THE OTHER WOMAN

DISCLAIMER: STEPHENIE MEYER OWNS IT ALL.

August 18, 2015

BELLA

The sun is setting behind gorgeous ice capped Mount Rainier and the sky has turned a deep shade of pink and orange. The dark green patches of land are hardly recognizable from up here and I see the river on the ground below. My eyes flicker to the far right and I see the city of Seattle is aglow.

I smile as we gradually rise higher in the sky in the hot air balloon. I had never ridden in one before and I love the experience so far. My eyes sparkle with tears just looking at the scenic beauty below me. It's so perfect. Edward nuzzles his face against my hair and I smile, placing my hands atop his.

"What do you think?" He whispers against my cheek and I blush at a loss for words.

"It's perfect." I whisper back, trying not to ruin the tranquility of the silence.

I turn in his arms and wrap my hands behind his neck. His green eyes sparkle back at me and he wipes away the tear gathered at the corner of my right eye. I press my face against his neck and close my eyes. I feel his hand rubbing my back.

"Thank you so much. This really means a lot to me."

Edward sighs and relaxes against me. "You have no idea how glad I am to hear that."

I smile and plant a soft kiss on his neck. He touches his forehead to mine and beams at me. My blush deepens when he strokes my cheek.

"I had never done this before." I say softly and he chuckles.

"Hmm, I figured that from your reaction," I open my eyes and he pecks my lips. "Let's not miss out on the view."

I face away from Edward and he leans against me as he points out a couple of spots he knows around the region. I try to take in the overwhelming view and turn to my right so I can get a better look at the city lights.

"It's so beautiful." I smile and hear a snap next to me. I blink and turn to see Edward taking a picture of me on his phone. I pout and he gives me a cute smile.

"It's been suggested that I should make good use of the camera." I roll my eyes.

"How long is this ride?" I ask as he leans against the edge of the basket, checking his watch.

"Two hours, maximum. Then we have plans for dinner."

"We do?"

Edward nods, tugging on my hand and enfolding me in his arms. I rest my head on his chest and close my eyes.

"Bella?"

"Hmm?"

"Have you been to a wine cellar before?"

"Nope."

"We can go, if you like," I look up at him. "This same agency gives a cellar tour and wine tasting after this ride."

I smile. "That sounds like fun."

"Alright, we'll go. Hopefully, you'll like it."

"Yeah." I murmur and press my lips against his soft ones. Edward pulls me flush against him and I moan when his warm tongue enters my mouth. His hands land on my hips and I tug on the ends of his soft hair. This is perfect. It's just us. Oh, and the person who controls the balloon. I break our kiss and shyly glance at the silver-haired man who has his back to us.

"He isn't even listening." Edward whispers and kisses the side of my head. Of course he's not. He is standing in the opposite corner of the three compartment basket.

I face towards the mountains again and continue staring at the beautiful ambience of the view. Edward clears his throat and I find him pointing in the other direction. I follow his gaze and gasp when I see the sky streaked with fireworks. It looks breathtaking. I snuggle against Edward and we watch the beautiful display as the sky darkens.

"You can see the fireworks this time." He murmurs, kissing behind my ear.

"Did you arrange this?" I ask and he shakes his head.

"We were just lucky, I guess."

I laugh and give him a chaste kiss. I stare at the fireworks and out of my periphery, I see Edward gazing at me with a smile on his face. I rest my head on his shoulder and he kisses my hair. I let out a contented sigh when the display stops and smile.

"Quite a show, isn't it?" The old man asks with a friendly smile on his face.

"It's looks lovelier from here." I say and he nods at me.

I finally turn to Edward and give him an amused smile as he continues gazing at me. His green eyes are sparkling with delight and I wonder what he is thinking. I stroke his cheek and he wraps me in his arms.

"What?" I ask softly and Edward chuckles.

"You're just so beautiful," The color rises in my cheeks and I look away. "You really are, Bella. I love everything about you; especially your eyes," He tips my chin in his direction so I that meet his gaze. His green eyes are intensely staring at me. "Your eyes are the most expressive eyes I have ever seen and even though you think they are ordinary, they are anything but that.

"I love your blush too," I flush redder and he chuckles. "It's the highlight of my day every time we meet," He touches his forehead to mine. "You have a cute button nose," He kisses my nose making me giggle. "And lips that I could kiss all day," He plants a soft kiss on my lips.

"But, what I love most of all is that you are so talented, selfless and caring. You have such a pure heart, love."

Edward strokes my cheek and I can't help the tears in my eyes. He makes me feel so loved, attractive and confident. How does he do that? It only makes me fall deeper in love with him.

"Thank you."

I face away from him and my mood sinks when the thoughts of his girlfriend invade my mind again. What we are doing is wrong. Edward isn't mine. He has a girlfriend. His arms wrap around me and I tremble when he places a warm kiss on my shoulder.

"What's wrong, baby?" He asks softly and I wipe away the tear that trickles down my cheek.

"You are cheating on your girlfriend with me."

Edward spins me in his arms and his eyes pierce into mine. "No, Bella. You have to stop that. I'm spending my time with the woman that matters more to me than anything else, and possibly the only person in this world who doesn't expect something in return when she makes me smile."

"But—" He cuts me off.

"I don't care if Tanya is associated with me by a title! All I know is that I need that mind-numbingly stupid blonde to stay my girlfriend until I drag both she and her father to the court! That's all!" He cups my face in his hands and his tone turns softer. "You have no idea how desperately I want to show the world that you're mine, but I need to negate some complications from my life first."

A sob escapes my chest and I tightly hug Edward. I hear him sigh and he pulls me closer to him. He rocks me back and forth and I hide my face against his neck as I weep. I need to be more patient with him. I know he will never hurt me.

"I just don't want anybody to take you away from me." I sniffle and he rubs my back.

"Nobody can, Bella. Hush now, stop crying."

Stop being so clingy and dependent or else he's going to leave you, Bella.

Edward pulls back and wipes away the endless tears pouring down my face. He perches on the little seat provided and gently settles me on his lap. I wrap my arms around his neck and he strokes my hair.

"I'm sorry." I murmur and he kisses my forehead.

"There is nothing to apologize for," I lean my forehead against his and stare at his handsome face. "There aren't enough people in Seattle to count the number of times that I have woken up, and you were the first thought that entered my head. I feel just as strongly about you, but I also know that things will fall into place."

"I trust you."

Edward offers me a warm smile and captures my lips for a sweet kiss. I wind down in his arms from our overwhelming conversation. I sigh when he bites on my bottom lip and swiftly deepens our kiss. Edward and I break apart when we realize that there is an additional person with us two compartments away.

I rise to my feet and Edward joins me as we resume enjoying the soothing atmosphere of the ride. The pilot offers some information about a couple of key places that we can see. I watch him study the direction of the wind before the balloon starts making headway back to where we started.

The cool breeze makes me shiver and Edward takes off his jacket and wraps it around my shoulders. I brush my hand against it and breathe in the musty scent of leather and something that is purely Edward. I wrap the jacket tighter around me and lean against Edward.

"Better?" He asks and kisses my forehead.

"Won't you be cold?"

"I'd rather have you warmed up." I wrap my arms around his waist and close my eyes.

"You are the sweetest man I know."

Edward chuckles. "Thank you, Ms. Swan."

"Are you free for lunch tomorrow?" I mumble and he kisses my hair.

"I'm sorry but I think I have to go to Tacoma with Alex tomorrow. How about Friday? Plus, I have somebody coming to my office and I want you to meet him."

"Really? Who is it?"

"A college buddy of mine."

"Oh, that's nice. I would like to meet him."

I stifle a yawn and Edward kisses my nose, stroking my cheek. "Tired?"

"A little," I open my eyes to check the time on his watch. "It's ten already."

"Did you sleep this afternoon?"

I chuckle. "I slept a little too much but I'm still tired."

"If you want, we can go to your apartment and have dinner."

"No!" I shake my head. "You've made arrangements; I don't want to cancel our dinner plans."

"Then we can cancel the wine tasting."

"No, we'll just shorten the tour."

Edward laughs, nuzzling my hair. "How can you act so stubborn even when you're half-asleep?" I pout and he kisses my lips soundly. "Are you hungry?"

"I'm famished."

He smiles and we both stare at the blanket full of stars and full moon. I gaze at the lake and wilderness and find everything has turned dark. I sigh softly and Edward places a kiss on my cheek.

"It's so pretty." I murmur and he nods.

"I think so too."

Edward turns me in his arms and I press my lips against his. We lazily kiss for several minutes until the balloon is getting close to the ground. I stare at the few people I can see and Edward's shiny black car parked a short distance away.

I curiously watch the pilot working on something as we land safely to the ground. I shift my weight from one foot to the other and feel my feet aching from wearing high heels. When the pilot opens the basket's door for us to step out, Edward lifts me in his arms. I squeal and wrap my arms around his neck.

"Edward, I can walk." I mutter and feel color rising in my cheeks.

"I know your feet are hurting."

"The dress." I squirm a little and he tightens his arms around me as he carries me.

"Bella, quit moving so much. I've got it covered. Do you really think I'd let anybody see my girl's panties?" I shake my head and kiss his cheek which earns me a beautiful smile.

I screw my eyes shut when I feel all eyes on us and sigh with relief when he sets me on the ground. I give him a chaste kiss.

"Thank you so much."

"Ready for some wine and cheese?"

"Hmm, wine and cheese. That sounds very French."

"Oui."

I watch Edward with an amused smile as he intently stares at the edges of the wine glass he's holding.. He then swirls the slightly brownish red wine and sniffs it. He offers me the glass and I take a tentative sip. It has an herbal scent. I quickly swallow it and Edward cocks his head, expectantly staring at me. I shake my head and he laughs, kissing my hair.

"Not the best?"

I shrug. "I don't know."

Edward turns to talk to the manager who is showing us around while I nibble on a slice of hard cheese. The man walks away from us and Edward pulls me in his arms. I wrap my arms around his neck and gaze into his gorgeous green eyes. I could stare into his eyes all day, they're so beautiful. He strokes my cheek and I blush again.

"Not a red wine fan?" He murmurs and I shake my head.

"And I'm getting hungry."

"I'm sorry. We'll leave in a short while. I think you'll love where we're eating dinner."

I scowl. "Is it a five course meal at a fancy restaurant?"

"No," He chuckles. "The exact opposite."

I sigh with relief. "Oh, I'm so glad." I smile and our lips meet for a sweet kiss but we pull back when the manager clears his throat behind us.

We turn and see him holding a glass box that has two wine bottles nested inside. Edward nods at him and the man passes the bottles to the waiter.

My eyes gaze at the stone walls and cave like shape of the wine cellar. It's so interesting. There are large barrels placed at different locations to make the cellar look more authentic. I pop a grape into my mouth and turn back to Edward when he hands me a glass of wine.

"This is a Penfold's Grange Hermitage 1951." The waiter tells me, as if I'm really going to remember anything he just said. But I still nod.

I take a sip, ignoring all the methodical actions Edward is doing. I sigh when I feel the full, thick flavor in my mouth. I like this one. It's good. I see Edward talking to the manager with a frown on his face as they discuss the wine.

"You liked it, baby?" Edward asks me with a smile on his face. I nod and take another sip before passing the glass back. "I think you'll love the second one then. It's one of my favorites."

"Really?" I ask curiously and he nods. The waiter serves us the wine and I can smell the ripe and intense fruit flavors. I take a sniff and a smile escapes my lips despite the fact that I know nothing about wine. I smell blackcurrants and toasty oak. That's heavenly.

I take a sip and a low moan escapes my lips when I taste the creamy, sweet fruit flavor. I open my eyes and look like a deer caught in headlights when I find Edward heatedly staring at me. I blush and bite my bottom lip.

"We'll be taking both, thank you." Edward efficiently mutters and the two men walk away from us. Wow, he's buying both the bottles. He turns to me and nods.

"Go, on. Drink." Edward urges and I chuckle.

"What just happened?"

"You shouldn't make those sexy noises around other men," He whispers, pulling me in his arms. "It's really disturbing when they ogle you," I blush and he laughs, stroking my cheek. "God, I'm going to miss you so much when I'm gone."

My smile falters. "Can you not remind me of that?"

"Okay, I'm sorry." Edward kisses my cheek.

"Can't you stay with me for the rest of the week?"

He takes our glasses away and suddenly lifts me in his arms and sets me down on a barrel. I giggle and he touches his forehead to mine. I brush my thumb against his bottom lip and he sighs.

"I wish I could, baby. But, I have work."

I frown. "Let the others work."

He laughs and gives me a fond smile. "I would love if things were that simple," He brushes his lips against mine. "But we can't always have our way. Plus, I'm going to be in town for one day. It's not really three weeks either. Just sixteen days."

"Gee, that's better," I mutter, and he pecks my lips. "When will you be in town?"

"August 30. I think Alice's show is at six in the evening. So we can have the rest of the time to ourselves."

"But you leave in a couple of hours." I murmur and he nods.

"Four in the morning."

"You won't get enough rest."

"I'll manage just fine. Do you want to finish your wine?" I shake my head and he grins, offering me a grape from the fancy cheese platter. I open my mouth and eat it.

"We should get going," I murmur and Edward nods. He helps me off the barrel and we make our way to the counter. I lean against him and close my eyes. "What was the name of the second wine?"

"Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon 1992."

"It must be pricey."

"A little." He mumbles and I roll my eyes.

"Why did you buy both?"

"Oh, I thought maybe I should send one to Emmett. He loves red wine."

"That's very nice of you." I kiss his cheek.

We stop at the counter and Edward hands his shiny black American Express card to the dazed receptionist. She continues leering at him but I find Edward looking at me instead. I stroke his hair and he pecks my lips.

"You know what?"

"What?" He asks.

"That girl is definitely going to slip you her phone number." I murmur and he frowns at me.

"How do you know?"

"It's called sixth sense, Cullen."

"Well, is your sixth sense also telling you that you're wrong this time?" He smirks and I shake my head.

"Nope, you'll see."

I smile and face the receptionist who gives the card back to Edward and a copy of the bill. Edward notes down the shipping address to have the bottles delivered to his home. The woman clears her throat and stares at Edward.

"Mr. Cullen, have a great night." She purrs and offers me a fake smile before we walk away from her.

Edward and I make our way to his car and I can feel my feet hurting again.

"My feet are killing me." I murmur and regret saying it because Edward immediately throws me over his shoulder. I squeal and move my legs. "Edward! I'm good, please put me down!" I hide my face in my hands from the embarrassment.

"Hush, Bella, I'm helping you to the car."

"I can walk." I hiss and he grazes his hand against my thigh.

"It's okay. I like the view."

I huff and shake my head. "How far is it to where we are having dinner?"

"Ten minutes."

"And I don't want to sit and eat appetizers from shot glasses or have soup. I'm really hungry."

"I hear you loud and clear, Ms. Swan."

Out of my periphery, I notice him throw a piece of paper on the ground. I chuckle.

"Told you about the number, didn't I?" I smirk although it's a lost cause because I'm hanging upside down.

"Don't be so smug." He mutters and I laugh.

Edward and I have been seated outdoors at the Farm Kitchen restaurant for the last five minutes. I have never sat in a more beautiful atmosphere. We are sitting under a canopy of tall trees and elegant string lights that are creating romantic glow. It's so perfect. I don't think anybody has ever done so much for me.

We are seated in the middle of the open space and our wine is served while we wait for our dinner to arrive. It feels like a dream and I can't imagine being at a place better than this. I have no idea how Edward arranged to eat here, but I wouldn't change a thing about it.

I am taken out of my reverie when Edward gives my hand a soft squeeze.

"What is it? You've drifted off again," I meet his anxious gaze. "If you're too tired, we can leave."

I shift from my chair onto Edward's lap. He draws me closer and I kiss his cheek. "This is the most beautiful place you could have taken me to," I stroke his hair. "Thank you—thank you so much," I wrap my arms around his neck and give him a quick kiss. "In conclusion, I don't want to go."

Edward sighs and I see a spark of relief in his eyes. He gives me a toe-curling kiss that leaves me gasping for breath. "I like it here too."

I chuckle and shake my head. "I couldn't help but notice; you've asked me three times if I want to go home. What's wrong?"

He sighs and his green eyes earnestly gaze at me. "I guess I'm just waiting for you to realize that this isn't what you want."

I frown. "Hey, why would you say that? To not be with you is possibly the last thing on my mind."

"The initial week that we met, I tried to keep my thoughts off you but I failed miserably," He whispers and strokes my cheek. "After I got to know you better, I realized that you are looking for one thing out of life and I can never give that to you. You want something… normal; a less complicated and simple life. I'm terrified that I may not be able to give you that."

I hold his face and in my hands and sigh softly. "Yes, I like an ordinary lifestyle. I know things will get overwhelming but I'll tell you when they do. I promise we'll make it work."

"You'll tell me?" I nod and he tightly embraces me. I stroke his hair and feel his harsh breathing on my neck. "Please do. I'll do anything to keep our lives off the radar and have a simpler lifestyle if that's what you want."

"I don't want you to change yourself for me, Edward. We just need to learn how to compromise when making decisions. How does that sound?"

"Perfect." He mumbles and stares at me. I smile and plant a soft kiss on his lips.

"And tonight was the best date I've ever had."

"Really?" His grin turns smug and I roll my eyes.

"Ugh you're going to make me regret saying that, aren't you?"

"I can promise you that."

Edward smiles and I chuckle, pressing my lips against his again. I blush when I hear a throat clear behind me. I sit back on my chair and watch the waiter serves us dinner. The food smells appetizing and looks delicious. Edward had placed our dinner order before we arrived and I'm surprised he remembered what my favorite dish was. As the waiter places a green salad down for each of us, I notice he has also ordered a rib-eye steak with asparagus for himself and a chicken breast with creamy mushroom gravy for me.

"Enjoy." The waiter politely smiles and walks away to give us some privacy.

"I can't believe you remembered what my favorite dish was." I murmur as I pick up my knife and fork.

Edward smiles at me. "I remember everything about you. Now dig in."

We eat in silence for the most part and I am content just sitting here with Edward and having a quiet dinner. As we get to the brink of finishing our dinner, I realize our date is gradually coming to an end. I don't want our time together to end so soon.

My stomach is full by the end of the meal and I finish my wine. I find Edward giving me a curious smile and I chuckle.

"What?"

"Nothing, you just haven't said anything about dessert yet."

I groan, shaking my head. "No dessert! I'm full."

"Okay, no dessert. Maybe we'll keep it for another time."

That sounds great. I'll bake something for him. "I would like that. Shall we get going? It's almost midnight."

"Yes, ma'am."

I bend over and take off my heels before they start killing my feet one toe at a time. I sigh softly and stand up. Edward gives me a smile and I pick up my shoes. I'll have to walk a long way now.

"Edward, you've been drinking a lot of wine and you look very tired. Are you sure you'll be able to drive us back?" I ask and he folds an arm around my waist.

"Don't worry about anything," I nod, leaning against his chest and close my eyes. "Long day?"

I gaze at him and smile. "Thank you for making it special."

"It was my pleasure." He murmurs, kissing the side of my head. I realize my head is throbbing from the tight pins in my hair and I need to take them out.

"The bill?" I ask and he chuckles.

"I've taken care of it."

"Do we have to walk all the way to the car?"

Edward simply smiles as we exit the restaurant. I take a last look at the gorgeous outdoor garden and turn to find his car is parked right in front of us with Matt patiently standing by its side.

"Told you." Edward grins and I smile.

"Good evening, Ms. Swan." Matt politely greets and I smile.

"Just Bella. How are you, Matt?" He steals a glance at Edward before looking at me.

"I'm fine ma'am, thank you."

I turn to Edward and he grins at me. He brushes his hand against his jacket that I'm wearing and leans his forehead against mine.

"I have some work to finish, darling. I'll sit in the front with Matt."

I nod. "That's fine. I'll probably fall asleep, anyway."

Edward wraps his arms around my waist and I nervously glance at Matt but Edward tips my head in his direction.

"I'm sorry it got so late but—" I cut him off.

"Tonight was perfect. It couldn't be any better."

He smiles at me. "Okay. Now, you can sleep if you want. Next time I'll keep a blanket in my car because you fall asleep every time you ride in the car," I roll my eyes and he chuckles.

"It's a habit." I mutter and he nods.

"I know," Edward strokes my cheek. "I don't want us to be late. Come on." He kisses the corner of my mouth and I smile.

Matt holds the door open for me and I get inside the car. I blush when my eyes fall on my coat perched on the backseat from when Edward and I were making out. I take my clutch out of the pocket and check my phone. I find a message from Angela but I'm too tired to reply back.

I drop my heels down and get comfortable in my seat. I tighten Edward's jacket around me and close my eyes. A couple of minutes later, my eyes snap open when I watch Edward and Matt sitting in the front.

Edward turns to give me a smile and I lean over to give him a soft kiss. He turns to work and I frown when I notice a glass of wine sitting inside a cup holder.

"You're drinking?" I ask and he faces me again.

"I need it when I work after five," He shrugs and I press my lips in a thin line. "Just a glass, I promise."

"Okay," I whisper and close my eyes, listening to the soft music playing on the speakers. I draw my knees up and the car purrs to life. I hear Edward's velvety voice speaking on the phone with someone even at such an ungodly hour but I'm too drowsy to stay awake.

I am woken from my nap when I hear Edward's voice yelling at someone. I open my eyes and find him still speaking on the phone. I check the time on my phone and it's almost one in the morning. I sigh and play with the zipper of his jacket.

Edward suddenly turns to me and sighs sadly.

"I'm sorry, Bella. I didn't mean to wake you up."

"It's fine. We're almost to my apartment building." I shrug and offer a smile but he doesn't return my smile.

My head is throbbing and I need some good night's sleep. I grab the bottle of water in the car and drink the soothing, cold liquid. I put the bottle back in its previous place and realize that the car has pulled over. I frown and look in the front to find Edward nowhere. I gasp when there is a sudden knock on the window.

Edward opens the door and I scoot away but instead he pulls me on his lap. I relax in his arms and he shuts the door. I snuggle my face against his neck and close my eyes. I feel his hands in my hair and he plucks the bobby pins out. I sigh softly as my hair loosens and he puts the pins in my clutch.

I run a hand through my hair and try to make it its usual wavy self. Edward knots his hands in my hair and connects our lips for a soft kiss. I stifle a moan when he gently sucks on my lip. I still can't believe our night is coming to an end. Matt wouldn't tell anyone about us, would he? What if he mentions something to Edward's parents? I hope he won't.

Edward abruptly pulls back and I frown. "What's wrong?" I ask and he shakes his head.

"You seem a little distracted." He murmurs and I tightly hug him.

"I was just thinking about how much fun I had tonight," I take a deep breath and sigh. "Matt, won't tell anyone, will he?"

"My staff doesn't disclose anything unless I tell them to," He whispers and I nod. "Don't worry."

"I won't." I give him a chaste kiss and we sit in silence until the car stops in front of my small apartment building.

Edward helps me step out and takes hold of my heels, coat and clutch.

"Edward, I can take those." I say softly and he rolls his eyes.

"Love, it's alright."

Edward and I walk past the night guard and step inside the elevator. The doors open on the third floor and we make our way towards my apartment. Edward hands me the key and I unlock the door. I take my things from his hands and place them on the nearest side table. I turn and find him standing by the doorway.

"Edward? Come on in."

"I'm sorry, Bella but it's getting very late," I wrap my arms around his neck and tightly hug him. "Thank you for letting me take you out tonight."

"I would never complain." I kiss his chest and gaze at his handsome face.

"I'll see you on Friday?"

"Yes, I'll be waiting."

"Me too."

Edward tips my chin and gives me a hard, passionate kiss that leaves me panting for breath. His dazzling smile makes me blush, and I am reminded of his jacket; when I am about to take it off, he stops me.

"Keep it; I think it looks better on you."

My cheeks heat up even more and he chuckles. "Bye, Edward."

"Bye, Bella. Good night."

There is a smile on my face when I close the door after he leaves. I lock it and make my way to the bedroom. I throw myself on the bed and stare at the ceiling. I remember how glum I had felt when I woke up earlier but I have never been as happy as I feel right now.

I know I've gotten myself into a very complicated relationship. But it feels right, even if it's wrong. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I always knew I was in love with Edward—even when I found out he had a girlfriend, the numerous times we went out and the first time we kissed. And now that I know, it's going to be painful if something rips us apart.

I can only hope it doesn't come to that.

August 19, 2015

I am awakened from my peaceful slumber when I hear somebody pounding on my front door. I scramble out of bed with my scattered thoughts and half-asleep brain and walk over to the living room. On my way, I glance at the clock and see it's nine in the morning. I stand on my tiptoes and peer through the peephole to see who it is.

I roll my eyes and swing the door open to let the person inside.

"Morning, Alex. Thank you for waking me up in the worst way possible, it was an energizing wake up call." I mumble and watch him sit on the bar stool next to the dining table. He opens his laptop and furiously types something on it. What is he doing here?

"Hi, Bella. Do you have any juice?"

"Sure." I stare at Alex and he impatiently stares back at me.

"This is the part where you actually offer me some juice."

"Oh right," I blush and walk over to the refrigerator. "I'm sorry; I'm just not mentally awake." I get a carton of juice out and present Alex with a glass full of orange juice.

"Thank you," He drinks all the juice at once and his eyes fall on the flower vase holding the bunch of purple carnations. "Nice flowers." I blush as the flowers remind me of Edward. I shake my thoughts off him and gaze at Alex.

"What's going on?"

"Well, I can't have alcohol in the morning so I really needed the juice."

"I thought you were going to Tacoma with Edward."

"Yeah," He lets out a tired sigh. "But our plan got cancelled. Edward is has to do a lot of work. And we don't argue when the boss is angry. He is a very dangerous person when he is stressed out."

Oh poor dear, maybe I should give him a call after Alex leaves.

"How is he your boss?" I ask, trying to distract us both and Alex chuckles.

"Because he is. I work for him."

I frown. "Aren't you both CEOs?"

"Yep, we both run it but he owns it," He takes in my confused expression and laughs. "When Grandpa Victor passed away, he named Edward as the successor to his business properties. It took us months to come up with the plan that Edward and I should be Co-CEOs so that work and responsibilities were divided. So I could make any decision that I wanted but nothing got approved until Edward signed off on it."

"Oh, he never told me that."

Alex shakes his head. "Edward never does."

"Why didn't your grandfather make you a successor as well?"

"Only Grandpa Victor can answer that question. Plus, Edward is solely capable of managing the amount of work that goes his way. Nobody can do his work."

"Does he have a lot of pressure at work?" I ask softly and he nods.

"Yes and he is leaving next week." I hate to think about that part.

I decide to change the topic again.

"So, how did your busy schedule have a rest stop at my apartment?"

Alex's expression turns serious. "Okay, I am preparing a report and I want you to help me with some questions about bookstores," I frown. "It's for an entertainment center we're designing in Bogotá, Columbia which has communal flexible spaces that allow a number of activities. It's basically for learning and recreational purposes."

Maybe that's why Edward was speaking in sexy Spanish last night. Oh, last night was so much fun.

"That sounds great. I'll help you with the 'bookstore questions'."

Alex beams at me and explains the important fundamentals of the project and I try to understand as much as I can. I answer many of his questions for the next hour and the doorbell rings when we are in the middle of our conversation. When I answer the door, my heart starts pounding in my chest.

"Hi." I breathe out.

"Hello." Edward murmurs and I stare into his anxious green eyes.

Oh he looks too handsome in his navy blue pinstriped suit. I would jump into his arms and kiss him if Alex wasn't here. Edward strokes my cheek and his eyes darken as they trail to my night clothes. I look down and realize I'm wearing an oversized t-shirt and panties. I blush and gaze at him from under my eyelashes.

He leans in to kiss me and I immediately push him off. He frowns and I open my mouth to speak but Alex's voice beats me to it.

"Bella, who is it?"

Edward walks past me inside my apartment and I watch Alex gaping at his cousin.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Edward angrily mutters, crossing his arms over his chest.

Alex smirks at him. "I could ask you the same question."

"I don't need to report my schedule to you," He leans in and skims through Alex's work and groans. "You were supposed to hand this in two days ago!"

Alex gives him a shy smile and nervously resumes working. I shut the door with a soft click and find Edward giving Alex an earful for delaying his submission. His eyes soften when he watches me walking over to them. He wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me flush against him. My knees almost buckle when his lips brush against my ear.

"Please, put some pants on."

I blush and excuse myself. I pull out a pair of black leggings and go to the bathroom. I brush my teeth and hair and wash my face with some ice cold water. I dab my face with a towel and return to the kitchen again.

Edward gives me a dazzling smile and I smile back at him. He is here to see me. It's the best kind of surprise. But, he looks so tense and anxious. I hope he is taking good care of himself.

"Alright," Alex mutters loudly and I sigh, looking at him. He just gives me a sheepish smile. "Sorry, but I really need your help."

Edward kicks his cousin's leg and sits on the barstool next to his. "If you only knew how to finish your tasks on time."

"Whatever, I'm doing it now and I thought you had a meeting at ten."

"What are you, my assistant?" Edward says roughly and I frown. Okay, something has clearly gone wrong.

"Jeez man, relax." Alex chuckles and goes back to work.

"I'm sorry; I think I'm just going to leave." He says and gets off the bar stool. My heart skips a beat. No!

"Why?" I ask and Edward turns to me and his expression softens a little.

"I do have a meeting."

"Okay," I murmur and feel my mood sinking because Edward is leaving. I start gathering the ingredients to make cheese omelets. "Alex, did you have breakfast?"

"No."

I turn to him. "Why don't you ever eat breakfast? It's the most important meal of the day."

He gives me an apologetic smile. "Sorry, I just had these reports to finish. My boss is really cranky today." He rolls his eyes in Edward's direction and I smile.

"Do you like cheese omelets?"

"Yes!" Alex beams at me and I chuckle.

"Alright, I'm sure you can be a little late for work."

"Okay."

I find Edward speaking on his phone in hushed whispers to someone. His handsome face has worry all over it and maybe he wanted to talk to me about something but couldn't because Alex is here. I can't send Alex away so I'll speak with him later. I shouldn't feel sad that he is leaving, just happy that he was here in the first place.

Edward ends his call and turns to Alex.

"Edward?" I call out and he looks at me. "Did you have breakfast?"

"No." He shakes his head and I sigh. He never misses breakfast.

"Stay, please. I'm making breakfast." I murmur hopefully and he sighs. He looks conflicted about something and his tortured eyes meet mine.

"Can I speak to you alone for a moment?"

I nod and glance at Alex—who is subtly giving us privacy. I walk over to Edward and he grabs my hand in his and leads me to my bedroom. He shuts the door and tightly hugs me. I frown and wrap my arms around him. He presses his face against my neck and, lets out deep troubled breaths.

"Baby, what's wrong?" I ask with concern and gently stroke his hair.

"It's work. I feel so lost. I just couldn't sleep last night thinking about all the complications in my life. I'm leaving for three weeks and Alex will not be able to handle everything alone. I just wanted to come here as soon as I could and hold you and kiss you but then Alex got here before I did." I sigh and tighten my arms around him.

"Edward, it's going to be fine. Calm down. I have no idea what problems are bothering you at the office but things will get better."

"You think so?"

"Yes, I'm sure. You are the most hardworking, dedicated and the smartest person I know. You can tackle any problem at work. What are you so stressed out about?"

"There are a ton of things."

Edward pulls back and I hold his face in my hands and gaze into his beautiful green eyes. "First, you need to accept things that you can't change. Second, you need to stop over thinking. And finally, understand that you don't work alone, there are people who will help you."

"Okay, I can do that." He murmurs and I smile.

"I know you can. Focus on today. It doesn't matter what happens tomorrow or next week. You cannot run away from your responsibilities so you need to make a choice and hold onto hope. And I'm always here for you."

His lips curl into a smile and I stroke his cheek. "Better?" I ask.

"A little." Edward mumbles and I chuckle.

"Close your eyes," He complies and I take a deep breath. "Think about our date last night," A smile instantly appears on his face. "Picture the view in your mind's eye; the river, the mountains, the city lights, everything that we could see from that hot air balloon. Just the two of us spending time together. Now gaze into my eyes, what do you see?"

"You're very happy."

I smile. "But, do you know why I'm so happy? Because I'm looking at you and your relaxed and carefree expression. You look so peaceful. You aren't thinking about your work because it would've disturbed our time together. You need to cut yourself a little slack and take things slowly. Things will get better."

I remain silent for a couple of minutes and feel him gradually relaxing against me. I watch as his features calm and I lightly stroke his face. His long lashes flutter a little and I smile. He is so handsome.

"Open your eyes." His green eyes gaze at me with a sated, tension-free expression. I smile and he smiles back at me.

"What am I ever going to do without you?" He murmurs and embraces me. I chuckle and hide my face against his chest.

"Let's hope we never have to find out."

"Thank you for being so wonderful."

I look up at him and smile.

"Do you think I would make a good shrink?"

He laughs. "The best one."

Edward leans down and captures my lips for a sweet kiss. I sigh and kiss him back. God, I missed his lips since we last kissed almost eight hours ago. My tongue enters his warm mouth and we both let out a soft moan in unison. Our kiss is slow, building and immensely relaxing. He gently tugs on my bottom lip and pleasure shoots right through me.

His lips leave mine and I try to suck in as much breath as possible. He plants soft kisses on my closed eyelids, the tip of my nose and on my lips before dragging his lips from my jaw down to my neck. I caress the back of his head and smile feelings his lips on my neck. He places closed mouthed kisses and his lips open as he gently sucks on my skin up and down the neck.

"Don't stop." I breathlessly murmur and suddenly feel his hot breath against my ear.

"What made you think that I would?" He sucks on my earlobe and my knees almost give in when he traces the outline of my ear with his tongue. "Your skin is so soft; I could kiss you all day." His hands fall on my hips and he gives them a soft squeeze. I grab the back of his head and fiercely crash my lips against his.

Edward chuckles but dives right into this kiss and lifts me in his arms. I fold my legs around his waist and grab a fistful of his shirt in my hands. I whimper when his teeth grazes against my bottom lip. I feel him getting hard against my thigh as I am pressed up against him in my tight leggings.

His warm hands wander inside my t-shirt and rest against my belly. Edward makes soothing circles over my skin and I stifle a moan when his hands caress my naked back. I shift against him and he gently groans and breaks our kiss.

We took it too far. I open my eyes and shyly peek at him. There is no anger or regret or distaste in his eyes. They are alight with humor and amusement. He pulls his hands out of my t-shirt and places them on my waist. I get dazed staring into his gorgeous green eyes.

"Too far, too soon," He sighs softly and kisses my nose. "It's so easy to forget everything when you are around. But, you have a guest and I have a meeting to attend." I nod and peck his lips before unwrapping my legs from around him.

Edward answers his ringing phone and stands a few steps away to talk to the person on the other end of the line. I wait until he finishes with his phone call and walks back over to me.

"I'll see you on Friday?"

"Yes," He nods. "And I'm going to Tacoma with Alex tomorrow or I would've dropped by tomorrow as well."

"That would've been great. Can't you stay for breakfast?"

"I'm sorry baby, but I have work at office to do."

"But, you haven't had anything to eat." I disapprovingly mutter.

"I would love to stay too," Edward pulls me to his chest and I snuggle in his arms. "I have a meeting or else I would never refuse the offer of spending extra hours with you. Victoria will get me something to eat, okay?"

"Okay." I whisper in a small voice and sadly gaze at him. He strokes my cheek and brushes his index finger against my bottom lip.

"You know I can't stand that pout of yours," He kisses my lips. "But I need to go. I'll see you on Friday. Bye." Edward places a kiss on my forehead.

"Bye," I whisper and he straightens out his clothes and hair before leaving the room. I lean against the edge of the doorway and watch Edward say something to Alex which makes him stiffen and takes his focus off his laptop. They whisper amongst each other and Edward leaves a couple of minutes later.

I adjust my hair and clothes before returning to the kitchen. Alex gives me a smile although he looks distracted. "I was waiting for those delicious omelets you were going to make."

"Oh right," I sheepishly smile. "I forgot about them." I mutter and get a few eggs from the fridge.

"So, what was going on in there?"

I turn to Alex and flush "What?"

"Why did Edward drag you into your bedroom? Were you guys making out?" I blush redder but shake my head. Alex's expression turns serious. "He's worried about work, isn't he?"

"Yes," I nod. "He mentioned problems about work and wanted to talk to someone. Talking to you might get you stressed as well so he spoke to me." I shrug and he chuckles.

"That's Edward for you," He fondly smiles. "I still don't know how he gets my lazy ass to work."

I laugh. "Just like I get your lazy ass to have breakfast; by forcing you to do it."

He nods. "Yeah. And thanks, you know, for listening to him talk."

"I never have a problem with that."

"Oh, I know," He winks and I blush. "So, are you just going to pretend to be his friend or ever plan to tell him that you love him?" The egg drops from my hand and lands on the floor causing the yolk to spill out. I look back at Alex and he rolls his eyes. "Come on, like I don't notice it."

"You better not say those things in front of him." I say and grab a washcloth from the counter.

"I bet they are already going on in his head." I hear him mutter but choose to ignore it.

Love.

August 20, 2015

EDWARD

I see awe written all over her face as she gazes at the city lights. Her lips are curved into a beautiful smile and little tendrils of hair frame her heart-shaped face. The door opens and I stop staring at Bella's photo on my phone and step out of the car. I walk inside the building and go straight for the elevators.

Victoria tries to keep her pace with me and somewhere in the back of my mind; I know she is reading my three-week schedule for Dubai. The elevator rides to the 22nd floor and we quickly stride in the direction of my office.

"Take these," I mutter and hand her Billy Black's files from my desk. "Inform Kyle to send me the file about Alistair Raymond, he knows what it's about."

"Sure," She nods at me. "Anything else?"

"Keep my phone with you," I hand her my phone and sigh softly. "Do not answer the calls from—" She cuts me off.

"The Denalis?"

I nod. "And bring me the phone if B—"

"Bella or Mrs. Cullen calls."

"Right and bring me a cup of tea, please."

"Tea?" Her lips quirk with surprise. I nod. "Black?"

"Yes."

"Will that be all?"

"Sure."

"And Mr. Whitlock called the office when you were in Tacoma. He has to leave for Houston tonight."

I groan and run a hand through my hair. "Alright, that's fine. Just tell Jasper to give me a call at four."

"Okay."

I sit in my chair and close my eyes when I take a deep, cleansing breath. I pinch the bridge of my nose and hear a knock on the door. Julie walks in holding my phone in her hand.

"It's Ms. Swan." She says and I smile as I immediately grab the phone from her.

"Thank you." I nod and press the phone against my ear after Julie walks out of my office.

"Edward?" I grin when I hear Bella's sweet voice.

"Hey."

"Hi! How are you?"

My phone beeps and I check the screen to see an incoming call waiting from Zidek. I sigh softly. This had better be important.

"I'm sorry, love but can I call you back in ten minutes? I have an urgent call on hold."

"Sure, okay. I'll wait."

"Bye." I end the call and accept the other one.

"Edward Cullen."

"Good afternoon, Mr. Cullen. James has been discharged from the hospital."

"Alright, get rid of that man however you want to. Anything else?"

"Yes, it's about Riley Biers." I frown due to his hesitant tone. Wow, I hadn't heard about that guy since last week.

"What about him?"

"We found some uh, new information about him."

"What is it?"

"Mr. Cullen, I really think you'll want to see this." He cautiously mutters and I sigh. Just what I need at this moment.

"Send Matt the address, I'll be there as soon as I can."

I step inside the small, dusty apartment of Riley Biers and walk over to the kitchen. The place is a lot more organized than I expected it to be. I have no idea why Zidek asked me to come here. Matt and I walk to the living room where Zidek is standing with his team and they are having a heated discussion about something.

God, I hope it's not something remotely close to Bella.

Zidek walks over to me and I notice that it's the first time he seems reluctant about telling me something. I bury my hands deep in my pocket and give him a hard stare.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Cullen."

"Zidek, I really don't have time for this. What is going on?" I snap and he grabs a file from one of his colleagues.

"The guest bedroom." He mumbles and leads me to that room. I can hear the others following me and my mind draws a blank when I attempt to guess what might be in there. Zidek gets a key out and Bella's voice echoes in my head.

"Oh yes! His guest bedroom; It was locked. He told me it's always locked."

All the air leaves my body when the door opens and my eyes take in the messy room. I stand rooted in my spot and practically imagine myself turning pale. I can hear my heart thumping in my chest and the slight buzz of the voices talking around me. I blink a couple of times and my mind wonders if it's a hallucination or the room really does look the way I'm seeing it.

I finally get the strength to move my legs and I stride inside the guest bedroom. I gulp and my shaky hand reaches to touch the photograph of my beautiful Bella. My thumb traces the lovely smile on her face as she speaks to a customer at her bookstore. I take a step back and stare at the four walls of the room crammed with pictures of Isabella Swan.

Pictures of her smiling, laughing, pouting, glaring, crying, blushing and so many more. My gaze falls on the whiteboard hung next to the bed. I walk closer and my mouth falls open when I see there are pictures of Bella and me; from the ice cream parlor where we went after Riley had to leave for 'work', from the beer fest and the numerous times we had lunch together.

How and when the fuck did Riley take these?

The bedding has various collages of Bella's face printed on it and there is mug on the nightstand with of course Bella's picture on it. He is crazy. Oh god, he needs to be hospitalized and soon.

"What the fuck is this?" I croak out and Zidek nods at me opening the file.

"Yes, Mr. Cullen we were just as shocked as you are."

"Shock doesn't begin to cover it," I mutter and clear my throat. "I need to know what is wrong with this guy."

"We already have the reports, sir." He walks over to the whiteboard and I follow him.

"Does he have a mental disorder?" I ask and run a hand through my hair.

"Yes, it's a delusional disorder called Erotomania," I frown with confusion. "Riley believes that Ms. Swan is in love with him."

A shiver runs down my spine hearing those words. Bella doesn't love him, she's shit scared of him. She cringes when I say his name.

"Why my Bella?" I murmur and gaze at him.

"Well, the belief can be applied to any person and in this case; a complete stranger."

I take a deep breath. "Does it have anything to do with hyper sexuality?"

"No, Mr. Cullen. These delusions occur due to Riley's type one bipolar disorder," He mutters, reading the file. "He had a few manic episodes a couple of years ago after his wife's death."

Holy shit. I'm losing my fucking head with this information.

"What makes him think that Bella loves him?" I choke out and he grimly glances at me.

"Riley believes that his secret admirer," I control a shudder. "Sends him signals."

"What signals?" I frown and Zidek points to the pictures of Bella and me.

"We sent Riley's medical history and the pictures of this room to Dr. Berty and he figured out what makes his delusions trigger."

"What does?" I hold my breath and he taps on the picture of us from the beer fest. Bella is blushing in my direction while I am tucking a stray hair behind her ear.

"Riley thinks that when Ms. Swan tucks her hair behind her ear, she is declaring her affection to him. If you shrewdly observe, most of the pictures in this room have the similar action captured."

"That's just a habit." I murmur. She likes it when I do it for her.

"Riley doesn't believe so. And you've done that on several occasions which has built up his anger towards you," Zidek flips a couple of pages and reads the comment from Dr. Berty. "Riley is starting to believe that being with you is a ploy to keep their relationship forbidden from the rest of the world."

I sink down on the bed and my heart stops beating for a moment. Riley is very dangerous. I can't let him get near Bella. I won't let him hurt her. Oh god, why did this happen to Bella of all people? I look at Zidek and give him a hard stare.

"If that lunatic tries to touch my Bella, I'll kill him," I warn in a low, cold voice. "So if you don't want to waste your future trying to hide the evidence of his murder, keep him away from her."

"Yes, Mr. Cullen."

I wearily look at the photos of Bella that are everywhere and my heart breaks for her. She did nothing to deserve so much fear and pain in her life.

"Leave me alone." I mutter and the room is empty within seconds. Zidek shuts the door, and I am left alone sitting in the room that is a living nightmare for me. The ringing of my phone startles me and I see Bella's name flashing on the screen. My trembling hand accepts the call.

"Hey, Bella." I murmur, trying to steady my voice.

"Hey! I've been waiting for your call for almost forty minutes."

"I'm so sorry, love. I got busy with work." I earnestly apologize and she sighs on the other line.

"It's okay. I'm not mad at you. I just wanted to hear your voice." I smile and my heart constricts when I gaze at her photographs again.

"Where are you?" I ask and hear a lot of voices from her side.

"I'm at the Seattle Aquarium with Emily and Jared. It was lunch time, so I decided to tag along. It's not that fun, actually."

I chuckle. "Jared gets easily distracted."

"Yep, Emily just went chasing after him. What about your day? Are you okay?"

"I am."

"You don't sound well, sweetheart." I can hear the genuine concern in her voice and I take a deep breath. I need to stay strong. I should tell her everything.

"Bella, I…"

My sentence trails off when my eye catches a photo of her grinning towards her friends. Oh she's so beautiful. If I tell her about Riley, it will kill her. It will just kill her. She will lock herself in her apartment again. Oh god, I can't have that. I can't let her shut people out from her life again. After what has happened with her family and James, I can't.

"Edward?"

"I miss you." I rasp out and Bella sighs on the other end of the line.

"I miss you too. I can't wait to see you tomorrow. I haven't seen you since yesterday."

"You are a lot closer to me than you think you are." I murmur and close my eyes so that I can stop glancing at her photos.

"What do you mean, Mr. Cullen?"

"Nothing, baby. I'll see you tomorrow?"

"OK. Bye, Edward."

"Stay safe, darling. Bye." I say softly and end the call.

Without giving the room another glance, I walk out of it and slam the door shut. Bella should never get a chance to look at this room and I don't think I want to see it again either. I need more information about Riley and Zidek needs to keep a close eye on him.

I can easily handle media rumors and my family regarding Bella but Riley is not something to be handled, he needs to be medically treated.

I take a copy of Riley's file from Zidek and leave for my office. Nobody needs to know about Riley's disorder until I tell Bella everything.

I hope she is strong enough for both of us to handle this because I'm too scared to lose her.

Special thanks to EdwardsFirstKiss for editing this chapter!

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