Survival of the Fittest Edward POV

EPOV

I have no clue how I get suckered into Alice’s hair brained ideas. 3 weeks ago she comes to me with one of her ‘feelings’ that the only way I would find my soul mate would be to allow me to be prostituted out to all of her and my coworkers friends.

Life up to now had been following my professional goals. I have never really been one to be in a long term relationship. In high school it was just to go to prom or some other event. Undergrad was mostly to prepare for law school and in law school I was lucky to have a day to myself let alone to dedicate time to someone else. There were times though, when I would see my cohort with their significant others, especially in law school, and I would be extremely jealous. The spouses of the students formed such a close bound with each other. Plus then there was all the first and then second babies being born to my classmates while in school. Many times the conversation during study sessions went back to the play group their spouses had been on with the other spouses or the BBQ that the spouses threw together for the group. I was often included in them but always felt out of place and left shortly after getting there. It did really solidify in my mind that I wanted that. I wanted a wife and kids.

I had always grown up with a great example of what a soul mate looked like and what true love was with my dad and mom. Carlisle and Esme married during their college days. Esme worked while dad finished medical school. They had Emmett and then Alice and I came along shortly after that. While Alice and I were real twins, the three of us were often referred to as the Irish triplets since there was only 10 months between us. Emmett and Alice followed in my parent’s foot steps and found their other half while in undergrad. Emmett met Rosalie in an engineering course and fell head over heels in love when she corrected the professor on a mathematical error he was making. Alice on the other hand found “her Jasper,” as she calls him, at a diner during an all night cram session. She had just finished an essay on the history of conture when Jasper sat down to hit on her. Before he even had time to give his pick up line, Alice looked up and said, “You’ve kept me waiting for a long time.” Jasper being the smart man he is nodded and apologized and they have been together ever since.

So with the great example of my family and their other halves and the idea firm in my mind I may have mentioned to Alice I wish I had it. Her big plan was this blind date mumbo jumbo.. This was to be my third date. The first two weren’t bad. Just they seemed more into themselves or the fact that I was an attorney or that I had the Cullen name than they were into finding out if we were compatible. Lauren, my legal secretary, was in charge of tonight’s date. I am half expecting her to be there as the date. I made it clear, when the idea was first presented that I won’t date coworkers but she definitely has made it clear she wouldn’t mind being Mrs. Cullen. When she came into my office to present the information on selection I had almost wondered if she was trying to pull a fast one. She told me it was her ‘sister.’ But the way she said sister it made me think that there was something more to it.

I opted to meet her at a small local bar close to work for after work drinks. If all goes well there are numerous nearby restaurants that we could stop in to get something to eat. I didn’t want to trap myself into a long date if I didn’t have to.

I stayed just a little bit later tonight to finish a brief and then headed out to the bar. As I entered I immediately started looking around for a women close to my age. This bar was the typical businessman’s bar. There were men sitting around in their suits with their ties pulled loose. Some women in their work dresses, but usually they were in a large group. Not seeing any single women about my age sitting by herself I decided to sit at the bar and wait for my date to be fashionably late.

There was a woman about my mother’s age sitting at the bar so I asked politely if the seat next to her was taken. She looked up at my 6’2 self and a smile instantly graced her lips.

“Well, Mr. Cullen, I have been saving it for you so I would hope that you chose to sit there.” She purred.

I am not sure if it was a board to the head or a light bulb or what but I could physically feel the realization that this older woman was to be my blind date.

“You must be Lauren’s sister, Lucille, right?” I asked hesitantly, all the while praying that I was wrong.

She started to laugh, as she replied, “Is that what she told you? That girl has always had a way with half truths and white lies.”

Now I was confused and to say a little mad. Lauren lied to me. I had not clue as to why she would do that.

“Lauren is my daughter. Since, she hit 21 she has started to refer to me as her sister to eligible bachelors. She thinks that by doing so she looks like the attractive one and can snag the man. Plus she never really got out of the high school thing where it is uncool to like your mom. I can tell she didn’t prepare you for meeting me at all. We can call it if you would like?” She was giving me an out. But I could also see that if I did I would be slaughtered verbally by this woman to her daughter because I didn’t follow through with this date.

“No that is fine, let’s find a table and sit and visit.” I offered her.

She stood and walked forward. Being the gentleman that I am I placed my hand on her back to guide her to the nearest table. I held the chair out for her and then sat opposite her to make sure she didn’t get the wrong idea. This was not going to lead into dinner. Drinks would be it.

“So, Lucille, what is it that you do?” Career conversation was always a good way to get to know someone. But before she could answer I felt a small pressure on the ankle of my left leg. I quickly moved it but the pressure followed.

“Well, I haven’t really worked in a couple of years. I was a stay at home mom while raising Lauren and the divorce from her dad left me with a bitter taste in my mouth when it comes to dating. I just recently started to get back on the horse as they say.”

The whole time she is talking her foot is making its way up and down my calf. Plus it didn’t go unnoticed by me that she didn’t answer my question as to what she did for work.

“So then so you live with Lauren?” Now I am really curious as to how this cougar lived.

“Oh no, I got a great condo out of the divorce as well as alimony for ten years. It helps that I had a great lawyer; my ex had no clue what hit him.” With that comment her foot crested my knee and slid mid thigh. I reacted by sliding back further from the table.

“Sounds like you did have a good lawyer. How long have you been divorced?” I had started gulping my drink. I figured small talk was really starting to scare me and this cougar only had the desire to find another smuck to pay her way.

“Just a little over nine years. I figured I grieved enough over my ex and now I should get back out there to find true love again.” True love my ass; this lady only wanted a bank account. I place the rim of my glass to my mouth and threw my head back to throw the rest of the drink down the back of my throat. I was so done with this date and ‘the team’ was going to get the direction that not only will I not date coworkers but family members were off limits too.

“Lucille, I hate to do this but I have a disposition that I need to prepare for that is happening tomorrow. I will have to cut tonight short. Drinks were lovely and good luck on finding true love again.” With that I stood and practically ran out the door.

As soon as my feet hit the curb outside my cell phone was vibrating in my pocket. I fished it out and answered without even looking at the ID. I knew the only person it could be.

“Might I ask why you didn’t call maybe 5 minutes earlier and save me from getting a foot job while sitting in a public place?” I rattled off into the phone.

The girlish giggles that came back at me only reinforced my belief that Alice is enjoying this a little too much.

“Well, my dear brother, you can’t know what good is until you know what bad is. Don’t worry I knew this one wasn’t her. Your soul mate is learning good from bad herself right now and when the time is right, the stars will a line.” With her sage wisdom and without a good bye she hung up.

Damn pixie for being so little she sure can be annoying.