BPOV

I spent a couple of years talking to the UCLA school therapist when I was there. She was a nice woman, just recently graduated from the school herself, with pitch black hair that complimented her tanned skin. She had thick rimmed glasses and sad eyes once I spit out my experiences with my mother and Tyler.

Doctor Young listened to me spill everything once I couldn't hold it in any longer, praised Rosalie for giving me an outlet and told me my anger at being pushed aside by my parents was completely justified. She also told me it left me with about a dozen other issues I never really thought too much about before.

I had always been quiet but she made me realize my parents never listening to me left me with the idea that no one cared about what I had to say. After years of keeping to myself in high school and cringing every time a teacher called on me in class, I could give her that one.

It also left me with a short fuse for the few occasions I did speak up for myself and someone would shoot me down, even if I was wrong. Like when I snapped at Edward one of the first times we met. It was something I actively worked on these days, especially in a professional environment, but it was still there.

Doctor Young had a notebook of other things we talked about. Scars my upbringing left me with.

I didn't date which was probably my subconscious being uncomfortable around men after my childhood with Tyler.

I couldn't carry on the simplest of conversations, again going back to the feeling of no one being interested in anything I had to say.

I worked hard at my schooling and subsequent work, not always because I wanted a good grade or praise, but because I didn't want to end up thinking about other things.

Like how utterly alone I had felt since I was a child. How desperate I was to be able to go out and not feel like an idiot. How scared I was of never being good enough for anything or anyone.

It would be a hell of a lot easier to let go of Edward if he didn't seem to make all of those things go away. He made me feel like I could talk to him and trust him and fall in love with him without a second thought.

And I hated him for it.

But, also loved him.

In the two days since his birthday it had floated through my head every time I saw him. Whether he was at his desk in the morning or filming in the afternoon. Especially Thursday night when I ended up spending all night in his bed. It was always there. As were the butterflies, which I now realized never went away in the first place.

I opened Edward's office door Friday morning, using my trusty defense mechanism of focusing on work rather than my own mountain of problems to get through the day. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

He smiled over at me, gesturing to the seat in front of him. "Of course."

I put his coffee down in front of him, carefully sliding the iced coffee he had waiting for me to the side. I pulled out my tablet from my bag, opening up to my list.

"Do you remember in your contract meeting, when I said I had plans for showing people the change in you?"

"Yes," Edward nodded.

"I lied. I mean, I do have plans. But it's kind of like a toddler planning on becoming president one day kind of plan," I blabbered on, rolling my eyes at myself. "I mean, they're not that out there, but – "

Edward smiled softly over at me, patiently waiting for me to put myself together.

I took a deep breath and shook my head. "What I mean is, I have plans but I didn't want to overwhelm you with them. I know the whole publicity thing doesn't interest you."

"It doesn't," Edward agreed. "But I know it's necessary. I've posted on Instagram twice a week since you told me to."

I must have done a horrible job at suppressing my grimace.

"What?" Edward asked with a frown.

"Nothing, it's just… a while back you posted a picture of your feet, I think you were on one of your lounge chairs in your backyard."

Edward nodded. "I did. Lucy told me it was 'very instagramable'."

I pressed my lips together, suppressing a laugh. "It was an excellent picture," I agreed, stalling for what I really had to tell him. "And it ended up on about twenty foot fetish websites. I had to have some very interesting conversations to get it taken down. Including one where someone offered to take it down if I sent them a picture of my own feet."

His expression was comical, somehow morphing between horrified and amused. "Please tell me you didn't."

"I didn't," I sighed, shaking my head. We had gotten too off topic. "But it's more than posting a couple pictures whenever you feel like it. I didn't think a hard and fast approach was something you wanted."

His eyes got dark and distracted me, yet again, from what we should have been talking about. I had actively shut down every non-work related thought since walking in here, but it was evident Edward wasn't following the same practice.

"Nothing wrong with hard and fast," he mused, his voice slow and a few octaves deeper than usual.

Any other day I would have taken the innuendo and gone along with it, laughed and enjoyed the fact that the man in front of me wanted me. Every passing day that excitement evaporated and turned into gut-wrenching sadness because I loved him. And he wasn't mine and could never be mine.

I dropped my eyes from his and scrolled through the list on my tablet. "We need at least a couple magazine covers to start off slowly. I wasn't sure if you had any preferences – "

"Are you alright?" Edward interrupted, frowning over at me.

My eyes reluctantly went up to his. "I'm fine."

He cocked his head to the side, staring at me. Like he knew what every twitch of my lips or arch of my brow meant. "You're very… professional, today."

"I'm your publicist. I should be professional," I mumbled.

Edward sat back for a minute, eyes on me in a way that was entirely unprofessional.

"I trust you," he said somberly eventually. "Whatever you think is right, we'll do."

His words made a knot of guilt form in my stomach. I was taking his trust and throwing it down the drain by working on what his mother asked me to. By having all of these feelings for him and still going along with this employee-with-benefits thing.

I wasn't sure how much longer I could keep it up.

-B-

"Where are you going?" I asked Rosalie from the kitchen. It suddenly seemed like I hadn't seen her for longer than an hour in weeks. I couldn't talk to her about what I needed to talk about, but I had thought she was staying here tonight.

"Emmett is taking me out to dinner. I'll be back tomorrow afternoon so we can get ready together," she said quickly, coming in and grabbing a carrot off of my plate.

It was a pathetic dinner of some questionably old chicken and vegetables, but I didn't have the energy to do much else after the week I'd had.

"Is that okay?" Rosalie asked, eying me and my silence.

"Yeah," I answered quickly, pushing my chicken around with a fork.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Rose."

"I've been gone too much," she said quietly, sitting at the counter beside me. "I just got distracted with Emmett, I guess."

"I'm not your responsibility, Rose. You don't have to feel guilty for being happy," I told her sincerely while also despising the fact that I couldn't do the same. The source of my happiness was wrapped in a package of guilt and lies and adultery.

"You are my best friend, though. How about next weekend we lock ourselves inside with some junk food and a few movies?"

"Sure," I smiled. "Tell Emmett I said hi."

"I will. See you tomorrow."

Once Rose was gone I pushed my half-eaten plate away and wandered into my room, my eyes zeroing in on the stack of papers I had out on my small desk. Most of my free time had been spent working on Esme's little assignment, something I realized this morning when I was talking to Edward about what I should have been focusing on.

But, that meant I had made a lot of progress. Progress that meant by this time next week I could probably talk to Edward about it. And if I talked to Edward about it, it would effectively end every good part about our relationship. Hell, probably every bad part about our relationship, too. He'd probably request someone else from Newton and never want to see me again.

I couldn't figure out what hurt most, though. Was it worse to be around him every day and never have what I so desperately wanted now, or to be cut off entirely?

The question had me sitting in the middle of my bed with a bottle of tequila I was pretty sure we'd had under the sink since my twenty-first birthday. Over the course of the last two hours I had finished the bottle, gotten every piece of Edward's life out of my sight and hidden away in my bag, and come to the unwanted realization that my time with Edward was over in a week.

Seven days.

Seven nights.

All gone.

That was how I ended up stumbling down his street around midnight.

I stood at his driveway, frowning at the intense closed gate in front of me. It was always open whenever I drove up.

After only dropping my phone twice I ended up waiting for Edward to answer.

"You have a very large gate," I blurted out as soon as he answered.

"Bella?"

"I've never seen it before. Every time I come here it's open. I didn't even know it existed. I mean, it's smart. Because people are fucking creepy. But – "

"Are you here?"

"Yes," I mumbled. "Masen and Lucy are still at your parents', right?" I had a vague recollection of him saying they were staying there, getting ready for his party tomorrow.

"Hold on."

The line went dead and I paced back and forth in front of the big gate. I crossed my arms over my chest, phone clutched in my hand, barely staying on my feet when the gate started to move with no warning.

I happily slipped through it as soon as it was open wide enough. My feet got a little tangled walking up his walkway, but I kept my eyes on them and managed to stay upright. It just meant I jumped when I looked up and Edward was already standing there. Leaning against the sleek black doorframe in nothing but sweatpants.

"Hi," I whispered.

"Are you drunk?" he asked, a cute little frown on his face.

Pretty face. So pretty.

"Just a little bit," I shrugged, squeezing past him to get inside.

"Did you drive here?" His voice was harsh and angry now. His face was still cute, though.

"No," I answered dramatically, wandering down the extravagant hall toward his kitchen. "I got an Uber to drop me off two streets over. I'm not stupid. I mean, I am. In a lot of ways. But I'm not that kind of stupid."

Once I got to his kitchen I tried to remember where that wine refrigerator was. I had seen him get something out of it before. That first night I stayed here. "You had some kind of… magical, hidden wine refrigerator somewhere in here."

A warm hand gripped my bicep and turned me around. I smiled up at him happily, even though he was frowning down at me.

I love you.

"You got in a car with a stranger at midnight and then stumbled around the neighborhood drunk?"

I got distracted by the sparkly green eyes and pouty lips that I wanted on mine. They tasted delicious and felt just as good and I only had seven days left to enjoy them.

"Bella," Edward demanded, his voice hard and the sparkly eyes turning dark. "You could have gotten hurt."

I snorted loudly, which only got me a deeper frown from Edward. "My safety is… the least of anyone's concern, Edward."

Edward let out a heavy sigh. He grabbed my hand and I followed without a second thought. His chest was deliciously bare and his sweatpants hung low on his hips, so I had an excellent view of the little dimples he had right where his –

"Sit," Edward said sternly.

I frowned at the white padded stool in front of the second island in his kitchen. I hesitated a moment too long because Edward's hands wrapped around my waist and lifted me up.

"Stay."

I sighed again, tossing my phone onto the counter and watching as Edward walked through the kitchen. "What were you doing?"
"Reading."

"What were you reading?"

He answered me, but I didn't understand half of the words out of his mouth. He ended up in front of me again, hovering over me with a frown on his face and a glass of water in his hands. "Drink."

I took a small sip before setting it back on the counter.

"Was there a specific reason you risked your life to come over tonight?" Edward asked softly.

I shrugged, not looking him in the eyes. My brain was fuzzy and confused and I didn't want to talk.

"Bella," Edward coaxed, lifting my chin so I had to look at him.

"You…" I sighed, trying to figure out what it was that led me to start the trek here in the first place. I was sad and alone and drunk and then I was here. Still sad and drunk, but a little less alone.

"You make things better," I admitted quietly. I ran my hands down his chest, quickly distracted by the way his bare skin felt underneath my fingertips.

I love you.

I hate you.

I want you.

Maybe it was my history of irrational anger or maybe it was the alcohol, but a wave of frustration flowed over me. I wanted him. Not for his money or name or anything other than the fact that being around him made me happy. Irina had him because she was using his emotions against him, scaring him into thinking she could keep him from his children or ruin his fragile career.

It wasn't fair that I was born twelve years too late and that I worked for him. Or maybe he was born twelve years too early. Either way, none of this was fair. It was especially unfair that in a week he would probably hate me. And I would still love him.

My mind was jumbled mess on the subject sober, add in alcohol and it left me on the brink of losing it. I ignored everything else and stretched myself up to reach his lips. It was all I wanted since I stumbled past him. It was why I wandered over here at midnight. It was probably the only reason he tolerated me in the first place.

I smiled against his lips when he moaned into the kiss. It didn't matter that Irina had his name or that he had a list of other women from the past. I was the one that got his moans and smiles and kisses. For now. Mine, for now. My desperation got the best of me as my fingers excitedly slid down his chest.

"Bella," Edward sighed against my lips, taking my hands gently in his and pushing them away. "You're drunk," he said softly, running a gentle hand down my cheek.

"I'm fine," I argued, trying to pull him closer.

"Baby, you zigzagged down the hall like the room was spinning."

Rejection rolled around in my stomach. My cheeks heated up and my eyes dropped to the ground.

"I should go," I mumbled, grabbing my phone off of the counter and hopping off of the stool.

"Bella – "

"I'm sorry for coming over so late," I stuttered, opening up the Uber app on my phone and wandering in the direction of the door.

"I'll drive you home," Edward sighed, snatching my phone out of my hand.

The rejection sobered me up quickly, and I wanted as far away from the situation as possible now. "No, I already ruined your night. I can get myself home, Edward."

Edward ignored me, keeping my phone and only way out with him as he went upstairs, probably for some kind of shirt.

I stood awkwardly by the front door, feeling more like the chastised child than I would have liked. It was only a minute later that Edward came down, fully clothed, handing me a plain forest green sweatshirt.

I looked down at myself as I followed him out to his car. Comfortable black t-shirt and worn out jean shorts. I rolled my eyes to myself and shrugged on his sweatshirt.

The car ride was quiet. I was too mortified to say anything and Edward was probably too mad at me to want to make conversation. He handed me back my phone after I got in, and that was it.

I jerked awake when I was suddenly airborne.

"It's okay. It's just me," Edward whispered.

Stupid as it was, I relaxed against him and let my eyes fall shut again. I was too tired now to be mortified by the whole situation and enjoyed the way his arms wrapped tightly around me.

Once we were inside I pointed lazily in the direction of my bedroom, sighing happily once Edward set me down gently.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled, kicking off my shoes and collapsing back into the bed. "I ruin everything," I groaned into my pillow.

"Get some sleep, Bella," Edward said quietly, pressing a lingering kiss to the top of my head.

I pulled my quilt around my shoulder and turned on my side, watching Edward leave. He stopped in the doorframe and I saw his outline in the moonlight as he ran a hand through his hair before turning around.

Edward dropped his t-shirt on the edge of the bed and crawled in beside me. He pulled me around to face him and I buried my head in his neck. I wasn't sure what made him stay, maybe I had drunkenly asked and didn't realize it. Whatever it was, I was glad for it. Because I had a limited number of nights left with him, now.

I had to squeeze my eyes shut to keep the tears away.

-B-

"So, Emmett and Embry are thinking of opening up another gym," Rosalie told me, sitting beside me on the couch the next day.

Edward had been gone when I woke up. A glass of water, two aspirin, and a note saying he would see me tonight were left on my nightstand. In the light of day, I felt like an absolute idiot. The rejection, the stupid comments that kept falling out of my mouth, the whole night was just a reminder to both of us that I was more of a hassle than I was worth.

My morning of pampering with Rosalie was a good distraction from last night, though. Especially with Edward's birthday party looming over my head tonight.

"Really?" I asked, surprised. I knew the gym was successful, especially considering there were a hundred and one other options for gyms in the area, but they had only been open three or four years.

"Yeah. They've been looking at locations for a while. They actually want to meet with you, pick your little marketing and public relations degree holding brain."

If I didn't currently have a hardening face mask on that made it impossible to show any emotion on my features, I would have looked surprised. "Really?"

"Of course. You've managed to turn Cullen around, and I can guarantee Emmett and Embry won't be so difficult. They just want some advice."

"I can do that," I nodded.

"So, how has it been with him lately?"

My stomach tensed and I was now grateful for the inability to move my facial muscles. "It's good. A lot less stressful now that he has two years to turn things around and not two months. I think I'll be able to step back from him in a week or so."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I mean, I'll still have a lot of work to do for him, but I don't have to be there every day to make sure he stays on track, though."

And once I talk to him next Friday he's not going to want me around, anyway.

The rest of our afternoon was relaxing. Full of painted nails and moisturized skin, all while I teetered on the edge of wanting to come up with some kind of illness and genuinely wanting to go celebrate Edward's birthday.

Rosalie had picked me out a beautiful, emerald green dress. It was silky and fell straight down to my knees with a cowl neckline and thin straps. She was in a black number that fell to the ground, but the slit up her thigh kind of hindered the modest length.

The party was being held at Carlisle and Esme's home. It was perched high up on a hillside, probably with an even better view than Edward's place. Where his home was sleek and modern, his parent's place was elegant and classical. The kind of place you'd see in a movie and assume it was all a set. It was all sturdy brick and big columns from the outside, probably sleek marble and decorative chandeliers on the inside.

Emmett parked his jeep and we were met with a valet and a woman with a clipboard frowning at us.

"Name?" she snapped.

"Um, Bella – Isabella Swan."

As soon as I said my name her entire demeanor shifted for the better and she walked us all to the front door. Emmett, Rosalie and I let out matching curses as soon as we entered the house.

Out of the three of us, Rosalie was probably the most used to this kind of lifestyle. Her parents had never struggled for wealth. Both of them came from wealthy families already, then her father made it big on Wall Street.

She'd had a good childhood in New York City, mostly thanks to the nanny's and maids they hired that raised her. Her parents didn't abuse her or anything equally horrible; they were just never around. They did give her a hefty trust fund, though. To my knowledge, she had never touched it.

It was one of the first things we bonded over, Rose and I. The fact that we both chose UCLA because it was about as far away from our families as we could get. Still, catching her in the corner of my eye I could tell she was completely at ease in the extravagant house.

The foyer did have an extravagant chandelier like I had guessed, and it morphed into what appeared to be a cleared out living room with tall ceilings and enough space to fit probably five of my place. Maybe more.

"We need drinks," Emmett mumbled. "Bella?"

"Will you just get me a soda with some cherries?" Alcohol definitely wasn't a good choice for me tonight. Or any night, really.

"So," Rosalie said with a smile as we wandered through the crowd. "I finally get to meet the illustrious Edward Cullen."

"You have to be nice. This is a work thing for me," I reminded her even though it was hypocritical as hell for me to warn her about mixing business and pleasure.

"I'm always nice," she added with a smirk.

"Bella!" Alice's squeal seemed to reverberate throughout the whole room a moment before I was wrapped in a tight hug. "You made it!"

"Of course," I told her with a smile.

"I love your dress," she sighed happily, stepping back and eying me up and down. She seemed just a little tipsy.

"I can't take credit for it. Rosalie chooses about eighty percent of what I wear," I chuckled. My eyes drifted to Rosalie, who gave me an odd glance before she turned to Alice. The two of them, and subsequently Emmett who didn't leave Rosalie's side, immersed themselves in a conversation about fashion that was completely over my head.

A quiet voice floated behind me. "You look beautiful."

I turned and Edward was there, looking surprisingly relaxed for a man who didn't want anyone celebrating his birthday. He was in black slacks and a black button down, probably the most casually dressed person here. Still, the sight of him kind of made my mouth water.

"Thank you," I whispered quietly, taking a sip of my drink. Edward raised his brows at me and I sighed. "It's just soda."

"Good," he sighed, his eyes… confusing. Somehow bright and sad at the same time.

"Um, this is my roommate, Rosalie Hale. And her boyfriend, Emmett McCarthy," I said quickly, not wanting to think about last night more than I already had.

"Pleasure to meet you," Edward said happily, shaking their hands. I wanted to snort at the way Rosalie's eyes widened as she looked at him. "Bella's told me a lot about you."

Rosalie blushed and Emmett chuckled.

"You were great on SNL, man," Emmett said.

"Thanks," Edward smiled, taking a sip of an amber liquid in his hand.

"Happy birthday!" Rosalie blurted out. It was like we had somehow switched places for the night.

"Thank you," Edward repeated.

"Didn't mom want you to introduce Bella to Renata, Edward?" Alice asked. "We were in the middle of an important conversation."

"A discussion on New York Fashion Week does sound life altering," Edward snipped back. "But, yes, Renata is dying to meet you, Bella."

"Um, Renata Serrano?" I asked Edward as I followed him through the growing crowd. People smiled and patted him on the shoulder as we walked, but it was all I could do to keep my drink from slipping through my fingers.

Renata was a legend in the publicity world. She worked with the Cullen's and a hand full of other high-profile clients as well. She worked at Newton & Cheney but everyone knew she was miles above the firm.

"She's not going to bite," Edward chuckled. "I've known her since I was twelve."

"Oh, I know. Esme and Carlisle took time off when you and Alice were kids and most of their previous team either retired or gave up on them. Renata took them on and has done… amazing things with them. And do you remember a few years ago when whats-her-name started that online smear campaign against that one girl? And Renata – "

"You're fucking adorable when you get all excited about public relations."

I sighed and pressed my lips together.

"Oh, there she is!" Esme exclaimed when we approached where she was standing with Carlisle and Renata. "Ren, this is Isabella Swan. Bella, this is Renata Serrano."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Serrano," I said as calmly as I could, shaking her hand.

Esme was in a stunning, shimmery gold dress with her auburn hair in an intricate knot at the base of her neck. Renata was beside her, in a simple black dress with her equally dark hair in a pony tail. Carlisle pulled Edward into a conversation.

"You can call me Renata, Bella," she said kindly. "You just started at Newton & Cheney, correct?"

I nodded.

"Tell me, is Newton still as big of misogynic pig as he used to be?"

My eyes widened and mouth fell open. There were ears all over the place here, and I was sure Newton knew practically everyone in the room. Still, even though I had only been working at the firm a few months, interning only a couple months before that, I couldn't help but agree with her.

"You can add nepotistic to the list now, too," I added softly. I rarely went into the office these days, but I was going to be spending a lot more time there in a week or so. I went in maybe once a week to talk to Newton about Edward and our progress, and every time I went in Mike, his son, was either asleep at his desk or flirting with one of the newest interns.

Still, he was probably getting paid double what I was.

"Oh, God. There's two of them?" Renata asked with a humorous frown.

Twenty minutes later I washed my hands in the head-to-toe marble bathroom. I was somehow not nearly as uncomfortable here as I usually was at anything resembling a party. I managed to make conversation with Renata and Esme without thinking twice about it and even took a compliment from her without turning bright red.

My good mood was immediately crushed when I walked down the hall, back toward the party, only to be met with Irina walking toward me. She was annoyingly beautiful in an icy blue gown that matched her eyes.

"Isabella," she said with fake politeness.

"Ms. Denali," I replied, nodding at her as I passed her.

Sharp nails dug into my arm, keeping me from walking away. "It's Mrs. Cullen."

Her nails stinging my arm fueled my response. "We both know that's not really true."

Irina looked me up and down, an air of superiority flowing off of her. "I see the way you look at him, sweetie. I can hardly blame you. He's great in bed, so fuck him out of your system if you have to. But, I will always be Mrs. Cullen."

I bit my tongue, anger welling up inside me, but I knew snapping back wouldn't do any good. Irina turned and sauntered down the hall and I rounded a corner quickly, pressing my back to the wall and taking a few deep breaths.

I couldn't even be offended at her suggestion, considering that was what I had been trying to do for weeks. Maybe it would have worked if I hadn't had the butterflies to deal with.

I felt my phone vibrating in my clutch and pulled it out, frowning when I saw Edward's name on the screen.

"Hello?"

"Where are you?" he asked, whispering slightly.

"Um, your birthday party."

"Where in the house, Bella," he clarified, and it was like I could hear him rolling his eyes.

"Oh," I mumbled. "I just left the restroom."

"Perfect. Go all the way down the hall to the left. There'll be a staircase in the back to the basement."

"Edward, I – "

"I'll be there in two minutes."

The line went dead and a moment later Irina walked past me, completely unaware I was hidden down the hall, smiling to herself as she rejoined the party.

Maybe she was right. She very well could always be Mrs. Edward Cullen and there wasn't anything I could do about it. I let out a heavy sigh, following Edward's instructions until I ended up in the basement.

Just the term basement implied something dingier than the plush carpet and fully stocked bar, or the cozy couches and game tables. I was running my fingers along a wall full of movies when soft classical music suddenly started flowing through the room.

I turned around quickly and Edward was standing by the far wall, cabinet open to reveal an intricate sound system.

"Hi," I whispered, walking over to him slowly.

"Hi," Edward copied, grabbing my hand and pulling me to the open area in the middle of the basement. "Dance with me."

I dropped his hand quickly. "Oh, I can't dance."

"It's my birthday, though," Edward argued with a smile, making me regret ever letting him in on my birthday motto.

I pressed my lips together. "I've never danced with anyone before," I admitted. It wasn't like I ever went to school dances or anything. Where else did you ever dance?

He gave me a small smile, hands dropping to my waist and lips falling on mine. Without thinking my arms reached up around his shoulders, fingers tangled in the hair at the base of his neck.

"Not so bad, is it?" Edward asked, resting his forehead against mine as we swayed slightly back and forth.

"I guess not," I gave in.

"You didn't feel too horrible today, did you?"

"Huh?" I frowned for a minute, then remembered the fool I made of myself last night. "Oh. I'm really sorry about last night. I don't… handle tequila well, apparently."

Edward sighed, a hand coming up to tilt my face until my eyes met his. "Are you okay, Bella?"

There were a hundred different ways to take the question, all with varying answers as to why I wasn't okay. Currently, I was still a little frustrated that his wife had just told me I could fuck him out of my system.

Why are you still married to her?

The question was on the tip of my tongue, but it would open up a discussion I wasn't sure I was ready for yet.

Instead of doing the mature thing and simply asking the question, I pulled his lips down to mine. It was the kind of moment a girl dreamt about from the minute she realized boys didn't have cooties. Soft music playing, gentle hands on my hips, and lips so soft I had half a mind to ask Edward what he put on them to make them that way.

It did nothing but make my heart hurt. Until shocked voices came from behind me, then my heart started pounding.

"Holy shit."

"Oh, my God."

I jumped away from Edward, wiping my fingers over my lips and staring wide eyed at his children. Frozen on the stairs, probably just as wide eyed as me.

"We were just coming down to get away from everyone upstairs," Lucy mumbled.

"What the hell?" Masen asked at the same time.

I backed up a few steps, panic setting in, and jumped when I bumped into Edward's chest. Something about touching him, even accidently, while his children stared at us, horrified, made me panic even more.

"Fuck. Sorry. Fuck," I stammered, pushing away from him.

"You two are fucking?" Masen asked loudly.

"Hey," Edward snapped. "You know better than to talk like that."

"Oh, sorry. Don't want to offend your girlfriend."

"You should go back upstairs, Bella," Edward said quietly. His hand rested on my back for a moment, but I jumped away.

"Shit. Right. Sorry," I stuttered, grabbing my clutch from the table beside Edward. I chanced a quick look at him, but his expression was unreadable.

I muttered another apology as I walked past Lucy and Masen, but neither acknowledged it. The arguments started as soon as I was hidden halfway up the stairs.

"You're fucking your publicist?" Masen's voice was harsh and deep.

"First of all," Edward said, his voice saturated with the authority Masen's was trying to find. "Watch your language. Second of all, you know her name."

"She's our age, Dad!" Lucy exclaimed suddenly. She had always seemed reserved and quiet whenever I was around her, but maybe that was just situational.

"Christ, she's six years older than you both. This isn't up for discussion. I'm sorry you had to walk in on it but you're not going to treat her any differently. Bella has done a lot for me and my career – "

"So, what? You're repaying her by – "

"Masen, one more word out of your mouth and you're not leaving the house for a month!"

I took a deep breath and felt my cheeks to make sure they weren't too flushed. I didn't want to eavesdrop. It didn't really matter, anyway. Our affair had an expiration date from the very beginning, and we were in a single digit countdown now. Still, the next week probably would have been more relaxing had his children not walked in on us.

Once I felt as composed as I could get, I wandered back upstairs and zeroed in on Rosalie immediately. I had done enough damage here tonight, enough to remind myself for a long time that parties were never worth the trouble.

A/N: I hope this update finds you all well and provides a few minutes of distraction from the world right now. Updates will continue to be a little sporadic, but they will always come eventually.

A heads up: there are probably about five chapters left, but there will be a sequel. :)

As always, thank you for your continued support. Every review makes me smile and I hope you're all staying as safe as you can right now. I'll see you soon.