THE OTHER WOMAN

DISCLAIMER: STEPHENIE MEYER OWNS IT ALL.

August 18, 2015

BELLA

My clammy palms are pressed against a hard wall and a faint voice whispers in my ear. The stale stench of whiskey and cigarettes is making me nauseous but I can barely move to escape from here. The sky rumbles and my eyes travel north to see gray clouds looming over me.

"He isn't coming to protect you," He whispers in my ear. "You and me, Isabella. Just like old times."

"Edward!" I hoarsely yell and a rough hand clamps over my mouth.

"He can't hear you. We are far away from him."

A sob escapes my chest and I squirm when his hand unzips my gown. He presses his hard body against my back to keep me from moving. He sweeps his hand over my arm and a shiver runs down my spine. His lips press against my cheek and I writhe between the wall and his chest.

"You are a nasty bitch, aren't you? Trying to fuck my boss for money. You think he's going to stay with you knowing what you did? What I made you do? You killed him yourself, Isabella."

No, I didn't! I didn't! They made me do it. They made me do it.

"It was you. Because of you." His hostile voice whispers to me.

"No!" My scream is muffled against his hand.

I am suddenly spun around and my back is pressed against the wall with him lewdly staring down at me. He tips my chin up to meet his dark, shady gaze. His sterling gray eyes chill me to the bone.

"James!" I hear Edward yell and his beautiful, annoyed features come into my view. "Stay the fuck away from my Bella!"

My heart races in my chest when he calls me his Bella. I want to be his. Edward pushes James down the stairs and turns to me. Tears of relief spill down my eyes and I jump into his arms. I feel his arms enveloping me and I smile through my tears. I knew he wouldn't leave me stranded anywhere.

"Don't go. Please, don't leave me." I murmur and he grins at me. His green eyes are glowing with an unnamed emotion and I feel at peace in his arms.

"I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere. James will never hurt you again." Edward whispers and I hold his face in my hands.

"I love you," I breathlessly whisper and stare into his soulful eyes. "I love you so much, Edward. Don't leave me. I can't live without you."

His eyes blaze with anger and he releases me from his hold. He takes a step back as his fists clench and his jaw tightens.

"Don't ever say that again. Do you hear me?" He fumes at me and my heart skips a beat.

"Edward, what happened?" I walk closer to him but he backs away.

"I can't love you, Bella. I have somebody else now. You walked away from us. It's all your fault. You broke my heart! You gave up on us!"

I furiously wipe away my tears and gaze at him. "I never wanted to! I was scared!"

"You don't think I was scared?! What makes you think it was easy for me?!"

"I'm sorry!" I weep as I reach for him. "Come back, please. I can't stay away from you."

"It's too late, Bella. You're not good enough for me."

"I love you. I really do. I'll do whatever you want. Please, don't go."

"You're just a friend, Bella. Nothing more than that nor will you ever be." His spiteful voice echoes in my head and I am motionlessly rooted where I stand. Edward doesn't look back as he walks away from me and I realize there is nothing I can do.

The darkness starts to envelope me as Edward gets farther away from me.

"Edward! Stay, please! Don't go! Edward!" I helplessly yell out but he doesn't hear me.

"Missed me, Bella?" I gasp when I hear James again.

I freeze and feel repulsed when his hand rests on my shoulder. James walks over to stand in front of me and he gives me an empty smile. It's the familiar smile he gave me all those years ago. Before he…

"Please, let me go." I beg and his hands grab my shoulders before a sudden gust of force hits my stomach. The pain leaves me gasping for breath as I lie motionless on the floor, clutching my stomach. The blackness starts to engulf me as I wait for Edward to come back.

I hear chimes ringing close to me. Is that Edward? Is he coming back to me?

"Edward! Edward!" I call out for the last time before my eyes shoot open.

I lay wide awake on my bed, trying to recall the bits and pieces of my nightmare. I remember Edward being a part of it. Oh, Edward. I wipe away the bead of sweat on my forehead and frown when I hear the chimes again. I sit up and check the alarm clock to discover it's eight in the morning. Great. I barely slept for an hour.

The book that I keep on the nightstand vibrates and I lift it up to see my phone ringing under it. It stops when I pick it up. I check the missed call and my heart pounds faster in my chest. Edward. Why does he call me numerous times when he wants nothing to do with me?

Edward called me three times yesterday, but I left his calls unanswered. He really thinks that our relationship won't change after what happened on Sunday?! We both messed up in our own way. I just wanted to bolt out of the room when I realized that I had doubled the complications in my life with that one kiss.

I really need to start getting over Edward. He has been an important part of my daily routine for the last six weeks. All I do is think about him until we meet again. Then I think more about him. I feel so pathetic and helpless. We were just friends; I don't think we can be that anymore.

I plop down on the bed and curl up against the pillow; hoping things could get better for us. I can still imagine his strong arms embracing me, his warm hands stroking both my hair and cheek and his soft lips brushing against mine. Why does he have to be so irresistible? Does he have any idea what kind of effect he has on me? I can't believe things between us had to end so abruptly.

I have read about experiencing magical kisses that can curl your toes, blow your mind and cause fireworks to explode in your body. On Sunday, I had one of those; the moment his lips touched mine, I knew I had to kiss him back. There was no way I would have pushed him away. But even when Edward promised he wouldn't leave, I wasn't going to risk getting hurt.

The agonizing feeling that I might never see Edward again after Sunday made me cry like a baby. It wasn't a nightmare or a stupid fight that was the reason I cried myself to sleep; but it was because I felt lonely. I hadn't felt this way in a long time.

Yesterday, I wept all day and my thoughts raced back to Edward all night. I barely fell asleep when a horrendous nightmare woke me up moments ago. Even though I don't remember most of it, my bottled up feelings have shaken me to the very core.

I can't go to work today either. I grab my phone and call Emily. She answers on the third ring.

"Hey, Bella. Are you feeling better?"

"No, actually. I'm sorry but I can't come in today. Will you just tell Seth to close the store a little early?" I gently ask and Emily sighs.

"Of course I will. Do you need to see a doctor? I can drive you there."

"No, it's just a slight fever," I lie. "I'll be fine by tomorrow."

"Do you want me to stop by your place? I can bring you some soup."

"No, thank you. I'm really fine, just tired from Sunday. I'll rest and be back to normal by tomorrow."

"If you say so. Get some rest and take care. Bye, Bells."

"I will. Bye." I end the call and place the phone back on the nightstand.

I'm really tired but I can't sleep. Every time I doze off, I have nightmares. I should clean up. I get out of the bed twelve hours later and stretch my legs. I try to recall the last time I have eaten a meal. Hold on, when did I have fish? I think it was Sunday; great. I haven't eaten in two days.

I run a hand through my messed up hair and stumble into my bathroom. I brush my teeth and simultaneously wait for the water to fill in the bathtub. I use my favorite bath salts and light up a lavender coconut scented candle to make me feel at peace.

I shave, wash my hair and soothe my tense body under the warm caressing water. I try to cheer myself up and spend additional time in the tub to calm myself but nothing works. Ugh, it's the worst day ever. Nothing makes me feel better and I reluctantly step out of the tub when my fingers look like prunes.

My mood sinks again and I shake my head. I grab a towel and dry myself before wrapping it across my chest. I use another towel to dry my hair as I walk back in my bedroom. I open my underwear drawer and put on a clean pair of bra and panties. I grab the first item of clothing that my hand reaches for which happens to be a light pink sleepshirt.

I grab my phone and pad along towards the kitchen and pour myself a glass of juice. I check the time on the oven and see that it's nine thirty-four in the morning. Edward must be at work. I start to drink my orange juice, my stomach in knots when I hear his voice in my head.

"Oh, uh, I can't start my day without juice. I flip out when there is no juice."

I spill rest of the juice in the sink and let it drain. His thoughts are plaguing my mind and I wonder if he is with his girlfriend. Is she back from Paris? Did she stay at his place, sleep in his arms? Or did he go over to her place to surprise her and welcome her back?

My hand reaches for the coffee decanter and our conversation from a few weeks ago outside a café enters my head.

"Hey." I mumble and blush shyly. He gives me a crooked smile and my heart speeds up.

"How about this? You go inside, get a table, and I'll get us coffee."

"No, Edward, that's really okay. You don't have to—"

"Hush, I'm not listening to any of it. Go ahead and sit. What kind of coffee do you prefer?"

"A latte." I murmur to myself and go to the living room.

I let out a yawn and grab the remote to switch the TV on. I sigh when I see nothing but a blank screen. I haven't paid the cable bill. Instead, I used the money to buy a stupid dress and shoes that I wore on Sunday; the same night that Edward kissed me and I ran away from him.

Tears pour down my cheeks and I can't stop the sudden rush of emotions. I hope it doesn't get worse than this. I frown when I hear my phone ringing on the kitchen island. I leap out of my seat and rush over to answer it. I hope it's not Edward but part of me wants him to call me. Maybe he just wants his jacket and handkerchief back.

But, it's not Edward. It's Will—who is a welcome distraction. I return to the sofa and answer the call.

"Hey beautiful." I can hear the smile in his voice.

I clear my throat and wipe away my tears. "Hi."

"Why do you sound so sad? What happened? Are you not feeling well?"

"I'm just tired."

"I hope you are resting at home then."

"Yes, I stayed at home. What's up? How's Sydney?"

"Sydney's amazing; I think I'll come back to Seattle in October."

"What do you do for work?" I croak out and clear my throat again.

Will laughs on the other line. "Oh, sweetheart. I never told you, did I? I am the editor of Abalone magazine."

I crack a smile for the first time in two days. "Do you know that abalone is what they call a group of sea snails?"

"Oh Bella, you wound me," I can hear the mock hurt in his voice. "I just told you that I'm the editor of a popular Australian fashion magazine and this is how you appreciate it?"

I chuckle. "I'm sorry, you're right. I'm friends with a hot-shot editor, dear lord I'm so lucky."

"That you are," He mentions and I gently sigh. "So, are you going to continue changing topics or actually tell me what's bothering you?"

"It's nothing. I told you, I just—" Will cuts me off.

"Bella honey, don't lie. Talk to me; is this about Edward?"

I can feel bile rising in my throat just by the mention of his name. "Uh-huh." I nod although he can't see me.

"What happened? Did he do something?"

"Yes." I whisper.

"What? Did he hurt you? I can't believe he would try to do that! How dare he?!" Will angrily shouts and I shake my head.

"No!" I raise my voice a little. "It's nothing like that. Edward would never do that."

"Yeah, you're right." I frown. How does he know?

"How would you know?"

"Well you've spoken so much about him, I'm sure I know everything there is to know about Edward Cullen." I sigh and a tear escapes my eye. He's right. I speak about him all the time.

"We kissed," I murmur and hear silence on the other line. "Say something."

"And that's bad because…?"

"I don't know. His mother didn't warm up to me and his sister-in-law was really bitchy to me on Sunday. They made horrible comments about me and it made me feel so worthless! They said them when Edward wasn't around. I didn't tell him what either of them had said to me because I don't want him to fight with his family."

"Bella, I'm sure the rest of his family members loved you. You are a wonderful person."

I smile through my tears. "His aunt liked me. Jane was nice to me. She's the best person in the world and she cares so much about Edward."

"You really liked her?" I can hear him smile.

"Yes."

"That's lovely," I play with the hem of my sleepshirt. "What is making you so sad then?"

"He has a girlfriend! He said stupid crap about his engagement not being true!" I yell the same sentence that has been running around in my head like a broken record.

"If he had feelings for her, he wouldn't have kissed you."

"I know, but still and I think…" I pause as tears gather in my eyes and I take a deep breath.

"What, sweetheart?" Will kindly asks.

"I think he doesn't want to be near me anymore." I stare intently at the coffee table that blurs due to tears filling my eyes.

"Bella, don't cry so much. It's okay. Now, why do you think that?"

"Because I was horrible to him after we kissed. Everything was so overwhelming and I just wanted to be by myself. He apologized for screwing everything up and maybe he realized it was a bad decision to become friends with me after all."

"Bella, maybe you misunderstood everything. Has he tried calling you?"

"Edward called me three times yesterday, but I didn't answer his calls. And then again this morning." I say in a small voice and I hear Will heavily sigh on the other end of the line.

"Oh Bella, why didn't you talk to him? You should've listened to what he wanted to say. You can't exactly know how he feels until he tells you himself, right?"

"Yes," I murmur and close my eyes. "But, I feel so guilty. I can't even talk to him right now, let alone meet him. Or maybe he was just calling to ask me to return his jacket."

Will laughs on the other line making me smile. "Yeah, he must've definitely called to talk about his jacket," He sighs and his tone turns serious. "Talk to him on Friday or maybe next week."

More tears gather in my eyes and I shake my head. God, I'm a cry baby!

"He's leaving for Dubai next Monday. He'll be gone for three weeks."

"That's a long time."

"I know!" I try to slow down my tears.

"It's going to be fine, Bella. Just make sure you talk to him before he leaves, alright?"

"Okay."

I hear someone exclaim Will's name on the other end of the line. "I'm sorry, Bella but I have work waiting. We'll talk later, okay?"

"Sure, thank you for talking to me. I feel much better now."

"Come on, what are friends for? Anyway, I have to go. Bye, beautiful. And get some rest." He pointedly adds.

I smile. "Bye, Will." I end the call and set the phone down.

I walk into my bedroom and tidy it up until the drawer of Edward is shut tight in the back of my mind. I think about baking because it always calms me down but I don't want to leave the apartment to go shopping for supplies. Instead, I dry my hair and feel exhaustion coming on.

Finally, I tire myself out by cleaning the living room until my eyes start to droop. I happily return to my bedroom and get under the covers. I snuggle against the pillow and close my eyes as I wait for sleep to claim me.

I am running. I am running very fast which is very weird because I can never run without tripping. I know I'm dreaming when I encounter a very familiar place from my hometown of Forks. It's a meadow. It's the same place where I used to go to take my mind off things.

I glance around and frown when I notice the trees and flowers are dead. It's summer. This isn't how the meadow is supposed to look like during the summer. I don't see any clear skies or hear the chirping of local birds. There is no sweet scent of flowers or the feeling of cool air on my skin. Nothing like what I had witnessed the last time I was here.

The dried grass beneath my feet crunches when I move. I crouch down and lightly touch it which causes my index finger to prick with blood.

"Here, let me see." A velvety voice murmurs and I find a pair of gorgeous green eyes staring at me.

"I'm fine." I try to reassure Edward and he lets out a musical chuckle.

"I know, love. I've never been here before, where are we?" He curiously asks and I smile, knowing he is distracting me.

"Well, this is the place I used to visit when I wanted to get away from everything happening in my life. It's a few miles away from Forks."

"Are you feeling alone now?" He gently asks and I shake my head.

"No. I'm not alone, I feel lonely."

We both rise to our feet and Edward lightly strokes my cheek. "I'm sorry; it's because of me, isn't it?"

"No! It's all my fault! I'm just scared you'll leave me."

His eyes pierce into mine with a shuddering gaze. "I have told you, I'm never leaving!" He roars and continues. "Why can't you listen to me?! You're not right for me."

"I'm not," I murmur, wiping away my tears. "I really don't deserve you. I don't even answer your calls."

My eyes widen when I see Will coming into view. "I told you to call him, Bella. It's too late now. He's not yours anymore."

"No!" My voice chokes up with horror. This can't be happening. It can't be too late. "He's here with me." I grab Edward's hand in mine and find him glaring at Will.

"Who's that?"

"That's Will. I told you about him."

"I don't want you around him anymore, Bella. He is telling you to do everything, isn't he?"

"He is a good friend, Edward. He made me understand."

"You're a cheating slut, aren't you?" I look up when I hear a cold, rough voice instead of Edward's. It's Riley. I gasp and try to loosen my hold from his hand. "I knew you were a whore! You were with two guys?!"

"Let me go! I don't have to justify anything to you! Edward promised me that he would keep you away from me."

Riley suddenly bursts into chilling laughter. "Then where is he?" I look around and find that no one is in the meadow except for Riley and me. Not Edward or Will. Where did they go? "Its just us, Bella."

"Edward!"

I soundlessly weep and hear my heart hammering in my chest. I try to get out of Riley's clasp but his hold is very strong. I try to scream but I feel like nobody can hear me. Am I really dreaming? What is happening?

"Riley, let me go!" I pant out and he laughs.

"I've just gotten you, Bella. You're not getting away that easy."

I struggle to breathe when I am undertaken by darkness and my eyes snap open to reality.

I sit up in the bed and check the time and see it's just eleven in the morning. I only slept for thirty minutes. My eyes wander over to the couch and a sad smile tugs on my lips when I see Edward's jacket. I blink back the tears threatening to fall. I screwed everything up.

I jump, startled when the doorbell rings. I really hope it's Angela. I need someone to distract me. From my thoughts and nightmares. I scramble out of bed and roughly wipe away the hint of tears with the back of my hand. I drink some water before leaving the bedroom. The doorbell incessantly starts to ring and I open the door, ready for whoever it is.

No, I'm not.

Edward stands on the other side of the door; his copper hair is in a messy disarray, his green eyes are blazing with anger just like they were in my dream and his mouth is pressed into a grim line. His hands are clenched into fists and I find him looking over my shoulder for something. Oh, the jacket and the handkerchief.

"I'm sorry, hold on," I say softly and leave the door slightly ajar as I turn to leave for the bedroom. I look over my shoulder and find him frowning with confusion. I grab his jacket and the linen handkerchief with his initials on it. I walk past the living room, back to Edward and find him looking at his watch. He must be late for work.

"Here, thanks."

Edward stares at me incredulously and after some kind of shock has worn off, he snatches the items from my hand. He looks angrier now and I try to calm my erratic heart taking in his expression.

"Thanks," Edward whispers, giving me a death stare. He pulls out my gold bracelet from his pocket and drops it into my extended hand. "This is exactly why I cancelled my meetings and came here during the middle of the day, to give you this bracelet and get my jacket and handkerchief back from you."

"Oh." I nod at him and place the bracelet in the key bowl for now.

Edward glowers at me and his jaw clenches as he saunters in my direction like a predator hunting for his prey. I back away from him as he enters my apartment. I have never seen this side of him. I think I've never been on the receiving end of his anger before.

"What is going on with you?" His voice is low and cold which chills me to the bone.

"W-What?" I stutter out and he closes his eyes to take a deep breath. His eyes open and I sigh softly.

"What the fuck are you doing?!" He roars, and I jump startled from his sudden outburst. He has never shouted at me before. I should tell him to leave.

"Get out of my apartment." I whisper, trying to muster up some courage.

Edward ignores my comment and narrowly stares at me. "Do you realize what kind of hell I've been through since Sunday?!" He continues, his irritation increasing with every word he utters. I have never been more terrified of him. "You won't answer my calls or text me back! I need to know what the hell you are trying to prove!"

"I'm not trying to prove anything." I murmur and stare into those piercing green eyes.

He gives a low, humorless chuckle. "Really? That's good to know. Now, if you have no intention of wanting me in your fucking life, you just have to say it! I will leave you the fuck alone and stop feeling so desperate and sad about not being with you!"

"Edward, you don't understand!"

"Well, you never tried explaining it to me. Have you thought about considering—" The ringing of his ever present phone cuts him off. He groans and angrily answers it. "What the fuck did I tell you, Kate?! We'll discuss it when I'm in the fucking office. Just email me the details and that's it… I know, Kate! Goodbye!" He hangs up and I stare at him with my mouth hanging open. I never thought he would yell at Kate of all people.

Edward gazes at me again. "Have you thought about considering my feelings when you've tried to avoid me? I'm not asking for a lot here! Tell me what is it that I don't understand!" He throws his jacket against the back of sofa during his rant.

When I open my mouth to speak, I realize I have a dry throat and there are tears flowing down my cheeks. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry this all happened. Just leave me alone!"

He groans, running a hand through his hair. "I'm not asking you to apologize! It's not your fault!"

"Edward, I'm so, so tired of this!" I sob. "I'm tired of getting hurt; I'm tired of feeling lonely! I've been used to it all my life! My parents, my grandmother, every person I thought cared about me… everyone left. And when you leave me, I don't think I will be able to get my life together after that."

Edward takes a step in my direction but I stop him.

"Don't!" I shake my head. "I don't want to start something between us and end up hurt. Just take your things and leave. We can forget this even happened. I won't speak with any member of your family. I promise. Go, please." I plead and bury my face in my hands as I cry.

I am immediately enveloped in his arms and they feel so comforting. But, I can't let this go on even though I want him to hold me. I finally gaze at his face obscured by my teary vision.

"Edward, please. I can't. I'm sorry, I just can't," I try to loosen his arms from around me. "Let me go. Don't do this."

I feel his long fingers wiping across my eyes and his perfect face becomes clear. Edward stares at me with a pained expression and his green eyes look tortured. He cups my face in his hands and his eyes bore into mine.

"I'm never leaving you, Bella," He whispers earnestly. "It's okay to be scared. I'm scared too. But, you need to give us a chance. I've never felt this way about anyone before. Please, love. Don't walk out on us again."

My will slowly crumbles and I can't help my tears as I hide my face against his chest. Edward sighs with relief and wraps me in a tight embrace. I wrap my arms around his waist, not letting him go. I sniffle and he places soft kisses against my hair.

"I missed you." I shyly mumble and he rubs my back.

"I missed you too, love. Hush now, stop crying." I just tighten my hold on him and close my eyes. I feel his phone vibrating between our bodies and he mutters something under his breath before answering it.

"Vic, I'm not free tonight. Work out my schedule with Mr. Black's and make it for Friday, before lunch… Just tell Kate that I'll call her in a while to uh, apologize," I smile against his chest and feel his lips curling into a smile against my hair. "Nothing, I'm fine now… I have to go, we'll talk later. Bye." He puts the phone back in his pocket.

I hesitantly pull back and gaze at Edward. He smiles at me, brushing the errant strands of hair away from my face. I blush and he strokes my heated cheek. He leans forward and presses his lips against mine. My eyes flutter close as I part my lips and kiss him back.

His hands slowly travel upwards from my hips and knot in my hair. Edward opens his mouth further and deepens our kiss. We sigh softly and the sounds of our heavy breathing fill the silence of the living room. I don't know for how long we kiss but I eventually break it to take a deep breath.

Edward peppers kisses all over my face making me giggle. He chuckles and leans his forehead against mine. I wrap my arms around his neck and close my eyes when he nuzzles against my cheek.

"Bella?"

"Hmm?"

"We need to talk about a lot of things." I open my eyes and nod at him.

"Sure."

I clasp his hand with mine and we sit on the sofa. Edward pulls me snugly against his side. I gaze at his handsome face and he sighs, stroking my hair.

"I fired James yesterday," He blurts out and I tightly nod. "He is in the hospital for the next couple of days and then you won't see him ever again."

"Okay, thank you." I murmur and rest my head on his chest.

"Bella, I think you ought to get a restraining order on James."

I shake my head. "No."

"Why not?"

"Because he is not a threat anymore; he doesn't know where I live either."

"Don't be ridiculous about this. I have lawyers who can take care of it." He says firmly and I sigh.

"Edward, I don't want to. We were equally surprised to see each other."

"Is that why James had you pinned against a wall while he tried to take your clothes off?"

I cringe at Edward's words, and he continues to glares at me. "Edward, can we please drop it? I am certain he won't come after me."

"I don't know why you are taking his side."

"Please trust me," He looks away from me with a frown on his face. I sigh and hold his face in my hands. I make him stare at me and give a small smile. "Don't be mad at me, sweetheart. Can we not talk about James right now? I've had enough nightmares about him to last me a lifetime."

Edward gives in and nods. I grin and kiss his cheek. "This doesn't mean the discussion is over. We'll return to it later."

"Okay, whatever you want." I clasp his hand with mine and lean against him.

"If you want to talk about anything, I'm right here." He murmurs, kissing the side of my head.

I play with the hem of my sleepshirt as the bits and pieces from my nightmare come back to me; How James tried to force himself on me, his evil smirk, and his arrogant words.

"You are a nasty bitch, aren't you? Trying to fuck my boss for money. You think he's going to stay with you knowing what you did? What I made you do? You killed him yourself, Isabella."

Will Edward stay after he finds out my pathetic past? How weak and dependent I was? I sigh and squirm uncomfortably.

"What is it, baby?" Edward asks softly and tips my chin up to look at him. I bite my bottom lip, contemplating whether to tell him or not.

"I want to tell you about James but uh, just make sure you stay with me." I murmur and Edward sighs.

"Bella, tell me." Edward urges and I move towards him. He wraps an arm around my shoulders and I cuddle against his chest. He kisses my forehead and gives my hand a soft squeeze.

"Around four years ago, my grandma passed away. I was juggling a lot of things in my life at the time; Jacob was a senior in high school, I was given the responsibility to run the bookstore and there weren't enough savings to solve every problem in my life. Jake was getting accepted into a lot of colleges but there was no way my grandma's college fund savings were going to help us."

"I met James during that time. He seemed like the perfect guy for me. He was handsome, smart, and sophisticated. Even Jake liked him. He was the kind of person whom I could rely on and forget about all the troubles I had. There was always this tiny little thought in my head that told me that we would end up married and live happily together."

Edward sighs and I stare at him. "Should I stop?" I ask and he shakes his head.

"Don't," He strokes my cheek and gazes at me intently. "I just don't like the thought of you being intimate with a guy like him."

"But, I'm with you now. You'll keep me safe." I murmur and place a kiss on his neck.

"Always," Edward promises and smiles at me. "Please, continue."

"Um, okay. So, I was under a lot of stress and one day, I passed out at the bookstore," Edward frowns at me. "I didn't go to the doctor because a doctor meant needles," I shrug. "But, the same thing happened for the second time during that week so Angela dragged me to the doctor."

"What was wrong?" Edward asks and I play with fingers.

"I was pregnant."

There is a pin drop silence in the room and tears gather in my eyes when I recall myself sitting in that hospital room all alone. I had never been more terrified about anything. I was only twenty-two and my entire life was ahead of me but I wanted to keep the baby. I was frightened but part of me was happy; the happiest I had been that year. The baby had given me hope.

"Then what happened?" Edward asks softly and I gaze at him with surprise. "Don't keep anything for me. I'm not running away or looking at you any differently. Tell me."

"You're so great." I murmur and kiss his lips softly.

I continue. "I told James about it and he freaked out. I didn't see him for two weeks following that. I was scared to death about raising the baby. I had no savings nor could I plan a safe future for him but nevertheless, I wasn't going to let the baby go. I felt numb after losing my grandma and inheriting all the stress that came with it, but I yearned to feel human again; the baby made me feel that."

"I never got a chance to announce my pregnancy to anybody but Angela. When I finally got the point where I was happy for having the baby; James and his mother met with me. They forced me to abort the baby. I refused, but they just kept mentally torturing me about it. One day, James invited me to his house saying he wanted to discuss the baby issue.

"We ended up fighting again, and I stormed out of his room. The next thing I could remember was that I was in the hospital. He had pushed me down the stairs but James and his mother made it appear like an accident."

"You lost the baby?" Edward asks softly and I smile sadly.

"No, I didn't. They both forcefully took me to an abortion clinic, and they gave me medications to make me unconscious. They had the baby aborted without my consent. I don't know what lies they told about me but that's just how it happened. Even if James was the father, the baby was mine. I should've been stronger and more firm in my decision. I blamed myself for everything."

"I was so… depressed after that. Everyone assumed it was because of the mental stress I was under and how overwhelmed I was. I attended therapy for a couple of months. James and his mother promised they would stay away from me and they did; until Sunday when I saw him at the fundraiser."

A tear trickles down my cheek and Edward wipes it away. He folds me in his arms and I press my face against his neck. I breathe in his intoxicating scent and close my eyes. His hand gently strokes my back and I relax under his touch. We sit in complete silence for a while until he makes me look at him.

"You're getting a restraining order on James Smith, do you hear me?" I open my mouth to protest and Edward shakes his head. "You don't get a say in this anymore, Bella. I want you to be safe."

I nod and stroke his cheek. If the order will make him less anxious, I'll do it.

"Okay. Will I have to go to a court hearing?"

"No, we won't request a hearing. The judge will issue an Order For Protection. It'll last up to a year."

"You seem to have some knowledge about this." I murmur and he chuckles.

"Emmett is a lawyer."

I shake my head, not buying his explanation. "I'm not as gullible as you think I am."

Edward laughs and kisses my nose. "Oh love. Alright, I had to get few restraining orders on some, uh ladies."

"You had stalkers?"

"Kind of," He suddenly chuckles. "Victoria thought you were one of them when you came to my office for the first time."

I flush and my eyes widen. "Really? Wow, okay. That explains what happened."

"Yeah," He strokes my hair. I close my eyes and stifle a yawn. "You haven't slept since Sunday, have you?" I shake my head. I open my eyes and find him intently studying my face. "When was the last time you ate?"

"Um, today," I mumble and Edward raises an eyebrow, not believing me. "Sunday." I blurt out and he scowls at me.

"What?"

"Monday." I change my answer.

"Bella…" I sigh and he shakes his head. "Why didn't you eat, love?"

"I couldn't."

Edward unwraps his arms from around me and stands up. "I'll be back in ten minutes."

He saunters towards the kitchen and I let out a yawn. I lean my head against the arm of the sofa and close my eyes. I hear him moving around the kitchen which makes me smile. I still can't believe he's here. We have yet to talk about the elephant in the room.

When I start to doze off, I feel soft fingers brushing against my cheek. I open my eyes and see Edward standing in front of me. I sit up and he hands me plate with two sandwiches. He gives me a smile and picks up his jacket and handkerchief lying on the back of the couch.

"Aren't you eating?"

"Nope. I have a lunch meeting at one-thirty." My eyes immediately race over to the clock. It's 12:28. We still have some time.

"Okay."

"I made you two barbecue chicken sandwiches. I hope you like them." He plops next to me and I lean over to kiss his cheek.

"Thank you."

"No problem."

I start to take a bite of the sandwich and the delicious flavors burst into my mouth. Wow, he can make a mean sandwich. I offer Edward the second one but he politely declines. I roll my eyes but continue eating. God, I had no idea I was starving.

"It's really tasty." I murmur and he smiles at me.

"I'm glad you like it."

I finish the sandwiches within a couple of minutes and go over to the kitchen. I wash the dish and feel Edward's eyes on me which makes me a little flustered and self-conscious. I drink a glass of water and finally meet his gaze.

"Would you like some water?" I shyly ask and he chuckles, shaking his head. I return to the living room and take a seat next to Edward. I smile and look at him from under my eyelashes. "What?"

"You're so beautiful." I blush and twist my fingers on my lap. He tugs on my hand and draws me in his arms. I chuckle and wrap my arms around his neck.

"Thank you." I plant a soft kiss on his lips. He smiles against my lips and deepens our kiss making me moan. I straddle his lap and feel his hands grabbing my hips. We pull back a few minutes later and Edward tightly hugs me, pressing his face against my neck. I stroke his hair in a soothing motion and he sighs soundly.

"Edward, we need to talk about something very important. You know what it is."

"No." He mumbles, nuzzling against my neck and I giggle.

"Yes, we do."

"No!" Edward almost whines as he pulls back to gaze at me. "I don't want to ruin our good time."

"I don't want to either, honey but I need to know what this is between us."

His face turns serious. "I cannot break up with Tanya right away, love." He tightens his arms around me when I try to get away from him.

"That makes me feel great." My voice drips with sarcasm and he sighs softly.

"I need her to be my girlfriend until I file the lawsuit against her."

I am so confused. He never mentioned this to me. "What lawsuit?"

"It's a long story."

"We have time." I firmly snap at him and he sighs.

"No, we don't. I have to leave soon."

"Fine! So I need to pretend to be your friend until then? Or wait until some pictures of us show up in the gossip section of newspapers labelling us as having an 'affair'?"

Edward gives me a tired, exhausted look. He cradles my face in his hands and touches his forehead to mine. "Baby, don't say that. Please be patient."

"I'll try. But, do you really think no one will find out?"

"Always remember, there are two types of worlds. The first one is called Distortion. It's the one that people believe we're living in. They'll read about it, create stories and judge you upon it. The second one is called Reality. It's the one that we live in but people don't know about it."

I think about his words but I don't know what he is trying to tell me. "Where are you going with this?"

He chuckles. "Sometimes, distortion also needs a little deception. Did you happen to read today's newspaper?" I shake my head. "Well, I think you should."

I climb out of his lap and make my way to the front door. I open it and find two newspapers bundled up to the side of it. I pick them up and carry them back to the living room. Edward rolls up his shirt sleeves and drapes his jacket back on the arm of the sofa. I check the dates and toss yesterday's newspaper on the coffee table.

When I take a seat next to Edward, he swiftly pulls me onto his lap. I blush and skim through the headlines. "What am I looking for?" I mutter as I open the newspaper to the inside pages.

"My name and Tanya's."

"Sure," I curtly mumble and he laughs behind me. "It's not funny."

"Of course not."

My eyes fall on the business section and I find his handsome face printed along with his business associates in a photo. It's a news headline for the upcoming project in Dubai.

"This one?"

He scoffs. "This is work, Bella. You need to open the bullshit section of the newspaper if you want to read about Tanya."

I giggle and flip open the gossip section. I gasp when I read the bold headline. Edward & Tanya Shocker: THE ENGAGEMENT THAT NEVER HAPPENED!

I intently read the article and realize that the source who leaked the news made false claims about the engagement announcement. The article also states that Edward never wanted to get engaged but Tanya's parents were keen on it happening. Furthermore, it is confirmed that they have a rocky relationship after six months of dating but are trying to make it work.

"Wow," I breathe out and Edward nods at me. "That's interesting."

"Do you believe the news?" He asks and I shrug.

"Well, it's in the paper. So, yes."

"They're all part lies," My eyes widen at his confession. "Distortion, remember? The same article is printed in twenty different newspapers. The readers will believe it. Now, everyone knows that she is my girlfriend but we're not getting married. This way, Tanya will be associated with me in public for the next thirty-eight days without her trying to print news about our engagement."

I try to contemplate everything Edward just said. "How did you manage to do this?"

"Power is a dangerous thing," He whispers and strokes my hair. "Forget about it for a while." He takes the paper from my hands and keeps it away. I turn in his lap and smile at him.

"It's forgotten." But, this discussion is definitely not over.

Edward grins at me and captures my lips for a quick kiss. I smile and interlace my hands behind his neck. He breaks our kiss and brushes his thumb against my bottom lip.

"Do you have any plans for tonight?"

"Nope." I mumble and undo the second button of his shirt. He chuckles making me blush.

"Will you have dinner with me?" My blush deepens and I give a shy smile.

"But, what if we—"

"Hey, we'll be fine." He assures me and my smile widens.

"I would love to go out with you," I lean in until we are nose to nose. "Is it a date?"

"You can say that. I'll be here to pick you up at seven-fifteen."

"I can't wait."

"Me either. Now you really need to get some sleep," Edward murmurs and abruptly pulls me to his chest. I snuggle against him and close my eyes. "You look dead tired and I'm sure you'll be exhausted after our date."

"Are we going out of town?"

He chuckles. "Maybe."

I'm so excited. I smile as I feel his hand stroking my hair and hear his steady heartbeats just below my ear. I hear him humming something under his breath but I don't bother to linger on that thought. I'm worn out, and he is so comfortable to curl up to.

My back hits a soft mattress which causes me to partially open my eyes. I see a white shirt before I stare at Edward. He places a kiss on forehead and covers me with a blanket.

"Go to sleep, darling."

"Stay." I mumble and grab his hand in both of mine.

"I wish I could, baby but I have a meeting. It's almost two and I'm already late. Before I forget, I put your bracelet by the dresser. I'll be here to pick you up for dinner, okay?"

I nod and close my eyes. "The door?" I ask and he sighs.

"The guard downstairs is friendly, isn't he?"

"John is the best." I mumble and hear him chuckle.

"Alright, I'll let him know. Sweet dreams, love."

"Bye." I whisper and he unwraps his hand from my hold. His lips gently brush against mine.

"Bye, Bella."

And I know I won't wake up with a nightmare this time.

I inspect my fishtail braided updo in the mirror and sigh softly. I don't know how Angela can do this in ten minutes; it took me almost half an hour. I walk over to the closet and put on a red bra and panty set. I tie my robe again and return to the dresser. I wear a little make-up. I want to look good for Edward.

I apply lotion to my face and hands and put on a hint of mascara to darken and thicken my eyelashes. I check the alarm clock on the nightstand and see that it's almost seven-fifteen. I've wasted some extra time on making my hair look good. I apply the same dark red lipstick that I used on Sunday. My hands untie the robe as soon as I reach the edge of the bed.

I grab the red dress that I previously placed on the bed and carefully put it on. It's my favorite dress. A sleeveless, deep crossover V-neck that highlights my waist and features a lightweight skirt that falls above the knee. I zip up the dress as far as my hand can go but sigh tiredly when my arm starts to ache. I wish Angela was here.

I slip into a pair of Angela's nude stilettos that I borrowed months ago but forgot to return. Thank god I didn't. I place my phone, my wallet and apartment keys in a clutch and snap it close. I wear the same diamond earrings that I wore on Sunday and fasten my gold bracelet.

The doorbell rings and my heart skips a beat. Shit. Edward's here and I'm still not ready. I groan and walk as fast as I can in the high heels. I halt in my living room when I realize my dress is still unzipped. Oh god, this is embarrassing. Why did I sleep in today?

I answer the door in my flurried state and stop breathing. God, I hope I don't faint from dyspnea. Edward can't look any more gorgeous than this. He is wearing a black long-sleeved thin cashmere sweater, dark wash jeans and has a black leather jacket draped on his arm. I hope I'm not drooling.

"Hey." I breathlessly murmur and he frowns at me.

"What's wrong?"

You look so handsome that I'm ready to pass out.

I blush and bite my bottom lip. "Um, I need your help."

"Sure."

I open the door further to let Edward enter my apartment. He stares at me curiously and I don't miss the sharp intake of his breath when I face away from him.

"Can you zip me up?" I ask shyly and he clears his throat.

Edward places his hands on my waist and backs me up against his chest. I gasp feeling the outline of his body against mine. I resist a sigh when his fingers touch my bare back as he holds the zipper in his hand. I feel goosebumps rising all over my skin as his slightest of touch makes my knees to almost buckle.

I close my eyes and savor his warm touch on my body. I know he is intentionally taking his time but I don't mind. My eyes open when I snap out of my sensual musings about Edward. I realize he is lowering the zipper instead of pulling it upwards. God, I'm stupid.

"Edward, up!" I hiss with embarrassment and he laughs softly. God, even his laughter sounds so damn attractive.

"Oh love, you're so adorable." I roll my eyes and he zips up my dress with a swift motion.

Edward turns me in his arms and tips my chin up to meet his gaze. He strokes my cheek and his bright green eyes darken when I bite my bottom lip. He draws me flush against him and my breathing hitches again.

"How do you look so beautiful all the time?" Edward whispers against my ear and I blush shyly. "You look stunning, love."

"Thank you," I stroke his cheek and he leans against my touch. "You're not so bad yourself."

"Nothing compared to the lady in red." I laugh and run my hands through his soft, messy hair before bringing his lips to mine. Edward passionately kisses me back and I hear the hammering of our hearts over our sighs. We touch our foreheads and share a smile.

"Where are we going?" I ask and he chuckles, tugging on a loose strand of my hair.

"It's a surprise," I pout, and he laughs, pecking my lips. "Do you have everything you need?"

"I'll be back in a minute."

I go to my bedroom and collect my clutch and navy blue coat. I return to the living room and find Edward putting on his leather jacket. God, he looks hot tonight. My eyes sparkle when I notice the bunch of purple carnations in his hands.

"Hey, I got these for you." He whispers and I beam at him as I gingerly hold them in my hands.

"They are precious. Thank you so much," I whisper and plant a kiss on his cheek. I carry an empty vase to the kitchen and fill it up with water and place the flowers in it. I smile and breathe in their sweet scent.

"I didn't notice the flowers before." I mutter as we step out of my apartment.

"Well, I was holding them until you told me to zip your dress up. Guess, you didn't see them."

Yeah, I was too busy staring at your pretty face.

"Maybe." I mumble and thankfully, he can't see the blush on my cheeks as I lock the apartment.

"Ready?" Edward asks and helps me slip on my coat. I eagerly nod making him laugh.

"You are really not telling me where we are going?"

He wounds an arm around my waist and draws me closer to him. "Not until you see it for yourself."

All I want is for us to spend some quality time together no matter where we go.

I gaze at Edward who has a brooding expression on his face as he puts the seatbelt on. I wonder what he is thinking about. He presses the start button and the gear shift slowly rises. He rotates it a couple of times and sets it on the letter 'D' and later strikes a couple of more buttons before the car speeds away.

We sit in complete silence but I can't take my eyes off his anxious face. What happened so suddenly to change his mood? I place my hand on his knee and he sighs.

"What's wrong?" I whisper and his eyes flicker to me for a second.

"Nothing," I roll my eyes and he places his hand atop mine. "You have to move, baby. I don't like this neighborhood. You stay here all alone and there is hardly anyone living around your block. Hell, nobody lives on your floor except for an old woman who probably prefers to stay with her children. There are so many men keeping an eye on you, it's just not safe."

I frown. "What men?"

"Riley, James, the night guard. I don't think we need a fourth."

"I'll be fine, sweetheart," I soothingly murmur and kiss his cheek. "I've been living here for the past three years and I've managed just fine."

"Fine," Edward mumbles although I know he isn't completely satisfied with my answer. This isn't how our date is supposed to start. Maybe I should change the topic.

"I like your car. I don't think I have seen one like this before. What's it called?"

He finally smiles. "It's a Jaguar XJ. It's one of my favorites." Okay. How many cars does he own?

"You have more than two cars?"

Edward just laughs and shakes his head. "Don't you have any preferences for cars?"

I think about his question. "Well, I don't know a lot about cars but I really like a car poster at Jacob's apartment. It's a vintage car. The exterior is icy blue, and it is easy on the eyes."

"What car is it?" He curiously asks and I shrug.

"I don't remember although it had a trident logo."

"That's a Maserati, baby."

"Oh."

"Anyway, how is your store doing?"

I sigh and rest my head on his shoulder. "Same old, same old."

"I hope we aren't late." He mutters under his breath and I close my eyes.

"Why? Do we have to stand in a line?"

Edward chuckles and kisses my hair. "Not tonight."

We stay in a comfortable silence and he switches on the stereo. The gentle chords of the piano fill the car and I smile. But a few minutes later, his phone rings and I realize he has it set on hands-free mode. I glance at the screen and there is an incoming call from Billy Black. I think Alex introduced me to him.

Edward accepts the call and sighs softly. "Good evening, Mr. Black."

"Evening, Edward."

"I hope Victoria scheduled your meeting for Friday."

"Yes, Mr. Cullen. I called to inform you that the project management reports have been emailed to Mr. Omar."

Edward visibly tenses. "The deadline wasn't for the next two weeks."

"I… uh," He pauses on the other line and sighs softly. "I wanted to speed things up for your project."

"Your project," Edward murmurs under his breath and chuckles. "Well, thank you. And I hear Alistair Raymond was asking you details about Volturi Construction."

"Yes," Billy Black utters suddenly and then coughs. "He did, but I made sure not to disclose any details."

"I hope so as well. Now will that be all?"

"Yes, Mr. Cullen."

"Good night, Mr. Black." With that he ends the call and lets out a sigh as he slams on the brakes at a signal. I stroke the back of his hand and kiss his cheek.

"Why are you so tense?"

"I'm just getting a feeling of déjà vu after that call."

"Is it about work?"

"Yes."

I frown at him. "This is supposed to be a happy, relaxing night for us but you've been so tense and worried ever since we got into the car. Do you not want to go out?"

"Of course I do," Edward whispers, turning to me. He strokes my cheek and I look into his eyes. "I'm so sorry, baby. Since last week, work has been very hectic and I just can't get out of it."

I brush my hand against his cheek. "I know, you told me. But I just want you to unwind from things at work and give me some of your time. Maybe it'll take your mind off your problems."

"Okay."

He leans in and crashes his lips against mine. I grab the sides of his jacket and pull him closer. I savor the feeling of our lips moving in perfect sync but hear something a couple of seconds later. I open my eyes and realize the signal has turned green.

"Edward," I mumble and he hums against my lips. "Signal."

I moan when he nibbles on my bottom lip. My hands reach over to trace the outline of his face. We break apart when the cars honk and people yell from their cars as they drive past us. I am sent flying back in my seat when the car speeds away towards our destination.

"I need to make a quick call to Victoria," He mutters under his breath and continues. "Mr. Black is really getting on my nerves. You don't mind, do you love?"

I shrug. "Sure, go ahead." I rest my head back on his shoulder and he nuzzles against my hair. I watch him place a call to Victoria and wait for her to answer it.

"Good evening, Mr. Cullen."

"Hey, Vic. I have few changes of plans. You need to note them down, stat."

"Hold on," I hear some movement on the other line. "Yeah, go ahead."

"I need Billy Black's Employee Personnel File on my desk tomorrow. Make sure this stays between Mr. Wallis and us. Cancel all my meetings for Thursday except for the one with Aro Volturi. I think this week the…" And I let his voice become a light buzz to my ears. He is changing his schedule because of a disturbing phone call? Wow, Billy Black must be important.

Their conversation is interrupted a few minutes later when a little voice demands Victoria's attention.

"Mommy!"

"Jared, honey not now. Mommy is talking about important work with Edward. We have discussed this before."

"I wanna talk to Edward!" He shouts on the other end of the line and Edward and I both chuckle.

"Jared, go to your room!" There is silence on the other line before Victoria clears her throat. "I apologize for that. So yeah, the deadline extension will do. Anything else?"

"No, I think we're done. And how's Jared?"

"Jared's great. He's cranky because it's bedtime."

"Do you mind if I talk to him?"

Victoria laughs. "Edward, Jared thinks you have superpowers. Can I deprive my son from talking to you? Just a second. And can you please convince him to go to bed? I don't know what has gotten into him today."

"I'll try." Edward kindly murmurs and I smile at him.

"Seems like you're Jared's favorite guy."

He chuckles. "Maybe."

"Edward!" A boisterous little voice interrupts our conversation.

"Hey, buddy! How are you?" Edward asks cheerfully.

"I'm good! Emily and I go to the bookstore every day!"

"Really? That sounds interesting. What books do you read?"

"Cars! And planes and buses and bikes and lots of cars and—and bugs and tigers and lions," He pauses to suck in a huge amount of breath. I smile and shake my head. He's adorable.

"Slow down, little man. We have time."

"And I made a new friend. I call her Bella!" I furiously blush and Edward chuckles next to me.

"Wow, that's a pretty name," I roll my eyes. "It really is." He whispers in a low voice.

"Yes and she's very pretty."

"That she is, buddy. She's so beautiful." I kiss his cheek and he gives my hand a soft squeeze. I still don't understand how he finds me attractive at all.

"Mommy says she is your friend." Friend.

"Yes. Bella is a very, very special friend of mine." I lightly slap his arm making him chuckle.

"I ask Bella to be my girlfriend? Mommy said I should give her flowers."

"That sounds like a great plan." I can hear the smile in Edward's voice.

"She say yes?"

"Of course she will. You are the bravest and handsomest little boy I know."

Jared delightfully hoots with laughter and we share a smile. "Yay!"

"And shouldn't you be in bed?"

"I no want to sleep."

"Well, your mommy told me she has a surprise for you tomorrow morning. But if you won't go to sleep, how will you wake up tomorrow?" Surprise?

"Surprise?"

"Yes, you're going to love it! Now, will you go to bed?"

"Okay! Good night!"

"Good night, buddy."

"Bye!" Jared says again, and the line goes dead.

"What surprise?" I whisper and Edward chuckles.

"Victoria once mentioned how she is not able to spend enough time with Jared because of her increasing workload. So, I arranged a vacation for the two of them. She'll get the package first thing in the morning."

I smile curiously. "Really? Where?"

"Orlando. Neither of them have been to big amusement parks before and Orlando is the ideal place for that. I'm sure they'll have fun."

"Oh, that was so sweet of you. And they'll love the surprise."

"I hope so."

I get comfortable in my seat and stare out of the window towards the passing streets as we get further away from the city. I close my eyes and take a deep breath when an unsettling thought invades my mind. Is this right what we're doing? How will Tanya feel when she finds out? If I was in her position, I would be crushed to find out that my boyfriend is spending so much quality time with another woman.

Even though nobody likes Tanya, she is still human. She must have some feelings for Edward. There is no way anyone can hate Edward. I wonder if Edward has ever showered Tanya with surprises as well. I know I should treasure the time I am spending with him but the disturbing thoughts of his girlfriend aren't leaving my head.

I snap back to reality when Edward clasps his warm hand in mine. I gaze at his happy face and his eyes flicker towards me for a moment.

"Is it wrong that I'm jealous that a five-year old has a crush on you?" He asks and I clear my throat.

"Maybe."

A frown appears on his forehead. "What's wrong, baby? Is there a problem? If you are feeling uneasy, I can turn the car—" I cut him off.

"No, don't. I'm sorry, I just zoned out."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm certain."

Edward relaxes and loosens his death grip on my hand. I stare at our interlaced hands and realize he must be as anxious as I am. This is the happiest I have ever seen Edward and I am so glad that he really cherishes the time we spend together. I shouldn't get so glum but stay but stay in the moment.

"I'm right here." I whisper with a smile and there is a hint of relief in his features.

"You are," He briefly gazes at me and his eyes fall on my thighs where the dress has ridden up. "Your dress is very sexy."

I chuckle and play with his fingers. "It's my third date dress."

"Third date, huh?" He gives me a suggestive smile. "What do you do on third dates?"

"Well, I've haven't had a lot of third dates," I murmur with mock seriousness and he listens intently. "But, I remember this one magical third date I had that I don't think I can ever forget. We went out for a couple of drinks and had dinner, we made out quite a bit and then he took me back to his place. It was such a romantic night and we slowly undress…" My voice trails off when I realize the car has stopped.

I turn back to Edward and find him giving me a scorching look. My breathing falters when he leans over the console. His hand sweeps from my arm down to the seat belt. He unlocks it and cradles my face in his hands. I lean closer to him and wrap my arms around my neck.

Our mouths connect and his lips are urgent and possessive against mine. His tongue darts inside my mouth and I'm swept with a sudden rush of desire. His hands firmly grip my waist and swiftly pull me onto his lap. My hand reaches between our bodies and I unbuckle his seat belt to draw him closer to me. He teases my bottom lip with his teeth and I lightly tug on his hair earning a sigh from him.

"Who was this guy?" Edward whispers, trailing kisses down my neck as he takes off my coat. My hands knot in his hair and I whimper when he sucks and nibbles on my skin. He throws my coat in the backseat and returns to kissing my neck.

"Are you jealous, baby?" I ask, trying to breathe. "Don't worry, I was kidding."

He tilts back and glares at me. "That's a risky game you're playing, Isabella."

I shiver when he murmurs my full name and his lips curl into a smile. "You can't stop in the middle of the street." I mutter and he chuckles.

"There's no one around." Edward kisses me again and I don't hesitate to kiss him back. I sense his hands moving from my hair down to my hips.

I break our kiss and touch my forehead to his. "We're going to be late." He adorably pouts and I chuckle. I stroke his cheek and stare into his impish green eyes. I like this carefree expression on him.

"Alright ma'am, you're right. We shouldn't be late." He says kindly and helps me get back on my seat. I put my seatbelt back on and he does the same.

Edward resumes driving and I lean my head against the window and close my eyes. His phone rings and I groan. "You are not answering that call, Edward!" I warn him and my eyes flutter open to look at him.

"Fine, your decision," He mumbles, pointing to the screen. It's Jacob. "Should I?"

"I said no work." I glare at him and he gives me an apologetic smile.

"Okay, okay. I won't."

As soon as the call goes unanswered, his phone rings again. I roll my eyes and stare out of the window.

"Seriously?" I mutter under my breath and cross my arms over my chest.

"I'm so sorry, darling but I have to answer this call. It's very important."

I ignore him and Edward accepts the call. My eyes widen when I hear his sexy voice fluently speaking Spanish. I can barely comprehend the conversation as they speak in a fast tempo. I close my eyes and listen to his soothing voice as he speaks for another ten minutes. There is a pin drop silence in the car after the call and just as I open my mouth to speak, his phone rings again. He groans with irritation but I know he will answer it.

"Yes?" Edward angrily snaps, his voice matching my level of annoyance.

"I-I'm sorry, Mr. Cullen. Is this a bad time?" Jake stutters from the other line and my eyes immediately open. I glance at the screen and see my brother's name on the display.

"What is it?" Edward asks straightway and Jacob clears his throat.

I listen to my brother's scared little voice and wonder if Edward is very strict at work. Is he really so uptight or is it just the persona of the man being created in a way that people are tend to be terrified of him? Maybe it's just because his work has become hectic.

I shouldn't be angry with Edward. The last thing he wants right now is for me to ignore him. He already has a lot of stress at work; I should try to be more understanding. I am broken out of my reverie when Edward calls my name. I turn to him.

"I'm so sorry, love. I won't answer any more calls from now, I promise. I'll give you all my time. I know we already don't have much time on our hands as it is, on top of which I'm making you mad at me."

"I'm not angry, sweetheart. I don't mind, it's your work. Plus, it's a weekday. They don't know you have plans tonight."

"You're so amazing. How can you have so much patience with me?" He murmurs and I smile, kissing his cheek.

"Because it's very difficult to stay mad at your pretty face."

"I'll keep that in mind." I rest my head on his shoulder and feel his soft kisses against my hair.

Edward slows down the car and I look out of the window to see nothing around but empty space. I gaze at him and he gives me a hesitant smile.

"Okay, I know you hate surprises but I want this to be one," He sighs and slams on the brakes. He unbuckles the seat belt and leans over in my direction to open the glove compartment. I stifle a gasp when his warm hand gently presses on my thigh as his other one is fishing for something. He smirks and draws something out of the compartment.

"You need to wear this." Edward whispers, holding out a red satin blindfold.

"Really, Cullen? You're going to blindfold me?"

"If you agree." He gives me a hopeful smile and his green eyes look so happy. I don't want to crush that expression.

"Okay." I nod and Edward beams at me. He makes quick work of wrapping it around my eyes and tying it at the back of my head. His hot breath on my neck causes goosebumps to rise on my skin. I feel his lips brushing against my ear.

"You look so tempting right now." He purrs and kisses behind my ear. I hold in a low moan and try to steady my heart rate.

I flush and squirm a little. "Well, we should save this blindfold for some other time."

He laughs, stroking my cheek. "Oh baby, you wouldn't just be blindfolded then." I giggle and push him off me.

"Drive." I mutter, hoping my blush dies down as the car purrs to life. "Are we close?"

"About half a mile."

"It's getting dark, almost time for sunset." I comment softly.

"You don't have to worry about the dark, being as your blindfolded already."

"That's true."

The car stops two minutes later and I hear a door closing. Where is Edward going? I frown. I turn to my right when the door opens. I feel his hand touching mine.

"Love, hold my hand." I interlace our hands and carefully step out of the car. He shuts the door behind me and we start walking somewhere.

"Edward, you better not take me hiking." I warn and he heavily sighs against my hair.

"Oh Bella, you should've told me you don't like hiking. We can't go now."

I bite my bottom lip, thinking about his plans. Hiking, really?

"You really thought I would go hiking in a short dress and high heels?"

"I don't know what girls wear for hiking. I have never gone with one before."

"Well, you should've told me."

"But then it wouldn't have been a surprise."

"Are you really taking me hiking at eight in the evening?"

"Well, yes. You don't like my plan?"

I take a deep breath. "Why don't we go have a nice dinner someplace?"

Edward suddenly laughs and pulls me in his arms. "Oh baby, you really thought I would take you hiking?" I nod which makes him laugh harder. "You're so cute. Okay, now don't ask any questions and just continue walking."

I remain quiet for the remainder of our walk and then stop at one point as Edward talks to someone in hushed whispers. I try to hear the sounds around me; I make out the voices of a couple of people around, the warm air breeze blowing around us and the obvious noise of a loud machine. Where on Earth am I?

I yelp a little when I hear a deafening whoosh of wind and tightly hug Edward. "What was that?" I ask softly and he kisses the top of my head.

"Just an adjustment, Bella. Nothing dangerous." He reassures me and rubs my back. "Alright, are you ready?"

"Yes." I impatiently nod and Edward grabs my hand.

"Come on," I can hear the smile in his voice as he leads me some place. I feel the surface beneath my feet change when we enter a confined space. My hands blindly move around and Edward quickly catches them in his. "Hey, hey careful. You'll poke someone in the eye." He whispers behind me and kisses my cheek. I blush and stay close to him.

"Curious?" I hear an unknown, amused person ask. Edward chuckles.

"Yes, my girl is dying to find out."

I hide my face against Edward's chest when I hear another roaring sound coming from above us. He folds me in his arms and strokes my hair.

"Just a moment, baby," I nod and breathe in his intoxicating scent. "Any last minute guesses?"

"Uh, a cheese factory?"

He laughs. "Oh, you're really good," I roll my eyes although he can't see it. "Don't roll your pretty eyes at me."

I blush and Edward turns me away from him. He lifts my hands and places them on top of a wicker-like surface. I feel his hands working on the blindfold as he unties it.

The warm summer wind drifts around us and a smile tugs on my lips. I can hear the squeal of seagulls, breathe in the clean air and feel Edward's warm breathe against the back of my neck. His arms wind around my waist and he draws me to his chest. He places a warm kiss on my shoulder and the side of my neck.

"Open your eyes."

My eyes flutter open and a gasp escapes my lips.

Special thanks to EdwardsFirstKiss for editing this chapter!

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Love,
Paint the Walls.