Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. All recognizable characters belong to Stephanie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended. The original content including, but not limited to, the ideas, plot line, characterization and intellectual property of this story are owned by OliviaRising. July 2010.
A/N: A lot of you asked for a chapter in Edward's POV, but I want him to remain a complete enigma for right now. I may write one down the line or maybe a few outtakes when this story is finished, but for right now, you will only see Edward through Bella's eyes. It's better this way, trust me. His mysteriousness is what makes him intriguing... well, that and his gorgeous looks. Besides, Edward hates sharing information, so I don't think he would appreciate me giving you a peek into his innermost thoughts! Thanks for reading and reviewing!
A Beautiful Melody
Chapter Six
I lie awake in my bed, staring at the white ceiling as bright sunlight streams through my curtain-less window. I don't know how long I've been awake, but judging from the amount of sunlight bathing my room, I'd say it's about ten o'clock. I don't have to go to work today and I have subconsciously decided to spend my day off in bed. Am I avoiding the real world? Yes. Do I care? No.
I don't hear Alice flitting about the apartment as usual and, no doubt, she would have woken me up by now if she were here.
Did she even come home last night...?
If there's one thing I know for sure, it's that Alice does not do one night stands- ever. So where could she be? I should probably be thankful that she is not barging into my room and dragging me back to real life, but she's practically my sister and so, of course, I'm concerned... just not concerned enough to leave the safety of my room.
All too soon, the blaring sounds of New York's traffic become more than an faint, background hum and I am forced to save my sanity and leave the comfort of my bed.
I go through the motions of my morning bathroom routine but forgo getting dressed because my new plan for the day is to spend it sprawled out on the couch watching season three of The Office.
As I had guessed, the apartment is Alice-free and from the look of her perfectly made bed, she obviously did not come home last night. Maybe she changed her one night stand rule? She did say that she would be meeting her soulmate soon...
I'm not really worried- despite her petite stature, Alice can definitely take care of herself. If all else fails, she can just talk her way out of any situation.
I've gotten through about four episodes of The Office, when my cell phone vibrates on the coffee table. It's a text from Alice.
Hey Bells! Sorry I didn't text you earlier- too many martinis ;)
I stayed at Emily's apartment last night and I won't be home til after six.
There's a sale at Neimans if you get bored!
xoxo Alice
I snort at her customary signature- she insists that she was using it way before Gossip Girl became a book series, much less a hit show.
Though I know she's only trying to be sweet and caring, I can't help but feel a little insulted that she assumes I am not capable of having fun without her. But then again, I am spending Saturday, my day off, curled up on the couch watching re-runs. But so what? This is my life and this is what makes me happy. Not everyone can be a social butterfly 24/7.
I wander into the kitchen in search of food when I hear a sharp knock on the door. Slightly pissed at being interrupted from my quest for unhealthy but oh-so-good snacks, I grumpily stomp toward the front door, prepared to tell my annoying neighbor, who is perpetually out of milk, to fuck off. Rude, I know, but I all I want to do today is wallow in self pity and be as unsociable as possible.
Without checking the peephole, I fling the door open and prepare to unleash a bitch-fest when I am greeted by a shocked pair of emerald eyes.
Neither of us says anything for what feel like centuries when, suddenly, I remember my state of dress... or undress.
His eyes follow my gaze as I look away from his gorgeous face to what I'm wearing- a white tank top that showcases my lack of bra and a pair of light pink boy shorts... shit!
My faces turns bright red and I unwillingly peek up at Edward's face through my eyelashes.
Holy mother of pearl!
Edward is staring directly at me with piercing green eyes and flared nostrils. His breathing has turned ragged and for a frightening moment, he looks as angry as he did when he saw me dancing with James. But I know it's not anger this time because his emerald eyes only convey one thing- lust.
And for a second, I'm afraid. Not that he will hurt me, but that I won't able to control myself... that I'll do something I'll regret. So I use my best defense- anger.
And it's surprisingly easy because I am angry at him- extremely angry.
"What do you want?" I ask sharply. I don't want to beat around the bush- I want him gone.
My question and tone seem to snap him out of his lust-filled trance, and his eyes immediately narrow at me.
"Do you always answer the door dressed like that?"
And once again, he completely ignores my question.
"That's not any of your business," I say acidly.
If possible, the expression on his beautiful face darkens even further.
"I don't like to play games, Isabella."
What the hell is that supposed to mean?
"Have you eaten?"
Whoa, another change of direction- how can keep up?
His tone tells me he is not to be messed with, so I answer truthfully.
"Um, I was just about to make something..."
"That's not necessary, I'm taking you out."
He doesn't even ask me, he just demands- as usual. I contemplate refusing, but something tells me he won't take no for an answer. And, admittedly, a big part of me is curious to find out what he has to say. My anger at him is trumped by a confusing need to be around him, to bask in the glow of his attention... and I slightly hate myself for it.
"I... uh, just let me get dressed..."
I'm afraid to ask him to come inside because there's a big chance I won't ever let him leave. As the delightful image of Edward tied to my bed crosses my mind, I open my door wider and invite him in.
He looks strangely out of place standing in my living room. Behind his striking form, Steven Carell is dancing around on the television. Shit! I forgot to turn that off!
Edward follows my gaze and stares at the screen. I mentally slap myself- why couldn't I have been watching something sophisticated?
"... Do you watch The Office..?"
"No, Isabella, I don't have time to watch television."
I desperately want to turn it off but that would be suspicious. So, instead, I run into my room and get dressed as quickly as possible before he has time to snoop around the apartment and find something embarrassing... like that magazine I left out with Cristiano Ronaldo's body plastered all over it...
I pull on my dark skinny jeans, a black, cashmere v-neck sweater and top it off with a lavender scarf wrapped around my neck. I quickly swipe on some mascara and lip balm and then I'm out the door, desperate to prevent Edward from finding anything humiliating.
He is sitting casually on the couch flipping thorough a magazine... oh no! The Office is still playing in the background and Micheal Scott's obnoxious 'that's what she said' jokes are currently the soundtrack to this awkward situation.
Edward looks up from the magazine and stands up casually, tossing the offending magazine on the coffee table.
"Are you a soccer fan?"
Uh, yeah- let's go with that...
" Hmm..." I answer noncommittally, and, thankfully, he drops the subject.
He leads me out of the building onto the busy New York street with his hand firmly placed on the small of my back. I want to lean into him, to tuck myself into his side and smell his heady, masculine scent... but that would be weird, so I force myself to refrain.
The black Mercedes is not waiting for us on the curb as I had anticipated. Instead, Edward stirs me down the street.
"I thought we would walk- the restaurant is just up here."
I'm too busy wishing his hand would move lower to pay any attention to where we are going. The breeze is now blowing his delicious scent directly at me and the urge to snuggle up to him is amplified.
Our destination is a chic little bistro tucked away between two enormous buildings. Edward holds open the door and follows me inside. The hostess looks as though she has just seen a movie star walk in. After a few seconds of staring at Edward in shock, she snaps out of her lust-filled daze and starts batting her lashes effusively.
"Welcome to Café Luxembourg, Sir. Table for two?
She is sweetly smiling at Edward while completely ignoring me- is this going to become a common occurrence?
What am I thinking? This will not be a common occurrence because this is the last time I'm going out with him. I will have to let him down gently- no matter what he says, I have to be strong.
We are once again led to a secluded booth in a dark corner of the restaurant... maybe this is where he takes all his prey...
As usual, he does not even glance at the menu, or the waitress, and orders straight from memory. I have no say in the matter and I almost want to speak out, but then I realize he has ordered exactly what I would have if given the chance, so it's a moot point.
"So, Isabella, care to explain what happened last night? Or your rudeness on the phone? I don't appreciated being hung up on- especially without an explanation."
Well, he gets straight to the point... I feel like a child being scolded.
"I think our... uh, relationship... is becoming a little unprofessional. I mean, we haven't discussed work even once since I've be put in charge of this project."
There, that's a reasonable excuse... better than telling him that I can barely contain my urge to jump his bones.
Edward narrows his eyes at me, but his response is logical, cool and indifferent.
"Isabella, today is Saturday- not a business day, so naturally we won't talk about business. Our run-in at the club last night was obviously not an appropriate time or place to discuss schedules and contracts, and, as I explained before, the lunch on Thursday was about getting to know one another, since we will be working so closely.
"And, if I recall correctly, you were only put in charge of this project on Wednesday, so in the barely four days that you have been Jacob's stand-in, when do you propose we should have gotten down to business?"
His tone is calm and cool, but I feel the ire behind it. He has sufficiently made me feel like a complete idiot... I mean, he makes a valid point... we haven't had much time to make any significant work progress.
But wait! He didn't even address my concern about the unprofessional interactions between us- like the time he... when we... Shit! Have these heated moments only been a product of my overactive imagination? What am I supposed to say... he stares too intensely at me? That will never hold up in court!
I internally admit defeat and hang my head in shame.
"And the phone call, Isabella? What's your excuse behind that?"
What's with the inquisition? I can't bring myself to look into his piercing, gorgeous eyes as I silently pray to all the deities that this awkward confrontation is interrupted by an emergency phone call- even if it's just Alice having a panic attack from the excitement of a shoe sale.
"Isabella, look at me."
I am powerless to defy him, so I reluctantly look up into his jade eyes.
His face is softer now and his tone has reverted back to it's seductive, caressing timbre.
"But make no mistake, Isabella- I find you undeniably attractive."
What?
"And since you technically do not work for me, I don't think we need to worry about professionalism."
I almost choke on my red wine... where is this coming from?
What does this mean for us? What about the blond woman?
"Isabella?"
I look up and meet his emerald eyes, blushing furiously.
"Now that you know how I feel about you, will you reconsider accompanying me to the art gallery opening tonight?"
An art gallery opening! That's what he was talking about! I want so badly to just submit to my lustful feelings and agree, but something's holding me back. He hasn't really told me how he feels about me... just that he finds me attractive- Oh my! Edward Cullen thinks I'm attractive! But I told myself I would stay strong... he still hasn't explained the mystery blonde woman... but could one date really hurt? Is it even a date?
"Um, like a date?" I ask timidly.
"Well, I suppose you could think of it that way. But I must warn you now, Isabella- I don't do relationships."
… Then what's the point of the date?
Oh, come on, Bella! Don't be so naïve! He's obviously going to expect something at the end of the night- he's not inviting you just to talk and look at art. He's a handsome man with a plethora of women waiting on the sidelines- he's not going to waste time on someone who is not willing to... take care of his needs.
Ugh, that thought is disgusting and depressing, even though it's probably true. I really don't want to believe that Edward is so callous as to just want one thing from me. I mean, we have stuff in common... right?
Well, I could always say no if it comes to that, but that's the thing- I'm not sure I could say no. He is so enticing that I'm powerless to deny him anything, and I really don't want my first time to be a one night stand with a man who has a woman for every day of the week, even if I can't stop imagining him naked... in the shower...
"Isabella?"
I flush once again due to where my thoughts have wandered... I hope he doesn't notice.
"Um, yes, I'll go with you."
I just hope he's too much of a gentleman to try anything on the first date, because I know I won't be able to resist.
He flashes me a dazzling, crooked smile and my heart splutters. How can someone be so beautiful?
"I'll pick you up at 8."
Which reminds me- how does he know where I live? How did he get my cell phone number? How did I get into this mess?
Okay, Edward is definitely coming off as a controlling ass, but don't give up on him yet! Also, remember that these are Bella's personal thoughts, so this doesn't mean that Edward is actually a pig who only wants one thing from her. Bella's insecurities are just showing through. Have faith!
And one more thing, I am DEFINITELY sending juicy teasers to all who review, starting this chapter- so make sure you let me know what you think!
xXx Olivia