Massie, Dylan, Chris, and Derrick were circled around a standing cocktail table in a tight-knit group, watching as Tristan Montgomery Ferguson attempted to carry on conversation with some of the largest names in Westchester County. Massie's father stood off in a corner with some of the buddies from his firm looking horrified at what his future son-in-law was doing.

Massie kept her face stoic, not wanting to give anything away in fear that any passing-by guests may be suspicious of the bride-to-be. Dylan stood with her lower lip painted red stuck between her two top teeth. Chris and Derrick exchanged glances and smirks, the shaking of heads and snickers between the two were the only real ways the girls knew they were watching Tristan's every move.

She almost felt bad for a second there, knowing it had been so long since her and her friends had plotted the demise of one of her enemies before. But, once she put her left hand on her hip and felt her thumb run over where one of her scars from one of their arguments would most likely permanently mark her skin, she no longer felt any sympathy for him.

Tristan thought he could push his way into her life, into her family and take away everything that was hers. He tried to win her, her family, and her friends over so he could climb his ungrateful way to the top and use her as a stepping stone. No one steps on Massie Elizabeth Block, thank you very much.

The amber-eyed brunette had given up the life of plotting after college, but once she began really working with her father she learned it never stops. There's always going to be threats to your business, to you and your family, to your happiness, to your empire that you worked so hard to build. There's always someone waiting on the outside to come and grab whatever it is you worked so hard for, so they don't have to do the work themselves.

There's nothing Massie hates more than laziness.

Watching her fiance making an ass out of himself in front of Westchester's finest should have made her feel horrible, but instead, it put this warm feeling down in the middle of her belly.

There were quite a few unspoken rules that came along with Westchester's Elite Class.

Rule One: No politics at the table. Or, if you're new, at all.

Rule Two: Let your money do the talking.

Rule Three: A no is a no.

Rule Four: Eyes off another's wife.

Rule Five: Acknowledge greatness.

Rule Six: Don't trust outsiders, no matter who invites them in.

Of course, any man who boasts about working alongside William Block should know these rules and all the other ones front, back and sideways. But, the true mark of a gentleman is how well they can handle their booze, right?

"And then, and then, then I was like, 'So! So go get em!'" Tristan ruptured into laughter, shaking his head and slamming his hand on the cream cloth covered table.

His chest vibrated and his eyes rolled back. Derrick and Dylan's eyes both enlarged in embarrassment, Massie looked horrified as she raised her hand to cover her mouth and Chris almost spit his whiskey into his glass as Tristan slowly realized no one else at the table was laughing. Slowly, he calmed his laughter as redness began to rise up his neck and he took a long drink from his glass of amber cognac.

Josh's parents exchanged glances of bewilderment, his mother rolling her hazel eyes before taking a long calculating sip of her Camus Père & Fils Pinot Noir. Anyone who was anyone knew not to make a mockery of William and his family, especially in this specific company. Josh's father shook his head in dismay, turning and raising an eyebrow at William who was currently playing nicely with one of Kendra's old friends and her husband who was trying to convince William why he should buy stock into their new technology startup.

Derrick's mother raised her nose at Tristan. She was always convinced, much like her son, that Derrick and Massie always belonged and would always find their way back. Her husband, however, felt differently due to William and his differences in terms of work. When Massie and Derrick broke up, the fathers took it as their turn to play hard ball. After all, children inherit thrones from their parents, right?

Back in the day, William and Leo ran Briarwood. Leo was a year older than William, so each was the alpha for their respected grade. Things never changed as they aged out of school, and the men who cowered down to them as boys still continued to do so after graduation. Leo was known to be an asshole - the kind that was constantly sitting in detention for bullying, but everyone respected his opinion regardless of how ruthless he was. William had other people doing the dirty work for him, he was the kind of leader who had a tongue that cut like a knife.

The two were best friends, they were always together and most of the time handled things together. They played on the same football team, dated girls in the same friend groups, went to the same college and the same business school. They made sure their wives, once they got married, were the best of friends.

Leo and William raised Massie and Derrick together, because they had wanted them to be just as close as them. Never in a million years did either family expect that they'd date, but once it started, both families envisioned an empire ahead of their time. Once it went south and William was sitting on his navy blue settee holding his weeping daughter as she cried out her first heartbreak, it was war.

William made sure that any zoning permits with Harrington Montgomery Enterprises' signature on it was denied in their entirety. Leo had to resort to payoffs, under the table handouts and bribery to build a new condominium building in the east end of Westchester County. Outside the building site, there were new protesting groups every day. Grassroots activists protested the amount of trees Leo had to cut down in order to build on the property, young adults came one day dressed in Native American garb to represent the ancestors who once lived off of the land he took over, Mothers Against Drunk Driving Westchester even showed up for a full week to stop work when they caught wind he was building a bar inside the building.

William's company was accused of slander, tax evasion, withholding incomes from his employees and multitudes of complaints from people who weren't even his clients who didn't like the way The Block Financial Organization handled business. They were faced with a social media blackout (or 'block out') for a week, as no one in their IT department could figure out who put a virus in their software. His security system was breached, and an anonymous source leaked multitudes of his clients personal information online. That was a mess for his Public Relations department.

Harrington Montgomery Enterprises had to cancel their annual golf fundraiser when Leo found out that The Block Financial Organization was holding a benefit banquet for the relief victims of the hurricane in Puerto Rico on that same date. And, William's company somehow managed to hire the same event company that Leo's company uses. Ironic, huh.

Both families had such big dreams for how the Harrington-Blocks would become one. They'd have offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London, and Paris. They would be open to publicly traded stock, worth billions instead of millions. Their kids would grow up together, have their own children and tell the story for ages to come.

Harrington Montgomery Enterprises and The Block Financial Organization were meant to merge, their families were meant to become one, and if Derrick's mother knew her son at all - she knew him standing at that table with a determined look in his eyes meant he was going to make sure it damn sure happened.

"So, uh...how about those new policies Trump's enacting, huh? I think he's right. Bring business back to the states where it belongs. Why should we be manufacturing goods in other countries and helping their economies when ours is going to shit?"

"You do realize that if that ban goes into place, every time you and Massie purchase from our company, our prices will be forced to be raised about forty five percent, right?" Albert Anderson inquired, turning his attention to the young brunette sitting at the table with the rest of the older business men and their wives.

The Anderson's mass manufacture all plastic goods in Westchester and the surrounding counties. If it's recyclable, it's most likely produced from one of the Anderson's plants. His wife, Amy, spearheads a recycling program initiative in all of the private schools across Westchester County District as a result of a messy lawsuit a few years prior.

"What do you mean?" Tristan's big blue eyes lit up in confusion as he let his finger trace the condensation forming on the outside of his crystal short glass. The one thing no one could deny about Tristan was that he was handsome, he always had that going for him. He had such luscious brown hair, big blue eyes anyone could get lost in and a bright megawatt smile with dimples that could brighten up any mood. His permanent year round tan was a nice feature, too.

"I mean we import our plastic from those other countries. It's cheaper for us, so it's cheaper for you to order from us in turn. But, if we are forced to source in other places for it, which we've been doing our extensive research in, it'll be about a forty five percent minimum increase in price. Which translates to about...well, if it costs you a dollar per item to buy from us, it'll now cost you $1.46 per item. So, in small it doesn't sound like a big increase, but in the long run for an order of about five hundred items you're looking at at least $730.00 instead of the normal $500.00 we used to be able to charge you for."

"You know, kid," Ezra Brookmeyer started as he leaned back in his chair and threw his arm around the back of his wife's seat. "I was like you once."

"Young and brazen?"

"Young and stupid."

"Oh."

"Yes. But, I grew up."

"Right."

"I looked up to my mentors."

"Yes."

"You have William, who's the best of the best."

"You're right about that, sir." Tristan grinned, leaning over and raising his glass to toast to
William. No one did the same, and Josh's father shook his head in hopes Tristan would understand it meant to put the glass back down on the table. Nodding his head, he took a sip and put it back down on the platinum and cream decorated table top.

"You need to start opening your eyes and learning from him before it's too late. Take Massie for example. She's been groomed by him since she was a toddler. She's watched him her whole life, she's idolized him, walked in his shoes. Now, you have to. You have to be the man she's always learned to look up to. If you can't match him, well, why are you sitting here?"

"I guess I didn't think of it like that."

"You need to be more like...like, like Derrick."

Derrick's mother Trish choked on her red wine, covering it up with a cough and setting down her glass.

"What do you mean?"

"He's also been groomed by his father. He knows social queues, he knows etiquette. He knows when to put up and shut up, when he needs to fold. Derrick can stand his ground and knows that no one will push him. You? People around here are going to walk right over if Bill isn't hovering over your shoulder. Or Massie. And trust me, Massie has never been the girl who needs to maintain her man, she sure as hell won't start now."

The first course was served smoothly, no hiccups there. A seasonal salad with an apple cider vinaigrette, apple slices, walnuts and a glass of hard cider to lighten the moods and spirits of their guests was served tableside.

Massie was thankful she didn't opt for the private table for their engagement party, as if she had to be stuck in another personal moment with Tristan, she'd probably stab him with her butter knife.

"How are you doing?" Alicia, who was seated beside her, asked in her eat.

"Hungry, cranky, stabby kind of mood. How about you?"

"About the same. Is a murder pact a thing yet? Josh is getting on my nerves with constantly asking if I'm okay, if he can get me anything, if he's annoying me, if he's too close to me, if he's not doing enough, blah blah blah."

"We can make it one. Tristan keeps staring at me and I know he's still drugged up so he's probably in his least maniacal state right now, but I still can't stand him." Her amber eyes fell on the sparkling engagement ring sitting on her left hand. She watched the way it shined as it caught the light in any direction, which was the point. Tristan knew Massie liked to be seen from all angles, and anything that was an extension of her also had to be seen just as much.

"Is our lives ever going to get easier?" Alicia deadpanned before stabbing her salad with her fork and taking pleasure in the loud crunch it made.

"My crystal ball is broken, but I'm pretty sure it's a no."

"Wait, did you say Tristan is drugged?"

"Where have you been, Leesh?!"

"Vomiting."

"Oh, right. Yeah, Chris did a thing and I didn't know about it and that's where we're at right about now. I'm not sure how long it lasts for, I've never really been in this situation before or anything so it's all pretty new to me, but I think I'm supposed to like him more when he's like this."

"Do you?"

"I mean he's being really nice, but every time I look at him I just...it's different. I remember what he did, what he said, what we've done, it's just different. I remember how his brain really works, what he's done to me so many times, it's not right and I can't go back on this now. We've come too far."

"You're right, we can't. We just need to finish what we started."

"Exactly. No matter how hard it is."

"It's only hard right now because he's basically sedated. Once he gets his personality back, Mass, you're gonna remember why you're doing all this."

" But, at the same time… I fell in love with this man for a reason, you know? I agreed to marry him for a reason. Half of me feels like we could've figured things out if we weren't so fucked up, or maybe I'm giving up too easy."

"Massie Elizabeth," Alicia hissed before leaning over and whispering in her ear. "The man beats you for Christ's sake! Do not sit here and try to tell me that you can work these things out. You love him, yes, but that's not him, that's something evil inside of him. He isn't the same man you dated four years ago, clearly, you can't lose sight of that."

"You're right. I can't lose sight of that. He isn't the same. Right now he probably is, I'm sure we'll have fun tonight, but once he wakes up in the morning? It'll be hell all over again. Oh shit, smile, photographers."

"Have I told you how much I love you?"

"No."

"Well, I love you, so much. And I'm so happy that we're doing this tonight, we're surrounded by so many family and friends and...well, Kendra's friends, and it's just so nice being able to celebrate our love here with everyone."

"Yeah, it is nice. I love you, too." Massie said softly as they distributed the main course out to each of the guests.

She felt Derrick's heavy stare on her, on top of the overwhelming feeling she wasn't able to shake the entire night. Massie couldn't help but feel...sad wasn't even the right word. Heartbroken, inconsolable, crestfallen even. This was supposed to be one of the happiest nights of her life, it's her engagement party, but she couldn't wait for it to end. Here she was, plotting her future husband's demise with every breath she took.

Massie felt overwhelmed by everything. By the glittering and flashing lights everywhere she looked, by the soft cream and platinum fabrics covering every surface. The center of the tables were covered in flowers, glitter was on every surface imaginable, wine was poured at every table, and Massie couldn't breathe.

White and platinum bled together in her line of vision, everyone around her laughing and joking and celebrating and cheering in well wishes for the couple to be. The DJ's music that took over once the extremely coveted and expensive harpist and orchestra was done playing sounded amazing at first, but now it felt like her ears were bleeding.

Her skin was flushed and pale, Massie felt her palms growing sweaty with every shaky breath she took and in an attempt to calm herself down tried to chug as much water as her body would let but her shaky hand couldn't keep the glass still enough. Tristan reached out, steading it for her and watching his fiance with concerned eyes for the first time in over a year.

He stood up, setting his napkin down on his seat and took her by the arm. Tristan helped her up out of her seat, excused them from the table and led Massie out the double french doors that were draped in billowy fabric and down a hallway until they were standing in the chilly October air.

Derrick began to stand until Dylan and Kemp both put their hands on either of his shoulders since they were seated beside him, holding him down. Dylan shook her head and then let her hand drop down back to her side, while Kemp kept his grip firm on his friend's shoulder knowing how stupid he could be.

"Let her go. If she needs us, we'll know."

"Do you trust him?"

"You can't make a scene here, Derrick. You getting up will do just that. If she needs us, she'll tell us."

Massie was swaying in her Louboutins but allowed Tristan to walk her wherever, because she firstly knew she couldn't put up a fight in this setting but she also knew that the drugged Tristan he was right now was the one she fell in love with, the one who wouldn't harm her. She knew she trusted him, no matter what he did to her prior.

Tristan took his suit jacket off and draped it around Massie's shoulders even though he knew the cold air was exactly what she needed. He still didn't want her catching a cold. The pair stayed silent as he rested his hands on her hips and stood behind her, holding her firmly and pressing his chin to her right shoulder until her breathing finally steadied. Massie hadn't had one of those panic attacks in a long time, but the last time things got really messy and Tristan couldn't see her crumble again.

"I love you…" she whispered faintly into the blowing wind.

"I love you."

"Thank you, for loving me. Thank you, for helping me."

"You don't need to thank me. What happened?"

"I just...it's a lot at once."

"I know."

The silence that fell over them was comforting, it was so calm compared to the noise and excitement going on inside. Massie lived for these events, lived for being the center of attention. She didn't know what spooked her this time, but it wasn't acceptable. She wasn't going to live her life like this, crippled by her anxiety or her fear of this or that.

"I love you when you're like this."

"Like what?" Tristan asked, his eyes reading disoriented as he tilted his head so he could look down at her in the eyes.

"Nice."

"Am I not usually nice?" That was when Massie realized he didn't remember.

"You don't remember, do you?"

"Remember what?"

Massie took a deep breath. "You don't remember hitting me, you don't remember cutting me, you don't remember smacking me or cursing me out or…"

She stopped when she saw his ice blue eyes melt over, welling up with tears listening to what she was saying.

"You don't remember any of that, do you?"

with that cliffhanger, hello my lovely readers! i have big plans for this story, but it's hard keeping updated with a full time job hence why my updates are so sporadic. i do read and appreciate all your reviews because that's what keeps me writing! i'd appreciate if each of you guys reading this left me a review, but also - let me know what you guys want! do you want to hear from other character's points of view? more details on what goes on with other characters, other pairings (IE: kristen x kemp, dylan x chris, claire x anyone etc etc) or do you guys like that this is more massie-centric? talk to me, let me know what you guys want and i'll try my hardest to match it! thanks guys, until next time! xoxo