2brown-eyes reads, and did you check out Bewitched?

EXCLUSIVE:

AKA has exclusively learned that dear old Grandpa Cullen, God rest his soul, left a clause in his will when he bequeathed the position of CEO to his grandson.

Edward Cullen must marry before he can hold the position.

You heard it here first, guys!

Alice Knows All

I smirk, raising my hand and signaling Rose. She points to herself, as if I'm doing it for my health or something.

Nodding, I wave more insistently.

She's hesitant as she approaches, and Edward jerks his eyes her way when she slows to a stop. Before he can say anything rude about her interrupting, I say, "I was thinking Edward would like a slice of apple pie."

His gaze shifts to mine, surprise dancing in the piney depths. "Have a piece with me?"

"I'm not really hungry," I say, glancing at the same black car from last night as it idles in the parking lot. "But maybe your driver would like a piece? He's being awfully indulgent to your whims."

Edward's tongue peeks out and trails along his lower lip as he considers his reply. "And if he's a she?"

I can't hold back my smile. "Then she's probably ravenous."

He barks this beautiful, melodious laugh. "Emmett would probably love a piece and you for thinking of him."

"That settles it, then." I shift my gaze to Rosalie who looks bemused at our bantering. "One slice for Edward and another for the underpaid gentlemen in the car."

She shifts her gaze to Edward, her brow lifted. "I don't usually do curbside delivery, but a large tip would be a nice incentive."

"Large is the only way I know to tip." His smirk is delicious, and I want to kiss it off his ridiculously handsome face.

I sigh, internally chastising myself.

When Rose walks off, Edward turns back to me as gorgeous and happy as ever. "Thank you. With all the distractions, I'd forgotten that all I wanted when I walked into this place was to drown my anger in pie."

"You're welcome." I shrug like it's no big deal, but he's looking at me like it's the hugest deal ever. My face flushes. "What? Stop looking at me."

"You're breathtaking, Bella," he murmurs, and my heart thunders against my ribcage. "Not only are you physically beautiful, but your soul is kind, and your heart is soft. Can you imagine the life we could have?"

"Can you?" I ask, trying not to get swept away. "What happens when I don't fit the mold the world has for Mrs. Edward Cullen? Do you toss me aside, or do we argue and fight but push through it because we want to prove them wrong?"

"I don't give a fuck what the world thinks."

I gasp, part shocked and part turned on.

He chuckles at my expression. "Excuse me. That was a rude way to put it, but really, Bella. I've never been one to bow to anyone's expectations of me."

"Isn't this whole stint of finding a wife bowing to someone's expectations?" I don't have all the circumstances of his search, but he's made it clear it's a necessity he isn't too happy about.

He pinches the bridge of his nose, the first sign of frustration he's ever shown toward me. "I know it sounds cliché, but that's different."

"How?" I challenge him, ready to put this ridiculousness to bed.

Instead of showing more frustration, he sighs, and it's a heavy, shoulder-dropping motion. "My grandfather is who made Cullen Corp into the thriving multi-billion-dollar company it is today." He may not realize it, but I've just gone green around the gills. Billion? "He had no other option when he found out he was sick but to leave my father in charge. I was fourteen at the time, so he made Carlisle interim CEO. I thought the only contingency was obtaining my MBA, which I earned last year, but turns out, Grandfather had another surprise up his sleeve. He insisted that I be married before I can assume my rightful position at the top."

"What's so bad about allowing your father to maintain his position while you fall in love and find a wife the old-fashioned way?" I ask, confused about the time crunch. "He's been CEO for years at this point, hasn't he?"

He huffs a laugh, his eyes sparkling with some unnamed emotion, but whatever it is, it's good. "You really don't pay attention to the news about town, do you?"

"Excuse me if the town gossip escapes me," I say, getting more defensive than I should. "I have other things to worry about."

His face falls, and with it goes the sparkling eyes. "I apologize. It seems I'm always finding ways to show you how insensitive I can be."

"Are you sure that's the only condition?" I ask, ignoring any talk of his inability to walk in my shoes. At this point, he doesn't have the capacity to do that. "What if we marry only to find out you must produce an heir first?"

I'm only half joking.

His stupidly perfect brows shoot up his insanely symmetrical forehead before a slow smirk lifts the corner of his kissable mouth. Every other part of his beautiful face rearranges to enhance that smirk.

"Then we produce an heir."

The pie is a reference to that sexy pie-loving mofo known as Dean Winchester of Supernatural. A complete series, 15 seasons, and over 300 episodes all waiting for you on Netflix (commercial free)

Gahhh, you guys are filling me with all the holiday cheer! You're the reason I'm still in this fandom at all *big squishy hugs*

Two more this week!

See ya tmr :)