CHAPTER 07

"Look at how angry you make people still, Isabella. I see what's in your head. You thought you would be safe at Twilight. You know nothing about them. Remember what you most feared about me? Remember what I could do? Of course you don't, because that is the way I wanted it. Look closely at the Cullens and the Hales, Isabella. I am sure your memories will start to come back. Do you believe yourself safer with them than with me? Do you think I will accept the way you look at him? You didn't even know who he was and your heart fluttered at the sight of him; at the thought of serving him. Your heart beats only for me and when I decide the time is right, your heart will stop for me; I will drain you completely!"

I sat up with a small cry and then pulled my covers round me tighter. My mind was working in overdrive; the dreams were becoming more vivid. Memories were working into my subconscious that escaped me when I tried to capture and hold them. I stretched and went through to the bathroom; a shower might help me lose the cloying sense of despair left over from his voice.

When I emerged, I towel dried my hair and pulled on a pair of jogging bottoms and a t-shirt, before picking up my phone. I hadn't been going to call him, but suddenly I needed his strong voice, the sense of safety he inspired in me.

"Jacob?"

"Bells! I wasn't expecting you to call. Are you ok? Has something happened?" His sudden concern brought tears to my eyes and I sniffed, a little too loudly as it happened. "Bella? Are you crying?"

"No... no, I'm fine. I just have a bit of a cold," I lied. "I just wanted to call and say hi."

"I heard what happened at the club, Bella, with that jerk Mike. One of my boys was in that night. Rest assured he's been taken care of," he snarled suddenly. I rolled my eyes.

"When you say taken care of, Jake..."

"No, we didn't kill him, Bells. But one of the boys gave him a taste of his own medicine. I cannot believe Hale allowed that to happen in his own club! What the hell was he thinking having you work that table? He knew Newton had a thing about you..."

"Jacob, James was here," I said, abruptly. There was complete silence on the end of the phone. "Jake?"

"I'm still here," he said, his voice sounding strangled. "Where did you see him?"

"He came to the club, but they threw him out straight away. Jake, I'm scared..."

"Don't be. Look, stay where you are; you're probably safer there than anywhere else. Me and the boys will put on some extra patrols..."

"But, Jake, you'll get hurt."

He barked a bitter laugh.

"I doubt that very much, Isabella. You look after yourself and I'll do the same. If he appears at the club again ring me, straight away. Ok?"

"Yes. Jake, promise you won't do anything dangerous," I said, softly.

"I'll ring you in a couple of days. Take care, Bells." And he hung up without another word. I stared at the receiver in my hand for a moment and then closed it, reluctantly. There was a knock at my door and I called come in, my eyes still on the phone I had dropped on the bed.

"Isabella." The voice like chocolate silk made me start violently and I turned to find myself face to face with a man's chest. I looked up to see him gazing down at me, a crooked smile on his face. I had not realised how tall he was, as before he had always been sitting, or leaning over me.

"Mr Cullen," I stammered. "What can I do for you?" My hand went up to my damp hair and I glanced down at my clothes, feeling the beginnings of a blush on my cheeks. Our conversation the previous night had been cut abruptly short by Alice walking over and dragging me from his table. She had spoken to him furiously and told me to clock off for the night, deciding I was in no condition to work. As I left the club, she was still haranguing him, but his eyes watched my every step.

He closed the door softly behind him and then sat down on my bed, patting the space beside him. With my heat thumping uncomfortably, I crossed the room and sat down, nervously. He reached across and touched my jaw lightly.

"I have come to personally apologise to you for the way one of my clients treated you the other night," he said. "I take my responsibility as owner of this club very seriously and I am most upset that one of my staff has been hurt while working for me."

"Thank you," I murmured, this having been the last thing I expected him to say.

"But I also have a responsibility to my business, Isabella. If you find the job too tiring, perhaps it is not the right line of work for you?" He looked away from me as he said this and I got the sense he was holding his breath.

"The work is not too tiring, sir," I said, trying to keep my voice calm, though I was panicking now that he might be on the verge of firing me.

"And I can't have someone working here who lies to me," he continued, keeping his gaze fixed on the window away from me. Tears sprang to my eyes immediately and I stared at him through wide eyes.

"Please sir, please, don't fire me!" I cried. "Please, Mr Cullen!"

He got to his feet and looked down at me, his eyes slightly narrowed.

"Then tell me the truth, Isabella."

My mind started to go into overdrive. Why on earth was he so certain I was lying? Why did he want to know about me? I remembered that night, how he had lurched away from me at the bar as if I had poisoned him and my own eyes narrowed.

"I got distracted because a customer had tipped a stool up as he was leaving and it landed on my foot. My foot was hurting and I couldn't understand why I had made him so angry, so I guess I was thinking about that instead of doing my duty!" I said. For a moment he stood completely still and then he threw back his head and laughed out loud. When he finally calmed down a little, his face switched to concern.

"God, did I hurt you?" he asked, his whole tone changing to worried.

Confused by his sudden mood swing, I didn't immediately reply. He dropped to his knees in front of the bed and took my foot in his hand, removing my shoe and my sock so he could look at it. Of course there wasn't a mark on it and I flinched at the expression on his face when he looked up.

"Collect your things and get out," he said, coldly, heading for the door.

"No... no... please, Mr Cullen, please... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... Oh God, he'll kill me, he'll kill me..." There were tears streaming freely down my face now and as he went to grab the door handle, a sob escaped my lips. I turned from him, pressing my face into the pillow, weeping bitterly. A hand reached down to touch my shoulder, tentatively. I flinched away from it, but then he drew me up and cradled me against his chest.

"Hush, Isabella, hush," he said, gently. Once I was calm, I tried to pull away from him, my face burning with embarrassment, but he held me fast. "Who do you fear so much?"

"I need to wash my face," I mumbled, sniffing a little. He relaxed his grip and I got up, stumbling across to the bathroom. When I came out, he was sitting on the bed, staring into space. I stood by the door, feeling a little nervous at the expression on his face. Trying to ignore his presence, I went to the drawers and opened them, taking out the dress I had arrived in and the battered ballerina pumps I had not looked at since that first night. Mr Cullen watched me and then got to his feet, as he seemed to realise what I was doing.

"Isabella..."

"I'll be gone in five minutes."

"Isabella." This time there was an edge to his voice, which made me pause for a moment, but then I carried on finding the few items I had arrived at Twilight with. Before I knew what had happened, the bag I had been putting my bits into was ripped from my hands and I was sat on the bed. "Forgive me, I did not mean to dismiss you. I just don't appreciate being lied to."

"What difference does it make to you?" I demanded. "I've worked here now for four months and I work hard. I haven't caused trouble; I've done everything I've been asked to, including serving you so you could spy on me! And now because you want to know about something I don't want to discuss you dismiss me and... and...dammit!" I wiped at the tears that were forming again angrily. I didn't want to be a crying wreck in front of him anymore.

"You are right," he said, surprising me again. "I have been watching you for the last four months and you really are very good at your job. You have handled some difficult customers very well, including me I am ashamed to admit. And you are entitled to your secrets I suppose, if they do not interfere with your work."

"So, I don't have to go?" I asked, eventually, my hands finding the hem of my t-shirt and worrying it. He caught my hands in his and prevented me from pulling away.

"No, you do not have to go. But I will be watching you very closely, Isabella. Very closely."

And with that he left me alone. I sank down on the bed, clutching my bag in my hands and then set it to one side. His scent was on my clothes, where he had held me and I breathed in deeply.

"Isabella Swann," I muttered to myself. "He is not the right person to fall for."

But then I thought of the way he had come up to my room to apologise to me and the way he had held me when I cried and my heart skipped a beat.

"He was going to fire you too," I reminded myself. With a sigh, I got to my feet and put my things away. Perhaps I needed to put some distance between myself and Mr Cullen before I got in too deep. Relationships were not my forte and the memories of my most recent liaison caused a sensation like ice to run down my spine. I shook my head before tears or panic could build and picked my phone up to call Alice and ask what shift I was doing today. As I picked it up, I noticed a flashing envelope.

I am coming for you my pet.