"Come on, Emma," Alice said, exhaustedly. "We have been trying several dresses since the morning and you haven't picked one, yet."

"You are the fashion expert, not me," I said while checking my fingernails.

"Yeah, and every time I say a dress is good you just have to find a flaw in it," Alice said angrily. "And Mr. FBI Agent will be here soon, so we need to hurry."

Today was the day of the party and I had no idea why I was even going! I was worried and feeling awkward. Jake almost arrested my brother last week, and he absolutely wasn't going to stop trying. I knew that I couldn't back off now; I had to get more information out of him. Anyway, I agreed to go to this party to get more information about the case, and for another stupid reason that made me keep reminding myself that he was very close to putting both: my brother and myself in jail.

Eric traveled to Chicago last week; he had some business to do and it was also a great chance for him to think clearly. He couldn't believe that he was about to get arrested by Jake.

I sighed. "Fine, I will go with the black one."

"Typical Emma," Alice smirked. "Come on, move your freaking ass and let me do my brilliant work."

I shot her a glare that made her grin evilly. I sighed and took the dress from her before going to the bathroom to put it on, it was a simple, conservative black dress that has pearl straps and was a few inches below knee-length. I changed and checked myself in the mirror with a satisfied smile before I made my way out of the bathroom.

Alice was waiting for me with a curling iron in her hand, she smiled when she saw me. "Okay, the dress looks amazing. Now, I'm going to take care of the hairstyle and the makeup."

"Should I be worried?" I asked her with a raised eyebrow.

She grinned. "Come on Emma, I will make you look like the 21st century's Aphrodite."

"It's official, I'm definitely worried." I chuckled as I took a seat and she started working on my hair. "Remember that time you wanted to try the Bohemian look on Halloween, and I was your victim."

"Come on, it was good," Alice chuckled.

"Of course, I really liked the feathers you drew on my forehead," I said, sarcasm dripping off my tone.

"Come on, the rest of the look was good. I liked the feathers, though." Alice smirked and I rolled my eyes at her.

"So, how's The Museum of Modern Art?" Alice asked as she curled a piece of my hair.

"I'm going to start working there after the end of this weekend." I smiled.

"I'm really happy for you, Em," Alice said with a soft smile and I returned the same smile at her. She knew how much it meant to me.

We heard someone clearing his throat behind us. Alice jumped out of shock and I started to take the self-defense mode, but I was welcomed with my sweet brother holding a laugh.

"You are going to fight me wearing this?" he laughed, pointing at my dress, then he looked at Alice and his expressions softened. "Oh, hey, Alice. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

"N—No, it's okay," Alice said with a smile, still holding the curling iron in her hand.

I rolled my eyes at them before I started to speak. "When did you come back?"

"Just now. I told you I was coming today," he answered with a raised eyebrow.

"God, I totally forgot." Of course, my mind was busy worrying about some party.

He narrowed his eyes at me before he threw a question. "So, what were you girls doing?"

"Oh, I was just preparing Emma for her date," Alice said and I threw her a look that made her shrug.

Eric narrowed his eyes at me again, and I was the one who shrugged this time.

"For how much longer, are you going to go on with this thing?" Eric asked, starting to lose his patience.

"Eric, I can't just drop the whole thing now. Especially after what happened," I argued, but I knew for sure that he wasn't going to be convinced. But he knew that already, so he just crossed his arms and sighed. I returned back to my seat silently, and Alice started working on my hair again.

"Okay, the hair is done. The makeup won't take long," Alice said as she grabbed a makeup brush and started putting some concealer on my face.

"Hey guys, I think you are both free so why don't you go and have dinner together?" I asked, bringing my little operation to life.

Both of them stopped what they were doing and looked at each other; I smirked. I sent Eric a look telling him to take it from here.

Luckily, he got it. "Y—Yeah that would be great. What do you think, Alice?"

"Um, I don't mind." Alice smiled shyly as she continued with my makeup.

Eric smiled and sent me a thankful look, I felt happy that my plan worked. Playing cupid was nice.

"Okay, I have finished," Alice exclaimed, happily. "You may now check yourself in the mirror."

I looked at myself in the mirror and was surprised by how amazing my hair and makeup looked. Alice was a true artist.

"Okay, I have to admit," I started. "This looks good."

"Oh no, it's not good, my dear. It's flawless." Alice smirked.

"Well, you're a Lawrence and my sister, we always look flawless." Eric smirked.

"Okay, I guess he's on his way, you two should probably go," I said, crossing my arms, and giving both of them a glare.

"And miss my chance to see Mr. FBI Agent. Never," Alice said as she took a seat, declaring to me that she wouldn't leave before seeing Jake.

Before I had the chance to say anything else, I heard a knock on the apartment door. Alice jumped from her seat enthusiastically and Eric groaned; he was probably disappointed in the both of us.

"I'm just going to wait here," Eric said uneasily as he threw his body on my bed. Obviously, he wasn't comfortable being feet away from the man who was very close to arresting him.

Alice and I got out of the bedroom and started making our way to the apartment's door. She crossed her arms and waited for me to open the door. I sighed before I opened it. I was welcomed by deep ocean blue eyes and a fascinating smile.

"Hey, Jake," I greeted him with a smile.

"Hey, Emma," he said with the same smile, then he took a look at me from head to toe before saying. "You look incredibly beautiful."

I smiled and before I could say anything. Alice jumped from behind the door and smiled at Jake before she said. "Hey! Mr. FBI Agent, isn't it?" I sent her a glare and she shrugged.

"Hi?" Jake chuckled and looked a bit confused.

I sighed and decided to introduce her. "Jake, this is Alice. My best friend."

"Oh, hi. I'm Jake, but you probably know that information already," Jake said with a smirk, holding out his hand to her.

"Oh, I do." Alice chuckled, shaking his hand.

"Okay, introductions over." I took my clutch and walked toward Jake. "We should probably go."

"Yeah," he agreed, then he looked at Alice again with a smile. "It was nice meeting you, Alice."

"Same here." Alice smiled.

"Shall we?" Jake asked me with a smile, I nodded and smiled back before I looked at Alice for the last time, she smirked and sent me a knowing look as she mouthed 'He's hot.' I narrowed my eyes at her and she shrugged for the millionth time today.

We got into the elevator and I took a good glance at Jake; he looked so damn handsome. He was wearing a black tuxedo and his hair was still kind of messy but was styled perfectly.

"You clean up nice, Agent Parker." I smirked at him.

He let out a laugh. "Thank you, my lady. But, you are the one who should get all of the compliments today."

I gave him a small laugh, then the elevator stopped, and we walked together to his car; he opened the passenger's door with a gesture from his hand like in old movies. I laughed and got in the car. He got in the driver's seat. "Are you ready for the party?" he asked with a smile.

"Of course, I was born ready," I answered with a smirk.

He smiled and turned the key which made the engine roar and the car got back to life, then he started driving.

Okay, it wasn't as awkward as I expected, but I believed neither of us forgot about the situation that happened on the bow bridge; we just didn't dare to mention it. Also, I couldn't forget that he was really close to arresting my brother and myself before him.

I just hoped this party would go peacefully and smoothly without any trouble. I was truly sick of all of this!