Chapter_18
In the hotel room, Tyler gently cupped Olivia’s face, his thumb brushing across her soft skin. Their eyes locked, an intensity between them that neither could ignore. Then, slowly, Tyler leaned in, closing the distance between them. His lips brushed hers, the kiss soft at first, but as their connection deepened, it became more urgent, charged with an intimacy neither of them could deny.
The kiss lingered, their breaths mingling, their hearts beating in synchrony, before they finally pulled away. The silence that followed seemed to hold an unspoken promise, a shared moment of vulnerability between them.
That night, Olivia didn’t return home. Mrs. Jones woke twice, at 1 A.M. and again at 4 A.M., but Olivia was nowhere to be found. She tossed restlessly in her bed, unaware of her absence, while Olivia lay somewhere else, lost in a moment she couldn’t quite explain.
Tyler’s car didn’t leave the hotel until the next morning. He drove Olivia straight to school. As they pulled up to the entrance, Olivia hesitated, unsure of how to navigate this strange new territory. When she reached for the door handle, Tyler’s hand shot out, taking hers with a quiet insistence.
Olivia froze, her heart leaping in her chest. She turned to look at him, unsure of what to make of the touch.
“Text me?” he asked simply, his gaze steady but unreadable.
She wasn’t entirely sure what he meant, but after a moment, he clarified. “I’ll buy you some clothes.”
Olivia glanced down at the outfit she was still wearing from the night before—worn, wrinkled, and definitely inappropriate for the day ahead. She pursed her lips, the discomfort of the situation pressing down on her. She nodded after a brief hesitation, still unsure what to make of his offer.
With that, Tyler released her hand, and she stepped out of the car, hurrying towards the school entrance, trying to ignore the knot forming in her stomach.
Tyler, for his part, looked unusually disheveled. His shirt and slacks from the previous day were visibly wrinkled, a rare sight for someone who usually exuded pristine perfection. Even in his disarray, he remained a figure of authority, effortlessly commanding attention.
Inside the school, Olivia’s phone buzzed with a notification. A bank transfer. She paused, her heart skipping a beat as she checked the details. A significant amount of money had been deposited from an unfamiliar account.
Her fingers tightened around the phone, a rush of conflicting emotions flooding her chest. She didn’t need that much money, not now. She had only wanted enough to be independent. But the amount in her account was more than she could have imagined.
Her first thought was that she couldn’t allow her family to find out about her part-time job at the hotel. Not after everything she had tried to hide.
Staring at the unfamiliar account number, Olivia considered the offer. In the end, she decided to accept the money for now. She shoved the phone back into her bag and made her way to class, her mind spinning.
Later that evening, Olivia received a text from Tyler: “Are you done with school?”
She didn’t reply immediately. The words sat in her inbox, unanswered, until a second message appeared: “I’ll wait for you at the school entrance.”
Olivia tucked her phone away, trying to ignore the growing sense of anxiety. Sophie approached her just then, her voice bright and casual. “You’re not working part-time tonight, Olivia. Will you have dinner with me?”
Olivia’s heart raced, panic rising in her chest. Sophie was looking at her with concern, likely unaware of Olivia’s inner turmoil. Olivia couldn’t let Sophie see her in the same clothes as the day before. She couldn’t let her see how unkempt she felt, how off-balance everything had become.
“There’s… something I have to deal with at home,” she lied, forcing a smile. “I have to go now.”
Sophie looked like she wanted to protest, but Olivia didn’t give her the chance. She quickly turned and left, walking briskly toward the school entrance.
When Olivia stepped outside, she saw Tyler’s car waiting by the curb. He had been in meetings all day, his exhaustion evident as he rubbed his temples. But when he saw Olivia, his hand fell away, and he straightened up, his expression neutral.
She climbed into the car and settled into the passenger seat. Tyler had changed into fresh clothes, looking sharp again, and drove away from the school without a word.
Olivia hesitated before speaking. “Actually… you don’t have to buy me clothes. I’ll change at home,” she said, her voice soft but firm.
But Tyler ignored her protest. He didn’t acknowledge her words, only continuing to drive. The car sped through the city, and before Olivia could protest again, they pulled up to a shopping mall. Tyler parked and turned to her with a matter-of-fact expression.
“Come on,” he said. “We’re going to a lingerie store.”
A shop assistant greeted them as they entered. Olivia felt her face flush, embarrassment creeping up her neck. She kept her eyes down, trying not to look at the racks of lingerie. The bright lights and soft music made the whole experience feel surreal.
Tyler, however, seemed entirely unfazed. He picked up a delicate white lace lingerie set and handed it to her. “What about this?” he asked, his tone casual, as though they were discussing something trivial.
Olivia’s heart pounded. She had never been comfortable with such things. Her mother had passed away when she was young, leaving her to navigate these matters on her own. She had never been taught how to buy lingerie, nor had she learned to appreciate it. She wore the same sets for years, replacing them only when absolutely necessary.
Her hands trembled as she took the delicate set from Tyler, feeling utterly self-conscious in the boutique.
Tyler seemed to sense her discomfort, but he didn’t address it. Instead, he gave her a small, reassuring nod. “I’ll wait for you outside. Go try this on.”
Olivia blushed deeply, grateful that he wasn’t pushing her further, and nodded in response. As she walked toward the fitting rooms, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Tyler’s presence was inescapable—always watching, always controlling.