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Chapter 18 (EPOV)

Every time I was forced to leave Bella, it felt like I was leaving a piece of myself behind. Unfortunately, I needed to be an adult and go to work to deal with Lauren instead of staying in bed all day with my very gorgeous and unbelievably sexy girlfriend.

Life was so unfair.

I spent a majority of the morning helping the kitchen prep for dinner that night, knowing Lauren wouldn't be in until almost noon.

"Hey, Jasper," I said, wiping down one of the counters.

"Yeah?"

"I'm going to be in my office. Will you send Lauren in when she gets here?"

"You got it," he replied with a nod, then shuffled off back to work.

I entered my office and plopped down behind my massive desk, turned on my laptop and started to shuffle through the papers that had accumulated on my desk. Purchase orders, time cards, rent information, budget spreadsheets...whoever said that running a business is easy should be smacked in the face with a shovel. Because it's not. Especially in New York City where there's a million other restaurants to compete with.

I had just sorted through them all and got them into manageable stacks when there was a soft knock on my door. Lauren opened the door a crack and popped her head in. I waved her in and waited for her to take a seat before launching into my questioning.

"So Lauren, Jasper tells me that you were in my office while I was gone. Is there something that you needed?"

She froze and looked at me like she was a deer caught in the headlights. I leaned forward and rested my elbows on my desk, waiting for her to answer me. She opened and closed her mouth several times, seeming to be searching for the right words to say. I lifted an eyebrow, urging her without words to tell me the truth. She slumped back into her chair and began nervously bouncing her knee, her eyes darting around the room, refusing to meet my gaze.

Finally, after a few minutes of silence, she sat back up straight and looked me in the eyes. "I was looking for a purchase order. Jane told me that we were running low on one of the wines, and I wanted to double-check to make sure it was done." She spoke so quickly that I almost didn't hear her, but I caught the general idea and eyed her warily. Her eyes were darting around again, a sure sign that she was most likely lying to me.

"Why didn't you just ask Jasper? He could have checked for you. You know he keeps all of those records."

She brushed off my question with a wave of her hand. "He was busy. I didn't want to bother him, and I'm perfectly capable of checking on things myself. Is that not the point of taking over for you while you're off?"

"Well, yes, but Jasper and myself handle the business side, you just need to focus on what goes on in the kitchen and making sure our customers come back to us. That is what I hired you for."

I realized that my voice was rising with each word and that I was practically yelling by the time I was finished. I sighed and slumped back into my chair, running a hand through my hair.

I expected her to yell back at me, or quit, but instead she smiled, almost flirtatiously in my direction. I stared at her, completely confused.

"Oh Edward," she purred, standing up from her chair and walking around to my side of the desk, "you were never this feisty in high school. If I would've known that, I would've tried to unlock Bella from your side back then. She's always been like a little puppy, just following you around. I didn't really understand it...until now. You're gorgeous and successful, not lanky and average like you were in high school."

I gaped at her, rolling my chair backwards with every step that she took towards me. She looked like a predator stalking her prey, a smile gracing her face that I believe she thought was sexy. It just looked...creepy.

High school? How did she know me in high school?

It suddenly clicked. "Lauren Mallory," I said quietly. "No wonder I didn't recognize you. You're last name changed and you look...different."

She giggled and flipped her bleach blond hair over her shoulders. "Yeah, I've had 8 plastic surgeries since I got out of high school, and I changed my name because of my modeling career."

Eight? I thought plastic surgeries were supposed to make you look better, not worse.

"You model?" I asked, trying to get her attention on something other than molesting me in my office.

She scoffed. "I did, but it fell through. But, that's alright...because I'm here now. With you," she said, and moved even closer to me.

"Lauren," I warned, "don't do this. I don't want to have to fire you. You're a really good chef, and I can overlook your mistake. Just don't mess it up by doing this." I tried reasoning with her, but she got closer to me, reaching out to hold my head between her hands. She gripped my hair almost painfully and I reached up to grab her forearms. Not hard, but hard enough to try to stop her. She paid me no attention and straddled my knees.

After that, three things happened simultaneously. Lauren pulled my face to hers and shoved her gross tongue down my throat, my eyes flew open in shock and I moved my hands to her waist to try to push her off of me, and my office door opened, revealing a very beautiful and very shocked Bella.

In a panic, I pushed Lauren off of me and she landed on the floor with a loud thud. I scrambled to my feet, trying to get to Bella without stepping on Lauren in the process.

"Bella, I swear to you, it's not what it..."

My voice was high-pitched and frantic, my heart beating rapidly in my chest. Please God. Please. Don't let her run away.

Before I could even finish my sentence, she raised her hand and smacked me across the face. She turned around and stormed out, leaving nothing behind but the stinging of my cheek where her hand made impact.

I closed my eyes and swallowed heavily, muttering the only words that came to mind at that very moment. "Lauren. Out. You're fired." I pointed my finger at the door, my eyes still closed. I feared that if I opened them and looked at her that I would do something that I would regret later.

I heard her footsteps shuffle past me and the door click closed. I slumped against the wall and slid down onto the floor.

Shit. Shit. Shit. Now what do I do?

I dropped my head into my hands and thought about the mess I was in. First of all, Bella was pissed at me, and I knew I had a lot of explaining to do before she would forgive me. Second of all, I fired Lauren so I had no other chef. I knew I had to work tonight since she was gone, so going to Bella's to grovel was not going to happen.

Unless...

I looked at my watch and saw that it was only 1:00. I could get stuff done and shoot over to Bella's for a little bit, just to see if she would talk to me, and then be back at the restaurant before dinner service.

I hopped to my feet and cracked the door open, yelling for Jasper to come into my office. He eyed me speculatively as he came in, and sat down across from me at my desk.

"What's going on? Why did Lauren run out of here like a bat out of hell?" he drawled, leaning back in his chair and putting his hands behind his head.

"I fired her," I said simply. Jasper arched an eyebrow.

"She kissed me, and Bella saw." His jaw dropped open, forming a perfect "O" with his lips.

I sighed. "Yeah. Apparently, Lauren went to school with me and Bella. I didn't recognize her because she had eight plastic surgeries and changed her last name."

He snorted. "She had EIGHT plastic surgeries, and she still looks like that? I think they might have done it wrong."

I rolled my eyes, but I could feel the corners of my mouth tilt up a bit at his statement. "Jazz, come on. She's the least of my worries right now. I need for Bella to actually talk to me, and we are going to need to hire a new chef."

"Well, first of all," he said, standing up, "You might want to consider actually going to FIND Bella if you want to talk to her. You're just wasting your time sitting here talking to me about it."

"I know, I know. I'm going to finish a few things and then go after her. I think I'm going to give her a little time to cool down. I'm going to call her and see if she'll answer."

He nodded and headed for the door, but turned around just before he exited. "Oh, and I'll put an ad out for a new chef and start scoping around the schools again."

"Thanks, Jasper. I owe you," I said, before whipping out my phone.

XXXXX

Two hours, three phone calls, and ten text messages later, I still hadn't heard from Bella. We were about to open the doors for the evening and I didn't have time to run out, bang on her door, and grovel on my knees for forgiveness. There was really nothing to forgive me for, since I really didn't do anything, but I knew I had to beg for Bella to forgive me so that I could explain. She needed to realize that Lauren forced herself on me and she needed to realize that I didn't want any other woman in my life besides her...ever.

Come hell or high water, by morning Bella was going to know that she was it for me. I didn't care if I had to sleep on the floor outside of her door or hire a singing telegram, she was going to know.

Sighing, I buttoned up my chef's coat and headed for the kitchen, putting my worries aside so that I could concentrate on work and not burn my restaurant down.

"Any word?" Jasper asked, clapping me on the shoulder as I walked by. I shook my head sadly and continued by him. I could hear his footsteps following me as I pushed open the double doors that led to my sanctuary. "Well, ah, I don't know if this is any reassurance, but I talked to Alice and she said that Bella called her. Apparently she and Rose were going to go over there to eat Ben and Jerry's or whatever it is girls do when they're sad. I did tell Alice the real story, though, so hopefully she can convince Bella that you aren't a total douchebag."

"Emmett is going to kill me," I said, walking through the kitchen. "He's practically been looking for a reason to hate me and now he has one. It doesn't matter if it's my fault or not. All he's going to care about is that Bella was hurt and I was the cause of it."

"Maybe. You forget that he also grew up in the same town as Lauren. I'm sure her reputation preceded her...he just may believe that she came on to you."

"Not unless he somehow completely forgot that I dated her in high school."

He froze and whipped around. "YOU dated HER in high school? No wonder Bella was so freaked out."

I sighed and shook my head. "Not one of my prouder moments, okay? I was young and stupid. Look, I just want to get through service tonight and then I can worry about Bella."

"One more question," he piped up, "does Bella know that this Lauren and that Lauren are one in the same?"

"I don't know," I answered, "but I'm making sure that she knows everything by tomorrow morning."

He eyed me for a few moments, nodded, and patted me on the back. "Good Luck," he said, and left me to my own devices for the night.

As soon as dinner service was over, I rushed straight over to Bella's; not even bothering to go home and change. I needed to get to her as soon as possible. It was 11:30 by the time I stepped out of the elevator and I prayed that she was still awake.

I took a few deep breaths as I rushed down the hallway and paused to collect myself before raising my hand and knocking tentatively on the door. "Bella? It's me. Open the door, please."

It took a few moments, but I finally heard footsteps approaching me. The door opened a crack and my heart leapt with joy. My happiness was short lived, though, because instead of seeing Bella in the doorway, it was my sister. She glared at me as she stepped out in the hallway and closed the door behind her.

"Ali-," I croaked out, but she put her tiny little hand across my mouth before I could get any words out.

"Save it. I don't want to hear your apologies, that's for Bella. Jasper told me what happened, and I believe you, but that girl on the other side of the door is in bad shape. You broke her heart, Edward. It doesn't matter if it was your fault or not, she's having a really hard time getting the image out of her head."

She removed her hand from my mouth and continued. "You're lucky Rosalie went home already. She'd be much less forgiving than I am and you'd probably be lying on the ground in pain. Now get in there and fix this."

She pointed her manicured nail at the door and tapped her foot on the ground impatiently. I grasped the doorknob and then leaned over to kiss her cheek. "Thanks, Ali. You're the best sister ever."

"Yeah," she said, matter-of-factly, "I am." And then she turned and walked towards the elevators, leaving me completely alone with my thoughts. I took one last deep breath, sent a prayer up, and opened the door.

The apartment was dark as I stepped inside, and I shut the door softly. The only light came from the city outside and a small sliver from underneath Bella's bedroom door. I walked quietly down the hall towards her room and debated if I should knock or just let myself in.

Before I could decide, I heard her voice from the other side of the door. "Go away, Edward."

How the hell...?

"You're not as quiet as you think you are." she said, replying to my unasked question.

I finally pushed the door open a crack and stuck my head in. My heart broke instantly at the scene in front of me. Bella was sitting on her bed, knees pulled tightly to her chest. Her eyes were swollen and red from crying.

"Close the door," she demanded, but as I took a step into her bedroom she stopped me. "I didn't say I wanted you in here. I can't even stand to look at you right now. Get out and close the door."

I sighed and did as I was told, not wanting to make anything worse than it already was. "Bella, listen to me," I pleaded. "I understand why you're upset, but you have to know it wasn't my fault. I'll stand outside your door all night if I have to, if that's what it's going to take to get you to listen to me, but I'm not leaving until this is fixed."

She sniffed. "Then you're going to be waiting a long time."

Shrugging, I slid down onto the floor, propping my back up against her door. I heard her huff loudly, most likely because she knew I wouldn't give up, and the only way out of her room was through me.

We sat in silence for what felt like hours, but was probably no more than a half hour. Finally, I heard her feet hit the ground and heard quiet shuffles towards the door. It flew open and Bella glared down at me.

"I need to use the bathroom," she mumbled, stepping over my legs and heading into the bathroom.

She emerged a few minutes later and stepped over me again. She went into her bedroom, but this time didn't close the door behind her.

She sat down on the edge of her bed and stared at me for a few moments, before breaking the silence. "I'll give you five minutes to talk. That's it," she asserted, crossing her arms over her chest. Her eyes were cold and hard, and my entire body felt like sinking into the floor. Bella had never ever looked at me that way, even when I ripped the heads off of her beloved Barbie dolls when we were little.

I stood up slowly and took a few tentative steps into the room. When I was sure she wasn't going to kick me out or throw a shoe at me, I dropped to my knees in front of her. I kept my hands to myself for the time being, not wanting to aggravate her further.

"Bella...it was Lauren. The same Lauren from high school. That's who was in my office today, and-"

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" she seethed. "To hear that it was your ex-girlfriend from high school?"

"Please, Bella, let me finish," I begged. "She came on to me, not the other way around. I pushed her off of me right after you walked out. Please, you have to believe me. I would never do that to you. Ever."

I reached up and gently took her hands into mine. When she didn't immediately pull away, I continued. "You are my entire world, Bella. I'd rather die than be without you. I can't promise you'll never get mad at me, and I can't promise that we'll never fight over really stupid stuff, but I can promise that I will never intentionally hurt you. I couldn't live with myself if I did."

A fresh tear fell from the corner of her eye and slid down her cheek. It was breaking my heart to see her so sad because of me. I swiped my thumb over her face, and she leaned briefly into my touch. The movement was very imperceptible, but it was there, and it gave me a sliver of hope that she would forgive me.

"How did you not know that it was the same Lauren?" she asked, her voice raspy from crying.

"Plastic surgery and lots of it," I replied, shaking my head in disbelief. "Plus, she changed her last name. I never would have known it was her if she hadn't told me."

She frowned and seemed to be contemplating my words. Finally, she raised her glassy eyes to mine and took a deep breath before speaking. "I believe you, Edward, I do. But every time I shut my eyes, I see you and her, and I can't get the image out of my head."

"Hmmm..." I pondered, "I think I could help get rid of it." I reached up and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and trailed my finger down her cheek and jaw.

She rolled her eyes, but the smile she was trying to hide appeared anyway. "Sex, Edward? Seriously?"

I grinned and kissed her lips gently. "You know, they say make up sex is the best sex."

She raised an eyebrow. "Make-up sex? Don't we actually have to make-up first? I haven't even decided yet if I'm going to forgive you." She raised her chin defiantly and I had to laugh at the way she was hopelessly trying to stay mad at me.

There is absolutely no way she can stay mad at me. I'm Edward Cullen. I'll just charm the pants right off of her.

I stood up and toed off my shoes before gently shoving Bella by the shoulders, wanting her to lay down across her bed. I followed her with my body, climbing up and hovering over her with my knees on either side of her hips. I grinned down at her as she glared back up at me, her eyes all scrunched and adorable.

I leaned down and ran my nose along her jaw and up her cheek, pausing to whisper in her ear. "Are you still mad, Bella? Hmmm?"

I could feel her slightly shudder beneath me, but she still murmured a breathy "yes."

"Hmmm, I guess I'm not trying hard enough," I mumbled, mostly to myself, but made sure that it was loud enough for Bella to hear. I ghosted my fingers down her side and then ducked them underneath the hem of her loose t-shirt, inching my way up her stomach and ribs. As soon as my fingers grazed the underside of her breast, her hand flew up and clamped down over mine, completely halting my progress.

I think my dick actually wept.

"E-Edward..." she gasped, "We can't fix this with sex. It's not right."

"Bella," I said, slightly exasperated, "I'm not trying to fix it with sex. I'm trying to love you. I'm trying to make you realize that you are the only one for me. Completely. Forever. I'm trying to make you realize that you're the most beautiful, wonderful woman I've ever met and I want you to be with me, and only me, everyday for the rest of our lives. Can I do that, Bella? Can I show you that?"

Her already red-rimmed eyes were as wide as saucers and her pouty lower lip quivered by the time I was done with my little speech. She blinked, and a lone tear trailed down her cheek.

Shit. Did I upset her? Cross the line? Dammit Edward.

I accomplished what I wanted to accomplish, though. I laid it all out for her and told her exactly what I wanted out of our relationship. What happened with Lauren was not my fault, but she needed to know that she was the only woman I wanted in my life. She needed reassurance, and that's what I was trying to give her. Reassurance with my words, and hopefully reassurance with my body.

Her shaky hand reached up and she lightly traced my bottom lip and the edge of my jaw. "Are- Are you asking me to marry you?"

I exhaled and smiled softly, turning my head to kiss her fingertips. "No, Bella. You'll know when I do that. Trust me. This is not exactly what I had in mind for proposing to my future wife. I just wanted you to know what I want out of this. What I NEED out of this. Because, Bella, I NEED you."

I brushed her hair away from her face and leaned down, pecking her lips with my own. She sighed, smiling a little, as I started dropping butterfly kisses all over her face, tracing her cheekbones with tiny kisses.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

I pulled my head back and stared at her. "What? Why? Why are you sorry?"

"For being me," she replied with a sniffle. "For being stubborn and assuming the worst. I was - I am - terrified of losing you. Again."

Her sad expression was heartbreaking. "Bella- You aren't going to lose me. You have me for as long as you want me."

"That's going to be a pretty long time, Cullen," she said, her lips turning up slightly.

"That's what I'm counting on, Swan," I replied, and then groaned when her hands reached up and wound into my hair, pulling my lips down to hers. She kissed me over and over, whispering my name between each touch of our lips, before touching my lips with her tongue. I met it with my own, drawing it in between my lips and savoring the taste of her.

I rolled onto my back, pulling Bella with me so that she was straddling my hips. She smiled down on me, her hair a tangled mess, her face blotchy, and her eyes red...but she was still the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.

"I love seeing you over me like this," I admitted, ghosting my fingers up her bare arms and then under the hem of her shirt. She lifted her arms and let me drag it up and over her head, flinging the tattered cotton onto the floor beside her bed. Her arms crossed over her torso automatically, but I quickly grasped her wrists and pulled them away from her body.

"Nuh uh...no covering yourself. You're stunning, Isabella," I said, sitting up so I could wrench my own shirt over my head. She grabbed my bare shoulders and pulled me up against her, our skin sliding together and creating the best kind of friction.

"I'm not as pretty as you," she said with a smile.

"I've told you before, Bella, I'm not pretty...I'm handsome, and rugged, and manly," I growled, punctuating my statement by grinding my hips up into hers.

She moaned, her eyes rolling back into her head, before fastening her mouth firmly to mine, kissing me with unrestrained passion.

The taste of her mouth, the softness of her lips and tongue, combined with the feeling of her completely wrapped around me made me forget that anyone existed but the two of us.

She was mine. And I was hers. Hopefully forever.

"You're it for me, Bella. Until my heart stops beating. I'll never let you forget that."

I crushed my lips back to hers and we slowly bared ourselves to one another, coming together in a tangle of arms and legs. Our hands grasped every inch of each other that we possibly could, and our lips touched every bare ounce of flesh that we could reach without letting go of each other. When I finally slid into her, I felt like I was truly home. She shuddered underneath me as we relished each other, drawing our ecstasy out as long as humanly possible.

When we finally collapsed underneath the covers, Bella's back nestled close against my chest, I kissed her head and drifted off to sleep, praying that soon we'd be able to fall asleep together every night and wake up next to each other every morning.

Someday, I thought, as I pulled her even closer. Someday.