Beta: Stacyo72 and maxandmo
A/N:The interview portions are in italics.
BPOV
"Bella, it's coming on next."
"Okay, Dad." I sigh, feeling far less enthusiastic about my debut television appearance.
The past three months have been surreal. The hopes I harbored about disappearing from the headlines were proven unrealistic. The paparazzi were anxious to get the scoop on the innocent woman wrongfully convicted of the biggest crime of the twenty-first century. At first, the pursuit was relentless. I couldn't leave the Quileute Reservation without several cars and vans following me. My father attempted to protect me from their prying cameras, but the Forks Police Department only has four officers and two vehicles.
After a while, I decided to reverse course and tell my side of the story on my terms. Once Dateline announced that they landed an exclusive interview, the press backed off somewhat, although I'm still receiving offers from everyone from The Washington Post to Perez Hilton. I actually had to hire a PR firm, at least temporarily, to handle all the demands for my time while I decide what my next move should be.
I'd spent almost half a year in a Federal detention center. In that time, my house and most of my material possessions had been seized and sold. I've tried to be positive about this. My old life is over and I wouldn't want to return to it even if I could. The bright side is now that I've been proven innocent I get the proceeds plus interest, which is a nice surprise. Jasper Whitlock's certain that we could get more restitution, but I'm not sure if I want to pursue legal action. I've had enough of courtrooms and attorneys. Surprisingly, money is not an issue. Dateline has given me a large advance to secure my story as has a publishing firm that wants me to write a book about my experience. In addition, I have two checks from Cullen Conglomerated sitting on the kitchen counter. One is my entire salary for the year. The other is blank, signed by Carlisle Cullen with the request that I fill in whatever amount I feel is appropriate. I plan on not using the blank check at all.
I earned and will keep my salary, but I refuse to be one more problem the Cullens buy off. They've gotten through their entire lives thinking that money can solve everything. They can't write a check to me and believe that assuages their guilt. He, or most likely Esme, has written a heartfelt note, full of apologetic phrases. The Cullen Conglomerated door, which had been abruptly slammed shut following my arrest is now permanently open, should I ever choose to walk back through. He asked to meet with me in person but I declined. After a decade of dedication, I should have gotten some small measure of faith in return. I don't feel the need to grant his request. While they may owe me everything, I want nothing from them, except to be left alone.
I have no desire to resume any part of my life in Seattle. I've temporarily moved back home with my dad in Forks while I figure out my next step. The quiet hum of small town life is a balm to my emotional wounds. When people recognize me here it's because they're my neighbors. They know me and my dad. They remember when I spent a year working at the sporting goods store. They were there when I graduated from high school. Here in Forks and on the reservation in La Push I'm not a curiosity. I'm just Bella Swan, Charlie's daughter, the girl that always had her nose in a book. It's nice to just be me again.
"Bells?" My dad calls from the living room where he, Billy, Jake, Paul and J.J. are gathered around the flat screen.
I grab a beer from the fridge and take a seat, wrapping an arm around my son. I discreetly bend my head and smell the scent of freshly showered and shampooed boy and smile.
"I'm here," I say, loving the larger definition of those small words.
"Good Evening. Tonight the entire Dateline team reports on one of the most sensational stories of the past decade. Isabella Swan, a loyal employee of one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, Cullen Conglomerated, was arrested, tried, and convicted for a crime she did not commit. We'll speak to all the major players in this case, including Isabella Swan herself. The incredible story of how an innocent person was framed and later exonerated next
on Dateline."
"Major players? I thought this was an interview with just you?" Jake asks.
I shake my head. "No, they said they were doing an in-depth story. Jasper spoke with them, and I know they requested interviews with the investigating officers and the prosecutors."
"Oooh, I hope they tie that bitch Jane Thomas to a stake and burn her; sounds like we'll need some popcorn," Paul smirks.
"Well, if they do, then they'd better roast Alec Stregone too. He was just as callous and cold-hearted," I comment.
We watch as Lester Holt and Ann Curry discuss the history of my case. Interspersed are sound-bites and clips from my arrest and trial. News reports and headlines flash across the screen, proclaiming me to be a professional con-artist who almost got away with stealing the fortune of one of America's foremost families. The emails, forged documents and the video from the Swiss bank are all shown as proof of my guilt and my involvement with Jason Chase. I see footage of paparazzi running after Edward and Alice through a parking garage, and following Carlisle and Esme into the courthouse. I watch the re-play of my grilling by Attorney Thomas and then the closing arguments where Stregone branded me a lifelong conniving swindler. They build the story, reaching the point where I'm convicted and sentenced.
Finally, Lester Holt asks, "but what if none of it was true?"
Ann Curry next explains the vendetta Jason Chase had against the Cullen family. Jason's involvement with Victoria Dubois and her brother Laurent are brought to light.
"Forgery, theft, fraud and deception created a tangled web that purposely ensnared Isabella Swan. Coming up, she tells Ann Curry her story in her own words."
"This is it," I say with a nervous edge in my voice. I don't like being the center of attention.
"Bella, you did fine. You wore the navy wrap-around top with the long silver necklace like we planned, right?
I laugh. "Yes, Paul I wore my power outfit."
Finally, we watch the interview taped here in my father's backyard last week. The camera crew took advantage of a rare afternoon of sun. I was given the full glamour treatment- both hair and makeup. While I was a bit uncomfortable with the fuss at the time, I have to admit, I look good. The afternoon light behind me brings out the natural reds in my hair. The camera crew must have used a filter or some other special effect because there's a soft, almost angelic glow surrounding me. I'm the picture of virtue, the exact opposite of the way the press depicted me during my trial.
Ann Curry is seated across from me listening intently as I publicly tell my side of the story for the first time. I talk about what it feels like to know you've been framed and to have almost the entire world turn against you. She asks me about the Cullens and my relationship with Edward.
"The Cullens were set-up, I know that. Regardless, the family and I had a long history. Even before my romantic relationship with Edward, I had worked closely with all of the Cullens, not just Carlisle, but Esme, Alice, and Rosalie as well, overseeing their professional and personal finances. I had given them ten years of loyal dedication, and they couldn't give me five minutes to explain that I had been framed."
"But at the same time, it was Edward Cullen that found the evidence that exonerated you." Ann Curry counters in her best serious reporter voice.
I shake my head. My reply is the same as what I had said to Edward. If the IT department hadn't found the backup, I would still be in jail.
"Have you spoken with Edward?"
"Yes, but I don't intend to speak with him again."
"So there's no chance your relationship can be rekindled?"
The shot zooms in until my face fills the screen. I watch myself for any tell-tale signs of the insecurity and uncertainty I felt when I answered the question. Did my lips tremble? Did my eyes glisten? I'm proud to say I see nothing but conviction in my features. My voice doesn't waiver as I answer clearly.
"No."
The camera then cuts back to Lester Holt in the studio. "Coming up, Carlisle and Esme Cullen tell their side of the story."
"You did good, Mommy."
I smile down at J.J., whose eyes are heavy with the promise of sleep.
"Thanks, honey. Why don't you lie down and rest during the commercial?" I gently run my hand through his hair after he complies.
I hear my Dad and Billy both grumble. "This is bullshit. Bells, did you know about this?" I can see my dad's flush of anger creeping up his neck.
"I didn't but I'm not surprised. You can't really tell the full story without talking to them. They were victims of this too, though not to the same degree I was."
"Yeah, rich white people are always the victims," Jake huffs. "Are they done with questions about you and the Douchebag?"
"Yeah, it was just that once, and I knew she'd ask. I think I made it clear he's not a part of my life anymore."
"It's only been three months, he could just be waiting for the right moment to reappear," Jake teases.
"He's not, Jake." I shift uncomfortably, Edward's parting words echo in my mind. Why couldn't I tell him I didn't love him? I can't have love without trust, and I definitely don't trust him. I know Jake is right. Edward is relentless when he wants something. I have no intention of giving in. I tell myself it's because I just don't want the aggravation and hassle of having puppy-dog Edward constantly checking up on me.
"Shhh, it's coming back on," Paul stage whispers.
Lester introduces the next segment which opens with Brian Williams sitting across from Esme and Carlisle in the one of the smaller rooms of the Cullen Mansion. The den, which is about the same square footage as my dad's entire house, has Esme's signature decor of muted tones and understated opulence.
"Of course they've got the white guy interviewing the W.A.S.P.'s. Who else would give a shit about them?" Jake comments.
"Shhh!" Paul and I both hush him.
There's a brief history of the illustrious Cullen legacy, from the humble beginnings of a corner druggist experimenting with new types of pain remedies in his backroom lab to the rapid rise of the family fortunes as Cullen Conglomerated became the leading pharmaceutical company in the West. Old footage of the Gilded Age mansion, the first of its kind in the state, and the landmark skyscraper in Seattle flash on the screen, as well as pictures of various Cullen family members from generations past and present until the camera is once again focused on Carlisle and Esme. Although they were in the courtroom every day of the trial, I really haven't seen them up close in months and the changes in Carlisle are staggering.
"Wow, he's really aged." I say aloud.
Carlisle's still a good looking man but he looks at least a decade older. His hair is more white than blond and there are crows' feet and worry lines on his once smooth skin. Even his skin
tone has changed. He appears pale and drawn, no longer the image of a man who spends more hours on the golf course than in the boardroom.
"You'd think they'd have a lifetime supply of Botox stashed in one of the company stockrooms but I guess they must've run out," Paul quips.
"Obviously his wife used it all," my dad snarks; surprising us.
"What?" He asks, taking in our reaction. "Look at her! Her forehead doesn't move at all. Then look at the wrinkles on him. There's no way he's sticking needles in his forehead."
"He probably did it on purpose to create sympathy for them. Once the show was done taping, he probably went running to his dermatologist," Billy responds.
"You sound like a bunch of jealous real housewives." I shake my head, "I had no idea the two of you knew so much about dermatology."
"Injectable fillers aren't just for women, Bella." Billy winks at me.
I chuckle and turn my attention back to the show. Brian asks a few preliminary questions before he invites them to explain why they never questioned my guilt. Despite my professed lack of interest, I lean forward to hear their responses.
"You have to understand," Esme says. "This began as a phone call from our bank telling us our accounts were overdrawn. Within forty eight hours it had escalated to millions of dollars missing and properties being sold without our knowledge. Not only the local police, but the FBI and Interpol were involved. These official government agencies all told us that James Floyd and Isabella Swan were responsible. The authorities explained to us that this type of plan took years to execute and it was done with such precision that they had to be experienced con artists.
According to the FBI, Bella fit the profile of a black widow. She was alone with our only son on vacation in Switzerland. They believed that Edward could be in grave danger. We tried to reach him but he wasn't answering his phone, which just exacerbated our fears. We had only known about Edward and Bella's relationship for just over a month. While at the time, we had been happy for them, it was also a shock. Bella is a full decade older than Edward. She's divorced and a single mother. Despite all his outward sophistication, Edward had never been seriously involved with someone and it seemed odd to us that he would jump right into a …"
"I can't listen to this woman badmouth you. Billy you want another?" My dad jumps up and practically runs into the kitchen to get more beer.
"It's okay." I say to his retreating figure.
"No, Bella it's not." Jake spits out in disgust. "They're talking about you like you're some trailer park trash. It's obvious they never thought you were good enough for their precious Edward."
"The FBI was adamant that Bella was the mastermind, not the man we knew as James Floyd. They showed us emails written over the course of months. The unpaid bills, the sales of our properties, all secretly executed during the entire time she and Edward had hidden their relationship from us. The authorities made us feel foolish for trusting her the way we had. She didn't report to anyone except Carlisle and he had given her complete control of both our business and personal finances. The agents, and later the prosecuting attorneys, explained that we were easy prey for someone like Bella Swan. They alleged that she had been preparing for a scam like this her entire life."
Brian Williams sits with his legs casually crossed. He nods as Esme speaks then looks down at his notes on his lap. He bends his arm at the elbow, with his pen poised straight up in the air.
"I know this pose, he's going in for the kill." Paul sits up straight and grabs Jake's arm.
"Mr. Cullen, didn't it ever occur to you that Bella Swan could have been innocent? As your wife stated, she successfully guided your finances for ten years without a single smirch on her record. None of these improprieties occurred until Bella Swan assigned most of her previous duties to James Floyd- whom we now know to be Jason Chase- while she herself dealt with the monumental task of working on the reparation agreement with the United States Supreme Court."
"Boom!" Jake shouts, making J.J. stir where he's fallen asleep, his head on my lap.
"Jake!" I hiss and shove his arm.
"Sorry," he replies, his wide grin not looking a bit remorseful as the camera focuses on a close-up of Carlisle's haggard features.
"In retrospect, we did draw our conclusions too quickly and we can never apologize enough to Bella for that. I am so deeply sorry for all she has suffered. Jason Chase's vendetta has affected so many Cullen employees but none more so than Bella. I don't understand why he wanted to destroy her. Bella was always fair and kind in her role as his supervisor."
Carlisle pauses and gathers his thoughts.
"As Esme stated, we initially expressed our disbelief. However, we were vilified when we tried to defend Bella. According to the police and FBI experts, if anything, the fact that she was assigned the reparations agreement was another indication of her brilliance as a swindler. If we discovered their deception before they were able to transfer the assets, she'd set up James Floyd to take the blame. Those conclusions were presented to us by the authorities as the absolute truth.
Everything was happening so fast and again, as Esme explained, we believed that Bella could be a danger to Edward. He was madly in love with Bella. Before they left for Switzerland, Edward confided in me that he intended to propose. He had even taken his grandmother's diamond ring with him on the trip. However, while they were there, he decided to postpone his proposal because he was afraid she would think it was too soon."
"Whoa!"
Jake yells out, but I'm too shocked to shush him. One look at me is enough for them all to tell I had no idea Edward was planning to propose on that trip. My heart thumps fast and loud in my chest. What would have happened if he had? Would I have thought it was too quick or would I have said yes? At the time I was so in love, but the rational part of me had always had difficulty accepting Edward as a permanent part of my life. In retrospect, it was for good reason. Had I said yes, it would've been even more devastating when he ultimately turned his back on me.
"Doesn't change a thing," my dad says succinctly, echoing my own thoughts.
Billy nods in agreement. "If he was so serious about Bella, then he should have stood by her."
On screen, Brian Williams is insinuating the same thing. There's a brief mention of Edward declining to be interviewed before Esme begins to describe Edward's state of mind after my arrest. The memory of Edward restrained by the TSA guards as I'm dragged away into the airport elevator flashes through my mind. I remember my absolute panic reflected in the frantic look on his face. At that moment, I never would have believed that he would have deserted me.
"The greatest loss our family suffered wasn't material. For some reason, Jason Chase focused all of his hatred for our family on Edward and Bella. He wanted to crush Edward's spirit and he nearly succeeded. Edward's entire outlook on life changed. He lost his ability to trust his own judgment. He was publicly humiliated thanks to the false evidence Jason Chase planted. How would you feel if the woman you loved supposedly sent hundreds of emails to her secret lover; disparaging you, exposing your most intimate moments only to skewer and destroy them? These emails became fodder for every media pundit and late night talk show host. Edward couldn't go anywhere or do anything without someone ridiculing him."
Esme is every inch the protective mother as she defends Edward to Brian Williams. Even the seasoned news anchor knows better than to stir her mama bear instincts further. He deftly changes the focus of their conversation.
"But then Edward discovers that Isabella Swan is innocent after all and has been wrongly incarcerated. How did the family react to the news?"
I shush Jake, who is busy using colorful adjectives to describe Edward's lack of mental proficiency. I turn my attention back to the T.V. as Carlisle responds.
"Edward had been sequestered in his office for several days in a row. We didn't know what the issue was, only that he had been working on an important project with our IT department. Edward finally asked the family- myself, Esme, our daughters and son-in-law to come down to meet with him. When we arrived, Edward, together with the IT manager and our private security consultant presented the evidence. Edward later confided that he was afraid we wouldn't believe him if he alone told us that Bella was innocent."
Carlisle reaches for Esme's hand. Ever the supportive wife, Esme gently clasps his hand in a reassuring gesture, silently urging him to continue.
Carlisle sighs deeply. "When we finally understood the truly horrific injustice perpetrated, it shook us all to our very core. We all failed Bella – me, my family, Edward, the police, the justice system, the list goes on and on. Bella was convicted on false and circumstantial evidence. Jason Chase set a trap and we all took the bait. He manipulated us into sending an innocent person to jail for his crimes."
Brian Williams nods in agreement as Carlisle and Esme each express their remorse for what happened to me and their roles in it. Esme takes the opportunity to mention how she believes Chase's hatred of the Cullens focused on my relationship with Edward and that led him to set me up and permanently destroy any future I had with Edward. Brian pries further, asking what overtures they've made to me but neither will give him specifics about the letter or the checks sitting in my kitchen. The interview segues into its natural close as each of the Cullens is asked what is next for them now that I am free and we know the truth about who stole their once vast fortune.
Esme speaks first. "I think Carlisle should address the future of the company, and I'll discuss our family's plans."
She looks to him for confirmation as he nods.
"Obviously, we've been irrevocably changed by this experience. I've tried to focus on anything positive that we can take from what happened rather than think about the way life was before Jason Chase swindled us. The path we're now on is a very different one than where we expected to be at this point in our lives. We've lost the majority of our material possessions but in a way, I think we've gained something far more valuable. Like all parents would in our position, Carlisle and I always provided our children with everything they've needed. They never faced any real adversity in their lives. Now they've had to fend for themselves and really prove their mettle.
Rose and her husband are in the process of moving. Their careers had been on the back-burner for the past few years but they're determined to succeed in their chosen fields. We'll miss them terribly but we support their decision to pursue their dreams."
I can't help but roll my eyes and utter a very unladylike snort at the idea of Rosalie actually working.
"Alice has provided Cullen Conglomerated with invaluable support for the past few months and has displayed a promising acumen for business. We're thrilled that Alice is thriving in her new role."
"Isn't that the one who kept overdrawing her bank account?" Jake asks as I nod in agreement.
"Alice never saw a purse or a pair of shoes she didn't absolutely need," I reply.
Esme pauses as anxiety clouds her countenance. "Edward's current focus is to continue restoring Cullen Conglomerated."
She looks up at Carlisle and he immediately resumes the discussion but he focuses solely on the company and the plans to re-open factories, rehire employees, and renew its research departments now that the Supreme Court has issued a temporary stay on the reparation agreement, in light of new evidence discovered that proves the infamous letter was a forgery.
"We're hopeful that the Supreme Court will overturn their previous decision and completely exonerate Cullen Conglomerated," he finishes.
There's no further mention of Edward, at least, not from Carlisle and Esme. The show continues, and to my surprise, Alec Stregone and Jane Thomas are featured in a similar sit-down Q&A session. This time is Jeff Rossen, the reporter best known for exposing scammers and scumbags, who conducts the interview, or more accurately, the grilling. By the third question, both are visibly squirming in their seats. Rossen is merciless, penetrating through the attorneys' facade of cool reserve and exposing their incompetence. Perhaps some would feel pity as the pair is skewered but I'm not yet at that place in my life. My cheeks hurt from the wide smile gracing my face.
"You created a fictional version of not only Bella Swan but her ex-husband as well," Rossen interrupts Stregone as he tries to rationalize the Prosecution's strategy.
"We were interpreting the facts as we saw them."
"By claiming that Bella Swan and Jacob Black deliberately planned to de-fraud the United States government by giving her access to Native American scholarships in exchange for an heir to the Quileute chiefdom," Rossen counters.
"She fit the profile."
"How? Because her mother was a free spirit who might have passed a bad check once or twice? Bella Swan was a model student, she had no criminal record, and a spotless employment history yet somehow that justified your portrayal of her as a lifelong swindler?"
"We had plenty of incriminating evidence."
"…Which was later proven false. The defense brought Laurent and Victoria DuBois to the attention of the court yet no effort was made find either suspect…"
"We named them as persons of interest, but there was nothing to indicate at that time that their involvement exonerated Bella Swan. For all we knew, they were her accomplices…"
On and on, back and forth, Rossen wears them down, piercing holes in their arguments and exposing the truth that the authorities and prosecution never considered that I could have been innocent. Rossen finishes with them and next reviews the initial investigation. One by one the FBI agents and police, including Detective De Nali defend their roles. Their words are eerily similar:
"We had no reason to think that James Floyd would frame her. It was one of the most black and white cases I had ever investigated."
Rossen concludes by presenting pictures and stills of Jason Chase and the DuBois siblings from Cullen security cameras as well as mockups of what they would look like in various disguises.
"All three remain at large as an international manhunt continues. Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of these suspects should contact the FBI. Up next, the future of Bella Swan."
Paul glances at his phone as the commercials begin. "Hey Bella, you're trending on Twitter!"
"What?"
"Bella Swan and American Injustice are both trending. You're a star, baby!"
I groan. "I just want to be me."
I shift over on the sofa, easing J.J.'s head off my lap gently. I'm eager for the show and my notoriety to end.
"You still are, it's just now everyone knows you and this time they're all on your side." Charlie nods; certain of the rightness of this new worldview on Bella Swan.
Dateline returns and once again it's just me and Anne Curry in the backyard. We discuss Jason Chase and the possible reasons why I was framed but ultimately, I have no idea why he chose to implicate me.
"I understand you're writing a book about your experiences?" Anne continues.
"Yes, I think people could learn a lot from the way the judicial system worked against me."
"Would you care to disclose how large of an advance you'll be receiving?"
I laugh. I appear carefree on screen but I remember how my stomach felt as though I had a thousand knots tied inside it.
"I'm relieved to say that I won't need to worry about finances for the near future. At this point, I'm more interested in helping others. I want to believe that I can find something positive after so much pain. I want to direct my energy into something constructive. Figuring out how to fit the pieces of my life back together is like trying to finish a puzzle without looking at the picture on the box. So much has occurred that I'm not even sure this is the same puzzle as when I started. Everything has been switched around. I won't ever be the person I once was but at the same time, I don't want to wallow in negativity. The past can't be changed, but the future is mine. I plan to enjoy every second of freedom and not miss any of the important moments in life. My time now is for my family, myself, and my causes."
The episode ends as it began, with Anne Curry and Lester Holt in the studio wishing the audience a good night. Charlie changes the station to ESPN and we all breathe a sigh of relief.
"Where's that publisher again?" Billy asks, knowing his grandson will be wherever I am.
"The closest office is in Los Angeles. We'll be going there next week. I have a rough outline ready and they have a list of ghost writers they want me to consider. Apparently, accountants aren't capable of writing the next great bestseller."
"I want Matt Bomer to play me in the movie version," Paul calls out as he returns from the kitchen with another drink. "No straights, this should be authentic."
"What about me?" Jake asks. "Don't say Lou Diamond Phillips, he's too old and too short. Hey, what about that guy that looks the Rock except younger and prettier?"
"I don't want Sam Elliot playing me, just because I have a mustache doesn't make him my twin," Charlie pipes up.
"Guys, the book might not even make a bestseller list, it's a little soon to think about movie casts."
"Please Bella, this is the most Hollywood story ever- small town girl meets rich millionaire, they fall in love then she's framed and sent to prison for stealing his money. He figures out the truth then gets her freed and then, well, okay, are you sure you won't get back with Edward? It'd make a better ending?"
"Really, Paul?"
"I'm kidding, but I bet it will get changed for the movie version."
I shake my head.
"Happy endings always work better," Paul sings in an annoying know-it-all voice.
"This is happy," I state emphatically. I feel that slight twinge I always have when my thoughts linger on Edward. "But it's not the end. Just like I said on the show, I have plenty left to do. This is a happy beginning." I hold up my beer and we all toast.
A/N Thank you all for sticking with this story. Extra special thanks to to my betas, Stacyo72 and maxandmo. Transitional chapters, like this one, are always difficult for me. This will set the stage for the next portion of the story, where we'll skip ahead. Expect the story to move towards its completion quickly once we get there. I still see this story as having only 4 more chapters at this point. I can't make any promises about how long it will take those four chapters. It does feel good to get this particular chapter out of the way. Twific Meetup has just announced that the June meeting will be in Philadelphia. Stacy O and I are both East Coast girls, and she lives very close to Philly so we're hoping to go. Follow me on Twitter: shelly_duran (2 spaces) to get the latest. I'm not on there that much but I do try to post updates about stories and relevant info whenever I can.