Sydney 63

Sydney hadn’t expected Caleb to pick her up after work. Still, watching the scene unfold, she couldn’t help feeling a touch of irony. 

Caleb gently moved Penelope aside, about to speak, when a few sharp–eyed coworkers called out with a laugh, “Hey, Penny, this must be your boyfriend, right? 

Earlier that day, Penelope had spent hours subtly bragging about her tall, handsome, gentle, and wealthy boyfriend. That expensive car from the morning? It was clearly a gift from him. And now here he was–real, refined, and effortlessly elegant. 

She nervously tucked her hair behind her ear and glanced at Caleb. “Cal, these are my coworkers.” 

Caleb frowned faintly. When he looked again, Sydney had already turned away. 

He didn’t respond, so everyone assumed he was simply reserved. For a rich, powerful man, ignoring small talk felt perfectly in character. 

Once Penelope and Caleb got into the car, her coworkers erupted in envy. 

“Oh my god, how lucky can you get? Rich, handsome, and picks her up from work?” 

“Help me! I’d trade 10 years of my life for a boyfriend like that.” 

“I’d trade 12!” 

“Girl, you’re insane.” 

But then again, life was about quality, not quantity. Even a single day of living that ultra–rich dream— driving a limited–edition sports car to work–would be unforgettable. 

… 

Just as Sydney started her car, the passenger door swung open. 

Marcus raised an eyebrow. “Let’s grab some food?” 

She drew a quiet breath. ‘Right. We still had to talk about Sterling Corp.’s project.‘ 

She gave him a small smile. “What kind of food?” 

He sent a location to her phone. “New place nearby. Head it’s good.” 

“Sure.” Sydney set the GPS and drove off. 

Behind them, the black Maybach remained parked. The linic’s lot required circling to exit, and from that vantage point, Caleb watched Marcus get into her car with practiced ease. Through the windshield, he saw Marcus‘ bright and warm smile. 

‘So she doesn’t smile only for me…‘ he thought. 

Penelope caught the flash of displeasure in Caleb’s eyes and seized the moment. “That’s Marcus, the future successor of Shepard Pharmaceuticals. He owns the clinic. He and Sydney are close. They spend time together outside work.” 

Chapter 63 

+15 BONUS 

A tightness formed in Caleb’s chest, irritation rising without warning. “He’s just her senior. There’s nothing wrong with being friendly.” 

“Oh please. I heard he was in her office alone during lunch for ages.” Penelope lowered her voice. “She’s young and fickle. It’s normal for girls like her to be indecisive 

“Enough.” Caleb’s voice turned icy. “I know her character better than you do.” 

Sydney had always been direct. She’d once wanted to marry him with her whole heart. She would never waver, and certainly not walk away so easily. 

Marcus had good taste. Every restaurant he recommended tended to impress, and this one was no exception. It was elegant and quiet. He’d ordered in advance, choosing dishes she liked. 

Because the visit was last–minute, no private rooms were available, so a server led them to a cozy booth. 

Sydney sampled the food, then shifted to business. “Marc, when will we be brought into the project?” 

“Soon.” He handed her a plate of barbecue ribs. “No specific date yet, but with projects like this, we don’t control the timing. We just need to be ready when they call.”