House of Hope

by rbsschess

Bella is a 27 year old widow whose late husband has given her a task to help her live and hopefully find love again. Edward is a 40 year old CEO who has learned the hard way that women are gold diggers. Can he look past his misconceptions to find love?

8. The Ranch

Chapter 8

Tanya POV

I can't believe that no one will talk about the Sinclair bitch, everyone has skeletons and I need to find hers. I even asked Carmen to get involved because she lives in Chicago now and still nothing. I didn't even know if there was anything to find, no one let the conversation get that far. As soon as they found out it was about Mrs. Sinclair the responses were all the same, "she is a very private person and would not appreciate being gossiped about." The bitch inspired loyalty, that was for sure but the same couldn't be said about her husband.

People were a little more willing to talk about him but not much. He seems to have been into some shady business dealings but who wasn't and everyone thought Isabella was left out of the business. Their marriage was sudden but they were very much in love. People thought she was pregnant but they never had children. Things with her just kept getting more interesting.

I had been trying to reach Edward for several days with no luck. They will not be happy that I have not made progress with him. I could go at my own pace and get by with the small things until she showed up. I don't understand the urgency now and it started when she arrived in Seattle. She is also the reason I am losing the small hold I have on Edward. She is causing me a lot of problems which I thought Jacob could help me take care of but he is useless when it comes to women.

As I looked at the caller id on my cell phone, "speak of the devil."

"Hello, Jacob."

"Tanya, did you know Cullen was in San Diego this weekend?"

"What! How do you know that?" No wonder I couldn't reach him.

"I saw him and Isabella together in front of her hotel getting into separate cabs, after she kissed him."

"He kissed her!"

"No, she kissed him. He looked stunned but very happy about it. I don' think she saw me. She is becoming very suspicious of me; I have no idea what to do."

"Of course she is I told you to quit acting like a stalker. Deal with her on a business level and I will think of some way for you to see her in a social setting. For now just back off and I will try to deal with Edward on my end." What an idiot I thought as I hung up on him.

If I couldn't get Edward to shift his focus from her then I need to put him in a position that forces her to lose interest. Who to use, it can't be me, she would see through that too easily but it needs to be someone believable. Who will do it and when is the best time? I will only get one chance at this and it has to work, I deserve this and so does Edward.

BPOV

Oh. My. God. I can't believe I kissed him and he looked stunned. He said he would call when he landed so if he doesn't call then I guess it was a bad stunned. But he wouldn't have come at all if he didn't like me a little. Get a grip Bella, he is just a man. A very attractive man, the first man I have been interested in since Edgar, a man I really want to get to know, a man I would love to roll in chocolate sauce and ...whoa enough of that thinking.

We had a good time this weekend. Edward seemed so ... carefree, not at all like the jackass I had met in Seattle. I meant it when I told him I saw a side of him I didn't think I could in Seattle, it made me wonder if I would ever be able to see that side of him in Seattle. Would we be able to enjoy an outdoor festival and be silly sharing an ice cream cone? I don't think so. Would I be able or willing to stay and put up with all the nonsense to see where this could go? Would he be willing to leave? It was way too early to give these things serious thought but I couldn't help but wonder, especially after the dream last night.

It was sunset and we had dinner on the patio at Sinclair House. He asked me to dance and was telling me how much I meant to him and that he wanted a future with me. We walked to the beach to watch as the sun went down over the water and held me in his arms, kissing my neck. "I care so deeply for you Bella, I have never felt this way about anyone."

I turned and looked at him and saw nothing but love in his eyes. He may not have said it but I was sure he felt it. I pulled him down into a kiss, "I know Edward I feel the same way. I want you Edward so much."

I reached up to unbutton his shirt, "Be sure about this Bella, once I make love to you I will never let you go. You'll be mine, forever."

"Forever Edward." I unbuttoned his shirt and was pushing it off his shoulders as I jolted awake.

I was able to get back to sleep quickly but the dream had changed, we were still on the beach but Edward was looking at me with pity. "I thought I could do this Bella but I can't. It is just too much to fight against, I'm sorry."

As he turned to walk away I heard a female voice, "We're alike Edward and we'll be happy together, you'll see."

I jolted awake again but this time I couldn't get back to sleep.

I was brought out of my thoughts by my phone, "Hello Edward."

"Good afternoon, Bella. Are you enjoying the festival?"

"Yes, I liked the play today but I believe that I had more fun yesterday."

"I did too Bella. I am glad I came to see you. Do you have an idea of when you will be in Seattle again?"

"I should be back sometime on Wednesday. So, how is Tanya?" I laughed.

"I have no idea but Lady is doing fine."

"Lady?"

"Yes, I told you I was renaming her, that I would not let Tanya sleep in my house."

"Lady, that is not very original Edward."

"Well, she is a lady and she was given to me by a lady, so I think the name is fine."

I couldn't stop laughing and he sounded as if he was pouting, "Ok, Ok. Lady it is then, just as long as you keep her and take good care of her I'm happy."

"I am going to keep her and I will take good care of her too. Bella, can I take you out to dinner on Wednesday, on a date?"

"I would like that Edward, but are you sure it is a good idea. From what I hear people are still very upset that I pulled Seattle off the table."

"They will have to get over that I guess because I want to know you better Bella. I had fun this weekend and to be honest I like the man I am with you."

"I like that Edward too. I would love to go to dinner with you then but nothing fancy, if you learned nothing else about me I hope you did learn that high society is my exception not my rule."

"Yes, I did pick up on that. I'll pick you up at 6:30 on Wednesday."

"That's fine. Goodnight Edward."

Edward and I text or talked on the phone several times Sunday evening and Monday and while we were learning a lot about each other I still didn't think the Edward I was being shown would last in Seattle. There he felt pressured to be a certain way, to bow to what society wanted and that Edward was a jackass who didn't give people a chance. It made me wonder if he felt the pull to me from the beginning, had I not turned to be Bella Sinclair would he ever have given me a chance? I don't think he would and I was having a hard time dealing with that. He was making an effort and I would focus on that for now and hope for the best.

I received some of the information on Tanya and Jacob and the interesting friends they kept, namely each other. Maybe Jacob's stalking made sense if Tanya put him up it. I would have to tell Edward what I found, he needed to know and why did Jacob Black have such a big problem with him. I would rather Edward told me than forcing me to go looking for the information. Of course asking these questions of him, I would need to share at least part of my story with Edgar, I liked Edward very much but things just seemed to be moving so fast with him and the insane attraction I had towards him wasn't helping matters any either.

I did have to tell him about my meeting with Carlisle. He needed to hear from me why I hadn't invited him, I would have to send him one of the phones. With that decided I gave the front desk my overnight package to Edward and went to the airport to take the jet and then the Lady Swan to Mill Creek and wait for Carlisle. I would call Edward from the ranch, when Carlisle was too close for him to talk to, I just hoped he would understand.

EPOV

I was acting like a 14 year old boy after his first kiss, but that is what I felt like. I had resigned myself to never finding love for myself and these feelings I had for Bella, if it isn't love then I don't know what it is. I had never worried or cared before about the progression of a relationship with a woman because I knew I wouldn't stay with them long. But with Bella every little thing felt like a milestone that I crossed, I wanted her with me for a very long time so I had to be extra careful with every step. She made me into a better man, it was as if I could feel the person I had been at 21 returning, the man I had been before experiences had started to turn me bitter. I wanted to be that man for Bella.

I had a great time with Bella and could feel her starting to open up and trust me. I understood when she said I was a different man in San Diego because I was, I could be more open and free. I didn't have to worry about who saw something or what people thought, now could I be anywhere close to that in Seattle. I honestly didn't know but I wanted to try for both of us, I hoped she could be understanding if I didn't always succeed.

Bella and I had been texting and calling each other and every time it seemed we opened up some more to each other. As fast as it seemed things were moving it wasn't fast enough for me and the dreams at night weren't helping matters any. While we were getting closer to doing the deed in my dreams I always woke up before I got her completely naked and then had to take care of my morning hard on in the shower. I had to stop thinking about this or I would be taking care of myself in my private bathroom in my office - again.

Emmett asked to see me first thing Tuesday morning and filled me in on the proposal he was putting together for Sinclair if they decided on San Diego but didn't want Black to do the work.

"Emmett you know they always go with local contractors, it is one of the things that makes them so attractive to cities, they keep all the work local on The Foundation."

"I know Edward that is why I am proposing we be the general contractors and sub out all the work to local contractors. I have enough contacts in San Diego to keep abreast of everything and the locals get the benefit of our federal permits. I think this is a win-win for everyone."

"Have you run this by Carlisle?"

"Yes. I actually ran it by him before coming to you. We feel you should be completely removed from this, that way it doesn't look as if she has had to back down and Cullen Construction still gets the job."

"It looks like a sound proposal Emmett. I know she is coming back into town on Wednesday so see if you can set something with her after that. I will be very hands off on this, so just let me know if you get it or not."

"Thanks Edward."

As Emmett was leaving the office my secretary was bringing a Fed-Ex package to me. When I opened it a phone fell out, no note just the phone - strange. I looked at the envelope and it had come from San Diego, had Bella sent it to me? Why, I already had a phone. I was getting up to see if my secretary had more information when it started to ring, the caller id said Bella Sinclair.

"Hello Bella. I must admit this is a surprise."

"Edward I know this is going to sound strange but I need you to do some things - no questions asked. Please trust me."

"Ok. I trust you."

"First, lock your office door and do not tell anyone. Then put your office phone on do not disturb and hit the mute button. Have you done those things yet?"

"Yes but I don't understand."

"Just trust me. Take your cell phone out and put it in your bottom desk drawer. You have a sound system in your office?"

"Yes."

"Put on music, whatever you normally listen to and then take a seat in your office as far away from your desk as possible."

"Ok done but this is weird."

"I know let me explain and be careful what you say out loud to me. The phone I sent you is not only a secured line but has jamming technology it in also. We have never tested it like this and that is why the other measures are necessary. This conversation is as private as we can get in your office but it is possible they can still hear."

"What do mean they?"

"Edward when I told you to check your backyard I meant it. Aro was entirely too prepared for the board meeting and I think he has bugged not only your office but others as well. I have previous experience with Aro and that is how I know this. After we get off the phone you will have to keep up business as usual, that is imperative. Do you understand?"

"Yes, but why tell me now?"

"You need to remain calm and let me explain everything. Please Edward."

"Ok I promise to let you explain."

"Esme & Carlisle are on their way to my ranch in Mill Creek, Carlisle has no idea what is happening but Esme does. I contacted her last week and set this up. My original intention was to be fairly vague with Carlisle but put him on the path he needs to be to protect your company but I have received information that forces me to be more specific with him than I wanted to."

"But why her?"

"Because of all the Cullen's she is probably the one least watched and I even used a rouse with her. It is plausible for her to visit me at the ranch and insist Carlisle come along. I thought about having you come too but that would raise to many flags on several fronts. What I do feel bad about is the fact that I will be sharing things with Carlisle about Edgar and I that I had wanted to tell you myself and some things I never wanted to share about Edgar ever. They are all business related, nothing personal and I can't explain my reasons behind them to you now but I will tell Carlisle he can share everything with you in a safe place. So if he asks you to meet him some place that doesn't appear to make sense just go with it, please."

"Ok. But I have to admit I don't like this, I thought you had started to trust me..."

"This has nothing to do with trust Edward and that is why I risked this phone call because I do trust you. I care for you Edward and I am just realizing those feelings run deeper than I originally thought, I know this thing between us is very new and fragile. I hope by telling you about this meeting beforehand you will believe me when I say I am not trying to keep you out or that I trust Carlisle more than you because that is not the case. I am trying to get you the information you need in the safest manner possible, the people involved are ruthless and they have a lot to lose."

"Ok, I trust you. I am not happy about being left out especially if this is dangerous to you, but I have to admit you have been on top of everything so far and only had the best interests of both companies at heart. I trust your business instincts and this will not in anyway effect anything else that is going on with us. I care very much for you Bella and I want you safe. Will I still see on Wednesday for dinner?"

"Yes, I want to see you for dinner. We could have dinner at Sinclair House if you liked, it would be a safe place to talk. Just think about it especially after you speak with Carlisle and let me know. I hear the helicopter so I need to go. Thank you Edward for understanding."

"No Bella, thank you and I will let you know about where to have dinner tomorrow. Have a good afternoon. Good-bye."

I just stared at the phone. That was bar none one of the strangest conversations I have ever had and that is before you factored in the fact that I didn't even really know what it was about. I do trust Bella especially when it comes to business, hell she had saved my job twice. She was asking me to have faith in her until she could explain everything and I would. She had been nothing but honest with me so far, even when I didn't want to hear it she didn't divert the truth or outright lie to me. She said she cared for me and I would have faith in that and that she would explain when she could. I had faith in her and that was all that mattered.

CPOV

I was not surprised when Esme asked me to spend the day with her, I was surprised when a black helicopter with a white swan and The Swan Ranch on the side landed on my front lawn. I looked at Esme and cocked an eyebrow at her, she did not seemed surprised at all.

"Just get in it will all be explained when we reach our destination," and that was all she said.

I was pretty sure this was not some kind of social visit but if it was business why involve Esme or all the secrecy. When Esme told me we were going to the Swan Ranch in California I was even more confused, so I just went with it and enjoyed the view. I was not surprised when we landed to see Bella waiting for us on the porch of the house.

"Good morning Esme, Carlisle and thank you for coming." Isabella greeted us.

"Good morning Bella."

"Why don't you come on in to the house and we can talk."

"I love the view you have here Bella. Do you use this much?" Esme asked.

"I don't personally get here much anymore but we allow the bunkhouse and horses to be used by Outreach programs through The Foundation so the ranch is regularly used." Bella explained as she led us into an eat-in kitchen.

"Please have a seat and let me get us something to drink. I think this will be the most comfortable because I don't know how long this will take."

Bella returned with iced tea for all of us as well a pitcher and a fruit and cheese tray. She looked very nervous and I couldn't figure out why. What could she know that was so bad.

"Bella please sit you are starting to make me nervous and I have no idea what is going on."

"I'm sorry Carlisle, I just don't know where to start. You should know I called Edward when you were about 30 minutes from the ranch so feel free to discuss anything with him that you would like. I wish I could tell him myself but it would have raised too many questions to have both of you gone today. I don't think he is happy hearing it second hand but for now he is being understanding."

"Ok there are several different issues here so if you get confused let me know. First we needed to meet at the ranch because it is secluded and it is safe. All of my homes and offices have very intense on site and off site surveillance, they are swept weekly for listening devices and have jamming equipment and software installed to keep anyone from tracking or listening in on the people inside. I know this sounds extreme but I will get to why we have it a few minutes. You should know that at the board meeting Richard was wearing a device that picks up bugs and we were able to tap into that signal, which is how I knew exactly when to call and why Richard and I did not converse in English. Yes whoever was listening will eventually get the language right and translate but it will take some time. You understand Carlisle, your offices are bugged, and most likely your homes and probably your cars and cell phones too."

"WHAT? Who would do this? When did they do this? For what purpose? I can't believe this." I was up and pacing in her kitchen, "Do you know, do you have the answers?"

"I can not 100% say who is doing this but I have a very good idea and I can tell you why I suspect them. Carlisle you need to remain calm during this, I know it is difficult but to be honest I picked you instead of Edward because I feel you are the more level headed."

I couldn't help but laugh at that. "Where do think Edward gets it from? I don't know how much you told him but I can bet he will have a fit when I tell him. I can't believe he let you off with such a small amount of information or that he hasn't been calling me."

"I asked him to trust that I am trying to do what was best in the safest way and he can't call you. I told you we have jamming technology at all the houses and that includes the ranch. I purposely waited until you were inside that to call him, they only way a call can get in here now is on the landline."

I laughed again. "He is going to be so pissed off, you are lucky he likes you or I would fear for what he says to you."

"I expect him to want an explanation and I will answer his questions on Wednesday. Now, the ones who are behind this on your level are the Volturi Brothers, I am almost sure of it. I do not know who is behind them though. You need to take a good look at the people you trust and your higher level employees, especially Mr. Denali, I am sure he is in on it with them."

I was shocked. "But why? I mean I know we have had our differences but I never thought them capable of this level of corporate espionage. What would prompt this?"

"Edward became CEO."

I looked from Bella to Esme and back to Bella, "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Did you know that your former CEO, Mr. Preston, was a very close friend of Marcus Volturi? A lifelong friend actually?"

"No, but we normally deal with Aro, it is almost as if the other brothers are along for the ride. They always defer to him."

"Yes they do and it is to give a false sense of security to the companies they deal with.

Let me tell you what I know to be fact and then move on to what I think is happening now. Aro is a smuggler of whatever he can move and he uses the overseas contracts to do that without drawing attention to himself. His businesses are legal and he uses them to launder the money, it is other companies that he uses to move the goods through. I know this because he and Edgar were in business together for many years before we were married."

I couldn't believe this, Edgar Sinclair had an impeccable reputation in the business community. No one would believe this without a lot of proof. I had no idea what to say.

"I know it is hard to believe isn't it?" I just shook my head. "This is actually a secret I planned to take to my grave and I will never give any evidence that would threaten his reputation but you have a right to know why I am sure it is Aro. That is one reason Edgar fought so hard for control of Swan Enterprises when my parents died. Aro wanted it and while Edgar did business with him, he wouldn't allow him to run Swan into the ground, so he gained control of it and Swan has never been used for Aro's purposes."

I knew the question I had to ask but wasn't sure I wanted to know the answer. "Is he still using Sinclair for his purposes?"

"No and he hasn't been for years. Edgar's illness was not as sudden as people think, he was ill for years before it showed and he used that time to kick Aro out of Sinclair so I would not have to deal with him."

"Did you know he was using my company?"

"No, we had no idea who he went to after Edgar stopped doing business with him. But when Edward took over as CEO and they started having problems, I began to suspect he had been using Preston and that is why he is pushing so hard to get Edward out, so he doesn't have to switch again."

"So that is why you have all the protection?"

"Yes, Edgar set it all up before he passed and I have always kept up with the technology. He also made copies of everything need to bring down Aro and it is hidden in several different places. Should anything happen to me it all becomes public, it is one of the measures to keep me safe and also one of the reasons I can only point you in the right direction. Edgar always stressed to Aro that I knew nothing about their business just that he had copied files for insurance. If I go public with what I know he has every reason to come after me and hard."

"But the threats at the board meeting?"

"You know how he feels about women Carlisle. I am sure he thinks they are empty threats. What and where he is doing his black market business through your company you have to find out on your own. I will keep my ear to the ground for you but I can't be very active or risk exposure. I expect him to pay closer attention to me anyway because of the bids I have out with your firm."

"You do know people are shocked by you, don't you? It as always been assumed you were not involved in the business end of things."

"I know that and you know what happens when you assume. As much as I would love to tell you that story, I want Edward to hear it first and from me personally." I could appreciate that, I think Edward will go ballistic when he hears about everything I have already learned today.

"I respect that Bella. Edward is going to have a hard enough time with what I have learned here today. He cares for you very much and will not be happy with the amount of danger you are in."

"I understand that and am counting on you to reel him in, remember until you have your homes and offices swept for bugs you can not talk freely about this there. If you would like I can alert the staff at Sinclair house of your arrival and you can talk there. The helicopter can fly you there and have Edward meet you, all of my staff are 100% loyal and would not repeat anything they hear."

"I do appreciate everything you are doing for us, Bella. Without your insight we may not have discovered this until it was too late to save the company."

"Well, there is something else Carlisle. Something I do not fully understand but Edward might."

"Edward might?"

"Yes, I think on some level it is aimed at him personally. Tanya Denali & Jacob Black are working together. I am sure she told him about the board meeting and was coaching him to stalk me in San Diego. I don't know if it is personal on Tanya's part but it is on Jacob's. He got very upset that I helped Edward and asked several times what was going on between the two of us. At one point he was talking about Edward's trouble with the board and he said 'it couldn't happen to a nicer guy."

"I know they have never liked each other but I will have to ask him if there is something else driving this thing with Jacob. I can't think of anything right now though."

"Now Tanya has tried to scare me off a couple of times, so for her it could be personal or business. She may actually want Edward but given her father's dealings with Aro it maybe business or a combination of both. He needs to be careful in his dealings with her, she is definitely after more than he thinks."

"Thank you Bella for everything, I have no idea how to tell you how much I appreciate what you are doing for us."

"No thanks needed Carlisle, Aro needs to stopped and I am hoping you and Edward are the men to do it. Would you like to stay for lunch and look around some? Esme I am sorry this turned into such a boring trip for you. You need to come back sometime and really explore the ranch."

"Oh no dear, this trip was anything but boring and I think we will take you up on your offer of using Sinclair House, it will be hard enough to not talk about this on the way home. I would love to come back to the ranch sometime, thank you for offering, maybe I could bring Tanya with me?"

Bella and I both looked at her like she was nuts. "Edward's dog. You should have seen his face Bella, it was priceless."

"You know he has renamed her? Her calls her Lady because he will never let Tanya live under his roof."

Esme and I hugged Bella good-bye and we climbed on the helicopter to return to Seattle. I immediately called Edward to have him meet us at Bella's. I hoped I was as calm as she was when I explained it to Edward. I found myself wondering the whole flight just what the hell Kevin Preston and Aro Volturi had gotten us into.

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or its characters.

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