Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 133

Chapter 133

Sydney’s hands stilled over the cutlery. She hadn’t expected Jullan to remember. Something inside her softened, like silk folded with care, leaving delicate creases behind.

“Mr. Sterling.” A female voice floated in before the door fully opened. Charlotte smiled as she stepped inside. “Oh, Syd too. Hello.”

Sydney blinked in surprise. The flutter she had felt earlier vanished at once. “Ms. Lindstrom.”

“Mind if I crash dinner?” Charlotte asked lightly, sliding into the seat beside Julian.

Sydney returned the smile. “Of course not.”

The way these two kept turning up at private dinners together, coupled with Julian’s refusal to admit he was single and Charlotte’s endless curiosity about his preferences, felt like something out of a story about mutual secret crushes.

Sydney was just an outsider. What did it matter to her?

Julian’s sharp gaze flicked to Sydney’s cool face, then back to Charlotte. His brow furrowed. “Why are you here?”

Sydney froze. ‘He didn’t invite her?’

S

“A friend mentioned they saw you here,” Charlotte explained with a soft laugh. “I figured it must be a business dinner, so I came to help block the drinks.”

“You see now?” Julian leaned back lazily, his gaze flat and cold. “I don’t need you to block drinks. You can go.”

The awkwardness hung heavy. Even Sydney felt it.

Charlotte’s smile faltered. “I-”

“Mr. Sterling,” Sydney cut in, awkward herself but mindful of her role as host. “We ordered a lot. One more person won’t hurt.”

Julian’s expression darkened further, and he said coldly, “How generous of you.”

The tone carried a meaning she couldn’t place, and she had no time to puzzle it out.

Charlotte shot her a grateful smile, which she forced herself to return.

Through the meal, Julian’s expression never softened. Sydney’s scalp prickled from the tension.

When they finally left, he cast her a sidelong glance and asked with a flat smile, “Any other instructions, Ms. Wilson? Should I send Ms. Lindstrom home?”

“No…” Sydney choked.

Charlotte eased the moment with another effortless smile. “Thanks for dinner. I’ll head out.”

She walked toward a limited-edition sports car.

Sydney blinked. That wasn’t something an ordinary secretary could afford. Startled, she glanced at Julian.

“What are you looking at me for? I didn’t buy it for her,” Julian snapped.

“Oh.” Only after replying did Sydney realize how strange the exchange sounded, like a girlfriend questioning her boyfriend about gifts to another woman-and Julian offering an explanation.

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The odd tension clung to her until they returned to Delta and she retrieved her car.

Inside, Raymond lounged in the living room. Hearing movement in the courtyard, he shuffled out in leather slippers and grinned. “Well, well. Elliot said you went to dinner with your favorite little sister?”

The words carried clearly to Sydney, who was just about to shut her car door. She froze. The uneasy feeling deepened, and she instinctively glanced his way.

Only then did Raymond realize she was there as well.

Under Julian’s death stare, he forced a casual laugh. “Sydney, did your brother treat you alright tonight?”

“Mm,” Sydney answered evenly.

Seeing Julian’s expression ease, she second-guessed herself. It was probably nothing. Pressing her lips together, she said softly, “Raymond, I’ll head home first.”

“Alrighty.” Raymond waved her off quickly. “Drive safe.”

Only after Sydney’s white Porsche roared out of sight did he press a hand to his chest in relief.

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