The Harden Group and The Henderson Group gs were scheduled for the same evening, held on different floors of the same hotel.


    Charlene and Stewart went to The Henderson Group''s event first. When Thorne learned of their arrival, he immediately came out to greet them.


    After exchanging pleasantries, Stewart urged him to return to his duties. "Please, Mr. Henderson, don''t let us keep you. Go on and attend to your guests."


    Thorne nodded. "Thank you for your understanding, Mr. Ferguson. Please don''t hesitate to find me if you need anything."


    He greeted Charlene before moving on to wee other arrivals.


    Thorne had stayed for a long time at their g the previous night, so while Charlene and Stewart didn''t n to linger, they waited until the event was well underway before heading upstairs to The Harden Group''s party.


    Granger''s handsome face lit up with a smile the moment he saw Charlene. "You''re here."


    "Our apologies, Mr. Harden," Stewart said. "We got caught up in conversation downstairs and arrivedte."


    “Not at all, it''spletely understandable,” Granger replied.


    He wanted to chat more with Charlene, but with so many guests at his own g, he was soon pulled away.


    After Charlene and Stewart mingled for a while, Stewart scanned the room and suddenly remarked, "Vesta isn''t here? It''s gettingte, and she hasn''t shown up at either the Henderson or Harden party."


    Stewart''sment made Charlene realize she hadn''t seen Vesta all evening. She found she genuinely didn''t care much about Vesta''s affairs anymore and replied calmly, "Maybe she''s busy with something, or perhaps she''ll arriveter."


    "Busy with what?" Stewart scoffed. "Isn''t her top priority fawning over Thorne? Besides, even if Neural Nexis Tech or The Hawkins Group had their own events tonight, you know her-she''d at least swing by to make an appearance. It''s strange for her to be aplete no-show."


    Stewart had a point.


    Still, Charlene just said, "Maybe something came up and she hasn''t made it yet."


    Stewart supposed that was possible. Neither of them considered any other reason for Vesta''s prolonged absence.


    It also dawned on Moranter that Vesta was missing. By then, he had made his way up to The Harden Group''s ballroom.


    He couldn''t help but ask Granger, "By the way, why isn''t Vesta here tonight? I didn''t


    see her downstairs either. Is everything alright?”


    Granger hadn''t sent Vesta an


    invitation, so it was no surprise she


    wasn''t at his event. He was,


    however, surprised she hadn''t


    attended The Henderson Group''s


    g either.


    After a moment''s thought, he said, “Hawkins Technology is also hosting a g


    tonight. She''ll probablye byter when she has time.”


    “That makes sense,” Moran agreed, and the topic was dropped.


    A little whileter, Thorne came up from downstairs. He exchanged greetings with Granger, then nced Over at Charlene and Stewart who


    were chatting with other guests.


    Just then, Moran said, "Granger and I were just saying we should all get together


    after the holidays. We can figure out a timeter?"


    Thorne pulled his gaze away from Charlene and smiled. "Of course."