Chapter Twenty-Six

Carlisle had a car sent to me to pick me up for our lunch. I had worn my only dress because I didn't want to feel embarrassed by going into a fancy restaurant in jeans and a t-shirt. I didn't do much to alter my appearance, but I did wear a dress, at least.

The driver dropped me off in front of a large building. The driver told me the restaurant was on the twenty-seventh floor of the building. I inhaled a deep breath before walking into the building.

I spotted Carlisle from across the room as soon as I walked in. He was easy to spot, his table was separated from everyone else in a private corner of the room. He was facing the door, his eyes connecting with mine as soon as I spotted him.

I slowly walked over trying to calm my breathing as I did. I would be lying if I didn't say I was sickeningly nervous. I felt like I wanted to throw up and pass out all at the same time. My stomach was actually hurting with how nervous I was.

Once I got close enough to the table, Carlisle stood and pulled my chair out for me.

"It's nice to see you again, Bella," He said as he pushed me in. "You look lovely."

I chuckled. "You don't have to lie, Carlisle."

"I'm not," He said as he sat down. "I am many things, but a liar is not one of them."

I took a deep breath as I looked down at the menu. "Thank god. They have cheeseburgers. I was worried it would be another fancy restaurant like Esme had taken me to."

He smiled. "Yes, this is one of my favorite places. There's something for everyone here. It's a great place to do business."

The waiter walked over and poured cucumber water into my empty glass before listing off the different alcoholic beverages they were offering today.

"I'm fine thank you," I told the waiter.

Carlisle held his whiskey glass up. "Just keep these coming, please."

"Of course, Mr. Cullen."

"So, is that why you wanted to meet me here? For business?" I asked. "Or did you… want to talk about last night."

He took a sip of his water and cleared his throat. "I did want to discuss last night."

"Carlisle, let me start, please," I said. He nodded once, letting me continue. "I'm sorry that I got so heated. I know I said some inappropriate things and I wasn't on my best behavior. If I ruined your night and made things worse for you or Esme, then I apologize. It truly was not my intent."

He smiled softly. "Well, that's very nice to hear—."

"But I want to be clear." I interrupted. "I'm not sorry for punching your mother. I was not the only one who was rude. And while punching her was probably not the best choice I could've made; I am not sorry for it. I will stand up for myself."

He chuckled. "That was made completely clear last night."

I blushed but kept my shoulders back. "I'm not going to be pushed around or talked down to."

"I admire that trait, truly I do. I think it's a wonderful trait to have." He said. "But I didn't call you here so you could apologize."

"Okay, so what do you want?"

He licked his lips and cleared his throat awkwardly. "I think… for years I have let things between my mother and my wife slide. It's been easier to ignore the issues rather than face them. Their relationship has been toxic for so long, I've honestly stopped noticing it. It's just how they interact. My mother says cruel things and my wife just takes it with her head held high."

I nodded, wanting him to continue because I was curious about where he was going with all this.

"Well, after the incident last night, it really got me thinking. And I realized that what you said, about allowing my mother to continuously insult my wife was a dick move, was right."

I shrugged. "Yeah it is."

He chuckled. "And I agree with you. I am just… embarrassed that it took an outsider to tell me."

"It's great that you've realized this, but you should be apologizing to Esme and telling her. Not me."

"Oh I did. Last night I tried to apologize for allowing my mother's behavior to continue, but she didn't want apologies. In fact, she's incredibly upset about last night's events."

I grimaced. "I didn't mean to upset her."

"I know it wasn't your intention, but she is very upset. I'm hoping you two can meet somewhere and hash everything out. She really likes you and doesn't want this to ruin the close relationship you two were forming."

My brows turned down slightly. "Well, I don't mind meeting Esme at some point, but it's a little… too soon to say we were developing a close relationship. I mean, Edward and I are just friends. And I don't know what's going to happen when he gets out."

"Esme has a weird sense about these things. She knows the two of you will have a close relationship, somehow. Whether you and Edward remain friends or whatever, she has a feeling the two of you will grow to be close." He said. "She just needs to calm down. Give her a couple days to cool off. By the party, she'll be fine."

"Wait, what exactly is she upset about?" I asked.

"She's upset that you… hmm, this is going to be hard to explain," He said as he tapped his chin. "Well, she's a bit upset that you and my mother clashed heads. And she's a little upset that you stuck up for—."

"I'm sorry to disappoint Esme, but I will always stick up for myself. That's a non-negotiable for me."

"She's not upset that you stuck up her yourself, she's upset that you stuck up for her."

I made a face. "Why would that upset her?"

"Esme likes to handle things on her own. She's not loud and argumentative but she has navigated the relationship between herself and my mother very carefully. When Esme was younger, my mother was much more critical of her, but over the years, Esme's patience and calm demeanor has forced my mother to back off. My mother is the type of woman who is looking to get a rise out of someone and to assert her power. Esme never allowed my mother to get a rise out of her because she knew that that is what my mother wants."

I let out a sigh. "I'm sorry that Esme is upset but… but I mean it is just wrong for your mom to continually run her mouth. Someone had to knock her off her pedestal. I can't just stand by and let someone as sweet as Esme be put down."

"I know," He nodded. "Like I said, I'm more than embarrassed about allowing my mother to be so vicious towards my wife. I love Esme dearly. But the issue that is now arisen because of the incident last night, is that my mother refuses to be wherever you are, and Edward very much wants you around."

I shrugged. "It's fine, you guys enjoy your family time. I don't need invitations to your family events."

Carlisle sighed. "That is… well, that's complicated because it's very clear Edward likes you and wants to be with you. If you don't come, then I can only imagine that Edward won't join us either. He will want to stay close to you."

I licked my lips. "Carlisle, Edward, and I are just friends."

"He's going to skip family time to stay with you. And my son is extremely hot headed at times. The only reason he's never said something himself to his grandmother is because his mother forbade him to do so. Edward is a mama's boy, but he is a grown man who makes his own decisions."

"I'll just tell Edward to hang out with you guys. You don't need to worry about that."

"He's already deciding to back out of family time. He is still very adamant about taking you on a date the night he gets out. I went ahead and told him about the welcome home party because I didn't want him to freak out. Like you said, transitioning from prison back to real life is a hard one, so I thought he best to tell him ahead of time. But he's decided that he's not going to come and see us until after he's gone on a date with you."

I sighed heavily and rubbed my hands over my eyes. "Jesus, I'm not even sure if I'm going to be going out with him that day. He's not listening to what I'm saying at all. And this is exactly why I can't see myself as being anything more than just friends with Edward. He's not respecting my wishes."

"I understand your frustration," Carlisle nodded. "Truly I do, but I know my son quite well and it is apparent that he is smitten with you. He's like a dog with a bone, when he wants something, he doesn't stop until it's his."

I rolled my eyes. "Well, he needs to learn how to fucking listen because I'm sick of telling him I'm not interested in him romantically. Now he's just crossing a line and it's pissing me off."

Carlisle laughed. "This is why I like you. You have moxie. A bit of a temper, but that's not a bad thing."

"Since you're apparently the 'godfather,' would you command him to leave me the hell alone."

Carlisle stopped chuckling and froze. He was mid-drink and had his cup pressed against his lips. He cleared his throat and slowly placed his cup down onto the table.

"Why did you say that?" He asked softly.

"Because everyone acts like you run the mafia or something stupid like that."

He nodded slowly. "And who is everyone?"

I paused before I spoke. "Just people."

"Which people."

I shrugged. "Don't know."

"Hmm," He said. "And you don't believe it? It's all silly to you, right?"

"Yep. Nothing but a joke." I said with a straight face, meeting his intense gaze with my own.

He was the first to crack, the corner of his lip lifting a bit.

"It's nice to not meet a rat." He said. "A lot of people would've ratted out those who told you anything about my life, or my… extracurricular activities. I would've owed you a favor if you gave up the names of the people who've run their mouths."

"I don't need any favors from you."

He nodded slowly. "I see that. And I respect it."

"So, this whole mafia thing… You being the godfather or whatever, there's truth to it?" I said.

He shrugged. "Don't know."

I bit my lip and leaned forward. "I don't want to be involved with anything dangerous like that. I just want to live my life like normal."

He leaned forward as well, "Is that why you're refusing your attraction to my son?"

I blushed. "What attraction?"

He chuckled. "I may not be around a lot, but I am very observant. I can read people like the back of my hand. It's how I've survived this long. I have to admit though, you are somewhat hard to read, but I think I have a better reading on you."

I cleared my throat awkwardly. "Why are you assuming I have an attraction towards Edward?"

"Your cheeks turn slightly pink, and you lick you lips every time you mention Edward. Those are two classic signs of attraction." He said. "And if a woman who has rejected a man several times is truly fed up with his persistence, she avoids him. She doesn't consider him a friend or talks on the phone with him every night for three or four hours."

I blushed. "Edward told you that we talk on the phone?"

"Yes. He calls you at seven. It's always the reason he has to hang up the phone with anyone else." Carlisle said. "If you feel he's not respecting your boundaries, then why do you pick up the phone? Why do you even waste your time talking to him?"

I felt my blush spread and I involuntarily licked my lips. "It's… it's not like that…"

"A huh," Carlisle nodded. "Well, if he is truly pestering you and you wish for him to leave you alone completely, now is the time to say so. I will tell Edward to leave you alone and he will do so. You won't be bothered by him ever again. Is that what you want?"

I opened my mouth before clamping it shut quickly.

Was that what I wanted? Did I want Edward to leave me alone completely? The thought of never speaking to or seeing Edward again actually made my heart hurt. Which brought on another question that I had been denying answering. Did I like Edward in a romantic way?

I sighed. "No. Edward is my friend."

"Are you absolutely sure? Because I can make him leave you alone. Or I can tell him that you aren't interested in him in a romantic way. You two could just remain friends without him bugging you about dating or intimacy. One of my associates has a daughter who's always had a crush on Edward since they were younger. I've always forbade Edward from becoming romantically entangled with Tanya, as to not ruin any business deals, but if you aren't interested then I will go ahead and tell Edward that he has my permission to take Tanya out on a date."

My nostrils flared. "Look, you don't need to tell Edward anything. I can handle him myself."

Carlisle chuckled. "Alright if you're sure. This is the time to ask."

"So you can just tell Edward what to do and he'll listen? Like… he has no freewill?"

"I can."

"And what makes you think he'll listen to you?"

"When I give an order, it's blindly followed." Carlisle said in a firm voice.

"Why is that?"

He raised one eyebrow at me. "Because it is, and no one is above me."

I gulped a little. "So, all this talk about the mafia and you being the boss… it's not bullshit."

"It's probably best you just stay ignorant to all of it. Unless you intend on marrying my son one day, then it's none of your business. You're safer if you don't know."

"I'm not marrying Edward. That's not even—" I shook my head. "We're not talking about marriage. I need to know if I'm involved with people who do illegal things. I don't want to go to jail for something."

Carlisle chuckled. "If that's one of your worries, then, it's a silly one. You don't know anything, so you're the last person anyone would suspect of illegal activities."

"Well, it's clear that something isn't right with any of this," I said. "I mean… I was attacked by someone who hates Edward and is the reason he's in prison—,"

"Excuse me?" Carlisle said, his face scrunched up in confusion.

"What?"

"You were attacked? By James? When did this occur?" He asked.

I felt my throat go slightly dry. "Um, like two weeks ago. Something like that, I haven't been thinking about it. I've been trying to forget it."

He nodded slowly. "No one told me this."

"Does it really matter?"

"Yes," He said firmly. "It absolutely matters." He wiped his mouth with the napkin. "Bella, I hope you don't think me rude, but I must figure out why I've been kept in the dark about this attack."

"Wait," I said as I grabbed his arm. "What are you going to do?"

He patted my hand gently, "It's best if you don't know."

"Really, it's okay. I'm okay. Edward has already helped me so much."

"Again, I don't mean to sound rude, but this particular situation isn't about you. It's about everyone not telling me what has happened. It's about respect."

"Carlisle please," I said. "Let's not make this a big deal. You owe me a favor, right? I don't want you to make this situation worse."

Carlisle gave me a little smile. "Bella, I only owe you a favor if you rat on the people who gave you information about my life. Is that what you're going to do?"

My lips stayed sealed. I wouldn't tattle on someone. That just wasn't me.

"Exactly." He said as he stood and straightened his suit jacket. "Please enjoy lunch. Order whatever you like. My card is on file."

I sunk down in my seat as he left. The waiter came over to take my order, but I wasn't very hungry.