16. Luxury Gift For Her

AMBER. The night breeze hits my face as I step out of the metal door that leads us to the rooftop of this building. I don't know what Vincent was thinking when he brought me here, but as soon as I saw the view, I was stunned. In front of me lay the glittering cityscape. The lights from the skyscrapers glittered like stars in the middle of the night, while the wind blowing at this height brought a fresh chill to the air, a far cry from the claustrophobic air on the streets of New York City. But it wasn't just the view that took my breath away. At the center of this rooftop stood a black helicopter that looked like it came out of an action movie. The propellers were silent, but its mere presence was enough to make me feel like I was in a different world. I turned to Vincent, who was standing with his hands stuffed into his pants pockets. His face remained calm, but there was something in his eyes that seemed a little softer tonight, something I rarely saw. "What are we... here for?" I asked, trying to understand what this was all about. She glanced at the helicopter, then back at me. "I said you needed some fresh air, didn't I?" Fresh air? I looked at him in confusion. "You're joking, right?" "Do I look like someone who's joking?" he replied, the corners of his lips curving faintly, almost like a smile. I paused, feeling my heart beat a little faster. "You want me to... take that helicopter?" I asked, my voice a half-whisper. He just nodded, stepping closer. "Do you want to stay stuck in the mansion, or do you want to see something different? The choice is yours, Amber." I looked at the helicopter again, then at Vincent. It feels unreal. I never imagined in my life I'd be in a situation like this, let alone with someone like him. "Are you serious," I muttered, more to myself. "Very," he replied without hesitation. For some reason, I found it hard to refuse. Maybe it was because my curiosity was too great, or maybe it was because there was something in Vincent's gaze that made me believe I was safe with him. Finally, I nodded slowly. "Alright. I'll go up." He nodded in satisfaction, then motioned for me to follow him to the helicopter. I stepped carefully, feeling like I was entering another world. Once I was aboard and seated in the cabin, I gazed at the luxurious yet functional interior. Vincent sat next to me, put on a communication headset, and gave the pilot brief instructions. Within seconds, the sound of the propellers began to spin, booming all around us. I felt my body tense, but Vincent seemed relaxed, like this was a normal thing for him. He glanced at me, and although his face remained cold, there was a small glint in his eyes, as if he was enjoying my surprise. The helicopter began to rise slowly, and I immediately felt my breath catch. Through the window, I could see the city slowly shrinking below us. The street lights formed luminous lines that stretched as far as the eye could see, while the Hudson river glittered like silver in the moonlight. "This is... incredible," I whispered, hardly believing what I was seeing. Vincent didn't answer. He just stared at me for a moment before looking out the window again. As we flew higher, the seascape came into view in the distance. The dark waves of water shimmered in the moonlight, creating a scene so beautiful that I almost forgot how to breathe. "Why are you doing this?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly, not from fear, but from astonishment. He looked at me, his eyes cold yet deep, like they always held secrets I couldn't read. "You need something different, Amber. Something that makes you feel alive again." His words echoed in my mind, leaving me speechless. He was right. After everything that happened, I felt like I was trapped in a small, cramped world. But here, at this height, with such a vast and beautiful view, I felt like I could breathe again. The helicopter kept hovering, giving us an ever-changing view of the city and the sea. I couldn't stop staring, my eyes glued to the beauty unfolding before me. When I finally glanced over at Vincent, he was looking out the window, his face seemingly calm, but there was something in his eyes that was different. Maybe it was just my imagination, but for the first time, I felt I saw another side of him-a more humane, more caring side, even though he tried to hide it. "Thank you," I said finally, my voice almost drowned out in the sound of the propeller. He turned to me, just slightly, and nodded slowly. No more words came out of his mouth, but it was enough. That night, above the city that never sleeps, I felt like I was experiencing something new-something I had never imagined before. And somehow, I knew I would never forget this night. *** I really still felt lulled by the experience just now. As the helicopter landed back on the rooftop, my feet felt light, like they weren't really on the ground. That trip was something I never imagined would happen in my life. Seeing New York City from above, with the sea shimmering in the distance, was a small miracle that made me forget for a moment about all the hard things that had happened. But apparently Vincent wasn't done surprising me tonight. "Where are we going now?" I ask, looking at him curiously as we step into the elevator. He only gave me a quick glance before pressing a button on the panel. "You'll find out," he replied curtly, as usual. I sighed, slightly frustrated with his habit of keeping secrets, but I didn't protest further. In the last few hours, I'd learned that letting Vincent be in control could sometimes lead to unexpected experiences. The elevator takes us down to a different floor, then we exit into another hallway that feels more luxurious. The ceiling was decorated with crystal chandeliers that reflected light onto the gilded walls. It was like stepping into a palace. Vincent led me to a large door with intricate carvings. He opened the door wordlessly, and as soon as I stepped inside, my eyes widened. The room was a luxurious bar-restaurant, with gleaming dark wood tables and leather upholstered chairs. The light from the modern chandeliers provided a warm atmosphere, while to one side of the room was an open kitchen with several chefs busy preparing dishes. "Vincent..." I looked at him in disbelief. "What is this?" He just gave a small nod towards the kitchen. "You said you wanted to try something new, so I thought this place would be perfect." I stood there, still gaping as a waiter came and escorted us to a table located right in front of the open kitchen. From here, I could clearly see the chefs busy cooking. The smell of spices and butter filled the air, making me instantly hungry. Vincent sat in his chair calmly, as if this was a normal thing for him. I, on the other hand, felt like a child seeing something extraordinary for the first time. "So, you planned this from the beginning?" I asked as I sat down in my chair. She gave a small shrug, looking at me with her flat gaze. "I just wanted to make sure you had a decent experience." Before I could answer, a chef came to our table, fresh ingredients in hand. He gave a brief greeting, then set to work. I couldn't hide my amazement when I saw him. The knife in his hand moved with amazing speed and precision, cutting the vegetables into small pieces in seconds. When he started to light the fire on the wok, the flames rose high, leaving me both surprised and amazed. "Wow!" I exclaimed involuntarily, my eyes widening like a child who had just seen a magic show. Vincent glanced at me out of the corner of his eye, and for the first time tonight, I saw something almost like a smile on his face. "Did you enjoy it?" he asked, his voice low but with a note of amusement in it. "Me?" I turned to him, almost forgetting his existence because I was too mesmerized by the chef in front of us. "This is amazing! I didn't know cooking could look this good." She just nodded, her eyes returning to the chef who was still busy cooking. When the food was finally served, I immediately fell silent. In front of me was a dish so beautiful that it was a shame to eat it. There was a perfectly cooked steak, sauces carefully poured around it, and small garnishes that looked like works of art. I picked up my fork and knife and cut off a small piece of the steak. As soon as that piece of meat touched my tongue, I was almost speechless. "This..." I stared at Vincent with wide eyes. "This is probably the best meal I've ever had!" He raised his eyebrows slightly, as if he had expected my reaction. "It's good that you like it." For the next few minutes, I was completely immersed in the food. Every bite was a perfect combination of flavors, and I felt like I was enjoying an experience, not just a meal. After a while, I realized Vincent had barely touched the food. He was mostly watching me raving about how good the food was, and although his expression remained flat, there was something in his eyes that looked tender. "You know," I said as I put down my fork and looked at him. "I never imagined I could have a night like this. So... thank you." He looked at me for a while before nodding. "You needed this," he replied simply, but there was sincerity behind his words. We sat there for a few more moments, enjoying the restaurant's luxurious ambience and amazing food. Tonight felt like an unbelievable dream. And even though I knew Vincent would probably never admit it, I could feel that he truly cared, even though the way he showed it was always hidden behind his cold demeanor. For the first time in a long time, I feel human again-and it's all because of him.