Chapter 19 – Mind Your Own Business
After my talk with Angela, I was determined to come back to work, not just in the evenings, but for good. So, the next morning, I got up and got dressed before Edward woke up. I went to the kitchen and started breakfast. Edward came into the kitchen looking confused. I gave him a worried smile and offered him some eggs.
"So, I've decided to come back to work this morning."
He stopped mid bite and looked at me shocked. "You don't have to, Bella. We'll be fine if you work in the evening. Your first client for the day is scheduled for three o'clock."
"I know, but I was thinking that you should bring Jerry in for a treatment. I need to work on him, and I'm sure I'll get a couple of walk-ins. Do you mind calling Jerry?" I asked, worried that he'd refuse.
He looked at me for a moment, like he expected me to recant, but then he nodded yes. I let out a relieved sigh, when he pulled out his phone and made the call.
When we headed over to the shop, I lingered in the back and did some laundry and the few dishes that were there. I prepared the first tray of hors d'oeuvres and set it in the fridge covered, so when it came time, it was ready to serve to the customers.
Things were going as well as they could be. Everyone was busy in the front of the shop with customers. I realized I was still hiding, maybe not at Edward's house, but still hiding. I was about to step into the front where the others were, when Edward came into the back. "You have a walk-in. Are you ready for them?"
I nodded yes with a relieved smile. I'd be able to hide for a little bit longer, but now with a legitimate reason.
Edward brought the customer back to my room, and I gave her a moment to change. When she was ready, I put on some music and got to work. I did some deep breathing myself, making sure that I wasn't as tense. I was finally able to relax, when I heard the woman softly snore. It was perfect, and I'd achieved my goal again.
Once the music ended, I knew her time was up. I gently woke her and left her to get dressed. I fetched a bottle of water for her from the kitchen and met her in the hall, then led her to the front desk. It was the first time I'd been up front with everyone there. I did my best to keep my cool and checked out my customer.
Edward's phone rang, and he moved to the back office to answer it, leaving me with the wolves, so to speak. I scheduled a future appointment for my client and checked in two more people. I felt Tanya come up behind me, but I didn't turn to greet her. "Well, aren't you going to say anything?" she asked in a harsh tone.
"No," I answered plainly.
"I can't believe you," she hissed.
"Tanya, leave it be. You don't know me or anything about my life," I said coolly.
I heard her scoff. I turned away, ignoring her and headed to my room. I needed to clean it up before Jerry arrived.
"You're a piece of work. No one believes you're some poor little victim. If you aren't outright screwing Jake, which I think you are, you're leading him on to think you're going to, while you do the same to Edward," she taunted.
My jaw clenched, but I kept walking.
"Stop walking away from me!"
She grabbed my shoulder in an attempt to spin me around, but I flipped her over my shoulder with ease, landing her on her back, before leaning over her sprawled form. "I said, you don't know me. Leave me alone." I continued to walk past her. I needed to clean my room.
She got up and came rushing in behind me, slamming the door, and I rounded on her, shaking my head in frustration. "What the hell was that? Do you really think you can get away with that?"
"I told you to leave me alone."
"No one messes with me like that and gets away with it! What you did was inexcusable. Your attitude is reprehensible."
"You need to leave," I answered, doing my best to keep my cool, before I lost it on her again and really hurt her.
"NO! You weren't supposed to be here this morning-"
I cut her off. "It's my shop. I can be here whenever I want. If you have a problem with that, then you'll have to find employment elsewhere."
"You can't get rid of me," she taunted, crossing her arms.
"I'm sure my lawyer could easily find a judge who'd agree that your confrontational behavior would warrant removal from the premises. You touched me first, I was just defending myself."
The door flung open, and I was surprised to see Jasper standing there, his eyes darting between Tanya and me. "Is everything alright in here?" he asked worriedly.
"Tanya was just leaving, and if she doesn't keep her attitude in check, it'll be on a permanent basis."
"Everyone thinks you're a whore," Tanya snapped.
My hand tightened on the rag in my hand, as Jasper came to my defense. "You're full of shit, Tanya. No one thinks that, except you and Rose."
I shook my head. "You know nothing about me, or my situation."
"What's there to know? You let him grope and hang all over you, and you do nothing to stop it. That looks pretty suspicious to me."
"You don't know me, or the history that's forced me into such a position. You need to stay out of my personal life. What goes on between me and anyone else is none of your business."
"It is, when Edward asks us to help him kick Jacob's ass out of the shop for touching you."
"He shouldn't have involved any of you. I would've been able to get Jake under control and out the door without your help."
"You obviously lied to Edward, because you're still defending that jackass," Tanya spat.
"She didn't." Edward pushed his way into the room and wrapped his arms around me. I leaned back into him, trying to soak in the peace he brought me. "You don't know the whole story or the extenuating circumstances. I would've never involved you, if I knew you were going to treat her the way you are. I think you should leave for the rest of the day."
"No, Rose and I get to work mornings!" she snapped.
"NO, you and Rose don't get to work at all," Edward answered back. "You're forgetting who owns this place."
Angela poked her head into the crowded room. "Bella, your dad is here?" she said confused.
"Did Jake come with him?" I asked with a grimace. Edward's arms had tightened around me.
"No, the guy is by himself. I thought you lost your parents?" Angela was one of a few people who knew some of my story.
"He's my adoptive father." I rushed out of the room, determined to stop anyone from saying anything to him about Jake.
"Hey, Billy," I called to him with open arms. He hugged me tight.
"How are you, Little Bell?"
His warm hug and question was all it took. I burst into tears, and he squeezed me tighter, letting me keep my face hidden in his shirt. He guided me to the back room, past the gawkers.
"Young lady, this is a private conversation," I heard him dismiss someone who had come in behind us.
"Well, I know-" I heard Tanya start, but Billy cut her off.
"You know nothing, this is a family matter, and you need to go, so I can talk to my little girl," he said more forcefully, and I worried that he was getting too upset.
"Your little girl-"
"LEAVE!" he shouted.
I pulled back and turned to Tanya and literally pushed her out of the back room, moving her into the hall. "You can't upset him!" I hissed angrily.
"His son-"
I cut her off by covering her mouth, and she yanked my arm down and tried to pin it behind my back. I dipped and spun out of her hold, pinning her to the wall. "He had a heart attack from laying into Jacob the last time I spoke to him about his son's behavior. You will not say a word to him about it. If you risk the health of my family out of spite, you will be sorry."
"You can't touch me like this, you can't do anything to me!" she retorted.
"No, but my lawyer can," I threatened, releasing her and pushing her towards the front. "Your cocky, know-it-all attitude and your own twisted family drama has you believing you have a right to get involved in my personal matters, but you don't, and your offense is presumptuous. You don't know me or what's really going on, and it's none of your business. You need to respect mine and Edward's authority, remember your place, and butt out!"
"You're taking advantage of him. I'm not going to stand by and say nothing while you do it," Tanya warned.
"She's not taking advantage of me. She's my fiancée, and your boss, so you will treat her respectfully, or you're out. I know her whole story, you don't. It's my choice to forgive her and be with her, not yours. She's right, your offense is unwarranted. I should've never have involved you in the matter. You're done here for the day."
"Bella, honey, is everything alright?" Billy asked, stepping into the hall.
"Yeah, just a little employee dispute."
His eyes narrowed at Tanya, and she sneered back at him. Jasper grabbed her arm, pulling her toward the front of the shop. She yanked out of his grip, but she did actually leave.
I sighed in relief, falling back into Edward's chest. He kissed the top of my head and then reached his hand out to Billy. "It's good to see you again, Sir."
"He's calling me sir, Little Bell, should I be worried about him?"
I held up my hand, realizing I hadn't informed him of the engagement. "I don't think you need to worry about his intentions, he's made them clear."
He took my hand, looking at the ring, and pulled me into a hug. Then he cupped my cheeks. "Is this what you really want? Does he make you happy?"
"Yes, he really does," I answered honestly.
He released me with a smile and then took Edward's hand, pulling him forward into a man hug. "Welcome to the family. If you hurt her, I can kill you and get away with it," he said with a leveling stare. "They won't find your body on the reservation, because I won't let them look for it." He poked Edward's chest, leaving him wide-eyed and shocked.
"Billy," I grabbed his finger, removing it from where it was poking Edward's chest. "You'll do no such thing. Edward will not be disappearing anytime soon, or ever for that matter."
"It's my right to threaten him, Little Bell. You know your father would've had his gun collection out and let him know he could do the same as me. It's what dad's do," Billy defended.
My eyes watered, and he pulled me into another hug. "He'd be happy for you, too, though. You know that, right?" he added, and I nodded yes. "Now, tell me why all this weepy girl stuff is happening. Are you missing your daddy again?"
It was my go-to lie for when the situations with Jake had gotten to me. I nodded yes, and he let out a sigh.
"He'd be so proud of you, Little Bell. I'll want you to bring your fellow to dinner one night. I need to get to know him a little better. What's your name again, Son?" he asked Edward.
"Edward Cullen, Sir."
"Edward Cullen, huh?" Billy repeated, as if he was testing it out. "Well, Edward Cullen, just know that I wasn't kidding about hiding your body. Treat my little girl right, and we won't have any problems, understood?"
Edward swallowed hard and nodded, and I leveled Billy with a glare for scaring my poor boy. I was so bringing him broccoli instead of cookies on my next visit!