Just about everyone I know from Hollis is here. The Samuels, Anders, Hemmings, Drapers, Blackwoods, Matthews, the members of the Historical Society, the D.A.R, all of my mother's friends from the club, most of my old friends from cotillion and high school, even a few girls I know from Oxford have come to celebrate my opening. At one point I was worried about capacity but the warmth of inside pushed a slew of people onto the patio and the problem fixed itself. Everyone is participating in the masquerade theme and it made it fun to figure out who everyone was.

Most of my older friends were purchasing expensive bottles and almost everyone else had purchased multiple glasses of wine. Groups of ladies were posing at the photo booth and some of the boas that were over there had even wandered off.

Every time I passed Ryan he managed to squeeze my hand but I've hardly gotten any time with him after he slid the earpiece into my ear moments after the doors opened. My parents decided to head out around ten o'clock but the party really picked up around eleven. Annabeth has managed to keep guests' attention with details of her wedding and she finally overheard that Margot is planning Paris for hers. I didn't miss the double-take Annabeth did at the mention of Paris and I know her mind is overflowing with possibilities of Margot's posh destination. I managed to sneak away before she started asking me questions and I was glad that Scarlett Hemming kept me busy while Margot gushed about her plans.

Once Scarlett got distracted with Betty wandering over I caught Jackson waiting over at the bar. Even wearing the black mask couldn't disguise him with his distinct perfect head of dark hair.

"This is one hell of a shindig," Jackson says to me as I walk over and stand next to him.

"I think I managed to pull it together quite nicely," I agree and he puts a hand on my shoulder.

"You did good. Everyone's real proud of ya," he says genuinely and it's weird to share a nice moment with Jackson. He grabs the wine glass from Chicken and I order a Merlot as well. He swirls the wine around and then says, "Hey there's something I wanna run by you. Not now but...maybe we can grab lunch at the club this week."

Intrigued I reply, "Sure. This place won't open until four every day so I'll have my lunches free."

He takes a sip of wine and then nods, "Great. I'll have my people call your people." He smirks to me and then saunters over to Gus. Chicken hands me the wine I ordered and when I spin around I see Rory and Theo step through the front door. Both of their faces are covered in masks but their perfect hair and tall stature instantly give them away. I put my chin into my chest and say, "The eagles have landed."

"We have eyes on them thanks," Aurora says back into my ear. I gave them permission to plug into the security system I had installed for the bar so she should be able to see everything. There is a camera at the front door, at the hallway entrance that leads to my office and one at the bar. Between our earpieces and the cameras, she should know where they are at all times.

Rory catches me standing at the bar and makes a straight path toward me. I see Theo go and kiss someone on the cheek and within seconds Rory is standing in front of me, "Your mask can't hide how stunning you look tonight." He bends down to kiss my cheek and I stiffen at his touch. I can instantly tell something is off about him. He's more jittery and he speaks more quickly. His accent is also a bit thicker.

"Had some fun before you got here?" I ask innocently and he laughs before ordering a whiskey. I shake my head at him, "Rory this is a winery. You're supposed to order wine." He laughs loudly, too loudly, at his mistake and then orders, "The most expensive bottle available."

I thank him for his purchase and as Chicken wanders off to retrieve the bottle Rory looks back to me and runs a finger down my arm. He never answered my question so I ask, "What did you and Theo do before comin' here?"

He shrugs and then answers with a smirk, "Lil' of this...lil' of that."

"Well, whatever this or that was it certainly has you in a jolly mood," I tell him and he laughs again. His hand is still on my arm and he starts sliding it slowly up and down. I look to it as he says, "You have the softest skin. The softest. I just want to curl up in it."

Thrown off by his sudden creepiness I reply, "Well on that note I should probably get back to greetin' my guests." I laugh off his weird stroking gesture and leave him waiting for his bottle at the bar. When I am away from him I dip my head towards my shoulder and say, "Something is definitely up with Rory." I look up to see Theo talking to Jackson and Jackson is shaking his head no but laughing. He puts his hands up in front of Theo but Theo just laughs in response. He also seems a bit too jovial.

LulaBelle steps into my field of vision and her red hair cuts off the two men. I try and feign enthusiasm to see her and in confusion, she asks, "How did you know it was me?" Wondering if she's for real I reply, "You're wearin' a mask Lulabelle not a hood. Your red hair and very pregnant belly kind of gave you away."

She pats her massive bump and it's weird that Annabeth will be that size in a couple of months. She looks back to me and says, "Annabeth offered to help me plan the celebration for when this little one arrives. I was a bit nervous to put her in charge seein' she is so new to the party plannin' committee but she seemed so eager that I couldn't say no."

"What kind of celebration are you planning?" I ask reluctantly. I am hoping she has given up her ridiculous idea of a parade.

"A parade! Wouldn't that be so fun? We could even have the end of the route stop here at Sweeney's! That would mean lots of business for you," she says in a sing-song voice. I know events in Hollis die down from Thanksgiving to Easter so I do imagine a lot of townspeople showin' up even if it's just for something to do outside.

Weary I ask, "You would want this to be the stoppin' point? Why, what do you want from me?" I had gotten out of going to her gender reveal party and her baby shower with being busy with the winery so she is probably wanting some sort of enthusiasm from me.

"Well you scratch my back I scratch yours," she says vaguely and I hope she can see my eye roll from under my mask.

"Yeah, I got that much I'm askin' what you want?" I ask her slowly.

"Well... you're close with Betty Samuels and she's the swing vote for allowin' some of the Founder's Day funds to be allocated toward this parade. If you can get her to allow it then I will say Sweeney's is the endpoint. Both of us will be happy," she says with a grin. I don't know if I should be in cahoots with LulaBelle. I know this is her way of getting me to support the parade because I'm sure she is closer with other friends of Betty's. But I also know that Mel's is always jam-packed after a parade so if we can get some of the business down this way it wouldn't hurt.

With a grimace, I put my hand out. She eagerly shakes it and winks to me before she spins around to go annoy someone else.

Annoyed that LulaBelle distracted me from Rory and Theo I scan the bar for their two familiar heads. I feel a hand slide onto my shoulder and when I spin around I see Rory with a glass of wine in his hand.

"I got in touch with my distributor by the way. Said he could meet with you sometime this week," Rory says as he glances down to his glass. I smile as I say, "Wow, yeah that would be great. I can't thank you enough for setting that up."

His wicked grin sprawls across his handsome face and slyly he says, "I know of one way you could thank me." He reaches out with his free hand to take mine and I am appalled where he places it. I snatch it away from his crotch and in shock I reply, "I think I'd rather send a thank you card."

He takes a step toward me and I decide to use my earpiece to my advantage, "Are you okay Rory? Are you on something?"

"Why do I have to be on something to want a little piece of you?" He says as he grins again. He runs his eyes down the length of my body and before I can answer I feel a hand at my elbow. Rory looks behind me and I am relieved to see Ryan.

"Hey, hate to interrupt but I am gonna take off. Wanted to say goodbye," he says and as he leans in to hug me I catch a wink. Once I catch on I say, "Thank you so much for comin', I'll walk you out." I give Rory a quick smile before I walk out the front door with Ryan behind me. I welcome the cool air that blankets us as soon as we are outside and I see a few smokers lingering off to the side of the entrance. We walk into the shadow and when we are hidden Ryan says, "Rory has handed two packets of something to two different people. With the masks, I can't identify the buyers but we know he has what we are looking for."

"I don't want to be around him Ryan," I start to tell him and he immediately shakes his head, "You don't have to be, you can stay away. Don't worry. Just focus on everything else, we got this okay?"

"You're not really leaving are you?" I ask him and he shakes his head. I then say, "Alright well let's enter around the back then so he doesn't watch us walk right back in." He nods and then I lead him around the back to the busy patio area. Before I am pulled away Ryan says, "Only fifteen minutes to midnight. I'll meet you in your office in ten." I wink to him and he quickly disappears into the crowd. I realize I only have ten minutes to set up my office space so I rush off to go prepare.

Luckily no one stops me on my way back and when I get into my office I pull a bag of l.e.d tea lights out. I wanted to make the atmosphere romantic and the overhead fluorescent beam lighting will hardly do. I flip the lights off and start scattering the small lights around the office. I am halfway done when I hear the handle turn. When the door opens I say, "Wait I'm not ready for you yet."

I freeze when I hear the accent, "I knew you were hoping I'd follow you back here." I spin around to find Rory locking the handle on the door. He slides his mask off and I panic.