Edward.

My departure has been way overdue. I feel myself relax, sinking into the leather seats of the Rolls. I urge Mike to keep the partition lowered, his blue eyes meeting mine, reflecting off the rearview mirror.

"I hope your first day at the office has been a good one, sir." His tone is always friendly, his eyes kind. He's too kind, really. He should be with his wife and baby, taking care of reality instead of chauffeuring me around. I'm perfectly capable of driving myself. But I guess those days are over now. I get to sit in the back of a custom Rolls Royce, typing away on my laptop or having overseas phone calls now. Just my luck.

"Tiring, but I guess it was good." I shrug with a timid smile, my fingers toying with the button on my jacket sleeve.

"What happened with the suit, sir?" A little humor drips from Mike's voice. I like him even more for this: for honesty and the lack of ass-kissing.

"Ran into my new assistant on my way out."

"Quite literally, I presume?" Mike lets out a chuckle. I join him. God, this feels good. It feels borderline real.

"Poor thing fell and messed up her white clothes with coffee. I don't know what hurt her more, the stains or the fact that she ran into her boss so hard she fell onto her ass."

"Ah man, she must be mortified, meeting you like that."

"I'd call it an icebreaker," I tell him. "She's really nice."

"I'm glad you'll have some decent people around you," Mike says. I believe him, to be honest. It's like he cares.

"Mike, tell me," I start. "Which is closest, my place or Miss Denali's?" I watch as Mike scrolls through his CarPlay screen.

"There's a four minute difference between your penthouse and Miss Denali's condo."

"Then drive me to whichever is closest. And after you've dropped me off, go home and lock the Rolls in your garage. Come get me at eight-thirty a.m. tomorrow and enjoy your family until then, okay?"

"T—take the rolls home with me, sir?"

"Yes. It's just a car. You have actual people to get to. I trust you, Mike. You can take the car home with you. I know you'll take care of it."

Yeah, I dropped the 'it's just a car', on the boy who won't be able to afford one like these even if he saved all his salary from this year. I'm a dick.

"Thank you, sir."

We drive in comfortable silence until Tanya's building comes into view.

"Have a good night, Mr. Cullen."

"Good night, Mike."