The city is bright under the noonday sun. I look over the rooftops from my window and curse. The cloudless sky makes it a bad day for me to go outside. I could go to the office; I have a garage here and at the office so that I can avoid direct sunlight. It is now Saturday so there would be a few people there doing clerical work and taking calls. I glance at the clock; exactly fourteen hours and thirty five minutes have passed since I sat back down in this chair. I hate being immobile, not accomplishing anything. Since my body no longer tires it makes this kind of static existence easier, and I hate it.

My mind goes wild over the night's events, why was I unable to heal her wound? Certainly the nearness of the beast was a deterrent; I imagine it would have overtaken me again if I had tasted her. I killed the scum next to her without hesitation; murder no longer bothers me. I have always known that, despite my best intentions, if I do not feed regularly the beast will murder to satiate its thirst and that it can take over at times.

But it has never been that sudden before, and I have been feeding regularly.

The idea of losing myself to the beast and having it turn on her…bothers me. The though of me feeding on this girl leaves a foul taste in my mouth, yet I am unable to point to exactly why that is. I stand from my chair and walk to the windows, looking through the blinds over the city, I start to think. My mind whirls through the possibilities for my actions, but nothing seems to fit. More and more as the minutes fly by I find that I simply am unable to explain myself, and it irks me. One thing I do know is that I have never encountered a scent like hers. Just thinking about that aroma nearly drives the beast to the surface.

I set this problem aside for now, deciding to head to the office for a few hours. I need to accomplish something for the sake of my sanity. I turn from the window to change into a suit; passing by my chair I catch my reflection in a mirror. A single strand of light managed to slide passed the curtains and shine onto my arm, the diamond-like complexion of my condition apparent even in the smallest speck of sunlight. I stare at that spot of light on my skin hoping the answer to my problem would leap forth from that sparkle, but there is nothing. My nerves finally frayed in that instant and my chair became the target of my ire, it was not up to the task.

Leaving the chair in a crumpled heap, I drive into the city. My mind clears a little as I cruise down the streets of Chicago, as much as you can cruise in this city I suppose. I need another vacation, someplace where I can drive as fast as I can and not have to worry about being caught in the sun. I almost miss Washington on days like today, the wide open roads, deep secluded forests…other vampires.

Carlisle, Esmé, Jasper, Alice, Emmette, and Rosalie: my adopted family at the beginning of my new life. I spent ten years in Washington with the Cullen family, trying to be a 'civilized' vampire, but I ultimately had to leave. Trying to redeem my existence by feeding on animals wore on my thoughts and at one point I…I decided it was futile. I found myself almost yearning for the abandon of the beast, to give my consciousness over to that animal instinct and feel the freedom of that insanity. Animal blood could only sate that thirst for so long; I could go for maybe two weeks on a full meal of animal's blood. Human blood can last for nearly two months but it is far more addictive than an animal's. So, my poison of choice decided, I left the Cullen house nearly one hundred years ago. I wonder how my life would have been different if I had stayed.

Arriving at the office I greet the few people that are there, I never make anyone work on the weekends but some still come in. I pass by James' desk, he must be getting some lunch, and open the door to my office. Stepping inside I sit behind my desk and start up the computer. Glancing through the emails, deleting the spam, nothing very important stands out. I close the email program and pull up my business files. Mostly revenue statements and cost analysis reports I run down the information in short order. I am still making money, but the costs seem to be steadily rising, I may have to hire on some new artists to make up the difference. Then again, maybe Miss Swan will make up the difference.

James comes back just about then, I hear him rush to his desk at the sight of my open door. He gently knocks and I answer.

"Mister Cullen, I didn't know you'd be in today."

"It was not my original plan for today James, forget about it." I notice the stack of papers in his hands, "Do you have something for me?"

"Oh, yes sir, just some messages and revisions to your schedule for the next few weeks." He hands over the papers and I go through each one, taking my time like a human would. The messages are mostly from agents, more people wanting me to produce them. Some were angry calls about being canceled yesterday, a few from Steven that I would have to reply. I get to my schedule and see the luncheon set for Thursday with Steven and Ms. Swan. The time and names look like an omen on the page, whether it is bad or good is hard to say.

"Thank you James, I think I will only be here for a little while. Take messages today, I need to call mister Andrews and figure out our newest client." He turns and leaves the room, closing the door behind him. I stare at the stack of messages from Steven, pick up the phone and dial his number.

He answers in just one ring, "Hey Eddie! How's it going?"

I dread the thought that I will now have to deal with this man on a regular basis, "Just fine Steven, I just wanted to touch base with you about Thursday."

"Oh right! Yeah, Bella is really excited that you decided to meet her."
"Bella?" I ask

"Oh, sorry, yeah that's her nickname. That wasn't very professional of me."

"It's fine Steven. I would like Ms. Swan to demo for me on Thursday so I believe it would be best for us to meet here, we can order in for lunch."

"Oh sure, that'd be fine."

"Good to hear, do you have any contact information for Ms. Swan? I need to start a file for our records, get our marketing department thinking about what to do with her."

"Yeah, no problem Eddie, I can fax over some stuff to you as soon as I get back to my office." By office he means apartment, "Give me half an hour."

"Thank you Steven, I will see you here on Thursday. Goodbye."

"See ya Eddie."

I hang up the phone, thankful to have that out of the way. I turn on the stereo and put on my collection of violin concertos. Keeping it low I let the music take me away someplace calm and peaceful. With my alibi established, I can now start approaching her. Of course I know where she lives, but now I have a reason to know. Safe and inoffensive at first: flowers, maybe some sheet music, no phone calls, and then the meeting on Thursday. Just five days away, not long in the life of a vampire but today it seems so far.

I hear the fax machine kick to life at James' desk, once it finishes he knocks and steps in.

"What would you like me to do with this sir?" He hands me the small stack of papers, I leaf through them, taking note of her address and phone number, and the eight by ten of her on one page.

"Send a copy to marketing and put it in a file with our more important clients. That will be all for today I believe."

He walks off as I stand from my desk, shut down the computer and turn off the stereo. Looking out over the city, I leave my office and return to my apartment.