PROMISSORY NOTE

EXHIBIT 10.4

PROMISSORY NOTE

Date: December 1, 2006

BORROWER

LENDER

Borrower promises to pay to the order of Lender, in lawful money of the United States of America, at its office indicated above or wherever else Lender may specify, the sum of $1,100,000 or such sum as may be advanced and outstanding from time to time, with interest on the unpaid principal balance at the rate and on the terms provided in this Promissory Note (including all renewals, extensions or modifications hereof, this “Note”).

LIBOR MARKET INDEX RATE. Interest shall accrue on the unpaid principal balance of this Note from the date hereof at the LIBOR Market Index Rate plus 2.5% as that rate may change from day to day in accordance with changes in the LIBOR Market Index Rate (“Interest Rate”). “LIBOR Market Index Rate”, for any day, means the rate for 1 month U.S. dollar deposits as reported on Telerate page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on such day, or if such day is not a London business day, then the immediately preceding London business day (or if not so reported, then as determined by Lender from another recognized source or interbank quotation).

INTEREST ONLY, PRINCIPAL AT MATURITY. This Note shall be due and payable in consecutive monthly payments of accrued interest only, commencing on January 1, 2007, and continuing on the same day of each month thereafter until fully paid; provided that if the first day of any month in which payment is due is not a business day, payment shall be due on the next succeeding business day of that month. In any event, all principal and accrued interest shall be due and payable on the one hundred eightieth (180 ^th ) day following execution of this Note.

DEFAULT RATE. In addition to all other rights contained in this Note, if a default in the payment of Obligations occurs, all outstanding Obligations shall bear interest at the Interest Rate plus 3% (“Default Rate”), except if the Note is governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina and the original principal amount is less than or equal to $300,000.00. The Default Rate shall apply from demand until the Obligations or any judgment thereon is paid in full.

INTEREST AND FEE(S) COMPUTATION (ACTUAL/360). Interest and fees, if any, shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year for the actual number of days in the applicable period (“Actual/360 Computation”). The Actual/360 Computation determines the annual effective interest yield by taking the stated (nominal) rate for a year’s period and dividing said rate by 360 to determine the daily periodic rate to be applied for each day in the applicable period. Application of the Actual/360 Computation produces an annualized effective rate exceeding the nominal rate.

APPLICATION OF PAYMENTS. Monies received by Lender from any source for application toward payment of the Obligations shall be applied to accrued interest and then to principal. Upon the occurrence of a default in the payment of the Obligations or a Default (as defined in the other Loan Documents) under any other Loan Document, monies may be applied to the Obligations in any manner or order deemed appropriate by Lender.

If any payment received by Lender under this Note or other Loan Documents is rescinded, avoided or for any reason returned by Lender because of any adverse claim or threatened action, the returned payment shall remain payable as an obligation of all persons liable under this Note or other Loan Documents as though such payment had not been made.

USE OF PROCEEDS. Borrower shall use the proceeds of the loan(s) evidenced by this Note for the commercial purposes of Borrower.

DEFINITIONS. Loan Documents. The term “Loan Documents”, as used in this Note and the other Loan Documents, refers to all documents executed in connection with or related to the loan evidenced by this Note and any prior notes which evidence all or any portion of the loan evidenced by this Note, and any guaranty agreements, security agreements, security instruments, financing statements, mortgage instruments, any renewals or modifications, whenever any of the foregoing are executed, but does not include swap agreements (as defined in 11 U.S.C. § 101, as in effect from time to time). Obligations. The term “Obligations”, as used in this Note and the other Loan Documents, refers to any and all indebtedness and other obligations under this Note, all other obligations under any other Loan Document(s), and all obligations under any swap agreements (as defined in 11 U.S.C. § 101) between Borrower and Lender whenever executed. Certain Other Terms. All terms that are used but not otherwise defined in any of the Loan Documents shall have the definitions provided in the Uniform Commercial Code.

LATE CHARGE. If any payments are not timely made, Borrower shall also pay to Lender a late charge equal to 4% of each payment past due for 15 or more days.

Acceptance by Lender of any late payment without an accompanying late charge shall not be deemed a waiver of Lender’s right to collect such late charge or to collect a late charge for any subsequent late payment received.

ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND OTHER COLLECTION COSTS. Borrower shall pay all of Lender’s reasonable expenses incurred to enforce or collect any of the Obligations including, without limitation, reasonable arbitration, paralegals’, attorneys’ and experts’ fees and expenses, whether incurred without the commencement of a suit, in any trial, arbitration, or administrative proceeding, or in any appellate or bankruptcy proceeding.

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USURY. If at any time the effective interest rate under this Note would, but for this paragraph, exceed the maximum lawful rate, the effective interest rate under this Note shall be the maximum lawful rate, and any amount received by Lender in excess of such rate shall be applied to principal and then to fees and expenses, or, if no such amounts are owing, returned to Borrower.

CURE PERIOD. Except as provided below, any Default, other than non-payment, may be cured within 10 days after written notice thereof is mailed to Borrower by Lender (“Cure Period”). Borrower’s right to cure shall be applicable only to curable defaults and shall not apply, without limitation, to Defaults based upon False Warranty, Cessation, Bankruptcy, Guaranty, any and all payments due and payable on the Maturity Date or Material Capital Structure of Business Alteration.

DEFAULT. If any of the following occurs and is not cured within the applicable Cure Period, a default (“Default”) under this Note shall exist: Nonpayment; Nonperformance. The failure of timely payment or performance of the Obligations or Default under any other Loan Documents. False Warranty. A warranty or representation made or deemed made in the Loan Documents or furnished Lender in connection with the loan evidenced by this Note proves materially false, or if of a continuing nature, becomes materially false. Cross Default. At Lender’s option, any default in payment or performance of any obligation under any other loans, contracts or agreements of Borrower, any Subsidiary or Affiliate of Borrower, any general partner of or the holder(s) of the majority ownership interests of Borrower with Lender or its affiliates (“Affiliate” shall have the meaning as defined in 11 U.S.C. § 101, except that the term “Borrower” shall be substituted for the term “Debtor” therein; “Subsidiary” shall mean any business in which Borrower holds, directly or indirectly, a controlling interest). Cessation; Bankruptcy. The death of, appointment of a guardian for, dissolution of, termination of existence of, loss of good standing status by, appointment of a receiver for, assignment for the benefit of creditors of, or commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding by or against Borrower, its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, if any, or any general partner of or the holder(s) of the majority ownership interests of Borrower, or any party to the Loan Documents. Material Capital Structure or Business Alteration. Without prior written consent of Lender, (i) a material alteration in the kind or type of Borrower’s business or that of Borrower’s Subsidiaries or Affiliates, if any; (ii) the sale of substantially all of the business or assets of Borrower, any of Borrower’s Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any guarantor, or a material portion (10% or more) of such business or assets if such a sale is outside the ordinary course of business of Borrower, or any of Borrower’s Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any guaran