Millionaire Helps a Stranger Escape a Bad Date, He Never Expected She’d Be the One He Wants Always
A Glimpse of Another World
She looked at her stained dress, then back at him.
“Sure, why not?”
They walked through the city like two strangers who had nothing to lose.
She told him about her job as a freelance illustrator, how she’d been ghosted by three clients this week, and was down to instant ramen and black coffee.
He told her he worked in investments. Boring stuff, he said, but he didn’t go into details. He asked more questions than he answered. She liked that.
They ended up at a little hole-in-the-wall bakery, where he ordered her a slice of lemon cake and himself a black coffee.
“I’m sorry again for just jumping in back there,” he said, sliding the plate toward her.
“Don’t be; you saved me.”
He gave her a small look, almost like a smile but quieter.
“You didn’t look like you needed saving.”
She paused, fork halfway to her mouth.
“What makes you say that?”
“You walked out on your own,” he said simply. “I just gave you a better exit.”
Her chest tightened. She didn’t even know this man, but something about him felt safe.
“Do you do this often?” she asked. “Buy dessert for strange women in ruined dresses?”
He leaned forward.
“Only the ones who say creme brulee like it’s a threat.”
She laughed louder than she meant to. They stayed there until the bakery closed. When they stepped outside, the city had quieted.
She didn’t want the night to end but didn’t know how to say it. Quinton looked at her like he was thinking the same thing.
“Do you need a ride?”
“I’m a subway girl,” she said, lifting her brows.
He nodded.
“Fair, but it’s late. Let me at least walk you to the station.”
They walked in silence, but it wasn’t awkward. It was nice. At the entrance to the station, she turned to him.
“Thanks again for everything.”
He nodded.
“I’m glad I was there.”
She paused.
“We’re not going to do that thing where we never see each other again, are we?”
He surprised her. He looked almost relieved.
“No,” he said, “we’re not.”
She pulled a card from her coat pocket.
“My info.”
He took it carefully, like it meant something.
“I’ll call,” he said. And he did.
The next morning, he asked her to dinner somewhere nice. She said yes.
What he didn’t tell her was that “somewhere nice” turned out to be a rooftop restaurant in Soho, complete with a candlelit table and a view of the skyline.
There was a string quartet playing live. She stepped out of the car he sent for her—yes, a car—and stared up at the building.
When she walked onto the rooftop and saw him waiting in a sleek black suit, her heart nearly stopped.
“You didn’t say it would be this kind of nice,” she said, breathless.
“I wanted to do it right.”
“Quinton, this place has a dress code.”
“You look perfect.”
She did. He’d sent a box to her apartment that afternoon with a note: “Wear this tonight.”
Inside was a deep navy dress, elegant but simple, that fit her like it was made for her.
She sat down, still in shock.
“You’re full of surprises.”
“I like surprising you.”
She tilted her head.
“So, what exactly do you do again?”
“I run a firm. Investments, real estate, tech acquisitions.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“You’re not just some guy who helps strangers escape bad dates, are you?”
He smiled.
“No, I’m not.”
“How successful are we talking?”
He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he poured her a glass of wine.
“I bought this restaurant last year.”
She nearly choked.
“Excuse me?”
“I’m a millionaire, Nicolet.”
She stared at him, stunned.
“And you still walked a girl to the subway?”
“I didn’t want to scare you off.”
“You think money would scare me off?”
“I think you’re not like most people.”
She stared at him across the candlelight.
“You’re right. I’m not.”
The music swelled behind them. The skyline glittered around them.
For the first time in a long time, Nicolet wasn’t thinking about the rent she owed or the commissions she hadn’t booked.
She wasn’t thinking about the bad dates she’d suffered.
She was thinking about this man who appeared out of nowhere.
He made her feel like she was the only woman in New York, and she couldn’t wait to see him again.
