"Ms. Hawkins."


    As Dalton approached, Vesta offered him a polite, reserved smile. "Mr. Ramirez."


    Dalton nced around before asking, "Why are you here on your own? Where''s Mr. Henderson?"


    Vesta gestured in a direction across the room. "Thorne''s over there, talking business."


    Dalton followed her gaze, but his attention soon drifted back to her face. After a brief hesitation, he couldn''t keep his curiosity in check. "You don''t look like you''re having a good evening, Ms. Hawkins. Did something happen?"


    Vesta''s smile faltered.


    Noticing her change in demeanor, Dalton pressed on. "Is it because of Charlene?"


    Before Vesta could respond, Dalton cast a frosty nce across the room in Charlene''s direction. "Someone like her, managing to get ahead the way she does -sometimes I think the world really isn''t fair. Even Mr. Kenton and his wife seem quite taken with her."


    Vesta truly wasn''t in the best of moods tonight.


    And yes, it did have something to do with Charlene.


    But not for the reasons Dalton assumed.


    In truth, she was anxious that Charlene''s dual identity-as Kenton''s protégé and


    as the founder of PrimeStar-would be revealed at tonight''s event.


    For days she''d been tightly wound over this, and now, the tension was almost unbearable.


    Hearing Dalton''s words, Vesta realized he''dpletely misread the situation. Still, she didn''t feel the need to correct him. In fact, his presence provided a small measure of relief from the anxiety that had been gnawing at her all evening. At that moment, Thorne returned.


    He noticed Dalton and greeted him with a smile. "Mr. Ramirez, I didn''t expect to see you here."


    Dalton nodded coolly. "Just came over to chat with Ms. Hawkins for a bit. Since you two have business, I won''t intrude."


    Thorne replied politely, "You''re never an intrusion, Mr. Ramirez."


    But Dalton excused himself and moved on.


    Perhaps thinking she was eager to speak with Kenton, Thorne said, "You''ve been waiting a while, haven''t you? Let''s go over and say hello to Mr. Kenton and his wife."


    In the past, whenever Kenton made


    a rare public appearance, Vesta would seize any opportunity to speak with him, ignoring Stewart''s obvious dislike for her and doing. whatever she could to engage Kenton in conversation.  s


    But now...


    Charlene had already be Kenton''s student.


    Which meant, from her very first encounter with Kenton, he had already known exactly who she was.


    Kenton once told her she didn''t quite measure up to his standards for a student.


    Maybe that was true. But when he looked at her back then, was he really free of bias?


    And besides was Charlene truly exceptional before Kenton took her under his wing?


    "What''s wrong?"


    Thorne''s voice cut through her thoughts when she fell silent.


    "Nothing," she replied.


    She didn''t want to approach Kenton, but not wanting Thorne to suspect anything was amiss, sheposed herself and walked with him toward Kenton and his wife.  s


    "Mr. Wagner. Dr. Malvina."


    They greeted the couple, just as Charlene and Stewart arrived to join them.


    Stewart''s smile was tinged with


    mockery as he looked at Thorne and<fn5f0b> Checktest chapters at FindN()vel</fn5f0b>


    Vesta What a coincidence. M


    erget


    Henderson and Ms Hawkins, too?  s


    With a faint, unruffled smile, Thorne acknowledged him. "Mr. Ferguson."


    He nced at Charlene as well, offering her a polite nod.


    Malvina''s eyes sparkled as she recognized Thorne and Vesta. "So it really is Mr. Henderson. It''s been years, hasn''t it?"


    Thorne nodded. "Yes, it''s been quite a while."


    He turned to make introductions. "This is Vesta."


    Malvina''s smile warmed. "Ms. Hawkins. I''ve heard so much about you."