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Chapter 4 - Follow On

Follow On - Order or contract that calls for the repeat supply of goods or services, supplied under the original order or contract.

EPOV

Pacing. It's what I've been doing for hours now. I forced myself to work today but I can't focus on that anymore. I have more important things to deal with.

Bella.

I've gone over every possible scenario, every excuse. Why did Bella leave and where in the hell did she go?

I think over the events that occurred last night to try, yet again, to make some sense of them. She obviously enjoyed herself in my bed. I didn't hurt her. I know I was rough with her, but she'd said she liked it and she gave me no indication that she was lying. I was commanding, but not rude. I paid her well for her services and handled our arrangement in a professional manner.

I can't see anything that I did wrong so the issue must be hers. Is she on drugs? Does she have to check in with a pimp?

I stop moving as a new possibility enters my mind. Does she know what I am? Did she somehow see me last night as I hunted? No! That's impossible. There's no way she could suspect that I'm a vampire. Most people sense the need to keep their distance from me, unlike Bella. Of course, her profession demands quite the opposite. Maybe it was her human instincts finally kicking in that made her flee so early in the morning.

Whatever the case may be, I have to find her.

Technically, she didn't keep up her end of our business agreement, so she owes me. I don't let people in my line of work get away with such behavior and I'll be damned if a fucking prostitute is going to screw me over; pardon the pun.

I'm trying to ignore the small part of me that's worried about Bella. It's possible that she was kidnapped, maybe not from the room...I would've smelled another human in here, but someone could've taken her if she was in the lobby alone and looking for me.

Never have I been this affected by a woman. Last night, when we fucked, it was exhilarating the way she gave just as much as she took; but there's more to Bella than that. I'm not saying that I want to get to know her better; but I do know that when whatever this is with Bella ends, I'll be the one to end it, not her.

I look down at my watch before I start pacing again.

Where the fuck is McCarty? He should be here by now.

It's been over an hour since I called my personal driver, telling him to meet me here. He's the only one I can trust to help me in this situation and he'd better get his ass over here soon.

A few more minutes pass before I hear McCarty's familiar knock on the door.

I jerk the door open with a growl rumbling in my chest and McCarty knows I'm in no mood for games. He walks into the room, instantly apologetic.

"Edward, Sir, I'm sorry it took so long for me to get here. Traffic was a bitch and, well, Rosie..."

"I don't want to hear about my sister right now!" I sneer. "I have a job for you and I need it taken care of now!"

"Sure thing, Edward. Whatever you need."

I tell McCarty about my evening with Bella. He isn't surprised that she's a hooker, but I know he's alarmed that I want to find her again.

"Edward, I can go get you another girl, no problem."

"You're not listening to me! I don't want another girl; I want Bella! You are to drive to where I picked her up and you are not to come back until you have her with you! Is that understood?"

"Yes, Sir. What color did you say her hair was again?"

I pinch the bridge of my nose before answering, my patience virtually nonexistent. "She was wearing a short, blonde wig that she left here. I don't know what her natural hair color is or if she'll be wearing another wig. She's about 5'6", slender but soft, and she has big blue eyes, I think."

"You think?"

"I suppose it's possible that she was also wearing contacts last night, in addition to the wig. Fuck! If you don't see anyone who matches that description, start asking around. She might have a pimp, though. There were a couple of guys yelling for her and running after the car when I picked her up, so be careful. I'm still trying to make up for previous mistakes with Rosalie. I don't want to have to add to her list of grievances with me."

McCarty smiles wide and nods his head once before walking out the door. There's nothing else I can do until he returns so I turn my laptop back on and continue working.

It's well after midnight when McCarty knocks on my door again. A brief flicker of hope quickly dies out when I hear only one heartbeat, not two. McCarty is alone.

My body is filled with rage as I throw the door open and pull him inside my room. "Where the hell is Bella?!"

He truly looks remorseful as he answers, "I'm sorry, Sir. I couldn't find her; I looked everywhere! Most of the people I talked to told me to fuck off. Those that would talk to me hadn't heard of a hooker named Bella."

I begin to slowly let go of his suit jacket that I have a tight grip on, smoothing it down as I release it from my fingers. I know it's not his fault that Bella is nowhere to be found, but I feel the need to take the anger out on somebody, anybody. Why is this woman messing with my mind so much? I think that's what is infuriating me the most. I fucked her more than what I would normally deem necessary. I should have been able to forget about her, but I can't.

"Take me down there," I demand. "I want to look for myself."

McCarty says nothing in response, only nodding his head as he walks toward the still-open door leading to the elevator. When we get to the lobby, I wait at the front door while he goes to retrieve the car. I pace in front of the doors as I wait; minutes feel like hours.

Surely, I'll be able to find her. My heightened senses should be good for something besides food. I'm counting on them to lead me to her and, if they don't, then I'll find a replacement.

My body feels like a tightly-wound spring and I need a release before I explode.

We drive up and down the street where I picked Bella up last night. I even roll the window down, so that my vision is not diluted through the glass. I search for the long, toned legs that were wrapped around my waist. I look for the pouty lips and the soft, delicate nose. Although, I don't know the real color of Bella's eyes, I'm sure if I saw them again, I'd know them, no matter the hue. Every hooker we pass fades into the next. They're all alike, yet completely different from Bella.

In frustration, I drag my hands through my hair and pull tightly.

McCarty's voice filters back to where I'm sitting. "I hate to say this, Boss, but there's a chance that she's not out here on the streets. It is kind of late."

"What are you trying to say?" I ask, gritting through my teeth.

"Well, I mean, you and I both know what she does for a living. I'm not trying to make the situation worse, but..." McCarty, stumbles over his words, not wanting to just spit out what he and I both know to be the truth.

Bella is probably fucking someone else right now.

The very thought of it makes me snap, losing what little self-control I've tried to maintain. My fist makes contact with the window I'd just rolled back up and it shatters.

"Pull over!" I yell.

"Sir, is this a good idea?" McCarty asks, as I begin to open the door.

"Mind your fucking business and do what I pay you to do!" I snap, but before I can step out of the car, a tall blonde walks up to me. For a split second, I think my luck has turned.

"Hey, handsome, looking for something?" she asks.

I know before I can even get a good look at her that it's not her. I can tell by her smell and the sound of her voice. As I look up, I see blonde hair and blue-ish green eyes. She's not Bella, even the beating of her heart is off, but perhaps she'll do the trick. Maybe she can help clear my mind.

I step out of the car and motion for her to get in. Some of the glass that fell from the broken window is on the seat and floorboard. I hold her back with my arm and brush the glass out onto the road, before allowing her to climb into the backseat. Even a small cut is more than I can afford tonight. I know that the tenuous grip I have on my sanity would slip and that would only end badly.

Sliding in beside her, I breathe in her scent. It's wrong, something is off. Her blood smells polluted with only God knows what. I hold my breath, so that I don't have to smell her, and take inventory of the rest of her. The bruise at the bend of her arm tells me that she's probably been shooting up, maybe even recently. Her eyes make contact with mine and they're bloodshot and hazy, the pupils dilated.

She leans toward me and starts loosening my tie with one hand and firmly fondling my cock with the other. I could close the privacy barrier and just take her here and get it over with, but I don't think I can stand the feel of her skin on mine. Actually, I don't think I can stand another minute in this car with her. Without a second thought, I yell at McCarty to pull over again.

The car comes to an abrupt stop, just a few blocks from where we were. I quickly pull a hundred dollar bill out of my wallet. When I open the door, I get out at an inhuman speed, hoping that the hooker chalks it up to the trip she is currently on right now. She looks at me, uncertain of what I want her to do or why we've pulled over.

"Get out!"

"Wha...why? I thought you..." she trails off, in a high-pitched voice, much different from the sugary-sweet tone she used with me only a few minutes ago. "Wait a minute! Are you a cop?"

I laugh at the absurdity of her words and this whole fucking situation. "No," I say, tucking the money down the front of her bra and pushing her away from my car.

Quickly, I climb back in, feeling the need to take a shower and wash the filth off me. I always feel that way when I've been with a hooker, except for one. I actually hesitated to shower this morning, not ready to wash Bella's scent away.

McCarty drives back to the hotel, and we avoid exchanging any more words. We do make eye contact and I can tell that he has a puzzled look on his face, not sure of what to make out of all of this.

For the first time since I started this life, I'm in the same boat. I don't know what to make out of all of this, either. I don't know what I'm doing. I know I have an unyielding desire to find Bella. She owes me. I'm not finished with her. But, I have no idea what I'm going to do when and if I actually find her. What if she were to materialize right now? What would I do with her? Fuck her one last time and tell her to leave? Is that going to be enough?

My mind is in a haze and thoughts of Bella are only making it harder for me to think clearly.

I need to hunt.

It's not like me to hunt two days in a row. I can actually go weeks without hunting, but I prefer to hunt at least once a week. Since I mingle with humans on a daily basis, I like to keep myself well-fed, as it prevents mistakes and unfortunate accidents.

I leave through the sliding doors of the balcony. It's the best way for me to go unnoticed. Not that I can't leave through the lobby, I just choose not to. Mainly, because I don't like to wear my normal suit and tie when I go hunting, and if anyone from the hotel saw me in my jeans and black t-shirt, they would definitely be suspicious. Wearing a suit while hunting is cumbersome, and often wastes fine fabrics.

As I quickly make my way to the edge of the city, clear of watchful eyes, I break free and begin to run out some of my pent-up frustrations.

-BD-

"Mr. Cullen?" Alec's voice comes over the intercom and breaks the silence that has filled my office.

"Yes?" I answer, a little more gruffly than normal.

"I was just checking to see if you need anything else today before I leave, Sir."

"Did you print those reports I need for tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"Did you verify my meeting with the Whitlocks for later this week?"

"Yes, Sir. I spoke with the younger Mr. Whitlock and he confirmed the seven o'clock meeting. He said that his secretary would call over later this week with details on the location."

"Very well, then."

I could keep him and the rest of my employees here working 24 hours a day, but that is, of course, against labor laws. Sometimes, the human limitations surrounding me are extremely frustrating. I tried to get Rosalie to come and work with me, but she's not into this sort of thing. She wants the business to succeed because it was something that our father wanted, but she has no interest in real estate or buildings or companies. She hates this type of business almost as much as she hates me, which is a lot.

Reaching over, I punch the intercom button.

"Yes, Edward."

"James, I need to see you in my office. I want to go over the Whitlock buyout."

"I'll be right there."

My mind really isn't into work, but keeping myself busy with menial tasks of mergers and acquisitions helps keep my mind from obsessing over Bella. That's what it is, at this point. She's become an obsession. The fact that I can't locate her has made the desire increase.

A knock at my door draws my attention begrudgingly away from thinking about Bella's scent and her touch, and back to the business at hand.

"Come in."

"Boss," James nods, as he walks over and sits down across from me.

"James," I acknowledge.

Finding no need for small talk, I dive right into the financial statements of Whitlock & Associates. At one time, they had a strong business. Their assets are quite large, most of it residing in office buildings and a few residential properties. I'm curious to find out why their company is in such bad shape. It won't change my mind about buying it and selling it off, piece by piece; I just want to know what got them to this point. The Whitlocks have been in business for over 100 years. Each generation has stepped up and taken the lead when an older generation was ready to step down. I wonder how Jasper Whitlock has managed to drive the company into the ground.

"Edward, you seem tense," James says, closing the last file folder.

"I'm fine," I tell him, taking the folder and shoving it into my briefcase.

"Come on, Edward. It's me you're talking to. You can tell me." He leans back in his chair, interlocking his fingers across his stomach.

"It's nothing. I think we're done here." I fold my hands and look across the desk at James. The smirk he has on his face would probably make a lot of people uneasy. His mannerisms remind me of a snake. He slithers around, striking when people are unaware.

My stare wins out and he stands up from his chair. His arms go up in surrender, "Okay, fine. Don't tell me, but you look like you need a good piece of ass. I could fix that for you."

"That won't be necessary," I say, trying to keep a calm façade. He can't help me, unless he can bring me Bella.

Knowing that my word is final, he turns around and walks out, closing my door behind him.

James thinks I tell him everything. He also thinks that I believe that he tells me everything. What James doesn't know is that I'm more aware than he thinks I am. I know everything. I have enough information on James to put him away for years, but I like to keep that as my very own insurance policy.

James is married to Victoria. Their marriage is what can be described as "open". They both cheat on each other and they know it, but they don't care. James has a few side businesses; again, he thinks I know nothing about them and, honestly, I really don't care. As long as his businesses don't interfere with what we do here at Cullen Enterprises, he can do whatever he likes.

What forces me to keep him here is that he knows the business, he's ruthless, good at what he does, and enjoys being in the public. We make quite the pair, except for the latter. I hate being in the public. I know that this career will be relatively short-lived, comparatively, but I'd like for it to last as long as possible.

To make that happen, I have to stay out of the public eye. People are so nosy. They try to make me out to be some pseudo-celebrity and make my life interesting to the general population. They ask why I'm single. They want to know about my family - none of which I'm willing to talk about. So, the more I avoid the public, the better. James knows this much about me, and he gladly steps in to be the face of Cullen Enterprises when needed.

Every once in a while, I'm forced to meet face-to-face with clients, like the Whitlocks. This is such a large deal; I have to know that it's handled correctly. When it comes to things that matter the most, I only trust myself.

-BD-

As I slide into the back of the limo, I glance at my wristwatch. It's ten o'clock.

I wonder if she's out there tonight.

If I go back to the hotel, I'll end up sitting there thinking about her until morning, and this whole horrible cycle will start all over again, without reprieve.

I glance out the window and see that McCarty has already started driving toward the hotel.

"Take me to Aurora Avenue."

Without question, the car makes a U-turn, heading back in the opposite direction. He knows what I'm doing and he knows that I won't give up until I find her.

We make a pass up Aurora and I see no one who resembles Bella. McCarty pulls the car up to the curb, puts it in park, and turns around to look at me.

"Let's go back," I demand, avoiding his stare by looking out the newly-replaced window.

As we're making our way back down Aurora, I see something that catches my eye, a bright red leather jacket.

"Stop!"

McCarty slams on the brakes in the middle of the street.

"Pull over!"

She was walking out of a door on the other side of the street, I saw her. I know it's her. Her hair was a different color, but I know that red jacket and I know those long legs that were stretching out from under the black leather skirt she's wearing.

As soon as the car is in 'park', I open the door and jump out, trying to keep my speed in check.

I see her. She walks up to a black sedan, leans over, and begins talking to someone inside the car. Before I can react...before I can run across the street and throw her over my shoulder, she opens the door and gets in.

My most basic instincts rise up inside me. My fists are clenched tightly at my sides, and my mouth is filling with venom. I want to hunt, but this time I want to hunt down that car.

I want her!

She owes me.

She belongs with me.

"Edward, everything okay?" Emmett asks, stepping from the car.

"She left!"

"Who?"

"Bella!"

I walk back around to the other side of the car, open the door, and sit back down.

Emmett gets back into the driver's seat.

"What do you want to do now?" he asks.

"We wait."

Now that I know Bella was here, I'm not leaving.

She'll be back.

And I'll be waiting.

A/Ns:

Jenny Kate: OOooooooo, Edward is going to be waiting! This is getting good! *stuffs popcorn into mouth*

Jiff: I feel like such a voyeur...I think I like it! *grabs JK's popcorn*

Jenny Kate: I wish we could post the next chapter like NOW! Oh, wait...we have to write it first. LOL.

Jiff: Or we could film ourselves explaining everything that is going to happen in the story and upload it to YouTube! LOL

Jenny Kate: Yesssss! *high fives Jiff* Super idea! Except, it probably wouldn't be as much fun. I mean, isn't anticipation part of what makes reading a story so good?

Jiff: That is true. Also, I'm pretty sure our giggling through any future lemons would probably ruin the entire experience for everyone anyway.

Jenny Kate: Um, yeah...if they only knew the way we giggled like 12 year olds whenever certain words are mentioned, they would never take our lemons serious again...like EVER.

Jiff: Absolutely. We have our smut reps to protect! Or something like that...

Jenny Kate: Smut reps...lemon cred...kidding. What the hell were we talking about again?

Jiff: Heck, if I know! I will say, that I have loved reading everyone's theories about Bella and the two new mystery men! I promise, we didn't intend to make this story so mysterious but we just can't help it! It's too much fun!

Jenny Kate: We promise we'll have answers for you...soon-ish. LOL.

Jiff: Yep, "soon-ish" sounds about right. I hope y'all are okay with that!

Jenny Kate: We have to thank our beta, Fran (aka Sunflower Fanfiction) and our pre-reader, Mauigirl60! They make our words better...fix our commas and contractions. We'd be lost without them!