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Thanks to the lovely TwiDi for cleaning up my mess :) !
Merry Christmas Eve all, in the spirit of the holidays (and because I'm going to be gone for a few days) I'm posting this update early.
I will not be giving out who the prologue was, sorry that one is a secret till it is revealed. No Rose isn't a selfish bitch in this, and Bella only seems insane, ok she might be a little insane lol. Anyways this week's update has visual aids going up on the blog tonight...if you like that kind of thing.
Bella's POV
Chapter 2
By the time Rose and I finished our research on this annual garden party, we were exhausted. We wanted no stone left unturned, we had to fit in. We had to get in undetected. We went all CIA-spy-network-checking this out. Okay, so we lacked the wire taping, but we went old school look up. Yep. We Googled and used Yahoo. We worked our butts off.
Hell, we had to get in. And not get arrested.
We learned that some local social workers, in addition to some former foster kids the program helped, also attended the event. So, our less than million dollar wardrobes could pass, or so we hoped. Still, we hoped what we got would work for us. Hopefully, the dresses we picked out would fit in with other party goers, without being stand out outfits or major attention getters. The plan was to blend at all cost—not knock anyone's socks off, not look like we were broke, a just-graduated-college-girls who work for a little bit over minimum wage. Not that there was much we could do about the dresses now, but we both still liked them and felt we made the right choice, so we dressed and prayed.
Our research in hand, we loaded into our little car and headed for the big house. Thankfully, the Cullen family lived in the upscale outskirts of the city, instead of on the Island. Because, a get away when you are dependent on a ferry, that only runs so many times a day, isn't that easy. Instead it was one of those nice neighborhoods with huge estates, historical values, and houses that had names.
Sneaking in, we knew we had to have some idea of the layout of the estate. Entry and exit were extremely important to this mission. So, we utilized Goggle earth as best as we could, and struck a goldmine when we found out that Masen-Cullen mansion was a listed historical home, with publicly accessible blue prints down at the famous architects of Washington State museum. Which meant, we were able to get a good idea of the layout.
The plan was, we'd sneak in very carefully.
Well, that part was a no brainer, hehe.
The rest of it kind of went like this: the neighbor's home on the left was foreclosed on recently, a low gate at that side of the house easy to climb leading into the Cullen family yard. Bringing a step stool to go over seemed the logical choice. However, we really lucked out that the gate to the front of the home had been damaged by the disgruntled former owners after loosing the house to the bank. It didn't lock, it was shut, but the lock didn't work, so we could just go right in. That knowledge came from a very helpful guy at the local real estate office handling the home, we went there pretending to be interested in buying it and Rose worked her mojo, a.k.a., her C cups on him. He spilled the beans, and a lot of drool, I might add.
After making it over the fence, we worked our way towards the noise in the back. When we drove by, casing the place before borrowing the neighbor's house to break in, we noticed that the tickets were being taken as cars arrived, so hopefully no one would ask us for ours.
Rose grabbed two glasses of wine off a passing waiter's tray, handing me one with a small smile. She took a large gulp before looking me over to make sure the journey over the fence didn't mess up the illusion that we belonged.
"You look great, cuz." I couldn't help but agree. Though I'm not vain by any stretch of the imagination, the dress I picked out with its shades of blue on a white background really worked for me and the shoes pulled the a shade of blue from the dress and made it look so put together, that I was shocked it was really me. Of course, Rose was stunning, even trying to blend in, she still stood out. Her long dark blond hair, carefully highlighted with lighter shades pulled back from her face, a white dress with tasteful red roses, and matching red open toe kitten heel pumps. All in all we both looked good. Hopefully, good enough to fit it.
"You too, Rose."
"Okay, now we only have to find Carl. He has to be around her somewhere." Her blue green eyes wide, she looked almost as excited as a five year old on Christmas morning.
"Calm down, girlie, you'll get us kicked out of here before we can even find your bio Daddy." Rolling her eyes, Rose grabs me and drags me out towards the more crowded section of the party.
Looking around, we easily blended in with the crowd. While there was a major contingent of people wearing designer clothing, some wearing way too dressy for a garden party, others were in more modestly priced gear that would make our clothing seem as if we belong.
"Over there, that is Esme Masen-Cullen," Rose whispered in my ear, jerking her head towards a group of women talking. I recognize her right away. We'd seen her picture enough since Rose found out about her parentage. Esme Masen-Cullen was a beautiful woman with Carmel colored hair, hazel eyes, standing about five seven, barely looking 35 let alone almost 48. She seemed so together, and from all accounts we've read, she also had a huge heart. He creamy colored lace dress screamed class and it underlined her natural grace that seemed innate in her.
"Hi." A female voice that is almost like music draws Rose and my attention.
"Hello." Rose is the first to recover and respond to the small woman.
And boy was she small. Standing at maybe five feet even, with beautiful features, deep brown eyes and black hair that hung to her shoulders, she looked about twenty, if she was even that old. The girl was smiling, so I'm assuming that she wasn't there to have us arrested or kicked out.
"Hi," I throw out, belatedly.
"My name is Alice, I'm Esme's… I mean, Mrs. Masen-Cullen's assistant. I must have missed you both when you came in, so, I wanted to let you know that after the auction, we are having a raffle. Everyone gets one free ticket to the raffle, and subsequent tickets are twenty dollars."
"What is the prize?" Rose asks without thinking. I mean, what if everyone is supposed to know what the prize is?
"Oh, it's a surprise, that is why it's called a blind raffle. Nice try trying to sneak out the prize info out of me." She laughs, and I swear she seems to be the sweetest person ever. "I'm sorry, I didn't catch your names?"
"I'm Bella, and this is my cousin Rose." I point to Rosalie.
"Ladies, I hate to butt in, but Esme is looking for you, Alice." A big bear of a man interrupts, placing his hand on Alice's shoulder. I swear, she looks even smaller next to all six foot five of him.
"Oh, thanks, Em!" She gives him a huge smile. "Emmett McCarty, meet Bella and her cousin Rose." She introduces us, and my, am I glad she did, it makes it seem like we are invited guest. I mean, she is the host's assistant and all.
"Hello." He gives Rose a huge smile, and I can tell like most men, he has fallen in lust with my beautiful cousin.
"I hate to be rude, but I have to go check in with Esme, umm… Mrs. Masen-Cullen" she corrects herself again, "I'll catch up with you later." With a wave, the little one floats off like a ballerina dancing on air, only without the dancing and the whole flying thing that floating implies.
"Have you, ladies, found the buffet table yet? I was on my way over to hit up the shrimp cocktail." He points towards an at least twelve foot long buffet area that was filled with food.
"Well, Mr. McCarty, Bella and I were just on our way over to peruse the offerings, would you like to join us?" Rose bats her lashes and the big guy's smile gets even larger. I swear, you could fall into his dimples.
"I'll be the envy of all other male guest with two lovely ladies on my arm." He flatters us both, before offering both of us an elbow to walk us over towards the table.
Emmett wasn't kidding when he said he wanted some shrimp cocktail, and some of about everything else. The big guy could pack in the food. Rose and I both took small lady like portions, like those we saw the overly thin socialites taking from the table, we shared a look that clearly spoke a trip through Taco Hell after the party was in order.
We sat at one of the many tables spread out around the bricked off patio. Emmett would talk here and there between bites, mainly about how great the charity was. He told us that he'd been involved for the past five years, but his parents had been for many more than that.
Our new buddy, Emmett's Mom was Esme's high school BFF.
"So, how have I never met the two of you before?" He asks us both, though his eyes rarely leave Rose.
"It's our first time here," I explain simply, not wanting to lie.
"Well, it's always nice for new blood to join us." A warm female voice came from behind my right shoulder, and I did my best not to startle when I turned to see Esme Masen-Cullen standing there, looking at all of us with a smile as warm as her voice.
"Hey, Auntie Es, let me introduce you to Rose and Bella." He points to us when he gives our names, his boyish grin never leaving his face.
"Hello, ladies, it is so nice of you to join us today." She looks over towards the crowd, then back at us, "I'd love to join you and get to know you both, but unfortunately I have to circulate. Hopefully, we'll catch up later." She tells us, her voice so sincere it's hard to think she is just giving social platitudes.
"I hope we can as well," Rose replies, her face a bit frozen, I think in shock.
"Me too," I add, giving what I hope is a sincere look.
"Later, Aunt Es." Emmett stands up, gives her a sideways hug, before sitting back down with Rose and I.
I watch as she walks off before turning my head back towards my cousin. Rose's face is slightly pale and she looks like she needs a stiff drink, or to go home and pretend that she never came here.
"Mr. McCarty..." I start and he raises his hand to stop me.
"Emmett or Em, please, ladies." I nod in agreement.
"Emmett, could you point me towards the little girls' room?"
"Yes, Emmett, that would be great," Rose adds, giving me a relieved look.
"I can take you there, if you'd like?" He offers sweetly.
"If you could just point it out, we'd hate to inconvenience you." Rose gives him a flirty look, and he melts, looking like he'd rather show her to a room alone instead of pointing her to a bathroom away from where he was going to be.
"If you go in through the doors, go through the great room to the hall, make a right and on the left there is a restroom. If that one is occupied, you can go up to the top of the stairs and to the left, three doors down on the right, there is another bathroom." We give him a smile and promise to rejoin him in a few, before taking our leave.
Without even needing to discuss it, we head for the bathroom at the top of the stairs, to get further away from the mess we've landed in. Yes, so far we haven't been caught, nor has anyone tried to kick us out, or been mean. Still, we were in the middle of the unknown, in the middle of a place that at any moment, we could be kicked out. I think coming face to face with Esme had really rattled Rose.
"Bella, I think we should sneak back out." Are the first words out of her mouth once the bathroom door is shut behind us.
"Are you sure?"
"I can't… I just… Bella, she was so nice, and seeing her in person made her so real. What if… what if my being here, if Carl finds out about me… what if she didn't know about his time with Mom? I can't be the one to ruin their lives." She looks so broken. "I can't be so selfish as to maybe hurt them both." I give her a hug, knowing what this is costing her. I couldn't imagine not knowing my Dad, and I couldn't imagine going this far and not meeting him either.
"If you want to go, we can. I won't stop you. Just know that it is up to you, and that you may never have another chance like you are getting today. I mean, you just planned to see him, not to rush up to him and scream that you were his daughter."
"It took all I had not to tell her, I'm not sure I could keep it from him. I'm not as strong as I thought I was," she tells me firmly.
"Well, do you want to go back over the fence? Or can we go out the front door?" I joke, trying to lighten the moment.
"Oh hell, in these heels? Front door." She smiles, though you can tell she is fighting off the tears.
"I guess we'll never know what the blind raffle prize is." I act disappointed and she rolls her eyes.
"Let's go, Bells, while I still can." Her voice is serious, and I squeeze her hand before opening the door.
We quietly descend the stairs, looking for the front entrance. The house is beautiful, but so warm. Nothing like the cold mansions you see on shows like Life Styles of the Rich and Famous or Cribs. It's a home, not just a show place. Only it's a huge home, and since we went up the back stair case we have to walk all the way around to find the front door. How many homes have more than one stair case to the second floor? Dang.
"I'm sure you can figure it out, son, I have complete faith in you." A male voice could be heard saying as we rounded around to the front door.
"Dad, I've never been this blocked before." A doorway opened to what looked like a home office, with two men talking. One with almost copper-colored hair, the other one unmistakably Carlisle Cullen. Rose's intake of breathe reminds me that we are now trying to avoid him, not seek him out. I try to figure out how to hide before the pair can see us.
"Maybe you should step away from it, take a vacation, or maybe go out and meet a nice young woman to date. You know how much your Mother is talking about grandkids lately." He gives a soft laugh, and I'm trying to drag Rose away.
"I'm twenty four, kids are a long ways out for me, old man." The son gives a warm chuckle, before turning his head and looking at the pair of us. "Hello, can we help you? Did you get lost from the party?" He asks kindly, no hint of suspicion in his voice.
"See, son, lovely young ladies can be found right here." Carlisle jokes, looking at me, then his eyes slip to Rosalie and stops. His mouth gaps open, then shuts, very much like I've seen fish do.
"Dad?" The really hot son of my cousin's biological father calls, I guess he wasn't used to his Dad doing the fish face.
"Irina?" Carlisle's voice is barley a whisper. Rose takes one sharp breath then rushes for the front door.
I'm so stunned, torn between Carlisle's calling my cousin by her Mom's name, though they do look a lot alike, and the fact my cousin just left me in the lion's den.
Well, and the fact that I didn't know she could move so fast in heels.
Carlisle's head turns towards me, as does his hottie son's. The look on his face is hard to decipher. His son just looks stunned, and very confused. Carlisle looks stunned as well, but also angry, dumbfounded and a little bit… well, the best word for it is 'awed'. Deciding that this was my cue to exit stage, I give a small wave before speed walking towards the door.
Only, I'm not as lucky as my cousin. A large male hand wraps around my shoulder, pulling me back, and I'm turned to see a stern-looking Carlisle Cullen holding me hostage.
"I don't think so. I have this feeling that you and I need to talk, young lady." Is all he says, before pulling me towards the office he and his—still hot, and still very confused-looking—son had just exited.
AN2: Unless stated this is all Bella's pov, though there might be a few chapters in other's view points or outtakes in their povs.
I know cliffhanger, reviews are appreciated, threats against me are not lol.
