It's sweet that you care, it really is… But I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself. I've got my reasons for doing this and you're just going to have to respect that.

Bella's words echoed in Edward's mind as he raised his glass to his lips. It was nearly midnight and he was once again seated at the back of Indulgences, waiting for the time to pass before the only girl he'd come to see that night took the stage to perform.

In the week that had passed, Edward thought about what he'd learnt from their last meeting. He didn't believe that she was here to have a good time. He doubted that anybody grew up with the desire to be a stripper; certainly not the kinds that worked at a seedy place such as this one. High-class escorts were of a different thing entirely. But Bella was not one of those, and Edward believed that her reasons for working here were of much darker matter. She had said that she needed the money. But money for what? His brow furrowed as he turned it over in his mind. And when he had asked if she was being forced to work here, she'd dodged his question entirely.

Perhaps if she had stared at him incredulously… if she had laughed it off… Edward would have been more inclined to believe that she really was just doing this as a means of side income. But as it were, her failure to do so had only made him more concerned that that was not the case. Bella was in trouble. And he was concerned. Edward tried to reason himself through it. Was it just a general sense of over protectiveness kicking in? Had it been… say, Alice or Rosalie in Bella's place, would this bother him as much?

Yes, he thought instinctively. Yes, it would.

It didn't matter if it was Bella or Rosalie or Alice, it could be any nameless woman on the street, but if she was in trouble and he was in the position to help her, he would. Regardless of how little she thought of him, he did care about Bella. Did she drive him absolutely crazy and stir up the constant urge to strangle her every now and then? Definitely. But while he teased, taunted, mocked and fought with her, at the end of the day, he still cared about her. He didn't want her to get hurt. And working in a place like this… his eyes sobered as he glanced around his surroundings… he was afraid that getting hurt was a very real and distinct possibility.

The ice in his glass clinked together as Edward sat it back down on the table, turning abruptly as the speaker announced Bella's name… or rather, Isa's. He blinked as she stepped out under the bright lights of the stage, not because of the schoolgirl get-up she was wearing – although that certainly was enough to make his cock twitch in his pants – but because of her hair. It was blonde.

He frowned and found himself hoping that it was only just a wig, and not some new fangled notion that she'd gotten into her head to dye her naturally beautiful brown hair blonde.

Bella watched as Candy, a young, barely turned eighteen girl, picked up her clothes and scurried off the stage, nearly tripping in her haste to get off of there. Bella's lips twitched, wanting to frown. She had no idea but figured that something may have just happened while Candy had been on stage. Something for Bella herself to be wary of.

She patted down the sides of her extremely short skirt as she took to the stage. She was wearing a white shirt that tied around her body, right beneath her breasts. The shirt exposed the majority of her stomach, the skirt leaving her long legs bare except for what the white, knee-high socks. Her now brown hair was plaited into two pigtails that were tied with cute, red ribbons.

Bella liked the look. It was a favorite of hers; it was also a favorite of her clients who loved the change up from overtly sexy to something that was pretending to be a little more demure. The charade of innocence, virginity and naivety was definitely enough to get most guys off.

Tyler's voice broke out over the speaker, announcing her. "This little sweetheart might look innocent, but more often than not she's found serving detention. She's a very naughty school girl, let's hear it for Isa!"

As she climbed the stairs and walked down the stage swaying, her hips and smiling demurely and sweetly at the crowd while her eyes swept over the crowd sitting in Pervert's Row, looking for Edward. It was difficult to see past the first row, the lights that flashed across the stage were bright and didn't expose what lay hidden in the dark.

She began her routine as she wondered if he had even come tonight. Was he so fed up with her that he'd stayed at home? She hoped not… No. She hoped he had stayed at home. It would be better for both of them if he didn't interfere with this.

Bella couldn't make up her mind what she wanted.

Her fingers slid over the pole as she twirled around it, lifting her body higher on the pole, doing fantastic tricks that most of the girls in the club envied her for. Bella might hate stripping, but she loved pole dancing.

She found a couple of guys willing to tip her well and danced for them, removing her costume bit by bit until she was left in her tiny, black g-string and bra. Which, by the end of the second song she'd removed both.

The men were tipping her well tonight. Bella had already received over a hundred dollars in tips before the last sixty seconds of the song was occurring. She bent at the waist as she picked up another tip knowing what it would expose, but she was making money and if doing this meant she'd make more, then that would be what she'd do.

As she straightened up again, Bella caught the face of someone familiar. Edward. Bella's heart rate spiked as a thrill ran through her.

He came! She realized she was elated. Although she didn't know why, she'd ignored him earlier in the week for a reason. Why was she happy that Edward had come?

His eyes were on hers, taking in her body as Bella danced and so she did. She danced, the rest of the men in the room disappearing in her mind as she danced solely for Edward. Her hands wrapped around the pole and she lifted herself again, her legs spinning around, then she was upside down, she spread her legs for a small amount of time before spinning back.

The men sitting in the front row had their mouths opened in wonder but Bella didn't even see them. Now that she'd spotted Edward, she couldn't take her eyes off of the dark haired man staring with brooding eyes up at her.

The last notes of the song died and Bella moved to pick up her clothes, as she took the stairs she spotted Britney talking with Edward. She was sitting in his lap! A dark look crossed Bella's face and she found herself crossing the room, despite the fact that she was still naked and was clutching her clothes in her hands.

Uh oh. Dat girl gon be bitchslapped!