A/n: Sighs...

No warnings needed for this one...

Chapter 7

I was exhausted from my cry session and I knew that my eyes would be puffy.

She would notice. She always noticed. So, when she texted me what she wanted me to cook for dinner I let the dread wash over me.

At five, I shut down my computer locked up my office and trudged to the elevator. I felt like there was a two-ton boulder that rested on my shoulders.

Just then I heard a throat being cleared to my right, I looked over to see Bella. She stood tentatively there as she watched me.

She just nodded at me with pity in her eyes and turned back to face the elevator as we waited.

We were only two of the four hourly employees with the organization, so there were rarely crowds of people to leave at this time of day from our office. I would have to figure out a way to distance myself from Miss Swan.

I couldn't allow her to get friendly or too close to me, as it would only further raise suspicions and bring about more questions.

That thought made my heart ache. I genuinely liked this woman. She seemed kind and good-hearted and I was drawn to her for some reason.

But, nonetheless, I couldn't be friends with her and maintain my secrets. It would never work.

So when we stopped off the elevator into the parking garage, I quickly walked to my car. But her voice stopped me just as I opened the car door.

"Edward?" My name echoed in the concrete building.

I turned to see her approach my car, "I just wanted to say that I won't say anything to anyone. I didn't want you to worry about that. I keep secrets very well." Her voice was genuine. I could hear the hint of her own secret as she spoke the words to me.

I glanced at her and nodded. No words were spoken between us as I climbed in and sat down in my car. She stood there and stared at me for a brief moment before she walked away.

I watched her get in her car before I pulled out of my parking spot.

I couldn't cry again. I had to get out of the mind-frame I was in and prepare for the nightly battle that awaited me at home.

My phone buzzed with an incoming call from Tanya.

I sighed and hit answer, "Yes, Tanya?" I tried to keep the disdain out of my voice so as to not set her off.

"Edward, don't forget to pick up a bottle of wine to go with Chicken Fettucini tonight. You do remember the bottle I showed you that goes with that meal, don't you?" She spoke to me like I was a petulant step-child.

Had she always spoken to me that way? I simply could not remember.

"Yes, dear, I remember." I spoke through gritted teeth.

"Good, now hurry your ass up, I'm hungry and I have plans to go out with the girls after dinner." Her spiteful voice rang in my head.

"I'm just leaving work, I'll be home soon." I replied and heard her hang up on me.

Now, I was angry and wanted to hit something. I was taught never to hit a woman but I truly wanted to punch her lights out at this very moment.

I stopped at a red light and took some deep breaths to calm myself down. She loved to anger me, it seemed her whole goal was to prompt me to hit her, to fight back. But, I've never given in.

I would never give her that satisfaction.

Especially not with the items she had in her safety deposit box.

A/n: Dinner with Tanya coming up next...oh joy...won't that be fun? NOT!

See ya soon! (I might try to sneak some in on Friday...we'll see how it goes)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Kyla