Dinner at the Dengs' house had lasted more than an hour. Amid laughter, expensive wine, and family scolding, Adrian Foster still wanted to continue talking with Mr. Deng Gao about business and investment strategies. But before he could open his mouth, his friendEthan DengHe dragged him out of the mansion under the guise of "going for a walk."
"Come on, bro, I've had enough of a lecture for today," Ethan grumbled as he dusted off his designer jacket. "I need some air."
Adrian barely had time to say goodbye before he was pushed towards the entrance, where hisRolls-Royce Phantom negroHe was waiting for him under the streetlights. Ethan circled around him, his eyes shining.
—My God, I haven't seen you in a long time.Black Phantom"Oh!" he exclaimed, caressing the hood as if he were touching a priceless jewel. "What a damn car. I swear I missed it more than some of my ex-girlfriends."
Adrian smiled ironically and threw him the keys.
—You drive. But don't kill me trying.
Ethan's face lit up like a kid at Christmas. He barely climbed into the driver's seat when he roared the engine with a theatrical flourish and shot off down the avenues ofManhattan.
New York City at night was a spectacle in itself: neon lights, giant screens in Times Square, yellow taxis zigzagging, and distant sirens. The city vibrated as if alive, pulsing with an electric pulse that never stopped.
Ethan rolled down his window, stuck his head out, and howled:
—Aaaaahhh! New York, baby!
Adrian rubbed the bridge of his nose, regretting giving him the keys. With Ethan at the wheel, anything was possible: from a run-in with the police to ending up at an underground party in Brooklyn.
The worst part was when, at a red light, Ethan began shamelessly flirting with a married woman riding in the passenger seat of an SUV with her husband. He blew her a kiss and winked.
Adrian is almost attractive.
—I wonder, Ethan… how the hell do you manage to be 23 and still be such an idiot?
The woman's husband whipped his head around, his eyes blazing, gripping the steering wheel as if he were about to get out and smash her in the face. He probably would have, if not for aRolls-Royce PhantomIt commands a certain respect.
Ethan shrugged and smiled.
—Relax, you know I never mess with married women. It's just… the effect of the night air and this black monster roaring beneath my hands.
Adrian sighed, looking out the window at the bright sky. A few stars were barely visible among the skyscrapers, and for a moment he thought aboutEmma Hudson, her mischievous and shy eyes, like the flashes that managed to sneak into the city that never slept.
Soon they arrived atBar Street, a famous area of clubs and bars near Sixth Avenue. It was Friday night, and the crowd was at its peak: office workers in loose ties, college students celebrating, models looking for sponsors, and tourists wanting the full New York experience.
Neon lights flickered brightly, the bass of the music made the ground vibrate, and the luxury cars parked on the sides formed a parallel spectacle to the dance floors.
He Phantom NegroIt stole every glance. Although the street was accustomed to Maseratis and Lamborghinis, few could compare to the imposing elegance of a Rolls-Royce.
As soon as they got off, a tall, dangerously curvy woman ran up to Ethan and hung onto his arm.
—Ethan, you're finally here! I've been waiting for you.
She wore a tight Pikachu-print T-shirt that contrasted with extremely short denim shorts and heels that sparkled under the lights. Her long legs caught the attention of more than a few curious onlookers.
—This isAnna Shields"My girlfriend," Ethan proudly introduced, pulling her close to him. "Anna, meet my brother, Adrian Foster. The owner ofbothRolls-Royce you saw out there.
Anna smiled with a gleam of admiration.
"Nice to meet you," she said, gently shaking Adrian's hand.
They went straight up to the VIP terrace of an exclusive bar. The place was buzzing with life: waiters running around with trays of shots, a DJ spinning under a dome of LED lights, and groups of young people screaming and dancing as if the world was going to end that night.
Adrián, on the other hand, leaned against the railing and let the night wind ruffle his hair. He didn't belong there. That deafening noise, those forced laughs, and those calculated glances... these were scenes he knew all too well, and they no longer excited him.
"Why don't you go out dancing?" a female voice suddenly asked.
Turning around, he saw a woman in a tight black dress, porcelain-white skin, and red lips. Her dark hair fell in waves, and her eyes had a playful sparkle.
"Why don't you go out?" Adrian replied calmly.
She smiled, raising an eyebrow.
—Because I've already danced. Now I want company.
He moved closer, offering her a glass of whiskey.
—Do you accept?
Adrian rejected him with a polite gesture.
—No, thanks. Gender equality, right? You buy, I'll pass.
The woman laughed elegantly, accustomed to clumsier rejections.
—Do you have someone yet?
"Yes," Adrian replied without hesitation. "And I plan to be with her for the rest of my life."
The woman's smile froze for a second, but soon transformed into flirtatiousness.
—What a shame. Men like you hardly exist. That makes me even more interested.
"Well, don't be interested," Adrian cut in coldly. "Because I'm not interested in you."
She walked confidently away, leaving behind an intoxicating fragrance and an impeccable figure that immediately caught the attention of other men. Within minutes, she was the star of the dance floor, surrounded by suitors.
Ethan appeared at her side, glass in hand, with a laugh.
"I worked hard to put a stunning woman in front of you, and you dispatched her in two sentences. Do you know how many guys would kill for a wink from her?"
"What I love is not what they love," Adrian replied, without taking his eyes off the sky.
Ethan snorted and took a long drink.
—Brother, sometimes I don't know whether to admire you or put you in a psychiatric hospital.
Adrian smiled faintly, as if he enjoyed his friend's bewilderment.
—By the way, Ethan… I need you to show me something.
-What thing?
—How to flirt with girls.
Ethan choked and almost dropped the glass.
—What the fuck did you say!?
The music was so loud that no one noticed the glass hit the floor. Ethan stared at it, his eyes wide open.
—I can't believe it... Adrian Foster himself, asking me for lessons in conquest. This... bro, this is the end of the world.
Adrian laughed softly.
—It's not the end of the world. It's just the beginning.