Thank you to all who handled the plot twist like an adult and who are still along for the ride! I promise it's gonna be fun. Bumpy but fun.

As always, thank you to Team Harpy.

**B**

"This is a whole lot of money, Bella."

"Well, this includes any and everything we could need to get started. I figured high on the rental property since we don't know what space we can get. Hopefully, it's something that includes living quarters for me."

"You're moving here?"

"How else will I run a business that's stationed here, Ali?"

"Does Masen know about this?"

"No, I haven't seen him since Sunday night and we were busy doing things that didn't include talking."

"But you talk on the phone, right?"

"All the time, but this isn't a conversation to be had over the phone. Both parties should be present on a topic like this. I mean, I'm uprooting my whole life for a man who I see once a week if I'm lucky."

"Okay, so just for the studio equipment is like twenty thousand dollars."

"Yeah, that includes things on my wish list. I have a cheaper version of things that can work in a pinch if we're forced to cut costs. Have you heard back from anyone?"

"Mrs. Cullen was a no, so was her grandson." She makes a funny face. "I approached Mac but he's just finished remodeling so he's short on investment capital though he did say if we could get Jasper on board, he would book him anytime we want."

"Is Jasper talking to you yet?"

"Yeah, but any progress I had made is gone now."

"He'll come around. Men and their egos, I swear."

"Yeah. Maybe I could try a bank. I mean, I have a decent job."

"My credit has yet to be established properly. I don't own a home and my car is second hand and I paid cash for it. I don't even have a credit card." I sigh.

"I couldn't help but overhear that you need an investor."

I look up at this gorgeous broad- kind of like one you would find in an old classic movie- and blink.

"Are you in the business of investments?" I ask, looking her up and down.

"I'm sorry but we can't," Alice says firmly.

"Why?" I ask.

"I'm curious as to that answer myself."

I look at Alice who is looking at the woman.

"I know all about you."

"I seriously doubt that. You know what I let be known. And that isn't much. The rest is merely assumptions based on my previous acquaintances."

"Can someone talk English here? First of all, I'm Bella Whitlock and obviously, you know Alice and she knows or thinks she knows you but I'm in the dark here so why don't you tell me your name for starters."

"May I have a seat?"

"Of course, take a load off." I indicate to the chair to my right.

"Bella."

"Alice, I decide on a person for myself, not with the help of preconceived notions."

Alice surrenders and sits back, arms crossed.

"Name?"

"Rosalie King."

"I hear some East Coast in your accent."

"Same." She laughs.

"Guilty. New York, born and bred."

"I was born in Boston but lived in New York most of my adult life."

"Awesome, what part?"

"Manhattan. My husband was rich."

"Born rich or worked to become rich?"

"Both."

"What business was he in?"

"Mergers and Acquisitions."

Alice snorts. I side eye her.

"Okay, what am I missing here?"

"Her husband was Royce King of the New York King family."

"The mafia?"

Rosalie doesn't say anything.

"So, you're a mob wife. How does one interview for that position, I always wondered? I only ask cause my Ma is a Volturi but it was my great uncle Tommy, may he rest in peace, that was in that life. My grandfather wanted nothing to do with it."

"I know your uncle." She smiles.

"Small world."

"And I'm a mob widow. My husband died."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"Why? I'm not. He was a cheating, heartless bastard."

"Did you kill him?" I ask.

"No, thought about it but I didn't want my shoes fitted for concrete."

I laugh and even Alice smiles.

"So what rumors are flying around about you here that make you a pariah?"

"That I killed my husband and I stole all his money, blood money. That I'm a human trafficker. That I have killed before."

"Have you?"

"Well, I'd tell you but I'd have to kill you if I did."

I just look at her.

"No, I haven't. Not to say I haven't wanted to."

"You and me both, sista."

"Now, do you mind telling me about your business plan?"

I hand it over to her and she flips through it.

"This is a lot of information."

"I was being thorough."

"Give me a one minute speel."

"Okay, my partner and I want to start a recording studio. We already have one artist, my husband, who self-released an album a few months ago. It's doing decently. There's another artist we have our eye on but we need to establish ourselves first. We are starting from the ground up, so we need everything, down to a place for this studio hopefully with living quarters for me since I don't live here."

"And for your husband?"

"Oh, he already lives here."

"So, why don't you live with him?"

Alice snorts.

"Shut up, Girlfriend." To Rosalie, I say, "We have a commuter marriage and I think he likes his space. But I can't wait on my dreams forever so I'm taking the bull by the horns."

"Tell you what. I'm going to take this with me and run through some numbers. We can meet back here on Friday at noon and go from there. Deal?"

I look at Alice. "Best one I've heard since we started looking for investors." She shrugs.

Rosalie nods, satisfied.

"Wait a minute. This can't be dirty money, Mrs. King. I don't want to be a front for illegal activity. If you can't assure me that now, we can't have a deal ever."

"My money is clean and part of the life insurance policy that I had on Royce. All his mob money is back in New York with his family."

"Okay then. I'm sorry but I had to ask." I apologize.

"Don't be sorry for protecting what's yours, Bella. I'll see you two on Friday."

"Masen is not going to like this."

"Masen is the talent, I am the management. He doesn't get a vote, Alice. Not on this."

"Why don't we go look at property, just for shits and giggles," Alice suggests.

We pay for our dinner and do just that.

**B**

Friday at noon takes a long time to get here but when it does I feel like I'm on pins and needles. Rosalie is already waiting and even Alice smiles at her.

She cuts right to the chase.

"It's a sound investment. If you're interested, I'm in with a few things to be decided on, of course."

"Like what?"

"Percentage of ownership, for one."

"What were you thinking?"

"Since I'm putting up all the money, I think seventy-thirty in my favor is fair."

"No. Absolutely not. That's only fifteen percent for each for us and we are running the day to day operations."

"What is your suggestion then?"

"Sixty-forty in favor of us."

"I'm putting up everything. So no. I won't invest."

I think a minute.

"Okay, sixty- forty in favor of you but I get creative control. Final offer or no dice."

Rosalie hesitates then nods. "Deal."

"Seriously?" You mean, that actually worked?

"Seriously. I'll have my lawyers write up the contract and you need to get a lawyer to look over it. One that has your best interests at heart, not mine."

"Okay."

"So do we have a name for this business picked out?"

"No, not yet. Still thinking about it."

"Well, think fast. I'll have these back to you on Tuesday and then we're in business, ladies." She leaves the room as elegantly as she entered and I sit back in awe.

"This time next week, we will be business owners. Alice, holy crap."

"Did that just happen?" She responds.

"It did. Are you still apprehensive about it?"

"Yes, I can't lie about that. But honestly, I want this so bad that I don't even care. I do think we should have a clause put in there to protect ourselves if any of her old life rears its ugly head."

"Good thinking. Okay, I need to go meet Masen now."

"Really? He's surfaced?"

"Has he been somewhere? I mean, you work for him."

"No more than usual. I just meant he has time for you."

"Don't start, Ali," I warn, gathering my things up.

She raises her hand in surrender. "You two have fun."

"Well, we'll be in public so can't have too much fun." I wink as I leave her laughing.

I drive to the address he sent me and park next to a fairly new Mercedes. I get out then turn back to look at the two cars next to each other, mine obviously paling in comparison. I shrug and make my way to the diner. Looks like a hole in the wall which means I will be eating good today. Holes in the walls always have the best food.

Knapp's restaurant, the sign reads. I open the heavy glass door and enter, automatically looking for Masen. He's in the corner reading the paper. I sneak up behind him and put my hands over his eyes.

"Guess who?"

"Hmmm. Sounds like the sexiest woman in the world. But you have to leave ma'am, my wife is due to show up at any moment and she can't catch you here."

I slap his shoulder then sit in the chair next to him.

He leans over to kiss me. I put my hand on his chest to stop him. "What about your wife?"

He moves my hand then kisses me soundly through my laughter. He licks his lips when he's had his fill and smiles broadly.

"I've missed you."

"Same. Um… I have some news for you. I don't know how you're going to feel about it and I should've said something sooner but I didn't know if it would fall through or not."

"Are you pregnant?"

"If one more person asks me that, I'm gonna get a complex. No."

He looks relieved. "Okay, what is this news then?" He folds his paper and sets it aside.

"You are looking at the new owner of a recording company!"

"What? How? I turned Alice down." He looks like he instantly regrets his words.

"What do you mean?"

"I... she asked me for some capital." He admits.

"What was she thinking? You don't have any capital." I laugh.

"That's what I told her." He laughs weakly.

"She must have been desperate besides that's a conflict of interest. You're the talent. You can't be the backer. Too much you."

"I thought you liked too much me?"

"I do in certain areas but not in my business. Well in my business business."

"So you found a backer? Who?" He picks up his drink.

"Rosalie King."

He slowly puts his water down. "No. Absolutely not."

"Excuse me?"

"I won't let you be in bed with her."

"I'm not going to be sleeping with her. I don't swing that way but if I did, she'd be the first one I'd go after." I'm being deliberately obtuse.

"That's not what I meant and you know it. She's got a checkered past, Bella."

"We all have pasts, Masen. Who knows what skeletons you have in your closet. Wherever that closet may be since I have no idea where my husband lives."

"I'm hardly here so I have a discounted room at the Murano for when I need to sleep but that's not the point."

"It kinda is though. You don't want me to go into business with Rosalie because of her past which she was very forthcoming about by the way. However, we've been together for roughly seven months, are married and I just found out where you lay your head at night when you aren't coming to PA for a booty call."

"Bella…"

"No, Masen. This isn't up for discussion. I'm doing it. Oh, and I should mention that I'm moving here. But don't worry, I'll be getting my own place. For closer booty calls." I get up. I hate fighting with him but I'm not the sort of woman who will give up her dreams for a man, even if he's my husband.

I'm out the door when he catches up. He grabs my arm and I jerk away backing into the brick facade outside the building.

"I'm sorry." He blurts. He hastens to add. "I didn't mean to be overbearing. I just worry about you. I don't want you to get caught up in anything bad." He moves closer and I can't move away. "If anything happened to you, I don't know what I'd do. I don't trust Rosalie."

"You don't know her. You know of her. I need you to trust me like I trust you. Do you trust me?"

He closes his eyes and blows out a frustrated breath. "Yes."

"Okay then."

"Okay. Can we go eat now? We can talk about all your plans for your studio."

I look at him suspiciously.

"I mean it. Please?"

"Yeah, okay." I'm still miffed and he knows it so he doesn't touch me as we seat ourselves again. Conversation is stilted but I manage to outline my plans and he seems genuinely interested. We discuss properties and he says he can get a list of some for me.

"It's what I do, Bella." He says when I ask him about it.

Duh.

I smile my thanks and he smiles his apology and when I leave him we cling to each other.

Until next time.

**B**

We go to Mac's; Alice, Rosalie and I, to celebrate our new partnerships. Rosalie signed the extra clause with no problem.

We ask Jasper for champagne and he obliges, even smiling warmly at Alice when he serves her.

"To Rosalie for making this happen for us. To my partner in crime, Ali, for taking on this mammoth project. To BAR Music Management."

"BAR?" Rosalie asks.

"Bella. Ali. Rose, which is what I'll be calling you from now on. Nicknames are kinda my thing."

"Rose is fine."

"She sure is." A voice says.

"Emmett, how nice to see you." I laugh.

"What are you lovely ladies up to this time of day?"

"What are you doing slumming it over here?"

"Hey!" Mac objects from his place at the bar.

"No offense, but this Richy Rich usually eats at BITE," I shout back.

"Even that frou-frou food is too much for my stomach to handle sometimes. I'm a growing boy who needs a burger."

"No one wants to hear about your digestive issues. Now run along."

"Not until you tell me what you all are celebrating."

"Our new business venture." Alice proclaims proudly. "BAR Music Management."

"So are you still going to be working for…"

"For now, but we will discuss that later."

"Edward is gonna be pissed."

"Edward?"

"Cullen, my cousin. He's Alice's boss and he relies on her for everything."

"I thought you worked for…" I'm confused.

"I do but Edward is my main boss."

"Oh, you know I don't have any idea how all that works. Sounds boring."

"It is. So boring. Enjoy your food, Emmett." Ali says pointedly.

He gets the hint and says goodbye but not before his eyes linger on Rose.

"He wants you bad," I say to her once he's out of earshot.

"He couldn't handle me."

We all laugh and continue our celebration. Rose parts with us after eating and Ali invites me to run out to the Cullen property with her while she grabs something for work. I shrug. What else do I have to do? Besides finding a place to live.

She leaves me in the foyer and says she'll only be about twenty minutes. I leave Lonnie to his duties and just kind of wander, which leads me to the den, where Mrs. C is sitting in her wheelchair reading Pride and Prejudice.

"Mrs. C!"

"Bella, how are you dear?"

"I'm doing really good. Alice had to do something in Mr. C's office so I'm just waiting for her."

"I'm glad you are here. Please have a seat." She offers, putting her book to the side.

"If I'm not interrupting…"

"Oh, heavens no."

"So I heard you had a wedding here the other night."

"Yes, my grandson's."

"Edward, right?"

"Yes."

"Well, I hope he is as happy as my Masen and I are."

"That's right, Alice told me you married your singer. Congratulations."

"Thank you."

"And she also told me you and her were going into business together."

"We are! BAR Music Management. We have so much to do but after this, Ali and I are going to have to decide on a property. All the ones we have looked at are lacking one major thing."

"Oh? And what's that, dear?"

"Living quarters for me. It would save me money and I really need that more than ever right now."

"I don't want to overstep, dear, but I may have a solution to your problem."

"I'm all ears, Mrs. C."

"Have you noticed that cottage by the gate?"

"Yeah. Kinda hard to miss."

"Well, it's been sitting empty for quite some time. It was where Ed and I lived when we first bought this land. It's over a hundred years old and over the years, Ed has wanted to tear it down but it's sentimental to me so we keep it. It will need a good cleaning but if you'd like to use it as your headquarters, it's all yours."

"That… that's more than… that's really generous." I sputter. "But I can't…. I couldn't."

"Why not? I had the chance to buy into your business and I chose not to. A fact that I am currently kicking myself over. So please do say you'll take me up on my offer."

"How much would the rent be? I think we can go up to three thousand a month right now but I was hoping to find something under the two grand mark but with the property prices here…"

"I wouldn't accept a dime from you. This estate could use some livening up and I think you're just the one to do it. Besides you'd have to spend money to adapt it for suitable use. So what do you say?"

"I say yes." I get up and throw my arms gently around her slender shoulders. "Thank you so much."

"That's wonderful. Waylon!"

"Yes, Madam."

"Can you please get Miss Swan the keys to the cottage?"

"It's Mrs. Whitlock now" I correct, playfully.

"Oh of course, how quickly this old lady forgets."

"You could just call me Bella then that problem is solved."

"Sounds like a plan, Bella."

Lonnie brings the keys and hands them to me with a half bow.

"Now, go check out your new home."

I look around to see if I spot Ali.

"I'll tell you where to find you."

"Thank you, Mrs. C, really. You don't know how much I appreciate this."

"Oh, nonsense. I'm happy to help."

I grin at her one last time then make the long-ish trek up the winding and slightly uphill driveway. I'm more out of breath than I'd like to admit once I get to the door but I forget my respiratory issues when I see it all up close and personal.

It's got this stone facade with moss and wild rose vines growing in various places, a few huge windows including a bay one I absolutely hope belongs to my bedroom, a shingled roof that looks to be in good condition. The yard looks like it should need landscaping but I think it is landscaped and just fits with the 'one with the forest' design it was meant to have.

I make my way to the door. The key turns easily and when I open the door, I'm shocked to see it already furnished. Nicely furnished. Richly furnished. I feel immediately out of place among all the seemingly expensive items decorating this room but beggars can't be choosers.

There's a light tan couch placed across from two red wing chairs. It's divided by a square wood coffee table with magazines on it. I pick one up and blow the dust off it. November 2017. Blake Shelton is on a cover proclaiming him the sexiest man alive. People really missed the mark with that one.

Beyond the red chairs is a fireplace with bookcases flanking it. I used to love to read and decide to look into some of those books once I'm settled.

From where I am standing I can see the dining room. The whole set is to die for with a dark rectangle table, two chairs, and bench seating wrapped three fourths around. As I walk to the kitchen, the floor creaks a little. I tap on the wood plank and decide it's probably just settling. The kitchen is pretty modern like the rest of the house. Wood plank floors, stainless steel appliances including a double oven that makes me very happy. I run my hand over the granite countertop and find more dust.

I walk back through the living quarters and find a hallway that ends in another. I open a door to the left and find a bathroom. Smallish but nice. I walk to the fork and find a hallway on each side. I go to the right first where I find a nice sized empty bedroom. I walk back up the hallway to the other door and see a furnished bedroom this time with the bay window in it. It's light fabric mixed with dark furniture like everything else but it works. I open what I think is the closet but find an ensuite instead with a really great soaker tub. I eventually find the closet and it's huge. It's almost big enough to be the damn studio. I close the door and make my way back out the other bedroom which will actually house the studio. Need to order the soundproofing materials and…

"Bella?"

"In here!"

She eventually finds me and she has this odd look on her face.

"Isn't this great?"

"Yeah, it's really something."

"What is wrong with you? It's perfect… and it's free. It's a little bit too pretentious for me and doesn't reflect my personality at all but I'll deal."

"Yeah, it's just this is a business and we're on private property. Doesn't that limit accessibility?"

"We're right by the gate. It'll be fine. This way I can get the wish list instead of the watered down one. It puts money in savings where we need it. Might even be able to get a touring van now. Bless Mrs. C."

"Okay, so how do we adapt this?"

I grin and squeal, relieved to have her on board. She's been unusually stubborn about things lately.

"This will be the studio which we will soundproof and all that jazz." I close the door and walk back out to the living area. "We can put a desk in front of this window over where that entry table is right now and we'll utilize that somewhere else. All we need is a desk, computer, fax, printer, scan thing- maybe a filing cabinet. The main draw is the studio and that guest room is at least twenty by twenty which is a decent size. We can make it work."

"Yeah, it was two bedrooms originally. Edward had it made into one bedroom back when he and Kate lived here a couple of years ago."

"Edward? The one who just got married a few days ago? Boy, he gets around." I laugh.

"You have no idea," Ali mutters.

"Anyway it will be a tight fit but we can fit both the recording booth and rehearsal space in there." I survey the room again. "So I'll go and get my car from your apartment and I'll head on over to the DG and pick up some cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, trash bags, and get started. It's early enough that I can probably sleep here tonight."

"Actually…" Alice motions for me to follow her and she goes through the kitchen and there is a door past the double ovens that I didn't see. She opens it to reveal a small laundry room with a stackable washer and dryer and cleaning supplies galore. "I don't think these things expire, do they? In any account, this place usually gets a good cleaning once a year but with the dust kicked up by the cars passing on the rocky driveway, it gathers in a hurry."

"How do you know all this?"

"I've been here before, Bella. I've been working around the family in total for about three years or so. So I can just take you to your car and bring you back here after we stop at a grocery store. Cause… food. And I'll help you clean up. We can have another slumber party."

I reach over and hug her. "I'm so glad I met Masen."

"I am too."

"If I hadn't, I would've never met you and you're the bestest friend I've ever had."

Ali's eyes tear up a little.

"Same. Now enough of all this emotional crap. Let's get started."

We're back within an hour and a half and get to work, throwing the bedclothes in the washer first. While that's washing, I throw together a pasta dish and put it in the oven, and throw the load in the dryer. Ali concentrates on dusting the living room and bedroom while I deep clean the kitchen and bathroom. We take a break to eat then remake the bed and sweep and mop the entire house. We collapse on the couch a few hours later in exhaustion.

"Where did the magazines go?"

"I threw Blake and company away. I'll get a couple of subscriptions to some others started for visiting guests or whatever."

"I have a present for you."

I sit up when Ali hands me a gift bag. "Is this where you disappeared to when I was gettin' groceries?"

"Yeah."

I peek inside the bag and see a couple of picture frames and I take them out.

"Ali! This is perfect. How did you do this?"

"Well, Mrs. Technophobe, I took the pictures that were emailed to Masen and had them printed out for you. For your new home and your new start here in Tacoma."

I crush her to me. "This is perfect. Where should I put them?" I start scouting for locations in the living room.

"I was thinking your bedroom. Just since this is our waiting room so to speak, we should probably keep it professional but you can make your bedroom your own. Besides, when you can't wake up next to Masen, you can at least wake up to his picture."

"Great idea."

I go to my room and place them on my bedside table then I stand back to look at them. I smile and grab my phone to dial Masen. So much has happened since I last saw him. Maybe he could even come over and spend the night.

I let it ring and it goes to his generic voicemail. My smile drops but I paste it back on my face so I can go spend the rest of the evening with Alice.

No one ever told me married life would be this lonely.

Playlist:

Show Me The Meaning of Being Lonely.

Alone- Heart

Waiting for Superman- Daughtry

*smirks*