After speeding through streets and buildings with incredible velocity, they finally arrived at the location Rian had prepared in advance.
It was a luxurious rooftop restaurant atop a skyscraper, offering a breathtaking view of the city lights glittering in the distance.
The entire restaurant had been reserved exclusively by Rian. There were no other guests, no waiters bustling about—only one professional chef and a personal attendant standing quietly in the corner.
The atmosphere felt serene, exclusive, and intimate. A crystal chandelier cast a soft glow across the room, while gentle classical music drifted through the air.
A single table for two stood elegantly arranged, adorned with fresh flowers and a small candle. The night breeze brushed gently past as the city stretched endlessly below them.
Still wearing his black trench coat, Rian pulled out a chair for Ashley and said with a charming smile, "Please, take a seat—tonight, you're the princess."
Ashley blushed slightly and sat down, while Rian took his place across from her.
A few quiet minutes passed before light conversation began to flow.
"To be honest," Rian said, swirling his wine glass filled with grape juice, "this handsome man is actually more suited to eating martabak by the roadside… but if it means seeing you smile, then even an expensive restaurant feels worth it."
Ashley held back a laugh. "You seriously rented out this entire place?"
"Seriously—and wholeheartedly," Rian replied, resting his chin on his hand. "After all… only an idiot would take a girl as beautiful as you to dinner and still have to fight someone for a seat."
Ashley chuckled softly. "That's such a cheap pickup line, you know?"
"But it made you smile, didn't it?" Rian winked. "And for a handsome man like me, that's more than enough."
Moments later, three waiters entered one after another, each pushing a cart laden with dishes. The first served the appetizers, followed by the main course, and finally the dessert.
They placed each dish gracefully on the table, then stepped back politely to their original positions.
Rian looked down at the appetizer before him—a modern piece of edible art displayed on an elegant white plate. He frowned slightly, studying it as if it were some kind of alien artifact.
"The design's weird," Rian thought to himself.
Still, he picked up his fork, speared a small piece, and held it out toward Ashley across the table. "Try it. According to the internet, it's supposed to taste good."
"According to data on the internet?" Ashley repeated with an amused expression before accepting the bite and tasting it.
Rian, still holding his fork out, nodded slowly. "To be honest, this handsome man's taste buds are a bit… common. I'm used to food from warteg—a type of street diner that, in my opinion, is already pretty luxurious."
"Warteg? What's that?" Ashley asked, both confused and intrigued.
Rian smiled casually. "Someday, this handsome man will take you to eat at a warteg and a warung nasi Padang. The flavor is… explosive."
'Warung nasi Padang? What on earth is that supposed to be?' Ashley thought, completely lost about the kinds of places her charmingly ridiculous date was talking about.
Despite that, she couldn't help but smile faintly and shake her head. "You know… sometimes I really can't understand how your mind works."
With a small smile on her lips, Ashley picked up her own fork, cut off a small piece from her appetizer, and offered it toward Rian.
"In that case, your turn. Try this."
Rian accepted it with a grin. "As long as it's not jengkol… this handsome man is ready to take the risk."
'Now what on earth is jengkol supposed to be?' Ashley thought, sighing in her mind.
After saying that, Ashley was the one who fed Rian this time.
Gently, she cut a small piece of the appetizer, then offered it to him with a faint smile.
"If you won't try it yourself," Ashley said softly, "then let me help you taste it."
Rian looked at her for a moment, then slowly opened his mouth and accepted the bite with an overly dramatic expression, as if he were facing a life-or-death challenge.
"Ugh… it looks weird," Rian muttered while chewing slowly. But after a few seconds, his expression shifted. "But… this taste… it's like… something way beyond street food."
Ashley chuckled softly. "Of course not. This is five-star cuisine. Didn't you rent out the entire restaurant yourself?"
Rian gave a thumbs-up. "Well, in that case, this handsome man is willing to level up—from warteg to warteg plus-plus."
Ashley covered her mouth, laughing. "And what exactly does that mean?"
"It means…" Rian replied with a soft but mischievous gaze, "I'm starting to accept that my taste might need a little evolution—as long as you're still sitting in front of me."
After that, the second waiter arrived, serving the intermediate dish — a bowl of clear soup with a rich, fragrant aroma of herbs. This time, Rian was the first to taste it.
"This one… tastes kinda like bakso broth," Rian said innocently, sipping slowly.
Ashley rested her cheek on her hand, smiling warmly. "I don't know… it tastes new to me. But with someone as strange as you, everything somehow feels… fun."
Rian looked at Ashley deeply. This time, there was no teasing, no jokes — only a sincere smile and a brief, meaningful silence between the laughter and flirtation.
Moments later, the last waiter arrived, serving the dessert — a soft chocolate cake drizzled with warm berry sauce and dusted with thin flakes of gold. Ashley cut a small piece and offered it to Rian once again.
"For the so-called 'handsome man with a humble taste,'" Ashley said with a teasing smile.
Rian accepted the bite and nodded slowly. "This handsome man's humble taste buds… are truly happy right now."
They had finished every dish, and before heading to their next destination—the special spot Rian had prepared for the night—Ashley hesitated.
Still seated, she looked at Rian, who was just about to stand, and asked softly,
"About… the way you brought me here… won't it cause any trouble?"
Rian fell silent for a moment. Then he turned to her with a calm smile.
He knew exactly what was on Ashley's mind—how he had spirited her away from the White House like some bold kidnapper stealing the president's daughter.
With an easy grace, Rian stood, walked behind Ashley, and gently helped her to her feet.
"Well," he began casually, "technically, this handsome man did bring you here in a way that looks suspiciously like a kidnapping…" He smiled playfully before adding, "but actually, i have already got permission from President Graham himself."
Ashley blinked in disbelief. "My father… approved of this?"
Rian nodded slightly. "Yep. In fact, he laughed. And I quote—'This is the first time I've ever seen a special agent bold and absurd enough to take my daughter on a date through the window, not the door.'"
Ashley covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. "So my father knew?"
"From the very beginning," Rian replied, looking at her with a proud expression. "This handsome man obviously knows how to win over a future father-in-law's heart."
Ashley chuckled, her cheeks tinged with pink. She closed her eyes briefly, then murmured softly, "Future father-in-law? You talk as if I've already accepted you."
"So you haven't?" Rian arched a brow, his smile radiating confidence.
Ashley didn't answer. She simply opened her eyes again and gazed at him in silence, a faint, mysterious smile curling her lips.
Rian ran a hand through his bangs in that unmistakably dramatic, shampoo-commercial way. "Well… the story of a handsome man like me is always a long one—especially when it comes to finding the right life partner."
Ashley let out a soft laugh at that.
Then, without any warning, Rian once again swept her up into his arms in a perfect princess carry—just like when he spirited her away from the White House.
Ashley was caught off guard, her face turning crimson—especially since the restaurant's remaining waitstaff were now watching them, trying to hide their amused smiles.
"Well then, my Princess," Rian said with a theatrical tone as he began walking confidently. "Since our stomachs are full, let's move on to our next destination."
And with that, the two of them left the luxurious restaurant Rian had rented out entirely for the evening—a night he had dedicated to only one person: Ashley Graham.
***
Their next trip wasn't as long as the drive from the White House to the five-star restaurant.
After only a couple of city blocks, they arrived at another interesting spot—right beside a police station stood a gun shop with an indoor shooting range.
Just like the restaurant, Rian had rented out the entire place for the night—for the two of them alone.
Rian brought Ashley here for one reason: to teach her how to handle a gun.
Who knows—something as terrifying as what happened in Resident Evil 4 could happen again. This time, Rian wanted Ashley to be able to protect herself.
Besides, Leon had probably suggested it to her before.