Thelma took out the contract for them to sign, then led him to the office prepared for him. Worried he might be overwhelmed, she called Phoenix over to help him organize his things. He had quite a few items, mostly books and albums. Thelma noticed one album contained a photo of Connor with a girl, the only one among many that featured someone of the opposite s*x.
Curious, Thelma asked, “This girl looks quite beautiful. Is she your girlfriend?”
Connor took the album and gently stroked the photo. His gaze suddenly softened, and after a long pause, he said, “Yes, she was my girlfriend.”
Thelma noticed a pink butterfly tattoo on the girl’s arm and exclaimed, “That tattoo is quite beautiful.”
Connor replied, “…” He couldn’t help but laugh, “It’s not a tattoo; it’s a birthmark.”
“…”
Thelma touched her nose, feeling a bit embarrassed.
“Unfortunately, she is no longer here,” Connor sighed deeply at this point.
No longer here? Thelma looked at the beautiful woman in the photo and felt a sense of regret. Touching on his sorrow, she quickly apologized, “I’m sorry.”
Connor smiled, placing the album in a nearby spot, “It’s okay; I’ll handle the rest.”
Thelma and Phoenix stepped out together. Once they were a distance away, Thelma sighed, “I never expected Mr. Connor to be such a sentimental person. That photo looks like it was taken quite a while ago.”
“She hasn’t died.”
“???”
“She went missing fifteen years ago. But you’re right; he is indeed a sentimental person. He has never given up on looking for his girlfriend all these years. Even at forty, he hasn’t married or dated anyone since she disappeared.”
Thelma was surprised that Connor was so devoted. As a celebrity manager, he interacted with many beautiful women daily, and given his good personal conditions, it was surprising he hadn’t dated again. She felt his devotion was almost pitiful.
“How did she go missing?”
“I’m not sure; it was fifteen years ago. Back then, there weren’t as many surveillance systems, and she went missing while they were on vacation in a very remote place. Over the years, Connor has gone back to search for her whenever he could, but he still hasn’t found her.”
“…”
“What a pity for that girl. If things had gone well, she would have been as famous as today’s top stars.”
Thelma, however, was puzzled, “From what you’re saying, she must have been an emerging artist back then? Public figures like that should be easy to find if they go missing.”
Phoenix shook her head, “The police were notified, and a large number of officers were dispatched, but they still found nothing. It was as if she had evaporated from the world.”
Evaporated? That term felt heavy. Thelma speculated that perhaps something unfortunate had happened to her, but she didn’t voice it.
The MK charity gala was in two days. Before the event, Thelma specifically took Mira and Phoenix to buy a set of evening gowns. As the time approached, the three of them went directly to MK.
The charity gala was held in MK’s banquet hall. Although the three of them didn’t have the same commanding presence as the big shots entering with entourages, each had their own charm, and they attracted quite a bit of attention as they walked in.
There were many people at the banquet. Jonathan Foxcroft and Presley were busy greeting others, so Thelma didn’t want to interrupt. She didn’t know many people, but the song “‘Snow Over the Cliff.” had made Thelma Studio famous, and there were quite a few bosses interested in collaborating with her. Plus, Phoenix was an old acquaintance in the music industry, so there were many people coming over to greet them. Mira, being a rising star, also attracted many media friends for interviews, so the three of them were not neglected.
Chatting was a skill in itself. After finally finishing a round of conversations, Thelma planned to grab something to eat. She picked up a glass of champagne and a small pastry when she overheard a few wealthy ladies nearby discussing Sam Noah’s name.
It was strange; even though they had confirmed their romantic relationship, hearing his name still made Thelma’s heart race inexplicably, and she instinctively leaned in to listen.
“I heard Mr. Sam from Sam Group will also be attending today.”
