A few notes. Again, I'm sorry this took longer than my usual posting schedule. On the plus side, it is just as long as The Gala.
Thanks to those who reviewed the last chapter. I'm nearing 600 reviews now. Reviewers from the last chapter got to see the corset/undies Bella was wearing. Thanks to phoenixhunter47 for 'splainin' another way to post the pix when photobucket went all PG-13 on me. I got oodles of PMs after the panties went public all asking is there was SOME WAY Edward could see her in them. Well, not this chapter, my lovelies, but never say never…
I've enjoyed tweeting with those who've hunted me down on Twitter. A few of you were treated to bits and pieces of this as I wrote on Friday night. Hope you enjoy reading the whole thing. If you're interested in tweeting with me, I'm IronicTwist67 on Twitter.
The power of reviews. I had no intention of writing the kiss from EPOV. None. I may have had Edward reflect on it, at some point, but there wasn't going to be a blow by blow account. Then the reviews started. There was begging. It wasn't pretty. However, it had the desired result. This chapter opens with a blow by blow (ha!) account of the kiss from EPOV. I hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognized characters, setting, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter 18 – Riley and Angela
EPOV
"Bella?" I uttered her name softly, just wanting to secure her attention. When she looked at me I caught her eye and stared at her. She had done so much tonight to play her part in our charade, and I felt like a heel for not making it easy for her. She was right. Ms. Brandon was right. Tonight's fuck-up required a grand gesture.
Maintaining eye contact, I ran my hand up her arm, settling at her elbow, holding her lightly. I leaned slightly closer to her and was gratified when she mirrored my movement. It had been a long time since I tried thinking about a kiss while it was happening. Usually they were natural, I was worried this would look staged.
My eyes flickered to her lips and I saw the tip of her tongue, moist and pink, emerge and brush briefly across her lower lip. The sight drove my worry away and instinct took over. I leaned forward again, tilted my head and closed my eyes before pressing my lips gently to hers. She hesitated a moment, but before I could fear she was going to pull away I felt her respond. Her lips were cool and soft. The smell of tea and champagne invaded my nose and something inside me urged me to part her lips and taste.
Instead, I reached out and placed a hand on her hip. I felt her hand settle on my shoulder, further defining our kiss as sweet and comfortable. I was sure that, had she slid her hand around my neck or down my chest the temptation to kiss her hard would be too much to resist.
Instead, I slid my hand back down her forearm. I squeezed her hand gently, thanking her for her response, before pulling back slightly, breaking our contact. I willed my eyes to open, but they weren't cooperating. Something felt wrong. Pulling back from her felt wrong. I leaned forward gently until I felt my forehead touch hers. Holding her for a few more seconds, I inhaled deeply and was treated to a scent that was uniquely Bella.
I needed to thank her, to let her know how much I appreciated her efforts tonight.
I opened my eyes before sliding my arms around her quickly and pulling her tight against me. Our positions in our chairs ensured I wouldn't embarrass either of us by making it clear how much kissing her had affected me.
I kissed her temple and moved my mouth to her ear.
"You were magnificent tonight, Bella. Thank you."
"You're welcome," came her breathy response.
"It's late. I'll call for the car to come get us," I whispered into her ear.
"Okay."
I held her another moment before sliding my arms back to my sides. I stood and took a step away, pulling out my phone and making the call. I was assured that the car would be outside in five minutes.
"Come, Bella, the car will be waiting by the time we get our coats." She stood and retrieved her purse. I reached out and offered her my hand as we left the ballroom.
A few minutes later we emerged from the lobby and into the cold night air. I slid my arm around Bella to provide what warmth I could. I was surprised to see so many paparazzi still in attendance. It was arrivals that made headlines, usually, not departures. Unless one was departing with someone other than the one with whom one arrived.
"Miss!"
"Miss!"
"Excuse me!"
"Ma'am!"
Everyone was vying for Bella's attention. A quick look at her face let me know that she wasn't interested in answering their questions now. I hustled Bella to the open door of the car. I blocked the opening as she ducked into the backseat before following her into the car myself. The driver was well trained and had the door shut firmly before the poorly positioned photogs could snap shots of us inside together.
"Looks like the cat's out of the bag, now," I commented, gesturing towards the paparazzi, who had run around the car in an attempt to photograph Bella through the heavily tinted windows on her side.
Bella pursed her lips and nodded.
"Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. I thought we'd be incognito until the movie premiere. I shouldn't have underestimated them."
"It's okay, Edward, I knew that this would happen eventually."
I nodded at her calm, collected announcement.
The driver navigated the congested street and pulled away without hitting anyone. I shook my head at the photographers' persistence. We were silent for a moment as we drove away.
Once we were safely away I turned back to Bella.
"Earlier you were telling me about your dad. You said he was Chief of Police. That sounds like a tough job."
Bella smiled. "My dad was Chief of Police for the good town of Forks, Washington. It wasn't a hotbed of crime. Mostly petty mischief; drunken teens without enough to do. There were only three guys on the whole force besides him. You probably employ more people than lived in my whole town."
I considered what she'd said. I hadn't realized that her background was so prosaic.
"Was it a good place to grow up?"
"I suppose. I only moved there permanently in my junior year. Before that I lived in Scottsdale, outside of Phoenix."
"Hot."
Bella looked at me funny. "Yes, Arizona was hot," she replied as if she were talking to a simpleton. I think I caught of hint of sarcasm.
"Are you making fun of me, Ms. Swan?"
"I believe I am, Mr. Cullen. I'm a little surprised that someone as worldly as you would feel the need to point out that Arizona is hot." She smiled.
"You're right. I apologize for the inanity."
"You're forgiven." She laughed lightly.
We had entered her neighborhood and I was somewhat taken aback. I had been here before, but had been too distracted by our evening with J.J. to really take it in. I used this opportunity to take a good look around...I didn't like what I saw.
"This is rough neighborhood, Bella. Are you entirely safe here?"
She looked down at her hands twisting together in her lap. "It's what I can afford," she explained quietly.
Gah! I had insulted her again. Jackass. Think, Cullen. Think.
"Have you looked into getting a roommate?"
Seriously? That was the best I could come up with?
"What did you say?" she asked. She seemed surprised by my question.
"Umm, a roommate, you know, someone to share expenses with?"
Bella's expression changed. Now she looked thoughtful.
"Bella?"
"Angela is looking for a roommate. Her brother is getting married and moving into his own place. I never thought…."
"Angela? Ms. Weber?"
"Yes. Hmm."
Okay, nice recovery.
We pulled up to her apartment building and I slid closer to her.
"Thank you again, Bella, for this evening." I leaned forward and reached around her to remove the necklace I'd clasped earlier. "Blue is definitely your color." I could feel her skin heating with a tell-tale blush at my compliment. The complicated mechanism was easier to get on than off. That made sense. Bella had bowed her head to give me the room to remove the necklace, but as I struggled with it she looked up. Our eyes met and the feeling I'd had after our kiss earlier surged through me again. I was suddenly aware of how close she was to me inside the circle of my arms.
She raised her hands slowly and slid them along mine behind her neck. My eyes widened slightly at the contact as I felt her soft, warm fingertips glide across mine. There was a nearly inaudible click and her hands were suddenly gone. I looked down to see her holding the necklace against her chest to prevent it from sliding into her dress.
"There," she breathed. Removing the necklace, she held it out to me, cradling it carefully.
"Edward…?"
I licked my lips. "Yes, Bella?"
"I need to know…." Her eyes fell from mine. She stared down.
I leaned closer to hear her whispered words.
"Know what?" That I was feeling it, too?
"How… much?"
Huh?
"How much is that necklace worth? Don't think I didn't notice you and Alice diverting my attention when you showed it to me earlier."
My breath left me in a rush. I sat back.
"A lot."
"How much, exactly?"
"$260,000."
"What?!"
I sighed.
"$260,000. It's a one of a kind piece, Bella; diamond beads and genuine sapphire of high quality. Don't worry, you made it through the night and won't have reason to wear a piece this outrageous for some time."
Bella shuddered and rubbed at her neck as if the offending piece were still there.
"Tell Alice no necklace next week."
I chuckled. "I'll let her know."
Bella slid further away and I realized she was moving towards the door. I was about to get out when the driver popped out and opened her door.
Wait!
I got out quickly walked behind the car to meet her.
"Bella, I've asked you to let me help you out of the car," I reminded her, exasperated.
"Sorry," she replied sheepishly.
"Honestly, Bella," I continued as I walked her to the sidewalk and towards the vestibule, "do you not think of me as a gentleman?" I briefly remembered Ms. Brandon's instruction that Bella not let me leave the party with a "hussy."
"Oh, no! Edward! It's just that I've never had anyone treat me like this. It's… disconcerting. I'm not used to it. I'll try harder to remember."
I chuckled. "Please do."
"I will," she assured me. "Well, I had a lovely evening, thank you for taking me. I enjoyed meeting your parents."
"Ah yes, my mother. Bella, truly, if you do not want to donate your time to the Literacy Project you are under no obligation."
"Honestly, it will feel good to put my degree to some use. If Esme feels I can contribute than I'm happy to do so."
I didn't want to discourage her from using her degree.
"I'm sure your assistance will be invaluable."
She smiled at me.
"I'll try. Goodnight."
Before she could turn I reached down and took her hand once more. Raising it slowly to my lips, I kissed her knuckles lightly, never taking my eyes from hers. The old-fashioned gesture seemed to surprise her though I'd kissed her hand before. I smiled at her startled look before releasing her hand. She turned, opened the door and entered the dirty hallway. Once inside she looked back at me though the door's window. I smiled and she offered me a little wave before ascending a nearby staircase. I took a few steps back and watched the windows rising above me. A minute or two later I saw a light go on. It was late, almost 2 AM. I was sure that the light marked Bella's window. Turning, I got back in the car and instructed the driver to take me home.
The ride was uncomfortable. Though she wasn't attempting to be overtly sexual, Bella's soft voice and warm skin excited me to a ridiculous degree. I needed to shake off this unfamiliar feeling. I was sure my reaction could be attributed to my recent dry spell. Next week, at the club, I vowed to myself. The soft opening wouldn't work, because Bella was attending. I wouldn't make the mistake I had made with Kathleen at the Gala again. But the hard opening was Friday, no Bella, just 400 of Chicago's hottest women…in costume. That promised to be fun. Oh yeah – trick or treat!
- - - - -
knocknocknocknock
hmmmmm…?
knocknocknocknock
ugh
"Bella!"
Must open eyes.
"Bella Swan, you open this door right now!"
Riley?
Shit!
I flew out of my bed and scrambled across the studio giving no thought to my appearance or the state of my room. I threw open the door only to be nearly bowled over by an agitated Riley rushing into the room.
"Riley?"
He quickly put down the two disposable hot cups he carried only to grab his chest dramatically all while panting heavily. I peeked into the hallway to see if he was being chased, but there was no one there.
"Are you okay?"
"Do I look okay?" he asked loudly with a comical arch of his brow.
"What's wrong?"
"What's wrong? What's wrong?" His voice was getting progressively louder and higher.
"There are people out there!" he hissed.
"People?"
"Yes, people. Common people. Dirty people. It's disgusting." He said this last bit with such finality, as if it were gospel truth, I couldn't help but laugh.
"They're just people, Riley."
"Oh, honey," he replied, "there are people and then there are people." He waved his hand between the two of us. "We're people," he explained. Then he fluttered his hands in the direction of my door. "They're people." The way he said the last word, low, his voice tinged with horror, he eyes wide would have been comical if I didn't identify so closely with those on the other side of the door.
"I'm one of them, Riley."
"Oh honey, you are not! Not even when you look like that." His damning hands now fluttered in my direction. I glanced in my small mirror a bit horrified by what I saw. I had washed my makeup off the night before, but there were still faint smudges under my eyes. My skin held a light sheen of oil, my lips were dry and my hair…. I had removed the stylist's carefully placed pins and brushed through my hair last night, but it still was in desperate need of a thorough washing to remove the remnants of yesterday's styling products.
I was also becoming aware of a slight but persistent pain over my left eye. I reached up to rub the offending spot and Riley looked at my knowingly.
"So, how was the party?" he asked with exaggerated innocence.
"It was lovely. Are one of those for me?" I asked gesturing towards the disposable cups.
"Oh! Yes. It's not as good as my Chai, but it's acceptable." He handed me one of the cups.
He wasn't to be deterred, and jumped right in after I took a sip.
"Spill girl I want details. How did he look? I've seen pictures of him in a tux of course but I bet the real thing is just mind blowing. How was dinner? Who did you sit with? Any other cute guys? I'm sure there were, but were there any that could hold a candle to him? I doubt it. I really need to get a camera in Alice's office, the microphones just aren't enough anymore."
My mouth had dropped open and I was sure I looked like a fool gaping at him. The words had tumbled out of his mouth so quickly I could barely understand him. It was easy to see why he and Alice got along so well. His eyes narrowed a bit as he looked at me. He cocked his head.
"How much did you drink last night?" he finally asked.
"Umm…."
"That's what I thought. Go take a shower, I'll grab the dress and find something for you to wear today. You need a decent meal in you before you'll be of any use to me."
With that he spun me around and pushed me towards the bathroom door. Defeated, I just followed his instructions and entered the bathroom.
20 minutes later I left the bathroom wrapped in a towel, feeling clean, if not refreshed after my tepid shower. I didn't notice Riley at first. He was at the microwave reheating my tea.
"This is hardly the way it should be served," he commented, "but I saw what you usually drink over there." Again the damning hands pointed, this time at the small recessed cubby I used as a pantry. "Even reheated, this is better than that."
"Yes, well, it's what I can afford." His attitude would have been offensive if his voice wasn't so kind.
"I went through your closet, dear, there's nothing in there acceptable for our plans for today. Sure, you have the stuff that Alice gave you, but it won't be ideal for running around town."
"Running around town? Where are we going?"
"Shopping, of course. I already told you that you have nothing appropriate to wear for today so we'll have to go buy it."
I felt that there was a step missing in his logic, but I was too overwhelmed to puzzle it out.
"I need to shop for an outfit to go shopping?"
Riley's eyes lit up like I was a particularly dense child who finally figured out how to write her name.
"Exactly!"
He motioned to my now neatly made bed and the stacks to carefully folded clothes.
"Wear the outfit on the end. The rest we'll bag up and drop off at the dumpster on our way out."
"You can't throw out my clothes, Riley. What will I wear?"
"I just told you, we're going shopping."
"I haven't gotten paid by CE, yet. I can't buy new clothes."
"That's what plastic's for, dear," Riley said.
"I only have the corporate card that Edward gave me. I can't use that for personal purchases."
"Bella, these aren't going to be personal purchases. Have you been online yet today? Wait, never mind, from the state I found you in this morning, you hadn't yet greeted the brand new day."
"What's online?"
"You, dear! You're everywhere! The paparazzi are in a frenzy. Finding out about you has become the number one goal of every two-bit picture taker with a cell phone and a dream."
"What are you talking about?"
Riley gestured to my laptop, which he had managed to connect to the internet via some techie voodoo.
"How'd you get online, Riley?"
"People around here don't do a very good job of protecting their wireless connections. Honestly, who uses 'password' as a password?" He rolled his eyes and shook his head as if disappointed by the ease with which he hacked someone's connection.
I sat down with my freshly reheated cup of Chai tea and looked at my computer. Emblazoned across the screen were pictures of Edward and me arriving at the Gala last night. In the first one he was holding my hand helping me out of the car. In the next we were holding hands, walking across the sidewalk. The third was from when I turned to address the crowd, letting them know I was wearing Alice's dress. Finally, there was a picture of us with his arm around my shoulders as we entered the lobby.
The headline screamed, "Mystery Girl attends annual Hospital Fundraiser with Edward Cullen."
"Minimize it," Riley ordered.
I did and was greeted by another website, and another, and another all with similar pictures from slightly different angles depending on where the photographer was standing when he snapped the picture.
"What are all these sites?"
"Mostly local stuff, but the first one was TMZ. Edward Cullen is a favorite of theirs. I think he may have dumped one of their editors once. Whatever," he dismissed the anonymous girl's heartbreak as inconsequential, "the fact is, it won't be long before they find you and when they do you cannot be seen wearing castoffs."
"Alice has spoken."
With that last pronouncement my fate was sealed. If Riley was doing this at Alice's insistence then there was no way I'd be getting out of the shopping trip.
Eight hours and one ridiculously overpriced meal later I was back in my apartment trying to figure out how to store these clothes. I had given Riley details of our evening that I was sure he was texting to Alice, but he was too discreet for me to catch him.
"Girlfriend, you need a bigger closet," was all Riley said after doing his best to implement his organization system in my tiny space. He twittered his good-bye and left just as the sun was going down. I'm sure he was going to gush a bit more to Alice.
I took the opportunity to call Angela to find out if she'd talked to Ben about Mike.
"Hey, Bella!" she greeted when I identified myself.
"Hi, Angela, hope I'm not calling you during dinner or something."
"Oh, no. I was going to call you tomorrow if I didn't hear from you today. How was the party last night?"
"It was great. I had a good time. The food was amazing and there was an orchestra. I danced and ate and drank champagne. It was fun."
"That's terrific."
"Yeah. So, anyway, I was hoping that you had a chance to ask Ben about Mike."
"Yeah, I did. He didn't have much to say, really. Just that Mike's a nice enough guy."
"That's it?"
"Yeah. Honestly, it was weird. When I asked he got the strangest look on his face. After he said Mike was okay he didn't stick around. He actually stalked off like he was in a bad mood or something, though he seemed pretty happy when I caught up with him in the cafeteria."
A warning bell was sounding in my head.
"What, exactly, did you ask him?"
"I told him that I knew he knew Mike and wondered what he thought about him."
"Oh no."
"What?"
"Did you tell him you were asking for me?"
"I wouldn't do that, Bella. I can be discreet."
"I have no doubt, Ang, but that's not why I wanted to know."
"Why then?"
"Ben probably thought you were asking because you were interested in Mike."
"What!?" Her voice was horrified.
I heaved a sigh.
"Angela, I know you don't know me really well, but I think we could be friends. Can I talk to you like a friend?"
"Of course." I could hear that she was upset.
"You like Ben, don't you."
"Yes," she all but whispered.
"He likes you, too, you know."
"You really think so?"
"Sure. Why do you think he got so upset when you asked about Mike?"
She paused, then wailed, "What am I going to do?"
"I'll tell you what you're going to do. You're going to come to lunch with Mike and me on Tuesday. We'll invite Ben. He'll see there's nothing between you and Mike and then everything will be okay. I'm sure of it."
"But won't Mike still think it's a date if I'm there with Ben?"
"My goal is to not eat alone with Mike. If you and Ben join us then it's not a date. We can kill two birds with one stone."
Angela giggled. She sounded relieved.
"He really does like you, you know," I assured her.
"I hope you're right. Sometimes he seems interested, but other times he's almost standoffish."
"I bet if you were to really think about those times other guys were involved."
We chatted a bit more about guys in general before I broached the subject that was really interesting me.
"Have you found a roommate yet?"
"No." She dragged out the end of the word like I reminded her of something particularly unpleasant.
"When is your brother leaving?
"He's getting married Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, but moving out the week before. The wedding's in Florida, by her family. I think I told you that they're moving there."
"Yeah. Listen, I wanted to ask you something. Would you consider me as a roommate? I don't know your rent, or anything, but if I can swing it would you think about it?"
"Seriously?"
"Umm, yeah. The place I live isn't very nice and I could use more room."
"Wow, Bella. I think I'd like that! The second bedroom is 12'x11', but has a walk-in closet and its own bathroom. The kitchen is narrow – it's a galley, but it opens to a combo living room/dining room space. It's around 1000 square feet altogether. What do you think?"
"How much?"
"It's $1700 a month, but that includes a parking space, which I'll use and pay for. Your cut would be $750 a month plus half the utilities including cable. You'd buy your own groceries. I don't have a landline, so your cell will have to do. There's a washer and dryer. Do you want to come see it? Maybe Monday?"
I had figured out my bimonthly salary and thought I could swing the cost even though the rent was more than $200 more than what I was paying now. But having a place where I could store and change in and out of the clothes Alice was providing for me sounded very tempting.
"I'd like that," I told Angela.
"Do you want to swing by the office at five on Monday? We can go over right from here."
"Okay! I'll see you Monday then."
"Bye, Bella."
"Bye, Ang."
After hanging up I thought about the possibilities. If this worked out I'd have to remember to thank Edward for the roommate suggestion.
- - - - -
Dressed in black pants, a blue long-sleeved sweater, scarf and blue ballet flats, Riley's finest "everyday clothes," I zipped up the elevator at CE at 4:30 on Monday afternoon. His techie voodoo magic eliminated the need for regular stops at the public library, but I had stopped by earlier today to return the vampire book I had borrowed. The book was the first in a series and I was surprised to find myself excited to find out what happened next. Of course, the teaser at the end of the first book may have had something to do with that.
I stepped off the elevator. Mrs. Cope's desk was clean and her computer was off; she'd obviously left for the day. Angela smiled at me as I walked over to her desk.
"Hey!"
"Hey, umm, I'm going to be here a little later than I expected. I'm sorry. Mr. Cullen needs these changes made," she pointed to a thick document in her hand, "and Mrs. Cope's already gone home. I would have called you, but he just gave this to me. Is this a problem?"
"Not at all. How long do you think you'll be?"
She flipped through the document and grimaced. "It might be awhile, Bella. I'm really sorry. Do you want to reschedule?"
"Nah, ya' wanna order dinner? I have a book, I'll just read while you're working, unless there's something I can help you with?"
"I'll let you know, but dinner sounds good. What do you want to order?" She opened a drawer and pulled out a bunch of take out menus.
"Chinese?"
"Great… this place is good and delivers here all the time," she said, handing me a worn menu.
"Edward's a slave driver, eh?"
Angela smiled. "Not usually, but sometimes things get hairy and we're here quite late. It's been awhile since that's happened, though."
"Should I see what Edward wants to eat?"
"He doesn't ever eat with us, even when we're here late. You can ask, though," she offered dubiously. She pointed towards his office door.
I knocked lightly on Edward's door before opening it and walking in. He was sitting at his desk, head bent over a mess of papers, eyebrows knit together, a frown on his face.
"Hey," I greeted.
His head shot up in surprise and I was gratified to see his frown dissolve into a smile.
"Bella? I wasn't expecting you. Is there something I can do for you?"
"Oh, no. I had plans with Angela, but her ogre of a boss dumped a boatload of work on her last minute."
"Guy sounds like a jerk," he deadpanned.
"Eh. He's not so bad." I laughed.
"I'm sorry to disrupt your plans. I really do need those corrections made, though," he apologized.
"No biggie, I'm going to hang around until she's done and we'll go later. We're ordering dinner in, though. You want something? We're getting Chinese."
"A small Egg Drop Soup," he stood and reached for his wallet. Pulling out a fifty he handed it to me.
"Edward, it's like two bucks for the soup, don't you have anything smaller?"
He rolled his eyes. "Dinner's on me...an apology for ruining your evening. What had you planned on doing?"
"Angela is showing me her apartment. I'm thinking about what you said, about getting a roommate. If I like the place and can swing it, I might move in with her come December."
"That's great, Bella. I hope it works out for you both."
"Me too."
I left his office and let Angela know the boss was buying. Her surprise was evident.
"Is he not usually generous?"
"Oh, he's generous. He's always has a kind word and doesn't go crazy when you screw up. He gives great gifts at the holidays and remembers birthdays and stuff. Even the bonuses are great, though I guess that's corporate policy, not him. But he's never bought dinner before."
I shrugged. Angela and I decided what we wanted and called in the order. Delivery would take about an hour. I settled on the couch and opened the book. I skipped the first chapter, since it was already printed in the first book, and dove right in.
45 minutes later I was a complete wreck. Tears were silently streaming down my face as I read. It was at that moment that Edward decided to come out of his office. I looked up. He looked at me and froze.
"Bella…?"
I couldn't help the little giggle sob that escaped me.
"I'm sorry. It's just so sad." I held up the book to show him I wasn't crazy.
"Maybe you shouldn't read it anymore if it upsets you this much."
"No!" I exclaimed, loudly. "I have to find out if he comes back."
Edward gave a tiny shake of his head, rolled his eyes and walked past me to Angela's desk. He handed her something and they spoke quietly for a moment.
"I'm going to run down to the lobby and wait for the delivery."
There were a decent number of people in the lobby when I arrived. I was gratified to see Ben among them.
"Ben!" I called.
"Hey, Bella. Good to see you again. Heading home?"
"Oh, no, I'm just here to meet up with Angela. She's working a little late so we've ordered dinner. I'm down here waiting for the delivery. We're going to lunch again tomorrow with Mike, from HR, ya' wanna' join us?"
I watched his face darken and his lips turn down in a scowl. Yeah, he had it bad.
"Actually, Angela's doing me a big favor by coming along," I continued, "you could help. Mike's been pestering me to have lunch with him since I started. I agreed, but don't want him to get the wrong impression, so I asked Angela to join us."
"Angela asked me about him the other day."
"Yeah, I asked her to do that since you seemed to know him. He's nice and all, but like I said before, he's been persistent."
"Oh!" I could see realization dawning on his face. "Yeah, sure, I'll join you for lunch. What time?"
"I'm not sure yet. Can I just have Angela call you when we're heading out tomorrow?"
"Yeah, that'd be great. Thanks for asking, Bella."
"Anytime." He grinned at me before turning to go. Matchmaker Bella's in the house, people! I watched Ben leave with a satisfied smile on my face.
Twenty minutes later I was upstairs with our dinners. Edward was back in his office, but his door was open. I grabbed his soup and some condiment packets and brought it in to him.
"Dinnertime!"
"I would have come out and gotten it, Bella. You could've just given a shout."
"And you could join us instead of being so antisocial, you know," I told him with exaggerated annoyance. He laughed.
"You're right," he agreed pleasantly, "I'll be right out."
I was surprised by his willingness to mingle, but turned on my heel and brought his dinner back out to the reception area. Angela was setting the rest of the food out on coffee table.
"Mr. Cullen will be joining us for dinner," I drawled with exaggerated formality. Angela's eyes widened before she nodded and set a third place at the table. We had ordered way too much food. The portions were huge and we had ordered a variety of dishes. I was exactly four days away from my first paycheck from Cullen and was throwing caution to the wind. I'd store the leftovers here, in the small fridge Angela had behind her desk. I was just settling down on the floor across from Angela and ripping open my chopsticks when Edward emerged.
"Could I get you a chair, Mr. Cullen?" Angela asked. Damn, she was good. I just assumed he'd sit his ass on the floor like us lowly assistants.
"No need," he replied as he sat down next to me and reached for his soup.
I could tell that Angela felt a little awkward breaking bread with the boss, so I started chatting to take her edge off.
"So, big family wedding over the holiday, Angela?"
"Yeah, we're all flying to Florida for the wedding. Thanksgiving is serving as the 'rehearsal dinner' and the wedding is Friday afternoon."
"Are you in the wedding?"
"Yes, I have a final fitting the week of the ninth and then my brother will bring the dress down with him when he goes down the week before the wedding."
"That's terrific. I'm sure it will be fun."
"I hope so. Weddings are always so stressful."
"I'll say," Edward chimed in.
I looked over at him politely, but Angela looked stunned.
"You have a wedding story?" I asked.
"Oh yeah! Rosalie's dad remarried after her mom died and she has a stepbrother who's about 20 years younger than her. He was the ring bearer at her and Emmett's wedding. Cute kid. Anyway, he kind of had a crush on Rose. So, while the two of them are on the altar lighting the unity candle the minister is talking about the flame representing their undying love and so on and the kid stalks over and blows out the candle! He said something about how Emmett couldn't marry his 'Sissy' now. The guests were all laughing, but the kid was really serious. His mom had to come get him off the altar so the ceremony could continue."
"Awwww…." Angela and I both chimed in.
"Poor kid," I continued.
"Poor kid?!" Edward seemed flabbergasted by our reactions. "It was a $50,000 wedding and this kid goes and blows out the candle? How about, 'Poor Rose and Em'?"
Angela clammed up, obviously intimidated by Edward's reaction.
"He was young and in love with a beautiful woman. Give him a break. I hope Rose and Emmett were more understanding."
Edward shrugged. "Emmett 'lost' an arm wrestling match to the kid during the reception. They've been best buds ever since."
"Awwww…." Angela and I replied again. Edward just shook his head at us.
He looked like he was going to say something more, but I had just taken a bite of the most incredible garlic green beans ever wokked.
"Oh! These are delicious! You've got to try these!" I exclaimed. Quickly jabbing my chopsticks into the pile of green beans on my plate, I brought them to Edward's lips holding my hand underneath to prevent any drips.
He opened automatically and I slipped the chopsticks past his lips. He closed his mouth and I pulled the chopsticks out. He chewed once or twice and I saw his eyes widen.
"Those are good. Wow!"
"Take some," I told him, gesturing towards the take out carton with my sticks.
"I think I will."
"The lo mein is good, too, if you want something more."
Edward contemplated for a moment before scooping some chicken lo mein onto his plate, along with a generous serving of the green beans.
"If I finish my soup I won't be able to eat all this. Want some?" He held out his spoon for me to taste. Leaning forward, I sipped the broth.
"Mmm, that's great, too. No extra bowls though."
Edward held the clear plastic container up and looked at it thoughtfully.
"I've already had almost half, you can have the rest." He passed me the bowl and his spoon. I looked over at Angela. She was looking at us funny. Her head was very still but her eyes were zipping back and forth between Edward and me. He didn't notice as he was engrossed in his dinner. When she noticed me looking at her she raised an eyebrow.
"What?" I asked, confused.
She shook her head minutely before returning to her dinner.
"Tell me more about the apartment, Ang."
"Ummm, well, if you like it you won't need to bring much. The couch is pretty new and my brother's leaving his flatscreen, it's too small for the new house. The dining set only seats four, but it fits perfectly in the space we have. They don't care if you paint as long as you paint it back to white when you leave."
"I'm excited to see it. How much more work do you have?"
"Another hour, I think."
I looked reproachfully at Edward. He still seemed to be engrossed in his meal, but must have felt my stare because he looked up.
"What?" he asked, confused.
"Another hour?" I jerked my head towards Angela.
Edward sighed. "The changes need to be made. If it makes you feel better Angela can come in late tomorrow to make up for the time she's staying tonight in addition to her OT. I'll let Mrs. Cope know."
I grimaced and looked at Angela. She was looking at Edward with a shocked expression on her face. I shook my head before replying.
"She can't do that. We have lunch plans with Mike and Ben."
"Who?"
"Mike Newton, from HR and Ben Cheney from IT. The four of us are going to have lunch together tomorrow. If she comes in late she can't eat lunch with us."
Edward frowned. "Fine, you can come in late on Wednesday, if you'd like, Ms. Weber."
"There's no need, Mr. Cullen. I'm done with my dinner anyway." She stood up and grabbed her dishes, throwing them in the trash before going back to her desk.
Edward and I ate quietly for a few more minutes.
"Oh, my mother wants to know if you can move your Thursday appointment to eleven instead of three."
"That's fine. Umm, what, exactly do you want me to tell your mother about us?"
"Mom's not usually nosey, but I guess it is time we bite the bullet. She already knows you're employed here and where you went to school. If she asks anything more personal, just tell her we've been seeing each other for a few weeks."
"Okay."
"I wanted to talk to you about the reunion. Would you be able to block out the whole weekend; November sixth, seventh and eighth? There's a welcome dinner on the sixth, a formal on the seventh and brunch on the eighth. I remember when these reunions were just excuses to drink ourselves into oblivion for 72-hours straight, but I guess everyone grows up. I'll need you for the three group meals, but if anything else comes up it will be easier to know you're available."
I opened my bag and took out my Blackberry. "You've got it, let's see…November 6, 7 and 8, 'beck and call…,'" I mused out loud, shooting him a playful grin.
He smiled in response.
"I need to get back to work. It was good seeing you." He turned to Angela. "You can just go when you're finished Ms. Weber, just email me the completed file. There's nothing else that needs your attention tonight."
"Thank you, Mr. Cullen."
Edward stood up and sauntered back into his office, closing the door behind him. I grabbed the rest of the dirty dishes and threw them away before packing up the leftovers and sticking them in the small fridge.
I sat back down and continued to read so I wouldn't disturb Angela. She typed in silence for another 45 minutes or so before saying, "Okay, Bella, I'm done."
"Great. Let's go."
Angela turned off most of the lights and we were out the door and in the garage in matter of minutes. Getting into her car we headed out. She was quiet, but there was something off.
"Is everything okay, Ang?"
"Hmm? Oh, yeah. Tonight was just…different."
"Different?"
"Yeah. Well, I told you, Mr. Cullen never eats with us."
"We've eaten together a lot. Actually, I think we've eaten together every time we've seen each other. Maybe that's why he didn't mind eating with us tonight."
"So, eating together is your thing?"
I laughed. "So it seems."
"I guess that explains the feeding."
"Feeding?"
"The whole feeding each other thing."
"We didn't feed each other."
"Yes, you did. You fed him green beans off your chopsticks and he fed you soup off his spoon."
I thought about it. We had shared our food, but it wasn't "feeding each other." Angela made it sound very…personal.
"It's not like that, Ang."
"It looked like 'that' to me. Mr. Cullen lets his guard down around you. Did you notice he called me Angela tonight? He's never done that. I've never heard my given name from his lips before. Ever."
Angela's tone was kind, but her words were stirring up a defensive feeling in me.
"Well, we are supposed to be dating, you know--putting on a show."
"Who were you putting a show on for tonight? Me? I know the truth, there's no reason for either of you to act for me." Her voice was soft and reasonable and I had to tamp down my unjustified feelings of annoyance.
"Trust me, Angela, it's nothing. I guess I'm just 'on' when I'm at the office. Keeping up the façade and all that."
"Okay." She let it drop after that. We talked a bit more about the wedding and her future sister-in-law, who she liked, before arriving at the apartment. I gave it the once over. She lived in a significantly better part of town. We parked the car and used the elevator to reach her place.
As soon as she opened the door I knew. I knew that this would be perfect. We were standing in a small foyer. Angela flipped on the lights, took my coat and bag and hung them in a closet to the right.
"This is the living room," she said, taking a few steps. There was a couch along one wall and a comfortable looking chair. A large wall unit stood against the wall opposite the couch and included a decent sized flat screen as well as photos, books and a few tasteful tchotchkies. A small angled wall had a door that opened onto a balcony.
"There's storage out there, if you have a bike or something. Right now the café table and chairs that we keep on the balcony are in there. It's too cold to sit out there right now and the view isn't anything to talk about, but sometimes it's nice to just get outside, ya' know?"
I nodded.
"Here's the dining room." A small dark wooden table and four chairs sat under a modern-looking chandelier fixture. An empty red vase stood in the middle of the table.
"This is the kitchen."
The kitchen was small, no bigger than the dining room, really, but had a full sized fridge and plenty of cabinets. I looked around. The whole place was neat and clean. I was impressed.
"It's so nice."
Angela smiled.
"C'mon, let me show you my bedroom. It's the one you'd take if you decide to move in."
We walked back through the living room and foyer.
"Oh," she said, stopping. "Here's the washer and dryer." She pulled open louvered doors to display the apartment sized appliances. "Here's your bathroom. It's also the bathroom that guests use when we have people over." She smiled apologetically and shrugged. The bathroom was L-shaped with the commode hidden away. A gleaming tub was in one corner. I gazed at it longingly.
"And this is the bedroom."
Angela pushed open the door. The room was pained a soft, minty green. A long dresser stood against the opposite wall. A full-sized bed was against the left hand wall. To the right were windows covered in gauzy yellow curtains.
"The closet is here," she continued pulling open the door to a decent sized walk-in. She pulled a chain and turned on the light illuminating the space.
"The other bedroom is a little bigger and has a private bath. It's my brother's room now, so I can't show you, but otherwise it's similar to this one."
She paused.
"What do you think?"
I turned to face her. "I think it's beautiful. I really would love to live here. Are you sure it would be okay?"
Angela pursed her lips and smiled before nodding her head enthusiastically. I grinned and then we were hugging each other, jumping up and down like fools and squealing like school girls.
"Let's celebrate!"
Angela dragged me out of her bedroom, soon to be my bedroom. We dashed through the living room and dining room and into the kitchen. She took an open bottle of wine out of the refrigerator and two wine glasses out of a cabinet. She poured the wine.
"To roommates!" I offered.
"To roommates!" she echoed. We clinked our glasses together and both drank. We moved into the dining room and sat down at the table. It didn't take long for us to finish the bottle. We were laughing over college roommate horror stories when the door opened.
"Ang?" a male voice called out.
"We're in here, Josh," she called back before turning to me. "That's my brother, the one who's getting married."
Josh entered the room. Cute, I thought. Josh was tall and thin, like Angela, but his hair was lighter, almost sandy, instead of Angela's richer brown.
"Josh, this is Bella. We work together. She's going to be my new roommate when you move out."
Josh smiled at me, and I revised my opinion. Josh wasn't cute, he was hot! "It's nice to meet you, Bella. I'm Josh. So, you like the place?"
"It's great."
"We like it. I'm glad Angela found someone to help with expenses. It'd be a shame if she had to give it up." We both nodded.
"I'm going to bed. I have an early morning. It was nice meeting you, Bella. Goodnight, Ang."
"Goodnight," we chorused, before turning to each other and giggling. I saw Josh shake his head as he left the room.
"Your brother's cute!" I whispered when I was sure he was out of earshot.
Angela just shook her head and laughed. "I guess. He's my brother, I've never really thought about it."
"I need to get going. Oh! Wait. I ran into Ben earlier. I invited him to lunch with us and he said he'd come. I told him you'd call down when we were ready to go. Hope that's okay?"
"That's fine." Angela had a broad grin on her face.
"Do you know where the nearest bus stop is?"
She gave me directions while we grabbed my coat and bag from the closet. I took one last quick look around before leaving.
"See you tomorrow."
"Yep, be careful going home."
"I will. Bye!"
- - - - -
It was almost noon when Angela and I arrived at the lobby to wait for Mike and Ben. We were talking excitedly about our impending cohabitation when the guys appeared. Ben was grinning broadly, but Mike was scowling. Relief flooded through me. Asking Angela and Ben to join us had been a very good idea.
"Hey," Ben greeted us, "I ran into Mike on the elevator and told him I'd be joining the three of you."
"Great," I responded, "Let's go." My eyes flashed over to Angela. She was fighting a smile. A small giggle escaped her when our eyes met. Mike's eyes narrowed suspiciously. He was about to say something when we were interrupted by a booming voice.
"Hey, Bella, you look great. How's it going?" The four of us ground to a halt as we were approached by the hulking form of Emmett Cullen. I smiled at the compliment. I was wearing a pink, long-sleeved, V-neck sweater and black wool skirt with high black boots. Another of Riley's outfits.
"Hi, Emmett. I'm well. How are Rose and EJ?"
At the mention of his wife and son, Emmett broke out in a huge grin. "Everyone's good. I have a few pictures if you'd like to see them. Rose wanted me to give them to Edward, but you can save me the trip to his office if you take them with you."
"Sure. Umm, we're just headed to the cafeteria, but I'll bring them up after lunch."
"You're going to eat? Mind if I join you?" Emmett glanced around the group. When there was no dissention he smiled. "Great. I wonder what's on the menu today."
We followed behind Emmett as he made his way into the cafeteria. The five of us split up when we got inside, checking out the various stations. Angela and Emmett were talking by the grill. She'd been exposed to Emmett frequently enough that she wasn't intimidated by the large, boisterous man. Ben was piling greens on his plate in the process of making what looked to be his own chef's salad. Mike and I walked to the deli. He indicated I should order first.
"Half a turkey and Swiss on whole wheat, please; lettuce, tomato, mayo on the side. I'd like a pickle and a cup of the split pea soup."
"I'll have the same," Mike said, grabbing a bag of chips off the counter. I felt a little bad. Mike wasn't bad, really. I just wasn't looking for any personal entanglements right now. And, of course, it would be bad for business if anyone got the impression that Mike and I were anything but friends.
When we had our food we walked over to the drink station. I poured myself some unsweetened iced tea and Mike had Coke. He cut in front of me as we approached the register. "It's all together," he told the cashier, indicating my tray as well as his.
"You don't need to do that, Mike."
He smiled, but ignored me. "Together," he insisted.
After he paid we walked over to one of the larger round table and sat down. We were joined shortly by everyone else. Emmett sat next to Mike, while Angela sat next to me. Ben sat between them.
Conversation at the table was slow as everyone enjoyed their meals. Emmett finally broke the silence.
"Oh! Pictures." He reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a couple of photos. He passed them to me by rudely reaching across Mike. I took the proffered photos but shot him a dirty look. He offered me a look of innocence in return.
I looked down at the pictures. EJ was adorable. These pictures were obviously more recent than those I had seen at the cocktail party.
"He's just adorable, Emmett. He's so much bigger than he was in the pictures I saw a few weeks ago."
Emmett nodded. I came across one of Edward holding the baby. This must be why Rose was giving the pictures to him. Emmett craned his neck to see what I was looking at.
"Edward's a natural," he offered, "he'll make a great dad one day." I had just taken a sip of my tea and barely managed to move the pictures before I spluttered all over them. I shot Emmett a look, but he just asked me if I was okay.
"Fine, thanks," I said, raising a napkin to wipe my lips.
"I didn't realize you knew the Cullens so well," Ben said. Whoops! Ben was decidedly not in on our little charade. Of course he'd wonder about Emmett's casual familiarity with me. I noticed Mike looking at me intently.
"Uhh…." I started.
"Oh, Bella's been around the family a few times," Emmett explained. "By the way, Bells," Bells?! "Mom said she was taking you to lunch on Thursday when you get together. Wear something nice."
"Thanks Emmett, I will."
Lunch was quickly becoming a comedy of sorts. Angela and Ben were sharing looks. At least they could bond over this fuckery. Mike was staring intently at his meal. Emmett carried the bulk of the conversation while I returned his volleys when appropriate. Thankfully, we only had about 15 more minutes before we'd all need to get back to work.
I drank the last of my iced tea and heard the telltale sucking sound that comes from an empty cup.
"I'll get you a refill," Mike offered grabbing my cup without looking at me.
"Mike, wait," I got up and followed him back to the self service area after shooting Emmett a dirty look.
"Mike!" I had to jog to catch up to him.
He didn't stop until he reached the soda dispenser. He added some ice to my cup before filling it with unsweetened iced tea. He was thoughtful, I had to give him that.
"I'm sorry."
He didn't look at me and I wasn't quite sure what I was apologizing for. Maybe for agreeing to this and then not setting him straight when I realized it meant more to him than it did to me. Maybe for concocting a juvenile plan to avoid being alone with him. Maybe for Emmett's behavior.
Mike looked down and sighed. He shook his head and seemed to come to a decision.
"So," he said, looking at me finally, "you and Cullen, huh?"
My previous feelings of remorse disappeared.
"That's none of your business, Mike," I warned, internally cursing Emmett straight to the fiery pits of Hades.
"I don't like it," he muttered anyway.
"You don't have to," I snapped. I reached out and took my cup from his hands before turning on my heel and walking back to the table. He followed a few steps behind.
Emmett and Angela were talking quietly when we returned. Ben was leaning back in his chair, eyes on Angela.
"I'm done," I announced. "I need to get a few things done upstairs so I have enough time to get ready for tonight."
"Tonight's going to rock!" Emmett exclaimed and I couldn't help smile at his enthusiasm despite my anger. I was starting to think Emmett joining us wasn't his own idea. He didn't seem to have a thought in his head he wouldn't speak out loud. I needed to talk to Edward.
I said good-bye to everyone, bused my tray and went back upstairs.
Edward was in the reception area talking to Mrs. Cope when I arrived. I took a few steps off the elevator before stopping, hoping to get his attention, but he was obviously engrossed in their conversation. Giving up I stalked over to the couch and sat down, pulling my laptop to me. I began downloading the calendar updates Angela had sent to me. A few moments later I was pounding furiously on the keys.
"Easy there, Miss Ali," Edward commented. I looked up started, I hadn't heard him approach. "If the laptop has wronged you greatly I can have it shot, no need for you to hurt yourself beating it to death." He seemed quite amused by himself. My eyes narrowed.
"Can I speak to you a moment?"
He was about to answer when I cut him off, "Alone."
He raised an eyebrow at me. "Certainly."
EPOV
"Can I speak to you a moment?" she asked, in an annoyed tone of voice. I was about to ask her what she wanted when she interrupted me, "Alone."
She seemed upset. "Certainly," I told her, leading the way into my office.
When we entered she closed the door firmly behind her.
"Did you send Emmett?" she asked.
I was confused. "Send Emmett where?"
"Downstairs. Did you send Emmett to spy on me during lunch?"
"Emmett was spying on you during your lunch?" That sounded very much like something Emmett would do, but I had no idea why he'd followed her.
"No, he joined us for lunch today. He spent the hour making sure everyone in a three table radius knew I was unavailable, showing me pictures of the baby, asking me to bring them to you. Telling me what a great dad you'll be one day, and hinting that I have a relationship with your family beyond the one that I do."
"Honestly, you and I could have made out in the cafeteria and it would have been more subtle."
There was a visual I didn't need today. Damn, I could feel myself reacting.
Having had her little rant she seemed to deflate. Thinking of Emmett stalking Bella, I tried to hold it together, but I was having trouble keeping a straight face. I looked at the floor and pinched the bridge of my nose, but I couldn't help the huge grin that crept across my face. My shoulders started shaking and before I knew it I was laughing loudly.
"What's so funny?"
"Oh, Bella, you'll have to forgive my brother." I was still laughing. "I did mention that you were eating here today, but only because he called to tell me that my mother wants you to have lunch with her on Thursday. I certainly didn't send him down to spy on you. He probably just wanted to give you the message and then overreacted when he saw your companions. You're free to dine with whomever you please, as long as you maintain certain boundaries. But those boundaries are no different than those in place for all employees. I'm afraid that means you and I won't be making out in the cafeteria anytime soon."
Pity.
"Well, Mike figured it out," she informed me.
"Figured what out, exactly?"
"He bought the 'relationship.' Seems he's not happy about it."
"It's none of his business," I said firmly.
"That's what I told him."
Good.
I nodded before changing the subject. "How did your inspection of Ms. Weber's apartment go last night?"
"Great! It's a great place. I'm excited about moving in."
"I'm glad to hear it."
"Alice will be, too. Riley almost had kittens at my apartment this weekend. It seems that there are people living in my neighborhood. He was horrified. Not so horrified as to feel bad for stealing their wi-fi, however. He showed me the pictures of the two of us online."
"Well, they haven't figured out who you are yet, but it's only a matter of time. You might want to warn Ms. Weber."
"Ms. Web… I mean Ang-, I mean Ms… aaaah! That's still so frustrating. You called her Angela last night, you know?"
My brow furrowed. "I did? I don't recall."
"I didn't notice it either, but she sure did. Said it was the first time she heard you say her name. She was shocked."
I shrugged, "It won't happen again."
"You really should loosen up a little."
I sighed and shook my head before changing the topic of conversation again. "Will you be getting ready here tonight? I noticed a garment bag in my dressing room and Tiffany's delivered while you were out."
"I told you no jewelry!"
"No, you said no necklace. These are earrings. They're quite beautiful, I'm sure they'll look exquisite on you."
She shook her head.
"We're not going until late, right? Like nine o'clock?"
"Correct."
"I'll go home and get ready."
"There's really no need. If you want to shower here you can. Perhaps we can grab dinner before we go. I'd hate to take you to the club on an empty stomach." I thought back to the way Bella behaved after too much champagne on Saturday.
"You want to have dinner with me?" She looked amused and I wondered what she was thinking. We'd eaten together often enough that she should know I didn't mind dining with her.
"We can order take-out again, if you'd like. Eat here, if you're more comfortable that way."
"Yeah, that'll be fine."
"What would you like tonight? More Chinese?"
"Umm, maybe Italian?"
"Fine. Ask Ms. Weber where she orders Italian take-out from."
"Okay. What would you like?"
"Surprise me." She smiled.
Bella turned and left my office. I decided to shower now so the bathroom would be free later when Bella needed it. I also made a mental note to have Demitri bring around the Aston Martin this evening.
It was going to be a long night, but I was looking forward to spending it in Bella's company.
- - - - -
Let's see. What will the reviewers get this time? More panties, perhaps? Wanna' see what Bella's wearing under tonight's number? Or, perhaps you're more interested in a sneak peek of the $50,000 earrings she'll be wearing. Well, review and let me know. Or just tell me I'm a sucky writer and you can't believe you're actually reading this crap.
Kristi and Lisa are my lovely betas. But lately they've been trying to lead me astray. If it were up to Lisa, my Edward would have an apadravya a la Tattward in CW&IA. Kristi, on the other hand would have Bella leave Edward to have down and dirty sex on a lunch table in the cafeteria with Emmett. They are sick, sick women, who make my story pretty. Send 'em some love!
On a different note – it might take me longer to update. This week is a nightmare, plain and simple. Both kids are committed to different events every day for the next 10 days. Merry Christmas to me. :P~~ I'm going to try. Reviews usually do cause me to shift priorities, but I'm not making any promises right now. Dh is on vacation, but that makes things worse, not better. He gets all whiney when I don't pay enough attention to him when he's home.