Chapter 86
Plenty of “pure schoolgirl” types had shown up to the gathering tonight, but next to Sydney, they all faded into the background.
She wore a simple dark–green dress. Nothing flashy, not among the elite daughters in attendance. Still, her figure and that face drew attention without effort.
Victor licked his lips. “With a waist and hips like that, I bet it’d feel incredible to touch.”
“Go ahead, try it.” Sydney leaned casually against the wall with a faint smile. “Then guess which hand Julian will cut off when he finds out. Left or right?”
Julian’s name alone made Victor flinch. Fear of him had been embedded since childhood.
He tried to recover some swagger. “Do you take me for an idiot? After that family dinner, it’s obvious you and Julian haven’t been in touch privately.”
He had no proof, but it made sense. Even without being close to the Sterlings, anyone in the extended family picked up on things.
Sydney’s fingers curled into her palm, but her expression stayed mild. “If I hadn’t been in touch with him, do you think I could’ve gotten into Sterling Corp.’s project?”
She meant the cancer research initiative. He’d heard the rumors, but given how many times she had tricked him before, trusting her now was a risk.
“It could be a coincidence,” Victor muttered. “They’ve got hundreds of projects. He can’t oversee them all. Someone probably slipped you in.”
“But me?” She gave a light shrug. “A complete nobody? If it weren’t for his help, how could I possibly get in?
11
That hit him hard.
Her only real achievement had been one stellar exam and gaining admission to Jouleston University. After that, she’d kept a low profile, working quietly at a clinic. By credentials alone, she shouldn’t have qualified for any major initiative of Sterling Corp., let alone a flagship project.
Victor narrowed his eyes. “You really still meet with Julian?”
“Of course.” She nodded, calm as ever. “He drove me home after the department dinner a few days ago.”
She said that without guilt because it was true, And if Victor decided to pull surveillance records, she was already prepared.
“You!” Victor ground his teeth. “Just wait. If I catch you lying to me again, I swear I’ll ruin you!”
He stormed off, furious. The moment he thought he had the upper hand, Julian threw everything off again.
Back in the hall, a young woman approached him, holding two glasses. She was attractive, but half her appeal came from trying too hard to appear refined. It felt forced. She wasn’t his type.
Victor frowned. “What do you want?”
“I do need something.” Penelope smiled and offered hin a glass. “Victor, right? Maybe we can work
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together.”
He eyed her, and his eyes betrayed a flicker of contempt. ‘You’re the sister–in–law who has an affair with Caleb, aren’t you?”
That made her Sydney’s sister–in–law as well. His interest stirred. “What kind of cooperation are we talking about?”
Penelope glanced toward the courtyard, then looked up at him with a clear, bright smile. “A mutually beneficial one.”
