Chapter 7

A/N: Hello to my readers. Thanks to all of you who alert and fav my story.

A special thanks to all of you who take time to review. I do truly appreciate reading your comments. Thanks to Rosa for the beautiful BG on you tube…which is the way I picture Edward in HOPE.

The characters belong to S.M. In HOPE, they belong to me.

I am writing another story called MY ALL. Check on my profile for the link.

Additional info: My mother tongue is French. My goal is to master English. I try to write a text without any mistakes. I love English. So, if ever there are mistakes in this chapter, please excuse-me. France xxx

HOPE

Chap.7

SUSPICION

EDWARD

This wouldn't be easy with Bella. I could feel it. There was something different with her. I could feel that she was different.

I didn't stay long at La Stanza after my conversation with Isabella.

And with Senna, I was not the same.

Usually, all my attention was concentrated on the girl I was out with.

Tonight, it was exactly the opposite.

All I could concentrate on was that beautiful girl who was serving us.

And Senna noticed.

"You seem to find that waitress attractive Edward. You want her…don't you?" She asked in a smooth voice.

"I do." I answered to Senna.

There were no lies between my girls and me.

They knew me, and because they loved me, they accepted everything.

"So, what will you do Edward? She has a job, she is not living on the street…she is not the girl you usually seek for."

"I don't know yet. I want her the same way I all want you. She attracts me…And there is something in her eyes…a kind of sadness. I want to know her. And, after, I'll see. Maybe she is not the kind of girl I am looking for…But she fascinates me."

"You went outside. Did you talk with her?" Senna asked me.

"I did. I am going to take a coffee with her tomorrow. After, I'll decide if it is worth to spend more time with her. "I don't know yet…I have a lot a patience but I don't like to lose my time." And now baby, enough talking about her…Still want to watch a movie with me?"

"Yes, Edward. Let's go home…I am a bit tired and I want to spend time with you, alone."

"Okay, baby…Just let me pay the bill and we are going home."

I went to the bar and waited for Isabella. I asked her for the bill and told her that I would come back for breakfast the next day.

She gave me my bill and I paid it, giving her a generous tip.

I went out with Senna, not holding her hand. She was my employee as I told Isabella; and a boss didn't usually hold his employee's hand.

When we would be in the car and at home alone, Senna would be treated as my girlfriend.

Not here, not in front of Isabella.

I drove back home, holding Senna's hand and kissing her every time I had to stop my vehicle at the red light.

Back at the apartment, I offered her a beer. We sat on the couch, very close to each other; my arm snaked around her shoulders.

We watched 'The Blind Side' which was a movie with Sandra Bullock. It was about a kid who was abandoned at a very young age and who became, with the help of his adoptive family, a great football player. It was based on true story and I loved it.

After the movie, Senna and I went into the shower and after the shower, we made love.

I knew how to make my girls happy…in the full sense of the word.

I was a good lover. Senna screamed my name when she reached her climax.

But this time, it was completely different for me, because when I reached my own climax…I was not thinking of Senna. I was thinking of Isabella. It was as if I had made love to Bella…The girl, I would see tomorrow.

BELLA

I was so tired. The work and the school, and all the homework I had to do, were keeping me very busy.

I didn't have time to get enough sleep.

But, it was worth it.

Three nights per week, I was at school and every morning I was at the restaurant.

The afternoons and the nights when I was not at school, I was doing my homework and studying.

Some nights, I would go out with my friends and sometimes with Harry.

He was a nice guy. He was a six feet tall giant; Blond hair, blue eyes and pretty muscular.

Harry was twenty-four years old and he wanted to complete high school and to continue studying in administration after getting his diploma.

I knew he was attracted to me; but I was not.

I made my point clear that we would just be friends.

He knew a bit of my past. I didn't confide in people much.

Most of the time, I tried to forget about the shit I'd been living when I was a child and a teenager.

When I thought about it, the rage all came back. So the least I thought about it, the better it was for me.

And Harry was not looking for getting more details; which was quite perfect for me.

I was more tired than usual tonight. I've been working in the morning and I was doing my homework in the afternoon when Felix called me. He asked me if I could work tonight; a waitress was sick and he wanted me to stand in for her if I was available.

Felix was such a nice boss that I couldn't refuse. And it would mean more money.

When my homework was done, I went to take a shower.

I dried my hair and let it fall in waves on my back.

I made up my face, but even if I tried to hide the rings that I had under my eyes, I did not succeed at all.

I would have to get more hours of sleep soon. Even my face showed my overtiredness.

I dressed as usual; a tight fit black skirt and a white blouse. Every waitress had to wear similar kind of clothes.

The restaurant was not far from the house so I walked.

Sometimes Angela would drive me to La Stanza but tonight she was not in the house.

The weather was fairly mild for this time of the year. So, I took a denim jacket, my purse and my cell and went out.

The restaurant was really crowded tonight.

Felix asked me if I could serve clients at the tables and at the bar.

It was okay with me. I loved making cocktails and I was good at it.

I had five tables in my section. So, it was not too bad. I would be able to divide my time between bringing meals to the clients and serve cocktails and beers.

I had been working for one hour when I saw him…Holy Crow….This guy was so beautiful. I never saw a guy as gorgeous as he was.

He was with a very beautiful girl. She had long brown hair and brown eyes. In fact, she looked a lot like me.

I went to their table and asked them if they would like to have a drink.

He ordered a bottle of Chianti and appetizer.

I went back to the kitchen to give the order to the cook and walked to the bar to get the bottle of wine.

Then, as I was pouring the wine into the wine glasses, I felt him gazing at me….and Jesus-Christ, was he gazing at me.

I looked at him straight in the eyes. His eyes were absolutely magnificent; emerald-green eyes with long brown lashes…And his face….his face was perfect.

Then, he smiled and I blushed.

Every time I was walking away from the table, I could feel his eyes on me.

He looked at me when I was serving the other clients. He looked at me when I was behind the bar.

He even followed me when I was going back to the bar…Was he doing it on purpose?

At a moment, I went to the washroom and he was there….near the men's washroom. And I was pretty positive that he was waiting for me.

I was quite embarrassed. All that staring and gazing…Why the hell was he looking at me like that?

I almost asked Felix if I could leave…but I didn't. There was not enough staff tonight. So it was impossible for me to leave earlier.

It was time for a break. I went outside to smoke a cigarette.

I began to smoke a few months ago. I knew it was not good for my health at all. I smoked because it gave me a sense of freedom…stupid reason…just to prove myself that I was an adult and that I could smoke if I wanted to.

Luckily, I was not a heavy smoker, but when I was nervous, it calmed my nerves; at least, I thought it was.

As soon as I was lighting my cigarette, the guy walked outside the restaurant and came near me.

Then, he began to talk to me. He introduced himself as Edward Masen.

He asked me questions about my job, and then he asked me if I would like to take a coffee with him the next morning.

I didn't know what to say. He was a perfect stranger and he wanted to know me. He told me straight and got to the point; his green eyes deeply staring into my eyes.

Why the fuck did he want to know me?

I felt like an imbecile. I told him that I didn't think it was a good idea at all, that he was a stranger, and that his girlfriend wouldn't be that happy if she knew that he was asking me for a coffee…In fact, I didn't want to take a coffee with him.

Then, Edward told me that the girl who was with him was his employee.

At eighteen years old, he had his own business.

Maybe his parents were rich…Maybe that was why he had his own business at eighteen years old.

The questions I was impatient to ask him mulled over in my head. My mind was full of suspicion.

How come an eighteen years old guy could have his own business?

And that Edward Masen was quite persuasive.

I finally accepted…But I made my point clear.

He wanted to know me…fine…

He wanted to be my friend…maybe…

But no way would he be more than a friend…if a friendship between us two could even be possible.

The next morning, I was back at work at 8:00

As soon as I walked in the restaurant, Edward was sitting at a table, eating his breakfast.

Jesus…Why was he here so early?

I hoped he wouldn't keep staring at me during my entire shift.

And now, what should I do? ... Go to his table and say hi…Yes…Maybe I should.

So, that was what I did.

"Hello Edward…How are you this morning? I just finished at noon…Are you going to wait for me till I finished my shift. It will be long."

"Hello, Isabella." He said with his beautiful velvety voice. "Yes, I am going to wait for you. I have a lot of things to do. I am my own accountant and I have to check the state on the accounts of my business. So, don't worry about me. I have a lot of work to do."

"Okay then…Now, excuse-me…I have to go and see Felix." Talk to you later."

"Okay Bella…I am impatient to know you better."

Then, I went in the kitchen. Felix was there, and he gave me the section of clients I had to serve.

The morning went fairly well. Edward was pretty much concentrated in his books and he just looked at me from time to time.

But every time, he was staring at me, I could feel my face blushing and flushing.

That man had a way with girls. I could feel it; his emerald-green eyes getting deeper and greener every time his eyes were on me. And every time, he was gazing at me, I was staring back. And when he was smiling, Jesus…my heart was beating so fast…I could almost feel my pulse jumping in my veins.

So, I tried to concentrate on my work. I stopped looking at him and tried to ignore him.

My job was to serve the clients…not to stare at Edward Masen.

Time flew by, fast enough. There were a lot of clients in the restaurant and I almost forgot about Edward.

Then, it was 12:00.

Edward's books were closed. And he was obviously waiting for me.

I went to his table and told him that I was ready to go. But before going out with him, I wanted to introduce him to Felix.

Just in case…I didn't know anything about this man…Was he a good guy or a bad guy?

I wanted to protect myself. I didn't want to go out with him, without telling anybody.

Felix would know that I was going to take a coffee with Edward Masen.

As soon as I introduced Edward to Felix and told him that I was going out with him, I followed Edward. I felt safe being with Edward…safe because Felix knew the guy who I was with…but I was not comfortable at all. I was shy and quite intimidated.

And the questions were still in my head. Why did he want to know me better?

I was good in reading people's behaviour.

If this guy was not sincere, I would know soon enough.

I had suffered so much in the past…Nobody would hurt me again.

We crossed the street and walked to Tim Horton. It was a nice place, and they made the most delicious cappuccino in the whole world…well, maybe not…but I loved the cappuccino they served there.

We sat at a table and Edward went to order the coffee and brought muffins as well.

I wanted to pay my bill, but he refused.

Then, we began to talk.

But, it was not that easy.

Some subjects, I clearly avoided.

When he asked me about my childhood, I told him that I had not been a happy child.

I told Edward that my mother was a whore and a crack addict and my father, a fucking pimp, and that I had been raised by different fostering parents.

He wanted to know more, and I refused to talk about it.

When I asked him about his own childhood, he was quite evasive.

He told me that his parents were very rich and that he had a hard time when he was a young kid. He had not many friends. In fact, he had no friends and he was alone most of the time.

That was quite a surprise for me. I couldn't imagine Edward without friends.

Then I asked him about his job. He was more evasive than ever. He kept beating around the bush.

We were both hiding facts. Maybe his childhood had been as painful as my own and he didn't want to talk about it. That I could understand…But his job…I didn't know why he was avoiding giving me more details.

Then we talked about our interests.

That was really pleasant. He was in love with music, literature and arts. And he knew a lot; all those authors, all those musicians and composers, all those famous painters. He was insatiable. He asked me if I would be interested to visit a museum someday…and I was.

I'd never set a foot in a museum in my whole existence. That would be a new experience for me and I would be delighted to go with him.

Then he asked me about my own interests.

I told him that I was going to school, three nights per week. That was my main interest. I had to complete high school as soon as possible.

"And what will you do after you get your diploma Bella?" Do you want to go to college?"

"Yes I want to go to Cégep* and then maybe to the University."

"Oh! That means a lot of studies. What would like to do after University? ...In what field would you like to work?"

"I would like to be a social worker. That is my goal. I would like to help children and teenagers who are having a hard life. Some parents shouldn't have children. Some children are living a hell. Some are abused…some are neglected…some are intimidated. I hate abusers; I hate those people who are drug dealers. I hate people who hurt kids and teenagers. My goal is to help those kids and to track down those abusers. That is my goal in life. I will do anything in my power to denounce them."

"My life had been a living hell when I was a child…if ever I can save children…I will."

Then, I noticed a change in Edward's attitude. He seemed embarrassed and very disturbed.

He quickly changed the subject of our conversation by asking me what my other interests were.

I told him that I loved to read…on any kind of topics. I loved to watch movies and I loved cooking.

Time flew fast. Edward was a good conversationalist. He was not boring at all.

But his life was surrounded in secrecy. Some subjects he was clearly reluctant to talk about…But, I was too.

Maybe at the right time and place, I would tell him more about my past… But, he would have to confide in too.

I thought he was a nice guy after all. That was my first impression. But, I didn't completely trust him. There was this mystery around him. At the appropriate time, I would get my answers.

It was 4:00 when he drove me back home. He kissed me on the cheek.

And I would see him in two weeks; on a Saturday. He wanted to take me to Le Musée des Beaux Arts de Montréal. He asked me my cell number and gave me his own number.

Then I went out of the car and waved at him…He blew a kiss and left.

End of chapter 7

A/N:

*Cégep is a college of further education in Québec, offering two years courses. A student who wants to go to the University has to go to Cégep before.

In Québec, at the age of eighteen you are an adult. You can work in a bar and you can work as a bartender. You are allowed to drink alcohol as well.

Now, let's talk about Edward. I think he is in real trouble. He won't be able to hide what his real job is…forever.

Will he choose not to see Bella anymore? I don't think so…

He already invited her. He will see her again…two weeks from now…and maybe before…Who knows?

And when she will know the truth…what will she do?

Tell me what you think.

Give me love and review…I love to read your comments.

Love you, France xxx

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