Some of y'all were not happy with the last chapter. One even left... Most were GRs who were most displeased. It is labeled angst for a reason. Stupid characters is not a genre. Perhaps I should update the summary?

Thank you to Team Harpy.

More 'manipulative' Edward and 'irrational' Bella down below. Seriously y'all, take it as tongue in cheek and laugh. This isn't real.

Chapter 46

I wait yet another week before intruding. I'm not too insensitive to know that my presence upsets her but the more time I give her the further she drifts from me. That and I had to deal with being investigated about Angela. She is still in a medically induced coma due to her head trauma but Dwyer said the investigation is stalled until she wakes up. So that's that for now. I have bigger fish to fry.

I use my old key to let myself in knowing she'd still be sleeping. It's only six am and still dark outside. I make my way to the studio and queue up the instrumental track I worked on this past week. New circumstances make for new music. Unfortunately it's not happy music.

I take off my jacket and throw it aside then prop the door open so she'll be sure to hear.

'Don't go too deep into the flood

Don't stare too long, you'll poison my love

Don't shut me out, don't hold it all in

Don't let my venom get under you skin

'Cause every work and every turn

Every sign points to your hurt

With every hour you're drifting further away'

It's a soft song but I have the volume way up and it's not long before I hear her stumble towards the room. I quickly get in front of the mic, throw on my headphones and close the sound booth.

'Don't banish me then bid me home

Don't tell me where I come undone

Don't harbor love like it's all your own

Don't linger over what you've done

Don't sink underneath the weight of

With you're trying to carry way too much'

I hear her yell something about 'not being a good way to wake up the boss'. Then she notices me. Out of my peripheral, I see her approach, hesitant and confused.

'You never should have let go

You could have joined the whole show

You never should have let go

You never should have let go'

"What is this?" She shouts. "Masen, knock it off!" When I don't reply she enters then takes the headphones off my ears. "I said knock it off! What are you trying to prove?"

I stop singing. "Not a thing. Just reporting for work, Boss."

I make my way out of the sound booth and she follows me. "Who are you to presume that your services are required here anymore? And who are you to presume that you can avoid my privacy like this?"

"Technically this is my home." I point out.

"Bull. You live up at the big house. This place is all mine so you can just clear out of here, Buddy." She walks out as she points down the hallway indicating that I can leave.

"Not so fast. We have a binding agreement."

"Yeah and it was binding for about five minutes until you committed bigamy, so get out."

"Actually I was referring to Masen Whitlock's agreement with you and BAR." I cross my arms because shit is about to hit the fan so I'm on the defensive though I know I have no right to be.

"Forget it. I would rather scrap all the merch before I work with you again."

"I don't think so. First of all, it wouldn't be fair to the guys. And secondly, you can't. When two parties have been delivering services under established terms that is considered a contract."

"Not in this case." She smirks. "And not by me." She tries to flounce off and I almost hate to do this but I'm going to anyway.

"By any court of law," I reply distinctly.

She stops in her tracks and turns around. "You're threatening me? About taking me to court? Cause I'd really love to see you try."

"It won't come to that. Your professional reputation is at stake. And you have a truckload of merchandise to promote and unload, so you wanna get to work or do you wanna get dressed first?" I look at her silky robe. "Personally I think you look fantastic."

She closes her robe tighter around her body.

"You're messing with me in a big way, Cullen. This isn't about contracts and head games. BAR is my dream, and Alice's and Rose's too."

"Why do you think I'm…"

"Shut up. A dream that came alive because of a lot of hard work and trust… trust you violated in a big way. And now you wanna use my dream to manipulate me?"

"Never. Masen Whitlock is my dream. He was born because of you and I am not about to watch him die."

"You killed him."

"He's standing here in front of you. Humbly prepared to do whatever it takes to make this work."

"Make what work?"

"It's all tied together as far as I'm concerned but if you're not ready to deal with Edward Cullen then let's stick with Masen Whitlock. I mean if you think it's impossible to forgive Edward's mistakes and you can't see how much he truly loves you. If you feel like it's necessary to stay mad at him for a while… a good long while I might add… I understand but don't take it out on Masen. Masen has been true to you. Masen has given one hundred percent of himself and you've also invested a lot into Masen Whitlock and the Idle Rich so what are you going to do with him?" I am aware I am talking of myself in the third person.

"I say it's time to scrap him." She replies.

"With all these CD's and merchandise? Ready to be promoted with your big chance of success right around the corner. Success which you predicted by the way. Don't you wanna be proved right?"

"I don't have a lot of faith in my instincts anymore."

"Bella, when you picked me up in that Port Angeles bar you were right on track and right now your judgment is clouded by your anger at me. I'm not saying your anger isn't valid because it is but don't screw it up for BAR. Would you let your personal feelings for Jasper get in the way of you promoting him? No. So why should it be any different for Masen?"

"I can think of a few good reasons."

"The Idle Rich is entitled to your best efforts. We want to help make it happen for BAR and we want you to help make it happen for us. I mean, the Idle Rich not us but…"

"Enough already!" She screams. "Stop clouding me with the facts. I'm not one of your Cullen, Inc junkies."

"No, you're my wife. And you're my boss. And right now I'm discussing it with my boss."

"Oh, yeah. I'm in charge. I've never been so in charge."

"Absolutely."

"So why don't you just shut up and listen." She shoves me into a chair and towers over me. "If you'd shown even the slightest bit of conscience about any of this then maybe, just maybe I could consider not eighty sixing Masen Whitlock. But look at you, you're still treating this like some sort of game. Look at you. You're grinning!"

"Can I help it if just being in your presence makes me happy." She scoffs. " Even when you're yelling at me?"

"I bet you'd get a charge out of taking me to court, ruining BAR and sending me to debtor's prison." Is that even a thing anymore? "Then what are you gonna do huh? You gonna bail me out then I'm gonna fall into your arms in gratitude. Is that the scenario, huh?"

She's so adorable when she's worked up, her account even more pronounced and her hands all over the place.

"I just want to sing."

"That's right. You want it all. That's what you said. Spoiled little rich kid wants to take the whole toy store home with him but let me tell you something, Mister. I am not a toy and neither is BAR. You can't have either of us."

"Bella, please be reasonable."

"Be reasonable? I was so damn reasonable that I never asked why you couldn't spend the entire night with your wife. I never questioned why I couldn't be introduced to one member of your entire family. I swallowed all of your lies and your excuses and now I'm chokin' on them. But you don't see why that should make any bit of difference. Do you? Now you have a contract and suddenly a contract means somethin' to you." I want to point out that she did question me quite frequently but I refrain because she's hurt and I did that to her.

"Bella if you don't let me promote these CD's then you're only cutting off your beautiful nose to spite your face."

"You leave my nose out of this!"

"You're forgetting your dream, which also happens to be my dream so just calm down and think about this rationally and dispassionately and you'll realize the best thing to do with these CDs is to let me…"

"I know what the best thing to do with these CDs are and there is nothing dispassionate about it." She goes to a box and empties it out on the table. "Let me show you the best thing to do with them." She throws one at me. "For your dreams!" I pick up a chair and try dodging them. Then another one. "For mine!" Another one. "Here's for your lies!" Another one. "Here is one for the bleached blonde!" I hear a couple of gasps and watch Rosalie and Alice dart out of the doorway.

"I guess he told her," Alice says to Rosalie.

"You think?"

"Here is for making me never want to go back to Denver again! Here's for ruining my life!"

Rosalie darts past me and takes the CD from Bella.

"I swear I could throw a few of those at you myself." Alice hisses.

"What did I do?" I ask.

"Get him out of her before I kill him," Bella screams.

"Okay, but don't kill him with the potential profit." Rosalie admonishes. "They could become collector's items."

"Now there's an idea."

"You're joking right, Bella."

"Edward, we are trying to run a business here. You know about business right? There's just not much room for sentiment is there? Sometimes we have to make tough decisions."

"That's what I was trying to tell Bella," I tell Alice.

Bella grabs another CD and aims it but Rosalie takes it from her. I duck. "She needs Masen Whitlock."

"LIke hell I do!"

"Why didn't you just wait until we could break this to her gently?" Alice whispered.

"Because I woke up this morning with an uncontrollable urge to sing."

"I can stifle that urge."

"Enough!" Rosalie yells. She settles Bella into a chair. "Everyone has blown off some steam. To your corners. Let's consider the situation."

"I've considered it. Throw the bum out." She points to the door.

"We can't throw the bum out. This is our place of business and Masen Whitlock does business with us."

"He's not Masen, he's Cullen."

"There's nothing illegal about a stage name. I don't know if he's told you but he has us over a barrel contractually. Now we take our chances on a lawsuit and eat these promotional items or we can promote The Idle Rich and Masen Whitlock. Come on, it would do BAR a lot of good. What's it gonna be?"

"That's not fair, Rose. That's loading the question."

"I'm entitled to my opinion."

"Ali. You're actually asking me to work with this jerk?"

"No. No, I will back you either way."

"See what happens next time you need a favor?" I tell her.

"When have I ever asked you for anything? It's always been the other way around."

"Okay. It is not fair for you all to suffer because of him and because I'm a lousy judge of men though I am a great judge of talent if I do say so myself so here's the deal." She turns to Rosalie. "We will promote Masen Whitlock and The Idle Rich."

"Yes!" I yell.

She whirls around to me. "On these conditions. First, I don't ever have to speak to him. Second, the only time I have to see him is at gigs or rehearsals. Third, if I kill him you two will hire the best lawyers money can buy and get me off."

"Deal." Rosalie agrees.

"That's workable."

"How am I supposed to communicate with my manager?" I ask Alice.

"Through Rose or me."

"Forget it. The artistic nuance will be lost in translation."

"I will give you nuance!" She lunges for me and Rose grabs her.

"Take it or leave it." Rose hisses as she struggles with Bella.

"Fine. But you… you are the go-between, not Rosalie."

"Why does that not surprise me?" Rosalie rolls her eyes. "Alice looks like you're the middle man again."

"Fine at least everyone knows what's happening this time."

"Oh don't count on it. I don't trust Cullen from here to the front door, which he'd better use before I change my mind."

I just look at her. Not the deal I wanted but I can live with it. Progress is progress. At least she stopped throwing things at my head.

"You heard your boss." Rosalie hints.

"Bella, I just have to…"

She grabs another CD and I hastily leave. I can't help but smile though. That feistiness is one of the first things I fell for. The violence is something we need to work on, however, or she might actually kill me.

Bella

I giggle evilly to myself as I put the finishing touches to the document then print it off. I pull the warm papers off the printer and flip through the many pages.

"If it's work 'Masen' wants, it's work he's gonna get."

"What are you doing?" Alice asks as she wanders in with her coffee.

"Rock 'n Roll schedule in black and white. So there is no confusion about what is expected of Masen Whitlock and The Idle Rich." Is that glee I detect in my voice?

Alice squeals and takes the papers from me. "That's progress! Wait… wow. This is a serious schedule."

"That's what he asked for." I point out as I hover over her shoulder. "He wants to promote right? This ensures he promotes it to the max. Of course, I have prior commitments to the company and to Jasper that prohibits me from being on the road for that long. I mean the gig in Seattle was a huge success and now we have that concert offer for Austin that we'd be stupid not to take them up on. So that honor, my friend and partner, belongs to you." I put my arm around her in a half hug and rub her arm vigorously to make my point. It's a little condescending in nature but I'm feeling a little petty today. And yesterday and the day before that. Basically ever since they told me I had to work with the weasel.

"But you realize I've never done this before, right?"

"Oh yeah, but don't worry. It's not difficult or complicated. You just make sure that your artist stays out of trouble, gets to the gigs on time and the rest of it you just make up as you go along."

"I really appreciate your vote of confidence in me but I'm not sure I buy it. You just want to get Edward out of town right?"

"He's the one that wanted to get back to work. Besides, this is a perfect chance for you to take responsibility around here."

"Alright, I'm just looking at this- and I realize I'm new- but I don't know if Edward is going to be able to handle this schedule and still run Cullen, Inc…"

"No?"

"No."

"Oh, gee. That's too bad. I guess he's just gonna have to make a choice for once in his life."

"Bella…"

"Stop. It's a lesson he's gotta learn. Even the great and powerful Edward Cullen can't have it all."

I dismiss her and go on about my business of making my other artist, the one who didn't two time me, successful. She can have Cullen, I have Jasper.

Edward

"Hello?' I answer impatiently. I'm still pissed at Alice for siding with Bella when it really counted. I understand it's childish but it's been a bad five weeks.

"You still mad at me?"

"What do you want Alice?"

"You can't be mad at me. You need me."

"For what?"

"To protect you from Bella. Boy, does she have it in for you." I can hear her smirk through the phone.

I groan and then have my assistant cancel all my appointments before heading to the cottage to see what Alice is talking about.

She's concentrating on something, tapping her nails against the wood while she bites her lip. I take her in for just a moment. I rarely get to see her like this anymore. I know it's my fault but seeing her calm and not angry is a real treat.

She finally sees me and I school my expression and wait for the onslaught.

"I don't have time for you right now."

"If you think I'm leaving, you're wrong." I can be just as stubborn as she is and I'm pretty sure she sees that in my face.

"Well, while you're here you might as well take a gander at this." She hands me a stapled pack of papers. "It's the promotional tour schedule for The Idle Rich."

I flip through about fifteen pieces of paper all filled with typed out words. Little typed out words.

"Oh. Hmmm. Uh huh. Yeah. Uh huh." I look up at her expectant face. "I can handle this." I declare with what I hope is more confidence than I am currently feeling.

She frowns then moves closer to point something out to me. I breathe her in for the first time in weeks. Discreetly of course.

"Look again. Did you see the gig in Sequim?"

"I love Sequim."

"What… What about the side stop at Whitman College?"

"A fine institution."

"I'm still trying to squeeze in Aberdeen somewhere."

"No problem."

"It is the tour from hell!" She exclaims.

I lean in closer to her. "I don't care how difficult you make this. I am up for the challenge."

"Time will tell if you are up to the rigors of a real work schedule."

"We can do this. In fact I will make the company jet available for the tour." I suggest.

"No, we can't afford jet fuel and pilots."

"I'll cover the expense."

"You absolutely will not. You'll just have to learn to travel on a bus like the rest of us normal people and don't even think about using Cullen, Inc as a distraction cause I simply won't allow it."

"Alright." I surrender. "Nothing is more important to me than our music and you and I fully intend to prove that to you."

"Prove your devotion to the music because that is the business that we are contractually obligated to conduct and business is all its gonna be."

"It will never be only business between us and you know it." I get up and move closer to where she is standing at a filing cabinet.

"Don't delude yourself, Mr. Chief Executive Officer. Cause I'm never going to forgive you and I most certainly am never going to trust you again."

"You won't even give me a chance," I complain as I follow her.

"I gave you a chance and you blew it."

"It must be very nice to go through life and never make a mistake."

She whirls around. "I have made plenty of mistakes. I've also learned to accept the consequences that go along with them. There is your copy of the schedule. Please take it and leave."

I spot Rosalie and Alice hovering in the door as I do just that. "Well, we're up and running."

I don't care if she pushes me away time and time again. Progress is progress. I'm going to show her by rocking this tour from hell. If it's the last thing I do.

Bella

"What was that all about?" Alice asks after he leaves.

"It was a professional difference of opinion, that's all."

"See why are you getting yourself all worked up when you know I'm supposed to be the go-between?"

"Well you weren't here, were you?"

"I have no intention of playing referee between you and Edward. Either you can work with your ex or you can't. You decide." Rosalie asserts.

There's a pang in my chest when she says 'ex'. I rub it absently and will the tears away.

"Okay, my apologies. There's no reason why Edward shouldn't be treated with the same respect to Jasper or any other artist on this label." I admit.

"Thank you, I like that answer."

"No matter how big of a lying, hypocritical, snake in the grass…"

"Bella!" Alice reprimands.

"Sorry, it was a momentary lapse, that's all."

"Bella, consider yourself indulged. From now on we start acting like grown-ups. You got that?" Rose warns.

"Yeah, I got it." I agree, begrudgingly.

I need to talk to someone who won't talk back to me. Who will let me just air my grievances.

And I know just the person...

Playlist: Drifting Further Away- Powderfinger

See you Wednesday.