Diamond Man

Chapter 2

Bella walked into the restaurant and saw Jacobs black hair from the door,
"Miss Swan, may I take your coat" John, the doorman, asked her she nodded and passed him her coat. She walked up to Jacob getting the attention of the males as she walked past her glitter golden dress with heels didn't do her any good to camouflage her arrival.
"Jacob"
Jacob looked round and smiled at the site of the woman who he would be dining with
"Bells" he stood up and pulled her into a tight and long hug he smelt the strawberries and wild flowers all over her nearly making him pass out because she smelt so good. He reluctantly let her go as he felt pressure on his chest by Bella's hands. She seated opposite him and ordered her drink
"So, what did you want to talk about?"

Edward walked out into the night air and tipped his hat back on, he needed to find Bella, he needed no he wanted to spoil her and make her a star, he knew the people who could help Bella but first he needed to find her. She said she was having dinner with a friend which restaurant could she be at? Then he turned to his side and saw Mike, the bartender come out, he smiled and walked up to the bloke who would know where Bella went.

Bella sipped on her wine and listened to Jacob as he was telling her about his sisters
"They're both happily married now actually" Jacob looked down and felt the thing inside his jacket pocket weigh a lot more than it should
"That's great Jake"
"Yes, they're actually wondering when I'll tie the knot" Jacob looked up to Bella shyly, understanding filled Bella's uneasy eyes.
The door opened and Bella looked up
"O crap" she whispered
"What?" Jacob looked up to see the most dangerous man on earth walking into the restaurant with his broad on his arm. Johnny Maranzano, his father, Joe Maranzano, died when he was young but taught him all about the business. He swayed his way through the restaurant at the far side where a private area was reserved for him and his colleagues.
"I thought he was in the caboose" Jacob looked back to Isabella who was fidgeting nervously with the end of her dress
"When you've got that much dough lying around, you can't be thinking a redhot guy like Johnny can be in the caboose?" Isabella looked over to Johnny and saw him push his broad away
"Guess that skirt is just another with round heels" Black scoffed and motioned Bella to come with him; he didn't like the idea of Isabella anywhere near Johnny, or any other Chicago scum. Just as they were near the door, Bella turned and she caught Johnny's eyes on her, she quickly looked away but not before seeing Johnny's eyes spark an interest in her.

Edward Cullen walked towards the restaurant to just see the canary walking out with a fool on her arm.
"Hello, Doll"

Bella turned round to see Edward Cullen walking up to her in a confidant stroll. Bella couldn't resist biting her bottom lip at the sight of him, sure he was handsome but did she really want to be a round heel like that woman in there…then it hit her. Cullen and Maranzano weren't really the best of friends, quite the opposite actually, the deaths of 20 people lay on their shoulders as they once caught sights of each other in the bank. Edward stood in front of her, his green eyes looking down into her brown ones; the connection between the two was clearly noticeable
"Bells, we've gotta breeze"
"Who's the fool doll, obviously not a boyfriend?"
"The name's Jacob Black, Bells come on I don't want you talking to the goon"
Edward saw red; did the boy not understand or realize who he was talking to? He took a step towards Black, giving him the glare which would kill him in an instant
"Be careful who you call a goon" Edward turned his attention to Bella, who looked a little scared for her friend "If you were my Moll, I wouldn't take you to a hash house like this" Edward cocked his head to the side and took hold of Bella's chin in his hand, he leaned in so there foreheads were touching "Wana come back to my joint Doll?"

Something clicked in Bella's head. He thought of her as a chippy and nothing else, Bella pulled her hand back and slapped him hard across the face for a second time that night
"Why don't you fade Cullen, I'm not a gal who'll warm your bed, go find yourself some pro skirt if your horny" Bella pushed passed him and her and Jacob got into his old Jalopy.

With a frustration for what just happened, Bella reached her apartment and dragged herself into bed, thinking of tomorrow and what song she'll be singing. Shifting herself into another uncomfortable position she eventually gave up with a heavy sigh and lay on her back with her eyes wide open. It was times like these when she wished her mother was here, sure she had left, but Bella didn't have anyone else to talk to. She switched on the light and started to write her new song for tomorrow night,. Pen to paper, pen to lip, a frown on her forehead equaled she was stuck and had no ideas. This had never happened before; she had always had inspiration but now, nothing. She thought back to today's activities and thought of Edward Cullen, she chuckled slightly. She had to laugh at him, he was so dizzy, Bella must admit if he hadn't been trying to get his hands under her skirt whenever he had the chance Bella might actually crush on him. Then an idea struck her for her new song, she called it Slow down baby

Edward walked into his joint and pinched the bridge of his nose. Never had a dame frustrated him so much. He heard the sound of his phone ring on his desk, he picked it up
"Cullen"
"You get some then" he rolled his eyes, of course it would be Emmett to see if he had got some
"No, now leave me alone"
"WAIT, I've…em got a…problem"
"O?" this was interesting
"See, there's this broad" Edward smiled
"And the next line of the sentence is going to be I nailed her and I can't get rid of her" Edward poured himself a glass of scotch and greedily drank it
"Anyway, she's a…" he took a long sigh "she's engaged to Royce King"
Edward spit back his scotch, clearly choking at the news. Trust Emmett, Royce King was the son of Henry King, a known business man but a sleazy one at that, everyone, even his wife, knew he messed about
"And, I've…I'm dizzy with her Ed, she has hair like the sun, her eyes as pure as the sea and her lips as red and ruby as wine"
Edward was recovering from not only king but hearing his friend of 10 years speak…almost poetry
"You sure about this Em, we know what you can be like"
"I know Ed, but I've got a bad feeling something's going to happen"
A knock came to Edward's door
"Look I've got to go, I'll see you tomorrow Em, get some sleep"
He hung up and walked to the door with, what was rest of his scotch in his hand
He opened it and snarled
"Maranzano"
"Cullen" he pushed past him and went over to Edward's drink cabinet, Edward slammed the door closed and saw Johnny look at him "You mind" pouring the drink
"Looks like you've seem fit to not care"
Johnny chuckled showing his teeth, Maranzano was famous for his teeth, the teeth at the sides were like vampire teeth
"I'll cut to the chase Cullen" Maranzano made himself comfy on Edward's couch "Your interested in something which belongs to me or something which will belong to me"
"And that is?" Edward folded his arms across his chest
"The canary"
Edward lunged for him, grabbing him by the throat and pinning him against the wall
"You've got balls kid" Johnny tried to push him off, to Johnny's astonishment, the kid was strong
"Stay. Away. from. Her. Maranzano"
"You met her once and you're already infatuated with her, damn"
"Listen to me, either your stupid or the drinks gone to your head, you've got more skirt than even you can count, leave her alone, she innocent and beautiful" what the hell was he doing? He was playing right into Maranzano's hand, he now knew he liked Bella and would now go after her more
He shown Cullen his pearly white, dangerous teeth "I see" he shoved Cullen off him "See you around Cullen"
He waltzed out of Edward's joint with a new vendetta; the canary would be his, one way or another.

Bella stood there patiently with a glass of water in hand waiting to hear her introduction from her friend to go on. The lyrics and music were already set all she had to do now was wait and see how they liked it
"Good luck Bella" John spoke who was the one who would be introducing her, she gave him a nervous smile and he stepped on the stage
"Ladies and gentleman I would like to introduce the star of the show Miss Isabella Swan" a roar of applause welcomed her making her relax and smile onto the stage, her shimmer black dress, with her feather head set and heels made helped her to feel a little more confidant, she saw Edward Cullen here again sitting at the same table again, but this time it didn't look like he was here on business as he looked relaxed, he wore no tie and his two top buttons were undone making her swoon

The music started to play and Bella briefly closed her eyes to feel the beat of the music

Whoa yeah (Slow down baby)
Oooh (Slow down baby)
Hey (Slow down baby)
Whoa ooh (Stop. Slow down baby)

I can tell that you're into me, uh
Baby it's so plain to see
I can see it in your eyes
You're paralysed
Every time I pass you by

She looked towards the doors and the person who did almost make her stop singing, Johnny Maranzano. He looked at her and Bella quickly looked away and to Edward who frowned at her but when he turned to see who entered she saw his hand mold into a fist

You're the kind that gets your way, uh
Every minute, every single day
I can see it all in your face
You're blown away
Coz I don't want you in my space

You're struttin' 'round here like you think that I can't do without you
You've got some nerve to think that I would give up everything

Slow down baby
And don't act crazy
Coz you know you can look when you want but you just can't touch? (Just can't touch no)
So slow down baby (Hey)
I'm not your lady (Lady)
Boy you're never gonna get it from me coz I'm with someone

Edward was furious at that goons arrival, he had now put Dolls life in danger, he looked back to her and saw she wasn't looking either of the men but focused on other people giving them a smile as she sang, she was good at pretending nothing was bothering her.

Slow it down
Slow it down
Oh ooh whoa
Slow it
Slow it

Stop
Slow down baby

After all of the games you play
How's it feel to finally get a taste?
You can dish it out but can you take the bed you've made?
Go lie in it for a change

I'm not falling for your stupid lines
I know you've used 'em 'bout thousand times
You say 'em like they were a nursery rhyme
But I won't buy it
Baby don't you even try

Bella looked to the back stage and she saw her father looking at her and nodding with a smile saying to her "you're doing good kid, keep it up". Bella only sang for her dad, she knew if she didn't sing her father's beloved business wouldn't be here today. She remembered ever since she was a child her father would get her to sing and say she had a voice like a angel, her mother had other ideas about her singing though, saying it was just a faze and she would soon want to settle down with a nice rich geezer, how wrong her mother was, Bella loved to sing, she loved singing what she thought about it what was bothering her. This song was dedicated towards Cullen and Maranzano, telling them she wouldn't be playing by their game and rules, she was her own woman and she didn't belong to anyone

You're comin' 'round here like you think that everything's about you
If you knew anything, you'd realise I wear a ring

Slow down baby (Slow down)
And don't act crazy (Crazy hey)
Coz you know you can look all you want but you just can't touch? (You just can't touch no)
So slow down baby (Slow down)
I'm not your lady (Your lady)
Boy you're never gonna get it from me coz I'm with someone (With someone yay)

Do you really wanna waste your time?
Don't you have better things to do in life?
Hey ey yeah
Whoa
Listen I don't wanna get you down
But I ain't never gonna mess around
So how many ways do I have to say…
Oooh ooh oh

Edward ordered another scotch and watched Bella strut her stuff, he admitted he cared for Bella to him, but would she really go out with a guy like him? Someone who was in the mafia?

Maranzano and his friends looked at the canary sing, he listened to her sing like a siren

Slow down baby (Slow it down, yeah, yeah)
And don't act crazy
Coz you know you can look all you want but you just can't touch? (You know that you can't touch no oooh whoa)
So slow down baby (Slow down baby)
I'm not your lady (Not your lady)
Boy you're never gonna get it from me coz I'm with someone (Oooh whoa)
You better stop
Slow down baby

She certainly was her own woman but Johnny knew he could flatten her, after all what woman didn't like gifts, he looked over to Cullen and thought about his contestant. The great Diamond man was sure to be pulling off a few jobs for his lovely canary, giving her the best of things and Johnny would make sure anything Cullen gave her, he would give her ten times better

So slow down baby (Slow down baby)
And don't act crazy (And don't act crazy)
Coz you know you can look all you want but you just can't touch? (You just can't touch no)

Yeah, yeah, yeah
Oooh whoa
Hey ey, ey
Ooh whoa
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Ooh oooh ooh

Stop
Slow down baby

Bella bowed to the people, she was greeted by a thunderous applause which only made her smile.

Charlie looked at his daughter with pride, he was so lucky to have her as a daughter, he coughed and rubbed his chest
"Sir?" he looked to his right and saw Bella's bodyguard Felix looking at him with concern on his face
"I'm fine Felix, just a little under the weather"
Felix nodded but didn't buy it.

Charlie's daughter ran into his arms and hugged him tightly
"I'm so proud of you angel" he pulled back from Bella and he saw he smile fade
"Papa? Your eyes" it was true, his eyes were looking so tired these days
"I'm fine"
Bella shook her head
"Come one, I'm coming home with you tonight to make sure you get some rest"
"If you insist" Charlie was happy Bella was coming home with him, he missed the bonding him and his daughter used to have and now he could have chance to show her his present to her, he knew she would love it. As they existed with Felix by their side he saw Edward Cullen and Johnny Maranzano looking at his daughter, he would have to talk to her about that.

Translation

Caboose – Jail
Dough – money
Redhot – Some sort of criminal
Broad – Woman
Skirt – woman
Round heels – A woman of easy virtue
Breeze – go
Goon – Thug
Moll – Girlfriend
Hash House – A cheap restaurant
Joint – Place as in my place
Chippy – a woman with easy virtue
Fade – Go away, get lost
Jalopy – An old car