Emmett slapped Jasper on the back.
"Let's get out of here. I need to go ask Rose to pick up something I dropped from behind the couch."
He winked and flashed me a cheesy grin and I was angry. Emmett had the dream secretary; I was still no closer to getting my hands on Bella Swan.
"Yeah. And I think Alice needs to organise my books on the top shelf!" Jasper cried joyously. Two seconds later, they were out the door – but not before toying slightly with Jessica. I was glad that at least she was distracted, even if only momentarily.
Oh no. I groaned; it appears Jessica had decided on other ideas.
"Sir?" she attempted to peep prettily around the door, ending up squinting like a blind man.
"Yes, Jessica?"
"Ms Swan on the line for you."
"What does she want?" My morale had lifted significantly.
"Not sure. I didn't ask." Jessica did not, on the other hand, like it that I was interested more in Bella Swan than her. I shooed her out and reached for line 4.
Before picking up, due to the fact I was nervous, I called Jessica back into my office.
"Jessica, how would you feel about," I leaned in a way I thought was alluring, and Jessica looked incredibly excited. She nearly swooned. "… doing those buttons on your blouse up?"
I could see virtually her entire bra by now.
"Oh, of course sir…" she scrambled hastily trying to do all the buttons up.
"Thank you. You were much prettier when you dressed conservatively."
She stumbled out, incredibly embarrassed. I know I shouldn't have toyed with the poor girl like that, but it was good fun. I remembered Bella Swan on the line and quickly picked it up.
"H'lo?" I said that rather complacently; I thought that she probably would have hung up by now. But a husky voice breathed down the phone back at me…
"Is that Mr Cullen?"
"Yes, Ms Swan. It is."
"I was wondering whether you had set a date yet." My heart nearly jumped out through my mouth. "For our trial." My heart sank steadily back down to my rib cage, where it belonged.
"Oh, yes. August the 24th."
"Well Mr Cullen, my client and I will see you then. There is still no thought in regard to a settlement, on our terms of course?"
"No," I said cautiously, "No there is not. Be sure to know, however, that if there was, you would be the first to hear of it."
"Right then. Goodbye, Mr Cullen. See you at the hearing."
"Wait!" I yelled, struck by inspiration that comes only once a year.
"Yes?" She sounded slightly irritated, but also slightly fake. I wondered whether she was aloof for her benefit or mine.
Whatever. I had to go for it.
"Ms Swan, I propose a deal for you. Should you win your case, you shall be in your full right to ignore my advances from here on. Should you lose… I am allowed one night with the pleasure of your company. For dinner, of course."
I thought I heard her catch her breath on the other side of the phone, but maybe it was my imagination. Maybe I was too used to women doing that.
"Mr Cullen, it is of my own free will, and of my own free will only that I will go out with a man. However, I'm not turning you down. See you in court."
And the phone went dead.
Oh well, at least there was some progress. She had not completely shunned my offer; there was still the off chance she could accept.
The phone rang again. I picked it up eagerly – perhaps she had reconsidered? Alas, my mother was announced in Jessica's giggling tone. I was regretting giving Rosalie to Emmett.
"Hey Esme. Sorry I haven't called."
"Why, that's perfectly alright Edward! Besides, I hear you are rather preoccupied of late."
How would Esme know of the court case? I wondered.
"Preoccupied?"
"Oh, don't worry dear. I hear it's nothing too bad. But rather bad timing, what with your court case and everything."
"What?!" I was really eager to know now.
"Why, that little crush on the lawyer, of course! Emmett tells me you are dead gone on her!"
Curse Emmett, I thought. I would be having a serious word with him in about a minute and a half.
"Oh Esme, it's nothing. Anyway, I got to go. I'm a little… preoccupied, as you would say."
"OK darling. See you tomorrow night, at the picnic? Don't tell me you forgot." Oh, of course! The damn Fire Brigade Picnic.
"Of course not. Bye!"
The line went dead. Jessica didn't bother to giggle when I walked malevolently up to Emmett's office door. I didn't bother to knock; Emmett didn't deserve that right now.
I barged in authoritatively and looked around at the office. All the shutters were closed, and there, in the corner, were Emmett and Rosalie – making out like teenagers at a drive in movie. They were enjoying themselves so thoroughly that when I walked slowly out and shut the door fairly loudly neither had noticed I was there. Oh well; good ammunition to use at a later date. I'll lt Emmett have his fun for now, I thought, he'll get what's coming to him.
Later that night I crawled into bed thinking and dreaming of Bella Swan accepting my offer.
I decided to play with Jessica a little more today, because yesterday I had found it strangely satisfying. I got up and dressed in the most expensive suit that I owned – an Armani fitted and tailored one – and tousled my hair just the way she liked it.
I sauntered into the office and smiled a heartbreaking smile at her.
"Any messages?"
It took her a minute to answer.
"Oh… no, sir. But this did come." She handed me a fairly large, flat package and continued to stare at me until I had reached the office door. Deciding to have some serious fun, I turned around to hand her three hundred dollar bills.
"Go have some fun. Take the morning off. But be back here by one; I have some letters to send."
She was dumbstruck, staring at the money, and hadn't even reached for her coat until I was safely inside my office.
I looked at the flat package like a kid at a Christmas present. I had a thing for unknown packages. Who knows what could be inside!
It turned out to be better than any gift I could ask for.
There was just a blank piece of cardboard with a picture of the scales of justice on it.
On the back, there was just a yellow post-it note with two words:
'You're on.'