Chapter 13: Time Square
1177 Words
Aaron sat in the car, staring blankly ahead. He had no specific direction to give the driver, so he dismissed him and moved to the driver’s seat himself. He started the engine, glancing at Anna still sitting behind him. He didn’t want her to see the hidden stress etched across his face.
Tonight had to be special. He hoped Brice had arranged everything perfectly. He accelerated, leaving the house behind, heading toward the heart of the city. Surely, Brice would have picked a restaurant in town.
“Are you always so cold to people?” Anna’s voice cut through the silence, and Aaron glanced at her through the rearview mirror. It was only then that he noticed her light makeup and the deep plum of her lips.
“Yes,” he replied briefly, his tone clipped.
“You should change,” she continued, her eyes still fixed on the passing city streets. “That’s not good. You should at least laugh or be less serious.”
Aaron stayed silent, his mind focused on the road. Then she spoke again, breaking his thoughts.
“The city is beautiful at night, don’t you think?” she asked, a hint of wonder in her voice.
“Yes,” he answered, but his gaze was fixed on her through the mirror, something stirring inside him. “But it can never compare to you.”
Just as the words left his lips, his phone buzzed with a message. He took a quick glance at the screen, and as expected, it was the address for the restaurant—only a short distance away. He turned onto a familiar road leading to one of the city’s most exclusive restaurants, a place he frequented when he wanted to escape the chaos of his life.
The restaurant, “Sea of Angels,” was known not only for its exquisite food but also for attracting the world’s elite—presidents, entrepreneurs, and top-tier executives. The kind of place that didn’t just serve food but also catered to power.
As they drove through the streets, the glittering lights of Times Square dazzled them. Anna gasped in awe from the backseat, her eyes wide with wonder. “Wow, is that…?” she trailed off, her voice filled with excitement. “Times Square?”
“Yes,” Aaron said, stealing a glance at her before looking back to the road. “Should I stop the car?”
“It’s even more beautiful than I imagined. Yes, please!” she exclaimed.
He pulled over, a small smile tugging at his lips. The city’s lights illuminated her face, and for a moment, she seemed to glow in the darkness. They stepped out of the car, and the sheer scale of the towering buildings around them left them both in awe. Bright billboards flashed advertisements for famous brands, and the energy of the city was palpable.
As they lingered on the sidewalk, a passerby with a camera slung around his neck approached them.
“Hey, would you like a picture? You two look great together. Is it your first time here?” he asked.
Aaron glanced at Anna, who immediately took the opportunity to pose for the photo.
“No, we don’t need one,” Aaron started, but Anna interrupted, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
“No, no, don’t mind him,” she said, grinning as she grabbed the man’s hand. “I actually do want a picture.” She pulled him toward a spot for the shot, giving Aaron a playful glare, daring him to ruin it.
The photographer snapped the picture, clearly impressed by Anna’s poise. “Wow, madame, you look incredible! Ever considered modeling?” he asked, handing her the photos.
“Thank you,” she replied, slightly flustered. “Actually, no. Never thought about it.” She bowed slightly, a gesture that was almost instinctive.
The man handed her his business card. “I think you should. You could excel in it, and my employer is hiring right now. You could make quite a bit of money.”
After he left, Anna tucked the card into her purse, her stomach rumbling. She walked back toward Aaron, who was finishing a call.
“Can we go?” she asked, her tone short. She could feel the tension between them, but it was a strange mix of emotions. He didn’t seem to know how to treat her properly, but then again, he was treating her like a younger sister, which was both frustrating and oddly comforting.
“Yes, Mr. Man,” she replied with a hint of annoyance, climbing back into the car and settling into the passenger seat. She pulled out her phone and began scrolling through her pictures, the silence between them stretching.
Aaron, however, was lost in thought, his smile returning as he anticipated her reaction. He had planned everything with Brice, and he knew she would love the evening. The idea of sharing this night with her made him feel a warmth he hadn’t expected.
⸻
After a short drive, they arrived at “Sea of Angels.” As Aaron parked, Anna read the name of the restaurant aloud.
“Sea of Angels? Yes, I’ve heard of it,” she said, her voice filled with disbelief. “But I never imagined I’d actually be here. If I had known, I would have dressed better.”
Aaron chuckled. “You’re perfect just the way you are.”
He opened the car door for her, his gentlemanly side emerging, as it always did when he was with her. “Shall we go?” he asked, offering her his hand.
“For sure,” she replied, her stomach fluttering with anticipation. So he can be romantic, too? she thought to herself, mesmerized by how kind and considerate he was. No one had ever been this thoughtful toward her, except for her childhood friend who had tragically passed away years ago during a bank robbery. That loss had shaped her, making her wary of new connections, but Aaron’s gentleness and attentiveness were starting to chip away at her walls.
As they entered the restaurant, all eyes turned toward them. The room went silent for a brief moment, as people recognized Aaron. He was a figure of power, someone everyone either wanted to know or do business with. His identity was known by some, a mystery to others, but everyone understood that aligning with him meant access to influence and wealth.
Aaron, however, wasn’t here for business. He was here for her. And yet, as they made their way upstairs to the VIP area, he noticed a familiar face—one he could never forget. The man’s dark, unsettling presence sent a shiver down Aaron’s spine. It was Kyle, the man who had haunted his thoughts ever since Anna’s a*******n.
Kyle was dressed in formal black and red, exuding a dark, almost sinister aura. As he descended the stairs, Anna’s eyes met his, and something shifted in her. She recognized him too. The smirk he gave her confirmed it: he knew her
- Writer
