Releasing Jesse from his embrace, William smiled and said, "You're very special, Jesse."
"Special? What's so special about me?" Jesse asked, gripping the lapel of William's coat in confusion. "I'm just a nobody with no future and no prospects. I'm a pickpocket who knows nothing except stealing. There are so many girls out there prettier than me. Why would you be interested in me?" She looked up at him and asked with a touch of sarcasm, "Got tired of the well-bred, glamorous girls and decided to try someone from the bottom rung for a change of pace?"
William shook his head. "This has nothing to do with your background. It's about whether you're beautiful and whether you can make me like you."
Of course, he wasn't about to admit that she looked strikingly similar to someone from his memories. Changing the subject, he asked, "Other than stealing, surely there's something else you're good at?"
Before Jesse could think too deeply, William pressed further. "Don't overthink it—tell me, what's the thing you're best at?"
"Wine, I guess," Jesse said after a moment's hesitation. She then explained, "Stealing is a means of survival, but wine is my passion. I've even had some small successes with it. Back in June, when a bankrupt rich guy was clearing out furniture and other items, my friends and I went scavenging for deals.
We found a bottle of 1961 Romanée-Conti wine without a label hidden inside a Château Chantemerle wine box. That one bottle sold for $6,000."
"A 1961 Romanée-Conti without a label?" William thought for a moment, feeling the description was familiar. "No label, just the cork and the bottom of the bottle showing the Romanée-Conti estate markings?"
"You've heard of it?" Jesse's eyes lit up with excitement. "I had to take that bottle to a Romanée-Conti boutique before those snobbish buyers finally believed me," she said. Then, noticing William's thoughtful expression, she playfully slapped his chest. "What's on your mind? Don't tell me you bought that bottle!"
"I didn't," William replied, shaking his head. "I've heard of it, but I didn't buy it."
A wine merchant in London who often sourced wine for William had indeed recommended that bottle for $30,000. However, his wine expert had warned him that without a label, the bottle's collectible value would be significantly reduced. William had passed on it and had no idea if the bottle was still available.
Still, for Jesse to sell it for $6,000 on the black market wasn't a bad deal. "Not bad, very impressive."
"Hehe," Jesse said, delighted, and she leaned in to kiss William on the cheek. "Before my parents passed away when I was five, they were wine merchants. So most of the money I make now goes into my wine passion."
"Ah, so when you told me you loved designer brands, it was just to make me think you were a gold digger?" William glanced at her attire. "Seems like the restaurant manager was pretty sharp—he spotted something was off with you right away."
Jesse chuckled. "I usually avoid high-end restaurants because managers in places like that can always tell when I'm up to something. If I hadn't been to that restaurant for the first time today, I wouldn't have met you."
"F***," William said, giving her a playful slap on her backside. "What else have you lied to me about?"
Instead of being embarrassed, Jesse grabbed his tie, stood on tiptoe, wrapped her arms around his neck, and leaned in close for a moment before confessing, "I came here to pawn the ring because I was afraid you'd use the address on my social security card to track me down in Brooklyn."
She laughed and gently touched the frown on his face. "What can I say? You scared me. I didn't want to end up getting electrocuted like my partner. Acting pitiful and playing dumb has always been my strong suit. Rich guys think I'm easy to seduce, and I use that chance to swipe valuable things from them."
After a moment of silence, Jesse mustered her courage, lifted her head, and said, "I like you, William. I started falling for your commanding presence back at the restaurant. Then, when you effortlessly stole from me without me noticing, I was hopelessly smitten with someone so much better than me." She leaned her head on his shoulder, trembling slightly. "I promise I won't lie to you anymore. Just promise to always protect me, okay?"
William didn't hesitate for long before nodding. "Okay."
Perhaps it was because he had spent so much time in a position of power, controlling life and death, that he found himself moved by Jesse's vulnerability. She was someone struggling at the bottom of society, lacking any sense of security. Of course, it didn't hurt that Jesse was a stunning beauty capable of stirring his protective instincts.
"Thank you," Jesse said, wrapping her arms around William's waist and looking up at his profile with a bright smile. "I love looking at your side profile. It's just so captivating."
William couldn't help but grin. "I like your side profile too... and your eyes."
"Smack!" Jesse punched him in the chest with mock anger. "What, my full face isn't pretty enough for you?"
"It's beautiful, it's beautiful," William quickly reassured her, knowing better than to say anything foolish at this moment. He leaned down and kissed her lightly on the top of her head. "It's cold out. Let me take you home."
"No, let's stay like this," Jesse said, tightening her grip on his waist. She tilted her head, listening to his heartbeat and watching the snowflakes fall. In a soft voice, she murmured, "I can't believe I'm hugging William Devonshire. And you, you bastard, actually have your sights set on me. God, this is the safest I've ever felt in twenty years, and the first time I've truly fallen for someone."
Well, if the girl in his arms was happy, William certainly wasn't going to ruin the mood. He also wasn't about to let any street thugs interrupt his romantic moment. Always alert with his telekinetic abilities, William discreetly opened a small portal to deploy his spider robots and black hornet drones into a nearby dark alley.
Within seconds, the drones and robots had incapacitated several would-be muggers lurking nearby, leaving them mysteriously electrocuted and unconscious.
The two stood there in the snow for half an hour until past 1 a.m. Jesse, shivering slightly from the cold, finally whispered reluctantly, "I don't drink coffee, but we could share a bottle of wine. Interested?"
"Of course," William replied, releasing her from his arms. He took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders. Within moments, Jesse felt warm air circulating inside the coat. "Is this... is this heated?" she asked in surprise.
"Something like that," William said with a chuckle, putting an arm around her shoulders. "It works similarly to a heater, but the technology is much more advanced. Just know that this coat can keep someone warm in sub-zero temperatures for up to six hours without freezing."
"So you're saying that in New York winters, as long as I have a coat like this, I'll never feel cold?" Jesse hesitated before mumbling, "That... that... that's..."
"No need to stammer. If you want one, I'll have a few made for you," William said casually. "But the colors are limited to white, black, and dark tones."
Since the cost of producing these coats was only a few thousand dollars, William didn't mind giving her a few. However, he made a mental note that if Jesse ever dared to sell one, their relationship would end immediately.
As they reached his car and William was about to open the door, Sunday's voice interrupted him. "Sir, I've just received a video from the spider robots. I think you should take a look immediately."
------------------
Enjoying the story? Support the author and get early access to chapters by joining my Patre@n!
Find me at: patre@n*com/Mutter
You can read each novel for $5 or get them all for just $15.
Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
[+50 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[+5 Reviews = +1 Extra Chapter]