Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to any recognizable characters. No copyright infringement is intended.

Author's Note: Originally, I intended this chapter to be the Board Meeting, but as I wrote, I realized I wanted to include this transition. I promise you, the next chapter is already written and IS the board meeting where Aro makes an official introduction to the little secretary girl, MRS. Cullen! Until then, please enjoy and go check out the chapter 13 teaser already posted on my blog. Chapter 13 will post Thursday.

Thanks to my beta AgoodWITCH for her consistent beta work.


The New VIP

Three days after the call was made, Esme and Carlisle arrived in the city by train. Even through their exhaustion, they beamed at me, hugging me tightly as we greeted one another. We grabbed the first available taxi to more easily transport their luggage, taking them excitedly to the brownstone to clean up and rest before supper. I was excited for Carlisle to see it, since he hadn't been back since before Esme found it for us.

After they cleaned up, Esme and Carlisle came back downstairs to join me in the living room. I glanced up in surprise at the wide smiles on their faces.

"Oh my, I didn't expect you down so soon. I assumed after such a long journey that you might want to take a nap. You must be completely exhausted."

Esme cocked her head, her eyes lit brightly from within. "I've been trapped in a train car with nothing to keep me company but a book. The last thing I want to do is lie in a quiet room! I would much rather hear how my daughter-in-law and grandbaby are doing, as well as hear about how my son sounded during your calls earlier this week."

I smiled at the mention of my wonderful husband. Not only did I get the pleasure of talking to him two times that first day, but I also got another call from him twice the following day and one more time the morning before he had to fly back to his post at sea. It was more wonderful than I could ever even begin to hope and renewed my faith that he would make it home to me. He was just as determined as I was to keep our child safe as well as keep his beloved company the way he left it.

Esme sat next to me on the couch, soaking in every word as I told her all the things Edward had shared with me as Carlisle listened in over the top of his newspaper from his place in the wingback chair by the fireplace on the far side of the room. I could almost see her relief with each new story. Her son was alive and well…and more determined than ever to get home again now that he had not one, but two lives to look after.

She laughed as I told her all about how reserved he had seemed the first day we had talked, as he brought up sensible things such as names, and how different that had been to our conversation the next morning after I called in to work telling them I would not be in the office. Nobody was surprised.

As soon as I picked up the phone that morning and was connected with him after agreeing to the ungodly charges sure to be awaiting payment on my next bill, Edward babbled nonstop about nurseries and baby carriages and names he definitely didn't want the child stuck with. Apparently, we would not be naming the child after him, his father, or any of our family members. In addition, he didn't want our child to be another in the crowd, so no popular names such as James, Robert, William, Mary, Linda, or Barbara. No, baby girl or boy Cullen would have something strong and regal that would stand out in a crowd, but not in a garish way.

I giggled as I listened to him prattle on, wondering if his face wasn't blue from the lack of oxygen he must have been suffering. When he finally stopped, he sighed dreamily. I could almost see the glow in his eyes and the smile stretched across his deliciously soft bow shaped lips.

"I swear I barely slept a wink last night, love. All I could think about was how much I can't wait to see our baby. I pray to God this war ends quickly so we can be together as soon as possible…all three of us. I still cannot believe that a few short months ago I didn't even know you, and now you and our new family comprises my entire world. I love you so much, Bella. You can't even begin to understand how happy you have made me, sweetheart!"

I smiled, caressing the handset as though he could feel my touch through the material. "But I do understand if it is anything like how happy I am. I still can't believe it."

The rest of our phone conversations stretched to the things going on, often drifting to the company. Edward outlined a few things he wanted me to be certain to have done during the board meeting, further telling me that he trusted me completely and would back any decision I made.

"I am so lucky. Not only are you beautiful and wonderful, but you're so incredibly intelligent. I know you will make good decisions for us all. Go with your instincts and make sure you put yours and the baby's wellbeing above all else."

I smiled with a sigh. "I promise, Edward. I won't let you down in any way. I will keep the things you value most safe so they'll be waiting when you get home."

He sighed into the phone once more before he had to hang up for the last time. Neither of us knew when we would hear from the other again. More likely than not, it wouldn't be until he was home once more. We said our tearful goodbyes after which I curled up in my bed with the curtains pulled closed and caressed my belly, missing him more than ever.

Esme sighed happily as I finished my stories before getting up to make us all some supper, completely refusing to allow me to help. Instead, I set the table and sat on a chair in the kitchen, talking to her while she sauntered about making it all look so incredibly simple. Soon she started humming a song that made me smile. Before I knew what I was doing, I was singing along, as Esme looked up with a raised eyebrow and a bright smile before harmonizing.

"Someday I'll wish upon a star, and wake up where the clouds are far behind me. Where troubles melt like lemon drops, a way above the chimney tops is where you'll find me. Somewhere over the rainbow blue birds fly. Birds fly over the rainbow, why then oh why can't I?"

We both jumped in surprise when applause met us from the doorway where Carlisle leaned with a smirk stretched across his face so very like Edward's. Alice and Rose stood behind him clapping along with bright happy smiles. I felt my face blush, ducking my head to hide behind my curtain of hair as the girls offered to help Esme.

As we settled in at the table, the girls joining us, we all began chatting happily. After a while, Carlisle looked over with a devious expression.

"Every day I learn one more thing that makes me believe you and my son were truly created for one another. He's going to love playing the piano while you sing when he gets home, my dear. You are both quite talented."

I blushed again as everyone chimed in their agreement. We worked together to clean up the supper mess before visiting in the living room and listening to the news on the radio. Before long, Esme and Carlisle began to fade, so we all bid one another goodnight.

I wasn't tired yet, so I settled in on my bed with my box of stationary, beginning another letter to Edward. I had already sent him two since our last phone call. I couldn't help myself. I told him all about his parents arriving and our evening and his mom and I singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow before telling him how that was one of my favorite movies of all time. It seemed like with every letter we kept thinking of little details to tell the other. It embarrassed me to know that we didn't know such little things about one another, but through communication, we were both learning.

Ever since our talk, I had started tossing a few names I found appealing on the bottom of each letter under my signature. After I signed my love that night, I thought about names that appealed to me. I couldn't help but be drawn to names that related to my hopes for our future. On the girl's side I wrote Grace Cullen, Faith Cullen, and Hope Cullen, while on the boy's side I put Biblical names with specific meanings, including Nathan (meaning gift) Cullen, Andrew (meaning Manly) Cullen, Ethan (meaning Strength) Cullen.

I sighed happily, folding and sealing the letter within the envelope before addressing it and affixing the stamp upside down as always. I smiled as I propped the letter up on my dresser before shutting off the light and curling under my blanket to sleep.

****

The next morning was filled with a flurry of activity. Carlisle and Esme were up even before me, which was quite a feat considering the time difference. I awoke to the aroma of crisp bacon, eggs, and steaming coffee. I sighed as I settled into my seat, savoring the coffee that Esme had sweetened just for me, even though she really shouldn't have. With the sugar rationing, there was so little and I tried my best to save that for important recipe's that really needed it.

Once we were all dressed, fed, and our mess cleaned up, Carlisle, Esme, and I made our way across the city to the offices of Hannity and associates. I had to be honest, I couldn't help but feel a sense of vindication when I passed through the halls of this building where I had once been treated as an underling not worth a second glance and treated worse than a dog by some associates, but was now given the red carpet treatment. I was the daughter-in-law and wife of the most high profile clients this firm had. Not only that, I was on my way to a meeting where the final paperwork would be ratified placing the controlling interest of that company completely in my care, thus making me amongst their highest profile clients.

My vindication only soared to new heights when my former boss James Damon was sitting in on the meeting. He and my other former bosses didn't even look at me or speak directly to me until Carlisle interrupted them with a raised hand.

"I have to interrupt you, gentlemen. You are addressing the wrong individual in this room. You did the paperwork, so I am certain you are aware of that fact. I am simply here as a witness at the request of my son. Mrs. Isabella Cullen is your client and should be the one with which you confer in this matter. All final decisions from this point on are in her capable hands, not mine. So I suggest you give your actual VIP client your kowtowing, not me."

He smirked over at me as I looked up at him in surprise, a slow chuckle bubbling from my chest as I glanced back at the stunned men in front of me. They simply were not accustomed to a woman having this kind of power, especially in regard to such a high dollar corporation.

They blinked at me a few times with owlish eyes before finally sifting their posture and addressing me with the same respect as they had Carlisle, although the expression on James' face did nothing to hide the sour taste in his mouth as he did.

Half an hour later, the paperwork was signed, notarized, and made official. I tried not to tremble as I took the papers in my hands and exited the room with a nod, my in-laws following behind me. I rounded the corner to find a smirking Rosalie leaning against the wall.

"So did you inform them that you quit yet?" I asked her with a smirk, noticing some of my former coworkers eyeing me curiously.

"Why yes I did. Matter of fact, I am currently jobless. Know anyone who is hiring?"

I laughed wrapping my arms around the neck of my newest advisor. Nobody understood static strengths of materials like my engineering inclined best friend. She and Alice were going to be the two beings who helped me set the board straight and not with an emotional plea, but with exact numbers, figures, and facts.

"Well, newest employee of Cullen Steel, how would you feel about making your way over to the New York office with us for a meeting with Marcus and then maybe we could grab some lunch before going back and having a strategy session all evening. Do you think you're up for it?"

"Heck yeah! Let's shake the dust of this crummy old office and go plan a corporate takeover!"

I laughed, shaking my head as the heads all around us tracked us as we passed like floats in the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. Fifteen minutes later, I was entering the doors of Cullen Steel New York as a majority shareholder.

Four days later, Marcus, Alice, Rose, Esme, Carlisle, and I boarded a train for Chicago, fully prepared to turn the board room of Cullen Steel on its ear.