EPOV
The only information Seth had for me when he came to pick me up and take me to Jasper's after the workday was the price the journalist had been paid by the Herald for his piece. That was useless to me and didn't help Seth find out who had paid him to dig it up in the first place.
I was nervous as I sat in the passenger seat and watched the traffic move slowly around me.
Seth was silent, probably plotting ways to beat information out of the journalist.
I had so many questions and not a single answer and that never sat well with me, not in any circumstance. I prided myself on being the one in the room who knew what was going on, why and how things had happened. It was rare for me to be so blind.
I was also feeling nervous and uneasy about seeing Jasper Swan. The guy had every right to sock me one for the way I'd treated his sister. And then there was Alice. Rose had told me a bit about her and I thought there was a good chance I could be hit by her too. And then there was Isabella herself.
I wanted her to be there when I arrived. I wanted to see her. Talk to her. Apologise. And make myself understood most of all. I wanted and needed to tell her that I was sorry that she was photographed and how sorry I was that her name was now associated with mine in such an insidious way. But most of all I wanted to just be near her. To watch her and listen to her.
And then, once I'd seen that she was alright, I wanted to sit down with her and work out just which one of us was actually being targeted by the story that was printed.
But really what I desperately wanted to know was whether she was engaged to be married to Jake Black.
If I came away from seeing her with only that piece of information I thought I might be alright. I could console myself with the knowledge that it was more likely an enemy of his that had bought the information and that it had nothing to do with me. I'd just been in the wrong place at the wrong time.
But that, as a relief as that would be for me, threw up more questions.
Why had she agreed to dance with me the way we did if she was engaged?
Why did she feel so fucking perfect in my arms if she was meant for someone else?
Why the fuck would someone as lovely as she was be willing to marry an asshat like Jake Black?
BPOV
As five-thirty drew near I got more and more nervous about seeing him.
I wanted answers. I wanted to know what he'd done to make him a media target and I wanted to know who hated him enough to drag me through the mud with him.
I wanted an answer to the question I'd asked Emmett. Why now, why this company, why had he put himself out there to try to change his public image?
I wanted to know why he'd shoved me away. I wanted to know why he changed personalities so often. I wanted to know why he'd been so hell bent on dancing with me and I wanted to know who'd let the journalist onto the property in the first place.
But most of all I wanted to hear him apologise for it all.
Alice made a fresh pot of coffee as the time for him to arrive drew near. We all had theories about who he was going to bring with him. Alice thought his mother, Jasper speculated that he'd have his lawyer and I thought he'd come with muscle.
Turned out I was right.
We stood by the front door and watched through the glass side lights as the same dark skinned guy I'd seen him with at the fun fair exited the Mercedes and went around to let his passenger out.
Jasper whispered for me to stay indoors and he went outside to greet them. The three of them shook hands, a few words were spoken and then Jasper led them back to the house.
Alice and I stepped aside while they came through the door.
He looked tired. That was my first impression after not having laid eyes on him for three days. He looked tired, frustrated and nervous.
He was decked out in one of the suits I was used to seeing him in on the television but he looked a little crumpled. His hands shook as he greeted Alice and then he came to stand in front of me.
"I'm so sorry," were his first words.
I stared up at him and everything I'd rehearsed in my head went out the window.
I'd readied my fingers and drawn my arm back before I had time to rethink doing it. And as I slapped him I let out an inhuman screech I didn't know I'd been capable of.
Alice shouted in alarm, Jasper tried to step between us and his muscle man laughed.
I cradled my hand against my chest as pain radiated up my arm as Edward raised his hand to his cheek and rubbed at the thick red welt that was forming.
"I deserved that," he whispered as he lowered his hand and I got my first look at what I'd done. I had to look around Jasper who seemed unwilling to move just in case I struck out again. "I deserved that for behaving so appallingly at the shooting gallery," he said quietly. "I deserved that for my reaction when we were introduced and I deserved that for allowing you to be in the situation you find yourself in now after having been photographed with me."
"All right," the dark skinned guy said sternly. "That's out of the way now. Can we sit and talk civilly now?"
"Who are you?" I demanded before I could check myself.
He stepped around Jasper and held out his hand for me. "I'm Seth Clearwater. Edward's bodyguard and head of his security team."
"Nice to meet you," I managed to say as I stared up at the huge man while we shook hands.
"Are we going to play nicely now?" he asked with a cheeky smile and I nodded that I would. "Edward?" he asked over his shoulder.
"I'm fine," was the response though I doubted that he truly was.
His cheek was a fiery red now and if it hurt half as much as my hand did he wasn't fine.
"Come on," I told him and dragged him by the sleeve of his suit coat towards the kitchen.
I let him go only long enough to drag a bag of frozen peas from Jasper's freezer. I wrapped the bag in a tea towel and handed it to him.
I expected him to put it to his cheek but he didn't. He put the wrapped parcel onto the counter and stepped towards me. I stood frozen to the spot wondering what he was going to do. Would he slap me back? Push me? Shove me again?
"I won't hurt you," he whispered as his hand came away from his side and reached for mine.
Something in his voice, and the soft or maybe concerned look on his face, told me he wasn't going to hurt me so I let him have my hand. He took it in his, raised it to his lips and kissed my palm.
"I won't hurt you," he whispered again as he lowered my hand and took up the tea towel wrapped peas. "I would never hurt you, or anyone," he whispered as he lowered my palm onto the cold pack.
I watched his face as he looked at my hand. The red welt was already abating on his cheek but I could still see it because I was so close to him. His eyes never left my hand. I'd made the pack to soothe his face but here he was using it to soothe the hand I'd slapped him with.
"I promise I'd never hurt you," he whispered again.
"You pushed me," I whispered back, referring to the night we'd danced.
"I did and I'm so, so sorry," he told me as he raised his eyes from my hand to meet mine. "When that camera flash went off I panicked," he said softly. "Being seen with me, being photographed with me, isn't good for you. It isn't good for anyone. And I panicked and pushed you away so he couldn't get another shot of us."
"Fireworks," I managed to croak as my eyes filled with tears.
"No, darling," he whispered softly. "Not fireworks, a camera flash."
I watched his free hand come up between us and I fought the urge to move away. He could strike me at this range and do real damage. I must have flinched just a little because his face clouded over and he withdrew his hand.
"I won't hurt you, I promise you. I swear to you. I'd never hurt you," he told me and moved his hand upwards again, but this time very, very slowly. I stayed put. I watched his hand as he curved it and cupped my cheek with it. "I saw him come around the back of the bandstand and then he took that first picture," he sighed as though it hurt him just as much to think about the photo as it had hurt me since seeing it. "I wanted to put some distance between us so he wouldn't be able to get another shot of you so close to me, but I pushed too hard and you fell. I'm so sorry."
"You don't want to be seen with me," I stated simply.
"Not true," he replied instantly. "You've learned firsthand today what it's like to be seen with me. I knew what would happen. I didn't want that for you."
"Why do people care who you're seen with?" I asked.
His thumb began to stroke my cheek very slowly and ever so softly and I found myself moving just a little into the touch. "Because they think I'm a monster and they want proof of it."
"Are you?" I asked cautiously.
"I don't think so."
"He wrote that you took advantage of me, that you are my boss and that..." I trailed off, on the verge of more tears thinking about the awful things that were written.
"Shhh," he hushed me gently, his thumb still stroking my cheek. "We know the truth. I don't care what they write about me, only about what's written about you."
"Why?" I asked. "Why don't you care what they write about you? It has to hurt and its all lies, isn't it?" I was desperate for him to clear up all the discrepancies I'd seen and heard since meeting him.
"Most of it is, yes. I've balked at giving interviews and I guess that they think something has to be written so without the truth they make it up. I've made myself a target because I don't talk about my private life."
"It's awful," I tell him.
"It is and I'm so sorry you got caught up in it."
"He said I was a gold digger."
"He's a bastard."
"He said I was your next conquest."
"A lie."
"He said you'd set the whole thing up."
"Another lie."
"He said you wanted to take over my brothers business."
"I make steel, not cupcakes."
"He said you used me to get to Jasper."
"What for? To steal his recipe for pies? It's lies."
"The picture had fireworks behind us."
"Photoshop."
"I don't know who let him in."
"Seth will find out."
"He said you were an awful dancer."
"I probably am."
"You're not. I liked it."
"I liked it too. You felt so good."
"I'm going to be thrown out of school."
"The Governance Committee has no plans to call you in. I checked."
"I'll never get a job now."
"You will. I'll do as many interviews as it takes to clear it all up."
"My father's so angry."
"I'll apologise to him."
"Jasper's business might suffer."
"I'll compensate him."
"Why are you different every time I'm near you?"
"I don't know who I am myself."
"I slapped you."
"I deserved it."
"I hurt you."
"Someone's hurt you before. I swear I never will."
"Jake. Jake hurt me."
"I'll kill him."
"Don't. He'll hurt you. He already doesn't like you."
"Let him try. I never liked him either."
"I was engaged to him."
"Was? Are you now?"
"No. He hurt me. I left him. Years ago."
"Good girl. Are you seeing anyone?"
"No."
"Please don't. Until I can clear all this up. Please don't date anyone. Let me show you who I really am and then you can decide to date me, or not."
"Okay," I whisper and close my eyes because all of it, and none of it, makes any sense right then.
My head is swimming with information. It's reeling from his words and my body is on fire because he's still stroking my cheek. His breath is mixing with my breath as we speak and I can smell his aftershave and the nicotine from his last cigarette. There's peppermint there too and I want to taste it. I want to taste him.
But my brother chooses that moment to come find us and the spell is broken.
"You okay, Bell's?" he asks as he comes around the corner and into the kitchen.
Edward and I spring apart and he's smart enough, and lucid enough, to pull the cold pack out of my hand and put it on his cheek.
"I'm fine, we're just talking," I tell my brother who looks at both of us in turn quizzically.
"I need a word with Edward and I think Alice wants you to go with her to get some dinner," my brother says and I get what he's trying to tell me.
He wants me away from Edward and out of the house while they shout at each other.
I'm torn. Twenty minutes ago I wanted to shout at him too. But I don't want to be in earshot if they do, confrontation of any kind freaks me out.
"Have you eaten?" I ask Edward who is already shaking his head. "Chinese okay with you?"
"Its fine," he says and reaches into his suit coat and brings out his wallet. He tries to hand me two crisp hundred dollar bills and asks if that's enough.
I laugh. I can't help it. Whatever world he's living in is obviously very different from mine if a Chinese takeaway costs two hundred dollars.
"I'm good," I giggle and wave his money away. "We'll be back soon. Play nice," I tell my brother as I leave the kitchen and go find Alice.
EPOV
"What were you talking about?" Jasper asked me the instant his sister had left the kitchen.
"It's private," I tell him firmly.
"You know she tells Alice everything, right?" he sneers.
"I didn't know that, no," is my reply because I really didn't.
"Well she does. So if you've said anything that's upset her I'll find out."
"If I've said anything to upset her she'd have told me so at the time."
"Maybe," he says, shrugging.
"She doesn't seem to have any problem making herself understood to me," I say, rubbing my cheek where she'd slapped me.
"I've never seen her slap anyone before," he says, grinning. The grin made no sense to me.
"It wasn't my first slap."
"I'll bet," he sniggers and gestures towards the part of the house we'd come from earlier.
I follow him out of the kitchen, leaving the cold pack that I didn't really need behind on the counter. We go down a short hallway and I'm ushered into a small study. Seth is sitting on a straight backed chair opposite what is obviously Jasper's desk.
"Is your man on it?" I ask Seth who nods minutely.
I sigh a little in relief, worried that Isabella was out there and knowing the press would be relentless trying to find her for comment.
"What was that?" Jasper asks and I look to Seth to answer. This is his speciality, not mine.
"Since the article appeared in the paper this morning I've had one of my security crew keeping an eye on your sister. The press can be pretty... insistent," he says with a cringe, choosing his words carefully.
"Christ," Jasper mutters darkly and sits back in his chair to give me the evil eye a little. "I didn't think of doing that myself. But then again I've never had to protect my sister before."
"You didn't try to protect her from Jake?" I ask just as darkly.
"I didn't know he was hurting her until it was too late," Jasper sputters, offended and pretty pissed off at my insinuation. "And how the fuck do you know he hurt her anyway? She doesn't talk about that, with anyone."
"Not even with Alice?" I ask sarcastically. His implication had been clear, my response just as pointed.
"She didn't tell anyone at the time and she doesn't talk about it now," he said sadly and I immediately felt bad for my quip.
I'd been cruel and I didn't want to fight with this man. "I'm sorry," I tell him sincerely. "That was uncalled for. If anyone hurt Rosie I'd...well, you know?" I shrugged and his posture relaxed.
"Yeah, I know," he said quietly. "Look, I don't want to hate you, but you have to see this from my point of view. It's hard not to dislike you right now. Just being seen dancing with you, and I have no idea why she was seen dancing with you at all by the way, has caused all this trouble and I have no clue what to do about it. A lawyer told us today that it would cost a fortune to sue for defamation of character and a libel suit is a waste of time because it's mostly all true, and the stuff that isn't is impossible to prove or would make it worse if we tried. What the fuck have you done that's made the press want to crucify you?" he asked me.
There were so many points in his statement that I needed to address. So many questions still remained unanswered and he was just as frustrated as I was about it all. So I did my best to go through it point for point.
"I can see this from your point of view. That's why I'm here. Because I know how bad it looks and I know how being seen with me will affect your sister going forward. She was dancing with me because I saw her dancing alone and wanted to join her. That's it, at its simplest; I just wanted to dance with her.
"I thought we were safe. I thought we had nothing to fear from the press because all day we'd turned them away and we didn't think there was any way one could slip into that fair. As for your lawyer he's right I'm afraid. A lot of what was said, though not strictly true, wasn't strictly untrue either.
"She was employed by my company, via your company, to do a job on my behalf. That does make me her employer in the strictest sense. We were alone, we were dancing. The rest is opinion and you can't sue for opinion. I've tried.
"As for what I've done that's an interesting question. The short answer is nothing much, the long answer is I'm adored by those who make money from my business and loathed by those who are of an environmental bent."
"But who fucking cares who you dance with?" Jasper hissed across the table at me.
"Nobody should," Seth said, inserting himself into the conversation, probably in an attempt to cool things down a little. "But Edward is a very high profile businessman and up until now he's been a bit of a mystery to the press. They don't like mysteries. They like drama, soap operas and a private life that isn't quite so private. So they dig and they dig and if they find something they run with it. They hardly ever find anything about him so they make it up.
"We sue when it's lies and say nothing when it's not. He'd just decided to try and make some inroads with his public image and that's why we hired your firm to set up the fun fair. Obviously something's gone wrong. This time they found something, took pictures of it and found it rather easy to sell it. I don't believe this is anything to do with them dancing," Seth said firmly.
"Then what do you believe it's about then?" Jasper asked.
"Someone wants to hurt one or both of them," Seth replied simply.
"We met with Jake today, it's not him," Jasper told us.
"Is that a personal opinion or have you checked?" Seth asked.
"A bit of both," Jasper said evenly. "Look, the thing you have to know about Jake is that he does nothing unless there's something in it for him. None of us can think what he stood to gain by shopping Bella to the press. In fact, the article was less than complimentary about him seeing as their engagement was broken very suddenly and nobody knew why at the time. If he had something to gain he'd have gone on the record before the article appeared. He didn't and that's obvious because if he had he'd make sure he was directly quoted. He loves nothing more than to see his own name in print."
"Don't I know it," I hiss.
"That aside," Seth interjected, steering the conversation back to the point, "Edward has had a stormy professional relationship with Jake since the first day he registered his company. Jake never misses a chance to attack and he'd never pass up an opportunity to discredit Edward in the press. That's exactly what's occurred here, Edward's character has been brought into question. He's been accused of abusing his position to take advantage of your sister. His business practises have been called into question and that has been Jake's aim for years."
"I can see what you mean," Jasper sighed. "So maybe it has come from Jake. Two birds with one stone sort of thing?" he mused and I asked him to go on, to clarify his thoughts. "Well, he'd banked on marrying Bella a few years ago. He was finding it tough going to be the face of an environmental action group that had affiliations with a family oriented political party when he wasn't married and had no family himself. Bella was his answer to that. Marry her, instant credibility and the prospect of him having a family didn't hurt his cause either.
"He was very angry when Bella called it off even though it was his own fucking fault," he snarled. "And if he's been trying to get at you for years he might have thought he had the perfect chance to get at you both with this. Her for revenge, you just because he hates you."
"It's possible," Seth mused but I was caught up in thoughts of Isabella being injured at the hands of a piece of shit like Jake Black.
"Edward?" Jasper asked and I was jolted back to the present.
"What? Sorry, I missed that," I had to admit.
"I asked if there was anyone, like Jake, who you knew who would benefit from getting at both of you at once?" Jasper asked.
"Not that I can think of, no," I told him. "I have a few rivals in the steel business, but nobody who'd risk their own reputation to do this."
"And personally? Is there someone who'd be pissed enough at you to do this, making Bella just collateral damage?" he asked.
I looked at Seth and I could see that behind his eyes his head was running through names. He shook his head when I did. "No, not that I can think of," I told Jasper.
"So we're back to Jake," he sighed. "Any ideas how we find out for sure?"
"I'm on it," Seth said, getting to his feet. "I'll make some calls, find out if I can link the journalist with him in any way," he said to Jasper then turned to me. "I need to go to a meeting, are you staying here or do you want me to drop you at home?"
I didn't need to think on it. "Isabella's bringing back Chinese, I'm staying here for a bit."
"I'll leave a man on the street opposite. Stay indoors if it's possible. If I'm not back by the time you need to leave call me, I'll send my man over to collect you and to drive you home. Thanks for your hospitality," he said to Jasper, who had risen to his fee too. I watched them shake hands over the expanse of the desk and then Seth left.
"He's a little intimidating," Jasper chuckled as the front door closed.
"That's what I pay him for."
"I can be intimidating too, if needed," he said pointedly.
"I have no doubt," I replied evenly. "But I'll never give you a reason to need to intimidate me."
"We'll see," he sighed. "Let's have a drink while we wait for the girls to come back," he suggested and I followed him out of the study and back into the kitchen.
BPOV
"I don't understand him," I told Alice as we drove to the Chinese take out place. "Just when I think I've got him figured out something happens, or he does something unexpected, and I'm thrown for a loop all over again."
"I know you don't like to be kept guessing," she said as she turned left into the service road where the restaurant was.
"I don't," I admitted. "I never knew what Jake was thinking, or what he was going to do next."
"Are you looking at Edward as someone you could be with then?" she giggled. "I mean, if you weren't it wouldn't matter if you could predict him, right?" she asked as we got out of the car.
"I don't know," I said truthfully as I closed my door and joined her on the pavement. "I only met him three days ago."
"Sometimes that's all it takes," she said as she looped her arm through mine. "I knew Jasper was the one after five minutes."
"I remember," I told her as we went inside.
I let her order while I stared into the giant fish tank that ran the length of the wall where the waiting area for pick-ups was.
Was I looking at Edward as someone I could potentially be with? He'd asked me not to date anyone else, not that I had dated anyone at all since I left Jake, and I'd agreed. I'd agreed easily. I didn't even ask for time to think on it. I'd just said okay.
I'd seen the situation we'd gotten ourselves into in a totally different way to him. I'd thought the flash of light was the fireworks, it wasn't. I thought he pushed me away because I repulsed him, but he was protecting me. Even when I was on the ground and I thought he was looming over me to hurt me he was only thinking of me, wanting to help me up, get me away from the journalist.
I hadn't let him explain so I'd jumped to conclusions. But he answered everything I asked and hadn't balked at all. And I believed his answers.
I still didn't know why we'd been targeted in that story and I believed that he didn't know either.
I slapped him and he'd ignored the pain in his cheek to take care of my hand.
He comforted me when there were far more derogatory things written in that article about him than about me.
I'd only thought of myself and how the article affected me, but he'd only thought of me.
Edward Cullen thought of me. He promised he'd never hurt me, or anyone and I believed that too. He said he'd apologise to my father. He'd compensate my brother. He hated interviews but he said he'd give as many as it took if I couldn't find a job because of the article. He'd checked with the university on my behalf!
Who did that? Who went that far for someone they'd only met three days before?
He had to be a good man. Despite my first impression of him, or rather my first few impressions of him, now that he'd explained I could see that I'd been wrong. I hoped I'd been wrong.
He still confused me. I still didn't know which persona was really him but he'd admitted he didn't know either.
The man I'd seen waiting by the stage before his speech had been vulnerable and frightened. The one on the stage a few minutes later had been confident and in control.
Could it be that professionally he was exactly what he'd been reported to be? Ruthless when it came to getting what he wanted, obviously quite brilliant in his chosen field and arrogantly aloof with the press?
Could it be that in private he was exactly what I'd thought him to be when I'd watched him before that speech? Shy, self conscious, nervous and unsure?
Should anybody have the right to insist that he meld the two together to conform to what the press wanted his image to be?
Could I keep the two separate myself and not take offense at him in business mode, while enjoying the sweet, gentle man he seemed to be in private?
Did I want to try?
"Bella?" I heard my name and turned to see Alice standing above me, smiling down at where I sat seemingly engrossed in the fish.
"Yeah?" I asked.
"Why are you crying?"
"Am I?" I asked stupidly as I swiped at my eyes. "I don't know, Ally."
"Come on, sis, let's get this home and get you some answers."
I'd sat there so long that she'd ordered our food, they'd cooked it and she now held it in two white plastic bags in her hands. I'd stared at those fish so long, and I was so lost in my own thoughts, I hadn't noticed a thing around me.
"What happened in the kitchen?" she asked softly as she steered the car towards home.
"We just talked."
"Was he mad that you slapped him?"
"Not at all," I told her truthfully. "I made a cold pack for his cheek but he kept it pressed to my hand the whole time."
"Wow," she whistled through her teeth.
"Yeah, wow."
"Can I ask you something? You don't have to answer, but I'd like to know."
"Sure," I told her.
"Why were you dancing with him at the fun fair?"
"Because he asked me to."
"You don't dance."
"Apparently I do with Edward Cullen," I giggled because I couldn't help it.
"Yeah, apparently you do with Edward Cullen," she giggled back and we spent the rest of the drive talking about just how handsome he was as though we were back in high school again.
EPOV
Jasper and I took our drinks to the living room and through the glass beside the front door I saw our next problem. There was a white, unmarked van parked on the street and coming out of it were three guys. One with a camera, one with a microphone and one with a boom mic.
"Shit," I hissed and set my drink on an end table. I had my phone to my ear before Jasper was able to fully comprehend what he was seeing. "Seth, it's me. I've got press here at Jasper's house. Advise," I barked into it.
"Two minutes, keep this line open," he barked back and I knew he was on it. It's what he did.
"Who are they?" Jasper asked, peering through the curtains of the living room now.
"Come away," I told him and thankfully he did. "Press. They want a comment. They want to make life uncomfortable until one of us makes a statement," I hissed, running a hand through my hair in frustration.
"What do we do?" he asked, the alarm evident on his face and in his voice.
"We wait," I told him. "Seth needs two minutes and then he'll tell me what he needs us to do."
"But the girls are out there, they'll be here any minute," he all but shouted.
"I know," I said as calmly as I could manage. "Just let Seth do his thing and we'll make it as easy as possible for them to come home."
I answered my phone on the first ring.
"Jared's across the road, he's got an eyeball on them. Tyler is telling me the ladies are eight minutes away. You've got two choices here, boss. You let this unfold as it will and you call Bella and tell her to say no comment when she's asked. Or, you let me extract you and we draw them away. Your call, boss."
"One minute, stand by," I tell him and cover the mouthpiece of my phone with my hand while I address Jasper. "Choice to be made. Do nothing and tell Isabella to say nothing as she comes into the house or I leave and draw them away in plain sight."
"Fuck," he mumbled. "Is there any way they know you're here already or is this about Bella?"
"Does anyone know I'm here?" I ask in to my phone.
"Probably if whoever is behind this knows your vehicle, but there's no way for me to know right this second. Time's ticking, boss," he said.
"We don't know for sure," I tell Jasper.
"Will it make things worse if you stay or if you go?" he asks.
"Either way it'll feed the fire," I say sadly because I knew that it would.
"Do you want to walk away and never see her again?" he asked out of the blue and I couldn't help but cringe at the thought of it. My reaction must have been pretty evident because he grinned at me without me having to say a word. "Call her, tell her to make no comment," he said firmly and I nodded.
He advanced to where I stood and pointed his finger at my chest. "But she doesn't go through this alone," he snarled. "If you're serious, and she means anything to you at all, even at this early stage, you'll go out there and walk through that mess with her," he said, turning his pointed finger from me to the direction of the front of his house and the waiting press.
"Deal," I told him immediately. "I'll meet her at the car, we'll do it together," I tell Seth into my phone.
"Jared will be at the driveway; Tyler will drive in directly behind the ladies, blocking them in and the press out. Wait where they will pull up. Head up. Chin up. Don't fidget. Use a clear voice when you greet her. Your choice whether you help her out of the car or whether you touch her as you walk to the door. You let Alice go ahead of the two of you. You stay by Bella's side. You don't respond to baiting. You ask for privacy only if you absolutely have to and any direct personal question is answered as no comment if you absolutely have no choice but to speak to them. Go directly into the house. You don't turn. You don't wave. You don't sigh, cough or fart close enough to the press to be overheard. Open the front door for the ladies, usher them inside, go inside yourself. Clear?" he asked.
"Clear," I told him and hung up.
BPOV
The caller ID told me it was Edward calling and I debated whether or not to answer it. But in the end curiosity got the better of me and I did. His voice told me something was wrong long before he spelled out what it was.
"Ask Alice to pull over, please," he begged and I did as he asked.
"Okay, we're stopped," I told him once she'd pulled the car over into the emergency lane at the side of the road. "What's going on?"
"There's absolutely no need to be frightened," he led with and of course, as everyone does, I got frightened. "Look behind you. Do you see a plain black sedan? It should've pulled over behind you."
I looked and it was there, stopped behind us. "Who is that?" I asked into my phone.
"Put me on speaker," he instructed and I did.
"Alice, Isabella, the car behind you is Seth's man, Tyler. He's there to protect you, not hurt you and you can trust him with your life, I swear, okay?" he said and we both said okay.
"Good. Now, the press is waiting for you at Jasper's house. There is a white van parked in the street and you'll see three men there. They can't come onto private property so I want you to pull right up into the driveway, Alice. Tyler is going to pull in right behind you."
"Alright," she said shakily.
"I'll be there, Isabella. I'll be waiting in the driveway for you both and when you get there get out of the car calmly as though you don't know the press is there. Speak only to me, if you want to speak. I'll walk with you to the house and we'll go inside. We won't talk to them, we won't look at them and we won't respond if they call out questions or nasty comments. Okay?"
"Okay," Alice answered for us both.
"A private word now, Isabella," he said and I pushed the button to take him off speaker phone.
"Yes," I managed to croak.
"I can leave now, not be here when you get here. I can draw them away, make them follow me. I'll make me the story, not you and not us," he told me solemnly. "I don't want to make this decision for you, but I need to know. Are you willing to be seen with me this way?"
"Yes," I said softly.
"Think on it, be sure, Isabella," he said.
"Yes," I said more confidently, though right then I didn't actually feel more confident.
"Thank you," he seemed to sigh and I thought it might be in relief. "Tell Alice she should drive carefully, not slowly but carefully and everything will be just fine. I'll see you in a few minutes."
"I'll tell her," I replied and ended the call. "Edward says we can drive now."
She put on her blinker and took us steadily back out into the traffic. Tyler, in the car behind, followed.
"I think I like him," she giggled a few minutes later as we turned into Jasper's street and saw for ourselves the white van.
"What about that conversation makes you like him?" I laughed.
"He's so forceful. I bet he's brilliant in bed," she giggled as we pulled into the driveway, Tyler right behind us.
I slapped her on the arm and giggled too but now that we were there I felt the nerves rise up in me. But he was there, right where he said he'd be and that made me feel a little better. I gathered the plastics bags that contained our dinner from the backseat and pulled them onto my lap in readiness to get out.
Edward opened my door for me, which in any other circumstance would've made me swoon. The flash of the camera went off immediately and I had to blink a few times to get rid of the white light in my eyes.
Had I known that first photo was going to be the one in the paper the next morning I'd have tried harder to smile.
EPOV
They were so fucking brave I thought as I waited in the driveway for them to arrive.
The journalist had been shouting questions at me for the past three minutes, in rapid fire style, and I wanted so desperately to tell him to fuck off but I knew I couldn't.
I did what Seth told me to do. Head up, chin up, my suit coat buttoned, my tie straight. I didn't fidget and I didn't rub my fingers through my hair though I really wanted to.
The flash of the camera as the car pulled in blinded me for a second but by the time Alice had brought the car to a stop I could see clearly enough to find the doorhandle with no problem.
I held out my hand for her and she put hers in mine without hesitation. That little sting hit me again as our skin met but I had no time to think on what it was and why it kept jolting me. She stepped down out of the high SUV and then we were there, face to face, in front of the press.
"Are you okay with being seen with me this way?" I asked her softly, smiling down at her because I already knew her answer.
She nodded but I needed more.
"Say it," I begged. "Out loud. Are you okay with being seen with me this way?" I asked again.
"I am, Edward," she whispered and smiled up at me so beautifully I thought I might swoon.
"Come inside, ladies," I said a little more loudly as Alice joined us on the passenger side of the car. I did my best to ignore Tyler who was now sat in his car with it switched off. "Our dinner will be getting cold," I said loud enough for the press to hear. The smile on my face was genuine, not put there for the press. It was as real as I felt as I heard her give me her answer.
Alice went ahead of Bella and I as we'd discussed, and within another minute all three of us were inside safe and sound and I could let out the breath I felt like I'd been holding for days.
Alice fell into Jasper's arms the instant she was inside the door and I watched them embrace with a green tinge of envy to my sight.
At first I thought I imagined the light touch on my hand but after another second I knew it wasn't imaginary. Isabella had shifted slightly and had the back of her hand pressed to the back of mine. It was a simple thing to turn mine and take hers and as her fingers curled around mine I heard her let out a soft, breathy sigh.
"Thank you," she whispered and I couldn't help but smile again.
I wasn't facing her and I doubted she could see my face – and I didn't want to turn to face her straight on – so I simply asked what for.
"For being right where you said you'd be," she replied softly as we watched her brother and his fiancé embrace.
I knew what she was saying and I knew what she meant. I'd asked her to let me show her the real me and she was thanking me for doing so.
"I don't break promises unless I have a very, very good reason," I told her quietly.
"I'll try and remember," she whispered.
"I seriously need a drink after that," Alice trilled as she led Jasper towards the kitchen by the hand. "What about you two?" she called over her shoulder.
I'd already had one with Jasper but I wasn't driving so I said I'd love one. Bella eyed me, a little cautiously I thought, before saying she'd like one too.
It didn't take me long to put two and two together and work out what the look had been for. Just before we were to step around the archway and enter the kitchen properly I tugged on her hand, which was still in mine, and faced her.
"I'm not usually a drinker," I tell her pointedly. "I had one beer with Jasper while you were collecting dinner. I don't drink and drive, ever. I do have a glass of wine with dinner sometimes but I can't remember the last time I got drunk."
The corner of her lip lifted into a little, tentative smile as she nodded her head. "Jake drank," she whispered as she stared up at me. "The more he drank the more physical he got."
"Understood," I tell her because I did understand now. "Let's eat, I'm starving," I say to lighten the mood.
"Me too," she said before skipping away, breaking our handhold, "We got sweet and sour pork and there's spicy beef and cashew nuts too. Alice likes satay and Jasper's favourite is pork with plum sauce, but we all share. Come on," she called and I followed happily behind her.
I didn't quite know what I expected but a rowdy family meal wasn't it.
I thought perhaps they'd want to demob about the press thing outside? Maybe rant and rave, a few tears from the girls? Jasper might have lost his temper with me, demanded I have nothing further to do with his sister? Even for Isabella herself to drop her bundle and demand I leave the house forthwith.
But no. What I got was a lot of laughter, some very good spicy beef with cashew nuts and an insight into how this family worked.
Alice opened a very nice bottle of red and we each had just the one glass over the meal which suited me just fine. Bella doled out the fried rice while Jasper set out plates and cutlery. I was tasked with opening the bag of prawn crackers and then the four of us sat down to eat.
Simple as that.
No recriminations.
No theories.
No blame.
There was a lot of laughter about certain things we'd all seen and heard at the fun fair and a fair few lewd jokes about Mike, Jessica and Lauren who I learned worked in the kitchen for Swan Catering.
We laughed about Emmett's penchant for childish pursuits and talked about my parents philanthropic works. Alice mentioned she was meeting Rosalie for lunch the next day and that set off another round of conversation about my family.
I heard about Charlie Swan, Jasper and Isabella's divorced father who lived in a little town a couple of hours drive north of Sydney and I told them about my mother's sister Sue who lived not far from his home.
I explained about what it was I actually did with the steel I produced and they each asked pertinent and intelligent questions about the processes.
Isabella told us about her first day back at university and I got to explain how I knew, and who I'd asked, about the Governance committee.
The whole evening was relaxed and jovial. For the first time in a long time I was able to forget about anything outside of the four walls I sat in. I could put out of my mind that the press were likely to still be camped outside and were probably now outside my home as well.
I'd taken off my suit jacket when I'd ushered the girls indoors and I'd loosened my tie as the meal wore on. I sat with Isabella to my left, Alice across from me, and Jasper across from his sister. I'd slung my arm across the back of Isabella's chair some hours ago and found myself subconsciously rubbing the long strands of her beautiful dark hair through my fingertips.
I wasn't self conscious about having to ask questions if I didn't get their 'in jokes' and nobody cared if I fidgeted out of nerves now and then. Nobody cared that the wine wasn't vintage or that we'd slopped rice and sauces on the tablecloth.
I told jokes I couldn't possibly tell to my other friends or any of my colleagues and I laughed at jokes I'd have been forced to condemn in any other company.
Most telling of all I didn't once look at my watch or wish that I could signal Seth to get me out of there.
In hindsight I spent what, to date, had quite possibly been the best night of my adult life that didn't involve my family.
BPOV
Edward fit.
There wasn't any other way to describe him or the situation. He just fit. Right there with me and with us as a family.
He was sharp and funny, supportive and interested in the conversations though he probably had no clue who half the people were we were talking about.
He seemed relaxed and very appreciative of the food, wine and the company.
He'd been rubbing my hair through his fingers for hours and I wondered if he even knew himself that he'd been doing it. I liked it. I liked it a lot. It was gentle and intimate without being domineering or possessive.
I began to dread the time. The clock on the wall in Jasper's kitchen read eleven and I knew he was going to have to leave soon. He'd probably stayed longer than he'd intended already and I knew he'd have to be up at the ass crack of dawn for work too.
I had a class myself the following day that I fully intended to go to now that I knew the governance committee weren't gunning for me.
And that threw up another problem for me. I had no idea if the press had now taken up residence outside my building. If they had how would I get inside?
"You're frowning," Ally said across the table. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"I'm thinking about how to get home," I tell her. "If the press are here they're probably at both our homes, right?" I ask Edward who nods sadly in confirmation. "So how do we go home?"
"You know you can stay here," Jasper offered, which I knew he would.
I'd stayed at his place a hundred times since he'd bought it. I even had some of my clothes here and a few toiletries in the little bathroom upstairs that I used when I did. But that wasn't the point. I wanted to go to my own home.
"You too, Edward. You're welcome to stay too," Jasper added and I was so grateful to him for it.
"Thank you," Edward replied, smiling widely, "I really appreciate the offer but I'm used to this and I know that you aren't, Isabella," he told me softly. "Seth will collect me when I call for him and, if you want to go to your own home we will take you. I can do exactly what I did earlier and walk you to your door if the press are there, or Seth can escort you in if you'd prefer?"
"What do you think?" I asked Alice and my brother.
"You know you can stay here, but you have to go home at some point, unless you just want to sell it and move?" Alice asked.
I cringed at the thought. It wasn't that I was particularly attached to my apartment, I wasn't. It was just somewhere to sleep really, but I hated the idea of having to sell it and move because of the press. It felt like a cop out. Like I was running away. Like I'd done something wrong and I hadn't.
"I won't let them force me out," I said matter of factly. "Neither of us has done anything wrong."
"Exactly," Edward added, a little bit proudly I thought. "And you're right not to want to let them force you out. They can't camp there forever because there really isn't a story to be had here. So I'll call Seth and we'll take you home and make sure that it's safe for you there."
I was grateful and said so but was also a little sad that our evening was coming to a close.
Edward excused himself to call Seth and explain what was happening and while he stepped out of the dining room I helped Alice clean up our mess.
EPOV
I asked Seth to come and collect me and informed him we'd be seeing Isabella home first. He asked for ten minutes to have the area around her building scouted and I agreed. I had no idea where she lived but wasn't surprised that he did. It's what Seth did, after all.
I went back into the dining room a little sorry that the fun and frivolity of the evening had to come to an end but it was getting late and I'd already thought about what Isabella would do at the end of the evening before she mentioned it herself, so I was prepared to have to say my goodbyes to her.
Prepared but not willing.
Plus, I didn't want to have to make those goodbyes in public and definitely not in front of a press contingent at her home. I'd much rather do it at her brothers, knowing she was spending the night there in safety.
But she'd made the decision to go to her own home and whilst I respected that, and was proud that she was standing up for herself with the press, I did worry about her being alone in her apartment.
The press were notoriously sneaky. If there was a way to get at her without trespassing they'd do it, and some wouldn't worry about trespassing laws either. I didn't know if she had a balcony or a basement. Those were the usual points of entry for photographers and if there was any chance to get shots of her from a higher position – like a building with higher floors that overlooked hers – then they'd have scoped that out already too.
"All clean," Alice announced once she'd pressed start on the dishwasher.
"Seth will be another five minutes," I told the others. "He's just making sure the building is secure and that you'll be safe there on your own overnight," I told Isabella herself.
"He knows where I live?" she asked. "Of course he does," she giggled before I could reply. "I bet he knows all about me by now, doesn't he?"
"Probably," I shrugged though I knew she was right. "Please don't be offended by that. It's been his job to protect me for years now and he takes it very seriously. He's very discreet. He'd never disclose information about you. About any of you," I told the other pair too.
"I'm not offended, I'm grateful," Isabella said with a smile and I relaxed just a little. "Does he have a brother?" she asked.
"No," I answered but couldn't work out why she'd asked.
"Relax," she chuckled and cuffed me on the upper arm. "I was making a joke. You know? 'Does he have a brother who I could hire to guard me like he guards you?'"
"Oh, I get it," I chuckled. "He doesn't have a brother but he's assigned Tyler to you for now until he vets someone more permanent."
"What?" she screeched. "What do you mean more permanent?"
"Um, we might just go and um, go and ...yeah, we're gonna go for a minute," Jasper chuckled as he led Alice from the room.
Isabella waited until her brother and his fiancé were out of earshot and then she rounded on me.
"Don't you think it should be up to me to decide if I want a bodyguard?" she seethed.
"I do. I do think it should be up to you to decide. But, had you considered it yet?" I asked as calmly as I could.
I watched differing emotions flit across her beautiful face until she settled on one that looked a little like resigned. "Fine," she sighed. "I can see your point. I hadn't thought about it. Not yet. But I would have, eventually," she said through clenched teeth as she pointed at me sternly.
The Swans were pointers.
They liked to punctuate a point by pointing. I could live with that.
"I know you would have, you're brilliant," I said, grinning, trying to look charming and hoping I didn't look like the village idiot. "And I also know that finding a good one, a trustworthy one, takes time. Seth has Tyler and Jared on the books to be shadows for me. That's someone who guards someone but isn't seen to be doing it," I told her. "You are welcome to use either of their services until you find a man of your own."
"Thank you," she said and I could tell it was grudgingly. "But I'll pay him myself. Not you."
"As you wish," I chuckled, a little turned on by her display of independence and that wonderful stubborn streak she had. I doubted she'd be able to afford Tyler so I'd get Seth to give her a price she could afford, minus half, and then I'd top the payment up. She'd never need to know.
"Are we even sure I'll need someone longer term? Other than just today or this week? I mean, you said it yourself, there's no story here," she asked.
This time I sighed heavily. "I'm sure," I told her sadly. "This won't go away quickly I'm afraid. Someone somewhere is paying for this. Someone somewhere wants this to be a story and they won't stop until we find them or an actual story comes of it."
"An actual story?" she asked, an eyebrow raised in my direction.
"Proof of impropriety between us. Employer," I said, pointing to my chest, "and employee," I said pointing to her. "And I know that you don't work for me, but it won't matter. Right now Seth thinks it's someone wanting to expose my private life in such a way that I come off looking like the monster I'm thought to be. Could be a rival, could be personal. Could be about you rather than me, we don't know. Until then, and while the money keeps flowing, they'll dig."
"Today's story said I was engaged and I'm not. Everyone will think I'm cheating with you unless I tell them otherwise. That'll hurt your reputation, and mine for what it's worth. I should just make a statement and say that it's not true," she mused.
"You could," I agreed, "but then the story will become that you and I are an actual item and it will continue from there."
"Christ," she snarled. "You haven't even asked me out and here I am being cut down in the press for sleeping with you while I'm supposedly engaged to Jake!"
"Go out with me?" I asked abruptly, pulling her up from her rant.
"What?" she asked.
"Go out with me?" I asked again. "Let me take you out to dinner? We could see a movie or something. Go to a club or see a show? Bowling?" I asked with a chuckle when I saw her crinkle up her brow at my other suggestions.
"If we're seen together doing any of those things, and just so you know I down bowl, ever, won't it just feed the story that isn't really a story at all?" she asked.
"It will," I agreed. "But, we're already being pilloried. They'll continue to print that we're seeing each other, especially now that they know I was here tonight, so we might as well actually be seeing each other, no?"
"Pilloried?" she asked with a smile and I nodded. "Fancy word there Mr Cullen. And could you make it sound like you actually want to take me out on a date instead of 'well I'm being accused of it might as well just do it'? Please?"
"Shit," I cursed and ran my hand through my hair in frustration. "I didn't mean it like that. I swear I didn't. It came out wrong."
"I know," she laughed and reached for my hand, bringing it down and settling it back at my side. "You do that when you're frustrated or frightened, right?" she asked and I nodded, embarrassed. "Kinda cute," she mumbled. "And I know what you meant. Yes Edward, I'll go out on a date with you. But no bowling," she said, once again pointing to my chest to make her point.
I grabbed the tip of her finger and brought her whole hand to my lips. I kissed her knuckles and kept hold of her hand when I lowered it. "You point to make your point. Kinda cute," I mumbled, just as she had. "No bowling, got it. Seth's going to call me in a second to let me know how things sit at your building. Will you allow me to walk you to your door?" I asked, hopefully.
"I'd like that," she whispered.
We were back to whispering between us and I liked it. I didn't know why we did it. But when things between us got heavy, or very personal, we slipped into whispering and I liked it.
My phone rang right then and I had to step away.
"Boss, it's me," Seth told me as I answered and I mouthed who it was to Isabella who nodded that she understood and then pointed to where her brother and Alice had retreated.
"Go ahead," I said into my phone.
BPOV
I found Jasper and Alice in the living room, curled up on the sofa almost asleep.
"Sorry guys, long night," I sighed as I plopped down onto the opposite sofa. "Edward's talking to Seth and then we're going to head off. I'm so sorry about all of this," I told them both.
"It's kinda exciting," Alice giggled.
Jasper pinched her on her arm and rolled his eyes at her before turning to me. "Be careful," he told me and I nodded that I would. "Do what Seth tells you to do, he seems to know what he's doing in all this. And make sure all your doors and windows are locked before you go to bed. And leave your phone switched on overnight."
"Yes dad," I said sarcastically.
"Well, if dad was here he'd tell you to do the same so thanks for the compliment," my brother said, grinning. "So are you going to let Tyler guard you then?" he asked more seriously.
"I am," I told him straight up. "At least for now anyway."
"Good. And what's the plan moving forward?" he asked.
"I guess we let Seth do his thing, whatever that is, and see what he can find."
"And with you and Edward?" my brother asked, looking more like our father than ever as he did.
"Are you asking me if I've got a boyfriend, dad?" I giggled.
"Yes. Do you?" he asked, still being serious.
"Well, he's asked me out on a date and I've said yes, so maybe," I shrugged.
Alice was just about bursting out of her skin, fully awake now. She said nothing but she did put her finger to her ear and one to her lips and mouthed 'call me'.
"Tomorrow Alice, between classes," I laughed and got to my feet to stretch. "Thanks for today, and tonight you guys. And I'm sorry this whole thing has landed on your front door too."
"Don't worry about it," Jasper said matter of factly. "We'll sort it out and you and your boyfriend can give us credit in your memoirs."
I huffed, pretending to be offended but leant down to kiss my brother on his cheek anyway. I told Alice good night, told them both that I loved them, and then went to the bathroom and to gather my things.
When I came back out Edward was saying his goodbyes so I waited at the front door for him. I could see through the side lights that the press guys were still out, only now there were three white vans and twice as many men and women standing on the sidewalk waiting for us. And then there was Tyler, still sitting in his car behind Alice' SUV.
When Edward joined me I told him I felt awful that Tyler had sat there all night while we'd had a lovely time.
Edward smiled down at me, raised my hand to his lips and kissed it again and then kept it in his as we moved to the door. "It's what he's paid to do, Isabella. Now, Seth has my car across the street and we're going to walk down the drive, past Tyler, and straight to my car. We won't speak to the press, we won't answer any questions and we won't flinch, alright?"
"Right," I told him firmly.
I squared my shoulders, clutched my bag in my free hand and waited until he opened the door for us. The flash of the cameras went off immediately but I tried not to flinch. Edward squeezed my hand and we were off.
Questions were shouted at us as we walked and I found myself pressing up against Edward's side in fear. He didn't falter though. He squeezed my hand rhythmically with each step and even as the questions became more insistent, and more impertinent, he didn't respond.
I drew strength from his strength and as we stopped at the curb to check for passing traffic before crossing I let my shoulders relax a little.
"Good girl," he whispered beside me and gave my hand another squeeze before we stepped onto the road.
Seth was there, holding the back door to a Mercedes open for us and Edward held my bag while I got inside. Then he was there, sitting beside me and before I knew it Seth was in the driver's seat and we were away.
"God they don't give up, do they?" I asked as we turned out of Jasper's street.
"No, they don't," Seth replied from the front seat. "But you did very well, Miss Swan."
"You can call me Bella," I chuckled but he wasn't having it.
"There are several journalists camped outside your building, Miss Swan. I've engaged a doorman who has a list of the other tenants who reside there. His name is Stanley and he'll switch out with another man named Ethan when the time comes. Anyone not on the list who wishes to enter will have to be authorised by a resident. I've spoken to each of the other tenants and explained and they are all willing to do so. So if you have invited a friend or relative over you'll need to either let Stanley or Ethan know or they'll call you to vet the visitor when they arrive," he told me as he drove.
I was stunned. "Is that really necessary?" I asked, not caring which of them answered the question.
"I believe it is, Miss Swan," Seth answered sternly. "Mr Cullen has explained to you about Tyler?" he asked and I told him he had, though the use of Mr Cullen threw me a little. He was so formal all of a sudden. "Tyler will switch out with Jared, who you'll meet in the morning when he arrives to collect you to take you to your classes."
"But I can drive myself," I argued.
"I'm sure you can," Seth replied simply. "But Jared will escort you to and from your classes tomorrow. We'll reassess after that."
"Fine," I huffed.
"Will you be accompanying Miss Swan into her building, Mr Cullen?" he asked next.
"I will," Edward told him matter of factly.
"Very good. Please observe the same posture and responses employed at Mr Swan's residence," he instructed.
"Done," Edward replied and it seemed that was that.
My life, for the foreseeable future anyway, had been organised for me and there was nothing I could do about it. Even the assurance that 'we'll reassess after that' didn't appease me much.
EPOV
I could've strangled Seth!
He was pissing her off being so formal, refusing to temper his language so the instructions seemed less intimidating for her and I was mad as hell. We'd be having words on the trip back to my house.
I'd felt her relax as we'd crossed the road but now she sat rigid in the seat beside me, staring out the window as she bit her lower lip. She was overwhelmed and probably seriously mad that she was being ordered around. I didn't blame her.
I knew the drill. But I'd balked at it all at the beginning too, just as she was now. I knew how necessary it all was but I didn't want to frighten her by explaining how I knew. I knew she was in danger and that the little bit of personal freedom she was giving up right now was nothing compared just how easily she could be physically hurt if Seth's rules weren't adhered to.
She was also quite likely rethinking having anything to do with me. That thought made my stomach clench with worry. I was too chicken shit to ask her about that though, so I sat in silence, boring a hole in the back of Seth's head while she stared out the window.
The trip to her building was quick and when we pulled up outside it I could see the white vans that denoted a press presence. I hated those fuckers.
"Please wait," Seth instructed and while he got out of the driver's seat and came to open Isabella's door I got myself ready to exit too.
He held her door for her and once she was out I followed. The flash of the cameras went off immediately, the shouted questions followed only a second later.
"Are you living together?"
"Is she the reason you missed the tender deadline for the India deal? Too much of a distraction?"
"Are you pregnant?"
"Is she still your employee?"
"Were you fired for sleeping with him?"
"Will you be picking up her education expenses?"
"Did you swap Jake for Edward out of revenge?"
"Edward are you gay? Is she a cover?
"Your father says he's never met Cullen, are you hiding him? Are you ashamed?"
"Did you get her a place at uni by using your relationship with Belinda Powell?"
"Are you part of a merger agreement between Swan Catering and Cullen Enterprises?"
"Are you trying to clean up your image before another merger, Cullen?"
On and on the questions went, each one more offensive than the last.
This time she didn't flinch and I was so proud of her I couldn't help but whisper that to her as we walked up between the parked cars and into the foyer of her building.
She pulled her hand from mine the second the doors were closed behind us. That was my first sign that she's wasn't alright.
Stanley greeted us and introduced himself and then we were in the elevator going up to her floor. She kept her eyes on the glowing numbers.
She had her key in her hand before we got to her door.
She unlocked it, turned the handle and pushed the door open slightly. Then she turned to face me. I noted that she didn't take her hand off the doorknob.
This was going to hurt.
"Thank you for seeing me home," she said flatly.
"Isabella," I began but she cut me off.
"Go home, Edward. I have a class in six hours and I'm sure you have work to do tomorrow. I've distracted you long enough, you should sort out that India thing," she said flatly.
I knew when I was beaten. I knew when to leave well enough alone. I knew not to push her.
So I did the only thing I could do. I apologised for everything again, I wished her a good sleep and then I left. Going back the way I'd come. Down the elevator, past Stanley, out into the street to run the gauntlet of the press on the return trip.
I so wanted to respond. I so wanted to defend the lovely girl who didn't deserve any of their horrible questions and assumptions. I so wanted to defend myself.
Instead I kept my chin up, didn't fidget and got into the car with Seth.
We drove home in silence. I was too angry and too worried to call him on the way he'd spoken earlier. When we pulled up outside my home I did it all again with the press contingent that had taken up residence outside my home. Chin up, though this time I had gritted teeth. Confident posture, no comments or responses.
I threw my briefcase, keys and wallet onto the hall table and then went to my home office to retrieve my address book. I took it with me out onto the balcony and lit a cigarette. I flipped each page and studied the names on it carefully.
The India question had struck a chord with me. It wasn't widely known that I'd chosen not to put in a tender for the job that had been up for grabs. To anyone else it would look as though I simply let the tender deadline lapse. But I'd done my homework and at first the offer had looked like a goldmine waiting to be claimed. On paper the job looked lucrative and could even have possibly opened up a bigger slice of the Asian market for me. But then, hidden behind dummy corporations and figureheads that had nothing to do with the steel industry I'd found the name of a director of the Indian company that had made me uneasy.
Another Australian Steel manufacturer had gotten the job and I'd been pleased to be able to wash my hands of it.
That had been eight months ago. Why bring it up now? Why would a journalist ask about a deal that I didn't want, didn't apply for, didn't moan about having lost and had gone on the record as wishing the eventual winner of the contract well?
Someone wanted to hurt me. Someone wanted to turn my life upside down. Someone wanted to ruin me if they could and I wanted to know who that was. Now. Before they lost me the chance to have a relationship with Isabella Swan.
That someone knew me. Not vaguely. Not just professionally but personally. That someone held a grudge and the grudge was personal, nothing to do with business.
This wasn't about Isabella Swan. This was about me.
"Seth!" I bellowed when I turned to the S's in my book. He appeared at the glass doors dressed in sweats and with his usual protein shake in his hand. "Here," I hissed, pointing to the name three lines down from the top. "Her, it's her," I told him.
"I haven't found anything linking her to any of this," he countered but I was sure.
"It's her. Look again and this time use her maiden name, Denali," I told him.
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