The rest of the afternoon passed quietly.
After ending the call with White and Lilly, Samuel accompanied his mother to one of Manhattan's most exclusive social gatherings.
The event was being held inside a luxurious ballroom on the top floor of a five-star hotel overlooking the city.
Crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead.
Soft classical music drifted through the room.
Businessmen, politicians, and members of old-money families filled the hall, sipping champagne while discussing investments and upcoming projects.
The moment Jane Black entered, conversations shifted.
Heads turned immediately.People smiled.The Blacks were one of the Five Families.
A name that carried influence far beyond New York.
Samuel walked beside his mother with one hand tucked into his pocket, looking completely unimpressed by the attention.
"Jane!"
A woman wearing an emerald-green dress approached them with a bright smile.
"It's been too long."
"It has," Jane replied politely.
The woman then looked toward Samuel.
"And look at him."
Samuel immediately knew where this was going.
The woman clasped her hands together dramatically.
"Samuel, you've grown into such a handsome young man."
"Thank you, Mrs. Kensington."
The woman practically melted.
"Oh my goodness, he's so polite."
Several nearby women immediately agreed.
"He really is."
"My son barely speaks to me these days."
"Mine only comes home to ask for money."
The group laughed.
Meanwhile Samuel wished he were literally anywhere else.
"Honestly," another woman continued, "the fact that he accompanied his mother today is impressive enough."
Jane smiled faintly.
"He didn't have much of a choice."
"Still."
The woman sighed dramatically.
"My son is probably at some beach party right now."
"Mine is on a yacht."
"My twins disappeared three days ago."
The mothers collectively groaned.
Samuel hid his amusement.
Then one of them spoke.
"You should appreciate him, Jane."
"Oh, I do."
The woman smiled.
"He's exactly the kind of young man every mother wants their daughter to marry."
Samuel nearly choked.
Jane's expression didn't change.
Unfortunately, that only encouraged them.
"Oh, speaking of daughters—"
Here we go.
A few girls who had been standing nearby suddenly became very interested in the conversation.
Samuel noticed immediately.
Of course.
One of them adjusted her hair. Another smiled shyly. A third practically stared.
"Have you met my daughter, Amelia?"
The woman gently pushed a brunette forward.
Amelia smiled.
"Hi, Samuel."
"Hello."
The conversation ended there.Samuel offered nothing else. Amelia looked disappointed.
Another woman stepped forward.
"My daughter Sophia just returned from Switzerland."
"That's nice."
Jane lowered her champagne glass to hide a smile.
The women continued trying.
One after another.Samuel remained perfectly polite.And completely uninterested.
Eventually one of the older men laughed.
"Poor boy."
Several people turned.
The man grinned.
"You're all trying to auction him off."
The room erupted into laughter.
Even Samuel smiled.
"Thank you," he said.
"I was beginning to think I was imagining it."
Jane laughed softly.
"You'll survive."
"Barely."
The conversation eventually shifted toward business and social affairs.
Upcoming events,Charity galas,Family investments.
The usual topics.
Then someone mentioned another famous name.
"The Doves."
Several people immediately nodded.
One of New York's most influential families.
"Their latest expansion was impressive."
"It was."
"I heard they're opening offices in two more states."
"They already did."
Samuel listened quietly.
He had heard the name before.
The Dove family was impossible not to know.
They were old money.
Powerful.
Respected.
Then one woman scoffed.
"Powerful, yes."
The room grew slightly quieter.
The woman swirled her drink.
"But honestly, has anyone seen Cassandra Dove lately?"
Several people exchanged looks.
"She's always traveling."
"Always working."
"One meeting after another."
The woman rolled her eyes.
"I don't understand how she never attends these gatherings."
The room immediately became uncomfortable.
Samuel noticed it.
So did Jane.
The woman continued.
"Some people act as if they're above everyone else."
A few guests subtly stepped away.
Someone coughed awkwardly.
Another looked at the floor.
The woman clearly hadn't realized her mistake.
Jane finally spoke.
Her voice remained calm.
Which somehow made it worse.
"That's an interesting opinion."
The woman smiled nervously.
"I'm only saying—"
Jane interrupted.
"Cassandra Dove manages responsibilities that affect thousands of employees across multiple states."
The room went silent.
Jane took a small sip of her drink.
"While you're concerned about social attendance."
The woman visibly paled.
Several guests suddenly found their drinks fascinating.
Jane's smile remained pleasant.
"And if one of the most influential women in America chooses business over afternoon gossip, I imagine she has good reason."
Nobody said a word.
The woman looked ready to disappear.
Jane finally set down her glass.
"Besides."
Her smile widened slightly.
"Criticizing people above your social standing rarely ends well."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Samuel almost felt sorry for the woman.
Almost.
The subject changed immediately.
Very quickly.
A few minutes later, the event finally came to an end.
Samuel followed his mother toward the exit.
"That woman won't sleep tonight," he said.
Jane laughed.
"Then perhaps she'll think before speaking next time."
They stepped outside.
The afternoon sun shone brightly across Manhattan.
Samuel slipped his hands into his pockets.
"So where to now?"
Jane checked the time.
"I still need a few things."
Samuel already knew what that meant.
"The mall."
"The mall."
Samuel sighed dramatically.
Jane smiled.
"Try to contain your excitement."
Together, they headed toward the waiting car.
Neither of them knew that before the day was over...
Samuel would finally meet the girl from his dreams.