Edward's POV

I paced up and down my room, holding the phone to my ear. The dial tone rang in my head and I didn't look up from the piece of paper in my hand with her number scribbled on in her untidy script that was strangely appealing to me.

The tone cut of and I heard her voice on the other end of the line, only, it was a voicemail message.

Hey. It's Bella. You know what to do.

The beep sounded and I pressed the 'end call' button and flung the phone onto my bed in fury. I had called about forty times since she gave me her number in the coffee shop two days ago. She hasn't picked up. Normally, I would have given up long ago. But there was something different about her indifference towards me.

I always had girls lining up at my door for a chance to go out with me. And I knew I wasn't losing my edge. It was her. Her lack of interest sparked mine to a painful extent.

The phone rang then, and my heart rate picked up. I don't know why I expected it to be her—I hadn't given her my number. But for the slightest second I considered it. But then, after wrestling with my bed sheet looking for the damn thing and answering it, my face fell in disappointment.

"Mr. Cullen?" I heard.

"This is he," I responded formally. This was probably a work call.

"It's Emmett. I've scheduled you for a meeting with Thomas tomorrow at seven." It was just like my brother to take over at the office in Washington when I was away. I rolled my eyes.

"You didn't think to check with me? What if I had plans?"

I heard a chuckle. "Do you have plans?"

"No. but it would have been nice if you thought I did."

"You're a naturally abrasive person, Edward. I doubted you would make many friends in the one city that's full of abrasive people." He sighed and I heard papers shuffling. "Have you had a chance to work on the Collins case yet?"

I pinched the base of my nose with my index finger and thumb like I usually did when I was frustrated. "No. I've had things on my mind. But I'll have it done within the month. It'll be done."

Joshua Collins is going to be standing trial for murder in the second degree in a matter of months. The lawyer defending him was a snake of a woman. We slept together once, and now she hates my guts. Hopefully, she won't take that out on me in the courtroom. But I wasn't expecting anything less.

"You're representing the state, Edward. You know Carlisle will be waiting to make sure you have the winning case." Oh, my ever-ready-to-criticize adopted father.

"I know that."

"We need to find a time to discuss it."

I nod to myself. "It'll have to be some other time." I looked at my bedside table and saw the terrifying stack of papers. "I've got a lot of work to do."

"Okay. Stay in touch. You got me worried, having not heard from you in a while."

"Definitely. Say hi to Rose for me."

"Speaking of my wife," he added. "When do you plan on getting yourself a life?"

"I have a life," I snap.

"No, you have a career," he insisted.

"Yeah, what's the difference?"

"Well, you need to be happy for it to be your life," he mused.

I groaned. "I think I've heard enough of this."

"That pretty face won't last forever, Edward. Weren't you supposed to see Tanya some time? How did that go?"

"She stood me up," I griped.

"Edward . . ."

"I'm fine, Em. Worry about yourself. Hasn't Rosalie been having problems getting knocked up?" The words came out harsher than I intended and I bit my lip, regretting bringing it up.

It took a while for him to respond. "Yeah," he said with a sigh. "We're seeing some fertility doctor but it doesn't seem to be helping."

"You know what, forget that. I'm just being an ass." I looked at my watch. "I'll work on getting myself some kind of life when I'm done with this. I need to get started."

"Good luck."

He hung up before I said goodbye and I lowered the phone sadly. I hadn't meant to hurt him at all. Sometimes, when I lose my temper, I just snap at people. And I always know the most sensitive areas to pick at and open wounds.

I'm amazed my family puts up with me at all. God, why am I such a jackass?

I walk down the short passage in my hallway to the living room and throw myself onto the sofa. Maybe I'll just relax for a few minutes. I haven't been sleeping very well because of the Bella problem. I think I'll close my eyes a little. That ought to get me enough energy to deal with my job.

When I opened my eyes, the sky was black. This frightened me.

I jumped up in shock and gasped when I looked at the clock on the wall. 11:19pm. I slept through the whole day. I rubbed my forehead and groaned. Something glinted in the dish near the door and I looked at my car-keys in confusion.

I shrugged. "What the hell? It's a good a time as any to go for some air."

I grabbed the keys and speed-walked to the lobby, where I was greeted by the doorman.

"Good evening, Mr. Cullen." He tipped his hat. "Awfully late to be out, wouldn't you say?"

"I don't give a rat's ass."

He was taken aback but pressed some button on the intercom.

"Send in Mr. Cullen's vehicle to the front lobby."

I nodded and went to stand outside. It was freezing, but I knew I had a jacket in the back seat of my car. My Mercedes Guardian rolled up before me and the driver jumped out.

The doorman whistled from behind me. "What a beauty."

I smirked as he threw the keys to me and quickly jumped in, starting her up. I hadn't needed my car since I came to the town, what with the taxis on every corner, so it felt good to sit in my custom-made leather seats again and smell her sweet scent.

"I missed you, Honey," I whispered, taking off down the street.

The roads were as empty as I I've seen them so far and I enjoyed the freedom. I decided to just go for a joy-ride down and around the block. It would be quick, but it would prepare me for the all-nighter I was sure to pull when I got back just to finish the first stack of paperwork.

Bella's POV

I stormed out of the club in a hurry. I could sense that Mike was not far behind me. Does this guy ever give up?

"Don't you run from me, Bella!" he shouted.

"I'm not going to do this again, Mike!" I shouted back.

I walked briskly down the road.

"We can work this out, baby," he purred, grabbing my jacket from behind.

I turned around sharply. "I'm done with this! Just leave me alone."

He pulled me against him. "Didn't you miss this when they took you away?"

I slapped him across the face. "Let me go!" I screeched.

He recovered quickly, punching my left cheek with such force that I was knocked to the ground.

"You ungrateful bitch!" he snapped.

Then, through the ringing in my ears, I heard the car door shut.

Edward's POV

I pulled the car to a violent stop next to the sidewalk and slammed the door as I got out. I knew it was Bella. I could see her from a mile away. Her screeching did help a little, though.

"That's no way to treat a lady," I growled menacingly as I stood in front of her.

She was holding herself up on her elbows on the concrete and her jacket was torn on the ground before this asshole.

"What's it to you?" he spat out.

I could smell booze on him and noted the way he staggered on his feet.

"I think you should apologize." I raised my eyebrow. He snorted, so I shrugged and bent down to help Bella up. "Are you alright?" I ask tenderly, pulling her up into a standing position.

"Get your fucking hands off my girl!" the guys shouted, trying to pull me by my collar.

He had no noticeable strength and whether or not it was because of his drunkenness or just in general I didn't care. I swiftly turned around and punched I'm square in the jaw, sending him flying to the ground in a similar position to the one Bella was in. blood pooled out of his mouth and it was already swelling where my fist came into contact with his cheek.

"If you ever lay a filthy hand on this girl again, I will not stop with just one punch." My voice stung with venom and he stared, wide-eyed at us as I led Bella into the passenger seat of my car. "Oh, and one more thing," I call before I get in the driver's side, "I heard you say that she was 'your girl'. I couldn't have heard you correctly. Reason being, this is my girl. I trust you won't forget that. But I believe that shiner will remind of it every time you look in the mirror. You have yourself a good evening."

"You don't know what you're getting yourself into!" he yelled as I started the car. "She's crazy! That bitch is crazy!"

Bella kept her hand firmly on her cheek as we drove, but I don't think it was causing her too much pain, because it didn't hurt her so much to talk to me.

"What the hell are you?" she asked, exasperated. "How do you always know where I am? Are you sure you're not stalking me? I'm thinking about calling the police."

"If you're gonna call the police on anyone, it should be that ass." I groaned. "What are you doing in the street at this hour, anyway?"

"I could ask you the same thing," she sniffed. "Anyway, I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself."

"Clearly not!" I object. "If I hadn't jumped in there to save you, I shudder to think what might have happened."

She rolled her eyes. "Mike wouldn't hurt me."

"The swelling on your face tells a different story." I turn my ehad a fraction in her direction and try to gently remove her hand from it. "Here, let me take a look."

"Keep your eyes on the road! I don't give a damn what happens to you but I'm sure as hell not ready to die!"

I chuckle. "Please." I pull her hand away. "I just want to know whether or not I'm going to take you to the doctor."

"I'm not quite so delicate," she argued.

"Aren't you?" I challenged, but she moved her hand away.

It was a little red around a purple bruise and there was a cut on her cheekbone. It was bleeding a little but wasn't deep. The bastard was probably wearing a ring. I shook my head in disgust.

"It's not too bad. But I think you should put some ice on it."

"I'm a bit afraid to tell you where I live," she laughed, then winced.

I groaned. "I'm not taking you home. How do I know you're giving yourself the right treatment?" I feigned horror, causing her smile to widen. "I'm taking you back to my place."

"Just so you know," she said carefully. "I have 911 on speed-dial."

"Speaking of calling people," I added nonchalantly. "I've been calling you."

"I know."

"And you haven't been answering."

"I know that too."

I sighed. This girl was impossible.

I pulled into the valet section of the parking lot near the lobby of my hotel and she looked up in awe. I could tell that, despite what she said about being afraid of me, she wanted to go up to the top.

So, maybe not entirely impossible.