The next morning, the soft light of dawn entered through the half-open curtains of the hotel room, bathing the room in golden tones. Emily was the first to open her eyes, stretching slightly before realizing that Matthew was still sleeping next to her, with a serene expression that made her smile. She watched him for a few moments until, feeling her gaze, he slowly opened his eyes, returning her smile with a peaceful air.
"Good morning," he murmured, his voice hoarse with sleep.
"Good morning," she replied, laughing softly. "Ready for a day of rest and... shopping?"
Matthew made a playful face, but nodded. "If that's your thing, then let's do that."
After getting up and taking a refreshing shower, they went down to the hotel restaurant for lunch. The room was bright and elegantly decorated, the tables arranged for privacy and a panoramic view of the city. They chose a table near the window, where they could watch people walking down the streets below, immersed in everyday life.
For lunch, Matthew opted for a mushroom risotto with truffle oil, while Emily chose a seafood salad accompanied by a citrus soda. They talked about the previous night's event and their plans for the rest of the day, exchanging laughs and small memories of the fun times they had.
"So, after lunch, straight to the mall?" Matthew asked, feigning an expression of exaggerated resignation, which made Emily laugh.
"Yes, and I hope you're prepared! It's going to be fun," she replied with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
An hour later, with lunch over and their energy renewed, they took the hotel car and headed to the nearest shopping mall, one of the most famous in the city, known for its luxury boutiques and exclusive fashion stores. When they arrived, Emily seemed excited, her eyes shining as she saw the elegant windows that displayed the latest trends.
Matthew followed her with a calm smile, amused by her enthusiasm. "Where do you want to start?" he asked, already imagining that this would be a long afternoon.
Emily looked around and pointed to a designer clothing store. "Here! Let's see what we find."
They passed by several stores, and Matthew helped Emily choose, giving his opinion on each piece she tried on. At times, she insisted that he also try on some clothes, and he ended up giving in, laughing as he looked at himself in front of the mirror with Emily's unusual choices. In one of the stores, she found an elegant black dress that left him speechless, and he couldn't help but compliment her.
"It looks perfect on you, like it was tailor-made," he commented, his eyes shining with admiration.
Emily smiled, blushing slightly, and decided to take the dress. Soon after, she also bought a perfume that the salesperson recommended, while Matthew chose a new leather jacket, encouraged by her.
After a few hours, with several bags in their hands and laughter exchanged with each new find, they decided to stop at a coffee shop inside the mall to rest. They sat at a table next to the window, watching the people pass by, while enjoying a cappuccino and some sweets.
"I admit it was more fun than I expected," Matthew admitted, taking a sip of his coffee.
"I told you you'd like it," Emily replied, winking. She picked up one of the bags and placed it in front of him. "This is for you, by the way. A memento of our day." Matthew raised his eyebrows and opened the bag, finding a fancy watch she had bought while he was distracted. He looked at her with a grateful smile and took her hand. "Thank you, Emily. You really know how to make any day special."
They sat there for a while longer, enjoying each other's company as the sun began to dip below the horizon, painting the sky with shades of orange and pink.
As the evening approached, Matthew and Emily decided to continue exploring the city and headed to a popular bar known for its laid-back atmosphere and live music. The place was bustling with soft lights and cozy decor, while the sound of a band playing in the background filled the space, giving the night a lively and vibrant feel.
They chose a table near the bar and, as they waited for their drinks, laughed and talked about their purchases of the day. When the drinks arrived, Emily smiled and leaned closer to Matthew.
"I'm going to go to the bathroom real quick. Don't get in trouble while I'm gone, okay?" she said playfully, lightly touching his shoulder.
Matthew laughed, nodding. "I'll try to behave."
As Emily walked away toward the bathroom, Matthew was left alone, distracted, watching the movement around him. It was then that he noticed that some women near him began to whisper and glance at him. One of them, a tall brunette in a tight dress, approached with a confident smile.
"Hi! I hope I'm not bothering you, but... aren't you an actor, by any chance?" she asked, smiling ingratiatingly.
Matthew frowned, trying to be polite. "No, actually, I'm not."
Another woman, blonde and equally well-dressed, approached and looked him up and down, with a glint of interest in her eyes. "Really? It's hard to believe. You look like a movie hunk," she insisted, almost as if she was ignoring what he had said.
Matthew gave a forced smile, trying to remain polite. "I appreciate the compliment, but I'm with someone."
The two women exchanged a look and laughed, clearly disregarding his answer. "Oh, we don't mind," the brunette said, sliding her hand boldly down Matthew's arm. "We just wanted to get to know this gorgeous 'non-actor' better."
Matthew stepped back slightly, uncomfortably, and glanced toward the bathroom, hoping Emily would return soon. The two women, however, didn't seem willing to give up. The blonde took a step closer, leaning in to speak more quietly but with a determined tone.
"Come on, just one drink with us. No one has to know," she said, giving him a tempting smile.
It was at that moment that Matthew felt a familiar presence at his side. He looked up and saw Emily, who had returned and was now watching them with a firm expression and a slight arch of her eyebrow.
"Excuse me, ladies," Emily said with a polite smile, but with a look that clearly said she was not at all impressed. "He's already in very good company."
The two women looked at her, surprised, and exchanged a quick glance before giggling. The brunette said, in a dismissive tone, "Oh, don't worry, dear. We were just talking."
"I'm sure," Emily replied, with a cold smile, but her eyes remained fixed on the women, without straying. "But he's more than busy with me."
The two noticed the firm tone and, clearly displeased, walked away with a grunt and a last look at Matthew. As soon as they were gone, he let out a sigh of relief, and Emily sat down next to him, giving him a look of slight disapproval, but with a smile of someone who was enjoying the situation.
"Look, I leave you alone for a minute and you've already caused a mess," she joked, fixing her hair.
Matthew laughed, relaxing back in his chair. "I swear I didn't do anything. They just showed up out of nowhere."
"Sure," Emily replied, laughing and crossing her arms, feigning a look of distrust. "Well, just to be safe, I'll keep an eye on you for the rest of the night."
He smiled, taking her hand affectionately. "Make yourself comfortable. I confess I prefer your company to anyone else's."
With that answer, Emily smiled, looking satisfied, and they toasted, resuming their night together, while live music filled the room and the bar continued to vibrate around them.