Chapter 6

~CinderBella~

I was hanging over the end of Angela's bed, drawing designs in her ridiculously plush purple carpet. "Your carpet is so thick, there could be colonies in there, little bug metropolises."

Angela stopped coating her lashes with mascara and turned away from her vanity to stare at me. "Chica, I'm starting to get concerned about your state of mind."

I smiled, continuing to draw patterns. "You should be concerned. I sure am."

After Tony showed up at my date with Santo, Angela decided we needed a private girls' night. Her parents were pretty hands-off, and their house was almost as big as Aro's. Honestly, sometimes you could be at one end of the house and not know if anyone else was at the other.

She turned back to the mirror and started applying mascara to her other eye. "What are you going to do?"

"What would you do?" I asked the question casually because I could hardly stand to admit to myself how important this was to me.

Angela sighed, lowering her head, and was silent for several seconds. "I think Santo is great. He was such a hero the night of the masquerade and is so understanding about your situation . . ." She hesitated.

"But?"

"But if I felt about someone the way you seem to about Tony—I mean, don't you owe it to yourself to find out what's there?" Angela slapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes huge in the mirror. "I can't believe I just said that. It's the worst advice ever."

"No, it's not. It's the right thing to do. I have to hear what Tony has to say, and I-I need to know the truth."

Angela turned to face me, her expression grave. "I get it. I do. But you know Uncle Aro would take him out in a heartbeat."

My heart lurched in my chest, beating hard. Angela was right. Aro hated the Masens more than anything in the world. He'd love an excuse to destroy them—any of them.

"I have to know. Maybe then I can get past all this and marry Santo." Even as I uttered the words, I knew they were a lie.

Angela nodded. "I had a feeling." She grabbed her purse, digging around for something. "Here." She handed me a piece of paper with a phone number on it.

"What—"

"Burner phone. I think Tony might have purchased stock in them." She laughed, then her expression turned wistful. "I wish someone would do all this shit for me. I know this sucks, but you're also lucky."

I looked down at the phone number, rubbing my index finger over digits written in an unfamiliar hand. Angela had a point, and I knew there was no way I could move on without knowing the truth.

"I want to call him. Give me your phone. The last thing I need is Aro nosing around and finding this number in mine."

Angela smiled, handing me her phone. "Can I listen?"

I shrugged. "Sure—why not?" It would save me time in the long run because she'd grill me about the call anyway.

It took three tries because my fingers were shaking, but I finally dialed the right number. It rang once . . . twice . . . three times . . . four. I was about to hang up when I heard a rustling as if someone were juggling things.

"She said no, didn't she?" Though Tony sounded despondent, the velvet tones of his voice immediately soothed my soul.

"It's me," I whispered.

There was a long silence on the other end, followed by a sigh. "Princess."

"You know my name now. Why do you keep calling me that?"

"You will always be my princess."

My heart clenched, and Angela put a palm over her heart, mouthing so sweet. We were both softening up.

There was so much I wanted to say, but the words were jumbled up, fighting against each other. In the end, I was honest. "I-I don't know what to say to you."

"It's okay. You called me back. That means so much to me after what happened. Meet me. I need to look into your beautiful eyes when I tell you everything."

"Okay, but how? Where?"

"Give me a few hours to figure this out. And go buy a burner phone!"

"Okay, I will."

"I can't wait to see you—to hold you, if you'll allow it. Thank you for agreeing to see me, and please thank Angela for putting us in touch. I'll talk to you soon, princess."

"Bye, Tony."

I hung up and handed Angela her phone. Tony seemed so sincere. I decided to hear him out, to be open to whatever was headed our way.

Angela let out a sigh. "So romantic. I think you need to give him a chance to explain."

"Well, let's go buy a burner phone."

~*oOo*~

The phone I bought sat heavy in my front jeans pocket like a tell-tale heart. As I walked around the house, I feared there was a humongous bulge in my pants that called out like a malevolent crow when it vibrated—Fraud! Fraud!

Angela sent Tony a message from her phone, giving him my new number, but hours later, I hadn't heard from him. I took three walks around the grounds of our house this afternoon, hoping to be alone when Tony called, which caused me to run late for work.

I rushed around my walk-in closet, choosing and discarding clothes. I finally settled on a pair of charcoal dress pants and a purple blouse. I slipped the burner phone into the deep front pocket of my pants and took a final look in the mirror. I looked pretty and professional, not at all like the nervous wreck I really was.

When I entered the great room, Cauis's still form caught my attention. I sighed to myself, knowing there was no sense arguing about it; Caius was my ride to work. When Angela and I worked together, she usually drove us, but when I was on my own, Aro insisted I be driven by one of his guys.

"Seriously? Is he ever going to trust me to drive to work on my own?"

Caius's only answer was to raise a sandy eyebrow and shrug. He stood up and escorted me to the door. The bulge of his firearm was barely noticeable beneath his jacket. He always carried, but I still felt uneasy.

"Is something going on? Is there a threat?"

"There's always a threat, Bella. Come, or you'll be late."

At least Caius was cool and drove me in the Escalade. Yes, it had bulletproof windows, but it blended in with the other vehicles in the area. He was usually okay with me sitting in the front seat, but today I wanted the privacy of the back.

Are you sure you gave him my new digits? ~B

Yeeeesssss, girl! ~A

**Crickets** Maybe he changed his mind… ~B

Um, no. If he did, I'll personally kick his balls up into his throat! ~A

So graphic! I'd hate to be on your bad side! ~B

Speaking of . . . Lou is licking my boots. IDGAF, he's still not getting laid. ~A

Have I told you lately that you're my hero? ~B

**Blushing** ~A

Gotta run! Later! ~B

ILY! He'll call! Probably when you're taking a shit. ~A

ILY2! OMG don't jinx me! ~B

Caius pulled up at the rear entrance of the Paradise Hotel and walked me in. I shot him a look but didn't complain. Aro's orders.

Volturi Enterprises owned the Paradise Hotel, which was a resort located along the shore of Lake Washington. Aro made it into a haven, tucked away from the real world. The manicured grounds were extensive and had every imaginable amenity. In addition to those in the Seattle area for business and pleasure, Aro catered to the mafia clientele. The Paradise had a separate concierge desk and activity staff for "Platinum Members." If an outsider inquired about platinum status, they were discouraged with exorbitant fees, unreasonable hoops to jump through, or were told we had reached our quota for the year.

I worked the platinum member concierge desk alongside other "trusted" employees. I loved it when Ang and I shared the same shift. There wasn't much activity today, so I was alone, which was a mixed blessing. It gave me time to think, but I also spent a bit of time agonizing over every word Tony and I had exchanged since we met—as well as every kiss and touch.

At seven fifteen, I felt a vibration coming from my pocket. My heart hammered despite the fact I tried to tamp down my expectations. The last message I'd received was from Angela, testing the phone. I took a few deep breaths and waited for my heart to slow before casually slipping it from my pocket.

Looking for a princess. Do you know any? ~Unknown

Possibly ~B

I know it's tradition to find the foot that fits the glass slipper, but I only have a thong to go by. ~Unknown

My heart sped up. He kept my panties from the night of the masquerade! That's why I couldn't find them.

Are you giving them back? ~B

Not in this lifetime. Can you talk? ~Unknown

I'm working until 10. ~B

"Excuse me, miss."

I slipped the phone back in my pocket and put on my professional smile. "Good evening, sir. How can I help you?"

The phone vibrated in my pocket.

The man at the desk was handsome, with piercing blue eyes, blonde hair shot with gray, and a deep tan.

"I have a reservation. Lorenzo Denali."

"Of course." I looked up his reservation in the system. "Reservation for two suites on the sixth floor, overlooking the gardens?"

"That's right."

The phone vibrated twice more.

"Who will be staying with you, and how many keycards do you need?"

"My wife Maria and I will be in one suite, and my daughters, Tanya and Katherine, in the other. Two keycards for each suite would be great."

I grabbed four blank cards from the bin and programmed them to Mr. Denali's rooms, handing them to him. "Here you are. After your stay, you can simply throw them away. Can I have someone bring up your luggage?"

"That won't be necessary, but thank you." His gaze landed on my badge. "Isabella . . . are you Aro's daughter?"

"I am."

"You are all grown up and so lovely! Tell your father I'm looking forward to our meeting."

I blushed. "Thank you, Mr. Denali. I'll give my father the message. Enjoy your stay, and let us know if you need anything." I handed him a platinum member folder with pertinent phone numbers, a list of special services, and the names of some exclusive restaurants and shops.

After he was gone, my pulse went into overdrive before my fingers made contact with the phone. I made sure there were no other impending interruptions before slipping it from my pocket.

There's a safe place we can meet tonight. Where do you work? ~Unknown

Princess? ~Unknown

Are you there? Please keep an open mind. I need to see you. ~Unknown

Sorry! I had a client at the desk. ~B

I work at Aro's hotel. His guys usually drive me to and from work. ~B

Shit! What about Angela? Can she help? ~Unknown

Maybe. Where would we meet? ~B

A friend of mine has a penthouse suite. He's trustworthy. ~Unknown

There's a private entrance and elevator. ~Unknown

I contemplated this for a few minutes, unsure what to do. I texted Angela screenshots of our texts and waited for her opinion.

Go for it, girl! I'll pick you up from work. Get him to text you the address. ~A

You're the best! ~B

I'll bring the disguises. The last thing we need is for someone to see us! ~A

My breathing grew shallow, and I felt almost feverish. Was I really going to do this?

Okay, Ang will bring me. Send me the address. ~B

I can't wait to see you. ~Unknown

I have to go for now, but I'll send the address and codes you need shortly. ~Unknown

I asked for Tony's burner number and added him as a contact labeled as "T" to get rid of the "unknown." It would be dangerous if I mistook another "unknown" caller as Tony and said something incriminating.

One of Lorenzo Denali's daughters stopped by the desk to ask for the key to the platinum member gym. She was tall, lithe, and intimidating with long corn silk hair and ice-blue eyes. She was a natural beauty and looked gorgeous even without makeup.

I handed her the key, and she smiled. "Thanks. I love your blouse, by the way. Such a great color on you."

"Thank you!"

"I'm Kate."

"Bella. Nice to meet you."

"I'm sure I'll see you around." She waved as she took the hall toward the gym.

She was much friendlier than I expected, and I reminded myself it was a bad idea to judge others on appearance alone.

I called Caius at nine-thirty to let him know Angela was picking me up, and we were planning to hang out. Angela was one of the few people Aro didn't question me spending time with.

Angela came to the Paradise right at ten. Once I was buckled in, she sped away from the hotel and entered the highway, pulling into the first rest stop we came to.

I glanced around at the parking lot half-filled with cars and trucks. "What are we doing here?"

Angela rolled her eyes. "It's called anonymity. Come with me." She grabbed a duffel from the back seat and led the way inside, heading straight for the bathroom, which was empty. Angela pulled me into one of the handicapped stalls, which was huge. She pulled the baby changing station down, placing her bag on top, and started rifling through her stuff.

"Here, put these on." She handed me a wig with long, auburn curls and a short, emerald dress. She put on a blond wig with long, beachy waves and a black dress. Once we were dressed and the wigs on straight, we exited the stall and worked on our makeup in the long mirror over the sinks.

"As a final touch . . ." Angela handed me a pair of glasses. "They'll make you look like a sexy librarian."

"Is this really necessary?"

Angela stared at me, her eyes serious. "Yeah, it's necessary if you're going to meet with Tony more than once—and before you protest, don't bother telling me it's a one-time thing. You two have a connection that's not going away after one meeting. I'm not saying it's going to last forever, but you have to protect yourself." She looked around, and even though the bathroom was empty, she lowered her voice to a whisper. "If your father gets wind of this—hell, if his father gets wind of it—there will be dire consequences."

Tears sprang to my eyes. Angela was right, and she was in the middle of it as well. I grabbed her into a tight hug. "You're right. Maybe you shouldn't be involved. I don't want you to be in trouble."

Angela held me away from her, gripping my upper arms, and gave me a little shake. "That's not why I'm telling you this. I'm involved, and there's no other way I'd have it, but you need to understand the ramifications. Listen to me. You need to create another persona." She turned me to face the mirror and put the glasses on me. "This is who you are when you meet Tony or need to do something covert. What's her name? Where is she from?"

The glasses were attractive in a sexy librarian kind of way. And I did look like a different person. I tried on a smile, and Angela smiled back in the mirror.

She said, "My name is Gina, and I live in downtown Seattle. I'm a cosmetologist for well-known clients that demand privacy. Who are you?"

"I-I'm Kelly . . . Gina's roommate, and we work together. I'm an image consultant for well-known clients that demand privacy."

Angela's smile widened. "Now you're getting the hang of it—Kelly."

Everything went back into Angela's magic bag, and we exited the bathroom. Nobody seemed to take notice as we left through the bustling lobby, although we did receive a few appreciative glances on our way out.

I gave Angela the address to Skyline Square and read the instructions Tony had texted. We had the code for the exclusive parking garage and the elevator.

"Skyline Square? Very exclusive. Wonder whose place it is."

"He said it was a friend's."

We pulled onto Skyline Drive, and I glanced up at the metal and glass building which rose so high, I couldn't see the top. I directed Angela around the side to the private entrance, and she entered the code. The gate opened, and we proceeded to the numbered spot Tony said we should park in. Getting out of the car, I tugged the hem of my dress down. We walked across the parking lot and entered the code for the elevator.

When the doors opened, I felt trepidation. We were going up to a penthouse and had no idea who owned it or what was going to happen. Every instinct in me trusted that Tony wouldn't lead me into a trap, so I stepped in with Angela and entered the code again. The elevator's ascension was so smooth, I barely realized we were moving. There was a ding and the display read Penthouse 26.

I squeezed Angela's hand tightly. The door slid open, and we stepped out into a large foyer with marble floors. There was a side table with a mirror above it, a door in the right-hand corner, and double doors across from the elevator. We stood there for a few seconds as I gathered the courage to knock.

The door opened, and a tall, thin guy with wavy, blondish hair down to his shoulders and crystal blue eyes stood in the entranceway, head tilted. He held up a finger, looked me over, then looked Angela over.

"You." He pointed at me. "Great disguises! I'm Jasper Hale. Come on in."

We stepped into a gorgeous living room with hardwood floors, large sectional couches, glass tables, and a wall of windows that offered a breathtaking view of the city lights.

"It's nice to meet you, Jasper. I'm—"

"Bella. I know." His lips widened into a half-smile.

"How did you know it was me?"

"Your breathing is shallow, and you look as if you might throw up, whereas your friend—Angela, I presume—looks like an excited puppy about to pee herself."

My mouth opened and closed wordlessly.

Angela laughed and high-fived Jasper. "You're good. Are you a psychologist?"

Now it was Jasper's turn to laugh. "No. Programmer."

"Tech genius is more like it." The amused, velvet voice came from behind me, and my heart started hammering.

"And that's my cue to disappear." Jasper walked past Angela, leaning in to whisper, "Come with me. I'm not creepy—I promise."

I couldn't speak, and Angela slipped from the room with the tech genius, leaving me alone.

Alone with Tony.

~*oOo*~

A/N: Give me your thoughts, guys! I love reading your theories. Readers keep asking if this will have an HEA. ALL my stories are HEA. I'm all HEA all the time. I just like to twist you into a pretzel first because who doesn't love a good pretzel?

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