Bella rolled under the tesla as she fixed the engine and the brakes. Whoever drove this car was horrible at braking.
It had been a whole month since she told Edward she needed to be alone. It broke her heart and she cred every night, but it disturbed her that he killed people. And the stuff he was involved in guns, booze, porn, and politics? Couldn't he be arrested at any time?
could she deal with that? knowing that every night he could come home with someone's blood on his hands.
That he killed someone and …that he could possibly die as well?
What scared her more, Edward killing or Edward being dead?
Of course, his death scared her more.
But what about the fact that he was born into it? That he had no way out, except for death? But what if he faked his death? Had he thought about that?
Would he always be on the run?
And what did Edward mean by he was next in line?
She had so many questions and no answers. Bella knew that if she simply called him, he would answer But she was scared.
Could she trust him again? Didn't he tell her the truth? Just not when she expected it? But most of all, Bella knew she was in love with him.
She was deeply in love with him. But would she ever have the chance to tell him?
"Hey, Izzy, how's that tesla coming?" Demetri shouted.
"Five more minutes dem!" she shouted back.
"Awesome! When your finished come on to the front the customer wants to meet you."
Bella groaned. She hated meeting with customers unnecessarily.
After she finished with the engine, and the brakes; Bella dragged herself to the front of the shop.
"Dem?" she called
"over here Izzy."
Bella followed his voice and stopped in the doorway of Demetri's office.
Talking animatedly with Demetri was a tall, slender man with blond hair and a thick French accent.
"oh, here she is…Izzy meet James Cameron. One of our most valuable customers. James here just wanted to meet the man, or should I say women whose been doing such great work on his car."
"a woman? I would have never guessed. Being in autobody is man's world don't you think?" he questioned as he looked at her.
Bella ignored the joke slash insult simply said "nice to Meet you Mr. Cameron. I'm glad your satisfied with your car now if you excuse me...I have other clientele to attend to."
With that said she turned on her heel and walked back to her work. She didn't have time for Jerks, especially not smart asses who think they could woe every chick they met.
It only made Bella's heart hurt even more. Edward would have never treated her that way.
Bella missed him.
Before she knew it, her workday was over and she could head home.
But as she headed out, she was met with someone she hadn't seen in a while.
"Aaron!?" she cheered.
"Ah! Miss Isabella! would you mind accompanying me to dinner? I think we have much to discuss. And with such short time."
…
10: 30 pm The great cathedral of Chicago:
Edward stood with his hair gelled back, the finest tailored suit by the finest authentic Italian designers and his designer leather shoes.
His graduation party was in full swing. To his horror thought, his mother had somehow convinced Jill Roberts to have her make up bash combined with his graduation. So that meant that jill and other celebrities and just desperate ass holes would be in his face all night and there would be no escape and it didn't help that his siblings were posing for pictures with the paparazzi and his grandparents were pointing out the available women. But what really shook Edward was that some of their closest allies were here, that included the Russians and the Italians. Maksim Fedorov and Giovanni Rossi. Anyone who was high in power was there. That included the mayor, the commissioner, the chief of police. Some famous CEO's and the heads of various allied families.
And to make matters worse, his sisters were trying to force him to dance with every available women and Edward refused. No women other than Bella would ever be worth his time.
"Son did you hear Mr. Clark?"
Edward was taken out of his thoughts by his father. Edward had forgotten that the CEO and his daughter were standing there.
"I sure did. And Mr. Clark, any appointments you want to make you can make with my assistants who are right over there, now if you excuse me, I must be greeting other guest."
As he walked away, he was stopped by a swarm of journalist and paparazzi.
Edward robotically answered the same questions over and over until he was rescued by his older sisters.
"man, little bro this party's only been going for half an hour and were already running out of wine! Now you need to relax and come talk to Victoria."
Edward pulled himself from Mia's grip.
"Victoria? As in Victoria swan?" he hissed
"uuh duh? You know any other. Uncle Charlie and the whole swan crew just got here about five minutes ago. Oh! Look matter a fact; they are sitting at the reserved table. Look like mom and dad have spotted them too! Come on! Uncle Charlie! Aunt Kate! Victoria! yoo-hoo!"
Edward groaned.
….
Esme smiled as her in laws gave approving looks at Victoria swan.
"oh Esme, she's a keeper, we must begin planning the wedding." Her mother in law whispered.
"oh, nonna please. We have to get Edward to propose first, that boy does not have a romantic bone in his body. We have to teach him properly." Esme whispered to her, as they watched Victoria cling to Edwards arm.
Esme turned a smile to her husband but was met with a dark look. She didn't understand. Wasn't he happy their son was finally going to settle down?
"so, Edward tell me, What's your idea of a perfect wife? Hmm. I mean the ladies must be just fawning over you…I mean…doesn't Victoria just shine above them all?" Kate hummed. Of course, she was going try to praise her daughter anyway she could.
Edward didn't respond because Laurent, James and Lauren Cameron were walking over to their table.
"Carlisle my friend!" Laurent greeted his French accent thick in the air.
"yes, Laurent nice to see you. You as well James, Lauren."
"yes, Hello Mr. Cullen. Hey Edward. What up man? Some party you got here."
Edward simply nodded and reached for the pitcher of water. People were starting to crowd his space. It was making him more frustrated then he already was.
Before the Cameron's could engage in anymore conversation the volturi's swept in embracing Edward and congratulating him.
Edward had had the final straw, he was ready to ditch yet another one of his parties and just as the thought crossed his mind, he saw a flicker of long, curled brown hair.
Edward froze. He was tall enough to see the doorway and standing right under the red exit sign was his…Bella and next to her was Aaron.
In that moment, nothing else mattered. Not the glass of water that fell from his hands and spilled all over Victoria. Not his mothers voice or any of the people he pushed passed.
All that mattered was her….
…
Bella fiddled with the floor length gown. It was diamond encrusted and was made from the most expensive fabric.
Her hair had also been put into beautiful curls that framed her face and shoulders. It was too much glamor and pop for her but…Aaron said he would only get her the best.
Speaking of him.
"Aaron…are sure this is appropriate. I mean this is Edwards party. I don't want to crash it by being uninvited. And …and we haven't talked or seen each other for a month…I'm sure he has other stuff to do then worry about me… I don't fit in to his world…maybe I should just- "
"Isabella breath. You and Mr. Cullen, will fix things tonight. And you will see that he is not some cold-blooded serial killer. Just give him a chance to explain. Please you both deserve to be happy. Ahh….it seems he has spotted you."
Bella's heart began to beat like crazy. There were so many people and the lights were dim. How did Aaron know where Edward was?
Before she knew it, Bella saw a very handsome tall man zooming through the crowd. The man's hair was gelled back and the tux he had on, she knew was expensive. It wasn't until she saw those green eyes.
"Edward…." She practically whispered.
He didn't say anything to her. He just stared, in what looked like amazement? Shock? Fear?
"perhaps you two would like somewhere more private?" Aaron suggested "why don't you guys go upstairs to one of the semi-private booths. Ill have some food sent up and security will get rid of any riff raff in that area."
Before Bella knew it, Edward had gently grabbed her hand and had taken up a set of stairs which then led to a dimly lit seating booth that was surrounded in silver poles with red tape surrounding it.
You could still see the crowd below them, but it wasn't too obvious.
Bella glanced at Edward from the corner of her eye.
He was fidgeting and it looked like his palms were sweating? He kept wiping them on his pants. He looked exhausted and clammy at the same time.
Just as she was about to say something, Edward spoke.
"Is there anything I can get you? Are you ok? Did you need anything? have you eaten? You look beautiful! Baily misses you, I had to moved back in with my parents on a full-time basis, how are you? Bella I'm so-"
Bella silenced Edwards nervous rambling by simply putting her hand to his lips.
"Edward. Breath and relax…just let me say what I need to and then I promise you can ramble all you want to."
Edward's nodded at her. Eyes wide, ready to hear another rejection.
"I have missed you. So much it hurts sometimes. I thought about you every day. I'm glad you told me the truth. And thank you for your honesty. And thank you for giving me space. I know you probably thought I would never come back to you and honestly, I thought about it. I thought about packing up and running away….but then I realized I couldn't go anywhere without you and I am not happy nor comfortable with the way you live your life but Aaron explained to me the darker side. He explained that you literally had no choice. And the options you did have were devastating. That you either betrayed your family and live in witness protection with a short prison sentence for the rest of your life or that you could take to the hills and always be looking over your shoulder because people would always be after you. I can't imagine the burden you must feel. He also said that you only kill as a last resort. And that your father keeps you on a need to know basis…but that after tonight …all of that would change and that your authority and power in the family would be changing…and listen Edward what I'm trying to say is …I love you…no matter what. …. but…I want us …to have a way out of this life. I want you to have a way out of this life…even if that means opening up so may legitimate business, the bad ones would just disappear…I don't know how that works…but I know there's good in you and that you can surpass this life…"
Bella removed her hand from Edwards mouth and to his surprise leaned in for a kiss.
Edward did not hesitate in reaching her.
….
"Arrggh! My dress! Mother!" Victoria whined.
"oh honey, its just water, I'm sure It was an Accident. Esme what has gotten into Edward? I've never seen him act like- "
"HOLY SHIT!" Emmett cursed cutting off Kate complaints.
Esme was going to rebuke her son but couldn't because the look of pure shock on his face, by now a few others from their table and followed his line of sight.
Esme felt her heart stop.
Sitting on one of the private booths was her youngest son and to her…. horror and shock, he was passionately kissing some female he had never seen before.
"What? What? Carlisle? what is going on who is that!?" Esme bellowed.
"mother!? Father? Alice and I have some news!" jasper exclaimed as he walked to their table.
However, he and Alice followed the family's eyes to where his younger brother was putting on a show.
Jasper and Alice gasped.
"Oh my god! Is...is Edward doing what I think he's doing?" Alice squealed.
"I never in my life thought I would see him with a female. Nevertheless, Kissing her!" Mia explained.
"oh man! Wait till the cameras get ahold of this." Emmett commented.
"Carlisle? you…you have to stop this!? We don't know who that girl is! She could be some cheap whore just after his money." Esme pleaded.
Carlisle didn't move. He could only watch as his son, pulled away from the girl and lovingly held her face in his hands. He then quietly gestured for the two of them to go further back into the cathedral.
Carsile slowly felt himself sit down. There was only one woman who his son would dare look at like that. A look that said a thousand words.
Isabella.
"Felix." He called
Felix immediately came to his side.
"yes sir?"
"make sure Edward and his companion are not interrupted. I will call for him when I'm ready." He ordered.
"yes boss."
"Son do you know who that women is?" His father asked
Carlisle poured himself a glass of whiskey and smiled.
"I sure you padre. Shell be wonderful for him."
"What!" Victoria screeched.
"yes, I'm sorry Victoria. It looks like my son is taken…"
….
Edward pulled Bella into one of the back rooms. Grateful for the privacy.
"…you'll stay with me? even with my lifestyle?" he asked
"I will…but you have to be honest with me...and…. find a way, a plan something to get out of it…"
Edward looked up as the wheels in his head began to turn.
"..I may have a way…but…it would take a few years or two…" He whispered.
"..i can be patient…" she told him.
"…Bella…with my status changing… I... I'm required to marry soon." He told her, frankly.
Bella crossed her arms.
"I know…Aaron warned me about that…"
"I know you don't want to rush…. but…Being engaged…would take some pressure off of us."
"us? Edward your family doesn't even know I exist…r at least that you and I are romantically involved." Bella argued.
"…i know and I …would change that…very quickly." He urged
"and what about my father? He would surely put up a fight?"
"your father has not claimed you publicly and because my position he wouldn't dare. You're under my protection. I've told you that honey." He said sternly
"yes, it's one thing being told and another seeing it."
Edward grabbed Bella by her hips and lifted her unto the pool table.
"well, if you must know your father and his family are here right now. You and I could go down there and make a claim?" he asked as he brushed his lips against hers
"no, no. I don't want anymore drama then what there already is..."
"I see."
Edward stepped back and let Bella's feet dangle over the pool table.
"Hey look at that?" he called
Bella turned to see what he was talking about.
"Edward there's nothing th-"
Bella stopped, Because now…. He was on one knee.
"w-What are you doing ?!" she panicked
"something I never thought I would be doing in my whole life. Isabella Marie swan, I love you…with everything I have… I never thought I would be here…. that I would find someone I could give my heart too and trust it not be broken. The vows I make to you will not be superficial but vows I promise withhold for the rest of my life…I promise to cherish you…to hold you….to love you and to only share my bed, my heart and my soul with you…Will you marry me?"
…
Esme was busying herself talking to the mayor's wife, when her youngest son suddenly appeared on the stage where the musicians were playing.
He gently held his up for them to stop and then took one of the nearby mics.
The crowd cheered for a minute and then went silent.
"good evening ladies and gentlemen."
Another roar of applause was sounded.
"Thank you. Thank you. First I would just like to thank everyone for coming and for all of you who worked so hard to put this togather. Graduating college and running multiple business isn't easier. And it makes it worse when you have no one to share it with. And I know that everyone had been asking and wondering and waiting. When is Edward Cullen going to settle down? And for years I gave the same answer… That I just hadn't found the right one…well, ladies and gentlemen. I can assure you…tonight. I have finally found the right one. Ladies and gentlemen…I am getting married…"
The crowd went wild and the press stormed the bottom of the stage.
Esme however…fainted.