Grace Li rushed back to her office, eager to check her phone. She found that Aiden Thompson had already sent her his location 15 minutes ago. The message didn't have a hint of urgency, just like his usual calm demeanor.
Grabbing her bag, she hurried out toward the parking lot and drove quickly toward their meeting spot. By now, the night had fully fallen over New York, and the city was alive with lights, the streets buzzing with the energy of the big city.
Aiden Thompson stood by the side of the road, dressed in a sharp black suit, holding a bouquet of vibrant flowers. The neon lights flickered around him, casting an extra glow that highlighted his handsome features. He looked even more striking than the male celebrity on the billboard behind him, catching the attention of several passersby. A few young women even couldn't help but let out an "Oh wow!" as they pulled out their phones to snap a picture.
Grace Li pulled up smoothly and rolled down the window. "Aiden, get in the car!"
Aiden Thompson walked over with the flowers, leaning down to the window. There wasn't a hint of frustration on his face, despite having waited for half an hour. With a smile, he said, "Let me drive. You can relax."
"Alright!" she responded.
Grace Li unbuckled her seatbelt and got out. Aiden Thompson naturally handed her the bouquet, his lips curving into a warm smile. "Happy Valentine's Day, my love."
Grace Li took the flowers and hugged them to her chest. The rich scent of the red roses filled the air, and the petals were dotted with little water droplets, making them look even more vibrant. This was the first time she had ever received red roses. Even though she had been expecting it, when the moment actually came, she couldn't help but feel an overwhelming rush of excitement. She softly replied, "Thank you, babe. These flowers are so beautiful!"
Aiden Thompson feigned a pout. "Why don't you wish me a happy Valentine's Day? I've been waiting for you forever."
Grace Li couldn't help but chuckle, smiling as she teased, "Oh, right! Happy Valentine's Day, my handsome man!"
Aiden Thompson slid into the driver's seat, and Grace Li settled in beside him, holding the flowers. Like any couple lost in a sweet moment, they chatted and laughed on the way to the restaurant, occasionally humming along with the pop songs playing on the car stereo.
Once they arrived at the restaurant's underground parking lot, Grace Li carefully placed the flowers on the seat. Aiden Thompson naturally took her hand, leading her toward the elevator.
There was already a couple waiting at the elevator. As they got closer, Grace Li immediately recognized the man, her face changing slightly. Instinctively, she pulled Aiden Thompson toward the nearby stairwell to avoid being seen.
Aiden Thompson followed her into the stairwell, standing behind the door. He softly laughed, "Uh oh, we running into someone we know? Who is it?"
Grace Li took a deep breath to steady herself, then replied, "It's a client we worked with before. He's pretty well-known in the industry. If he sees us together, people might start talking."
Aiden Thompson, being considerate, asked, "Do you want to go somewhere else? I know a few great places with a romantic vibe."
Grace Li quickly shook her head. "No need. We'll wait until they leave and then head out. No need to make it complicated."
"Okay," he agreed.
Aiden Thompson lowered his head slightly, gazing at her closely. "Grace Li."
"Hmm?"
"This feels a bit like we're sneaking around," Aiden Thompson said with a playful grin, his eyes glinting with mischief.
Grace Li's ears turned bright red, and she raised an eyebrow, joking, "You've got quite the imagination! What are you thinking about?"
The dim yellow light in the stairwell cast a soft glow on them, adding a touch of romance to the small space. Aiden Thompson's gaze was locked on Grace Li, her faint fragrance—exactly the perfume he had given her—filling the air around them. That familiar scent, combined with the atmosphere, seemed to heighten everything.
His voice was low and magnetic as he softly asked, "Babe, wanna try this thrilling feeling? Like now, sneaking around—it's kind of fun, don't you think?"
Grace Li's heart skipped a beat, and she whispered, "What do you mean? Don't go getting any ideas."
"Like right now," he said with a smirk. "Sneaking around, in a place where we could get caught. Isn't it exciting?"
Grace Li's eyes widened slightly, but before she could say anything, Aiden Thompson's lips crashed down on hers. Grace Li tilted her head back slightly, meeting him halfway. Her back pressed against the door of the stairwell, and Aiden Thompson's tall frame fully enveloped her.
The kiss was passionate and lingering, and Grace Li felt a thrilling mix of nervousness and excitement spreading through her, her whole body suddenly buzzing. Just then, footsteps could be heard coming down the stairs. Instinctively, they pulled apart quickly.
The footsteps grew louder, and Aiden Thompson calmly took Grace Li's hand, opening the door and walking toward the elevator.
When they reached the elevator, both of them kept their composure, as if nothing had happened. The doors opened, and they casually walked in.
Once inside, they exchanged a glance and couldn't help but laugh at the same time.
They had reservations at a famous upscale French restaurant in New York, its elegant décor illuminated by candlelight, and soft French chansons playing in the background.
For most Americans, France is synonymous with romance. It's just like in the movies—whenever someone mentions France, the image of lovers kissing under the Eiffel Tower or strolling along the Seine comes to mind. Grace Li, elegantly cutting into her foie gras, asked curiously, "Aiden, have you been to France before?"
Aiden Thompson, savoring his baked salmon with cheese, nodded and replied, "Yeah, I went once. Stayed in Paris for three days. It really has a special vibe—full of art everywhere. Though the French can be a little snobby, and their English isn't great, so communication was a bit of a struggle."
"Sounds like you've been to a lot of countries, huh?"
"Not that many, but back in college, I traveled around Europe for a month with a few friends. We hit over ten countries. Saw a bunch of different sights and experienced a lot of unique cultures. Like the pizza in Italy and flamenco in Spain—they were amazing."
Grace Li couldn't help but feel a little envious. "Wow, that sounds awesome! When I was in high school, I dreamed of traveling the world in college. But once I got to university, I found myself buried in part-time jobs and schoolwork. The only trip I took was a class-organized graduation trip in my senior year."
She sighed a little, reflecting on how different reality was from her dreams. "Since starting work, I've been to a lot of places in the U.S. for business, but I never had time to really enjoy the local sights. 'Sightseeing' was more like a quick walk through places."
"Going to Miami for vacation over the holidays was probably one of the few times I actually relaxed." She joked, "If I tell you I'm 30 and still haven't traveled abroad, would you laugh at me?"
"Of course not! In my eyes, you're amazing." Aiden Thompson set down his utensils and looked at her seriously. "Grace Li, you should really travel abroad. Experience different cultures."
Grace Li, a bit confused, asked, "Why do you suddenly want to know about France?"
"I just thought, hearing you mention France, it crossed my mind. I think it'd be so romantic to go there with you. Imagine us at the Louvre, looking at the great art, or kissing under the Eiffel Tower. How wonderful would that be?"
Grace Li looked around the restaurant, smiled, and lowered her voice. "Well, we're already in a French restaurant, so it's easy to get swept up in the romantic vibe."
Aiden Thompson chuckled softly, then became serious. "Babe, next time we travel, let's make it France. I want to take you to the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa's smile, stroll under the Eiffel Tower, and visit the lavender fields in Provence."
Grace Li was taken aback by how quickly he made the decision. She didn't answer right away, instead sighing, "With our current work schedules, our next trip might be a long way off. But if it does happen, it would be amazing."
Just then, Grace Li's phone buzzed. She looked at it and saw a message from Scarlet Harris.
Scarlet Harris: Grace Li, is Aiden Thompson really in a relationship?
Reading the message, Grace Li felt conflicted. She knew how Scarlet felt about Aiden Thompson, and hearing this news had probably left her heartbroken. But how should she reply? If she told the truth, it might hurt her; if she pretended not to know, it would seem dishonest.
Aiden Thompson, noticing her discomfort, gently asked, "What's wrong, babe?"
Grace Li turned her phone toward him and said helplessly, "Scarlet asked me if you're in a relationship."
Aiden Thompson's expression remained calm. "So what are you going to say?"
"I'm still deciding. I don't want to lie to her, but I don't want to hurt her feelings either," Grace Li said, frowning, clearly torn.
Just then, Scarlet Harris sent another message.
Scarlet Harris: Who's his girlfriend? I've never heard of her before.
"Grace Li." Aiden Thompson softly called her name, knowing she was struggling with how to reply. "You should tell her it's my personal business and you're not comfortable discussing it. That way, you won't embarrass her, and you won't have to reveal our relationship. She'll understand that relationships can't be forced."
Grace Li had been torn between two responses, wanting to put an end to Scarlet's feelings without being too harsh. Since Aiden Thompson had suggested this, she decided to go with his advice.
She typed: It's his personal matter, and I'm not comfortable discussing it.
Scarlet Harris quickly replied: Oh.