Edward
I can't stomach looking at either Mike or Bella, worried that I'll blow my cover.
Between the flirting attempts of my business partner and the glances Bella keeps throwing my way, it's hard to keep a clear head. Especially since we have a few essential, big jobs to do, and have to figure out a way to keep our current clients from running off to the competitor.
"I'm gonna go and get started at the Fairmont's."
Mike's head turns and he shoots a puzzled look in my direction.
"I thought we scheduled that for tomorrow?"
"We did," I start. "But since Bella so kindly took a ton of my work off my hands I kinda want to get a head start."
"Don't wanna use that time to get home a little earlier? Surprise the wifey?" Mike asks with a wink.
Ugh.
I can feel Bella's eyes on me, and it's making me feel a little anxious. And sick to my stomach. I really need to find a way out of this marriage. As soon as fucking possible.
"She's not home, anyway." That's all I say about the subject before packing up my bag and grabbing what I need extra that's not in my truck yet.
"Gee, someone needs to get laid…" he dares mutter under his breath.
"Yeah," Bella laughs. "You! Maybe then you'll leave me the fuck alone." Yeah, you bet I'm laughing at that as I walk through the door. I catch the twinkle in Bella's eyes as I look at her over my shoulder.
I feel bad leaving her with Mike, but honestly, I need to clear my head a little. Bottom line, Mike isn't dangerous, and Bella's hardly a pushover. Even by not being with her, I can't think about anything else. My head's just been full of Bella Swan. And I don't really know how that happened so quickly. Plus, I feel guilty as fuck. I'm not a cheater. I've got no clue as to what I'm doing. Only that I'm doing it the wrong way. And Bella deserves better. Whether she believes that or not.
God, Cullen, you need to do better, dude.
My heart bleeds thinking of ending things with Bella. It's like I can't end it. Why not? Because I'm invested. My heart is in this now. This isn't that fantasy anymore. This isn't shallow and dirty. Instead of this being a revenge plot trying to hurt Renée for ruining me by hooking up with her daughter, I feel like I'm ruining myself for falling for this girl. And I'm ruining myself in more ways than one, because I'm digging a hole for myself and filling said hole with lies. That's not who I am. That's not what I do. And it makes me feel sick to my stomach. This isn't how your mother raised you, Edward.
"'Kay, see you guys later. Or tomorrow, depending on what time I leave the Fairmont house." I shrug.
I don't look up again, I just hear them reply as I grab my phone and wallet and get back outside, getting into my car.
My phone rings by the time I arrive at the Fairmont residence. I park on the curb and feel a tremor run through me when I answer.
"Mr. Cullen, good afternoon. This is Charlotte Davis." The familiarity of her voice makes me feel at ease, even though we've only spoken a handful of times.
"Mrs. Davis, hi." I clear my throat as the fingers of my free hand toy with the keychain dangling from the ignition.
"I promised I'd call you whenever I had some info for you," she starts. "So, don't expect the world, it's only a small tidbit I found out."
My heart drops.
"Yeah?" I console myself with the fact that if it was really that small of a thing, she wouldn't have called at all. I know Davis' time is precious. And expensive. Hell, I don't even know how I'm going to afford this.
"I happen to have a niece who's getting married," she says. "And we were having coffee together when she mentioned she actually got a wedding planner as a gift from her mother-in-law…" She takes a deep breath, but I kinda have a hunch about where this is going. "So, naturally, I'm interested since I took on your case." I almost roll my eyes at Davis' spontaneous nature. I think that's probably how she gets a lot of her information. But right now I'd rather she gets to the point.
"Let me guess, it's Renée?"
"Of course it is!" Charlotte says dramatically. "Apparently, your wife has a boyfriend."
I guess I knew this already, but hearing Charlotte say it this bluntly to me? God, that shit still stings somehow. I knew I was never enough for Renée but fuck…she's flaunting that to the outside world now?
"Hey, Edward, I didn't give you a heart attack, did I?"
I chuckle humorlessly.
"No, just…processing things." I rub my face, regretting the fact that I wanted to get started on this job today instead of tomorrow.
"I get that…It's hard when the ones closest to you betray you, isn't it?"
"Yeah…" it's all I say.
"Did you find out who it is?" Because even though I don't love my wife anymore, I still want to punch his lights out.
"Not yet, but I'll keep my ears open."
"Thanks, Charlotte."
"Don't thank me yet, Edward. First, we get the dirt on her, then we get you divorced. And after all that's over and done with? Then I'll accept a bottle of champagne."
I let my head fall back against the headrest, letting out a deep sigh. If only I could get away, or trust someone besides Bella, someone I could move in with and fill them in on my plans and air out my wife's dirty laundry.
But I guess I've got to be patient…
