Chapter_17
Olivia remained silent, unwilling to reveal the true reasons she needed money. Tyler didn’t press her, though his gaze lingered on her. The air between them was thick with unspoken words. She kept her head lowered, avoiding his eyes, while he stood stoically, his presence imposing yet distant. The dim lighting in the hallway lent a quiet, almost romantic air to the moment, amplifying the silence between them.
After a long pause, Tyler broke the stillness with a flat, unemotional command. “Wait for me in the car park after work.”
Olivia didn’t reply, the weight of his words hanging in the air. Tyler turned, his attention already shifting towards the private room, his shadow retreating as he walked away from her.
Only then did Olivia move, a reluctant decision to follow his directive.
Both of them finished their work by 6 P.M. Tyler left the building and descended into the basement car park. He caught sight of Olivia standing near the elevator but offered only a brief glance before continuing on his way. With a coat in hand, he moved toward his car, his stride purposeful and unhurried.
Olivia, trailing behind him, had no choice but to follow silently. She felt her heart race, though she couldn’t quite place why. The moments stretched on, heavy with expectation and unspoken tension.
Tyler unlocked the car and got inside, his posture relaxed. Olivia paused at the door, hesitating for a long moment, as if weighing the decision to get in. Tyler sat still, his gaze fixed ahead, waiting for her to make the first move.
The awkward silence between them persisted for what felt like an eternity before Olivia finally opened the door and slid into the passenger seat. The car, once she was inside, became a world unto itself—a space where nothing was said, but everything was felt.
The quiet lingered until Tyler broke it, his voice cutting through the tension with a directness that caught her off guard. “How much do you need?”
Olivia hadn’t anticipated him to bring up the topic so abruptly. Instinctively, she lifted her gaze to meet his, surprised by the intensity of his eyes.
He repeated the question, his tone flat but pointed. “Don’t you need money? How much do you need?”
Her discomfort was palpable, her reluctance to answer almost painful. She fidgeted with the hem of her skirt, feeling a tightness in her chest. Tyler spoke again, his words deliberate, though there was a hint of something softer beneath his cold exterior. “You’re Naomi’s sister, so you’re my sister too. If you need money, just let me know. How much?”
With that, he started the car, and they pulled away from the car park. The world outside blurred, the only sound the soft hum of the engine as they drove in silence. Olivia didn’t ask where they were going, and Tyler didn’t offer any explanations. Both of them seemed to retreat into their own thoughts, the air thick with unspoken words.
After some time, the car came to a stop. Tyler, without a word, lit a cigarette. He didn’t ask her to get out of the car, and for a moment, neither of them moved. The tension in the small space became almost unbearable.
Finally, Olivia, struggling to break the silence, spoke with difficulty, her voice a little unsteady. “My family has always taken care of me. I just want to earn money to be independent.” Her words were short, but they revealed the truth—she wanted freedom, a life outside of the shadows of Naomi and the Jones family. She wanted a space she could call her own.
Tyler’s expression softened slightly as he exhaled a cloud of smoke, his gaze drifting downward to the rising smoke curling between his fingers. “You want to be independent,” he mused, his voice thoughtful. “Even so, you should focus on your studies. A place like that”—he nodded toward the hotel, where she had been working—“is no place for someone like you.”
Olivia remained silent for a long moment, letting his words hang in the air. She had heard that from others before, but it didn’t change her reality. Finally, she spoke, her voice quieter but firmer. “I can… make more money there.”
Tyler didn’t respond immediately. He finished his cigarette, flicking the butt out of the window. His hand reached for her face, tilting her chin upward. Olivia, startled, met his gaze. Her breath caught in her throat, and for a moment, she didn’t know what to say.
Tyler’s expression was intense, his voice low as he spoke. “Quit your job, and I’ll give you the money you need.”
Her lips parted as if to speak, but she couldn’t find the words. Instead, she lowered her gaze, her lashes fluttering, her hands trembling slightly.
For a long time, neither of them moved. Tyler’s gaze lingered on her, and after what felt like an eternity, he withdrew his hand. Olivia, still lost in the silence, lowered her own hand at the same time. As she did, their fingers brushed—just a light touch—but it sent a ripple of awareness through her.
She pulled her hand away quickly, but Tyler, without hesitation, reached for her again. His fingers wrapped around hers, firm and warm. Her heart raced, and she could feel her pulse thumping in her throat as they sat there in silence, their hands entwined.
Time seemed to slow as he slowly intertwined his fingers with hers. The dim lighting inside the car cast shadows on their faces, creating an almost intimate atmosphere. Olivia’s breath hitched, the weight of the moment settling on her chest.
Then, in a hushed tone, Tyler broke the silence. “Let’s go to a hotel.”
The suggestion made Olivia’s stomach twist. The memories of their earlier encounter in the car flooded her mind, and she hesitated, the uncertainty making her pulse quicken.
“Have you been avoiding me?” Tyler’s voice was soft, yet there was an unmistakable seductiveness to it, a quality that sent a shiver down her spine.
She had been avoiding him, but it wasn’t just him. It was everything about the situation, the attraction she couldn’t deny. But he hadn’t reached out either—not in the way she had hoped.
His voice was low, almost playful, as he repeated, “Hmm?” The way he said it—like a question, but also an invitation—made her heart skip a beat.
Another long silence passed between them. And then, without missing a beat, he asked, “Did you use the ointment?”
Olivia’s face flushed, a deep red spreading across her cheeks. The question seemed so out of place, and yet, it was exactly the sort of thing he would ask. She tilted her head, avoiding his gaze. “About Jacob, thank you,” she murmured, the words slipping out without thinking.
Tyler didn’t respond immediately. Instead, the car remained quiet, the air thick with the tension of everything they hadn’t said. After a moment, he opened the door and gestured for her to get out.
Without another word, they made their way to the hotel, Tyler leading the way, Olivia following closely behind. The elevator doors slid open, and before she could even process what was happening, he reached for her waist and pulled her inside.
Her body seemed to move on its own, responding to his touch, to his presence. She couldn’t remember how they had gotten to the hotel room, but the moment they stepped inside, Tyler’s hands were on her, pulling her close, and all sense of control slipped away.