THE OTHER WOMAN
DISCLAIMER: STEPHENIE MEYER OWNS IT ALL.
September 24, 2015
BELLA
I find myself on the familiar street again. I was here before. There is a cornfield on my left and I don't see anybody else around. I walk along the sidewalk of the gravel road and shiver from the chilly air. I continue walking for what seems like hours, until I see a gas station to the right. There is a red truck parked at the station but I still don't see a single person around.
The neon billboard rapidly blinks and suddenly the lights go off. My heart pounds in my chest and I protectively wrap my arms around myself. I hear a pair of footsteps behind me and my breathing hitches. I frown when I hear the sound of a metal object clinking against the road.
I turn and let out an anguished cry when I see Riley walking towards me dragging a metal rod in his left hand. His eyes are bloodshot and his lips are curled into an evil grin. I turn to run, but the heel of my stiletto gets trapped in my dress.
For the first time, I take a careful look at my attire and realize that I'm wearing sky high blue heels and a gorgeous midnight blue strapless silk gown. It has intricate embroidery and a train. Was I at a party? I touch the simple diamond necklace hanging around my neck and frown. I stare at the diamond cluster bracelet and tears gather in my eyes. I suddenly miss Edward.
"Bella?" Riley's malicious voice sends shivers down my spine. "Isabella, wait."
"No!" I yell and lift up my gown as I start running away from him.
I stumble slightly but don't look back because I need to get away from Riley, as far away as possible. I can ask someone for help. I need to call Edward. Is he looking for me? Does he know Riley has me? I hope he saves me.
As I'm consumed by my thoughts, the heel of my sandal breaks and I fall to the ground. I hear the delicate material of my gown ripping and I make an attempt to stand up. I can feel that my knees are bruised and my legs have given out.
"I told you to wait." I hear Riley behind me and I roll onto my back to find him hovering over me.
"You have no idea how much your dear boyfriend has made me suffer. I'm going to do the same to you. Even if I love you very much. I hate your boyfriend more than I love you."
"L-Leave me alone. I-I will tell Edward to stop looking for you. Please."
"No, sweetheart. I'm sorry."
I scream as he swings the rod to hit me on the head.
I wake up gasping for breath and my wide eyes gaze at the balcony. The rain is pouring down in buckets and the French doors are open for some reason. I tremble from the cold and wrap the duvet around my naked body. I wipe away the tears on my cheeks and reach for Edward but feel nothing but the empty side of his bed.
I turn and frown when I don't see him. Where did he go? Edward promised me he wouldn't work tonight. The last two days have been so difficult for him and there is nothing I can do to help reduce his stress at work. Yesterday, he was at the courthouse for most of the day and he looked incredibly tense when he came back. I can't help but worry about him.
My eyes fall on the radio alarm and I sigh. It's three in the morning. I see a notepad and a pen tucked under the alarm. I reach over and grab the pad in my hand. I open the cover and find a list of things written on the page. The entry was made two months ago, at two in the morning.
I guess, he writes the things that keep him up at night. I flip through the pages and find entries made for different days. I stop when I see today's entry. He wrote this at 2:10 am. The list is longer compared to the others. I read it.
1 . Riley Biers
2 . James Smith
3 . Call Alex. Again
4 . Entertainment Center
5 . Cathedral
6. Towers
7 . Talk to Alice
8 . Final numbers about the fund
9 . Meeting with Aro
10 . Work that will be missed out during the trip to Chicago
11 . Rosalie
12 . Get the file from Zidek
13 . Find Tanya
14 . Contact North Seattle Rehab
15 . Eleazar Denali
16 . Make sure Bella feels at home
I read the list over and over and keep my tears at bay. I put the notepad on the nightstand and don Edward's discarded t-shirt. I get off the bed and exit the bedroom. My ears perk up when I hear him playing the piano. I stand at the doorway and feel the tension, angst and pain rolling off Edward in waves. I walk over to him and watch his fingers play a sad, slow composition. I place my hand on his shoulder and he stops playing.
Edward gazes up at me and his green eyes look so lost and scared. I run a hand through his hair and he wraps his arms around my waist. He presses his face against my stomach and I hug him, feeling his harsh breathing against me. God, things were fine three days ago. Part of me blames myself. Most of the problems that have occurred in his life lately are because of me.
"I love you, Bella." His voice sounds exhausted.
"I love you too, Edward."
"I love you so much, it scares me sometimes," He admits softly. "If something were to happen to you… I can't live without you, love."
"I'm fine, baby. I'm right here."
"You've kept me sane through all the chaos. I forget about all my problems when I'm with you. I hate it when you talk about Riley in your sleep. I don't want you to have bad dreams. I want you to be happy."
"I am, with you. Always," He remains silent and I continue stroking his hair. "Come to bed with me." I say softly and he shakes his head.
"I can't sleep."
"I'm here, Edward. Come on, sweetie. You need to get some sleep." I try not to let my voice break.
"You promise you'll stay?"
"I promise, Edward. Please just come to bed with me."
I unwrap his arms from around me and he stands up. He clasps our hands and I lead us back to his bedroom. Edward walks over to the nightstand and stashes away the notepad. I already read everything. We get under the covers and he pulls me to him. He tightly hugs me and presses his face against my chest.
"Go to sleep." I murmur and cradle him closer. I stroke his hair and his legs tangle with mine.
"Good night."
"Sweet dreams, Edward."
I can't help my tears as I stare at his peaceful, angelic face. Why did I have to be so much trouble for him? Did he not have enough stress at work? All because of me. I did this to him.
I need for him to open up about his problems. I want him to share them with me. I can ask him to talk to me about anything. I know he will. I want him to be relaxed before he leaves today for Chicago.
I'll talk to him.
I can feel someone's eyes on me as I sleep. A piercing, shuddering gaze. I wonder why I feel that way. I try to understand the position I'm sleeping in. My head rests on something soft yet firm and my arms are around wrapped around it. A pair of legs is tangled with mine and a hand rhythmically strokes my back.
I open my eyes and come into contact with a muscular chest. Only one person has such a perfect torso. I look up at my boyfriend. His regretful, tense green eyes are gazing at me. I bite my bottom lip and try to gauge his reaction. Why does he look so nervous? I raise my hand and stroke his cheek. He places his hand atop mine and I smile.
"Morning, handsome." I murmur softly and kiss his jaw.
"Good morning, beautiful," Edward plants a kiss on top of my head. "Bella, I'm sorry about last night. I really need—" I cut him off.
"We do have a lot to talk about." I sit up in his arms. His eyes cautiously follow me and I grin at him. "Why are you so edgy, sweetheart?"
"I don't know." He admits and I chuckle.
"Don't worry," Edward smiles at me.
"I won't."
I sit astride his lap and put my hands on either side of his face. "Hey," I say softly and lean my forehead against his. "I saw your notepad last night. I read the list you had written."
"You did?" I nod.
"I want you to show it to me again," He stares at me for a moment and then grabs it from the drawer.
"What are you going to do?"
"As I can see that there are sixteen problems in your life," He nods hesitantly. "I want you to share any eight of them with me. It's your call which ones."
"Bella, you already help me a lo—" I shake my head.
"Nope. We are doing this."
"Whatever you want," He gazes at the list and then looks at me. "Are you feeling comfortable at my place? I really want you to feel at home here. I know you don't like staying here but you are here for my sake, so the least I can do is ask you if you are fine."
"Do you remember something you told to me on Saturday when you were showing me around?" He frowns. "You told me that you don't care where you are, as long as you are with me," He nods and strokes my cheek. "I feel the same way. I don't mind living in a small apartment or in a mansion as big as yours… you are my home."
He sighs with relief and connects our lips for an urgent kiss. I moan against his mouth and his warm tongue tangles with mine. A couple of minutes later, we break apart breathlessly and he pecks my lips.
"I love you, baby."
"You are so silly, Edward. Of course I feel comfortable here," I slide off his lap and hold his hand in mine. "Next point."
"I feel like I'm losing time with Alice," Edward says softly and I hear the sorrow in his voice. "Ever since you and I have gotten together, I don't think I have spent a lot of time with her. She seems a little… sad these days. I don't know why."
"You are spending time with her today and tomorrow. Instead of coming back tomorrow afternoon, schedule a flight for a little later. You should spend some extra time with your siblings. I could sense that she felt lonely when we last saw her. She doesn't have a lot of friends. She is always at her best when she is with family."
"That's true."
"It wasn't like you had anything planned after you come back tomorrow."
"We were going to have lunch."
"We'll have a nice, romantic dinner instead. How does that sound?"
"Where?" Edward asks and sighs softly. I chuckle.
"Don't worry about that. I'll take care of everything. You just land your cute butt in Seattle by tomorrow evening."
"Cute butt?" He gives me an impish grin and I blush. "You never mentioned that you thought my butt was cute."
"Isn't that obvious?"
He shakes his head and pulls me onto his lap again.
"Nope, not at all. I rather find your butt to be cute." He keeps his hands on my hips. "So, dinner on Friday?"
"Sounds perfect." I give him a chaste kiss. "Next?"
"I need to call Alex, frequently."
"Why is that?"
"He is… well, Alice told you about his father, didn't she?" I nod. "Alex is very angry with his dad. Last year when he was in Sydney, they got into a huge blow up about something and he left the city without telling anyone. We searched for him for days, and finally found him in one of our favorite bars in London, getting seriously hammered."
"I had no idea things were so bad," I murmur and press my face against his neck. "Poor Alex."
"Yes, so I need to keep tabs on him."
"He doesn't answer anyone's calls but yours?" Edward nods and I sigh softly. "Everyone must ask you a lot of questions about him."
"All the damn time. Aunt Jane irritates the hell out of me."
"Is there any way I can help?"
"I wish," He smiles and his eyes light up. "Hey, you can talk to him! I'm sure he will speak to you."
"Maybe he will."
"Yes, maybe. Hold on," Edward closes his eyes and I watch him mouthing something under his breath. "It must be two in the morning."
"Okay, maybe I'll call him in the afternoon."
Edward laughs. "That's a really wrong time. He doesn't wake up until noon. He falls asleep at four in the morning so you had better call him right now. Talk to him… if he answers his phone."
I nod and grab my phone. Edward tightly hugs me and runs his nose along my cheek. I tremble and stare at my boyfriend.
"That's very distracting." I murmur breathily and he chuckles.
"Maybe I want to distract you."
I roll my eyes and hand over my phone to Edward. He dials Alex's phone number in Sydney and returns it to me. I press it against my ear and sigh.
"It's ringing."
"It will keep ringing if he doesn't want to answer it."
I bite my bottom lip and wait for him to pick up the phone. I sigh disappointedly when he doesn't. I put the phone away. I give Edward his phone.
"Give him a call." I say and Edward calls his cousin.
Two rings and Alex answers the call.
"Hey, where are you?... Not hitting the pub tonight?... Yes, our flight is at twelve…" Edward chuckles and gazes at me. "You have no idea… Oh yeah, you do that. I'll talk to you later then. Bye." He hangs up.
Edward gazes at me with an amused smile and abruptly presses his lips against mine for a kiss. He deepens our kiss and I fold my hands behind his neck. He playfully bites on my bottom lip and I whimper softly. Our kiss is interrupted when my phone rings. I check the name and its Alex's.
"It's Alex." I say with a smile.
"Wow, my girlfriend has magical powers," Edward murmurs, kissing my nose. "He told me on the phone that he was going to call you."
"Oh."
I answer the incoming call.
"Hi, Alex."
"Hey, Bella! I'm sorry couldn't answer your call, I was out on the balcony."
"No problem. So, how's Sydney?" I ask and he laughs on the other line.
"Ah, it's boring without your pretty smile." I blush and Edward frowns at my expression.
"Well, you certainly are very busy over there. You never even call."
"You can ask Edward for updates like everyone does." He mutters on the other line and I nestle closer to Edward.
"Maybe you can call me sometime if you feel lonely." I suggest softly.
"Oh Bella, you really don't want to hear me whining about my life here."
"Maybe I do. It'll take my mind off watching my boyfriend worrying about you."
"What? He is worried about me?" I can hear surprise in Alex's voice.
"Yes, because you only speak to Edward and it freaks him out when you don't answer his calls or call him back. So why don't you call me sometime? I can be a good listener."
"I didn't mean to have him worried about me. I just," He sighs. "I feel comfortable talking to him. He doesn't judge me like everyone else does and he gives me good advice. I trust him."
I smile at Edward and run my hand through his hair.
"I know. I do the same but honey, sometimes the person we want to share everything with has his own troubles. We can't forget that. I realized that when he couldn't sleep last night from so many thoughts going around in his head. I thought I should share this with you. I'm not forcing you to talk to me but I'm just letting you know that I'm here for you too."
"Thank you, Bella. Edward never tells me this kind of stuff."
"I know he doesn't. He is a sweetheart." I murmur and Edward kisses my forehead.
"Ugh, don't start with some lovey-dovey shit about him."
I laugh. "I won't."
"Alright, Bella. We have a deal. I'll trouble Edward a little less and instead trouble you more from now on. You have my word."
"That sounds great."
"Well, I'm off to bed now. I'll call you later then. Bye, Bella!"
"Night, Alex. Sweet dreams."
I end the call and Edward crashes his lips against mine. He takes my phone from my hands and puts it away. I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him back with as much passion as I can muster. He rolls me onto the plush mattress and I giggle softly. He laughs and his hands travel inside the t-shirt that I am wearing.
"Not now," I mumble and he sighs. "Come on, next one."
"Fine," He mutters and I stare into his vibrant, green eyes. "I need to find out what James is doing in Pierre."
My heart skips a beat. "James' mother lives in Pierre."
His eyes widen. "Okay, I'll have to let Zidek know that." He says thoughtfully.
"He won't come back to Seattle, will he?" I ask softly.
"No, baby. Never. Not him or his mother."
"Okay." I say in a small voice.
The last time I saw his mother was outside the abortion clinic and she warned me to never cross paths with her or James again. But, I'm with Edward now. I am safe with him. I feel safe with him.
I press my face against his neck and close my eyes.
"I love you, Bella."
"I love you too, Edward. So much," I whisper and he strokes my hair. "Edward?"
"Yes, love?"
"You would never do that, would you?" I ask hesitantly and he pulls back to gaze at me. His hand caresses my face gently.
"Do what, Bella?"
I swallow hard. "Abort, if I ever expectedly… got pregnant." My voice is nothing but a whisper as I choke out the last two words.
Edward has a warm smile on his face. "Of course not. I would never do that. Even if it was unexpected, I couldn't even think of letting go our baby."
My heart skips a beat when he says 'our baby'. It sounds so good to my ears.
"Really?"
"Yes," He chuckles. "Look at you, you look white as a sheet," He pulls me to his chest. "What would make you think that?"
"I just thought," I shake my head and stare at him. "Perhaps, people would think I did it intentionally. Because you're rich."
"Oh, Bella. It doesn't matter what people would think. I think we are past the phase in our relationship where we have trust, honesty or love issues."
"You're so amazing," I murmur and kiss his lips softly.
"What brought this on?"
I blush. "We were talking about James and that reminded me of the last time I met his mother."
"I won't let that happen. A baby would be a part of us," He gives me an adorable grin and strokes my belly. My heart hammers in my chest as we talk about our predicted future. "It would be a beautiful sight, your being pregnant."
I blush and hide my face against his chest.
"Okay, let's move on to the next problem you have," He nods. "It helps to share your problems, doesn't it?"
"You are amazing," He whispers lovingly and gazes into my eyes. "Next up, Rosalie is a big problem for me."
"Why is that?"
"Well, I gave her three months to come clean with Emmett. I'm going to stick with that."
"Let me ask you something," He nods. "Do you like Rosalie?" He shakes his head. "Do you like talking to her?" He makes a face. "Then why do you stress yourself out about someone that you have already sentenced a time period to? Looking at her face on Monday, I don't think she'll forget about it."
"Okay, I won't." He mumbles and presses his face against my hair.
"Next?" I'm suddenly reminded of a point from his list. "Why did you mention your trip to Chicago?"
"I'm going to be missing out on a lot of work. It's Thursday—"
"Don't even think about work while you're gone. Have a good time while you are there. Do you hear me?" I ask firmly and he nods.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Good."
"You can't be much of a help to discuss my three projects," He sighs. "Well, Tanya isn't in Seattle so I'm worried about her. I need to bring her to Seattle. I hope she doesn't do anything dangerous."
"Why would she do anything… dangerous?"
"She's high on drugs and she has her father's gun."
All the air leaves my body and my face ashens. She has a gun. She has a freaking gun! I can feel Edward's hand stroking my face and his velvety voice talking to me but all I can think about is that Tanya is a danger right now.
She is obviously not in her right mind; she is humiliated, disturbed and hurt over whatever has happened with her family. What if she comes after Edward? I can't lose him. What if she does something to him just because he left her? I want Edward to be safe. He doesn't even know where Tanya is, how is that going to work out?
I gaze at Edward; his green eyes are concerned, his expression is frantic and his lips are moving. He is talking to me. I can't make sense of it but he looks pretty scared. I sit up and Edward follows suit. I look into his eyes and his hands gently cradle my face.
"Bella? Baby?"
"What is it?"
"Hey," He murmurs with relief and presses my face to his chest. "Oh love, what happened? Please don't be scared. You're fine, you're safe. Tanya will never come near you again."
I pull back and frown at him. "I'm not worried about me. I'm scared about you. Are you sure she won't come after you? I can't lose you. I love you."
"I love you too, Bella. I will be fine. Don't worry."
"But she has a gun."
"I know but she probably won't use it. I'm just hoping she doesn't do anything irrational."
"Okay." I tightly hug him. "Is there anything else you want to talk about?"
"No, I think that's enough for now. Thank you for being so supportive and hearing me out. You're perfect, baby."
"I'm not."
He chuckles. "Fine and let's make something clear right now," I frown. "You are staying here."
"But—"
His lips silence mine and I sigh but kiss him back. I fold my hands behind his neck and pull him closer. He is so exasperating at times. I still love him very much, though. He slides me onto his lap and his hands reach for the hem of the t-shirt I'm wearing. He hitches it higher and I push him off me.
"Bella!" Edward whines and I glare at him.
"If I have to stay here, we are not having sex until you come back from Chicago."
He pouts. "I'll miss you so much, baby."
"Go, take a shower. I'll have breakfast on the table. What do you want me to make?"
"Whatever you want and Mrs. Cope will be home by this afternoon." He grumbles unhappily and goes to the bathroom.
I sigh and take a deep breath. I want to go back to my apartment. I miss it there. No matter, how small that place is, it's less intimidating and cozier for me. How can I live in this gigantic house by myself? It'll make me miss Edward even more than I am already.
I shake off my thoughts and get out of bed. I make my way to the bathroom and find the door open. I lean against the doorway and find my sexy boyfriend showering. The body wash trails down his body and he runs a hand through his hair.
"Are you staring at me?" Edward asks with his eyes closed.
I bite my bottom lip and take a deep breath. "No."
His green eyes snap open and he looks at me. I step inside the room and he turns off the knobs of the shower. The water drips down his body as he saunters over to me. My breathing hitches as he closes the distance between us.
His eyes never leave mine as he lifts me in his arms bridal style. I caress his face with my hands and wipe away the water. He sets me on my feet outside the shower and grabs the hem of the t-shirt I'm wearing. He pulls it over my head and disintegrates my panties in his hands. He clasps his hand with mine and leads me into the shower.
"Do you have any idea how much I love you?" Edward whispers in a velvet soft voice as the water cascades down our bodies.
"I love you." I murmur breathlessly and meet his piercing gaze.
"You're so beautiful."
He runs his lips over my cheek and I gasp. I gaze at him from under my lashes and he pulls me flush against him. He takes my bottom lip between his teeth and gently tugs on it. I moan softly and wrap my arms around his neck.
"W-What about breakfast?"
"We can make breakfast together after I make love to my girlfriend."
I blush and lean my forehead against his. "I would love that."
God, it's never a dull moment with Edward around.
"Bella?"
I turn to find the source of that voice and see a woman around my age standing at a distance from me. Her shopping cart is overflowing with items and she appears to be carrying a grocery list in her hands. Her blue eyes are gleaming with curiosity and I can't seem to remember where I have seen this woman before.
"I'm sorry, do I know you?"
"I'm Kebi! We went to UDub together."
I still don't remember seeing her ever.
"Oh um, hi. It's great to see you."
"It's so wonderful to see you again!" She says gleefully and skips over to tightly hug me. I am taken aback by her over-friendliness, so I just pat her back and she pulls back.
"Oh! Your outfit is precious!"
"Thank you."
"Where did you get this?"
My boyfriend's personal shopper bought it for me.
"I don't remember." I mumble awkwardly and she nods.
I'm dressed in a cream colored oversized knitted sweater, loosely tucked into blue high rise jeans. I'm very nothing extraordinary but why is she being so nosy? Hmm, this is very fascinating.
"So, I guess you broke up with Eric, huh?"
My eyes widen. "Yeah."
"I heard he is in New York now."
I grin at the new information. "That's great. I'm happy for him. He always wanted to go to New York."
"Yes."
It's time to leave.
"It was nice meeti—"
"Are you dating Edward Cullen?" She blurts out with a big smile.
"I'm sorry; I don't feel comfortable speaking about my private life."
"But you are dating him, aren't you?" She leans closer. "Isn't that great? You are dating The Edward Cullen. He is stinking rich! You did well for yourself. I never thought you had it in you. I mean, you were just a clumsy nerd back in college."
I stare at her narrowly and finally recall her face. She had shorter hair back then but I distinctly remember her. She was the leader of one of the trashiest sororities in college. She had humiliated me a couple of times back then. Even Angela. Huh. Now she has the nerve to speak to me? Just because I got media attention.
"Kebi, mind your own goddamn business and keep your thoughts to yourself. I am not the same person I was six years ago so you can't just talk shit about me and expect me to walk away like nothing has happened. You can leave me the hell alone right now or I can humiliate you in front of the entire store." I snap and she stares at me with her mouth hanging open.
"I was just trying to be nice, Isabella," She huffs.
"Yeah, right. Goodbye, Kebi. Have a great day."
I push the cart to the maple syrup aisle and put a bottle in it. I check my phone and see that it's six in the evening. Edward must have finished with his dinner by now. I don't know why but I am feeling like I am betraying Edward by returning to my apartment. He told me to stay at his place but I got bored!
I left a note for Mrs. Cope and hope that she is understanding about it. I shake off the guilty thoughts and check my grocery list. My phone buzzes in my purse and I smile when Will's name flashes on the screen. I answer the phone.
"Hey, Will! How are you?"
"I'm very mad at you, Bella." His voice sounds serious and humorless.
"What happened? Did I do something bad?"
"Yes, you haven't called me in over a month!"
"Well you haven't called me either." I say and he huffs on the other line.
"You are way too busy with that new boyfriend of yours. You don't have time for me."
My eyes widen. "How do you know about my new boyfriend?"
"Oh please, Bella," He scoffs. "You thought I'd never find out? I have my sources."
"When did you find out?"
"A while ago."
"Oh."
"So I do know what goes on over there." Will says and I can hear the smile in his voice.
"I'm sorry, I didn't call you. Things have been crazy lately. You have no idea how bad."
"Really what happened?"
"Do you remember, I told you about a guy named Riley?"
"You dated him for a few weeks. He came up to us when you were talking about baby carrots." I blush and laugh softly.
"Yep, that guy." I grab a box of cereal and put it in the cart.
"Where are you right now?"
"I'm grocery shopping. I thought I'd stock up my kitchen." I say and make my way to the cashier.
"Should I call back?"
"No, that's okay. I'm at the checkout counter."
"Alright, so what about this Riley guy?" I smile at the woman behind the counter and her eyes fill with recognition. I look away and impatiently wait for her to get over with the checkout process.
"We'll talk about him in a couple of minutes. And when are you visiting the States again?"
"Oh, I'm coming back in two weeks, thought I'd spend Halloween with you."
I laugh. "What a lovely occasion to spend with me. Alice, Edward's sister is already planning something for it."
Will snorts. "Of course she is," I frown. "Alice Cullen is well-known for her star-studded parties. It's always in the news."
I smile. "Alright, so you'll be here this time?"
"Yeah," He grins. "Wouldn't miss seeing you dressed up as Wonder-Woman."
"Not her."
"Catwoman?"
I giggle. "Nope."
"Alright," I quickly pay for the groceries and grab my bags from the cashier. I exit the store and Will continues suggesting to me the possible costumes I can wear.
"… A nurse? Or a flight attendant?"
"Shut up, Will." I mumble and continue walking down the street.
"So, tell me what's wrong with your life."
On my way to my apartment, I give him a detailed summary about what has happened in the past month. About Riley, my birthday, the flowers, the fight, the newspaper articles, my bookstore, Edward being away for a month, secrets about Tanya and Jake going to Dubai.
"Wow," I hear Will sigh softly. "A lot has happened in a month."
"Yeah."
"And don't worry; your talk is safe with me. It seems like you needed to speak about everything to someone."
"God, yes!" I shake my head and step out of the elevator. I fish the key out of my purse and unlock the door of my apartment. "You have no idea."
All the air leaves my body when I open the main door. My heart hammers in my chest and I blink back the tears pricking my eyes. I choke down a sob and drop the bags to the ground.
"Bella? You there? Bella? Are you okay?" I can hear Will talking to me and I finally find my voice.
"Will, I'll call you back later. Bye." I murmur and end the call.
I back away from my apartment and my back hits the wall. I sit down, hugging my knees and immediately call Edward. I wipe away my tears and take a deep breath.
He answers on the third ring.
"Hi, Bella. Have you had dinner yet, love? Emmett and Alice ordered pizzas and I was just thinking about our movie night at your apartment. God, I miss you so much, baby."
I nervously bite my bottom lip and swallow the lump in my throat. I need to speak up.
"Bella, are you there? What is going on? Are you not finding something?"
"Flowers." My voice is nothing but a whisper and I sniffle softly.
"What is it, love? I couldn't hear you. Did you say flowers?"
"My apartment."
"Baby, what about your apartment?"
"Violets."
I weep and the dam breaks as I cry hysterically staring at the living room of my apartment. I hear a lot of commotion on the other line but I can't comprehend anything around me anymore.
"Bella, what the fuck is going on?" Edward asks in a calm voice but I know he is trying to control his rage.
"I came back to my apartment around noon. And I left to do grocery shopping two hours ago. And I just returned," I clear my throat. "My apartment is filled with violets."
There is a beat of silence.
"What?!" He screeches on the other line. "Why did you do something so stupid and reckless, Bella?! Didn't I tell you to stay at my place?! How the fuck can you even go back there?! I'm so mad at you right now, god! Fuck, this is just perfect! All I wanted was—" And the line goes dead.
"Edward?" I say weakly even though I know he has hung up.
I put the phone away and bury my face in my hands as I cry. Now I have Edward mad at me. He is furious, I don't think he'll come back tomorrow either. I sit there for I don't know how long and then I hear the elevator open.
I don't bother looking up. I hear a subtle throat clear and I gaze at the man in his early-thirties. He looks a lot like Matt; with his burly figure, a military haircut and piercing dark brown eyes. I bet he is as tall as Edward.
"Who are you?"
"Ms. Swan, I'm Demetri Bryan. I've been given the responsibility to look after you by Mr. Cullen." He says stiffly and I frown.
"He never mentioned anything to me." I croak out and clear my throat.
"I have been around you since Tuesday and I just received a call from Mr. Zidek to drop you off at Mr. Cullen's safely. If you could please accompany me."
"I can't unless I talk to Edward." I mutter petulantly and he pulls out his phone. He dials a number and hands me the phone. I recognize Edward's number and put the phone to my ear.
"Edward Cullen." My boyfriend snaps urgently and I bite my bottom lip.
"Edward, hey." I say softly and wipe my tears.
"Go back to my place, Bella. You were crazy to go back to yours. Just get the fuck out of there and leave the keys right by the door." He says and ends the call.
I stand up uneasily and return Demetri his phone. I nod at him and he bends to pick up the grocery bags lying on the floor. I compose myself and leave the keys by the door. We silently ride the elevator and I fiddle with my purse as we reach the entrance.
I gasp when I see almost twenty people outside my apartment building, feverishly taking pictures of me. Demetri steps closer and I suck in a deep breath as I follow him towards the car. I can hear the photographers shouting my name and trying to come closer but Demetri make sure to keep them at a safe distance.
"Isabella, is it true that Edward Cullen cheated on Tanya Denali with you?" Oh dear god.
"Isabella, are you pregnant?" Too soon for that.
"Isabella, are you going to marry Edward Cullen?" Okay.
I feel lightheaded from the numerous flashes blinding my eyes. I cast my head downwards and avoid tripping. I sigh with relief when I spot one of Edward's cars parked ten steps away. Demetri holds the door open for me and I quickly settle inside. A few minutes later, Demetri gets into the driver's seat and drives away from the ruckus outside my apartment building.
I run my hands through my hair and groan softly. Edward is right. I am stupid and reckless. All he wanted was for me to stay at his house. Ugh, how am I going to apologize to him? I close my eyes and try to think about anything else but what happened moments ago. Maybe I should call Edward and apologize. I see a text from Edward. He has texted me his flight timing. His flight is scheduled at 2 pm.
I call Edward but it goes straight to voicemail.
"Edward, I'm so sorry. I won't go back to my apartment, please don't stay mad at me. I miss you and I'll wait for you to come home tomorrow. I love you. Bye." I say and my voice breaks a little.
For the first time, I am dreading his coming back to Seattle.
September 25, 2015
I pop a grape in my mouth and chew on it. I sadly gaze at the green turf and the clouds rumbling in the sky. It's like they seem to acknowledge my dull mood. I stare at the porcelain bowl in my hand that is overflowing with freshly cut, juicy fruit. Mrs. Cope called it her special mixed berry fruit salad.
She has neatly arranged blueberries, pineapples, strawberries and grapes in vertical columns. Maybe she is trying to cheer up my gloomy mood. The fruit all look delicious but my stomach recoils just staring at them. At least, I'm not skipping a meal like I promised Edward.
I check my phone to see if there is a text message or missed call from Edward. Did he even receive my voicemail? Maybe he deleted my message without checking it.
I murderously sink the fruit fork into a slice of strawberry and eat it. I check my watch. It's nine in the morning. I haven't slept. I could barely sleep for an hour or two last night; scared that Riley might show up out of nowhere. I stifle a shudder as I recall how my apartment looked like when I saw the violets everywhere. The scent still lingers in my senses. Why violets?
I am sitting on the patio outside the library with my leg perched on the chair in front of me. My phone buzzes and I check the caller ID. It's Will, and I answer it.
"Hi."
"Hey, gorgeous. I was waiting for you to call me back yesterday."
"I'm sorry; it just skipped my mind."
"What happened yesterday, Bella?"
"My apartment was filled with violets. Every single bit of it. I know Riley did it." My eyes water and I take a deep breath.
"Oh Bella, I'm sorry to hear that. Did you call Edward? What did he say?"
"He was mad at me. He was so furious and frustrated with me, Will. I don't know what to do."
"Why is that? It wasn't your fault?"
"He said that I should stay over at his place but I still went back to mine."
He sighs on the other line. "Bella, why do you test his patience? He has been so patient with you. You should've listened to him. And Riley doesn't sound mentally stable. It's best if you stay at Edward's place, it has a security system."
"I know and now he won't even talk to me. I left a message and he hasn't replied."
"When is he coming back?"
"Tonight, around eight."
"Talk to him, I'm sure he will understand. He loves you, there is no way he can stay mad at you."
"Okay, maybe I should call Alice and check how his mood is."
Will chuckles. "Yeah, I've heard it doesn't look good."
"What?" I chew on the strawberry and the juices melt in my mouth.
"You said that he sounds mad, maybe his sister won't say anything else."
"But still, I'm still going to call her."
"Alright, you do that. Other than that, how is your day going?"
"The worst one ever. I am so anxious about Edward coming back."
"Calm down, things will be fine."
"I hope so. You know, Edward's cousin, Alex is also in Sydney. He is a really cool guy, you should meet him."
"Bella, how can I walk up to a stranger and talk to him?" His voice is laced with amusement and I realize how ridiculous my point is. I blush.
"You're right."
"Maybe I'll wear a sandwich board with his name on it."
I laugh. "You can do that. Until then, I'll call Alice and ask what the hell is up with her brother."
"Okay. Take care, Bella. Talk later, bye."
"Bye, Will. You take care too." I end the call and sigh softly.
I immediately call Alice. She answers on the second ring.
"Bella, hi!" She sings sweetly and a smile instantly lights up on my face.
"Alice, hey. How are you?"
"It's so much fun here! Mom and I went shopping and guess what? I saw your photos!" She squeals making me frown.
"What?"
"The stores had fashion magazines and we saw pictures of Edward and you," I choke on the kiwi in my mouth. I cough and drink some water.
"Oh?" I squeak out and she giggles on the other line.
"Yes! You both looked like you were coming straight from the runway with the clothes you were wearing." I blush and play with my hair. My overwhelmed mood dissipates when I am reminded of my Edward's vexation towards me.
"How is he?" I ask softly and stare at the dark clouds.
"Oh Bella, he doesn't look good," She sighs sadly. "He was up last night until late. He is so angry with everyone. He was cooped up in his room making calls to someone."
"Where is he now?"
"Getting ready. We're going out for lunch with Emmett! Mom and dad had to fly out early this morning but we are staying back for lunch. What are you doing?"
"Having breakfast." I stare at the fruit bowl but the contents don't look appealing anymore.
"Oh right, it must be around ten in Seattle."
"ALICE! Are you done with your make-up and shit?! I have some fucking work at my office to do when I get back to Seattle!" Edward yells at her on the other line and I jump a little.
"You know what, Edward," Alice sounds unaffected by his rage. "If you are going to behave like this during lunch, I don't think I want to go."
He sighs loudly. "You're right, I'm sorry. Are you done?"
"Yes, I'm talking on the phone with my friend."
"How long is that going to take?" He snaps and I can hear his irritation.
"Gee, I don't know. Probably until she understands how stupid, irrational and immature her boyfriend is behaving and that she can try to eat some food and not be hungry." Alice mutters to him.
"Bella is it?" Edward asks icily and tears gather in my eyes, hearing the venom in his voice for my name. "Ask her if she went back to her fucking apartment last night to get back together with that fucking psycho."
I sniffle and wipe away my tears that continue flowing down my cheeks.
"Edward, stop! Just get lost, okay? Get the fuck out of here right now! Don't make her cry and act like a ten year old!" I hear Alice's defensive tone and sigh softly.
"Get downstairs, we're waiting." He mutters and I hear nothing but silence on the other line before I hear Alice again.
"Hey, don't bother thinking about what Edward said. What are you having for breakfast?"
"Fruit."
"Just fruit? You are lucky Edward isn't around. He is very particular about your eating full meals."
"Fruit is healthy."
"You know what's healthier? Pancakes, waffles and eggs. Please tell me you had something better for dinner."
"Yes, I had soup."
"Oh god, kill me," She mutters and her voice sounds far off. I hear a pair of footsteps stomping away.
"What happened, Alice?"
"Huh? Nothing. You really don't want to know. And please eat lunch."
"I will, don't worry. I'll try."
"Okay, now I have to go or else your boyfriend might kill me."
"Hmm, bye Alice."
"Bye, Bella! I'll see you soon."
I hang up and put the phone away. I feel an eerie loneliness and stress creeping in. I know that only one thing can help me through this.
Baking.
"So by baking you mean making cookies for the entire city?" Mrs. Cope asks staring at the marble island filled with mountain of cookies on every possible counter. I made chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, and peanut-butter and triple-chocolate peppermint cookies.
I blush and take the new batch out of the oven. "I'm sorry but when I'm stressed, I bake. A lot." I say softly and put the tray on the counter for the cookies to cool down.
"Oh dear, Edward doesn't stay mad for long, don't you worry." She smiles warmly and I bite my bottom lip.
"I don't know, this time he sounded pretty mad."
"He absolutely adores you. How can he possibly stay mad at you for long?" I shrug and eye the empty bowl of cookie batter. There is no batter left. I'll have to make some more.
I reach for the bowl of butter on the side counter and Mrs. Cope hurriedly takes the bowl away from my grasp. She gives my hand a soft squeeze and I look at her.
"Bella sweetheart, I think that's enough baking for one day. It's almost time for dinner and you have been baking since lunch. Mr. Cullen will be home soon. I need to make dinner." I frown.
Edward and I were supposed to have a nice, romantic dinner together; not me baking my ass off in the kitchen.
She continues. "Why don't you take a shower, change and come back here. I'll whip something up for dinner."
I carefully look at myself and realize how messy I really look. I should dress a little better for him.
"Okay. Mrs. Cope, could you pack up these cookies in small containers?"
"Sure, honey. You go ahead."
Edward steps inside the great room at seven thirty on the dot. I put my book away and rise to my feet. I try to gauge his expression but his face doesn't give much away as he is on the phone. I bite my bottom lip and watch his green eyes stare at me from head to toe.
Yes sweetheart, I dressed up for you.
I dressed in a pink V- zip midi dress. I think it looks good but the way he looks could kill me right now.
I hesitantly smile and Edward turns on his heels to walk away from the room. I sigh with disappointment and go to the kitchen. Mrs. Cope has a smile on her face as she stirs her delicious chicken pot pie. It smells like heaven. She frowns when she gazes at me.
"Bella dear, Edward is here. Go talk to him." Mrs. Cope urges encouragingly and she seems keener on us making up than I am.
"He won't talk to me." I mumble and she sighs.
"Give him a hug and he'll be fine. Oh and Tom from security called. They absolutely loved your cookies." I grin despite my anxiety. They loved my cookies.
I had told Mrs. Cope to take a sample of cookies to every single person working around this massive house. Edward and I would never be able to finish so many cookies. Plus, it's always nice to make others happy.
"Thank you, I'll go talk to Edward." I reply hurriedly and go to his bedroom.
I hear nothing but silence from the hallway although I hear water running in the bathroom. He must be taking a shower. I notice his phone placed on the sofa and it vibrates due to an incoming call. The call ends just as I reach the phone.
I press on the home button and my eyes blaze with anger when I see the caller ID. Tanya. Why is his ex-girlfriend calling him? Does he still talk to her? I know he needs to speak to her but he can tell me about it.
I steal a quick glance towards the bathroom door and take hold of his phone. I check his call logs and my heart stills when I see that she called him last night. She called him after midnight. I run a hand through my hair and check the call duration. One hour! He was talking to his ex-girlfriend for an hour!
Alice's words come crashing back to me.
"He was up until late at night. He is so angry with everyone. He was cooped up in his room making calls to someone."
That someone was his ex-girlfriend. He was speaking to that troll. I hear footsteps approaching the bedroom so I abruptly lock the phone and hurl it back on the sofa. Matt walks in with Edward's luggage. He offers me a smile but it looks tense.
"Good evening, Matt."
"Evening, Ms. Swan. I hope you are fine now." He says kindly.
Jeez, that's why he looks so tired. Edward must be furious with him as said that he was mad at everyone.
"I'm good, Matt. How is your boss?"
"Could be better." He mutters and I can see his masked exasperation behind it.
I sigh and nod at him. He nods back at me and makes his way to the walk-in closet. The phone rings again and I see the same troll's name flashing on the screen. I huff and march out of the room and make my way back to the kitchen.
Mrs. Cope stares at me with confusion and I shake my head.
"He is not worth making up with." I say and I realize that I am suddenly jealous of his crazy ex-girlfriend.
Edward is quiet as we have dinner but I can sense his cold glances in my direction. I move the food around the plate as I have lost my appetite. I sip my wine and look at Edward, who is staring at his plate with a thoughtful expression on his face. I notice that he isn't eating dinner either.
His phone buzzes on the table and I have the sudden urge to grab it and check the name but I contain myself. I take a bite of my chicken and chew slowly as I watch him anxiously glance at the mobile screen. He stares at me for a fraction of second before turning the phone upside down. It must be Tanya.
"What's wrong? Why aren't you answering your phone?" I ask coolly and sip my wine to gain some courage to give him a levelled stare.
"It's nothing." He snaps and finishes his wine. He grabs the bottle and refills my glass, followed by his.
"Really? I want to know what Tanya has been up to." I say casually and his green eyes stare at me with a knowing look. They regard me with irritation and… hurt?
"I know you checked my phone while I was in the shower." He murmurs and shakes his head as a humorless smile escapes his lips. I blush scarlet but don't let my calm demeanor vanish.
"I wanted to talk to you but instead I saw her name flashing on your phone. I got curious."
"Curiosity killed the cat." He says with a feather soft voice.
"Ignorance killed the cat, curiosity was framed." I deadpan and he drinks his wine. I can see a smile threatening to escape his lips but he hides it well. Ugh, this man is so annoying!
"Your apartment is safe to go to now," He mutters and eats his pot pie. "It's cleaned up and everything has been taken care of."
"Are you kicking me out of your house?" I ask and feel rejected.
"I didn't say that."
"You meant it though, or else why would you mention it?"
"So you can go meet Riley again, or somebody else? Who was that guy who helped you with your gown shopping? Wade something…" It's Will.
"I can't believe you are the one saying this," I am in disbelief as I gaze at him. His green eyes tighten and meet mine. They are smoldering and bold; trying to probe me tonight. I can feel it. He is testing my patience. It should be the other way around. "When you are the one talking to your ex!"
"I'm not talking to her to start things up again. It's important that I answer her calls. You don't have to make snarky remarks about her."
"I'm not doing that and it's really unbelievable that you are defending her. When has she become so important that she could jeopardize what we have!" I yell and he bangs his fist on the table, making the plates clutter.
"Damn it, Bella! You have no idea what the fuck is going on!"
"I don't, because you don't tell me anything. Not about Tanya, not about Riley, not about James! Not one thing! How do you expect me to understand?!" I roar back at him and feel oddly powerful tonight.
"I can't say anything to you because you do stupid things like going back to your fucking apartment yesterday!"
"Don't repeat the same shit like a broken record, Edward! Just tell me why you are speaking with your ex-girlfriend. You said things were fine. That she probably won't use the damn gun! That we will be safe. Do you miss her?"
"How can you say that, Bella?!" There is so much hurt in his voice and his eyes bore into mine with a pained intensity that I have never felt before. But, I'm not able to control my pent up emotion tonight. I push the plate away and stand up.
"I'll leave tomorrow morning before you are up, I promise you that." I mutter and turn to leave for his bedroom.
"Do you really think I'm cheating on you with her?" He asks behind me. His voice is a soft, cautious whisper. I turn and look into his green eyes.
"If you can't trust me enough to tell me everything about Riley, Tanya and James; why do you think I should trust you?"
His face looks like I have just slapped him hard in the face. I regret the words the second they spill out of my mouth. Tears start oozing from my eyes instantly and I rush out of the dining room as fast as I can.
Good job, Swan. You screwed up the situation that was barely mended in the first place.
I march inside the walk-in closet and guilt creeps inside me as I stare at my clothes. He was so sweet to do this all for me. I walk over to his closet and grab the same t-shirt that I slept in last night. I walk over to his bed and grab his pillow and put mine in his place.
I wipe away the tears that threaten to spill from my eyes and hug the pillow to my chest. I walk down the hall towards the farthest guest room that happens to the be the one next to his piano room.
I turn the lights on and take a quick look at the room. The wallpaper is cream colored and the furniture is pale. I like it. I place the pillow on the bed and unzip my dress. I hear a pair of footsteps approaching the hallway so I turn off the lights. I watch Edward angrily speaking to Kyle as he enters his study.
I hide against the doorway and watch him peek inside his bedroom. He frowns and enters the room. He places his ear against the bathroom door and frowns. He enters his study and leaves the door slightly ajar.
I take off my clothes and put on the oversized t-shirt. So much for dressing up for this man. I put an end to everything myself. I take off the matching earrings and necklace and put them on the nightstand. I open the drapes and the moonlight flits inside the room from the glass wall.
My hand reaches for Edward's pillow as soon as I get under the covers and hug the pillow to my chest. I breathe in the familiar scent that is just Edward and my head swims with the intoxicating fragrance.
I try to sleep but I can't because Edward continues shouting in his study. I know the walls are soundproof but our doors are left open. For all I care, it's soothing to hear his voice talking. Maybe I should apologize and we can talk about everything tomorrow. Should I? I think I should. I won't be able to sleep if I don't make an effort to take one step forward. I don't want us taking two steps back.
I wrap the top most silk sheet around my body and strut towards his study. I stand in the doorway and watch Edward working. He has a pencil between his lips, a Bluetooth headset in his ear and his laptop his hands as he intently stares at the mounting board. I gently knock on the door and his wild, angry green eyes meet mine. I bite my bottom lip and try to show my earnest apologies.
Edward shakes his head and motions me to leave with his index finger. I dejectedly return to the guest bedroom. These past two weeks have been both the worst and best weeks of my life. His words from yesterday morning haunt me.
"I think we are past the phase in our relationship where we have trust, honesty or love issues."
Has it just been a day since then?
I run a hand through my hair and make my way back to the guest room. I get under the covers again and pull the sheets up to my chest. I hug the pillow and close my eyes. I hope tomorrow will be better than how disastrous tonight was.
Here's to wishing.
September 26, 2015
"… and for some reason, she is after you, love. When will you understand? Why would you ever think I would want to talk to her? She's addicted to drugs, she has a gun. I'm trying to find out where she is… my way. She has been following you; Riley and Tanya both are. When will you know how precious you are to me? I love you so much, baby."
My fuzzy mind is not able to comprehend what is happening. I can see a meadow and Edward is there with me but he isn't speaking. Where is this voice coming from? It's all dark but the velvety voice is soothing to hear.
"Edward." I sigh his name out loud, hoping he will hear me. I hear nothing, just a sharp intake of breath.
"Go to sleep, angel. We'll talk in the morning. I'll tell you everything this time. I love you." I feel a soft pressure on my forehead and I smile, loving the feel of it. I snuggle against the comfortable bedding and feel Edward very close to me which helps me fall into a deep slumber.
I frown sleepily when I hear the click of the door. Then the rumble of clouds. Ugh, I hate thunder. And I know I'm not sleeping next Edward, which means I need to try to sleep through this bitchy weather on my own. I sigh softly and feel someone's gaze on me. I'm not opening my eyes if it's Edward, he shooed me out of his study.
I roll away to the other side and feel a pair of eyes burning a hole in the back of my head. I open my eyes and gaze at the glass wall and watch the heavy rainfall. I rub my eyes and feel my stomach pooling with anxiety. My heart beat speeds up and I try to ignore this feeling.
Why does it feel weird? Is it because I'm not sleeping next to Edward? Or because I know he is mad at me? I bite my bottom lip and play with the tendrils of hair that have fallen on my face. I let out a hearty yawn and shift a little. I feel like my sixth sense is trying to tell me something.
Suddenly, I hear a glass shattering to pieces behind me. I freeze and hear a hiss escape a pair of lips. What is happening? Who is it? Is someone here for me? Is this how I am going to die? I gradually sit up and slowly turn my head in the direction of the doorway. I stop breathing. Yes, this is how I'm going to die.
The figure stumbles and staggers a little and I can smell the stench of alcohol everywhere in the room. A bottle of hard liquor is shattered to pieces on the floor and blood is oozing from the person's right hand. Tears prick my eyes and I turn pale just staring back at the person in the room.
My heart falters when I gaze at the gun in the hand. Blue ravenous eyes meet mine and they are hungry to kill me. I can see it. There is jealousy, hatred and disgust in those eyes and I didn't think that this would happen, even in my wildest dreams.
My body musters up enough courage and I dare to look into the glazed over eyes of Tanya Denali.
SPECIAL THANKS TO EdwardsFirstKiss FOR EDITING THIS CHAPTER!
REVIEW AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS THINK!
THANK YOU FOR READING MY STORY!
UNTIL NEXT TIME GUYS!
LOVE,
Paint the Walls