Disclaimer: SM owns all recognizable characters. No copyright infringement is intended. The plot herein is mine. No plagiarism!
This story contains mature themes and is suitable for those eighteen and over.
Inspirational pics for chapters, bio of the characters and more can be found on the Something Just For Me blog. Thnx to beanothercullen for ironing this chap out!
EPOV
"How does Alice know my last name?" I thought as she leers at me before exiting the coffee house.
When she'd said it, my heart lurched and it felt like I was about to collapse, because if Alice knew the truth about me, what was stopping her from sharing it with the world? Not to mention, with her delusional belief that I stole Jasper from her, she was bound to try and find a way to use it against me…and Jasper.
Jasper. I'm in love with him, but for a split second after Alice said my last name, I began to plan my escape. I didn't want to shame Jasper. I didn't want my father attacking his credibility because of me.
I know how ruthless, Edward Sr. can be, and I don't want Jasper under his sickening microscope. I know Jasper's parents will probably be helping my father, because they want to shove him back in the closet and have him live the life they want. But I don't want that for him. I want him happy, and just the thought of what my running away will do to him, has me reconsidering.
I'm being stupid, and if Tanya were here to hear me second guess my decision to stay in New York and live my life, she'd kick my ass.
How can I possibly think about leaving her and Jasper behind? What the fuck is wrong with me?
My life is so much better with them in it. I can't leave them behind. I have to stay and fight. With all I have experienced, with all I have been through, and the johns I had to fuck to survive, why would I allow my father to come back into my life and control me?
I'm not longer his son, right? He made that perfectly clear to me while kicking me out, didn't he? The only reason he'd choose to acknowledge me now would be because prestige requested it. He hated the spotlight being on him in a negative light, so if he were force to, he'd accept me back for publicity purposes. But otherwise, Edward Sr. wants nothing to do with his gay son.
I won't run. Not anymore. I won't let him or my mom or anyone influence and intimidate me into disappearing for their purposes. Fuck them. New York is my life now. It holds my family, my friends, and the man I'm in love, and I'm not going anywhere.
Alice can run and tell whoever she wants that I'm here and that I'm a Masen. I don't care. I may be scared as shit to face my father, but I'm ready to fight for what's mine. For the life, I've built here.
"What the hell is that about, Edward?" Emmett asks, pulling me from my thoughts. I slightly jump and he looks at me worriedly.
"My past," I simply say, looking Emmett dead in the eye. "It's about whom I really am and the fact that Alice now knows that."
"And that's a problem that Jasper already knows about?" I can't wrong Emmett for looking out for his friend. Maybe Jasper shared my former profession with Emmett, or at least, he told him about how we met.
"Yes," I reply. "Jasper knows everything."
"Well, it's time I do too," Emmett says. "Come and talk to me." He nods toward his office before walking off. Becky and Lily look a worried, but I throw them a reassuring smile and stalk off to Emmett's office.
I knocked once, and he yells for me to come in. When I open the door, stepping inside the small but comfy space, Emmett's bulky figure greets me from behind his large mahogany desk.
"Hey."
"Hey, man," Emmett says. "Take a seat."
I close the door behind me and walk over to one of the two chairs in front of his desk, taking a seat. Emmett's office is really nice. The desk takes up most of the space, but everything else, from the leather chairs to the dark drapes are situated for comfort. The space rings true of a boss's domain, yet, you're not intimidated or nervous to speak to him.
Emmet clicks away on his laptop, before he closes it and eases back in his large chair, eyeing me. "So, what's up? What had you looking at Alice like you saw a ghost and why does she knowing your name mean something?"
"Because of who I am."
"And who's that?"
I sigh, not wanting to say this, but ultimately deciding that sharing the truth would be the best thing for me. "My full name is Edward Anthony Masen." Emmett seems to perk up at the mention of my birth name.
"You're a Masen as in Edward Masen Sr. I take it?"
"Yeah. He's my father."
"So…you're the kid studying overseas?"
"Yes," I reply, realizing that Emmet knows quite a bit already. So that's the lie they're using. "Umm…is that the lie they telling everyone?"
"Yeah." Emmett chuckles. "Jake told me that recently."
"Wow." Is all I can say.
"Well, I'm gonna take a shot in the dark here and say they weren't pleased to know that you were gay?"
I smile at how on the spot he is. "No. They weren't."
"So you were kind of in Jasper's position with the family being unwilling to accept you guys?"
"Yes. In a way."
Emmett nods and goes on, "But with you, they threw you out?"
Being reminded of that brings a few tears to my eyes. I quickly swipe them away, and answer Emmett. "My father thought that I was a disgrace and he took me to the airport and paid for a ticket to wherever. He didn't care where I went as long as it wasn't where they were."
"That's some serious bullshit!" Emmett exclaims. "I'm sorry, man, but your folks are assholes. Your mom couldn't defend you?"
"No." I say, remembering the look of loathing and embarrassment on her face.
"Wow." It's Emmett's time to be stunned.
We're silent for a while before he breaks it. "You know, I've met your old man."
I'm shocked to know that. How does Emmett know my father?
He answers my unspoken question before I can say anything. "Yeah, your dad, he owns a couple properties up here in New York and he fought me hard for this space here." I already knew of the properties my father inherited from my grandfather when he died, but I didn't know that one was here in New York.
For a minute, the need to run again reared its ugly head. But I beat it down with the love I feel for Jasper and not wanting to leave his side.
"I didn't know that."
"Yeah." Emmett laughs. "But your boyfriend helped me out."
"Jasper helped you fight my dad?" I ask astonished that Jasper has already faced my father and won.
"Yes." Emmett smiles triumphantly. "Jasper and his grandpa are really close and apparently your old man is afraid of Grandpa Whitlock. When we had our meeting, your dad actually shook when Grandpa Whitlock barked at him. It was a sight to see." I would've given anything to see that.
"I would've loved to see that."
"It was funny as hell to watch." Emmett chuckles.
I laugh along with him until he grows serious. "Why are you so scared about your parents knowing where you are?"
"I don't want to deal with them," I tell him. "I want to live my life. They threw me out for being true to myself and if I can go on without ever coming face-to-face with them again, it would be great." I chuckle at my own answer and Emmett joins in.
"Remembering your old man, I wouldn't want him in my life either," he expresses. "To me, that man is either the devil or he's got some serious fucking issues."
"He loves control."
"And when he can't have it?" Emmett questions.
"He doesn't know what that's like," I tell him. "My father really didn't know what it felt like not to be in control. I think my sexual orientation coming to light was the first time he had to deal with something he couldn't control."
"Well, that's bad," Emmett concludes.
"Yeah," I whisper. "It is."
We talk a little more until his phone interrupts us. He tells me to wait and takes the call. When he hangs up with what sounds like Rose, we continue to talk. But this time, Emmett advises me.
"I know when it came to the hooking, you had to do what you had to do, and it makes me really sorry you didn't meet us before you had to resort to that type of job."
"But I wouldn't have met Tanya."
Emmett smiles. "She's a real firecracker that one. Jake will have his hands full if he ever toughens up and makes his move."
I laugh. "Yeah, he's in for it."
Emmett looks at me questioningly. "Tanya has really made a difference in your life, huh?"
"Yes," I reply honestly. "She's the reason I'm still here, and even the reason why I met Jasper in the unconventional way I did."
"Well, I guess you're right," Emmett says. "But I'm glad you're both out. Both you and Tanya are better off doing what you're doing now until something better comes along. Don't think about running…" It's like Emmett is seeing right through me, because the thought of it is dancing around in the back of my mind.
"Wouldn't it be better for Jasper's reputation?"
"Jasper doesn't give a fuck about that," Emmett says crossly. "He's happy and that's what matters to him. Yeah, he's got money and notability but he's not frightened by it. He doesn't let his wealth go to his head."
"I notice that." I smile.
"Good." Emmett smiles along with and then states, "Don't go. Stay. If you're considering it, fuck that thought. Your life started the moment your dad kicked you out. Your life is here in New York. What about other relatives? Do you have anyone that you can think of that can help you fight?"
When he says it, I remember her, but I don't know where to find her. "I have an aunt. Her name is Esme Platt; my mom's maiden name, but I don't know how to find her. She and my mom were never on the same page, and my dad says Esme was scatter brained and a slut."
"Fuck," Emmett mutters. "Sounds like another person Papa Masen couldn't control."
"Yeah," I say. "The last time I saw her was at my grandmother's funeral. She and Mom got into an argument and she left." As I say it, I remember that the argument had started after Aunt Esme was speaking to me. I was a child so I didn't understand it at the time, but thinking about it now, makes me suspicious.
Why couldn't my aunt talk to me?
"I'm here whenever you want to talk, alright man?" Emmett says, bringing me out of my thoughts.
"Thanks, Emmett."
"Anytime, man."
I get up to leave his office with a renewed vigor, ready to face the rest of my day, when his phone rings and Emmett talks to the person for a minute and mentions Alice. When he does, I immediately knew who it was. Jasper.
Emmett tells him about Alice and what happened briefly before calling me to the phone. When I take the phone, Emmett smiles and leaves the office.
His sweet voice fills my ear when I say, "Hello?"
"Hey, I feel so much better hearing your voice," Jasper says in a concerned tone. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"Come on, baby, are you sure?" he asks, his voice laden with anger.
"I'm sure. Emmett and I talked."
"What did Alice say to you?" His menacing tone makes me shiver a bit. I'm not used to hearing an angry Jasper.
"My last name, while I don't feel very good about her knowing it, we were expecting this, weren't we?"
"Yeah." He sighs. "We were, but it doesn't make it any less..."
"I know."
"Listen, I want you to head straight home after work, I'm skipping the rest of the day," Jasper explains. "I'm just waiting on the substitute to get here. If Alice knows, then I'm sure my mother knows and that means..."
"My parents know. But Jasper?"
"Yeah?"
"I want to have a sit down. I want to talk about some things before we go any further."
"Okay, we will," Jasper sounds a little suspicious but I let it go, choosing to ignore it. We need to talk. "But please, head straight home, and I'll be there. Also, baby…"
"Yeah?"
"I love you too." I gasp, and he chuckles. "I heard you last night, and it feels really good to be able to say that to you."
"It feels so good to hear it." I smile.
"Good. I love you, bye."
"I love you too, bye." I walk to the door, and open it to Emmett leaning up against the opposite wall. "You guys through?"
"Yeah."
"Good." He laughs, moving pass me to re-enter his office. "Then get back to work, Masen," he says, and for the first time in a long while, I smile when I hear that name.
Next: Mrs. Masen comes face-to face with Edward.
