I adopted this plot bunny a year or so ago. It really intrigued me. I posted a poll in my group asking which story I should work on next and this was the winner. It's definitely a WIP. I've only got a rough outline figured out and I'm going back to my roots with this … writing with a vague plan. I hope that I can do this justice.
None of this is mine … I wish it was. Sigh …
Next up will be an Edward chapter … it may be shorter. We'll see. Thank you to Annamarie for sending me the photos of Edward's home. She sent me some pictures of Pamela Anderson's Malibu mansion and seeing them, I thought it would be a perfect fit for DirectorWard. Thanks, girl!
Chapter Four
Edward
What just happened?
I stood on the curb as the cab pulled away with Bella inside. Yes, I'd gotten a little pissed that Bella just melted as she spoke to whomever was on the phone, but I thought I masked it pretty damn well. It was irrational for me to feel the jealously searing through my veins. She wasn't mine. She wasn't a girlfriend, but I was definitely attracted to her.
Okay, I was more than attracted to her. I was drawn to her.
I pulled out my phone and sent her a text. Bella, come back! Please ~ Edward
Probably, I could have followed her, but I didn't want to be a complete stalker. I'd already done that and it would shifty if I did it again. Walking back to private dining room, I paid for our bill and I pocketed Bella's money. I would give it back to her.
Somehow …
I sent her another text. I was an asshole … I acted like a jealous asshole. Please, let me make it up to you? ~ Edward
She still hadn't responded to me. Not that I expected her to.
Bella was incredibly beautiful, extremely intelligent and terrified beyond belief about being hurt. Who had hurt her?
I got into my car, driving back to beachside, secluded mansion. I parked in the garage and dragged my body into my home. I slipped off my suit coat. I poured myself a glass of scotch, going to sit outside and listen to the waves crash against the shore. Kicking my feet up onto a chaise lounge, I pulled out my cell phone and sent Bella one last message.
I'm truly sorry for being a jerk. I really hope that you can forgive me and give me another chance, along with an opportunity to talk to you, make it up to you. Please? ~ Edward
I hoped she'd respond, but I wasn't holding my breath.
I don't know how long I'd sat outside, but I got a few texts from my sister telling me that she was coming over tomorrow morning to go over a few things. I asked her to not come over too early. I was slightly drunk and I knew I'd be hungover. When my conversation with my sister was over, Bella had responded.
I couldn't really read her emotions through her texts, but I was grateful she replied. She was giving me another chance and hopefully, I'd be able prove to her that I wasn't an asshole like she believed me to be. I finished my drink and got up. I blew out a breath, padding inside of my home and heading up to my master bedroom. I stripped out of my clothes, leaving the door open so I could listen to the waves. It was better than any white noise machine invented.
Eventually I drifted off to sleep and my dreams were filled of a brunette beauty with heart-shaped face, a gorgeous smile and deep brown eyes that held so many secrets.
What was her story?
I woke up early the next morning with a slight headache. I got up, brushed my teeth and dressed in a pair of running shorts and t-shirt. I slipped on a shoes and picked up my phone. Stuffing in my earbuds, I ran out the back door of my home and began my morning run along the shore. I pushed myself. I felt my muscles burn in my legs. The warm, salty air filled my lungs and it helped alleviate the hangover I had. Jogging back up my back porch, I saw my sister sitting on one of the chaise lounges, wearing a pencil skirt and blouse. Her eyes were narrowed. "Do not start with me, Mary Alice. Not until I shower off the funk and I have my coffee," I said.
"I heard that you went out to eat with that author," she scoffed.
"Yeah, I'm showering and if you're here to bad mouth Bella, you can walk your petty little ass out that door," I growled, pointing to the door.
"You don't know her, Edward," she sneered.
"And you do?" I asked, arching a brow. "I'm going to shower and it would be in your best interest to have an attitude adjustment, Alice. Perhaps, get laid? God, it's been so long for you that you turn into this raging bitch …"
"I hate you, Edward," Alice grumbled. "Go shower. You stink."
"No, that's just your attitude," I sighed, walking past her and running up to my room. I took a quick shower, washing off my run. I dressed in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, walking down the steps. Alice was inside, sitting at the kitchen island and sipping some coffee. "Are you going to be human, Alice?"
"I'm sorry," she said. "I should be more open-minded, but there's something I don't trust about Bella and her book. I'll also have you know I did have sex yesterday. It was the most amazing hate sex."
"What the fuck is hate sex?" I asked, making my coffee and pulling out food for breakfast.
"It's sex with someone you hate," Alice answered simply. "I was at the beach yesterday. I wanted to take some of my frustrations out on the waves and I ran into Bella's boyfriend/agent guy."
"They're not dating," I said.
"I know that. Now," Alice retorted. "He took me back to his hotel and we fucked. A lot."
I turned around and glowered at her. "You have this bug up your ass about Bella and you fuck her agent? That's rich, Alice. Hypocrite, much?"
"He's gorgeous and his cock is ginormous," Alice shrugged. "I wanted sex and why not have sex with a guy who is gorgeous and has ginormous cock?"
"Really, Alice?" I sighed. "So, instead you have hate sex with Bella's agent. Why? Talk to me, Alice? Why did you have hate sex with Jasper? Was it to get details about Bella?" Alice spun her coffee cup and looked ashamed. "You're unbelievable! Alice, this is happening. This movie is happening!"
"Why do you think that the sun rises and sets out of this bitch's ass?" Alice asked. "She's not as pure and unsullied as she seems, Edward." She pulled out her phone and typed on the screen furiously. "Do you know she has a kid? She was a teen mom!"
"I know she has a kid and when she gave birth is none of our business," I grumbled. "I thought you were over your thing with Bella."
"I was until I got this email, Edward," she said, pushing her phone to me. "It has some pretty damning evidence that Isabella Swan was a whore."
"So, you're believing some random email from a stranger," I argued, picking up the phone. I read the email and it was poorly written, filled with information about Bella and her son, but no proof of the allegations. "You believe this bullshit? It reads like a four-year-old wrote it with misspelled words and huge rumors. Do you have proof?"
"I want to get it," Alice said. "I want to hire a private investigator to find proof of what was sent to me from this anonymous sender."
"You want to find proof that Bella fucked guys on camera to pay for her drug habit?" I asked, reading from her phone. "That she stripped for money and pimped out her kid? Alice, this sounds like it's coming out of left field. She doesn't seem like the type."
"It's always the quiet ones," Alice argued.
"This is what I know for sure," I said to her. "Bella is incredibly smart. She graduated college from University of California at Berkley with a degree in English Literature and a minor in creative writing, completing all that while working full time and being a mom. She is a single parent to a son, but there's not much about him. Not that I expect there to be … some parents do not share everything about themselves on social media. Bella is private and she has every right to be. Her life is not for us to go poking and prodding into."
"But …"
"No, buts," I said. "She's also a successful author. In addition to the book we're optioning for a movie, she's written six other novels. They're not as intense as Long and Winding Road, but they were just as well-received by critics and fans. Romance novels with suspense and twists and turns. Her characters are well-written, developed with real flaws and the stories are … they're good, Alice."
"Like you've read a romance novel," Alice snorted humorlessly.
"When I got the phone call from Laurent, I bought all of her books and yes, I read them. They were good, really good. They deserved every single accolade," I said. "I just hate that one email has turned you back to hating Bella."
"I just don't trust her," Alice sighed. "But, for you, I'll give her the benefit of the doubt. I still think that there's more to her story ..."
"Which she'll share, if and when she's ready," I interrupted.
"Well, I've got a private investigator on retainer. If you want me to look into her, I will," Alice said as her phone vibrated on my counter. She swiped it, grinning widely.
"Who is it?" I asked.
"Some more hate sex," she smirked.
"You worry me, Alice," I laughed. "Sex is not supposed to be about hate. It's so much more than that."
"How did you end up being the romantic and I'm the cynical one?" she asked.
"Because I still believe in romance. I want what Mom and Dad have. I always have and probably always will. You have always been more like Aunt Carmen. She's gone through husbands like water."
"I'm not like Aunt Carmen. I haven't gotten married or gone through husbands like water," Alice argued.
"No, you're just a slut," I teased.
"Little brother, you are an asshole," Alice growled, throwing a grape at my head. She smirked at the text she'd received. "Well, I am a slut and this slut is getting this dick." She shoved a dick pick in my face.
"Oh, God!" I groaned, pushing it away. "I don't need to see another man's penis."
"I'm going to ride this bucking bronco," Alice giggled, her eyes sparkling. "Let me know if you want me to find the dirty details about Bella."
"I won't," I answered. "I definitely will not. I'll take whatever she can give me and I like her. I respect her. I know you don't, but this professional relationship is happening."
"Professional?" Alice asked.
"Go have some hate sex," I sighed. "I'm going to work on a preliminary plan for the movie. We're moving forward and I want to have some plans."
Alice rolled her eyes, sashaying out of my house. She hopped into her canary yellow Porsche 911 Turbo, tearing out of my driveway. I finished making breakfast and I ate it while I jotted down some preliminary plans for the movie. We needed to finish getting funding and build a creative team. I moved to my laptop, creating a timeline for the project when my cell phone rang.
"Edward Cullen," I said.
"Hello, Edward. It's Bella," she whispered.
"Bella, I'm happy you called," I breathed, pushing my computer back and leaning against the chair in my office. "I want to apologize for whatever I did to spook you."
"No, I should be the one to apologize," she murmured. "I overreacted. I just saw … you seemed so mad while I was on the phone. I read your messages and Jasper explained that what I saw was jealousy. I don't see it, to be honest. Anyway, I am sorry for just leaving. I just don't handle anger, confrontation very well. I can hold my own, but I've done more than enough fighting in life."
What does that mean?
"Can I ask who were talking to?" I asked.
"My son," Bella answered.
"What's your son's name?" I smiled. "I'm pretty certain you don't call him 'Boy.'"
"Uh, no," Bella giggled. "His name is Seth. He's twelve and he's my world. He got me through the darkest moments in my life. His smile, his smell, his smarts … I love him so much. I'm so lucky to have such an amazing son. Blessed, really."
"You son is the lucky one, to have such an amazing mom," I murmured. "So, have you had a chance to think about my proposal about the movie from yesterday?"
"I think I want to do it. I'm almost done with the final edits of upcoming novel," Bella explained. "Once I'm done with that, I can start working on writing the screenplay for my movie. Holy shit … my book is being made into a movie. I never imagined that in my wildest dreams. I don't know how to write a screenplay."
"I can give you a copy of an older screenplay to give you some guidance," I suggested.
"I'd like that," she breathed. "I already created a character list."
"Do you have an idea of who you'd like to play each part?" I asked.
"Not yet," Bella answered, "but I know that my fans have ideas of who should be cast in each role. Fancasts … that's what they call them."
"I'm well aware of those," I laughed. "I was not what the audience wanted for the character I was cast in. I was too tall, too unattractive, too stoic. There were petitions circulated around the internet to get fired before filming began. Obviously, they fell on deaf ears and now it's the role I'm best known for."
"But, that role doesn't define you," Bella said. "What defines you is the path you took to get to where you are now, currently."
"You're right," I smiled. "Same with you, right?"
She blew out a breath. "My path was far more rocky and dangerous." Her voice was quiet and distant. "Anyway, I'm going to go to the beach with Jasper later on today. He's otherwise occupied and I'm at a coffee shop to not listen to the grunting and sex sounds from his room. Yeah, gross … I just wanted to call to apologize. I'll see you tomorrow, right?"
"No apologies needed, Bella. I'm sorry if I gave you any indication that I would … I don't know … hurt you," I said. "I would never intentionally hurt you, Bella. I don't want you to be afraid of me."
"I'm trying," she whispered. "There's more to my reasoning for having these trepidations. I just can't talk about it. Anyhow, I am sorry."
Before I could respond, she'd ended the call and left me hanging.
I should be pissed off, but I wanted to know more. I needed to know more.
Yeah, like I said, I was drawn to her.
A/N: Edward's chapter was definitely shorter. This story is Bella's story. Occasionally, we'll hear from Edward, but for the most part, it'll be in Bella's point of view.
Anyhow, pictures of Edward's home, along with Alice and views from Edward's house. Up next is the grand tour of Los Angeles with Edward and Bella … is Bella as drawn to Edward? Leave me your thoughts and thank you so much for reading! I truly appreciate it!