Chapter 38

TNMC

I know this isn't the chapter you were expecting but I need to stand up for Jasper he's getting such a hard time.

Alice's POV

"Please Jasper baby, it won't take long," I tried my best pout, hoping it would come across on the phone.

"Oh that really is the way to get me going Alice," he said drily, "telling me I won't take long isn't helping."

"But baby the thermometer says I'm ovulating now," the sexy gave way to a little whiny. "I need you to do the business and fertilise me." He must be able to pick up on my frustration. I knew my window of ovulation was imminent. I needed him here in the next hour or so when I was at my most fertile.

"You know you're ready to burst Jasper," I lowered my voice, "how are your blue balls? Can't you feel all those little swimmers waiting to burst out and escape, they want to come find my warm, dark secret place that you love so much." I was teasing him, deliberately talking crassly, but getting him out from behind his desk and home from work was getting harder every month. We had been trying to start a family for months and I was seriously fed up with the negative signs that kept appearing on the sticks. What I would give to see those two little blue lines.

"Alice, really!" He chastised my gently. "Did you just hear yourself? I want to make love to you all night and you just want me to rush home and impregnate you in my lunch break." He was only half joking. I felt ashamed for a moment then took a deep breath and tried to refocus on our joint goal.

"For us to get pregnant," I told him, gently, "you have to fertilise my egg with your sperm. Now, please, for fuck's sake get your ass over here to spa now and do the business."

"Alice I'm with your brother and your father, there is something happening here and I'm needed"

"I don't give a fuck if you are having tea with the Queen of England, get your ass here now"

With that I cut him off. I loved my husband but sometimes I wondered just how he would cope in the real world. Jasper is one of those men who could probably solve world hunger if he put his mind to it, but actually managing to walk and talk at the same time usually caused him problems. I could understand why my brother wanted him as his consigliore. Jasper was an excellent lawyer and strategist, he could see every available outcome to a problem and was ready for whatever was thrown at him. His one failing with operating in my brother's world was that Jasper just wasn't ruthless enough.

This showed in every aspect of his day to day life. He would never turn anyone away from his office even though he never advertised for clients. Hs work for Edward kept him busy enough on both sides of the law, but lately word seemed to have got out he would take on a pro bono case if you had a decent sob story. So much so I actually came home a week or so ago to find a young mum and her kids in our home. He'd offered her a bed for the night while he tried to fight the landlord who had thrown her out. Don't get me wrong, I love him dearly and my heart nearly burst out of my chest with emotion when I realised what he had done but sometimes I think that my family maybe isn't good for him.

I looked at the appointment book for the day. The Spa was busy but I had a relatively quiet day. The books were up to date and all the employees had their lists for the day. We had a few late appointments if there were any walk- ins but I doubted there would be any. I needed a distraction. Work was spotless, hopefully Jasper would come but it depended if Edward needed him.

My soft hearted husband was still coming to terms with the screaming attack Edward had unleashed on him for letting Tanya into his office. That had been one hell of meeting. Luckily I'd been at Jaspers office when Edward had burst in, gun drawn, threatening Jasper with all sorts of horrendous punishments. I'm still not sure that Jasper is aware of how close he came to dying that day. It was the sight of me that stopped Edward from pulling the trigger. Had I not been there I'm not sure just how far Edward would have gone. He's my brother but sometimes when he's in full boss mode I'm not sure that I know him at all.

Luckily Seth and I had managed to calm the situation down and once Edward was actually listening Jasper managed to explain that Tanya had already been at the club when we got there. He had picked up the divorce papers from his contact at the court only to find they were already signed by Tanya. Neither of us knew she was even back in the country so Jasper had spent the next couple of hours on the phone trying to work out not only how Tanya had been able to sign them but also who had told her they were ready for signing. As the hours passed he finally managed to find the court official who had handed the papers to Tanya and witnessed her signature. With a little gentle persuasion the clerk admitted that Edward Denali had paid him to let him know when the papers were ready and to delay getting them to Jasper so he could get his daughter to sign them. My poor Jasper sat for the rest of the night trying to decide what Ed Snr was playing at.

All that became apparent when we finally made it to Edward's club later that night. Jasper couldn't do what he needed to do with the papers until after midnight and Edward was usually busy in the evenings so we went for dinner and swung by the club on our way home. Jasper did try to get hold of my brother but he didn't pick up for some reason. So imagine our surprise when we walked into the main reception and there was the soon to be ex Mrs Cullen screeching at the door man to let here in.

I'll give Arthur his due, he wasn't taking any shit from her, he simply kept informing her that Mr Cullen had removed her from the entry list and as she wasn't a member of the club she couldn't come in. I couldn't help myself. I laughed out loud. The more she tried the 'do you know who I am' and 'My husband owns this fucking club, you have to let me in' tact the louder my laughter got. I was provoking her but I really didn't care by that point.

"What the fuck are you laughing at?" Tanya screamed. "You fucking bitch!" she added as she realised her predicament was becoming public. All I could think about was if I could lift her hissy fit from the computer system and post it on the internet, this shit would go viral in minutes.

"Oh Tanya dear, I'm laughing at you like I normally do," I purred, "It's good to see you still don't disappoint as a constant source of amusement." I know it was bitchy but really! Who the fuck did she think she was?

"Now now ladies enough," said Jasper smoothly as he surreptitiously tried to insert himself between us. I hadn't realised but somehow Tanya and I were stood face to boobs as she was several inches taller than me and had heels on. I may not be able to head butt her but I could certainly do damage to those inflated silicone bags that Edward didn't even realised he'd paid for.

"Tanya I'm surprised to see you here," Jasper's voice was carefully bland. "I thought until a few hours ago you were still on your cruise?" As ever my husband was the calming influence.

"Daddy contacted us on the ship last week," she replied smugly, "he told us to come home so momma and I got off at the next port and flew home. As you probably know by now he had me go straight to the court house and sign the papers, but then he rang me earlier tonight and told me Edward wanted to see me tonight to discuss our divorce." She threw up her hands as if this was an inconvenience. "So here I am!" I tried to read her face it was its usual blank canvas. I would have blamed it on the botox but she always been somewhat inscrutable. She was either a very good liar or she was doing as she was told, either of those options were possible.

"Let's get upstairs out of the way of the staff and patrons," said Jasper as he started to herd us towards the internal door.

"I'm sorry Mr Whitlock, I really can't allow Mrs Cullen in," said Arthur. "Mr Cullen has left specific instructions that she is not to be allowed in."

"I'll take full responsibility," he told Arthur, putting a reassuring hand on the man's shoulder. A weak smile split Arthur's face. "Don't worry," he continued. "She can stay with us, we'll make sure she doesn't get into any mischief." Jasper was already pressing the keys on the keypad so he could override the door staff, the door swung open and Tanya barged through the door with Jasper quickly following behind her.

"I'm sorry Arthur," I grimaced. I wasn't sure that Jasper understood what he had just done. "Don't worry, I'll sort it out with my brother." Arthur smiled weakly and nodded. As we sat waiting for Edward to show up it was obvious Tanya had no idea why she was there, as far as she was concerned her Daddy had told her to be at the club, so she was.

"So Tanya, what are your plans now you are a divorced woman?" I asked as she tried to get comfortable on the sofa in Edward's office.

"Oh I don't know yet," she said sweetly, an undertone of vinegar in her voice, "I suppose when I find a nice penthouse somewhere, Daddy will buy it for me seeing as Edward has left me practically destitute."

I wanted to do a serious amount of damage to her smug face. She was sat there wearing designer clothes, Tiffany Jewellery and carrying a bag that would pay several months rent on a small family home, claiming to be destitute.

"Destitute, you have had a settlement have you not?"I had no idea what the terms of the divorce were but I'm guessing she got very little seeing as she was unfaithful.

"You can hardly call it a settlement," I felt that her annoyance wasn't feigned, she just couldn't mask her distaste. "It's an insult but Daddy has told me to be patient and he will sort everything out. I'm sure he and Uncle Carlisle will make sure I'm kept in the style I'm used to."

This time Jasper had to physically restrain me, if she thought my father was going to do anything to help her cheating ass she had another thought coming. I know that the family look after each other, I don't know what game Edward Senior he was playing but Tanya being here wasn't going to make a scrap of difference, Edward was ready to get divorced and he was ready to move on with Isabella.

The reception door of the Spa opened. . I lifted my head, hoping it was Jasper even though I knew he hadn't had enough time to get here. One of my regulars, Mrs Bailey, walked towards me, a huge smile on her face. I was just about to acknowledge her when my phone chimed letting me know I had an answer phone message.

"Alice my dear," she trilled, pushing her sunglasses back from her face. "I know I don't have an appointment but I've chipped my nail polish. Can you get me in for an emergency manicure?" She flashed her almost perfect polished nails at me and I looked down at the appointment book.

"Any time for you Mrs Bailey you know that. " I flashed my special accommodating owner's smile.

It took me about fifteen minutes to get her out of reception and into the manicure chair so Cherie could look after her. I'm sure that almost half of my ladies came here to socialise more than anything. They loved to know that someone listened to them and actually took care of them for a change.

I finally checked the phone message, expecting it to be Jasper with an excuse why he couldn't come and see me but as I listened I could tell it was something entirely different. The first minute or so was clear, a man talking to Bella and introducing himself and then the conversation turned to Edward and to her father. As I listened I realised what she had done and I knew I needed to speak to Edward as soon as possible. I grabbed my coat and purse before running out into the street to grab a cab. Just as the cab pulled away I saw Jasper parking up his truck. Fertilisation would have to wait today; I needed to get to Edward.