Chapter 868

Over an hour ticked by, but Thorne never texted back.

A little while later, Josh stepped into the room. “Ms. Hawkins, we’re getting ready to close up for the day.”

It was a polite way of showing her the door.

Vesta pressed her lips together and replied coolly, “And if I choose to wait right here?”

“Please don’t make this hard on the employees,” Josh said, maintaining his professional tone.

Vesta said nothing, making zero effort to leave.

Resigned, Josh simply brought her a fresh cup of tea.

Coy, who was still wrapping up his work, saw Josh step out of the reception area. “The boss probably… still cares about her, right?”

Even though he was refusing to see her or take her calls, he hadn’t broken things off, either.

Knowing full well she might show up unannounced, he hadn’t revoked her building

access.

And he was certain Thorne had seen the texts she just sent.

Yet since she was refusing to leave, Thorne hadn’t ordered security to drag her out. Josh pinched the bridge of his nose. “Yeah.”

It was exactly because he saw through this dynamic that he had to stay late. He couldn’t clock out until Vesta decided she was ready to go.

Another hour passed. Vesta knew the floor was empty except for Josh and Coy. Seeing her screen was still dark, she called out for Josh. “What did Thorne say?”

“I didn’t tell him you were here,” Josh replied.

Which meant that from the moment she walked in, neither he nor Coy had received a single instruction from Thorne.

Vesta’s grip tightened around her teacup.

Perhaps Thorne knew that his assistants would take good care of her even if he didn’t show. If she waited all night, she would still be well-fed and comfortable.

If she stayed over, she could just sleep in his private lounge, which meant…

There was a very real chance he wouldn’t come back at all just to entertain her stubbornness.

Still-

She didn’t budge.

She kept waiting.

Josh and Coy eventually ordered dinner for her.

Approaching midnight, seeing she had no intention of moving, Josh couldn’t hold back. “Ms. Hawkins-“

Vesta cut him off, grabbing her purse and standing up. “Sorry for keeping you and Coy so late today. I’ll come back tomorrow.”

A few hours of waiting might not pull him out of hiding, but if she camped out here every single day, there was no way he wouldn’t eventually cave And he couldn’t stay away from his own company forever.

“… Understood,” Josh said.

Vesta turned and strode out the door.

The next afternoon, she showed up

strolling up to the executive suite

at The Henderson Group

with

hout needing an appointment

But the moment she took a seat, Josh gave her the news. “Ms. Hawkins, you don’t

need to wait today. He left the country.”

Vesta froze. Before she could

а

demand an explanation, Josh anticipated her skepticism. “It’s the truth swear. He boarded a flight before six yesterday evening only just found out myself.”

Judging by his earnest expression, he wasn’t lying.

But…

“How could you and Coy not know his itinerary?”

“It happens. We generally only manage his schedule when it’s strictly related to corporate affairs.”

Meaning, this trip abroad had absolutely nothing to do with business.

Vesta was already somewhat aware of how he operated.

Pursing her lips, she asked, “When is he coming back?”

Josh shook his head. “I have no idea. The boss didn’t say.”

Left without a choice, Vesta simply grabbed her bag and walked out.