Hello again! First, I want to point out that some of you have added this story to your favourite and your alerts, so thank you SO much!
A quick observation; it has been a while since I heard from you guys in the comments. I'm here thinking, is this a good sign? Hahaha. I'm not sure! As long as you guys are still showing interest in your favorites and your alerts, I'm satisfied. But from time to time, drop me your thoughts ;)
Chapter 12: A Birthday Celebration
"Easy, don't get too close," Emmett murmured, his gaze locked onto the GPS tracker, tracing Simon's car.
"Let's just make sure we maintain visual contact," Edward agreed, steering their ride a couple cars back.
His heart was hammering away; veins flooded with adrenaline. They'd been tailing him for a solid 25 minutes, weaving through the city streets, taking turns like clockwork to stay off the radar. He caught Simon's arm dangling out the window, tapping a beat on the glass.
Still, no clue where the guy was headed. If things panned out, though, this could be it – finally locating one of those spots where Charlie conducted business with high-power people. The FBI had been chasing leads forever, only to have their efforts thwarted each time due to Charlie's uncanny ability to stay a step ahead.
The day before, they learned through the grapevine that Caius had instructed Simon to deliver something to the "house." It was surprising because they weren't supposed to know that level of intel. The probability that this house was tied to Charlie's operations presented a golden opportunity.
Simon's wheels swung onto a busy avenue, and then he started slowing down, brake lights splashing the road in red. "He's putting on the brakes," Emmett whispered. They parked up next to a flashy neon sign shouting "Starlet's Paradise," a strip joint. Huh, that's interesting.
Edward and Emmett shared this look like they were in on the same joke. Emmett's chuckles danced through the tense air. It was almost comical, considering Simon had always portrayed himself as either extremely private about his personal life or altogether asexual, showing no inkling of romantic or sexual inclinations.
They discreetly parked their car behind a line of dumpsters, blending into the dimly lit surroundings. Emmett reached for a pair of binoculars and peered through them as Simon stepped out of his car and entered the club. Neon lights bathed the entrance of "Starlet's Paradise" in a blend of pink and purple, while soft music emanated from within, hinting at the tantalizing performances inside. Two imposing bouncers flanked the entrance.
Simon vanished into the club, leaving them curious, he asked. "Do you think that's where he was heading?"
"I doubt it. His car's still running, parked up front, so nah. We just have to wait." Emmett shot back.
"We might have to come back later and talk to the girl he's got there. There could be something." he mused.
Time ticked by, as the neon lights cast surreal shadows on the street. Eventually, Simon finally said his goodbyes to a platinum blonde woman, their interaction seemingly routine. Typical! With Simon back behind the wheel, they resumed following in.
Simon's car led them through a series of winding streets, onto highways, and eventually to a quiet suburban neighbourhood. He parked in front of an ordinary house, blending in with the others on the street. The house bore signs of meticulous care, its well-maintained garden and freshly painted facade exuding an air of normalcy that masked probably the illegal activities within.
Edward and Emmett parked their car a bit away, dimming the headlights so they didn't raise any eyebrows. They both stayed glued to the scene as Simon hopped out, checked his surroundings, then went in.
"I think we are here," Edward whispered. He pulled out a notepad, jotting down the address. Simon walked into the house with some package, stayed for around 20 minutes, and came back out empty-handed.
"We'll ping this address to Mike and Eric. Maybe they can dig in. 'Cause I think we shouldn't push our luck following him more right now," Emmett put forth.
"I low-key expected Simon to realize he was being followed, but I guess there's no reason for him to think so." He pondered a bit. "Do you think he's going back home?" Edward asked.
"I don't know! We have the house address and the strip club address. That should be good for now. Let's not go overboard. Send out the info and get back to business as usual," Emmett advised.
"Yeah, sounds right!"
"Yo, bro, sidenote, I think I got a little bit high on cocaine last night. The things that happened were out of this world." Emmett chuckled.
"Last night? What are you talking about, Em? you seemed alright to me." Emmett shrugged like it was nothing.
"I mean, I'm not surprised, especially with you around at their lab all day." He added.
"Yeah, it wasn't a big deal, just a little shocked. I got a nice visit from Rosie, though." Emmett chuckled, reliving it, most likely.
Edward rolled his eyes. He can never take this dude seriously.
Emmett gave him a playful nudge, "Come on, you have to admit, this shit is funny if you think about it. I got high just by being next to it."
He turned the wheel, took another exit, leaving Simon on the highway. An electric sense of excitement filled the car; the idea of finally uncovering one of Charlie's hideouts was huge.
D&L
He got into his bed earlier than usual so he could spend a little time with Bella. He was aware of her demanding schedule today and anticipated her going to bed early. He could hear Emmett in the living room yelling at the TV. This guy had zero grasp of the whole inside voice deal.
He loved their late-night conversations. He had been wrecking his brain for a perfect birthday gift and was so happy that he found it. He knew she would enjoy it. At least, he hoped. It was something she had mentioned in passing conversations – a casual mention of her, an offhand remark there.
Edward stretched out on his bed, the echo of Emmett's TV frenzy lingering in the background. But his thoughts were all wrapped up in Bella. This wasn't a new feeling for him. Memories of those late-night talks and secret moments just kept playing on repeat, lighting up something strong inside him.
He reached for his phone, dialling Bella's digits. When the call clicked in, he couldn't help but grin, hearing her familiar voice on the line. "Hey," she said, all filled with excitement, though there was this tinge of tiredness too.
"Hey yourself," Edward replied, his voice warm. "I was thinking about you."
He knew she was smiling. She mentioned to him that she liked it when he said things like that. And if there were something his girl wanted, she would get it. His girl. He liked the sound of that.
The sounds of her moving around her apartment filled the background – shuffling boxes, stuff opening and closing in the fridge. She was probably putting away the food she had ordered.
"Mind if we switch to Facetime? I miss your face."
Her reply came quick, "I'd love that." The next moment, the invite for video popped up on his screen, and there she was, her face right in front of him. She was going around, flicking off the lights in her spot. Like always, that view of the city through the floor-to-ceiling windows got him every time.
He once asked her about the lack of privacy, and she explained that her mom had the glass imported from Japan – they were one-way, meaning she could see outside, but not the other way around. And for her dad's sake, they were bulletproof.
He watched her as she moved around the apartment, switching off lights and heading toward her bedroom. Sometimes the camera was unsteady, and he couldn't help but steal glances at what she was wearing. She got settled in her bed, lowered her head on her pillow, adjusting the phone so it seemed they were lying down.
And then his attention landed on her left arm, all splattered with colourful paint marks. She laughed, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Yeah, I was finishing a project for a client," she explained, "Sometimes, it can get a little messy." She started talking about what she'd been working on and how she felt she was falling behind in delivering that custom job.
He found himself totally hooked to every word and expression that crossed her face - how she moved her lips when excited, the way she chewed on her lip, … - The room was dimmer now, giving off this gentle kind of light.
"Are you still with me? You're doing that thing again, Masen."
"What thing?" He smirked; she had called him out on this before.
"The thing where you're looking at me all intensely with those gorgeous green eyes and not saying a word." She had a smile on, and he figured she was probably into it. Emmett had told him he was in the honeymoon phase – whatever that meant.
"Well, I gotta say, you're the one to blame. Just look at you."
She laughed, a little shy but still locking eyes with him.
''Me? Nah, you're the one over there, shirtless, flexing those arms behind your head." He chuckled, realizing he'd been doing exactly that. He adjusted himself, turning on his side and setting the camera up as she had hers.
"Oh! Don't go changing just for me. I was quite enjoying the show!" She said, and he burst out laughing.
"I wish you were right here with me right now. Is it weird for me to say I miss you?'' He asked her.
''Not weird at all. You make me really happy," she said it all soft. That's what he wanted, just to make her happy.
"You make me happy too, Bella. So much!" He hoped she got how much she meant to him.
She started chattering about her day, and like always, she threw the question back at him. They had this silent agreement that he'd keep it simple, just the basics – things went alright, Emmett did this or that. Then the topic of her birthday came up.
"You know, your birthday is only two days away," he said, excitement coming through his voice.
"You know, for a moment, I thought you forgot because we hadn't talked about it for a while." She gave him this teasing grin.
He laughed because even though she presented herself as not caring about her birthday and wanting to treat it casually, she secretly loved the attention. She would never admit it though; she was that stubborn.
Edward leaned closer to the screen, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "How could I forget? I've been trying to find the perfect gift for you," he confessed, "And I can proudly say, I have found it."
Isabella's cheeks turned all rosy, a sly grin dancing on her lips. "Oh, really? Spill the beans," she teased, her voice tinged with excitement.
Edward leaned back, putting on a fake thinking face. "Babe, you know that I won't tell, so no need to press. I just hope you really like it."
She got closer to the camera, her eyes shining. "Well, I'm dying to see what you've got up your sleeve. Honestly, like I've said before, anything from you, I'm going love because it's from you." She whispered the last bit.
"So, tell me more about this buyer. Why is it taking you so long to finish?''
He asked, really curious about her work and why she's been so stressed and tired lately. She took a breath and started breaking down the hurdles she's been facing with her team. And even though she was almost done, she wasn't happy with it and felt like she had to start all over. She mentioned how it's frustrating when her ideas aren't turning out how she wanted. He was all ears, nodding here and there, throwing in some encouraging words.
He got thinking about how her work ticked. How does she even know when it's done? He guessed that's just one of those things he won't ever get since he was no artist like her. But he listened up and let her vent. Somehow, it led to her mentioning her friends wanting to throw a party for her, which she refused categorically. Because she always felt exposed whenever she was around a lot of people.
After a while, she exhaled and looked at him. "Like I said, it's a mess! Give me some good news."
"I've managed to find a way to be there with you at the big dinner," he spilled, and she shot him this huge grin. Then he kept it going: "But it might not be exactly how you're thinking."
Her brows knitted in curiosity; her eyes locked right onto Edward. "What do you mean?"
"I've worked it out so I can be part of your security detail during your birthday dinner," Edward let out, spilling the beans. "I want to be there with you, even if I'm in the background."
A range of emotions danced across Isabella's face—gratitude, understanding, and a hint of disappointment. He knew she wanted him right there with her, not pushed to the background, but she got why it had to be that way. Still, she managed a little smile. "Thanks," she said, her voice carrying a hint of sweetness. "Just having you close means a lot. More than you know."
He walked her through how the security would be set up without providing too much detail. She was stoked to hear that Emmett was going to be there too. While he talked, he caught her yawning, her eyelids blinking till they closed all the way. This was the second time it happened – her dropping off while they talked. He just watched her for a bit and then made up his mind to let her get some rest. He hung in there for a minute and then wrapped up the call.
He went back to Emmett, ready to wrap up the night.
Finally, the day of her birthday party arrived, and he was excited to see her. He couldn't help but think about earlier that day, right at midnight, when he facetimed her. He could still picture how she popped up on the screen, her face all softened by sleep, looking hazy and puzzled. He told her to open her front door since he'd managed for her front desk to deliver her favourite cupcake, red velvet, with a flickering candle right to her doorstep and to leave it there. And then, right then, her face when she got it – that's a picture he will never forget.
Soon as she scooped it up, he started singing "Happy Birthday" for her. And he saw those beautiful russet eyes getting a bit misty. When he wrapped up, she didn't say a word, just looked right at him.
He was waiting; he wasn't stressing. Must've been almost a minute later; she just said, "Thank You!" with the softest voice.
They talked for about 10 minutes before gently urging her to go back to sleep, promising that they would see each other later in the day.
The birthday dinner was set to take place at Caius' estate. They have received all the necessary information about what to expect and how to conduct themselves, especially since the main family would be attending. The estate was located over an hour away from the city. As soon as he crossed the threshold, a sense of awe overtook him as he discreetly looked around. He immediately realized that he was standing on the hallowed grounds of refined privilege.
Yeah, he knew they were loaded, but seeing it right there in front of him was a whole different ballgame. The sprawling mansion exuded an understated opulence, a kind of richness that whispered rather than shouted. It was annoying to know that all of this was a result of decades of illegal activities. It was that thing where we knew it but couldn't prove it. The FBI team has yet been able to pin them down; their documents were skin-tight. They always somehow came clean and always checked out. It was like a "Big Fuck you" to the government's face. Which was why he was here.
As he ventured further, the dining room came into view, revealing a panoramic vista of the perfectly kept gardens. The sight was nothing but breathtaking. Every little thing about the setup and how it was built was shouting out Italian history and all that jazz. Spending time with Bella, you'd never guess she's got any part in this high-class scene. At times though, she would want a certain brand, certain restaurants…. But not to the extent he was currently witnessing.
None of the Swan family members had arrived yet, she had mentioned to him that she'd be at Tanya's house, getting ready, and her family would each arrive separately. The staff were on their last-minute hustle, moving around like busy bees. The chefs' voices floated in from the kitchen. And when he peeked outside, he caught Emmett in a chat with one of the servers, probably fishing for some behind-the-scenes info. As for the rest of the crew, they were dotted around the garden, keeping a lookout, ready to roll with whatever came.
After taking a walk around the place, and getting acquainted with the surroundings, he finally made his way into the dining room, where he would be posted for the evening. To his surprise, Emmett was already there, looking dapper in his suit. His muscular frame was showing. They all cleaned up well, a rare sight. He was banking on the fact that she'd loved how he cleaned up.
Man, it was hard to wrap his head around how they managed to land a spot at this fancy dinner bash. The moment they got the inside scoop on who was on the guest list, they busted out with some seriously basic tactics. One guy from the crew, Mauricio, was known to have a very severe peach allergy. Simply giving peach without knowing led to his hospitalization for two weeks. And as for Hassan, giving him to right elements confined him to his toilet for a good week. Next thing, Simon pulled them aside to inform them of their new job since they were the next best thing. It was below the belt, but it was simple and effective. He had promised her that he would be there, and he didn't want to go back on his word.
About around 20 minutes later, he could hear car engines at the entrance, which told him that the show was about to start. It would be the first time that he would see all the Swan family gathered in one place. He distant strains of music drifted through the air; you could hear the sound of tinkling glasses and the start of conversations. You could feel the celebration in the atmosphere. He knew she hadn't arrived yet. He shifted his position to gain a better view outside the dining room, eager to witness them interact with each other.
And there they were, all impeccably dressed to the nines. They moved around the place, giving their coat and their bag to the staff, talking to each other. Caius stood next to his wife, Athena. She was a pretty woman in her late 40s. Her features were framed by cascading chestnut hair that caught the light in auburn highlights. Her gestures were graceful, talking to a waiter and pointing at the plate of food he was offering them. In the middle of all that, she nabbed a tasty bite and offered it over to Caius. It was a quiet sort of affection that spoke a ton about their connection. Not too far away, Marcus and his wife, Didyme Alessia, preferred Alessia. They were deep into a conversation. Her eyes had this playful glint as she talked to her husband.
It was interesting to see them in this scenario. They seemed relaxed and…normal? He didn't know how much the wives were involved. They seemed like the type where their days were filled with socializing, spas, charity events, and travelling.
As the evening wore on, they all drifted closer to each other, just talking and laughing really loud. English and Italian were mixed up. Bella's name kept popping up every now and then. And him, well, he was getting all jittery to see her. Until now, she was the one missing piece, but everything else was going smoothly. He noticed Emmett watching the chat between Charlie and Giovanni, Caius's only son, just tucked away in a corner next to the window.
Giovanni was a mystery, barely a blip on their radar. They'd see a few pics of him here and there, but nobody really was interested in him since there was nothing to prove he would be worth it. After being around these folks for months, maybe it was time to dig a little deeper into him. He looked a whole lot like his dad, real tall at 6 foot 3, 30 years old, and he had those same brown eyes and curly brown hair. In those serious moments, like meetings and photos, he had that same no-nonsense attitude as his old man. His interactions were mainly with his dad and uncles, like they shared some secrets. He was never seen interacting with anyone else. He had no serious girlfriend or boyfriend, no friends, and a Master in Accounting and Finance, but there had been no proof that he had a job which initially made us believe that he was riding the tail of his family's wealth….
He should ask Bella about him, and get the scoop on what his deal was. It seemed like him and Charlie were having a really serious conversation. At one point, Charlie even gave his shoulder a pat. Was it comfort or a bit of a push?
Then, out of the blue, the door opened. He turned his gaze, and there she stood, checking the room until her eyes met his. Her dad's voice broke through, shouting, "My birthday girl has arrived!"
There you go! Can't wait to read your comments. Until next time.
NEXT CHAPTER: INTIMATE AWAKENING
