The Beginning Of All Sins

*

Olivia was about to step into the car when Ana's call came through. She answered promptly. "Hi, Mom." "Did you deliver it to him?"

"Yes," she replied after a brief pause.

Ana's suspicion heightened at the momentary silence. "Don't make me call the Harris Group to verify."

"He's not at his office, Mom. I called him, and he instructed me to leave it at the front desk."

"And now you're leaving," Ana noted.

Olivia glanced down. "Yes."

"You're not leaving. The purpose of afternoon tea is to personally hand it to him!"

silence, Ana's tone hardened.

snapped out of her daze. "R-Right!

"Good. Goodbye."

at Olivia, asking tentatively, "Should we head

"No. We'll wait here."

the driver

pursed her lips, her face

ward, where

his phone on the coffee table

moment before sheepishly suggesting, "Um, Tyler? work needs your attention, you should go. I'm fine on my own.

from his book. "It was just a

to reading, while Naomi fretted about hindering his work. But

ioned that he would

if it were important. Nodding, she said, "Okay, then."

room lapsed into

nurse admired Naomi's knitting and exclaimed, "Ms. Naomi, your knitting