FB - Chapter 27 Teaser

The rest of Monday night was fairly uneventful. I joined Isabella in the kitchen to help her finish making dinner. She was still a little hesitant, but I could tell that she was trying not to be.

Tuesday morning, she joined me for a very quiet breakfast before I headed to the office. I beat Angela in, and was already in the middle of a current grant proposal by the time she knocked on my door. “Good morning, Mr. Masen.”

“Morning, Angela. Come in.”

She walked into my office and took a seat in front of my desk. “It’s good to have you back.”

“Thank you,” I smiled.

My assistant was one of the nicest people I had ever met and very loyal. “I brought you some phone messages,” she said handing them to me. I flipped through them quickly. There was nothing overly important here other than a call from Jenks. “Oh and Miss Brandon called just before five yesterday as well, but she said she would just track you down today. Should I call her and set something up?”

“Yes. I do believe I have lunch available today. Why don’t you see if she is able to join me and order us something from the deli across the street.”

She nodded. “Is there anything else, sir?”

“I think that’s all for now, Angela. Thanks.”

Less than five seconds pasts after my door clicked shut before I picked up the phone and dialed my lawyer. “Jenks and Associates. How may I help you?”

FB - Chapter 26 Teaser

“Also, I was curious as to which name you prefer?” His voice rose slightly at the end of the sentence making it a question.

“You know my name,” I whispered.

He nodded. “This is true.” He paused as if thinking through something. Then as if finishing his thought he began talking again as if he hadn’t stopped. “When I purchased you from Aro he told me your name was Isabella Marie Swan. He called you Isabella, and you’ve never said any different or given me any reason to think you preferred to be addressed in any other way.”

Now I was more confused. If he knew my name was Isabella, what was he getting at?

I didn’t have to wait long. “I had a meeting with Demetri this past week to see how things were going. He called you Bella,” he said, searching my face for a reaction. He got one. I sucked in a breath at hearing the name my family and friends had called me before this nightmare had begun.

Demetri did call me that, but for some reason it was different. Hearing him…Edward…say name again brought back the memory once again of the phone call with my father telling me that Saturday afternoon that a car would be picking me up. I felt my heart rate pick up along with my breathing, but I was okay. I was okay.

“I was called Bella. Before,” I whispered knowing he’d hear me.