Buying Love Update

Buying Love Chapter 22 Update on FicPad

Buying Love Chapter 22 Update on AO3

Buying Love Chapter 22 Update on FFn

Buying Love Chapter 22 Update on TWCS

I woke up early the next morning. I finished packing for our extended weekend for Jacob and Seth’s wedding. My choices were a combination of sexy and sweet. I spent a lot of money at La Perla to enhance my lingerie wardrobe. Edward and I had been keeping our physical aspect of our relationship relatively PG-13, but he had alluded to wanting to explore more while we were away in California.

My cell phone chirped as I was putting my shoes into my luggage. Esme had sent me an email, telling me that Edward was on his way and to remind me of her rules while Edward was out of Seattle. My response was terse, saying that I wasn’t on her payroll. What Edward and I do during my time is our business. Also, the time constraints she put on our return was complete crap.

What if we get delayed? Ever hear of fog?

She needed to back off. Yes, she was Edward’s ‘boss,’ but she was a control freak.

Fucking bitch. 

Edward's birthday bouquet to Bella

Charlie's Private Jet

King County International Airport

Villa in Sonoma

Buying Love Picture Tease

Plan of Attack

I can't believe that I can put Star Crossed in the complete column of my computer. It truly pushed me in ways I never thought possible. It was such an amazing story to write. Epic, almost, but not quite. I'm proud of it and happy how it ended. I've already got more brewing. You know? 

I'm still working on Buying Love, trying desperately to build a surplus of chapters but my brain is NOT cooperating. Damn. It. I'm currently working on chapter twenty-four. I'd like to get to chapter thirty before reaching a stopping point so I can work on my next project, So You Think You Can Dance. I wrote the first three chapters for the Fandom 4 Autism. I'm working, focusing on that next. An extended summary will be posted on December 3rd on all of my blogs. The story itself will be posting on December 17th. 

Under Construction has about five more chapters left, with some AMAZING lemons coming up. That should be finished by mid-December. Restoration is complete (with twenty-eight chapters) and will begin posting on Christmas Eve. 

However, I've been struggling with RL issues. Yesterday and today have been rough. It was the first Thanksgiving without my mom and it was tense to say the least. I don't know how to handle it. The two people I care most for in the world can't handle being in the same room with each other. I don't know what to do. Perhaps, if I lose myself in my writing, the stress of RL will go away. I'd appreciate some prayers and virtual loving ... 

Hugs,

Josie “Tufano79”

Buying Love Update

Buying Love Chapter Twenty-One on FicPad

Buying Love Chapter Twenty-One on FFn

Buying Love Chapter Twenty-One on AO3

Buying Love Chapter Twenty-One on TWCS

The next month was spent with Edward and while he was with me, he was happy, but I could tell it was a mask. He was jumpy and his body was littered with bruises, scrapes and cuts. When I asked him about them, he would deflect and say that he was clumsy or he’d kiss me stupid.

I liked the kissing, but the lying not so much.

However, I’d let it slide because he treated me better than all of my previous relationships. I also had my suspicions that it was Esme who was causing Edward’s pain. If he trusted me enough to tell me his secret, I’d gladly wait for him. He was the sweetest, most caring man I’d ever met. My feelings for him were growing. Did I love him?

No.

But, it was a distinct possibility. 

Buying Love Teaser

I padded to the entryway, opening up the door to find my father’s head of security, Carlisle Cullen, leaning against the door jamb. “Hey, Carlisle. Thank you for coming.”

“Anything for you, Bella,” he said, limping into my suite. He used to be a Seattle PD detective, but he was shot in the line of duty, nearly dying from his injuries. The powers-that-be offered him a stuffy desk position, but he chose to retire and moved the private sector. Charlie and Carlisle were life-long friends. My father offered him a position as our head of security, quadrupling his salary and pension from the police department. He worked banker’s hours and loved every minute of it. I led him to the couch, handing him a scotch. “You know me too well, Bella.”

“Eh,” I shrugged. “It’s the least I could do, asking you to come on your day off.”

“Eh,” he repeated, snickering quietly. “So, what do you need, little one?”

“I need your investigative prowess, Carlisle. I also need your discretion, too. Daddy can’t know about what I’m about to ask you. It’s a delicate matter,” I blushed.

“Your secret is safe with me,” Carlisle nodded.

“Okay, so, you know my new boyfriend?” I said, wrinkling my nose.

“Edward? Yes. Charlie mentioned him. I’m shocked he hasn’t asked me to run a background check on him,” Carlisle snorted.

“Charlie hasn’t, but I want you to do it for me. I trust him and care for him a great deal, but there’s something more about him that I’m worried about,” I said. “Here’s his full name and birth date. I don’t have a social security number or address, though.”

“I can work with this,” Carlisle said, tucking the paper into his jacket. “What else? There’s more to this request.”

“I need you to run a check on Esme Platt. She’s the owner of Buying Love, Inc.,” I said, my face flaming in anger. 

Carlisle Cullen

Buying Love Update

Buying Love Chapter Twenty Update on FicPad

Buying Love Chapter Twenty Update on AO3

Buying Love Chapter Twenty Update on FFn

Buying Love Chapter Twenty Update on TWCS

Esme drove us to the dilapidated nursing home on the outskirts of Seattle. It was a county facility that barely took care of my mother’s needs. However, Esme found it and managed to get her into the facility. It smelled like urine and feces as soon as you walked in. The residents were abused almost daily by the caregivers. I’d seen more bruises on my mother than I care to admit. There was even a time when she was restrained in her bed, wearing a filthy adult diaper and covered with bedsores.

I raised holy hell over that.

The administrator that was in charge during that time was fired and it got better for a few months with a new leader, but they left and someone else, who didn’t care about these people, let the old ways return. Things were mildly better now, but it was still not the place I would have chosen for my mother.

When you’re fourteen and your life implodes, you have very little in the way of choices.

“Can we stop at McDonald’s and pick up a Happy Meal for her?” I asked.

“Do you have money?” Esme sneered.

I checked my wallet, seeing another huge tip from Bella. “I do,” I replied. I took out a twenty, putting my wallet back into my pocket before Esme saw how much I truly had.

“The third richest women in the world only tipped you a twenty?” Esme scoffed. “What a miser! You must have really been disappointing if that’s all she gave you. Do I need to call her and ask for a progress report?”

“No, you won’t. She gave me a hundred bucks,” I said.

Elizabeth Masen in better days

Elizabeth Masen in her current state

Buying Love Picture Teaser

Nursing Home 

Elizabeth Masen

Carmen