Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns all things Twilight. I just decided it was time to shake things up a bit in her characters' world. And I wanted a bitchy Bella, so here we go!
Oh, and all of the references used in this story in relation to the advertising and marketing company and accounts are only used here for entertainment purposes; no copyright infringement intended.
Thank you to the following people: Angelicwish, who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to provide this insecure writer with loads of feedback, advice, beta services and great conversations, and to my Jennay- Love you! A special thank you to Forever_Liz, Megsly and barburella, and my new ficwife SusanAshlea for being awesome in general. You guys help me work through my plot and skittle me silly. Love you all!
In case any of you are wondering, here are some fics that are completely devastating me right now (please go check them out on FanFiction or Twilighted) –Tre by my sweetie Megsly (update soon!); Paper Heart by Hez_Pixie; Finding Forever by SusanAshlea; 15 Step by Jenny Jerkface; Becoming Bella Swan by BellaFlan; and The Misapprehension of Bella Swan (Regarding the Inferior Intellect of Hockey Whores) by hunterhunting. My list of favorites is getting ridiculous. Just read these. You're welcome.
So we're moving on with Bella back at the helm. Giddyup!
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Chapter Thirty: Drinks and deviance
"Deviance? Oooh, B, that sounds like my kinda night!" Alice exclaimed as I sped down the road toward home. "Do you need me to handle the 'calling all ladies' thing? What time? Where? What are you wearing?"
"Definitely. I'm on my way home. Do you mind calling Rose and Esme?" I asked, pulling up to a light. Edward was still behind me, and he playfully flicked his high beams on and off at me. Too bad I can't give him a show. Instead, I tapped on my brakes in reply. What I really wanted was to spend the night with Edward, but he and I needed to proceed slowly, and besides - I needed some quality time with the girls. We needed to plot my assault on Aro and Tanya. This harassment was going to end.
"No problem," she chirped. "I think Emmett and Rose were having dinner out tonight, but I'll just have her meet us at Alibi - unless you'd like to go somewhere else. We have to celebrate her engagement, and your impending debauchery!"
"I do my best thinking and drinking there, Alice. That's fine. Let me get home and change and then I'll meet you there. Call you when I'm in my closet, okay?" I eased my car into the parking garage and parked quickly, eager to get out night underway. Running up the stairs was not, in fact, the best idea I'd had all day, and I nearly yard-saled in front of my door.
After a quick shower, I dried my hair until it was smooth and straight, and then I stood in front of my open closet feeling completely out of my element. Aside from the one outfit I knew I looked good in – that red top and jeans – I was a complete lost cause in the non-office fashion department. Thankfully, though, I had a secret weapon.
"Okay, Alice. I'm literally standing in front of my closet," I said. "I need you."
"Oh, B, what would you do without me?" Alice asked cheerfully. "Look in the very back of your closet on the right side. There's a beautiful little black dress back there with the tags still on it. Put that one and pair it with your Laboutins. Done. Easy. Hot and sexy. You're welcome."
The dress was Laundry by Shelli Segal, and in an onyx satin that clung perfectly to every one of my curves. The halter thrust my chest up and out, and the diagonal pleating across the short dress added visual interest. It was comfortable and classy, but undeniably sexy. I made a note that I'd have to wear this dress more often.
"Alice, you're a genius, woman," I said, digging through my clothes and procuring the dress in question, right where she said it would be. "I owe you a drink. A big one." In fact, the outfit gave me a brilliant idea. After dressing, I reached for my phone and aimed the camera at myself. I snapped a picture and quickly sent it to Edward with a text.
You like? Wanna see more later? It took all of 10 seconds for my phone to beep with a reply. I giggled as I opened the text, hoping my amateur photography had had the desired effect. Edward did not disappoint.
You kidding me? If I get to see more later, I will promise you'll never want to wear clothes again.
His text nearly set me on fire, and I had to force myself out the door. Thankfully Alice had offered to drive that night, and Esme was sitting in the passenger seat of her sports car when I got outside. As I crawled into the back seat and flopped against the leather, Alice eyed me from her rear view mirror with suspicion.
"You okay, Bella? You're all red in the face," she said, casting Esme sidelong glances. "Are you feeling all right? We don't have to go out tonight, you know…if you're not feeling well."
"Alice, I'm fine. Just a little…warm. Let's go."
We chatted amiably about work, play and the men in our lives. Esme and Alice said they were proud of me for patching things up with Edward, and gave me praise for finally being completely honest with him. I asked them about Carlisle and Jasper, and was happy when they both reported being happy and completely in love. It was so good to see my friends with good men. The club was crowded but not packed when we arrived, and we got a table quickly thanks to Rose getting there before us. As soon as we had an appetizer and drinks in front of us, we toasted to Rose and Emmett, and to lifelong friendship. We talked about our new plans for Thanksgiving - all of us together in Forks - and laughed about the possibility that Charlie would be shell-shocked from the event until next year.
"Okay, B, so what's this I hear of a plan to foil the dastardly Aro and that bitch Tanya?" Esme blurted out, prompting me to nearly spit out my martini. Alice, Rose and I immediately erupted in a fit of giggles and guffaws. "What?" Esme asked, seemingly confused by our reaction.
"It's just that…Es, I don't think I've heard you utter a swear in all the years I've known you," I explained once I had stifled my laughter. "I didn't know you had it in you, lady. I like it!"
Esme joined in the laughter the second time, blushing furiously. After we'd regained our control, the other girls turned to me in silent prompt of an answer. I shrugged my shoulders.
"Well, Tanya has been harassing Edward, I think professionally on behalf of Aro, and personally for her own benefit," I explained, finishing my drink and hailing a waiter. "After our confrontation at the convention, I thought I'd make it clear that it was not acceptable for Aro to try and steal one of our employees. Apparently, the message wasn't clear enough.
"I just want to deter him permanently from trying it again with Edward - or any of our other executives," I continued. "As for Tanya, I'm not sure why Aro's put all of his faith in her. She's about as useful as a leadless pencil. Girls, we need to come up with a plan. Nothing illegal, but something to scare them both away for good."
The silence that followed told me that all three were thinking hard of the possibilities. Alice suddenly jerked her up and her eyes lit up with an idea.
"I've got it! How about we try to catch Aro and Tanya in a sex scandal?" she posed excitedly, clasping her hands together. "It'll be splashed all over the Wall Street Journal. All over Money Line. I can see it now. Oh, B, he'd have a hard time living that one down. Volturi Enterprises' founder and CEO, reduced to a two-timing philanderer. Both he and Tanya would be ruined."
"Alice, I love the idea, but…I think it might be a little too close to home - you know?" I said, smiling ruefully. "And besides, without proof, we have no whistle to blow, so to speak. But I like the way you think, honey."
"What about if we go after him the old-fashioned way, Bella?" Rose offered. "You said he had done some seedy, illegal shit in his day running that place. Accepting bribes, padding politicians' pockets for votes and clout and clients, taking lavish trips on company money. And what about Tanya? Has her appearance changed at all? Nose job? Boob job? Fancy clothes? It's likely he's her old, crusty sugar daddy. Why else would she be in so tight with him?" The idea certainly had merit, but without an inside contact, my allegations were simply that. And I had no doubt that the man was thoroughly connected and protected. And that he probably had some of those Feds in his back pocket.
"Unfortunately, Rose, that's by far the best idea, but also the most difficult," I said. "Someone really should nail his crooked ass to the wall. But I think that's a little out of my league." We were all silent for a while, sipping drinks and snacking, and then Esme smacked her hand on the table.
"I've got it! Ha-ha – I've got a great idea!" she exclaimed. "Why don't you just go over to his office and threaten him? These are all great ideas! And Aro doesn't have to know that we don't actually have any solid proof. Sometimes a good threat is all you need."
"Esme, you are a genius," Alice exclaimed, bouncing in her seat. "Bella, march in there and threaten him with exposure, the FBI, and 20 to life in the pen. You and Esme - and probably the rest of the social media community in Washington - knows he's a bad seed. I'm sure someone has something somewhere on him."
This was a good idea. And we all knew I had the brass balls to pull it off. Aro had, in all probability, amassed a long list of enemies and potential whistle-blowers over the years, of which he was probably aware. It wouldn't take much, maybe, to suggest S&P was one of them. But it was risky, to say the least. A man as connected as Aro would also have plenty of protection.
"This is risky, guys," I said, echoing my own thoughts. "Aro is very well connected, if you know what I mean. Hopefully my threat will be enough to get him to back off of Edward, but not enough for him to think of me as a real threat. This could totally backfire."
We all sat and mulled over my statement while sipping our drinks. Suddenly my bravado seemed very misguided. I knew I had to do something; Edward was worth fighting for. But what?
"Bella, you're right. Maybe we should take a milder tact on this," Esme said. "You can't just walk in there and yell at Aro - even if he only finds it mildly amusing. It's too dangerous. But maybe he'll tell you why he has such a boner for Edward." We all laughed as my dearest friend once again lightened the mood, and I signaled the waiter for another round.
"I'm just going to walk in there and talk to him," I offered. "As two professionals, I'm sure we can work something out. He is a human being after all - isn't he?" Inexplicably, a mental image of Aro with fangs, crawling out of a coffin sprang to mind, and it sent a shiver down my spine. I mean, he is human, so I'm sure he's capable of reason. Right?
With my "plan" in place and the night growing late, we paid for our drinks and made our way outside. Unwilling to let this dress - and my desire for Edward - go to waste, I quickly sent him another text as we left the bar.
You awake?
Yeah. You coming over?
Edward was definitely okay with me paying him a late-night visit. I replied and slipped my phone back in my purse. After kissing Rose goodnight, Esme, Alice and I piled into her car and sped off toward home. I asked Alice to stop at my place so I could grab my small overnight bag, and then drop me off at Edward's. It was on her way - and Alice couldn't pass up a chance to facilitate a lovers' rendezvous - so of course she was more than happy to oblige. For a moment, I wondered if it seemed desperate for me to invite myself over Edward's, but I truly missed him already.
"Have a great night, B, and call me in the morning if you want a ride home before work," Alice said when I closed the car door. The light over the back door illuminated the side of the house, but otherwise the windows of Edward's house were dark. Quickly I scanned each window, suddenly wondering if Edward had fallen asleep, but then I saw a faint glow coming from one of the upstairs rooms, and I sighed in relief. "I'll keep my cell on."
"Thanks, Alice, but I might just have Edward come in early with me," I said, ducking my head inside the passenger side door to kiss Esme's cheek. "Es, see you tomorrow morning, 'kay?" The two of them waited until I had let myself in before driving away. The house was quiet when I stepped into the kitchen, aside from the quiet drone of the refrigerator. Unwilling to shatter the stillness, I slipped off my shoes and picked them up, walking into the living room. Once I reached the landing at the top of the stairs, I stopped and put my bag down in the hall. The music that drifted from behind the closed door of Edward's study was soft, tender and heartbreaking.
Tiptoeing to the door, I stood there for a moment just listening with my eyes closed. When I couldn't leave him alone any longer, slowly, I pushed the door open. Edward's back was to me, but what I could see of him was mesmerizing enough. His messy hair shook slightly with him ministrations; the nape of his neck disappeared into his heather grey thermal, which hugged his muscular back perfectly. I watched, rapt, as the muscles in his back flexed minutely as he played. He wore dark blue flannel pajama pants and his feet were bare as they pushed on the pedals of his baby grand. He was beautiful.
As I stepped inside the room, I finally noticed that it was bathed in soft candlelight. There were candles scattered throughout the room, seemingly on every flat surface, and the flames cast dancing, golden shadows on the walls.
"Bella." Edward's voice tore my focus away from the scene and he gasped when my eyes fell on his. He drank in my appearance with hungry eyes as I walked toward him.
"I could watch you play for hours," I admitted as I came to stand beside him. Edward turned so that he was facing me and wrapped his long, talented fingers around the back of my knee, gently pulling me closer. "That song was beautiful." Instead of answering me, Edward took my heels out of my hand and dropped them on the floor next to him. Both of his hands skimmed my legs and traveled up until they rested on my hips. I leaned down, grasped his face with both hands, and kissed him. We kissed softly at first, savoring the feeling of our lips touching, but I craved more of him - I always did - and my kisses grew desperate and hard. Soon we were both panting with need, but Edward gently pulled away.
"Hi," he said, his chest rising and falling with his elevated heartbeat. His emerald eyes were dark in the low light - like a deep forest - and his lips were a perfect carmine pink. The candlelight flickered across his face, highlighting his cheek bones and jaw line.
"You're beautiful," I whispered, unintentionally voicing my thoughts. I couldn't help the blush that blossomed across my cheeks and down my neck. "Hi." Edward kissed me once more and chuckled lightly into my mouth.
"You are beautiful," he corrected. "This dress…" His fingers trailed over the fabric appreciatively, tickling my skin underneath and leaving a path of ignited desire in their wake. "Did you have fun with the girls tonight?"
"Yes," I said, nudging his legs open so I could stand between them. "But I'll tell you about it later, okay? Will you play some more for me, please?" I watched the subtle shift in Edward's features as he realized that I truly wanted him to play for me, and with a crooked smile, he turned back toward the keys and began. I moved to stand behind Edward so I could watch him as his fingers fluttered over the ivories, but I couldn't keep my own hands to myself.
So as to not interrupt his impromptu performance, I lightly rested my hands on his shoulders, enjoying the small movements of his body beneath them. My lips found his neck and I focused my attention there, tasting, kissing, sucking and nibbling as his fingers continued. Then my hands wandered down his chest, and when my fingers skimmed his nipples as my lips closed around his earlobe, his playing faltered but did not stop. I ran my fingers through his hair as I worked my way along his jaw, finally capturing his lips with my own. Edward stopped playing and turned toward me, but I shook my head as I pulled back slightly.
"Please…keep playing," I said, the desperation in my voice tangible. "Don't stop." Edward took my hand and eased me around the piano bench so that I was between him and the piano. Easing the zipper of my dress down, he slipped it over my shoulders and let it slide to the floor. I stood there as he assessed the black slip I wore under it, letting his roaming hands create ripples in the satin and lace. His hands squeezed my ass and guided me to straddle his lap, and I sat down and immediately pulled Edward's thermal over his head.
Music, in variety thrives,
And the glory of song is within your eyes.
Trumpets and drums and fiddles too,
Reflect the songs I find in you.
Violins cry, cellos moan,
With music of dreams, of love, of home.
Deep within a piano plays,
Springing forth to you this day.
Providing a home for it and you,
I give you love and devotion too.
"Play for me, Edward," I asked again as I kissed him hard. His hands left my body and music filled the room once more. The song was different - passionate and frenetic - and resonated through my entire body. We continued to kiss even as Edward played, with our bodies pressed together. It seemed to serve as inspiration for Edward's music, which only increased my arousal. The song was soon punctuated by my quiet moans and Edward's heavy breathing.
He eased me back against the keys, and his fingers abandoned the song in favor of my skin. His lips were on my neck, my hands running through his hair. I could feel his hardness through his thin pants, adding heat to my wetness, and I whimpered when he shifted me. Edward's hands roamed my body with abandon, and I arched my back against the piano as he slid one strap of my slip off and palmed my breast.
"Oh, God, yes!" I cried as his hot mouth covered my nipple. He licked a trail over to the other side, where he repeated the gesture. I was already so close to the edge, a bundle of raw nerves and desire, that when Edward's fingers wandered past the inside of my thigh and brushed my core, I shuddered violently. His dick twitched with the realization that I was bare underneath, and he wasted no time in slipping two fingers inside me. He groaned as they slid in easily, and when he kissed me again, I came hard.
"Fuck, Bella," he groaned as he stroked me through my orgasm. He removed his fingers and kissed me again before standing quickly - with me still wrapped around him - to divest himself of his pajama bottoms. With another quick movement, his sat us back down on the piano bench and sheathed himself inside me. "God, you're amazing. So wet for me."
Using his hands, Edward gently lifted me up and down over him, sliding me almost completely off his length before pulling me back down again. I leaned back to create more friction, and Edward stood us up and reclined me against the piano. He reached for his discarded pants and placed them behind me as a cushion. And then he wrapped my legs around him and entered me again with a forceful thrust that left me breathless.
"Edward! Yes!" I cried, incapable of forming sentences as he pumped in and out of me. My fingers skidded along the smooth wooden surface of the piano top, searching for something to grip. With the top open, however, there was nothing to hold, so I hung onto Edward instead. His arms strained with holding me so that he didn't slam me against his piano, and I watched the tendons flex and elongate with each of his thrusts.
"I'm going to come again," I whispered hoarsely, just before it shook me like a mini-earthquake. My back arched involuntarily at the force of my orgasm, and Edward took the opportunity to suck on my breasts again as I thrust them in his face. As he kept moving in and out of me, my bottom bumped the keys, creating a soft cacophony of random notes every other second. It was perfect music to my ears.
"Bella, I…you feel so good," Edward managed in a strained whisper. The arousal and raw emotion in his voice sent another rush of wetness over his cock, and I felt him grow harder as he felt it. "You're perfect." I could feel him bringing me to the edge again, and I knew he was close as well.
"Come for me, Edward," I said, as I felt my own orgasm take over. "Please." A few moments later, Edward pumped one last time and then stilled as he came inside me. When we'd both come down, he released my legs and I slid down and away from the piano. Edward sat us both down on the piano bench again, and cradled me to his heaving chest. Neither one of us spoke for a while.
"Edward, I think I have an idea for how to get rid of Aro and Tanya for good," I began. At that moment, I needed his blessing and support on this, even if it was a bit foolish to go up against Aro. "It's a bit risky, but it's the only thing we have. I'm just going to go talk to him."
Edward jerked his body away from mine and I shivered with the forced separation. The look on his face made it clear that he did not approve of our big plan.
"Bella, absolutely not! I do not want you walking into the lion's den like that! It's not worth it," he said angrily, his hands now gripping my arms. "What could be gained from it? If anything, won't it provoke him further? And not that I don't appreciate you being my knight on the white steed and all, but come on. I can take care of myself." Clearly I'd wounded his pride, but this was about more than pride to me. This was about protecting my company, my employees, my boyfriend and my integrity. And I was not going to stand for it.
"Edward, I know you can handle it, but don't you see? You shouldn't have to," I said, trying to reason with him. I shivered in between sentences and Edward pulled his thermal over my head. "You're an employee at S&P, and I'd do the same for anyone else there. I'd still march my ass in there and tell him to knock it off. No emails or phone calls or records. Just the two of us having a conversation." Then, considering Edward's point of view and status as my better half, I added, "But you can come if you want. For moral support."
"Can we talk about it tomorrow?" he asked, kissing my nose. "When are you planning your offensive attack?"
"Hmm…I think Friday," I said. "Best to do these things at the end of the week - it gives you the weekend to calm down…or grow to regret your decision. You know? So, will you come with me?"
"Sure," he said, kissing my lips. "We'll discuss it more tomorrow. Now enough shop talk. You know, I bet this is the most action this piano has ever seen in 70 years, Bella." Edward kissed me and moved us off the piano bench and onto the couch. For a while we simply laid there naked together with a throw over us, talking softly about Edward's piano playing, my night out with my friends, and what the rest of our week held. We talked about Thanksgiving, and I was reassured that he was clearly excited with the prospect of meeting Charlie.
"So, is your dad a sports and beer kind of guy, an outdoorsy type, or a workaholic like his daughter?" he asked playfully, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear before kissing me lightly. "I want to make sure I'm prepared with the proper sporting equipment." Picturing Edward in a camouflage hunting vest and hat with a rifle perched on his shoulder prompted a hearty laugh, which I tried unsuccessfully to stifle.
"What?" Edward's face twisted in confusion and it only made me laugh harder. Soon the tears rolled down my cheeks and I had to share my visual with him. He narrowed his eyes and pouted in mock hurt. "Guess that means I need to bring my gun, huh?"
"No, Edward. Actually, my dad loves all of those things, with the exception of reading, unless it's a Field and Stream magazine," I said. "You don't have to do any of that to impress him, though. Just spending the holiday with us is more than enough."
Realistically, I knew Thanksgiving would be a lot for Charlie to handle – my friends and my boyfriend all under his roof and converging on him like a swarm of friendly but boisterous bees. Charlie was a largely solitary man, aside from a few close friends and me, but he'd seemed up for it. Hopefully he'd be pleased to meet Edward and see how wonderful he was for me. To say I had high expectations for that weekend would have been putting it mildly. But I was bringing Edward home to meet the only other man in my life who meant the world to me. It was important.
"I hope he likes me," Edward whispered, rolling over so that he was on top of me. "Because I really like his daughter and I want to make a good impression." His lips brushed mine and what began as chaste pecks quickly turned into hot, open-mouthed kisses.
"Mmm…you make a great impression," I said softly, shifting so that Edward was between my legs. His hardness was poised at my entrance and I guided him inside me without preamble. "I love you, Edward."
"And I you, Bella," he said in my ear as our bodies moved together.
somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond
any experience, your eyes have their silence:
in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me,
or which i cannot touch because they are too near
your slightest look easily will unclose me
though i have closed myself as fingers,
you open always petal by petal myself as Spring opens
(touching skillfully, mysteriously) her first rose
or if your wish be to close me, i and
my life will shut very beautifully, suddenly,
as when the heart of this flower imagines
the snow carefully everywhere descending
I woke when Edward brought me to bed later that night and I wrapped his arms around me as we curled up, naked and spooning, in his bed. Sleep came quickly after we kissed goodnight and the alarm was soon beeping relentlessly in my ear. Groaning, I rolled over to find Edward with his head already buried beneath his pillow, muffled protests coming from his side of the bed.
"Bella, please shut it off," he whined as I rolled back to slap the off button. "Ugh. Too early." He'd set it nice and early for me, for which I was thankful, and I kissed his exposed hand in thanks before sliding out of bed. I ran the water in the shower and got in once it was hot. My back was a bit sore from the previous night's activities, but otherwise I felt amazing. I toweled off quickly and wrapped it around my wet head before going back into Edward's bedroom.
"Oooh, the sexy turban look," he said from bed. "I like it." Edward was sitting with two pillows propping him up, the sheets barely covering him. Delicious. Instead of jumping back in bed with him, however, I dried my hair with the towel, balled it up and threw it at him.
"Oooh, the sexy Bedward look," I said, mimicking his tone. "I like it."
"Bedward?"
"Yeah - your sexy, bed-head, sexed-up look," I explained while I searched for my clothes. I'd packed a skirt and shirt that were wrinkle-resistant, thank goodness. After I was dressed I pulled my hair back into a loose bun and put on my makeup in the bathroom. Edward was in and out of the shower quickly, and I watched him dress with undisguised lust.
"I think that shirt is my favorite of yours," I said, running my fingers down the front of his blue-green button-down. "It makes your eyes almost look blue. It's very sexy." Edward chuckled and kissed me before reaching for his tie. It was a plain black and set off the bright color of his shirt even more.
"Thanks, love," he said, tightening the tie around his neck. He reached for his jacket and gave me a good once-over, adding, "You look especially hot today yourself. Are you ready to go? We can stop on the way in for breakfast if you'd like." We paused on our way out the door for coffee - Edward had set the timer on his coffee pot - and he poured two travel mugs for us. Once I was in his car, I forcibly shoved thoughts of a married couple on their way to the office, ala "Working Girl," out of my foolish head.
Work was busy as always, but my impending departure and establishing the new office put a frenetic spin on everything, and I found myself exhausted by 5 p.m. that day. Edward and Esme popped in to check on me a few times, for which I was eternally grateful, as it reminded me I couldn't hide in my office under a mountain of paperwork. I made the rounds, checked in with the executives and even chatted to Angela about her sister's wedding. It was a good day.
Edward and I had ultimately settled into a nice balance of professionalism and lightheartedness; we both agreed that we needed to stop taking our love-hate work relationship so seriously. At first, a few jaws dropped open when I stopped being nasty to Edward, but the other executives quickly realized that I'd softened a bit toward everyone, and the atmosphere at S&P had never been better. But then again, maybe they were all elated at the notion of my departure.
"Knock-knock," Esme said, stepping through the open door. "How you doing in here, B?" Her coat was draped over her arm. Where had the day gone? I looked outside to see that it was snowing quite heavily. "You heading home soon? The weatherman said it might get nasty later. Something like seven more inches tonight. Yuck. Maybe Carlisle will come over with his snow blower tonight if I tempt him with dinner."
"Es, I don't think you'll even need dinner to tempt him, but I'm sure he'll appreciate the good meal," I said, smiling. "Yeah, I'm heading home soon. I'm just waiting for Edward."
"So are you still planning to go down to Aro's office tomorrow?" Esme asked with trepidation in her voice. "I'm just nervous about the outcome, B."
"Absolutely," I said. "Es, even if he laughs at me, I feel like something needs to be said. He can't do this to us. It's unethical and immoral and even though he hasn't offered anything on paper to Edward, it's bribery, at the least. He's a shark, Esme, and it's time for him to stop circling."
"Be careful, Bella," she pleaded.
"I will, Es. Thanks. Have a good night, and tell Carlisle we said hi, okay?"
With Esme gone, I neatened my desk and shut down my computer before grabbing my coat and gloves. Then I walked down the hall to Edward's office. He was on the phone.
"No. Absolutely not! And you know I have never led you to believe that," he said. Edward was clearly enraged by the person on the other end and he didn't even seem to notice me standing in the doorway. "Do not call me again - on my office phone or on my cell phone. I'm serious, Tanya. I don't want to see you or hear from you." He slammed the phone on the receiver and I gasped. His eyes flew up to mine and the anger etched across his face immediately softened with worry.
"Bella, I didn't hear you come in," he said, walked over to me and pulling me into a hug. I simply stood there like a dummy, too shocked to wrap my arms around him. Tanya had called him at the office. Was it the first time? "I'm sorry you had to hear that. She's never called me here before."
"Edward, this needs to stop!" I yelled. "How many times has she called you or texted? Have you ever answered her or texted her back? Please - I need to know." Edward vehemently shook his head and told me that since Chicago, she'd texted him twice (I knew about those) and called his cell phone once. Adding to that her visit to S&P and phone call today, and I was ready to explode.
"She cannot get away with harassing you like this," I seethed. "I'm going to rip her fucking head off!"
"Bella, she won't get away with it, okay? Tomorrow when we go to Aro's office, I'm going to pay her a little visit while I wait for you. If she tries it again, I'll slap a harassment suit on her ditzy ass." He smiled down at me, obviously trying to lighten the mood, but I was too wound up to appreciate the gesture. "And why don't we go tonight to get me a new phone number?"
Begrudgingly I agreed to let go of my anger for the evening, pocketing it for tomorrow as ammunition at Edward's behest. We walked out of the deserted office hand-in-hand, and after going to the cell phone store to get Edward a new number, he brought me home. The snow was falling heavily and it cast a fluffy layer of silence over everything.
"Edward, I don't know if I can do this tomorrow," I said, my confidence suddenly in short supply. "Maybe I'm crazy for doing this. I just can't believe Tanya. I don't know…"
Edward slid a finger under my chin and turned my head so I was facing him in the car. His eyes were clear and his face was determined as he assured me it would be okay.
"Hey. Stop talking like that," he ordered softly. "You are the most incredible woman I know and you can do this. Now, I'm not going to force you in there tomorrow if you're not up to it, but I know how passionate you are about S&P. I'll support you either way. I've got a new cell number, so Tanya can't reach me anymore with that. It's a start. We'll figure out the rest, okay? I love you." I leaned over the shift to kiss him, comforted by his confidence in me.
"Thank you, Edward," I said. "Your faith in me means so much. I love you, too. I'll see you tomorrow, 'kay?" We said goodnight and I ran through the snow and up to my door. Once I was inside, I waved to Edward's headlights, and then turned on the heat and got settled. Pasta was in order tonight – good comfort food – and a chick flick to get my mind off tomorrow's agenda. I retired early, but not before sending Edward a text.
Good night. Happy new phone #! Love you.
Thanx. Love you too. See u in the am. XOXO
Friday went by quickly - as usually happens when you have something unsavory to do - and Esme wished me good luck again before she left for the day, with instructions to call her when I got home. Alice and Rose both texted me to wish me good luck and to "kick ass," which I saved in my phone for posterity and last-minute moxie. Finishing up a late-day email, I closed up shop and walked down to Edward's office again. He was gathering his things and smiled when I peeked into his office.
"Ready, Freddie?" I asked, trying to ignore my nervous stomach. We left our cars in the garage and took a cab the 15 blocks to Volturi Enterprises. As we pulled up to the imposing office building, my stomach did a flipflop and I thought I was going to be sick. Edward, seeming to sense my nerves, kissed me and rubbed my back soothingly.
"Love, it's going to be all right. You're going to be fine," he said as we walked through the revolving doors and into the stone lobby. "Now go in there and kick his creepy ass - metaphorically speaking, of course."
"I can do this. I can do this," I chanted quietly in the elevator. When the doors opened with a ding, we walked straight toward the two oversized wooden doors with the elaborate V and crest over them. It was now or never.
"Ready?" Edward asked, squeezing my hand.
"Ready."
A/N: Sorry for the long wait, my darlings. I hope this chapter made your pain and suffering a bit more manageable. This chapter featured "A Piano Plays" by Dennis R. Graham, which I thought was perfect for that scene, and "somewhere i have never travelled" by e.e. cummings.
Don't forget to visit the HtS thread on Twilighted to submit your ideas for the one-shot! http:/www(dot)twilighted(dot)net/forum/viewtopic(dot)php?f=44&t=9356
Here's the link to Bella's cocktail dress. I know it's not black, but in my world it is, okay?
http:/www(dot)overstock(dot)