Chapter 3

Bella POV

Maybe this was a bad idea.

I continue scrolling through my inbox. I'd woken up hopeful, I thought that maybe by some miracle, a beautiful rich man with only pure intentions had stumbled across my profile overnight. But after about the fifth message with a winking emoji and sleaze oozing from it I was considering taking down my profile all together.

I look at my inbox one last time, however this time notice a message titled 'A breath of fresh Eyre', and chuckle. I sit up a little straighter, excited.

God Bella that's just cheesy, you're such a dork. Then again, clearly so is this guy.

I click on the message.

Hello Isabella,

I hope the pun in the subject of this message caught your attention enough to open this. I am a successful businessman in my mid twenties looking for someone well educated and friendly to accompany me throughout the next few months. I am new to this, just as I noticed you are, and stumbled across your profile. You seem to be just the woman I am looking for, different to the other women on this site. Unfortunately, I cannot disclose my exact situation over email and would much prefer to meet with you in person. It would require you to sign a non-disclosure agreement upon arrival, however I would like to offer you $1000 to meet with me, regardless of whether this arrangement pans out. Please let me know when you are available if you are interested, I think dinner this week at El Gaucho would be appropriate.

Eager for your reply.

Sincerely,

E

I read the message three times before sitting in silence a few minutes to let it sink in. I lean back against my pillows, my head lightly hitting the wooden headboard. That is the longest and most polite message I have received so far, but the idea of actually meeting with someone face-to-face makes me incredibly nervous. A thousand dollars just to show up. It would easily pay my share of rent for the month and help me while I look for an internship. I quickly search the restaurant he mentioned, maybe their food could also be convincing.

With my now salivating mouth (thanks picture of a seventy-eight dollar steak), I click the reply button before I can convince myself otherwise. I signed up for a reason. May as well go ahead. To be fair, this is no different to meeting up with one of those guys Lauren showed me on that stupid dating app, except that this meeting, even if it ends badly, could potentially pay my rent.

I stare at the keyboard for a while, stretching my fingers while I think of a reply.

Good Morning E,

I appreciated your pun, it most definitely caught my attention! I would be happy to meet with you, and agree to signing an NDA. El Gaucho sounds wonderful. I am available Tuesday or Wednesday evening this week if either of those suits you.

Isabella

I read my reply multiple times before I hit send.

"Bella?" Angela knocks on my door and I slam my laptop shut.

God I'm acting like a fifteen-year-old boy whose mother nearly caught them watching porn.

"Yeah? Come in." I answer before she pushes open my bedroom door. She smiles at me, fully dressed with her coat over her arm.

"Ben and I are just leaving, didn't want to disappear without saying bye." She walks in and sits on my bed. "Are you sure you don't want to come home? We are happy to wait if you want to quickly pack a bag. You can just call work and say you came down with something."

I smile at her. "No I'm okay, I need to start looking at internships and I think I want a second to breathe before Charlie starts quizzing me on my future. Plus I don't want to cancel all my shifts at the store for this week."

She looks at me still unsure. "It's just that… I mean you haven't been alone since… well you know. I just don't want to-"

"Angela, seriously," I cut her off. "I'm a big girl. I promise you I'll be fine. I'm just going to veg out all week, go to work and tweak my resume."

She still doesn't look convinced, but lets it go. "Well if you're sure."

"I am, seriously, I'll be fine." I reply. "Plus I'll see Charlie at graduation, that's like what? 10 days away?"

"Yeah something like that, Tuesday next week." She stands up and heads out of my room. "Well I'll have dinner with him sometime this week anyway. I'll let you know how he's doing."

"Thanks Angela, I appreciate it." I swing my legs over the edge of my bed and head out of my room after her. "You and Ben have a safe drive! Make sure you text me when you get there."

I walk them to the front door and give Angela a quick hug before they leave me.

"Bye Bella," Ben waves as they walk out the door. "Don't miss us too much!" I hear him say as the door clicks shut.

Secretly I'm glad the both of them are going to Forks for the week. It means I can be glued to my email and possibly go meet E without having to face the Spanish inquisition.

I yawn and stretch before heading to the shower. The entire time I spend washing my hair and cleaning my body I'm thinking about the mysterious E. What does he look like? What does he do for work? What will he expect of me? God I hope he's not married with children, looking for a mistress. Why else would he need me to sign an NDA? He must be someone people know. What did he mean by 'accompany him'? Will we be traveling? I don't have a passport…

The questions continue to race around my head until I jump out of the shower and begin to get myself ready for my shift at the bookstore.

I look at the clock on the wall, just after 4pm. I sigh before going back to putting price stickers on paperbacks. Just under an hour left and then I can check my phone. I wonder if he has replied to me. I hope our schedules work. Though if it is Tuesday I haven't got much time to find something to wear... maybe I can steal that beautiful blue dress Angela's parents bought her last Christmas, though I am a little taller than her we're pretty much the same size-

"Bella?" I look up from the copy of Pride and Prejudice I had just price labelled. Mike stands in front of me smiling. "You alright? I said your name like three times."

"Oh?" I smile back at him. "Sorry, just got a lot of things to think about now that school is finished. Can I help you?"

"No, I was just in the neighbourhood, couldn't remember if you worked on Sundays so I thought I'd duck in and see." He leans against the counter. "Busy day?" He asks as he looks at the otherwise empty store.

"What do you think?" I shake my head and chuckle. "No, a very boring day actually. I think I've served about five people in six hours."

"Geez. So not heading back to Forks this week? Angela left this morning didn't she?" He asks returning his gaze back to me.

"No not this week, figured I could work on my resume, might go visit Charlie next week after graduation." He nods at me. "Yourself?"

"I think I might have convinced Jess to come with me on Wednesday," he replies. "But you know Jess, she might decide Lauren and the Seattle nightclub are far more interesting."

I laugh. "That really wouldn't surprise me. Though I don't know how those two do it. They finished exams five days before my last and I swear they've gone out partying every night since." I reach under the counter and grab the next book waiting to be properly labelled. "Why don't you convince Lauren to go with you guys? Didn't you say you wanted to show her Forks?"

His face goes a little red. Mike has had a crush on Lauren the second he looked at her nearly three years ago, and you really can't blame him. Lauren looks like some sort of model crossed with a porn star. Long blonde hair, fake tanned skin, a chest twice the size of mine, and annoyingly good teeth. She's constantly wearing tight fitted clothing and a full face of makeup, though she somehow makes it all work without looking too cliché slutty. "Just because I think she'd like to see where Jess is from." He replies to me.

"Well maybe it'll help convince Jess," I suggest. "Talk to Lauren and tell her to go. You guys could have a bonfire on the beach and drink like we used to. Honestly I think the pair of them need a break." I chuckle.

"Yeah, maybe." He smiles at me.

"We could all go together next Tuesday night, or the Wednesday, y'know after graduation."

"Oh that might be fun! We can have a bonfire on the beach, celebrate." He replies, excited.

"How was the other night in the end? I saw the selfie. I don't know how you managed to find them."

"Oh my god," he puts his head in his hands and laughs. "Those girls seriously dragged me from bar to bar until they found them. Someone was stalking their instagram, another was looking on snapchat, and I swear the entire time they were all talking another language, I don't understand you chicks. One bar, I'm not kidding, we stood in line for ten minutes only to be in there for about two seconds! It was like 'in, scan, not here? Okay, out, next one'. I was going mental."

I laugh with him. "Oh you poor thing. I can't imagine. You didn't look too happy in the picture."

"I'm surprised I didn't, when we finally found them I was so relieved." He sighed and smiled. "God I slept good that night. Drunk and totally exhausted." I continue slapping barcodes and price stickers on the books, creating quite a large pile to my left. "So when do you get off work? Want to go grab some food or something?"

"I don't finish for another forty minutes." I groan. "And I'd love to Mike but I'm really tired. I think I'm going to head straight home and get in to bed. Got a lot to do this week you know, applying to internships and all that."

"Fair enough," he says. "I might just text Riley and tell him to meet me here and we can head to Chinese. Mind if I keep you company for your last forty minutes?"

"Not at all." I smile at him. "Here, take this stack to the table over there. I may as well put you to work."

Fifty minutes later I am putting the 'closed' sign on the front door and switching off the lights. Finally. I stand just outside the door and pull out my phone, not wanting to wait until I get on the bus. My heart begins to race as I see the little '(1)' next to my inbox.

Isabella,

This Tuesday works perfectly for me. I have booked El Gaucho for 7pm, please do not be late. Let the staff know you have a meeting with E, they will be able to direct you from there.

Please contact me if for some reason you are unable to attend.

Regards,

E

I read the message multiple times. There's no need for me to reply. I close out of the webpage and notice I also have a new text message.

We made it home safe! What a shock. I know you won't get this for hours, but I hope work was good! Be safe. Miss you already xx

I roll my eyes before typing a quick reply, telling Angela how boring my day was and my time with Mike. Finally I put my phone back in my jacket pocket and head down the darkening street towards the bus stop. My heart is racing nearly as fast as my thoughts. This is really going to go ahead. I'm meeting with a wealthy man in roughly forty-eight hours to discuss a potential relationship where I get paid in exchange for my company. I don't even think I am very good company. God I have so many questions. Do I bring my resume? Identification? Proof of my citizenship? What will he want to know about me? What if he asks where I live, am I going to tell him? My mind continues to flicker through unanswered questions the duration of my trip home.

I have decided, once I reach my front door, I will wear Angela's blue dress. Granted she gives me permission, and I'll pair it with my only professional looking black handbag, which is giant. Luckily the size of it allows me to fit all the documents I would normally take to any type of job interview just to make sure I am fully prepared, including my resume, academic transcript, photocopies of my identification and my banking information.

"Bella!" Angela answers her phone quickly after the first ring. "Mom and Dad say Hi!"

"Well hello Mr and Mrs Webber," I reply. "Good day so far then?"

"Yeah it's been pretty great actually," I can imagine her smiling, she sounds very cheerful. "My parents both congratulated me on graduating with a bachelor of arts. I never thought I'd see the day. They even asked me a bunch of questions about my future plans and what type of art medium I want to work with! It's been a really good afternoon here. Though raining, of course." She says all of it very quickly, and I can tell she's excited.

"Oh Ang!" I reply just as happy. "That's so amazing. I'm so happy for you. I told you they'd accept it eventually. They're your parents, they were always going to be so proud of you no matter what you decided to do."

"I know, I know." She replies. "How was your day? Work was boring you said."

"Ugh, yes, so boring." My heart rate increases again as I ask my next question. "Hey can I borrow your blue dress you got for Christmas?"

Please don't ask why. Please don't ask why.

"Of course you can," she answers. "I love that colour on you."

Thank god.

"How come?" She continues. "Going somewhere nice?"

Oh for fucks sake.

"Um yes, a date actually." Time to lie Bella. You suck at it but it's over the phone, maybe she won't be able to notice.

"Oh?" She prompts me.

"I decided maybe a night out would do me some good since James, you know." Slip in the asshole, that'll make her less likely to question my motives. "I talked with a guy on that dating app the girls set me up on. Figured why not?"

"Oh, well, good on you then." I can tell she is a little taken back. It's very unlike me to put myself out there. "When is it?"

"Tuesday night."

"Where are you going?"

"El Gaucho."

"El Gaucho?" She sounds surprised. "Geez this guy must really want to get into your pants. One steak at that place could nearly pay for our weekly groceries."

I chuckle. "Yeah, I know. He's probably just trying to show off. But you know me, I won't go home with him."

"What time? Make sure you text me when you get there and when you get home. Maybe tell Mike too, someone who's around should know. I mean, if something goes wrong I'm four hours away."

"Seven," I reply to her question. "And I don't want to tell Mike I'm going on a date with someone I met online. It's in a public place Ang. I told you, I'm not going home with the guy, no matter how expensive the steak is. I'm going to be fine."

"Fine," she says. "Well I better go actually, Mom is just about done cooking. The dress in hanging in my closet, on the left hand side. Chat soon!"

"Bye," I reply before I hang up.

Well that actually went a little better than I thought. I think Angela was still so excited her parents are finally accepting her; usually she can see right through anything I say that is even remotely false. Being on the phone would've helped too, she tells me all the time she can read my face like a children's book. I walk to her room and grab the dress, admiring myself in her floor-length mirror. I'm going to need to do something with my hair. I look to plain; I always look too plain. He's probably looking for someone spectacular, someone who has a spark and will keep him on his toes. I sigh.

God I hope I'm not entirely crazy for trying this. If I end up in a ditch somewhere it would just destroy Charlie.

I paced around my living room. "Bella can you not burn a hole through our floor?" Angela laughed at me.

"What?" I paused my steps momentarily.

"I can hear you pacing." She replied. "Are you sure you want to go? This guy doesn't know you. Just blow it off if you're that worried about it."

Monday came and went, another boring shift at the bookstore followed by a couple glasses of wine and vigorous cleaning in an attempt to calm my nerves over my up coming meeting. Much to my disappointment I had woken late this morning even more anxious, albeit with a very clean apartment. I spent the early afternoon fiddling with my hair, trying on the dress, making sure I had all my documents and pacing around. It was around 4 o'clock when I gave up and decided to call Angela. We'd been on the phone over thirty minutes and it had done nothing to calm my nerves.

"No," I said to her. "I'm going."

"You convincing me of that, or yourself?"

"Maybe I shouldn't have called you." I groan.

"Hey, don't think that." She sighs. "I'm sorry, I'm just worried about you. You haven't really dated before. I mean, James was… well he was awful, and I don't want you to think you have to do this. You shouldn't be going on a date just because Jessica signed you up to this app. Take it at your own pace, you know-"

"Angela," I cut her off. "I'm just nervous, I'm sorry. I know I don't have to do anything. And you don't have to apologise."

"You don't need to be so nervous," She replies. "You're stunning Bella, and funny, and smart, and a college graduate." She emphasises the last two words. "You're going to have a fun time, and at the very least eat some delicious food."

I sigh and sit on the couch. "See, that is what I called you for."

She laughs. "So, did you settle on what to do with your hair?"

I groan again. "No! You know I am hopeless. I am not girly in the slightest. But I did paint my fingernails last night."

"Just leave your hair down," She suggests. "It's gotten quite long and it's really pretty. Maybe straighten it a little."

"Okay." I nod my head though she can't see it. "So hair done, outfit done, make up?"

"Just stay natural, that's you in a nut shell."

"Right." I nod again.

"I wish I was there!" She replies. "I want to help you get ready. Promise I can help with the next time?"

"I promise."

"Good." I can hear her smile in her voice. "Well it's almost five. You really need to start getting ready properly. Are you getting a taxi in?"

"Yeah, I don't want to be late. I think I'll catch the bus back, though." Taxis are way too expensive.

"Be safe, Bella. It'll be late." She warns. "I'll talk to you tomorrow? I'll have my phone on me all night; Ben and I are just watching movies. If you need me, call me."

"I will. Wish me luck!"

We say our goodbyes before hanging up the phone. I walk into my bedroom and turn on some music. Maybe dancing around while getting ready will help to calm the nerves.

An hour and twenty minutes later I am staring at myself in the mirror. The dark blue cocktail dress has sleeves that reach my elbows, a scoop neckline and a skirt that finishes just above my knees. I flatten the fabric and pull on the skirt nervously. I decided to wear nude stockings and plain black pumps with the ensemble. My hair is laying flat down my back, my lips lightly glossed and my face naturally concealed. I glance over at my black bag and coat lying on my bed, waiting for me.

I'm about to meet a stranger for a thousand dollars.

My phone rings making me jump. It's the taxi. He's five minutes away. I glance at myself one last time, flattening my hair and standing up straight.

Well, time to face the music.

I turn and grab my coat and bag from my bed.

The taxi ride is not exciting; I arrive at the restaurant ten minutes early. As I walk towards to the doors I try not to focus on how I slightly struggle to walk in these shoes, and how out of place I must look. Wrapping my coat tightly around myself I walk towards the doors of the restaurant. The breeze lightly tosses my hair around my head, and I stop for a moment outside to calm myself. After taking ten soothing breaths, I close my eyes and grasp the door's thick handle.

The warmth of the restaurant wraps around me like a hug as I step inside while the smell of fresh bread and perfectly cooked meat hits my nose. Only then do I notice how hungry I really am; the nerves of today prevented me from eating anything more than one slice of toast. I glance around the restaurant, taking in the rows of tables draped in fine linen. Diners dressed in expensive dresses and suits sit opposite each other, with glasses of wine and no doubt sophisticated conversation. My eyes linger over an older looking man sitting by himself; maybe E lied about his age?

"Ma'am, can I help you?" The host looks at me with a smile. "Do you have a reservation?"

"Yes." The nerves in my voice make me cringe. Get yourself together, Bella. "I'm meeting with E, at seven o'clock. My name is Isabella."

His eyes widen slightly. "Oh, yes." He looks to his left at another staff member, and beckons her with his finger. He whispers in her ear before she turns to me.

"Welcome to El Gaucho," she smiles at me. "If you would like to follow me, your table is waiting this way."

I nod my head at the host in thanks and follow the new staff member through the restaurant. I clench my teeth together and try to steady my breathing. She stops at a private dining room positioned at the back of the restaurant, separated from the main dining room by soft black curtains.

Of course he wouldn't want to meet with me and pull out an NDA in the middle of a restaurant.

Inside the room is a table set for two, with a beautiful floral arrangement in the middle. I notice a waiter's station off to the side, though it is currently unattended.

"Would you like me to take your coat, ma'am?" I glance at the woman.

"Oh! Yes, thank you." I shrug the fabric off my shoulders feeling slightly exposed without it. I hand it over and watch as she places it in a cupboard next to the waiter's station. She then pulls out one of the chairs and watches me.

"Ma'am?" I take the few short steps towards the chair and sit down.

"Thank you." I smile at her.

She nods and gives me a small smile. "The other member of your party will be here shortly." She then turns and leaves the room.

I look at the table in front of me. Next to the flowers is an ice bucket with a bottle of sparkling wine and what I assume is a white, next to the bucket on the table is a red.

God a drink would help calm the nerves.

I glance at the clock hanging over the waiter's station. There's still five minutes until he is meant to be here, but I'll wait. I hope he hasn't cancelled. I pull out my phone from my bag on the floor next to my chair and notice nothing new in my inbox.

"Isabella?"

Enjoy! I took some suggestions on board and I have been tweaking the last few chapters. Edward's age has changed if you hadn't noticed, he's 27. Please continue to give me feedback! I really appreciate it.