CHAPTER 13

"Isabella, come with me." It didn't sound much like a request and I figured I wasn't in a position to argue. Slowly, I followed him into his office and watched as he closed the door behind me. Edward moved around the desk and sat down in his large office chair. "Please, have a seat." He gestured at the chair in front of his desk and I sat down, never taking my eyes from him. His body language and his voice were completely at odds with one another; I knew he was furious with me, but if I closed my eyes, his voice was cool and detached. We sat in silence for a long time, as he regarded me steadily from those black, black eyes. My eyes flickered to the door briefly and he leaned forwards, resting his elbows on the desk. "Isabella, where have you been?" Still that quiet, calm voice. I shivered, but then, unexpectedly, felt a surge of anger.

"Where have you been?" I asked, a little flippantly.

"I am not under contract, Isabella. I am asking you, as the owner of Twilight, where you have been for the last week?" This time a hint of anger crept into his voice. Forcing myself not to flinch or give any indication he was making me uncomfortable, I fixed my gaze on the wall behind him.

"You can always fire me, Mr Cullen," I said, with a shrug. He glared at me and got to his feet so quickly the chair he was sitting on toppled over with a heavy crash. I got up from my own chair, quickly, all pretence that I was not afraid flying out of the window and took a step back, closer to the door.

"I have no intention of firing you, Isabella. Why did you walk out? Why did you leave?"

"Why did you?" I countered. He looked flustered for a moment, but then he gave me a calculated look.

"You are in no position to question me. Your contract states quite clearly, in black and white, that you do not leave Twilight without permission from one of the managers or the owner. That you are in fact the property of the Twilight Club."

"Are you saying you own me?" I asked, a little faintly. Edward's eyes narrowed a fraction and he gave a humourless laugh, and then shrugged. I stared at him for a moment and then rushed to the door, only to find him standing in front of it, his hand closed over mine on the handle. Again it struck me how cold his hands were, like marble. He half turned to look down at me, his eyes searching my face. We stood like that for what seemed an eternity, but was actually only seconds, before I took a few steps back, fighting back the panic that was welling inside of me. How had he moved so fast? Why was he so cold? The only other person I had known to be like that was... "Oh God. You're like him, aren't you? You're like James." My hand flew to my mouth and I backed further away from him, trying to control my breathing which was coming in short gasps.

"I told you to stay in the fucking apartment!" he bellowed, angrily. As my eyes flitted to the door, he suddenly appeared there, too quickly for it to have been humanly possible, his hand closing over mine. He squeezed until I screamed, knowing at least one of my fingers was broken from the pressure.

"I had to work," I managed to get out between sobs. He glared down at me and released my hand, taking a step back.

"Work? What is it with you and work? It's a fucking poxy cafe, Isabella! It's not even like it's a real job! You're not going there anymore."

"But..." He whirled round and grabbed my upper arm so tightly that I cried out.

"Tell me that you are not arguing with me," he growled, close to my ear.

"Please, James, please, let go, you're hurting me."

"I haven't even started yet, Isabella," he said, quietly, leaning close to me. His teeth scraped along my throat but then he seemed to change his mind and whipped me round to face him, tearing my t-shirt from me with one pull. Before I could react, I was on my back on the floor, my head cracking against the tiled floor. Everything faded into black and the last thing I remembered were his red eyes staring down at me and then his teeth sinking into my stomach.

"Do not compare me to him," snarled Edward.

"Why?" I managed to gasp out. "Why not when you are so alike..."

"I am nothing like him!" roared Edward, making me squeak with shock, never having heard him raise his voice before. My hand came up automatically to cover my stomach and he saw the movement. In an instant he was at my side, grabbing my upper arm in a vice-like grip. "Do you hear me? Don't you ever compare me to that... that monster! I am many things, Isabella, but I am not a monster, or at least not a monster of his ilk."

"Please, James..." My voice faltered and his eyes widened. "Mr Cullen, let go. You're hurting me," I whimpered. Edward let go of me instantly and looked down at my arm, which was reddened from his hand. Tears were burning my eyes now and I stepped away from him, my arms wrapped around my stomach protectively. As the tears trickled down my cheeks, Edward stood away from me, breathing heavily, leaning back on his desk.

"I think we should leave this discussion until the morning when perhaps we will both be a lot calmer," he said, at last. "I would suggest you go back to your room. And Isabella, do not think of trying to leave again; you will be guarded tonight."

Numbly, I opened the door and headed out, straight into Alice's arms. Edward's sister held me in a warm embrace, as I sobbed against her shoulder, gently leading me from the offices to my own room. She stayed with me all night, as I intermittently wept and dozed. It didn't occur to me that she was guarding me, but if she was I didn't mind too much. At least she was a comfort to me that night.

"Look Edward, she clearly had her reasons for leaving and I really don't think your performance last night helped matters... No... She was crying all night... Of course I know... but the future is changeable. I wouldn't want to tell you it will definitely happen. She had enough of a shock with James... I could hardly tell her I knew, could I? She already suspects what we are, but she doesn't want to believe it... No, Rose hasn't told her. She wouldn't tell her. Edward, we are all aware of the consequences of telling her... What do you mean you didn't hunt last night? Then no you definitely cannot see her! How do you think you will control yourself if you are hungry? Leave it for today; maybe give it a few days, let her settle back in. I've got to go; I think she's awake."

Alice hung up and I opened my eyes slowly. They were sore from all the crying and my head was pounding. Alice handed me a glass of water and a couple of painkillers, with a sympathetic smile.

"Come on, Bella. Go take a shower; it'll make you feel better. I've put you on an evening shift, finishing at eight. Is that ok?"

I nodded, feeling unable to protest. Alice got up and clapped her hands.

"And I thought we'd use the spa facilities this morning, help you relax a bit. What do you think?"

"I'm not sure your brother would approve," I said. "He'd probably think you were rewarding me for running away."

"About that, Bella, why did you go?" she asked. "Was it something I did?"

"No, Alice, no. I just... I don't know what he wants from me... what he expects of me. Am I just an employee...?"

"Of course not!" She grasped my hands, when I gave her a dubious look. "Bella, he's my brother. I know him better than anyone else. Right from the beginning he took more than a professional interest in you. He wanted to protect you all the time, keep you safe. That's why he was always asking for you to serve him at his table. I have never seen him like this with anyone. Please, don't give up on him because he was angry last night."

"Why was he angry though? Was he angry that I left or angry because I wouldn't tell him why?"

"Both," she said, with a shrug. "He wants you here with him."

"Why? Because of the contract? Because he owns me?" I said, bitterly.

"Is that what he said?" asked Alice, incredulously. "Wait til I see him!" She fumed for a few more minutes and then paused, looking at my downcast face. She took my hands again and looked me in the eye. "Bella, he loves you."

I stared at her open-mouthed for a moment and then shook my head, with disbelief.

"No, you're wrong, Alice. He sees me as a possession, an employee, someone he once kissed... that is all. Last night he was angry because I had gone when I should have been working shifts... He said nothing about any feelings for me."

"Trust me, Bella, I know my brother. If you were just an employee, it would have been Emmett talking to you last night, not Edward. He has taken a personal interest in you that has nothing to do with work. Now, come on, let's go enjoy the pool for a couple of hours."

The afternoon in the pool and the sauna really helped me relax and by the time my shift came round, I was feeling a lot better. I even managed to get through my three hours with a smile on my face. Alice had given me a micro-shift to try and ease me in. She recognised how much stress I had been under. The other girls were pleased to see me, though a little curious as to where I had been and probably why I was still standing. Jess in particular eyed me suspiciously until Rosalie walked in and exclaimed loudly that she was glad I was back from my authorised leave. I couldn't help but love that girl sometimes.

When my shift was done, my intention was to go straight back upstairs, but when I headed out back, Emmett was waiting for me.

"Mr Cullen would like a word, Bella," he said, quietly, looking down at me a little nervously.

"It's ok, Emmett, I'm not planning on running or anything. I'll go face him," I said, with a small smile. Emmett grinned, gratefully.

"Good, because I don't want to be chasing you around the club," he said, with a laugh. I smiled back and he ducked his head a little sheepishly, before following me down the corridor to Edward's office. He tapped on the door and then opened it, leaving me once again with the enigma that was Edward Cullen.