AN: I told you he'd be back! But never fear, help is near!
MeteorOnAMoonlessNight, Midnight Cougar, and ghostreader24 are the wonderful team who work hard to make my words make sense, and I'm thankful for them every day
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Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns it all
Boyfriends of Christmas Past Chapter 14
Summary
A trip back home for the holidays shows Bella everything she didn't know had been missing from her life.
Chapter 14
Bella
The next three days passed slowly as I waited for the senior execs to give me their answer. I didn't understand what was taking so long, but it was their company and I had to wait for them to make their decision. Fortunately, I had plenty of work to keep me busy.
Edward called me each evening, and I missed him desperately. It seemed as if we'd been apart for months rather than only a few days.
When Friday morning came without an answer, I was convinced they wouldn't agree and had written a letter of resignation. When Jane buzzed down to tell me Emma would like to see me, I took the envelope with me, resigned to having to find another job. It wasn't as if I had anything to worry about, since the payment for the last script I'd collaborated on had been deposited in my bank account. It would be enough to keep me going for at least a year.
Jane was seated at her desk when I arrived at Emma's office and she told me to go straight in.
"Hi, Bella. I'm so sorry it took so long to get back to you. Take a seat."
"Can you just tell me if the answer is yes, please, Emma?" I blurted out as soon as I'd taken a seat. "I've been on tenterhooks for the last two days."
Emma laughed out loud. "Of course, the answer's yes, Bella. They don't want to lose your talents to a competitor."
I breathed a sigh of relief and slumped in the seat. "That's such a relief. I've been going mad. I was convinced they were going to refuse; I even wrote out my resignation."
"There's no way they were going to let you go, Bella. You're talented enough to go out on your own—not that I'm suggesting you do," she said hastily. "They've asked that you discuss the logistics with your team, and have insisted that you fly back once a month for the next three months, so they can make sure everything stays on track."
"That won't be a problem, Emma, and thank you. I'm sure you had no small part in getting them to agree."
"I'm a sucker for true love, Bella. If you find it, you should do everything possible to keep it. Now, get out of here; you have arrangements to make."
I left her office with a skip in my step. I couldn't wait to tell Edward. Deciding to take the rest of the day off, I bought lunch to go and made my way to a local park where I sat in the sun and called Edward.
"Hi, sweetheart. I was just thinking about you," he answered.
"I couldn't wait to tell you, Edward. Emma, my supervisor, said the execs have agreed I can work at home."
"That's great. Does that mean you'll be back soon? I miss you." He lowered his voice. "I miss you in my bed."
I took in a sharp breath, his words hitting me with the sudden desire to get on a plane now. I could be with him before the end of the day. "I can't think of anything I want more than to be with you right now, Edward. Soon."
"What do you have to do now?" he asked.
"I've taken the afternoon off, and I'm going to go back to Alice's and start sorting out everything she and Jasper collected from Alec's apartment. I'm sure they'll go with me to my unit at the storage company this weekend. It shouldn't take me long to go through what's stored. I need to arrange for it to be shipped to Dad's. He's got room in the garage, I think, though it will need a little sorting out."
"I can do that for you, sweetheart. I'll feel closer to you if I'm doing something practical to help you get here faster."
"Thank you. I'll call Dad and let him know you'll be by on the weekend. Is that okay?"
"No problem. When do you think you'll be here, Bella?
"A couple of weeks? The execs are adamant I have to meet with my team and go over how we're going to work. That'll take next week, so maybe the week after?"
"Sounds like a plan. Is there anything else I can do? What about Alec? Have you seen him?"
"He called once at the beginning of the week, and I refused to speak to him. My assistant, Bree, will intercept my calls, as usual, so he can't get through to me there. He hasn't called my personal cell, and I'd change it except there isn't any point until I get to Forks."
"Will Alec be able to get into your office? If Bree isn't there, what's to stop him coming in?"
"Don't worry so much, Edward. Bree has already spoken to security, and he won't be allowed on my floor. I can't have him banned from the building because he may have to come in about his role in his new film. I promised I'd be careful, and I will, okay?"
I could tell he was reluctant to accept I would be okay, but he didn't push the issue, trusting I could take care of myself. After a few more minutes of conversation, we said our goodbyes, and I continued on my way home. When I got home, I found a note from Alice to say she had to go out of town on business, and she and Jasper decided to make it a weekend away.
I was disappointed not to have someone to tell my news to and realized I had no other friends in L.A. because Alec had driven all of them away, except Alice and Jasper. I decided to run myself a bath and order out for dinner.
A few hours later, seated on the sofa and eating Thai food, I debated finding a movie to watch. After not finding anything in their collection, I browsed through Netflix and settled down to watch Fifty Shades of Grey before falling asleep on the sofa.
The morning sunshine woke me as it shone through the double doors to the balcony. For a second, I wondered where I was, thankfully remembering I was staying with Alice and Jasper and not still at Alec's apartment. The day looked like it was shaping up to be beautifully warm, so I decided on a run through the local park. Dressed in leggings, a short-sleeved T-shirt, and sneakers, I grabbed my phone and set out.
By the time I got back to the apartment, I was a sweaty mess. I hadn't taken a run for over a month. Alec hadn't liked me out by myself, especially dressed as I was today, and Forks in winter wasn't exactly the ideal for running.
I'd missed the high it gave me and vowed it would be something I'd take up again regularly. After a leisurely, hot shower, I dried my hair and dressed simply in jeans and a sleeveless blouse, and made the short drive to Santa Monica, something I hadn't done in a long time.
I found a parking spot, then a bench opposite the beach, and sat enjoying the sun, people watching. My phone rang, Edward's name flashing across the screen.
"Good morning, Edward. How are you today?"
"I'm good, my love. Charlie and I have finished making room in the garage for your things, so as soon as you're ready, they can be shipped. What about you?"
"I'm down at the beach, soaking up the sun. It's about the only thing I'll miss when I get to Forks, but the benefits of moving home outweigh the constant sun… I get you forever," I finished quietly.
"We get to spend a lifetime together, Bella. It's what I want."
"See, who needs sunshine?" I laughed.
"Changing the subject," Edward said. "Are you on your own?"
"Yes. Well, as alone as I can be with hundreds of people in the same place as me. Why?"
"You promised, Bella, not to be on your own. Hell, Alec could be anywhere," he swore.
"I hardly think I'm in any danger here, Edward."
"I thought you were going to be with Alice and Jasper," he demanded. "Where are they?"
"Edward," I said, getting annoyed. "I'm perfectly fine in a public place like this." I stopped, swallowing back my sudden anger. "Alec tried to tell me what to do, too. I don't want to exchange one controlling boyfriend for another."
There was a short silence from the other end of the phone, and I wondered if I'd gone too far. The two men weren't the same at all. Alec came from a side that wanted to own me, whereas I knew Edward was only concerned for my welfare.
"I'm sorry, Bella," he said quietly. "I don't mean to tell you what to do. I'm worried that now I've found you, something will happen to take you away from me. I don't want to lose you again."
"Oh, Edward, you won't. I promised I'd be careful, and I will," I reassured.
"I trust you; it's Alec I don't trust. He left too easily, and he hasn't bothered you since you've been back. Just be careful," he begged.
"Okay." Since there wasn't anything else I could do to assuage his fears, I changed the subject. "What are you doing this weekend? Other than helping my dad clear the garage, of course. Do you have any work coming up?"
It seemed as if Edward was as glad for the change of subject as I was. "I have a few minor maintenance repairs for the rest of today, then tomorrow, I'm working on the house, putting in the upstairs bathrooms."
"It'll be beautiful when it's finished, Edward. I could help you paint if you wanted."
"I'd love that, Bella. It'll be ready for that by Easter, and you'll be here by then."
After we finished our conversation and said a reluctant goodbye, I promised to call him again tomorrow and sat in the sun for a while longer before finding a coffee shop. I ordered a tall latte and a chocolate chip muffin, then scrolled through my phone, checked Facebook, my emails, and read the news online while sitting out on the terrace.
I returned home late in the afternoon after stopping by the grocery store to stock up the refrigerator. Neither Alice nor Jasper would take any money from me for rent or utilities, telling me I was a guest, so the only thing I could do was buy groceries.
That evening, needing something to keep myself occupied, I cleaned the bathrooms and the kitchen, then set the Roomba to vacuum the floor while I prepared some meals for the week. Feeling satisfied with what I'd achieved today, I made myself a chicken salad, eating it in the living room nook, then retired to the living room to eat dessert and drink a glass of wine as I watched Fifty Shades Darker.
There were parts of both films that were intriguing, and I went to bed horny and missing Edward.
~ oOo ~
Sunday was another beautiful day, and I went for a run again. In deference to Edward's worry, I stayed close to home, popping along to the local coffee shop for breakfast. Having done the grocery shopping and cooked up a few meals for the week, I found myself without anything to do.
Knowing I'd need some warmer clothes, and of course some lingerie, I decided on a visit to the shopping mall. To avoid the hassle of parking, I took an Uber, spending a couple of hours in Nordstrom and Bloomingdales purchasing clothes suitable for a Forks winter, including nightwear, underwear, and bras, all of which I hoped Edward would like.
Alice and Jasper returned early Sunday evening, full of their weekend away in San Francisco. We decided on dinner at a restaurant downtown, followed by drinks at one of the many bars not far from the apartment.
The three of us stumbled from the Uber just after midnight, a little drunk and a lot merry. Grabbing a glass of water and two Tylenol, I took off my makeup, washed up, and brushed my teeth before falling into bed.
The next few days at work were busy with meetings, research, and analyzing stories sent to me for their suitability for transformation onto the big screen. It was unfortunate neither Alice nor Jasper could get away from their respective jobs on either Monday or Tuesday evening, so it wasn't until Wednesday evening we were able to get to my storage unit to start the process of choosing what to keep and what to donate.
In the few years before I'd moved in with Alec, I'd collected some furniture. A sofa, a hall table, a queen-size bed, two nightstands, a chest of drawers, a large rug and some smaller ones, pictures, and boxes of personal items Alec hadn't wanted in his apartment and had gradually persuaded me to put into storage. When I had stupidly moved back in with him last year, I hadn't bothered to take anything out of storage, so there was a fair amount to go through.
Since we only had evenings, it was taking a little longer than I'd expected. I tried not to show how frustrated I was to Alice and Jasper, who were doing their best to make sure I wasn't out alone, but I was itching to make that final move.
It was Alice and Jasper's anniversary on Friday, but both of them knew how much I wanted to be able to book the moving company to transport my things to Forks. Once that was done, I could book a flight and be on my way.
Friday was my last day in the office, and with congratulations and see you soon ringing in my ears, I escaped just after lunch. With an afternoon free, and knowing that within the next week I would be in Forks and with Edward, I was eager to finish packing.
Alice insisted they would be just as happy going out on Saturday instead, but that didn't sit well with me. Determined to finish the tasks at the storage unit before the end of the day, I decided it would be perfectly safe to spend an afternoon there. It was a busy place during the day, and I only had a couple more hours work to finish.
It was now the end of the second week in January, and I was getting impatient, missing Edward more each day. I couldn't wait to see him every day, to go out on dates, and spend our time in each other's company. My body yearned for his; to sleep beside him, and to wake with him wrapped around me.
With that thought, I headed for the work parking lot and drove to the storage company. I signed in at the desk and escaped into the climate-controlled storage area before the guy at reception could engage me in conversation. He'd never done or said anything to make me think he was a creep, but he gave off that vibe and I avoided spending any time close to him if I could.
There were several couples and individuals in some of the units close to mine, and I felt safe as I got involved in sorting out the last couple of boxes. These contained some of my mom's things—things she'd left behind when she walked out, along with the few items she'd sent to me for various birthdays and Christmases.
Engrossed in looking through photographs, I didn't notice the time, until the absence of sounds around me brought me out of my intense perusal. Checking my watch, I realized it was after six, and it would be dark outside. I pulled out my phone to call Alice to let her know I would be on my way home in the next fifteen minutes so she and Jasper wouldn't worry, only to find the battery was dead.
I knew Alice would be worried, especially since she wouldn't be able to get ahold of me. I took solace in the fact that she did at least know where I was as I'd sent her a text earlier. Quickly, I finished up, sealing the last box, and made sure I had everything before stepping out of the unit and locking the door.
As I made my way along the walkway between the units, I became aware of just how creepy the place was without people around. It was open twenty-four-seven, but it was fairly empty after six. I guessed that because it was Friday, it was even emptier than usual.
Thankfully, reception was empty when I slipped past and out the door, and once again, I'd avoided any conversation with the creepy Caius Salvatori. My car wasn't too far away, but I hurried along the street, aware I was exactly where I promised Edward I wouldn't be—alone.
It was a little chilly now it was dark, and I pulled my jacket around myself to warm up. A light rain had begun to fall, too. The sidewalk was virtually empty, the street mostly filled with industrial units. I whirled around at a sound from behind me, but couldn't see anyone. I shook my head, figuring it was probably a stray cat, and continued, heading toward the end of the street where I'd parked my car.
I could see my car now, and picked up my pace, thoroughly rattled by the sound I'd heard. When the noise came again, I whirled around.
"Who's there?" I called, my voice sounding a little shaky to my ears.
There was nothing behind me, so I turned back around and hurried the last few feet toward my car, clicking the keyless fob to unlock the doors. I sighed with relief at the thought that in a couple of minutes I would be safe and warm and on my way home.
As I reached for the door handle of the car, a sharp shove from behind made me stumble, and I put my hands up in front of me to prevent my face from hitting the side of the car. Shocked, I tried to turn around, ready to curse the idiot behind me. A hand in the middle of my back pushed me against the metal of the car door, preventing me from moving, and I realized the movement had been deliberate.
"Isabella. It's so nice to see you again." The voice was very close and sent chills up my spine as I recognized it—Alec. His lips touched my neck, and I shuddered, suddenly aware of how vulnerable I was, and I cursed my stupidity in not listening to Alice, Jasper, or Edward.
I reached into my pocket for my phone, forgetting it was dead, but Alec's rough touch stopped me.
"Oh, no you don't," he said as he took the phone from my hand and threw it over the car and across the street. I could smell the alcohol on his breath and gagged.
"Thought you'd got rid of me, Isabella?" he crooned, grabbing my hands and holding them behind my back. "Don't you know I'll never let you go?"
"Get your fucking hands off me, Alec." I tried unsuccessfully to wriggle out of his hold. "Edward is on his way, and you'd better not be touching me when he gets here."
The words were out of my mouth before I could tell myself not to antagonize him. It was clear Alec wasn't quite himself. He spun me around and grabbed my arm, covering my mouth as I opened it to scream.
"Shut up, Isabella. Just fucking shut up. If you make another sound, I'll gag you," he promised. "As for Edward Cullen, he has no idea where you are right now, does he? I've been watching you, and he's back in that podunk town you call home. You'll soon forget about him once we're married."
"If you think I'm going to marry you, Alec, you're insane. I don't even like you, let alone love you. Fucking let me go."
How the hell had he managed to hide his true character from me for so long? He was fucking nuts! Married? He's lost his fucking mind.
Letting go of my hands, he spun me around, grabbing the tops of my arms the same way he'd done at Christmas. He forced me back against the car, and I gasped in pain as the handle dug uncomfortably into my back. I was taken aback at the fury on his face, and suddenly, I was truly afraid. I tried to shift my leg so I could knee him in the groin, but with his body forcing me against the car, I had no way of fighting him off and nowhere to go.
I changed tactics, trying to appeal to him and figure out a way to get him away from me for long enough to allow me to open the car door.
"Come on, Alec, you know we're not right for each other. I'm sure there's someone out there you deserve so much more than me. I'm not good for you," I said, trying to keep my voice calm.
His eyes glinted dangerously in the street light just beyond the car. I looked around, hoping to see someone—anyone—who might be able to help. Unfortunately, I'd managed to park far enough away from the street lights that the car was in the shadows.
I could feel I wasn't getting through to him, but I continued, hoping to appeal to him. "You need to accept that we're not together, Alec."
His demeanor changed dramatically, giving me whiplash. "Bella, sweetheart, I just wanted to talk to you, to ask for another chance. We were so good together, and we can be again."
I gaped at him, wondering if I'd somehow woken in an alternate universe. I shook my head and thought carefully about what I should say. It was obvious Alec had experienced some kind of psychotic break and had forgotten what happened in Forks.
"I know I've been neglecting you, Bella," he continued. "So I don't blame you for finding comfort with another. You were in a very vulnerable state, and Edward Cullen used your past connection to get past your defenses." He grabbed my hand. "I forgive you, Bella."
What the hell? Apart from the fact I broke up with him before I embarked on a relationship with Edward and hadn't slept with him at the time, I was shocked at the words that came out of Alec's mouth.
Jeez, Bella. You were so fucking stupid; it's like you were living under a rock. How did I never see the real Alec before?
He looked as if he'd made some kind of decision, and yanked me toward him, stepping away from the car. He started to drag me back along the street into the dark space between the industrial units. I struggled, knowing that if he managed to take me away from here, it would be more difficult for anyone to find me.
I let out a shout, hoping someone would hear me, but Alec's slap knocked me sideways, dazing me. My ears rang, and my cheek stung where he'd hit me, and before I could do anything, he gripped me around my waist, lifting me off my feet and shoving his hand over my mouth again.
For a second, I hung there, trying to shake off the dizziness, then tried to bite him, and began to wriggle, kicking out at whatever was nearest. My feet suddenly connected with his shins, and with a yelp, he stumbled, letting me go, giving me the opening I needed to push away from him. Alec, already unsteady because of the alcohol in his system, became an easier target, and suddenly, I was the one who was furious.
Instead of using the opportunity to run, I flung myself at him, kicking and screaming. "Get off me, you fucking bastard. How dare you even think of touching me? We are not together and we never will be, you—you asshole."
I had joined a kick-boxing group back when I was in my first year of college, and I guessed some of the lessons stuck. My left hand was already up in a defensive position. I pulled it back then pushed out sharply with my right hand clenched into a fist, connecting directly with his nose. Stepping back into my left foot, I raised my right, and with a scream of pure fury, landed a kick squarely in his stomach, knocking the air out of his lungs.
Alec fell to his knees, one hand on his nose, attempting to stem the flow of blood spilling through his fingers and onto the sidewalk. The other rested on the ground as he coughed and wheezed, trying to pull air into his lungs.
I stood there, my lungs trying to pull air into my body when I heard footsteps running toward where I stood over Alec.
"Bella! Bella! Sweetheart, are you okay?"
"Edward?" I gasped, turning away from the pitiful creep on the ground in front of me. "Edward!"
I threw myself into his arms, my legs around his waist and my hands already in the hair in the back of his neck. The adrenaline that had allowed me to fight off Alec drained from my body, leaving me weak and shaking.
"You're here, Edward, you're here." There was no way I could hold it all in and my tears soaked the shoulder of his jacket. Beyond him, I could see Jasper looming over Alec's prone figure.
"Yes, sweetheart, I'm here. Alice and Jasper knew you'd be here somewhere, my love," Edward whispered in my ear as he pulled me as close to his body as physically possible, folding his arms tightly around me. "I'll explain it all later."
The fear and the events of the last ten minutes washed over me, and I buried my nose in the juncture of his neck and shoulder, inhaling his scent and feeling my body calm.
~ oOo ~
