Claiming a Swan

Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten
Present...

Bella walked into Swan Publishing and Co. followed by Carlisle. He was really going to be her bodyguard. She was somewhat bothered only because this was her place of work. She didn't want others asking questions. Most of all, she didn't want Aster thinking that there was something wrong. When the truth was, there was. Bella just didn't know how to break it to her, or if she even wanted to.

She sighed when she walked into her office. Fate was a funny thing. Aster was sitting at her desk.

"Aster!" Bella greeted.

Aster looked up from her desk, and instantly bounded up from the chair and smashed into Bella. "Oh Bella! I missed you! I'm sorry I didn't see you before I left! Oh who is this?" Aster pointed at Carlisle.

"Remember that old friend I told you about?"

Recognition appeared. "So how was dinner?" She asked.

"Dinner was perfect. Isabella is a wonderful cook." Carlisle appeared with his hand out in greeting, Aster took it. "I'm Carlisle. I'm an old friend of Isabella when she lived in Forks. She dated my son." Aster's eyes widened, but soon covered it with
understanding.

Worry leaving her body.

"Carlisle is going to be shadowing me. Last night I had a run in with some shady men. So he offered to watch over me. Just for safety reasons." Bella explained and suddenly Aster's worry came back full throttle.

"What!! Oh my God, Bella! Are you alright?" Aster was full of concern, she didn't even blink when Carlisle walked behind her, giving her shoulder a light squeeze.

"I'm fine. Carlisle was there. Thank God!"

"Yes, thank you Carlisle."

You shouldn't be thanking him.

Guilt like a red silk being waved in front of a bull.

"I have work to do, Aster." Bella said curtly.

Aster immediately went silent and nodded.

Walking out silently.

"That was harsh of you." Carlisle said, taking a seat in a chair that was set in-front of her desk.

"It wasn't harsh. I really do have work to do." She could already see the manuscripts.

Even the notices from her assistant that she had a meeting that was starting in an hour.

"I can't really say anything." Carlisle states.

"I am trying to whisk you away from her." Carlisle adds with a cruel smirk.

Bella looks out the window... suddenly remembering something that seemed so long ago.

"There was this intern, a while back. He was jittery, and was not acting normally. He came into my office. I asked what was wrong, but he immediately walked out saying, ''I wasn't worth it." I wonder what he could have meant? Or what his end goal was."

"That is concerning... but it was a while back ago. Although it could have been connected to the dark silhouette you saw last night."

"I'm putting everything on it being related to the Volturi."

Carlisle shakes his head.

"If it is the Volturi, I might as well change you myself."

Bella's eyes looked at Carlisle. Shock. Surprise. Fear coated her like a second skin. She wanted to be a vampire when she was Bella from Forks. It would undeniably change her life here. Could she really say goodbye to it? Did she even want immortality anymore?

"If you chose me, Isabella." His voice whisked my head away, "forever with you, will all but be but dangerous fun..."

Carlisle stood up, and like a good bodyguard stood watch outside her office.

***

It felt good having Carlisle watching over her. She didn't have to worry about people asking questions, it was an irrational fear, besides her workers were too afraid to ask questions. When she was on it, no distractions, focused on her work - then her mean side started to show. And people don't want to be on her war path.

The weekend was approaching the next morning. And with it a vacation, she had forgotten about a camping trip she scheduled with Aster at the beginning of the month. It was a different train of thought. But she needed the weekend with Aster. Before she could choose Carlisle.

Yes, it was scary with a set mind.

She was going to choose Carlisle.

Yet, she was going to make him work for it. She had her decision. It would take hard work to turn her.

She swore off men. She's into women. Completely different. Although none of this means a lot.

No matter what she said to Carlisle, it came to her completely falling.

Falling to his charms.

And it crushed her, but it also excited some part of her.