I DREAM OF RAINBOWS

Disclaimer: The Cullen's, the Swans, and most of the characters mentioned in the story that are known from Stephanie Meyer's beloved Twilight Saga, are all hers and hers alone. I neither have nor wish to pass them off as mine. I do appreciate the fact that she did bring them to life and allows us to play with them in our imaginations. The only thing I will claim is the current storyline.

The awesome and talented dowlingnana searched out my errors and corrected them.

"Son, from what I've understood what Jasper told us about the young woman's stipulations, I believe them to be quite reasonable and think that she is very well-informed as what to ask for, as well, as knowing her own mind. You might have a bit of a challenge in trying to bulldoze your will over this person." Carlisle told his son and then prepared to leave as he didn't see where or his wife's presence was needed any longer.

CHAPTER 8: ATTRACTIONS

"Okay, Jasper, how soon can we get together with this hard headed individual and wrap up this nonsense?" Edward asked as they walked through the airport to collect the car that Jasper had called ahead to reserve for their use while in Seattle.

"It's going to take a bit more than what you seem to be envisioning." Was the quick comeback from Jasper.

"Why is that? You call the young woman, arrange for us to discuss this ridiculous contract, or, rather, her stipulations and get everything set right then we're on our way back home."

"Keep believing that, brother." Jasper told him with a quick, short chuckle. Out of the corner of his eye, Jasper did see the look that Edward gave him due to his comment, but, nothing else was said by either man.

They continued on to pick up the car and went ahead to the hotel to get checked in and up to their suite before Jasper took a moment to give Mark Strollman a call only to find out that the agent was out of his office until later in the afternoon. However, Jasper did leave a message asking for a call back at the hotel where he was staying and left the room number. After his call was done he was quick to relay the resulting outcome to his brother who wasn't showing any signs of being happy with the delay.

In spite of Edward's less than garrulous attitude he suggested that the two of them take the time to enjoy a bit of sightseeing and then to locate a restaurant they might enjoy having a quiet lunch. "After that I'll try again to get a hold of Mark and see about setting up the meeting so we can get all of this handled."

"Damnit, why can't we just call this Swan woman and get all of this done then we can catch the next flight out of here and be back home by this evening? That way I can make it in time to meet up with the newest honey that is the current rave about town."

"I thought along those same lines when I first came here to take care of this deal, but, found out really quick that she doesn't do business that way. She had no problem telling me what she thought and showed me the door all in nearly the same breath.

"No, little brother, that avenue is definitely closed to us."

"What happened to cause such an occurrence? You never said; only gave a report about what she wanted in the contract and that was it.

"Another thing that I'm having a hard time understanding is why you're going through this Mark person and not talking with her. I mean you did have to talk with her originally to be able to get down what she wanted and didn't want."

"That's where you're wrong. She showed me the door and then the next day I heard from Mark Strollman, who happens to be her agent. From there everything went through him, her financial advisor and her attorney. Those are the only people I have had contact with after the short, and I mean very short, visit with her. Never saw or spoke with her again; everything came through them."

"Then how the hell do you know that all of this is what she wants?"

"Edward, all I'm going to say is that you haven't taken the time to get to know anything about Isabella Swan, or, you wouldn't be asking that question.

"I made the same mistake that you have when I first arrived here and went out to her home. But, after being, more or less, handed my ass I took the time to research the lady. Believe me when I say that she isn't just a newbie as you and Emmett like to phrase it and she does have resources to help her fill in the blanks. Of that I'm sure, but, I don't know exactly what those resources might be, however, she does have them."

"Well, I guess if we're going to be held hostage in this place we might as well explore the area and maybe we might find someone that can help us pass the time while we wait on that woman and her entourage to decide to grace us with their communication or company." Edward uttered sarcastically. He was really upset that someone else was calling the shots and he was having to dance to their tune. His idea of how things should go was with him being in charge of everything concerning him and the business; not the other way around.

So, the two brothers set about checking out Seattle after asking the clerk in the lobby what sights he would recommend for them to see. The clerk mentioned the Space Needle with a view at the top and the revolving restaurant at the same location, the Pike Place Market which held a variety of shops and stalls that seemed to be able to appeal to all sorts of different tastes in people and had a few other suggestions as well of must see for the brothers.

Edward suggested going to the Space Needle restaurant first since it was nearing lunch time. By doing that they would be able to check out the panoramic view that the hotel clerk had recommended and then go down to the restaurant to eat. Jasper agreed to the suggestion, so they wasted no time in setting off for the Space Needle.

Once they had arrived at the viewing area at the top both men had to agree that the view was breathtaking no matter which direction you chose to look, inland or out towards the Sound. But, after covering the entire area and seeing all that could be seen from the top both Edward and Jasper were beginning to feel the true pains of hunger and decided it was time to retreat to the restaurant just below them for some lunch.

There was a short wait before the brothers could be seated and it was as they were passing the other diners that a couple across the restaurant happened to catch Edward's attention, well to be truthful, it was the dark haired beauty that was talking to the man sitting across from her that had really caught his attention. He paused, unconsciously, as he admired the sight he beheld and wondered how he could capture her attention before either she or he left the restaurant. In his opinion, since he was going to be forced to endure a layover waiting for a newbie to make a decision to talk with them this delightful attraction would definitely help to absorb the wasted time of the wait he was being forced to endure.

All of a sudden as if she felt like she was being watched, which in actuality she was, the woman that Edward had been admiring unexpectedly made eye contact with him. He could make out the fact that a slow blush was starting to slowly creep up her neck to her face and it made her even more alluring. And, as if her companion realized that he had lost the woman's attention he turned to see what she was looking at which brought Edward's attention back to where he presently was and to the fact that he had stopped dead in the middle of the restaurant.

Jasper had arrived at their table and turned to ask Edward a question, but, he realized that his brother wasn't there with him. Looking around he saw that Edward had paused and was looking at something across the restaurant. Following the direction of his brother's attention he finally saw what his brother was looking at and what he saw surprised him as he thought he knew the couple that was being observed by Edward. But, it didn't take him long to return to Edward's side and said, "It didn't take you long."

"What?" Edward asked absent mindedly without glancing in his brother's direction while he continued to keep his attention on the dark haired beauty he was interested in getting to know. Then as she moved her head and the light coming through the window next to her shown through to her caught the highlights of her hair just right he thought that her hair color was more mahogany than just a brown.

Jasper grabbed his arm and gave him a small wakeup jerk to get his brother's mind back to the here and now and off of the woman in the corner. And, with being a bit closer to the woman that Edward was riveting his attention on that was when Jasper realized that his first assumption concerning the identity of the woman was correct after all; it was Isabella Swan and the man sitting at the table with her was her agent, Mark Strollman. With that realization Jasper did wonder for a moment or two if he should go over with his brother and speak to Ms. Swan and Mark, but, he decided that it might not be the wisest thing to do since Ms. Swan had made her choice of how she wanted this business to be handled and everything passed through her representatives before reaching her for a decision.

That decision was quickly taken out of his hands as Mark turned once more to what might be holding Bella's attention at times and that was when he spied Jasper standing next to a stranger that had been ogling his client. Upon the recognition Mark spoke a few words to Bella who nodded at whatever he had said and then he rose from his seat to approach Jasper and the man standing next to him.

As he got close enough to Jasper and Edward, Mark reached out his hand towards Jasper to shake hands as he said, "Jasper, it's good to see you again and so soon. Does this mean that you've conferred with your brothers and have all of the necessary paperwork ready for a final review before Bella signs?" Mark stated and inquired in a curious manner.

Mark's question snapped Edward's head in his direction, drawing his full attention away from the beauty still seated in the distance. Jasper started to answer, but, then was interrupted by Edward asking a question.

"Who is this and what paperwork is he talking about Jasper?"

"Mark, let me start by introducing my brother, Edward. Edward, this is Mark Strollman, Ms. Swan's agent and the person I was trying to reach earlier after we had gotten checked into our hotel."

"Mark, it's good to meet with you and I'm looking forward to meeting with your client as well so we can get the contract hashed over and a few minor details ironed out so the contract can be signed and we all can happily move forwards with this deal." Edward told Mark as he shook hands after the introductions had taken place.

"Edward, good to meet you as well, but, there will be no hashing as you so kindly put it. Bella knows what she wants and isn't willing to be deterred." Mark remarked.

"We'll see what happens once we all get together and discuss this. But, in the meantime, it appears that your companion is getting a bit curious about your delay of returning to her side. So, we won't hold you up any longer, but, would appreciate a call later today to arrange a time and place for of us to meet to handle the business at hand.

"Perhaps, dinner this evening at our hotel and then drinks in our suite which would give us the privacy to be able to conduct business and smooth everything out?" Edward offered as he shook hands with Mark once more before turning to move towards the table that he and Jasper had been assigned for their meal.

As he walked away he heard his brother saying his goodbye as well and then he had asked Mark to excuse Edward's behavior. And, with that Jasper had returned to his brother who was waiting at the table Jasper and Edward had been shown. But, as the two brothers were seating and anything could be said between the two of them they saw Mark and the lady with him rise and leave the restaurant.

Edward heaved a sigh of disappointment as he watched his beauty leave without an apparent glance back to him.

A/N: Little does Edward know what is going to be coming at him a bit later. Will Mark agree to have dinner with the brothers and have Bella join them? Will sparks fly if Bella does attend that dinner and the meeting that will follow afterwards?

Your thoughts and comments as always are welcomed.