Amy grabbed Jun Mo a little tighter. What had she been thinking, she wondered? Edward and the gang would be here of course.

The four of them were inseparable really and if Jun Mo had to invite anyone to an event like this, it would be them. She tried not to scream.

While she watched, Edward pulled Jun Mo away. He barely unlinked his arm and apologized quickly before stepping aside.

”Jun Mo! What is she doing hanging on to you like that?” Edward asked in an urgent whisper.

”She’s my date for the evening,” Jun Mo said, stating the obvious. He enjoyed how Edward’s eyes blazed and he seemed very near to punching his friend.

He could not wait for the event to be over so he could relate all of it to Chynna. She would be so pleased that the plan was working. Edward was hardly able to conceal his jealousy.

While they spoke, Amy stood rooted to the spot. She was not used to attention like this, with so many people of high society showing off their precious stones and expensive jewelry.

She looked beautiful nonetheless. She had chosen a simple metallic crepe V-neck dress. Her shoes were simple black stilettoes. Her nails were done up in white polish and her hair was curled and pinned up in a high ponytail, with two loose curls let down at the corners of her ears.

Her jewelry was minimal. A rose petal design of earrings perched on her earlobes and a similar ring worn on the middle finger of her right hand. She clutched an evening bag which held her necessaries.

She was beautifully made up, with smokey eyeshadow and full red lips finished with sexy lip gloss. Her brows were shapely and perfectly arched and her eyeliner was winged and sharp enough to pierce. She was simply stunning.

And that was exactly what this fine man who looked to be in his late thirties or early forties said to her as he inched close to her. The event was yet to begin in earnest and folk were just mingling and getting acquainted. She felt lost in the sea of people. Until this man found her.

”Can I get you a drink?” he asked once she pulled herself out of her thoughts and focused her attention on him.

From the corner of her eye, she could still see Jun Mo and Edward talking animatedly. Whatever it was about, it looked pretty serious.

She turned to the man and smiled. He took that as a yes and beckoned to a server. He picked up a champagne flute and handed it to her. She downed it in one go. His brows arched but he said nothing.

”Tell me a beautiful woman like you is not here all by herself,” he asked instead.

”Oh, no, I’m with him,” she said, pointing to Jun Mo.

The man nodded. “All the same, no smart man would leave a jewel like you hanging out all by herself. It is against the law of nature. All vacuums must be occupied,” he winked.

Ordinarily, Amy would have found the comment upsetting and disrespectful but the drink was already going to her head so she laughed.

Perhaps her laughter had been too loud or maybe the men had concluded their impromptu meeting but Jun Mo soon reappeared and nodding politely to the other man, he took her arm.

”Come, the party is starting,” he said briskly.

She followed his lead. Her heels clacked against the floor and that made her giggle. she passed by another waiter and grabbed a drink. She drank this one just as quickly as the first.

Jun Mo showed her to their seat at the front of the setting. She plopped in and beamed up at him.

”This is fun,” she said loudly.

He leaned down and sniffed. “Two minutes away and you’re already drunk?” surprise and exasperation fought for dominance in his voice.

She tried to protest but ended up giggling instead.

He rolled his eyes and willed her to get a grip on herself.

”I’ll be called up there to give an opening speech in a bit. I want you to stay away from any more alcohol. And people. Especially men,” he warned.

He did not sign up to babysit and he was starting to wonder how he would handle her as she was especially with all the responsibilities he had to fulfill before the evening would be over. Perhaps he and Chynna had not had a foolproof plan after all.

Soon, like he had told her, the compere called him up. He stood up to applause and made his way to the stage.

Amy looked around, smiling bigly. Her eyes locked with a man seated across the other table from where she was. He nodded and then as if compelled by some magical force, he picked up his glass and approached her.

He reached over and introduced himself. “Perhaps we could talk better some other time?” he asked, slipping out a gold embossed complimentary card and handing it to her.

Amy had not noticed, but on the other side of the table, Edward sat watching all of it. He had seen the man from earlier offer her a drink and that was why he had hurried Jun Mo off to take charge of the situation.

And now, he watched as this other fellow tried to sneak his way in. He could not watch anymore. The night had presented her as a surprise looking all dazzling like an ancient goddess and he would be a fool to let these other men lure her into some stupid games. He stood up and strode purposefully towards the two of them.

When he reached them, he shoved the other man without courtesy and reaching down for Amy, he grabbed her with one hand and picked up her purse with the other.