Charlene looked at Stewart with an expression that was hard to read.

Stewart glanced over the papers and asked, “The resume looks impressive, but how’s the actual talent?” “Quite remarkable. He’s been at it for less than two years, yet he’s already outpacing most PhD students.” “Really? Sounds like a prodigy to me,” Stewart mused. “Are you thinking of keeping him on?”

“I am considering it, but…”

“You’re worried he’ll just up and leave?”

“Exactly.”

Even though she could tell Gaylord was genuinely interested in CUAP and Infinite-CM, there were other unpredictable factors about him.

“We can always try him out for a bit. If it doesn’t work, we let him go.”

Charlene nodded, “Alright.”

Meanwhile, Gaylord entered the arcade, his striking features, broad shoulders, and long legs commanding immediate attention.

A number of young women were tempted to approach him, but Gaylord’s tightly pressed lips and the aura of aloofness he exuded kept them at bay.

It wasn’t long before his phone buzzed in his pocket.

As soon as he answered, the voice on the other end joked, “How did the interview go? Did you charm that Charlene girl? Do you think she bought your ‘love at first sight’ act? Hahaha!”

“If you ask me, you should play it up a bit more, have her wrapped around your finger-”

Gaylord, his expression stoic, was about to respond when he noticed Vesta at the arcade entrance. Seeing her, he said into the phone, “I’ll have to call you back.”

“There you are,” Vesta said as she approached him. “You disappeared without saying anything, and it scared your sister out of her wits. We thought something had happened to you. Honestly, you’re…” She stopped short of calling him reckless, noticing the defiant look in his eyes.

“I know why you came back,” Vesta continued. “If you’re here for PrimeStar’s technology, I’m all for it. But if you’re planning to toy with Charlene’s feelings to teach her a lesson for my sake, I won’t support it. My issues with her are mine alone; I don’t want you getting involved.”

Gaylord met her gaze, silent, not even bothering to ask how she found him.

Vesta

for he was staring at her

a

face with

long. She touched her

a smile, teasing, “Is there

something on my face?” Conte et

He shook his head and looked away. “It’s nothing.”

“About what I said,” Vesta started again.

“I have to go,” Gaylord interrupted. Without another word, he turned and walked away, his long strides

carrying him swiftly out of

sight.

“Gaylord, don’t do anything foolish!” Vesta called after him, following as best she could.

Gaylord didn’t answer and took the elevator down.

When he reached the ground floor, he saw Thorne sitting in a car nearby.

He paused, and Thorne grinned, “Long time no see.”

Gaylord glanced at him, then back at Vesta. “Take care,” he said abruptly. “Goodbye.” Before Vesta could respond, he got into his car and drove off.

Watching him leave, Vesta frowned in concern.

The next day, Charlene arrived at the office to find a bouquet of flowers on her desk. Before she could react, someone mentioned, “The new guy in R&D, Gaylord, sent those.” Charlene, unfazed, simply said, “Alright, noted.”

She casually set the flowers aside and focused on her work.