Chapter_121
“Is there something you’re craving?” Tyler’s voice was calm, but Olivia wasn’t sure how to answer. This was her first time attending a business dinner with him, and the unfamiliarity made her uneasy.
She hesitated before speaking, “Can we order more food?”
Tyler turned to her, his gaze soft. “We can get whatever you want.”
Olivia thought for a moment, her mind struggling to focus. “I don’t really have any cravings,” she finally muttered.
Tyler didn’t press her further. “Okay, we’ll just pick something when we get there.”
The car pulled up to a sleek, upscale restaurant near the university. Olivia followed Tyler into the elevator, her nerves rising. His secretary accompanied them, and Olivia stood silently beside him, her attention fixed on the elevator doors.
But when Olivia caught Tyler’s gaze in the reflection, staring at her with an unreadable expression, she quickly averted her eyes. He seemed unaffected by her discomfort.
The doors opened, and Tyler stepped out first. After a brief reminder from his secretary, Olivia followed him into the restaurant.
Olivia had assumed this was just a simple dinner, a chance to unwind before returning to her work. But when she entered the private dining room and saw the familiar faces of the lecturers and the dean, her stomach tightened.
Tyler, noticing her sudden stillness, paused in his stride and glanced back. Olivia quickly masked her surprise, settling into her seat next to him.
For Tyler, this was just another business dinner, nothing out of the ordinary. He’d chosen the location near Olivia’s university for convenience. Seeing her nervousness, he leaned in slightly and whispered, “It’s just a casual dinner. You can head back to the lab afterward. Don’t worry about it.”
Olivia wasn’t sure how to behave in this crowd. She was just a student, but everyone else knew exactly who she was. The rumors from earlier had spread, and her connection to Tyler was no secret now.
The dean raised his glass in her direction with a smile. “Ms. Olivia, a toast to you. But don’t feel pressured to drink.”
Olivia froze, caught off guard by the unexpected attention. She sat stiffly, trying to hide her unease. Tyler, sensing her discomfort, immediately intervened. “It’s just dinner, don’t worry about her,” he said, his tone firm but gentle.
The dean nodded, a wide grin spreading across his face. “Of course! Anyone you bring must be important.” His politeness didn’t ease Olivia’s nerves.
Tyler responded smoothly, “She’s just a student here, so she should be the one toasting you. But she can’t drink, so please excuse her.”
The dean quickly reassured everyone, “No problem, we wouldn’t make her drink.”
Tyler smiled and settled back into his chair, but the moment had already left Olivia feeling out of place. The restaurant manager, clearly following Tyler’s instructions, handed Olivia the menu. He said, “Order anything you want.”
For a moment, Olivia couldn’t even bring herself to look at the menu. How had she ended up in this situation? She never imagined she’d be dining with the dean, let alone receiving a toast in her honor, especially since she couldn’t even drink.
Finally, she took the menu, her fingers slightly trembling. Tyler shifted his attention back to the conversation around the table, his demeanor businesslike as ever.
But one of the lecturers, seemingly unaware of Olivia’s discomfort, remarked casually, “Ms. Olivia is one of the top students in our school. Not surprising since she’s Naomi’s sister.”
Tyler said nothing in response, but Olivia felt a wave of discomfort wash over her at the mention of Naomi.
Another lecturer chimed in, “Naomi was always at the top of her class when she was here, a perfect match for you, Tyler. She’s also an incredible pianist. Always performs at our annual fundraiser.”
Olivia’s heart skipped a beat. Naomi’s achievements were always held up as a standard she couldn’t meet. The comparison stung, and she could feel all eyes on her, waiting for her to say something.