I should spend my free time learning a bit more about Edward's team. After all, I would be assigning their lists all by myself today. It was nerve-wracking, I didn't want anyone to be too annoyed with me. I'm sure they were used to how Alice ran things. This would take a bit.

Hesitantly, I took a seat at the desk and began sifting through the files of all the reapers on Edward's team. There were three groups, each containing three reapers. Two reapers that would actually collect the souls and one support member. The support member was only used for big assignments, such as a mass casualty, where many souls will need collected at once. Other than that, the support members usually act as the transportation for the reapers in their three-man group. A lot of times the support members were called in when a devourer is spotted, they are usually the first line of defense.

Curiosity burned inside of me for a moment as I noticed the files labeled for Edward's guard. That consisted of Jacob, Katlyn and Alice. I wanted a little more information on Jacob, especially since our last interaction was a little… unpleasant. I don't know why, but I was still upset. The way he spoke to me. It wasn't right. I shouldn't even care. But things like this always had bothered me. I didn't enjoy being disliked. Even by an asshole like Jacob.

After a few minutes of smashing my fingers against the keyboard, my frustration boiled over. I didn't have access to those files. Which was a little suspicious. Their schedule was completely under the control of Edward and only Edward. They didn't answer to anyone else. I was a little annoyed by that. But mostly curious. I had a lot of unanswered questions.

A quiet tapping on my door pushed me out of my thoughts instantly. I jumped a little in surprise as a familiar face poked inside the office.

"Good morning Hecktor," I greeted the reaper nicely.

He stood with slumped shoulders, still appearing unsure and lacking confidence. But there was a tiny smile on his face as we walked fully into the room.

"Morning miss Bella. I have the new lists," He presented a stack of files with a slight trembling in his hands.

I gently took them from him. "I appreciate it." With Hecktor I worried that any fast movement might scare him. There was a softness about him. He was a gentle soul, kind and earnest. But he also held a lot of uncertainty and fear when it came to any social interactions. Something told me that Alice wasn't the only one that was rude to Hecktor. I had a feeling he didn't have many friends.

For the first time, Hecktor met my gaze, revealing a shadowy brown color. There was such warmth in his eyes.

"Is there anything at all I can do for you?" He asked sheepishly, adjusting his tie. Unlike the rest of the reapers, who wore a bit less formal clothing, Hecktor dressed like he was about to walk down the red carpet.

I raised a brow, measuring his expression. "Well, this is my first day doing this on my own. I could use some advice."

Hecktor visibly swallowed. "Would you like me to fetch Miss Alice?" I could tell by the twitch of his eyes and the panic that struck his expression that he really didn't want to go anywhere near Alice. I couldn't blame him. She was a bit of a witch. Being around her made me nervous as well.

"No, I'd like your advice, not Alice's. I've heard enough of what she thinks is best for the teams. I want to know what you think. I mean, you know these reapers better than I do." I shrugged my shoulders.

Hecktor seemed to be at a loss for words, he stared at me blankly. His body was frozen. I couldn't tell what he was thinking or feeling at the moment. Silence hovered between us for a while, until I couldn't take the awkwardness anymore.

I cleared my throat. "You don't have to help me, if you don't want to…"

My words seemed to unfreeze him. "I'd be honored to help you. Sorry, I just wasn't expecting you to ask. Ever since master Edward hired me to be the book-keeper's support, Miss Alice never assigned me any duties, other than getting the reaping list." A small smile came to his pale face. "It's nice to actually be of some use."

My eyes widened slightly. "I didn't realize the book-keeper had a support as well. Alice never mentioned it."

"Not surprising. She never really thought I was worthy of her support." Hecktor glanced down towards his feet now. Yet a small smile still remained on his face.

"Well, things are definitely going to change, Hecktor, I'd like for you to stay by my side through all of this. From this day on, we will work together." I nodded for him to take a seat across from me.

With some hesitation he did as I said and took a seat in the little chair sitting opposite from me. He eyed me with some discomfort. "Are you sure about this Miss Bella? I really don't want to get on Master Edward's bad side. I don't want him getting any ideas about our partnership."

"It's fine, we are just working on the lists together. It's completely professional. Now, enough chit chat, we need to get these lists made and sent out." I said as I began to root through the files.

Hecktor didn't reply, instead he threw himself completely into his work. We decided, the best way to start, would be to assign each group to gather souls farthest from this building first. So at the end of their day, they will be close to work to finish out their day, since Edward and Emmett hold an end-of-the-day meeting before everyone leaves for the day. This would give everyone enough time to make it to the meeting on time.

"Ribbon's team really likes hitting the rough areas of the city. Since most of them lived there while they were human. So we could give them all the deaths in the slums." Hecktor commented, nodding to a few stacks of files.

We organized each of the files by location. It just made things easier. Then we put all of the times of the deaths in order.

"That would be fine. Let's give them all of the deaths in the same location for the first hour, then give them a good thirty minute break in between the next area."

Hecktor smiled weakly, as he arranged five files for team Ribbon. It took us a good forty five minutes, but we finished their list for the entire day. They had a lot of work, but Hecktor mentioned that they really did enjoy heavier assignments. They didn't have much of a social life outside of work. They preferred to stay busy. And distracted.

"Okay, I'll send them their lists now." I said, turning to my computer to send out the email. Everything looked perfect. But I was still a bit nervous.

I chewed my lip a little, waiting a few seconds, before hitting the send button. But after gathering some courage, I sent out the email and went right into assigning the next group of reapers.

"Team Jewel is usually sent out to more remote parts of the city. Which they aren't a big fan of. They would rather be in the entertainment district. They enjoy the nightlife, gambling and excitement of the city." Hecktor mentioned it with an arch in his brow. I couldn't describe the emotion behind his shadowy brown eyes. But for some reason the word, 'distaste' came to mind.

"Do you know this group personally?" I asked, trying to sound nonchalant as I began putting together their assignment.

"Unfortunately," Was all he said.

I wasn't sure if I should push for any further detail on that. He really didn't seem to want to talk about it anymore. In fact, he turned away from me completely to look out the window, sighing heavily. Maybe I would ask him about this later.

It didn't take nearly as long, now that I had an idea of how I wanted to do these lists. Team Jewel had four files to complete. Hecktor mentioned that team Jewel didn't like doing a bunch of work all at once. So I spread out their day with many small breaks in between.

Hecktor scanned over my list slowly, before nodding in approval. So, I sent out the email to that group as well. The only one left to assign tasks to, was Stenton and Edward. There were ten files left on the desk. So whatever we didn't give Stenton, Edward would have to take the rest.

Hecktor smiled tenderly. "I've really bonded with old Stenton over the years. He had a very rough start to this job, but he really found his place. I remember a few years back, he mentioned his passion for nature and the outdoors. And I suppose the most scenic part of the city… would probably be… out towards the woods. There is a wide section of rural housing that sits just at the edge of the city limits."

I nodded, chewing my lip as I gathered five files. They all were in that area. But Stenton was… pretty old. It didn't feel right giving him all this work. He had to do it all on his own. That's too much.

Pouting a little, I turned my sights on Hecktor. "Okay, but you know Stenton can't possibly do all that on his own."

Hecktor raised a brow. "He may look old, but he is a very capable reaper."

"I'm sure he is, but I would just feel a lot better if someone else was with him, just to help him out a little."

"Who did you have in mind?"

"Well, I was thinking, maybe you could go with him. Just for today… at least. If you end up liking it, maybe you and Stenton could work together more often."

Hecktor blinked a few times, absorbing my words carefully. "I suppose I could help out Stenton with his assignments. As long as it doesn't interfere with me helping you. That is what I was hired for after all. To assist the book-keeper."

"It shouldn't. I'll only truly need you in the morning, just to check over the lists with me and send them out. Once that's done, you can feel free to help out Stenton, or any of the other teams that might need an extra hand reaping the souls." I gave him an encouraging smile.

Finally Hecktor smiled back, appearing pleased with this. "I think this is going to be a really big change for everyone. But I truly think this is a huge improvement."

"I hope so, Hecktor," I nodded a bit, before finally finishing off the rest of the lists and emailing them out to everyone. So the final five files would go to Edward. And thankfully they are all closely around my apartment. So maybe, while he is working, he will have some time to stop by and see me throughout the rest of his day. I really was looking forward to that. I just hoped this didn't make me look… unprofessional… crazy… stalkerish…

Since everything is finished for the day, Hecktor excused himself, to assist Stenton with his list. The room was so quiet, a little too quiet. I glanced at the clock and groaned. It was nearing lunch time, but after lunch, I'm not sure what to do. Alice would usually finish off her wine and read magazines for the remainder of the shift. However, I wanted to be productive. I was getting paid really well, I wanted to feel like I was actually earning it.

Time was crawling by slowly, I kept myself busy by searching through the files of Edward's team. I wanted to know a little more about each of them. It might come in handy when it comes to sorting out their assignments. For now Hecktor was helping, but eventually I needed to be able to do this on my own. Hecktor is needed elsewhere.

I was so absorbed in personal details of each and every one of Edward's team members, I hadn't noticed someone entering my office, until I heard the loud thud of the door closing shut.

My heart instantly dropped to the bottom of my stomach, I launched myself up to my feet, startled for a moment. Before annoyance took over my mood completely.

Jacob stood across from me, leaning nonchalantly against the door. His arms were folded across his chest, his eyes narrowed slightly as he watched me.

"Well, I figured your office would look like this, dull and boring. It perfectly suits your personality." He spoke in a clipped tone.

I felt heat rush to my face as I glared openly at him. "What the hell do you want?"

My response only seemed to bring a smug smile to his face. He didn't move from where he stood, instead he held up a coffee cup. "I brought you some coffee. Think of it as a truce."

I rolled my eyes, letting myself sit back down at the desk. I turned my attention back to the computer screen. "No thanks. I don't drink coffee." It was a lie, but he didn't need to know that. Jacob was an ass.

"You're a liar. I went ahead and asked your boyfriend what would get me back into your good graces. He suggested coffee." Jacob said, now moving to stand at my desk. He placed the coffee down next to me.

I didn't look away from the screen, but the delicious smell of freshly brewed coffee was almost too good to ignore. Why would Edward tell Jacob how to win me over? I thought he didn't want the two of us to be friendly. It didn't make sense.

Reluctantly, I took the cup, letting the heat warm my hands for a moment, before taking a ginger sip. It was just as good as it smelled. Caffeine hit my body almost instantly. It was like a breath of fresh air.

"Pretty good, isn't it?" Jacob asked with a smirk. "I stopped at the best coffee shop in the city for that bean water. So it better be damn good."

"Why did you even bother? It's pretty clear that we don't like each other. So why try to pretend any differently?" I avoided his question. In truth, it was the best coffee I ever had. But I didn't want to give him the pleasure by admitting it.

He paused, a deliberating look came to his face for a moment. "I don't hate you. I told you that earlier, remember. This is how Edward wants me to treat you." His eyes engulfed me for a moment. His voice changed slightly. It wasn't as hard, or sarcastic.

I met his gaze. "That day. When the devourer attacked us at the laundromat…" I paused, taking note of the pained look that came to his face. "Well, you seemed really angry with me. And I understand… that was your friend that you had to kill… because of me... I'm really sorry you had to do that…"

He turned rigidly to stare out the window. His body had become tense. "It's part of my job. Friend or not. I wasn't mad at you that day. I was mad at myself."

"Why would you be mad at yourself?"

"I had no idea that Seth was devouring human souls. I didn't know he had even become a devourer. I almost didn't even recognize him. If I would have known sooner… maybe I could have stopped him from turning. Maybe I could have pulled him back on the right path." Jacob sounded tormented, each word was full of grief and guilt. It was hard not to pity him. Even though he was a jerk most of the time.

"It wasn't your fault. As much as you would like to, you can't control the choices other people make." I said gently. My thoughts went to my mother. If I had it my way, she would never touch another bottle of alcohol again. But I couldn't blame myself for each and every time she would mess up and get drunk.

Jacob didn't respond, instead his eyes flickered in my direction again. The look on his face, took me off guard. Without even having to hear his words, I had an idea of what was going on in his mind. And I could relate.

We stayed in silence for a moment. I took a couple more sips of the coffee as I waited for his next response.

"Am I forgiven?" He replied. It appeared that he had regained control over himself. A perfectly expressionless mask slid onto his face.

I sighed deeply. "There is nothing to forgive, you didn't do anything wrong."

"Wonderful, then I'll leave you to your work." He spoke abruptly, taking long strides back towards the door. It seemed like he was suddenly in a hurry. His hand went out to the door knob, but before he could take hold of it, I jumped in surprise as the door opened on its own.

In walked Edward, with an annoyed look on his handsome face. He eyed Jacob with open hostility. "What's the rush?" His voice sounded menacing.

Jacob visibly swallowed, but held his ground. "I only stopped by to be sure Bella was alright. It is my duty to watch over her. Isn't that right? Master?"

"Not today it isn't. You received your schedule from me early this morning. Didn't you? Today Katlyn is to guard over Bella."

Jacob glanced in my direction for a second, before letting his shoulders shrug. "Well I noticed that Katlyn was nowhere to be found. So, I took it upon myself to keep an eye on her, until Katlyn arrives."

I wasn't sure why Jacob was lying. I wanted to speak up and tell Edward the truth. But there was a nagging feeling I got deep in my gut, that I should just keep my mouth shut. Jacob had been open with me today. He took a step in the right direction. So, maybe I'll let it go this time. But I didn't want to keep any secrets from Edward.

Edward's eyes flickered the coffee in my hands, before glaring coldly at Jacob. I was surprised when he didn't make a comment. Instead he took a step to the side, to allow Jacob to pass through the door.

"Refrain from doing that again. If you plan on going anywhere near Bella, I expect you to notify me before doing so." His tone was more like a growl.

It wasn't lost on Jacob that Edward was not happy. He nervously adjusted his clothing for a moment, before bowing his head in Edward's direction and excusing himself. He didn't even look back at me once. He made a speedy exit.

Edward heaved a heavy sigh, before closing the door. Quietly he made his way across the room to sit on my desk. His eyes roamed my face for a second. "Did he try anything with you?" There was a hint of worry on his face.

I shook my head slowly. "No, actually he came to apologize. Apparently he asked you for advice on how to get back on my good side. And you told him to buy me a coffee."

Edward snorted, a dark look taking over his face. "He didn't come to me for advice. The last thing I would want is for the two of you to get closer." He muttered.

That's what I had thought. It didn't make sense. Jacob was lying to me. But why? Just when I thought maybe we could get along… Now I can't trust him.

"I should have known. He is such an ass." Maybe his apology was fake as well. He apparently was the master of lies and deceit. The only thing that seems to come out of his mouth. My father always told me there were many different types of men in this world. And any man that can lie with a smile of his face, is a man you want to stay far away from.

It was a little disappointing. I was willing to give him a chance, but I think it would be for the best if I just forget about it. I'll keep any interactions with Jacob brief. I didn't want involved in his web of lies.

Edward smirked just slightly. "I was just stopping by to take a lunch break with you. I know it's a little early. But I know you've finished your lists for the day."

"How did you know I finished the lists?"

His smirk widened. "My teams have been giving me feedback on how they are liking their schedules for today."

My heart squeezed tightly in my chest, making me gasp a little. "What did they say? They aren't unhappy with how we made the list are they?"

"Quite the opposite. They are sounded very pleased with how the lists were made. Any of them that might have had some doubts about you taking on this job has all but vanished," Edward said as he lightly ran his hand over my cheek. "Although, if you would have done poorly, they still wouldn't have complained, they were ecstatic when they heard the news that Alice wasn't going to be running the lists anymore." There was amusement in his tone.

His words filled me with relief. I had been really nervous about all of this today. I'm truly glad Hecktor agreed to help. I think we are going to be a wonderful team. "It's all thanks to Hecktor, he knows the team members so well, it made it easy to plan out their schedules."

Edward raised a brow. "You had Hecktor helping with the lists?" I couldn't tell by his expression what he was feeling in the moment. Mad? Disappointed?

"Y-yeah, I hope that's okay... he said he was my assistant, so I had him help me out..."

"I just wasn't expecting that... Hecktor is quite... different than the other reapers. He usually stays to himself."

"What makes him different than the other reapers?" I muttered quietly.

"Well, he is cursed, so others tend to stay far away from him."

"Cursed?"

Edward nodded with a sigh. "It's a lot to explain. I'd rather not get into the details. Curses aren't something taken lightly around here. But all you need to know is his curse becomes active the moment he comes into contact with someone else. The curse repels others, it practically forces everyone to view him with malice and hatred. He has been bullied and ostracized since he began working here."

"I've never thought way about him," I shrugged my shoulders slightly. "I feel sorry for him."

Edward arched his brow again, appearing puzzled by my statement. "I wonder why the curse isn't triggered with you."

Well this explains Hecktor's behavior completely. I wish there was something I could do to help him. He always seemed so miserable. But it seemed like the conversation on curses had Edward a bit on edge. It was clear that he felt uncomfortable talking about it. Maybe I would hold off on asking any more details on it. I didn't want to cause him any trouble. I let the subject go.

"I was meaning to talk with you about the rest of my shift." I said, standing from my desk. Edward instantly pulled me in for a gentle embrace. Instantly I buried myself into his chest and breathed in his delicious scent. Something earthy and sweet. I felt intoxicated by the smell. Completely under his spell.

Lightly his fingers trickled through my hair as his lips pressed greedily at my neck. My body trembled for a moment as I shut my eyes. With each touch of his lips caressing my skin, I found myself getting completely distracted. My thoughts escaped me. Even as he pulled away, only leaving a single hand in mine. We walked hand in hand out of my office.

"What did you want to talk with me about?" He asked as we made our way to the elevator.

I hesitated. Searching my mind for what I was wanting to ask him. But my mind had gone blank. Edward kissing me, was something that captured my every thought. Nothing mattered more.

He waited patiently, with raised brows and a look of amusement. I would have been pretty embarrassed, but thankfully I was able to recall what I wanted to say.

"I was wondering if there is anything else I can be doing, once the lists are done. Because now, I have a little over four hours of downtime, with nothing to do."

"I'm sure I could think of a few things you can do for me." Edward said in a suggestive tone. He leaned down to whisper in my ear. The touch of his lips sent shivers down my spine. My face went warm.

"Edward," I tried giving him my best annoyed look. "I'm being serious. I'd really like to help around here as much as possible. I am getting paid to be here, I want to feel like I am actually earning the money."

He snickered quietly. "Don't fret my sweet. I was only kidding," The elevator doors opened smoothly now, revealing the ground floor. Since the weather has been so nice lately, Edward and I have been having lunch outdoors. I was taken off guard by how few people were lingering around. "Did you have something in mind that you would like to do?"

I tumbled his words around in my head for a while as we walked through the pair of glass doors leading to the private outdoor area. There was a large tree that we would sit under. Emmett would usually be waiting for us there, with some kind of lunch that he picked up for us to share. Well, for the most part, I would be the only one that would eat.

However, he was nowhere to be found. Edward and I took our usual seats under the grand tree. "I'm not really sure. I was hoping you would have some ideas."

Edward offered me a thoughtful nod, before turning his attention to his phone. "Let me think about that for a little bit. I'll let you know at some point today." His eyes scanned through his phone quickly, almost in an inhuman speed. I couldn't even begin to guess what he was doing. But this was usually how it was during the lunch break. Edward mostly did work over his phone, or at times he would bring a laptop out with him to finish up some last minute tasks that he had to do.

I leaned back against the tree, closing my eyes as a warm summer gust of wind blew past my face. The heat of the sun kissed my cheeks. The sound of the leaves rustling from the top of the tree and the song of a few birds chirping overhead completely distracted me from everything else. It was just so peaceful. I was at my happiest when I was surrounded by nature.

Edward sat next to me, in a comfortable silence. I vaguely could hear his fingertips tapping against the screen on his smartphone.

It wasn't long before Emmett arrived. This time he brought ham and Swiss cheese subs. He sat down on the other side of me. And this time, he had a sandwich for himself as well.

"Hey Bella, how's your day going?" Emmett said with a slightly smug grin on his face.

Edward glanced up from his phone to narrow his eyes in Emmett's direction. He didn't respond, but it seemed to take a lot of effort.

"Not bad," I bobbed my head a little, taking a big bite of the sub. It was really good. And judging by the carry-out bag it was in, this was the same place Emmett always got our lunch. A small bistro just a block away. "I'm not sure what I'll be doing for the rest of the day."

Emmett cleared his throat a bit. "Actually, Esme is planned on meeting us here in a couple minutes. So, the rest of your evening will probably be in her office."

I noticed the uneasiness creeping into his features. Talking about Esme always seemed to really stress Emmett out.

Edward on the other hand, merely rolled his eyes. He didn't look nearly as bothered. "Don't worry, I won't leave your side." He leaned down to peck the top of my head, before turning completely back to his phone.

That did make me feel a little better. To be honest, I was dreading this meeting for a long time. I knew that I wanted to get Emmett's marking off my arm, but everything I've ever heard in regards to Esme had me on edge. She sounded terrifying.

"I'll be there as well. I just… hope she is in a decent mood." Emmett spoke up, shooting a frown in Edward's direction.

"You worry too much brother. Try to relax. You know our mother enjoys how nervous she makes you." Edward said with a slight smirk.

Emmett clicked his tongue with a look of distaste. His sapphire blue eyes appeared fiery for a moment. "She doesn't make me nervous. She infuriates me." With a few bites from his sandwich, his mood only got worse.

He may never admit it, but Emmett truly seemed rattled. Just the thought of seeing his mother had him a bundle of nerves. But Edward remained unphased. I couldn't help but wonder how this twisted family dynamic worked. Alice gave me the impression that she didn't get along with Esme either. She didn't have anything nice to say about her.

At this point, my stomach was churning. I couldn't finish my lunch. Esme would be on her way right now. What would she think of me? Obviously she wouldn't approve of Edward and I being together. Afterall, I was human. And Edward and Tanya have only recently separated. They still were legally married. Edward had mentioned Tanya was dragging her feet when it came to signing the divorce papers. It wasn't something I liked thinking about. So I normally just tried to pretend Tanya didn't even exist. Thankfully I still haven't had the displeasure of meeting her.

As if sensing my annoyance, Edward's eyes flickered in my direction with a puzzled look. Our gaze met briefly, before I turned away to stare off into the distance. Envy began to chew at my chest as I imagined the woman Edward had pledged his life to. She was probably beautiful. Most likely a strong, dependable reaper, with amazing abilities. I'd never beat her.

Suddenly, a warm arm wrapped around my shoulders. All the negative feelings drained out of me completely. Within seconds. I didn't have to look to know it was Edward that had pulled me into him. The feeling of his body pressed up against mine was all too familiar. I rested my head on his shoulder and took a deep breath.

"What made you so irritated?" He asked quietly as his fingers twisted a few pieces of my brown curls.

"I'd rather not think about it anymore…"

He paused for a second, letting my words simmer. "I don't like seeing you upset. Maybe if I knew what was causing it… I could help."

"It's nothing important… I guess I was just feeling a bit insecure…" I couldn't believe that I had actually admitted that. My face ignited as I realized I had been a bit more open and honest than I had wanted.

Edward and Emmett both had a confused look on their faces. Emmett was the first to speak up. "Why would you feel insecure? You are beautiful."

My eyes widened a bit. I hadn't thought Emmett had that high of an opinion of me. We really haven't had any intimate conversations since I began working here. He was pretty busy with his assignments. I rarely saw him. Only briefly, here during lunch. But even then, he kept mostly to himself. He merely watched me and offered some small talk regarding the weather, or asking how my day was going. Nothing any deeper than that.

Edward glared darkly at Emmett, his hold on me tightened. "Something as superficial as the word beautiful, doesn't even describe Bella accurately." His tone was sour.

The brothers glared at each other for a minute, until an uncomfortable silence began.

I cleared my throat a bit. "I was just wondering… what Tanya looked like… I mean… what kind of person was she?"

Now Edward appeared uncomfortable. He sighed heavily, before resting his head on the top of mine. "Do you really want me to… talk about her?"

I wasn't really sure how to answer that. Part of me wanted to say no. I didn't want to feel the jealousy, or anger. But I was also really curious.

"Tanya was a whore. I'm glad my boy was smart enough to get rid of that bitch." A soft voice purred from directly behind me.

The three of us jumped in surprise at the sudden unexpected voice. I turned quickly, taking in a gorgeous woman. She was really short, to a shocking degree. Maybe five feet tall. Even in her high heels. She wore a very professional business suit. Crimson red. Her hair was dark brown, similar to Emmett's and her eyes were a vibrant emerald. Just like Edward's.

Emmett quickly shot up to his feet, bowing his head. "Mother, you should have called, I would have escorted you." His tone sounded so formal. It was like his personality did a complete three-sixty.

She lifted her perfectly manicured hand up, to signal his silence. A crisp and calculating look was on her face as she looked at me, head to toe. Her eyes lingered on Edward's arm draped around my shoulders. "I assume this is Isabella."

Edward squeezed me one last time, before pulling the both of us to our feet. Instantly I became very aware of the height difference. I towered over her. However, the aura around her was so… intimidating. I could sense the danger.

"Bella, this is Esme, she is the head of this company. She runs the whole place." Edward gestured with a bob of his head in his mother's direction. The look of boredom on his face seemed to bother Esme. Yet she kept her expression controlled.

"Edward darling, that's no way to introduce your mother to your new flame." Esme scolded him gently.

I wasn't sure if I was pleased with being called, 'Edward's new flame'. But I wasn't about to speak out against Esme. I'd take things slowly. If she was anything like Alice, this was just an act. A false display of kindness. Things might change quickly.

Edward rolled his eyes. "Let's not waste any time, let's get this marking off her arm." He gently lifted my arm up, revealing Emmett's marking. It's been a while since I've looked at it. But it seemed to be irritating my skin. My arm appeared a bit red and inflamed where the black lettering sat. Edward noticed and threw a glare towards Emmett. "What's happening?"

Emmett moved forward, looking down at his marking with guilt on his face. "I've never seen something like this before…"

Esme took my wrist and pulled it down to her level, eyeing the marking with an unreadable expression. She was silent. And that made me even more nervous. Was this something new to her as well? Would I be stuck with this marking?

"What kind of marking is this mother?" Emmett asked quietly.

Esme didn't answer him.

Edward narrowed his eyes on Esme. "Answer him Esme."

His voice seemed to disrupt her thoughts. She turned to look at Edward with disappointment. "This is unfortunate."

My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach.

"What's unfortunate? Can't you remove the marking?" Edward spoke in a clipped tone. "Do we need to go elsewhere to have someone else remove it?" Edward didn't have any regard for his mother at all. I could see it in his body language. He didn't respect her. He didn't even bother pretending to speak politely.

I wasn't sure what their relationship was like. She seemed to heavily favor Edward for some reason. She barely gave Emmett any attention. Yet Emmett worshiped the ground she walked on. Neither was a healthy relationship.

"Edward," I hissed quietly.

Edward looked at me with slight surprise. "What's wrong, my sweet?" His voice turned soft instantly.

Esme raised a brow as well, but stayed quiet, waiting to hear what I had to say.

"I can't believe this is how you talk to your mother."

Edward blinked a few times, surprise high-lighting his face. He didn't reply. But Esme offered me a nod of approval.

"Your right dear, she is quite lovely," Esme turned to try pinching Edward's cheek. Due to their extreme difference in height, there was no way that she would be able to reach Edward's cheek, but Edward still caught her hand. Embarrassment clouded his eyes for a moment.

"Mother, please," He cleared his throat.

Esme's eyes brightened as a large smile crept across her lips. "As I was trying to say, it's unfortunate that she was given this marking. The marking of covetousness." She turned her sights to Emmett now with a look of disdain.

Emmett swallowed, running a hand through his locks. "I've never heard of that marking." His voice sounded a bit strained.

Edward's mood soured further. I felt his stiff arm wrap around my waist as he pulled me closer to his side. He eyed Emmett with resentment. "That explains everything. I've never seen the covetousness marking in person before."

"Please, someone explain what this marking means." I spoke up, unable to silence my growing anxiety.

"This marking was created by jealousy and possessiveness. It's a cruel way to claim a mate, by force." Edward's eyes flickered between me and Emmett.

There was a brief flash of pain in my chest, along with the usual burn coming from Emmett's marking. It felt like thousands of sharp bee-stings against my skin. But I ignored it. The look on Emmett's face was haunting. I didn't want to say something that might make him feel worse.

His eyes drew down to his feet. Guilt and regret danced in his eyes. He didn't lift his head, but spoke softly. "I never meant to give you a marking like that Bella. I'm… truly sorry."

Esme shook head her slowly, placing a hard hand on my shoulder. I couldn't tell what emotions she was hiding behind her mask. But I sensed there was a lot of raw emotion. "This week must have been absolutely awful. The marking will punish those with it, if affections are unrequited."

Her words made me recall a past conversation with Alice.

She fell madly in love with a human. It was a twisted, unnatural love… close to an obsession. But she ruined him too. He committed suicide, just to get away from her. That's what Alice had said, about Edward and Emmett's father. Of course I didn't hear any real details on what happened, but it had me curious.

"Punish?" I muttered, more so to myself.

"Yes, have you been having any nightmares, or experiencing any thoughts of… suicide?" Esme asked.

Edward watched me carefully, his hand lightly rubbed my back. It comforted me a little. I didn't want to come out and admit all the crazy dreams I've been having. It would make me sound like I was having some kind of mental-breakdown. I wanted to keep it to myself and just hope that the nightmares would go away eventually.

"I have… been having nightmares… regularly."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Edward said with a hard look.

"I didn't think it was worth mentioning. It's not like you can stop me from getting nightmares."

"I can't believe I've done this." Emmett hung his head. "I'd never want to cause you any pain Bella, please believe that."

"You don't have to apologize, I know that you didn't do this on purpose. I'm not mad."

Edward snorted. "He owes you more than an apology. Because of his petty jealousy, you have suffered. It's completely unfair."

Now Emmett was scoffing. "Jealousy,"

Esme's sharp gaze to Emmett made him go quiet instantly. He abruptly stopped in the middle of talking. His body turned tense once again.

"Edward is completely right, Emmett. This is caused by your jealousy. And the possessive nature that you feel towards Isabella."

Emmett winced, letting his head fall again. He wouldn't dare speak out against his mother. I don't know if it was fear or respect.

I also wasn't sure how I felt about this news. Emmett felt possessive of me. He wanted me for himself. Like I was an object devoid of emotions or thoughts of my own. Did he think of me in that way? No. Emmett was a kind person. He was also nice to me, and always seemed to be looking out for me. Just like Edward. I would have thought of him like a brother… if it wasn't for that one night… when we were drunk. When we had sex.

I tried not to replay that night in my mind. It made me feel guilty… like it would be a betrayal to Edward. But I couldn't completely escape those memories. And the way he had made me feel. Our relationship was complicated. And when things were too complicated, I tended to avoid facing them. Maybe I should be more open with Emmett. Even if it does bother Edward. He deserves to know.

"So, can you remove this marking?" Edward said, snapping me out of my thoughts.

Esme nodded, turning back to Edward with a softer demeanor. "Of course, however, I need to do this somewhere private. It can be quite painful. I'm sure Isabella would prefer not to cause a show for everyone."

I nodded with a weak smile. That's what I had been afraid of. It's going to hurt. But it would be for the best. I didn't want to be tormented with these nightmares anymore. And I wanted to really solidify my relationship with Edward. I didn't want anything to come in between us.

"Alright, let's head down to my office then." Edward suggested.

"I'll come as well," Emmett said, taking a few steps towards me. His eyes lingered on the marking that he had placed on me. He eyed it with sorrow. I wasn't sure what was on his mind. But it seemed like he was almost disappointed. Maybe I'm reading him wrong.

"Emmett, you know you are permitted in my office," Esme said, barely looking in his direction, before turning her eyes to me. "No, I think Isabella and I will have some private time. I haven't had the chance to get to know her. I'll take her to my office. When we are finished, I'll call for you Edward." Esme said with a tone of authority.

Emmett instantly backed down, but Edward lifted his chin with a look of defiance.

"I don't think so," He grumbled, his hold on me went a bit tighter. "She doesn't need to be alone with you. Not for a second."

Esme chuckled quietly, folding her arms across her tiny chest. "Either Isabella and I do this alone. Or you can find someone else to remove this marking." There was a smugness to those words.

Edward noticed and it only seemed to annoy him further. His hold loosened around me, but his hand moved up to gently stroke my cheek. "Is that alright with you? I promise, if she does something… I'll kill her myself."

Esme scoffed quietly in the background, waiting our exchange.

"It's fine, don't worry about it," I said quietly, before turning completely to Esme. "Lead the way."

If you are enjoying this story, I'd appreciate a review, I hadn't gotten too many in the last chapter, but I'm hoping, since this chapter was soooo long, maybe some of you have something to say about it. What do yall think of Esme?