Grab a drink, you're going to need one?

"Let me tell you something, Boss." Paul took in a deep breath, cracking his knuckles and reaching for his badge.

I looked at him expectantly.

"Enlighten me, Paul." I smiled at my friend and employee. The two of us were just patiently waiting for the clock to strike ten to seven, the time we were expected to be on duty.

We had the meeting with the owner of the place and the people who were in charge of the auction and knew exactly what they found important.

No full-body checks seeing as the guest list was exclusive and filled with A-list people. Everyone was supposed to behave, so we were there purely to show that they had the money to spend on extra security.

I'd rolled my eyes at the job, since this was the first time someone hired us for this kind of thing but figured it would be easy money.

The buzzer at the entrance echoed through the speakers in the little kitchen of the gallery, so I gulped down what was left of my coffee and went to take a look.

By the time I got to the double glass doors, James -the owner of the gallery already answered the door. He smiled at the few people that entered, his VIP guests.

My boots were nailed to the ground, and I suddenly felt extremely light-headed when I took one look at the third gentleman that entered the building.

He was dark-skinned with short hair.

Immaculate suit. Three-piece suit in dusty blue and cream paisley.

Someone else would look absolutely ridiculous in the colorful fabric, but he wore it with pride and poise.

I never forget a face.

Today, it proved to be a curse.

I felt like I couldn't move and when he passed me with a ginormous frown on my face, he smiled anyway.

He didn't know, Edward.

He doesn't have a single clue as to who you are.

"Hey, Cullen. You okay?" Paul boomed from behind me, a Snickers bar in his hand.

I spun around but caught his expression.

He knew my name.

It was on her letter.

"Excuse me," a hand on my shoulder startled me.

Soft, dark eyes.

Tired eyes.

"I couldn't help but overhear," he said. "Was that your name?"

I chewed on the inside of my cheek nervously, afraid to get some kind of uppercut of right hook. Why, I didn't know.

"Edward Cullen," I nodded and held out my hand to shake it. "I wish I could tell you it was nice to meet you, but I'm sure you won't take it personally, Mr. Crowley." My voice was confident even though my hand was shaky.

Here he was, the other man.

"You're her husband," he said quietly, making sure no one could hear him.

I nodded weakly.

"I'm so terribly sorry for what went down, Mr. Cullen. I had no idea, absolutely none. I wouldn't do that to anyone, the fact that she'd been lying to me and my little girl is infuriating." Tyler let his head hang down. He was ashamed that he fell for the lies and got caught in the web of Tanya Denali.

"I feel so stupid, Mr. Cullen. I hope you know that I had no part in this, when I found out and the postman delivered the registered letter to Mrs. Tanya Cullen, the world disappeared from under my feet. The fact that she kept this from me, accepted my proposal and acted as if she wanted to become my daughter's stepmother," he let out a deep sigh and I could see the pain on his face.

"It's okay, Mr. Crowley. I understand. She's remarkably good at shielding the truth and getting people to trust and love her. I've been there, trust me." I reassured him. How on earth could I possibly be mad at this man? He was hurting, as much as I was for the loss of a person that kept on building dreams on a foundation of lies and deceit.

"Has she done anything like this in the past?"

I let out a humorless chuckle.

"She cheated even before we got married. But she swore it didn't mean anything and that she'd change, that she'd be faithful." I knew how dumb that must've sound.

"You loved her," Tyler Crowley shrugged, and looked like a little, insecure boy instead of the towering giant before me.

"As did you, I believe." He nodded.

"Our marriage was over before it even began. I hope it's some sort of solace to know that she would have broken you and what you had in a heartbeat. There's something about her that can't stop competing with her needs and cravings for materialism. I learned it the hard way."

Tyler nodded again.

"I have one question, Mr. Cullen," his gaze was intense and it looked like he was scared.

"Did you guys have children?"

I couldn't help but smile a little and shook my head.

"Thank God I was never the fathering type." I told him, and he seemed to relax noticeably.

"Thank God. I couldn't ever forgive myself if I'd known Tanya had a child she was neglecting elsewhere. Not after I've seen her act like my daughter meant the absolute world to her."

I smiled weakly. I understood.

Then came the question that I'd been dreading to know the answer to. I just had to know. I had to.

"How long?" I breathed. God, I needed another cigarette again.

"A little over a year." Tyler's expression was heartbreaking. Tanya Denali hurt us both. She deceived us, she played with us just for the hell of it.

Over a year.

I felt sick to my stomach.

"If you ever want to talk, here's my card." Tyler's hand reached into the breast pocket of his suit jacket and retrieved a sleek, glossy business card.

"Thanks, but I have to get going now." I pocketed the card and turned around to walk in Paul's direction again.

"I know it's unconventional, but I actually am glad to meet you, Edward Cullen. It makes me realize it's not always men who are the bad guys, and it makes me see that one person's actions can honestly affect a ton of other people's lives. You're a strong man, Edward. Don't let her get to you. If you need anything, anything at all —maybe some confessions for the divorce, let me know. I feel like I have to make this right,"

His words were heavy and meaningful and I couldn't help but smile a little. He was right, T's actions affected both of us in a lot of ways. The fact that he was prepared to confess and help me out meant a lot to me.

"Thank you, Tyler. I'm sorry for earlier, you're right. It was extremely good to finally meet you."

I turned on my feet and walked back to where Paul was waiting for me, my hands in my pockets and my thoughts cleared a little. This was all going to be alright.

"Let's get this show on the road!" Paul grins as we walked over to our stations at the front of the building. We were scheduled there until everyone was inside. After that, the two of us were supposed to roam the reception zone and the auction zone until everyone had left. Looking at the lists and cases of every object being auctioned told me that we'd pretty much be here until dawn.

"The women here look like they belong on a pedestal somewhere being fed grapes by men in toga's." Paul whispered to me. I snorted at his remark and rolled my eyes.

"Yeah, well. I guess you definitely won't find a new Mrs. Uley here."

"You're kidding right? I have more chance of one of them running off with my son. Aren't these women total cougar material?"

I laughed again and let my eyes roam around. They all looked basically the same. Fancy, expensive blowout or updo and an intricate array of sparkling and impressive jewelry on several bared body parts. Their outfits ranged from conservative to classy show-off to downright skank-overload. It was clear to me who actually came from money and who came to show off their sugar daddy's credit card.

"We're being so fucking superficial, judging these people like this." I chuckled as Paul and I got the last people inside and were rounding up the perimeter of the building to see if anyone was left behind or on the parking lot.

"What the fuck? You're standing there for over a fucking hour, and nobody is wanting to get in. You get away for like five seconds and boom…" Paul muttered angrily as we got up to the front of the building again.

"Boom, indeed." Was the last thing I heard before a sharp pain shot through my body and I felt a dull throbbing in my head.