Skylar could sense the tension in the air as she interacted with Joe. The coldness in his demeanor was almost palpable, and she couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to put him in such a bad mood. His sharp gaze made her feel like she was walking on eggshells, but she refused to back down. She had endured enough bad attitudes from others, and she wasn’t about to let Joe’s sudden change in behavior rattle her.
His response to her offer of chips was dismissive, but she remained polite. When she noticed the disdain in his eyes, though, it triggered something in her. The sarcastic remark about Martin Group’s food division was an attempt to bring him down a notch, but it was also a way for her to assert herself. If he wanted to be cold, so be it. She wasn’t going to shrink from it.
The conversation shifted when Joe mentioned his grandmother’s request. Skylar’s expression softened a little. It wasn’t for Joe, but for Gloria, who was always kind to her. “Alright,” Skylar replied, agreeing to attend the auction with him. She couldn’t really say no when it came to fulfilling Gloria’s wishes, no matter how awkward the situation with Joe might be.
When Joe criticized her attire, she simply nodded, though she didn’t appreciate the judgment. It wasn’t as though she had expected to attend a high-end event that day. “I’ll be ready,” she said, trying to keep the mood neutral. She had enough on her mind without dealing with his criticisms.
After Joe gave her the instructions to meet Paul at the car park, Skylar finished her shopping quickly. The sound of the shopping cart wheels clicking against the floor seemed to echo in the tense silence between them.
As Skylar approached the cashier, she couldn’t help but feel a strange weight lifting as she paid for her items. She was grateful for these small moments of normalcy amidst all the chaos. She glanced at Joe once more before leaving, but he was already distracted by the chips on the shelf, lost in his thoughts.
In the parking lot, Paul was waiting for her as planned. Skylar felt a brief moment of relief when she saw him. He might not have been as imposing as Joe, but there was something reassuring about his presence. She slid into the car, and Paul greeted her with a polite nod.
“Mrs. Martin, Mr. Martin has so many cars. Why didn’t you drive his car?” Paul asked, raising an eyebrow at her choice of vehicle.
Skylar gave him a small smile, explaining her reasoning. “My car is more environmentally friendly.”
The truth, though, was that she didn’t feel comfortable using any of Joe’s things. Their contractually arranged marriage was far from a real relationship, and she had no claim to his possessions. Not that she would have wanted to anyway.
As they drove toward her destination, she let her thoughts drift. The evening ahead seemed like another chore to add to her list, but for now, she was content to focus on the drive and the quiet between her and Paul.
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