"Edward will feature in a major article for the magazine. He's dating our lead journalist. They plan to keep the relationship alive despite the fact he is going to space," Edward reads from his phone, "I think Hollywood could even make a movie… Jesus Christ."
I'm wearing a bikini. I have a towel around my waist. But I have never felt so exposed.
"I'm sorry," I whisper.
"You're just here for some article?" He shakes his head.
"God no," I shake my head in panic.
I need to not cry right now. I need to explain. Because this looks really bad – it is really bad. I betrayed him. Why didn't I just tell him?
Perhaps because I thought my boss would let it go. That the article would be out of the way and I could do this conditions free.
I was so naive and now it would lead me to crushing heartbreak.
"She asked for an article and I refused to write it," I say, "I like you too much to do that to you. I told her the other day that nothing she could say would make me write it."
"You only came to that conclusion then?" He asks.
He's furious.
God why do I fuck up everything I touch?
"No. I just… I decided it the second she asked me," I say, "but there's complicating factors."
"Like what?" He throws his phone down onto the couch, arms crossed.
"My father," I say, "my own financial issues. My employment, my career, cancer medical costs from my Mother."
"All for the low cost of my privacy?" He snaps.
"Not all of us were adopted by a billionaire," I snap back before I can even control the words, "you can judge me. But you don't understand the fear of choice."
"Fear of choice? Like leaving behind a woman I adore or heading to space?" He offers."you've made that certainly easier with these lies."
"I never meant to lie," I say, "I didn't think it mattered. I shut it down because I wanted you. I didn't want to share you."
"If for a moment my job placed conditions on my relationship I'd leave," he shakes his head.
"Even if by leaving you'd surely find yourself and your unwell father homeless?" I shake my head, tears finally falling.
His expression softens slightly, but bewilderment remains.
"I am serious about you," I say desperate, "I am so sorry you found out this way. But everything I have said I have meant."
"Did Rose know?" He ignores me.
"Yes. She's been helping me find another job or write an alternative article," I say.
"Emmett is going to be just as angry," he says.
"He shouldn't be. This was my fault and she was trying to protect me," I defend her.
For a few moments he says nothing. I step toward him, placing my hand on his arm. But he recoils, pulling away.
My heart shatters.
"Fine," I nod, voice breaking, "I'm sorry. Sincerely sorry. I never ever meant to hurt you. I hope you know that I made a mistake and I just wanted to protect you. I wanted you to never find out about the article because I feared you'd question my intentions."
He begins to speak but I hold my hand up to stop him.
"To make it clear, those intentions are this. I wanted to fall so hard in love with you that I wouldn't ever think of coming up for air ever again," I let out a long breath before continuing, "I already am falling for you."
"Is that the headline?" He strikes.
"Im beating a dead horse," I turn my back on him and head toward the stairs leading to my room, "Thank you."
"What for?" He asks after me.
"Your hospitality," I pull out my phone, the dial tone transitioning to a person by the time I'm in my room.
"I need to order a taxi," I say.
"Bella," Rosalie shouts out to me, "stop. Where are you going? Come back inside!"
I'm placing a suitcase into the boot of a taxi as she runs down the front stairs to me.
"I can't stay now," I shake my head, "I'll see you at home."
"Don't be stupid," she scowls, "just give him space."
"He won't believe me. I broke his trust," I shake my head, "I hurt him and I don't know how to fix this."
"Fine. Look, let's just go to a hotel for tonight. Give it time to cool down," Rose suggests.
"I'll go to a hotel," I say, "I have to be alone. I have calls to make. I dare say I'll be job hunting tonight. I'll get a flight in the morning."
"He doesn't want you to go," she pleads.
"Oh. Really? Then why isn't he out here telling me that?" I asks
"Because he is hurt. But he will come around and realise you're telling the truth. Emmett believes you. It was a stupid mistake," she says, "you weren't malicious, you were just dumb."
"Ma'am?" The taxi driver puts his hand on the boot door.
"Close it," I nod.
"Bella just please stay. Give it till tomorrow night. I can try change his mind," she pleads.
"Don't try change anything. I gave him the facts and the information. It's up to him to decide if he believes me," I open the taxi door, "I hope you enjoy your time with Emmett. Stay with him like we planned okay? He really likes you and you need to pursue it."
"Don't give advice you're not willing to take," Rosalie shouts as I shut my door.
"Take me to the airport," I say to the driver.
As he pulls away I don't look back. I'm too scared that he won't be there, thinking about trying to stop me.
"What do you mean there's no flights?" I sigh.
"There's a storm," the unhelpful check in attendant says, "nothing is going in or out of New York. You'll need to either wait in the airport or try again tomorrow morning."
I glare at her.
It's not her fault. But I need someone to be mad at right now.
"Just call me if a flight comes up. First standby please," I sigh.
"Yes ma'am," she is already looking past me for the next passenger.
I find a café. It's empty with only those boarding late flights lingering in the airport halls. I fire up my laptop and begin to type an email I should have sent weeks ago.
I resign.
Following that email to Laura I write to the publication that broke the news about Edward's article. I explain that I refused the privacy invasion and Laura has made it all up. I brand her with a fake news iron.
My phone buzzes on the table beside me.
Letting out a shaky sigh I answer.
"Where are you?" Rosalie demands, voice laced with worry.
"I'm…" I begin.
"Flight AA 9333 is boarding now. Final call."
"Isabella Marie Swan," Rosalie shouts, "I told you not to go there."
"Relax," I say, "I can't go anywhere. There's no flights until tomorrow."
"Where are you?" She asks again.
"A café," I say, "I'm fine. I'm going to find a motel near the airport and come back early tomorrow morning."
"Just come back here," she pleads.
"Where is she?" I hear Emmett ask.
"The mother fucking airport," Rose responds pulling the phone from her mouth, "do you have a car? I'll go get her."
"You've been drinking wine all day," Emmett's voice nears the phone, suddenly he's on the other end, "Bella. Are you okay?"
For a moment I'm okay. Then I begin to cry properly. It's the question that broke the gates.
"Now she's a lady sobbing in an airport. Never ask a sad woman if they're okay," Rosalie says in the background.
"I'm sorry! Do you need me to get you a car or something? I get if you're uncomfortable to come back here but I want to make sure you're safe," he says.
"I'm fine," I sniffle, "I'll head to a hotel soon. I just have some emails to send. I resigned so I need to have a hard chat with my father."
"I'm so sorry Swan. I'm so mad for you. You were put between a rock and a hard place. I'm trying to get him to come around, but he's a fucking hard ass," Emmett says, "just be safe okay? He'll get over the anger and come around. I promise you. Please don't go far because he leaves next week. He can't follow you if you escape to New York."
"Maybe he won't. I don't expect him to follow me," I sigh.
"He will," Emmett says, "I know him like the back of my hand. He is smitten with you. No chance he'd go up there without making this right."
"Em… I really like him. I let this get out of hand," I groan.
"We all make mistakes. Your boss shouldn't have ever asked this from you to begin with," Emmett says, "I'm in your corner, Swan."
Once I compose myself I find a room to check into. I check my phone every few minutes in case he texts before finally falling asleep at 4am. I'm woken to it ringing.
"Hello," I groan tiredly.
"Miss Swan?"
That's not Edward.
"Speaking," I say.
"I'm so sorry to call so early. This is Doctor Jasons from Forks Hospital. There's been an incident with your father," he says.
Fate has a real messed up way of kicking you when you're down.
Thanks so much for reading!!