A/N: I do not own Twilight, SM does. I am just having fun with these characters, especially Edward. Thanks to my lovely, generous Beta Gooseonline. Mistakes are my own 'cos I like to reread and tinker and my English is Australian English.
Thank you for the follows, favourites and most especially for the lovely reviews. I love hearing your thoughts.
Chapter 12 - chocolate croissant as well as brioche
"Hey Boss," Jessica answered her phone a bit louder than really necessary for a Monday morning but her voice was brimming with enthusiasm. "What can I do for you on this beautiful rainy Seattle day?"
"Jess, Uncle Aro sent me a text on the weekend to move my meeting with him from Wednesday afternoon to this morning for breakfast. So you'll need to move my meetings around."
"Okay boss. Should the Executive team meet without you?"
"Definitely, just email me your Meeting Minutes as usual, okay?"
"Sure. Hey does that mean we won't get our Bella treats and coffee this morning?"
I chuckled, they were all spoiled.
"Well, you could also call Emmett and talk him into going." I told her. Emmett's been dying to meet Bella and see the bakery himself so I'm sure he'll jump at the chance. As well as that he'll be like a bear with a sore paw if he doesn't get his morning Bella goodies. He's definitely addicted.
Jess laughed on the other end. "Great idea Boss. Guess that's why you've got the corner office," she quipped.
"Anyway, I should be in the office by 10.30. See you then."
"Okay, I don't think your diary will be a problem. Mostly internal meetings this morning so I can reschedule them easily enough."
I ended my call with Jess and finished getting ready for my meeting with Uncle Aro. I was pleased in a way that he'd moved the meeting. I normally avoid breakfast meetings because I like to work out in the mornings with Lauren and Emmett. I also like to get my dose of Bella in the morning. But Uncle Aro was worried about what happened with James and I was keen to get this sorted out.
I pulled out the business card for the florist. I need to put these details in my phone. I wanted to send Bella some flowers since I won't see her until this afternoon and I like the idea of her placing the flowers on the counter like Alice said she'd done the last time. Then she'll be thinking of me each time she looks at them.
I looked online to find the flower which meant innocence. I didn't want to ask the florist because he was going to deliver them to Bella and I didn't want him knowing her business. Her virginity was my business and no one else's as far as I was concerned.
But according to Wikipedia there were four flowers which symbolised innocence and virtue. I didn't want to choose the wrong one so when I called Riley, that's the florist's name I remembered as I read his business card, I just asked him to put together a dozen each of white roses, white carnations, baby's breath and white lilac.
He talked a lot of how he'd arrange them in white baskets with ribbons and such. I told him to do whatever he thought best. I had no fucking clue what he was talking about but he promised the arrangement would "make a statement", so I went for it.
I asked him to put it all together ready for delivery this morning but I wanted to send something along with the flowers so I'd drop them off first thing this morning.
I went to the bookshelves in my office, found the book I was looking for and headed out. It was Tyler's day off today so I drove myself. I like driving but I have a bad habit of speeding. Given my parents died in a car accident and my strong desire for history not to repeat itself, I hired a driver to do most of my driving for me. When I drive myself I try not to speed but I fucking love it.
When I got to the florist's he had the flowers all done up in two baskets, they looked fucking amazing. Riley really knew his stuff. I asked him for an extra couple of pieces of that baby's breath stuff and I marked my two favourite poems in the book.
The book was a really lovely edition of William Blake's 'Songs of Innocence'. I'd always loved this particular edition as it included copies of Blake's own illustrations which were quite beautiful.
I thought the title suited my little virgin Bella but also it included two poems which have always resonated with me, 'A Little Boy Lost' and 'A Little Boy Found'. These were the poems I marked with flowers for Bella.
Once again Riley provided me with a gift box for the book and he tied it with ribbon to match the baskets. I wrote out a small card telling Bella that since our sweet date that I couldn't stop thinking of her, that I hoped that she was thinking of me too and that the book was a rare treasure just as she was. I placed the card in an envelope, wrote Isabella's name on the front and handed it to Riley.
"You are lucky man Mr Cullen, she is a very beautiful girl," Riley said while attaching the card on to the gift box. Of course he had met Bella when I insisted he deliver the flowers I sent her after our first date to her and only her.
"That she is Riley, now don't you get any ideas old man, she is spoken for," I teased him.
"I think my wife would have a problem with me getting any ideas about your Isabella too, Mr Cullen," he laughed.
My Isabella. Damn straight.
I paid Riley and added a generous tip because the man was an artist and he called Bella my Isabella, then I headed out to meet with my Uncle Aro.
Whenever Uncle Aro comes into the town he loves to stay at the Fairmont Olympic and so our breakfast meeting was to be in their restaurant ~ The Georgian. We'd met here so often over the years that the staff knew us and we knew them by name.
As I walked into the richly decorated restaurant I thought perhaps when Bella and my relationship had progressed that far that I could bring her to the Hotel for a weekend. The suites here were lovely and the restaurant is superb. I think she'd really like it. I know I'd really like it when our relationship progressed far enough to have a dirty weekend in a hotel!
I shook those delicious thoughts from my head as I walked towards my Uncle Aro who was already seated. Aro was an attractive man. He was in his sixties but wore his dark, straight hair quite long. He's wealthy enough to be eccentric, I suppose. His wife Sulpicia is very beautiful so it is no surprise that James is attractive enough to attract many lovely women.
I like Uncle Aro, I love him I suppose as family, but I like him too. He has always treated me with respect. After my parents' death though I was only thirteen, he did not engage with the legal action my Uncle Marcus started in his fight to get custody of me. Uncle Aro respected not only my mother's wishes, after all she was their sister, but he also just respected my right to choose for myself.
Where Aro was pragmatic and calm, Marcus was always more emotional. At least he was until his wife Didyme's death. After her death Marcus became numb and subdued, he was eerie to be around, almost other worldly. It was sad.
Although Aro was a calm sort of person he was warm and caring. Sulpicia on the other hand was always quite aloof and cold. I loved her as an aunt but I never could really warm to her. She was nothing at all like my sweet adopted mother Esme.
"Good morning Uncle," I said as I sat at the table across from Aro.
"Good morning Nephew," he said smiling at me warmly. "I'm glad you are here, I am hungry and want to eat all the things my sweet Sulpicia won't allow to eat at home." He smiled as he looked over the menu.
"Okay, then let's order straight away and then we can talk."
Aro waved to the server who came immediately to attend us.
"Are you ready to order now, Mr Volturi," the young man asked.
"Yes, I would like to indulge myself with the American Breakfast today please Geoffrey, with the english muffin not toast and one of those fancy coffees with vanilla and whipped cream to go with it please," Aro said excitedly.
It was funny watching him acting as though he was being a naughty boy.
"If my wife asks what I ate you tell her I had the cholesterol free scrambled eggs, okay. Remember I'm a very generous tipper," he said, tapping the side of his nose as though it was all a big secret.
"Aro, maybe you should have the healthy breakfast." I was teasing him although he really did have high cholesterol and probably shouldn't have what he'd chosen.
"Don't be mean to your Uncle, Edward. You remember I always let you get away with sneaking out when you stayed with me as a teenager and I never told Esme what you were up to." He raised his eyebrows at me.
I laughed. "Okay, okay you win. Eat what you want and please don't tell Esme about my misspent youth. Even though it is in the past she'd still punish me."
"And you Mr Cullen, are you ready to order sir?" Geoffrey asked.
"I will have the Smoked Salmon and Brioche Benny with a large black coffee." I told him. "Oh, I see you have chocolate croissants. May I have one of those too please."
I wasn't able to go to Bella's this morning so I thought I'd try their croissants. It won't measure up to hers I am sure but I could tell her about it this afternoon.
"Fancy. A chocolate croissant as well as Brioche today Edward. That's unusual for you, isn't it. Don't you usually have the egg white only omelette and the seasonal fruit platter," Aro laughed at me.
It is true I usually make healthier choices, especially when eating with my Uncle by way of solidarity for his wife's insistence on his careful diet.
"I've developed a taste for french baking just recently."
"Edward?" He tilted his head slightly as he looked at me curiously. "Are you blushing?"
Fuck. I could feel my face getting warmer by the second.
"Uncle," I warned.
Aro grabbed my hand and looked at me directly in the eye. "Edward?" he asked. "What are you hiding from me? Hmmm?"
"I've met someone," I whispered and then added, "someone special."
Aro laughed the most ridiculous and loud laugh you have ever heard. People at the next table turned and stared at us. Aro could always read me easily. I could never hide my secrets from him.
When I was in high school I would visit him for at least one weekend a month and for longer stretches during the summer break. If I would sneak out to go drinking with my friends or to go and see Irina, he would always get me to confess.
I would tell him my carefully crafted lies trying to hide my secrets from him but he would just take my hand and look into my eyes never saying a word. It would break me every time. I would blush or look away or do something to tell him I was lying.
Then he would say exactly what he said to me this morning, "What are you hiding from me Edward?" and I would spill my guts. I would tell him my whole life story if he wanted me to.
Here I was twenty-seven years of age and he still does it me. Old Fucker!
"Her name is Isabella."
"Is-a-Bella," he said her name slowly almost singing it. "What a romantic name."
"She is a baker, she is nineteen, she is beautiful and I like her very much," I blurted out. Damn I'm surprised I didn't tell him her life story, not that I know it all but maybe I will after this afternoon.
"A baker?" He looked incredulous at my statement. "Well that is a change of pace for you, isn't it." He was smirking at me now. Aro knew all about my relationship with Kate and also with Tanya. He didn't like it but he knew about it.
"Aro, I'm trying something new," I said quietly.
"Ah, Edward," he said clapping his hands together in front of his face. "I am very excited for you. I want to meet her of course."
I laughed again. "You can go to hell." I knew him, he'd meet her, get her talking and before you know it she'd hear all about my past indiscretions and he'd wheedle out of her all her secrets. And her secrets were mine to uncover.
"I don't want to share her with my crazy Uncle just yet, okay?" I teased warmly.
"Alright Edward. I will wait," he said smiling at me, "but not for too long, young man."
Geoffrey delivered our breakfast and our coffee. Time to get down to business. As we began to eat I thought I would open the conversation and just see where it led.
"I had to fire James, Uncle." I wanted to get this out of the way.
"James told me," he said flatly. "But he didn't tell me why, Edward. I am hoping that you are going to tell me and Edward," he looked me directly in the eyes, "I want the truth. Don't sugar coat it for me."
The truth. I want that too. I took a sip of my coffee thinking about how I would tell him about James and Caius. I hadn't touched my breakfast but Aro was thoroughly enjoying his wicked treat.
"James was attempting to steal from me Uncle."
Aro put down his knife and fork. Clearly I had spoiled his breakfast.
"He and Caius set up a dummy investment group. They used Tanya as their front. James was screwing her by the way." I knew he would want to know that part too.
"He was leaking advance information of where we were investing our funds to Caius who was then investing under Tanya's name, basically shadowing our investment and trading before we moved. They were getting a jump on the market, benefitting from our research and our proprietary information. They made a tidy sum before I picked it up.
"James was the leak, Uncle. They were using Tanya as the front but they cleared out the funds regularly, coming frighteningly close to both insider trading and money laundering."
Aro's face grew redder as I spoke, his lips were pursed tight and his hands were clenched into fists. He looked like he was ready to explode. I was actually quite concerned. He did have high cholesterol and he was not taking this news well.
I continued, wanting to tell the whole story and get it all out in the open. "From what I could trace the investment money came from Volturi Investments.
"James was sleeping with Tanya to keep her on board with their plans, I suppose."
Aro was turning purple now.
"They tried to get information about my business from Tanya as well, but that was a waste of time really. I did a lot of things with Tanya but talking business wasn't one of them." I was trying to lighten his mood. Failed. "She accompanied me to some work functions but no deals we're done at those so she really didn't know too much."
Aro took some deep breaths and took a few minutes to calm himself.
Finally he spoke, his voice eerily calm, "So let me see if I understand, shall we?"
I nodded waiting to hear which side of this fence he was going to come down on, to discern if he was going to try and defend his son or if he was, as I hoped he was, completely unaware of this whole scheme.
"You are telling me that my son and nephew used my company's money to make investments using information they stole from another investment company owned by their own cousin."
His voice was strained and his usual calm and controlled demeanour was coming apart at the seams as he shout whispered at me. "Add to this you are also telling me that they invested my money under a fake investment group and that my son is cheating on his wife with your concubine!"
I cringed at the word concubine. Aro did not approve of my transactional relationship with Tanya and he made no attempts to hide it. Now he understands that Tanya was not satisfied with social climbing her way into society by sleeping with me but that she was also cheating on me with his very married son James.
If James' wife Victoria found out about this affair she'd have his nuts in a vice and divorce his cheating arse faster than you can say pre-nup. Victoria's money made Volturi Investments look like small change. Her father had been against her choice of husband, wisely as it turns out, but acquiesced to the marriage only after Aro suggested a prenuptial agreement.
Guess James should've read the fine print before signing, infidelity on his part would mean she'd get the houses, the kids if they had any which they don't thankfully, all the money she came in with and then some of his as well. Idiot!
Aro was steaming so I kept quiet. I didn't bother to ask outright if he knew about this scheme, as it was pretty clear that he didn't. However, I still didn't know how he was going to react.
Just then I received a call from Bella. I apologised to Aro and told him I'd step away to take the call. He waved me off, he looked distraught and I'm sure he'd appreciate a moment to compose himself.
I stepped out to the foyer to answer the call.
"Good morning sweet one," I answered, grinning like an idiot.
"Oh… Edward… ," she was sobbing again. I smiled.
"Love what is wrong?" I asked, knowing full well that this was a reaction to my gift.
"The flowers… the book… too much… too… much."
"Isabella," I said sternly. "Of course it is not too much. You are very special to me. Do you hear me?" I wasn't really cross, although she needed to understand that she was worth so much more than a few flowers and an old book, I just wanted her to calm down and talk to me.
She took an inward shaky breath to calm herself and spoke in a deep and sultry tone. "Edward, you are very special to me too. You don't need to give me gifts but I love them. The book is magnificent. I have a cheap copy of Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience but this one you have given me is so beautiful. It must be very valuable."
I stayed quiet. It was valuable but I knew she'd appreciate it. I waited and let the quiet rest between us.
"Thank you Edward." she whispered.
Appreciating the intimacy of her calm whispered voice, I softly replied, "You are most welcome my sweet one. I look forward to kissing you this afternoon. I missed seeing you this morning but I had a meeting, have a meeting, actually, it is still going on. I just stepped out."
"Sorry, Edward, I'll let you get back."
"No, I would much rather talk with you love," I told her honestly.
"I met Emmett this morning." I could hear her giggle, I loved that fucking sound.
"Why are you giggling about Emmett?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"Well I sort of met Emmett this morning," she said cryptically.
"How do you sort of meet someone Bella?"
"He introduced himself and gave me a hug. You're right he is like a bear," she giggled again. "Anyway he was telling me how I had you tied up in knots and you were like a man obsessed."
That was why I didn't want her to meet him, I knew he'd embarrass me. Fucker.
"Then I introduced him to Rosalie and it was like I disappeared. He almost knocked me over when he turned to talk with her. I think he forgot I was there." She laughed.
What the fuck, he nearly knocked her over, I'll kick his arse. Wait, what was this about Rosalie?
"What do you mean? Do you think he likes her? Does she like him?" I asked suddenly fascinated.
"Well they're going on a date tonight, so I guess I would definitely say they like each other. Rosalie never accepts invitations for a date and she gets a lot of invitations, trust me." Not surprising, Rosalie was gorgeous, not for me but maybe for Emmett.
"Oh I have to go Edward we're having another rush and I have choux pastry in the oven," she sounded distracted.
"I love it when you talk dirty, love." I teased her with my softest tone of voice.
"Mmm …. Edward, I love it when you use that tone of voice." I could practically hear her bite her lip.
I laughed at the effect I was having on her. "Go back to work sweet one. I will see you this afternoon at four o'clock, okay?"
"Yes, this afternoon, see you then and Edward thank you again for the flowers. I will certainly think of you as they are spread all around the shop. Bye."
I didn't want her to go but I needed to get back to Aro and she needed to get back to her kitchen.
"Bye, my Isabella," I whispered.
I ended the call put the phone back in my jacket pocket and went back to Aro.
"Apologies Uncle," I said sincerely. I didn't mean to be that long but I love talking with her.
"Your baker?"
I nodded, blushing slightly. How the fuck does he read me so easily.
I looked down and realised the brioche was cold so I pushed it aside. I called Geoffrey over "Can you get Aro and I another coffee please Geoffrey? Oh, and could you bring me my croissant now please. Uncle did you want anything besides more coffee?"
"No," he said his voice filled with tension, "just coffee."
"Of course, Mr Cullen, Mr Volturi, I'll just clear the table for you and then see to your coffee," he said as he cleared away our uneaten food.
Aro looked at me, he was much calmer now. "So Edward, I certainly see why you fired my son. I also see why he came to see me with a black eye."
I nodded, still waiting to hear which side he was taking.
"We need to talk with Marcus, Edward. He won't know anything about his and he'll be furious when he finds out, but he needs to know."
"You're sure Uncle Marcus wouldn't have been involved at all?"
Aro looked me in the eye as he responded angrily. "Edward, I realise that you may have trouble trusting your family given the way your cousins have behaved but my brother and I built Volturi Investments from nothing. Our excellent reputation was built from the hard work of your Uncle Marcus and myself during that time. Like you, we only used money from our trust funds to stake our early years in the business. Like you, we both returned that money to our trusts after just a few years. Marcus and I ran a strong ethical business. Of course he wouldn't have known about this scurrilous scheme."
"I'm sorry Uncle. I didn't mean to offend you," I said quietly but sincerely. I never wanted to believe my uncles were involved.
Just then Geoffrey arrived with my croissant and our coffee.
"Can we go back to your office and call Marcus?" Aro asked. "I want to fill him in on what has happened and discuss some ideas on what we should do about this situation."
"Of course. I just need to text my PA and get her to clear my calendar for the rest of the day." I told him while taking my phone from my jacket.
I started to text Jess when I noticed the delicious smell of the chocolate croissant. I finished my text and put my phone down. I picked up my croissant and smelled it. Aro looked at me as though I'd lost my mind and maybe I had because it smelled like one of Bella's croissants. I licked my lips and bit into the pastry hungrily. Oh… god… it must be one of Bella's. I moaned out loudly.
Aro signalled to Geoffrey who came over immediately. "What can I get for you Mr Volturi?"
Aro looked at me, smiled and pointing at my pastry said, "I'll have what he's having."
Geoffrey chuckled, nodded and disappeared to get Aro a croissant. I couldn't give a fuck who teased me, this thing was like crescent-shaped sex. Oh.. Bella… what do put in these things. I moaned again, I couldn't help it.
"Edward, what is going on with you and that pastry?"
"We're involved," I laughed.
Geoffrey returned and place a warm chocolate croissant in front of Aro who tentatively picked it up almost afraid to try it for fear of a public display like my own.
He bit into it and moaned lightly. He then proceeded to devour it muttering 'so good' and 'what is in this.'
"Geoffrey?" I called him back. "Where do you get these croissants?"
"They are locally made fresh each morning Mr Cullen, delivered to us from a little bakery not far from here in downtown Seattle. It is called Bella's Bakery. They also supply us with some other pastries and some breads like the Brioche from your breakfast, sir."
"We like to support local businesses…," he continued on blah, blah, blah. I heard what I wanted to know.
Bella's Bakery again. I am so proud of my sweet one.
"Thanks Geoffrey" I dismissed him politely. He nodded and left.
"Your baker… Isabella…. is she Bella's Bakery?" Aro asked.
"Yes, she is" I said smugly.
"Well, my boy, she has a gift," he said. "So talented. Is all her baking this good? Because I think I have found my new favourite bakery if it is."
I smiled. "Aunt Sulpicia wouldn't like that very much Uncle."
"She will after she tastes it," he laughed. "Let's head over to your office, we have planning to do."
Aro charged the breakfast bill and Geoffrey's tip to his room account and we headed out to the concierge to get my car. We headed back to my office and spent the next few hours planning and discussing ideas for a way forward. Marcus was as shocked as Aro had been and I could hear the sadness in his voice full of his disappointment in his son.
Once we had agreed on a course of action we agreed to meet again in a week's time, when I would have all the necessary resources in place. Marcus agreed to come back to Seattle next week to help finalise arrangements.
I dropped Uncle Aro back to his hotel where Aunt Sulpicia was waiting for him. They were originally going to head home tomorrow but would extend their stay until next week They were headed out this evening to hear the Seattle Symphony at Benaroya Hall.
After dropping off my Uncle I realised it was after three, so I decided to head over to Bella's a little early, happy to wait and watch her at work in her kitchen until she was free at four.
I parked near the bakery and headed in to find my Bella. The flowers I sent her were scattered around the shop in gorgeous arrangements. They added a lovely garden scent to her already delicious smelling store. On one end of the counter I could also see the cook book I sent her last week. It was open at a recipe. The book was held up with a frame which said recipe of the day. Clearly Bella was enjoying the book in a very practical way.
I looked around but couldn't see her. There were quite a few people bustling away working in her kitchen but no Bella. I saw Rosalie talking with another staff member over at the coffee station so I headed over to ask after Bella's whereabouts.
"Good afternoon, Miss Rosalie," I said with huge grin on my face.
"Well good afternoon to you too Romeo. We don't usually see you in the afternoons?" she said.
"I am here to see your boss," I replied, still unable to get the grin off my face.
"Oh…. was she expecting you Edward?" She had a strange tone in her voice. She seemed hesitant?
"Well we're meeting at four but I got away early so I thought I'd surprise her," I explained, not really sure why I was telling her all that, but she had a confused look on her face.
"Oh… okay… well, I think she's upstairs so I'll go and let her know you're here. Wait here." She turned back into the kitchen and holding her hand up to stop me following. She was acting very strangely. What the fuck?
I shook my head not wanting to spoil my good mood. Just then I heard Bella laughing. I looked up and through the window that gave a view from the front of the shop through the kitchen and to the stairs leading from her apartment upstairs.
There she was my sweet one. I smiled as I watched her but then my face froze. WHO THE FUCK WAS THAT WITH HER?
She was coming down the stairs, putting her hair back up into a ponytail. Walking down with her was a large native american man with long hair. He had his arm around her waist and was teasing her and tickling her neck.
They reached the bottom of the stairs and he pulled her in for a hug, she placed her hands on his fucking chest and blushed. She fucking blushed. He reached to the stray lock of hair which always come loose and he curled it behind her fucking ear. He stroked her cheek and was speaking quietly to her.
WHAT THE EVER LIVING FUCK WAS GOING ON?
I stood there like the sap I was just watching them. It was like a mockery of the scene she had played with me just one week ago when I asked her out for the first time, right down to the loose lock of her hair and the fucking blush.
Why did I believe she was different? Why am I such an idiot? Why do they always cheat!
MOTHER FUCKER.
I had to move. I shouldn't stand there another moment. She'd played me. They always play me and I fell for it hook, line and sinker.
I stood there surrounded by the flowers I'd sent her like the idiot I was. For a fleeting moment I wondered if Riley knew which flower meant lying, cheating, whore. I laughed at myself and shook my head. Idiot.
I looked up and she saw me. Our eyes met. My rage must have been written all across my face because she stared at me with huge doe like eyes.
I took one last look at what I thought was my future, I turned on my heel and walked out the door.
Never, ever, ever again. Emmett could go fuck himself with his dreams of 'having it all'. I tried and failed. It is out of my reach, no matter how much I want it. Fuck. A tear fell down my cheek. NO! Fuck it! Fuck her! and Fuck her fucking chocolate fucking croissants.
I needed to run. So I did. I ran as fast as I could. Away from the bakery, away from Bella and away from the pain. Fuck.
A/N: Okay guys. Take a deep breath… everyone okay? Oh my, our poor Edward is broken hearted. How about you? Tell me what you think. Don't hate me. I promise to update the next chapter tonight or at the latest tomorrow so hang in there okay.