Chapter Two

Emmett was a big man, it was no wonder people were always intimidated by him. If he showed up wanting to make a deal I’d definitely run, but I knew him better through Alice; he wasn’t as scary as he looked. He had a wide chest with nice broad shoulders, perfectly muscled arms and legs, and dark brown curls he kept swept back except one that defied the gel to sweep over his forehead. I knew he was the kind of man who was up for beer and chicken wings so I had to wonder why he loved wearing suits so much; although he did look remarkable in a well fit Armani suit.

Alice had called him two nights ago with some good news. She already warned me that we were taking the cloak and dagger approach to this little stunt so she was very secretive with the little bit of her conversation. I didn’t stick around to listen since I had to try and find a place for all her things. The closet in the second bedroom was big enough to fit most of her clothes yet she still had three more suitcases. I didn’t see why she needed all the dresses and shoes. Where did she even find her size? Did she coerce designers to make size zeros to fit a petite body? Whatever the case I kind of wished she’d do the same for me.

No, bad Bella! I don’t think like that anymore! It was shallow and vain, no reason to waste energy on designer labels. I was a simple girl now who enjoyed the finer things of life. The arts were my thing now, artists especially. Their passion kept me wired for days.

Now Emmett, Alice, and I sat under the twinkling chandelier in the dining room. At first I didn’t recognize my table covered in paperwork, or should I say, actually being used for something. I didn’t need meals to sustain myself although an apple was nice now and then. And I couldn’t keep my claws off a good cup of java.

Emmett sat back in the chair, lacing his fingers behind his neck. “I looked over the transcripts of the meeting and they clearly said any throne. I don’t see why you can’t get away with it,” he said. “It’s going to take a lot of balls but if you do this right the board will owe you one. An heir to an ancient family fortune—that’s big.”

“That’s what I thought,” Alice said with a grin. “We’re not just giving them a hot prince, we’re giving them money.”

“We?” I crowed. “You mean me. You have nothing to do with this.”

“Excuse me? I’m getting you close to the guy.”

“Who exactly are you going after, anyway?” Emmett interrupted.

Before I could reply Alice slapped her hand over my mouth. She already warned me enough times what she would do to me if I squealed; did she really think I would say anything? I had my own grave already cleaned and waiting for me. She could dig her own.

“There’s no paperwork involved here, big guy. It’s all hush-hush. I called you for a second opinion and nothing more. That means absolutely no blabbing!”

He sighed heavily enough to dislodge his curl. “Carlisle isn’t going to like this one bit. I already told him about our meeting, he’ll want to know what it’s about.”

“Tell him to go suck a harpy’s tit! Just because he’s your superior doesn’t mean you have to tell him everything. As far as he knows we’re just meeting for a drink and a good time.”

I gathered all my saliva on my tongue before I ran it over Alice’s palm. It cut her arguing short, pulling her hand back with a screech. She glared at me while wiping my spit on Emmett’s paperwork.

“Why can’t Carlisle know?” I asked. “He’s the director of this region; if we do this behind his back he’ll have our heads, for sure.”

“Naïve little Bella, I’ll explain when you’re older. Emmett, I don’t think we need your services right now. You can go ahead and leave.”

“Services?” he snorted. “You wouldn’t give me any information. How exactly did I help?”

Alice sighed and rolled her eyes. For fifteen minutes exactly we were able to have a decent conversation. The only thing Emmett could offer us was a few names of his contacts that had eyes and ears all over the city. I could tell from the strained smile on Alice’s face we wouldn’t use the contacts. Why did she want to keep it so secret? Emmett would never steal her job; he was higher on the food chain than her, acting as Carlisle’s right hand.

Emmett also suggested we speak with the board to make sure we could pull this whole deal off. Personally I still didn’t see how Edward Masen was considered to be worth so many souls. He was regular billionaire who used his money for good. Okay, I guess I could see the appeal. Depending how he felt about charity events would bump the price up higher. Three hundred souls, at least.

On the fifteenth minute exactly, Alice shoved the paper at Emmett. She was kicking him out of my apartment! She might live here temporarily, but she did not control this place. She slammed the door in his surprised face and grinned at me.

“What was that about?” I asked dumbly.

“He’s a good man but wears on my nerves quickly,” she replied simply. “I only wanted his opinion on such a big feat; he had to do this kind of thing once to save his hide. I also asked him to tell the board we accept the challenge, though I doubt the lug can do that much.” She waved her hands by her head as if waving away thoughts. “Go ahead and sit in the living room. We have to talk.”

I moved as she went to retrieve what I guessed would be more paperwork. Imps couldn’t do anything without it; they loved the business approach. I suppose it helped keep everything easily organized. Alice returned with a manila folder in her hands. I groaned at the sight. Great, it was more paperwork. What now? She laid out different pictures on my lap and coffee table.

“I did some research. The hot prince’s family founded a huge corporation; had great luck in the Gold Rush and the oil industry, it’s no surprise their rich. Masen Industries focuses mainly on funding hospitals, always trying to get health care to third world countries, yet get this.” She pointed to the picture on my right knee, a tall glass building. “The Masen building is made up all kinds of departments. Guess who dipped into the fashion pool?”

My eyes went round. “Are you serious?”

She laughed. “I’m not kidding! Edward runs the whole fashion department. Don’t get me wrong, he has control over the medical department and basically everything else, but he alone founded the fashion! Doesn’t that scream gay?”

“He kind of looks like it, too,” I mumbled.

Alice’s laughter increased in volume until it was deep belly laughs; soon she was literally rolling on the floor with her fit. I had to slap her a few times before she settled down.

“So what exactly am I doing?” I asked impatiently. “He’s obviously heavily guarded; I can’t walk in there and have my way with him. How do I get to him? And what if he is gay? Then we’re definitely not getting anything from him!”

She held up an unfamiliar paper. I read the first few lines carefully. She wasn’t serious. She couldn’t be. It was absolutely preposterous!

“A job?”

“You better be grateful! Emmett cleared the waiting list and lost the secretary her job—without even knowing why he was doing it. This is the only way to get close to a man like him.”

“Can’t I just shape-shift to look like his mother and scar him?”

She gave me a doubtful look and shoved the paper in my hands as she gathered the others. I stared at the foreign object with disgust. I couldn’t get a job, especially as a secretary for some major company. I hardly knew anything about today’s technology! I knew espresso machines, cheap cell phones, and television. I never had a reason yet to try my hand at computers.

I leaned over the back of the sofa as Alice went to put her work away. “Alice, I haven’t had a job since I was a courtesan! When was that? Back in the 18^th century—things have changed since then.”

“There’s no way around it, Bella. If you want to live you will fill out that application and do what you do best—fake it till you make it.”

She smiled over her shoulder as I sat pouting on the sofa. No amount of good would come from this. It was stupidity on my part for accepting.

Now . . . where did I keep the pens around this place?