Ariel hailed a taxi and headed back to the hotel. The city lights danced across the windows as she leaned back, replaying the afternoon in her mind. When the car pulled up in front of the Zandif Hotel, her eyes widened, there he was. The mysterious guy from earlier, standing casually by the entrance like he'd been waiting the whole time.
She paid the driver quickly and stepped out.
"You went out?" he asked, walking toward her with that same calm confidence.
"Yeah," she replied with a small smile. "Went on a job hunt."
He glanced at her, a subtle smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "From your smile, I can tell it was successful."
"Yup," she said, her smile growing.
"You could've told me. I know we just met, but I could've introduced you to some friends of mine."
That caught her off guard. She blinked. "Thanks, but no need. I don't want to owe anybody anything."
He let out a soft sigh, raising his hands in surrender. "Alrighty. Go bathe and change, I'll wait for you."
She smiled again, touched by the gesture. "Thanks. I won't be long."
--
Ariel stepped into the bathroom and quickly took a refreshing bath, letting the water wash away the exhaustion of the day. When she came out, she opened her small closet and sighed. There weren't many options, just the same casual clothes she'd worn over and over for the past two years. Nothing fancy, nothing new.
She picked a plain outfit at random, feeling a little self-conscious but trying not to let it get to her. With a quiet breath, she got dressed, brushed her hair, and made her way downstairs.
As she stepped into the lobby, the mysterious man turned and took a good look at her, his eyes scanning her from head to toe, not in a judgmental way, but with something softer, something thoughtful.
"How about we start off by buying you some clothes?" he asked, a playful grin on his face.
She opened her mouth to protest, but he held up a finger.
"And no, you can't pay. I take you out, I pay. You don't owe me anything."
Ariel blinked, caught off guard by the generosity. She wasn't used to kindness without strings. She hesitated, pride flaring for a moment, but there was something sincere in his voice... something safe.
"...Okay," she said quietly, eyes meeting his. "But just one outfit."
He smirked. "We'll see."
"My car is just a few meters from here. Let's go," he said casually.
Ariel hesitated for a second. A tiny voice inside her warned her to be cautious, but another,.curious and drawn to him nudged her forward. She nodded slowly and followed him.
They walked a short distance until they stopped in front of a sleek, blue Lamborghini Revuelto. Ariel's eyes widened in surprise. The car gleamed under the city lights, but it wasn't just the car that caught her attention, it was the name engraved on the front bumper in sleek chrome:
"J-Star."
Her breath caught for a moment.
She knew that name. She'd seen it before. Somewhere. Online? A magazine? A concert?
Her brows furrowed slightly as her brain tried to piece it together.
"Let's go," he said smoothly, opening the passenger door with a small bow. "Ladies first."
Ariel couldn't help but giggle, his charm catching her off guard. She slid into the luxurious leather seat, her heart thudding a little faster, not out of fear, but from something else entirely.