Shorty - not long now before the end...
Chapter 16
Edward works hard; he doesn't even take a second to breathe. He hates himself right now, like he never has before. He can't get the picture of Bella's hurt face out of his head. He screwed up, he hurt her like he never should have. And really he never should have gotten the chance to hurt her like that because they should not have slept together.
"Mr. Cullen"
Not even acknowledging Jenna entering his office.
"Mr. Cullen?"
"I don't want to be bothered" He says gruffly. It has been two days and tomorrow is Saturday. Normally this time he would be at yoga with Bella, being abused by her via her mouth. He wants that, he wants her back. "Has Ms. Swan called?" He misses her.
"No, she is in her office, I, Mr. Cullen a Henrick called" She is not sure what happened, she knows about Bella's two week notice but she doesn't know why. She has not see Bella come over and go into his office like she normally would at least three times a day.
"What?" His head shoots up. "Is he on the phone now?" Edward grabs his phone.
"No, he couldn't, it's not good"
Bella lies in bed; she hasn't spoken or heard from Edward in two days. She keeps missing him at work for the purpose. Everything is put through her blackberry. Everything seems very quiet, quieter than before this happened. Licking her lips she picks up her phone and pressing in a few numbers.
"Hello?"
"Alistair, hi, it's Bella Swan"
"Bella, I was going to call you"
She smiles a bit. "That's okay"
"Are you alright, still tired from a few nights ago?"
"Yeah, you could say that"
"So now that I am not working for you, I wasn't working for you anyway" He laughs because he did everything from free. "I have a CD for you of all of the photos"
"Really, I can't wait to see it"
"Yeah, so how about dinner, just as an exchange for the CD"
"Oh" She actually smiles. "I don't know, I'm sorry" She really doesn't know why she called him, to tell him thank you, she can't even think of seeing anyone right now. She feels sick inside still. "I'm not good at things like this" She confesses to him. Men = bad she is not looking for anything, certainly no time soon.
"Well, who is right?" He says lightly.
"Maybe coffee tomorrow" Bella offers up not knowing what else to say.
"Yeah let's do that" He agrees.
Edward feels like the flight is never ending. Just never ending his stomach is in knots and he can't seem to clear his head of anything.
"So you are coming home"
"Yes" Bella says as she clicks around on her work laptop. She needs to get rid of her apartment. Asking Edward would be the best option, but she really doesn't want to even deal with him. She has to meet Alistair in a few minutes.
"Why?" Her father heard about things from Renee. But his daughter isn't a quitter, she is a fighter. He could fight that jackass Cullen right now.
"Because things are not working out here, and I am just homesick" Bella confesses. She has never been more homesick until now.
"Oh Bells" Charlie says to his daughter.
"Nothing is right, everything feels wrong and I can't seem to keep up, I need to come home"
"You have a room here until you find something, of course"
"Thanks Dad" Bella says softly. "I need to meet someone now, so I will talk to you later?"
"Yes, sure, I will listen for your call"
"Thank you" Bella runs a hand through her hair.
Alistair stands and smiles. "I was worried"
"I just got side tracked at the office"
"It's Saturday"
"I know" She laughs with a nod. "I am looking to sublet my apartment"
"What?"
"I'm moving back to Washington in well….two – three weeks"
"Didn't you just start a charity fund?"
"Yes, I did, and I am being a horrible person and leaving that"
Alistair looks at her with cut eyes. "No, you are not a horrible person, I don't see it"
"Thank you"
"So here is the CD, there are some great shots and they are all yours"
Bella smiles taking it from him. "I can't wait to look at them all"
The weekend went by like normal. She kept busy taking photos of her things so that she can post them and start to sell things off. She really wants to be on a flight the last day of her two week notice. The quicker the better there is nothing here in NYC for her. Starting over didn't work out like she planned, she sort of took steps back because she slept with Edward. That was a huge mistake.
She smiles clicking through the many, many photos Alistair took for the event. She loves them, he is very talented, and his camera is amazing.
Her eyes scan over the screen of her computer at a photo of Edward. Pursing her lips to the side she looks. He looks so mature, his eyes, the wrinkles there, his mouth. He is a man, but for some reason he acts like an idiotic teenager. Shutting her eyes at his photo she sighs softly. He really hurt her and its funny because he shouldn't have that ability she doesn't know why he does.
"Ms. Swan" Jenna comes in. "I have brought you these, some documents Mr. Cullen will need them but he can't sign off on them, can you?"
"He can't" Bella stands and takes the folder. "Why?" Flipping it open she looks over them. She can sign off on them for him.
"He is out of the country"
Bella scoffs. "Of course he is" She mutters.
Jenna wiggles her hands together. She doesn't not talk about Mr. Cullen it is not her job, she takes orders and runs the front of his office with promptness. "He left Friday"
"It's Monday, if he was going for a wild weekend he would normally be back" Bella continues to take the mickey out of him. "Sorry" She glances at a slightly nervous looking Jenna. "Where is he?" She doesn't care, but she is not sure why Jenna is looking as she is looking.
"A close family friend died, he went to be there…well I got word she died" Jenna watches Bella's face drop.
"What?"
"In Italy, I don't know all the details, I just" Jenna knows Mr. Cullen is a asshole at times, but he has a good heart from what she has seem off and on, more so recently with Bella around.
"Oh my god, I-I" Bella drops the file. "I need to contact him"
"He is not taking calls, I can't reach him, and"
"Oh my god" She touches her lips with her fingers. "Can you" She starts trying to think of someone who can help her. Emmett, Emmett can help her. "Put everything through to my phone" Bella shouts at Kelly and Jenna because both are in earshot, she grabs her things and runs out of her office.
Thanks hikingurl48!
