Imma start setting the review goal to one hundred, because wow. It honestly makes me feel so good that you all like this story! This chapter isn't very long either, but I do hope you enjoy it! I'll probably update again on Wednesday, I'm almost on chapter fifty.

Chapter Forty-One

I was finally able to get back to the bakery today! I woke up extra early this morning, but I couldn't run off to the bakery immediately. Edward and I had talked out the rules, and I understood them, and I'd follow all of them.

We cut the hours of the bakery. I was now opened from eleven to five. Edward was also insistent on driving me every day. We also updated my security system. Added new cameras, an automatic alarm, a panic button… Basically, any security device they made was now installed into my bakery. I'm sure Edward spent a fortune to upgrade the bakery, but I didn't fight him on it. It made both of us feel better.

"Come on Edward!" I said at ten, when he was still snoozing.

He groaned, "Ugh, please it was a late night."

It truly had been a late night for him. He'd been staying up so late for a week now, trying to figure everything out. I really wasn't too sure what he was trying to solve, since the police were handling everything.

He said he had hired several private investigators, to try and find this guy, along with his associates. I prayed they would be found soon that way I didn't have to be so worried all the time.

"Alright, I'm up," he said as he rubbed his eyes, "I'm up."

"You need to get up too, you're opening that business remember?" I said somewhat bitterly.

That was another thing Edward had sprung on me. He didn't tell me because he knew I'd get annoyed and accuse him of going overboard.

Edward bought the empty building beside the bakery. He decided to open up some new financing business and was stationing himself there. He wanted to be close to me. Of course I thought it was a little silly, since his friend was already going to be living in the apartment and keeping an eye on things.

Edward forced himself out of bed and got ready. I had been ready for about two hours now, and I was just going crazy waiting for him.

"You ready?" He said.

"I've been ready, let's go."

He laughed, "Alright. Come on." When we got to the front door, he called the dogs. They jumped into the backseat of the SUV and sat patiently. They were very well trained. And they were actually pretty cute, but Edward wouldn't let me baby them. He said they were working dogs, and if I babied them, they'd lose their edge. Of course I snuck treats and snuggles whenever he wasn't looking.

"How are you feeling?" Edward asked.

"I feel okay," I said, "I don't really feel nervous. We've done everything humanly possible to make sure I'm safe and secure."

He nodded, "Yes we have. And I'm really glad you're going along with everything. It makes me feel much better."

"Well, you know, I really don't want to die," I chuckled.

Edward gave me a dark look. He didn't like when I joked about the situation. I told him I was just trying to lighten things up, but he didn't like it.

Riley was waiting outside of the bakery when we got there. I jumped out of the car and gave him a quick hug.

"Glad to be back?" He chuckled.

"Oh yeah," I said, "Are you ready to get back to work?"

"Most definitely," he looked over my shoulder, "What's with the dogs?"

Tank and Nero was standing behind me, their eyes trained on Riley. They were frozen like statues.

"Nero, Tank, settle." They sat, and relaxed slightly, but they still eyed Riley, "These are my new security pups. Don't be too intimated, they're sweet."

"No, they're not," Edward said, "They're highly trained guard dogs. They're here to protect Bella."

"How's that going to work? They just follow you around. Who's going to walk them?"

"No, Nero is going to have a place in the front of the bakery, and Tank will be in the kitchen. And Edward hired a two dog walkers to come by and let them out at different times."

"I also met the muscle head," Riley said, rubbing his neck, "Caught me by surprise while I was waiting."

I blushed, "Sorry about that. The guy who lives upstairs also doubles as bodyguard. He's nice too. You just have to get to know Paul."

"I'm hoping I don't have any more run ins with him."

I opened the bakery and walked in. There was a large bed in the corner of the bakery behind the counter. There was also a sign that said guard dog, do not touch. Edward snapped his finger and immediately, Nero walked to the bed and sat.

Riley whistled, "Highly trained is right."

Edward's phone buzzed. He looked at it and sighed, "I got to go Bella. You'll be okay?"

"I'll be fine," I said, kissing his cheek.

"You'll call me if you need me, right?" He said.

"Don't worry, I'll call you."

He leaned down and pressed his lips against mine. I could tell he was trying to deepen the kiss, but before he could, his phone buzzed again.

"Go ahead and go, I'll see you at five."

Edward walked out of the door, and Riley and I went into the kitchen. Tank followed us and found his place on his bed.

"So, how have you been Bella?" Riley asked, "I was really worried about you."

"I'm good," I said, "Well, not good. I'll be better once they find the jerk who did this to me."

Riley nodded, "I hope they find him. Fucker."

"Me too."

We prepped everything together then opened the bakery. It was a little slow, but I guess since I had to shut it down for a couple weeks, people didn't know when it would open back up. I'd have to see if Maggie would post on Facebook that we were open.

"Did you eat breakfast this morning?" Riley laughed as he walked back into the kitchen and caught me eating more icing.

"I don't know, I guess it's just so good today. I haven't baked in a while." I said, wiping my mouth.

"Well, quit eating the product," He chuckled, "There's a lady out there asking for you. She wants to request a cake."

When I walked out of the kitchen, there was a woman with bright red hair standing out there. She looked very familiar, but then Tanya walked in behind her and I immediately recognized her. She was Victoria, Tanya's friend.

"Bella!" Tanya gushed and ran around the counter to hug me, "How are you?"

"Uh, I'm good," I said, awkwardly hugging her back.

"I heard about what happened, I'm so sorry. That sounds so awful."

"It was, but I'm good now," I smiled, "I'm a survivor."

"That you are," She smiled.

"Did you have time for a little consult with Victoria?"

"Oh, of course. Things are a little slow right now. Come on back." I waved them to the room in the back.

"Oh this looks so cute," Tanya said.

"Thanks I finally had it finished," I said as I fished out my book, "This is my book of the cakes I've done. But I can do other designs."

She flipped through the book, "These look great."

"What's the event for?" I asked.

"It's for my sister's birthday," She said, "She's turning twenty-one and I wanted to do something special for her."

"Of course," I said, "When is her party?"

"It's three weeks away. We're planning a surprise party for her and it's my job to get the cake."

"Well then that's plenty of time to preorder a cake," I said.

She nodded, "It's going to be a pretty big party, like thirty something people."

"I can do a cake that size. You'd need at least a twelve inch cake. That'll cost around eighty-five dollars. I do offer delivery, but you may pick it up if you wish. There is a delivery fee."

"Who drops it off?" She asked.

"Sometimes me, sometimes the man in the front. It just depends on my schedule."

She nodded, "Okay, well, I'd like to go ahead and place my order."

I took her order and we just chatted about the party. It sounded like a fun event. But something was off about Victoria. It just seemed as though she really didn't want to be here. I thought maybe she was just stressed out about the party, but I wasn't sure.

"It was good seeing you Bella," Tanya said as I walked them out.

"It was nice to see you too." I said.

She gave me a tight squeeze before leaving. Through the window I saw Edward walking down the street. He paused when he spotted Tanya. They exchanged some words then he continued to the bakery.

"Hello beautiful," He said as he kissed me, "How's your day going?"

"It's been fine. How about yours?"

"Eh, stressful." He chuckled humorlessly, "But I have a little break. You want to grab some lunch."

"I really shouldn't leaving the bakery, I just got back," I said, "Want to order in? Jenks can have his delivery kid bring it."

"Sounds good to me," He said.

"Good because I am craving a huge cheeseburger and a banana milkshake." I thought for a moment, "Oh and I want some chili cheese fries."

Edward gave me a funny look, "I thought you hated banana milkshakes? And chili cheese fries?"

I shrugged, "I guess my taste buds are changing. I'm dying for a banana milkshake and chili cheese fries. So, call and order."

He laughed, "Yes ma'am."

About twenty minutes later, the delivery kid dropped off our order. We sat in the kitchen an ate, since the bakery was slow. I ate everything Edward ordered, and I also stole some of his chicken salad.

"Good lord Bella," Riley laughed as he watched me steal some of Edward's food, "Does he not feed you when y'all are together?"

"I don't know what's wrong with me," I said as I shot him a look, "Maybe I'm stressed."

"It's alright," Edward said before checking his watch, "I got to get going. I have a meeting."

"I'll see you later babe," I said; he leaned down and kissed me.

"Finish it, I'm full," He pushed his box to me. I smiled and dug into his food.

Bella is back at the bakery! So, what do you think of Victoria? Do you think she's scheming? Let me know in a review!