A/N: Thank you to twilighnv for all of your hard work making my writing look good. And for your encouragemnet when I wanted to throw in the towel on this story.

Also thank you to everyone who reviewed. I read them all and really appreciate the effort. I HATE writing angst. Unfortunately, I wanted to write a story about two imperfect people who needed to learn to forgive. If it was all funn times, there would be nothing to forgive.

I had more than enough information. I now knew that Bella wasn't using me, which was a relief. I really didn't want her to be using me. But still, she didn't tell me who she was on Friday and that still seemed suspicious to me. Admittedly, kissing Jessica was not the best, most mature way to handle it. But I had seen Black's face between her legs. What the fuck was that about?

"Cullen, wait!" Black was following me out of his office.

I turned to face him, crossing my arms over my chest. I stood my ground.

Black was panting from his little jog. "You thought this conversation was over just because you walked out of my office?"

I nodded at him.

"You saw her over the weekend?"

"That threw you for a loop, eh?" I smiled. I was a professional and I knew I couldn't really touch him, but I could mess with his head a little.

He started to fidget back and forth, his hands in his pockets. "This isn't going the way I had planned." He took his hands out of his pockets and ran one through his hair as he turned to walk back to his office. The way he said it, made me think that he should have had a long white coat and wild white hair like Doc from Back to the Future.

"Well, Mad Scientist, what plan was that?" I chuckled.

He turned to look at me. "Cullen, even if you win her heart, she'll never be yours alone."

"Excuse me?" I cocked my eyebrow and put my hands in my pockets.

"She'll always come back to me, you'll never stop that." Damn it, damn him. Now I wanted to beat him. I took a few steps toward him, clenching my fists.

No. I could not let him get the better of me. I took a deep breath. "Give it your best shot, Black. You know what you just did, right?"

"Discouraged you from pursuing her." Black shot me a smug look.

"No, just the opposite." I turned and walked toward the elevator. I wasn't really going to let Bella off the hook that easily, but I didn't care to put up with his shit, either. What kind of hold does he have over her? And what did she mean when she said things aren't always as they seem? I couldn't look at it objectively, I was too close.

I needed to think about my case, after all it was still work hours and I needed to get some billable hours in. And since Bella obviously wasn't doing the research, I headed to the library.

When I got to my office later that day, Bella was waiting for me. She didn't pretend to be working on a case.

"Edward, we can't just act like there is nothing going on here. I don't imagine that any of your other your co workers know you the way I do." She was leaning against my desk with her legs crossed in front of her. She brushed her hair behind her ear as she spoke to me.

"You're right about that. They know me in a "clothes on" sort of way." I tried to hold it back, but a smiled formed at the corners of my mouth.

"I want to talk about Jake," Bella walked toward me, her hand falling on my arm.

I took her hand and held it in both of mine. "Really Bella, it's none of my business."

"Edward, I want it to be your business. You can't just pretend like this weekend didn't happen."

Fuck, it wasn't the weekend that I wanted to pretend didn't happen. It was this dreadful day. When I woke up that morning I was happy and I wanted that back. But so much had transpired that I couldn't see how we could get back to that. I wanted to shut Bella out, and at the same time, I wanted to pull her in. I took a deep breath.

"Bella, I don't think I am up for your explanation." I pulled on her hand until her body came into contact with mine. I wrapped one arm around her waist as the other came up to caress her cheek. Her lips were so close I could smell her strawberry lip gloss.

"It was stupid, really. I saw you with Jessica and then you were so cold in here. I went to see Jake to find out what he could have possibly said to you to make you turn on me like that. And well, he wanted me. I could have resisted, but I didn't want to. I had no idea you would walk in on us."

Bella timidly put her hand on my chest. I closed my eyes and gently pushed her back so that she was no longer in contact with me. "That explanation is full of holes, Bella. I don't know what you're hiding. And frankly, it's starting to look like you're a slut. Am I right?" I didn't want to be right but I also didn't want her anywhere near me. The feelings were too confusing. I wanted her just as much as I was disgusted by her.

"Edward, you need to listen to me. If I had any choice in the matter, I would have never been in that office when you came today." We stood an arms length away from each other. My body longed to pull her close again, but I just couldn't.

I moved around her and faced my desk. "Black knew I was coming. I called and set up the meeting."

She walked up behind me and put her hand on my back. "He knew you were coming? He set me up too. Jake has always been a good guy, not that his behavior lately shows it." I moved forward so that she wasn't touching me.

"You are talking in code!" It was a statement, not a question. It was like she was dropping hints, and I was supposed to read between the lines. "Things are not always as they appear. If I had any choice in the matter. What does Black have on you?" I turned to look at her.

"He doesn't have anything on me," Bella looked at the floor. "I just can't stay away from him." Tears started to fall down her cheeks.

"Well I guess that's it then. You had your fun. Now you can go back to the man who will put up with your games." I walked to my desk, picking up the file. "I suppose you'll be bringing him to dinner tomorrow night." Say no. Say you wouldn't do that to me. Don't fucking put me through that.

"Of course I'm bringing him to dinner." Her eyes glowed, still filled with tears and anger that was directed at me. She's angry with me? She's the one with another man. "Who will your date be? Mike's girlfriend?"

"What?" I didn't even know who Mike's girlfriend was.

"Before the meeting this morning, Mike introduced me to his girlfriend Jessica. The one you kissed right after the meeting." I saw a smile steal across her face.

I smiled back at her. "Well then I did him a favor. She was willing to go home with me."

"You took her home?" She looked shocked.

"Yeah, she was really impressed with your clothes all over my apartment. By the way, I want my shirt back. I'll bring your clothes for you tomorrow. I need to make a call, would you mind excusing me?"

"Sure, Edward. I'll bring it for you. See you tomorrow, I'm going home for the day."

"See you tomorrow." I hoped the awkwardness would fade eventually.

My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest as I watched her walk out the door. I felt like the only chance I had with her walked out the door with her.