A/N: All publicly recognisable characters are property of their respective owners.

Chapter 21

EPOV

"I'm just calling to tell you that whatever we have between us, it's over."

Tanya was quiet.

"So you want to take our relationship to a new level?"

Emmet began chuckling quietly, and I simply shook my head. We'd reached the bench and I gratefully took a seat. Tanya was very hard headed, so I chose to be blunt.

"No. To make it clear to you, we never were in a relationship. What we had between us was sex and I won't be having any more sex with you."

There was more silence on the other end. I even had to look to make sure the call was still connected.

"Edward, are you drunk?"'

Emmet guffawed, muffled by his palm.

"No, I'm sober. I don't have a fever and I have not taken any sort of medication or smoked anything. I'm perfectly fine."

"But it doesn't make any sense! You always get a little confused," she reasoned. It was not 'reason'. This was not persistence. I never really cared enough to notice, but now it was obvious that Tanya was as delusional as Alice always had described.

"I'm sorry Tanya, but our arrangement has come to an end."

"But I... Edward! You can't tell me that! You made me believe that you loved me and now..."

Emmet groaned, now frustrated.

I laughed my darkest laugh. "Don't try that guilt bullshit with me, Tanya. I'm sorry for using you- I won't even use the fact that I was going through a rough patch in life as an excuse. But you cannot say I lead you on. "

"Edward what is wrong with you! There is something wrong with you." Her tone relayed her belief her words were facts. "You have to be crazy not to want me. I am perfect."

I sighed. She wasn't listening to reason, and I realised I'd have to find a new angle.

"Tanya, you deserve better than me. I can't love you and give you all the care and attention you need." I tried, hoping she would accept that.

"Is this about your problem? You're right, then."

Tanya never would shut up about the fact that I was a Dom. It had really bothered her and in each of the few times we'd actually spoken, she never failed to mention her dislike.

"Tanya, that isn't a problem and no one can-wait... did you say I'm right?" A bright smile spread across my face.

"I'll call dad and let him get you some counselling. Daddy will get the best people to fix you, okay? We can break up for now and when you're better we can be together again."

I groaned in frustration, but decided to try again.

"Tanya Denali. I do not want to be in a relationship with you. Of any kind. Ever."

"Sure, Edward. We'll talk in a while."

"No. Tanya... Tanya?"

She hung up on me.

BPOV

A little after our tour, Rosalie had come through the door. I was shocked that she knew of me long before I had gone missing, and I was flattered by her praises of my recipes. I was finally sure that the opening night had gone as I had hoped.

It was then that I heard the full story about my arrival to Robins Escape. Rosalie seemed shocked more by Alice's description of Edward's attitude this morning with Emmet and here with me than the parts about murders and kidnapping. I filled in the details Alice didn't have; till then no one had heard how I ended up at James' house in the first place.

The conversation soon shifted to how large of a role I had in Edward's change in attitude. I watched with curiosity... what side of Edward was I missing out on? Soon though, I called them out on talking about me as if I weren't in the room.

Alice turned to me and smirked. "No one complained when you stared at Edward like he was the only one in the room."

I blushed, but answered honestly, "You can't blame me. He's... hot."

Both girls shrugged and nodded in acknowledgement.

"Who's hot?" Emmet questioned, coming through the front door.

And to escape the question, I began making lunch.

EPOV

I had not been in doubt about how beneficial inviting Bella into the operations meeting would be. She was a quick thinker and had an analytical mind much like mine. What I worried about, however, were my other family members. Bella's reaction to everything so far was good- I just hoped they wouldn't say anything that would be a bit too much for her to overlook about me.

My current concern, Emmet, was playing the recording of Tanya and I. Bella had been given a summary of the situation by Rosalie and Alice. The problem was that they weren't focussed on what picture it painted of me, as long as her explanation of Tanya was as horrible, and eye-opening for me, as possible.

It had been difficult to judge Bella's reaction to the recording, but I had seen her smirk the first time. It was impossible for Bella to not have noticed Tanya's mention of me having a 'problem'. She couldn't possibly know to what Tanya had been referring, but she could have come up with many possibilities which I'm sure were more acceptable to her than the truth. I would leave her to these possibilities until I was forced to choose to lie or speak the words I dreaded.

I didn't want her to know how I was, who I had been.

She made me want to be someone new.

A/N: Next chapter, which I have started, is already my favourite. Please review so i can know what you think.