About ten minutester, Charlene excused herself to go to the restroom with a few others.


    She had just pushed open the restroom door and noticed someone inside. About to apologize and step back out, she was suddenly grabbed from behind a hand mped over her mouth and nose. She barely had time to react before her vision blurred and consciousness slipped away.


    The woman who had drugged Charlene quickly teamed up with her aplice waiting outside. Together, they disguised Charlene as best they could, then supported her as they hurried out of the restroom, keeping their heads down to avoid attracting attention from the PrimeStar people nearby. After finally making it out the main door and just as they were about to help Charlene into a waiting car, someone blocked their path.


    At the same moment, Thorne''s phone rang.


    He listened to the caller on the other end, then stood up and turned to the two executives beside him. "Something''se up-I''ll have to excuse myself. Let''s catch up another time."


    Seeing Thorne leave, Coy followed after him down the stairs.


    By the time they reached the bar''s entrance, the people who had abducted Charlene were already in custody.


    Coy was stunned at the sight of Charlene, clearly unconscious.


    But given the scene before him, it didn''t take long to piece together what had happened.<fn0538> Find the newest release on find·novel</fn0538>


    Still... he had no idea when Thorne had arranged for people to intercept the kidnapping.


    One of the men waiting outside stepped forward respectfully as Thorne approached. "Mr. Henderson, we stopped them."


    Thorne nodded, his gaze falling on the unconscious Charlene, who was being supported by one of his men. He walked over, took her gently into his arms, and without another word, headed straight for the car.


    Coy hesitated for a beat but, once he''d gathered his wits, followed Thorne into the


    car.


    No sooner had Thorne settled Charlene in hisp than her phone began to ring inside her bag.


    It turned out two PrimeStar


    engineers, who had gone to the


    restroom with Charlene, noticed she


    hadn''te out after several


    minutes. After searching the estroom and finding no sign of her. they immediately tried calling her.  s


    Thorne ignored the iing call. He adjusted Charlene''s position, making sure she wasfortable, then simply hung up.


    When the engineers saw their call go unanswered, their concern only deepened. They immediately phoned Stewart.


    Stewart, rmed by the engineers'' report, tried calling Charlene as well. This time, Thorne answered.


    "Charlene, are you-" Stewart began, his voice tight with worry.


    But Thorne cut him off. "She passed out. I''m taking her back to the hotel now."


    Stewart stopped in his tracks. "Thorne?"


    "Yeah." Thorne''s reply was curt. "I''m hanging up now."


    "Wait—” Stewart started, but Thorne had already ended the call.


    Coy, sitting up front, kept ncing back at the rear seat, watching Thorne cradle Charlene protectively. Just as Coy was about to say something the privacy, screen


    between the seats slid up, blocking his view.  s


    Coy stared, momentarily taken aback, unable to process what had just happened.


    The bar wasn''t too close nor too far from the hotel. Half an hourter, the car finally pulled up outside.


    Thorne stepped out, carrying


    Charlene-still unconscious-in his arms. Coy noticed that her clothes were neat, but her lipstick was Smudged beyond her lips, as if she d been kissed or maybe just jostled


    during the chaos. He couldn''t be sure which.  s


    Without a word, Thorne headed straight inside with Charlene. Coy had no choice


    but to follow close behind.