A/N: I do not own Twilight, SM does. I am just having fun with my own ideas for these characters. Thanks to my lovely Beta Gooseonline - mistakes are my responsibility. Sometimes i may spell things differently or use unfamiliar expressions and that is because I am an Australian with Irish parents. Thanks for the follows and the reviews. I had a lot of fun writing this chapter.

Chapter 5 - just dessert

"Emmett before you start there is N-O-T-H-I-N-G going on with me and Bella. I don't even know her." I decided offence was the best form of defence so as soon as we got in my car I tried to head Emmett off at the pass. "I will admit when I saw her in the bakery I was somewhat affected by her looks and I will also admit that something about her baking makes me lose my shit." This wasn't helping, I needed to put a lid on this conversation. "But I repeat there is nothing going on." I tried to convey a finality and disinterest in my voice that even I didn't believe.

"Okay," said Emmett smirking, "But tell me this. You're splitting up with the witch queen tonight, right?" I nodded. "Good, so you're single, not bad looking and fairly successful." I gave him the bitch brow on that one, hell I was very fucking successful even though we were a smaller outfit that some others Cullen & Masen was ranked in the top three investment groups in Seattle.

"Okay…," he condescended, "you're very successful. So, why the hell wouldn't you ask this Bella chick out for a fucking date? Aren't you Edward 'hot shit' Cullen?"

He was trying to challenge me. It was working.

I sighed. What Emmett didn't know was that I don't date and I haven't dated in years, not since college and the whole Kate disaster.

"Emmett, you know I have the worst history with women," I said quietly, no more games, it was time to be honest. "Right now, Bella is perfect. She's beautiful, she has a smile that makes me smile, she has warm chocolate eyes and thick mahogany hair. She's petite but soft and round where a woman should be, not sharp like the society harpies. Really Em, you should've seen her in that apron with flour on her face and a tray of chocolate croissants in her hands. It was like the Eve with the Apple. It went straight to my cock."

I took a breath. "But if I ask her out, then she won't be perfect anymore. She'll go after my money and cheat on me like Irina did or crush my heart and cheat on me like Kate did or deceive me and cheat on me like Tanya did." I really had the worst history with women. "Seriously Em, I just think I want to enjoy her from afar where she can stay perfect." I sighed again, it was hard for me to admit to being such a failure when it came to women.

There was a long pause. I kept driving and Emmett just looked out the window. We were almost at his apartment when he turned to me and spoke quietly. "Edward, I know you've had a rough trot with women in the past. I'd seriously like to strangle Kate if I ever saw her again," he took a breath to calm himself. "But you've always gone for women who have selfish bitch written all over them. Back in high school you could've gone for anyone, you were the quarterback of the football team for christ's sake, you were well off, good looking, smart as hell and thanks to Alice you were even fashionable. I admired you and so did just about everyone. There were nice girls you could've gone out with but you chose Irina, the biggest bitch in school. It's like you want these women to treat you bad.

"Irina cheated on you because she had no depth to her at all, she didn't care about you or anyone else. She just wanted to be wanted. I'm no shrink but the girl had issues. All she wanted was to be seen with the best looking, most popular guy and to have free access to your credit card. My point is that was a mistake. Okay move on and get over it.

"But no instead of that as soon as you got to Dartmouth you went after an Irina clone named Kate. Those bitches could've been twins they were so alike. Only Kate was a little older and smarter than Irina so she did even more damage." He paused for a moment but I could tell he wasn't done so I waited. We'd arrived at his apartment building, so I parked and turned in my seat so I could face him.

Emmett went on, "What Kate did…," another pause, "well, man, I would've had as much trouble as you did in recovering from that. To find out she'd been pregnant with your kid and that she'd had an abortion without ever telling you but just kept on with your relationship for a year after that like nothing had happened…." He blew air out forcefully, obviously emotional. I hadn't realised I was holding the steering wheel in a death grip, so I released my hands to fall in my lap and dropped my chin to my chest. "I can't even imagine how you handled that bro'," he said sadly.

What Emmett didn't know was that she told me about it when she was breaking up with me because she'd been having an affair with one of her professors and wanted to leave me with a clean conscience. Yeah, thanks Kate, so glad you felt better telling me in one sitting that she'd been cheating on me, that she was leaving me for her lover and that she'd had an abortion the year before without ever giving me a chance to say what I wanted. It's a woman's right to choose, I know that but surely I should've had some rights. I mean it was my kid. Damn it, I don't want to think of this again.

"But Edward, if you continue to just date women like Irina, Kate and Tanya thinking they can't possibly hurt you because you don't really care about them, well man that's just sad. You'll get exactly what you expect to get and you'll end up alone."

I didn't say anything because he was right. I knew Tanya was selfish and mean, that was part of her appeal. There was no way she'd break my heart, I didn't even like her. What does that say about me? Fuck that, I'm not going to start analysing myself. Tanya was a bad decision which I will rectify tonight, but he's right I am in a repeating pattern.

"Man, I love you. We've been best mates, brothers, since the day we met. I don't want you to grow old as a lonely, cynical, pathetic rich guy with this year's bimbo on your arm."

Ouch, that was harsh. I gritted my teeth and was about to tell him to fuck off when he continued.

"The first 13 years of my life were total crap Edward but someone was looking out for me when I came to live with Carlisle and Esme, became a Cullen as well as yours and Alice's brother. I'm not going to look that gift horse in the mouth, I am going to count my blessings and have the best damn life I can."

He smiled at me a huge goofy grin. "I plan to find a gorgeous woman who loves me and I am going to spoil the shit out of her. I am going to kiss the ground she walks on, marry her and have as many kids and she'll give me. I'm going to leave behind the sad memories of my poor old drug addicted mother and all the crap from being bounced around multiple foster homes. I'm going to have it all, Edward. And I want you to have it all too."

I looked at my brother in wonder, I think that was the longest speech Emmett has ever given. I breathed deeply to get control of my emotions because I knew that what Emmett wanted, I wanted too. I wanted it so bad I could taste it. But could I have it? Could I try again to date for real? I am such an untrusting bastard now, I honestly didn't know if I could risk my heart again.

I owed Emmett the truth since he'd be so honest with me, so I told him. "Yes Emmett, I want that too. I want all of it. I just don't know if I have the courage to try again. But I promise I will think about it, okay?"

Em nodded, "Good deal, bro'." He offered his fist for a fist punch and then he left.

As I watched him walk away, disappearing into his building I took those few minutes to think about what a lucky son of a bitch I was to have a brother who was a huge bear of a man but who despite having every reason to be angry about his early childhood just looked to the future with hope and determination.

I would think about what Em said as I promised, because he was right I was fast becoming a pathetic caricature and I needed to change soon or it would be too late.

I took a deep breath and shook off all these emotions. I had a job to do. I looked at my watch, damn it I was running late. I needed to head over to Tanya's and get this bitch gone from my life.

I reached over to the back seat to grabbed the package that my IT guy Ben had given me before I left the office. I checked the contents to make sure everything I needed was there. I turned the car around and headed towards Tanya's apartment getting myself into a very different frame of mind as I drove. If I was going to pull this off I needed to focus.

Finally, I arrived outside Tanya's apartment building and I was ready to get this farce over and done with to move on with my life. I grabbed my briefcase, added Ben's envelope to the other papers I'd placed in there and headed in.

I waved to the doorman and he told me he'd call Ms Denali and let her know I was on my way up. Riding up in the lift I was actually getting excited about this little drama I was going to play out.

When the lift doors opened Tanya was standing in the hall leaning against the wall opposite the lift doors. She was wearing a pale pink chemise which barely covered her torso and over that was a barely there pink silk wrap which was undone at the front and half off her shoulder. She was pulling out all stops tonight. I was shocked to say the least but decided to play the possessive boyfriend. "What the hell Tanya, anyone could've been in the lift and seen you like that, get back in the apartment," I demanded.

She smiled. "Edward I was just so excited that you were here, I just couldn't wait a minute longer. I've missed you baby." She was pouting as she stepped towards me placing her hand on my chest.

"Well, Tanya, that's very sweet but I'd rather the whole world didn't see what only I should see," I thought I'd start right in on the issue of monogamy.

I ushered her into the apartment and placed my briefcase on the coffee table next to my chair.

"You look tired Edward, you work too hard honey. What can I do to help you relax? Hmmm?" She was leaning over me from behind my chair and running her hands up and down my chest. I pulled her arms and then walked her around my chair so that she was standing in front of me and then I tugged her down into my lap.

"Tell me about your day Tanya," I said as I rubbed my hands up and down her long bare legs. "What have you been up to? Hmmm?" I raised my eyebrows as I asked. She looked a little confused at first and then started to speak but I interrupted her almost immediately. "I was thinking about you today and wondering who and what you were doing." I moved my hand to rub the inside of her thigh and she parted her legs slightly to give me more access.

"Who I am doing? What do you mean Edward?" she asked indignantly.

"Sorry baby," I cooed, "I meant who you were with? Not who you were doing? Of course. We have an agreement, don't we baby, you won't see anyone but me and I'll look after you now and when we part ways." I spoke softly as I nuzzled her neck and moved my hand higher up her thigh towards her sex.

"Oh… of course honey. No one but you. Oh Edward, so good baby… but please don't talk about us parting ways, it makes me sad," she pouted again. Really did she think that was attractive because it wasn't, at all.

I smiled to myself as I continued to nuzzle and kiss around her neck. She tilted her head to one side so I could continue down past her collarbone, as she moaned and tried to move her hips so that my hand would move higher up her thigh. I used my free hand to shift her silky chemise enough that I could kiss along the top of her artificially perfect breasts. Meanwhile my other hand slid along the softness of her thighs to cup her sex. She sighed and tilted her head back.

"It's just been such a long day honey. What with having to fire my cousin," I said quietly. She stiffened a little at the mention of James. My fingers slipped into her panties and gently teased the lips of her bare pussy. She moaned lightly and tried to kiss me but I moved my face down to her breasts taking one of her pert nipples into my mouth and licking around it wetly. I circled her nipple with my tongue and then bit down, not enough to really hurt but certainly hard enough to get her attention. At the same moment I pushed my middle finger into her wet core and she let out a soft cry. My thumb circled her clitoris with slow but deliberate movements. She moaned some more, "Yes, Edward, please honey, more."

"Yes it has been a long day." I said softly. "I had to question James for some time to find out who he was working with." She stiffened at that so I moved my mouth to her other breast, licking and biting her nipple while I increased the pressure and speed that my thumb worked her clit. I slipped another finger into her core and started to pump in and out of her.

"Oh Edward, please ….. relax… and oh, my…. please don't talk about business now baby," she stammered. Her climax was building and just as she was about to cum I removed my hand and my mouth from her body.

"You're right Tanya," I said calmly as I stood up and almost knocked her to the floor. She grunted, disappointed, frustrated and confused, whilst trying not to fall on her arse.

I moved over to the bar. "I need a drink after the day I've had interrogating James" I said. Now with my back to her I couldn't help but smirk to myself for teasing her that way. I recovered my game face and asked, "Tanya, honey, where is that Connemara Irish Whiskey you mentioned last night? I'd love some of that?"

She scrambled over to me almost tripping over her own feet to get to me, I had her completely befuddled. She tried to regain her sexy, seductress mojo. "It's right here honey," she cooed and she passed me the bottle.

I poured myself a small amount of the beautiful rich liquid, I didn't dare have any more, I needed to stay on top of this bitch. "It's so odd that you have this particular whiskey Tanya. How did you come to buy it? I didn't think you knew anything about whiskey" I asked innocently.

"Umm… I don't remember now, I think…" She started to scramble for the lie she was going to spin but I interrupted again. "Yes, very odd. It is not a common whiskey, just a small distillery. I was only telling James last week how much I enjoy this particular whiskey." Her head snapped to me and she had a panicked look in her eye.

"…. oh," I said tilting my head slightly to look at Tanya pretending to be puzzled by something.

"Very odd," I said again and took my drink back over to my chair. I opened my briefcase and pretended to look for something in there. When I sat back into my chair I left the case open so the documents inside could be easily seen.

Tanya said nothing at this point, it was clear she realised that I knew something and she was starting to panic as I am sure she was now worrying just how much I knew.

I knew she'd betrayed me, but I didn't know who else was involved other than Tanya and James. It was time to find out.

"Tanya," I said as I sat back in my chair placed my glass on the coffee table next to the open briefcase. "Come back and sit here with me." I spoke gently.

She came over to me, moving a little more cautiously and I pulled her back down onto my lap making sure to position her so she could see the contents of my briefcase with little effort.

I ran my hands gently up and down her arms. "Tell me Tanya, how do you know my cousin James?" I asked as I circled my fingers around her wrists.

She gasped lightly and turned to look me in the eye. "Edward, why are you asking me that? And why do you have a copy of our contract in your brief case?" Yes she saw it as I intended her to.

"Oh," I replied. "After what James said to me this morning, I wanted to review the terms of the contract…. the clause on monogamy and the one on termination."

She jumped up off my lap and stood up but I still held her wrists, more firmly now but not enough to hurt her. "What are you asking me Edward? What is going on? What did James say, because he is a liar you know that," she said, panic in her voice.

I pretended not to notice that she had just admitted to knowing James after having flatly denying it earlier. "Shhh, honey, don't get upset." I pulled her back onto my lap this time turning her so that she was straddling my legs while facing me. I released her wrists and placed my hands on the cheeks of her butt and dragged her towards me. She smiled cautiously but started to grind against me. I slipped the straps of her chemise off her shoulders to expose her breasts to me again. I leaned forward and placed a wet open mouth kiss on her left breast. She moaned and ground against me a little harder. I reached down and ripped her panties from her body. She cried out as I am sure the cloth tearing burned her a little but she gripped her hands into my hair as I continued to devour her breasts moving from one to the other. I moved my hands down her body and slipped two fingers back into her core with my thumb moving back to her clit.

I moved my face up to her neck again and bit down firmly but not too roughly on the spot where her neck joined her shoulder. She cried out and her body started to tremble, she was about to cum. I stopped and pulled my hand and mouth from her body again.

I tilted my head and looked quizzically at her and using the most indignant tone I could muster I said, "Wait, Tanya, I thought you said you didn't know James".

I jumped up feigning shock. This time Tanya did fall on her arse and she flustered and flounced trying to get up. "No Edward, I don't know him, really I don't," she almost shouted.

"Oh no, Tanya," I said trying to sound shocked and hurt, "Have you been sneaking around behind my back with my cousin, with James?" I could barely keep a straight face as I watched her fussing and getting red in the face. She lost her cool completely and that just wasn't Tanya, she was the ice queen.

I continued with the charade, shaking my head slowly and looking forlorn. "James told me he was seeing you and you were asking him questions about my business, forcing him to find out more, but I didn't believe him." I paused for effect, "But now I don't know. Tanya are you behind Denali Investments?" That was the hammer that hit the nail right on the head. She stood stock still with her mouth gaping open, her make up smudged, her clothes askew, her hair dishevelled.

Several minutes passed in complete silence as Tanya looked to start talking but didn't. She remained standing in front of me but her eyes looked anywhere but at me. Finally she broke the silence, "I… I…." She couldn't seem to gather her thoughts.

I put my finger to her lips to silence her,"Tanya, as you know the contract for our little arrangement stipulates that in exchange for me paying for your apartment, providing you with appropriate furnishings, a clothing allowance and a living allowance that you are available for me when I need you, that you are monogamous to me and that everything that passes between us remains confidential." My voice was firm and I crossed my arms in front of my chest. "Am I to understand that you have not been monogamous? And that your chosen partner has been my own cousin?"

"Edward, I haven't…. I don't…" She tried again to defend herself but I took a step towards her letting my anger seep through my charade of the wounded lover. She took a step backwards but her legs were against the coffee table and she almost fell but settled herself.

"Tanya, in that briefcase are discs provided to me by my security team, do you know what is on those discs?" I asked, it was a rhetorical question but she shook her head silently. "There is footage from the security cameras for this apartment." I let that information just sit there for a moment as her face shifted from puzzled to awareness to panic within moments.

"I have my security team's report but how about you tell me what or whom I am going to see coming and going from this apartment, other than me. Hmmm?"

Tanya looked at me for a few minutes, clearly deciding whether to protest, deny or tell the truth. I thought I would assist her make her choice.

With my head tilted to the side and bending down slightly to make direct eye contact with her, I lowered my voice to a deep, calm, but threatening whisper, "Tanya, do you remember the exit clauses for our little contract?" She looked at me again with alarm. "Yes, I see that you do. If I choose to end our contract with no non-compliance on your part then I would offer you three months notice to vacate taking all the clothes, furniture and gifts I have given you with you plus a tidy little sum as settlement with thanks for your loyal service."

She simply nodded again and I could see wetness in her eyes as though she was about to cry.

So I went on, "But if I end the contract because you have broken even one of the terms of our agreement then our contract becomes null and void, you will be evicted immediately, no notice period, no furniture or clothes, no tidy sum - nothing."

I took her by the shoulders, turned her and pushed her gently but firmly into my chair, and then standing over her as she sat her mouth agape, I went in for the kill. "Tanya do you have something to tell me."

She lowered her head down into her hands which were in her lap. I could hear a small sobbing sound and as much as I am a sucker for a woman's tears, crocodile tears do nothing for me at all. Tanya was a tough cookie, this was just another ploy.

I leaned down, placed my finger under her chin and tilted her face up so I could look directly in her eyes. I spoke plainly without any emotion but in a deep controlled tone. "Tanya, I am completely unmoved by your tears. Can you give me any reason why I shouldn't call my security team and have them evict you immediately? If you tell me who you've been seeing, who you've been swapping information with and who else is involved I will consider leniency. Speak now, I will not wait for you to compose more lies."

I walked over to the chair on the other side of the coffee table, the briefcase sitting open on the table between us.

She took a deep breath and stopped pretending to cry. As I said, she's a tough cookie. She looked at me and smiled, I wanted to reach over and strangle her but knew how important it was to stay in control of my temper.

"Edward, you have to believe me this was all James' idea." Unlikely, I thought, James just isn't that bright, apart from a very skilled survival instinct James has very little to offer in the brains department, but I would hear her out.

"James started talking to me at that fashion show in New York I went to and tried to get you to come with me remember, but instead I was there all alone. James was there and starting flirting with me." Was she actually trying to implicate me for not attending some fucking fashion show, I hate those things and unless Alice is involved when I have an obligation to attend I avoid them like the plague. I didn't respond, I sat still as stone letting her squirm, so she continued. "That was the first time we were together. After that he starting coming over here and talking with me."

I raised my eyebrow at her and she amended, "Okay we were doing more than talking Edward," she pouted. She fucking pouted again. "It was his idea to start Denali investments but Edward it is my name only, I don't get any money or very little of it anyway. James just gives me an allowance."

I knew someone else had to be involved. So I swivelled the briefcase and took out the package from Ben. I looked at Tanya, "Who else Tanya, tell me now."

She looked nervous and if I didn't know that she was made of cast iron I would've said she looked frightened. She twisted her fingers around the corner of her chemise. She puffed for a moment, looked up at me and quietly said one name, "Caius."

I leaned back into my chair. Caius Volturi was my Uncle Marcus' son while James was my Uncle Aro's son. Damn it. Well that makes sense. While James is an idiot, Caius is not. He is smart, cunning, wily and unscrupulous. Okay I have what I needed.

It was time to finally cut this bitch loose.

I clicked the briefcase closed. I stood up and Tanya stood at the same time. I walked over to her, leaned down to place a kiss on her neck just under her ear and said quietly in her ear, "You have until Friday to remove yourself from this apartment. I will send in my security team to remove you if you are still here and they'll be changing the locks. The building security will be alerted that you no longer have permission to enter the building. You may take your clothes and any personal items, but the furniture stays. There will be no cash. If you attempt to speak to me or any other Cullen in public I will expose you to the world for the whore that you are and your precious public image will be ruined. Good bye Tanya."

I went to the bar, picked up the bottle of Connemara Whiskey tucked it under my arm and left the apartment and Tanya behind me for ever. I would send the furniture to Goodwill and call the realtors in the morning to sell the place.

Done.

A/N: … um … well Edward that was an interesting way to "handle" Tanya…. you sexy man. Now that he's kicked Tanya's cheating arse to the kerb will he take Emmett's and ask Bella out on a date? And what will he do about Caius and James - Volturi cousins! I'd love to hear your thoughts on this chapter. See you soon.