A/N: Thanks to my amazing beta dictums, without whom I would not be continuing this story. And thanks to amgglekim for giving me an idea I couldn't pass up! This chapter is mostly BPOV, things have to stew a little longer.

Chapter 8: Explanations, or not

BPOV

I knew Jasper was probably still standing there, staring at me, but I couldn't be bothered to look up from my hands. I didn't know what I would say . . .

"Bella? What did Mike say to you?" Jasper asked, and I was wondering how long I could ignore the truth.

"You know he's just a jerk who has the hots for you, right? You shouldn't take anything he says to heart, Bella. He's not worth it."

I still couldn't bring myself to look at Jasper so I laid my head on my desk, my eyes closed.

"Jasper– " I started but I didn't even know where to begin.

"Jasper, it seems that Megacorp has contracted Mike – and Edward's – firm for the Prado case."

"So? I figured they would contract it out and that's a big firm so it makes sense. Plus, they're ruthless over there just like Megacorp. You're not worried are you, Bella? I know you can do this."

"Well, um, Mike really came here to tell me that. . . " I was trying very hard now not to cry.

". . . Edward is handling the case for the firm."

Jasper didn't say anything for at least a minute. I finally had the courage to look up; I had to see his reaction.

He looked like he was in pain. He was grinding his teeth and he had dropped his hands to his sides, clenching his fists. Finally he spoke—

"Edward didn't say anything to you, Bella? He didn't tell you . . .?"

"No."

"But, I mean did he know you were working on this case?"

"Well I didn't say anything to him, but surely if he has the case, he's seen the demand letter . . . Mike knew—"

Jasper looked as if steam was coming out of his ears now.

"And when did you talk to Edward last? Maybe this just happened . . ."

I shook my head, still holding in my tears.

"We had lunch," I glanced down at my watch, "two hours ago."

And then my phone rang.

I silently praised called id as I looked down and saw it was Edward calling. I'm sure the blood drained from my face and my heart was racing.

"It's Edward. What should I do?"

"Don't you want to talk to him . . . ask him what's going on?"

"I just can't right now Jasper. I need…to think about this, just a little longer."

I hit reject on my phone, and I immediately regretted it. Even with all the thinking I needed to do, I still wanted to hear his voice.

I heard a sound from my phone indicating a new voicemail. I didn't think I could bear to hear it right now.

"Bella? I think maybe I should talk to Edward . . ."

His tone indicated he wasn't telling me something—I knew Jasper too well.

"Why should you talk to him, Jasper?"

"Well . . . I was trying to spare you from telling you that I'm going to kick his ass."

"Jas, really? How old are we? No, I think I just need to think about this a little longer . . . "

I couldn't help a lone tear from sliding down my face.

"Look, Bella, you're upset. He promised me he wouldn't hurt you. I'm going to—talk—to him. I mean, really talk . . . at least, I won't throw the first punch. But, right now, I'm going to call Alice to come and take you home. You shouldn't be alone right now and you really shouldn't be working."

I merely shook nodded my head yes.

Whatever, I thought, I can't deal with this right now. I wanted to forget for a little while and then I'd think about this. After everything, I really didn't want to believe that Edward wouldn't tell me something like this, that he would betray me. But I needed some time for myself. At least I knew Alice wouldn't hover—too much—when she saw how upset I was.

Jasper returned from the hallway, where he had stepped out to all Alice. He walked over to me and placed his hand on my head.

"It's going to be okay, Bella. I feel bad that I told you that his intentions were true but that's what I felt from him."

"Jasper, this is hardly your fault."

"But Bella—I just can't help but think that there is more here than we know. That's why I'm going to go talk to him."

"I hope you're right, Jasper. I just hope you're right."

I squeezed my eyes shut again, taking a deep breath. I refused to shed any more tears until I knew what was going on with Edward. But resolving that, telling myself that, didn't fill this hole that was slowly growing in my heart.

Jasper just stood next to me for the next few minutes, letting me wallow in my own thoughts or maybe for the first time, he didn't know what to say.

Finally, Alice showed up. She had been running but came to a complete stop as she approached the doorway, looking in on Jasper and me.

"Bella?"

She sounded so sad.

"Oh Bella."

She rushed over to me, kneeling and half hugging me since I was still sitting at my desk. I realized that I hadn't moved since Mike walked in.

"Hey Alice." I said, my voice wavering, just a little, but I knew she could still tell.

"I'll be right back Bella." She kissed the top of my head and her and Jasper walked out of the office.

I felt paralyzed and kind of like a child with Jasper and Alice treading on egg shells around me but I didn't know what else to do right now.

Alice returned, my coat in her hands, and took my hand in hers, pulling me out of the chair.

I pulled my coat on, and let the pixie tug me out of my office and into the elevator. I was just going through motions.

Alice pulled me to her car and I was thankful she had found a parking spot nearby.

My phone rang again. Edward. My lip was trembling but I hit reject again and Alice took my phone from my hand.

"You can have it back whenever you want, Bella." She chimed, putting her arm around me as she opened the car with her remote.

I hated getting into her Porsche, it was so low to the ground, but I managed to sit down without incident. It helped to focus on just trying to get into the car.

We were moving now, I didn't even know where Alice was taking me but at least it was away from the scene of the crime. I wished get I could the image of Mike Newton slinking into my office, his sneer, and the self-satisfied look he got on his face as he tried to break my heart, out of my head.

Finally I recognized my condo as Alice parallel parked across the street, hopping out of the car and ushering me out, again, as if I were a child.

"Let's go inside Bella and we can talk . . . if you want to. No pressure."

"Thanks Alice, but would you mind if we just watched a movie? And maybe had some hot chocolate . . ."

"Of course, Bella, we can watch Legally Blonde! And I bet you even have some mini marshmallows, huh?"

"Even better, Alice, I made some marshmallows over the weekend when Ed—when he and I—"

I choked out a sob, now, thinking about our perfect weekend and Alice pushed me into the elevator.

The elevator where Edward and I had made out with abandon.

I was definitely crying now, my sobs racking my shoulder up and down as Alice drew circles on my back and made cooing noises at me.

We walked into my apartment and Alice led me to couch, pulling off my shoes and draping a blanket over me.

I was lost in my own thoughts of the weekend and couldn't be bothered to protest.

"You stay right here Bella and I'll make the hot chocolate. Be back in a jif!"

Even Alice's words and cheeriness sounded false to me now. I knew she was putting on a brave front for me.

I must look as bad as I feel.

I suddenly remembered Jasper and I felt like a coward for letting him talk to Edward before I did.

Tomorrow, I told myself, tomorrow.

EPOV

The phone rang again and again and then voicemail picked up and at least I got to hear Bella's voice that way.

Odd, though, this was the first time since we met that she hadn't answered her phone.

Maybe she's in the bathroom or had an unexpected meeting with a client, I thought, waving off any other adverse explanation immediately.

I left her a voicemail, telling her how much I already missed her.

I guess it was time to do some work.

There were three stacks on my desk: one, a case I was about to settle; two, a case in which I was knee-deep in discovery; and three, the case Mike pushed on me this morning that I still hadn't even glanced at.

I decided that I should look over every aspect of the settlement agreement as we were hopefully going to sign that tomorrow at conference and I hadn't looked over some last minute changes yet—everything else could wait, especially Mike. He hadn't even told me what kind of case this was or its procedural posture anyway. Too bad for him, I would assume that it didn't need my immediate attention and that he was just dumping it on me to be an asshole.

I settled back into my chair, my fingers lingering on the new settlement agreement and I began reading it with my red pen, double checking every single word and, in turn, sentence. Soon, I was absorbed.

I glanced at the clock once I had gotten one read-through of the settlement agreement done. It had been two hours and still no call returned from Bella. Maybe she didn't hear her phone the first time?

I hit her name on my speed dial and listened intently as it rang and rang before her voicemail came on again.

I left her another voicemail, telling myself that she was probably just busy; I knew she had a complaint in a huge case that she had to file by Friday.

I sighed, though, missing her. It had only been a few hours since lunch and just thinking about that kiss afterwards made me shift in my seat and I had to reach down to adjust myself.

That thought made me smile though, Bella drives me so crazy and I love it.

Then, simultaneously, two things happened.

One, my phone rang: it was my direct line and internal caller id indicated it was the managing partner's—my boss's—secretary. SHIT.

Two, my own secretary buzzed in to tell me that Jasper Hale was here to speak with me. That's weird, I thought, I wonder what he wants?

I answered my phone to hear that my presence was required NOW in my boss's office. Judging by the tone of voice of my boss's secretary, this was not good news. I tried to think of what he could possibly want when my thoughts were snapped back to the present as my secretary buzzed me again, wanting a response.

I walked out of my office as calmly as I could to find Jasper waiting at reception.

"Hey man, everything all right?"

I reached out to shake his hand and he grabbed mine back, firmly, squeezing very hard and reaching up with his other hand to grip my shoulder. He looked me right in the eyes but his expression was different from the other times I'd seen him before, harder.

"Edward, do you have a minute?"

"Jasper, of course, but right now isn't good. I have to meet with my boss right now, in fact, I'm already late."

He was still gripping my hand hard, cutting off my circulation in some sort of power play but I had no idea why . . .

"I'll be waiting for you at that bar across the street, Billy's. You know it?"

"I promise I'll be there as soon as I can."

He finally released my hand and I shook it out, clenching and unclenching my fist as he walked away.

I turned and sped to my boss's office wondering how the hell this day had just gotten a lot more complicated, and I didn't think in a good way.

What the hell is going on?

A/N: Oooh what's going to happen with Edward? And, I know all of you think Edward should just quit . . . but maybe there are few things you don't know--yet! Anyway, I promise another chapter before the week is out so please review!