As if expecting her refusal, Thorne simply smiled. "Jasmine''sing with us."


    Charlene''s resolve wavered. "Jasmine, too?" It was a business meeting, and bringing a child along seemed-


    "He knows about us," Thorne rified.


    She blinked. If his friend knew about their rtionship, it could only be because Thorne had told him. She didn''t bother asking why he would share such personal details and simply said, "I see."


    After a quick bite to eat, she went upstairs to apply some light makeup, then joined Thorne and Jasmine in the car.


    Thorne''s friend, Andie Sanderson, was a man in his early thirties. He''d clearly met Jasmine before and, after greeting her and Thorne, extended a hand to Charlene with a warm smile. "I''ve heard so much about you." He paused. "I''ll call you Ms. Ross, if that''s alright?"


    "Of course," Charlene said, shaking his hand.


    After a few moments of pleasantries, they took their seats. Andie smiled at Charlene. "I always thought Jasmine didn''t look much like Thorne, and he once mentioned she takes after her mother. Now that I''ve met you, Ms. Ross, I see he was right. No wonder Jasmine is so beautiful."


    Charlene was surprised that Thorne would discuss such things with a friend. "You''re too kind, Mr. Sanderson," she replied with a polite smile.


    It seemed Thorne had given Andie a thorough briefing on their situation, including


    their impending divorce and Thorne''s involvement with Vesta. After the initialments about Jasmine, Andie deftly steered the conversation away from anything personal between her and Thorne.


    From then


    on


    their discussion was


    focused almost entirely on the potential coboration. The three of them had a productive conversation; Andie and Thorne were both exceptionally knowledgeable and Charlene found the exchange both engaging and insightful They for nearly two hours and by the end. both she and Andie felt there was still more to discuss.


    However, Andie had anothermitment, so they exchanged contact information, and he departed.


    As they watched him leave, Thorne turned to Charlene. "So, are you interested?"


    Charlene didn''t answer, but she was admittedly tempted.


    Jasmine, who had been tugging on her hand, chose that moment to make her move. She had been bored listening to the adults talk all afternoon. "Mommy, I want to go y," she whined. "Will you take me? Please?"


    Charlene''s heart softened, knowing Jasmine had been patient for long enough. "Alright," she agreed, then shot Thorne a look—a clear signal that he wasn''t invited.


    But Thorne either missed or chose to ignore her silent message. "Where to? We can decide in the car."


    "Yay!" Jasmine cheered.


    Charlene had no choice but to follow them to the car. The vehicle pulled out of the parking garage so quickly that she never noticed Vesta and Henley standing nearby, having seen


    the whole thing. They remaine silent, watching them go.


    They were there to meet a potential business partner, who happened to be with them at that very moment He, too, saw Thorne. He couldn''t makeout the woman''s face clearly, but seeing Thorne with an elegant woman and a small child, Talwa appearing so familiar with one


    another, was enough for him to


    draw his own conclusions.


    He turned to Vesta and Henley with a tight smile. "Thanks for bringing this to me. I''ll definitely think it over carefully. Now if you''ll excuse me, I''ve got somewhere else to be."