Surrounded by ladies

It was Ron Jensen, looking dashing in his suit.

His eyes were all on Chloe, but before he could reach her, Chloe had walked away.

Allie didn't bother excusing herself from the group and left without saying a word, but she didn't follow Chloe. The couple needed to have a good talk, and she wasn't the type to meddle in her friend's love life. Chloe wasn't the kind to let her heart rule her anyway, so it was never an issue.

Allie went to a big table of desserts in the corner. She stood there and grabbed a bite, her eyes wandering around and looking for Evan's potential wife.

The matriarch of the Mori family, Esme Mori, was busy talking to the guests. Allie spotted the older woman and noticed how beautiful she was.

She had to admit, the Mori's had good genes, but Madame Mori's son lacked the personality of a great man. For someone to think everything, including marriage, was nothing but business, she wondered how Evan was raised.

"Fond of sweets?"

Allie was startled a bit.

She turned and saw someone standing behind her. It was a young man she wasn't familiar with. He smiled and offered a hand.

"I'm Luke. You are?"

"Anna," she said, her voice smooth without any hint of a lie. She was so used to using different names when she was in Scarlet's persona that it wasn't hard for her to come up with a name without batting an eye.

"Nice to meet you, Anna."

"Likewise."

"I have never seen you before. Are you new in Claymount?"

This man must have known most of the women in high society, so he thought he already knew everyone and was intrigued by the new face. Allie smiled.

"You must know a lot of girls here."

He chuckled. "Not many."

"Oh, don't try to be humble. You are handsome, Luke. Pretty sure you're a lady magnet."

Allie knew how to use her charm when needed.

"But it doesn't mean I fool around."

"I never said anything like that."

Allie smirked. The man was obviously a playboy.

"You were right. I'm new here, so I don't know a lot of people. Do you know Penelope Fisher?" she asked. Penelope was one of the women on top of her list. "Is that her boyfriend?" she pointed to the man and woman in the distance.

"I don't mean to be nosy, but I am planning to invest in her family business. She's an artist. I love her work, so I got a bit curious about her."

"No, that's not her boyfriend." Luke laughed as if it was ridiculous. "That's her cousin, and I tell you, Penelope doesn't accept suitors."

So she wasn't seeing anyone. Allie nodded, satisfied.

"Are you friends with her?"

"We're not very close, but we see each other often. I'm friends with her cousin."

Allie was about to ask more about the woman when she noticed ladies were chattering a little too loudly now, and their heads had turned to the entrance of the hall.

She turned her head too, and it was then she realized why the guests got worked up, especially the young ladies.

Evan Mori was gracing the red carpet. He was wearing a dark suit, his hair slicked back, smiling curtly at the guests, but his eyes held a grim look as if he didn't really want to be there.

"Poor Evan," Luke chuckled.

Allie glanced at him. "What do you mean?"

"You must not know this, but that man is the son of the host for today's party. He's Evan Mori, and his mother, Madame Mori, has been urging him to marry this year. It's obvious that she hosted such a grand party so Evan could pick a bride among the ladies present."

It was a good thing Madame Mori was helping, thought Allie.

"It's a shame his previous engagement failed. It was a big scandal," Luke went on.

But Allie's mind was elsewhere. Her eyes followed Evan, who was now talking to his mother. They were surrounded by mamas and young ladies.

If only Madame Mori could arrange another marriage for her son, Allie would no longer have to worry about marrying Evan.