Friends with Benefits

Chapter One Hundred Forty-Seven

Things I own: my sanity (though, that's debatable at times), not enough time to write and incredible friends and family!!

Things I don't: Twilight, Edward and Bella (Damn. It.)

Chapter 147

EPOV

"Edward, you'd be an idiot if you didn't take this partnership," Bella chided. "I mean, really..."

"It's a little hard for me to pay attention when you're lying on that bed, wearing nothing but a sheet," I snickered, running my hand along her bare back. "What were we talking about?"

"Focus, Cullen," she said, straddling my hips. It had been a week and we were still discussing the prospect of me being a partner. "We can naked fun time after you make a decision. Partnership, lawyer, you...go!"

"Okay, okay," I said as I tugged on her sheet to reveal her perfect breasts.

"How are my boobs going to help you focus?" she giggled.

"Call it incentive," I said, palming her breasts. Massaging her nipples, I watched as her eyes rolled back in her head. "So, here'swhat I'm thinking. I'm thinking I say yes." I pinched her nipple, watching her eyes dilate. "It's going to be a lot of work, but I felt like I was finally making a difference with..."

"Don't say his name while you're touching my naked body," Bella said, arching a brow at me. She swiveled her hips, making my cock swell.

"Got it," I chuckled, sitting up and taking her breast in my mouth. She whimpered, threading her fingers into my hair, archingback and pushing her perfect tit further into my mouth so I could lavish it with my tongue. I kissed across her chest and repeated the action on her other nipple. "So sweet."

"Hmmmm," she moaned. "So, you're going to say yes?"

I removed my mouth from her breast and kissed up her neck. I wanted to whisper in her ear 'only if you do,' and slip the engagement ring I had bought on her finger. Yes, I bought her a ring. A fucking huge rock. But, she wasn't ready. Bella had healed a great deal after she had told off her ex, but she still had a ways to go. We were stronger as a couple, happy and playful, but there were still moments where Bella had feelings of insecurity. They were decreasing, but she still had them.

Taking her face in my hands, I stared into her gorgeous brown eyes and smiled. "Yes."

"My boyfriend, my boo is a partner," she squealed, hugging me tightly.

"Did you just call me your boo?" I laughed as we fell back on the pillows.

"I did. You're my boo," she giggled, pulling my sheet down. "Now, quit teasing me and make love to me. I want to feel every inch of your partnership."

"Yes, ma'am," I cooed, sliding inside of her.

I told Eleazar and Marcus my news the next day and they were over the moon excited. They also told me how much Stephen's portion of the firm was. Working it out, I would have it paid out through my trust and my payment from the Lahote case would go towards a down payment on a house or a bigger condo with my Bella.

The next couple of weeks was spent trying to smooth out some rough edges with the attorney's from the university. They came back with a much bigger, more substantial payout, again trying to avoid going to trial. Seth called all of the plaintiffs in and laid out everything regarding the payout, should they choose to accept. The payments would be in increments, made every month until the amount was paid in full. Each plaintiff's payout would take roughly five years to be paid off. Additionally, they would have to sign a non-disclosure agreement, saying they wouldn't breathe a word of this to the press or forfeit all of their losses. They would also rework their sexual harassment policy and keep a sexual harassment attorney on retainer, should this situation arise again. Each of the plaintiffs would get roughly a quarter of a million dollars, with Giselle's family getting a million.

Seth explained it and most of them were happy with the outcome. Only a handful were upset. The girls who had lost their ability to have children wanted more and I understood that. Seth drafted a counter offer which the university accepted, reluctantly, giving the girls who were barren a half a million for their pain and suffering. The entire payout for the whole shebang was roughly $24 million.

Seth and I got ten percent of that.

You do the math...

That's a lot of money. Just saying.

When Seth spoke with the university attorneys, they knew that the policy was inconsistent and that Paul was a fuck up. Rather than have their name dredged through the papers connected with a sexual harassment trial, they'd admit guilt and pay the women their restitution.

Paul, on the other hand, was royally fucked. He still had the civil suit against him, which Seth was still pursuing, but keeping the university name out of it. He also had the criminal trial for the statutory rape of Giselle Martin, along with the charges that Bella brought against him. He was fighting, tooth and nail, proclaiming that he was innocent and that Giselle tricked him into sleeping with her. However, his trial date wasn't set for January of 2016. He had a long time to go before he got his time in court. He had a public defender for the criminal trial and he was representing himself for the civil case.

Paul did not have a snowball's chance in hell in winning.

But, he wasn't my concern anymore. His fate was in the hands of the criminal justice system. She's not as blind, deaf and dumb as you think. Paul is going to be someone's prison bitch before you know it.

A/N: In case you all were wondering about the case...and Paul...and Edward's decision. Did you like his incentive? One more real chapter and then an epilogue, in Bella's POV. Leave me some.