Chapter 5
Feeling like a Prisoner
Bella POV
A week has passed since I've been here, stuck in Edward Cullen's house. I guess I should start calling it my house or better yet my prison. The morning after I woke up, I screamed when I noticed my laptop! I was so happy to see it. Of course screaming made Edward run into my room in his boxers with his gun aimed ready to shoot. He quickly relaxed when he noticed no danger. I also couldn't quit staring, and my lady bits started to tingle which was something that had never happened. I didn't like that he got that reaction out of me. I quickly looked away when he saw me staring. He also told me to not scream again unless I was in fucking trouble. His words, not mine. He then left my room with an amused expression. I was mortified. That day I stayed on my laptop writing because I really missed it. I never told anyone that I wanted to write and publish books. I didn't even have a degree for writing, but it was something I always wanted. I knew it wouldn't happen, not with the way my life was going at the moment. I also realized that I had no internet connection on my laptop. I guess he didn't want me to get in touch with the cops or anyone else for help. He did come to my room and tell me about lunch. I guess I skipped breakfast, I got so caught up in my writing that I hadn't noticed it was lunch time. He said he would also prefer for me to eat in the kitchen or dining room.
At lunch, Edward told me about his parents and sister and soon I would meet them. When the proper introductions had been made he could start the process of calling me his fiancée. I didn't know how to feel about that. We both talked that day about some of our likes and dislikes, I actually started to think he could be a good man when he wasn't controlling, or demanding things a certain way. He ruined it at dinner time when I asked about Jacob and if he had heard anything. I mean I had a right to know, right? He told me I had no business asking that and to shut up about it. I then went back to my room and shut the door as my dinner was then forgotten. Monday, I guess he left early because I didn't see him that morning. I had my breakfast, and decided I needed to get out of the house. I had noticed Edward had a walkway where I could jog or run. It lined the house to the dock where his boat was. I could run back and forth and get rid of some of this tension. Once I exited the front doors and started to run, I noticed the man with the dreads whose name was Laurent followed me. I guess Edward didn't trust me outside the house. While running I noticed there were two guards walking around the front of the house. He also had a gardener who spent too much time looking at me and it made me feel uncomfortable.
As I neared the dock, I noticed one guard there doing something with a crate. Laurent told me to start running back. Was Edward hiding something in the crate and Laurent didn't want me to see it? I noticed the pool house and the pool at a better glance on my way back. I really wanted to swim but I didn't have a suit and I knew I wouldn't be able to buy one since I was stuck here. I actually needed some clothes, period. Whoever had broken into my apartment had killed my wardrobe. I really didn't want to ask Edward if I could go shopping. He wasn't my father and it felt all kinds of wrong to ask. I shouldn't have to ask anyways. I also noticed Edward had a gym connected to the pool house. I would then shower and Laurent would stay in the foyer. He never followed me more than that. I also had started to eat in the kitchen. Mrs. Cope would tell me what she had planned on cooking that day but she never let me help. At dinner that night, Edward never apologized but he did say he couldn't tell me things until I was his wife and even then I wouldn't know much. That's pretty much how my week went. I knew I was going stir crazy but I also noticed I started feeling down. The guards would hardly talk to me unless it was Laurent to tell me something about Edward. Other than that, no one would have a conversation with me, not even Mrs. Cope who I hadn't figured out if I liked yet. I also saw Edward less and less as the week went on. Jessica freaked out when I changed the sheets to my bed. Apparently, when Edward came home that night, Jessica told him about it because he yelled at me and I yelled back. I haven't talked to him since.
Right now, I was sitting on a bench in the garden. Laurent was standing close by. I was literally thinking if being with Edward was the right choice, wondering if I could change his mind and see if he would hide me somewhere. But then I would definitely be alone. Wouldn't that be better than being surrounded by people all day and none of them talked to you? I missed Rose. I missed being normal going out whenever I could well, the idea that I could. I missed feeling like I was in control of my future. I missed it all. I'll admit I was attracted to Edward. I won't deny that I am but how could I ever trust him? How could I ever feel like I had a future with him with the way he acted? How I wish I could be on the same level as he was, like he said I will? Especially with the way the staff acted towards me. He doesn't listen to me, he demands I do things his way. I have no voice here. It feels like being with Jacob. Oh no! I quickly stand up. No! I started to cry when I heard footsteps and quickly dried my tears.
"Ms. Swan! " Crap. I forgot about Laurent being behind me, he probably thought something was wrong. I mean there is but nothing he would want to know.
"Yes?"
"Is something the matter? You moved so fast!" He had his hand on his hip where I'm guessing his gun was. They all had guns.
"No, I was lost in my thoughts." Then I decided fuck it. "Actually, yes there is plenty wrong. I can't go anywhere. I hardly have any clothes! The staff treats me like they are in charge. Edward said I wasn't on their "level" My fingers did air quotes."and I've been nothing but nice to them. Your "Boss" doesn't have the balls to talk to me because I haven't seen him in two days, but I know he's been here, he's avoiding me." I started to tear up and then angrily wiped them away. Laurent just stood there. I guess he wasn't expecting that. I then ran into the house, and up to my bedroom. I felt like shit. Why did I let it out like that? God, I was stupid. An hour later, I heard footsteps and my door opened and I was met by angry green eyes. He quickly shut the door
"Do you want to tell me why the hell you are acting like some disrespectful brat? Mouthing off, talking about me in a disrespectful way? I thought I told you that you cannot do that in front of my men?" he finished glaring at me.
Fucking Laurent. Guess he told Edward what I said.
"Because I'm tired of feeling like a fucking prisoner! You don't talk to me. You treat me like I'm some fucking child. No one talks to me but yet you said I wasn't on anyone else's level? Whatever the hell that means. I'm below everyone here! They all treat me like they are above me! I can't even tell Mrs. Cope, that I don't like meatloaf! She says "Well, I plan the menus!" So I literally have to starve because she won't let me make a fucking sandwich! Or your housekeeper, I can't even change the fucking sheets! You tell me I'm to demand respect, so literally I tell her I will do it, and she can next time. She quickly rebuffs me, and tells me it's not my place. I know you don't want me doing stuff like that, but that's who I am. I'm not the person who lets people do things and I know you probably are used to that but I'm not! I can't even go buy clothes or geez, what if I started my period? I don't even have any tampons or pads! Then you refuse to talk to me, you demand things from me, tell me what I should do. You're not the guy that I met at the club. It's like you're a totally different person and I just feel like I can't say anything or do anything. It feels like I'm with Jacob just without all the other stuff that I'm not ready to talk about." I took a breath and began looking at Edward who seemed that he had calmed down some but still had anger in his eyes. "I'm grateful, I am, for all that you have done but I feel like this is all a mistake. Can you just hide me like you offered before? I won't say anything about what I saw, I promise."
He moved and sat down in front of me, he looked a little upset.
"It doesn't work like you think it would. Someone would still be with you and even then, anyone could end up finding you." I started crying. So basically It was going to be like this, for the rest of my life? I didn't even care that I was crying in front of him, maybe he would get sick of it, and end up thinking I was more trouble than I was worth. "You also agreed to marry me, remember?" "You have a better chance of Jacob forgetting about you once we're married. He'll think you're not a virgin anymore, remember?" I had forgotten about that. Geez, this was all becoming too much. I let the tears fall not caring anymore. Edward then looked at me tenderly, before grabbing my arm and making me follow him down the stairs. This was it, he was going to kill me. He was tired of it. It only took a week, but he was done. We reached the bottom when he yelled out "Mrs. Cope!" and "Jessica!" I had no idea what was going on, but we stopped in the living room. I quickly dried my tears. Laurent quickly made his appearance as well so I gave him the stink eye. I know he told Edward what I said. Both ladies made their way into the living room, looking surprised that he was there. They both glanced at me with the older one looking at me confused. I guess she wondered what I was doing here.
"Yes, Mr. Cullen?" Mrs. Cope said all sweetly. Ugh, it made me sick. Maybe she secretly wanted him or something. Jessica just stood there with her head bowed.
"Did you let Isabella starve after she told you that she didn't like meatloaf?"
"Well Mr. Cullen, you said it was my kitchen when I was here, and you know I plan the menus in advance, and a sandwich isn't good for you." She said smugly.
"It's better than nothing!" He yelled at her, and her face dropped she started to look worried.
"From now on, Isabella will be in charge of the staff of the house, so if she doesn't like something that you are making, you won't make it. She will soon be the lady of the house, my wife, and she will be treated with respect!" Mrs. Cope's face looked surprised. She wasn't expecting him to say that.
"I'm sorry Mr. Cullen I didn't know."
"Really Shelly? Have I ever brought someone home other than family? You have been here awhile and I have never brought anyone home. You had to know she meant something. We have been dating awhile now."
I wasn't going to comment on his lie about us dating. I guess they would believe him, they must not know much about his private life. Did I really mean something or was that something he just said in front of his staff?
He then turned to Jessica. "Ms. Stanley, If Isabella would like to change the sheets or do anything of a cleaning nature and tells you she will do it, then let her. I know what I said earlier this week but, YOU don't tell her what she cannot do. Understand?"
Jessica looked scared. I felt bad for her for some reason because she was just doing her job. I would have to apologize to her later when Edward wasn't around. She just ignored me about the sheets then said she would do them. I guess I should have thought before I told Edward that. I believe she was just scared shitless, and thought if she didn't, she would be in trouble. She wasn't ugly with me about it or bitchy like Mrs. Cope was.
"Yes, Mr. Cullen sir" she bowed her head down.
"Good, you're dismissed. Get back to doing what you were doing." They both walked away and he turned his attention towards Laurent.
"Call Alice, ask her if she would come over."
"Yes boss." He then pulled his phone out and walked away.
Edward then took my hand and led me to his room or "our" room. I stood by one of the couches he had in there while he went to his safe that he had in the corner, and pulled something out and brought it to me
"This is my credit card, along with some cash. I want you to buy whatever you need at the moment. I'll have you a card of your own soon. I don't apologize so this is hard for me to say but I'm sorry that you didn't have what you needed. I apologize." I stood in shock, everything I just bitched about to him he seemed to try to make right In a way.
"My sister should be here soon. She usually doesn't turn down an invite when I ask her to come over, but she will take you shopping. I'll have Laurent and James follow you and Alice also has a guard. So no funny business, Bella. This is me trusting you. You try to run or anything, the guards will grab you, bring you back here and I'll make sure you never leave this house again!" He said angrily. Just like that he had me fuming. Seriously? What was with the mood swings? First he is defending me then next is treating me like a child again.
"I hear you, Mr. Cullen, loud and clear." I said and gave him a salute. He then grabbed me and pushed me against the wall, our noses touching. I didn't look away no matter the glare I was getting from him. He then relaxed some when he looked down at my lips, before letting me go and walking away. What the hell had just happened? I looked up his back was turned. "I'll go get ready." And with that I ran out of there and up the stairs.
Edward POV
I stood there looking out the balcony. What was going on with me? I had been trying to avoid Bella all week, especially after that fight we had about her fucking changing sheets! I guess maybe I should have told her the truth. I didn't really care if she changed sheets. I'm about to become the Don and I needed my wife not to act so lowly. I needed her to be strong. It was a stupid idea anyway with all that Bella had been through, how was she to be strong? Maybe I would have to start treating her like my partner? No fuck it, she was going to be my wife and that was it. I actually did have a conversation with her earlier this week. I got to tell her about my parents and sister. She told me about her dislikes and likes. We had a moment or whatever the fuck, and she ruined it by asking about Black. That was none of her fucking business or the fact none of my men had seen him or anyone remotely looking like they were Black's men. Seth had been on watch ever since looking for someone he may have recognized but nada. I was frustrated and my father had also been on my ass about everything that I didn't want to come home and see Bella. I knew that she didn't deserve anything I said to her but I also knew she would start with her smart ass mouth and I didn't know If I could restrain myself from grabbing her and fucking her senseless. I needed to be calm when I was around Bella. But she didn't make it easy.
Earlier, I was at Midnight Sun when I got a call from Laurent saying Bella blew up with everything that was upsetting her. They were outside too which meant everyone heard her. I was furious. James told me to calm down before I left but I couldn't so I got in my car thinking to myself that no one disrespected me. No one. I headed home and tried to go over some of the things Laurent had told me. He said she also had been just going through the motions, like she wasn't even here. It calmed me down some, she probably did feel alone. I hadn't thought about that but with how she went about it no. I parked my car in the driveway not even bothering to take it to the garage, and raced up the stairs. I went into her room and asked what the fuck she was thinking, and she told me. I couldn't believe I hadn't been thinking she probably would need things and Alice was my sister and she was a shopping Nazi. I had been so focused on becoming Don that I hadn't thought of Bella's needs. When she told me she didn't eat one night, my blood boiled. I guess I should have made it known to Bella that she was to run the house as she saw fit. My mother runs her's that way but I forgot I wasn't dealing with someone who grew up this way. I also couldn't believe Shelly, I had a right mind to fire her but she had been here a long time. If she messed up anymore then she was gone. I then took Bella into my room, I mean our room and gave her the money. Thinking, she wouldn't feel like a prisoner anymore if she went shopping but reminded her no funny business. No, she had to run that mouth and I instantly became hard. I regret pushing her against the wall but damn.
I then heard a knock on my door
"Mr. Cullen?" It was Laurent.
I got back in boss mode, "Yes?"
"Mrs. Whitlock is here."
"Thank you, I'll be down shortly"
I actually had lunch with Alice this week. I know she wanted to talk about Dad, and his brain cancer, but I didn't want to talk about that. Instead I told her about Bella, and that perked her right up. I mainly lied and said that I met Bella at the club which wasn't a total lie and we hit it off and had been dating for some time. I don't know if she believed me but she couldn't wait to meet Bella. Alice also knew I was to become Don and had to be married to take the reins. What she didn't know was how I really came to meet Bella and If Jasper said anything I would chop his balls off. I didn't want my family to know how I really met her or all of the baggage she brought with her. Only, Emmett, Jasper, Laurent, and James knew and that was more than I wanted. I then called James and told him I wanted him to meet Laurent and Alice's guard Benji at the mall with Bella. He said he would and then I left my room and headed down the stairs where Alice stood in the foyer.
"Eddie!" God, I hated that nickname, but she was the only one who could get away with saying it.
"Allie!"
"So, what's up? Did you want to have lunch or something?" I guessed she was wondering why I called her over here to my home.
"No, Allie, can you take Bella to the mall, like a girls day?" I knew if Alice thought it was like that she wouldn't be suspicious of why I really needed her to take Bella.
"OMG! Yes! I get to meet your girlfriend and shop?" She jumped up and down, "Is she meeting me there or she is coming here? How will she know what I look like?"
"She's already here. She is finishing up getting ready." I said hoping she was.
"Great! You must be serious then, Eddie! You already have her living here?"
"Yeah, I'm serious."
"Aww, she must be a keeper! I can't wait to get to know her!"
We then both turned towards the stairs where Bella was coming down. She was dressed in some skinny blue jeans, and a nice blouse. Her face was bare of any makeup much like it had been, I bet that was one of those things she didn't have.
"Hi, I'm Alice! Edward's sister, it's so nice to meet you!"
"Bella."
"Well Bella. Come on and let's go!" Alice walked out with Benji on her heels. Bella started to follow her, but I caught her arm.
"Do you have the money?" For some reason, I was having problems letting her go all of a sudden.
"Yes, Edward."
"Have a good time then." I let her arm go and she took a step to leave but then turned around and faced me.
"Thank you for this, Edward." She patted my hand and walked out.
My eyes grew wide. I was surprised at her gesture. Maybe if I started to treat her like a partner then just maybe we wouldn't spend our lives yelling and fighting. I didn't believe in love or shit, but maybe just maybe I could see me actually like having a wife.
