Sorry for the long absence! I'll be posting two chapters this week to apologize. Enjoy!

While the coffee and water had gone a long way in helping me to sober up, I still felt pretty buzzed. I thought back on what Emmett had said. I had only known Edward for a short time, but I couldn't imagine ever being unhappy with him. Him and I needed to have a talk. I wanted to know why he'd chosen me. Especially when there were obviously women before me. We swung around to the front to pick up Edward, and instead of climbing into the back with me, he got into the passenger seat with Emmett. I was glad for the space, even if we were all still in the same car together. Edward had a... dazzling effect, and I couldn't always think straight while next to him.

The ride to Cartier took around ten minutes, and ever the gentleman, Edward came and helped me down from the back of the SUV. While we weren't using a main entrance, I was still surprised by the lack of representation by the gossip rags. It had been a few hours since we'd been initially accosted. Were we already old hat?

Carefully, I followed Emmett and Edward into Cartier. We were shown into another lounge with soft lighting. Before I could object, I was being handed a glass of champagne. Taking into account the liquor that I had consumed with lunch, I slowly sipped the bubbly liquid. I was feeling tense, but Edward and Emmett were fine.

"Isabella, is everything alright?"

I hadn't immediately registered that he had been talking to me. I was too busy wallowing in my own self-loathing.

"Bella? Bella? Earth to Bella?"

I shook my head, almost to clear away my thoughts and tried to summon a smile for Edward. Who was I kidding? I didn't belong here. He should have some model or high society snob on his arm, not the college student who was previously hiding the holes in her boots with black electrical tape.

"Yes?"

"I hope we haven't been dragging you around to too many stores there, short stack."

I plastered on my best fake smile and shook my head slightly. There was something in Emmett's eyes, something I was interpreting as him telling me to knock it off.

"Isabella, I hope you don't mind, but the pieces I'd like you to wear tomorrow evening have already been chosen. I had Angela call ahead. We're really just here to pick them up."

"I'm sure you have exquisite taste, Edward."

As if on cue, an employee came out caring several bags.

"Edward, it's only one evening. How much could you have possibly ordered?"

The sweet man had the nerve to blush.

"I'm hoping it's much more than that. Event season can be quite long and involved."

"Mr. Cullen, as requested, we've supplied the 'Isabella' necklace and matching tennis bracelet, as well as the requested earring selection and clutch."

"Clutch?"

"Grace, as these are for Ms. Swan, she should have final approval, at the very least on the bag. Please show her."

With a flourish, she was removing gift wrap and shoving the clutch into my inexperienced hands.

"Ms. Swan wasn't present when I selected this. Please share the details with her."

"As you wish, Mr. Cullen. Ms. Swan, this clutch weighs roughly 38 carats, total carat weight."

I felt my jaw drop before I could catch myself.

"Carats? As in diamonds?"

"Well, yes Ms."

I turned to look at Edward who looked very much like the cat that ate the canary.

"That will be all Grace. And if you have my two sisters' orders, we'll be on our way."

With a nod Grace was gone.

"Edward. This is too much."

"Bella, I'd really like if you'd wear it all. Really. I had a hunch that you'd really look stunning in your namesake. And the clutch was more Alice's idea than mine."

"Edward-"

"Nonsense. Consider it a manifestation of my male ego to have you dripping in diamonds. I won't hear another word."

Grace was back, this time with a barely contained look of disgust on her face, clearly directed at me.

"Perhaps Ms. Swan can manage her packages?"

Thankfully, I wasn't the only one who had picked up on her sudden hostility.

"Emmett, why don't you and Isabella head toward the car. Grace and I will be along with the bags shortly."

The look on his face brokered no argument. Quickly, Emmett helped me into my coat and we left.

"Short stack, what's eating you?"

"Emmett, what do you know about the others?"

"Others?"

"I know you know more than you've said. I'm not the first girl he's had this arrangement with, am I?"

I watched as his shoulders slumped some, and he sighed.

"Short stack, you should really ask Ed about it. But for the record, he's the best guy I know. It isn't what you think it is."

"But Emmett-"

"I'm not going to rob him of the chance to explain himself. Ask him. If he refuses to give up any info, I'll point you to where you can find some answers. But he deserves a chance to share his secrets on his own. Let's get going."

I could tell he wasn't angry with me because he still helped my up into the back of the SUV with a smile. I had a feeling that I could trust Emmett, even though I'd only just met him.

We pulled around to the main entrance, and thankfully there didn't seem to be any reporters lurking around.

As promised, both Grace and Edward were waiting at the entrance, and quite noticeably, more packages had been added and Grace was struggling to carry them all. I watched as Edward stepped around and opened the trunk for her. Emmett and I watched as she deposited everything into the trunk and stepped back on the curb. She seemed to have a box in her hands.

"Grace, what we talked about please. And like you mean it."

I watched as she begrudgingly knocked on my window. Scared but curious, I rolled it down.

"Ms. Swan, I'd like to apologize for my earlier inappropriate behavior. I do hope you forgive me, and accept this token. I guarantee that what occurred today won't happen again."

"Thank you, Grace."

Slowly I took the package from her. As quickly as she'd appeared, she was gone again and Edward was clamoring into the front seat.

"I think that's everything we need for now Emmett. We should get home before Alice and Rose have mother over to redecorate."

I vaguely listened to Emmett and Edward's conversation and opened the box. Nestled inside were a beautiful pair of Emerald earrings. I was so fixated on their beauty that I barely noticed the slip of paper, and caught it just before it fluttered to the floor of the SUV below:

He'll trash you just like the rest. Maybe you should ask him what happened to Lauren Mallory.