Chapter 454
Olivia followed Tyler as he made his way toward the office.
Linda carefully placed the basket on his desk and asked, “Shall we start unpacking now?”
“Yeah,” Tyler replied shortly.
He settled into his chair, while Linda began pulling out cookies and iced coffee from the basket. Tyler stared blankly at the food, his expression unreadable.
Olivia wasn’t sure what to make of his face. She just wanted him to finish so she could leave as soon as possible.
“What, you’re not going to eat?” Tyler grumbled coldly.
“I’m not hungry,” Olivia answered softly.
“You’ll eat with me.”
His eyes remained icy, unwavering.
Olivia chose her words cautiously. “I really’m not hungry. Just let me finish so I can take the rest home.”
She had no idea Tyler was only here because Ana had threatened him.
He fixed her with a hard stare, unyielding.
“We eat together,” he said again, voice unusually firm, eyes frosty.
Olivia couldn’t understand why he insisted on making her eat. From her perspective, she was just the delivery girl. But wanting to complete her mission and return home quickly, she stepped closer to him.
Linda sensed the tension in the room. She glanced nervously between Tyler and Olivia, her heart pounding.
Standing before Tyler’s desk, Olivia said quietly, “Okay.”
She waited for him to choose a cookie for her, but he remained silent. Tentatively, she picked up a chocolate chip cookie and nibbled it.
“You’re acting like my mother’s little soldier,” Tyler said suddenly.
Linda blinked in surprise at her boss.
Olivia’s fingers tightened around the cookie, and her lips trembled.
“Can you not think the worst of me?” she said quietly. “I’m just trying to protect myself. I don’t want to upset her before the baby is born.”
“I’m the one who needs to be careful around your mother, not you. You don’t need to help me.”
Olivia wished nothing more than for these next few months to pass peacefully. Everyone had someone they wanted to protect, and Olivia could only shield herself by offending as few people as possible.
She knew Ana would keep scheming to provoke her sister. What else could Ana do against her?
Olivia had to obey Ana’s demands—she had no power to oppose her. She had to submit to the older woman, while being especially cautious about Naomi and Tyler’s relationship.
“You should have stayed at the hospital with Naomi,” Olivia added softly. “I’m just a delivery girl. I didn’t mean to offend or bother you when I called. I didn’t expect you to come back.”
Linda’s heart pounded and palms grew sweaty as she quietly observed the tense exchange unfolding before her.