As always, this is dedicated to my betas, Kristi and Lisa. They do more than dot my i's and cross my t's.
Special thanks to RoryCullen, a new reader who was kind enough to leave a thoughtful review for every single chapter.
Chapter 29 – Killer
BPOV
Riley and I met outside the restaurant late Wednesday morning. As we entered the Fox and Obel Café, he was greeted by name in much the same way Edward was whenever we went out. It was only a matter of minutes before we were seated comfortably and offered menus.
"I can't believe that Alice believed you when you said you weren't feeling well, because it was 'that time of the month,' or that she let you 'go home'." I was still shaking my head over Riley's pack of lies.
"What can I say?" Riley responded, expansively, "I have an honest face." He smiled beatifically.
I chuckled at his expression and turned to the menu. I was perusing the selections when I realized his eyes were still on me.
"What?" I asked distractedly.
"Don't you have something you want to tell me?"
I looked up at him. So much had happened in the last few days, very little of it good. However, I had a feeling I knew exactly to what Riley was referring; the same thing that Edward and I had argued about yesterday.
Riley didn't know the truth about Edward and me. I wasn't sure how much I could safely say to him. My heart told me that Riley was trustworthy and that he wouldn't do anything to jeopardize our friendship or to hurt me.
Still…
"Um…something to tell you?" I asked, hoping to come across as innocent. However, the exaggerated tone of my voice left no doubt in his mind that I was hiding something.
"I knew it! Spill! What happened? Why did you break up?"
"Wait? What?"
"You and the hottest man on the planet! What happened? When? You don't appear too upset by it, so I'm guessing he fucked up. What did he do? Who did he do?"
Riley's eyes were wide and the words left his mouth in a torrent.
"Edward and I didn't break up, Riley."
Riley looked at me with respect and admiration shining from his face.
"Oh, girlfriend, how did you get him to agree to let you go out with that yummy piece of blondness, then?"
Yeah, this is exactly what Edward and I had argued about on Tuesday.
"I'm not seeing Mike," I explained, "he's just a friend. A bunch of us went out after work on Monday."
"The picture I saw made it look like you two were more than friends."
I sighed.
"I know."
*~*
After we left the office we walked to the bar. It was just a few blocks down the street. The atmosphere inside was surprisingly charged for a Monday night, I thought. The music was loud and drinks were flowing. The folksy wooden interior seemed to run counter to the hip crowd already enjoying Happy Hour.
We quickly commandeered two large, round wooden tables in a back room. Several dart boards were hanging on the far wall. While we drank and talked my coworkers played a few friendly games. It was almost eight and I was starting to think about heading home when the guys decided it was time to play for keeps.
"Pick a number, Bella," Mike said.
"Why?"
"We're going to play our version of Killer. It's fun. Everyone buys a number on the board for $5, then we take turns throwing a dart with our off hand. If someone hits your number, you're out. If you hit the bull's eye with your dart you get to pick who you kill. Last person with a number left wins the pot."
It sounded like fun and with everyone throwing with their off hand, my poor skills wouldn't make me look foolish.
Since there were ten of us we each threw in $10 and picked two numbers. I ended up with thirteen and seven.
"Hmm," Mike said, "you're either really lucky or really unlucky. I guess we'll find out which."
It was fun watching everyone try to throw a dart with their off hand. I'm sure the fact that we'd been drinking steadily for the past two and a half hours added to the hilarity.
Mike hadn't lied. He was good. He was really accurate, even buzzed and throwing with his off hand. I survived the first round unscathed, but Tyler hit my thirteen in the second round. On Mike's next turn he eliminated Tyler from the game by hitting his remaining slice on the board.
Ben accidently took Angela out of the game. She pouted at him and he apologized profusely. He was obviously distressed, but the look Angela gave me told me that his discomfort was worth the $10 she just lost. She was neatly wrapping that man around her little finger.
We were five rounds in and by some miracle I was still in play with my lucky number seven. Mike, Lauren and a guy from finance, Austin, were still in, as well. I threw my dart and missed the board altogether. Good-natured catcalls followed my abysmal performance causing me to laugh and blush. Mike was playing hard, but it was obvious to me that he was avoiding my number. His next dart took Austin out of the game. Lauren threw her dart and somehow managed to land on Mike's remaining wedge, eliminating him from the game. He grimaced.
"Okay, Bella," he said, "you're up!"
He handed me the dart and I glanced over at Lauren. Her eyes were fixed on the board and I could see her hand tensing and flexing. My competitive streak reared its head and I suddenly very much wanted to win this game.
I took aim at Lauren's remaining wedge as our coworkers quieted down. I made a few passes before releasing the dart. As soon as it left my hand, I knew it wouldn't hit my intended target. I watched in astonishment as the dart sailed smoothly through the air and stuck solidly in the bull's eye.
A cheer went up from the watching players, and I gave a little jump and squeal as Mike grabbed me around the waist, hoisted me up off the ground and swung me around.
"Woohoo, Bella!" he exclaimed before returning me gently to the ground, holding me for a moment as I found my footing.
Austin grinned as he approached me and handed me the $100 pot. I was smiling widely, and another cheer went up as I offered to buy the next round.
"So that's the picture I saw," Riley interrupted.
"Yeah, that was it," I agreed glumly.
When I got to work at eight the next morning, Edward was already in his office. I grabbed a cup of tea before heading in to start the day. I had decided to make the best of my new arrangement and entered Edward's office with a friendly greeting on my lips.
"Good morning, Edward," I said brightly as I entered his open door.
Silence.
I looked over at him. He was staring at me over the top of his computer screen, fingers steepled in front of his chest. His expression was…intense. I stopped and returned his gaze, my happy expression faltering.
"Is something wrong?" I asked.
"Close the door, please, Ms. Swan."
I shut the door and took a few hesitant steps towards my desk.
"Come here, please." His words were a request, but his tone was a command.
I went to put my things down on my desk when Edward barked one more word.
"Now!"
Scowling, I carried my bag, coat and tea to his desk. Edward shifted his monitor slightly, allowing me to see the picture displayed there. The scowl on my face slid away and was replaced with a look of disbelief.
"Where did you get that?" I asked stupidly.
Edward furrowed his brow and frowned at me.
"Internet, obviously," he replied with clenched teeth.
I dropped my bag to the floor before placing my teacup on his desk and tossing my coat onto a chair. I walked around his desk and stood next to him to better see the damning photo.
It was taken right after I'd won the game of Killer when Mike had picked me up and swung me around. When he put me down, he'd held on to me until I had my footing. It was this exact moment someone had caught on film. In the picture we were standing very close, touching from knee to hip, his arms wrapped around my waist, my hands clasped in front of me. His expression, which I hadn't even noticed that night, was one of wistful admiration. My face was split with a happy smile, brought about by my victory, not my proximity to Mike.
"It- it's not what it looks like…" I stuttered.
"Does it matter?" Edward growled.
I shook my head. Of course it didn't matter. My eyes flitted over the website. It was one of the less reputable sites, if any of the gossip sites could be considered reputable. A caption accompanied the shot:
"Chicago's number one bachelor may be back on the market if this photo is any indication. Edward Cullen's gal pal of the last few weeks was seen at the Cock and Bull last night getting cozy with an unknown blond after a game of darts."
"Edward, I'm sorry…" I began.
He cut me off. "You will have lunch with my brother and me in the cafeteria today. If your 'date' from last night is there you will follow my lead. No matter what, you will sit at my side and you will do your job…"
"Wait," Riley interrupted once more. "What? 'Sit at my side and do your job…?' What, exactly, do you do for Edward Cullen?"
I squeezed my eyes shut, and clamped my hand over my mouth as if I could recall the offending words. My relief at having someone to talk to had made me careless. Riley was too smart to be easily put off the track.
Sighing, I decided to trust Riley and tell him the whole truth. He sat silently during my quiet explanation. I paused to catch my breath and looked at Riley for the first time since admitting the farce. He examined my face carefully before opening his arms wide.
"Oh, honey…" he said.
Tears I didn't know were there suddenly poured from my eyes. Riley wrapped his arms around me as I wept silently. I didn't even know what I was crying about.
Riley rocked me gently, our lunches all but forgotten on the table in front of us. Our close proximity scared me. Who knew what the next headline would read. I became aware of Riley's quiet mutterings.
"That man is a damned fool for playing this game with you. You, Bella Swan, are an amazing woman and deserve so much more than what he's offering…."
I sat back.
"No, Riley. No. You don't understand. Edward, well, he didn't really save me, but he's given me so much. I was nothing, had nothing. This job, pretending to be Edward's girlfriend, it's incredible. I'm doing and seeing things that were out of my reach before. The money he's paying me means I can go back to school and get my graduate degree. I'm going to get a teaching certificate, too, so I always have something to fall back on. I agreed to this."
"If you agreed to this, honey, then why are you crying?"
"I- I don't know," I stuttered, quietly.
Riley sat back and pursed his lips, staring at me intensely. He nodded once, as if he had come to some sort of decision.
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing, honey. Nothing. So, finish your story. What happened at lunch?"
It was a little after twelve when Edward cleared his throat.
"Ms. Swan, are you ready for lunch?"
I sighed in exasperation.
"Really, Edward? Ms. Swan? Mike giving me a hug makes everyone think we broke up, and to solve this problem you're going to refer to me as Ms. Swan in public?"
Edward squeezed his eyes shut and pinched the bridge of his nose in a gesture I recognized as his way of dealing with frustration. I stood and waited for him to resolve his internal crisis.
It was nearly a minute later before Edward finally stood up and looked up at me. His expression had changed from one of irritated aggravation to one of polite indifference. Well, it was an improvement, at least.
"Shall we?" he asked, extending his arm to me. I rolled my eyes and placed my hand lightly in the crook of his elbow. He let go, briefly, to open the door. As we walked through the reception area, he addressed Mrs. Cope.
"Please call my brother and tell him we'll meet him in the cafeteria in five minutes."
"Yes, Mr. Cullen," Mrs. Cope responded. Edward kept his eyes forward, but I caught the look Mrs. Cope shot Angela. Edward wasn't known for dining in the cafeteria.
Our trip downstairs was silent and I wasn't surprised to see both Jasper and Emmett sitting at a four top when we entered the café. Edward took a deep breath and addressed me pleasantly for the first time all day as we walked over to the table.
"I wonder what the soup is today."
"Umm…" I really didn't know what Edward wanted me to say, and I was afraid of making a mistake and making the rest of our day even more unpleasant than the morning.
Edward must have seen the tension on my face. He leaned down to whisper in my ear.
"Relax, Bella. It's just lunch with Emmett...and Jasper, it seems." He didn't appear overly pleased to see his best friend.
We approached the table and both men stood up. Emmett reached over and pulled me into a tight hug while Jasper held out my chair. I sat down. All three men settled into their seats after me.
An uncomfortable silence descended. I could kill Edward for putting all of us in this position. Jasper was obviously uncomfortable and Emmett was just grinning like a fool. Edward stared at me like he expected me to pull a rabbit from my hat.
"Oh, Jasper!" I latched onto the conversation starter, "Maybe I can come up to your office with you after lunch and get my new corporate card."
"Why do you need a—ow!" Emmett's question was interrupted by his interjection. I noticed a look of pain cross his face.
"What the fu-"Emmett yelled, looking at Edward.
"The card hasn't arrived yet, Bella," Jasper said, loudly, pulling my attention away from whatever was going on between Emmett and Edward. "Will you be here all day? Perhaps I can just run it up to you when it arrives?"
"Good idea, Jazz," Edward agreed, "just stop by our office at the end of the day."
Puzzled looks crossed both men's faces.
"'Our' office?" Emmett asked. "As in both of your office? How did you fit another desk in your reception area?"
"Oh!" I spoke up before Edward could say anything. I wondered what the guys would think of our new bizarre arrangement. "My desk isn't in reception," I continued, "it's right in Edward's office." I cocked my head to the side, waiting for their responses.
Emmett once again looked puzzled, but Jasper's reaction intrigued me. A hard look crossed his face and he frowned at Edward. Both men opened their mouths to speak, but Edward cut them off.
"C'mon, Bella, let's get something to eat."
I allowed him to lead me to the lunch queue.
"What are you going to have?" he asked as if this were a completely normal lunch hour. I looked around at the various stations.
"Pasta primavera," I decided. Edward nodded, but seemed distracted. I followed his line of sight and realized he was watching Jasper and Emmett as they were having what appeared to be a quiet, but heated conversation.
"I wonder what that's about?" I said sweetly. Edward frowned and looked down at my smiling face.
"I'm sure it's not important."
"Mmm…." I smirked.
Edward led me through the line with his hand on my back. I'd have to be blind not to see the attention we were garnering. Edward didn't dine in the cafeteria. And, I'm sure a number of these people had seen the picture of Mike and me online.
"Have you finished your PowerPoint?" Edward asked conversationally.
"Just about. I'm contemplating music, but that would probably be a little cheesy."
"I'm sure it's fine without an auditory accompaniment. If you'd like, I can take a look at it after lunch."
This innocuous conversation had my wheels spinning. With a sigh I decided to channel the attitude I had started the day with. Calling a mental cease fire, I answered him without a trace of sarcasm in my voice.
"Thank you, I'd like that."
My obvious sincerity took Edward by surprise. He looked at me as we walked to the cashier and smiled. The first genuine smile I'd seen on his face all day.
Edward paid for my lunch and insisted on carrying both of our trays to the table. Jasper was at the salad bar, and Emmett was standing by the grill. We sat down and I placed my napkin in my lap before stabbing my fork into the pasta in front of me.
The cafeteria was getting loud as more people stopped in for lunch. Emmett and Jasper had just rejoined us when there was a sudden dip in the noise level that caught my attention. I looked up realized that Mike was making his way through the cafeteria with Ben and Angela not far behind.
I continued eating my meal, but realized that Edward wasn't. When Mike approached the drink case, Edward stood swiftly and joined him, pulling out a bottle of water. I watched as Edward struck up a friendly conversation with the man who had his face plastered online thanks to our interaction last night. Mike answered Edward, hesitantly at first, and then more naturally as they continued to chat.
They made their way through the line towards the cashier. Mike paid for his meal and Edward paid for his water. They said their good-byes and parted, Mike walking across the room while Edward rejoined us. He sat next to me quietly and resumed eating. After a few beats, Emmett and Jasper picked up their previously abandoned conversation. I speared a grape tomato from my salad plate and brought it to my mouth.
"He seems like a nice kid," Edward said to me, conversationally. I didn't miss the implied disparagement, but let it pass.
"Um, he is." I nodded.
Lunch was less tense after that. The four of us talked about work, and Emmett told me about a little cold EJ seemed to have picked up. Jasper and Emmett both asked me about the Literacy Project. After the hour was up we made our way out of the cafeteria and back to his office.
"That was it? No big blow out? No scene?" Riley seemed disappointed. I rolled my eyes at him.
"What did you expect? Pistols at ten paces?" I snorted.
"I am a little disappointed that Mr. Cullen didn't let his jealousy get the best of him," Riley admitted.
"Jealousy? Edward's not jealous, Riley. Remember what I told you? There are no real feelings between us. Edward was mad because the picture implied we'd broken up. He doesn't want to deal with being single."
Riley gave me a look I couldn't read before asking, "And was that it for the day? Nothing else interesting happened?"
"Well, Edward took a look at my presentation and made a few suggestions. Overall, he thought I did a good job. He went down to Jasper's office for a little while. Come to think of it, he seemed a little aggravated when he returned. He told me that my corporate card was ready and sent me to get it. He said Jasper was going to leave early, he had plans with Alice. But when I came back from signing the paperwork for the new card, Edward seemed fine. The rest of the day ran smoothly and now I'm here with you."
"That's right! Tomorrow's your big night. You're going to blow all those bigwigs out of the water. They'll be signing over their big fat paychecks after you've charmed them into opening their wallets."
I giggled at his outrageous claims.
"I doubt it, but I hope I can encourage a few of them to support the cause."
"Then we'd better get to the spa for those mani/pedis. Nothing says "throw money at me" like a new French manicure."
I laughed and threaded my arm through Riley's as we left the restaurant.
*~*
I slept in on Thursday, hoping the extra Zs would pay off this evening. Although I wasn't being paid for my presentation tonight, I took it very seriously and wanted to justify Esme's confidence in me. I jumped quickly from my bed and booted up my laptop. I ran over the presentation three or four times, referring to my note cards, tweaking a word here and a pause there.
When I was as comfortable with the presentation as I was sure I could be, I put everything away and got ready to shower. Edward was going to pick me up around 5:30, and I wanted to spend a little extra time getting ready.
I went into the bathroom and spun the cold water knob. To my chagrin, the knob came off in my hand. I stared at it in horror for a heartbeat before trying to reattach the cheap plastic. My heart began to pound when I realized that there was no way I was going to get the knob reattached. I grabbed my phone and called the super. I knew the chances that he'd be available and willing to come immediately were slim.
Sure enough I was routed to an answering machine. I left a message and contemplated my options. While I could take a cold shower if necessary, taking a blazing hot one was out of the question. I glanced at the clock and made a fast decision before pulling out my phone once more.
"Bella?" Edward answered my call on the first ring.
"Edward. I have a problem. I was just getting ready for this evening and my shower broke. May I use yours?"
"It's four o'clock, how fast can you get here?"
"I have everything together; I'll just grab the next bus and be there as soon as possible."
Edward sighed. "That's not ideal, Bella. You're going to be rushing. We can't have you frazzled tonight. I'm sending Demitri to pick you up. He'll be there in 15 minutes."
"Thank you."
"Of course, Bella. You're welcome. I'll see you in a few."
I gathered up my clothes and zippered everything into a garment bag. I took mental inventory of the things I had at Edward's office, and threw a few more essentials into a makeup case. I took a quick look at myself in the mirror. Oh boy. No makeup, hair in a sloppy ponytail high on my head, old sweats that I had already slept in. I hoped Demetri had a strong stomach.
Eleven minutes later I was sliding into the front seat of Demetri's car.
"Thank you so much, Demetri."
"Of course, Ms. Swan."
Demetri drove expertly, sliding the car through spaces I would never have believed it would fit. He pulled up in front of CE in no time and ran around the car to open my door while I gathered my things.
"Thank you, again."
He smiled and nodded in response.
I hightailed it through the lobby, catching Lauren's eye by chance. Her expression was disdainful. It made me sorry that she wouldn't still be working when I walked out of here in an hour and a half or so.
I made my way up to 40th floor and greeted Angela and a departing Mrs. Cope with a quick wave and an even quicker, "Hello." They both smiled and shooed me into Edward's office.
He was on the phone when I entered. He grinned at me and shook his head at my disheveled appearance. I rolled my eyes and gave him a look that clearly said, "Just you wait." I deposited most of my things in the dressing room before making my way back to the bathroom.
I turned on the water and waited the few moments it took to come to temperature. As soon as the pounding water hit my skin I felt the tension of the last hour drain from me. I swear this was a magical shower.
Once I was adequately sloughed and polished, I stepped from the shower and quickly toweled off before grabbing my robe from the closet. I pulled out the hair dryer and started styling my hair. It took almost a half hour to coax my hair poker straight, but I was eventually satisfied with the way I looked.
I stepped out of the bathroom and walked across Edward's office. He was working at his desk. His jacket was hanging on the chair behind him, tie loosened, sleeves turned up. He didn't look up as I made my way across the room so I assumed he was busy.
I hesitated at the door to the dressing room before deciding to not disturb him.
*~*
EPOV
I was surprised to see a call from Bella less than two hours before I was supposed to pick her up, so I answered quickly.
"Bella?"
"Edward. I have a problem. I was just getting ready for this evening and my shower broke. May I use yours?"
I was smart enough to censor the first two responses that came to mind. The first was a snappy comeback born of my lingering frustration over the last few days. When my plan to apologize to Bella and explain everything blew up because of that stupid resignation letter, it set in motion a series of disastrous interactions, each less enjoyable than the last, culminating in a terrific blow out with Jasper in his office.
The second response came from my recently resurrected frat boy, and his interest in Bella and showers. The less said about that particular line of thinking, however, the better.
Instead, I checked the clock and realized how late it was. I told her that I'd send Demetri to her place and she readily agreed.
I was on the phone when Bella arrived. She dashed through my door looking for all the world like she just rolled out of bed. And damn me if I didn't find it cute as hell. She dropped her stuff off in our dressing room before heading to the shower. I finished my call while she was in there—what the hell takes women so long in the bathroom?—and was hip deep in financials when she finally emerged.
I got a good look at her before she looked up at me. Fuck. Gorgeous. Her usual full, bouncy hair hung straight down her back. The style was no nonsense, but sexy. She was wrapped up in that silky robe that hung in my closet tormenting me day after day with its lingering scent of Bella.
I quickly looked down at the papers on my desk as she made her way across the office and into the dressing room. When I heard the door click shut I sat back and exhaled loudly, not realizing I'd been holding my breath.
I stood up and poured myself a drink. I'd been thinking all day about whether I should go through with my original intention and apologize to Bella for my behavior over the weekend. We'd made it through Monday and Tuesday relatively unscathed. The flowers on Monday could have caused a problem, but she had obviously misinterpreted the card. I wasn't sure what she thought, except that the flowers were for me.
She got a little snarky on Tuesday when we were eating lunch. However, we seemed to come to some sort of unspoken ceasefire and the rest of our time together on Tuesday was pleasant enough.
I hadn't heard from her at all yesterday, but today, she called me for help, which had to be a good sign, right?
"Dammit!"
The expletive sounded through the door as clearly as if Bella had been standing right next to me. I jogged to the door and knocked once before asking, "Bella? Is everything alright?" through the wood.
"You can come in, Edward. And no, everything's not alright."
I opened the door cautiously but was still greeted with a quick glimpse of something lacy as Bella hastily wrapped her robe back around her.
"What's wrong?"
"I left my camisole at home."
"Your camisole?" I wasn't really up on my women's clothes. I thought a camisole was a shirt.
"Yes, to wear under my suit jacket. Damn! I don't have anything here and I have to wear something under the jacket. What time is it?"
I glanced at my watch.
"5:45," I said. We didn't have time to go back to her place and retrieve the missing clothes.
Stress was clear on her face. She dug through her bag and pulled out her cell phone. She pressed a few buttons. Relief was evident when the phone was answered.
"Alice…" Bella quickly explained her predicament and asked Alice if she could meet us as the dinner with something she could wear. Alice said something and Bella turned to look at me.
"He's right here." She paused. "Okay." Bella held out the phone to me.
"Alice?"
"Edward, hanging in your shirt closet is a fitted black dress shirt. It should be on the far right, unless you've been mucking around in there."
"No, I haven't. Hold on." I walked over to the closet and opened the door. I quickly found the shirt I believed she was referring to.
"Alice, this shirt is monogrammed."
"I know," she said with a sigh, "but it's the best we can do right now."
"Can't you just meet us?"
"I'm not home, Edward. Even if I could leave now, I wouldn't be back in time to be of any use. Give Bella the shirt and put her back on the phone."
I handed the phone and the shirt to Bella silently. She shot me a look of gratitude.
"Alice?" Bella listened intently to the instructions Alice was giving her. She seemingly forgot I was there because she suddenly reached for her robe tie and started to pull it off. While I was all for seeing Bella clad only in lace, I didn't think that I should test our recently reestablished tolerance for one another by taking advantage of her distraction.
I pulled open the door, and soundly thwacked myself on the forehead in my effort to beat a hasty retreat. I thought I heard Bella laugh softly as I left.
Rubbing my head, I went to my desk to retrieve my jacket. I fixed my tie and rolled down my sleeves before putting it on. I headed to the bathroom to make sure I was presentable. I was just about to grab our coats from the closet when Bella emerged from the dressing room.
Damn….
Bella was all business, but all thoughts of work drained from my head when I saw her. She was in a suit, but what a suit it was!
She had on simple black pumps and her legs were bare. Her skirt was slim and only reached midthigh. She had on a long-sleeved, one-button jacket around which wound a slim black leather belt. Underneath she was wearing my dress shirt. The top few buttons were open forming a deep-V, which left everything to the imagination, but was still incredibly sexy. A long, thin gold chain wound its way into the valley between her breasts. The offending monogram on the pocket was not visible, but I knew it was there. The idea of her wearing my shirt, wearing my initials, had literally struck me dumb. I simply stared at her
"I look bad, don't I?" she asked, obviously, thankfully, misinterpreting my expression.
"No, no. You look terrific." Nice filter, asshole, I mentally chastised myself.
"Oh! Okay, then." She hesitated, "We should get going." Bella gathered up her things and preceded me out of the room. I took a moment to adjust myself. This was going to be a long night.
*~*
The valet wasn't open when we pulled up early at the hall where the dinner was being held. I dropped Bella and her things off at the door before parking the car myself. I walked into the hall to see two busboys "helping" Bella set up her laptop. At least that's what they said when I asked them what the hell they were doing. It looked like they were trying to get a peek down her top or figure out a way they could get her to bend over so that her skirt would ride up.
I jumped to help her and quickly had the laptop set and booted up. She pulled up her presentation and clicked through it once. Everything seemed to be running fine.
"Bella, Edward!" My mother approached us and swooped in for hugs. I was gratified to see Bella return Esme's hug warmly.
"Evening, Mom," I said as she embraced me.
"Good evening, hon," she said absently, her eyes on Bella, who was studying her note cards.
"How is she?" she asked me, quietly.
"Bella? Fine, why do you ask?"
"I realized after I hounded her into presenting tonight that she might not be comfortable speaking in front of large groups."
"I asked her about that. She said she's comfortable with it as long as she's sure of her subject matter. I've seen the presentation. She knocks it out of the park."
"Oh, good." Esme appeared relieved. Her attention was diverted by three busboys carrying a large table laden down with books.
"No, no! Over here, please," Esme called, indicating the spot where she wanted the books set up. I watched as Bella approached the table, once it was settled down. She picked up one of the books, while looking at the others in wonder.
"All of them…?" she asked Esme quietly.
"Oh, yes," my mother replied. "Bella, your suggestions were fantastic. You've already made such a huge contribution to our cause, just with your recommendations. I'm sure your talk tonight will be fabulous, but the caliber and variety of books you've encouraged us to use is a real selling feature. I have no doubt tonight will be very successful. Edward, you make sure to keep Bella comfortable tonight. I'm sure she'll be much in demand after her presentation. Don't let the vultures carry her off."
"Of course, Mom. I've got it under control."
My mom squeezed Bella's hand briefly before running off to greet the earliest guests. Bella walked to the podium and deposited her note cards while I found the seating cards before leading her to our table.
I pulled out her chair and she sat down carefully, her eyes darting around the room, taking in the opulent setting and rapidly filling tables.
"Bella?"
She looked at me and smiled nervously in response.
"Hey, love, relax. You'll be fine. The presentation is great and you know your material inside-out. Don't let Esme fool you–she knows literature. If she approves of your selections these people won't have anything negative to say. You're going to wow them."
Bella smiled a small smile. Esme joined us a few moments later and introduced us to our dining companions. We were being graced with the biggest of the bigwigs. I worried that Bella would withdraw because of her nerves. She offered her hellos quietly.
"So, Ms. Swan, Esme tells us that you have been instrumental in developing the reading list for the project. What can you tell us about it?"
Bella's eyes slid to me and I unobtrusively eased my hand down my side and placed it on her bare knee. I squeezed gently and smiled encouragingly at her.
She cleared her throat. "Well, Mrs. Holsten, I don't want to give away all my secrets," she said, in a steady voice, "but I can tell you that I'm excited about the book choices. We've managed to combine the best literature being written today with classics that are both timeless and enjoyable. I'm sure you'll be pleased with the selection."
Mrs. Holsten smiled at Bella and they continued their conversation while Mr. Holsten blatantly ogled her. I fought off the urge to pull Bella to me tightly, or punch the venerable Mr. Holsten square in the face. I was relieved when my father joined us at the table. He successfully diverted Mr. Holsten's attention from Bella's cleavage by mentioning a particularly fine Cuban he'd managed to obtain.
As they two men left the table my father shot me a knowing look and I nodded my thanks. Now that the table was free of lecherous old men, I felt comfortable leaving Bella for a few moments.
"I'm going to get a drink, Bella. What can I get you?"
"Seltzer with lime, please."
"Mrs. Holsten?" I asked politely.
"Nothing for me, Edward, dear."
I nodded at her polite refusal and made my way to the bar. After ordering my drink and Bella's seltzer I turned to scan the room. All the usual suspects, I noticed. The who's who of Chicago high society and a few of their young were in attendance. I was sure that the literacy project would be off to a healthy start. No one here would refuse to support the cause and chance not being invited to the next Cullen soiree.
I smiled as my grandparents made their way across the room. They weren't sitting with us and I watched as they found their table. Their dining companions included Ephraim and William Black. I frowned. Jacob didn't seem to be with them, but that didn't mean he wasn't here. If they were grooming Jacob for a leadership position it was quite likely that he was here.
The bartender returned with the drinks and I made my way back to our table. Bella was still chatting with Mrs. Holsten.
I sat down and waited for a break in the conversation.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Holsten, but my grandparents have arrived. Bella and I should say hello."
Bella smiled and started to rise.
"Bella, I didn't know you were personally acquainted with the Cullens," Mrs. Holsten said, undisguised curiosity in her voice.
"Oh, yes, well…" Bella seemed reluctant to define our relationship for her companion.
"Bella and I are dating, Mrs. Holsten. My grandparents are quite fond of her and will be put out with me if I don't get her over there soon. If you'll excuse us...?"
"Of course, Edward. Don't mind my nosiness. Tell Elizabeth I said hello."
"Certainly."
I took Bella by the hand and led her through the maze of tables as she recounted her conversation with Mrs. Holsten. It was hard not to notice the stares. It occurred to me suddenly that I should have been parading Bella around events like this, not corporate functions, club openings or even my fraternity reunion. These people, the ones in attendance here, were the movers and shakers in Chicago high society. Their penchant for gossip was worth a dozen mentions on any website.
My grandfather noticed me as we got closer. He smiled before nudging my grandmother. She smiled at me, as well. Their smiles grew noticeably larger when they saw Bella. First stood and took Bella's free hand.
"Bella, it's so lovely to see you again."
"Thank you, First. It's good to see you, too."
"Bella," my grandmother began, "please have a seat." She waved towards First's empty chair.
"Thank you, Elizabeth."
Bella sat down, and my grandmother immediately engaged her in conversation as only she could.
My grandfather cleared his throat. "Edward, join me for a drink?"
"Certainly, First. Bella, Grandmother, can we get you anything?"
Bella shook her head and my grandmother declined politely. First and I walked over to the bar. When we settled in a quiet corner my grandfather turned to me.
"So, Edward, this is three times in a month that we've had the pleasure of Bella's company. Are you sure she's just a contractor working in your office?"
My relationship with Bella was so chaotic that I'd forgotten I'd never introduced her as anything but an employee to my grandparents. It also felt like I'd known her much longer than a month.
"Uuh…" I hesitated. I was oddly reluctant to lie to my grandfather, which was strange as I had no problem lying to my parents.
First wasn't giving me an out. He just looked at me.
"Bella and I are, uh, dating, I suppose you could say."
"And she still works for you?"
"Yes." This line of questioning made me nervous.
"I see."
"First, I know that grandmother worked for you when you first met her."
"Yes, but times were different. Lawsuits are rampant now. What happens if whatever you two have doesn't work out? Will you be able to work together every day if something happens?" First's tone wasn't exasperated or accusatory. He believed that he was helping me consider all the angles.
I sighed. This conversation would be easier if Bella and I were really involved with one another. I rubbed my face in exasperation, but didn't answer him.
First finally spoke again, "Edward, Bella seems to be a lovely girl."
"Yeah, she is." I looked over to where Bella and my grandmother had been joined by my mother.
"I hope I'm not too out of line if I say I hope we see more of her," he continued quietly.
"No, you're not out of line," I told him, matching his tone.
First smiled at me.
"Looks like the first course is coming out. Go, join your Bella. Enjoy your meal."
"Thanks, First. You, too."
We walked back to the table and Bella and my mother stood to accompany me back to our table.
Dinner was uneventful. Small talk was made around the table as everyone enjoyed the meal my mother had planned. I noticed Bella becoming more comfortable around the strangers at our table.
Once the dinner dishes were cleared, my mother stood and approached the podium. The room quieted quickly.
"Friends, I'm so happy to see you here tonight…" My mom was off and running. She could work a crowd and I had no doubt that everyone would be well-primed for Bella's presentation. I glanced over at Bella. She was sitting calmly, but her face was pale and I could see her hands clasped together in her lap. Her knuckles were white.
I reached over and gently untangled her fingers, holding her hands in my own. She looked up at me and I looked back with what I hoped was an encouraging expression. She offered me a fake smile. Her eyes were full of doubt.
I tuned into my mom's speech once more. She had a few more minutes, as far as I could tell.
I leaned down and put my lips next to Bella's ear.
"The flowers that were delivered to my office on Monday…" I whispered. She looked at me like I'd lost my mind. I grinned.
"The flowers were for you. From me." Her eyes widened at my admission. "An apology for my horrendously boorish behavior over the weekend. I owe you an apology. Several apologies, probably. You've been nothing but amazing this last month. I'm sorry."
I pressed my lips into her temple and kissed her. I was still holding her hands and could feel them relax. Color had returned to her cheeks. She opened her mouth to say something, only to be interrupted by my mother's introduction.
"I'm very excited by our speaker tonight. Isabella Swan, a recent University of Chicago graduate, has been instrumental in making our program different from all the others out there. With her guidance, we'll be able to hit the ground running. Please welcome Isabella Swan."
A smattering of polite applause sounded in the room. Bella stood as I released my hold on her. I watched as she made her way to the podium. Confidence had replaced uncertainty, and I silently berated myself for being part of the problem. I'm glad I said something to her before she stood up.
Bella reached the podium, adjusted the mike and smiled at the crowd.
"'See Spot run…' so ubiquitous is this line from the primers of yesteryear that it's become a cliché. A joke. The repetitive cadences used to teach generations of school children how to read were simple, to the point and, in general counterproductive.
"Sure, they taught the masses rudimentary reading skills. They also drove generations away from reading. Is it any wonder that children and adults alike from that time found the idea of reading to be, not only boring, but cringe-worthy?
"Studies show that nothing improves reading skills like simply reading. Very few people are motivated enough to learn to read, or to improve their basic skills, if they are expected to slog through material that is stale, irrelevant or uninteresting…."
*~*
Bella left the podium to significantly more applause than she had when approaching it. She had been witty, informative, intelligent and humble. She knocked it out of the park. She couldn't fight off the smile as she approached the table.
I stood when she reached me. She threw her arms around me and hugged me tightly. We sat and I kept my arm around her shoulders. My mother was right. No sooner were we seated than the vultures began to descend. Everyone wanted to talk to her. People gathered around the book display and began leafing through the selections. When the first check was passed to her she froze.
"What an informative presentation," the matronly supporter complimented. "It's so nice to see young people these days take an interest in something other than themselves. How active a role do you see yourself playing in the Literacy Project in the future?"
"Bella's still new to the team," my mother interjected. "Obviously, her talents will be a huge asset. We're still trying to best decide how to maximize her impact."
"Wonderful," the woman replied, obviously befuddled by my mother's pitch perfect doublespeak. The crowd near our table was thickening.
"Bella, it would be best if you stood up and circulated a bit. Otherwise there will be a line of people standing at the table in a few minutes. Edward, stay with her."
I'd played this role before. Offering Bella my arm, I escorted her to the nearest group. She answered questions and accepted compliments in equal measure. People kept handing her checks, which she passed to me. I slipped each one into my inner pocket.
My father found us about 15 minutes later, and stood with Bella while I went to get her a drink. I felt a little celebration was in order, so I requested two glasses of champagne. It wasn't hard to find Bella again, I just followed the crowd.
Once we were together again, we continued to work the room. A smaller number of people were stopping at our table and giving their contributions to Esme. She was conversing with a couple I didn't recognize when she waved me over.
"Will you be okay?" I asked Bella before leaving her.
"I'm fine, Edward, go ahead."
I spoke to my mother's friends for a few minutes. They had looked at a vacant condo in my building and were hoping to get a candid opinion from me. It took longer than I had hoped to get away. I scanned the room looking for Bella, and stiffened when I finally saw her.
Jacob did accompany his father and grandfather to the dinner tonight.
I made my way across the room. Since I was coming up behind Bella, Jacob saw me first. I watched as his hand, which had been on her upper arm, slid down to her wrist before squeezing her hand.
"Don't forget, Bella," Jake said, by way of parting. He nodded once at me before turning and walking away.
"Don't forget what?" I asked Bella as I placed my hands on her shoulders and turned her gently to face me.
"Edward!" she said, obviously happy to see me. "Look!" She held out four more checks. I took a deep breath and exhaled before forcing a smile on my face.
"That's just great, love. You did wonderfully tonight."
"Thank you. This is so exciting!"
A more genuine smile crossed my face at her obvious pride and enjoyment.
"We can probably go back to the table now, if you'd like. They are going to serve dessert."
Bella smiled and grabbed my hand. She practically dragged me back to our table.
She was much more animated at the table now, than she had been earlier. She initiated conversations and just…sparkled. Mr. Halston was now able to look at something other than her breasts. As it got later, several couples stopped by to bid my parents goodnight. They invariably had a few words for Bella, and she was always gracious in her replies.
Finally, I shot my mom a look, silently asking if Bella'd done enough and I could take her home. My mom's gaze traveled between Bella and me, and I saw the wrong conclusion settle in her eyes before she smiled and offered a small nod.
"I'm going to pack up your laptop," I said to Bella quietly as she talked about UC's English Lit program with a woman whose daughter had been accepted to the school. She smiled and nodded at me, silently mouthing, "Thank you." A feeling of rightness settled over me, like helping this woman, taking care of her, was the way things were supposed to be.
A short time later I was helping Bella into her coat as she was bidding farewell to a few familiar faces. My parents approached us.
"Thank you, again, Bella. I can't say it enough," my mom said, as she hugged Bella tightly.
"It was my pleasure, Esme. I had a wonderful time and am so happy to have helped the cause."
"You two be safe. Careful driving home, Edward." My dad was nothing, if not practical.
"We'll be fine, Dad. Goodnight."
I slid my arm around Bella's waist as the two of us walked out of the hall. Bella was still wound tight, the air around her practically hummed. She managed to contain herself until we pulled away from the hall. As we turned the corner she let out a squeal that could only be described as gleeful.
*~*
Edward says, "When my plan to apologize to Bella and explain everything blew up because of that stupid resignation letter, it set in motion a series of disastrous interactions, each less enjoyable than the last, culminating in a terrific blow out with Jasper in his office."
Want to know what was said in Jasper's office? Review and I'll send you the conversation. I know I'm going to regret making the offer, because it's going to take hours to send it out, but I've been told many times that the story is moving too slowly. If I added the conversation to the story it would take a couple thousand words to set it up properly. *sigh*
Finally, if you want me to reply to the review you HAVE TO LEAVE A SIGNED REVIEW. If you're not signed in then I can't reply to you. That's ffnet's rule, not mine. Sorry!
I recently pimped a fic called The Agent and the Esquire. Now I'm not only this story's pimp, but its beta, as well. Read and review and tell Sharon Ironic Twist sent you!
And I'd be remiss if I didn't pimp a few of my other faves, while I'm at it. Read anything Skeezon's written. She's wonderful. Open Mic Night is complete. Bounty is her latest WIP and it's also terrific. AHizelm has returned to the fandom. She's got 19 bajillion WIPs, each better than the last, each updated faithfully. She's a Jasper girl at heart and her recent foray into slash is breathtaking in the best way. She wrote a bday AU one shot set in New Orleans that's eerie and exciting. If you read it, bug her to continue it. Tellingmelies is another talented author. You should be reading her story, No Place like Home. You'll enjoy Dr. Playboy Cullen and smart and sassy Hometown Bella.