Chapter 5

Esme POV

After talking to Bella on the beach I tried to lie back down but my mind would not stop working. I couldn't stop thinking about our conversation. Even though I had only known her a month I liked her and hoped as she did that we could cultivate a friendship. I remembered her from years ago but I assume that is a time she would rather forget so I never mentioned it to her. To say she and Edgar's wedding disturbed people would be an enormous understatement.

Edgar Sinclair had attended college with several of the executives of Fortune 500 companies in Seattle so he was out here for business often. Even though he lived in Chicago the young women of Seattle saw him as quite a catch and pursued him mercilessly whenever he was in town. The announcement of his marriage came as a shock to everyone; he purchased a house on Bainbridge Island and gossip spread they planned to live here. Once they arrived people immediately began to judge, Isabella was so young she must have trapped him into marriage. Rumors ran rampant and almost all doors were closed to her unless she was with Edgar. She never complained to him and thankfully it only took him a few months to realize what was happening. From what Carlisle told him Edgar 'lost it' at a business luncheon and told the men in attendance exactly why they wouldn't return to Seattle. They moved back to Chicago and didn't visit for years. When they did visit again it was only during the summer and were never seen out although rumor had it some people were invited onto the estate. Once he died no one ever heard about Isabella again but there were times throughout the year that the estate appeared to be lived in. Mrs. Sinclair inspired loyalty in her staff because they never said if she was visiting no matter often people asked and no one was ever allowed past the gate.

If I was honest with myself I thought their marriage was strange too, but I questioned his motives not hers. I mean she was 18 had he been seeing her when she was underage, was he a pedophile. I called a friend in Chicago and discovered that they and their relationship were much more than it appeared to be and on a firmer foundation than most of the women who judged her. I wasn't able to find out much, they were a very guarded couple and the people close enough to know most of the story refused to talk especially to someone in Seattle. I couldn't say I blamed them. I was brought out of my musings by the sound of a helicopter and it sounded close.

As I made my way to the door to see what was happening most of the family was coming downstairs having been woken by the sound. We stepped out onto the porch as a sleek, black helicopter landed on the front lawn. It had a white swan emblazoned on the side and was called The Lady Swan. As woman opened the door and got out, I saw her talking to Bella before shutting the door. She came running over to the porch before turning back and waving to Bella as she took off again. The woman turned and looked at us then zeroing in on me, "Esme Cullen?" she asked. "Yes" I answered warily.

"I'm Julie Matthews, Isabella Sinclair is a good friend of mine and she recommended that I speak with you in private."

"Oh! Please come in Miss Matthews. We can go in my office to talk."

"Thank you Mrs. Cullen and please call me Jules. Bella seemed to be rather taken with you and that is the only stamp of approval you will ever need in my book, she is an extremely private person."

As I closed the door to my office on the stunned faces of my family I looked at Jules. "I am glad to hear that Jules please call me Esme, I like Bella too. Why don't you have a seat and tell me what she proposes?"

"I got a call from Bella not to long after sunrise and came out to see her. I am a freelance reporter and Bella and I have known each other for years. She told about the interactions between her and Edward and gave me a general idea of the point she wants to get out to the press. She assured me the article would be in tomorrow's Seattle Times and I could sell it to anyone else I wanted. Of course your family is free to talk to whom ever they wish but I am the only reporter she will talk to and then she recommended that I come talk to you. Bella gets final say in the article, Edward has approval but Bella's is the final one that counts. What do you think Esme?"

"This is different from what I thought she would do when I spoke with her. I was expecting her to just issue a statement and that would be that I hadn't expected a joint article. I would have to ask Edward first."

"I understand Esme, I do. If you prefer that Edward not give an interview I understand and I will just do the article on what Bella wants. But please think about this Bella is normally spot on when it comes to handling the press. Would you like to talk to your family now? Should I wait or you could call me with your decision?"

"Let's go talk to the family know, I am sure they are dying to know what is going on in here." We walked out to the living room where everyone was waiting and I filled them in on what Bella's idea was. It didn't take long for the questions to start.

"Why did Bella call you Miss Matthews? I don't mean to be insulting but there are more seasoned, more renowned reporters this could go to?" asked Jasper.

"Please all of you call me Jules. I met Bella in college and we have remained close friends for 10 years. She called me because she knows she can trust me and in the world she lives in that is saying something. She also knows this would be a big feather in my cap and that I am willing to give her total control over what makes it into print. Lastly when it is all said and done I am willing to turn all my notes over to her also. I would rather die than do anything to betray our friendship and she has faith in that."

"How can you have known her 10 years if you met her in college, she would have been 21 or 22 when she graduated? The numbers aren't adding up." questioned Carlisle.

Jules was laughing as she started to answer, "Bella is much, much more than she seems. I am 4 years older then her. I was 21 when I graduated college, Bella was 18. By the time she was 22 she had her first doctorate. There is only so much she is allowing me to say. If you want her history you will need to get that from her. I can tell you that the only person to know her inside and out has passed away and he took a large part of her with him."

"How would this work exactly, the interview? How can Bella guarantee that this will be in the Seattle Times and picked up by other news services? Will I have the opportunity to talk to her personally before this comes out?" Edward was firing off questions very quickly. He always did when ever he was nervous. I think he is uncomfortable with this so far, he may not do it.

"Whoa, slow down Mr. Cullen. When I spoke with Bella, it was more like a story. She gave me the facts of everything that happened from the time she first met you at Hope House and from there she went into what she would change or clarify given the chance to do so. She also gave me her feelings behind some of her actions. How personal this gets is up to you, remember you will see your part of the article and have approval of that, I will then add Bella's part and she will have the final approval for print. She can guarantee it will appear it certain new sources because she owns them including the Seattle Times. She wants this to be in the papers tomorrow so I need to get it in no later than 5pm today that is the reason I am here so early. Bella is on her way to San Diego and she will be there for two weeks so I don't think you can see her. I'm sorry."

EPOV

WOW! Bella had a doctorate by 22, her first. How many does she have? I couldn't sleep last night so I spent most of it thinking. As my mother suggested I tried to be objective and brutally honest with myself about myself. I ended up making several lists, about her, about me and about what I wanted out of my business and personal life. When I held up the proverbial mirror to myself I had to admit I wasn't happy with what I saw. How and more importantly when had I become this pretentious, self absorbed dick?

I did feel drawn to Bella, at first on a sexual level but very quickly it was on an emotional level. Even in that first meeting when I was an ass she looked at me almost with pity. As if she saw passed the walls and the facade to the fact that I had been hurt and was scared. The more I learned about her the more I liked her. The fact that she was 13 years younger than me floated in the back of my mind as well as the fact she lived in Chicago and of course the big obstacle she hated me and with good reason. But when I got passed those things I could admit to myself I wanted to know her. I wanted to know why I was drawn to her and I wanted her to be in my life somehow in some capacity, I just didn't know how to make that happen.

When I came out of my thoughts I realized the room was silent and everyone was looking at me in anticipation. "I'm sorry Miss Matthews I was sidetracked for a moment. I want to do this but I am not sure how it will play from a business stand point. Why I lashed out was for purely personal reasons and I have to say I do not want that splashed all over the business section of papers nationwide."

She actually laughed at me. "I understand Mr. Cullen and I don't write business articles. I would be shocked if this showed up there. I expect this to be in the features section. Bella is trying to move this away from the business image both of you project into the realm of society gossip run amok and she can't do that if this shows up in the business section. She wants women to read this and then ask their husbands about it, that is what gets the businessmen to read it."

"Smart girl" I heard Carlisle and Emmett whisper.

"OK let's do this. Are you going to ask questions or should I just tell my story?" I asked her.

"Just start talking and remember I want the personal stuff. You have my word I will not make you look like a fool and anything you aren't comfortable with will not be in the article. As long as you don't object I am going to record this also."

I nodded at her that I didn't mind and started my story. I didn't get into my past a lot just that I had learned to be very cautious with myself and my family but from there on I told her everything I had told my family the night before right until I came downstairs this morning. I talked for almost 2 hours and she rarely asked questions.

"Thank you very much Mr. Cullen. I will have draft for you to read in a few hours. If you could write down a number I can fax it to you at when I am done. I will need you to get back to me fairly fast so I can make any changes and get it to Bella for approval. I will be at Sinclair House until the story is filed so please call me there. It has been a pleasure meeting you all. Bella said I could just walk back on the beach since your properties run into each other and it will give me time to clear my head and start writing. Is that OK?"

Esme spoke up, "Of course, follow me out to the deck."

As they walked out I looked at everyone else. "Well does anyone have anything to say? Was it Ok or should I just step down now as CEO?"

"No I think it will be fine Edward." Emmett said. "We need to wait and see what she faxes to us."

"I agree we wait and see. If we aren't happy with it then pull Edward's entire portion." Carlisle said. "I am surprised at how open you were Edward but it is the best way to get past this."

"I know but I meant what I said. I do want the chance to get to know her. I know there are and will be a lot of obstacles but I have to know why I feel this pull to her, to ignore it just feels - wrong."

I went out to the beach to sit and wait for the article to be faxed to me. I had to do something to let Bella know I appreciated her gesture and I was sorry. It took 30 minutes of calling around to hotels to find where she was staying in San Diego, another 30 minutes of looking up the meanings of flowers, 45 minutes of growing the balls to call the florist and 15 minutes ordering flowers and getting the card just right. By the time I got off the phone I was beginning to wonder if I had turned into a girl. As I went back inside I noticed my family around Alice's laptop. While they hadn't had time to get anything into the Sunday paper the Times website was full of what happened. People questioning if I should step down, was I a good community leader, mentor and did I single handedly sink the Sinclair deal?

I turned to Carlisle, "I think we need to be prepared to answer questions tomorrow. Even if the article works people will still have questions and I am sure the Board will call a meeting. I will be shocked if they don't push for a vote of confidence and I need to be ready for either outcome."

As I turned to leave the room we all heard the fax beep in Esme's office. I went to retrieve the papers and read them on the way back to the living room, everyone was looking at me. I held the papers out for someone to take so they could read them. "I think it is as good as it gets given the situation. Mom, could you please call Miss Matthews and tell her I'm fine with my part. I'm going upstairs to figure out about tomorrow - please just give me time."

BPOV

The entire flight to San Diego I wondered if I had done the right thing by calling Jules. I knew she would do a good job but I didn't normally put my personal life out there like I did this time. Time would tell. Maybe he would be willing to talk this out and then I would have the chance to figure out this weird draw I felt to him. It made me really uncomfortable this pull I needed to get passed it.

I had been booked into the US Grant Hotel in the Historic District. It was gorgeous and from the Edwardian Period. Could I not escape that man? When I entered my suite I couldn't miss the large bouquet of Purple Hyacinths and Pansies they were beautiful. As I opened the envelope a card fell out telling me their meanings, so someone wanted forgiveness and was in thoughtful recollection. Before I looked at the personal card I was sure they were from Edward.

Isabella -

I want to thank you for throwing me a rope so I can hopefully climb out of this hole I have been digging myself into. When you return to Seattle I hope most that I can see you and explain in person. I am truly sorry for so much - please give me a second chance.

Hoping -

Edward

Well, the asshole does have a soft side after all, not a bad start Cullen but let's see what he does after the article and the press release come out. We were both guilty of letting past prejudices influence our behavior and I was willing to move past it all if he was. Also, I was really curious as to what his reaction would be if he ever heard my full story. But then again I never shared the full story with anyone; Edgar only knew it because he lived it with me. If I was ever to tell Edward it would mean I was keeping him forever and the thought of forever with anyone at this time seriously scared me.

After I settled in to my suite I set up my laptop and opened my e-mail. I had 2 e-mails from Jacob Black, he was persistent I had to give him that. We had a meeting set up for tomorrow morning but he wouldn't stop offering to take me to dinner tonight. No means no, if Edward came off as just aggressive then Jacob looked to be passive-aggressive. I also saw an e-mail from Jules; this was what I had been waiting on. I opened the attachment:

If you take Edward Cullen and mix in Isabella Sinclair you get... a Major Mess!

Anyone who attended the gala for Hope House on Saturday night paid for dinner and gambling the show was free. It started with Tanya Denali accosting Isabella Sinclair in the lobby of the Fairmont Hotel using Edward Cullen's name continued on with Mrs. Sinclair airing her personal opinion of Mr. Cullen to everyone there, then pulling Seattle off the table for the new Sinclair offices and ended with Mr. Cullen not knowing what his job title would be today. While these are the facts they don't tell the whole story, I talked to Edward and Isabella who filled in the blanks.

In talking to Mrs. Sinclair she wishes she would have taken a breath and calmed down before addressing anyone. "My personal opinion of Mr. Cullen should be just that personal; it has nothing to do with business. He is a great business mind and shouldn't be punished because I let the half truths and lies of Tanya Denali, a known social climbing 'ho influence me.".....

.... Mr. Cullen went on to explain "I felt a pull to her when I first saw her and it took me off guard. Instead of talking a step back and thinking through things I lashed out due to inaccurate information and past experiences. I wish more than anything I could go back to that first meeting and just do it differently."...

When the topic of why Seattle was pulled as a new Sinclair location Mrs. Sinclair became obviously upset. "When Edgar and I were first married my introduction to Seattle Society was less than pleasant and I saw the same thing happening to the wives and families of my executives. I can handle Edward Cullen and I can handle the self centered women of Seattle but my executives' spouses and families shouldn't have to. They have done nothing wrong in fact they did something very right, they helped their spouse become a successful executive and my reward to them for that it is to not subject them to that kind of treatment."

...."If you can believe the rumor mill then I would have to say the ones who are pushing the hardest for Mr. Cullen to step down need to look in their own backyard for the reason Seattle was pulled from the list. As the saying goes people who live in glass houses shouldn't though stones.".... "Edward Cullen is a brilliant businessman who in his short tenure as CEO has recognized the signs of the future and is working to make The Cullen Group a technological giant in the future. I recognize this and anyone who truly believes that I would let personal differences make business decisions is not only an idiot but also seriously underestimates not only me but Mr. Cullen as well."....."I did not get to where I am today by making flighty decisions or letting my heart rule my head and neither did Edward Cullen."

I asked Mr. Cullen if there was one point he could get out about the whole fiasco what would it be? "I would want people to know I love my job and think I am good at. I made a mistake that led to other mistakes but I am only human. I am deeply sorry for allowing past experiences to cloud my judgment but it was a lesson learned the hard way and those are often the ones that stick with you the longest. As much as I hope these mistakes do not cost me a position I love I hope even more that they do not cost me the chance to get to know Isabella Sinclair because not having her in my life even if only as a friend would be the true tragedy."

Since I believe a woman should always have the last word I asked Mrs. Sinclair what her thoughts were on Mr. Cullen's future hopes. "I have a quote hanging in my office by Paul Boese and it says, 'Forgiveness does not change the past but it does enlarge the future.' I keep that quote close to my heart. So Edward I forgive you. What you do with that forgiveness is up to you and I look forward to an enlarged future."

I was happy with the article. It had the right mix of hard facts and poking fun at the entire situation. This article would make the press release that would be in the business section all that more potent. I e-mailed Jules thanking her for everything and then forwarded the article and press release to all the appropriate people. Now I just had to wait and see if playing the rest of my cards would be necessary.

CPOV

Emmett, Jasper and I spent the afternoon fielding phone calls and strategizing for anything and everything. Edward didn't come back downstairs and I knew he was thinking about if he deserved to be CEO and then about how to keep his position. The Cullen Family retained control of The Cullen Group with 53% of the stock. The Board couldn't fire Edward without our approval but if a vote of confidence did not go his way he would step down on his own and I knew it. I hoped this article smoothed things out some because if not things didn't look good.

At 5:30 Esme came to me with a fax from her office machine, it was from Isabella. I called the family to Esme's office. "I received a fax from Isabella telling me to check my work e-mail. So let's see what we have." I pulled up the e-mail and was surprised to see it had gone out to every member of the Cullen Board, City Council, the City Planning Commission, the Mayor and a few select businessmen in Seattle. It also had 2 attachments, I opened the article and printed it out for everyone to start reading but the second document had me intrigued it was titled press release. I opened it and was shocked at what I read; this is what would keep Edward as CEO and another piece of the puzzle that is Isabella Sinclair fell into place. If nothing else it explained the name of her helicopter.

"Well, what does everyone think? Will it do what we hoped it would?"

"It's good" Emmett said. "It is light hearted enough to take the focus off the business end."

"I am not sure it detracts enough though." Jasper interjected. "I think we do need to be prepared for a board meeting."

"There is another document and it is a press release but instead of printing it out I am going to read it. It is set to run in the Business Section of tomorrow's Seattle Times and it is being issued by Swan Enterprises Owner and Chairman of the Board I.S.S." I saw the confusion on their faces when I said it was a Swan release. "It reads:

Swan Enterprises had planned on announcing this next month after the bids went out but in light of the business climate in Seattle we are opting to announce first and then send the letters requesting bids from select companies.

Due to new medical technology we require a new factory and distribution center. Seattle is one of 2 cities in the United States being considered, there are also 3 cities outside the US under consideration. Either old facilities will be revamped or new ones will be constructed the decision has not been made yet and we will be accepting bids on both. Swan Enterprises want firms that can handle all aspects of the process to bid, the architecture, the construction, being environmentally friendly and most importantly to understand what we hope to do with the new facilities.

With those criteria in mind it has always been my hope that we would be able to work with The Cullen Group and more importantly their CEO Edward Cullen. The company offers all the services required and Mr. Cullen's knowledge in the medical field would prove invaluable in the initial start up, if of course, they win the bid.

To be honest we at Swan Enterprises would have to think twice about a city and more specifically a company that does not support its leaders. To make Mr. Cullen a scapegoat for a decision that he had nothing to do with is bad business and would not reflect well on how Swan maybe treated if we choose to do business in Seattle.

Think carefully gentlemen, I know we are.

Isabella Swan-Sinclair

Owner and Chairman of the Board

Swan Enterprises

When I finished I looked up at my family and they were stunned, except for Esme. I wondered if she knew about this. Edward was the only one to speak. "Oh. My. God. Isabella Sinclair used to be a Swan? I have no idea what to think let alone say. WOW!"

Wow indeed I thought.

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or its characters.

Please read & review.