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I arrive a few minutes early to my appointment with Esme Platt. She had called me earlier in the week to set up a lunch meeting to discuss investing in my company. I was very surprised, but she said that she heard wonderful things from a few of my employees. I'm betting that it was Emmett and Jasper. Those two like to talk. I hope she's not an ex-hook up of theirs, because that could be awkward. Like Alice and Rosalie flipping their shit awkward.

Hmm...that could serve those bitches right for messing with my love life. I sigh when I think about how great my business is going and and how shitty my love life is. It doesn't help that I know it's all my fault. I just don't know what to do anymore. It's easier to avoid and do nothing, but it sure hurts like hell.

I pull up to a security gate and give my name. The gate slides open, allowing me access to the driveway. I park in front of the huge house, taking a moment to gather my thoughts for the presentation.

I take a deep breath and ring the bell. The door is opened by an extremely beautiful woman who appears to be in her early thirties. Her eyes are bright green and she has immaculately styled, long, wavy bronze-colored hair.

"Ooh, Isabella. Aren't you gorgeous and just a perfect height!" she exclaims. "I'm Esme. Um, Platt."

We exchange greetings and she invites me in. I hear her mutter something about making beautiful babies as we walk into the living room.

"Pardon?" I ask.

"Have a seat, dear. So, Isabella. Tell me all about yourself and your family."

My family? I though I was here to talk about an investment, I think to myself as Ms. Platt serves me some coffee and pastries.

"Isabella?" she prompts, making me realize I haven't answered her.

"Um, Bella, please. I, er...I'm graduating very soon with my masters in computer science. I own and run my company, which you know as I understand you'd like to invest in it."

"Yes, yes. I know you're brilliant and gorgeous, which is an absolute bonus. But tell me about your family tree. Any major birth defects or history of disease?"

"What?" I choke on my latte, which is fabulous, by the way. Maybe Ms. Platt is a barista-slash-genetic scientist in her spare time. I cough a bit and take a bite of the scone, which is one the best things that's ever been in my mouth.

I moan, loudly, before I can stop myself. "Oh my god."

"I know dear. It's a talent of mine - cooking and taking care of my big man and my little man. Did you see my special boy's baby portrait? Isn't he delicious?" She points to the giant oil painting of an admittedly beautiful baby boy with bright green eyes and copper hair. It's prominently featured on the main wall of the living room, flanked by a series of black and white photos of the same boy.

"He's an adorable little boy. He looks a lot like you," I say politely. He really is one of those kids that could be in a commercial for one of those designer baby clothing lines. Judging from this place, he probably is.

"So your medical history? I bet it's squeaky clean. And your facial structure is superb. I'm not an expert like my husband, but I know these things."

Someone interrupts us as we're having this very strange conversation that's not at all about investing in my company. I wonder if it's her perfect son she keeps talking about. Maybe the nanny is bringing him home from his preschool.

The voice is smooth and sexy and definitely cannot be a little boy. The guy asks who his mom wants to introduce him to and I glance around looking for another person. But she's looking at me and his voice is very familiar. I jump up off the couch, gasping. Is that Edward? And could he possibly have called Ms. Platt "mom"?

Impossible. Did she have him when she was five years old?

I'm still facing her when she announces that I'm here and that we know each other. She has a smug grin on her face, and I don't know why. Everything about this is completely confusing.

Like when she calls Edward her schmoopie and refers to herself as mommy.

What the actual eff is happening? Oh my god. It's like I'm in the middle of a "Mommy porn" scene. I have to get out of here.

Or is Ms. Platt secretly taping this for a daytime talk show where she frequently blindsides her guests? Maybe my former boyfriend will show up next and toss a chair or something. It's scary that that is the preferable scenario.

"What is she doing here, mom? How do you even know her?"

"I'm thinking of investing in her company, cuddle muffin. What other motive would I have?"

I watch her move toward her son and out of my sight line. I'm frozen, trying to figure out what the hell is happening.

"Cut it out. I can tell you're lying. You're doing that blinking thing."

"Sugar face...I asked Isabella to come to lunch to discuss business."

Edward snorts very loudly. "Right. Did you hire her to break your heart, too?"

"Ms. Platt, maybe I should just go," I say, trying to interrupt an awkward moment. "Wait, what did you say, Edward? What do you mean I broke your heart?" I turn around and face him. I stifle a gasp. Damn, he's hot. Even when he's obviously annoyed and pulling on his hair which is longer than the first and only time I ever saw him.

"Just forget it. You already know what happened. I was into you, and you thought I was just a client. Stupid me."

"Babylove, you are definitely not stupid. You are the most brilliant son in the history of sons," Esme chimes in. "I'll cut anyone who says different."

"Sweet yeezus...Mom, or should I call you Ms. Platt? Will you please stop with the smother thing. It's bad enough you brought her here with that ridiculous pretense. I can't take any more rejection."

"That's not what happened. I...It was all a misunderstanding," I cry out before Esme replies to him. She smiles at me and gives me a thumbs up gesture.

Edward steps closer to me, his eyes flashing. "Oh really. How did I misunderstand when you texted me 'this can't happen'?" He stares at me intently, like he's trying to memorize every detail of my face.

"I...er...geez, your eyes are so green," I blurt out. He's breathing heavily. He must chew lots of mints because his breath is icy fresh when it fans over my face. I step even closer to him, my hand reaching out, wanting to touch him.

"That's supposed to make me forget how you destroyed me with one text message? Right. Like I'm supposed to take one look in your hazel brown eyes and just think about what you taste like instead of my misery?"

"Holy..." He's so close I could lick my lips and get a taste of him. Just a little nibble wouldn't be out of line...

"Oh! I need to get my phone to record this. I can make a video for my future grand babies. Don't move until I get back!" Edward's mom shouts as the doorbell rings. The lady is stealthy. I thought she had left. She's also probably a little nuts.

"What are you doing to me?" he asks in a whisper. He looks so devastated. "I was getting over this and now you're here to...what?" He steps back, his head hanging to his chest. His arms drop down in defeat.

"Oh my god, Edward. I'm so sorry." I grab his hand and hold it to my chest.

He pulls away. "Okay. You said you were sorry. Now you can go home with a clear conscience."

I shudder. Faced with his obvious pain, I feel worse than ever. "I thought I was doing the right thing. I didn't know the situation until after...please believe that I didn't know."

His voice is defeated. Resigned. "I believe you. And I'll get over this...you. Don't feel sorry for me. Just go."

A sob bursts out of me at the thought of leaving and never seeing him again. Being here, seeing him, made everything real.

And so fucking painful. He looks up when he hears me cry. His eyes soften for bit, giving me hope. I reach for him again, and this time he doesn't pull away.

"Edward, please. I want-"

"Yo, Ed! We're here. Where's the food?" Emmett and Jasper burst into the room with Edward's mom right behind.

Edward swears loudly and runs his fingers through his glorious hair.

"Edward Anthony! That's no way to speak in front of ladies," Esme admonishes.

"Can you please just leave me alone for just five minutes! We were finally going to...oh fuck. Nevermind. We can figure this out later." He tries to pull his hand out of mine, but I grab both and hold them tightly, looking right into his eyes.

"No! I've messed everything up and didn't do anything to fix it. I have a second chance now, and I'm going to take it. Edward, everything we talked about was real on my side. Everything I feel, is real." I kiss his hands, hopeful that he'll understand.

"It's real for me, too," he says, quietly. "You don't even know how much."

I smile for the first time in weeks. "Can you give me another chance?" I whisper.

He smiles back. "On one condition. I'm going to need the deluxe Shipper package where the CEO personally delivers all communication by non-electronic means."

"I'm all for personally servicing you," I say in a whisper, "but it will have to be in a non-business capacity."

His answering grin in nearly blinding. He slides our joined hands down my sides and around my back. I reach around his neck, finally getting to touch that hair at the nape of his neck.

When he kisses me, he has to hold me upright, because I nearly swoon. There's this palpable heat and energy that radiates through his body. He claims me with every glide of his tongue. I press myself against him trying to get as close to him as I can with clothes on. Damn clothes. I reach into his shirt, trying to unbutton it with one hand.

"Damn. Mrs. C, I'm going to need a copy of this for research purposes. I have a love scene in the Lifetime movie I'm doing soon. I'm glad you're recording this," Jasper says.

"This is better drama than anything we've ever been a part of," adds Emmett.

We both break the kiss long enough to stare at our audience that we forgot about. Now there are six people watching our full make-out season. Alice and Rosalie are now here along with a very handsome blonde man who must be Edward's father.

"What did I tell you Carlisle?" Esme says in triumph, while recording everything on her phone. "She's the one. A mother knows these things."

"Esme planned through the ni-ight, Edward felt so alo-one, suffered through the break up, Bella carried the weight on her own, Esme had a vision of lo-ove and it was all that she meant it to be-" Alice belts out as Esme high fives her.

"I won't make any comments about your friends breaking into song as long as you won't make any about my mother doing...well, everything else she does," Edward says, kissing me again.

"Done."

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AN: One more to go.

A few readers were annoyed by Esme, but i thinks she's awesome.