Note: Thank you so much too: VeldanTwilight! For making this story readable to be able to post.

Disclaimer: All recognizable content that is connected to the Twilight Saga belongs to Stephenie Meyer's.


I rest my hands on the railings of my high-rise office balcony that looks over Chicago and is taller than any other skyrise in the city.

As I look upon the twinkling lights of the traffic and street lights down below, I wonder why on earth I agreed to this? Yes, she looked beautiful in the photo that the University of Chicago had of my little sister's new friend, but why did I allow Alice to bring food up here to my pristine office! Why was I letting a stranger, that's not part of the family fold, nor my legit businesses enter my life and be in my presence?

I believe I managed to even do the unthinkable and shock Alice into silence, which is a rarity in itself. But then again, she knows that, under no circumstances, she is allowed in any club without one of us as her escort. Even next year when she is old enough, she won't be allowed to go out on her own, due to who our family is and our extra activities.

The first time Alice managed to get into a club without our knowledge, our father sent a photo to every bar and club in our city. He stated that if they valued their lives, they wouldn't let this girl in, no matter what she might try to accomplish it. She was not to enter. We knew Alice had tried a few times, but she soon realized what our father had done, and he put hurricane Alice in her place, really good.

She got her credit cards taken from her and got forced to eat college food at the time. She got banned from shopping, and she wasn't allowed any special treatment for the remainder of the year. I would have punished her even more for offering the doorman a blow job to get in and grabbing his balls! She couldn't put on the waterworks for this one, nor could she talk her way out of it, due to the CCTV footage we had gained from the bar. The poor guy looked terrified when my father stormed in with me and my brother Emmett.

I have two brothers and one sister. I am the oldest at the grand age of twenty-five, then there is Emmet, who is twenty-four, plus our adoptive brother Jasper, who is twenty-one. His story has always been rather sketchy, and to be honest, it is downright mysterious how he became a part of our unique family.

I had most of the lights turned off in my office, except for my desk lamp, as I wanted a clear view of the city. It's a plus that it's rather nice and relaxing just having one light on when you've been subjected to bright white LED lighting all day long.

Isabella caught my attention just from her photograph alone, even after requesting a background check. I didn't even bother reading her information. For some reason, her photo held my gaze! However, I have also learned over the years that portraits of people can change just as quickly as the landscape evolves that surrounds us. In my line of work, if someone wrongs another person, they like to change their appearances in the hope of not being found. I find myself hoping and praying that Isabella Swan is not one of those people.

Light floods onto my balcony, but they won't see me because I am to the side. Alice will know I am here because I left the door open. I know my moment of blissful silence from a busy day is officially over, so I close my eyes and lean my head back, enjoying the slight breeze that hits my skin before opening my eyes. The stars look close enough to touch from this height, and I marvel at how bright they are in the night's clear sky. I love it out here because you can't even hear a single sound up here, nor can you smell the city. It's just the purity of the night's air above all else.

Suddenly I hear the familiar sounds of heels, but not the footsteps that belong to them. I don't turn around straight away as I move my head back to look over the city streets.

"Um... hi! Sorry to interrupt. Alice told me to tell you that she forgot to order the food, so she has gone back down to wait for the delivery guy. She told me you'd probably be out here." I closed my eyes, briefly wondering what the fuck Alice is up to because she never forgets anything before I turn to face the woman who has held my attention for the last two weeks. I feel like the air escapes my lungs and the grounds disappear from under us as our eyes met for the first time.

I didn't realize how close she is. She's even more beautiful in real life. I stare at her long chocolate brown, waist-length hair and large round chocolate eyes. Her skin is pale, a similar color to mine, and she seems to be in the same daze as I am. She has grabbed hold of the railing to steady herself but never looked away once.

I suddenly find myself in her personal space and hear her gasp as I lean down to whisper in her ear, smelling her scent that takes over my sense of smell.

"As a friend of Alice's, I would have thought you'd know that my meddlesome sister never forgets anything," I tell her. As Isabella moves her hand from the rail, she wobbles slightly, and my arms are around her waist quicker than I can blink as she falls into my chest.

"Fuck!" She hisses, yes hisses, not whispers.

"Fuck indeed. I know you feel after what we just experienced, but I suggest we keep it to ourselves, for now at least, and not give Alice the satisfaction. I'm guessing you don't wear heels normally?" I said to her.

"No! Tonight is my first time experiencing Chicago nightlife. Alice has done the unthinkable and managed to persuade me out from between the pages of my books for one night, even though we are only nineteen, nearly twenty. I don't know how far she thinks we are going to get! I don't do dresses either." She tells me.

"I see... did you give my sister permission to dress you?" She snorts, then looks up at me with wide eyes. We'd both grown maybe too comfortable with each other and had melted into one another's bodies, looking out over my city.

"I'm well aware of what she's like, so you don't need to panic. Red looks good on you, by the way."

"This view is beautiful," She says, completely ignoring my compliment. Suddenly I hear a loud ringing coming from my office, and I turn to look for the source. "Sorry," Bella mumbles as she removes herself from my arms, though I find myself not wanting to let her go just yet. It is so unlike me to even want another person in my personal space. I grab hold of her hand and lead her into my office. I see an unfamiliar black bag on my desk and lead her over to it.

She lets go of my hand and digs out her mobile phone. I hear her sigh in annoyance as she answers it.

"What now, Jacob?" I'm instantly on alert and move to sit down in my over-the-top, overpriced desk chair. I move my foot and rest it on my left knee as I link my hands together with my elbows resting on the armrests. My eyes stay fixed on the beautiful creature before me. She's currently refusing to look anywhere but at me. I grab a pen and drop it in from a height, so it makes a loud noise. Bella jumps and turns around to face me. She looks like an angry kitten now, ready to pounce. I hold out my hand to her and point to her phone. She narrows her eyes at me suspiciously.

"I dropped a pencil. What do you want other than to be told the same thing, time and time again!" She snaps.

When she doesn't understand what I want, I get up and take a few steps towards her while she takes a few steps back. We do this till she hits the wall, and her eyes widen as I box her in with my arms. Her eyes are focused on me and me alone as she tries to figure out my next move. My hand is right by her ear, where her phone is, so I snatch it before she has a chance to realize what I have done and am pleased to discover she has an old iPhone, so I hit the speakerphone, and his voice fills my office. I smirk as Bella's eyes widen, and I move back to my desk chair, knowing she'll follow.

"Hello? Bella? Are you listening to a word I am saying?"

"No?" She says in a tone that I can't quite figure out. She sits down on the desk, and I know one day I will have her bent over said desk, butt naked and my dick buried deep inside of her. I watch as she takes her heels off and wriggles her feet, relaxing instantly.

"What the fuck, Bella? You've changed since you went to Chicago." Bella rolls her eyes.

"No! I'm still the same person, Jacob. I've just learned not to trust guys." She shoots me some kind of look, and I raise my eyebrow.

"Not this again. I told you! She came on to me! What was I supposed to do?" Bella closes her eyes.

"Pop her silicone boobs, and tell her to fuck off. You have been in a relationship for three years and you fooled around the entire time! Lauren Mallory is Fork's, no, Washington's biggest whore! Thank fuck, I didn't catch anything because of you. I can't believe you would put your dick in that. I won't take you back, Jacob, I don't want anything to do with you or Billy. I barely have anything to do with my own father because of all of your cover-ups. " Interesting... so she's basically on her own here? No wonder Alice has taken her under her wing. They are both loners, pretty much. Alice has "people" but doesn't have any real friends. Bella and I are going to have to tread carefully, although I am pretty sure this is a setup! I just don't want to give Alice the satisfaction, if what has happened between Bella and me is real. I will have to speak to my father about this. If I tell my mother, she'll be planning an engagement party and wedding next.

"Got nothing to say? Thank god, now fuck off," She tells him. I can't help it; I smirk and almost chuckle.

"The old Bella would have never spoken to me this way. City life has changed you." He tells her.

"Stop it, just stop it, Jacob fucking Black! I don't want anything to do with you or anyone con-"

"You still speak with Sam and Paul! They are bad news, Bella. I don't want you to have anything more to do with that lot." He tells her angrily.

"And how would you know that? It's not any of your damn business, who I chose to or not to spend my time with! You lost any rights when I discovered your dirty little secret," She hisses at him.

"Kim told Leah, who told Seth, who told me." Bella closes her eyes and leans her head back. She places her legs over mine, which have gone back to their original position after I sat back down. Surprisingly I don't cringe and that surprises me. I haven't cringed once since my first close encounter with Bella. I lean forwards to pick up Bella's phone and decide to intervene.

"As Bella has clearly stated, she is not interested in your doggin' ass. I'm getting fed up of seeing Bella upset, and hearing your pathetic whiny voice, trying and failing to win her back! I hate to break it to ya, asshole... that isn't ever gonna happen." I lock eyes with Bella's wide ones as I say this.

At that moment, I hear the sound of the lift go, and Bella moves her legs and jumps off the desk, snatching her phone, and ending his call, before her ex got over his shock and sat down in the chair opposite from me.

"Hello! What have I missed?" My sister comes dancing into the room in her usual fashion.

"Bella! Where're my shoes?" She says horrified. Dumping the greasy pizza box on my desk in front of me. I roll my eyes, and Bella ignores Alice, texting on her phone. Alice stopped looking for her shoes and took a closer look at Bella and me.

"Whats happened?

"The assholes," Bella says. "Her ex!" I add.

"Seriously? When is that asshole going to get the hint? You need to change your number or get a new phone entirely! But I have a funny feeling, that'll be pointless."

"This has happened more than a few times?" I ask them.

"Why do you care?" Alice turns around to face me. Bella also is watching my reaction curiously.

"I don't!" Alice eyes me for a few more seconds before saying: "Shoes back on, missy." Bella is still watching me, so I wink as we share a secret smile.