Disclaimer: Twilight and all the associated characters belong to Stephanie Meyer. The story line and all their naughty little actions come to you courtesy of me.


Investing in Love – Chapter 53

My heart is pounding with excitement and anticipation for this evening. Once we finished at the spa the only thing left for me to do was come home and get into my dress. I left my hair down with loose curls because I know Edward likes it that way. My dress fits perfectly and I feel elegant and sexy at the same time.

Once I put on my silver strappy heels, I make my way out of the bedroom and stop at the top of the stairs. I feel my knees go week as I take in a tuxedo clad Edward waiting for me at the bottom.

Edward looks up at me and smiles that crooked grin. My stomach is doing summersaults as my body reacts to the yearning I feel towards him. He makes his way up the stairs as I start to descend and we meet half way. He reaches out to take my hand, bringing it to his lips as he kisses it.

"You look absolutely stunning." He peers at me under his eyelashes.

"Thank you and you look…yummy," I say with all seriousness.

"Yummy? I'll take yummy." He grins. "Shall we, my Dancing Queen?" He holds out his elbow for me to take.

"I would love to." I take his arm as he leads me down the stairs.

Seth is wearing his tux standing by the door with his sunglasses on looking very much like a bodyguard.

"Looking good Seth!" I proclaim as we walk towards him.

"Thank you. You are looking quite good yourself." He smirks.

"Yeah, you're practically glowing Seth. You will have to let me know your secret. Is it the facial, the manicure or was it the deep massage Jared gave you that makes you look so…refreshed?" Edward pokes fun at Seth's spa day.

I giggle and Seth lets out a sigh of frustration. "Joke all you want Boss, but you're the one that sent me there and you're the reason Jared had to do my massage." he says Jared's name with annoyance.

"Well it was better than the alternative. I'll be damned if I'll let another man touch my Bella." Edward holds me a little closer as we walk out to the car. "Speaking of which, make sure you keep your eye on her while I'm giving my speech. I know how the wolves like to descend when I'm not around."

"Will do Boss."

I shake my head as they discuss me like I'm not even there. I've become so used to it I don't bother saying anything; it wouldn't do any good anyway. Seth shuts our car door and walks around to get into the driver's seat. Edward reaches down and puts his hand on my leg that is peeking out from the slit in my dress.

"I like this." He gives my leg a little squeeze.

I reach over and put my hand on his cheek. Looking him in his green eyes I lean in and kiss him murmuring….

"And I like this."


As we pull up to the entrance of the ballroom, I realize I never once gave thought to the fact that this would be a red carpet event. I start biting my lower lip in response to my nerves kicking into high gear. The entrance is lit up with flashes of cameras going off as people are lined up along the carpet trying to get the best shots of New York's most wealthy people. Edward reaches out and puts his hand on my leg, stopping my anxious fidgeting.

"Sorry, I didn't think about having to walk the red carpet. I hope I don't fall on my face." Edward chuckles at my unfounded worry.

"I won't let go of you the entire time. I won't let you fall." He gives me a wink.

The car comes to a complete stop when it's our turn to get out. Seth gets out of the car first and another suit clad, ear piece wearing, bodybuilder type guy gets into the car. Seth makes his way around the car and opens our door. Edward gets out, adjusts his suit and then reaches in to help me out.

I'm immediately blinded by flashes of light and I try to keep an elegant and blissful look on my face, but I fear I'm just coming across as constipated. I can see the headlines now… 'Edward Cullen looks dashing in his tux while his date looks like she could take a dump'.

I clinch and unclench Edwards arm as we make our way into the entrance. Seth and Edward both physically relax once we are safely inside.

"How's it look?" Edward asks Seth.

"Perimeter check is clear." Seth puts his hand up to his ear piece, getting the answer from someone else.

Rosalie and Alice are standing with Jasper and Emmett by a reserved table several yards away. I catch Alice's eye and we both wave excitedly at each other. I can't wait to get closer and check out my girls in their dresses. With a big smile on my face I start to head over towards them while Edward is talking security issues with Seth. About three steps into my departure I'm pulled back into Edwards's arms.

Edward doesn't say a word as he pulls me back into his embrace, he simply continues to talk to Seth about boring man things. I give Alice a pouty look and she returns it. She mouths 'get over here'. I mouth back 'he won't let me' as I nod my head towards Edward. She then mouths back 'You look so pretty', so I mouth back. 'Thank you. I love your hair.' pointing to my own hair to emphasize my meaning.

"We can go talk to her now." Edward leans down and whispers in my ear startling me.

I'm a little embarrassed about my school girl behavior, but Edward doesn't seem to mind. He puts his hand on my exposed lower back and leads me to our friends.

Alice looks beautiful in her champagne colored dress with her hair pulled up and away from her face. Rosalie is stunning, as usual, in her sparkly purple strapless dress. We are all like giddy little school girls, fussing over how extravagant everything is and how nervous we are. Edward really should take me out more.

After a while Seth makes is way over to us and Edward gives him a very official looking nod. I guess this is the changing of the guards.

"I have to go give my speech now. Stay with Seth, please." Edward gives me a kiss and leaves me with a very professional looking Seth.

"Have you found my soul mate yet?" Seth bumps me playfully.

"Did you see the woman serving drinks? She is super cute."

"I'm desperate Bella, not deaf. Have you heard her talk? She's super annoying. Like claws on a chalk board."

"So you talked to her? You must have found her attractive then?"

"Of course. Look at her, but as soon as she talked I knew it wouldn't work out. Just her saying my name makes my manhood want to crawl up inside me," he jokes.

"Seth..." I scold him as I laugh, "…that is awful." I hit him in the arm

Everyone gets quiet as Edward is introduced and starts his speech. He thanks everyone for their contributions towards the fight against cancer and talks a little about cancer research. I can't take my eyes off of him. Everything he does is done to perfection, from the way he looks to the way he speaks, people are just drawn to him.

Suddenly out of nowhere there is a loud noise in the kitchen. It sounds like an explosion. People start screaming and freaking out as they head towards the entrance. Smoke starts billowing out of the kitchen door and the cooks and servers start running out coughing and gaging. Seth keeps me close to him as I get pushed and shoved in the crowed. I keep looking back at the stage where Edward was giving his speech and I see him looking panicked as he searches for me.

"Stay with me, Bella," Seth commands as he listens in his ear piece and communicates to whoever is on the other end.

Rosalie, Alice, Jasper and Emmett are all with us as we make our way through the flow of people.

"Oh shit!" Rosalie yells as a silver can shaped object lands at her feet.

Before she can even get all the words out, smoke is filling the area around us and I'm blinded by the white cloud.

"Seth!" I yell.

I can hear Seth's voice but I don't understand what is going on, my senses are confused, I feel disoriented with everyone's screams and the smell and blinding force of the smoke. Someone grabs my arm and yanks me; in what direction I have no clue. I willingly go with them assuming its Seth… or maybe it's Edward.

"Edward!" I frantically call out his name, desperately hoping it's him who has me. Everything will be fine as long as we are together.

Once I get away from the main congested area of smoke, the person holding my arm drops it and I suddenly feel alone and helpless. The smoke starts to die down and I find myself standing away from all my friends against a side wall. I strain my eyes looking in the direction of the stage. Edward is still standing there desperately looking for me.

"Ed…ward!" I try and scream. The smoke is affecting my lungs and making it difficult to get air.

He must hear me because he looks in my direction and we lock eyes.

"Bella!" He jumps off the stage hurriedly trying to make his way to me. But there are still so many people, I lose him in the crowd. I shift from foot to foot stretching as tall as I can, trying to find him.

"Bella! Bella!" Tanya is running to me with her cell phone up to her ear.

"Edward wants you to come this way!" she shouts over all of the chaos.

I don't even think about it as I head in her direction, assuming Edward got ahold of her on her phone; I follow her to the back of the building. Just when we get ready to go through a door leading to the back room, I think I hear Edward yelling my name. I pause for a moment to look for him over the crowd behind me. Tanya reaches out and grabs my arm.

"Come on, we need to get out of here!"

"I think I heard Edward." I start to panic.

"He's in here, come on!" In her agitated state she yanks on my arm and catches my bracelet, pulling it from my arm and it falls to the floor.

"My bracelet!" I yell, wanting to reach down and pick it up.

"There's no time for your goddamn bracelet." She pulls me through the back door aggressively.

It quickly becomes clear that I was a fool to ever trust her. Once the door shuts behind me, a dark cloth sack is put over my head and I'm cloaked in darkness. I feel strong arms wrap around me and pick me up off my feet flinging me over their shoulder like a cave man.

"Put me down!" I start to kick and hit anything I can get my hands on.

"Damn it Tanya, give her the shot!" The man that is holding me roars as I try to fight my way free.

"Edward!" I scream as loud as I can, "Edward help!"

I feel a sharp pain in my ass and instantly have a feeling of warmth come over my body.

"Edwa….rd…" I feel my eyes go heavy.

"Let's get this bitch out of here."

"Edward is going to be frantic." I hear Tanya laugh right before everything goes black.


A/N: dun dun dun…..more drama…I love it. I hope you do too! If you like the story, please review. Your kind words and constructive criticism would mean the world to me. If you don't like the story, then remember what your mama told you, "If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all." I hope my story brings you a welcoming escape into the world of fantasy.