2brown-eyes reads!

The tension between the struggling stars of Cullen Corp has caused the stock value to drop, costing them two billion in net worth just today.

Scary times!

Alice Knows All

"You sure you'll be good the rest of the way by yourself?" Rose asks, pausing at the steps to her apartment building. "I can get Jasper to walk with you."

I huff a laugh, pulling my jacket tighter around me to ward off the chill. "It's fine. I do it every night."

"You don't get someone kicked out for berating you every night, though." She's insistent, and that's making me nervous. Rose would know better than me if I'm in any danger since she's worked at Charlie's Diner for seven years. She lowers her voice. "And you've got serious cash on you."

I look around to make sure no one is in eyesight before sending her a glare. "No one would know about that if you'd shut up."

She sighs. "Fine, Bella. But your ass better make it to work tomorrow or I'm going to kill you, if you aren't already dead."

"Dramatic much?" I roll my eyes.

"Just be careful."

"I promise."

She stays on the stoop for as long as I'm in sight, and probably well after listening for a scream, but I make this trek every night. The distance between her apartment building and my crappy motel room is exactly one thousand one hundred and twenty-two steps. It's a number I counted off many times in the early days of my job, but now walking this route is like working on the diner floor—second nature.

Car lights flicker on the sign ahead of me, so I tuck my head and focus on my feet. It's not unusual to see a car out at this time of night, so I don't start to worry until it never passes me. My heart picks up speed, and my feet move faster, the lights causing the yellow sign ahead to glow in the early morning hours.

I pull my jacket tighter around me, the whipping November wind leaving me feeling vulnerable and exposed. I chance a glance over my shoulder, and a sleek black machine creeps down the road three car lengths behind me.

Instead of making me feel better, it sets me off. I come to an abrupt halt and turn, stalking toward the car. It's almost comical as it guns the gas only to skid to a stop almost immediately after and allow my approach.

I bypass the driver's door in favor of the one situated a full ten feet back. I knock on the window until it rolls down. I pull back as soon as I see him, struck once again by just how gorgeous he really is.

"Bella," he says, and it's this intimate invitation, the words beckoning me to fall under his spell. "I apologize if I'm bothering you. I tried to be as unobtrusive as possible."

"You scared me half to death," I snap, glaring at him. It's hard not to let my eyes stray from his to the fine black suit that hugs his body or the warm, snug interior of the expensive limousine.

"That wasn't my intent," he rushes to say, horrified if I'm judging by his expression. "Quite the opposite actually."

I pull my arms tighter around me, the cold seeping into my bones. "The walk is already tense enough," I say, a shiver running through me. "Add in a car tailing me and you have a perfect Unsolved Mysteries episode."

"I apologize for scaring you," he says, pulling the handle to open the door. I take a step back on instinct. "Perhaps we should continue this conversation inside the car."

"I don't think so," I say, taking another step back. The motel sign is glaring at me from down the road, and as shitty as my room is, I'm dying for the façade of safety it provides. "Now if you'll excuse me."

I move back onto the sidewalk and go to turn, but he steps out of the car. "Please, Bella." His voice sends a warm tingle across my skin. "I'll pay you for your time."

Rage moves over me, and I clench my fist around the money from earlier and turn to him. I take four steps and I'm right in front of him, having to look up to meet his gaze. If I were to take a moment to examine my actions, I'd probably see that I'm as mad at the feelings he stirs as I am the cheap insinuation.

"I may be a broke waitress," I say, bringing out the one-hundred-dollar bills and smashing them into his chest. "But I was fine before you ever walked into the diner, and I'll still be fine when I never lay eyes on you again."

I turn and stomp off, ignoring him for the rest of the walk home. Because, yes, he lurks until I slam the door to my room behind me. I consider going to the front office instead, but the last thing I need is for Pervy James to have a reason to "keep an eye" on me.

The last time I check, after I've showered and changed, the sleek car sits idle outside my room. I almost charge out there and force him to leave, but that would mean speaking to him again, and I have no intention of doing that.

Ever.

One more this week…

See ya tmr :)