After reading the message, Charlene showed her phone to Stewart.


    Stewart fell silent. Charlene had told him about the Andie Sanderson project, and honestly, he was very interested.


    He cleared his throat. "That project is definitely a great opportunity. You should probably talk to him."


    Just as he finished speaking, Andie himself called Charlene. After they spoke, Andie sent her an email. After reviewing it, Charlene sent a text to Thorne: [Time and ce.]


    Almost immediately, Thorne replied with an address. [I''m on my way now.]


    Charlene replied: [Got it.]


    Stewart wanted to go in Charlene''s ce to discuss the coboration, but he had other urgent matters to attend to. After a quick word with Charlene, he left.


    Gaylord had overheard Charlene''s conversation with Andie and assumed her meeting had nothing to do with her ex-husband, so he didn''t give it a second thought.


    Half an hourter, Charlene arrived at the restaurant. Just as she walked in, Thorne sent her the number for their private room.


    When she got there, however, Thorne hadn''t arrived yet. But just two or three minutester, the door opened and he walked in. "Sorry to keep you waiting."


    Charlene had expected him to bring an assistant and was a bit surprised to see him alone. She averted her gaze and said coolly, "I just got here myself."


    Thorne sat down. "Have you ordered?"


    "Not yet."


    Andie wouldn''t be arriving for a while and had told them to go ahead. When the waiter brought the menus, Thorne handed one to Charlene. "Order what you like first. I''ll order for Andieter."


    Charlene didn''t say anything and began flipping through the menu. Thorne remained silent as well, but he poured her a cup of tea and ced it in front of her.


    At that exact moment, a group of people happened to be walking past the room.


    Maureen, Rhoda, and the others


    froze, their expressions changing the instant they saw Thorne and Charlene together. Just that morning, Vesta had messaged


    Thorne to invite him to lunch but he hadn''t even bothered to reply. Yet here he was having lunch with Charlene and showering her with attention.


    Leah gritted her teeth, about to storm into the room, but Maureen grabbed her arm with surprising strength and shot her a cold re. Maureen usually seemed aloof and rarely spoke to the younger far amily members, and that single look sent a shiver down Leah''s spine. She immediately backed down as Rhoda pulled her away.


    Maureen then turned her gaze to Vesta. After onest look at Thorne and Charlene, Vesta turned and walked away without a word.


    Georgina''s face was also a mask of fury, her wrinkled hands sped tightly together.


    They left quickly, unnoticed by Charlene and Thorne.


    After Charlene ordered, she passed the menu to Thorne. He took it and began


    ordering as well, all while discussing business with her in a strictly professional tone.


    They had been talking for about


    fifteen minutes when Andie finally


    arrived. After greeting them, the first


    thing he noticed was the


    considerable distance between Thorne and Charlene''s seats It was


    the kind of space that screamed awkward and distant, like two people who''d already split up.


    Andie cleared his throat, quickly changing the subject as he took his seat.