Yay, another chapter! I have the next one planned out, I just have to write it. Hopefully this week I will post it.
This chapter isn't edited, so sorry for any mistakes!
"Fuck." Charlie breathed out. I noticed I was holding my own breath. I didn't know what that meant. I expected more.
"Uh-"
"Are you sure about this? This is too soon. I mean, you guys basically just met. I've been trying my best to get along with you for Bella. But, marriage? You expect me to just say you can have my baby girl's hand in marriage? Just like that?" He had a look of impasse. Like he was battling with himself, with what to say.
"Charlie-" I took a breath. "-I am fully aware of your feelings towards me. But I love your daughter. I love her and that scares me. I never thought I would love anyone the way I love her. I never thought that I would get married. Maybe an arranged marriage to continue my legacy, to strengthen my family. But, I have fallen completely in love with Bella. I would kill for her; I know you believe that. You've made sure I know you disapprove of my lifestyle. But I would also die for her. I would take a bullet in a second for her."
"Would you give it up for her?" He looked at me questioning me. I contorted my face into a confused state. "Would you give up this lifestyle for her?"
"If I could. But I can't" It was the truth, I couldn't.
"You won't." He challenged back.
"I can't" I gritted my teeth.
"You-"
"Charlie! You know how this life works. I am a made man. I am someone who has signed his life over to the life. Even if I took Bella and ran, which would mean you would never see her again, we would constantly be looking over our shoulders. I would never be out. But, to answer your question, if I could, I would." And it was the truth. I would do anything for Bella.
We sat there for a while just staring at each other. Charlie broke it with a sigh and a shake of his head.
"Okay." One word. One word that meant so much if it meant what I thought it meant.
"What?" I had to clarify.
"Okay. I give you my blessing. Only because I know that you are going to marry her anyway. I have no real say" He looked at me straight in the eyes.
"That is true. You don't. But, to Bella this means a lot. To me-" I paused. "-It means a lot".
"Okay."
"Okay" With that I got up and walked out the door. I walked to my car and started it up. I had to go to Midnight Sun and talk to one of the buyers of one of the Lamborghini's that we stole a month back. It was the last one to go. Abel had some issues come up that caused him to push back when he could come and collect his car. The car has been in one of our warehouses, safe.
I arrived at Midnight Sun and walked towards the back, but not before Annie, one of the strippers, stopped me.
"Mr. Cullen?"
"Yes, Annie" I didn't have time for this. Before Bella I would have brought Daisy back to my office and bent her over my desk. She was hot. But not beautiful. Not like my Bumblebee. I don't even want to look at other girls anymore. I never thought there would be a day that I would say that. But, here I am, saying that the only girl I want is Bella.
"Look, I understand that I'm a stripper, I do-" I gave her a questioning look. Where was this going? "-but, there was a guy in here last night. He got a little too handsy. I tried to get him to stop, but he wouldn't. Thankfully Aro was here and saw what was going on.
"Shit. Annie, sorry. You shouldn't be handled like that without your permission" I truly believed that. I may have some questionable morals, but women shouldn't be touched unless they were okay with it. I may own a strip club, but I followed the morals I was brought up with regarding girls, well most of them.
"It's okay. I just-" She looked down. "-I understand what I am. What I'm supposed to be. But I'm still a person, you know? And he kept saying that he knew the owner and he was allowed to do whatever he wanted" I gritted my teeth at that. Knowing me did not give anyone the pass to grope the women of my strip club.
"Do you remember his name?"
"No. I didn't get it. I just wanted you to know. I know most of the girls here don't care about it. But, I'm just trying to pay my student loans and bills" She was a good girl. Not like most of the girls here.
"I'll take care of it. If there's any more problems, let me know. I want you to feel comfortable here. If there is anything I can do let me know" I wanted the girls I worked for to be taken care of.
"Thank you Mr. Cullen" With that she walked away.
I sent Aro a quick text asking him who was here last night causing trouble. I walked into my office and saw Emmett with Abel.
"Edward! Long time!" I've known Abel for a while. Most of my life. He was part of the Irish Family. We happen to be close to them.
"Maybe if you came around every so often" I smiled and gave him a hug.
"That goes both ways"
"That is true"
"I heard that you have a girlfriend. Is this true?" Abel asked.
"He's whipped bro" Emmett answered for me.
"Whatever. I will admit I am whipped. She's the love of my life." I smiled.
"Never thought I'd see the day that Edward Anthony Cullen would be in love" He shook his head in shock. "But, I am happy for you man. It's about time."
"It is." I smiled as I touched the ring box in my pocket.
"I would love to meet her one day"
"Definitely. Are you going to be in town for a couple days, or you heading back to Philly?" Abel's family ran Pennsylvania, and resided in Philadelphia.
"No. I can't. I have to head back."
"Oh, well next time then"
"Definitely. So my car then?"
"It's in our warehouse, we can all jump in the car and go there now" Emmett stepped in.
With that we all walked out of Midnight Sun, into my car, and drove to the warehouse. We exchanged the car for money and Abel was on his way back to Philly.
"So why do you have a big grin on your face?" Emmett asked me.
"Excuse me? I can't smile now? We just got rid of the last Lambo. Life is good." I answered.
"Bro." He gave me a skeptical look. I took a deep breath and spoke with a smile on my face.
"I'm gonna ask Bella to marry me." I took out the ring box and showed him.
"No fucking way! This is amazing bro. I'm so happy for yous."
"Thanks. I hope she says yes." I love Bella, and she loved me. But, that didn't stop the little doubt that she would say no. That she would realize what her father's been saying and jump ship. I honestly don't know what I would do if she left me.
"That's not gonna happen. She's as head over heels for you as you are for her"
"Yeah." I just smiled.
"So whipped. Let's go" With that we left. I drove to drop Emmett back at Midnight Sun and then drove home to where Bella would be.
So, whatcha think?
Til next time!
