Chapter 29-

(Carter) As I stand on the top of the staircase hours later in three inch heels, a floor-length strapless gown and elaborately curled hair, I feel a lot less like a princess and a lot more like a caged animal at the zoo. I teeter to the edge of the railing and look down. The ballroom is full of people in tuxedos and brightly colored formal dresses, all here to see me. I back up in a hurry, feeling all the blood rushing to my head.

"Whoa, where you going, charger?" Someone asks as I slam into them.

"I can't do this!" I blubber as I turn around, somehow my subconscious racing ahead of me to identify the voice at Petros'. "I'm gonna fall or step on Armando's feet or say something stupid or-"

"Or nothing." Petros puts his hands on my bare shoulders. "You're going to be great. Everyone already loves you. You've been practicing this dance for weeks and you have an amazing partner." He winks.

"You're my partner for the spotlight dance?" I ask, suddenly taking in the stunning black tux.

"Your boyfriend's busy serving tables so Rosie asked me to fill in."

I wrinkle my nose in mock disgust. "I guess you'll do."

"Crown Prince of Bellisimare." He lowers his voice. "I've studied the art of dance since before I could walk. I think I've got it sorted."

"Whatever." I laugh right as the royal trumpets blow and my heart leaps into my throat.

"Announcing our honored guest, celebrating her seventeenth birthday with us tonight, Miss Carter Marie Mason." The voice of the royal announcer echoes through the ballroom and up the stairs.

Petros offers me his arm. "You're gonna be fine."

I take his arm and start to hobble down the stairs. Downstairs the orchestra is playing a nice slow piece. I try to match my steps to the rhythm, which ends up feeling a lot more awkward than graceful.

"You look beautiful, by the way." Petros leans over and whispers in my ear.

With a gentle touch on my arm, Petros leaves my side and marches down the stairs to wait for me at the bottom. I start to get nervous again. Suddenly the orchestra is interrupted by loud claps and pounding dance beats.

"Tell em that it's my birthday!" the singer yells. "Tell em that it's my birthday when I party like that."

I can't help it. As soon as I catch the shocked stares on the guests' faces, a huge smile lights up my face. Rosie glares daggers at Petros, who's doubled over with laughter.

The music ends when I reach the bottom of the staircase and Petros somehow recovers in time to escort me to the middle of the dance floor.

"You're the best." I whisper with a grin.

"Rosie's gonna kill me." He grin whispers back.

We stop in the center of the ballroom as the orchestra recovers and starts to play again. We turn to face each other and Petros sets his hand on my waist. As he takes my hand, I put my other one on his shoulder. As we dance, the orchestra plays a traditional Costa Lunan birthday song complete with a choir of royal musicians singing in Latin. Petros whispers translations in my ear.

"Welcome to another year. May there be many more. May this year be the best so far. May you have good health and prosperity, love and friendship. May the road rise to meet you and the wind always be at your back."

The dance ends. I curtsy, Petros bows and the ballroom fills with thunderous applause.

"Buon compleanno, principessa," Petros says before disappearing into the crowd.

The next hours are a blur. There are so many people to meet, so many to dance with. I catch a glimpse of Armando once or twice, weaving through the crowd with a tray of appetizers as I spin around on the arm of some dignitary or friend of the royal family.

"May I have this dance?"

I whirl around at the unexpectedly familiar voice to see my dad standing behind me in full PPP uniform.

"Dad!" I go into his arms for a hug, not caring that I'm acting about twelve years old. "But what… how… I thought…"

Dad laughs. "The agency decided I needed to be with my daughter on her birthday." He takes my hand and turns me in a circle like he used to when I was little. "Happy birthday, Cinderella."

(Rosie) I see Ed coming before he crosses the ballroom. He looks great in his perfect tailored tuxedo, his beautiful girlfriend Brooke on his arm. Brooke looks amazing too, her long wavy brown hair flowing onto the shoulders of her Greek style hot pink dress. I paste on a smile and try to avoid Ed's eyes.

"Brooke! So glad you could make it!" I hug her.

"Thank you so much for inviting me," she gushes.

"Oh, of course." My eyes flit over to Ed for a half of a second. "Ed's really missed you."

"Long distance sucks." Brooke pouts then leans onto Ed's arm to kiss his cheek.

"I can't believe this whole island!" She moves her arms quickly and pink champagne sloshes out of her glass. "It's so gorgeous."

"Thank you," I reply politely, scanning the ballroom.

There are several PPP officers posted within the crowd, just as I asked. Except for Major Mason, they're all undercover, dressed to the nines in tuxedos and ballgowns. Carter has no idea they're here and prayerfully, neither does Armando.

"Is everything…?" Ed's eyes dart nervously back and forth.

In the moment, nothing going on between us matters. All that matters is keeping our best friend safe.

Brooke looks confused. "Is there some big surprise coming?"

"Carter's cake," Ed lies smoothly. "It's huge and there's fireworks and shit. Been working for weeks to make sure everything goes perfectly."

Brooke cranes her neck trying to find it and Ed's eyes meet mine. I mouth a thank you. His eyes are dark as he nods back.

"Where is she?" Brooke's voice breaks through my thoughts.

"Who?" I snap back to attention.

"Carter," Brooke says.

I whip my head around, desperately scanning the room for her red dress. I don't see her anywhere.

"What is Sparrow's location?" I bark into my comms unit as I whirl around looking for her, my heart pounding out of my chest. "I repeat, give me Sparrow's-"

"I'll find her." Ed disappears into the crowd, leaving an extremely baffled Brooke behind.

She looks around. "Is this still about the cake?"