Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight.

BPOV

"Okay Isabella, but have you considered maybe you were just a tad too harsh?"

I threw another punch and landed it in the middle of the punching bag, followed by an uppercut right below. I could feel the beads of sweat trailing down by back but my jabs didn't falter – this was the right kind of stress relief that I needed. Maybe the judgmental trainer could've been taken out of the equation this time, though.

"Jake," I grunted, landing another sharp punch. "You're my personal trainer, not my shrink."

He chuckled and shook his head, his shoulder length jet black hair brushing his shoulders as he did so.

"And here I was thinking that we had more than just our trainer and trainee relationship, Bells." He cleared his throat as he caught my glare from behind the punching bag. "Sorry, Isabella."

Jacob had always tried to get through me and break down some walls, to no avail. Rosalie always told me I was insane because if I was normal, I would've pounced on Jacob after every session. I couldn't blame her for thinking that, he was definitely not a sight for sore eyes. The epitome of tall, dark, and handsome, Jacob had features fit for a Hollywood actor. Olive-toned skin, dark brown eyes, brilliant white smile and perfectly toned muscles that just slightly bulged out of his usual attire of Under Armour workout gear.

Oh, he was definitely gorgeous. But I wasn't mixing business with pleasure in this situation. Jacob was my personal trainer, and our sessions were a medium for me to take out all of my pent up anger that even after all these years just won't seem to dissolve away.

I had tried therapy, also tried anger management. Hell, I even tried some of that weird hippy stuff that Jasper had recommended. Nothing worked for me, which may also be to blame on my stubbornness, which I blame on my paternal side. I was always just so angry, and it was beginning to become exhausting. Especially when I saw the reaction from Jacob after filling him on what happened today with Tanya.

"I'm just saying, maybe you could've done without the dramatics," he shrugged, slightly tilting back as I threw all my strength left into my last punch before pulling away. "I'm sure she's as awful as you see her to be, although I don't know the details why, but it just seems a little silly to me."

I sighed and brushed my baby hairs off of my forehead, taking a few deep breaths to begin slowing down my heart rate. "Jacob, she should've known what she was in for when she walked through my office doors."

Turning away from him, I walked towards the cooler in my workout studio and grabbed a cold bottle of water out of it. I pulled the straps off of my gloves and threw one off before opening the cap and taking a deep gulp of water. When I looked back at Jacob, he was staring at me with his arms crossed over his muscular chest. His eyes were narrowed at me, with now a very judgmental look to match his previous tone.

"Okay, what now?"

"Isabella, you are a grown woman. You are the CEO of one of the largest companies in the world, you are one of the most intelligent people on this planet and your net worth is higher than Bill freaking Gates!" He exclaimed and threw his hands up in the air, as I took another sip of my water, trying to maintain my IDGAF current mood. "You know better than to stoop down to that level for the sake of some childish revenge."

I glared at him at the mention of that. "It's not childish, Jake. You have no idea what you're talking about."

"Of course I don't," he scoffed. "You don't even let me in!"

"Why should I?"

"Because I care about you!" he almost yelled, throwing me off. My hand holding the water bottle clenched into a fist, squishing the bottle as I looked away from him. "No, don't do that. You know I care about you; you're my friend, Isabella. At least, that's how I see you, even if you don't."

Jacob's voice softened slightly at the end as he sighed and walked towards me when I didn't respond. I didn't want anyone caring for me, that's what Rosalie and Jasper were for. But in that moment, after all of the craziness of the day, I couldn't help but let my guards down the slightest bit. Jacob walked to stand in front of me, far enough that I could stretch my arm out between us but close enough for me to feel the heat from his body.

"Listen, I know you have some messed up past. I get it, I do. But there are some things in life that really aren't worth it. Tanya, today, she wasn't worth it. And you are better than that, Bells." I sighed at his new nickname for me and shook my head slightly. "You don't need to tell me about your past. I will be there for you always regardless, but know that you can come to me if you need me. Just don't let others break down this whole life you've created for yourself."

I looked up at Jacob, his dark brown eyes watching me with caution to gauge my response. In the beginning of our training sessions, I usually responded with walking out and demanding for him to leave, or grabbing my gloves and telling him to spar with me so I could let that anger out on him in a productive way. We'd had such great progress since then, with me being able to control my outbursts and rage better while putting it into healthier mediums like fitness.

It's been more than a year since our day one, and he was right – Jacob was my friend. He may not have been the same kind of friend like Rosalie and Jasper, who knew the details of my past, but he was just as important. He single-handedly was the one that helped me become more than just a raging lunatic, which is how I felt like almost 24 hours every day. Every single moment of mine was filled with anger, whether it was my primary emotion or if it was fizzling in the background. I was convinced at a point in time that there was something seriously wrong with me, and that I must've contracted whatever she had. I was lost for so long and channeled my anger and emotions into unhealthy ways. Jacob became my light in the dark, and I was finally realizing it more now.

"You're right," I sighed and Jacob's reaction made me smirk. His jaw dropped immediately and he looked like a deer caught in headlights. "Don't get used to it, you're never right."

He picked up his composure and laughed, brushing a few loose hairs back.

"So maybe it was a little bit too much, even if she's a manipulative whore." He pressed his lips together and cocked an eyebrow, surely because I just had to get that last jab in there somehow. I shrugged but took a deep breath and let it out slowly, sharing the realization that I was dreading. "I let the worst of myself get the better of me. We've been training for more than a year now and always work on positive ways to work on my anger issues. I saw an opportunity and allowed myself to be seduced by it. I'm not perfect, Jake."

"Bells," he sighed, moving closer to me and putting his hands slowly up on my shoulders. "You do not need to be perfect, no one's asking you to be. You just need to remember everything that we've worked on and remember that you are better than who you used to be. I'm proud of this Isabella Swan, standing in front of me. Sure, you've let yourself be slightly vulnerable, but that is what makes you human."

"Vulnerability will make me weak, Jacob." I challenged as he shook his head fiercely.

"No, it won't. Everything has its own limit, just as vulnerability does. That's where you come in and find out where your limits are. But you have to remember what you've worked so hard for, and it's not to just go back twenty steps and do stupid things like what you did today. You're better than that, you and I both know that."

I closed my eyes and nodded my head, taking in a final deep breath. "Yeah, I know." I opened my eyes quickly and cocked an eyebrow at him. "No way in hell am I apologizing though."

Jake laughed loudly and pulled his hands back off my shoulders and shook his head. "I don't expect any less from you, Bells."

Jacob packed up and we ended our session, I quickly said my goodbye and he let himself out as usual while I went to go take a much needed shower. Swan Enterprises was holding its annual charity gala tonight which gathered crowds from across the globe, including the most influential technology and environmental industry leaders and influential celebrities. Not only that, but we were presenting something very special today that was going to change the world, and I needed all of my energy to be ready for the night to come.

As I walked out of the shower and was towel drying my hair, I noticed my phone blinking with a missed call notification. Looking at it, I smiled my first real smile all day at the name that popped up. Sitting on my bed, I called back.

"Chief Swan."

I couldn't help but snort at his gruff formality while also noticing a bit of tiredness in his voice, which made me worry.

"Do I even need to ask how your day is going?"

A deep chuckle came through the line and I smiled again, my prior worry easing a little bit. "Going much better now that I get to hear my baby girl's voice."

"Oh, nice one, dad. And I thought I was the one in the family that was good at using charm to change the topic of conversation," I teased.

"Nope, all me, sorry kiddo. How've you been?"

That's how our conversations always began. No matter how long it had been since I'd seen my father, it was always as if we'd never been apart. We had some small catching up, but nothing else had changed. It brought comfort into my every day and made me feel less guilt for him being all alone while I was here in New York. Our relationship had only strengthened even more since Renee had left, or should I say since Renee had been kicked out of our lives. He was my rock – the one person who kept me grounded throughout everything and would love me wholeheartedly with no flaws. Not only that, but he was the one who encouraged me to keep going when I thought I couldn't. Especially during the time after Edward and I had broken up.

When you love and lose the person who single-handedly was responsible for putting you back together after all of that torture and pain, you don't think you can move on. Our love story wasn't the usual, and it was no fairy tale. Looking back, I don't even know if I would've been alive as long as I had been unless he was around. Of course, everything he had done was all bullshit that I had unfortunately fallen for, but I didn't know that then. My father was there through the breakdowns, the anxiety attacks, and the moments where I thought I wouldn't be able to live anymore.

It made me love my father more than I ever had and I knew that he was my only reason for living. I would only protect him at all costs, no matter what.

Unfortunately with how business had been the last few months, it made it difficult for me to go out and fly to Forks to see him. I felt awful as it was, but even worse given that I had missed his birthday. I never missed his birthday, ever. And this year I failed.

I guess he realized that I was zoning out during the conversation when he stopped halfway through his story which I pieced together as being his fishing weekend and asked if I was alright.

I sighed, my conversation earlier with Jacob coming back to my head and bringing back that vulnerability. "I missed your birthday, Dad."

A deep breath came through the line as he paused, which was a habit of his when he'd try to channel his emotions. Like father, like daughter.

"It's alright, baby girl. We'll do something together when you come and visit. It's just a day, no big deal."

I knew he was trying to comfort me, but his tone gave it away. It was a big deal, and it broke down whatever I had been trying to hold in all day. I felt the prickling of tears forming, but for once, not bothering to push them away.

"Dad, it's not just a day. It's more than that, so much more," I sniffled, my voice cracking.

"Bella, what's wrong?" His voice was full of worry and concern.

I shook my head, though he couldn't see me. "I just miss you, Dad."

"Well, I miss you too, sweetheart. But there's more than just that, talk to me. What's going on?"

I took in a deep breath and sighed, looking around my bedroom. The grey coloured walls which were stark of any photos or frames. The interior designer I had hired did a great job in picking a beautiful dark wooden bed set with an area at the corner of my bedroom which held a coffee table and love seat, where I'd sometimes sit in the morning and just look out the window and reflect. But it was always missing that brightness and joy, just as I was. I looked at towards the two photos sitting on top of my dresser – one was a picture of my father and I at my graduation, and the other of Rosalie, Jasper and I at a charity event.

Other than that, there was nothing. No pictures of me smiling with family members or loved ones. Nothing, and in that moment it made me feel so empty.

I stood and walked towards my dresser, picking up the frame holding the photo of my father and I, and took a deep shaky breath.

"I just… I don't know Dad, sometimes I wonder how things would be if they played out differently. You know, with everything." I didn't need to explain any more than that, as he knew exactly what I meant… and that was my mother. "Things could've been so different, Dad. I could've even been still with you in Forks."

"Bella," he sighed. "I understand, sometimes I wonder the same thing. But baby girl, who says what we have now isn't great? Sure, I'd love to have you home and see you every single day, but what you're doing now is your dream. That's what you were put on this Earth for, and what an amazing thing to be able to do what you do. You're a fighter, Bella. You've always been a fighter, especially when things have been tough. You've always continued to push yourself and throw those punches – both figuratively and literally, based on those photos you send me of Jacob after your workouts. Seriously Bella, you gotta cut that poor guy a break."

I couldn't but laugh. Leave it to my dad to cut the tension with some humour, which was exactly what I needed. I put the photo of us back on my dresser and wiped a stray tear off of my cheek.

"Thanks Dad, I really don't know what I'd do without you."

"Hey, what can I say? Your old man's a keeper.

We both laughed again and caught up a little more before he had to get back to work and I needed to get ready for the gala. After a hesitant goodbye and a promise for me to call him tomorrow to give him all of the details of the evening, we hung up the line. Still having a little bit of time before I got ready, I walked out of my bedroom and into my living room and stood in front of the glass windows which spanned the entire length of the room, giving me the perfect view of the Manhattan skyline.

I wasn't the materialistic type, but finding the perfect home in the city was very important to me. I wanted to find a home where I had everything, where I'd be able to just check out of the world and be in the comfort of my surroundings, especially after long days at the office. I wanted my own personal safe haven, so I spent a good fortune on renovations and interior decorating, but it was absolutely worth it.

Four bedrooms aside from my master bedroom, a personal gym, indoor swimming pool, a large balcony patio, the most beautiful kitchen, and not to mention a stunning theatre room for the Hollywood nights Jasper, Rosalie and I would have.

Like I said, my own personal safe haven. And I loved it.

Sadly it was usually almost empty what with me always working and having a small group of trusted loved ones that even knew where I lived. But that didn't matter to me as much, I enjoyed my solidarity. Although sometimes, it really could get lonely.

I shook my head to clear the loneliness thoughts away, annoyed with myself for feeling so pathetic. I had had enough negative emotions running through me for the day, I was Isabella Swan, I had better shit to do. And, like Jacob said, I was better than that.

Just then, the doorbell rang and in came my makeup and hair team to get me prepped for the evening, as well as my personal stylist. We were cutting it close, so we needed to get to work and quick. Kristen worked away at my hair, starting to tease it into a twisted bun while Anna delicately began working her magic on my face.

Robert had picked the most elegant gown for me, a stunning Elie Saab gown from his 2017 collection made custom for me. It was long-sleeved gown, where the sleeves were sheer however the bodice and bottom were opaque, covered with stunning royal blue flowers that sparkled slightly in the light. The back was just as beautiful, with a large keyhole slit which started at the base of my neck until right above my hip. The dress cinched at the waist and flowed down freely. Luckily, the training sessions with Jacob had me in great physical shape – I had slight curves in the right places, and loved the way my body looked. I knew that the dress would be absolutely flattering on me.

Putting it on, I felt like all of the worries I had throughout the day were washed away as I looked at the mirror at myself. Anna had done my makeup beautifully, giving me a slight smoky eye which made my deep brown eyes pop matched with a slightly dark burgundy lip. My hair was styled perfectly with not a single hair out of place, allowing for the dress to be perfectly showcased off of my body. Robert placed a pair of draped diamond and blue gemstone earrings in my hand, which I placed in my ears as he put the matching ring on my finger.

It was so perfect and I could feel that the night would be just as perfect.

A quick memory flowed through my head of Alice helping me get ready for my prom, but I quickly shut it out before it ruined that moment. Tonight was going to be a massive milestone for Swan Enterprises. It was going to mark another new beginning for our company's future and the future of the entire world.

There would be no memories of the past tonight – they were over, and it was time to look at my bright future.

If only I knew that the past would surely not go away that quickly, and it was eagerly waiting for me on the other side.