Chapter 65
The next day, Charlene woke up to a sunny morning, grabbed a breakfast of toast and scrambled eggs, and headed to work as usual.
At lunch, she was halfway through her sandwich when her phone rang. It was Jasmine, calling for the first time since she had snuck away from Sapphire Springs Resort. Charlene answered, “Hey, sweetie.”
“Hi, Mommy.” Jasmine’s voice came through, light and a bit cautious.
“Eaten yet?” “”Just did!”
Jasmine received Vesta’s call that morning at Sapphire Springs Resort. Vesta said Thorne had taken her out for fun and asked if she wanted to join. Without a second thought and without letting Charlene know, she dashed off. They had a blast, only returning to town late yesterday afternoon. However, they didn’t come home the night before. This morning, back at school and feeling guilty, Jasmine worried Charlene might be upset, so she called.
But hearing Charlene casually ask about her meal made it sound like she wasn’t mad about her sneaky exit, which made Jasmine feel relieved. She knew Charlene couldn’t stay mad at her!
Recently, Jasmine noticed a shift in Charlene’s behavior – fewer daily calls and less prying into her whereabouts. Jasmine appreciated the newfound freedom.
Charlene didn’t ask about the past two days. She wasn’t interested.
After chatting briefly about Jasmine’s school life, Charlene hung up and returned to her desk when Stewart approached. “The Future Tech Expo is tomorrow. Shall we meet up at the office to head over together?” “Sounds good,” Charlene agreed.
The following morning, minutes after she left home, Charlene’s car broke down, causing a fender bender that escalated into a traffic nightmare. Amidst the honking and frustrations, Charlene apologized to the other drivers and called for roadside assistance, worried about making it to the expo on time.
As she waited, a familiar figure crossed the street toward her.
“Car trouble?” Granger’s voice was calm.
bit surprised to see him, Charlene briefly explained her situation. She had informed Stewart, who suggested waiting for a company-arranged pickup, but Granger offered a ride instead.
They were on their way five minutes later, sitting awkwardly apart in the backseat.
“Thanks,” Charlene muttered, to which Granger replied, “No problem.”
Granger was busy with calls for most of the ride, offering Charlene a reprieve from the awkward silence. Eventually, they arrived at the expo, and Charlene thanked Granger before quickly heading inside.
No sooner had Charlene left than a sleek black car pulled up beside Granger’s. Spotting the car, Vesta confirmed it was Granger and approached him with surprise and curiosity.
After a brief exchange, after recognizing Granger, Henley and Laverne greeted him warmly. Granger excused himself after a phone call and Vesta’s group moved on to the expo.
Inside, Charlene caught up with Stewart and the team. Stewart whispered, “Our mentor’s here, too. Luckily, you got here on time. He wouldn’t have been pleased with tardiness.”
Charlene breathed a sigh of relief, feeling thankful her day hadn’t started with a lecture from a mentor known for his strict punctuality The close call only emphasized the importance of first impressions, even years after graduation.