Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 74

The more Sydney tried to defend herself, the guiltier she would appear in other people’s eyes. She had already reviewed the résumés of the two men on her way here and felt certain she could silence them with

results.

She didn’t rush into conversation but walked over to the herb cabinet and began inspecting the contents

one by one.

Marcus asked, “Do we really need that many types of herbs?”

“No,” Sydney replied. “At the clinic, our herbs were vetted by our mentor from the beginning. The suppliers have followed that standard ever since, so we don’t need to double–check the quality. But for Sterling Corp., we have to check everything ourselves.”

Color, texture, age–even whether something was wild–harvested or cultivated–could affect a formula’s efficacy. In that sense, her specialized herbal medicine was far more difficult to develop than conventional drugs.

Marcus looked sheepish. “It’s been years, and I still haven’t made that a habit.”

“Well, that’s normal. You’re the boss,” Sydney said lightly. “There’s always someone else handling the details for you.”

Marcus laughed as he looked at her. “Then I’m counting on you to keep an eye on the clinic for me.”

“Don’t worry.” As she spoke, she picked up an herb and brought it to her nose for a careful sniff.

The two men sitting in the corner watched with undisguised contempt. Seeing her doing what they considered grunt work only fueled their disdain. Bored, they slouched in their chairs and started playing games on their phones.

Sydney ignored them. Her attention stayed locked on her work. Once she finished inspecting the herbs, she and Marcus sat down to discuss the development plan.

When she shifted into work mode, her eyes sparked with intensity. For a moment, Marcus found himself so struck by her brilliance that he could barely follow her train of thought.

Dusk had already settled by the time someone knocked on the lab door, pulling her out of her zone.

Charlotte Lindstrom stood at the entrance, poised and elegant in a silk blouse and fitted skirt, her smile polished and warm. “To celebrate the official kickoff of the project team, Mr. Sterling has booked a private

room at Moonshine Pavilion for dinner.”

The project manager blinked in surprise, then quickly responded. “Of course, Charlotte, please thank Mr. Sterling for us.”

Charlotte smiled, “He’ll be attending in person. You can thank him yourself.”

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