I was putting the finishing touches on my makeup when I was startled by a sudden loud noise, causing me to clumsily smear my lipstick a little.

"Hurry up!" yelled my older brother Emmett from downstairs.

"Alright, alright, I'm almost done," I shouted back in response.

I looked over myself one last time before calling it good and heading downstairs. Normally I didn't bother with making such a fuss about my appearance, but my big teddy bear brother needed a "date" for his business' celebration and he had asked me to "please look acceptable."

"Well it's about damn time," Emmett affectionately growled. "Looking good, little one," he said, using his cutesy childhood nickname for me. Although, it was still appropriate seeing as Emmett towered over me with his 6' 5".

"I'm probably going to have to remind my business partners to keep their gaping and drooling at a minimum."

"Haha, very funny, Emmett."

"Haha yourself, Bells, you don't think I'm serious. Anyway, there's a new guy that just joined the firm who I think you should meet. He seems really decent AND he's from London! I know how much you love British accents…*WINK WINK*"

"Yeah, okay, sounds good," I mumbled as we headed out the door.

Despite the Friday evening New York traffic, we made it to the swank sushi bar where the party was being held in pretty good time. I braced myself for the long night ahead of me.

Emmett linked my arm in his as we stepped into the restaurant and gave the chic Japanese hostess our name.

My plan to keep a low profile was shot to hell when we stepped into the private room where everyone was already present. Emmett had a penchant for being fashionably late and everyone was waiting for him as he was the boss.

A rather long half an hour later I was digesting some exceptionally delicious sushi rolls and Emmett had introduced me to nearly everyone that worked for him and their girlfriends. It was at this point that I realized Emmett hadn't yet introduced me to the British guy yet. I scanned the room and recognized faces that I didn't remember the names to but had met nonetheless. My gaze finally settled on a heart-stoppingly handsome guy in the corner. He didn't look to be very social and appeared to be one of those moody, brooding types.

My expectations for the night rose a little as I silently prayed he was the man Emmett was meaning to introduce me to.

I tugged on Emmett's sleeve, not really caring that I was interrupting an animated conversation with someone on the other side of him.

"Hey, is that the British guy?"

"Yeah, that's Edward…Edward Cullen."

"Damn, that sounds so British proper. It's almost like he's too beautiful for that name but it still suits him, you know?"

"Uhhhhh sure, Bella. Why don't you go talk to him and you two can share little crazy theories with each other."

"Emmett!" I pressed, employing my rarely used pouty tone. "You said you were going to introduce me. You know I hate introducing myself to people."

"Oh alright, you little thorn in my side," Emmett growled unconvincingly. He stood me up and walked me over to where Edward was sitting. He had noticed us approaching him already and was staring at me unabashedly. His penetrative stare was making me nervous and I was starting to develop second thoughts about meeting this guy, no matter how handsome he was.