Eight

Beauty in bloom

BPOV

The morning after our date, I sat at my desk, staring blankly at my computer screen. The coffee in my hand had gone cold, forgotten as my thoughts drifted back to last night. I kept replaying the evening in my mind—the way Edward had opened up, the way he had looked at me, the way his touch had lingered on my waist longer than necessary.

I shook my head, trying to push those thoughts away. This was supposed to be an investigation, not a date. I was supposed to be looking for signs of illegal activity, anything that would justify the suspicions that had been planted in my mind. But all I had found so far was a growing attraction to Edward that I was finding increasingly hard to ignore.

It didn't help that he had been nothing but genuine last night. There was a vulnerability in him that I hadn't expected, a side of him that made it difficult to reconcile the image of the ruthless CEO with the man who had shared personal stories and laughed with me over a game of pool.

I sighed, pulling myself back to the task at hand. I had work to do—important work, like lining up a major interview for Alice with one of the biggest fashion magazines in the country. But as I tried to focus on drafting the perfect pitch, my phone buzzed on the desk beside me.

I glanced at the screen and felt my heart skip a beat. It was a text from Edward.

Good morning, Bella. I was thinking about last night. I had a great time. Let's do it again soon.

I couldn't help the small smile that tugged at the corners of my lips. I quickly typed out a reply, trying to keep it casual.

Morning, Edward. I had a great time too. We should definitely do it again.

I set my phone down, but the distraction was already pulling me away from my work. My mind wandered back to the merger, the reason I had started this investigation in the first place. It had been a major move, and one that had put Edward under a lot of pressure. But something still didn't add up. The timing, the suddenness of it all—it was too perfect, too clean.

Curiosity piqued, I opened my laptop and started typing, searching for any articles or reports on the merger. At first, everything seemed normal—press releases, business reports, interviews with Edward about the future of Cullen Architectural Design Group. But as I delved deeper, I began to notice small inconsistencies, little details that didn't quite match up.

One article mentioned a previous partnership that had fallen through just weeks before the merger was announced, something that hadn't been widely reported. Another mentioned an anonymous source claiming that the merger had been rushed, that certain aspects of the deal had been finalised unusually quickly.

I frowned, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. None of this was conclusive, but it was enough to raise a few red flags. And yet, even as I found these odd details, I couldn't shake the memory of Edward's honesty last night. Was I overthinking things, seeing shadows where there were none?

Or was there really something more to this merger than met the eye?

My phone buzzed again, and I glanced at the screen. Another text from Edward.

Thinking of you.

I stared at the message for a moment, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. If he was trying to make it impossible for me to focus, he was doing a damn good job. Deciding to play along, I quickly typed a reply.

I'm thinking of you too… though not to make that ego of yours any bigger.

I hit send and couldn't help but laugh softly to myself. The banter between us was so easy, so natural, that it felt almost impossible to resist. I waited for his response, and it didn't take long for my phone to buzz again.

Maybe I should show you just how big it can get, Bella.

My cheeks flushed at the implication, my heart doing a little flip in my chest. I bit my lip, feeling a rush of heat that I tried to ignore. This was supposed to be an investigation. I was supposed to be focusing on finding out the truth, not getting caught up in flirtatious texts with the very man I was supposed to be investigating.

Taking a deep breath, I turned my attention back to my laptop. I needed to focus. The name "Felix" had come up in my searches a few times, and something about it tugged at the back of my mind. I started typing again, this time searching for any connections between Felix and the merger.

As I scrolled through the results, I began to find more and more mentions of Felix—an elusive figure in the business world, someone with a reputation for making things happen quickly and quietly. The more I read, the more uneasy I became. There were whispers of under-the-table deals, connections to less-than-legal activities, and a tendency to work with companies that were on the brink of collapse.

My heart sank a little. If Felix was involved in the merger, it could mean that Edward was more deeply entangled in something dangerous than I had initially thought. But how could that be? The man I had spent last night with, the man who had been so open and genuine, couldn't possibly be involved in something like this… could he?

I closed my laptop, feeling a knot of uncertainty tighten in my stomach. I was in too deep—emotionally and professionally—and I wasn't sure how to navigate my way out of it. But one thing was clear: I couldn't let my feelings for Edward cloud my judgment. I needed to find out the truth, whatever it might be.

But as I stared at the last text from Edward, still lingering on my screen, I couldn't help but wonder if I was already too far gone.

I stared at Edward's text for a moment, my heart beating a little faster. His message had been so boldly suggestive that I found myself at a loss for words. But I wasn't about to back down from the flirtation.

Careful, Edward. You might not be able to handle what you're asking for, I typed, feeling a rush of adrenaline as I hit send.

I set my phone down, biting my lip as I waited for his response. The tension between us had taken on a new edge, something thrilling and undeniably sexy. As much as I wanted to stay focused on my investigation, it was becoming increasingly difficult to separate my professional duties from my growing attraction to him.

It didn't take long for his reply to come through, and when I read it, my pulse quickened.

You're right—I'm not sure I could handle it… but I'd sure as hell love to try. I need to see you again. Dinner?

The invitation was both unexpected and thrilling, and for a moment, I felt the lines of my supposed investigation blur even further. How could I say no when everything in me wanted to say yes?

I stared at Edward's text, my mind spinning with the possibilities. I knew I should be cautious, that I should keep my distance, but I couldn't resist the pull between us.

Dinner sounds perfect. How about tonight?

I hit send, feeling a flutter of excitement mixed with the ever-present undercurrent of doubt. I barely had time to think about what his response might be when my phone buzzed again, this time with an incoming call. I glanced at the screen—Charlie.

"Hey, Dad," I answered, trying to push aside the lingering thoughts of Edward. "What's up?"

"Hey, kiddo," Charlie's voice came through, steady but with a hint of something serious underlying it. "I wanted to give you an update on that case I've been working on."

I sat up straighter, my focus shifting entirely to the conversation. "What happened?"

"We made an arrest last night," Charlie said, his tone grim. "It's part of a bigger operation. We've been looking into some mafia ties in the city—nothing I wanted you to worry about, but it's getting more serious. The guy we arrested is connected to some higher-ups, and we're hoping he'll give us more names."

My stomach dropped at the mention of the mafia. "Mafia ties? In Seattle?"

"Yeah," Charlie confirmed, his voice tight. "It's been under the radar for a while, but it's bigger than we initially thought. We've been watching a few people, and this arrest could be the break we need."

I tried to process what he was saying, my thoughts racing. Could this have anything to do with Edward and the merger? Was there a connection I hadn't seen before?

"Are you okay?" Charlie asked, his tone softening. "I know it's a lot to take in."

"Yeah, I'm fine," I replied, forcing myself to sound calm. "Just… be careful, okay?"

"I will," he assured me. "I'll keep you updated if anything new comes up."

"Thanks, Dad," I said, trying to mask the unease creeping into my voice.

After we hung up, I sat back in my chair, the excitement from Edward's text now overshadowed by the new information. If there was a connection between the mafia and the merger, this was bigger than anything I had anticipated.

And I wasn't sure how much longer I could keep my professional and personal lives from colliding.

My phone buzzed with Edward's reply almost instantly.

I'll pick you up at 7. Wear something nice.

I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face. The straightforwardness of his message made my pulse quicken, and I found myself already thinking about what to wear. I was still lost in thought when Rosalie walked into our tiny apartment, immediately sensing that something was up.

"Okay, spill it," she said, dropping her bag on the couch and kicking off her shoes. "What's got you grinning like that?"

I tried to play it cool, but there was no use hiding anything from Rosalie. "Edward asked me out to dinner. He's picking me up at seven."

Rosalie's eyes lit up with excitement. "Finally! I've been waiting for you two to actually go on a real date. Come on, we need to get you ready."

Before I could protest, Rosalie was already rifling through my closet, pulling out dresses and tossing them onto the bed. "This is perfect," she said, holding up a blue dress I hadn't worn in ages. "You'll look amazing in this."

I looked at the dress, then back at her. "It's a bit much, don't you think? I mean, it's just dinner."

Rosalie rolled her eyes. "Please, it's Edward Cullen. It's not just dinner, you goose! You need to look stunning. Trust me, this dress is the one."

I sighed, knowing there was no point in arguing. "Fine, but nothing too crazy underneath. It's not like things are going to go that far."

Rosalie raised an eyebrow, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "Are you sure about that? Because I'm thinking something a little sexier might be in order."

I blushed, trying to ignore the tiny voice in my head that secretly agreed with her. "Rosalie, seriously. I'm not planning on… you know."

She laughed, clearly enjoying the fact that she was getting under my skin. "Oh, come on, Bella. What's the harm in being prepared? Just in case things do heat up."

I shook my head, trying to keep a straight face. "I don't think it's going to go that far. We're just having dinner."

"Uh-huh," Rosalie said, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she handed me a lacy bra and matching panties. "Well, just humor me, okay? You never know what might happen."

Reluctantly, I took the lingerie from her, knowing there was no winning this argument. "Fine, but this is just in case you're right."

Rosalie grinned, clearly pleased with herself. "You'll thank me later."

As I slipped into the blue dress, Rosalie fussed over my hair, pulling it back into a loose up-do that felt elegant but effortless. "You look gorgeous," she said, stepping back to admire her handiwork. "Edward's not going to know what hit him."

I glanced at myself in the mirror, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. The dress fit perfectly, the blue fabric hugging my curves in all the right places. The lacy undergarments, while out of my usual comfort zone, added a layer of confidence I wasn't expecting.

Before I could second-guess myself, there was a knock at the door. Rosalie's grin widened, and she practically shoved me toward the entrance. "That's your cue, Bella. Go knock him dead."

As I opened the door, Edward stood there, looking as impeccably put together as always. He wore a tailored black suit with a crisp white shirt, the top button left casually undone. In his hand was a bouquet of red roses, their delicate scent filling the air between us.

"Wow," he said, his eyes taking in the sight of me. "You look… stunning."

I blushed, feeling a warmth spread through me at his words. "Thank you. You look pretty incredible yourself."

Before I could say anything else, Rosalie appeared at my side, her eyes immediately landing on the bouquet. "Aww, how sweet! Edward, you're already winning major points," she teased, giving me a playful nudge with her elbow.

Edward chuckled, clearly amused by her energy. "I try my best," he said with a grin, then handed the flowers to me. "These are for you, Bella."

I took the bouquet from him, smiling as I inhaled the soft, fragrant scent of the roses. "They're beautiful. Thank you."

"Oh, where are my manners?" I said, suddenly realising I hadn't introduced them. "Edward, this is Rosalie—my best friend and a constant pain in my ass."

Rosalie quipped back with a sly grin, "Well, Bella, you've got a lovely ass, so it's worth the pain."

Edward, catching onto the playful banter, chuckled and added, "I'd have to agree with Rosalie on that one."

I rolled my eyes, trying to hide my embarrassment. "Great, now you're both ganging up on me."

Rosalie reached out and gently took the flowers from my hands. "I'll put these in water for you," she offered, her tone teasing as she added, "You two go have fun. I'll make sure they're ready for when you get back… whenever that may be."

I shot her a look, knowing exactly what she was implying. "Rosalie…"

"What?" she said innocently, though the mischievous glint in her eyes gave her away. "Just saying. You never know how the night might turn out."

Edward raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained by the banter between us. "Sounds like you've got a pretty good wingwoman," he remarked, his gaze shifting between me and Rosalie.

"She likes to think so," I replied, trying to keep my tone light despite the blush creeping up my cheeks.

Rosalie laughed, placing a hand on her hip. "Hey, someone's got to make sure Bella doesn't overthink things too much. I'm just here to give her a little nudge in the right direction."

Edward smiled, his eyes warm as he looked at me. "I think she's doing just fine."

"Alright, alright," I said, trying to steer the conversation away from Rosalie's teasing. "We should probably get going."

Rosalie handed the flowers back to me with a wink. "Have a great time, you two. And Bella, remember—just enjoy yourself."

I couldn't help but smile at her, feeling a mix of gratitude and embarrassment. "Thanks, Rosalie."

Edward took my hand as we headed out the door, and I felt a thrill of anticipation. Tonight wasn't just about dinner—it was about exploring whatever this was between us and seeing where it might lead.

And as Edward guided me to his car, I couldn't help but feel a little more confident, thanks to Rosalie's light-hearted encouragement.

Thanks so much x