I don't own Twilight.
Enjoy! :)
-MW-
Chapter 8
"Sway Your Head – We Shot the Moon"
"In The Blue – We Shot the Moon"
Bella POV
"So, how do you plan on saving the Seattle branch?" Edward asked me.
I invited him to some coffee in a café a few blocks away from the company here in Seattle, so that we could both relax from today's events. It was almost our turn to order.
"I'm giving them money." I simply said.
"Yes, I figured that much, but how are you going to get the money?"
"Welcome to The Steaming Cup! My name is Ben, what can I get for you?" he interrupted.
"Ladies first." Edward said.
"I'll have a medium French Vanilla with a little whipped cream." I said.
"And how about you, sir?"
"I'll just have a medium black coffee, eight sugars and a dash of crème."
"Alright, one of our baristas will be over in a minute with your order."
We walked to a small table in the more private part of the small coffee shop.
"You didn't answer my question," he said sitting down.
I breathed in the smell of the coffee shop and sat down. I always did love the smell of coffee, especially when I was reading a book. My dad's office at home always smelled like coffee because he was working so much, so I used to sit in there with him, reading a book. We both enjoyed the silence.
"I'm selling my cars." A female barista arrived with our drinks, but her hand lingered on Edward's cup longer than necessary. I pretended to cough so she'd leave.
"You're selling your cars?" Edward asked incredulously as he took a sip of his coffee.
"Yes. Why is that so hard to believe?" I asked, taking a sip from mine.
"Well, you seem like you love those things."
"I'm not selling all of them, just the 911's. I haven't been using them much lately and I could use the space."
"For what? More cars?" he asked me in a mocking tone.
I shot a look at him and he just smirked at me.
"I'll think of something," I said, putting my cup down and taking out my phone.
"Jessica," I said, "could you call Mark from the Porsche dealership and tell him I want to find a buyer for all of my 911's…… Yeah…… I know……. Really...... Tell them I'll be back in New York by tomorrow…… Okay…… Thanks again, Jess."
"So, that's it then?" Edward asked.
"Yeah, I guess it is. My father's company will continue to run and the bank will have their money." I answered.
I took a long sip of my coffee, savoring the heat and the flavor, and my eyes travelled to Edward.
He had his cellphone out and he was texting somebody. Probably telling his company that the problem's solved over here already.
His pale hand reached out to lift his cup and press it to his lips, and then he put it back down on the table standing between us.
Eight sugars and a dash of crème, huh? Wonder what that tasted like.
My eyes studied his face and they landed on his lips. They were slightly wet from the coffee he drank, and then he licked his lips.
My heart started to beat furiously, as if it was going to explode if I didn't let it out right now. I could feel the heat rising from my chest to my cheeks, and all the while, I only thought of one thing…
I wonder what that tasted like…
"I am so glad to be going home!" I said, falling into one of the jet's couches. I stretched out my body and lay myself horizontally so I was taking up all of the space.
Edward chuckled from the couch across me, where he was sitting up.
"So am I."
I lay there with my eyes closed, when my thoughts went back to Edward and I in the coffee shop. I was watching him text on his phone, and then he licked his lips with the coffee and everything…
I was sure I was blushing, so I turned toward the couch, hiding my face from him.
Why is this happening to me now?
You know you love him.
That's from Gossip Girl! What are you doing here?
What do you mean what am I doing here? I'm you!
Right… Right…
So, have you told him yet?
Told him what?
That you like him, you weirdo.
I do not!
*Shows mental image of Edward licking his lips*
I blushed even harder. Okay, fine, maybe I do. So?
So? Tell him!
I can't just tell him! He'll think I'm weird!
How come?
Well, first of all, we're business partners.
You'll get to see each other all the time.
He probably already has someone!
You.
He's Alice's brother!
You know she'd be happy for you anyway.
He's… He's…
Smart, handsome, sexy, goal-oriented…
Okay! Okay! I get your point!
Do you?
Yes.
I don't think you do.
I do.
Are you sure?
Yes!
Then say it.
Say what? Yes?
No! Say you like Edward Cullen.
*sigh* I like Edward Cullen.
Now, do you get my point?
Yes.
I don't think you do.
I just told you I did.
Are you sure?
Yes.
Say it.
"I DO!!!" I shot up from the couch.
Edward chuckled from beside me.
"Okay, you do."
"R-Right…" I said extremely embarrassed. I got up from the couch and made my way to the bathroom.
This was going to be a long flight.
Rosalie POV
"Maybe I didn't make myself clear enough," I said over the phone, "I am Rosalie Hale, adopted daughter of Charles Swan, founder and former C-E-O of Swan Corp. Do you really want to mess with me right now?"
I sighed in frustration. I don't usually start name-dropping unless I'm really pissed off, and right now... I am extremely pissed off. Uncle Charlie was like a father to me, especially when my mother left us at a really young age. I started working here with Bella while we were in college, and just like her, I wanted to do him proud. It was the least I could do after all he's done for me.
"Right. I thought so. I want those packages delivered to Cullen Corp. immediately."
I put the phone down and heard a knock on my door.
"Come in."
"Miss Hale." Someone greeted.
I looked up to see Mr. Newton, one of the board members here at Swan Corp. He was somewhere in his late thirties with blond hair, blue eyes, and he already had a few wrinkles showing around his eyes.
"Mister Newton" I greeted back, "Please, have a seat."
"Where is Miss Swan?"
"She's in Seattle with Edward Cullen. They took care of it last night."
"Well, that's very good to hear. And Miss Swan better get used to travelling."
This confused me, what did he mean?
"What do you mean?"
Was he going to make her travel from one country to another? Not a good idea. I went through that a few months ago, and it really put a strain on my relationship with Emmett. We would always fight because I was gone so much and whenever I had any layovers in New York, I had to spend that time in a lot of meetings with different people.
But, thankfully, the board told me I was done traveling abroad and that I wouldn't be doing a repeat of that anytime soon.
"Well, she is the new CEO of this company – "
"And she's been doing an incredible job." I interrupted, my anger rising.
He chuckled.
"I'm not here to judge, Miss Hale."
"Then, please, go on." I said through gritted teeth.
He stayed silent for a moment, looking at me and then started again.
"You are – how shall I say this – second-in-command of Swan Corp., yes?"
"I am perfectly aware of my standing here."
"Good. Then, as the second-in-command, you are to take over the first-in-command if he or she proves to be unavailable in any aspect?"
"Where are you going with this, Newton?" I never address any authority figures so informally, but this guy was just ticking me off.
"Let's just say that I have special plans for Isabella."
"Well, she's not here right now. And as second-in-command, I do believe I have the right to know… Everything."
He brought his hands together, placed his chin on top of them and became silent again.
Was there going to be some sort of mutiny here? I can't let that happen. Bella has worked too hard for this place. She deserved to be in charge. Not only that but I worked hard as well. If this fool knew me at all, he would know that I wasn't going to let some old, saggy-faced, pompous idiot get in the way of everything Bella and I have worked hard for.
He sighed and began to speak.
"Alright, I suppose I should tell you. You will know sooner or later anyway."
Okay, now I was just confused.
"We've been trying to break through to the European markets for the past few years, sending over documents and permits for building – things to be approved."
I waited for him to continue.
"They just called us today, saying we could."
I became speechless.
He smiled and stood up, walking over to the window and looking outside. Then after a while, he turned to look back at me with an even bigger smile on his face.
"We're building a branch in Italy, Miss Hale."
After I got over the shock, I stood up and followed him to the window.
"But what does all of this have to do with Bella?"
I was ecstatic, but I had to keep my cool and find out why he was so interested in Bella.
"We need someone to see to it that everything will go as planned over there."
"So… She's leaving?"
"Yes, she will stay there. But not permanently, unless she wishes to." He chuckled.
"Does she know about the breakthrough?"
"Not yet. We'd prefer to tell her once she gets back from Seattle."
"She is going to die!" I said, laughing. Mister Newton laughed along with me and soon our laughter died.
"She isn't seeing anyone, is she?" he asked, sounding concerned.
I knew what he meant. He didn't want to cause anything between Bella and the guy she was seeing. She'll be living in Italy for a few years, at the very least. How would they be able to work it out?
I thought about it for a moment and then remembered what Emmett told me before...
"He's totally in love with her, Rose! And I'm sure she is too! He hasn't been able to shut up about her since the night of her birthday party! Sometimes I just wanna hit him over the head with a door or something, you know? But I got him to admit that he likes her! I'm finally going to have a little sister! How cool is that??"
I lightly shook my head and smiled at Newton.
I had to talk to Bella about Edward.
Soon.
Dun dun duuuun!
R&R, please! :0
-MW-