Chapter 437
Olivia felt as if Tyler was a stranger tonight, distant and comfortable in a world she barely understood. It wasn’t surprising—this was his domain, a setting where he moved with ease and confidence.
This was how men made their fortunes, Olivia realized. She was just too young and inexperienced to grasp the intricacies of such occasions. If Naomi had been here, she would have handled it with ease, probably joking and chatting effortlessly with Tyler.
After dinner, the atmosphere shifted. Tyler grew more distant, sipping his wine and showing signs of slight tipsiness, while the other men drank more freely, their behavior becoming increasingly rowdy. They started by casually sipping from the women’s glasses and soon escalated to kissing them.
Tyler held his wine glass, watching quietly, caught somewhere between sober and drunk.
One of the men suddenly declared, “We’ll definitely secure that coastal plot you want. No matter how tough the owners are, we’ll handle it smoothly.”
Tyler had his eyes on a piece of land by the coast, aiming to transform it into a port for the Harris Group’s entry into the trading market. But the land was mostly owned by wealthy families who used it for burials, making negotiations delicate. That’s why Tyler had gathered a few insiders who knew the area well and ran local businesses.
Chuckling softly, Tyler replied, “I hope so. Better to avoid clashes. Thanks for your help.”
They all raised their glasses in a toast.
Tyler joined in, quietly saying, “Thank you.”
When it was Olivia’s turn to be toasted, she instinctively reached for her glass—but Tyler quickly interjected, “She’s pregnant, so she can’t drink.”
Everyone nodded, shifting their attention back to Tyler and clinking glasses with him instead.
Olivia sat quietly, barely touching her food, silently counting the moments until she could leave.
Noticing her lack of appetite, Tyler asked, “Not hungry?”
Wanting to avoid upsetting Ana by leaving early, Olivia forced a polite smile. “I’m not hungry.”
Tyler suggested, his tone lacking warmth, “You should try to eat something.”
She remained silent but soon the servers brought out dishes safe and appealing for pregnant women—Olivia’s favorites.
Reluctantly, she began eating but soon set her utensils down again.
The dinner wrapped up around eight.
Tyler and the men planned to play golf afterward. He told Olivia she could go home if she was tired.
“I’m not tired, Tyler,” she replied firmly.
She felt compelled to stay through the evening, not wanting to provoke Ana, who had been in a foul mood lately.