DISCLAIMER: The story doesn't belong to me; the characters are property of S. Meyer, and the plot belongs to Annalau Thank you so much for letting me share your story in English!
Gracias Laura, por darme esta oportunidad!
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Chapter 5
I ring the doorbell one more time...
The wind factor makes me shiver uncontrollably that I am regretting wearing only my anorak and not my raincoat. I hug myself tighter giving me some warmth.
From the metal gate an older lady with friendly features peeks out.
"Miss Stanley?" she says smiling. "Oh, you're shaking, girl, come on inside honey."
I follow her. My eyes can't take so much beauty together; the garden is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen in my life, it looks like a tropical jungle painted in white. It's a beautiful postcard.
"I'm Carmen" the woman stops at the entrance of the house and invites me in. The door is so big that ten people can fit together at the same time. My mouth opens when I get to the huge room with sloping ceilings, the brick-finished fireplace is beautiful. Without thinking, I approach, and my hands feel better in the warmth. "I'll get you a cup of hot chocolate, with marshmallows?"
I nod smiling and Carmen is lost from my sight.
I take off my anorak, scarf and my simple sweater, still with my eyes everywhere I can't take my hands off the fireplace, the place is so incredible and warm that it's impossible for me to blink to not miss any detail.
"The man will be here soon," comments Carmen, offering the cup of chocolate in my hands.
"This is where you live?" I can't help but ask. I'm a questioner and I like to make conversation when I don't know people. I take a sip..., the chocolate is delicious, it doesn't compare to the taste of my powdered chocolates from the dollar store.
"No," she shakes her head, her gray hair is very short and curly. "I've worked here since Pat was born. I'm the one who does the housekeeping, I take care of the food for the man and his son. I also take care of them both when necessary."
"And what does Pat's mother do?"
"She doesn't live here," Carmen purses her lips, debating whether to speak or keep quiet. "Edward is a single dad. You'll meet him, he's reserved and not very talkative, but he's not mean, and Pat is a sweetheart. He's my spoiled boy."
I smile at her and take another big sip. This is so utterly delicious that I'm tempted to order a bun to enjoy it better.
"Let's go to the kitchen, I made cookies today."
I like Carmen already; something tells me I will love her for the rest of my days or at least for these hours.
I try to keep my mouth shut, but it's impossible. The majesty of the place is on another level, why have two living rooms? This doubt I'm going to save for when I'm home. Although the double living room is nothing when I see the kitchen. It is immense, its cabinets and granite island, it is luxury in every sense of the word. Although the window is what has me in awe; it's still snowing outside and the accumulation of all that snow is the best scenery for my eyes.
"What are you doing here?!
I gasp at the sound of that voice and my mug slips from my hands. My boots and jeans are ruined, there's a big mess at my feet.
I look up; I want to close my eyes. Instead, I open them wider as I recognize him.
He is wearing hiking boots, his jeans are torn and seem to be tight to his athletic legs, his trench coat is a garment that very few can wear, and he is one of them that it is impossible that he can hide tremendous musculature under it. His hair now I know is a coppery color and half wavy tied in a small ponytail that gives it a wild air, not to mention his coppery beard that makes him look very... good.
"Why are you talking to her like that, Dad?" a blond boy interjects, "Do you know her?"
"Pat, go to your room. We'll talk later," he orders grumpily.
"Why, what did I do?" the boy looks at his father, then points at me. "Hey, I know you," he says. "You are the grumpy girl. Yes, of course you are."
Carmen starts picking up the pieces of cup at my feet, I crouch down and start to help him, still with my hands shaking. The woman smiles at me holding one of my hands, not allowing me to continue.
I refuse to look at the guy. Instead I feel her eyes on me as if she wants to pulverize my existence.
The boy also joins us, he is faster and ends up picking up all the broken pieces by himself.
"What happened to your arms? " he asks curiously, one of his fingers even squeezes my bruises. "It looks like you've been beaten up."
"In fact," I reply, "an unmanly man gave them to me," I look at the arrogant guy and his eyes seem to be warning me. "I hope you're a good boy and never get with a woman."
"No, I would never get with a girl," he assures me. "You girls are pretty, so why would I hurt what's pretty? Dad taught me to never touch women."
"Ah... really?" I say mockingly, "You must have a model dad."
The guy clears his throat.
"Let's talk in my office, miss," he asks in that bitter and cutting tone. I give him a last look with all my disdain and walk past him in an uncomfortable silence. He barely closes the door and I'm a few steps away from him. "So now you're Jessica Stanley..." he says.
"Before anything else," he adds, "I owe you an apology. I know the bruises on your arms are my fingers imprinted on your skin. I'm sorry I've been a savage to you."
I hug myself, covering my bruises with my hands and he averts his eyes from me. I'm not usually self-conscious, instead this man seems to always bring out another version of me. I sigh and more confidently walk around the place with my eyes lost in the large shelves full of books, it's an interesting library, I slide my fingers through some books, I pick one up and my eyebrows arch as I read the title Pride and Prejudice.
I glance at him slyly. He's still scowling, he looks so arrogant I can't imagine him reading anything. He must be the type who just barks orders. A real bossy guy.
"You're going to keep playing dumb."
"You haven't asked me anything."
"What's your intention in coming here?" he asks.
"My best friend is Jessica Stanley," I confess, there's no point in lying at this point. "I don't know where to start. It's a long story."
"I suggest you start at the beginning," his tone is still bitter, he puts his hands in his pockets and leans against the wall, watching me.
"Well," I put the book back in its place. "I have half a scholarship at the university, I had no choice but to take out a student loan to cover the other part, but months ago the administrator called me that there was a mistake, and my loan was cancelled. I have until the end of this month to pay it off, otherwise I will be out. I have looked everywhere for a job with no luck. All the doors and opportunities have been thrown in my face. That's my whole story."
"Why don't you ask your parents?"
I roll my eyes.
"They don't have enough money."
"That's why you became a prostitute," he says. The intensity of his gaze bothers me. "That's why you're my father's mistress."
"I'm not your father's mistress," I yell angrily in front of him. "Not your father's or anyone else's."
"Are you going to start lying?"
I confront him with all my courage, my rage, and my desire to kick him in the balls again.
"I'm not lying!"
"So, explain to me, how did you meet Carlisle?"
"I don't know him!"
He laughs.
"I don't care if you don't believe me. I do not know Carlisle Cullen and I have never seen him."
"If you are not his lover, why did you stay that night to see him? " he takes my arms. "Why did you call me by his name? Why does he have a picture of you? and why is there a damn bill with several zeros under your name? Why!?
I don't believe my ears. A picture of me? An account in my name? That can't be true.
"How did you meet him?" he shakes my body. "How?"
"A classmate realized I was in trouble. She insisted that she had the solution for me, the only thing I had to do..." I avert my eyes, embarrassed- was to sell my virginity on a website. I accepted because I had no other option, but I never thought that the first day I uploaded my information your father would contact me. I didn't talk to him, nor have I seen him. It was all through Lauren, she runs one of those websites."
"Don't lie" his fingers are hurting me.
"I'm not lying!" I complain and he lets go of me and walks away and stops in front of the window with his back to me. "I know it all accuses me. However I can swear to you that I am nobody's mistress, nor am I a prostitute. I made a big mistake by offering my body, but understand me, I'm desperate. I just want a chance, just one!"
He turns around looking at me with intensity.
"You seemed up for anything that night, Isabella. I guess that's the opportunity you're talking about."
My face heats up, I am flushed and also very embarrassed remembering my mouth was on his... member.
"Please, if you won't give me the job, give me back my purse," I beg. "I swear that as soon as I have it with me you will never hear from me again. I will go far away."
"Go away?" by his grimace he looks interested "Why?"
"I have nothing more to do here. I won't be able to cover the amount I owe, I'm going to live in Hawaii, with my boyfriend."
"You will leave while you have a considerable amount in your bank account" his laugh is ironic; he shakes his head and cages me with his arms.
"That's not true," I answer. "You can access my bank account, I only have one hundred and twenty dollars there. It's the only thing I have left."
His face leans very close to mine, his enigmatic green eyes keep watching me as if he somehow wants to access my thoughts.
"I'm going to think about whether or not I should return your things," he muses, "for now, I want you to disappear from my sight. And if possible also from my life."
"I assure you that I have no interest in seeing you again, let alone being in your life."
"I'm glad. Now, get out of my house."
His intense gaze is the last thing I see, I turn around and leave that place praying that this time it will be forever.
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Tyler is thoughtful at what I've said. Is it so hard to say he doesn't want me living with him? I mean, he may as well just mention it out loud.
"Ty, are you still there?"
A snort is heard on the line.
"Wait, Bella. You're saying we'll live together without a piece of paper, right?"
"Yeah, that's what I said. I know it was never my plan, Ty, but like I told you: there's no more to do here."
"Sure, baby, we'll finally be a normal couple," he laughs, "I'm so excited, Bella. After four years together, you're finally going to be my wife, I can't believe it. I feel like I'm having a fucking wet dream, baby."
Jessica pinches my arm, holds out her hand to me asking for her cell phone.
"I have to go, Ty. Jess is about to enter her last class."
"Mmm...I love knowing I'll have you all to myself. We won't have to hold each other back from anything anymore, or get caught in the middle of a shag, baby. I'm so excited I want to call my parents and have them buy you a plane ticket now."
"Wait... Why would your parents buy my ticket? Are you out of money, Ty?"
"I'm out of work, baby, but that's not important. My parents promised to help me, now that I tell them we'll be living together they'll help us both. They love you, Bells."
"Bella, I need the cell phone," Jess whispers, rushing me, "I have to go to my last class."
"Talk to you later, Ty, I love you. Don't forget I don't have a cell phone, so you can text me here." I don't give him a chance to reply, I end his call. "Tyler doesn't have a job," my thought comes out loud.
Jessica rolls her eyes, putting her cell phone in the back pocket of her pants.
"What's new? Tyler's a slacker. I don't doubt that when you live with him you'll end up keeping him."
Jessica doesn't exactly have the best relationship with Tyler. At first I associated it with friend jealousy, we stopped hanging out because I'd rather be with my boyfriend. Now I realize that he will never be to her liking.
"I finally find you, Isabella," Lauren's voice makes us turn around, she has her blonde hair in a high ponytail, her makeup is perfect as well as the designer clothes she usually wears to class. "We need to talk," she pulls my hand and gestures for my best friend to leave. She reluctantly obeys and gets lost among the students.
"We have nothing to talk about," I let go of her grip, continuing on my way to the exit. She stops me again as I pass the big doors; the cold and wind is still so strong that I shiver.
"Of course, we need to talk. Mr. Cullen made you a deposit for several thousand dollars. Now all that's left for you to do is go see him."
I look at her; her gray eyes are as fake as the body she's wearing under those clothes.
"I'm not going anywhere. And you'd better leave me alone, Lauren. I'm really not in the mood to put up with you." I leave her with the word in my mouth, continuing on my way I fasten my coat protecting my chest from the icy wind. I hear the clacking of her heels coming after me.
"Wait..." she shouts as I keep walking. "Wait, Isabella. why don't you tell him yourself? He's waiting for you."
I stop my steps. Discreetly I look everywhere, the only thing there are students coming and going all over the sidewalk. There is only a black Cadillac parked just a few steps away from me; a tall, blond-haired man comes down from there dressed in a full dark suit and trench coat and stands in front of the door, looking at me.
"Isabella," he says my name in a scary way. "You and I have a date. Can we get out of here at once?"
"Excuse me, I don't know you," I continue on my way and a hand stops my forearm.
"I paid a good amount for you. It's time to cash me in, girl," his honey-colored eyes scare me, a fear that can dry my mouth and make my skin crawl.
Hello! It seems that life really takes its toll on Bella, and she wants to cling to her boyfriend as her only salvation. We'll see what happens in the next chapter, will there be another meeting with Edward soon? What do you think?
Thank you very much for your support, see you soon with another chapter.
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