THE OTHER WOMAN

DISCLAIMER: STEPHENIE MEYER OWNS IT ALL.

September 19, 2015

BELLA

"Edward, that's the most ridiculous explanation I have ever heard!"

"It is not! My house is exceptionally ergonomic."

I cross my arms over my chest and take a step closer to the glass wall with the view of the forest at the back. I run my hand across the smooth marble of the egg-shaped free-standing bathtub. I sigh softly and my eyes race over to his large wooden desk not far from the main door.

Edward has a bathtub in his study.

Next to his desk, a large mounting board is situated that has the design of his construction tower on it. It's easy to know about Edward's work without asking him because he is continually in the news.

"Maybe it's not that bad." I mutter, motioning to the bathtub. He smirks at me.

"I knew you would come around."

I roll my eyes. "Sure."

"Come on, we need to go somewhere."

Edward grabs my hand in his and hurriedly leads me towards the other section of his house. God, I hope it isn't too far. My legs are killing me already.

"Where are we going?"

"Patience."

I huff and try to keep up with his pace. We pass through the passageway and instead of going upstairs, we head towards the basement. As soon as we descend the staircase, he covers my eyes with his hand. I sigh softly.

"Where are we going?" I ask again and he kisses behind my ear.

"A very special place."

"Your painting room?"

He chuckles. "Nope."

"Another study that has a bathtub in it?"

"Ah, you are such a bad guesser."

Edward halts us and takes his hand off my eyes. I gasp as my eyes take in the wooden interior through the glass doors. It's the same roof I saw when we were walking up the driveway. There is a glass wall on the other end with a door facing towards the gigantic garden. I look at the skylight and see the rain drizzling.

The room is separated by a wooden deck, and a staircase is provided to walk upstairs. For the first time in his house; I see black sofas, bean bag chairs and lounge chairs.

It's the biggest home library I have ever seen. I smile when I notice the patio furniture outside the garden. It's wonderful.

I let go of Edward's hand and open the glass door to step inside. I am overwhelmed by the scent of wooden oak and books. Ah, I could get used to this. My eyes wander towards the bookshelves crammed with books that touch the ceiling. The books are perfectly arranged by genre.

"Go upstairs," Edward says from where he stands at the entrance with an amused smile on his face. I grin at him. "I think you'll like what's up there."

I rush upstairs and my eyes widen when I see a section stacked with cook books. Oh, this is so great. I turn and something catches my eye. I walk closer and realize it's a gift-wrapped box.

I hold it in my hand and see a note taped on it. I smile and open it.

Your birthday present that I never got a chance to give you. I love you. —E x

I chuckle and my curiosity gets the best of me so I decide to open it. I take off the ribbon and neatly untape the wrapping paper. I lay the paper aside and open the box. I pull the tissue paper away and my jaw hits the floor when I see the gift inside.

Oh my god. It's a first edition copy. I can't breathe. There are two books. The box falls on the floor as I clutch the books in my hands. The smell of old, rusty pages makes my eyes prick with tears. This was the last thing I was expecting Edward to give me. The first book is Wuthering Heights. I place the second book on top and chuckle. Romeo and Juliet. He always pays attention.

"I take it you like it?" Edward murmurs and I shiver as his lips graze against my ear.

How did I not hear him coming upstairs?

I nod to his question and he hugs me from behind. I sigh when his lips drag towards to my neck.

"Thank you. It means a lot to me."

Edward takes the books from my hands and puts them on the nearest shelf and spins me in his arms. I smile and press my lips against his for a rough kiss. He moans softly as our kiss turns urgent and he cradles my face in his hands. I pull him closer as our tongues tangle and we breathlessly pull back a few minutes later.

I lean my forehead against his and close my eyes.

Edward brushes his knuckles against my cheek and I open my eyes.

"We can take this back to my bedroom." He whispers with a suggestive smile and I nod.

"I would like that. And—" The ringing of his phone cuts me off. Edward sighs and kisses my forehead.

"Hold that thought."

He interlocks our hands as we make our way downstairs. He speaks on the phone with Kyle for a minute or two and we make our way upstairs to the great room. I sit on the couch and Edward ends the call before sitting down next to me. I snuggle against his chest and close my eyes as he wraps his arms around me.

He unstraps my sandals and they drop to the floor with a thud. He strokes my hair and my ears perk up when I hear a pair of footsteps approaching us.

"Thank you. Did Kyle give you anything else?" I hear Edward ask.

"No, Mr. Cullen." I hear Matt say and my eyes snap open.

I try to sit up but Edward shifts me closer to him and I blush. Matt offers me a polite nod.

"Hi, Matt."

"Ms. Swan." It's Bella.

Matt leaves and my eyes fall on the leather tube-shaped object next to Edward.

"What's that?" I ask and he kisses my hair.

"It's a drawing tube used to carry blueprints. I'll show you. Come on, not here."

Edward leads me to his bedroom towards the bed and I sigh softly when my back hits the mattress. Oh dear god, how does he wake up in the morning? This is the best mattress ever. I get comfortable on the bed and can already feel my muscles relaxing as I take a deep breath.

A minute later, my eyes snap open when I realize that Edward is supposed to be here as well. I find him sitting cross-legged on the bed, staring at me with a lovely smile. I blush brightly and sit up. He chuckles and leans forward to kiss me.

"God, you are so adorable. Do you have a couple of minutes for me?" I nod and blush even more. "Okay, this is very important so I want your full attention."

I nod at him. "I'm all ears."

"As you know, I have recently acquired your land," I smile at him. "Well, I would like to do something with that land."

My heart skips a beat. "What do you mean?"

"I want to tear down your store—" I gasp, cutting him off.

"You want to tear down my bookstore? Why? You know how much that place means to me! You can't do that, Edward."

"Listen to me," I look away. "Hey, I have a plan to show you. If you don't like it, we won't do it. I give you my word."

"What are you planning?" I ask and play with the hem of my blouse.

"Do you remember the first time we met?" I nod and gaze into his gorgeous green eyes. "Well, you rambled on that you wanted to expand your store and make it better. So, I took that as inspiration and re-designed your store along with Kyle."

My eyes widen with surprise. "Really?"

"Yes, just take a look at it. I'm sure you'll like it."

"Okay."

"And you have the complete right to change whatever you don't like."

Edward opens the leather tube and pulls out two copies of plans. They are the floor plans of the bookstore. Oh, my bookstore is going to have two floors. I smile and patiently listen as Edward explains to me the crux of the bookstore. I love the concept of the staircase that he is suggesting!

He speaks with so much passion about my bookstore that I know he must be working on his larger projects with a similar enthusiasm.

"… see, it's exactly like you want it. But, you can always suggest something new. We can discuss it further in my office on Monday. It's all up to you now. And even if the store belongs to me, it's always going to be yours. I promise."

I give him a teary smile and watch him place the folded prints in the carrier again. He puts it away and sits closer to me.

His knuckles graze against my cheek. "Hey, you like it?"

"I love it. I can't imagine it being any better than what you have designed."

I tightly hug him and he kisses my hair.

"That's good to know."

"But, it's going to cost a lot of money, isn't it?" I pull back and look at Edward but his eyes are screwed shut. "Edward?"

He peeks at me. "Yes, baby?"

"What are the total costs?"

"I don't know," He mumbles and I glare at him. "I'm going to let Kate handle the budget and accounting details. I don't know anything about it yet."

"Don't lie to me. You must have the estimated figures."

"I really don't remember them."

I huff and push his back on the mattress and straddle him.

"Edward, tell me."

"Baby, I really don't know," His hands land on my hips and he pulls me closer. "I'll tell you later. Or Kate will give you a call, okay?"

"Okay." I lean down to give him a chaste kiss.

"And you really don't have to pay."

I frown. "Why not?"

"Because you are my girlfriend and I love you very much."

I blush and roll my eyes. "That's stupid, Edward. I will pay you back. I know you are paying for the expenses and I promise, I'll try—" I gasp when he suddenly sits up and we are at an eye-level.

He cradles my face in his hands and strokes my cheek. "You don't have to pay me, Bella."

"You don't understand, Edward."

What if everybody assumes that I'm a gold-digger? He has practically paid for everything that I have. As of this moment; I own an expensive phone, have a closet full of designer clothes that will last me for a decade, a dreamy Porsche and an opulently designed store. All because of this man. And all I did was fall in love with him.

"Hey," Edward says firmly and makes me meet his gaze. "Stop it."

"What?" My voice is nothing but a whisper.

"Your thoughts. I've seen that look on your face before. Don't think about it." He snaps and his face looks irritated.

How does he know?

"But—"

"Bella, you love me for who I am. Not the lap of luxury that my life brings with it. Nobody has ever loved me so selflessly and you give meaning to my life. Is it too selfish of me to take care of your needs?"

"I have nothing to give you back."

His hand brushes the hair away from my shoulder and goosebumps rise on my body as he undoes the first two buttons of my blouse. He leans forward and my pulse quickens when he plants a soft kiss where my heart beats.

"This is enough."

My cheeks flame and I stroke his hair. "It's yours, always. But—"

He frowns. "No. We're not discussing this any further. Enough. I don't want to talk about it."

We grow silent and I watch Edward staring at my hands with a thoughtful expression on his face. I brush my hand against his cheek but he doesn't look at me. I close the tiny space between us and press my lips against.

He sighs and parts his lips, kissing me back. His hand knots in my hair and the other one wraps around my waist.

"Sorry." I whisper against his mouth and he tugs on my bottom lip.

"Don't be. You just shared your feelings with me."

"I push your buttons every time."

"I love you more because of it."

I giggle and his green eyes gaze at me with a soft expression. I can see a hint of relief in his features which matches mine. He intently stares at me and I wonder what he is thinking. His eyes smolder and my breathing falters looking at him.

"Penny for your thoughts?" I ask and make idle patterns on his sweater.

"I was thinking about how we left our business unfinished in the library before we were interrupted by a phone call."

I blush and bite my bottom lip. "Yeah, I have to thank you for my gift."

He nods. "You do."

I smile and help Edward take off his sweater. His eyes never leave mine as I slowly unbutton my shirt. I put it on a chair and caress his face with my hands. He closes his eyes and I stroke his arms, his chest and lean forward to nibble his ear. He moans softly and I smile.

"How's this, Mr. Cullen?" I whisper in his ear and he smiles.

"Great."

My lips drag kisses towards his neck and my hands brush against his thighs and rub the large tent in his pants. He groans softly and he reaches over to touch me but I swat his hands. He opens his eyes and I shake my head. I get off his lap and unzip his pants. I grab the waistband of his pants and boxers and pull them down. He quickly takes them off and sits in his previous position.

I crawl towards him and gently grasp his erection in my right hand. I bend down and lick my tongue against the head. I hear him sigh as I suck his cock deeper into my mouth and my hands tug on his balls. My head bobs up and down as I take him further in my mouth and his hands brush the hair away from my face.

"Bella baby, please go slow." He mutters and I pump up my speed.

Edward tenses in my mouth and I take a last slurp of his musty scent before releasing him with an audible pop and making him sigh. I stroke his hard erection and his breathing hitches. I unbutton my pants and take them off along with my thong. I straddle his lap again and we moan when his rock hard erection rests against my dripping wet sex.

I unhook my bra and fling it away. Edward pulls me closer and hungrily kisses my lips making me gasp. His warm hands palm my breasts and his fingers tug and elongate my hard nipples. I rock my hips against his and he growls softly. His lips close around the shell of my ear and I groan, as his hot breath makes me shudder.

"Oh Bella, you like being a tease, don't you?" His voice is husky and seductive and almost makes me come.

Edward trails soft kisses toward my shoulder and I whimper from the heightened sense of emotion. He captures one of my nipples in his mouth and sucks it deeper. His hand reaches between our bodies and plays with my wet folds before his fingers enter me.

He wraps an arm around my waist and tries to roll me over but I push him down on the plush mattress. I reach for his massive erection and slowly stroke him before guiding it inside me. I steadily move up and down on the length of him and tilt my hips so he rubs all the right places inside me. I circle my hips along his and his green eyes remain fixated on mine as I ride him a little faster.

"You are huge." I whimper softly and he thrusts deeper into me. My mouth remains slightly agape as a moan escapes my lips and I sigh softly when his hands cup my breasts. He plays with my nipples and I put my hands on his as I arch my back and rock back on forth on him. His eyes are very distracting as they smolder into mine as his hands massage my breasts.

I grab his right hand in mine and Edward interlaces them with a warm smile on his face. I unhurriedly move on top of him and grab his index finger. I seductively suck on it and push it deeper into my mouth like it's the most erotic blowjob I have ever given. His cock throbs inside me and a growl escapes his lips staring at me.

"Fuck baby, that's so hot."

I gently bite on the tip of his finger and suck his middle one into my mouth as well. Edward mutters something under his breath and suddenly pulls me onto his chest. I take his fingers out of my mouth and his dark eyes are filled with lust. He wraps his arms around me and pounds into me as fast as he can.

Our hot breaths mingle when his lips meet mine for an animalistic kiss and I moan against his mouth as I meet his thrusts with mine. I can feel us both approaching our orgasm and our eyes lock again. We slow down and sway against each other as we near our mind-blowing orgasms.

Edward silences my cries with his lips and bites hard on my bottom lip as we ride through our earth-shattering and amazing orgasms. I shudder a little and his arms tighten around me, holding me to his chest.

I can hear his turbulent heart beat that matches mine and he rhythmically strokes my naked back. I lean my forehead against his and he caresses my flushed cheek.

"I love you." We say in unison and our voices our filled with love and warmth.

I giggle and he smiles, tucking the stray pieces of hair behind my ear. I stifle a yawn and sigh softly as I pull off of him. He presses me into the mattress and wraps the multiple layers of sheets and duvet over our bodies.

Edward gathers me in his arms and gives me a sweet kiss.

"Go to sleep." He murmurs, stroking my hair.

"Are you leaving?"

"I have some work to do." I sigh and gaze at him from under my eyelashes. His eyes look exhausted waking up early in the morning to work.

"You look tired, sweetheart. Sleep for a while, please. It wouldn't hurt," Edward opens his mouth to protest and I pout at him. "Fifteen minutes, please?"

"Okay."

I can already hear the drowsiness in his voice and he snuggles against my neck. He should rest once in a while and try not to let stress take a toll on him. I look at him and find that he is already fast asleep in my arms. I smile and stroke his hair as I fall asleep to the sound of his deep breathing.

I place the hair dryer back in the vanity drawer and run a hand through my hair. I stroll around the massive walk in closet and crane my neck to check out the different purses. I smile when I notice a couple of them are from Alice's brand. There are clothes and purses of every international brand that I know. Angela would love this.

I quickly hunt down the lingerie chest and put on a white bra and panty set. I take my time as I look at the elegant collection of clothes and pick out an outfit. I take off my bathrobe and pull on a pair of white tech-jersey ribbed knit shorts. I don a white cotton-jersey T-shirt and pair it with a striped wool and printed silk-satin cardigan.

I return to the vanity and find a chest full of hair accessories. I tie my hair up in a messy ponytail and tuck the stray pieces behind my ear.

I walk out of the closet and shut it with the touch of a button. I check the time on the radio alarm and see that it's six twenty-two in the evening. I smile at Edward's sleeping form. He looks so peaceful, carefree and so handsome. I can't resist myself so I walk over to him and plant a soft kiss on top of his head. I hold my breath when he stirs but goes right back to sleep.

I make my way towards the kitchen and ponder upon what I should make for him. Maybe a chocolate cheesecake. I've never baked a cake for him before. And he will love if I did. I grin as soon as I step inside his kitchen and gather up all the ingredients to make the cake. I need to make it before my boyfriend wakes up.

About an hour later, I'm done cleaning up the mess and making sure everything is back where it was. I check on the cake in the refrigerator and close the doors and a pair of arms wrap around me.

"I woke up all alone." Edward whispers and kisses the shell of my ear, sending shivers down my spine.

I turn in his arms and smile, gazing at his striking face. His hair is slightly wet, probably because of the shower he must've had and his green eyes are vibrant and playful. He is wide awake.

"I'm sorry, baby. Can I make it up to you?" I bat my lashes and he nods.

His hands creep inside my t-shirt and his thumbs make circles below my breasts. He kisses my forehead and sighs softly.

"You look more than beautiful, love."

I blush and lean on my tiptoes and peck his lips. "Thank you."

He chuckles, reading the print on my t-shirt. "Blind for love, huh?"

My cheek flushes more and I bite my bottom lip. "Maybe."

"Something smells delicious, what did you make?"

I beam at him. "I baked a cake for you."

His green eyes glow and a 100 megawatt smile appears on his face. "Really? You baked a cake for me?"

"Yes." I match his eager smile.

"Which one?"

"A cinnamon streusel coffee cake!" I lie enthusiastically.

I watch the smile on his face gradually faltering as my words sink in. He recovers his expression and gives me a cautious look.

"Sounds… delicious." I know he hates coffee cake. This is too fun!.

"I thought you might like to try something different. And it took me a lot of effort to make it."

"You didn't have to put so much work into making a coffee cake for me," I can hear the masked distaste in his voice. "But, we can have it for dessert after dinner."

I pout. "You don't want to eat it now?"

"Of course I do, baby," Edward pulls out my phone from his pocket and hands it to me. "There was a missed call from Angela."

I nod and unlock my phone. I scroll through my call logs and find him staring at the refrigerator with a sad face. Aw, he is so cute.

"Honey, the cake must be properly set by now. Will you do me a small favor and taste it and let me know how it is?" I ask and he frowns but nods his head.

I peck his lips and walk towards the dining area after I call Angela—who eagerly answers on the first ring.

"Hi, Bella. I'm so sorry about what happened last night. I didn't mean to make you or make Edward mad. I know it's your personal issue and I'm sorry again. I was just worried about you and I guess I took it too far. But, it's none of my business. Edward is a great guy. Now, please tell me things are fine between us because I'm freaking out right now." She rambles and finally takes a deep breath.

I sigh. "It's fine, Angela. I'm sorry too. A lot of things were happening in my life and I was a little overwhelmed with everything. Don't worry, we're cool."

"Thank god!" I can hear the relief and smile in her voice. "So, you guys made up, huh?"

I can't help the stupid grin on my face. "Yes we did."

"What about the bookstore?"

"Edward bought it," I mumble and hear nothing but silence from her side. "Ang? You there?"

"I'm sorry; I thought I heard you say that he bought the store."

I giggle. "He did and the studio behind it. He wants to expand and rebuild the bookstore."

"Wow," She murmurs with awe in her voice. "That's a lot of money."

My mood sinks again but I try to feel happy. "He told me last night."

"You have the best boyfriend."

I blush. "I know."

"He isn't mad at me, is he?"

"No."

"Phew! I can't have such a pretty face mad at me."

"Angela, you're married and he is my boyfriend."

"Half the women in this city probably fantasize about him and you are worried about me?" I roll my eyes. "Oh, I bet he is great in bed."

"Great doesn't even cover it." I mumble and my body trembles as I think about last night and today.

"What?!" She screeches on the other line, tearing my ear drums apart. "You had sex with him? How was it? When? How many times? Tell me everything! Oh my god, we should put Emily on conference call!"

"Angela, we'll meet on Monday. I don't want to talk about it right now." I dismiss her questions and she sighs.

"Come on, at least tell me—"

"Bye, Ang! Love you." I shout over her voice and she laughs.

"Alright, bye Bells. Love you too." And the line goes dead. I smile and shake my head. Some crazy friend I have.

I frown when I hear nothing but silence coming from the kitchen. Did Edward run away because of the coffee cake? Alice once told me that he loathes coffee cake more than anything else in this world. I wonder why.

I step inside the kitchen and find him leaning against a counter and reading something on his phone.

"Edward?"

Edward looks up at me. "Oh hey, baby."

I cross my arms over my chest. "You didn't have the cake, did you?"

"I did. It's great." He grins at me.

"Really? Even the coconut frosting?"

His green eyes meet mine. "Yeah, it was so different. I don't like coffee cake but this one was really different. Especially with the coconut frosting. On a coffee cake."

"Why are you lying to me?"

He gasps. "I'm not ly—"

"How can a coffee cake have coconut frosting, Edward?!" I shout and he sighs softly.

"Okay, I didn't eat it."

"Was it so hard to admit?" He gives me an apologetic smile. "Open the fridge."

He pouts. "I don't want to eat it! Please!"

"I hate it when you recklessly spend money on me but I accept that and you can't even eat a piece of cake for me? What does that say about you?"

"Coffee cakes are disgusting."

"My cake is disgusting?" I ask flatly and he gazes at me with an alarmed expression.

"I-I didn't say that. You're taking it the wrong way."

"That's exactly what you meant."

"I didn't, love. Trust me. I'm sorry."

"Sure," I mumble and walk over to the fridge. Oh, this is really fun. "I'll probably give it away to Jake or Angela. At least, they'll appreciate it."

"Bella, this isn't about you."

"Then what is it? You should know how to keep your girlfriend happy. Did your past relationships teach you nothing?"

He lets out a defeated sigh. "Alright, it wouldn't hurt to eat it."

I smile triumphantly and get the cake out. I set the cake stand on the island and find Edward looking away from the cake. I clear my throat and he peeks at me. I tilt my head in the cake's direction and his mouth drops open when he sees it.

"You said it was a coffee cake!" He accuses me with a glare on his face.

I smile sweetly. "And you never opened the fridge."

"You made me feel guilty for not eating it."

"Yeah, I did."

"I can't believe you did that," He says, taking slow steps in my direction. His unreadable expression makes me stagger and I back away from him. "You emotionally blackmailed me to eat a cake that you didn't even make."

"I'm sorry, honey."

I gasp when my back hits a counter and I have nowhere to go. I turn towards the dining area and decide to run towards the great room. I think I can be fast.

"Oh baby, where do you think you are going?" I hear him say behind me and he suddenly spins me in his arms.

Edward gives me a playful smile and tickles my sides making me squeal. I laugh and try to get out of his arms but he tickles me harder. His arms almost lift me off the ground and I try to breathe.

"Edward, no!" I yell through my laughing fit and he chuckles, watching tears running down my cheeks. "Stop, please!"

"Fine."

Edward stops his assault and sets me down. I put my hand on his chest and try to catch a breath. I wipe away the tears on my cheeks and sigh. He kisses my forehead and gives me a soft smile.

"Cake?" I ask and he nods eagerly.

"It looks mouth-watering."

We help ourselves to the cheesecake and Edward takes a bite. He moans and chews it.

"It's the best cheesecake I've ever had! It's better than mom's but don't tell her I said that."

"Oh? She likes to bake too?"

"Yep, she loves to bake. You have that in common with her."

"What about Alice? Can she cook?"

He throws his head back and laughs. "Oh Bella, Alice only knows how to eat."

I giggle. "And Rosalie?"

His laughter dies down and his expression turns hard. "She can barely boil water. She is more interested in herself than anything else."

"She is the prettiest woman I have ever met. She is bound to be a little… proud of being the most attractive person in a room."

He arches an eyebrow, gazing at me. "Oh yeah? Then why is she so jealous of you?"

My eyes widen. "Why would she be jealous of me? There is no competition."

"Right, there is no competition. You are the most beautiful person in the world. You have a pure heart and you are very kind. That's what matters. She doesn't have that."

"You are just saying that because you love me."

"I'm saying that because I know both you and Rosalie well. I know you would never hurt me," Edward murmurs and stares at his cheesecake with a tortured expression. What happened? "I know you won't lie to me or keep something from me. You won't hurt my family."

"Edward—"

"She has done awful things in the last seven years. And I found out about them four years ago. I-I wanted to tell Emmett… but I can't." His green eyes lock with mine and I stroke his cheek.

"Why not, Edward?"

He sighs and leans his forehead against mine. "He loves Rosalie. A lot. I can't watch him suffer without her."

"But you need to tell him the truth someday, whatever it is."

"It took me a long time to forget about it, but ever since I met you—" He pauses and I frown.

"What, honey?"

"I know what it's like to love someone so dearly. If you would've done something like Rosalie has… I don't know what I would've done to myself."

I hold his face in my hands and peck his lips. "You need to tell Emmett. The longer you wait, the more it will hurt him."

"Rosalie should be the one telling him. It's their personal matter. I just happened to be at a wrong place at the wrong time."

"Does Rosalie know that you know?"

"Yes. I told her to confess everything to Emmett the moment I found out. She started to cry and told me that she doesn't want to hurt my brother and my family. Emmett and Rosalie were moving to Seattle that week and she promised me that she was going to leave everything back in Chicago. I don't know how much truth there was in that, but I hope she kept her word."

"Hey, you did the best you could."

"No, I didn't. I should've forced her to tell him. I should've filed a case against her… or something worse. But I didn't give a shit about her back then."

"I know you care about your brother, which is why you should tell him."

"He is going to hate me, Bella. I can't."

"Oh baby," I wrap my arms around him and tightly hug him. He buries his face against the crook on my neck and sighs. "You're his little brother. He can never hate you."

"I'll think about it."

"Good," I stroke his hair and smile. "We spoke about everything Rosalie did but you didn't tell me exactly what she did."

He chuckles. "I don't want to ruin our good mood right now. I'll tell you when the time is right."

"I'll hold you to that."

"Thank you for being here." He kisses my shoulder.

"Always," I murmur and breathe in his intoxicating scent. "You smell great."

"So do you."

Edward pulls back and connects our lips for a sweet kiss which soon turns heated. He lifts me up and sets me down on the island. I pull back for a second to take a deep breath and kiss him again. I moan when his warm tongue enters my mouth and he playfully bites on my bottom lip.

I frown when I hear a faint sound coming from somewhere but I focus my attention on my boyfriend. I knot my hands in his hair and sigh softly as his tongue tangles with mine.

"Mr. Cullen?"

I pull back gasping for breath and turn to see Matt standing in the doorway—and his face is red with embarrassment. I blush scarlet and avoid any kind of eye contact with Matt as Edward saunters over to him.

"Yes, Matt?" Edward asks in a calm voice, unlike how breathless I am.

"Mr. Zidek sent these files."

"Thank you."

Matt disappears from our sight within seconds and Edward chuckles as he walks over to me. He puts the files next to me and pecks my lips.

I remain seated on the island as he hands me my plate again. I fiddle with the fork and gaze at the two files. Shouldn't work files be sent to the office? It's a weekend and incredibly late for work hours.

"What's in the files?" His eyes tighten but he smiles.

"Work."

Okay.

September 20, 2015

I frown when I hear a buzzing sound coming from somewhere. I open my eyes and realize I am unable to move as a pair of arms is tightly wrapped around me. I turn my head towards the nightstand and see that my phone is vibrating. I check the time on the radio alarm and it's two in the morning. Wow, it's late.

"Edward?" I sleepily mumble and he sighs. "Edward? I have an incoming call."

"It's okay." He snuggles against my neck.

"Sweetie, please."

Edward loosens his arms around me and I sit up in the bed. I cover my body with a small portion of the duvet and quickly grab my phone from the nightstand. It's Jake.

"Why is Jake calling this late?" I whisper to myself and Edward strokes my bare thigh inside the duvet, sending shivers through my body.

"His flight must have landed."

I answer the call.

"Hey, Jake."

"Hi, Bells," His voice sounds tired and weary. "Why aren't you answering the door?"

"I'm not at home, honey. I'm over at Angela's. What is it?"

"My roommate had to leave town due to an emergency and I had no idea my flight was scheduled for such an ungodly hour, so I didn't take my spare keys with me. I figured you'd have a spare copy at your place. But, you aren't home."

"Do you want me to come over?"

Edward lets out a loud sigh. "Are you kidding me, Bella?"

I shush him and return to my conversation with my brother.

"No, that's okay. I'm sorry I woke you up. Go to sleep." Jake says apologetically and I shake my head.

"Honey, where will you go?"

"I'll crash at somebody's place."

I am suddenly reminded of my spare key. "Oh Jake! I have a spare key in Mrs. Schiffer's shoe stand! I put it there a while ago. It should still be there, given that she never touches it."

"The rusty, dead shoe stand that I can see?"

I giggle. "Yep, it's in the third row. Inside the black pair of shoes."

"Ew, it looks gross. Are you sure, Bells? I think they have creepers coming out of them."

"Just get the key and do whatever you want, Jake!"

"I'll go back to my place. I have a day off tomorrow so I'll come back over then."

I smile. "That sounds great. Get some rest. We'll talk later."

"Bye, Bells. Love you." He hangs up and I put the phone away.

Edward rolls to his right side and gazes at me with a smile on his face. I smile, staring back at him. The light from the moonlight makes his face look more handsome than ever. I lie facing him and rest my head on the pillow next to his.

"Sleep, it's late." He whispers, touching his forehead to mine.

I blush and stroke his cheek. "Says the man who is voluntarily up at two in the morning."

"Your brother woke us up. Plus, I can't sleep without you."

"That's a bad habit. How will you fall asleep when I go back to my apartment tomorrow?"

He pouts adorably. "Let's not talk about that right now. I don't want you to leave."

I laugh, making him smile. "Alright."

"Bella?"

"Hmm?"

"When will you tell Jacob about us?"

"Soon, I promise."

"He was not in Seattle when things were bad, but now that everything's settled… tell him before he finds out from a different source." Edward warns and I roll my eyes.

"Relax, Edward. Jake doesn't read the trashy, gossip magazines. Plus, the news about the Denalis is so huge, people will overlook everything else."

"I hope that's true."

I lean forward and give him a sweet kiss. "Stop thinking so much and let's go to sleep."

"Okay. Good night, baby. Sweet dreams."

"Night, Edward."

I bite my bottom lip and nervously gaze at my reflection in the mirror. My hair is styled and well-groomed, my brown eyes are framed with thick eyelashes and my lips are glossed with a classic nude shade.

I hear a pair of footsteps approaching and I take a deep breath. I steady myself and see Edward's handsome reflection through the mirror. He looks very sexy in a sharp, dark blue suit and white shirt. He has a heart-stopping smile on his face as he looks at his watch and then towards me.

"Bella, we have to leave in twenty—hey, what's wrong?" Edward asks, as approaches me. I gaze at him in the mirror and shake my head. "Tell me."

"Maybe I shouldn't go." I whisper and pity my crumbling self-esteem.

"Love, what happened?" He wraps his arms around me and stares at our reflection in the mirror with concern etched on his face.

"You read today's newspapers. What the Denalis and their lawyers said about you—"

"We decided that we weren't going to talk about it."

"But, it happened because of me."

Edward turns me in his arms and tips my chin up to look at him. "It didn't happen because of you, no matter what the papers say. My parents know that, everyone who is important knows that too. Mom and dad really want you to come. Mom called me a few minutes ago to double-check. She'd be happy if you came with me."

"Really?"

"Yes, really. Everyone is going to love you tonight," He smiles and strokes my hair. "To top it off, you're my girlfriend now, and not going as Alex's date."

I giggle taking in his sour expression. "Oh Edward, that was a long time ago."

"No, it wasn't. And I never liked that he left your side."

"Well, he isn't in town if that makes things easier for you."

He frowns. "If he was in town, would you rather go with him than me?"

"Maybe, possibly," I shrug and he pouts. "Oh Edward, you are so cute."

I tightly hug him and hide my face against his chest. He arms wind around me and I feel his soft kisses against my neck. He caresses my back and I breathe in his intoxicating scent. He smells divine.

"I love you." I whisper and he kisses my cheek.

"I love you too, Bella," We remain wrapped up in our embrace for an immeasurable time until Edward eventually pulls back to look at me. "Baby, we need to leave soon. Please, get dressed."

"Okay," I sigh and take a look at the gigantic closet. "It's easier to pick clothes when the closet is small."

I turn to leave but Edward tugs on my hand and pulls me in his arms again. "Sit," He makes me sit on the tub chair and kisses my forehead. "I'll help you."

"Thank you." I blush and watch him walk over to my lingerie chest. "Honey, I just need an outfit."

"Are you sure? I can help you with this."

I laugh. "That's very kind of you but I'm good."

"Yeah, alright."

I curiously watch Edward humming something under his breath as he rummages through my dresses and picks one out of me. I rise to my feet and take off my silk robe and drop it on the chair. I look up and find him drinking in the sight of me in my peach lace and silk georgette bra and low rise briefs.

"I think we can manage to be a little late." He whispers and starts walking in my direction.

I smile and shake my head. "No, Edward. We're going to be late. Let's not do that."

"It'll be fine."

"No, it won't!"

Edward closes the space between us and grabs me roughly in his arms. He crashes his lips against mine and I moan when his tongue darts in my mouth. His hands land on my hips and he pulls me flush against him.

A shiver runs through my body when he grazes his fingers inside my panties and strokes my sensitive skin. He fondles my wet folds before entering a finger inside me. He throws me on the couch and I whimper as he sucks on my neck.

"This is exactly why there is a couch in here."

I giggle. "You do realize you're going to get in trouble for being late, don't you?"

"Do you want me to stop?"

"No." I moan as he adds another finger deep inside me.

"That's what I thought."

I check myself in the mirror and smile confidently. Not bad. Edward has a good eye for selecting clothes. I'm wearing a mauve pink Italian lace A-line dress and it feels wonderful against my skin. The skirt flares out below the waist and falls to my knees.

"You look perfect," Edward says behind me and I turn to him. He gives me a warm smile and I peck his lips. "Ready?"

"Just a second."

I put on a pair of nude pumps; grab my black clutch and turn to get my coat from the couch to find that it isn't there.

"Edward, did you see my co…" My sentence trails off when I find him holding it in his hands.

"Let's go, baby. We're late."

I shake my head. "You're the one to talk."

"Well, you didn't have to look so sexy."

My cheeks flame and I roll my eyes. "You're so exasperating sometimes."

"That I am."

My eyes remained glued to the window as the black gates open and the car speeds past the others parked in the long driveway. I can't stop looking at the canopy of trees that surround us. I gasp staring at the giant stone mansion that becomes larger as we get closer to it. It's like a castle.

Matt turns the car into the driveway and I smile looking at the elegant fountain. The car stops in front of the main door and Edward and I step out. I take a deep breath and he wraps an arm around my waist.

"This house is magical. It's got a certain charm."

"It took us three years to build it." He whispers and I give him a curious smile.

"Really? You designed this house?"

"Yes, ma'am. It was one of my first projects when I started working. I'll show you around some other time. You need to see it, it's gorgeous. Mom selected every piece of furniture for the house herself."

"I would love to see it."

The doors open and a woman, probably a year or two older than me stands on the other side, shamelessly gawking at my boyfriend. My eyes fall on her wedding band and I resist the urge to roll my eyes.

"Good evening, Mr. Cullen."

Edward gives a polite smile and nods at her. "Good evening, Kia."

We quickly walk past her and he helps me take off my coat. He hands it over to a housemaid and my eyes widen when I gaze at the giant antique baccarat crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. It's so elegant. I frown when I don't see anybody around but workers.

"Where is everybody?" I ask softly and he chuckles.

"They're upstairs. In the ballroom. There must be a lot of people arriving from the other entrance so I thought I'd take you from here."

Ballroom? Extravagant, much?

Edward and I climb up the curved staircase and we walk past a lot of rooms. This house is bigger than Edward's. It's adorned with antique Tiffany and baccarat chandeliers and sconces. I can finally hear the chatter of people as we reach the fourth floor and my heart skips a beat. There must a lot of people in there.

"Edward?"

"Yes, love?"

"Don't leave my side."

"I won't."

He tips my chin in his direction and leans forward to press his lips against mine. I smile and peck his lips before pulling back.

"We're late." I point out as we get closer to the double doors of the room.

"I still say that it's your fault."

I gape at him. "It's isn't!"

"Edward!" I hear a male, groggy voice from behind us say my boyfriend's name with enthusiasm.

We turn and I see a broad smile on Edward's face as he stares at the gray-haired man. They share a brief hug and I smile.

"Hello, son. How are you? I haven't seen you in ages."

"I'm great, old man but you seem to have aged a decade since then!" Edward jokes and the man lets out a booming laugh.

"Well, not everyone is as lucky as your parents are. And who is this pretty lady? Aren't you going to introduce me?"

I blush a deep shade of red and Edward wraps an arm around my waist again. "Mark, this is my girlfriend, Bella. Bella, this is Dr. Weinberg. He is an old friend of dad's."

I smile politely in the doctor's direction. "It's so nice to meet you, Dr. Weinberg."

"Call me Mark, sweetheart. Dr. Weinberg was my father." He gives me a big smile and I smile shyly back.

Edward scoffs next to me. "No he wasn't. You are the only doctor in your family. Stop hitting on my girlfriend." He says with mock anger and Mark sighs.

"You should've chosen a different bachelor from the Cullen and Platt clan. This one has issues." He teases with a fond smile on his face and I chuckle, looking at Edward.

"I think I can handle him just fine." I say and Edward kisses my cheek.

"Yeah you do."

We make idle conversation with Mark for another five minutes before excusing ourselves. Edward and I make two more stops to chat with people once we step inside the captivating ballroom. The chandeliers and sconces highlight the room and there are three doors that lead to the balcony terrace that overlooks the backyard and pool.

There is an adjoining wet bar and I could kill for a glass of wine right now.

"See? It's not that bad." Edward says once we have a moment to ourselves.

I smile and nod at him. "Yes, sweetheart. I feel like almost every person in this room is a doctor."

He laughs. "That might be the case. But, I'm surprised I haven't seen Aunt Jane or Alice yet."

"They must be around."

Edward introduces me to a couple of more people and my heart skips a beat when I spot Esme Cullen speaking to a woman with an ever-present smile on her face although I can tell that she is tired.

"Oh look, there's mom. Come on." He says and interlocks our hands as we make our way over to her.

Esme catches sight of us and excuses herself from the person she was talking to. She has a big grin on her face as she approaches us and she looks… happy? I don't know why I am so anxious to meet Edward's family.

"Hi, mom. You look great." Edward smiles and swoops his mother for a big hug. She laughs and ruffles his hair before pulling back. She kisses his cheek and offers me a polite smile. I smile back hesitantly.

"How are you, honey? I haven't seen you since you came back from Dubai."

"Well, I have been busy."

"I can see that," Esme smiles at me. "Aren't you going to introduce me?"

My eyes widen and I blush redder, if that's possible.

Edward clears his throat. "Uh sure. Mom, this is my girlfriend Bella. Bella, this is my mom, Esme."

"Bella, it's so nice to finally meet you." She says and I relax a little as we shake hands.

"It's nice to meet you too. You have a lovely home."

"Well, thank you Bella. Maybe Edward can give you an elaborate tour later." I nod and she stares at me for a second before looking at her son. "Edward, Bella is tense. I told you on the phone—"

"Mom believe me, I told her. She is just a little overwhelmed, that's all." Edward kisses my hair and I smile at him.

"Bella," I turn to Esme. "Whatever has happened with the Denalis was just an unfortunate mishap. I guess we all learned something from it. For now, just forget about it and relax. Get a drink."

"Yes."

"And Edward, maybe you should talk to less people this time," She suggests dryly and he chuckles. "Don't let her get bored. Our gatherings are never dull."

"Alright, I'll keep that in mind."

"Fine, now if you'll both excuse me," She extends her hand and gives my hand a gentle squeeze. "We'll talk later, Bella. I have to mingle with the guests too. I'm so glad you're here," She gazes at Edward sternly. "Behave. Plus, look for your aunt and sister. They are going crazy waiting to see you both."

"We will." Esme smiles and walks away from us.

Edward wraps his arms around me and kisses my forehead. "Mom's right. You need a drink. Come on."

He leads me to the wet bar and orders our drinks. I sigh against him and take a look at the impressive wine collection. He cradles my face in his hands and I smile at him.

"Do your parents like to collect wines, like you do?" I ask and he chuckles.

"My dad does. He has a 2500 bottle wine cellar," My mouth hangs open. "Yeah, he doesn't let anybody in. The cellar has thumb print identification to enter. He is very sensitive about it."

I giggle. "Wow, that's very impressive. And what's over there?" I point to the other adjoining room.

"That's the coat closet. Here," Edward hands me a glass of red wine and keeps one for himself. We clink our glasses and I take an inviting sip of the red wine. It's silky and sweet.

"Bordeaux?" I glance at Edward questioningly and he gives me an impressed smile.

"Yes, Ms. Swan. I'm glad you're catching up."

I blush and shake my head. "Thank you."

He kisses my temple and clasps our hands. "Come on, let's find Ali—"

"Edward! Bella! Your here!" Edward and I hear Alice squeal but we look around to see no sign of her. Suddenly, out of nowhere, I'm pulled into a bone-crushing hug by a tiny pixie. I laugh and hug her back as I keep my glass at arm's length.

"Alice, hey." She kisses my cheek and pulls back. She gasps looking at my dress.

"Oh my god, your dress is precious! I love it! I've been working on similar patterns for the next collection, this is so cool! And oh, your shoes are amazing. Where did you get them?"

"Um, Ursula got a lot of things for me."

"I knew it! She always has a good eye."

"It's nice to meet you too, Alice." Edward says as he stands behind Alice. She laughs and turns and jumps into her brother's arms. He laughs and squeezes her little form until she squirms and slaps his arm.

Alice sighs, looking at the two of us. "You guys look so great together. Come on, Aunt Jane is somewhere around here!"

Alice grabs our hands in each of hers and drags us somewhere. Edward rolls his eyes and sends me an apologetic smile, making me chuckle. A couple of minutes later, Alice finally reaches Jane and we find her in a conversation with a couple of people.

"Aunt Jane!" Alice hollers and Jane turns to us. A bright smile lights up on her face and she walks over to us.

"Oh, you kids are terribly late but I'm glad you're here!" She gives us a quick hug and Edward pulls me to his side. I gently rub his back and he smiles at me.

"How have you two been?" Jane asks and I sigh.

"Great."

"It's a good thing Edward is here. Thank you dear, for bringing him. Thank you." Jane says earnestly and I nod.

"I'm glad to help."

Jane turns her attention to Edward—who sighs and hides his face against my hair. Am I missing something? I stroke his cheek and he closes his eyes.

"Not now, Aunt Jane. Please let me be with Bella." Edward mumbles and nuzzles against my hair. I wonder what it is.

"Edward, come on. I know something has happened. My son doesn't call me if it isn't an emergency."

"Well, I'm not talking to your son anymore. He is a stupid little shit."

Jane gasps with shock. "Tell me everything." She pulls on his ear and drags him away from us.

"What's going on?" I ask Alice and she lets out a tired sigh.

"Alex goes to Sydney to meet his father every year. He doesn't talk to anybody but Edward so Aunt Jane is constantly worried about him. She gets her reports from Edward—who is always grumpy about it. But you know, I don't blame Edward. He has enough troubles of his own besides reporting Alex's whereabouts to his mother."

Wow, I had no idea. Why didn't Edward tell me? Oh poor dear, he already has a lot of stress at work. Maybe I should speak with him about this. My eyes race over to Edward as he speaks with Jane, holding a serious expression on his face. I didn't know there was a rift between Alex and his father.

Alice distracts me as she rambles on about some incident that occurred at work and then takes me to meet a couple of people. I lose sight of Edward but finally catch him speaking to his father. Oh, it must be about the Denalis.

"Bella, I think I'm going to need more wine," Alice says twenty minutes later and I laugh. "Do you need a refill?"

"No, thank you."

"Alright, I'll be back in two!"

I watch Alice gracefully skip away from me which makes me sigh. How can she walk so effortlessly in those sky high heels? I shake off my thoughts and start looking for Edward. Maybe he is still talking to Jane. I turn on my heels and bump right into someone.

"I'm so sorry…" My sentence trails off when I finally take a good look at the person standing in front of me. It's Rosalie.

Great. My night just got better.

God, she is one beautiful bitch. Her icy blue eyes are staring at me with utter hate and disgust so I make sure my face is unreadable. As, I don't see Emmett around, I'm sure she is going to be in a full-bitch mode right now.

"What the hell do you think you are doing here?" She snaps and I glare at her. "I can't believe they even let you in. You can fool my family but not me," She leans closer and continues in a low voice. "Fancy events, expensive clothes… that's all you want, don't you?"

"I don't think somebody like you should be saying that to me, Rosalie." I say with irritation and she glowers my way.

"Do you think hanging on the arm of the richest person in this room is going to give you any advantage? Hasn't he has done enough by buying your sad little store? I don't think you need anything else."

"Let me make something clear right now, Rosalie," I say firmly and look into her eyes. "Edward and I love each other very much and if you can't stand that, it's your damn problem. What we have goes beyond what you see. We trust each other, have faith in each other, and we know neither of us will ever break that. No matter how much you degrade me, things won't change so stop wasting your time."

Her face visibly changes colors and I have a sweet smile on my face as she peers at me through her lashes. She opens her mouth several times but nothing escapes her lips. It will be pretty humiliating for her to stomp away in embarrassment. Maybe I should make things easier for her.

I turn and find Edward sauntering over to me with an angry face. For once, I know he isn't mad at me but the person standing next to me. I give him a reassuring smile and he frowns but later smiles back.

"Hey, I was looking for you." I say as soon as Edward is within earshot.

"I'm sorry; Dad dragged me to meet a couple of his old pals," He wraps an arm around my waist and his green eyes question me. "What are you doing here, baby?"

I shrug. "Rosalie and I were just catching up."

He stifles a chuckle, gazing at Rosalie. "Yeah, I can see that. Let's go," He kisses my hair. "Excuse us, Rosalie."

We walk away from her and Edward pulls me closer to him. I suddenly remember a comment she made a couple of minutes ago.

"Edward?"

"Yes, my love?"

"Are you the richest man in this room?"

He smirks at me. "Maybe. Does that impress you?"

I shake my head. "No, you still can't do dishes."

That makes him laugh. I smile and my eyes widen when I see Esme walking our way with a big grin on her face. I wonder what it is. She seems to be in a much better mood since Edward and I arrived. I guess she really wanted Edward to attend tonight's event.

"Bella, do you have a minute? Some of my friends are really looking forward to meeting you." She gives me a kind smile and I steal a shy glance at Edward and he seems surprised and happy.

Why do they want to meet me?

"Sure." I nod and turn to my boyfriend.

"Don't be too long." He mumbles and pecks my lips before walking away from us.

Esme eagerly introduces me to her friends who all seem very kind and polite. She has a strong social group. Some of her friends invite me to a few upcoming charity events they are going to host, which sound fun and it looks like I'm not going to be doing anything else for the next few months.

Then suddenly out of nowhere, the topic of my bookstore surfaces in our conversation. Beth, I think, is the one who inquired about it.

"I read about it shutting down due to a couple of policy issues." She frowns.

Esme pipes in before I can say anything. "Oh, you know those rumors know no bounds. Edward and Bella are planning to renovate it in the coming months, so it's going to be closed for a while."

I sent her a grateful look and turn to Beth.

"I would love for you to visit my bookstore once it's ready. I could use your advice as to how to make it better." I say kindly and she grins at me.

"Of course, sweetheart. I think you should come with Esme and me to one of the club meetings we have. Es, you make sure she is there."

"I'm sure Bella will have a lot to learn over there." Esme says and gives me a kind look.

"She's very pretty," Beth tells Esme and turns to me. "You're very pretty. No wonder Edward keeps looking this way."

My eyes immediately race everywhere as I look for Edward. My eyes finally meet his green ones and I find him standing amongst a group of people with Dr. Cullen. He gives me a soft smile and I blush as I offer him a shy smile back. Our gaze is broken when I hear the distinctive clink of a glass.

The chatters die down and all eyes turn to Edward and the others. Dr. Cullen and two other men share their delight over the new hospital department that is being launched in the coming week. They debrief about the initiative for the next forty minutes and finally introduce the person behind this brilliant idea; Edward.

I have a proud smile on my face as I watch him get embarrassed from all the attention and praise he is receiving. His eyes lock with mine and I mouth him to 'smile' which he then does. I am genuinely surprised by how hard Edward has worked on this project and he already has plans for the future.

"Edward, would you like to add something?" His father asks and Edward clears his throat.

"Sure. First, I would like to thank everyone for being here to support us with our upcoming project. And my parents for being such gracious hosts. It has been quite a while since I had this idea in my head but I got a jumpstart to plan it about a month ago, if I correctly recall. I was planning to leave for Dubai and there were a lot of issues at work that had taken a toll on me. But, then I spoke to my girlfriend about them."

Almost all eyes turn to stare at me and I blush scarlet from the attention. Why is he mentioning me?

"Bella was very patient and she let me vent about a lot of issues. She advised me to stop over-thinking my work and remember that I can't run away from my responsibilities no matter what. And most of all, to hold onto hope. We can all use hope to make today a better place for people who really deserve it, using the best medical techniques that exist. So, they know that they are not alone. No one is alone."

His green eyes pierce into mine and I hold my breath.

"Bella darling, can you join me here?" I blush and glance at Esme who gives me an encouraging nod. Edward gives me his panty-dropping smile and I reluctantly go over to him.

My cheeks are a permanent shade of red but I smile despite my apprehension when Edward grins at me. I feel at home the second his arm wraps around my waist. I try to avoid gazing at everyone and turn my attention to my boyfriend again.

He continues. "It's choice-not chance-that determines your destiny. We're giving a choice to help, to encourage people to donate, to seek help so they make a difference and surpass a major obstacle in their life," I can hear the loud applause in the room and he sighs next to me. "Dad, I'd like for you to continue."

Dr. Cullen has a curious smile on his face as he gazes at me but he quickly turns his attention to address everyone. Edward pulls me closer to him and I rest my hand on his jacket.

"Your speech was very good."

"Really, Ms. Swan? I'm glad you liked it," He whispers, kissing the side of my head. "God, you look so beautiful."

I smile at him. "Why did you call me over here?"

"So everyone knows you are my girlfriend and now they will stay away from you."

"Is that all? I'm hurt." I murmur and he kisses my hair.

"But, also because I love you."

"Well, it's a good thing I love you too."

I'm so lucky to have him.

I shift uncomfortably next to Edward as I feel someone's eyes on me. I try to focus my attention on Edward who is speaking to Dr. John Alexander, the chief of General Child Neurology at UW Medical Center. God, there are a lot of doctors here.

Everybody has a plethora of knowledge and it's hard to not get intimidated by them. But, Edward can talk about any topic that surfaces in the conversation. He is so damn smart.

We are standing on the beautiful balcony of the ballroom which has an amazing view of the pool and garden.

My heart stutters a little and my eyes race everywhere. Is it Rosalie? But, she is talking to Emmett. I find Alice and Jane drinking wine and Edward's parents speaking to a group of people.

"I think my girlfriend has quite some expertise with the ER. Right, Bella?" I tear my eyes away from inside the ballroom and gaze at Edward.

"Yes?" I ask softly and he has a soft frown on his face.

I think I have experience about something they are talking about.

"Nothing." He says instead and I anxiously bite my bottom lip.

The kind doctor laughs, gazing at us. "Oh Edward, give her a break! How many doctors can she possibly speak to?"

Edward smiles but it doesn't reach his eyes. "I guess you're right."

"Alright, kids. I'll let you be. It was lovely to meet you." We shake hands and he leaves me alone with a brooding Edward Cullen.

I walk past him and stand at the edge of the balcony to get a better view of the spacious estate. The chilly air just makes it all that much better. But, I don't think this view can beat the one from Edward's bedroom.

A strong pair of arms wraps around me and I sigh softly.

"Bella?"

"Yes, honey?"

"You seem stressed," He kisses my shoulder. "What's wrong?"

"I-I feel like someone's eyes are on me," He spins me in his arms and I look into his gorgeous green eyes.

"What?"

"I know it's crazy. Forget it." I mumble and he kisses my forehead.

"Must be some woman. She must be envying that you have such a handsome boyfriend."

I giggle and he smiles at me. I press my face against his chest and close my eyes. I feel his hand stroking my back and the other one playing with my hair.

"I think you're right," I whisper and he kisses my hair. "After all, my boyfriend is an eye-candy."

He chuckles. "I think—" His phone vibrates, cutting him off. I sigh and he pecks my lips. "Sorry."

"It's Sunday." I shake my head and he pecks my lips again.

"Two minutes, baby. I promise."

I shrug and Edward answers the phone. It's Matt. His voice sounds edgy and hard as he speaks on the phone and I wonder what it is about. His wild eyes meet mine and then look away from me. I sigh and patiently wait until he ends the call.

"… Maybe in an hour or two… Yeah, thank you." He ends the call and looks at me.

"Ms. Swan, we have a small problem." He says with a smile and I frown.

"What happened?"

"You'll know soon enough," He kisses my forehead. "Relax, it's nothing dangerous."

"Hmm, okay."

"Can I ask you a small favor?" His arms wind around my waist and I nod. "Distract me, please."

I giggle. "Um, okay. Did you share your Chicago plans with Alice and Emmett?"

He beams at me. "Yes, they loved it! And Emmett suggested we shouldn't take anybody else," I look at him in confusion and he mouths 'Rosalie'.

I laugh. "Good for you."

"But, you can join us if you want. I'll show you around the city." He murmurs, kissing my cheek.

I caress his handsome face. "I would love to but I think you need to spend time with your family; away from your work, your phone and your girlfriend."

He smiles, touching his forehead to mine. "But, I'll miss you."

"Oh, I'll miss you too."

Edward leans forward and connects our lips for a soft kiss. I moan softly when he tugs on my bottom lip and his tongue tangles with mine. I could kiss him forever. He pulls me flush towards him and I smile against his lips.

We break apart when a loud throat clear is heard behind us and I find Dr. Cullen standing by the door of the balcony with an amused smile on his face. Boy is he handsome. No wonder Emmett, Edward and Alice have such striking features; their parents look so damn perfect.

"Hello, kids."

"Hey, dad. I just got off the phone with Matt, he is going to—" Dr. Cullen holds up a finger, cutting Edward off.

"Not now," He shakes his head and his blue eyes gaze at me. "I don't believe we've had a chance to talk before, Bella."

Edward lovingly strokes my back and nestles me to his side. "Haven't you two been introduced?"

Dr. Cullen gives us a friendly smile. "Alice made sure to introduce us during the fundraiser. It's nice to meet you again, Bella."

"You too, Dr. Cullen."

"You can call me Carlisle," He looks at his son. "It was about time I spoke to you since everyone in the family already has."

Edward sighs next to me. "I was just about to introduce you two."

"Yeah, right," He chuckles instead. "So, how did you two meet?"

I smile shyly. "Edward came to my bookstore to purchase a book for Esme on her birthday. And I helped him pick two."

Edward kisses my cheek. "She was very helpful."

"Ah, the gardening book. Did you suggest that?" I nod. "Esme went crazy about it. She loves gardening and she was really into that book. She performed all the experiments described in the book. She bought two more books from your store, I think."

"Mom wants to help with my garden as well. I just hope she doesn't make a mess of it."

"I can't guarantee that," He looks at me. "Do you like gardening, Bella?"

"Not really my cup of tea."

"Bella loves to cook. And she is amazing at it." Edward says with a proud smile and I blush.

"Really? That's interesting."

"You should have the chocolate cheesecake she makes. It's better than mom's." He conspiratorially whispers to his father. Carlisle gives me a curious frown.

"Really? Better than Esme's? Wow, you should make one for everyone then. We love desserts," He chuckles to himself. "Maybe for a quiet family dinner. Just us family."

"I would love to."

"If mom will let you have it." Edward teases his father.

Carlisle scoffs. "Right, like I'm scared of her."

"Is that why you sneaked outside with Mark to eat the strawberry torte?"

"So Bella, Edward mentioned that your brother is an intern at his firm." Carlisle switches the topic making Edward and me laugh.

"Yes. Jake is working on Edward's project." I say with a smile.

"He's doing a great job." Edward whispers and his fingers make patterns against the waistband of my panties. His hand grazes against my rear and I blush.

"Did you kids have dinner yet?"

"No, sir. We were just about to." Edward says, kissing my hair.

"Let's go then. Your mother must be waiting too."

We make our way to the buffet at the end of the room and Carlisle turns to Edward.

"The wine you gave me two weeks ago was delectable."

"Really? I'm surprised you complimented me on my choice of wine." Edward says dryly making his father laugh.

"I do when it's a good one."

"You know, Bella is a white wine person too." My boyfriend informs him and I sigh softly.

"Well, she has good taste then," Edward chuckles by my side. "I'll have Edward give you a tour of my wine cellar, Bella. Maybe you can taste a good white wine after drinking red every place you go with Edward."

I laugh and nod. "That's true."

Edward slows us until Carlisle is walking ahead of us. His lips graze against my ear and my breathing stops. "Are you laughing at my expense, Ms. Swan?"

"Maybe." I whisper and he kisses behind my ear.

"Hmm, that's really mean of you. I'll have to do something about it when we get back to my place."

I bite my bottom lip and sigh. "What are you going to do about it?"

"I have a wide range of ideas in my head," He pecks my cheek. "But, nothing as wild as blindfolds, handcuffs and roleplays."

I roll my eyes. "You told me you'd let that go."

"It's going to take some time," I look up at him and he smiles. "I told you my family would love you."

My smile falters a little. "Not everyone."

"Hey come here," He whispers and pulls me for a side hug. "Rosalie doesn't even count. I'm sure Emmett would like to talk later."

"Okay, I believe you. I'm glad we came tonight."

"And for once, everything is going right in our lives."

I can't agree more.

Special thanks to EdwardsFirstKiss for editing this chapter!

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Until next time!

Love,
Paint the Walls