I have been writing this story for 2 years; I almost don't believe it myself. I was overly inspired by Masters of the Universe and many others of its kind, but I hope that I made this one my own. I have the best fans a girl could ask for; you guys amaze me with your sweet words and your confidence in me. I have made you wait a really long time and for that I'm very sorry but life is unpredictable. This is part one of two to the ending since I had a nice chunk done, I thought I would share! Love you guys!
CHAPTER 40 PART ONE
It took a few days for this information to sink into my brain. He got away. No amount of promises and comforting from Edward would help me here. The fact still remained James was out there and he was loose.
I thought the security measures were strict before, but now they had gotten so tight, I was surprised Edward allowed me to use the bathroom without supervision. I was filing books back into the romance section when the bell chimed on the door.
I saw Garrett in the corner reading the newspaper, if that's what he was really doing. I moved to the front to see who had entered, to my relief it was just Linda, a frequent customer. She bought a lot of cook books.
"Good morning Bella. Did my book arrive?" Her sweet wrinkly smile asked.
"Yes, let me just grab it for you, I have it in the back." As I began to walk to the storage room, Randy, another guard came out of nowhere, letting me know he would retrieve it for me.
I really wondered what Edward was telling these guys. I just sighed and busied myself finishing the filing. Moments later Randy reappeared, handing the book off to the woman and she mumbled something to him, making him turn red and she disappeared.
"I AM capable of getting books from the back room!" I raised my voice.
"Yes, but Mr. Cullen specified you are not to go anywhere alone without us." He shrugged and went back to wherever he came from.
No use in arguing with him, it would just be a waste of breath. So I spent the next few hours on my inventory. Customers came in and out all day. I hadn't heard from Edward so I just assumed he was busy with other things.
It was time to close up and of course my guards took it upon themselves to secure everything and escorted me across the street to Cullen Inc. I was greeted by Liam this time at the front door; he dismissed the troops and took me up the elevator in silence.
Liam wasn't much of a talker, but he was a good person. He was loyal and trustworthy. I guess that's why Edward respected him so much even if he did threaten to fire him every day. We made it to the 52nd floor and Leah was behind her desk, typing on her computer.
"Well look who's here!" Her face beamed.
"Hello Leah." I smiled back; it had been so long since I'd seen her.
"Where is he?" I asked already knowing the answer.
"Um in with a client." She looked uncomfortable.
"Hmm." I said and with that proceeded to his office.
She knew better than to tell me not to enter, so instead she went back to her typing. A client at this hour? I wondered. I forced the door open only to find a woman perched on the corner of Edward's desk with her perfect legs crossed and him sitting back in his chair, smiling up at her.
She gently touched his shoulder and I cleared my voice, making my presence known. Edward didn't look the least bit surprised, but the woman jumped up so quick I thought she would trip over the chair next to her.
"What do we have here?" I crossed my arms staring between the two.
"I'm Greta Wiltlock, Mr. Cullen's um..." She trailed off looking like she was about to combust.
"Spit it out Greta, you're his what?" My anger was rising, Edward's smirk growing.
"It's okay Greta, you can go." Edward gestured with his head and the woman stumbled past me out of the office, closing the door.
"What the fuck was that!" I screamed.
"Calm down Bella or you will give yourself a sore throat." Edward chuckled.
"It's not funny. I haven't heard from you all day and I come here to find this." I move my hand toward the door the woman just walked out.
"And exactly what was it you found?" He arched his eyebrow as he walked round his desk to stand in front of me.
"Who is she?" I was unable to control my emotions anymore.
One minute I felt great, the next I was a sobbing mess. I just couldn't take anymore drama.
"Jasper's sister." He looked utterly amused and tried to pull me in, but I pushed him away.
"I didn't know he even had siblings." I felt like I was about to accuse him of something.
"She is his only sibling and she's Leah's girlfriend."
Oh!
"Why didn't you call me all day or stop by? You didn't look too busy entertaining her!" I said through clenched teeth.
"I did something today, that's why you couldn't reach me. I wanted to surprise you .but looks to be the surprise is on me. She thinks you're beautiful by the way." He smiled brightly at me.
I hugged him closely to me, breathing him in and he winced in pain. I looked up at him, wondering what I did to him.
"I need to show you something." He pushed me away and began to unbutton his shirt.
What did he plan to show me because undressing in his office was more like a fun escapade for us? I watched closely as he unbuttoned his blue shirt and revealed his bare chest with a gauze pad over where the gunshot scar was.
I felt confused at first until he removed the bandage. Where the prominent scar once stood was now blocked out by ink. It was a tattoo to be exact, with my name written in beautiful script, in his perfect hand writing.
I walked closer to him, barely tracing my fingers over my name that was now in black indelible ink on him. It was a bit red and swollen, but still I couldn't take my eyes off of it. I could feel the trickle of tears flowing down my cheeks.
"You ruined your flawless body with my name." I cried.
He smiled and took my hand, placing it over the tattoo, which was over his heart.
"No, definitely not ruined, it is just where it belongs; over my heart." He gave me the most breath-taking smile and I lunged.
I pushed him back, knocking all the stuff off his desk. Our picture knocking to the floor, I could hear the glass breaking, I didn't care. My lips were glued to him, kissing his bare chest, neck, arms, wherever my mouth could reach.
He gripped me tightly hiking up the skirt I had worn today, massaging my ass, removing my panties. Even though it should have been a serious romantic moment, I erupted in a fit of giggles. He pushed me up to look at my face, not really sure what I was laughing at.
"Are you okay?" He gave me a playful grin.
I tried to calm myself down because laughing seemed so inappropriate, but so was my behavior right now.
"I just had a flash back of the time you had me against your office door." I laughed even more.
"I'm not sure how that was funny." He gave me an offended stare.
"You stole my panties." I giggled.
Then his smirk reappeared, wiping the tears that were running down my cheeks from my laughing fit. He looked at me for a long moment and I saw the twinkle in his beautiful green eyes. How much I loved this man, I would give anything to him.
"I put those to good use you know." He winked with a goofy grin.
"How exactly?" I wasn't sure if I felt mortified or turned on by the thought
"That is the very night you rejected me you know, it was humiliating. No woman ever rejected me before." He shook his head with a laugh.
"Aw did I hurt your feelings?" I pretended to pout.
He grinned pulling me off the table. I watched his undone shirt hit the floor exposing his bare chest with the tat of my name. His perfect abs and strong muscular arms. He gave me a lopped sided grin, knowing he had me.
"I must say Isabella; in most cases if that were to occur I wouldn't have bothered, but something about you drove me wild."
His eyes growing wide as I backed away from him, my lust for him growing as he started to unbuckle his belt and whipping it off and onto the floor. A sudden memory of him whipping me with his crop ran through my mind, making my stomach flip.
"I took those sexy baby blue panties and you know what I did that night when I went home?" His eyes burning into me as I bumped into something, I assumed his couch.
I shook my head gulping down lungs full of breath. I just watched as he pulled his pants off and threw them on a nearby chair. The curve of his mouth almost sent me into a coma.
"Well..." He smiled while his boxers hit the floor.
His erection was so prominent and long. I could see the tip glistening. My chest was heaving up and down; I could feel my heart pounding. He was in front of me quicker than I realized and I fell onto the soft leather couch. His perfect penis was now eye level to me, which is exactly how he wanted me.
"I wrapped it around my dick like this." He took his hand and slowly glided it up and down his enormous shaft never breaking eye contact with me.
But it was hard keeping my eyes on his gorgeous face while that perfect penis stood so erect in my face. I reached out for it, but he shooed my hand away smirking. He removed his hand and kneeled down in front of me.
Our eyes full of desire and want. Without warning he pushed me back against the couch and kissed me forcefully. He flipped my skirt up exposing my entire lower half. His finger glided through my slit and he moaned.
"Did what I said turn you on Bella? You're so wet baby." He suddenly thrust into me.
My eyes rolled so far back I wasn't sure I would ever be able to see right again. He moved so expertly inside of me, stroking me like a violin, eloquently. He knew how to touch me, what to say, he just had such a thorough disposition about him.
I could feel that tingle of the orgasm rising inside my core, wanting to give way, to just hand over everything to him. It was getting closer with each move he made. Finally the explosion behind my eyes made it impossible to even think, but I believe I screamed out a couple Edward's.
After our escapades in his office we set out to get some dinner. I had gotten beyond the whole woman in his office thing, he made sure of that. We had been neglectful to our friends recently due to all the drama that had been going on in our life.
They never said it, but you could feel it in their stares, the pity they felt. I didn't want their pity though, I just wanted them to treat me the way they always had. So we set off to have a group dinner at one of Jasper's new restaurants in the area.
"You look tense. I could pull over and we can go another round if you want." Edward joked from the driver's side.
"Another round with you is always tempting, but I want to be on time to avoid drawing any attention on me, its nerve racking and honestly I'm sick of it." I smiled at him.
"Well I'm sure the talk will be more surrounding Rose's wedding preparation than anything else." Edward assures me.
We pull up in front of the restaurant and I see Alice standing outside with a smile on her face.
"You made it!" She beams pulling me into a hug as the doorman held my car door open.
"It's for Rose, I had to be here." I lie.
Alice intertwines our arms and Jasper appears, meeting at Edward's side. He gives me a genuine smile and we all walk in. I can see a lot of people gathered at the large table in the back; Rose and Emmett at the head.
I take the chair Edward pulls out for me and Rose greets everyone at the table. For the next 20 minutes Emmett and Rose go on and on about the wedding plans and people laugh and applaud. I absentmindedly eat and make small talk with everyone.
Edward picks up my hand from the table, giving it a gentle squeeze. I look at him with an empty smile. He raised an eyebrow and leaned in to whisper;
"Do you want to go?" His warm breath tickling my ear.
I really did want to leave but then I looked over at Rose smiling brightly at her future husband and knew I couldn't. No matter what I was dealing with on the inside, this was Rose's moment and I needed to be there for her like she had been there for me this whole time.
I just looked into those piercing green eyes and shook my head no with a slight smile. He said okay and we continued with the rest of the evening.
As we were saying our goodbyes to Rose and Emmett, Rose hugged me tightly with small tears running down her cheeks.
"I'm so glad you decided to move to Seattle with me. I'm just so happy that you brought Emmett back into my life." She pulled away looking at me.
"You and Em are meant to be, I had nothing to do with it. It was all fate." I wiped the tears from her cheeks.
"Yes fate indeed." A smiling Edward wrapped his arm around my waist.
The security of him holding me close made me feel relaxed and safe. He would protect me; he had so many times already. Our car pulled to the curb and Edward held the door for me to get in; once seated I sighed in relief.
About a week later I was getting ready for work and my cell phone chirped from the bedside table. Picking it I noticed the number on the screen. I knew this number well, Seattle police department.
I accepted the call, placing the phone to my ear and detective Franklin chimed through.
"Good morning, may I speak to Isabella Swan?" His deep tone alerting me.
"This is she, what can I do for you detective? All the nerves in my body were instantly on edge.
"We found James dead last night, about 15 miles from here."
I choked on the sob escaping my throat. I dropped the phone, placing both my hands over my mouth. The emotion that came over me was one of relief and disbelief like I had never felt before. I could hear the mumbled voice of the detective from the disregarded phone. I was too numb to even pick it up.
Oxygen seemed to not be coming into my lungs, overwhelmed I sat down on the edge of the bed, just staring at the floor.
At that moment Edward walked into the room, looking perplexed at my expression and I motioned to the ground where he saw my phone and picked it up. He spoke briefly with the detective and hung up the phone.
Once the call ended Edward wrapped himself around me and kept saying over and over that I was finally safe.
How could I be sure though? Many times I was told I was safe and I wasn't. I needed the real proof, the actually body would be the only way to convince me.
"How can we be sure it's really him? I want to see the body, I need to see it!" I looked into his emerald eyes pleading.
"Bella I'm not sure that's a good idea." he said soothing my cheeks.
"If you want me to have closure on this, I need to make sure it's really him please?" I begged.
"I can tell you yes because I would never deny you anything, but you have to understand, the police may not agree and ultimately it's not up to me." His stare was like stone.
"All the power you have, I'm sure they would not deny me of this." Tears are still falling down my face.
"I will see what can be done, but no promises, okay?" His eyes soften as he wipes a lone tear from my face.
I nod in agreement, but a sinking feeling comes over me. It feels like Edward is hiding something from me about this, but I don't push further on the subject; I'm not sure I want to know what it is.
We both make our way to work, but my anxiety is getting the better of me. I decide I want to call Alice and hear her reaction to the news. I wonder if I should tell Rose first though? Her wedding is coming up in a few days and I don't want to burden her with this. So I have made my decision, I will call Alice.
I explain to Alice what happened and sheer relief comes from a small sigh that escapes her lips.
"That's such great news." Her perky tone responds.
"Yeah, I guess it is, but I won't believe it until I see his body for myself. All the torment this man put me through, I have to be sure it's really him." The feeling of frustrated defeat came out in my words.
"Well is Edward going to take you to the morgue?" Alice asks.
"He said he would ask the police if he is allowed to." I huff.
"Our cousin in the city coroner, I don't think it would be a problem." Alice says so innocently.
Her words shake me. Edward knew this and acted like it would be a big to do, but all along it didn't have to be? What was his problem?
"Hmm, can I call you back Alice?" I ask not waiting for answer before disconnecting the call.
My fingers make quick work of the speed dial and I ring up Edward. It goes straight to his voice mail, but instead of running across the street to confront him, I just hang up and grab my purse. I tell one of the workers I will be back in a little while, but before I get to even make it to the door, Liam is standing in my way.
"Where you going?" He asks in his usual uninterested tone.
"I'm allowed to leave the store. They found the bad guy, why are all of you still hanging around?" I poke my finger at him.
"Edward still wants us to keep a close eye out for you. So I ask again, where are you going?" Liam stands blocking the door.
"I just spoke to him: he says I'm allowed out to play." I say sarcastically tapping my hands on hips
"I would almost believe you if I didn't actually just speak to him myself, he doesn't want you leaving." Liam's tone is firm and I just sigh, walking back into the store.
I grab my phone out my purse and click on the last number dialed. This time he answers.
"Hey beautiful." His voice sweet.
"You listen here Edward Anthony Cullen, I am not a child. Send your damn minions away or there will be no more Bella for you!" I screech into the phone.
He begins to laugh, finding my tone amusing.
"They are there for your protection." His smooth voice echoes.
"Protection against what? Someone driving down the street or maybe a bird landing on my head? Seriously Edward this needs to stop. James is dead; I'm tired of being your damn child!"
I stomp my foot for emphasis not that he can see but he sure can hear the irritation in my voice.
"I do not think you are a child, but…" He stops mind thought.
"Then send them away." I demand.
"Fine, consider it done." The line goes silent.
"Thank you." I echo and end the call.
I walk back to the front and there is no Liam, George or any of Edward's men. I'm relieved. I exit the store scanning the area for any sign of them and when I see none, I call Alice...