Disclaimer: I don't own this stuff, I only fantasize.
Chapter 7
–Crash-
Everything had been pretty hectic for me in the last week. I took over a lot of things at The Bella Pixie. There were non-stop meetings with clients and I had to check on all of goods at the warehouse at least once a week. It was a little much to do by myself, but I handled it.
Alice was getting close to her due date, there was only a month left before she would be a mommy. I really couldn't wait to meet my niece. If she was anything like Alice, she was going to be quite the handful.
I saw Jazz a lot less than I would like to. He normally worked 3 to midnight and I normally didn't leave the Bella Pixie until 5. I still stayed up just to be able to see him.
We both had a day off Saturday and he took me around the town.
There was a little strip of shops near the mall that I wanted to explore. Jazz decided we should go check them out and I was happy as long as we were together.
My favorite part of the day was when we walked down the strip. Jazzy had his hand in my back pocket and I had mine in his. It was perfect. That whole day was perfect. The ending may have topped the pocket love. Every time we fuck it seems to get better.
"Bella?" It was Lily.
"Yeah. What's up?"
"Alice called. She's on her way. We're having a meeting in about an hour. You can go grab some lunch if you want."
"Okay. What's this meeting about?"
"Mr. Lambert is coming to discuss the expansion of the store."
Oh. That guy. "Well I'll be back soon then."
She went back to the desk and I grabbed my purse and got out of there.
I'd found this cute little diner in town. It was so out of place, everything was being replaced by newer stores and fast food joints, but this diner was so retro and the food was amazing.
I walked in and grabbed a stool by my favorite waitress. "Hey Nika. What's up?"
"Not much Bella. How are you doing this fine day?"
"Busy. Long. Yours?"
"Same shit, different day. You want me to get you your usual?"
"Yes please."
I pulled out my phone and dialed Jasper's number.
"Hey baby. How are you?"
"Good. How 'bout you?"
"Great, now that I'm talking to you."
"You are so freaking corny."
"I know. Where are you?"
"Getting lunch at the diner. You?"
"Getting ready for work."
"I miss you."
"Aw baby I miss you too."
"We barely get to see each other. It's not fair."
Nika set my food in front of me and I silently thanked her.
"I know. When is your next day off?"
"Thursday, but I already promised Rose and Alice a shopping trip."
"Well if you can promise not to beat another girls ass, you guys can visit me at Sway." I had to ask Rose how she got that bitch to not press charges.
"I suppose I could promise that."
"Good. I've gotta get a shower baby. I'll see you when I get home."
"Alright Jazzy. I love you."
"I love you more Bells."
I hung up and finished my food.
Jake, the chef came and sat down across from me. "Bella! My favorite customer. How ya doing?"
"I've been better. How are you?"
"Great. I'm getting married."
"Wow. I'm really happy for you Jake."
"Thanks Bella. How are things going with you and that guy?"
"Great, other than the fact I never see him."
"It'll get better. It always does Bells."
"Whatever Jake."
"Listen to me Bella!" He said when I got up.
On the way out I told Nika goodbye.
I was back to the store pretty quickly. Alice was there and she called Lily and I into the office.
"Okay girls, this is our chance. We just have to persuade this guy that this store is worth it. We have the money and we have the customers. We just need someone like him to endorse us. Are we ready?"
"Yep." Lily and I said simultaneously.
There was a knock on the office door.
"Miss Cullen, you have a visitor."
"Let him in."
He was tall. Golden hair. Gay.
"Good afternoon ladies."
"Jeremy! It's so good to see you again."
"I know Alice! You look like you are just about to pop. Who are these lovely ladies?"
Alice pointed to me first. "That is Bella, she is my co-partner in The Bella Pixie."
"It's very nice to meet you Bella." He kissed my hand. I was holding back laughter.
"That my dear is Lily, she's the store manager. She handles most of the stuff here."
He repeated the process with her.
"Nice to meet you girls. Are we ready to talk business?"
"Of course. Follow us."
We walked into the adjoining office with a giant table in it for meetings such as these.
"So, The Bella Pixie wants to expand, is that right?"
"Yes sir. We feel that because of all of the success we have achieved in Washington, it's time to take the business to another state. We're thinking a nice little shop in New York."
Jeremy nodded his head.
"And you have the necessary funds?"
"Of course!"
"What about the winter line? Is it fabulous?"
We spent the next hour showing him the winter line Alice and I had been working on. He absolutely approved of it.
"Alright girls. I'm pretty much on board. Who will be in charge of the New York store?"
Shit. I hadn't discussed this with Alice yet. I wonder who she'd gotten.
"Bella will be in charge." I would?
Fuck. I just got here. I don't want to go to New York. I'd have to leave Jazz and Emmett and Rose and all of my friends. But on the other hand I didn't want to bring it up in front of Jeremy. We needed his approval and if he thought I was going to be in charge I needed to seem in control of everything, not crying because I didn't want to go.
"Okay then. I'll call my publicist and tell him to make you guys the next big thing. I'll also whore this store out to every celebrity I know."
Alice was squealing. "Oh Jeremy! You are so amazing!"
"I know, I know. Thank you girls. I'll be expecting you at fashion week."
"We'll be there!"
Shit. New York. Fashion Week. I needed to have a chat with Alice.
We walked Jeremy back to his car. His driver opened the door. I rolled my eyes. There is no reason for anyone who can drive to need a driver.
I turned to Alice as soon as he was out of sight.
"Office. Now."
She walked back into the office and shut to door.
"What's wrong Bells?"
"I'm in charge of the new store?"
"I thought you would want to handle it, and it's not like I can do it, I'm having a kid in less than a month!"
"I can't leave Jasper. Or Rose. Or Emmett. Or you. I just got you back."
"You'll have to fly back here all the time Bells. You'll get to see all of us."
"I don't know if I can Alice. I can't do everything myself. I definitely can't live without Jazzy."
"Why don't you see if Jasper will go with you?"
"What if he doesn't want to come?"
"You'll have to make him decide to come with you."
"I guess I don't have a choice. This sucks ass."
Alice pulled me into a hug.
"I'm sorry Bella. I didn't mean to throw all of this onto you. I don't know what I'd do without you."
We sat there like that for a while. I finally pulled away and wiped the tears that started to shed during our hug.
"Thank you Alice."
We went back home and I went straight to bed. I had a lot to think about before Jasper got home. I had no idea what his reaction would be to the news although I was hoping it would be positive.
JPOV
I hated having to wake up alone when I had such a gorgeous girlfriend. It sucked that Bella and I barely got to spend any time together anymore.
Every time I saw her I couldn't help myself from touching and kissing her, she was so fucking stunning and she was all mine.
I stretched and rolled out of bed. I was on my way to get coffee when I heard my phone ring. I grabbed it and read the caller ID.
It was Bella.
"Hey baby. How are you?"
"Good. How 'bout you?"
"Great, now that I'm talking to you." That was smooth. Not.
"You are so freaking corny."
"I know. Where are you?"
"Getting lunch at the diner. You?"
"Getting ready for work."
"I miss you."
"Aw baby I miss you too."
I poured myself a cup of coffee.
"We barely get to see each other. It's not fair."
"I know. When is your next day off?"
"Thursday, but I already promised Rose and Alice a shopping trip."
"Well if you can promise not to beat another girls ass, you guys can visit me at Sway."
"I suppose I could promise that." I hated to cut our conversation short but I had to be at work in about an hour.
"Good. I've gotta get a shower baby. I'll see you when I get home."
"Alright Jazzy. I love you."
"I love you more Bells." She had no idea how much I loved her. I was so fucking in love with her it was scary.
We hung up and I grabbed my shower after I finished my coffee.
Bella had been working like crazy, and so had I, Everything at Sway was going great. Casey and I were a damn good team.
The owner loved the drinks we'd made and we were getting serious attention from him.
I got to work a little early so I sat with Casey in the back of the building while he smoked a cigarette. I'd quit a couple of months ago. Every once in a while I'd get the taste of fresh reds in one of Bella's kisses. It drove me absolutely crazy. In a good way of course.
Things were getting busy after a while. One of my favorite customers, David, stopped by so we could have a chat. He was having problems with his wife.
I love giving out advice to the people that came by. It was almost as fun as making the drinks. The rest of the night went pretty well. Things started to slow down, so I got to leave a little early.
I was hoping that Bella would be awake, but when I saw her asleep on her bed I knew that I shouldn't wake her up. She must have had a horrible day. I climbed into bed next to her and held her.
I fell asleep next to her, listening to her incoherent mumbling.