A Change in Direction: Chapter Seven

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Chapter Seven

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“So, how was it?” My best friend texted at around ten in the evening. By that time, I was already in my pajamas and reading in bed.

“Fine,” was all I was going to respond, but I should have known better. About two seconds after the message was sent, the phone rang. “Hi, Alice,” I replied without looking at the caller ID. 

“What do you mean, fine? Fine? That’s all I get? How was it? How was work? I guess I couldn’t really call it that. It was more like a meeting. But anyway, yeah, how was it?” She babbled. I could hear Jasper watching football in the background. She must have been bored. 

“Fine,” I answered her again, mainly just to annoy her. 

She scoffed loudly. “Come on! What happened?”

Sighing, I leaned my head back against the headboard. “He gave me a Mac laptop and an iPhone.” I closed my book because I knew I wouldn’t return to it anytime soon. “For work. Not like a gift.”

“Sweet! Are they fancy?” 

“Of course, they’re Apple products. But yes, they are higher-end. They are more than capable of handling the job,” I responded as I sank under the covers. 

“So, did you get to know each other better?” Alice asked, continuing her interrogation. “Learn anything interesting?”

“Yes. But I signed a piece of paper to keep me from telling you any of it,” I said smugly. It was nice to have that to use when I needed it.

“You signed a piece of paper to keep you from talking about it?” She hummed loudly. “Damn. I’m sure you can tell me a little something-something about Mr. Masen,” my best friend urged playfully. “Something he wouldn’t mind me knowing.” 

“Well,” I laughed as I tried to think of something to give her that wouldn’t hurt anything. Most of it was probably public knowledge, anyway. “Two things kind of surprised me. Masen isn’t really his last name. Cullen is. I didn’t get to ask why he changed it, though. And he’s part German. I would have figured French.”

“Mm… Germans are hot with the whole macho, strong man thing. And you know I like a gentleman with an accent,” she sighed as if her mind was going into a delightfully dirty place. 

“He doesn’t have one,” I giggled.

“That explains why you think I’m so damn sexy,” I heard Jasper yell in the background with his thick southern twang ringing throughout every word. “You know you love it, baby.”

“Shut up, idiot,” Alice chided him. “I’m talking to Bella. Not you. Watch your stupid game.”

Both Jasper and I laughed at her annoyance. 

“Honey, really, there isn’t much to say about it.”

She sighed in disappointment. “Is he nice, at least?” 

I didn’t have to think about that answer at all. “Yes. He is. Very much so. It kind of shocked me.”

“Why? Did you expect him to be a dick?”

“Yes,” I told her truthfully. 

“Well, that’s good, right? It sucks working for a jackass.”

I tugged on my blanket, bringing it higher over my waist as I sunk down farther into my pillows. “Yeah, it does. It’s just not what I was preparing myself for.”

“It’s always better to plan for the worst and hope for the best,” she declared cheerfully. “Alright, I only wanted to see how tonight went. You’re off Monday and Tuesday?”

“Yup.”

“I’ll call you then for the weekend news. I need to get some work done. Want to come over on Tuesday, so I can show you my new fabric and designs? I’ve got some adorable Christmas stuff.”

“Sure, sounds fun. I’ll call you Monday,” I answered as I wrapped up the conversation. “I need to get to sleep. I’ve got to wake up early in the morning.”

“Right! See you then. Night-night.”

“Night, Bells!” Jasper yelled, making me chuckle quietly to myself. 

“Goodnight, you two. Have a good weekend.”

I wasn’t sure what casual was to Edward, but I knew what it was for me, so I went with a bit of a dressed-up version. I wore a pair of black jeans with my new knee-length boots over them. With them, a black, v-necked t-shirt with a stylized and bejeweled Celtic cross on it and studded leather belt. I braided my hair messily, so it was going over one shoulder. I felt like putting on the same red lipstick I had the night before. It made me feel almost hip. 

Almost.

I was ready and waiting for the car with the computer and phone in the bag he had gotten me. My things were shoved into it, too. Seth opened the door for me with an approving smile.

“Good morning, Ms. Swan,” he said as we drove away from my home. I had no idea where Edward lived. I hadn’t even thought about it. “How are you?”

“Great. You?” I smiled, feeling optimistic for some reason. I played with the end of my ponytail, slinking down comfortably in my seat with my feet propped up. 

“Good! I’m alive, and that’s all I need. Well, that and food. And sleep. Money helps. Plus, my Xbox does make life a lot more pleasant,” he chuckled. “I don’t require much more than that. I’m an easy man to please.”

I quietly laughed. “I think I’m with you on that. I miss my games. Last year, I had to pawn them because my car broke down and I had to get it fixed. I sold my Wii, both of the Xboxes I had, and my DS, along with all the games. I probably spent thousands on all of them, and I only got six hundred for it all. But I guess I shouldn’t complain. It paid for the repairs.”

“Damn, that sucks. And girl gamers are so rare.” He clicked his tongue, shaking his head playfully. “It’s a shame. What do you play now? Do you have anything?”

“Stupid free flash games on the computer. They kind of fill the void.” I shrugged. “Maybe I can get some stuff back now that I’ve got a job. I’ve gotten so used to being broke, it’s a little hard to think about having money to burn.” I shrugged again as I twisted the end of my braid, brushing it against my fingertips. It hadn’t been something I had allowed myself to even consider. I wanted to get to a comfortable place first and have a savings account again. I needed the cushion. 

At the very least, I had to get paid first.

“How long were you out of work?”

“Too long,” I sighed. “This thing with Mr. Masen is kind of a blessing. I’m getting paid to be his friend and babysitter. I’m not entirely sure why he needs me, though. He seems like a capable man.”

I wasn’t certain why I over-shared so much. I was just so comfortable with him. He seemed like a nice guy who I could trust with my thoughts. Maybe chauffeurs were related to bartenders and therapists in that way. 

“Well,” he mulled over his words before he answered me. “I’ve never seen Mr. Masen like he was last night. I mean, he’s nice. Don’t get me wrong, but happy and nice aren’t the same thing. He seemed content. And I’ve never seen him talk so much. I’ve driven him with other people, business folks, and even family, and he didn’t speak that much.”

“Really?” I asked in shock. 

“Frankly, I think he might be kind of surprised with himself. That he ain’t that way with you too, I mean,” he replied as he pulled onto a street right off of interstate about ten minutes from my home. The avenue was lined with large, beautiful houses of all different styles. The only thing they had in common was their age. They built most of them before the turn of the last century.

His was a vast two-story English style manor with a very light baby blue outside. There were dozens of windows, most of them covered with gauzy white curtains except for the two bay windows by the front door. The driveway must have been close to a half-mile long and went all the way to the backyard where there was also a large garage that was five times bigger than my home. There was even a small glass greenhouse. 

Seth parked beside the house, between the front yard and the back. He pulled the door open for me, offering me a hand up from my awkward position as he smiled. “Here you go. I’ll see you later, Ms. Swan. Mr. Masen put my number on your phone, so call if you need anything.”

“Thank you,” I grinned. “And thanks for listening to me earlier.”

“Nah. Don’t worry about it. Maybe we can talk about games later?”

“I’d like that,” I told him honestly. “See ya. By the way, call me Bella. Seriously, don’t be concerned about being so formal. I think we’re going to get to know each other pretty well.”

“Alright then, Bella. Later.” He beamed before hopping into the car. 

My comfortable conversation melted away as I awkwardly made my way to the front entrance. I didn’t belong in a place like this, so massive and beautiful. And old. The two monolithic white doors with golden knockers and knobs were hardly an inviting start. I bit the inside of my lip and frowned slightly as I finally rang the doorbell after standing there for several seconds. 

I could hear a quiet hum of music through the door, but it became far more clear when it opened. On the other side was a tiny Latino woman with dark shiny hair and nearly black eyes. “Come in,” she said in a thick accent. “Mr. Masen is back here. You can come with me,” she stated in broken English. 

“Oh, okay,” I replied as I followed behind her. As I did, the music got louder and louder until it was ringing in my ears. And it wasn’t classical but heavy metal. Not just that. It was the screaming sort. It really stunned me. 

“He is in there.” She pointed to a half-open door down a hallway. I wasn’t entirely sure I could find my way around if I got lost. The place was so big. But I wouldn’t get any more help from the maid because she scurried off without another word. 

I knocked on it, but I don’t think it was loud enough. I pushed it open more, peeking inside. Edward was shirtless in sweats, beating the hell out of a punching bag. 

And oh, my... what a sight it was. 

He wasn’t a bulky kind of muscled, but they were there along his thin arms. His chest surprised me. He didn’t have a six-pack or anything, but he was solid as a brick wall. There wasn’t much flab on his frame or hair either. But what he did have a lot of was freckles, all down his shoulders and back. They were thicker in concentration by his shoulders blades before spreading out as they went down his spine, making it look like a cascading waterfall. It was hard to explain, but they were very sexy. 

Okay, hot was the word I was searching for. Very, very hot. Sizzling.

Edward’s large hands were wrapped in a black strip of fabric like boxers used, his fingers curled into fists as he pounded a canvas cloth punching bag. He was quick with each jab and undercut, making it sway in protest. Sweat poured from his temples, his hair already wet and slicked back. He threw a heavy backhand against it, and a threatening growl came from his clenched teeth. 

I had to stop staring. I was being creepy, and I wouldn’t have liked it if someone did the same thing to me. So, I spoke up. 

“I never imagined you to be the type to enjoy this kind of music,” I shouted. 

Edward jumped in surprise, the swaying punching bag getting revenge for its abuse by coming back at him. It hit him hard on the shoulder, nearly knocking him to the floor. When he got his balance, he gazed at me in shock. “Holy shit. You scared me! Is it after ten already?” He huffed as he rubbed his neck, his chest heaving. I could almost see his heart beating. 

“I’m sorry. Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” he said, rubbing the back of his hand across his forehead to wipe away some sweat. “This is why I only do this on the weekend. I get too into it, and I lose myself. I only meant to do that an hour and get a shower before you came. I apologize.”

“How long have you been at it?”

He shook his head as if it embarrassed him. “Since eight. I am so sorry. I was going to be waiting for you and-”

“Why are you apologizing? This is your day off, and this is your house. If this is what you want to do, then you should do it,” I informed him. 

Edward didn’t seem to know what to say to me, so instead of answering, he went over to his stereo and turned it off. He pulled the cloth from his hands, tossing it over into a basket in the room’s corner. Besides the punching bag, there was also a treadmill, a weight set, and a stationary bike. They were all top of the line from the looks of them. If the number of buttons was any sign of their price, they probably cost more than my trailer. 

“Because I don’t like it when I’m not able to control myself,” he finally answered, picking up a towel and a bottle of water. “I don’t like it when I forget myself.”

“You’re human. You’re allowed to have those times. I do that with video games all the time,” I told him, thinking back on the conversation I had with Seth. It wasn’t as common as it used to be, but I wasn’t complaining. 

“Hm, I guess so.” He awkwardly smiled at me, coming to stand directly in front of me. “You look so lovely today. You’re ravishing, and I’m a slob.”

“You’ve been exercising. It’s not a proper workout if you still look good afterward,” I teased, trying hard to gaze into nothing but his eyes. It wouldn’t have been very nice to stare at his chest. If women didn’t like men doing it, I shouldn’t do it in return. But he looked so alluring. 

I suddenly had a vision of him taking me in his strong, sweaty arms and kissing me as he did that day at his office. His stubble covered chin brushing against my neck as he bit my ear. Laying me out in the middle of the workout mats with the music blaring to cover up my moans. 

Holy shit. Where did that come from?

“Bella, are you okay?” Edward asked, taking a step forward and bending slightly to examine me closer. “Your cheeks are quite flushed. Are you feeling well?” He lifted his hand to touch one but stopped, remembering his current state.

“Oh, yeah, um... it’s just kind of hot in here,” I lied, backing up into the hallway more where it was dimmer. 

“Oh, I’m sorry! Yeah, it is. Um, I need to get a shower, so I don’t offend you with my stench. Would you like me to show you to the library or the den? I don’t want you to be bored while you wait for me. I feel like such an ass,” he mumbled the last sentence to himself.

“Where ever is fine,” I remarked, thinking I could entertain myself well enough with my phone or laptop anywhere he did. 

“Alright.” He slid past me, and I caught a whiff of that same cookie scent, but it was stronger with only a hint of salt. “Why don’t you follow me? After I get cleaned up, I’ll give you the grand tour.”

I trailed behind him, looking at all the doors. “This place is amazing.” 

He smiled as he glanced over his shoulder at me. “Yes, I quite like it myself. Normally I rent an apartment, but since I was going to be staying down here for so long, I decided to just get a house. We’ll have a lot of business down here, and my father will have to come down too. I wanted a decent space to have room for my family.”

“Jeez, how big is it? This place could house fifty people comfortably,” I commented as I looked at all I could as I followed behind. Beautiful and unique artwork lined the walls, some paintings while others were pictures of people. A few I could tell were his family by their nose or eyes. 

Edward hummed as he thought about it. “Let’s see. My father, stepmother, older brother. And my younger sister, her husband, and her kids. I’m pretty sure there are bathrooms and beds for each of us and then some,” he chuckled. “It was more than I wanted, to be honest, but the prices down here are outrageously low. I mean, compared to other areas I’ve lived. It made more sense to get a place we could use whenever it was needed. It was far cheaper and easier than having to worry about an apartment or hotel.”

“This place is amazing,” I repeated, feeling like a bum. 

“It’s just my home.”

“This isn’t just anything-” I told him, and I was going to say more, but I gasped loudly as he came to a stop. 

We were in the middle of a den that would have made any thirteen-year-old boy cry with joy. There was a massive television with a cabinet that housed every game system you could imagine, going back to Atari. He lined the wall with more video games than a store and the books that went along with them. Across from them was a movie collection triple the size. Film posters of every kind decorated the dim room. In front of the TV was an enormous couch with a staggering number of pillows on the floor. Off in one corner was a pool table and a bar, as well as a few pinball machines and arcade cabinets.

“Fuck me sideways...” I drawled out stupidly.

“Pardon?” Edward turned around, looking at me in complete astonishment. 

“This is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

He smiled and rolled his eyes. “I only decorated three rooms in this place myself. My bedroom, the library, and this one. I spend most of my free time here. I’m glad you like it.”

“Normal people don’t have things like this,” I breathed.

“Bella,” he chuckled, “the last thing I am is normal. Now, I want you to make yourself completely at home. What is mine is yours. Start a movie, play a game. Whatever you want to do. If you need a drink, get whatever you wish from the bar. It’s fully stocked. And why don’t you think about what you’d like to eat for lunch while I get cleaned up?”

“Okay,” I whispered, feeling very overwhelmed. 

“Are you certain you’re well?” Edward asked again, just to make sure. He brushed his knuckles against my forearm. “You seem...” he trailed off, leaving the sentence to hang in the air. 

“I’m fine,” I assured him, trying to get control of myself. Blushing at the contact, I smiled as innocently as possible. “You brought me to my nerdy heaven, and I don’t know where to start.”

“Well, we can spend as much time here as you want,” Edward promised as he headed towards the door. “This is my happy place, and it’s nice to know that it could be yours, too.”

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Thanks to Gina for proofreading this chapter!

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