Chapter 2
Where the hell was I?
The bed was too comfortable and soft. The sheets were too silky. The pillow too fluffy.
I spread my hand out and felt the sheets glide under my fingers. I had awoken about 20 minutes ago to a slight clinking noise and couldn't for the life of me open my eyes. I was terrified I would be a goner. NOONE came into the room at the Red Roof Inn and. Wait a minute.
I opened my eyes as everything came back to me.
I was currently in the Golden Eagle. All because of one Mr. Edward. I would have to thank him. And not one of those fruit basket things. That was too impersonal. No I would have to thank him in person. I have no clue what type of gift to get him. But first thing is first, I have to find a new home.
So with a great big sigh I threw off the AMAZING sheets, which by the way I will be buying for my new place, and walked out to the living area/kitchen. Yes this place had its own damn kitchen. It also had a baby grand piano in the middle of the big window that overlooked the city. I stopped at the window to enjoy the view of Chicago for a moment. It truly was a beautiful city.
When I turned towards the kitchen I noticed an entire breakfast spread on the table. What the hell? I didn't order this.
Seeing a little white card with my name in very pretty scroll work on the front. Opening the card I truly expected to see a note from Edward, but I was mistaken. It was from a woman named Esme.
The letter stated:
My Dear Isabella,
When my son Edward called to tell my husband and I what had
Been going on in that building I rushed to apologize for those two
idiots we had managing the building. Your Insight has had us look
further into it and we have found that you weren't the only one
they had done this to. So for that we thank you. Everything has been
restored or money returned. I also would like to inform you that
your money has been added to your bank account. Please excuse
My snooping to find a way to deposit your money. But I would like
for you to join myself and my daughters out for lunch at Revolver Café
for further information. Please in the meantime enjoy the breakfast
spread my son Edward had sent for you. The car will be there around
1:30 pm to pick you up for lunch.
Sincerely,
Esme Cullen
Folding the letter back into the envelope it came in I went over what she had told me. They had done this to other people? Oh all those older people who had moved at the beginning of the year. I bet those two bastards had something to do with all of them having to go to apartments in the worse part of the Greater city of Chicago. I am very glad they got their money though. I wonder what happened to James and Vicki though.
And she said she had the money deposited into my account? How? I would have to ask her later at lunch. It seems it wasn't really a request to go to lunch but felt more like an order. Something told me that Mrs. Cullen had never been told no a day in her life. And looking at the spread before me I bet her son had also never been told no.
Shaking my head and grabbing a bowl of fruit salad I said to myself, "What have I gotten myself into".
After a wonderful breakfast of fruit and the fluffiest waffle I have ever had I went to get ready. But looking at my wardrobe I also knew I had nothing fancy enough to go to Revolver Café. Checking the time on my phone I saw that it was only 7:30am so I had plenty of time to run to one of the little boutiques on the street and get something to wear. Something tells me jeans and a t-shirt aren't enough for this place.
So with that in mind I dressed in my jeans and called my bank to check my account. I stopped dead in my tracks and pressed 7 for the automated system to repeat what had to have been a joke.
"Checking Balance for account number 0-123-456-789 is 3 million 1 hundred thousand dollars and 50 cents. As of November 3rd, 2015. If you would like this information repeated please press" I hung up.
"Holy shit" I said to no one. "How the hell do I have 2 million MORE than what I was told the place sold for?" I guess I just have more and more questions for Mrs. Cullen at lunch today.
Opening the door to the hotel room I stopped in my tracks. I almost ran straight into the back of some big ass dude who was standing at attention in front of the door.
"Uh, Sir? Can I help you?" I asked.
He turned and was HUGE. Looking up at his face, because yes he was that damn tall. I swear this guy was 6 foot 5 and more muscled than dimples last night.
I was gaping. I knew it was rude but holy fuck batman.
He chuckled, "Miss Swan I was sent by Mr. Cullen to be your guard for the day. My name is Felix." He bowed. This was all very weird now. Why would I need a guard? Who the fuck is Mr. Cullen? Edward or his father?
"Who?" I asked. I was still surprised by his size.
"Mr. Edward Cullen ma'am" He looked at me in amusement. Something I didn't appreciate. It reminded me of when Jasper looked at me like he knew something I didn't.
"Well Felix I am headed to the store so, yea, you do what you do and I'll do what I need to. I'll be back a little later."
I went to walk around him but he stopped me. "Oh no ma'am you misunderstood me. I am not guarding the room. I am guarding you. It is for your protection. You never know the type of people out here. Now I will escort you to wherever you need to go." He turned and walked to the elevator leaving no room for argument.
This was really starting to piss me off. I stomped to the elevator and crossed my arms and glared at him. It seemed to only amuse him further. "You look like a pissed kitten" He told me in a laugh.
Oh I would show him pissed kitten. This kitten has claws bitch. I would have punched his arm but with his size I would probably end up hurting myself more than I hurt him. A plan forming in my head. I hoped the store had one as I thought about teaching Felix and Edward a lesson in which I didn't need them to protect me. I had been on my own since age 10. It was always survive or die and I could be scrappy if need be. I am not an object they can just order around. Edward would know what it was like to have someone say no to him.
When the car Felix had ordered to come get us pulled up to a little boutique called Alice. It was weird because he didn't even try to come into the store. Oh he just made this too easy. I walked into the boutique and started to look around. There it was. The exit in the back. Ok so time to shop. I'll get a nice dress, then go out the back way wearing the dress and walk to the café from here. That will teach Mr. Smugness chilling out front to mess with me. Also teach him to choose the store I go to. That ass.
I was pulled out of my thoughts by Miss Pixie herself. "Welcome to Alice what I can help you with today? Oh Isabella! I am so glad you came to my shop today! I didn't recognize you in jeans. I bet you are looking for something for lunch, am I right? Well I have just the thing. Is that Felix outside? What the hell is he doing here? Oh my goodness he didn't, did he? Oh he did. I could kill my brother!" I was getting dizzy. Holy hell batman she didn't stop.
"Alice?" I guessed "What are you talking about?"
"Oh I'm sorry I let myself run away talking again. My brother Edward sent Felix to babysit didn't he?" When I nodded she looked so frustrated.
"He did but with that look I feel safe telling you my plan." I told her.
She turned the store sign to close and told Felix that we would be a while and that he should grab a coffee to wait.
When he left to cross the street to Starbucks. I told her my whole plan while she grabbed this and that and started a pile for me to try on. She giggled and added that we should go together and jump in her car out back and go get pedicures before lunch to make them sweat a little.
She was texted Esme and told me that instead of going straight to lunch we would all "GET AWAY" and go to the salon to get pedicures. All the women, who included what Alice told me was the bombshell named Rose, would meet at Rose's salon Petal and get the works done. Then we would go to the café and have a late lunch. Then I guess we would all be meeting up with Carlisle, Alice's father and Esme's husband, for dinner.
This was all very strange but sounded like a good day. I was all for it if it taught Edward a lesson in how to treat a lady like a person and not an object. I mean I haven't even met him formally. Who the HELL did he think he was? I wasn't his girlfriend. I wasn't his wife. I only knew his name from everyone else. He was nothing to me. I would give him a piece of my mind.
When we found the perfect dress and I tried to pay Alice she just laughed and told me it was a gift for doing this to teach her brother a lesson. Apparently I was right when I thought he had never been told no and that he always got his way. She also told me it was fun for her, Esme, and Rose because they were treated like fine china.
We looked out front and noticed Felix standing again but this time he was checking his phone doing whatever. We walked to the back of the store with Alice telling me loudly she had just gotten a shipment of fabric that would look absolutely fabulous with my skin tone.
Once in the back she shoved me out the back door and into an inconspicuous car, well as inconspicuous as a range rover can be. But that's what she called it so I had to follow her.
She handed me some sunglasses and a scarf that wouldn't look suspicious being November in Chicago.
We got away. He didn't even look up from his phone as we passed right by him. Alice and I laughed.
We pulled into Petal and were met at the door with a beautiful woman with copper hair in curls and the greenest eyes. Just like Edward. I assumed this was Esme and wasn't disappointed when she pulled Alice and I into a hug.
"Oh dear child you are so beautiful. You are also a firecracker for pulling this and you will give him a run for his money. Good. He needs to learn not everything is handed to you if you ask or even try to take." Esme told me as I let go of her hug.
"Esme I think you have me mistaken. I want nothing from him. I just want to go about my own business and my life like it has been. By the way thank you but I think you gave me a little too much money. I can't accept 2 million more than what it sold for." I told her.
"Nonsense. I saw what you were paying for rent before you paid the rest of the rent off and those idiots were gouging the price. Charging more than triple the amount in rent. After 6 years that is actually what we owe you. Trust me dear it was no problem." She patted my cheek and hooked her arm around mine. "Now let's get pampered ladies"
I met Rose who was already having her feet soaked and worked on. She had been telling me how she was pregnant with twin boys and her feet seemed to always be killing her now that she was 7 months pregnant.
I assumed that I was paying for this since they all thanked me again but they looked at me like I grew 3 heads when I told them it was no problem to treat them now that I had the money to.
"Oh Isabella" Rose started
"Please Rose just Bella" I told her
"Bella. I own this Salon. Well I own this and 4 other successful Salons in Chicago. This is on me. Just like lunch is on Esme since she owns the café." She told me.
"Oh well thank you ladies." I told them.
"I think we have to do this at least once a month. This is the start to a beautiful friendship" I relaxed back after Alice said that.
Once we were done at Petal we made our way over to Revolver Café to have our lunch. It was 1:45 when the first call came through. The ladies checked their phones and just laughed al the while turning them on silent.
We had an amazing lunch. It was so amazing that when my phone started ringing I didn't think twice and I answered.
"Hello"
"Isabella where are you?" The sexiest voice asked me
"Who is this" I asked and looked at my phone to see if I knew the number.
It was then I saw Alice practically fly across the table and shut my phone causing it to turn off. Then she proceeded to open it again and check the number.
"Shit. Turn off all your phones. He's trying to track us." All the girls giggled when the phones were off.
"Who was that Alice and why is he tracking our phones?" I was so confused.
"Edward and because he is an ass that's why. Let's go ladies. I think we should go shopping!" Alice clapped her hands and Rose groaned.
"Listen here short stuff I am not being subjected to walking around the mall for hours. Let's go to a movie or the park?" Rose tried to reason.
"Or we could help Isabella here find and apartment before dinner?" Esme spoke up.
Oh I could kiss that sweet lady. I had completely forgotten. But I had my reasons for not shopping for an apartment with them around and his name was Edward.
"How about I look another day. I would love to go to the park like Rose suggested." I told them and Rose gave me a thankful look.
Both Esme and Alice looked dejected but brightened up when I told them I would take a rain check on the shopping and building hunting. I really did need help finding a building for my book store and they had tons of businesses it seems that are thriving. I would assume they would know where to go.
"Let's head to the park ladies" Esme placed her napkin on the table and we all stood up to follow her out.
Once at the park we walked to the lake edge and started to watch the geese and swans that were there.
That's is when Esme turned to me and told me something that I hadn't expected to hear ever in my life.
"You look so much like your dear mother Renee, God rest her soul" she did the sign of the cross and I gasped.