"Where are we heading?" After the car had been on the road for a while, Anna asked him.
"To dinner."
"Oh." Seeing that he seemed deep in thought, Anna decided not to press further.
He then took a call, spreading some documents open on his lap. Listening intently, he jotted down notes before closing the folder and rubbing his temples with closed eyes.
"How's work been lately?" he asked unexpectedly.
Caught off guard by his inquiry, Anna hesitated before softly replying, "It's been going well."
He didn't ask further, appearing a bit tired as he leaned back in his seat for a brief rest.
The luxury car sped smoothly along, the interior enveloped in silence.
Anna sat tucked into the corner. Since he wasn't speaking, she didn't want to disturb him, only occasionally stealing glances his way.
After sitting for a while, he shifted positions, crossing his legs and tilting his head back slightly.
Suddenly, a sports car zoomed up alongside them, driven recklessly by some show-off, causing their driver to make a sharp turn.
Anna lost her balance and tumbled into his arms.
A strong hand caught her waist, gently steadying her. "Hold on tight."
His familiar scent and the warmth of his body enveloped her. Anna's fingers tightened; the hand resting on his shoulder felt warm.
She quickly straightened up. "I'm sorry."
Her voice was barely audible, her cheeks flushed. After that, she didn't dare look at him.
The restaurant was on the top floor of a hotel in Midtown Manhattan. They took a glass elevator up and arrived in no time.
The manager, who had been waiting for them, greeted them at the door and personally led them inside.
Their table was a private booth by the window, with the surrounding area reserved exclusively for them.
This restaurant only served ten guests at a time, but today it was even emptier than usual.
The investor was a man in his thirties, handsome and charismatic, who chatted amiably as he poured them wine.
He spoke a few words, to which Daniel responded, and the conversation wasn't as business-heavy as Anna had imagined; it was relaxed and pleasant.
The waiter brought out a bowl of clear vegetable consommé. The broth was pristine, with tender greens floating gracefully—truly appetizing.
Anna wanted to ladle some for herself, but the dish was a bit out of reach.
She reached out but then withdrew her hand, quietly eating the sautéed tofu and chicken in front of her.
A well-defined hand took her bowl, ladled a portion of soup for her, and placed it back by her side.
Anna glanced at him and softly said, "Thank you."
Daniel lifted the corner of his lips slightly but said nothing.
Opposite them, the investor chuckled, as if noticing Anna for the first time, his demeanor becoming more formal. "And how should I address this young lady?"
At the time, Anna was quite puzzled. He had seen her from the beginning; why was he asking now?
She later realized that in their circle, the status of a companion depended on the attitude of the person beside her.
"Anna, gemstone appraiser," Daniel introduced her simply.
The other man smiled but didn't inquire further.
It seemed to be an unspoken understanding.
This restaurant offered freshly baked pastries, but there was a waiting list.
Anna had gone to the restroom, and on her way back, she saw an array of pastries displayed behind glass, making her mouth water.
But upon learning that reservations were required in advance, she returned disappointed.
Noticing her expression, Daniel calmly wiped his fingers with a napkin and asked, "What's wrong?"
"I wanted some pastries, but who knew you had to reserve them ahead of time."
"The pastries here are all limited editions," the investor said with a smile, beckoning a waiter.
The waiter leaned down as the investor whispered a few words. Nodding quickly, he hurried off toward the pastry section.
"It'll be ready in a moment," the investor assured her.
In no time, the waiter returned with a box filled with pastries, respectfully placing it on the table.
Anna was amazed. "Didn't you say there's a waiting list?"
Daniel and the investor both smiled.
Later, Anna realized her naivety. Some rules were designed to regulate people like her.
They say it's limited, that reservations are required, but in reality, there are always extra portions each day to handle such "unexpected situations."
On the way back, Anna was nibbling on a macaron and accidentally dropped some crumbs onto the car's carpet.
"I'm sorry," she said hurriedly, bending down to pick them up.
"No need to pick them up. I'll have Mr. Smith clean the car later," he said, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.
Anna felt as if she'd done something wrong and didn't dare move for the rest of the journey.
After getting out of the car, she kept her head down, silently following him into the elevator.
As the elevator slowly ascended, the silence was palpable.
She sneaked a glance at his sharp profile from the side, cautiously saying, "I'm sorry."
He seemed momentarily puzzled and turned to her. "What for?"
"...I accidentally dirtied your car."
He pressed his lips together slightly, a hint of a smile appearing before he said seriously, "So how do you plan to compensate me?"
"What?" She looked up, unexpectedly meeting his eyes filled with a subtle smile. Only then did she realize he was teasing her again.
Anna bit her lip, a bit unhappy.
Why did he always tease her?
Daniel smiled faintly. "Why do you always fret over such trivial things?"
Anna didn't reply, lowering her head to count the stripes on her shoes.
So dirtying his multi-million-dollar car was a trivial matter?
Years of ordinary life had worn away all her former confidence.
When Daniel came out after his shower, Anna had finished reading her notes and was watching a movie, holding a plush toy in her hands.
She gripped the toy's long ears with both hands, occasionally tugging them when excited.
The film was an old black-and-white movie from the last century, a French classic.
The movie was silent, but the actors' performances were compelling. She couldn't help but giggle, kicking her legs, and squeezing the toy in her hands when particularly amused.
He sat on the armrest of the sofa with a cup of coffee, one leg on the ground, sipping as he watched her, curious to see when she'd notice him.
Anna finally sensed something amiss and turned to look at him hesitantly.
Daniel had changed into a black V-neck sweater. The loose style made him look even taller, and even sitting casually, he exuded an imposing presence.
Every time he finished showering, he gave off a different vibe compared to when he wore formal attire. His semi-damp hair looked softer, accentuating his deep-set eyes, which appeared even more enigmatic. Yet, when he looked at someone, there was an inexplicable intensity that made one uneasy.
"Why did you stop watching?" His voice carried a hint of teasing.
Anna wondered if he was mocking her obliviousness; usually, after showering, he would go to his study to review documents or hold video conferences. Who knew he would come to watch a movie with her?
In truth, Anna wasn't very comfortable being alone with him—whether chatting or doing anything else.
If they chatted, it would undoubtedly expose her gaps in knowledge, and she wasn't someone who could keep things to herself.
Once she started talking endlessly, he'd surely think she was naive, adding to the amusement.
She had her pride, after all.
"Aren't you going to review documents?" she asked him.
"Finished for the day."
"Even big CEOs have days when they're done?"
Daniel raised an eyebrow in surprise, amused that she was teasing him.
Anna felt a bit smug, thinking she'd gained the upper hand.
But when her gaze met his relaxed, smiling eyes, she reined in her smile.
She pressed her lips together, not daring to be too presumptuous, and turned back to continue watching the movie.
Unexpectedly, he put down his cup, walked over, took the remote from her hand, and turned off the TV.
"You..." His action was so natural that Anna couldn't even voice her objection.
It seemed that no matter how overbearing the act, it was entirely justified when he did it.
Anna stared at him for a moment, then sighed.