Buying Love Teaser

“Bella, there’s a phone call for you on line two,” said Jessica, standing by the entrance to my office. “It’s a man. Jared?”

“Thank you, Jess,” I said. “Can you please close the door?” She nodded and left me to take the phone call. I’d been searching for Jared since my ‘date’ with Edward. I was concerned about him since Felix was now Edward’s driver. Blowing out a breath, I picked up the phone. “Jared?”

“Miss Bella,” he whispered. He sounded older, more haggard. “I’m sorry I haven’t called you back. I was, um, unavailable …”

“You lie for shit, Jared,” I said. “Where are you?”

“I’m at home,” he replied. “I had an accident.”

“I’m coming to you, Jared,” I murmured.

“Don’t! I’m afraid that I’m being watched, Miss Bella,” Jared said.

“Then, let me send a car for you,” I pushed. “I’m certain you’re calling for the same reason why I was trying to contact you.”

“Very well,” he sighed.

He gave me his address and I contacted Carlisle, asking him to pick up Jared. I worked, not really paying attention to what I was doing. An hour later, Carlisle came into my office with a bruised and battered Jared. I stood up, my eyes wide and I scampered to him. “What happened to you?” I asked, helping him to the couch.

“Something happened to my limo. When the police investigated, it appeared that my brake lines were cut,” Jared said. “I was lucky. It could have been a lot worse.”

Jared

Carlisle

Bella

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“He won’t wake up, Esme,” came the fuzzy voice of Felix. He kicked my back, causing me to groan. “Why won’t he wake up?”

“We’ve been working him over for the past eight weeks. His body must have just given out,” Esme cooed.

“But, I wanted to fuck him until he bled,” Felix snarled.

“Felix, that’s too much, too far,” Esme snapped. “Because of your insolence, you lost your privilege to claim his ass. Besides, I’d rather he enjoy it. Now, he’s running a fever and delirious. Go get Dr. Gerandy. He can help us out.”

“So, no playtime with Edward?” Felix asked.

“Nope. I’d rather my victims be coherent and active participants,” Esme snickered, sitting on my bed and wiping brow with a damp cloth. I shifted, trying to get away from her. But, I was weak and sore and so tired. “Are you still here? Go!”

“Fine,” Felix snapped, stomping out of my room.

“It was a matter of time before you fell apart, Edward,” Esme said, her voice sickeningly sweet. Her hand threaded in my hair, pulling it harshly. “You are so pitiful. You know that this illness will be added to your bill. If you keep this up, you’ll never be able to pay me back, Edward.”

I opened my eyes. Esme was blurry and every part of my body was in excruciating pain. “I know that I will owe you, but please. Give me some time to heal, Mistress.”

She pursed her lips, getting up from her perch on my bed. “I shouldn’t be so accommodating, Edward. However, like I said before, I prefer my victims to be coherent and active participants,” she said. With a scowl, she left and came back with a bottle of water and some Advil. “You have two days to get better, Edward. Dr. Gerandy will see to all of your needs.” She got up, leaving me in my room. I collapsed against the bed and closed my eyes again. 

Buying Love Teaser

“He won’t wake up, Esme,” came the fuzzy voice of Felix. He kicked my back, causing me to groan. “Why won’t he wake up?”

“We’ve been working him over for the past eight weeks. His body must have just given out,” Esme cooed.

“But, I wanted to fuck him until he bled,” Felix snarled.

“Felix, that’s too much, too far,” Esme snapped. “Because of your insolence, you lost your privilege to claim his ass. Besides, I’d rather he enjoy it. Now, he’s running a fever and delirious. Go get Dr. Gerandy. He can help us out.”

“So, no playtime with Edward?” Felix asked.

“Nope. I’d rather my victims be coherent and active participants,” Esme snickered, sitting on my bed and wiping brow with a damp cloth. I shifted, trying to get away from her. But, I was weak and sore and so tired. “Are you still here? Go!”

“Fine,” Felix snapped, stomping out of my room.

“It was a matter of time before you fell apart, Edward,” Esme said, her voice sickeningly sweet. Her hand threaded in my hair, pulling it harshly. “You are so pitiful. You know that this illness will be added to your bill. If you keep this up, you’ll never be able to pay me back, Edward.”

I opened my eyes. Esme was blurry and every part of my body was in excruciating pain. “I know that I will owe you, but please. Give me some time to heal, Mistress.”

She pursed her lips, getting up from her perch on my bed. “I shouldn’t be so accommodating, Edward. However, like I said before, I prefer my victims to be coherent and active participants,” she said. With a scowl, she left and came back with a bottle of water and some Advil. “You have two days to get better, Edward. Dr. Gerandy will see to all of your needs.” She got up, leaving me in my room. I collapsed against the bed and closed my eyes again. 

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“You’re awfully quiet, Edward,” sneered Felix from the driver’s seat in the limo. “Couldn’t get it up?”

“It wasn’t like that,” I muttered. “The woman who requested me just needed arm candy for a party at her home.”

“At Charlie Swan’s home?” Felix asked, his eyes narrowing at me in the rear view mirror. “Surely you didn’t know, did you? How stupid do you think we are? How did you get a message to her, Edward?”

“I didn’t! I swear!” I snapped. “The woman at the house was not her. Bella wasn’t home. It was another woman, presumably one of Charlie’s employees, I guess.”

“You can’t lie for shit, Edward,” Felix snorted humorlessly. “Do you think we like hurting you?”

“Strangely enough, I do,” I retorted. “I also think you like it better when I suck your dick, too. Are you a fag, Felix?”

“You’ll pay for that, Edward,” Felix snarled. “I’ve been patient with you and Esme has been adamant that I don’t do that to you. She saw what it did to Jasper. He died a little each time I fucked him. But, I’d love to see you die, Edward. You are such a waste of space!”

“You didn’t fuck him, Felix. You raped him,” I whispered, a tear falling down my cheek. I wiped it away, pushing my emotions down. I know that Felix will undoubtedly tell Esme about my insolent, snotty behavior. Sleep would not come tonight. Felix pulled us into the parking garage underneath the building, getting up out of the car. I dragged my body out, waiting for Felix to get into my face.

He didn’t waste any time. “I didn’t rape him,” Felix sneered. “Jasper liked it. Just like you will, my pet.” 

Felix

Buying Love Teaser

“You’re awfully quiet, Edward,” sneered Felix from the driver’s seat in the limo. “Couldn’t get it up?”

“It wasn’t like that,” I muttered. “The woman who requested me just needed arm candy for a party at her home.”

“At Charlie Swan’s home?” Felix asked, his eyes narrowing at me in the rear view mirror. “Surely you didn’t know, did you? How stupid do you think we are? How did you get a message to her, Edward?”

“I didn’t! I swear!” I snapped. “The woman at the house was not her. Bella wasn’t home. It was another woman, presumably one of Charlie’s employees, I guess.”

“You can’t lie for shit, Edward,” Felix snorted humorlessly. “Do you think we like hurting you?”

“Strangely enough, I do,” I retorted. “I also think you like it better when I suck your dick, too. Are you a fag, Felix?”

“You’ll pay for that, Edward,” Felix snarled. “I’ve been patient with you and Esme has been adamant that I don’t do that to you. She saw what it did to Jasper. He died a little each time I fucked him. But, I’d love to see you die, Edward. You are such a waste of space!”

“You didn’t fuck him, Felix. You raped him,” I whispered, a tear falling down my cheek. I wiped it away, pushing my emotions down. I know that Felix will undoubtedly tell Esme about my insolent, snotty behavior. Sleep would not come tonight. Felix pulled us into the parking garage underneath the building, getting up out of the car. I dragged my body out, waiting for Felix to get into my face.

He didn’t waste any time. “I didn’t rape him,” Felix sneered. “Jasper liked it. Just like you will, my pet.” 

Felix

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About ten minutes after Edward left, Carlisle and Emmett McCarty arrived at my father’s home. I was pacing anxiously, afraid for Edward and sick to my stomach at what I was sending him back to. I should have forced him to stay. He needed my help. My love! He had lost so much weight and looked almost fragile. Even when he held me, there was very little strength behind it. Carlisle and Emmett sat down on the couch while Rose got some coffee for us.

“Thank you for coming, Carlisle,” I said, hugging my legs. “You, as well, Detective McCarty.”

“Please, call me Emmett,” he replied, smirking jovially. “I appreciate the information you provided for us on Esme Platt. We haven’t been able to get any leads. Several police officers are on the take from Esme. It’s how she gets new recruits. Men and women who are arrested for solicitation or prostitution are essentially sold to her, but there’s never a trail. She’s just that good.”

“We need to bring her down, Emmett,” I growled. “You’ve read the narrative from Jasper Whitlock, correct? What he went through was sickening and the fact that Edward could living through the same ordeal …?”

“I have. With that information, we’ve placed a tap on her phones, both in her office and at home. We’re working on trying to get a tap on her personal cell phone, but there’s not enough evidence,” Emmett explained. 

Detective Emmett McCarty

Buying Love Update

Today's my birthday, but you guys are getting the presents: an early update for Buying Love.

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My eyes were trained on the shattered man in front of me. He was on the ground, chanting quietly numerous apologies and pleas for forgiveness. Tears were flowing down his cheeks and he seemed so lost. Rose came in when she heard the slap.

“Fuck me,” she squeaked. “What the hell happened?”

“We were fighting. I kissed him and he wiped his mouth like he was disgusted with me. I slapped him and he fell to his knees, chanting numerous apologies,” I said, feeling incredibly guilty for cause this whatever this is.

“Esme fucked him up, Bells,” Rose murmured, squeezing my hand. I looked down at him, my heart breaking into a million pieces. “You need to get through to him, sweetie.”

“How?” I choked out.

“Love him,” Rose replied, kissing my temple. “I’ll call Carlisle and see if he can help us.”

She left us, walking to the kitchen. I sat down on the floor, staring at the broken, wrecked man in front of me. “Edward, can you hear me?”

“I’m so sorry. So sorry. Please don’t hurt me. Don’t hurt my mother,” he whispered, tears flowing down his pale cheeks. “I’ll do anything. Please … please!”

I inched closer to him, placing my hand on his knee. He jumped, pushing back and pressing his body against the wall. “Edward, I’m sorry. I won’t hurt you. Please come back.”

He curled up, hugging his legs. His face was pinched in pain. It looked like he was trying to make himself invisible. “Don’t hurt her. I’ll do anything you want. I promise. Just don’t hurt my mom. She’s all I have to live for. Please!”

“No, Edward, don’t say that,” I sobbed, taking his hand. He clenched his hand into a fist, refusing to move it, but gently I pried it away from his leg, seeing angry awful welts on his wrists. His cuffs were gone and I bit back vomit seeing the damage on his pale skin. “Edward, baby, please, come back to me.”

He hit his head against the wall. “I tried to be a good son. I tried and I failed. I don’t deserve anything good,” he said, taking his hand back and burying his face into his knees.

“You are a good son, Edward,” I whispered. “You are a good man.”

“No, I’m not,” he said, looking up. His eyes were empty, dead. 

Buying Love Teaser

My eyes were trained on the shattered man in front of me. He was on the ground, chanting quietly numerous apologies and pleas for forgiveness. Tears were flowing down his cheeks and he seemed so lost. Rose came in when she heard the slap.

“Fuck me,” she squeaked. “What the hell happened?”

“We were fighting. I kissed him and he wiped his mouth like he was disgusted with me. I slapped him and he fell to his knees, chanting numerous apologies,” I said, feeling incredibly guilty for cause this whatever this is.

“Esme fucked him up, Bells,” Rose murmured, squeezing my hand. I looked down at him, my heart breaking into a million pieces. “You need to get through to him, sweetie.”

“How?” I choked out.

“Love him,” Rose replied, kissing my temple. “I’ll call Carlisle and see if he can help us.”

She left us, walking to the kitchen. I sat down on the floor, staring at the broken, wrecked man in front of me. “Edward, can you hear me?”

“I’m so sorry. So sorry. Please don’t hurt me. Don’t hurt my mother,” he whispered, tears flowing down his pale cheeks. “I’ll do anything. Please … please!”

I inched closer to him, placing my hand on his knee. He jumped, pushing back and pressing his body against the wall. “Edward, I’m sorry. I won’t hurt you. Please come back.”

He curled up, hugging his legs. His face was pinched in pain. It looked like he was trying to make himself invisible. “Don’t hurt her. I’ll do anything you want. I promise. Just don’t hurt my mom. She’s all I have to live for. Please!”

“No, Edward, don’t say that,” I sobbed, taking his hand. He clenched his hand into a fist, refusing to move it, but gently I pried it away from his leg, seeing angry awful welts on his wrists. His cuffs were gone and I bit back vomit seeing the damage on his pale skin. “Edward, baby, please, come back to me.”

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Rose had backed out of the room and it was just me and Bella. Seeing her, it made my dead heart sputter back to life, but I was never going to see her again after today. Esme threatened my mother that if I saw Bella, regardless of the cost to her company, my mom would pay the ultimate price. I couldn’t let that happen.

That didn’t even come close to the physical, bodily harm she threatened to me. Even worse than what I’m feeling now. Death was preferable to what I was enduring. I just wasn’t brave enough to end it all. I couldn’t leave my mother in the clutches of Esme and as much as it pained me, I couldn’t let go of Bella.

My body was aching and sore. I was swimming in my clothes. My stomach was snarling from the lack of food. I hadn’t had a proper meal since my time in Napa. Esme was withholding food from me if called out in pain during my nightly round of torture. I was a broken man and I couldn’t let Bella see me like this. I had to break her heart and ultimately shatter mine so I could save my mother. She stared at me, her eyes swirling with anger, determination and something else. With great difficulty, I stood as tall as I could, feeling every bit of pain that Esme and Felix inflicted on me and glared at her. “You know nothing,” I snarled. “You couldn’t even fathom what I have to fucking deal with, Ms. Swan. I let my heart get involved and I was weak.”

“Like you are now?” she sneered. “I see what she’s done to you! What she’s doing to your mother!”

Buying Love Teaser

“I don’t know everything, but I know enough, Edward,” I snapped back. “I know your secret.”

EPOV

Rose had backed out of the room and it was just me and Bella. Seeing her, it made my dead heart sputter back to life, but I was never going to see her again after today. Esme threatened my mother that if I saw Bella, regardless of the cost to her company, my mom would pay the ultimate price. I couldn’t let that happen.

That didn’t even come close to the physical, bodily harm she threatened to me. Even worse than what I’m feeling now.

My body was aching and sore. I was swimming in my clothes. My stomach was snarling from the lack of food. I hadn’t had a proper meal since my time in Napa. Esme was withholding food from me if called out in pain during my nightly round of torture. I was a broken man and I couldn’t let Bella see me like this. I had to break her heart and ultimately shatter mine so I could save my mother. She stared at me, her eyes swirling with anger, determination and something else. With great difficulty, I stood as tall as I could, feeling every bit of pain that Esme and Felix inflicted on me and glared at her. “You know nothing,” I snarled. “You couldn’t even fathom what I have to fucking deal with, Ms. Swan. I let my heart get involved and I was weak.”

“Like you are now?” she sneered. “I see what she’s done to you! What she’s doing to your mother!”

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Another two weeks had passed with no word from Edward. Esme said that he was taking some time off and was unavailable for the foreseeable future. I knew she was lying. He was taking some time off but the reason for his absence was due to her.

I’d read Jasper’s description of what had happened to him. I got sick to my stomach due to the hell he lived through. I passed the information on to Carlisle. He promised to bring it to the police. This was the biggest lead they had on Esme Platt since they’d begun their investigation. It wasn’t enough to get a search warrant, but they could tap her phones.

Just after Halloween, Rose came into my office and sat down in front of me. “Are you still pining over Edward?” she asked, arching a brow. “When you’re not working, you’re on the phone with Carlisle, talking about Esme.”

“Yes, I’m still pining over Edward. But, it’s not really pining, it’s more worried sick,” I countered. “It’s been almost two months and he hasn’t … What if she killed him?!”

“If she killed him, his picture still wouldn’t be on the Buying Love website, Isabella Marie,” Rose said.

“What?” I breathed.

“Yep. Here,” she said, handing me her iPad. Edward’s profile was still online. My eyes filled with tears and I ran my finger down his cheek. “Bells, you still care about him, don’t you?”

“I more than care about him, Rosalie,” I murmured, handing her back the iPad. “If he’s still on the website, then he’s still going out on dates. Right? I could schedule an appointment!”

“Bella, Esme probably won’t assign him to you. Why don’t I request him?” Rose suggested. 

Charlie's House

Bella's Bedroom at Charlie's

Guest Bedroom

Buying Love Teaser

Another two weeks had passed with no word from Edward. Esme said that he was taking some “time off” and was unavailable for the foreseeable future. I knew she was lying. He was taking some time off but the reason for his absence was due to her.

Fucking, motherfucking sadist bitch from hell. I want to whoop your skanky ass.

I’d read Jasper’s description of what had happened to him. I got sick to my stomach due to the hell he lived through. I feared that Edward was enduring much, much worse. I had to get a hold of him. I had to help him. I passed on the information on to Carlisle. He promised to bring it to the police. This was the biggest lead they had on Esme Platt since they’d begun their investigation several years ago. It wasn’t enough to get a search warrant, but they could tap her phones.

And how is it not enough information to get a warrant? It was goddamned description of a grown man being sodomized and tortured for years!

Fucking, motherfucking sadist bitch from hell. I will whoop your skanky ass if it’s the last thing I do.

Or, give you a taste of your own medicine! That sounds even better!

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THIS UPDATE COMES WITH A VIOLENCE WARNING/TISSUE WARNING!!! 

We walked through the house to a back family room. A handsome, tall man with sandy blonde hair was sitting on a fluffy chair, staring blankly at the television, not really watching what was on the screen. Alice moved in front of him, brushing his hair from his face. He blinked a few times, smiling at her lovingly before turning to look at me. “Ms. Swan?” he asked, his voice deep and resonant. He stood up with great difficulty, holding out a gnarled hand. I shook it gingerly, afraid that I’d cause more damage.

“Please, call me Bella,” I smiled. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Jasper.”

“And you as well,” he said. His voice had a subtle drawl and it had a musical quality. “Please, have a seat. Ali, can you get Bella some sweet tea?”

“Sure, Jazzy,” she replied, kissing his temple and dancing out of the room.

Jasper gallantly helped me to sit in the couch, despite the stiffness of his movements. He was a gentleman, but I could see in his blue eyes how much he had lost and how much Esme had broken him. “Alice told me about Edward and your situation with him. I remember him when I worked for, um, her. He was a sweet, loving man, even despite her treatment of him.” He took a breath, closing his eyes and running his hands through his hair. “I won’t tell you Edward’s story. That’s up to him, but I will tell you mine. Alice and I spoke to that private detective, but we didn’t share everything.”

Alice came back with a tray of iced tea. “Here, Jazzy. I’ll let you two talk. I do have some medication for you, if it becomes too much,” Alice said, placing the tray on the cocktail table. She kissed him tenderly, leaving us in the family room.

“Alice is a godsend. I love her so much. She’s everything I’ve never had in my life,” Jasper murmured, his eyes glazing over. 

Buying Love Teaser

We walked through the house to a back family room. A handsome, tall man with sandy blonde hair was sitting on a fluffy chair, staring blankly at the television, not really watching what was on the screen. Alice moved in front of him, brushing his hair from his face. He blinked a few times, smiling at her lovingly before turning to look at me. “Ms. Swan?” he asked, his voice deep and resonant. He stood up with great difficulty, holding out a gnarled hand. I shook it gingerly, afraid that I’d cause more damage.

“Please, call me Bella,” I smiled. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Jasper.”

“And you as well,” he said. His voice had a subtle drawl and it had a musical quality. “Please, have a seat. Ali, can you get Bella some sweet tea?”

“Sure, Jazzy,” she replied, kissing his temple and dancing out of the room.

Jasper gallantly helped me to sit in the couch, despite the stiffness of his movements. He was a gentleman, but I could see in his blue eyes how much he had lost and how much Esme had broken him. “Alice told me about Edward and your situation with him. I remember him when I worked for, um, her. He was a sweet, loving man, even despite her treatment of him.” He took a breath, closing his eyes and running his hands through his hair. “I won’t tell you Edward’s story. That’s up to him, but I will tell you mine. Alice and I spoke to that private detective, but we didn’t share everything.”

Alice came back with a tray of iced tea. “Here, Jazzy. I’ll let you two talk. I do have some medication for you, if it becomes too much,” Alice said, placing the tray on the cocktail table. She kissed him tenderly, leaving us in the family room.

“Alice is a godsend. I love her so much. She’s everything I’ve never had in my life,” Jasper murmured, his eyes glazing over. 

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It had been a month since I last saw Edward. He never called and I pretty much gave up on ever seeing him again. As a result, I was bitchy, mean and not pleasant to be around. I tried to contact him, leaving messages through Buying Love, but there were no responses.

I was done. So done.

However, the information about Alice and Jasper was plaguing my mind. I wanted to talk to them. Ask them questions about their situation. Carlisle had given me their address and phone number, but I was hesitant to make contact. Curiosity got the better of me and I dialed Alice’s cell phone number.

“Hello?” chirped a high-pitched female voice.

“Is this Alice Whitlock?” I asked.

“Speaking,” Alice replied.

“My name is Isabella Swan and I’m calling you regarding Esme Platt,” I breathed out.

“Are you working for her?” Alice snarled. “Jazzy is not going back to her!”

“What? No! I do not work for her, but I’m trying to get to the bottom of her story,” I said.

“I don’t feel comfortable speaking over the phone,” she muttered. “We’ve had to change our numbers several times because of Esme’s relentless pursuit of Jazzy.”

“I can come down to you,” I said. “We can meet, face-to-face.”

“I don’t know,” she hedged.

“Look, I’m trying to help out someone. Just like you helped Jasper,” I whispered. “I also want to put her away for good. A friend of mine used to work for the police and they’re building a case, Alice.”

She sighed. “I’ll meet with you, Ms. Swan. If I trust you, then you can talk to Jasper. He was … he was … Esme broke him,” Alice said, her voice tiny. 

Hotel Bel Air ~ A Charles Swan Hotel

Alice and Jasper's Bungalow

Alice

Jasper

Buying Love Teaser

It had been a month since I last saw Edward. He never called and I pretty much gave up on ever seeing him again. As a result, I was bitchy, mean and not pleasant to be around. I tried to contact him, leaving messages through Buying Love, but there were no responses.

I was done. So done.

However, the information about Alice and Jasper was plaguing my mind. I wanted to talk to them. Ask them questions about their situation. Carlisle had given me their address and phone number, but I was hesitant to make contact. Curiosity got the better of me and I dialed Alice’s cell phone number.

“Hello?” chirped a high-pitched female voice.

“Is this Alice Whitlock?” I asked.

“Speaking,” Alice replied.

“My name is Isabella Swan and I’m calling you regarding Esme Platt,” I breathed out.

“Are you working for her?” Alice snarled. “Jazzy is not going back to her!”

“What? No! I do not work for her, but I’m trying to get to the bottom of her story,” I said.

“I don’t feel comfortable speaking over the phone,” she muttered. “We’ve had to change our numbers 

several times because of Esme’s relentless pursuit of Jazzy.”

“I can come down to you,” I said. “We can meet, face-to-face.”

“I don’t know,” she hedged.

“Look, I’m trying to help out someone. Just like you helped Jasper,” I whispered. “I also want to put her away for good. A friend of mine used to work for the police and they’re building a case, Alice.”

She sighed. “I’ll meet with you, Ms. Swan. If I trust you, then you can talk to Jasper. He was … he was … Esme broke him,” Alice said, her voice tiny. “When can I expect you?”

“This weekend,” I replied.

Alice

Jasper

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Carlisle arrived an hour or so later with a thick file folder. His face was grim. “What’s the news, Carlisle?” I asked, offering him a seat. “Is Edward an axe murderer?”

“He’s not an axe murderer, but he is in trouble,” Carlisle explained. “First, I have information about Edward and then information from Alice and Jasper Whitlock. What do you want to hear first?”

“Edward,” I nodded. “Tell me about him.”

“Okay. He was born in a small town about three hours from here, Forks. His mother was a homemaker and his father worked at the local bank as the vice president. He handled high-end mortgages, loans and investment opportunities until Edward was about nine or ten. He moved from that bank to a smaller investment company in Port Angeles, working there until he was killed in a drunk driving accident when Edward was fourteen,” Carlisle described.

“I know about the accident,” I said, furrowing my brow.

“It was bad, Little One. Edward Masen Senior was decapitated and there was very little left of him. The other driver was completely hammered, drifting over into the other lane, hitting Edward’s car head on. What was worse was the fact that Edward Masen had used his savings to back up the investment company when they got into hot water. Little Edward and Elizabeth, Edward’s wife, were left with a huge pile of debt and nothing to fall back on. The investment company tried to help them out, but by the time Edward was seventeen, their house was foreclosed on and they were homeless. To make matters worse, Elizabeth has early onset Alzheimer’s due to the stress of losing her husband. Once the house was foreclosed on, Edward took his mother, hopping on a bus to Seattle and renting a tiny one-bedroom apartment in his mother’s name. After that, I can’t find anything else,” Carlisle said, handing me the file with Edward’s information. His eyes told me that he was skeptical about the info.

“What’s with this face?” I asked.

“It’s like Edward was erased after he moved into that apartment, Bella,” Carlisle said. “As if he didn’t exist.”

Carlisle

FYI ~ I will be away on business on Friday and will not have access to internet. I'm leaving from school on Thursday and will not return until late Saturday evening. As a result, Buying Love will not update on Friday. I plan to update it on Saturday, upon my return. 

Buying Love Teaser

Carlisle arrived an hour or so later with a thick file folder. His face was grim. “What’s the news, Carlisle?” I asked, offering him a seat. “Is Edward an axe murderer?”

“He’s not an axe murderer, but he is in trouble,” Carlisle explained. “First, I have information about Edward and then information from Alice and Jasper Whitlock. What do you want to hear first?”

“Edward,” I nodded. “Tell me about him.”

“Okay. He was born in a small town about three hours from here, Forks. His mother was a homemaker and his father worked at the local bank as the vice president. He handled high-end mortgages, loans and investment opportunities until Edward was about nine or ten. He moved from that bank to a smaller investment company in Port Angeles, working there until he was killed in a drunk driving accident when Edward was fourteen,” Carlisle described.

“I know about the accident,” I said, furrowing my brow.

“It was bad, Little One. Edward Masen Senior was decapitated and there was very little left of him. The other driver was completely hammered, drifting over into the other lane, hitting Edward’s car head on. What was worse was the fact that Edward Masen had used his savings to back up the investment company when they got into hot water. Little Edward and Elizabeth, Edward’s wife, were left with a huge pile of debt and nothing to fall back on. The investment company tried to help them out, but by the time Edward was seventeen, their house was foreclosed on and they were homeless. To make matters worse, Elizabeth has early onset Alzheimer’s due to the stress of losing her husband. Once the house was foreclosed on, Edward took his mother, hopping on a bus to Seattle and renting a tiny one-bedroom apartment in his mother’s name. After that, I can’t find anything else,” Carlisle said, handing me the file with Edward’s information. His eyes told me that he was skeptical about the info.

“What’s with this face?” I asked.

“It’s like Edward was erased after he moved into that apartment, Bella,” Carlisle said. “As if he didn’t exist.”

Carlisle Cullen

Buying Love Update

Buying Love Chapter 31 Update on FicPad

Buying Love Chapter 31 Update on TWCS

Buying Love Chapter 31 Update on AO3

Buying Love Chapter 31 Update on FFn

“Bells, you’ve got to get out of bed,” Rose said, leaning on her side. She was running her fingers through my stringy, greasy hair. After Edward lost his temper with me, I did a little sleuthing and found out that the person staying in the nursing home was his mother. However, since I wasn’t a blood relative, I was not allowed admittance to that shit box of a nursing facility. My heart broke into a million pieces seeing the nursing home where he was storing his mother and hearing Edward’s cold, chilling voice when he went off on me.

That was a week ago.

I tried calling Esme to get ahold of Edward to apologize for following him, but then I’d get really pissed off because he was an asshole, yelling at me like I was a piece of shit. I’d hang up before the call ever connected. I was pissed off at Edward’s behavior and hurt that we had finally crossed that bridge of making love, only to have him push me away. I thought I had finally got him to open up.

Apparently, that wasn’t the case.

I’d been sulking ever since.