Disclaimer: I neither own Autumn of the Witch nor Twilight.
Hope you enjoy!
Chapter Three
Standing there in all his glory was a very livid Edward Cullen. He stood there by their table with a very dark dangerous look in his eyes; it was obvious that his rage was boiling deep within him. Bella who was completely caught off guard by his sudden appearance could feel her body tremble from the shock and from the anger rolling off Edward Cullen. She found herself wondering just how long he had been standing there listening to their conversation and just how much he had heard before he chose to make his presence known.
Bella wanted to say something but words failed her as she sat there looking at the seething man standing before her. Peter seemed to be in the same position as her as he stood up and listened while Edward ripped it to him in Italian. Bella who had taking Italian in high school but was in no way fluent could only make out enough words to know that Cullen was really ripping Peter to shreds with his harsh words and Bella was very grateful that she could barely understand the words spoken.
Bella thinking that both men were too caught up in their confrontation to take any notice of her grabbed her purse and made to sneak out while they were distracted. Right as she got to her feet and was about to leave she felt a hand tightly grip her wrist.
"And just where do you think you are going Ms. Swan?" Edward asked as he pierced her with his green eyes.
Wincing in pain, as he tightened his grip on her, she said, "Please let go of my hand Mr. Cullen, you are hurting me."
Edward relaxed his hold on her but he did not let go instead he said, "Sit down."
"I do not work with or for you. You cannot simple order me to do your biddings."
"Really now?" he asked an amuse smile stretched across his face for a second before he turned his gaze to Peter and said something to him in Italian that Bella believed roughly translated to 'I'll deal with you later,' before returning his gaze to Bella. "Do you think there is something extraordinary about you Ms. Swan? Something that makes you, unlike everyone else above intimidation or control? Well in that case I must inform you that you as just a susceptible to dominance as anyone else."
Bella's only response was to send him a death glare.
"It would be interesting to see what Charlie Swan's response would be if he were to learn that his precious daughter was having a clandestine meeting with my assistant—the enemy as I'm sure we are viewed." Edward said as he studied her for her response.
"I am only here to seek help on behalf of my father's company. This is not a personal meeting."
"Oh really?" Edward asked as an amused smile appeared on his face. "And you expect him to believe that?"
"Is it your intention to inform him of this meeting?" Bella ask, fear creeping into her voice. The last thing she wanted was for her father to get the wrong idea about this.
"I have not decided yet. I might if it is to my advantage or just for entertainment." He said nonchalantly.
"Edward please—" Peter said trying desperately to reason with his employer.
Ignoring Peter's plea Edward pulled up a third chair to their table and sat down. "Sit Peter, we have plenty to talk about."
Once they were all seated Edward waved over a waiter and ordered a bottle of champagne. In what seemed like no time later the waiter returned with the champagne in a bucket of ice and extracted the cork before pouring a little in a glass for Edward who tasted it. After tasting it Edward gave the waiter the go ahead to fill their glasses.
"Would you like anything else Mr. Cullen?" the waiter asked when he was done pouring their champagne; Bella could hear the reverence and respect in his voice. It made her sick.
"That will be all. But how are your parents doing? I heard you mother was sick a while back I hope she is well now." Edward said to the waiter whose face lit up with a smile when Edward asked about his family. Bella was surprised to hear the genuine interest in Edward's voice.
"Oh, they are well Sir, Mother was down with a terrible case of the flu, but she is all better now. She would really like a visit form you now that you are in town." The waiter answered.
"I shall pay her a visit, when I have some time. Do tell her I said hello." He said with a smile as he dismissed the waiter.
As the waiter left Bella felt when Edward turned his attention to her. Even with her head down and her eyes glued to her hands that were resting in her lap she could feel the intensity of his eyes boring into her, and the feeling unnerved her, which she was sure was his intention.
"Ms. Swan, am I to believe that your intention here tonight was to try and convince Peter to assist you in somehow swaying my decision about taking over SWA?"
"You are well aware of my reasons for being here tonight Mr. Cullen, so why bother asking?"
"Why must you concern yourself so much with your father's company? I know that you have no intention of working there once you graduate college. So why are you that worried that your father will lose it? Maybe you are concerned with losing you inheritance. I can assure you that we will be generous with what we pay for the shares."
"That is a really stupid question, this has nothing to do with whether or not I inherit anything, I don't care about the money. Besides how to you know what my intentions are after college?"
"Let's just say I like knowing all there is to know about the people I do business with and that includes knowing about their families as well." Edward said taking a sip of his champagne before he continued, "I must say that your father is not the first nor will he be the last that has met such a fate. Had he not tried to trick my corporation, we would have settled this with a nice clean merger."
"And my father would have only been a figure head at that point there was never a win for him in this."
"What is so wrong about him being a figure head, wouldn't that have been better than what he is left with now?"
"My father is a very active man, the company is his life he needs to be involved in it, if he loses that he loses everything."
"He will have a lot of money from the shares, and he still has a daughter and wife. I think he could do a lot worse than that."
"I know my father you do not."
"I'd say that's quite obvious." Edward said as he studied her. "Tell me Ms. Swan, just what were you planning to do to convince Peter to help you tonight? From the way you are dressed in that tight tiny black dress, I can only imagine."
"How dare you?" Bella said shocked that he would imply that she would use her body to get her way.
"Edward, she was only here to defend her father. She is completely innocent here. I am sure Elizabeth would try to help you just the same—" Peter tried to defend her before Edward cut him off.
"Peter, be quiet, this discussion is between me and Mr. Swan. If you find it impossible to keep your mouth shut, then feel free to leave. We all know why you are here and why you wish to defend Ms. Swan's honor. But she will not need a knight in shining amour tonight, so either leave or shut up."
It was hard to tell who was more embarrassed from Edward's words; Bella for what he was implying that she planned to do with Peter or Peter who was chastised by him.
"I will not sit here and be insulted in this manner by you." Bella said as she began to get to her feet before Edward pulled her back down into her seat.
"I am not done with you yet. Peter, since you want to be involved in this conversation, why did you just bring up Elizabeth?" Edward asked as he studied his employee.
"It was just an example Edward; I meant nothing more than to make a point."
"Ok, well I think you have just given me an idea."
"And what idea would that be?" Peter asked, as he tried to act nonchalant.
"Well recently you have been saying that Elizabeth needs someone—a woman." Edward said as he pulled out a cigar, lit it and puffed on it a few times before exhaling.
It suddenly dawned on Peter just what Edward was hinting at, "Surely you don't mean—?" he said as he looked first at a confused Bella then back at Edward. "You cannot be serious Edward. Isabella—is, she, you can't—"
"And why not Peter?" Edward asked his stuttering employee.
"She—I—you couldn't possibly want to—" Peter stuttered as he struggled to find his words, he could not believe what Edward intended to do. "You know that this is not what I meant."
Bella, who was sitting there listening to the two, was very confused by what was happening. She knew that whatever they were talking about involved her somehow, and based on how Peter lost his color when he realized what Cullen was talking about, she knew that it did not bode well for her. Suddenly she did not want to find out what they were talking about. She remembered them saying something about an Elizabeth, and she wondered who that was, maybe a girlfriend? She tried hard to remember anything she had heard about Edward Cullen. She had never bothered to read the society page so hardly knew anything that was written about him there.
Edward then turned his attention back to her and Bella felt herself tremble with apprehension. "I think you will do just fine." He said as he appraised her as one would appraise something before they bought it.
"What do you mean, you think I will do just fine?" she asked as she looked back and forth between the two men, trying to find some answers.
"I have a young daughter; she's only three years old. I am the only parent she has and she needs a companion, someone she can turn to in times of trouble, someone to guide her. It is difficult since we have been living in Sicily, since after her birth. It is not easy to find someone to care for her there seeing as the young girls marry and have families of their own and the old women aren't the best company for an active young child. I have recently decided to return to the States and will now be residing in my home here in New York. I think you living with us will be perfect for her, like I said she needs a companion—a woman to care for her."
Bella sat there staring at him, confused and amused at the same time. She could not believe that he would sit there and expect that he could just dish out orders that she not only become a companion to his daughter but that she live with them. 'The nerve of this cocky, self-absorbed bastard!' She thought.
"Mr. Cullen I cannot remember telling you that I was interested in a job offer from you. I am quite happy with the volunteer job that I currently have. Not that I would ever be interested in working for you anyway."
When she was done another one of his amused smile made an appearance on his face. "Ms. Swan I don't believe you fully understand what it is that I am proposing. That would probably be my fault, but before you make your decision, I would advise you to fully consider the terms and condition."
"Please explain to me what it is that I have misunderstood?"
"Well, we all know that in order to save his company your father needs money. I am willing to draw up a contract that will provide your father with enough funding to turn around the airline and make improvements to ensure profits and success. There are of course certain conditions, one of which being that he will not be a competitor to any other Cullen Enterprise owned airlines, rather his company will be providing services to an additional client base. I will not intervene in any way with his running of the airline granted that he abides by the rules and conditions set forth."
Bella was at a loss for words, she did not know how to react to what Mr. Cullen was saying. She was being given a chance to save her father and his company. This was better that she had hoped to achieve tonight when she left home. But it seem too good to be true, what would it really cost her to accept this offer?
"You are willing to give my father the money to finance SWA, if I agree to be your daughter's companion and agree to move into your home?" Bella asked trying to make sure she understand what the proposition was before she made her final decision.
"Something along those lines, yes." He answered her as he refilled his glass and then took a sip of champagne, followed by a puff of his cigar.
"But, could you not finance my father's company and find an agency to get a qualified companion for your daughter? Surely they would find someone who is better suited and more qualified than me."
"That is my offer Ms. Swan, take it or leave it."
"But I already have a job, I work in a hospital, and I shall be returning to college in Massachusetts, where I live on campus! Do you expect me to uproot my entire life just to come live with you and be your daughter's companion?"
"Like I said Ms. Swan I have made my offer and the decision is yours to make. There are colleges here in New York that you can attend, you will however have to commute from my home, to classes and back daily. I will not ask you to give up schooling, as for your volunteer job, I must insist that if you accept this offer you will have to give it up."
"I have a boyfriend, how would it look for me to just move in with you. We – we are expected to get engaged at Christmas."
Bella knew that that was not exactly the truth, though she could sense that Jake was getting close to proposing, they currently had no plans to get engaged at Christmas, but Cullen had no need to be aware of that. Not that he seemed to be bothered in the slightest bit by the news.
Peter on the other hand was not as indifferent to her news as his boss was, "You didn't tell me you were in a relationship or that it was so serious that you are planning to be engaged soon." He said clearly angry.
"You did not ask and I did not feel that it was your business or your concern."
"Well Ms. Swan what is your answer?" Edward asked bringing back Bella's attention to him.
"I would like some time to think about it before I decide."
"Time is a precious thing Ms. Swan, and I do not have a lot."
"Surely you do not expect me to just make such a big decision at the drop of a hat."
"And why ever not? If you think about it it's really simply: will you save your father and his company or will you allow him to lose it? You are the one who said it would kill him to lose it."
"You cannot put this on me, that is hardly fair or just."
"Life Ms. Swan as you will come to learn is neither fair nor just. I must take my leave now, I am sure Peter here will accompany you home. I give you until ten tomorrow morning to make your decision. Here is a card; you can call the number on it with your reply. You need only say yes if you accept or no if you do not." Edward said as he stubbed out his cigar and stood up. "Good night Ms. Swan, I will be expecting your call. Peter walk with me."
Peter rose to his feet and followed Edward to the door and the two spoke for a few minutes before Edward glanced over at Bella then walked out of the restaurant. When he left Peter stood there for a few second before making his way back over to the table where Bella was now standing with her purse in her hand and ready to leave.
As if to further irritate Bella, as soon as she entered the house she encountered Renee in the hall as she was making her way to the stairs.
"Well, look who we have here, if it isn't Mother Teresa who has finally decided to return." Renee said as she sneered at Bella. "Do tell where it is that you have been?"
Bella was all set to ignore Renee and make her way up the stairs, but Renee's next comment stopped her in her track.
"Jacob, stopped by tonight. He came to check on you, see how you were doing since apparently you weren't feeling well when you phoned him. So you can imagine his surprise when your dad told him that you said you were meeting him at a party. Clearly you were lying to someone, well everyone actually since you were neither with Jacob nor were you sick."
"What did Jake say; when Father told him I had gone out?"
"He was obviously confused and angry that you lied to him, and went out even thought you had him believe that you were sick."
"Oh, crap, this is not something I want to deal with right now. Shit, shit, shit."
"Ah, language, surely you know that such language is unbecoming in a young lady." Renee said a smirk on her face. "Where were you really, and who were you with?"
"I am an adult, it is no concern of yours where I was or who I was with." Bella replied.
"I'm sure I could make a few guesses. I know you could not have been out with any of your girl friends, or you would not have lied to Jacob, all the guy friends you have are friends with Jake as well so it can't be them. Let's see, could it be the handsome your Italian fellow, Mr. Marshall?" Renee asked.
"You are wrong." Bella lied the last thing she wanted right now was for Renee's to make up a romantic relationship between her and Peter and run off to her father to tell him.
"Am I?" Renee asked studying Bella. "Well then who could it be that you lied to both your father and Jacob to run off with?" Renee asked now getting irritated, when suddenly a thought popped into her head. "Surely you did not sneak off to go and see , to beg on your father's behalf." Renee could tell from Bella's reaction that she was close to the truth. "Isabella Swan, I swear that if you mess this deal up and we lose this very generous offer for our shares, and then lose everything later when the company goes bankrupt, I will—"
Bella turned on her heal and ran up the stairs to her room slamming her door and blocking out Renee's rant and threats.
At exactly ten the next morning Bella picked up her cell phone and fished the card Mr. Cullen had given her the night before out of her purse. Sitting on her bed she dialed the number on the card and brought the phone to her ear as she waited for someone to answer at the other end of the line. On the forth ring a very gruff deep Italian accented voice answered the phone. Before she was allowed to even talk to Mr. Cullen the man who answered the phone had to verify who she was and if Mr. Cullen was available at the moment to accept her call.
Finally after waiting a whole seven minutes Edward Cullen came on the line. "Have you made your decision yet Ms. Swan?" He asked, getting straight to the point, no hello, good morning, how are you doing? Just straight to the point.
"I have." Bella answered.
"And what have you decided?" he asked sounding bored.
"Yes, I have decided to accept your offer." She answered and she could already hear the dial tone, he had hung up as soon as she uttered 'yes'.
Putting her cell phone on her bed Bella got up and left her bedroom to search for her father, she would have to find some way to explain this to him, without giving him the full story.
As she left her room and descended the stairs she saw Millie.
"Good morning Ms. Bella, how are you doing this morning?"
"Morning Millie, I am doing well, and how are you?"
"I am well Ms. Bella. Would you like anything this morning, maybe a cup of coffee or tea?"
"No, but thank you Millie."
"Ok, are you sure you are ok Ms. you look a little faint." Millie said realizing that Bella was looking a little pale.
"I am fine Millie; just a little tired is all." Bella assured the maid. "Have you seen my father?"
"Yes, he is in the library, but he is on a call." Millie told her.
"Ok, do you have any idea who he is on the phone with?"
"It was a Mr. Cullen I think."
"Ok, thank you Mille. I will be joining him there."
"Ok, Ms. Bella."
As Millie walked in the opposite direction, Bella took a deep breath and headed towards the library. When she got there the door was slightly ajar so she pushed it open and walked in closing it behind her. She saw her father seated in a comfortable leather chair, with the phone to his ear. He looked up at her when he heard her enter the room, but did not otherwise acknowledge her presence as he listened intently to the man on the other end of the line. There was a look of shock and confusion on his face and he glance up at Bella several times as he continues to listen to what he was being told.
Well now Bella knew that she did not have to come up with a story on her own as to why she would be moving into Edward Cullen's home to be a companion to his daughter. Even thought she had no idea what she would say if she had to explain it to her father, she was mad that Edward went ahead and told him without informing her first. The man was such a control freak.
"I must say that this comes as a complete shock to me. I had not the slight idea." She heard her father saying, as he gave her a meaningful look.
Bella really wanted to know what Edward was saying to her father, it seemed that a whole lot more was been said that there really was.
"As I said this is coming as a complete surprise to me. But if this is what she, well what you both wish to do then I guess, that is all there is to it then. I wish she had told me sooner of even told me herself, but it is what it is I guess." Charlie said.
Now Bella was really getting confused and was very anxious for her father to get off the phone so she could ask him what Cullen had said to him.
"That is ok. Where SWA is concerned I must inform you that I am very pleased, with your offer. I hope I don't come off of uncaring about everything besides the company, I just wish to convey my gratitude and happiness." Charlie said into the phone.
There it is, it may as well be signed in ink, or set in stone, there was no backing out of the deal with Edward Cullen now Bella thought as she saw the smile on her father's face and his eyes lit up, he looked happier than he had in weeks, maybe even months. Bella was now one hundred percent committed to moving into Edward Cullen's home and caring for his young daughter.
"Bella is here with me now, would you like me to hand the phone to her? Ok, well good, I will see you then. Bye for now." Charlie said as he stretched the receiver to his daughter.
With slightly shaking hands Bella took the phone from her father and gave him a small smile as she held it to her ears."Hello?" she said into the phone, she could not think of what he possible wanted to talk to her about; after all he was the one who just hung up on her earlier when she called him.
"Ms. Swan?"
"Yes?"
"Ask your father to leave the room. I wish for you to be alone when we have this discussion." Edward Cullen ordered her.
She looked over at her father, who even though he could not hear Edward seemed to understand that she wanted to be alone. "I will give you some privacy." Charlie told his daughter before he walked out of the room and closed the door behind him.
"I'm alone now. What exactly is it that you were telling my father?" Bella asked angrily, sounding a lot harsher than she intended.
"I have informed you father that I intend to back down and instead of taking over his company I will be financing him. He was of course very confused by my change of heart that is until I informed him, that it was the least I could do for my future wife's father. I informed him that you and I recently got engaged to be married."