Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight.
Chapter 2 – Stripper Friends
On Tuesday morning, Edward walked to Park Avenue in search of Stanley & Co.
Because this was Edward's first time in New York, it took a good half an hour to find the building - but Edward knew it was going to be worth it.
Once Edward was inside, he walked towards the administration table and asked the young man behind the desk where he could find Jessica Stanley.
"Miss Stanley's office is on the eighth floor but I think she's in a meeting right now." The man responded.
"No, that's fine. Thank you." Edward said before heading in the direction of the elevator.
As soon as Edward stepped inside the elevator, he panicked and quickly got out.
I'll use the stairs, Edward thought. He needed to gather his thoughts before seeing Bella.
After rushing up the stairs, Edward was slightly out of breath. He sighed, trying to calm his nerves.
Edward opened the door and ended up in a small room where the elevator was located. There was a glass wall and from there Edward could see Bella sitting behind a large mahogany desk.
Edward smiled. Bella was wearing a midnight blue blouse, her hair was in a tight bun and she looked awfully sexy. Thankfully Bella was staring at the computer in front of her so she was yet to notice Edward.
Edward took a deep breath. Here I go.
As soon as Edward opened the door, Bella looked up.
Bella's eyes widened and she gasped.
"What are you doing here?" Bella asked.
Edward smirked his trademark, panty-dropping smirk. Bella could feel her heart rate increasing rapidly.
"That's no way to speak to your…guests." Edward replied jokingly.
Bella's eyebrows furrowed. "Sorry…I um…welcome to Stanley & Co. How can I help you?" It sounded more like a question.
Edward moved towards Bella and leaned his forearms against the table. "There are actually a number of ways you could help me." Edward whispered, licking his lips.
Unconsciously, Bella started biting her bottom lip.
"Where the fuck are my files?!" A voice shrieked.
Bella looked at the closed door, located to her left and groaned.
"Jess!" She yelled.
The door swung open and out walked Jessica Stanley.
"Izzy, I swear if my fucking files -"
"They're right here." Bella interjected before grabbing the files from her desk and passing them to Jessica.
"For fuck sakes Izzy! Next time tell me when you take them!"
"You were the one who gave them to me to look over." Bella replied calmly, though she sounded slightly agitated.
"Yeah but -"
Edward cleared his throat.
"Oh my god! Tony!" Jessica said excitedly. Her whole demeanor changed. "Izzy, you remember Tony, don't you? From yesterday."
Bella looked irritated. "No. I don't think I do."
"The author with the big cock." Jessica replied. Edward chuckled.
Bella sighed. Seriously? We're going back to that?
"Yesterday after you left, Tony asked for my number!" Jessica squealed. "Aren't I just the luckiest girl in the world?!"
So that's why she wasn't angry when I left her. I get it now.
"Well Izzy, I'm Tony Masen. Its very nice to meet you." Edward said extending his hand.
Bella stared at Edward's hand, then back at Edward's shit eating grin.
Having to speak to Edward was difficult enough, but physical contact? No, Bella couldn't handle that. "Wish I could say the same." Bella replied.
"Izzy! That is no way to speak to Tony Masen!" Jessica scolded.
"Oh, my apologies. It's nice to meet you too, Tony Masen. Miss Stanley has to go to a meeting now so if you'd be so kind to leave…"
Jessica turned to Edward, placing her hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, why don't you stay here. It's just for an hour or so. Izzy can make you a cup of coffee while you wait, if you'd like."
"I can?" Bella asked incredulously.
Jessica turned to Bella. "Yes, you work for me, so you'll do as I say. If Tony wants you to make him coffee, you'll make him coffee. If Tony wants you to go down to McDonald's to buy him a burger, you'll buy him a burger. And if Tony wants you to shine his shoes, that's exactly what you're going to do."
Jessica turned back to Edward. Bella watched as Jessica's expression softened. "I'll be back as soon as I can." Jessica said, with a small smile.
As soon as Jessica walked out of the room, Edward turned to face Bella.
"So Izzy, how 'bout that shoe shine?"
Bella ignored him and turned her attention back to the computer.
"Oh come on, I'm kidding! Why don't we go down to the local café and grab something to eat. We can catch up there."
"I've already eaten." Bella replied. Her eyes never left the computer screen.
Truth be told, Bella was slightly hurt that Edward hadn't come to see her. She had originally thought that she was the reason for his visit.
Of course he's not here to see me. I should be happy he even remembers me.
"Are you really doing work, or are you just pretending so you don't have to talk to me?"
Finally Bella looked up from her computer. "I'm really doing my work. Not that I want to speak to you either."
Edward put a hand over his heart. "Why don't you just pierce a knife through my heart now, Bella?"
Bella glared at Edward. "Its Izzy."
Edward moved to sit on Bella's desk. "What's with that whole Izzy thing anyway?"
"Its my name."
"I can still call you Bella, right?"
"Not if you want an answer."
"What about Isabella?"
"Edward!" Bella said, frustrated.
"See, I don't get angry when you call me Edward." Edward said, winking at Bella.
Bella rolled her eyes. "Get off my desk, Tony!"
Edward didn't listen.
Bella sighed and continued to do her work.
Edward continued to try getting Bella's attention but she just kept ignoring him.
After a while Edward decided to just sit there and take in Bella's beauty.
"Take a picture, it lasts longer." Bella mumbled.
"Okay." Edward said, taking out his phone.
"Hey Izzy…" Edward whispered.
Bella looked over at Edward and he quickly took a picture on his phone.
"Edward! What are you doing?!" Bella snapped.
Edward put both his hands up in surrender. "You said I could take a picture!"
Bella groaned.
"You should really stress less. Take a chill pill and all that."
Once again, Bella sighed and went back to her work.
After that, Edward and Bella remained silent until Jessica came back.
"Tony! You stayed!" Jessica exclaimed as soon as she stepped into the room.
Edward got off Bella's desk and smiled at Jessica. "Of course I did."
"Why don't you come into my office?" Jessica suggested.
Edward nodded and followed Jessica into her office.
Jessica's office was huge. There was a large flat screen television against one of the walls, a sofa, a treadmill, a shoe rack fill with high heels, a mini bar and an enormous brown desk, which fit two computers and a laptop, and still had plenty of room left for writing.
"Wow, this is your office?"
Jessica giggled. "Yeah, take a seat." Jessica said as she gestured to the sofa. Edward plopped down on the sofa and Jessica sat right beside him, though it was much too close for Edward's liking.
"So what's with your P.A. anyway? Is she always this cranky?" Edward asked jokingly.
"Yeah, she is. Although if I were a single mother with two jobs, I'd be pretty stressed out too."
Edward felt as though his heart had stopped. Bella was a mom?
"She has a child?" Edward barely whispered. "But she's so young."
"Yeah, she's actually your age."
"Who's the father?"
"She doesn't know." Jessica paused for a second. "I told you she was a slut."
Edward didn't reply.
"So Tony, how long you in New York for?" Jessica said, trying to make conversation.
"Um…I'm leaving Sunday morning…so I've got five more days left."
Jessica put a hand on Edward's thigh. "I really hope we can see more of each other."
Before Edward could reply, there was a knock on the door.
"Miss Stanley?" Bella said.
Jessica sighed in disappointment. Izzy only called her Miss Stanley when her father was around, so he must be here to see her.
"I think my dad is here. Could you wait outside?" Jessica asked.
Edward nodded and left, but not before being eyed by a tall, pale man with dark hair that was starting to thin.
Edward looked over at Bella, who began typing furiously on the keyboard.
Edward sighed. Could she ever love me again?
"Hey Tony."
Edward looked over to see Jessica standing by her office door.
"Yeah?"
"Would you like to come to lunch with my father and I?"
Edward hesitated. "Um…well actually I -"
"Izzy, you're coming too!" Jessica insisted.
That was all Edward needed to say yes. "Sure, I'll come."
****
They rode in Jessica's father's limo to the restaurant and although Jessica kept trying to make conversation, it was a rather awkward ride. Edward couldn't keep his eyes off Bella and Jessica couldn't keep her eyes off Edward.
At the restaurant, conversation flowed easily through Edward, Jessica and Jessica's father, though Bella barely uttered a word.
Halfway through the meals, Jessica's father received a phone call and announced that he had to leave.
"It was very nice to meet you, Mr. Stanley." Edward said, shaking his hand.
"It was nice to meet you too, Tony." He looked over at Jessica and Bella. "Jess, just call the driver when you're ready to go. I'll see you later, Izzy."
"Bye, Mr Stanley." Bella said quietly.
After Jessica's father left, everyone continued eating.
Jessica and Edward began talking amongst themselves and although Bella pretended to direct her attention elsewhere, she was really listening in to their conversation. Apparently, Edward and Jessica were talking about Edward's new novel.
"I love that line. You'll be my Edward and I'll be your Bella. That's all I ever wanted." Jessica said, smiling.
Bella choked on the piece of broccoli she was eating. She began coughing and Edward panicked.
Edward passed her a glass of water. Bella took it without hesitation, chugging it down like she was in a drinking competition.
"Are you okay?" Edward asked.
Bella ignored him. She was furious. She had said those words to Edward just before they became boyfriend and girlfriend all those years ago. Did he seriously think she wouldn't mind if he published it for the world to read?
"She's fine." Jessica reassured Edward. "Izzy's just one of those people who hate anything associated with love or romance. You give her flowers and she'll throw them away, write her a poem and she'll scrunch it up and well, throw it at you."
Edward's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. He was shocked to say the least. He looked over and Bella. She was playing with the mash potatoes on her plate.
Bella hates romance? What happened to the girl who forced him to watch all those romantic comedies? Who cried when he got her a thoughtful gift? Who was this person sitting beside him? Edward didn't know, but he was going to find out.
After lunch, Edward announced that he had to go meet his publicist, so he paid and went to get a cab.
Edward met his publicist, Aro, in a quiet, little café.
Aro was in his fifties. He was thin and pale with grey hair and if he wasn't such a fun person to be around, Edward might have been afraid of him.
"Hi Aro." Edward said, before sitting down. "Sorry I'm late, I was having lunch with an old friend."
"No that's fine." Aro replied. "We just have to go through the interview you have with the New York Times tomorrow."
After Edward and Aro discussed not only the interview but also some of the press conferences and signings he had to attend, Edward was exhausted.
"Boy, you need to loosen up. Why don't we go clubbing tonight?" Aro suggested.
"You'd go Clubbing?" Edward asked incredulously.
Aro chuckled. "No need to be so surprised, Tony. I'll get a limo to pick us up at the hotel at eight."
****
"Really Aro? A strip club?"
Aro chuckled. "I may be old, but I'm still a man."
Edward smiled and followed Aro inside.
As soon as Edward stepped into the club, he heard men everywhere cheering on the strippers and funnily enough, Stripper Friends by Tila Tequila was being blasted throughout the room. Edward couldn't help but question the DJ's song choice.
There were little stages with poles in the center all around the room. Each stage had one or two women dancing around the pole.
Both Edward and Aro noticed a young boy, who barely looked seventeen, sitting by his friends with a bottle of beer in his hand. A blond woman, who wore nothing but a hot pink g-string and had too much makeup on, was straddling the boy. The boy's hands were on the woman's hip and his face was buried in her enormous breasts as the woman rocked her hips back and forth. The boy's friends began cheering and Edward couldn't help but roll his eyes.
"Lets go over there." Aro said, pointing towards the large crowd of people cheering.
There was a dark haired woman wearing nothing but a black bra and g-string dancing around a pole.
Although her back was facing them, Edward could still appreciate her body.
Damn she has a nice ass.
The woman began sliding up down the pole and Edward couldn't help but feel slightly flustered.
What is happening to me? Since when was I so…horny?!
"Damn, that woman has a nice body." Aro said.
Edward grinned at Aro and nodded.
The woman finally turned around and Edward caught sight of the woman's face.
Bella.
"Oh my god…" Edward whispered.
Edward had already uncovered so much about how Bella had changed since high school; he wasn't quite too sure how he was supposed to take in this as well.
"Wow, she's beautiful." Aro stated.
Although Edward was appalled by the fact that Bella was working at a place like this, he couldn't help but be mesmerized by the way Bella's hips swayed to the beat.
Suddenly, a drunken man climbed up on stage with Bella. He was on his knees and had some cash in his hands. Bella stopped dancing and looked down at the man. She smiled at him. The man then got his money and slipped it into the crotch of her g-string.
Edward fumed. Before Aro could even decipher what was going on, Edward had pushed through the crowd.
"Bella, get down right now!" Edward said with authority.
Bella glanced down to see an angry Edward looking up at her.
"I can't." She replied.
Bella was just about to begin dancing again when Edward gently grabbed her by the arm and pulled her off the stage.
"Don't touch me! What are you doing?!" Bella yelled.
People started booing and hissing, but Edward ignored them and pulled Bella away from the crowd.
"What is going on here?" A tall, tan, woman with long dark hair asked.
Bella pulled her arm away from Edward's grasp. "Sorry, Sue. I was -"
"A man put money inside the crotch of her thong! That is so disgusting! How can you let Bella be degraded like that?" Edward asked in a murderous tone.
Sue turned to Bella. "Are you okay, Sweetheart?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just going to get back up there and fin-"
"Oh no you're not!" Edward interjected.
"Can you please just leave me alone?"
Sue put both her hands on Bella's shoulders. "Hon, why don't you take the rest of the night off?"
"Yes Bella, lets go."
Bella ignored him and walked away. Edward hastily followed behind. He didn't even hesitate to follow Bella when she walked through a black door that said No Entry.
The room was large with a huge mirror on one of the walls. Edward assumed this was where the girls got ready.
Bella's back was facing Edward so he watched as she put on a pair of jeans and a red flannel shirt.
There's my Bella.
Out of nowhere, Edward heard a sob.
"Bella?"
Bella didn't look at him.
"Bella, why are you working at a place like this?"
"Because I need the money!" Bella yelled as she turned to face Edward. Edward's heart broke at the sight of her. He had never seen Bella so sad and vulnerable before. Her lips were trembling, big brown eyes were watery and her face was tear-streaked.
"You already have a job with Jessica." Edward said softly as he moved towards her.
Bella stepped back. "You think that's enough? There are so many things I need to pay for like food, rent, clothes, childcare fees, the bills that come every month…" Bella cried, her voice breaking twice.
"And these people are like my family, Edward. I don't have anyone else!"
"What about Jessica? Or your parents?"
Bella started crying again. Tears flowing rapidly down her face.
"Bella?"
"Just leave me alone, Edward!" Bella sobbed before grabbing her bag and running out the door.
This time Edward didn't follow. He was feeling defeated. Bella didn't love him anymore, and he was just making her more unhappy.
Perhaps he wasn't going to win her back after all.
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