Just before the birthday banquet started, Quentin Thorne, Melinda Linton, and Seth Sutton arrived. Sienna Thornton was playing with little Victor and her friends when she saw her family come in, and quickly went over to greet them.

Quentin Thorne eagerly picked up his grandson, teasing him, and taught little Victor to call Melinda Linton: "Grand—ma—!"

Little Victor imitated him with enthusiasm: "Gran...ma..." After calling out, he happily burrowed into Quentin’s neck, who lifted the child higher.

Seth Sutton approached from behind Quentin, teasing little Victor: "Call uncle!"

The pronunciation of "uncle" was difficult for little Victor, who could only stammer: "Un—cle—"

Seth Sutton observed the drooling little Victor: "This kid really looks like his dad!" He remarked, looking around the banquet hall: "Where’s Simon Forrester?"

"He’s entertaining friends." Sienna Thornton said, reaching to hold Mina Thorne’s hand, "How’s the baby lately?"

Mina Thorne held her lower back with one hand: "Always kicking, often keeps me up at night."

Seth Sutton chuckled: "Could be a boy! A real rascal."

Quentin Thorne gave him a stern look: "Boy or girl, both are great!"

Seth Sutton scratched his head: "I never said I preferred boys."

Guests continued to arrive, and Sienna Thornton hurriedly invited them to sit and chat.

She left little Victor with Quentin Thorne and Melinda Linton, while she helped Simon Forrester greet friends.

Gage Grant, Jack Hawthorne, and Kevin Chaucer came to help at six. Around this time, friends from Logan Lockwood’s design firm, the Forrester executives, and Vincent Zollner, who hurried in from The East that afternoon, started entering the banquet hall.

As seven o’clock approached, Sylvia Langley came over to ask if everyone had arrived. Sienna Thornton glanced at the banquet hall, which was packed. She shook the hand she held with Simon Forrester: "Have all your friends arrived?"

"First Shepard hasn’t arrived yet." Simon Forrester turned to look around, raising his hand to call Jack Hawthorne over.

Jack Hawthorne, who was socializing with friends, quickly ran over: "What’s up?"

Simon Forrester took out his phone: "I’ll send you First Shepard’s flight number; check if it’s delayed."

"Got it!" Jack Hawthorne stepped aside to call and check with the airport.

Sienna Thornton asked in surprise: "Today is Wednesday, is First Shepard coming?"

"Yes." Simon Forrester nodded, "I didn’t expect him to come specifically today either."

Jack Hawthorne came back after hanging up the phone: "The flight isn’t delayed, and the airport highway isn’t congested, he should be arriving soon."

As the three talked, the elevator doors across the banquet hall slowly opened. Tobias Blackwood and Julian Shepard stepped out of the elevator.

Jack Hawthorne smiled: "I was wondering why Leo left work after five but hasn’t shown up yet; turns out he went to pick up Brother Javier."

Simon Forrester quickly brought Sienna Thornton over, greeting them: "We’ve been waiting for you, come in and sit."

Julian Shepard shook hands with Simon Forrester, smiling: "Congratulations to both of you. My grandfather is too old to come, so he asked me to bring a small gift for you." As he spoke, he handed a small red velvet pouch to Simon Forrester.

Simon Forrester politely declined: "No gifts. Just having you here is enough."

Julian Shepard insisted: "Grandfather specifically wanted to convey his regards to you, so please accept it."

Simon Forrester had no choice but to accept, handing the red velvet pouch to Sienna Thornton.

Sienna Thornton smiled and thanked Julian Shepard.

Julian Shepard looked at her, smiling: "Director-General Thorne, when you’re not busy later, could we have a word with Tobias?"

Sienna Thornton looked at Tobias Blackwood, surprised.

Tobias Blackwood just smiled without revealing anything.

Sienna Thornton and Simon Forrester suddenly remembered a few months ago when Joyce Sutton inadvertently mentioned that Tobias Blackwood was interested in having Sienna Thornton switch organizations.

It seemed tonight the mystery would be revealed.

This little episode made it difficult for Sienna Thornton to stay focused all evening.

She was set to lead a team to Valois in three months, and now the thought of switching jobs was troubling.

...

Although the birthday banquet only had about twenty tables, the atmosphere of The Imperial Court Club’s banquet hall was excellent. The air was filled with an elegant aroma, classical music flowed softly and gracefully, guests engaged in quiet and friendly conversations, and the lighting was just right, bright but not blinding, amid a clatter of glasses...

At the end of the banquet, Sienna Thornton saw Julian Shepard and Tobias Blackwood, who were sitting with Simon Forrester and a group of third-generation friends, pick up their glasses and leave their seats to toast with Quentin Thorne, chat briefly, then leave the banquet hall together.

She was more certain they were here tonight to discuss a job change with her, and thus preemptively informed Quentin Thorne.

She was racking her brain on how to gracefully decline their current job change proposal... but before she could come up with anything, Tobias Blackwood had already come to ask her to join them.

She greeted Simon Forrester, who was entertaining guests, and followed Tobias Blackwood to a secluded private room upstairs.

"Indeed, so the old master hopes to finalize this year’s candidate..."

When Sienna Thornton entered, Julian Shepard was speaking in low tones with Quentin Thorne; they were sitting very close together, with a tablet in front of them. Julian was pointing at something on the screen of the tablet.

Hearing the door, they both looked up.

Quentin Thorne waved her over: "Annie, come sit by Daddy."

Sienna Thornton nodded to Julian Shepard and walked over to sit by Quentin Thorne.

Tobias Blackwood also sat beside Julian Shepard.

Julian Shepard looked at Sienna Thornton with a warm smile, his eyes full of appreciation.

Sienna Thornton frowned slightly.

Julian Shepard, noticing her nervousness, said with a smile: "Director-General Thorne, don’t worry, we’re not here to criticize your work." Then turned to Quentin Thorne: "Perhaps Dean Thorne could begin by discussing it with Director-General Thorne?" 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Quentin Thorne smiled and turned slightly towards Sienna Thornton.

Sienna Thornton felt her heart leap to her throat.

Quentin Thorne saw her anxiety and patted her hand to comfort her: "Annie, don’t be nervous, it’s nothing bad."

Sienna Thornton glanced at Julian Shepard and Tobias Blackwood: "Then what is it?"

Quentin Thorne: "How is your work at the Treaty and Law Department? Are you happy?"

As expected, they wanted her to move places.

Sienna Thornton softened her slight annoyance, controlling herself: "Being able to contribute to the nation’s import and export industries gives me great pride. This job brings a sense of belonging and confidence beyond simple happiness."

Quentin Thorne nodded, contemplating how to inform his daughter about the organization’s arrangements for her future work.

The room was dimly lit, with a clandestine air reminiscent of a spy meeting in a war film.

Tobias Blackwood and Julian Shepard whispered to each other to the side.

Tobias Blackwood: "Director-General Thorne had not yet graduated from Harvard Law School, and a judge from the California Court offered her a position at the professor’s recommendation, but she declined."

Julian Shepard nodded, speaking in a mild tone: "We redid the background check six months ago, everything’s fine."

Tobias Blackwood: "That’s the only sensitive point. If necessary, we can conduct a more thorough investigation."

The two discussed quietly, occasionally casting a probing glance her way.

Sienna Thornton felt a tight string inside her tautly strained.