Author's Note:
I'm extremely sorry for the long wait! I have recently finished this semester up and I started a new job that requires me to work nights. I would like to thank everyone who has reviewed! I really enjoyed reading everyone's thoughts on this story.
This story will also be posted on The Writers Coffee Shop, Archive of Our Own, and my wordpress (when complete).
Thanks to my beta's: BelleDuJour and Darcysmom for all their hard work.
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Disclaimer: All Twilight Saga related thing belong to Stephenie Meyer.
Duplicity
Bella's Point of View
I stared out into the open ocean as I made the morning coffee. My eyes were heavy and tired after a long night of Charlie screaming from her nightmares. Around three in the morning, I had finally budged and let her come into our bedroom. While Charlie slept peacefully, Edward and I were constantly waking up to a leg in our back and hand in our face.
Edward walked into the kitchen looking the same way I felt. His hair was in disarray and he had deep, dark circles underneath his eyes.
"Morning," I greeted him as he leaned down to kiss me on the lips.
"Morning," he croaked, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
I handed him a fresh cup of black coffee. I don't know how he drank it that way. I couldn't drink my coffee without creamer.
He looked out the window and rolled his eyes. "I think my motha' is spying on us again."
I looked out the window and could see a small silhouette in a window of the house across from us.
"She's probably making sure that we're okay." I lied through my teeth, knowing the truth.
It was no secret that Esme didn't like me. She had hated me the day her son had set eyes on me—as Marie Dwyer. When I was little Isabella Swan, she used to adore me. That was before I was a teenager and things had gotten exceptionally dysfunctional.
I had always been exceedingly close to my father as a child. I was his little girl and I liked to hang out with him doing work outside, instead of being inside with my older sisters. He would always make fun of me and my twin sister Rosalie. We were complete opposites in every way. She had blonde hair and blue eyes, and she was tall and thin, whereas I was short with dirty blonde hair and brown eyes, with a bigger build. He often joked about us not really being twins, because of the differences.
At a loss for what to do after my father's death, I had taken off. I knew what I wanted now—to find out who was responsible for his death, and to get my revenge on them. I no longer looked like little Isabella Swan. I was still short, but I had cut my long, dirty blond hair and I was much skinnier than I had been as a teenager. My eye color was now flecked with blue. I also wore make-up and got my eyebrows waxed. It certainly made a world of a difference. I had only disappeared for two years, but that was enough for people to not recognize me.
"I have to be at the office early this morning. I've got that big meeting with Jenks and my father." Edward pulled me closer to his body as he peppered my bare shoulder with light kisses.
"Should I expect you for dinner?" I asked him. I looked up into his strikingly green eyes.
"Have I ever missed a dinner?" he questioned.
"No." I giggled as he tickled my sides.
"Then of course I'll be here." He kissed my cheek before heading up the stairs to get ready.
Although I had started are relationship based on a lie, I really did love Edward. He had no part in his parents' mistakes. He was so sweet and attentive toward me— even when I was little—but he was also completely naïve. His parents were his idols, yet he only saw the things they wanted him to see. He had no idea how morally corrupt they were.
Shaking my head, I looked back over to Esme across the water. I gave her a little smirk and wave before disappearing up the stairs after Edward.
~Duplicity~Duplicity~Duplicity~Duplicity~Duplicity~Duplicity~Duplicity~
The doorbell rang as I finished paying the bills. I walked out of the study and down the long black marble staircase.
I opened the door without looking through the peephole to find my mother-in-law on the other side of it. She gave me a fake smile before walking inside.
"Good morning, Marie. How are you on this fine morning?" she asked with false pleasantness.
"I'm absolutely wonderful. And yourself?" I spoke in the same formal tone as she did.
"Oh you know." She rolled her eyes. "The usual," she replied with a wave of her hand.
"Well, come in, come in," I insisted as she breezed past me.
Her heels clicked loudly against the flooring. She took in her surroundings, trying to find something out of place, like she did every time she visited. Of course, there was nothing she could find, and she gave a loud "humph" in disappointment.
I led her into the dining room and brought over a cup of tea for each of us. I sat down across from her and waited for her to explain why she was here.
"As you know, this weekend I am hosting the Awareness of Autism Fundraiser. I have everything taken care of except for my guest list. Did you ever hear back from your parents?" She eyed me suspiciously.
She did this every time there was an event that she was hosting. I had mentioned from the beginning that my family and I had a falling out, and we haven't reconnected since. They missed my wedding and the birth of my daughter. It wasn't their fault, but if they knew what I had planned, they would certainly interfere. After my father's death, my mother had quickly sold the house and moved to Manhattan. As far as they knew, I was living in Europe.
"No, I left a message and wrote an email, but they never got back to me. They won't be attending. I'm terribly sorry," I apologized.
"Of course." She cocked her eyebrow.
"Well, is there anything else you need from me?" I asked her.
She stared hard at me for a few seconds before placing her half-full cup of tea on the tray in front of her. "No, that will be all. I'll see you soon, I'm sure." She stood up and fixed her tight purple dress.
"As always, it's a pleasure to have you over, Esme. I look forward to your event. You know how much Edward and I love to support you." I buttered her up.
"Edward has always been my biggest supporter compared to his brother. I wonder what went wrong. I suppose maybe I favored Edward more than Masen." She quickly dropped the subject as I opened the door.
"Well, I guess I will see you soon." She smiled.
"Yes, indeed," I said before closing the door after her.
~Duplicity~Duplicity~Duplicity~Duplicity~Dupliticy~Duplicity~
I finished packing the bag of lunch goodies for Edward and me when the front door chimed. "Edward?" I called. He wasn't supposed to be home for lunch today.
"Nope! Guess again, little Swan."
I spun around quickly to see my husband's twin brother, Masen. If it weren't for the fact that he had tattoos up and down his arms, I would have thought he was my husband.
"Don't you have someone else to bug?" I asked with irritation.
"Come on, you're no fun," he teased.
I rolled my eyes at him. Masen and I were the only ones who knew what had happened between our parents. We related to one another. We were both the underdog twins, something that my sister Rose and Edward could never understand. However, unlike Masen, I had always had the support of my father. Masen's parents couldn't understand why he had never gone into the family business like his brother.
"Where's Jessica?" I asked.
He rolled his eyes as he thought about his fiancée. "She's picking out paint colors today. She was a bit irked that I wasn't really interested in what color we painted our bedroom."
"I wonder why," I said sarcastically. "She wanted you to be involved and give your input on what you liked."
"I really could not care less. We both know she ends up picking what she wants, whether I like it or not." He shrugged his shoulders.
"I guess you have a point. But, as a woman, I know that we love the support of our significant others."
"Anyway, change of subject. This is a stupid question, but are you attending my parents' fundraiser this weekend?"
"Of course! You know your brother would never miss a thing of theirs." I laughed.
"Oh, I know all too well. He would never want to disappoint them. I, on the other hand, disappoint them every day."
"Will you be attending?" I asked him.
He picked up one of the Gala apples in the basket and took a big bite out of it. "Against my will. Jessica thinks it will be the perfect place to get on my parents' good terms again."
"If only you told her the truth. I wonder how she would feel."
"I could say the same exact thing to you," he whispered.
"It's complicated," I spoke in a low tone.
"I know—Charlie," he said.
"Well, I need to get going. I'm off to surprise your brother with some lunch."
"He's a lucky man. I wish Jessica did that. I'm tired of eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and cereal," he complained.
"I thought she was taking cooking lessons."
"She got kicked out the first day because she set the dish on fire."
I laughed. "What was she trying to make?"
"An omelet." He chuckled.
"Oh, poor thing. I should visit her sometime soon. I can teach her some basic foods to make."
"Please do. I'll let her know so you too can figure it out." He grabbed his keys.
"Sounds good. See you around!" I called after him.
I quickly grabbed my bag and my purse before heading out.
~Duplicity~Duplicity~Duplicity~Duplicity~Duplicity~Duplicity~Duplicity~Duplicity~
I arrived at Cullen Inc., right on time. I rode up in the private elevator that opened into Edward's office. He grinned widely when he noticed me and ended his conversation with the person on the other end of line.
"Hey, this is certainly a good surprise. What are you doing here?" he asked as he stood up to take the bag out of my hands.
"I thought I would bring you with some lunch. I've heard through the grapevine that you haven't been taking lunch breaks."
"I'm not surprised. Angela always tattles on me." He laughed.
"Of course. That's what you get for hiring someone who I am great friends with." I kissed his chin. "Did I interrupt your phone call?" I asked.
"Nope, it was just my motha'." He rolled his eyes.
"Was it something important?" I questioned.
"Nope, just asking me if you really did try to contact your parents." He rolled his eyes.
"I really don't understand your mother. I talked to her this morning and told her what happened. Why doesn't she trust me?" I asked him.
"She does, trust me. I know my motha', and she just wants you to reconnect with your parents." He pulled my chin up.
"I don't think that's quite right."
"Marie, not this again." Edward sighed.
"What? Your mother never inquires about Garrett or Jessica's parents. Why is it always me?"
"I don't know. I guess I've always been really close to my motha', compared to Masen and Kate. She hasn't quite grasped after five long years that I am married and have my own little family now." He kissed the corner of my mouth as he attempted to distract me.
I quickly dropped the conversation, knowing I would never win this one with Edward. He was such an intelligent man— how he couldn't see beyond his parents' façade was beyond me.
"So, what did you bring me?"
I turned my attention to the bag and carefully started pulling out the containers filled with fresh cut fruit, potato salad, turkey sandwiches, and a two pieces of Italian cheesecake.
"You really do spoil me." Edward grinned as he eyed the food.
I fixed us each a plate before we sat down on the black leather couch overlooking the city below us. I cuddled up next to him, trying to think of a way to get Esme off of my tail. She had always been persistent, but lately everything I did or said, she questioned—for good reason. I needed to talk to Masen in order to figure out something that could deflect her away from me for the time being.
"What's going on in that head of yours?" Edward asked, pulling me out of my inner musings as he took another bite of his sandwich.
"Oh, nothing. I was just admiring your view of the ocean," I lied.
"I do enjoy that. This is definitely my favorite spot out of the whole building."
I smiled at him. I didn't know how Edward would react to the truth, but I certainly hoped that we could overcome it. When my decision to avenge my father's death was made, I never in a million years thought I would become emotionally involved with Edward, but over time I came to fall in love with him. I didn't only have him to think about; I also had our five year-old daughter— a complication that I never expected and definitely would never regret.
There was a sharp knock on the door interrupting Edward and me from our nice lunch. Edward quickly straightened up and walked over to the big wooden doors.
"Mr. Nomad! It's so nice to see you," he greeted.
I started putting away the containers of food while Edward and Mr. Nomad got lost in conversation. Every so often I would feel a heavy stare me, making me quite uncomfortable. James Nomad had that effect on people. He was known for being quite a corrupt businessman. Edward always wanted to see the good in people, and for some reason he found something that I couldn't quite see in Mr. Nomad.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. Marie, you remember Mr. Nomad," Edward said.
I smiled pleasantly at him as I nodded my head. "How could I forget such a beautiful young woman," James said as he kissed my hand.
I quickly pulled it away from him, before turning away and giving Edward a quick kiss goodbye. "Well, I must be off. I'll see you later," I said to Edward before leaving the two men to their business.
~Duplicity~Duplicity~Duplicity~Duplicity~Duplicity~Duplicity~Duplicity~Duplicity~
"You want to tell me why your brother was meeting James Nomad this afternoon?" I asked Masen as I walked into the house.
"Uncle Masen!" Charlie ran into her uncle's arms with excitement, her bronze ringlets bouncing.
"How's my little munchkin? I haven't seen you in the longest time!"
"You saw me yesterday, Uncle Masen." She giggled.
"Well, it feels like forever," he said in an exasperated tone.
"Are you and your lady friend coming to dinner tonight?" she asked.
"You mean Jessica?" he asked her.
She rolled her eyes and nodded her head.
"Of course she will be joining us. Why?"
"I don't really like her."
"Charlie, that's not very nice to say." I reprimanded her.
"I'm sorry Momma," she apologized. Her big brown eyes pleaded with me not are angry with her.
"You need to apologize to your uncle. You really hurt his feelings," I explained.
"I'm sorry, Uncle Masen."
"It's all right. Don't ever forget that you're my number one girl!" He kissed her cheek, making her giggle.
"Okay, I promise to like Jessica if you promise that I will always be your number one girl." She pouted.
"I promise, squirt," he said as he set her down.
She quickly ran up the stairs and into her room. I looked back at Masen, "First off, next time you invite yourself over to dinner, it would be nice to notify me in advance." I gave him a pointed look.
He laughed it off and sent a quick text to Jessica before helping himself to a cold beer. Sometimes he was more of a nuisance than a friend.
"So, you want to tell me why your brother was meeting with James?" I asked for the second time.
He shook his head after taking another big drink. "How should I know? My brother never talks about business with me. Especially knowing the history between me and my father, we don't really engage in it together. He rarely ever talks about it with anyone except for my father."
"For such a smart man, he can be really blindsided by corrupt people."
He laughed it off and went to go find my daughter.
Sometimes I felt like I was talking to a brick wall when he was around. I quickly started looking in the fridge for something that I could make for dinner.
~Duplicity~Duplicity~Duplicity~Duplicity~Duplicity~Duplicity~Duplicity~Duplicity~Duplicity
Throughout dinner conversation flowed freely until Carlisle showed up and insisted on talking to Edward about an account. Edward quickly apologized before excusing himself. Masen gave me a look that said he would be listening on the conversation, before he left to use the "restroom."
I sent Charlie up to take her shower while Jessica offered to help clean the table and dishes. "Marie, you have to tell me how you make the risotto. Mase loves it so much, but I can barely make an egg without scorching it."
"Why don't you come over one day and I can teach you how to make it? I was talking to him earlier about you coming over for a cooking lesson." I laughed.
"That would be awesome! I wish I'd had someone to show me how to cook growing up! I guess at the time I thought it was so cool to eat out at fancy restaurants every night." She rolled her eyes.
Jessica grew up in a very wealthy lifestyle. She was raised by two nannies, which wasn't uncommon throughout Manhattan's wealthiest. She grew up with people serving her every need, without ever having to lift a finger. What I loved the most about her was that she didn't let the wealth she had get to her head. She didn't wear fancy clothes, nor did she have maids. Masen and she lived in a comfortable home in a nice area, without help from outside forces. Instead of living off of her trust fund, she set up a separate account for her future children's college funds.
"Well, everyone has a different perception when they are young. We are often extremely naïve to the real world." I laughed with her.
We continued to clean up in the kitchen until Masen came storming into the room. His face was unreadable, but I could tell something fishy was going on.
"Hey babe, you ready to get home?" he asked her.
"Oh, I was going to help Marie…"
"It's alright, Jess, you've helped enough." I smiled kindly at her.
"Are you sure?" she asked me.
I nodded my head and started to walk them out.
Five seconds later my phone buzzed in my back pocket and I quickly looked at it.
Normal place in an hour ~MC
Fine~ IS
I quickly erased the messages before placing my phone back in my pocket and going upstairs to get Charlie ready for bed.
~Duplicity~Duplicity~Duplicity~Duplicity~Duplicity~Duplicity~Duplicity~Duplicity~
"I can't keep meeting you at night like this. Edward's getting suspicious," I said to Masen.
Edward knew I liked to run before bed time, but lately he had been asking to join me. I always pointed out that we couldn't leave our five year-old daughter alone. While he accepted the answer, I knew he didn't quite believe my explanation.
"My father came to let Edward know that someone has been embezzling some money from the company and he is pinning it on Victoria."
"What?"
"She's dating James, and as we all know, he isn't very well liked in our community. Not to mention she is one of the remaining puzzle pieces that leads to your father's murder."
"I've looked through those documents and security footage thousands of times, and practically have them memorized. I've never seen Victoria's name anywhere."
He shook his head, "No, but you have seen the name Siobhan before."
"Yes, but how is she connected to this?"
He pulled up two pictures on his phone. "Victoria's real name is Siobhan. She worked at the underground escort company that got busted a couple years ago. My father had invested quite a bit of money in her."
"She's one of them, isn't she?" I asked staring into his eyes.
"Yes, she thought by helping frame your father for my father's crime, my father would love her instead of just using her to get his rocks off." He rolled his eyes toward the end.
"She's the one that told your mother. And when your mother found out, she told Carlisle what she knew."
"So my father did what he does whenever someone tries to interfere with his plans. He goes for the most unlikely person and ruins them. He tries to find the weakest link and uses his power to destroy them. It diverts the people's attention away from what he is really doing."
"So why did he give Victoria a job at Cullen Inc.?"
"He gave her a job so she would keep her mouth such during the investigation of the underground escort service, while also promising her that he would leave my mother in the near future."
"But that never happened," I interrupted.
"No, so now she's trying to use James in order to frame my father, but she doesn't realize my father is already framing her."
"What's his plan?" I asked.
"Drug overdose," he answered.
"Does Edward know?" I asked, holding my breath.
"No, my father only told him that Victoria was embezzling. I followed my father down to the restroom and listened to him make the call."
"I've got to get home. Let me know if you hear anything else."
"I always do," he said before we split.
I headed home, already forming a plan of my own.
Thanks for reading! Let me know if I should continue or not ;)
I promise there will be no cheating between Bella and Edward and there will be a HEA ending.
Also, every other chapter will be a Flashback chapter in order to see what happened in the past. I will also post what a new character looks like in my Facebook group.
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