It's a little short with a side order of cliffhanger. You know I can't help it. Hush y'all.
Thank you to Team Harpy
Chapter 43
Bella
I return home and shower off the day's events thinking I could get some work done. Lying in bed gives me too much time to think so… work.
Alice ran out to get some food and I am glad for the reprieve. She's been hovering and censoring herself today and it's been maddening. I'm checking on the stats of Jasper's upcoming gig when speaking of the devil.
I smile at him briefly as he comes through the door. I can sense his hesitancy but he smiles and holds out his arms.
"I think someone could use a hug."
"That might be me if the hugger is the perfect person." I admit.
He folds me into his arms and squeezes. I pull back.
"But don't think for a moment I need this hug. I simply choose to accept it."
"Bella, you don't have to pretend with me."
"I'm not. I'll admit I've been feeling like the bottom of someone else's shoe lately but you know, it's not permanent. I'll get over this bozo, same as the others."
"By pretending you're not miserable?"
"Will you quit saying that? Everything that matters is okay. Alice and I will work things out. It's a funny thing about women. Men, they come and go but girlfriends are for keeps. I think that there's a lesson in that somewhere." I muse.
"You've forgiven Alice? That's great." He looks relieved.
"I said I was working on it. The point is BAR Music Management and Jasper Hale are moving ahead as scheduled."
"But what about Masen Whitlock and The Idle Rich?"
"What about them?" I shrug.
"They are a major part of BAR."
I clear my throat.
"Not one more tear over him. I swear, not one." I blow out a breath as I steel my emotions.
"Bella, if you feel like crying, you should."
"You know what I feel like? I feel like I need a refill on that hug."
He opens his arms again. "These never close."
I step into his arms again but I don't pull away this time.
"I'm so sorry, Bella, I'm so sorry." He whispers into my hair.
He pulls back first. "If there was anything I could do, you'd let me know?"
"You could bring me Cullen's head on a platter."
"I'm serious."
"So am I. The snake. But this is me moving on, you know. I have to keep reminding myself or I get stuck in heart thinking instead of head thinking and that does me absolutely no good, whatsoever."
He looks on in sympathy. "May I say something at the risk of engaging your heart?"
"I wish you wouldn't but go ahead."
"In spite of everything, no matter how you look at it, I believe that Edward loves you."
"Yeah? Well, I don't buy it. You don't egregiously betray someone you love."
"He had his reasons."
"Which were completely unacceptable."
"So you think he deliberately set out to hurt you?"
"You know what I think? I'll tell you what I think. He was ashamed of me so he went to extraordinary measures to keep me away from that ritzy family of his."
"Why would he be ashamed?"
I go to the window an point out of it.
"Have you taken a look at this property when you come up the driveway? Those people are beyond rich. They're practically an institution. There's no way they are going to let some rock 'n roll biffy from Brooklyn… I don't meet the criteria for a Cullen bride. Rich snobs. But you know what, it doesn't matter because whether they, he or anyone likes it or not, I am Mrs. Edward Cullen and I am keeping myself parked right here for the foreseeable future and they can just deal with it." I stalk off to the dining area and mess around with the place settings trying to ignore his knowing gaze.
"So what's gonna happen with the Idle Rich?"
"They're just going to have to wait until I figure a few things out. They know the story. Hell, everyone does. Did you see the paper this morning? My Ma said it was on the news at noon." I groan. "In the meantime, you are going to be the recipient of my undivided and intense attention."
"I can deal with that."
"Good."
Alice walks in with the groceries and smiles hesitantly at Jasper and me.
"Sorry it took so long. I had to drop off some stuff to Ed." She carries the bags to the kitchen and I hear her start to unpack them. Jasper and I chat some more and she joins us.
"So how are things at the Big House?" I ask her.
"Oh, you don't want to know."
"I asked, didn't I?"
"It's really not worth mentioning."
"Alice." My sharp tone gets her full attention. "I thought we had enough of the secrets especially where my in-laws are concerned."
"Okay. They're planning this big pow-wow with Angela."
"Yeah? At whose request?"
"Hers."
"Interesting."
Now what to do with this information...
Edward
The family starts arriving for the meeting about twenty minutes before Angela is set to arrive. The mood ranges from irritated to bored.
"How long is this supposed to take? I have midterms to study for." Riley asks.
"Shouldn't take too long. She just has to make a desperate last ditch effort to get into Edward's pants." Emmett jokes.
"That won't be happening." I assert.
"Thank goodness for small favors." Mother settles in next to Father. They both seem sober so there's that.
Grandfather wheels Grandmother in and sits next to her wheelchair. "Where is she?"
"It's early still. You know how she loves to make an entrance."
"Well can she be done with that?" James complains as he knocks back some bourbon. Victoria chastises him. "I don't want to be sober for my execution, Dear."
I roll my eyes at his theatrics.
We wait for a few more minutes.
"Can you call your wife and tell her to get on with it?"
"Grandfather she is not my wife."
"Well whatever she is, she needs to hurry up."
"What do you even think this meeting is about?"
"More threats." I shrug.
"I'll go to jail before I cow down to one more demand," James vows.
"James is right. This is getting old and tiresome."
Riley gets up and stalks towards the door. "I've had enough of this."
"This is ridiculous. Here we are, supposedly one of the most powerful families on the western seaboard and we are at the mercy of this vain, insipid woman. Meanwhile, there are things in the real world that should have our attention. I'm telling you if she doesn't march the hell out of that door for the last time tonight, I will not be held accountable for what I do."
"Shhh. I think she's close." Victoria says, eyeing the door.
We all hear clicking heels on the marble at the same time. Waylon enters. "Miss Weber has arrived." He smirks ever so slightly at the shade he just threw. She narrows her eyes at him then turns her attention to us
"Everyone is here I see."
"I wasn't aware we had a choice in the matter." Emmett snarks.
"Can Waylon get you a drink?" Ed offers.
"She won't be here that long." I assert.
"Yes, a martini would be divine."
"Three olives?" Waylon asks.
"Very good. You were paying attention." She belittles him but he just goes to fetch her drink.
"Let's cut to the chase. What is this about?"
"Me and my new reason for drawing a breath. Which is to be an instrument of torture to this entire family."
"That's pretty lofty considering we do that to each other without your help."
She glares at Emmett. "You have all been retched to me from the very second I stepped foot into this house."
"You blackmailed your way into this house."
"James, you gave me the opportunity. And instead of making the best out of the situation, you all turned your collective noses up at me. Well no more. I am holding all the cards once more."
"I wouldn't be too sure of that."
"Esme go to hell."
"Don't speak to my wife like that."
"Oh shut up Carlisle. I'm not scared of you."
"Maybe you're not as smart as you think you are," Riley suggests.
"And maybe you are just a bunch of paper tigers. Well here's what's happening Cullens, unless you do everything I say, I will go straight to the Police Chief and tell him everything I know about Jason Jenks. While I'm there I will have Edward charged with bigamy. Included in that will be a civil suit with compensatory damages in the likes of which you can't imagine."
Bella
I ring the doorbell and I wait for Waylon to answer. He does and I swear I see a smile. He ushers me in.
"Hey Lonnie, Cullen around?"
"Yeah but he's behind closed doors."
"The family meeting. Well, it's a good thing I'm a new family member, 'member?" I laugh.
"Yes I do remember. How would you like to be announced? Miss Swan. Mrs. Whitlock. Perhaps you'd like Mrs. Cullen?"
"Perhaps I would. Go for it, Lonnie." We share a devious look before he goes to announce my presence and once the door is open I can hear everything.
"What exactly are you wanting to happen here, Angela?" My not so pseudo husband asks his actually pseudo wife.
"It's simple. You divorce that horrible unsuitable person and remarry me."
"You can't possibly be serious?"
"I want the same thing I've always wanted. The money, the name, the social standing… and you are still going to give it to me."
She notices Lonnie. "Waylon stop lurking. It's extremely presumptuous of you. This is a private meeting."
"Oh put a sock in it, Angela. You are not to speak to anyone in this household in that impervious manner. What is it, Dear?" Elizabeth asks Lonnie.
"Mrs. Cullen to join the meeting."
And that's my cue.
"Hiya, in-laws." I grin obnoxiously.
"Bella, what are you doing here?" Cullen asks.
"I head the tribe was gathering here tonight so I thought I'd take advantage of the opportunity and square away some things with my new relatives. Elizabeth, how are you doing?"
"I've been better, Dear. How are you?"
"Same. You know you are always welcome down at the cottage if you need a break from all the drama. It's noisy but the offer always stands."
"Bella why don't we…" I shrug off Cullen's hands and throw him a warning look. Did he not remember the last time he touched me?
"Which brings me to my most pressing concern. If you don't mind I'd like to continue using the cottage as BAR's headquarters."
"It's fine with me. I happen to adore having all those energetic young people going to and fro. You're welcome to stay as long as you like."
"On behalf of me and my partners, I thank you."
"Wait a minute. I object." Angela interjects.
"I wasn't aware you got a vote." I square off with her. You want a round two Blondie?
"She doesn't," James confirms.
"Then stay out of my face," I warn her.
"Bella, this really isn't the best of times because matters of extreme confidentiality are being discussed."
"Oh, you mean James accidentally killing that guy thereby giving Angela the ammunition to blackmail you all in the first place?" I ask Mr. C.
"For Christ's sake Edward, where are your brains?" His face is a vivid shade of red.
"Try up his ass." Emmett blurts.
"Is there anyone in this town that doesn't know how Jason Jenks died? I mean, why am I not in jail already?"
"I can't believe you told Bella, Edward."
"She's my wife. I trust her." He tells his father.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! No need to push the panic button. Blackmail is not my style." I smirk at Blondie.
"Well, it is mine. And since you've insinuated yourself into this conversation, Bella, I will tell you how you fit in here. You are going to divorce Edward immediately."
"Or what?" I take a step closer to her.
"Or you can visit him every other Sunday in prison."
"I have no intention of remarrying you under any circumstances." Edward hisses.
"You sure as hell won't. Cause I have no intention of divorcing you."
He turns to me slack-jawed. "Thank God." He reaches for me but I sidestep.
"Don't get your knickers in a twist. I haven't changed my mind about never speaking to you again. I just refuse to make this easy." I turn to Angela. "So much for your scenario. Now what?" I challenge.
We stare each other down and I notice Mr. C smirking at our exchange. Finally, Edward interrupts.
"Angela we have heard your demands. Here's the way it really is. If you want to press charges against me, go ahead. Give it your best shot. But I will hold you up in front of this town and expose you for the miserable, pathetic excuse for a human being you are. I will set a goal every day to make you more of a laughing stock than you were the day before. And I will share every single intimate detail of our relationship including all the times you begged me to sleep with you. All the times I had to pretend to like you in public when all I wanted to do was go home to my wife."
I turn away at that cause I just can't with that right now.
"And after there is no mistake in anyone's mind how much I personally despise you, I will tell everything I know about your past and spoon feed it to every news publication, social media platform, every television show who will listen. And they will listen. And William Black will listen. And you'll be spending the next couple of decades in jail for your transgressions." He moves closer to her. " So if you want a fight, go ahead. I will give you the fight of your life. So I suggest you leave and prepare yourself for battle."
'Don't think this is over, Edward. I'm gonna call your bluff." She stalks away.
"Where do you think you're going?" He asks as he follows her. We all do the same. I'm sure as hell not gonna miss this soap opera.
"I am gathering the rest of my things!" She yells as she stomps up the stairs.
"Fine, get it and anything else you left." He yells back.
She stops suddenly on the stairs then wobbles before going head over ass down the stairs where she just stops. After her head cracks on the marble.
Well, I sure as shit didn't see that coming…
Playlist: Kings and Queens- Ava Max
All Fall Down- One Republic
We are entering more soap opera territory with this turn of events. But I'm here for it. Anyone else? Then tune in next Sunday for another episode of Boots.
