Well the original idea was to post every other day. But between mad readers, upset readers, anixous readers and death threats, including hoping we were raped, beat and starved to death, Nikky and I decided to post one chapter a day for the next four chapters to get you all over the rough stuff fast. This story is and has been fully written, we have not changed anything about it to appease anyone, and we will not change things just to make a few happy either. Edward is very book smart, but his street smarts are not so great. He made a choice to do what he felt would be the best to protect Bella. Having her hate him, was the easiest way for him to do so. Neither Nikky or I will beg you or anyone who chose to leave, or even those who gave us death threats to read this. We wrote this story for Jess, we wrote the kind of Bella she likes and the kind of Edward she likes. We enjoy writing and sharing the stories we write with you all. We appreciate all of the love and even the constructive criticism we get, so thank you to those of you who leave us words of praise or wisdom. Neither of us are grammatically perfect, if we were, you'd have to pay to read our stories, not get them for free, not to mention the frequency in which we post and provide stories to you.

Chapter 10

I lie on the grass taking a few deep breaths, closing my eyes, enjoying the sun.

"Hmm, I don't pay you to be lying around, get to work."

I open my eyes seeing the Viper looking down at me. "You don't pay me, and I'm taking a break."

"You're right; you don't get paid, because you're my slave boy."

I roll my eyes closing them.

"I could go on the Internet, while you lay your dirty lazy ass on my lawn."

I jump up and drop my head as I walk away from her. I carry on with my assigned work list. I finally finish the last chore on the list and look at my watch. I see it's eleven at night.

"Well done, boy, be here at one tomorrow. Wear something, like nice tight jeans and make sure you bathe first," the Viper says handing me another piece of paper.

"I'm working at the library until two."

"I really don't give a fuck about your poky little library job. Just be here when I need you to be, and don't be late!"

Before I can speak another word, she swaggers off and I let out a groan as I head to my car.

~*FB*~

I pick up the tray of drinks, closing my eyes for a few seconds, before walking out to the garden. I serve the Viper and her friends. I have been doing this shit for almost two months now and it just keeps getting worse.

The Viper seems to have kept her word. She has reopened my family's business. I haven't told them what all the Viper has been making me do or wear. I'm planning on keeping it that way, because my personal humiliation is large enough.

Right now, I'm in some stupid pair of skin tight shorts. They are black and shiny; the material—if you can call it that—feels like it's made from a heavy duty lawn and leaf garbage bag. I carry the tray of drinks around, doling them out to a bunch of sluts. There's really no other word to describe this group of the viper's friends. As I pass each of them, they slap my ass making rude comments. They've all made it known that they intend to have me service them sexually. The Viper made it clear that she's first, but right now she doesn't think I'm at that stage yet. Thank God for small favors.

I need to do this for Bella more than anyone else, she doesn't deserve for those fucking photos to show up. No one will see it as some sleaze ball took advantage of a young hurt girl. They will only see a slut, and that's not what or who she is. I've kept, and will continue to keep, well away from her, because I know she is better off without me.

"Oh, Tanya, hurry up and fuck him! Garrett is away next week for a month. A whole month, Tanya, please, I really want to see what this boy of yours can do." I can feel the woman's— Kate I think—eyes on me as she speaks.

"Don't worry; I plan on fucking my toy this weekend, and then I'll pass him off to you. Well, that's if you make me the right offer." The Viper and her whore friend keep talking as if I'm not even here.

I'm glad when they all leave for the night. I finish up the list of chores and I'm free to go home. As I go to leave, the Viper hands me a tuxedo telling me where she wants me to be on Saturday. I already knew this Saturday is the big fucking summer cocktail party, because she's been prattling to her friends about it. Oh, joy, I get to be even more publicly humiliated; at least no one I care about will be there.

When I arrive home, I head straight up to my room. I lie on my bed with my eyes closed. Within a few minutes there's a knock on my door and I sit up. "Come in," I say softly and my dad walks in holding a plate of food.

"You need to eat, son."

"Sorry," I sigh taking the plate from him. "I just haven't been in the mood to eat."

"We're missing Bella, too. Maybe there's a way—" I shake my head at him cutting him off and he sighs.

"You know if you're working for her and she's still harassing you, then maybe you could tape her or something and we could sue her?"

I shake my head again, knowing she has me almost naked most of the time. There's virtually no where I could hide a recording device.

"Edward, you can't carry on letting her abuse you like this. Where is the man I brought up?"

I look down at my bed as the shame washes over me.

"Son, the family business is not worth you losing your self-respect."

"It's not just about that, it's about Bella, too. Those photos could really harm her, and I don't want anyone else to see them. She's my ... friend, even if I didn't always treat her right. She treated me too fucking well for the prick I was to her. She's kind, caring, and deserves so much more than I could ever give her. This is the only thing I can do to repay her kindness. I may have been a dick to her in the beginning, but I will protect her now the best I can. I don't care if it costs me my self-respect, because she's worth it."

My eyes go to my father who is shaking his head. "This is not a situation where things will just get better, Edward. You're missing her and are in pain, and your mother feels the same as you. There are other ways to get through this. It's quite clear this isn't the right choice."

My father stands up and walks out. I lie back in bed, wishing for a way out of this nightmare. For what seems like hours I search my mind, just hoping something will give me some hope.

~*FB*~

I arrive at the Viper's home as instructed, and she hands me the keys to her car. I open her door giving her a fake smile and slam it shut behind her. I get in and drive to where she instructs. I pull up to the entrance and get out and open her door.

"Park the car and then come and find me." Before I can say a word, she's already walking away. I park the car and walk slowly into the building. I can hear her hackling all way from the back of the room. I look to see she has a group of people all around her. When I arrive at her side, she sends me away to get her a drink.

The first two hours seem to pass with her again treating me like a slave or showing me off to her female friends. Her friends seem to be all discussing me with her. A few even discreetly fondle me or try. Most all of them come and go, but overall they're all too close for comfort.

"Tanya, darling," says a man clearly coming across as a sycophant. I look at the man, James, whom I've seen at the Viper's office. She moves over to him and hugs him to her. They talk quietly for a few minutes and she looks my way the whole time.

"Eddy, come with me," she says snapping her fingers at me as she walks past me. It only takes us a little time to get to a private room.

"Your little girl is on her way here," the Viper sneers at me.

I swallow as I look at her. I'm not sure I'll be able to handle seeing Bella right now.

"She pissed me off earlier today and I want a little payback. So, when she arrives, you'll be laughing and joking about how stupid she is. You'll make it clear you used her for her money, which is the only thing she's got going for herself."

I shake my head at her and she nods back at me.

"You'll do it, or this party will have a surprise slide show. Then, all of these people," she says pointing to the door, "will see her for the slut she is. You know as well as I do, all of those people out there are the people who matter in the business world. So tell me what you're going to say."

"I was only with her for her money. I used her for what I could get from her."

The Viper just smiles at me. "Again," she says authoritatively.

"I was only with her for her money. I used her for what I could get from her."

"Better, I suppose, now keep repeating it, until I tell you otherwise."

I close my eye feeling sick to my stomach, but do what she says and repeat it. My eyes spring open when her tongue enters my mouth cutting me off. I feel like puking, and I quickly wipe my mouth as she pulls back.

"Once more, and this time put a little feeling in to it, like it's me you're talking about," the Viper whispers as she touches my face and gives me a sly grin.

"I was only with her for her money. I used her for what I could get from her," I say with all the distaste I can muster.

"I'm sorry, Tanya, James said you wanted to see me."

I feel my heart sinks hearing Bella's soft hurt voice.

"Yes, I wanted to know how your graduation went."

I slowly turn around and I feel my breath leave my body. The Bella standing before me looks a lot thinner, and she was already too thin to start with. Her eyes are dark and seem to be sunk in a bit. She looks miserably hurt and alone.

"It was okay," Bella mumbles, dropping her eyes looking away from me.

"You're such a brave child. I wouldn't ever have been able to go alone to something important like that."

I growl as my head turns to the Viper.

"Oh, how rude of me, Isabella, this is my boyfriend, Eddy. We've been dating about six months now, haven't we dear?" I can feel the Viper's hand on my chest, but I can't seem to move or even speak.

"I'm sorry, Tanya, but I'm not feeling very good. I'll come and speak with you tomorrow at two."

As soon as the door closes, the Viper breaks into a heartless, cackling laugh, which breaks the spell I seem to have been under.

"You're a fucking bitch and I'm done. Do what you want to me, but if you so much as try to hurt Bella, I will fucking end your life!"

The Viper just looks at me in shock. "You will regret this!"

"No! I should never have agreed to this: the blackmail, the sexual harassment, is this the only way you can get laid?"

"You and your family are fucking done! The business is closed and I'll have your home before the end of the week."

I chuckle shaking my head. "Take it, because we'll still have each other."

I stop and chuckle as the weight starts to slowly leave my shoulders. My dad was right; there was and is another way. "Just so you know, Tanya, we will fight. You will not win this battle easily; see you in court."

"She won't forgive you; you've lost her forever."

"That is my own personal punishment. I had her, and we could have had something great. I know it would have been, because she is great. I took the easy way out and allowed you to control and hurt her. That all ends now and I mean it—no more. Just so we're clear, I swear on everything I am, I will kill you if you hurt her again."

I walk quickly away from the Viper. I run out of the building and wave down a cab. Getting in, I give them Bella's address; I need to go and see her now. At Bella's I hand the driver some bills, as I make my way out of the cab. I run up to the door knocking on it and then ringing the bell. When I get no reply, I walk back a little and start to yell at her bedroom window.

"Bella, please let me explain!" I pull at my hair having no idea what else I can do. "Fuck, Bella, I'm sorry; truly, I am. These last few months without you have been hell. I'm not asking for your forgiveness. I just need you to listen. The Viper, Tanya, she can hurt you."

I look around seeing a rock on the ground. I take a deep breath before using it to hit the window. It takes a few hits before it breaks. The alarm goes off and I run to the door, putting in the code Bella had given me. I let out the breath I was holding as everything goes quiet. I switch on the light and turn, and feel my heart starting to beat faster. All the household furniture is now covered with sheets. The complete and total look of vacancy sinks in. I bolt up the stairs to Bella's room. I open the door and I'm met with nothing. Her room is empty – there is nothing here at all. I feel a sob work its way out of my body. I know she left; she no longer lives here. I take my cell out of my pocket and dial her number. I hope with everything that she's left some way for me to get a hold of her.

"Message CR-fifteen, the number you are trying to reach, is no longer in service," the automatic voice speaks.

I slide down the wall as the tears stream down my cheeks. I know that I've truly lost her, and have no one to blame, but myself. I pick myself up cover the broken window with some lumber from the garage. Once it's secure I set the alarm and head home. I'm glad that everyone seems to have gone to bed, when I get home. I head into the kitchen grabbing a beer and the brand new bottle of Jack Daniels.

~*FB*~

"Edward." I groan when I hear my sister's high-pitched voice. "Shit … what the fuck happened? Did you drink all of this?"

I shrug my shoulders, having no idea how much I drank. One beer and a shot seemed to lead to another.

"Mom, Dad," she yells right in my ear.

I push her back a little and pick up the fifth of Jack. There is only a few swallows left in it, and I tip it up to my lips.

"Edward, stop, you're going to get alcohol poisoning if you keep this up."

I try to roll my eyes at Alice, but it makes me feel dizzy, so I stop.

"What the hell, Edward?" my dad says, pulling me up.

"Alice, go make a big pot of strong coffee. Emmett, dump your brother in a cold shower."

I feel myself lifted up, and within a few minutes the cold water hits me. Emmett and my dad keep me in the ice cold shower as I struggle to get out.

"It fucking freezing, you dip shit," I scream in Emmett's face.

Emmett just chuckles at me, and then pulls me out. He shoves my arms into my bathrobe and ties the front closed.

"Drink this," my mom says harshly, handing me a big cup of black coffee.

"Can't you put milk or something in this?"

"No, and you've got another cup coming, so just drink it."

I look down at the coffee knowing my mom's pissed off. I drink down the warm, but not hot coffee. I'm on my third cup of coffee and finally in some dry clothes sitting in the living room. My entire family is just looking at me. I go to speak, but get cut off by the house phone ringing. My mom walks away to answer it. The time passes with the rest of the family just looking at me. When she comes back in, I know by the look on her face that it was the Viper on the phone.

"What the hell has she been doing to you?"

I shake my head as a weak sob comes out. I go through everything that the Viper had been making me do and wear. I feel so ashamed, that I keep my head down the whole time. I can't bring myself to look up and see the shame on their faces. When I get to what happened last night, I can feel the tears running down my face.

"She messed with the wrong boy! How dare her!"

I finally look up and see my mom looks madder than I've ever seen her look before.

"I'm calling Jenks. She's not getting away with this."

I start pulling at my hair more and I feel someone take my hand. I look up and see Rose holding my hand, looking at me.

"I say we fight fire with fire. I remember a boy that would've played the best prank, and at the same time, gotten the truth out. That boy's still here and he now has the queen bitch by his side. So, let's stop being pathetic and get this bitch," Rose says raising her brow.

"What about Bella?" I say, sounding as if there is no fight left in me.

"You fucked up. If it were me, I would never forgive you. But Bella, I'm not so sure. She seems a little weak, and I don't mean that to sound like I am insulting the girl, but she really needs to toughen up. You have to do this, Edward, if you don't, she will end being that bitch's dinner. I know one thing for certain, there's no way she could cope with that."

"Okay, let's think this through," I say, wiping my face.

We all take turns sharing our ideas and advice, as we talk around the kitchen table.

"I say Edward confronts her and gets it recorded," Alice says again.

"Alice, she is not going blurt everything out, because Edward stands up to her. She's smarter than that," Rose says rolling her eyes at the end.

"No, she thinks she's smarter than that. That's why we have two, not one recording device. So when she finds the first one, she believes that's the only one. She's very smug and doesn't think much of us. She will think she's outsmarted us again, and will show her true colors. This will work – I just really think it will, trust me. She'll be dying to let it all out about what she's done, and how she's managed to get one over on us again, it's her type."

"I have to agree with Alice on this point. Ms. Denali does seem that smug and arrogant."

I sigh rubbing my face. "Okay let's get this set up; the sooner I do this, the sooner I can find Bella."

I move away from the table and head to my room to get changed. By the time I get back downstairs, the rest of the family are sitting with some men in suits.

"What's going on?" I ask as the whole room looks my way.

"You have thirty days," one of the men say, as he and three others stand up.

I swallow as I look around the room, and see everyone is upset.

"Someone want to tell me what that was about?"

"Tanya has foreclosed on the house. We have thirty days to find somewhere else to live. The business failed its health and safety inspection as well and is shut down until further notice. All company funds are frozen, pending bankruptcy."

I rub my face knowing this is mostly my fault.

"Well, at least it looks as if I have a good reason to see her ass now."

Everyone nods at me, and I go about hiding the two recording devices.

Just like always, the Viper keeps me waiting for hours before calling me in.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Cullen, but there's nothing I can do for your family business or your home."

"What was this for you, a game? You really are a twisted person. What was in this for you, besides trying to get me in bed?"

The Viper tilts her head at me with a smirk. "I have no idea what you talking about," she says in a tone that sounds as if she is nothing but innocent.

I swallow a little knowing she's not falling for this. "You know exactly what I'm talking about—you blackmailed me."

The Viper stands up and starts to pat me up and down.

"What the hell are you looking for?"

"Really, Edward, you're wearing a recording device." She pulls it off me and steps on it, crushing it under her heel. "Do you really think I'm some stupid girl who would say something incriminating on tape? You really are a stupid fucker. You told me last night that you were taking me to court, so I'll see you there."

"I just want to know why—why my family—we did nothing to you or your father. Our business was doing well, until your father started taking money from it. I don't get why you had me fired, just because I called you a heartless bitch. I don't get why you tried to get me to be your sex toy. You at least owe me some sort of explanation?"

"I'm sorry Mr. Cullen, but I have no idea what you are talking about. I treated you and your family business, professionally. You and your family are the ones responsible for the demise of the company, which my father's money supported."

I sigh knowing she's not giving anything up.

"Why did your father take money from the company? He ... Eleazar was always great. What happened in those last months of his life for him to take all the company assets? Maybe it wasn't him that did it. Maybe it was you behind his back the whole time – is that it?" I have to ask this because it's something I still don't understand. "He must've been so ashamed having you as a daughter."

"No ... he was so proud of me, and he took what was his. What is now mine. Eleazar, my father, wanted your company shut down, and I am doing this for him." I watch her hit the intercom button, "James get security to see Mr. Cullen out, now."

I start walking out before the security gets to the office, but I'm met by them at the main door. Even with it being clear I was leaving, they still throw me out on my ass. I walk home knowing that I fucking failed, yet again. We have no choice, but to take this to court anyway. I just hope we are believed, but being on the poor side of the coin, it's unlikely that we will be.

I arrive home and the family all agrees. I head to up to my room logging into my computer. I see that I am still logged into Facebook and click on it to see that I have a few private messages. As I read through them, I see several from the different Sues I contacted. The third one I open is from the Sue I was hoping to find.

I send her another message telling her a little about what's been happening with Bella. I'm still down, when I'm unable to tell her where Bella's at now. I'm hopeful Sue knows more about Bella's father's company. I finally give up for the night and decide to go to bed. I lie in bed, close my eyes, and think over the last night and day I spent with Bella. The memory plays on a loop in my mind, as I drift off to sleep.

~*FB*~

The week goes by fast with us getting the lawsuit and injunctions filed to stop the foreclosure, pending the outcome of the hearings. Everything was filed two days ago, and it all hit the news yesterday. I still haven't been able to get in contact with Bella. She's no longer at school, so I'm not even able to get a hold of her there. It feels like she's disappeared without a trace. I listen to my family as they talk away, while we eat dinner. I sit here and more or less push the food around my plate. I can't seem to eat much of anything.

There's a knock on our front door, but I don't move or even look up. My father gets up from the table to get the door, but I don't even look up. A few minutes later, I hear Jenks' voice, so I sit back pushing my plate away. My dad and Jenks walk into the kitchen and Dad offers him a seat.

"Sorry to come at dinner time, but I have some good news. More people have come forward against Ms. Denali. Three other families have come forward with information. One of the families claimed that she had sex with their sixteen-year-old son. She has been arrested and will appear in court tomorrow."

I rub my face and look at my family who are looking happier, yet disgusted at the same time.

"Is the boy okay? She didn't rape him, did she?" my mom asks softly.

"Far as I am aware it was consensual, but the State of Washington is going for statutory rape."

We talk for a few more minutes and then Jenks leaves.

"Yes, that bitch is finally going to get what's coming to her."

I smile a little, nodding at Emmett.

"With the grace of God," I say as my leg starts to bounce.

My family starts talking again, and I slowly tune them out. It's not that I don't want to listen to them, but right now, I just want to be alone to wallow. As soon as it's late enough, I head to bed. Like I have done every night lately, I allow my mind to trail through my memories. It helps me pretend that Bella's right here beside me in my arms. I fall asleep with tears in my eyes yet again.

A/N: The important information is above. Have a great day.