Bella's POV:


I stare up at him, in disbelief. "You motherfucker." I manage to say before turning away and shaking my head at him.

He smirks in response, "It's only logical that we do." He says. "Then we wouldn't be lying, and we wouldn't feel guilty about what we told my parents." He adds.

I stared blankly out the window of his room, noting that he too had a balcony.

The sight was hypnotic and soothing as I stared at it, despite the panic I suddenly felt.

"Bunny. you okay?" He asked as I felt him approach me.

I blink and nod, facing him, "Yeah, sort of." I whisper.

He sighs, "Look, we don't have to go out right away… we can stay like this. You know, friends… having lunch or dinner together. Or going out on impromptu adventures together." He says.

I snort, "Bitch, you and I know there's no going back from this. This friendship is fairly new, what if- what if us doing this changes everything? What if we go out and we don't work out?" I ask, looking up at him.

He smiles, as he looks around the room with an unfathomable expression on his face, "Nah, I don't think that'll happen. Best bitches for life remember?" He teases.

I snort, and roll my eyes at him, before sighing, "This is serious, though." I told him.

He lets out an exasperated breath before leading me to the bed, "It is, and you should probably know that once you get involved with me… there's no going back." He tells me.

I chew on my bottom lip, "Haven't I already been involved with you?" I asked.

He nods, "Yes, but you being with me, really being with me, means that you'd have to attend family functions… and make public appearances together." He explains.

I sigh, before laying back, "Technically, we've been doing this since we met, the only difference is that you'd be wining and dining me… along with getting romantically involved." I point out.

He hums in agreement, as he lays down next to me. We exchange a look before a thought crosses my mind, and I start laughing like crazy.

I laugh so hard that I start snorting, and kicking my feet as I lay there.

"What's so funny, Bunny?" He asks as he stares at me, amused.

I sit up, letting out a small snort, "You realize that we've technically already been out on two dates right? The one at your house, where we danced… and the dinner last night." I point out, amused.

He blinks, "Those are unofficial, and impromptu. So, they don't count." He replies with a headshake.

I smile, "I like impromptu. You know that most of the best memories of relationships are impromptu romantic moments? A kiss in the rain, sunset watching, dancing in the kitchen while dinner burns… a fight turning into laughter or kissing. Those are all unplanned. It's okay to not plan stuff. Some of the best memories I have with my friends are unplanned." I tell him, as I look at him, affectionately.

He nods with a thoughtful expression on his face, "So, you are telling me that you liked us dancing in my living room at one in the morning?" He asked.

I nodded, before shrugging my shoulders, looking at him over my shoulder, "It wasn't the worst date I've had." I tell him, teasingly.

Edward smiles as he sits up, "I don't count that as a date, though. We didn't end on a good note." He mumbles, looking down at his lap.

I reach over at him, "So, what? We're here, aren't we?" I asked.

He nods in response, though he has a doubtful expression on his face, "I suppose we are…" He concedes.

I nod, "I need you to know a few things before we do this. I understand that once I am in, it's a forever type of thing. But I need you to know something. I hate being lied to. That is the ultimate betrayal to me. So, I need you to promise me that you'll always be honest with me. I- I can't handle lying. I hate liars." I tell him.

He blinks in surprise before frowning and nodding in response, "Okay, I can- I can do that. But there will be times when I can't tell you everything. Things in which I cannot allow you to find out, and it's not necessarily lying but evading the truth is for your protection and mine. Can you understand that?" He asks.

I think for a moment, before nodding as he takes my hand in his, before pulling it up and pressing his lips to the back of it. "I will try to- to not jump to conclusions… and be understanding… if you promise to not spring anything on me." I say.

He nods, "Deal… Would some information I found the other day be considered springing something on you?" He asks, wincing.

I let out a deep breath, before shrugging nonchalantly. "It depends on what it is…" I whisper.

He nods, as he adjusts his position on the bed, "Do you promise to hear me out?" He asks, hesitantly.

I sigh before nodding, "Sure, I mean what's the worst that can happen?" I ask.

He sighs, as he stands up, and begins to pace the length of the room, "Well, you- you know what my line of work is…" He says.

I nod, "Yeah, though I'd prefer if you left out the details." I tell him.

He scoffs out a laugh, but continues to pace, "Well, it's more than- than all the blood and gore. In some cases, I have to do research. Like on the target, and all that." He tells me, as he paces.

I nod, clearly confused, "O-kay? So, what does that have to do with what you need to tell me?" I asked.

He sighs, as he reaches up to run a hand through his hair, before turning to look at me, "I found some interesting information involving your father." He finally says.

I grimace at the mention of Charles before motioning for him to continue.

He sighs, as he comes to kneel in front of me, before pulling both of my hands into his, "He was involved in the death of a woman, exactly ten years ago this week." He says.

I frown, as I close my eyes to take a deep breath, "My- my mother." I whisper in realization.

I had always thought that my mother died under suspicious circumstances, but everyone said that things like these happen all the time, and called me crazy when I said anything otherwise. So I became silent, and quietly paid a P.I. to snoop around. Though he did find quite a few things about my dear old dad and the bride of Frankenstein, things in which I can use to sink them all should they try anything against me.

He nods, giving me an apologetic look, "I found evidence that links him along with Mark, and another officer to her death." He finally tells me.

I blink, "You- You found the evidence of my mother's death? When? Where? Can I- Can I see it? Please?" I begged.

He blinks in surprise as I begin to bounce on the mattress anxiously. "Uh, yeah, but I don't have it on me… I- It's somewhere safe." He reassures.

I nod, "And you're sure that he was involved in it?" I asked.

He nods confidently. "Yes. Um, there were many crimes he is suspected of being involved in, but we haven't found the evidence yet, so we can't do anything yet." He informs me.

I nod, "When you find it, make sure to inform me. I want to see the look on his face when he goes down for all the havoc he created." I tell him, calmly, though I feel anything but.

He nods, "I can assure you that he will." He replies.

I nod, "Good. I have something but I don't have enough to get him arrested." I tell him.

He blinks in surprise, "This is what you meant by 'you knew everything' the other night, isn't it?" He asks me

I nod, "I got a private investigator a while back, but he didn't get much besides a few files full of a few incriminating things. You know he's suspected of kidnapping a kid? I don't know if he did what he did to the poor kid, or where said kid is, but those files have a bunch of things he did while in his late twenties. He left Washington for a few years, went to Portland, and then came back a few years later." I told him, with a sigh.

I like to think of those years as the good years, my mom was happy, I was happy. Then he came back, and everything turned to shit. My mother kept getting sick, she was always crying, and she was always worried.

How did I never see the signs? Was I a bad daughter for not being able to help my mother? For not being able to help her? Protect her?

I wish I knew what really happened to her. I wish I knew if she is at peace now.

He blinks, "He- Do you know for sure? How do you- How did you find out?" He asks.

I look down at my hands, "Those files and a USB have all the money transactions, and business deals, conversations, and everything involving that incident? I have all of that locked away somewhere safe, should I need to use it, I will." I told him, before taking a deep breath.

He proud, and satisfied smile forms on his face as he leans forward to kiss my forehead, "You just made my fucking day." He breathes.

I tilt my head, "How?" I asked, raising a brow at him.

He smiles, secretively, "I'll tell you when the time is right." He finally says.

I sigh, before nodding, and moving to get up, "Fine, well, I'm going to head back out there and find something to eat, since we never got to eat." I tell him, as I move to get up.

"Wait. Does that mean- Does that mean we're officially going out?" He asks, unsure.

I smile, "Yes… but as a probationary period." I tell him as I leave.

As I made my way out of the room, and back to the kitchen, the smell of food hit my nose as I walked in.

Elizabeth smiled as she turned to look at me from where she stood in the kitchen, "Isabella, dear, how is everything? Did you two talk?" She asked as she moved around the kitchen.

I nodded, as I made my way to the breakfast bar, pulling out a stool and sitting down. "We did. Apparently, both of us have very interesting information." I tell her.

She blinks, "Are you two- Are you two alright?" She asked, concerned.

I nod, "Perfectly." I reply as I feel a hand clamp onto my shoulder lightly.

I see Edward standing behind my chair, smirking at the surprise on my face.

Elizabeth beams at us, as she moves around the room again.

"So, where is everybody at?" I asked, curiously.

She smiles as she looks over at Edward, "Rose decided that you need a break, so she's gone to make some calls to move your schedule around for this week, and Edwin is handling a call he got while you two were talking. Emmett went to pick up my groceries." She informs.

I blink, "Wait, my schedule can't be moved around. I have very important meetings this week which cannot be rescheduled." I said as I moved to get up.

"Yes, they can." Rose suddenly says as she enters the room. "I just spoke to Sasha, she's going to be handling the meetings for the rest of this week with the writers. The meeting tomorrow with Mateo has been moved to nine o'clock tomorrow morning. I will be handling it along with Jason and Sasha." She informs me.

I blink, before turning in my seat to look at Edward, who shrugs. "I didn't do this. She did." He responds as he moves to sit down in the seat next to mine.

I glare at her, as she stares back unaffected. "You know I hate missing important meetings." I grumble to her.

She shrugs, "Well, too bad. You are going to miss this one. You need to have time to relax, time for yourself. Especially after all the shit that happened the last two days, Bee. Come on, you are going to burn yourself out." She says.

I sigh, as I flex and unflex my fingers, taking deep breaths as I roll my head on my shoulders to relieve the tension, "Rose, I- I don't like this." I tell her.

She nods, giving me an understanding, "I know, but remember how you used to get headaches, and nosebleeds back in college? When I had to remind you to fucking eat, and make sure you actually did it? Force you to take a break, or breather? This is me doing that again." She replies, as she leans forward and grabs my hand. "When's the last time you had a vacation?" She asks.

I sigh, "I went to London six months ago." I tell her, flatly.

She rolls her eyes and leans back, before moving to help Elizabeth, "That was to fucking do a business deal, bitch. I mean a real vacation, with no contact to the outside world. Just you and a fucking margarita in your hand, under the sun. Relaxing." She says, in a dreamy tone.

I sigh, and lean back, letting out a long breath. "Cabos San Lucas, '16." I admitted, wincing at the thunderous expression on her face.

"That was nine years ago, bitch!" She gasps, as she accidentally crushes something in her hand.

I wince, "Alright. So, I've been busy. Will you stop judging me? I mean, what does it matter if I haven't vacationed in nine years?" I ask, rolling my eyes.

She glares at me, as Elizabeth turns to answer for her, "Sweetheart, I think she's just concerned about you. Sure she should have asked you first but… her good intentions were there." She tells me.

I sigh, "The meetings with the writers need to be rescheduled to next week. I need to be there personally. As for the meeting with Cromwell, Jacobs, and Romano, I don't care about those. Jason, Marcus, and you can handle it." I tell her.

She smiles, before pulling out her phone. "I'll get on that. Bree said that her older brother was looking for a job around here. He was in the military…" She said.

I blink, "Which one, Riley or Derek?" I asked.

"Riley is an accountant, so I am guessing it's Derek." She tells me.

I sigh, "Alright, well tell her to have him come in next week, so we can induct an interview, and to send his resume so we can look over it." I tell her.

She nods, "You got it, boss lady." She says before leaving out of the room.

Elizabeth smiles widely at me, "Okay, no more business talk, you need to relax now." She tells me.

I nod, before turning to look at Edward, who is staring at me in awe. "You okay?" I asked him, quietly.

He nods, and smirks at me, "I just never seen you in action, I have to admit it, that was fucking awesome. Also, I thought Rose practiced civil law." He says.

I smirk, "She does, along with corporate law, criminal law, and a few others." I inform him.

He blinks, "Damn, and here I thought she was just living off of the Hale Firm, like a Nepo baby." He snips amused.

I laugh, "No, I, actually, encouraged her to do this. She originally wanted to do civil and immigration only but I encouraged her to dabble in the rest. I even paid for it." I told him.

He gives me an affectionate smile as he leans forward, and presses his lips to my hair, "That's why I luh-like you. You're so nice, compassionate, and thoughtful." He says.

I snort, "You'd think so, but this is nothing compared to when I am speaking to my competitors." I tell him.

He nods, "I believe you." He says as two plates slide in front of us.

"Enough talk, eat. Both of you." Elizabeth says, giving us a look before she moves to remove the pots from the stove.


Author's Note:


So, there it is.

I hope you all liked it. More to come real soon!