AN: Sorry to have ended on a cliff hanger there, but I've been writing up a storm, so I can finish this thing and finally not keep you all waiting too long between updates. So expect an update every fews days from now until the final chapter, which won't be too far off.
For this chapter we're going back in itme a littl ebit so we can get Edwrad's perspective of the day.
Hope you'll enjoy!
Chapter 49
EPOV
I woke up feeling kind of useless. I had promised Carlisle I would take another rest day, and I knew if I headed down to the field I probably wouldn't be able to keep to the sidelines. So I decided to just avoid temptation and stay home. I walked Mike for a long walk around the park and generally just lazed around.
I wanted to call Bella, but I refrained. I was going to see her tonight anyway.
Although we hadn't actually made firm plans, yet. At three I decided I'd just text her to ask what she wanted to do tonight. I knew going out wasn't really possible yet, but I could make her dinner, and make it a special evening at home.
I stared at my phone for a good while after hitting sent, feeling like a love sick idiot.
When after half an hour she hadn't texted back I figured she must be busy or in a meeting or something, so I forced myself to put my phone away and headed to my study, firing up my computer and losing myself in some video games. It was a good distraction.
Before I knew it Mike was nudging me with his nose to signal it was time for a walk. I glanced at the clock and realized it was already six. I headed out with Mike and took him on a nice walk, enjoying the cool air. When I got back I fed him his food, and then went in search of my phone. I prayed Bella hadn't tried calling me yet. I should have taken it with me.
I finally found it wedged in the couch cushions and quickly tapped the screen. I frowned when there were no missed calls or new messages. I glanced at the clock it was nearing seven now. She should have been done already.
I pulled up her number and pressed call.
The line rang. and rang. and rang.
Until finally it connected with her voicemail. I frowned. She wouldn't let it go empty when we had a date planned, right?
Something didn't feel right. I pulled up Emmett's number next. He picked up on the second ring.
'Hey, what's up?' he greeted.
'Hey Emmett, was Bella still at the office when you left?'
'Yeah, she was still working according to Harry, I didn't see her myself. But I ran into him at six when I left, he was leaving as well.'
'Okay, thanks man.'
'Everything alright?' he asked.
'I'm not sure…' I hedged. 'we were supposed to have dinner together, but she hasn't texted me back yet and I can't reach her.'
'That's not like her.'
I agreed. 'I'm going to head over to the park, perhaps something's wrong.'
'I'll join you.'
Before I could protest he'd already hung up. I shrugged to myself and then gave Mike a bone to keep him occupied while I was gone and quickly headed out. Emmett was already in the parking lot waiting for me when I got outside.
'Let's take your car.' He suggested. I nodded and we both climbed in.
We were both anxious and unsure what was going on, but we both knew something was wrong. I just hoped I twas nothing serious. I drove fastser than I probably should have and we made good time getting to the club.
'can you call the security desk?' I asked Emmett. 'perhaps they know something.'
Emmett nodded and pulled up the number. We both listened to the line ringing. No answer.
Now I was really starting to get worried. There always had to be smeone at the desk. This was not a good sign. Emmett saw my expression and his was mirrored.
'It doesn't have to mean anything.' He grumbled out though trying to keep us both from panicking.
'It's not good.' I bit out. I pressed harder on the gas pedal. The club loomed in front of us, and I raced ahead. I didn't bother parking I just stopped the car right in front of the entrace. Emmett and I jumped out.
the building was dark and seemed empty. We both frowned, security lights should have been on, and there had to be at least one security guard at the front desk.
'call Arnold.' I yelled at Emmett, setting off for the employee entrace at a run.
Emmett nodded and yelled he'd go in through the front and find out where security was.
'Bella?' I yelled when the moment I was inside. It was eerily dark, what was going on? The hair at the back of my neck was standing up because of how wrong everything felt.
I hurried to the elevator pressing the button a few times, but then I figured if there really was something sinister going on, the sound of the elevator bell when it stopped at the managerial floor might alert someone to my presence, so instead I headed for the stairs. I took them two at a time, running to the managerial floor. With every step I took the sinking feeling my gut grew worse. I felt something was desperately wrong.
I yanked open the door and immediately noticed that there was light coming from Bella's office, that seemed good. But then I heard Jake's growls. They sounded menacing and dangerous.
'Fuck' I whispered to myself. Something was definitely wrong.
I took a deep breath, steeling myself for a moment, though everything inside me wanted to run in there and protect Bella with my life, I had no idea what was going on. I had no idea of there were weapons involved. I couldn't just charge in there blindly. I had to be careful, or I could get us both hurt or worse.
I withdrew further back from her office and I dialled Emmett. He picked up instantly.
'I called Arnold. He's on his way. He can't get in touch with his guys either. There's supposed ot be two on duty today. Something is going on.'
'Call the police, Emmett.' I whispered into the phone. 'Call them right now.'
'What's going on? is she in danger?'
'I'm not sure. But I can hear Jake growling. Something's definitely not right.'
'I'm calling them. Be careful and don't do anything stupid.'
'I already did that.' I joked, trying to steel my nerves. Emmett groaned.
'Exactly, so don't do it again.'
I hung up and took a deep breath. Then I crept closer, help was on the way, I just needed to make sure what the situation was before I charged in. I didn't want to startle anyone if there were guns involved.
I crept closer until I was almost at her door. I could faintly hear voices coming from inside. I crept slightly closer, at least two men were in there. I wasn't sure who they were yet.
Then I heard her voice, the fear in it made my heart break.
'I won't sign it.' she said, trying to sound strong, though her voice wavered just slightly at the end.
'I think you will, princess.' A male voice hissed angrily. 'unless you want this evening to get a very different ending.'
I saw red. Before I knew what I was doing I yanked open the door and barged inside. 'what the fuck is going on here?' I demanded, taking in the scene.
Laurent sat like a coward in one of the chairs, cowering into it like he could disappear, James Hunter was leaning over the desk, towards Bella, who looked absolutely frightened. Jake stood between them, hackles raised and teeth bared, while James' hand was outstretched to Bella.
At my shout he straightened up and slowly turned to face me. 'How nice of you to join us, Edward.' He drawled, trying to look relaxed and at ease. He didn't fool me. the flash of anger in his eyes told me I'd ruined his original plan. Now I just needed to tread carefully, I wasn't sure how far he was willing to take this.
'what the fuck are you doing here, Hunter?' I barked out.
My eyes trialed over Bella's form, looking for any sign of injury. I was glad to see there wasn't any and there didn't seem to be any weapons around either.
'Your girl and I were just having a nice chat'
'Right. A nice chat.' I walked over and headed to Bella. 'are you alright?' I asked her, stepping next to her behind her desk.
Her wide terrified eyes met mine and she managed a small nod. Her eyes flashed down to her desk and I looked down as well, sucking in a surprised breath. There were dozens of photos of us strewn about her desk, some from very early in our relationship, others from a few nights ago, where we were both very sparsely dressed and wrapped together intimately.
My blood boiled and I clenched my fists at my sides. Then I spotted a contract. I quickly glanced at it, fifty million to be paid, a majority sharehold and Laurent had to get his job back with a two mil signing bonus.
I snapped my eyes to James with a glare. He just smirked at me.
'yeah, I know all about you, lover boy. I had you tailed for months.' He gloated. 'and you didn't even notice.'
'What do you want.' I spat at him.
He gestured to the piece of paper on the desk. 'well, that.'
'fuck off.' I told him, stepping fully in front of Jake and Bella. I felt Bella's small trembling hand grasp onto my coat and grabbing hold tightly.
'I'm afraid that wasn't one of the options.' James said, making a show of sitting back down again and getting comfortable. 'I was just telling Ms Swan here that if she refuses to cooperate that I will make your life and your family's lives miserable. I'll make it so you'll never work again.'
'And what makes you think we won't throw your ass in jail for blackmail and extortion?' I growled at him.
'Because I have a contact that is waiting for just one signal from me to publish everything.'
'and what do you get from this?' I asked Laurent, who I was pleased to see was looking rather rough still.
'My fucking job.' He growled. 'you fucking got me blacklisted!'
'You did that to yourself, asshole. You fucking tried to attack your owner. And a woman at that.'
'Fuck you.' he muttered like a dejected child, crossing his arms over his chest and looking away from me. Though Laurent was a dick, I was certain that in this scenario he was in over his head. Sure he wanted his job back, but I wasn't sure he was aware just how far James was willing to take this... and I had a feeling he wanted to take it pretty damn far.
'look, Edward. It's nice and all that you've come to be a hero, but this is between her and I. So you can just leave and we'll sort this out and then I'll leave you two alone. After that you'll only have to see me every week and at all the games.' His grin was downright disgusting.
'You're not getting anything James, other than a good beating if you don't watch it.'
He scoffed. 'I'm not scared of you Cullen.' He groused.
'You should be.' I warned, I wanted to jump over this desk and plough my fist into his smug face, but Bella's hand was clutching my coat tightly, she was afraid. And I didn't want to leave her unprotected. We just had to hold out until the police came.
I wasn't sure if James was telling the truth about having a contact. Perhaps he did, but it could be a bluff. And even if he did, I didn't know how he was supposed to contact them to get the photos published, or what the story was going ot be. and even if he did get the contact to do so, it would be at least until tomorrow before it would be published, and widely spread around. we could have Leah counter publish something.
I took a deep breath, trying to find ways to stall.
'I'm tired of this.' James announced, getting to his feet again. 'Sign the paper now.' he barked, shoving the contract further towards us on the desk.
'No.' I said.
'I wasn't talking to you.' James snarled and he looked past me pointedly.
'No.' she repeated as well.
'Fine, if this is how you want to do it. so be it.' James growled. 'Laurent get the leash for the dog. We'll get him away first and then we'll have us some fun.'
'what?' Laurent squeaked out, looking up at James uneasily.
James clenched his jaw. 'I'll do it myself.' He growled.
He grabbed the leash that was on the coffee table and then stalked over. Bella stepped out from behind me, before I could stop her. Stepping in front of Jake.
'don't you dare touch my dog.' She barked, her anger overcoming her fear.
I quickly stepped in front of both her and Jake again. No way was I going to let her face him. he was too sleazy not to try anything.
'get the fuck out of my way, Cullen.' James growled as he stepped closer.
I didn't move. 'you'll have to go through me.' I ground out.
A nasty smile spread across his face. 'I'm so glad you said that.'
I braced myself, knowing he was going to try something. What I wasn't expecting however, was him wrapping the leash around both hands, jumping forward and looping it over my head.
'Fuck.' I groaned as he pulled hard and I lost my balance. I pitched forward, reaching for James, trying to take him down with me, but he was faster than I had expected, he dodged my grasp, quickly slipping around me so that he was at my back. I fell to my knees and he didn't waste any time bringing his hands together, and tightening the leash around my neck.
A strangled cry left my lips as the air cut off.
'Edward!' Bella screamed. Jake was barking and growling loudly, there were sounds of a struggle and I desperately clawed at my neck to get the cord to loosen.
'Not so tough now, are you?' James growled in my ear.
I desperately knocked my head back, hitting his shoulder, but not hard enough to make him lose his grip. I tried again, and again.
Then a fierce scream filled the room. 'Fuck you!' Bella yelled at the top of her lungs, and with a shout something shattered, dousing me in a rain of broken glass. The pressure on my neck loosened and James fell to the ground. I fell to my hands and knees, gasping in air and coughing as my abused throat struggled to get air back in again.
'Freeze!' someone yelled.
I wearily lifted my head, to see three police officers running into the room with their guns drawn, followed by Emmett and Arnold.
Bella appeared in front of me. 'Edward!' tears were streaming down her face. 'are you okay?'
I gasped and wheezed and nodded.
'are you hurt?' I demanded, my voice rapsy and broken and it fucking hurt to talk.
She shook her head. 'I'm fine. But you… oh god.' she whimpered. 'Get him!' she screamed at one of the police officers that was approaching us. 'he's the ashole that did this. He was blackmailing me.'
'Are you okay ma'am?' the man asked.
'What are you waiting for? Arrest him!' she yelled, getting slightly histerical.
'My collegue is doing that, ma'am. Can you get to your feet? Careful now, there's a lot of glass.'
I fell further to the floor, my arms finally fiving out. I vaguely heard another yell and some more commotion. But my body had reached it's limit. Bella was safe now, I could rest now. The world turned to black around me.
