Henry had, in fact, already arrived at The Eastern Gardens. As he was walking through the lobby, he saw a familiar figure. He stopped short, and the words he''d been about to say to his father changed. "Dad, something''se up. I''ll be a littlete. Please apologize to Professor Joyner for me."


    Before Sanford could ask any questions, Henry hung up and walked over to Bianca.


    "Bianca."


    She looked up, surprised. "Henry? Are you here for lunch?"


    "Yes. You?"


    "Me too."


    Henry hesitated. "Are you meeting someone?"


    "Yes." Bianca seemed to be in a hurry and didn''t linger to chat.


    Henry wanted to talk more, but he didn''t want to hold her up. "Okay, well, you go on ahead. We should have lunch together sometime."


    "Of course," Bianca said before hurrying off.


    Henry stood rooted to the spot, watching her until she disappeared from view. In ten days, she would be engaged to Seth, and he would bepletely out of her life. He had wanted to ask her so many times if she was happy with Seth, but the words always caught in his throat.


    She must be happy, he reasoned. Seth''s affection for her was always on grand disy. He had even gifted her the most profitablepany under his name. Henry had to admit, he couldn''t have done the same. He had lost to Seth.


    Feeling a wave of mncholy, Henry went to the smoking area to clear his head.


    Back in the private room, Noreen''s simple exnation that she was Dn''s friend seemed to satisfy Sanford, who turned his attention back to Halley, discussing the previous year''s stock market performance.


    "Speaking of which, I really have to thank you, Professor Joyner," Sanford said earnestly. "Back when mypany was still small, we hit a severe cash flow problem. I came to you as ast resort, and you@sed your strategic model to analyze the market trends for me. It allowed me to take a huge risk that paid off, turning everything around. That''s how thepany grew to what it is today. To you!" He raised his ss.


    Halley waved his hand. "You bring that up every time we meet. It''s getting embarrassing."


    "It was a life-changing favor! I will never forget it. Without you, Sanford Brooke wouldn''t be where he is today. I''d probably be delivering pizzas!"


    Halley chuckled. "Actually, I''m not the one you should be thanking. I didn''t create that analysis model."


    Sanford froze. "You didn''t? Then who did?"


    Halley seemed reluctant to borate, but Dn nced over at Noreen, who quickly looked down at her te, not daring to make a sound.


    Sanford''s curiosity was piqued. "Whoever created a model like that must be incredibly sessful by now! Their analytical skills are off the charts, and theirmand of data is almost frighteningly precise. With that kind of vision and talent, they must have achieved great things!" <fn8aea> Read full story at find[?]ovel</fn8aea>


    To his surprise, Halley let out a cold snort. "Her? Let''s not even talk about her."


    Sanford was speechless.


    Noreen, who had been trying to make herself invisible, suddenly choked on her food.


    Dn kindly handed her a napkin. "Slow down," he teased. "No one''s going to steal your food."


    Noreen''s face flushed as she shot a nervous nce at Halley, who was now ring in her direction, his words clearly aimed at her.


    "Just thinking about her makes my blood boil! Completely love-struck! She could have reached the highest echelons of her field, but she threw it all away for some worthless guy!"


    “*Cough, cough, cough...*" Noreen choked again.


    "What''s with you today?” Dn teased, a grin ying on his lips.