AN: Hi Everyone! Happy New Year. This will be a short story (only 2, maybe 3 chapters). Enjoy! As always, standard disclaimer applies- S. Meyer owns characters, plot is my own. As are errors (unbeta'd).

The Tail of Edward's Broken Heart.

Chapter 1

"Edward my boy. It's well after 8:00pm. What are you still doing here?"

I set down the file I had been reading and looked up to see my boss and mentor, Aro Volturi, standing in the doorway to my office. Aro was the lead partner in Seattle's top law firm, The Volturi Group, and had hand selected me to join his firm. Aro was probably in his mid-fifties, an odd looking man, but was well put together. Hair slicked back, face clean cut, pristine suit. He was the embodiment of a successful lawyer. And I really hoped to be as good as him one day.

"I'm just finishing up this brief, Aro. I'm almost done and then I'll be out of here." I went to pick up the brief and finish working, when Aro made his approach towards me.

"Edward, go home." He picked up the picture frame I had on my desk. It was of my girlfriend, Bella and me. We had just signed the papers on our house in Bellevue. We were so excited, happy and in love. I had asked our realtor to take our picture. I held up the keys, while Bella was holding the sold sign above her head. It's a cheesy picture, but one of my absolute favorites. Aro studied the picture for a moment, before placing it back into position on my desk. "You have a beautiful girl, Edward. Go home. You've been working late every night for the last two weeks. Go. The brief will still be there in the morning. And anything not finished tomorrow can wait until Monday."

I set down the brief again, confused why a man who works such long hours every day to build one of the most prestigious law firms, would ask me to stop working. "Sir?" The idea of leaving work unfinished was causing me anxiety.

"I do not need my most promising young attorney burning himself out." He slapped me on the shoulder before leaving my office. "Go home, Edward. That's an order from your boss." He made his declaration before walking down the hallway, presumably towards the elevators to go home himself.

I sat in my office thinking about what Aro had said. I had been working a lot more these days. Law school was a lot of work, but being the promising young attorney meant that I was working even harder to prove myself since getting a full time position. I didn't want to let my boss and my firm down. The harder I worked, the more praise I received. The more praise I received, the more work was funneled my way. I was making a name for myself within The Volturi Group.

Unfortunately, all that hard work meant late hours. I hadn't spent any quality time with Bella in the last two weeks. And the last six months had been spotty, at best. I knew it wouldn't be like this forever. And while I missed Bella, and I know she missed me, Bella was my rock. She was always there for me. Never complaining. Even when I missed dinner or was dead to the world as I walked through the door. I knew I had to step up and do more for her.

We've been together for almost five years. I first met Bella our junior year of undergrad. She had literally knocked me off my feet; we collided in the campus coffee shop. Over spilled coffee and dropped muffins, I had looked into the face of the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. Her dark mahogany hair was curled softly hanging down past her shoulders. Her chocolate brown eyes were big and inviting, and I was lost the moment I looked into them. She had apparently been apologizing profusely, but I was so wrapped up in her beauty that her words didn't register. I finally pulled my head out of my ass, introduced myself as I helped her off the ground, and offered to buy her a new cup of coffee. We ended up spending the next three hours sitting around talking about everything and nothing. That was our start, and it's been amazing ever since.

Bell is the love of my life. She's my best friend. My lover. Though, I honestly can't remember the last time we had sex. And that can never be a good thing. Our love life was on fire in undergrad. We hit a few slumps while I was in law school and she worked. But picked right back up again when we bought our home and moved in together. It was one of the happiest times of my life. Living with Bella had been a dream. Our relationship became even more solid. I loved Bella more than anything in the world, and I want to take care of her for the rest of our lives. She's it for me.

I had planned to propose to her last Christmas, only to find out that my sister's boyfriend had the same idea. Emmett popped the question to Rose, and they happily announced their engagement over Christmas morning breakfast. That single announcement derailed my plans to propose to Bella that evening. Rose, who had been planning her wedding since we were kids, was beyond excited. And I just couldn't bring myself to steal my older sister's thunder. So I decided to wait until after Rose and Emmett got married to propose.

Their wedding was now only a month away, and I had been planning a little get away to Vancouver for Bella and me a few weeks after the wedding. The trip was a two-fer. We'd both want, no need, the break after the whirlwind year of wedding planning with my sister and mother. But more importantly, I planned to ask the love of my life to become my wife. Working hard now meant that I'd get some flexibility with vacation when it came time to have our own wedding and honeymoon. It would most definitely be worth the effort and minor heartache of not getting to see my girl enough right now.

After packing up my stuff, I grabbed my messenger bag, throwing it over my shoulder, and picking up my keys and cell phone off the desk. Glancing at the phone I notice three things. First, it was already 9:00pm. Shit! This is the latest I've left the office all week. Second, the ringer on my phone was turned to silent. And third, I had six missed text messages from Bella and one from my sister. Shit! Shit! Shit! Even when I'm busy working, I still usually take a breather to text Bella or answer any calls or messages I might have missed. But with the phone on silent, it never registered to me to check my phone. I opened up the messages, cringing at what I might have missed in my stupidity.

Thursday, May 13, 2021

Bella: Hi sweetie. Hope you are having a good day. I love you xox [11:07am]

Bella: Hi babe. Will you be home for dinner tonight? Or are you working late? Let me know, I'm happy to cook something. Love you xox [3:31pm]

Bella: Haven't heard back, so I'm assuming you're tied up. Rose called and asked to have dinner tonight. She says she misses you, and wants to have a non-wedding related conversation. Apparently Esme and Emmett's mother are driving even Rose crazy. Not going to do anything fancy for dinner, just pasta and salad. Dinner will be at 7 xox [4:46pm]

Rose: Hey little bro! Just talked to B. Emmett's out of town on a work trip, so I'm gonna come over for dinner tonight, so your butt better leave work on time. I miss my brother! Plus mom and Mrs. McCarty are driving me crazy with all these last minute wedding ideas. I need to decompress. See ya later. [4:50pm]

Bella: Hi, are you on your way home or still at work? Rose just got here and dinner will be in 45 minutes. xox [6:14pm]

Bella: Not sure if you are still at work or on your way. But we're gonna go ahead and eat. I'll save you a plate xox [7:08pm]

Bella: Edward, please let me know you are alive. Haven't heard from you all day. Just let me know if you are still at work and not dead in a ditch xox [7:50pm]

Feeling like a complete ass, I sent Bella a text to say I was on my way home. I quickly made my way to the elevator. The only other people in the office was the nightly cleaning staff. I stood there waiting, for what felt like an eternity, for the elevator. As the bell finally dinged to signal its arrival, my phone chimed in my pocket. I stepped on to the elevator and hit the button for the parking level, before removing my phone to read the message.

Bella: glad you're alive [9:22pm]

Oh shit! A response like that from Bella was never a good sign. It was short. Clipped. And it lacked her standard kisses and hug closing. I needed to get home to my girl quickly and try to make things up to her.

I finally made it down to the parking garage and over to my silver Volvo S90. As I drove to our home in Bellevue, I tried to think of something to do for Bella this weekend. There was no way I could make my inadvertent avoidance up to her today, but I wanted to shower her with attention and affection this weekend. Aro told me to take the weekend off. And while I still feel lightly guilty about that, I would not look a gift horse in the mouth.

By the time I made it home, it was going on ten o'clock. I knew Bella was still awake, as Rose's car was parked out front. I parked in the garage, dropping my work bag, keys and cell phone off on the kitchen counter. There was a note on the counter from Bella, indicating that there was salad in the frig and a plate of pasta in the microwave. I decided to forego eating, and find my girlfriend and sister first.

The house was softly lit with only a small lamp turned on in the living room. The hallway and upstairs were dark, and there was no sign of the two of them in the dining room. That only left the back patio for them to be hanging out. I loosened my tie, and undid the top few buttons of the blue button-down I was wearing, as I made my way towards the patio.

The sliding door to the patio was open, and I could hear my sister talking.

"Bella, are you really not going to tell Edward?"

This phrase stopped me in my tracks. I knew that Bella was not happy with me today, but we always work things out, and we've never kept secrets from each other. Maybe about what we bought each other for Christmas and such, but not about the important things.

"I will, Rose. Just not yet."

"When? This is a big deal. He has a right to know."

"I haven't even seen this one in person yet."

"True, but you saw the other two. And if my brother finds out that I knew about this before he did, he'll have my ass!" I could hear Rose give an audible sigh. "Bells, you more than anyone, know how easily my brother gets bent out of shape about things. And he's gonna blow a fucking gasket when he finds out. I mean, he isn't just gonna let this go."

"I know, Rose. And I promise, I will not let Edward know that you knew before him. The only one he can get mad at is me."

"Fine. But do you at least have a picture of him? I'd like to see what we're getting ourselves into here."

A few moments pass before Bella speaks again. "Here." I can only assume she's passed
Rose over her phone.

"He's cute." He? Who's he? Who's cute?

"I know right!? His name is Jacob. I just love his dark coloring. And look at those eyes. Such beautiful deep, dark eyes."

"When are you going to see him?"

"Tomorrow afternoon. I'm gonna duck out of work early. I should be back before Edward gets home from work. So if it doesn't work out Edward will never need to know. And if it does… I'll tell him tomorrow when he gets home from work. I mean, I'm not going to be able to keep it a secret. He's gonna have to know."

I find I can't make my body move. My feet are frozen to the ground in fear. Bella is talking to my sister about meeting up with some guy name Jacob. What? Why? I'm so confused. I thought we were happy. I thought we were in love. Yes, I know I haven't been home much, but this? I can't believe Bella would do this to me.

"I just don't want to bring it up and get Edward all upset, if it turns out this one doesn't work out either."

This one? If this one doesn't work out. How many have there been? And damn right I'm upset. I'm… I'm… I'm gonna be sick.

"Well, I tell you one thing. He is definitely cuter than the other one. What was his name?"

"Oh, you mean, Paul? Yeah. Paul was cute in his own way, but he was too aggressive. We definitely didn't mesh."

"And what about that young one you were telling me about?"

"Seth?"

"Yeah, that one. What was wrong with him?

"He had no business being on that site. He was way too young. Like, still needs his mamma, young. No. Thank. You."

"Okay, so what makes you think Jacob will work out?"

"I don't know, Rose. But just look at that face. And look at those eyes. Don't they just seem a little, I don't know… mischievous? I think Jacob might really keep me on my toes. Plus, the profile says he loves to cuddle. I mean, who doesn't love a good snuggle session! And…"

Bella was quiet for a minute or so before Rose piped up.

"Annnnnnd?" I heard Rose voice the very question running through my mind.

"And… Edward isn't really around much these days. I mean, come on, it's after ten at this point, and he still isn't home, even though he said he was on his way. I love Edward. I love him so, so much. And I'm so proud of him, and his job. But…"

But what, Bella?

"I miss him Rose. We bought this amazing house, but I'm here all by myself most of the time. It's hard. And I'm just so… lonely. And maybe Jacob can fill that void. Maybe with Jacob, I won't be so alone all the time. It would give me something to do in the evenings while Edward is at work."

That was it. I'd heard enough. I wouldn't let myself be tortured any further. Suddenly my feet were moving back towards the garage. I grabbed my keys and cell phone from the kitchen counter where I had placed them when I came home. I probably shouldn't have let the door slam on my way out, but I couldn't find it in me to care. Bella was cheating on me, or wanting to cheat on me. I felt like there was an elephant sitting on my chest. I couldn't breathe. I felt nauseated. As I got in the car and backed out of the driveway, I saw through tear-filled eyes, as Bella ran out of the garage and approached the car. But I couldn't stop. I wouldn't stop. The last thing I saw was Bella standing in the middle of the street calling after me.

I didn't know where I was going but I knew I couldn't stay.