Bella's POV:
I can feel my face heating up as I stare at him, shocked and embarrassed.
"Oh my god! I am so sorry!" I gasp, apologetically.
There is a small red blotch on the left side of his face as he stares at me, wide-eyed.
Yeah, we're both surprised there buddy boy.
I quickly retrieved an ice pack for the side of his face, quickly apologizing again as he winced.
"It's ok. I figured I would get hit or something." He teases as I handed him an ice pack, wincing again as he presses the pack to his face.
"Why did you take it upon yourself to get us married?" I asked, bitingly.
He raised his hands up in surrender. The man is smart, I'll give him that.
"Would it make you feel better if I told you I wasn't the one who did this?" He asked, flinching back when I scowled at him.
Is he serious?! Who the hell would do this then?
He stepped back further. "My boss." He finally whispered.
His boss?! Why would he do this?
"Why?" I asked, confused. "It doesn't make any sense. Why would your boss choose for us to be married?" I asked, feeling stunned.
"Hell, if I know." He muttered, running a hand through his hair.
"What is his name? I need to speak with this man. Do you have his number?" I asked.
"His name is Aaron Vancanti." He replied, looking at me.
Vancanti…
"A—Aaron Van—can—ti?" I asked, strangled.
I hadn't heard that name since my parents died.
I suddenly felt my pulse race, and the room began to get smaller. Suddenly my legs gave out from under me.
I could hear as Edward rushed towards me, just before everything around me went dark.
When I finally did wake up, I'm on the couch in the living room, with a small wet cloth on my forehead.
"Oh, good you're up." I hear Edward's voice as he walks into the room.
"Oh, goody, you're still here." I snipped back.
He shakes his head at me, amused before he sits in the armchair. "Yes, I actually almost got my ass handed to me by Mrs. Cope when she came to check on you earlier with another woman, Angela Weber, I think?" He replied, giving me a small smile.
I feel as a small smile begins to form on my lips as I think of little Mrs. Cope and Angela, actually trying to cause any damage to anyone.
"Angela? Did she say why she was here? How long has it been?" I asked, rolling my head and my stiff shoulders, sighing in relief as my joints popped.
"Twenty minutes. She is in the kitchen with Mrs. Cope," he answers immediately.
I nod in response. "I want to talk after they leave. Will you be staying near?" I ask.
He looks down at his wrist, before looking back up at me. "Sure. I will be leaving soon since I do need to go look for another hotel to stay in for the night." He explained, standing up.
"Oh okay." I mutter, before slowly standing up and heading for the kitchen, where I find both women whispering and giggling with one another.
"Ladies." I greet, as I walk into the room and go grab a glass and fill it with water.
"Bella, oh, how are you feeling, my dear?" Mrs. Cope asked when she realized it was me.
"I feel much better, thank you, Mrs. Cope." I reply as I serve myself a glass of lemon-infused water.
"Are you hungry, dear?" She asked me.
Since I had just taken a large gulp of water so I simply swallowed and shook my head in response, "No, thank you, Mrs. Cope. My friend and I already ate earlier, after I got home." I explained.
She and Angela shared a look. "Is that soo….?" Mrs. Cope says.
"Did you two need anything else? Not that I'm bothered that you're both here but I am sort of busy…" I trailed off.
"Oh no, sweetheart, Jessica just called us earlier and told us she saw a weird car parked in front of your house, then that she passed by and saw a man talking to you." Mrs. Cope explained.
Of course, Jessica Stanley would notice if someone new showed up in Clearwilde. That also explained why Angela was here, she is Jessica's roommate, and one of my closest friends.
Sadly, I notice Jessica's nosey tendencies are rubbing off on my dear friend, Ang. I don't know if I like this or not. It may affect our friendship, hopefully not.
"As I said before, he is a friend. You don't have to worry." I reply, fighting the eye roll I feel coming.
The disappointment on their faces was clearer than water, which only increased my amusement, and annoyance tenfold.
"Is there anything you two needed?" I ask, raising an eyebrow at them.
"No, I just wanted to see how ...you were doing…" Angela muttered.
Right… I'm sure that is the only reason why she is here right now...
"I'm fine. You can also tell Jessica that since she is so concerned with my business and wellbeing as well." I tell her, dryly.
The blush that erupts from the tips of her ears and face tell me why she is, in fact, here.
"Bella, I'm so sorry." She whispers.
"It's fine, Ang, but please quit letting Jessica talk you into doing her meddling. It's annoying and stupidly unnecessary." I respond, looking at Mrs. Cope, who is placing something in the refrigerator.
"I made some rosemary herbed rotisserie chicken last night. I brought you half." She says eyeing me meaningfully.
"Thank you." I whisper, thickly.
"It's no problem, dear. Now, if you don't mind, Mr. Cope is waiting for me in the car, we have some things to pick up at the hardware store so he can fix the leak in the bathroom and the hole in the backyard fence. I'll be back tomorrow, alright, sweetheart?" She says, pulling me in for a hug.
"Yes, thank you." I say, smiling at her.
She nodded and pulled Angela out of the house with her.
I leaned onto the breakfast nook, putting my head into my hands. I need to move...
I noticed the moment they disappeared, Edward appeared again.
"So.." I began, looking down at my feet.
"You wanted to speak to my boss?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I still do." I say firmly, looking at him unblinkingly.
He gulps nervously, before he pulled out a small black cell phone, and clicked its buttons a few times and handed it to me.
"It's calling him." He informed me, tightly.
"Good." I say, walking out of the room, I could hear his hurried steps as he followed me, but I was too angry to care.
I walk into the living room and begin pacing as I hear the damn contraption continue to ring at an annoying snail pace.
Finally, I heard a small click, and a sigh.
"What is it now, Edward?"
"You have got some nerve, old man!" I spit at him, as Edward reached the living room, wide-eyed.
"Isabella, how nice to finally hear from you." He replies amused.
Seriously? He hasn't spoken to me since I was eight years old. He's got some nerve.
"Why did you do this?" I asked, ignoring his amusement.
"Do what, child?" He asks surprised.
He's got some nerve.
"Listen, old man, you're not funny. So, tell me why you married me off to this Cullen man, or I'll hunt you down and squeeze the answers out of you." I threatened.
His responding sigh, put me automatically on edge. "Alright. Bella, what I am about to tell you is not going to be easy to hear. Now I need you to be calm, and promise me you won't do anything stupid or rash." He said, pausing.
Oh God. What is happening?
"Alright, I promise." I mumbled.
"Good. Now, I managed to find out what really happened the night your parents were murdered. It seems that there is a large group that has somehow managed to conspire within the bureau, bringing danger to us all." He explained.
"What does that have to do with my parents?" I asked, scared.
"Bella, I promise I will explain everything personally the next time we see each other. For now that is all the information I can give you." He rationalized.
I can't believe how long it has taken. This could be very dangerous.
"Alright. Promise you'll be safe." I mumbled back.
"I will now, I have one more favor to ask of you. Please, show Edward where the tribe is, it'll help us, since we need the information Seth may have acquired." He explained.
"Did we really have to be married? I mean what was so wrong about putting some rings on and pretending to be married?" I asked.
I know I sounded bratty, but could you blame me?
"The tribe has ways of knowing these things, Isabelle. I didn't want to risk you two having any trust issues with them." He explained.
"I guess you're right. Fine. When do we need to leave?" I asked, as dread gathered in the pit of my stomach.
"As soon as possible." He replied.
As soon as he hung up, I looked towards Edward in question. "How fast can you get us to Brazil?" I finally asked him.
"Let me make a few calls." He replied, pulling out yet another phone.
How many of those does this man have?
I nod in response. Waiting for him to tell me what to do.
"Go pack some clothes. Two bags." He finally instructs me.
I scamper up the stairs into my room, and head for the hall closest quickly pulling put a large duffle bag, and a medium sized one.
I quickly grabbed as much of my clothes as humanly possible and dropped them neatly into the large bag, before grabbing a pair of my sneakers, flats, and hiking boots and placing them into their individual gallon bags and placing them into the bag.
I checked for anything else I may need before throwing the other bag on the bed and heading back down the stairs.
I just hoped everything worked out for the best.