CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
"Emily speaking."
"Emily." I sang into the phone. "Bet you thought I'd never get back to you."
"Bella?" she paused. "Heeeyyyyy." She sounded funny but maybe that's because I caused her horrible headaches with having to cancel the wedding that she spent months preparing.
"Uh…how are you?" she asked cautiously.
"Good. I'm doing pretty good. So, I'm calling you because I want to get back to this whole wedding thing. I've been thinking maybe we should try for the end of the month. Edward and I are leaving to go to Italy and do you think it's even possible to put this thing together before we go."
"Well…well…uh…I can sure try. I will need to call a few people but I'm sure we can work something out. Is…this what Edward wants?"
"I think at this point Edward would marry a mop made to look like me just as long as we don't dwindle down his guest list." I waved off.
"I'm…going to marry a mop?" Edward said from behind me and I dropped the phone in surprise.
I scrambled to pick it up, trying to see what Edward's expression was.
"Uhh…I'm going to have to call you back but go ahead and start contacting vendors. Thank you, Emily."
I hung up with her.
"I just thought…maybe we could throw this whole wedding together and run up to Santa Barbara before we go on this vacation." I tried to explain.
"Bella, we don't need to throw this thing together. What's the rush? We can wait."
"But, I'm ready. All systems go. We should probably hop to it…don't you think?" I asked.
"No. We have time. Why don't you call Emily back and tell her sometime in May will be perfect?"
"May?" I gasped. "That's like forever and a day."
Edward came up and pulled me to him, "No sweetheart May is only a couple of months away. I will love you forever and a day."
He leaned down and kissed my pouted cheek, gave me one last squeeze and left me.
May!
I scowled.
Maybe he was just doing this to get back at me for "punishing" him.
My mom came over to the house for Sunday dinner and I could tell that some things weren't right with her. She seemed overjoyed to see Savannah and Gracie. All though dinner she was happy but right before she was going to leave for the night; she suddenly became somber.
Edward sensing that I needed a minute alone with my mom left us to talk in the sitting room.
"Well, I have just been trying to decide if maybe I should even retire anymore. With your father gone, I really have no reason to do so."
"I'm sorry mom. Are you sure about that? I mean you deserve some time to relax; you've worked for thirty years. You should enjoy the freedom."
"Bella, I don't like sitting at home by myself. That's all I do on the weekends and I hate it. I have tried to throw myself into different organizations but…."
My mom looked depressed. Usually she was full of energy and life. I suddenly realized that I wasn't the only one to have lost someone. I can't imagine what I would do if I ever lost Edward.
"Well, you're going to come with us to Italy, right? I mean the girls would love it; we all would." I tried to encourage.
"Oh, yes. I can't wait. I'm taking a week off in addition to my spring break week. I'm really excited. I have my passport ready and everything."
"That's great. I can't wait to show you Italy. It is truly one of most amazing places in the world."
"Well, I probably should be off. I need to get up for school in the morning." She immediately looked sad once again.
"It's only a couple of weeks away and then we are going to have a grand time in Italy. I promise."
"I know Bella. It most certainly will be." She smiled one last time and walked out the door.
I sat in bed waiting for Edward to begin our nightly conversations and well my nightly back massage. The moment I saw him walk in I laid down on my stomach and Edward indulged me starting work on my upper back.
"Baby, you're so tense." He commented.
Gee I wonder why. Could it be that you no longer seem as interested in this wedding? Or maybe it was my mom and her somber disposition? I decided to go with my mom for the moment.
"I'm really worried about my mom. She just seemed so off tonight. Maybe if she moves out of that house she won't have to contend with memories anymore. Although if she really does decide to not retire then I'm sure she will need to stay in that house."
"Why does your mom not want to retire anymore?" he asked working out the large knot in my neck.
"Says she doesn't like staying in that house with nothing to do. I think she's really lonely. I tried to put myself in her place and…" I broke off not even wanting to finish that thought.
Edward stopped and laid down next to me.
"Not going to happen for a really, really long time, Bella." He whispered.
"Promise?"
"I will do my very best." He vowed.
"We're not even married and who knows if we ever will be but I can't stand the idea of losing you." I said serious.
"I know, baby. And I, you. We will be married." He pulled me to him and wrapped his arms around me. "I promise."
With all these things on my plate; I actually liked the time I spent in the studio with Brianne the next week. The overall feel of her music was so far off from my problems that it was nice to focus on someone else's problems for the moment.
"So after looking over your notebooks I think it's safe to say that we are in serious need of a girl power kick ass song." I said thumbing through her notes.
"Bella, please don't make me do some girly pop song. I am so tired of that. I want to show people that I can do more than just the…" she was having a hard time thinking of the right word.
"Bubble gum songs." I replied.
She furrowed her brown not understanding what I meant.
"Bubble gum songs. Sweet with no substance. I completely agree. I respect the need for a good old bubble gum pop song but I would never do that to you. Warner Music Group wants to show you off and we are not going to get that accomplished if we put you back in your box that Capitol made for you. You need something different. I want a strong song. Every great artist has one song that really defines them and I want this for you."
I walked over to the piano and sat down.
Brianne got up and walked over and sat down in one of the chairs.
"Who's guitar?" she asked eyeing my gift from the boys.
"Oh Liberty Project gave that to me but I haven't had the chance to learn yet. Do you play?"
"Yes, but Capitol didn't want me playing in any of my songs. They said it would make me seem folkie and that wasn't what my image needed."
"Wow, I think if WMG ever tried to tell me anything like that; they would find a shoe in their ass. All right let's get started." I pushed record on the tape recorder I had. It was common practice for you to record your work since sometimes you could forget what you wrote before you had a chance to write it down.
"I want to work on some lyrics before we even begin with the music. I find it's usually easier to find the song while I am finding the lyrics. I like this part in your note pad that says I'm worth more than you know. Try and get into the mindset of this take charge strong woman. What would you say to those label exec's if they were here right now."
Brianne closed her eyes and thought for a moment.
"Don't push it into a lyric just tell me what you feel?" I said.
"They were always pushing me. Pushing me to do more. It felt like they didn't respect me. Why should I respect them?"
"Okay, great." I started thinking aloud, "you pushed and pushed me…no."
"Show me some damn respect." Brianne sang a little trying to find the right verse.
"You're better than they are." I added.
"Don't expect me to show you any damn respect." Brianne spit
"Ooo I like that." I replied. "Especially that attitude."
"Don't expect me to show you any damn respect…you pushed and pushed me, I'm worth more than that." I sang.
"I love it. Let's keep going." Brianne praised.
Over the next couple of days we finished her first song for WMG. It was your average stick it to my former label kick ass song. The funny thing was that if you hadn't known of Brianne and her label troubles you would have thought she was writing a break up song which was good since more people can identify with break ups more than label problems. After that one we worked on something a little more somber as I wanted to really showcase the range she had.
By the end of the week I was able to send her off to WMG's execs with the two songs and I have to say that I was pretty damn proud of myself. Working with Brianne was a dream. This girl was everything I respected in an artist. She was hard-working, open-minded and incredibly talented which was completely opposite to the next artist that was towed to my studio door step just one week after my work with Brianne ended.
I was sitting at my desk trying to envision this wedding day that seemed on hiatus for the time being.
"What has you in so much thought?" Edward walked into my office and plopped down on one of my couches. I got up and went to plop right beside him.
"So…I know you said May but…" I sighed. "Emily said the place was all booked between now and Italy. I guess you win again. I don't even get that. I mean not even a Monday or a Tuesday are available. Something seems not right about this."
"Bella, come on. I told you we can wait. Don't push this."
"What is the matter with you? A few months ago I had to practically harness you to the ground you were so ready to run down that wedding aisle and now, nothing. Makes me think you're rethinking things…"
"Stop it." Edward looked upset. "Bella, I just want everything to be perfect. Stop feeding all these notions that are completely incorrect. Why don't you focus on something else for a little while? Plan some things you want to do while we are Italy. Or you can even get on my case for going out with Jacob and Emmett to lunch yesterday and I failed to inform you thus breaking my parole."
I sighed, "A parole violation; I'm like the worst at this whole punishing thing."
"Well, I forgot and I feel bad so go ahead and reprimand me." Edward suggested.
"I don't know, ten hail Mary's and a our father?"
"We're not Catholic and you are certainly not a priest." He rolled his eyes.
"I don't have the patience to keep up on your infractions which just shows you that I am the more loveable one out of the two of us. You always keep score while I'm more of the just play to have fun kinda gal."
"I have no idea what you're even saying anymore." Edward suddenly started to advance on me. He slowly climbed over to me and started to kiss and nip at my neck. "Come on Bella, punish me. I have to say there is something incredibly sexy about dom Bell."
I pulled back, "What the hell?"
"Want to take this couch for a test run?" he smiled that million dollar smile and gave me his best bedroom eyes.
"Uhh…." Keep strong, Bella. Resist.
"Knock, knock." Two quick knocks was all it take for us to pull away from each other like two horny teenagers being caught by their parents.
"Seth." Edward and I stood up and straightened out my clothes. "What are you doing here?"
"Is this a bad time?" he smirked looking between us.
"Yes it is. Good bye." Edward started to close the door on him.
"Edward." I scolded.
Edward huffed and reopened the door. "Cock block." He mumbled passing Seth on his way out.
"Sorry about interrupting." Seth's face was red.
"Don't mind Edward, he cock blocks himself." I waved off.
"Sooo…I wanted to come by and first extend an apology. I, er...WMG may have been a tad pushy last week and well we of course loved the work you did with Brianne and promise that in the future we will take a back seat and let the genius work her magic."
"Seth, why am I hearing a big sucking noise?"
Seth furrowed his brow.
"Just messing with you. Take a pill." I laughed. I walked back over and sat behind my desk. My spidey sense was tingling and I had a feeling there was a reason for the in person visit.
Seth tried to laugh a little but suddenly looked nervous again.
"All right. Lay it on me. I know there must be a reason for your visit."
"Well, as you know; we were all very happy…"
"We're here." Stefan sang interrupting us.
Stefan walked in with a very bored looking woman. I knew immediately who she was and suddenly I felt uneasy.
Stefan had brought former teen pop icon Tanya Denali. The very same Tanya Denali who used to date my former colleague Michael Newton. The very same Tanya Denali who had her fair share of stays at various rehab facilities.
Now don't get me wrong; I am well aware of some of the downsides to Hollywood and the association of rehab and entertainment, having experienced them first hand with Embry. Tanya was too famous too young. She had been working probably since she was fifteen and she was one of those artists who over the years did less and less but somehow would get paid more and more. She would show up to a studio have her tracks auto tuned, move around a little in her music videos so people could recognize that she was still hot and sit back collecting her millions.
I will say here and now that my relationship with Tanya…well I at least tried to be positive in the beginning.
"Bella, we would like to introduce you to Tanya Denali." Stefan announced.
"Pleasure to meet you." I said.
Tanya looked up from her phone for exactly two seconds to acknowledge my presence; snapping her gum before she looked back down to her Blackberry.
Stefan cleared his throat a little before continuing. "As you know; Tanya has had an impressive recovery and now is ready to get back to work. We really need to get back out there with something strong so seeing how great you did this past week; we thought who better than leaving Tanya in the capable hands of one of our most capable artists."
Tanya flopped down on my couch probably bored from all this banter over her career.
"Okay, uh…well Tanya…what is inspiring you. What direction do you see your next album going?" I asked.
"I don't know." She shrugged seeming irritated.
"There isn't anything you have felt compelled to write about?" It was like pulling teeth trying to get her to engage.
"Isn't that your job?" she replied snotty.
Okay so my patience wasn't what it used to be. Positivity out the window.
I didn't answer Tanya. I merely looked over to Stefan and Seth and gave them that look of why are you wasting my time.
"Take her somewhere else. I can't help her." I picked up my folder and started flipping through the pages mindlessly.
"Come on Bella, Tanya is going to work really hard. Maybe it would be best for you to write something for her." Stefan replied.
"That's not what I do. I only work with people who want my help. I'm not about to bust my ass for some brat. Thank you, gentleman." I finished up sweetly.
"Did she just call me a brat?" Tanya shrieked.
Well at least that woke her up.
I sat there looking at her and shrugged my shoulders. "Shoe fits."
Stefan and Seth immediately sprang into action. There was quite a commotion as Stefan tried to calm Tanya and Seth tried to reprimand me. Notice I said tried.
"Bella." He sighed.
"Tanya, let's just take a breath." Stefan consoled.
"Who does she think she is? Do you even know what I could do to you?" Tanya threatened.
I had enough. I stood up from my desk.
"Really? What could you do to me? You're a washed up teen icon who spends more time finding different ways to be scandalous in the media because it's less work then putting your energy into your career. You barely sing on your albums allowing auto tune to do your work. You lack innovation. You obviously lack common sense and a decent work ethic. Please tell me how you're so much better than I am because I have a feeling if we were to actually poll people on yours and my career, you would be in for a rude awakening."
Tanya looked like she wanted to fly across my desk and rip my eyes out.
"My career? My career spans over ten years. I have fans who adore me. What about your career? You would be nothing if not for Edward Cullen. Nobody even knew who you were until he pulled you up from whatever gutter he found you in. I am the queen of pop. Who are you but some sniveling bitch who's only claim to fame was going on the Grammys and crying over your dead father."
Stefan and Seth looked like they were driving past a car wreck, unable to do much but still horrified by the images of the mangled cars.
"First off; I'm pretty sure that Veonna is the queen of pop. She had platinum albums before you could even walk. So show some damn respect. Second of all I will not deny that Edward was a huge help in my career success but it's what I did with that help that sets me apart. I'm not going to sit here and try to outbitch you. You think that so adored then how bout a wager?"
I'm not even sure where that came from. I guess I was trying to focus on not killing her for talking about my dad. But suddenly the wheels in my head began turning and I couldn't help stoke the coal.
"Wager? What wager?" she snapped.
"You and me. We will go to a random nightclub two months from today. We will both perform one song each. You may choose to perform a completely new song or one of your classics but you must sing not lip sync. I will write a completely new song that has never been heard before. At the end if the audience chooses you over me then I will write three songs for you to use on your next album and if you don't want me to write for you then I will pay for an artist of your choosing to write three songs for you. However, if I win the audience's favor I will help you write one song; I said help not do for you. Also you will be respectful to me and anyone else you may come into contact with while I help you. I have a very low tolerance for arrogant assholes. So what do you say? Think you still have the following that will help you win?"
Tanya smirked. "I'll show you my fan following."
"Do we have a deal?"
"Name the time and place. I'll be there. But one more thing. If I win I want you to admit publicly to the audience that I am a far better artist then you."
Well at least she seemed dedicated to this.
"I look forward to it."
At the time; I didn't look forward to it because it meant I would be spending some of my time in Italy writing one hell of a kick ass song. I wasn't sure who was going to win. Tanya did have a rather loyal fan base even if her work had become sub par the past couple of years. If I was going to win; it would be because I wrote a better song then whatever classic of hers she chose. I knew Tanya would go with one of her top ten; she would be idiot not to. I was however banking on the fact that she would need to sing and not lip sync. Since using drugs and alcohol; Tanya's range wasn't what it used to be which was why she was the perfect candidate for auto tune.
The weeks after passed quickly and suddenly we were all leaving for Italy. It was going to be our whole household and my mom plus Rosalie and Emmett and Jasper and Alice. Just like old times.
In fact it was definitely like old times when Emmett arrived on the plane and announced, "Where's my peanuts?" just like he had done just a little over a year ago when we were getting ready to take off to Italy the first time.
Even though we had great sleeping arrangements in the plane, the flight really took it out of Savannah and Gracie. Embry had to carry Savannah upstairs to my old room and Jacob carried Gracie. I was rather exhausted when we arrived even though it was only five pm. Edward was doing everything in his power to keep me awake since he knew how hard it would be for me to acclimate to the time change if I went to bed now.
"Come on. Just you and me." Edward tempted.
He had been asking to go out for a couple of hours on the town. I think he was just gitty at the fact that this would be the first time where we could go and be seen as a couple in Italy.
"I'm tired. We will be here for a couple of weeks. I'm sure we will fit in quite a bit of town during that time."
"Please fiancé. I planned a really romantic dinner at the castle." He pushed.
"Great, that just means I have to get all gussied up." I pouted.
I was just on an eleven hour flight and an hour-long car ride the last thing I wanted to do was to be gussied.
"You can just throw on a dress. I'll pick one out for you." Edward walked over to my suitcases and started to rifle through them. "Here" He said pulling out a dress.
"Edward, that's not fancy enough for a romantic dinner at the castle."
"It doesn't have to be that fancy. I'm just wearing this." He was wearing slacks and a button up.
"Fine. But if I fall asleep in the soup; it will be your fault." I grabbed the dress and went off to the bathroom to apply a tad bit gussy.
Edward drove us up to the castle and I always did love seeing the view there overlooking that great lake. We parked at the lot and started to walk toward the doors.
"Doesn't look like anyone's around. Maybe it's all closed up for the day." I remarked.
"It is but I have some connections." Edward smiled and took a hold of my hand.
We walked through the stone corridors and Edward pulled me along to visit some of the great rooms.
"God, aren't these rooms just gorgeous?" I gasped seeing the grand tapestries which lined the walls and frescos on the ceilings. Everything was just breathtaking.
"Do you think we should be in here?" I asked Edward. So far we hadn't seen a soul and it was starting to feel like we were trespassing.
"Don't worry about it. I have dinner set up in one of these rooms around here." Edward looked around like he was lost. "Let's keep going."
We walked out into the center courtyard.
"Oh Edward, this place just get's better and better. I love this."
"Really. I'm glad. Bella there's something I have to tell you and I really hope you don't kill me." Edward suddenly looked very serious and it scared me. Was he bringing me here to tell me something horrible and was trying to butter me up?
"I booked this castle. One week from today…I booked it for our wedding."
My heart dropped to my stomach and I started to gaze around in amazement.
"Uh…what? But…I…what?" I was having a bit of trouble translating at the moment.
"Please don't be mad. Say yes. You said you wished we could marry in Italy and I want you to be happy; I just want to marry you. Say yes." Edward was practically shaking as he awaited my answer.
"Yes. I mean…it's kinda crazy but yes." I started to cry and laugh all at the same time and Edward picked me up with a great smile on his face and gave me the best kiss he had ever given me.
"Oh my god. I mean you're sure? This is what you want." I asked making sure one last time.
"Are you kidding me? This is a dream come true, my love."
"I…there's so much to do…I…I don't know where to start." I was suddenly flooded with just how much there was to do.
"Don't worry baby, I have been working on this for weeks. Trust me there is not that much to do. However dinner tonight it going to be a wide selection because my beautiful Isabella, we are going to have our food tasting tonight."
"We are? Oh wow." Suddenly I wasn't tired anymore. I was energized. Edward took my hand and off we went for our official tasting.
AN: THANK YOU FOR READING AND REVIEWING! THIS STORY HAS 400 FOLLOWERS AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU!