For Bella, the logical thing to do would be to part ways with Edward as soon as they arrive at the benefit. It's what she wants: to pretend her date bailed, to pretend she doesn't know this guy. Cut her losses. It's less humiliating than unknowingly arriving at her first major social event on the arm of the client's son.
But she doesn't. She can't, because as soon as she steps out of the car, it's already too late. Bella's eyes land on the black luxury SUV that's pulled into the valet behind them, out from which Edward's stepbrother, Emmett and his wife, Rosalie emerge.
"Shit," she mutters quietly to herself.
As an outsider, no one would have any indication of what transpired between Edward and Bella on the ride over. It certainly helps that Edward took a longer route to the benefit. He gave Bella plenty of time to compose herself, not that she knows the area well enough to notice. She looks stunning. Her tears have dried. She's fixed the blotchy eye make-up, and the red blush that overcomes her face as Emmett's eyes meet hers is nothing he hasn't seen before.
"Just ignore them," Edward whispers. Considering that's exactly what she's been doing to him for the past thirty minutes, he figures it won't be too difficult of a task. "That's what I usually do."
Emmett Cullen can hardly believe his eyes. To see his lowlife stepbrother at an event for the Cullen Foundation is shocking enough, but the fact that he's getting handsy with their PR agent is almost unbelievable. Clearly the sassy consultant from Embry & Black who so adamantly rejected his advances isn't nearly as picky as she makes herself out to be.
Also in a state of disbelief is Bella, who is having a difficult time getting past Rosalie and her obvious beauty. What, exactly, did Emmett hope to gain from an affair with her? She could ruin him: his reputation, his marriage. And for what? Bella has nothing. No connections, no money, no boobs. There's no comparison between the two women. Rosalie might be a few years older than Bella, but she's gorgeous with flawless skin, blond curls, and curves in all the right places. Edward's sister-in-law, his mother... they're the perfect arm candy for events like this. If Bella ever wondered that she might be too good for Edward, she's definitely thinking the opposite is true now.
They hate Jasper. She assumes they'll probably hate her too.
Edward flashes his stepbrother an arrogant smirk, and the two brothers exchange a knowing glance—the kind that lets Emmett know Edward is onto him. That Bella is off limits, whether it's actually the case or not. The entire exchange goes right over Rosalie's head, but the same isn't true for Bella. She can't believe Edward is so bold as to engage his brother in some sort of territorial pissing contest, and why would he even bother? Her words in the car couldn't have been more clear: they're over. He's delusional. Insane. An arrogant asshole.
Was getting back at Emmett his intention all along?
It wasn't, but Edward will gladly admit irritating Emmett is an added bonus. With such a rich father, Emmett has always had quite the sense of entitlement. It's satisfying to know that, for once, the younger Doctor Cullen can't have everything he wants.
"Your brother's wife is very pretty," Bella confesses when Rosalie and Emmett are out of earshot. It's the first time she's spoken since riding in the car, and Edward is surprised by the content of her idle conversation.
He laughs nervously. "She is, but it comes at a price."
"Dumber than rocks?"
"Being married to him, you'd think so."
"Well, what is it then?" she asks.
"The opposite," Edward explains. "Rosalie thinks she knows everything."
"Great," Bella says.
"Consider yourself warned." Whispering in her ear, he adds, "At least my date is pretty inside and out."
Indoors, everything is coming together nicely. A few of the guests have already started to arrive, and the oversized ballroom has the capacity for hundreds more. Edward is impressed. The Cullen Foundation's events are usually sloppy and unorganized. More than once his stepfather has considered going another route and even dropping their association with Embry & Black all together, but it's clear from the start that this year is different. Whoever planned this event put a lot of work into it, and while most would associate the success with Jacob's acquisition of the company, Edward knows better. This project is all Bella.
The hotel staff is hard at work; not one person stands idle. Those who are not filling glasses with water are futilely straightening table centerpieces, and Edward isn't the only one blown away by Bella's careful planning. Jacob and Carlisle stand together discussing last minute details. Both were reluctant when Bella suggested this hotel as a venue. The price was steep, but already they've seen an increase in interest from the area's corporations. All signs point toward success.
"I have to meet with the caterer."
Bella uses the excuse to slip away from Edward, even if only for a second. She's still furious with him, but with everything going on, it's easy for her to occupy her mind with other things. As she discusses the final head count, food allergies, and ensures that what they've ordered is in fact what's being served, her date seeks out his little sister. Alice and Jasper have yet to arrive, and after a falling out between mother and daughter earlier in the afternoon, he wonders if they'll even bother.
But Alice promised Edward she'd be here. She promised him she'd talk to Bella, to help her understand why he deceived her.
Bella seems happier now. Edward watches from a distance as she bumps into Jacob, and the smile on her face looks sincere. The hug they exchange causes Edward to frown—it's far more intimate than he would care to see. Bella is caught off guard by it as well, but she attributes Jake's open affection to the success of the benefit and its open bar. Judging from the scent of his breath, he's wasted no time in visiting it.
Then again, so has she.
Edward can't help himself. He approaches Bella and the handsy motherfucker as they discuss finite details and injects himself into their conversation. Hopefully her boss can take a hint. Jake knows who Edward is. They've met once, though only briefly. Even if they hadn't, Esme and Carlisle complain about their son often. They worry incessantly what he might do to sabotage the image of the foundation.
Jacob's eyes narrow. While he might remember Edward well, he doesn't recall introducing him to Bella.
"There you are, sweetheart," Edward says, a hand drifting possessively to her hip. "Dinner's starting soon. We should probably get settled."
Unfortunately for Bella, this also means, let's go meet my parents.
"Right." Bella isn't dense. For the second time this evening, Edward has exhibited some sort of jealous claim over her, and the act is getting old. She waves him off, returning all of her attention to Jacob. It takes every bit of willpower she has not to roll her eyes. "Go ahead. I'll be over in a few seconds."
When Bella planned the Cullen Benefit, she had no idea she would be seated at its main table. But that's exactly where she finds herself a few minutes later, seeking out a date that's currently nowhere to be found. Bella didn't miss the way Edward stormed off as she spoke with her boss, but it serves him right. She correctly assumes he went outside for a smoke, and hesitantly lingers before taking a seat. The table is empty with one exception.
"I hope you're making him wrap it up," Rosalie jokes, but the negative undertone is hard to miss.
Initially Bella isn't paying attention, but Rosalie's opening statement is too bold to miss. "I'm sorry?"
"You're with Edward," she responds as if the reasoning is painfully obvious. "Surely you know his reputation."
Bella shrugs, her response noncommittal. As pissed as she is at Edward, she isn't about to badmouth him with a member of his extended family. And as much as Bella desperately wants to comment on Emmett's advances, she chooses to take the high road. Ever the PR agent, she's committed to maintaining her client's image.
Or something like that.
"We're just friends," Bella insists. At this point, even that is a longshot.
"Oh, I figured," Rosalie laughs. "You couldn't possibly be his girlfriend because he wouldn't know the meaning of the word. Monogamy isn't really his thing, is it?"
It's not Emmett's either. Bella bites her lip. "I don't really care either way."
Rose continues, "Well, no respectable woman would ever want anything to do with him."
The implication is there. She's calling Bella a slut. Rosalie might think she's being intimidating, but in reality she's only making a fool of herself. Bella can't help but laugh. Edward is no saint, she knows this. But neither is Emmett, and Bella finds it ironic that "respectable" women probably fuck her husband everyday, yet she was the one to refuse.
"Fucking Dad's PR agent," Emmett says, bumping into his brother in line for the open bar. "Classy."
"Shut the fuck up," Edward warns. "You're not one to talk."
There's no shame present in Emmett's tone. "Can you blame me for trying?"
Edward's hand balls into a fist. "I hope she tells your wife. You're an asshole."
"Yeah, and so are you. What are you trying to accomplish anyway?" Emmett asks.
"Who says I'm trying to accomplish anything?"
"Fucking her won't get you back into their good graces," Emmett says confidently. He thinks he has Edward figured out. "She's a PR agent, not a saint."
"Have you met Edward's date?"
Rosalie's tone is condescending as Esme approaches the table. She adds a few choice words in her head: whore, slut, prostitute. They're words that would probably give Edward's mother a heart attack if said aloud.
"Bella is our PR agent," Edward interrupts, also finding his way to the table. He watches as Rosalie's expression melts from confidence to sheer horror. Her eyes look as if they're about to pop out of her skull. She knows she's in trouble. If Esme finds out about half the things she's said to sabotage Edward's reputation to the one person dedicated to maintaining it, she won't be happy.
"Oh," is all she can say.
It takes a few painfully awkward seconds for Esme to make the connection, but when she does, her face is ecstatic. Bella's is bright red. "Why didn't you tell me?" Esme beams, rushing to greet Bella with a warm hug. "Finally, my son does something right!"
She desperately hopes its a precursor for things to come.
"Quick, somebody write a press release," Emmett jokes. "Oh, wait."
"Well, isn't that convenient?" Rosalie chimes in. Their cocky smirks make Bella feel sick.
"Enough," Carlisle scolds, appearing out of nowhere. His voice is firm. He does not mimic his wife's excitement. "We'll talk about this later."
Edward wants to be surprised, but he's not. His stepfather is extremely critical of everything else he does, so why would his friendship with Bella be judged any differently? She feels very awkward. Out of place. All the insecurities Edward would have dismissed earlier as invalid are basically confirmed, and the sad expression on her face says it all. Edward should have never brought her here. He should have known better than to throw her to the wolves.
He grabs her hand, each of them needing a little of the other's support.
Bella and Edward aren't blinded by the spotlight for long. Everyone's attention shifts immediately when Jasper and Alice arrive. They're late. Carlisle is surprised the two bothered showing up at all. Esme wishes they hadn't. The benefit is no place for tattooed wanna-be rockstars. Jasper is a worthless, community college drop-out intent on dating a woman much too young for him, and Bella immediately understands what Edward means when he says his parents despise him.
She offers him the seat next to her. If they're outcasts, at least they can be outcasts together.
Bella and Edward eat dinner mostly in silence, working themselves into the conversation only when necessary. The same is true for Alice and Jasper. Bella is graceful. Jasper's answers are short but polite. Edward is quiet. Bella watches as he shifts his pasta from one side of his plate to the other, committing much more attention to his food than necessary. It's obvious he's uncomfortable. The night is almost over when one of Carlisle's physician friends speaks directly to him, and he looks up, unable to avoid it.
"So, Edward, this time last year you were gearing up for your first year of medical school. How's the University of Illinois treating you?"
Rosalie stifles a laugh. Carlisle bites his tongue. Bella, shocked with the information, is eager to see how Edward responds.
"I—" he begins.
"Edward is taking a bit of a hiatus," Esme speaks quickly, interrupting before Edward can say more.
It's a lie. Edward isn't taking a break. He's done. His parents have done all they can do. They've followed through on all of the threats: from cancelling his credit cards to throwing him out onto the street. Edward is unaffected by their coercion and stands firm in his decision to drop out. He's living his life. Happily.
They're not happy.
"I was offered an opportunity I couldn't pass up," Edward explains carefully. "Playing piano has always been my passion."
Carlisle should leave it alone, but he doesn't. He's had a little too much to drink. "This kid, I swear," he sighs. "I gave him the world, you know? Ever since his father died, I've tried hard to fill that spot. I sent him to the best private school system in Chicago. He never had to want for anything. I gave him a life he never could've imagined, and only asked for one thing in return—that he follow me into my profession. So that someday he can provide for his own family. Like my biological son, Emmett."
"Carlisle," Esme warns. This is not the time or place.
He chuckles, his frustration evident. "You've always been too easy on him. And maybe that's the problem. Maybe he's just spoiled."
Edward's jaw is tight. Bella watches with horror as he fights the urge to dignify his stepfather with a response.
"Daddy, stop," Alice begs.
"And would you look at that? His sister just like him." Carlisle points across the table. Edward grabs Bella's hand again. She squeezes it tight. "Dating one of Edward's low life friends, even. You know, son, it's one thing to destroy your own life. But to bring your sister down with you is inexcusable. You ought to be ashamed."
"I have to get out of here."
Edward doesn't waste any time before standing up and striding toward the exit. He doesn't wait for Bella, nor does he intend for her to follow. Why would she? As she so sternly insisted earlier, they're done. His night has only gone from bad to worse, and there's little chance for it to be redeemed now. Jasper and Alice prepare to make their exit as well, each intolerable of the way Carlisle treats them.
Bella hesitates for only a moment before following after her friend. The benefit might be her baby, but it's almost over anyway. She looks around. It seems that no one outside of the table has noticed Dr. Cullen and Edward's exchange. It'll be forgotten. Things will move forward. The night is a success, and there's no reason at this point for her to stay.
Besides, there are questions she wants answered. It feels wrong learning about the situation from Carlisle and Esme as they bicker back and forth. Edward dropped out of medical school. So what? In the scheme of life, it seems minor. It's not like he's addicted to heroin. Bella makes a career out of damage control, but Edward choosing his own career hardly seems like something to write about.
A long and steady drag from his cigarette calms Edward's nerves as he waits for the valet, and his mind drifts to Bella. Maybe he should go back inside. He's her ride, after all. He regrets leaving her, especially when there's so much more he wants to say. He wants to tell her everything. But would she listen? Does she even care?
Giving up when things get tough. It's Edward's specialty, or so his stepfather would say. He glides through life, always taking the easy way out. But not tonight. He takes one final drag of his cigarette and throws it down, turning back toward the entrance of the hotel. He's determined. He's not leaving Bella behind, not letting her go. His eyes widen as he sees her pacing toward him, and relief floods his heart as he realizes, maybe, things won't be so hard after all.