A/N: Hello my lovelies! It has certainly been way too long! I apologize for being a nightmare when it comes to posting regularly. The reason I decided to write today was because we are snowed in for the day so no travel means = I shall be a good fan-fic author and post for the lovely people that favorited my story recently and also those who have kept their hope in me alive! Without further ado...
I'm in.
I was beginning to doubt my rather quickly made decision to be a part of this, whatever this was, as we continued to make our way through the airport to the so called "Main Headquarters" in L.A.
"What are we doing here?" I asked Jacob. The jet had landed about ten minutes ago around 6 in the morning, and already Jacob and his men were dragging me urgently along with them. Edward had disappeared rather quickly, my eyes subconsciously continued to search for him at the airport.
"You still haven't said anything to me Jacob. I agreed to whatever it is you people want from me but this is getting ridiculous! I can't be expected to do anything for you until I am informed exactly what the hell you want me to do!" I was clearly starting to lose my patience. Not to mention, I was starting to feel as if the heels I had been wearing all day were leaving permanent blisters on my ankles. This was also not helping the situation.
Jacob sighed, he grabbed my arm and pulled me aside as the rest of his crew continued to march onward. I rolled my eyes at them, vaguely reminded of the little green soldiers from Toy Story.
"This is a very serious situation." He stated.
I waited. I supposed he thought that was enough information. I however did not.
"Are you kidding me? Thats it?"
"Look Bella, I'd really like to be able to tell you more information." He sighed again seeming to struggle with himself. "But...I am sworn to confidence. If you just bare with us for a little longer I promise you we will tell you everything."
Tired of arguing I relented and begrudgingly nodded my head agreement. I held my arm out as an invitation. He grinned looking at the outstretched arm and put his arm through it. "Carry on then I suppose." I said.
In a much shorter amount of time then I had expected the men and I were in a large black SUV heading to headquarters. Once we arrived they basically shoved me out of the car and into the unassuming building. As soon as we walked inside, I realized this discreet building was anything but discreet. We had finally arrived at their main headquarters. Jacob and the men led me to the elevator pushed the 3rd floor and then suddenley we were standing in front of two heavy said metal doors. My confusion and curiosity reaching its limit as Jacob and his little green men army opened the doors and ushered me in.
Woah. I thought to myself as we walked inside. It was like the Charlie's Chocolate Factory of offices in here. Large wall-sized impressionist paintings on the walls. The hall inside the room itself was bigger then my entire bedroom. In the center of the museum, I mean uh, office, there was Cullen. He himself looked like a painting. Working studiously at his large metal desk. Head bent and face focused, his eyebrows slightly puckered, he had never seemed more attractive to me. He was so deeply involved at the task at hand. But lets be real, I bet he would make shitting look like art.
Staring at him too long was like getting high. The whole world seemed to get hazy around him. As if I didn't realize how unclear my vision was until my eyes fell on him, that was the moment that everything really fell into clarity. It was ludicrous to be so captivated by someone you had barely had one proper conversation with, but thats exactly what was happening. I was captivated.
The little green men army bowed to him as if we were in 16th century England, I rolled my eyes the gesture snapping me back to reality, and left the room. Jacob seemed to hesitate a moment longer looking at me for a moment before joining the others.
"Take a seat Ms. Swan." Edward mumbled without looking up from his paperwork.
Tell him to take a seat!
He's already sitting.
"Okay Mr. fancy bossy pants." I whispered under my breath as I sat on the chair he nodded towards.
"Where is Rosalie?" I asked.
"Ms. Hale is doing just fine, for now I need you to focus on the task at hand." His voice was anything but what I had encountered in my dream just the night before. "Last night the men and I gave you a brief of the mission at hand. Cullen Enterprises main competitors, JVL Corporations has been involved in some illegal activity.
Oh god...human trafficking?
Not everything has to have a "Taken" plot line.
"What sort of illegal activity?" I asked.
"Money laundering to potential extremist groups." He stated simply.
Well that makes me feel a little guilty for buying my last pair of boots from there I thought. "How is that even possible? There just a clothing company." I asked shocked.
"Most of these groups have a false identity Ms. Swan." Edward said.
"Kind of like yourself Mr. Cullen? Owner and operator of Cullen Enterprises and part-time FBI agent? Sounds a bit too much like a bad movie don't you think?" My voice becoming all together formal. Jokes and hotties aside, I had truly had enough of this. It felt as if my head would never stop spinning after the twists of the night before.
"Isabella, believe it or not I am both of these things. I am owner and operator of the company my father founded, however my background in the U.S. military is what led me to join the FBI.
The realization that I truly didn't know anything about him hit me again. Instead of making me feel cooperative the thought just frustrated me further. Instead of remarking with a sarcastic comment as was my usual inclination I sat still waiting for more. This asshole had some serious explaining to do.
Understanding my wordless demand he continued, "I have been heavily trained in many different sectors of the U.S. military since the age of 22, this is not pubic record for the sake of keeping my identity singular to my work at Cullen Enterprises. However, the military knowing my background, I was approached a year ago to join a private sector of the FBI. My skills from the military as well as my public standing with my father's company had given me a competitive edge in devising a plan to take down JVL Corporations.
"Okay..." My head still spinning from these information, I continued, "I get the military background being an advantage but what does your public standing have to do with anything?" I asked.
"Well Ms. Swan being the head of a major industrialist company, my staff and I have frequent opportunities to interact with the head of JVL Corporations." He said.
You should probably google him. Your'e starting to sound slow.
Ignoring my inner voice I continued, "Okay fine, but despite this explanation, I still don't understand what I'm doing here."
Edward finally took a deep breath and clicked his pen off. He stayed quiet for a moment and looked up at me, "Look Ms. Swan, it was never our intention to have you involved in the FBI's plan. Only Ms. Hale and my team were aware of this situation. Everything was going in an expected fashion until the night of the party after Rosalie's public disappearance." He stopped seeming to realize something, then proceeded, "How long have you known Ms. Hale?"
I cleared my throat trying to get rid of my hoarseness. Every time I felt my nerves settling in, I could feel my throat swelling in response. It was as if I was allergic to anxiety. "Four and a half years. We met back when I interviewed SSI's staff for my company." I answered.
"I see, well much as my self Ms. Hale joined the U.S. military after completing her high school graduation. She was in training with my self and Jacob Black for three years until she was injured and decided to leave the service."
This was news to me, adding on to all the other information that seemed to be utterly untrue. "That can't be true, Rosalie's never said anything about being involved in the military. And what about Alice? Neither of them have every said anything about that." I refused to believe that I hardly knew my best friend if what he was telling me were true.
"Ms. Swan, I apologize, I know most of the last two days has been a shock to you. To be completely honest you are handling this situation much better that could be anticipated by an untrained civilian."
I think he was trying to make me feel better but I had never felt more disrespected by being called an "untrained civilian". Just because I was the only one not involved in a secret club of ninjas after high school didn't make me useless. My anger at the situation and the smug bastard behind the desk continued to rise.
"The plan last night was to take advantage of the setting of the fashion party. My men were to make a show of breaking into the party with the intention of kidnapping Ms. Hale.
"Why? Why did you have to do that? If she's truly the trained military personnel your referring to then couldn't she have just assisted you without that whole mess? I couldn't help but interrupt.
"Unlikely Ms. Swan, Ms. Hale heads a significant amount of SSI. Her disappearance would be quiet quickly noticed. It was important to have a plan as to why she would no longer be...around." He finished.
"Around..." I repeated. "And what are you going to do with her... and myself now that you've pulled this mess off?" I asked terrified of his answer.
"Well Isabella, you heading out to look for Ms. Hale, as brave as it was, we had to include you in our disappearing act to make things look realistic to the public." He paused then meeting my eyes as he finished, "You two will be assisting our private sector by infiltrating JVL Corporations."
"And how do you expect us to do that?" I have chuckled have gurgled.
"By posing as two very unassuming and discrete, interns at JVL."
Oh well if thats all...
A/N, Hope you enjoyed! Please favorite/subscribe/review, it is the fuel in the car of my inspiration.