Sunday, noon.


    Gaylord Hearst was hunched over his phone, looking busy as ever. His friend leaned over to sneak a peek at the screen.


    One nce, and his friend groaned. "Seriously? It''s the weekend. PrimeStar doesn''t pay you enough to keep you glued to work even on Saturdays and Sundays. I thought you''d be racking your brain trying to score a date with Ms. Ross right about now."


    The overtime was Gaylord''s own choice; it had nothing to do with PrimeStar.


    Gaylord didn''t bother replying.


    Back before he found out Charlene wasn''t divorced yet, he really had spent most weekends plotting ways to ask her out.


    But then Charlene admitted she was still married.


    Sure, the way she talked about it, things with her husband were definitely headed for divorce-but, officially, it hadn''t happened yet.


    Noticing Gaylord lost in thought, his friend knocked on the table. "You''ve gone all silent. What''s on your mind?"


    Gaylord snapped back to the present.


    He used to think Charlene was already single, so her husband had barely crossed his mind. But since learning she was still married-divorce pending certain thoughts began to creep in.


    He''d known Charlene for a while now, and to him, she was perfect: kind, beautiful, easy to talk to, smart as a whip.


    Suddenly, he found himself curious about her husband-what kind of man could be willing to let go of someone as incredible as Charlene?


    Just as he was about to ask his friend to do a little digging, someone called his name from across the café.


    "Gaylord?"


    He looked up.


    It was Vesta.


    She greeted him with a smile, walking over. "Out so early? I figured you''d still be in bed at this hour."


    Gaylord nced at her, his tone even. "Did you need something?"


    Ever since Gaylord joined PrimeStar, the two of them rarely saw each other outside work.


    And after he found out she was dating Thorne, he''d turned cold toward her-just like now.


    Vesta didn''t seem to mind. She sat down beside him. "Your sister reached out again, you know. The family still hopes you''lle home and help out with the business. But you just won''t listen, will you..."


    She sighed, settling in. "Gaylord, you''ve been away for months now. Staying at


    PrimeStar forever isn''t exactly a n. Why don''t you just-"


    Gaylord cut her off, puzzled why


    someone as passionate about Al as


    Vesta would still urge him to abandon PrimeStar and go back to the familypany, especially when she knew what a powerhouse PrimeStar was.


    But he had no interest in debating her. "This is between me and my family. I''ll handle it."


    He looked a little put out, but Vesta didn''t press the point. She only said, "I get it, you can''t bear to leave


    PrimeStar. Honestly, I get it-/vone!


    always wanted to work there myself. It''s just... I heard your dad''s health isn''t so goodtely..."


    "I know," Gaylord replied tly.


    "Well, as long as you''re aware."


    At this point, Gaylord''s friend finally joined the conversation, exchanging pleasantries. “Ms. Hawkins, are you here alone? Haven''t seen Mr. Henderson around."


    "I''m here with my family," Vesta replied, taking the cup of tea he passed her. "As for Thorne, he''s away on business-won''t be back for a few days."


    "Ah, got it."


    Just then, Dalton Ramirez came striding over. "Ms. Hawkins, what a coincidence."


    Vesta smiled. "It is, isn''t it?"


    As she spoke, she noticed York Watson behind Dalton and greeted him warmly. "Mr. Watson! It''s been ages."


    York nodded silently, his gaze drifting to where Gaylord sat.


    Vesta caught the look and started making introductions. "This is Gaylord, and-" But just as she began, York and Gaylord locked eyes, unreadable expressions on their faces. As if on cue, they both interrupted her. "We know each other." Not just Vesta-Dalton, too, looked surprised, a flicker of confusion passing over his face. After all, everyone''s impression was that the two men had never met.