CH: 005 - Spending Time With Daisy

{Chapter: 005 - Spending Time With Daisy}

The moment Daisy stepped into Aiden's hotel suite, her eyes widened slightly. Plush carpets, sleek modern décor, and a panoramic window that displayed the shimmering city skyline—it was luxury at its finest. She turned her gaze to the man who had just offered her a place to stay, then to the sports car key he casually tossed onto the counter.

She crossed her arms, tilting her head with curiosity. "Okay, this hotel room looks expensive as hell, and that car of yours is definitely a top-tier brand. So, tell me, are you secretly some billionaire playboy? Maybe an exiled prince? A crime lord with a heart of gold?"

Aiden smirked, his expression unreadable as he casually placed her bag in the closet. "Something like that," he said, his tone effortlessly smooth.

Daisy narrowed her eyes. "That's a very vague answer."

He shot her a wink. "Vague answers keep the mystery alive."

Daisy let out a small huff. He's hiding something. Most guys in his position would either brag or play the humble act, but Aiden seemed completely unbothered. That only made her curiosity burn hotter.

Not one to sit on unanswered questions, she discreetly pulled out her phone and started running a background check on him while he was distracted. Let's see who you really are, Mr. Mysterious.

But within seconds, she hit a dead end. No records. No digital footprint. No birth certificate. No credit history. It was as if Aiden simply didn't exist. Her brows knitted together in disbelief.

What the hell? Even ghosts leave a trace.

"I'm gonna grab a shower," Aiden's voice pulled her out of her thoughts.

She nodded absentmindedly, watching him disappear into the bathroom. The moment the door clicked shut, she wasted no time—she pulled out her laptop, fingers flying over the keyboard as she dove deeper, hacking into more secure databases. Police records. Government files. Black market networks.

Nothing.

She leaned back, staring at the screen with growing intrigue. "How the hell does someone not exist?" she murmured.

This was no ordinary man.

And now, she wanted to know everything.

---

Meanwhile, in the Bathroom…

Aiden turned on the tap, letting the bathtub fill. As steam curled into the air, he dipped a single finger into the water—almost instantly, his skin glowed a deep, molten red. Within seconds, the temperature skyrocketed, the once-cool water now bubbling as if it had been sitting on an open flame.

Perfect.

"The water temperature is just right." Aiden nodded with satisfaction and soaked in the bathtub.

Sinking into the heated water, he let out a low sigh of satisfaction. He had been refining his control over Extremis for weeks now, testing just how much heat he could release. In the beginning, it had been chaotic—his whole body would flare up uncontrollably, making even the simplest tasks dangerous. But now? Now he could control it. Direct it. Adjust the intensity.

This was one of Extremis's abilities: to let the body release high temperatures and become like magma. During his vacation, he was not only relaxing but also trying to increase his proficiency in Extremis's abilities.

At the beginning, his whole body would release high temperatures, and he couldn't adjust to it. Now, he can not only control the temperature of one specific part of his body but also release high temperatures.

A slow smirk played on his lips. The only problem? He didn't have anyone to properly test his progress against. Using this power against regular people? Overkill.

And as much as he loved to play the charming mystery man, there were still parts of himself he needed to keep hidden.

---

Back in the living room, Daisy was still glued to her screen, her curiosity now an obsession.

She had dug deep—really deep—but still, there was nothing. No record of him anywhere. It was like he had been wiped from existence.

Her fingers drummed against the laptop, eyes narrowing. Who are you, Aiden?

This wasn't just some rich playboy with a fast car and an expensive hotel room. He was something else entirely.

And that intrigued her more than anything.

Daisy had recently joined 'Rising Tide,' a group dedicated to exposing the secrets hidden from the public—hidden organizations, classified projects, people who didn't exist on paper. And now, right in front of her, was a man who fit that description perfectly.

Maybe, just maybe, getting her car wrecked wasn't such a bad thing after all.

---

Thirty Minutes Later…

Aiden emerged from the bathroom, hair damp, dressed in casual sweatpants and a simple T-shirt that somehow managed to make him look even more attractive. His toned physique was impossible to ignore, and Daisy—despite herself—let her eyes linger for a second longer than necessary.

She quickly snapped out of it, closing her laptop as he strolled over and dropped onto the couch beside her.

"Find anything interesting?" he asked, his tone teasing, as if he already knew exactly what she had been up to.

Daisy smirked. "Oh, you know, just reading up on how to make homemade explosives."

Aiden chuckled. "Remind me not to piss you off."

They talked for a while, their conversation bouncing from casual topics to playful jabs. Daisy, determined to dig deeper, threw in a few questions about his past—where he grew up, what he did for a living, any hints that might give away his secrets.

But Aiden dodged them all effortlessly, steering the conversation elsewhere with a flirt, a joke, or a well-placed smirk.

Before they knew it, time had slipped away, the moon now casting a soft glow through the hotel window.

Daisy stretched, standing up with a yawn. "Alright, mystery man. I'm claiming the bed."

Aiden placed a hand over his chest in mock offense. "No offer to share? You wound me."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm doing you a favor. If you tried anything, you'd wake up electrocuted."

Aiden smirked, his voice dropping to a low, teasing whisper. "Worth it."

Daisy lingered at the doorway for a moment, her fingers resting lightly on the frame. Her eyes met Aiden's, and something unspoken passed between them—a flicker of curiosity, amusement, maybe even challenge.

"Well then, mystery man," she murmured, tilting her head slightly. "Good night… Try not to miss me too much."

Aiden chuckled, leaning back against the sofa with an easy smirk. "No promises, sweetheart."

Rolling her eyes, Daisy shut the door behind her, exhaling as she pressed her back against it.

Aiden sprawled across the sofa, folding his hands behind his head. A slow smile played on his lips as he murmured to himself, "The road ahead looks smooth… and very, very interesting."

---

That night, sleep did not come easily for Daisy.

There was a man just outside her door—a man who was still an enigma. Powerful yet playful, charming yet unreadable. Was it curiosity keeping her awake? Maybe. Or was it the unease of sharing a space with someone she couldn't quite figure out? Possibly.

Or maybe it was just the unfamiliar warmth that settled in her chest when he flashed that damn smirk.

She tossed and turned, staring at the ceiling, replaying their conversation in her head. Eventually, exhaustion won over, and at some unknown hour of the night, she finally drifted off.

---

When Daisy's eyes fluttered open, sunlight streamed through the window, bathing the room in a golden glow. She stretched lazily, glancing at the clock—almost noon.

A knock on the door followed by Aiden's smooth voice broke through her drowsy thoughts.

"You're finally awake, Sleeping Beauty. How was dreamland?"

Daisy swung her legs over the edge of the bed, running a hand through her tousled hair. "Not bad," she said with a small smirk, stepping out to find him already lounging in the suite's armchair, looking effortlessly relaxed.

Aiden eyed her, taking in the way the morning sun caught in her hair, the way she moved—slightly disoriented but still exuding confidence. He grinned.

"I checked in with the mechanic," he said. "The car won't be ready for another two or three days." He stretched, his shirt pulling taut over his chest. "So, unless you have some urgent mission, how about showing me around the city? I've been traveling solo for too long—I'd love to experience the, let's say, enviable feeling of strolling down the street with a beautiful woman."

Daisy raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "Enviable feeling?"

Aiden leaned forward, his voice dropping to a teasing whisper. "Because every guy we pass will be burning with jealousy, obviously."

Daisy smirked. "Bold assumption. And what makes you think I don't already have someone special?"

Aiden tilted his head, his gaze flickering with amusement. "Oh? Do you?"

She hesitated just long enough for him to chuckle.

"Didn't think so," he said smugly. "But now you've got me curious—what's your dating track record, Miss Daisy?"

She shrugged, playing along. "Thought about it. Never found the right person."

Aiden nodded approvingly. "Smart. Can't settle for less than perfect, right?"

Daisy rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the small smile tugging at her lips. "And what about you, Mr. Smooth-Talker? Surely someone has tied you down by now."

"If I told you I've never had a girlfriend, would you believe me?"

Daisy blinked, genuinely taken aback. "Wait—seriously?"

Aiden shrugged, looking adorably nonchalant. "Why does that surprise you?"

Daisy gave him an incredulous look. "You're good-looking, clearly loaded, and you have that whole 'mysterious bad boy' thing going for you. You're telling me no woman has ever sunk her claws into you?"

Aiden grinned. "Maybe I've just been waiting for the right one."

Daisy scoffed. "Oh, please. If you're waiting for me to swoon, you'll be waiting a long time."

Aiden chuckled, standing up and stretching lazily. "We'll see."

Daisy watched him warily. "You didn't have a girlfriend because… what? You're a player?"

He placed a hand on his chest in mock offense. "Me? A player? Even if I was, I wouldn't be that kind of player."

Daisy arched an eyebrow. "That kind?"

Aiden smirked. "You know… the kind that has a tower full of models on speed dial."

Daisy snorted, shaking her head. "Riiight. So what's your type then?"

He stepped closer, dropping his voice. "Smart. Fearless. A little sarcastic. And dangerously beautiful so much even goddesses failed in front of them"

Daisy held his gaze, refusing to be flustered. "Good luck finding them."

Aiden grinned. "Oh, I think I already found one."

---

The afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the city as Aiden and Daisy walked side by side.

He had been right about one thing—heads did turn as they strolled together. Aiden, with his effortless charm and undeniable presence, and Daisy, with her striking features, a perfect blend of Eastern and Western beauty, and an air of confidence that made people look twice.

She had dressed up just a little—not for him, of course. But if it made him more smug, she was going to let him believe it.

'I have to say that Daisy's is very beautiful with great body proportions.' Perhaps to satisfy Aiden's vanity, Daisy also deliberately dressed up a bit.

'Her appearance is a mix of Asian and Western features. After all, she is mixed blooded and her mother indeed is Chinese.'

"You know," Aiden mused as they strolled past a café, "I have to admit, this whole 'sightseeing with a gorgeous woman' thing is a new experience for me."

Daisy smirked. "What, you usually do this alone?"

"Pretty much," Aiden admitted. "Being on the road all the time, you don't really get to enjoy moments like these."

Daisy nodded, suddenly understanding a little more about him. "Yeah… I get that."

He glanced at her, sensing something unspoken behind her words. "You travel a lot?"

She hesitated, then shrugged. "Not exactly. I've just always been kind of… on my own."

Aiden watched her carefully. "No family?"

She forced a smirk. "Not that I know of. Never met my parents. Never really had close friends either."

Aiden was quiet for a moment, then, to her surprise, he reached out and flicked a stray strand of hair from her face.

"Well," he said softly, "guess that makes two of us."

Daisy blinked, caught off guard by the moment of sincerity. But before she could say anything, Aiden's trademark smirk was back.

"So, tell me," he said, changing the subject with a teasing grin. "Are you going to keep playing hard to get, or do I have a chance?"

Daisy scoffed. "A chance? Please. You haven't even started trying yet."

Aiden chuckled, hands in his pockets as he leaned in just a little closer. "Oh, sweetheart… you have no idea."

The two together looked like quite a great match, and Daisy, with her skills, was always able to find a good place to go or a restaurant that was not very crowded but tasted very good. As they both got along, the strangeness between the two people was gradually eliminated, and they became more and more familiar.

Daisy was always lonely as she had almost no friends and had never even met her parents before. So she enjoyed the feeling of being with Aiden, someone to talk and joke with, and she liked this new experience that she had never felt before.

*****

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