Once a Doormat, Now Untouchable

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.

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.

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

realize how strange the exchange sounded, like a girlfriend questioning her boyfriend about gifts to another woman-and Julian offering an explanation. 1/2 The odd tension clung to her until they returned to Delta and she retrieved her car. Inside, Raymond lounged in the