The rights to the story belong to Sabrina, writers: Ernest Lehman, Billy Wilder, and Samuel A. Taylor.

The Twilight characters belong to Stephanie Meyer.

But the craziness of this other stuff is all me! Thanks for reading!

Chapter 7: Hit and Miss

All Eleazar Hale could see while he stood outside on the Cullen mansion terrace watching two dancers twirl about on the dance floor, was red.

He knew Emmett Cullen by his playboy reputation before actually meeting him, and despite many arguments and disagreements between himself and his precious Rose, she was still set on marrying him.

A father always worried about his little girl and her choice of future husband. After Emmett's escapade tonight on the dance floor with his little vixen, Eleazar was starting to believe that his intuition about his daughter's fiancé was precisely on target. He was not the right choice.

"El, what's the matter? You look ready to kill someone."

Eleazar heard his good friend speak after putting his arm upon his shoulder. Eleazar was too much of a gentleman to wish to cause a scene, but this sort of behavior in his daughter's absence was entirely uncalled for.

Carlisle looked over to where Eleazar's gaze was focused on and his eyes almost bugged out of his head when he saw how low Emmett's left hand was on the back of the woman he was currently dancing with. Carlisle squeezed the hand of his wife trying to get her attention and Esme cut off in mid sentence when she too glanced over to what stopped the men in their tracks.

"What seems to be the trouble? They're just dancing," Esme tried to brush off the scene on the dance floor as some common customary occurrence to salvage the situation. She knew her son was dancing inappropriately close to the woman in his arms... and then as they turned around she saw the face of the woman he was dancing with.

"Isabella?" Esme said astonished, "Oh dear me, look Carlisle! Isabella's back from Austria." Esme looked over at her with a sense of pride at how much she's grown up in the past year she's been away.

Then she heard her husband clear his throat and tell his friend, "El, my man, they've known each other since they were children. She's practically a sister to him," Carlisle laughed and squeezed Eleazar's shoulder to loosen up his tense stance.

"I have a sister... that's not how we dance," Eleazar said through his teeth, squeezing the glass in his hand so firmly Carlisle feared the glass might break.

"Eleazar what a surprise, I didn't expect to see you here!" Everyone who had been staring at Bella and Emmett was now looking to see who just spoke. Only Carlisle and Esme didn't have to guess, for they knew that voice very well.

"It's good to see you again Tanya. I didn't think you would be coming tonight since we didn't receive your RSVP. I'm glad you could join us," Esme said with a sense of formality and hospitality.

She wasn't too fond of Tanya ever since she heard about how horridly she had once treated her son and spoke down to him all those years. Of course it wasn't Edward who confessed this to her, but Edward's friends... and she realized after they broke up how much happier her son seemed to be.

"I apologize for not replying on time. I wasn't sure I was going to be in town... but I came here tonight with my family. It seems I'm the first to find you and wish you a happy birthday," Tanya said with an overly fake smile which to most would appear to be sincere.

"Where is your family? I've heard you speak so much about your father, Alistair, and I would be most happy to finally meet him," Eleazar said finally breaking his murderous gaze once Emmett walked away from the dance floor, away from the woman the Cullens claim is like a 'sister' to him.

Eleazar knew he would be having a few words with Emmett to discover the truth about his dance partner tonight. His little girl deserved the best... and he wasn't entirely convinced Emmett Cullen was worthy of her, no matter how rich or handsome he was.

Fidelity and faithfulness were what most mattered to Eleazar, and he promised himself to cut all ties to the Cullens, including his friend Carlisle, if Emmett stepped one toe out of line. Strictly out of loyalty to his daughter.

Carmen took Eleazar's arm as Esme took Carlisle's ready to follow Tanya to see her family when they were stopped half way by Jasper and Edward.

"Eddie, how wonderful to see you again after all these years. You're looking very well," Tanya said insinuatingly and subtly licked her bottom lip, much to Edward's disgust. Tanya was wearing what was sure to be a flattering gold gown on some people, but it wasn't much to Edward's taste.

It seemed to make her skin look orange... or perhaps it was the fake tan she had sprayed on. He couldn't tell, and didn't care.

"Tanya, thank you for joining us tonight. I trust you've been well," Edward said formally trying to seem polite in front of his parents and hopefully his future business partner.

"Immensely so. I've come here tonight with my family and my fiancé; perhaps you'd like to meet him," Tanya said stepping closer to him while Carlisle took Eleazar and Carmen over to meet Alistair whom he spotted next to his wife Makenna.

"Perhaps some other time. I have something that must be dealt with immediately, so if you'll excuse me." Edward nodded his head and tried to move past Tanya, but she blocked his path.

"I'll say you do... you better keep a leash on Emmett in front of his future in-laws. Or else he might find it difficult to father children with the way Eleazar was staring at him just now... that is, unless his fiancé gets to him first. I hear she's quite the spitfire," Tanya gloated, putting her hand on her hip and the other hand on Edward's chest.

"Perhaps you're the one who needs the leash Tanya. Or are you able to keep your hands off someone who isn't your intended?" Edward leaned forwards sneering down in Tanya's face. "Now if you'll excuse me," Edward moved away from the oompa loompa in search of Emmett, to talk some sense into him before he had to go through with the plan. Hopefully he could avoid hurting Bella all together.

"I know you regret leaving me, Edward. You don't have to be so stubborn and proud. Let's be friends... perhaps partners. That way we could each share a profit after I complete the merger with Hale Electronics. You know the only reason it hasn't happened yet is because of your wayward brother, and it looks like he's already off to greener pastures," Tanya called after Edward, making him stop and smile cunningly back at her.

"I'm sorry Tanya... but nothing has changed. But may the best man win..." Edward pointed to himself, signaling that he wasn't including her in the that equation, and left her standing in the hallway shooting daggers at his head.

Emmett was completely set on his plan to make Bella his tonight... possibly every night. He had never felt more connected or enamored of another human being in such a short amount of time in his entire life.

He knew when he first saw Rosalie dancing at Halloween, that she was the devil incarnate in the sexiest manner possible. Sultry, dangerous, and captivating. Not only was she sexy, but she was smart, witty, rich, and a doctor.

Bella was the exact opposite of Rosalie. Sure both of them were beautiful and smart in different ways, but Bella was sweet, innocent, kind and gentle. She was a talented dancer and musician, and didn't have a bad bone in her body. She was very honest, and had a hilarious sense of humor. Emmett thought that Bella was sexy in a sweet girl-next-door kind of way. Ironically he just realized she actually was the girl next door. HOT!

"You're dazzling, did you know that?" Emmett whispered into Bella's ear while they swayed to the music.

"You're rather dashing yourself," Bella chuckled brushing off his compliment while her stomach did flip flops.

"Bella, I was wondering if you'd like to meet me some place more private. Just you and me without other eyes watching. I haven't seen you in almost a year and... actually I don't think I ever really saw you up to now and I have a lot to make up for."

"Where would you want to go?" Bella asked with her voice quivering and her blood pressure rising. If he said what she thought he was going to say she didn't know if she would be able to handle it.

This is wrong... so wrong. Walk away while you still can. He's taken... this is just a dream. You're going to wake up and realize this never actually happened. Please, tell me this is a dream.

"Bella?" Emmett asked trying to get her attention, "Please?"

"Where would we go?" she asked again hesitantly and stepped away from his cheek so she could see his eyes.

"We could go to the solarium. No one would disturb us there. I'm sure you know where it is on the side of the house? After all you probably know the ins and outs of this place better than I do..."

"You mean you didn't know about the hidden stairwell behind the bookcase?" Bella asked Emmett seriously to which Emmett responded with his eye bugged out in surprise.

"No way!" He saw her face slowly morph into a large smile and Emmett clicked his tongue and hissed out, "I can't believe I fell for that!" He grabbed her and pulled her into his arms to continue dancing again while she giggled and laughed at him.

"Classic!" Bella chuckled and relaxed into Emmett's strong arms, but the mood didn't last long. She realized she still hadn't given him an answer.

"Just to talk?" Bella asked to be sure that nothing else would happened, despite how much she wanted him, she knew that it could never happen because he belonged to someone else now. But perhaps they could still be friends and talk like he suggested. Get to know each other better and remain friends after he got married so she could still be apart of his life in some small measure.

Well, it's better than nothing.

"If that's all you want, then yes. Just to talk," Emmett's smile faded but he understood why she was guarding herself. What did he expect? Bella Swan was good... and he wasn't. No matter how much he wanted her, there was something else about her that drew him in that he couldn't describe and he felt his heart strings start to burn inside.

Suddenly he felt confused... is marrying Rose the right thing to do?

"Alright," Bella said softly and stopped dancing with him, "but there's no need to hide the flukes in your back pockets... we're just friends so there's no need for champagne," Bella smirked at him and Emmett was speechless for a second before he came back with,

"I don't think there are back pockets in this pants... but I insist on a dink. Who knows, you might change your mind later," Emmett winked then kissed her hand before walking toward the band leader and bar.

And then... I'll wake up! Bella thought to herself before making her way to the solarium to wait for Emmett.

Target is on the move... zeroing in five, four, three, two, one...

Edward came up from behind Emmett and scooped up his right shoulder after seeing him speak to the band leader and grab a bottle of champagne.

"Wha—Ed, what the F—what are you doing?" Emmett stammered realizing there were guests present and he couldn't curse his brother out in public.

"Nothing, we're just going to go inside for a little chat that's all," Edward said pulling his brother through the busy kitchen and into the downstairs library where he pushed Emmett's large frame inside and closed the door behind them.

"Dang, Ed. Have you been eating your Wheaties or hitting the gym? You got some grip on you, man," Emmett said shaking his elbow and rubbed his bruised skin.

"What on earth are you thinking! Right in front of your future in-laws?! Do you realize this could get back to Rosalie and she would set a price out on your balls!" Edward shouted to his younger brother trying to knock some sense into him.

"I thought you loved, Rosalie..." Edward started again and was interrupted by a flustered and confused Emmett.

"I DO! I—mean... I think I do. I don't know... I can't stop thinking about Bella. Ever since I saw her this afternoon I can't get her face out of my head. I had no idea how amazing that girl is, and she's been living here right under my nose for—for..."

"Sixteen years, Em. And you picked one heck of a time to notice. You're. Engaged. Do you understand the concept of monogamy or is that just a high scoring word in Scrabble to you?"

"Hey! Back off man! I may not have a fucking degree from Yale at nineteen, but I'm not stupid!"

"Then stop acting like it!" Edward said looking up to his brother with his height at 6'4 and his at 6'2. "You already have a wonderful woman who loves you, what more do you want?"

"How can I be engaged to someone when I feel this way about Bella?"

"Rosalie! Not someone. Can't you even say her name?! Jesus!" Edward ran his fingers frustratedly through his hair, "Fuck, you don't even know what love is, do you?"

"Says the man who hasn't found a girlfriend in eight years and has one night stands every blue moon," Emmett scoffed.

"At least I was in a long term relationship. How long have you been with Rose? Not even half the time I'd been with Tanya!"

"And you were miserable for most of it, yet you stayed. So don't go preaching to me about something you know nothing about yourself, brother. How do you know I'm not falling in love with Bella? Huh?!"

"BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT!" Edward shouted in Emmett face.

"Would you two please keep it down? I could hear you down the hallway," Esme said sternly to her two boys who looked like they were about to engage in an actual fist fight, which made her blood boil.

"Edward, please stay calm and go cool off. This is no way to handle the situation."

Edward almost growled but instead backed away from his brother's face and turned around to face the window and looked outside to cool off.

"Emmett, dear... you need to stop whatever it is you're doing with Isabella. You're drawing too much attention to yourselves, and I don't want anyone getting hurt," Esme scolded but Emmett didn't give her a chance to continue.

"I know what you're thinking, Mom. I know because I was thinking the same thing earlier today. But after being with Bella on that dance floor I realized something... maybe this whole wedding is a mistake."

Edward turned around furiously at Emmett and realized then that there was no other way but to intervene in order to get Bella away from Emmett now.

"What are you saying, Emmett?" Esme slapped her hands against her hips helplessly, "That you suddenly have actual feelings for Isabella?" Esme shook her head disbelievingly, and sighed exasperatingly.

Edward gritted through his teeth and crossed his arms over his chest, "You hardly know her, Emmett. You ignored her for most of your life, and after only twenty minutes alone with her and a car trip, you think you're falling in love with her? I call bullshit."

"Says the cynic who's never even been in love—"

"You're the one who's supposed to be in love... with Rosalie! What about her?" Edward walked toward his brother again ready to knock some sense into him when Esme once again stepped in between them to push them a part.

"Enough! I'm sick of both of you losing your heads. Sit down both of you and we'll discuss this like civilized people and not act children."

Edward slowly sat down across from his brother never leaving his gaze, and Emmett slowly did the same, but just as he settled down there was a loud deafening cry that sounded throughout the room.

Emmett's eyes teared up in pain and he grit his teeth to hold in his pain, causing his mother and brother to jump out of their chairs to see what happened to him.

"Em, Em what's wrong?" Edward asked quickly changing from pissed to concerned in an instant checking to see how his brother injured himself.

"Th—the glasses. I—I—ah—sat on—the glasses! AAAAhh! I'm bleeding!" he shouted as he started hyperventilating through his teeth and nose clenching his eyes shut so he wouldn't pass out.

"Oh my baby, I'm so sorry! I didn't know. Just stay here, I'll go call 911!" Esme said completely flustered and rushing out the door to find a phone and Carlisle.

"It's okay, Em. You'll be fine. You just need some stitches," Edward said trying to comfort Emmett knowing this wasn't the time to keep drilling him about giving up on Bella, but despite the accident he was still furious with him.

"B—Bella," Emmett groaned out.

"What?" Edward's eyes began to blaze at the mention of her name.

"She's. Waiting. For me... please. The solarium. Go! AH! I'll be fine...ah shit!" Emmett said with this voice straining and still frozen in his chair afraid to move an inch in case the glass could get more imbedded in his butt.

He wants me to go to Bella? Well... alright if you insist.

I suppose we're definitely switching to plan B now. Operation 'seduce Bella' is a go... and I'm so going to Hell for this.

"Don't worry about it, brother. I'll take care of her for you," Edward said... unaware of the double meaning in his own words as he walked out the door right as Esme came back in with some towels and Carlisle.

Edward walked outside as he heard the song, 'I remember you,' begin to play... and he took two flukes and a bottle of champagne with him to the solarium to find Bella.

When he saw her up close in her silvery gown rather than at a distance, he realized then and there what Emmett had been talking about all evening. She was stunning... and he seemed to want to move closer to her, just by being in the same room as her.

He put the champagne down on the glass side table causing a small noise and Bella turned around smiling, then it instantly turned into shock and confusion.

"Lovely night, isn't it?"

Good one, Edward. How pathetic could you be? Edward thought because it had been awhile since he last courted a girl and started up a conversation with one... but he realized he could have come up with something better than the weather. How creative.

"Um, hello. I mean...Yes. Was there something—" Bella wasn't sure what she meant to say. She was caught off guard when the wrong Cullen stood behind her with champagne and two glasses.

"I just came out here to enjoy a bottle of champagne with the most beautiful woman at the party tonight. That is if you're not waiting for someone else..." Edward said smoothly, using his crooked grin to break the ice. It always worked to his advantage in the past with the ladies. But... apparently not today.

To say she was disappointed to see Edward instead of Emmett would be an overstatement, and yet she was confused why he would have sought her out. Bella looked at him from head to foot and realized how both of the Cullen men were stunningly handsome in their own way. Edward was still standing there in the doorway dressed in an Armani tuxedo, looking like an Abercrombie and Fitch model, but she didn't know what to say to him.

Bella always thought Edward was an attractive older man- then she stopped and thought to herself for a moment. She figured out right then that he wasn't that much older than her at all. He simply acted and treated her that way. Like she was a child. Until now. Complimenting her like he wanted something... it felt unnatural.

The only comfort she found in the awkward silence was that he didn't seem as intimidating as he used to be when she was younger. She realized it wasn't because he changed over the past year... She felt less skittish and flustered around him... and less fragile. And that knowledge made her smile to herself with pride.

Edward frowned when he saw Bella's disappointment as she turned her head humbly away from him, denying his praise. Like she didn't trust him.

Well... she shouldn't, he thought. But I must not be doing this right... but it wasn't a lie at least. She truly is the most beautiful woman here...

Actually he was rather taken back at how attractive she'd become. Like something aside from her appearance had changed since he last saw her, or even spoke to her.

When she looked up again, he saw that her cheeks had turned into a natural shade of pink. This made her pale complextion even more appealing and Edward realized he was being dazzled by her beauty when really, he just needed to keep a firm head on his shoulders.

But perhaps he was laying it on too thick. Bella didn't seem comfortable with compliments, so he chose to take a different approach...

"What are you doing here by yourself, if you don't mind my asking?" he asked with a slight smile, and waited for the answer he expected to hear.

Bella looked straight into his eyes and thought about not answering his question. First of all, if was none of his business, and second she didn't want to make things difficult for Emmett by making it appear she agreed to come her for romantic reasons. She had more self-preservation than that.

"I was... waiting for someone."

"Oh, I'm sorry I disappointed you. You were expecting someone else," Edward said with a cunning but sympathetic grin on his face. Marveling at his own little game of wanting to make her confess it was Emmett who she really wanted to see there instead of him. The only problem was he knew she was disappointed by the look on her face and it concerned him why he was feeling a little rejected.

"No—you didn't, uhm... well, I don't know. I'm a little tired. " Bella admitted reluctantly and muttering the last part of the sentence to herself, feeling silly to have gotten her hopes up and was ready to walk out and go back home.

"Forgive me, I'm actually here because Emmett sent me. He won't be able to make it," he started to panic when he saw her ready to walk away, so he figured it would be best to stop playing games and stick to the truth.

"Really? Why is that?" Bella's interest was peaked. If Emmett didn't wish to meet her here he at least could have had the decency to tell her himself.

"He had a little accident inside the house. He sat on some champagne flukes and had to be rushed to the hospital," Edward cringed as he popped the cork to the champagne. He realized just then the timing of the cork may not have been appropriate, since it sounded like he was celebrating his brother getting glass up his ass.

"My God, is he alright?" Bella said completely concerned putting her hand to her face, feeling guilty for some reason that he was hurt.

"The doctors will probably stitch him up and give him lots of pain killers, but he'll live," Edward said offering her a glass of champagne.

"I should go see if he's alright—" Bella made to pass him but Edward called out to her before she had the chance to escape.

"He told me to come out here and entertain you, since he he couldn't make it," he said walking over to her and handed her a glass of champagne.

"Did he?" Bella asked raising a single eyebrow at Edward, which he found to be quite adorable on her. He smiled and nodded his head, "Don't worry, you'll be able to see him in the morning," he clinked her glass lightly and took a sip looking into her eyes as Bella stood looking straight through him.

"They sent you out here to deal with me, didn't they?" Bella whispered knowingly.

"What was that?" Edward said furrowing his brow at her.

"It's always the same story when you go to the movies." Bella moved away from Edward to gather her thoughts and casually strolled around the solarium, "The rich boy falls in love with the penniless servant girl and his family doesn't approve. So they send out someone to pay her off, saying if she would leave quietly without a making a fuss, they would pay her one hundred thousand dollars, no questions asked. 'No,' she says... then they say two hundred thousand, three hundred thousand—"

"A million," Bella stopped pacing and stared harshly back at Edward's serious tone and expression, then it immediately faded to lighthearted laughing, "no self-respecting servant girl would ask for less..." Edward shrugged almost dropping the charade... but Bella beat him too it.

"No self-respecting servant girl would take it," Bella put down her untouched champagne and crossed her arms protectively across her chest.

"Good girl," Edward whispered, his carefully placed mask almost disintegrated. But his condescension was back in full force and Bella turned away from him so he wouldn't see the sneer on her face.

So nothing's changed. He'll never treat me as anything more than a little girl... but I'm not afraid of you anymore, Edward Cullen.

"I've loved him all my life... I thought I was over him," Bella admitted wholeheartedly and turned her head in time to see Edward nod his head in understanding looking at one of Esme's plants.

"What a shock," Edward said sarcastically to himself before taking a long gulp of champagne while trying not to roll his eyes. Surprisingly, to Edward after hearing Bella's confession, he felt a touch of jealously and bitterness hidden underneath his carefully indifferent mask, and he wasn't sure why. He would have to think on it some more later.

"You don't approve of me," Edward heard her state and realized it wasn't a question. He was slightly surprised at her bluntness, it reminded him of himself.

"Of course not. Why would you?" Bella continued and paced around the glass room with the moonlight illuminating her skin.

"What ever gave you that impression?" Edward said leaning against the table still sipping his champagne while Belle still held hers in her hand.

"I'm inadequate compared to the others, always have been. The chauffeur's daughter, poor musician..."

"You don't see yourself too clearly, do you?" Edward set his glass down and moved sinuously across the room, "Look at you. It's as though a brilliant star just shot across the heavens and lit up the dark sky with light. You're enchanting and blossomed right before our eyes."

Edward stood right in front of her with almost no space between them as he lifted Bella's chin slowly. Finally Bella lifted her deep chocolate eyes, and looked directly into Edward's green orbs as he whispered, "You were never inadequate."

Bella squinted her eyes, never turning away from him as he continued to stare into her so deeply... it gave her the shivers. She didn't understand why Edward kept looking at her as though she were the only woman in the world. As though nothing mattered but her... like he wanted her.

Without warning, the big band started to play once more in the distance. Edward gently captured one of Bella's hands and slid his other hand around her waist and start to waltz with her.

"What are you doing?" Bella asked with her lips pursed adorably in amusement.

"I would have thought that was obvious," Edward replied airily smiling down at her and holding her closer.

"I recall you once saying to a busty blonde some years go, that you don't dance," Bella quipped haughtily causing Edward to burst out a laugh.

"Well, if was Irena Denali that would be why. And also I was traumatized as a young child by being forced into lessons, and personally I don't enjoy being forced into anything. But just because I don't normally dance, doesn't mean I don't enjoy it... with the right partner." Edward grinned suggestively leaving Bella wondering if he meant what he was implying.

"Are you insinuating you enjoy dancing... with me?" Bella said softly as Edward brought her as close as she possibly could be while dancing, and rested his cheek upon the top of her head before whispering huskily into her ear,

"I think the evidence supports that theory."

Edward realized a little too late that he was suggesting to Bella that he enjoyed dancing with her in more ways than one... and he was finding that assessment to be unfortunately true at the moment. It was getting a little difficult to dance because of his pants growing tighter and uncomfortable, just for holding such an attractive woman so close.

It had been a while since he had been with a woman, and the effects were starting to show.

This is definitely inconvenient...

Bella's heart began beating even faster inside her chest, and her breath picked up after hearing Edward's words. She didn't understand the sudden change in Edward's perception and attitude towards her. When he first entered the room, it was like it always had been between them, and now... now he was speaking as though he... cared.

Edward and Bella moved fluidly together, as though in a trance. She was elegant, poised and so graceful while she danced and he felt his heartbeat fall in synchronization and match the same tempo as hers.

It's like dancing with a puppet on a string, Edward thought to himself, like we can feel when the other decides to move, like one mind.

Any direction Edward chose to go, Bella would obediently follow and the feeling of controlling the dance felt somewhat satisfying to Edward. He'd never enjoyed dancing before, until now.

She was captivating him and he was worried he might have been the only one of the two effected by their interaction so far. Perhaps it was a mistake to hold her so close.

Edward swallowed deeply trying to keep his wits about him and leaned back to smile crookedly at his dance partner so he could set the bait, then leave her wanting more. The ball had to be in his court... and so far up to now, she held all the reins.

"Ow!" Bella cried as Edward stepped on her foot and they both laughed as he chuckled and apologized.

"I'm sorry, I'm not as good as Emmett, but at least I can still remember the basics."

"You're leading very well... for an amateur," Bella smiled knowing he would pick up on her teasing. Yet Edward still felt mildly insulted. He was never an 'amateur' at anything.

"Amateur? You wound me, Bella Swan. I'm out of practice, yes, but I think I'm fairing well for someone who hasn't danced in a long, long, long time," Edward smiled at her, hoping she would laugh, and it worked.

"Careful, Edward. If you use too many 'longs,' it will show your old age..." she chuckled and Edward humped haughtily and lifted his chin feigning being insulted causing Bella to laugh some more. But he quickly looked back down into her playful eyes and sighed.

"You've changed so much in such as short while. You don't realize how magnificent you are, do you?" Edward chose then to dip Bella back and look into her eyes lustfully, trying to play his part... but somehow got lost in the depths of her eyes, and looked down to her lips.

"There's no need for flattery, Edward. I have no delusions about how you truly regard me."

Bella grew tired of whatever game he was playing with her. She knew Edward Cullen along time and he wouldn't be here dancing with her unless there was something in it for him.

"Is that so?" Edward said lifting Bella up from the dip and setting her upright, "and how do you think I regard you?"

Time to drop the charade, Edward... she thought right before speaking her mind.

"Like just another easily swayed, ignorant child part of the Emmett Cullen fan club, not worth your precious time," Bella stated seriously without a smile or hint of sarcasm, and with a sadness in her eyes.

Edward felt his breath stop and his blood run cold when she repeated part of the words he had once spoken to himself in Emmett's walk-in closet almost a year ago.

So she heard me... and yet she still said all that to me, when she thought I was him. Why?

"You're wrong," he said directly to her eyes. It was true... he didn't see her that way, not anymore.

The song finished and Bella stared at him, "No more games, Edward. I'm not a child anymore," Bella meant to simply leave him there and whisper goodnight to him on her way out the door... but she didn't even make it two steps.

Before he let her escape, Edward gently captured her face and pulled her desperately to his lips. The spontaneous kiss sent an electric current throughout his whole body, making the hairs on the back of his neck rise and skin combust into flames.

He hadn't felt this reaction from a kiss in... since before he could remember. The only problem was... he realized she wasn't kissing him back.

Edward slowly pulled away from Bella's frozen lips, and opened his eyes just in time to feel her slap him straight across the face.

The shock on Edward's face mirrored the same expression on Bella's as she covered her mouth with her right hand.

"Edward... I'm—I'm so sorry. I didn't mean—you have my hand print on your face," she spoke quickly trying to touch his cheek softly, but Edward shook his head to brush it off and stepped away from her.

"No... no, I don't... I shouldn't have—um, forgive me," he turned away from her so she wouldn't see the chagrin and emotions he was feeling from the the sting not on his cheek... but inside his chest. His reaction confused him, and so did the burning sensation he was feeling right now within his heart. He needed to get away from her. Now.

"Well, I should... it's getting late. Please let Emmett know I'll come by tomorrow to check on him," Bella said as she passed by Edward and reached the solarium door right as the fire works lit up the sky in the background.
"Oh, and Edward," he turned his head to look at her as she smiled apologetically at him, "Thank you for the dance."

He was still speechless so all he could do was nod his head once right before she left him alone. Part of him wanted to go after her... and that was something else he did not understand.

Well that was a complete misfire... he thought to himself as he rubbed the tender side of his cheek and made his way toward his bedroom inside the house.

He'd personally had enough excitement for one day and he blamed this entirely on his brother. If it wasn't for him and his adulterous ways, he wouldn't be in this mess. He wouldn't have to fight his ex over Hale Electronics and he would have left Isabella Swan alone.

As Edward removed his tie and vest, he debated on what the next mode of action should be. Isabella didn't just have a childhood crush on Emmett... and it was apparent now that it would take a lot more to win her over and distract her from Emmett than he anticipated.

In the corner of Edwards eye he saw a light go on above the garage from his bedroom window. He looked outside and saw that he could almost see Bella through her own bedroom window when she sat down on her bed. He couldn't see the definition of her face, but her body language said it all... she was crying.

Edward immediately turned his face away and the burning inside his chest returned at full force and he started to rub it to ease the pain.

I must have some kind of indigestion. The food was mediocre tonight at best. I need to take a pill before bed now. There's no way we're keeping this chef after today.

He hopped their usual top chef, Charlotte was planning to return to work after her maternity leave so they could be served the quality food they were accustomed to eating and saved the trouble of hiring somebody else.

Edward took the rest of his tuxedo off and hung it in his closet before he heard his phone signal a new text message had arrived.

How did you fair with Isabella? Has she fallen for you yet?- Jasper

Edward blew out through his nose and pondered how he should report his failure back to Jasper. But he wasn't ready to throw the towel in yet. He wouldn't have graduated early with honors from Yale University if he was weak or a quitter. Failure wasn't an option.

And even though he regretted being the cause for Isabella's tears, he wouldn't let his guilt in the way of achieving his goal to make Isabella fall in love with him and forget all about his brother.

Now, if only he could find a way to not fall for her during the process, he'd be golden.

I broke the ice and I think she's warming up to me. She slapped me. Don't expect me to come to work tomorrow. I'm taking her out all day—Edward

She slapped you and you still expect her to go out with you? LOL! I always admired your persistence. Where are you taking her?—Jasper

Away from Emmett—Edward

Good plan. Talk to you tomorrow—Jasper

Edward turned his lights out and crawled into bed staring up at the ceiling, trying to think of the perfect excuse to steal Bella away for the day, or for the entire week if he was lucky... and do all this without it getting back to his parents who were leaving for Italy soon.

Both of his parents were very fond of Isabella and he knew his mother would certainly not approve of his methods of keeping Emmett engaged to his fiancé if it involved the possibility of Isabella getting hurt. But it only needed to last as long as the merger of the decade was signed and ready to go, because unfortunately now there was no other alternative.

His brain started to hurt from over thinking, so he closed his eyes... only to dream of Bella's dark chocolate eyes staring back at him as they danced together on a terrace under the stars... with Florence, Italy shinning in the background.

I promise to fix any typos I might have missed... but I'm pooped and had to write this two times because FF made me it's bitch after erasing half of my work for both of my stories. Oh joy!

Thanks to everyone who commented so far and has given me feedback! I hope you continue to stick with me til the end!