Chapter 772

Raleigh glared at the scene. The envy in their colleagues' eyes and the easy smile on Charlene's face felt like a physical blow.

Without a word, he turned and headed upstairs alone.

By that afternoon, Charlene and her team had finally wrapped up their tasks. They wouldn't need to return to The Henderson Group for at least another couple of weeks.

Mr. Abner, an executive at the company, insisted on walking them downstairs as a courtesy.

Raleigh and his coworkers were also heading back to their own office to handle some business, so they all ended up waiting by the elevators together.

The doors slid open, and the chatter instantly died. Mr. Abner was the first to react, stepping forward with a bright smile. "Mr. Henderson. Mr. Roland."

Thorne gave a brief nod, his gaze sweeping casually over the group. "Heading out?" "The architecture is finished," Mr. Abner explained. "Director Ross and her team are heading back to PrimeStar Technologies. I'm just seeing them off."

Thorne nodded again, turning his attention to Charlene. "Good work."

Her expression remained perfectly neutral. "Just doing my job."

Thorne spotted Raleigh in the crowd and gave him a nod as well. "Heading back to EchoWave?"

"Yes," Raleigh replied stiffly. "Got some things to take care of."

Mr. Roland glanced at Raleigh, then turned to Thorne. "Who's this?"

"A friend," Thorne said smoothly.

Seeing that Thorne wasn't going to elaborate, Mr. Roland didn't push. He recognized Charlene but rarely interacted with her. Spotting her now, he eagerly struck up a conversation.

Charlene answered politely, with Mr. Abner chiming in occasionally. Thorne stayed silent, simply watching the exchange.

The others might not have noticed, but from the second Thorne appeared, Raleigh's eyes were glued to him and Charlene.

He realized that aside from a brief glance when they first crossed paths, there was zero eye contact between them.

They looked like complete strangers.

If he hadn't seen those photos, Raleigh would have thought this distant, professional exchange was perfectly normal.

But remembering what he'd seen, and watching their flawless act now, he thought differently.

The elevator reached the ground floor. Mr. Abner turned to Charlene with a smile. "The National Tech Awards Gala is in a few days. Congratulations again, Director Ross."

"Thank you," Charlene replied.

Mr. Roland, completely out of the loop, blinked. "What gala?"

Mr. Abner gave him a quick

rundown. Realization dawned on Mr. Roland, and he beamed at Charlene.

"I had no idea you won

Ms. Ross. That incredible

someone so young.

award

Congratulations."

Then, remembering something, turned to Thorne. "Speaking of which Thorne, aren't you attendin the gala this year? Looks like you two will have a familiar face to talk fo." sŵnovel

Charlene stiffened slightly, offering only a polite smile. Raleigh, however, was caught off guard.

He knew The Henderson Group sponsored several awards, so they were always invited. But for the past seven or eight years, the company had always sent other executives, Thorne had never attended in person. Why start now?

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He looked at Thorne. Hearing Mr. Roland's comment, Thorne offered a small smile

and turned to Charlene with perfect professional courtesy. "Congratulations."