Edward sat there, taken off guard by the question. How had the Senator found out? He already knew that this couldn't be good, but he also didn't want to hide his relationship with Bella.

"I am seeing Ms. Isabella Swan, Senator Cullen's Director of Communications, socially, Senator," Edward said in response to Aro's inquiry, surprised that he could keep his tone even despite the trepidation he felt.

Senator Volturi leaned back in his seat and steepled his fingers in front of him. "I see," he said with a smile that many voters had found charming over the years. Edward knew that smile, it was one of calculated deviousness, and while he had always hated seeing it, he hated even more considering the topic at hand.

"I didn't think you had it in you, Masen," Senator Volturi said with a chuckle.

Edward shifted in his seat, trying not to seem uncomfortable. "What do you mean, sir?"

"I'm sure the relationship will prove to be…fruitful is all. Fortunately, from what you've told me, the majority of Cullen's staff is wet behind the ears," Aro said with a shrug.

Edward was clenching his teeth so tightly that the muscle in his jaw was ticking. It was obvious that the Senator thought his reasons for being with Bella was to get information and Aro was oblivious to the anger radiating off of Edward.

"Well, enjoy yourself, Masen, and do of course keep me in the loop. Perhaps you can even invite this Isabella to dinner at my residence one evening," Aro continued.

"Perhaps, Senator," Edward said noncommittally. He wanted out of the office before he really lost his temper, a rare thing for him, but it never was a pretty sight and he had never lost his temper with Aro.

There was no way he would ever expose Bella to an evening with the Senator, not if he could help it.

"Was there anything else you needed, sir?" Edward asked as he started to rise.

"That is all for now, please have a report on how the bill is going on my desk by the end of the day. I'd like to go over it this evening at home," the Senator said dismissively.

"Of course, Senator," Edward replied as he got up to leave.

Aro's mind had already moved on to other things and he didn't look up again as Edward left the room.

Going back to his office, Edward sat behind his desk and let his mind wander to the very brief conversation he had just had with the Senator. It had left him with an uneasy, foreboding feeling. Thus far he had been able to keep his professional life separate from his personal life when it came to his relationship with Bella; though he had a feeling she hadn't been as fortunate if judging by Jasper's reactions.

He didn't know how Senator Volturi's knowledge of the relationship was going to affect things, but it couldn't be good. He knew the Senator to be ruthless when it came to certain things, and now that the candidacy for President was on the line, well, he was pretty sure that Aro was going to use anything and everyone at his disposal to make sure that he reached the oval office.

As Edward thought more about it, he realized the he was more concerned with the ramification this would have on his relationship with Bella then he was with how it would affect him professionally.

)( )( )( )(

Bella was excited about going out. She thought that her and Edward's double-date with Rosie and Emmett was going to be fun and she was really looking forward to the exhibit they were going to. The tickets hadn't been easy to come by, but every now and again Senator Cullen gave away tickets that were readily available to him to his staff when he and Esme weren't planning on using them. Fortunately, he had offered the tickets for this particular opening to Bella.

As she moved into the living room, slipping on the sapphire stud earrings that had been a graduation present from her parents she glanced at the clock on the living room wall. Edward would be here at any time. Although she had verified the time he was picking her up earlier in the day, she really hadn't gotten a chance to talk to him all week and something just seemed…well, off.

Smoothing her hands over the fabric of the sapphire blue dress she was wearing, she made her way to the closet near the front entrance and pulled out her black coat, gloves, and scarf. As she sat and waited she wondered briefly what was bothering Edward. He had called and they had had lunch one more time during the week, but it was as if something was bothering him. When she had asked if everything was all right he had said everything was fine, and though she knew it wasn't, she figured it had to do with work so she didn't press him to tell her.

She was still lost in her thoughts when she heard a knock on the door and she hurried to answer it. Edward gave her a crooked smile as soon as she opened the door and he leaned down to give her a soft, gentle kiss before he whispered, "Hello," against her lips.

She smiled at him and whispered a soft, "Hi," back before she kissed him again. As they broke the kiss he wrapped his arms around her and hunched over so he could bury his face against her neck, taking a deep breath as he took in her scent.

"I've missed you," Edward whispered.

Bella smiled and squeezed him a bit. "I've missed you too, Edward."

Straightening up, Edward looked down at her and smiled. She looked beautiful, but then, she always did. "Ready to go?" he asked.

Bella nodded. "Just let me get my coat." Moving back inside she grabbed her coat and then smiled as he took it from her and helped her slip into it.

"You look stunning, Bella," he said as he kissed the top of her head.

She grinned at him over her shoulder. "You don't look so bad yourself, Edward."

As they left the apartment Edward told her that they would be meeting Emmett and Rosalie at a restaurant that wasn't too far from the gallery they were going to. He also explained to Bella that she shouldn't be surprised if Emmett ordered more than one dish and ate everyone's leftovers as well. Edward continued to laugh and kid about Emmett's antics on the drive. She could tell that Edward seemed more at ease this evening and she was glad for it as they held hands in the car as they made their way to the restaurant.

When they got to their destination, checked their coats, and made their way to their table, they saw that Emmett and Rosalie were already waiting for them. Emmett stood up and grinned broadly as he shook Bella's hand and kissed her cheek just before Edward held out her seat for her and helped her to sit. Rosalie greeted them with a smile.

"Please tell me you haven't let him start drinking yet," Edward said to Rosalie as he took a seat next to her.

Rosalie laughed. "Not yet. I told him if he got sloshed and I had to drive home in these heels he was going to sleep on my couch."

Emmett chuckled. "I'm behaving myself."

"Should I be worried?" Bella asked teasingly.

"Definitely," Edward, Rosalie, and even Emmett all said at almost the exact same time, causing them all to laugh.

The rest of dinner went by easily, with all members of their small party getting on well. They talked a bit about Emmett's time in the military and about one of Rosalie's crazier clients who she'd finally had to drop since he never did a thing that she asked him to do. Apparently, her advice of "the toupee must go!" and "no plaid vests" hadn't been received well.

Funny thing was they all knew who she was talking about without her having said the Congressman's name.

Bella hadn't had the chance to get to know Rosalie all that well, but she was finding that she was a smart woman with a wicked sense of humor. Emmett also put her at ease with his boisterous attitude and big smile.

At seeing how Bella got along so well with his best friend and his best friend's girlfriend, Edward relaxed more and more with each passing moment, laughing along with them and sharing stories about some of the crazier things that he and Emmett had done together, like the fly fishing trip gone wrong when Emmett had accidently kept hooking himself in the back of the head and Edward kept slipping on rocks, falling into the river and effectively scaring the fish away. When asked why they had gone fly fishing in the first place Edward said that Emmett had convinced him it was a manly thing to do. He just hadn't realized that Emmett had never done it before.

By the time that dinner was over, the whole group was laughing and teasing each other like old friends.

When Bella and Rosalie excused themselves to the powder room, Emmett looked at Edward with a knowing smile, causing Edward to arch a brow and say, "What?"

"I like her," Emmett said plainly.

Edward chuckled. "What's not to like?"

Emmett smiled. "You like her."

"If I didn't I wouldn't be going out with her, Emmett," Edward said dryly.

"I mean you like like her," Emmett continued.

"Like like…are we like in jr. high," Edward asked teasingly with an arched brow.

"C'mon, Chief," Emmett said, "You know what I mean. I see the way your two are looking at each other and she's good for you."

Edward looked in the direction that Bella and Rosalie had disappeared and nodded, the slightest frown marring his lips.

"You still thinking of what the Senator said?" Emmett asked quietly.

Edward just nodded.

"Listen, Chief, you can't worry about that. Since we're out of the office and I know you won't hold it against me I have no probably telling you that we both know that Aro Volturi can be a pain in the ass" he said quietly as he leaned forward, knowing they shouldn't be overheard. "But, you're smarter than him. He's risen in the Senate because of what you have done for him. If he continues to pursue the matter you're smart enough to develop a tactic to keep him at bay and stick to that tactic or develop a new one if necessary. You don't let him use this against you or against her. Got it?"

Edward just frowned and nodded.

"Don't let him manipulate you, man. It's not worth it if you lose her…I mean, if you really want her," Emmett added the last bit with a snicker, knowing that his best pal was already falling head over heels for Bella.

When the ladies got back to the table, the men helped them into their coats and they made their way towards the gallery which was less than a block away. As they drew closer, it was apparent that it was going to be a popular show and there were people milling about outside, trying to bribe their way in. There were even more than a few photographers and reporters walking around, taking note of the attendees for various publications.

Edward hadn't realized that this was such a big, exclusive event and he turned to Bella as she dug around for the tickets in her purse. "I just realized, I didn't ask what show this is. Who's the artist?"

Bella found the tickets and smiled at him. "Oh, it's a photographic exhibit. I'm sure you've heard of the photographer, he's won numerous prizes including the Pulitzer. James Hunter?"

Edward blinked a bit, surprised at hearing the name, turning pale.