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.

Emmett was a very happy go lucky sort of person and saw the good in everyone, but, when he spoke in the manner that had just happened it was safest to listen and heed the warning. So, Edward was seen trying to be subtle in his reactions to what his brother was saying as he gave a quick, jerky type of nod.

CHAPTER 14: WHO WILL WIN

It bugged Edward to no end to have to give in to someone else dictating terms to him instead of it being the other way around. What had made their company one of the fastest growing and financially secure was the fact that he was in control, but, never the other way around. Oh, he didn't cheat people, but, he believed that his company should be the one that benefitted the most from an agreement.

But, with this author, Edward felt that he had something to prove since she felt that she had more control over things, for a novice, than he did. However, quicker than he could blink an eye this strange female that seemed to have some kind of hold on him, managed to flip the tables on him. Edward no longer had control of anything and seemed to be stepping a foot wrong whichever way he turned.

Edward acknowledged that he enjoyed the company of a beautiful woman; a woman that knew her place and that place was to pleasure him, except if he had some social function that required a date of sorts, then he would make sure the woman was intelligent enough to be associated with him without being an embarrassment to him, the family or the company. In fact, he didn't mind putting forth a bit of effort to get whichever woman caught his eye at the time, like in Seattle, but, most of the time that wasn't necessary; women flocked to him vying with each other to be the one that gained his attention.

But, the rare moment arrived to where he had to work some to gain the attention of the unknown woman in Seattle and failed. Then he comes across her on other occasions only to fail to get close enough to her, but, it doesn't seem to get him down too much; he looks at it as it's just one of those things that wasn't meant to be.

Finally, he encounters the same woman in the hallway outside his office and assumes that fate had a hand in bringing about an end to his tormented dreams of this beauty by presenting her to him at last, so, he makes his intentions known to the lady in question. However, that seems to have come back to bite him in the ass, not once, but, twice, since that particular woman turned out to be the elusive author that has been creating all sorts of problems for him. Problems that he refused to admit, even to himself, were all created due to his own attitude and ideas of his own importance and that of his family's when compared to others surrounding them.

Realizing that he was in a no-win situation, Edward felt that it was better to keep his mouth shut for the moment, especially, since his parents were still in the room. He was too late to stop Ms. Swan and her agent from leaving, but, he would find a way to appease his family over all of this fiasco where that woman, as he quickly called Bella in his mind, was concerned. He was going to be very contrite and try to lull the family into a false sense of everything being resolved until he could get Isabella Swan in a one to one face off with him to get her to agree to his conditions where the contract is concerned.

Not realizing that he had gotten lost in his own thoughts, Edward was suddenly jerked back to the present by Emmett and his demand for the contract to be signed 'as is' immediately while the whole family was present. So, more or less, giving himself a mental shaking to bring all of his focus back to the current situation Edward was about to reply when his interoffice phone rang. Reaching out to answer he replied, "Tell them to give me a few minutes and then I'll be right with them."

"Edward, don't play games. I want this project to begin immediately and you will sign the contract as it stands now. Don't play games and lose this chance for me, for us." Emmett concluded and then turned to leave the office.

Jasper followed suite, but, not before giving his brother the evil eye as if to say, "screw this up and your head will be served to you by all of us." However, what he did voice in actual words were, "Brother, Emmett has never wanted anything like he wants this. Please, don't be a fool." And with that said he left leaving only three people remaining in the office: Edward and their two parents.

"Edward, I know you, son, and I do know what you think you're going to try with this stalling tactic. It isn't going to work. You will do what is right as you have always done in the past. Don't let personal interest, desire or foolish stubbornness get in the way of business.

"You've never handled business like this in the past and that's why you three have made this company as successful as it is. Don't change that combination now, in mid-stream, as the saying goes. Conduct your business impartially, but, with honesty and forthrightfulness. That is what you've been taught all of your life and we expect no less from you now." Carlisle finished speaking to his son.

He thought he knew what Edward's problem was since he had encountered the same with Esme, but, now wasn't the time to point that out to anyone. It wouldn't be received in a believable light or with any objectivity by the person that was making all of the mistakes at this moment. Carlisle knew that Edward had met his Waterloo and that things would get a whole lot more chaotic before it had a chance of getting better, like it had when he was wooing Esme. So, he smiled, shook his head and placed an arm around his wife's shoulders as both parents began walking towards the door to leave.

However, as they did reach the door, just before opening it, Esme turned to level an eye at Edward and remarked, "Don't mess with a good thing. Sign the contract and see how much brighter your future could be with the right attitude." And, with that said she swept out the door with Carlisle following behind after tossing one final look at his son in warning.

Edward didn't break the eye contact with his father, but, he was a bit curious as to why both of his parents gave him such a strange look at different times just before leaving. And, what the hell did his mother mean with her statement? But, after a minute or two he moved on from that to working on a plan as to how he was going to get the elusive Ms. Swan to meet with him to discuss the contract and the changes that he wants made.

Next, he had to consider how he could possibly get her to listen to his suggestions and to be reasonable about the changes. And that last part was going to be tougher than getting her to meet with him. Of course, he knew that the desired meeting was going to be rough enough to pull off since she had no trust in him whatsoever. And, he admitted to himself that if the circumstances were reversed then he would be just as leery as Ms. Swan was being; just as distrustful as well.

XXXXXX

"I take it the meeting didn't go as you had hoped?" Rosalie commented as Bella walking in the door with her features set in a more frozen composure. In fact, she looked absolutely angry about something or someone, perhaps, both, was the quick thought that flashed in Rosalie's mind. And, because of that she was a bit hesitant to ask any pointed questions concerning her cousin's meeting with the famous Cullen trio.

"Hell no, it didn't. That asshole had the nerve to insinuate that I was an easy lay he wanted after I had accidently bumped into him as I was leaving the ladies' restroom. Then he had an attitude once I did get back to the office by accusing me of holding up the meeting when he was the one that was late." Bella was nearly shouting by the time she got to the end of her rant.

"Cousin mine, I'm sure you set him straight." Rose said with a chuckle as the possible scenario of what could have happened ran through her thoughts.

"Yeah, but, I wasn't the only one. And, before I tell you about that mess, I have to say that I see why you're so taken with one Mr. Emmett Cullen. He's sweet, adorable and reminds me of a teddy bear, but, seems to have a strong sense of determination and purpose for business."

"Emmett was there?"

"Sure was, and the parents were there as well. Of course, Jasper Cullen was present, also since he's the one that seems to be spearheading the contractual part of this situation."

"So, you got to meet the whole family?"

"That I did, and Mama Cullen got a hold of the asshat and drug him out by the ear to have a few private words with him after the second showdown that happened had taken place in his office in front of everyone. Even Daddy Cullen took part in that private conversation along with Mama Cullen and bad boy Cullen. However, before you ask, no, no one was present for the first incident since it took place in an empty hallway outside of the ladies' restroom." Bella told her cousin.

And, with those casual remarks made by Bella, Rosalie demanded to hear the whole story, from start to finish, not just random snippets. "And, don't leave a damn thing out. I want to know it all." So, the two women settled down and Bella did relay all that had taken place. "But, I don't know what took place after I left, however, as Mark and I were leaving the outer office we did hear a few raised voices; not anything that could be understood, but, you could tell that some anger was sparking the conversation."

"Bella, what can I say? Who knew that an author's life would carry as much drama and excitement as yours seems to have in it?

"Alice and I live and work here in L. A. where excitement is an everyday thing in the areas we are associated, but, for someone from Forks, Washington, moved to Seattle and wrote their first book it is unheard of." After having a good laugh about the events that Bella had described Rosalie offered her opinion about the mishaps that were seeming to follow her cousin as of late.

"I know, I agree with you, who would have thought? Alice will be over a bit later and will want to know what happened, but, I'm having dinner with Mark this evening since he wants to discuss business. So, that means that you're going to have to be the one to tell her the whole thing." Bella explained as she rose to head to her room so she could freshen up and get ready to meet Mark for dinner.

After Bella left for her dinner appointment, two things happened at the same time. Alice arrived at Rosalie's just as a delivery was being left on the doorstep of three dozen red roses. And, of course, Alice being Alice, she was curious as hell about who would be sending roses to Rosalie; that, at least, is who she assumed the flowers were for.

So, picking them up she continued on through the door while yelling for Rosalie and Bella. The only one to answer was the owner of the home, Rosalie, who admired the flowers and asked who they were from. Alice answered that she had no idea and thought they were for Rose. And, it was as Alice set the flowers down that both women spied the small envelope peeking out from amongst the flowers. Being careful in retrieving the envelope in case of thorns, Rosalie broke the seal and opened it to find a note addressed to Bella.

And, as she commented about that to Alice and was about to slip the card back into the envelope Rosalie noticed the name at the bottom of the card; it was from Edward Cullen.

A/N: So, Bella has gone to dinner with Mark to discuss business. Edward is trying to find a way to get his way about the contract. Rosalie and Bella had a good laugh about the incidents that had happened that day. Alice is curious about what happened and why the flowers. What is going to be the final outcome about the contract and who is going to get their way?

Your thoughts and comments as always are welcomed.