Good morning, darlings!

As always, thank you so much to Mel!

CHAPTER FOUR

Bella

"There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered."

― Nelson Mandela

No matter how many times I flew private, I didn't think I'd ever get used to it.

The interior of the jet was sleek, with supple leather seats and dark polished wood accents. Even the floor was plush, some sort of carpet that felt like it was made out of clouds.

We'd been in the air for six hours already and Alice had yet to utter a single word. When I'd told her we were going back to the Academy, she'd seemed distressed at the thought but hadn't argued like I'd expected.

I didn't know how I'd feel returning to that place if I were her. As it was, I was trying to work through my own welling memories of the trauma I'd endured there.

Things were different now, I kept telling myself. I was stronger now.

I hoped by the time we arrived that I would believe it.

Edward had mostly been working since we took off, and while I had tried to busy myself by rereading Cordova's notebook, eventually I gave up. I'd nearly memorized every line and there had been no more clues about what the deal with Charlie might have entailed or what sort of information Cordova had hidden.

Feeling restless, I got up from my seat and made my way toward the center of the plane where Edward was typing on a laptop. He glanced up at me as I settled next to him on the bench seat and leaned my elbows on the table in front of him.

"Hey," he said, his fingers not pausing as he turned part of his attention on me.

"What are you working on?"

At my question, he finally stopped typing and turned his head fully in my direction. His eyes traced over my face, as if he were trying to gauge if I was genuinely interested.

Finally he looked back at his computer. "My dad sent me these documents," he said, angling the laptop toward me. "Contracts that he is in the middle of negotiating, a war treaty he wants me to look over, and a business deal with a cybernetics company in Switzerland."

I leaned closer, curious.

"Is this your normal sort of work?" I asked, remembering not so long ago when we'd had a conversation about his time in Kazakhstan.

"Yes and no," he said, shrugging one shoulder. "Before, when I wasn't sure I'd be made heir, I did a lot more grunt work."

I frowned, leaning my head in my hand, my face tilted toward his. "What does that mean?"

Edward sighed. "I was on the ground, trying to convince people in person to agree to the deals my parents needed. I had the run of a couple of countries, but mostly I was brokering deals for the family estates."

"And now?"

Edward looked at the computer. "Now, I review the deals and sign on the dotted line."

"Will it be like that for me too?" I asked.

Edward focused on me. "If you want," he hedged. "The truth is, it was a pain in the fucking ass, but I liked being on the ground. I don't like letting other people negotiate for me."

I frowned. "You let me negotiate with your parents."

Edward smiled. "I couldn't have stopped you if I tried," he joked. "Besides, you were pretty fucking glorious to watch."

I felt a blush creep up the back of my neck and I shifted away from him slightly, turning to look out the window across the cabin.

Edward cleared his throat. "Do you want to see the contracts I'm reviewing?"

I looked at him in surprise. I had assumed that his work would be his alone, and any work I had to do would be mine. Completely separate powers held together by the union of our marriage.

"Really?"

In answer, Edward twisted the laptop to face me. "Here," he said. "This one is the smallest to start with. It might be a bit less overwhelming."

I hesitated before bringing the laptop closer to me. I scrolled to the top of the contract, eagerly diving into it.

It took me a solid minute to understand what I was looking at. "Someone wants to buy Brazil from you?" I asked, glancing over at Edward.

"Well no, not exactly," he said, shaking his head. "The McCarty family wants a controlling share of Brazil in exchange for Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and the Philippines."

I frowned, looking back at the deal. "They're lowballing you," I said, shaking my head and turning toward Edward.

He seemed surprised. "You think?"

"Sure, the GDP of Indonesia is close to Brazil's, but even combining that with the GDP of both the Philippines and Papua New Guinea, the three wouldn't even come close to where Brazil is at." I pointed to the reference document outlining the countries' stats Edward had up on his screen beside the contract offer.

"But it's not just about GDP," Edward countered. "There is a geographical element to consider."

"Sure," I said, shrugging one shoulder, "But those waters aren't controlled by these countries anyway, are they?" I looked at Edward who only smiled a little. I shook my head and focused back on the contract. "What other countries does the McCarty family have control over?"

"A fair amount," Edward said with a shrug. "A few Scandinavian countries, at least seven in Africa, and a handful of Asian countries as well."

I frowned. "Denmark?"

"Yeah, I think so," he said slowly.

"I'd throw that in here," I told him.

Edward scowled. "Why? Denmark's GDP is lower than both Indonesia's and the Philippines's," he pointed out.

"But Greenland hasn't declared themselves independent of Denmark yet, right?"

Edward blinked. "No, I don't think so," he said slowly.

"So Denmark still has control over Greenland and its resources. If nothing else, you should barter for that."

Edward frowned. "Why?"

I leaned back in the seat next to him. "At some point, with the way the world is going, all that ice is going to melt and there will be this lush minefield of minerals and who knows what else sitting in Greenland, ripe for the plucking. You want to have a secure hold of it before that happens."

Edward let out a stunned laugh. "Where the hell did you hear that?"

I shrugged, suddenly feeling self-conscious. "It was something Peter told me about. One of his friends was a geologist who had been studying Greenland for a while."

Edward looked amused and shook his head. "Okay, so we'll counter to include Denmark," he said with a smile. "Anything else?"

It struck me that this deal was specifically written for the Cullen line. I technically had no business being involved in it at all. The fact that Edward was asking for my opinion was surprising.

"If they don't want to up the ante," I told him, speaking slowly as my thoughts began to formulate. "Then tell them I'll back the deal." I had no idea what sort of power I had, nor what sort of access to which countries, but I had the sense that my name alone would be enough clout.

Edward's grin widened and he nodded, confirming my suspicions. "Done," he agreed.

…

We had to stop and refuel in Los Angeles, at which point I did consider stopping home to see my mom. Clearly, we had a lot to talk about and none of it was suitable for a phone conversation.

But part of me wasn't ready to speak to her. I was wounded by her betrayals, and I needed time to sort through my thoughts on everything before I confronted her. So instead of asking to stop by Phoenix when we launched into the air again, I said nothing as our jet set off for the east coast.

The second half of our flight was fairly uneventful. Edward had finished work before we got to LA, and he had occupied himself with watching an action movie on one of the many television screens around the cabin.

Alice had removed herself to nap in the bed at the back of the plane, and though I tried to get some reading in, I couldn't focus. Eventually, I gave up and watched the movie with Edward.

We sat side by side, though there was enough space between us to feel comfortable. I had half pegged Edward as a talker during movies, but he was surprisingly silent.

The movie panned to a view of Oxford suddenly, and I felt a pang in my stomach. I sensed Edward glance at me, and before I could discourage him from speaking, he was opening his mouth. "Do you miss it?"

I looked over at him in surprise. Did I miss it? I licked my lips before answering. "Yes," I said slowly. "I mean, life was simpler when I was studying."

Edward nodded, seeming to understand. "You were bored though," he pointed out.

I glared at him. "I was not."

He chuckled and shook his head. "Yeah you were. A lit major? Come on, Bella, your mind needs way more of a challenge than that."

My mouth opened before I snapped it shut and looked away from him. He didn't need my confirmation that he was right; I could see on his face he already knew.

"I love literature," I said quietly.

"I never asked you why you settled for that," he said, turning toward me.

I looked at him anxiously. "I don't know," I lied.

He shot me a skeptical look, and I knew he wasn't buying it. I let out a breath and groaned. "It was safe, okay?"

"Safe?"

"Yeah, politics would have been more interesting, sure, but there is job security in literature. I was working my ass off to be valuable to potential employers, and had I succeeded, I would have been pretty much set for life."

Edward was staring at me, looking confused.

"What?" I snapped.

"You put yourself through all that bullshit for job security?"

I huffed. "Not everyone has everything they need at the tips of their fingers," I hissed. "When you grow up with nothing like I did, shit like job security matters."

Edward was quiet for a moment before he let out a breath. "Well, I guess it's moot now anyway," he said quietly. "I'll send a few guys to clear out your apartment when we land."

My eyes widened. "What? Why would they do that?"

Edward looked at me. "Because you're clearly not going back to school, right?"

I opened my mouth and shut it again. Truthfully, I didn't know what I was going to do. I was supposed to start my doctorate program a few days ago, but clearly that wasn't happening.

I glanced at Edward. "I don't know what I'm going to do, but that apartment is my home. "

Edward shook his head. "I'll have them move your things to my place," he offered. "Or," he hesitated, looking me over again. "I guess you could get your own place."

His voice ended in a question and I blinked. I'd never thought of Edward having a home. He was always traveling, always on the go.

"Where do you live?" I asked, feeling silly that I'd never asked before.

Edward looked surprised. "I have a few houses around the world," he started. "You've been to the one in Norway."

I shuddered in memory and I saw a scowl slip over his face. "I was keeping my primary residence in New York, but I haven't been there in over a year now."

I licked my lips. "I didn't think we'd have to live together," I said slowly. "I mean, even though we're married."

Edward frowned. "We don't have to," he said. "But I …" His voice trailed off and I looked at him. There it was again, words on the tip of his tongue, a shift in the energy of the room that I didn't expect and didn't know how to deal with.

I cleared my throat and looked away from him. "I don't care where I live," I said, my voice tight. "I just want to be safe."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Edward nod. "Agreed."

…

The last time I'd been driving up the long road to the Academy, I'd known nothing about the Sixteen. I could almost remember the girl I'd been, blindly hopeful that my ambition would be enough to get me through life.

Edward was silent as he drove past the autumnal trees, and I glanced at him, wondering if this was a homecoming for him or an ugly reminder of a past he wanted to forget.

Maybe a little bit of both.

In the back seat, Alice was silent, her notebook out and propped on her knees as she scribbled furiously in it. She'd been silent since we deboarded the plane.

The trauma of our time here was still fresh, maybe too recent to be revisiting so soon. But we had to know.

Edward pulled up the large circular drive and parked in front of the school's double doors. He looked at me and I nodded to him, gathering my bag off the floor and making sure Cordova's notebook was safely tucked inside.

Edward let out a breath before climbing out of the car. I turned to Alice who was still looking at her notebook.

"Are you going to come in with us?"

Alice glanced up at me and swallowed hard. I could see real fear in her eyes as her gaze flickered toward the school. "In a few minutes," she said softly.

I nodded in understanding and climbed out, meeting Edward on the front steps. His eyes flickered to Alice still in the car before settling on me. "Are you ready?" he asked.

I nodded and Edward turned, pulling the front door open.

Classes must have been in session because the halls were quiet as Edward and I walked toward Valencia's office.

"Do you think your brother is here?" I asked as we passed the Caravaggio I'd stopped to admire the first time I'd come to the Academy.

Edward looked at me in surprise. "I suppose he must be."

"Are you going to try to meet him?" It was such an odd thought to me, to know you have a sibling out there somewhere but have no desire to meet them. Charlie had been pretty clear I was his only child, and unless Mom was pregnant now, there were no surprise siblings for me there. What must Edward be feeling?

"I don't think so," Edward said softly. "I don't know what good it would do."

I frowned, glancing over at his profile. "Why did your parents cave?" I asked, prompting Edward to look at me in question. "I mean, you could have ended up being too much of a liability for them. Why did they fold to my deal and name you their heir when they had another choice?"

Edward shrugged, one hand coming up to rub against his jaw. "I don't know. I've been thinking about it a lot," he admitted. "Honestly, I think it all boiled down to you."

"Me?"

Edward nodded. "Despite the shitstorm you bring, the offer you presented was too good. My parents are smart, but they have blindspots for power. All the Sixteen do."

I frowned, mulling that over as we reached Valencia's study. Edward pulled open the door and motioned me inside the waiting room just outside the headmaster's office.

Time had stood still here in the antechamber outside the headmaster's office. My eyes flickered over the fireplace and mantel with the ornate clock. That one cherub near the top was still grinning sinisterly, and I fought back a shudder. In hindsight, most of the decor of the Academy had been foreshadowing for the horrors inside the halls. Demons dressed up as angels and parading around like gods.

"God, I hate this place," Edward muttered next to me.

I glanced up at him curiously, but before I could ask him what horrible memory he was recalling, the door to Valencia's office opened.

He had aged since I'd last seen him, but apart from the grey streaking his hair and the lines around his mouth and eyes, not much else had changed.

"Mr. Cullen," he said, clearly paying respect to the Sixteen first. "Ms. Swan, it was so wonderful to get your message about your visit to your dear old alma mater."

I could hear the tension in his voice despite the smile on his face. He didn't want us here, no more than we wanted to be here.

"Please, come in and have a seat. Can I get either of you anything? A drink, or food perhaps?" he asked, ushering us into his office. This was not the sharp man that had interviewed me all those years ago. This man was anxious, revealing how small he truly was. How had I ever found him intimidating?

"I'm fine," Edward said with a shake of his head. When I declined too, Valencia motioned for us to sit in the plush leather chairs facing his desk. When the three of us were settled, he looked us over. "How can I help you two?"

There was a small v between his eyebrows, like he was worried we were going to ask to do a full inspection of the school or something.

Edward looked at me and motioned me to speak. I took a breath and nodded. "We need access to the Sixteen vaults."

If Valencia could have fallen over sitting in his high-backed chair, he would have. His eyes bugged in surprise before he shook his head, a nervous laugh bubbling out of him. "I'm sure I don't know what you mean," he said dismissively.

"The vaults kept under the school that contain the true unaltered history of the Sixteen," I said, leaning forward. "The one we can access right through that door." I pointed to the door to his side and he glanced at it anxiously before focusing on me.

"Miss Swan, there is no reason for you to know the vaults exist at all," he said, dropping the pretense. "As for access to them, it is simply out of the question."

"Who has access?" Edward demanded.

Valencia looked at him, blinking heavily. "Only the current heads of houses."

Edward frowned. "What about declared heirs?"

Valencia's mouth opened and closed. "I-I don't know. I suppose that would be permissible."

Edward nodded. "As declared heir of both the Cullen and Platt families," Edward said, leaning toward Valencia. "I am officially requesting access to the vaults."

The headmaster's eyes widened at Edward's statement. Rightfully so, since no one else would know yet that Edward had been made heir.

"W-well, I suppose I can grant you access if this is truly the case," Valencia said, sounding uncertain. "But I'm sorry, Miss Swan, you are still denied."

I opened my mouth, but then Edward's fingers were wrapping around mine, stopping me. "Bella is my wife. Married through a Sixteen contract over a year ago. She shall have access as well."

"Of course, I will need to verify all of this," Valencia said, reaching for a tidy stack of papers on his desk and reshuffling them.

Edward nodded. "Certainly." He motioned toward me and I opened my bag, pulling out the slim binder I had there containing our marriage contract as well as the contract Edward had just signed with his parents, declaring him heir. I handed it all over to Valencia who flipped through the binder anxiously. I could see his eyes widen as he looked over the contracts.

Finally, he snapped the book shut and handed it back to me, letting out a long breath. "It seems," he said slowly. "That everything is in order and that I have no choice but to obey."

Edward leaned back in his chair, looking smug. "No, you don't."

Valencia stood and removed his keys from his pocket, going to unlock the door. I glanced at Edward who simply shook his head, stopping me from speaking aloud. We both stood and followed Valencia as he pried open the door. I tried not to flinch as I caught sight of the narrow chamber, illuminated with bright white light.

The last time I walked this path, I'd been shot at. Alice had almost died.

I swallowed hard as Valencia led the way down the chamber. He input his information into the biometric lock before we made our way to the elevator. Edward looked at me curiously, and I realized I was tapping out an anxious rhythm on my thigh with my fingers. I immediately stopped, folding my arms over my chest.

We stepped into the elevator car and I felt my stomach drop as we began to descend. Why had we come back here? What could we possibly hope to find?

The car finally came to a stop and we stepped out, facing the large double doors that led into the vaults. I looked at Edward, who nodded to me before we focused back on the doors.

Valencia let out a tight breath, glancing at us over his shoulder before he pushed them open.

"Welcome," he said solemnly, "to the vaults."