Regrets Come Too Late (Sierra and Johnny) novel Chapter 574

When the dinner was almost over, Marcus swept his gaze around the table. He then lowered his voice and whispered in Sierra’s ear, “Miss, something’s off.”

Sierra kept chatting with the clients, a faint smile on her lips.

Marcus knew she had heard him, so he added quietly, “Not one sip of alcohol the whole meal. That’s not normal.”

Sierra waited until she finished the small talk before answering, careful not to make it obvious. “What’s so strange about that? Some people prefer wine, some prefer tea. Everyone has different tastes.”

“You’re still inexperienced.” Marcus sounded completely serious.

Sierra glanced at him.

Was he really that bored just because no one was drinking?

About ten minutes later, the dinner ended. The hospital representatives all stood up. One by one, they politely thanked Sierra and said their goodbyes. Sierra walked them out of the private room.

“This is fine,” one of them said. “No need to walk us down any farther.”

“Alright.” Sierra did not insist. She knew they probably did not want to be seen at a dinner like this.

“Miss.” Marcus watched them leave, his expression grave. “You’re probably not getting this project.”

Sierra looked at him. “Can’t you wish something good would happen to me for once?”

The conversation had gone very well, and their quotation was also fairly low. There was no reason the project should not end up in her hands.

“Did you not notice one very important detail?” Marcus still wore that cool expression on his face, though sometimes he also seemed a little out of it.

Sierra looked at him, puzzled.

Marcus laid out what he had seen. “They were too polite to you.”

Sierra thought back for a moment. “Were they?”

“When you toasted them with tea instead of alcohol, they all stood with you.” Marcus noticed details like

that. “Every time you spoke, they answered right away and went along with you. There was not a single awkward pause.”

Sierra looked at him. “Isn’t that just basic courtesy?”

Both sides were polished and well–mannered. What was wrong with skipping the drinking games?

“When you went to dinners with Mr. Henderson in the past, would he stand up just because everyone

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Chapter 574

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else did?” Marcus gave her the simplest example. “Those people tonight were basically in John’s position. We need the project in their hands, which means we’re the ones that were supposed to do the toasting.”

Sierra paused. She understood what was happening at once.

After dealing with Harbor City’s disgusting drinking culture for so long, she had instinctively assumed these people were gentlemen. If Marcus had not pointed it out, she still would not have realized how serious it was.

“Do they know about your relationship with John?” Marcus asked.

“They would not know unless someone told them on purpose.” Sierra had grown up in Jade City, but she had always kept a low profile. “But if someone leaked it, then yes, they would know.”

As she thought it over, she looked at Marcus. “Why do you think I’m not getting this project?”

“When they were talking to you just now, there was flattery underneath all that politeness.” Marcus was especially sharp about things like this. “And halfway through, they exchanged looks several times.”

Sierra was stunned.

He had even caught that.

Marcus went on, “They looked like they were weighing up how to avoid offending you while still not giving you the project. To be more exact, they were trying not to offend John, who might be supporting you.”

Sierra gave it a thought.

If Marcus was right, then who would have spoken to those people ahead of time?

Charlie? That did not seem likely. This was Jade City and his reach should not have extended that far, and with how cautious he was, he would not casually go against John.

Before she could sort it out, a huge crash behind her made her jump.

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