Dresser top still sticky

Okay, so let's see.

If you did not sand and the protective coating was linseed oil, it's possible the oil is seeping through the latex paint.

If you painted with oil paint and the paint was dry to the touch, but you did not let it sit overnight, it probably was not dry between coats.

If you used old water based paint, that could be the issue.

If you painted when it was too cold, too humid or too hot that could be the problem.

Bottom line is you need to strip the dresser and start anew. Sorry to be the barer of bad news... good luck.

you need to use a top coat or wax to seal the paint

There could have been something wrong with your paint. If it freezes paint is not good. Try giving it a sanding to see if you can get down to the drier surface and then prime and paint , if you are using regular paint and not varathane.

seal top with clear coat

No clear coat on top of the latex. If you had used a primer first, the paint should have dried properly. Such a mess to clean up again. Hope you get it back to where you want it. Before using any kind of paint it is best to use the primer. The reason for this is that no one really knows what has been used before and this helps to prevent problems. Best of luck with your project.