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CMF

CULLEN-MASEN FAMILY

Chapter 6

EPOV

The date turned out very nice, and I couldn't wait to take her on more. I did want a more casual mood for the next one though. No need to go all out every time. I was thinking along the lines of a possible picnic, and I was thinking Myrtle Edward's Park near the waterfront. It had picnic tables, close to a parking area, dog friendly, and some walking areas. She could have been to it for the freedom to have a dog, but I liked it for all the other accessible features.

I would give her a couple days as I had some work to get done, legal, and not so legal. I also needed to consider a bodyguard for her, if I am going to continue to pursue Bella. I will NOT have her put in any danger. I'm thinking about Felix Long. He's a calm individual, but I know without a doubt I emphasize her importance he would protect her with his life.

Now, I need to call Carrie, my step mother, and see what she has going on with my warehouse. Carrie is at her office, and apparently she has a company coming over to construct the staircase going down to the second floor. They were over the other day cutting the hole for it, and adding in trim. She is going to have the cleaning company come back over once they get through to clean the sawdust, and other materials left behind. They have got the walls up dividing the area into the individual rooms. They have even been down to the second floor, and divided the area up for a sitting area which will be right near the bottom of the stairs.

There will then be a total of three bedrooms, each with an ensuite. There is still plenty of area to possibly have one more bedroom if needed.

Upstairs, they have a huge master bedroom, with ensuite, another bedroom not as large with an ensuite, an office with built-in bookcases, a big kitchen, with a small eating area, a big dining room, and a living room with a fireplace. The first floor is going to be a private garage, and a big conference room, with in-ground storage area.

They have been digging the area out for the storage area, which will be lined with cement, and then steel. This will hold any incoming shipments not ready for delivery, or my personal inventory of guns, ammunition, whatever.

Carrie seems to think within a month I should be able to move in. She's hoping to have a lot of the furniture, and appliances for the kitchen already installed. I told her I wanted a lot of my primary colors to be different shades of grey in the living room, kitchen, bathroom. I also wanted some browns, dark tan, natural in my office, with lot of leather furniture in it. I did want a big fireplace in the living room, and if possible my bedroom. They could be gas, or electric logs; which ever put out the most heat.

I also told her I wanted quite a bit of plants in the kitchen, and big trees throughout the apartment. If needed, someone could come in every couple weeks to water, and do maintenance on them. She recommended the gardener from the house, as they had done been checked out, and there was no risk with them. I told her that was fine.

I also expressed my having room for a baby grand in either my main living room, or a small music room on the top floor. She told me that was already planned, and I would love the end results. I told her I had no doubts I'd be pleased with it all. I then told her I'd see her on Sunday for dinner.

I called Sean and informed him to gather everyone for a meeting. I wanted him, Carlisle, Jasper, and Emmett to come to my apartment. Mrs. Stanley was cooking dinner for the lot, but afterwards we needed to discuss something that has been going on around town. They were all coming over around five thirty for dinner, our meeting, then we were going to some of my bars. I wanted to do some checking on things.

I decided on taking a shower, and getting dressed before everyone got here. I stepped in to my bedroom, into my closet taking my suit off, and looking for something casual to wear. I wanted to kind of dress down for tonight. I found a pair of black jeans, black t-shirt, and my pea coat. Casual enough, but warm. It was starting to turn very cool at night getting prepared for the fall. I was all for it, but I still wanted a fairly nice enough day to take Bella on a picnic. I think I need to arrange that for this weekend.

I take a nice long shower, forgo the shaving, put on a bit of cologne and walk into my closet to dress. Yes, the jeans, t-shirt, and jacket is casual enough. I like it. A break from the suits. I am the boss, but I do get tired of dressing up all the time.

I head downstairs going into the kitchen, and grab a beer. Mrs. Stanley is cooking Chicken parmigiana, and spinach salads. It looks wonderful.

I walk back into the living room, and the guys are just arriving. I tell them to go grab them a beer, and to come back into the living room until Mrs. Stanley calls us for dinner. We all sit down, and talk about a few things going on at the businesses. We have had a lot of pickup in Snake, my restaurant since I added all the displays. I've got glass cases displaying different snakes, and a couple with reptiles in behind the bar. I got some new carpet in a snake reptile pattern that looks good.

I got a big display of an aluminum stainless steel snake skeleton by Huang Yong Ping. It looks almost prehistoric. Totally wicked. The people apparently like what I've done as business has picked up big time.

Mrs. Stanley calls us into dinner, and the guys grab another beer before sitting down. They gather the food on their plates, and start eating. The moans are plentiful, and Mrs. Stanley is loving it. With that she goes to clean up the kitchen, stating for us to just sit the dishes in the kitchen, and she will get them before she leaves. She lives in an apartment right down the hall from me. I asked her if she wanted a room here, but she wanted her own space. I could understand that with how late some things tend to go on during the night.

I know she's going to go check on everything else, and make sure house keeping has done their job today. Plus I know she will pick up after me. I'm not a total slob. She will gather all my suits needing to go to the cleaners, and wipe down the bathroom. Then, I know she will put up leftovers, and load the dishwasher. Then go home for the night.

We all grab our jackets, and head out to Chill. That's one of my bars, and it's very sedate. It's been doing alright, but I had gotten a message that some of the Calabrese's had been in a few times this past week. There had not been any trouble, but they had sat in the back for a few hours. There were three of them, and a few people had stopped by the table. We were going to go check it out.

We arrive at Chill, and set a table up at the very back left corner. It's not near anything, no kitchen, no restrooms, just a slight wall across from the bar. There is a spiral staircase leading up to the restaurant area. I've checked in with my manager, Alistair Wilkes. It has been a very slow evening, but the restaurant has been very busy. He get's us our drinks, and we just sit talking watching the crowds.

After a couple hours we decide to go to Notes. My bar that had entertainment. It was very popular, had groups, or individuals that provided entertainment on the weekends. At present we only had a local young guy that came in on the weekends to play our piano. He was very good, too.

As we pulled up the valet came to take the car, and we entered the club. It seemed to be pretty packed for a Monday evening. We move to the back room of the club where the piano is, and a small stage. I loved this room. I had one wall with a grouping shots of Tina Turner. She came here one night, and entertained. Not as a paid, but she was out going to different places, and when she found the room with the piano, and the young guy who works on weekends was playing, she put on a show. It was unreal. The place has had a few other entertainers come by, and either performed on a whim, or just to enjoy the place.

I had one whole wall with nothing but musical notes. It also had a black spiral staircase that went down to my office, and one up to another area of the bar. It was strictly a bar, and nothing else. It did do the business, and I was not worried about it pulling in the revenue.

As we're working our way to the back I noticed a guy who works for me, Eric Yorkie. He's my computer wiz, and damn good at it. I walk over,"Hey Eric," holding my hand out we shake hands.

"Hey, Edward. Good to see you. What you doing here tonight?" as I notice him looking around. I also sweep a look across the room. I then notice a small group of men off to the side.

"Not much, just enjoying a free night. Everything alright?"

Eric looks off to the side where those men are, and "Just watching the crowd. Nothing as of yet."

"How about joining us for a drink. There's a bunch of us in the back," as I stand waiting on Eric. We then head towards the back of the bar, and I introduce him to everyone.

"Everyone this is Eric Yorkie. He's my computer guy. Eric, this is Sean, Carlisle, Jasper, and Emmett. Uh, we got us some company up front he's been kind of watching. Not sure what their deal is yet."

"Want one of us to go get us something to drink, boss?" Emmett ask.

"Yeah, just kind of give them a sweep. See if you know them, or can hear anything."

Emmett takes off to the bar, and we sit watching. They notice Emmett, but I'm not sure if it's other than the fact he is a big guy. He comes back with a waitress bringing our drinks. The guys kind of watch, and when they see me they give me a nod. I nod back at them, but still nothing comes to mind as to who they are. I ask the waitress if she knows them, and nothing there. She did say they had been in a few times the past couple weeks, but had no idea who they were. I asked her to take them another round of drinks on the house.

A few minutes later I watch her walk over with them a round of drinks, and motion towards me. They look back, and I nod at them. They acknowledge the offer, and raise their glasses to me.

"Eric, have you managed to get some pics of them? I want to know everything about them as soon as possible. I don't smell trouble, but better to be aware of who they are."

"Yes sir, I'll have it as soon as I can gather the info."

I give Felix a call, and ask him to head over to my bar. I tell him I want him to follow some people when they leave. He said he'd be here in about fifteen.

When he get's here he buzzes me to let me know he's out front. I tell him as soon as they leave I'll let him know.

We sit around for another round, and by the time it get's brought to the table I notice them get up to leave. I send a message to Felix they are on their way out. I want him to follow them as discreetly as possible. I want to know where they go, and anything else he can find out.

We sit around for a couple hours, and decide to head out for something to eat. Emmett mentions this place called Mecca Cafe. He say's it's not much to look at, but got some of the best food he's ever had. So, we head over for a late night meal.

It's really not much, but once we get sat down near the back we all place our orders. Within a matter of twenty minutes tops there are two people bringing out trays full of food. We each get our meals sat, everyone fixes things, and then we all start to eat. Damn, I must say it is pretty damn good food. I do know I'll be back. I got breakfast of three eggs, hash browns, pancakes, bacon, and toast. It was a lot of food, but no worse than the other guys.

We enjoyed our meals, and finally decided to call it a night. I headed over to my apartment, Sean lived in an apartment a floor below me, Jasper, and Emmett lived on the fourth. Carlisle was headed home to Esme, and Eric had left us earlier. I knew I'd probably have some information to go over in the morning, so went in, took a shower, and headed to bed.

One of my last thoughts was needing to prepare for a picnic this weekend with Bella. Definitely going to see her this weekend.

Alrighty, we got a look at some calm typical evenings for Edward. He might have some trouble brewing on the horizon. Got people following & digging up info. Let's see what they come up with.

Another date with Bella this weekend. Let's see how that goes for them.

Please let me know what ya'll think. Don't forget the group page to see some killer pics for the chapter.

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Thanks muches...