THE OTHER WOMAN

DISCLAIMER: STEPHENIE MEYER OWNS IT ALL.

October 20, 2015

BELLA

I tighten my hold on the cup in my hand and shyly peek at the horde of paparazzi surrounding us. The clicking of numerous cameras irritates me but I try to ignore them. Alice walks by my side, furiously texting on the phone to someone and I can't wait until we reach our destination.

Alice and I were supposed to finish this task in the afternoon but we lost track of time when we hung out with Jane at her place. We had a lot to talk about; especially about the upcoming events of her NGOs. She loves to create an impact and offer aid to people who need it. She is always motivated to help others.

Jane also mentioned that Edward is a big-time philanthropist and runs and manages many non-profit organizations. I always knew that he supported a lot of social causes but I didn't know that he did it on such a large scale. I would love to help him in any way I can.

"I'm texting Kelly to have the designs ready for us. This won't take long." Alice says, bringing me out of my reverie.

"I hope it doesn't." I mutter under my breath.

"I heard that," Alice says and smiles. "Don't worry, we'll finish quickly."

"I think I have to go grocery shopping tomorrow."

"Are you trying out more recipes?"

"Yes," I smile at her. "I'm going to have the draft of my cookbook ready by December."

"I can't wait; it's going to be amazing! We should have a launch party and then the success party."

I giggle. "Calm down, Alice. There is still time."

"Edward must be excited too."

I blush. "He is."

I check my watch and sigh. It's seven in the evening. Edward must be up by now. I haven't spoken to him since yesterday. I miss him. I play with the pendant hanging around my neck and continue walking.

My heart settles down when I spot Alice's boutique not far from us. I walk towards it as fast as I can and relief washes over me once we are inside the building. Alice grabs my hand in hers and leads me to the waiting lounge. I sit on the white sofa and lean my head against the tilted headrest. God, I love this place.

I take an inviting sip of coffee and smile. I feel better now. I open my eyes and see that Alice is on the phone with someone. She ends the call and plops down next to me.

"I feel like I've seen a similar sofa somewhere." I whisper to her and she giggles.

"It's in Edward's office. I loved it so I told Edward that when he designed my store, I wanted a similar one."

"Edward designed this store?" I ask curiously and she nods.

"Yes and the headquarters. But the rest of the stores were designed by somebody else from the company. This is one of my favorites."

"Yes, it's stunning."

I feel a sense of pride knowing that my boyfriend has done such an amazing job. He is so talented.

My eyes race over to Demetri when I find him stepping inside the store. He nods at me and I smile. I excuse myself from Alice and walk over to him. He clears his throat and straightens his tie.

"How is your son doing? What did the doctor say?" I ask with concern and he sighs.

"The doctor said that it will take a couple of days for him to get his strength back. It's just the common flu. Thank you for calling Dr. Cullen and asking him to send a doctor to my place."

I blush and tuck an errant piece of hair behind my ear. "It's not a problem. Who is looking after your son?"

"His mother took him to her place. I'll visit him in a couple of days."

I frown. "That's not right. Your son needs you right now."

"But, I can—"

"No," I cut him off. "You can take two days off and spend time with him."

"Ms. Swan, I'll be fine." He says firmly and I roll my eyes.

"I want you to go and look after him. Do you hear me?" I ask in a hard voice and he nods anxiously.

"I can't. Not unless Mr. Zidek and Mr. Cullen agree to it."

"Can you call Mr. Zidek right now?"

Demetri calls him and passes me the phone. I press the phone to my ear and Mr. Zidek answers on the third ring.

"Zidek." He snaps on the other line, his voice sounds scruffy and sharp.

"Mr. Zidek, this is Bella."

"Ms. Swan," He greets and clears his throat. "Is there a problem?"

"Yes," I sigh softly. "Demetri's son is very sick and I would like for him to take two days off. He told me he can't unless you approve."

"Ms. Swan, Mr. Cullen won—"

"Can he take tomorrow off?" I repeat and frown at no one in particular. This is so irritating.

"Not unless I ask Mr. Cullen."

"I don't think my boyfriend needs to be disturbed for such a small issue. I think I can handle this."

"Yes, ma'am. I'll have Chuck fill in for him."

"It's settled then. Thank you, Mr. Zidek. Have a good night," I hang up and give Demetri his phone back. "Done."

"Thank you, Bella." Demetri says with a rare smile on his face.

"You're welcome."

I saunter back to where Alice is speaking to somebody and grin when I hear soft piano chords flitting through the speakers. I miss Edward so much. I need to hear his voice. I call him and he answers immediately.

"Good morning, handsome." I greet him and blush.

"This is the best wakeup call ever," His velvety voice floats through the line and he chuckles. "Good morning, beautiful. How are you?"

"I'm good. I'm at Alice's store."

"Ah, yes. You were supposed to select a gown for yourself." He remembers everything.

"Yes. And how is work?"

"I have a jam-packed schedule today. I'm glad I have Victoria with me."

"Don't take that stress back to the hotel when you go to bed."

He laughs. "I won't, baby. God, I miss you."

"I miss you too, Edward. Did you just wake up?"

"Yeah, I was checking my call logs. There was a missed call from Pops. I'll have to call him back later."

I smile. "He must be missing you."

"Maybe," He chuckles. "Or he must be having trouble using emojis to annoy dad."

I giggle. "I see. That's funny."

"How was yesterday? Did you go back to your apartment in your Porsche?"

"Well, after you left, I fell asleep again."

"I thought you must have gone back to your place."

"I didn't get much sleep Sunday night. My boyfriend kept me up." I whisper slyly and he chuckles.

"Did he? Aren't you lucky?"

I flush and play with a strand of my hair. "I guess I am."

"Please tell me you drove your car back to your apartment."

"I did, sweetheart. I took the other one."

"Which one exactly?"

"The one you lied to me about and told me that you sold but didn't."

He groans. "Love, I told you to take the four-seater! Why don't you listen to me? I need you to be safe!"

"I don't like to be driven around all the time and that car made sure that I could drive it by myself."

"Bella!" I hear his exasperation.

"I didn't call you so we could start fighting, Edward."

There is a beat of silence.

"I know, angel. I'm sorry. Let's not fight."

Alice taps her right foot impatiently and gives me a pointed look. She mouths me to be quick and I give her a sheepish smile.

"Two minutes, please." I whisper and she nods and walks away from me.

"Is that Alice?" Edward asks and I can hear the smile in his voice.

"Yes, we are behind schedule."

"She can wait, you know," He groans lightly. "God, I'm going to kill Kate."

"What happened?"

"Nothing, we need to go over a couple of financial issues regarding the takeover. She's called me twice since you and I started talking."

"Oh, we can talk later if you want."

"No, she can wait. There are probably issues with money. A phone conversation is not going to solve everything. She had better have answers ready for me."

"Don't be too harsh on her." I say softly and he sighs.

"Frankly, I don't give a damn."

"Okay, Clark Gable. Calm down."

Edward laughs on the other end of the line and I can hear his tension melting away. I giggle and shake my head. He has a short temper.

"I love you so much, Bella."

"I love you too, honey. Speaking of issues, I'm having a little problem with my card. Can you help me with that?" Maybe I shouldn't concern him with this. He already has work lined up for the day.

"What's wrong, my love?"

"I went to the ATM and my card was declined. I had to use the other one but I don't have much money in that account."

"I was hoping you would bring that up."

I frown. "What? You knew about this?"

"Yeah well, I opened a joint account for us last week. Just a second, I'll tell Demetri."

"Tell Demetri what?" He doesn't respond and I sigh angrily. "Edward, I can't believe you did that! You closed my bank account without my permission? How is that even possible?"

"Calm down, angel. Just a minute."

I sigh loudly and look over at Demetri who is staring at his phone screen. He starts walking in my direction and I bite my bottom lip. What the hell did Edward do?

"Ms. Swan." Demetri says and pulls out a black kit from his suit jacket. My eyes widen as I watch him open it. He displays the contents to me and I gasp.

"What the hell is this?"

"It's a kit for your Centurion card, ma'am. This is the manual in case…" Demetri's voice becomes a buzz to my ears as I watch him show me two shiny black American Express cards tucked inside. He plucks one out and passes it to me.

I shakily take it from him and see my name inscribed on it.

"I'm going to kill you, Edward." I whisper in a seething voice and he sighs. Demetri takes a look at my face and scurries away.

"Baby, this is for your safety. Believe me. Did Demetri give you the personal card?" He asks and I remain quiet. "Well, the other one is for work. You can use it once your bookstore opens or to help with costs related to your cookbook. It's not active yet so let Demetri keep it for now. Use the other one."

Tears of frustration gather in my eyes as I stare at the card in my hand. What the hell was he thinking? He can't force me to use this card! It's his money! I won't use it. I want to stomp my foot and throw a fit but I stay put. I don't want to cause a scene in Alice's store.

"Bella? You there, love?"

"I'm not going to use the card."

"You have eight hundred and sixty bucks on the other card, how will you manage everything?!" He shouts and I chuckle dryly.

"Don't you worry about that. I can take care of myself."

"You don't have to be so stubborn all the time, Isabella. I'm doing this for you."

"Without my consent! And how the hell do you know my bank balance?"

He ignores me. "You had better use the card."

"No, I won't."

"I really don't want to start my day with a stupid fight."

"Then stop being so ridiculous and irrational."

"I'm not; you're the one who's being absurd."

"Absurd?" I take a deep breath and try to control my anger. "Let's not discuss this any further."

"You really don't want me angry, Bella. Do as I say."

"I'm not your damn puppet to act as you say. I'm free to do whatever the hell I want."

"Bella, why the fuck are you so stubborn all the damn time! This is a matter of a stupid credit card! Just take it!" He mutters something else under his breath and I can't catch the words but I hear something along the words of 'take you across my knee'.

"Oh really? Well your short-temper will be nothing compared to what's waiting for you at home, Edward Cullen. Goodbye." I hang up and exhale deeply.

He is impossible sometimes.

October 21, 2015

I call Edward's phone, but he doesn't answer. I frown. I wonder when he is coming back to Seattle. He should be on the tarmac right now. I check the time on my phone and it's six in the evening. We haven't spoken to each other since our credit card debacle yesterday.

I go to my kitchen and rummage through the cabinets to find something to eat. I'm in the mood for Italian tonight. I think it's time to go grocery shopping. I change into a pair of dark wash jeans, a long-sleeved t-shirt and jacket. I put on my blue sneakers and grab my wallet. I stare at the keys to my Porsche but instead decide to walk the four blocks to the grocery store.

When I step outside my apartment, I frown when I don't see Chuck anywhere. Where did he go? I shrug that thought away and lock the apartment.

There isn't much of a crowd at the store tonight. I like to shop when there aren't a lot of people around. I push my cart along and fill it up with all the items I need. I decided to buy fresh fruit to make juice for Edward tomorrow morning. I think I'll call him after dinner and we can work out our issue. He can come over for breakfast.

I stumble a little on my way to the checkout stand but thankfully, nobody notices. I sigh tiredly when I see lines at all the checkout stands so I stand in the shortest one, behind a tall blonde.

I call Edward again but he still doesn't answer his phone. Maybe he is busy with work. I figured he would be over our fight by now. My thoughts are interrupted when the girl at the cash counter motions for me to step forward with my cart. Her eyes light up with recognition and I want to dig a hole and bury myself. She starts checking out the items and stares at me like a hawk while chewing her gum soundly. Ugh, it's so annoying.

"I've seen your photos in the magazines." She says coolly and I check her nametag—Linda.

"Oh."

"Your boyfriend's hot," I stare at her face and practically see the gum rotating in her mouth as she speaks. "Where did you meet him?"

I hope she stops talking altogether.

"I bought him at a sale." I say dryly and she cracks a smile.

"You are getting married, aren't you? I read it somewhere." Ugh, will she stop talking?!

I don't answer her and she reads the amount on the computer screen. "That'll be $104.50."

I nod and give her my regular credit card. "Here you go."

Two minutes later, she returns the card to me.

"The card was declined." Linda says and I stare at her taken aback. What the hell?

"Are you sure?"

"Yep." She pops the 'p' at the end.

How is that even possi—Edward! I'm going to kill him!

"Are you carrying cash?" She asks and I check my purse but only find $50. I hate this. I hate this.

"Just 50 dollars."

"I'm sorry, ma'am. You'll have to step away. There are customers behind you." She snaps and I roll my eyes. I reluctantly pass her my black American Express card and she mutters something under her breath. She hands me the receipt and I stomp off with my bags towards the exit.

I juggle the bags in my hands and hear the rumble of clouds. Yeah, I should've bought my car instead. Or an umbrella. If I walk fast, I can reach my apartment before it starts to rain.

I start walking along the street and feel tiny droplets of rain falling on me. I hate this weather! The cold wind hits my face and a shiver runs down my spine. Where is Edward's security team when you really need them?! The rain starts coming down in buckets and I'm drenched head to toe within seconds.

I cover my bags and keep my head down as I walk alone on the empty street because nobody but me is stupid enough to walk in such a nasty weather. I wipe my runny nose using the sleeve of my jacket and blink back the water from my eyes that is blurring my vision. I feel so uneasy.

A car honks loudly behind me and drives past me at jet speed, making me jump. This is the most uncomfortable I have ever been. I sigh with relief when I spot my apartment building not far from where I am.

My footsteps pause when a car noisily stops next to me. Three people leap out of the shiny black car and my eyes widen. One of them takes the grocery bags from my hands, the other one holds an umbrella over my head and the last one ushers me inside the car. My teeth chatter noisily and my cheeks flame with a blush.

"We apologize for not being here, Ms. Swan but, we were on one of our five mile radius rounds. We make rounds twice a day. We didn't know Chuck would be gone from his post during the exact time you left the building. It took us time to return to your building, but by then, you were gone." The driver explains and the others stare straight ahead with stoic expressions on their faces.

"F—Fine." I stutter out and wrap my arms around myself.

I quickly step out of the car once we reach the building and John frowns looking at my weary form.

"Bella, why you didn't take an umbrella or raincoat with you?" He asks and I shake my head.

"I didn't think it would rain so heavily."

"Oh dear, take good care of yourself."

"I will." I tremble as the gust of wind hits my face and I notice Chuck rushing over to me.

"Ms. Swan, I'm so—"

"Where the hell were you?!" I shout as he takes my grocery bags from security.

He looks at me with an embarrassed expression on his face as we walk towards the elevator. I cross my arms over my chest and rub my right arm. We step inside and I run a hand through my drenched hair.

"Well?" I ask impatiently and he shuffles his head.

"I was on a bathroom break and security wasn't here." He whispers stiffly and I blush.

"Oh."

I grab the key from my purse once we step outside my apartment but my ice cold hand has turned stiff. Chuck opens the door for me and leads me inside. He puts the bags on the kitchen counter and apologizes profusely before he leaves.

I lock the door and carelessly strip out of my drenched clothes as I walk to the bathroom. I finally take off my panties and get into the tiny shower. I turn on the knob and sigh soundly when the hot water cascades down my body. I sneeze and shake my head.

I hope this cold only lasts for a couple of hours.

October 22, 2015

I blindly reach for a tissue and clean up my runny nose. I crumple the paper and throw it away. I grab another one just as I sneeze and blow my nose on it. I shift uncomfortably and groan when my body aches.

I turn towards the window and watch the heavy rain. I check the time on my alarm clock and it's nine-thirty in the morning. I weakly reach for the duvet and push it off me. I slowly sit up and swing my legs to touch the floor. I frown when they land on something soft. It must the mountain of tissues overflowing since last night.

I grip the edge of the bed for support and stand up. I hold my head in my hands when the room starts spinning in front of me. I plop down on the bed again and open my eyes. This has never happened before. Maybe I need more sleep.

I shiver from the cold and uneasily crawl back under the duvet. I clean up my nose again and throw the tissue away. I stare at my white ceiling as I feel my head throbbing and ears ringing. My eyes gradually start drooping and I doze off…

My eyes shoot up when I hear the sound of a familiar tone ringing. It's coming from my right. My phone! I take hold of my cell phone and bring it to my chest. I squint from the brightness on the phone screen and realize it's noon. Wow, I slept for almost three more hours. But, why the hell am I still tired?

I check the display screen and there are four missed calls from Edward. I sigh and put the phone on the pillow next to me. I'm too tired to talk right now. I close my eyes and fall back asleep.

The next time my phone rings, it's Edward calling again. Ugh, it's only been forty minutes since he last called! I answer his call and press the phone to my ear.

"Hi, Bella. I'm so sorry about our fight, love. And I'm sorry I couldn't answer your calls yesterday. I had to reschedule my flight for later because I was held up with work. I also had a breakfast meeting at eight thirty today. Please don't get mad at me for closing your accounts but you don't need them anymore, love. I have a meeting in five minutes so it'd be really great if you say something." He rambles on and takes a lungful of breath.

"Hey." I croak out and sniffle softly.

"Baby, are you crying?"

"No." I sneeze and he sighs softly.

"You don't sound well, Bella. Should I come over?"

"Edward, the mayor is on his way." I hear Victoria say and Edward sighs.

"Bella? Should I—"

"No, no!" I say loudly and my scratchy throat aches. "It's okay. I'm fine. Just a normal cold," I whisper and hear nothing but silence on the other line.

"Love, I don't like how you sound."

"I'm fine," I say weakly. "You can drop by tonight for dinner if you want." Will I be able to cook in this condition?

"Okay."

"I'll see you in a couple of hours then."

"Bye." He hangs up and I frown sadly.

That's it?

Tears prick my eyes and I throw the phone away from me. I pull the duvet higher and close my eyes. I wipe my tears away and sniffle.

I make a failing attempt to go back to sleep but the sound of rain is very uncomfortable. When I drift off to sleep, I dream about Edward and me in the meadow back in Forks. But I'm tired from walking in the dream. The scorching sun is burning up, but it looks like it's raining. How is that possible?

I sigh when soft, long fingers brush against my forehead and a hiss escapes a pair of lips. I open my tired eyes and stare right into a pair of gorgeous green ones. Edward hesitantly sits on the edge of the bed and his hand caresses my cheek. I get overwhelmed looking at him because I haven't seen him for four days.

Edward leans forward and presses a tender kiss on top of my head. He leans his forehead against mine and takes my warm hand in both of his. He kisses my knuckles and his dark eyes bore into mine.

"I want to sit up." I murmur and he nods. He adjusts a pillow behind me and I sit up straight. I pull him closer and he envelops me in his arms. He sighs and buries his nose against my hair.

"Why didn't you call me, baby? I don't like to see you like this." He says unhappily and releases me to stare at my face.

"Hurts."

"What hurts, darling?"

"Headache."

"How did this even happen? You were perfectly fine when I left."

I sneeze and he passes me a tissue. I clean up my runny nose and sigh softly. He wraps the duvet around me and intently stares at my face.

"What's wrong?" I ask and he clears his throat.

"If there is—"

I sneeze again, cutting him off.

"You need to rest, my love. We'll talk about this later, okay? I'll give dad a call and he'll send a doctor over immediately."

"That's okay, Edward. I'm fine." I say weakly and he cleans my nose with a tissue.

"Of course you are," He says softly. "But I'm still calling dad."

"Edward, I'm fine…" My sentence trails off when he glares at me.

"Sleep." He snaps angrily and stands up. He kisses my forehead and walks out of the bedroom.

I lie back on the bed and hear his voice coming from the living room.

"Hi, dad… No, I'm at Bella's place… It was tiresome, but I caught a few hours of sleep… That sounds great but we can't…Bella has the flu… Yes, that would be great, dad… How long?… Alright, that's not an issue. I'll text you the address. Bye, dad."

Edward enters the room and I notice he is holding articles of clothing in his hands. I blush when I realize they are my wet clothes that I discarded yesterday while going to the bathroom. He meets my gaze and stares at me with an amused expression on his face.

"Does the trail end somewhere?"

"I'll do it. Please don't do it." I croak out and sit up.

"Bella, don't get up," He walks over to me and lays my clothes at the end of the bed. "Hey, don't feel bad."

"You didn't come here to clean up my place."

"No, I came here to take care of my darling girlfriend because she is sick and needs to rest." He emphasizes his sentence by helping me lie back on the bed.

"But—"

"Hush now," He kisses my forehead and I sigh. "Now where are your panties? Or were you going commando yesterday?"

I giggle and point to the bathroom. He smiles and goes into my bathroom. I snuggle against the pillow and he gathers all my clothes in his arms.

"Should I put them in the laundry room?"

I nod.

Edward reenters the bedroom with a trashcan in his hands and places it next to my bed. He takes off his jacket and rolls up the sleeves of his shirt. He squats and starts throwing the wasted tissues in the can. I shake my head.

"Edward, I can do that." I say and he chuckles.

"I can do it too," He makes the carpet spotless and stands up. He grabs a tissue and cleans up my runny nose. "Much better now. I'll bring you warm water with honey for your sore throat and once the doctor instructs me what to give you, I'll make lunch, okay?"

"Thank you." He smiles and kisses the top of my head.

"I'll be back in ten."

Edward saunters out of the room and I shut my eyes. I open them when I hear his footsteps approaching the room. I sit up and he gives me a glass of warm water. I take an inviting sip and sigh when the warm water acts as a soothing balm against my sore throat. I finish the water and he puts a thermos on the nightstand.

"There is more in there. Let me know when you want some, okay?" I nod and he sits on the edge of the bed.

"You're so great."

"I love you, Bella." He whispers and plants a kiss behind my ear.

"I love you too."

"You look so beautiful," I blush and roll my eyes. "You do. I missed you terribly when I was away."

"I'm sorry we got into an argument."

"We'll talk about that later," He dismisses the topic. "I need you healthy again."

"Yes, sir."

"The doctor will be here any minute."

I shift and have the sudden urge to pee.

"Do you need something?"

"I need to use the bathroom." I whisper and he rises to his feet. He helps me up and I slowly reach the bathroom.

Two minutes later, I step out and find Edward nowhere around. I sit back on the bed and Edward walks in with a woman in tow. I offer her a smile and she smiles back warmly.

"Bella, this is Dr. Pinzer."

Dr. Pinzer walks over to me and asks me to lie down on the bed.

"Mr. Cullen, if you could please give us some privacy."

"No thank you. I'm not leaving my girl." He says firmly and crosses his arms over his chest.

"I think Ms. Swan would like some privacy. This won't take long."

Edward doesn't make a move to leave, and the doctor looks at me. I blush and stare at my exasperating boyfriend.

"Edward honey, this won't take long," I say softly and he opens his mouth to argue but I shake my head. "Please?" He leaves the room.

Ten minutes later, he walks back in as I'm buttoning up my pajama shirt. Edward walks over to us and the doctor hands him a prescription. She bids me goodbye and I hear him asking about my diet as they exit the room. He returns two minutes later and I try to get the sleep out of my eyes.

"I think I saw Chuck outside. I'll ask him to get your pills," I nod and he kisses my cheek. "And I'll make soup for you until then." He strokes my cheek and offers a beautiful smile.

I get back under the covers and drift off to sleep.

I wake up when I hear Edward calling my name. My eyes flutter open and I find him staring at me with concern etched on his handsome face. He brushes the stray hair away from my face and lowers the duvet. He wipes away the bead of sweat rolling off my forehead and helps me sit up.

"Hey." I whisper and he kisses the back of my hand.

"I'm sorry I had to wake you up but you need to eat something. I made soup for you."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, love."

"I'll go freshen up." I scramble out of the bed and go to the bathroom. I wash my face with ice cold water and dab my face with a dry towel. I brush my teeth and return to where my boyfriend is.

Edward puts the tray on his lap and grabs the bowl of chicken noodle soup. It looks heavenly. I rest my head on his shoulder and he kisses my hair.

"I hate being sick." I sniffle and reach for a tissue.

"I know, angel. But, you'll be fine. You might feel weak for a couple of days but Dr. Pinzer told me to give you energy drinks."

"Oh."

"Here."

He blows on a spoonful of soup and feeds it to me. It tastes amazing.

"This is the best soup I've ever had." I say and he feeds me more.

"Thank you, Bella. Maybe I can make you juice too. I saw fresh fruit on your counter."

"Ugh, don't remind me of that."

"Why not?"

"I went to get groceries yesterday," I start off and take the spoon from his hand. "But it started to rain, and I had to walk back home. I thought my fever was temporary, but it stuck on."

"What the fuck was Demetri doing?" He mutters angrily and pulls out his phone. "I'll have him fired right now."

I stop him. "Honey, wait. Listen to me first."

"What is it?" He sighs impatiently.

"Demetri is not here. He told me on Monday that his son has the flu so I told him to take a couple of days off to look after his son."

He frowns. "Why wasn't I informed? I told Zidek to gi—"

"I told Zidek not to bother you," I stroke his cheek. "It's not something that you need to worry about. And Chuck is here."

"Where the fuck was he when you went out? And why didn't you take your car?!" Edward yells and I frown at him.

"Why are you shouting at me?" I whisper and tears prick my eyes for some reason. I look away.

"We could've avoided all of this," He says softly and pulls me in his arms. I snuggle against him and close my eyes. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to shout at you, baby."

"I'm sorry. I've been feeling a little… crummy."

"It's not your fault," He strokes my hair. "Come on, finish your soup."

"Okay."

"You should've taken your car, baby."

"I know but I wanted to take a walk. And I was stupid enough to not carry an umbrella with me. You can't blame anybody for that, but me."

"Where was Chuck?"

"Bathroom break." I murmur and he sighs.

"And you didn't have enough patience to wait for him to come back?" He asks and my face heats up. "Eat your soup."

I roll my eyes and resume eating. "I had to make dinner for myself."

"Yeah, I know."

"Edward, I think I'm full."

"Finish it, Bella." I pout and he grabs the bowl and starts feeding me again. It takes me ten minutes to finish everything.

"I'll get you a cup of herbal tea."

He gets up and I tug on his hand. "Get lunch for yourself, please."

"I'll just have soup. I had a heavy breakfast this morning."

"Okay."

Edward brings me a cup of warm herbal tea and a bowl of soup for himself. We sit in complete silence and steal glances at each other as we eat. I frown when I notice the rain coming down heavier than it was this morning. I'm glad Edward is here with me. He quickly whisks away the dishes to the kitchen.

Ten minutes later, he walks in with a sheepish smile on his face and I stare at him narrowly.

"Did you try washing the dishes?" I ask and he nods with a proud smile on his face. I sneeze and clean my nose with a tissue.

"Here you go, love." He gives me two pills and I quickly swallow them. I drink a glass full of warm water and sigh softly.

Edward sits on the bed next to me and I cuddle against him. He wraps the duvet around me and his arms hold me to him. I close my eyes and feel his hand rhythmically stroking my back. His phone buzzes on the nightstand and I open my eyes to stare at him. He kisses the top of my head and reaches over to grab his phone.

"Hey, Vic… She has a flu… No, dad sent a doctor over… The reports are at my home… Tell Bree to email the synopsis by five…" He frowns. "Yeah, what about it?… Fuck, I completely forgot… Send them an email that I won't be coming, but I need someone to go… No, Kyle doesn't like to attend galas; it's a big deal that he comes to our company events… Tell Alex and Jasper to go… I don't care, Alex has to go. Stop taking his side on everything."

I clear my throat. "Do you have to be somewhere?"

He shakes his head. "There is an International Interior Design gala tonight. We were invited but we can't go anymore."

"If you want to you can."

"No, I don't."

"Okay."

He returns to his phone call. "Yeah, Vic… I guess so… No, I need a back-up on that… What's my schedule for tomorrow?"

I yawn and lay down on the bed. Edward shifts away and strokes my cheek. "I'm sorry, baby. I'll take this call in the other room if you want."

"No, you can stay." I whisper and grab his hand in mine. He leans down and kisses behind my ear.

"Go to sleep. I love you."

I smile. "I love you too."

Edward interlaces our hands once we step out of the car. He leads me inside his house from the back door so the rain doesn't get us wet. I shiver from the cold and nestle closer to him. The sound of rain is inaudible once we enter the bedrooms' corridor.

I don't want to sleep anymore. Maybe I can read a book in the library downstairs. I can watch the rain and enjoy a good read. I drop Edward's hand and walk towards the staircase. I feel a tug on my hand and Edward suddenly spins me in his arms. My eyes widen from the rapid movement and I gaze at him in shock.

"Where do you think you're going, Isabella?" He whispers quietly, too quietly.

I gulp. "T—The library." Why does he look so scary right now?

"And what makes you think that you can go read a book instead of getting a much needed rest?"

"I'm not tired anymore."

"Your body needs rest."

"No, I'm fine."

"Bella, I don't want to shout at you when you are ill. Please go to bed. I have work that needs my immediate attention."

"Fine!"

I push past him and stomp towards his beautiful bedroom. I burst open the door and walk over to the bed. I take off my sweater and throw it on his side and get under the multiples layers of duvet. I sink into the plush mattress and close my eyes. I feel him moving around the room but I remain still.

The room all of a sudden turns warmer and I sigh softly. Much better. I hear a door open and shut a few minutes later. The mattress sinks and I feel a warm hand brushing the stray hair away from my face. Edward grabs my hand in his and gently kisses my fingers.

"Bella?"

"Yes?" I open my eyes and he sighs. I sneeze loudly and he hands me a tissue from the box he must have on the nightstand. I clean up my nose and sniffle.

"Is there anything you need? Soup? Or a warmer blanket? Should I shut the drapes if the rain bothers you?"

"I'm good." I croak out and clear my throat.

"I'll tell Mrs. Cope to keep warm water with honey here for you."

"Thanks."

"I hate to see you like this," He whispers and his green eyes look pained. "Please get better, fast."

My eyes soften and I nod at him. "I will, honey."

"I'm sorry if I was being harsh with you before but I want you healthy again. I know you like to defy me all the time but listen to me this one time, please."

"I'll sleep." I can try to sleep.

He cradles my face in his hands and kisses my forehead. "Okay, I'll let you rest now. I'll be in the study if there is anything else you need."

"Hmm."

I close my eyes and he gently strokes my hair. I grab his hand in both of mine and he chuckles. He sits watching me sleep for quite some time but eventually his ever-active phone buzzes. I hear his reluctant sigh and he slowly pulls his hand out of my clasp. He kisses the side of my head before his footsteps fade away.

I immediately open my eyes and roll on my back to stare at the ceiling. I run a hand through my hair and my eyes race over to the French doors where I can see the rain pouring down. The vegetation outside looks vibrant and almost magical. The view from the balcony is unreal. It's my favorite place to stand and be alone with my thoughts.

A couple of minutes later, I get frustrated lying on the bed all alone. I hear Edward still talking to someone on the phone. I think it's Kyle. I get out of bed and wrap the top most silk sheet around me. I peek towards his study before I rush out into the hallway and go downstairs to the library.

I smile once I enter the room and wander around to find myself an interesting book to read. I finally settle on Dan Simmons' Hyperion and sit on the couch nearest to the glass wall. I curl up on it and open the book.

I don't know how long I remain seated, enjoying the book but at some point, I hear movement by the entrance. I turn to the right and find my boyfriend leaning against the door with a sexy smile on his face.

"I thought I might find you here."

"I just got here." I say with a blush and he laughs as he walks in my direction. At least he doesn't look mad.

"Oh, I know. I saw you sneaking out of the bedroom two and a half hours ago."

I blush redder and he plops down next to me. I crawl over and sit on his lap. He sighs soundly and rocks me in his arms. I kiss his cheek and offer him a smile.

"Are you done with work?"

"Yes, baby. I'm all yours now."

"Good."

"How about dinner?"

"Are you hungry?" I ask and play with his fingers.

"Not yet."

"Can we wait for a while yet?"

"Whatever you want," He pulls me closer to him and rests his chin on my shoulder. "So, what are you reading?"

"Hyperion."

"Sounds interesting."

"It is."

His phone vibrates twice in his pants and I sigh. I shift a little and he pulls it out. He checks something on the screen and puts the phone away.

"What happened?"

"Julie sent my schedule for the week which includes a trip to New Orleans on Sunday."

My eyes light up with recognition. "For the award show, right?"

"Exactly. Do you think you'll feel better by Sunday?"

"I think so."

"I really want you there with me."

I smile and turn to straddle his lap. I hold his face in my hands and touch my forehead to his. "Then I wouldn't miss it for the world."

He connects our lips for a soft kiss and I quickly pull back. "Bella!"

"I have a cold, honey." I whisper and he pouts.

"It's been three days since I kissed you."

"I know. But you need to wait a little longer."

"I guess I have to," He looks deeply into my eyes and I caress his cheek with my hand. "Do you want to continue reading your book?"

"Yes."

I turn on his lap and rest my head on his shoulder. I open the book and resume reading where I had paused. Edward is content to hold me on his lap and idly play with my hair. It's so peaceful here. After a while, I put the book down and gaze at the drizzling rain as the sky darkens. I nestle closer to my boyfriend and his rhythmic heartbeat lulls me to sleep.

October 24, 2015

"Bella?" Edward calls out as he walks into the great room where I am currently sitting. "Do you know where I put my book?" His voice is muffled as he tries to put on a sweater.

I roll my eyes. "It's in the third drawer in the den."

"Did you move it?" He frowns at me and straightens his sweater.

"Honey, I told you I'm going to put it in the same place as your iPod."

"The book was doing fine in my study."

"Do you know that you only read novels on Saturdays? You don't even touch the book for the rest of the week! It was just lying above the fireplace in your study. It didn't look good there."

"Fine!" He sighs soundly and sits on the armchair across from me.

"And I also organized your nightstand drawer," I say, and he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. "Edward?"

His eyes snap open and he nods at me. "Thank you for your help, baby. I really appreciate it."

I beam at him and he chuckles taking in my expression. He walks over to me and kisses the top of my head.

"I love you, Bella."

"I love you too, Edward," I whisper and brush my thumb against his bottom lip. "I really want to kiss you right now."

He smirks at me. "You have a cold so we can't kiss."

"Please?" I pout and he groans.

"You are making it impossibly hard for me to say not but, we can't. Let's wait for another day or two, until you are feeling better."

"I just have a sore throat." I murmur and he kisses my forehead.

"Still no."

Matt walks into the great room and Edward saunters over to him. He passes over a fancy envelope and leaves. I gaze at it curiously and watch as Edward opens it. He laughs when he reads what is inside.

"What is it?"

"An invitation to a party next Saturday."

I frown. "What party?"

"My dear sister is throwing a Halloween party." He rolls his eyes as he says that.

"It's okay, maybe it'll be fun."

"It's a costume party, love," I make a face, and he nods. "Exactly; but Alice has a note inside that reads that she has our costumes ready."

"Ugh, I don't know what she has up her sleeve."

"I'm sure she won't do something crazy," He checks his watch. "Do you mind if I go ahead and finish some work?"

"Can't you work here?"

"I can work here, I guess. Do you need anything?"

"No, just you."

Edward smiles and goes to his study. I resume work on my Macbook and look up when I see Mrs. Coping making her way over to me. She has a cocktail glass in her hand and I snort when I find a blue popsicle inside it.

"For me?" I ask and she nods.

"Yes, it helps soothe sore throats. It's blueberry."

"Thank you."

I hold the glass in my hand and grab the popsicle. I suck a little and feel the cool blueberry juices melting in my mouth. It's delicious. I turn towards the terrace and hear a clink at the doorway. My eyes race towards the source and find a black pencil lying on the ground and my boyfriend's mouth hanging open. It must have dropped from his mouth.

My eyes meet his darkened gaze and I suck the popsicle deeper in my mouth. He has his laptop in one hand and a couple of files in the other.

"Hi, honey. Is everything okay?" I ask softly and he nods stoically. He clears his throat and nods again.

"Yeah, what are you er… having?"

"A popsicle. Mrs. Cope said that it is good for my sore throat."

He mutters something under his breath and sits across from me.

"That's good." He mumbles and offers me a weak smile.

"Sit with me." I pout and pat the space next to me. He shakes his head.

"I can't. I have work and it's better if…" His sentence trails off as he gazes at me lick the ice pop in my mouth. I push it in a little deeper and he audibly gulps.

"What is it?" I prompt him to complete his sentence and his wild eyes meet mine.

"Nothing." He mumbles and I can see him struggling with his inner thoughts. The sexual tension between us is palpable as we stare at each other. I bite my bottom lip and he lets out a deep breath.

"You want a bite? It's delicious." He sighs heavily and stands up.

"I can't work in here." Edward murmurs and walks out of the room with his laptop and files and a very visible hard on. I laugh at his retreated form and shake my head.

He has a lot more self-control than I give him credit for.

October 25, 2015

I stir a little when I hear voices around me speaking in hushed volumes. I feel a warm hand soothingly running over my thigh and the other one stroking my hair. I remember falling asleep next to Edward with my legs thrown over his lap and my head on his chest. The flight to New Orleans can't get more comfortable than this.

I listen intently to what Edward and Alex are talking and I think I am the topic of discussion.

"… more rest."

"I don't know, I don't think she will." I hear Alex mutter.

"Me neither. I shouldn't have asked her to come with us." Edward whispers and kisses my hair. He tightens his arms around me and sighs softly.

"Mr. Cullen, Mr. Platt, we'll be landing in twenty minutes." A honey-glazed voice says and Edward shifts by my side.

"Thank you for informing us, Jolene."

"Bella?" A warm hand strokes my cheek. "Baby, wake up."

"Yeah." I croak out and clear my throat.

My eyes flutter open and I close them again. I frown because my head aches terribly at the moment. My nose feels stuffy, and I am tired for some reason. Edward caresses my cheek with his hand and I sigh.

"Bella? Wake up, love. We'll be landing soon."

"Hmm."

Edward kisses the top of my head and I open my eyes. I put my head on his chest and wrap my arms around him. His hand runs up and down my back and I look up at him.

"Hey, good nap?"

I nod. "Yes."

"Are you ready to see New Orleans?" He asks with a smile and pecks my lips.

"Yes."

I sneeze and Alex passes me the box of tissues. I blush and grab one to clean my nose. I sit contentedly next to my boyfriend and take a careful look around his private jet.

I have never travelled in anything but Economy class and this plane is like a whole other world for me. The interior is opulent, the amenities are top notch, and the experience is the definition of comfort. We are sitting in the lounge area of the jet and we need to buckle up for landing. It's an interesting change of setting for me.

Alex is sitting across from me and sipping on a glass of champagne. He waves at me and I blush lightly.

"You look so pale, Bella." He says and I frown.

"Oh," I gaze at Edward. "Do I look that bad?"

"No, darling," He glares at Alex before looking at me. "What he means is that you need more rest. Don't worry; we have some time in our hands. If you feel better by tonight, we'll attend the event."

"I'm fine." I whisper and he nods.

"I know, baby. But, I think I need some sleep." He mutters and I nod.

"Okay."

Thirty minutes later, I sneeze my way out of the jet with Alex by my side. I hear Edward speaking with the Captain and First Officer. The Captain and Edward seem to be great friends but I don't like the way the First Officer is undressing my boyfriend with her eyes. Does she not realize that he is mine?

"Hey, let's go." Edward whispers and wraps an arm around my waist.

"I'm hungry."

"I figured. Let's stop at a restaurant and get a bite to eat. Alex gets grumpy if he is hungry." He mutters and I giggle.

"I heard that, Edward." Alex says and walks past us. We laugh and follow him to the waiting car.

I sleepily roll to the other side of the bed and partially open my eyes. I see the bright stars glimmering in the sky from where I am. I notice the Crescent City Bridge and Mississippi river glowing from the window a few steps away from me. My vision shifts a little to the left and I find my boyfriend sitting on the chaise lounge with a book in hands.

"Hey." I murmur softly and his green eyes meet mine. He smiles and his face lights up when he finds me awake.

"Hi, love. You look well rested. I'm so glad to see that."

"I feel good." I stretch a little and he chuckles. He puts the book away and walks over to sit on the edge of the bed.

"It's quarter to six." He whispers and kisses my hair.

"What?! Why didn't you wake me up? We're going to be late!" I sit bolt upright and run a hand through my hair. "I have to wash my hair, do my make-up and put that dress on!"

"Oh baby, look at me," He cradles my face in his hands and makes me meet his gaze. "Don't worry about anything. I'll ask one of the maids to draw you a bath and you can just relax, okay? I'll take care of everything."

"Really?"

"I promise." I smile and hug him tightly. I bury my face against the crook of his neck and close my eyes.

"You need to get ready as well."

"I know," he sighs. "I also need to wake up Alex."

I giggle and pull back. "Did he fall asleep too?"

"Yes. Let's get to work now." He murmurs and pecks my lips before leaving.

I flick on a couple of switches as a lady walks in and goes straight to the bathroom. I stand on the balcony and gaze at the translucent river with the city lights in its reflection. It's a breathtaking view from the 22nd floor of the Windsor Court Hotel.

I finally get a move on and set everything I need up in the bedroom. I get my gown, make-up, shoes and purse ready before going to take a bath.

Thirty minutes later, I walk out of the bathroom and hear soft chords of piano music coming from the living room of the penthouse. I smile and quietly go there and find Edward sitting in front of the black baby grand piano, playing idle compositions. A slow smile spreads across his face and my face heats up when he starts playing my composition.

It still overwhelms me that I can be his inspiration for composing music. I saunter over to where he is, and he opens his eyes. His eyes shine with love and comfort and my heart melts staring at his handsome face. When the composition comes to a gradual end, I sit next to him and tightly hug him.

Edward presses his nose against my hair and takes a deep breath. "Your hair smells great."

"Hmm."

His hands glide over my robe-clad body and leave a burning trail. His fingertips linger over the V-neck of the robe and my breathing hitches. His left hand tugs on the sash but he pauses when there is a knock on the door. He sighs and helps me stand up.

"Start getting ready, I'll get the door."

I hear footsteps approaching the bedroom and Edward comes into my view with a woman in tow. She is probably in her mid-thirties, with emerald green locks and chestnut brown eyes. She gives me a friendly smile and I smile back. He walks over to me and snakes an arm around my waist.

"Love, this is Judy Potts. She is going to help you with your… er, stuff," He awkwardly motions to the bed and I chuckle. "Mrs. Potts, this is my girlfriend. Bella Swan."

"It's nice to meet you, Ms. Swan."

"Bella please, and it's great to meet you too." We shake hands and Edward walks out of the room to give us space to ourselves.

I quietly gaze at my reflection in the mirror and see Judy leaving the room after I've bid her goodbye. I'm dressed in a black evening dress with red cluster embroidery. The dress has long sleeves and deep V-neck leading into a fitted vest. My neck is adorned with a jeweled rose choker and I'm wearing asymmetric rose earrings.

I hear a sharp intake of breath and out of my periphery; I see a tall figure standing in the doorway. I turn towards the source and watch Edward drink in the sight of me from head to toe. My body flushes from his heated stare and I bite my bottom lip.

He marches in my direction and immediately pulls me into his arms. I open my mouth to make a snarky comment but his lips silence mine. I moan softly and wrap my arms around his neck. His mouth is urgent against mine as our tongues tangle and breaths mingle. I smile when he sucks on my lips and his hands firmly grab my ass.

I caress his face with my hands as we kiss for an immeasurable amount of time. His lips trail gentle kisses from my jaw down to my neck and I gasp from the sensations. I've missed this a lot. I knot my hands in his hair and connect our lips for another kiss. A couple of minutes later, I reluctantly break our kiss and Edward drags his lips down to my neck instead.

"Edward baby, we'll be late."

"It's okay."

"We are sitting at the front table, and everybody will know if we're late."

"Okay okay," He kisses the side of my neck and pulls back. "Let me help you with your shoes."

"What?"

He takes my hand in his and leads me to the bed. I perch on the edge and he kneels in front of me. He kisses my instep and grabs my left sandal. He helps me put it on and fastens the buckle. He reciprocates the gesture for my right foot and then I rise to my feet. I am almost as tall as he is now.

Edward draws me into his arms and touches his forehead to mine. "You look heartbreakingly beautiful, Bella. Absolutely ravishing."

I blush to my roots and gaze at him from under my lashes. "Thank you so much."

"No one will be able to keep their eyes off you tonight."

"I don't want them to look at me, I want them to look at you," I point out and he laughs. "Alright, now get ready."

"It'll take me two minutes, baby."

"Then go change. And make sure Alex is ready too." I say and he nods.

"Yes, ma'am. I love you." He pecks my lips.

"I love you too."

With that, he walks out of the room.

"Here you go." Edward whispers and hands me a flute of sparkling champagne and I take an inviting sip.

"Long night, Bella?" Alex drawls with a sarcastic smile and I roll my eyes.

"Not yet."

I drink my champagne and quietly gaze at the colossal ballroom. The place is decorated with dramatic up lighting, luxurious fabrics, tall tapered candles and elegant chandeliers. It's the most beautiful sight in the world. A lot of people from around the globe have come here to attend tonight's event.

I stare at the four asymmetrical glass-shaped trophies in front of me. I reach out and trace the outline of the unusual objects. I smile when I run my fingertips over my boyfriend's name. I'm so proud of him. It felt so amazing to watch him receive these awards along with Alex because I know his team put in a lot of effort to design their projects. Maybe his team should have come along with him.

"Penny for your thoughts?" A velvety voice whispers in my ear and a shiver runs down my spine. I blush and stare at Edward from under my lashes.

"Why isn't your team here?"

He sighs softly. "My team is in Dubai and Alex's is in Bogotá. We can't possibly get everyone who has worked on the project together. But we do celebrate at work."

"That's nice." I smile.

"Do you realize how much attention we are receiving tonight because of you?" He asks softly and I bite my bottom lip.

"Are you talking about the horny women trying to subtly flirt with you?"

Edward laughs lightly. "I think they realize I have a beautiful girlfriend."

"Do they?" I glance around and find a couple of heads looking in our direction.

He tips my chin in his direction and I lock my brown eyes with his. He cups my face in his hands brushes his lips against mine.

"If they don't, they should. They should know that you are off-limits," He murmurs against my lips and I smile. "And that you have a boyfriend who loves you more than anything else in the world."

I press my lips against his and close my eyes. I grab the lapel of his jacket in my hands and pull him closer. He deepens our kiss and I resist the urge to moan loudly. I feel his hands slowing caressing my back and delicately holding the back of my neck.

We hear a loud throat clear and breathlessly pull back. My face heats up when I see Alex staring at us with an exasperated look on his face.

"You guys have no public manners." He mutters under his breath.

"Shut up, Alex." Edward snaps and I rest my head on his shoulder. He kisses my hair and I smile, stroking his cheek.

"Edward, I'm hungry." I say and he folds an arm around my waist.

"We'll eat something as soon as we get out of here, I promise."

"Here," Alex passes me a salmon mousse and I roll my eyes but take the piece of cucumber from him.

"Thank you. Should we split this into three?" I ask and they laugh.

"No, you can have it."

I smile and eat the canapé. We applaud as the winners get announced and watch the slideshow of the best designs of the year. I gasp lightly when the pictures of Edward's house pop on the screen. The pictures are splendid but the house looks even more perfect in reality. About an hour later, the host of the event announces that the award ceremony has ended. Thank god!

"Now what?" I ask and Edward tilts his head towards the center stage.

"People dance and mingle with everyone."

"Lovely." Alex mutters grimly next to me and I follow his gaze to find two bald men walking in our direction with big grins on their faces.

Edward beams at them and rises to his feet. He gives them both brief hugs and Alex and I stand up. Edward pulls me to his side and I wrap an arm around him. I watch Alex greet the men and I can see him trying to mask his sour expression.

"Mr. Kaplan, Mr. Ruth, this is my girlfriend, Bella. Baby, these are old associates of Grandpa Victor."

"It's nice to meet you." I say with a smile and shake hands. They offer me friendly smiles and turn back to Edward and Alex.

I stand next to my boyfriend for twenty minutes and listen to him talk about his upcoming project in Croatia with great enthusiasm. He seems to be looking forward to design the cathedral. I love how passionate he is about work but I'm hungry right now. I had no idea these events can be so boring.

After they leave, Edward gazes at me and kisses the top of my head.

"You know what? We'll—"

"Edward! There you are!" I hear a gruff voice shout and I spin around to find four people waving at my boyfriend.

We walk over to them and I watch Edward speak to numerous people for a long time. I have no idea how he can be so patient conversing with so many people. I would have lost my mind. I find Alex speaking to a group of women not far from us and he seems to be enjoying himself. At least someone is having fun.

When we finally get a moment to ourselves, Edward grabs my hand and leads me to a quiet spot. He crushes me to his chest and wraps his arms around me. I close my eyes and breathe in his intoxicating scent. I feel his hot breath tickling against the back of my neck. I rub his back and feel him gradually relaxing against me.

"I'm sorry I kept you starving, Bella. I feel terrible." He mumbles against my hair.

"Hush, it's okay. We can leave in some time. It's not a problem. I understand."

"Thank you for being so wonderful, baby. You're perfect."

I blush and shake my head. I pull back and look up at his striking face. "I'm not. Anyway, do you mind if I freshen up and be back?"

"Take your time, angel. I'll wait for you."

I wrap my arms around him and he connects our lips for a quick, heated kiss. By the time we break apart, I feel light-headed and dizzy. Edward steadies me and gives me an impish grin. I blush and peck his lips.

"Take Demetri."

My face flushes more. "I'm going to the bathroom."

"He'll stand outside, don't worry."

I roll my eyes, not having the energy to argue.

"Fine."

I grab my red clutch and go to the powder room with Demetri in tow and he stands outside while I enter the dimly lit room. I go straight to bathroom and finish my business. I flick on a couple of more switches when I step out and stand in front of the mirror. I re-apply my red lipstick and fix my hair once.

I am startled when I hear an audible rattle somewhere. I put the tube of lipstick back in the clutch and hesitantly check the four closed bathroom doors. I definitely heard something. I wait for a couple of seconds and hear nothing. I shrug to myself and go back to the sink.

My heart stops when I find a basket kept next to my clutch. I walk closer and notice it's a box-shaped basket with different syrups, strips of tablets, Band-Aids and other medical items. I shakily reach over to touch it but instead grab my clutch. I need to get out of here soon.

"I heard you were sick, sweetheart."

My heart goes into overdrive when I hear Riley's voice behind me. I keep my hand on my heart and try to control my breathing. Tears blur my vision but I blink them away. I swallow the big lump in my throat and turn around.

Riley stands five steps away from me, looking shaggy and dangerous. His blue eyes are cold and murderous as they stare at me but his lips are curled into a gentle, loving smile. His hands are deep in his pockets and I notice his pale blue shirt is ripped from the right shoulder. There is a visible cut on his lower lip and his left cheek is bruised. He has been injured at a lot of places but yet, here he is.

Edward.

I open my mouth to shout to Demetri but my voice gets caught in my throat when Riley pulls out a gun from his pocket.

"Don't even think about it." He says as he casually loads his gun.

SPECIAL THANK YOU TO EdwardsFirstKiss FOR EDITING THIS CHAPTER!

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Paint the Walls