I don't own Twilight. What I own is my character's behavior, personality, background, and plot of the story.
Thanks to my Beta MadMooey18 for her constant support and help in making this story what it is today.
Bella smiles to herself as she clicks on the photo Seth sent her of the boys. "Are these your kids?" Her hairstylist, Maria, standing behind her asks.
Bella smiles at her in the mirror and nods her head.
"Adorable. Must be hard for you to be away from them?" Maria quietly asks her, looking at Bella then goes back to curling her hair.
Bella looks thoughtful for a second then tells her, "Sure, but I would never say no to a trip to London." She ends her statement with a wink.
Maria laughs heartily then tells her, "You don't have to butter me up, love. If I don't make you look good, I will lose my job."
"Nah, I am just doing it so you won't pull hard on my hair."
Maria playfully pulls at her hair for a second then winks. Bella smiles then returns to looking at her phone until a message from Edward arrives.
Bella shuts her phone then puts it on the counter in front of her before she can access the message. She leans her head back and closes her eyes. It has been over two weeks since the fight she had with Edward, and while every other day, Edward messages her Bella hasn't replied to any of them.
This is precisely why she didn't want to date. Love makes one stupid. Love makes one miserable. Her life was destroyed the last time she fell in love. If it was up to her, she would cut him loose, block his number and never talk to him again in her life, but she doesn't have it in her to do that. She doesn't know what to do with her love for him. A couple of days ago she heard a song by an indie singer she liked and the first thought she had was This sounds like an artist Edward would wanna work with and before she knew it, she was copying the link to send it to him. She stopped herself, but it wasn't the first time. A week ago, she came across a meme about CEO's unimaginative nature and was tempted to send it to him just to troll him, but stopped at the last minute.
Well, you have got to read the message at one point or another. You might as well do it now.
Bella sighs to herself knowing that her inner thought is right, so she might as well do it now. She opens her messages and frowns in confusion as she reads his three message.
Hey Bella
I know that I am probably not your favorite person today, and you don't like me at the moment, but I have to ask you, since we have a deal; will you be coming to the company's annual party this Friday?
If you aren't that's fine. I know that you are angry and whatever you decide, it won't impact the deal we have.
The confusion quickly turns into realization as she remembers him telling her about the event a week before their failed date. It seems like Edward was online and waiting for her to read the messages he sent her as a new one arrives as soon as she reads the three previous one.
I am so sorry. I shouldn't have doubted you. I deserve any amount of anger you feel toward me.
love,
Edward
She quickly drops her phone into her lap as she feels a headache coming on. Yes, this is the most recent update in their situationship, if you can call it that, that is. She isn't sure if he means the word love in a casual way, or if it's an actual confession, and it doesn't matter because if he loved her, he would have known her, and he doesn't, so regardless of his intention, he doesn't actually love her.
"Boy trouble?" A voice behind her asks breaking her out of her thoughts.
Bella laughs then asks her, "Am I that transparent?"
Maria shakes her head as she tells her, "No you aren't, but neither is your sadness transparent."
When has my sadness not been transparent?
"Want to hear my advice?" Maria asks. Bella wants to say no but doesn't, deciding that she has nothing to lose, so she might as well listen. "If you can tolerate it, make peace with it, and if you can't, nip it in the bud."
Bella is quiet for a second as she contemplates what Maria just said. She can't tolerate Jasper's shit. She can't tolerate that Edward's knee jerk reaction was to doubt her and listen to his brother, but how do you nip something like that in the bud? She feels a smile stretch on her lips as an idea starts forming in her head.
He wants you to attend that event? Great, of course you will, but not to keep the peace with him. No it's to pay Jasper back for what he said, and make it clear than his doubt isn't something small.
"Ohh, you are onto something evil. That boy better be ready," Maria tells her.
Smirking, Bella ignores what Maria is telling her and instead says, "The boy in question is a man who is older than me."
Maria laughs then tells her, "Believe me, if I learned anything in my forty-four years spinning around this earth, it's the fact that no boy ever grows up enough to become a man. The species of males are born boys and they die as boys. At best they evolve to become overgrown babies pampered by society, specially the ones who are rich."
Bella shakes her head and tells her, "I don't believe that. Everyone has the capacity to grow."
Maria shakes her head as if she knows something. Bella then tells her, "You are just saying that because the mother of boys in you doesn't want to face reality."
Maybe she is right?
Not you too.
"Tell me Maria. How does the man you are married to fit into the equation of boys dying boys?"
"I have never claimed to act in my best interest."
As Bella watches her reflection in the Elevator she takes her mobile phone out of her clutch and snaps a photo of herself. Then before she can talk herself out of it, she posts it on her Instagram with the caption; Roses are red, Violets are blue, watch out cause I may kill you.
She gives herself a mental pat on the back for the smart play on words that is very fitting of the outfit she is wearing; a red dress with a thigh high slit with navy heeled boots and a navy clutch. She returns her phone to her clutch right as the elevator reaches the ground level. She exits it and waves to the doorman then wallks straight to Edward's car. As soon as Edward spots Bella leaving the building, he rushes to get out of the car and get to the passenger door, so he can open it for her. She gives him a small smile before ducking into the car which Edward considers a win. He closes the door then walks around to his side before he gets in and pulls on to the street.
A painfully awkward scene plays out for the second time in a row in this very car, except that the roles are reversed and the one who was harder than a walnut to crack is now facing the brick wall that is disinterest. Multiple times Bella almost cuts him some slack, but stops herself. She isn't under the delusion that tonight won't change things, or make them any better. She hasn't forgiven him yet, and she won't forgive him until she has her retribution, and she knows that her punishment might be the straw that breaks the camel's back.
If she had been asked about this two months ago, she wouldn't even question their fate, but the Edward accussing her of fucking her godfather isn't one she knows well, and she isn't about to break her heart more than it is broken by assuming the best in him.
Edward spots the hotel before they reach it and decides to get some things off his chest before they go in. "Bella, I know that you are angry at me, and you have every right to be, but I promise you that if you give me another chance, you will not be disappointed."
Bella gives him a fleeting glance then returns her eyes to the road and tells him, "I don't have that many chances to give."
"I promise you this is the last chance you will need to give me."
Stupid boy! Promising something he can't deliver, something no one can deliver.
"Let's postpone this discussion till after the event. We will see what you will have to say then," Bella tells him.
Edward nods his head then parks the car, and gets out of it. He hands the keys to the valet then waits for Bella to walk toward him so they can climb the steps together. She hooks her elbow with his, taking him by surprise.
"Smile, or people will think I am forcing you to be here," Bella whispers to him as she nods her head at the security by the door.
He plasters what he likes to call his corporate smile on his face as he looks around to find his family in the crowds. His search is stopped when one of his business associates waves at him and he has no choice but to walk over to him and the other men and women standing by him. Once he is done greeting them and thanking them for coming, a game of peacocking mixed in with some cheap shots, and fake compliments follows, and to the surprise of everyone including him, Bella is a great asset by his side. She runs circles around a couple of his associates, and he cheers her on in his head as he secretly believes that they need to be knocked down a peg or two.
Finally, after enough time passes Edward pardons the both of them with the excuse that they have more people to greet. "Why don't you let us keep your girlfriend. She is far more entertaining than you," a bloated dickhead that goes by the name of Benjamin Burton tells him.
I am so going to make him regret saying that.
Edward beats her to the bush, "Benji, Bella isn't part of the entertainment. You know that, and even if she was, you would never afford her, so why don't you aim at your level?"
Edward winks at him before turning to walk away, only to stop when Benjamin asks, "And you do?"
Edward looks at Bella as he answers him, "No, I don't. Good thing she isn't entertainment."
He is laying it on thick, isn't it?
Or he is being genuine.
You are so naive. It's adorable.
Once they put enough distance between them and Benjamin, Bella asks Edward, "Is his company one of the companies you have shares in?"
"Unfortunately," Edward replies, scowling. Edward isn't surprised by Benjamin's attitude. Heck, he has even witnessed him saying similar things about other women before. He has always thought that his words were disgusting, but harmless, and as long as he isn't applauded for it, he is the nice guy.
Now, he is regretting every single time he saw him pull this shit and didn't punch him in the face.
"Pull all of your investments," Bella orders him.
"What? Do you know something?" Edward asks, intrigued.
"That some dirty secret of his will soon become public knowledge," she says in a singsong voice.
"I don't understand," Edward tells her, sounding confused.
"My dear, you should know more than anyone that dispicable men like him have a dirty secret that can be found by anyone who looks hard enough," she tells him with a wink.
He smiles to himself all too happy to see Benjamin's fall from grace, until a sound calling his name makes the smile on his face freeze. "Cullen, I must congratulate you for what you have managed to achieve this year, son."
Glancing to their left sends shivers down Bella's spin. The man with the silver hair on the temples and a vodka in his hand oozes danger in every direction.
"Those words mean alot coming from you, sir," Edward tells him, sounding uncomfortable.
"If only you would merge with us. We would be indestructible," the strange man continues.
"Cullen Enterprises is a family business and will continue to be that. You know that Royce," Edward tells him, hoping that someone will interrupt them. He should give a speech in a couple of minutes. Where is the annoying event planner when you need him?
"Until, you change your mind, have fun with your arm candy," Royce tells him pointing at Bella with his glass, then giving Bella a final glance that makes goosebumps spread across her skin, he turns around and walks away.
An uncomfortable stretch of silence follows that Bella decides to break with humor. "Now that looks like a man with a lot of stuff to hide."
Instead of detecting the humor in her tone, Edward turns to her with a worried look on his face as he tells her in a warning tone, "Don't ever look for anything about him, Bella. Not even a google search,"
"Sir, you need to come with me for your speech," a voice behind him interrupts.
Edward turns and tells the man, "Give me a minute," then turns back to face Bella and whispers, "Royce King traffics humans for a living. He has made people disappear for lesser crimes. Promise me that you will never do such a thing."
"Sir?" the man mutters impatiently, but Edward stares into Bella's eyes waiting for her to calm his fears.
"I promise."
Whatever he sees in Bella's eyes must reassure him as he sighs in relief before he drops her hand and follows the event coordinator to the back of the stage. His speech flies by and before he knows it, he is walking back to Bella who was smiling widely at him.
"Now, now, Bella, don't smile that much at me or someone might assume that you like me," Edward tells her in a joking tone.
"Who would ever do that?" she asks him in an outraged tone.
"Someone who confuses your humor with affection?" Edward guesses.
Bella rolls her eyes then tells him, "Let's go and say hi to your family."
They walk together till they spot the family and Bella smiles widely as she spots Aro and Sulpicia with them. Bella waves at everyone but makes a beeline to Sulpicia and hugs her as she tells her, "I was waiting for you to come to New York. You have kept me waiting long enough."
Sulpicia pulls back and smiles as she tells her, "Then it's safe to say that you like my surprise."
Bella giggles as she tells her, "Surprise? I knew you were coming."
Sulpcia frowns as she glances at Aro before she turns back to Bella and tells her, "You knew? I thought Aro didn't tell you. He told me we will make it a surprise." By now everyone in the Cullen family is silently watching, feeling as confused as Sulpcia.
"Aro didn't tell me, but I try to keep track of the moves of the wife of the guy I am sleeping with."
"Excuse me!" Sulpicia exclaims, echoing the confusion everyone around her is feeling. Even Aro, who has a great poker face, is shocked by her statement.
"Well," Bella says, pausing for a second to tuck a strand of hair behind Sulpicia's ear, then continues, "You're like a mum to me. You know I would never do that to you, but Jasper here," then she pauses for the second time to point at Jasper, "Swears that I do, so it must be true." Bella sighs at the end as if she has no choice in the matter.
Two things happen simultaneously; Aro breaks into a hysterical laugh that catches the attention of many people nearby, and Sulpicia zeroes her eyes at Jasper. "Young man, I have heard you say exceptionally stupid things over the years, but this takes the cake for the most idiotic thing you've ever said."
Everyone is shocked by what Sulpicia just said. Sulpicia, to many, is one of the most demure mousy women you could meet. Between Aro's larger than life personality and domineering position, and Sulpcia's small stature, and inclination to defer everything to Aro in public, people assume she is weak. What they don't know is that Sulpicia is Aro's hidden weapon, and part of why no one knows that is because of her attitude in public.
Few things can get Sulpicia to break out of character, one being any attack against Bella. After giving birth to Peter, Bella spent a couple of months under her roof, and during those months, Sulpicia had decided that Bella is her fourth child, the daughter she never gave birth to, and anyone who fucks with Bella fucks with her.
Emmett is the first one to speak. "Damn, I didn't know you had it in you Mrs. V," then turns to his brother and tells him, "Dude, I thought you were fucking around when you said that, but you were serious?"
Finally, Alice breaks out of her stupor and turns to Jasper and tells him, "I am so disgusted by you right now. I don't even know what to say," then she spins around and walks away before Jasper could stop her.
He is quiet for a minute, before he turns to face Bella and glares at her as he questions her, "Are you happy now?"
Bella throws her head back and laughs then tells Jasper, "Why wouldn't I be? I am at an amazing party, with amazing company. I couldn't ask for more."
Jasper glares daggers at her as he tells her, "The only thing stopping me from punishing you is that you are a woman."
"You're not the only one who knows how to throw punches. I would love to see you try," Bella tells him as she takes a step forward. She is no longer playing nice. She wants to pummel his face to the ground, consequences be damned.
A hand on her waist followed by a voice whispering in her ears stops Bella from taking another step. "As much as I would love to see you continue humiliating him, you are seconds away from punching him, and you don't want to do that in public."
Still staring at Bella, Edward states louder for his family to hear, "If you will excuse us. Bella and I are going to dance," then he pulls Bella away from everyone with him.
"I don't want to dance," Bella mutters angrily.
Edward stops in the middle of the dance floor then places his hands on her waist and then leans to whisper, "Tough luck. You will dance, and you will cool off."
Bella loops her arms around his neck and whispers back, "You don't get to be angry."
Edward rolls his eyes then tells her, "Of course not. What's so maddening about almost having a scandal be picked up by the gossip magazines. That's nothing to be pissed off about."
Bella doesn't answer him but instead stares into the faces around her as she sways gently to the music.
She spots them in the distance. Alice arguing with Jasper and that makes a smirk appear on her face. "You know, if I was leaving somewhere else a couple of decades ago? The shit that Jasper said about me would have gotten me honor killed. Don't come at me for defending my honor. Now smile nicely cause people are starting to notice the scowl on your face. Once we are alone, we can plan our exit strategy."
Bella doesn't feel the pain she was expecting when ending things with Edward. Forty minutes earlier, when she walked into the party, she walked in knowing that her plan might cost her Edward, and she had made peace with it because while she can tolerate Edward leaving her, she can never be okay with anyone disrespecting her. She is sure once she is off the adrenaline rush of reprimanding Jasper, it will finally dawn on her what she lost, but for now she will sway to the score she played.
"I don't understand," Edward says confused, reminding her that she isn't swaying alone.
Bella looks into his eyes and watches the confusion turn into understanding as she answers him. "Before we entered here, you asked what you could do to make me forgive you. I told you that if you still liked me by the end of this night, you won't have to do anything. By the look on your face, you don't like me anymore which is fine, but we need to plan our break up. It can't be abrupt."
"Never," Edward forcefully cuts her off
"What?"
What's going on? Is he saying no to ending our agreement? Or is it a no to ending us?
How would I know? You are the romantic. I am just the cynical voice in your head.
"We aren't breaking up anytime soon. If what just happened is all you needed to forgive me, I am not letting you go," Edward states, staring into her eyes and to emphasize his point, he pulls her tightly to him and stops their dancing.
"Can't say I am not surprised," Bella states her eyes dance with mischief as she curls a strand of hair at the nap of his neck around her finger.
Edward smirks to himself and continues their dance as he tells her, "Then you will be very surprised to know that the only reason I stopped you from punching him is that I already did that for the both of us."
"Huh?" Bella is still very confused. What is going on? Is his ego not wounded? Not even a little bit?
"So you know, I did defend your honor, albeit a bit late," Edward continued, confusing her even more.
Bella laughs lightly to herself as she tells him, "I never thought that you are the kind of guy to resort to physical violence."
Edward barks a laugh loud enough to surprise a couple of couples dancing around them then leans to her and whispers. "My love, do you know who my father is? I can do violence when I want you. I just rarely have a reason to."
There he goes again, him and this stupid word.
Shaking her head to rid it of those unwanted thoughts, she concludes, "And Jasper gave you a reason to."
"No," Edward replies, taking Bella by surprise. She looks at him with a raised eyebrow.
With a smile on his face, Edward tells her, "You did."
Bella breaks eye contact and looks away from him. Why is it suddenly getting hot in here? Is Bella feeling some kind of way after knowing that Edward punched Jasper for her?
It couldn't be further from the truth.
You are such a liar.
Seeing the blush on Bella's cheeks, Edward smirks, feeling proud of himself and tells her, "Tell me Bella, do you find what I did a turn on."
Immediately the look on Bella's face drops and is replaced by a serious one then she tells him, "I find your arrogance a turn off." Then at the end of her statement, she decides to throw him a bone by winking.
Still smirking to himself, Edward shakes his head as he swoons, "Bella, Bella, Bella, what will I ever do with you?"
"Not piss me off, for one. Would you like a detailed list of all the things that piss me off?" Bella coyly asks.
Edward tilts his head to the side, thinking her offer over, before he smirks then shakes his head and tells her, "Nah, I would like to discover them on my own, then do every single one of them."
Ohh God, he is going to be a pain in my ass, isn't it?
What can I say? He is the poison of your choice.
"I would like to see you do that and live to tell the tale," Bella states, sounding more angry than she actually is.
Not rising to the bait, Edward keeps smiling as he asks her, "Is that a promise Miss Swan?"
"One that I plan to deliver," Bella answers, not bothering to hide behind any semblance of anger.
Pulling her tightly against him, he tells her, "I for one can't wait for what you end up delivering, Miss Swan."
Hello lovely people,
I know I am horrible for taking so long to update, but this chapter was awesome, so I don't want to hear any of you complain.
What do you think of what happened? Do you like it? Do you hate it? Are you neutral? Are you excited for the next chapter? I know I am.
I recently started a new story called Safety Blanket, and I can't wait for you guys to read it.
Until my next update,
Stay Safe
