Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns all.
Rated M for several reasons.
Chapter 7 Mystery Hunk
BPOV
It was the most innocuous photograph that was the worst.
The first was of Edward and I snuggled under his jacket in the park, heads together, talking.
The second was of me straddling his lap on the bench, taken from behind with his hands hidden under the jacket, and if you wanted to believe we were kissing, or more, then I suppose you could convince yourself.
But the absolute worst was the last. It must have been taken just after he slid me down his body. We were silhouetted against the skyline, pressed together, him looking down, me looking up. We look like the only two people in the world, locked in a perfect moment.
We look like we're in love.
'La Belle Bella and Mystery Hunk Love it Up in San Francisco.' The caption said.
"They're going to find out who he is." I whisper, thinking of his occasional TV appearances and blog as 'The Racehorse Vet', not to mention the attention my being in Mexico garnered for their wedding.
"It's likely." Char says, making herself comfortable beside me as Rose perches on the other side.
"We didn't even do anything." I half laugh, thinking of my less than stellar reputation. "We wouldn't."
"We know that Bella." Rose says gently, slinging her arm around my shoulder.
"But nobody else is going to believe it." I point out, and neither of them corrects me.
"Does he know?" I ask.
"Yes."
"Is he . . . ."
"I don't know Bella, Em's with him." Rose says gently. "I'm only worried about you."
"I don't matter. I'm used to it. This isn't fair on Edward. Or Tanya."
"Of course you matter . . . ." Rose begins to object.
"No." I shake my head, pulling away from them and heading for the bathroom.
When I emerge after a scorching hot shower its only Rose that's waiting for me.
"What happened?" She asks, wrapping her arm around me as I lie down beside her, my head on her shoulder.
"We don't have time for . . . ."
"Yes we do, Char's got Felix organising to get us all home and Demetri to look out for you. What happened?"
"We were just fooling around, you know the way we do. Despite what it looks like nothing happened, nothing was going to, I wouldn't do that, to him, to any of you."
"You know a photograph tells a thousand words?"
"Rose, you know we wouldn't . . . ."
"I know that Bella, we all know that, and I don't give a flying fuck what anyone else thinks. But Bella, that last one, damn girl."
"It's just a picture Rose, taken out of context."
Silence.
"You know." She says hesitantly. "I asked him once."
"Asked him what?"
"If he was in love with you."
"What the fuck?" I growl, pulling up on my elbow to glare at her.
"Do you remember that night at Netta's?"
"Which one?" I ask, my ire dissolving with the time gulf she's referring to, that was college.
"Good question." She laughs as my head plops back down on her shoulder. "Tequila shot night, Em challenged you."
"Oh god yes. Foolish, foolish Bella, I was sick for a week."
"Yeah, even your eyeballs were green. I wasn't deliberately prying I was just wanted to know what his intentions were, I wanted to protect my little waif from Phoenix from the attentions of a sexual predator."
I snort. The little waif from Phoenix. I was that, once.
"I thought you'd fall in love with him and he'd break your heart."
"He didn't break my heart." I sigh. "He wasn't that kind of sexual predator."
"Yeah. He was. With every girl except you. You were different. You weren't even his usual type." She waggles a clump of her hair at me to illustrate Edward's preferences. "I was worried that he didn't realise that."
"Did he?" I ask quietly, morbidly fascinated.
"Realise you were different? Yeah. He knew."
I'm quiet for a moment, wondering at the stuff that goes on around your life you never normally get to find out about. But this is history and not really pertinent to the current clusterfuck.
"Do you think I should talk to Tanya?"
"Hell no!" She snorts, shaking her head vigorously. "No offence but if it was me you'd be the last person I'd want to hear from just yet. I'd be waiting to see the whites of Em's eyes while he told me exactly what the fuck he thought he was doing and how he was going to make it up to me."
"I guess, but if it weren't for some creep recognising me this whole lot of nothing would never become an issue, I feel like I should explain. Fuck Rose, the wedding's in a week."
"You shouldn't need to explain anything. This is between them. She knows his reputation and frankly it's a lot worse than yours. You're a strong independent woman and my brother-in-law is just a horny little toad. Anyway, the point is, they're getting married and if she isn't going to believe what he tells her then she shouldn't be queuing up The Wedding March any time soon."
"I should at least apologise to Edward."
"And he should apologise to you too."
"He didn't do anything wrong."
"Has anyone ever told you don't see that man very clearly?"
"Yes. You. More than once."
...
Between Char, Rose, Em, Felix and I we managed to get everyone out of the hotel and on their way home before the press realised who the 'Mystery Hunk' actually was. Still feeling awful, and not having had a chance to talk to Edward, I sent Demetri to look out for Tanya, who was being hounded by a load of paps.
Aro released a statement on behalf of Edward and me explaining that we were old friends and the intrusive pictures had been published completely out of context and my lawyers commenced sabre rattling at the gossip site. Not something I normally bother to do but this is damaging to people I care about and for once I feel compelled to defend myself.
...
I let myself back into my apartment with a weary sigh, not bothering with the lights, and collapse on the bed.
What a fucking day.
In the absence of Demetri, Felix very kindly met me at the airport and drove me home, his huge frame at least protecting me from the worst of the crush. The shouted questions were hardly surprising and I blocked them out, staring ahead stonily until we escaped.
It'll die down, it always does.
My cell rings and I pick it up, not sure if I want to talk to anyone else tonight. I've already apologised to Esme, who took the same approach as Rose. And left a voicemail for Edward who was probably too busy to listen to me apologise given the circumstances.
Rose's picture is flashing on the screen.
"Hi." I greet her.
"Hi yourself. Get home okay?"
"Yes thanks, you guys?"
"Same. I'm exhausted."
"Me too."
She takes a deep breath.
"What?" I ask. "Spit it out Rose, it can't get any worse."
"Tanya called me."
"Ah. Is she okay?"
"Not really. Edward's dumped her and called the wedding off."
"What?!"
"She said he told her nothing happened and she believed him."
"So what's the problem?"
"He said, and I quote 'Nothing happened Tanya, I wouldn't do that to you and neither would Bella, but I wanted it to. I shouldn't have asked you to marry me, I'm sorry, I'm not ready.'"
"Jesus Christ, poor Tanya."
"Yeah." She says with a heavy sigh. "She's gutted, she really loves him. I know she's been a bit of a dick about the wedding but I honestly think that's more Ma Denali and that Irina bitch than her."
"Do you think I should call her?"
"I don't know Bella, do what feels right. She's not blaming you, she even said to thank you for Demetri, said she wouldn't have been able to handle it without him there to fend everyone off."
"She can keep him as long as she needs him."
"Why don't you call and tell her that? It's an opener."
"How's Esme handling it?"
"She seems okay, she only left our house a few minutes ago, she's furious with Edward, he hasn't called and told her what's going on, she found out from Margaret, and let me tell you it doesn't sound like that woman will be sending Suaveward a Christmas card this year."
"You can't really blame her."
"I suppose not. Anyway, I just thought I'd let you know, I need my bed. Em's out somewhere tying one on with the ex-Groom so I'm not expecting him back anytime soon."
"Thanks for letting me know."
"No worries, give Esme a call in the morning, she's worried about you."
"Okay, I will, night."
"Night Cyggers."
I ring Demetri quickly to ask if he's okay hanging out with Tanya for a few more days and he's fine with that as long as I promise not to go wandering around anywhere on my own.
I dial Tanya's cell somewhat nervously but it goes straight to voicemail.
"Hi, Tanya, it's Bella. I'm really sorry, about everything. Demetri's happy to stay with you if you want him to, I'd recommend it, if you don't mind, he'll keep everyone off your back. I'm, um, sorry. Bye."
Then I strip out of my clothes and huddle under the cold sheets.
...
I wake up at six and check my messages but there's only one voicemail that lingers with me on the treadmill.
Edward;
'Bella, sorry for calling so late. And so drunk. I'm sorry for dragging you into my shit. Really sorry. I told Tanya I don't love her. Really sorry about that too, she's upset and I never meant to hurt her. I'm an asshole. I . . . . never mind . . . . I only called to let you know I'm sorry and I hope . . . . no never mind that either . . . . sorry really drunk . . . . so yeah, I hope you're okay, bye.'
...
I get to the office a little after eight thirty, which is okay, I wasn't supposed to be back until tomorrow anyway, and it takes me an hour or two to wade through my emails. I sometimes wonder what I'd tell anyone who actually asks what I do all day because a lot of the time I'm pretty much getting paid to read. Business proposals, reports, budgets, accounts, emails I've been cc'd on to give the sender credibility. Requests for donations, interviews, appearances. When I'm not reading something I'm signing something, usually electronically, authorising something to be done somewhere in the organisation, a recruitment, a capital purchase, a pay rise or promotion. Where I really come into my own and actually do something is meeting with people, strategy, coaching, acquisitions, integrations, disposals, the big stuff about where the company is going and how it's going to get there. I'm good at it, despite some of the business press who still like to portray me as an eye candy figurehead even though there's plenty of evidence to the contrary. The Board wouldn't agree with the wannabe tycoons of the press though, my contract renewal is one of the things in my inbox.
Being a bit of a luddite I print it off and settle down on one the couches to read it, kicking my heels off. I can't concentrate very well with them on, no idea why . . . .
...
"Thought I'd find you here." Char huffs, waddling in a couple of hours later.
"You're not supposed to be here either." I laugh, getting up to give her a hug before she lowers herself cautiously onto the other couch.
"Pete's had to go into the office so I thought I'd come over for a post mortem on the Denali / Cullen wedding, it's in all the papers."
"I haven't looked." I admit.
"Don't." She says, with a grimace. "They're all blaming you. No personal trainer, model, journalist, high profile sportsman or Veterinarian is safe from your evil seductress ways apparently."
"Figures."
"Whatcha reading?"
"New contract."
"They giving you a pay raise?"
"Yep. Dirty great big one."
"That's nice."
"I guess." I shrug.
"What are you gonna do with our newly free weekend?" She asks after a few beats of silence.
"No idea, catch up on work I suppose, there's something going on in the shipping division that could do with a little digging."
"Let Felix dig, he looks like he can wield a hefty shovel. Ma Cullen's invited us all down for the weekend."
"She mentioned it this morning, I don't know if it's a good idea."
"Cullen Clan's closing ranks over its own." Char drawls. "That means you too, gotta be better to hang out with the fam than stay here on your own."
"Seems a little harsh on Tanya."
"I guess, but the fact is she didn't get him down the aisle quick enough, nothing we can do about it now."