I forgot to mention...
Please remember that this story is fiction and therefore I had to employ a little creative license XD Of course the case against Bella is a little flimsy. That's why she wasn't charged :P
But, it's Sunday, and I forgot yesterday's, so I'm gonna give yall three new chapters today. It's the least I can do since I'm in the process of breaking your hearts. ;)
-107-
I'm at a loss for words when it's just us two left in the room. I have no idea where to start in this fucked up situation.
"Edward, what the fuck is going on? What, was this some kind of joke to you? Date me to get closer to the case?" Bella seethes, forcing me to look at her.
"Christ, is that what you think? No, Bella. Fucking...definitely not," I sigh, sitting in the chair Angela left vacant.
"Well, what the fuck am I supposed to think? For the love of God, just tell me the truth."
I want to. But it's so fucking hard to force the words out when I know I could lose her for good because of it.
Except...I love her. I do. So she deserves my honesty. My confession.
"I guess we should start with what I really do for a living," I pause, checking her receptiveness, but she seems impatient, and she motions with her hand for me to move along. "No one is supposed to know my job actually exists. You know the jokes? About how we all have a member of the FBI watching us through our devices? Well...that's what I do. And it just so happens that a few months ago, your file landed on my desk."
Bella gasps, clutching her chest like it hurts, and a beat or two passes before she speaks.
"Are you telling me that you've been watching me? So, what? You get your rocks off by watching people in their most intimate, vulnerable moments, so you manipulate their lives so you can fuck them? That's...that's fucking sick."
I've never seen her so angry, but I deserve it.
"No! No, not at all. Christ. I...I don't watch when they're naked or masturbating or anything like that. I have a lot of accounts I monitor, so mostly I just skim their data. Make sure they're not up to anything dangerous to themselves or others. But you...Bella, you're unlike anyone I've ever seen—"
"Lucky fucking me."
"Can I finish? Please?"
She eyes me for a moment, then nods.
"It was completely innocent at first. I was just doing my job. I didn't even know about your writing at the time. But as time wore on, I caught myself checking in on you more and more. And then you made a date with Jake. I was jealous, even if I had no right to be, so I checked him out. That's when I found the videos of the women he took advantage of. Angela and I were there the night of your date to make sure he didn't hurt you. But when I saw you in person? I fucked it all up by knocking the tray over because you made me forget every last bit of my training."
I reach for her hand, but she pulls it back, crossing her arms. Still, she says nothing, though, so I keep going.
"Then we found out about your writings. And yes, our first date was intended to try and find out more. But I knew right away that I'd never be able to stay away from you, not after…" I wince, debating on telling her that part. "Not after I got back to the office right after that. I just wanted to check in on you, but then you started touching yourself, and you were so fucking beautiful, and it had killed me to leave you at the door when we both wanted each other so bad...I couldn't help myself."
"Jesus fucking Christ, Edward." Her head falls in her hands, her voice cracking with unscheduled tears.
"I know. I know...but the very next day, I handed the case over to Angela. I didn't want that to jeopardize us because, if I'm being honest, I fell for you when you were on a date with another man."
"I can't...I can't believe this! This is so fucked!" She shoots up from the chair and begins pacing.
"Everything was so good, Bella. And I didn't have access to watch you anymore, and we were so happy, I just kept my mouth shut. It was wrong, and I'm sorry, but I can't regret it. And then Jake showed back up and fucked everything—"
"No, Edward, not Jake! You! You fucked everything up by not being honest with me from the start. Fucking hell, at least take some responsibility!"
She's never yelled at me like this before. I fucking hate it. Even when we've argued, it was never like this.
"Bella, baby, please." Rushing over to her, I grab her shoulders despite how she tries to shake out of my grasp. "I know I was wrong. And I'm so fucking sorry. Forgive me, and I swear, I'll spend the rest of our lives making it up to you."
The tears that fall from her eyes hurt more than anything else has so far.
"I need to go…" She breathes.
"Baby, please don't …" I'm not above getting on my knees and groveling.
"No, stop. I have to. This is wrong, so fucking wrong. So toxic. We can't build anything on a lie like this." She shrugs away from me, and I let her this time, helplessly watching as the tears fall faster and she rakes her hands through her hair.
"Fuck, Edward, I loved you!" She finally screams.
"Loved? As in past tense? Cause, Bella, I—"
"Don't you fucking dare. Don't throw those words at me right now. They mean nothing coming from you. I can't love a liar. I mean, fuck, I don't even know you."
"You do. You know me better than anyone. The only thing I lied about was my job." Even as I speak, I can hear myself shutting down. Preparing myself for destruction.
"I can't do this, Edward. Not anymore. We're done."
