BELLA'S POV

I was standing in the forest. It was a familiar place. My mind was used to coming here. I could feel the squish of the earth under my feet.

No, please no. I was pleading.

I turned and looked behind me. That's when I saw it. The vine maple tree. It's leaves were rustling ever so slightly. There was no wind. So, why were the leaves moving? Then realization spread through me, hot and blistering. Edward had run away. He had made the breeze. He was gone.

I sat up quickly; jolted out of sleep. Not that dream, I groaned, letting out a frustrated gust of air. I would take any memory but that one right now.

The sun was coming in the window and I looked for the nearest clock. I had no idea what time it was, but even though it was Saturday, if the sun was up, I knew I should have been at the office a long time ago.

It went against everything that I'd taught myself, but I laid back down. My eyes were sticky and swollen and it felt better if I closed them. No harm done, Bella, I reminded myself. So, you saw him again. No big deal.

I had come this far. I could get through this. This was not as bad as before. Not as bad . . . .

For some reason, my mind traveled back to that stupid letter I left for him at Charlie's house on my last morning in Forks. I'd been so angry when I'd written it. I'd just taken the last few things out of my bedroom and sat them by the front door for Charlie to load into the cruiser. I remembered how I'd stood in my room, trying to say good-bye to all the memories. I laid down on my bed one more time and then went to my window and locked the latch I'd asked Charlie to buy for me. When I touched that window, I felt the shaking begin and I grit my teeth and whispered to no one, "This is the last time I cry in my room for you."

I'd then found paper in my bedside table drawer and scrawled the angry message that he would never see.

And I hadn't been back to Forks since.

I'd walked out of my room that day without turning back, but the problem was, I had turned back in my memory too many times. And I didn't know which way to turn anymore.

The phone rang. I struggled to get up in the tight dress and stumbled my way to my purse. "Hello," I answered thickly.

"Isabella, I tried your office first. I'd assumed that's where you'd be. I want to know how things went last night with "C".

I forced myself to become coherent. "Yes, Mr. Hathaway. I did have a brief meeting with him last night, and we have scheduled a meeting for Monday morning at 7:00 a.m."

"Excellent, I will be anxious to hear how you plan to proceed with the take-over. Stop by my office after the meeting."

The sleep was leaving my body and I cleared my scratchy throat. "Ah, Mr. Hathaway," I began nervously, "After I spoke with "C" last night, I realized I may have been premature in thinking they were ripe for a split. I plan to use Monday's meeting to tell them that we're abandoning our designs on their company." I held my breath, waiting for his reply.

"Isabella," he growled, "I've been over every document and C- CORP is a textbook case for what you do best. The conditions couldn't be any more perfect for a take-over." There was a slight pause. "You're not going soft on me, are you Swan?"

I straightened my back. "No sir, I'm not. I just think . . ."

"I don't pay you to think Swan, I pay you to catch and kill." In a softer, more menacing voice he said, "I don't have to tell you what will happen to your future with us if you decide not to play ball. Those who go soft, never get their names placed on buildings. Word will spread that you've lost your edge, and no one else will hire you either."

My mouth went dry. "Mr. Hathaway, there's another company that I believe to be a much sounder bet than C- CORP. We would stand to make double the money on the deal." I was bluffing, but he didn't need to know that.

He growled low. "You were the one who alerted me to C- CORP in the first place! We've been on this for months now. Do you have any idea how much money we've spent in man power alone to flush this "C" character out?"

I swallowed hard and used my most decisive and forceful tone. "Mr. Hathaway, I don't want to continue the takeover of C- CORP."

"Swan," he snarled, "I know you may be a little scared to . . ."

"Scared?" I shouted into the phone. "I assure you that I am not at all scared!"

"Then what reason could you possibly have for not wanting to take them down?"

Because the company belongs to a family full of vampires and I'm in love with their oldest son.

I didn't really have a quick answer for him.

"Isabella," his voice was low and intense. "I have molded you and sculpted you into the perfect killing machine. I've been your mentor these last three years and I've always been on your side. I have never demanded anything of you, but I'm telling you now, I want you to make me proud. I order you to finish what you started. Take this company down or you will not see your name next to mine on the building."

My stomach turned. "I won't let you down, Mr. Hathaway."

"That's the spirit!" He bellowed. "I'll talk to you on Monday."

"Yes, Mr. Hathaway."

This was a problem.

I quickly showered and made it to the office about 9:30 am. Simmons was already there. He always went to the gym and had an early morning work-out on Saturday mornings, and then came into the office in sweats and a t-shirt.

He had everything spread out in the conference room. The huge table made working much easier. He tried to act like everything was normal, like he didn't see me cry last night.

"Hey there," he said. "I hope you don't mind, I took the liberty of ordering breakfast. Sitting at the table was a steaming cup with Starbucks written across it.

"This is just what I needed, thank you," I said a bit too cheerfully.

"What section are you on," I asked. "Bring me up to speed with what you're doing."

So, the day went on until about 1:00 in the afternoon when Simmons said he needed something to eat.

"Can I get you something?" he asked.

I shook my head. "No, I'm fine."

"I'll be back in twenty minutes." He stood up and left the room.

I knew I should have kept working, but I was exhausted from my terrible night's sleep on the floor. I laid my head on the table and told myself I would just close my eyes for a minute.

I woke up to see Simmons sifting through C- CORP's records of a company purchased in France in 1953. I bolted upright and looked at my watch and saw it was 3:30 in the afternoon.

"Holy Crow! I'm sorry. Why didn't you wake me up?" I started blinking and shifting papers.

"It looked like you could use the sleep," he said dryly.

I rubbed my face and started back on the rough draft of the report I planned to give to C- CORP's lawyers on Monday.

"I brought you some food," he said.

"I told you I was fine," I retorted.

"Humans eat," he muttered.

He handed me the styrofoam container filled with Chow Mein and rice. I pieced at the now cold food unenthusiastically.

"Bella, do you care If I ask you a question?" He asked hesitantly.

"Yes, actually I do," I growled, never looking up from my papers.

"You talked in your sleep," he said.

"That's not a question," I barked.

"You said "Edward" three times." I slowly lifted my head and saw that his brown eyes were looking at me carefully.

I smirked. "I must really have this company on my mind."

He shook his head. "I don't think that's it."

I looked back down and continued writing. I heard him give an exasperated sigh. I ignored him.

"Bella, I can't go into this meeting on Monday not knowing where your head is at. You changed as soon as you saw Edward Cullen last night. If you don't want to talk to me, then so be it. But, you need to talk to somebody and as far as I know, I'm your only friend."

My eyes shot up and I glared daggers at him. "Oh, you're my friend? I wasn't aware that friends sold each other out for tickets on the 50 yard line!"

He winced. "I just told him he could sit by you. I didn't offer him your firstborn."

I rolled my eyes. "Besides, you're not my only friend. I have lots of friends."

He sat back and raised a doubtful eyebrow at me.

"You obviously know this Cullen guy from somewhere, and you definitely have some kind of history," he said seriously.

"You're obviously in the wrong line of work, you should be a detective," I scoffed.

He shifted uncomfortably. "I saw something last night that I haven't seen once in the two years we've been working together." His eyes narrowed. "Your wall came down, not a lot, but some. I was under the impression that your wall was a fortress, completely impenetrable." He leaned forward in his chair. "You were, or still are, in love with that guy."

I felt the fire broil inside me. "You are wrong, totally off base, and totally out of line," I shouted angrily.

He didn't back down. "Before Thomas Vaughn, when was your last date?"

I twisted my face. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Just humor me, when was your last date?"

I exhaled noisily.

"Did you date in college?"

"No. I was too busy studying so I could be smarter than you," I shot back.

"Did you date in High School?"

"Sure," I tried to sound nonchalant.

"So, your last date was when you were like, 17 or 18?"

"Something like that," I muttered.

"You went to high school in Northern Washington and Forks Hospital is in Northern Washington, so . . . my guess is that your last date was with him." He sat back smugly in his chair acting like Sherlock Holmes solving a case. All he was missing was the pipe and funny hat.

I rolled my eyes and chuckled, "You don't even know what you're talking about."

"Oh, I think I do."

"I know plenty of guys," I said defiantly.

"Name two."

"Philip and Oscar," I announced triumphantly.

His face twisted. "Who are Philip and Oscar?"

I muttered something unintelligible.

He turned his ear in my direction. "What was that? I didn't quite catch that."

"They're the doormen in my building." I sat back and folded my arms as I stared at my papers.

Simmons pursed his lips thoughtfully and then let out a big sigh. "Bella, before we go into that meeting on Monday, I need to know one thing. Are you in love with Edward Cullen?"

"Of course not," I replied.

He stood up, exasperated, and began walking around the room. He stopped and leaned against the wall across from the table and ran his hands through his hair in frustration. "You could do a lot worse, you know. He seems to be a really nice guy and apparently for being so young, is quite wealthy and successful. Every woman in the ballroom couldn't take their eyes off of him. Lucky for me, he and his brother left before Giselle saw them. Thomas Vaughn was standing right next to Edward and no one even looked at him. . . ."

"Shut up, all right?" I couldn't take it. Being reminded of Edward's virtues was the last thing I needed right now.

He came back to the table, leaned over it and looked right in my face. His voice became gentle. "Your meeting last night wasn't very long, and Jasper was extremely evasive when I tried to get information. When you walked away, you were cry. . . a little emotional, which tells me that he did something to hurt you and you've spent the last seven years trying, in your own way, to forget. I believe he's the reason for your wall. The one who made you not want to be human anymore."

I stared at him in shock. I just wanted him to stop talking and leave this alone.

"We still have a lot of work to do," I said roughly.

"Are you in love with Edward Cullen?" His eyes bored into me.

"I already answered that question," I said angrily.

He hit the table and said, "Damn it, Bella. Do you love Edward Cullen?"

"It doesn't matter anyway," I breathed out painfully.

All the air went out of him in a frustrated huff. "If it doesn't matter, then just tell me." He looked at me with compassion. "If I know what's really going on, then I can help, make it easier. I have a lot of professional stake in this too, you know. We're a team. Bella, are you still in love with him?"

I bit my lip and defiantly swallowed back any emotion. I couldn't say the words. I answered by nodding my head.

He let out a relieved sigh and stood up straight. "Thank you," he murmured.

He was silent for a moment and then said, "Now, I need to know how you plan to take down the company of the man you love?"

I swallowed hard. "I'd already decided that I was dropping the whole thing. But Mr. Hathaway called this morning and when I gave him the news, he accused me of going soft and informed me that my future with the company was tied to this deal."

"What?" Simmons' voice went up two octaves and then he shook his head. "Actually, I guess that doesn't surprise me." He exhaled long and deep. "So what are you going to do?"

I shrugged. "I have no future with Edward. I'm sure that he and his family have numerous holdings in many other places. I'm going through with it. I have to. I'll be as tough as I always am and finish it quickly. He'll leave," I said, feeling the gash widen in my middle. "And for me, it will go back to business as usual."

He looked doubtful. "Is that what you really want?"

"Absolutely." To my credit, I didn't even flinch.

I put my finger right in his face and said harshly, "And another thing, I will fire you on the spot if you try any more matchmaking business. If I find out that Edward Cullen has my direct phone number at the office or my private cell number, you are gone, mister. You will not tell him where I live, you will not let him in my office, and you will not find a way for us to be alone. Get the word out to the entire staff that nobody is to speak to them."

I wasn't taking any chances. Edward and Jasper could dazzle a starving man from his last crust of bread.

Simmons' lips were a hard line as he stared at me and then simply said, "Okay."

"One more thing." I knew it was going to sound strange, but it was necessary that I say it. "Anytime we're around Mr. Cullen, you must not, under any circumstances think about what I told you concerning my feelings for him."

He froze, looking bewildered. "You want me to control my thoughts around him?"

This was the touchy part, making him fear Edward without understanding why. "Mr. Cullen is . . . very. . . perceptive . . . to what others around him are thinking. Call it a gift. I'm concerned that if he finds out how I feel, he'll try and use my feelings as leverage; to gain the upper hand. He's extremely intelligent and he'll be looking for any unseen opportunity, so you must not think about any of this, okay? Also, it would be a good idea if you tried very hard not to think about our strategy either. I'll give you some pointers."

He stared at me strangely. "All right," he answered meekly.

Hopefully, his impression of Edward was changing. That was good. A healthy fear of your opponent was never a bad thing.

Without another word, we both put our heads back down and got back to work.

I was now a world class problem solver who was about to go into the battle of her life.

I had never lost.

And I wasn't about to start now.