Cedar watched, a little confused, as a young man walked up the drive toward her. He wasn't much younger than her. He couldn't be the one in charge of this whole thing, could he?

[color=1a7b30]"Hi... I'm Ryker. Are you the person I'm supposed to meet?"[/color] She stared at him for a long second as the implications slowly dawned on her. The pills and alcohol from the night before had left her feeling ill that day, despite her elevated mood, and it made her mind just a little sluggish. She shifted the black portfolio she held against her chest uncomfortably, noticing that Ryker didn't have one.

A moment later, a second man came up, this one older looking with more of a beard than the younger man. [color=Olive]"Hey. You get one, too?"[/color] He asked, showing what looked like the same letter Cedar had tucked inside the portfolio. 

[color=BlueViolet]“Ah I see there are others here. Is this everyone or is this more so just the beginning? And has the master of the establishment arrived yet?”[/color] Cedar jumped a little when the third voice floated to her from beyond the second man that came in, this man looking about the same age as Ryker. At least the third person was carrying papers, though they didn't look like photographs.

[color=Brown]"Uh... Hi. I'm Cedar Collins. I hadn't realized this was a group interview-"[/color]

Just as she started speaking, her watch flashed to 9:00 and the door swung open.

Standing in the doorway was an elegant and voluptuous woman, aged somewhere in her thirties, with waving copper hair and a sultry black dress that covered everything but seemed to suggest an innate sensuality. She wore impressively high strappy heels which looked perfectly natural on her.

[color=ec008c]"Welcome! I'm Nina, Nina Valetti. You all must be here for the interview. Please follow me into the parlor."[/color] She said with a wide smile that seemed to flirt with every one of them.

Cedar stood for a moment in shock. She hadn't even knocked yet. Seemingly just by Nina's invitation, Cedar found herself following along down a richly decorated hallway, hung with still life paintings and lined with expensive vases full of fresh flowers that looked to be cut from the garden outside, and turning abruptly into the second door on the left. The parlor was a large room colored in rich burgundys, browns, and creams, with hints of rose and chestnut. The furniture was upholstered wood with antique New England style chairs around the old wooden card tables that lined the wall. A longer coffee table surrounded by equally old looking sofas, wing back chairs, and a chaise was off to the right upon entering the parlor. In the far left corner was an antique bar, shelves lined with cut glass bottles of various liquors. An antique brass and glass absinthe fountain set rested on the counter of the bar, along with a metal cocktail set etched with flowers. 

The center of the room held a table laden with multicolored petit fours, macaroons, fruits, chocolates, sugared violets and even chocolate dipped rose petals. A gentle fire flickered in the hearth that was set into the right wall. The scents in the room were heady, homey, and intoxicating.

Cedar stared in awe of everything. There were no paintings in here, but tapestries and shadow boxes that held a variety of antiques, from fountain pens to combs to books to instruments. A piano sat to the left of the doorway. Above the fireplace, mounted like a hunting trophy, was the head of a giant bird.

[color=ec008c]"Please, help yourself,"[/color] Nina said, gesturing to the dessert table as she passed it while walking to the bar.

[color=ec008c]"What would you like to drink?"[/color]