It\u00a0was\u00a0as\u00a0if\u00a0the\u00a0private\u00a0room\u00a0emptied\u00a0in\u00a0an\u00a0instant.\u00a0The\u00a0silence\u00a0that\u00a0followed\u00a0was\u00a0sharp\u00a0enough\u00a0to\u00a0hear\u00a0a\u00a0pin\u00a0drop.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0rarely\u00a0felt\u00a0awkward,\u00a0but\u00a0this\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0professional\u00a0setting,\u00a0and\u00a0Julian\u00a0was\u00a0her\u00a0most\u00a0important\u00a0client.\u00a0She\u00a0reminded\u00a0herself\u00a0to\u00a0keep\u00a0things\u00a0strictly\u00a0business.<\/p>\n
A\u00a0moment\u00a0later,\u00a0she\u00a0composed\u00a0herself\u00a0and\u00a0said,\u00a0\u201cMr.\u00a0Sterling,\u00a0you\u00a0must\u00a0be\u00a0joking.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0stepped\u00a0inside\u00a0and\u00a0quietly\u00a0shut\u00a0the\u00a0door\u00a0behind\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
After\u00a0only\u00a0a\u00a0few\u00a0steps,\u00a0she\u00a0noticed\u00a0something\u00a0odd.\u00a0The\u00a0only\u00a0empty\u00a0chair\u00a0was\u00a0at\u00a0Julian\u2019s\u00a0left.\u00a0The\u00a0servers\u00a0had\u00a0cleared\u00a0out\u00a0every\u00a0other\u00a0seat.<\/p>\n
In\u00a0the\u00a0tight\u00a0space,\u00a0she\u00a0glanced\u00a0up\u00a0and\u00a0found\u00a0Julian\u00a0leaning\u00a0back,\u00a0watching\u00a0her.\u00a0His\u00a0long\u00a0fingers\u00a0tapped\u00a0the\u00a0table\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0steady\u00a0rhythm,\u00a0his\u00a0gaze\u00a0cool.\u00a0\u201cStill\u00a0afraid\u00a0of\u00a0me,\u00a0I\u00a0see.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0resisted\u00a0the\u00a0urge\u00a0to\u00a0turn\u00a0and\u00a0walk\u00a0out.\u00a0Gathering\u00a0herself,\u00a0she\u00a0stepped\u00a0closer\u00a0to\u00a0his\u00a0side.\u00a0\u201cMr.\u00a0Sterling,\u00a0I\u00a0guess\u00a0your\u00a0reputation\u00a0at\u00a0Sterling\u00a0Corp.\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0exactly\u00a0stellar,\u00a0or\u00a0people\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0react\u00a0like\u00a0that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re\u00a0quite\u00a0perceptive.\u201d\u00a0He\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0seem\u00a0offended.\u00a0\u201cAs\u00a0around.\u00a0Who\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0afraid\u00a0of\u00a0me?\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u00a0shot\u00a0her\u00a0a\u00a0sidelong\u00a0glance\u00a0and\u00a0gave\u00a0the\u00a0faintest\u00a0hint\u00a0of\u00a0a\u00a0smile.\u00a0\u201cYou\u2019re\u00a0the\u00a0only\u00a0one\u00a0who\u00a0isn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
No\u00a0one\u00a0else\u00a0spoke.<\/p>\n
They\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0tell\u00a0whether\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0praising\u00a0her\u00a0or\u00a0dismissing\u00a0the\u00a0rest\u00a0of\u00a0them.\u00a0Either\u00a0way,\u00a0when\u00a0the\u00a0boss\u00a0singled\u00a0someone\u00a0out,\u00a0it\u00a0made\u00a0everyone\u00a0nervous.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0dinner\u00a0carried\u00a0on\u00a0under\u00a0heavy\u00a0pressure.\u00a0Everyone\u00a0stayed\u00a0sharp.\u00a0They\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0know\u00a0the\u00a0exact\u00a0nature\u00a0of\u00a0Julian\u00a0and\u00a0Sydney\u2019s\u00a0relationship,\u00a0but\u00a0one\u00a0thing\u00a0was\u00a0clear:\u00a0there was\u00a0something\u00a0between\u00a0them.<\/p>\n
Just\u00a0then,\u00a0the\u00a0door\u00a0opened,\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0servers returned\u00a0with\u00a0dishes.<\/p>\n
Henry\u00a0Linus,\u00a0the\u00a0project\u00a0manager,\u00a0raised\u00a0his\u00a0glass\u00a0and\u00a0turned\u00a0to\u00a0Sydney\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0warm\u00a0smile.\u00a0\u201cTo\u00a0Team\u00a0Lead\u00a0Wilson.\u00a0The\u00a0Medicine\u00a0team\u00a0owes\u00a0you\u00a0a\u00a0great\u00a0deal\u00a0on\u00a0this\u00a0project.\u00a0May\u00a0I\u00a0propose\u00a0a\u00a0toast?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0just\u00a0my\u00a0job,\u201d\u00a0Sydney\u00a0replied,\u00a0lightly\u00a0tapping\u00a0her\u00a0glass.\u00a0\u201cHere\u2019s\u00a0to\u00a0smooth\u00a0cooperation.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0finished\u00a0her\u00a0red\u00a0wine\u00a0without\u00a0ceremony.\u00a0But\u00a0her\u00a0tolerance\u00a0was\u00a0low.\u00a0Within\u00a0a\u00a0few\u00a0sips,\u00a0color\u00a0bloomed\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0cheeks.\u00a0Still,\u00a0she\u00a0handled\u00a0it\u00a0well,\u00a0resting\u00a0back\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0hair\u00a0with\u00a0her\u00a0chin\u00a0propped in\u00a0her\u00a0hands.<\/p>\n
At\u00a0first,\u00a0she\u00a0felt\u00a0in\u00a0control.\u00a0But\u00a0as\u00a0the\u00a0night\u00a0wore\u00a0on,\u00a0the\u00a0oom\u00a0blurred,\u00a0and\u00a0her\u00a0head\u00a0grew\u00a0heavy.<\/p>\n
Henry\u00a0looked\u00a0surprised.\u00a0\u201cMs\u00a0Wilson\u2019s\u00a0alcohol\u00a0tolerance.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0drink\u00a0often,\u201d\u00a0Marcus\u00a0said,\u00a0picking\u00a0up\u00a0a\u00a0ne\u00a0by\u00a0bottle.\u00a0\u201cGuess\u00a0this\u00a0one\u00a0hit\u00a0her\u00a0harder\u00a0than\u00a0expected.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then,\u00a0at\u00a0just\u00a0the\u00a0right\u00a0moment,\u00a0Marcus\u00a0spoke\u00a0up\u00a0again\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0getting\u00a0late.\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0take\u00a0her\u00a0home.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0barely\u00a0registered\u00a0his\u00a0voice.\u00a0She\u00a0felt\u00a0someone\u00a0guiding\u00a0her\u00a0toward\u00a0the\u00a0door.\u00a0She\u00a0had\u00a0come\u00a0with\u00a0Marcus\u00a0tonight\u00a0and\u00a0felt\u00a0safe\u00a0drinking\u00a0with\u00a0familiar\u00a0faces\u00a0around.\u00a0In\u00a0a\u00a0setting\u00a0where\u00a0there\u00a0were\u00a0more\u00a0men\u00a0than\u00a0women,\u00a0alcohol\u00a0always\u00a0seemed\u00a0to find\u00a0its\u00a0way\u00a0in.<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a075<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
She\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0mind\u00a0giving\u00a0Henry\u00a0some\u00a0respect.\u00a0It\u00a0would\u00a0help\u00a0keep\u00a0things\u00a0smooth\u00a0for\u00a0future\u00a0collaboration.\u00a0She\u00a0just\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0expected\u00a0the\u00a0wine\u00a0to\u00a0hit\u00a0her\u00a0this\u00a0hard.<\/p>\n
As\u00a0Marcus\u00a0helped\u00a0her\u00a0out,\u00a0a\u00a0sleek\u00a0black\u00a0Bentley\u00a0pulled\u00a0up\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0entrance.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0window\u00a0rolled\u00a0down.\u00a0Julian\u00a0sat\u00a0behind\u00a0the\u00a0wheel,\u00a0watching\u00a0Marcus\u2018\u00a0hand\u00a0on\u00a0Sydney\u2019s\u00a0shoulder.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr.\u00a0Shepard,\u00a0you might\u00a0need\u00a0to\u00a0go\u00a0back\u00a0inside.\u00a0Henry\u00a0has\u00a0a\u00a0few\u00a0professional\u00a0questions\u00a0for\u00a0you.\u201d\u00a0The\u00a0tone\u00a0was\u00a0subtle,\u00a0but deliberate.<\/p>\n
Marcus\u00a0hesitated.\u00a0He\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0heard\u00a0Henry\u00a0say\u00a0anything\u00a0earlier.\u00a0He\u00a0frowned.\u00a0\u201cBut\u00a0Sydney\u2019s\u00a0pretty\u00a0drunk.\u00a0Should\u00a0I\u00a0take\u00a0her\u00a0home\u00a0first\u00a0and\u00a0come\u00a0back?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo\u00a0need.\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0fine,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0muttered.<\/p>\n
Julian\u00a0opened\u00a0the\u00a0car\u00a0door,\u00a0reached\u00a0over,\u00a0and\u00a0pulled\u00a0Sydney\u00a0toward\u00a0him\u00a0by\u00a0the\u00a0waist.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0heading\u00a0out\u00a0anyway.\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0take\u00a0her.\u201d\u00a0His\u00a0tone\u00a0was\u00a0calm,\u00a0as\u00a0if\u00a0he\u00a0were\u00a0doing\u00a0a\u00a0favor.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo\u00a0need\u00a0to\u00a0trouble\u00a0yourself.\u00a0Ms.\u00a0Wilson\u2019s\u00a0had\u00a0too much.\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0take\u00a0her\u00a0myself,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0said\u00a0lightly,\u00a0like\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0nothing.<\/p>\n
Lucia Morh is a passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she\u2019s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.<\/p>\n
When The Ocean Learned My Name and Whispered It Back to You by Aurelia Novel 75 It\u00a0was\u00a0as\u00a0if\u00a0the\u00a0private\u00a0room\u00a0emptied\u00a0in\u00a0an\u00a0instant.\u00a0The\u00a0silence\u00a0that\u00a0followed\u00a0was\u00a0sharp\u00a0enough\u00a0to\u00a0hear\u00a0a\u00a0pin\u00a0drop. Sydney\u00a0rarely\u00a0felt\u00a0awkward,\u00a0but\u00a0this\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0professional\u00a0setting,\u00a0and\u00a0Julian\u00a0was\u00a0her\u00a0most\u00a0important\u00a0client.\u00a0She\u00a0reminded\u00a0herself\u00a0to\u00a0keep\u00a0things\u00a0strictly\u00a0business. A\u00a0moment\u00a0later,\u00a0she\u00a0composed\u00a0herself\u00a0and\u00a0said,\u00a0\u201cMr.\u00a0Sterling,\u00a0you\u00a0must\u00a0be\u00a0joking. She\u00a0stepped\u00a0inside\u00a0and\u00a0quietly\u00a0shut\u00a0the\u00a0door\u00a0behind\u00a0her. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22058","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-when-love-is-gone-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22058","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22058"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22058\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22058"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22058"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22058"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}