Esme POV

The lights were dimmed, just to the perfect proportion of darkness to let the podium shine, but not so dark so people could still enjoy the rest of the dinner. Functions like this were my means of living. Surely, I could appreciate the professionalism with which everything was set up. From the layout of the tables to the way the band stood on a corner.

"And now I welcome our first speaker of the night, Dr. Joham Ladell." The pompous man who was the chief of the board introduced an older man who clearly found himself better suited to work behind a microscope than to speaking on an occasion like this. I clapped more enthusiastically as if it would cheer him on.

"Good evening. I've been appointed to share with you the advances in the technique to detect earlier tumors..."

And he lost us. Well, the majority who wasn't used to medical terms.

I glanced around our table instead. To my right, Renee Higginbotham was trying to follow the speech with a smile. She certainly surprised me. At first, with her bohemian clothes and faraway look, she was the embodiment of a painter, lost in her world. That's until one realize there's a strong, determined woman under the ditzy facade. I also feared for her clothes choice. Young Edward was also worried, he mentioned she's usually in jeans or comfy stained clothes. Alas, she was wearing a stunning mauve dress that complimented her coloring. Clearly, she knew her way into this kind of formal parties.

She was still giving glances at Bella and Edward, who were whispering by her side. Oh, to be young and in love! I could hardly believe those two hadn't realized how they are meant to be together. Well, they're inexperienced. And had other worries, like college. Just yesterday Bella mentioned how she feared tonight's date was causing a strain in her parents' marriage. Silly girl.

Next to them, there's an empty space followed by the patriarch of the family, Alistair Cullen. He's another one that surprised me, he's a riot but now he was fighting sleep and losing. Whenever his eyes closed, Carlisle elbowed him causing him to mutter 'I'm not sleeping. I'm thinking with my eyes closed.' Cue giggles from me. They're cute.

Then, there's Carlisle. I never planned on meeting him. Oh, well.

I'm used to working with celebrities. I never got overwhelmed on dazed by their status. So when Rosalie Hale came to me, I just look at another normal day at work. Maybe this one I bragged to my sister. She had a crush on Chuck Eagles when she was a teenager, and having the remote chance for me of meeting him made her squeal like she was thirteen again.

Then Peter Hale got sick, I truly felt for the family. So when Rosalie talked to me about her father plan's to make amends I offered my help. Dad had this little private investigations agency where he let me help from time to time so I have experience in such matters. Besides, I loved to reunite loved ones. This was giving me the chance to break the monotony of dealing with caterers and suppliers.

Then I met Carlisle. I swear I wasn't looking for something, hell, I don't know if we can have something. But he was so chivalrous, so nice and helpful. It doesn't hurt that he's so handsome. Pictures on magazines don't make him justice. The only 'but' was that he's still very close to his ex. And that, my friends, is what stops me from moving forward. When he mentioned Elizabeth wanted to meet me I was about to cancel our date. I mean, she's this gorgeous woman who is pretty confident successful in every venture she starts. How can I compare to her?

Of course, we had dinner and it was a wonderful experience. She is really nice, making difficult to hate her, and most of the night, she acted more like a sibling than an ex-lover. Still...

The clapping around me brought me back from my musings. Now it was time for Elizabeth's speech.

"Good evening, friends. Let's say one day you wake up and suddenly feel a tingle behind the bridge of your nose. Just a tingle and it doesn't last for long. You would probably discard it and forget it ever happened. But you shouldn't. Because then, it could worsen and then you'll feel headaches and feel like your eyes are pressing your brain, and then you'll find your body isn't moving as soon as you send the order."

She stood in all her stunning glory, speaking about how the honored Josephine Cullen discovered she had a brain tumor. A very sad story, that soon had every person teary eyed.

And I feel terrible for still feeling intimidated by her.

Soon, she finished and was back to our table, straight to Carlisle's arms. Sure he was comforting her, but somehow, I still felt that bout of jealousy. I really need to reign my insecurities. Oh, well the night is young.

x

EPOV

"How come I never met your grandpa?" Bella said from my shoulder.

Yeah! I finally have Bella between my arms in more than a friendly hug. Ok, were just dancing. But I never held her so close like I'm doing right now. And if everything goes according to the plan and the stars align, by the end of the night I'll get a kiss and make her my girlfriend. Yes, only first base, but this is sweet innocent Bella Swan. I'm not going to ruin my chance with her because my raging hormones are driving me crazy. And trust me, since I saw her in this dress I'm fighting the need to kiss her senseless and loose my virgin status.

Ouch! She stepped on my toe. But she knows how to dance!

"Hey! You zoned out."

"Sorry. I was thinking how utterly exquisite you look tonight."

She blushed. "So your grandpa..."

See, she doesn't know how to take a compliment. "Meh, the old man hates planes so we are the ones to come to visit him."

"Meh, the old man hates planes so we are the ones to come to visit him."

"He's a riot."

A riot. The man prides himself on teasing me. Well, Dad too, but he's on Esmeland and doesn't notice anything.

Like while we were in the limo on our way here...

Mind you, Renee and Mom were chatting between them as Dad was with Esme. Rude, I know. Grandpa was enthralled telling Bella about my toddler adventures.

"And there he was. A chubby little thing kicking the water on his giant lifesaver with a plastic palm tree to offer shade. Poor thing got sunburned even with a hat. Hee, hee. My sweet Josephine cuddled him and covered him with sunblock cream."

"Do you have pictures"

"Of course I have!" The old man look through his phone. Why wasn't he technologically impaired like Dad?

"Aww!" Bella cooed.

Oh, that picture! I was wearing a hideous white bathing suit matching my white hat with a blue bow, the only trace of manliness in the whole outfit.

"My mom thought the hat was 'edgy'" I made air quotes. It was ridiculous!

"It was Versace!" Mom yelled from the back. Wasn't she talking to Renee? Now that picture was passed and everybody cooed and ahhed.

"Bella had something similar, but in pink." Renee looked through her phone pictures and showed the phone to Mom. "Here Charlie is holding her."

"Oh, what a mane! I wish I had my hair like him."

"I know! We didn't meet in the best circumstances. We were both recovering." Renee had a wistful smile. "He was hiding from the world, and because of his therapy, he decided to cut his hair and beard every time he reached a breakthrough. You should see him now, he's only sporting a mustache."

Bella added in hushed whispers. "He shaved his goatee when he relented and let me go to live in the dorms."

I barely had a chance to see the picture, because as soon as I said 'Aww!' Bella took the phone away, but I managed to see where she got her beautiful hair. Though you barely could see Charlie's face. Between the beard and his aviator glasses, he was completely covered.

"Hey! You saw mine."

"Kids! Not here!" Grandpa yelled and winked to Bella.

The song changed, and its fast pace made me release Bella.

Still, we kept dancing. There was no way we would go back with the old people sitting on our table to watch if Dad finally gets Esme to dance with him. It's pretty awkward. So I rejoiced on the pleasure of dancing with Bella. Well, besides to keep her from the wandering eye of the guy on the Royston's table. That guy always is trying to sink his teeth on beautiful ladies like Bella, though usually I don't care and said ladies are more than willing to let him. But not tonight. Not with Bella.

Again, the music changed to a romantic song and I held Bella close, as we swayed to the music. My mother mentioned that this ballroom had a hidden balcony right behind where the band was situated, so I swayed with Bella in said direction.

The other couples were closing to the center of the dance floor so it was easy.

I twirled Bella through an arch and a table with drinks, probably from the band. Once we passed it I noticed Renee discreetly holding a door open. Ah, so that's why she was in cahoots with my mother. But now I could see how those two managed to clear my way to the balcony.

'Only you, can make all this world seem right'

Yeah! The band started to play the perfect song. This is my chance...

"Only you can make the darkness bright" I sang looking into her eyes.

"Only you, and you alone" Bella was blushing, I swear she looked like a fairytale princess!

"can thrill me like you do

And fill my heart with love for only you"

The exit to the balcony was covered by a heavy curtain that mysteriously was lifted. I didn't miss my chance. I held Bella closer as we spun our way to the other side of the curtain. Again, it mysteriously got down.

"Oh, Bella..." I swayed and held her closer. Her precious aroma of flowers and sunshine intoxicating me.

"Edward..."

I guess it was time.

I looked at her and lifted her chin with one hand while I gently lifted the other to her neck. Her eyes got bigger and dazed, and a sigh erupted from her chest.

"You don't know how long I've waited to kiss you. May I?"

She nodded and stood on her toes to get closer.

Slowly, I got my face down, my lips eager to touch hers.

And I finally did it. It was a soft peck, followed by a more passionate kiss.

I swiftly deepened the kiss and was about to use my tongue when the impossible happened.

Someone pulled me from Bella.

"Get out of here! This is a private room!"

xxx

BPOV

Someone up there must really hate me. Really.

I was having the time of my life, dancing with Edward as if we were alone in the ballroom. Somehow we drifted to a closed area, that led to a balcony. And that's when it happened... I got my first kiss! And it was from Edward!

But it's just my luck to have a taste of happiness to be followed by misery.

A giant behemoth of a man pulled Edward from my side and started to yell at him. The guy was wearing a suit with sunglasses and if those traits didn't scream 'bodyguard', the gun hidden in the waistband of his pants and the radio where he was muttering instructions did.

Edward was wondering what was his problem when I realized at the edge of the balcony a man was slipping on his zipper and a blond woman was fixing her dress. A very young woman to the very old man. Hmm...

To add to the chaos, Elizabeth Masen and my mother irrupted glaring to the bodyguard. I've got to say, Elizabeth had a way to put the bodyguard in his place so he lost his hold on Edward. My mother winked at me, coming to pull me outside.

"Baby, it's better if you stay with Carlisle for a while. Show him your moves." She patted my arm.

Carlisle was waiting behind the curtain, despite the nervous smile he was sporting, he was nice to ask me to dance to the other side of the room.

"Is Edward fine?"

"Well, I think so. As soon as Elizabeth came into the room she seemed to take control. Carlisle, what happened?"

"Hmm, I have the suspicion that someone was thinking about taking advantage of the privacy that balcony offered." He had his hand on the back of his neck, a nervous trait that Edward shared with him. "I'm not sure, but I think that's one of the big donors, probably the husband of that lady over there." He pointed to an elegant woman who was walking around clearly looking for someone.

"So, shall we dance?" Carlisle asked.

"Sure." What else could I do?