9:00PM

The Lobby of the Stewart Regency, like many other posh, five-star hotels, was extravagant on an ordinary night -- rich crystal chandeliers, gold and marble pillars and tile, the latest in contemporary design, architecture and technology.  Tonight, however, was the New Years Eve party.  More importantly, it was a DiSantiago Party.  No expense was spared.

Bellhops dressed in tuxedos greeted guests as they arrived.  With arrangements already made, room cards were distributed easily and discretely.  While some guests headed up to check out the accommodations and stow their coats, most followed the intricate display of ice sculptures through the lobby to the Grand Ballroom.

The Ballroom itself was massive and elaborately prepared.  At the moment, an entire symphony orchestra played Pomp and Circumstance on a massive stage -- the centerpiece of the room -- before which sprawled a collection of meticulously set and decorated tables and chairs.  This stage promised to host live performances from the likes of Beyonce, Kanye West, Taylor Swift, Coldplay and the Pussycat Dolls among almost dozen others throughout the course of the evening.  The spacious room was flanked by twin open bars on opposing corners to help ensure an interesting evening.

The far end of the room opened through huge glass doors to expansive manicured gardens beyond tiered decks, all lit with elegant string lighting and accompanied by a huge pool, another open bar, and bountiful more seating.  In strategic locations, concert speakers washed the entire area in the classical composition from the indoor stage.

It was, in a word, breathtaking.  Regency employees, in pristine black and white, bustled about in perfect synchronization to tend to any need.  Guests were flooding in, various icons of the DiSantiago family were poised to receive them, and the evening was unfolding into an event of epic proportions.
 

* * * * *

Soldier Boy walked into the ballroom and paused to take everything in, but also so he could be seen. Nearby a couple of young women with a rich, useless look about them checked out Soldier Boy’s costume and snickered. “What’s with the old guy?” one of them asked the other. Soldier Boy shot her the kind of icy glare that made terrorists soil themselves, but the young woman, rich, spoiled and the star of her own movie, was immune.

"Who?"

"He's such a handsome man," she said, a hint of pink infusing her cheeks. "And I always thought if only they'd found the right vehicle for him then there'd have been no stopping him. The American James Bond." She laughed, giggled really, and Ardent smiled warmly at his friend. "Shall we go talk to him then?" 

"Oh no, I couldn't!!!" Loretta exclaimed, steering them both deeper into the growing crowd. "I'd fall to pieces." 

Classical music filled the large chamber, and Ardent smiled as it stirred a sense of familiarity within - the pageantry of it, the tuxedos and formal gowns. He spun Loretta out and away from him, brought her close, then began to lead her in the formal steps of a waltz. She stumbled at first, then recovered and followed his lead, eyes narrowed in concentration and lips pursed. "You're making a fool of us boy," she whispered as they swept through the crowd.

"Nonsense," he replied, eyes green as summer grass. "We'll be the talk of the town."

"Nice moves," exclaimed a voice that was both friendly and unfamiliar.  Loretta noticed immediately that he was simultaneously tall, dark, and handsome and therefore (if not for his confidence and charm) a DiSantiago.  Ardent thought him familiar but wasn't sure why.

"Angelo," he said with a grin and extended his hand.  Loretta thought he looked like a refined Sylvester Stallone.  In an Armani tux.  And more approachable.  "I'm very glad you could both attend."

"Oh yes," Ardent replied, clasping the hand firmly. "We've not met, but your name was on all that release paperwork I signed last year. I've been wanting to thank you for that." Loretta raised an eyebrow, and extended her own hand to the handsome DiSantiago. "Loretta Carmichael," she said. "Tell me, have you ever thought about donating to the public library?" 

Angelo chuckled good-naturedly.  "So many charities, so little time, am I right?" He winked at her as he produced a checkbook.  "We've donated over one-point-three million to local, underpriveleged public schools; Lafayette, Forsyth and the like..." he explained sideways to her as he filled out the check with a gold and platinum Cross pen with an engraving she couldn't quite read.  He looked up, grinning with refreshing sincerety.  "But you're absolutely right: public libraries have been shamelessly neglected.  Now who should I make this out to?"

"Hudson City Municipal Public Library Services," Loretta replied quickly. "Your family donated twenty five thousand dollars last year, and we greatly appreciated it then." She met his sidelong glance with one that was both steady and assessing. Ardent just grinned.

Handsome DiSantiago brows arched in amusement.  "Did we, now?"  He chuckled and Ardent got the feeling this wasn't news to the family patriarch as he tore off the check and folded it in half.  "Let me make up for lost time, then?"  He slipped the folded check into Ardent's hand and patted him amicably on the shoulder.  The contact was firm and powerful, but gentle and nothing more than good natured at the same time.

"You make sure she calls me next year to remind me," he said to the young man, chuckling.  "You know my memory's just not what it used to be."

"It's not?" Ardent asked, wondering why the most powerful man in the city would say this to a librarian. 

"Again, my friends," he concluded, already slipping away (although still as sincere and genuine as the moment he walked up), "So glad you two could come tonight.  Thank you."

The two watched the corporate shark begin his rounds of the feeding pool, stopping here for a nibble, there for a bite. 

"How much?" Loretta asked finally.

Ardent unfolded the check and looked at it.

"Twenty five thousand and one dollars." 

Loretta nodded. "Naturally." She sighed and held out a hand, closing it around the check that Ardent dropped on her palm. "It's a start." She tucked the check into a vest pocket, then grabbed Ardent's arm, tucking her own around his. "Let's check out the grub.

Inside the hotel was a circus, not the same type of circus going on outside but a circus nonetheless. Groups of people were scattered everywhere laughing and having a good time while individuals roamed from group to group looking to be seen by all the right people. This party might have been on a grander scale than she was used to but Heatwave knew the routine, it had been the same at the parties her husband had dragged her to in the past.

What was different was back then she knew people and could always find her own group to mesh with. Now, even if she were to see someone she knew, she would not be able to talk to them in the same way. There was only one person who knew her secret and even if her old friends knew, most had been quick to put distance between themselves and her when they found out what her husband had been doing. As if the taint of his crimes would rub off on them or their own crimes would be discovered.

She thought to seek out other members of the team but of the two she could see, one, Soldier Boy, was busy telling stories of his life to an appreciative audience, the other, Nemesis, was talking to the team's doctor. Heatwave made a face at the last, the more she got to know of the good doctor the less she liked and as much as she would not have minded talking to Nemesis she decided to avoid him as long as JACE was around. That being decided, she made her way to the edges of the crowd surrounding Soldier Boy and settled back to listen to his stories.

It seemed to be a casual gesture as he pointed a finger at Phi and began his determined, if slightly off center walk towards the couple, but both of them knew that his casual fascade was an act. 

"Mason!  Good to see you."  Vincent said in polite greeting as he clapped him lightly on his upper arm.  His intense eyes moved quickly to sizie up his small cousin.

"Likewise Vince...likewise," Mason replied.  They'd been friends in high school, but when Mason had begun dating his sister, they kinda fell apart.  They managed to catch up now and then, but lately, their interests had been somewhat different.

"Baaay-bee...."  He grabbed Phi a little too tightly on her upper arm as he leaned in to kiss her cheek.  Mason's keen hearing could hear him rather plainly as he whispered into her ear.  "We need to talk...now."

Ophilia gave Mason an apologetic look, she knew that she was going to have to deal with Vinny, but she had no idea it would be so soon.  "I'm sorry, Mace.  I'm gonna need to step away to take care of a few things."  She was sorry, but she also knew that she didn't have to explain.  If anyone understood family and the pressure of responsibility that she was going to be under tonight, it was her date.

Mason smiled, "No problem Phi.  I've got some people to say hello to anyhow."    In the social circles Hudson City's finest run in, it was to be expected to be used as an opportunity to promote one's business interests.  Just as Phi had her own business to attend to, so did Mason.

After Phi politely excused herself, Vinny slipped his arm around her shoulders and began ushering her towards the double set of doors leading into the garden and pool area.  Her eyes scanned the crowd as she mentally took inventory of who was there and which of them she would need to attend to.

Stone was already fishing his smokes out of his pocket and making for the garden when he caught sight of his diminutive sponsor and her escort out of the corner of his eye.  The first thing he noticed was the dress.  Yikes...  

The biker lazily let his mind wander over the hugging fabric up top for a couple of seconds until he realized that the look on her face wasn't that of a woman having a good time, and the man seemed too grabby for his taste.  Wth a casual air, Stone walked himself into their path.  He didn't make a move to stop them, but they'd at least have to pause.

As they looked up at the person suddenly in their way, Stone said, "Hello, Miss DiSantiago."  He gave Vincent a quick look over with his shaded gaze before turning back to her and asking, "Are you okay?"

Ophilia's gaze swept over Stone and was pleasantly surprised that he'd held up his end of the bargain.  He looked really nice in the Tuxedo, even if he did take a few liberties with the shirt and tie.  "I'm taking care of some collateral damage right now, but I'm otherwise fine."  She gave him a thin lipped smile as she intentionally didn't ask him if he had anything to do with the biker gangs.  She extracted herself from the man's arm and began making introductions.

"Stone, this is my cousin, Vincent DiSantiago.  Vinny, this is Stone... he's the newest addition to my project."  Her tone was pleasant but the introductions were more hurried than protocol would normally dictate.

Vinny gave Stone a friendly nod of his head and extended his right hand.  "Any man that asks if Baby is okay, is a friend of mine."  Phi winced at the pet name but remained silent.  "It's a pleasure to meet you, I haven't had much success getting any details from my cousin, about this project."  His voice was just this side of sober, a little too loud, a little too boistrous, but not slurred or slowed with the process of thought.

Another one of them, Stone thought.  How big was this family?

Stone shook the man's hand.  "Nice to meet you, Vin."  He pulled his smokes out of his pocket when they were done and said to Ophilia, "See you around the punchbowl, boss."  Then he nodded once more to Vincent and made for the garden bar.
 
Phi watched as he walked away, something about that brief encounter made her feel a momentary surge of power.  To think that a handful of the city's most powerful men and women were there tonight, largely because of her, was a very tangible thing at this moment.  She gave Vinny a big and very unexpected grin as she allowed him to finish leading her out the large glass doors to the gardens.

Sebastián and Geoff walked up to the bar, laughing about a prank Geoff had pulled on an ex-girlfriend. Catching the bartender's eye, Sebastián ordered. "I'll have a Scotch, Girvan 1964, neat."  He'd acquired a taste for scotch recently, must be part of being in the "old boy's club" or something.

Taking his drink he turned to look out at the crowd and he caught sight of Ophilia being dragged into the gardens by Vincent, and he sent her a quick message. {Nice to see you could make it to your own party, things ok over there?} she could sense his playfulness through their bond.

{eh...} Came her unenthusiastic squeak.  {Nothing I can't handle.  Just the aftermath of my bright idea to send the Killers and the Forbidden gangs to one of Vinny's strip clubs.  ...I didn't have time to ask first.  Like it's MY fault that he didn't see fit to answer his phone.}

Sebastián's eyes widened, as he quickly raised his Scotch glass to cover the smile on his face. {You sent those two gangs, to not only the same strip club, but ontop of it, to Vinny's club? These past few months must be wearing on you, Phi. You are certifiable.} She heard his laughter in her head, not mocking, but genuinely amused laughter. {Tell you what, I'll bet you $100,000 that by the time tonight's over, you'll have to pay more to fix Vinny's club than you did to arrange tonight's party here. }

{You are SO not helping.  It's almost over...almost, and I wasn't gonna let anything spoil it.  He has insurance.}  Sebastian could feel the nonchallance over the link and could tell that she wasn't sorry for her bad decision.  At least it wasn't her problem any more.

Celeste and Gabe Fraizer made their way through the crowd, gracing the socialites with a polite greeting here and there.  At some point Gabe was dropped from Celeste's side as he broke off to seduce this evening's tramp or two.  Celeste spotted Mason, Phi's known on and off flame all by his lonesome and made her way over.

"Maaason..." He heard Celste's sultry voice play over his name as he felt the gentle touch of her hand in the small of his back.  She slid into place in front of him, comfortably close,  her hand resting on his upper arm as she spoke "it's been too long.  Are you Ophillia's pet for the evening? Or are you free to roam?" Celeste looked up at Mason through her eyelashes with a mischievious grin.

Mason stiffened slightly at Celeste's touch.  "Celeste...so good to see you,"  Mason lied almost convincingly. "Well, I'm not wearing a leash if that answers your question, but I don't make a very good pet in any case.  I bite."  He gazed intently at her as he said this, with something of the predator in his eyes and a smile across his lips.  As he spoke to her, he radiated a kind of raw animal magnetism and self-assuredness.  Something about Celeste had always rubbed him the wrong way, and tonight was no exception, but he enjoyed the interchange nonetheless. 

"But I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that you're on the prowl." he said with a bit of a smirk.

There was something about Mason that she hadn't noticed before and it wasn't just the custom tailored tux.  Something was different and Celeste was eager to discover it's source.  Mason obviously wasn't going to play by the rules, at least not Celeste's rules, which was possibly the most intriguing factor of all, but that didn't mean she couldn't still have a little fun with him.  "So...you bite?  Just Phi or are you an equal opportunity nibbler?"  She raised her one eyebrow as she made a show of biting her perfect bottom lip.

Mason's smile took on a lopsided aspect, almost a grin, "I'm here with Phi, but I'll put you on my fallback list if you like."  He knew Celeste was being catty and wouldn't be happy with playing second fiddle to Phi.  It wasn't so much about Mason as it was about upstaging Phi, and Mason was just adding fuel to the fire.  He was toying with her in the same way she was toying with him.  "Besides, you might find my bite more than you can handle."

Celeste grinned, this was fun "Oh Mason," she said with a sigh as she shook her head in feigned disappointment, "I worry, all that DiSantiago sweet is going to rot your pretty little teeth."

Mason grined toothily.  "Oh...aren't you sweet...worried about my dental hygiene.  No need to fret. I brush after each meal," he replied.

"No leash indeed," Celeste muttered with a grin as she toyed with his lapel.  "Well when your darling PhiPhi," the temptrest snuck a look up at her prey through her eyelashes, "gives that shock collar she has you tethered with to Nemesis over there, look me up." She grabbed his jacket and pulled herself in close, her chest pressed against his.  She moved her head to breathily whisper in his ear, "We'll play Rough and you can see what Spicy tastes like."  Celeste leaned back, dusted off Mason's jacket and turned to leave.  Her hair just barely missing his face as she flipped her head around and strutted off.

Mason watched her walk off into the crowd, his eyes lingering almost unconsciously, drifting down her back to watch the swish of her hips.  "That makes two reasons I like to watch you walk away," he said, raising his glass to her rear, as if to toast. "I'll drink to that," he said to no one in particular, and he did. 

With that, Mason went back to mingling, talking with the mayor, a few Hudson City Socialites, and an up and coming councilman.  As with many ambitious movers and shakers, Mason approached such as an event as an opportunity to network.

Mason found that, as usual, everyone was eager to talk to him, but tonight had a different feel.  There was an aura of true respect from the Mayor, when they spoke.  It went beyond casual acquaintance and pleasantried, and everyone was eager to talk about the LeMastre Park projects.  He knew that by the end of the night he would have enough offers of contributions and help that he would be able to expand his outreach.

9:30 PM

About a half hour after the party began, the press began filtering inside of the Stewart Regency Hotel.  It was apparent that they were on notice to be on their best behavior, because they were about as low key as any of the other guests.  The camera men were ushered to the sidelines, but the reporters were mingling freely with the guests.  All of them had something in hand just in case they found a story, from notepad and pencils to PDAs and mini recorders.