Disclaimer: If I owned the sons of Ipswich, I wouldn't be writing. J

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That night…

Marianne Tempest. The utter perfection of the social calendar shot me a glare at my low cut backless black ball gown. I rolled my eyes in reply as I came down the stairs gracefully. Reid and Tyler were standing in the living room accompanied by the still glaring woman. I shrugged. "How do you think I get business?" Turning to Tyler I offered a small smile and explained, "Lonny's still putting on her face. I told her it wasn't Halloween, but she refuse to believe."

At that point, my mother moved away and grabbed a bottle of aspirin from the table and pocketed in her golden clutch. I smiled in satisfaction. I swear I'm not mean, it's just too easy. I glanced at mother. Despite our varying agendas, we looked alike. She had the same deep dark brown hair I did and I had inherited her devilish looking almost black eyes. Those eyes flickered menacingly and I heard her voice in my head. "Behave." I rolled my eyes again. Magic, I thought sarcastically.

I heard the click of my sisters heels in the distance and turned to Tyler. "Last chance to back out." I said with a smile. Reid smirked behind him. Turning to the stairs I saw my sister appear. "Figures." I muttered.

Alona had chosen pink stained white dress that screamed 'high school'. Tyler smiled as she reached the bottom of the stairs and moved over to her. He held out a box. "I got this for you." he said softly while he looked over her dress.

The pair went through a totally Jr high not meeting each other's eyes convo and then I interrupted. "If I mean to make any real money prostituting myself to leering businessmen, we have to go." I declared probably slightly too loud as I heard a snicker ring out from the kitchen. It had been Larry, our cook (oh sorry 'chef').

My mother nodded, but obviously not happy about the way I made my point. As I walked out beside Reid, I glanced in the hall mirror and fiddled with my boobs. That got Reid's attention and I turned to him as the chauffer opened the front door and the cool air kissed my face. "Isabella" I held out my hand.

He smirked and took the handshake. "Reid." Dropping his hand, I let him guide me into the limo.

- -

Caleb arrived to the party on time (eager beaver) with Sarah on his arm. Shopping had been a rush and Sarah had felt guilty letting Caleb pay for the gorgeous cream silk dress she was now wearing. She got over it however when she saw how every eye, though not many came right on time, was focused on the two when they walked in. Caleb noticed Mr. Snyder talking to a pudgy gray haired man who seemed to be hanging on every word. Caleb pointed him out to Sarah as the walked around the room.

The 'event' was a dinner that was to take place in the garden. The dinner was to start in two hours. Meanwhile, the most prominent members of the greater Boston area were about to get shit faced.

"Mr. Snyder." Caleb interjected shooting both men an apologetic look.

Snyder laughed. "This," he introduced placing a hand on the younger boy's shoulder, "is Caleb Danvers." He turned to Caleb. "Caleb, this is Mayor Anthony Lewis." he motioned towards the graying man to his right.

"Good to meet you, sir." Caleb said as he shook the mayor's firm grip.

The mayor nodded smiling for a moment before looking past the boy and noticing my mother entering and offering her shawl to the doorman. "My my my…" He muttered. Looking back to the men he had previously been engaged. "Please excuse me. My constituency awaits."

"Go get um, Lewis." Snyder egged on juvenile-like understanding what the mayor was doing. Lewis, like much of the single of the prestigious community, had a thing for my mother. She was the perfect woman. Or that was the gist, considering every man tried to get her. It was funny considering she rarely dated.

I came in accompanied by Reid, my sister by Tyler. I had a sneaking suspicion that the boys hadn't really been raised in the lime-light as Alona and I had been. The doors leading to the gardens were closed to deter guests while they were preparing the area. There was an open bar and a punch bowl for those who happened to be underage.

I noticed my best friends Greg and Harley running the bar and smiled over at them as I allowed the man to take my shawl and purse. Reid handed off his coat and followed me as I made my way to the bar. He hadn't spoken much. I attributed this to stress and the fact that he couldn't keep his eyes off of me.

We made an appearance at the bar. "Gin martini." I ordered as it was being placed in front of me. I just laughed at the preparedness of the boys.

Greg ducked down to open a box of glasses to arrange on the shelves behind him. "So, sexy." Harley commented as he stuck an olive into my drink.

"Why thank you darlin'." I said in a snotty voice, stressing the darlin'. "I do believe that was the point."

Harley smirked and motioned to Reid. "Date?"

My face crinkled slightly. "Set-up. Alona invited a guy who had a friend…" I trailed off. Reid had his back to the bar and he was watching the door. I leaned over to him and egged him on. "Make your escape." I whispered conspiratorially.

Reid smirked and glanced at me. Caleb noticed Reid and made his way over. After being abandoned by the mayor, Snyder had spent minimal time with the couple before becoming distracted and moving on. "Reid? What the hell are you doing?"

Reid shrugged in my direction while Harley and I chatted softly. "Trying to get into her pants."

I turned to the group at that point. "Because that's bound to happen." I muttered before extending my hand to Caleb. "Isabella Tempest."

"Caleb Danvers." He said as he reached for my hand. As our hands touched, his eyes turned black. My surprise would have to wait though because I promptly passed out.

Harley and Sarah hadn't noticed the eyes and immediately came to my rescue, but Reid had. "What the hell was that?" he hissed pulling Caleb back.

Caleb was just as surprised. "I have no idea. That was… wow." Reid was worried about his friend, but he was more confused as Caleb was the stick up his butt type. "What?" Caleb asked at Reid's look.

Reid shook his head as I began to wake up. "Just stay away from her. We'll meet at your apartment after the party." As Pogue came through the door, Reid pointed. "Go tell Pogue, so we don't accidentally walk in on him and Kate hot and heavy."

Reid bent down and I looked up at him. "You okay? I think you hit your head."

I nodded and got up quickly. Luckily, I hadn't drawn attention. I turned to Harley. "Can you get me some crackers or something?" At his questioning look, I smiled. "Low blood sugar." Harley left in search of crackers and I rubbed my head. "I think I did hit my head." I said smiling.

My date had a concerned look. "Do want to go home? We could call a cab."

I shook my head. "I can't afford too." It was the truth. I had an agenda to push. Samuel Beckett, landowner, had just come in. I was currently fighting for a contract to build on a prime strip of land and this dress was perfect on me.

Harley, bless his soul, came back with the crackers. As I nibbled slowly and lady like, I pushed Caleb's eyes to the back of my mind. I'd deal with that later.

- -

"I heard she has been starving that poor baby, just so she can fit into her wedding dress next week." Mrs. Randall mentioned. Ever since I can remember, Mrs. Randall and her gossip has been the highlight of these stuffy parties.

I smiled standing with the admirably horrid woman. "Scandal." I muttered impressed.

"Your damn right." Mrs. Randall responded bluntly. We were standing in the corner of the room having abandoned our men for out ritual gossip fest. We were soon joined by Ms. Annabelle.

I couldn't recollect if Ms. Annabelle ever mentioned her last name, but everyone in the community called the older southern 'Ms. Annabelle', and that's the way she liked it.

As the two older women started in on Mr. Snyder's wandering eyes, I gazed over the crowd eventually focusing in on Reid who happened to have moved momentarily to Caleb and Pogue's table. The incident wormed it's way into my mind, and I was preparing a full fledged 'figure it out' think fest when Alona found me.

"I.. I was right." she said out of breath.

I looked her over superiorly. "Care to elaborate on that?"

"Jimmy." She looked at me horrified. "He's gone. He took it."

"Took what?" I asked, moving us away from the gossiping duo who had since stopped chatting. "He sold Dad's auto shops. He cleaned out the work profits account. He disappeared."

I was so confused, but the devil on my shoulder threatened an 'I told you so'. Alona looked into my face. When our father died, we had divided the businesses. I had taken 'Tempest Hall', The two 'Louie's Bike Shop's, and the Spa resort he had started building. Alona had taken the chains of auto body shops and manicure/hair shops. "Who'd he sell them to?"

"I don't know." She looked desperate. My sister wasn't the type. Something we had in common is that we both refused to be the damsel in distress.

I shook my head clearing my thoughts. "Did he take anything else?" When my sister shook her head no, I breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay. Let's make sure he didn't take anything else and that he doesn't have access to any other accounts.

Alona looked on the verge of tears. "I should have listened to you."

"Let that be a lesson to ya." I said in an overly dramatic voice forcing a smile from my sister. I motioned for her to go do as I asked. Once she turned the corner, I ran a hand through my hair and made my way to my mother to tell her we were leaving.

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