Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. Twilight character names belong to Stephanie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended.

Don't hate me at the end of this chapter. You have no idea where I am taking these two, and believe me…you want to go there!

Shattered and Shrouded

Chapter 2 – Getting to Know You

The ride was long and nerve-racking. After a half hour with not a single word spoken, I could take the silence no longer. There were questions I had, but none I felt comfortable asking, so I turned to him and blurted out the lamest getting-to-know-you line.

"Tell me something about yourself."

"Huh?" He turned to face me. His lips pulled down slightly, not quite a frown, but close enough. "What do you want to know?"

"Well, I really don't know anything about you, so whatever you want to divulge would be nice."

Sucking in a deep breath, he closed his eyes for a long moment and muttered something unintelligible. I shifted in my seat so I was sitting on one leg, facing him. When he opened his eyes, I felt that familiar surge of unease mixed with an unexpected dose of expectation. The mystery that was Edward Masen had me in its grasp, and I was not going to be satisfied until I was released from it.

"Well," he began, looking down at his hands as he adjusted his cufflinks, "I'm sure you've already heard an earful today. Women talk, Miss Swan. This is a fact well-known to men. So, I'm sure you know what an uncaring, heartless, cold, son of a bitch asshole I am. I'm dead inside and out. There is no emotion in me to give, aside from hostility, so I offer what I can. I like to fuck and move on, so that's what I do." He looked up at my face. "Am I about right, or did I miss something?"

The expression on my face must have given away my feeling of discomfort, because he immediately tried to ease the tension. "Miss Swan, I assure you, I've never taken a woman against her will. I will not touch you in any way that is inappropriate for a boss and employee."

"Oh? Is that so?"

"Yes."

"So…you think it is okay for a boss to hold his employee's hand, do you?"

"Does that make you feel uncomfortable?"

I narrowed my eyes at him. "You're not answering my question."

"I'm asking you." He smirked. "Does it make you feel uncomfortable to have my hand in yours?"

"Honestly?"

"Yes, please."

I looked away from his eyes, not sure if I really should tell the truth, but decided that honesty, well, really was the best policy. "Um…no. Not really."

"Then why does it matter?"

I huffed in frustration and crossed my arms, making it a point to glare at him. "Stop dancing around my question."

"Well, Miss…"

"If you don't mind, I would appreciate it if you wouldn't call me that."

"Should I call you Isabella?"

"No, actually, I prefer Bella."

"Bella…" he mused. "That's nice…I like it." He reached over, his hand hovering over mine. "May I?"

I nodded and he wrapped his hand around mine.

"I like holding hands," he murmured, and I wasn't quite sure if he'd meant for me to hear it. He looked at our hands, our fingers intertwined, and raised them up to place a soft kiss on the back of my hand.

Oh, he's good. He's really good.

Alice was right when she said he had a way with women, but there was no chance in hell I was going to let him break through my wall. I'd had it up way too long to let some smooth talker squeeze through the cracks.

After staring at our hands for a long moment, he ran the index finger of his free hand along the back of mine, tracing over the edges, running between our entangled fingers. A slow burning sensation started where he touched my skin, traveling down my arm and throughout my body. I trembled inside, deeply confused with the way my body was reacting to his touch.

"I have a thing for hands…well, fingers actually. They are our basis for touch. Yes, we can feel with other parts of our body, but when we really want to memorize a texture, fine line, soft skin…" He sighed and dropped my hand. Looking back out the side window, he let the subject drop.

I wanted him to continue but didn't want to pry, so I let him sit with his thoughts. The initial discomfort dissolved, and we continued the peaceful drive in silence.

When we pulled up to the restaurant, it was a little after five in the evening. The sun was setting its course for the horizon, and the view from the patio where we sat was amazing. I'd been to the beach many times in the past, but this restaurant wasn't one of the places I'd ventured to.

Edward sat facing me, the ocean to my right. I turned to take in the view, afraid of the unfamiliar feeling that bubbled up inside each time my eyes met his. A few seagulls flew by; their cries mixed with the sound of the crashing waves soothed me. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of the ocean.

With my eyes closed, it was harder to keep my pain at bay. The soothing sound of ocean waves suddenly became a rushing river, the seagulls cries that of a screeching eagle. Wild rapids flashed beneath my lids, and suddenly I was under, being tossed about the waves, nearly ripped in two. I gasped for air and when my eyes snapped open, Edward was over me, his brow furrowed in concern.

"Are you okay?" he asked, breathing heavily.

"Um…yes. Why?"

"You were…" He didn't finish his sentence; he just sat back down in his seat and motioned for the waiter. "Maybe we should order now."

"Mr. Masen, what…"

I was interrupted by our waiter. "What can I get for you today, Mr. Masen?"

"We are going to share the Fisherman's platter."

"Very good sir."

The waiter walked away without a glance in my direction.

"What the fuck?" Shit! Did I say that out loud?

Edward's eyes widened, and then narrowed in anger. "Is there a problem, Miss…Bella?"

I couldn't help it. I grinned at his stammer with my name. "No. I'm just wondering why I wasn't given a choice as to what I would like to eat this evening, but since you're paying…I guess I shouldn't complain." My eyes focused on the untouched glass of wine before me.

"You're right, you shouldn't complain. You are on the clock, after all."

I looked up from the glass of wine. "Are you serious?"

"Yes. You are on the clock until I no longer require your services. If I keep you out late on a business venture, then you will get paid for it."

"Oh, but surely I'm not getting paid to eat dinner."

"Yes, you are. As long as you are in my presence, you are getting paid."

Inside I was a giddy little girl. I was getting paid to have dinner with a striking man. Regardless of his reputation, I was quite taken by him, and it scared me. It was hard to wrap my mind around that concept.

When the waiter returned, he placed a platter filled with various types of fish on the center of our table. He looked toward Edward once more. "Is there anything else I can get for you?"

"No, thank you."

"And for the lady?" He didn't look at me when he asked what I'd like, and that struck me as odd.

Edward looked at me. "Would you like anything else, Bella?"

I shook my head. "No, thank you."

He looked back up at the waiter and nodded his head once. The man walked away.

Edward motioned with his hand that I should proceed, so I picked up my fork and stabbed a small fillet of fish placing it carefully on my plate. I served myself a few hushpuppies, fries, and the largest stuffed crab on the platter. When I looked at Edward, his lips were pulled up slightly on one side and his eyes were on my nearly full plate.

"Is there something amusing, Mr. Masen?"

With a snicker he started serving himself. "No, Miss Swan. I am just pleasantly surprised at your appetite. Most women would rather starve than eat a full meal in front of me."

"Well, I'm not most women, and I've already told you what I prefer to be called."

"Yes, you have. I apologize. May I ask why you do not prefer Isabella? It is a beautiful name…quite fitting."

Heat rose into my cheeks. Shit! I'm blushing! "Well," I looked down at my plate of food and tried to remember when I decided I preferred Bella, and I couldn't. I couldn't remember anything aside from my strange visions, but I had a sense. It was as if my memories came across as common knowledge, like knowing two plus two equals four or the days of the week. It's not something you think about. I'm not even sure I remember who taught me those things.

Edward's voice snapped me out of my reverie. "You don't have to tell me if it's uncomfortable for you."

"No," I sighed. "It's not uncomfortable for me. I find questions about my past very frustrating, because I have no memories before my seventeenth birthday."

Edward's reaction surprised me. His right hand clenched into a fist and his left came up, his elbow dropping to the table in a loud thud, the dishes rattling with the motion. His head dropped into his left hand and he grumbled something unintelligible.

"I…" I really didn't know what to say. Why would he be troubled when I hadn't told him anything upsetting? "Mr. Masen…" I reached over and tentatively touched the clenched knuckles of his right hand. "I'm sorry."

"No," he looked up at me, his agonized eyes trying to convey something of importance. "I guess I should have known."

"What?"

"Nothing." He resumed his relaxed position and stuffed a hushpuppy in his mouth. "So," he motioned with his hand for me to continue, "You were saying?"

"Um…" It was difficult to get my mind back to where I was when he'd reacted so strangely.

"I asked about your name," he prompted.

"Oh, yes. Well, I know it was what my father called me. I don't remember him, or my mother, but I can see their faces when I close my eyes. I know my mother called me her little Bell. Other than that, I don't remember them at all. They loved me, but it's like common knowledge. You know, things that can't be erased, or explained. I just know…you know?"

He nodded his head as he chewed.

"I woke up in a hospital on my seventeenth birthday. That's my first memory. I don't know how I got there or what my life was like before. Sometimes I'm glad I don't remember. I'm not sure I really want to know what led up to my hospitalization."

"Your life may not have been so bad," he murmured.

"Maybe not...but maybe it was." I couldn't help but wonder about him. "So, what about you?"

His body tensed and his tone became icy cold. "What about me?"

I suddenly didn't care to know, but I pushed anyway. "I gave you a bit of my past. Can I have a bit of yours? Tell me about your father."

"My father?"

"Yes. Mr. Cullen is your father, correct?"

He grinned and his body relaxed. "Well, yes. He's not my biological father. He never formally adopted me, so I still have my birth father's last name, but Carlisle…Mr. Cullen, is my father in every way, and I care for him deeply."

"Oh." It surprised me that this beautiful man seemed to be just as broken as me, in some respects. "So, what happened to your birth parents?"

If looks could kill, I would be dead. The look on his face truly terrified me. "That is none of your fucking business," he growled. Standing abruptly, his chair scraped loudly against the patio floor and nearly toppled over. "We need to get going." He turned and walked toward the waiter who was two tables away with the only other couple on the patio. He handed him a large wag of bills and turned to me. "Bella." The authority in the way he said my name had me jump to my feet and follow.

As we rode to the premiere, not a single word was spoken. I stared at Edward, but I could only see the faint glow of his features as we passed under street lights. He never looked my way, gazing out into the night. I examined the soft contours of his perfection and wondered what in his life caused him to become the man he was today. Why had he reacted so strongly with the mention of my past, or his parents?

Something inside of me wanted to reach over and hold him, to tell him there was no problem that couldn't be solved. The truth was I had no clue as to what it was about his past that fucked him up. I only wished I could take it all away.

Looking away from him, I stared out my side window at the city lights and tried to push all of my thoughts of him aside. I could feel myself being pulled into the complex web Edward was weaving around me, and it was a place I definitely did not want to get stuck in. I wasn't like all the other women I was sure he'd dated, or fucked, or whatever it was he did with them, and there was no way I was going to allow myself to fall for this beautiful man. No…possible…way.

When we pulled up to the Bruin Theatre in Westwood Village, I nearly choked on my own gasp. I'd never been to a premiere. Okay, that wasn't entirely true. A year prior I'd camped out with a friend of mine in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre because she just had to get a peek at her celebrity heartthrob, some British actor with incredible hair. Thinking back, he was well worth the wait, but this…this was in a different realm altogether.

Our limo pulled up to the red carpet and Edward stepped out first, turned, and reached for my hand. I took his, feeling another burn surge through me at his touch. It wasn't an uncomfortable sensation, and that unnerved me.

At first glance, my stomach curled up and died. There was no end to the amount of people standing along and around the path leading to the theatre. Microphones were being thrust into the faces of people up the walk, with T.V. personalities conducting interviews. Cameras flashed around us and I tucked myself into Edward's side, turning my head away from the lights.

"Are you camera shy, Bella?" he smirked.

"Yeah." I took a deep breath and looked up at him.

One of my loose curls blew across my face and he deftly placed it behind my ear, running his fingers down my neck and across my shoulder before grabbing my hand and leading me down the red carpet.

"Don't be shy," he murmured. "You look stunning."

I kept my face averted, trying to avoid any attention. When we reached a platform, Edward pulled me up and I gasped.

"Mr. Masen, no!"

He chuckled and pulled me around to face the onslaught of photographers. Wrapping his arm around my waist, he pulled me close.

"Smile," he murmured in my ear, "unless you want the papers to print your frown."

I turned toward the flashing lights and gave my best smile, hoping it wouldn't look as bad as I knew it probably would.

Edward spun me around and we continued toward the entrance. He stopped a few times to chat with some people I didn't know. I nodded and smiled politely when he introduced me, keeping my mouth shut. I forgot their names as quickly as I'd forgotten my co-workers'.

Inside the theatre he led me to a row of seats near the front of the stage where one was labeled "Edward Masen" and the other as "guest". I felt so insignificant sitting next to him, the odd-ball, the third wheel, the outsider. People stopped now and then to speak to him and continued on to their seats. I was admiring the décor when I realized we were at the movie premiere of a romance I'd wanted to see. The reason I was so eager for this movie's release was because it was based on a novel I'd read the previous summer. I gasped and placed my hand over my mouth.

Edward leaned over and whispered in my ear, "Is everything okay?"

I turned to him, wide-eyed. "We are at the premiere for Love Distended?"

"Yes."

"Oh!" I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him close, kissing him on the cheek. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

He laughed. "Maybe I should have told you what we were going to see sooner. It would have given us something to talk about on the way here."

Realizing our close proximity was doing something to me deep down in my happy place, I pulled back. I was about to ask him how frequently he attended these events when his eyes moved past me and he growled. Something told me not to turn, but I did. Behind me was a beautiful strawberry blonde with long legs and perky breasts. Her dress was so tight it looked painted on.

"Hello, Edward," she purred, leaning over me to kiss him on the cheek. Her cleavage pressed uncomfortably against my shoulder and I wanted to "accidentally" elbow her in the gut, but I behaved myself.

Edward grimaced and wiped his face with the back of his hand. "Hello, Tanya."

She completely ignored me, reaching out to run her fingers through his hair.

"What the fuck do you want?" he asked.

"Aww, that's no way to talk to your girlfriend, baby."

"The correct term is ex-girlfriend."

She giggled and turned to me. "Who's this? A new toy?"

"No." He stood, pulling me up to stand beside him. "This is Isabella Swan. She is my new assistant."

"How cute. Another toy."

"Don't fucking call her that," he growled. His face turned red and his nostrils flared.

"Oh, Edward. Save that temper for the bedroom." She turned and winked at me. "Tell me if he kisses you. I'd pay to see that." Her hand pressed against my cheek and she clicked her tongue. "Poor baby."

"Fuck you, Tanya." Edward growled. "She's not like that."

"I'm sure she isn't, but I know you are." She laughed loudly and walked away.

"What the fuck?" I turned to Edward and he frowned.

"I'm sorry you had to be subjected to that. Tanya hasn't gotten over our breakup."

"How long ago was that?" I asked as I sat down.

He slid into his seat and sighed. "Three years ago."

"What was that talk about kissing?"

"I don't kiss," he said, looking away from me. He scanned the theatre, clearly trying to avoid my question.

"Why not?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Why?"

His head snapped around and he glared at me. "Drop it."

"Fine." I crossed my arms and waited until the lights were lowered for the event to begin.

It was a wonderful premiere, aside from the fact that Tanya was a supporting actress in the movie. I don't know how I didn't notice her from the movie trailers, though my mind had been out of sorts for so long. It definitely was expected.

When the lights came up Edward turned to me. "We are attending the after party. Would you prefer to go home, or are you up for an all nighter?"

It didn't take me long to realize I wouldn't get this opportunity all that often, so I nodded. "Yes, I'm up for an after party."

A wide grin spread across his face. "Thank you." He grabbed my hand and kissed my palm. "You have made my entire day."

As we walked through the theatre, stopping every now and then so Edward could chat with acquaintances, I realized he wasn't as bad as I'd thought he was. Alice had painted him to be a cruel person, but other than his nasty mood swings he didn't seem to be too bad at all.

When we approached the exit, Tanya made another appearance.

"Hello there!" She walked up and wrapped her arms around Edward, shoving me to the side.

Edward kept his hand firmly in mine and pushed her away with his other hand. "Tanya, this is extremely inappropriate."

"Why is that?"

He glanced at me, frustrated, so I did the unthinkable. I really should have considered how he may have reacted before I did it, but I wasn't really thinking.

Shoving Tanya aside, I barked, "Because you have your fucking, filthy ass hands on my boyfriend, bitch!" I reached over and pulled Edward's face to mine, planting my lips against his for a quick kiss. When I turned to Tanya, I opened my hand in expectation. "So…pay up!"

She gasped and turned, taking large strides toward the exit.

I smiled and turned to look at Edward's face. Oh, no.

His jaw was clenched, face red, eyes wide, nostrils flaring. He squeezed my hand tightly and dragged me toward the limo, shoving me in and following suit, slamming the door behind him.

When he turned to me, his eyes were murderous. He leaned forward, his nose nearly touching mine, his hot breath sweeping over my face.

"Why the fuck did you kiss me?"

I very nearly peed myself. "I…I…"

He grabbed me by my hair and I screamed.