "Okay, you're right, which is why I saved the best for last. I do have that one other saved voicemail I mentioned. It's from the day I finally told him in person I was really totally done. It was the day after we'd gone to the movie set, Bella, and we'd had that talk on the cliffs… about how you and Edward met, and the start of it all. I just couldn't do it anymore after that. My mind had been made up, and James was pissed."

Edward reached down to place his hand over my own anxiously vibrating knee and gave it a soft but reassuring squeeze before instructing Garrett to play the message over the speaker of his cell phone.

When we both looked over at him, he'd already had his phone out, ready to hit play on it's lit up screen.

"Lanali, you don't EVER walk away from me!" James' panicked voice roared. It sent an instant chill down my spine and raised the hair at the back of my neck. "Let's get that straight right-fucking-now! We're through when I say we're through, because I will ruin you if you back out of this now! You've come too goddamned far! You've made too much fucking progress with her! I've seen it! Cullen deserves what's coming to him. Trust me. He's nothing but a playboy who knocked her up three years ago. A few months from now, he'll probably thank me. Don't let your own pitiful emotions get in the way of this! He's a good actor. Nothing is real between them. She's only his pretty trophy wife that popped out two little crotch fruit that now bare his name. She's someone he likes to flaunt around, while silently daring people to try and take her away from him. I'm going to give you a few days to calm down and really re-evaluate your situation. You're in no position to return this money to me. You know you need it. I know how much your family needs it. Don't be so selfish. What's a few more months of your life spent flirting with a pretty girl? Call me when you've come to your senses and stopped thinking with your goddamn conscience."

That was without a doubt James on the phone. I'd heard him use the term 'crotch fruit' to describe children more than once, and it had always annoyed the hell out of me. Edward again leaped up from beside me and stomped his way to the other side of the room where he began pacing the floor.

"Why though?! Why the fuck would he do this? Why me? Why Bella?"

Garrett cleared his throat nervously and shrugged his shoulders with a slight shake of his head, "I wish I could give you an exact answer." I could see something in his eyes though, he did have at least an inkling of an idea.

"You're not being totally honest. You know something." I spoke up, just above a whisper, while keeping my gaze locked on only him.

I saw his shoulders slump when he finally looked down at me. It was insane to me how well I truly was able to read him. I'd never really noticed it before until now, but it was the truth, and that too, made me despise him just a little bit more.

"He mentioned once, in passing, after we'd had a few drinks one night while discussing things… he'd mentioned that no one turns him down for a second hand version of himself, least of all someone who came from absolutely nothing."

My eyes dug into his, "Meaning who? Me? I'm the someone who came from absolutely nothing right, and Edward's the second hand version of James?" I fiercely snickered after forcefully crossing my arms in front of me. As that revelation settled within my head, I couldn't help but laugh sarcastically. "He really is deranged if that's what this is all about."

"Wait." Edward brashly spoke up.

I grimaced, already knowing what would be coming next, then closed my eyes, preparing myself for what was about to follow. "Did James make a pass at you, Bella? Like a legit move on you that you've never told me about?" He slowly questioned. I took a deep breath and opened my eyes before turning myself around to look at him, realizing these were more secrets I was about to have no other choice but to expose… and we'd just made so much progress.

"I- he… that time we, well…" I was drowning fast.

"Maybe I should leave the room for a minute?" Garrett casually suggested, then started to stand up from the sofa he'd dramatically fallen backwards into a few seconds ago.

"Sit down, Lanali. Bella, speak. Tell me what happened."

I rolled my eyes, feeling overwhelmed by the sudden about face direction this conversation had just turned itself towards. "He did once, but I took care of it. It never happened again after that."

"When?"

It had been one simple word he'd spoken, but the way he'd said it- it sent a fresh chill down my spine all the way to the tips of my toes. I'd never seen the look that had now taken over my husbands face. He was desperately wanting to smash something… anything, with his hands, repeatedly just to release some of the extreme pent up anger that had once again taken control of every part of him.

All because of something I'd been involved in and subsequently kept from him.

I shifted my weight beneath me and grabbed at the bottom hem of my tank top, then gave it a nervous tug while avoiding all the other sets of eyes that were currently sharing the room with me, "That time," I paused, sealing my eyes shut again, then pressed the heels of my hands into my temples before sitting myself back down onto the couch across from Garrett, "It was right after we'd gotten back from Italy, and you'd just proposed... We'd gone to... to talk to him about my first show, and you had left us alone in his office."

Edward was beyond furious now. I could literally feel his rage from where he stood, still fifteen feet away from me, while he rewound the last three years of our shared life, so he'd be able to remember the exact day I was now referencing.

"Wait. The day he told us the show probably wouldn't happen… because the owner had sold the gallery, and the new owner wasn't going to honor the existing bookings? Is that why he almost took the show away from you that time? Because you wouldn't let him fuck you on top of his desk with me a few doors down?! Jesus Christ, Bella! What the hell?!"

"No!" I shook my head frantically, "I mean yes, that was the day, but I was the one who initiated severing all ties with him in that moment. I didn't need the show. He'd never actually threatened to take it away, though. He'd just hinted that he wanted… that he'd hoped to experience other things with me, as well. At that point, the show wasn't worth it. Especially if it meant I'd have to deal with him breathing down my neck and attempting to feel me up at every chance he got." I'd grumbled the last part, still avoiding his eyes, even though I could feel him studying me from where he stood.

"He tried to feel you up!? Are you fucking kidding me right now?!" He was laughing, but it was more of a hysterical maniac laugh than anything remotely sane I'd ever heard come out of him.

"James was still your boss at the time! Someone you admired! I was pregnant, and we'd just gotten engaged! We were going through so much bullshit with Jake, the last thing I wanted to do was mention that your creepy work idol was trying to get between my legs, Edward! I handled it, okay!?"

Edward scoffed at my words, "Right. You handled it so well, yet here we are, years later and he almost managed to finally take you away from me."

My body instantly stood itself up to cross the room. I took his hands into mine and yanked them hard, so he would look down into my eyes.

"No one will ever take me away from you." I whispered, "No. One."

His gaze softened the moment mine did. With our eyes still locked onto each other, and nothing- no one else, I silently pleaded with him that he actually listen to what I was saying. I didn't keep this from him just to keep it from him. I kept it from him because back then, it didn't matter. James was nothing more than a nuisance that needed to be put in his place.

Was it the first time I'd been hit on? No.

Was it the last time I'd been hit on since marrying him? No.

Men were sleazy assholes everywhere. If I reported back every time someone tried to make a pass at me, Edward would probably never let me leave the damn house. That didn't mean I liked it, or that I beckoned it. I'd managed to take care of myself just fine when it came to that type of attention before Edward had come along, and I'd continued to do so even after the fact.

I was a big girl.

I could do things!

He'd said it himself, James has a new piece of arm candy every night of the week. Me revealing to Edward that his then boss had attempted to add me to his repertoire of accomplishments, well… honestly, that shouldn't have surprised him. Not at all.

"I knew he made you uncomfortable sometimes. I just never thought those feelings had developed from something like, that. That he'd actually attempted to… to… Jesus fuck, I'm going to DESTROY the son of a bitch! He's going to be NOTHING when I'm through with him!" He released my hands from his and began pacing the room again, while grumbling other inaudible things under his breath. Things that I couldn't exactly make out, but that was probably for the better.

A soft sigh escaped past my lips while I watched him continue to process everything I'd just told him. It felt good to finally tell him about James, and why I'd put up such a guarded wall around him right from the beginning. It was almost as if an anchor had been removed from my legs and I was finally able to just float again with the current.

"All this time. All these years. He's pretended to be my friend- my mentor. Someone I would have trusted my life with. This is absolutely insane."

He really wasn't handling this well. Not at all. This was the exact reason why I'd never told him about James. Sometimes, it's better to keep the ugly out in order to keep the good from being tainted. I knew James wasn't all bad… at least, I'd honestly believed that for a very long time.

Over the years, he had helped Edward become the phenomenal agent and manager he was. He'd also helped us raise large amounts of money for charities that were important to us, without taking a dime. Deep down, I'd always trusted there was some good in him, and that's why I'd never completely written him off.

"There has to be more. He wouldn't have gone through all of this just because you turned him down that one time. Not after learning you were pregnant on top of everything! That just doesn't make sense. There still has to me more to it."

He was right. It didn't make sense. There did have to be more. James could have almost any woman he set his eyes on. Sure he was older, but he wasn't bad looking. He had money. He had connections. He had massive respect in the industry. He didn't need to add me as another notch on his belt. Striking out with a nobody former bartender from New York City who was freshly engaged, and pregnant with twins- that should not have triggered… this.

"No, you're right. There has to be more." Garrett carefully spoke up, rejoining the conversation. "I could never figure it out though, and he refused to tell me. That being said, he did make it obvious on more than one occasion that he really doesn't like you very much, Edward."

My husband stopped moving again, "What do you mean?"

Garrett paused, obviously thinking his response over before actually opening his mouth. "Just comments he'd make here and there. That you thought you were better than everyone else, that your life goal was to imitate him and become his carbon copy, that you thought you were God's gift to women, and once he implied that-" he stopped again and nervously looked over at me, then down at his feet.

"Implied what, Garrett?"

His next words came rushing out, "That you were only with Bella because you felt trapped because of the kids… and that you'd only landed Victoria Rachelle's account because you'd, um- taken the less than professional route."

Edward had that crazed look in his eyes again. It swept over him like nothing I'd ever seen before, "What, he said I'd slept with her?! Is that what he said?" He managed to finally get out after a few long seconds of sarcastic laughter. "Oh, thats rich. God forbid I actually be good at what I do for that agency without having to use my dick! Jesus! Thats got to be another piece to it all though. He's been after Victoria for years, and he knows I could have her under me at any moment, of any day."

My eyes narrowed and my arms immediately crossed themselves deeply in front of my chest.

If my own looks could kill right now, he would certainly be a very very dead man.

"Never- NEVER would that happen, baby!" He instantly spat out in defense after noticing my more than just slightly pissed off expression and death stare.

I could barely make sense of half of what had already been said, so I didn't focus too long on his impulsive little ass pat over Victoria and her apparent lust filled desires to someday have my husband on top of her well seasoned body.

"There still has to be more." I muttered when no one else said anything, and the silence had finally started to get under my skin.

Edward nodded, agreeing with me, but had nothing else to add. He was thinking about something, but not sharing it with anyone but himself.

That bothered me.

"So, what do we do now?" I questioned, looking back and forth between the two of them. "You said you had a plan."

Edward shook his head, seemingly freeing himself from whatever thought it was that had taken control of him, then cleared his throat before looking over at me, "I need to make a phone call. Emmett sent me some files of James' clients but I'm still missing a few things. Is it okay, Bella, if I step into the bedroom for a couple of minutes?"

This was him asking me for permission.

Could he leave me alone with Garrett?

Would I be okay with that?

No doubt, so we could have the talk he'd ever so casually, but very persistently, insisted we still needed to have.

I sucked back a deep breath from between my clenched teeth and slowly nodded my head two times then pushed myself deeper into the back of the sofa without saying anything.

He walked towards me and kneeled down to return my hands into his, "I love you, Care Bear. I'll be right over there in the next room. If you need me, all you have to do is shout. Just… just, remember- nothing will ever make me question my love for you. Nothing."

I did my best to force a smile, but felt myself fail miserably. He smirked over the sight of my said failure, and I shrugged, feeling my words, as per usual, betray me during moments like these. Edward leaned in and kissed my lips softly one time, then stood himself up to once again face the other person who was still sharing a room with us. "You have ten minutes from the time I close that door. Remember what we talked about, Lanali. No pressure." With the completion of his final word, he wasted no time to turn around and begin walking towards the bedroom. It was almost as if he couldn't get out of there fast enough.

"I-yi, boss."

Edward's body instantly stiffened.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Garrett just had to get that one last dig in, knowing how much it bothered my husband when he would use the 'b word' in relation to himself. I was surprised when I saw him smile, while keeping his back turned towards his former assistant. He didn't reprimand him this time. Instead, he continued making his way towards the bedroom door, then left us both behind, still without saying another word.

Silence and tension swiftly engulfed the room once we were alone.

After a few more painful seconds of mind numbing nothingness, I lifted my gaze up from my lap only to find him already watching me. "Hey… you." He whispered, a hidden smirk threatened to expose everything he'd actually wanted to say. I rolled my eyes again and took in a deep breath, then shakingly exhaled, internally pleading with myself that I'd be able to stay calm throughout all of this.

"Hi." I eventually mumbled back.

When I said nothing else, he stood up from where he'd been sitting and made his way around the coffee table to take a seat beside me.

Of course, he'd made it a point to sit himself directly beside me, causing our legs to actually touch. I purposely shifted my body a good couple of inches away from him, and he laughed lightly over my defense-like action. I, in turn, glared at him in response, hoping it would shut him the hell up.

Unfortunately, it didn't.

"Sorry, my lady. Memories. That less than graceful move of yours just now reminded me of how you were back when we'd first met- when we'd first started hanging out together- alone."

"Nothing should have ever changed." I grumbled, crossing my arms further in front of my chest as if they could shield me from him and his words.

He sighed and nodded his head, "I know, you're right, it shouldn't have… but it did." He took another deep breath, exhaled, then bumped me with his shoulder, "It's actually kind of nice hearing you semi-acknowledge that it did."

I turned my head to glare at him, but he was still smirking. "Please stop looking at me like that." He reacted by playfully making his expression go blank, with zero observable emotion now present on his face, then mechanically leaned over again, almost robot-like, to lightly bump my shoulder with his two times.

"Relax, Bella. I promise to behave. Walls are back up, defenses are mounted, the Boundaries Act of B and G is still very-very much intact."

Him reminding me of the playful nickname we'd bestowed upon the budding friendship we'd initially set out to establish had unfortunately sent an impulsive smirk past my lips.

He saw it before I could pull it back in and lock it down.

"Ah, see. It's still there. I can still make you smile… And just like that, life is good again."

I shook my head, this time with an exaggerated roll of my eyes, and began anxiously pulling at my fingertips where I'd folded my hands back together in my lap. "It could have stayed good… forever, you ass… if you'd only kept your mouth shut and your inappropriate private feelings to yourself." I muttered, just loud enough for him to hear.

He released a gentle huff from between his pursed lips and sat himself up straighter beside me, "Again, that wasn't a life I wanted to live anymore. It was tearing me apart, and turning me into someone I didn't want to be. I meant what I said last night. Every word." He paused and narrowed his eyes, looking past me now, staring off into the distance, thinking deeply about something, "Well almost every word."

That last part he'd purposely whispered.

"What- what part wasn't true? Please, oh my god, PLEASE tell me it was the part about being in love with me."

It was a shot in the dark, but one worth suggesting. I was merely throwing him a bone and hoping he'd run with it.

Garrett could still take it all back. We'd both had quite a bit to drink last night, and he'd been ridiculously stoned most of the day. Anything was possible. A do-over didn't have to be out of the question. All he had to do was say he'd suffered some type of psychotic episode and we could squash all of this and attempt to press the reset button.

Unfortunately, deep down, I already knew that wasn't what he was talking about. I also knew I'd be lying to myself if I thought we'd ever be able to forget everything that was said last night.

He slowly turned his head again to look over at me and attempted one of his signature devilish smiles… the one that had raised all kinds of red flags right out of the gate back when he'd first stepped into my life, "I guess it wasn't so much a lie, Bella, as it was something I wish I hadn't said… out loud. Those were memories I wish I'd kept to myself."

My heart rate easily began to accelerate, and my breathing became something I knew I needed to pay close attention to.

He was of course referring to his little rant about his drawings of us, and having me fall asleep with my head in his lap, then seeing me in my underwear with my tiny heart tattoo on full display, "Yup, you turned into quite the fountain of verbal diarrhea at the end of it all, didn't you?"

He laughed, rather coyly, and I felt my defenses begin to shift even more.

"I hope you understand, I had to get him to punch me. He had to get that out of his system, or I wouldn't be here talking with you right now." I was having a hard time believing Garrett could ever be that calculated, or that in tune with my husband, but by the look on his face right now, he was being absolutely straight with me. "I also knew you'd run away. That's actually what mattered the most to me in that moment. I didn't want you to have to stand there and watch it all happen. I had to say something that would make you run. I remembered what you'd told me, when we'd talked about how it had been for you when Jake and Edward would get… physical. I didn't want to put you through that."

"Didn't you say you weren't that diabolical?"

He smirked, and I knew what ever was coming next would more than likely make me want to smack him, "Well, I was actually aiming more towards being a martyr, but… yeah, the sentiment was there."

I wasn't going to let him turn this into a joke, "You're ridiculous. Being able to remain friends with me, that wasn't at all important to you? Why couldn't you just tell me about James and leave out all the other stuff? Why call Edward like that and make him listen to it all?" I finally dared to question, my fists now clinched at my sides again as my emotions began to suddenly get the better of me.

His arm reached up to pull at the back of his neck and he anxiously pushed himself further into the couch beside me. "Don't you see? James… He's what made me stay as long as I did, even after. I couldn't not tell you that part. That was the most important part, Bella! Sure, I'd hoped I could make it work and be happy with just your…your, blinded friendship. That it would be enough, and for a while, it was. James was the one who ultimately decided something needed to change... He's always been the one in control, and if he wasn't going to win it all, then neither was I, he made sure of that. Once Edward got those photos, I was...we were screwed. There was no coming back from that. He knew too much at that point. My only option was to be entirely honest, because after everything, that's what mattered the most to me. There was nothing I could have said, or done to make him believe I wasn't actually in love with you once he saw us… being us."

"There. Was. No. US!" I furiously screamed in his direction, thrashing my fists down at my sides, and jumping up from the sofa to escape his thoroughly unwanted words. "You should have just told me from the beginning about James. That's what a true friend would have done. If you'd just been honest with us, things could have been so different!"

"Why? Because you and Edward would have believed some shady homeless guy you'd literally just met over his long time friend and business partner? Right." Garrett snickered, actually sounding annoyed for once. I watched him close his eyes and anxiously run his hands through his hair again when he'd dramatically dropped his head back behind his shoulders. I felt my own body begin to relax a little when I saw his finally do the same. "I have to say this or it will eventually drive me insane… After that lunch, when I, we- I know you felt that, Bella. The instant connection we had when we were sitting at that table talking together. I tried to ignore it too, but I know you felt it."

He paused and looked me in the face again, but I refused to acknowledge a single word he had just said.

"Dammit, you're so stubborn!"

Still, I said nothing.

"I didn't know it at first, but I had to get to know you- more of you. Once I realized it, though, I knew you would never just willingly allow that to happen, so when James offered me the opportunity… the ability to actually ease my way into your life, I took it. It was selfish. I know that. Honestly, it was never even really about the money. That was just some insane perk to it all. I accept that. I accept all of it. At first, I did it for selfish reasons, but then you became my muse, Bella, my every thought. I craved being around you, I needed it. Once I'd come to my senses... once I'd accepted that we were something that would never be, it was honest to God only about protecting you." He was falling all over himself with his words. I could barely stand to look him in the eyes. "The only thing I can do now is try to make it right. That's all we have left. The, the now… the past doesn't matter when it comes to you and I, but possibly, maybe, someday… maybe we'll be able to figure out a way to orbit again, without actually falling back into an easy side by side drift, daring us to finally collide."

"You just told me that wasn't a life you wanted! Stop contradicting yourself. Can you be ONLY my friend, or NOT?!" I challenged, feeling my anger and frustrations beginning to rise all over again.

"No, Bella. I mean yes, someday I think I can, but what I'm saying now is… fuck… you're really going to make me say all of this again? Can't we just leave it alone and walk away with the good memories deeply hidden without dragging out all the things that have threatened to completely ruin them forever?"

His sudden change in tone, the desperation in his voice, it caused me to turn my entire body around to face him, so I'd be able to really see what he was feeling and understand what he was trying to tell me… without wanting to actually tell me.

The fact that my husband had initiated this talk, that he'd been okay with it- before I myself had even been okay with it… deep down that made me think that possibly- maybe... someday, if it was something I'd decided I'd wanted, and something actually attainable because Garrett would have finally moved on to start a family of his own… someday maybe we could actually try being only friends again, but only if Edward was one hundred percent okay with that.

"He wants us to talk. Edward wants us to get it all out so that when we do leave today-"

Garrett interrupted me without even giving me a second to finish, "Right, so that you two can start fresh, and I'll become nothing more than an uncomfortable thought that might pop back into your head from time to time when things get quiet and you see something or hear something, that will make you remember it all?"

I rolled my eyes, but then gave a slight nod from my head before shrugging my shoulders, "That's not what I was going to say, but if that's the way you want to look at it..."

"Then you do admit you'll still think about me?" He'd said it as a joke, but I knew he was actually being absolutely serious.

"Garrett-"

"Bella? Look, I know it's not going to happen, but I'd love nothing more than to walk away from this room today having heard you admit, out loud, that there was something here between us. Yes, it was barely a spark of something outside of friendship, but that it was starting to ignite and it was starting to spread. More importantly, that you felt it too, so I'll know I wasn't just losing my mind."

The problem I was having, was that I didn't know what it was I'd felt, and that was primarily because I was starting to feel so lost, right at the same time when Garrett had entered my life to find me.

I'd become so focused on anything and everything that would distract me from the discomfort of realizing my existence was slowly turning into something I didn't even recognize anymore... Our entire start had been flawed from the beginning because truthfully, to me, for all I knew, he could have been anyone... just so long as he'd been… someone… and, been there.

"Okay, let me ask you this. What if Edward wasn't here? If things were different? Imagine a world where he doesn't exist,"

"He does exist, I could never imagine a world without him being in it!" I snapped, then started to stand up. He reached out and grabbed my wrist with his hand to keep me seated beside him.

"No! Don't walk away yet. I still have five more minutes."

I let out a huff and turned my head to glare at him again, "He DOES exist, Garrett. Don't ask me to pretend he doesn't. I can't do that. I won't do that." I fiercely repeated, looking him dead in the eyes so he would know I'd meant every word.

"Fine… let's rewind then, back to four years ago, back when you were still with Jake. If I'd walked into your bar one night- If we'd started to talk, and we'd started to hang out way back then- if we'd experienced each other the same way we did these last six months, but four years ago instead. Would you still be denying us this? Would you still be ignoring what we'd ultimately found in each other?"

My head was spinning, "Why? Why does it matter? That's not our reality! So WHY does it matter!?"

His shoulders shrugged in response and his hands anxiously pulled at his hair while he attempted to find his next words, "Call it an ego boost."

He was lying through his teeth. I could see it all over his bruised face.

"Fine, Bella, because he wants me to try to kiss you right now, and I want you to let it happen without holding back."

My knees almost buckled beneath me. "WHO? WHAT?!"

"Edward. He told me, well, he didn't actually tell me… he hinted that it would be your one hall pass… if it happened, for closure. Purposeful closure, as he'd put it. If you'd open yourself up to it, in order to move on, he wouldn't hold it against us."

Before he'd even finished his sentence, my feet were stomping their way towards the bedroom. I busted through the door without knocking and found Edward, not on the phone.

No, he was instead laying on the bed with his arm draped over his eyes like a goddamned dead corpse waiting to be buried at his funeral. He had something coming if Garrett was actually telling the truth… possibly, even his own actual funeral at this point.

"What the HELL did you say to him?! A hall pass?! Are you fucking kidding me?!" I was beyond livid. The fact that he'd said that to him, while saying nothing at all to me about his sick and twisted scheme… That he would set me up like that without any type of warning…

But, why would you need a warning?

Do you want to kiss him?

NO!

No. I. DO. Not!

Edward didn't sit up.

He remained there, lying on his back, with his head resting over the pillow at the top of the bed. When he did finally become mobile again, he simply removed his arm from across his face and rested it over his stomach with his opened eyes now set on the ceiling positioned above him.

Was he counting the small squares too? Looking for his own distractions from this bullshit?

Shut up woman! Focus!

My head was spinning in ways it had never even experienced before. I felt as though I were back to living some sick and twisted nightmare that resembled only fragments of me and the actual real life I shared with this man.

"I guess she turned you down, Lanali."

"Edward Masen Cullen! Sit your ass up right now! Have you lost your ever loving mind? Of course I'd turn him down!"

"Well, to be fair, she didn't let me finish." Garrett suddenly spoke up. I turned to glare at him, with my nostrils flaring after realizing he'd followed me into the bedroom. My hands gave him a forceful shove from my extended arms, successfully sending him backwards with three exaggerated steps into the wall behind him.

"It wasn't just about the stupid kiss, Bella. There's more to it. Come sit down and just listen to me." Edward cleared from across the room. I followed his request without even fully processing what he'd just said. That's when I realized I'd set myself back onto autopilot. I couldn't handle actually reacting right now. No, that would have been an impossible act because Edward, at the very least, would have a bloody lip at this point, and I could never actually bring myself to hit him, no matter how much he deserved it.

"If we're going to take James down, I want to do it across the board; personally, financially, and professionally. In order to do that, though, I need him to believe Garrett succeeded. I wanted to give you two your chance- just incase… just incase it needed to be- real for one single moment, and not scripted. That way you'd both be able to truly realize it was never actually real to begin with. Hopefully then, what would happen next… only if you agreed of course, it wouldn't be so difficult for us- when it came time to play a role and pretend."

My eyes searched his almost frantically. Looking for some kind of laughter, or a smile that would signal this was all actually some sick and irredeemably twisted prank.

I found nothing but heartache and honesty as he stared back at me.

"And that means what exactly?" I brashly questioned, "You and I pretending to separate, and him and I pretending to play house for a few weeks with the kids? You just told me we're going back to the city together! What the hell are you even talking about right now?!" I scoffed, not at all ready to believe that could actually be what he was truly insinuating.

"No," He paused, "Not exactly."

My jaw dropped.

Disbelief had clearly taken over my face, as well as every party of my remaining turbulent existence.

I pinched my forearm as hard as I could, but nothing changed.

A/N: Okay, don't pick up your pitchforks just yet. There's a method to the madness here. Please trust, and stick it out.

Thoughts on Garrett's proof and then his last attempt to pull Bella over to the… dark-artist side? Selfish, or much needed?

Has Edward lost his mind? How far will his plan actually go and will it actually help bring closure?

(Let's also keep in mind, he hasn't been reacting very sensibly, as of late, when proof of possible deception is presented to him, and James has seriously messed with his head.)

I'd love to hear from you!

*Reviews Make Me Smile*

As thanks for making me smile, I'll pay it forward with an outtake from EPOV of his talk with Garrett at the beginning of the chapter, before Bella came into the room.