32 Chapter 34
Chapter 34 Unexpected Affection and a Roadside Apology
I stared at Mrs. Sterling, completely overwhelmed by her kindness. My chest tightened with emotion as I struggled to process what she’d just revealed. Damien had noticed my preference for Chef Lin’s cooking and mentioned it to his mother. Such a small detail, yet it spoke volumes..
“Mrs. Sterling, this is too much. I’m just a designer you hired,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
She reached across the table and placed her warm hand over mine. “Hazel, dear, you are much more than that to this family.”
Her words sent a flutter through my chest. What did she mean? I hardly knew them, yet they treated me with such consideration.
“I’m not sure I understand,” I admitted.
Mrs. Sterling’s eyes crinkled at the corners as she smiled. “Sometimes the universe has plans for us that we don’t immediately recognize. I believe your presence in our lives is no accident.”
Before I could ask her to elaborate, a maid appeared at the doorway. “Mrs. Sterling, lunch is ready to be served.”
“Wonderful!” She stood gracefully. “Come, Hazel. Let’s not keep Chef Lin waiting.
We moved to an intimate dining room with windows overlooking the lush gardens. The table was set with exquisite china and crystal that probably cost more than my car.
“Will Damien be joining us?” I asked, trying to sound casual despite the sudden acceleration of my heartbeat.
“He’s caught in meetings, but he promised to try.” She gestured for me to sit. “That boy works too hard. The Sterling legacy is a heavy burden.”
As servers brought in dish after dish of Chef Lin’s signature creations, I couldn’t help but marvel at the situation. Just weeks ago, my world had fallen apart. Now I was dining with one of the most influential women in the country, who treated me like I
22.64
1/5
32 Chapter 34
belonged here.
“This is incredible,” I said, savoring a bite of sea bass with ginger and scallions. “Chef Lin has outdone himself
Mrs. Sterling nodded approvingly. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it. You know, when my husband was alive, he always said that sharing a meal creates bonds stronger than business could ever forge.”
She studied me for a moment. “Hazel, I hope you’ll consider me someone you can turn to. An elder, if you will.”
I nearly choked on my tea. “Mrs. Sterling, that’s very generous, but-”
“Please,” she interrupted gently. “I’ve watched how you’ve handled yourself through recent difficulties. Your dignity and resilience remind me very much of myself at
age.”
your
I didn’t know how to respond. The Sterling family’s interest in me was puzzling yet oddly comforting. It filled a void I hadn’t realized was there–the absence of maternal warmth I’d been missing since my mother’s death.
“Thank you, I managed, my eyes suddenly moist. “That means more than you know.”
Mrs. Sterling merely nodded, as if she understood everything I wasn’t saying.
As lunch progressed, I kept glancing at the doorway, hoping to see Damien appear. Each time a staff member entered, my heart jumped, only to sink when it wasn’t him.
By the time dessert was served–a delicate lychee sorbet–I had accepted that he wouldn’t make it. The disappointment I felt surprised me with its intensity.
Mrs. Sterling noticed my deflated expression. “Don’t take it personally, dear. The Sterling Industries‘ board meeting today was particularly important.”
“Of course,” I said quickly. “I understand completely”
After we finished our meal, Mrs. Sterling insisted on showing me the family’s collection of antique Chinese ceramics. Despite my disappointment about Damien’s absence, I found myself genuinely enjoying her company. She was knowledgeable and warm, sharing stories behind each piece that made history come alive.
“This vase dates back to the Ming Dynasty,” she explained, gesturing to a blue and
22.64)
2/6
32 Chapter 34
white porcelain piece. “It survived e Cultural Revolution hidden in a farmer’s pigsty.”
I laughed. “That’s quite the journey from palace to pigsty and back to palace,”
“Indeed. Her eves twinkled. “Sometimes the things most precious to us must weather difficult circumstances before their true value is recognized again.”
The way she looked at me made me wonder if she was still talking about the vase.
Eventually, I knew I needed to leave. I had a meeting with fabric suppliers later that afternoon.
“Mrs. Sterling, thank you for everything. This has been lovely,” I said sincerely.
“The pleasure was mine.” She walked me to the grand foyer. “And Hazel? I do hope you’ll visit again soon. Not just for business.”
As her driver brought my car around, I couldn’t help feeling a strange mixture of warmth and confusion. The Sterlings treated me with an inexplicable familiarity that both comforted and unsettled me.
Driving down the winding road from Sterling Heights Estate, I replayed the lunch in my mind. Mrs. Sterling’s cryptic comments about destiny, her offer to be a maternal figure, and most perplexing of all, Damien’s apparent attention to details about me.
Lost in thought, I almost didn’t notice the sleek black Bentley coming up the road in the opposite direction. It wasn’t until the car slowed and pulled across my path, effectively blocking the narrow road, that I snapped back to attention.
I hit the brakes, my heart rate spiking. Who would-
The driver’s door opened, and Damien Sterling emerged. My breath caught in my throat. Even in a simple white shirt with the sleeves rolled up and dark trousers, he looked devastating. His normally perfect hair was slightly disheveled, as if he’d been running his fingers through it in frustration.
He walked toward my car with purpose. I quickly rolled down.
my window.
“Mr. Sterling,” I said, unable to keep the surprise from my voice.
“Hazel,” he replied, using my first name with a familiarity that sent a shiver down my spine. “I’m sorry I missed lunch.”
32 Chapter 38
The fact that he’d stopped me one road just to apologize left me speechless. I stared up at him, taking in his earnest expression and the intensity in his eyes.
“An urgent matter came up that couldn’t wait, he explained, his deep voice tinged with genuine regret. “I wanted to be there.
It’s perfectly fine,” I managed. “Your mother was an excellent host.”
He smiled slightly. “She likes you. That’s rare.”
“I like her too. I admitted.
Damien leaned closer to my window, his cologne–subtle notes of sandalwood and something uniquely his–making it difficult to concentrate. “I hear Chef Lin prepared his sea bass for you. Was it as good as you remembered?”
My heart skipped. He really had been paying attention to my preferences. But why? Why would someone like Damien Sterling care about my favorite dishes?
“It was better,” I said softly. “Your mother went to so much trouble. I don’t understand why everyone is being so kind to me.”
His expression softened, and for a moment, I glimpsed something vulnerable beneath his controlled exterior.
“Perhaps because you deserve kindness, Hazel,” he said quietly. “More than you realize.
Comment
