A/N: Still more than 2 weeks left to write for the Red-Eyed-Edward Contest! We love us some blood-thirsty vampires! Deadline is 10/24. If you've been thinking about entering the contest, or just want to stretch your writing muscles, give it a try! I occasionally Beta, so if you need one, let me know. :)

Thanks for reading!

Bella had imagined meeting him again a thousand different ways since she had fled Chicago. Even so, turning around and seeing Edward here now, breathing her air, standing in the same room, it was surreal and terrifying.

Eight days. It had felt more like eight years. She saw his eyes every time she shut her own. She felt his touch like the ghost of a memory in the shower, as she walked down the sidewalk, as she lay broken and needing him in her bed every single night. She could still smell and taste him, like the essence of him was branded on every sense, every nerve in her body.

When her eyes met his, those nerves screamed out in longing. His eyes widened, first with surprise, then a barrage of conflicting emotions. Excitement. Fear. Desire. Horror. Hunger. Outrage. Then an impenetrable mask of cold indifference slipped over his features.

Bella inhaled shakily and turned back to face the table. Esme's expression had shifted from surprise to concern. Bella's hand shook as she grabbed her glass and drained it. She sucked in a deep breath and forced a smile onto her face. "I have to assume that my new coworker has arrived ahead of schedule."

"Yes. Let's find out why, shall we? I've been dying to introduce you. Edward! Stop dragging your feet. Come and meet Bella."

Bella set her glass down and swallowed hard. A tall figure filled her peripheral vision. She looked up at the man of her dreams, the source of her nightmares, and her lips trembled. "Edward. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I trust you had a safe flight?" She took care to maintain a neutral, civil tone, just like she had in her email introduction.

One eyebrow arched up, and he smirked, but the expression was completely devoid of humor. "A pleasure. Of course. Emmett speaks very highly of you. It seems he's taken quite a leap of faith putting someone of your age and experience in his seat. But desperate times. . . well, you know. Emmett has always been a bit of a risk taker. This should be entertaining, at the very least."

His obvious antipathy hurt even more than she expected it to. Bella's eyes darted to her friend's face. Esme looked shocked and confused. She met Bella's gaze with an apologetic look. "So much for first impressions. Honestly, he's not usually such an ass."

"Really, Mom?"

"Well. . ."

"Huh," Edward grunted, darkly. He sat next to his mom and kissed her on the cheek. "Sorry I dropped in on you unannounced like this. When you said you were having lunch with a friend, I'm afraid I assumed you meant someone you had known for more than a few days."

"Darling, haven't I managed to teach you anything at all? You don't have to know a person more than five minutes to realize they are a kindred spirit. I fell in love with your dad in a lot less than five minutes. But forget that. I thought I had at least taught you to be a gentleman."

"Ha. Hardly. Dad taught me to be a gentleman. You taught me how to cheat at whist."

"Poh-tay-toh, poh-tah-toh. Eh! Cut it out!," she swatted his hand when he reached for a piece of bread. "Order your own food. And stop acting like a heathen. You're embarrassing yourself."

Bemused and still feeling blindsided, Bella watched the mother and son interacting. God, she missed her mom. And, even though she tried, she couldn't reconcile the animosity Edward directed at her with the playful, irreverent banter he shared with Esme. Yet again, she was forced to acknowledge that she barely knew the man. There were layers to his personality. So much goodness, but also moments of intense pain, anger and fear. There was a lot more to Edward Masen that what he had chosen to share with her. She had only gotten glimpses, really. Flickering shadows of the darkness that he hid from those closest to him.

Edward looked up, and their eyes locked. She saw something that gave her hope. A tiny hint of tenderness and regret before the doors slammed shut again. He reached out again, ignoring Esme's scolding, and snagged a slice of bread. He took a bite, chewing as he watched her speculatively.

"What?" Bella asked, uncomfortable with his scrutiny.

"You look different than I expected."

"What did you expect? Or rather, what do you see?"

"I expected to meet a young woman who realizes that she just stepped into shoes about five sizes too big. Because, let's face it, a few years in this game can't hold a candle to two or three generations. I expected to see someone a little shell shocked. Overwhelmed. Out of her depth. Maybe even a little bit emotional."

He took another bite and leaned back in the seat. Esme looked like she was about to say something, but Edward started talking again immediately, so she bit her tongue and darted an apologetic glance at Bella. She pulled out her phone and started typing out a message, scowling and shaking her head as Edward carried on.

"This is what confuses me. I find myself sitting across from a woman who, to all outward appearances, is on top of her game. Smart. Gorgeous. Polished. Goal oriented. I see a woman with a tough-as-nails game face, and I have to wonder, what's real and what is for show? Because, any normal person in your position would be showing a little more emotion and vulnerability." His eyes were piercing. He chewed and swallowed, waiting for her to reply.

Esme spoke up before Bella could respond, setting her phone down with a thud. "That's enough, Edward. You are being a complete jerk. Now that you've managed to insult my friend, your best friend's most trusted employee and your future coworker, you can apologize and call your dad. I'm sure he'll have some choice words for you."

Less than two seconds later, Edward's phone started ringing and he pulled it out of his jacket pocket. "Tag-teaming your son. Awesome. Thanks, Mom," he glowered, stood up and answered his phone.

Bella watched his back as he walked away. She was afraid to look at Esme and see the disappointment or accusations there. Unable to put it off any longer, she met the older woman's gaze.

"I'm not blind. I wasn't born yesterday, or even last decade. I don't know what's going on between you and my son, but you're both hurting. Be kind to him. More importantly, be kind to yourself. Do those two things, and you'll be surprised how quickly a hopeless situation can resolve itself."

"I'm sorry, Esme. I didn't know how to tell you. . ." Bella sighed, shaking her head.

"Words, Isabella. They aren't always the most precise tools, but they get the job done. Now, how do you feel about dessert. The table behind you just ordered the Creme Brulee, and it looks delicious. No? Too much?"

"I don't have a very big appetite right now," Bella confessed, shaking her head.

"Yes, well, a soldier eats and sleeps when he can. You can learn a lot from soldiers," she said, not unkindly. "I'm having a bowl of gelato."

Feeling like she had just been offered forgiveness, or maybe a blessing, Bella nodded her acquiescence. She poked her last shrimp with her fork and raised it to her lips. As her mouth closed around the tines, she looked up. Across the room, leaning against the far wall with his phone against his ear, Edward was watching her with haunted, hurting eyes.

He looked different than she expected, too. In one week he had gone from vibrant and strong to exhausted and gaunt. He had deep, dark circles beneath his eyes and, although he was clean shaven and dressed in a nice suit, there was something very scattered and lackluster about his image. It broke Bella's heart a little more to see him like that. And, if she was being completely honest with herself, it terrified her to realize that she would be working alongside somebody who bore her so much anger and resentment. She was going to need every ounce of positive reinforcement she could get.

She looked down, redirecting her attention to the dessert menu. "You're right, Esme. The raspberry gelato looks delicious."

"I usually am," Esme winked.

Gosh, I just love Esme. And I kind of want to slap my main characters and steal their desserts. If you're ever in Seattle, the Palamino has the BEST food. Breakfast, lunch and dinner, it's all phenomenal.