So, we've started a new journey. I do have a blog for this story. A link for the blog is on my profile. On the blog, there will be picture teasers, teasers and pervy picture teasers. This story is going to be quite steamy and it's pre-written. It will be updated on Wednesdays and Sundays with teasers on Mondays and Fridays. Though, due to a trip to visit family, I'm going to be posting early, on Friday.

Now, onto the story …

Chapter Two

"Isabella, we hate to see you go," Aro frowned. "If there's anything you need …"

"I'm good, Aro. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to transfer. I just can't stay here," Bella explained, taping up her last box. They were going to be shipped, on the firm's dime, to her new office in Seattle. "Is there anything else I need to do?"

"Nope. Your boxes will be picked up by the end of business today and shipped out to my brother, Marcus," Aro nodded. "He said you have a month to get yourself settled into your new home."

"That's good. I have a place, but it needs a lot of work," Bella shuddered. Two weeks after Essie left, Bella flew out to Seattle to interview with Marcus, the youngest Volturi brother. He said the interview was a formality and that Bella would be welcomed with open arms. After a tour of the spacious office, Bella was assigned her own space. She met up with her paralegal and things were official.

In addition to the interview, Bella found her dream home. It was a gorgeous place overlooking the water of Mercer Island. It was three stories, with nearly an entire side built of windows, overlooking the lake. The house was surrounded by trees, and it was an oasis. The outside was amazing, but the inside was completely trashed. The home had been built in the early nineties, and the décor left much to be desired. Putting an offer down, Bella knew this would be a fixer-upper. The bank accepted her bid, and she closed on her new home before she flew back to Chicago.

That was nearly four months ago. All of Bella's belongings were in a storage unit in Bellevue, and she had been staying in the corporate apartment after her condo sold. The corporate apartment was nice, but it wasn't home. It was too sterile, too cold. Besides, it was just a place for Bella to sleep. She spent hellacious hours at the office, trying to finish her cases before moving out to the Pacific Northwest. By the time she was done finalizing an adoption for a wealthy couple, Bella was ready for her month-long break. Granted, most of it would be spent working on her new house, but it was the first vacation she'd had since her honeymoon almost eleven years ago.

"Well, Bella, you've been nothing but an asset to the firm. You will be missed," Aro said, holding his arms open. Bella hugged her boss and mentor, saddened that she was leaving. "Come back and visit us anytime. Also, you will always have a spot here." Bella nodded, a few tears slipping out. Pulling back, Aro cupped Bella's face. "No crying, Isabella. It's a new, fresh start."

"You're right. A new city, a new beginning," Bella beamed. "Thank you for taking a chance on me, Aro."

"There was no question on that," Aro chuckled. "Keep in touch, Isabella, and be safe." He kissed Bella's cheeks before scuttling out of the office. Bella did one more look around her former office. Everything she wanted was packed and labeled. The only thing she had with her was her laptop bag and her purse. With a smirk, she left her office, signing out for the last time and turning in her swipe card. The receptionist wished her well. Bella hopped in a cab, having sold her tiny car a month ago. She wanted something bigger, beefier in Seattle—a Land Rover or some other SUV.

Early the next morning, Bella was dressed for comfort. She had her ticket, her two suitcases, laptop bag, and purse. When the doorman called up to say the limo arrived, she somehow managed to finagle her way into the elevator. The doorman did help her load her belongings into the limo, though. Bella slipped him a ten-dollar bill before slipping into the backseat.

The drive was fast due to the early hour. The limo driver unloaded Bella's bags at the American Airline's terminal at O'Hare. With another ten-dollar bill, he nodded his head and drove off. His fee would be covered by the firm. Bella checked her bags at curbside check-in, not wanting to deal with lugging them through the maze of people. Paying for the extra bags, Bella received her boarding pass, and she ambled to the security checkpoint. Treating herself to some breakfast and a couple of new books, Bella hunkered down at her gate, waiting for her flight to arrive.

Nearly six hours later, Bella was finally in Seattle, wandering through Sea-Tac. Essie was picking her up and driving her to another corporate apartment in Escala. Bella was only planning on staying there for a few days so she could buy a car, preferably a luxury SUV, and make arrangements for her shit to be unloaded in her new home.

Wishful thinking, Bella. That house is nowhere near being habitable.

"Bella!" Essie yelled, waving her hands wildly. Bella ran to her best friend, hugging her tightly. Essie held her back, brushing a wayward hair out of Bella's eyes. There were shadows underneath her espresso-colored orbs. "You look tired."

"My flight took off before the sun," Bella snickered. "I was hoping that after a nap, we could look for a car for me. I also want to talk to you about renovating my new place."

"Bells, I could have gotten that started after you closed," Essie frowned. "You could have moved in and gotten settled …"

"I know, but as weird as it sounds, I wanted to have a say in what goes into my house. Es, James bought that condo without any input from me. He decorated it, using his firm's decorator, and made it into his showplace. Never once did I get a say."

"Controlling bastard," Essie growled. "And you're going to live there while it's being fixed up?"

"Marcus said I could stay in the corporate apartment as long as I wanted, but frankly, I miss sleeping in my own bed," Bella whined. She swiped her bags from the carousel, following Essie out to short-term parking. They drove to Escala, parking in one of the spots for the corporate apartment. Bella gathered the keys from the front desk, signed the lease agreement, and rode up to the thirteenth floor. Bella asked for an hour to catch a cat nap. Essie waved her off and began searching on her laptop for a contractor to help with the renovations for Bella's new home.

"Oooh! Yes!" Essie beamed, clapping her hands. Bella walked out of the bedroom, rubbing her eyes. "Good, you're awake. Check out this website." Bella yawned, scrolling through the online portfolio of MasenKeyes Contracting and Construction. "What do you think?"

"I love it! These are some amazing pictures," Bella said, idly clicking through the photos. "I want this kitchen. Oooh, and that bathroom. You could go swimming in that tub."

"Awesome. These guys are amazing. I just wasn't sure if they were willing to travel out this far. I've used them before but up in Forks. According to the site, they are willing to commute to Seattle," Essie said. "Edward is the contractor, and his partner is Garrett. He's the head of construction and a very skilled carpenter. Here's the number." Essie handed Bella a piece of paper. Bella loaded it into her phone and jotted down the website address to further peruse it after she bought a car.

Later that evening, Bella called Aro, informing him that she arrived safely. He had turned into a father figure since her own father passed away from cancer while she was in law school. Her mother was still around, but Bella didn't talk to her much. Renee was not the mothering type. They spoke only when necessary, which wasn't all that often.

Bella fawned over the MasenKeyes website. They had everything she wanted for her new place: granite countertops, cherry wood cabinetry, sleek appliances, and bathrooms that were to die for. She hoped they were available to start work on her house. She wanted to get out of corporate housing. She wanted her own bed, her own furniture, her own space, not the sterile, unwelcoming apartments she'd been living in for the past three months. Going to bed, Bella made a mental note to call either Edward or Garrett.

The sooner the better.

A/N: Pictures of the corporate apartment are on the blog along with pictures of the characters, Essie, Bella, Marcus and Aro. Leave me some!