Title: Upper East Side Story

Rating: Venturing for M in later chapters

Full Summary: In the jungle known as the Upper East Side, playboy extraordinaire Edward Cullen needs to find a bride in order to unlock his inheritance. Throw in platonic friend Bella Swan. Thank God for good friends, or will they mess? AH AU EB.

Disclaimer: Twilight is not mine but Edward Cullen sure is. A girl could only dream, no?

We are for each other: then
laugh, leaning back in my arms
for life's not a paragraph

Since Feeling Is First ~ E. E. Cummings

"Don't forget kids, page 134 to 155 tonight. And I want to see your essay on absolutism as a political theory on my desk tomorrow!"

A chorus of groan and mumbles of 'okay, Miss S' filled the class.

The smug teacher surveyed the flock of students exiting her classroom before gathering the papers scattered on her table. She grabbed a clear folder, shoving the neat pile into it before tossing the folder into her large tote.

She was about to switch off the lights when she heard a cough coming from the doorway.

"Cullen."

The man in the black cashmere coat merely smirked. "Miss S," he mocked.

Bella raised an eyebrow. "Wow, three times this week. You're lucky I like you, Cullen," she spoke, tilting her head to the side. "Coffee?"

They were at their regular seats by the window at a quaint little coffee shop which they frequented, watching the busy mid-day traffic.

"How's Alice?"

"She's coming back from Paris tonight."

"How about Emmett?"

"In Connecticut, visiting Rosalie's parents."

"Spill, Edward."

Edward flicked his gaze at the beautiful brunette in front of him. He had known Isabella Marie Swan, the daughter of Charles 'Charlie' James Swan and Renee Eleanor Swan since they were toddlers. They had attended elementary through high school together. She had gone to Yale for a double degree in European Studies and History of Art while he had attended Dartmouth's medical school. Throughout the years they maintained an easy-going friendship, being each others' confidante in the moments of strife and a fallback when Upper East Side gets too much to handle.

Therefore, there isn't much that manages to escape Bella Swan's notice when it comes to him.

Trying to delay the inevitable, Edward lifted the corner of his mouth into a charming smile. Most women would swoon at the sight, but good old Bella just rolled her eyes.

"Please, Cullen. I know something's up. You won't lower yourself to step into a plebeian high school voluntarily three times in a row."

Edward raised his elegant long fingers to touch above his heart. "I'm glad you think so highly of me, Swan," he replied in mock hurt.

"The only time you'd step into a Bronx public school is when you have a gigantic cheque to deliver, admit it," Bella teased, raising her cup of caffe macchiato to her lips.

"I'm seriously upset, Bella. How could you accuse me of such blatant lie?"

Bella waved a hand carelessly in the air. "Right, right. Whatever. So to what do I owe the honor of your surprise visits?" she asked, her chocolate eyes boring straight into his green ones. "And don't bother to swerve into another direction. I got lots of paper to grade this evening."

Edward laughed. "Really, now. Socialite Bella Swan spending her evening marking eleventh-grade European History papers should really make the Page Six."

Grinning, Bella refrained herself from smacking the back of her companion's head. If she was bred any tackier minus the two summers she had spent at a Connecticut finishing school, she wouldn't hesitate even a moment. She'd save such familiarity for the comfort of their homes. But smacking NYC's Most Eligible Bachelor in the middle of a classy Lexington cafe would definitely not cut it.

"I'm sorry I missed my calling as the COO of Swan's Auction House, hence my failure to join the glamorous lives of NYC elites," she retorted good-naturedly. "You're stalling, Cullen. What's the matter?"

Inhaling deeply, Edward ran a hand through his messy bronze locks.

Bella sighed. "That bad, huh?"

"Anthony strikes again," Edward announced tersely.

The chestnut-haired woman looked perplexed. "From beyond the grave?"

Chuckling, Edward shook his head. "You could say that."

"Wow," Bella breathed. Old man Anthony Cullen never ceased to amaze her when he was alive. His magic refused to leave even as his soul had departed about six months ago. "What did he do this time?"

"We had the will reading last week. Let's just say that he managed to meddle into my life one last time before he died."

"Oh? Did Anthony only leave ten percent of his entire net worth to his favourite grandson?" Bella mocked. "If so, get over it, Edward. Ten percent of ten billion dollars can feed a small country for three whole years."

"That's not it, Bella," Edward bit out, frustrated.

"Then what is?"

"Alice, Emmett and I each are granted twenty percent of everything," he stated.

"Oh, praise the Lord your penthouse is staying," Bella muttered.

"Bella..."

She held up a hand in apology. "I'm sorry, Edward. So what's the catch?"

Edward clasped his hands neatly on the table. "The catch is, I need to be legally married within the next two months for me to unlock the rest of my inheritance."

Bella gasped. "You're kidding, right?"

Shaking his head, he ran a hand through his hair again. "In legal binding form."

"Oh my, Anthony IS good," Bella spoke in wonderment. She gently patted her friend's shoulder for consolation. "Tough being you," she joked.

Edward growled, his handsome chiselled face disgruntled. "Not funny, Bella."

"I'll tell you what's funny. Finding an honest bride within the jungle of Upper East Side," she replied, draining her espresso. She gave him a toothy grin. "Good luck, kiddo."

"Wait, Bella. This is where I need your help."

Bella raised an eyebrow. "I'm sorry, Edward. I love you and everything, but not enough to sacrifice my friends for your manwhore ways."

"Hey!"

Laughing, Bella beckoned for the check as a waiter passed by. "I'm serious. All of my girl friends are nice. I'm not evil enough to hand them to you." A boy with a green apron tied around his waist came with a leather-bound check book in hand. "I'll help you sift through the potential candidates, but that is as far as my generosity goes," she added as she slipped a fifty into the book. "Keep the change," she noted to the boy. She was rewarded with a huge grateful grin.

A hand stopped her as she reached for her vintage YSL 50's handbag. "Wait."

"Yes, Edward?"

"Do you think you love me enough to marry me?"