No. 11

"You look hot," Rose claps.

Our hotel room was spectacular. I would chew Edward's ear off for this extravagance. On the top floor we could see the whole of the city, we were delivered wine and snacks to the room, or palace. We sat together by the window sipping wine ready for our night out.

I had opted for a silk, blue dress with long sleeves that had cut outs along the arm, but came to a knot at my wrist. The fabric gaped opening my arms putting any goosebumps Edward put there tonight on full display. It cut low, creating a V neck at my chest leaving me hopeful my two friends stay in their assigned seats for the night. While worrying about that I'd also worry as to if strangers could see my personal Paris, up my dress. It was short, sitting at my mid-thigh draping down the legs I was thankful I shaved.

Rose had gotten the dress for my birthday, even matching it with black strappy heels. I couldn't get her to draw the line there with her also pinning me down to do my hair and make up. I didn't look like nanny Bella that's for sure. I looked like a glamour model for once in my life. Only I felt concerned it would all come undone.

Rose had gone with the sexy route finding a tight red dress without straps. It was held up by her boobs, hugging her curves and thighs in a way Emmett could have only ever imagined up until this point for a woman like her. She clinks my glass with hers before we both take a sip.

"Edward will have an aneurysm when he sees you," she fixes up a curl by my shoulder grinning, "Nanny gone wild."

"Shut up," I scoff, "did I need to repeat it again for the 20th time, Rose? He's married."

"Was married," she corrects again, "besides all is fair in love and war babe. Right now you have her hidden in some shitty little shelter while you fuck her ex in the trenches."

"I will send you home," I glare at her, but I'm unable to hold back the smile.

"Put him on his knees, Bells. Your appearance alone will have him drooling no doubt, but make him forget his wife," she grins, "when I got there earlier he wasn't even wearing a ring. That's the biggest sign he's over it."

"Come to think of it I haven't seen him wear on at all," I say.

Rose hadn't seen Tanya when she had arrived. Emmett had made me hug the kids goodnight before making me pack my bags and head off to the hotel with them. He left a few hours ago with promise to return with Edward. They were due to arrive any minute.

It had been a nightmare drive into the city, Rose shamelessly flirting with Emmett the whole way.

He'd told her he hadn't dated an American since moving to the U.K. with his parents and siblings. She'd told him she'd be happy to give him a reminder. I had cringed.

"Tonight is your chance, Bells. Show him what's really beneath that nanny exterior," she takes a bite of cheese from the platter Edward had sent to our room, "Truth be told I think he already knows just by how he looked at you today. When you hugged him his eyes lit up."

"Stop getting my hopes up," there's a knock on the door prompting me to flee this uncomfortable conversation.

"I'm not," she calls out as I open the door.

The brothers look incredible. Both dressed to impress in chinos and button up shirts. Edward looks casual with the top few buttons of the shirt undone, his collar slack around his neck. The only thing not incredibly neat is his boisterous hair, each strand pointing in a different direction. Each strand aching for my hands to touch.

"Hey," Emmett smirks.

Edward's eyes are glued to my body, taking in the dress.

God damn Rosalie. He probably thinks I look way too promiscuous. He'll fire me for an old, ugly nanny.

"You ready, birthday girl?" Emmett asks.

Rosalie arrives by my side holding both of our purses. I take mine from her and grunt as she shoves me into the hall with her hip to pull shut our hotel door. Edward's arms go around my waist as I stumble from her force, catching me from falling completely over.

"Gosh, she's feisty," Emmett grins, "you both look incredible. Rose that dress… red is.. holy fuck."

"Smooth," Edward snickers, finally escaping his trance.

Although his hands don't escape my hips just yet. Only when Rose and Emmett make their way to the elevator does he fully let go of me, clearing his throat.

"He's right, you look incredible. I knew something special lurked beneath there but I didn't expect it to be this sensational," he runs a hand through his hair, letting out a long breath.

"Any alcohol yet?" I smile up at him.

"Nope. So it's not the drink talking," his hand reaches out to take mine but he stops himself as the elevator arrives on our floor.

At the club the music is loud, the vibrations from music rocking the floor and moving through my body. We found a booth for us to sit in, Edward and Emmett's sister Alice had saved it for us, coming out after Edward thought it might be nice for me to meet some more people at my new home. I loved her immediately. Bubbly, friendly and constantly making me laugh. Her husband Jasper was also incredibly kind. He complimented my dress before asking about how I was finding London. Then he dragged Edward into an argument about football.

While Rosalie spends most of the night dancing with Emmett I sit close to Alice chatting. Jasper and Edward have braved the bar line to buy us another round of drinks.

"He hasn't come out with us like this in years," Alice says into my ear, "that Tanya bitch sunk her claws in so deep. He tells me it's you who has pried him free."

"Me?" my voice is high pitched, shocked.

"They were never going to work. I knew it from the second I saw her, heck before she even spoke. She met Edward when he was struggling to find his feet working here, a stressed out law intern. He was about to split with her but then she trapped him with the twins," she explains, "He was terrified. He came to me begging for help, begging me to support their marriage so that his twins had a chance at normal parents. He convinced himself he loved her but while he was cleaning diapers after hours at work she was out fucking other men."

My eyes are wide, disgusted and horrified - but Alice continues.

"I finally convinced him to end it but she got in his head, while convincing him to fight she got him drunk after a tough case one night and she became pregnant with Anna. Then she threatened him into staying. Claiming if he left he'd never see the kids again - the past year has been secret talks with lawyers," I take a deep breath, shaking, "Now he's drawing up divorce contracts and she knows. One wrong step and she'll rip those kids from under him. Their court date for custody is scheduled in three months - he's working on kicking her out. Since you arrived the progress has gone into overdrive. She goes to Dubai next week for some girls fashion trip. When she comes back she won't be getting back in - not like she knows that yet."

She grabs my hand in hers and squeezes.

"I'd never support adultery. I hate her for lying to my brother like she has, but you - he has feelings for you. Proper feelings and I don't want you to be scared," she says, "he told me about the rocking chair. He said you were rocking Anna to sleep. It was a sight that stuck with him. For months he looked after Anna and the twins, with the help of Rita, their regular nanny. He couldn't do it all alone. So to see you having such a sweet moment with Anna, like a mother would, I guess it made him begin to finally fall."

"He's been so self conscious. He doesn't think he's a good father," I say, "he's really down played it all."

"Because he's spent hours upon hours in a courtroom so he can afford a nanny, give them whatever they need. We're quick to judge the father who misses moments cause he's working but not the mother who misses moments cause she's rubbing shoulders with snobs? I run in the same circles as her and trust me, people hate her. Edward has missed moments he'll never get back, because his wife can't pick up her own fucking share," she growls, "he missed the twins first steps because they were at mine, their first words - they were with my mother. All because he is fighting so hard to be a provider. He prioritises it over the other stuff because without him no one else would. He values their laughs, smiles and everything they do more than a cent he earns. Heck he loves playing with them and only wishes he could get home quicker to do it with them. When he got promoted he demanded he work from home and his firm agreed. It's been seven years… he was done after one. He's trapped and now you're setting him free. I couldn't love you more for bringing my brother back to life, Isabella. Every phone call I get from him now you make up 80% of the conversation."

The men are heading back to the table, but I can't face him right now. Not while I'm moments from tears. If he looks at me I'll break down. So I carefully stand, shaking.

"You okay?" Alice asks.

"It's just a lot," I nod, "thank you so much."

"I'm 100% team Bella, babe. I'm the vengeful sister which is the best weapon you have," she reaches over to squeeze my hand, "go clean up in the toilets. I'll keep them occupied."

When I get into the bathroom I lean back against the basin and sob.

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