*Disclaimer - Sadly, I own nothing of Twilight with the exception of merchandise, bought and paid for. I do, however, own my love for borrowing the characters and playing with them however I choose to. I thank Stephenie Meyer for creating the TwiWorld and for allowing us to have our fun with it. She owns Twilight, the insanity it created in my mind is my own.

Shug is my amazing beta-reader. Mistakes are all mine. ;)

Whatever Works

Gossip On

I made myself scarce when Edward came home. After seeing his sweet childhood photos and listening to Esme's tale, I would cave too easily if he turned on the charm. I didn't want to cave. It seemed Emily's warnings had the most merit – I fell, and he hurt me. I had to put a stop to it before it was more devastating for me. I called Emily to see if she wanted to get together, but she was already out with Sam. I had no other friends to call, unless…

A friendly face popped into my mind, and I dialled before I lost my nerve. "Angela Weber, please. It's Bella Swan."

"Bella! Hi, it's me! How are you? I've been wondering how you're getting on there… it's great, right? I'm so glad you caught me – I was just leaving for the day!"

Instantly, I felt like I'd done the right thing. "I was wondering if you're busy. We could meet for a drink or something?"

"I would love that!"

As soon as I hung up I realized my mistake – I hadn't cleared a night out with the powers that be, and I had no escort since Sam was occupied. Crap. Determined to make my getaway, I reluctantly called Mike, who called Jake, and just as Edward was coming in to see his mother, I was on my way out with Jake as my driver.

Angela was just as warm and sweet as I remembered, and she seemed genuinely glad that I had contacted her. I picked at a salad while she had a full dinner. I had done the same with Esme earlier on. My appetite was shot. By the time after-dinner coffee arrived, I felt so comfortable with her I ended up telling her of Edward's flirtations and confessing that I had developed a bit of a crush.

"Oh, he is such a flirt, isn't he? I don't even think he knows how charming he is!"

"Oh, he knows," I retorted dryly. "Angela, I went in knowing absolutely nothing about these people. It seems I'm an anomaly – the last Edward Masen virgin known to man." She giggled at my comment, and I explained further. "I honestly didn't know who he was… is… and in some ways, I still don't. I know you can't tell me anything related to business, but you've known him longer. What do you know about him? What have you heard?"

"All I know for certain is that he takes very good care of those who are close to him. Very good care. None of the people in his life have to worry about finances, that's for sure. And he's hot." She fanned herself dramatically. "But that's beside the point."

"Gossip, Angela. I'm talking about rumors, whether they're true or not… what have you heard about him?"

Her smile turned mischievous. "Okay, this is all off the record stuff, because none of it relates to business. He caught my eye when I watched the pilot for his show, so I've heard the dirt since then. Now this is just gossip, nothing for sure, so take it with a grain of salt."

I nodded avidly. "Just spill it! I want to know everything!"

"Apparently he used to show up on set half dead from partying… he would be barfing in between takes, so hung over. He'd need a nap during lunch break, and then he'd be all hyper and excitable. There were coke rumors among insiders, but not so much in the media. The network knew they had a commodity, so they 'handled' him right from the start."

"Handled?" I hated not knowing industry terms.

"You're such a newb!" Angela teased me. "So cute! 'Handled' means they had him watched and got him out of sticky situations before paps showed up. They bought stories from witnesses, bought photos they didn't want released, bought people they didn't want talking about him. They also put out stories they did want to be known – partying with A-listers was good partying, so he got linked with any and every available woman in the biz. It made him look available and gave viewers hope that they could one day be the girl downing shots with him at an exclusive party. He was sent to every premiere to get his name and face out there, basically pimping out an image they wanted for him so their ratings would be boosted. Then the studios got involved, and he took movie roles, drawing more interest. The network loved it and hated it. He'd made them the most watched show, but it also made their job of controlling him harder."

I smirked, stirring my coffee absent-mindedly. "He hates being controlled."

"Yeah, well that's what the inside rumors portrayed – the more they'd tell him he couldn't do something, the more he'd do it. Such a brat!"

That got an agreeable giggle. Those rumors sounded spot on. "When you said they bought stuff they didn't want out there… what does that mean?"

"Private pictures, like if he went out just with a regular group of friends. You know how he's always with his guys? Well, if they were out drinking and picking up women, the network didn't want those tidbits out for public consumption. Apparently he didn't know limits, and he'd get pretty ripped. A network star should not be at a rundown bar making out with patrons, ya know? And he shouldn't be seen checking into rehab or recovering from cosmetic surgery or having affairs with married co-stars. He's run the whole gamut with rumors.

"There was also a lot of handling to do when he had it out with a close friend. Some of that got out because the paps bought the witnesses before the network got to them. That was pretty ugly. It died fairly quickly though, so by the time the studios started pimping him too, those dirty bits were already zapped from the net and the mass media didn't even know of the scandals."

"What happened? Do you remember?"

"All I know was that there was a huge fight between the two. Publicly. It was at a hotel. His reps made a cover story that the pictures out there were snapped during a rehearsal scene – the network even had the writers work in a fight scene so that it followed along with the story. Maybe it was true. Who really knows?"

"They never said what the fight was about?"

"Not really, no. But he isn't around Edward anymore, so I'm tending to go with the concept of a cover-up. There was another story going around at the same time about Edward having a secret girlfriend that he kept at home, back in England. Apparently, they were secretly married and all that crap. Thing is, she was super young."

"You believe the public fight, but not the secret girlfriend – why is that?" Edward, to me, didn't strike me as a fighter. And as much as he valued privacy, I couldn't see him getting involved in a scuffle out in view for any reason, but the super young girlfriend? My heart raced as I thought of how he'd had Bree stay over when most guys in his position would have gone for Tanya, not the young one.

"He's been here since he was like, seventeen or something, so he would have had to have been with her before he came back here, right? And supposedly, she's younger… she would have been too young to be in a relationship like that. And well, what girl would put up with him being in another country, partying the way he did and messing around for everyone to see? She would have gotten fed up with him long ago, and we would have handled the buy-out for that one for sure. It's much harder to make an old girlfriend disappear than it is to make a picture vanish from a website. It was the biggest bunch of crap out there about him. Well, aside from the numerous times he was supposed to have been dead. Obviously, he's not dead either. I tend to believe some of the fight story, but I think the other crap that was out there about him was probably getting to him. Maybe it was all too much and his friend took the hit – no pun intended."

With all my heart, I wanted that to be the truth in the case of the mysterious young girlfriend. It was a false story. I knew he wasn't an angel, but given his own situation and how he had handled being the product of a scandalous affair, I prayed he wouldn't do the same thing. Someone had to have concocted a completely fictional story. The rest – the early stuff – sounded right from what everyone had eluded to. Edward had been wild in his past. But he was growing up…

"… Bella? Did you hear me?"

Shit, I had zoned out and Angela was still talking. "Sorry, what were you saying? I was distracted."

"That's what I was saying… don't get distracted by the bullshit involved. I work for a true-blooded asshole so believe me when I say I know one when I see one. Edward has done stupid things, but he doesn't have the heart of a true asshole. At least not yet. That said, be careful. If anything happens, you won't have the law on your side. You're an employee by contract with a non-disclosure clause that may as well have been written in blood. In other words, he owns you already. You can fight, but you wouldn't win."

"So I'm screwed," I summed it up for her.

She shrugged her shoulders and offered a sympathetic smile. "If it was me, I'd wait until my contract for caring for Esme was up before I got involved with him on a personal level. He may be swayed if it's only himself involved, but put his mother in there and he's immovable. I swear he'd lay his own life down for her."

~ 0 ~

I arrived home to witness Jessica departing, late again. She had come from the left side of the stairs – Edward's quarters. She smiled like the smug twat that she was. "I left some things here last night. I came back for them. See you in the morning!"

Last night… not only had he entertained his very young co-star, but also the fucking maid! Storming straight to my room, I took the envelope with his Toe Contract out of my drawer, scribbled a note and tore the envelope open to add it. I re-read it to make sure I had everything covered.

Edward,
You may have 'fucking the boss' written into some contracts, but I checked and it's not in mine. By the way, the maid is fucking you more ways than you know – she's in your room frequently when you are not. Thought you should know.
Bella
PS Fuck you, too.

It was harsh, but I hesitated only for a moment before stuffing it in the envelope and marching upstairs with it. After it was under his door, I wondered if he had Bree in there with him. Ha! That would serve him right! I was here for Esme, not him. He would know that beyond a doubt now.

I noticed Esme's light was still on when I went back to our quarters. Figuring she had fallen asleep reading as she often did, I went in to check on her. She never stayed up this late. As luck would have it, she was up and not alone. Edward sat at her bedside. Dammit!

"I'm sorry… I thought you would be sleeping. The light… I came to turn it off for you… Sorry…"

Esme sniffled as she offered me a small grin. "It's fine, dear. Thank you." She'd been crying, obviously. Was she fine?

"Do you need anything, Esme? Can I get you a tea… anything?"

I heard Edward snort as he dropped his head into his hands. "Tea fixes everything, right, Mum?"

Asshole. "I just saw that she's upset. She usually…"

"I didn't mean it as it sounded," Edward said quietly. "I'm sure she would appreciate that. Thank you, Bella."

Indignantly, I went to the kitchen and put water in the kettle. I was preparing her cup when Edward joined me.

"Mum has always finished up rows with a round of tea. That's what my comment was about in there. It wasn't meant to be sarcastic towards you." His quiet explanation sounded remarkably like an apology. I glanced at him as he leaned his back against the counter beside me. His eyes were red too.

"Is that a hint for me to make a cup for you as well?" I teased him gently, not wanting to escalate into a confrontation in my current emotional state of confusion. 'I swear he'd lay his own life down for her…' Confusion and pity… I wanted to hug him. I wanted to slap the shit out of him more though, so I made jokes instead. "Does row tea come with biscuits as well?"

Chuckling softly, he ran his hand through his already messy hair, leaving it standing on end. "Normally it would, yeah. I'll pass on both though, thanks. I should go to bed."

"You look tired," I commented. He did.

"Exhausted." He blew out a heavy breath. "So my sister's coming for a visit. Alice, I mean."

My eyebrow shot up. That was unexpected. "Is that what you and your mom were discussing?"

"Partially." He turned around to face the counter as I was and leaned on his elbows. "Remember when I said I hope you were patient? That's still in place… even more actually. I have to take care of some stuff. I don't want you dragged into the middle of it." He stood up straighter, leaning on his hands rather than his elbows. He seemed uncomfortable. "My sister may want to stay with our mother while she's here. I hate to ask…"

"She can use my room, of course," I replied, knowing what was coming.

"It may not even be necessary. She might want to stay in a hotel. I don't know."

"It's fine. I'll ask Sue if I can stay with them while she's here."

He shook his head. "That won't be necessary. You can stay in the guest room. Upstairs. It's silly to fill up Sue's house when there's more than enough room for you here."

I nodded, speechless and in shock from the idea of me staying upstairs. Upstairs was forbidden.

"Anyway, I just wanted to give you warning that things might get messy. My sister has very definite ideas about some things, and she's quite vocal. You might hear some things…"

"Oh! No… don't worry about me. I'll walk around with earplugs in… not a problem."

He snickered before turning his head to look at me. His eyes looked horrible. There was no sparkle at all. He took a breath and started to say something then changed his mind. He smirked, let out a little chuckle, and his eyes flicked away and then back. "When this is all sorted… I mean, I don't know when it will be, but when it is…" His words came out slowly, hesitantly, and he closed his eyes to finish his thought. "I hope you can be patient with me. That's all. Goodnight, Bella. Sleep well." He placed his lips against the top of my head for a second before he strode out of the room.

Gah!

The kettle whistled, and I jumped, awakened from my reverie. He wanted me to be patient. He wasn't going to mess with me. He was doing his growing up bit, and he wanted me to wait for him. I opened the cabinet above the sink and took out a bottle of brandy that Esme liked. I took a long swig, cringing as it burned all the way down, and then put it back. I needed that after the tumultuous day I'd had.

It wasn't until I started back with Esme's tea that I remembered what I'd done. The contract! "Shit!" I set the cup down on the stairs and looked up. I could see his door still open. Maybe he hadn't seen it yet…

I started up the stairs, cursing myself for being so impulsive and flat out bitchy. Near the top, I heard him utter a sound that was half snort and half grunt. And then the door closed swiftly and definitely. Fuck!

~ 0 ~

"I hope Edward's sulking isn't upsetting you, dear. You know he gets in these moods, and well, this time he does have reason. It won't be easy for him having Alice here."

"It's fine," I mumbled, chewing on the tip of my pen. I was working on a crossword, trying not to think about Edward sulking. He had been on set for twelve to sixteen hours every day all week, and yes, he was cranky when he got home and preferred to be by himself. Part of me was hugely relieved that he avoided me at all costs, but a greater part told me I should have apologized right away. I should have continued upstairs that first night, knocked, and told him to ignore my idiocy. I could have blamed it on hormones. Dad always let it drop whenever I brought hormones into it; maybe it worked for all men.

"I think I'll go out in the garden," Esme remarked. "I could use some air."

As soon as she wheeled outside, I heard voices outside our door. Mike was one of them. His voice was amplified in the entry, always. The muffled voice I assumed was Edward, because he could tone it down. I hadn't seen or heard Mike around since the night of the party. Maybe he'd been away and they were catching up.

"Take care of it, Mike!" Definitely Edward, and he was definitely angry about something. "I asked you to deal with her days ago! I can't fucking live this way!"

Suddenly, Mike found a discreet voice. So he was capable of being quiet. His words were muffled as Edward grew louder.

"Do I give a fuck? Buy her out! Offer her… whatever! I don't fucking care, but I want her gone. NOW!"

My ear pressed against the door to hear over my pounding heart. I had a horrible feeling this was in regards to me. I couldn't blame him.

"One day, Mike. If it's not dealt with by tomorrow, I'm turning Varner on it! Just do your fucking job!" I heard his door slam upstairs from where I stood. I almost jumped out of my skin when a knock sounded out against my head. Not wasting any time, I flung it open to face my just desserts.

"Bella! Hey… are you feeling all right? You look flushed."

"I'm fine. It's hot in here. What is it?" I didn't have time for his bullshit. Not today, not now.

"I have some papers for Esme to sign off on. Is she here?"

Where else would she be, dumbass? "Outside." I stuck my thumb back indicating the garden and let him in.

"Thanks, sweetheart." He gave me a wink as he clicked his tongue – like he was calling a horse. Gross. I rolled my eyes at the back of his head.

Sitting in wait, I was sure he was having Esme sign papers to dismiss me from her case and from her life. That would be the hardest part of all of this. Sure, I had been stupid and fallen for Edward, but Esme was like my own mother after all the time we spent together. Is it fair to lose two mothers? And this one was entirely my own doing. How could I have been so stupid?

Mike walked back through our sitting room, whistling as he went. "See ya, Bella."

One more day. The chickenshit couldn't even tell me to my face here and now that I was out. I had until tomorrow to say goodbye to my second mom.

A/N ~ *ducks, along with Edward* Don't hate me for leaving it here! Reviews indicate that some of you are on the right track with this tale. And Edward sure does have some ass-kissing to do. I'll let him know he's not a big crowd-pleaser. He's used to being told off. ;) Update coming Monday. Happy Easter to all who celebrate! ~ SR