Amélia smiled politely, but her discomfort was evident. "I appreciate it, but I'm fine with my choices."
The man insisted, now casting a disparaging look at Aiden. "You deserve someone who can take care of you. A poor man? Seriously? You're definitely joking, aren't you?"
Aiden, instead of taking offense, just crossed his arms and watched the scene with an amused smile. "And what would be your recommendation, sir...?"
"Alberto Monteiro," he replied proudly. "I have enough to ensure that she never has to settle for a guy like you."
Amélia snorted, but before she could respond, Aiden intervened. "Alberto, you're right. I can't compete with your generosity. But tell me, do you always win women by insulting their dates?"
The provocation made Alberto blush, but he tried to maintain his composure. "I don't need methods. My success speaks for itself."
"Oh, I see. You must be the type who measures success by the number of bags you carry. Fascinating."
Amelia held back a laugh, but Alberto got even more irritated. "You don't know who you're talking to."
Aiden just shrugged. "And you clearly don't know who you're trying to compete with. Good luck."
Amelia, seeing that the situation could get worse, pulled Aiden by the hand. "Let's go. There's no point wasting time here."
As they left, Aiden murmured to her, "I like him. He'd make a good comic character for a book."
Amelia laughed, finally relaxing. "You take everything in stride, don't you?"
"When you've lived long enough, you realize it's better to laugh at things than to stress about them."
After a few more shops and lots of laughter, Amelia finally decided she'd had enough shopping. They ended the afternoon at a café, where they chatted about interests and experiences.
"You're different, Aiden. I don't know how to explain it, but I like it," she said, stirring her cappuccino.
"I could say the same about you. But tell me, what do you do besides shopping and causing trouble in stores?"
She laughed. "I'm a photographer. What about you? Or are you just a driver?"
"Let's just say I have a few side jobs," he replied with a mysterious smile.
Amélia tilted her head, intrigued, but decided not to press. "Well, it was an amazing afternoon. Thanks for coming with me."
"Thank you for reminding me that life can be easy sometimes."
She smiled and wrote something on the napkin. "Here's my number. Who knows, we might do it again someday."
Aiden took the napkin, waved at her, and left.
After leaving Amelia, Aiden felt that the night still had something in store for him. The day had been long, and he deserved a moment of fun. Determined, he drove to one of the most exclusive nightclubs in the city, a place called Eclipse, famous for its extravagant parties, top-notch electronic music, and a crowd that ranged from sophisticated to casual.
Aiden parked and effortlessly entered the club. The doorman recognized him from previous visits and led the way with a respectful smile. Inside, colored lights danced in sync with the pulsating music, and the atmosphere was full of vibrant energy.
At the bar, Aiden ordered a double whiskey. He surveyed the room with a calm gaze that naturally drew attention. It was as if the people around him sensed his presence without him having to try.
It wasn't long before two women approached. One of them, a brunette with green eyes, introduced herself as Vanessa; the other, a blonde with short hair and a mischievous smile, was called Mila.
"Are you alone?" Vanessa asked, with a smile that made her interest clear.
Aiden shrugged, taking a sip of his drink. "For now."
Mila laughed, intrigued. "For now? So you want some company?"
"If you promise to make the night interesting, who am I to say no?"
The conversation flowed easily. Aiden had a natural talent for captivating people, and his easygoing tone made the women laugh and feel at ease. At some point, Vanessa pulled Aiden onto the dance floor, where the trio began to move to the beat of the music.
The strobe lights illuminated the faces and bodies moving around the crowded dance floor, and Aiden was at the center of it all. Vanessa approached, touching his arm, while Mila laughed and teased him with suggestive gestures.
Soon, more women began to notice the small group. Aiden found himself surrounded by smiles, glances, and light touches. He danced with relaxed confidence, giving enough attention to make everyone feel special, but without overcommitting to any of them.
As Aiden laughed at Vanessa's joke, he noticed a figure in the distance. A stunning woman with red hair that fell in waves over her shoulders and a tight black dress that highlighted her curves. She was standing at the bar, watching the scene with a slight smile, but her eyes focused on Aiden made it clear that she was interested.
Aiden excused himself and approached her.
"You seem lost in all this," he said casually, leaning against the bar.
Lyra turned to face him, arching an eyebrow. "Maybe I'm just waiting for the right person to make the night worthwhile."
"Well, I hope that person has arrived," Aiden replied with a smile that seemed to dismantle any resistance.
They talked for a while, and Aiden realized that Lyra was as sharp as she was beautiful. She had a dry wit, responded with clever teasing, and seemed to enjoy the wordplay Aiden initiated.
"Do you dance or do you just sit at the bar charming people?" he asked.
"Why don't we find out?" she challenged, pulling him by the hand.
On the dance floor, the connection between them was palpable. Lyra was confident and seductive, and Aiden couldn't resist her energy. As they danced, she moved closer and closer, until their faces were inches apart.
"Do you kiss as well as you dance?" she teased, looking directly into his eyes.
"Why don't you find out?" Aiden replied, leaning in to kiss her.
The kiss was intense, full of desire and chemistry. Around them, the world seemed to disappear. The lights and music were just a backdrop to the moment they shared.
Lyra pulled him even closer to her, and they continued to kiss, completely immersed. Other women looked on enviously, but none had the courage to interrupt.