Thank you to Team Harpy.
24
Edward
I smile at Becky as I enter Austin's office.
"Good morning, Dr. Cullen! It's nice to see you again. I'll let Mr. Marks know you're here," she says, smiling back at me warmly and picking up the phone.
I think about sitting down, but I'm too jittery. If you'd told me a year ago I'd be here filing for divorce, I would've called you crazy. So much has happened in so little time.
"He's ready to see you now, Dr. Cullen."
I smile at her again and murmur a thank you as I walk to his office that dead ends down the corridor.
He opens the door with a grin, and we shake hands before he motions for me to sit. He does the same and opens the folder on top of many others.
"Okay, so I drew up the petition, and I just need you to review it before proceeding. I have a few things I need to add, so if you'll write in the information, I'll have my paralegal finish it." He slides the paper and a pen to me and leans back in his chair, patiently waiting as I read through it.
It's pretty cut and dry, even with all the legal jargon. It states that I am the petitioner and that Jessica and I live in King County, Washington. It has our date of marriage. It has a blank space about when we started living apart. I write down the date. We have no children. We have no prenuptial agreement in place. It lists all of our joint assets, debts, property—being the penthouse, our credit card balances, her student loans, and her car loan since both of mine are paid off. It really could be worse. I've always tried to be very careful with my finances, except for what she's convinced me to buy throughout our marriage.
"Does that seem correct?" he asks when I finally look up.
"Yeah, I called the mortgage company this morning to ask what the payoff would be. It's well over a million dollars. Our credit cards are sitting at about thirty grand at the moment." I grimace.
"That's not horrible, Edward."
"It was less than five thousand just a few months ago, but I tried to buy her affection with vacations and letting her go wild with redecorating the house and Christmas and …" I trail off with a groan. "We all know I take most of the responsibility for the breakdown of our marriage. How much do you expect I'll pay out to her?"
"That comes to the second part of the petition. Everything is a negotiation with a contested divorce, which is how we're proceeding since we're both fairly sure Jessica won't make this easy. I say we go in with a lower amount for spousal maintenance and the offer about the penthouse and the other debts to see what she returns with."
"What amount do you think is fair?"
"Personally, I'm kind of a jerk and think you should be paying nothing, but this is a community property state, so I'm not delusional here. I say we offer thirty-five thousand a month to start. I should warn you that you could be paying over double that."
"I don't even really care about that, but my role with Olympic Med is hanging in the balance here due to the scandal. If I have to return to working at a hospital, I won't be making close to what I am now."
"We would go back to court for a modification if that happens. Unfortunately, we would have to go by what you earn now unless you want to postpone proceedings until you know."
"Absolutely not," I say firmly.
"Another thing I should mention, or rather suggest. It might be best if Bella stays away from any court appearances."
"Don't worry. Bella doesn't want any part of this."
He nods, and then scribbles a few notes. "Okay, I'll turn this over to April for her to type up."
"Then what?"
"We'll courier it to her, using one of our process servers. She has twenty days to reply, and then we go from there."
I stand up and shake his hand. "Thank you, Austin."
"My pleasure, Edward. I'll be in touch."
I smile at Becky as I leave and look both ways for any photographers. I haven't noticed any, but Bella mentioned a couple hanging outside her hotel this morning. I want nothing more than to drive to her, but I know keeping things on the down low is what is needed right now.
I drive to my parents' house and wonder how long it's going to take before Jessica gets the summons and petition.
The answer is three days. Had my ringer been on, I would've been forewarned as Jessica was served at work in front of my mother, who texted me the second she saw the process server approach her. As it was, I awoke to five missed calls and double the amount of texts, each one more furious than the next.
'While I was at work, Edward? Really?'
'Thirty-five thousand? You must be joking.'
'I am not selling the penthouse!'
'Answer me, you spineless coward!'
'You must be balls deep in your girlfriend and too busy to answer me.'
I wish.
'I'm going to take you for everything you have.'
'Answer me, you stupid motherfucker.'
When I see the flashing three dots pop up yet again, I shoot a text to Austin and ask if I should bother replying. His answer was a swift 'no', so I put my phone on Do Not Disturb mode and only allow Bella, my parents, and a few others to ring through. I scan my mom's texts, and she informs me that Jessica asked to leave for the day, which she allowed.
I decide to call Bella, and I'm instantly calmed when she answers.
"Hi," she says, breathing heavily into the phone.
"Are you … um … busy?" I clear my throat and try to stop the dirty thoughts in my mind but to no avail. I want that woman, and I want her bad.
"Just working out. What are you doing?"
"Jessica was just served, so you might want to be on higher alert, just in case."
"I'm guessing she's less than pleased?"
"That is the understatement of the century." I pause. "I want to see you … badly."
"How badly?" Her voice lowers an octave, and I'm immediately hard.
"I will climb up the side of your hotel building."
"What did I say about keeping a low profile?" she asks, laughing. "Not like that won't land us on the news or anything."
"What else is new?"
"I can arrange a ride to your parents' house. Just text me the code to get in the gate."
I pause when I hear tires screeching and look out my bedroom window. I groan loudly.
"What's wrong?" Bella asks.
"Looks like Jessica beat you here," I say as I watch her throw her car door open and rush toward the front door, pounding on it once she reaches it.
"Are you okay? Do you need to call the cops?" Bella asks, sounding worried.
"I don't know. Let me call Austin, and I'll call you back as soon as possible. Just stay put."
I hang up, press Austin's contact information, and wait until he answers.
"She's trying to break down my parents' door," I say in place of a greeting.
"Oh shit. I always knew that woman was slightly unhinged."
"Yeah, what do I do?"
"Call the police, and whatever you do, do not answer that door. Keep in touch with me by text."
I hang up and call 911.
"King County 911, how may I help you?"
"My estranged wife is pounding on my parents' front door, and I need her removed from the property."
"What is your name?"
"Edward Cullen."
A pause, then, "And your wife's name?"
"Jessica Cullen."
"Are you in any immediate danger? Does she have any weapons?"
"Not that I know of, but I did just serve her with divorce papers, so she's not happy with me at the moment."
"Does she have a way to get in?"
"She has access to our gate but no keys to the home itself."
"What is your address?
"13026 42nd Avenue NE." I hear typing in the background.
"Okay, Mr. Cullen, I have someone en route. Do not engage the suspect. Just stay on the line with me. Where are you in the home?"
"Upstairs."
"Can you see her?"
"No. I saw her leave her car, but the front door is covered, and she's out of my sight."
"Is she still knocking on the door?"
"Yes, but it's slowed down some." My security camera app goes off, so I put the dispatcher on speakerphone and access it. She's screaming into the camera, so I tap on it to listen.
"You sorry motherfucker. I will make you pay for everything you and that whore have done to me!"
"Sir, did she gain entry into the home?"
"No, ma'am, she's yelling at our front door camera," I inform her, then continue to watch her, red-faced and out of breath, as she tells me how she's going to cut my small little dick off. Amused, I see the deputy's car pull in at the same time she does. Her eyes widen a bit, and I bite back a laugh.
"They're here now. Thank you so much for your help."
I hang up, and then head downstairs when I hear a light knock on the door. I open it and meet the eyes of a sympathetic sheriff's deputy whose partner is trying to calm down my wife.
"We were called here for a disturbance?"
I look pointedly over his shoulder. "Have you ever gone through a divorce with someone slightly unhinged before?"
His grin is brief but full of understanding. "Can you tell me a bit about what's going on?"
I fill him in, and he takes down some notes. "Do you want us to arrest her for trespassing?"
That sets Jessica off again, and she starts screaming at me as the other deputy tries to subdue her.
"No, sir. I'll let it go this time." I speak loud enough for her to hear. "I'll make sure we change the gate code. If you'll just escort her off the premises."
He nods, then I watch as they make her leave. Once she's gone, I call my mother and inform her of what has transpired.
"She did what now?"
"Maybe it isn't safe for me to be here."
"Nonsense. I'll call and have the code changed, and then I'll have a word with her about how she treated my property."
"Good luck with that." I sigh.
After promising my mother that I'll talk to her more later, I call Austin, who tells me to send him a copy of the camera footage. After I send that to him, I call Bella back.
"Oh my god, are you okay? I've been worried out of my mind!"
"I'm sorry. I had to deal with everything. She's gone."
"What happened?"
"I'll tell you as soon as you get here."
"You still want me coming over? What if she's still hanging around the neighborhood?"
"You didn't see the look on her face; I did. She's crazy, not stupid. But if you're worried, you absolutely don't have to."
"No, I will. Give me a few and I'll head that way."
"Okay, I'll send you the new code as soon as my mom sets it up."
I go into the kitchen and prepare some snacks for her arrival. Once my mom texts me the code, I send it to Bella.
I have to admit, I jump when she taps on the door, but I eagerly let her in, pulling her into my arms and kissing the breath out of her. I remember myself and pull back, smiling apologetically, but she shocks me by pulling me back to her lips and practically climbing her way up my body until her legs are wrapped around me. I steady myself by placing one hand on the doorframe and pressing her against said door. She moans into my mouth and tears at my shirt, her hands not seeming to decide where to land as she scratches, pulls, and grinds against me.
I pull away for a moment as I try to figure out what to do here. "Um …"
"Please," she begs, and that's all I need to hear as I carry her into the nearest room with a soft surface, sitting us on the loveseat in the exact position we were standing, with her wrapped around me. She grinds hard against me once again, and I groan. Suddenly, our hands are everywhere, my shirt is flying, all while her hot little hands are pulling down my gym shorts and wrapping around my cock.
It takes everything I have not to lose it right then and there, but I realize she's three steps ahead of me, so I dip my fingers under her dress and find nothing but wet silk. She gyrates against my fingers as I dip them in and out of her, feeling her muscles clamp down, and I want so much for that to be my cock. She moves my fingers out of the way impatiently and guides herself down on me with such ease. We both moan out loud as she sinks all the way down, burying my throbbing cock into her hot, wet pussy.
Her head is thrown back in ecstasy, but then she looks down at me from her position, her silky hair shrouding us both. Our eyes meet when she begins grinding down while rotating her hips in circles, never breaking eye contact. It takes everything in me not to close my eyes, but I focus on gripping her hips as I help to slam her down on me.
I feel her muscles start to contract and know she's right there. I place my thumb directly on the bundle of nerves that I remember would send her over the edge every time and rub with just enough force until I feel her pussy tighten into a death grip, milking me as my own orgasm releases into her. With a final deep grunt, I'm spent.
She collapses onto me with a sigh and pants into my neck as she catches her breath.
"So much for waiting," I say, drawing a shaky breath.
Her whole body starts to shake with laughter, and she lifts to meet my eyes. "I'm sorry. I was just so worried when I saw you, and you were safe …" She shrugs. "Plus, it's been a long time, and the last few months with us was morally gray foreplay. Your girl needed some. This probably needed to be more romantic, considering the circumstances."
"Never apologize for what just happened. I'll welcome this frenzied passion we share, all day, every day. But we made a mess on my parents' couch, and we probably need to clean it up before they get home."
She darts up. "Oh, shit!"
We clean the couch to the best of our ability, then clean up in the shower. Well, after we dirty it up, that is.
I don't wanna lose, I don't wanna lose this with you
I need to say, hey
It's all me, just don't go
Meet me in the Afterglow- Afterglow, Taylor Swift
