A/N: Rebadams7 and Ninkita caught a bunch of typos for me. Because they are AWESOME! However, as always, if you catch any while reading, please PM me. I'm always grateful for another pair of eyes. :)

Back in their rooms and back in her own body, Bella took a shower, then made herself up in preparation for their house hunting expedition.

"Why am I getting all dressed up when I'm not even getting out of the car?"

"The devil is in the details," Masen replied from the shower stall.

Bella made a face in the mirror, but returned to outlining her lips with a plum-colored pencil.

Masen toweled off next to her and grabbed his toothbrush.

"What? Not going to shave again? I'm pretty sure I see some stubble growing."

"Hrmm," he responded, glowering at her in the mirror.

"I'm just sayin'. Details, Agent Masen. Details."

"I've created a monster," he muttered into the sink between spitting and rinsing.

Bella laughed, happy that he was playing along and allowing her to decompress a little before their next scene. She got dressed in a pair of denim shorts and a halter top under a finely crocheted pullover top. The outfit was the most uncomfortable one yet. Bella unzipped her shorts, adjusted them and zipped them back up. It was no use. They were still way too short and seemed to be designed to give her a perpetual wedgie.

"I hate you."

"Hate him. If I had anything to say about the matter, you'd be wearing flannel pajama pants."

"You're dysfunctional."

"Stop complaining unless you really want to see what dysfunctional looks like. And stop rolling your eyes at me every time you think I can't see you."

"I was not rolling my eyes," Bella protested.

"Right." Masen pulled on underwear and an a-shirt, then helped himself to the breakfast that room service had delivered while Bella was in the shower. "So, your knight in shining armor. . . what was his name?"

"Demetri."

"Impressions?"

"He seemed genuinely concerned. But I think he was pretty annoyed about being bullied."

"He was smart to back off. I've got him outgunned," Masen quipped, flexing one arm while holding a bagel.

"Shoot me now. Your puns only get worse."

"Come on, Swan. He was scrawny. Of course he backed down."

"I don't know. He seemed pretty fit. Sure, he wasn't a big guy, but I wouldn't write him off."

"Oh, don't worry. I never write anyone off. He could have been a quadriplegic, and I would still consider him a potential threat. He talked to you afterward. That's enough right there."

"What, you think he was attracted to me?"

"Crazy, right?"

"Fuck you."

Masen burst out laughing and didn't stop, even as he bent over to tie his shoes.

When they left the suite at a quarter to 10, Masen was dressed in khakis and a white polo shirt, with matching artfully-distressed leather belt and shoes. His startlingly green eyes were hidden behind a pair of prescription sunglasses.

Bella put on her own over-sized shades and tucked her purse under her left elbow. It was only for show. The bag was empty. Marie really was a girl without an identity. Mr. Cullen had her other arm firmly looped through his. He walked her briskly to the elevator, then out through the lobby to the valet station.

Safely ensconced in the car, Bella breathed easily again.

"I'm glad it doesn't smell like Doritos in here any more," she said.

"Cheetos."

"Whatever. Nasty fake cheese smell."

"Edward Cullen doesn't sully his body with impure processed foods. I needed to stock up."

"They why didn't you answer my question when I asked what your favorite food was?"

"Because junk food is a category, not a specific item."

"I think you're being a tad bit literal. You could have said ice cream and I wouldn't have demanded a specific brand and flavor."

"Fine. My favorite food is anything that is fatty, salty, starchy and comes in a bag."

Bella looked askance at his trim waist. She was still torn between diagnosing him with a superhuman metabolism or a parasite.

"No, I don't have a tapeworm."

"I didn't say anything."

"I'm learning to read you better."

"Great. My partner is a psychic psychopath. Just what I needed."

"One of these days, you're going to hurt my feelings," Masen commented in a flat tone. "Okay, Swan, time to lock it down," he added, as they pulled up in front of a real estate office.

They only had to wait a minute before Malcolm Delancy stepped out onto the sidewalk. He was beaming at them, super-white teeth reflecting the late-morning sun like a row of tiny mirrors. Edward Cullen rolled down his window and gave the man a quick nod in greeting.

"Punctual. I like it. I'll pull my car around, and you can follow me to the first home," he said, handing his client a list of addresses and a small stack of property fliers.

Edward Cullen wordlessly flipped through the stack, tossed a few of the sheets out the window, then dropped the rest unceremoniously onto Marie's lap.

Malcolm scrambled to collect the rejects, his face falling when he realized his client had vetoed two of the three highest-value properties. It was an effort, but he rallied his ten-thousand-dollar smile and hurried off to get his car.

They heard the rumble before they saw the source. Malcolm was driving a Dodge Viper, the steel-blue pearlescent paint flashing rainbows of blue, green and purple.

"Ostentatious," Masen muttered.

"That's why he needs your business," Bella observed wrily.

"Lucky for him, I'm a sure thing. Let's do this."

They pulled out behind the sports car and followed the realtor through the streets of Palm Beach to the first home. They drove through the gated entrance and parked near the bottom of the terraced front entryway. Mr. Cullen rolled the windows down a few inches, climbed out and locked the car. Mr. Delancy startled when the horn beeped right next to him.

"Your girlfriend, she's not coming in?"

"She'll be fine. Don't worry. I cracked the windows," he said dismissively, and waved the agent on ahead of him.

Malcolm Delancy's eyes widened in surprise, but he didn't protest. Bella watched them walk into the cool interior. She was sweating already. With shallow breaths, she settled back into her seat, determined to keep her body as immobile as possible. Maybe if she didn't create any extra heat, the wait would be bearable. She could feel the sweat pooling beneath her thighs. Her skin was sticking to the leather surface. She wanted to jump out of the car already, and they had been gone less than a minute. Bella picked a point of focus, a nearly invisible water spot on the windshield, and lost herself in it, distancing herself from the tortuous heat.

It took the men more than twenty minutes to tour the home. By the time they got back to the cars, her makeup was practically melting off of her face. Her owner got to the car and unlocked it, then paused to turn around and ask Malcolm another question without actually opening the door. The older man's eyes darted back to the passenger seat where Marie sat, sweltering in the tropical heat. He looked alarmed, but answered Edward Cullen's question about the external security measures without voicing his concerns.

As soon as Delancy turned back to his car, the door opened, letting in a rush of cooler air. Bella was practically shaking with anxiety. Heatstroke would be a horrible way to die, she decided. When Masen lowered himself back into the car and started the engine, he immediately switched the AC to its maximum setting.

"You okay?"

"Ugh. Yeah. I'm fine."

"Inhuman bastard," Masen grumbled.

"Him or your alter ego?"

"Both."

"Right.That's not confusing. So, how was the house?"

"Too flashy. And the neighbors are too close. The next one has a bigger lot. And walls. Should be a real contender."

"Don't all houses have walls?" Bella asked, laughing.

"Around the perimeter," he clarified, looking at her like she was an idiot.

"Duh. Of course. Maybe the heat got to me more than I expected it to."

"Drink up," was Masen's only reply as he handed her a half empty water bottle.

"Ooooh. So cold. Thanks," she hummed, savoring the feel of the icy water as it slipped down her throat.

"Sorry. I should have grabbed two."

"No. Keep the self-centered asshole thing going. I'm good."

"Speak up if it gets to be too much. I'll think of a reason to cut things short."

"Thanks," Bella replied gratefully, just as they pulled up to the second house. She was determined to tough it out, but it was going to be a long and painful day.

Edward Cullen and his appointed real estate agent viewed six properties that day. Marie was kept confined in the car almost the entire time. After the second stop, Malcolm began to treat her presence with the same casual dismissiveness as her owner. When they stopped for lunch at a quaint deli, he ran in to buy their food but only brought out two sandwiches. The two men stood between the cars and chatted, comparing notes and impressions of the homes they had already seen. Edward finished three quarters of his meal, loosely wrapped the remains, opened the car door and tossed it onto Marie's lap.

Malcolm laughed.

Marie flinched but ate the food without complaint. She even dabbed up the crumbs that were caught in the wrapping and licked them furtively from her fingers. She couldn't be responsible for creating a mess in her owner's car.

The ordeal finally ended when Mr. Cullen saw the sixth house. His demeanor changed almost immediately. There was a vibrancy to his movements, a faint excitement in his tone. After hours spent in Edward Cullen's company, Malcolm picked up on the change almost immediately, and his smile grew.

At eight point three million dollars, the house was priced out of the agreed upon range, but only by a small margin. The property was a half-acre lot with a massive house filling the rear two thirds of the parcel. The house itself was built almost to the lot line, but the floorplan included a central courtyard and a pristine pool.

Edward Cullen was looking for privacy. This home was ideal.

For the first time since they had set out from the hotel, Edward Cullen opened the passenger side door to let Marie out. He waited for a few impatient seconds as the dizzy, dehydrated girl tried to stand. With a grunt of annoyance, he pulled her out of the car and escorted her through the house behind Malcolm.

If she had been watching it on television, Bella would have been transfixed. The attention to detail was phenomenal, with perfectly laid travertine tiles throughout the entryway and cool white marble stretching from the living room on through to the formal dining area. It was bright and airy, luxurious but not over the top. They wandered around the house through a wide, bright hallway, with giant windows that looked out over the courtyard on their right. Doors and archways opened to beautifully decorated bedrooms, bathrooms and living spaces on their left.

The real beauty of the home was lost on Bella. More than five thousand square feet of living space for one man and his sex slave? It was absurd.

A refreshment station was set up in the cabana by the pool. Malcolm mixed drinks for himself and his client. Mr. Cullen poured a glass of orange juice and thrust it into Marie's shaking hand. She guzzled it. His lip twisted in disgust, as if her primal response was a personal affront, but he poured her another.

Marie stood off to one side, shifting her feet restlessly, as the men settled down at a table, and Malcolm opened his laptop.

"Let's talk price. We both know this is the one."

"You're the expert. How low will they go?"

"Are you willing to play hardball?"

Edward Cullen snorted.

"You're right. That was a dumb question. The market will support a price between seven nine and eight five."

"So offer seven fifty."

Malcolm blanched. "That low?"

"You say you're the best. Make it happen."

"Well, it could take time. I can put together a pretty compelling argument. Get an inspector in here to see if we can turn up any flaws."

"I'm in no hurry. Oh, and I emailed you proof of funds."

"I did see that. Thanks. Although, I noticed that you only confirmed seven million, five hundred th-" he paused. "Oh. You'd already decided, hadn't you? How?"

Edward Cullen smirked and took another sip of his drink, the ice clinking softly against the inside of the glass.

"Marie. Test the pool for me, would you?" Mr. Cullen called to the girl without looking back. He rested his feet on a padded ottoman and let out a contented sigh.

"But I didn't bring a suit," she whispered in distress.

Mr. Cullen didn't move, but his body stiffened.

"I. . . I'm sorry," Marie said, and stripped down to her thong and halter top.

Two pairs of eyes watched her as she tentatively stepped down the submerged steps into the pool. One was satisfied, the other was hungry. Glancing back over at them, Marie shivered.

"Is it too cold?" her master called, taunting her.

She shook her head and dipped completely under the surface.

Actually, it was cold. Blessedly so. The sips of water throughout the day hadn't been enough to keep her properly hydrated. Not with the amount of fluids she had lost through perspiration. But the two glasses of juice and the pool water were lowering her core temperature back to a safe level. Marie doggy-paddled across the pool and clambered awkwardly out the other side. Bella made a mental note to thank Masen later.

A/N: I want a mansion with a courtyard swimming pool. And a cabana. And a drink. Wait. . . it's only 9:30 in the morning. Maybe later. :)