72 Chapter 75
Chapter 75 – Sisterly Schemes and a Sterling Ride
“Are you sure you don’t want any wine, Chloe?” Victoria asked, eyeing the extensive wine list at Yuyuan restaurant. “They have some excellent selections here.
I glanced up from my menu to see Chloe’s expression shift from interest to hesitation. “I’d love to, but… Chloe sighed dramatically, setting down her menu. “My brother would probably give me that disapproving look he’s perfected over the years. You know, the one that makes you feel like you’ve disappointed the entire universe?” Victoria rolled her eyes. “You’re a grown woman. Why do you need your brother’s permission to have a glass of wine with dinner?“-
“I don’t!” Chloe protested. “It’s just… Damien can be a bit overprotective sometimes.” “Then call him,” Victoria challenged, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Right now.”
I shot Victoria a warning look. “She doesn’t have to-”
“Actually,” Chloe interrupted, her eyes suddenly bright with an idea, “why don’t you call him, Hazel?”
My fork clattered against my plate. “Me? Why would I call your brother about your drinking habits?”
“Because he actually listens to you,” Chloe said innocently–too innocently. “Come on,
- r. I bet he’ll say yes if it comes
Il please? Just ask if I can have a glass of wine with dinner. I bet he’ll say yes if it comes from you.”
Victoria smirked. “Yes, Hazel, why don’t you call Damien?”
I narrowed my eyes at both of them. They were ganging up on me, and I knew exactly what they were doing. Victoria had been pestering me about my relationship with Damien for weeks, convinced there was more going on than I was admitting.
“Fine,” I sighed, pulling out my phone. “But only to prove that he doesn’t treat me differently than anyone else.”
My heart fluttered as I found Damien’s contact. Despite my protests to Victoria, things
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had been… evolving between Damien and me. The dinner dates, the text messages, the way he looked at me sometimes that made my knees weak–all of it suggested something beyond friendship.
But I was still technically married. My divorce from Julian wasn’t finalized yet, and the social gap between Damien and me felt like a chasm sometimes. What business did I have getting involved with someone like him?
Damien answered on the second ring. “Hazel? Is everything alright?”
His deep voice through the phone sent an involuntary shiver down my spine. “Everything’s fine,” I said, trying to sound casual while Victoria and Chloe watched me with identical Cheshire cat grins. “I’m having dinner with your sister, and she’s wondering if she can have wine with her meal. She seems to think she needs your permission.”
nause
There was a then Damien chuckled. “My sister is perfectly capable of making her own decisions about alcohol consumption. Though I appreciate her pretending you call me.” care about my opinion–especially when it gives her an excuse to make
I felt my cheeks warm. “So I’m being manipulated?”
“Expertly,” he confirmed, amusement evident in his voice. “But I don’t mind. It’s nice hearing your voice, even if it’s about Chloe’s drinking habits.
to
“I’ll let her know she has your blessing,” I said, ignoring the flutter in my stomach at his
words.
“One more thing” Damien added before I could hang up. “I trust your judgment, Hazel. If you think she’s had enough, take her keys.”
“I’ll keep an eye on her,” I promised.
When I hung up, both women were staring at me expectantly.
“Well?” Chloe prodded.
“He says you’re an adult and can make your own decisions,” I reported, then added pointedly, “And he knows exactly what you’re doing.”
Chloe grinned unrepentantly. “Did he say anything else?”
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I hesitated. “He said he trusts my judgment.
Victoria nearly squealed. “He trusts your judgment? Hazel, that man is completely smitten with you!”
“He was talking about monitoring his sister’s drinking” I protested.
“No man says he ‘trusts your judgment‘ unless he’s seriously invested,” Victoria insisted. “Trust is everything to guys like Damien Sterling”
Chloe nodded vigorously. “She’s right. My brother doesn’t trust easily. He’s had too many people try to use him for his name and money?
I took a large sip of water, wishing it were something stronger. “Can we please talk about something else? Like why the three of us are having dinner on a Thursday night when two of us have work tomorrow?”
“Because,” Victoria said, “celebrating your brilliant plan to pawn your shares off on your aunt deserved a proper dinner out.”
The conversation mercifully shifted to safer topics as our food arrived. For the next hour, we ate, laughed, and enjoyed each other’s company. Chloe, true to form, had exactly two glasses of wine and then switched to water without prompting.
Just as we were finishing dessert, Chloe’s phone buzzed. She checked it and smiled. “Ah, perfect timing. Damien’s outside to give me a ride home.”
“I thought you drove here?” I asked, confused.
“I did,” Chloe shrugged, “but my see if he could pick me up.”
ar’s making a weird noise. I texted Damien earlier to
Victoria caught my eye and smirked. I had a sinking feeling this was yet another setup.
As we walked out of the restaurant, sure enough, there was Damien leaning against his sleek black Bentley, looking unfairly handsome in a charcoal suit. His expression softened immediately when he saw me.
“Ladies,” he nodded, then his eyes fixed on me. “Hazel.”
The way he said my name–like it was something precious–made my heart s
“Thanks for coming to get your sister,” I said, trying to sound casual. “I should call a
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designated driver for my car
“Why doesn’t Damien Just give you a ride home? Chloe suggested Innocently. “Your place is on the way to mine.”
“I couldn’t impose-“I started.
“It’s no imposition,” Damien cut in smoothly. “I’d be happy to drive you home.”
Victoria nudged me. “Take the ride, Hazel. Your car will be fine in the restaurant parking lot overnight.”
“Actually,” Chloe chimed in, “I can have Mr. Kendall drive your car to your place. He’s waiting in Damien’s other car.”
I stared at her. “You’ve really thought of everything, haven’t you?”
Chloe’s innocent smile didn’t fool me for a second. “I’m just being practical.”
Before I could protest further, Victoria was hugging me goodbye and heading to her own car, leaving me standing awkwardly with the Sterling siblings.
“It’s settled then,” Damien said, moving to open the rear passenger door. “After you,
Hazel
I hesitated, looking from Damien to Chloe. “I can sit in front. I don’t want to make you sit in back, Chloe.”
“Oh no,” Chloe replied with an exaggerated shake of her head. “I get carsick in the back. Besides, you two will have more to talk about. The backseat is better for conversation.”
As Chloe slipped into the front passenger seat with a wink, I realized I’d been outmaneuvered. This whole evening had been an elaborate scheme, and I’d walked right into it.
Damien waited patiently, holding the door, his expression unreadable. But there was something in his eyes–a warmth, a question–that made my heart race. I found myself moving toward him despite my better judgment.
“Your sister is not subtle,” I murmured as I passed him.
The corner of his mouth quirked up. “Subtlety has never been Chloe’s strong suit. Does it bother you?”
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I paused, one foot in the car. “That depends.”
“On what?” he asked, his voice dropping lower.
“On whether you’re in on her schemes,” I replied, meeting his gaze directly.
Damien’s smile was slow and deliberate. “Let’s just say I don’t discourage her enthusiasm.”
As I slid into the backseat, I couldn’t help feeling cornered by Chloe’s transparent
to his side of the car with confident matchmaking. But Damien move a grace, I also couldn’t deny the thrill of anticipation at the thought of being alone with him–even if it was just a ride home.
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