Wanda was momentarily stunned, but quickly nodded.


    “Alright.”


    Rachel carried the coffee upstairs. She raised her hand and knocked on the door.


    “Come in.”


    Tyler’s voice was cold. Just standing at the doorway made Rachel sliver involuntarily. It seemed like he was still in a bad mood.


    Knowing Tyler’s temperament, it felt off. If it really were just work it didn’t add up. This wasn’t his first time handling tough situations. Unless it was something catastrophic, his mood usually wasn’t affected.


    Could something major have gone wrong at thepany?


    Rather than standing there specting, Rachel figured she might as well go in and ask.


    She pushed open the door and stepped inside. Tyler was seated in his study and focused on theputer screen. Even when he heard her enter, he didn’t look up.


    Rachel ced the coffee on his desk.


    “Tyler, here’s your coffee.”


    Upon hearing that, Tyler’s fingers paused over the keyboard. His stern gazended on her. He sounded a little surprised.


    “What, you need a favor?”


    Rachel didn’t immediately understand what he was trying to say. “No, I just offered to bring the coffee up for Wanda, that’s all.”


    “Why did you do it? I figured you must want a big favor from me.”


    Tyler tilted his head slightly, rested his chin on his hand, and looked at her with a stern expression.


    Rachel paused. “I don’t need anything. I just wanted to ask if you were feeling alright today. You didn’t seem like yourself.”


    Tyler crossed his long legs and leaned back, like he was ready to listen. “Are you worried about me?”


    Rachel thought it was just a normal question, but somehow, when it came out of Tyler’s mouth, it had a faintly suggestive


    undertone.


    She cleared her throat and exined, “I just noticed you didn’t seem very upbeat at dinner. I figured I’d ask. After all, you’ve helped my dad a lot. Even if we’re just ordinary friends, a little concern is only natural.”


    Tyler chuckled softly. “I was just teasing. No need to get so worked up and exin so much.”


    Rachel suddenly realized she had overreacted a bit.


    Tyler had probably been joking.


    In the past, she would never take his words too seriously because she knew how he was always casual about things. He constantly spoke his mind. If she took him too seriously, she’d be the one to suffer.


    She didn’t know why she was being so sensitive to his words today. Trying to brush it off, she came up with an excuse.


    “I just didn’t want you to get the wrong idea.”


    Suddenly, Tyler stood up from his chair. His tall frame loomed as he moved closer to her. A faint scent of mint mixed with tobo drifted over.


    His deep voice cut through the silence.


    “Wrong idea about what? Aren’t we just having a normal conversation?”


    His words left Rachel momentarily speechless.


    She looked at Tyler. His eyes narrowed slightly with a teasing smile.


    She couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being toyed with. It reminded her of him ying with Ray.


    Rachel clenched her fists and kept reminding herself not to care too much about her ego in front of Tyler.


    Steadying herself, she responded, “Right, I know. I was just worried that if you joke around like this too often, you might end up making it a habit. Someone might misunderstand you when you eventually get into a rtionship. I’m only looking out for you.”