AN: Wow! The response to the start of the story has been overwhelming. Thank you so much for all the kind words and support.

Because I do have a large chunk of this story pre-written, I'm going to go ahead and post the next chapter now. Then, I will try for a posting schedule of one chapter a week.

Thank you so much to kikki7, SusanQ, VampsHaveLaws, Julie, Stephanie, Perry Maxwell, Lori, Jaime Arkin, Nolebucgrl and Sydney Alice for all of their help pre-reading/betaing.

Questions

"Um…what?"

He chuckled. "We leave for New York in the morning," he repeated slowly.

My mouth hung open as I digested his words.

Did it mean what I thought it meant? Was Mr. Cullen paying for me to go to school?

"Miss Swan?"

I shook my head and remembered Alec, the security guy, was still sitting at the table with me.

"What do you…I mean…why am I going tomorrow? How am I going tomorrow?" I couldn't contain my babbling.

Alec probably thought I was slow. He tapped his finger on the envelope.

"Why don't you take a look at this and then we'll talk?"

I picked it up, wondering if the answers to my prayers were enclosed inside.

"Please, please, please," I murmured softly to myself as I opened it up and unfolded the letter.

Miss Swan,

Per your request, I have personally looked into the situation regarding the EC Scholarship. It was, in fact, a clerical error which caused the misunderstanding. Mr. Newton was the rightful recipient due to his much more expansive extracurricular activity history, in addition to his scholastic work.

However, I took the liberty of reading your essay submission and other paperwork, and I find my interest piqued. Your words were captivating, and it isn't often that I am surprised or intrigued anymore.

As you know by now, I have sent the head of my security to "check up" on you. Just as you pursued my private information, I felt it necessary to return that favor. You have become quite fascinating to me, Miss Swan, and that bodes well for you.

If you want it to.

On that note, I will assuage your concerns about monetary reparations for the scholarship mishap. I have decided you will be taken care of, on the agreement of a few conditions.

The first condition being a face-to-face meeting.

I've confirmed your presence in Forks is no longer required for school or work purposes. I would like to invite you to New York, at my expense of course, so we may meet and further discuss your future.

Returning your deepest regards,
Edward Cullen

I read it through three times, yet remained in disbelief. My heart was pounding so loudly, I wondered if Alec could hear it across the table. I looked up to find him watching me closely.

Mr. Cullen had millions, billions maybe. My tuition would be pocket change to him. I didn't understand why he wanted to meet if he already knew all about me.

"Why does he want to meet me?"

Alec remained perfectly calm while my nerves ran amok.

"It's not really my place to divulge that information, Miss Swan."

I huffed at his formality.

"You can call me Bella."

He ignored my request, and I decided to plead with him.

"Please! You have to give me something here. We're supposed to be talking. Why is he insisting I meet him?"

He remained silent for a few moments. "Are you frightened to meet him? Your persistence and dogged determination to contact him made it seem as if you are quite fearless, Miss Swan."

I shook my head.

"No, I'm not scared…not exactly. More like intimidated. I don't like being kept in the dark and I don't like surprises."

"Well, I can only attest that he harbors no ill will toward you. In fact, I would venture to say he is quite taken with you."

My eyes widened at his admission, and I swallowed thickly.

"Taken with me?"

He gave a short nod and smiled. "Yes, otherwise he wouldn't have sent me to get you."

"What do you mean by that?"

He smirked. "I'm the best."

I snorted. "The best at what?" I simply couldn't contain my snarkiness for long.

He laughed and tapped his fingers on the table as he watched me.

"A lot of things, but the most important in regards to you would be protection."

I shook my head again. Nothing was making much sense and I felt we were talking in circles.

"Why would I need protection?"

Alec looked down, removing a piece of lint from his pants.

"Like I said, Mr. Cullen is quite taken with you. I suppose I could add that he tends to worry."

I thought over his words and nodded as understanding dawned in my mind.

"He's worried about handing his money out to me. I promise I would never abuse that trust or use the money for unintended purposes."

Alec raised his eyebrow at me, as if in confusion.

"That's what you took away from what I said?"

"How else would I take it? I understand he's wary. I just want to assure him that I would never do anything to make him doubt his decision to help me. He's protective of his assets and privacy, and I'll be respectful of both."

He chuckled again. "Well, at least you got part of it right." He shook his head, and his eyes glanced up the stairs. "So, are you going to be ready to leave in the morning?"

"Do you know how long this trip will be? I was planning to move to New York with my best friend in two weeks."

"I know."

Creepy.

"How do you know?" I narrowed my eyes at him again.

"There is very little I don't know about you, Miss Swan. Like I said, I'm the best." He shot me a grin, and I rolled my eyes.

"Okay, Mr. All Knowing, are you going to answer my question?" I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him.

Was it now my fate to be hounded by arrogant males?

He shrugged. "I can't tell you something I don't know. I imagine the length of your stay will be entirely up to you."

Well, that was extraordinarily unhelpful. I frowned and looked down at my phone.

Should I call Mr. Cullen and ask him?

I didn't even know what to bring with me. I really needed Alice to help me comb through all this new information.

"I suppose I could probably be completely packed up tonight," I murmured, mostly to myself.

"I believe that would be beneficial." His words made me glance back up at him. "Mr. Cullen might not let you go once he has you in his grasp." He accentuated his statement with a wink.

I shook my head. "Quit being ridiculous."

He was obviously teasing me, but it didn't stop the flurry of butterflies in my stomach. I blushed and began to wonder if I was getting into a situation way over my head.

He finally broke the silence. "Do you need assistance packing your things?"

"No. I can handle it. Besides, I'm not going to take much with me tomorrow. I don't have a place to live in New York yet, so it wouldn't make much sense to travel with boxes filled with books."

He smiled as if he knew a secret I wasn't privy to yet.

"As you wish." He stood up and held his hand out to shake mine. "It's been a pleasure meeting you, Miss Swan. I will be here at eight a.m. sharp to collect you in the morning." He pulled out a card and handed it to me. "If you need anything at all before that time, call me at this number."

He started walking toward the door, and I followed after him. He stopped and turned around, his eyes warm and kind.

"Just so you know, there's no reason you should feel intimidated by Mr. Cullen. You hold more power than you think."

With that, he walked out toward his car, leaving me standing speechless in the doorway. I gave him a wave as he pulled away, before moving toward the couch and sitting down to collect my thoughts.

What the hell was happening?

~~~*~~~NOP~~~*~~~

"Wow, Bella. Just wow." Alice had repeated that line at least five times since she'd read the letter and I told her everything that had happened with Alec.

"I know!" I taped up another box filled with books, while Alice packed up my ragged suitcase with clothes for my visit. "Help me figure it out."

"I think Mr. Cullen has a thing for you."

I looked over, and she appeared completely serious. But that was ridiculous.

"Get real, Alice. Don't be absurd. First, he's him and I'm me. As if that wasn't enough, he doesn't even know me. Then you have to factor in that he's like twice my age. Finally, he's him and I'm ME." I shook my head at the hilarity of her suggestion.

"Then what do you suggest Alec meant when he said Mr. Cullen was taken with you?" She stood there tapping her foot with her hands on her hips.

"I don't know, but I know it wasn't in some kind of romantic sense. There's no such thing as fairytales in real life." I hated to burst her little bubble, but I knew better than to believe in fantasy. "He probably thinks of me as a charity case. And if that's what it takes to get a boost up from him, so be it. I'll swallow my pride for a chance at a better life."

"You're so cynical and jaded, Bella. You might as well be a fifty-year-old spinster. Just because nothing fantastic has happened for you to this point in your life, doesn't mean it can't happen. I'm giving you an honest outsider's perspective on all this, and I'm telling you…it's more than just a casual handout on his behalf."

"Gah! You're insane. He's hot, rich, powerful, and there was that article about him being the most eligible bachelor in New York. He could have any woman in the world. To suggest he's interested in some down-on-her-luck girl from Podunk, WA—who he's never even seen by the way—is completely loony-tunes. Even for you."

I threw a book at her, but she dodged it easily, laughing at me as she tossed clothes into piles.

"You can bet your fabulous ass that he's seen you, Bella."

I stopped my packing again and looked up.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean…" She paused, pursing her lips and shaking her head at one of my blouses. "How many days has that Alec character been hanging around here for? Huh? You think during all that time he hasn't snapped a few pictures and sent them off to Mr. Cullen?"

What she said made sense. I bit my lip as I thought about the fact that Mr. Cullen probably had seen pictures of me. It only confused me further since I couldn't imagine that anything about my physique rivaled any of the women he must see daily.

I knew I was pretty; I'd never lacked for compliments about my looks.

But I was also realistic.

"Bella, your wardrobe is hopeless." Alice was shaking her head at my scruffy, yet functional pittance of clothes.

Alice had always been one of those lucky girls with both smarts and style. I'd never really felt the need to dress up or impress anyone, but going to New York and meeting Mr. Cullen was making me think twice.

"What should I wear to meet him?"

I wondered again if I should call him to find out what the plan was for the next day or days or however long he planned to keep me there.

Alice took a critical look at all my clothes. "Well, I brought over a bunch of your stuff from my house, but really the choices are quite limited here. You don't even have a decent skirt, Bella." She sounded like I was committing a crime.

"Sorrrrry."

"This is no joking matter. You have a gorgeous, older man hot after your heels…and you don't even have any heels." She snickered and I threw another book at her head.

"There are so many things wrong with that sentence; I don't even know where to begin." I sniffed and pouted.

"We need to go do a drive-by of my closet. I have the perfect outfit for you." She pulled open the Victoria's Secret bag I'd hidden in my bottom drawer and shook her head. "Well, at least I know you have a couple good sets of panties and bras that you've never worn."

I cringed, feeling a little bad I'd never used her last birthday gift to me.

"Sorry, Alice. You know I don't like those panties that go up my butt though."

She rolled her eyes and pulled out the black lacy set. "These are sexy, and wearing them under your clothes will help you feel sexy…even if you're the only one to see you in them."

I shrugged. "I really have no reason for wanting to feel sexy."

"Oh, yes you do. You're going to have Mr. Cullen eating out of your hand. You have always wanted to live the high life, well now you're getting your chance. But you have to act the part."

"He's just going to help with my tuition, Alice. Let's not go overboard. I'm not trying to seduce him."

Although the thought made my stomach flip.

Could I be sexy and seductive?

I snorted to myself. He had models and actresses on his arm. I had no chance at competing with them. I reminded myself to keep my head out of the clouds.

"I know what you're doing, so stop it." She frowned at me. "You're beautiful, inside and out. He's obviously drawn to you in some way already. Stop doubting yourself." She walked over and pulled me up off the floor to give me a hug.

I squeezed her back. "I love you, Alice."

"I love you, too. You're my sister and you're going to knock him dead." She giggled and I smiled at her silliness. "Come on. You're pretty much packed up. Let's go to my house and get some clothes."

She drove us over to her house, talking me into taking a couple dresses and skirts that were much too short for my longer legs. I scoffed when she suggested that was a good thing, but went along with her recommendations. On our way back, I brought up Alec's words to me again.

"What do you think Alec meant when he told me I had more power than I thought?"

She glanced over at me and smiled. "I think it means Mr. Cullen wants you."

I growled and she laughed at me. I felt like I was missing a really big puzzle piece and she wasn't helping me figure it out.

"Why are you turning here?" I asked when she sped off down a side street.

"Come on, B. You need to learn to be a little more social. We'll go have one beer and say bye to all the losers, then we'll head back to your place."

"Ugh. I don't want to go to Newton's," I whined.

"Just one drink."

"Whatever."

I had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. Maybe I'd just stay out in her car.

That idea didn't fly with Alice, and she finally dragged me inside. The lights were low, sweaty bodies were everywhere, and the music pumped out loudly. I was surprised the cops hadn't already arrived.

I followed closely behind Alice, weaving through the throngs of former classmates, and a ton of people I didn't even recognize. We made our way to the kitchen, grabbing two bottles of beer.

I sipped mine cautiously as Alice talked with Angela and Ben.

"Bella!"

I was startled as Tyler Crowley threw his arm around my shoulder and crushed me to his body.

"Can't breathe," I choked out, making him laugh and loosen his grip. I shoved his shoulder lightly. "Don't sneak up on me like that."

"Sorry, babe. Didn't think you were going to show up."

"We're only here for a minute. Last goodbye and all that jazz." I waved my arm and rolled my eyes.

"Well, Mike will be happy."

Terrific.

"Come on, Bella. Let's go do a lap and then we'll get out of here." Alice pulled me away from Tyler's grasp.

We moved through the crowd of people, Alice stopping every once in a while to chat-shout at someone. Somewhere in the middle, I lost sight of her. I decided to head toward the front door, knowing she'd end up there eventually.

After having two beers spilled on me and several toes crushed by someone's foot, I was more than ready to get the hell out of there. I finally reached the door, and stepped outside into the cool summer night air.

One thing I'd learned by showing up at the party was I would have no regrets in leaving this all behind. There wasn't one person in there, aside from Alice, who I cared to keep in my life. I set my mostly full beer bottle on the porch and leaned over the railing.

I screeched when someone pressed against my back, putting his hands on the rail around me, effectively trapping me there.

"I knew you'd come," he whispered in my ear. His hot breath reeked of liquor.

Fucking Newton.

I jabbed my elbow back, enjoying his grunt of pain, but he tightened his arms around me so I couldn't move.

"Always playing hard to get." He licked my neck and I felt like puking.

I was going to kill Alice for bringing me here.

"Get the fuck off me, asshole!" I tried to stomp on his feet, but he just lifted me up and laughed.

"Come on, Bella. I know you want me. You wouldn't be here if you didn't. Let's go have a nice goodbye."

He was drunk, but I still couldn't get out of his hold on me. Worry seeped through my disgust when he started carrying me off the porch and around the side of his house.

I screamed out again, kicking my legs at him and using all my strength to fight his grip.

Suddenly, his arms were gone and I was back on the ground. I spun around, ready to fight, but couldn't believe what I saw.

Alec had Mike shoved up against the side of the house, his forearm under Mike's neck cutting off his windpipe. I stood there frozen, watching Mike struggling for air and Alec with fire in his eyes.

"If you ever touch her again, you're a fucking dead man." Alec's voice was lethal, and I backed away slowly.

A million thoughts were running through my head at the same time.

I was thankful Alec had been there.

I was shuddering at the thought of what might have happened if he hadn't been.

I was pissed off at Mike.

I was mad at myself for not paying closer attention.

I was wondering why and how Alec was there right at that moment.

I was a little scared Alec was really going to kill him.

I tried to calm myself down and moved back toward Alec, putting my hand on his arm.

"Alec, it's okay. Don't hurt him. I just want to leave."

Alec shoved Mike once more before backing off. Mike dropped to the ground like a sack of potatoes, gasping for air. I strode forward, kicking him hard in the groin, and smiled at the sound of his shrieking groan. Alec grabbed my elbow and led me back toward the driveway before I could cause any more damage.

He was walking fast, and I struggled to keep up. I had so many questions, and I remembered Alice was still inside. Stopping suddenly, I wrenched my arm away from him. He halted and turned toward me as I stood there watching him.

"Why…how were you there right at that moment?"

"I told you before what my job is."

I stared at him, remembering his words. He was here to collect me…protect me. It made me sound like I was an object and I didn't know how I felt about that.

"You were following me?"

"I had to ensure your safety." He could never give me a straight answer. "By the way…nice kick."

Before I could question him further, Alice flew out the front door.

"There you are! I've been looking for you everywhere." She ran up to us, hesitant as she noticed Alec standing next to me. She stared him down. "Who are you?"

"Miss Brandon." Alec nodded to her, and then looked at me again. "I think it's time for you ladies to head back home. I'm sure Bella will explain everything." He gently took my elbow again, leading me toward Alice's car. "I'll follow you there until you're both safely inside."

With that, he slipped off toward his car, leaving both me and Alice staring after him. After a few silent moments, we got into her car and she started pulling away.

"What in the actual fuck was that all about?"

I didn't even know where to start in answering her question. My head was dizzy from everything that had happened.

"That was Alec."

"What happened? Why was he there?"

I shook my head, trying to clear the haze. I told her what happened with Mike and then about Alec showing up.

"Jesus. I'm so sorry, Bella. I had no idea Mike would try to do something like that. I feel like such a shit for making you go."

I waved off Alice's apologies. I wasn't angry with her. To me, there was a much bigger deal than Newton's drunken idiocy.

"I think this thing with Mr. Cullen is a lot more than I imagined," I told her softly.

We remained silent until pulling into my driveway. As we both climbed out and went in the house, we watched Alec sitting in his car, only driving off after the door was closed with us inside.

We stood there looking at each other for awhile before she spoke.

"I think you're right."

AN2: So what do you think Mr. Cullen is up to?

Edward makes his appearance next chapter.