The day couldn't have progressed any worse.

It was barely eleven o'clock, and Edward wanted nothing more than to return to the safe-haven his house provided. He should have expected his family to go overboard with his birthday, but when his mother had insisted after the Saturday fundraiser that he should be present at their house on Sunday, Edward had thought nothing of it.

Until he had arrived to a driveway full of cars. He was tempted to tell Felix to turn around, but he could see his mom looking out the window. It had been a long day.

And this morning, it had started just as bad. Tanya and Felix were waiting for him at the kitchen island with a stack of pancakes. There was a candle in the middle of the pancake tower. He'd grimaced and accepted the charade.

Then, once at work, Jane had his coffee on his desk, but her messy scrawl was all over the paper cup, wishing him a happy birthday. Edward didn't waste much time pouring the contents into his porcelain mug, throwing the paper cup in the trash.

Ben was next to join the fuckery. He even said he knew that Edward might not feel like celebrating, but it was his birthday, so he had to accept the gift. They had gone through the morning briefing with the rectangular purple box on his side of the desk. Now that Ben was gone, Edward opened the box, admiring the light gray silk tie. It was a thoughtful gift for someone who had the difficult task each morning of selecting a tie to go with the suit and shirt.

His phone buzzed, as Edward was staring at the picture he had on the corner of his desk. It was of him and Angela, taken exactly one year ago, when she had surprised him with a weekend in New York.

Edward answered his phone, smiling. "Good morning, Jasper!" Hopefully, his friend had great news. Alice had been sent on a mission to talk to Bella.

"Someone's not a grouch on their birthday," Jasper said playfully.

"You should've tried me ten minutes ago. Even Ben joined the dark side."

"You and your aversion to celebrating the day you were born."

"Let's not go through this again. I've never enjoyed this attention, especially from people I barely see or talk to. They suddenly remember I exist on this day." Edward ran his fingers through his hair. "My parents threw me a birthday party yesterday. After allowing everyone to see me and talk to me, I escaped the madness to my old room. Emmett joined me when he was sent to search for me, and we ended up discussing the bachelor party."

"Sounds fun," he said, his voice a little strained. "You might not like my proposal, but you know I can't say no to Alice when she gets so exuberant."

"Fuck no. Man, you have to let her down."

"She's confident you'll talk to Bella today. She's been tight-lipped about their time together yesterday. So, Alice expects both of you here at seven o'clock."

Edward knuckled his forehead. "Bella hasn't answered my emails."

"Alice insisted that she's coming around. Speaking of, here's Alice."

"Happy birthdaaay!" Alice's soprano voice sang in his ear, making Edward cringe.

"I might forgive you if you tell me what you talked to Bella about."

"That's between us, but trust me," she said seriously, "You're both coming over later."

Edward doubted such a thing was possible when Bella wasn't talking to him. He'd most likely scared her with his intensity.

"I have to go," he said, when Jane knocked on his door, poking her head inside.

Edward hung up, while Alice was telling him to wear something casual tonight. He might indulge them and visit later. Without Bella.

"Yes?" He locked eyes with Jane.

"Someone is here and insists on seeing you. No one was scheduled for today."

It happened on rare occasion when clients were in the area and they decided to pay him a visit. "Let them in."

"She's downstairs in the reception area, fighting with the guards and saying you're friends," Jane explained apprehensively.

Bella.

There was no doubt about who was there for him. He decided yet again to never doubt Alice.

Edward was out of his chair and through the door before Jane could blink. He tapped his foot on the steel floor of the elevator the entire ride downstairs, doing his best to ignore the classical piece playing in the background.

When the doors opened, he had to fight a smile. Bella was wrestling out of one of the guard's arms, shouting that she knew Edward Cullen, and if that idiot behind the front desk would just call him, they'd see she wasn't crazy.

Edward walked to the guard, ignoring the front desk secretary's wide eyes. "It's alright. Please, take your hands off her," he said quietly.

The man's arms dropped, as he turned to face him, shocked. Edward had the urge to smash his face and break his hands for touching Bella like that. He could see the imprint of the guard's fingertips on her pale skin.

Bella noticed him, her cheeks turning red. "Hi," she mumbled.

"Hello." He extended his hand, guiding her to the front desk. "Day permit, please."

Gianna had the permit ready and only handed it to him. Edward led Bella to the elevator area.

"To what do I owe this visit?" he asked, amused.

Bella chewed on her lip, finally meeting his eyes. Edward noticed she had put make-up on her flawless skin. She was wearing a floral dress that hugged her body in the right places. It made Edward want to run his hands over her bare thighs and push her panties aside, maybe take her against the elevator's wall.

He shook his head. That would definitely scare her.

Finally, the elevator arrived, and they stepped inside. He'd never seen the appeal of the enclosed space before, not even with Angela. But that might have been because she was claustrophobic, and Edward had always tried to keep her talking, so she wouldn't think of where she was.

Bella's breathing picked up when the doors closed, and Edward turned to her. He knew the tell-tale signs of a panic attack.

"Claustrophobic?" he checked.

Her blush deepened. "Not exactly." She kept her eyes on the closed doors, shifting from one foot to the other.

Edward stared at her, confused, but he couldn't ignore the electricity buzzing between them. "You didn't answer me."

"A little someone told me you had a special day today," she whispered, still not looking at him.

Could she feel the same tension? Did she want him to ravish her against the elevator's wall?

"Alice and her big mouth," Edward said, scowling. It all made sense. "You shouldn't have. How did you know where to find me?"

This time, Bella's eyes met his. "I guess everyone knows where you work." Her voice shook, so it was a lie.

They finally arrived at his floor. "Hold my calls," he told Jane, as they passed her desk. "And if you see anyone bearing gifts, tell them I'm not in there."

Jane nodded, her wide eyes on Bella.

Edward engaged the lock for good measure. "So, Alice told you about my birthday, and you decided to visit. Did she coerce you into this?"

"What? No! If I'd known, I might've been able to shop properly for you."

"You, here, is the best present," he admitted. He leaned against his desk, watching as Bella dug through her purse. She pulled out a small velvety satchel. It piqued his interest instantly. "What have you got there?"

"See for yourself." She handed him the satchel.

It was as big as his palm. He pulled the ties loose then looked inside, but he couldn't see anything, so he put his hand in there. His fingers touched something lacey, and his heart stopped for a second.

Could it be her panties? Was she not wearing panties?

That dirty girl.

But why would she do this? Did she want more with him?

Finally, Edward got ahold of the lacey thing and extracted it from the satchel. His eyes widened at the tangled, long ribbons of lace material. It looked a hell lot like bondage wear. Something else was tangled on the ribbons. He worked on making sense of what it was, and when he realized it was a blindfold, his eyes cut to hers.

Bella was still standing in the middle of his office, watching him with labored breathing.

"It's not a real yes," she said hurriedly. "It's an 'I want to try it for myself before I say no' offer."

"Oh, Bella." He strolled to her side, touching her cheek. "It's the best gift anyone's given me."

She frowned. "It's not even for you, per se."

"But it is." His smile widened. "You want to be mine." With two fingers on her chin, he leaned down for a kiss. "I'll show you there's nothing to be afraid of."

"I'm counting on it."

She had so much to learn, and yet, Edward had a feeling that he could never train Bella to be like his other Subs. She was too much of a rebel, and he liked that side in her. There had to be compromises on both their parts.

He cringed when his personal phone buzzed from the desk. "Give me a second."

"It's normal for people to call today." She shrugged.

As he accepted Rosalie's call, he watched Bella walking around his office. He could barely pay attention to his sister, when the object of his desire was so close to him. Bella was now by his desk, so close to him. A gasp left her lips when she saw the picture.

Edward lied that he was late for a meeting, and then he hung up. He watched as Bella picked up the photo, then her curious brown eyes met his.

"You know Angela?" she gasped out.

For once, Edward was left speechless. What were the chances? How could they have known each other? Angela had never spoken of any Bella. He'd have met Bella, surely, because he knew all three of Angela's friends – and none of them was Bella.

Edward cleared his throat, taking the picture and placing it back on the desk. He had no idea what to say. Bella could surely tell that they had been a couple, judging by the way they were posed in that picture, with their arms around each other.

Bella looked down. "Sorry. Uh, I used to be friends with her in high school. But I dropped out, remember? I lost contact with everyone."

Edward blinked, trying hard to keep up with the news, but all he could think of was that Bella and Angela used to know each other. Maybe Alice was right, and everything happened for a reason. Everyone had their path created for them, and it redesigned in the best way possible when tragedy struck.

Edward went to the tall window, linking his hands behind his back. "Angela was my last Sub," he started, but it didn't sound like the best way to start a conversation. "She taught me I could blend in a relationship with my lifestyle." He kept his eyes on Bella's through her reflection in the glass. She was stiff, her eyes on his back. Edward closed his eyes, balling his hands into fists. "I killed her in February."

Bella gasped, and Edward opened his eyes in time to see her hands cupping her mouth.

"The car accident?" she asked in barely a whisper.

"Yes. We were arguing over the silliest thing, though it hadn't seemed trivial to me at that moment. She'd worn a too-revealing dress to some party I took her to. The truck smashed into her side of the car. Later, the doctors told me she didn't suffer."

By now, Bella was openly crying. Edward turned to face her, not sure if she wanted him near her. She fell into his chair, covering her face with her hands.

"When Emmett brought me to Eclipse, it was the first time in five months that I'd left my house."

"Oh, my God. It all makes sense now," she mumbled. She looked up at him, her mascara running down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry to hear this. It feels like I lost my friend all over again."

"So, you see? You're not the only broken person between the two of us. Now that you know the truth, I wouldn't stop you if you decided not to go through with it."

Bella stood up in a flash, wobbling to him, unsteady on her ridiculously high heels. "It wasn't your fault. You know that, right?"

Edward scoffed, but he wasn't quick enough to turn away from her hand touching his face. It felt right, somehow, her warm, gentle hand touching his cheek.

"You shaved," she said softly.

"It was long overdue," he answered, placing his hand over hers. "Are you not bothered in the slightest by the fact that my jealousy and unjust drive to control everything killed someone I loved?"

More tears slipped from her eyes. "I don't believe you could ever hurt someone, let alone kill them. The circumstances weren't the best, that's clear. You didn't mean to do it."

"Why do you sound like a goddamn doctor?" That was exactly something Jasper had told him in the very beginning.

"Because I saw a shrink for a month after that bike accident. Billy had insisted I needed to see someone, considering my depression had worsened."

Edward nodded. He cupped Bella's shoulders, bringing her close to him. He didn't care that his pale blue shirt would have mascara lines and snot on it by the time she composed herself.

"I ruined your birthday, didn't I? I'll bet thinking of her was the last thing you wanted," Bella sobbed into his chest.

"Actually, it doesn't hurt as much to think of Angie now. Not since I met you," he admitted.

She looked up at him, and despite the serious conversation they were having, Edward couldn't help but chuckle. Her mascara pooled under her eyes, rolling in rivers down her cheeks. Yet, somehow, she had never looked more beautiful to him.

He grabbed a few tissues from his desk, running them over her face.

"Oh, shit!" Her eyes widened in horror. "I'll bet I look like a mess."

"A beautiful mess. Bathroom is through that door." He pointed out a side door near his office door. "Take your time."

"I'm sorry." She fled through the pointed door before Edward could ask why she was sorry.

He hadn't expected to tell Bella about Angela, not any time soon, at least.

When Bella returned half an hour later, he decided to call it a day.

"Let me drive you home," he offered.

"Uh, I drove here. Don't end your work-day over me. I'll be fine. I have to stop by the pet store anyway and buy food for Harley."

"How about a compromise? That food bag must be heavy." He stood in front of her, knowing she wouldn't accept it without a fight.

"It's nothing I haven't handled before. I can always call one of my friends to help with the bag of food when I arrive home."

Edward smiled wryly. "How about we trade cars? Mine comes with an incorporated food bag handler."

Bella snorted. "Are you kidding?"

"No."

"It was a rhetorical question." She rolled her eyes. There was still black around the rim, but the worst part was washed off.

He kept staring at her, knowing she'd cave.

"It's not fair! You're not allowed to dazzle me into getting your way."

"Dazzle?" Edward asked, amused. "I dazzle you?"

"Frequently."

He smirked. "Is that a yes, then?"

"You'll have to drive a car back home!"

"I drove not that long ago if you'd remember." He winked. "You're stalling."

"Fine." She searched through her purse, throwing her keys to him. He caught them swiftly, which made her scowl.

"Oh, and by the way, Alice expects us at their place later. I was sure your silence meant you didn't want anything to do with me, but she sounded sure when she said we'd be there."

"Alice opened my eyes, so to speak. She explained exactly what I wanted to know, and I realized my fears were silly."

"I plan on using my gift on you later."

"Shoot! I have to tell Gary I can't make it to the bar tonight," she said urgently, pulling her phone out. "I'm finally taking his advice to take days off. I never had a reason to do it before."

"I'll come pick you up around six. In your car, so when we return to my house, you'll have a way out if you want."

She gulped, but she smiled brightly.

We're timidly making progress.

PS: for those asking about Husky zoomies, please search that in Youtube. It's what I experiment at least once a week.

PPS: I can't thank you enough for all the nice comments and support!