Chapter 3
The next morning, I got up, put on the full length robe and brushed my hair out. Finally I found enough courage and I left my room heading to the refrigerator for some yogurt. I took the yogurt and water to the dining room and was watching the city below me while I ate. Edward came out of his bedroom and grabbed a piece of fruit then said, "Enjoy your day, Bella."
"I will." I thought to myself that wasn't so bad. Then I pulled out my laptop and headed into architectural world. Around 11am, I went to the gym to use some weights and then came back up to the suite. I then showered and changed. I put on jeans went downstairs for lunch in the hotel restaurant. I headed back to my makeshift desk at the dining room to continue working. I was still there at 5:00 PM when Edward returned to the room.
"You were here when I left today. Now go get up and make yourself even more beautiful than last night, so I can take you out."
"Edward, I did go out to today. I worked out, took a shower, and had lunch downstairs."
"What in the hotel restaurant?"
"Yes, I was afraid to go too far because I might get lost."
"You said you'd never seen New York; yet you didn't go out and see any sites today. Now go put on a dress. I'll take you out and show you some sites."
"But?"
"No buts and no arguing. Now go!"
I mumbled as I walked away, "Boy, are you bossy!" Tonight, I slipped on a skirt and a cardigan set. As I came out, I said, "Edward, it's okay. I don't need you to show me around town."
"Too bad." He was holding my coat for me and said, "Let me help you with your coat and then we can go." Edward had our driver take us to the Metropolitan Art's Museum and we walked all around. There was some absolute beautiful work and work that you just nodded and kept on walking. The driver took us to the Empire State Building. We were escorted in a private elevator to the floor below the observation deck that was a restaurant. I skipped the wine tonight and stuck with sparkling water. Over dinner, we continued to talk about his movies. Edward slowly switched the topic of discussion to flying and finally asked, "How did you get started in this? I know what you and your father briefly told me on Christmas, but you're an amazing pilot and flight instructor."
"I am the baby in the family with two older brothers. They are Emmett and Jasper. My dad has been a pilot my whole life. He always hoped one of his sons would have an interest in flying; but it was me. I started going to the airport with him, when I was three. By the time I was 10, I was flying even though I could barely see out of the cockpit. As soon as I could get my license, I did. On top of knowing how to fly, I can work on any single or double prop plane out there. I have even flown in the old WWII planes. They are a blast; the stunts are so much fun to do." Before I knew what I was saying, I slipped and said, "Edward, maybe one day, we could do that together. I have a blast doing all the aeronautical tricks." Then I continued back with my story, "When my dad took early retirement, he decided to be a Learjet charter pilot. I started learning how to fly jets then next just to continue hanging out with my dad and those planes are so much faster. Then one day, he needed a copilot. There was no one available; so he took me and you can say the rest is history."
"Yes, you can. What do your brothers think?"
"They love it. We have even been the pilot and copilot for one of them. One of my brother's is a member of a rock band and he needed to catch up with his band so we flew him."
By this time, we'd finished our dinner. The waiter returned asking about dessert.
Edward looked at me, and I said, "No, thank you."
After paying the bill, we returned to our waiting limousine. As we rode back to the hotel, Edward said, "If you could see any stage show while you're here, what would you want to see?"
"Lion King!" I blurted out.
"Okay, how about tomorrow night, I take you out and we can see Lion King."
"Edward, you don't have to do this. I'm fine on my own."
"I know, but I also get bored going out by myself. Plus seeing a Broadway show is a must do when you are in NYC."
"Then why don't you call up Tanya, I could fly the jet and pick her up for you."
"That was mean and now you have to indulge me. Plus you don't expect it, most women do. Tanya would have expected three lavish meals a day even if I wasn't around and theater tickets every night."
"Fine, I'll go."
"Now, I am really going to be greedy. Wednesday night I've been invited to a ball at the governor's house, would you like to go?"
"But, but, I'm here to fly with you. Dinner and sightseeing is one thing; but a ball."
"Look, it's your choice; I have to go and with you on my arm it would be fun and a much better evening for me."
"But?"
"But, what?"
"It's actually two buts. One, is I don't really dance. Two, I didn't bring that kind of clothing."
"A dress is easy to fix. You can just go shopping tomorrow. Why don't you dance? You had to have boys knocking down your doors."
"No, I didn't. If I liked a boy after a movie date or dinner date, my two brothers would scare them away. Then I fell in love with flying and boys always took a backseat. They still do."
"So how long has it been since you've been out on a date?"
"A month or so. I have dated other pilots. Then I learn one of two things - he and I only have flying in common or that they have heard of me and I am a challenge to them. Either way, it never works out."
"So how did your brothers scare them away?"
"Lots of ways. Jasper and Emmett have met them at the door, followed us on our dates, been lifting weights, and called them anything and everything just to scare them away. I have to admit I was glad a few times. So that is why I can't dance?"
"Does that mean you never went to your proms?"
"That's right. I really had no desire to at that point."
"Will you go with me anyways if I excuse you up front for stepping on my toes?"
"You have been warned; I guess if you really want me to."
"Bella, before you agree for real; there'll be press there. I guarantee there'll be pictures taken of us together and everyone'll want to know about us and who you are?"
"So, I don't have anything to hide."
"Does that mean, you'll go."
"Yes. I just need a dress."
"Okay, I'll make the arrangements for you to go dress shopping in the morning."
"Okay."
By then, we were back in the suite, and I said, "If you'll excuse me, I want to do some more work. After being in the museum, I have an idea that I want to incorporate into my plans."
"Okay, that's fine; but do you mind if I watch?" Edward asked as he helped me slip off my jacket.
"No, but I'll tell you; it's pretty boring to most. Excuse me though, I'm going to change first." I quickly left the room and returned in jeans. Edward soon came and sat down next to me leaving me enough space to work though. Edward just let me work on my plans and once in a while he would ask a question. After about an hour, I turned off the computer and said, "I'm going to go to bed."
"Okay. Here's the address for the dress shop tomorrow. Alice is expecting you at 10:00 am. A limousine will be downstairs for you and 9:30am. Pick out your favorite dress and everything has already been taken care of."
"Thank you and good night, Edward." And I went to bed.
The next day, I got up, worked out, cleaned up and met the limousine downstairs. It took me to the dress shop. I selected a dark sapphire full length column dress, long sleeves, very simple. Once the dress was handed to me, I went back to the hotel. I ordered lunch up to the room and worked until 5:30. I went and put on the pantsuit for the play.
When Edward came in, he yelled, "Give me 10 minutes and I'll be ready."
I was in the kitchen when he came out.
Edward said, "You look beautiful."
"Thank you." I was wearing my sage pantsuit with a matching jacket that was almost long enough to be a dress. I had added a lacy camisole underneath the jacket.
Edward escorted me back downstairs and into our waiting car. The car and driver took us to dinner. As we left the restaurant, I looped my arm through his and said, "That was a fantastic dinner."
Edward then said as he wrapped his arm around my waist, "I agree and you were fantastic company."
We sat center stage on the lower mezzanine level. I leaned over and said, "Can I keep you around just to get great seats? I'm just kidding. Thank you very much." I sat through the whole show and held Edward's hand. The show was amazing. On the way back to the hotel, I said, "Thank you to a great tour guide and escort. You are going way over the call of duty. But how are you going to top this?"
"Oh just wait 'til tomorrow."
"No, I was kidding," I said not sure what he had up his sleeve.
"Too bad. My only commitment is a meeting with my attorney at three tomorrow. So you need to be up and dressed warm tomorrow by 7:30. Don't worry about breakfast; we'll get that at our first destination."
The next morning as we entered the elevator, I went to hit the first floor; instead Edward said, "Wrong way." He hit the rooftop button. As the doors opened on the roof, there was a helicopter waiting for us.
"Edward, this is too much." I turned to go back to the elevator.
Edward grabbed my arm and said, "Bella, come on. This'll be fun."
"Edward," and I started to argue.
Edward said, "Please don't, Bella. I want to do this. Now come on," and he pushed me towards the helicopter. Once inside and buckled up, we lifted off and we were soon flying around the Statue of Liberty and landing there. We were up on one of the observation areas; and while we enjoyed the view, we were served breakfast.
"Edward, you have to stop all this."
"Sorry, can't do that. I like doing all this for you. You don't expect it and you don't like it either."
"No, you are right Edward. I really don't."
"Sorry, but I haven't ever gotten to do anything like this before. I want to so please just enjoy it." We fell into a comfortable quiet while we continued to eat, Edward asked, "Are you ready to go?"
"Actually can we walk around the Statue of Liberty first? She represents so much and I have never been here."
"Of course, we can. She's beautiful, proud and represents so much." Edward pulled me tight into him and he said, she is a lot like you."
"Yes she is." We spent almost an hour walking around the Statue of Liberty. I stopped and took his hand. Once he was looking straight at me, I said, "Thank you, Edward. Now I'm ready to go back." Edward led me back to the helicopter. This time we landed back in Manhattan at a local helipad. Edward and an escort led us outside of the building to a waiting limousine.
Once we were both in the limousine, I asked, "Now where are we headed?"
"To the United Nations, I have arranged a tour for us."
At the United Nations, we went through a secure entry where we were met by our personal tour guide. After we all passed through security, we went on our private tour. It was amazing all the translators, the history and negotiations that happened in that building. At the end of the tour, Edward indulged her with a couple pictures and an autograph. Our limousine then took us to Rockefeller Center, this time we actually blended with the crowd at the ice rink.
Once Edward handed me skates and led me to a bench to put them on. I said, "Edward, this is crazy. I have no balance for skating. Remember, I can't even dance."
"Too bad, you have to try. I'll help you."
"You're the crazy one."
He put his skates on; and then helped me put mine on. We walked to the rink. Edward tried to help me around the ice; but I kept falling. I managed to finally get to the wall and using the wall for help I did go around a few times. Edward tried to take me skate around with him in the center of the ice and as expected we both fell down.
"Okay," Edward said. "I give up; Dorothy Hamill, you're not."
"No, I'm Amelia Earhart. I need wings to be graceful."
"That you are; how about some lunch?"
"Yes, please; as long as I can take off these stupid skates." We headed out for a late lunch. We found a little café about a block from Rockefeller center. Once we were both seated in our booth, I said, "Thank you."
"For what?"
"This simple café for lunch; but I understand why do some things the way you do."
"Yes, for privacy."
"I can understand that; but sometimes do you wish you were just normal?"
"Yes I do. When I get that way, I try to hideout or I start filming again then all the security is around to safeguard the film. That allows me to hide within the film world." After lunch, we took a cab back to the hotel. While Edward changed for his meeting, I changed into sweats to go to the gym. As I left Edward asked, "Can you be ready to go at 6:15 so that we can be on time for dinner?"
"Of course, I can."
Edward then mentioned, "You know, if you wanted to go down to the salon, you can just charge it to the room."
"Edward, it's okay; I can take care of getting myself ready for tonight."
"Okay, Bella. I just know you said you didn't normally do something like this. I just thought I would offer; but that's fine. Have a good workout."
And then Edward was gone.
A/N Here you go sorry for today's delay. I participated in a half marathon today and didn't have the chapter ready for posting until now. Please enjoy and leave me some reviews. Your reviews will help my aching feet.