Charlene had no idea what was going on between Thorne and Dalton. After her dinner with Stewart, she returned to the office to continue working.
On Wednesday, Charlene received a call from Kendal Underwood, inviting her over for dinner that weekend. "Minnie will be there too," he mentioned. Charlene paused for a moment, then replied, "Sure, sounds good."
By Friday afternoon, Charlene was in the middle of a meeting when her phone buzzed unexpectedly. As she moved to answer, the call disconnected. Seeing it was from an unfamiliar number, she decided to ignore it and focus on the meeting.
It was Jta who had tried to call her. Since Wednesday, Jta had officially joined The Harden Group. She wanted to share with Charlene that she''d be working at The Harden Group and would be settling down in Starfall. But just as she was about to tell her, Jta recalled Leah''s words about Thorne''s friends, like Granger, who were indifferent to Charlene regardless of her attempts to befriend them. They had, however, readily epted Vesta.
Jta worried that if Charlene learned Vesta had helped her get the job, it might upset her, so she quickly hung up.
After work, at Laverne''s urging, Jta went back to the Hawkins household. As she neared the mansion, she noticed several unfamiliar luxury cars parked out front.
Before arriving in Starfall, Laverne had told her that many of the city''s elite were aware of the rtionship between Vesta and Thorne. Thorne''s favor towards Vesta was well-known within their social circle.
Jta hadn''t fully grasped the extent of this until she saw the steady stream of Starfall''s influential figures.ing to the Hawkins family, seeking favors and connections. It was only then she realized how much Thorne''s influence had elevated both the Hawkins and Spencer families.
Seeing her mother, Laverne, cautiously interacting with these high-profile guests made Jta realize the magnitude of their power. Yet, Vesta remained nonchnt, often avoiding them altogether, while they continued to court her favor respectfully. Spotting the luxury cars, Jta knew the Hawkins family had more visitors. She slipped in through a side door, heading upstairs without drawing attention.
Vesta, seeking some peace, was also on the second floor. When she spotted Jta, she looked up and asked, "Done with work?" Jta halted, "Yeah, just finished."
Since Granger had vouched for Jta''s hiring, Vesta wasn''t particrly concerned about her joining The Harden Group.
Turning a page in her book, Vesta seemed to remember something. She asked, "Did Granger say anything to you when you joined?"
Jta admired Vesta''s dedication, hearing about her recent sess in some tech exchange that earned her the respect of several important figures. This thought lingered as she replied, "I haven''t met Mr. Harden." Vesta paused, "Granger didn''t reach out?"
"No, he didn''t."
Vesta had assumed Granger might introduce himself to Jta, given her family ties, and perhaps ensure she was looked after. But then again, such actions might not bode well for Jta''s reputation. "Never mind," Vesta said.
Jta nodded, heading to her room without further discussion.
Once alone, Vesta set her book aside and called Granger. He let the phone ring for a while before answering,
"Hello?"
Vesta chuckled, "I heard about my cousin joining The Harden Group. Thank you, Granger. Are you free in theing days? I''d love to take you out for dinner." Granger spoke dismissively, "Your cousin got in on her own merits, there''s no need to thank me."
If he hadn''t taken a special interest, how would he know she got in on her own merit?
Vesta smiled but didn''t press the issue. She was about to say more when Granger interjected, "I have something to attend to, can we talkter?"
Vesta knew Granger had been busytely. "Sure thing," she replied, and without hesitation, ended the call.
Granger wasn''t actually busy. He had been nning to call Charlene. After Vesta hung up, he reached for his phone and dialed Charlene''s number. Chapter 329