Chapter 444
The next morning, after dropping Jasmine off at school, Charlene drove back to PrimeStar.
In the days leading up to this, she’d already met with two heads of autonomous vehicle start-ups alongside Stewart, but after each meeting, she’d felt that neither was quite the right fit.
Determined to find more suitable partners, she and Stewart attended a cocktail party that evening.
They arrived early, mingled briefly, and soon spotted Thorne and Vesta across the
room.
Both Charlene and Stewart quickly averted their eyes.
Perhaps their disinterest was a bit too obvious, because Thorne and Vesta made no move to greet them either.
A little while later, Dalton Ramirez and Kelvin Scott showed up.
When Dalton caught sight of Thorne, Vesta, Charlene, and Stewart, he headed over to Charlene and Stewart first to say hello.noveldrama
“Mr. Ferguson, Ms. Ross. It’s been a while.”
It had, in fact, been some time since they’d last seen Dalton.
Charlene and Stewart acknowledged him with polite but expressionless nods.
Their feelings toward Dalton hadn’t warmed in the slightest.
Not wanting to overstay his welcome, Dalton excused himself after the brief greeting and walked over to Thorne and Vesta.
“Mr. Henderson, Mr. Hawkins.”
Thorne nodded. Vesta turned, recognized him, and smiled. “Mr. Ramirez, it’s been ages.”
Dalton looked at her. “It has. Good to see you.”
He lingered for a moment but, sensing they were in the middle of a business conversation, refrained from interrupting further. After exchanging pleasantries, he moved on.
Charlene and Stewart had come with a clear objective, but at these kinds of events, it was impossible to avoid the steady flow of people eager to introduce themselves. The evening kept them busier than they’d expected.
Much the same could be said for Thorne and Vesta.
In the past, whenever Vesta accompanied Thorne to these sorts of gatherings, her role had been little more than decorative. The industry bigwigs in attendance
never truly paid her any mind.
But things were different now.
Whether Neural Nexus Tech had been a gift from Thorne or Vesta’s own accomplishment, it was indisputably her company. Her ascension to billionaire status was no longer a remote possibility-it was imminent.
Tonight, many of the business heavyweights who’d once overlooked her were not
only polite but downright eager to win her favor.
Vesta noticed the change, and so did everyone else.
Kelvin, watching the whole scene unfold, nudged Dalton with his elbow. “Honestly,
on this front, you really have to admit defeat.”
A company worth billions-Thorne had handed it over with barely a second thought. In that regard, Dalton couldn’t possibly compare.
Dalton said nothing.
Though he considered Thorne a rival, he couldn’t argue when it came to how Thorne treated Vesta.
He glanced at Vesta’s back, a hint of admiration in his voice. “She deserves it.”
Kelvin blinked. “… You’re serious?”
But both his childhood friend and Thorne seemed hopelessly smitten with Vesta-ready to give her the world and happy to do it. Kelvin didn’t get it, but he didn’t have the heart to burst Dalton’s bubble.
Still, he couldn’t help adding, “Financial freedom really is something else. You can spend on
whoever you want, and no one can
stop you. I have to admit, I’m
seriously jealous of Thorne.”
Dalton shot back, deadpan, “If you ever became financially free, I bet you’d burn
through everything within a year.”
Kelvin opened his mouth, then shut it again.
Charlene and Stewart also noticed the shift in attitudes toward Vesta.
During conversations, a few people even joked about Thorne’s generosity, marveling at how he could lavish fortunes on a beauty without batting an eye.
Vesta, for her part, kept an eye on Charlene and Stewart, but with so many people coming over to greet them, she failed to pick up on their true reason for attending tonight’s party.