Hello, people!
Happy Saturday!

Usual housekeeping:
- I still don't own any of it.
- Team Momo wouldn't exist without Midnight Cougar and Alice's White Rabbit with their red pens, or without AGoodWitch, Maplestyle, Mel, and Eternally Addicted who pre-read and tell me if I'm off my rocker or not.
- thank you for all the reviews and alerts! I'm humbled and grateful and treasure each of them.

The nominations for the Golden Onion Awards are still underway and will be open until July 31. All the pertinent info and the link to the nomination and awards website is in their FB group, The Golden Onion Awards (type in the search bar to find it). Don't forget to go and show your favorites some love with the nominations :)

Another short reprieve in today's chapter ... until the real world comes calling.
We're hearing from Bella today.

Chapter 38 – BPOV

Because another unit was vacant right above Rose's, and its floor plan was identical, the property manager showed me that one instead of Rose's apartment. Rose was fine with it—it saved her from having to tidy and declutter while she was in the middle of boxing up her stuff to move out.

After the usual spiel for a prospective tenant, the manager left Edward and me to roam while she took care of a few other things.

"So, what do you think of this space?" I asked Edward.

Wearing distressed jeans, a plain white shirt, and a black leather jacket, Edward looked less prim and proper than in his three-piece suits, but the overall effect was no less lethal on me. The man took my breath away, and he only had to stand there, all green eyes and aviator sunglasses propped on the top of his mop of unruly hair. He walked about the room, hands in his pockets, while his gaze danced here and there—pensive and relaxed at the same time.

But when he turned to me, his smile was glorious. "I've never seen Rose's apartment, but if this is a clone of it, I like the space. Definite upgrade from your studio and it's a secure building. How do you like it, Miss Swan?"

I couldn't contain my excitement at my prospective new digs. "I'd have a bedroom with a door. A bathroom where I wouldn't bang my knee into the shower stall when I'm doing my business. An actual kitchen with a dishwasher. It's a one-bedroom, but I don't need any more space than this. Who would have the time to clean it?"

Edward snickered and gave a nonchalant shrug. "I can recommend an excellent cleaning service, if you want."

I walked closer to him and instinctively looped my arms around his waist.

He hooked a finger under my chin and looked me straight in the eye. "Can you see yourself living here, love?"

I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and imagined an apartment like this filled with my things—books and photographs on the shelves, kitchen gadgets on the countertop, two steaming mugs of coffee on the small breakfast bar, my shoes by the entryway, and my tote bag for the week sitting somewhere by the door. And Edward's voice filtering from the bedroom—in my mind's eye, he was part of the picture. Of course, he would be.

"Yes. I love this place. And it's closer to you."

He shook his head. "Don't make a decision based on me and what you think I'd like. Decide for yourself."

I opened my eyes and nodded. "I'm choosing this for me. I ran the numbers, and the increase in rent shouldn't be a problem. Part of my raise for this year will kick in next month because it was contingent on me getting my MBA. That'll give me a good cushion. I'll be good. I promise." Somehow, it mattered to me that Edward knew this wouldn't be a financial burden for me. I wanted to show him—

"You've clearly thought this through, and I didn't expect anything less from you. When do you need to give them a firm answer?"

The reply evaporated on my lips when both our phones rang at the same time, shrill and insistent. Mobile devices weren't sentient, but at that moment, it sure sounded otherwise. With one look, we both knew what we had to do.

"It's Carlisle."

"It's Alistair."

With a mutual nod, our reaction came in unison. "We'd better take these calls."

Edward stepped aside to give me some privacy and took his call. "Hey, Dad …"

As much as I wanted to eavesdrop—the two simultaneous calls were not a good omen in my book—I had a call of my own to answer. "Alistair, how can I help you?" My subtext was clear—why was he calling me on my day off?

"Thank God, you answered, my child. Look, Edward will have more details in a few—you're with him, right?"

"Yes, but … what's up? You sound more agitated than usual, boss."

His huff turned into a groan. "We've got ourselves a situation here, and we'll need all hands on deck."

"How do I play into that?" I asked, genuinely puzzled. My Spidey senses were tingling—this sudden situation had Rebitch written all over it.

"Didn't you major in crisis management for your MBA? We're going to need your PR expertise at today's meeting—"

"She fucking did what? Are we sure? Did you have IT check into it?" Edward's furious yell broke through Alistair's words, drowning them completely. Bit by bit, the picture came into sharper view.

This wasn't merely an "all hands on deck" situation; if we didn't manage it properly, it'd turn into a Titanic-size sinking in the blink of an eye.

"When and where, Al?"

"At the Cullens' residence in two hours. Be there and bring Edward," he replied, grumbling.

My answer came in the midst of Edward's newest string of expletives, quite unsure that Alistair would even discern my words. "Zero chance he'll stay away."

But Al had hung up on me already.

I pocketed my phone and walked up to Edward, who'd just ended his own call.

"Hold me back, love. Because this time, I'm going to fucking kill that shrew."

My new apartment all but forgotten, we left in a hurry. On our way out the door, I signed to the property manager that I'd call later, and we walked back to Edward's building in tense silence.

What the fuck had Rebecca done this time?

Aaaand ... Rebitch strikes again. It must be really dire if the powers that be call BOTH of them at the same time on their day off.
What's going on?
We'll find out on Wednesday!

Meanwhile, in my FB group LaMomo's Lair (type the name in the search bar to find it) we're having a celebratory group re-read of Business Class Girl for its upcoming 13th birthday, and we're starting tomorrow. Come and join the shenanigans!