Capitolo Sette

With an agreement comes expectations, conditions, benefits, and consequences.

When Edward left for work, I was staring down the barrel of a whole day alone. Rose was in the city since she had spent the night at Royce's house, having left after I talked to her. She was supposed to be back later today, but that didn't help me now, as I was sure she'd probably hang out at his place while he was at work. Elizabeth didn't have a job, but she left this morning before Edward and his dad. She mentioned something about some sort of charity board meeting in the morning and tea this afternoon. It shouldn't have surprised me, but I was used to both of my parents working, and all the friends that I grew up with had two working parents as well. I was starting to see that the rich really did things differently.

I sat down on the couch in the front room and turned on the television, flipping through the channels mindlessly. It was surprising that they had a satellite because I never saw anyone watching TV. I watched a trashy reality show for an hour before I couldn't take it anymore. I needed to run a couple of errands today, and even though Ted told me that I shouldn't go out by myself, I figured that it would be okay for the few things I needed to do.

My dress had to be dropped off at the dry cleaners because I would need it for next weekend. I also wanted to maybe find a few sundresses at Target. I hadn't thought about that when we were there the day before, and it was actually pretty warm here in New York, so I could use some clothes that were better suited for warmer weather.

I grabbed my keys and hopped into my car. After a short drive, I was able to find Target without the GPS, remembering where it was from when Edward and I had come here. The stuff I was looking for was fairly easy to find, so when I was done and checked out, I headed to their food court, which was really one of the best things about this place.

When I finished lingering, I headed back out to my car. As I was putting my stuff in the trunk, I felt an increasing sense of foreboding. I looked around the parking lot through my peripheral vision, not wanting to call attention to myself. I noticed a black SUV idling near my car. They hadn't been there when I got here. There was someone sitting in the car, but the tinted windows limited my ability to see them.

Brushing off my unease, I got in my car and looked up the nearest dry cleaners. After I Google mapped it, I pulled out of the lot. I had only been driving for a few minutes when I saw the SUV from before a few cars behind me. Even though I wanted to tell myself that I was being paranoid, I still pulled into the sheriff's department parking garage. The SUV sped past and I waited for them to get farther down the road before I pulled out, going in the opposite direction.

I made it to the dry cleaners with no other incident, but unfortunately, I had to park a couple blocks away because it was just a storefront with no parking in front of the building. I got my dress from the hanger in the back, grabbed my purse, and locked my car.

I was getting a sketchy feeling on the way to the building. I knew it was probably a bad idea, but I had to go down an alleyway to get to the building, so I kept my keychain clutched in my hand. Almost the minute I ducked into the alley, I heard quickened footsteps behind me.

They were trying to be stealthy, but gravel always gives one away. I started walking faster, refusing to look behind me. If you can't ID someone, they usually don't chase you if you run. So, I pretended to stumble, and the moment I felt the person touch my arm, I jerked my elbow back, stabbing the keys behind me. The yelp I heard confirmed that I had hit them, so I took off at a dead run until I reached my destination.

I burst through the front door of Mario's Dry Cleaning, panting and sweaty from the exertion of running. I pulled my phone out, and once I got my breathing under control, I called Edward. To my relief, he answered quickly. "Hey, Bella." His tone was cheerful.

"Edward," I said, panicked and completely freaked out.

"What's wrong?" His concern was immediate, the joyful tone gone.

"Someone is following me. I ran some errands, and there was an SUV that I tried to lose, but someone almost grabbed me before I ran into the dry cleaners."

"You left the house alone? What were you thinking?" His voice showed his exasperation.

"Yes, I was bad, but can we save the lecture for later. I promise you can spank me later but I can't leave this building now, so I need you to tell me what to do."

Edward chuckled. "Cheeky." He sighed. "I'm in the city. Give me a minute." Muffled talking could be heard on the other end. I walked to the counter and started to tell the guy I needed my dress dry cleaned. Even though I only wore it the one time, I'd gotten a smidge of tomato sauce on it and sweated in it all day because I was nervous. "Bella, are you still there?" Edward asked.

"Yep, I'm here."

"Alec is closest to you right now. Do you remember him?"

"Yes, I remember that little charmer." I smiled and nodded thinking about the guy who subtly tried to hit on me.

Edward chuckled. "He is still on Staten Island, so tell me where you are, and I will let him know. Don't leave the store. He will come in and get you, escort you to your car, and you will drive straight home. Do you understand? I have to finish something up, but I'll be home in an hour or two."

I scoffed. "Okay, Daddy." My tone teasing and mocking. The guy checking in my dress gave me a weird look. I gave him a charming smile, and he chuckled, shaking his head. I told Edward the address of where I was. "Believe me, I won't make this mistake again."

"I know you won't. I do need to talk to you though about something else when I get home."

I took the receipt from the clerk then went to sit down and wait for my savior. "Oh, intrigue. You gonna give me a hint?"

"No, this isn't the type of thing you discuss during a phone conversation. Text me when Alec arrives and when you get home." His tone was no nonsense and that he expected me to just say yes.

"You keep barking orders at me, I'll be the one doing the spanking."

Edward heaved a huge sigh on the other end of the line. "Please," he ground out.

I had to keep from laughing because I could tell he didn't have to say that often. "Oh, you're so sweet. I would love to let you know that I'm okay. See you when you get home, sweetie." My tone was laced with sarcasm, and after saying goodbye, we both hung up.

~NDMN~

True to Edward's word, Alec showed up shortly after I got off the phone with him. Alec was charming in an endearing way. It wasn't done with swagger or cockiness; he was genuinely nice and flattering without it being overdone. I enjoyed talking to him on the walk to my car and was relieved when he followed me home and nothing else transpired.

Once up in my room, I texted Edward as he requested, and to my surprise, he came home about half an hour after I returned. My door flung open, and he looked half relieved and half ready to throttle me. Looking at his anxious face, I took my earbuds out and placed them in their charging case.

"I called for you," he complained after he'd shut the door.

"I was listening to music. Didn't think your mom would be really happy about me playing metal really loud. I'm fine, just like I told you when I texted you."

"You seem to be joking about this too much." His tone was condescending

I lost it, not able to hold my tongue any longer, and I rose from my spot on the bed, squaring off in front of him. "Well, you know absolutely dick about me, Edward, so how the fuck would you know what my coping skills are?" I slammed my fist into my other hand, my palm flat. "My parents were murdered, and I almost got nabbed on the streets of a city that isn't home to me." I walked closer to him. "If I want to joke or try to maintain some semblance of normalcy, then I will and you can stick your opinions about it up your ass." I shoved his shoulder, trying to get him out of my room. He didn't budge. I groaned in frustration and turned to go back to my bed.

He grabbed my wrist, spinning me again, and backed me up to the wall. "Are you finished with your little temper tantrum?" he asked, his eyebrows raised. I rolled my eyes. "I would say I'm sorry, but I'm not going to apologize for worrying about you. I know you hate this, and I know you're all independent and shit, but your life as it was in Washington is over. Ours is a whole new world you've stepped into."

There it was again. That mention of a different world. What the fuck was up with that? I got it—things here were different—but we were all still on planet earth. "Whatever, Edward. Just don't think you know me so well to judge me," I said, looking at him straight on, shoulders back and head held high.

"You're not as mysterious as you think you are, Ms. Swan," he whispered, his head dipping down to skim his lips along the column of my throat. It was completely arousing, and I bit my lip to stifle the moan I wanted to let out. When his head lifted to look at me, he smiled as he took in my flushed face and my puffy lips from worrying them with my teeth. He gripped my hair tight. "We need to talk, even though I want to bury myself into you so deep, you won't know where I end and you begin."

He released my head from his grip, and I finally let out a moan. "Fffuuuccckkk." I groaned out. "It better be important because you are turning me on so much."

He stepped away from me. "I can't keep touching you right now if I have any chance of being focused on this."

We sat down, me on my bed and him on the chair at the desk. I was insanely curious as to what was so serious.

He exhaled deeply, threading his hands in his hair, before he spoke, looking me dead in the eyes. "My dad told me about the proposition he gave you last night, about marrying me."

I sucked in a deep breath. Shit. "Edward, fuck. I don't want you to think I was conspiring with your dad." I scooted forward on the bed, prepared to stand.

He held his hands up to stop my movement. "I don't. He told me you were hesitant and were only considering it because you need protection." There was no trace of anger or mistrust on his face.

I fisted my hair and covered my eyes momentarily. "Wow. When you say it like that, it sounds so bad."

"Don't worry about that. Besides, it's no longer between you and him anymore; this is between you and me." He gestured between us. His face softened minutely. "I don't want to force you into anything, but there are several reasons why us getting married makes sense. Sooner rather than later."

I weaved my hand in my hair, playing with the strands and then flipping it behind my shoulder. "It's kind of a big decision to make, don't you think?"

"You like me, right?" I nodded. "Well, I like what I know about you so far also."

I nodded again and swallowed. "It's kinda far from love though."

"Love is just hormones in your brain, Bella. It all fades eventually, so while we're clearheaded now, it's the best time to make a decision" he said, his face was an emotionless mask.

"Well, that's romantic." I scoffed. "Sounds more like brokering a business deal than deciding our future."

He shrugged. "It's realistic. Do you even want kids?"

"At least you asked. Your dad said because I was young that meant I could and would want kids. Yes, I do want kids. I want a family of my own."

"Okay, so I will protect you, and we will have kids."

I studied him for a beat. He was completely sincere. "Okay, I have three stipulations."

"Protecting you isn't enough?" he questioned, his eyes wide and eyebrows raised.

"No, that's what a good husband does. That's one of my conditions. No cheating. This is going to be a real marriage. No goomahs, no mistresses. Just you and me."

"I can agree to that."

"Second and third are just answering questions. How soon are you expecting kids? And I need you to tell me why you don't believe in love."

He sighed. "You're on the shot right? When is your next one due?"

"A month." I simply replied.

"We'll revisit this when you get closer to that time," he said.

I nodded since from what I'd seen so far, with this family, a lot could change in a month.

"The other question you had—it's not something I enjoy thinking or talking about, so I will give you the short version." He raked his hands through his hair and huffed. "There were two women that I had fairly serious relationships with, and they both burned me. My parents also have never been faithful to each other as far as I can tell. My dad was more blatant about it and has had many mistresses, but it wouldn't surprise me if my mom had her own side relationships as well. In this life, I've seen a lot of men take mistresses; it's sort of expected. I told myself that I would never be one of those that did, but I lost hope in love and soulmates long ago." He finished, his voice almost emotionless.

I started to protest, "Well, cheating is a dealbreaker—"

"I may not believe in love and all that, but I promise to be faithful to you, and I expect the same in return."

I gave myself a moment to take in the information he'd given me. Did I really want to do this? Yes, I needed security, and Ted had said that there were ones protected above others in his world. I had to assume that meant wives and children. But Edward was obviously jaded because of the women that fucked him over. Was he capable of being in a relationship that was real and serious? He agreed to no cheating, so I had to believe he was.

"Okay. I agree."

His shoulders slumped slightly in relief. He cleared his throat. "Good. Now, I have my own conditions."

"Okay?"

"First, from now on, you will deal directly with me. If you need to discuss anything with my dad, I will be there or I will talk to him on your behalf. Secondly, we're going to move—live in our own house. Not today since it'll take some time, and I want you to help me choose. I want you to be happy, but we can't stay here. My dad isn't used to being told no, so let's not chance it." I nodded, agreeing with his conditions. He nodded too and then pulled a jewelry box out of his pocket. He opened it and held it out so I could see it. It had a slim silver band, and the style was vintage. It was fairly simple, but the princess cut diamond was big and held up by lines coming from the band. "It was my Nonnie's."

It was gorgeous, but it confused me that he would want to give me such an important heirloom. "It's beautiful, Edward. Are you sure you want me to have it?"

"You're gonna be my wife, so yeah. I'm only doing this once. This is it, principessa."

I laughed and put my hand out so that he could slide the ring onto my finger. I stared at it for a minute and then lifted my eyes to his. "What did that mean, just now? What you called me." I was pretty sure he called me princess, but I wanted to clarify.

"Princess."

I smiled brightly at him, and he returned it with one of his own. He grabbed my hand, linking his fingers with mine, and kissed it. "We have an announcement to make, but first, I think we need to know the basics about each other."

A/N: So how do we feel? Leave a review and let me know what you think. Thank you for reading and thanks to my crew for all their help. Until later lovelies!