Chapter Three

I’m on Cloud Nine. Seriously.

I have to be the luckiest bastard around. People on my floor watch me, no doubt wondering why I suddenly have such a spring in my step, as I make my way to the conference room for a presentation. 

I’ve pretty much been a grumpy shit for the last few weeks.

That is, of course, until I met Bella.

We had “met” in a pretty unconventional way. I mistakenly flipped Jasper’s numbers around on the keypad of my new phone—his scribbled writing was impossible to read.. Little did I know the unlikely path my day would take.

What a day it was.

Now, I’m definitely not the kind of guy who flirts by text  message or trades suggestive photographic clues . But man, there was something about this woman that made me curious.

And the messages. Shit. After the first few innocuous ones, things had progressed to steady flirting and finally photo exchanges. And damn-- her hair, her neck, her eyes, her lips. They had just about killed me. But then we had to kick it up a notch, didn’t we?

Holy crap.

Bella’s sexy, voice. Bella in lingerie. Bella touching herself in lingerie in a public fitting room.

I am the luckiest bastard alive.

After that little dabble in phone sex, I had to see her.  So we met up at the bar. When she had text messaged me, teasing and surprising me with her presence, I was able to take her in for the first time. All of her.

And she was stunning.

I knew something special was going to happen. And it certainly did.

I would’ve fucked her that night, but I knew she wasn’t any ordinary woman and I wanted to take my time. I wanted to know her better, take her on a date at least. If the way she had kissed me was any indication, then when the time came I was in for the ride of my life.

We went to breakfast and talked about anything and everything, including what had taken place in the fitting room. I was so happy she felt the same way about our encounter as I did. Being with her was so easy, so comfortable. I invited her to my friend’s performance, which I really didn’t pay much attention to since I was otherwise occupied with Bella’s lips.

Dinner at some dingy diner after the show had been charged with indescribable sexual energy. And I just knew what was going to happen that night.

I didn’t push her, and I even made sure it was what she really wanted. The look in her dark eyes went straight to my cock, making me believe she wanted it as much as I did.

What a night. Her body is magnificent. The sex... was... wow.

That’s all I have to say.

Everything about her, even beyond the sex, was perfect. I could easily see myself falling hard for this girl.

I wanted nothing more to stay in bed with her all day, and I would have if she didn’t have to work, but I promised to see her tonight. 

But now I have a presentation. A stupid pitch with the account I’m working on. And as soon as I enter, my mood takes a nosedive.

Victoria.

Of all the days...

“Hey there, stranger. Haven’t seen you in a while,” she coos. But it sounds more like annoying baby talk.

“What are you doing here?” I ask as I pour myself a cup of coffee and grab a doughnut.

“Oh, I was asked to accompany my clients today. When I heard who was doing the pitch, I just couldn’t stay away,” she teases, flipping her ridiculous fake red hair over her shoulder and patting the seat next to me.

“I really wish you would’ve stayed away, and no, I’m okay right here,” I respond, unimpressed, and sitting across from her on the other side of the long table.

“Oh, poo. Don’t be that way, Edward. I’ve forgiven you for not calling me, and I’m willing to put it behind us so we can move on. We have something special, Ed...”

We don’t have anything, Victoria. I’m sorry, but what I said before stands--I just don’t  feel the same way. Please let it go,” I say, taking out my laptop to connect it to the projector.

When we’d met at a corporate function a while back, I’d found her attractive and at the time, I really wasn’t looking for anything too serious. We went on a couple of dates following one drunken night of sex I hardly remember. Yeah, not my finest moment. So I figured I would give it a chance and get to know her. We had nothing in common and she was a little high maintenance and a little too clingy for my taste. Still is. Hence, why I ended it. It wasn’t fair to her at all.

She chuckles lightly, and suddenly stills my hand, covering it with her own fake-nail-clad fingers. I flinch.

“Oh, you don’t mean that, Edward. I can make it worth your while if you just give this a chance. You know...” Luckily, she’s interrupted by a few others from my team and hers who enter chattering and completely unaware of the psycho in the room.

Her. Not me.

She slithers back to her seat, giving me a pointed look and mouths, “We’ll talk later.”

Yeah. So not gonna happen, crazy lady.

“Edward! So good to see you,” Marcus, the PR guy from Victoria’s team, hollers at me. He pats me loudly on the back. I hate that.

“Mr. Voltur, pleasure to see you again. I trust what we put together is up to your standards.”

“Oh yes, my boy, I’m sure it will be. I’ve heard great things about your team and your capabilities,” he says, taking a seat on Victoria’s side-- the seat she’d reserved for me.

She pouts and rolls her eyes away from his line of sight, and I can’t bother to care.

All I want to do is talk to Bella.

I take a moment to take out my cell, and notice that Bella has already left me a text.

Still thinking of last night. Can’t wait 2 c u again ;) -B

I smile immediately and am just about to text her some sexy comeback, but Seth, my partner, asks to speak to me outside before the presentation begins. When I rise, I see Victoria scowl at me. I don’t care. I slip the phone into my pocket and follow Seth out.

He goes over our strategy, and we outline what we’re going to say. 

All the while, I think of Bella’s text and how much I want to reply. But when I finally have a moment to myself before heading back in, Marcus pokes his head out. 

“Are we ready to begin?” he asks expectantly.

“Oh, yes, sir. Ready as we’ll ever be.” The text will have to wait.

An hour later, we’re done in the conference room. Everyone’s thrilled. I’ve managed to avoid Victoria’s glares and attempts to play footsie under the table. Just the thought of her creepy fingers or feet on me sends shivers down my spine... and not in a pleasant way.

Unfortunately, everyone wants to have a celebratory lunch, and I’m pressured into going. Great. More time away from Bella and more time trying to avoid Victoria.

I discreetly decide enough is enough and excuse myself to the bathroom. I might be able to text her some kind of response so she doesn’t think I’m totally ignoring her.

I close myself up in a stall because there’s nothing weirder than seeing some guy texting in a bathroom while you’re trying to take a piss at a urinal. I take my phone out and see she’s sent another text. Damn it.

Have I rendered you useless today? ;) -B

And fucking fantastic. I have no signal in this damn bathroom.

Maybe I’m not the luckiest bastard on the planet after all. 

I place the phone in my pocket and piss as quickly as possible so I can find a spot with reception.

I return to lunch while everyone is in mid-conversation. Everyone is oblivious to my inner crisis while I glance at my phone to see I still have no signal, except the red-head. She’s staring at me... no, scowling at me. I pay her no mind as I place my cell on the table and respond to someone’s question. 

Before I know it, lunch draws to a close and I’m still without a signal. Nope. Nada. Fuck. Victoria keeps looking over to me, the scowl never leaving her face. I don’t know how the fuck I’ve offended her, but I could really give a crap at this point. 

Just as I answer one of my colleagues’ questions, there’s a loud crash right behind me, and I feel cold wetness at my feet, drenching my pants. Shit. My companions and I spring from our seats and turn to see a food runner has unceremoniously dropped a huge tray full of drinks and empty plates. I seem to have suffered the brunt of the mishap, and excuse myself quickly to try and dry my pants and shoes in the restroom. 

After a few minutes of patting my pants down with cheap paper towels and about five minutes of sticking my lifted leg under the air dryer, I’m finally presentable enough to return to my party. They’ve already paid, the manager apologizing profusely to me and comping my meal. We walk out of the restaurant, shaking hands and deciding on tentative meetings to discuss progress. I notice Victoria’s scowl has been replaced by a satisfied smirk. What the hell?

“Well I guess we’ll be seeing more of each other soon, then?” Victoria asks as she saunters her way to me. Her stupid perfume burns the inside of my nostrils. Yuck.

“Maybe not. We may be able to just Skype it from now on. No need to make unnecessary trips.”

“Oh, poo. Well then, you and I could have a meeting of our own. You know, discuss the project, and maybe how I can spice it up for you,” she says, lowering her voice and licking her overly-red lips.

“Um, Victoria, I thought I made it very clear that I to keep our relationship strictly professional. I’m sorry, but this,” I signal between us with my hand, “is not gonna happen again. Don’t waste your time.”

And if I didn’t think this chick was crazy before, her moving closer to me and whispering in my ear solidifies my judgement.

“Playing hard to get? Oh, you’re making this a lot of fun, Eddie dear. Okay, I’ll play. I’ve got many tricks up my sleeve. Give me a chance.”

See? Crazy bitch, right?

“Don’t count on it, Victoria. I’m not playing games. I’m not interested. Get over it,” I whisper back, as not to attract the attention of the others.

She simply smiles. “We’ll see, Edward. We’ll keep in touch,” she says louder, walking backwards and finally retreating to whatever evil lair she came from.

I shake my head, say my final goodbyes to everyone else, and start for home.

About halfway home I reach for my phone, only to find that it’s not in any of my pockets. I pat myself down while seated in the cab at a red light. Where the hell is my phone?

I swiftly grab my messenger bag and start rifling through it with no luck. The phone’s not there. Fuck. I must’ve left it at the restaurant.

“Damn it!” I curse to myself. What if Bella’s trying to get a hold of me? Shit. That’s my only mode of communication with her, and now what? I’m going to have to call the restaurant when I get home. Only problem is I cancelled my landline since I really wasn’t using it. 

After paying the cab and walking up the steps, I think twice and backtrack to my neighbor’s house to see if I can borrow his phone.

I knock on his door. Luckily, he’s home.

“Edward, my man, what’s shakin’?” Garrett greets me with a handshake, holding a sandwich in his other hand.

“Nothin’ much, man. But I need a huge favor from you...”

“You need me to hook you up with that chick at my job, bro? Ahhh, I knew it!,” Garrett lightly jabs at my stomach with his free hand. “That chick” is Garrett’s co-worker who had eyes on me at one of his house parties a few months ago. She’s cute, but not my type. I prefer brunettes. One brunette in particular.

“No..No, man. Actually, I was wondering if I could borrow your phone. It seems I left it at the place where I went to lunch and of course I have no landline...”

“Oh, so you wanna call ‘em up and check and see if they have it, eh?” he nods in realization. 

“Exactly. Do you mind?”

“No, man. C’mon in. I’m just Face-booking with some chippies,” He says over his shoulder with an eyebrow wiggle as he leads me into his home. Of course, “his home” is a loose description. He’s a trust-fund baby, graduate film student at NYU. It’s the only way he can afford a place like this in the city. My hunch is he’s not paying a cent.

“Chippies?”

“Yeah, dude. The layyyyydies,” he drawls before flopping down on his couch and hunching forward towards the laptop on the coffee table. He finishes up his sandwich with one huge bite.

“Phones right here, man. Be my guest,” he says, pointing to his cell on the table next to him, keeping his eyes on the screen.

“You don’t have a Facebook?” Garrett asks suddenly. 

“No. I don’t have time for that shit, dude. Too much going on you know?” I say dismissively, reaching for his cell and searching for the restaurant’s number.

“Aw, man, you’re missing out, bro. I’ve got like a thousand friends, and about seventy-five percent of them are hot girls.”

“I’ll take your word for it,” I respond, finally hitting the call button.

No one at the restaurant has seen my phone, but they promise to contact me at my work number should it turn up. I sigh, not at all confident that the employees there will  return a top-of-the-line phone but, it’s all I’ve got at this point.

I’d call Jasper or Emmett, but I don’t have their numbers memorized, and either way, they’re out of town on a business trip. Shit. What the fuck do I do about Bella? She’s going to think I’m blowing her off. I don’t even know where she works. I’ll give the restaurant another day before I decide to replace the phone all together. Man, this sucks.

“Hey, thanks, man. Don’t get up, I know my way out,” I say over my shoulder.

“No prob, bro. Just let me know if you change your mind about Bree. That girl was dying to get all up in your business.”

“Um, Yeah. I’ll let you know,” I reply halfway out the door.

When I’m finally at home, I decide to try my hand at tracking Bella down by Googling her. But of course, Fate is against me...

My internet connection is down. Mother. Of. Fuck. I think about maybe trying Garrett again, but when I walk over and knock, no one opens. I look around to find his car is gone.

Seriously?

I feel like I have no connection to the outside world. No connection to Bella. So much of our short relationship has been based on one little piece of technology. Now that it’s been taken away, I feel just how dependent I am on it. Now, I’m cut off from my friends and, more importantly right now, from Bella.

What if she thinks I’m ignoring her? What if she thinks it was just a fuck to me? What if she hates me? 

I can’t even...

I’m starting to feel a little freaked out that I might be too late to find Bella again and explain my major bad luck. With Emmett and Jasper gone, I can’t even get them to call her friends to get her number or at least relay the news that I’m currently phone-less. 

The next day is shitty. I can’t concentrate on anything other than the fact that I still haven’t been able to contact Bella. I’m finally able to spare a few minutes later in the afternoon and google her name. A few pictures of her immediately spring up. A couple from a blocked Facebook page show her smiling with her friend, Alice. The other is from her college days. She was gorgeous even then. I’m mesmerized by her eyes and radiant smile. My mind drifts back to last night-- her beautiful, smooth legs wrapped around me, my mouth all over her incredible body, the sounds of complete ecstasy that escaped her lips. It’s enough to cause a slight problem in my pants. I’m so fucked if I don’t find her.

Every other page I try to click on is blocked. Damn company firewalls.

By five I race out the door and head to the nearest cell phone provider store. They help me to cancel my number, since I have no idea who has my phone and don’t want any surprises. About forty-five minutes later I’m outfitted with a new iPhone and a brand new number. Unfortunately, I’ve lost all my contacts.

Once at home, I send emails to request friends’ and families’ contact info, and they slowly trickle in. Jasper and Em still haven’t responded, but they’re probably quite busy wherever they are.

My mind keeps going back to Bella. She probably hates me now. I’m going to have to do a hell of a lot of groveling if she’ll even hear me out. Shit. She’s fucking amazing, though, and the thought of not seeing her again makes me livid. I can’t get her out of my head and now I don’t even know if she’ll have me after this fuck-up of the millennium.

By Friday night, I’m frickin’ beside myself. I still have no internet at home, but am able to  check my email from my phone. A few are from my contacts sharing their info with me, but nothing else. Damn it. I try again to google Bella and see the same pictures from the other day, plus some links to articles that name her as a designer, but no info on her current place of employment. I’m up shit’s creek, I know it.

Saturday morning I go out for my usual run, trying to clear my head and think. There’s nothing I can do but wait for Jazz or Em to call me. They’re really my only link to Bella by this point. 

After showering, I sit myself down to try to do some work, hoping that it will take my mind off of how screwed up my life is right now. The only woman I’ve ever felt the kind of connection that I thought could lead to something really, really good, and I’m totally cut off from her.

My phone rings about an hour later and I jump to grab it, hoping against hope it’s her. Then I realize she doesn’t have my new number and probably hates me by now. Fuck my life. But it’s Jazz, fucking finally.

“Fucking finally!”

“Whoa there. You miss me that much, bitch?”

“Where the fuck have you been that you can’t check your email?”

“What? Dude, I haven’t checked my email in the last 48 hours. We haven’t had a moment to ourselves. I just got yours now. We’re at the airport waiting to take off and I thought I’d call. What’s the problem? You sound pissy.”

“Jazz, I’ve been completely disconnected since I lost my phone. I don’t even have Bella’s number to call her and tell her what’s up. I need you to do me a huge favor and talk to Alice and tell her what’s going on, maybe relay the message to Bella and get her number so I can call her,” I ramble without breathing.

“Okay, okay, calm down. But I haven’t really spoken to Alice since the night at the bar, so it’s going to sound a bit like I’m using her just to get info, and I don’t know if you realize this, Edward, but I’d really like to hit that at some point in the near future. So forgive me for waiting ‘till I land to give her a proper phone call. Can you wait a couple hours?”

I sigh, defeated. “Sure. Why not. I’ve suffered through for the last couple of days, I guess I can wait a couple of hours. Bella probably hates me now anyway.”

Jasper chuckles. “Stop being such a pussy and relax. You’re probably making more of it than it is. Alice hasn’t even called me, and Rosalie hasn’t called Em either. You’d be surprised at how girls nowadays don’t mind a few days of distance before you call them again.”

“Shit. I know that, but things kind of happened last night...”

There’s a moment of silence, and I briefly wonder if I’ve lost the connection.

“Oh, shit, indeed. Are you serious?” Jasper finally asks.

“Yeah. And I want to see her again. I promised her I’d text her the next day...”

“Oh, yeah, then you’re probably fucked,” Jasper deadpans.

“Gee, thanks, Jazz. You’re a great friend, you fucker.”

“Look, I gotta go. Relax. We’ll figure something out as soon as I land. Trust.”

“Yeah, whatever. Safe flight,” I mumble.

“Talk to you later, man.”

“Bye.”

I drop my head into my hands. I’m fucked. Just like Jazz said.

No sooner do I end the call and there’s a knock at my door. I pad my way to the door and look through the peephole only to see the very bane of my existence. Great.

“Victoria, what the fuck are you doing here?” I growl as I crack the door open and poke my head out.

“Oh, hush. I just came to see you. You haven’t returned my calls so I figured I’d stop by to make sure you’re not in any danger,” Victoria says, pursing her lips in failed attempt to seem sexy.

“Well, I’m alive and well, so if you’ll excuse me...” But before I can slam the door in her place, she interjects.

“Wait. Can I come in? I just wanted to talk to you. I’d like just a few minutes of your time to say a few things and I’ll leave you alone,” she pleads, suddenly serious and looking sincere. Against my better judgment, I slowly widen the open door for her to come in. Something says this is a bad idea, but before I can change my mind she’s already making herself at home, resting her designer purse on my kitchen table.

“Could I have some water?” she asks quietly.

“Sure.” After complying with her request, I cautiously lean against my kitchen counter and cross my arms at my chest. She begins.

“So I wanted to apologize for my behavior the other day at your job and at lunch. It was unprofessional and totally uncalled for,” she confesses, gazing up at me through her lashes. For a moment I’m caught off guard. Victoria has made it a point to pursue me quite aggressively for the last few weeks since I called the whole thing off between us...whatever it was.

“That’s fine. No blood no foul,” I respond after a beat. 

“Edward, I just want us to have another chance at something. I know we could be really great together if you just gave us another go.” She pouts as she moves towards me slowly. So she still doesn’t get it. I sigh internally.

“Victoria, I thought I made myself pretty clear several times about how I feel. There won’t be an ‘us’ anymore. We don’t match. You’re a very attractive woman, but I’m just not the guy for you. I’m sure you’ll find someone who deserves you and you won’t have to work so hard for it to just flow, you know? We don’t have it,” I explain as calmly as I can. She halts her steps.

“It’s someone else, isn’t it?” she asks, accusingly. Her scowl from the other day reappears. Geez, this woman’s mood swings are freaking me out a little. I decide to be honest.

“Actually, Victoria, there is. I did meet someone.”

“Is that who you were texting during our meeting?” She sounds a little pissed off.

How does she know I was...?

I clear my throat before continuing. “Um, not that it’s any of your business, but yes, that’s who I was texting. But it’s not relevant to our current conversation,” I say pointedly. 

“Like hell it’s not, Edward. But fine. Keep you’re little ‘someone’. You’ll be quite sorry when she doesn’t make you feel the way I do. You’ll be begging for me to take you back before you know it. And I’ll be waiting,” she warns as she picks up her bag and heads for the door. Thank God I changed my number.

“You’ll be waiting forever then. You and I are done, Victoria. End of story,” I say, ushering her to my door. 

She grins sardonically over her shoulder. “We’ll see.”

I roll my eyes, breathing a little easier once she’s on the other side of the door. But before I realize what she’s doing, her gloved hand wraps around my jaw, pulling me forward. She smashes her mouth against mine in a rather painful kiss, if you can really call it that. I quickly push her off of me only to see her grin evilly. I’m disgusted at the nerve of her. When she steps down, she utters words that floor me

“Oh, and say hello to your ‘Bella’ for me. Send her my apologies for throwing your cell phone in the trash, you asshole.”

What. The. Fucking. Hell?

“What! What did you say? YOU... you threw my fucking phone in the garbage? How dare you!” I growl as she chuckles and walks away.

Everything at that point turns a dark shade of red. I’m so livid I want to throw something. As soon as I slam the door closed, I kick a nearby table, sending the bowl where I keep my keys crashing down. The sound of the shattering glass echoes through the house.

That bitch threw my phone away. She threw my lifeline in the garbage. She must’ve seen Bella’s name in my contacts. Oh, Shit! Maybe she spoke to her or sent her texts disguised as me? What the fuck did she tell her? I’m so fucking angry as I pace my house, I look for more shit to break. 

About an hour or two later, (I don’t even know how much time passes) I’m still pacing like a caged animal, until my phone rings, dragging me back to the present. It’s Jazz.

“Fucker! What’s going on? Please tell me you talked to Alice. I’m dying here!”

“Jesus Christ, man. Calm the fuck down. Yes, I just spoke to her, but it didn’t go very well.”

“What the fuck do you mean it didn’t go well?”

“Well, She kind of told me off... well, she told you off, and then she told me off.”

“What! Why?”

“Man, she was talking a mile a minute, really distraught. Talking about how you fucked up and Bella never wants to speak to you again.”

“FUCK! I knew it! She fucking hates me! She won’t give you her number for me? I need to call and explain...” I want to throttle the motherfucker through the line.

“Dude, listen to me. She said something about how you’re a two-timing asshole...”

“What! What is she talking about?”

“She said Bella saw you kissing some red-head at your house today. I told her she’s out of her mind. I told her you’re crazy about Bella and wouldn’t do that, that you’re not that kind of guy. But she wasn’t havin’ it, man. She was fucking pissed. Now she won’t even talk to me. I’ve tried to call her back and it just goes to voicemail.” Jasper sounds just as freaked out as me.

Fucking Victoria. Bella saw me kissing Victoria. Victoria kissing me. She didn’t see me push the bitch away and kick her to the curb. No. Of course not. Because that’s not how my life works.

“Shit,” I repeat over and over, hitting my head against the coffee table with continual “thuds.”

“What do I do, Jazz?” I whisper into the phone.

“Okay, E, let’s just relax a minute. Em told me he’s gonna call Rosalie tonight and see what’s going on. Hopefully we’ll get some answers. He hasn’t spoken to her since the bar either, so it might take some coaxing to get info out of her. But trust, we’ll clear this up.”

“We fucking better.”

“We will. And if she doesn’t give you the chance to defend yourself, then dude, she’s not the kind of girl you want to be with, you know?”

“I guess.”

“No. You know. You know what I’m saying. I’ll keep trying Alice and see if she’ll talk. We just have to be patient. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Alright. Thanks, Jazz. Sorry about this whole shit storm. Didn’t mean to pull you into it.”

“You didn’t. It became my business when Alice yelled at me. It will be alright. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

I don’t know how long I sit staring at the wall. Maybe five minutes. Maybe five hours. I have no idea how I’m getting myself out of this hell hole of a situation, or if Bella will ever give the time of day again. The thought of never seeing her again makes me feel empty . . . Fuck. How has this girl gotten under my skin so easily? All I know is I need to see her again.

I’m going to need a miracle.