I know y'all aren't too happy with Edward or Renee and I am gonna tell you right now this chapter won't really improve your opinion of them but don't give up! HEA for life! I assure you I didn't just throw that last chapter in because I was bored… This entire story is already all written out and this is a pretty important "plot twist"…
Read on!
"Hello, Ms. Swan." Ruth greeted as I walked into the Cullen and Co. office building. Her smile faded as I neared the desk and I tried to offer her a smile, or at least an expression. "Are you alright?" She asked, standing from behind her desk.
"Yeah, thanks for asking. Did Mr. Cullen leave anything for me up here?" I asked, she nodded and kept her wary eyes on me as she lifted a file up.
"Is he sick or something?"
"I don't think so, why do you ask?"
"I was told that you two would be together at all times, but I'm only seeing you."
"Sorry to disappoint." I sighed, moving away from the desk and towards the elevator. Her eyes widened and she hissed something to Ciara, who also worked the desk, before hurrying towards me.
"No, no-" She stepped into the elevator with me. "That's not what I meant. I meant, why aren't you together?"
"He's just really busy, I guess. He thinks that we'd be more productive if we were in different places." Or at least that's what the text I got at the beginning of the week said. It was all the communication he'd allowed after he left my parents' house. This space thing was turning into more of a break up.
"It makes sense." She said, her eyes soft, she leaned into me and I bit my lip and watched the floors go up. "Don't fall for Edward, honey." She advised, tossing her frail little arm over my shoulder. "The kid doesn't wear a ring, but we all think he's got a little someone at home. It'd be pointless to pursue him."
"What makes you think he's got someone at home?" I asked, looking down at her.
"He's not interested in anyone here, and I mean, we have some attractive people working here. He's always texting or calling someone, and smiling like he'd won the lotto. And have you seen the pictures on his desk?" I nodded and she lifted her eyebrows.
"I took the maid in there yesterday, and there's a picture of a little girl on his desk." That's what she saw? Not the picture of Edward and I? "She looks just like him, she must have a mother." She rolled her eyes and I shook my head this time.
"That's his niece." I whispered, stepping off of the elevator as the doors opened. I looked into his office when the doors opened and my heart dropped when I saw that there were only two frames on his desk. "This is crazy." I whispered to myself looking down at my phone.
"What is? That he has a niece?" I walked to my desk and pulled out the agenda he'd made me copy. He was at some sight in Tacoma and would be until twelve today. That was great because it'd take me at least an hour to get there. I sighed and went looking for the picture of us. I yanked open the drawer closest to the floor; knowing that's where he put all the crap he was bored with. They were usually contracts that bore him and I'd clean the desk out and pass those onto Carlisle, per Carlisle's requests.
Of course my first guess was the best. I bit my lip and pulled the frame from under the papers and tucked it under my arm. I sighed as I looked at the little postcard under the frame, an invitation to my parents' Christmas celebration. He hadn't even told me about his invitation…
"I don't think stealing from Mr. Cullen is the best thing to do, when I'm standing right here." Ruth said slowly, snatching the frame from me.
"I'm not stealing it-" I said, trying to take it before she looked at it. She shook her head and turned from me before gasping. Good that's what I needed to redeem myself, the whole office knowing about us. "Ruth, please!" She turned back to me; her beady eyes wide as she held the frame face up.
"It's you!" She pointed at the frame of Emily, "That's your daughter?!"
"No! No! That's his niece. Her name is Emily… Please, don't-" Her eyes locked on my left hand.
"You aren't married?" She lifted an eyebrow.
"No, we've been friends since like first grade." I bit my lip and took the frame from her. "Please just keep it to yourself?"
"Why? I could end everyone's suffering and curiosity by telling them about you. He's so obviously head over heels, saying it's you will get some off the boy's tail and others to stop thinking he's gay." I felt bad but I started chuckling.
"He's not gay." I said, holding the photo to my chest. I picked up the agenda again and headed to the door. "But still, please don't tell anyone? I don't want him madder than he already is." She sighed and nodded.
"Fine, go, do whatever." I held the photo tightly and rushed up to hug her, knowing after I pulled away I was probably in for some sexual harassment charge or another.
"Thank you!" I called as I ran out of the office. I high tailed it down the stair case. After reaching the ground level I realized why I used the elevator most of the time.
"Hot damn, I'm out of shape…" I sighed as I walked through the lobby. Ciara raised her eyebrows as I passed her, waving and panting as I went. I picked up the pace a little as I headed to the car. I frowned realizing it was already ten o'clock, giving me very little time to drive to Tacoma and then find him. I peeled out of the parking lot and headed down the street just a little over the speed limit, but of course this time the police took notice. I groaned as the red and blue lights flashed through the car.
Why now? I don't fucking know.
I pulled over to the side of the road and waited for the officer to approach my window.
"Hi, officer." I sighed, rolling down my window.
"Ma'am, do you know how fast you were going?" He asked and I held back the urge to roll my eyes. I couldn't have been going that damn fast. The parking lot was less than half a mile back, I couldn't have gained that much speed from there to here-
"You were going sixty in a forty." I widened my eyes and bit my lip.
Oh... Never mind.
"I'm sorry, officer." I handed him my license and registration before he asked. I had places to be; I'd rather get the ticket and go then chit chat.
"You're Charlie Swan's daughter?" The man asked, slowly pulling off his sunglasses and looking at me.
"Yes." I sighed, knowing I was going to get some kind of unfair break because my parents donated to the force here. I didn't even know you could donate to the police force…
"I'm letting you off with a warning this time, but watch yourself, little lady." My jaw ticked at the name and I nodded tersely.
"Alright, I'll see you, son." I sneered before starting up the car. He backed up with wide eyes as I took off, merging easily into traffic before hopping on the I-5. It took a little longer than expected to find the construction site. Then even longer to find Edward, after speaking to multiple people who didn't know who or where he was. After twenty minutes of that shit I had ten minutes before he left, so I resided to being that creeper girlfriend who waits by her boyfriend's car.
If that's what we were still.
Exactly ten minutes later he came strutting out with some petite blonde, smiling my smile. My stomach twisted as I pushed off of the car. He looked up at me without an ounce of surprise. He turned to his blonde friend and said something in her ear before coming to me.
I took a deep breath as he approached, "Hey." I breathed with a scowl, still looking over his shoulder at the blonde.
"I asked you to go into the office today." He sighed, furrowing his eyebrows as he twirled his keys around his finger. My heart sank at his words.
"I went to the office… But, we need to talk."
"Not necessary." He said putting his hand on the small of my back and leaning into me as he lead me away from his car. "I know what you're going to say and I have no interest." He moved us around the car and down to mine.
"Stop," I begged, taking his hand. "Look I know you're mad. If you don't want to do… this-" I pointed between us and he grimaced. "then don't just ignore me, and leave me hanging, tell me. And even if we do breakup, don't ruin an eighteen year long friendship over some shit my mother said. You know what a conniving bitch she is…" I whispered, turning my eyes to the ground. "Yet you still believe her over me."
"This is not the place, Bella." He said, his eyes burning into mine. "Just… go." My eyes started to water a little, but I refused to cry. Not here, not now, not because of him, not in front of him. His eyes told me that it was the end.
Of everything.
I bit my bottom lip and stepped away from him with a nod. "Okay." He kept his eyes on me warily as I ran my hand through my hair. I headed back to my car, feeling as though every step tore me apart more and more. Once I was inside I moved as quickly as possible, starting it up and pulling out of the parking lot. I took acute notice of the fact that he went back to the girl on the side walk, shaking his head she pouted at him and I winced.
After about ten minutes of driving I'd started to hyperventilate, and I couldn't focus on the road any longer. I pulled into a park's parking lot and got out, needing air. My chest literally felt like it was being crushed. I slipped my hands into my hair, and fell back into my seat, resting my elbows on my knees and cradled my head.
First my parents, and now Edward. I literally had no one left. I'd never felt so alone in my life. The fact that I managed to lose every fucking person who cared for me in less than a week. It had to be some kind of record.
I chuckled quietly; almost positive I'd lost my mind in this downward spiral. And just when I thought things were getting better. I scratched my throat irritably and leaned back in the car, reaching into the console to grab a pack of cigarettes I'd bought Sunday night, but chickened out on. I flipped the cigarettes around in my hand a few times and sighed as I looked at the warning label.
It was pointless really, I, just like everyone else, knew cigarettes could kill you. And I cared about that fact way more in my teens than I did as an adult. As a teenager I quit because I wanted to do shit with my life, and Edward was worried about me. Then when my parents found out they were worried too. In the moment though, I couldn't give less of a fuck. I'd already lost everyone worth living for, they wouldn't care if I picked up the habit anyway, so why should I?
The more I thought about the shit situation my life was the more I wanted to smoke. Maybe if I just had one it wouldn't be a complete relapse… I'd be okay. I opened the carton and pulled one of the cancer sticks out, turning it in my fingers. The urge to smoke it was stronger than any I'd had before. It was kind of fate that I'd just have them handy in case.
I leaned back again and grabbed a lighter. I sat back up on my chair and looked down at the little objects, knowing they'd fuck up my progress no matter what. There was also a little part of me, an irrational part that hoped Edward would pull up and smack both items out of my hands. That maybe he'd care. I looked towards the street seeing little to no traffic.
I sighed and swung my legs into the car and shut the door, rolling down the window. I lit the cigarette and wrapped my lips around it, taking in a soothing inhale. My chest immediately started to relax, and a tear slipped from my eye.
I told you…
Regardless, I hope you enjoyed!
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